Bermuda
By Gaeriel Mallory
Note: This was written for my friend Bonnie after the very traumatic death of Carlos in Karen's Freakazoid High (A Harry Potter and Buffy: the Vampire Slayer crossover. Very good. I highly recommend it.).
Nods to A.j. for coming up with the idea of Bermuda in the first place.
"Hello. My name in Michelle and I'll be
your immersion guide. Welcome to Bermuda."
Carlos looked warily at the tanned blond in the bikini top and flowered
skirt. "Who are you? Where am I?" He spun around in a quick circle,
taking in the waves lapping against the sandy beach and the people on
said beach. "What am I doing here? I have to get back!" The teenager
looked at the woman in shock. "They're in a battle! I need to get back
and help!"
Michelle smiled sadly at the young man. "I'm afraid there is no going
back. Not unless you get written back into the storyline at a later
date."
"What?" He looked at her warily. "Are you nuts, lady? I know. You're a
demon aren't you? A mind-controlling demon who created this little spot
of paradise in order to keep me happy and away from the big battle that
is really happening. I'm supposed to save everyone, aren't I? That's the
only explanation why I'm here and not back in Sunnydale fighting off the
guys in dresses!" He started to hyperventilate and black dots appeared
in front of his eyes.
A gentle arm slipped around his shoulders and he vaguely registered a
kind voice saying, "I'll handle this one, Michelle. I have a feeling
there's going to be a few new inhabitants soon enough." The owner of the
arm and voice steered him into a comfortable chair and he leaned back,
closing his eyes.
"I have to get back," he said helplessly.
"I know, sweetie. I was like that too when I first got here. I was so
scared because there was no one to take care of my girls. But things
worked out all right in the end. Dawn and Buffy are still alive and from
all appearances, are going to stay that way for awhile yet."
Carlos looked up at the woman crouched over him. She had curly blond
hair and blue eyes that looked oddly familiar. "Wait. Dawn? You're
Dawn's mom?"
Joyce Summers smiled and nodded. "Thanks for helping Buffy out with her
slaying. I know it wasn't easy to accept everything—God knows I didn't
have the best reaction." She sat back on her heels and her eyes turned
sad. "I wish that I was more supportive of everything. I know I didn't
make it easy for her."
Carlos chewed on his lower lip. "They didn't mind," he told her. "They
loved you. Buffy still has a picture of you on her desk in her office
and everything."
"That's sweet," she said with a little laugh. "I still can't imagine
Buffy as a high school guidance counselor. You poor kids."
"She's all right. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't fit in anywhere. She
gave me a place to belong."
Joyce nodded slowly and held out a hand as she stood up. "Come on. Let
me introduce you to everyone."
Carlos walked alongside her, looking around and noticing the happy looks
on everyone's face. "So is this where we go when we're dead? Is this
heaven?"
Joyce laughed as she guided him over to a woman with shoulder-length
brunette hair typing away at a laptop despite her surroundings. "Heaven?
Carlos, we're in Bermuda!"
--fin--