And it's weird because things get darker, actually darker, like the way on a foggy day you look down the street and you can't see the end of the block at all. Once you've walked down there the air is just as thin and clear as usual-- it's where you just were that's now shrouded in mist. But it's not happening the way it ought to, the way it should be happening, as she's walking forward the air in front of her is getting *thicker*, she'd swear it, it's practically inky with blackness, and it's getting harder to breathe. The grass squishes under her feet less and less audibly until it's not there at all. When she looks behind her half-expecting the graveyard to be the one bright spot in a dark and flat landscape, a tiny suspended tableau of spinning stars and white gravestones, it's gone. There's nothing there, even now, and Willow feels its absence like a sudden, ridiculous stab of pain in the chest. Or is that the effort of trying to breathe now? Willow thinks she's stopped walking but she can't be entirely sure. It feels like something's still pushing her forwards, and she's starting to cough on the air, it's getting dense and practically oily, like the noxious smoke from a refinery plant; and she drops her head and she's choking, and for one endless, unpleasant moment she's not drawing any breath in at all, it's just tightness in her throat, and that's the second before Willow remembers that this is just a dream.

Sorry to interrupt your story, RL.

But the Giles's stuff is funny! "For you, Spike, that means Angel goes first." snerk.

Which is why I've since moved on to writing Giles as a much more major character. I take it 'but' means that it is good-ish to read, which is of the good.

I'd like to see Buffy's reactions ot Connor and all.

That's an intresting avenue to explore, which I will think about- possibly I could skip over the whole 'preganant' bit and just have Buffy, Spike and baby in LA, meeting whatever Connor I chose to present them with.

well--dammit, I like you and I trust your own assessment of your work, so I won't say much.

Thanks, connie. Expression of confidence much appreciated.

Could have a fun scene of people looking at Buffy's baby and saying "That can't be right. Spike shouldn't be able to--" and then have everyone glance at Connor and suddenly change the subject.

Yes. And when Spike and Angel suddenly find that as well as being jealous over the Buffy issue, they're jealous because the other one's baby is better looking.

Oh, god, yes! And if Buffy's is a girl, Cordy can get all cradle matchmaking! "Or is that incest?" "Cordy, Connor is not marrying Whatever-Her-Name-Becomes." "Hell, no, I'm not being co-fathers-in-law with the poof!"

I got to that too. And her name is Joise. Don't ask where that came from, it just is the way it is.

version of Joyce?

Could be. Good explanation if I need one in the fic, anyway.

You people scare me.

(Which, as the writer of the Unspeakable Buffy Fic: Available on my Live Journal, is kind of pot-kettle-black)

Ple, I scare me, too. So long as you don't give up on the beta read, I'm not worried.

Edit: 'beta' not 'beat'.