Aw, shucks. Well, there was the Dennis thing...and the Saunders case thing(without which there would be no Homicide/ME crossovers, as I've said before, but Detective Howard's willingness to believe she saw a ghost just let the little hamster on the wheel of my brain try all kinds of stuff. I still sort of laugh at "and I may have observed a floating(big word I can't remember) in the shape of lips. Cause it is both spooky and cop-like.(That is a favorite around our house though cause it's also the "Die, you bastard, die!" ep which my mother thinks is some of the funniest shit ever filmed) "We wanted to wait to get a divorce after all the children were dead."

Anyone around to do a quick beta on a Fred/Harmony thing for the Fred ficathon?

Sure! You can email me at my profile addy.

Anyone around to do a quick beta on a Fred/Harmony thing for the Fred ficathon?

I can as long as it doesn't include any spoilers for the last episode, which I haven't seen yet.

Thanks, Anne!

(Fred is a *hard* voice.)

I'd be willing to try...no guarantees of actual helpful comments, though.

It is now insent to Anne and sj. Erika, I'll get you a copy as well.

Thanks so much!

No sweat.(Man, I really need to start writing characters my age...I sound like a time capsule.)

Final story, posted.. It is called "Some Girls."

there, the last scene of the first section of the new series.

The look she gave the Magus suggested that new and more capable assassins might be making their way to him in the near future, but Fleur de Mal's voice was calm. "Does the manner of my Sire's service reflect on the quality of the blood he received and passed down to me? I know there are vampires here who are older than I or who have a closer relation to our Master." She bowed to one corner of the chamber, where sat several vampires who were no longer able to differentiate between their human and demonic faces. "I would, of course, step aside for any of those who wished to claim the leadership."

No one in the room believed her, but it was a politic remark to make. The Magus could only smile and accept it. None of the older vampires had shown any urge towards leadership. They were content to live their lives in isolation, occasionally going out and wreaking localized havoc. The swiftly changing world baffled them, and they muttered frequently about how things were done in their day. The Master had been exceptional in his ability to adapt and accept the changes.

"You spoke of deeds," the Magus said. "Would you mind speaking of them? I sometimes lose track of what others get up to, and I do enjoy hearing tales of mayhem and adventure."

Fleur shook her head. "My deeds are known. I would hate to waste the assembly's time."

"I ask only to make sure that Aurelius as the best qualified leadership." The Magus sighed sorrowfully. "The Master's chosen, Luke, was killed by the Slayer, and none of his descendant survive. The others who served the Master during his confinement, those closest in his counsels, are also lost."

"Not lost, not all." In a far corner, one of the elders rose to his feet slowly, supported by one of his minions. He seemed swamped by his Cardinal's robes, and the scarlet biretta was perched awkwardly on a head beginning to shift permanently into demonic angles. His minion wore the robe of a Benedictine monk.

The Magus and Fleur glanced at each other suspiciously, then frowned at seeing they were both equally surprised. Fleur recovered first. "What do you mean, Your Eminence? Not all lost?"

Cardinal Fortezzi had been corrupt and venal in life. His smile still held much of its old lasciviousness. "The exquisite Darla survives.

The Magus managed not to sigh audibly. "Your Eminence, Darla was killed by Angel before we lost the Master."

Fortezzi chuckled nastily. "I'm not that old yet, Magus. I know what goes on in the world." He laughed again as the Magus shifted uneasily and Fleur smirked. "If I say Darla survives, then Darla survives. He Who Keeps knows this as well."

Everyone turned to the guardian. "Is this true?" Fleur asked. The guardian nodded. "And you never said?"

He smiled very faintly. "No one ever asked."

The Magus muffled his impatience with difficulty. "One does tend to assume that if someone is dust then they are not coming back. How, then? And where is she?"

"Where?" Fortezzi said. "I do not know. How? I do not know that either, but I know Who. Those meddlers currently calling themselves Wolfram & Hart."

A knowing whisper went round the chamber. "But why?" the Magus asked.

"Why? Why is the easiest of questions, child. To torment her lover and killer, Angelus, of course."