kaymickbee

A cookie for me: Drabble Nominated

kaymickbee — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 01:27:05 GMT

What fun to open my Yahoo email and see something besides coupons and spam.

A drabble I wrote for open_on_sunday has been nominated for an award over at rwsawards.

SQUEE!

The fic is here: (tinged with B/G)

Click the lovely button for the nominees...and thanks to whomever submitted me!

it's my day at summer of Giles !

kaymickbee — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 17:02:48 GMT

I have been excitedly looking forward to this!

Head on over to the wooooonderful summer_of_giles community and read my two humble offerings... and be sure to check out the many great contributions happening DAILY over there.

Meta: Buffy at 32, The Buffy/Giles Ship

FIC: After It Was Over (3 parts/complete)

WOOT! Giles!

B/G drabble

kaymickbee — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:44:54 GMT

a little contribution while I try to get my mojo going for Summer of Giles!

BtVS Drabbles: Based on 'The Yoko Factor'

kaymickbee — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 02:20:36 GMT

See the master list & celebrate your favourite episodes!

Disclaimer: Drabbles rated FRC. No profit is made from the use of these (loved & lauded) characters.

Look Down On Me
Anya & Tara, in the bathroom

It did have nice tile, but not nice enough to override—“

“This is rude,” Anya said, her voice shattering Tara’s thoughts, and echoing them.

“Sh-should we… leave?”

“No.” Anya said, and her hand moved to Tara’s.

“I’m tired of always feeling like an outsider around the precious Scoobies,” she said.

Tara swallowed. “It is hard to… feel like a part of them.”

“They look down on me. And you. We should do our own thing.”

Tara looked to where Anya sat. “I’m looking down on you, now.” Her voice was soft, her hand clenching.

“Well, that’s not so bad.”

Crème Brulee
Riley & Xander, somewhere after the arguing & before Adam

“What are you doing here?”

“Felt bad. Brought you different clothes.”

Riley was overwhelmed by the kindness. He took a deep breath.

“What?”

“How is it that she is surrounded by nice guys and spends all her energy on that prick?”

“I’m kinda glad I *don’t* know.”

Riley was already pulling on the black sweats, grateful.

“Look, the Buffy/Angel thing, it’s… well, it sucks, but maybe it’s more complicated than I—“

“I saw him,” Riley said. “Pretty simple, if you ask me. Call a souled demon what you want, but crème brulee is just a pile of burnt stuff.”

The Two
Giles & Willow, post argument

Tara managed to stay silent in the background, even after Xander huffed out the door with Anya haughtily behind.

Willow stormed upstairs.

“’Bloody hell?’ That’s all you have to say?”

“When did I say that?” came a muffled voice.

“Tara. And me. You said…”

“Willow—“

“What?”

He had dragged himself to a sitting position. “I am just the funny drunk. The retired librarian. Crusty Alfred. Who cares what I say about your love life… or anything?”

She sighed and lingered in the room for one moment longer, wishing for a simpler time that maybe never existed. “I still do.”

Top 10 Favorite Aspects of The Yoko Factor

kaymickbee — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 02:13:05 GMT

See the master list & celebrate your favourite episodes!

This is the episode I constantly turn to for laughs, Scooby-goodness, and often, fic-inspiration. Here is why:

OK, so it's never a true victory when one of the good guys dies, but just because Forrest was fighting evil, it didn't make him good. And even before the Maggie Walshness of it all occurred, he was still a chauvinistic jerk with very little else to round out his character. Sorry about the skewering, dude. See you in the drumline...

Oh, Spike. Season 4 was when he was truly funny ('Pangs' is another s4 favorite, and seriously? When he was tied to the chair getting shot with arrows. Guffaw!)... and not yet annoying-Spuffy version of Spike (sorry, but I just never bought into his nobility). He was scheming after one thing: chip removal... and along the way, he became the perfect emotional foil for the Scoobies, who by their own admission in the episodes following this one, were a prime target for his setup. His dialogue with Adam to begin the show was giggle-inducing. To me, this version of Spike is his best.

Poor, stupid Riley. It wasn't his fault. His earnestness would never be a match for Angel's billowly-ness, and his simplistic viewpoint was never going to stretch wide enough to embrace Buffy's complicated line of work. This ep showcased the chasm between them with depth and humor. Between that and the clown pants, I felt quite empathetic for soldier boy during this episode. He never stood a chance.

Anya had a smaller filter than even Cordelia, and this time, it's unleashed full throttle toward Willow, Buffy... and Xander. Reducing her lover to a clothing-delivery-service, then raising him to the status of Viking-in-the-sack, she also let us all know exactly how much she cared about what the other girls in Xander's life thought of her. Absolutely-not-at-all.

I ship Buffy with Giles. Because I started watching the show as the 6th season aired, it was easy for me. But of the canon ships, there are aspects of Buffy & Angel that I enjoy... mainly, it's the inevitable (and very slow) growth that leads them to the wisdom that they aren't good for each other, and allows them to maintain a loyalty and tenderness toward each other. Angel is at his snarky, big-brothery best in this episode. He could have let Riley off the hook, but he just flat-out didn't. It was a dick of a thing to do, but it was such fitting comedy in an episode of communication blunders that it works. The sweet and simple, "I don't like him" he utters to Buffy in farewell says it all: "He's a prat, but if he treats you right, I'm happy you're happy."

Oh Giles. He is my favorite character, period, and Giles-angst is the stuff that has launched 100 wonderful fics I have read, (and a few dozen kinda good ones I've written :) His ability to squash his lows behind his maturity, wisdom, sarcasm, and glasses can only hide it for so long. Spike's words to the 'retired library' carry a sting that sends our Watcher into a stooper... and when he hurts, so do we. And when he hurts, we also swoon.

This is probably the single line from the entire series that I quote All. The. Time. It is the outraged cry of 3 not-quite-adults trying to figure out how their best friendship needs to realign. And Willow, who gave us many unlikeable moments during season 4, was at her sweet and salty best during the big Scooby round-up.

Because... he's singing Giles.

So many unresolved conflicts, hidden resentments, and funny, funny lines crammed into perhaps the best core four debate of the series. Fort Dix? Tara's your girlfriend? Bloody hell! If i was any more open minded... my brain would fall out! Whatever happened to Latin? It's all there in this completely unforgettable scene that never fails to make me laugh.

In a recent perusal of 'new fan' icons, Tumblr sites, etc., "Fort Dix?!" seems to be one of the most often quoted Giles moments, and drunk!Giles seems to be somewhat of a folk hero. It wasn't often we got to see the Watcher cut loose, and his journey through season 4, after losing both of his jobs as well as his esteemed role in Buffy's life, brought him to a new, humiliating, hilarious low. It is the stuff that has launched countless fic (not to mention Alcoholic Giles fanon)

~
Thanks for going on this walk with me! Big damn love to all the fellow BtVS fans!

Screencap bases from http://broken-innocence.net

Merlin

kaymickbee — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 02:25:54 GMT

Desperate for a fresh fandom, I just watched the first episode of Merlin.

Anthony Head is hot. Royal hotness. No surprises there.

I love shiny, medieval things and castles and stuff.

Looks like it will be good.

So point me, if you care to or know... fandom communities? Fun facts? Ships?

The baby

kaymickbee — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:55:05 GMT

She has a persona... in Chicago, in South Carolina, on the internet.

She is the 4th-born Burton child, a surprise whose existence was made known to us when her next older sister was only 7 months old (&, oddly enough, we were vacationing in Murrells Inlet/Surfside Beach, where we now live).

She is a rule-breaker, an edge-walker, smart as a whip, mean as a snake, sweet as pie, an old soul, a musician, a storyteller, a foodie, and The Baby, all wrapped up into one.

We adore her, and quite frankly, everyone who meets her does, too.

There's just something about her.

Today, she is 5.

And we could not, could not, could not imagine life without her, or love her more.

best fic ever?

kaymickbee — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 02:21:20 GMT

I have no idea who is even reading my posts at this point, but for the sake of all humanity and fandom, drop what you are doing, and go read "The Ties That Bind" fic by thisiszircon, now! The first 14 of 20 chapters are already online, with the remaining being posted daily. I am seriously drooling over plot (attention to detail... wowser!) and characterization and B/G smoldering, believable, post-s7 goodness. Go. Now.

PS~ So many seem to be 'coming back around' right now. What is it? For me, it was knowing Giles' fate in the comicverse (I refuse to call it canon). I needed to know there were better endings out there, so right now, post-Chosen is my crack. Will accept recs.

Buffy Fanfic Master List

kaymickbee — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:27:27 GMT

~It's taken me a bit to find it all. My old site is mostly-retrievable, except, dangit, for the fics themselves. The hard drive I had them on is toast. I am so thankful for the old Yahoo lists and the few sites that are still up. I had actually forgotten I even wrote some of these...

In no particular order, save for the first one. It is my baby.

FIC: Piece of Me Falling (21 chapters)
Rating: FRT/FRM
Pairing:
Timeline: Post-s4
Summary: Giles is having a bad summer. Willow and Xander are mad. Buffy is oblivious, and then Buffy is confused.

FIC: As We Go Forward (8 chapters)
Rating: FRT
Pairing: Giles gen, some B/G subtext
Timeline: End of season seven. Spoilers for entire run of series as well as season 4 of Angel
Summary:This is an epilogue of “Chosen,” which follows the new Slayers out of Sunnydale through Giles’ eyes. This portrait focuses on the immediate aftermath for Giles, Buffy, and the Scoobies as they regroup in L.A. Feasibly serves as a prequel to my story “Something Else,” which I may actually finish someday.

FIC: Hard to Believe
Rating: FRT
Pairing: B/G
Timeline: post-Chosen
Summary: At the fragile beginnings of romance with Giles, Buffy wonders whether a relationship with her only equals harm.

FIC: It’s a Start
Rating: FRT
Pairing: B/G
Timeline: Season 6
Summary: Giles returns unexpectedly to find Buffy escaping a bad situation. He helps pick up the pieces.

FIC: Phone Call
Rating: PG
Pairing: Giles/Buffy friendship+
Season: Post-Chosen
Notes: phendog's Giles Birthday Mini-Ficathon (2005) It's Giles' birthday and he is in England. He takes a call from Buffy...

FIC: Something Else UNFINISHED
Part 1 ~ Part 2A ~ Part 2B ~ Part 3 ~ Part 4
Rating: FRT
Pairing: B/G… er… eventually
Timeline: post-s7
Summary: The gang is on the road after the fall of Sunnydale, each Scooby struggling to come to terms with what happens next. Buffy finds herself
drawn to Giles, but solace and solidarity are very different things.
Notes: Written for gilesbabe for the All the Jellies Themeless Ficathon.

FIC: Commencing
RATING: FRG
PAIRING: Gen, but Buffy/Giles friendship
SUMMARY: An epilogue to “Graduation Day.” Imagine if these two began their next chapter (or any single conversation!) with open communication…

FIC: Alone Time
TIMELINE: Mid season seven – epilogue to “First Date”
RATING: FRM
PAIRING: G/A
SUMMARY: Giles and Anya are in the midst of a fight against the First, a crowded house, and their own bouts of loneliness. They decide to spend some
alone time… together.

FIC: Just As Good
Pairing: Giles/Faith, Giles/Buffy
Rating: FRT
Timeline/Summary: Takes place in Joss Whedon’s season 8 comic universe. This story refers to the story arc “No Future for You,” issues #6-9. Basically, Giles calls upon Faith to take out a renegade Slayer.

External Links:

FIC: I Feel
Rating: FRT
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Timeline: Through Revelations, Season 3
Summary: The day everyone finds out Angel is alive again, from Giles' POV, and with the rest of the Buffy/Giles conversation that we never got on-screen.

FIC: Into The Light
Rating: FRC
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Timeline: Post-S7 AU, but no real spoilers except the canon outcome of ‘Chosen’ and a borrowed quote from “The Prom.”
Summary: It’s another major turning point in the life of Buffy Summers.

FIC: Leaving
Rating: FRC
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Timeline: Epilogue to Season 7, "Empty Places." Spoilers through that point.
Summary: Everyone deals with the consequences of Buffy leaving the Summers' house, even as Giles sets out to try to bring her home.

FIC: Let the Light Back In
Rating: FRT
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Timeline: Through s6, "After Life"
Summary: Giles and Buffy deal with the aftermath of her death, and return to the living.

FIC: Somewhere Beyond (Where We Are)
Rating: FRT
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Timeline: post-season 6 (takes place post 'Grave')
Summary: Giles is ready to head back to England after helping Willow. Buffy gets emotional.

FIC: Things
Rating: FRT
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Timeline: S6, post-"Dead Things"
Summary: Buffy's breakdown frightens Tara, who calls on the only one whom she believes can help.

FIC:Dealing
Rating:FRC
Pairing B/G
Timeline: Season Four
Summary: A continuation of the last scene in 'Wild at Heart'

FIC: Stay
Rating:FRG
Pairing B/G
Timeline: post-season 6
Summary: After spending several weeks in Sunnydale to help with the recovering Willow, Giles heads back home before truly making peace with Buffy.
An unfortunate incident provides them another chance…will they take or leaveit? (My first fic, ever).

FIC: Buffy the Vampire Slayer - "Commencing" (B/G friendship, 1/1)

kaymickbee — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 19:16:48 GMT

TITLE: Commencing
AUTHOR: Kelly B.
DISCLAIMER: Apparently, Joss owns it all.
RATING: FRG
DISTRIBUTION: My livejournal; will be x-posted around.
PAIRING: Gen, but Buffy/Giles friendship
SUMMARY: An epilogue to “Graduation Day.” Imagine if these two began their next chapter (or any single conversation!) with open communication…
NOTE: Gulp… it’s been so long! I have spent the last month rereading old fic of yours and mine, reading new stuff, checking out the dang comics, rewatching eps and watching fanvids, and re-falling-for Virtual Lunatics Season 8. There are a million B/G threads running through my head, so I had to get something out. I’ve missed them and this fandom!
FEEDBACK: Lovely.

~

Buffy murmured a final assurance and told to her mother she’d see her tomorrow. She rested the phone on its base and grabbed two cans of soda on her way back to the living room.

But Xander was already asleep on the couch.

She smiled and covered him with a throw blanket, settling on the chair across from him, not quite ready for bed.

The gang had piled into Oz’s van and gone for pizza after what had been billed as “graduation.” Everyone began the outing with game face on, but before the breadsticks even arrived, a more somber mood befell them. They began to tick off names of classmates who’d been killed in the battle, as well as people whose outcomes were unknown to them. No one mentioned Faith, and no one mentioned Angel, but the weight of their memories was almost tangible. Cordy left the table and called the hospital, confirming Wesley was being admitted for observation. They drifted to silence, eating, reassuringly smiling at each other, slouching in exhaustion.

Now Buffy watched the person most like a brother to her, crashed just feet away. He hadn’t wanted to go home, like many times before. Joyce never minded letting Xander spend the night; a few times he’d been there when Buffy returned home from a patrol. And tonight? He’d been so brave and strong, just because she asked and because his heart was just that good, uncomplicated, selfless. And for him, there never was a golden umbrella or motherly hug or round of applause or happy ending…

Looking at him in his well-deserved rest, Buffy felt herself relax into grief. As quietly as she could and as much as she’d allow herself, she cried for Xander, for herself, for them all.

No sooner had she collected herself, she heard an almost inaudible knock. Xander didn’t stir, but she knew.

“Hi,” she said softly as Giles crossed the threshold. “How’s Wesley?”

“He’ll live,” Giles answered. “He misdiagnosed himself with a broken neck. He’s staying overnight to be treated for… bruising…”

She smiled. “Poor little guy.”

“Yes, well…” Giles broke off as he noticed the sleeping figure on the couch. Buffy watched with intrigue as her Watcher crossed silently to the sofa, regarded the sleeping young man, and reached toward his hair. He paused with his hand mere inches away, and she saw something both rare and familiar in his eyes. Then he bent over and kissed Xander’s forehead. Xander still did not stir. But Buffy did.

“Want some tea?” she whispered.

“Oh yes.” He followed her to the kitchen.

Buffy fussed silently in preparation, not sure what to say, as Giles was looking at her in much the same way he’d looked at Xander.

“OK,” she breathed finally. “What’s up?” She handed him a cup and settled herself on a stool.

Off came his glasses. “I’m… in awe, I suppose. And perhaps some shock. And not looking forward to the adrenaline wearing off.”

“It has been over-the-top crazy,” she agreed. “But you seem…. It seems like a little more than that.”

He took a long, slow sip. “Does it? Buffy, can you possibly be mindful of every perilous event that has occurred the past several days? Because I believe I’ve lost track myself…”

She got up, searching the cabinet for some cookies she was sure Mom had just bought.

“You mean you haven’t had a chance to update the Watchers’ journals, yet? Or wait… I guess you don’t have to do that anymore since…”

Giles furrowed his brow. He couldn’t stop the mental ticking off of all the things he wanted to say, all the details in between the major events of the previous three days, the narrow escapes and large, looming changes before them. He took a deep breath and crumpled into the stool next to hers.

“You’re so tired,” Buffy said.

He smiled. “As are you…”

“Yeah. I…want a cookie?”

He took one gratefully, then said, sheepishly, “I am famished.”

“What, you didn’t fit in a trip to the yummy hospital cafeteria?”

“Repugnant thought,” he said. “Also, it was closed.”

“I got you covered,” she said, and started setting out more fixings… bread, ham, mayonnaise, potato chips, an apple. He watched, words still feeling beyond him, as she prepared a sandwich.

“Xander really was amazing,” she said, not looking up from her task. “I mean, I know I’m the one who made him ‘Key Guy’ and all, but honestly… I didn’t know if any of it would work. I definitely didn’t think we’d all be… here… in tact… having late night munchies when it was over.”

“Your faith in him is going to change his life,” Giles said, taking an apple slice and surprising Buffy again with the boldness of his affection for Xander, not to mention his admiration for her. “One of many things that is going to be different from now on.”

OK, she thought. Here comes whatever it is… She set the knife in the sink and poured two glasses of milk. Then she tentatively put her hand on Giles’ arm. His tired eyes looked at her, not masking their surprise.

“Are we going to be ok? Is there something you’re not telling me?” she said, a little bewildered that her voice was shaking.

He covered her hand with his. “Buffy… we’ll be fine, I’m sure…” He then busied himself with his plate. “Are you, however, fine right now?

“I am… I… I have no idea.” She put her hands in her lap.

He couldn’t hold it back any more. He hadn’t written in his journal, the necessity of which had nothing to do with the Council’s protocol. He had certainly not discussed anything with Wesley, who was too overcome by his brush with death and Buffy’s successful mutiny and a few pulled muscles to think straight. Giles needed to put things in order.

“We almost lost Willow…” The list began ticking. He paused, and she took the hint.

“You tried to kill the mayor. And I was so scared he was going to kill you.”

“And I was… so scared he was going to kill you…”

“And Faith nearly killed Angel…”

“And you nearly killed her…”

“And Angel…well, I…” Swallow. She had been running on adrenaline. This was getting harder. “I guess I would have let him kill me…”

“And that…” His voice went gravely. “That would have killed me.”

“Giles, I didn’t know what else to do. Saving him… there just wasn’t an alternative. I couldn’t… I know everything happened quickly and it might have seemed rash, but I did consider… a lot. I didn’t see another way.”

He grunted. He didn’t mean to let it come out, but it did. He concentrated on the apple. If not, he would begin ticking off another list… the scars on his body, the number of fingers that ached every morning and night, the number of times she’d asked him to help Angel, to trust him.

“Giles… Giles, please don’t go away. Look at me.”

“I know,” she continued. “And none of it means I don’t respect you… or that I don’t care. Please believe me. I don’t want you to hurt because of me, not ever again.”

Maybe more had changed than he realized. Who was this thoughtful woman speaking to him? He’d always given her the benefit of doubt, his faith, his forgiveness, because it was an instinct and a necessity. He would take the disappointment and disregard because it was his duty to help her, not ask from her. But she’d never really given him the same regard, the same compassion, for more than a fleeting moment. And now…

“I don’t suppose the subject of Angel will ever be a simple,” he said, resigned. “I know it was… I know it was Angelus who did the… the things we abhor so much. And I cannot ask you to understand what Angel’s nearness does to me. I am a logical man, Buffy. I can control my responses. But his face… him touching you… even his help… it still reminds me of what his hands have caused in the past year.”

He looked away, farther away than the boundaries of the walls around them. “If not for you…” No. Even though she was looking at him with more intent and perhaps sensitivity than ever before, he could not finish the thought. Because the fact was, had it not been for her, Giles would have set a fire and watched Angel burn, soul or not, some time around Christmas Day.

“I know there is nothing I can say, Giles…”

He nodded, wishing she would leave it at that, but knowing.

“I can’t be sorry he is alive again. But I wish he’d been gone… dead, I guess… before he hurt you… in all the ways he hurt you.”

She had no idea how many ways Angel had hurt him. Nevertheless, he gave her what she was asking for, what had never been spoken between them.

“I know, Buffy,” he murmured. “I forgive you. And for what it is worth, I’m sorry for the ways he hurt you.” A sigh escaped him. Who the hell was he kidding? “And I am sorry for the ways I hurt you.”

There was a tiny shudder that went through her, so small perhaps only someone whose central purpose in life was to watch her every move would notice. Giles pushed away his plate and 40 years of emotional inhibitions, and reached for her hand.

She not only accepted the gesture, but squeezed his in return. Her eyes glistening, she decided to quip. “This very special moment brought to you by exploding school buildings and Double Stuff Oreos.”

He forced an appropriate-sized laugh. She continued. “So what happens now?”

Giles looked at her and raised an eyebrow. “More cookies?”

Now she giggled, pushing the package toward him. “I quit the Council. The Big Bad is ashes. Faith is in a coma. College starts in a few months…”

He took a deep breath, then a big bite. Chewed thoughtfully. Let go of her hand. Looked in her eyes. “I believe all of this will, quite possibly, force the Council to rethink some things. Faith and Wesley and Gwendolyn, these are all glaring examples of their failures. And without their aid or sanction, we – you – were able to take down the Mayor and avert the apocalypse. Again. It may be that after 1200 years, the power has shifted to the Slayer.”

“Whew,” she breathed. “That’s a big whopping directional shift from ‘more cookies.’”

His laugh was sincere this time. “You asked!”

“I did.” She stifled a yawn. “And… maybe tomorrow you can answer my question of, ‘How the hell will we manage that?’”

“You ready to turn in?” he asked. Suddenly, he was back in his glasses and sitting ramrod straight.

“Giles, no. You don’t have to go all librarian and leave. I just… fire bad, tree leafy capacity is sneaking back up on me.”

“Pretty,” he said.

“Huh?” She ran her hands through her hair. “Not until I spend quality time with shampoo.”

“It was fire bad, tree pretty.”

“Oh.” Buffy looked confused, then curious. “You really listen to everything I say, don’t you?”

“Does that surprise you?”

“When it comes to ‘here’s how we take down an evil-brontosaurus,' no. When it comes to everything else I say, yes.”

“Buffy…” The glasses were off, again.

“We’re so bad at this,” she muttered.

“No. I mean, yes, we are.” He turned to her decisively, their knees almost touching between the stools. “Let’s stop… being bad…a-at this.”

She looked down at her hands. “I’m open to suggestions.”

“Buffy, why do you think I’m still here after Quentin gave me the boot?”

“Because. You felt responsible. You’re Responsible Guy.”

“Responsible for what?” he pressed.

“Fighting evil. Protecting Sunnydale. Preserving the family name. Collecting book fines.”

“Buffy…”

“Ok, ok.” She looked up to him. “I guess it is possible that I have something to do with it.”

“Something?” He reached to where their knees met and gently placed his hands on her. “Everything. Buffy, every reason I am here, duty, obligation, affinity… each begins and ends with you.”

Buffy stared at the strong, scarred hands resting on her knees. They were the hands that often guided her, repaired her, even chastised her. They flipped book pages and took notes and cleaned wounds and pounded tables and, she knew, were even broken, to protect from evil… to protect her as she fought evil.

And now, when Giles could leave, his integrity in tact, having won more than he’d lost, having been formally replaced, he stayed just for her.

No man had ever done that for her.

“It does seem like…” She struggled with the balance of saying what she needed to and treading carefully on their shaky foundation. “We have a chocolate and peanut butter quality to us.”

She expected a raised eyebrow, an irritated sigh, or an impatient fake-giggle. But he just kept looking at his hands and nodded. Then he surprised her again, quietly declaring, “Better together.”

Her smile filled her face. “Better together,” she echoed.

They sat in silence for a prolonged moment, joined in a touch and a new, common goal. Finally, he straightened again and said, “I should be going. We should… well, Xander has the right idea.”

“Are you ok to drive?” she asked. “I have another couch. And a spare bed or two.”

“Tempting as it is, I’ll sleep better in my own bed. But… please call or come ‘round tomorrow, if you’d like. We can start devising our strategy.”

“Sounds good,” she said, following him to the door. “Giles—“

He turned. “Yes?”

“Thank you!” she cried, throwing her arms over the chasm and around his waist.

He held her tight and without reservation, his face buried in her hair, feeling her muted sobs and quietly promising her he would never, ever let go.

For Kaity on her 2nd brithday

kaymickbee — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 05:45:40 GMT

When I first found out she was coming to us, I laughed in shock to the seven month old staring at me and my positive test.

Then I spent the next eight months worrying about having a 15 month old and a newborn.

When I first found out she was a girl, I mourned for a few seconds for 'Jackson Cash' as I had envisioned him.

Then I spent the next four-and-a-half months imagining matching clothes, nighttime giggles, and two little girlies skipping hand in hand.

When I first saw her, I was mystified. I knew she was ours, the Kaity we'd been talking to and about, the one I was just a little afraid of.

Then I first spent a night away from her, at just a few weeks old, and suddenly, I knew the myth of 'loving the first baby' most was indeed that. I could not wait to get back to her and hold her and find out all about her.

During Kaity ~ Kaitlyn ~ KK's second year, she showed us more every day who she is and what she is made of.

She says her "L" as a "W" ~ "Wookie, Mama! The doggie wicked me!" "I don't wike it" and best of all, "I wove you!"

She stares in awe at her painted toenails.

She has visited and kicked butt at the hospital twice.

She has gone to and took ownership of Disney World twice.

She has gone to countless churches, concerts, and conventions and earned her own fans in person and online.

She colors her body parts, her 'Dumbo' jumbo coloring book, and the kitchen floor with equal fervor, and she is insistent about 'working' at the ' 'puter.'

She loves her Papa, and her Gramma too... and is especially fond of 'Nanda Rose,' Paigey,' Uncle, Auntie, 'Joshy,' Brett, Aunt Jen, Sammie the Dog, and her friends Kendall, Quad, Liam, Paul, and 'baby' Adam (who is 5 weeks younger than she is). (I will make no remarks about the fact that most of those are boys. Those are just the ones she mentions all the time).

She pretty much, though, loves on anyone who is nice to her. And gives them gi-normous hugs.

(And sometimes hits them, too).

She knows the words to all her Daddy's songs, to many Disney songs, to The Sound of Music soundtrack, to her own song ("K-k-k-Katy") and to The Isaacs' "Walk On" and Israel Houghton's "I Am Not Forgotten."

She also knows the words to "Down in the Valley," and it's our special song together.

She has a bath towel that looks like a duck, and when she's getting dry, she quacks.

She loves to eat crackers, 'gogurt,' pizza, hot dogs, clementines, and guacamole.

Speaking of hot dogs, she can totally groove Mickey Mouse's "Hot Dog" dance, and we're more than happy to do it with her.

She claps and raises her hands when she's in a good ol' Pentecostal service. And she knows one when she's in one!

She has two of the deepest dimples you'd ever see.

...and the strongest will, we think, too.

She always gets compliments on her big wide eyes, her talking ability, and her obvious compassionate heart.

She doesn't get as many compliments when she's throwing her plate on the ground, or throwing her stuffed toy into someone else's plate.

She likes to play with doors, books, dolls, cars, things with buttons, drums, microphones, and guitars.

And she loves to "drive" the bus.

She is a movie buff, namely for anything with Julia Andrews or by Disney or Pixar or revolving in some way around Moses or Santa Claus.

She thinks any man with a gray beard is Santa Claus.

Also, she has an affinity for men with gray hair in general. I think it's the southern gospel immersion.

She would make a great big sister, and hopefully someday, in some way, she will be.

But today she is Our Baby. We could not foretell how she would complete our family, nor could we imagine it without her.

She will insist that she's is going to be 'FWEE' tomorrow (that's 3 fingers, like her sister 'Nanda-Rose'). But she will be 2. Already.

Bring on the potty training, the tantrums, and one more amazing year with K-k-k-kaity, the only (2-year-old) g-g-girl that we adore.

'Roses love sunshine, violets love dew, angels in Heaven know I love you.'

TO my LJ friends

kaymickbee — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:42:32 GMT

May your lives be richly, happily blessed. I miss you!
Love, Kelly

LJ love

kaymickbee — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:33:56 GMT

Someone reminded me this morning that I still have a Livejournal. I still love it, and you. I am blogging more... I dunno... semi-professionally.. on my new domain. I am on FB and Twitter a lot. LJ is a sacred place for me to vent and totally be myself, but then when I only do that once in awhile I feel like a user. Silly girl.

(I stopped posting my Twitter feed here because that, too, started to seem silly).

I know I have a lot to read and catch up on.

The baby Burtons are embracing the spring with all they have. I am trying to chill myself out and just be mommy as much as I can, but work for the convention is turning into pretty non-stop stuff. Anyway, here are a few shots of life recently. They (the kids)are big :)

Easter morning:

Randa loves singing outside

Kaykay and her new baby. She is now about the age Miranda was when she was born. Unbelievable.

There isn't MUCH seedy, dramtic, gossipy stuff going on, but there is some. I will post it soon :)

Today's tweets

kaymickbee — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:02:00 GMT

18:05 Upon reunion, KK kissed me outon lips, Randa put hands on my face & said, 'You're the best thing ever.' We were apart about 21 hrs. So l ... #
21:07 @techsavvy68 Amen on @Oprah :) #
21:07 @Babesh1 Pink & brown anything is our favorite right now... #
21:09 It's Day 10... Making my Amish Friendship bread. Kind of excited, actually. #
21:27 @amymarie1001 I never made it before. Come get some! #
21:34 :) I really am not an O fan... @kellyburton was here before @oprah herebeforeoprah.com #herebeforeoprah #
21:45 Am now following @Silver90210. Officially clinging to youth with both hands! Going to watch Brothers & Sisters now... sort of grown up TV. #
06:30 Goin' running, Lord help me. Would rather be goin' eatin'. Stepped on scale for motivation. (also thanks to Walmart, going with PEACE ac ... #
10:09 Pretty sure Miranda just told me to chill. And so it begins. #
10:17 Once again embarked on frantic search for keys.. Found them in ignition. #
12:20 Making yummy, naturally low-cal black bean soup and a big old mess. Work in less than an hour... #
13:21 We all do this! RT @VelveteenMind I made 2yo a snack while I made his lunch. Now says, "I'll eat my lunch when I finish this snack." #
13:25 @DLoesch Sigh. I had such a crush on Jaco during the Gulf War... #
14:52 Just stepped out into the hail to rescue Sammie the Dawg. Am now freezing. Um, spring? Where are you?! #
14:54 Finally went purple today for @mamaspohr. Sending my prayers that way big time today. #
14:59 Can do without the criticism of people I've never met over the timeliness of the work I do for free, esp. when they don't ck email. k,thx. #