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Walk Two Moons by Nobodys Girl
 
2.Money! Money! Money!
 
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Every joy and comfort in life is bound to a rupee, a dollar or a pound!






Giles called off the L.A. slayer without protest. For years, his strategy for repairing our damaged relationship seemed to be to give me whatever I wanted. I was glad for it, this time, because I did not have the heart to argue. It had been a long day. First I slept in. Next, Willow called and told me that the scholarship results were going to be out, and then... I was late for class.

Willow got the scholarship and is now out celebrating with Xander. I got it too, but I’m stuck in the library, catching up on the classes I missed, and daydreamed through. Med school’s damn tough, and I’m just surprised that I made it into one.

It’s been a rocky path to here, wherever here is.

When Sunnydale collapsed, we moved to Rome and I went back to college. After all, studying seemed like a good way to get my mind off all the friends I lost in the apocalypse. My new friend Ti -The Immortal sounds so poncy…. er, need to watch the British slang - had great contacts, and he helped me get admission into a good college. Two years of college and private tuitions later… Ta-da! I made it into St. Govain Medical School, London.

Ti was okay, for a rebound, but we didn’t last. A year before I moved to London, I caught him in bed with a skanky vamp. So, I dusted the bitch, and earned Ti a new name, 'The Invalid.' I never did check to see if he got his head out of the toilet.

These seven years have been fruitful in ways too. In a month's time, I'll be earning my first salary as a medical intern! Plus, as a bonus to the scholarship I was granted, fifty percent of my med school expenses, as well as ten percent of my post grad costs will be refunded. I have repaired my relationship with Will and Xander and, although I am still working on things with Giles, my bond with Dawn has never been stronger.

Dawn has become the best little sister. No more whining, complaining or getting into trouble. She lets me borrow all her clothes, is totally supportive, and a fabulous cook!

She's also quite a globetrotter. She spends all her holidays traveling. She visits Xander in Sydney, Cordy in LA... I don't know what memories of Queen C the monks stuffed into my sister’s head, but, they are the best of friends. She also visits Andrew in Shoryaveersthan, and her slayer friends, who live all over this blue-green orb.

The only place she never goes is Faith and Wood’s house, in New York. Dawn hasn’t forgiven Wood for attempting to kill Spike. Neither have I, for that matter. But, I guess no matter how mad she was at him in Sunnydale, he’s still her best friend.


Dawn makes it up to Faith by tagging along with her, on her tours. Faith’s become a pop star and has won a dozen awards. Her songs are chart-toppers, and everyone is crazy about her band. It's called, The Beauty and the Beast. Faith’s the beauty and Lorne’s the beast. Fans think the green getup is part of Lorne’s beast look; no one knows he is a demon. It’s kinda funny. A slayer and a demon ruling teen hearts!


This time, Dawn’s going to Toronto, with Becky, the *love of her life.* While she’s there, she’s going to recruit a new slayer. The procedure is simple. You tell them that they’re a slayer, recount slayer history, give a job description, and finalize the salary - Yes, Giles pays the slayers. I, myself, got seven years worth in one go and spent it on the great Summers’ re-education movement. - Then, they undergo a six-month training, get a watcher, are assigned a location and sent off to save the world. What a way to tell someone they’re ruined for eternity!








When I tell Dawn about the scholarship, she gets totally excited, and we do a happy jig around the living room.

"So they give us back money?"


"Yes, but it’s about more than that. I get to work in one of the most prestigious hospitals in the world!"

"Yeah, yeah... But they give us money right?"

"Yup."

"Yay! We get mo-ney! We get mo-ney! We get mo-ney!"

"Yeah, and the privilege of living in the same city as Andrew again," I mutter sarcastically. "I forbid you invite him over. He comes for a week and stays for a month!"

"We get mo-ney! We get mo-ney! We get mo-ney!"

"Did you hear a word I just said?"

"We get mo-ney! We get mo-ney! We get mo-ney!"







Shoryaveersthan. It’s a small Asian country. Basically, it is a group of three hundred interconnected islands on the Indian Ocean . It has a variety of intermingled cultures: British, French, Persian, Indian and Spanish. The locals speak both fluent English and Hindi/Urdu. Each Island has a slightly different climate and terrain. This is, of course, all according to Willow. I can’t even pronounce the name of the place!

Our Island , which is also the capital, is called Martandbhav, or, The Land of the Sun. The unique thing about the island is that it has sunny beaches in the summer, and snow in the winter. It would make for a fascinating wardrobe! Oh, and it’s famous for its dance and music - once again, according to Willow.








We arrive at the island via the sea, which was Dawn’s idea, and take a cab to the city, which is just a kilometer from the harbor. The sky’s a clear blue and the air’s fresh and cool. Lush, green hills flank either side of the road and, written artistically on the slopes with wild flowerbeds is: 'Agar firdaus bar rooe zaminst haminasto haminasto haminast'

"It means, If there is paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here." Dawn supplied, smartly.

I have to agree. If there is paradise on earth, it’s on this island, and nowhere else.
tbc


***

A/N: Have faith in me and please stick around.


Shoryaveersthan is a figment of fallen_angel's imagination, and so is St. Govain. A fictional place gives us free reign to do whatever wewant with location, history etc.

Lines at the begining are a rough translation of the Hindi song, Meter Down, from Taxi No 9 2 11.


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