Let's start with the Prologue (As Frankie Howard might once have said ...)
Between Two Worlds
This wasn't intended to be a prologue to anything. In fact, I'd had no intention of writing it at all - until Skylark dropped me an e-mail because she'd just seen the episode of Buffy where she confesses to Spike that she'd been hauled out of heaven.
This is what she said ...
Now wouldn't it be a great story idea to have Iolaus
in the Spike role and have Iolaus help comfort Buffy and give her the comfort
she needs in order to adust to the mortal world after all Iolaus also was in
the Light and then had to readjust to the mortal world..With Iolaus Buffy would
have someone to talk to..someone who understands
how she feels..she doesn't have to just talk to Spike..
Also in this episode it is hinted that Buffy has come back with some powers of the light..just like the iolaus in your story..wouldn't it be neat to have both Buffy and Iolaus as Guardians of the Light demon hunters fighting evil..with hercules and willow on their side..that would make a great crossover story don't you think?
Well, I did think - and put the thought to one side because I hadn't seen the Buffy episode yet, and I had a lot of other things to work on at the time. 'Between Two Worlds' didn't actually happen until the Bard's list published a challenge to have a story where 'Iolaus tells someone the facts of life.' And I saw that episode a second time.
The trouble with occasionally having an Aeon living in your head is that he turns up and talks to you when you least expect it. I wasn't expecting this at all. After all, there's a lot more of the Angel and the demi-god's story that hasn't been written yet - including how he managed to get his second promotion and become a true Archon. (It's all Ares' fault, you know. He's been kicking himself ever since ...)
Anyway, I wrote it, I posted it, and it was well received. Skylark even has it on her website ...
'Between Two Worlds' wouldn't have happened if I hadn't written 'Heaven Must be Missing an Angel'. Buffy's world is a world haunted by darkness - and it's one that could probably do with having an immortal demi-god and his guardian angel wandering around in it. The Caranth demon and his pet soul-eater are purely my invention; since I hadn't intended to do anymore than this first peice, I hadn't done any serious research for it. But I liked the image of the jean clad angel coming to the rescue in the car park - and Buffy and Iolaus make a cute couple. (As demonstrated in the wonderful 'When Hellmouths Collide.' It's on the Less than Legendary Journeys site - if you haven't read it, check it out!)
Oh - and I did the graphic for Skylark when she wanted to post the story. I'm still not entirely sure about Iolaus' wings in this one, but overall I think it looks okay.
And that was that. I thought. I should have known better!