Title: Acting The Part Author: Pattyanne snapkik@yahoo.com Disclaimer: None of the BtVS characters belong to me. Feedback: Love it! Rating: Up to NC-17 Summary: AU. Actor William St. James is appearing at a fan convention when he meets two beautiful girls. Part one.... "I can't believe you'd rather do this than go to Disneyland." Buffy took a tighter grip on her six year old daughter's hand as the crowd milled around them waiting for the doors to open. It was a hot and smoggy Los Angeles day, and the last thing she personally wanted to do was be where she was. But, it was Melanie's choice and since it was her birthday celebration, Buffy had given in as graciously as she could manage. Her little girl was waiting patiently, far more patiently than she was herself. The child's quiet and shy demeanor kept her from romping around the grounds of the convention center as other children were. She kept her hand tightly in her mother's, watching the kids with downcast eyes. Impulsively, Buffy scooped her up and carried her over into the small amount of shade provided by the building's overhang. Her baby's golden brown curls were damp with sweat at the hairline, but she didn't complain about being too hot. Her round blue eyes were fixed on the wall behind her mother, and Buffy turned around to examine the poster herself. Even though the entire cast of the program was featured on the colorful poster, it wasn't hard to see who the star of this particular show was. He stood up front, smack in the middle, his costars fanned out on either side and slightly behind him. William St. James sported a wicked grin in the picture, his head tilted slightly to one side. His short hair was platinum blonde, and his eyes sparkled a bright blue. He was dressed in what she assumed was some sort of 'space cowboy' outfit, consisting of snug black pants, a black t-shirt, a short leather jacket, and scuffed boots. There was a futuristic looking weapon of some kind in a holster slung low on his hip. Buffy rolled her eyes. Handsome and charming, and he probably knew it well. Although she herself didn't watch the program, Melanie was devoted to it...and to it's star. She had his picture pinned up in several places on her bedroom walls, pictures she had carefully clipped from one of the dozen fan magazines centered around the show. A school mate of hers had alerted her to the upcoming convention, and the child had immediately begun a campaign to win over her mother's approval for her attendance. Her sixth birthday gave her the perfect opportunity. She had declined all of Buffy's offers for a party, turned down a trip to Disneyland, and had even rejected the idea of taking several friends along to have their hair and nails done, then to attend a fancy tea party at the Ritz-Carlton. The only thing she wanted, the child had sworn, was to attend this convention and see her hero. Buffy, who had initially nixed the idea for several reasons that she refused to divulge, had finally given in four days ago...the same evening she'd had a bitter argument on the phone with her philandering ex-husband over him canceling yet another weekend with their daughter. Melanie had taken the news as calmly as she always did, well used to this sort of treatment from her father. Angel had never been much in her life, and she wasn't expecting him to be. She had simply sat in the middle of her bedroom floor, arranging her dolls in their beds and kissing them goodnight before silently padding out into the living room for a glass of milk and a couple of graham crackers. Buffy had turned on the television, and when the theme music had begun for 'Outpost: Space', she had sat down with her daughter to watch, something she'd never done before. When the first commercial break came along, she had suggested that maybe going to that convention was a good idea after all. Melanie's little face had lit up like a sunbeam, and she had bubbled over in a most uncharacteristic manner, flinging her arms around Buffy's neck and hugging her tightly. After putting the child to bed, Buffy had switched on her computer and gone looking for information about the upcoming event. It wasn't difficult to find. She lost count of how many web sites were devoted to both the show in general, and the star in particular. Printing out the necessary facts and figures, she'd scanned a few of the 'fan-fiction' archives and read some of the stories posted there by amateur writers. She printed three of them suitable to read to a child, then came across one with a warning on it, a warning stating that the contents were absolutely not to be perused by anyone under the age of seventeen. Wondering how in the world they could enforce such a rule, Buffy began reading the story. It wasn't long before she realized that the author hadn't been kidding around. This was definitely not for a child's eyes. The sexual content was intense. Some of it was a little unbelievable, but she kept reading it anyway...all the way to the end. By the time she was finished, she felt flushed and a little antsy. Definitely in need of a cooling shower, she took one that lasted almost twenty minutes. But after climbing into bed, she couldn't erase the images the story had provoked out of her mind. And, since she had a face to attach those images to... Sleep hadn't come easily that night. ******************** Still carrying her daughter, Buffy stepped inside a cavernous room that was blessedly cool. Someone, thank God, had cranked up the AC full blast. She looked around in amazement. There was table, after table, after table, of merchandise pertaining to 'Outpost: Space'. There were literally no empty places on any of the displays. T-shirts by the dozen, posters, 8X10 glossies, books, magazines, videos and dvds, original artwork, knock-offs of the costumes, cheap copies of the jewelry and weapons worn by the actors, bedsheets, blankets, stemware, commemorative plates, cell phone covers, framed autographed pictures, toys, and other assorted paraphernalia covered the tables...everything a fan of the show could possibly want. Buffy mentally calculated the balance in her checkbook. No way would she be walking out of here without spending a small fortune on her birthday girl. She stopped cold when she found herself face to face with a life-sized cardboard cut out of William St. James. Something told her she'd definitely be going home with this is the back seat of her car. Melanie was enraptured. Although she was only six, she was very advanced in her reading, far more than the other first graders in her class, and she had no trouble figuring out the gist of the message at the bottom of the cut out. Mr. St. James, it said, was available for a personal photo and an autograph...for a price. A fairly hefty one. Buffy was ready to shrug it off....she knew Melanie would be far too shy to participate in this ritual....when she caught her little girl's eye. "Mommy...can I do this?" the child piped. Truly surprised, Buffy stammered, "This? You mean...have your picture taken with him?" Melanie nodded solemnly. "Yes, please, Mommy." Buffy glanced down at the price list. Geez louise! This guy sure had a high opinion of his monetary value. "Honey...I don't know. This is a real person you know...not like Micky Mouse." "I know, Mommy. Pleeeese," the child begged. Sighing, Buffy gave in, hoping she had her credit card in her wallet. ******************** Sitting in the largest auditorium the convention center had, Buffy glanced around at the people occupying the seats. They were all very different...men, women, teenagers and the elderly, all different nationalities and ethnicities. However, they all had one thing very much in common...a deep and abiding love for 'Outpost: Space' and for it's star. It was standing room only, and she was grateful she'd had the foresight to arrive early. When the lights dimmed, the chattering crowd became mute. "Hello, everyone, and welcome to the second annual 'Outpost: Space; fan convention!" a voice announced over the PA system. "The cast and creators of the show are pleased that you could make it." The voice recited a list of rules regarding convention etiquette. Apparently, taking an unauthorized photograph was an offense punishable by hanging and if they even thought they saw a video camera being used, heads would be rolling in the aisles. The show's creator appeared on the stage, and the crowd applauded mightily. He was followed shortly after by three of the writers, and they went through a prepared presentation that nearly put Buffy to sleep, followed by a question and answer session from people lined up on either side of the stage. When Melanie suddenly sat up and became interested, Buffy shook her head to fight off the drowsiness trying to overtake her. "Okay," the canned voice chirped, "we know who you're all waiting to see, so we won't torture you anymore. Worldwide Entertainment is very pleased to present to you...the star of 'Outpost: Space'...William St. James!!" The applause was thunderous this time, with most of the people in the auditorium leaping eagerly to their feet. Buffy remained seated as the man walked out on the stage, smiling in a very friendly manner and waving at the adoring crowd. The minute she saw him, the naughty story she'd read all came rushing back and her cheeks turned bright red. Melanie was in heaven, though. Her little hands clapped just as enthusiastically as everyone else's, and she bounced up and down in her chair. Her mother, however, was having a difficult time concentrating on anything being said on stage. Against her will, her brain was channeling the words he'd been given to say in the story. Things like...."You see those stars out there? I'm about to make them explode behind your closed eyes." and "There's a bed in the back of the shuttle craft...it's big enough for two. Why don't we go climb in and I'll cover your body with kisses." Seeing the face in person, somehow the words didn't seem as corny as they had when she'd read them. ******************** When the question and answer session was announced, Melanie shocked Buffy again by begging to participate. Resigned by now to her daughter's unusual behavior, Buffy gamely took her by the hand and walked her up to the line. She stood back, letting Melanie "do it by herself", proud of her little girl's courage. But, when it was her turn at the microphone, she spun around and stared at her mother. Her eyes were wide and her lips were moving. Buffy recognized the signs of an impending attack of bashfulness, and her heart broke for her baby. She crouched next to her. "What's wrong, honey?" "I...I don't know what to ask. You tell me something, Mommy. Please?" "Me?" Buffy said, trying to keep her voice to a whisper. "I don't know anything about the show...or about him. I..I can't tell you what to ask. I..." Her voice trailed off when tears began to pool in Melanie's blue eyes, and her lower lip began to tremble. "Oh...don't cry, baby," Buffy pleaded, pushing her daughter's soft brown curls out of her eyes. "Please, now..." "Did you want to ask me something, luv?" a soft voice asked. Buffy looked up and saw that William St. James had come over to the edge of the stage and was bending over to speak to Melanie. His voice was kind and encouraging, and his smile was open and friendly. Melanie tugged on Buffy's sleeve, redrawing her attention. "What should I do, Mommy?" she whispered, hiding her face against her mother's neck. "Um...well.." Buffy racked her brain to come up with a suggestion, then leaned over and whispered it in Melanie's ear. The child's eyes brightened instantly, as she considered it to be a wonderful question. Turning to face her idol, she grinned up at him. His return smile widened considerably as she asked her question: "Do you have any pets?" TBC....