Story: Encore
Author: Marcus Rowland
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Genre: Drama, Humor
Pairing/Character: Sid, Buffy and the Scoobies
Summary: Sunnydale's most annoying demon hunter (AKA Sid the Dummy) returns from the grave to lend a helping hand.

Squeeing: I really liked "The Puppet Show" and it was a lot of fun to find this fic. Sid's characterization, Buffy's reaction to him, and Anya's "secret past" with him are utterly delightful. This really felt like a possible "missing episode" since it contains the same mix of witty repartee and slight feeling of creeping doom - it fits well into the seventh season.

Plus, the end is utterly brilliant. Really creative way of partnering up two characters that have never met.

Excerpt: "Okay, okay," I say "put the axe down, Slayer, slow and careful, you don't want to hurt me. I know it's a surprise, but it's really me. Sid."

"You know this thing?" asks the kid.

"Maybe, if it's what it says it is. Okay, you got any way to prove who you are, and not some evil Chucky clone?"

"Who else would it be? Like I always say, once you go wood, there's nothing as good."

"Oh god, it is him," says the Slayer, and absent-mindedly hits a chair with the axe.