Title: Happy
Birthday Buffy
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer:
Joss owns them, not me.
Happy Birthday Buffy
By
Angel's Girl
Buffy sat down
on her bed and looked at the package in her hands. She wanted to open it but
she was afraid of what she'd find inside. Who could blame her after all; I mean
her track record with him and birthdays was scary to say the least and she was
the Slayer.
She was
surprised when she got the package delivered to her dorm earlier that morning.
Willow had opened the door and signed for it happily holding out the gift for
her friend to see before noticing the Los Angeles postmark on it. Willow was
instantly contrite. She tried to make jokes and get Buffy's mind off of the
package she was now trying to hide in a dresser drawer but Buffy's Slayer
reflexes had bested Willow and within moments she saw why her friend was trying
to hide it.
Buffy must have
sat there turning the package over in her hands for a good half hour before
tucking it into a side drawer. Willow just watched curiously but didn't speak.
Without prodding Buffy explained.
"If I open it
now then if it's nice then good day but if it's not so nice then bad day and I
want a good day Will. For once I want a happy and good birthday so it will have
to wait until tomorrow."
Both girls
glanced at the drawer before Buffy added.
"Or at least
until I've had my fun today."
So Buffy walked
out of her room with Willow leaving the mysterious package from Los Angeles
behind. Buffy sat in class but didn't pay attention and she almost forgot she
was going to train a little with Giles. Her mind kept coming back to the
package.
The gang had
convened at Giles' place when Buffy, not to anyone in particular, started
asking questions.
"Why did he
send something? I mean it's not like we've really spoken lately and out of the
blue he sends me something for my birthday. We don't have a good track record
him and I, especially where birthdays are concerned. Is he trying to give me a
hard time? Doesn't he know that this is majorly freaking me out?"
They tried to
get Buffy to calm down and concentrate on the task at hand but her mind kept
going back to the brown paper package sitting in her drawer and as a result
Giles caught her blindsided and knocked her to the ground, more than once.
"Buffy you're
not concentrating."
"Sorry. I'll do
better. Just give me a minute."
Anya and Xander
walked in and Xander crossed to Buffy giving her Birthday hugs and kisses. It
wasn't long before Buffy was asking Xander's opinion about the gift.
"Xander would
you send someone a birthday gift if you hadn't been really speaking to them
especially when you know that birthdays have been a real kick in the teeth the
past few years?"
"Huh? What's
with her?"
Willow leaned
over and whispered, "Buffy got a package from LA today."
"Oh."
Anya, the queen
of tact piped up.
"Well if it
bother's you so much then send it back."
Buffy looked at
Anya, horrified that she would even suggest it. Tears were almost visible in
her eyes.
"I couldn't
send it back. He would be hurt and then he would pull even further away from
me. Things are difficult enough as it is. It's just hard with him being in Los
Angeles. I don't get to see him as much as I'd like…"
Buffy was now
furiously wiping away the tears that were falling uncontrollably and Xander put
his arms around Buffy, pulling her close.
"It'll be okay
Buffy, you'll see."
The gang had
dragged Buffy out to the Bronze to celebrate her entry into another year of her
life. Each birthday was a big deal seeing as how she was the oldest living
Slayer on record. So Buffy danced, drank, partied and ate cake with her
Slayerettes before going home to bed, to the gift.
Buffy knowing
she could no longer put off the inevitable she opened the drawer and
tentatively pulled out the brown package. She carefully opened the wrapping to
find a card and a leather bound journal with her name engraved on a plaque on
the front of it.
Buffy Anne Summers
She ran her
fingers over the nameplate and then opened the card. She couldn't hold back the
tears as she read his words
Buffy;
I know I don't
always tell you or show you what you mean to me but I love you and I always
have. I wish I could be there with you as you celebrate another birthday. I
know things have been difficult between us but I hope that we can work on that.
I miss you
baby.
Love you always
Buffy picked up
the phone and dialed the familiar LA phone number and waited with baited breath
as it rang. Once, twice, three times and then…
"Hello?"
"Hi."
"Buffy?"
"Yea."
"You got my
package?"
"Yea that's why
I'm calling, I didn't wake you I hope?"
"Nah I'm
usually just getting ready for work at this time."
"Yea sorry, I
guess I forgot. So about the gift…"
"Yeah?"
"I love it."
"I'm glad baby.
Look I gotta go but we'll talk soon. Maybe we can get together next weekend?"
"I'd like
that."
"All right I'll
call you."
"Okay."
"Bye Buffy…I
love you."
"I love you
too…dad."
