Title: Dark Summer, Sequel to Dreaming While Awake
Author: Melissa
Email: princessbuffy79@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: I do not now nor have I ever had any claim on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all its related characters. They belong to the great and powerful Joss, Mutant Enemy, Fox, etc. Same with Prophecy Girl, written by Joss Whedon.
Summary: Buffy goes away for the summer and has to deal with being apart from
Xander. Of course, she also has to fight evil, but this time, her friends aren't at her side.
Spoilers: Vague Prophecy Girl and the movie
Distribution: If you want it, take it. Just let me know first.
Feedback: Sorry, can't come up with a creative way to say "yes" at the moment. So, for now, YES.
Author's Notes: Prophecy Girl originally aired June 2, 1997, but for our purposes, it is actually one month later.
~June 7, 1997~
"I'm not gonna cry or anything like that," Buffy said, her voice muffled in Xander's shoulder.
"Nah, of course you're not," Xander smiled, feeling her tears soak through his shirt. "You're big strong Buffy."
"Are you making fun of me?" the blond pulled back, glaring at her boyfriend.
Xander was momentarily rendered speechless. Even when her eyes were swollen and her face flushed from crying, Buffy Summers was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He brushed his thumb along her cheek, preventing a lone tear from falling any further. "Buffy, I am not making fun of you. No, ma'am. Currently, I am a resident of the lovely metropolis 'Denial land,'" Xander grinned, relishing the beauty of Buffy's small smile. It was only a gentle tug at the corners of her mouth, but it was a beginning. "Care to join me?"
Buffy shook her head and her eyes grew cloudy once more. "I don't want to go."
Xander sighed and pulled his girlfriend closer. "I know, sweetheart. But it's only for the summer."
"I know, but…" she sobbed.
"But nothing. LA is not that far away. Besides, you'll be with your father," the dark-haired boy pointed out. "You miss him, don't you?"
Buffy sniffled, "Yeah, I do," she admitted.
"So you have to go. We'll both run up our parents phone bills by calling each other twenty times a day," Xander offered a mischievous grin. "Besides, I have great plans."
"Oh yeah?" the Slayer asked. "And just what would those plans be?"
"Like I'd tell you my ingenious plan to borrow the G-machine so I could rush off to LA in a daring attempt to rescue my fair maiden," he told her. "Please!" he scoffed.
Buffy couldn't help it. She burst out laughing at the mere idea of Xander chugging along in Giles' dilapidated Citroen. "Think it'll make it?"
"Oh yeah, she'll do just fine," Xander replied. "Underneath all of that faded metal is a hotrod just dying to get out."
"She hides it well," Buffy commented with mock seriousness. She smiled a genuine smile and Xander's heart filled with pride. Earlier, Buffy's tears had been for him. Right now, though, her smile was for him and him alone. He took this memory and decided to file it away in the back of his mind. It would help him get through the coming months. Months without Buffy. How was he going to survive?
"Buffy, your father's here," Joyce's called from the bottom of the stairs.
"I'll be right there, Mom," Buffy hollered back. She turned back to Xander, lower lip quivering.
"Here, let me get your bags for you," Xander jumped into action, picking up the various bags lying around the room. He could tell Buffy was on the verge of tears again and he was hoping to prevent that, if not with humor then with activity. Xander was afraid he couldn't be strong much longer. But he had to for now, at least while Buffy was still around.
"Geez Buffy, did you leave anything behind?" Xander grimaced as they made their way to the stairs.
Buffy laughed in spite of her tears. "Well, I couldn't take the chance of forgetting anything. Especially my party clothes. I have to look good for my boyfriend back in LA, you know?"
Xander stopped suddenly, halfway down the stairs. Buffy, not paying attention, ran into him and almost knocked him over. "Xander?" Buffy asked, noticing his stricken expression.
"Your boyfriend?"
Buffy giggled, "It was a joke." Xander relaxed, if only a little. "Geez Xand, gullible much?"
"Not funny," Xander muttered under his breath. This past month felt like a dream to him. Buffy had rejected him after he had finally dredged up enough courage to ask her to the Spring Fling. The pain he had felt had been so intense, he almost hadn't gone to the school the next day. His heart raced when he thought of that night. If he hadn't ignored his pain, Buffy would not be here today. Not only did he, Xander Harris, King of Cretins, save her life, but he also gained a girlfriend. He wasn't so sure what changed her mind about the state of their relationship, he was just glad she had. But that didn't take away the fear that someday, he was going to wake up and discover it was all a dream.
"Hi honey!" Hank greeted Buffy with a huge bear hug. He pulled back and looked harder at her face. "Have you been crying?"
"I'm fine," Buffy grumbled, tossing a glance at Xander that was full of mixed emotions. How could she be so happy, yet so sad at the same time? This must be how bittersweet feels.
"And this must be…?" Hank asked, reaching out toward Xander.
"Xander," the boy replied, shaking the man's offered hand.
"My boyfriend," Buffy said, pride evident in her voice.
"Well, as long as you take good care of my baby," Hank smiled.
"Dad," Buffy swatted at her father, but Xander could tell she loved every minute of his attention and feigned concern.
"No problem there, sir," Xander said, struggling with the formalities. He wanted to appear somewhat serious to Buffy's father. "She's a treasure I don't ever intend to let go."
Buffy giggled and turned to Xander. "Like I'd ever let you let me go," she whispered seductively into his ear. She longed to kiss him, but repressed that desire due to her parents' presence.
"Well, we really should be on the road," Hank interrupted Buffy's thoughts. "I'm meeting with a potential big client at seven."
"Hank!" Joyce was shocked.
"What?"
"It's your first night with Buffy and you're working?" Joyce was struggling to contain her anger with her ex-husband.
"It's okay, Mom," Buffy said quietly, gently resting on of her small hands on her mother's arm. She hoped and prayed they wouldn't fight. Buffy was finally getting used to the peace between her parents now that they were divorced. She would do anything to keep them from fighting again.
"You see, Buffy understands," Hank argued.
"Dad," Buffy's tone was a warning. "Why don't you put my stuff in the car while I say good-bye to Mom and Xander?" Buffy hated having to be the adult, but she would do it if she had to.
"Good idea," Hank agreed, gathering Buffy's luggage from Xander. "Xander, it was nice meeting you. If you make it to LA, I've been told I've got a fairly comfortable couch. You're welcome to it." The two men shook hands once more.
"I'll probably take you up on that," Xander felt relieved. He had been worried about meeting Buffy's father, being introduced as the boyfriend. That thought still made him giddy.
Hank exited the house and made his way to the car. Buffy walked over to her mom and threw her arms around her. "Keep him out of trouble," Buffy pleaded.
"Of course, honey," Joyce whispered conspiratorially with her daughter. "I'll make sure he's kept so busy he won't even have time to miss you." Joyce noticed Buffy's look. "Or maybe not."
"Hey! Is there room for me at this mother/daughter party?" Xander asked, moving closer to the other two.
"Why don't you two say your good-byes while I go tell your father a couple of things?" Joyce said, walking out the open door.
"So," Xander started, unsure of what else to say.
"So," Buffy repeated. She wasn't sure why this hurt so much. She and Xander had only been "official" for a month. But for some reason, the idea of not seeing him for a while tore at her soul. And it was taking every ounce of strength she had to keep it all together. She may have enhanced physical strength, but in other ways, she was only human.
Xander knew words wouldn't make this pain go away, so he didn't even try. Instead, he pulled Buffy close, resting his chin on the top of her head. She buried her face in his chest and they just stood there, holding each other close. But like all good things, it had to come to an end. Buffy knew the time had come for her to go. She pulled back and stared into Xander's expressive brown eyes. Reaching up, she gently brushed a wild lock of hair back off of his face.
"I gotta go," Buffy's voice trembled.
"I know," Xander struggled to get the words out, his throat tight with emotion.
A honk sounded as the young couple made their way out to the car, hand in hand. Once they reached the passenger-side door, Buffy turned to face her boyfriend. She threw her arms around his neck and brushed her lips against his. She didn't care that her parents were witnesses. This was for her. And him. Buffy and Xander. Xander lifted her up off of the ground, holding her as close as possible. Buffy kissed him again and whispered, "I love you" into Xander's ear. Xander's grip relaxed and Buffy slid along the length of his body until her feet were firmly on the ground.
Buffy smiled at Xander and her eyes lit up. Then she turned to give her mother a final good-bye. Still smiling, Buffy climbed in the car and her father pulled away.
Xander stood there on the sidewalk in a state of shock. Long after Hank's car had disappeared from sight, he stood there beside Joyce, not saying anything. Finally, Joyce walked over to Xander, wrapped her arm around his shoulders, and led him back to the porch. They sat side-by-side on the front steps in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
"She said she loved me," Xander blurted out. He didn't know why he was telling her this. This was Joyce, Buffy's mom. But it didn't matter. The single most amazing thing in his life had just happened and he needed to share is with someone. Too bad Willow was at her grandparents' house. She would love this.
"She hasn't told you that before?" Joyce asked.
Xander shook his head. "We agreed never to tell each other something that important unless we were sure we meant it. To prevent getting hurt, or something like that."
"Then she meant it," Joyce decided. She knew her daughter. Buffy kept her feeling locked deep inside. She was so afraid of getting hurt. Joyce felt guilty, knowing that her failed relationship with Buffy's father was the major cause of Buffy's anxiety. But Xander had been good for her daughter. She smiled a lot more, hugged more frequently. These were little things, but the meant the world to her. It's the little things in life that matter most.
"Wow!" Xander mumbled. Joyce smiled at his amazement. As a mother, she felt her daughter was moving too fast with this boy. But as a woman, well, she knew things were right on track.
"Hey Joyce?" Xander's voice disrupted the woman's train of thought.
"Hmmm?" she replied.
"Do you mind if I stay here awhile?" he asked. "You know, until Buffy calls at least?"
Joyce frowned slightly, but quickly moved to cover it up so that Xander wouldn't get the wrong idea. She had a vague idea of what his home life was like and she wasn't too thrilled with what she did know. "Sure. The couch is available, too," she told him. "Just in case she calls late. Or you can just sleep in her bed."
"The couch is fine," Xander said with a small smile. At least he didn't have to go home tonight.
Joyce stood up and moved toward the door. "Hungry?" she asked her houseguest.
Xander followed her lead. "Famished," he admitted.
"Now why doesn't that surprise me?" Joyce laughed as she closed the front door behind her.
Author: Melissa
Email: princessbuffy79@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: I do not now nor have I ever had any claim on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all its related characters. They belong to the great and powerful Joss, Mutant Enemy, Fox, etc. Same with Prophecy Girl, written by Joss Whedon.
Summary: Buffy goes away for the summer and has to deal with being apart from
Xander. Of course, she also has to fight evil, but this time, her friends aren't at her side.
Spoilers: Vague Prophecy Girl and the movie
Distribution: If you want it, take it. Just let me know first.
Feedback: Sorry, can't come up with a creative way to say "yes" at the moment. So, for now, YES.
Author's Notes: Prophecy Girl originally aired June 2, 1997, but for our purposes, it is actually one month later.
~June 7, 1997~
"I'm not gonna cry or anything like that," Buffy said, her voice muffled in Xander's shoulder.
"Nah, of course you're not," Xander smiled, feeling her tears soak through his shirt. "You're big strong Buffy."
"Are you making fun of me?" the blond pulled back, glaring at her boyfriend.
Xander was momentarily rendered speechless. Even when her eyes were swollen and her face flushed from crying, Buffy Summers was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He brushed his thumb along her cheek, preventing a lone tear from falling any further. "Buffy, I am not making fun of you. No, ma'am. Currently, I am a resident of the lovely metropolis 'Denial land,'" Xander grinned, relishing the beauty of Buffy's small smile. It was only a gentle tug at the corners of her mouth, but it was a beginning. "Care to join me?"
Buffy shook her head and her eyes grew cloudy once more. "I don't want to go."
Xander sighed and pulled his girlfriend closer. "I know, sweetheart. But it's only for the summer."
"I know, but…" she sobbed.
"But nothing. LA is not that far away. Besides, you'll be with your father," the dark-haired boy pointed out. "You miss him, don't you?"
Buffy sniffled, "Yeah, I do," she admitted.
"So you have to go. We'll both run up our parents phone bills by calling each other twenty times a day," Xander offered a mischievous grin. "Besides, I have great plans."
"Oh yeah?" the Slayer asked. "And just what would those plans be?"
"Like I'd tell you my ingenious plan to borrow the G-machine so I could rush off to LA in a daring attempt to rescue my fair maiden," he told her. "Please!" he scoffed.
Buffy couldn't help it. She burst out laughing at the mere idea of Xander chugging along in Giles' dilapidated Citroen. "Think it'll make it?"
"Oh yeah, she'll do just fine," Xander replied. "Underneath all of that faded metal is a hotrod just dying to get out."
"She hides it well," Buffy commented with mock seriousness. She smiled a genuine smile and Xander's heart filled with pride. Earlier, Buffy's tears had been for him. Right now, though, her smile was for him and him alone. He took this memory and decided to file it away in the back of his mind. It would help him get through the coming months. Months without Buffy. How was he going to survive?
"Buffy, your father's here," Joyce's called from the bottom of the stairs.
"I'll be right there, Mom," Buffy hollered back. She turned back to Xander, lower lip quivering.
"Here, let me get your bags for you," Xander jumped into action, picking up the various bags lying around the room. He could tell Buffy was on the verge of tears again and he was hoping to prevent that, if not with humor then with activity. Xander was afraid he couldn't be strong much longer. But he had to for now, at least while Buffy was still around.
"Geez Buffy, did you leave anything behind?" Xander grimaced as they made their way to the stairs.
Buffy laughed in spite of her tears. "Well, I couldn't take the chance of forgetting anything. Especially my party clothes. I have to look good for my boyfriend back in LA, you know?"
Xander stopped suddenly, halfway down the stairs. Buffy, not paying attention, ran into him and almost knocked him over. "Xander?" Buffy asked, noticing his stricken expression.
"Your boyfriend?"
Buffy giggled, "It was a joke." Xander relaxed, if only a little. "Geez Xand, gullible much?"
"Not funny," Xander muttered under his breath. This past month felt like a dream to him. Buffy had rejected him after he had finally dredged up enough courage to ask her to the Spring Fling. The pain he had felt had been so intense, he almost hadn't gone to the school the next day. His heart raced when he thought of that night. If he hadn't ignored his pain, Buffy would not be here today. Not only did he, Xander Harris, King of Cretins, save her life, but he also gained a girlfriend. He wasn't so sure what changed her mind about the state of their relationship, he was just glad she had. But that didn't take away the fear that someday, he was going to wake up and discover it was all a dream.
"Hi honey!" Hank greeted Buffy with a huge bear hug. He pulled back and looked harder at her face. "Have you been crying?"
"I'm fine," Buffy grumbled, tossing a glance at Xander that was full of mixed emotions. How could she be so happy, yet so sad at the same time? This must be how bittersweet feels.
"And this must be…?" Hank asked, reaching out toward Xander.
"Xander," the boy replied, shaking the man's offered hand.
"My boyfriend," Buffy said, pride evident in her voice.
"Well, as long as you take good care of my baby," Hank smiled.
"Dad," Buffy swatted at her father, but Xander could tell she loved every minute of his attention and feigned concern.
"No problem there, sir," Xander said, struggling with the formalities. He wanted to appear somewhat serious to Buffy's father. "She's a treasure I don't ever intend to let go."
Buffy giggled and turned to Xander. "Like I'd ever let you let me go," she whispered seductively into his ear. She longed to kiss him, but repressed that desire due to her parents' presence.
"Well, we really should be on the road," Hank interrupted Buffy's thoughts. "I'm meeting with a potential big client at seven."
"Hank!" Joyce was shocked.
"What?"
"It's your first night with Buffy and you're working?" Joyce was struggling to contain her anger with her ex-husband.
"It's okay, Mom," Buffy said quietly, gently resting on of her small hands on her mother's arm. She hoped and prayed they wouldn't fight. Buffy was finally getting used to the peace between her parents now that they were divorced. She would do anything to keep them from fighting again.
"You see, Buffy understands," Hank argued.
"Dad," Buffy's tone was a warning. "Why don't you put my stuff in the car while I say good-bye to Mom and Xander?" Buffy hated having to be the adult, but she would do it if she had to.
"Good idea," Hank agreed, gathering Buffy's luggage from Xander. "Xander, it was nice meeting you. If you make it to LA, I've been told I've got a fairly comfortable couch. You're welcome to it." The two men shook hands once more.
"I'll probably take you up on that," Xander felt relieved. He had been worried about meeting Buffy's father, being introduced as the boyfriend. That thought still made him giddy.
Hank exited the house and made his way to the car. Buffy walked over to her mom and threw her arms around her. "Keep him out of trouble," Buffy pleaded.
"Of course, honey," Joyce whispered conspiratorially with her daughter. "I'll make sure he's kept so busy he won't even have time to miss you." Joyce noticed Buffy's look. "Or maybe not."
"Hey! Is there room for me at this mother/daughter party?" Xander asked, moving closer to the other two.
"Why don't you two say your good-byes while I go tell your father a couple of things?" Joyce said, walking out the open door.
"So," Xander started, unsure of what else to say.
"So," Buffy repeated. She wasn't sure why this hurt so much. She and Xander had only been "official" for a month. But for some reason, the idea of not seeing him for a while tore at her soul. And it was taking every ounce of strength she had to keep it all together. She may have enhanced physical strength, but in other ways, she was only human.
Xander knew words wouldn't make this pain go away, so he didn't even try. Instead, he pulled Buffy close, resting his chin on the top of her head. She buried her face in his chest and they just stood there, holding each other close. But like all good things, it had to come to an end. Buffy knew the time had come for her to go. She pulled back and stared into Xander's expressive brown eyes. Reaching up, she gently brushed a wild lock of hair back off of his face.
"I gotta go," Buffy's voice trembled.
"I know," Xander struggled to get the words out, his throat tight with emotion.
A honk sounded as the young couple made their way out to the car, hand in hand. Once they reached the passenger-side door, Buffy turned to face her boyfriend. She threw her arms around his neck and brushed her lips against his. She didn't care that her parents were witnesses. This was for her. And him. Buffy and Xander. Xander lifted her up off of the ground, holding her as close as possible. Buffy kissed him again and whispered, "I love you" into Xander's ear. Xander's grip relaxed and Buffy slid along the length of his body until her feet were firmly on the ground.
Buffy smiled at Xander and her eyes lit up. Then she turned to give her mother a final good-bye. Still smiling, Buffy climbed in the car and her father pulled away.
Xander stood there on the sidewalk in a state of shock. Long after Hank's car had disappeared from sight, he stood there beside Joyce, not saying anything. Finally, Joyce walked over to Xander, wrapped her arm around his shoulders, and led him back to the porch. They sat side-by-side on the front steps in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
"She said she loved me," Xander blurted out. He didn't know why he was telling her this. This was Joyce, Buffy's mom. But it didn't matter. The single most amazing thing in his life had just happened and he needed to share is with someone. Too bad Willow was at her grandparents' house. She would love this.
"She hasn't told you that before?" Joyce asked.
Xander shook his head. "We agreed never to tell each other something that important unless we were sure we meant it. To prevent getting hurt, or something like that."
"Then she meant it," Joyce decided. She knew her daughter. Buffy kept her feeling locked deep inside. She was so afraid of getting hurt. Joyce felt guilty, knowing that her failed relationship with Buffy's father was the major cause of Buffy's anxiety. But Xander had been good for her daughter. She smiled a lot more, hugged more frequently. These were little things, but the meant the world to her. It's the little things in life that matter most.
"Wow!" Xander mumbled. Joyce smiled at his amazement. As a mother, she felt her daughter was moving too fast with this boy. But as a woman, well, she knew things were right on track.
"Hey Joyce?" Xander's voice disrupted the woman's train of thought.
"Hmmm?" she replied.
"Do you mind if I stay here awhile?" he asked. "You know, until Buffy calls at least?"
Joyce frowned slightly, but quickly moved to cover it up so that Xander wouldn't get the wrong idea. She had a vague idea of what his home life was like and she wasn't too thrilled with what she did know. "Sure. The couch is available, too," she told him. "Just in case she calls late. Or you can just sleep in her bed."
"The couch is fine," Xander said with a small smile. At least he didn't have to go home tonight.
Joyce stood up and moved toward the door. "Hungry?" she asked her houseguest.
Xander followed her lead. "Famished," he admitted.
"Now why doesn't that surprise me?" Joyce laughed as she closed the front door behind her.