Title: Aftermath
Series: Moving On
Author: Dark Childe princess220@alltel.net or
darkchilde78@ididitmyway.com
Rating: PG-13
Spoiler Warning: Through The Gift. Don't read this if you don't want
to know how the season ended.
Summary: Relationships change in the aftermath of the fight with
Glory. Series will involve slash pairings.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. Everything else belongs to
Joss, ME, and other individuals and corporate entities. No profit is
made. No copywrite infringement intended.
Distribution: All list archives can have it. UCSL. If anyone else
wants it just ask.
Author's Note: This series might be a little hard to follow. Rest
assured, that it all comes together in the end. Parts will be jumping
around between Sunnydale and LA. There will be lots of UC pairings
some slash. If this offends you don't read it.
Feedback: Yes please. I love to hear that somebody enjoyed my
stories, and constructive criticism will only make me improve. Thanks.
One week, it had only been one week since Xander's world began to
fall apart. One week since they fought the battle that killed his
best friend and caused the death of his lover. He had spent most of
that week in shock. For four days Anya had lingered in the hospital,
having suffered massive internal injuries. She had died wearing her
engagement ring, he remembered, she'd said "Give it to me when the
world doesn't end". The world was going on, she was not. He had loved
her completely, but couldn't even bring himself to cry when the
doctors told him she was gone. He was numb, he'd been through too
much. Now he had attended two funerals in two days. He had stood with
Giles, Willow, Tara and Dawn. Willow and Tara clung to each other for
comfort. Giles had wept openly at Buffy's funeral, and even shed a
few quiet tears for Anya. Dawn had been unconsolable crying through
both services. Only Xander had yet to shed a tear. He couldn't
explain it really, it was like something inside just shut down when
he saw Buffy lying on the ground. He had done all the necessary
expected things. He sat by Anya's side until the end. He had told her
he loved her. He had spoken comforting words to Dawn. He had made the
appropriate expressions of gratitude at the return of Tara, but none
of it meant anything. The world had lost all of its color, all of its
appeal. He wasn't suicidal, he didn't care enough to want to die. No
at this point he was beyond it all, even the pain.
It had been only a week since Spike's reason for being had been
destroyed. Buffy's death had destroyed something inside of him. She
may not have loved him, but she saw him and accepted him for who he
was. He came very close to walking into the sun that first day, but
in the end he couldn't do it. Not because the world held any appeal
for him, but because he had made Buffy a promise. He had promised
her, he would protect Dawn, protect her until the end of the world.
He would do that. He would do it for Buffy, who no longer could.
Spike found Dawn that evening, with everyone else, at the hospital.
Proving just how unaware Spike had been of everyone. He had never
even realized that Anya had been hurt. Dawn was staying with Giles
now. It seemed he had been given temporary custody over her, at least
until the authorities were able to contact family. He spent the next
days and nights with her and the rest of the people that had
comprised Buffy's family, a group that he finally had a place in. He
was with them at the hospital when Anya died. Now the funerals were
over, It was time to start again. Time to start a life that did not
include Buffy, he wasn't sure, he could do that, but at least he had
a reason to try. In the last week he had come to realize just how
fragile life was. How fragile all of Buffy's very human friends
were. He made a decision, in some way, Buffy had protected all of
these people. She was no longer here to do that, so he would. Spike
would protect not only Dawn, but Giles, Xander, Willow, and Tara.
They were all he had left of her, the only thing he had left to hold
onto.
"Do you think he's okay? Willow, he didn't even cry." Dawn was
worried about Xander. She had watched everyone carefully in the last
two days. Never once had Xander cried. Everyone was at Giles'
apartment now that the funeral was over. Giles was hovering, he
brought tea and cake. He seemed incapable of sitting still. Dawn
suspected he needed to keep busy, deal with the details so he didn't
have to think about the reality. The reality that Buffy was gone.
Willow and Tara were dealing. Their reactions had a strange and
surreal feel to them. Tara had barely known Buffy and Anya, but had
regarded them as family. Willow felt Buffy's loss deeply, and felt a
great deal of regret at Anya's death, however; in the midst of that
sadness, they also felt a great deal of joy. Willow had been able to
return Tara to herself, their own relationship, grew stronger
everyday. They were comforting whoever seemed to be hurting most at
the moment. Xander was just sitting. He wasn't talking to anyone, he
hadn't touched the tea that Giles brought him. He was just sitting.
As Dawn looked around the room, she realized Spike was there also.
She hadn't noticed, how long had he been with them? She remembered he
was at the hospital. Dawn realized with a start that Spike had barely
left her side since Buffy had died. She'd have to be nicer to him,
she'd mention it to Willow later.
"He just deals with things differently, hon. He didn't cry at Jesse's
funeral either. He'll be alright, just give him some time." Willow's
words were true, but she knew incomplete. She was worried about
Xander as well, but didn't know of any way to help him. Given time he
should begin to heal, and he had lost so much more than the rest of
them. He'd be okay.
"I hope so. Hey guys, do you have any idea how long Spike's been
hanging around. I haven't really talked to him since the fight, but
he was at the hospital, I remember."
"He's been around, I hadn't really thought about it. Has he said
anything to you? Why do you think he stays?" Willow truly hadn't
noticed Spike's presence.
"He watches Dawn, he's protecting her. I think he's doing it for
Buffy, because she can't. He's barely taken his eyes off of her."
Tara had noticed. She didn't say anything, everyone was so hurt, she
wasn't sure what their reactions would be. For her own part, Spike
had become one of them when he had fought that day. She still wasn't
sure she liked him, but she believed she could trust him, trust him
with her life.
Xander sitting across the room was able to observe everything with a
kind of detatchment he'd never had before. He was acutely aware of
the flurry of activity that was just barely holding Giles together.
It was so unlike his usual quiet actions, that he noticed. Xander was
also aware of Spike. Spike had wandered through the background of
their lives in the last several days. The blonde vampire followed
Dawn wherever she went, he was her shadow. Xander knew that Spike had
been in love with Buffy. When he found out it had amused him, but
Spike had proven himself. He had fought with them against all odds,
he'd been willing to sacrifice his own life, not only for Buffy but
for Dawn. He had earned the right to be one of them. He had also
earned the right to walk away, but he hadn't done that. He'd stayed
to protect the child that Buffy died to save. For that he had earned
their respect.
The evening continued, all of them dealing with their grief the best
way they new how. It was incredible how much they had lost in a few
short months. Joyce had been a friend and confidante for all of them
at one time or another. Anya had found her way into all of their
hearts with her innocent exploration of what it meant to be human.
And Buffy had meant the world to them. She had been their best friend
and their protector. Dawn was tired. She had cried all the tears she
could cry and listened to all of the words of comfort she could here,
and she told Giles as much. He quickly told everyone that Dawn was
tired and it was time for them to go home. Willow and Tara nodded
passing hugs around before leaving. Spike looked reluctant to go, but
eventually walked towards the door.
"Wait." Spike, Dawn and Giles all three turned and looked at Xander
who had barely spoken the entire night. "Spike, where are you going?"
Spike answered the question without argument, "Home, to the crypt."
"No. Come with me. You should have a warm bed at least, you've earned
that." Without another word, Xander left Giles apartment.
Dawn and Giles took a second to react. Finally Giles nodded, "He's
right. Go on."
Dawn went to Spike and hugged him. "I know you loved her. Thank you."
"I do love her, little one. I always will." Not knowing what else to
say to the child in front of him, he followed Xander out the front
door.
When they reached Xander's apartment he opened the door and walked
in. Xander turned realizing that Spike was still behind him. "Come in
Spike. You can stay here as long as you like. Just don't make a mess.
There are blankets in the hall closet. The windows are on the east
side, so make sure you close the drapes. I'm going to bed." With that
Xander went into his bedroom and shut the door.
Spike was puzzled by Xander's actions. It was no secret the boy had
never liked him. He supposed it was to be expected really, they had
history after all. So, why was he allowing Spike to live here with
him. He didn't understand why Xander was helping him, he did however
understand Xander's reaction to the deaths of his friends. He
recognized in Xander's every move and word that Xander had shut down
completely. That was something he understood. Sometimes when there is
too much pain, it is easier to feel nothing at all. That nothingness
was dangerous though, eventually you lost control over it, it
dominated your life. The boy was fragile, Spike would watch him, make
sure he survived the deaths of his lover and his friend. He would
protect Xander, from himself if necessary. Protect him for Buffy and
for himself. Xander and the rest all carried a piece of Buffy inside
them, by protecting them, he kept those pieces where he could see
them.
Series: Moving On
Author: Dark Childe princess220@alltel.net or
darkchilde78@ididitmyway.com
Rating: PG-13
Spoiler Warning: Through The Gift. Don't read this if you don't want
to know how the season ended.
Summary: Relationships change in the aftermath of the fight with
Glory. Series will involve slash pairings.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. Everything else belongs to
Joss, ME, and other individuals and corporate entities. No profit is
made. No copywrite infringement intended.
Distribution: All list archives can have it. UCSL. If anyone else
wants it just ask.
Author's Note: This series might be a little hard to follow. Rest
assured, that it all comes together in the end. Parts will be jumping
around between Sunnydale and LA. There will be lots of UC pairings
some slash. If this offends you don't read it.
Feedback: Yes please. I love to hear that somebody enjoyed my
stories, and constructive criticism will only make me improve. Thanks.
One week, it had only been one week since Xander's world began to
fall apart. One week since they fought the battle that killed his
best friend and caused the death of his lover. He had spent most of
that week in shock. For four days Anya had lingered in the hospital,
having suffered massive internal injuries. She had died wearing her
engagement ring, he remembered, she'd said "Give it to me when the
world doesn't end". The world was going on, she was not. He had loved
her completely, but couldn't even bring himself to cry when the
doctors told him she was gone. He was numb, he'd been through too
much. Now he had attended two funerals in two days. He had stood with
Giles, Willow, Tara and Dawn. Willow and Tara clung to each other for
comfort. Giles had wept openly at Buffy's funeral, and even shed a
few quiet tears for Anya. Dawn had been unconsolable crying through
both services. Only Xander had yet to shed a tear. He couldn't
explain it really, it was like something inside just shut down when
he saw Buffy lying on the ground. He had done all the necessary
expected things. He sat by Anya's side until the end. He had told her
he loved her. He had spoken comforting words to Dawn. He had made the
appropriate expressions of gratitude at the return of Tara, but none
of it meant anything. The world had lost all of its color, all of its
appeal. He wasn't suicidal, he didn't care enough to want to die. No
at this point he was beyond it all, even the pain.
It had been only a week since Spike's reason for being had been
destroyed. Buffy's death had destroyed something inside of him. She
may not have loved him, but she saw him and accepted him for who he
was. He came very close to walking into the sun that first day, but
in the end he couldn't do it. Not because the world held any appeal
for him, but because he had made Buffy a promise. He had promised
her, he would protect Dawn, protect her until the end of the world.
He would do that. He would do it for Buffy, who no longer could.
Spike found Dawn that evening, with everyone else, at the hospital.
Proving just how unaware Spike had been of everyone. He had never
even realized that Anya had been hurt. Dawn was staying with Giles
now. It seemed he had been given temporary custody over her, at least
until the authorities were able to contact family. He spent the next
days and nights with her and the rest of the people that had
comprised Buffy's family, a group that he finally had a place in. He
was with them at the hospital when Anya died. Now the funerals were
over, It was time to start again. Time to start a life that did not
include Buffy, he wasn't sure, he could do that, but at least he had
a reason to try. In the last week he had come to realize just how
fragile life was. How fragile all of Buffy's very human friends
were. He made a decision, in some way, Buffy had protected all of
these people. She was no longer here to do that, so he would. Spike
would protect not only Dawn, but Giles, Xander, Willow, and Tara.
They were all he had left of her, the only thing he had left to hold
onto.
"Do you think he's okay? Willow, he didn't even cry." Dawn was
worried about Xander. She had watched everyone carefully in the last
two days. Never once had Xander cried. Everyone was at Giles'
apartment now that the funeral was over. Giles was hovering, he
brought tea and cake. He seemed incapable of sitting still. Dawn
suspected he needed to keep busy, deal with the details so he didn't
have to think about the reality. The reality that Buffy was gone.
Willow and Tara were dealing. Their reactions had a strange and
surreal feel to them. Tara had barely known Buffy and Anya, but had
regarded them as family. Willow felt Buffy's loss deeply, and felt a
great deal of regret at Anya's death, however; in the midst of that
sadness, they also felt a great deal of joy. Willow had been able to
return Tara to herself, their own relationship, grew stronger
everyday. They were comforting whoever seemed to be hurting most at
the moment. Xander was just sitting. He wasn't talking to anyone, he
hadn't touched the tea that Giles brought him. He was just sitting.
As Dawn looked around the room, she realized Spike was there also.
She hadn't noticed, how long had he been with them? She remembered he
was at the hospital. Dawn realized with a start that Spike had barely
left her side since Buffy had died. She'd have to be nicer to him,
she'd mention it to Willow later.
"He just deals with things differently, hon. He didn't cry at Jesse's
funeral either. He'll be alright, just give him some time." Willow's
words were true, but she knew incomplete. She was worried about
Xander as well, but didn't know of any way to help him. Given time he
should begin to heal, and he had lost so much more than the rest of
them. He'd be okay.
"I hope so. Hey guys, do you have any idea how long Spike's been
hanging around. I haven't really talked to him since the fight, but
he was at the hospital, I remember."
"He's been around, I hadn't really thought about it. Has he said
anything to you? Why do you think he stays?" Willow truly hadn't
noticed Spike's presence.
"He watches Dawn, he's protecting her. I think he's doing it for
Buffy, because she can't. He's barely taken his eyes off of her."
Tara had noticed. She didn't say anything, everyone was so hurt, she
wasn't sure what their reactions would be. For her own part, Spike
had become one of them when he had fought that day. She still wasn't
sure she liked him, but she believed she could trust him, trust him
with her life.
Xander sitting across the room was able to observe everything with a
kind of detatchment he'd never had before. He was acutely aware of
the flurry of activity that was just barely holding Giles together.
It was so unlike his usual quiet actions, that he noticed. Xander was
also aware of Spike. Spike had wandered through the background of
their lives in the last several days. The blonde vampire followed
Dawn wherever she went, he was her shadow. Xander knew that Spike had
been in love with Buffy. When he found out it had amused him, but
Spike had proven himself. He had fought with them against all odds,
he'd been willing to sacrifice his own life, not only for Buffy but
for Dawn. He had earned the right to be one of them. He had also
earned the right to walk away, but he hadn't done that. He'd stayed
to protect the child that Buffy died to save. For that he had earned
their respect.
The evening continued, all of them dealing with their grief the best
way they new how. It was incredible how much they had lost in a few
short months. Joyce had been a friend and confidante for all of them
at one time or another. Anya had found her way into all of their
hearts with her innocent exploration of what it meant to be human.
And Buffy had meant the world to them. She had been their best friend
and their protector. Dawn was tired. She had cried all the tears she
could cry and listened to all of the words of comfort she could here,
and she told Giles as much. He quickly told everyone that Dawn was
tired and it was time for them to go home. Willow and Tara nodded
passing hugs around before leaving. Spike looked reluctant to go, but
eventually walked towards the door.
"Wait." Spike, Dawn and Giles all three turned and looked at Xander
who had barely spoken the entire night. "Spike, where are you going?"
Spike answered the question without argument, "Home, to the crypt."
"No. Come with me. You should have a warm bed at least, you've earned
that." Without another word, Xander left Giles apartment.
Dawn and Giles took a second to react. Finally Giles nodded, "He's
right. Go on."
Dawn went to Spike and hugged him. "I know you loved her. Thank you."
"I do love her, little one. I always will." Not knowing what else to
say to the child in front of him, he followed Xander out the front
door.
When they reached Xander's apartment he opened the door and walked
in. Xander turned realizing that Spike was still behind him. "Come in
Spike. You can stay here as long as you like. Just don't make a mess.
There are blankets in the hall closet. The windows are on the east
side, so make sure you close the drapes. I'm going to bed." With that
Xander went into his bedroom and shut the door.
Spike was puzzled by Xander's actions. It was no secret the boy had
never liked him. He supposed it was to be expected really, they had
history after all. So, why was he allowing Spike to live here with
him. He didn't understand why Xander was helping him, he did however
understand Xander's reaction to the deaths of his friends. He
recognized in Xander's every move and word that Xander had shut down
completely. That was something he understood. Sometimes when there is
too much pain, it is easier to feel nothing at all. That nothingness
was dangerous though, eventually you lost control over it, it
dominated your life. The boy was fragile, Spike would watch him, make
sure he survived the deaths of his lover and his friend. He would
protect Xander, from himself if necessary. Protect him for Buffy and
for himself. Xander and the rest all carried a piece of Buffy inside
them, by protecting them, he kept those pieces where he could see
them.