Summary: Buffy is married to Riley, but not all is well.
Disclaimers: I own nothing I wish I did.
A/N: For anyone who has read any of my other stories, you know that I normally don't go this dark, so please forgive me.
I never considered myself a violent person, not until the sake of my children came into play. The emotional, mental and physical abuse I suffered because of him became too much for me to handle. Yes, I have struck him out of anger, mainly to feel something. Its been so long since I've felt anything. Marrying Riley was the biggest mistake of my life, the only good thing that has come from being with him were my twins. He never knew the twins weren't his. My guess is that he suspected. Being the slayer made it easy to heal after the beatings, you would have thought I would have fought back, and for a while I did. After a while I stopped. The beatings became to frequent for me to keep fighting all the time.
The day I caused him the most harm was the day he went after Alexander. My son started looking more like his father and less like me. One day Riley really lost it and went after him. I got in the way and took the beating. A few broken ribs later he finished and started yelling at me.
"How could you?"
"You weren't here, you had left me. What happened after you left you had no say in."
"You knew I would come back."
"No I didn't."
"And so what, you married me to hide the fact you were pregnant?"
"I didn't know, not until after."
"Does he know?"
"I've never told him or anyone, you are the first to figure it out." The blow that came after was unexpected. I was knocked backwards, I know he paused to think, but that small break was not long enough to get away. I rolled over in time to see him coming towards me. I can hear Alex and Emma crying, I can't allow my kids to be exposed to another moment of this. I mustered up enough strength as I could and I pushed him off of me with all the force I could. When he didn't get up right away, I went to find out why. The answer was evident when I stand up and walk over to him. When he fell he snapped his neck and broke it.
I'm in shock and now I'm scarred, I just killed my husband. I grab the phone and call 911 to come and help me. They stay on the line while the ambulance is on the way. I find Alex and Emma in their bedroom in the dark. I have no idea what they saw or heard. I'm just as scarred for them as I am for me at this moment. I hear the ambulance pull up. I let them in and show them where he is. The dispatcher has disconnected the call and the paramedics have tried to start resuscitating him. I know its useless, but I also know that they have to try.
"Ma'am can you tell us what happened?"
"He was attacking me, I pushed him off and he hit his head. What's wrong with him?"
"It appears he broke his neck, the coroner will make the final determination. You said he was attacking you?"
"Yes."
"Are you hurt?"
"My stomach hurts."
"Was he kicking you?"
"Yes."
"May I examine you?"
"Yes." I sit on the couch and pull up my shirt so that he may examine me. Bruises are already starting to form and the pain is subsiding. I wince however when he presses down on my stomach. I hear his partner call for a coroner and police car, I also hear Alex and Emma come down the hall to find me.
"Ma'am are you pregnant?"
"No."
"We need to get you checked out then. Your abdomen is rigid and we need to check for internal bleeding. Is there someone who can watch your children?"
"I can call someone."
"Can they meet us."
"Probably?"
"Call them, when the police arrive we are going to take you down for testing."
"OK." I pick up my phone and dial the once very familiar number, hopefully they recognize my cell phone number and answer. After 3 rings there is an answer.
"Hello?"
"Willow, it's Buffy."
"Buffy, wow I mean, wow. How are you?"
"I'm ok. Can you come down for the night and maybe tomorrow?"
"Sure, but why?"
"I can't really explain, just meet me at Medesto Medical Center's Emergency Department."
"OK, but Buffy…"
I hang up before she can ask too many questions, hopefully she gets there from Sunnydale in a relatively short time. A few more minutes pass before the police arrive to investigate and the EMT's take me and my kids down to the hospital. I'm told they will get my statement later. I know from when Tim died that they will consider it murder until self defense is proven. The hospital staff take pictures of my bruises and the cuts on my hand from where I tried to fight him off. The nurse is sympathetic to my situation, she even went so far as to get the kids a spot in the pediatric playroom while I'm being examined. During my exam the police officer who I recognized from my house has arrived to ask me questions.
I answer truthfully waiting for him to tell me I have to come with him. That never came, instead he hands me his card and says to call if I have any questions. I doubt I will but I accept the card. The doctor informs me I have to spend the night, which surprises me but I understand its necessary. As he leaves I catch a glimpse of red hair coming towards me. Within a minute I'm wrapped in a hug and have started crying.
"Buffy… why didn't you tell us. I head in the hallway the police said that Riley is dead."
"He is."
"What happened?"
"He fell and broke his neck." I look down at my bandaged hands and try harder to fight back my tears. The nurse chooses this moment to come in with the children.
"I'm sorry, but they were asking for you."
"Its fine."
"Mommy are you ok?"
"Yes, sweetie, Mommy is fine. I just have a big ouch and the doctor wants Mommy to stay here tonight. You two are going to go with Willow, who's Mommy's friend and she will take care of you." I glance to Willow and she nods her head confirming its alright for them to stay with her. Alex is very apprehensive to go with her but after some convincing he agrees to go.
After Willow leaves for the house to get the kids some clothes and take them back to the hotel; I lay back on the bed and cry. Today in self defense I killed my husband and spoke to the best friend that I haven't seen in years and revealed to her my children. And yet the only thing I want the only person I need is not here. For the past 5 years I have thought of him countless times a day and now I want him here to hug me and tell me that everything will be alright. The only person I want right now is Giles.
A/N: Hope you liked my opening, no I am not a fan of Riley and think that he is a wuss. More to come I promise.