The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
There is a town in Main
Where every storybook character you've ever know...
Is trapped between two worlds...
Victims of a powerful curse...
That can only be broken by one person.
Buffy came out of the bathroom at Granny's and as she turned the corner back into the dinner she saW Graham playing darts. Ruby who was standing behind Graham, was now watching her; she smiles at Buffy "Buffy, what can I get you?"
"Nothing." Buffy says as she walks past Graham and heads for the door, as she reaches the door a dart appears in the wall next to her face, she turns slightly pissed off to see Graham "What the hell? You could have hit me."
Graham shrugs as he moves towards her "I never miss." Buffy turns to face Graham crossing her arms as she does "You've been avoiding me...Since last night when you saw me."
"Leaving the Mayor's? And, yes, that is a euphemism. I'm not avoiding you, Graham. I just have no interest in having this conversation. It's your life, and I really don't care." Buffy turns away from him and exists the dinner.
As Buffy walked down the road away from Granny's Graham runs after her "If you don't care, then why are you so upset?"
"I'm not upset!" Buffy told him as she continued to walk away.
"If that were true, you'd be at the bar with me having a drink and not running away." Graham runs in front of her, causing Buffy to stop for a moment "It's none of my business, really." She said as she walked around him.
Graham continued to follow her "Can we please talk about this? I need you to understand."
Graham grabbed Buffy's arm causing her to stop again "Why?"
He just shrugged "I don't know. Uh, maybe so I can understand."
"You need analysis, go talk to Archie."
"I wanna talk to you."
Buffy sighs "Well, your bad judgment is your problem, not mine." She tells him before walking away again.
Graham follows her again "You don't know what it's like with her." Graham steps in front of her causing her to stop again "I don't feel anything. Can you understand that?"
"Feeling nothing. Yes I can understand that, I went through that for a while. But I also understand a bad relationship. And I just don't wanna talk about yours."
"Look, I know you and Regina have your own issues, and I should've told you about that before you took the job."
"Yeah, why the secrecy? We're all adults. You can do whatever you want."
"Cause I-I didn't want you to look at me the way you are now."
"Why do you care how I look at you?"
"Because..."
Buffy rolls her eyes "What?"
Graham didn't answer instead he placed both his hands on the side of her face and kissed her. The moment his lips meet hers, Graham starts seeing flashes of the forest and a wolf.
Buffy was shocked and froze for a moment before pushing him away "What the hell was that?"
Graham looks at her confused "Did you see that?"
"How much have you been drinking? That was way over the line."
"I'm sorry. I just—"
"What? You what?" Buffy exclaimed.
"I need to feel something."
Buffy was quickly reminded of her 'relationship' with Spike and how she used him because she couldn't feel anything. Buffy shook herself out of the memories and stared at Graham "Listen to me, Graham. You are drunk and full of regret. I get it, I have been in the same position before. But let me make myself clear whatever it is you are looking to feel, I can tell you one thing. You're not getting it with me." Buffy stared at him for another moment before walking off in the opposite direction.
The next morning Buffy is coming downstairs from her room when she sees the bouquet of flowers on the table "Really?" Buffy rolls her eyes as she picks up the flowers and heads the bin, Mary Margaret notices and comes running towards Buffy "Oh! Hey, wait. What are you doing?"
Buffy dumps the flowers in the rubbish then turns to Mary Margaret "If Graham thinks flowers will work on me..."
Mary Margaret interrupts "No, those...were mine."
"Oh. From David?" Buffy asks as she puts on a jumper.
"No. Uh...Dr. Whale."
"Why would Dr. Whale..." Mary Margaret turns giving Buffy a look which makes everything obvious "Are you serious?"
"I know. It's a disaster."
"No. That's amazing. You're getting over David."
"Mm, first of all, there's nothing to get over, and second of all, it's just a one-night stand."
Buffy raises an eyebrow as she grabs the juice from the kitchen "Not according to those flowers."
"Yeah, maybe I shouldn't have called him."
"Oh, my god. You called him? That is definitely not a one-night stand."
"Well, okay, I'm still learning. I...I've never had one before. I feel guilty."
"Why? There's nothing wrong with what you did. Trust me. After my last relationship, one-nighters are a far as I ever go."
"Yeah, but that's because you're..."
Buffy watches Mary Margaret closely "because...I'm what?"
Mary Margaret quickly looks away from the blonde's gaze "Never mind."
"No, tell me. What do I do?"
"You're just protecting yourself..." Buffy frowns "With that wall you put up."
Buffy rolls her eyes "Just because I don't get emotional over men."
"You don't get emotional over men? Uh, the floral abuse tells a different story."
Buffy walks over to the table after finishing with the juice and looks at Mary Margaret "What story is that?"
"The one that's obvious to everyone except, apparently, you, that you have feelings for Graham."
Buffy tilts her head in disbelief "Come on."
"There's that wall."
"That's not a wall."
"Really?"
"There's nothing wrong with being cautious and considering my history with men I'm just... extra cautious."
"Oh, true. True. But, Buffy, that wall of yours—it may keep out pain, but it may also keep out love."
Buffy watches Mary Margaret walk away from her with the flowers and sighs, she thinks of Angel and Riley and even Spike, whispering slightly to herself "I don't believe in love. Not anymore."
Later Buffy is at the Sheriff station filing through paperwork, she walks over to her desk placing a file on it. She picks up the dart on her desk and faces the dart board she throws the dart at the board, it hits the centre but due to the strength of her throw it goes right through the board. "Our tax dollars hard at work, I see." Comes from a voice on the other end of the room. Buffy turns to see Regina and rolls her eyes "Graham isn't here. I assumed he'd took a sick day... with you."
Regina starts to walk closer to Buffy "Oh, so you're aware of us. Good. That's why I'm here. Because I'm also aware of your relationship with him."
"I don't have a relationship with him." Buffy tells Regina before heading back to her desk. "Oh? So nothing's ever happened between the two of you?" Buffy hears Regina ask her "You forget, Ms. Summers. I have eyes everywhere."
Buffy rolls her eyes at the Mayor "Nothing that meant anything."
"Well, of course not, because you're incapable of feeling anything for anyone. Even your own sister, am I right? There's a reason you're alone, isn't there?"
Buffy drops the smile off her face "With all due respect. You don't know a thing about my sister. And the way I live my life, is my business."
"It is until it interferes on my life. Stay away from Graham. You may think you're doing nothing, but you're putting thoughts in his head—thoughts that are not in his best interests. You are leading him on a path to self-destruction. Stay away."
Buffy raises an eyebrow at the mayor's statement and then watches as she leaves the office.
Buffy is parked outside the Mayor's house sitting in her car when Graham comes out "Hey" Buffy says as she climbs out of the car, closing the door behind her. She walks towards him "I hear you're having a rough day."
"Who says?" Graham asks as he stops walking and stares at her.
Buffy shrugs "Pretty much everyone, I asked around there is a theory that you are not of the, Ok, at the moment. I think maybe you need to go home and get some rest."
"I'm fine." Graham tells her and tries to walk away.
"No Graham your not fine. You just went to see a 10-year-old for help."
Graham stops and turns to face Buffy "He's the only one making any sense."
"What's going on? What's...really going on?"
"It's my heart, Buffy. I need to find it."
"Okay. So...how are you gonna do that?"
"I just need to follow the wolf."
Buffy looks at Graham confused "What? What wolf?"
"From my dreams. He's gonna help me find my heart."
Buffy frowns "I'm sorry. I...thought we were talking in a metaphor here. You really think you don't have a heart?"
Graham nods "It's the only thing that makes any sense. It's the only thing that explains why I don't feel anything."
Buffy takes a step closer to Graham "Listen to me, Graham. You have a heart. I can prove it." Buffy takes another step towards him then slowly places her hand over his heart, she looks at him and smiles "See? It's beating. It's real."
Graham just shakes his head again refusing to believe her so Buffy takes his hand in hers and lifts it placing it over his heart keeping her hand on his "Feel that. That is your heart."
Graham steps back shaking his head "No. It's the curse."
Buffy sighs "You can't really believe that's true." At that moment Buffy's eyes widen as she sees a white wolf standing on the opposite end of the room "What?" Graham asks having noticed her expression turns around to see the wolf. Graham runs after the wolf while Buffy runs after Graham.
Buffy and Graham continue to run after the wolf as it runs into the graveyard. Graham comes to a stop and Buffy comes to stand behind him "Graham. Be careful."
Graham shook his head "He's my friend. He won't hurt us." Graham tells Buffy as he moves towards the wold who is now stood still, watching the two of them. The wolf howls before walking away, Graham moves to follow it while Buffy rolls her eyes before going after Graham. The two stop in from of a mausoleum and Graham turns to face it seeing the symbol at the top, Buffy looks to where Graham is focusing "What is it?" Buffy asks slightly confused. Graham turns to Buffy "It's my heart. It's in there."
Graham quickly grabs a flashlight from his pocket and moves towards the door "I have to look in there."
"Oh, No. Stop, stop." Buffy grabs Graham's arm causing him to stop.
"I have to get in there. Please."
"Graham, come on. You really think that your heart is in there?"
Graham nods causing Buffy to sigh "Okay. Let's find out." Buffy walks towards the door when she tries to open it she realises it's locked she moves right in front of the door so Graham won't see as she pulls on the handle hard shattering the lock. She pushes the door open and the two enter the room. The room is empty other than the casket.
"It's got to be in here...somewhere" Graham says to himself as he starts to search the room. Buffy closes the door behind her and watches Graham "There's gotta be a hidden door." Graham says with a strained voice "A lever..." Graham stands from his crouched position by the casket and picks up the blue vase trying to pry it open. When it doesn't budge he puts it back down and continues to search "Something..."
Buffy moves in front of Graham causing him to stop moving "Graham. Hey, Graham. There's nothing in here."
Graham looks down at Buffy "There has to be. And if there isn't, then—"
"it's okay. It's going to be okay."
The two look at each other for a moment but then turn their heads when they hear a voice from outside "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
The two of them step outside the mausoleum and see Regina glaring at the both of them. "What are you doing here?" Buffy asks as she comes out the door.
Regina shows Buffy the flowers in her hand "Bringing flowers to my father's grave. Like I do every Wednesday."
Graham steps around Buffy facing Regina "Don't blame her. It's my fault. I wanted to look in there."
Regina looks at Graham confused "Really? Why? What were you looking for?"
"Nothing. It was, uh... it was nothing."
"You don't look well, dear. Let's take you home." Regina grabs Graham's arm and tries to drag him off but he pulls his arm from her grasp "No, I-I don't want to go home. Not with you." Buffy watches the conversation intently as Regina looks at Graham stunned "Oh? But you'll go with her."
Regina stares angrily at Buffy who looks at the two "Hey, I'm no Yoko, this is between you two. Leave me out of it."
"She's right." Graham says to Regina "It's between us, and things have to change."
Regina takes a step closer to Graham "And I wonder why that is all of a sudden."
"It has nothing to do with her. You know I've realised that I don't feel anything, Regina, and I know now it's not me. It's you."
"So you're leaving me for her."
"I'm leaving you for me."
"Graham, you're not thinking straight."
"Actually, for the first time, I am. I'd rather have nothing than settle for less. Nothing is better than what we have. I need to feel something, Regina, and the only way to do that is to give myself the chance." Buffy smiles slightly as Graham speaks and continues to watch as Regina stepped closer to him "Graham."
"I'm sorry. It's over." Graham tells Regina as he backs away from her. Regina gasps slightly before sending a hateful gaze in Buffy's direction. "I don't know what I ever did to you, Ms. Summers to deserve this—To have you keep coming after everything I hold dear."
Buffy raises a eyebrow at the Mayor while Graham argues "I told you, it's not her."
"None of this happened until she got here."
Buffy rolled her eyes "I'm sorry, but have you ever stopped too think that maybe the problem isn't with me, but with you?"
"Excuse me?"
"Henry came and found me. Graham... kissed me. Both were miserable. Maybe, Madame Mayor, you need to take a good, hard look in the mirror and ask yourself why that is. Why is everyone running away from you?"
Regina stares at Buffy for a moment before a smirk covers her face. Regina then lifts her fist punching Buffy in the face. Buffy barely moves as the fist connects with her face. "Regina!" Graham yelled at Regina. But Regina ignored him she went to punch Buffy again but this time Buffy caught her fist mid air, Regina stared in shock as she tried to move her fist from Buffy grasp, but was not able to make it budge. Buffy tilts her head "You hit like a girl." She says then punches Regina in the face. Not as hard as she would have liked but hard enough that it will hurt like hell. Regina falls to the ground a few feet away, completely stunned by the small blonde's strength. Buffy walks over to the mayor "Not worth it." She says before walking off. Buffy listens as Regina tries to talk to Graham but he ignores her and follows Buffy.
Later Graham and Buffy are back at the station with Buffy sitting on one of the tables while Graham grabs an icepack from the first aid box. "I'm sorry." Graham sighs, as he walks over to Buffy.
Buffy takes to ice pack pretending to wince as she places it on the side of her eye "I've had worse." Buffy laughs slightly.
"I don't know what came over me, how I lost my mind."
"It's okay. You were tired and feverish...and heartbroken."
"I don't know why I let myself get caught up with her."
"Because it was easy and safe. Not feeling anything's an attractive option when what you feel sucks."
Graham smiles, taking the ice pack off Buffy. He then moves the hair out of her face and brings a cotton swab to the small wound. When it touches the wound Buffy pretends to wince again not wanting to add suspicion after he had already seen her practically throw Regina without batting an eye "Felt that." Graham chuckles, a few moments later he removes the cotton swab "All better."
"Yeah." Buffy says as she watches Graham put away the first aid box. When Graham turns back around he sees Buffy with a soft smile on her face "What?" Graham asks with a smile on his own face. Buffy slowly stands from her seat and walks over to Graham she looks up at him before slowly leaning in pressing a kiss on his lips. Graham kisses her back placing his hands on her hips, but then he has another flash which reveals to him his true memories. Graham gasps backing slightly away from Buffy "Graham?" "You ok?"
Graham looks up at Buffy "I remember."
Buffy watches him confused "Graham?"
"I remember." Graham whispers as he stands back up and steps towards Buffy.
"You remember what?"
Graham steps closer taking Buffy's face in his hands, he smiles at her as a tear falls down his check "Thank you." Buffy smiles softly; they both lean in for another kiss but right before their lips touch Graham falls to the side grunting in pain "Graham!" Buffy yells as he falls to the ground, Buffy quickly bends down lifting his head into her lap "Graham!" she screams again and again. When she realises he is dead she leans back against the table sobbing.