Title: So Much For 'Normal'...
Author: Kyra
Disclaimer: I don't own them; if I did I wouldn't be writing fanfiction.
Summary: I left her so she could have a normal life...This isn't what I had in mind...
Pairings: Bella/Buffy
Spoilers: Twilight – Up through Edward leaving. BtVS - Up to Joyce's funeral. A lot of the dialogue comes from that ep.
Warnings: Light FEMSLASH!!!
A/N: Okay, so here's the sequel to What's 'Normal' Anyway? This isn't going to be very long, probably only two chapters. I hope you all like it.
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Chapter 1: Angel
As the sun sank beneath the horizon, I stepped out of the shadows and made my way over to where Buffy was standing next to her mother's grave, a pretty brunette girl standing next to her holding her hand. I studied the two as I approached; Buffy looked shattered, tears slipping gently down her face as she stared at the fresh grave, and the brunette stood quietly holding her hand, her thumb brushing over the back of Buffy's hand in a soothing gesture as she tried to lend Buffy as much strength as she could.
Thinking back over the last couple of times I was in Sunnydale, I tried to remember if I had seen the brunette with Buffy or the other Scoobies or if anyone had mentioned someone new, but I came up blank. I had no idea who this girl was.
The wind shifted slightly and my eyes widened as I caught the scent it blew my way. The girl wasn't just a friend; her scent was completely intermixed with Buffy's, it clung to Buffy just as Buffy's scent clung to her. They were lovers. I felt a pang in my unbeating heart at the realization.
"I'm sorry," I murmured as I stepped up next to Buffy.
Buffy didn't look up, just nodded her acknowledgement as she continued to stare at the grave. The brunette did, though. She looked up at me and I saw the realization dawn in her eyes after a few seconds. She simply stared at me for a moment before biting her lip slightly and seeming to come to a decision.
I watched as she turned back to Buffy and tugged lightly on the hand she was holding, causing Buffy to look up at her.
"Hey," she murmured softly, "I'm gonna go check on Dawn, give you two some privacy. I'll get her from Willow and Tara's and take her back to our place. We'll see you later, okay?" Buffy nodded and the brunette placed a soft kiss on her lips before squeezing her hand once more and turning to leave the cemetery.
As the other girl disappeared from sight, Buffy turned back to stare at the grave and I slipped my hand into hers, wanting to offer her what comfort I could. After a few minutes of just standing there staring at the grave, I led Buffy over to a nearby tree and sat down, pulling her into my arms.
Buffy sighed and curled her legs underneath herself and leaned against my side. With her this close to me, the scent of the other girl clinging to her skin was impossible to ignore, but I tried anyway. I was surprised by that development, but if she made Buffy happy then who was I to complain? Even I wished with all my being that I could be the one to make Buffy happy. But that wasn't possible.
I was pulled out of my thoughts as Buffy started to speak, her voice unbearably sad. "The funeral was…" she sighed, "It was brutal. But it's tomorrow that I'm worried about."
"What's tomorrow?" I asked as I stroked my hand over her hair in an effort to sooth her.
I felt her tiny shoulders shrug minutely before she answered. "That's exactly what I don't know," she said. "Up until now, I…I've had a road map. Things to do every minute, having to do with Mom."
"Tomorrow the stuff of everyday living resumes."
"And everybody expects me to know how to do it. Because I'm so strong," she said, the last sentence coming out drenched in sarcasm.
"You just need some time," I told her. "I'm sure everyone understands that."
"Time's not the issue," she said, shaking her head softly. "I can stick wood in vampires, but Mom was the strong one in real life. She always knew how to make things better…just what to say."
"Yeah," I replied, remembering just how strong a woman Joyce Summers had been. But Buffy was just as strong. "You'll find your way," I told her. "I mean, not all at once, but…"
Buffy shook her head again. "I don't know. I keep thinking about it…when I found her. If I had just gotten there ten minutes earlier…" she said, trailing off at the end.
"You said they told you it wouldn't have made a difference," I reminded her, trying to make sure she wasn't going to blame her mother's death on herself.
"They said 'probably' wouldn't have made a difference," Buffy said softly. "The exact thing they said…was 'probably.' I haven't told that to anyone." She sniffed softly and leaned further into my side and I tightened my arm around her.
"That doesn't make it your fault," I told her, my voice soft but firm. "You couldn't have done anything different."
Buffy let out an annoyed sigh and I resumed stroking her hair; I hadn't even realized I'd stopped. "I didn't even start CPR until they told me," she said, self-deprecation dripping from her tone. "I fell apart. That's how good I am at being a grownup."
"Buffy…" I started, not really sure what to say to make her realize and understand that what happened wasn't her fault.
Buffy continued speaking before I could think of anything to say. "And it would be okay if it was just me I had to worry about," she said. "But Dawn…"
"Look, it's okay," I told her. "I know you don't feel like it now, but you are strong, Buffy. You're gonna figure this out. And you have people to help you. You don't have to do this alone," I said, thinking about the brunette that had been here when I arrived. "You have the Scoobies…And your girlfriend…"
"Bella," Buffy said softly and I could hear the smile in her voice even though I couldn't see her face.
"Tell me about her?" I requested, looking down at the top of Buffy's blonde head.
Buffy sat up and pulled back a bit to look at me curiously. "Are you sure?" she asked, her eyes searching mine. "I know it can't be easy for you to hear me talking about being with someone else."
I nodded, needing to know more about this girl that seemed to have captured Buffy's heart. A soft smile curved Buffy's lips as she leaned back against the tree behind us. She was quiet for a few minutes and I was just about to say something when she started talking.
"Her name is Bella," she started. "Isabella Swan, but she hates it when anyone calls her Isabella. She's my age, a few months older. She moved here from a small town in Washington shortly after graduation. She was just planning on passing through when I met her, but it didn't end up working out that way. I met her one night when I saved her from a vamp. And it was so weird! I've never encountered a vamp like that before. It was really strong and it didn't have a game face or turn to dust when I took her head off. I had to dismember her and burn the pieces in order to kill her. And Bella knew that. Apparently, her ex was a vamp. Not like you, but like the one that had attacked her. We kind of bonded over that, the whole 'vampire ex' thing. And over the fact that Edward, her ex, had left her for the same reasons that you left; so that she could have 'normal.'" She looked up at me with and amused smirk playing around her mouth. "I guess that didn't really work out the way either of you planned, huh?"
I couldn't help but chuckle at that. No, things hadn't really turned out the way I had hoped for Buffy, but this Bella girl seemed to be good for her, seemed to treat her right.
"We didn't actually get together until after Christmas, around New Years," Buffy said, continuing her story. "It wasn't anything either of us planned, it just sort of…happened. I think you'd like her. Mom loved her." A small, sad smile crossed Buffy's face for a moment before she shook it off and continued talking, telling me more about her Bella. "She used to be the biggest klutz. I mean, don't get me wrong, she still kind of is, but it's not like it was when she first moved here. She's sweet and funny and she accepts all the wacky in my life and doesn't have a problem with it."
"Do you love her?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.
"I do."
"Does she make you happy?"
Buffy smiled softly as she nodded. "She does," she said softly. "She really does."
"Well, that's the most important part," I told her with a smile. "As long as you're happy, that's all that matters."
Buffy beamed at me and leaned up to press her lips against mine softly, for just the barest of moments. Pulling back, she smiled at me again. "Thank you."
I pulled Buffy into my arms, closing my eyes and savoring the feel of her there. I placed a soft kiss on the top of her head as I held her close. "I just want you to be happy, Buffy," I murmured.
When I pulled back, Buffy smiled up at me for a moment before her gaze drifted to the horizon.
"It's going to be light soon," she said and I nodded.
"I should probably go," I said reluctantly and this time it was her turn to nod. "If you ever need me, you know where I am."
Buffy smiled and nodded. "I know."
I swiftly stood up and pulled Buffy to her feet. We walked in silence to my car and I hugged Buffy once more before climbing inside and starting the ignition. I rolled down my window and looked at Buffy. "It was good to see you, Buffy," I said with a small smile. "Even if the circumstances leave something to be desired. Tell Bella I'm sorry I didn't get to meet her properly."
Buffy nodded. "Maybe you can meet her some other time," she suggested. "When the circumstances are better."
"I'd like that."
Buffy smiled once more and leaned in the window of my car and placed a soft kiss on my cheek. "Take care of yourself, Angel. And tell everyone in L.A. that I say 'hi.'"
"I will," I replied. "And you take care of yourself as well."
Buffy just nodded and I pulled away from the curb, heading out of Sunnydale and back to L.A. I watched Buffy in my rearview mirror until she disappeared from view. She was happy and that's all I could ask for.
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Well, there's the first half. Next chapter will be Edward. Not sure when it will be up, though, I don't have it written yet. I hope you liked this chapter though. Leave a review and let me know? Pretty please?
~ Kyra