"Ugh!" Buffy groaned as she flopped down on her bed. It had been a busy day, and she was tired. Giles had called only minutes after they brought her mother home. Apparently, she needs to train twice as hard now that her mom is in the clear. To Giles, she always needs to train twice as hard.
Buffy winced as she stretched out her left arm. It was tender from her sparring session with Xander. When did he learn to fight like that? She must really be off her game to let a hit like that get by. Maybe Giles wasn't wrong in suggesting she train more. And Xander offered his assistance. She deserved revenge for his sneaky tactics this afternoon.
The Slayer rubbed her eyes before rolling over onto her stomach. Reaching under the mattress, she grabbed her journal. So much had been going on in her life that she didn't have too much time to write anymore. But she always wrote in it when she had the chance. It helped to get the thoughts and emotions onto paper. Such a simple act, but it helped to make things easier to deal with. Her journal was a good friend, never criticizing, never demanding. Only there to listen. Too bad it couldn't offer advice.
Buffy tapped her pen on the comforter as she organized her thoughts. "Today is..." she thought, chewing on her lower lip. She looked at the calendar hanging on her wall. "Wow! Where did the time go?" It was getting close to her least favorite time of year, her birthday. Bad things just always seemed to happen then. But she didn't want to think about that right now. Maybe she'd get lucky and everyone would just forget this year. For now, she just wanted to write.
"I don't know where to start right now. I haven't written in so long, but so much has happened to me. Mom had a brain tumor. Boy was that a nightmare. She had surgery, though, and so far so good. I'm not going to say that she will be better, I'm just going to hope. I have a sister now. Dawn. These monks created her or something like that. She is mystical energy made human and placed under my care. Why? Because I'm the Slayer. Why else?
I know both of those things are important events, but right now, I can't concentrate on them enough to write it down. I need to talk about this dream I had last night. Not a prophetic dream like others I've had, just a dream. But this dream was so real, everything felt like it was really happening. I need to talk to Willow, but she's out with Tara right now. Like usual. Yes, I'm happy for her. But I need her right now and she's not there. Then again, where was I when she needed me last year? You know, that time I was so wrapped up with Riley I didn't see how much pain she was going through, losing Oz and all.
Back to the dream: Xander and I were dating. Like, for years. Ever since he saved my life when I drowned. Mom was fine, apparently never having a tumor. Dawn was here, but she was so nice. And...ewww...Giles and Mom were married. Hmmm...Giles as my father. I can see how that could happen when I dream. He's more of a father to me than Him. You know, "Mr. Summers." But Xander? How'd I end up dating him? We're just friends. OK, so maybe he is kind of cute. Gorgeous even. But I don't think I could ever date him. He's my best friend.
Then again, he's always been there for me. Even when I wasn't there for him. I've been trying to do better this year. I want to be a better friend. I just wish I could erase last year. Well, except for Riley. He has been one steady thing in my crazy life lately. I can depend on him.
But Xander has been there too. I'm so confused right now. I've learned not to take my dreams lightly. Unless it has Giles hula-dancing in Antarctica because that would never happen. Too cold. There's just something about this dream, though. It's not letting me forget. I found myself thinking about it all day long. Especially when I should have been concentrating on more important things, like training. Xander came close to knocking me down a few times. He was my sparring partner and I just couldn't focus. The only thing I could think of was how it felt to kiss him. It was so amazing. More than that, I just can't find the words. It just felt right.
I wanted to share my dream with Xander, but I chickened out. He kept asking me, but I just couldn't. Right now, it's too personal. Mine. I don't want to share it with anyone quite yet. Am I making any sense?"
A soft tapping on the door startled Buffy from her thoughts. "Come in," she called.
"Hey honey," Joyce said, moving across the room to sit on the end of Buffy's bed. Buffy quickly shoved her journal under the pillow.
"Hey Mom," Buffy replied. "Shouldn't you be resting?"
"Probably," Joyce agreed. "But it seems that is all I've been doing lately. It just feels good to be home." Joyce opened her arms and Buffy scooted across the bed, eagerly awaiting the embrace. Her mother could still make her feel like a child. Safe and innocent tucked away from the world.
"I'm glad you're home," Buffy mumbled. She snuggled closer to her mother, content to sit in silence. Joyce began stroking Buffy's hair, soft, gentle strokes. Buffy's eyelids felt heavy. She couldn't resist the urge any longer and closed them.
As she drifted off into blissful sleep, Buffy could hear her mother softly humming a lullaby. She smiled inwardly at the familiar tune, a childhood favorite of hers. Her mother was home. For now, that was all that mattered.
Buffy slowly opened her eyes, fighting the remaining traces of sleep from her mind. She glanced around the room, smiling at the memory. Last night was nice. She fell asleep in her mother's arms. She hadn't done that in ages. Lately, it was always Dawn who got to be "momma's little girl." Never Buffy. Buffy briefly wondered what her relationship with her mother was like before Dawn got implanted into their lives. "Was it better?" she wondered.
Buffy's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Yes," she called out.
The door opened and Dawn poked her head through the crack. "Breakfast is ready," she said. "You joining us?"
"Be down in a moment," Buffy replied. Dawn shrugged and took off down the stairs. Buffy walked over to the mirror and ran a brush through her hair. A bright flash caught her attention. She reached down for the chain around her neck. Pulling it up, she noticed it was the cross from her dream. Curious, she fingered the ring attached to the necklace. Buffy noticed writing on the underside and squinted to read the tiny print. "B/X Forever" was all it said. "It's beautiful," Buffy remarked, quietly to herself. "But where did it come from?"
Buffy headed for the kitchen, the smells of crisp bacon and French toast filling the air. "Yum," she said, turning the corner into the kitchen. "Smells delic…" Buffy noticed the group surrounding the table. Dawn, Joyce, and Giles all stared back at her, waiting for the rest of her sentence.
"Um, Giles," Buffy squeaked. "What are you doing here?"
"Very funny, Buffy," Giles dryly stated. "You know very well that I live here. Now come have a seat."
Buffy stared at the scene for a moment longer before her world went black and she hit the floor.
Buffy winced as she stretched out her left arm. It was tender from her sparring session with Xander. When did he learn to fight like that? She must really be off her game to let a hit like that get by. Maybe Giles wasn't wrong in suggesting she train more. And Xander offered his assistance. She deserved revenge for his sneaky tactics this afternoon.
The Slayer rubbed her eyes before rolling over onto her stomach. Reaching under the mattress, she grabbed her journal. So much had been going on in her life that she didn't have too much time to write anymore. But she always wrote in it when she had the chance. It helped to get the thoughts and emotions onto paper. Such a simple act, but it helped to make things easier to deal with. Her journal was a good friend, never criticizing, never demanding. Only there to listen. Too bad it couldn't offer advice.
Buffy tapped her pen on the comforter as she organized her thoughts. "Today is..." she thought, chewing on her lower lip. She looked at the calendar hanging on her wall. "Wow! Where did the time go?" It was getting close to her least favorite time of year, her birthday. Bad things just always seemed to happen then. But she didn't want to think about that right now. Maybe she'd get lucky and everyone would just forget this year. For now, she just wanted to write.
"I don't know where to start right now. I haven't written in so long, but so much has happened to me. Mom had a brain tumor. Boy was that a nightmare. She had surgery, though, and so far so good. I'm not going to say that she will be better, I'm just going to hope. I have a sister now. Dawn. These monks created her or something like that. She is mystical energy made human and placed under my care. Why? Because I'm the Slayer. Why else?
I know both of those things are important events, but right now, I can't concentrate on them enough to write it down. I need to talk about this dream I had last night. Not a prophetic dream like others I've had, just a dream. But this dream was so real, everything felt like it was really happening. I need to talk to Willow, but she's out with Tara right now. Like usual. Yes, I'm happy for her. But I need her right now and she's not there. Then again, where was I when she needed me last year? You know, that time I was so wrapped up with Riley I didn't see how much pain she was going through, losing Oz and all.
Back to the dream: Xander and I were dating. Like, for years. Ever since he saved my life when I drowned. Mom was fine, apparently never having a tumor. Dawn was here, but she was so nice. And...ewww...Giles and Mom were married. Hmmm...Giles as my father. I can see how that could happen when I dream. He's more of a father to me than Him. You know, "Mr. Summers." But Xander? How'd I end up dating him? We're just friends. OK, so maybe he is kind of cute. Gorgeous even. But I don't think I could ever date him. He's my best friend.
Then again, he's always been there for me. Even when I wasn't there for him. I've been trying to do better this year. I want to be a better friend. I just wish I could erase last year. Well, except for Riley. He has been one steady thing in my crazy life lately. I can depend on him.
But Xander has been there too. I'm so confused right now. I've learned not to take my dreams lightly. Unless it has Giles hula-dancing in Antarctica because that would never happen. Too cold. There's just something about this dream, though. It's not letting me forget. I found myself thinking about it all day long. Especially when I should have been concentrating on more important things, like training. Xander came close to knocking me down a few times. He was my sparring partner and I just couldn't focus. The only thing I could think of was how it felt to kiss him. It was so amazing. More than that, I just can't find the words. It just felt right.
I wanted to share my dream with Xander, but I chickened out. He kept asking me, but I just couldn't. Right now, it's too personal. Mine. I don't want to share it with anyone quite yet. Am I making any sense?"
A soft tapping on the door startled Buffy from her thoughts. "Come in," she called.
"Hey honey," Joyce said, moving across the room to sit on the end of Buffy's bed. Buffy quickly shoved her journal under the pillow.
"Hey Mom," Buffy replied. "Shouldn't you be resting?"
"Probably," Joyce agreed. "But it seems that is all I've been doing lately. It just feels good to be home." Joyce opened her arms and Buffy scooted across the bed, eagerly awaiting the embrace. Her mother could still make her feel like a child. Safe and innocent tucked away from the world.
"I'm glad you're home," Buffy mumbled. She snuggled closer to her mother, content to sit in silence. Joyce began stroking Buffy's hair, soft, gentle strokes. Buffy's eyelids felt heavy. She couldn't resist the urge any longer and closed them.
As she drifted off into blissful sleep, Buffy could hear her mother softly humming a lullaby. She smiled inwardly at the familiar tune, a childhood favorite of hers. Her mother was home. For now, that was all that mattered.
Buffy slowly opened her eyes, fighting the remaining traces of sleep from her mind. She glanced around the room, smiling at the memory. Last night was nice. She fell asleep in her mother's arms. She hadn't done that in ages. Lately, it was always Dawn who got to be "momma's little girl." Never Buffy. Buffy briefly wondered what her relationship with her mother was like before Dawn got implanted into their lives. "Was it better?" she wondered.
Buffy's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Yes," she called out.
The door opened and Dawn poked her head through the crack. "Breakfast is ready," she said. "You joining us?"
"Be down in a moment," Buffy replied. Dawn shrugged and took off down the stairs. Buffy walked over to the mirror and ran a brush through her hair. A bright flash caught her attention. She reached down for the chain around her neck. Pulling it up, she noticed it was the cross from her dream. Curious, she fingered the ring attached to the necklace. Buffy noticed writing on the underside and squinted to read the tiny print. "B/X Forever" was all it said. "It's beautiful," Buffy remarked, quietly to herself. "But where did it come from?"
Buffy headed for the kitchen, the smells of crisp bacon and French toast filling the air. "Yum," she said, turning the corner into the kitchen. "Smells delic…" Buffy noticed the group surrounding the table. Dawn, Joyce, and Giles all stared back at her, waiting for the rest of her sentence.
"Um, Giles," Buffy squeaked. "What are you doing here?"
"Very funny, Buffy," Giles dryly stated. "You know very well that I live here. Now come have a seat."
Buffy stared at the scene for a moment longer before her world went black and she hit the floor.