Part IV


CORDELIA


Dear Buffy,


Wow. . .I never thought that I'd be writing a letter like this to you. . .as happy as I was that you kept the world from ending and all, I pretty much assumed that once I left Sunnydale that I'd never see you again, though I have to admit that knowing that you were back there stopping apocalypsy things from happening made me sleep a lot easier at night. Still, though we were mostly civil to each other by the time I left, you probably didn't spend much time thinking about me, and I know I didn't think much about you, except of course when my boss wandered off to Sunnydale after Doyle had a vision, and you came back here to yell at him. . .but you know all of this, so why dwell on it?

We were all shocked to hear what had happened. . .everything was so quiet in the last year as far as Sunnydale news went, except for finding out that Harmony was a vampire. . .that was creepy, and I definitely was a bit too Pollyanna in dealing with that whole mess. . .oh well, you've met Harmony in both of her lives. . .you don't need me to tell you about it.

I've changed a lot in the last two years. . .having to deal with mind-numbing headaches that pass on news of impending horrors is bound to make you think about your place in the universe. . .and it's also made me appreciate all that you've gone through over the years. You think you've got your life figured out, then some bigshot Power That Be dumps the fate of the world on your doorstep, and it just won't do to decide that you'd rather be at the latest sale at Nordstrom's rather than stopping a horde of slime demons from overrunning Glendale. . .you know the drill.

Wesley's changed a lot, too. . .I know that you'd be happy for him, since you always did have a way of forgiving people that have been less than kind to you when they come through. . .I should know.

We all took the news of your death hard. . .we had just come back from doing some real good in another world, and Willow sitting there in the lobby with that sad look on her face shook us up badly even before she told us what had happened. . .Buffy, I have memories of Dawn going back almost to the time you arrived in Sunnydale. . .it's creepy to think that none of those memories are real, but I know that you and Joyce loved her (and, if you're reading this, still love her) and I always thought that she was a great kid. . .just the kind of girl that could benefit from a bit of guidance from her Auntie Cordelia. . .and maybe now that guidance will do her more good than making sure she knows the best place to shop for party dresses. I'm going to make sure we all stay in touch more now. . .losses like what happened to you are awful, but maybe we can use it to make sure we become closer. . .we're in a dangerous business, and the more mutual support the better.

Angel's had a rough year, Buffy. . .I know he'll probably talk about it himself in his letter, so I won't elaborate, but I'm sure that knowing you were still out there fighting for the things that we all believe in was a source of strength to him, and hearing of your death devastated him. . .Wesley, Gunn and I will have our work cut out keeping him level over the next few months. . .but we will manage it. . .I know that you would expect it of us.

Take care, and make sure to take the time to look good in front of all of the other blessed souls up there. . .being a hero is no excuse for letting yourself go. . .*kidding*!


Thanks for everything,

Cordelia


. . .to be continued


As always, comments are welcomed and desired