Shattered Dreams Chapter 3

Disclaimer: Insert standard "they aren't mine, don't sue" bit here.

Spoilers: Yeah but to try and tell you episode names…sorry

Feedback: Do I really have to ask…cause I will…please, please, please?

Author's Note: The type in italics is a piece I found although it was a while ago so I don't remember the title or the author. Sorry!

S H A T T E R E D D R E A M S

BY H E A V E N S E N T

Darla's laughter cut through the air like a knife.

"Ha ha ha ha. Oh this is priceless really. Oh how perfectly sweet to have your beloved Buffy have to watch as you become my dear boy once again."

Angel ignored Darla and walked over to Buffy. Buffy barely registered anything but each step he took towards her was like a physical pain and she winced. Angel was now right in front of her and he reached out to touch her and suddenly Buffy realized she did still feel something.

Rage. An all-consuming fiery unadulterated pure rage.

Buffy stared up at Angel with vacant eyes as his hand reached closer…closer…

You look at me and see the girl

Who lives inside the golden world

But don't believe that's all there is to see

You'll never know the real me

Angel's fingertips barely brushed the skin of Buffy's shoulder when Buffy moved lightening fast. She was on her feet.

"Don't touch me."

Buffy's voice was dead even and held a tone Angel had never heard before. Angel again advanced on Buffy but Buffy moved with cat like grace and speed. Before Angel or Darla knew what was happening Buffy shot her foot out meeting squarely with Angel's chest so hard that not only did it send Angel across the room and into the wall but also it left a perfect imprint of her boot on his skin.

She smiles through a thousand tears

And harbors adolescent fears

She dreams of all that she can never be

She wades in insecurity and hides herself inside of me

Buffy watched as Darla flew at her and Buffy stood absolutely still until Darla was about an inch away from grabbing her and then all her fury shot out of her arm in the form of a right hook. It was like a power surge flew from Buffy's fist as she connected with Darla's face.

Darla stumbled backwards, her hands covering her nose or rather what was left of it. Blood poured between her fingers and covered Buffy's hand.

Don't say she takes it all for granted

I'm well aware of all I have

Don't think that I'm disenchanted

Please understand

"Don't think that I'm done with you, with either of you. This isn't finished. Not by a long shot."

Buffy then turned and walked out of Angel's room, down the stairs and out the front doors of the Hyperion and out into the stormy night. As she walked flashes like snapshots in motion filled her vision. She tried to block it out but she couldn't get rid of the thought of Angel fucking Darla.

Rain mixed with tears as she struggled to put distance between her and Angel. Buffy's legs wouldn't take her very far, she stumbled and then fell to her knees and retched onto the wet ground. Once her stomach had stopped convulsing she laid down on the ground letting the dank earth seep through her clothing. She didn't care. This wasn't real.

It seems as though I've always been

Somebody outside looking in

Well here I am for all of them to bleed

But they can't take my heart from me

And they can't bring me to my knees

They'll never know the real me

Buffy struggled to get up off of the ground. She was going to fight this. She wouldn't let them break her. She hadn't let Angelus break her completely so she was damned if she would let Angel.

Buffy climbed into her car and headed back to Sunnydale as fast as she could get there. A bone numbing exhaustion was threatening to overtake her and for the briefest of moments she thought about letting go. Let someone else step in a pick up the pieces. Let someone else save this stinking ungrateful world from a disaster that they didn't even know about. Let someone else bear the burdens of being the Chosen One.

But she couldn't because in the next instant she remembered all of the reasons she had ever fought in the first place. Her friends, her family, they were why she faced it night after night, because she couldn't leave them to deal on their own. It wouldn't be fair.

Sunnydale's welcome sign loomed in the distance. Sunnydale where Buffy was about to have the biggest battle of her career on both a personal and professional level.

Okay guys how do you like it? I accept any suggestions or ideas.