A Deathly Romance: Come What May - First Verse (Ch. 5)

Author's Note: I saw Moulin Rouge; I finally saw it and damn, is it awesome! I'm going to have so much fun making this fic, but please people, read it. You have to read it. It's so good and hilariously funny, especially the songs. Disclaimer: Come What May, normally sung by Santine and Christian, will be sung by Buffy & Jack (Death). The song itself is by David Baerwald.

Xander smiled at Willow as he entered the Magic Box, holding Anya's hand. The Magic Box, like the Summers' house at one time, after Buffy's death (2nd), was made into a museum but after she returned, the Magic Box was reopened, along with Buffy's home. Tourists still came in, especially into the Magic Box. Some of them even treated Anya like their personal tour guide, which really annoyed Giles. "Hey, where's Buffy?" he asked.

Willow shrugged, nodding to Giles. "She's in the back working up a sweat. I wouldn't both her right now - though it's only been a few months, she still needs to regain her strength." He added, cleaning his glasses.

**

Buffy forced her head over the sink as another round of blood spewed out of her mouth. She gasped after realizing it was finished. The Slayer grabbed a towel, dampening it in water, cleaning her mouth. She grabbed another paper towel, laying it on her forehead. This had been going on for quite a few months - matter of fact, not to long after she returned to Sunnydale.

On occasion, the Slayer was stubborn about every sharing anything personal with friends. When she killed Angel, she didn't even tell anyone what is was like; with Dawn, it was kept only between her and Giles. But this, she never spoke to anybody. How could she? Her friends were so happy she was back with him, and to tell them there might be some consequences would crush them. She couldn't do that.

The blonde stood up, shutting off the faucet. The first time it happened, Buffy thought it was nothing but the second, third, fourth, fifth time and so on, she knew something was wrong, really wrong and it scared her. What was happening to her? Outside, she looked so healthy but inside, her body was dying literally. Buffy shook her head, grabbing a cup of water and drank it. It was salty, most because of the remains blood still in her mouth. She grumbled.

"No girl. Suck it up. You're going to be okay. Nothing is going to happen."

She smiled at herself before exiting the bathroom, with a fresh towel. She rolled her shoulders, heading for the punching bag. There were still dried bloodstains on it from when she vomited the first time. Buffy nodded tears in her eyes. This wasn't happening. "NO." She cried, touching the bag with her fingers. "Suck it up, gurl. Suck it up. You have to live, for them."

**

Jack flinched out of meditation, feeling her pain. It was happening. Death. He didn't want this to happen - not to her, not now. But it was fated to happen. He made it happen. The Angel stood up, looking around the dark room that was his temporary home and nodded. "Never knew I could feel like this; It's like I've never seen the sky before. Want to vanish inside your kiss."

**

Buffy nodded, wrapping the bandages of her knuckles. "Every day I'm loving you more and more. Listen to my heart -- can you hear it sing?"

**

"Come back to me and forgive everything. Seasons may change, winter to spring. But I love you till the end of time." Jack mused, staring out the window.

**

Buffy and Jack nodded; Buffy punching the bag, holding it slightly as Jack walked away from the window. "Come what may, come what may, come what may; I will love you until my dying day."

**

Buffy smiled slightly, settling down on the mat, leaning against the wall. "Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place; suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace; suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste." She huffed, glancing at the door. "It all revolves around you."

She stood up again, leaving through the back door. The Slayer stood against the wall, wrapping her arms around her middle and sighed. "And there's no mountain too high; No river too wide. Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side; Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide."

**

"But I love you until the end of time." Jack mused, frowning, shaking his head.

**

"Buffy? Are you all right, back there?" Giles hollered from the front.

The Slayer wiped her away, opening the back door to the training room. She didn't even remove the bandages on her wrists. She simply strode into the front, smiling, sitting down next to Willow. Willow smiled at her, though she felt something was wrong.

"So, what's on tap today?" Buffy piped, ignoring his friend's distressed look.

Xander shrugged, holding Anya close to him. "Patrol, tonight...but if you're up to it we can skip it."

She nodded. "No, I'm up to it. I need the adrenaline." Buffy paused slightly, lowering her voice. "I think I've missed it a bit even. Isn't that scary?"

"What about you, Will? Wanna come?" Xander asked.

The Wicca shrugged, holding up the book. "There are still a couple things I need to look into. You guys go ahead."

"Will you be able to meet up with us, later?" Anya mused.

"I dunno. Maybe." She glanced at Buffy, nodding, "It depends."

**

After a couple rounds of patrol, Buffy asked Xander and Anya to leave her alone. Anya was more than glad to leave which didn't surprise the Slayer but Xander knew she was holding something back. So he stayed with her. The two had been friends for years, best friends even if she did choose Angel over him, Xander remained loyal because he knew she was special.

"Really, you don't have to keep me company, Xander. I'll be fine. I am the Slayer, remember?"

Xander shrugged, placing his hands in his pockets. "I know, but still, I mean you've been dead for 10 years and here you are; you can't blame us all for being so protective over you. You're family."

She smiled, settling down on the ground. "I know, and thank you. I know it wasn't easy without me around." Buffy paused, shifting her weight. "I don't remember much about what happened up there but if I did, I know I didn't like it. How could I? I didn't have you guys to pamper me."

He held out his finger, "Only this pampering isn't going to continue forever, Buff. Just remember that."

"I know." Buffy turned away slightly, coughing a bit.

"Buff, are you all right?"

She laughed, tossing her blonde hair over her right shoulder. "Oh yeah. It's just a cold. Nothing life-threatening."

**

"Giles, there's something wrong with Buffy." Willow cried to the Englishman as he appeared from the kitchen with some tea.

He looked at her questioningly, raising an eyebrow, bobbing a tea bag in the water. "Are you sure? She seems fine to me. I know, I've practiced with her everyday and I never saw anything wrong with her."

Willow nodded desperately. "Giles, I know there is something wrong with her. I don't know what it is but she isn't the same. I mean, yeah, she's Buffy, but she's different."

"Willow, you know as well as I do, that Buffy never talks about her feelings. So, what makes you so sure something is wrong with her?"

"I just know." She pleaded, standing up. "Giles, I love Buffy too and believe me, I know something is wrong with her. I know I've always been skeptical since she came back...but, I don't know - I just feel it."

He huffed, slouching on the couch. "Have you talked to her?"

"No." She mumbled.

Giles took a sip of his tea before continuing, "Then I think you should. She is the best source for knowing what's really going on in that head of hers."

Willow sighed, turning to him. "Giles, this feeling, I've had ever since she came back and every day that she's here, it hasn't gone away. It's only gotten worse. Only now, whatever's going on with Buffy, is probably much worse than it was before." She paused, "It scares me."

The Englishman only took a sip of his tea, looking away.

**

Buffy returned home late that night, anxious for sleep but the overwhelming feeling in her gut had other plans. She ran to the bathroom, ran the water loud, so Dawn wouldn't be alarmed. If her little sister heard her vomiting and came to see what was happening... No, she didn't want to think about that. She knew Dawn wasn't a child anymore but she was still fragile, easily broken. Buffy gasped as she vomited some more blood. She breathed briefly, grabbed a towel, wetted it and ran it over her mouth, wiping away the stains.

At this point, it had become very deadly. She couldn't keep things a secret anymore. She couldn't lie to herself. Buffy knew she was dying. Her body was rejecting her blood, her spirit. She bit her lip, wiping her face some more. She waited by the sink incase if there was another round. When nothing came, she turned off the water and exited the bathroom, walking slowly to her own room. She sat quietly on the bed, dialing the Hospital.

"Sunnydale Memorial. How may I help you?" the voice rang.

Buffy hesitated a moment. "Hello, my name is - wait, do I have to give you my name?"

The woman paused briefly before continuing, "I can put you under anonymous if you tell what is wrong you, dear?"

What is wrong? What is this Hell? Buffy wiped her face with her arm, sucking in her gut, holding her head high. She sat straight for awhile until breaking down into tears. "I'm sorry, I am but this was all my fault. I'm sorry."

"No dear, nothing is your fault..."

"I'm dying!" she cried.

The nurse froze, "Excuse me?"

Buffy glanced at the door. No lights had gone on. Dawn was still asleep. She moved the phone closer, whispering. "I have to go now."

"Wait, miss! Don't go. If I'm going to help you, I have to know your name."

"Summers. Buffy Summers." She replied.

The woman froze again. She heard that name before. She was a hero to the town...and dead. How can that same girl be alive and ready to die again? It had to be a joke. "I'm sorry. Could you repeat that?"

She waited a moment but no reply. Buffy had all ready left the room.

**

The Nurse waited frantically for Buffy in Clinic Center of Sunnydale Memorial. Over the years, she had taken care of many patients but Buffy Summers, she was different. She was a hero, the town's hero. People, who had never met her, talked about her as if she was their friend or daughter. Katy had been on call when Buffy was brought in or Faith rather. She saw the girl and her cries for her mother. She was also there years earlier when the Slayer was brought in during Sunnydale's biggest flue epidemic.

Katy nodded, noticing a blonde girl, wearing a light brown coat enter the ward. It was her, Buffy Summers. She really was alive but if someone looked really close, you could tell she was dying. The color in her face was gone. It almost looked ghastly and she was sweating. Buffy greeted Katy with a smile. She extended her hand to the woman.

"Hello. My name is..." Buffy began.

She nodded, "There's no need for that. I know who you are." Katy smiled reassuringly, "Come into my office."

Buffy nodded obediently, following the older woman.

**

Katy tried to remain calm as Buffy sat on the bed. She fumbled with the pen in her hand, trying to restrain herself. She couldn't believe what this small, strong girl had just told her. Buffy Summers, who had been strong since she was 15 years old, telling her that what happened 10 years earlier was not the first time she died. Katy thought it impossible that a young girl could be revived from the dead - twice!

Buffy laughed, "I know it's crazy, but it's the truth." She paused, "Now, it looks like my fate as the Slayer is at an end. My life is ending... and I just got here."

"And you think your blood is rejecting you, that's why you're having this attack?"

"Why else would I have this problem?" Buffy questioned, remembering a phrase long forgotten. "Death is my Gift."

Katy fidgeted, "Maybe...maybe this is your body's way of telling you, now, you are prepared to die."

Buffy shrugged, "Or maybe I screwed up and I wasn't supposed to come back here. I was stubborn - like I always am."

"I don't believe that, Buffy. I think you're brave for doing this, for speaking out about your condition." Katy paused, "but as for helping you, I don't think there is anything I can do for you. Death is a natural thing."

"You know most Slayers never make it past their 20th birthday. I made it to my 20th, only to find out in the end it was my last." She paused, "Now, I'm 30 years old, way past the deadline for a Slayer to be dead and this is my consequence."

Katy sighed, sitting back in her chair. "Then maybe you need to tell your friends. I mean, I assume you haven't. Have you?"

Buffy nodded no, sitting up. "I haven't, but if I could, could I stay the night here. I don't want my sister to suspect anything is wrong with me."

"Of course." Katy whispered back, sympathizing with the girl.

TBC