The Chosen One: Chapter 3
by Lisette
Legalese: See Chapter 1 for disclaimers and ratings.
One month later
"I love weddings," Willow sighed happily as she absently flipped through a magazine overflowing with wedding dresses of varying shapes, sizes and colors. "Especially ones that involve me and Oz!" she grinned sheepishly.
Laughing, Buffy looked up from her position on her dorm floor and watched as Willow stretched lazily on the bed beside her. "What? You don't love the idea of my wedding?" she asked, trying and failing to sound scandalized as she returned to her stake sharpening.
"Ooh, that's not what I meant!" Willow quickly cried as her face flushed a deep scarlet, almost matching that of her hair. "I'll love your wedding too, it's just that..." she trailed off as Buffy arched one slender eyebrow at her friend. "Oh, never mind!" she pouted as she turned back to her magazine. "Wanna go look at dresses at the mall with me tonight?"
"Sorry, Riley time tonight," Buffy quickly chirped with a small grin, shrugging her small shoulders as she put the newly sharpened stake on the shag carpeting and scooped up another.
Following her movements, Willow winced as a thought struck her. "Oops, I almost forgot! Giles called earlier reminding you to go patrolling - he sounded kind of upset that you haven't gone yet this week."
"Well, what does he expect?" Buffy broke in, tossing the stake aside in exasperation. "Not only am I graduating in a few months, but I'm also getting married! They're both kind of time-consuming, you know!"
Without even blinking an eye, Willow continued. "And your Mom called a little bit later telling you not to worry about patrol tonight. I heard Giles yelling in the background - well, at least the closest thing to Giles yelling that I ever heard," she amended with a sheepish smile, finally tearing her eyes away from the dresses and wincing at her friend's frown and faraway eyes. "Oh... I didn't say that right, did I? Bad Willow!" she admonished herself.
Forcing a smile, Buffy slowly shook her head. "No, I just.. well, they finally admitted that they like each other, although that's still giving me a wiggins'," she added, wrinkling her nose at the thought of anything, well, icky between the two. "But the Watcher in Giles and the Mom in Mom are causing them to argue an awful lot lately. I don't want to be responsible for driving them apart."
"... Oh," Willow murmured quietly, at a loss for words. "Well, it's Riley time tonight, right? What are you guys going to do?" she asked, making the mental switch from comfort-friend mode to change-to-happy-topic mode. "Something romantic?" she asked eagerly.
"No, we'll probably have another 'talk' asking me to go to the doctor's again," Buffy sighed, surprising her friend with her answer.
For a moment, Willow could only sit and stare as her friend absently picked up another stake - almost nonchalantly. "D... doctor?" Willow stuttered, her eyes growing wide. "Why... why do you need to see a doctor? Are you sick?"
Glancing up, Buffy couldn't help laughing at Willow's anxious expression. "Of course not - I'm the Slayer, remember? I don't get sick!"
"Then... why are you going to the doctor?"
"I'm not," Buffy replied stubbornly as she picked up her stake and began sharpening it once again, this time with a furious vengeance that didn't escape Willow's sharp eyes.
"Oookay," Willow nodded, drawing the word out as she flipped the magazine closed. "Then why does Riley want you to go see one?"
Sighing, Buffy slowly shook her head. "Because even though he won't directly admit it, having a family is really important to him and he wants to make sure that everything is okay with... you know, the plumbing," she finished awkwardly, watching as a light seemed to snap on in her friend's mind.
"Oh," she murmured, flushing slightly. But then her attention shifted to what else her friend had inadvertently mentioned. "Family.. as in little Rileys and Buffys?" she asked quickly, her eyes growing wide at the thought of it.
Surprised by her friend's words, Buffy pondered the image it brought before giving up. "Definite scary thought," she laughed, wrinkling her nose. "After all, there can be only one-"
"Immortal?" Willow asked innocently.
"I was going to say Slayer," Buffy responded dryly as she rolled her eyes at her friend. "Besides, don't you have a certain spell that you should be working on? You know, one that makes all of our lives that much easier?" she prompted.
Making a face, Willow slowly dragged herself off the bed and slipped on her shoes. "Yeah, yeah, I'm going," she sighed as she grabbed her jacket and headed for the door. "But if I have to do this, then you have to make your Watcher happy and patrol before Riley-time!" she called out before disappearing through the door.
Sighing, Buffy looked at her pile of stakes. "Might as well put them to good use," she agreed to the empty room and swept them into her bag of tricks.
Later that night
Glancing around the darkened streets, Buffy couldn't help but wish that the residents of Sunnydale would be smart and stay indoors for once. A few minutes and a piercing scream later, Buffy was reminded of how futile such a wish was. Breaking into a run, her long coat flapping behind her, she flew into the first dark alley that she came upon and skidded to a stop.
"Don't you people ever learn?" she began, addressing the three large vampires that had a young woman cornered. "Sunnydale isn't a grocery store with meals ripe for the picking. This is my town," she stated as she withdrew a single stake from the bag.
"Slayer," one of the vampires hissed, full game face coming on as they forgot their happy meal on legs, as Spike used to call it, a new game afoot.
"Glad you figured it out," Buffy replied sarcastically as she dropped the bag and beckoned them forward. Surprisingly, the vamps did the smart thing for once as they charged her as one. "Ooh, teamwork," Buffy nodded as she dropped to the ground in a blur and swept her leg out faster than the three could follow, sweeping their feet out from beneath them and sending them tumbling onto their backs. Then, going with the momentum, she quickly flew forward and landed on her hands - one on the gravel beside the middle vampire while the other holding the stake plunged the wood into his heart - before continuing the flip back onto her feet. Grinning, she felt the adrenaline pulse through her veins as the vampire exploded behind her.
"And another one bites the dust!" she laughed as the other two, finally on their feet again, charged from either side. Turning, Buffy jumped in the air and kicked out with both legs parallel before her, catching one full in the chest and sending him flying even as she flew backwards into the arms of the other so powerfully that he ran into the wall of the alley. Grunting, Buffy pulled away, swiveled, and staked the vampire - turning him into a cloud of ash.
"Two down, one to go," she muttered, turning just in time to duck the swinging of a trash can lid, the metal ringing off of the brick as the vampire roared in anger and pain. "Temper, temper," Buffy hissed before sending him flying with a powerful roundhouse kick. Smiling, she quickly pulled a stake from its hiding place in her jacket lining and sent it flying. A second later only dust remained. Grinning, Buffy dusted her hands as she moved towards the cowering young woman, her nurse's uniform stained with alley grime. "Hey, you okay?" she asked gently as her eyes took in the girl's unmarked neck.
"What... what were those things?" the girl asked with wide eyes as she began edging towards the street beyond.
"Just a bad dream," was Buffy's sighed response. "Just keep in mind that nights in Sunnydale aren't all that they're cracked up to be," she shrugged as she escorted the woman back to the line that separated the desolate alley from the brightly lit street beyond. As the woman nodded and hurried away, Buffy remained on that line and couldn't help but realize how closely the situation mirrored her own life: the alley represented the darkness that she fought while the street beyond symbolized the normal life that she left behind when she became the Chosen One - and as always, she stood between the two - experiencing both but never able to forget the other. It was a perilous position that she was in - a difficult spot to maintain with a chance of toppling.
Shivering, Buffy pulled her long jacket closer around her slim form as she turned to regard the dark alley. Again, the feeling that she was not quite alone - the one that had been plaguing her for so many months now - rose again. "Is anyone there?" she cried out impulsively. As the silence began to thicken, Buffy shivered once again.
Definitely Riley time.
"Anybody home?" Buffy asked as she pushed the apartment door closed behind her. Instantly, a wave of tantalizing aromas swept over her. Italian - definitely Italian she decided with a grin.
"In the kitchen," came a muffled response as Buffy slipped out of her coat and hung it in the closet, setting her Slayer bag by the door. Turning, she moved on silent feet down the short hallway and slid onto a stool at the counter that separated the kitchen from the living room.
"Whatcha making?" she asked, grinning broadly as Riley moved from one boiling pot to another, dressed in jeans and a sweater that nicely showed off his physique. Buffy felt her smile grow wider.
"Fettuccine Alfredo," Riley replied as he leaned over the counter and kissed Buffy briefly. "How was your night?" he asked, leaning on the counter, a soft smile playing on his lips as he watched her nose scrunch slightly.
"Uneventful - I dusted my quotient of bad guys and decided to call it a night," she said lightly before averting her eyes to the boiling pots. "So, what's the occasion?" she asked brightly - too brightly.
Frowning, Riley turned back to his work as he turned off the oven, the smell of garlic permeating the air as he dished up two plates. "You felt watched again, didn't you?" he asked, knowing her too well to be put off by the protective shield she still used - the one that allowed her to be the mighty Slayer that everyone relied upon.
"Probably nothing," Buffy argued, brushing away his concern as she followed him to the dining room table, noting the lit candles. "Now I repeat, what's the occasion?" she asked, arching one finely shaped eyebrow, her tone one of playful suspicion.
Instead of answering, Riley opened a bottle of wine before looking into her bright eyes. She was wearing a pair of tight black pants, a deep red shirt clinging to her slim form and dipping low over her breasts - slayer clothes, as she called it. "I love you," he said quietly as he reached forward and brushed a stray lock of blonde hair, fallen loose from its twist, from her face before catching her small hand in his own.
Slightly surprised, Buffy felt a blush stain her cheeks as she slid into the chair opposite him. "Well, I love you, too," Buffy replied with a grin as she took a sip of wine, the liquid leaving a fiery trail down her throat until her belly was filled with a soothing heat. "I'm marrying you, aren't I?" she laughed.
"Yes, you are," Riley replied firmly, settling his long frame into his chair. "And together we'll protect Sunnydale from the forces of evil," he grinned boyishly, as he quickly sat forward.
"Yep, the Slayer and her sidekick," Buffy laughed as she picked up a spoon and fork, beginning the process of wrapping the noodles around the pointed tongs.
"Sidekick!" Riley laughed, shaking his head again.
"Every Slayer's gotta have one-"
"Until Giles and Willow close the Hellmouth," Riley interrupted nonchalantly.
"If they ever figure out the spell-"
"They will," Riley cut in earnestly, "and then the Slayer and her sidekick will be able to settle down, maybe move, have a few kids..."
"Kids!" Buffy choked out, almost spitting out her first forkful of pasta. "Riley," she laughed, "I'm only twenty-two. We have plenty of time to worry about kids!"
"But I want to worry about you and kids right now," Riley said quietly as he leaned across the table to take both her hands in his. "Buffy, I love you no matter what the future brings, whether it be exciting or boring, long or short... and it's because of that love," he continued quickly, his eyes avoiding hers, "that I made an appointment for you tomorrow to see Doctor-"
"You what?" Buffy asked, her eyes growing wide as she snatched her hands away as though burned. He had been pestering her about getting a physical for weeks now, but she hadn't had one in years - since cheerleading - and definitely didn't want one now.
"Buffy, it's just a simple physical!" Riley said quickly, exasperation showing clearly on his handsome face. "I had mine done today-"
"Well good for you!" Buffy snapped, knowing that she was being unreasonable and not caring. Damnit, it was her body, not his! Which made it damn well her decision - not his.
"Buffy, I-" Riley broke off as the ring of his telephone interrupted him. Sighing, he quickly reached over and snagged the phone and brought it to his ear. "Hello?... Yeah, she's here," he responded as his eyes slid over to her angry countenance, her arms crossed stubbornly across her chest in a way that screamed: You can't make me do anything! Sighing, he quickly nodded his head. "Okay, we're on our way," he agreed as he replaced the receiver and slid his chair away from the table. "I guess that dinner will have to wait," he said before she could ask. "That was Giles - something's up..."
Needing no more prompting, Buffy quickly hurried to the door, snagging her coat and bag on the way. She would have to thank Giles later. For once, he had perfect timing.
A short time later
"So what's the scoop? Who's out to end the world this time?" Buffy asked as she breezed into the living room, Riley following behind. By the way that Riley stood apart from his Slayer, hands jammed deep into his pockets and shoulders hunched, Giles knew that they had been fighting.
"The, ah, scoop," he quickly began from his place by the television, the pacing having begun minutes earlier, "is that Willow and I have finished the translation and preparation of the spell."
"The Spell?" Xander cut in quickly. "As in The Spell to make Sunnydale boring?" he asked.
Sighing, Giles glared at the young man before turning to the others. "Yes. The spell that will destroy the door to Hell."
"Cool," Oz agreed quietly with a small nod.
"So what's the plan?" Riley asked, making the obvious switch to soldier mode as he awaited his instructions.
"Well..."
"We get to do the spell tomorrow night!" Willow eagerly interrupted, her eyes shining as she slid to the edge of the couch. "Everything will be ready and Giles, Anya, and I should be able to pull-"
"Why do I have to help?" Anya quickly interrupted, pouting as she crossed her arms stubbornly over her chest.
"Ah... because we have a better chance of succeeding with more magical strength," Giles replied quietly, as though speaking with a child.
"So why not Willow's strange friend, Tara?" Anya pouted.
"Tara's in DC right now," Willow explained apologetically.
"And besides," Xander interrupted as he glared at his wife, "this is a part of that whole helping friends."
"So how about the rest of us?" Buffy asked, speaking over Xander's patient explanation to his wife. "Can we help with anything?"
"Well," Giles shrugged, "seeing as how this is something that many here in Sunnydale would be opposed to if they found out, it may not be a bad idea to have some... protection," he nodded, locking eyes with his Slayer. What went unspoken between the two was that if someone was indeed stalking Buffy, if her feelings were correct, some guards would be a very wise decision.
"So Giles, Willow, and Anya casting the spell," Buffy surmised, "and Xander, Oz, Riley, and myself keeping a perimeter."
"And I think I can hook us up with some gear," Riley added, already scribbling a list of things that they would need.
Nodding at his group of friends, Xander felt one of his wacky grins appear. "So, where are we holding this shindig?" he asked innocently.
"The door to hell itself," Giles replied grimly. "The remains of the high school library..."
Sighing, Buffy felt the cool night air wash over her, blowing her earlier anger away as she reached over and took Riley's hand in her own, smiling shyly at him. The group had made the rest of the plans, deciding to meet up a little after sunset at the remains of the high school. It was funny, for in all of the time since they had, well, blown it up, the school had been left exactly as is - a charred reminder of sorts to the community that sometimes, even days in Sunnydale weren't safe. But by this time tomorrow, a little after midnight, it would be a lot safer... and she might actually have a chance for a life. "It really means a lot to you - me going to this appointment tomorrow, doesn't it?" Buffy asked quietly, looking at the dark street that was spread out before them.
"Yes, it does," Riley replied as he squeezed her hand gently.
Sighing, Buffy slowly nodded her head. Her life had always been filled with sacrifices made for her friends - why stop now? "Then I'll go," she announced. "But not because I want to," she quickly countered. "I'll go because I love you," she whispered as he tugged on her hand gently, turning her towards him.
"Thank you," he whispered as he bent low and touched his lips to her own. As long as they were together, she could get through anything.
The next day
Biting back tears, Buffy walked down the road as if in a trance, not really seeing anything. A part of her wanted to curl up into a little ball and let the world dissolve around her. Another part wanted her to go into a wild frenzy of anger and hatred, screaming, scratching and tearing at herself, for she knew what caused this hurt - this agony of heart and mind.
She could still remember the scratchy feeling of the hospital gown against her soft skin as she waited for the doctor to return. God how she hated hospitals... but then he had returned and his sad frown had been anything but reassuring.
"I've never seen anyone so healthy and in such good shape," he began, not surprising her. After all, she was the Slayer... the Chosen One.
"So everything's fine?" she asked, knowing the response before he even shuffled over and settled heavily into a chair, seeming to carry the weight of the world upon his shoulders.
"I'm afraid not," he sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I hate having to do this with those so young," he began quietly, finally meeting her eyes as Buffy's heart turned cold, "but... well, surely you knew something was wrong when you hadn't had a cycle in so many years..."
"Since I was eighteen... before that," Buffy added quietly as she began to shut down inside.
"Yes, well... I don't quite understand all of the findings, but I do know one thing for certain-"
"I can't have kids," Buffy whispered as a single tear burned at the corner of her eye, repeating to the empty street around her what the doctor had said. And somehow, she knew that being the Chosen One was the reason - which was why part of her wanted to rip the Slayer right out of her body - to make her right once again. But there was another part of her that wanted the comfort of something familiar. Glancing up, Buffy was half surprised to find herself on her mother's doorstep. At least she knew what part of her had won.
Not even bothering to knock this time, Buffy pushed the door open and stepped into her house... their house. Sighing, she was about to call out when her mother's voice broke angrily through the quiet stillness. Curious despite herself, Buffy moved on silent feet to the open study door and stood just out of sight.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were in touch with him?" Buffy's mom yelled angrily, causing Buffy to wince. She didn't think that she had ever heard her mom sound so mad. "More importantly, why didn't you tell Buffy?"
Surprised that this conversation seemed to revolve around her, Buffy heard Giles exhale loudly before there was a whoosh of air as he settled in an armchair. "Joyce, I don't know what you're-"
"Don't lie to me Rupert," Joyce warned, her voice dropping. "Whatever you do, don't do that - I've dealt with that enough already!"
Buffy really winced at that one and almost slipped away from the door, not wanting to hear more that would add to her misery - until her mom continued.
"That... that monster, Angel called here earlier!" Joyce cried shrilly. "I didn't even have a chance to say anything before he asked if he should come here..."
The rest of her mother's words were lost to Buffy as the mention of Angel's name brought angry tears to her eyes. She couldn't deal with that on top of everything else. Not that. She was already furious at the world for what had been done to her, for what being the Chosen One had taken from her - now her hurt turned into an anger that found focus. Her face stormy, Buffy stomped into the room, ignoring her mom as her hard eyes locked onto Giles. "Why did Angel call here?" she asked quietly, her voice low and dangerous as her face was a mask of anger.
Surprised, Giles opened and closed his mouth for a moment as he reeled in surprise and confusion at her sudden arrival at the most inopportune of times. "We.. we've been in contact with each other since he left," Giles stuttered, visibly shaken by her anger.
"Which time?" Buffy asked bitterly as she shrugged off her mother's hand.
"But... he.. he wants to help-"
"No!" Buffy snapped, her anger seeping out of every pore. "He left me - us," she quickly corrected, "We don't need his help!" she hissed as she glared at her Watcher. Slowly, she began to advance on the man that she loved as a father. "Promise me that you will NOT call him!" she ordered, leaning down until they were nose to nose. She knew that she was being unreasonable - frightening her mother even - but she was past the point of caring. She loved Angel with all of her heart, relentlessly, and he had walked out on her time and time again - shattering her heart until Riley was slowly able to put back the pieces. She was getting married soon and she knew that Angel's return would destroy everything - and her heart couldn't take him leaving - not again. And now, the immortal vampire represented everything that she couldn't have - everything that she couldn't give Riley. He would live forever while they died.
"I promise," Giles whispered quietly as his Slayer stood abruptly and stiffly walked away. He never saw the tears that burned in her eyes. After all, a Slayer wasn't allowed to cry.