Title: Lessons to Learn Chapter Eleven: Not Crazy
Author: SlayrGrl55 (aka Anna)
Rating: PG
Pairing: B/S
Spoilers: Lessons
Feedback: feedback is my middle name…um…I mean… (my best Anya impersonation) I would love for you to give me feedback J
Disclaimer: okay, get ready for this: I do not own 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' or 'Beauty and the Beast' …how bizarre is that?
Buffy heard the strangled cries of Spike's heartache as she from the castle on the dark horse's saddle. She wanted so badly to go back and comfort him. To go back and hold him and tell him how she truly felt about him. Why didn't I tell him that day in the living room? Why did I lie and say I was unsure? Why can't I open my heart to him? But ahead of her was her mother, her very alive mother. She urged the horse to go faster as they got closer to the town. Minutes later she spotted her target. Joyce was sitting on the curb of the sidewalk outside the bookstore, huddled against herself for warmth.
Stopping the horse, Buffy rushed towards her mother. "Oh, mom!" she cried.
"Buffy? Heavens, is it really you Buffy?" Joyce asked in disbelief. Both mother and daughter cried while sitting on the sidewalk, reunited after so long.
After a while the wind picked up and Buffy brought Joyce home. She tucked her mother in bed and started to make soup when she saw her bag start to move from its spot on the chair. "What the-?"
Suddenly a tiny teacup rolled out of the bag, falling off the chair and landing on the soft rug below. "Ouch." Dawn said as she stood back up. She looked around the room and then she noticed Buffy standing above her with her hands on her hips.
"Stowaway."
"Yup. That's me." Dawn smiled proudly and then looked up at the chair. "But I came for a reason. The mirror's in your bag also. Take it and look at the Beast."
Buffy became worried. "Why? Is there something wrong with Spike-I mean, with your master?" she asked Dawn as she took the mirror out of her bag.
"Just look." Dawn instructed.
Buffy did as she was told and looked deeply into the mirror, but what she saw broke her heart. She saw Spike, still sitting on the balcony where she left him, crying his heart out. A tear slid down her cheek before she even registered it.
A harsh knock on the door brought her out of her thoughts and she went to answer it. Opening the door she saw the face of Riley. From the look on his face she could tell he knew she was shocked to see him. "What's wrong, Buffy? Surprised to see me?" he said as he pushed past her.
As he entered the room he was quickly followed by…Forrest and Graham? Buffy's mouth moved but no words came out. "Where's your mother?" Forrest asked.
"What do you want with my mother?" Buffy's sense of dread increased but it was nothing compared to what had just walked up behind her.
"We only want what's best for the townspeople, and your mother is ill. We're taking her to my Asylum." Mr. Snyder told her.
Buffy turned slowly to face the evil scumbag that she had happily watched be eaten by a snake all those years ago. "Snyder." She practically growled.
"Miss Summers." He addressed her. Then he snapped his fingers and Riley Forrest and Graham brought Joyce out of the bedroom in a straight jacket. They dragged her to the covered wagon waiting in the street while Buffy pleaded with them.
"She's not crazy!" She screamed. No, no, no, no, NO! This can't be happening! Snyder was just about to mount the carriage when it dawned on Buffy. "Wait! I can prove it!" she ran into the house and came back out clutching the mirror. "Show them the Beast!" she screamed as she pointed the mirror at them. A light emanated from the mirror and Spike appeared in it.
All four men gasped and Snyder screamed like a little girl. The other three men looked at him accusingly and he shrugged it off saying, "The light hurt my eyes."
After a moment, Riley seemed to make his decision, and started shouting out orders. "Graham. Go back to my place and get artillery. Forrest. Gather the townspeople. Mr. Snyder," he stopped and looked at Buffy cruelly, "Bring Mrs. Summers to your asylum."
"Noo! She's not crazy! I proved it! Why are you doing this?" Buffy yelled.
"I'm doing this to teach you a lesson, Buffy. Maybe next time I ask for your hand in marriage you won't turn me down. And after the honeymoon we can talk about releasing your mother." Riley smiled sadistically at Buffy and then hopped onto the carriage. "See you later, Buffy. We're off to kill the beast!"
"No!" Buffy shouted one last time. She dropped to her knees, bringing her hands to her tear-stained face. Feeling weak and useless, she sat there until she heard Dawn's tiny voice from the doorway.
"Buffy! Where did those men go?" Dawn asked innocently.
One last sob escaped Buffy's lips before she rose to her feet and strode defiantly towards Dawn. "They went to hurt Spike. Come on, we have to get ready to leave."
Picking up Dawn, Buffy quickly repacked her bag and took off on her horse down the road to the castle, hoping against hope that she would be in time to save the man she loved.
Author's Note: Sorry this chapter was kind of short, but I wanted to leave off at this point. I'll try to have another chapter up by Monday, but I have a virus so I don't know if I'll feel up to it. Anyway, please review! It will make me feel better sooner! J