A/N: My new story. I will continue on the other one as well. This one
places Buffy and Spike in an AU setting of the horserace industry. Let me
know what you think. I adore feedback, both good and bad. Big thanks to
Siren who beta read this chapter for me
Chapter 1 Leaving
"You guys don't understand what a huge opportunity this is for me." Buffy Anne Summers said as she sat at her mother's kitchen table, trying to explain things to her mother, Joyce, and her boyfriend, Riley Finn. So far they were not being very supportive.
"Buffy, you don't realize what kind of life style it would bring. I do, I was married to your father 17 years. During that time, he only spent half the time with us. The rest of the time he spent on the road, driving from track to track.", Joyce tried to reason with her daughter.
"I know mom, I remember, I was there. What you don't see is that I love riding, it's in my blood, and it's calling for me to do this. Rupert Giles has offered me a once in a lifetime opportunity. He's the best upcoming trainer in the whole USA. He even has a stallion that stands a shot at the Triple Crown next year." Buffy shot back, her eyes a bit dreamy after mentioning Rupert Giles, her new idol.
Joyce sighed. "What about college? You're doing great in psychology, are you just going to drop out?"
"Mom, I can still study. It's not like we'll be traveling all the time. Giles has his training grounds just outside Santa Anita. I won't be able to go to classes but I can still study and be ready for the exams. Besides, I'm not getting any younger. If I want to do this professionally, it's now or never." the petite blonde pleaded with her blue-green eyes to her mother.
"There's not much I can do to stop you, Buffy. You're a grown woman; you're 21 years old. If your mind is already made up about this, all I can do is wish you good luck and beg you to be careful", Joyce replied.
"Thanks, Mom", Buffy answered putting her hand over her mother's, tears forming in both their eyes.
" But what about us, Buffy? You know I have to stay. Professor Walsh has given me this great opportunity to assist her in this psyche project", Riley decided to interject.
Joyce decided to head upstairs to give the two of them some privacy. " I know Riley. Maybe we should see this as a sign to take things slow for a while? Maybe the time apart will teach us to appreciate what we have?" Buffy said to her boyfriend as she stood up, walked around the table, leaned over his sitting form, gently hugging him from behind.
He stood up abruptly before he threw a tantrum. " So this is it! You're just going to leave after all we've shared! I can't believe you Buffy! The day after I ask you to marry me, you decide to throw the past three years out the door and leave! I've been patient and I'm done with it! Give me a call when you decide to come out of that illusion you're in!" Riley left, slamming the door so hard the windows jittered.
Buffy just stood there, tears again forming in her eyes. She wiped them before going upstairs to talk to her sister and start packing.
Joyce and Buffy's sister, Dawn came in the door to Buffy's room while she was packing.
"What do you want us to do with the horses?" Dawn asked.
" I was kind of thinking that you and Willow could take care of them. Willow agreed she could take over my riding lessons. You guys could share the profit too. I want you to keep Gypsy Lovers in particular. I know that foal of hers is going to be something great, since it's sire won the Kentucky Derby and Gypsy was placed third at the Belmont Stakes. I'll come back when she's due. I want to be the second thing that foal sees in this world." Buffy's eyes were dreamy at the prospect of bringing up a winner.
"Ok, We'll just sell of those that are a bit to much to handle", Buffy's 17- year-old sister replied cheerily. Buffy stepped over to hug and thank Dawn and Joyce.
Next morning Willow came over for breakfast after cleaning out the stables with Dawn. " So my best friend is really leaving huh?" the redhead frowned at Buffy. Buffy hugged Willow in response. "We'll be staying a while outside Arcadia until we leave for the East Coast. You're more then welcome to come visit." Buffy answered as she pulled back.
"Do you have a ride?" Willow asked
"Actually, I thought Riley was going to drive me but we. we kind of broke up last night", the blonde responded, turning away, feeling a bit bad that she wasn't more heartbroken about it.
"You broke up. Why am I not surprised? I guess I saw you two were sliding apart. Anyway I'll give you a ride as long as Joyce and Dawn can take care of the stables", Willow responded.
Buffy was a bit shocked. Her best friend had seen it coming. "Great! When do you wanna leave?" Buffy asked. "Sooner the better. How about we finish breakfast, then hit the road?" Willow responded.
Buffy finished eating and headed over to the barn to check on Gypsy one last time before saying goodbye to her family. As Willow and Buffy drove off, Buffy couldn't help looking back at the farm and pastures with horses. She shed a tear as she remembered the ride her father, Hank Summers, had taken her for five years earlier.
They were out for a ride and came to a halt on top of a hill overlooking the farm. Hank had looked proudly at the scenery beneath them and turned to his daughter. "Some day this will be all yours, pumpkin", he said. Buffy had gotten a devilish grin and replied; "Race you back"
Three months later he had died in a riding accident, leaving his family to tend to his legacy.
Driving off from her child hood home, Buffy failed to notice Riley's car pulling up to the front of her home. A disappointed look on crossed his face as he realized he had just missed the love of his life.
Chapter 1 Leaving
"You guys don't understand what a huge opportunity this is for me." Buffy Anne Summers said as she sat at her mother's kitchen table, trying to explain things to her mother, Joyce, and her boyfriend, Riley Finn. So far they were not being very supportive.
"Buffy, you don't realize what kind of life style it would bring. I do, I was married to your father 17 years. During that time, he only spent half the time with us. The rest of the time he spent on the road, driving from track to track.", Joyce tried to reason with her daughter.
"I know mom, I remember, I was there. What you don't see is that I love riding, it's in my blood, and it's calling for me to do this. Rupert Giles has offered me a once in a lifetime opportunity. He's the best upcoming trainer in the whole USA. He even has a stallion that stands a shot at the Triple Crown next year." Buffy shot back, her eyes a bit dreamy after mentioning Rupert Giles, her new idol.
Joyce sighed. "What about college? You're doing great in psychology, are you just going to drop out?"
"Mom, I can still study. It's not like we'll be traveling all the time. Giles has his training grounds just outside Santa Anita. I won't be able to go to classes but I can still study and be ready for the exams. Besides, I'm not getting any younger. If I want to do this professionally, it's now or never." the petite blonde pleaded with her blue-green eyes to her mother.
"There's not much I can do to stop you, Buffy. You're a grown woman; you're 21 years old. If your mind is already made up about this, all I can do is wish you good luck and beg you to be careful", Joyce replied.
"Thanks, Mom", Buffy answered putting her hand over her mother's, tears forming in both their eyes.
" But what about us, Buffy? You know I have to stay. Professor Walsh has given me this great opportunity to assist her in this psyche project", Riley decided to interject.
Joyce decided to head upstairs to give the two of them some privacy. " I know Riley. Maybe we should see this as a sign to take things slow for a while? Maybe the time apart will teach us to appreciate what we have?" Buffy said to her boyfriend as she stood up, walked around the table, leaned over his sitting form, gently hugging him from behind.
He stood up abruptly before he threw a tantrum. " So this is it! You're just going to leave after all we've shared! I can't believe you Buffy! The day after I ask you to marry me, you decide to throw the past three years out the door and leave! I've been patient and I'm done with it! Give me a call when you decide to come out of that illusion you're in!" Riley left, slamming the door so hard the windows jittered.
Buffy just stood there, tears again forming in her eyes. She wiped them before going upstairs to talk to her sister and start packing.
Joyce and Buffy's sister, Dawn came in the door to Buffy's room while she was packing.
"What do you want us to do with the horses?" Dawn asked.
" I was kind of thinking that you and Willow could take care of them. Willow agreed she could take over my riding lessons. You guys could share the profit too. I want you to keep Gypsy Lovers in particular. I know that foal of hers is going to be something great, since it's sire won the Kentucky Derby and Gypsy was placed third at the Belmont Stakes. I'll come back when she's due. I want to be the second thing that foal sees in this world." Buffy's eyes were dreamy at the prospect of bringing up a winner.
"Ok, We'll just sell of those that are a bit to much to handle", Buffy's 17- year-old sister replied cheerily. Buffy stepped over to hug and thank Dawn and Joyce.
Next morning Willow came over for breakfast after cleaning out the stables with Dawn. " So my best friend is really leaving huh?" the redhead frowned at Buffy. Buffy hugged Willow in response. "We'll be staying a while outside Arcadia until we leave for the East Coast. You're more then welcome to come visit." Buffy answered as she pulled back.
"Do you have a ride?" Willow asked
"Actually, I thought Riley was going to drive me but we. we kind of broke up last night", the blonde responded, turning away, feeling a bit bad that she wasn't more heartbroken about it.
"You broke up. Why am I not surprised? I guess I saw you two were sliding apart. Anyway I'll give you a ride as long as Joyce and Dawn can take care of the stables", Willow responded.
Buffy was a bit shocked. Her best friend had seen it coming. "Great! When do you wanna leave?" Buffy asked. "Sooner the better. How about we finish breakfast, then hit the road?" Willow responded.
Buffy finished eating and headed over to the barn to check on Gypsy one last time before saying goodbye to her family. As Willow and Buffy drove off, Buffy couldn't help looking back at the farm and pastures with horses. She shed a tear as she remembered the ride her father, Hank Summers, had taken her for five years earlier.
They were out for a ride and came to a halt on top of a hill overlooking the farm. Hank had looked proudly at the scenery beneath them and turned to his daughter. "Some day this will be all yours, pumpkin", he said. Buffy had gotten a devilish grin and replied; "Race you back"
Three months later he had died in a riding accident, leaving his family to tend to his legacy.
Driving off from her child hood home, Buffy failed to notice Riley's car pulling up to the front of her home. A disappointed look on crossed his face as he realized he had just missed the love of his life.