Title: The Choice 3/3
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Season Finale
Feedback: Yes, please
Chapter 3
Willow threw open the library doors startling the group gathered at the center table. "We got a letter from Buffy today!" She exclaimed, a smile bursting on her face.
The others eagerly beckoned her to a seat. They relished the few letters that Buffy sent. She always mailed them to Willow, knowing that she would share them with the entire group. Buffy had been gone for five years now, and much had changed in Sunnydale since that fateful day she had to kill Angel. They had graduated from high school, but all still met as frequently as they could in their old meeting place, which was easy to do since Giles was still the current high school librarian. Xander now owned his own construction company, and Cordelia, his girlfriend again after many trials and tribulations, was his office manager. He couldn't have done it without her. She was surprisingly savvy. Willow was now teaching computers at UC Sunnydale, and seemed content in her single life. Oz had left their senior year, breaking her heart. Since Buffy was gone too, Willow had spent a lot of her time helping Giles and Faith research demons. Computers had been more helpful than Giles had ever thought possible, and Willow had saved them by finding some remote item online more times than they could count. They were still the Scooby gang, entangled in the Hellmouth's activities, bound to Giles the Watcher, and Faith the Slayer. Buffy had brought them all together, but the work kept them strong and loyal.
Willow glanced at all of her close friends as she opened Buffy's pink envelope. It was addressed to her, but she knew it was for all of them: Xander, Cordelia, Giles, and Faith.
"Hurry up Will! What does the Buffster have to say?"
"Shush, Xand. I'm going, I'm going." She smiled at him and started to read.
Dear Gang,
I know it has been awhile since my last letter, but with being pregnant and all, I'm sure you can understand. Well, maybe you can't, but deal with it! Ha Ha. Poor James. I think he is as relieved as me to have our son born. No more hormonal cranky wife kicking him out of bed at three in the morning to make an ice cream run. Now, of course, we are both up at three with our son.
I wish we could have named our son after all of you that are so dear to my heart, but some of you will have to wait for the next baby. I can't believe I'm contemplating another after just delivering this one! I think the Slayer strength actually made the contractions worse!
Faith shuddered at that thought. "No babies for me, ever. Nada. Zip. I'm five by five just the way I am, thank you very much."
Giles smiled at her, but Cordelia frowned at the interruption.
Our son could not be more perfect. We named him William Giles Hampton.
"Oooh, Giles, he has your name!" Willow smiled at him fondly.
"Yes, well, er, it is a fine name indeed." Giles blushed and began to vigorously rub and clean his glasses.
He is the cutest little boy you could ever see. I'm sure all mothers think that way about their baby, but I am serious when I tell you that everyone just melts when they look at him. He has James' blonde white hair, and the fairest skin. He also has the strangest mark over his left eyebrow. The doctor said it was a birthmark, but it looks more like a scar to me. The doctor promised me it was nothing to worry about, and little William seems just fine. I'm sure you all will research it, but I assure you, he is fine and healthy.
You probably are wondering how we came up with the name William. Well, the name came to me in a dream. Remember my last prophetic dream? I'll never forget it. It is still so vivid in my mind. Of course, it was then that I met my husband James, so that in itself makes it memorable. I had been at the bus stop, waiting to come back to Sunnydale, when I fell asleep on the bench. I dreamed of my return, and what awful things would happen. Mom had died, and I could do nothing. I had a sister that I had to protect, and I had to die. Oh, and Will, you were gay, did I ever tell you that?
Xander burst out laughing. "Willow? Gay? Our Willow?" His laughter was silenced by a glare from Willow. "And what would be wrong with that, Xander?" She glared at him.
"Uh, nothing, nothing." He motioned for her to go on with Buffy's letter. Willow glared at him a few more seconds for good measure, and then proceeded.
There were many more awful things that happened, but the one thing that changed everything was when William.not my son, but this other William.came to me in the dream. He reminded me that when I had died by the hands of the Master, that Kendra had been called. Now that Kendra had been killed by Dru, Faith would be called. I could be free, he had said. He showed me what would happen if I did return. Not only would all of those awful things happen to us, but Faith would be dealt a bad hand too. But by staying away from Sunnydale, I was freeing Faith to be the true Slayer that she could be, and Giles would be free to watch her. I remember that first letter I wrote to you all. It had been so hard to write. But I had to make you all understand that it was best for us all for me to stay away. Now we all know that things turned out better than that dream ever could.
Faith, you are the best Slayer that ever was, and I am so proud of you. I know Giles is too.
Faith blushed. The group could see she was truly moved by Buffy's words. Giles squeezed her shoulder and nodded his head to show he agreed with his old Slayer.
Willow continued reading.
And you are stronger and successful because of everyone in your group. Willow has saved you all countless times, you have told me, due to her research. And Xander and Cordelia are always steadfast and loyal. I know that if I were there, things would have been different, and I don't think better for any of us. I'm sorry I had to leave the way I did, but I know now it was the right thing to do. William told me so, and he was right.
My mother is doing great. Her gallery here is always making the fancy magazine articles. Coming here has made us all blossom and grow like Sunnydale never could. I'm sorry I left all my burdens there behind, but I know that you are much more successful there without me.
I awakened from that bench in the bus terminal to find James had covered me with his jacket. He was a comforting stranger then, but he made me feel safe. He still does today. Maybe part of me is selfish, but I know that if I had gotten on that bus, things would have gone from bad to worse. Perhaps you'll never understand, but my dreams have come true before. My mom would have died. I would have hurt and betrayed all of you. I would have died. Faith would have turned bad. Instead of defeating the Mayor before he could ever Ascend, in my dream Faith, you were his partner. I know that sounds ridiculous now, but my being there would have caused it to happen. I just know it. But for whatever reason, whatever Power that is out there, gave me William as a guide, and he showed me the right path.
I pray my son, William Giles, will be as blessed in his life as I am in mine with friends such as you.
I'll write again as soon as I can.
Love, Buffy Hampton
The group was quiet for a bit, absorbing her news.
Willow was the first to speak. "She is right, you know. Her dreams did often seem prophetic."
Giles agreed. "Yes, indeed." He turned and looked at Faith. He couldn't imagine her ever being evil, but weirder things in life had occurred before.
"She mentioned that William before, in her first letter. Did you ever find out who he was Giles?" Faith asked her Watcher.
Giles stood up from the table and paced around the room. His library, tons of books, yet he had never found the answer to who William was. He shook his head. "I guess we'll just have to think of him as her Guardian Angel."
* * *
William walked through the park, a poetry book tucked into his back pocket. He passed a man in a black leather duster, and it made the hairs rise on the back of his neck. He didn't remember his past, and knew nothing of Spike.
His thoughts that day were of his mother. He missed her terribly, but she had insisted on his Oxford education. And his father always supported his mother. They were a close and loving family.
He was startled out of his thoughts by a soccer ball rolling on the grass towards his feet. "Hey Hampton," yelled a young chap across the path. "Mind chucking the ball back". William smiled and kicked the ball back to the man. "Care to join us for a bit, mate?" William smiled and removed his shirt. He was an educated man, a reader, but there was something about Sport that got his blood boiling. And he liked to win. He joined the men in their game, reminding himself to phone his mother tomorrow. Mustn't leave Buffy Hampton waiting!
The End
Chapter 3
Willow threw open the library doors startling the group gathered at the center table. "We got a letter from Buffy today!" She exclaimed, a smile bursting on her face.
The others eagerly beckoned her to a seat. They relished the few letters that Buffy sent. She always mailed them to Willow, knowing that she would share them with the entire group. Buffy had been gone for five years now, and much had changed in Sunnydale since that fateful day she had to kill Angel. They had graduated from high school, but all still met as frequently as they could in their old meeting place, which was easy to do since Giles was still the current high school librarian. Xander now owned his own construction company, and Cordelia, his girlfriend again after many trials and tribulations, was his office manager. He couldn't have done it without her. She was surprisingly savvy. Willow was now teaching computers at UC Sunnydale, and seemed content in her single life. Oz had left their senior year, breaking her heart. Since Buffy was gone too, Willow had spent a lot of her time helping Giles and Faith research demons. Computers had been more helpful than Giles had ever thought possible, and Willow had saved them by finding some remote item online more times than they could count. They were still the Scooby gang, entangled in the Hellmouth's activities, bound to Giles the Watcher, and Faith the Slayer. Buffy had brought them all together, but the work kept them strong and loyal.
Willow glanced at all of her close friends as she opened Buffy's pink envelope. It was addressed to her, but she knew it was for all of them: Xander, Cordelia, Giles, and Faith.
"Hurry up Will! What does the Buffster have to say?"
"Shush, Xand. I'm going, I'm going." She smiled at him and started to read.
Dear Gang,
I know it has been awhile since my last letter, but with being pregnant and all, I'm sure you can understand. Well, maybe you can't, but deal with it! Ha Ha. Poor James. I think he is as relieved as me to have our son born. No more hormonal cranky wife kicking him out of bed at three in the morning to make an ice cream run. Now, of course, we are both up at three with our son.
I wish we could have named our son after all of you that are so dear to my heart, but some of you will have to wait for the next baby. I can't believe I'm contemplating another after just delivering this one! I think the Slayer strength actually made the contractions worse!
Faith shuddered at that thought. "No babies for me, ever. Nada. Zip. I'm five by five just the way I am, thank you very much."
Giles smiled at her, but Cordelia frowned at the interruption.
Our son could not be more perfect. We named him William Giles Hampton.
"Oooh, Giles, he has your name!" Willow smiled at him fondly.
"Yes, well, er, it is a fine name indeed." Giles blushed and began to vigorously rub and clean his glasses.
He is the cutest little boy you could ever see. I'm sure all mothers think that way about their baby, but I am serious when I tell you that everyone just melts when they look at him. He has James' blonde white hair, and the fairest skin. He also has the strangest mark over his left eyebrow. The doctor said it was a birthmark, but it looks more like a scar to me. The doctor promised me it was nothing to worry about, and little William seems just fine. I'm sure you all will research it, but I assure you, he is fine and healthy.
You probably are wondering how we came up with the name William. Well, the name came to me in a dream. Remember my last prophetic dream? I'll never forget it. It is still so vivid in my mind. Of course, it was then that I met my husband James, so that in itself makes it memorable. I had been at the bus stop, waiting to come back to Sunnydale, when I fell asleep on the bench. I dreamed of my return, and what awful things would happen. Mom had died, and I could do nothing. I had a sister that I had to protect, and I had to die. Oh, and Will, you were gay, did I ever tell you that?
Xander burst out laughing. "Willow? Gay? Our Willow?" His laughter was silenced by a glare from Willow. "And what would be wrong with that, Xander?" She glared at him.
"Uh, nothing, nothing." He motioned for her to go on with Buffy's letter. Willow glared at him a few more seconds for good measure, and then proceeded.
There were many more awful things that happened, but the one thing that changed everything was when William.not my son, but this other William.came to me in the dream. He reminded me that when I had died by the hands of the Master, that Kendra had been called. Now that Kendra had been killed by Dru, Faith would be called. I could be free, he had said. He showed me what would happen if I did return. Not only would all of those awful things happen to us, but Faith would be dealt a bad hand too. But by staying away from Sunnydale, I was freeing Faith to be the true Slayer that she could be, and Giles would be free to watch her. I remember that first letter I wrote to you all. It had been so hard to write. But I had to make you all understand that it was best for us all for me to stay away. Now we all know that things turned out better than that dream ever could.
Faith, you are the best Slayer that ever was, and I am so proud of you. I know Giles is too.
Faith blushed. The group could see she was truly moved by Buffy's words. Giles squeezed her shoulder and nodded his head to show he agreed with his old Slayer.
Willow continued reading.
And you are stronger and successful because of everyone in your group. Willow has saved you all countless times, you have told me, due to her research. And Xander and Cordelia are always steadfast and loyal. I know that if I were there, things would have been different, and I don't think better for any of us. I'm sorry I had to leave the way I did, but I know now it was the right thing to do. William told me so, and he was right.
My mother is doing great. Her gallery here is always making the fancy magazine articles. Coming here has made us all blossom and grow like Sunnydale never could. I'm sorry I left all my burdens there behind, but I know that you are much more successful there without me.
I awakened from that bench in the bus terminal to find James had covered me with his jacket. He was a comforting stranger then, but he made me feel safe. He still does today. Maybe part of me is selfish, but I know that if I had gotten on that bus, things would have gone from bad to worse. Perhaps you'll never understand, but my dreams have come true before. My mom would have died. I would have hurt and betrayed all of you. I would have died. Faith would have turned bad. Instead of defeating the Mayor before he could ever Ascend, in my dream Faith, you were his partner. I know that sounds ridiculous now, but my being there would have caused it to happen. I just know it. But for whatever reason, whatever Power that is out there, gave me William as a guide, and he showed me the right path.
I pray my son, William Giles, will be as blessed in his life as I am in mine with friends such as you.
I'll write again as soon as I can.
Love, Buffy Hampton
The group was quiet for a bit, absorbing her news.
Willow was the first to speak. "She is right, you know. Her dreams did often seem prophetic."
Giles agreed. "Yes, indeed." He turned and looked at Faith. He couldn't imagine her ever being evil, but weirder things in life had occurred before.
"She mentioned that William before, in her first letter. Did you ever find out who he was Giles?" Faith asked her Watcher.
Giles stood up from the table and paced around the room. His library, tons of books, yet he had never found the answer to who William was. He shook his head. "I guess we'll just have to think of him as her Guardian Angel."
* * *
William walked through the park, a poetry book tucked into his back pocket. He passed a man in a black leather duster, and it made the hairs rise on the back of his neck. He didn't remember his past, and knew nothing of Spike.
His thoughts that day were of his mother. He missed her terribly, but she had insisted on his Oxford education. And his father always supported his mother. They were a close and loving family.
He was startled out of his thoughts by a soccer ball rolling on the grass towards his feet. "Hey Hampton," yelled a young chap across the path. "Mind chucking the ball back". William smiled and kicked the ball back to the man. "Care to join us for a bit, mate?" William smiled and removed his shirt. He was an educated man, a reader, but there was something about Sport that got his blood boiling. And he liked to win. He joined the men in their game, reminding himself to phone his mother tomorrow. Mustn't leave Buffy Hampton waiting!
The End
