Chapter Nine

"It's nice to see you walking around. When do you go home?" Buffy asked as she placed the flowers she had bought for Giles in a plastic pitcher from the nurse's station.

"Tomorrow at half past ten. Not a moment too soon. I must say I am rather tired of this place now." Giles said as he sat up in the hospital bed. "I can't stand wearing this stupid dressing gown."

"That's all right. Tomorrow you can go back to wearing tweed." Xander suggested.

Giles just glared at him.

"Well, do you need anything tomorrow while you are at home?" Willow asked.

"No, I think I will just rest. This place is awful for resting. This place is noisy with all the buzzing and all the coughing and-"

"People in need?" Oz interrupted.

"Yes, precisely." Giles answered as he frowned.

"The nerve of some people. You would think this was a hospital of some kind." Xander joked.

"Do the doctors know how you recovered so quickly?" Buffy asked, ignoring Xander's comment.

"No they don't. They are quit amazed. They said I almost died."

"Well, I think you just proved how important taking all of your vitamins really is." Xander tried to joke.

"And don't forget a healthy does vegetables." Oz added.

"Finally, someone steps in and joins me with the laughter." Xander smiled.

"Oz, why do you encourage him?" Willow asked.

"Sorry, I was just caught up in the moment." Oz apologized.

"It's okay sweetie. So no one knows how your quick recovery happened?" Willow asked yet again.

"No. They are completely astonished. There is no explanation. The doctors said I should have died that night. There is no reason why I should still be alive now." Giles explained. "And there is no reason why I should have healed and gotten better, especially in the short amount of time. My doctor truly believes that I should not have gotten better at all, I should have been died."

The Scooby gang looked at each other in silence. They were all thankful that Giles was still with them. Since Buffy's arrival one year ago, Buffy, Xander and Willow had looked at Giles as their father. They just wished they could understand why he was back. Just then Buffy's watch beeped.

"That's me. I have to get home before mom. I told her I would. I sort of wanted to make dinner for her tonight. Giles I can stop by tonight after I patrol, or in the morning." She explained.

"Well, I suppose you could stop by in the morning if you'd like. There is no need to come back tonight. Thank you for stopping by."

"Sure. Get some rest and I'll see you tomorrow. Bye guys."

"Buffy? Are you home?" Joyce Summers asked as she closed the door to the house. She placed her bag on the floor in the corner of the hall an wondered into the kitchen.

"Buffy? Are you in here?" She asked again.

"Mom? Wait one minute." Buffy explained. She had a hunter green apron on as well as matching oven mitts. She was taking lasagna out of the oven.

"Go wash up. Dinner will be ready in ten minutes. After the garlic bread is ready."

"Buffy? What is all of this?" Joyce was truly in shock.

"I wanted to make you dinner because I know you have been kind of stressed

lately. So I cooked dinner for you. I have to leave though after sunset. I have to patrol."
"Buffy, I don't like the idea of you going alone."

"Don't worry I'm not. Angel is coming with me."

"What?" Joyce asked almost shocked.

"Yea. We figured it could be the best time to catch up on things."

"Buffy, I don't know if I like the idea of you and Angel being together…I mean being alone."

"Mom, I've seen Angel since he's been, well, back. He doesn't understand the

things that have happened to him over the past few months. He needs someone to explain to him everything that has happened. Things will be fine."

"But Buffy-"

"Mom, please, just get washed for dinner and we will talk about this later. The garlic bread is almost done."

Joyce made her way to the stairs and walked up and went into the bathroom. She washed her hands and came back down. Buffy had set the dinning room table. There were two bowls and a plate with the garlic bread on it.

Joyce sat down and a slice of lasagna was already on her plate. There was a piece of garlic bread on the side of her plate and a bowl of salad to the left of her salad plate. She took a bite of the lasagna and was amazed with how good it was. "Buffy, this is amazing. Where did you learn to make this?"

"I just followed the directions on the back of the jar."

Buffy and Joyce sat almost in silence as they ate their dinner. Joyce finally brought up the subject of Giles.

"He's doing well. He is coming home from the hospital. He is as healthy as a horse."

"That's great dear. I am glad to hear that." Joyce paused as she sipped her wine. "So Angel is going with you tonight.

"Yea mom, he is."

"Buffy, are you going to be all right?"

"Mom, yes, I am going to be fine. I have seen Angel since he has been back and he's okay. Plus now I won't be alone patrolling."

"I know but I still worry. Especially know I understand more about you and your life. Sweetheart-"

"Mom, it will be all right. I promise I will be safe. I'll be home around one."

"One?"

Yes, like I am all the time. Please don't worry."

"You always come home around one?"

"Well, most of the time. Sometimes it is earlier and some times it is later."

"Later?"

"Mom, it's my job. Some one has to do it and it's me."

"I know, but I worry sweetie."

"Well, tonight there is no need for any worries. Don't think I will be fighting as much as talking. Does Hallmark make a card for 'welcome back from your psycho persona…buy the way how was hell?' I could really use that card tonight."

"Do you think things will go bad with Angel?"

"Bad, no. He is just going to beat himself up but mom, he didn't do those things. It was Angelous. It wasn't him."

"You really believe that?"
"Yea I do. I know Angel and for the past few months he hasn't been here.

"IS there anything you want me to do?"

"Wish me luck," Buffy said staring at her not touched lasagna."

Thanks to those who have sent me feedback. I appreciate it. I have been feeling kind of

icky lately so I haven't done any updates for a few weeks. This chapter doesn't have too

many exciting things to it but the excitement will come back in the next chapter, I

promise. Thanks again! Lisa Ann