Chapter 3
After Dawn and Spike left, the rest of the Scooby core gathered up their things, and sat down to await the police. They were sure they'd be by in minutes...and they weren't wrong.
Giles, having practice with the police, dealt with them, while Willow, Tara, Xander and Anya sat down and watched everything with blank faces.
Their faces were all pale and haunted as they stared down at the tarp that covered the body of their now deceased best friend.
Tara having already said her peace to Buffy, was trying to soothe Willow, but she didn't' tell her it would be okay. Her loves best friend was now gone...and she knew it would be a long time before she was okay.
Anya's face was blank. She was wondering why everything had to be so terrible. Now her friend was gone, dead...and just like when Joyce had died, she couldn't understand why Buffy couldn't just get up and get back into her body. Death was so stupid. She remembered how Xander had been after Joyce died. Damn. Now he's gonna be all not talking to me again, he's going to try to punch walls and electrocute himself again, he's gonna cry again...and that was scary enough the first time, and I'm not going to be able to make it better by talking to him or having sex with him, because I don't know how to talk to him and for the first time...I don't want to have sex with him. Why can't things just go back to the way they were? Without Glory and with Buffy still being alive?
Xander had his head in his hands. His eyes were watery and every once in a while...a tear would drop onto his jeans. God, I miss her so much. It's not just loosing my best friend. It's loosing someone I loved, one of my first loves. It's also like loosing a family member. She was like a sister...like Willow. At least Willow's still here. That sounds so cold...but I don't mean it to be. I loved Buffy...and still do. But if I had lost both of them...that would have been so terrible. Oh Buffy, I wish I could bring you back again...like last time. I gave you my breath when you drowned...and you were alive after. I can't do that this time. How can I make it better? How can I help you now? You can't leave us yet. We need you.
Willow was having trouble thinking at all. Just a single phrase kept repeating in her head....Buffy's dead...Buffy's dead....Buffy's dead....Buffy's dead...over and over again.
Tara...as if she could tell what Willow was thinking...held her closer, giving her small comforting kisses.
Giles...he was trying very hard not to think about what happened to Buffy. He was the adult adult in their group. He had to hold his little band together. And if he gave into the pain and misery that he felt deep down, he'd never put himself back together. And he had to be strong...he knew Buffy would have wanted him to be strong...for all of them. Even at the end. She loved them all, and told them so. But, giving up Dawn was something she just couldn't do. It would have been too much...and she would have been worse than a shell of a girl if she had.
The group, after the police had come and gone...and had taken Buffy's body away to the morgue, walked down to the Magic Box shop.
"I think you all had better go home and rest, " Giles said softly.
"I'm going to the hospital," Xander said woodenly.
Willow opened her mouth to speak...and then closed it again, as she felt her throat constrict and the tears begin to fall again.
Xander looked down at her, and pulled her in his arms.
Willow hugged her best friend deeply, crying silently now.
Giles, unable to hold it back anymore, pulled both Xander and Willow into a deep bear hug, as if he was afraid they would both disappear if he didn't hold on tightly enough. Tears were in his eyes, but he didn't let them fall.
In a few hours, they'll all be at home, and then I can give Buffy my farewell...alone, hmm...I'm getting as bad as Angel. Oh...Angel.
Giles pulled back.
"What's wrong Giles?"
"I just thought of something."
"What?" Willow asked the question softly, this was the first time she had spoken since Buffy's death.
"Someone has to tell Angel."
All three faces saddened.
Willow gathered herself together, "I'll do it."
"Will...are you sure?"
"Yeah...I'm sure. Buf...Buffy was my best friend...'til the end...and I owe it to her to let Angel find out from us. I'll go down there in a few days and let them know. But I will call and let them know I'm coming."
Giles and Xander nodded
"That sounds like a good plan."
On the side of the room, Tara and Anya looked on.
TBC…