Violet walked into the house carrying Aria in her arms, the little girl was
fast asleep and she was holding a lot of bags so it was a bit difficult
trying to put the bags down and shut the door without waking Aria up.
She managed it though and had just placed aria on the couch in front of the window, the curtains were open so she lent across and pulled them shut, brushing her hands down the heavy green fabric, before turning her attention back to Aria's sleeping form. She smiled down at the little girl and pulled the blue comforter which was folded across the back of the couch, opened it and spread it over her making sure she was completely covered.
She then sat on her knees in front of the couch-watching Aria as she slept. She didn't know how long she had sat there before she decided to get up and go and see her dad. She stood and lent over aria before she left though kissing the girl lightly on her cheek and stoking her cheek before bending down and kissing her again.
She went back out into the hall and took off her coat and boots and was just walking towards the kitchen when the door opened and Xander walked out.
He ran forward towards her and devoured her into his arms. He hugged her so tight, and without realising it she started to cry on his shoulder, she couldn't believe that he was there. She hadn't expected him to be here, he hadn't expected to ever see him or Anya again and here he was.
He stood there rocking her slightly in his arms for a couple of minutes until she had stopped crying mostly and then let go of her.
"Hey." He said smiling, "I know I'm not the best looking guy in the world but there's no need to burst into tears when you see me, you could damage a guys confidence doing that."
"Hey," she said wiping the tears from her eyes, " didn't mean to go all weepy on you, I just wasn't expecting you to be here, but I'm glad you are."
"Will phoned me earlier, she told me bout the ritual. So I caught an earlier flight, Anya wanted to be here but there wasn't another ticket available on the same flight she caught one which left two hours ago, she's going to try and be here ....."
"It's ok, I understand I mean I doubt the airport's really able to offer immediate exchange tickets for people needing to get somewhere on time to help with a ritual to prevent the end of the world." She grinned and said, "It means so much to me though that you going to be here."
Xander stroked her cheek and kissed her forehead, she was nearly as tall as him but there was still enough difference for him to have to dip his head slightly.
Violet grinned back at him and then said looking round as if suddenly realising something "Where is everyone else?" walking towards the kitchen
Xander smiled "Willow's gone to the magic shop to get Tara and pick up some stuff for tonight Oz and Giles went somewhere for something, and the broody one and your dad are upstairs, Clara's packing."
"Why's Clara packing?"
"Her and Aria are going to go and spend the night with a friend of hers from uni, she apparently moved out here a couple of years ago and Clara's not seen her since then."
"Oh." Violet said sitting down at the table.
"I just want you to know, Violet, you don't have to go through with this." Xander said his voice quivering softly, he had been through apocalypse after apocalypse, which they had stopped, and he had fought vampires and demons alike and won against them all helping Buffy with her destiny.
But now sitting at this table staring at the 17 year old girl who was sitting In front of him knowing and helping her prepare to end her life in order to stop evil, for the first time he felt as if they had failed.
How could this be winning? If it meant that Violet had to die.
Violet smiled at him softly and said as if she knew what he was thinking; in a soft whist full tone of voice which he had never heard her use,
"I do, everyone keeps saying that, but I know I do. You can't ignore evil it's just going to keep coming and coming. I can't stop it but I can put it off. Ruin it's plans makes sure it doesn't win this round."
Xander lent forward and hugged her as she said this.
There was a succession of bangs coming from the staircase and suddenly Spike appeared in the doorway of the kitchen.
He looked over to the table to where Xander was hugging Violet and nodded at him. He had never really liked Xander, and Xander had never tried to hide his dislike for the vampire, but he had grown to understand him more over the years he had spent with Buffy, he had realised that it was only out of fear that he disliked him, it wasn't fear of spike himself which Xander felt, it was fear of what spike might do to Buffy or Violet, or any of them. So in a strange way Spike felt respect for the man in front of him and if things were different then he probably would have found himself a brilliant and trustworthy friend in him just as Buffy had. When Violet had heard him enter she had let go of Xander and sat up straight. Xander had nodded back at him and looked out of the window, Violet started to speak,
"What did you want to show me dad?"
She said remembering his words from the morning and how he had instructed her to be home at dusk.
"Get you boots and coat, you might need a hat and scarf too. It's getting a bit nippy out there, don't be long."
Violet got up and went out into the hall, she walked into the lounge quickly first and kissed Aria one last time knowing that she would probably be gone when she got back and whispered "I love you," and "Good bye" into her ears before walking back out into the hall.
"Where are you taking her Spike?" Xander asked him, he stood up and stepping towards him stopping when he was square in front of him.
"To see Buffy and Dawn." Spike answered as he walked towards the door, "We won't be long, I have to show her something, tell peaches we'll be back within the hour."
Violet was waiting for him in the hall, sitting on the bottom step tying up the last lace on her boot before standing up and turning to him.
She was wearing her boots and a ¾ length worn black leather jacket, which he immediately recognised as being Buffy's; she had a purple scarf and hat on. She had tucked all of her hair inside the hat, and her chin was covered completely by the scarf.
He walked past her and opened the front door, holding it open for her and followed her out of the house and into the street, pulling the door shut behind him.
She held her arm out to him as they walked and he took it, with a smile and so they walked hand in hand down the road.
"Where are we going Dad?"
She asked them as they walked through the streets, they had turned away from the street which led to the centre of the town, and passed the park where she had run the night he had arrived, that night seemed so long ago now, but in truth it was on a couple of days, she laughed at the thought at how much her life had changed in the last 50 or so hours, back then she had been a normal regular teenager about to turn 18, she had been going to go to college to study musical performance and song writing, she wanted to be a singer when she was older or maybe in a band playing guitar or drums, she had always like the drums they steadied you when you were singing or playing you could get lost in their beat and they would guide you through the song, now though they beat seemed to have gone out of control, just like her life, although that didn't matter now since her life was going to end tonight.
She looked up into the sky and saw the moon come into view just as a cloud brushed past it.
She smiled up at it. And then turned to look at her father.
Spike had been watching her, as they walked. The street were almost dead, he couldn't see any one about any where, that didn't mean that there wasn't though, there were probably a couple of things lurking around, especially where he was taking her there would be so he needed to be on his guard.
They came to a crossroads, not knowing which way they needed to go Violet turned to her dad who with his free hand he pointed straight forward, there was only one thing which was down this road, and that was the grave yard.
They stopped outside the gate, and spike turned to her looking her straight in the eyes,
"I want to show you, your family pet is that ok?"
She looked at her father for a moment saying
"I've seen their graves before dad........."
Spike interrupted her and said "You may have seen their graves, but that's not who they were, babe, come with me."
He held out his hand to her again, she took it and they walked into the grave yard, they walked over to the south west side, Buffy and Dawn had been buried next to Joyce under the shade of an oak tree, Violet had spent many days when she had been little sitting in the roots of the tree talking to her mom, but she had grown out of that a long time ago realising that her mom wasn't there any more had been one of the hardest things which she had ever done, once she had done that, she had stopped going there, she couldn't remember the last time that she had been there.
The moonlight illuminated the pale silver ness of the tombstones making them almost glow in this light, the letters of their names etched into the glowing stone,
BUFFY ANNE SUMMERS-HOLTON
DAWN MARIE CLAIR SUMMERS JOYCE LOUISA SUMMERS
Violet kneeled down in front of her mom's tombstones and followed the trail of the letters with her fingers, knowing each of them by heart but needing for to trace them as if to remind herself of something she had forgotten a long time ago.
"I used to come here when I was little and sit here, talking to them."
She said absentmindedly, standing up again. "What is it you want to show me."
Spike lifted his hand and place a finger to her lips before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a mirror which he placed on the floor in front of the graves, so that it reflected the of the moon onto each of the stones.
He waited for a couple of moment clutching Violets hand tightly in his so much so that she nearly cried out in pain.
Suddenly three pale translucent hands reached out of the mirror and pulled themselves out, Violet gasped in surprise as she saw first her mom's transparent form climb out of the mirror, her hair was flowing out behind her and she was clothed in a flowing gown.
Dawn followed her out her hair was longer but like Buffy she wore a flowing white gown, as was Joyce who was the last to climb out of the mirror.
The three forms stood in front of them on their standing on their graves.
"Who....... What......." Violet asking she had gone pale and her body was shaking she felt as if she was going to collapse, this couldn't be happening it couldn't be true.
"Baby, I'd like you to meet your mom, aunt and grand mother."
She managed it though and had just placed aria on the couch in front of the window, the curtains were open so she lent across and pulled them shut, brushing her hands down the heavy green fabric, before turning her attention back to Aria's sleeping form. She smiled down at the little girl and pulled the blue comforter which was folded across the back of the couch, opened it and spread it over her making sure she was completely covered.
She then sat on her knees in front of the couch-watching Aria as she slept. She didn't know how long she had sat there before she decided to get up and go and see her dad. She stood and lent over aria before she left though kissing the girl lightly on her cheek and stoking her cheek before bending down and kissing her again.
She went back out into the hall and took off her coat and boots and was just walking towards the kitchen when the door opened and Xander walked out.
He ran forward towards her and devoured her into his arms. He hugged her so tight, and without realising it she started to cry on his shoulder, she couldn't believe that he was there. She hadn't expected him to be here, he hadn't expected to ever see him or Anya again and here he was.
He stood there rocking her slightly in his arms for a couple of minutes until she had stopped crying mostly and then let go of her.
"Hey." He said smiling, "I know I'm not the best looking guy in the world but there's no need to burst into tears when you see me, you could damage a guys confidence doing that."
"Hey," she said wiping the tears from her eyes, " didn't mean to go all weepy on you, I just wasn't expecting you to be here, but I'm glad you are."
"Will phoned me earlier, she told me bout the ritual. So I caught an earlier flight, Anya wanted to be here but there wasn't another ticket available on the same flight she caught one which left two hours ago, she's going to try and be here ....."
"It's ok, I understand I mean I doubt the airport's really able to offer immediate exchange tickets for people needing to get somewhere on time to help with a ritual to prevent the end of the world." She grinned and said, "It means so much to me though that you going to be here."
Xander stroked her cheek and kissed her forehead, she was nearly as tall as him but there was still enough difference for him to have to dip his head slightly.
Violet grinned back at him and then said looking round as if suddenly realising something "Where is everyone else?" walking towards the kitchen
Xander smiled "Willow's gone to the magic shop to get Tara and pick up some stuff for tonight Oz and Giles went somewhere for something, and the broody one and your dad are upstairs, Clara's packing."
"Why's Clara packing?"
"Her and Aria are going to go and spend the night with a friend of hers from uni, she apparently moved out here a couple of years ago and Clara's not seen her since then."
"Oh." Violet said sitting down at the table.
"I just want you to know, Violet, you don't have to go through with this." Xander said his voice quivering softly, he had been through apocalypse after apocalypse, which they had stopped, and he had fought vampires and demons alike and won against them all helping Buffy with her destiny.
But now sitting at this table staring at the 17 year old girl who was sitting In front of him knowing and helping her prepare to end her life in order to stop evil, for the first time he felt as if they had failed.
How could this be winning? If it meant that Violet had to die.
Violet smiled at him softly and said as if she knew what he was thinking; in a soft whist full tone of voice which he had never heard her use,
"I do, everyone keeps saying that, but I know I do. You can't ignore evil it's just going to keep coming and coming. I can't stop it but I can put it off. Ruin it's plans makes sure it doesn't win this round."
Xander lent forward and hugged her as she said this.
There was a succession of bangs coming from the staircase and suddenly Spike appeared in the doorway of the kitchen.
He looked over to the table to where Xander was hugging Violet and nodded at him. He had never really liked Xander, and Xander had never tried to hide his dislike for the vampire, but he had grown to understand him more over the years he had spent with Buffy, he had realised that it was only out of fear that he disliked him, it wasn't fear of spike himself which Xander felt, it was fear of what spike might do to Buffy or Violet, or any of them. So in a strange way Spike felt respect for the man in front of him and if things were different then he probably would have found himself a brilliant and trustworthy friend in him just as Buffy had. When Violet had heard him enter she had let go of Xander and sat up straight. Xander had nodded back at him and looked out of the window, Violet started to speak,
"What did you want to show me dad?"
She said remembering his words from the morning and how he had instructed her to be home at dusk.
"Get you boots and coat, you might need a hat and scarf too. It's getting a bit nippy out there, don't be long."
Violet got up and went out into the hall, she walked into the lounge quickly first and kissed Aria one last time knowing that she would probably be gone when she got back and whispered "I love you," and "Good bye" into her ears before walking back out into the hall.
"Where are you taking her Spike?" Xander asked him, he stood up and stepping towards him stopping when he was square in front of him.
"To see Buffy and Dawn." Spike answered as he walked towards the door, "We won't be long, I have to show her something, tell peaches we'll be back within the hour."
Violet was waiting for him in the hall, sitting on the bottom step tying up the last lace on her boot before standing up and turning to him.
She was wearing her boots and a ¾ length worn black leather jacket, which he immediately recognised as being Buffy's; she had a purple scarf and hat on. She had tucked all of her hair inside the hat, and her chin was covered completely by the scarf.
He walked past her and opened the front door, holding it open for her and followed her out of the house and into the street, pulling the door shut behind him.
She held her arm out to him as they walked and he took it, with a smile and so they walked hand in hand down the road.
"Where are we going Dad?"
She asked them as they walked through the streets, they had turned away from the street which led to the centre of the town, and passed the park where she had run the night he had arrived, that night seemed so long ago now, but in truth it was on a couple of days, she laughed at the thought at how much her life had changed in the last 50 or so hours, back then she had been a normal regular teenager about to turn 18, she had been going to go to college to study musical performance and song writing, she wanted to be a singer when she was older or maybe in a band playing guitar or drums, she had always like the drums they steadied you when you were singing or playing you could get lost in their beat and they would guide you through the song, now though they beat seemed to have gone out of control, just like her life, although that didn't matter now since her life was going to end tonight.
She looked up into the sky and saw the moon come into view just as a cloud brushed past it.
She smiled up at it. And then turned to look at her father.
Spike had been watching her, as they walked. The street were almost dead, he couldn't see any one about any where, that didn't mean that there wasn't though, there were probably a couple of things lurking around, especially where he was taking her there would be so he needed to be on his guard.
They came to a crossroads, not knowing which way they needed to go Violet turned to her dad who with his free hand he pointed straight forward, there was only one thing which was down this road, and that was the grave yard.
They stopped outside the gate, and spike turned to her looking her straight in the eyes,
"I want to show you, your family pet is that ok?"
She looked at her father for a moment saying
"I've seen their graves before dad........."
Spike interrupted her and said "You may have seen their graves, but that's not who they were, babe, come with me."
He held out his hand to her again, she took it and they walked into the grave yard, they walked over to the south west side, Buffy and Dawn had been buried next to Joyce under the shade of an oak tree, Violet had spent many days when she had been little sitting in the roots of the tree talking to her mom, but she had grown out of that a long time ago realising that her mom wasn't there any more had been one of the hardest things which she had ever done, once she had done that, she had stopped going there, she couldn't remember the last time that she had been there.
The moonlight illuminated the pale silver ness of the tombstones making them almost glow in this light, the letters of their names etched into the glowing stone,
BUFFY ANNE SUMMERS-HOLTON
DAWN MARIE CLAIR SUMMERS JOYCE LOUISA SUMMERS
Violet kneeled down in front of her mom's tombstones and followed the trail of the letters with her fingers, knowing each of them by heart but needing for to trace them as if to remind herself of something she had forgotten a long time ago.
"I used to come here when I was little and sit here, talking to them."
She said absentmindedly, standing up again. "What is it you want to show me."
Spike lifted his hand and place a finger to her lips before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a mirror which he placed on the floor in front of the graves, so that it reflected the of the moon onto each of the stones.
He waited for a couple of moment clutching Violets hand tightly in his so much so that she nearly cried out in pain.
Suddenly three pale translucent hands reached out of the mirror and pulled themselves out, Violet gasped in surprise as she saw first her mom's transparent form climb out of the mirror, her hair was flowing out behind her and she was clothed in a flowing gown.
Dawn followed her out her hair was longer but like Buffy she wore a flowing white gown, as was Joyce who was the last to climb out of the mirror.
The three forms stood in front of them on their standing on their graves.
"Who....... What......." Violet asking she had gone pale and her body was shaking she felt as if she was going to collapse, this couldn't be happening it couldn't be true.
"Baby, I'd like you to meet your mom, aunt and grand mother."