Chapter 17: Reunion
D'Hoffryn stood over Halfrek.
"Hallie?! What happened?"
She shook violently then was still—deathly still. He sat in silence for a moment, his forehead creased with worry and anger. He suddenly felt old and- human. He knew his share was coming. It was long past his time, he was more than ready--he was waiting. He lied down next to Halfrek, clasping her hand with fear. He closed his eyes, knowing it would soon be over.
* * * The three were thrown into the real world. Dawn and Arrian watched concerned as the bodies of their friends and loved ones shook violently. Buffy was first to wake. Dawn noticed long raised scars along her face and arms and a black stripe in her hair. Spike awoke normal, or so it seemed. Lastly, Willow also awoke normal. Dawn ran to Buffy.
"Oh Buffy! Are you okay?"
She nodded, her eyes still wet with tears. Buffy tightly embraced Dawn.
"I didn't think I'd ever see you again, I missed you so much!"
Dawn smoothed her hair and kissed her forehead.
"I love you, Buffy."
"I love you too. I'm never leaving again, okay?"
Dawn nodded and pulled from her. She turned to Spike. She quickly embraced him, he awkwardly patted her back.
"It's alright little bits."
She smiled.
"I never thought I'd be glad to hear you say that."
He smiled and saw Arrian shyly standing in the background.
"Come join the reunion nibblet."
She stepped forward and said.
"I'm glad you're okay."
They both nodded and drowned themselves in the attention.
D'Hoffryn stood over Halfrek.
"Hallie?! What happened?"
She shook violently then was still—deathly still. He sat in silence for a moment, his forehead creased with worry and anger. He suddenly felt old and- human. He knew his share was coming. It was long past his time, he was more than ready--he was waiting. He lied down next to Halfrek, clasping her hand with fear. He closed his eyes, knowing it would soon be over.
* * * The three were thrown into the real world. Dawn and Arrian watched concerned as the bodies of their friends and loved ones shook violently. Buffy was first to wake. Dawn noticed long raised scars along her face and arms and a black stripe in her hair. Spike awoke normal, or so it seemed. Lastly, Willow also awoke normal. Dawn ran to Buffy.
"Oh Buffy! Are you okay?"
She nodded, her eyes still wet with tears. Buffy tightly embraced Dawn.
"I didn't think I'd ever see you again, I missed you so much!"
Dawn smoothed her hair and kissed her forehead.
"I love you, Buffy."
"I love you too. I'm never leaving again, okay?"
Dawn nodded and pulled from her. She turned to Spike. She quickly embraced him, he awkwardly patted her back.
"It's alright little bits."
She smiled.
"I never thought I'd be glad to hear you say that."
He smiled and saw Arrian shyly standing in the background.
"Come join the reunion nibblet."
She stepped forward and said.
"I'm glad you're okay."
They both nodded and drowned themselves in the attention.