TITLE: Burgandy

AUTHOR: Ben Is Glory

RATING: PG-13

PAIRING: B/S

DISCLAIMER: Same old, same old. Characters are Joss's, title is Common Rotation's, one maybe two casually lifted lines from "The Body," but I swear, that's it!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Again with the me not updating. I'm sorry. Hopefully more regular updates await you in the future. Lord knows I try :0P So here's the latest installment of Burgandy. Thank you muchly to Alex who ((for some odd reasons)) reads this story even though she's only seen two episodes of BtVS: "the one where Oz leaves and the one where Riley and Buffy have constant graphic sex." I LOVE YOU, DARLING!

FEEDBACK: Yessm!

***

"Bollocks!" Will cursed as he hung up his phone. It had been nearly twenty-four hours since Buffy had left New York, and he had been calling her all day. He hadn't gotten a hold of her once, and he was starting to really get nervous now. Fear and nerves consumed him as he worried about her. Whatever had made her leave, whatever she was going through, he knew it was big and bad and important. He just wanted to be there for her.

***

Dawn sat in the kitchen quietly listening to Buffy make arrangements over the telephone. She had been on the phone non-stop since daybreak, calling practically everyone the family knew. Both girls had tried their father's number at least three times, but they got no reply.

"Right. Yes… okay," she could hear her sister say. Dawn had been in a trance ever since Buffy arrived. She willed herself not to cry every moment, and every moment after that. Now she felt numb. "Yes, Tuesday will be fine. My sister and I can come over tomorrow to finalize the plans. Thank you." She hung up the phone and sat down at the counter with Dawn.

"What'd they say?" the younger sister asked, her voice low.

Buffy pushed her hair behind her ears before she answered. "The funeral's going to be Tuesday. We have to go to the funeral home tomorrow to make sure everything is set up, though." She looked over at her sister and squeezed her arm for comfort.

"He still hasn't called," Dawn said abruptly.

"I know," she replied quietly and looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry, Dawn, I need to get back on the phone. Make sure people know when the…" Her voice broke before she could say the word funeral. "You should really get something to eat. You haven't had anything since I've been here."

"I don't want anything," the brunette said as she got up. She quickly left the kitchen and ran upstairs to her room.

Buffy let out a sigh and picked up the phone.

***

An hour or so later, Buffy went to check on Dawn. She knocked on the door, but when there was no response, she twisted the knob and slowly entered. Dawn was lying on her bed crying softly. In her lap was a photo album. Buffy crawled up on the bed beside her little sister and gently stroked her hair.

Dawn lifted her head up and looked intently at her sister. "Buff?" she started.

The blonde looked down at her. "Yeah, sweetie?"

"Where am I going to go?" she choked out, tears that she had been holding back all day suddenly overflowing. "What's going to happen to me?"

Buffy pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her forehead. "I don't know, Dawnie. I don't know." She picked up the album and began flipping through the pages. Pictures of the happy family they used to be smiled back at her. Now, that family was broken into a million pieces, and all Buffy wanted to do was put it back together again.

Dawn curled up against her sister and closed her eyes. The exhausted pair fell into a dreamless sleep.

***

Monday was a mess. Buffy and Dawn went to the funeral home to finish making all the arrangements for the ceremony the next day. To Buffy's surprise, her mother had been very prepared. She had picked out a plot, a casket, and a headstone. A twang of pain hit Buffy; she had never known Joyce was expecting death. Nevertheless, she was relieved that all the decisions were already made. All she had to do was keep it together, to be strong, for herself and for Dawn.

That night she called Willow to see how things were going back at school.

"Everything here's fine," Willow said reassuringly. "How are you?"

"I'm… well, I'm here. I think I am, anyway."

"When's the, you know, the funeral?"

"Tomorrow," Buffy informed her. "And after that… I don't know. God, Wills, I don't know what to do. I still have to find a place for Dawn to live."

Willow's heart broke for her best friend. "Oh God, poor Dawnie. I'm so sorry. I love you."

"I know. I just wish my mom was here."

***

The funeral was unbearable. Buffy was afraid it would never be over, that she would be stuck in that moment forever. The priest spoke, and Joyce was lowered into her grave. Dawn latched onto Buffy throughout the whole ceremony. She stood there and stroked the brunette's hair and tried to think of something, anything else besides what she was doing and why she was doing it.

When it was all over, Buffy hugged and thanked the people that had attended, some she recognized and some she had never seen before. They were friends of Joyce's from the gallery, people whose numbers Buffy had gotten out of her mother's address book. When everything was over, she grabbed Dawn's hand and led her to the car; a few select family members came with them. The ride back to the house was silent and painful. Dawn cried in the backseat next to her, but Buffy was as rigid as stone. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

Back at the house, Buffy had convinced Dawn to have a meal, even though she herself refused to eat. While everyone was in the kitchen, Buffy quietly slipped upstairs to her room. She sat down on her bed, dazed. A few minutes later, there was a small knock on her door. "Come in," she called halfheartedly.

"How are you holding up, honey?" It was her Aunt Darlene, Joyce's sister.

"Honestly, I couldn't tell."

"Listen, Buffy. I want to talk to you about your plans." Buffy gave her a confused look. "About your plans for Dawn," Darlene clarified. "Where were you planning on her living?"

Buffy looked down at her hands, which were folded in her lap. "I figured she'd live with Dad, but he never called, so…" She let her sentence drop off, her eyes once more welling with tears. She should never have put it past him to abandon them again.

"What do you think about her coming to live with me? She could come back with us when we leave on Thursday."

She lifted her head back up to search her aunt's eyes. She only found love and concern. "I'd have to talk to Dawn. We have so much we still have to sort out here."

Darlene reached out to touch Buffy's arm. "I know, sweetie. Your uncle and I are here to help you girls every step of the way. We can help you pack, get the house ready to sell, figure out all the expenses that need to be paid."

Buffy's mind spiraled inside her head. She had never stopped to think of all the little details that needed to be settled, all the questions that needed to be answered. She felt like she might be sick, but she was glad that her aunt was there to help. "Thank you," she told her as she leaned her head against her aunt's shoulder.

Darlene hugged her and rocked her.

-TBC-

***

A/n: So, yes, that's what you get for now. And, might I add, only one or so more chapters until much Spuffy and good old angstiness ensue. I know Will kind of got the shaft in this chapter, but I'll make up for it, don't worry. Review and such!