TITLE: Burgandy

AUTHOR: Ben Is Glory

RATING: PG-13

PAIRING: B/S

DISCLAIMER: Blah blah blah. Joss is the man, who's been screwed over one too many times ::grumblegrumble:: Anyways, characters are his. Stole one of the best lines ever from Entropy, too. Title is Common Rotation's. Plot = mine. The end.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: When you get going, you get going. This is why there is such a soon update. I'm getting back into my story, so woohoo for that. Not really much to say. I've never had somebody die, but what happens in this chap seems pretty natural, at least to me. Oh well. Read, enjoy, review! lol

FEEDBACK: Oh yeah.

So it was settled. Dawn would go to live with Darlene and her husband, and Buffy would go back to New York alone. Wednesday was the day Buffy had dreaded. The day when the map ended, the day where she had no clue how she was supposed to spend one minute or the next, the day when her life meant nothing anymore, the day when her life seemed to be a lie as it was tucked away into boxes to be moved, the day filled with bill paying and packing up her old life.

Buffy raked through memories that cluttered her room. Everything must be put into the boxes, she told herself. Quickly. We're running out of time. But every time she found something new in her room to pack, she would spend a few minutes just looking at it, remembering every little last detail about that particular object and the significance it had had in her life. She couldn't imagine just throwing whatever it may be into a cardboard box, possibly never to be seen again. But then she would remember just exactly what it was she was doing and how much time she didn't have and restlessly threw it in with the rest of her stuff.

Dawn was having a much harder time than Buffy. She completely refused to pack until Buffy came in and practically did it for her. When all of the girls' belongings were crammed into identical cardboard boxes, Buffy, Dawn, and Darlene began dismantling the rest of the house. Joyce's room came last.

The family decided together that they would pack up all of Joyce's possessions and bring them back to Darlene's home; not everything had to be sorted out right away. Buffy and Dawn sifted through their mother's clothes, linens, towels, accessories, and furniture. Items were packed, and tears were shed.

Buffy and Dawn's uncle had spent the afternoon renting a U-Haul. When the house was nearly bare, he took all the filled boxes and loaded them into the truck. He decided to give his plane ticket home to Dawn, and he drove the U-Haul back to their house Wednesday night. "You girls take it easy," he told them as he gave both Dawn and Buffy hugs before he left.

"Bye," they replied, watching him as he drove off. Darlene shut the door and ushered the girls back into the living room.

"Buffy," she said trying to ease into the topic of the house, "I've spoken with the realtor."

The blonde's attention was quickly captured. "Oh, right. What'd they say?"

"She said that the house will go on the market tomorrow," Darlene informed her.

"Sh-should I stay here?" Buffy asked, wondering if it was all right to return to New York tomorrow as scheduled. She didn't think she could stay in the house alone.

"She said that wouldn't be necessary, unless the house doesn't sell within the month, or something comes up. If that happens, I told her I would come right out."

"Thank you," she told her aunt, giving her a grateful look.

"There are some other things I need to talk to you about. Dawn, sweetie? Do you want to go upstairs?"

"What's the point?" Dawn asked angrily. "There is no upstairs anymore."

"Dawn, she just meant…" Buffy cut in, trying to get her sister to calm down.

"I know what she meant," the brunette said coldly. "I'm not moving." She crossed her arms over her chest for emphasis.

Darlene sighed and looked at Buffy. "Well," she started again, "most of the bills have already been paid. Your college should be taken care of, at least for the next couple of years, and I'm sure we won't have a problem with Dawn's schooling."

Thoughts flashed through Buffy's mind about not being able to go to college, about Dawn not being able to, about sacrificing her dreams for those of her sister. "You mean, I might not be able to finish out college?"

"Buffy," Darlene put her hand on the girl's shoulder. "It will all work out. Trust me." The blonde gave her a weak smile and ran the tiny charm on her necklace up and down the chain. We can do this.

Thursday was the day of goodbyes. The makeshift family rode to the airport that morning in silence, all afraid of saying anything that might strike up pain or grief. They arrived at the terminal, and the sisters walked hand in hand into the building not once letting go before they were separated by a young man's voice beckoning to Dawn and Darlene. "Flight three fourteen now boarding," he called.

"That's us," Darlene told Buffy as she rose from her seat and picked up her purse. "If you ever need anything," she whispered to Buffy as she pulled her into a hug, "we're just a phone call away. You know that."

"I know," the blonde replied. She let go of her sister's hand and enveloped Dawn's body with her own. "I love you so much, Dawnie."

"I'm going to miss you so much," the twelve year old wept, tears noiselessly falling.

"We've been apart before, remember?" She tried to lighten the mood but knew it would never work. How do you lighten never-ending darkness?

"It's not the same," Dawn stated matter-of-factly.

Buffy kissed her on the forehead and let her go. "I love you."

"I love you, too." With that, Dawn and her aunt walked away and onto the airplane. Buffy's eyes followed them as long as possible. When she was sure they were gone, she slumped back into her seat and fell apart.

Buffy's flight back to New York left about an hour and a half after her sister's. When the time came, she grabbed her bag and mindlessly followed the other passengers onto the plane. She tried to keep her mind as empty as possible- it hurt too much to think.

The minute the plane landed, Buffy was off. She rushed to the baggage claim to get the remainder of her property, then out to hail a cab. Eventually one stopped, and she opened the door and climbed in.

"Where are we headed to today, Miss?" the driver asked. She promptly gave him the address and leaned back in her seat. Buffy let her eyes scan the somewhat familiar drive. She couldn't believe that this had been her life only days before.

Once the taxi reached its destination, Buffy quickly paid and grabbed her things. She headed to the building, swiftly opened the doors and walked inside. She ran to the elevator and pressed the button to ascend to floor two. The elevator doors opened, and Buffy was off in a second. She moved down the hall and stopped in front of the door at the end of the hall, bags in hand. Her hand loudly knocked three times.

"Bugger," she heard him curse from inside. Will answered the door and was shocked at who stood before him.

She was crying. As soon as she saw him, tears ran down her face leaving little streams all the way down.

"Buffy, love, what's wrong?" he asked, concern washed over his features. She remained silent, so he continued. "I've tried to call you all week. Your cell must not be working." Still, he got no response. "Buffy! Please, say something!"

"Can you just be kissing me now?" She leapt into his arms, flooding him in a sea of kisses. He pulled her into his apartment and shut the door.

-TBC-

A/n: I promised Spuffy, so hopefully I came through. Major major MAJOR Spuffiness ensues next, because in true Spuffy style, there's always that big, *ahem*, scene. You know the one I'm talking about. And if you don't, yay for me getting to tell you a new story! Lots more to come. Now go review! 3