(Guest bedroom)

9:22 PM

Everyone had gone home. Willow, Oz, and Kalani went to their house, Xander and Anya to theirs, and Giles took Cordelia home with him and the boys where he was going to watch over her. Rose sat alone on the edge of a plain matress that was set out on a blank bed in a blank bedroom. Rose rubbed her neck were her locket had hung. She was so used to it being their that she had developed a habit.

"Hey," Buffy said letting herself into the room.

"Hey," Rose said quietly. Her legs seared in pain and her neck was sore from the wounds she had gotten from the night before. Buffy's prescence made her feel funny. Like she wanted to cry everytime she was around her.

"Your going to stay here. With Dawn and I for a little while," Buffy said. Rose didn't look up but felt the bed dip as Buffy sat down next to her.

"Please don't make me go back," Rose whispered.

"Where?" Buffy asked. Rose's tearful eyes turned and locked with Buffy's.

"Back to the shelter. I don't want to live with anyone else anymore. I want to stay here with you Buffy." Buffy's heart gave a painful lurch as all of her emotions clicked inside of her. She needed to protect Rose. Both of them said nothing for a long time.

"You miss her," Buffy finally said "your mother."

"I hate being able to hear her and not being able to touch her. I've only known her through her voice and my picture," Rose answered trying to rub the soreness out of her legs.

"Drusilla let you go because she was afraid," Buffy said.

"Angel never gave her a chance to be afraid Buffy. He took me away even before she got to hold me," Rose replied quietly.

When Buffy didn't answer she said "I'm not saying it's his fault I'm just saying that...he could of gave me a chance."

"You would of never survived as a mortal with all those vampires around. Once they give in there's no stopping them," Buffy said. Not wanting to talk anymore Buffy pushed Rose down gently on the bed.

"You rest. I'm not going to make you go back to school. Things need to be worked out before we can let you go anywhere." Buffy proped her head up on a pillow and covered her with a comforter. She turned out the light.

"Buffy?"

"Yeah Rose?"

"Will I get my locket back soon?"

"Yes. Goodnight Rose." Buffy closed the door behind her and Rose turned over in bed.

"Goodnight Prissy. Happy Birthday," Drusilla whispered.