(Another side note for this story, Willow is not gay and Dru is not
British. Sorry for changing the characters this way. Oh, also, Dru isn't
crazy.)
Three days after Buffy had received the news of her husband's death, she stood huddled in her raincoat while they lowered his body into the cold damp ground. Nearly a hundred flowers decorated the area surrounding the grave, their vibrant colours at odds with the miserable day. The church had been packed with town's people who had known Angel, along with scientists from the research center. The preacher offered words of comfort, read some scripture and then ended the service with a prayer. Buffy's heart clenched as the visitor's began to disperse. Drusilla, Angel's secretary, cried into her hands.
Exhaustion pulled at Buffy as the visitors offered their condolences, but she forced herself to shake hands, occasionally sparing her best friend Willow a glance, silently thanking her for staying by her side, offering support.
Drusilla suddenly stood in front of her, looking lost. "Buf—"her voice broke.
Buffy pulled her into her arms and tried to soothe her. "It'll be okay, Dru."
"But you and Angel have been so good to me. I don't know what I would have done...what I'll do."
Angel had helped Dru get up the courage to leave her abusive husband. She was still fragile from the experience.
"Just know that Angel would be proud of you for taking care of yourself so well," Buffy said softly. "And he'd want to you stay strong, to keep on doing that."
Dru pulled away, trying to compose herself. "Thanks, Buffy. If you need me, I'm here."
Buffy thanked her, weariness settling in her bones as Drusilla turned and walked away. The long line of people waiting to speak to her stretched in front of her and she felt herself sway.
Willow grabbed her elbow. "Here, you'd better sit down."
Buffy nodded numbly and sank into a metal folding chair, the sea of people blurring in front of her. Tears ran down her face, mingling with the rain. She didn't want to be here. She wanted to be alone to mourn. And God there were so many things to mourn for.
A love that should have lasted forever.
The man who died before she could make him happy.
The chance to make things right was lost forever.
TBC.
Three days after Buffy had received the news of her husband's death, she stood huddled in her raincoat while they lowered his body into the cold damp ground. Nearly a hundred flowers decorated the area surrounding the grave, their vibrant colours at odds with the miserable day. The church had been packed with town's people who had known Angel, along with scientists from the research center. The preacher offered words of comfort, read some scripture and then ended the service with a prayer. Buffy's heart clenched as the visitor's began to disperse. Drusilla, Angel's secretary, cried into her hands.
Exhaustion pulled at Buffy as the visitors offered their condolences, but she forced herself to shake hands, occasionally sparing her best friend Willow a glance, silently thanking her for staying by her side, offering support.
Drusilla suddenly stood in front of her, looking lost. "Buf—"her voice broke.
Buffy pulled her into her arms and tried to soothe her. "It'll be okay, Dru."
"But you and Angel have been so good to me. I don't know what I would have done...what I'll do."
Angel had helped Dru get up the courage to leave her abusive husband. She was still fragile from the experience.
"Just know that Angel would be proud of you for taking care of yourself so well," Buffy said softly. "And he'd want to you stay strong, to keep on doing that."
Dru pulled away, trying to compose herself. "Thanks, Buffy. If you need me, I'm here."
Buffy thanked her, weariness settling in her bones as Drusilla turned and walked away. The long line of people waiting to speak to her stretched in front of her and she felt herself sway.
Willow grabbed her elbow. "Here, you'd better sit down."
Buffy nodded numbly and sank into a metal folding chair, the sea of people blurring in front of her. Tears ran down her face, mingling with the rain. She didn't want to be here. She wanted to be alone to mourn. And God there were so many things to mourn for.
A love that should have lasted forever.
The man who died before she could make him happy.
The chance to make things right was lost forever.
TBC.