Disclaimer: I don't own Billie Letts' "Where the Heart Is", or Joss
Whedon's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer. What, I can't always have a funny
disclaimer, can I? Am I just here as a clown for your amusement? Let's just
see who's the clown when you're wearing the funny nose and multicolored
wig! Yeah, Bozo, what the fuck are you going to do then?
Rating: This will be rated R! Sorry kiddies, but I like using inappropriate language.
Author's Notes: 'K ladies and gents . . . actually, I don't know if any guys read this story. Do they? Anyway, I have to warn you that this isn't a happy chapter. I've done something horrible to a very important person. Please forgive me, this is very important in the context of the story I based it on. And, if I didn't do it, my sister and Emma would kill me. Sending mean emails to me won't fix it. I feel really bad for doing it, but it's all for the better. In other notes, I'm going to start responding to reviews in opposite order. It has to do with me copying and pasting the way they are in the review page to save the process of checking back and forth between pages. So, if you sent in your review early, it's near the end of the page. Nothing to do with love, here! You all are special, except for Comedia, Chrestomanci, and Mita427! They are all bitches (love you guys so much)! So, hope you like reading. No curses or plagues sent to me, please.
PS: Death to the WB for canceling Angel. Buffy's speech at the end was taken directly from the story, word for word.
Dedications: This is a shout out to my muse, Amy-gee, who forced it in my head that it needs to happen this way, and to Emma, who would kill me if I didn't make this chapter parallel to the one in WtHI. Kisses.
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Chapter Twenty-Three- Some Good in Us
Groaning, Buffy threw her head back, staring at the ceiling and cursing her fate. No matter how many times she tried to break through it, the writer's block remained firm.
It was her lunch hour, and the Gallery was closed as she sat at the computer in her office, trying for the thousandth time to get the main character out of the kitchen before it became too boring. At least she had two weeks until Faith wanted this submission.
The phone rang, and Buffy rolled her eyes. This was supposed to be her private time, but those snotty buyers didn't really seem to care.
"Sunnydale Gallery, Buffy speaking," she began, taking a pencil out and doodling on a sheet of paper. The other side was silent. "Hello?"
No, it wasn't silent. In the background, there was a sniffling sound, like the person was crying. And then a yell, someone else screaming.
And then the line went dead.
Extremely confused now, Buffy pulled the receiver away from her ear. She hung up, then picked up the phone again to dial *69.
*OK, 320-736-43 . . . oh shit! Willow's number.*
Buffy waited for the phone to connect. Once it did, all she got was a busy signal.
Less than a minute later, she was in her car, breaking the speed limit as she headed towards Willow's apartment. Her mind was racing, unsure of what, or who, she'd find when she got there.
Once Buffy pulled into the complex, she saw Willow's green SUV parked in its usual spot. Oz's space was empty, but a T-shirt she recognized as his was lying on the ground.
She sprinted up the steps, instantly seeing that the door to the apartment was wide open, shards of a broken wine glass littering the entryway.
The place was a sight. Everything was in shambles. Half of Oz's collection of records was missing, as was his guitar and amplifier. The surface of glass coffee table Willow had selected with such care was shattered, like spiderwebs. Dishes smashed, pictures torn off the wall, blood on the . . .
Blood on the carpet.
Grabbing the broken leg of a chair, Buffy crept carefully past the kitchen, and into the hallway. If the place had been robbed, and the burglars were still here, she didn't want to find them unarmed.
Both the office and the bathroom were in the same state as the living room, and completely devoid of life. Only one place left to look: the bedroom.
The door was slightly ajar as she approached it, hefting the chair leg and completely ready to swing. She pushed the door open with her foot.
Buffy gasped and dropped the chair leg when she saw Willow curled up in the fetal position on the floor, her back turned to her, whimpering in fear. A very large piece of glass was imbedded in her forearm, the blood from the wound just starting to clot around it.
Very slowly, Buffy walked around to her friend, not wanting to scare her. She still held the phone, but it had been torn out of the wall. Willow's red hair hung in a curtain over her face. It was only when Buffy pulled the hair away did she fully see the extent of her injuries.
One eye had already started to swell an ugly purple color, the other one threatening to do the same. The bridge of her nose was also bruised, and most likely broken. More shards of glass had poked their way into her right cheek, and across her forehead, these ones smaller. But there was still so much blood seeping out, especially from her mouth. Her front tooth almost appeared to be dangling from the space, the one next to it completely missing. And her jaw . . .
Buffy fled out of the room, not from terror, but because her friend needed help. She tried the phone in the kitchen, but it was still off the hook. Then, she remembered Willow carried a cell phone in her purse, which lay across the kitchen table.
Dialing 911, Buffy gave the operator the information. Her friend was hurt. No, she looks conscious. No, Buffy didn't know how it happened.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Cordelia ignored the screams of children originating from the tree house as she planted another geranium into her backyard garden. Holden was either hitting Meredith, or she was using his blankie as superhero cape, or something else. She didn't want to deal with the petty fighting this afternoon.
The only thread hanging on to her sanity was asleep on a nearby blanket. Sydney was such a well tempered and adaptable baby, that she could nap almost everywhere and at anytime. If she ever got the notion to act like her older siblings, Cordelia knew she was going to loose it.
Hearing her name shouted from the front yard, Cordelia yelled at the kids to knock it off, and walked off to find Xander, Clem, and Buffy loading boxes out of the minivan. She pitched in, and soon the many boxes and few furniture items were on the front lawn, each item labeled WILLOW.
"Where should we put these?" Buffy asked, wiping the sweat off her forehead.
"Shed?" Clem inquired, looking at the Harris' for verification.
Cordelia shook her head. "Nope, not enough room. How about the basement?"
Shrugging, Xander picked one of the boxes up, and made his way to the house, Buffy, Clem, and Cordelia following suit.
"So," Cordelia began, stifling a giggle when Xander put his box as far away from his "game area" as possible, "She's all moved out."
"Yep. God, you would think that her super would at least be civil after what happened. But no, he was trying to rush us out 'cause he had a couple who wanted to see the apartment at three," Buffy responded, not hiding the bitterness in her voice.
"Too bad she can't afford to live there now, what with her paying off the hospital bills. She really loved that place," sighed Clem, wiping the sweat off his forehead.
They went back upstairs to get more boxes.
"Yeah, she liked it, but even if the hospital bills went away, she couldn't pay the rent by herself, even on a doctor's salary." You could tell by his tone how upset Xander was.
"By the way, no one's answered this one," Cordelia butt in. "Where the fuck is Willow going to live now?"
Picking up a box, Buffy gave the woman a look, before going back to the Chase's basement.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The two weeks Willow spent at the recovery ward of the Sunnydale University Hospital, being cared for by the same people she worked with, were long and confusing. The doctors had said that she was incredibly lucky that her jaw hadn't been broken, seeing the injuries she had sustained. Although Willow did suffer a broken nose, several lacerations, and two black eyes. Two brand new front teeth were added to the repairs.
But, the sympathy from the staff only went so far. Willow did not have enough sick days, and needed to be back to work the day after she was released. Then, there was the apartment, which her friends had moved her out of while she recovered. She also had no desire to haggle with her HMO provider, and ended up paying a great deal of money for her injuries.
She also felt the same way when the police approached her, asking if she wished to press charges on Oz, who had been found heading towards Texas a week later. The redhead had to be literally forced to file, especially her male friends who were itching to have it out with the musician.
1630 Revello Drive became her tentative home. She had no idea when she'd be able to afford her own place, and Buffy wouldn't even think of asking if she found one.
Buffy noticed the change in her friend immediately. Every day was the same: Willow got up, went to work, came back and slept. Obviously, the girl wasn't eating, and she rarely talked except to mutter monosyllabic responses to questions. Buffy's old room had been reverted into the guestroom, and Willow kept it that way. The only way a person could tell that someone was living there was pajamas folded up on the end of the bed each morning.
Aurora knew, and would know, nothing of what her aunt went through. But, the girl was intelligent, and figured out that something really bad happened. She played quietly whenever Willow was home, but was always ready to give her a hug whenever Willow left her room.
The police were the only people Willow had spoken to about that day were the cops, and Xander, try as he might, couldn't get any information out of them.
Her friends didn't push her. They knew that she'd tell, eventually.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Around midnight, Buffy awoke from a restless sleep. It had been extremely humid all week, and the air conditioner had broken halfway through. It'd be days before the repairman would fix it.
Slipping on a pair of flip-flops, and grabbing her laptop, Buffy headed towards the backyard. She planned to sit on the back porch, and knock a few chapters out before retreating back to bed.
When she opened the screen door, Buffy saw that she wouldn't be alone. Willow sat on the stairs in her bathrobe, her eyes glued to the night sky.
Buffy tried to sneak away, but Willow's voice soon called her back as she made space for her on the step. Leaving her laptop on the kitchen table, Buffy joined her friend outside.
The bruises on Willow's face, and the cuts, were starting to heal, leaving behind green shadows and microscopic indentations on her skin. Although the swelling had gone down considerably on her nose, it still looked nasty.
"Do I look that bad?" Willow asked, noticing Buffy's stare. There was a faint trail of tears staining her cheeks.
She shook her head. "You've never looked bad," replied the blonde, stretching out her legs in the damp night air.
"People at the hospital just keep staring. They've had me work in lab because they don't want the patients to get weirded out."
"Well," Buffy sighed, "That's only for now. Soon you'll be ship-shape, and no one will be weird around you."
Curling her arms around her legs, Willow finally looked her friend in the eyes. Hers were bloodshot, from endless nights of sleeplessness and crying.
"That doesn't mean I will. I mean, sometimes I think it will be fine, but then I just keep remembering it was Oz. My Oz."
"Will, you don't have to . . ." Buffy trailed off, putting her hand on top of Willow's.
But Willow shook her head at the protest, and turned her hand around, putting Buffy's in hers. It was time.
"I was on the morning shift, so I usually got to leave at two. But, it was such a slow day; they let me go around eleven. Oz was going to be at rehearsal with his band all day, so I planned on getting home, paying a few bills, and taking a bath.
"Well, I pull into my space, and there's Oz's car. He had told me repeatedly that morning he would be out all day, so I was kinda surprised. I thought, 'Oh, maybe they cancelled it,' so I go inside, calling out the whole, 'I'm home' thing. I head straight for the bedroom because some kid vomited on my scrubs, and it's starting to smell so I need to change. I open the door, and Oz is in bed, just starting to wake up.
"And so is the girl next to him."
Willow choked back a sob, her voice cracking slightly.
"I'd seen her before at the concerts. Skanky whore. Named Veronica, or Veruca. I don't remember. She was also in a band, so she and Oz would talk band stuff whenever they saw each other. I didn't think anything of it. You know, I talk doctor stuff with other doctors, he talks band stuff with other . . . bands.
"They were just lying there, in our bed. Naked! Well, not completely naked, because she still had her bra on. He starts saying something about how 'This isn't what it looks like' and 'You were supposed to be home at later', and she just looks at me, this stupid grin on her face."
A proud smile crept up on Willow's face as she spoke the next part. "I grabbed her clothes, and pulled her outta bed by her hair. Threw her out of the apartment butt naked. I went all wild woman on the ho.
"But, then Oz starts yelling at me, and then I just started yelling back. Just everything we had been bottling up for the past few years just came out. He said that I cared more about my career than I did about him, and I slapped him. Funny thing is, he hits me back. We've never fought, I mean, not big, and suddenly we're hitting each other, and throwing shit at each other, and it gets bad. He pushed me into the coffee table, where I get this," she explained, pointing at the jagged scar on her arm where the glass had been imbedded.
"That's when I ran into the bedroom. I didn't know what to do, and he was so mad. I tried to call you, but he bursts into the room and pulls the phone away from me, and starts kicking and hitting me, and I . . .
She trailed off, staring away into the night absently, clutching Buffy's hand as if it were a lifeline.
"I don't remember the rest."
Willow had started to sob, breaking whatever façades she had left as she buried her face into Buffy's lap.
"I feel so stupid," she yelled, "I thought I knew him! He had always been so kind, and funny, and gentle with me. And I never saw it! I didn't know he had so much meanness in him! How could he hide it? Was I that stupid not to see it?"
Buffy began stroking her friend's red hair, the ends curling in the humidity.
"You're not stupid. You just couldn't see it coming. Our lives can change with every breath we take." Buffy wiped away a tear. "Hell, I know that. You have to hold on like hell to what you've got- family."
As Willow lifted her head, Buffy pulled her into a hug.
"We've all got meanness in us . . ." Buffy continued, "But we've also got some good in us, too. And the only thing worth living for is the good. That's why we've got to make sure we pass it on, and never forget it."
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Chrestomanci- Here's a thought!!! Stop using so many exclamation points!!!! It's bad Internet etiquette!!!! Yeah!!!! Spuffy good!!!! Reno !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!! Poo on you.
Comedia- I keep on with the jokes because I am naturally funny. C'mon, aren't I a riot? Well, I don't care. I do what I want. Kiss my preverbal ass. Oh, and don't even presume that the Yummy Sushi had anything to do with you. That's BtVS all the way! Yah! Son of a bitch!
Psychovampgurl- Getting' off, huh? You slut. Remember, the strippers are only for attention, so people understand that we are serious about the cause. Maybe we can make some extra side money by pimping them off? Because Buffy stays away from country music (much like I do), and Angel isn't that famous, she won't see a picture of him. She has no idea he's a singer now. Spike just saw Angel eyeing Buffy, without knowing who he was, and was all, "Don't even think about it." Well, I already introduced Wes as the Wal-Mart representative. I don't think Fred or Gunn will make an appearance. Just pretend that they are hanging out somewhere, taking tequila shots. Love much!
Sokkerblondie005- I adore you, but do not say a cruel word about Spike in my presence, or feel my wrath! My army of flying bunnies and twinkies attacks those who oppose me! I don't think that Angel either Angelus or Angel in this story. Kinda like Buffy said above, "We all got meanness in us." I guess that's the point of Angel. He's both evil and good. We'll see some good Angel later on in the story. OK, Angel does have that "tall, dark, and handsome" thing going on, but Spike is just 100% sexy. That's just my opinion. I could be wrong.
Idolsgirl- Of course Angel deserves it! After wearing that stupid Italian coat in last night's episode, he deserves many forms of cruel punishment. Dawn was such a slut in the show, wasn't she?
Imzadi- Pimps dance kinda like bendy straws. All they move is back and forth, humping the bitch they are with. Oh, I am blushing at your bowing. I know it wasn't enough, but he really doesn't fit in this world. He's too urban for the quiet world of Sunnydale. As I told Sokkerblondie005, Angel will have a major personality change soon. And, even if Faith was made Queen of England, she still be the sloppy, slutty girl we all love to hate. *Sigh*.
Cali- So, here's the response to your first review: Yeah, and denial is just a river in Egypt. Buffy so has feelings for Spike, and Tara's not the only one who can see it. But, after what Angel did to her, Buffy's probably just over-cautious. Second review: I stole the whole "Angel seeing, but not recognizing Buffy" from the movie version of this story. But, I decided it'd be better if Spike was there to glare at Angel. I really don't know what gumption is, but thank you for saying it. *Winks* I know UST is very, very cruel, but I hope it's enough to tide everyone over. Well, you're going to have to wait a one more chapter for Angel's come-uppance. Kisses.
Mita427- I like quickies! I mean . . . thanks. I've been taking too much Ex, so I just had ta post! *Rocks back and forth* Pointless would be the word to describe my feelings for describing sexy Spike. We all know that he's just a slice of hottie, and Buffy knows it to. But, there relationship isn't built on lust! That's what screwed up their relationship in Season Six! Damn you, Joss! Spike and Buffy belong together forever! Just because you're uber-honey doesn't mean that I have to write you porn. *Snaps fingers ghetto-like* ANGEL MUST DIE A HORRIBLE DEATH OF SNAKES! Where did that come from? Anyway, you can't make me update. I do what I want! Screw you! Love ya much.
Celestria16- Grr, Angel very bad man! *Goes all cavegirl-like* Angel get hurt. Bam over head. Spike and Buffy need kissy. Many orgasms. *Shakes head* I feel better now. Love ya mucho! Hope you liked this one.
Rating: This will be rated R! Sorry kiddies, but I like using inappropriate language.
Author's Notes: 'K ladies and gents . . . actually, I don't know if any guys read this story. Do they? Anyway, I have to warn you that this isn't a happy chapter. I've done something horrible to a very important person. Please forgive me, this is very important in the context of the story I based it on. And, if I didn't do it, my sister and Emma would kill me. Sending mean emails to me won't fix it. I feel really bad for doing it, but it's all for the better. In other notes, I'm going to start responding to reviews in opposite order. It has to do with me copying and pasting the way they are in the review page to save the process of checking back and forth between pages. So, if you sent in your review early, it's near the end of the page. Nothing to do with love, here! You all are special, except for Comedia, Chrestomanci, and Mita427! They are all bitches (love you guys so much)! So, hope you like reading. No curses or plagues sent to me, please.
PS: Death to the WB for canceling Angel. Buffy's speech at the end was taken directly from the story, word for word.
Dedications: This is a shout out to my muse, Amy-gee, who forced it in my head that it needs to happen this way, and to Emma, who would kill me if I didn't make this chapter parallel to the one in WtHI. Kisses.
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Chapter Twenty-Three- Some Good in Us
Groaning, Buffy threw her head back, staring at the ceiling and cursing her fate. No matter how many times she tried to break through it, the writer's block remained firm.
It was her lunch hour, and the Gallery was closed as she sat at the computer in her office, trying for the thousandth time to get the main character out of the kitchen before it became too boring. At least she had two weeks until Faith wanted this submission.
The phone rang, and Buffy rolled her eyes. This was supposed to be her private time, but those snotty buyers didn't really seem to care.
"Sunnydale Gallery, Buffy speaking," she began, taking a pencil out and doodling on a sheet of paper. The other side was silent. "Hello?"
No, it wasn't silent. In the background, there was a sniffling sound, like the person was crying. And then a yell, someone else screaming.
And then the line went dead.
Extremely confused now, Buffy pulled the receiver away from her ear. She hung up, then picked up the phone again to dial *69.
*OK, 320-736-43 . . . oh shit! Willow's number.*
Buffy waited for the phone to connect. Once it did, all she got was a busy signal.
Less than a minute later, she was in her car, breaking the speed limit as she headed towards Willow's apartment. Her mind was racing, unsure of what, or who, she'd find when she got there.
Once Buffy pulled into the complex, she saw Willow's green SUV parked in its usual spot. Oz's space was empty, but a T-shirt she recognized as his was lying on the ground.
She sprinted up the steps, instantly seeing that the door to the apartment was wide open, shards of a broken wine glass littering the entryway.
The place was a sight. Everything was in shambles. Half of Oz's collection of records was missing, as was his guitar and amplifier. The surface of glass coffee table Willow had selected with such care was shattered, like spiderwebs. Dishes smashed, pictures torn off the wall, blood on the . . .
Blood on the carpet.
Grabbing the broken leg of a chair, Buffy crept carefully past the kitchen, and into the hallway. If the place had been robbed, and the burglars were still here, she didn't want to find them unarmed.
Both the office and the bathroom were in the same state as the living room, and completely devoid of life. Only one place left to look: the bedroom.
The door was slightly ajar as she approached it, hefting the chair leg and completely ready to swing. She pushed the door open with her foot.
Buffy gasped and dropped the chair leg when she saw Willow curled up in the fetal position on the floor, her back turned to her, whimpering in fear. A very large piece of glass was imbedded in her forearm, the blood from the wound just starting to clot around it.
Very slowly, Buffy walked around to her friend, not wanting to scare her. She still held the phone, but it had been torn out of the wall. Willow's red hair hung in a curtain over her face. It was only when Buffy pulled the hair away did she fully see the extent of her injuries.
One eye had already started to swell an ugly purple color, the other one threatening to do the same. The bridge of her nose was also bruised, and most likely broken. More shards of glass had poked their way into her right cheek, and across her forehead, these ones smaller. But there was still so much blood seeping out, especially from her mouth. Her front tooth almost appeared to be dangling from the space, the one next to it completely missing. And her jaw . . .
Buffy fled out of the room, not from terror, but because her friend needed help. She tried the phone in the kitchen, but it was still off the hook. Then, she remembered Willow carried a cell phone in her purse, which lay across the kitchen table.
Dialing 911, Buffy gave the operator the information. Her friend was hurt. No, she looks conscious. No, Buffy didn't know how it happened.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Cordelia ignored the screams of children originating from the tree house as she planted another geranium into her backyard garden. Holden was either hitting Meredith, or she was using his blankie as superhero cape, or something else. She didn't want to deal with the petty fighting this afternoon.
The only thread hanging on to her sanity was asleep on a nearby blanket. Sydney was such a well tempered and adaptable baby, that she could nap almost everywhere and at anytime. If she ever got the notion to act like her older siblings, Cordelia knew she was going to loose it.
Hearing her name shouted from the front yard, Cordelia yelled at the kids to knock it off, and walked off to find Xander, Clem, and Buffy loading boxes out of the minivan. She pitched in, and soon the many boxes and few furniture items were on the front lawn, each item labeled WILLOW.
"Where should we put these?" Buffy asked, wiping the sweat off her forehead.
"Shed?" Clem inquired, looking at the Harris' for verification.
Cordelia shook her head. "Nope, not enough room. How about the basement?"
Shrugging, Xander picked one of the boxes up, and made his way to the house, Buffy, Clem, and Cordelia following suit.
"So," Cordelia began, stifling a giggle when Xander put his box as far away from his "game area" as possible, "She's all moved out."
"Yep. God, you would think that her super would at least be civil after what happened. But no, he was trying to rush us out 'cause he had a couple who wanted to see the apartment at three," Buffy responded, not hiding the bitterness in her voice.
"Too bad she can't afford to live there now, what with her paying off the hospital bills. She really loved that place," sighed Clem, wiping the sweat off his forehead.
They went back upstairs to get more boxes.
"Yeah, she liked it, but even if the hospital bills went away, she couldn't pay the rent by herself, even on a doctor's salary." You could tell by his tone how upset Xander was.
"By the way, no one's answered this one," Cordelia butt in. "Where the fuck is Willow going to live now?"
Picking up a box, Buffy gave the woman a look, before going back to the Chase's basement.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The two weeks Willow spent at the recovery ward of the Sunnydale University Hospital, being cared for by the same people she worked with, were long and confusing. The doctors had said that she was incredibly lucky that her jaw hadn't been broken, seeing the injuries she had sustained. Although Willow did suffer a broken nose, several lacerations, and two black eyes. Two brand new front teeth were added to the repairs.
But, the sympathy from the staff only went so far. Willow did not have enough sick days, and needed to be back to work the day after she was released. Then, there was the apartment, which her friends had moved her out of while she recovered. She also had no desire to haggle with her HMO provider, and ended up paying a great deal of money for her injuries.
She also felt the same way when the police approached her, asking if she wished to press charges on Oz, who had been found heading towards Texas a week later. The redhead had to be literally forced to file, especially her male friends who were itching to have it out with the musician.
1630 Revello Drive became her tentative home. She had no idea when she'd be able to afford her own place, and Buffy wouldn't even think of asking if she found one.
Buffy noticed the change in her friend immediately. Every day was the same: Willow got up, went to work, came back and slept. Obviously, the girl wasn't eating, and she rarely talked except to mutter monosyllabic responses to questions. Buffy's old room had been reverted into the guestroom, and Willow kept it that way. The only way a person could tell that someone was living there was pajamas folded up on the end of the bed each morning.
Aurora knew, and would know, nothing of what her aunt went through. But, the girl was intelligent, and figured out that something really bad happened. She played quietly whenever Willow was home, but was always ready to give her a hug whenever Willow left her room.
The police were the only people Willow had spoken to about that day were the cops, and Xander, try as he might, couldn't get any information out of them.
Her friends didn't push her. They knew that she'd tell, eventually.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Around midnight, Buffy awoke from a restless sleep. It had been extremely humid all week, and the air conditioner had broken halfway through. It'd be days before the repairman would fix it.
Slipping on a pair of flip-flops, and grabbing her laptop, Buffy headed towards the backyard. She planned to sit on the back porch, and knock a few chapters out before retreating back to bed.
When she opened the screen door, Buffy saw that she wouldn't be alone. Willow sat on the stairs in her bathrobe, her eyes glued to the night sky.
Buffy tried to sneak away, but Willow's voice soon called her back as she made space for her on the step. Leaving her laptop on the kitchen table, Buffy joined her friend outside.
The bruises on Willow's face, and the cuts, were starting to heal, leaving behind green shadows and microscopic indentations on her skin. Although the swelling had gone down considerably on her nose, it still looked nasty.
"Do I look that bad?" Willow asked, noticing Buffy's stare. There was a faint trail of tears staining her cheeks.
She shook her head. "You've never looked bad," replied the blonde, stretching out her legs in the damp night air.
"People at the hospital just keep staring. They've had me work in lab because they don't want the patients to get weirded out."
"Well," Buffy sighed, "That's only for now. Soon you'll be ship-shape, and no one will be weird around you."
Curling her arms around her legs, Willow finally looked her friend in the eyes. Hers were bloodshot, from endless nights of sleeplessness and crying.
"That doesn't mean I will. I mean, sometimes I think it will be fine, but then I just keep remembering it was Oz. My Oz."
"Will, you don't have to . . ." Buffy trailed off, putting her hand on top of Willow's.
But Willow shook her head at the protest, and turned her hand around, putting Buffy's in hers. It was time.
"I was on the morning shift, so I usually got to leave at two. But, it was such a slow day; they let me go around eleven. Oz was going to be at rehearsal with his band all day, so I planned on getting home, paying a few bills, and taking a bath.
"Well, I pull into my space, and there's Oz's car. He had told me repeatedly that morning he would be out all day, so I was kinda surprised. I thought, 'Oh, maybe they cancelled it,' so I go inside, calling out the whole, 'I'm home' thing. I head straight for the bedroom because some kid vomited on my scrubs, and it's starting to smell so I need to change. I open the door, and Oz is in bed, just starting to wake up.
"And so is the girl next to him."
Willow choked back a sob, her voice cracking slightly.
"I'd seen her before at the concerts. Skanky whore. Named Veronica, or Veruca. I don't remember. She was also in a band, so she and Oz would talk band stuff whenever they saw each other. I didn't think anything of it. You know, I talk doctor stuff with other doctors, he talks band stuff with other . . . bands.
"They were just lying there, in our bed. Naked! Well, not completely naked, because she still had her bra on. He starts saying something about how 'This isn't what it looks like' and 'You were supposed to be home at later', and she just looks at me, this stupid grin on her face."
A proud smile crept up on Willow's face as she spoke the next part. "I grabbed her clothes, and pulled her outta bed by her hair. Threw her out of the apartment butt naked. I went all wild woman on the ho.
"But, then Oz starts yelling at me, and then I just started yelling back. Just everything we had been bottling up for the past few years just came out. He said that I cared more about my career than I did about him, and I slapped him. Funny thing is, he hits me back. We've never fought, I mean, not big, and suddenly we're hitting each other, and throwing shit at each other, and it gets bad. He pushed me into the coffee table, where I get this," she explained, pointing at the jagged scar on her arm where the glass had been imbedded.
"That's when I ran into the bedroom. I didn't know what to do, and he was so mad. I tried to call you, but he bursts into the room and pulls the phone away from me, and starts kicking and hitting me, and I . . .
She trailed off, staring away into the night absently, clutching Buffy's hand as if it were a lifeline.
"I don't remember the rest."
Willow had started to sob, breaking whatever façades she had left as she buried her face into Buffy's lap.
"I feel so stupid," she yelled, "I thought I knew him! He had always been so kind, and funny, and gentle with me. And I never saw it! I didn't know he had so much meanness in him! How could he hide it? Was I that stupid not to see it?"
Buffy began stroking her friend's red hair, the ends curling in the humidity.
"You're not stupid. You just couldn't see it coming. Our lives can change with every breath we take." Buffy wiped away a tear. "Hell, I know that. You have to hold on like hell to what you've got- family."
As Willow lifted her head, Buffy pulled her into a hug.
"We've all got meanness in us . . ." Buffy continued, "But we've also got some good in us, too. And the only thing worth living for is the good. That's why we've got to make sure we pass it on, and never forget it."
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Chrestomanci- Here's a thought!!! Stop using so many exclamation points!!!! It's bad Internet etiquette!!!! Yeah!!!! Spuffy good!!!! Reno !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!! Poo on you.
Comedia- I keep on with the jokes because I am naturally funny. C'mon, aren't I a riot? Well, I don't care. I do what I want. Kiss my preverbal ass. Oh, and don't even presume that the Yummy Sushi had anything to do with you. That's BtVS all the way! Yah! Son of a bitch!
Psychovampgurl- Getting' off, huh? You slut. Remember, the strippers are only for attention, so people understand that we are serious about the cause. Maybe we can make some extra side money by pimping them off? Because Buffy stays away from country music (much like I do), and Angel isn't that famous, she won't see a picture of him. She has no idea he's a singer now. Spike just saw Angel eyeing Buffy, without knowing who he was, and was all, "Don't even think about it." Well, I already introduced Wes as the Wal-Mart representative. I don't think Fred or Gunn will make an appearance. Just pretend that they are hanging out somewhere, taking tequila shots. Love much!
Sokkerblondie005- I adore you, but do not say a cruel word about Spike in my presence, or feel my wrath! My army of flying bunnies and twinkies attacks those who oppose me! I don't think that Angel either Angelus or Angel in this story. Kinda like Buffy said above, "We all got meanness in us." I guess that's the point of Angel. He's both evil and good. We'll see some good Angel later on in the story. OK, Angel does have that "tall, dark, and handsome" thing going on, but Spike is just 100% sexy. That's just my opinion. I could be wrong.
Idolsgirl- Of course Angel deserves it! After wearing that stupid Italian coat in last night's episode, he deserves many forms of cruel punishment. Dawn was such a slut in the show, wasn't she?
Imzadi- Pimps dance kinda like bendy straws. All they move is back and forth, humping the bitch they are with. Oh, I am blushing at your bowing. I know it wasn't enough, but he really doesn't fit in this world. He's too urban for the quiet world of Sunnydale. As I told Sokkerblondie005, Angel will have a major personality change soon. And, even if Faith was made Queen of England, she still be the sloppy, slutty girl we all love to hate. *Sigh*.
Cali- So, here's the response to your first review: Yeah, and denial is just a river in Egypt. Buffy so has feelings for Spike, and Tara's not the only one who can see it. But, after what Angel did to her, Buffy's probably just over-cautious. Second review: I stole the whole "Angel seeing, but not recognizing Buffy" from the movie version of this story. But, I decided it'd be better if Spike was there to glare at Angel. I really don't know what gumption is, but thank you for saying it. *Winks* I know UST is very, very cruel, but I hope it's enough to tide everyone over. Well, you're going to have to wait a one more chapter for Angel's come-uppance. Kisses.
Mita427- I like quickies! I mean . . . thanks. I've been taking too much Ex, so I just had ta post! *Rocks back and forth* Pointless would be the word to describe my feelings for describing sexy Spike. We all know that he's just a slice of hottie, and Buffy knows it to. But, there relationship isn't built on lust! That's what screwed up their relationship in Season Six! Damn you, Joss! Spike and Buffy belong together forever! Just because you're uber-honey doesn't mean that I have to write you porn. *Snaps fingers ghetto-like* ANGEL MUST DIE A HORRIBLE DEATH OF SNAKES! Where did that come from? Anyway, you can't make me update. I do what I want! Screw you! Love ya much.
Celestria16- Grr, Angel very bad man! *Goes all cavegirl-like* Angel get hurt. Bam over head. Spike and Buffy need kissy. Many orgasms. *Shakes head* I feel better now. Love ya mucho! Hope you liked this one.
