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Reviews: Please do.
Chapter #14: The past is reconciled.
Buffy sauntered up to her room deep in thought. The memories were startlingly vivid in their imagery, and the feelings startlingly real. She lay on her bed then, and stared up at the ceiling reliving the whole experience. A few minutes later, there was a quiet knock on the door.
"Come in Angel." Buffy called, a wry smile on her face.
"How'd you know it was me?" Angel asked.
"Because you were probably listening for me from your room." Buffy replied smiling.
"So what have you been doing?" He asked her, making idle chitchat.
"You know exactly what I've been doing," Buffy gently teased.
"Actually, I knew about it, before it happened. He told me what he was doing, and I just stopped by to see how you were doing." Angel replied.
"I'm fine." Buffy assured him.
"Well if you want to talk." Angel left off, shrugging his shoulders as he sat down in a chair. Silence followed, as Buffy began to gather her thoughts.
"Actually Angel, I feel good." She began.
"There were so many unresolved issues before, like my dreams. What were they about? Were they memories that my mind suppressed? Or were they just dreams that I was going to forget when I woke up? It was as if, I was unable to understand that these were about me, not someone else. And, what's more is, that all this denial made it easy for me to believe, that I wasn't the slayer, but a watcher- an idle observer, watching as my life replayed itself, as though watching an soap opera."
Buffy paused, and climbed down off the bed, and began pacing the room in silence, as Angel just sat watching her, saying nothing. He realized that she needed to talk, to speak her thoughts out loud. After taking 5 turns of the room, Buffy began speaking again.
"Now, my mind is able to say yes, that was me, doing all of those things. It's healed enough to connect the memories with the feelings and deal with them. And Angel, I feel so exhilarated in the knowledge that I am loved. I remember my mother, what a strong woman she was, all the good times we had, and how sad we were when she died. I remember Dawn, when she first came to town, and the love, and the need to protect her I felt then, and that I feel now."
She paused as her circuit made it back to where Angel was sitting. He watched her as she strode around the room, the twinkle back in her hazel eyes, and the confidence back in her stride. Yes, she was his Buffy, and she was back. Buffy stopped in mid-stride to look back at her audience. She saw his well-built form half-lounging in the chair, as his dark eyes met her hazel ones. Her circuit had begun again, and she was halfway across the room. On impulse she walked back over to Angel, and leaned down, and kissed him passionately, which he returned rather eagerly. And as suddenly as she started the kiss, they pulled back.
" I can't, my soul remember? That other side of me that comes out."Angel left off.
"Perhaps we should find a way to change that then. A spell maybe." Buffy mused hopefully.
C.O.S.: Lobby
"Morning Sleepy Head." Lorne greeted Dawn with a smile.
"'Morning. Coffee." Dawn responded lifting a hand in a failed attempt to cover a yawn.
"Here ya go, cream and sugar's behind the desk." Cordelia said handing Dawn a cup of coffee. Dawn went behind the counter, and fixed her coffee. She stood leaning against the desk for a while sipping quietly.
"So where's Buffy?" She asked.
"Last I saw her, she and Angelcakes were headed downstairs to do some training." Lorne answered. Dawn grabbed a second mug and fixed her sister a cup of a coffee. She placed both cups on a tray and balancing it carefully, made her way downstairs. As she reached the bottom of the stairs she could hear the impact sound of skin on skin. She stood there unnoticed for while she watched her sister and Angel fight. Angel noticed her first: "Alright Buffy, take five. Coffee's here." Angel said.
"Yeah, a break for coffee's a must have." She replied walking over and taking the mug from Dawn.
"Strong, and sweet, just the way you like it." Dawn said as Buffy smiled gratefully as she breathed in the strong aroma. An awkward silence filled the air.
"Uh, you two must have a lot to talk about." Angel took the empty tray from Dawn and went upstairs. They were both silent as they sat down on the stairs, and wriggled into comfortable positions. Silence further reigned over the room.
"Dawnie, I'm back." Buffy told Dawn.
"You're back." Dawn asked, a confused look on her face.
"I'm back. Wesley tried a memory recovery technique and it worked. I remembered everything." Buffy explained. In response, Dawn reached and hugged her sister tightly.
"Yah, I get my sister back." Dawn said grinning.
"Yeah, and I will never, ever, ever, leave you again." Buffy assured her. They withdrew from the hug, as Dawn gazed at her sister, appraising her, in light of this new development. The pair settled into a companionable silence while they finished their coffee.
"Buffy, I need you." Dawn said, allowing the desperation to show in her voice.
"Okay, what's wrong?" Buffy asked.
" Nothing. Can't I tell my sister, my only living relative that I needed her." Dawn sidestepped the question.
"Okay Dawn. Along with remembering my past, I also remembered how to tell when you are lying. Out with it." Buffy told Dawn.
"Lying, it's such a strong word, I mean come on, I tell you that I need you, and I'm lying to you. I would call it a lie when I say I'm going to be home at a certain time and come home an hour or two later, that's what I'd call lying. I'd call this distorting the truth." Dawn babbled.
"Oh we're definitely sisters. I babble the same way when I'm lying or scared." Buffy wryly remarked, she paused before continuing: "So you wanna tell me what you're scared of?" Dawn proceeded to tell the dream. Buffy was silent in contemplation. After a few moments she spoke: "The thing is Dawn, try as we might to control our fate, and we can to a certain extent, a lot of it, is in the hands of others. So don't worry." Buffy assured her sister giving her a re-assuring pat on the back. "And now, I think I need more coffee, so let's head upstairs." Buffy decided, leading the way. Dawn smiled and followed her sister upstairs. The group was milling around drinking coffee, and Willow was the first to notice Buffy, and immediately observed the change.
"You're back." She acknowledged Buffy.
"Yeah Willow, I'm back to normal. " Buffy replied.
"Yeah, no more crying. And I get my best friend back. Willow came forward and hugged Buffy tightly, smiling.
"Welcome back Buffy." Spike greeted Buffy.
"Thanks Spike." She replied.
"Hallmark moment," Xander chimed in, putting his arms around Buffy for a tight squeeze. Buffy motioned the rest of the group in. And with the exception of Spike, the whole Sunnydale group did join in the hallmark moment. It made Buffy feel warm, and protected in her cocoon of loved ones. More than that, she felt that her past was where it should be, in the past, and she was at peace with it, and her role in life as a caretaker of the world.
Spike looked away from the happy moment, and kept his watch on the door. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a flicker of movement. He silently moved towards the door, and noticed a single figure lurking in the courtyard. Angel had noticed the same thing, and moved to the opposite side. The figure had something in his hands, and was preparing to shoot.
"BUFFY, EVERYBODY, GET BEHIND THE DESK." Angel's shout accompanied the sound of broken glass.
So that's it, chapter #14 done. What'd ya think? Reviews are always welcomed, either here, or e-mailed directly to me at: angelsbabe15@hotmail.com
Reviews: Please do.
Chapter #14: The past is reconciled.
Buffy sauntered up to her room deep in thought. The memories were startlingly vivid in their imagery, and the feelings startlingly real. She lay on her bed then, and stared up at the ceiling reliving the whole experience. A few minutes later, there was a quiet knock on the door.
"Come in Angel." Buffy called, a wry smile on her face.
"How'd you know it was me?" Angel asked.
"Because you were probably listening for me from your room." Buffy replied smiling.
"So what have you been doing?" He asked her, making idle chitchat.
"You know exactly what I've been doing," Buffy gently teased.
"Actually, I knew about it, before it happened. He told me what he was doing, and I just stopped by to see how you were doing." Angel replied.
"I'm fine." Buffy assured him.
"Well if you want to talk." Angel left off, shrugging his shoulders as he sat down in a chair. Silence followed, as Buffy began to gather her thoughts.
"Actually Angel, I feel good." She began.
"There were so many unresolved issues before, like my dreams. What were they about? Were they memories that my mind suppressed? Or were they just dreams that I was going to forget when I woke up? It was as if, I was unable to understand that these were about me, not someone else. And, what's more is, that all this denial made it easy for me to believe, that I wasn't the slayer, but a watcher- an idle observer, watching as my life replayed itself, as though watching an soap opera."
Buffy paused, and climbed down off the bed, and began pacing the room in silence, as Angel just sat watching her, saying nothing. He realized that she needed to talk, to speak her thoughts out loud. After taking 5 turns of the room, Buffy began speaking again.
"Now, my mind is able to say yes, that was me, doing all of those things. It's healed enough to connect the memories with the feelings and deal with them. And Angel, I feel so exhilarated in the knowledge that I am loved. I remember my mother, what a strong woman she was, all the good times we had, and how sad we were when she died. I remember Dawn, when she first came to town, and the love, and the need to protect her I felt then, and that I feel now."
She paused as her circuit made it back to where Angel was sitting. He watched her as she strode around the room, the twinkle back in her hazel eyes, and the confidence back in her stride. Yes, she was his Buffy, and she was back. Buffy stopped in mid-stride to look back at her audience. She saw his well-built form half-lounging in the chair, as his dark eyes met her hazel ones. Her circuit had begun again, and she was halfway across the room. On impulse she walked back over to Angel, and leaned down, and kissed him passionately, which he returned rather eagerly. And as suddenly as she started the kiss, they pulled back.
" I can't, my soul remember? That other side of me that comes out."Angel left off.
"Perhaps we should find a way to change that then. A spell maybe." Buffy mused hopefully.
C.O.S.: Lobby
"Morning Sleepy Head." Lorne greeted Dawn with a smile.
"'Morning. Coffee." Dawn responded lifting a hand in a failed attempt to cover a yawn.
"Here ya go, cream and sugar's behind the desk." Cordelia said handing Dawn a cup of coffee. Dawn went behind the counter, and fixed her coffee. She stood leaning against the desk for a while sipping quietly.
"So where's Buffy?" She asked.
"Last I saw her, she and Angelcakes were headed downstairs to do some training." Lorne answered. Dawn grabbed a second mug and fixed her sister a cup of a coffee. She placed both cups on a tray and balancing it carefully, made her way downstairs. As she reached the bottom of the stairs she could hear the impact sound of skin on skin. She stood there unnoticed for while she watched her sister and Angel fight. Angel noticed her first: "Alright Buffy, take five. Coffee's here." Angel said.
"Yeah, a break for coffee's a must have." She replied walking over and taking the mug from Dawn.
"Strong, and sweet, just the way you like it." Dawn said as Buffy smiled gratefully as she breathed in the strong aroma. An awkward silence filled the air.
"Uh, you two must have a lot to talk about." Angel took the empty tray from Dawn and went upstairs. They were both silent as they sat down on the stairs, and wriggled into comfortable positions. Silence further reigned over the room.
"Dawnie, I'm back." Buffy told Dawn.
"You're back." Dawn asked, a confused look on her face.
"I'm back. Wesley tried a memory recovery technique and it worked. I remembered everything." Buffy explained. In response, Dawn reached and hugged her sister tightly.
"Yah, I get my sister back." Dawn said grinning.
"Yeah, and I will never, ever, ever, leave you again." Buffy assured her. They withdrew from the hug, as Dawn gazed at her sister, appraising her, in light of this new development. The pair settled into a companionable silence while they finished their coffee.
"Buffy, I need you." Dawn said, allowing the desperation to show in her voice.
"Okay, what's wrong?" Buffy asked.
" Nothing. Can't I tell my sister, my only living relative that I needed her." Dawn sidestepped the question.
"Okay Dawn. Along with remembering my past, I also remembered how to tell when you are lying. Out with it." Buffy told Dawn.
"Lying, it's such a strong word, I mean come on, I tell you that I need you, and I'm lying to you. I would call it a lie when I say I'm going to be home at a certain time and come home an hour or two later, that's what I'd call lying. I'd call this distorting the truth." Dawn babbled.
"Oh we're definitely sisters. I babble the same way when I'm lying or scared." Buffy wryly remarked, she paused before continuing: "So you wanna tell me what you're scared of?" Dawn proceeded to tell the dream. Buffy was silent in contemplation. After a few moments she spoke: "The thing is Dawn, try as we might to control our fate, and we can to a certain extent, a lot of it, is in the hands of others. So don't worry." Buffy assured her sister giving her a re-assuring pat on the back. "And now, I think I need more coffee, so let's head upstairs." Buffy decided, leading the way. Dawn smiled and followed her sister upstairs. The group was milling around drinking coffee, and Willow was the first to notice Buffy, and immediately observed the change.
"You're back." She acknowledged Buffy.
"Yeah Willow, I'm back to normal. " Buffy replied.
"Yeah, no more crying. And I get my best friend back. Willow came forward and hugged Buffy tightly, smiling.
"Welcome back Buffy." Spike greeted Buffy.
"Thanks Spike." She replied.
"Hallmark moment," Xander chimed in, putting his arms around Buffy for a tight squeeze. Buffy motioned the rest of the group in. And with the exception of Spike, the whole Sunnydale group did join in the hallmark moment. It made Buffy feel warm, and protected in her cocoon of loved ones. More than that, she felt that her past was where it should be, in the past, and she was at peace with it, and her role in life as a caretaker of the world.
Spike looked away from the happy moment, and kept his watch on the door. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a flicker of movement. He silently moved towards the door, and noticed a single figure lurking in the courtyard. Angel had noticed the same thing, and moved to the opposite side. The figure had something in his hands, and was preparing to shoot.
"BUFFY, EVERYBODY, GET BEHIND THE DESK." Angel's shout accompanied the sound of broken glass.
So that's it, chapter #14 done. What'd ya think? Reviews are always welcomed, either here, or e-mailed directly to me at: angelsbabe15@hotmail.com