Title: Demons from the past

Rating:PG-13

Disclaimer:Not smart enough, or enough money so it ain't mine. DAMN YOU WHEDON!

Summary: My first real sequel, all others have been fakes, kind of an AU of S7 so a bit more original than most.

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Buffy had gotten up out of bed an hour ago, she should have been at the school counseling troubled teenagers an hour ago, but with the night she just had, realizing what kind of an anniversary that today was, she called in sick. Dawn didn't buy the sick excuse and had given her the *I know your lying and that you aren't going to tell me the real reason* look. To which the slayer countered with an eye roll. And with that Dawn rushed off to school leaving the troubled sister with her thoughts.

She didn't like how she felt, like she was numb, like when she first resurrected. She was the slayer, she was supposed to be strong, so what if her last boyfriend was sent to a hell dimension. It made Buffy chuckled when she thought about the absurdity of it all.

*Yeah I slay demons, currently recovering from a failed relationship with a vampire who actually saved their lives from a hell dimension and feeling like how I felt when I was resurrected from the grave.*

Yep normal.

It made more sense when she thought she was in the mental institution. Sighing she rinsed out the coffee cup she had been drinking from and stopped cold when she saw what was on the mug.

Kiss the librarian.

God when would this end, everything reminded her of him. Was she a masochist or something? Why did she do this to herself? The vampire was dead, gone, never to return and that was final. Why did she feel like he could walk through that door at anytime? Why did she still keep his duster thinking he might still want it? He wasn't coming back, Nothing could ever bring him...her internal rant was interrupted by the shrill ringing of the phone. Wiping down the mug she put it into the cupboard and picked up the phone.

"Hello"

There was a slight pause before the person on the other line spoke

"Buffy?"

In an instant her day was looking up.

"Giles!"

The response she got was a little less than satisfying.

"What on earth are you doing home?"

Her mood darkened a bit.

"Well hello to you to."

"Oh right, sorry, just wasn't expecting you to be home."

Easing up a bit she replied.

"It's okay, just had a really bad night and decided to call in sick."

"Nightmares?"

He remembered the first few days after, she was having horrible nightmares, but it was his understanding that they had almost completely stopped. She knew what he was talking about also.

"Nah just some really weird dreams...and why are you calling here if you know I won't be here?"

He was caught, he often called Dawn at least once every two weeks to check up on how Buffy and everyone was doing. He had learned from last year, things had fallen apart and he didn't even know until after Willow killed someone, the watcher wasn't about to let things get that out of hand again.

"Well, um, I was hoping to catch Dawn before she had to go to school."

It clicked in Buffy's head.

"Giles are you checking up on me?"

"Well um, not specifically on you, just..."

"No I think it's sweet in a way, going behind my back, making my sister responsible for the well being of everyone."

Sighing Giles knew there was no out for this.

"Well you haven't been the most reliable source, you tend to bottle things up, Dawn on the other hand is blunt as ever. And don't act like its such a betrayal. Do you realize how much money has been spent on the phone bill because of what boy said to what girl who actually has a crush on the football captain?"

Buffy chuckled at that, and she knew he was right, she wasn't the most communicative person in the world. When did it become hard for her to even talk to Giles.

"You're right Giles, from now on I'm miss communicative girl."

"Alright then lets start with what's really bothering you?"

Buffy froze, she should have known saying that would get her in trouble.

"Well...um..."

"Buffy you know that I can take anything you throw at me."

Sighing she began.

"Do you know how long I was gone."

They still couldn't say the word 'dead', not even when she was alive. Feeling a bit startled he replied.

"I'm not quite sure, I wasn't always in the best of mind at the time." Meaning he was extremely drunk at some points.

"A hundred and forty seven days, forty eight the day I was brought back."

This was hitting a sore spot with him but the watcher kept composure.

"That sounds about right. How did you find out?"

"Spike told me. I asked him and he told me without even thinking."

Giles felt a twinge of respect for the long dead vampire.

"Yes well, I'm not surprised."

"Do you know how longs it's been since he died?"

Giles finally understood.

"A hundred and forty eight days."

Buffy closed her eyes when she felt the all to familiar prickle at the back of her eyes.

"He died Giles, he died without knowing how much I cared for him, he died thinking that everyone he ever loved hated him."

Her voice was beginning to tremble and she took a moment to get herself under control. He debated it over with himself before approaching the subject.

"Did you love him."

She had calmed down a bit, but still had the lump in her stomach.

"No, but I was so close, and I think I could have if I let myself."

"Buffy I can never really understand what you went through last year, I should have been there, but I wasn't, and from what I know of the Spike we knew he wouldn't want this from you. He would have wanted you to move on with your life and believe that his love for you was real. It took me a long time but I do believe he loved you. And I wouldn't think any less of you if you loved him back."

Feeling drained and slightly better she sighed into the phone.

"Thanks Giles."

The smile she wore was mirrored on the other end.

"Alright now tell me about your dreams."

She barked out a laugh at this.

"Oh nothing, just some weird dreams."

"Buffy..."

"Really Giles, they were just weird dreams, and I really don't think I have anymore strength for 'examine Buffy's emotion issues'."

Giles knew that he wasn't going to get anymore out of her and relented.

"Alright I think that's enough for now, but promise me if anything odd happens you'll tell me."

"I promise."

"Alright, well tell Dawn I said hello and give everyone my best."

"Okay, tell Travers I still think he's a stinky old man."

A chuckle sounded on the other end.

"Will do"

"Love you Giles"

there was a slight pause.

"Love you to Buffy."

Putting the phone back on the receiver she looked out the backyard at the sunny day thinking about how the future might pan out for her.

She still kept the duster.

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A/N: HA! You were hoping that the chapter ending before this wasn't a cliffhanger, well sorry to crush your hopes. :)

Another chapter, looks like this one is a keeper. I'm doing pretty well with the one chapter a day, but I don't think I'll be able to keep that pace up for much longer.

ANd I'm kinda pissed, I got one review on THREE CHAPTERS! people people PEOPLE! Without your motivation writing this will seem like a waste of time, which it is, but make me feel good about it.

SO GET REVIEWING'!