For Good or Bad, The Memories Remain.

Chapter 8

Disclaimer- I don't still own Buffy and crew, I just use them in my writing, just for fun, never for profit "Cause that's wrong!"

Spoilers- mid 4th season then everything takes a left turn off the charted path

Rating- May get to R eventually

"Genvieve's story was hers and I will not tell it. I didn't come here to tell you my story. I came here to help this Slayer and to determine if she needed to be liberated from her Watcher. Fortunately for you, you have treated your charge with the utmost respect and have not tried the normal heavy handed tactics of most of your branch of the Order."

"Will you at least tell me if the scrap I have is true? Did she spirit you away from your supposed deadly battle?"

"I was hurt, horribly wounded. You can still make out some of the scar" as she pulls the edge of her tank top a bit lower on the left side. Barely visible against her pale skin is the even whiter lines of old scar tissue spiderwebing out for more than a hand span. "I was faint from blood loss, I don't remember much for quite a while. She nursed my back to health and began training me further than my Watcher ever did. My Watcher's motivational techniques were usually emphasized a whip. He justified it by saying that I needed to be used to pain. He justified quite a bit that I never forgave him for. She taught me my battle tactics, and more. She taught me to read and write in several languages, different modes of dress, and weapons skill beyond compare. Other than that I will not speak of her. But this is enough about me. Where is your young charge?

"She's recovering from a spell to retrieve hidden memories that was cast by one of her friends, much to her detriment. Unfortunately the spell has an unfortunate side effect unknown to Willow. She now has all of Buffy's, the Slayers', memories. I'm sure Buffy will be fine, but I'm worried about Willow. She's received an entire lifetime worth of memories emotion and experience in one fell swoop. "

"We need to go look for Willow, she's not well.. The spell she did on you had some side effects on her."

"What kind of side effects, Tara?"

"You know how you got all your memories returned, all sharp and clear, right?

"Yeah" standing up to get dressed.

"Well Willow got all of your memories too, all of them at once, just as sharp, in one big lump."

"Oh ....God!" Buffy slumps onto the bed a distant look in her eyes.

Xander steps up.

"Buffy! Come on! We have to find Willow!"

Buffy mutters to herself, babbling "The things I've done, the things I've felt, Willow got it all. No one should have to go through that. And it's my fault!"

"Buffy come on! Snap out of it! You survived! So will Willow! But we have to find her. It's getting dark and she is in no condition to fight off the local vamps."

"Xander, you don't understand. Some of the things I've done make Faith look like a non-violent nun. I condemned her for being evil after some of the things I've done. And now Willow knows it all. How can I face her?"

"Will won't hate you. It's not in her."

"It is now"

"Buffy we have to find her" Tara exclaims as she gets her coat.

Buffy sits with her hands over her face for a moment, then looks at the two of them.

"Your right. Excuse me for a moment while I get dressed."

"Come on Tara, let's wait outside."

Buffy went to the closet. She reached into the back of the closet and pulled out some clothes she hadn't worn in quite a while. She stepped out to join Tara and Xander. Xander did a double take. Buffy looked so completely different, from the way she stood to the way her hair was pulled down in its loose natural curls as opposed to tucked back like normal. Her already smooth and fluid movements were now much more refined and finite, like a ballerina. Her normal bouncy attitude was absent. She now seemed weary and worn down. She was dressed in a simple grey sweater and dark pants, her soft soled boots came up to her knees. A square-bladed short-handled field shovel was in her hands.

"Xander, Tara, let's go find Willow. On the way, we need to pick up something."

To Be Continued

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