Chapter 7: Buffy Returns
*****Stars Hollow*****
Luke was wiping down the diner's counter while Jess was cleaning the dining room when Lorelai burst in.
"We're closed," Jess told her.
Lorelai didn't look at him or acknowledge his presence as she was too freaked out and upset.
"Luke, we have to go to Sunnydale immediately," she said.
"What's wrong? Did something happen to the girls or Xander?" Luke asked from the other side of counter.
"No," she said. "Willow called and said that Buffy's back."
"What do you mean, Buffy's back?" Luke asked, confused. "How can she be back? She fell off a tower—she's dead. We were at her funeral."
Jess realized that Lorelai had forgotten her presence, so he slowly walked toward the entrance to the upstairs that way he would not be visible to Luke's all-seeing eye. Then he stopped and listened.
"I don't know! I don't know!" Lorelai exclaimed, clearly upset. "Willow said that she did a spell. She used magic to bring her back."
"She used magic to bring her back from the dead? How is that possible?" Luke asked. He glanced around, looking for Jess, relieved to see he was gone.
Lorelai gave a snort. "Possible? We left possible the day my family told me Rory's was a potential vampire slayer. Possible no longer lives in our world, especially not since I met Buffy and Dawn, one superhuman and the other magically created."
"This isn't a joke?" Luke asked.
"I don't know. That's why we have to go there and find out," Lorelai said.
"What about Dawn?" Luke wondered.
"We can't tell her sister may be alive if it winds up not being true," Lorelai said. "We need to go see. If it's true, we can bring Buffy here."
"Can she leave the hellmouth? Is she allowed to?" Luke asked.
"I don't know, but I know if she was resurrected from the dead, she's going to need some time to recover," Lorelai said. "The people in Sunnydale will just have to make do for a bit. The other slayer's scheduled to arrive any day."
Jess's mind tried to wrap around what they were saying. How in the world could it be true?
*****Sunnydale*****
Buffy had been back home a full twenty-four hours and already had to deal with a hijacker poltergeist. She needed to see Dawn. It was dark out, so she knew that she should patrol. However, things seemed distorted and wrong.
"Hey," Spike said when she came downstairs. "Feel like finding some trouble?"
"I suppose," Buffy said with a shrug. "Where's Willow?"
"She just got off the phone," Spike said. Spike was still reeling from the revelation Buffy had shared about being in heaven and not the hell Willow and her friends had thought. What did you do for a person whose closest mates pulled her out of heaven?
Buffy went to the dining room and saw Willow. "Hey, did you talk to Dawn?" she asked.
"I spoke to Lorelai. She said she'd try to get a flight out tomorrow," Willow said.
"That's good," Buffy said. She really wanted to see her sister. Maybe this world would feel real to her if she could hug her sister.
They went patrolling, going through the motions of her life.
*****The Next Day*****
Lorelai and Luke arrived in Sunnydale by lunch time, and Buffy was home alone, opening the door to greet them.
"I can't believe this!" Lorelai exclaimed, hugging her close. "You were dead, but now you're alive. It's a real miracle."
"What she said," Luke said, still stunned to see her. He touched her shoulder. No, not a ghost.
Buffy smiled up at the couple, glad to see them. "It's good to see you guys. How are you? How's Dawn? Where's Dawn?"
"She's great. In school. We didn't want to tell her until we knew for sure you were really back," Lorelai said.
"Oh," Buffy said, looking disappointed. She turned and walked into the living room, and they exchanged concerned glances as they followed her.
"So how do you feel?" Lorelai asked.
"I feel okay," Buffy said. "It's a lot."
"I bet," Luke said.
"Did you see a white light? Did God look like a woman or an old man?" Lorelai asked.
Buffy smiled, relieved that she was acting normal, not pretending that Buffy didn't just get back from a trip out of state like her friends were. She had died and been brought back. "I don't remember much," Buffy said. "I know, though, that the place was warm and bright—that might be the bright light. I think I was in heaven."
"Heaven is real? I totally lost that bet with Kirk," Lorelai said, shaking her head.
"I think so," Buffy said. "Listen, don't tell my friends. Willow thought I was being tormented in a hell dimension. She thought she was saving me from torment."
Luke frowned. "That's too crazy for words," he muttered.
"So you're saying that no one knows you were pulled out of heaven? What have you been doing? Pretending that you were tormented?" Lorelai asked.
"There was this poltergeist thing that hijacked back with me. I had to fight it. Well, first there was this ugly demon gang when I clawed my way out of my grave," Buffy shared. "Then the poltergeist. Last night, just normal slayage."
Luke stood up, looking outraged. "You clawed your way out of your own grave? Are you kidding me? Where are those two witches! I'm going to kick some ass!" he fumed.
"Calm down, Luke," Lorelai said.
"Don't tell me to calm down! This is not right, Lorelai!" he yelled. "They not only didn't confirm she was in hell, but they didn't have enough sense to dig up her coffin! Someone needs to yell out them for their irresponsibility."
"They didn't know," Buffy said weakly.
"They didn't know your body was in the ground, so if they resurrected you, you would be stuck inside it? Are you seriously going to defend them?" Luke fumed.
"Luke, sit down," Lorelai said. "Buffy's been through enough. She doesn't need you fighting with her friends."
"Buffy, you should pack up your things," Luke said, pacing in the room.
"What do you mean?" Buffy asked. She was oddly touched by the gruff man's outburst on her behalf.
"You are coming home with us," Luke said.
"What he means is, Buffy, we think you need a break from this place," Lorelai said. "Dawn is very happy being away from the hellmouth, and we feel you need some time to recover that isn't here."
"They need me," Buffy said.
"Maybe so, but isn't the other slayer set to arrive? My grandmother arranged it for her to be here. You can stay with me or my parents. Mother would love to have someone to spoil," Lorelai offered.
Buffy considered what they were saying and knew they had a point. She wasn't sure she had anything left to give. Her time had been up. When she was on that tower things had been so clear. Death was her gift—she gave it so Dawn could live. Now the world was too chaotic and dark. She felt worn down.
"I think it's a good idea," Buffy agreed.
"Excellent!" Luke said, rubbing his hands together. "I'll call the airline and get three flights this evening. We'll be back home by ten."
"Dawn is going to be so excited to see you," Lorelai said. "We'll have to come up with a good story, though, as to why you're back. We can't go around telling people you rose from the dead."
"I hadn't thought of that," Buffy said, feeling discouraged. How was she going to explain her being alive? In Sunnydale, it wasn't a big deal because the Buffybot had kept up the lie that she was alive.
"We can tell them that you witnessed a crime and had to testify and were in witness protection," Lorelai said.
"What? That's crazy! No one will believe that," Luke said.
"Well, what else could explain it? The government faked her death and whisked her away before she could tell Dawn," Lorelai said.
"I guess that might work," Buffy said. "We can ask Dawn. She's good at making up a story."
"She's a teenager," Lorelai said.
"Exactly," Luke said.
Buffy got her bags ready while they waited for Tara and Willow to return. She had already called Xander and asked him to be there as soon as possible with Anya. Giles was going to fly out that night, but she called and told him about going to Stars Hollow. They would meet up in New York City the next day.
"Lorelai, it's great to see you," Willow said, greeting her warmly with a hug. "Luke. Where's Dawn?"
"Good to see you both," Lorelai said, smiling and hugging Tara.
"Hey," Luke said.
"Where's Xander?" Buffy asked.
"He should be here soon," Willow said. She saw Buffy's bags and frowned. "What's with the bags? Is it Dawn's? Where is she?"
"We didn't bring her because we wanted to see Buffy and make sure it was true," Lorelai said.
"You think I'd lie?" Willow asked, offended.
"Well, no, but it's insane, Willow," Lorelai said. "I couldn't risk telling Dawn and Buffy not being here."
"That's understandable," Tara said.
"So are you guys staying for a while?" Willow asked, looking again at the bags.
"No, those are my bags," Buffy said. "I'm going to go see Dawn. Flying back with them today."
"Oh," Willow said, glancing at Tara.
Tara smiled. "That's a good idea. You should spend time with her away from here," she said.
"Dawn's doing so well," Lorelai said. "I just don't think pulling her back to the hellmouth is best for her."
"I guess, I can understand that," Willow said.
The front door opened, and Xander and Anya came in.
"Hey, Luke and Lorelai. You got here fast," he said, smiling as he greeted them. "Isn't it great about Buffy?"
"Yes, it's wonderful," Lorelai said, smiling at Buffy.
"However, it's not great that you clowns were stupid enough to try to raise her from the dead without digging up her coffin first. What were you thinking?" Luke said, unable to stay silent a minute more.
"We weren't, I guess," Xander said, looking embarrassed.
"I think we thought she'd just appear," Willow said, her face red as the older couple looked at her in disappointment. She never handled that kind of thing well.
"Why? You did it at her grave where her body was buried. I have a hard time believing someone as intelligent as you didn't think her soul would go into her buried body. That her body wouldn't be restored or healed," Luke said grimly.
"Hey, don't go attacking Willow. She wasn't alone there," Xander said, glaring. He didn't like anyone attacking his best friend. "We all are just as guilty."
"You're right," Tara said. "We should've thought it through more. We shouldn't have done it at all."
"How can you say that?" Willow asked, looking betrayed. "She's back. We saved her."
"Saved her?" Luke said, incredulously. "How do you know she was in hell? Did you consult a Ouija board or something? Did a spell confirm that's where she was, or did you just assume?"
"You need to watch your tone," Xander said, frowning in annoyance. He didn't like anyone upsetting Willow.
Anya, though, kind of enjoyed someone yelling at miss know-it-all Willow. Any misgivings she had tried to share were dismissed. It wasn't like she spent a thousand years doing magic and vengeance or something.
"Luke, it's okay," Buffy said. "I'm okay. I'm back now, and it's good to see everyone."
"Buffy, they need to know," Lorelai said to her. Then she looked at Tara, Willow, and Xander. "She was at peace. You didn't pull her out of hell."
"What?" Willow asked, her hand going to her stomach as if she was about to be sick.
"I'm sorry," Buffy said. "I didn't want you to know. I know your heart was in the right place, and you meant well."
"She's spent five years fighting with you guys in this hell hole. When she died saving Dawn, she was in heaven, and you clueless clowns, pulled her out," Luke said, fuming. "She's not your wind-up slayer doll. She's going to come with us and stay as long as she wants. You're not going to make her feel guilty about it or pressure her. She'll come back when she's good and ready. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes," Willow said, her eyes full of unshed tears. "I'm so sorry, Buffy."
Buffy hugged her. "It's okay, Will. I love you," she said. "I'll be back soon. I just need some time with Dawn. Stars Hollow is so peaceful that it will be just what I need."
"I'm sorry, too, Buffy," Xander said. "We just missed you so damn much. Without a slayer here, we just didn't know what would happen to the place. We tried to do what you do, but we just aren't as strong. Even with Spike helping."
"Faith's arriving tomorrow, right?" Lorelai asked.
"Yes," Willow said.
"So there's no reason really that Buffy needs to be here now," Lorelai said.
"I suppose," Willow said. "We've just missed her terribly."
"You can call me, Will," Buffy said.
"I'm really sorry again, Buffy," Willow said, hugging her.
"Me, too," Xander said.
"Me, three," Anya said. "Although I did tell them it was a terrible idea to begin with."
"Tell Dawnie we miss her," Tara said, hugging Buffy.
Luke and Lorelai said goodbye, and Buffy gave one last wave before leaving with them.
When she was in the backseat of their rental car, she let out a relieved sigh.
"Dawn will flip out when she sees you," Lorelai said. She kept up a commentary of Stars Hollow gossip, which Buffy appreciated.
When they passed the sign leaving town, Buffy could feel the weight of the hellmouth lift.
This was the right decision.
*****Hartford******
After speaking to her father, who was astounded at the new development, they decided to take Buffy to her parents first. This would give Dawn some privacy to get used to the shock of her sister's resurrection. The people of Stars Hollow had embraced Dawn, and they would do the same to Buffy. However, that meant prying and knowing everything they could about her.
Emily and Richard were waiting for them to arrive. It was dinner time, so Emily had prepared a feast. She was pacing, however, as the time of their arrival drew nearer.
"Emily, you are making me dizzy! Have a seat," Richard ordered. He handed her a drink.
"I can't, Richard. I still can't believe this! Buffy was dead. She was buried months ago! This is so insane, and we live our lives knowing the impossible is possible. This, though, should not be!" Emily said.
"Well, I choose to think of it as a miracle—one that we should celebrate," Richard said. "Obviously, it has to be traumatic for Buffy, but we will help her get through this."
"How, Richard? How can we possibly help the poor girl? We don't know anything about dying and coming back to life!" Emily exclaimed; her nerves rattled.
"Get a hold of yourself, Emily!" Richard said. "The poor girl has been through enough. She needs you to be calm."
The doorbell rang. "They're here," Emily said, running toward the door. It was Dawn. They had sent their driver to pick her up.
"Thanks for inviting me to dinner," Dawn said.
Emily hugged her. "It's our pleasure. We have a surprise," Emily said as she took Dawn's jacket, bag and purse, handing them off to the maid. Emily had instructed her to be prepared to stay the night. She turned to the maid. "We will get the door, so please stay in the kitchen until dinner is ready."
"Very well," the maid said
"Cool," Dawn said. "Is it banana splits for dessert? I love that, especially if you have extra toppings to pick."
"We don't have them for tonight, but we can tomorrow," Emily said. She sat Dawn down on the sofa and sat next to her while Richard was across them.
"Luke and Lorelai are going to be here very soon," Richard said. "They are bringing your sister to you."
Dawn looked confused. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"Willow and her friends did a very powerful spell," Richard explained. "They brought Buffy back from the dead."
"She's alive, Dawn," Emily said, reaching for her hand.
"Seriously?" Dawn asked, her mind reeling.
"Lorelai and Luke went to California this morning on the red eye to make sure it was true," Emily said. "They are bringing her here to you."
"Buffy's alive? My sister is going to be here soon?" Dawn asked, eyes wide.
"Yes, dear, she is," Richard said. "It's a real miracle."
Dawn was silent a few minutes, and then she became crying. Emily pulled her close and let her cry.
Then the doorbell rang again, and Richard rose to answer it.
Dawn wiped her eyes and stood to her feet, bracing herself.
Richard knew she was alive but still found it astounding to see Buffy there in the flesh.
"It is so very good to see you, my dear," Richard said.
Buffy gave him a small smile. "Thanks. Is she here?" she asked.
Richard nodded and gestured to let her in.
The sisters stood facing each other, and then Dawn ran and embraced her sister.
"I can't believe you're really here!" she said, not letting Buffy go.
Holding Dawn in her arms made everything come back in focus for Buffy.
She was alive.
*****Chapter End******
Yes, I enjoy writing stories that point out how stupid season 6 premise was when it comes to the resurrection spell and not digging her body up!
