Chapter 8: Never Gonna Be Alone
A/N: Okay, I got the idea for this chapter from the youtube video for Nickelback's song, 'Never Gonna Be Alone'. If you don't want to know where it's going, wait until after you read the chapter before watching the vid. When you do watch, make sure you have a tissue handy.
Challenge: #3064 'conception by conspiracy *non-stargate*' by shelli.
Thanks to my betas: zigpal, AshDawnSoulmates and AerynSpeedleCaine.
Disclaimer: BtVS characters belong to Joss Whedon / Mutant Enemy. House, MD characters belong to David Shore and Fox. I claim no rights to any copyrighted material. Please do not copy or take this story without my permission. Song sung by Nickelback.
Princeton High School
17 ½ years after Anne Marie's birth…
Before she started her valedictorian speech, Anne Marie House looked through the audience for her family. She saw Grandpa Giles and Grandma Joyce cuddled up together and rolled her eyes mentally. After all these years, and they still acted like they were newlyweds. Next to them was Andy Trudeau, who was like a big brother to her.
On the other side of him was her dad and his wife, Allison. As much as she loved her dad, she had no clue how Allison put up with him as a husband all these years. Might have something to do with her two younger half-brothers though. James was just as snarky as their dad, while Greg Jr. was compassionate like his mother.
Finally, Anne met the hazel eyes of her mother. She saw her mouth the words, 'I love you, baby' and had to blink back the tears that sprang up. She touched the necklace at her throat as she cleared it and began, "Today might mark the end of our time in high school, but it does not mean we have to forget the past. As we look to the future, we should remember all the little moments that helped us get here, and that will continue to help us as we face new challenges…"
Time is going by
So much faster than I
And I'm starting to regret not spending all of it with you.
Restaurant parking lot
15 years after Anne Marie's birth…
While they were walking to Grandpa Giles' car, a man suddenly stepped in their way. When Anne got a better look at his face, she saw something straight out of one of her Grandpa's journals. It wasn't until now that she finally believed everything he ever told her about vampires and demons. Except, that was the only explanation for his eyes and forehead.
She watched as her grandpa moved forward to stake the vampire. At the same time, her mom stood between the vampire and her and Grandma Joyce, who was holding a bottle with a cross on it. 'It must be holy water,' she thought to herself. Anne realized that she'd have to go back and re-read all those journals again, this time with less skepticism.
As impressed as she was with Grandpa Giles' skill in fighting, she couldn't help but think that her mom looked like an avenging angel shielding the innocents from the forces of darkness. Whoever or whatever tried to get past her would have one hell of a fight on their hands.
Now I'm
Wondering why
I've kept this bottled inside
So I'm starting to regret not telling all of this to you.
House home
14 ½ years after Anne Marie's birth…
Butterflies in her stomach was too mild of a description for the nerves Anne was feeling as she prepared for her very first date. Not just a group hanging out thing, but just her and Michael Weaver going ice-skating.
She feared what her dad would do to the poor guy when he showed up to walk her to his parents' car – where his older sister was waiting to drive them to the rink. But she also knew that it wouldn't help to complain; he'd just say that if Michael couldn't handle a few friendly questions, he wasn't good enough for her. Made her wonder if he ever had to face somebody as scary as himself asking 'friendly' questions about their daughter.
From the corner of her eye, she caught some movement behind her in the mirror. When she looked up, she saw her mom smiling warmly at her. Just like that, all the butterflies settled. Anne knew that her mom knew what she was going through and would take care of her.
So if I haven't yet
I've gotta let you know
Never gonna be alone!
From this moment on
If you ever feel like letting go
I won't let you fall
Never gonna be alone!
I'll hold you until the hurt is gone
House home
13 ½ years after Anne Marie's birth…
Anne was curled up in bed, crying her eyes out.
Today was the most humiliating day of her entire life! She was never going back to school, and nothing her dad said would change her mind…ever! It wasn't as if he had to deal with people pointing at her and laughing, calling her 'Carrie' because she got her first period, and it soaked through her white shorts. He was a guy, and couldn't understand what she was going through.
Then she felt the soft touch of her mom's hand brushing through her hair, whispering words of comfort until the crying ended. Then she was reminded that embarrassing things happened all the time, and it wouldn't be long for the next kid to get hit. Maybe this would help her show compassion when it did.
Like it was prophecy, the very next day, Jimmy Wendell split his pants during lunch when he bent over to pick up something that fell. While the other kids were busy laughing, Anne took off her sweatshirt and gave it to him to wrap around his waist.
And now
As long as I can
I'm holding on with both hands
'Cause forever I believe that there's nothing I could need but you
So if I haven't yet
I've gotta let you know
Giles' dojo
6 years after Anne Marie's birth…
As she bounced nervously from one foot to the other, waiting for Grandpa Giles' class to start, Anne looked at the other kids lined up with her. It was obvious that she was the youngest one there, and she could see that they were wondering why such a little kid was allowed to take the class with them. To be honest, she was kind of wondering that herself.
Her mom caught her gaze and said with a look, 'You belong because you're my daughter. I know you'll do me proud.' The trust she felt helped to settle her nerves; she stopped bouncing and was able to correctly bow to her grandpa- no, Sensei when the class began.
Never gonna be alone!
From this moment on
If you ever feel like letting go
I won't let you fall
House home
1 ½ years after Anne Marie's birth…
Greg was trying desperately to get his baby girl to say her first word. While he was hoping for something truly impressive – like anesthesiologist – he'd settle for 'dada' or 'baba'.
He leaned back in the rocking chair with her, letting her sit so her back was against his stomach. For some reason he couldn't figure out, she liked to sit this way lately.
The reason was because this let Anne see her mom standing next to the crib. Anne reached out her pudgy baby hand and called, 'Mama' over and over again – much to the chagrin of her daddy.
When all hope is gone
I know that you can carry on
We're gonna see the world out,
I'll hold you until the hurt is gone
Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital
When Anne Marie was born…
The doctors had just finished the emergency c-section to save the baby's life when Buffy's vitals plummeted. Even though they tried everything they could, they were unable to resuscitate the young woman. There was just no reason for a healthy young woman to die during childbirth…in a hospital no less.
Joyce asked softly, "Buffy said you decided to name her Kendra Marie? After a friend of hers and your grandmother?" Buffy mentioned it at the shower earlier, but Joyce just wanted to check.
Fighting the tears he felt coming on, Greg shook his head, "No. That was before this happened. She's going to be named after her mother. Her name is going to be Anne Marie," he declared, staring down at his baby girl, wondering how he could ever make up for her losing her mom before they even met.
The autopsy didn't help them find any answers either. Buffy Anne Summers simply went into premature labor, and when the placenta separated from her uterine wall, she bled to death – despite showing no signs of hemophilia in the past.
After they returned Buffy's personal effects to the grieving family, Giles took the necklace* he had given her in Miami when she said she didn't want to wear Angel's anymore and handed it to Greg, saying, "When she's old enough, Buffy would want her daughter to wear this." Greg just nodded dumbly, even though he usually scorned any kind of religious mumbo-jumbo.
Oh!
You gotta live every single day
Like it's the only one
What if tomorrow never comes
Don't let it slip away
Could be our only one
You know it's only just begun
House home
1 ½ years after Buffy's death…
As Anne called out for her mama, Buffy winked out, leaving only her photo on the wall above the crib behind for her baby to look at.
Every single day
May be our only one
What if tomorrow never comes
Tomorrow never comes
Giles' dojo
6 years after Buffy's death…
Anne stared at the photo hanging where she just saw her mother silently encouraging her. It was of her and Grandpa Giles sparring in the training room at his house.
Time is going by
So much faster than I
And I've started to regret not telling all of this to you
House home
13 ½ years after Buffy's death…
Even though she knew the touch was only her imagination, Anne could still swear she heard the words whispered in the air.
Never gonna be alone!
From this moment on
If you ever feel like letting go
I won't let you fall
House home
14 ½ years after Buffy's death…
It was times like this that Anne really missed being able to hold her mom. Not that she didn't love Allison, but it just wasn't the same thing.
When all hope is gone
I know that you can carry on
We're gonna see the world out,
I'll hold you until the hurt is gone
Restaurant parking lot
15 years after Buffy's death…
Grandpa Giles' words about her mom being something called a Slayer…a protector of innocents…never seemed as true to her as they did now. Despite it only being a ghostly image of her standing there, Anne still believed her mom would protect her if others couldn't.
I'm gonna be there always,
I won't be missing one more day
Princeton High School
17 ½ years after Buffy's death…
Anne touched the necklace at her throat, remembering the first time she convinced her dad to let her wear it. She could count on one hand the number of times it left her neck since that day. It reminded her that even though her mom was dead, she never truly left her baby girl.
I'm gonna be there always,
I won't be missing one more day
A/N: *The necklace I'm talking about is the Sterling Silver and Black Hills Gold Antiqued Cross Necklace at Overstock.
A/N2: Next…Epilogue.