Chapter Twenty-Three
Author's Note: Big thank yous to Johanna, TinkerbellRox, lilmamaday, Nastyubervamp (I loved the comment about the rubber duck....it was too funny!), Gabrielle and Courtney23 for reading the story and for the really nice reviews! I hope you all enjoy the story and continue to leave really thoughtful and kind reviews!
I would also like to give a warning: there is really mild violence mentioned in this chapter as well as rape. It isn't anything major but I wanted to give a warning just incase anyone is really sensitive about that subject.
Enough said...let's get on with the show.....enjoy!
"One whole month! What will you do with yourself at home for one whole month?" Buffy asked Riley as she laid down on his bed. Riley continued to pack. He was leaving in just a few hours to catch his flight to Boston.
"I don't know. I'll probably do some skiing with my high school friends. Mom talked about visiting some family up in Maine. I'm not sure," he said as he folded a shirt. He placed the shirt in his suitcase and looked up at Buffy. "You know the offer still stands. You could come home with me." Riley suggested again.
After the funeral of Xander's grandmother, Riley was infuriated with Buffy. She arrived back at school over two hours later than he expected her to be. Once Riley met up with his girlfriend, he showed her just how angry he was. Riley used Buffy's stomach as a punching bag and struck her again and again in her gut. When he became tired of punching her he threw her up against the wall a few times holding on to her tiny arms ever so tightly. In less than a day her stomach and arms bruised.
Two days after she was attacked, Riley apologized to her. He explained to Buffy that he loved her and didn't know what came over him sometimes. Then he promised her that he would get help for his problem back home. He also had promised her that he would stop hitting her.
Being the caring and sensitive person that she was, Buffy forgave him. After all, she believed that it was her causing everything. If she hadn't made Riley angry with her, then she would have never been hit.
Riley kept his promise about not hitting her for the remainder of the semester. He hadn't hit or punched her at all. He did, however, force Buffy, the woman who claimed to love to have sex. Buffy would never consider Riley's actions that night to be rape because she knew Riley and was in a relationship with him. She figured even though he tore her shirt and bra and forced himself on her that it still wasn't rape.
Buffy loved Riley but the last few weeks of the semester were very emotional. She needed a break from him and their relationship. She was glad to have a break from Riley.
"Riley, you know I would love to go with you and meet your family but I can't. My mother would freak out, especially with it being the holidays and all."
"Will you see your friends at home?" Riley asked as he zipped up his last suitcase.
A smile found its way to Buffy's mouth. "Yes. I am picking Willow up a few days before Christmas. I haven't seen her since August and I miss her so much. Xander and I are going Christmas shopping together in couple of days."
Ignoring what Buffy's happiness and what she had explained to him, Riley changed the subject completely. "I have something for you."
"But we exchanged gifts last night. You gave me that bracelet."
"Yeah, but I left the big one for now," he said as he sat with her on his bed. He pulled a little red velvet box out of his pants pocket. Buffy's jaw dropped to the ground.
"This isn't what you think it is, well, it is, sort of. Here, let me put this on your finger," Riley said with a grin on his face. He slipped the ruby and diamond ring onto Buffy's left ring finger. "It's a promise ring. I love you Buffy Giles and I want to spend my entire life with you. I think we are too young to get engaged officially but I wanted to show you some how. Think of this has a pre-engagement ring." Riley explained as he kissed Buffy's lips softly. "I love you."
Buffy returned his kiss. "I love you too."
Riley pulled himself away only seconds later. "I have to get going. I'll give you lift back to your dorm." He told her as he stood up and gathered his bags and walked out of his room.
Riley did drive Buffy back to her room as he promised. The couple shared one last kiss before Buffy got out of Riley's car and walked up the stairs to her dorm. She turned to wave good-bye to Riley but he was out of site.
Buffy climbed the stairs in her building and walked towards her room. She had hoped that she hadn't missed Anya and Tara. They were traveling to the airport together.
"Good, I didn't miss you," Buffy as the two girls sat in her room.
"We didn't' think we were going to see you before we left," Tara smiled as Buffy sat down on her bed.
"Yeah, we still haven't exchanged our gifts yet," Anya chimed in.
"Oh, that's right, let me get yours," Buffy said as she stood up and walked to her closed. She pulled out two holiday gift bags. She had bought Anya a cd she wanted as well as a small purse. Tara received a few candles and body lotion from the Body shop.
The two girls thanked Buffy as Anya reached for a medium size bag. "This is from both of us."
Buffy reached into the bag and unwrapped the tissue paper of the first item. She found a red leather journal within the tissue paper. On the inside cover was a note written by Tara. It read: Buffy, Happy holidays! We bought you this book so you would have a place to express yourself when you don't want to talk to anyone. We both care about you and love you. You have been such a wonderful friend to us. Buffy, you are going places in this world. You just have to find the courage and take your place in it. Have a wonderful rest during break, you deserve some you time. See you next year (I know, it was a bad joke!) Love you lots, Tara and Anya.
Just as Buffy was going to thank her friends, a little envelope fell out of the pages of the journal. Buffy opened it and found a fifty dollar gift card to a book store. Both Anya and Tara were hoping she would by books on women and abuse. They realized that Buffy didn't think of the card as anything more than a gift.
"Thank you guys so much! I love the journal, it's so beautiful," Buffy beamed as she hugged both Anya and Tara as a cab outside pulled up to the front of the building and beeped it's horn.
"That's our ride," Tara said.
"We'd better get going. We don't want to be late for our flights," Anya added as she began to pick up her bags.
"Do you need any help?" Buffy offered.
"I think we are all set but thank you," Tara smiled. "Have a great break Buffy."
"Thanks you too, both of you," Buffy said as she returned Tara's smile.
Tara and Anya both made their way down the stairs and then outside and into their cab. They waved to Buffy. Buffy continued to wave until the cab drove down the street and she could no longer see her friends.
"Will! Willow! Over here," Buffy shouted as she saw her red headed friend. Willow approached Buffy and hugged her. "You look so good Will!"
Willow thought that Buffy had looked so different than the last time she saw her. She looked old and tired and she looked like she had lost so much weight. Oz warned Willow about Buffy's appearance but she was still surprised. "It's great to see you too. You look so great too," she lied to her friend.
Buffy smiled. "We have so much to catch up on. You have to tell me about the east coast. How's Boston? Do you like it there?"
Willow and Buffy began to walk over to retrieve Willow's luggage as Willow began to answer Buffy's questions. "I like it a lot. When I left Boston they had over a foot of snow. It was so much to play in! It's such a pretty place and full of so much history. I got put into upper classmen housing. I live in the middle of the theater district. My apartment over looks Boston Common, it's a park in the middle of the city. It's so nice. My roommate is a freshman too and is really cool. Her name is grace. You have to come and see it."
"That sounds really great. I would love to see it." Buffy commented.
"Well, Oz is coming out there in March to visit, during your spring break. You have spring break on a different day than us. Anyways, you could always come out and visit with him."
As Willow reached over to retrieve her luggage, Buffy thought about Oz. He was pretty mad at that she didn't attend any of his major concerts. Riley didn't want Buffy to go so she obeyed him. Oz finally saw Buffy and blew up at her. He told her that he didn't want to speak to her again and he hadn't. It made Buffy sad to think about her oldest friend.
"Hmmmm, maybe, we'll have to wait and see. Hey Wills, I am parked on the third level," Buffy said as she changed the subject. She didn't want to think about Oz any more.
"You have the number of out hotel, right?" Joyce asked as she picked up her purse.
"Yes mom. You left it on my nightstand, on your nightstand, on the refrigerator door and in my wallet, remember?" Buffy answered.
"And in case of an emergency?" Joyce questioned her daughter.
"Call nine-one-one and then call you and then call Faith so she can handle things immediately," Buffy snapped back with an attitude. Joyce, Rupert and Dawn all had grown close to Faith and her family while Buffy was at college. Conner even addressed Joyce and Rupert as aunt and uncle. Buffy also knew that her parents had helped out Faith and Amy since Amy had recently lost her job. Money had been extremely tight Joyce and Rupert stepped in to help Faith and Amy figure out a budget. To be certain that Faith and her family had a good holiday season, the Giles' had also given Faith money. Dawn told Buffy this on Christmas night. It made Buffy happy that her family was helping Faith through a tough time but it also made her sad. She was sad because she hadn't come home often during the semester and she missed the bonding with Faith.
"All right young lady. I was just making sure you knew. There is no need to take that tone with me," Joyce told her eldest daughter.
"I know. I am sorry. I guess I'm just nervous about having everyone coming over tonight for New Year's Eve. This is going to be the first time we all have been together since graduation," Buffy explained to her mother."
"I understand," Joyce sympathized with her daughter before continuing. "We are only going to be a few hours away so don't hesitate calling if you need us."
Buffy smiled. "Don't worry. You and dad have fun tonight. You'll see you tomorrow night," Buffy said as she hugged her mother.
Author's Note: Big thank yous to Johanna, TinkerbellRox, lilmamaday, Nastyubervamp (I loved the comment about the rubber duck....it was too funny!), Gabrielle and Courtney23 for reading the story and for the really nice reviews! I hope you all enjoy the story and continue to leave really thoughtful and kind reviews!
I would also like to give a warning: there is really mild violence mentioned in this chapter as well as rape. It isn't anything major but I wanted to give a warning just incase anyone is really sensitive about that subject.
Enough said...let's get on with the show.....enjoy!
"One whole month! What will you do with yourself at home for one whole month?" Buffy asked Riley as she laid down on his bed. Riley continued to pack. He was leaving in just a few hours to catch his flight to Boston.
"I don't know. I'll probably do some skiing with my high school friends. Mom talked about visiting some family up in Maine. I'm not sure," he said as he folded a shirt. He placed the shirt in his suitcase and looked up at Buffy. "You know the offer still stands. You could come home with me." Riley suggested again.
After the funeral of Xander's grandmother, Riley was infuriated with Buffy. She arrived back at school over two hours later than he expected her to be. Once Riley met up with his girlfriend, he showed her just how angry he was. Riley used Buffy's stomach as a punching bag and struck her again and again in her gut. When he became tired of punching her he threw her up against the wall a few times holding on to her tiny arms ever so tightly. In less than a day her stomach and arms bruised.
Two days after she was attacked, Riley apologized to her. He explained to Buffy that he loved her and didn't know what came over him sometimes. Then he promised her that he would get help for his problem back home. He also had promised her that he would stop hitting her.
Being the caring and sensitive person that she was, Buffy forgave him. After all, she believed that it was her causing everything. If she hadn't made Riley angry with her, then she would have never been hit.
Riley kept his promise about not hitting her for the remainder of the semester. He hadn't hit or punched her at all. He did, however, force Buffy, the woman who claimed to love to have sex. Buffy would never consider Riley's actions that night to be rape because she knew Riley and was in a relationship with him. She figured even though he tore her shirt and bra and forced himself on her that it still wasn't rape.
Buffy loved Riley but the last few weeks of the semester were very emotional. She needed a break from him and their relationship. She was glad to have a break from Riley.
"Riley, you know I would love to go with you and meet your family but I can't. My mother would freak out, especially with it being the holidays and all."
"Will you see your friends at home?" Riley asked as he zipped up his last suitcase.
A smile found its way to Buffy's mouth. "Yes. I am picking Willow up a few days before Christmas. I haven't seen her since August and I miss her so much. Xander and I are going Christmas shopping together in couple of days."
Ignoring what Buffy's happiness and what she had explained to him, Riley changed the subject completely. "I have something for you."
"But we exchanged gifts last night. You gave me that bracelet."
"Yeah, but I left the big one for now," he said as he sat with her on his bed. He pulled a little red velvet box out of his pants pocket. Buffy's jaw dropped to the ground.
"This isn't what you think it is, well, it is, sort of. Here, let me put this on your finger," Riley said with a grin on his face. He slipped the ruby and diamond ring onto Buffy's left ring finger. "It's a promise ring. I love you Buffy Giles and I want to spend my entire life with you. I think we are too young to get engaged officially but I wanted to show you some how. Think of this has a pre-engagement ring." Riley explained as he kissed Buffy's lips softly. "I love you."
Buffy returned his kiss. "I love you too."
Riley pulled himself away only seconds later. "I have to get going. I'll give you lift back to your dorm." He told her as he stood up and gathered his bags and walked out of his room.
Riley did drive Buffy back to her room as he promised. The couple shared one last kiss before Buffy got out of Riley's car and walked up the stairs to her dorm. She turned to wave good-bye to Riley but he was out of site.
Buffy climbed the stairs in her building and walked towards her room. She had hoped that she hadn't missed Anya and Tara. They were traveling to the airport together.
"Good, I didn't miss you," Buffy as the two girls sat in her room.
"We didn't' think we were going to see you before we left," Tara smiled as Buffy sat down on her bed.
"Yeah, we still haven't exchanged our gifts yet," Anya chimed in.
"Oh, that's right, let me get yours," Buffy said as she stood up and walked to her closed. She pulled out two holiday gift bags. She had bought Anya a cd she wanted as well as a small purse. Tara received a few candles and body lotion from the Body shop.
The two girls thanked Buffy as Anya reached for a medium size bag. "This is from both of us."
Buffy reached into the bag and unwrapped the tissue paper of the first item. She found a red leather journal within the tissue paper. On the inside cover was a note written by Tara. It read: Buffy, Happy holidays! We bought you this book so you would have a place to express yourself when you don't want to talk to anyone. We both care about you and love you. You have been such a wonderful friend to us. Buffy, you are going places in this world. You just have to find the courage and take your place in it. Have a wonderful rest during break, you deserve some you time. See you next year (I know, it was a bad joke!) Love you lots, Tara and Anya.
Just as Buffy was going to thank her friends, a little envelope fell out of the pages of the journal. Buffy opened it and found a fifty dollar gift card to a book store. Both Anya and Tara were hoping she would by books on women and abuse. They realized that Buffy didn't think of the card as anything more than a gift.
"Thank you guys so much! I love the journal, it's so beautiful," Buffy beamed as she hugged both Anya and Tara as a cab outside pulled up to the front of the building and beeped it's horn.
"That's our ride," Tara said.
"We'd better get going. We don't want to be late for our flights," Anya added as she began to pick up her bags.
"Do you need any help?" Buffy offered.
"I think we are all set but thank you," Tara smiled. "Have a great break Buffy."
"Thanks you too, both of you," Buffy said as she returned Tara's smile.
Tara and Anya both made their way down the stairs and then outside and into their cab. They waved to Buffy. Buffy continued to wave until the cab drove down the street and she could no longer see her friends.
"Will! Willow! Over here," Buffy shouted as she saw her red headed friend. Willow approached Buffy and hugged her. "You look so good Will!"
Willow thought that Buffy had looked so different than the last time she saw her. She looked old and tired and she looked like she had lost so much weight. Oz warned Willow about Buffy's appearance but she was still surprised. "It's great to see you too. You look so great too," she lied to her friend.
Buffy smiled. "We have so much to catch up on. You have to tell me about the east coast. How's Boston? Do you like it there?"
Willow and Buffy began to walk over to retrieve Willow's luggage as Willow began to answer Buffy's questions. "I like it a lot. When I left Boston they had over a foot of snow. It was so much to play in! It's such a pretty place and full of so much history. I got put into upper classmen housing. I live in the middle of the theater district. My apartment over looks Boston Common, it's a park in the middle of the city. It's so nice. My roommate is a freshman too and is really cool. Her name is grace. You have to come and see it."
"That sounds really great. I would love to see it." Buffy commented.
"Well, Oz is coming out there in March to visit, during your spring break. You have spring break on a different day than us. Anyways, you could always come out and visit with him."
As Willow reached over to retrieve her luggage, Buffy thought about Oz. He was pretty mad at that she didn't attend any of his major concerts. Riley didn't want Buffy to go so she obeyed him. Oz finally saw Buffy and blew up at her. He told her that he didn't want to speak to her again and he hadn't. It made Buffy sad to think about her oldest friend.
"Hmmmm, maybe, we'll have to wait and see. Hey Wills, I am parked on the third level," Buffy said as she changed the subject. She didn't want to think about Oz any more.
"You have the number of out hotel, right?" Joyce asked as she picked up her purse.
"Yes mom. You left it on my nightstand, on your nightstand, on the refrigerator door and in my wallet, remember?" Buffy answered.
"And in case of an emergency?" Joyce questioned her daughter.
"Call nine-one-one and then call you and then call Faith so she can handle things immediately," Buffy snapped back with an attitude. Joyce, Rupert and Dawn all had grown close to Faith and her family while Buffy was at college. Conner even addressed Joyce and Rupert as aunt and uncle. Buffy also knew that her parents had helped out Faith and Amy since Amy had recently lost her job. Money had been extremely tight Joyce and Rupert stepped in to help Faith and Amy figure out a budget. To be certain that Faith and her family had a good holiday season, the Giles' had also given Faith money. Dawn told Buffy this on Christmas night. It made Buffy happy that her family was helping Faith through a tough time but it also made her sad. She was sad because she hadn't come home often during the semester and she missed the bonding with Faith.
"All right young lady. I was just making sure you knew. There is no need to take that tone with me," Joyce told her eldest daughter.
"I know. I am sorry. I guess I'm just nervous about having everyone coming over tonight for New Year's Eve. This is going to be the first time we all have been together since graduation," Buffy explained to her mother."
"I understand," Joyce sympathized with her daughter before continuing. "We are only going to be a few hours away so don't hesitate calling if you need us."
Buffy smiled. "Don't worry. You and dad have fun tonight. You'll see you tomorrow night," Buffy said as she hugged her mother.