A Note From the Author: Well, this is the last chapter. I hope it's a good finish to a mediocre story…or something to that effect. Anyhow, I am confident that the ending will be a bit of a surprise to quite a few people, even I wasn't expecting it until I thought of it yesterday! So, um, yeah.

Disclaimer: I own a very large nothing

POV: Giles

3 months later

Living with Buffy was very different to what I expected. I had moved in with her almost immediately after she was released from hospital. Now, as we sat at the breakfast table, I smiled across at her.

"Would you like some juice Buffy?" I asked, but she just stared at me. I hated when she did that…but at the same time, I loved her even more.

Without hearing a response from her, I poured her a glass.

"You know Buffy, I was reading the newspaper last night and there was an article about how cheap flights to Fiji are at the moment. You always wanted to go there, right?" I didn't expect an answer, but I figured, maybe if I talked to her more, she would stop just staring at me and actually say something, "I love you Buffy. So much more than you will ever know."

A smile seemed to briefly flicker across her face, but it soon disappeared to be replaced with that horrible vacant look that I hated so much. I hated it because it reminded me that it was my fault that she was like this. She hadn't spoken one word since she had woken up 3 months ago. I really didn't expect any brain damage to have set in; I guess it just seemed so unlikely.

"Buffy, I have something for you. I was going to give it to you eventually…I guess," I said as I stood up to retrieve the little box.

Her lifeless eyes didn't follow me, but if someone asked me later, I would tell them that her eyes lit up with a smile. I liked to believe that she responded to me sometimes; I did dote on her a lot. I suppose part of that was the guilt I feel for being responsible for this, but part of it was because I loved her and I always would. Taking care of her then was the only thing in my life now, but it was certainly not as bad as it sounded. I mean, sure, it could be hard sometimes, but I dealt with it, I got through; for her. Everything I did, I did it for her. It will definitely stay that way forever.

As I walked back into the room with the small box in my hands, her eyes lifted and met mine. I smiled. She didn't. I sat down and pushed the box over to her.

"I hope you like it," I said softly, tears springing up in my eyes.

She looked at it somewhat curiously, but didn't touch it.

"Here, let me help you," I said, trying to blink back the tears.

I opened the box and revealed to her a gold ring with three diamonds set into it.

"I was going to ask you to marry me with this," I whispered, unable to contain the tears, they quickly raced down my cheeks, "I knew that as soon as I realised I loved you…I would marry you one day. This ring…was my grandmother's. Maybe you think that that's ridiculous because we never even went on a single date, but…I just knew we'd end up together. Call me old fashioned, but I guess it was love at first sight. Well…for me at least, I hope you feel the same way."

I slipped the ring onto her middle finger, so that she would have it with her always. She looked down at it and I sat back anxiously. Then I almost died from joy; she smiled. Not a full Buffy-smile, but a timid smile that just barely reached her eyes. It wasn't the same as having her back, but it was good enough; it seemed like she would recover.

"Buffy, I swear to you, I will find a way to reverse this. Willow is searching for ways to help every single day. We will not give up on you, I promise," I said and kissed her hand.

I looked up at her again and locked my eyes onto hers. She smiled again and opened her mouth. I leaned forwards, encouraging her to say something, anything.

"Buf…Bu…fee?" she murmured.

"Yes, yes that's you!" I smiled, almost laughed, and pointed at her, "You, you're Buffy."

She sluggishly pointed to herself.

"Yes! Yes Buffy!" I laughed, pulling her into another hug.

There was hope for her yet.

A Note From the Author: And so the story comes to a close. I know that ending was kinda crappy, cos it was a bit unrealistic, I guess, but I couldn't just write 'And she never spoke again and she never ever recovered' it was too sad. So now, you can just decide whether she stays like that or whether she gets better and lives happily ever after with Giles!

Let me know how you found the story. Shite? So-so? Good? I won't go higher than that, cos I can't see it being anything more. But thanks for reading, hope to see you at another story =D

Oval and Out

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