Chapter 26: Coming to Terms

*****A Few Weeks Later*****

Valentine Day's was approaching, and Veronica practically living at Logan's hotel since she'd been released from the hospital the week before. She'd spent two full weeks in the hospital. After a week in the ICU, they'd kept her in another week before releasing her. She did outpatient rehab. Unfortunately, she dropped two of her classes because she just couldn't keep up with her workload. Luckily, the school would not drop her scholarship automatically. She would just be on probation for a semester. They would allow her to take the classes in the summer, but she would have to pay the tuition cost herself.

The scandal of Celeste Kane trying to run her over just wouldn't die down, and she could hardly leave her hotel room without the press snapping her photo or trying to get her to comment. After a long day of rehab, she snapped: "What do you want me to say? The woman hates me. I helped her son leave the country. I proved the man they paid to confess to her daughter's murder was a liar, and my mother had an affair with her husband. Her greatest fear was that I would marry her son, and I guess him coming to town and saying hello to me was just too much for her frail sanity to handle. In her warped, entitled brain, I deserved to die. I'm just sorry that her son and granddaughter have to suffer for actions."

Then she turned and walked to her car. Logan was not with her. If he had been, she probably would not have said a word. She knew her comments would not stop the questions. She was just so sick of them. They wouldn't stop. If she could sleep, she could think more clearly, but when she did sleep, she had nightmares of monsters and vampires. Her life was difficult enough. Now, thanks to Buffy Summers, she dreamt of actual monsters, not just the metaphorical ones like Celeste Kane.

Sighing, she started her car and drove to campus. She was so over pretending she was indifferent. Of course, now there was so much to be worked up about. She pulled into JAVA Hut where she was meeting Mac. Due to her broken arm, she couldn't go back to work. The only good thing about getting run over by someone as wealthy as Celeste Kane was that Duncan's dad was very quick to not only pay her bills, but he cut her dad a check for $100,000 for her pain and suffering, so she didn't have to worry about going back to work this school year.

Normally, Veronica would refuse the money on principle, but her dad pointed out that Cliff had already been working on a draft for their lawsuit. This was just easier all the way around, and she did deserve it. Jake was properly horrified and disgusted. Although he didn't particularly like Veronica, he would never want the best friend of his late daughter to suffer in such a manner, especially after what all Logan's dad had put her through. He and Duncan had showed up at the hospital a few days after she had awoken from her coma to apologize for Celeste's action. Duncan had actually cried. Of course, Logan and Keith were both there.

Now it was time to tell Mac about Buffy's supernatural secret, especially since she had started dating Oz the freakin' werewolf.

Although Veronica was glad that it was her left arm in a sling instead of her right, it was still very inconvenient. Still, she managed to grab her purse and get out of her car.

Mac was glad to see Veronica outside of the hospital and wondered what it was that Veronica needed to speak to her about.

As requested, Mac had the table in the back corner. It was Sunday afternoon, so there weren't too many people. Veronica picked a time when there wasn't much traffic. Mac's interest was piqued. What did she have to tell her?

Fifteen minutes later, Mac almost wished that she had stayed home. Veronica was very serious, however, after she shared what had led up to her fleeing her dad's place of business with Logan. Nothing could have prepared Mac for what Veronica revealed about Buffy, her life, and the new threat her sister Dawn was facing. Of course, hearing that Oz was a werewolf was insane, and Mac finally couldn't hear anymore and held up a hand.

"Okay, that's enough," she said. "Stop."

"I'm sorry. I just thought you should know," Veronica said.

"You're an intelligent and rational person," Mac said. "Why do you believe this bullshit? Clearly, Buffy is disturbed."

"You don't understand, Mac. Logan and Dick both as well as Weevil have been in Sunnydale with them on this so-called hellmouth. They have seen and participated in the killing of vampires and demons. Dick multiple times since he's infatuated with Faith," Veronica said. "Logan said he saw the hellgod Glory slap around Faith and Buffy like they were nothing. The other slayer, Kennedy, was thrown through a window. The building fell on Glory. She didn't die. For some reason, she needs a key to go home, but opening the key will collapse all realities, destroying this world and all others. Somehow, the essence of this key was placed in Dawn for Buffy to protect."

"So they believe that there are other worlds?" Mac asked, unable to resist.

"I don't know. I didn't ask," Veronica said sourly. "I was too busy freaking out that they were talking about the end of the freaking world like it was no big deal. When I questioned them about their casualness, they admitted that this was not their first time to face an apocalypse. Giles said it's been a few times now."

"What's the plural for apocalypse?" Mac asked.

"Honestly, I don't fucking care," Veronica said bluntly. "I just can't believe they've dragged my father into their insanely dangerous world. Not just him, but my boyfriend, his best friend, and my Weevil!"

Mac tried to suppress a smile but couldn't. "Your Weevil?" she asked.

"He was my friend first," Veronica said stubbornly.

"You are such an only child," Mac remarked. "One that's never learned to share."

Veronica glared at her. "Maybe so. But our worlds are so entwined now, and you like Oz, who is a werewolf. Did you hear that part of my story?" she asked. She whispered the word werewolf and looked around, making sure no one was near them. No one was.

Mac still wasn't sure what to believe, but she knew her relationship with Oz was not important right now. "You can't focus on me and Oz. This is about Buffy and her sister. Your dad is in love with her mom. She is about to become your stepsister. Is Keith going to walk away?" Mac asked.

Veronica sighed. "We've not really talked about it since I've been out of the hospital," she admitted. "I've avoided it because I didn't want to fight. I know they've not broken up. Joyce has been to see me with Dawn, who they know I like. The girl is smart as a button and loves mysteries. She adores Dad. How can I not like her? I feel bad for the girl, but I can't be involved in this. It's crazy."

Mac was silent as she thought about how to say what she wanted to say. Finally, she said, "Veronica, you have never ran from a fight in your life. You won't now. You know your dad won't, and you won't let him fight alone. You also know that Logan already loves Willow like a sister, and he won't want to let her and sweet Tara fight some monster alone. Not to mention that you would never live it down if Dick was more heroic than you."

Veronica thought about what Mac said and finally gave her a disgruntled look of resignation. "You may be right, but I am really scared and so out of my depth with all of this," she admitted.

"Well, I guess we all are," Mac pointed out. "I've been crushing on a guy that you tell me turns into a werewolf on the full moon."

"So they claim," Veronica said, her doubt evident.

"I suppose that I will have to let him know his secret is out," Mac said. "He seems very private. I'm afraid that he's going to hate it."

Veronica nodded. "Probably. But it won't be your fault," she said. "And if he knows Buffy the way that I think he does, I can't say he'll be terribly surprised or upset."

"You're probably right," Mac agreed. "So what about Wallace? Are you going to tell him about all this?"

"I can't very well not," she said. "He's too important to me, and it wouldn't be right to not tell him when everyone else knows."

"He won't thank you," Mac told him.

She knew he was right. "I think uncomfortable conversations are just in our future because eventually I will have to stop avoiding being alone with Dad," Veronica admitted.

When she left Mac's, she went to Wallace's dorm. His roommate was out, so she asked him, "Wallace if I had something to tell you that would terrify you and destroy your worldview and possibly give you nightmares, would you want to know?"

Wallace gave her a considering look. "Is this something you know, and you want to unburden yourself because I'm your best friend?" he asked.

She nodded. "Basically," she said. "Also, everyone knows but you, and I feel guilty that you don't. However, I really think that you won't thank me. I was really mad at Buffy for telling me her secret because she's ruined my life with the knowledge, and I will be ruining yours."

"Seriously?" Wallace asked, surprised by what she was saying and how serious she looked.

"I mean it," she said. "The day Celeste ran me over it was because I basically fled Dad's work after Buffy, her mom, and her friends, including Logan and Dick, admitted the truth about her life. It was so horrible and terrifying that I couldn't deal with it and took off, telling my dad that he should dump Joyce and get far, far away."

Wallace was shocked. "Okay, now I'm both terrified and dying of curiosity, so you have to tell me," he said.

"In a nutshell, Buffy is a mystically empowered superhero called a vampire slayer, whose hometown of Sunnydale is on a hellmouth, which is a doorway to a hell dimension. Ever since she was fifteen, she and her friends have been working to keep it closed because vampires and demons, which are real, by the way, seek to open it and destroy the world. Willow and Tara are witches; magic is real. They, along with Rupert Giles, who is her Watcher, her teacher and trainer, have stopped multiple apocalypses since she has been called," Veronica shared. "She died her sophomore year by a master vampire, who drained her and threw her in a pool of water where she drowned. Xander saved her life and got her medical care. That's how the slayer line split the first time, and Faith was called as a second vampire slayer after Kendra the one right after her died. When Faith died for a moment—their average lifespan is a year—Kennedy was called. Kennedy is currently in Sunnydale guarding the hellmouth while Faith lives in Ohio guarding another hellmouth because one hellmouth in America isn't enough. The one in California, naturally, is more powerful, so she is here until the current threat is dealt with. The current threat is this hellgod named Glory, who, so far seems invulnerable. Nothing the three superpowered slayers do to her can hurt her. They've even dropped an entire building on her. Glory wants one thing: this key to go back to her dimension. This would be no big deal except that the key would open all doors to all dimensions, destroying our world. Oh, and the Key has somehow been placed in Dawn, Buffy's sister, and she doesn't know this, so the insanely strong hellgod wants to sacrifice Buffy's sister. She has told Buffy that she needs this Key by May, which will probably be when the final battle or showdown will take place."

Wallace's mouth fell open about halfway through her monologue, and if it wasn't for the growing note of hysteria in her voice, he might've thought she was pulling his leg.

"Damn, Veronica! That's a hell of a lot of sharing," he said, giving her a weak smile.

Then he pulled her in for a hug.

"So do you hate me for dumping all that on you?" she asked, looking at him.

"Everyone knows this? Logan, Dick? Weevil?" he asked.

She nodded. "I just finished telling Mac," Veronica said. "I was so upset when Dad told me that I rushed out of his work, and that's when Celeste ran me over."

"Oh, so that's the underlining guilt I've sensed with Buffy and her friends," he said. "It's been weird not knowing exactly what's been going on. So I'm glad you told me even if you were right about the giving me nightmares part."

"Talk to Logan or Dick if you want more information," she said. "Or Xander. Everyone seems to love him."

"He is pretty fly," Wallace said. "Is there anything else?"

"Just the part where Oz, Mac's new crush is a werewolf," Veronica shared.

Wallace groaned. "I had to ask," he muttered. He threw his arm around Veronica. "Crazy white chicks are going to be the death of me."

*****The Next Day*****

Veronica knew that she needed to finally speak to her father, so she went to his work after her last class.

"Hi, sweetheart," he said, smiling when she came into his office. "How are doing?"

"Okay. I'll be better in a few weeks when I can get this cast off," she said. She sat down across from him.

"I can imagine," he said.

"How's Joyce?" she asked.

"Very well," he said. "Thanks for asking."

"Look, I'm sorry for telling you to dump her. I know that was wrong of me," Veronica said. "I was just scared."

"I know," he said. "It was a natural reaction to something horrific."

"It's just a lot to take," she said.

Keith nodded. "I know it is," he said. "And I hate that you have to be dragged into this darkness, but all your friends are friends with Buffy. Weevil's in love with her. Logan adores Willow. Dawn has told me that Parker is still crushing on Xander, and Mac on Oz. It is not like you can walk away. And you know that I could never leave the woman I love unprotected."

Veronica nodded. "I know, Dad. You wouldn't be the man I adore if you could," she admitted. "A part of me hates Buffy, though, for coming into my world and bringing her craziness."

"But think about what she's brought," Keith pointed out. "Logan and Weevil get along. Dick's stopped being such a dick. Logan has started making responsible choices that led to you and him reconciling. It might've happened without her, but I know her impact is directly responsible for all three of those men being much happier and more settled than they've ever been."

"That's probably true," Veronica acknowledged. "Of course, that just annoys me more."

Keith got up from behind his desk to hug her. "You wouldn't be my daughter if it didn't," he said.

Veronica felt a lot better now that they had cleared the air.

Of course, now she will have to stop avoiding Buffy and all her friends.

*****Chapter End*****

This is long overdue, so I am ending it here. Reviews are always appreciated. More to come! Buffy and all the characters in the next Valentine's chapter.