Creative Works   

Once Again
By Amy Mina
amymina(at)yahoo.com

Summary: Buffy fights to break out of a coma and return to her friends.
Disclaimer: Characters such as Buffy, Angel, Xander and others belong to Joss Whedon and the WB. The few characters that I have made up such as Marissa and Jeff belong to me.
Dedication: As I do with every story, I am dedicating this. This story goes out to my best friends, Angela and Alicia. You guys have stood with me where some friends would never go. You're the best friends a person could ever ask for.
Author's Notes: *The story takes place in the year 2004.

. . .

Xander took in a deep breath before entering the room. He pushed open the white door and quickly scanned what was inside. As many times as he had come here, it had never managed to shock him at how bare this room was kept. His eyes settled on the bed in the corner of the room. There she was, as still as always. He slowly walked over and took her hand. She didn't change her reaction, he hadn't really expected her to. He looked at her lying on the bed, her blonde hair, long and shiny. The nurses had been taken good care of her. He took another breath and started his practiced speech.

"Buffy? Buffy, I know you probably aren't listening to me. Heck, you probably don't even know or care that I am here. I just came to give you some news. Cordelia and I are getting married. Yep, it's been a long hard road, but I love her very much. She wanted you to be her maid of honor, but obviously, you're in no state to do that right now. See you again soon."

Xander got up to leave and dropped her hand. He began to leave when his conscience stopped him. He turned around and quickly walked back to Buffy's beside and picked up her hand again.

"Buffy, I know you're in there some where. You haven't spoken a word since the day Marissa was born. Ya, yours and Angel's daughter. She's growing up into a beautiful girl. She has the coloring of Angel and your face. She's got your attitude. I haven't seen her in a bad mood yet."

With still no response from Buffy he continued. "I remember the day she was born. All of us had thought that you were doing just fine, Angelus wasn't having any effect on you. As soon as Marissa was born, well, they only word you have spoken since then was her name. That was it. Giles still curses those watchers for not sending you any help. They knew that with your attachments to Angel, you wouldn't be able to kill him. At least they are trying to make up for it now. They are making sure that Marissa has a good home."

"Your mom and Giles have been married for-well, let's see-four years now. They are expecting their first child, actually, children." He let out a laugh. "She's having twins. Giles' is so proud. He always wanted children to instruct in the ways of life. Once the scooby-gang broke up, he had no one else to lecture. Now he's going to have two."

"Willow is engaged to a young man from Virginia. His name is Jeff. He's a nice guy. A total change from Willow. Not really outgoing, but he is a Baptist. Her Jewish background forbids them from getting married, but they are going to anyway. He has a good job with the army. She'll be well cared for. We were so afraid that after Oz died, she wouldn't bounce back, but she did."

Xander looked down at the ground for a minute, debating whether to tell Buffy the news or not. He could feel his hand shaking. Looking at her, he still saw no difference in her expression. The best move was to tell her everything that had been going on. He knew that after this visit, he wasn't going to be able to come back again. It was getting to hard to desire a change in her, and then being disappointed every time.

"Buffy," he started, trying to keep his voice from cracking, "he's gone. The person I promised to never mention again is gone. Angelus was defeated, and we are now free again. You especially. We all know you feel guilty about what happened to Jenny and Oz, but that wasn't your fault. Gosh, I couldn't have killed Cordelia if she was turned into a vampire. Come back, Buffy. Please, just return to us. You have a little girl, waiting to meet her mother in England. Every time I hear from her, it's "Uncle Xander, is my mommy okay yet?" She needs you Buffy, just as much as you need her." He dropped her hand and stood up. "We have done everything for you possible. It's time for you to stop all of this brooding and come back. Please, Buffy. We miss you, so very , very much. Especially Angel. A minute ago I said Angelus had been destroyed. Well, he has. Angel is human again. He is a living breathing human, and he has become my best friend. He still loves you Buffy, and he wants to help in anyway he can. He wants to help you raise your daughter. Please, if for no other reason, fight for the sake of the family that wants you."

Xander turned around and left the room. Slowly closing the door, he made his way back down the hallway, towards the exit. Not once did he look back, but his tears had blinded him by the time he got to his car.

Inside the hospital, the message Xander had just preached was getting through to a young woman, now fighting to return.

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