Stripped: A Long Talk - Brussels
by Willes
“What were you thinking going out at that hour?” Buffy had been lecturing for a good twenty minutes not letting Dawn get a word in edgewise. “Dawn, you know the dangers. You know what’s out there.”

“Buffy, I…”

“No, Dawn. No excuses. We left that life behind us. You know that. We made the choice to stop. I told you I don’t want you near those sorts of books. I want you to have a normal life while you still can. How can we start again if you won’t let it go?”

“Let it go,” Dawn said, hurt. “Buffy, your life isn’t something you just let go!”

“That isn’t our life anymore.”

“No, Buffy, that isn’t YOUR life anymore. You never gave me the choice. Maybe I liked my life; maybe I wanted to help. I’m tired of running!” Dawn was getting angrier and angrier as she spoke.

“Dawn, listen…”

“No, for once you listen. I liked my life, no matter how strange it was. I liked knowing I was part of something bigger then myself and if you think that traipsing across the world is normal, you are way off. At least in Cleveland we had a real home!”

Buffy’s eyes began to brim with unshed tears. Her voice became stern. “Dawn, I know it was hard for you leaving. Especially while Willow was so sick, but…”

“Why wasn’t it hard for you, leaving?” Dawn asked quietly. “We should’ve stayed. We should’ve helped, found a way.”

“It’d been a year; there was no way to help. You can’t win all battles,” Buffy answered, putting her hand on her sister’s head and running it down her thick, brown hair.

“Why can’t we help. We could still go back,” Dawn said hopefully.

“No, Dawnie. We can’t,” Buffy said sadly.

“Maybe you can’t, but someday I will!” With that, Dawn stood and went to her bedroom, closing the door behind her.

Buffy sat on the couch, alone. Putting her head in her hands, she began to cry.


This story archived at: The Slayer\'s Fanfic Archive
The Slayer\\\\\\\\'s FanFic Archive - http://www.slayerfanfic.com/viewstory.php?sid=11301