The Past Never Forgotten: Chapter 4
by AngelGirl
Willow’s shoes clumped down the concrete stairs to Angel’s apartment. She was glad to be out of the rain. She shook her head trying to get the rain out of it and brushed off her coat.

“It’s been years since I’ve been down here, five bucks says that the apartment looks exactly the same. Buffy’s too lazy to even try to decorate that place,” Willow whispered to herself

She knocked on the door and waited for a minute, tapping her foot on the floor. The door opened hesitantly and a blond head appeared from the other side.

“Buffy,” screeched Willow.

“Will! Ohmigod, you look so different! Come on in! Angel, go put on some tea,” called Buffy to the handsome vamp somewhere in the depths of the apartment.

Willow entered the flat, and noted that it was exactly the same as the last time. Pictures were out of the question because of the whole mirrors-in-the-camera-no-reflection-thing that Angel had. So the apartment was adorned with various works of art, a television, extensive book collection, and a large bed. It was a little dark, but that was only to be expected.

“Give me a hug, Will.”

Willow hugged Buffy, aware beneath all of the hiding that Buffy was upset about something, and she had a damn good idea what it was.

“Hey Angel,” Willow cried out, “forget about the tea, Buffy and I are going to go out for a walk.”

“But it’s raining,” the voice from the back responded.

“I think that he’s mistaken me for someone who cares. Let’s go.”

With that Willow grabbed Buffy’s arm and pulled her out of the apartment and dragged her up into the waiting limo.

“Hi, Oz,” Buffy offered.

“How are you,” he asked her.

“A little miffed by your wife to tell you the truth.”

“Aren’t we all,” he said a grin on his face.

The limo pulled up to the very popular cemetery. Willow got out, oblivious to the fact that Buffy could easily kill her, or else just trying to overlook it. Buffy made no attempt to fight back, and became catatonic as Willow had to almost physically carry her to the gravesite.

“Buffy, it is time for you to deal with Giles’s death. It’s been ten goddamn years.”

“It’s my fault, it’s my fault,” Buffy repeated over and over again.

Willow turned around, then wheeled back smacking Buffy in the face.

“If this is the only way that I can get to you, then so be it. Buffy we were like sisters, we shared everything. I loved our friendship more than life itself. God knows that I was upset about Giles. But I moved on. I got married, I’m pregnant,” spewed out like an erupting volcano.

Buffy looked at Willow eyes wide with shock at the last statement, she was happy, but also a little sad that she would never have anything like that with the man she loved, but she quickly dispersed that thought and listened as Willow continued.

“You have friends and a man that loves you and will love you forever and ever, you can’t beat yourself up every year about what happened. Giles would hate what you do to yourself, about something that wasn’t your fault.” She grabbed Buffy by the shoulders and shook her.

“I’m going to leave you, but I’ll see you tomorrow, at the Bronze, for your ten year high school reunion.” With that Willow stalked off leaving Buffy alone with Giles in the rain.

Buffy swayed back and forth for a moment with her eyes closed, a long forgotten melody playing through her head, her face was upturned the rain dripping down her face. She collapsed in a heap on the ground, sobbing. Buffy raised her head so that she was eye level with Giles’ name. She rested her forehead on the headstone and spoke to Giles for the first time.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry that you’re not here to help me. Giles, I loved you. You were like my father. You practically were my father. I didn’t tell you enough when you were alive, but thank you Giles. Thank you so much.”

She closed her eyes and laid across Giles grave, tearing at the grass, which stuck to her body. She felt a calm sweep over her and she lost consciousness.

Angel walked out from behind the tree, fingering his Claddagh ring. He picked up Buffy and smoothed her hair down away from her face. He carried her back to their apartment where she had lived ever since her mother had remarried. He took off her wet clothes and dressed her in her favorite flannel pajamas, then he put her under the covers of their bed. He stroked her face and climbed into bed next to her, turned off the light and went to sleep, his arms were around her, trying to keep her shivering under control.

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