Ain't destiny's grand?: Chapter 28
by i_hate_mornings
Disclaimer: All belongs to Joss Whedon. Master of all things Buffy and Angel.

I am so, so, so ,so sorry for not updating sooner. I finished my 10000 words but then I was rostered on at work almost every night since then. It’s been a bitch I’m telling you. Hopefully I will be able to update a lot more regularly again. Here’s hoping.

Chapter 28

Buffy woke early and dragged herself down to the kitchen for a strong cup of coffee. Her head felt as though it were stuffed with cotton. She’d hadn’t been able to get to sleep for a long time after her and Willow had finally retired. The word “immortal” kept resounding through her head.

She’d never told anyone before, not even Merrick, but her worst fear was becoming a vampire. Being immortal was part of that. One of the worst things she could imagine was living forever while those she loved died. How could she stand to watch that?

Sighing, she made a pot of coffee, knowing Willow would want some when she came down later then sat down heavily at the kitchen table. Her mind returned to the wish fulfilling creature. Intellectually she knew she could wish for anything she wanted, it didn’t have to be immortality, the book just said that was the most common wish granted.

Her head dropped to the table, her coffee forgotten. Why did everything have to be so damn hard? She closed her eyes, relishing the feel of the cold wood beneath her hot skin. Something in the still air told her today was not going to be a good day.

Buffy’s hand flew up as she felt an itch at the back of her neck. As her hand came up, she knocked the mug of cooling coffee off the table and onto the floor, shattering the ceramic cup. Damn, that was Giles’ favourite.

Sighing in frustration she bent down to pick up the shards, wincing as she cut her palm. Lifting her hand back up, she cupped her palm and turned on the tap at the sink to wash away the welling blood. She shook her head at herself. Lucky that wasn’t a vampire at her throat. Her carelessness would get her killed.

Willow dragged herself in as Buffy was bandaiding her hand. ‘What happened,’ she asked, waking up instantly.

Buffy grimaced. ‘Tried to pick up a broken mug,’ she shrugged sheepishly.

Willow grimaced at the floor. ‘That was Giles’ favourite,‘ she said sadly making Buffy laugh.

Willow helped her bandage up the wound, even though it would be healed by late afternoon. Buffy sat at the counter while Willow fixed herself cup of coffee. The Slayer returned to staring at the table. Her thoughts were bringing her down.

‘Let’s do something,’ she said suddenly.

‘Like what?’ Willow asked interestedly. ‘Ooh,’ she perked up. ‘Tonight, we could go into the bronze and order hot water and take our own teabags.’

Buffy burst out laughing. Leave it to Willow. ‘Whoa, Willow,’ she grinned. ‘Stop the crazy whirl-gig of fun.’

Willow blushed. ‘We could call Xander and spend the day out,’ she suggested.

Buffy thought about it. ‘Ooh,’ she brightened. ‘Picnic in the park.’ It was the perfect idea. Outdoorsy, food, friends, Xander would love it too.

‘Then it’s settled. We’re going on a picnic,’ Willow clapped her hands happily.

Buffy smiled at her friend. Sometimes she wondered what she’d done to deserve friends like her and Xander. A picnic was just what she needed.

Willow opened the fridge and grimaced back at Buffy. ‘We’re gonna need to go get some stuff,’ she closed the door with a sigh. ‘When was the last time you shopped?’

Buffy shrugged unconcernedly. ‘I don’t do that stuff, Giles does,’ she waved it off. ‘I just eat.’

Willow nodded and picked up her coffee. She sipped it as she leant against the counter. Buffy continued to stare at the linoleum. Without looking up, she asked dully, ‘Decaf?’

Willow didn’t answer her so she glanced up at her, not missing the guilty expression. ‘It’s my first one this week,’ she countered defensively.

Buffy smiled. ‘Just don’t complain to me when you’re all jittery later,’ she warned with mock glare at the redhead.

Willow just grinned. ‘I can’t remember the last time I went on a picnic,’ she said idly. Both girls fell into silence.

‘We’re going on a picnic,’ Willow’s excited voice broke through the quietness. ‘It seems so… normal.’

Buffy clapped her hands together happily. ‘We’re going on a picnic, we’re going on a picnic, we’re going on a picnic,’ she chanted, a big smile on her face.

Willow’s eyebrows rose into her hair. ‘Yeah,’ she paused, a smirk on her face. ‘And when did we revert back to being twelve?’

‘Hey,’ Buffy cried in mock outrage. She picked up a tea towel and threw it at the grinning redhead. ‘I never left so I can’t revert back.’

Willow continued to smile. They both turned their heads as someone knocked softly at the door. With her Slayer senses, Buffy instantly knew it was Oz on the other side of the kitchen door. ‘Can you get that?’ she asked Willow sweetly.

The redhead mock saluted at her before turning to answer the door. Oz stood on the other side, expressionless as usual. ‘Hey,’ he greeted them, his eyes only on Willow.

Buffy smiled sneakily. ‘Hey Oz,’ she said brightly. ‘What cha up to?’

‘Not much,’ he replied, still staring at Willow. The redhead had flushed a bright red much to Buffy’s amusement.

‘Cool,’ Buffy nodded. ‘Wanna come on a picnic with us?’

Oz nodded slowly. ‘Sure.’

‘Great,’ Buffy grinned. ‘I’ll go call Xander.’

Willow began to make a sound of protest but Buffy was already disappearing thought the kitchen door. She could have called on the phone in there but Buffy figured they could use some privacy. She knew Oz was even more infatuated with the sweet girl and Buffy so badly wanted him to make a move. She’d said it before but they’d make such a cute couple.

She picked up the phone in the living room, noting the space on the couch where Giles had been asleep hours before. If she hadn’t seen him, she never would have known he’d been there. She dialled Xander’s number and paused when an unfamiliar voice answered. ‘Hi… is, uh, Xander there?’ she asked hesitantly.

‘Yeah,’ the person answered abruptly.

A loud thump sounded down the line as the person on the other end dropped the receiver. Buffy grimaced at the attack on her sensitive ears but continued to listen quietly. ‘Xander, phone,’ she could hear someone yelling in the background.

A moment later there was a scuffling sound before she heard Xander’s breathless voice. ‘Yes, dear please God let you be Buffy or Willow,’ Xander prayed into the phone.

‘No need to ask God, Xander,’ Buffy grinned. ’He doesn’t deliver in thirty minutes or less.’

‘Hardy, har, har,’ Xander said sarcastically. ‘What’s up?’

‘We’re going on a picnic,’ she said perkily. ‘Wanna come with?’

‘I’m there,’ he said instantly as she’d expected him to. ‘Do I gotta bring anything, Buff?’

‘Just your bright and sunny self, Xand,’ Buffy assured him. ‘Meet us at my place in fifteen.’

‘I’ll be there,’ he affirmed before hanging up the phone.

As Xander hung up, Buffy heard more yelling and an almighty crash in the background. She frowned at the receiver in her hand. Xander had never told her things we’re like that at home. Maybe she’d caught them on a bad day. Then again, maybe not. His home life suddenly seemed worse than he’d led her to believe. Why would he lie to her about that? Same reason you don’t tell any of them your little secrets, a soft voice whispered through her head.

Buffy shook her head and put down the phone. Her head was right. Xander had every right to keep his home life a secret because she kept much bigger secrets of her own. Even Giles knew pretty much nothing about her life before she’d become the Slayer.

All she’d ever told them was how her mother had died, that time her friend’s home got attacked and she’d related the story of Pike and Merrick... Briefly. And her death… couldn’t forget that…she’d practically been forced to reveal that particular tale. There were so many things she hadn’t told them, so many things she would never tell them. There many things she would never even tell Angel. They were just too painful.

She didn’t want to remember seeing her cousin die in hospital while she stood by helplessly. She didn’t want to remember finding the corpse of a friend lying on the hood of her mothers car, body drained of blood, or the subsequent rising of said body. She didn‘t want to have to share the time that she staked her neighbours four year old after he tried to take a bite out of her leg.

Things like that would take some of the shininess from Willow’s world and Buffy refused to be responsible for doing that. It would happen soon enough. It was inevitable that one day Willow would wake up and find out someone she loves has been killed viciously and it will destroy her like almost nothing else could. Buffy knew, she’d been there…

She shook her head angrily. Today was supposed to be a happy day. Her and her friends were going on a picnic, they’d have a great time and then go home. That was the plan. The sense of foreboding overwhelmed her and she knew it wasn’t going to be that simple.

********************************

‘Pass the cheese please, ha,’ Willow giggled. ‘Cheese please… I‘m all rhymy.’

‘Uh huh,’ Xander looked at her askance. ‘Step off the crazy train, Will. We need you here.’

Willow threw a buttered roll at him and laughed as it hit him in the middle of the forehead. Buffy began to giggle and then laughed outright as Xander pounced on Willow and she squealed. Oz’s face, to Buffy endless amusement, was still blank. Does he ever pull an expression?

When they were back in their respective spots, Buffy looked around the sunlit park. ’This is nice.’

They were sitting in Weatherly park- not the brightest of ideas, she knew- under a large oak tree with the picnic spread out around them. The sun seemed to make the park shine, made it feel safe and warm but Buffy knew the otherwise. She found more vampires in this park than she did at the cemeteries. Police were always finding bodies at Weatherly park.

‘Hey Buff, still at the party?’ Xander’s teasing voice brought her back to the present.

‘Huh?’ she frowned in confusion. What party?

‘You still with us?’ he clarified for the confused girl.

She continued to stare at him blankly. She should have been paying more attention. ‘Where else would I be?’

Xander sighed and Buffy grinned. ‘Just kidding, Xand. Sorry. Sort of spaced for a bit, I guess.’

‘Everything okay?’ Willow asked, concern darkening her features.

‘I’m fine,’ Buffy smiled in reassurance. ‘Just…I mean we’re sitting… here, in the day light.’

‘Yeah, I admit, it’s a little wiggy but, hey,’ Xander said with his usual bravado. ‘We’re here, the fangful things that haunt out darkest nightmares aren’t… I say enjoy. While you can.’

‘Man’s got a point,’ Oz said with a small nod.

‘Yeah, yeah,’ she waved them both off. ‘It’s all good.’

‘Uh, Buffy?’ Xander said slowly.

‘Yeah?’

‘What’s THAT?’ Xander pointed to somewhere behind the Slayer.

She turned to see a huge black demon running towards them. She sprang to her feet, instantly ready to fight. The demon didn’t stop running, it just kept running fast towards them. Every muscle in the Slayer tensed, ready for the fight. She could feel her heart beating crazily in her chest and she smiled slowly. There were times when she loved to be the Slayer.

As the demon approached the group, Buffy pulled back her arm and began to swing it, aiming hard for the demons face. Her fist never connected. She stood confused for a moment, before she realised the demon was no longer running towards her, it had run past her and was still going. She stared after the shrinking figure, a frown on her face.

‘Ookaay,’ Xander said slowly. ‘What the bleeding bimble just happened?’

Buffy could do nothing but shrug. Had it been running from something? She turned and stared in the direction it had come from. There was nothing there.

‘Buffy…’ she heard Willow whisper urgently.

The Slayer swung round to see Oz standing protectively in front of the redhead. A much bigger demon stood before them. It reached into the shiny cloak it was wearing- so, so, SO tacky- and Buffy threw herself in front of her friends, ready to defend them to the death. If this was another team of Slayerfest, it would regret coming after her.

The demon dropped something at their feet then promptly disappeared into thin air. Buffy’s gaze immediately dropped to the object on the ground. It was a ring. She bent down to pick it up.

‘Is it just me or are the demon’s getting weirder and weirder?’ Xander said in disgust.

‘No it’s, uh, not you,’ Oz said as his arm slipped around a recovering Willow.

‘What is it, Buffy?’ Xander asked with curiosity.

She didn’t answer. She turned the ring over in her hand. The green stone shone brightly under the suns rays. The stone was set off beautifully by the simple silver band. She frowned as she examined it.

She turned around, her palm closing tightly around the ring. ‘I need to see Giles,’ she said determinedly.

Willow immediately began to pack up the picnic. Buffy sighed. She had know today would be a bad day. When would she learn to listen to her instincts?






Who can guess what the ring is??? Reviews please. I need them since I’ve been out of the game for a while. Again, I apologise for that. It was forces out of my control.
Oh and Angel’s back soon. Hopefully in the next chap.


This story archived at: The Slayer\'s Fanfic Archive
The Slayer\\\\\\\\'s FanFic Archive - http://www.slayerfanfic.com/viewstory.php?sid=13659