Face the Music: Part 5
by Ambrosia
Disclaimer: All the characters, Buffy, Angel, Xander etc. all belong to Joss Whedon, the WB, Mutant Enemy, and anyone else who owns Buffy the Vampire Slayer.



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Part Five

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Buffy walked through the graveyard, she was patrolling that night. She hadn't seen anything. She had seen one vamp, obviously a newcomer, he was a pile of dust in a matter of seconds. She sat on a headstone waiting for something to attack. She heard footsteps behind her. She immediatly jumped to her feet. She spun around to face a young woman. She looked about Buffy's age, but she had a youthful, juvenile essence that told her she was younger. What was even stranger, was that she didn't seem to be a vampire. A usual vampire would have it's "game face" on, and it would've attacked by now.

This girl just stood there. There was something familiar about her but Buffy couldn't make out what. She seemed upset about something. She held her hand out for her to take. She took it.

The girl led her to another grave. It was Ms. Calendar's. The girl looked up at her and said "It isn't your fault that you weren't able to protect her." Buffy gave her a puzzled look. "The others need you. You must go back. If not for their sake, then for his." the girl pleaded pointing in front of them. There was Angel. "Angel!" Buffy exclaimed. She ran towards him and as she threw her arms around him, he vanished.

Buffy awoke with a start. She was breathing heavily and tears were streaming down her face.

"It was just a dream." she told herself outloud. Then she realized most of her dreams aren't just dreams. "God." she groaned. *Why can't I have peace in my sleep?* Buffy sat up on her bed and began to recall her dream vividly. She remembered that girl. *God, did she look familiar.* Buffy thought. She remembered what the girl had said to her. "It wasn't your fault.....They need you.....for his sake......" her words rang through her head. Then the most disturbing part of her dream came rushing back to her. When she ran to Angel and he disappeared. The tears came once again and she lay back on her bed sobbing. She was an emotional wreck.

"If not for their sake, then for his." she recollected. Buffy realized what she meant. But she couldn't do it. Going back was just too painful. She couldn't go through that again. *Oh God, what they must be going through. Are they even still alive? Angelus,Spike, and Drusilla were out of the picture but there still are vampires. Buffy was denying her duty.

Not just to the world, but to her friends who were always by her side, so loyal and supportive. And look at her now. Is this repaying them?* As hard and painful it was, Buffy knew what she had to do.

"Time to face the music, Buff. You gotta go home."


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