The Joy of Love, the Clarity of Hatred, and the Ecstasy of Grief: Part 6
by Symphony
The title is from the ep "Passions". Angel says it during his voiceover. The characters belong to Joss and company. The story is mine so if you have any comments, likes, dislikes, etc., feel free to email of me (NishatheBard@worldnet.att.net).
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Part Six
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She woke up in a strange bed. The room had green walls and the smell of old books. She felt so cold. She lifted up the covers and brought her body closer together. She realized she was naked. This made her extra uncomfortable. She felt so disoriented. She sat up slowly bringing the covers up with her. She now knew where she was. Giles's bedroom. No one was in there with her.
She looked around for her clothes. They weren't in there. Where were they?
Buffy felt her hair matted against her back. They were wet. Soaking wet. She needed to get into something dry and warm. It was too cold in the room.
She got to her feet and tiptoed to what looked like a closet. She swung the door open and saw only tweed. She smiled to herself. That was Giles for you. She started to close the closet door but something caught her eye. It was a picture. A picture of Jenny. Tears were at the edges of her eyes. She could never bring her back. Giles deserved her.
She shut the closet door and looked around for something, anything to wear. Nothing. She would just have to go downstairs to the living room like this. She made sure that the sheet was around her securely. She could hear the voices downstairs. They were all there. Giles, Xander, Willow, Cordelia and Angel. And she had to go down.
Buffy walked down the stairs slowly, not wanting to alarm them. She could hear fragments of their conversation.
"What are we going to tell her mother?" Cordelia was asking.
"Nothing." Xander answered. "She can never know..." Buffy felt a pang in her heart. She needed her mom. But Xander was right. Joyce could never find out. Buffy walked the rest of the way and stopped at the bottom step. Willow was the first one to see her.
"Hey Buffy." she jumped to her feet. Everyone looked in her direction.
"How are you feeling?" Giles asked her.
"Cold." Buffy answered. "But that could be because I'm naked." Giles looked at her confused than nodded with comprehension.
"We knew that you would...and Cordelia brought some clothes from her home..."
"Here." Cordelia gently gave a bag to Buffy. "They are mine. I couldn't go by your home because your mom was home. Too many questions."
"Thank you." Buffy stated.
"No problem." Cordelia flashed her a smile. This was too weird. Cordelia was never this nice. It was like she was in some warped alternate universe.
"I'm going to change and go home."
"I don't think that that is such a good idea." Giles looked alarmed.
"I don't care what you think right now." Buffy snapped. She walked up the stairs and closed the door behind her. She opened the bag and pulled out the short black sleeveless cotton dress Cordelia had brought her. There was also a black wool cardigan. Buffy began putting on the clothes. She felt their warmth caress her skin. It felt good. She found a comb and started cunning it through her hair. When she was done she sat down on the bed and looked around.
It then just hit her. She could have died. She could have drowned and ceased to exist. That would have been better than what she felt now. But someone had saved her. Who, she didn't know. Probably Angel or Xander. Why did they?
Buffy started to cry again. She couldn't stop shaking. She tried to muffle her tears but it didn't help. They kept getting louder. She fell onto the bed, just clutching the blanket and crying. The tears would never stop. She heard people running up the stairs.
Giles was the first one in the room. He put his arms around her and pulled her close. He rocked her back and forth. And for the first time she held on to him. For the first time, she hugged him and would not let him go.
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