Buffy and Angel belong to the show, all others and the plot belong to me. All feedback is welcome.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part Six
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three days later Buffy was standing on the porch, saying her good byes as the sun cast a beautiful red light over everything it touched. In the east, darkness was visibly creeping through the sky, quickly over taking the sun. She was waiting for Angel to stop and pick her up on the way to the airport.
When she'd told Bennie three days ago that she was leaving for a while, the Watcher had nodded sagely, having already come to that conclusion, then had enveloped her in a huge bear huge, her cheek pressed against her neck. She had held her and cried a few tears, then pulled back and told her to do whatever she felt was right for her, they would be okay. Buffy was thankful for that. She didn't need Bennie's permission to leave, or Abbey's for that matter, but she had taken it upon herself to look after them, and she knew that the entire time she was gone she would worry over their safety. Even though she was only supposed to be gone for a month, in their line of work, considering the death rate, a month was like a lifetime.
But now wasn't the time to think of that, she'd probably chicken out. Abbey joined Buffy and Bennie out on the porch, holding Rilla. Mikey was playing with his cars in the fading light. He knew that as soon as the sun set, his mother would usher him inside, wary eyes scanning the darkness for a threat she knew no other mother worried about, and he wanted to get in all the playing time he could.
Abbey handed the baby off to Bennie, who had already said her farewell a moment before, and leaned forward, squeezing Buffy with all her considerable strength. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, long used to the fact that she didn't feel Buffy breathing as well. It was something you accepted when your best friend was dead. Grasping her shoulders, Abbey smiled slightly and whispered into her ear, "You come back soon, you hear?"
Buffy smiled and pulled back, saying, "I hear you. Take care of you."
The slayer nodded, and replied, "Take care of you. And don't worry about me, Bennie won't let me do anything too stupid. Sides, if I got myself killed, she'd never speak to me again."
Buffy gave a little nervous laugh, warmed by her familiar jokes, and then turned to the small person in Bennie's arms. Rilla reached out her chubby arms and leaned towards her. Buffy hugged her to her body, until the year old girl pushed her impatiently away. Rilla stared at her for a moment, her independence clear on her face, then she leaned in and gave her a wet kiss.
Buffy's face was a look of shock as she kissed Rilla's cheek. The baby had been very fickle about who she kissed the past month and for the past week, would not kiss anyone or let them kiss her. Bennie said it was normal, but it still hurt when she backed away from you, saying "Nonononono."
Buffy handed Rilla back to Bennie and walked down the steps to where Mikey drove his three cars over the grass near the driveway where Buffy's two bags sat. She crouched down in the dirt and watched him for a moment, as he maneuvered a van around a small pebble, making vroom-vroom noises the entire time. After a moment, the dark haired boy glanced up, and asked, "Do you wanna play?"
Buffy shook her head, making a face, "Sorry, big guy, but I'm going on a trip in a minute. I'm going to fly over the ocean in a big airplane."
Mikey stared up at her, childish concern written all over his face, "Will you fall into the ocean?"
Buffy laughed and pulled him over, letting him lean against her knee. "Naw, it's a very strong airplane. But don't worry, I'll be back before you know it. And I'll call every night, just before you go to bed, okay?"
The boy nodded and wrapped his dirty arms around her neck. She smoothed his hair and kissed his forehead and said, "You be a good boy, okay, and take good care of your mom and little sister. Watch out for Abbey too. I'll bring you home something from England. I love you."
Mikey said, "I love you, Aunt Buffy," then bent down and picked up his cars as the last light disappeared from the sky.
Buffy sighed as she stood and looked at him, then turned back to the house. Abbey and Bennie sat on the stairs, watching her. Mikey dropped his cars in the hall, and ran back out, tackling Abbey from behind. She reached behind and lifted him in the air over her head, plopping him down in her lap, where she held him still as he squirmed for escape. From where she stood, Buffy saw the life she had led for the past year or so and it warmed her heart. She realized again just how important these people were to her, and what a key role they had played in helping her learn how to understand life all over again. Distantly, she became aware of a feeling of closure, as if an important chapter of her life was nearing its end.
Bennie smiled at her and said, "Have a good time Buff, it's about time you've had a vacation."
"Yeah," Buffy said, "It'll be nice to get away from such a cruel task-maker as you."
Abbey grinned and was about to add her own little jesting barb, but she was interrupted by the arrival of a dark car pulling into the driveway. Buffy glanced over as Angel stepped out and smiled a welcome, a secret kind of smile reserved just for him. She bent and pick up a suitcase, while Angel grabbed the other one, and blew the occupants of the porch one last kiss. She got into the car and rolled down her window.
As Angel got into the car, Bennie called out, "Don't forget to call every night to let us know you're okay!"
"I will," Buffy answered as they pulled out of the drive way, "Call me if anything goes wrong! Bye you guys, I love you! See you later Mikey!" She waved furiously as they drove down the road, sticking her head out of the window.
The others waved and yelled good bye until they could no longer see the car. Abbey called one last good bye as Bennie walked up the stairs into the house with the baby. She stared down the road for a moment, then became aware of the struggling bundle she still held in her lap. She released Mikey's hands and he gave a shout of triumph as he raced into the house. Abbey sighed and followed, entering a house that seemed much lonelier now.
* * *
Buffy waved with all her might, until they turned the corner, then sat back down, pulling her head out of the window. She settled back and did up the seat belt. She turned her head and stared at Angel for a moment, then reached out and touched his knee lightly. He glanced over at her, slightly startled, then smiled, earning a smile back from her.
Buffy left her hand on his knee and turned back to look out the window as she watched the familiar landscape fly by. Soon she knew there would be nothing familiar. In England, there would be nothing she was used to, she would be a foreigner among strangers, a half-demon among a sea of strange vampires. Angel would be the only person she knew.
Buffy turned her head again, and stared at his handsome profile silhouetted against the darkness. She looked into his dark, soulful eyes, admired his chiseled cheekbones and lingered over his soft lips. She smiled to herself and decided there and then, that if she had to know one person, she would definitely prefer it to be him.
|
|
|
|
Rave
Barbie Girl (Becca)
biscuit07
Filmtheory (Jim)
Malice (Jess)
MebbtheScribe (MichaelB)
Reset (Allie)
Shay (Marrisa)
somnambulist29 (Shea)
Stephanie Loss
Wendyness (Wendy)
Questions?Contact Us
|
|
All stories on this site have been archived with the authors' consent. Do not copy these stories for your own uses without the express consent of the author themselves. Buffy the Vampire Slayer TM and Angel TM are © UPN, WB, Fox and its related entities. All photos on the site are © UPN, Fox, Warner Bros, and/or their respective owners. No profits are being made by use of these images.
Powered with the assitance of eFiction.
|
|
|
