Hard Choices
1. Part One by Ophelia (PG13) [Reviews - 0]
Characters: Ensemble
Genres: Angst
Warnings: none
Summary: Buffy deals with Angel's death in "Becoming 2", and with her future as the Slayer. (2085 words)
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2. Part Two by Ophelia (PG13) [Reviews - 0]
Characters: Ensemble
Genres: Angst
Warnings: none
Summary: Buffy deals with Angel's death in "Becoming 2", and with her future as the Slayer. (1103 words)
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3. Part Three by Ophelia (PG13) [Reviews - 0]
Characters: Ensemble
Genres: Angst
Warnings: none
Summary: Willow and Oz entered the library together, Willow supporting her boyfriend who was still weak from his ‘anaemia’. He’d been more thoroughly drained than Cordelia, and had taken longer to recover. The pair flopped down at the table and sighed. Suddenly Cordelia appeared from the stacks.
“There you guys are! Giles has been worried sick! He’s found a new prophesy and Buffy’s nowhere to be found.”
“I knew the peace of the past few days wouldn’t last,” Willow said. “Hoping for anything over a couple of days’ without some new creature of darkness out to decimate the town since Spike , Dru and Angelus are all gone was too much. And who promoted you to Watcher’s Assistant? Why are you still hanging out with us ‘losers’ now that Xander's gone?”
Cordelia looked down, ashamed to be reminded of her attitude to Willow earlier that year.
“I’m just doing all I can to help. There’s stuff out there that’s bigger than you or me, and it means more than the latest outfit. So if you don’t want me here I’ll go, but as long as there's something *I* can do, I’m doing it.”
Willow smiled. “Now that Cordelia's joined we’ll have to get a uniform,” she giggled.
“Hey!” Cordelia protested. “Although, maybe something in cream...”
“Pale clothes? At night? When we’re trying to *hide* from the vampires?” Willow asked, disbelieving.
“And I refuse to wear tweed or leather, so those can be Giles’ and Buffy’s uniforms, okay?” Oz said.
“Does this mean you want to join the Official Slayerettes too?” Willow asked.
“It’s the coolest club around. I just hope I’m on the waiting list.”
“I happen to know some very influential people. I’ll see what I can do,” Willow promised, with a knowing smile.
“Ah, Willow, have you seen our resident Slayer? I have a new prophesy, and it’s only fair to tell her as well.” Giles asked, appearing from the depths of the stacks.
“Nope. She skipped today. Said she had some stuff to sort out. She’ll be here.”
“Oh, trust Buffy to disappear when an important prophesy crops up.”
* * *
Buffy stood in the centre of Angel’s apartment. It bore an unlived in appearance; Angelus had stayed at the warehouse with Spike. She faced his bed, and began to talk.
“Angel. I guess I just came here ‘cause it’s the only place I can think of. It’s not like you have a grave or anything. I guess I need closure. Or whatever. I just wanted to say sorry. For, uh, killing you. For giving up on you, and on us. But I couldn’t wait any longer for a miracle. I needed to save my friends, and do my duty. What I said was true. It wasn’t really me that killed you, it was the Slayer. I’m tired of fighting, and sometimes it’s easier to just let that part of me take over. Especially if it’s something I don’t wanna do.
“But I guess I finally realised the purpose of the Slayer. It’s not just about slaying vampires, and other things that go bump in the night. It’s about being the only one who can save everyone else, stand between the darkness and the light. You know. And it’s about deciding what's important. I’m sorry, Angel, but my happiness and our love comes a little low on my list of priorities, now that I finally got them sorted out. Anyway, I guess what I really wanted to say was, I know you forgive me,but do you love me? Are you still my guardian angel, ‘cause frankly, I could really do with one of those right now.”
She paused for a moment, hoping... but nothing happened. She turned to go, and as she reached the door she heard a voice, so faint it was almost indiscernible.
“Buffy?”
She looked over her shoulder and her eyes widened in surprise.
“Angel?” she asked. There, flickering gently in the light, was the faint, ghostly figure of her lover. “Angel, is that you?” she repeated.
“Yes. I guess you'd call me a ghost. I heard what you said, and I wanted to talk to you so much that I suddenly found myself standing here. Buffy, I don’t have much time. All I can say is I love you. I always have, from the moment I first saw you to the moment you killed him. I’ll never stop, I still love you, even now. I’ll watch over you always, and be there to help you if I can. Just remember, I’ll always be there. You won’t be able to see me, but I’ll be waiting for you, Buffy. And no matter what he said, our night together was wonderful. You were perfect, and even knowing what happened, I'd do it again, just to be close to you. Goodbye, Buffy.” And with that he faded completely.
Buffy smiled slightly, and left the apartment. She slipped her hand into her pocket, and felt the ring he’d given her. The claddagh ring. She’d dropped it into the pocket of the jacket the night she’d gone to fight him, and now she drew it out, sliding it onto her finger, smiling all the while. Friendship, loyalty and love.
“Thank-you,” she whispered as she headed to the library in the fading sunlight.
The End (931 words)
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This story is completed.
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