[Reviews - 139]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Microsoft Word Chapter or Story | ePub eBook Chapter or Story | Printer Chapter or Story

Has been viewed 5369 times

- Text Size +




Author's Chapter Notes:
A MASSIVE thanks to my Beta Pixiecorn (Kelly) i love it. Also a HUGE thanks to Edgehead (Mel) for the awesome Banner.
Chapter 4
Surprise Reunion.

*4 Years Later.*

Buffy had her arms wrapped around herself as she stood at Sunnydale airport, waiting to be picked up. She couldn’t believe she was back again so soon, she’d only left two weeks ago.

Her mother had been fighting a brain tumor and had been put into surgery to remove it. Things had been looking up. Joyce had returned to the gallery she owned in town, her hair had even started to grow back. Buffy smiled, her mother had even started dating again.

Buffy hadn’t been too surprised when her mother had informed her about her relationship with Giles. They had always been close and according to her mom, they had been dating for a little over a year.

Buffy was happy for her mom. She hadn’t dated anyone after her messy divorce from Hank and Buffy believed if anyone deserved to be happy it was her mom.

A lone tear slid down her cheek.

Giles had been there for her mother every day. From the time when Joyce first went in for surgery, to the time where he had moved in with her to help in her recovery. He had been great for her mother but two weeks ago, Joyce had said it was time for Buffy to return to work in New York. Physically she looked fine. She was healthy and she had Giles to look after her, so Buffy had reluctantly left, promising to call everyday to check on her.

And she had.

But everything changed two days ago.

Giles had been the one to call her.

Giles had closed the magic box early, (a shop in town he had brought two years ago) intending on making Joyce a nice romantic dinner. But when he arrived home he knew something was wrong, the house was silent.

Giles found her on the lounge. Joyce had a brain aneurism, a side effect of the surgery, there was nothing anyone could do. She was gone.

Giles had been devastated, his heart shattering seeing the woman he loved laying lifeless and cold on the couch. He was going to ask her to marry him that very night.

Buffy’s heart broke at the sound of his voice on the phone, he was barley understandable through the sobs that tore through him. Buffy had packed her bags, quit her job and got on the first flight to Sunnydale.

“You okay?”

Buffy was startled out of her thoughts by Willow’s voice.

Willow was her best friend. They’d met on Buffy’s first day at NYU and had been inspirable ever since. Over time Buffy had opened up about Spike and Willow in turn had told her about Oz, her ex who she was in love with. She’d found out he’d cheated on her and was surprised when he had packed his bags and left saying he didn’t deserve her.

Willow had been devastated, willing to forgive Oz for being unfaithful. But he had been unwilling to forgive himself. Buffy had been left to pick up the pieces and found they leant on each other for support.

“Yeah, I just can’t believe this is happening. I…I can’t believe she’s really gone,” Buffy whispered.

“I’m so sorry,” Willow replied, placing a supportive hand on Buffy’s shoulder.

“I’m so glad you came. I-I don’t think I could do this without you,” Willow smiled softly.

“Where else would I be? You’re my best friend. Wherever you go, I go.” Buffy smiled at Willow and gave her a brief hug. She was so lucky to have Willow in her life.

Buffy was brought out from her thoughts at the sound of her name being yelled out across the airport. She glanced up and saw Xander walking towards them.

“Hello salty goodness,” Willow whispered in approval, her eyes raking Xander’s body.

“Buff, it’s so good to see you again. I missed you,” he said, sweeping her up into a big bear hug.

“You saw me two weeks ago,” Buffy laughed as he put her down. Xander laughed and was frozen as he met Buffy’s redheaded friend’s eyes.

“Damn she’s beautiful”

“Xander, this is Willow, my best friend. Willow this is Xander, we grew up together,” Buffy smiled as she introduced them, watching as they shook hands.

“Hi,” Willow smiled shyly.

“Hey,” Xander replied, clearly checking Willow out. Buffy shook her head, laughing softly at the exchange. She knew that Willow and Xander were going to get along with each other the moment Willow had agreed to join her in Sunnydale.

The car ride to Revello Drive was made in silence. Xander had asked Willow out for coffee, right before they pulled into Buffy’s street, saying it was best to give Buffy and Giles time alone so they could discuss the funeral arrangements.

Buffy watched Xander drive off and turned her gaze up to the house where she had spent her whole life growing up. The house where her mother had died. The thought brought tears to her eyes. Taking a deep breath to collect herself, she picked up her bags and headed for the front door, smiling brightly when Giles opened it, stepping outside to greet her.

“Oh Buffy,” Giles whispered seeing the tears in Buffy’s eyes, threatening to spill over. He watched as Buffy dropped her bags and wrapped her arms around him in hug, holding him tight as she cried.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered into his chest.

“As am I,” he replied, pulling back to look at her. Buffy’s eyes and cheeks were wet with tears and Giles brought a hand up to wipe them away. “Let’s get you settled in,” he picked up her bags and let her inside.

Buffy surveyed her surroundings; nothing had changed since her last visit two weeks ago.

With her mother gone she had expected it to look different somehow, but it was the same. Only now it was empty without her mom’s bubbly presence, she moved into the lounge room to see that the couch had been replaced, her head shot up and met Giles eyes.

“It’s in the basement, I couldn’t…. I just… couldn’t look at it,” he stuttered out, she nodded in understanding.

“Hello Buffy.”

Buffy’s whole body froze when she heard the all to familiar voice. She hadn’t seen Spike on her last visit as he had been in England visiting his grandparents. Taking a deep breath she prepared herself, it had been four years. Four whole years since they had last seen each other, turning slowly, her body shaking with nerves as she met his gaze.

“Hello Spike,” she whispered.

“Oh god!” her mind screamed.

He hadn’t changed at all, he was still as gorgeous as ever. Buffy had hoped their time apart would help her feelings fade but the moment their eyes met she knew that had not happened. Her heart pounded so hard she could hear it in her ears, she felt flushed all over and her palms were sweating.

Buffy broke their gaze, not being able to look at him.

“Snap out of it girl,” her inner Buffy yelled, “You’re not that geeky, fumbling girl you where four years ago. You’re a grown woman.”

Spike could hardly believe his eyes. This most definitely wasn’t the Buffy who had left Sunnydale four years ago. This Buffy was a vision, long golden locks framed her face as it fell in waves past her shoulders and down her back, she was tanned and toned, glasses replaced with contacts and the once boring baggy clothes had been replaced with the latest fashion, tight and low cut tops clinging to her now even smaller frame.

Seeing her now, sad and withdrawn brought back the memories of that night. He had been so cruel and hurtful to her, every part of him wished that he could rewind time and take it all back, to beg her to stay. To be able to hold her close and tell her how much he loved her. He had been such a fool.

Looking back now he knew his feelings for Drusilla had been nothing compared to how he felt for Buffy.

He loved Buffy with his entire being. He was so completely head over heels for her, he just hoped there was some way for him to make Buffy realise how sorry he was for not seeing it sooner.

Spike was unsure of what to say next, his skin was hot, his heart pounding and his cock rock hard. He knew it was wrong, she had flown all the way home to attend her mother’s funeral and he was imagining slamming her into the closest wall and pounding into her until she screamed his name out in release.

He was going straight to hell.

“I’ll take your bags to your room, Buffy.” Giles said, before Buffy had the chance to beg him not to leave her alone with Spike but he was already gone. They both stood there in silence for what felt like hours but in truth, had only been seconds. Finally Spike spoke.

“I’m sorry about your mom…”

“Thanks,” Buffy whispered, not meeting his eyes.

“So how…how have you been?”

“I…I’ve been better,” Buffy sighed, meeting his eyes briefly.

“Right,” Spike coughed as they fell silent again.

After a few minutes Spike sighed.

“This is ridicules! I mean, we were best friends for fourteen years, we should be able to talk to each other.”

“Your right,”

“Okay. So what have you been doing?”

“Um, well I graduated from NYU about a year ago; got my Art degree and I’ve been working in an art gallery since then. But now that mom’s…. Well, I’m thinking of taking over her gallery in town.”

Spike stood up straighter at Buffy’s remark.

“You’re moving back to Sunnydale?” he asked, hopeful.

“Yeah. I don’t want to sell the gallery,” Buffy’s eye’s rimmed with tears. “Mom loved it and worked so hard for it…I-I really don’t want a stranger running it.”

“I think it’s a great idea, pet. You’re mom would have wanted you to have it.”

“Yeah,” Buffy smiled, wiping her cheeks. “So what have you been up to?”

“Oh, I um, graduated last year from UC Sunnydale, got my English degree and I’ve actually been working at Sunnydale high as an English teacher”

“I know the new PE teacher there.”

“You do? I haven’t met him yet.”

“He’s arriving tomorrow, I think. He’s a friend from New York; I meet him at NYU… Riley. He’s a nice guy.”

Riley had been dating her cousin Faith for the last three years now and the two were getting married in three months. Spike couldn’t help but wonder if this Riley was more than friend but his thoughts were cut short by his father coming back down stairs.

“Would you like some help unpacking Buffy?” Giles asked, walking over to them.

“Oh, no it’s fine. I think I can handle it,” she smiled, heading for the stairs.

“It was good seeing you Spike. Where are you staying at the moment? Maybe we can catch up later?” Buffy mentally berated herself, she was lying she knew it. She had no desire to play catch up with the man that had broken her heart but she knew that if he told her where he was staying she would have a better chance of avoiding him.

“I’m actually living here at the moment,” Buffy’s eyes widened. “Dad kind of needed someone around with everything that‘s happened….” Buffy’s shoulders sagged hearing how truly upset Spike was over her mother’s death. “I hope that’s okay?”

On one hand Buffy felt her world crumble before her, how was she going to avoid him now? On the other hand, she couldn’t help but feel comforted at the thought of having Spike back again. He’d known her mother for a long time; surely he’d be respectful and give her space and time to mourn.

“No, that’s fine,” Buffy smiled, heading up stairs and into her room.

She closed the door behind her, leaning her head back against it sighing. She had hoped she was going to be able to live at her mom’s house permanently or at least until Giles got sick of her. Tomorrow, after finalizing the arrangement for Joyce’s funeral, she would have to get to work on finding herself an apartment.

For the second time since the news of her mother’s death had reached her ears, Buffy let her tears fall. Her body shook with the force of her tears as she cried, hands coming to cover her face.

Her mother was gone.

She didn’t remember Spike coming into the room to wrap her in his arms. But she remembered feeling safe and whole.

She felt his tears mix with her own and for the second time since the news of her mother’s death had reached her ears, she felt the wall’s she’d built around herself crumble down.

Her mother was gone.

Who was going to pick up the pieces?


Chapter End Notes:
So??? what do you guys think??? let me know please :)



You must login (register) to review.