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NA GRACH CROI



Chapter 12: ‘Comhra de na Anum’
(Conversation from the Soul)


Spike walked arm-in-arm with his wife, Buffy, down the main street of Balleycastle. He was so damn proud of his sweet Princess, Buffy. The couple nodded and said good day to everyone they met, even if they were strangers.

If Buffy didn’t know better, she felt she could read all of these kind townspeoples’ minds. ‘They think Will and me are a wonderful couple,’ she thought with delight. ‘They like us, just because we are so good together, look so good together.’ Buffy had never been happier in her entire life.

“Tara and Angel are over at the Chase Mercantile, sweetheart,” Spike smiled down at his dainty wife. “I’ll take you to meet Tara and you two can stop by at Willow’s, visit with her and her Mum. Would you like that?”

Buffy grinned up and nodded, excitedly, “yes, I would. Too bad little Frank Harris took ill and Nancy Harris could not come with us to town. I really like Mrs. Harris, and Xander too.”

“Well, everyone just loves you, Buffy, dear,” Spike chuckled. “That’s cos they know how happy you’ve made me. That and you’re a Saint, that’s for sure my sweet.”

He bent and kissed his wife’s golden head, lovingly, then continued to lead her to the Mercantile. “Angel and me, we’ve got business at the bank, darlin’ and I’m sure it’ll bore the hell out of you and Tara. So, thought you’d like to see Willow and her Mum. I know they’ll love seein’ you two ladies.”

When Buffy and Tara got to Willow’s home, they found Father Giles there also, having tea with Mrs. Cohan.

“Buffy, Tara,” Father Giles grinned happily, “it’s lovely to see you two fine ladies here. Must have been fate that brought us together.”

Buffy smiled warmly at the priest, she really did like the man. More then that, she admired him. A thought suddenly occurred to Buffy and she asked Father Giles if she might have a private word with him. If the other ladies thought anything of it, they showed no sign as the priest led Buffy to a small extra room in the Cohan home.

“I would like to confess, Father,” Buffy admitted simply, with a slight scowl on her pretty face. “It’s been years since my last confession, Father,” she muttered.

Father Giles gave her a surprised look, but bade her to sit in a chair while he glanced about for a Holy Book. After he found one, he sat across from her and took her tiny hand in his strong, large one.

“Speak your heart and soul, Elizabeth O’Hara and God shall surely forgive you any transgressions,” he chanted patiently.

Buffy hung her head down, sadly, but spoke clearly and loudly enough for the poor man to hear:

“Forgive me Father, for I have sinned most grieviously. I am a sinner of the worst magnitude. Before I married, for four years, to be exact, I accepted money from men in payment for sexual favors.”

Father Giles, gasped, audibly, but then nodded and asked Buffy to continue.

“I was a whore, a high priced harlot. Not fit to kiss the ground that my man, William O’Hara walks on. But I am sorry, Father, for my sinful past. I truly love my William, need him and want to be the perfect wife and mate for him. Will God ever forgive me, Father?”

She turned, tear-filled, enormous green eyes to the priest and searched his pale blue ones for absolution. The man before her frowned, momentarily, then pulled his hand from hers. He placed his huge, calloused right hand upon Buffy’s cheek and wiped the tears from it.

“Elizabeth,” he began, his voice shakey, but strong, “all of us have sinned in our lives. Even I have sinned, horribly, on God’s green earth. Some sins are worse then others, no question, and some sins ‘seem’ unforgiveable. However, I truly believe that if a person, such as yourself, and myself for that matter, truly, truly repents of those sins, then yes. God will forgive them. He will forgive you Elizabeth, of everything, every kind of sin in your past.”

The priest smiled, tenderly, at Buffy. She saw such kindnest and love in the old man’s eyes that she honestly wanted to believe him.

“Elizabeth, or I shall call you Buffy. It suits you more I think,” Father Giles chuckled softly as he wiped the tears from her other cheek.

“I am going to tell you something, my dear,” he continued, “that I’ve never told anyone in this fair town before. Not even your husband, or his family, and I was very close to your Will’s parents.”

“When I was a young man, much younger then your husband, closer to Angel O’Hara’s age,” he mumbled, his eyes on the Bible before him. “When I was barely seventeen, I killed a man.”

Buffy nearly jumped when the priest confessed ‘his’ grievious sin to her. She could not help but gasp in shock at this holy man’s admission. However, she sat, silently and listened as the priest relayed his sad tale.

“This man, a British man he was,” Father Giles continued, sorrowfully, “he offended my family. My younger sister to be exact. We, my family and I, we lived in the Southern part of Ireland and while we were not so grand, or so rich as this man’s family, we were proud people. My little sis, she was a beauty, even at fifteen and ‘this man’ well, she caught his eye.”

Father Giles stood up and began to pace around the room, anxious to finish the story, but seemingly nervous about telling Buffy.

“Go on, please Father,” Buffy coaxed the man gently.

The priest sighed heavily and shook his head, “my father hated the British, nearly as much as your poor William does. So, of course, my old man absolutely refused to allow the man at our doorstep, much less to court my sister. Mary Kate, that was my little sister’s name, God bless her. Anyway, the man caught Mary Kate out one day and not to be deterred, forced himself upon her.”

Buffy gasped again, her heart nearly broke for the priest and his poor sister, but she nodded at him. ‘He needs to get this out,’ she thought, ‘I have to hear him, like he did me.’

“Mary Kate became pregnant, with a little one from the rape. The man took off for England and my poor little sister, she…”
Father Giles choked back tears as he continued his story. “Mary Kate died in child birth, as did the poor babe. I was insane with hatred and followed the bastard to London.

Found him in a brothel one night and slipped into the room he was occupying. Threw the bought woman from the place and stabbed the poor bastard while he lay naked in her bed. I left London, my home in Southern Ireland and fled up here to Balleycastle. Local priests took me in and later, I took the vows of the Church.”

Buffy began to weep, softly, and the old man took her hands, once again in his. “It’s a hard world, Elizabeth,” Father Giles whispered honestly, “and if God above can forgive me for a sin like murder? Which, I know he has, then he can forgive you, my dear, for your sins. They are, your sins that is, far less damning then mine, certainly.”

He took Buffy in his strong arms and let her cry it out against his robe covered chest.

“There, there, lass,” he cooed as he stroked her honey blond hair. “You’re sorry for your past sins, it’s enough, I promise dear. Besides, you’ve brought such happiness to William, the only happiness he’s every known, I’m sure. And he loves you so very much. Please don’t let your past prey on your mind, or your soul any longer. You’ve a new life here, with your husband and new family. You love your William and you are happy, are you not?”

Buffy nodded quickly, wiping at her fresh tears, “very,” she responded simply.

“Then that’s the end of it, dear,” Father Giles smiled warmly. “You say ten Hail Mary’s and promise to sin like that no more. Which is a given, I’m sure and all will be well. I swear to you, dear Buffy,” he murmered softly, “you are forgiven and deserve to be happy in your new life.”

Later, after Tara and Willow had visited with Willow, her Mum, and Father Giles, the two women said their goodbyes. They went out on the street, headed back to the Chase Mercantile to meet with Will and Angel.

As they walked, Buffy and Tara chatted warmly, talking about everything under the sun. Buffy felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted from her slim shoulders and Tara did not ask what she had ‘discussed’ with Father Giles.

‘I know it will be fine now,’ Buffy thought to herself happily as she laughed at something Tara had said. ‘Father Giles is right, I do deserve to be happy here, with William.’

Just before Buffy and Tara reached the Mercantile, a strong, deep voice called out to them. It came from behind the two young women and carried over the regular noise of the somewhat busy city street.

“Elizabeth Summers!” came the loud, unfamiliar British voice from behind the girls. It was Tara that stopped and turned to see who called, apparently recognizing Buffy’s given name and checking to see who called her sister-in-law.

Buffy immediately froze in place, fear causing her to tense up and her heart to race like a horse. ‘Oh God,’ she gasped to herself, ‘please, God, don’t let that be someone I truly know. From the old days.’

Tara tapped Buffy’s slim shoulder and pointed to a dark-haired man who stood with, of all people, Riley Finn-Rayne. The ‘unknown’ man smiled widely at Buffy as he strode up to her and Tara, while Riley seemed as confused as the women were.

“Lizzy Summers?” came the greeting, again, “imagine me finding you here, in Balleycastle? You don’t remember me, Liz?” The somewhat good looking dark-eyed man pouted, slightly.

“I do not ‘know’ you sir,” Buffy stammered back to the man, her eyes on her sister-in-law, who looked as confused as Riley. “You are mistaken, my name is not Elizabeth Summers, it is Buffy O’Hara.”

However, the young man would not be deterred, “I’m Parker Abrams, from Bath. Remember? My boys and I we used to go to your ‘friend, Anya’s’ place in London to visit?” The man raised his right dark brow and grinned at Buffy, sure that she would now remember ‘him’ of course.”

“You are wrong, sir,” Buffy insisted, “not only have I never been to London, but I have no ‘friend’ by the name of Anya. Now, my sister-in-law and I, we have need to meet our family, my husband here,” she nodded down the street. Good day, sir.”

Buffy grabbed Tara’s arm and led her quickly down the street. She never once looked back at the confused, but still grinning Abrams man, or his companion, Riley Finn-Rayne.


A/N: Oh, oh….not of the good here. Please read and review. Thanks, luv Spuf





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