FIC: Episode 1 in T.C.P.S. "Home is Where the Stake is." (2/6)

[~~Kimber <kacoe@xxxxxxx>]

TITLE: Episode 1 in T.C.P.S. "Home is Where the Stake is." (2/6)
AUTHORS: Heather (nerdgurrl@xxxxxxxxx) & ~~Kimber (kacoe@xxxxxxx)
DISCLAIMER: All recognizable characters from the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer
belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. Any additional characters mentioned are the
property of the authors and may not be used without permission. This arrangement of words
in cyberspace is also owned by the authors and may not be displayed, copied, quoted from
or used without permission. This is a work of fiction done for enjoyment and the authors
who are in no way receiving monetary compensation for their efforts.
SUMMARY: Episode 1 in Heather and Kimber's "Convergent Paths Series". The alternate
universe version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
SPOILERS: Season one thru four including all season five speculations.
DISTRIBUTION: None. Lists only.
AUTHORS NOTES:
Thoughts enclosed in <. . .>
Flashbacks enclosed in ((. . .))
Emphasis is denoted with *. . .*

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Buffy took a few calming breaths, counted to a hundred and then took a few more deep
breaths. Despite the fact that home was where she wanted to be, every cell in her body was
telling her to flee before it was too late. Sure, she had saved the world from
destruction, but there was so much more to it, more that she couldn't quite put her finger
on. She sent Angel to hell with her own hands and as he was sucked into the vortex, a
piece of her got sucked in also and she wasn't sure if she would ever get it back. Maybe
that was the reason she came back. Maybe it was because she missed her friends and felt
guilty for neglecting her duty as the Chosen One. Maybe it was just that she was homesick
and missed the familiarity of the quaint little town with an overwhelming 'mysterious
death' statistic.

Whatever the reason, she now found herself standing in the one place she had secretly
dreamed of all these months. She stood on the front porch of her house on Rovello Drive
about to knock on the door when it suddenly opened.

Joyce Summers stood face to face with her daughter for the first time in over three
months. The expression on her face was much like those of the cartoon characters on T.V.
when their jaw dropped to the floor during a sight gag. Millions of thoughts, feelings,
images, and emotions coursed through her body. Shaking off the sensation of all the air
going out of the room at once, she finally managed at least one coherent word. "Buffy."

As Buffy looked at her mom, unbidden emotions ran through her; relief, comfort, shame,
anger and finally love. Unprepared for the emotional onslaught, Buffy did the only thing
that she could&she threw herself into her mothers arms and began to sob like a little
girl.

Joyce grasped her daughter, stunned into silence, as Buffy's sobs increased; Joyce
tightened her hold on Buffy and gently lowered them both down to the ground. They sat on
the floor in the doorway; Buffy curled up against her mother holding on to her as if her
life depended on it. Joyce held on to her daughter, slowly rocking her and murmuring
words of love and comfort.

"Oh Mom&I&I'm soo sorry." Buffy sobbed into her mom's shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Mom, I just
couldn't & I was so..." She stumbled, unable to complete a thought. "I killed Angel." She
finished unable to say anything more.

"Shhhh sweetie, it's ok." Joyce whispered comfortingly, as she gently stroked the back of
Buffy's head. "You're safe now, everything is going to be ok, I promise."

Buffy's tears subsided as she pulled away from her mother's embrace, shaking her head
wildly. She sprang to her feet and began to pace like a nervous caged cat.

"It's not going to be ok, it's never going to be ok." She said miserably, pain etched on
every line of her face. "I'm like this horrible disease." Her voice was thick with
disgust. "This destiny of mine has hurt everyone I've ever cared about. The chosen one.
What a joke! I was forced to lie to you about everything important in my life, I had to
kill Angel, my best friend was almost killed trying to help me get Angel back, I hurt
Giles, Ms. Calendar and Kendra are dead and it is all because of me and my GLORIOUS
destiny!"

As Buffy finished her tirade, she looked at her mother once more, and saw the confusion
and pain on her mother's face. <She looks so old> Buffy thought to herself. <And it is
all because of me.> Once again the blanket of guilt and blame covered her.

Buffy hugged her mom tightly, gently resting her head on her mother's shoulder.

"I know I keep saying this Mom, but I am so sorry I hurt you. I shouldn't have left things
like that; it's just... Everything was so overwhelming. I couldn't think or function. I
felt like I was just going to explode." Buffy began to pace once more, temporally lost in
a sea of hurt and anguish.

"So you ran," Joyce stated, half hurt and half understanding.

"So I ran," Buffy replied softly.

Joyce closed the living-room door, and gently pulled her daughter into the kitchen and sat
her down on a barstool.

"I'm going to make you a cup of hot chocolate, OK?" Joyce asked trying to keep her voice
light.

Buffy nodded, marveling at the normalcy of the situation, even if it was a bit forced.

Joyce pulled a saucepan out of the cupboard and set it on the stove.

"It's not all your fault you know," Joyce said mater-of-factly as she opened the
refrigerator and took out the carton of milk. Placing the milk on the counter, she walked
over to Buffy and put her hand on her shoulder.

"I...I am sorry about how I reacted when I found out about you being the Slayer." Joyce
looked into Buffy's eyes and squeezed her shoulder gently. "It was not my finest moment
as a mother, let me tell you. I should have been more supportive."

Buffy turned and enveloped her mom in another hug.

"Mom, NO. This is totally my fault. I should have given you time to get used to it,
I...I should have tried to explain better. I wanted to tell you.... A thousand times I
wanted to tell you, it's just..."

Joyce smiled stiffly, and walked back over to the stove, pouring in some milk and then
put the carton back in the refrigerator.

"I know Buffy. I spent a lot of time with Giles, and Willow. They have explained a lot
of this slayer stuff to me this summer. Giles even let me read a few of the watchers
diaries so I have a better understanding of what you are going through."

Joyce opened the cupboard took out the jar of coco and stirred in a few teaspoons.

"I.... Im going to have questions. Is that ok?" Joyce asked uncertainly.

Buffy smiled tentatively. "Ask away Mom, Im your Slayer answer-girl."

Joyce stirred the chocolatey concoction and smiled. "I've been told all about your
duties, and responsibilities and the saving the world, but what does a slayer mean... I
mean to you?

Buffy paused for a moment and reveled in the feelings of home. Here she was, sitting in
the kitchen with her mom, talking about slayage while her mom made hot chocolate. Could
things get any stranger? But yet, it was something she had always secretly dreamed of; to
be able to share all of the strange, wonderful, bad, evil things that came with being the
chosen one.

"When I first found out that I was the Slayer, I thought that it was a joke."

"Thats certainly understandable," Joyce said wryly, pouring steaming chocolate into two
mugs.

"This is true, but then I began to like the power, you know. I mean despite the fact that
I was scared to death, it was also an incredible rush. It was a game. Then Merik died
and the vampires attacked the school and it stopped being a game." Buffy stared down at
her hands, and played with the napkin that she had been subconsciously shredding.

If she wants honesty, then I guess I might as well tell her everything Buffy said to
herself.

When we moved here, I was pretty fed up with this whole Destiny thing. I had gotten
kicked out of school, caused a lot of tension between my you guys then dad left& Buffy
trailed of not sure what to say.

Buffy, you know that the divorce wasnt your fault.

Buffy nodded and gave her mom a small smile,

I know mom, but the fact that I burned the school down didnt help. So needless to say,
when we came here I was not a super peppy slayer, but then I met the gang and I realized
WHAT I was doing all of this for. I mean of course I want a normal life, what teenager
doesnt, and doesnt mean that Im not going to keep trying for some normalcy in my life,
but its more important than that, you know. Its bigger than just me, or even you and
the gang. Gosh listen to me, I think some of Giless lectures about destiny and
responsibility are rubbing off on me.

Joyce studied her daughter, taking in the information that she had just learned.
"Wow...That's...Wow," Joyce said slowly. "That's a lot of responsibility for a you to
deal with."

"And my mother," Buffy stated softly, acknowledging for the first time, how hard this all
must be on her.

Joyce put down her mug and put her arm around her daughter once again, relishing the
contact.

"I'm glad you're home Buffy. I missed you." Mother and daughter held each other tightly
and for a few minutes, everything else disappeared.

Joyce kissed her gently on the forehead, and then looked outside the kitchen window,
sighing softly.

"It's getting dark out." Joyce stated. Sipping at her drink once more. With those four
words, she had given Buffy the acceptance that she craved. "You should go."

"Mom, I can.... I mean &I still have hot chocolate and all," Buffy sputtered, stunned.

"I'll make you more when you come home," Joyce answered with false calmness, at the same
time reaffirming her support. "Besides you should go and see your friends. They missed
you too, especially Willow. She came over almost everyday to check up on me, and to see if
I had heard anything from you. She's a good friend."

"Yes she is." Buffy replied sadly, guilt washing over her once more. She had missed her
friends and family a lot, but most especially Willow. Buffy was suddenly at a loss as to
what she was going to say to her. How exactly was she going to excuse or explain what
she'd done? Not only had she run away from her sacred duty, she ran away from the gang
and that included Willow. In hindsight, she realized that they didn't deserve that,
Willow didn't deserve that and Buffy made a promise to herself to start making it up to
them immediately.

"You should go. It's totally dark now," Joyce said gently, shaking Buffy out of her
reverie.

Buffy stood up and smiled at her mom.

"OK, I'll try not to be out too late."

"Buffy." Joyce called as she started to walk out of the room. "I know now that youve had
a lot to deal with lately. Im still trying to wrap my mind around that there are really
vampires, and all the time youve been fighting them. I cant even imagine what the past
few years have been like for you. I guess what Im try to say is& that Im proud of you.
That doesn't mean that we don't have a lot of talking to do. It doesnt matter if you
saved the world thats still no excuse to run away. This is going to be hard on both of
us, but...just remember I love you."
Buffy ran over and hugged her mom once more.

I love you too mom, She whispered fiercely into Joyces hair. Then with a small smile,
she headed toward the door.

"Oh and Buffy..." Joyce called, "Don't forget your jacket."

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