FIC: Sundowning-Nova(Finale 2/2)

[Mad-Hamlet@xxxxxxx]

***

I watch them leave. They dissapear rapidly from my site. They
just to want to go home and they went. My companion groans slightly.

"Are you alright?" I ask.

"No." He moans. "Are they gone?"

"Yes." I say.

"Thank..uh...great." His voice changes as his form shifts,
melts away to that of another.

She slowly gets to her feet. "Wow." She says holding her jaw.
"Now I know why she's called the slayer."

"Yes..well..it's a deserved title." I reply.

She smiles down at me. "You're going to catch a lot of trouble
for this stunt. You know that don't you?"

I give her a innocent look, something I've been practicing for
milennia. "I obey the letter of the law, if not the spirit."

"Right." She shakes her head and winces.

"That was a gutsy move." I say. "Pushing Willow over like
that."

"Yes I know." She says still holding her face. "But I had to
get Buffy angry. She always was so protective of Willow. That's what
we needed. Or else, all this, would have been for nothing."

"Yes. But it was still good work." I say.

"If somewhat painful." She reminds me.

"Risks." I shrug.

"Was this really a good idea?" She asks. I've been expecting
the question. "I mean the other powers are really going to be
annoyed."

"Maybe." I say. "Sometimes though, things have to happen.
These, more often than not, cause incredible pain and get in the way
of things that want to happen, or should happen. The others think this
is the price that must be paid for the sake of the 'Big Picture.' I
disagree, if we lose sight of the little picture, what good is the big
one?"

"So you interfere." She says.

"No." I shake my head. "We interphere. I like to think of it
is..not exactly interfereing but..just giving things a little nudge
now and again."

"Sure." She says with a laugh. "Ow!"

"Are you alright with this?" I ask. Suddenly concerned.

"Yes." She says. "I am. I'll see her again. I'll see them both
again."

"You love your daughter very much, don't you Joyce?"

She just shakes her head. "I love my daughters." She says and
looks off in the direction Willow and Buffy left in. "All three of
them."

***

My eyes are very, very reluctant to open. I'm lying in Buffy's
bed. In Buffy's room. The same place I've been staying for weeks now.
I can see the light of dawn on the horizon even though the sun is
still not there.

I roll over.

Expecting to encounter a warm body. Expecting to find her next
to me, expecting to awaken in joy and laughter. Together again at
last.

The bed's empty.

It was a dream.

Just a dream.

I'm not surprised. Not even hurt. I start crying. Many, many
cries. The darkness is not in me anymore though, my heart isn't in it.
It's just quiet sobs..quiet..quiet..quiet..eternal. But quiet.

So quiet.

'Run.'

I look up. A breeze is rustling some branches from outside and
sending the curtains billowing into the room. Hearing things..great.

'Run.'

What? What's.."Who's..who's there?" I say aloud.

'Run.'

It's a whisper..from..outside..somewhere...doesn't matter..it
says run. I run.


I just realised..my shoes are back.

I'm out of breathe, panting, gasping..ugh..feel sick..gotta
keep running, keep moving..where? I know ..I know where I have to
be..gotta get there.

There! Her grave..it's there...why am I running? Of course
it's there. It'll always _BE_ there. I'm losing my mind, that's it.
That's the answer..dreams..insanity..voices on the wind telling me to
run. Aha! I've got it, otherworldly spirits want me to get in shape!
Aerobics Through The Afterlife!!
Yaayy!

Wha..? Where? Where did..her...NO! GIVE IT BACK!! GIVE IT BACK
TO ME!!

No no..no....bring her grave back! Don't..don't take the only
thing I have left!

'Run.'

'Run now!'

I force my feet to move.

Over the rise, past the tree we buried Buffy under is a pond.
It's big, about fifty feet diamater and ten feet deep in the middle.
Buffy and I used to have night picnics while on patrol. Once..once
under the full moon we even made-

Flash of WHITE!! Can't..can't see...

Something splashed into the pond, something LANDED in the
pond!

I blink the spots from my eyes...hair. I saw a shock of blond
hair..slipping beneath the surface.

"NO!!" I scream. "BUFFY!!" I dive into the water.

It's dark, the sun isn't up what with the skies being a murky
grey color ..have to move..move..move ..where is she? I can't see her!
She's..she came back! I found her, she came with me and..they're going
to take her away again? I don't _THINK_ so!!

I reach the point..I think she landed here.. deep
breath..deep, deep breath!

I dive..can't see a thing..all this alge and silt. Oh man, my
allergies are gonna kick in hard. Where is she? I want to shout,
scream..but..I'm underwater, not a good idea.

She has to be here..she just has to..if I can't finder her..if
I don't find her..I'll..I'll...let out all my breath and drown! You
hear that? Do you hear me you damnable powers! DO YOU?

I see her!

C'mon..c'mon..get up..get up..kick..KICK!!

Air! Get her chip, hold her head up above the water. Gotta get
to the shore..gotta get to the shore. Hold on Buffy, I'll save you..I
will...I promise..pinky promise remember? Well that goes both ways,
wherever I go, you come along and I'm going back to life and SO
..ARE..YOU!!

Hhaaaa...haaa...made it...we made it...I gather her into my
arms..

Her head flops back, onto my shoulder.

"Buffy?" I say quietly. "Buffy can you hear me?"

Breathe..please..answer..blink, laugh, kick..hit me even but
WAKE UP!!

"Buffy." I shake her slightly. "Buffy wake up, ya have to wake
up..you promised me..you gotta keep your promises..promises are
important and when you make an important promise they're even more
important than just a promise..which is also important but you made me
and important promise..which..takes presendence over normal
promies..but I said that already. Please keep your promise Buffy,
please keep your very important promise..please..please..please.."

"Willow."

OHGODDESSTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!!

"You're babbling."

Her eyes flutter open.

"Hey."

Speaking requires a substantial part of your awareness. Mine
is caught betwen joy, tears, shock, and pure dumbfounded numbness yet
at the same time being incredibly aware.

Like..how I'm very, very cold.

And Buffy is very, very naked.

And looking at me.

"Hey yourself." I say back.

"How..." She swallows. "How would you like a magical, mystical
Summer Healing kiss?" She asks.

"Oh yes." I smile and cry and speak. I want to dance and
faint, and love and eat..eat? Gosh..I AM hungry. "Oh yes." I say
again. "More than anything."

She gives me one.
And one more,
and one more
and one more and
one more
and....

END-SUNDOWNING

Authors Notes: So. What next?