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?