FIC: Three Years in Hell, A Lifetime of Pain (3a/?)

[William Labarbera <asagiri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Authors: Red Demon & Bill Gopher
Email: senseiferret@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:senseiferret@xxxxxxxxx> or
kerrison29@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:kerrison29@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
Disclaimers: Buffy and Company belong to Joss, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century
Fox and UPN.
Pairings: Buffy/Faith, Willow/Tara
Rating: PG13 for now at least, NC17 later on.
Distribution: If you want it, ask us and we'll probably say yes.
Feedback: A definite 'Must Have'. Makes us write much faster, Thoughts,
Opinions.
Summary: In an Alternate Universe where what was right is now wrong.

Beth moved over to Giles and quickly checked his pulse while Anya pulled out
the First Aid kit and handed her some smelling salts. 

Anya watched Buffy for a moment, "Have you killed anyone and should we
expect the police anytime?" 

Beth ignored the irritating ex-vengeance demon, "Giles it's me Beth, uhhmmm
Buffy."

Giles focused his eyes towards the voice and stared for several seconds.
"Buffy, you're here" he whispered and pulled her into a tight hug. "I can't
believe it, I thought I'd never see you again". 

He felt her stiffen but didn't say anything. Stepping back he looked at
Buffy carefully, gone was the young girl he knew and loved as his own
daughter. He saw her once long, blonde hair was now light brown and cut
short, her features were more pronounced and chiseled, and her bearing was
proud. 

But it was the look in her eyes that had him worried. She had changed, and
not just in her physical appearance, but something on the inside had
changed. She had become almost hard and there was something else he couldn't
put his finger on. 

Beth had watched Giles step back and look at her carefully, she saw the
pride in his face, and she also saw a look of concern quickly flash on his
features and was masked almost as fast as it was there. 

"Buffy how long have you been in Sunnydale?" Giles asked. 

"Just a few minutes actually..."

"I need to know if I have to get the broom to sweep up all the donut crumbs
again." 

"Anya do shut your bloody mouth for once and go away." 

Anya looked surprised at Giles' outburst, as she wandered away from the two
of them. 

"Do you need a ride to your house?" Giles asked. 


<<<<>>>>


Beth pulled out her cell phone and dialed Taylor's house. She heard the
muffle of the phone being dropped.

Giles noticed the smile spread across her face and wondered briefly whom she
was calling.

"Hello, Taylor residence." she heard the little voice recite the words she'd
spent months trying to teach him.

"Hey Sammy, Its Auntie Beth."

Giles frowned, 'Auntie Beth?' but he saw the mischievous look as she spoke
to this Sammy. For a moment she was the girl from three years ago and then
it passed.

"Auntie Beth, hi! Are you coming over from the base today? Daddy's having a
BBQ."

"No Sammy I can't come to your Dad's BBQ today." A look of longing crossed
Buffy's face for a moment as Giles watched her and then the playful smile
returned.

"Not today Sammy, I'm visiting friends. But I promise to be back for your
birthday."

"Awww, Auntie Beth. That's not for weeks and weeks!"

"Yeah, but then you can show me all the stuff I missed out on while I was
away."

"Okay," Sammy said sadly.

"But I'm gonna be there for your birthday, you're gonna be seven! And you
know I wouldn't miss that."

"I need you to give your Dad a message and its important okay?" Beth said
knowing that Sam would take the message seriously.

"I can do that Auntie Beth"

"I know you can, Tell you dad that Auntie Beth said to call off the SR Teams
and I'll call him tomorrow."

"Okay, got it!"

"Good. Now you go have fun and try not to get the barbecue all over your dad
and tell him the message, okay?"

"Kay, bye Auntie Beth" Sammy replied.

"Talk to you soon squirt."

Giles pulled onto Revello Drive just as Buffy finished talking on the cell
phone. "We'll be at your house in a minute."

Beth looked over at Giles, "How has Mom and Dawn been?"

"There have been some changes, but that's something you really need to
discuss with them Buffy."

He pulled his car into the driveway of 1430 Revello Drive, "We're here, are
you ready?"

"As I'll ever be." Beth looked out the car window and the house she had once
called home.

Giles walked up to the front door, Buffy was just in front of him. As they
got to the front door it opened and Joyce stood sideways facing the stairs
"Dawn, Giles is here!" Joyce called out.

End Part 3a