Fic: Family 4/?

["nykademis" <phaisyle@xxxxxxxxx>]

Disclaimer: See Part 1

Fic: Family/ Fallen 4/?
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Buffy and Willow broke apart when the heard the siren's and saw 
flashing lights.

"What's going on?" Willow moved to Buffy's window only to see the 
rigs stop infront of the house "Shea!"

Willow rushed downstairs with Buffy moving at a slower pace behind 
her.

Shea was on the couch next to Joyce. She was holding the woman's 
hand and casting.

"What's wrong?" Willow moved to stand beside her and saw for herself.

Joyce's eyes were open but no one was home.

"Oh my god"

"Mommy?" Buffy sat on Shea and touch her mother's cool cheeks "No 
Mommy, oh please god no" Buffy fell forward hugging her mother 
close "You can't leave me now I need you!" she sobbed pitifully.

For long moments neither Shea nor Willow moved. The both knew the 
slayer needed this.

Willow answered the door to the EMT's knock.

"She's right here on the couch" Willow pointed to where Buffy still 
clutched her mother crying.

Slowly the EMT approached the slayer "Miss, I need to check the 
patient"

"She's dead asshole!" Buffy screamed into her mother's chest.

"I need to verify that for the hospital" the EMT said gently "Just 
let me touch her neck please?"

Buffy moved over slightly.

The man touched Joyce briefly and back away "Thank you. I'll need to 
take her to the hospital soon. But I can give you a few minutes to 
say goodbye"

Buffy sobbed loudly into the already soaked blouse Joyce I breathed 
her last breath in.

"Thank you" Willow answered for her.

Shea was still trapped beneath Buffy.

Slowly she wrapped her arms around the smaller girl, and gave her a 
reassuring hug.

Resting her cheek on Buffy's back Shea felt every tremor and shiver 
that went through her.

"She's not in pain anymore" Shea whispered.

Willow wiped tears from her own eyes. She needed Joyce as much as 
Buffy had. But she had to be strong right now. Buffy was breaking 
down. She couldn't take much more.

Slowly Shea stood. Supporting Buffy completely in her arms, she 
carried the little slayer back up to her room.

Willow watched tearfully as the EMT and his partner loaded Joyce 
onto the rolling bed, and carried her out to their rig.

"You can come by the hospital later. Take care of everything if 
you'd like" the EMT handed her a card "This is where we're taking 
her. Exact floor and everything"

Willow nodded sniffling "Thanks"

She stood in the same spot until the rig disappeared form her sight.
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Willow found Shea and Buffy in the slayers bedroom.

Buffy was curled up on her side in the fetal position. She continued 
to cry.

Shea was rubbing slow circles on her back trying to calm her down.

Willow did the only thing she could think to do.

Climbing in the bed behind Buffy, she spooned the slayer and began 
to rock them both.

Immediately Buffy began to ease.

Soon they fell asleep. Wrapped around each other.

Shea sighed. She knew they had to be going through some terrible 
pain, even in their dreams.

Quietly she left the room, made a few phone calls, and settled back 
to making a potion to cure Buffy's morning sickness.
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Xander stood on the porch of 1630 Revello Drive and considered 
running. It had been a whole summer and the beginning of a new 
school year since he'd seen his two best friends.

They were in college now. He knew that much. He hoped they opted for 
early morning classes, it being the middle of the afternoon. Though 
he wasn't sure he was ready to face them. Not with the new's he was 
about to deliver to Buffy.

He still didn't believe it himself. But things like this always 
happened to them.

Always.

Taking a deep steadying breath he knocked on the door.

A woman he'd never seen before answered.

Apparently Buffy and Willow had made new friends over the summer.

"Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for Buffy. Possibly Willow. Are they here?" Xander said 
politely.

"They're resting. Hey your the guy from the pictures" the woman 
stepped back from the door "Come in"

Xander stepped into the Summer's home. It was the same as when he'd 
left. Neat, ordered, and...silent?

Usually there was some type of noise. But today everything was 
quiet. Not even a radio on somewhere.

"So what's up did someone die?" Xander asked with his normal 
flippant attitude.

"Actually someone did"

Xander noticed another woman. She stood in the kitchen with a mug of 
something steaming in her hand.

For a moment he panicked. /Does Buffy already know?/ His mouth 
dropped open in surprise /And who's the babe?/

"Uh who?" he looked around nervously and stuck his hands in his 
pockets.

"Your Xander right?" the woman who opened the door asked.

"Yeah. Who died?" Xander frowned and backed up towards the couch.

"I'm Buster. Um, late this morning, Joyce, Buffy's mom. She died" 
Buster bit her lip hoping he'd take it better than Buffy and Willow 
had.

"Oh my god" Xander fell back on the couch and stared blankly 
ahead "Joyce..."

"I'll be upstairs if you need me" Shea whispered to her soulmate 
before heading up.

Buster nodded keeping a close eye on the man on the couch.

"How?" Xander managed meeting Busters eyes with tearfilled ones.

"She had a tumor" Buster said "That's all I know"

"Joyce" Xander buried his face in his hands "Oh god. She's gone. 
They're all gone"

Buster frowned at his words.

Who all?
________________

Willow was resting with her back against the headboard and Buffy's 
head in her lap when Shea entered.

"Someone just came to the door for you" Shea sat on the bed as 
Buffy's side and handed her the tea.

The slayer lifted her head and took a feeble sip.

"Who?" Willow asked never slowly from stroking Buffy's soft hair.

"I think his name was Xander?" Shea rubbed a finger across Buffy's 
brow.

"Does he know?" Buffy sniffled.

"Yes" Shea sighed. She knew this wasn't gonna be easy for any of 
them. All the thoughts in the boy's head had flown into her's when 
he'd become nervous. It seemed that Buffy was losing 3 people she 
loved all in one day. This new new's could wait.

"I don't think I can face him right now" Buffy's voice was rough and 
broken.

"I don't think he wants to face anyone right now either" Shea said 
softly "He's crying. Buster's with him"

"Thank you for doing this" Willow spoke softly "For staying. I don't 
know what we'd do right now without you. Putting you through all 
this after knowing us one day"

"Hell doesn't have a calendar" Shea bit her lip "It makes it's own 
time"

"Don't I know it" Buffy sniffled again reaching for a tissue "I 
guess it's a good thing we found you guys before hells bells went 
off"

"Yeah" Shea chuckled humorlessly "Good thing"
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