Down Twisted: 32

["tina" <Rogersjctt@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

'kay, here goes nothing!  enjoy it if ya can 'cause there's not alot 
left after this one.  All disclaimer's still exist.
        An aside: Jim Means, this chapters for you! I promised ya, 
that if I could swing it, I'ed try and put in my fave memory of my 
Gram's yard.  Rejoice,babe,'cause I did! 



                        Exactly one week later    9:45 pm

          The party,that had been going on for the last 2 hour 
period, was now over.    The Watcher, Scoobs and Joyce, after hugging 
Alex one more time, had just left for the evening.  The dark 
Southerner, whom was just shutting the trunk to her car, felt the 
need to smother back a sigh.  While it had sucked saying goodbye to 
those people, Alex Knew the worst was still yet left to come.

 Buffy and Will where waiting for her inside the house and the older 
woman truly wished she could put off saying bye to Them until later 
one but she also knew her time was up.   Her vehicle was almost 
completly packed, she'd only left the blanket, pillows and a change 
of clothes inside the residence.  The dark one fully intended to be 
back on America's highways by 7:30 am and avioding this, admitedly 
difficult conversation, would only cost her valuable time out on the 
roads.

 It was, therefore, with a resoulte set to her shoulder's that Alex 
walked back into inside to rejoin the two girls whom had ended up 
meaning so much more than her own existance.  The Slayer and Witch 
where standing in the livingroom and, from the expressions on their 
faces, she knew she was in for it!  The compact blonde's words only 
confirmed her suspecions.

               " Do you really have to leave tomarrow morining, 
Alex?   Couldn't you find it within yourself to say for just a little 
longer?"

 The Southerner held her tounge as she stepped fully into the room. 
After a moment, she shook her head.

          " Guys, you've know this day was coming since the first 
moment I set foot in Sunnydale.  It's not that I haven't adored our 
time together, because ya'll damn well know that I have!  Nor should 
you think I wouldn't kinda like to live her because I most certainly 
Would.  The truth is, sweeties,that  This just isn't my home.  
Arkansas is the place where my family, other friends and Brett 
reside. I need to get back there because it's only at my Grandma's 
house that I can refind my center." 

                    " Your center?"

 That was thrown out by the puzzled looking Witch.  Alex couldn't 
resist sending a heartbreakingly, sweet smile over to the younger 
girl.

         " Willow, love,I'm guessing you'ed probably would call it 
my peice of mind.  I've been a little off balance, for a while now, 
and I need to reclaim my inner quiteness. It's a sure fire bet that, 
once I set foot on my Grandma's bridge, I can do just That!" 

 This, clearly, confused the teenagers.  They just stood there, 
looking at Alex like she'd lost her mind.

                   " Why ," asked a mystified blonde.

 Before the dark Southerner answered, both teens where witness to 
the most openly, happy smile they'd Ever seen overtake Alexandra 
Roberts face.

          " It's because of one simple reason, Buffy.  I can close 
my eyes, once I'm there and, quite literally, transport myself to the 
one place I can call Heaven.  That, ladies, would be my Grandam's 
yard circa the '70s.  It's just as the moment Spring is gently 
slipping into Summer, when the sweet smell of honeysuckle permiates 
the air and those tiny, white and pink Spring flowers, that always 
resembled a carpet to me, are covering the deep green of the grass. 
Add to That the unbeliveable scent of her 25 year old Lilac bush, 
which happens to be fully in bloom, 2 towering Mimosa trees, with 
their delicatly, pinkish white flowers that gently blew in the wind, 
a freakin multitude of double Joquils that still yet grow by the 
roadside  with the uniquely, sweet smell of the Graybeard bush that 
resides smack in the middle of the yard.  Superimose Those by adding 
the double threat coming from a mound of pink-n-purple Hycthins,and 
the gorgeous yellow splash of color from her Forsethia bush.  If I 
really want to throw myself over the top, I'll add the smell of a 
freshly cut lawn. God, if I could only bottle those smells, I'ed make 
a shit load of money!  Because it's there, Will and Buffy, that I'm 
truly home."

 At the end of that proudly, passionate speech, both girl's found 
themselves quite affected by the cadence in Alexandra Roberts words.

           " Wow, that sounds simply wonderful! But, Alex, why would 
you have to shut your eyes to experince all that you've just shared 
with me and Buffy?"

 It was the red head whom asked that question because the blonde 
Slayer was still reeling from the knowledge that her tree house and 
Alex's memory resembled almost the exact same thing!

      " Well, Darlin'," said the dark woman, " I'm afraid I have to 
tell ya'll that some of those plants don't exist anymore.  The Mimosa 
died back in the early '80s,from some damn sickness that eats them 
from the inside out.  We lost the Lilac Bush back in 1991 because a 
damn vine chocked it to death.  Ya'll better believe I cried like a 
baby on That day!  Christ, I really wish ya'll could have seen it 
just one time.  That sucker was as tall as a tree and, during Spring, 
was heavy with those tightly blue, white and light lavender blooms 
that used to so enchant me as a kid.  And, would ya believe, that at 
any given moment, you could look out at the Lilac and marvell over 
the bunches of tiny butterflies that used to take up residnece 
there?!?!?   The Hycthin, for reasons uknown,died back in 1995.  I 
confess,it's never quite been the same for me since then.  Don't get 
me wrong, I still enjoy taking a walk aroumnd my Grandma's yard. It's 
just, I can't do that without mourning the things that used to be 
there.  Besides, I just really want to see my people again.  Face it, 
I'm just one homesick, puppy."

 The self deprecaiting tone in Alex's words caused Buffy to give a 
light sqeeze to her lover's right hand.  It was an acknowledgment, 
between them, that the older woman had the perfect right to head back 
to her homestate and without anymore flack on their part.

                  " 'Kay, Alex, we see there's nothing we can do or 
say that will keep you in Sunnydale for much longer.  I just want you 
to know that me and Willow are seriously gonna miss having you around 
in our lives."

                " I agree with Buffy," said the Wiccan, " it just 
doesn't seem right that we'll probably never see each other again!"

 The anguish in both those girl's voices caused Alexandra Roberts to 
clamp her teeth toghether.  Once more she cursed herself for allow 
the Witch and Slayer the oppertunity to grow so close to her.  In the 
next instance, however, she damned herself for even having the 
audacity for thinking along those lines.  Buffy and Willow had become 
one of her greatest joys and the dark woman Knew she was better off 
for knowing them.

            " Damn, ladies, and I thought I was the dark one!  Trust 
me, it doesn't have to be That way.   We have emails, snail mail and 
phone calls, don'tcha know?  It's not as if we'll never hold a 
conversation again.  Hell, if ya want, we can even exchange photos 
over the Net.  I promise, even though we won't be in the same state, 
it doesn't have to be the end of our friendship.  I don't think I 
could handle That either!  Ya'll mean the world to me, don't let my 
departure ruin what exists between us, 'kay?"

 Alex was utterly gratified, by this time, to once again see smiles 
across the faces of Willow Rosenberg and Buffy Summers faces.  She 
was, however, wholly unprepared when both girl's suddenly launched 
themselves into her arms.  The blonde, her red haired lover and the 
dark woman remainded locked in that embrace for an undetermined 
amount of time.

 Each of those people knew that this was a special moment and 
everyone of them was hellbent on enjoying it for all that it was 
worth.  

 Alex, needing to draw in some breaths, was the first to drop her 
arms.  It took a mere second later for the Slayer to follow suite.  
The Wiccan, it seemed, was oblivious to the other's motions.

The dark woman permitted the embrace, for a moment, because she 
realised Willow Rosenberg needed This.  When she next spoke, Buffy 
had to grin at the equal parts care and irony it held.

            " Will, baby, your gonna have to let me go now."

The tenderness in Alex's voice was very nearly Willow's undoing.  
She,reflexisly, dropped her arms and took a half step back.

                  " Sorry...sorry, Alex."

The dark woman found herself becoming ticked at the insecurity she 
could hear coming out in the Wiccan's words.

             " Sugar, you have nothing to apologise over.  I 
perfectly understand your motivations for hugging me.  Or, did ya 
forget, I found myself in mostly the same situation with Mike and 
Amy?!?  Never feel bad about loving someone, baby, because it's 
always a Good thing. Come on, don't you feel a litte better now?"

  Alex waited only for a shake of that girl's head before continuing 
on.

           " Then, my friend's, give me a smile or I'm likely to 
turn on my own water works and I'ed like to avoid That, if I can."

 Everyone could feel the utter seriousness of this situation beging 
to dissapate and all where glad by it.  Alex, Buffy and Willow 
started some nonsense conversation, to keep things light, if ya 
understand.  After glancing down at her watch, the dark one wasn't at 
all surprised to find it was now 10:55.  With a heavy heart, she knew 
it was time to turn in.

           " Ladies, I'm sorry to tell ya that the time has come to 
cut this evening short.  I, seriously, gotta get me some shut eye.  
Do ya'll need me to drive ya home?"

 The teens declined that offer and Alex, with a sad look, walked 
them to the front door.

            " Night, my friend's, hope the rest of this evening will 
be pleasant for you."

                " Night, Alex," said the blonde.

                 " Goodnight," said the Witch, " we'll be over here 
in the morning to see you off."

              " Hold up," replied the dark woman," I would prefer it 
if I don't have to see you waving me goodbye, if ya'll can 
undersatand."

 This, not surprisingly, totally shocked both girl's.

                 " But,Alex!"

 Those dark gray eyes turned somber and both Willow and Buffy halted 
in their footsteps.

             " Damnit, folk's, it nearly killed me when I had to 
stand there and watch as Amy and Mike drove out of my life.  I would 
save us from the sheer injustice of That moment, if you'll only let 
me.  Please, guys, heed my words."

 The Slayer, whom totally understood Alex even better than she'd 
first thought possible, had no trouble finding reason within those 
noble but misguided motivations.  The Witch, though pained by those 
short sentances, realised Alex wasn't trying to deliberately hurt 
anyone with her request.

 It was with sheer and utter meloncholy, that Buffy and Willow 
agreed to Alexandra Roberts terms.

              " I refuse to say goodbye," said the older woman," 
lets just call this a until later on, allright?"

                  " Until then," said both girls at once.

As those gorgeous teenagers walked down her sidewalk, Alexandra 
Roberts continued to watch after them until their beloved figures 
melted into the darkness.  The older woman was beyond happy that no 
one had caused a major scene.  She deeply regretted,however, that she 
had nothing to leave Willow and Buffy.  Though Alex had promised them 
photos, within the event of her death, she couldn't quite part with 
them while she was still yet living.  All this was weighing heavy 
upon her mind.  

It was,surprisingly,just as she locked the front door that 
inspiration hit!  It was a wholly delicious thought and the dark 
woman retired to bed with a shit eating grin splashed across her 
face. When she shut her eyes, there was only one thought rebounding 
around inside her head.

         Well, damn, I only wish I could be able to see ya'lls faces 
in the morning!!!



    




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Willow: "It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."
Buffy:  "I kinda love you."
                     'Choices'

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