Chapter 22: The Long Way Home
Does it feel that your life’s become a catastrophe?
Oh, it has to be for you to grow, boy.
When you look through the years and see what you could
Have been oh, what might have been,
If you’d had more time.
So, when the day comes to settle down,
Who’s to blame if you’re not around?
You took the long way home
You took the long way home
Supertramp, “Take the Long Way Home”
-
CLEVELAND - TUESDAY– TRIAGE– 11:00 AM / NIBIRU – HOUR 12:15:00
NICKY’S POV
They should have been back two hours ago. Everyone is worried, but no one is saying anything. They don’t need to. Andrew hasn’t left his office since he did his thing with the computers. Kennedy was out all night Slaying with Jen, Liz and Claudine cause the vampire activity here has skyrocketed since we made the jump to Nibiru, so she’s sleeping right now. Finally, Sophia, Willow and Dawn are with Buffy; she still hasn’t woken up. I heard them talking earlier; she went into cardiac arrest again. Sophia said it weakens her heart every time that happens.
And me, well, I’m just sitting on a gurney waiting for Faith and Emma. I don’t want to be in anyone’s way so I’m just going to stay here until they come back. Cause they have to come back, right? Then my slow tears become sobs and I breakdown and cry: I want Buffy to be ok; I want Faith and Emma to come home; I want my family back. I stay like this for what seems forever, but it’s only a few minutes. I know that cause when I hear something drop on the floor I look up and see that it’s now 11:07.
A little scared, I slowly turn around but see nothing. Then I look on the floor and see Faith in a crumpled heap. “SOPHIA! COME IN HERE QUICK!” I yell out as I run to her, cradling her head in my lap. “It’s ok, you’re home now,” I stroke the hair away from her face as the three of them race in.
“Faith,” Sophia quickly scans the room for Emma then kneels down to her only patient, “Will?”
Willow comes over and lays her hands on Faith’s unconscious body, “She’s ok, no internal bleeding.”
“Ok,” Sophia picks her up and places her on the gurney I was occupying not two minutes ago, “let’s get her cleaned up and screened.”
Dawn takes my hand and starts to lead me away but I rip it from her grasp, “I’m not leaving.”
“Nicky…”
Sophia cuts away the rest of Faith’s jeans, “Hey Nick, why don’t you go up to their room and get a change of clothes for Faith ok?”
“Ok, but just like boxers and tank top, right?” I ask, knowing that’s all Buffy is wearing.
Sophia grins at me, “That would be perfect.”
“Nicky,” Faith breathes out.
Running to her, “I’m here, Faith,” once again I brush her hair away from her face, “I’m right here.” I can’t help it as I start to cry.
“Hey,” she finally opens her eyes, “I’m ok, really. I just got kinda knocked around when I jumped, I - I got lost.”
I smile at her, “I got lost too. Did the Goddess find you and help you to get home?”
“Yeah, Nick, she did.” She breathes out then closes her eyes, “Red, can you get Ken down here?”
Not questioning why, Willow goes upstairs. Dawn is leaning against the door jam, “Good to have you back Faith, Buffy’s going to feel it; it will help.”
“How is she?” Faith asks, “I kept losing my connection to her when I was jumping, that’s how I got lost.”
Sophia takes the bandages off her leg revealing a connect-the-dots maze of gun shot wounds, “God Faith.” Soph carefully inspects the wounds then holds Faith’s gaze, “She was stable for a couple of days, but went in cardiac arrest again this morning. That’s why you were losing the connection.” Sophia looks at her intently, “We’ll get her stable again, don’t worry.” She smiles, “Now what about you? Do you feel pain anywhere?”
“Nah, just tired. Em patched me up good,” then she looks at Sophia, “she wanted, well needed to stay, but she’ll find a way home. I know she will.”
Sophia sighs then shakes her head wearily, “Right, should be easy for a superhero.” She shakes her head again then throws the bloodied bandages on the floor and starts to clean Faith’s wounds.
“Sophia…” Faith slowly sits up taking in her body language, “Look, Sophia she really lo- ”
Sophia closes her eyes, “Don’t Faith,” she lets out a breath as she rests both of her hands on the gurney, “I know, ok, I know.” Then she continues to clean Faith’s wounds. “It just doesn’t make it any easier right now.”
“Hey, Nick, can you get those clothes for me now?” Faith asks, “I think I’m gonna shower down here.”
I nod and leave. I’m not stupid; I know they’re going to have a grown up conversation. And the way they’re acting; it’s not going to be a nice one.
NIBIRU – HOUR 15:45:00 / CLEVELAND - WEDNESDAY – 3:00 PM
EMMA’S POV
When I open my eyes I find I’m lying under a good portion of the hill. I’m stiff and damp, must be from the dirt and sand. As I pull myself out from the pile on top of me, I sit to catch my breath. That’s when I realize the dampness is from blood. I have cuts and gashes all over me not to mention I’ve been squished under the rumble for the past, I look at my watch, SHIT, close to 4 hours. No wonder I feel so...
I don’t know how long she’s been there. But when I look up, the goddess is staring down at me. “Are you alright?” She helps me stand.
“I feel... strange,” how about some applause for the understatement of the century?
She nods, “Your friends are very resourceful.”
“You like that?” I laugh, then grimace as I stand up straight, “Andrew is the man.”
Regarding me slowly, she tilts her head to the side, “The prophecy is nearly fulfilled. Each of you has stood trial and spilled your blood into the sacred plains. There is but one more trial to be endured, however, it is not one to be taken lightly.” She smiles as she backs away from me, “Bonus fortuna.” Then she’s gone.
“Right,” I laugh to myself, “‘Good luck’ cause I’m going to need it huh?” Resting against the remains of the pyramid, I silently curse because the med kit is under the pile I crawled out of. “Luck,” I snicker.
Once again, I lose track of time, but open my eyes when a shiver runs down my spine. I look up to see Richard walking towards me in the distance. His witch stays behind, in the background, not venturing near me. I try to reach her telepathically, but she shuts me down. Now he’s standing in front of me, “You’ve certainly looked better Emma darling.”
“Are you gonna kill me or just annoy me to death?” I’m just so very tired.
He comes nearer, reaching over to lift my chin, “You look exhausted, my dear.” He pauses then regards me slowly, “I can still remember what it is to be bone wearily tired. All those years at the mill,” leaning next to me against the pyramid, he sighs. “Grinding grain into flour with a stone mill 10 hours a day is no one’s idea of fun. Life before electricity was not as romantic as films portray.”
“So like Faith said, ‘Are we gonna rap now?’” I can’t help but laugh at myself; I’m a bit delirious I think.
He narrows his eyes at me, “Do you have to sink to a level below you?” He straightens his jacket and runs a hand through his hair. “I’ve been watching you since you were born, Emma. Your strength has grown so much since then. I felt your power when you destroyed the Coven members who killed your parents.”
“I’m not talking about them with you,” I clench my jaw and push my hands into my front pockets.
Smiling, he leans close to me, “It felt good killing them didn’t it? You don’t need to answer; I knew what you were feeling. I could taste it in your tears that evening.” He takes in my shocked expression, “Yes, I was there, how do you think you got to the Coven Elder? You were in shock, my dear. I carried you there, wrapped in my arms.”
“You are full of shit,” there is no way I’m going to believe this.
His grin widens as he takes my hand from the pocket of my jeans, “Don’t be alarmed,” he coos to me as he intertwines his hand in mine, “Feel my memory, go ahead.” And I do, ‘In the twilight I see through his eyes, a child, me, standing in front of what used to be my house. The members of the Coven have been disintegrated, there is nothing left but the clothes they once wore...
“Stop it,” I wrench my hand from his, “what do you want from me, you undead stalker?”
Richard brings me close, “I don’t have to kill you, you need only say yes and all worlds can be ours. I’ve waited so long for this, you are ready now.”
“Ready… ready to what, becoming a soul-less fiend cursed to walk the Earth for all eternity?” I shake my head, “Have you lost your mind?”
He comes nearer to me again, “You must choose it for it to be so.”
“It’s not going to happen,” too exhausted to move, I close my eyes against his thrall.
Feeling his breath on my neck, he murmurs, “I know you want this,” then his teeth break my skin and once again I feel the torrents of blood moving from my body. With my right hand still in my pocket, I feel for the only thing that will stop this madness. I grasp it and slowly take it out. Knowing I don’t have the strength to stake him properly, I plunge it into the soft skin of his neck. There’s blood everywhere, mine, his; he spits it onto the sand as he grasps his wound. “Fucking ungrateful bitch! I would have given you immortality!”
“Only fools want to live forever,” I manage to mumble out as I fall to my knees, “and you have no clue what I want.” My voice is now almost a whisper.
Camille runs to him. She puts her arm around him as she leads him away. I watch them until they disappear, no doubt jumping somewhere to recuperate.
As I lay on the sand, hurt, tired, weak, I watch my blood as it seeps into the earth and vanishes. My last conscious thought: Now Nibiru is drinking my blood.
CLEVELAND – THURSDAY – LIVING ROOM – 10:00 PM / NIBIRU - HOUR 19:37:30
FAITH’S POV
Sophia and I mended our fences over the last couple of days. She wasn’t really angry with me or even Emma for that matter. The argument that ensued after my return was born of frustration, worry and love. I understand completely, cause I feel the same way. So we are chilling in the living room, having a drink, just us. Dawn and Andrew just took Nicky up to bed. Will is on Buffy-watch and Ken is on patrol.
“Want another?” I ask as I pour myself a second.
She thinks for a moment, “A small one, I have to check on Buffy again in a few minutes.”
“Does it mean anything that she hasn’t woken up yet?” I look at her expectantly, like I haven’t asked her the same question every day, “I mean does it mean anything bad?”
Soph sighs and indulges me, “Not necessarily bad… but not necessarily good either.” She looks up at me and rolls her eyes, “I’m not trying to be evasive on purpose. It’s just that, yeah, for a Slayer, she should have woken up by now; for a regular person she should be dead, so it’s that huge gap in between that we’re dealing with.”
“What does your gut tell you?” I venture.
Shaking her head, she sighs, “That’s not fair, Faith. I really don’t know, and I won’t guess. Let’s just take it one day at a time, slow and steady, no?
“Ok,” I sulk for a minute then look up at her, “Can you still feel her?” I stopped using Emma’s name the day I got back. It seems to upset everyone a little less. I wonder if they did that when I was gone…
She nods, “She’s not dead, I…” Sophia looks down, then back up at me, “I feel her… far away. She’s weak and hurt but she’s alive.” She dips her head again then sips her bourbon, “When Nicky came back, the Goddess gave her a message for me.” Meeting my gaze, she continues, “She said, ‘Death shall have no dominion.’”
“Like B’s poem?” I can’t believe it; how would Ereshkigal know about that?
Sophia nods, “Right before Buffy came back, Dawn and I were in Buffy’s office and I noticed it.” She drains her glass then closes her eyes and softly asks, “Do you think it really means Emma’s going to die, or was she just being cryptic?”
“Shit, it could mean anything.” You know, I’ve never really been close with Sophia, she was always more friendly with B and Dawn. These last couple of days made me realize how much I don’t know this woman Emma fell in love with. Sure, I know her, even hung out with her family in Barcelona for a week one time years ago, but I don’t really know her, not like Vi or Rona. She’s really struggling with this, not that we all aren’t but I can tell she’s really hurting now. Getting up, I move to sit next to her, “Ereshkigal’s been helping us all along the way,” I put my arm around her and give her a squeeze, “I can’t help but think she’s trying to reassure you in some way.” Just like I can’t help but feel Richard told us he was going after Nicky only to get Emma alone on Nibiru.
She jumps then turns to me a bit startled, “Something happened to her, in a really not good way.” She’s about to say something else when the house alarms go off. Both of us jump up and run to Dawn & Andrew’s office. Looking at the floor plan she tracks the blinking lights, “Fuck, it’s the basement,” then runs after me as I rush downstairs.
When I hit the bottom of the steps I hear scuffling then find Nicky fighting a room full of vamps in the mini OR. Where the hell is Willow? Not having time to think about that now because there’s so many, I can’t understand how they got in here. I grab one and twist her neck, dust. Then I hear Sophia, “Faith,” she throws me a stake, damn, I’m liking this chick more and more by the second. It takes me a while to get to B cause they’re all fucking over the place, but when I do all her hook ups have been severed. FUCK! Quickly staking two more, I look up to see my little girl stomp a vamp’s knee then stake him as he leans down, cool, she’s holding her own.
Sophia is trying to get in between the remaining vamps and Nicky, gently ushering her away from the fray. When one of the undead bastards makes a move for my kid, Sophia drop kicks him to the head then plunges a stake in heart. Yeah, I can see what Em sees in her. Feeling Buffy’s pulse, I see it’s weak, but steady, so I move to the last vamps. That is, I try to move, until I’m pinned to the wall. Looking around, I realize so are Nicky and Sophia.
“Are you quite finished with the estrogen display?” Richard comes into the room with Camille at his heels. She’s chanting so, yeah, no surprise, it’s a spell. How it got through all of Andy’s security, I have no clue.
Taking in the sight of his blood-stained clothes and the healing gash on his neck, I start to chuckle, “Did my girl do that Dicky-boy?”
“Bitch,” he grabs my face in his hand, “how dare you laugh at me,” he seethes.
Acknowledging that pride is his weakness, I continue, “Even injured and weak she still got the better of you didn’t she?”
“Silence,” he backhands me across the face, “She’s a very short-sighted young woman who will now not live through the night.” He turns around, “It’s your other daughter I’m interested in right now.” He walks over to Nicky as she scowls at him. “Hello little one,” he strokes the side of her face; “you and I are going to get to know each other very well.” He takes a scalpel in his hand and runs the dull side down her face.
Sickened by the intonation of his words; I glance at Sophia then Nicky. Mindful of the Wicca, I send Nick a quick thought ‘With all you got, free Sophia,’
Nick sends me back ‘Ok,’ then looks at Camille, trying to see if she ‘heard’ us.
She looks back to me then I send ’Now.’
Realizing she’s free, but not making a move, Sophia looks at me questioningly. I look over to Camille then back to her. Sophia nods then reaches her hands to the sides of the Wicca’s face and snaps her neck. The little Goth witch crumples to the floor when Sophia lets go. The Spaniard begins to advance on Richard.
“Camille!” Richard screams. Knowing we will all be able to move soon, he throws the scalpel at Sophia’s head then grabs Nicky in his arms.
Sophia turns her head quickly, but the blade still cuts though her cheek to her ear. It’s a lot of blood, but it’s not deadly.
“You will pay dearly for this Faith, starting with this one,” he sinks his teeth into my baby’s neck and I’m about to pounce on him when he disintegrates.
Nicky falls to the floor, so does B, right behind her, stake in one hand, drawing Nicky into her with the other, “Jesus, he talked too much,” she croaks out. Buffy nuzzles into Nicky’s head, “You ok honey?”
“I love you so much,” Nicky turns and buries her head in B’s shoulder as she begins to cry.
B smiles and leans her head on top of Nicky’s. She winces as she pulls our little girl closer to her, then lets out a breath, “I love you too, babe.”
NIBIRU – HOUR 23:37:30 / CLEVELAND SATURDAY 6:00 AM
EMMA’S POV
I’m cold, so incredibly cold. There’s no sound here, no wind, no trees, no animals... it’s just dead, lifeless, except for me. And hey, I’m barely alive, so I’ll fit right in soon. If I’d have to hazard a guess, I’d say: massive internal bleeding, multiple concussions, untold contusions and lacerations, probably a few broken bones. I also think hypothermia is starting to set in, great. Yeah, it’s perfect conditions for an inter-dimensional jump. “Get the fuck up Emma,” I mumble to myself as I crawl to the pyramid.
Leaning against the cold stone, I know I need to get back, get home. Pushing out a breath, I close my eyes and remember the feel of Sophia’s arms around me. I try to immerse myself in the memory of her body flush against mine, her warmth, her softness, her smell. I reach out to grasp her essence, to take hold of that part of her which I’ve claimed as mine. The pull is thankfully strong and I gladly surrender to it.
It’s hard to concentrate, I feel like my body is being pulled apart from the inside. When I finally arrive at the world of all possibilities, I’m shown the trials have ended. We won, the dimensions will not implode and my family is safe. Relieved, I try to continue but my weariness is now complete. As I feel myself start to drift, I sense someone take my hand and begin to lead me away. That’s the last thing I remember before I close my eyes: my hand feeling so small in the Goddess’, almost like a child’s.
CLEVELAND - - SATURDAY– BASEMENT WEAPONS ROOM – 9:27 AM
KENNEDY’S POV
Claudine and I got back from another all night patrol a little after daybreak. We had a quick breakfast while we did our debriefing. The other Slayers had gone to sleep when the meeting broke up, leaving Claud and I to stow the guns and account for the ammo used this, once again, productive evening.
Demon and vamp activity had gone out of control almost the second Faith, Buffy and the girls jumped to Nibiru. As each one came back, it lessened, now we’re just waiting for Emma. She’s been gone for more than a week now and we’re all worried. Sophia says she’s alive, but hurt, and getting weaker by the day. Poor Sophia, I shake my head as I think about what she must be going through. Buffy tried to tell me what it was like to ‘feel’ Faith when she was in another dimension. How she knew when Faith was injured or on her way home. It must be so incredibly frustrating.
Claud and I have been working silently, lost in our own thoughts, so it’s easy to hear the footsteps coming down the stairs and towards us. Looking up, I see Willow come in. “Good morning,” I smile at her.
“Good morning,” she hands us both a mug, “I brought you guys some more coffee. Andrew said you two got stuck with the log-duty.”
Claudine drinks her entire cup down then laughs, “There’s not enough coffee in the world to keep me awake right now,” she shakes her head, “but thanks for the thought Willow.” She looks over to me, “Can I finish this later? I’m beyond beat.”
“Go, I’ll finish up,” I clap my hand on her back, “you did enough tonight and I have well-rested assistant right here,” I point to Will, “so go get some sleep.”
Nodding her thanks, Claud makes her way to the stairs.
“What can I do to help?” Will comes over to me.
Finishing my coffee, I pick up the clipboard, “I’m actually almost done.” I start to write down the last of the inventory counts then sigh, “How’s Buffy? I’ll bet she’s psyched to be back in her own room.”
“She’s good, still in a lot of pain, but Sophia says that’s going to take some time.” Will comes closer and encircles my waist from behind, laying her head against my shoulder. “They’re up there now getting her settled from the move.” She pulls me closer, “You look so tired babe, this can wait, you need to sleep.”
Putting down the inventory list, I turn in her arms, “All done,” then lean in to give her a kiss, “I’m all yours.” As I lean in for another, I hear a crash. We pull apart, “Stay here,” I take a gun then slam a fresh clip in as I run out. After checking each classroom, I slowly make my way to triage and find the instrument table overturned. Carefully walking in, I look behind the mess and see Emma face down, unconscious, bleeding all over the floor. “WILLOW - COME HERE NOW!”
“Are you alrig - ”she stops short then runs to Em, putting her hands over Em’s back, “She’s alive... let me...” She closes her eyes and begins to chant under her breath. “Ok, I stopped the bleeding.” She stands and looks over to me, “Get her on the gurney, let’s clean her up a bit then get Sophia.”
Emma’s clothes are basically blood soaked rags barely hanging on her. Her shoes are gone and she’s a mess of blood and dirt. As Will starts to clean her up, I start for the door, “I’m going to get Sophia; I’m amazed she’s not down here already.”
As I’m running into the kitchen from the basement stairs, Sophia is running towards me, “Where is she?” she pants out as she grabs my shoulders.
“Triage,” I reply, then quickly add, “Will did some spells and is cleaning her up now.”
She turns to move past me, but I hold her arm. Sophia furrows her brow as she searches my eyes, “What?”
“I just want to prepare you, it looks worse than it is,” I reach up and rub her shoulder as she closes her eyes and nods, “Go ahead, I’ll tell the gang.”
LATER THAT NIGHT – TRIAGE– 11:03 PM
EMMA’S POV
The very first thing I realize when I wake is Sophia is near; the second is that I’m in triage. Turning my head to see where she is, my eyes slam shut and I stop cold when shooting pains course through my entire body, I groan out. She’s there in an instant, lightly running her hand through my hair, “Shhh, don’t move, baby.”
“Mmmm,” I’m loving the feel of her fingers through my hair, “if you keep that up I’ll love you forever,” I whisper. My voice is pretty much shot, so it comes out all soft and raspy.
I can feel the smile come to her lips, “You promise?”
“Yeah,” I slowly open my eyes, “I promise.” Taking in her smile, I give her one of my own then close my eyes again briefly. While mustering up the strength to speak again, I take in how exhausted she is as well as the healing gash under her eye. I look at her and venture, “Rough day at the office, honey?”
She laughs her easy laugh then nods, “Action packed couple of days here, but everyone’s ok now, that’s the important thing.” Running the back of her hand down the side of my face, she leans closer to me, “See? I told you you were coming back.”
“Yeah, you did,” I lean up to close the short distance between us and capture her lips in a kiss. There are unbelievable waves of pain pulsing through my back, neck and stomach, but I don’t care. After everything that’s happened, one kiss isn’t going to kill me now.
Pulling back and gently helping me rest my head on the pillow, Sophia smiles, “You need to rest. Willow did her thing then I took care of the rest, but you need to relax and let your own healing work now.” She pulls the sheet back up around my broken and I just realize nude body.
“Too bad I was unconscious the first time you got me naked, I was kinda hoping we could have done that together,” I waggle my eyebrows, then immediately regret it as bolts of pain throb in my head.
She laughs then shakes her head as she once again runs her fingers through my hair, “Actually, Willow and Kennedy got you naked, baby. I was with Buffy when you got back.” She leans down and kisses my forehead, “So we’re still on for the together thing, ok?”
“Ok,” I smile then close my eyes, “tired.”
Sophia strokes my face, “Sleep then, I’ll be right here.”
MEANWHILE UPSTAIRS IN BUFFY & FAITH’S ROOM – 11:58 PM
BUFFY’S POV
“So she’s ok?” I look up expectantly at Faith as she closes our door.
Faith grins, “Yeah, Sophia said Em woke up for a couple of minutes then went back to sleep.” She fiddles with the band-aid on her arm as she sits next to me, “She was lucid, so should be fine.” My baby rubs her hand up and down my thigh, “How are you feeling?”
“Still in shock,” I rest my hand over hers and squeeze, “I can’t believe we did it,” then I laugh, “I can’t believe I died... again, Jesus, how embarrassing.”
She gives me a sad smile then gets up and begins to undress for bed, “Yeah, didn’t like that part.” Throwing her clothes on the floor, she slides into bed and cautiously lays her head against my shoulder. Damn burns, it still hurts to touch. Sophia said it would probably take another week or so to heal properly. But if we’re really careful, we can snuggle. She rests her hand on my hip, slowly stroking it with her thumb.
“Hey,” I place a kiss on the side of her head, “I always come back right?” Seeing she’s not playing along, I push a bit, “I’m really just like a bad penny!”
That gets some dimples action, “B there’s nothing bad about you.”
“You worried it’s not over?” I look into her eyes.
She kisses my shoulder then shakes her head, “No, I know it’s over... for now.”
“Then what’s the what?”
She strokes my hair and sighs, “I know I should be happy it’s all done and we made it out with our lives, but I can’t help thinking how long is ‘now’ going to last this time.”
“I know,” I kiss her head again as I run my fingers through her hair, “That thought is always in the back of my head too. I know it’s escapist, but let’s just try not to think about it, ok? Promise me we can just live for while?” Oh the hell with the pain, I think as I gather her more fully into my arms, “I just want to love you and the girls and live our lives together. Is it too much to ask the fucking Gods and PtB to get let us be happy together?”
Faith stares into space for a moment then looks at me and smiles, “We wouldn’t know what do to with ourselves.”
“Yeah?” I graze my lips against hers as I hold her face to mine, “I have a few ideas.”
FIN
EPILOGUE
In the clearing stands a boxer,
And a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders
Of every glove that laid him down
And cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame,
"I am leaving, I am leaving."
But the fighter still remains
Simon & Garfunkel – “The Boxer”
-
THREE MONTHS LATER – THURSDAY - 31st OCTOBER 2024
KITCHEN – 7:30 AM
DAWN’S POV
It’s been months, but Andrew is still beating himself up about how Richard and his team of vamps got past his security systems and into the house. He personally feels responsible for Nicky getting bitten. He completely reworked the entire system weaving some of Willow’s most intricate spells along with DNA samples of everyone we deemed appropriate to enter the house. Clem almost cried when Andrew thought twice about adding his sample in. After finally ending his kitten-poker playing days for good, he and Nicky have gotten even closer these last months if that’s at all possible. My husband finally relented when Nicky literally begged Andrew on her knees.
“Hey,” I get up and give him a kiss as he walks in, tired and weary from again working all night, “I was just going to bring you another cup of coffee.”
Andrew goes to the pot, “S’ok, I got it.”
“You have to stop this babe,” I walk over to him and rest my hand on his back, “nobody blames you except you. You fixed the security screen, everyone’s ok.” I wrap my arms around his waist and lean into his back, “Your broodiness is making everyone crazy.”
He sighs, “I just want to be sure nothing can get though,” he turns to me, “What if one of them died? What if you were down there when they came? What if I lost you because I was too cocky to think they couldn’t get past the first barrier?”
“Babe,” so that is what this is all about, “Everyone’s ok, including me,” I smile up at him, “Haven’t you learned anything since you were our “guest-age”? When it’s your time, no one can do anything about it,” I reach up and pull his mouth down to mine, “not even the smartest, sexiest man at Slayer Central.”
He allows my lips to cover his own and I’m just about to deepen the kiss when he pulls away, “Hey! I’m the ONLY man at Slayer Central!” He gives me a hard stare.
“Yeah, you’re that too,” I wink at him as I give him a sheepish grin.
We sit for a while and just drink our coffee until he whispers, “Dawn, if Buffy hadn’t woken up I never would have - ”
“Ok, you really need to stop,” I put my hand over his, “Richard had been planning this for freaking centuries, damn it. He had almost half the millennia to work out how to do this. He had a hard-on for Faith and Emma years before they even existed. There was absolutely nothing you could have done.” I stop then sigh, “Honey, he charted their every movement from the second they were born: one to terrorize for fun, the other to be part of his sick fantasy. He had a hand in so many of the awful things that happened just to fuck with Faith’s head and to try and draw Emma to him. He was a sick bastard.”
He nods but I see I’m still not getting through.
“Andrew, you read the rest of Ian’s diaries as well as the ones of the many witches that accompanied him over the years.” When Ken and Claudine’s team found, then raided Richard’s apartment last month, they had no idea of the treasure trove of information they would yield. Willow and I are still going though some of the volumes. “Andy, please...”
Nicky picks that moment to walk in, “Good morning Dawn, ANDY! I haven’t seen you in ages!” She jumps up on his lap and throws her arms around his neck. “I missed you! You’re always in your office and you look so busy, I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“Hey, Nicky,” he can’t help but return her hug, she loves him so fiercely and he easily reciprocates like the man he is, so unashamed to love, “I missed you too.” I can see he has tears in his eyes but he hides it by rubbing his face in her neck. “Wanna cook dinner with me tonight?”
Her eyes get huge, “Yeah! What are we making?”
“How about a nice turkey tenderloin with some roasted potatoes and broccoli? We need to fill you up before you go on your quest for tricks and treats!”
I leave them there together, to reconnect, to bond and to just enjoy each other. Now that Nicky has Andrew in her clutches; he won’t go back into his shell. He’ll realize it’s not his fault now, Nicky will show him the way.
LIVING ROOM – 10:32 AM
WILLOW’S POV
It’s fun having a pet again, I think to myself as I watch Nicky and Clem on the floor playing with the two kittens she brought home from Steve’s last month: Julian and Lillie. She got a hold of Andrew’s old ‘Kindred: The Embraced’ DVD’s and well, how can you tell a mini Vampire Slayer not to name her kittens after vampire lovers from an obscure 1990’s TV show?
Feeling hands on my shoulders, I turn around to Ken crouching down behind me, “Hey babe,” she kisses me quickly then motions her head to Nicky and her furry beasts, “Enjoying the day off watching Wild Kingdom here?” Ken always cancels classes on Halloween; it’s like our official unofficial holiday.
“Yeah, I so knew Buffy would cave as soon as she saw them,” I smile then lean my head next to hers, “They’re cute, aren’t they, Nick and Clem with the kittens?”
Looking up at both of us Clem has a smile a mile wide, “Who knew they could be so much fun to play with, like not as currency?”
Ken laughs as she nuzzles the back of my head, “Very,” putting her arms around my neck and pulling me close, she kisses the side of my face, “So are you.”
“Emma’s gonna be so psyched when she gets home and sees them,” Nicky looks up at us, “Hey Ken.”
My sweetie gets up and joins me on the couch, “Hey, Nicky. You’re right, Em will be excited, she was always moaning and groaning about having a cat or a dog.”
“When is she coming back? They’ve been gone for ages already!” Nicky whines.
I laugh, cause she asks almost every day, “Not until Thanksgiving, Nick, you know that.”
“But that’s too long,” she pouts then both kittens pounce onto her lap. She scoops them up and cuddles them close, “I miss her a lot, I miss both of them a lot. I want them to come back.”
Smiling at her then taking Ken’s hand in mine, I sigh, “They will, Nick, they’ll be back before you know it. They have stuff they need to work out.”
“I know, I just miss them is all,” she lies down sulking and lets the kittens romp over her.
MEANWHILE AT THE HOTEL ALBA IN SITGES, SPAIN – 4:52 PM
EMMA’S POV
The afternoon sun is casting a shadow across the room. You can hear the streets start to hum with the bustle of the shopkeepers starting to open again as Siesta time is coming to a close. The most wonderful of Spanish customs: Siesta, where businesses close down from 1:30 to 5:00 every afternoon. We spent the day at the beach, had an incredible lunch then came back to the room for our own private Siesta.
I woke up about 10 minutes ago but Sophia is still napping. She’s lying on her back, her hair splayed out on her pillow, one arm wrapped around me, the other laying by her side. My eyes drink in the sight of her naked body next to mine: so beautiful; so powerful; so sexy; God, I am so in love with her. We fell asleep about an hour ago after two hours of intense love making. Nothing could have ever prepared me for what it feels like to be with her: the passion, the intensity, the enormity of it all.
Buffy and I spent the rest of the summer and most of September recovering, getting strong again. Both of us were pretty messed up, but between Sophia and Faith, well, they took good care of us. Nicky whipped up all of our meals and even served them to us in bed when we couldn’t make it downstairs. Willow performed some healing spells while Kennedy worked out a training program to help us get our strength back.
When I finally had enough of them fawning all over me, I begged Sophia to take me away and she did. Our first stop was to Camps Bay, my little home town in Cape Town. We left for South Africa in late September so spring was just arriving there and it was beautiful. At first it was hard to go back to a place that had such a mix of warm and horrific memories. But with her by my side, we went to where my house once stood and I felt I finally closed that chapter of my life. From there we came here to Sitges, a little beach town 35 kilometers south of Barcelona. We’ve been spending most days at the beach soaking up the still warm Mediterranean sun then our evenings exploring the many restaurants the city has to offer. Then of course, there are the Siestas every afternoon.
She murmurs as my fingertip traces the outline of her jaw. Slowly trailing it down her chin, I linger at the hollow of her neck. Not being able to stop touching her, I allow my hand to continue its journey between her breasts, around her stomach then make a lazy circle on her hip. Amazed she’s still asleep, I venture to her thigh then her hand grabs mine and the next thing I know, I’m flipped on my back with Sophia hovering over me. “Didn’t mean to wake you,” I grin sheepishly as I look up into her eyes.
“Yeah, I’ll bet,” she crocks an eyebrow at me before leaning down to brush her lips against mine.
You know that feeling, when you realize you’re with the one person you want to spend the rest of your life with? Then it hits you, and you know exactly how lucky you are, not just to be with your honey, but to know it when it’s happening? Can I tell you I feel it in every look, every touch, and yes, every kiss? “Ok, maybe I wanted to wake you a little bit,” I give her a small smirk.
“That’s what I thought,” she smiles as she kisses me again, her hands being to roam and I wonder if I’ll ever want to go home.
Once we came down for dinner a few hours later, we made our way to a nice little place right on the promenade we found a couple of nights ago. The server immediately recognized us and gave us the same table. I guess it pays to travel during the off season.
Sophia takes care of ordering our dinner and a nice bottle of Rioja. I just sit there and watch until she cocks her head to the side once the server leaves, “What?”
“You’re very sexy when you’re speaking Spanish,” I reach out and take her hand.
She smiles with just a hint of a blush, “I think you’re just insatiable, so find just about anything sexy.”
“Most things you do are sexy,” I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss her fingertips.
“Discúlpeme damas,” the server excuses himself with a grin, as he places the wine and our appetizer on the table. Sophia waves her hand when he motions for her to taste. His smile broadens as he realizes she remembers the bottle is of the same lot as the one we ordered days before so her trust is a great reward.
We touch our glasses, “Salud,” she whispers softly. We each take a sip then look out over the promenade to the beach. This is our last night here and that makes me a little sad. “You nervous?” she asks.
I snap my head back to her, “Me?” I feign shock, “Why would I be nervous going to meet your family? Isn’t it every day you bring a girl home to meet the folks?”
“It’s ok to be nervous you know,” she places her hand over mine, “You have nothing to worry about though, you’ll charm them just like Faith did. I’m sure of it.”
I nod then quickly down the rest of my wine. “How is it I’m not afraid of ancient vampires but I’m scared to death of your mom?” I take in her look and cut her off before she can say it, “Don’t even try it, you knew Buffy and Faith before I did.”
“Yeah,” she laughs, “but that first night I came to Cleveland after they knew we were serious was still kinda weird.” She squeezes my hand, “Let’s not forget the circumstances surrounding meeting your grandmother, huh?”
Nodding, I bit my lip, “Yeah, I guess that was freaky.”
“Major freaky,” she squeezes my hand again, “but she liked us together so it was worth it.” She pauses for a moment, “While you were gone she gave me hope when I was just about losing it, then she brought you back to me.” She waits until I look up at her, “My family is important to me too, baby, especially since I don’t get to see that much of them. And I know they’ll love you, so no worries, ok?” Her smile turns a smidgen wicked, “Probably not as much as I do, but…”
Returning her smile with one of my own, I take her face in my hands and lean across the table to give her a quick kiss. Yes it’s going to be awkward meeting her family, but after what we went through, should be a piece of cake, right? Sitting back in my chair, but still holding her face in my hands, I gently rub my thumbs against her cheeks. I’d be a fool to think our lives won’t be in danger again and an even bigger fool to think we can really have forever together. But for right now and for as long as we can, we will love each other, we will fight the evil that surrounds us and we will know what it means to be truly happy.
BUFFY & FAITH’S ROOM – 11:28 PM
FAITH’S POV
We took Nicky and Steve ‘Trick or Treating’ tonight: she was Morgaine and he was King Arthur. What a riot those two are, little Steve adores her and Nicky is completely oblivious. I told B I wanted to lay odds they’ll get together at some point down the road. They’re just too in synch with each other, down to their costumes. Buffy just laughs and tells me Nicky isn’t allowed to date until she’s 30. Yeah, right.
So on this night of Samhain, Halloween, the one night the vamps and demons take off, we are sitting in front of the fire, drinking wine, talking about things like when Nicky should be allowed to date and how to convince Sophia to come to Cleveland so Em doesn’t move away from us. It’s an ordinary conversation, a ‘normal’ one even. I guess that’s why we’re having such a hard time having it.
Leaning back against the chair, I pull Buffy tighter into my arms. She’s sitting across my lap, one arm slung around my neck, the other helping to balance a glass of wine on her thigh. Her head rests on mine as we watch the flames lap at the logs in the grate. It’s very soothing, holding her, feeling the mixture of her heat and the warmth of the fire. We’ve settled into the “for now” quite well, being able to really enjoy every moment since she’s healed. Over the years we’ve come to depend on these times to get us through the hard ones that always come when we least expect it.
The fire suddenly flares up, lighting the room as if in daylight, then slowly dulls. “What the hell was - ” I stop short when my eyesight once again grows accustomed to the dimness and I see the ghostly image of the Goddess begin to take shape before us, “Ereshkigal,” I whisper.
“Do not fear me or my appearance this evening; I come only to ease your minds,” she looks at each of us, then the fire, then back. “I don’t mean to intrude.”
Buffy puts her glass on the table and turns more fully to her, “Thank you for bringing my family back to me.” She remains on my lap, now holding my hand, bracing herself for what ever the Goddess is going to tell us.
“It was my pleasure. And part of the reason I take advantage of the laws of time and space tonight, to speak to both of you freely, in a form known to you. I appear to you as human and of Emma’s blood, no alarms will sound.” She walks over to stand in front of the fire and seems to revel in its warmth.
I haven’t said a word; I’m too scared of what she might say. Can it really all be over so soon? I thought we would have more time. Mindlessly tightening my hold on Buffy, I finally venture softly, “Is there a new trial already?”
“No Champion,” she turns to me, takes in my shock at her choice of words then smiles, “no matter if your obligation is fulfilled, you will always be their Champion. It is meant as a title of respect, no longer as one of servitude.” Facing us fully she once again takes in our faces in turn then begins: “The time for your lives to be subject to prophecy and the fates is over. You have proven yourself in more than just the trials on Nibiru. The Gods are in agreement as are the Powers that Be.”
Buffy is squeezing the shit out of me hand, “How can you do that? And how long will it last? Does that mean Emma and Nicky too?” It all pretty much comes out in a stream of one big, long question.
“One path in your shared future is for us to grant this gift to you, we have chosen that path,” Ereshkigal smiles then turns back to the fire. “This gift is for rest of your lives.” She’s silent and we wait for her to answer B’s last question. “There are still paths that connect to the others; the torch must be passed to keep a light in the darkness.”
I look up at Buffy and see the silent tears trailing down her face as she leans back into me. Turning to the Goddess I realize, “That’s what it meant, all those years ago, right? ‘The girl who could someday bring a great light to a great darkness,’ Emma’s meant to lead the fight after us? Then Nicky after her?”
“Yes, Champion,” she smiles at me again, “except now it will be that you stepped aside, not perished in the fight yourselves.” Her robes start to shimmer in the firelight, “I must go soon,” she comes nearer then lays a hand on each of our faces. The vibrations of her power course through us with incredible strength. “We have taken much from both of you over the years; please let me give this to you in thanks for giving my Emma what I could not.”
Both of us are speechless, but nod as she steps away from us.
“Bonus fortuna.” Then she’s gone.
Buffy turns and buries her face in my neck as she cries harder. “How can we just leave this mess to them? They’re so young... they need more time... they should have more time...”
“Shhh babe, it’s not like we’re disappearing, just not going to be the headliners anymore. And damn, B, we were 22 when we defeated the First and you started the school. Emma’s plenty old enough,” I pull her back to face me, “and after what she pulled off in Nibiru, she’s plenty capable enough too, wouldn’t you say?”
She swipes at her tears, “Of course she is I just...”
“What?” I prod.
Looking down then back up at me, “I know it’s completely irrational, but I never wanted this life for them although I always knew it was their destiny.” She sighs then runs a hand through her hair, “I always just wanted them to get out of ‘the family business.’”
“Fuck, B, you make it sound like the mob,” I try to get a laugh out of her. Yeah, it’s my defense mechanism; try for light when you can’t handle the darkness.
She slaps my arm, “It’s EXACTLY like the mob: once you’re part of the ‘family’ you can never get out.” Buffy laughs then pours us each a much needed glass of wine.
“Don’t worry about them babe,” I nuzzle her head after I drain my glass, “We’ll be here to help them. It’s not like we’re walking away. We’ll never be completely out of the fight.” I feel her nod against me. Tightening my arms around her, I whisper, “I love you very much and I intend on showing you exactly how much for the rest of our lives.”
She burrows deeper into me, “Mmmmm, I love you too, baby.” She leans back to look at me, “It’s weird though, after all the prophecies and all the Sumerian shit surrounding both of us, we get let off the hook. I just can’t believe it.”
“You don’t want us to be off the hook?” I don’t understand what she’s getting at.
Buffy shakes her head, “No, of course I do, I mean I guess I do. I don’t know anything but to fight so I don’t know how we’re going to actually deal with that. I guess it’s just eerie, you know, that sometimes even what’s carved in stone for all eternity simply isn’t.”
The End
