Disclaimers – Buffy and Company belong to
Joss, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox and UPN.
Author’s Notes – Any inconsistencies or mistakes with Latin are
those of the authors.
Pairing – Buffy/Faith, Willow/Tara
Rating – PG13 for now, NC17 later.
Feedback – A definite ‘Must Have’. Makes us write much faster, Thoughts, Opinions.
We can be reached at either senseiferret@yahoo.com
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<indicates
thoughts>
“Sir. Lance Corporal Summers reports as ordered. Sir.” The Lieutenant looked up from the file at the young Corporal. She was a hard worker, always doing what he asked one step better than the rest without hesitation. She should have made Sergeant by now but she'd been given a raw deal.
“Summers sit down.”
“Did I do something wrong sir?” She sat in the chair across from his desk. She was nervous but she wouldn't show it.
“Summers you're one of my best soldiers. But I understand you're restricted from seeing your family.”
“Yes Sir.”
“I'm going to be giving you a one week leave with the rest of your unit. You are restricted from taking any military transport to any base within 100 miles of your home. Summers if you use civilian transport, well we don't have any jurisdiction over where you go.”
“Sir. Permission to speak freely,” at his nod she continued. “I appreciate this but I don’t want to jeopardize the Corps or my unit.”
“That's why I'm giving you this warning Summers. This is your first leave in over two years. And if you want to stay here then you can. I can't stop you. This is a reminder to you that you cannot see your family without breaking the terms of your parole agreement but you should go see your family. This is the only chance you'll have Summers. Don't pass up a good thing.”
<<<<<<>>>>>>>
She entered the gym, sweat was already starting to pour off her from her five mile run in the afternoon heat but she needed to work off some frustration and worries. Her mind drifted back to her meeting with the Lieutenant.
In a way, she didn't want to go home. How would her family react? Would they forgive her? Yet she was being given a chance to see her family and she longed to hang out with Dawn. And maybe, just maybe she could convince them that she was innocent.
“Penny for your thoughts Summers?” She spun twisting his arm behind his back and bringing her foot into the back of his knee. He slipped to the ground but pulling her with him. He flipped causing her to tumble across the mat.
“Taylor!”
“You owe me a buck Summers.” He held his hand out to her but she just looked at him and grinned. Suddenly he found himself upside down.
“Looks like you owe me that buck.”
“I don't think so.” He pointed at her. “You're going down Summers.” He lunged but she ducked.
When finally Beth tripped Taylor and held him down both of them were sweating heavily, “Okay, you win.” Beth moved to let him up.
He tossed her a towel before wiping his face. “What's up?”
“Nothing. Why does something have to be up?”
“Because you were hitting harder than usual. And you had that look.”
“I don't have a look.”
“Yes you do... when you're pissed off, or when I beat you. And you especially have that look when you think about your family.”
She sighed and he knew something was definitely up. In the two years that he knew her, he'd only heard ‘The Corp’ as they called her sigh twice. Once, when everybody in the unit got leave and she had to stay on base and the second when her sister turned sixteen. But Elizabeth Summers never sighed when it was just nothing.
“I'll walk you home and you can tell me about it.”
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
She tilted her head back letting the breeze brush over her face.
“What is it Summers? And don't lie I know something big is going on. Your not worried about the war are you?”
She looked at him, really studying him. He was the only one that she could talk to on a big brother basis. He was her confidant, her best friend and her brother.
“It's not the war.” She sighed, picking at her jeans. “You know that leave you guys are getting?”
He nodded but it was more than that. “I'm sorry you can't go. I could put you in my duffle if ya like?”
“Tell the Lieutenant is letting me go home.”
“That's great Beth. Isn't it?”
“I don't know. I really don't know.” She looked up at him, “I want to go home but I'm... I'm scared Steve.”
“Why? If they're half as great as you say then they'll accept you.”
‘I failed them Steve.’
‘You didn't kill that guy Beth,” he tapped her head. “You know it here,” he picked up her hand and placed it over her heart. “But you have to believe it here.”
She stood up suddenly, pacing in front of him. “It doesn't work that way Steve. I failed in my duty and that's all that matters. One mistake and I ruined my families’ life.”
He reached out and grabbed Beth by the shoulders stopping her pacing, “It was a mistake Beth. You said so. But if you don't go back and talk to your family, then that will be a bigger mistake than how they railroaded you. You can't change what happened, but you can try to make amends with them.”
“But what if they...”
“No buts Beth! You can do this, you have to settle things with your family or it'll eat at you till you can stand it anymore. And then one day you'll become a little slower and you'll make a mistake and it'll be over Beth.”
Her shoulders slumped in defeat as she realized that he was right, “I know, but I'm scared though.”
“It's all right to be scared you're entering their lives after three years. It's not going to be easy but you can do it, I know you.”
Pulling her into a hug for a moment he then stepped back. “Enough of this life stuff, Mary has dinner ready by now. Let me treat you to a night among friends.” He grinned, “Besides, with Mary's good luck meatloaf how can anything go wrong?”
A lopsided smile crossed her face, “Are you sure that's really good luck? I've had Mary's cooking before.”
“Keep that up and I'll tell her you said that tonight at dinner besides you can't leave without saying goodbye to Sammy.”
===================
“Flight 452 to Chicago non-stop is now boarding, Flight 452 to Chicago non-stop is now boarding.” Beth looked up at the swarm of people before dropping her head down into her hands.
“Hey things are never as bad as you think, and if they love you fraction as much as you do them everything will be fine. Trust me. You’re a Marine now Summers. We don't let anything bug us and we come out on top. Keep your head up and aim for the sky.”
A quick smile flashed across her face and she snickered. Taylor told the worst jokes but she had to admit they could usually lighten her mood.
“This is the last call for Flight 452 to Chicago.”
She stood up grabbing her carryon. “So this is it huh?”
He reached into his pocket grabbing an envelope and shoved it into her hand. “What's this?” She looked at it quizzically, hoping that it wasn't one of Taylor's bad poems, he was always having her read them.
“Don't you have a flight to catch? You can read it on the flight, now hurry,” As he moved her towards the gate attendants he took her ticket and handed it to the gate attendant who looked it over and tore the stub off the ticket.
“Ah, Miss Summers. You're in Coach at Seat 23B, It's a window seat.”
“Taylor...” Beth started but he interrupted.
“Beth I know. You have my cell phone if you need to talk. I'm here day or night, except during sex.”
She threw her arms around Taylor hugging him. “I'll see you soon,” and she headed down the ramp to her flight and her past.
Beth looked up from the book she was reading when she
noticed a young girl in front of her.
The child was about seven years old with a light pink dress and dark
hair.
“Miss,” the young girl shyly asked. “My mom says you're a
soldier, is that true?”
“Yes, why?” Beth answered, wondering what this child
wanted.
“Are you gonna go and kill those mean people in eurrrp,
uhmm eurrrop?”
Leaning forward towards the little girl, “What's your
name?”
“Prudence, but my friends call me Prue.” The little girl
smiled at Beth.
“Well Prue, I'm a Marine. But I don't go out killing mean
people, killing people is wrong.” The little girl looked confused as Beth
spoke. “What I do is to talk to them to convince them they've made a mistake,
this way people don't get hurt. You don't like it when you get hurt, right
Prue?”
“Nuh uh, it's not fun and it hurts.”
“See? Now you go back over to your mom. She's probably
worried about you, ok?” Beth ruffled Prue's hair and the girl turned with a
smile on her face and ran over to her mother.
Standing up as he heard the call for her bus, she folded
the newspaper she had been reading. Walking to the gate she saw the little
girls mother with a newspaper and across the front she saw the headline. “6
Marines killed, 12 wounded in Paris in attack on US Embassy.” <Sometimes I wish life were that simple
as that little girl sees it.> Beth thought.
Arriving at her gate, she saw her bus that would take her
home and boarded, stopping only to hand the driver her ticket and found a seat
at the back and settled in.
As the bus started driving Beth pulled out the book Taylor
had lent her, opened it and started reading “On War”.
After several hours she stared out the window as the road blurred by, broken only by the occasional house or car. <God how things have changed for me in the last three years. If only...> Her mind wandered back to the day everything had changed her life as she started to fall asleep.
Three years earlier....
Buffy had just returned from her Psych class with Professor Walsh and threw her books down on her bed when she heard a knock on the door. Opening the door she saw two Sunnydale police officers and the detective that had spoken to her once after Kendra had died.
“Yes?” she asked puzzled at why they were at her dorm room.
“Elizabeth Anne Summers, you're under arrest for the murder of Deputy Mayor Richard Finch, place your hands behind your head,” the detective grabbed her arms pulling them behind her and cuffing her just as Willow walked in. “Willow call Giles, quick please!!!”
In shock, Buffy had let the police escort her to the car. The drive itself she didn't remember, but by the time they started to process her into the system the numbness that had hit her when she was told she was under arrest for murder had started to wear off.
As they took her fingerprints and pictures she felt angry and confused, <maybe this is how Faith felt when I saw her in the police station in LA that time,> she thought.
When they were done, Buffy had been stripped, searched, photographed, fingerprinted and was now wearing bright orange coveralls as she stood in the holding cell with several other prisoners for several hours before she was moved to her cell in solitary confinement.
As the cell door slammed shut behind her Buffy looked around the cell, there was a ‘toilet’ if you could call it that in the far right corner and a small bed against the left wall. Moving towards the bed Buffy fell down on it and curled up trying to fight the tears she felt. She was scared, tired and wanted to go home, most of all she wanted to be told that this was a bad dream, only it wasn't.
After three days Buffy was finally meeting the attorney Giles had hired for her, she knew that he was British and he was coming from London to represent her. The door opened and in walked a man in his 50's, rather distinguished looking and sat down in front of Buffy at the steel table she was seated at in this otherwise empty room.
“Miss Summers, I'm Oliver Cromwell, your barrister and I'll be representing you. I know what the police here have said occurred; now I should like to hear your version of the events.”
Buffy hesitated at this, since she was unsure if she could tell him ‘everything’ since she didn't want to have him run out of the room screaming.
“If by your hesitation has to do with your shall we say ‘nocturnal’ occupation, I can say I am familiar with it. So please do not hesitate for that reason.”
“Alright, that night Faith...err the other Slayer and I were fighting vamps to get to Balthazar's lair...” Buffy proceeded to tell the lawyer everything that happened that night with Finch, Faith and Balthazar when she was finished she leaned back the chains on her arms and legs rattled slightly. “And that's everything that happened, so now what?”
“From what you've told me I believe we can have the charges reduced or dropped in favor of your testimony against this Faith Spencer.”
“Uh, what? No, I won't testify against her, she's already suffered enough because of me. Right now she's in a coma, what if they find her guilty? They could decide to kill her as she's sleeping. No, not happening.”
“Miss Summers, you have several witnesses who can ID you as in the area when the murder took place. That and your ‘previous record’ at your last two high schools, the fights and other problems will be shown as evidence that you are dangerous and unstable.”
The sound of the door unlocking halted any further conversation as it swung open to reveal the Sunnydale ADA, Thomas Nox as he entered the room.
“Mr. Cromwell, have you informed your client as to the deal we are offering her?”
“Not yet, I was just speaking to her about that now.”
“Well let me save you some time then, what we are offering is Man 1 and a minimum of 25 years before parole if you testify against Miss Spencer, otherwise we go to trial.”
“WHAT!! Are you crazy? I didn't kill anyone.” <Well alive at least,> Buffy added silently.
“That's not what the evidence will show in court Miss Summers and if we go to court you'll be tried for Murder 1 and you'll be facing the death penalty.”
“Not only that, but if we find out that your family has been concealing knowledge of this murder, I will have your mother arrested for perjury and obstruction of justice and your sister will end up in foster care, this is your last chance Miss Summers. Cooperate or your family will pay as well as you,” Nox smiled evilly.
Anger filled Buffy as she stood up suddenly, the chains holding her until she snapped the links holding her arms down. “No-ones' gonna hurt Dawn or my mom.”
“Guards!!” Nox yelled out as he backed away in fear, and in rushed three large guards who grabbed the small young woman who was partially free from her chains.
As the guards grabbed her, Buffy didn't fight back, she allowed them to cuff her and hold her down. “Nox, get out of my face, we have nothing to talk about. I didn't kill anyone and I'm not going to testify. Now get out of here before I do something I won't regret.”
“Guards, it's ok to leave now. I need to speak with my client. There will be no further outbursts.” Cromwell looked at Buffy sternly as he spoke. The guards reluctantly let the prisoner go and walked out of the room.
“Are you going to do anything else that foolish Miss Summers? Just so that I'm prepared.”
“No. But he threatened Dawn and Mom. How can you...”
“Enough. That was all it was Miss Summers, a threat, nothing more. However if you continue with these outbursts I cannot defend you properly.”
The dream changed and she
moved restlessly in her seat as he recognized where she was now....
She'd been in solitary for two months and she longed to see Dawn or her mom. Out of all the things she missed from her life on the outside, the aching for her mom and sister were unbearable. She'd had the attorney Cromwell tell her mom that she was okay and that she missed them, but they never replied, and the ache that they might think she was a murderer cut her worse than anything.
Turning as Cromwell faced her, she tried to push away the thought of never seeing her family again. It was the middle of the trial and the police officer who had ‘discovered’ the murder weapon was on the stand and the ADA had finished questioning him. He walked past her and to the DA's table and picked up the murder weapon.
“Officer Johannsen, how long have you been with the Sunnydale Police?”
“Almost two years now.”
“I see, and how exactly did you know where to look for this weapon?”
“We caught a lucky break, we were searching down at the docks when I found it near a trash can in an alley.”
“So you just ‘happened’ to find this lying on the ground from a murder that occurred over a year ago? Is that right?”
The officer visibly squirmed in the witness chair. “Well I wouldn't put it that way.”
“Oh really!” Cromwell pounced on the opening he was waiting for, “And how would you put it?”
“I'd say she probably tried to dump it and just ran afterwards.”
“So Miss Summers after coldly murdering the Deputy Mayor, decides to leave the weapon lying in an alley instead of disposing of it? That is your conclusion Officer?”
Cromwell handed the weapon in the evidence bag to the officer, “Officer tell the jury exactly what this is.”
“It's a stake.”
“And it's made of wood, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't she just burn it or carve it into a toothpick?”
“Objection, your honor, where is defense counsel going with this?” the ADA asked.
“Sustained, defense counsel will keep to the facts at hand and stop raising speculation on this.”
“What! How can I defend my client this way? The defense must have the latitude to raise reasonable doubt as to the reliability of this being the murder weapon.”
“Mr. Cromwell, I've made my decision, one more outburst and I'll have you held in contempt, do I make myself clear?”
From there Buffy knew the outcome had already been decided...
Buffy
turned around looking for her Mom & Dawn in the courtroom. But she only saw
Dawn enter and duck her head, letting her hair, which was longer now, cover her
face as she sat down next to Giles.
Turning back around quickly, she couldn't bring herself to look at her,
and see the anger and hurt in Dawn's eyes, and looked at her orange clad legs
barely paying attention to what Cromwell was saying.
Cromwell looked at the defeat written on her face. “The judge is going to be back any second. You need not react harshly. Miss Summers no matter what the outcome.”
She sat back letting the chains rattle loudly in the otherwise quiet courtroom.
“All rise for the Honorable Richard Green,” The bailiff called out as the judge entered the room.
“Has the jury made a decision?”
“We have your Honor,” the jury foreman replied and then opened a piece of paper. ‘We the jury in the case of California vs. Elizabeth Anne Summers on the sole count of the indictment, Murder in the First Degree find the defendant, guilty.”
“The court thanks the jury for their assistance and they are relieved, this court will have the sentencing in one hour.”
“Ma'am?” Beth felt a hand on her shoulder and barely remembered that she was in public. She quickly curbed her initial reaction to fight back. She felt the dried tears on her face and the after affects of the dream started to drift away.
“This is the last stop Ma'am, Sunnydale, California.”
She glanced up, noticing the empty bus and the sun starting to drift below the horizon. “Oh, I'm sorry for falling asleep,” and she quickly grabbed her bag and started to shift past the bus driver. “Home,” Beth murmured and stepped off into the cooling April air.
It felt strange to be back in Sunnydale. This lace had been her home for five years and yet now she felt like a stranger. <This place is no longer my home,> Beth thought, <I'm just a visitor here.>
Squaring her shoulders she headed down the street in search of a payphone and spotted a sign at one of the stores and headed on over. As she got closer she saw the name, <The Magic Box, sounds like someplace Will would have gone to.>
Opening the door Beth stepped inside and looked around for the payphone. She saw quite a variety of books on magic, herbs and other odd items on the shelves in here. Over by the register up front Beth spotted the payphone and walked over, not paying attention to the young woman behind the counter.
Walking over, as she reached the payphone she stiffened as heard a voice she thought she'd never hear again and dropped her duffel bag.
“Can I help you Miss?”
Beth turned around slowly to see Giles standing in front of her.
“Buffy!” Giles whispered his eyes widening in surprise. “What are you...How?” Giles knees buckled underneath him and he collapsed to the floor.
Beth moved over
to Giles and quickly checked his pulse while Anya pulled out the First Aid kit
and handed Beth 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. 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 lift 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.
“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 have 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.
Turning Joyce looked straight at Buffy for
several seconds shock and recognition on her face, “Bu...?” and collapsed as
she fainted.
Buffy dropped next to her Mom and leaned over
her checking to see if she was okay when she heard Dawn call out, “MOM!!!” and she was pushed aside.
“Buffy you do seem to be having a unique affect
on people today.”
“Gee thanks Giles,” Beth replied sarcastically.
“Wha??? Buffy???” Beth looked up at her Dawn who
was no longer the little girl she remembered. Now she was a tall &
beautiful young woman, her hair was still long and now down past her shoulders.
“Buffy?” Dawn squeaked.
Beth looked up as she was grabbed, the two held
on and hugged each other as if they were afraid to let go.
“I thought I'd never see you Dawnie,” Beth
whispered softly.
“God Buffy, it’s been sooo long.” When they
heard Giles clearing his throat behind them. The two sisters parted and looked
over at Giles.
“Yes?”
“Your mother is still unconscious, so why don't
we take the greetings and her inside.”
Beth quickly pulled out of Dawn's arms and knelt
next to her mother and motioned for Giles to help her.
“Is she okay? Maybe we shouldn't move her, it
could be...”
“Dawn! She's just fainted and she'll be fine in
a minute. Giles we lift on three, Three!”
<<<<<<>>>>>>
Dawn was pacing up and down in front of the
couch where her mom lay, worrying about the tumor, when an arm grabbed her and
she saw Buffy.
“Dawn, what is wrong with you? Mom just fainted
she'll be fine.”
“No she won't!
Buffy you don't understand. Mom
was real sick a couple years ago....” At Buffy's puzzled look she quickly
hurried. “She had headaches and the doctors found a tumor in her brain. They had to operate and it almost killed
her.”
“What!”
“Yeah, so when she collapsed it brought
everything back again.” Dawn felt herself being pulled into Buffy's arms.
“It's ok, Mom'll be fine.” Beth said softly to
her sister.
“Dawn?” Beth heard her mom call out.
“Dawn?” Joyce called. She saw Dawn and a young
woman from behind who was in fatigues. “What happened? The last thing i
remember was answering the door, and why is there a soldier in our home?”
Dawn knelt next to her mom on the couch, “You
fainted, and the soldier, umm...” she trailed off noticing the way Buffy's
shoulders stiffened.
Turning around Beth faced her, “Hi mom, it's me.
Beth.”
“Maybe this wasn't such a good idea Giles,” Beth
turned and started walking past the couch.
“Buffy, no don't! Please, don't disappear on us,
on me again.” said Dawn.
“Buffy??” Joyce whispered and sat up to look at
the young soldier in her living room, only this wasn't ‘a’ soldier, it was
Buffy and she was here. “Come here, I need to see you.”
Beth was shocked at how weak her mom sounded.
Beth moved back over towards the couch by her mom, and was pulled down into a
hug “I've so missed you.”
Beth moved over towards the couch, keeping her
eyes down. “I've missed you so much.” she heard before being pulled into a hug.
“How can you miss me?” Beth asked as he pulled
back. “Don't you hate me or blame me for what happened? I almost destroyed this
family.” The last words were said so softly Joyce almost didn't hear them.
Joyce pulled away from Buffy, taking in the
lines on her face and the worry in her eyes. “Hate you? Buffy you're my daughter. Why would I hate
you? I love you and Dawn more than anything.”
“Because you never answered any of my messages I
sent to you. And I saw the look on yours and Dawns’ face when you looked over
towards me. There was so much hurt and anger, that hurt more than anything
else. That you believed I had killed him and wouldn't talk to me,” she finished
in a small voice.
Joyce grabbed her daughter's hand, noticing the small
scar. “Buffy, what letters? We didn't get any letters.”
“What do you mean? I've been writing you and
Dawn for the last 3 years. They've all been returned ‘Refused by
Addressee’.” She stood up from the
couch, dropping Joyce's hand. “If you love me like you say you do then why did
you return them?”
Giles watched as Buffy paced in front of the
couch. “Buffy, your mother is telling the truth. We didn't get any letters.”
Beth turned around, “Stop lying to me. They all
say ‘Returned by Addressee’.” She pulled out a stack of letters from her duffle
bag and tossed them in his direction.
“Buffy, your mother and I never saw any of these
letters.” Giles bent over to pick up the letters lying at his feet.
“He's telling the truth Buffy we never got any
of them, why would we lie about this?” said Joyce.
“Stop calling me Buffy, my name is Beth. Buffy
‘died’ three years ago!” Beth saw her mother flinch as she said that but she
was too angry to stop.
“You're lying to me, why?!?” Dawn grabbed Buffy
and shook her, “Beth STOP! We wouldn't lie to you, we're your family and so is
Giles,” Dawn said loudly to get through to her sister. “We love you and it hurt
us just as much to lose you that way and never hear from you. Would you have
done that to me if I had been in your place?” she said softer as she saw Beth
start to calm down.
“No, I couldn't do that. You're everything to me
Dawn.” Beth sagged down as she started to shake. Dawn dropped next to he and
pulled her into a hug. “You don't have to be strong all the time.”
“I can't... I don't have anyone else.” Dawn felt her shirt start to get damp and
looked down at Buff...Beth. She looked
so small, so lost but most of all scared and Dawn recognized it because she was
scared of losing everyone too.
“That's not true, you have me and mom and Giles,
you're not alone and we're not leaving you.”
“Bu..but why then?”
“But why what Beth?”
“You never hated me for what happened then?”
Beth asked in a small voice.
Joyce moved over by Beth and gently raised her face
with her hands. “Beth, you're my daughter and my family. If you saw me angry,
it was over how I heard you were being treated and being kept from you.”
“I love you Beth and nothing will change that.”
Joyce and Dawn pulled Beth into a close hug, Beth felt the tears start to well
up and for once she let them fall. She
was tired of being the strong one, tired of not being able to just let go.
Joyce felt the dam burst and pulled Beth tighter. “I don't know why baby. I just don't know.”
Giles flipped through the letters, noting the
dates and trying to calculate where they would have been for each. He couldn't help the anger that was starting
to rise from the pit of his stomach as he heard Beth's heart broken sobs heart
from the pain they had inflicted on his daughter. That and the desire to throttle the idiots that did this.
<Calm yourself, save your anger for later. Right now Buffy needs you, later
we can figure out who did this and when we're done with them, why they did
this.>
Giles walked over to his family and wrapped his
arms around them and held them close.
Beth sniffled as they pulled apart when suddenly
something struck her. She looked at
Dawn and her mom then Giles. “What do you mean we? Is there something I need to know?”
Joyce moved her left hand with the wedding ring
to the side, “What are you talking about Beth?” She had hoped to tell Buffy
later. But that seemed to no longer be an option.
“Mom I heard Dawn say ‘we're not leaving you’
and she didn't mean you and her,” Buffy glanced over at Giles and looked at him
carefully, searching for something out of place when she noticed the gold band
with diamonds on his left ring finger.
Several things that were said earlier started to
click in her head, “Mom, when were you going to tell me?” Beth asked, she
already suspected the truth but wanting to tease her mothers nervousness over
the subject.
“Uhhmm, tell you Beth?”
“Yes, when did you and Giles get married?” Beth
said trying to keep a serious face. Beth saw her mothers nervous reaction and
pulled her in a hug. “Congratulations Mom,” she said with a large smile.
Joyce let the breath she had been holding during
all this. She had been nervous over
Beth's reaction to her marriage to Rupert, but she hadn't wanted to drop this
on her now after what happened earlier.
Beth looked at Giles, taking in his nervousness.
“I admit I'm surprised, but I've thought of Giles as my father for a while, and
as long as he's making you happy,” Beth caught his eye. “I won't have to stake
him.”
“I was afraid after what just happened that
telling you would be too much.” Joyce looked at her Beth's face and saw the
happiness in her eyes. “Thank you Beth.” She paused for a second. “It’s strange
calling you by that name.”
Giles had reigned in his temper and started listing
contacts he needed to speak to when he heard Beth's comment about staking him.
“Well that's good to know then. Since I plan on keeping Joyce very happy for
the next 99 years.”
Dawn chuckled and rolled her eyes. “I'm hungry.”
Giles ignored her that child had been hanging around Xander too much. “Beth, do
you want to see Willow and Xander today? I can ring....”
“Willow's still here? And Xand also?” Beth
asked.
“Beth, there's a nice little restaurant that
just opened up Broadway.”
“Bistro Bella Vita?” Dawn whined, her lower lip
jutting out. Beth drifted back to when she, Taylor, Mary and Sammy were going
out for a nice dinner several months ago. “Aww mom, I don't wanna dress up.
Can't we stay home?”
Beth was quietly amused how the Sammy and Dawn
both hated to dress up and unconsciously smirked. Dawn looked over at Beth to
see her grinning over something, “Hey Beth, what are you grinning over, it's
not like you don't have to dress up you know. It’s not fun!”
“It's not that bad, when compared to a 15K run
with a full pack.” Beth replied.
“Uhhhh, yeah. Ok.” Dawn replied not quite sure
what he sister meant. She had gotten a little strange over the last 3 years.
<Oh well, I guess that's what the military can do to you> she mused and
stuck her tongue out at Beth before running up the stairs to her room to find
‘something’ to wear tonight.
As Dawn ran up the stairs both Summers women
called out, “Dawn, don't run up the stairs!!” Both women looked at each other
and smirked.
“Practice from yelling at Sammy not to do the
same thing Beth?” Giles asked.
“Yes and lots of it, you get in the habit once
you're an Aunt to a six year old,” Beth replied with a silly grin on her face.
Joyce looked at Beth, <Aunt, Beth's an
Aunt?> surprise was written across her face. Giles chose this moment to
exit, “Ladies, I just need to make some phone calls. I'm sure you can find
something to discuss,” and walked quickly out the room and towards his study.
Beth saw the look on her Mom's face and couldn't
resist teasing her just a little with her answer. “Yes.”
“That's it? Just yes? Don't I get more?"
Joyce asked.
Beth sat down on the couch, “Okay, yes I'm an
Aunt to Samuel Taylor, and he's six going on seven years old. Better Mom?” She
had really missed being able to tease her mom and this was soo much fun as she
watched the myriad looks on her face.
Joyce quirked an eyebrow at her daughter.
“Sammy's a good kid but he takes after his father, he has a talent for mischief
and getting in trouble. If he can't
find any mischief, he'll go out and make it,” Beth finally answered.
“Do you work with his father?”
“He's a good friend and he's helped me through
last three years.”
<<<<<<>>>>>>
As Giles walked into the study he felt the first
tear start to fall from his eyes and slumped down beside the closed door. His
insides were a knot, from all the emotions he'd kept bottled up; fear,
happiness, anger but most of all relief that she was back and okay. He remembered countless nights of sitting
and staring at the phone and dreading the call that would tell him Buffy was
dead or hurt.
Giles thought about how Beth's mail had been
returned to her. <Someone wanted to keep her from communicating with her
family, but why?> he wondered. Pulling out a small black phonebook with some
numbers he thought he'd never use again.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
“Dawn you need to move it, it's 1830 hours
already!” Beth spoke loudly into the bathroom door where Dawn was ‘finishing
up’.
"What are you talking about Beth? It's only
6:30 and I'll be ready in a minute.”
“That's what I said Dawn, and you've been saying
that for the last half an hour.”
“Alright, alright. I'm coming out now.” Dawn
muttred, as Beth walked back into her bedroom in irritation.
Dawn knocked on Beth's door, “Okay, you can come
out now. I'm ready.” Dawn saw Beth as she stepped out of her old room. “Oh. My.
God! Beth?” she briefly felt the earring drop from her fingers, but was too
shocked to care. “Mom is gonna freak when she sees you.”
Beth looked down at her uniform with a
smile. No matter how many times, the
reaction was always the same.
Beth looked at her sister, silently
contemplating when the dorky teenager turned into a beautiful young woman.
“Your pretty freak worthy yourself Dawn.” Dawn stood in front of Beth dressed
in a red, sleeveless dress that stopped just at her knees. Her hair was pulled
back in a french braid and Beth saw a pair of diamond studs in her ears.
Beth felt pride at how much Dawn had grown from
the gangly 15 year-old to this 18 year old, beautiful, young woman that stood
before her.
Beth pulled her sister into a hug, “I love you
Dawnie,” she whispered and then stepped back. “You ready to go downstairs?”
And the two Summers’ sisters started down the stairs
where Giles and Mom were waiting for them.
Giles was waiting with Joyce downstairs when he
heard voices and looked over towards the stairs. Dawn was the first he saw, she
was dressed in the lovely red dress he had seen her carrying recently, <God
she has grown hasn't she.> Giles felt a burst of pride as he watched Dawn.
“Dawn,” he started t ask “where's Be....” the
words froze in his throat as he saw Beth come down the stairs. Dressed in her
Marine Dress uniform. The navy blue slacks with a red stripe down the side and
the black jacket with gold buttons and the Eagle, Globe and Anchor insignia on
the collar shined brightly. On the arms of the jacket he saw the gold chevron
on a blood red field, and a few ribbons on the left chest of the jacket and finally
the white hat under her arm and white gloves to finish off the entire image.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Willow and Tara stood outside the Bistro Bella
Vita entrance waiting for Giles, Joyce and Dawn to arrive. Xander and his fiancée Anya stood a few feet
away talking.
“Tara, did you get the feeling Giles was hiding
something?” Willow asked.
“No, he seemed like Giles usually is,” Tara
answered her lover. <Well not quite, but I'm sure that he wants to surprise
Will about something. No need to say anything,> she thought.
Will eyed Tara carefully, she could swear that
Tara ‘knew’ something about tonight. <Damn, I guess I'll have to find out
like everyone else this time.>
Willow saw Giles’ car drive up and pull into the
parking lot. She only got a quick look, but she would swear she saw four people
inside.
A few minutes later Willow saw four people
walking towards them. <Four people> she thought puzzeldly and counted
them out, “Giles...Joyce...Dawn...and a soldier" she whispered, catching
the attention of Tara who looked over at the group headed their way and a
crooked smile blossomed on her face.
Seeing the smile on Tara's face Willow knew
something was up. <Tara, what's going on?>
“Mm..mmaybe you should ask Mr. Giles, Willow.”
Willow saw the group halt about 15' away and
Giles started walking alone towards her. “Willow, Tara! Good evening ladies.”
“Giles, who is that with you?” Willow asked.
Tara ‘felt’ the satisfaction and happiness rolling
off of Mr. Giles in waves, glancing at the party she looked at the soldier and
her suspicion as to who it was, was confirmed.
“Why don't you go ask Dawn or Mrs. Summers who
it is Willow?” Tara asked innocently.
Willows’ suspicion that her lover ‘knew’ what
was going on was confirmed with her innocent little question. But she headed on
over towards Dawn and Joyce.
She saw the fourth person was a soldier and a
Marine at that when they turned towards her. Willow stared for several seconds
in shock, <That can't be....>, but it was as she recognized who it was
and ran towards her.
“Buffy!!!!!!” she cried out and ran into her
out-stretched arms and felt them hug her.
“Buthowdidyouwherehaveyoubeen?what'sgoingon?> She took a deep breath. “This
isn't some sick joke?”
Beth saw Willow as she walked towards them and
then as she called her name and ran towards her. Suddenly she was pulled into a
tight hug and was greeted by the bubbly Willow-speak. “Willow, Willow! Slow
down.”
Tara grinned as she watched the two of them
together, she was happy for Willow that she now had a chance to see her best
friend again and she knew how much the trial and her disappearance afterwards
had hurt her. She watched all four of them walk on over here at the front
entrance.
Stepping back to look at Buffy, Willow saw the
short blonde hair; her face was mostly the same. But now there was leanness to
her features and her eyes... Willow saw the joy on her friends face, but her
eyes were what caught her attention. She saw the pain hidden in them and how
she had changed as well.
Xander saw Mr.G, Dawn, Willow
and....Buffy??? Anya had told him
earlier that Buffy was back, but on some level he really hadn't been able to
believe it.
But actually seeing her changed that, he walked
over to Buffy and threw his arms around her and swung her around.
“Buffy! You're really here!” Looking at her,
“Like the new hair,” he teased her, knowing how she loved her long hair.
“Thanks, you look good too, is that Anya over by
Giles and Tara?” Beth asked, she remembered Xander was seeing her, but didn't
know much about her other then she 'was' a vengeance demon before she lost her
powers Xander just beamed at the mention of his fiancée's name.
“Yep.” Grabbing her hand he pulled her towards
his waiting fiancée.
Beth looked over at Willow and whispered, “Is
everyone engaged now? First I find out about Mom and Giles, now Xander and
Anya. What about you two? Have
you tied the knot yet?”
Willow blushed furiously at Beth's comment, “ummm...”
Tara heard Beth's question and leaned over wrapping her arm around Willow's
waist, “Actually Willow and I were handfasted by our coven last Candelmas,” she
said very proudly and kissed Willow on the lips.
Which only caused Willow to blush even more and
made Beth chuckle, “Then I guess congratulations are in order for you two.”
Beth leaned over to Tara
“But if you hurt her I'll beat you to death with
a shovel.” Tara just smiled, “Thanks for the warning, but I think you'll have
to get inline behind Xander, Giles and Mrs. Summers first.”
The group walked into the restaurant with
Willow, Beth and Xander following at the rear as they talked.
As Beth was listening to Willow, she heard a
voice from a nearby couple, “God, you'd think they'd have rules about letting
the military in here. I thought they had standards at this restaurant.” “Now,
now dear. I'm sure they paid the Maitre D' well to get in here,” the male voice
replied in a snobbish voice.
Turning she saw the couple that she'd overheard
and smiled at them. <Rich brats, probably never did an honest days work.>
“Buffy? What's wrong?” Xander asked.
And Beth focused her attention on her two
friends, but she couldn't help feeling like someone had spit on all the sweat
and blood she'd shed over the last three years.
“So Xand, when did you pop the question to
Anya?” Beth asked curiously. She had noticed he had changed, but this was a
‘big’ step from the boy who lived in the basement of his parents' home to the
man who was standing in front of her.
“Oh, you want to hear about that? Its not that
big, what about you though. How do you like being in the military? If I
remember right you never really liked to follow the rules, or get up early,” he
teased.
Beth looked at her Xander as he tried to switch
the conversation. “Nice try Xander, but we're talking about you and Anya. So
give. Let's hear all the juicy details,” she said with a smirk.
Sighing, “Will and I had a run in with a demon
about a year and a half ago and I got a little hurt, that was sort of a wakeup
call I needed to change things in my life, and Anya was just one of things I
needed in my life.”
Frowning at Xander, Willow looked at him
severely, “A little hurt?? You had a broken leg and some bad burns from that
demon and you were in the hospital for a month.”
“Okay, okay. I got hurt bad. But it was what I
needed to look at things. So I took Anya out to dinner on Valentines Day at
Mario's, and asked her to marry me.”
“Uh huh, how about you gave her this completely
romantic dinner that night, and told her ‘you couldn't imagine her not being in
your life’ or how she cried when you asked her to marry you. You left a few
details out there.” Willow added as she watched Beth smile broadly and Xander
turn blush.
Beth threw her arm around Xander's shoulders,
“Xander, I'm damn proud of you and that I'm ‘your’ friend.”
The Maitre D' cleared his throat. “If you would
follow me, your table is ready.”
Giles, Xander and Willow all seated their
respective partners; Beth sat down in between Dawn and Willow.
The Maitre D' looked to Giles as he was seated,
“Your server will be with your momentarily sir. Enjoy your meal.”
“Thank you,” Giles replied.
Moments later their water glasses filled, the
server came by. “Good evening. My name is Tomas and I'll be your waiter for
this evening. We have several specials today…” He handed them their menus
before walking away.
Tara looked over past Willow and towards Buffy,
“Buffy do you really think we should having a war that we obviously started? I
mean look at what happened in the US Embassy in Madrid, look at all those
students that were killed by the soldiers there.”
Willow looked at Tara with an angry look on her
face, “No, Tara. Don't.....”
Beth felt her shoulders stiffen at Tara's
question, she had known two of the US Marine Embassy Guards who were killed
there. She stifled back her angry response and took a deep several deep breaths
to calm herself.
“Tara, this is a pleasant dinner. Lets not bring
that up right now, ok?” Willow said, trying to cut her lover off from her
personal crusade against the war.
“But Buffy, people died there, and over what?”
Tara asked.
Anger glittered in Beth's eyes at Tara's
question, “Yes Tara, people did die there, including Marines who were protecting
the Embassy and the civilians inside,” her voice was cold and angry.
“This isn't what we're here to talk about Tara,
this is to celebrate Buffy's return,” Xander broke in.
“Yes indeed, I suggest we move on to a different
subject. I'm sure you can ask ‘Beth’ about it later Tara.” Giles stressed.
Willow grabbed Tara's hand, “Tara, just drop it.
Now is not the time for this, we've had this discussion before and you know my
feelings about it.”
Tara looked around and saw the anger clearly on Beth's
face, as well as Xander and Willow's, and realized how her question had
sounded.
“I'm sorry Buf...Beth. I didn't mean to...” She stood up, knocking her chair over in her
haste to get leave.
“I'm sorry Buffy, she shouldn't have....”
“Will, its okay. Just tell Tara I'm not angry at her and bring her back.”
Beth felt tense inside but she was determined to
forget it. She understood that Tara hadn't meant anything by her questions, she
knew many civilians felt the same way. They just didn't understand.
Willow caught up to Tara in the parking lot,
Tara's face was streaked with tears.
“Tara wait!” Willow called out and stopped in
front of Tara.
“Nnn..no Willow. I can't believe I said that
it...” Willow gently pushed Tara's face up so she could look into her eyes.
“Its okay Tara, Buffy understands. She asked me
to tell you she's not angry with you and wants you to come back.”
“Bb..but Will,” Willow put her finger over
Tara's lips.
“Ssshhh, Tara look at me. Buffy doesn't say
things that she doesn't mean, so come back with me.”
“I ruined dinner Willow, I cant.”
“Nothings been ruined unless you leave Tara, yes
Buffy was upset a little, but she has that right, we don't know what she's been
through. Please? For me, come back to dinner. I promise to make it up to you,”
Willow replied mischievously.
Tara took the tissue Willow held out for her and
wiped at her eyes. “Well since you're ‘offering’ to make it up, how c-can I
refuse,” she paused taking in the beauty of her lover. “I love you Willow
Rosenberg,” She leaned down pouring all her emotions into the kiss.
Meanwhile as Will & Tara walked back into
the restaurant....
“So Buffy, what's up with this Beth?” Xander
asked to break the silence that had descended since Tara & Will's sudden
departure.
As Beth was about to reply she saw Tara &
Will and smiled at Tara. “Hi there, everything ok?” she asked Will.
“Bu-Buffy, I'm sorry about what I asked, it
wasn't very nice and it put you in an awkward position.”
“It's okay Tara, I was just caught off-guard
with the question.”
Beth waited until Will and Tara were seated
before answering Xanders' question.
"Well Xander, they weren't going to call me
'Buffy' at Boot Camp or anywhere else. So I just shortened my first name, and
well I'm not ‘Buffy’ anymore, anyhow my life is different and so am I, so I'd
prefer if you'd call me Beth.”
Willow noticed Buf...err Beth's face as she was
talking to Xander, and how her features had gone ‘cold’ as she brought up her
past however briefly.
Xander was quiet after she replied, “Oh, okay.”
<Way to go Harris, bring up the painful stuff> Xander chastised himself
mentally. “Oh, Will, I just got a call from Faith. She says that the powder you
gave her to track the Polgara demons last week worked great. But she wanted to
know if you can come up to LA, she has a problem that needs some strong Wicca
backup.”
Willow turned to see a dark look on Beth's face,
“You want to tell me something Will?” Beth asked angrily. “How can you help her
after what she's done? She's a murderer.”
“Beth, she's changed. She's not the same person
she was, she's trying to make amends for what she did. I know she's different
now.”
“And how do you ‘know’ that Will?” Beth asked
sarcastically “Magick?”
Willow turned to face Beth, she knew this would
be a sore spot with Beth but she had to face that Faith had changed. “Beth, are
you the same person you were three years ago? No, you're not, none of us are.
We've all changed and so has she, you've got to get past this anger with her at
some point. Go see her, yell at her, whatever it takes to get this out. But you
have to deal with the fact that not only have I been helping her, I'm going to
keep helping her and I trust her.”
“And you trust her? Why? Because you cast some
spell that tells you, you can?” Beth said sarcastically. “You can't trust her,
she tried killing you how many times Willow?”
“And what about Angel Beth? How many people did
he kill, maim and torture as Angelus in 150 years? But you trust him, right!”
Willow knew she had made a point finally as Beth went silent.
“I just don't want to see you get hurt Willow, I
still remember how she hurt you.” Beth answered in a quiet voice.
“I know that Beth, but you haven't seen her.
She's changed a lot.”
“Maybe I'll go see her later this week before I head
back. But no promises.”
<<<<<<>>>>>>
Willow kept her eyes on Beth as they walked
through the cemetery. She really
couldn't believe that her best friend was back. Dinner had been frustrating, Beth was so different from the
person that she had known. Willow didn't know how to talk to her and
frustration started to surge inside her when Beth had insisted on going on
patrol with her.
So far she'd managed to steer them away from any
trouble, <It's been three years!! What is she trying to prove?> Willow
thought angrily. <For all that she's changed, she's still thinks it's her
responsibility.>
Stopping, Willow cast a cantrip and a stake
appeared in her hand. She motioned for Beth to stay behind her, but she stayed
where she was. Willow felt the breeze pick up and knew trouble was about to
start.
Before she had time to complete the thought four
burly vamps who looked like their faces had been bashed in one too many times
stepped out from behind a mausoleum. “Hey it's the Wicca, kill her and her
friend!”
Two of the vamps rushed at Beth, Willows' eyes
flashed green fire, “Solaris Luminae!!!!!!” and a ball of yellow energy
formed in her hands and flew at one of the vampires. As he was hit by the ball of energy, he cried out as he turned to
dust.
Beth had managed to dust one of the vamps, but
as she fought this one she felt slow, despite all the training she'd had in the
last three years. She chuckled for a
second, fighting vampires just wasn't on her priority list. She started scolded
herself mentally for getting out of practice, when the vamp finally managed to
land a hard blow that knocked her back into a tree
Beth felt herself being picked up and the
vampires fangs sink into her neck.
Willow distracted by trying to keep an eye on
Beth was holding her own when she saw the vampire Beth was fighting throw her
into a tree and then sink his fangs into her.
"NO!!" Willow yelled. “Ergane
Cerinus!!” she chanted and the vampire was thrown back and a shield formed
around Beth. “No more games. ‘Incendium Viburnum!!’ ” Willow cried out
and large ball of red energy appeared over her right hand. Gesturing she ‘threw’ it at the vamp that
attacked Beth, as it hit him he was consumed in fire, turning to dust. The
other vamp thinking to flee, ran.
As he ran away, Willow looked up at the sky and
pointed at the fleeing vampire. “Fulmen!!” she chanted, the stars
disappeared behind clouds and a bolt of lightning came streaking down and
incinerated him, leaving only dust and a burn mark where he had been. The sky
cleared and the stars were once again visible.
“You okay?” Willow leaned down closer to Beth
who was sitting up, as she tried to remove Beth's hand from her neck. Blood had
started to seep thought her fingers and leave a trail down her forearm. But Beth
jerked away from her but instantly regretted it when her vision blurred.
Willow
saw the confusion and panic clearly visible on her face. “Buffy! Stop it. It’s
me, Will. I'm not going to hurt you.” Beth stopped backing away and Willow saw
something she thought she'd never see, Beth was afraid of her.
“You don't have to be afraid, it's me, Willow.”
“I'm not afraid of you,” but Beth used the tree
next to her to stand up. As she stood up, a wave of nausea hit her and she felt
her stomach heave as she lost all of dinner. She felt Willow's hands steady her
and keep her from falling as she vomited, <This is Willow, my best friend.
I..I just, I just....> Beth knew in her head that Willow would never hurt
her, but the raw power she had seen her use scared her.
“I'll be fine now Will,” Beth said slightly more
brusquely than she intended.
“No you aren't Beth. You're hurt and I'm taking
you back to your house” Willow answered, hurt by the cold tone in her friends
voice. <Just give her some time, she hasn't seen you in three years and you
go casting spells like water around her. She just needs a little time to sort
it out is all> Willow rationalized to herself.
“What the hell was that?” Beth motioned to the
area where the burn mark from the lightning strike on the vamp.
Willow looked at Beth, “What do you mean? I just
killed some vamps that ‘almost’ made dinner out of you! So what are you talking
about?!?” Willow replied angrily.
“No Willow, you didn't just kill them, you
completely obliterated them like they were nothing and those spells. Where the
hell did you learn that??” Beth was upset but she knew that it wasn't really at
Willow or even the powerful spells she had cast, although that did worry her.
It was that she could have gotten Willow and
herself killed, she was so arrogant that she could handle this patrol as if
nothing had changed, but it had and now she had to face things. Including how
Willow and the others had changed. She needed to get away and think about
things clearly first thought. <LA isn't that far, and I'd like to see how
Angel and Cordy are doing.>
Willow looked in shock at that language Beth had
used. It hadn't struck her at first, but now... “Beth, when did you start
swearing like a sailor?”
“It's not that bad Will, its only the word hell,”
Beth rolled her eyes.
Willow noticed that the frightened look on
Beths’ face had gone, and she seemed calmer now. <See Will, I told you she
just needed time to relax about your spells. You were just throwing them around
like water and she is your best friend, three years or no.>
“Uh huh, and when we go to Willy's you'll share
some of your ‘colorful adjectives’ with him too?” she teased Beth.
Beth noticed her hand was wet and sticky, ‘Aw
damn!’ she thought and brought her hand up to her face and saw it covered in
blood.
As she stared at her hand, she felt her vision
tunnel and start to go gray, and her legs buckled beneath her when Willow
grabbed her to keep her from falling.
“You're going home Beth.”
“No arguments from me Will, I really don't feel
good.”
During the trip back to her house Beth was quiet
as she thought about what happened. “Hey Will, are you going to LA?" she
asked casually.
Willow turned her head to look at Beth before
answering, “Uhmmm, yes I am. Why?”
Beth looked at Will, “Actually I'd rather if you
didn't.”
“What? I thought we settled this about Faith
over dinner.”
“I've been thinking about what you said over
dinner, and I've decided to go to LA in a few days. Maybe you're right and I do
need to, as Cordy once put it, ‘Spank my inner moppet’ and settle things with
Faith.”
Willow walked Beth to the front door, “Are you
gonna be okay?”
“Yeah, I'll be fine Will.” Beth smiled,
“G'night.”
Beth let herself into the house and moved into
the bathroom, peeling off her bloodstained and torn shirt. <Ouch, crap that
hurts. I forgot about this part of Slaying.> Taking out some peroxide and a
dark towel, she soaked the towel with water and cleaned the wound on her neck.
The she poured the peroxide over the wound and put a large gauze bandage over
it. Moving out she headed up the stairs, <God I'm glad Mom's not here. I'm
really not in the mood to explain this to her now.>
She walked to her bedroom, stepped inside and
pulled on a clean sleeveless undershirt before reaching for her cell phone and
knocked the book she had been reading off the bed.
As the book bounced off the bed it fell open and
a piece of paper and a dollar bill fell out. Bending over, Beth picked up the
dollar and the folded piece of paper.
‘Beth,
I know
you're going to be nervous about seeing your
family & friends after all this time. But
they'll be just as nervous to see
you. I've listened to you talk about your Mom
& Dawn, and I don't think they
ever could hate you. Not the way you've spoken
about them, there's too much
love in your family for them to do that to you.
Right now I'm sure you're
rolling your eyes at how 'mushy' this is.
Just give them time to get used to you as you
are now, it's
been three years and it'll be hard for them to
not see you as you were. Just
as you cant expect Dawn and your friends Willow
not to have changed either.
Give them the space they need to get used to you
and do the same for them.
Above all, you know that Mary, Sammy and I care
about you, so if you need to
talk, call me.
I'll be here for you.
Semper Fi,
Taylor
<<<<<<>>>>>>
Beth heard a knock on her door as she started to
dial Taylor and turned the cell phone off and placed it on the bed, “Come
in”. She saw the door open
and her mom and Giles walk into the room. “Hi
Mom, hi Giles. What's up?”
Joyce walked over, “I just wanted to talk to
you. It's been so long.”
Joyce looked at Beth when she noticed a large
bandage that was bloodstained on her daughters’ neck, “Beth! What happened to
you? You were fine when we left the restaurant, where you attacked?”
Touching the bandage on her neck, “Mom it's
nothing. Will and I got jumped by some vamps, but I'm okay.”
Giles moved closer from the doorway to Beth, “And
what were you doing patrolling last night with Willow? I thought she had more
sense then to let you go with her.” Giles shook his head.
“Its not Wills fault Giles, so don't blame her.
I pushed so her to let me go and it was my fault I got hurt.”
“Okay?? Buffy, you were hurt. How can you be
okay?!” Putting her hand on her mom's shoulder, “Really, I'm okay. Slayer
healing, one nights sleep and I'm better.
Really."
Beth saw how worried her mom was. “I'm okay,
really mom,” and smiled.
“That’s not the point Beth, she shouldn't have
let you go out with her. You haven't been slaying for over 3 years, you could
have gotten both you and her killed.”
“Giles, I learned my lesson and Will and I are
fine. Okay?”
Joyce picked up Mr. Gordo off the bed. “I don't
really know much about what you do in the Marines Beth.”
Beth had known this would come up and she uneasy
felt telling about telling mom, but she knew that she had to tell her.
"Uhmm, when I finished BootCamp I was assigned to the 1st MarDiv,” she hoped
Mom wouldn't ask what the 1st MarDiv was.
“What is the 1st Mar Div Beth?” Giles asked,
seeing his wife's confusion.
“It's an infantry division”
“Infantry? But you're a woman Beth!” Joyce
replied anxiously.
Beth shifted uncomfortably on the bed, “Congress
passed a law that allows women in combat positions now Mom. Besides I'm not
with the 1st MarDiv anymore, I was transferred so you don't have to worry.”
Beth hoped this partial truth would be enough for Mom. She didn't want her to
worry about her, especially now that she was with the 13th MEU.
Giles looked down at Beth and noticed a tattoo
on her right arm, it was a bulldog pushing the US flag upright, above it were
the letters USMC and below it in a banner it said 13th MEU. “Interesting tattoo
Beth.” Joyce looked at her husband and then back at Beth’s arm. “What is the
13th M-E-U I believe it says, that you have so prominently displayed at the
bottom?”
“Oh that,” Beth looked at her tattoo nervously.
“That would be the unit I'm with now. But that's not really important though.”
Joyce saw the nervous smile her daughter had
made, “Beth the only time you smile like that is when you're hiding something,
liked the time you broke the lamp when you were eight. What does that M-E-U
stand for?”
Beth sighed loudly, “It stands for Marine
Expeditionary Unit, it's a rapid deployment combined arms unit. I've been in it
for the last year.”
Joyce reached for Beth's hand, “Honey, I don't
understand what that means.”
“Joyce, it means that Beth is part of an infantry
unit, doesn't it Beth.” Giles stated. “How soon is your unit shipping out?”
Beth looked down at her hands. “Where not sure. We've picked up our
training and there's a buzz going through the unit.” Beth looked from her mom to Giles, noticing the fear in their
eyes.
“Mom, its gonna be okay. This is what we've been
training for.”
Standing up suddenly Joyce started pacing back
and forth, “For what?!? To go get killed or blown-up or something?” Joyce
yelled at Beth, tears rolled down her cheeks.
Beth got up from the bed and moved over to her
mother and put her arms around her, “No, not to get killed. To protect my family and my country. It's
what I took an oath to do.”
“I've seen the news reports Beth, so many people
are getting hurt and killed. I don't want my last image of you to be as they
bring you back in a body bag in some news footage on the TV.” Joyce pulled Beth
into fierce hug. “I just got you back, I can't lose you.”
“You won't. I'm tough and so are the members of
my squad. We watch each other's back. I'm going to come home to you, both of
you,” she reached out for Giles and pulled him into the hug. He heard Joyce breathe hitch in her throat
and he pulled her closer to him.
“I promise,” Beth whispered before taking a step
back and cocking an eyebrow. “Besides Taylor said he'd curse me with his wife's
food if I got hurt.”
<<<<<<>>>>>>
Beth picked up the phone after Giles and her Mom
had left and dialed Taylor's house, Beth listened to the phone ring as she
waited for someone to pickup. “Hello” she heard Mary say.
“Mary, hi. It's Beth.”
“Beth! How are you? Is everything okay at home?”
“Yeah it is. I just wanted to talk to Taylor
about some stuff though. Is he home?” Beth asked.
“Yes, he's out back, let me go get him. Hold on one
sec Beth,” Mary heard the tenseness in Beth's voice and knew something was
wrong as she walked over to her husband.
“Steve, Beth's on the phone for you,” she heard
in the distance
“She is? Okay. I'll pick it up out here,” as he
picked up the cordless phone next to him.
“Beth? What's up?” Taylor asked, concerned that
she was calling back after she had left the message she was ok with Sammy.
“Sammy gave me your message, if you were calling to check on that.” He heard
her chuckle but noticed something else in her voice. “Are you okay?” Beth
sighed, wishing that she wasn't across the US talking to him on a phone. “You
sound hurt? Did something happen?” He frowned when she didn't respond. “Beth
did you try to do something heroic again?”
“God Taylor I was so weak. A vampire beat me
Taylor, a vampire.”
“Okay a vampire beat you, it happens to
everyone, well so to speak. What's really bothering you about that Beth?”
“I..I felt so useless, that's why. Cause her I
am ‘the big, bad Slayer’ and Will had to save me. I'm the one who's supposed to
do the saving, not her. She's been patrolling for three years because of me not
being there and I know she's been hurt.”
“Yeah Beth, you ‘are’ the Slayer. But you know
that means you can't be responsible for everyone.”
“Yeah, but...”
“But nothing Beth, stop trying to take the
responsibility for everything on your shoulders. What you have to ask yourself
is this, Have you done everything you could? IF the answers yes, then leave it
alone. She's grown up and changed just like you have and likely she's stronger
a person since you weren't there. Would you want to change that?”
“No...I wouldn't.” Beth replied quietly
“Good, now what else is bothering you? And don't
deny it, I know you Summers. So spill.” Taylor teased her, trying to break her
out of the black mood she was in.
“I told Mom about being in the infantry. I'm not sure how she took it other than the
look of fear on her face as I told her.”
“Did she run out the door screaming or tell you
that you're never to step foot in the house again Beth?” Taylor asked.
“No she didn't.” Beth replied slightly thrown by
Taylor's question.
“Then your families handling it a lot better
then mine did. I think your mother especially just needs time to get used to the
idea. She still sees you as her ‘little girl’ in many ways and this is a hell
of a wake up call that that's not true anymore. Just be patient with her, okay
Beth?”
“You're right, I just didn't expect to have to
tell them so soon though.”
“So how was the barbeque?”
“It was a smashing success as always,” Taylor
said proudly.
Beth chuckled into the phone after she heard
Taylor, “And did you have to cart Ramirez out of their and back to the base? Or
did you leave that for the rest of the squad this time?”
“No, this time i let them have Ramirez's drunk
butt to carry home,” Taylor replied as he laughed. “But I can tell in the tone
of your voice that what happened with Willow wasn't the only thing bothering
you.”
“It's Faith.”
“Faith? The other slayer that was in the
hospital?”
“Yeah that's her. But she's not in the hospital
anymore.”
“She's not? When did this happen?” Beth
chuckled, “That's what I'd like to know,” before fingering the letter still
clutched in her hand. “She's in L.A. fighting vamps and she needs Willow's
help.”
He could hear the desperation in her voice. “And
you want to go instead, right?”
“No. Yes. I don't know, yeah I guess I do. They
say that she's changed,” she heard him chuckle.
“Stop laughing at me Steven Jonathon Taylor.”
“I'm not laughing at you Beth.”
“Right, you're laughing with me.”
“Exactly. Anyway, tell me more about Faith.”
“Faith's in L.A.”
“You already said that Beth, are you getting
senile in your old age?” he teased. “So…Faith's in L.A. and you want to go see her.”
“Yeah. But I put her in a coma Steve.”
“Hmmm, and there's something else about Faith
that's bothering you Beth, what is it?”
“Isn't that enough?”
“Not with you it isn't. If you put her in a
coma, it was for a good reason. Now what else is bothering you about this
Faith?”
Sighing defeatedly, “Okay. Before she ‘turned’
so to speak, everything felt ‘right’ with her and after...’that night’,
everything changed. It was like the Faith I knew never existed and in her place
was this evil creature. And now Willow's telling me she's changed, but I cant
get past all the evil she did....”
“And now you're not sure if you can get past how
you remember her as being evil?”
“Basically...”
“Well Beth, there isn't an easy answer here. But
Willow was right that you should go see her because it sounds like there's more
to this story then you're telling, and this is something you should deal with
before we leave. One way or the other you have to settle things between the two
of you.”
“It sounds like I have 2 votes in the ‘YES’
category to see Faith then.” Beth replied
“No, there are two friends telling you that they
think this is what you should do, you get to make that decision yourself.
Whatever you decide, you know I’ll back you.”
“I read the letter Steve and...thank you.”
“No need for thanks Beth. Semper Fidelis Beth.”
“Always Faithful... and you wonder why Mary
married you.”
“It's late Beth and you need rest. I'm here if
you need me, okay?”
“Thanks Steve. Talk to you in a few days.”