Forever, Always, and Then Some

Chapter 55

 

As the weeks go by, Buffy and Angel spend what time they are not out saving the world from unspeakable evil to talking on the video phone. More than one conversation was interrupted by a vision. But even though they are enjoying their new communication, it does not replace being together.

One morning in Sunnydale.

Buffy is feeding Conner in the living room when Willow comes down for school

Buffy: Morning

Willow: Hi, I didn’t hear you come in last night.

Buffy: I was late, there has been quite a bit of vampire activity lately. Much more than usual.

Willow: That doesn’t sound too good.

Buffy: Not more than I can handle. Plus Spike has been helping out.

Willow: Be careful.

Buffy: I am.

Willow: Oh yeah Angel rang in last night. I talked to him for awhile. Has he been unusually sad to you lately?

Buffy: I noticed it too. I think it has to do with how fast Conner is growing and how much he is missing out on.

Willow: What about a visit?

Buffy: The leaving is sometimes harder than the staying away. Damn it I miss him so much I physically ache and I have Conner to hold on to. This is so hard, but we have to bear. We do, don’t we Willow?

Willow: Buffy, I can’t answer that. That is between you and Angel. You have to choose your own path.

Buffy: I know. We can do more good apart. I can’t leave here and he can’t leave there. So our path is engraved in stone.

Willow: I see.

Buffy: No you don’t. You think he should just move in here for good. Give up his quest to atone for his past and just be with me. Give up being a warrior for the Power That Be.

Willow: I didn’t say that.

Buffy: You don’t have to. Don’t you think we think about it. But there is more people to think about than just use. Innocent people. Angel sacrificed his own chance at being human to keep fighting. Do you think we can give up just because it is a little lonely. Okay a lot lonely.

Willow: You are right but I needed for you to remember it. Remember why you both are making the sacrifice.

Buffy: I am sorry I need to be alone for a while.

Buffy heads upstairs. She lays Conner down. She stands in front of the mirror above the dresser.

Buffy: I can do this, I can be strong.

Buffy slowly opens Angel’s drawer and pulls out the black box. She slowly opens it for the first time since she had Willow put it away. She quietly notes that three stones are glowing. The pink one, the orange one, and the green one.

Buffy: Three? Already three?

She smiles. She holds the pendant in her hands and slowly caresses the stones. There is a crash and a scream from downstairs. Buffy drops the pendant onto the dresser and runs down the stairs two at a time.

Buffy: Willow?

Buffy finds Willow unconscious at the foot of the stairs and a large demon standing over her.

Demon: Aruggaga. Nannihi

Buffy: Assuming that does not mean have a nice day.

Buffy leaps off the stairs and kicks the demon out the still open front door. She punches him and lands a hard roundhouse kick and as he is spun around she grabs him from behind and snaps his neck. She drops him on the porch and heads to Willow who is just coming too.

Upstairs Dawn is heading off to school. She stops by Buffy’s room and knocks softly.

Dawn: Buffy? Buffy are you in here? I need money for lunch.

Dawn wanders over to the nightstand and looks around. She glances around before walking over to the dresser. She quickly notices the pendant. She picks it up and looks at it, glances around before slipping it into her jeans pocket. She heads downstairs.

Dawn: Uh what happened here?

Buffy: Demon. (tosses her head toward the door)

Dawn: (looking outside) Dead demon?

Buffy: Very. Willow are you okay?

Willow: Uh yeah. What happened?

Buffy: I think you were attacked. I came down and that guy was over you.

Willow: Oh, last thing I remember was heading out the door for school.

Buffy: I heard a crash and a scream.

Dawn: I didn’t hear anything.

Buffy: Huh?

Dawn: But I was wearing my headset while I finished getting dressed.

Buffy: Oh. Well Dawn you need to get to school and I need to dig another really big hole. Willow?

Willow: I am going back to bed.

Dawn: I need money for lunch.

Willow hands her some and she leaves. Willow heads upstairs, Dawn heads to school and Buffy heads for a shovel.

Hours later after Buffy has buried her latest visitor, she goes inside and sits down in the kitchen and lays her head on the counter. She falls asleep. She is awakened later by Willow holding Conner.

Willow: Buffy. Buffy

Buffy: Huh, mom?

Willow: No Buffy it is me. Conner is awake and I think he is hungry.

Buffy: Oh oh. Okay. Sorry I must have fallen asleep. I will take him.

Willow: You okay.

Buffy: Fine. Just had to dig a very big hole. Very big.

Willow: We bury anymore out back, we may have to build a crypt.

Buffy: Not a bad idea. Then we just have to shove them in a drawer.

Willow: Neighbors might not like it though.

Buffy: Right now who cares. How are you feeling?

Willow: Better, except for the massive headache. But you finish feeding him and I will take him while you get a shower. You have dirt all in your hair.

Buffy: I know. Big hole, remember.

Willow: I remember.

After Conner is feed, Buffy heads for the shower. She relaxes as the warm water washes away the stresses of the morning. It is not even noon and she has slain a demon and buried the body. Typical day. Buffy lets the water wash away her concerns. She even finds herself smiling as she remember the three stones, the pink one , the green one, and the orange one. Three out of ten. It’s a start a very good start. Not bad for only 2 ½ months. This rate they might have another night before the end of the year.

Buffy steps out of the shower and wrapped in a towel she heads to her room. She walks to the dresser for clothes and notices Angel’s drawer is still partly open. Inside she finds the open black box but no necklace. She looks around. She finds nothing. She starts to get a little upset.

Buffy: It is here. I just have to remember what I did with it.

She quickly gets dressed and continues the search. She finally realizes it is not there. She heads downstairs to find Willow.

Buffy: Willow, its gone. I have looked and it is gone. It is gone.

Willow: Calm down. What is gone.

Buffy: The necklace. It is gone.

Willow: Necklace? The necklace?

Buffy: Uh huh. Damn I should never have pulled it out. But…

Willow: You took it out? When?

Buffy: This morning. After I laid Conner down. I was looking at it when I heard the demon attack you.

Willow: What did you do with it then?

Buffy: I could have sworn I dropped it on top of the dresser. But it is not there. I have looked.

Willow: We will find it. It did not sprout legs and walk away.

Buffy: Okay, deep breath.

Willow and Buffy search her bedroom and the rest of the house. Buffy goes through her mind the events of the morning.

Buffy: There is only one other place I was this morning.

She looks outback to the freshly turned earth.

Willow: Let me call Xander. He can help you.

Buffy: Thanks.

Xander helps Buffy dig up the demon and rebury him.

Buffy: I don’t know where else to look.

Xander: Buffy, I have never seen you so distraught over a lost piece of jewelry. You act like your life depends on it.

Buffy: Pretty much.

Xander: What?

Anya arrives.

Anya: Hi. Xander I called and they said you were not working. Not making money. Why are you here?

Xander: I came to give Buffy a hand, she lost something. It appears something pretty valuable.

Anya: Worth a lot of money. Buffy, would it get you out of debt.

Buffy: No it is not worth a lot of money. But it is priceless to me.

Anya: Oh well what are we looking for?

Xander: Anya, honey, who is watching the store?

Anya: Dawn. She is very good with the customers and with the money.

Willow: Okay lets try once more. Buffy, you last saw the necklace this morning in your room. Why don’t we walk through it again.

Buffy: Nothing is going to change. It is gone.

Buffy sits down on the bottom step.

Xander: Willow, is anyone going to tell us what is so important about this necklace.

Willow: Buffy?

Buffy: I don’t care. I am going to my room.

Buffy leaves.

Xander: Willow?

Willow: This necklace was given to Angel and Buffy by the Power That Be, as a sort of wedding present.

Anya: They gave a wedding present? To Buffy and Angel? Why?

Willow: As a sort of reward of sorts. It is actually a powerful talisman that has the power to bind Angel’s soul for a period of time.

Xander: Bind? As in keeping it from leaving.

Willow: Yes.

Anya: So with this necklace, they can have sex and it is okay.

Willow: Pretty much so.

Xander: And they can do it whenever.

Willow: No, just at certain times. Only once so far. And never again if we don’t find it.

Xander stares up the stairs.

Xander: Her and Angel? Together? When?

Willow: A couple of months ago. Now can we get back to finding the thing.

Xander: Uh sure.

They continue to look. Anya heads back to the store to close the store and get Dawn. They come in and find Willow, Buffy, and Xander sitting in the living room.

Anya: Did you find it?

Buffy: No, it is gone. I can’t believe it.

She rest her head in her hands.

Willow: I am sorry Buffy. I don’t know where else to look.

Xander: I will dig up the demon again in the morning.

Buffy: Thanks Xander. I just don’t think it is there. I know I left it on the dresser.

Dawn: What are you all going on about?

Willow: Buffy lost a very valuable necklace. We have spent the whole day looking for it.

Dawn: Oh

Buffy: I I I have to tell Angel.

Willow: He is not going to be mad. Upset but not mad. It was not your fault.

Buffy: He wanted me to hold on to it. Keep it safe. In just a few months I lose it. I should never have taken it out of the drawer.

Willow: I have not given up hope. Maybe I can try some sort of a locator spell. I maybe able the locate it from the power of all the stones.

Buffy: Willow, I don’t want you doing any magic, even if it meant finding the necklace. Angel and I will just have to forget it ever existed.

Anya: Do you really think you can?

Buffy: No.

Dawn: Uh guys, what did this thing uh look like.

Willow: Dawn did you see it?

Dawn: Uh I might have.

Buffy: Where? Where did you see it?

Dawn: Uh in the hall this morning. Uh on the floor. It was big and ugly.

Buffy: What did you do with it?

Dawn: I put it in my pocket.

Buffy: Thank heaven, please can I have it back.

Dawn: I don’t have it

Buffy: What? You just said.

Dawn: I gave it to a friend at school. She said she liked it.

Buffy: You gave it away!!!

Willow: Xander, why don’t you take Buffy for a walk. Anya can you stay with Conner. Dawn and I are going to get the necklace. Now

Anya: Sure.

In the Jeep.

Dawn: I don’t understand. Why is Buffy so freaked about an ugly piece of costume jewelry?

Willow: Dawn, I have no idea how you could take something you know was not yours and then just give it away.

Dawn: I found it. I found it on the floor.

Willow: On the floor? Are you sure? Buffy remember leaving it on her dresser.

Dawn: I found it on the floor.

Willow: Just like you found the talisman that Xander used to bring on the dancing demon. You found that one on the floor too.

Dawn: What are you saying?

Willow: I am saying you seem to find a lot of things on the floor. And for you to find two talismans on the floor, seems suspicious.

Dawn: That was a talisman too. Did it bring the demon this morning?

Willow: No this was, oh never mind. Where is the house?

Dawn: That green one there.

Later Willow and Dawn come back out of the house.

Dawn: Uh Buffy should be happy now. We got it back.

Willow: Dawn, you better be really glad we did. I can’t believe you traded the necklace for a candy bar.

Dawn: I was hungry.

Willow: Hungry. What about lunch?

Dawn: I didn’t eat any.

Willow: But you had money. I know I gave it to you.

Dawn: I I lost it.

Willow: Let’s just get home.

Dawn: Willow, are you going to tell me what that necklace is for. What does it do?

Willow: That is Buffy and Angel’s personal business.

Dawn: Oh but everybody else knows don’t they. But I am just a kid. So if you are not going to tell me it must have to do with sex.

Willow glances at her.

Dawn: It does. It does have to do with sex. Oh. It lets them do it, doesn’t it. It lets them have sex without him going all evil. I am right aren’t I.

Willow: Yes. Now can we drop it

Willow and Dawn return home. Buffy meets them at the door.

Buffy: Did you?

Willow holds up the necklace. Buffy takes it in both her hands a drops onto a stair.

Buffy: Thanks Willow.

Dawn: Buffy, I am sorry.

Buffy: Dawn please go to your room.

Dawn heads up stairs.

Willow: And don’t try going out any windows.

Buffy: Huh?

Xander: Buff, are you okay now?

Buffy: I guess. Been a rough day.

The door slowly opens.

Angel stands in the doorway clutching his bag.

Buffy: Angel?

Angel: Hi.

Buffy stands up.

Buffy: Why are you here? Not that I am not excited to see you but I didn’t expect.

Angel walks to her drops his bag and kisses her cheek.

Angel: I was worried. You were not in when I rang in last night. Then no one answered all day. I half expected to see Willow show up on my doorstep.

Buffy: Oh, I never heard a ring all day.

They all head to the living room and sit down.

Angel: I feel I have walked into something here. What is going on?

Buffy holds up the necklace she has been clasping in her hands.

Buffy: This has been missing all day.

Angel: Missing? But how?

Buffy: Short story. I was looking at it this morning, got called away to slay and came back it was gone.

Angel: Gone where?

Willow: Dawn stole it.

Buffy: She did not steal it, she said she found it.

Willow: Just like she found the talisman of the dancing demon. Just like she finds a lot of things. I am still missing a ring. And Tara never found her silver comb.

Anya: What about my bracelet and my earrings?

Buffy: Do you all think Dawn is stealing from you?

Willow: I had a feeling something was going on, but today was the first time I felt for certain it was true. Buffy she has a problem. Add that to the other stunts she has pulled and we have a real potential for disaster.

Buffy: Oh yeah what did you mean about the windows earlier?

Willow: Oh well, the last time Angel was here he caught her at the Bronze with some other kids. Seems she had been sneaking out every night. But I we put a stop to that.

Buffy: You didn’t bother to tell me.

Angel: We thought you had enough to worry about but this is worse. A lot worse.

Buffy: I guess I need to talk to her. I wish I knew why she keeps acting up.

Angel: Buffy, I think I might be able to get through to her. She kinds reminds me of me at her age. Rebellious and on a path of self destructive behavior. And you know where my path ended.

Buffy: In an alley with Darla?

Angel: Exactly.

Willow: Do you really think you can get through to her. Last time she was not too receptive.

Angel: Last time I came on too strong. But I think I know where I went wrong.

Buffy: I trust you.

Angel leans over and kisses her cheek and heads up stairs. Peeks in his room on the way. Anya is rocking Conner.

Angel: (whispers) Hey. How is he?

Anya: (whispers) Restless. Do you want him?

Angel: Yes, but I need to talk to Dawn first. Why don’t you take him downstairs?

Anya: Has Buffy calmed down? Did they find it?

Angel: Yes.

Angel knocks on Dawn’s door.

© 2005 Tara