CHAPTER 2

Yes it is all a question of timing.

*How can I have not realised that the minutes that I was counting were turning into months? Or has my body lost its clock through grief? I wish that I could hope it was something more – Dare I risk a trip to the chemist, or would that destroy my dreams?* Buffy realised that she would have to focus on something other than her grief. The world was a big place, but still it stayed centred on a time spent in a basement in Sunnydale.

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MEANWHILE …. In LA

“We are running out of time” – Angel was getting fed up with hearing that phrase, especially as he really didn’t understand the passing of time. So if he wasn’t hearing this moan from Fred then he could see it in the way a fading Spike watched her every stage of research.

Time – was racing away, disappearing like sand in an egg-timer.

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Buffy continued to walk and as she did she realised that the day had gone and she was miles from where she started – Miles from Trafalgar Square, but also miles from Sunnydale. She came to the long awaited conclusion that she needed to take back control of her life and to use the life that Spike had given her. First, she knew that she had to make a trip to the chemist and find out whether the impossible had happened or whether it was that it had been both her mind and her body that had stayed locked in a moment of time.

She was passing an underground station at this point and thought about heading home, but realised that once back at The Council she would have to face everyone. So she walked slowly back, using that time to begin to rebuild her life – Spike had died to give her “normal”, so now she needed to do that for him, if not for herself. He had given her so much in those last few weeks and at long last she realised that he would be upset with how she was letting time drift.

As she came through Piccadilly Circus she spotted a 24 hour chemist and knew that while she was rebuilding her life she should put an end to her personal doubts, so she walked in and bought the pregnancy test – at long last she realised the meaning of the phrase “There is no time like the present”. And so back home – to the rest of her life.

The following day it was her turn to call Dawn, Willow and Giles into the Conference Room. Once they were all settled and enjoying their coffee and donuts she started to explain the reason for the meeting.

“First I want to ask a special request of you… “

“Anything” said Willow, so pleased to see Buffy looking like Buffy again

“Well my main request was that you don’t interrupt me until I have finished” At this everyone chuckled, and then laughed when they realised that suddenly time had rolled back to the days in Sunnydale of the old Scooby meetings.

“Anyway, I hate to admit this but I have actually made a list as I need to say a few things, so Giles you should be proud of me!

“I want to apologise for leaving you all to deal with the last few months, but my mind has been elsewhere, but more about that in a moment. No - I am not putting off explaining my reason, but it must be done properly, even if it sounds as if I am rambling” At this Buffy paused to breathe – and to remember a vampire who always accused her of rambling when she was trying to avoid an answer. The space gave them all a chance to realise that whatever they were going to hear, they would hear the truth.

*Oh yes, Buffy I am so proud of you * thought Giles.

“So, here goes” and with another deep breath Buffy started. “Dawn, I love you – I am so proud of how much you have had to overcome, but can also say that I am so glad that the monks gave you to me as my sister”. At this she was again interrupted as the girl threw herself into her sister’s arms and hugged onto her as if she would never let go.

At long last they were able to separate and Dawn sat down again with a final “I love you too” to her big sister.

“Wow, so much for no interruptions! Oh well point number two. Willow, yes, I love you too. You have travelled so far along a very difficult road. I feel sometimes my support has been a bit absent, but I have always known that you were there. So I am sorry if you feel that I wasn’t there for you, but I am so proud of you for how you have dealt with your magic. I can honestly say that I fully realise what you went through when you lost Tara, so let me finish by saying thank you for still being here now and if you will forgive me I would like my best friend back.”

“Buffy…” Willow quietly said “Sorry to interrupt but can I have a hug too. I love you and want our friendship back on track”. So the two friends stood together – together to face the world. Buffy quietly vowed that as soon as she had finished here she would head to Cleveland to speak to her other best friend in person, as Xander deserved more than just the phone call that she had originally planned.

And so to the final member of the group. “Giles you have been my watcher since I moved to Sunnydale, but I love you as my Dad. I know that as both my guardian and my parent you will make hard decisions that I will disagree with …” At this Buffy left a gap as they both thought of a garage filled with crosses by Robin Wood, “But I want to be try to understand why you make these hard decisions even if I disagree with them”

“Buffy” said Giles as he stood up and walked towards her “Let me assure you that I do love you. Some choices I have made may have seemed wrong, but they were done in love. However I will try to remember that you are now an adult and thus will endeavour to talk to you before I act”. After a brief hug he walked back to his abandoned cup of tea, using that as the opportunity to polish his glasses!

“Well Big Sis I think we are all wept out, so how about we hit the shops”

“Great thinking, Dawnie” agreed Willow

“Erm, hang on guys. I haven’t got to my final two points on my list. So I will say them quickly as they are actually linked. Erm, I, erm, OK, erm ….” The gap stretched while the others looked on. “I want to say that I want to take back my life. Spike loved me and died to give me a normal life, so I want to get involved with the training and The Council plans. But more than that I loved Spike which is why I have been lost – lost in time really. However something I learnt yesterday has made me realise how I can’t stay lost in time in Sunnydale. Time is passing and although I would like to go back in time, I have learnt something the means that I can actually go forward with an aim; because I have found out that I am pregnant. Yes pregnant to the man I love, the man who gave me normal, gave me more normal than even he would have expected”

The silence in the room stretched, while the friends realised that what they had heard were actual words. Buffy was to be a Mum, while the Dad was now buried in the crater that had been their home.

“Wow” – which of them said it was really immaterial, as they all thought the same thing!

Tbc