by Irishlassie101 » Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:52 pm
Hello kittens, here comes chapter 7 of "Hate"...please enjoy and don´t be shy to leave feedback !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aishling
Chapter 7:
With a firm pace Willow approached the Summers house. She walked up the driveway and up to the front door. She reached out to ring the doorbell, she was determined to face the people that used to be her family, but the nearer her finger got to the button the harder it got. It felt like moving her hand through yello that got thicker and thicker and....
Perspiration was rolling down Willow´s face.
...ring...Ring...RING...
...but...they will not want to see me, they will slam the door in my face...
...do you really think so...
...I would...
...would you...
...after all I have done, why would they care what I have to say...
...because they love you...
...that was long ago...
...still they love you...
“Wishful thinking” she said out loud and let her hand drop. “wishful thinking, no more !”
She turned around and wanted to head back to the car, but she hesitated...
I came to Sunnydale, although I swore that I would never return, at least I want to see them. Just one glimpse, just one little glance...
She stepped back from the door and went around the house, presuming that everybody was gathered in the kitchen for their meal.
She crept up to the open kitchen window and....
There they were, the people she once called her family, all gathered around the table, but there was no joy, no laughter, no conversation, they just sat and ate in total silence.
They all look so sad and exhausted, it´s no wonder under these circumstances...
...that´s just what they deserve, especially the Slayer...
...no, they don´t deserve this...
...yes they do...
...no...
...yes...
...no...
Willow´s head was spinning, her eyes were full of tears, she felt like her soul and her heart were going to be torn apart by her inner turmoil, she wanted to stay, be near these people, embrace them, and she wanted to curse them and run from them all at the same time.
“Oh, Buffy, btw, “ Xander´s voice pulled Willow out of her thoughts, “Mac asked me to say hello to you about five times in 10 minutes !”
“Mac...Mac who ?”
“Mac...from Mac´s garage, you know the Mac who was crushing on you since you were small and through highschool and college, and who was totally devastated when you married Robert and...SHIT...”
Xander sat frozen in his chair, eyes wide open, trying to form words with his mouth but not a sound was heard.
“Oh Buffy, I´m so sorry, I...I just, I...sorry” he stuttered.
Buffy reached across the table and squeezed his hand
“It´s ok, Xan, it´s ok, don´t worry...”
“But Buffy, I...”
“Xander, it´s ok, really, it´s ok !!”
Flashback
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
Summers, Buffy
...bla...bla...bla...
...married Robert Hanson in 2003...daughter Katherine, born 2004...Robert Hanson Construction...Robert Hanson killed in car accident 2004...mortgage, debts...failed to meet repayment conditions, compulsory auction likely
End Flashback
Out of the corner of her eye Dawn was watching her sister and she could literally feel the effort she made to keep her emotions under control. She never got over the death of her husband, the man she met and fell in love with instantly, the man that gave her the support she needed, the father of her daughter she loved more than anything.
Dawn would never forget the few seconds that ended the happiness of Buffy Summers, the evening when two police officers came to their house, sad faces, fidgeting with their caps, telling them that Robert had been killed in a car accident caused by a drunken driver who got away without the slightest injury.
She would never forget the expression on Buffy´s face, never forget the screaming, the crying, the total desperation, the fear that Buffy would give herself up, the fear that this trauma would be too much to bear, even for the Slayer. She knew the only reason that uffy survived this darkest moment in her entire life (and there were many) was Katherine, she knew that her sister would never let her child suffer, would be strong for her, would live to prevent her from any harm.
Delicate yet strong fingers squeezed Dawn´s hand, pulled her out of her thoughts. She turned around and looked into the loving and understanding eyes of her girlfriend, her life, her soul, her Isabella, who could so well read her mind and understand her feelings.
The girl that walked into her life on University campus two years ago, who only needed one single sentence (“Hello beautiful, make my day and have some coffee with me !”) to win her heart, who brought not only love but happiness and joy into her life.
From the other side of the table Xander was watching the whole scene and felt like dirt.
Not only did he so stupidly tear open old wounds that never healed, just because he wanted to lighten the spirits with a little joke, he cursed himself not for the first time for envying Dawn for her drop-dead gorgeous girlfriend and he hated himself for these feelings.
Since Anja´s death he did have some dates, but none of them worked out, he could not establish a proper relationship with any of the woman.
No wonder, who wants a one-eyed jerk who works all day and still doesn´t earn enough money for a proper living. The jerk that can´t pay his mortgage in time, who has to beg a good friend to repair his truck and takes months to pay him, who has debts with most of his suppliers. No wonder no woman wants me.
And instead of being happy for the little one I´m just pure jealous. But on the other hand, who wouldn´t envy her for Isabella.
Rupert Giles was watching this scene and anger boiled deep down within him. Anger for what he was or rather for what he was not.
They are my family, the only family I ever had, they often called me a father they would have liked to have...and as a father I should be able to help them, make them happy, take away as much sorrow as I possibly can...and instead...
...the Magic Box is doing so badly I´ll have to close down soon, and then I´ll not only loose my business but also my home, and then...
...then I´ll be an old man without money, without any resources, without a home, without any hope...
...then they will probably want me to move in with either Xander or Buffy
...that would be fun, moving in with Buffy, after ruining her youth, her life, her hopes, her future...that would be fun...
...well done old man, well done...
The patchwork family carried on eating their meal in silence when Buffy cleared her throat:
“Guys, I have to tell you something, I´m afraid no good news, but I want you to hear it from me and not by coincidence: I had an appointment with the bank manager yesterday...and...and” her voice died down to a whisper...
“...and” Xander asked, knowing deep down what the answer would be.
“...and...and” Buffy tried to continue, “I...I...it´s over”
“It´s over ?” Dawn looked at her in amazement, “what´s...over ?”
“I´m going to loose the house, I can´t afford the mortgage and more, I´ll have to sell it or they´ll take it and auction it !”
“But they can´t do that, they can´t expect you to give up the house, where will you live, they can´t do that” Dawn shouted, tears running down her face, “they can´t do that !” and she rushed out of the kitchen, Isabella on her tails
“I´m afraid they can” Giles said, “they won´t show any consideration for anybody these days !”
“I can lend you some money” Xander said, “I can...”
“No” Buffy cut him off, “no, never, you have helped me more than I can ever repay you, you need your money for your own business Xander !”
“But...”
“NO...Xander...no, but thank you”. She walked around the table and hugged the man so close to her heart.
“But Buffy, I can...”
“Xander...I ruined your life so far, I don´t want to finish you off completely...”
“What”...the man shouted and detangled himself from the embrace, “what did you say, we talked about this so often, it was our choice, what we did was...”...a strong hand covered his mouth.
“It was my destiny that brought you here, not yours, you should have never been involved, none of you, you should have lived happy lives, but you choose to help me because we were friends...”
“because we ARE friends” Xander interrupted
“...because we are friends” Buffy corrected and smiled “but at some point loyalty must end, and this point has come.
“But...”
“No Xander, this point has come, from now on I´ll have to reject your help, because I don´t want you to end up like this aswell, broke, no place to stay and no future, no Xander, this point has come !!!”
Xander Harris wanted to reply, wanted to say something to convince his friend that she was wrong, but...
She´s right, I´m afraid she´s right, if I´m not very careful I´ll end up like her, at least I don´t have anybody to look after...
“You and Kathie can always stay with me, I can sleep on the couch...”...again he was silenced by a hand covering his mouth, only this time it was shacking.
“Xander...please” her voice was failing, “please...I could never ask that of you, and anyway, it´s not happened yet, I still have a roof upon my head !” and she hugged him again, out of pure thankfulness and out of sheer need of support, because she felt her knees weaken.
Dawn had witnessed the whole scene while arguing with her girlfriend, and finally spoke up:
“Buffy, I´ll give you the money you need and...”
“But Dawnie” Isabella interrupted, “you can´t, you can´t give her more money, it´s not meant for such a porpuse...”
“I can do what ever I want, Bella, don´t ever interfere in my family business or else...!”
“Or else what Dawn”, Isabella raised her voice, “I wasn´t aware that I am supposed to shut up when you´re with your family, I somehow missed the change in relationship that reduces me to a sex toy !”
“What ?” Dawn shouted back, “have you gone mad or what, how...”
“SILENCE !!” ...a sinister voice boomed through the house.
Everybody stared in amazement at the source of that voice, nobody had ever heard this voice in such a way.
“Ladies” Giles said and was obviously embarrassed by his outbreak, “ladies, stop this please, it will lead us nowhere ! Dawn, this was a most improper way to treat your girlfriend, and...”
“No Mr. Giles, it´s ok, I...”
“Sorry to interrupt again my dear, but it was most improper to exclude you from this family, even if it surely wasn´t meant like that !”
“I´m so sorry Bella “Dawn whispered with tears in her eyes and took a step closer to the dark haired girl, “I wasn´t thinking, I just...I just...you ARE family, you were from the very first moment we met, and...and...”
Isabella closed the gap between them and put her arms around her crying girlfriend.
“It´s ok baby, it´s fine...shhh...it´s ok, I know you didn´t mean it, your gorgeous mouth was faster than your brain again !”
“I´m sorry Bella, I´m so sorry...”
“Stop it baby, I said it´s ok...”
“But I insulted you and...” A slender finger on her lips silenced her immediately.
“...and you will make up for it, don´t worry !!”
Any further words were drowned in a smouldering kiss that seem to last for ages, a kiss that made clear that nothing whatsoever would stand in the way of these two woman in love.
“Ahem...girls...please” Xander interrupted the scene, “please...I might need a cold shower if you go on like that !”
“Oh come on Xander” Buffy replied laughing, “you should be used to them by now !”
Finally Dawn and Isabella let go of each other, moved a step apart , not braking eye contact.
“What are you smirking about Dawnie ?” Bella asked, although she knew pretty well what THAT kind of expression on her girlfriend´s face meant.
“I just never considered you a...sex toy, we´ll have to...e.x.p.l.o.r.e...“ and she licked her lips “that part of you very thoroughly tonight!!!!!!
“Dawn !!!” Bella squealed and playfully hit her girlfriend on the shoulder.
The whole house burst into full laughter, it was just the release they all needed, and it took them some time to compose themselves due to the most exquisite shades of red that shone on Dawn´s face and the matching colours on Bella, hers mixed so obviously with sheer anticipation.
It took some time for the laughter and the giggling to die down, and Xander started it all over again with a very innocent remark along the lines of “I´m just going to use the bathroom !”
A while later they were chatting along happily when Buffy decided to ask the question that she had in mind since the fight between the two girls.
“Bella...I don´t want to start all over again, but I can´t get your remark out of my head...”
“Excuse me Buffy, what remark ?”
“You said that Dawn can´t give me more money, because it isn´t meant for such a purpose...! May I ask what that´s all about !!??”
“Buffy, that´s a personal thing” Dawn said before Bella could answer, “it´s nothing got to do with you therefore...”
“Dawnie” Isabella raised her voice again
“No, I won´t...”
“DAWN !”
Dawn looked at her girlfriend with anger in her eyes, but it took only a very soft “Dawnie, please !” to destroy any resistance in the young Summers .
“Should I tell Buffy ?” Isabella asked, and go a weak nod as reply.
“Look Buffy, Dawn had promised to help you out every month so that you could pay the mortgage on the house. And in the beginning it worked out fine, she had two jobs, especially the one in the pharmacy paid good money, but the owner, let´s say he was more interested in her body than her work force...”
“What” Buffy shouted “did he touch you, did he...”
“No, he didn´t, I left before he got anywhere near me” Dawn intervened.
“And she never told me...anyhow she couldn´t afford the sum she promised you any more so she took money from her university grant.”
Buffy wanted to shout, wanted to yell, wanted to say something, but no matter how much she tried, not a sound left her mouth.
This can´t be true, this can´t be true, I must have been hallucinating, she couldn´t possibly have done that, she couldn´t possibly risk that, she couldn´t have, she couldn´t have...
Giles was the first to regain his voice: “What happens if they find out, what happens if somebody looks into the account ?”
“Somebody did” Bella answered, and there will be a hearing next week, they are charging Dawn with...ahmm...misuse or something like that. And she´ll probably loose the grant and will have to pay back every dollar and cent immediately.”
Buffy still was in a state of total shock, never in her life would she have dreamed that her sister would go that far to help her, and she was not the only one.
Apart from Giles and Xander, another person who had witnessed the past hour in the Summers house was in total dismay.
Willow had heard every word, had seen the pain, had seen the lives of people she once shared everything with crumble to bits.
A window banging in the neighbourhood snapped her out of her trance.
She ran. She ran as if all the evil of the Hellmouth was after her.
Sandra, her bodyguard, had been pacing the street for some time and had started to get worried.
She was sure that nobody would harm her boss, but it was her job to eliminate even the tiniest risk.
Just as she decided to investigate a bit further she saw Willow running towards her.
“Start the car, start the car” she heard her shouting and did so.
Willow pulled open the door and just shouted “Go...go..for heaven´s sake go !”
Just seconds later Sandra jumped in her seat when Willow started shouting “Stop...stop...stop the car”
Before the SUV came to a complete halt Willow had flung open the door, and jumped out of the car.
She just barely managed to get off the road and behind a bush before her stomach turned vigorously.
Last edited by
Irishlassie101 on Tue Jun 28, 2005 1:07 am, edited 2 times in total.
it was so heartwrenching to see her sorting through all her toys and clothes! 
