Family
by Nykademis
When the Shit Hits
[reviews]
Disclaimer: See Part 1
For Susan. Who wasn't too proud to beg for it.
Fic: Family/ When the Shit Hits the Aeration Device
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Willow hunched down before the couch the following morning.
Xander was sleeping so peacefully, Willow considered not waking him. Bust she knew there was no way around it. It had to be done.
Buster slept sounding curled in the adjacent chair with Shea who was awake and watching Willow's predicament.
"To wake him or not to wake him, that is the question. Wether it is nobler, in the mind, to tell him he's drooling.." Shea stage whispered.
Willow chuckled and dropped her forehead to the cushions.
It was enough to rouse him.
"Willow?" Xander looked around confused. He didn't remember crying himself to sleep on Buffy's couch the night before "What's going on, what am I doing here? She" he pointed to Buster sleeping in the chair "said something had happened to Buffy's Mom, and... please tell me Joyce is ok?"
Tear sprang to Willow's eyes at the hopeful look in Xanders "I'm sorry Xand, but she's... she's...she's gone"
Clasing his eyes Xander dropped his head back to the cushions "This all couldn't have happened at a worse time"
"I still need to call Giles. Tell him whats happened" Willow shook her messy head and moved to stand "He really should know"
Xander reached up and caught her elbow "Giles is unreachable right now" he couldn't quite meet her eyes.
"What do you mean unreachable?" Willow settled back down moving to catch Xanders gaze.
He stared fixed at the couch cushions "He just can't be reached" Xander's body shook as he tempered himself into breaking Buffy and Willow's hearts yet again.
"Where is he? Xander where's Giles, we can't hold this off" Willow grasped his face firmly in her hands forcing his gaze to her's "Xander what aren't you telling me?"
Blinking several times to ward off tears Xander took a deep breath.
"He's dead Willow"
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"No..." Willow didn't realize she was screaming until she felt Buffy's strong arms wrapped around her.
"Wills please. Calm down" Buffy rocked them both.
Buster had been jarred away by Willow's screams, rushed into the kitchen for a warm cloth.
"How?" Willow sobbed "How Xander? How?" she looked at him pleadingly under limp hanging hair.
Xander stared at the floor. He fixed his gaze on her feet and answered quietly "Fighting Angelus"
"Angel?" Buffy whispered. It felt as if her stomach fell out of her body.
"No Angelus. Angel was gone. Something took his soul again" Xander kept his eyes on the floor "We tried to give it back but..."
"He died trying to save Angel?" Willow whimpered "Why?"
"Angel had a big part in the coming Apocolypse" Xander sighed, he hated being information guy, especially when it was bad information "Someone wanted him out of the picture. They succeeded whoever they are"
"Giles died trying to save Angel who's also dead?" Shea interupted.
"Angel was already dead. Now he's.... poof?" Xander turned to his friends "And when did you get such hot friends?"
"Uh yesterday?" Buffy shook her head "So Giles 'and' Angel are gone?"
Xander's head dropped, his chin bouncing off his chest.
"Is everyone just going to die on me now?" Buffy sat back roughly. She didn't release her hold on Wilow.
"I'm not going anywhere Buffy. I'll stay with you forever" Willow spoke softly between sniffling.
"I'm here too Buff. Though you may not want me. Being the bearer of bad news and all" Xander cautiously reached out the the little blonde.
Buffy took his hand and pulled him into the little bundle on the floor she and Willow began.
Buster returned with the warm cloth.
Buffy used it to gently wipe the drying tears off Willow's cheeks.
"Want us to go?" Shea asked softly when they remained huddled together on the floor.
"No please. Stay." Buffy turned pleading eyes on the dark haired girls "I...we... stay?"
Buster nodded understanding. Shea sat in the chair they'd vacated earlier.
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Parker strut across the campus, thinking he was the man.
So caught up in his own shadow he didn't notice the other shadows converging upon him.
He paused at the hiss of leaves being pushed aside.
"Is anyone there?" he stupidly walked nearer to the shadowed corner of the quad "If there's some one in there I'm gonna kick your ass"
"Oh really?" a pretty blonde stepped out into the articial light "You're gonna kick my ass?"
Parker smiled handsomely, he woudln't mind doing a few things to that ass.
"I thought you were one of those freaks that like to terrorize Sunnydale at night" Parker held on a hand.
"I'm Parker and you are?"
"Susan, my minions calls me Zu" the blonde put on her game face.
Parker screamed girlishly, and took off at a dead run.
Zu shook her head and sighed "I hate it when they run, but it does get the blood moving"
Giving him a few extra seconds the vampire took off after him. Gaining ground on him almost immediately.
She took him down just as he thought he was home free.
Zu flipped him over and stared down into his terrified eyes.
"Don't ever make fun on the freaks until your sure your not talking to one of them" Zu smirked.
"I-I won't...ever again. I'm sorry" Parker studdered.
Zu growled.
Parker soiled himself.
"Eww, I hope your braver than this when your dead" Zu lifted herself away from his stained pants.
"Dead" Parker paled.
"Yes dumbass. Dead" Zu revamped and began to feed.
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