Down Twisted
by drkdreamer
chapter 32 is updated!
[reviews]
disclamiers are still in affect!
warning: may be typo's, see last chapter for reasons why.
dedication: this one goes out Jim Means, the man who posted most of my story over here for me. Your a good man, dude! It's with This one that JD just may get to "see" one of my absoulute fave memories, he knows there of what I speak. I can only hope that I did it justice!
Chapter 32 9:30 pm one week later
The party, which had been going on for the last 2 hours, was now finally over. Giles, Xander, Anya and Joyce had already left for the evening. Alex Roberts who was just shutting the trunk of her car had to smother back a sigh. It had been damn hard saying goodbye to the people but, as she bloody well knew, the worst was yet to come. Buffy and Willow where waiting for her, back inside the house, and Alexandra truly wished she could put those goodbyes util later on but she knew there was no choice left in the matter. Her vehicle was almost compelty packed, the only things left inside the residense where her blanket, pillows and a fresh change of clothes. The dark Southerner fully intended to be back on America's highways by 7:30 am, avoiding this admittedly difficult situation would only cost her even more time on the road.
It was, therefore, with a resoulte set to her shoulders that the woman went back inside to rejoin the two people whom'ed grown to be the most to her. The teenagers where standing in the livingroom, and from the mutanious looks splashed across their face's, Alex knew she was so in for it! The blonde Slayer's words only confirmed her worst suspecions.
" You don't really have to leave tommarow moring, do ya Alex? Couldn't you, I don't know, put it off for just a little bit longer?"
The sad looking Witch and her head stong lover merely watched as the unsmiling, dark headed woman stepped into the the room. It was utterly silent for a moment before the Southerner began to speak.
" Ya'll damn well have known this day was coming because I never once said I would remain in Sunnydale. It's not that I haven't enjoyed our breif time together because, guys, you bloody well know that I have, for the most part. Nor is it that I don't think I might kinda actually like living in California 'cause I probably would. My friend's is just that This isn't my home. I Need to get back there because it's at my Grandma's home that I can, one again, reclaim my center."
" Your... center," asked the puzzled looking red head.
" Ah, Will, maybe you'ed know it better as my peice of mind. I've been a little off balance, for a while now, and I need to reconnect to my inner quietness. It's a given, once I step foot back on my Gram's land, I'll do just That."
That short little speech left the blonde totally mystified and she didn't like it one, single, bit!
" How?"
Before Alexandra Roberts deemed to answer, both girl's where witness to one of the sweetest smiles they'd ever seen cross the older woman's visage.
" It's because of one simple reason. All I gotta do, once I'm there, is close my eyes and I'll be instantly transported back to the only place I can consider Heaven. That, ladies, is my Grandma's yard circa mid '70s. It's just about the time when Spring is almost about to slip into Summer, when the sweet smell of honeysuckle permiates the air and the thousands of white and pink spring flowers, that dot across the yard ,just about resemble a carpet on the green grass. Add to that the unbelivable fragrance of a 25 year old Lilac bush that's fully in bloom, 2 towering Mimosa trees with their delicate, pinkish flowers that blow so gently in the wind, a multitude of single/double Jonquils, that grow wild on the roadside and the unique smell of a GrayBeard bush that grows in her front yard. Superimopse those by adding in the double threat coming from a mound of pink-n- purple Hycthins, that used to grow beside her creek, and the gorgeous yellow color of the Forsethia bush that still yet remains on the opposite side of said creek. Hell, if I really want to throw myself over the top, I'll add the fragrence of freshly cut grass! Christ, if I could only bottle those smells, I'ed make a damn mint. Because it's there, Buffy and Willow, that I call my true home."
At the end of that proudly, passionate, speech, both teens found themselves affected by the cadence in Alexandra Roberts voice.
" Alex, that all sounds simply wonderful. But, why is it you'll have to close your eyes to experience all that you've just shared with us?"
It was Willow whom asked those questions because Buffy Summers was still reeling with the knowledge that her tree house and Alex's memories represtened the exact same things!
" Well, Darlin'," said the dark woman, " it's 'cause some of those plants, sadly, don't exist anymore. The Mimosas died back in the '80s, from some damn sickness that ate them from the inside out. Her beautiful Lilac bush was chocked to death by some freaking vine back in 1991. Ya'll better believe I cried like a baby on That day! Jesus, guys, I really wish ya'll could have seen it, just once, back then! Was a tall as a damn, tree and in Spring, it was heavy with the tight blue-white-and lightly lavendar blooms that used to so enchant me as a child. Would ya believe, at any given moment, you could take a look at the Lilac and marvel over the bunches of tiny butterfiles that used to take up resindence once it bloomed!?! The Hycthins died back in '95, we never really knew why. It's not been quite the same for me, not since that day. I can't help but mourn the things that used to be there. Beside's, I'd really like to see my family and friends again. Hell, lets face it, I'm one homesick puppy."
The self deprecating tone in Alex's words caused Buffy to give a gentle squeeze to her lover's right hand. It was an acknowledgement between them, that the dark woman had every right to head back to her homestate and without any flack on their parts.
" Okay, Alex, we see that theres nothing we could say that would stop you from leaving in the morning. God, I only hope you know how much me and Willow are going to miss having you around."
" She's right," chimed in the unsmiling red head, " the world just won't seem right without you in it."
The anguish in both teen's voices caused Alexandra Katherine Roberts to mentally bitch slap herself all over again. It was along those lines that the dark woman once more berated herself for allowing the Slayer and Witch to get close to her. In the next breath, Alex damned herself for even daning to think like That! Willow and Buffy where one of her greatest joys and the dark woman knew she was better off for knowing them.
" Ladies, don't think like That. We always have emails, letters, phone calls and Im! I promise, it's Not as if we'll never see one another again. Ye Gods, we can even exchange photos over the Net, if ya want. Listen to me, just because I back there and you remain here, it's doesent have to be the end of our friendship. I don't believe I could handle That either! Ya'll mean the world to me. Don't let my impending departure ruin what time we have left between us, 'kay?"
Alex was gratified to once more see grins lurking across the Wiccan and Slayer's faces. She was, however, wholly unprepared for both girls to suddenly launch themselves into her arms. The blonde, her green eyed lover and the dark Southerner remained locked in that embrace for an endless amount of time. Everyone knew that this was a special moment and each person was determined to enjoy it for all that it was worth. Alex, feeling the need to breathe, was the first to drop her arms. It took mere seconds for Buffy to follow suite. The Wiccan, it seemed, was oblivious to the other's motions. The dark woman permitted the embrace, for a moment longer, because she realised that Willow Rosenberg needed This.
" Will, baby, your gonna have to let go of me, 'kay?"
The tenderness in those words was very nearly the Wiccan's undoing, she dropped her arms reflexsivly.
" Sorry... sorry, Alex."
The dark woman was horrified to hear the insecurities in that pretty girls's words.
" Sugar, you have nothing to apologise over. I perfectly understand your motivations for hugging me. Or, have you forgotten, I found myself in mostly the same situation with my beloved Amy and Mike? Never feel bad for loving someone because, Will, it's always a Good thing. Come on, sweetheart, don't you feel a little better now?"
Alexandra Roberts waited only for the shake of a head before continuing on.
" Then, please, smile for me or I'm likely to start crying and I'ed much rather avoid That, if I can."
All parties could feel the seriousness of the situation begining to dissapate and all where gladened by this turn of events. Alex, Buffy and Willow then began some nonsense conversation, to keep things light, if you can understand. After taking a quick glance at her wristwatch, the Southerner wasn't at all surprised to see it was almost 11:00.
" Ladies, I'm sorry to say that it's high time to cut this evening short. I, seriously, gotta get some shut eye. Do ya want me to drive ya'll home?"
The teens declined the offer so Alex, with a heavy heart, proceeded to walk the girl's to her front door.
" Have a pleasant rest of the evening, my friends."
" Night," said the taunt blonde after linking hands with the red head.
" Good night," said Willow," we'll be back here in the morning to see you off."
" Hold up," replyed the dark woman, " I'ed prefer Not to see ya'll waving me off tomarrow, if ya don't mind"
This new, quite naturally, left both girl's completly and utterly shocked!
" But Alex."
Those dark, somber, gray eyes turned utterly serious and both teens halted in their footsteps.
" Guys, can't ya understand? It very nearly killed me when I had to stand there and watch as Mike and Amy drove out of my life. I would save us from having to go through the injustice of experincing That! Please, I beg of you, try and listen to what I'm telling you."
The Slayer, who understood Alex far better than she had any right too, could certainly dig those noble but misguided motivations. The grass eyed Witch, though pained by that statement, quickly realised that Alex was trying to hurt anyone with that request. It was, with no small meloncholy, that Buffy and Willow agreed to Alex's terms.
" I won't say goodbye," said the Southerner, " lets just call this until later, all right?"
" Until later," replyed the teens.
Alex remained at her doorway until well after watching their beloved figures melt into the darkness. The older woman couldn't help but be pleased that no had, really, caused any major scene. She deeply regretted that she had nothing to leave for Willow and Buffy. Though Alex had promised them photos,in the event of her death, she couldn't quite part with them,not while she was still yet living. All day, this had been weighing heavy upon her mind. Surprisingly, it was as she was locking up the front door, that inspirtion hit! Was a wholly delicious idea and Alex went to sleep with a snarky, half smile gracing her face. As she hunkered down, only one thought rebounded inside her head.
Damn it all, I only wish I'ed be able to see their faces tomarrow!!