And You Know It's No Fun
by DawnBTVS
Chapter 12
[reviews]
I'm frozen where I stand, just watching Buffy standing next to the woman I met at the tree lot. Buffy is quiet and her face devoid of any emotion. The other woman is wearing a broad smile though, almost pleased with herself at showing up here. Giles is still but I can see his fists clenching out of the corner of my eye. I try to say something but it's noiseless to my ears. Buffy glances up at the other woman as if asking for permission to do something. Now I'm feeling a little angry and I'm not sure if it's at Buffy for being with...her or this new woman for making Buffy look like a young child.
"Drusilla," Giles murmurs. I feel my eyes widen when the name snaps the spring in my head. I quickly gaze to the woman. I take in the brown eyes looking at Giles with such amusement. As if their arrival was all done just to see if Giles knew who they were. She gives a mock bow before standing up, her gaze drifting to me. I take a step forward, arms hanging loosely at the sides but not really sure of what I want to do. I want to hug Buffy though, I know that much. Buffy just looks down but I can see her tensing just a little. She lifts her head up, tilting it just enough at Giles to show he's not to joke around with what she's about to ask.
"Where's my mother?" Buffy asks, quietly. I can hear the mixture of desperation and need in her voice. I sigh softly. Buffy glances at me and in that split second I can see just how lost she is. I walk until I'm next to Giles. Buffy flinches a little as I get next to Giles but Drusilla places an arm on her shoulder to keep her in place. I stare at Drusilla, ready to throw a punch should they...kiss or something. I don't know the nature of their short relationship and I don't want to find out how deep it gets. Giles stammers a little when I reach him.
"Isn't she at home?" he asks, playing the dumb card. Buffy sees right through it though and shakes her head. She mouths 'no' at him in a sincere manner that belies the danger she could be. I'm surprised Buffy's not in the house yet but I can't just yank her in. Drusilla just wears a smile, watching the whole scene in silence. Giles turns to me as if requesting my help. I glance at Buffy, staring directly into her eyes.
"Was she at the art gallery?" I ask, trying to draw out Buffy's figuring out what happened. Buffy looks back at me, confused for just a moment. She quickly masks it with a serious expression but she glances at Drusilla all the same in a questioning manner. Drusilla looks back, a bit surprised, but still in control.
"She's here, Buffy. Trust me," Drusilla sternly states. Buffy nods her head as she turns back to me. Giles tries to say something but I shut him up with a raised hand to quiet him. I take another step forward so only the line in the doorway separates her and me. Drusilla's on my left but I can pull Buffy in before something happens to me first. Buffy is looking at the ground now, unwilling to meet my eyes.
"Will you hurt us?" I ask. I swallow nervously and take a step back. Buffy jerks her head up in shock but doesn't say anything. She looks at Drusilla and I can see she's conflicted internally. She glances back at me, confusion evident on her face. She looks past me before returning her attention to my eyes. I just quietly watch her.
"I...so cold. I hit you and the touch was soft. Miss it. Not sure. Just...where is she?" Buffy finally screams. It causes me to stagger a couple steps, a bit surprised at the change from the whispers at the beginning. I cross my arms in front of my chest as I step forward. Buffy looks a little ashamed at how angry I must appear. I stare only at her. Drusilla stiffens a little and I can tell she knows what I'm about to do.
"Buffy, come in. Only you. Drusilla isn't allowed to come in because we don't trust her. Your mother's in back," I inform Buffy as she crosses the threshold into the house. Drusilla looks between Giles and I with annoyance as Buffy turns to gaze back at the demure woman. Buffy turns her head away as Giles calmly slams the door shut. I just point out where Joyce is being held. Buffy instantly starts walking past the kitchen as I follow several steps behind. Buffy hangs a right into the bedroom. I enter to see Lilly and Phillip instantly backing away in fear. They both glance up at my entrance, giving me accusatory stares, but I just watch Buffy. It pains me that she thinks Joyce will help her. Buffy kneels down in front of Joyce so they're eye level. I can catch a small ember of anger burning in Joyce's eyes. Buffy gives Joyce a small smile.
"I came to see you, Mommy. I came to you for help and here you are. You can help fix the situation, make everything better too. We can go back home a-and we can go back to being what we were," Buffy whispers as she removes the gag first. Joyce turns her head to me, a small, predatory smile appearing on her face. I clench my fists but stay where I am. As badass as Joyce thinks she is, Buffy is far scarier. Buffy undoes the ropes around Joyce's wrists and legs. Joyce gives Buffy an appreciative smile and stands up as Buffy does the same.
"Thank you, Buffy. I always knew that I was the most important thing in your life and that you'd come back to me sooner or later. I have to tell you that I am extremely grateful for you coming and rescuing me from these wretched imbeciles," Joyce snarls, glaring at Lilly, and Phillip in turn. Buffy beams up at Joyce, clearly under her thrall again. I close my eyes, silently muttering a litany of lines that I remembered from childhood stories.
"You can help me, Mommy. My situation can be fixed and we'll be happy together," Buffy whispers. She hasn't hugged Joyce yet though. I open my eyes to see Buffy watching me. She glances back at Joyce, then again to me. She opens her mouth to say something but closes it when Joyce starts speaking.
"Honey. I do want to say one thing," Joyce says, smile on her face. Buffy turns her attention to Joyce, an eager, awaiting smile on her own face.
"Yes, Mommy?" Buffy asks, clearly anticipating something joyous like an announcement that they would go back to Boston or that Joyce would forgive her for all her past actions.
Joyce swiftly slaps Buffy hard across the cheek and leans in, leering at her daughter. I stay still. As much as I want to intervene...Buffy could do more damage to me if she still has strong feelings for Joyce. "You cowardly bitch! You were the one who hired these thugs and set me up so I could be manhandled and treated with such disrespect. I should've known what a useless cunt you were. Go and play with your jailbird girlfriend," Joyce snarls down at her.
~~~BTVS~~~
It's a commonly familiar feeling. A harsh sting on my cheek like needle pricks. Mommy slapped me again. "You cowardly bitch! You were the one who hired these thugs and set me up so I could be manhandled and treated with such disrespect. I should've known what a useless cunt you were. Go and play with your jailbird girlfriend," Joyce snarls down at me. I lift my head in shock, just staring at her. I tried to rescue you! Y-you were supposed to fix everything, Mommy. I glance at Willow for just a second and I remember her reaction to when Mommy slapped her. Willow was just trying to protect me. I glance back at Mom, feeling the anger coursing through my body now. Mommy turns to eye Willow and all I can envision is Mom beating up Willow too. NO! It all happens in slow motion. Willow gasps under her breath but I can hear it clear as day. Mom is on the ground now after a right hand that I delivered. I straddle her, grabbing her hair with my left hand so I can lift her head off the ground, as I begin raining down rights on her nose and mouth repeatedly. I'm lost in a tidal wave of anger and a need to protect Willow. Lilly and Phillip are both struggling to pull me away and finally do. I see two teeth lying on the navy carpet next to Mom's body. Her nose is likely broken as the blood spills down the side of her right cheek. Her left eye's already swelling as she gurgles some blood in an effort to say something but I don't care. I break from the grasp of Lilly and Phillip and turn to Willow. She's regarding me with amazement but a cautious hope as well. I look down, unsure of what to do.
"Buff?" Willow asks, taking a couple steps towards me. I lift my eyes to hers, full of shame. Giles walks in, muttering some curse from England when he spots Mommy's body. I just glance briefly at him as he walks by.
"I'm sorry I broke you, Willow. I-I hit you and I need you. I want to open presents on Christmas day and have candlelit dinners at restaurants. I hurt you, though. I punched and I...miss the touch. Miss the kisses. I couldn't protect you from them and they'll be back again this week. Drusilla lied," I babble, slumping onto the carpet on my knees. I can feel the tears falling freely. I can sense Willow's presence kneeling down in front of me. Her touch is warm again, no longer cold. She's hugging me now. Just hugging. I was so lost.
"I'm not broken and you didn't hurt me. Remember, I've been beaten with nightsticks before, baby," Willow whispers into my ear. I nod my head, remembering when she hinted at the incident. She said she'd regale me with those stories sometime.
"Not broken," I mumble. I lift my eyes to hers. She just gives a small smile, pressing her forehead against mine. I swallow and close my eyes. I'm reveling in the warmth of our touch. We remain in that position for a while, both of us unaware of the rest of the activity happening in the room. After what seemed like hours, Willow stands up, helping me to my feet. I glance down at Mom. Giles has staunched the bleeding. I just walk out of the room, hand clutching Willow's as tightly as possible.
~~~BTVS~~~
I make sure Buffy's comfortable on the couch. She has her knees drawn up to her chest but she's no longer tense when I try to touch her. I hand her the cup of hot chocolate and turn my attention to the door. I glance to my right in surprise to see Buffy standing next to me. She just regards me with a look. I open the door, not surprised to see Drusilla still standing there. She gives a smile at Buffy but Buffy doesn't return it.
"You lied," Buffy whispers. Drusilla rolls her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest as she leans against the outside of the border of the doorway on her side.
"I told you where she was. I never spoke of the other things creeping about in your skull," Drusilla answers. Buffy growls but looks down all the same. I cast a cold stare at Drusilla. She just watches me with a grin.
"You'll be dead by Christmas," I calmly inform her. She smirks at me. Buffy lifts her eyes to Drusilla as I glance at Buffy.
"I'm already dead. The maggots tried to eat my flesh but they were too unkempt. Finally stood up to her, Buffy? How'd it feel?" Drusilla asks. Buffy shakes her head, looking away at a picture of Giles seated on a horse somewhere in England. I glare at Drusilla.
"She would've hurt Willow," Buffy mutters, eyes still focused on the picture. I glance at Buffy, a bit surprised, and proud. Drusilla lets out a laugh at this, earning a look from the both of us.
"I'll do you a favor, Crimson. When I finish with Buffy, I'll turn her. I'm sure she'll be glad to show you my world. We can be a little family," Drusilla whispers, leaning close enough to almost kiss us without breaking the barrier. She pulls away and turns, swiftly walking off with a giggle floating through the air back to us. I glance at Buffy in concern. She gives me a weak smile in return.
"She lies," Buffy says quietly. I nod my head, not sure how deceitful Drusilla was about that last remark as I close the door.