I Don't wanna miss a thing....

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Summers Residence

"Good morning" said Giles, when Joyce came down the stairs, sleepy. He was all prepared to go. "Oh, I didn't put an alarm clock yesterday, you know, with all the fuss. I should be at work in half an hour" said Joyce. "Oh, I'm sorry, if I'd know I would wake you up" said Giles. "It's not your fault... You helped more then you can ever imagine! Since when are you awake?" asked Joyce. "About 6:00am. I'm an early waken" said Giles. "I'm not. I'm the kind that likes to sleep late" said Joyce, pouring him some coffee "Buffy is like that too" her smile was gone. There was silence for a second. "So, did you sleep with your outfit??" asked Joyce. "Yes. I was planing to take some clothes to sleep with when I drove Willow, But I was so rush to come back, so I forgot" said Giles. "Oh. You're a great man, Mr. Giles. You helped me so much" said Joyce. "It was my pleasure, Mrs. Summers. And please call me Rupert" said Giles. "Oh, alright, Rupert. So please call me Joyce. I got use to be called Mrs. Summers, but I never liked it. It's makes me feel old" said Joyce. "Yes, nobody called me like that since..." said Giles. Since Jenny died... He told himself. "Well, anyway, the kids always call me Giles" said Giles leaving the sentence before unfinished. "Buffy and Willow, and all their friends... They are all very connected to you" said Joyce. "Well, as Buffy watcher I'm taking a great deal of her life" said Giles. "No, it's not that. I think they just see what I seen. How wonderful you are" said Joyce. "Well, thank you" said Giles. "I already miss her so much!" cried Joyce. "Yes. And to think about what she's been through" said Giles.


Los-Angels street

"Wake up, dear" said an old man. Buffy opened her eyes and saw an old man with a blue big ocean eyes above her, trying to awake her. At the first minute she didn't know what she was doing here. Then she recalled everything that has happened... The fight with her mother, being suspected as a murderer, Her friends in the hospital, Kendera's death... And Angel's death... And how he she came here... And again a sharp pain crossed her stomach. "Oh, aren't you a beautiful young lady" said the old man smiling "So, I see you've found my old blanket". "I'm so sorry, I didn't know it was anyone's blanket.. I'm so sorry" said Buffy. "It's okay... It's okay, sweetie. You need it more than I do... A pretty thing like you shouldn't sleep in the street..." said Tom. Buffy started to cry and he hugged her warmly. "Everything is going to be okay, little beauty, I promise"... he said.


Summers Residence

"Oh, my little girl..." cried Joyce. Giles didn't know what to do. "Oh, silly me. Sitting here, crying next to you, after everything you done for me" said Joyce crossing her hands. "It's okay. Everyone needs to cry sometimes" said Giles. "It just... My poor thing... I was blind!" said Joyce. "We can be blind sometimes" said Giles. "Wow. This story you told me last night. It's amazing. Well, now I believe anything you'll say..." said Joyce. "Yes" said Giles cleaning his glasses. "So Angel, her boyfriend is a vampire. Wow" said Joyce. "Yes. But his was good when Buffy met him, and when she, you know. And he had a soul. And that Spike guy here was a vampire too. But a bad one, I still don't understand what they did together" said Giles. "Mutual interest I guess. They talked 'bout killing Angel" said Joyce. "Yes, that could be it" said Giles, thinking. "So to save earth Buffy had to kill him, and you still don't know if she did?" asked Joyce. "I think she did, cause she ran away. But I thought the curse we did worked, so I really don't know" said Giles. "What do you mean exactly?" asked Joyce. "By the look of the things, he haven't got his soul back, because then Buffy wouldn't run like this. So, if the curse didn't work apparently Buffy killed him. Before or after he released the demon" said Giles. "Oh, it must have been hard for her, she loves him..." said Giles.


Los-Angeles Street

"So, what's your name sweetie?" asked the old man. "Buffy. Buffy Summers" said Buffy. "I'm Tom Conrad. Where you from?" asked Tom. "Sunnydale" said Buffy. "Oh, really? Never heard of it. I live here" said Tom. Buffy looked at him in mercy compassion. "But what I don't understand is what a beauty like you doing on the street..." asked Tom. "I'm not sure I understand too" said Buffy. She looked at him. His good deep eyes made her feel like she knows him for lifetime. "Why don't I buy you some breakfast, Buffy?" asked Tom. "Oh, I couldn't" said Buffy. "It's okay. Really. I know what you're thinking, what is on your mind. You don't think I can afford it, since I'm homeless..." said Tom. "I'm..." said Buffy embarrassed. "Well, don't you worry. I have some money and I wouldn't enjoy it if I won't share it with someone... Well?" said Tom. "I really can't... I won't take no for an answer" said Tom. "Alright. But I'll pay you back as soon as possible" said Buffy.


Summers Residence

"Yes, it must have been hard for her, but if she killed him, she didn't kill her boyfriend, she didn't kill the guy she loved. She killed the demon that killed Angel" said Giles. There was silence for a minute. "I can see by your broken fingers that you were in the adventure too, weren't you?" asked Joyce. "Well, yea" said Giles. "Well, you haven't told me that part of the story really. Well?" said Joyce, waiting to hear the story. "A big group of vampires came to the library. They came to take me... So that I can tell them how to awake the demon Acathla. They made a big mass, and they killed the girl- Kendra. They hurt Willow and Xander too" said Giles. "Oh, and Buffy was fighting against Angel that time, right?" asked Joyce, recalling his explanation. "Yes, it was a trap. Buffy showed there after that and the cops must have thought she's the murderer" said Giles. "Oh, how awful" said Joyce. "And those monsters torture me till blood and I haven't told them, but them they put some spell on me and made me say it" said Giles. He didn't wanna get to details. About Jenny... "Xander and Buffy saved me. Xander rescued me and left as Buffy told him, and she stayed there alone. That's the last time anyone of us saw her. Wait a minute..." Suddenly he recalled something "She told Xander she was covered, that she won't fight them all alone..." Joyce suddenly looked at her watch and panicked. "Oh, my god, I'm so late. I had to open the gallery... Goodbye, Rupert, thank you for everything. close the door after you" said Joyce. "It was my pleasure, Mrs. Summers, Joyce. I hope we'll find Buffy" said Giles.


Sunnydale High School
Later that morning

Willow and Oz were sitting near the fountain, Willow in her wheelchair. "Oh, I can't wait to walk again! It would be so great! I forgot how you do it already" said Willow, grinning. "When do you start walking?" said Oz, laughing. "Today I have an appointment in hospital" said Willow. "So soon?" asked Oz. "Don't you want me to walk soon?" asked Willow. "Well, I like it when you need me..." said Oz "Just kidding, of course I want you to walk soon". "Well, The doctor said I'm recovering really great" said Willow. "Of course. You're my little fighter" said Oz.   "Besides, my leg wasn't broken you know, my body was just really weak" said Willow. "I wanna come to hospital. Who were you suppose to go with?" asked Oz. "My mother. But I can tell her not to come" said Willow. "Okay. Tell her not to come" said Oz. Willow kissed him. "You almost crushed him!" yelled Xander at Cordy, as they came close to Willow & Oz. "I'm sorry! I gave him my number, I'll pay him back" said Cordy. "Hi guys" said Willow. "Hey" said Xander & Cordy. "Hey. You had an accident?" said Oz. "Yea. Cordy almost smashed a guy" said Cordy. "It was an accident!" said Cordy. "Oh, you gave him a lift?" said Willow. "Nope. I... I slept at Cordy's place" said Xander. "What?" asked Willow in a loud voice. She understood that she was y?" asked Oz. "Well, I'm sure Giles would fill you in later, but I guess Buffy told her mom she's the slayer and they fought, and..." said Willow and inhaled. "Buffy is gone. She left town"...


"Lunch Box" Diner

A tall waitress came near their table while Buffy and Tom were looking at the menus. "What will you order?" asked the waitress. "Oh, I'll think I'll have a bagel toast" said Tom looking at Buffy "How about you, sweetie?" "Oh, I'm..." said Buffy faltering. "It's alright, child, you can order whatever you want. Really" said Tom. "Alright. I'll have today's salad" said Buffy looking at the waitress "What is today's salad?" "It's Caesar Salad with some new refreshments from our chef" said the waitress. "Alright then- I'll have today's salad" said Buffy. "Something to drink?" asked the waitress, writing their orders. "Coffee. Not a strong one" said Tom. "And you?" asked the waitress. "Nothing" said Buffy and Tom gave her a look "Mineral Water please". "OK" said the waitress, adding the drinks to their orders and leaving to take another table's orders. "I really don't know if it's okay" said Buffy. "It is! I won't enjoy spending my money alone. I get some money from the National Insurance" said Tom. "I'll pay you back, I promise" said Buffy, Checking her jacket pocket "I have few dollars here. It would cover my order..." "No! You need it for important things. Believe me- I can afford buying you breakfast" said Tom. "But you hardly know me" said Buffy. "I feel like I know you... And I know were mate souls" said Tom. "Mate souls?" asked Buffy. "Yea. It's two souls that connect. They understand each other and can each other" said Tom. There was silence for few seconds. "Come on!" said Tom. "What?" asked Buffy. "You have something bothering you. I can feel it. Say it" said Tom smiling. "Well..." said Buffy, hesitating much. She looked into his ocean blue eyes. "How long are you living on the street?" "Couple of years. Since my wife died" said Tom. "I'm sorry" said Buffy. "It's okay. It happens sometimes" said Tom. "You have any family?" asked Buffy. "No. we couldn't have children. And we could adopt because Sillia, my wife, she was in a hard medical situation, and we were poor" he said frowning "The authorities didn't agree for us to adopt". "Sorry again" said Buffy. "Yea, it's not your fault. well, when Sillia was alive we rented an apartment and I just stopped paying for it because I didn't have enough money, and came to the street. I didn't have anything to lose" said Tom. "I guess I'll be living in the street for a while now" said Buffy and exhaled.


Sunnydale High School Cafeteria

Everybody stared at Willow.
"Yep, she did. She and her mom had a huge fight before she went fighting Angel, 'cause Buffy told her she's the slayer, and she left town. She left her mom a note" said Willow. "Wow" said Oz. "Yea. I miss her so much already..." said Willow. She looked at Giles taking his tea and leaving the cafeteria. "Giles!!" she called him loudly. Giles turned to her. "Aren't you gonna sit with us?" she asked. "I'll drink it in the library" said Giles, walking to the library. "Well, it's good he's not sitting with us. It's bad enough to sit with you guys, but to sit with the school librarian in the Cafeteria..." said Cordy. "Late, Giles, late" said principal Snyder passing by. "Yes, I'm sorry" said Giles. "The guy is a mess" said Cordy. "Yea. I guess he just misses Buffy, like we all" said Willow. "Ok, so go back to the subject, the important one, how am I going to finish the History work?" asked Cordy.


"Lunch Box" Diner

"Oh, no sweet thing" said Tom "You're not gonna live in the street". "Well, there is no other choice" said Buffy, a tear falling on her chick. "What's wrong child? You can tell me..." said Tom, looking at Buffy's eyes. Buffy felt like she can open her heart to him. "Your orders" said the waitress, putting the full plates and cups on their table. "Thank you" (said Tom, and read her name tag "Caroline". "You welcome" said Caroline, coming back to the kitchen. "We need to bless first" said Tom. Buffy nodded and closed her eyes, holding Tom's hand. "We thank you god- for the life you gave us, and the love we share, and the roof above our head, and the food we eat .Amen" said Tom. "Amen" said Buffy. "So, what were you saying?" asked Tom, eating a slice of his bagel toast. "I just... I wish I could turn back time..." said Buffy. "So we all. I would give anything to go back and see Sillia again" said Tom. Buffy cleared her cheek with a napkin and suddenly saw Angel's face when she... killed him. She wanted to scream it... I killed him- the only person I ever loved and the only person I ever hated. "Buffy?" asked Tom, looking at her. "What? Oh- I was day-dreaming" said Buffy. "I want you open to me. 'Cause I know from experience that it helps. Believe me- you'd feel a lot better" said Tom. "I know... I feel like I know you for years. I feel like I can tell you everything!" said Buffy. "You can! We're mate souls, remember?" said Tom. Buffy was quiet. "You escaped from home, sweetie?" asked Tom. Buffy putted some vegetables on her fork. "Yes, well, no. I had a big argument with my mom. Not an argument- A fight" said Buffy and ate the vegetables "And then she told me.... She told me that if I leave... I shouldn't think of coming back..." "Oh, sweetie" said Tom, sipping from his coffee. "The last thing I wanted to do is to hurt her... I love her..." said Buffy crying "I just had to go to save..." Buffy stopped herself. I should keep the all slayer thing to myself. He would probably think I'm nuts... She said to herself. "Well, I'm sure she didn't mean it. I'm sure she loves you too." He said and smiled "How can she not. I guess she just said heat of the argument". "I know. But that's not what's wrong... it's just... so much has happened... I lost my only love and..." cried Buffy. "Oh, no..." said Tom. "There is so much you don't know... I just can't go back there... I just can't. I'm running away- I know. But I can't deal" said Buffy. "Shhh... sweetie- the last thing I wanted to do is making you cry..." said Tom.


Sunnydale High School library
Later that day

Giles was reading one of his books when the gang entered the library. "Hi Giles" said the gang. "Hello. Um, don't you ever knock?" asked Giles. "Home sweet home... said Xander, lying on the counter. Then he smiles evilly "So, Giles, I heard you scored last night!" "Wha... What?" asked Giles. "We heard you spent the night in summers residence..." said Xander. "Oh don't be an idiot, Xander!" yelled Xander. The gang became silent. "Well, I'm sorry, but I'm worried. Oh, and not that it's any of your business- I slept on the couch. I just didn't want Mrs. Summers to be alone, in this situation..." said Giles. "Well, but you know- Mrs. Summers is a quite attractive" said Xander. "Xander! So, Giles- why were you late anyway?" said Willow. "Well, I had a lot to think of... and then I went to buy some things for Mrs. Summers. She went to open the gallery" said Giles. "Well... Giles- I guess something is wrong- you like wearing the same clothes!" said Cordy. "Cordelia! Can't you two be serious for a while?" asked Giles. "I am!" said Cordy. "Forget it Cordy" said Xander, getting off the counter and putting his hand on her waist. He turned to Giles "What are you reading?" "Well- I'm looking for information about Spike" said Giles. "Spike? Again. This guy is popular in here..." said Xander smiling "We haven't heard from him for now... So what's going on?" "Well- I have an idea. You remember that you told me about Buffy telling you she's covered?" asked Giles turning to Xander. "Yea" said Xander. "Well- I think... I would sound loony- but I think Spike covered her..." said Giles "Why would he do that? He and his gang tried to awake Acathla in the first place" said Oz looking at Giles's book "Why would he help Buffy stop Acathla?" "Well- not exactly. It was purely Angel and Drucsilla who tried to awake the demon. It all mixed. Joyce told me..." said Giles. "Joyce? Wow- you call her in her first name- this is really..." said Xander. "Well- she told me that Spike and Buffy were talking when she saw her. And he came into her house" said Giles, ignoring Xander. "There you go- Buffy would never let a vamp get into her house" said Cordy. "Maybe Mrs. Summers was wrong" said Oz. "Yes, but she totally identified him. She said he had blond hair and they met before in the parents-teachers evening. She hit him with an axe when he attacked Buffy" said Giles. "Oh yea. I remember that" said Xander. "Um, and that Buffy might called him Spike. The name sounded familiar" said Giles. "But why would Spike help a slayer?" asked Willow.


Los Angeles public park

Buffy and Tom was sitting on the swings. "You talked about you mom. What about you dad?" asked Tom. "Well. He..." said Buffy. Maybe I should lie to him. He'll probably tell me go to go to dad, and I'm not ready to face him yet... Buffy told herself But no, I won't lie to him. We're mate souls. He'll understand me. I can't lie to him... "He lives in L.A but... I can't go to him. We've never been close. My parents are divorced" said Buffy, pushing her swing forward. "I understand dear" said Tom. Buffy looked at him smiling. "Look at the time! It's noon already. Maybe we should better go to visit Michelle" said Tom. "Michelle?" asked Buffy. "Michelle is a young friend of mine. I visit her about every couple of days. You wouldn't mind, would you?" asked Tom. "Of course not. Let's go" said Buffy.

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