Episode 1- Happily Ever After


Scene 1

Rome wasn’t perfect. Buffy accepted a long time ago that there was no such thing anyway. But she was finally free of bloody clothing, red eyes from lack of sleep, bruises, and demon research. She had time to visit the tanning booth, get a manicure, or go shopping. She could go wherever she chose, whenever she chose, with whoever she chose to be with. There were still money issues, Dawn-raising stress, missed trash, and the like. But overall Buffy could say she was rather content.

Sometimes she missed her friends, but the fall of Sunnydale seemed to benefit everyone. Giles controlled the new Council in England. Things were going well there as far as Buffy knew. He called occasionally to let her know about recent developments. Indirectly, he left hints for her to aid the institution. They were completely ignored. She had served her duty. She was done.

Willow and Kennedy were in the ‘Slayer Fetching’ department. Their recent assignment took them to Brazil. Willow wrote a lot, documenting everything she’d experienced.

Xander ventured off to Africa to investigate mystical tribal practices. Buffy suspected he needed to get away more than help the Council discover new remedies. He sent mail and even packages frequently at first. It had been awhile since the last one. Buffy wasn’t worried. . . yet. He had to sort things out for himself.

They all were living exciting lives. Well, except her. She was satisfied with the normal for change.

She worked at Navona Notte Pizzeria, located where the Stadium of Domitian used to stand. The piazza was large, but still seemed intimate. Buffy loved the place. It was full of statues. Her favorite was the Fountain of the Four Rivers, which represented four rivers (Danube, Ganges, Nile, and Rio de la Plata). The whole restaurant was a masterpiece of beauty. Being around this scenery was exciting, but the labor involved was exhausting. It was always busy. So busy that Buffy hardly had time to think. She got orders wrong far more often than her boss liked. He tolerated her because he was kind and knew she needed money desperately.

Buffy sighed when she saw a little girl spill her drink. She went to fetch a dish towel.

This was her life. This was her dream, just a girl among many in a hectic world.

Scene 2

By the time she got home Buffy’s feet throbbed. She felt like she might collapse. She made a plan to do just that after a soothing bubble bath. She entered the house to find Dawn on the couch. Her sister flipped through the channels on the television, while a TV dinner cooled on the coffee table. Dawn settled for some cartoon.

“Oh, it’s you,” Dawn said.

Buffy forced a smile. “Hey, Dawnie. How was school? Did you do your homework?”

“Fine. Yes.”

The slayer let her fake smile fade. “What is the matter?”

Dawn pressed mute on the remote. She lifted her gaze to her sister. “What is wrong? How can you ask me that?” She stood up. She pointed to her dinner of chicken parmesana with spaghetti. “That’s what’s wrong!”

Confused, Buffy replied,” You don’t like chicken parmesana?”

Dawn stomped her foot. The teen had fallen into one of her regressive fumes. Buffy was used to them. Sometimes she couldn’t remember if she had a seventeen or an eight-year-old for a sister.

“I like it just fine!” Dawn spat.

“Then what’s the matter?”

“The matter is that it was previously frozen. I’ve had to eat TV dinners for months now. You aren’t ever around. And when you are you’re too tired to spend any time with me.”

“I’m sorry I have to work long hours. It costs a lot to support two people.”

“I know you have to work,” Dawn said. “But it would be nice if you were around once in awhile during your free time instead of rushing off to see the oh so . . .”

“Don’t finish that statement,” Buffy interrupted. Dawn loved to come up with new names for The Immortal.

“Are you seeing him tonight?”

Buffy sighed. “I was going to, yeah. But, hey, I’ll cancel. No biggie. We can stay home and have a girls night. How does that sound?”

The anger drained from Dawn’s face. She shrugged. “Okay. But don’t think this is going to make up for everything. You owe me like fifty more sister bonding times before I forgive you.”

A slight smile tugged at Buffy’s lips. She shook her head and went to call her boyfriend. He was totally understanding. The Immortal was like that, too good to be true. He was a perfect gentleman, always looking out for her interest instead of his own. He was the most romantic guy she’d ever known. She didn’t understand why Dawn hated him so much. Despite the way her sister treated him, he never seemed to let it bother him.

“Hot chocolate?” Buffy questioned as she returned the phone to its cradle. She went to retrieve the instant coco-mix.

“Can we make it the way Mom used to? You know, over the stove.”

“Complete with marshmallows?”

Buffy’s smile faded when she noticed Dawn’s stricken face. “Oh, I forgot,” she said,” You don’t like them. Too squishy, right?”

Dawn didn’t reply. Instead she went to the table and picked up an envelope. “There’s a letter for you.”

By the address she assumed it was from Giles. Instead she discovered it was from Willow. What was Willow doing in England?

Buffy,

Hey! Guess you are probably wondering why I’m not in Brazil. Well Kenn and I decided we were done there. We hadn’t come across a newbie in months. So now we’re stationed at the council. You have got to come check this place out! Last time you saw it the walls weren’t even finished. Now its like an extravagant mansion. The library is so huge. Oh, sorry, you probably aren’t interested in that. They have an entertainment room, though. The television screen makes you feel like you are in a theater. We need to get the gang together and have movie night there.

No update on Xander yet. When he gets back I’m going to have to punch him. Grrrr. Three months without any word. I’ll give him one more week before I do a tracer spell. I hope he’s all right.

How’s normal life in Rome? I’m going to have to visit sometime soon. I’ve always wanted to check out the historical museums there.

Anyways, we’re fine here in good ol’ blighty. Kennedy says hi. You can’t see but she is actually waving this very minute. We just wanted you to know where to contact us. Don’t be a stranger.

Love,

Willow

Buffy glanced up from the paper. “Willow is in England now.”

“Oh.”

Buffy set the letter down. She went to fetch two mugs down from the cupboard. Dawn hopped up on a stool and leaned over the island. She put her head into her hands. Buffy wondered what caused the sudden depression in Dawn’s mood.

“I miss the ‘Kiss the Librarian’ mug,” Dawn said softly.

Buffy poured the steaming liquid into the mugs. She furrowed her brow. “The what?”

“Oh. . . Nevermind.”

She set a mug in front of her sister. She happened to like marshmallows and went to find them. She snatched the bag out of the pantry. Buffy opened it and proceeded to plop a few tiny sugar fluffs into her drink. They were silent for a few moments.

“Buffy?”

Buffy took a small sip of the hot chocolate. “Hmmm?”

“I changed my mind. I’ll have some marshmallows.”

Buffy raised an eyebrow. She handed over the bag. Buffy couldn’t remember Dawn ever eating marshmallows. They had been reserved only for Joyce and herself. Oh! Suddenly Buffy knew what had gotten Dawn down. She missed Mom.

“Mom would be proud of us,” Buffy stated. “We got out of the hellmouth, we live in a nice apartment, you’re doing well in school, and I have the sweetest boyfriend ever.”

Dawn stared down into her hot chocolate. “No he isn’t. I know someone who was sweeter.”

“Who? Because I’m drawing a blank.” Buffy laughed. She fell silent when she saw Dawn’s lips tremble. Was she about to cry? She reached out and touched her sister’s arm. “Dawnie?”

“I’m fine! Just-Just someone I saw on television.”

“Well, The Immortal is the sweetest guy ever ‘in reality’ then.”

Buffy frowned. Dawn hardly touched her hot chocolate. “Are you all right.”

Dawn’s glimmering blue eyes met her green ones. “Are you happy?”

“Most of the time. It’s impossible to be perfectly happy. That’s for fairytales,” Buffy answered honestly.

“But, you can’t think of anything else better than what you have now?”

Huh? What was Dawn getting at?

“No,” Buffy said.

A tear slipped from Dawn’s eye.

“Dawn?”

Dawn quickly brushed the water away. “I’m fine. Really.”

“Is something wrong at school?” Buffy questioned.

Dawn nodded. “Yeah. I like someone who doesn’t like me. That’s all.”

“Boys are stupid,” Buffy said.

Dawn forced a smile.