|
|
The room holds little in the way of furniture. Only a canopy bed, and a desk with writing paper and blood stains on it. Lining one wall is a shelf lined with antique porcelain dolls. Buffy picks up a doll and is about to smash it when Giles shouts.
"Don't!!" he cries, "If Dru's alive, destroying her room will only make her more angry and in the past making her angry as only succeeded in making her more unpredictable."
"But then this is for nothing!!" Buffy exclaimes, "By breaking into her home we'll have angered her already, so why can't I trash her room too?!"
"Because, her home has never seemed that important to her. She moves a great deal, but this stuff must have taken at least a couple of decades to collect, which means that she brings this stuff with her and that it is valuable to her."
"Fine! But I'm going to at least break one thing as a warning," Buffy replies throwing the porcelain doll to the floor. She then quickly writes a note to Dru that says that if Dru ever tries to harm her mother again, that she will destroy all of her dolls. Giles sighs, but is glad that Buffy at least won't break anymore dolls. They leave the warehouse around noon, and Giles drops Buffy off at home. Giles says she should go to school, but family does come first.
Buffy and her Mom have a long talk. Joyce accepts her daughter as the Slayer and says that she understands that she can take care of herself, but as a mother she will always worry about her daughter. Buffy explains about how to protect yourself from vampires. She tells her about holy water, crosses, stakes, garlic, sunlight, and not coming in unless invited. Her mother also agrees to give Angel a chance although she still can't understand why he wouldn't go with Buffy and the others this morning. Especially if he cared so much. Buffy laughs and only says the she has had enough shocks to last her at least a week. The shock that comes with that why, can wait.
That night Angel comes to the door to pick Buffy up for hunting. "I'm sorry for pushing you into the living room last night, Ms. Summers, but you were headed for three vampires," Angel says as an apology. Joyce is civil and the two uncomfortably try to make small talk while waiting for Buffy to appear. Buffy smiles to herself watching them, before coming to the door and relieving the tension by leaving with Angel.
"I'm surprised that your mom is being so nice to me. Last night, it looked like she hated me," Angel replies carefully, trying not to anger Buffy.
"She actually adjusted pretty quickly once she got home and had time to think things over," Buffy replies lightly. "Of course," she adds with a smile, "It helps that she doesn't know you're a vampire." Angel stops dead in his tracks and turns towards Buffy, his eyes wide in disbelief, clearly showing that he thought she knew. Before he has a chance to comment though, Buffy kisses him. The thought is swept away by her love. He returns the kiss and lets himself be taken away by it.
I love feedback so send it to abaumgar@mason.gmu.edu