"Sunnydalopolis..." Part XXI...

Sunnydalopolis part XXI

"Buffy!" Dawn and Willow call out to the crumpled slayer on the floor.

Ben recovers first and rises slowly. He looks at the fallen Buffy and moves to go to her. Willow
angrily grabs at him and shoves him away, running to her. He looks around and his eyes fall on
poor Tara, blank-eyed and still trembling. Shamefaced, he looks nervously away.

Glory sits, dazed, looking at Ben, the gang, the walls. She tries to speak but can't. Will moves
to cover Buffy Rebecca's body as if to protect her from the goddess.
***
It quickly becomes apparent that the dazed goddess is no longer a threat to anyone...

Dawn makes her way down to the ground floor and runs toward where Warren is working on
the robot...Dawn and Spike run to the fallen slayer. "Buffy!" Dawn tries to grab...her
sister...Spike stops her before she can get a clear view...She feels Spike crushing her hand and he
releases it and rushes to the robot...
***
Spike stands, shaken...while Warren continues...Willow sees that Warren occasionally gives
Spike a glance, a word...encouragement?...

So they're a family...she thinks in wonder...Dad, daughter, and...husband?...When did they
become a family?...The Walthrops...
***

Buffy is seen now, clambering over the debris in back with some of the Knights and moves
over toward them all..Buffy runs over to Dawn and without looking at Spike she starts to pull
Dawn away...Dawn pulls free...

No, Buffy, no...God, don't do this now...what's wrong with you...Will thinks...

Ignoring Dawn, Buffy approaches Warren and Buffy Rebecca...

"Is it off?" She asks coldly...

Dawn looks up at her...hatred in her eyes... Willow sees Spike looking at Buffy...reproach...but
sympathy and understanding...

***
Dawn moves away a bit...Buffy looks at her and turns away...

Willow unbelieving, looks at her feet...

***

Buffy heads over to where the Goddess of Glory and Victory sits flat on the floor, apparently
unaware of what is going on around her...Ben, however seems in good shape and is starting to
tend to the wounded... The Emperor has also come over to the goddess and is watching her...
***

[Playtheme]
Buffy Rebecca is moving...

Warren is holding her gently by the arm...and trembling...

Spike turns and sees her...and looks too dazed to tell what he is thinking...

I think he's glad, Willow thinks...
***

He moves Dawn away after Warren gives him a look...She must be in awful shape, thinks
Willow...Oh, why, did you do that Buffy, why now...

***
They are moving towards Willow and she hears Spike say to Dawn "...she's gonna be
fine...but...she's only a robot after all, Nibs..."

Only a robot...

Will never thought a lie from Spike would bring tears to her eyes...

***

Warren sees her and gives Will the thumbs up...She smiles back at Warren...Yes!...

Buffy Rebecca looks at Will and Will can see she is in agony...grinning at her...Warren,
was pain really a necessity?, Will thinks...

Oh, Buffy...please look at her...Buffy...you fool...do it for Dawn... Can't you see what she must
think...?

Warren helped Buffy Rebecca up and led her carefully to the bench outside the bookstore...
Dad with his girl, Willow thinks...

The Walthrops and the Summers, on a family outing with friends, a little marred by some
unfortunate incidents and two angry sisters...

***