Title: Wrongs Made Right
Author: Morwen
Rating: PG-13 (language)
Pairing: S/LL (blame EW for that part. lol) & B/G (duh) major subtext & issues.
Distribution: Gabi – Dee – I mean are you actually gonna want this?
Disclaimers: Um….mine? Oh, that’s right. Joss. Giles & company belong to him. I’m just giving them a chance to do what they really want to do. ;-)
Spoilers: Through season 6 - 'Wrecked' I think.
Summary: Bob and Bertha have one last chance to atone for things done while alive…that chance is Buffy and Giles…
Dedication: For EW. HAPPY BIRTHDAY EWIE! Only you could make me write a fic with Snyder AND not have any ‘eeiiwws’ in it. ;-) Hope you like it. *hugs* and thanks for everything you’ve for me these past few months. :-) And Milkie thanks ever so for the quick and excellent beta!
Feedback: Yes, please. My plot bunnies are gettin' thin... Oh, and as far as the names ‘Bob and Bertha’, blame EW. She’s the one that named them that…NOT me. lol

~~~~~~~~~~

The unlikely couple gazed down into the swirling clouds waiting patiently to see what would happen now. They gazed briefly at each other and clasped each other’s hands tightly as waited to see if the last task had been enough. All too soon, the clouds began to dissipate and form bathed in a vibrant glow started a slow glide up towards them. The form began to solidify and suddenly, she was floating before them. She stilled and spared a loving glance at the pair. “I have another task for you both.” Her voice carried on the wind tinkling like chimes. She raised a hand to forestall the questions she saw waking in their eyes. Hers became full momentarily before she smiled again. “I know. Both of you have done so much to compensate the damage done during you mortal existence. But this one is a special case. It will have personal meaning to both of you. After this, you both may choose any plane of existence you wish. Your love for each other will make you strong in this task. And it is also necessary for this task.” Bob Snyder and Bertha Higginbothom looked in askance at each other before Bob ventured a question. “Personal in what way noble one? And why do you always have to talk like you’re reading poetry?” Laughter danced in her eyes as she responded. “Your lady appreciates me even if you do not.”

Her eyes and tone sobered rapidly and she reached out a hand to each of them. “It is time. All will be answered when we arrive.”

Without a thought Bertha and Bob grasped her hands and were surrounded by her brightness and the clouds swirled briefly, and then they were gone.

~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy checked her watch for the third time frustration and anger growing each time. Ten minutes. She only had ten minutes before she and Dawn were late and Dawn still wasn’t downstairs. “Dawn! For the last time we are gonna be late. And I so don’t have time to put up with this from you today!”

A door slammed upstairs in response. Buffy bit her tongue to keep the harsher words from falling. She looked at the time again. *That’s it* “I’m going to the car! If you get there, fine. If not, find your own way!”

Buffy slammed the door behind her. Yanking the mail out of the mailbox, she glanced through it as she stomped to the car and got in, slamming the door almost to the breaking point. Throwing the mail in the backseat, she rested her head on the wheel, wishing she could wake up just one day and feel something other than empty and angry. It never went away. Never. And now it was taking over Dawn. *Got to stop this Buff. She needs you.* Grey eyes softened and turned slightly liquid as she whispered into the wheel, “She needs me, and I need him. I guess we’re both screwed.” Shaking her head rapidly, she pushed anger in front of emptiness. Her eyes hardened again and a low growl came from deep in her throat as she honked the horn. Finally the front door opened and Dawn flew out to the car. Neither spoke. Neither looked at the other. Buffy pulled out of the driveway, knowing that once again, she had failed her sister.

Three figures watched as the car drove rapidly down the street. Two, in stunned silence, the third in sadness. The two spoke at the same time. “Buffy Summers?” The former principal shook his head, sputtering. “We have to help Buffy Summers? Why is she so special?” The lady’s eyes harden and filled with a white fire. She closed them quickly and a far away sadness shone on her white face. “She is one of the chosen. She is of me. As is he. She guards, he protects. But no longer. The chosen are broken. And I am broken. We must be made whole again. This is your task.” Her eyes flashed open and she held her companions with a fiery gaze. “We must be healed.” She erupted into white flame…and was gone. “I hate it when she does that. I see spots for hours.” Bertha laughed and couldn’t help teasing him. “Tell her that. I’m sure she’ll stop.” He snorted, Right, sure she will. God, Buffy Summers. Not someone I ever really wanted to see again. It brings so many bad things back. Not someplace I want to go again.”

Snyder took her hand gently. “I don’t really want to either. I guess we have to through with it to get to the end of it. She’s the chosen one. That makes sense to me now. The Slayer. In my school. No wonder it blew up.” She smiled at him. “True. Any idea who the other chosen is? Wouldn’t that be the Watcher? Who is he?” His eyes widen in sudden realisation. “That damned English librarian. I always thought…well, that makes sense now too.” They walked into the Summers’ home, fading through the front door. “So, how do we fix ‘em Bob?” After a brief look around, Bertha found something of Buffy’s pulled it to her and closed her eyes. “Do you have her Bertha?” She nodded in response and place the item back where it. “I can feel her. She’s so angry, so lost. She wants…it’s too far…she can’t get it…” He looked at her concerned. “Bertha?” “She’s too far away. I need more. We’ll have to observe her I’m afraid. No quick fix here.” He sighed, “Alright, let’s go find her get this over with.” Bertha stopped him with a brief touch. “You have to be the one to talk to her. We’ve got to let her see us. She knows. She’s part of the dark and the light. You have to make her believe. You’re the only one who can.”

He threw up his arms in disgust. “And just what the hell am I supposed to make her believe? And you are starting to sound too much like ‘the lady’ for my comfort. Stop it.” She just laughed warmly. “I know. But I want a future and I want it with you. Whatever form that future takes, I want us together. This is what we have to do to get that. We both did cruel, unforgivable things in our mortal lives. Even so, I think that we were selected to help the Chosen Ones, says that, maybe, just maybe we’ve atoned and are ready to move to our new life.”

Bob looked at her with deep affection and something akin to wonder. “You are truly something, you know that? Okay. I’ll do what I have to do. Let’s just find out what she needs and let’s make sure she gets it. I’m sure it has something to do with the Englishman. Maybe if we find him, we can find out what’s needed here.”

“Good idea. I have her thread. She’s not too far. Let’s go.”

With that, they both faded through the wall and into the clouds.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Anya, what is this? It’s gross.” Buffy slowly set the statue back down with disgust.

Anya made a sound of annoyance. “It’s a fertility goddess, and it’s expensive, leave it alone. Don’t you like need to go train or something? I mean really can’t you…”

“Anya!” Xander shouted desperate to stop Anya before she went too far.

Buffy’s eyes narrowed in anger. “No Xander, that’s okay. I’ll go where she is not.” And turned on her heel, stormed to the training room and slammed the door behind her.

On the top railing two figures sat watching and listening…

Xander shook his head and turned to his fiancé, his tone almost pleading, “Anya, you can’t talk to her like that anymore. You know that. She’s, well, she’s like Faith’s evil twin these days. Please don’t piss her off.”

Anya arched her eyebrow in disdain. “I don’t care. She has it coming Xander. She treats Dawn like shit and she treats her better than anyone. I mean taking up with Spike? She has lost it. She’s always angry and I don’t want her here anymore.”

Xander’s eyes narrowed and flashed with anger. “She needs our help Anya. And the training room is hers. Giles made that very clear. Please, don’t try what you’re thinking. Yes, she’s…changed, but she needs our help now. It’s bad enough Willow and Tara split up and Will is courting the ‘dark side of the force’ these days. Don’t push Buff over the edge.” She tensed as he pulled her to him tightly. “Please, just try and be a little more compassionate, for me, okay?”

She relaxed and hugged him back, resting her head on his shoulder. “Okay. But only for you.” Xander smiled into her hair. “Thanks An.” He pulled back and kissed her gently. “What say we close up and leave?” She nodded in response and walked over and locked the door.

A glance at the training room door started her wondering. “Xander, do you think she knows?

He looked at her perplexed. ‘Do I think she knows what?”

“The real reason Giles left. Do you think she knows just how much he love her?”

A brief look of pain crossed his face. “No An, I don’t think she’ll ever know that. Just like I don’t think she realises how much she loves him. That’s when she changed. It was like he took the part the made her Buffy with him when he went back to England. I’ve wanted to call him and tell him so many times. Dawn has too, but Buffy has threatened death to the person who does it.” He sighed in defeat.

Anya finished closing the register and put the money away. “Let’s go home, Xand. I don’t want to think about depressing things anymore today. I feel a strong need for some truly intense orgasms.”

“Your wish is my command.” Xander turned out the lights and locked the door behind them.

The two figures looked at each other in surprise. Love, the Chosen needed love. More than that, she needed to admit to loving. This wouldn’t be easy… They faded through the wall into the other room…

And materialised. Buffy’s back was to them and she was pummelling a punching bag. Instantly, she stilled, flipped to the left and grabbed a stake and stood facing them.

Her eyes widened in recognition and shock. “Uh-uh. No way. You so cannot be here. I saw. Dick the snake had you for lunch. And…wait,” confusion and suspicion crept into her eyes, “you’re not…what are you?”

Snyder groaned, knowing this was going to be just as bad as he thought it would be. He greeted her in his best principal voice. “Hello Summers.” The only response was a snort of disgust, but the stake never lowered and her cold eyes never wavered. Well since you remember who we were, why don’t we just go to what we are now.” An arched eyebrow and a tilt of her head, was Buffy’s only reply. Snyder reached for Bertha’s hand, which caused Buffy’s eyebrows to go right up to her hairline. He cleared his throat. “Yes, well, Bertha and I have been given the chance to, to sorta set things right. Chances to help others, try to make up for the wrong we did when we were alive.”

Her stance didn’t changed, but disbelief clouded her features. “You are not even gonna try to tell me that you’re like, like guardians angels or something are you? Because I find that wrong on so many levels. Neither of you earned that right. I’ve been up there. I know.”

“No, we aren’t. We are…in a place…that exists…in between realities, between the light and the dark. That’s why you can see us. You were created with that. The lady of light commands us. Allows us to remain, so we can help her.”

“The Powers That Be? You work for the PTB’s?” She still could not bring herself to believe this.

“Yes, that’s what you call them. As do most down this way.”

Her stance relaxed and she lowered the stake. “Why should I believe this? I have no reason to believe this. Just go away and nobody has to get hurt, okay?”

Bertha spoke for the first time. “No, we can’t. We were sent here to help you. You must listen to us. We can help you, if you let us.”

‘You? You were sent to help me? Me? The Slayer.” Contempt and sarcasm with each word. She laughed hysterically. “Oh this is too much. My life isn’t fucked up enough yet, so you’re saying the PTB’s sent little principal Nazi and…and the lunchlady who likes rat poison, to help me? I think you really need to get out of my space now.”

She walked toward the door and opened it.

Bertha looked at Bob and he nodded. “Wait. I can tell you about him. I can tell you why he left you. And I can tell you why you feel so empty, so angry all the time. Please, just listen.”

Her hand clenched the doorknob tightly. She instinctively knew. “Giles.” She said it so softly, she wasn’t even aware she’d spoken. But Bertha heard. “Yes.”

Buffy closed the door slowly and leaned against it. “What’s this about? Why bring him up?”

Snyder answered. “Because you’ve made it about him. See, Bertha has an ability. She can sense people. Feel what they feel. And she can sense you. And through you, she can sense him, somewhat. Just peripherally, but enough to know where he is and his frame of mind.”

No one spoke for several minutes. One taking in what was happening, and the other two knowing Buffy had to make a choice. She had to ask. She had to care. That was where her healing had to begin.

Buffy sank slowly to the floor, her thoughts in a whirl. Confusing, foreign emotions filling her for the first time since the day he left. She rubbed the heels of her hands across her eyes. Yet when she looked up, they were still there.

Leaning her head back, she couldn’t help it anymore. She had to know. “How…how is he?”

Bob and Bertha exchanged a smile. “He misses you.”

Buffy stared at her fingernails intently. And shook her head in disbelief.

Bob moved closer to her and crouched down in front of her. “Bertha says he does. That makes it true. She sees things. It was her gift for doing this.”

Buffy looked at him. “What was your gift for all the hell you caused?”

He smiled sadly at her. “Nothing. But Bertha is my gift. For the things we do now. People can change. Transform.” He looked at her intently. “Just like you have. You’ve become hard and cruel. You’ve become what you hate. And all because you couldn’t accept what he offered you and refused to allow yourself to give in return. And you need it now more than ever.”

The storm was back in her eyes. “Oh really, and just what was that? Hmm, tell me mister expert, just what is it that I need so much?”

Unexpected compassion filled him and he understood. Understood this was about all of them. All needing to learn the same thing. How to love. As gently as he could, he told her. “Love. Love, Buffy Summers.”

Bertha reached out and touched his shoulder in acceptance and understanding. Joy filled her as he realised what she’d known for so long.

Buffy was shaking. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop shaking. Everything in her was threatening to break apart. She dropped her head to her knees and wrapped her arms tight around her neck.

It’s okay, Buffy. It’s okay to miss him. It’s okay…to feel whatever you feel. Just let yourself.” Bertha’s voice was calm and reassuring.

Her voice was calm, in marked contrast to her body. “I’ve know for a long time that he, well, that he felt that way about me. He never said it, but so many things showed it to me.”

They didn’t respond, letting her find her own way.

She talked letting everything spill out. All that had happened with Glory, her death and the spell that brought her back. Her mother’s death and treating Giles like he was some servant. How she took advantage of his love for her and used it against him. How ashamed she was. And how he was better off without her. This last she said with tears. The first tears she’s let fall in a long time.

Bob and Bertha clasped each others hands tightly, drawing strength from each other. Finally as her tears slowed, Bob spoke to her. “Buffy, we were sent here to help the Chosen Ones. Both of you. Do you understand?”

She lifted her head slowly. Her whole body stilled as she let those words replay again and again and again. Comprehension cracking her anger. “Giles? You mean, he’s like me? He’s…”

Bob interrupted her. “No, not like you. He blames himself. You were blaming all others. He takes it all on himself. However, he is in great pain, just like you.”

Buffy felt something wake inside her. Something she didn’t ever realise she was missing. “What did I do? What did I do to him? You have to tell me? Can you fix him? Please tell me you can fix him?” She was almost pleading in her fear for him.

“No, Buffy. We can’t.”

Buffy shot up and grabbed him. “Why not. You said you were here to help us, so go…help him.” And she shoved him away. “No, we can’t help him, Buffy. Only you can do that.”

She shook her head. “No. All I ever do is hurt not help. I can’t help him.”

The sound of Bertha’s voice took her by surprise. “You’re wrong. You’re the only one that can help him.”

Buffy punched the wall in frustration. “I can’t! What if he doesn’t, I’m…it’s been so long now.”

“It doesn’t matter, Buffy. You know what he needs now don’t you?”

Her shoulders slumped in defeat. “I’m afraid. I don’t want to be hurt again.”

Bertha walked to her and wiped a tear away. “But that’s why you must do it. No matter the answer. You have to set it free.”

The slayer closed her eyes and reached deep within herself. Trying to find the strength. She owed him this. She owed all of them this. She had to. Her eyes opened. Clear for the first time in too long. “I do ya know. Love him. I love Giles. I just never… it doesn’t matter. All that matters is I need to let him know that. That I love him and…and that I want to be with him, and that not one damn thing has mad sense, since he left. And if he still wants me after all I put him through, I’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to him.”

She smiled, “I have to choose right? Live and love or don’t and die, slowly each day. I get it now. I’ve been dead. I don’t want to do it again. I choose Giles.”

Suddenly the room was bathed in a bright white light and a voice echoed around the room.

“You have both done well. Return to me and know that I thank you both.”

Bob turned to Buffy. “Goodbye, Buffy Summers.”

“Bye. Thanks. I can’t believe I’m saying that to you, but thanks. If nothing else, this will give Giles and I a really interesting topic of conversion.”

All three laughed at the truth of that statement.

Bob took Bertha’s hand they faded away.

“Chosen.”

Buffy looked around the room. “Yes?” “Do you want me to take you to him?”

Buffy’s mouth opened in shock. “You can do that?”

Laughter filled the room. “Yes, Chosen, I can.”

Her eyes moistened. “Yes, oh, please, yes.”

“Close your eyes and reach out for me.”

Buffy did as instructed before snapping her eyes open.

“Chosen?”

“What, what will happen to them? Will they be okay? I mean they did what you asked them to do…”

“Yes. Wherever they choose, they go together.”

Buffy was satisfied, and closed her eyes and reached out.

Wind surrounded her and she was lifted into swirling clouds. Moments later she felt ground again beneath her feet and the stilled. She opened her eyes to daylight. She was standing in front of a door. A strange looking door on a street she didn’t recognise.

“He is within, Chosen.”

Buffy turned around looking at her surroundings. “I’m in England? You brought me to England? Wow. I need to make you my personal transportation system. You’ve got the airlines beat.”

Laughter rippled in her mind. “Goodbye Chosen.”

“I’ll fix him. I promise. No matter what.”

Suddenly the presence was gone. She turned again to the door and took a deep breath. Gathering all her courage, she knocked. She heard footsteps and a latched being pulled. Slowly the door opened and he was standing there.

As she looked into his startled piercing green eyes, she saw the emptiness in them and felt the ice around her heart melt and turn to liquid fire. She knew it wouldn’t matter what he said in response. He deserved to know the truth. She fixed him with a clear gaze and spoke strongly and with her heart in her throat.

“Giles, I love you.”

the end

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