Title: Once In A Lifetime 13/24
Author: Karen Jephson
Disclaimer: Not mine, unfortunately. Want to adopt and treat them better
than their owners, but I don't have enough.
Feedback: Live for it.
Note: To Trich and Gail. Thanks for your nagging, your precise beta, and your
constant encouragement.
"You didn't tell me?" Pain and anger laced Rupert's words. He pushed himself from the table, rising stiffly. "You kept Angel's return from me; from him? God, how that must have destroyed him."
Buffy lowered her eyes, blinking the tears back. "I-I didn't know what to do. Angel was still crazy. I was trying to protect Giles."
"Lies! You were trying to protect yourself and your precious lover!"
"Hey!" Xander jumped up, halting the other man's agitated pacing. "You weren 't there! Well, maybe you were. But it was a different you. And Buffy paid for that decision. We all did."
"Yes, I can see how you did!" Rupert's arm swept around the room, indicating the differences between their world and his. "By that one selfish act, she."
"That's enough!" Willow's words rang sharply in the strained air. "Our Buffy made one choice, yours another. It was years ago. You only know part of our world. There could be some things that are better because of what happened. We knew that something happened to make things different between us. You have no right to tell Buffy off now because of a decision she made when she was a child."
Rupert pulled himself up, a look of shock on his face. "You're right. I'm sorry." He turned toward Buffy. "Buffy, please forgive me. I had no right to react the way I did. My only excuse is that I remembered the pain I felt upon hearing Angel had returned, and realizing how much worse it was for your Giles."
Buffy nodded, not yet ready to speak as she felt the guilt and pain battle within her. Anya leaned forward. "I just thought it was an excuse so you didn't have to eat any more of this dinner Buffy prepared." Dawn tried to hold back a giggle. She was unsuccessful, and was soon joined by Rupert. Willow and Xander followed suit. "What? What did I say?" Finally, Buffy couldn't resist. Wiping the tears from her eyes she began to laugh too.