The Truth Revealed

By Amanda Walter

Claire awoke; her eyes fluttering open, to find the Scooby Gang waiting over her expectantly.

“You know, I had the strangest dream. And you were there, and you, and you!” Claire pointed to each person a grin forming on her face. Her finger stopped on Luke. “You weren’t there though.”

Her boyfriend grinned back at her and leant over to give her a hug.

“You did it Claire! You did it!”

“I know!” She whispered and she sat up, looking around the room. Suddenly she was bombarded with questions.

“What happened?”

“How did you do it?”

“Did anyone find out?”

Claire put up her hands, silencing them. “Woah! One at a time, one at a time! Anyone would think I just come back from the past.”

Xander grinned. “Fine, I’m first! How did you do it?”

Claire looked at each one of them in turn. Her mother’s best-friend, Willow, with her long red hair and sparkling eyes was standing next to Oz, her husband. Tara was standing off to the side, next to Spike, both of them grinning madly, though Spike was trying not to show it. Anya and Faith stood next to each other, holding hands in joy. Claire shook her head. She was still trying to work out how them two had become best friends. And finally Luke’s parents, Xander and Cordelia. All of these people, her parent’s friends, were waiting expectantly for her answer. She grinned again.

“You guys should know! You lived through it!”

There were groans at her answer.

“Just tell us!” Anya cried.

“No, I’m serious!” Claire replied. “Close your eyes.” They all did so, reluctantly. “Your memories should be changing, you should remember everything.” She watched as each person’s face changed. They were all remembering.

“Wow.” Xander said as he opened his eyes and turned to face Cordy. “Why couldn’t something like that have brought us back together?” Cordelia chucked him a dirty look and Xander grinned, his plan in annoying her had succeeded. Claire almost laughed. He had not changed one bit.

Luke walked back over to Claire and kissed her on the forehead.

“It’s good to have you back. Did you find my letter?”

Claire smiled. “Yes, I did. It fell out of my diary when I was…” Suddenly her eyes clouded over and a lump formed in her throat. Luke noticed this and immediately asked what was wrong.

“Giles. I finally met Giles.” Claire said, a sad smile on her face. All the Scoobies looked at her when she mentioned the ex-Watcher’s name and the feeling in the room changed to that of sadness.

“He’s everything you guys said he was.” She said, tears forming in her eyes.

“Even down to the tweed?” Luke asked.

Claire laughed quietly. “Even down to the tweed.” She replied.

The group of friends gathered in the small room were quiet for a few minutes, each remembering in a different way the Watcher who had touched their lives. Finally Willow spoke, breaking the silence that had fallen.

“I think it’s time you spoke to your parents Claire.”

Claire nodded her head and stood up, Luke helping her.

“Well, we’ll be heading off.” Anya said, referring to herself and Faith.

“Me too.” Spike added and Tara nodded her head in agreement.

Willow turned to Oz, the look in her eyes saying it all.

“Sure thing.” He said and gave her a peck on the cheek. “The boys are probably getting hungry now anyway.” Willow and Oz had left their two twin boys at home with the next door neighbour. “I promised them Macdonald’s and they are probably getting extremely impatient.”

The group laughed and Xander turned to Cordy.

“I know, I know.” She replied. “You want to go too. Off to beloved Buffy again!” But there was no bitterness in her voice anymore, she knew Xander was hers. She turned to her son, who was still standing next to Claire. “I suppose you want to go too?”

“Yeah.” Luke replied, looking at his girlfriend. “That is, if Claire doesn’t mind.”

“Of course not silly! Why would I mind?” Claire gave him a friendly hit on the arm and the group headed out the door. Once outside, the group split into their different directions, goodbyes being called out until everyone was out of sight.

Willow, Xander, Luke and Claire looked at each other, each waiting for the others to speak.

“Well.” Xander finally said. “We’re off to see the Wizard!”

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