Far from Home Part 7
"Buffy?" Xander looked up. Pacey ran after her.
"Buffy's the other slayer, isn't she?" Jen asked.
"Why are we just standing here discussing this and wasting time?" Cordelia said. "Come on before we lose her again!"
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Pacey found Buffy waiting at his car. "Angel, what gives?"
"Unlock the door, get in the car, and start driving. Please, Pacey?" Buffy pouted her lips.
"But don't you want to meet my friend Jen and her fr--"
"Pacey, please. I'll explain when we get in the car. I'll meet them later, I will."
"Okay. Okay, get in. "Buffy looked anxiously out the back window and let out a sigh of relief as Pacey drove her away from her past.
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"Buffy, stop!" Xander yelled when he got outside.
"Jen, Pacey said they were going to the Rialto," Willow said, still panting after her futile sprint after Buffy. "Now we know what the car looks like, too. Can you get us to the Rialto?"
"Yeah, sure. No problem. It's actually in walking distance. Um, this way," Jen started quickly walking towards the Rialto.
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"Angel, what was that all about?" Pacey asked.
"I... um... I-- I know Jen's friends. Just, I don't want to see them. I can't see them. Not yet. They know where we're going, can we go somewhere else? Boston, Providence, Missouri?"
"Missouri? Where did that come from? Y'all want some home-cooked possum for dinner?" Pacey said in a terrible southern dialect. He grinned at her.
"Pacey, I'm serious," Buffy said.
"Okay, how about this? I know of a little secluded beach two towns over. How about we hide out there for a couple of hours?"
"Fine," Buffy agreed, "fine, good."
"You're not a fugitive or anything, are you? Because if you are, I can really pick 'em, can't I?" Pacey said, thinking back to Tamara.
"A fugitive? I never thought about it that way..." Pacey gave her a genuinely frightened look. "Don't worry, we're not doing anything illegal."
"Okay, good," Pacey said, "because my dad, the chief of police, would not appreciate that."
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"Why is she running from us?" Oz asked.
"I don't know," Cordelia responded.
"At least we know that she's alive," Willow tried to be optimistic.
"She's not running from us," Xander said suddenly, "she's running from her past and her fate. We just happen to be part of them both. Something must have happened to her and Angel."
"How do you know?" Oz asked.
"Why else would she be running so fast?" Cordelia said wistfully.
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"We're here," Pacey smiled, shutting off the motor. Buffy stepped out of the car.
"No," she whispered. Pacey took her hand and led her to the water.
"Here, sit down," Pacey started to sit himself.
"No, I'm fine," Buffy said distractedly. She closed her eyes and let the wind blow through her hair. She opened her eyes to see that Pacey had walked a short distance down the beach. "Pacey?" she called. He looked at her a second before walking towards her. She thought that she saw a change pass through his face in that second. She couldn't explain it, but she sensed it.
"Buffy? Buffy, it worked this time. I got it right," Pacey said when he got to her.
"How... how did you know that was my--" Buffy started in alarm.
"Shh. I miss you."
"I was right," Buffy breathed. "Angel? This is the beach from my dream. Angel, what do you want?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Pacey asked, touching the ring on her finger. Buffy searched his face. She saw love clouded with pain. "I can see you. I've been watching you."
"I'm so sorry, Angel. Stay with me. I need you here," Buffy whispered with tears in her eyes. She brought her lips up to meet his. They slowly kissed, Buffy trying to hold on as long as possible.
"I'll never leave," Pacey said, putting his arms around her waist. "Not even if you kill me," he whispered into her ear.
"What? Why do you keep saying that? Angel, what do I have to do? What are you trying to tell me?" Pacey traced Buffy's lips with his index finger.
"I have to go," he said simply.
"No, don't go. You can't leave. Not yet," Buffy cried. She kissed him again. She could feel Angel; she could see him even though her eyes were closed. She didn't want to let go.
"I'll be back, I will," Pacey rubbed her back tenderly.
"Angel," Buffy said softly.
"Aren't I supposed to say Angel? Aren't you supposed to say Pacey?" Pacey smiled.
"Wh-- what? Pacey? What just happened?"
"I walked down the beach, came back, and kissed you. You forgot already?" Buffy looked down.
"Let's go to the Rialto, okay?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I have to face my past. I can't spend my whole life fighting it, it's too hard."
"Good for you."
"Pacey, I'm not ready for a relationship yet. I still haven't gotten over my last one. Do you think we could just be friends?"
"I'd like that," Pacey grinned, "I would, Angel."
"Buffy. Call me by my real name. Buffy Summers."
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