FATE’S CHOICE

CHAPTER 5: Revelations pt.1

“So how’d you know that she was in trouble”, Angel asked Willow as they all walked into the library.

“I didn’t. He did”, the redhead said tilting her head towards Gage. Gage scooted behind Buffy to hide. Everyone looked at him strangely. The blonde just put her hand on his shoulder and smiled.

“Gage” Angel said bending to look at the boy. Gage slowly walked from behind Buffy and lowered his head as he came to a stop in front of.

“You know you’re supposed to keep the connection closed”, the vampire said sternly.

“What connection”, Xander asked. Everyone looked at him. “Okay being quiet now”.

Angel shook his head, “Gage it is very dangerous if…”

“I know. I didn’t mean to”, Gage said as he started to sniff. “I was sleeping, it never happened like that before. Mommy said she’d teach me when she got back sniff (a few tears ran down his cheeks) I heard her thoughts and she was in pain. When she called out for Buffy I knew she was in trouble. She never says her name you know that. I really didn’t mean to”, he said as more tears fell.

Buffy just stood there confused trying to think of who she knew that could be in trouble and needed her help. She thought of the “un-chosen slayers” as she liked to call them but none of them had a kid that she knew of. She was interrupted by her thoughts by another sniff. She looked down at the crying boy and couldn’t help but feel sad for him. She felt one of her own tears fall as she thought about all that he had been through. Right now she really hated his mother for letting him go through this. But she knew it wasn’t her fault. He had told her his mom didn’t have a choice.  She bent down and pulled him into her arms and held him as he continued to cry. After a few moments when he began to calm down Buffy pulled back and whipped his eyes and kissed him on the forehead. Angel looked at the display smirking to himself as he glanced at Willow also seeing a similar look on her face.

Gage sniffed and then looked up at Willow who was sitting over at a table with Kennedy, Xander, Dawn, Andrew, and a very tired Giles rubbing his temples. Willow just nodded and continued to smile. She liked the fact that Buffy had become protective of him. When he had first arrived he hadn’t said a word for a few weeks. And even though he had known her Buffy was the one to get him to open up. She figured it had to do with the fact that his mom was a slayer and Buffy was a slayer so he sensed that he could trust her. That was over a month and a half ago, now you can’t get him to stop talking. She knew all about him so he would often come talk to her about his mom. He would even go to Kennedy at times. She had over heard one of their conversations and confronted Willow. She decided it wouldn’t hurt to tell since she had somewhat figured it out. Plus it was nice being able to talk to someone about it on an adult level. Well since no one was allowed to know, especially not Buffy.

Gage looked up at a smiling Angel. The boy gave a confused frown and asked, “Are you mad at me”?

“No…I’m not mad at you. I know it’s not your fault. Come here”, Angel said holding open his arms. Gage jumped at him.

The vampire pulled CD from his pocket and held it out to him. Gage’s eyes immediately lit up.

“Mommy”, he asked smiling. Buffy looked over at Will curiously. But Willow just shrugged and looked away.

“Yep, she left a few copies. Willow mentioned something about yours being scratched. Buffy looked at the redhead again this time furrowing her eyebrows. Willow just shrugged.

“Thanks Uncle”, he said smiling and gave him a big hug.

“Uncle, Oh my god don’t tell me he’s Cordy’s”, Buffy shrieked.

“What…oh now he’s well…I...I can’t say it would them both in danger. Plus it’s not my place”, Angel said looking up. Buffy turned to Willow asking the silent question.

“Sorry Buff I’m with him on this one”, she said motioning towards Angel.

“You can’t be serious”, Buffy whined.

“I’m sorry Buffy but if we could we would. Please you just have to trust us”, Will said walking up to and taking the blonde’s hand in both of her own.

“Please”, a little voice asked as he tugged on the blonde’s shirt.

“Fine”, she sighed, but gave the boy a smile.

“How are you gonna get mommy, when are we gonna get her back”, Gage simply asked looking around rubbing his eyes.

“Well we will do some research while you go back to bed”, Buffy said walking over to him and bending down to give him a little poke in his stomach.

“But I don’t wanna. I wanna help”, Gage said in a whiny voice.

“I know buddy but it’s really late and plus you still have that cold”.

“Are you gonna go too”, he asked innocently.

“I will be in a bit mkay”, Buffy said smiling at him. Gage leaned forward wrapping her up in a big hug. “Okay. Guys lets just stop for the night and gets some rest. We can start fresh in the morning. I’ll see ya’ll tomorrow”, Buffy said as she carried Gage back to her room.

“Well then. I guess I’m heading off, tomorrow then. Kennedy can you show Angel to where he’ll be staying and Willow can you put a spell on the windows”, Giles said as he also left the room as everyone else began to scatter in the respective corners.

“So buddy you all ready”, Buffy asked as Gage began to crawl under the covers.

“uh huh... oh wait”, he pulled out the CD. “Can we”, he asked.

“Sure why not”, she said taking the disk and putting it into the player. “So who are we listening to?”

“It’s my mommy. She said she wrote this song for me so anytime I missed her I could listen to it and I’d know”, he said with a small smile graced his face.

She pushed play and walked to the bed and got under the covers. Gage immediately scooted closer and snuggled against her. He laid his head on her chest; she wrapped her arm protectively around him as the music began to play softly.

Out of the mist of history
She'll come again
Sailing on ships across the sea
To a wounded Nation

Signs of a savoir
Like fire on the water
It's what we prayed for
One of our own

Just wait
Though while she may roam
Always
A hero comes home
She goes where no one has gone
But always
A hero comes home

Deep in the heart of darkness sparks
A dream of lies
Surrounded by hopelessness
She finds the will to fight

There’s no surrender
Always remember
It doesn't end here
We're not alone

Just wait
Though while she may roam
Always
A hero comes home
She goes where no one has gone
But always
A hero comes home

And she will come back on the crimson tide
Dead or alive
And even though we know the bridge has burned
She will return
She will return

Just wait
Though while she may roam
Always
A hero comes home
She knows of places unknown
Always
A hero comes home

Someday they'll carve in stone
"The hero comes home"

She goes and comes back alone
But always
A hero comes home

Just wait
Though while she may roam
Always
A hero comes home

“She has a beautiful voice doesn’t she”, Willow asked quietly from the doorway startling the blonde.