The Fallen Slayer | TVD {1}

The Ex-Pageant Queen

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

Standing just outside of the bus station with a massive glitter-covered sign and balloons, Buffy squealed in excitement as she spotted the one and only Bonnie Bennett step off the bus.

Spotting the pink sign with her name written across it in purple glitter and the giant welcome home balloons, Bonnie couldn't help but laugh as she stared at Buffy in surprise.

"Buffy?" She squealed in excitement as she rushed over, throwing her arms around the blonde.

The force sent the two girls to the ground, both of them giggling loudly in excitement.

 "Oh my god, what?"

Buffy just grinned as she jumped back up to her feet and picked up Bonnie's bag throwing it over her shoulder. The fact that Bonnie was smiling means that her surprise had done the trick.

"I talked to Rudy, he said I could pick you up." He had been so hesitant, given he wanted to pick up his daughter himself but Buffy had pouted and begged for a straight hour until he said yes just to get her out of his house.

Bonnie sighed in relief and threw a grateful arm over Buffy's shoulders as the pair started making their way toward the jeep "Oh thank God. Being in a car with my dad for two hours? No thanks."

This was officially the best surprise ever.

However, picking her up from the bus station wasn't the only surprise Buffy had up her sleeve. She knew how hard coming back was going to be for Bonnie, so she wanted to make sure that Bonnie got to have some fun before she returned to the Supernatural drama that circulated Mystic Falls.

Tossing Bonnie's bag into the boot of her car, Buffy smirked as she handed her friend a card as well as a garment bag with a black cocktail dress inside.

Bonnie sputtered as she stared down at the ID in her hands. How the hell had Buffy managed to get this made for her?

"Is this a fake ID?" It looked so real. Honestly, it was kind of creepy.

"Yep, wanna go get drunk off fruity cocktails in Whitmore?"

A loud laugh escaped the witch before she nodded her head frantically. Dressing up in a pretty dress and hitting the town, definitely beat going straight home. Plus, it would save her from all the vampire crap for a couple of hours.

"I think you just read my mind."



**




MYSTIC FALLS, VIRGINIA

"So you're telling me you still haven't said it back?"

Buffy couldn't help but wince as she dropped her head onto the dining room table trying desperately to pretend that she couldn't feel Elena's eyes digging into her skull.

She should have known that telling Elena about the whole Love subject would bite her in the ass.

She just didn't want to get into the messiness of it all.

It wasn't a big deal.

Was it?

Hearing Elena clear her throat Buffy groaned loudly and reluctantly peeked up through her hair. Sure enough, Elena was staring at her pointedly.

Okay, maybe it was a big deal that Stefan had said those special three words, yet she had never managed to say them back.

"I know." She huffed in admittance "I know. It's bad. Like epic bad. But every time I try and say the words...I just freeze up. Then I start to babble and he babbles and it becomes this whole babble fest."

Elena couldn't help but sigh as she watched Buffy closely. There was clearly more going on in Buffy's head than she was willing to admit "What's making you freeze?"

Inhaling tightly Buffy ran a nervous hand through her hair before gulping.

The truth was she knew exactly what was keeping her from saying it...it just wasn't a subject she liked to discuss.

"Every time I think about saying it... that night pops back into my head."

"What night?"

Buffy couldn't help but take a shaky breath, she had to admit she was nervous about telling Elena the truth. It was difficult enough just thinking about it.

Speaking about it was 10 times worse.

The truth was she hadn't told anyone the truth, not Willow, not Xander...no one.

"The night I killed Angel. I was about to take him out and something went through him and he was Angel again." She whispered causing Elena's eyes to widen in shock as she stared at Buffy in disbelief "But it was too late. And I had to. So I told him that I loved him, I kissed him...and I killed him."

There was a long moment of silence as Elena just stared at Buffy in disbelief. She couldn't help but feel for her cousin.

Her life had been so unnecessarily cruel.

She just couldn't imagine being put in that position. Killing the first man she had ever loved... it was beyond cruel.

Reigning in her own emotions, Elena reached out placing a comforting hand on Buffy's shoulder.

"That was the last thing you said to him." She realized causing Buffy to look up at her with a heartbroken expression.

That one look was enough to confirm Elena's statement.

"Technically it was close your eyes...but you get the deal."

Elena let out a small sympathetic sob. She hated that Buffy had been through this. Hated that fate or destiny just kept screwing her over.

It wasn't fair, it wasn't right.

Of course, those three words were so difficult for Buffy to say now.

They were practically cursed to lead to disaster in her mind.

"You're scared that if you say it, you'll lose him."