Forever, Always, and Then SomeChapter 133
Alaska Angel awakens to the sounds of his youngest child’s cries. He moves quickly into the room and scoops her into his arms. As he moves toward the door with his precious bundle, he sees his son climb to his feet. Angel: She woke you too, huh? He lifts him onto his hip with his free arm. He carries them both to the kitchen. He sets Connor on the floor and retrieves a bottle from the refrigerator. Angel places the bottle in the microwave and sets the timer. He turns in time to catch the back of Connor’s overalls as he begins to take off. Angel: Hold on there, tiger. He lifts him up and sets him on the counter beside the microwave. Connor: Dan. Angel: Hold on. Connor: Dan. Angel: In a minute. Willow walks in. Willow: Do you need some help? Angel: I think I got it but I could use a wrist to test the milk. Willow: Gotcha. As the microwave beeps, she opens it and test the temperature. Willow: Feels fine. Angel takes the bottle. Angel: Thanks. He lifts Connor and carries him to the couch. He settles down and begins feeding Caitlin. He watches as Connor drops off the sofa and darts over to the basket of toys Buffy has against the wall. Angel smiles as he watches his son play and daughter eat. Cordy walks over and sits beside him. Cordy: So you want to do this alone? Angel: No, but I want this time. We have so little of it. And with Buffy gone, they need to know I am here. Cordy: Oh, I misunderstood. So this is not some martyr trip after all. Angel: No. I just want my children to know they have two parents. Not just one. Cordy: It’s hard isn’t it? Angel: If it wasn’t, I would think something was wrong. Cordy: I guess you would. Gunn walks in. Gunn: Cor, let’s say you and I start dinner. Cordy: But it isn’t our turn. Gunn: I know, but let’s do it anyway. Cordy: Why. Whose turn is it? Angel: Mine. Cordy: Oh. And Buffy’s. Hey don’t worry about it. We got you covered. She pats his leg and follows Gunn to the kitchen. Wes, Fred, Pike, and Dawn come stomping in from outside. Connor gets up and runs to them. Dawn: Hey there. Did you have a good nap? He holds his toy car up to her. Dawn: Just a minute, honey. Let Aunt Dawn get her coat and boots off. Then we can play.
Ming Smente'na Buffy stares down into the petrified face. The chin trembles as the blue eyes fill with tears. Buffy glances over the odd clothing covering the terrified female. Buffy: Who are you? The woman jerks as if a slapped. Woman: No, no, no. No not. Buffy: What? What are you saying. Woman closes her eyes. Woman: I fear ye not. God is with me. He shalt protect the weak. Buffy shakes her head and steps back allowing the cowering female to sit up. Buffy: What is your name? Woman: Ye be thee spawn of Satan. Buffy: No, I am not. I am here to help. Woman slowly rises to her feet and steps backward cautiously. Buffy: Don’t be afraid. I am just here to help. My name is Buffy. Woman: Buffy? Buffy points to herself. Buffy: I am Buffy. Woman nods and points to herself. Woman: Hannah. Buffy: Hello Hannah. Hannah stares at her. Buffy: Are you here alone? Is there anyone else here? Hannah: Anyone else? Buffy: Yes, any other humans? Hannah: I am human. I am here. Buffy: I see. Are there any others? Hannah: No. Not here. Where I be before…………..that be so far away. Not now. Buffy: I see, I think. How long have you been here? Hannah: How long? Forever. Buffy looks around. Buffy: I was sent here to find someone and bring them home. Hannah: Home? To the colony? Buffy: Colony? Hannah nods. Buffy: What Colony? Hannah: Virginia. Buffy: Oh my. You have been here a long time. Buffy looks around. Buffy: Is there some where we can sit down? Hannah nods and turns and walks through the bizarre forest. Buffy follows as they weave amongst the trees. Finally they come to a small ravine. Hannah slides down the side and moves along the bottom before she disappears. Buffy trails behind and reaches the spot where Hannah was last seen. She glances around until Hannah looks out past a cluster of rocks. Buffy circumvents the rocks and sees the small cave entrance. She crawls in and moves down the narrow passage until it opens to a small chamber. Hannah sits upon a makeshift bed of tree branches and animal skins. Buffy: So this is where you live. It’s nice. Hannah points to a small stump covered in thatch. Buffy sits down on the rudimentary stool and faces Hannah. Buffy: You have been here a long time. Alone. Hannah just stares. She picks up the crude book lying on the bed beside her and opens the pages that appear to be made of thin layers of bark. Buffy: What is that? Your diary? Hannah: Bible. Buffy: Oh. Can I see it? Hannah hesitates before handing it over. Buffy takes it gently. She slowly turns the pages. She realizes most the pages are original but some have been replaced by hand written ones. She opens it to the front and looks at the first page. She reads the inscription to herself. To our daughter Hannah. Love, Father and Mother. May 12, 1599. Buffy: 1599? That is over 400 years ago. Hannah: Pardon? Buffy: It is 2002 now. Have you been here all this time? Hannah looks scared. Buffy: What year did you leave Virginia? Hannah: 1608. Buffy: And you have been here the whole time? Hannah: Yes. Buffy: Do you know how you got here? Hannah shakes her head and her eyes fill with tears again. Buffy: It is okay. I am here to help. Hannah: Help? Buffy: I was sent here to find someone and bring them back. Hannah sits silently staring at the floor.
Alaska Gunn and Cordy set the food on the table and everyone moves to sit down. Angel picks up Connor and places him in the high chair. Cordy: Here Angel. She hands him his glass of Angel Kool Aid and he sits beside the high chair. He picks up Connor’s small dish and gets a scoop on his spoon. Connor turns his head avoiding the food. Angel: Hey, let’s eat. Connor shakes his head. Angel: Come on Connor. Dawn: Why don’t you show him how yummy it is? That’s what Buffy does. He cuts his eyes at her. Dawn: Well she does.
Ming Smente'na Buffy climbs back out of the cave and into the ravine. Hannah steps out beside her. Hannah: I have not seen anyone else. Buffy: Well I was sent here to find someone and take them back. And I want to get this done. Hannah: You want to return? Buffy: Yes. I have a family and Christmas is in a few days. Hannah: You wear a wedding band. Buffy: Yes. And I left my husband with our one year old son and one month old daughter. Hannah: Such young children. I must help you to return to them. You must not wander around. It is not always safe. Buffy: Just show me any place you think someone could be staying. Hannah: I will try my best. She leads her down the ravine and then up the side. They move slowly through the woods searching for signs of another human.
Alaska. As everyone eats, Angel continues to coerce his son to eat. Connor: Mama. Angel: Hey, come on and eat. Connor: Mama. Angel: Mama will be back. He holds out the spoon and Connor turns his head. Willow: You want me to try? Angel: You need to eat first. He again attempts to get the child to eat. Willow: Connor. He looks toward her voice. Willow: I bet if you eat all you dinner, daddy can find some animal crackers. Dawn: Or Nilla Wafers. Angel: You are bribing him. Willow: If it works. Angel turns back to the child and holds out the spoon. He does not notice Dawn get up and pull out the box of wafers. Behind his back, she waves a cookie. Connor opens his mouth and takes in the spoon full. As Angel refills the spoon, Connor reaches out for the treat. Dawn sets it on the table beside Angel. He glances at it and up at Dawn. Dawn: Make it all gone gone. Angel turns back and Connor takes another bite. His small hand reaching for the cookie every once and awhile. Everyone begins clearing the table as Connor finishes. Angel hands the dirty dish to Wes. He glances at the cookie and hands it to Connor. He clutches it in his small fist and sucks on it. Willow hands him his glass. Willow: I warmed it back up. Angel: Thanks. Do you guys bribe him often? Willow: No, but sometimes you have to revert to what ever works. Angel: I see. Willow walks away to help with clean up. Angel turns back to the cookie caked child. Angel: Look at you. You have it in your hair even. Connor grins at him. Angel lifts him out of the chair and carries him to the bathroom.
Ming Smente'na Hannah and Buffy return to the cave as the daylight diminishes. Buffy: Hannah, thank you. Hannah: You are most welcome. I am sad we were not able to find your person. Buffy: I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I will just start back out as soon as it gets light again. Hannah: I will go with you. Buffy: I appreciate that. They enter the cave. Hannah: I do not possess many things but I will share what I do have. Buffy: Thank you. I just need a dry place to rest. Hannah: I have some dry tree boughs, you can lie on. Buffy: That is fine. They lay the leafy branches on the floor and Buffy takes off her jacket and covers them before lying down. Hannah: Why do you dress in men’s clothing? Buffy: What? Hannah: You wear britches and a waist coat. Buffy: Oh well men and women both wear britches or as we call pants now. Hannah: And men see all your curves? Buffy: Yes. Hannah: I would be horrified for a man to see me so undressed. Buffy: But you are not covered completely. Hannah: My gown wore out long ago. But there is no one here to see me. Buffy: Well now, the women wear far less than you have on in public. Hannah: Oh my how scandalous. Buffy: Hannah, I am surprised how well you are able to communicate after all these years alone. I would figure you would forget how. Hannah: I speak often. And I read my bible daily. Usually many passages a day. I may be in a savage place but I will not become a savage. Buffy: You are a strong woman. You should be proud. I am not sure I could have survived completely alone all these years. Hannah: I know no other life. Buffy: What about your life before? Did you have a husband? Hannah: No. I was not married. Buffy: Any family? Hannah: My sister, Sarah. Both our parents died of consumption and we were left alone. We had no money so we took on positions as servants to a Captain and his family. We were indentured to serve them for three years. Buffy: And then? Hannah: And then we hoped to find suitable husbands. My sister was much younger and very beautiful. She looked a lot like you. Small with long blonde hair and blue eyes. Many a man was enamored of her. But in England we had no dowry and could not obtain a respectable marriage. But coming to the colony we knew there were single men settling that would eventually need a wife. Buffy: And after three years you would be free to marry. Hannah: Preciously. Buffy: But you ended up here. Hannah: Yes. I was walking to the church for early mass and I was suddenly found myself falling and was here. Buffy: And your sister? Hannah: She was at home with the Captain’s children. They were to attend late mass. Buffy: So she was left alone? Hannah: Yes. Buffy: So she should have married and had a family. Hannah: That is what I prayed for every night after I came here. Buffy: I am sure that she had a wonderful life. A long wonderful life with a wonderful man. Hannah: God willing. Buffy rolls over and they both think about their families left behind.
Alaska. Connor toddles out into the living room in his diaper. Angel follows behind carrying his sleeper. Angel: Come here. Lets get you dressed. Connor: Mama. He walks over to Dawn. She reaches for him but he plops down on his bottom. Connor: Mama…………mama………….mama. Angel: Connor. Connor crawls away. Angel scoops him up and he begins kicking his tiny legs. Connor: Mamamamamamama Angel holds him close and kisses his temple. Angel: Daddy’s here. Connor keeps crying for his mother and struggling to be set down. Angel lets him down and he sits on the floor sobbing. Angel sits down beside him and rubs his back. Everyone else silently watches the distraught child. Angel: Connor, Mommy will be back as soon as she can Connor keeps crying and Angel pulls him into his lap. The small child sobs in little hiccups. Angel sits on the floor with him until the he falls asleep. Dawn comes over and helps him slide the sleeper over his puggy legs and arms. Dawn: How can the PTB do this to him? |
© 2005 Tara