The Fallen Slayer {1}

The Blonde Surprise

WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA

Buffy loved being back in Williamsburg.

She had caught up with Greg and planned to head to the diner later to see Sandra. It was nice to be back in the little town that had started breathing life back into her after she lost everything.

Yet being back for the local art showcase at the gallery was a little bittersweet. 

Originally, the plan had been for Stefan to join her.

Either way, she was not going to let that fact ruin something that she had been looking forward to for a month.

Walking into the gallery, Buffy smiled at the doorman before heading inside the familiar hall where she had spent most of her days off.

Sure enough, she could still spot the painting by N.M. hung on the wall.

Following the signs leading to the showcase, Buffy found herself frozen as standing at the double doors, with two cups of coffee in his hand was Stefan.

Letting out a shocked breath she hurried over to him, staring at him with wide eyes as he simply smiled down at her "What are you doing here?" It wasn't that she wasn't happy to see him she was just shocked.

She had only seen him a handful of times since Halloween.

Stefan grinned down at her before handing her one of the coffees "I promised you weeks ago I would come to this. I don't break my promises to you."

As much as she tried not to Buffy found herself blushing. Shaking her head, her smile growing bigger by the second she gestured to the entrance of the showcase "Well then, guess we better get started."

Walking through the exhibit, Stefan watched Buffy carefully. Watching the way her shoulders un-tensed, the way her entire body relaxed as she fell into her old routine. 

He had never seen that kind of peace on her face after she had returned to Mystic Falls.

It was nice but also a little upsetting. The second she was out of Mystic Falls it was like she felt free. More at peace with herself.

"Your mother owned a gallery right?" He asked as they moved over to one of the paintings hanging on the wall.

An oil painting of the moonlight, surrounded by a mixture of grey, pink, and shimmering gold.

Buffy nodded, not taking her eyes off the painting "Yeah...used to not really my thing. Then she was gone and I found this place...I don't know I felt..."

"Connected to her." He finished for her, a small smile grazing his lips as he admired her.

Buffy finally glanced back over at him, smiling shyly "Yeah. I felt connected but then I kept coming back and found my own style. Mom loved sculptures, I prefer paintings. Imagining the way the brush moved."

"You never painted yourself?" They moved to the next painting, their fingers brushed up against each other as they stood in front of the chalk sketch of Bejing.

She snorted in amusement, she in no way would ever have the kind of patience it took to pain "Painting would drive me crazy. Too much time, more of an on-the-go gal. Sketching is easier. I can go back to it and stop at any time. Less clean up."

The idea of having to clean her clothes of paint terrified her. That stuff stained, she liked her closet too much to ever risk it.

"What about you?" She questioned curiously nudging his shoulder playfully as she sipped on her coffee "In your almost 200 years you ever given art a whirl?"

Stefan just laughed "For the sake of humanity it's better I never try." He teased causing her to laugh lightly "I am more of a writer."

Buffy paused momentarily before groaning as she remembered that Stefan was a journal guy "Oh you must have so many journals. Is that what most of the books in your room were?"

"You mean when you raided my CD collection."

Buffy giggled at the playful pointed glare being aimed at her "Duh."

"Yes. Most of them were journals, but I have always loved literature. Owned every first addition Charles Dickens, and went to see as many Shakespeare shows at The Globe as I could. I even studied medicine for a while mainly when I was human."

Now that she knew Stefan was a vampire, it was strange to imagine a world where he was truly human and planning his future. Back in 1864 his future probably would have been working under his father and marrying before he was 20.

If she had been alive at the time, she would have already been married with kids by now...or dead.

She much preferred the present day.