TITLE: I drove all night
AUTHOR: Lady Raven
THE AUTHOR THANKS: Aramat, for her beta-ing and advice.
DISCLAIMER: The Buffyverse and all it's characters belong to Joss Whedon. "I drove all night" is written and performed by the late, great Roy Orbison, and appears on his last album, King of Hearts. (Although Cyndi Lauper did a pretty cool version, too).
CONTENT: Angst, song lyrics (well, you did ask!). The smut's in part two, I promise!
SPOILERS: Rumors about season three - so beware!
SUMMARY: Buffy's broken up with Scott and on the edge of burnout, and goes to Angel after the realization that he is the only one for her.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I guess I've read one too many remarks about Scott, who's going to be Buffy's new boyfriend. All I can think is that Joss has been doing acid again (a common explanation in fandom for the whole Angelus story arc!). Somehow, I don't see Scott as being on the show very long. Look at Buffy's previous track records for romantic involvement on the show! This is my resolution to the idea. I know this first part isn't much like Joyce, but I'm hoping she'll evolve to this point eventually.

Joyce Summers leaned on the doorframe to the kitchen, and looked at Buffy for a second. Then her hand disappeared she reached inside the kitchen, only to reappear holding Buffy's keys. She dangled them from a finger, and locked gazes with her daughter.

Buffy looked at her for a second, uncomprehendingly. Then a light of hope dawned in her eyes. "Mom, are you telling me...?

"You have to call me sometime tomorrow, so that I know you're okay."

"No problem." The light was growing stronger.

Joyce put on a stern face, and added "You also have to be home in time for school Monday. No negotiating."

Buffy broke into a grin and replied "Absolutely."

Joyce took a long look at Buffy, and continued "You've been running on empty for weeks. You're exhausted, mentally and physically." After a beat, Joyce tossed the keys to Buffy and told her "We both know what you need right now. Go and get it."

Buffy tore open the door, took a running leap off the porch and ran to her car, Joyce following at a more sedate pace. Buffy already had the car started by the time Joyce reached it. Joyce tapped on the window and Buffy rolled it down.

"Aren't you going to pack anything?"

Buffy shook her head. "There's nothing I need to take. Oh wait, I'm supposed to spend the day with Willow tomorrow."

Joyce said, "Don't worry, I'll explain. I'll cover for you with Giles, as well."

"Thanks, Mom."

Joyce smiled as Buffy blew her a kiss and took off, grateful to be doing something to help her daughter that didn't involve a life-threatening crisis.

As she left the residential part of Sunnydale, Buffy reached over to the radio, pumping up the volume.

I had to escape, the city was sticky and cruel

Maybe I should have called you first,

But I was dying to get to you

I was dreaming while I drove the long straight road ahead

Uh-huh, yeah

Buffy had seen the light on as she parked her car in front of the house, when she came home from patrol. Her mother had finally given way and let her take Driver's Ed a few months earlier. After she'd passed the test first time, her father had sent her this car, to try and compensate for the time he couldn't spend with her. It was a few years old and not very flashy, but it was a cute little convertible and most of all, it was hers.

She was worried that her mother had stayed up for her again, but it was someone else waiting for her in the living room. Her so-called boyfriend, Scott. They'd gone to the movies before she headed out on patrol, so she was surprised to see him.

"What are you doing here, Scott?"

He replied sarcastically "What, no hello kiss?"

Buffy sighed soundlessly and prepared herself for another tug-of-war. Scott had become more and more resentful of the time she spent with the Slayerettes, and had been complaining more and more she never made any time for him. So they spent more and more of the time they did spend together fighting. She wasn't going to change herself for any guy, great kisser or not, and a tiny part of her just couldn't resist telling her < You never had any of these problems with Angel >.

"It's late, Scott, what is it?"

"How about the fact that you're never around?"

"Look, do you really think that this is the right time? It's late, and I don't want to wake my Mom. Why don't we talk tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow, you'll be busy. Like always. I have to tell you, Buffy, I'm getting pretty sick and tired of always coming last with you. You're always saying 'I have to go, Scott', 'I'm busy, Scott' 'I'm sorry, I have to do something, Scott'."

He went on in this vein for some time, and Buffy wondered whether his friend Randy had coached him, or if he'd just rehearsed. She couldn't help but wonder when he'd changed from the sweet guy she'd started dating.

< He was always like this > that tiny part of her piped up < But you wanted a normal relationship so badly you just didn't want to see it. If you were normal, things would probably be fine. But you're not like other girls >.

Scott was winding up now, and finished with "So if you're not willing to put the time into being my girlfriend for real, then I don't see any point in us being together."

Something inside Buffy snapped, and she thought < I don't see the point anyway. Was there ever one in the first place? >. Looking at his scowling face, she decided to let loose and retorted "You don't want a girlfriend, Scott. You want an accessory. Someone who'll make you the focus of her life, and block out everything but you. I told you from the beginning I wasn't gonna change to please you, I told you that I had obligations and responsibilities, and that there would be times I just couldn't be there. So what's with the attitude?"

"I thought-" Scott started, but Buffy broke in.

"Thought what? That I'd be so thrilled at getting to date a popular varsity athlete and BMOC that I'd just fall over my feet to organize my life around you?"

Scott's face was getting darker and darker and he snapped "Do you have any idea how many girls would love to date me? How many girls throw themselves at me?"

"Then go catch one!" Scott's mouth hung open in astonishment as Buffy continued "I don't need this shit. I never did. If you're not prepared to accept me the way I am, then leave. On second thoughts, leave anyway."

"What?"

"I don't want to see you anymore. In fact, right now I'm not sure why I ever did. Goodbye, Scott. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out."

Scott took a step towards her, when a voice spoke from behind him.

"I believe Buffy asked you to leave." Joyce Summers spoke coolly. Scott and Buffy turned to see her leaning against the kitchen doorway. Scott tromped into the hall and towards the front door. Buffy used just a touch of Slayer speed to get there before him and open the door. Scott stalked through, and Buffy shut the door firmly behind him. She leaned against the door and closed her eyes. Suddenly she missed Angel so badly she wanted to cry.

Could taste your sweet kisses, your arms open wide

This fever for you was just burning me up inside

< You knew from the start that things would never work out with Scott, Slayer or no Slayer > that annoying little voice told her.

< Once you've had the best, you can't be satisfied with the rest >

"Buffy?"

Buffy opened her eyes to see her mother looking at her worriedly.

"I'm okay, Mom."

"No, you're not." Joyce stated firmly. "Buffy, what is it? You must have known this would happen from the beginning. Even I could see that you would never be able to tell Scott about you being the Slayer. He never would have believed you. Even if by some miracle, he did, he never would have accepted how important it was."

I drove all night to get to you

Is that all right?

I drove all night, crept in you room

Woke you from your sleep

To make love to you

Is that all right?

I drove all night

Buffy stared into space, finally acknowledging what her heart had tried to tell her for months. What she had known as truth the whole hot, horrible summer she spent away from Sunnydale. There was only one person who always understood. There was only one person who had seen every ugly, nasty part to her, and loved her unconditionally anyway.

What in this world keeps us from falling apart?

No matter where I go I hear the beating of our one heart

"I never wanted Scott, Mom. I wanted someone to ease the loneliness. I wanted to pretend that I could live without Angel." Buffy smiled sadly. "I know why he had to leave. I understand why he had to leave. I know that he misses me and loves me as much as I do him. But that doesn't make it easier to bear the pain, when I hear a joke and think 'I have to tell that to Angel, maybe he'll laugh'. It doesn't make it hurt any less to realize that the first thing I do whenever I enter a room is look for him."

Joyce looked at her daughter, and her heart ached in sympathy. "I knew that you missed him. You never really told me how you felt about Angel going to LA."

Buffy smiled again, and said, "Angel said that everything in Sunnydale reminded him of something evil that he did, of something he had to atone for. But everything in Sunnydale reminds me of him. It's a place where we hunted, or a place where we kissed, or a place where he did something to remind me that I could do anything, as long as he was by my side."

I think about you when the night is cold and dark

Uh-huh, yeah

"I still wake up in the night, and reach for him beside me. Whenever I'm depressed, or lonely, or just so tired I don't think that I can face another night, I remind myself