While Buffy mulled over the choices of caskets, Giles and Jenny took a tour of the funeral home with the director, Dawn tagging along hanging on to Jenny's hand. They'd been shown where the service would be held, how things would be set up, and the general procedure for a funeral. Dawn had let go of Jenny by that time and began wandering around, hugging herself around the middle as she looked over her surroundings, with Jenny keeping a close eye on her while he discussed floral expenses with the funeral director.
After awhile had passed, he turned when his wife gently seized his arm. "Why don't we go check on Buffy," she murmured softly. "She's been in the showroom for awhile."
He nodded. "You're right," and gestured with his chin toward the other side of the room, where Dawn was lingering looking quite uncomfortable. "Get Dawn. Once Buffy makes a decision, we'll need to start talking about the rest of the arrangements."
Together, the three of them headed for the showroom again, finding Buffy still looking at all the caskets. "Buffy, you're still here. You alright?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
The director came in behind them, asking her, "Did you find something?"
Buffy nodded, pointing to one of the caskets. "This one."
Dawn wandered over to look at it while the director nodded his agreement. "It's a fine choice. It speaks of your deep feeling for the deceased."
The decision having been made, they turned to leave, stopping once they realized Dawn wasn't following. "You don't like it?" Buffy asked her.
"No, it's not that. It's just... what if Mom... what if she'd like something else better?"
"Dawn..."
"I mean, how do we know for sure? She's the one who has to be in it forever."
He and Jenny exchanged a look, while Buffy approached her younger sister. "Dawn, maybe it wasn't such a good idea you coming along."
"It's fine. It's just--"
"I'm serious. You shouldn't have to deal with this stuff."
"If you'd like a few more minutes to decide..." the director trailed off, clearly sensing the level of discomfort in the room.
"No, it's fine," Buffy told him. "It's done." To her sister, she raised her eyebrows, "Okay?" and off her nod, she nodded back. "Okay."
Decision made, they all left the funeral home and returned to the Summers house to discuss the rest of the arrangements.
After awhile had passed, he turned when his wife gently seized his arm. "Why don't we go check on Buffy," she murmured softly. "She's been in the showroom for awhile."
He nodded. "You're right," and gestured with his chin toward the other side of the room, where Dawn was lingering looking quite uncomfortable. "Get Dawn. Once Buffy makes a decision, we'll need to start talking about the rest of the arrangements."
Together, the three of them headed for the showroom again, finding Buffy still looking at all the caskets. "Buffy, you're still here. You alright?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
The director came in behind them, asking her, "Did you find something?"
Buffy nodded, pointing to one of the caskets. "This one."
Dawn wandered over to look at it while the director nodded his agreement. "It's a fine choice. It speaks of your deep feeling for the deceased."
The decision having been made, they turned to leave, stopping once they realized Dawn wasn't following. "You don't like it?" Buffy asked her.
"No, it's not that. It's just... what if Mom... what if she'd like something else better?"
"Dawn..."
"I mean, how do we know for sure? She's the one who has to be in it forever."
He and Jenny exchanged a look, while Buffy approached her younger sister. "Dawn, maybe it wasn't such a good idea you coming along."
"It's fine. It's just--"
"I'm serious. You shouldn't have to deal with this stuff."
"If you'd like a few more minutes to decide..." the director trailed off, clearly sensing the level of discomfort in the room.
"No, it's fine," Buffy told him. "It's done." To her sister, she raised her eyebrows, "Okay?" and off her nod, she nodded back. "Okay."
Decision made, they all left the funeral home and returned to the Summers house to discuss the rest of the arrangements.
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