Title:Thrill Ride
Author: Anna (I go by Piper though…don’t ask, long story)
E-Mail: ForeverPiper@yahoo.com
Feedback: Sure, why not? Bring on the criticism.
Spoiler Warning: Maybe a little of season 5
Summary: The Scoobies head out for a day at an amusement park.
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the characters. They all belong to that ass wipe Joss Wedon.
Rating: PG-13
Couples: X/A W/T
Notes: This takes place the summer after the 5th season. Buffy never died, and Glory was killed.
Prologue
“Everyone in the car now!”
It was a scorching day in Sunnydale and the gang was taking a break from they’re demeaning lives. Not 3 weeks ago had Buffy and Co. saved the world yet again from another appending apocalypse. A hell-god by the name of Glory had captured Buffy’s little sis and was going to use her to destroy the barriers separating all dimensions. However, Buffy being Buffy had once again kicked evil’s ass with the help of her friends. Now it was time for a well-deserved day of fun and enjoyment, it was however, going to be anything but relaxing. The gang, which consisted of Buffy, Xander, Anya, Willow, Tara, and Dawn, were all headed out for a day at Sunnydale’s one and only amusement park.
“Come on, let’s go already! What’s taking so long?” An impatient Slayer wined. Buffy was already in the car, her head poking out of the window as she glared at the people who were holding them up. Xander climbed into the front seat, taking the keys out of his pockets and turned the car on. Anya soon joined her fiancé in the front and Willow climbed into the spacious back seat that she was soon going to share with her lover. The only ones not in the car yet were Tara and Dawn who were still inside.
She pulled her head back in the window and glanced behind her to look at Willow who was applying sunscreen to her arms. “What could possibly be taking so long?”
The redhead just looked at her friend and shrugged. Buffy sighed impatiently yet again and sat back in her seat with a scowl settled on her face.
After about 3 more minutes of pointless fidgeting, Buffy was about to get out of the car and physically drag her sister and the blond witch into the jeep. As she opened her door preparing to do just that, Tara and Dawn came out the front door holding a large, red cooler. They walked up to the car and took their seats, putting the cooler on the car floor beside Dawn as she settled herself beside Buffy. Tara slid beside Willow and their hands joined instantly, and they gave each other a little grin.
“Geeze what took you guys so long? We’ve been waiting forever!”
“Hey, blame Tara, she’s the one who wanted to make sure we had enough snacks to take with us.” Dawn piped.
“Well, everything’s so expensive there. I just thought we could, ya know…save some money. F-for games and stuff.” Tara explained. Willow gave Tara a small smile and squeezed her hand lightly.
Buffy’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Oh games! I forgot about them.” She turned her attention to Xander who was pulling out of the driveway. “Hurry up and get there.”
“A little impatient there aren’t we Buff?” Xander replied playfully. His eyes sparkled. He was just as exited about going to the park as Buffy was. Buffy just rolled her eyes at him.
“So, what do you guys wanna do first?”
“Rides!”
“Shows!”
“Games!”
Everyone shouted at the same time. Soon after, everyone was in a debate about what they should do first.
“Rides first!” Anya proclaimed.
“No, not rides, shows. We should go to the shows!” Willow protested. Everyone groaned in response to her suggestion. “Hey what’s wrong with shows?”
“Will, you are the only person I know that actually would want to sit through those boring shows. Why would you pay 40 bucks to get in, just to sit around all day and watch some person talk about God knows what?” Buffy asked. Meanwhile, Dawn gave her a look of disgust and shuddered at the thoughts of shows.
“Shows.” Dawn stuck out her tongue and made a face.
“Nuh-uh!” She glared. Everyone turned to her and gave her skeptical looks as they all turned to each other, confirming that Willow was the only one who wanted to go see the boring shows. “Tara, a little help here.” Willow nudged her girlfriend, who had been silent ever since she got into the car.
“Well, I-I think the shows can be okay sometimes. I mean I-I like the bird one.” Willow grinned, pleased as she turned to the others. “See?”
The others groaned upon seeing the look of glee on Willow’s face. They went back to their discussion.
“I still think we should do games first.” Dawn said, brushing her hair back behind her shoulders.
Anya turned back in her seat to face Dawn. “No we shouldn’t, we should go to the rides first. The rides, not the games, the rides.”
“Games.”
“Rides.”
“Games!”
“Rides!”
“GAMES!”
“RIDES!”
What had begun as a simple debate soon turned into a full-fledged shouting match between ex-demon and ex-Key until Xander had had enough and suddenly stopped the car and turned in his seat until he was able to see everyone. “Okay, will you two shut up for just a minute? I’d like to keep my hearing for another couple years, thanks.”
They both murmured an apology.
“Here’s what we’re gonna do. Now, who wants to go to the shows first?”
Willow and Tara slowly raised their hands in unison.
“Fine. Now who wants to go on the rides first?”
“Oh me!” Anya jerked her hand into the air.
Xander nodded to Anya, signaling she could put her hand down. “And that leaves Buffy and the Dawnmister for the games right?” Both Buffy and Dawn nodded. “Right, so, here’s what we’re gonna do. Willow, you and Tara go to your…shows. Me and Anya can go on the rides, and that leaves Buffy and Dawn to go blow their money on the games. Just let it be known that I will not be carrying around all the stuff you guys win.” Buffy and Dawn both stuck out their lips in a mock pout. “We can meet up around 1 to go eat lunch, so that leaves us about 4 hours to ourselves. Everyone agree?” Everyone nodded and there were a few murmurs of “yeah” and “okay”. Xander started the car up again, and headed to the park, a small smile appearing on his face.
As they started moving again small conversations were started amongst one another. Xander and Anya were talking about wedding plans and Dawn and Buffy were chatting about which games they should play first. Meanwhile, Willow was putting suntan lotion on Tara’s face and vice versa. Willow lightly dabbed some of the lotion onto Tara’s nose and they both giggled quietly.
Soon, the conversations died down and each person was lost in their own individual thoughts.
Buffy was looking out the window, staring at the passing cars thinking about everything that’s happened the last couple months. She thought of Riley, and wished he were here with her. Each of her friends had their significant other except her, making her kind of lonely.
She glanced towards Xander and Anya and smiled lightly. They made a perfect couple in her mind. It had taken her a while to fully accept Anya, but once you got past the sex and money comments she was an okay person to be around…and she had done wonders for the Magic Box. In her mind she was the replacement Cordelia…with a nice side. It still baffled her that they were getting married, but once she had gotten over the initial shock, she was thrilled for her 2 friends. She knew how hard it was to find love on the hellmouth, and she was just happy that they were going to make it. They were the light at the end of her tunnel.
She glanced behind her to where Tara and Willow were cuddling together in the back seat, Tara’s head on Willow’s shoulder, with Willow’s arm around Tara’s back, gently rubbing her side. Their hands came together in Willow’s lap. Willow had her eyes closed and a content smile on her face as Tara stroked her knuckles with her fingertips. Buffy sighed. They had been through so much, what with Tara losing her sanity and all. Willow had been a wreck for those couple of days. She had even gone after Glory, knowing even then that she was no match for the hell-bitch. Buffy shuddered. She was just glad that it was over. Now that Tara had her sanity back her and Willow were literally inseparable. Wherever one went, the other went too…she just hoped that someday she could find someone who loved her as much.
She turned to Dawn and her heart skipped a beat as she thought about what her baby sister had gone through in the last month or so. She was coping remarkably well and Buffy was so proud of her. Out of the blue, she leaned over and pulled Dawn into a hug. Dawn stiffened in surprise. As Buffy pulled back Dawn gave her a quizzical look and Buffy just smiled. Dawn shook her head, adjusted her headphones and went back to staring out the window, lip-syncing with the music.
TBC...
So...what'd ya think?
~Piper
[/i]She has magick fingers...on the keyboard.[/i]- Tara in Wisdom of War
[/i]And never let it be said that I left a Tara craving unsatisfied.[/i]- Willow in Wildnerness
Edited by: xita
at: 10/13/02 12:29:38 am
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I'm waiting patiently.
WOW... I never would have guessed.
- ahem, no applause? think again.