I wanna thank you all. Those of you who read and replied, and those who told me they like it on the chat, and those who just read it. Thanks, from the bottom of my ribcage.
And, now, on to your show.
TITLE: Dark Core 18/?
AUTHOR: Washi (ZWS)
EMAIL: washi@dark-bliss.net
RATING: R, to be safe.
DISCLAIMER: I don’t own the characters, Joss does or whoever. If I owned them, do you really think I would let season 6 happen? And why the hell would I be writing this?
So yeah, all belongs to Joss, ME etc...
The lyrics in this piece are owned by their respective owners.
SPOILERS: Season 6, Older and Far Away. It veers off cannon afterwards.
FEEDBACK: I love it, I live for it, either here or by email, although here is better.
ARCHIVE: It's gonna be on Blood and Ink, and it's also on the Muse. Ask and ye shall receive.
ANGST: Be carefull kittens, the ride is gonna be really angsty, and I'm not kidding here.
Thanks: Many thank yous to YMKA and Taras Shadow for their help, and also to bzengo and FIRESIGN.
NOTES: I don't have a beta in the real sense, but YMKA and Holly helped me along. Thanks again girls. All mistakes are mine. Thanks to Karmah for telling me what she thought about it.
Thoughts are in < > or ' 'as always. Flashbacks, song lyrics and such are in italics.
This might come s a surprise to some of you, but I believe that Spike was very badly treated in S6 too. I hope my Spike will be more likable than the cannon one.
*****
That same night, Willow was comfortably set in her room in the Summers’ household. Everything had been set up, and Linda, Eric’s sister’s girlfriend had accepted their offer to be the private nurse. Willow’s parents had argued at first that Willow should go back to their house, but she had disagreed, telling them they had no choice in the matter, and that she just needed to be with Tara right now.
She felt in much higher spirits than she did when she was still in that hospital room, and that itself made her smile. But the thing that made her deliriously happy was the fact that her lover was there, with her, by her side, like things should be. She knew that they still had a lot to work through, but still, she was happy.
Everyone was fussing over her, and though she felt like they were doing too much, she felt safe, and secure. It was as if she was a little child whom everyone wanted to coddle. She had to admit she liked that, a lot. Her parents hadn’t fussed over her when she was a child, and it was as if life was giving her a second chance at feeling what she hadn’t felt in her too-short childhood.
Right now though, only Tara and Dawn were in the house with her. The rest of the gang was back at the Magic Box, researching. Giles had called the Council and asked them for help. They had refused at first, but after talking with Buffy, they finally agreed to look into it.
Ruth had called all the Covens she knew and asked them to research for the ritual. And she knew many many Covens. Anya had even tried to summon D’Hoffryn, but Hallfrek had appeared and told her that the head Vengeance Demon (“Justice Demon , FYI.” she had repeated) had told all of his charges to not listen to the Slayer band’s calls. She had disappeared just before Anya could start cursing her with Bunny dreams. Not that they would work, but “it’s the thought that counts, except if it’s monetary transactions” as Anya had later said, nodding to herself with wisdom.
So, for now, everyone except Tara and Dawn were researching for the now-famous ritual. And Willow wanted to help, she wanted to be able to research with them, to feel the fine grain of the old books’ pages under her fingers, to hear the soft rustling of those same pages turning. But, she was in her bed, all of the medical equipment she needed was set up, and her girl was downstairs making her dinner.
Life could be worse, she could be alone.
*****
“Ok, can someone explain to me why we haven’t found this sodding text yet?” Spike asked as he turned yet another page in the old book he was looking through. He had come by earlier that night to ask if Buffy wanted to patrol, and maybe vent some of her frustration on him, in the good way, when he found them all silent in the Magic Box.
He had asked what was going on and Buffy had answered, her face blank. “Willow’s dying. If we don’t find the ritual, she has less than seven days.”
Spike didn’t know what to say. He was too shocked for words. He pulled out a smoke and lit it, before taking a long puff. He had barely noticed the raven-haired woman who was looking at him curiously.
“Seven days?” he finally managed to say, which unnerved Giles.
“Yes, seven bloody days Spike! Now, can’t you see we’re quite busy here? We don’t have time for your acts at the moment. If you’d like though, you can leave a message. Leave us.”
“Yeah, get outta here Fangless. We don’t need your help. And, if you think that your help’s gonna help ya get Buffy in the sack, forget it. She’s too smart for that.” Xander quickly said, his anger obvious in his tone. He didn’t notice the look that passed between the slayer and the vampire.
“Indeed. As I have said, leave us.” Giles again repeated.
Spike looked at the raven-haired witch through his eyelashes and then turned to look at Giles. “Look mate, I know I’m not wanted here. But, I’m staying, whether you like it or not Watcher-boy and Demon-Magnet.” He continued even after Xander and Anya’s “hey!” of indignation. “Red saved me when I was about to shove a stake through my un-beating heart, so I owe her quite a bit. So, sod off and give me a book. This here undead is going to find the bloody ritual.” Spike lashed out before throwing his cigarette on the ground and crushing it under his boot. He walked to the research table and sat down, being careful to throw back his coat so as to not sit on it.
The raven-haired witch regarded him closely, and he didn’t like it. “You want my picture mate? Sorry, but vampires can’t have their portraits taken. Shame, cause I’m bloody photogenic.”
Ruth continued looking at him, not saying a word. “Mojo girl, you want my autograph?”
“You’re William the Bloody.” She slowly said, looking back down at the book she was looking through.
“That’d be me luv. Got a crush on me, do you?” he asked cockily, taking a break from his reading to look at her and to raise an eyebrow at her and to leer at Buffy.
“Sorry luv, I don’t like neutered animals.” Ruth replied, getting fed up of his attitude. Something in his aura though made her think twice about her remark. Something good was inside him, shinning through the darkness of the demon inside him.
“I’d have you know that I’m not neutered, still got some inside of me. Shame you can’t handle it.” He replied, glancing at Buffy, who once again looked down at her text, blushing lightly.
Ruth looked at them closely before finally understanding.
“Oh.”
“Are you alright Ruth?”
“Yes, quite Rupert.” She quickly replied, looking back down at her book.
The watcher nodded and they all started reading again. It was going to be a long night.
“So, what exactly are we looking for? I need information on this you know.” Spike asked.
“Ok. Basically, we’re looking for a ritual that’s called something culo.” Buffy stopped talking and glared at Anya, who once again snickered. “There’s… a drawing next to it, right Ruth?” she asked, turning to look at her.
“Yes, it’s a drawing of a tattoo that Willow and Tara need to have made. It’s a drawing of two swans, one black, and the other one white. It’s really quite romantic, for swans are said to mate for life…” Ruth almost babbled out, getting interrupted by Spike’s sigh.
“Oh bloody hell, I got it. No need for the touchy-feely crap. So, Red and her Bird are going to get tattoos. Never thought they had it in them. But after all, they do say that it’s always the shy ones. Shame I can’t eat them, I bet those would be a tasty treat.” Spike said, leering. He knew that what he said would infuriate the Watcher, and he lived for that.
Giles got up and slapped Spike on the back of his head.
“Hey! Careful! There’s a chip in there you know.” The vampire said, slowly rubbing his head.
Buffy and Xander were still looking at Ruth. Hearing the slap, Buffy snapped out of her trance. “Oh my God Giles. Do they all make you like that in England? All Watcher like?”
“Hey now Pet, that’s an insult to me. Don’t want to be compared to Rupert and his Mojo girl. Bad for the reputation.”
Surprisingly, Anya’s voice rang through. “I’m sorry to disturb all your bickering, but aren’t we supposed to be looking for the ritual? After all, Willow only has a week. A week, as in seven days. Which is a short period of time.”
They all looked at her amazed, and Xander puffed out his chest.
It was going to be a long night.
*****
Tara walked into the bedroom, carrying a tray. She set it on Willow’s lap and got on the other side of the bed with her.
“Soup. Chicken broth with vegetables. I thought we agreed on yummy things.” Willow said, frowning slightly.
“I know honey, but you heard what Eric said. Low carb, and this is low carb.” She motioned to the food on the tray, consisting on a bowl of said soup and a small piece of whole grain bread.
“Fine.” Willow replied, pout still in place. She didn’t know why she was acting like that, but she just felt like being childish.
“If you finish all of your food, I have a surprise for you.” Tara quickly told her, her lips curving into a half smile.
“Ooh! Is it like a kinky surprise, or like a yummy food goodness-y surprise?” the redhead quickly asked. She loved surprises, and loved even more Tara-surprises.
“Food goodness-y surprise. But, if you’re really good, we’ll cuddle later.”
The redhead eagerly nodded and started eating. These moments were the ones that hurt her the most. She was once again experiencing what it felt like to be loved by Tara, what it felt like to be with her, what it felt like to be on the receiving end of her smiles. She had missed that. She had missed so many things, but the simple things were the ones that hit her the hardest. All those little stolen glances, touches and moments that made life so sweet with Tara were what made her fear death all the more. She quickly finished her soup and bread, and waited for her surprise, closing her eyes and holding out her hands.
“Surprise now please.”
Tara smiled and motioned for Dawn to come in. The tall brunette walked over to Willow and placed a small plate in her hands. Opening her eyes, Willow looked at her dessert.
“Green Jell-o.” she said before her tears started to fall. She clutched at the plate and cried, her small frame shaking from her sobs.
“Willow, honey, wh-what’s wrong? Are you h-h-hurt? What h-h-hurts? T-t-t-tell me.” Tara quickly asked, stuttering all the way. She quickly took the plate of Jell-o and placed it on the night-table near her before taking Willow in her arms.
Dawn just looked at them both, not knowing what to do. She moved and made her way to the two lovers, needing the comfort of their embrace. Tara moved slightly, her hold on Willow never faltering, and Dawn joined them in the group hug.
“I don’t want to die!” Willow wailed, and the two girls’ hearts broke with the statement.
The three of them cried, together, their tears mingling, sharing their grief.
*****
T.B.C
-------------------
"See? I've mastered this tact crap." Anya in Tears Of The Goddess by Lisa
The course of love doesn’t always run smooth, especially for the neurotic and accident-prone. ~ LadyB
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at: 5/3/04 7:38 pm
... it's amazyin how ur fic can really touch my heart... *wipes tears* thanks for the update... lovin in still...heheh... 
... Poor Willow and Tara and Scoobs!
at: 5/3/04 10:08 pm
At least she was at home with Tara at her side.
Washi 
,
It is so sad what is happening to 
. I'm just glad that she has 
there for her. I hope that they find the ritual and that everything becomes okay. 
Spike is sweet in this update. 
...Hope all is well.