Title -Time Goes On
Author - Rogue2727
Rating - NC-17 just to be safe
Disclaimer - I don't own Mutant Enemy or any of its characters. I'm just borrowing them for this story. Please don't sue me.
Feedback- This is my first story, so please let me know what you think.
Summary- Bad things still happen in Sunnydale. Everyone is older and there are a few new players. Enjoy.
Notes- Set about 20 years after Season Six. Everything happened the same except Tara lived (obviously) after being shot. Not that much Willow and Tara in the beginnning, but that will change as the story progresses.
Hey guys. Here's the latest update. Please, please let me know what you think. for those of you that have left feedback, thanks so much. I'll get back to you all tomorrow. Enjoy. Oh, flash backs are in **.
Giles arrived in Sunnydale two days later. He was greeted at the airport by all his grandchildren and children, minus two. The Summer’s sister s were notably absent. After many ‘I missed you’s’ and even more hugs, Giles was finally able to pull Willow aside and ask where Buffy was. Willow informed him that Buffy was teaching a self defense class and couldn’t get away.
“When are Dawn and James to arrive?” the retired watcher asked.
“Um, sometime later in the week. I’m not sure. Buffy knows. You can ask her at supper tonight.” Willow informed him.
“How is Sam doing? Are her slayer duties going well?” Giles asked. In truth, he knew exactly how Sam was doing, having talked to Buffy at great length about her, but wanted to hear Willow’s perspective on things.
“Very well. Buffy says she’s almost her equal. That helps Tara and I be somewhat calmer. I swear, I don’t see how Joyce did it. I mean, it drives me bonkers knowing she‘s out there every night putting herself in danger.” Willow finished with a sigh.
“Yes, well, I remember a certain someone that used to be out there putting herself in danger every night and that certain someone didn’t have Slayer powers.”
Willow rolled her eyes and lightly slapped Giles on the shoulder. “That was different. She’s our daughter. It makes a mother worry.”
Giles laughed softly. “Motherhood changes things it seems. Willow, Sam is the most capable Slayer ever. Buffy is smart, quick, and powerful, but Sam has something that Buffy never had or will have.” Willow raised an eyebrow in question.
“Sam has two wonderful parents that love her beyond belief and the guidance of the most successful Slayer in history. I think that should ease your worry somewhat. Look at what Buffy did with only one parent,” Giles finished.
Willow stopped and stood to face the aging ex-Watcher. “Buffy had two parents,” Willow stated. “She had you. We all had you.”
“Willow, I...I don’t know what to say,” Giles whispered as he began cleaning his glasses.
“Don’t say anything. Just accept the truth,” Willow answered. She hooked her arm through Giles’s and began to walk again. “Now come on. Your hoard of grandchildren await.”
Twenty minutes later, the group arrived at the Harris house. Everyone emerged from their cars and made their way to the house. Willow caught Tara by the hand as they made their way to the porch and pulled her aside.
“Let’s sit out here for a few minutes baby,” Willow suggested .
“Sounds good to me. I don’t really want to be in the middle of all the present chaos right now,” Tara replied, winking. Giles always brought presents when he visited and was generally attacked for his booty when he walked through the door.
“Right. Totally agree with you on that one. I vote we stay away from the present madness. Far, far away. Oh! In another galaxy even,” Willow said with a grin. “Actually, I just wanted a few minutes by ourselves. Between work and research, we haven’t had that much time together over the past couple of days,” the redhead sighed.
“I know,” Tara answered.
The pair sat down on the front steps. Their hands automatically intertwined. Willow leaned into Tara and rested her head on the blonde’s shoulder.
“What’s bothering you sweetie?” Tara asked.
“Oh, you know,” Willow said, waving her hand around vaguely. “This whole Gory thing is odd. We haven’t heard anything from her since Buffy and Sam saw her that night. It’s unnerving. I’d have thought the slut bomb would have shown up somewhere by now.”
“Maybe she overheard Xander somehow and decided to become a productive member of society,” Tara replied. Willow looked up at her wife at her wife in disbelief. “What? It’s Sunnydale. Stranger things have happened,” the blonde finished.
Willow began to laugh. She pictured a very disgruntled Glory in Buffy’s old Doublemeat Palace uniform, asking a customer if he’d like fries with that. She shared her vision with Tara and both women howled with laughter. Willow wiped a tear from her eye, caused by all her laughing, and turned to Tara.
“Seriously though,” she began, trying to catch her breath, “How are you doing with all of this?”
“Mmmm,” Tara began, turning her mind back to the seriousness of the situation. “Honestly, I’ve been better. I’m worried about what’s going to happen. Last time, I ended up insane, you jumped on the dark magick bandwagon, and Buffy ended up dead. Not exactly the best moment for the Scooby Gang,” Tara turned her gaze toward the sky. The sun had set moments before and the first stars we beginning to twinkle in the darkening sky. Taking a deep breath, the blonde witch began again. “But, we did defeat her. This time, we have two Slayers and two incredibly powerful witches. I think our chances have improved.”
“Yeah, I agree. Are you worried about Sam? I don’t want her taking a swan dive off any towers.” Willow said with a grimace.
“Don’t let her hear you say that, or it’ll be the first thing she does.” Tara whispered. She elbowed Willow in the ribs to let her know she was joking.
“Don’t I know it,” Willow began. “That child is so pigheaded. I tell her not to climb a tree and the first one she finds, she up it like a cat. I swear, she thinks that she can be the exception to the rule and nothing is going to hurt her. Like if she does things her own way, it can’t possibly be wrong or bad...” Tara looked at Willow and arched an eyebrow. “...and suddenly why do I feel like I’m talking about myself,” the redhead finished weakly.
Tara laughed at her wife’s revelation. “See, I told you she acted exactly like you. But, yes, I do worry about Sam. I’ve spoken to Buffy about it and she swears that she won’t let anything happen to Sam. Buffy loves Sam like she was her own daughter. I know that Buffy would never let anything happen to her that she could prevent. That makes me feel a little better, but I still worry.”
“Me too.” Willow whispered.
“What do you think Glory wants?” Tara asked as she slid in closer to Willow.
“I have no idea. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.” Willow answered honestly.
“Guess so.” Tara sighed.
Tara and Willow sat in silence for a few minutes, watching as the street lamps sputtered to life. A lone figure could be seen walk up the street. She was silhouetted by the light, but both witches knew Buffy at a glance. A smile crossed Tara’s face as the Slayer approached. Buffy walked up to the steps and then sat down beside Willow.
“Meeting of the minds?” she asked, putting her arm around her friends.
“Not so much as a ‘we didn’t want to get trampled for presents’ meeting,” Willow informed her.
“I see,” the Slayer said, nodding. “Giles get in alright?”
“Yep. He asked where you were. I told him you were working, ” Willow said.
“That’s me. Working girl. My work is never done,” Buffy said with a sigh. “ I thought I’d stop by and say hey before I went out on patrol. Sam’s here too?”
Tara nodded a yes.
“Good. I’ll grab her and make a quick sweep.” Immediately, Buffy could feel Willow tense. “Don’t worry Will. We’ll back before you know it. I promise.”
“I know,” Willow answered. “Reaction I guess.”
“Understandable,” Buffy replied. Buffy hugged her friend and then stood to go inside.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Willow said, turning to face Buffy. “Giles wants to know when Dawn will be in.”
“Okay. She’ll be here in two days. Think we can get a welcome home party together before then?”
“Of course,” the witches answered in unison.
“Great!” Buffy exclaimed as she bounded into the house.
“Wow,” Tara said, somewhat amazed. “We’re going to have the whole family here in two days. I can’t believe it.”
“Me either,” Willow agreed. “Want to go inside?”
“Sure.”
With one last look at the night sky, the witches stood up and made their way inside the house. What they failed to notice was the robed figure lurking at the corner of the house.
“Excellent,” the figure muttered as he slunk away from the house.
Once again, the new Slayer duo found themselves walking through a graveyard. Sam was positively giddy with Giles being in Sunnydale.
“...and then he said, ‘good lord.’ and started cleaning his glasses,” Sam said, doing her best British accent.
“Yep, that’s our Giles.” Buffy agreed. She was truly glad that Giles had agreed help. Buffy knew he would, but when she actually saw and hugged him, it made things concrete. The weight of the situation suddenly didn’t seem so unbearable. Still, Buffy couldn’t help but worry.
“Okay. Spill.” Sam said, coming to a stop in front of the senior Slayer. It was obvious that Buffy’s mind was elsewhere.
“What?” Buffy feigned ignorance at Sam’s question.
Sam crossed her arms and her stance told Buffy she wasn’t going to budge until Buffy told her what was going on. The look she was giving Buffy only made the Slayer squirm that much more.
“You know, you look just like Tara when you do that.” Buffy said, still avoiding the question.
“Good. That means you feel guilty and will tell me anything I want to know,” Sam said knowingly. She had been on the receiving end of that look enough times to know exactly the feelings it caused. Even her mom, with her absolute resolve face, couldn’t win against her mama’s glare.
“Okay, I’ll spill. Quit looking at me like that,” Buffy pouted.
Sam‘s stern look immediately melted and she flashed a grin of victory. “I’m worried about Glory and what she‘s going to do.”
“Well, duh. We all are. Where have you been?” Sam replied flippantly.
Buffy’s features hardened. She stepped toward Sam, invading her personal space.
“Samantha Anne Rosenberg-MaClay,” Buffy began with a controlled, quiet voice. “I am never, ever, to hear you use that tone of voice when we are talking about Glory. She is a hell god. She is not one of the run of the mill vampires that we dust every night. Glory has inflicted untold damage on people I love, your mama inparticular. I died to save the people I love because of her and the emotional scars that she left still run deep with all of us. She is NOT to be taken lightly. Is that understood?”
“Yes ma’am,” Sam whispered.
The sound of clapping snapped both Slayers back into the current world. They spun to see who was ease dropping on their conversation. Glory stood 10 feet from them, leaning against a tree.
“Great speech there Slayer. Made me go all teary eyed,” Glory said as she faked wiping tears away from her eyes. She pushed off the tree and started walking toward Buffy.
“Stay away,” Buffy growled. Her hand tightened around the broadsword she was carrying.
“Or what? You’ll make snide remarks and then get your ass kicked again? Good plan. Whose the new girl?” Glory asked, motioning toward Sam.
“You stay away from her,” Buffy said dangerously.
“Let’s see,” Glory said, tapping her chin and completely ignoring Buffy. “Red hair, hanging out with the Slayer, I hurt your mother... that makes you the witches love child, right?” Glory looked Sam up and down. “I thought you’d be shorter.”
“What do you want Glory?” Buffy asked, sword in ready position.
Glory laughed. “And this is the part where I tell you my plan and you run home to all your friends and figure out a way to stop me. Please, that is so played out. All I’m going to tell you is I’m going to make your life miserable.” Glory looked pointedly at Sam. “Any way I can.”
Sam started toward Glory, but Buffy stepped in front of her.
“Ooohh, look at Buffy being all protective of her protege,” Glory mocked. “Guess you’re scared if something happens to her, you’ll have to answer to Red, huh. Afraid she’ll go all black-eyed girl again? I’m not.”
Sam pushed hard against Buffy. She was quickly losing her temper. It was all Buffy could do to hold her back.
“Mmmm...feisty. I like that. Come ’mere girl. Let me see if you taste like your mama,” Glory wiggled her fingers as she spoke.
Buffy blows reigned down on Glory before the hell god knew what hit her. She staggered back, but then regained her footing. She caught Buffy’s fists and punched her in the stomach, sending the blonde Slayer across the graveyard. A split second after Buffy hit the ground, Glory was on her. The hell god grabbed the Slayer by the hair and yanked her violently off the ground. “Let’s see if I can beat the pretty out of you,” she whispered. She punched Buffy in the face, splitting her lip and causing her nose to pour blood. “There, that’s already better. Wanna see if we can do better?” Glory laughed insanely as she repeatedly hit the Slayer. Suddenly, she was knocked to the ground. Sam stood over her.
“You keep your hands off her,” she told the hell god.
“Hey girlie! This is between me and the old bag over there, got it? I‘ll deal with you later.” Glory was up in the blink of an eye and Sam felt herself flying though the air, stopping as she collided with a headstone.
Glory walked back over to Buffy, who was trying to push herself up from the ground. She kicked the Slayer in the stomach and then squatted down beside the her. “This is only beginning. Like I said, I’m going to make your life miserable. The rules have changed and the fun has just started. Say hi to everyone for me,” the hell god said, patting Buffy on the head as she stood up. “I’ll see you around.” With that, Glory walked out of the grave yard.
Sam rubbed her head and got up from the ground, trying to regain her bearings. “Buffy!” She called.
“Over here,” came a weak reply. Sam ran to the voice and found Buffy propped up against a headstone. She was clutching her ribs and trying to stop her nose from bleeding. Sam dropped to her knees.
“Let me look,” she said to Buffy. Buffy groaned, but agreed. Sam lifted her shirt and gently probed the elder Slayers ribs. She then tilted Buffy’s head back to examine the extent of her facial injuries.
“Well, no displaced ribs, but they’re probably cracked. Your lip needs stitches, but I don’t think your nose is broken. You’re going to have a nasty shiner tomorrow, though,” Sam finished. Tara had been teaching her how to access injuries in the field after she’d been called. The blonde had picked up the skill from Giles years ago and had learned even more as she helped Dawn with her studies in med school. Sam was becoming pretty proficient at it under her mother‘s tutelage.
Buffy tried to get up. “Okay, oww,” she said as Sam helped her to her feet.
“Home or hospital?” Sam questioned as she put an arm around Buffy to help her walk.
“Ugh, hospital I guess. Better get cleaned up before Will sees me. She’s gonna freak.” Buffy shifted her weight to try and stand on her own. The world spun for a minute, but then righted itself. Buffy blew out a breath and immediately regretted it. “Yep, definitely cracked ribs,” she thought. Turning to Sam, she asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just a bump on the head. Nothing life threatening,” Sam assured her. “So, to the hospital?”
“Lead the way,” Buffy gestured.
Several hours later, Buffy and Sam arrived at Willow and Tara’s. Sam could see her mama reading by the window and Giles asleep in a chair. She guessed her mom was in the kitchen working on computer. She opened the front door and stepped inside.
“Hey honey,” Tara said with a smile. She got up from her chair and walked over to her daughter. “Where’s Buffy?”
Sam motioned behind her. Buffy stood at the stairway, staring intently at the banister. Tara smiled and shook her head. “How many stitches?” she asked. Buffy looked up and Tara saw the extent of the damage for the first time.
“Good lord Buffy,” Giles said from his chair. Sam’s entrance had woken him and now he was making his way toward Buffy. With tender hands, Giles reached out and tilted Buffy’s chin upward. He ran his fingers over his Slayer’s face. “No broken facial bones, then?” He finally asked.
“Nope,” Sam answered. “The doctor said she’s fine, other than the stitches.”
“Okay, it’s not as bad as it looks. I’ll be fine in two days, tops,” Buffy said, trying to squirm away from Giles scrutiny.
“Glory?” Giles quietly questioned. Buffy nodded.
“Hey guys, what’s up?” Willow asked. She had been in the kitchen when she heard Sam come in. Everyone jumped, startled by the witch’s voice. “Okay, not the reaction I was...” Willow’s voice trailed off as she caught sight of Buffy.
“Okay, Will, don’t freak out. Sam’s okay. I’m okay. Everyone’s okay. Alright?” Buffy quickly said, rushing to her friend’s side prove how okay she was. The Slayer realized too late that she shouldn’t have moved so quickly. She inhaled sharply and grasped her ribs as pain raced through her small frame. Giles came up behind her and guided her to the couch to sit. Quickly, all eyes turned back to Willow. Willow looked a bit paler than usual, but to her credit she remained calm.
“Glory?” the redhead witch asked. Buffy nodded. “Sam, are you okay?”
“Yes mom. I am perfectly fine. Glory didn’t hurt me,” Sam did a little spin to show she was unharmed. “See? I’m okay?” Willow nodded in acceptance. She turned to Buffy. “What happened?”
“We were walking through the graveyard and suddenly there she was.”
“Did she tell you what she wanted?” Giles asked.
“No. She just had a few smart ass remarks and then proceeded to kick my ass. The only thing she said was she was going to make my life miserable.” Buffy answered. She grimaced as she shifted, trying top find a comfortable position.
“Broken ribs?” Giles questioned. Again, Buffy nodded an affirmative.
“Not the best fight I ever had,” Buffy said, trying to lighten the situation. “Plus, she broke one of my nails.”
“So,” Willow began, “she beat the hell out of you and didn’t touch Sam? That doesn’t make sense.”
“Since when did the insane hell god make since?” Buffy asked her friend. She looked at Sam who was shaking her head no to signal the elder Slayer not to say anything about her being punched. Buffy sighed and continued “And yes, there was a teeny tiny bit of touching with Sam.” Sam groaned and mouthed ‘thanks‘ to Buffy.
Immediately, Willow was at Sam’s side looking for injury. “I thought you said you were fine,” the redhead said to her daughter.
“Mom, I am. Really. Glory hit me once and that was it. I promise.”
“Where did she hit you?” Willow questioned after not finding a visible mark.
“In the stomach.” Sam answered.
“Up,” Willow motioned at her shirt. Sam rolled her eyes, but did as she was told and lifted her shirt. Willow examined Sam’s stomach and finding nothing, lowered her daughter’s shirt. “You’re sure you feel fine?”
“Mom, I promise that I am okay. I would tell you if I were hurt.”
“Okay.” Willow acknowledged. Turning to Buffy, Willow spoke slowly, “I want to know everything that happened. Every word. Understand?”
Buffy nodded and recounted the evening’s events word for word. Pain flashed behind Tara’s eyes when Buffy mentioned what Glory wanted to taste Sam. Willow’s face turned to stone. The room was quite when Buffy finished her story. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts. Sam was the first to speak.
“Mama, what was it like? When Glory took your mind,” she asked quietly.
“Pure hell,” Tara whispered. Willow took a seat by her wife and began to rub her back. She knew that Tara didn’t like to talk about what Glory had done to her. In fact, she had only spoken to Willow about it once. Willow’s mind drifted back to a night, seven years after the Glory incident.
**Willow was sitting in bed reading. Tara had already fallen asleep and the only light in the room was the reading lamp. Willow’s concentration was broken by the sound of the bedroom door being opened. Slowly, a small figure crept across the room and a tiny red head appeared at Willow’s nightstand. Willow closed her book and put her finger to her lips, signaling Sam to whisper.
“What’s wrong Sammie?” Willow asked.
“I had a bad dream,” Sam whispered.
“Do you want to come up here with me?”
“Yes,” Sam answered in a small voice. Willow slid over, careful not to wake Tara and gathered Sam in her arms.
“It’s okay sweetie. You’re safe now. It was just a bad dream,” Willow said as she stroked Sam’s long, red hair and gently kissed her on the head. “Do you want to tell me what your dream was about?”
“No,” the timid voice responded.
Willow kissed Sam on the head again and held her close. “You sure? Sometimes it helps to talk about scary things. It might make you feel better.”
Sam sniffed a little, then whispered, “I couldn’t find you or mama. I was so lost.” Sam buried her head against Willow’s neck and started to cry. “I looked and looked and I couldn’t find you anywhere. It was awful.”
“Shh baby girl. It’s okay. You’re here now with us. See? You found us Sammie. We always find each other. Okay? Always,” the older redhead emphasized.
“Always?” Sam sniffed.
“Always,” Willowed assured her daughter. Sam sighed and snuggled closer to her mother. “Do you want to stay here until you fall asleep sweetie?” Willow asked. She felt an affirmative nod under her chin. “Okay.” Willow continued to stroke Sam’s hair until she was sure Sam was asleep. She gathered up the small girl and took her back to her room. Willow gently tucked Sam into bed and quietly turned to leave the room. As she pulled the door closed, she heard a small voice call out, “Love you mom.”
“Love you too Sammie,” Willow called back. She made her way back to her bedroom and slid quietly back into bed, as to not wake Tara.
“It’s okay Will, I’m awake.”
“Sorry, did I wake you?”
“No. Sam woke me up when she came in.”
“You didn’t say anything.”
“I wanted to watch my favorite two girls together.” Tara slid over to Willow and Willow took her in her arms.
“That was good getting Sam to talk about her dream.”
“Yeah, well, I just thought it might help her. You know, help her realize it’s not real.”
“Mmm. Willow Rosenberg, PhD. It has a nice ring.”
“Pshht. Whatever. How ’bout ‘Willow Rosenberg, loving wife and mother‘.”
“I like that too.”
The two lay quietly in each other’s arms for a while. Just as Willow was about to doze off, she heard a small voice.
“Do you think your advice would help me?” Tara whispered.
“What do you mean baby?” Willow questioned lovingly.
“All those things that I saw when Glory took my mind... they still haunt me Will.”
“I know sweetie. I’m here if you want to talk.”
“It’s just, I feel so stupid being bothered by it. It happened so long ago.”
“Tara, it’s not stupid. What happened to you was horrific. You’ve never talked about it and I know it’s eating you alive.” Willow began to stroke Tara’s hair as she had done with Sam earlier. Tara was quiet for a little while and then began.
“It was awful. I was trapped, naked, in a tiny room with no way out. I tried and tried to get out, but nothing I did worked. All I wanted to do was find you. And sometimes, I felt like I was so close, like if I could just reach out far enough, I could touch you. But, I could never reach far enough and then the darkness would come back.” Tara pulled herself closer to Willow as she described her real life nightmare. Willow continued to stroke Tara’s hair and gently kissed her on the head.
“Let it out baby. You’ve kept it all in for too long,” Willow encouraged. She could feel Tara begin to cry. “It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you. I found you. I’ll always find you,” the redhead whispered.
Tara gave into the feelings that she had denied for so many years. Sobs wracked her body. For two hours, Tara cried and Willow comforted her. The blonde went into full detail about what happened during her period of insanity. By the time she finished, both she and Willow were in tears. Willow held her wife through her entire story and silently cried at everything her love had endured. Tara finally fell asleep, exhausted from crying. Willow held her and stood vigil as sleep took her wife. It amazed her how strong the beautiful blonde was. After all she had endured, she was still Tara. A smile graced Willow’s face as she drifted off to sleep.**
Willow snapped back to reality when she realized everyone was staring at her, waiting for an answer.
“I’m sorry, what? I zoned out. What was the question?”
“Not so much a question as a statement,” Buffy answered. “Giles and I are going to head back to my place.
We’ll all meet up tomorrow, okay?”
“Yeah, yeah that’s fine.” Willow answered.
“Sure you’re okay up there?” Buffy asked as she tapped Willow on the head.
“Yeah, I’m sure. I’m good. I’ll see you tomorrow. Better get home. I’m sure Giles is itching to sleep on that pull out sofa,” the redhead finished with a wink at Giles. Giles groaned and rolled his eyes.
“Alright, we’re off then,” Buffy said, standing and heading toward the door.
“Here,” Sam said, digging into her pocket and pulling out her keys. She tossed them to Buffy. “Take my car. I’ll catch a ride to school with mama in the morning and pick my car up later.”
“Thanks,” Buffy said, catching the keys. She handed them to Giles. “You drive.” Giles took the keys and the pair walked to Sam’s car. They waved good bye to the trio on the porch and got into the car. Giles started the vehicle and the silent night was broken by the sound of blaring music.
“Bloody hell!!” the retired Watcher cursed. Buffy merely smiled and patted her adopted father on the knee.
“Kids these days. Gotta love ’em,” she said as they drove away. Giles simply rolled his eyes and started the drive to Buffy’s apartment.
Login
FAQ
Search
Yes, Glory Grrrrr
touching. You write their relationship so well. I love the older, somewhat more mature version of both of them. 
