Chapter 4
"What's going on?"
Buffy turned and saw Dawn standing in the doorway. "Nothing, we were just discussing a few things."
"Nothing? It sounded like you were fighting...I could hear you down the hall."
"No, it's nothing, just a little disagreement."
Dawn looked at the others then at her feet. When she raised her head she looked Buffy dead in the eye. "You promised you know."
Buffy shifted on her feet uncomfortably. "Promised what?"
"You promised not to do the lets shield the little sister thing anymore. You are doing it again...you all look guilty."
Buffy sighed and looked at the others then back to Dawn.
"She's right Buffy" Giles said quietly.
"I know" Buffy said looking apologetically at Dawn, " I'm sorry, old habits die hard. I wasn't thinking."
"So you were fighting?"
"Arguing is more the word."
"About what?"
"About Buffy going all Jules Verne on us, wanting to mess with time." Xander huffed.
"Jules Verne...I know him, he's the guy with the balloon."
"Balloon...we use a balloon. No one ever said anything about a balloon." Anya moved towards Giles looking worried. "I've never heard of using a balloon."
"Same fellow, different story." Giles said intervening.
"I don't get it."
"Buffy thinks that we can help Willow and Tara if we go back in time." Xander explained taking his place again on the end of the bed.
"We can help them? We can get them back? We can get Tara back?"
"Perhaps." Giles stated. "Buffy believes that there has been some kind of mistake. That time was somehow altered therefore changing our collective destinies and taking Tara before her time. If this is indeed true then there may be a way to reverse the events that led to Tara's death and Willow's subsequent destruction."
Buffy looked at Dawn. "I dreamt it...Tara spoke to me."
Dawn smiled lovingly. "She would, she could, she's very powerful you know."
"I always thought that Willow was the more powerful witch." Anya interrupted.
"No" said Giles "never underestimate Tara...you need to watch those carefully who are quiet in their power."
"We need to work out what to do next." Buffy pressed growing impatient. "What do we do now?"
"I vote magic." said Dawn.
"Good god...more magic?" Xander groaned. "Haven't we had enough?"
"I am afraid it may be our only alternative Xander" Giles responded, "unless of course you want to call Mr Verne and ask to use his time machine?"
"You are telling me to shut up aren't you?"
"Yes, if you cant be helpful...please do."
Xander slumped forward and began to stare at his folded hands surrendering.
"Okay then" Giles continued looking at the group, "it looks like research."
"With what?"
"Hmmm?" Giles hummed turning to Anya.
"How do we do research?" Anya asked stepping forward. "In case you have all forgotten, we don't have any books. We don't have any magic supplies. The Magic Box is trashed thanks to the not so powerful witchy woman over there. Willow took everything...she drained the spells and destroyed what she did not take. There are no books...there are no spell ingredients... and quite obviously...there are no witches."
The room was silent, all eyes on Anya.
"You know magic." Dawn said in a quiet voice.
"What?"
"You know magic...and you have powers...I've seen you."
"Well..."Anya started.
"And so does Giles," Buffy added turning towards her watcher, "you taught Willow."
"Not very well I am afraid." He whispered, shaking his head against the thought.
"Shhh...Giles no time for that now." Buffy chided sounding much like her teacher.
"Tara..." Dawn jumped. "Tara has books, she has spell ingredients too."
"That's right....and so does Willow." said Buffy "They are in storage in the basement of the Magic Box.
"Perhaps we should go see what we can salvage from the store. There might be enough of what we need if we combine all of what we find." suggested Giles perking up.
"I hear the beginnings of a plan." Buffy smiled.
"We are a long way from knowing what to do," Giles answered, "but this is a start." He smiled back.
"Xander why don't you and Anya go to the Magic Box and see what you can find. I will take Dawn and go to Tara's. Giles?"
"I will stay here with Willow and perhaps call the coven in England for some advice. They might be able to direct us."
"Good, this is good. Now we are doing something. This is going to work out...it just has to...it is going to work."
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"Honey?"
"Hmmm?"
"What did you mean when you said that you were a warrior and that is why you haven't gone to heaven yet?"
"I meant that I was held here because of a mistake. It offers me a choice. I can surrender now and go on...or I can try to make things right. I am sure that many just go on."
"And you?"
"And me?" Tara smiled. "I just want to be with you...all of you."
Willow sat back satisfied taking her lover's hand. "They are working together now."
"Yes, they will figure it out."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am sure...they...we...always do. We always work it out when we work together."
Willow put her head on her Tara's shoulder. "It is so pretty here...lets enjoy it while we can."
Tara made a happy noise and dropped her head to rest on Willow's. She squeezed Willow's hand. 'Not much longer' she thought, 'not much longer and we will be home.'
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Here I am again dropping by on a lazy Sunday with an update. I hope you enjoy it. I am sorry once again for the time between chapters. I am prepared to open a complaint dept as I have heard some impatient grumblings. I am going to direct all these rumbles and grumbles to one lady dragon who seems to be taking up an inordinate amount of my time. I find her a delightful distraction which is quite frankly impeding my writing. Wish I could stop....sorry. Want to complain...complain to her. I will keep trying...but please know that as long as she continues to write me poetry and leave me roses I am doomed to follow. Just can't seem to say no. Sighs. So much for the elusive and aloof, uninvolved lady...my heart has been captured.
Athame
by bulldog tidnab » Sat Oct 12, 2002 4:11 pm 
. 
It is so 
though. I almost started to
couldn't leave 
. 
at: 12/28/03 12:52 am