First-Ok.This part has Willow and Tara doing a spell. I go into detail on how a spell works, the inner process of gathering the power and all that. I know NOTHING about magic, so I could be ALL wrong. But this is my fic, so I guess I'm allowed to fudge it. If anyone out there IS Wicca, I don't mean to be offensive or rude. I'm just trying to write a compelling story. This is my take on what goes on inside to produce the effects on the outside.
Ok...on with the show and please don't hurt me.
Willowfan Disclaimers: Joss Whedon and Mutant enemy own all rights to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all the characters therein. I am only test-driving them.
Feedback: Yes please. kindred69153@hotmail.com Don’t make me beg…cause I will.
Spoilers: Everything up to season 6x17
Story: Set ten years into the future, the Scoobies enjoy the holidays.
Willow squeezed Tara’s hand and looked into her love’s eyes. Tara nodded and moved to stand.
“We should get started on dinner.” Tara announced.
Willow nodded and the two moved into the kitchen. Gunn and Fred merely looked at each other and stood to go outside.
Spike stood, looking at Angel and moved past him into the kitchen.
Cordelia let Angel go and looked at Buffy. “I’ll leave you two to talk.” And she moved into the kitchen.
“Buffy.” Angel spoke softly, greeting Buffy. Buffy nodded her head and smiled lightly.
Tara pulled a bottle out of the refrigerator and handed it to Cordelia. Pulling the cork, Cordy sniffed the contents and scowled.
“Are we using this for something?” she asked Tara.
Tara nodded and gestured to the center island, at the circle there. “Pour it onto the plate.” She spoke softly, still a little uneasy in the beautiful woman’s presence.
Cordelia shrugged and started pouring the thick, red fluid out. Blood filled the plate and Tara sprinkled some herbs over the plate and reached for Willow.
Willow paused and looked to Tara, fear evident in her eyes. “Tara…” she started, her eyes pleading.
Tara walked over to her love and smiled. “It’s ok, baby. All I need you to do is lend me some power.” She brushed Willow’s cheek. “I’ll be doing the casting…not you.” She reassured Willow.
Willow still looked scared. She hadn’t cast any spells for over nine years. She had stayed away because of everything it had cost her. It almost cost her Tara, she had violated Tara’s mind, and it took a lot to rebuild that trust. Tara had talked about wanting to try a couple of things this year, and Willow had agreed to help…but now she hesitated.
Tara smiled and lowered her hand. “If you don’t want to…” she started. Willow smiled and shook her head.
“No…I will…it’s just that…you know, I’m sorta scared. It’s been awhile, you know.” She mumbled, a scared smile on her lips.
Tara took her hand, leading Willow to the table. “Willow…if you’re not ready…I don’t want to pressure you.” Tara looked deeply into Willow’s eyes, concern etched in her face. Willow looked terrified.
Tara let Willow’s hand go. “Baby…I am so sorry…” tears were welling in Tara’s eyes. “I never meant to…p-pressure you.” Tara wiped her eyes and brushed Willow’s cheek. “I would never force you…never pressure you…you know that.” She said, making it a question.
Willow nodded, tears forming in her eyes. “I know baby…and I’m sorry….I thought I could.” She shook her head. “But I don’t know….”
Cordelia watched the whole affair and couldn’t believe it. This was Willow. The awkward little girl she used to pick on in high school was gone. Here, in her place, was a beautiful woman so deeply in love and so deeply loved that it warmed her to simply be around it. Just watching the two witches, Cordelia knew that either one would lay down her life for the other. The love she felt was palpable, thick in the air. Without thinking she spoke. “I’ll do it.” She said softly.
Tara turned and looked at Cordelia. “What?” she asked, wiping the tears from her eyes.
“I said I’d do it.” Cordelia repeated. “I mean, I’m no witch, but you said you would be doing the casting.” She smiled. “I mean…al you need is like, a battery, right?”
Tara smiled slightly. “You don’t have to, Cordelia. I can try the spell myself.” She assured Cordelia.
Willow shook her head slightly, her brow furrowing. “No. You can’t, it’s to dangerous.” She protested.
Tara just smiled. “It’s not dangerous, it’s draining. There’s a difference.” She moved to the table and closed her eyes.
Willow watched the events carefully, old memories springing to the forefront of her mind. Proper procedures, power flows, incantations…it all sprang to the front of her mind. She watched as Tara prepared the spell.
Tara reached into herself and tapped the power she held in reserve. Feeling the magic swell, she asked, no begged the power to help form the magic needed. The light inside of her flared and demanded payment. Tara offered herself, and the power accepted, pulling strength from Tara’s body. The light flared again and formed into the necessary spell, which Tara then released.
Willow watched as Tara chanted, not aware of the inner struggle Tara was going through. But she remembered well the struggle that came with wielding the magic. Tara would ask, the power would demand a price; Tara would pay it and ask again. Willow frowned as she remembered when she went wrong. She demanded the power do her bidding. She didn’t ask, she demanded. Coercion, Tara called it. She never coerced the power, Tara always asked. Willow was the dark one. She was the one that used power; Tara worked with it. But it would cost her, cost her in personal energies. She would open herself up to whatever otherworldly source that granted her the spell, and it would tap her energy. It could take as much or as little as it wanted and Tara would be hard pressed to stop it.
Cordelia watched Tara work the spell and awaited the result. She wasn’t a witch, not even close. But growing up in Sunnydale and being around the scoobies and then being a part of Angel Investigations, Cordelia had grown to know things. So she watched, the whole time seeing Willow worry. She was scared too, but not like Willow.
Willow wrung her hands. What if she needed help? She asked herself. What if she got hurt?
Tara released the spell energy and opened herself to the power. The power reached into her and drank deeply. Tara felt the energy leave her and keep going. Suddenly, the power got diverted and Tara felt another presence. It was powerful, full of energy. The power that fed her the spell dived in and drank deeply, it sated its thirst and the new source had not even dimmed. Opening her eyes she was aware of a hand in hers. Looking over she saw Willow grasping her hand. She smiled and squeezed.
Willow opened her eyes and smiled at Tara, a sheen of sweat covered her brow. Tara smiled back and looked at the circle. In the place of the blood, sat a plate of steaming food. Roasted turkey, homemade mashed potatoes, green beans, homemade stuffing and candied yams. It all looked delicious and smelled better.
“Oh yummy!!” Cordelia reached over and dipped her finger into the gravy and tasted it. Her face full and she looked like she was going to vomit. She ran to the sink and spit. Blood hit the sink and Cordelia turned on the faucet, rinsing her mouth out. “What the hell was that?” she asked, turning to Tara and Willow.
Tara smiled. “It was a transmutation spell. I...” she looked at Willow “We turned the blood into another shape, in this case a Christmas dinner.” She beamed.
Cordelia just stared. “Ok…I’ll bite...Why?” she asked. She grabbed a towel and wiped her mouth. She wasn’t mad, just surprised.
Tara looked at Willow and smiled. Willow spoke.
“Well, we figured that both Angel and S…William, get tired of sitting at the table watching everyone eat and they have to drink from mugs. So we decided to make this.” She gestured to the plate. “It looks like, smells like and acts like a normal plate of food, but when you put it into your mouth it reverts back to blood.” She smiled proudly.
Cordelia smiled and nodded. “That was really sweet…” she said softly. Willow took Tara’s hand and smiled
“It was all Tara’s Idea.” She said proudly. Willow leaned forward and kissed Tara. Tara only smiled and squeezed Willows hand, kissing her back. “It was nothing, really.” She said, breaking the kiss.
Cordelia shook her head. “No…it is defiantly something. It was thoughtful, caring and very, very sweet.” She said smiling. “They will be so surprised.” Her brow furrowed. “Should we put this in the oven to keep it warm?” she asked.
Tara shook her head. “No, it’s fine if it stays in the circle.” She said. “But we should set the table because dinner is ready.” She moved to the cupboard and pulled out several plates. Willow moved to the drawer and started pulling flatware.
“What can I do?” Cordelia asked, surprising Willow.
“Well…” Willow stammered. “You can put the glasses out.” She pointed to the cupboard. Cordelia smiled and went to work.
____________________________________________
Spike sat in the tunnel under the house and smoked. He was worried, it was that simple. Looking out of the grate he surveyed the road leading to the secluded home and sighed. He was jealous of Angel, he was Buffy's first love and she was now talking to him about her relationship with him. Flicking the cigarette away, he sighed. He saw the cab pull up and smiled. Finally, someone else to distract him.
Dawn stepped from the cab and paid the driver. Getting her bags from the trunk she waved the driver away. Waiting until the cab left, Spike called to Dawn.
Dawn heard the voice and walked over to the grating. Kneeling Down, she peered in. She smiled when she saw the bleached head of her friend. "Spike?" she asked, pulling the grate open and dropping the bag down. She climbed down and hugged the vampire.
Spike hugged her back and looked at her. She was grown up now, twenty-five years old and a doctor. She still had long hair, but it was pulled back into a tight ponytail. Her eyes still danced and she still smiled. That was what had struck Spike the most. After all that happened to her, she still found joy in life.
Letting her go Spike smiled. "Well Little Bit...not so little anymore, eh?" he looked her over.
Dawn smiled and nodded. "What are you doing down here?" she asked, her brow furrowing. "Why aren't you upstairs?"
Spike frowned. "Buffy's up there talkin' to angel." he said softly. Dawn Laid a hand on his arm and smiled.
"You gonna be ok?" she asked. Spike smiled and nodded.
"I'll manage now that you're here, little bit." he cocked his head back to the house. "Want to go in, see what's for dinner?" Dawn smiled and nodded. Spike hefted her bags and grunted.
"God lord, don't any of you Summers' women pack lightly?” he complained. Dawn put her hands on her hips and squeaked her protest. Spike smiled and together they walked to the house.