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Chapter 2~
There was no real plan. Melody had one job. All that Willow needed was a distraction for Faith and Dawn, and when the time came, possibly protection long enough to finish the spell. The day was only hours away from giving to night once again. The new moon was upon them, which apparently was the time needed for the spell. New moon meant a restart, she guessed. All the research she’d done over the years of magic, trying to figure it out, find something…. And she still couldn’t fathom what seemed like some of the more basic concepts. It made sense though, if she thought about it. New moon was the new phase of the same cycle it took every month. In an insane way, it was the moon’s own version of time travel. If any of them had paid attention to when Willow brought up the argument, they’d have noticed it was always the same time of the cycle.
All the redhead had needed was one person to acquiesce to the request. Someone else had to be knowledgeable of possible consequences, specifically in the form of attacks. No use bringing everyone back if they were killed doing so. Then there was the highly questionable consequence of what happened if it was interrupted…. While she had asked this question, the witch had avoided it like the plague. Protect them, and don’t let the spell be interrupted. That was her job. The woman wasn’t stupid. This was dangerous.
Willow was in her corner, very noticeably staring at the back page of her journal, while the other three women gave each other looks of knowing sadness. They all knew this behavior. “Hidden” within the final page was, of course, a picture of the one and only, Tara. Unbeknownst to Faith and Dawn, this was a ruse this time, as Faith did exactly as expected.
“Yo, you two wanna head outside? Get some sword training in?” It had become a ritual of sorts, Willow embraced her grief in the back of that book. They all had their own moments, and they each respected the space needed.
Willow felt more than completely heartbroken at the thought of deceiving both Faith and Dawn, especially using Tara to do so, but after last night, Faith would be more than suspicious of any alone time she outwardly requested. She stared at the picture, the blue orbs that once had started a fire in her heart at even the slightest glance, now haunted her every waking moment. Only in sleep could they return her heart to a puddle, if she were lucky enough to dream of them. Of that half smile, that could erupt into a full on masterpiece of light and beauty at the readhead’s gaze, or the slightest touch.
Most nights these days, she wasn’t so lucky though. Instead waking in a sweat at the horrifying destruction of the world they now lived in, or even worse, that fateful day her light was gone forever. She could almost feel it, when she slept. The blood on her face, “Your shirt…”
-x-
Dawn was the first to speak, as they hovered outside the back door. Melody had made swiftly for the empty dirt island ten feet from the door, “I know we should practice in dirt instead of on the broken up concrete, but I don’t want to be too far if Will needs us.” The young woman released a small tear from her eye as she looked back toward the door.
Before Melody could respond, Faith jumped in, “Safety first, D. If anything goes down me or Mermaid will hear shit, but we ain’t risking getting hurt in a practice session.”
“What practice session?! We all know it was an excuse to give Willow time. Like you and Willow actually talk about spells when I’m grieving! You don’t know crap about magic, and most of what Melody knows is only because she wanted to figure out how,” Dawn stopped here, realizing that, true or not, this particular line of conversation was going to bring another of them into a load of grief and turmoil if she continued. The youngest frowned, turning to the vampire with an apologetic and pained look.
Melody shrugged it off. It wouldn’t bode well if she couldn’t concentrate on her current task, which meant this was not the time for such thoughts. Might never be a time for them again, when Faith found out what was about to happen. While the sun, holy water and crosses couldn’t harm her as they normally would a regular vampire, she doubted a stake through her heart would be as forgiving, or an axe clean through her neck….
-x-
The set up was quick. She’d read over the spell a million times. She could do it in her sleep if it didn’t require so much energy and concentration. The items she’d needed, she covertly collected over the last year, simply waiting for one person to give in. Willow had known someone would eventually, as this was really their only shot. Though, truthfully she’d have thought it would have been Faith. Melody had an issue with magic, and while she didn’t fight its use, she sure as hell wanted nothing to do with it herself anymore.
Faith, on the other hand, could care less. Or, at least, she used to. It’s not really the magic that the Slayer had a problem with so much as the ending. Surprising the redhead as well as young Dawn, Faith had grown extremely protective of them both the last 3 years. It was as if Buffy’s death made her believe it was her job now to protect them, and with the looming consequences of this spell, it was an immediate ‘no’ from the once reckless and troubled Slayer.
With almost everything in place, Willow took one last moment with the most important artifact of her tweaks. Had she led with this particular part of the spell, Dawn would have thought twice about it in one of the earlier debates. Whether or not it would have changed her mind, the witch didn’t know. Especially as it wasn’t full proof if the spell would even work, and safely, much less go as far back as this particular item was supposed to carry them. With that troubling fact in mind, Willow had decided not to disclose this information to any of them. If it didn’t work, Dawn’s hopes would be dashed. It was enough to know that she should at least be able to give her Buffy back, and some semblance of hope again.
Darkened in sorrow, Emerald eyes stared at the only item she ever truly refused to lose. It was the only picture of Tara she had been able to save during the fall of Sunnydale. She’d have given her life to keep that photo safe If it had come down to it, and she was certain Dawn would have too, if given the chance. The only thing more important to Willow than saving it, was keeping her family safe. Her one bit of luck was that had never been a choice she had to resolve herself to. It may have been an immediate answer to save the people she loved, but it would have felt as if it ended her soul.
“Baby, I’ve tried so hard to do what I could to protect them, be there like you would have,” tears now fell freely from her eyes, “but I can’t be your Amazon anymore. I wish I had you, more than anything, through all this. I promised I would always find you. So, as the literal last thing I’m going to do, is do my damnedest to make sure I live up to that.”
A sob made Its way through her as she leaned against the dusty wall of the store. Tara could make it better. She’s who would make the difference. Willow knew that in her soul. She’d been the strong one. The wise one. Everything that the redhead felt she fell short on. This war was theirs to win, and Tara was the difference. She knew it in every fiber of her being, knew it in every beat of her heart.
“I love you.” With that final declaration, she grabbed the picture and walked with purpose to her place. This was her final stand. She wouldn’t fail, wouldn’t let Tara down. Not this time. She’d live in eternal hell of every bad memory she ever lived if it meant that she had succeeded in this goal.
Eight years. Not insurmountable for a woman who faced down a hell God, right? Darn tootin’. This was for Tara! For Dawn, for Buffy, Xander, Giles, and now even for Faith, Melody…. For goddess sake, she was even doing this for Anya.
-x-
Something was happening. They all felt it, a shift. Only half an hour had passed since they had left the redhead alone with her grief. The setting sun was the background to a new sensation. Magic was surrounding them, becoming the very air they were breathing. It only took thirty seconds, the sudden charge in the air, the slight shift of the winds, the low hum of almost electric energy in the world around them.
Faith dropped her sword, whirling faster than she ever thought she had in her entire life. One heart beat, two…. The dark Slayer was almost at the door, ready to rip it from its hinges, only to be stopped by her supposed friend and fellow soldier.
Melody had been quick to intercept Faith. This was it, and the look she received, gave her the third worst feeling she’d had in her life.
Dawn only joining the fray seconds later. “What is happening?”
Faith’s cold stare felt like it was digging right into her very being. Almost worse than the demon… almost, “You interrupt, it fails, we lose her regardless.”
“We shouldn’t be losing her at all! You had to go and give in to this shit! I ought to beat you fucking senseless!” Faith was losing her cool, not that she’d ever had much in situations like these. This is what happened when you cared for people, and yet she knew it was too late to shut off her emotions. She was gonna lose Red, and it was about to tear her apart. So she was going to make sure someone paid for that. The vampire was currently at the top of her list.
Dawn stepped in between the two women, “I ask again, what is happening?! What did Willow do?” Though in her heart, she already knew. The arguments over the last year, Melody’s words of warning to the Slayer, Faith’s reaction. She looked straight into the eyes of the elder of their group, Melody, Hazel meeting baby blues, sad and ashamed, “No…”
Before more could be said, anger expressed, pain let loose, there was a new presence that joined them. Two actually. Turok- Han. A sure sign that The First knew something was up. While they had dispatched countless by this point, it didn’t make them less dangerous, so Faith’s anger became directed towards them. It had started, the decision made without her consent and without Dawn’s, but made none the less. Now they had to survive long enough to see the end of the show, or in this case, the possible re-run of an already made episode.
Sparing a quick glance at Melody, Dawn immediately sprang into action, having brought her sword with her to the door. Melody following her only a breath behind, going for the same uber as Dawn, Faith quickly dodging the swings of the other one.
-x-
Chapter 3~
The tension at the Summers’ house was thick enough to choke on. Giles was giving his farewells to the group once more, only this time, he had to say goodbye to Buffy as well. She had to learn to be on her own, take care of Dawn. He wouldn’t always be around to save her from the everyday ‘demons’.
“Geez, Giles. It’s all déjà vu today, you with the leavin’,” Xander’s demeanor and expression gave away his false cheery voice. He may not be Giles’s favorite among them, but he knew the elder man cared about him. The man was more of a father to any one of them then their own fathers. The abusive ass”that was Tara’s, the absentees of both Willow’s parents and of Dawn and Buffy’s father, and his own alcoholic mess of a father.
Anya was sad as well, though still not used to this particular feeling of loss, even after three years of being a human again, “Please call and write often, but not too often. Don’t interrupt sales time, and we won’t answer if we’re having sex. You’re store is in good hands, I’ll make us loads of money, and try to keep Buffy’s Slayer duties from completely destroying it.” She smiled a genuine smile.
Giles faced them both, giving Xander a reassuring pat on the shoulder, before being tackled in a very quick but firm hug from the ex-demon. He smiled sadly at them, “I know you’ll take care of things, Anya. Rest assured I’ll choose my times to call wisely.” He turned around toward Buffy, who was none too happy and leaning against the door frame. Before he could speak again, Tara was coming down the stairs, the first of several boxes she planned to bring down, in her hands.
“Hey, Giles,” Tara’s voice was soft, and her gorgeous blue eyes were rimmed red with tears. This was only the first heartbreaking goodbye of the night, “You leaving for the a-airport?”
“Very soon,” he replied. His own heart broke for the young woman, just as his anger at Willow’s ignorance once again filled his mind. There were some very tough lessons ahead for his family, to be sure. He opened his arms for the young brunette, as she put her box down by the bottom stair.
She gladly accepted his hug, and took the comfort he offered. Things were definitely about to get interesting. As she pulled back, a loud yell assaulted all of their ears.
“Dawn! Come say your goodbyes!” Buffy’s voice barely registered emotion, annoyance if anything. As there was no return answer immediately, the slayer rolled her eyes and she marched up the stairs. If she had to throw her sister over her shoulder, then that’s what she’d do.
Only seconds later, just before she reached the top step, something felt off. The distant sounds of screams, anger, shouting of commands, and what sounded like clashing weapons rushed through her head. As she tried to make sense of these noises, her foot slipped from its unbalanced perch on the second floor landing, sending her jolting backwards down most of the way. She was finally able to regain her footing just two steps from the bottom, though she now carried a large bruise on her left arm because it had hit the railing on the way down.
“Buffy! Are you a-alright?” Tara’s concern was evident, as she put her hand on top of Buffy’s on the lower railing. It wasn’t like the Slayer to lose her balance, especially on something so trivial as the stairs.
Giles also gave a look of concern, but just as he was about to say something himself, the lightbulb above the doorway shattered. Before the group could recover, the rest of the lightbulbs in the house followed suit. The fragile glass of the bulbs seem to be flying everywhere.
Out of the ducking and covering, Xander’s voice rang out, “Yikes! Buffy, how many lights do you own?!” As his question ended, so did the sounds of glass breaking. He slowly raised his head from the position it had ended up, hovering over Anya to protect her from the sharp shards, “Anyone hurt?”
“Dear lord, I’m never getting to my plane,” came from where Giles was hovering over Tara in a similar protective fashion. His hand was bleeding, as it looked as though he had also tried reaching for Buffy, “bloody hellmouth.”
Anya grabbed hold of Xander’s arm sharply, looking around the now dangerously twinkling house, “Hasn’t Willow had enough fun with the magic tonight? I had to deal with bunnies! Lots of them!”
Tara’s heart stopped. She hoped beyond anything that Anya was wrong. She glanced directly into Giles hard, brown eyes, then moved to Buffy’s angry, hazel ones.
Buffy was off in less than a second, her feet crunching glass below her. She could care less at the moment. Finally making it to the landing above, she came to Dawn’s door first. It was wide open, “Dawn!” There was no answer, and the room felt hollow even from the doorway. She turned her way down towards Willow and Tara’s… Willow’s room. She couldn’t think about that now. It wasn’t her problem anyway.
Just as she made it to the door, she heard the crunching of other footsteps from behind. The Slayer turned her head back to see Tara had joined her upstairs carrying a flashlight. Her look of both pain and possibly even anger showed easily on her features. Buffy hadn’t seen Tara angry yet in their two years of friendship, but she guessed that was going to change soon. Especially if Willow and magic were involved. Except, that room was empty too.
Tara made her way through the space she shared… or had shared with Willow. Her boxes were strung around the floor, now sparkling with bits of glass. The young witch pointed her light at their bathroom, the last place she had seen the redhead. There was no one. After a few moments, they both made their way downstairs, checking Buffy’s room as a precaution. Xander, Anya, and Giles were awaiting the verdict in the dim light of an emergency electric lantern. Tara had pulled this out of the same area as the flashlight before she had gone upstairs after Buffy.
“Willow?! Dawn?!” The slayer’s voice rang out. The rest of the group stayed quiet. Nothing answered back except for eerie silence.
Anya was the first to break it, “If it’s Willow’s doing, can’t you sense that Tara? You know her magical essence by now right?”
“I can, but it doesn’t exactly work l-like you’re thinking. We’ve both used magic in this house, our signatures are everywhere and I can’t feel anything new specific to Willow,” Tara frowned. She felt something, but it didn’t exactly mesh with the Redhead’s normal spellcasting. Of course, lately, it seemed as though it was changing into something darker, “I can’t be sure, there’s something here. Or was. I-it doesn’t quite match though.”
“Well, then that means it’s not the Willster! Right? Looks like we have some scoobying to do,” Xander sounded relieved, almost happy. He knew Willow was going through a lot, but he couldn’t fathom how much damage she had done lately, and on purpose. Then he caught Buffy’s angry look, “and I would suggest we do it fast before we have an angry Slayer tearing up half of Sunnydale.”
Buffy practically growled in frustration, this was not what she needed right now. They had already spent a better portion of the night running around without memories. She loved Willow, she always would, but the redhead had been making seriously stupid decisions lately. Including ripping her from a heavenly dimension, and casting memory spells left and right. In fact, casting a lot in general. This had caused even more turmoil in their home. Not only was she losing Giles, but the redhead had officially caused Tara’s departure from at least the house.
Tara was also frustrated. While it wasn’t clear if this was Willow’s doing, it didn’t rule it out. It also meant that if the redhead wasn’t behind it, that her and Dawn were both missing and something supernatural was definitely at work in the house. They both could be in danger, and leaving was already hard enough. If something had happened to Willow or Dawn, she didn’t know if she could handle it. Her fears of them hurt were starting to creep into her thoughts.
Giles was thrown off by it all. He was supposed to be leaving them to grow up, but he also couldn’t leave with the knowledge that both girls could be in danger. If this wasn’t Willow, then who knew what could be going on, “I suggest Anya and I make our way back to the Magic Box with the jeep, look for them both on our way. Buffy, patrol? Find out if there’s anything new in town. Tara and Xander take Xander’s vehicle and go to spots where they might go of their own will. It’s slim, especially with whatever this magic is obviously, but the way this night has been, they may have gone out on their own. They’re both very upset.”
“Don’t you have a plane to catch?” Buffy replied with nothing but venom in her voice. She hadn’t meant it so harshly, but she was hurt and angry by him abandoning her. She was already going through so much with the resurrection, bills, slayer duties, and caring for Dawn full time on top of it.
He flinched at her tone, “I’m not leaving with them missing. I’ll reschedule the flight.” His tone was even, with a slight twinge of pain.
“Great! Then we can all do the whole goodbye thing on repeat.” Buffy replied angrily.
Tara had enough of talking, enough of anger. Right now, the priority was finding Willow and Dawn, “Enough!” At the surprised looks she received from everyone, including the Slayer, she quickly continued, “Two people we love are missing. Right now it doesn’t matter how. Just that they’re safe. We’ll deal with the rest later.”
The group nodded, but before a single movement toward the door could be made, the phone rang. It was already getting late, but Buffy answered it, in case it was her best friend or sister.
“Hello?”
“Buffy, its Angel,” came the reply over the phone.
Buffy knew this couldn’t be a coincidence. She’d been a Slayer long enough to know when events were stacking together, but she hoped she was wrong “What’s going on, Angel? Kind of have a crisis right now, so if it’s not important…”
“Faith’s missing,” his voice sounded concerned, “She was at headcount in the prison, but now she’s gone. There’s no exit from her cell except the one door. She was in solitary. She literally just disappeared into thin air. I just wanted to give you a heads up to be on the lookout. What’s going on there?”
“Well, Willow and Dawn have also vanished, and my house is now a graveyard for shattered lightbulbs,” came Buffy’s short answer. Her heart was racing now. She was now almost positive this was all the same thing.
Angel’s next sentence confirmed it, “Lights out in Faith’s section of the prison too. Any ideas from your end yet?”
The rest of the group waited impatiently. The call had only been thirty seconds so far, but they were all anxious to find the missing members of their group. They heard Buffy talking to Angel, and they all carried the same suspicions that she did.
“Not yet, just happened in the last fifteen minutes. If we find anything, we’ll call. Can you do the same for your end?”
“Ya. Good luck,” and with that, the vampire was gone and the phone went to dial tone.
“What’s up with Mr. Grumpy Fangs now?” Xander’s distaste for the vampire still evident, even after all this time.
Buffy sighed, but this time, less in frustration and more in concern, “Faith’s pulled a ‘lights out, let’s vanish’ routine as well. This just got more dangerous. Tara, Xander. You should still do your look out in the usual hangs, but I wouldn’t spend much time on it. Get back to The Magic Box asap.”
Tara’s chest tightened, her heart was going a million miles a minute. Last they had heard, the dark Slayer had turned herself in and was trying to start the journey of paying for all she had done. However, the last time they saw her, was a completely different story. There was also this feeling that had been slowly building in her since they had discovered her now ex-lover and her pretty much adopted sister were no where to be found. She didn’t know what made her believe it, or know that it wasn’t just her anxiety and fear, but she just knew. Something was very wrong with Willow.
-x-
Chapter 4~
Everything was blurry, and all she could hear was a high pitched ringing in her ears. Dawn pushed her arms up from the ground, trying to make sense of anything. The young brunette closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, remembering what her sister taught her about focus. One thing at a time.
They had been fighting two Turok- Han, when several bringers joined the fight. Faith had dispatched one of the two ugly beasts, and took over helping Melody with the other, while she had started on the bringers. As her sword clashed with knives and her feet met with robed chests, the dark Slayer’s commands to fall back were just words in the air. Dawn could no longer see their vampire ally, and Faith was starting to get overwhelmed with the dark priests while still trying to take down the ancient vampire.
The youngest Summers took another deep breath. Remembering, or trying to. Everything seemed to slow down after being told to retreat, flashes of previous battles, other hellmouths, Buffy’s death, Xander’s, more fighting, the axe. It started going faster. Was her life flashing before her eyes? Was this death?
There was a house full of potentials, constant noise, Spike had a soul, her mother… but not her mother. The First. Then the halls of Sunnydale high, fighting demons from dirt, Willow…. No. Dark Willow, Tara’s body on the floor. It just kept going.
Threatening Spike, Xander walking away in his tuxedo, Riley and his wife, the car crash, and Tara packing. Then there was nothing. She was on the ground. Her vision still blurred out, her ears still singing in high pitch. Blinking hard several times, the sound of Buffy’s voice cut through her brain from memory, ‘You have 5 senses, Dawn. If one isn’t working right, you have to use the other four. Can’t see? Listen. Can’t listen, feel. Even smell can give you a clue to your surroundings.’ Dawn smirked despite her situation, remembering Buffy’s training and the following sentence, ‘I would really only use taste if you have nothing else left, maybe not even then….’ She would never forget the look Buffy had when she spoke that last part.
What did she feel? Her hands moved through something soft, lush. The young woman had almost forgotten the feathery feel and earthy smell of grass. It had been a long while since they had last encountered living grass. Dawn tried to focus her eyes, things were still extremely fuzzy, but she could make out that it was night. She could see the outlines of things, but as she must be outside, it definitely wasn’t bright enough for sunlight, even on a cloudy day. The harsh tone in her ears was finally dulling a little, and she made out what sounded like her name being called. Processing the other words wasn’t working quite yet, as they sounded like low garbles.
Suddenly, there was pain. In several places. One in particular was the scar where her left cheek was sliced open back at the last hellmouth battle. It was like it was a fresh wound again. Seconds, minutes, hours? She couldn’t tell as what seemed like every wound she had ever sustained seemed new again, re-opened. Her thighs and calves ached as if she had been running for days. Torture. That was the only possible conclusion Dawn could come to.
“Mother fucker, that stings like a bitch!” came a, very sudden, clear cry from somewhere off to her side.
The young Summer’s body started to relax. Her eyes were still closed from the sudden agony, as she took several deep breaths. The pain had started to waver off, though everything felt sore as hell. Baby blue eyes popped open and she found that, even though dizziness had set in quite a bit, the blurred vision had subsided. There was moonlight, lighting the vast expanse of grass around her, and the large oak tree she was now near.
Slowly and painfully turning her head to the other side by lifting it slightly, Dawn spotted Faith. The dark Slayer must have been experiencing her own suffering as she was tensed up with a handful of grass, also lying on her stomach. Faith’s deep brown met her blue as the older brunette finally seemed to relax as well.
“Hey, D. You alright?” She was breathing hard and fast, the cut over her lip seemingly raw, as if it wasn’t quite finished healing yet. Faith’s concern for Dawn showed in her facial expression and eyes. Dawn simply nodded, hoping it would continue to be true, now that things seemed to be calming, “Ok, well that’s one good thing. Any ideas what just happened?”
Dawn shook her head, “Where are we?”
The Slayer lifted an eyebrow, giving the young woman a completely crazed look, telling the younger girl all she needed to know. Which was pretty much ‘How the hell would I know?’
“Right,” she almost smiled at Faith. They both seemed to get the same idea, it was time to get up. The thought was even a struggle, much less the act.
Faith was the first to actually make it to a sitting position, and upon reaching it, she immediately turned her head opposite Dawn’s direction and emptied whatever contents her stomach held. Seeing this, Dawn seemed to think twice about rushing herself. The Slayer wasn’t one for puking usually, so she had very little hope of being exempt from the same fate. Laying her head back down, she took in several slow, deep breaths, then even slower movement to simply boost her torso up off the ground, using her elbows and arms to stabilize the position. Her head was pounding, and she was still feeling slightly dizzy.
A groan sounded behind them and Faith slowly tried to turn towards the sound, “Shit! Mermaid, you alright over there?! Shit!”
“What? What’s wrong with Melody?” Dawn was still having trouble keeping her current position. Turning around wasn’t happening just yet.
“I see blood, D. I think she’s hurt from the fight,” Faith’s Slayer powers seemed to be helping her gain some more traction quicker than her younger companion as she made her way to a crawling position, “D, take your time. Don’t rush it. She’s only a few feet behind us. I’ll check her out.”
Dawn heard the shuffle behind her and the subsequent silence that let her know Faith had made it to the vampire. She looked over to the oak tree again, noticing a carving she couldn’t quite make out on the side. Then her eyes fell on just the slightest bit of red hair flowing behind the base of the tree, “Willow!” She immediately sat up, pain rushing to her head, and copying Faith’s earlier impression of drunk party girl.
“Careful, Dawn! Fuck, give me a heart attack,” Faith said with exasperation, “Mermaid’s down for the count. She’ll heal, but knowing her heal time normally, I’d say she might be out for a day or so. It’s a stab in the upper shoulder, probably barely missed her damn lung. She ain’t bleeding much anymore. How the hell long we been lying here?”
The younger brunette wasn’t listening. After having thrown up herself, she had slowly started to crawl towards the tree, avoiding the mess she had made. Collapsing as she rounded the large wood base with the witch finally in sight, “Willow!” she shook the redhead with no response. Immediately she checked for a pulse, letting go a shaky breath as she found a strong one, “Willow’s alive.” She gasped out, “I don’t see any wounds.”
Dawn couldn’t see the Slayer from her position, but brown eyes looked sorrowful, knowing that a pulse meant nothing if what she think happened had actually happened, “That’s good, Dawn. Just… stay with her. Don’t try to move much right now.”
The younger woman rested from her seemingly giant move of five feet, and forced herself up to rest against the thick trunk of oak, blue eyes skimmed around the side of the tree again. The carving was more visible now, as she made out a heart beautifully shaped into the wood, “W&T Always”.
“What?” came Faith’s tired reply, “What are you talkin’ ‘bout, D?”
Realization started coming to Dawn’s brain, as she turned towards the unconscious redhead once again. She now noticed Tara’s picture was clasped in Willow’s right hand, the edges burned and torn. Tara was still visible, as beautiful as ever, leaning against a, now, very familiar tree. Her angelic smile directly beside the very same carving. Wide eyes came around the trunk to stare into exhausted brown ones, “We’re in Sunnydale…..”
-x-
Xander and Tara sat in silence during the drive. The Bronze had been a negative and way too loud for them during their anxious search. It had also taken entirely too long for their liking, sorting through the crowd. Sunnydale High was deserted, to the relief of both of them. They had called out for Willow and Dawn, but to no avail. As they saw no signs of new prints on the dusty floors and silence was the only sound, they didn’t do a search of the whole school grounds. Buffy was doing a patrol through the various cemeteries and both of Sunnydales’ parks, and the theater was closed.
The car turned into the last place they were going to check before heading back to the Magic Box, where Giles and Anya were already trying to narrow down any kind of spell or cause for random breaking lightbulbs and mysterious vanishing. The bright lights of U.C Sunnydale campus flicked through the windows, betraying the grim mood in The Xandermobile. The Maroon Ford Taurus cruising slowly around various dorm buildings.
“Stop,” Tara’s soft voice held an urgent plea to Xander. He slowly pulled over into the dorm parking he was next to, and turned to look at Tara, concerned. Her eyes were focused into an area that wasn’t well lit, the one lamp seeming to be broken or needing replaced; the moonlight was the only real illumination for the spot.
The carpenter waited patiently. He knew the witch could sense things that he couldn’t. Xander had learned long ago to listen to his friends with the sensing powers. They usually held knowledge of something, whether or not his friends knew what it was when they sensed it.
Tara had told him about her feeling. That something was wrong with Willow. His heart was beating a mile a minute. The redhead was his best friend, confidante. He couldn’t imagine losing her. It would tear him to shreds. Even worse, what would it do to the brunette next to him? Not to mention Dawnie, as the Slayer would have an all out breakdown and slayfest if she was hurt. The rest of them would be devastated, and possibly unable to supply Buffy with the help she would need. They already seemed unequipped for her current mental status.
Sapphire eyes stared into the space for what felt like forever, but to the real world was only two or three minutes. Something had happened there, it felt heavy and thick, even from the few hundred feet away they were. It was definitely witchcraft, and she detected a familiarity in the essence. Like it was Willow, but it wasn’t. Xander’s voice broke through her train of thought.
“What’s the what? We dealing with danger demons over there or hell spells? Maybe a little vampire party?” The man’s joke voice came out, his personal defense against pain and misery.
She knew they couldn’t waste anymore time, it was either go check it out, or move forward. As the essence seemed to pull her a bit, Tara opted for a quick check, “I d-don’t know. It doesn’t feel dangerous? Just really… heavy. We should go check it out. Just in case. Plus it’s dark, we can’t see over there cause the lights busted, and it’s W-Willow’s favorite tree.”
“Is it a Willow tree?” he gave a goofy grin to the witch.
Tara let out the slightest smirk as blue eyes fell on his, he really could lighten their hearts even in the worst of times, “No, that’s MY favorite type of tree.”
They shared a quick moment, allowing them to gather strength from each other. Then, Xander reached back behind him, coming up carefully with an axe, “Cross and holy water in the glove compartment,” he stated, tilting his head towards It for Tara to take the hint. She gave an almost indecipherable nod and reached for the items before reclosing the latch and pocketing both in the long brown sweater she still wore. The witch gave him one last look before exiting the vehicle.
She jumped when she heard the trunk pop behind her. Xander gave an apologetic smirk before reaching in and grabbing a stashed flashlight. She turned back towards their destination as she heard him close the vehicle up softly and come up to her side, beam of light already pointed in front of them.
Their walk was almost silent, neither daring to say anything to further attract any unwanted attention. Only the slight footsteps echoed out quietly into the night air. The carpenter followed next to Tara, only a step or so behind as she knew where she wanted to go. His flashlight finally came to rest on the head of a woman, bowed as if she had just fallen asleep, under a huge oak tree.
Xander’s first instinct was to help. It always had been. He ran ahead the ten feet or so, immediately searching her neck for a pulse or puncture as he set the axe down in front of the unconscious woman. Looking up at Tara with a somewhat relieved expression, he paused. The witch’s eyes were wide as she stared at the woman. In confusion, the carpenter turned back to her and lifted her head up, holding his flashlight to her face, “Dawn?!”
For the second time that night, Tara’s heart seemed to stop. It felt like Dawn, her aura, her energy. When Xander revealed her face, it wasn’t Dawn. At least…. Not the teenag’ one they had been searching for. Her clothes were shreds, her face held a very new looking, red scar on her left cheek, and even more confusing, the young woman looked as though she’d aged at least five years.
“What?....” Tara couldn’t finish her question. The flashlight beam had swooped to the side of the youngster, revealing trademark red hair fanned out over the grass.
-x-
Buffy’s patrol wasn’t turning up anything. Willy’s had been a bust, and the cemeteries were empty except for the three single vamps she had come across and subsequently slayed. The blonde was making her way to the gate now, to go check the first of the two parks she was assigned before checking in with the rest of them.
The Slayer stopped cold, her senses on alert, before identifying the current pursuer, “Spike! Not the time. Unless you happen to know where Willow or Dawn are, I suggest you either slink back to your crypt or help me look for them,” she turned towards the vampire before adding, “Away from me.”
“Hey now. Relax, Goldilocks. Just havin’ a walk after today’s wonderful trip down no memory lane and saw you patrollin’ is all,” he held his hands up to signal his ‘innocence’, “What’s this about Niblet and Red missing?”
Before Buffy had the chance to respond, Tara’s voice rang in her head clear as a bell and very fearful, “UC Sunnydale, outside Porter Hall.”
“What about it?” Buffy spoke out loud, getting a confused look from Spike.
He wondered if she was losing it as he replied, “You just said they were missing, Slayer.”
She gave him a shut up look, “I’m talking to Tara!” before trying to concentrate again to the voice in her head.
“GET HERE!” Tara’s voice was full of fear and desperation. Then it was gone. The blonde looked at Spike for only a split second before taking off toward campus. The look on her face only increasing Spike’s curiosity as he followed swiftly behind her.
-x-
Chapter 5~
The speed at which Buffy was moving could only be described as lightening. Even Spike was having a hard time keeping up as the Slayer ran through the streets of Sunnydale. They passed by three other cemeteries, a grocery store, and even flashed by the Magic Box.
Spike noticed the lights were on in the shop and had at first wondered if that’s where she was headed. As she flew past, he briefly wondered if he should inform whoever was inside, but as he had no idea where she was going, put that idea out of his head quickly. She was gaining ground ahead of him already, and he didn’t want to lose site of her.
She didn’t care that the vampire was following her, or that Giles might want to know something was up. It didn’t matter that her lungs felt as if they were going to burst or that her heart was practically pounding out of her chest. Even the Slayer had limits, and Buffy was pushing them to the max. She had never heard such fear in Tara’s voice, or such demand for her attention from the witch.
While her and the brunette had never really gotten a chance to be super close, she loved and trusted the witch sincerely. As she had been in the ground, Tara had become Dawn’s main comfort. Not that Willow hadn’t done her fair share like helping with homework and such, but she was more involved with the technical side of the Slayer’s life and keeping up with making sure the ‘Buffy’ bot kept going and Dawn stayed where she belonged. With her family.
Her thoughts came to a halt as she rounded the last corner she needed and spotted Xander’s car in the lot of Porter Hall. Wild hazel eyes searched for only seconds before seeing what looked like a beam of light in a dark area of grass to the west of the dorm. She heard Spike’s footsteps finally catching up to her as her legs began moving her towards the flashlight.
“Tara?!” The Slayer let out in a hushed tone as she searched out the figure of the brunette witch, “What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Did you find them? Is Xander….” Her voice trailed off as her eyesight didn’t need a flashlight to see in the dark.
Xander was leant over a passed out woman she didn’t recognize, and who had a very bloody looking shoulder injury, though it was dried blood. Next to her was the Dark Slayer herself. Faith was passed out, seemingly dead if it weren’t for the slight movement of her chest signaling breath. She looked completely mangled, much like the other woman. Xander looked up at Buffy’s arrival, “They both have a pulse,” he whispered, “Somehow.”
The blonde then looked over to where Tara was hovering over another woman leaned against a tree, with Willow’s red hair trailing by her knee. Buffy wasn’t prepared for seeing her best friend torn up like the others. She seemed different somehow. Not just cause of the patches of dirt, blood, and grime mixed with shredded clothing and the very angry unhealed scar across her right eye. It was also as if she hadn’t seen her in years, “What the hell happened? They’ve been missing for less than two hours! We need to get them to a hospital. Like now.”
“Buffy,” Tara’s voice was shaky. She looked up at the Slayer finally giving her a good look at the woman the witch had been trying to wake up, “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” Tears streaming down her face as she watched recognition reach Buffy’s eyes.
There were a lot of things in this world that the Slayer had seen. Things that no one could ever dream of, even in their worst nightmares. Surprise didn’t come to her anymore, or at least it was as rare as a ‘blue moon’ as some would say. This blew almost everything she had ever experienced out of the water. Her little sister, not only torn up like the others, but it wasn’t the same girl she saw just hours before. In fact, she wasn’t a ‘girl’ at all, but a woman.
“Dawn.” The name slipped past Buffy’s lips in a soft whisper. She knelt down in front of her sister, immediately searching for a pulse. After she found one, Hazel eyes met sapphire, “What happened?” Her voice no louder then before.
Xander piped up behind them, “Buff, this is how we found them.”
“Bloody hell, is that…. Is that Dawn? And Red looks like she’s been through a shredder.” Spike’s voice, though louder than the others, still held a low volume. His own azure eyes took In the scene, looking over towards Xander before returning to Dawn’s unconscious form.
Buffy took a deep breath, “Have any of them been conscious at all?”
“No, Faith groaned a l-little when Xander shook her, but no one has woken up,” Tara replied. She was visibly shaking as she moved to her ex-lover, her hand cupping the redhead’s cheek and softly tracing the scar across her eye. The witch couldn’t fathom the events that may have lead to all this. Her love, her light, lying here, looking as if she’d walked through a house of mirrors that shattered around her. Even weirder, there wasn’t any blood. Well, except for the mystery woman near Faith. All the scrapes, cuts, scars and bruises looked as if they’d just begun healing, but not a drop of blood on the skin around them. Only what looked like old and dried blood in random places on their tattered clothing.
Buffy looked towards Tara once again, “Why not the hospital?” It seemed like a good place, especially for the woman with a stab wound.
“T-there’s no blood, Buffy. Well, except,” Tara trailed off looking over towards Xander, “and it seems as though its healing. Something isn’t adding up. I’m not sure getting a doctor and possibly the police involved is a g-good idea. Especially since we don’t know Faith’s involvement, and she’s kind of, um, not supposed to be here…”
“We need to at least get them somewhere inside and safe,” Buffy took charge of the situation, pushing her emotions back as she realized they were outside, at night in Sunnydale. Whatever had attacked them could still be out here somewhere, “Let’s move them to Xander’s car, then get them to my house.”
While he was more than happy with getting the unconscious people into a safer environment, Xander remembered the earlier events of that evening, “Buffy. Your place is currently palace of glass shards. Probably not a great fit just now.”
Buffy’s eyes met chocolate brown ones across five feet of grass, “Crap, ok, plan B. Um… it’s either the shop or your place then, Xander.”
“My place. Anya won’t be happy, but we have a spare room we can stick Dawn and Willow in. Faith can go in the recliner, you can tie her up there if you feel like we should. This other girl, we don’t know her, but she seems to be the one most injured. We can put her on the couch, keep a close eye on her for both her health and our safety,” he took in the injury on the woman’s shoulder again.
Buffy nodded. Now it was just getting them to the car, “Ok, we have a plan. Spike, take Willow to the car first. Tara, go with him so you can sit with her while he comes back and carries someone else.”
“No, I c-can carry her I think. If she’s too heavy, I can use a spell to lighten her. We should do this as quick as possible,” Tara stated as she moved into position to pick up Willow. One major thing she had already noticed, the redhead was definitely a lot thinner than two hours ago, though her muscles seemed a bit more defined.
The Slayer nodded, looking over to Spike and pointing in the direction of Xander and the other two. Spike took his place next to the wounded woman while Xander bent to pick up the Dark Slayer. Buffy easily scooped Dawn up with her superior strength, though awkward, as it seemed the teenager had gone through quite the growth spurt in the last few hours.
Tara carefully placed her arms under her love, lifting with her legs. She was surprised, as well as saddened, to find that it was not that difficult. Staring at the, somehow, serene face of her Willow, more tears assaulted her vision.
-x-
The trip to his apartment was silent because his car was full of unconscious people. Thankfully it was only a few blocks, as the group realized that they would have to walk, while Xander drove. He looked in the mirror at the three women in the back, his best friend in the middle. Then he peered over at Dawn in the front seat. The young woman’s hair in a very messy ponytail, her breathing normal as if sleeping. Xander made sure to drive slow and careful, so not to throw anyone around. Even with seatbelts, he didn’t want to jostle them much. He only reached his place, maybe, five minutes ahead of the rest of them.
When they arrived, each member took their charge again, making their way into the building. The young man was thankful he hadn’t run into any of his neighbors, not sure what excuse he would use to explain away the situation.
Tara and Buffy immediately turned to the spare bedroom upon entering, and Xander made his way softly to his favorite chair. He gently put Faith down. Whatever this was, it didn’t feel like Faith was the bad guy. She was as torn up as the rest of them and they had found no weapons around the area. Realizing Spike hadn’t followed him in, he turned back to the door and gave him an annoyed look, “You coming?”
“Well, I thought I would just stand in the hall and admire the view…. Of course I’m coming you dunderhead, but I need to be invited in ya know,” the vampire rolled his eyes.
Xander almost wanted to just take the woman from his arms and close the door in his face, but the fact that the vampire hadn’t even so much as questioned anything tonight, just did as was asked to help, he thought better of it. Waving his arms in an overdramatic gesture towards the couch he stated, “I invite you in, Spike.”
The blonde vamp stepped across the threshold, careful in his steps, before placing the injured brunette on the couch. Then he turned to look as Buffy entered the room again, “Xander, phone?”
The young man pointed to the counter, and Buffy made her way over, quickly dialing a number and putting it to her ear, “Anya, it’s Buffy. Yea, we found them. Tell Giles to get what you need, and come to your place asap,” There was a pause, as the blonde gave an annoyed look at Xander, “yes, your place. Mine’s currently danger twinkle town and we have a major situation. Anya, just get here! Ugh!” She angrily hit end call, and narrowly missed slamming the phone on the counter, remembering she would probably smash it.
Brown eyes looked over apologetically, as Xander knew how Anya could be sometimes. He swung over to a cabinet, grabbing a first aid kit, and tilting his head towards the couch, Buffy nodding in understanding. She moved to help patch the girl up the best they could, while Spike peered in the spare room, then took a seat on a stool at the counter. The vampire could smell the blood, but something was off with it. He stared as they worked, trying to pinpoint what it was.
-x-
Tara had taken a chair from the corner of the room and sat on Willow’s side of the bed. She had thoroughly checked both her and Dawn to make sure there were no open wounds, or anything she had missed.
After finding nothing, Tara laid a soft kiss on Dawn’s forehead before she sat down, taking the redhead’s hand in her own. The brunette could feel the lingering magic from something big coming through Willow’s palm, but with everything going on, she couldn’t begin to guess what the other witch had cast.
She slowly drew circles over top her ex-lover’s fingers and hand, trying to come up with anything that seemed like a logical answer to what happened to all of them.
Tara was exhausted, it had been a long day. Despite having obviously been unconscious themselves half the day before the memory spell kicked in, it felt like she hadn’t slept in days. As she took some deep breaths, she caught sight of something white poking out of Willow’s pocket. Leaning over, she used the hand not holding onto the redhead to tug it loose. Whatever it was seemed to have been jammed into her pocket with haste, as it was slightly bunched up. Quickly realizing that it was also burned and torn at the edges, she unfolded it, gasping as she found herself staring back, leaning against the very tree they had found the unconscious women next to.
“Baby, I’ve tried so hard to do what I could to protect them, be there like you would have,” The words echoed through Tara’s head, soft and heartbreaking. She looked at Willow in shock, but there was no sign of any changes. She lay there as if asleep, no words, no movement except the steady rise and fall of her chest. Blue eyes blinked several times, wondering if she had imagined what she’d heard, “I promised I would always find you.” As she stared at the lips of her love, not even a single twitch could be seen, but three more words echoed through her head, “I love you.”
-x-
Chapter 6~
The ex-demon was not happy as she charged into the apartment, her arms laden with several bags of books. Giles came filing in immediately behind her, also holding bags of books. They both stopped dead in their tracks. The scene in front of them confusing and altogether concerning.
“What are we a hotel now? Cause that’s not Willow or Dawn,” she eyed Faith and then the unknown woman on the couch, also spotting Spike chilling at the kitchen island, “A murderer in the chair, an injured, blood covered person on my clean couch, and now the vampire has been invited in. That’s what a girl wants to come home to after an already a terrifying day full of unhelpful research, no memories and scary, carrot addicted fluff demons.”
“Anya…” Xander made his way over and lovingly took the bags from her hands, gently setting them on the floor by the counter before turning back to her, “We need to figure this out. Somethings of the way weird here.”
Giles set his bags down slowly in the same place, his eyes never leaving the wound covered Faith, while trying to ignore Spike’s presence. Finally he glanced over at Buffy, “Anya said you found Willow and Dawn?” he asked in confusion.
“Spare room. Tara’s in there,” Buffy replied from her stance by the couch. She saw Giles make a move to see for himself and quickly stopped him, “Giles,” her eyes were a mix of serious, and deep sadness, “Before you go in there, something’s definitely going on.” The Slayer had no idea how she was going to describe it.
Giles looked over to her concerned, and Anya hugged Xander close fearing what was happening, “What’s going on, Buffy? Are they… are they hurt?” Giles gentle tone soothed her slightly, even though it was full of worry.
“Willow’s almost torn to shreds in scars, and Dawn… she’s older…. I think,” Buffy couldn’t really get the right words.
“Older? What do you mean, Buffy? Like an old woman? And if Willow has wounds, why didn’t you take her to the hospital?” All Giles wanted to do was go to the room now, to see both their faces. The Slayer’s demeanor was making him start to panic a bit. This was his family, both Willow and Dawn were a part of it. He hoped this wasn’t something Willow had done. She was too much like him, more than the others. He should have stopped this earlier.
Xander decided to help out his best friend, “We found all of them passed out under a tree on campus. Willow looks worse than Faith, but no open wounds like, uh, whoever that is,” he pointed to the couch, “Buffy and I patched her up, though it seemed to be healing weirdly fast already. Dawn’s not as bad as any of the rest of them, but….” He trailed off as lost as Buffy.
Anya had enough of the non description, and just charged to the doorway of the guest room. The first one she identified was Tara, the blonde witch having jumped at her sudden appearance. Then her eyes slid onto the redhead’s still form next to Tara, and her eyes went wide at the scars, noticing they looked at least a day old, but they hadn’t been there a few hours ago. Willow also looked different, much thinner and even in sleep, exhausted. Then she trained her sight on Dawn, who was definitely no longer a teenager. A cold chill went down her spine. The books weren’t going to help.
Giles had followed her into the room, his hand now over his mouth, wide brown eyes took in the same scene, “What on earth?” He spoke after he lowered his hand, walking to Dawn, bending down to examine her face. His sorrowful eyes inspected the large scar on her cheek, as his hand made a fatherly move to swipe a loose a strand of hair from her face.
They both backed out of the room, but before she made it all the way, Anya turned to look into Tara’s tired and worried gaze, “You may want to join us at the table.” The ex-demon whispered.
Tara gave Anya a confused look, but carefully put Willow’s hand to her lips, kissing it, before laying it softly on the bed. Getting up, she followed everyone out to the main room, “What did you find?”
“Nothing yet,” Giles replied quietly to the young witch, confused as to why she seemed to think they had found anything, “but we brought the books I think will be most helpful.”
Anya sat down at the table, heavily leaning her head in her hands, “None of those books will help here.”
Everyone in the room looked directly at her, seeming to freeze in place, before Buffy went to stand in front of the woman, directly across the table, “You know what this is?” It came out more a statement then a question. Anya nodded, and Buffy looked at her expectantly, “Well?!”
Giles immediately took a seat at the table as well, signaling the others to join him. He could feel this may be a long discussion. Anya wasn’t one to procrastinate, especially where she knew things others didn’t. He knew she rather loved showing off her knowledge.
“I’ll warn you now, this can’t be good. I’m not a hundred percent that this is what I think it is, but everything kind of adds up,” Anya began.
“Just get with explaining Anya!” Buffy’s patience was wearing thin, this day just wouldn’t end. Her best friend and sister were unconscious and torn up in the next room, while her darker half was in the same boat not ten feet from her.
The ex-demon nodded, sensing the waves of fear coming from the Slayer, “Time travel. I think… I don’t believe those are the Willow and Dawn we had earlier. At least not as we remember them. If I’m right,” Anya paused trying to figure out the best way to explain, “Well, I don’t want to be right.”
“Dear lord. What…how….” Giles couldn’t even began to find the right questions. Removing his glasses, he began to furiously clean them.
Tara’s attention was strictly on the knowledgeable woman sat next to her, the world shifting with every word she put to voice. There was no doubt in Tara’s mind. If Anya was right, Willow had done this.
“Wait. Time travel? Why? And how are they this torn up? Oh God,” Xander’s eyes went wide and his fingers started tapping the table nervously.
Spike, who had not joined them in sitting but stood his arms leaning on the counter, lifted an eyebrow at him, still wondering exactly how the boy had managed to survive this long, “You just answered one of your questions with another question, Lackbrain. They’re torn to shreds probably a reason for why they felt the need to go backwards, ya?”
“Spike’s probably not completely wrong,” Anya began again, “This spell has consequences, one major one specifically.” She couldn’t look Tara in the eye. She would cry. She didn’t know why she felt like that, but she knew she would, “The scars first off. Most will hopefully disappear. They represent any injuries that have occurred since our time and theirs. The only ones that would remain are ones that actually left a permanent scar. Their present bodies had to catch up with the future ones. It’s very painful, and probably why all of them are currently pulling a Giles with being heavily unconscious.”
At this Giles sighed, giving the girl a dry look, while Buffy stood from her chair and started pacing. Anya continued, “They are all scars and not open wounds because in their time, they were probably all healed. Dawn may even be experiencing major muscle pain in her legs because she looks like she’s grown a few inches.”
Buffy clenched her fists and took a deep breath, “Growing pains on steroids. Will looks as if she lost weight, probably feeling that at hyper speed as well?”
Anya bit her lip at the mention of the redhead but continued explaining, “Right. They are probably going to be out for awhile. Teleporting from wherever they are, transforming into their future bodies, going backwards in time up to three years…” Anya ticked off the issues on her fingers, “It’s a lot for the human body to handle. Not to mention the girl with the new wound. It may have been pretty new, but not immediate? Just started healing in her time. Hence the faster healing.”
“Three years?” Tara finally spoke up herself, “How do you know how f-far back they came?”
Anya still couldn’t look at the witch, “Up to. Up to three years. Several other people have done this. I even knew one of the groups. The longest traveled back was three years. Willow’s powerful and intelligent, she would have probably managed the longest amount of time.”
“Ok, so why don’t a whole bunch of people just go and pull a Dr. Who? I mean, yea, ouch, and some unconscious adventures after, but that doesn’t seem to be all encompassing of bad consequences,” Xander wasn’t quite sure why more people wouldn’t try to change things in their past. Everyone had regrets. How had they not seen this yet in all their Scooby years?
Giles looked grim at the young man, “We aren’t at the worst of it yet are we, Anya?”
Anya started to fidget, shaking her head and her eyes downcast at the table, “No one….” She sighed. Tara at least deserved to be looked in the eye. That’s what humans did, they delivered bad news with clarity and eye contact, “Something really bad had to be happening. Cause I don’t think… even with how she’s been lately…” Anya was visibly shaking and still staring at the table. Xander immediately took her hand in his, gently, trying to soothe his fiancé.
Anya gave him an appreciative smile. This was going to be difficult. Tara was her best friend of the group. She accepted her for who she was. She never got angry like most of them with her ways, or even nicely corrected her like Xander did. She just gently explained what Anya was doing different, and then let her decide how she wished to move forward with that information.
She took a deep breath, looking into saddened sapphire eyes and as predicted, tears started to well in her own, “The spell caster has never woken up.”
Tara’s world felt like it was spiraling. Willow wasn’t going to wake up? She may have been angry, even breaking their relationship due to the redhead’s actions as of late, but her heart still belonged to her Willow. It always would. Her breathing started coming in gasps, tears streaking down her face freely.
Seeing the state the young woman was in, Giles quickly realized she was losing control, moving to her side. He encompassed her in his arms, rubbing her back, softly saying the word, “Breathe.” Over and over.
The rest of the group weren’t holding together either, Anya clinging to Xander’s side, hugging him as hard as she could while the information was sinking in and tears also stained his face. Buffy had slid down the wall of the apartment, once again wondering if she was in hell. Willow had ripped her out of heaven, brought her back to the suffering that was her life as a Slayer. She knew the redhead had meant it in the best of intentions, but now having to do all this without her best friend by her side, giving her strength, was definitely the topping on the worst cake ever made. Even Spike was at a loss for what to do, his face saddened and shocked.
“No. I don’t accept this,” Xander’s voice broke the silence, sounding hard, “We can get her back.”
“Xander, it takes a lot of power to enact a spell such as this, and as with all spells, it takes a choice to do so,” Giles’s voice was soft and filled with grief, “There’s no way Willow didn’t know the consequences.” He was still holding onto Tara, wishing he had more arms, as Buffy looked as though she needed him at this moment as well.
Xander looked to the older man, anger filling his eyes, “What does that matter?! We change it. We always find a way to change it.”
Anya pulled him closer, “We can’t always change everything. There’s some things we just can’t control.”
“No!” Xander let go of her and stood up, both hands now placed on the back of Anya’s chair as he addressed the room, “This isn’t like someone died. I get bringing Buffy back wasn’t our call, and while I want to say I’m sorry, I’m not. I love Buffy. Having her back, it makes this world better. I AM sorry for what it’s put you through though, Buffy.” He looked over to the Slayer, his voice wavering.
He looked to the rest of them before continuing, his voice strong again, “Willow has a pulse. We have to bring her out of this! She’s done things no one has ever thought could be done. Buffy was in a catatonic state, Willow went in to get her. Tara was brain sucked from Glory, Willow faced that hell bitch one on one to bring her back. No one thought that could be done! Giles thought we had to kill Dawn for God sake! We figure stuff out. I get the resurrection thing was a one off, but Will’s not dead and we need to stop acting like it! She found a way out of whatever hell they were going through in the future, we can find a way to bring her out of the hell she put herself in doing so! We can do this!” His eyes were desperate, seeking any hint that someone agreed with him, “We can get her back.” His final words a whisper.
To everyone’s surprise, it was Spike who spoke next, and in defense of Xander, “Well, hell, Red hadn’t done a single spell ever, before successfully getting Captain Forehead a soul back. That’s not newbie stuff. ‘Course her easier spells never seem to work out, spending the night running around as Randy Giles isn’t exactly going to be my favorite memory to look back on.” The vampire stated as he started the process of lighting a cigarette.
“HEY! No smoking in my house!” Xander looked offended, “Go on the balcony! And don’t put it out on my railing or throw the filter on the ground.”
Spike rolled his eyes again, “It’s an apartment, not a house, and I was coming to your defense, you moron. How ‘bout a bit of appreciation?”
“We appreciate you for your input, but not for attempting to give us lung cancer or make my apartment smell gross,” Anya piped up.
“That’s a laugh, I’ve now smelled the cheese you have in your fridge. My smoke smells better than that. A rotting body smells better than that,” he made his way to the balcony door and unceremoniously let himself out, leaving the door open to hear the discussion further.
Buffy finally stood back up, having gathered herself, she put back on her Slayer persona, “Xander’s right. Willow’s alive. We can find a way. Whatever brought them back to this time, we can deal with it as well as find a way to wake her up.”
Giles had finally let go of Tara, seeing as she seemed to have calmed a bit, “I’m not saying we don’t try, but neither of you two seem to understand that magic isn’t the fix all. Haven’t you been paying attention today?”
Tara stared at the wall, she knew what was coming. If they did find something, it was going to be up to her to do the spell. She wasn’t Willow. She didn’t have the power the redhead had. Not to mention she had never tread the line of dark magic that her love was always prepared to walk.
Until recently, the younger witch had always walked that line unafraid simply because she would do anything for the ones she loved. Now it seemed as though it was to get whatever she wanted. At least, for the Willow she had been leaving. The one in the next room may have gotten better…. Or worse. One thing was still very clear, Willow Rosenberg was still willing to risk everything of herself for the people she cared about, or else they wouldn’t be having this discussion.
The conversation seemed to have reached an impasse. They all looked between each other, not sure what the next move was. Buffy, once again, took the helm, “We’re all exhausted, and none of them are waking up right now. I also need to get my house cleaned up, there’s more room there.” She looked to Xander’s chocolate eyes, still red rimmed from tears, “While it’s a nice place, you two might feel a bit cramped with all this.”
“Anyone inside this apartment right now is always welcome as long as they like,” Xander gave a small smile, grateful Spike was technically still outside with his cigarette.
Anya gave him wide eyes, then turned to the rest of the group, giving her cheeriest fake smile, “Yes! You are welcome here and will not burden or annoy us in any way.”
Giles smirked at her, “I’ll help Buffy with the cleaning tomorrow and we will move everyone in the evening.” Anya looked visibly relieved.
-x-
Ariel
Last edited by Chaosbleeds2 on Tue Jan 30, 2024 11:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Yay for posting the next chapter so quickly!
Classical Anya comments!
