I got the idea for this fic years ago, when I first read the casting sides for “Hell’s Bells” (before it was even filmed) and it included a line that was cut from the script, where Xander asked the ‘Old Man’ version of himself if Willow sent him the crystal back through time. I loved that idea, this was when Willow was still “cold turkey” and it was far from clear she would get back with Tara or with magic, but even so Xander still had this faith in his Friend and her powers to make it all right. I think one of the many flaws of S7 is they ignored the Willow and Xander friendship, when so much could have been done with it. The moment in Triangle when he quickly added Tara to his “three favorite girls” was so sweet. I wanted to fill in the gaps in this world that wasn’t. I was always fascinated by the ever after for the scoobs.
Title-Hell's Bells revisited Author- drlloyd11 Rating Pg13 Disclaimer Buffy the vampire slayer belongs to Joss Whedon , until I buy it back Feedback- always appreciated. Summary- you'll see. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Anya!” Xander started to flip channels with a bored look. “Anya!” He called out again. From the hallway the kids came running in, the big brother chasing his sister with a gleeful and malign look. Easter candy smeared on their faces. “Dadaaaaad” shouted the little girl, Josh is teasing me !” Xander looked up for barely a second at the children. “Sarah is a weirdo! Sarah is a weirdo!” “The boy has a point”, he thought to himself. Her dog shaped ears a reminder of both that and his own unlikely paternity. He turns away and starts his channel surfing again, pausing at the occasional nudity. “What?”. Anya snapped. She was hovering over her husband, arms folded over her pink “Mary Kay” outfit. “Are you going out again?” he asked her, looking up from the easy-chair. “I’m doing a makeover party” she reminded him.
“I thought you hated those?”, and as Xander said this he could he tell his voice was sharp and disapproving, but he if looked back over time he would realize he did feel sympathy at that time. But resentment is stronger in a given moment.
“What does he want me to do?”, she thought? Sit home? Pick up his beer cans and police the kids and try to while away the time till she could sleep? “Someone has to make some money around here!” Xander winced, somehow he was back in the basement being bossed around, he was being humiliated in class by a teacher, or was just powerless in so many other ways he was used to. “What do you want me to do? My back is shot?” Anya’s eyes narrowed, she had heard all this before. “And whose fault is that?” There is a moment in a fight when people who love each other cross a line, they say something they can take back only so many times before the well is dry and now it’s not a mistake anymore but a shared fact. This was that moment. “Not the Buffy thing again!” “Well what where doing running around out there? You had no business fighting demons with her-“ “You used to love it!”, he shouted at her, the fight really getting to a boil. “It was so hot the way you almost got paralyzed” “Well, maybe if you'd been there, for a change, backing me up-“ It was too late to go back now “I was working! You stopped, remember? Everything stopped when you had to save the world-“ “Buffy needed me, I had to help her”. “Well it didn’t save her, did it? It only ruined our lives”. She had drawn blood, and she regretted it before his expression even changed to one of defeat. The first time she said that, she had taken it back and all was forgiven. But it was a hundred times ago. “I’ll be late”, and she started to walk out. The door slammed “I hope you crash your stupid pink car” he yelled. He sat down, angry and humiliated. But he heard the door open right back up. “Xander!!!” she shouted, He jumped up and ran to the kitchen “What!? What?! What else do you want to say to me you Bit-”, and then stopped short when he got to the doorway. Anya was standing at the door, with the two comfortably dressed ladies and their little girl standing in the doorway. Tara and Colleen looked a little stunned, but Willows smiling face was there. He suddenly remembered, they were in town to see Shelia for Passover and Willow said they would stop by first. Her pretty red hair and her bright smile stared back at him , Like she did when they were 5 or 15 or 20. But her eyes dark dead eyes ruined the effect. He had not seen them since the night he hurt his back, and Willow was burned…and Buffy..they lost Buffy” He was as glad to see his best friend as he could possibly be. She was there in the nick of time again.
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"Hey you " she said. She let go of Tara's hand ,slipped of her shoes and walked across the room to gave Xander a hug. Tara smiled, "its so nice to see old friends, especially when they *awek*" and with that she was cut off my a scary big hug from Anya. "Oh Tara, my best and most true friend in the world" Anya said while squeezing her neck with a too tight hug.. Tara and Colleen looked at its other, and then at Xander. He shrugged indicating he had absolutely no idea what was up with her either. Tara struggled loose, and then Anya moved on to Colleen. "Oh my sweet sweet little neice, such a sweet and wonderful girl" and she showered her cheeks with kisses. Before Anya could continue Josh and Sara came in, happy to see their cousin. Anya, without a moments hesitation pushed Colleen over to them like she was on fire, saying.."Look , your peer group, talk about things appropriate to your age and gender. Josh, Sarah, you remember Colleen Anne Rosenberg, your cousin". She instantly turned to Xander and Willow, why don't you two talk in the living room, and Tara and I can catch up. She put her arm tightly around a now visibly alarmed Tara ,"Us ladies can catch up". Even without her sight, Willow could feel the concern from Tara. She shrugged in that "I don't know whats going on either" way, and let Xander drag her into the Living room.
As soon as they left, Anya turned to Tara and said "We need to discuss marriage and its issues, and as my closest female friend you must join me in chocolate". Tara warily accepted the offer and sat down at the kitchen table..
-----The kids--- Sarah took Colleens hand and pulled her into the hallway with the bedrooms. After a brief tug of war with Josh over whose room to go in, the children entered Sarah's room.
"Colleen, how was England? Did you meet the Princess?" "Shut up Sarah, don't ask her dumb questions" her brother interjected. He turned to Colleen and in his most suave possible way asked if she liked horror movies with Cannibals and chainsaws.. Gently extracting her self Colleen sat down. "Is you guy's Mom alright?" "No, her and Dad fight all the time, and she keeps trying to put makeup on me and get Josh to play football". Josh nodded, "she is pretty much freaking out all the time about money and how lazy my dad is". Sarah changed the subject.."So your Mom can see with her feet?" Colleen paused ,"sort of ,or when she holds Moms hand she can see what ever she sees too. Sometimes they know the same thing at the same time". Colleen paused, self consciously aware suddenly that outside the kids whose parents are in the Coven in England or Salem, this was going to sound weird. Then again, she noticed that how Sarah's floppy ears would perk up a little like a hound dogs when she was listening, and figured maybe its not so weird. "Do you want to see my spiders?" Josh happily perked up.
---- Willow walked along the carpeting to the seat in the living room. She could feel alot of grime and grit in the carpet under her toes, a far cry from the spic and span of the hardwood floors of home. She sat down on a couch, with Xander across in his chair. "Will, Its been two years, please tell me you are back for good!" Willow smiled, "I'm just here for three days, and then we have to go back to Boston. I have a lot of work at the institute and Tara is leading the spring ritual there", she added somewhat proudly. "Maybe we can watch a movie, or go the Bronze, ok its now a TGIF, but we can eat or".. Willow stopped him. "I missed you too Xan, but its only three days" Even with her sight she could feel his face drop. She put her hand to his cheek. "We will always be friends Xan, best friends, but we are both big grownup people with little not-so- Grownup people to take care off". "I know Will, its just... I miss the old days" This was a topic Willow knew well. "Things have been tough with you and Anya?" Xander winced.."a little, we aren't honeymooners anymore". Willow grinned, I remember your wedding. Those ugly dresses. I was so glad Giles was able to come. You were so nervous and he saw how tired I was with the Magic addiction and the no Tara. He gave you a pep talk and took me and later Tara to England to train with the Coven. He really came through for us". "So Tara runs the Coven now?" "She loves it, she loves Salem and that Colleen is growing up how Tara wishes she could have". Xander got silent.."Do you think I made a mistake? Do you think we both did?"
----------------------------------- In the kitchen Anya was talking Tara's ear off, filling her in on the many short comings of her own life. "Jeepers", thought Tara,"Maybe I am her best friend, just because no one else wants the job". Anya stopped her torrent of words for a second.."Why did they do it for her, why did they get so banged up and hurt. Why didn't they keep safe? Why did they hurt them selves for her, but wouldn't stay safe with us". Tara frowned...it was going to be a long night..
To be continued.
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