DISCLAIMER: No infringement of copyright is intended. You know the drill, anyone appearing on or mentioned on BtVS are ME's.

RATING: K

PAIRING: Tara and Mr. Gordo

SUMMARY: Tara makes the hard decisions

EXTRA WARNINGS and or SPOILERS: None


For Keeps

by Eris © 2005 — All rights reserved.

Tara looked around the bedroom, taking every little detail. As much time as she had spent in the greater Summers' house, she had never really been in here, in Buffy's room, being the new and all. Not like Willow and Xander had over the years, and so she thought it best, easiest maybe, if she were to begin the process of preparing and packing Buffy's things for storage.

Surprisingly, as she sat silently trying to decide exactly where to begin, she was finding it much more difficult than she had ever imagined. It felt almost as if she were violating Buffy's spirit in some way by trying to box it all up. Everything suddenly seemed so personal ... but then, of course, it was personal. That was the point.

Still scanning the room, her eyes finally came to rest on a soft peach presence. Getting up, she retrieved the bright-eyed little treasure from its perch on the shelf. Mr. Gordo. This was Buffy's favorite toy out of every one she owned. Willow and Dawn had spoken so highly of him, and so often, she had originally thought he was a person. A teacher even, or possibly another Mr. Giles. Imagine her surprise and embarrassment at finding out he was just a stuffed animal.

Returning, Tara sat cross-legged on Buffy's bed, holding him, stroking his soft fur. Maybe he was a teacher: Mr. Gordo, Hug Therapy 101. He was definitely cute and gave off the good warm fuzzies. However and this was strange upon looking closer she saw he had an energy about him, an aura of brilliant green. Inanimate objects shouldn't have auras unless they were objects of power, and stuffed animals certainly shouldn't have auras at all. This played at her for a long time as she sat and stared at him trying unsuccessfully to delve deeper.

Maybe he was enchanted, or, or tainted... Oh wait, hadn't Willow said she used to make him dance for Dawnie? Only that couldn't have happened, since Dawn wasn't... She sighed. This little guy was a true enigma, and she wondered what kind of secrets he still harbored. He'd probably seen it all over the years, belonging to a slayer.

Rising, she grabbed the first empty box and set it down next to the shelf. She moved to place him inside, but stopped. She couldn't do it. No, this was Mr. Gordo. Mr. Gordo had been important to Buffy, and now he would be even more important to Willow and Dawn. Mr. Gordo had to stay. He'd have his little trotters full with the monumental task that lay ahead, and suddenly Tara realized what she had detected in him. He wasn't so much a teacher as a healer. Then again, maybe he was both. He'd just taught her a valuable lesson. She now understood why Willow and Dawn held him in such high regard.

Smiling thoughtfully, she returned to the bed, hugged him tightly and gave him a soft kiss on the snout before placing him on the coverlet in what was now the beginning of the "to keep" pile.