Title: Easter Fright

Email: unidagger@hotmail.com
Feedback: Yes, please!
Distribution: Just let me know.
Spoilers: none
Pairing: W/T, B/S, X/A…you know, the usual *G*
Rating:
Disclaimers: Joss and Co. own the BTVS chars, no infringement intended.
Summary: Easter takes a frightening turn of events….could Anya's fears be based on fact?

NOTE: There are bunnies but none were harmed (much) in the writing of this tale; no strange men with cheese slices appearing for no reason.

Part 1

"Oh, look, Tara." Willow said holding up a 'Strangers In Paradise' comic book for Tara to view. "They have the new one already."

Tara smiled, "We should get it then. We can snuggle after class and read it together."

The red head returned the smile, adding a wink, "What a stellar idea!"

The girls decided to also pick up a couple X-men comics for Dawn before heading for the counter where they passed a large Angelina Jolie poster advertising the actress's latest movie.  Willow came to a complete stop as she stared at the picture, a smile forming on her lips. Tara, not seeing that her partner had come to a complete stop as her own eyes were glued to the image, bumped into her with a startled 'oh!'

    "We could…." Willow paused, nodding towards the poster meaningfully. Tara looked at the poster again. "But we hardly have room for all the angie posters as it is, Will." This earned her a pouty-Willow look. Then the puppy eyes shone forth, pleading unmercifully. "Pleaassseeee?" Willow begged.

Tara took a deep breath, her resolve fading quickly as she glanced from the sexy pose on the picture to her cute redheaded lover. She rolled her eyes as she gave in, "Okay, okay. You know I can't say no to you."

Willow clapped her hands excitedly and raced over to grab a copy of the poster, carrying it triumphantly to the register. They left the comic shop with Willow babbling about how they could rearrange their poster-shrine, and headed across the street to meet their friend, Buffy, for mochas. 

As they entered the coffee shop they noticed Buffy was sitting in their usual booth, but her usual cheery smile had been replaced with a worried frown. "Uh oh." Willow muttered. The two witches took their seats at the booth and waited for the news.

"What's wrong?" Willow inquired as the waitress walked over carrying a tray of their 'usual'.  The girl placed their mugs down then stepped over to another table as two men sat down.  Buffy looked from Willow to Tara, then sighed. "Xander is freaking out. Or rather Anya is and you know how jumpy that makes Xander." Willow and Tara nodded emphatically, well aware of what state of mind Xander must be in.

"What is it this time?" Tara asked.

"Tomorrow." Buffy answered simply.

"Umm…huh?" Willow paused, her cup inches from her lips. She slowly set it back on the table and asked again, "Huh? Tomorrow? What's tomorrow?"

"Easter, silly." Tara answered, then looked at Buffy, "But…what about Easter?"

"Anya….bunnies…." Buffy reminded.

"Ohh!" The two witches responded simultaneously.

Tara frowned. "Hasn't she survived the last Easters? I mean, why is tomorrow so….bad?"  Buffy took a drink from her cup and glanced over at the men sitting quietly at the next table. "Well," The Slayer began, "according to Anya and some kind of planetary alignment or something, disaster is awaiting us…in the form of bunnies of course. Evidently these evil fur balls have some added power…or something. Xander wasn't quite sure he understood everything as she was screaming at him from the other side of the bathroom door. She hasn't come out since yesterday morning."

"Wow." Willow uttered. "So, what do we do? Research on this or just call a therapist?"

"Will." Tara gave her the 'be nice' look.

"What? They're bunnies. Just little, sweet, harmless bunnies."

"Well, horses are just – " Tara began but was quickly stopped as Willow looked at her wildly. "No No! Not the same!! Big….mean…..so not the bunnies."

Tara smiled and put her arm around her partner. "Ok. Not the same, but….fear is fear."

"And, this is the hellmouth." Buffy put in.

Willow considered this. "Ok, that could spell disaster. Especially since nothing – "

"Don't." Buffy and Tara quickly stopped her from completing her fateful sentence.

"Oh…sorry." Willow chuckled. "So what's our first move?"

"Research. If you two could start, I'll give Giles a call and then after Dawn gets home from school we'll head over and see if we can extricate Anya from the bathroom." Buffy declared as she watched the two men who were now watching her and had been for awhile. "Why do they keep staring at us?"

"Who?" the Wiccans asked, looking around.

"Them. The two guys at that table that  have been watching us this whole time." Buffy motioned with a nod.

Willow and Tara looked again but only saw an empty table. "Um, Buffy. There's no one there."

TBC…