A/N: Characters belong to Joss, I just play with them.
You'll Be Back
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Buffy tapped her fingers on the kitchen island, distracted. It hadn't escaped Spike and Dawn's attention either. They'd all been living under the same roof for a few weeks now and they'd gotten into a routine. They'd somehow weirdly become a family.
"Penny for your thoughts luv?" Said Spike
"Huh?" Said Buffy still distracted
"The tapping?" He asked
"Oh sorry... I uh, I'm going to drop out of college today" she told them
"What?" Said Dawn
"I know it's not exactly the best thing to do but it's what's best for right now... And it's only a semester" Buffy babbled
"Are you sure you wanna do that luv?" Asked Spike
"There's too much going on around here right now..." Said Buffy
"We've got Glory under control for now" said Spike
"It's not just Glory, it's slaying in general. Taking care of Dawn..."
"Hey, I can take care of myself" said Dawn
"I know but I've gotta make sure there's food on the table, a roof over your head... Making sure you get your homework done" said Buffy "Speaking of, you're gunna be late for school"
"I'm going, I'm going" said Dawn grabbing her book bag and leaving via the backdoor.
"I can help you out y'know" said Spike
"Really? How?" Said Buffy putting plates into the sink
"I've got a bit of money stashed away, it's not much but it'd help" said Spike
"I'm not taking your money... Plus it's probably stolen" said Buffy
"I'm not a thief... Okay well clearly I am but this is legit" he told her
"Thanks but no thanks"
"Why won't you let me help you?" He asked
"Because I don't need your help. I've got this covered okay? I've gotta go, I'll see you later" she told him leaving.
XXXXX
Buffy and Dawn sat side by side, across the desk from the Junior High Principal.
"You lied to me, Dawn?" Asked Buffy
Dawn studied her fingernails. "Didn't lie, exactly..."
"Oh, yeah? What about all the times
I asked you how school was and you
said, fine" said Buffy
"Well it was! You didn't ask if I was in it...when it was fine..." Dawn muttered
Buffy shook her head. "I don't know what to say. I guess you probably know it's been a really hard time for Dawn these last few months and not that that's an excuse-" Buffy told the Principal
"I understand. Your mother was a lovely woman and we'll all miss her very much. I know how difficult it must be"
"It is. For Dawn, especially. I mean, she's just a kid"
"Hmmm. Well...I think we both know that Dawn is a lot more than "just a kid"
Buffy and Dawn looked startled.
"She's a talented young girl with
a sharp mind. When she puts the effort in" Principal Stevens told her
Dawn self-consciously looked away.
"Look, I realise there's been some
ball dropping, but I'm sure this'll all-" Buffy stuttered
"Dawn. Why don't you wait outside for a few minutes"
Dawn threw a sheepish glance at Buffy, then stood, moved to the door and leaves. Buffy watched her go, then turned back to Principal Stevens whose demeanour became a bit more serious. They stared at each other for a moment.
XXXXX
Spike heard a knock at the front door of the Summers' house. He opened the door to find a middle-aged man standing there with a suitcase.
"Can I help you?" Spike asked, eyeballing the man curiously.
"Is Buffy or Dawn here?" He asked
"They're out... Who's asking?" Said Spike.
"I'm their father, Hank... Hank Summers" he told him
XXXXX
Buffy slumped on the training mat, her head resting against a punching bag. Giles stood.
"I don't know what to do... She's messing up. I'm messing up. It's... a mess" she told him.
"You're going to have to put your foot down with her" said Giles.
"I try. My foot's not used to being
put down. I want you to do it. Can't you be the foot-putting-downer?" Asked Buffy
"No, Buffy, I don't think so"
"Please? Pretty please? C'mon, your
feet are way bigger than mine! I mean, you're so much more a grown-up than me. She needs an authority figure, a strong guiding hand. She'll listen to you-"
"Just like you always have?"
"I listen"
He raised his eyebrows.
"I do" she said sheepishly
"Then perk up your ears. I may be a
grown-up, but you're her family. Her
only real family now. She needs you
to do this" he told her
A moment passed as Buffy let this sink in. Slowly, she dragged herself up from the mat.
"Right. She needs me" she said as she headed towards the door
"Me the grown up. Me the authority
figure. The guiding hand and stompy
foot that is me" she gave herself a pep talk
"That's the spirit" Giles smiled
"Okay, I can do this"
"I know you can"
For a second Buffy lost her gumption "Please?" She begged
"No" he said softly
"Right. Here we go. Early to bed, early to rise; balanced breakfasts; hospital corners; museum visits. It's a new beginning: discipline, authority..."
Anya comes over to Buffy with a cordless phone "Buffy it's for you. It's... Spike" she said frowning
Buffy quickly took the phone from her "Hello?" She answered
"He's what?... Okay I'll be right there" she said putting the phone down
"Is everything alright?" Asked Giles
"Yeah... My dad is at my house" she told him
XXXXX
Hank sat uncomfortably on the couch, whilst Spike stared at him from the armchair.
"So you must be Riley... You're a little different than what Buffy described. You're older than her?" Hank asked
"Name's William... Or Spike depending on your preference"
"So you live here?" Hank asked
"I suppose you could say that" said Spike.
"So you're Buffy's boyfriend or...?" Asked Hank
"I don't see what business it is of yours" said Spike
"I'm her father" he reminded him
"Right... The father that abandoned her, that went off living la vida loca in sodding Spain with some fancy piece whilst those two girls were struggling with the fact their mother had a brain tumour? The father that didn't even call them when their mother passed away?! You don't deserve those girls. They're amazing and beautiful. It's a good job they've got people around them that give a damn because their father certainly doesn't give a hoot!" Spike growled
If he could, without the chip in his brain going off he'd kill Hank where he stood. Even though Buffy wouldn't like it, he's still do it as revenge for all the wrongs he'd done.
Buffy burst through the front door, she saw Spike's face he was tensed the atmosphere was cold.
"Dad" she said looking between the two men that stood in front of her
"Hi honey" Hank spoke after a moment "William here was just telling me what I've missed out on"
"Oh?" Buffy's eyes darted towards Spike
"I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner" Hank told her
"Just a phone call would've been better than nothing" she muttered
"How are you? How's Dawnie?" He asked
"We're okay... Not doing backflips anytime soon but we're fine" said Buffy
"I would've liked to have been there for you girls for the funeral and everything" said Hank
Spike scoffed "I'll leave you to it" he said retreating to the basement.
"Strange guy... He's older than you?" He asked
"Uh yeah... He's just- just a friend" said Buffy
"He speaks highly of you, are you sure you're just friends?" Asked Hank
"I'm sure... What are you doing here?" She asked
"I wanted to make sure you're okay, Dawnie too... Where is she?"
"She's at school" said Buffy
"Well let's go get her" he said excitedly
"Uh no, she's uh been missing a lot of school lately. She'll be home soon"
"You're so grown up" he told her
"Yeah well that'll happen when you've gotta take care of a house and a younger sister on your own" Buffy snapped
"I'm sorry about that honey, but I'm here now. Dads gunna make it all better"
XXXXX
Dawn arrived home from school "Buffy? Spike? Anybody home?" She called out
"In here" said Buffy, from the dining room.
Dawn entered and saw Buffy, Spike and Hank sat around the dining room table. "Dad?"
"Hey honey" he said standing up and hugging his youngest daughter.
"What are you doing here?" She asked
"I came to make sure you girls where okay"
"We're fine... Right Buffy?"
"Yeah..." Buffy nodded
"Well I thought I could take you girls out for dinner, some place nice? My treat"
Dawn looked at Buffy who shrugged "Uh sure... I'll go change" she said making her way up the stairs.
"She looks tired Buffy, is she getting enough sleep?" Asked Hank
"Uh I think so" said Buffy
"She goes to bed at 10 sharp" said Spike
"Looks like you've got her in a routine that's good" said Hank
"She's not a kid anymore, Dad" Buffy reminded him
"Right she's becoming a teenager" he smiled
"She already is a teenager, she's fourteen" Spike told him
"I knew that of course" Hank smiled "I've been thinking... Maybe it's best for Dawn if I take her for a while"
"Take her? Take her where?" Buffy asked, in a state of panic
"Me and Brianna would love to have her. She'd love it, the sun, sea and the condo overlooks the beach" he told them
"You can't take her" said Spike
"And who are you to tell me what I can and can't do with my daughter?" Hank asked angrily
"I'm the guy that's been here" Spike yelled
"Spike..." Buffy tried to silence him
"No luv. He needs to hear this" said a Spike
Buffy sighed heavily.
"I think you told me everything earlier with your little outburst" said Hank
"I don't think I did!" Yelled Spike "You don't even know these girls, for Christ sake you didn't even know how old Dawn is. So what makes you think she'd want to come and live with you and your bint?"
"Well I-" Hank tried to retort
"Dad... Spike's right. You can't just come here and take her away. Especially not without asking her first" said Buffy
"Then I guess I'll ask" Hank told her
XXXXX
Dawn barrelled down the stairs wearing a blue sweater and black skirt with a smile plastered on her face. Her smile soon faded when she felt the tension in the room.
"Dawn, you look lovely" said Hank
"Thanks Dad" Dawn smiled uncertainly
"Are you ready to go?" He asked
"Yeah... Buffy aren't you coming?" She asked
"Uh no... Dad wants some time alone with you" said Buffy
"Well what about you?" She asked
"I'll get my time" Buffy smiled "Go have fun"
"Okay... Let's go"
Buffy watched Hank and Dawn go out of the front door, when they were out of sight she let out a huge sigh.
"You alright luv?" Asked Spike
"You just made everything a thousand times more difficult! You do realise that don't you?" She bellowed
"I was trying to talk some bloody sense into the bloke, more fool me eh?" He replied
"Spike you don't know what my father is like, you spouting at the mouth at him is gunna make him even more determined to take her away" she told him
"I was only trying to help you! God knows why I bother!"
"Then stop trying to help me!"
"I can't" he told her
"Why? Why do you always think you can fix everything?" She asked
"Because I hate seeing you like this... I hate knowing that you're hurting"
"Why?" she asked softly
"Because I..." He stopped himself and thought better of what he was about to say
"Because you what?" She prompted
"It doesn't matter..."
"Spike..." She begged
"I care, is all" he sighed "I wouldn't get my ass severely kicked if I didn't"
"I know... I know you mean well, but just leave my father to me okay?"
"Alright" he gave in
"Thank you" she gave him a small smile
"No problem"
"Spike..." She pulled him closer to her
"Yeah?" He asked looking down into her emerald eyes, becoming lost in them
Buffy didn't carry on with her sentence she put her hand to his face and traced the bruises that were still there from Glory's attack a few days ago. She gently lifted her lips and placed them upon his.
As the kiss deepened, Spike picked her up off her feet and she wrapped her legs around his torso. Suddenly he broke the kiss, she panted looking at him
"Are you sure about this?" He asked
"Yeah" she smiled and began kissing him again.
He managed to walk as far as the foot of the stairs before they toppled over. He groaned in pain
"Are you okay?" She asked
"Yeah" he smiled "Just go easy on me Slayer"
She bit her lip slightly embarrassed and they got to their feet. He grabbed hold of her hand and kissed the back of it, before leading her up the stairs.
XXXXX
Buffy lay breathless as Spike stroked her face lovingly.
"That was..." She gasped "Wow"
"Still got it have I Slayer?" He asked with a smirk
"I don't think you could ever lose that" she giggled
"Was that?... I mean did you just?" He asked
"What?" She asked self consciously
"Was that a giggle I just heard?"
"Oh shut up" she smiled
"Sorry it's just the first time in a long time I've heard you laugh... Its well... It's adorable" he smiled
"Adorable?" She asked "You think I'm adorable?"
"That among other things" he told her
"Other things?"
"Are you fishing for compliments Slayer?" He asked
"Maybe" she bit her lip
Spike was still inside her, he shifted a little making her moan in satisfaction.
"You're beautiful" he told her
"This hair... My golden goddess" he smiled running his fingers through her hair
"Your eyes, like rare emerald gemstones..."
She looked away obviously self conscious, he grinned at her.
"Hey you asked I'm telling..." He grabbed her hand and caressed it gently "These hands so strong yet so delicate"
"You are the most beautiful girl I've ever laid my eyes on" he told her
She looked at him for a moment before catching his lips with hers, she kissed him passionately. She felt his cock stiffen inside her. He slowly began to rock back and forth making her break the kiss.
"Spike..." she moaned
"Shhh you don't have to say anything" he told her
She leaned her head against his shoulder as he pleasured her.
XXXXX
Dawn and Hank came through the door giggling. "Buffy? Spike? Are you home?" Dawn called
Buffy's eyes flew open, she and Spike were still laying in bed naked. "Crap!" Buffy cursed
She grabbed articles of clothing and quickly putting them on
"I'll stay here then shall I?" He grinned
"I think that's best" she raised an eyebrow at him before running down the stairs.
"Hey..." Said Buffy cooly "Did you have a good time?"
"The best... We went to that French restaurant downtown the food was weird but the deserts were amazing" Dawn babbled
"I'm glad you had fun" Buffy smiled
"We did" said Hank
"Did you talk to her?" Buffy asked
"I uh..." Hank stuttered
"Talk to me about what?" Dawn asked
"Uh Dad thinks it'll be best for you if you go and live with him and uh Brenda" said Buffy
"Brianna" Hank corrected
"Right Brianna..." Buffy rolled her eyes
"You guys don't want me here?" Asked Dawn
"No it's not that. It's completely up to you. Y'know you can stay here or- or go with Dad" said Buffy
"Oh... Uh can I go do my homework now?" Dawn asked
"Sure honey" said Hank
Dawn slipped out of the living room, and up the stairs.
"I think she'll love it in Spain" said Hank smiling
"Spain?" Buffy asked "I thought you were talking about taking her to LA"
"Well we've decided that maybe it would be best to get Dawn away from all this and settle her down in Spain" Hank told her
"Right..."
"Well I better go help Dawn with her homework" said Hank climbing the stairs
Spike came through the front door fully clothed, Buffy looked at him.
"I thought this would've been better than coming down the stairs..." He told her
"Uh-huh"
"So what did Daddy dearest have to say?" He asked
"He wants to take her away..." She shrugged going into the kitchen
Spike followed her.
"So you're gunna let Dawn just go with him?" Asked Spike
"It might be a good idea... I mean until we've got this whole Glory situation under control" said Buffy
"We've got her under control luv" said Spike
"No we haven't! Glory could kill Dawn... Have you thought of that? How am I supposed to keep Dawn safe? She's gunna find out she's the key sooner or later and I'd rather Dawn be out of the way"
Dawn entered the room just in time to hear the end of Buffy's sentence.
"Sorry I'm such a burden!" Dawn yelled running back up the stairs
"Dawn!" Said Buffy trying to follow her before Spike pulled at her arm stopping her.
XXXXX
Dawn pushed a suitcase down the stairs and followed soon after. Hank stood smiling "Don't worry about all the big things honey, we'll buy you all new stuff" he told her
"Great" she smiled sadly
"Dawnie are you sure you wanna do this?" Asked Buffy
"Why do you care?" She asked
"Of course I care" said Buffy "I love you Dawn, I want you to be here with me"
"You can always come too" said Hank
"You know I can't do that Dad, I have things here. My friends, the house... Spike"
Spike was caught off guard he didn't know he'd be one of the people she'd stay for. They hadn't talked about everything, not even the whole robot incident. But knowing that she's stay there for him was a good start.
"Dawn I want us to be a family. A real family... But I can't do that without you. You belong here with us" Buffy told her
Dawn looked at her older sister and turned away towards the door with Hank in tow. She opened the door and gestured for her father to walk out first. She stopped at the door.
"Dawnie?" Hank frowned
"Buffy's right, I belong here. With my sister and with Spike. I have school and friends here... Maybe when school's out I can come visit?" Said Dawn
Hank smiled "Of course you can honey. I'll look forward to it"
Dawn hugged him.
"C'mon Nibblet, let's get your stuff unpacked" said Spike grabbing her suitcase and taking it up stairs
"I love you Dad" said Dawn following the vampire.
Buffy and Hank stood in silence for a moment "That offer goes to you too Buffy, you can come visit us anytime you like"
"Thank you" Buffy smiled
"Y'know I'm proud of you, you're so grown up. I know Dawn's in good hands" said Hank.
He took out a pen and scribbled down a phone number "My direct line, just in case"
"Thank you" she said taking the piece of paper.
He went on to pull out his chequebook and wrote one out and handed it to her. "This is for you girls... I want to make sure you have everything you need. Call me if you need more" he told her
"Thank you, I really so appreciate it Dad" she smiled
"Well I suppose I better get going, Brianna is waiting for me" he told her
"Tell her I said hey" Buffy smiled
"I will"
He hugged her
"Take care" he said leaving out of the open door.
Buffy watched him as he got into his fancy pants car and speed off. The phone rang, prompting Buffy to shut the door and answer the phone.
"Hello?" She said "What? Xander slow down what happened?... Okay I'll be right there"
"Spike!" She called out
Spike and Dawn rushed down the stairs
"What is it?" Asked Dawn
"Glory... She got Tara" Buffy panicked
"What do you mean got?" Asked Spike
"I don't know, Xander just said to get to the hospital" said Buffy
"Take Dawn, get her someplace safe okay?" She told Spike
"Uh where?" He asked
"The caves near the cemetery... I'll come for you okay?" Buffy told them
"Okay..." He sighed
Buffy rushed towards the door
"Buffy" he called out
She stopped and turned around
"Be careful" he told her
She nodded and left.
XXXXX
Tara sat up on an examination table. She wore a hospital gown, looking scared. Her injured hand was in a cast.
Willow sat on a stool, holding Tara's good hand. Her eyes red from crying.
Giles, Xander, and Anya stood near them.
"Can't she go home now?" Willow asked the Doctor.
"Unfortunately, no. Hospital policy
dictates we keep her for the night" the doctor told her
"Does she have to? I can take care
of her at home" Said Willow
"It's poisoned. Why didn't I tell you
that? It's got to be checked though" Tara babbled
"Is she your sister?" The doctor asked.
"It has to be verified of course. Anyone could tell you that. Of course. Of course" Said Tara.
"She's my everything" Willow murmured
"Well, you can get her released first
thing in the morning. But she's got
to spend one night in the psych ward, just for observation. We'll keep an eye on her, do a couple basic tests and then you take her home. Does that sound fair?" Asked the doctor
Willow nodded blankly.
"Well, you hold tight then, and I'll
send a nurse by in a few minutes
to pick up Tara" he said before leaving
"Words cannot express how much I hate this place" said Xander
Giles nodded in agreement.
"And yet the same words I say when
I hit my thumb with a hammer keep
coming to mind" Xander continued
"It's dreadful" said Giles
"It's like Communism" Anya added
Buffy entered and went straight to Willow.
"Will. I'm so sorry" said Buffy hugging Willow tightly
Tara looked at Buffy and smiled a strange smile.
"They kill mice" said Tara
"Tara" Buffy tried to hug her but Tara remains still
"I'm sorry it took me so long...But I'm here now and Dawn's safe with Spike so I can stay as long as you need me" Buffy told Willow
Willow nodded to show her gratitude. "I'm so scared" the red head cried
XXXXX
"Nothing to be worried about, kid..." Said Spike as they wandered through the Sunnydale Caves
"No one's gonna hurt you" he told her
"Oh yeah, the same no one who did
that to you?" She said gesturing to the cuts and bruises he still had from Glory's torture
"What, these? Just a few bruises.
Nothing to write home about"
Dawn didn't respond. She looked gravely into space
"Hey, chin up, Platelet. And don't
get scared. Maybe Glory doesn't want to kill you. Maybe it's something-"
"Worse?" Dawn finished his sentence
They kept walking. Dawn stopped slumped to the ground. She buried her head in her hands. Spike knelt beside her.
After a moment, he tentatively reached out a hand to pat her head "Hey" he said
Just as she whirled at him, her eyes flashing: "You want to know what I'm scared of, Spike?"
In an instant, Spike withdrew his hand and made out like he was just planning on running it through his hair-cool-like.
"Me. Right now, Glory thinks Tara's
the Key. But I'm the Key, Spike. I am.
And anything that happens to Tara is
'cause of me" she pointed at his bruises
"Your bruises, your limp... That's all
me, too. I'm like a lightning rod for
pain and hurt... and everyone around
me suffers... and... And dies. I... This stupid Key must be something horrible... to cause so much... evil" she cried
"Rot-"
"What do you know?"
Spike paused for a moment "I'm a vampire. I know something about evil. You're not evil"
"Maybe, maybe not. Maybe I'm not evil but I don't think I can be good"
"Well, I'm not good, and I'm okay" he told her
XXXXX
Tara was frantic as a nurse pushed her out of the room in a wheelchair
"Don't... please don't with that
treachery. I told the cats. And
now I beg my mother, sitting all alone" Tara cried
"Bye Tara. I'll see you tomorrow. I love you" At the last second, Willow can't let Tara go. She tried to follow her out the door, but Xander caught her in his arms
"Will, no. It's just for one night" Xander told her
"Yeah, I know. But it's a whole night
and I don't think I can sleep without her" said Willow sadly
"You can sleep with me" Anya offered "You know, that came out a lot more lesbian than it sounded in my head"
"Will, you just have to rest. Right now there's nothing you can do" Buffy told Willow
Willow looked up, determined "Yes, there is"
Buffy looked at her, understanding what she was thinking "No. No way..."
Willow left the room and into the hallway. Buffy followed
"You can't even think about taking
on Glory" Buffy yelled
Willow faced Buffy "You saw what she did to Tara. I can't let her get away with it"
"No, you have to let her get away with it. Even I'm no match for her, you know that" Buffy told her
"But maybe I am" Willow started to walk down the hall.
Buffy blocked her way. "You're not. And I won't let you go"
"It's not your choice, Buffy; it's mine" said Willow
"This is not the time"
"When, Buffy? When is? When you feel like it? When it's someone you love like I love Tara? When it's Dawn, is that it Buffy?" Willow yelled
"No. When we have a chance. We'll
fight her when we have a chance. You wouldn't last five minutes Willow. She's a god"
Willow nodded, slowly. Then she slumped giving up "Fine. I'll wait"
"It's the only choice" Buffy told her
"Yeah" Willow turned around and walked off in the opposite direction.
"Can I do anything-"
"Just let me be alone" Willow said sadly
Buffy watched her go, slowly making her way down the hall.
XXXXX
Buffy, Spike and Dawn are in the caves. Dawn looks devastated. Buffy tried to protect her by down-playing what has happened to Tara.
"So, what'd the doctors say? Is Tara... like those guys in the mental ward, or, is it different somehow?" Dawn asked
"They said there's no way of knowing right now" Buffy told her
"'Cause... none of those guys got
better. I mean, none of them" Dawn panicked
"Dawn honey... Tara might not either" Buffy tried to comfort Dawn as Dawn buried her head in her hands, starting to cry.
"It's all my fault" Dawn sobbed
"It's not your fault" Buffy comforted her
"How's Willow?" Dawn asked
"She was looking to go all paybacky
on Glory for a minute there, but I
cooled her down a little. Actually, a lot" said Buffy running her fingers through Dawn's hair
"She's not gonna do anything rash, then" Spike asked
"I explained, you know, there was no point" Buffy told him
"Uh huh" said Spike
"What?" Buffy frowned
"So, you're saying a powerful and mightily pissed-off witch was planning to go out and spill herself a few pints of God blood until you... Explained?" He asked
Spike gave Buffy a quizzical look.
"You think she'd...? No. I told
Willow, fighting Glory'd be suicide..."
"I'd do it" he told her
Buffy looked at him and he looked to the ground.
"Right person. Person I loved..." He looked her in the eyes "I'd do it"
"Think, Buffy. If Glory'd done that to me..."
Buffy stood motionless a moment, thinking. It hit her. And without a word, she bolted out of there...
XXXXX
Buffy gets to Glory's apartment just in time to see Glory holding Willow up against the wall with a knife to her
"You know what they used to do
to witches, Lover?" Glory asked
Glory raised the knife high ready to plunge it into Willow.
"Crucify 'em"
The knife blade came whistling down - then stopped. Glory's wrist is held fast. She looks up to see Buffy standing there
"They used to bow down to gods" Buffy twisted Glory's wrist straight back, making her drop the knife with a small cry of pain.
"Things change" Buffy let loose with a solid roundhouse kick tagging Glory square in the head and sending her whole body whipping sideways.
Buffy landed a quick series of blows, Glory took them in her stride and then counters with a few of her own. In a moment of tremendous strength Buffy pushed the couch towards Glory knocking the wind out of her.
Buffy picked the groggy Willow up off the floor. Glory thrusted the couch aside and strode forward toward Buffy and Willow with purpose and confidence. Willow weakly raises up one hand, holds it palm-out at Glory:
"Thicken"
And Glory stopped in her tracks. She pressed against her invisible barrier - unable to move forward.
"This isn't over" Glory yelled
Buffy helped Willow to her feet and they ran out the door.
"Do you hear me? It isn't over!"
XXXXX
Willow looked exhausted as she sat next to Tara on the bed. Buffy, Dawn and Spike sat around them. Buffy opened a bag of sandwiches for the girls.
"Chicken salad?" Buffy asked
"Right here" said Willow
"Eggplant, that's me. And... Bag of blood... Spike" she said rolling her eyes
Spike takes the bag from her.
"Yeah, like eggplant is normal. It's
what - half-egg, half-plant? 'Cause
that's just unnatural" said Spike
Willow held up her chicken sandwich.
"What's Tara got?" asked Willow
"I got her tuna. Does she like... Tara, you like Tuna?" Asked Dawn
"Plastic and their six sisters. Six sick sisters. Willow?" Tara babbled
"We'll just start a little slow today, okay? Buffy, can I have that?"
She indicates some applesauce. Buffy handed it to her. Willow looked to Tara.
"Okay, baby..." Willow opened the jar and filled a spoon. Then gently, tenderly, she fed Tara, like a child.
"There we go. Yeah, that's my girl"
Tara smiled. Willow filled another spoonful.
"Can I help?" Asked Dawn
Willow let Dawn feed Tara as she talks to Buffy.
"What are you gonna need?" Asked Buffy
"I don't know... They gave me a lot of stuff to keep her calm. They said I
might need to restrain her at night,
but... Sometimes she's fine, she looks at me and she's fine"
"I'm sorry I couldn't have..." Buffy trailed off
Spike looked at Buffy with sad eyes he knew how bad the Slayer felt that she didn't get to Tara in time. She blamed herself and he knew it.
"It's okay. I can do this. I'm gonna take care of her. Even if she never... She's my girl" said Willow
"I understand" said Buffy trailing her fingers through Dawn's brunette locks
"I know you do"
Willow and Buffy locked eyes. Then Willow returned her attention to Tara and whispers to her "Hear that, baby? You're my always"
Willow kissed Tara's forehead, the tender moment between the two witches was disrupted by the entire wall being ripped out right behind them. Spike immediately retreated into the shadows of the room as raw sunlight beamed through the room.
"I told you this wasn't over" said Glory standing in the sunlight
"No! The place is cracking, cracking. No, no, no..." Tara panicked
"Tara, it's okay. It's okay" said Dawn, trying to comfort her
Tara looked at Dawn and suddenly is fixated, as if seeing a rainbow for the first time:
"Look at that... the light, it's so pure... Such a pure green energy. It's so beautiful" Tara cried at the beauty of Dawn, the Key.
Glory looked at Dawn with a bright yet evil smile. She knew.t