An awakening

San Francisco, California 2004

Tara's head lifted gracefully off the pillow, finding her graciousness to have improved since being with the Powerful ones for so long. She was brighter, majestic like a true angel. Heaven had consoled her fears of the past, healed her broken wounds; Willow's betrayal, her father's abuse, the loss of her mother. Everything was mended. Two years in the clouds had let her come to terms with everything wrong in her life, two years to find peace and serenity in every action taken on Earth, forgive the lies told to her.

Being pulled out of it wasn't all bad though. She'd longed for someone, anyone, just some contact with people. She missed being touched. It wasn't as simple as lust, lust is controllable, deal-able. Tara missed being held, the comfort of love wrapped around her, that was the only problem with being alone in heaven, it wasn't heaven if you were there alone. The quiet paradise was just an escape and meditative way out of your life, now that your life was over, unchangeable so you can dwell on it. But without the hope of being loved and the comfort of finding love only to be stripped of it once you arose. It was purgatory. She was stuck from finding true peace until Willow joined her. She was waiting for her love to die. It made her feel guilty.

Looking around her surroundings, Tara deciphered this was not a place she'd ever been and was rather confused. Was she back on Earth? It felt like Earth. The ground was hard, the air had a metallic tang to it, yep this was Earth alright. It was very distinctive once you'd been to a higher plain, heaven was thicker, the air was sweet and nothing was difficult, there was a weightlessness. Earth was gravity bound and forceful. Everything had to be worked for, even movement - speech. Tara found it was tricky to produce any kind of sound from her throat, her vocal chords seemed to be adapting to life again.

"Try not to talk." The sound was too loud, sensory overload, Tara's hands shot to her ears even though the voice had appeared in a gentle whisper. At first she'd thought it was Willow, having that been the last voice she'd heard. But no, it was similar but not quite the same. Buffy? It sounded like Buffy. Then there were other voices, a man it was harsher, a gruff sound. Xander. They were talking about something, her as it turns out.

Each of Tara's senses came back to her slowly, her body still wasn't used to being this alive, obviously the prevalence of magic in her veins helped speed things along. It pulled on the Earth, Gaia and the root system. Drawing strength forward so she would be able to stand. Much like a baby giraffe takes a few hours to learn to stand. Tara was the baby giraffe in this analogy and really it was coming along rather smoothly. She'd found herself on the Earthly plain, lying on a couch with her head pillowed under and a tingly feeling in her feet.

Her eyes flickered against the harsh apartment light, even though the lights were all off, the light from the balcony was brightening through the living room. Tara could swear Earth never used to be this intense, but maybe it was. It'd been too long to remember. For her two years had seemed like a dozen lifetimes, and a week all at once. She knew time had passed here but she hadn't seen anyone in that time so it felt like no time had passed at all sometimes.

Sitting up gently, she immediately felt pairs of eyes falling over her face. Xander, Buffy. Dawn. That was it, no Willow? "Wi-Wil." Tara started to stutter, it wasn't her usual pacing just a side effect of the you know, 'whole resurrection from the dead' thing. "W-Where's W-Willow?" Tara said, the words stumbled out because, again, no control. As her throat began to stabilise, she repeated the question until they were all looking at her pointedly.

In truth Buffy was slightly worried, she knew where Willow was and it just so happened to be at a certain brunette's apartment, who shall remain nameless for this very moment. Tara didn't need to know the full extent of the fact Willow had just decided to get back with her ex. Perfect timing Will as always. Buffy thought, glancing up at the ceiling, silently cursing the Powers for this awkward twist of fate.

Just as Tara was sitting up properly and drinking sips of water, and an appropriate excuse for Willow's whereabouts had been established. *KNOCK* There was a knock on the door. Buffy turned to answer it, and it was Andrew who was standing in front of her, with a bemused sort of worried look on his face.

"Andrew? Is that you?" Buffy said, Xander had told her he was in town but she hadn't seen him. He had a ragged beard hanging partially from his face, he was wearing an overgrown coat and some boots with a whole in the left toe. He didn't exactly look what anyone in their right mind would call presentable. He marched into the small space only to be very surprised by Tara sitting up on the couch, squinting. Dropping to his knees, his hands clasped into a prayer like motion. Saying a few quick prayers to whoever he decided needed to hear them. He looked back at the very surprised crowd of arm folding Scoobies behind him.

Then there were many questions and an explanation from Buffy about the wish granted by the Powers. Then there was a quick gulping noise and Andrew sank back to his knees. He felt guilty, responsible for Tara's death in some way. It was his friend, his group's plan to kill Buffy, whom he apologised to profusely again, even though it really wasn't necessary. He spoke in soft tone to Tara, like he was singing a lullaby, it was odd given his physical appearance. But she understood the meaning behind it.

"Who are you again?" Tara said, not that she'd actually had much contact with Andrew the first time around, she just seemed to be confused about anyone in the close vicinity. Apart from her immediate friends, the memory of anyone else hadn't returned to her yet. All she knew was that she needed to see Willow, feel Willow, make sure she was safe.

"He's um, Tucker's brother." Buffy replied, suddenly reminding Tara of the kneeling man's identity, even though he did raise a striking resemblance to the homeless man outside their building. Is that where he'd been staying? Would explain how he got here so fast, and randomly? Xander thought to himself making a mental note to ask Andrew about this later.

"Not that we're annoyed by your presence or anything, but why exactly are you here?" Buffy said poignantly, crossing her arms tighter against her body and gagging slightly at the disastrous smell Andrew'd brought in with him. It was like a off fruity sort of smell, like he'd eaten some grapes that were four years past their sell-by date. He stood up to face the meek eye level that was his and Buffy's. She was a demanding woman, didn't he know it. All of last year, he was always off running around after the slayer, she was his master and she have him bound to a chair if he didn't conform.

Sensing he may have a bit of an upper hand seeing as he'd been to Rome and done some slayer training, he could take her. Ok no that wasn't strictly true, but ok I'm pretty strong alright, leave me alone. Andrew's inner soliloquy stated, he still told life like a story, still kept a video diary and absolutely still didn't know his boundaries. Hey I'm not arguing but hey. Alright alright, Andrew was very strong and knew exactly what he was doing at all times. Much better. Oh I'm glad I've got your approval. On with the story.

"I just noticed Xander was here and had some paperwork to give him." Andrew replied very matter of factually, rearing up to his full height and puffing out his chest in another attempt to look cool. It wasn't working. It so was! Don't start. Handing over the very crumpled envelope of completed papers Andrew made to leave. Only stopping briefly having remembered something important.

"Oh and Buffy, I'm glad you didn't use your wish to bring Spike back." And just before Buffy could go over there and bust up his guts for insulting her lover. So her lover am I right? She was looking at me with those devil eyes of hers. Andrew I'm telling the story stop butting in. Sorry. "He's alive, he's alive!" Andrew screeched a little as he held his hands above his head in surrender. Don't. Say. A. Word.

Buffy's face completely fell into oblivion, as did the rest of the room's. "What?" Buffy said, half thinking Andrew might be joking. The other half really hoping he was right, as much as it pained her to admit that she probably wasn't lying when she'd told Spike she loved him. He had a soul.

"He's alive Buffy, there was a whole pendant incident and Angel brought him back." Andrew finished before waving himself off the scene and leaving the door slightly ajar. Buffy looked to the floor. Angel? Angel had brought Spike back, for her? No that couldn't be right. She couldn't believe it, Spike back, she wanted to see him, mainly to punch him for scaring her but then again who was she to judge self-sacrifice. Now she knew she'd made the right decision in bringing back Tara. If Spike really was alive he would be proud of her for picking Willow over herself. Or so she hoped.

"Spike died? You guys really need to fill me in."