Chapter Seventeen

New start

A/N Okie so I was thinking to myself because Willow and Tara did go to the coven, but come back early, because isn't that just better. (Will add more detail don't worry.) That I will be doing a multi-chapter story about what they got up to at the coven over the summer. But yeh. Enjoy.

Sunnydale, the world without shrimp 2002

Xander walked the small path to the house in his usual gentle sway. The chartered blueprints for the new high school rolled into a perfect tube in his hand, for some reason he happened to be wearing a suit, oversized of course, but then again, if he wore something tailored the world would've thought him gone mad. Buffy opened the door before he could step through it, she was moaning at Dawn about something, then he heard the word 'cereal' and his ears picked up.

"How exactly do you make cereal?" He said as they walked through to the kitchen, he was surprised Tara hadn't whipped up a batch of pancakes for the occasion but then again, her and Willow seemed to be of the 'preoccupied' variety lately. Staying up late in the dorms, researching and only Xander could imagine what else.

"Ah, you put the box near the milk. I saw it on the food channel," Buffy replied as she positioned herself behind the entirely covered counter, juice, bowels, spoons you name it, it was there. Picking up her mug of morning coffee she and Xander began their usual small talk and catch up routine, the casual 'how are you's and offering him something to eat, only today it was interrupted.

Willow and Tara came bundling down the stairs and into the kitchen, their choice in pyjamas limited and had plumed for unmatching sets, probably whatever happened to be lying on the floor when they woke up and decided on breakfast.

"Oh, hello Wil, welcome to the world. Will you two be joining us this morning?" Buffy said, slightly glaring. Willow had agreed she would drag Tara out of bed long enough for them to come and see Dawn off, but they weren't even dressed yet. How am I supposed to plan if people keep breaking their word? Oh no. Do I sound like my mother?

"Um, yes. Sorry Buffy we um," Tara looked down, perching on Willow's shoulder. She was usually so punctual and responsible but Willow was her downfall, the woman could probably seduce her into staying in bed all day. Well, she kinda has on few occasions. The memories all flooding back at once made her bite her lip and let Willow finish her sentence. They could do that because they always kind of knew where the other one was taking the conversation.

"We'll be quick." Willow finished, but Tara's breath on her neck wasn't helping. God, why does she have to be so damn hotblooded? And cute, oh and don't leave out sexy. "Ma'am." Willow added with a quick salute and a cheeky grin, to which Buffy responded with an irritated eyeroll. Then they skedaddled out of the kitchen towards their room, where clothes would be put on rapidly between chaste kisses and elbow nudges between the two of them.

Xander brought the map through to the dining table, ruffling open the tube, he laid it out on the flat surface. "Take a look." He said, rather proud of himself for acquiring something so useful. Dawn walked in next, saying something rather flattering and amusing about his suit before being shunned to the kitchen for 'homemade cereal.' Walking back with bowel in hand and her mouth full, she sat down to listen to Xander's 'interesting detail.'

"See where the old school library used to be, well I lined up the old plans and well, now it just so happens to be the principal's office. He's sitting right on top of all that Hellmouthy goodness." He was holding the maps against the window for better light, Dawn thought he did look rather hot in a suit, but then she was over him. Totally over him, he's just my sister's friend and the guy who takes me to school. He's my driver. That thought made her smile, especially with his get up in the suit, he looked like a chauffer. But without the little hat.

"So the principal's evil?" She asked, shovelling her cereal, knowing if she didn't there was hell to pay, the evil wrath of Buffy. More than enough to put anyone off their food, not eat it quicker, but here we are.

"Or in a boatload of danger."

"Well the last two principals were eaten. Who'd even apply for that job?" Xander shuddered slightly, still queasy about his little 'hyena experience,' that damn pig still made him sick sometimes, the memory sidled away with that time he fancied a preying mantis. Or the time I ate all those carrots for a bet, oh wait wasn't that a dream. Who would ever bet me to eat carrots?

"I guess we'll see. Oh we have to leave though. Wil!" She shouted at the bottom of the stairs before turning back to Dawn, "do you have everything?"

Dawn gave a stern nod, listing where everything was in her bag until Buffy held her hand up in a 'please do shut up' kind of way. Then she was moving to the side, then holding a box. Oh and now she's looking back at me, holding the box. Presents? "What is it?"

"Back-to-school gift." Buffy replied handing her a little box with a bright blue bow. Willow and Tara now stalking her shoulder as Willow peered in curiously. Buffy had forgotten to keep her in the loop about this particular thing, so the joy on Dawn's face was shared amongst them.

"Ooo, what is it Dawnie?" Willow said enthusiastically, her inner child came out at moments like these. Tara smiled, her Willow would always be five years-old. Another adorable trait I must add to the list. Along with of course, her nose when she does her yummy face. And how she talks in her sleep.

Then the box was open, purple tissue paper was scrunched aside as she pulled the device out of its box. A cell phone, ah finally.

It almost loomed into view, the building was new but the same feeling of unadulterated dread filed through all of them, they could feel it. Somehow every high school reeked of evil in some way, this one just happened to actually be evil. Before offloading from Xander's car they all took a moment to just sigh at the expanse of what they'd left behind, only Dawn seemed to be excited, it was all new and new and new and exciting.

They all climbed steadily out of the car, Willow, Tara and Xander leaning against the silver steel box as Buffy walked Dawn inside. She seemed to strike up a conversation with a tall dark stranger, the trio by the car watching as they chatted.

"What do you reckon they're talking about?" Tara said, her head leaning on Willow's shoulder slightly, her memories of her own high school experience coming back to her. Ones she'd much rather forget, of being alone seemingly all the time. The only comfort was the hours she'd spend locked away in the library, reading possibly every tale of fiction they had to offer, anything escape her reality. Then at seventeen when her mother died, she'd spent even less time there, preferring to just avoid the place altogether, it was a marvel the spell she'd worked to finish her finals had paid off otherwise she wouldn't have even gone to college. She still regretted it though, it was a breach of what was right, her mother would've scorned her and turned her away if she'd known.

"Oh probably just introducing herself so that when he turns out to be a vampire she can ask him out on a date. Oh hang on, see fiddling with her hair, definite sign." Willow commented, folding her arms across her chest and smirking slightly at Xander.

"I mean, Wil, come on it is broad sunlight out there." He said, he didn't like the idea that Buffy would date someone so fast after what happened with Spike but maybe it was her chance to move on, if he wasn't a vampire. And anyway they could only see the back of his head, he could be really ugly.

"Urm, indirect." Tara coughed out, squeezing Willow's hand and continuing their little charade.

"Exactly, he could be the new boyfriend, Xander watch out, a new man in the house, who's going to fix everything when it breaks now?" Willow said teasing, she knew how easy he was to wind up. She'd known him forever, all through grade school, then junior high and then high school. She remembered sophomore year when all she could think about was him and all he could think about was Buffy, oh how things had changed. All that pain and torment, teenage heartbreak, all that lame-ass poetry she'd written about him was still out there. At least now they were over the hill of high school, into life.

"Oi," he gave her a mock slap and she chuckled. "I'll have you know red, that I am invaluable to our team, she won't go forgetting me in a hurry."

The noise of the dreadful singing in front of her made Anya's stomach turn. The coffee was just not fulfilling her the way it used to. Her inner cynic crept out as she spied upon the singing duo. "Six weeks tops and she's calling on me for vengeance." Oh, I wonder what she'll wish for, maybe I can turn him into a chicken or something.

"Ooh, he better run for cover." Halfrek replied, her sarcasm shocked Anya and she turned her head to protest.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, sweetie you know exactly what it means." Hallie chuckled, it was slightly pitiful although she thought her friend would've noticed by now, she'd been slipping. Taking a sip of the dreadfully boring brown liquid keeping her lips parted as so not to smudge her lipstick.

"Excuse me?"

"It's the talk of the order, they're calling you Miss Soft Serve. Tell me you don't know about this." What is she saying? I am not slipping. I am not an ice cream. I don't even like ice cream, it's too cold. Anya wanted to fold her arms over, but she was still holding the mug between her lax fingers, it would make a dreadful mess, so she did it internally.

"Listen Anya, I know I've always been a little competitive with you. I mean there was that thing in the Crimean War, we laugh about it now. But the fact is I've actually always looked up to you. You were the single most hard-core vengeance demon on the roster and everybody knew it. Do I have to mention Mrs. Czolgosz?" That Crimean thing really was a long time ago, how stupid we were.

"Hmm good times." Ahh yes the fond memories when the Anyanka name still meant something to some people. And then Hallie was calling her out, saying she was completely out of the loop. Which I so am not. I am right on top of my vengeance game. I'm Anyanka. Ok well I guess the frog thing didn't quite pan out the way I thought but he was still punished. A little bit.

What is this anyway, some sort of intervention? Hang on, that's good I'll say that. "What is this an intervention? Shouldn't all my demon friends be here?" She was downright mad now, how dare Halfrek come in here and taunt her with lies of bad rumours.

"Sweetie, they are." Hallie stated, her mouth moulding into a prudish pout, her red fingernails clinging to the mug in her grasp, it was the sad truth. Anya kind of knew it too. However much she protested, she knew deep down the vengeance hadn't been quite as satisfying lately as it once had been, maybe she was slipping after all.