Rating:  PG, just general Buffy-ish type things a-happenin'

Feedback:  I'd like that very much, thank you.

Spoilers:  If you know about Tara and Spike's Chip, you're good to go.

Distribution: Here.  If you're interested, please let me know.

Summary:  Willow's magic has backfired again, and this time she's so upset she decides it would be better if she leaves Sunnydale.

Author's Note:  To quote Bunny, "Every time a bell rings, an Angel gets his leather pants."

Disclaimer: All characters are owned by Mutant Enemy (Joss Whedon), a wonderfully creative company whose charcters I have borrowed for a completely profit-free flight of fancy.  Kindly do not sue me, please, as I am terrified of you.  Thank you.

Dedication:  For Joe, who is going to have a great future ahead of him.

Chapter 8

"You gonna get on, or what?  I ain't got all day here," came the bus driver's incredibly rude voice, jarring her back to reality.

"What?  Oh!  No, I'm not going anywhere.  Thanks for waiting."  Willow practically ran down the street with her suitcase, anxious to see that her friends were okay.

She didn't stop her pounding feet until she was outside Giles's.  Bursting through the never-locked door, she took in the scene around her.  Everyone had looked up at once and had momentarily frozen in their tracks. 

"I'm sorry.  Really," she said quietly.  She felt deeply ashamed of herself for trying to run away from them.  Hopefully, they would be able to forgive her.

They continued to stare at her for a moment before the entire group launched itself at her as one.  She was completely surrounded.

"Give me that!" Xander demanded as he took the suitcase out of her hand and unceremoniously dumped it in a corner of the room.  "I don't want to see you with that thing again unless you're planning on visiting Mickey Mouse!"

"We were worried and concerned over your sudden choice to run away from responsibility.  It's good you've come to your senses and returned," Anya said in a tone that sounded far more human than normal; in fact, there was a remarkably honest looking smile on her face. 

"Willow, you gave me one of the worst wiggins ever!  When I found your note back in the dorm room…" Buffy's voice trailed off and she hugged the red head tightly.  "Don't you ever go leaving me like that again!  I don't care if your magic went all ooky; you're my best friend and I'd be lost without you."

Tara quietly took Willow's hand after Buffy had released her and just smiled at her tenderly.  "I so was worried about you.  I don't want to find out what life is like without you."

You and me both, Willow silently thought.

"Someone should call Angel and Cordelia," Giles said softly.  "They've both been on the lookout for you in L.A., and they are really extremely nervous."

"Angel and Cordelia? Nervous?  About me?" Willow asked in disbelief.

"Honey," Buffy said with a grin, "Cordy actually willingly cancelled her manicure to go out and hunt for you.  As for Angel, he nearly got a severe sunburn he stayed out looking for you so late… or early, I guess."

"Yeah, well, you lot stay here and act all idiotic just because the little witch found her way back home.  I'll call the great poof.  Good excuse to get me out of this ruddy love-fest," Spike grumbled as he began to slink into the kitchen.

"Yeah, that's right, Deadboy Part Deux.  You weren't worried at all.  That's why when you heard Willow was missing last night, you ran straight out of here and informed the vampire population that if a certain person turned up dead the next day, you'd personally torture the guilty party until they begged to be staked," Xander shot at the blond.

Spike stopped dead in his tracks, spun around, gave Xander a withering glare, and continued into the kitchen.  No one saw him silently slump down the wall, practically in a dead faint of relief. 

Giles took a moment to pull Willow aside.  He wanted to apologize to her, although he wasn't certain he would forgive himself if he were in her shoes.

"Um, Willow, about what I, um, said when the, uh, spell went, um wr-wr-wrong…" Giles stuttered in embarrassment.

"You were right.  I shouldn't have been messing around with a spell I wasn't sure about.  I'm sorry I didn't listen to you."

"Yes, but I was completely wrong in the way I spoke to you.  You're an important part of this team, and I never should have said any of those things.  I was just frightened, although that's no excuse."

"Giles," she said as she looked into his eyes, "it's all forgotten."  She put her arms around him and gave him a warm, heartfelt hug.

"What on earth changed your mind and brought you back?" he asked her.

"It wasn't on earth.  And Giles?  Jenny asked me to give you her love," Willow said with a smile.