Sequel to "Out Of Character"
Spoilers: Bargaining Parts 1 & 2; Afterlife; Flooded; All The Way; Once More, With Feeling; & Tabula Rasa
Summary: A continuation of "To Me", "Best Laid Plans", "Head Under Water", "Working Class Girl", "Tasty Little Morsel", and "Out Of Character" Ongoing, week-by-week rewrite of Season 6. My own twisted little universe. :)
Author's Note - Beta: The musical didn't happen. This is where things *really* start splitting off in continuity. I'll try to keep it as close to the show as I can, but with B/S happening in whatever form, it won't work for long. This episode was completed long before the episode ever aired. (Okay, Monday afternoon, but still, before the ep aired). I might touch it up a little with things that actually happen... but this is pure me here. Giles still rules. I also ignore the Buffy/Spike interactions. Especially those damned kisses. "The Buffy kiss you never thought you'd see." My ass. More like, "The Buffy kiss you wish you could unburn from your memory."
Author's Note - Alpha: Ahh, the advantage of writing an episode in advance. I do have to say, if it weren't for the ending, this episode would have actually been near perfect. Classic Joss wit and comedy. Anya and Giles had me rolling. Lord help me if I become an Anya/Giles 'shipper because of it. And the title of this episode is a lyric from a song that is connected to this story in some way. Bonus points to anyone who can guess it. It's contemporary.
*FADE TO: The Magic Box. Research party.*
"It was Mayor Wilkins. No mistaking it." Buffy declared.
"How can that be? We... y'know... killed him!" Willow squeaked.
"We're still not sure." Giles answered, his nose buried in a book.
"Well... this possession thing seems to be... what's the word? Two-fold!"
Xander looked around for approval, "So... is that Theumo... whatever the
name was... does it have the ability to call up other spirits from the beyond?"
Giles' head popped up, "It's what I'm in the middle of researching... from
what I can tell, it has the ability to transfer spirits in that way... but it's
only been known to pull spirits from this plane... spirits that are trapped
on this side and have unfinished business..." He looked at his book again,
"It shouldn't, however, be able to access other dimensions... even hell
itself. It's highly illogical..."
"Don't go all Spock on us, Giles... could something have altered its abilities?"
Willow perked up, "Maybe it came in contact with something... that could
contact other dimensions?"
As Willow finished speaking, they all came to the same conclusions, "Dawn!"
Giles threw his book down, "Of course... when it possessed Dawn... it...
it must have absorbed some of her residual energy as the Key... with that it
could have tapped in to any number of dimensions... including the one we consider
hell." Giles frowned, "Of course this changes many things... no wonder
our previous warding spells have been so woefully inadequate... and we must
be extra cautious to prevent Dawn from being possessed again... if it has a
chance to tap into her Key energies... there's no telling what it could be able
to do."
"Again?" Buffy frowned, jumping back in the conversation, "You
never said anyone could get possessed twice!" Willow looked at her worriedly.
She seemed so distracted as of late.
Giles looked at her strangely, "Buffy, with any sort of spiritual possession,
there is a strong probability that some may be possessed on multiple occasions...
if a warding is not instituted... I thought I went over this with you once before..."
He sighed, "I really do not have enough time to explain it fully..."
He went over to a bookcase and rifled through a series of books. He found the
one he was looking for. He handed it to Willow, giving her a warning look as
he spoke, "This should be a strong enough general ward until we can find
something more specific to this new set of circumstances." He looked at
her pointedly, "I suggest that be all you use this book for."
Tara, Willow, and Buffy left via the front door. Anya went back to running the
register, and Xander prepared to leave, when Giles caught his attention, "Xander...
I... could I have a moment with you?"
"Sure, Giles... what can I do for you?"
"I... the table..." He gestured with his eyes at the semi-cleaned
up wreckage of display table that was sitting in the corner, "I was wondering
if you could, perhaps, fix it. Anya demands that I do it, since I was here at
the time it happened... I was wondering if I could ask in your assistance."
He laughed, "Understood... and I can patch it up real quick... I'll just
run home for my tools and then stop by the lumber yard to pick up some materials.
I'll have her off your back in no time." He extended his hand to shake.
Giles smiled warmly and accepted the handshake, "It is most appreciated,
Xander."
*CUT TO: Willow and Tara's room. Willow is preparing a spell of some sort, involving the same flower as Tara's spell.*
Willow's quiet chanting wouldn't have alerted anyone to what
she was doing, but to Tara's trained ears, she knew what she was up to. Not
wanting to risk letting Willow complete what she was doing, she barged in, wearing
a distinctly angry look on her usually calm face.
"What are you doing, Willow?" She saw the flower Willow was using,
and got angrier, "Are you going to erase my memory again?"
Willow had the look of a deer in headlights, "No! Tara, I promised I'd
never do anything like that to you again."
Tara closed her eyes, "That's not what I asked you to promise, Willow.
I wanted you to promise you'd never do anything like that to *anyone* again."
She paused, opening her eyes and circling the red-head, "What are you going
to do this time, Willow? Screw around with Anya and Xander's engagement?"
She didn't know exactly where all this anger was coming from, but there was
no way she was going to stop it, "I know! You can make Anya conveniently
forget she's involved with him! Instead, you can make Anya and... Giles think
they're together. That would just be a perfect way to get rid of her, wouldn't
it? It's not fair to play with their heads, Willow, to make them forget."
Neither of them noticed the flower flash briefly. Willow replied with desperating,
"That wasn't what I was going to do, Tara! I don't want to do anything
to them." She was near tears, "Buffy has been so distracted... so
out of it since she came back... I wanted to make her forget what she went through
in that hell dimension... make it so she wouldn't have her emotions bottlenecked!
I want her to be happy again!" The flower flashed again.
Tara almost looked disgusted, "And that makes it right? You don't have
a clue about what really has her so distracted lately, do you? Have you even
asked her? You're her friend, and you're supposed to find out what's bothering
her before you go trying to fix it. That's the least you can do, Willow."
Willow cried out, "But I can make her better!"
Tara sighed, starting to leave. Before she exited through the door, she turned
back and gave Willow a sorrowful look, "Just because you can, Willow, doesn't
mean you should." With that, she was gone. Willow sighed deeply, the tears
beginning to flow freely now.
She got up and simply left the materials where they were. She flopped down on
her bed and began bawling her eyes out at the situation she'd gotten herself
in.
*CUT TO: The Magic Box, moments later. Anya and Giles are doing an inventory.*
"...So I believe it's in the best interest of us all if
I return to England. Buffy may never take on all the responsibilities she needs
to if I'm here to take care of them for her. I'm just standing in the way."
He paused momentarily, looking at her, "For now, Anya, you musn't breath
a word of this to anyone. I wish to tell them all myself." He realized
afterwards how unlikely it was Anya could keep the secret. She was embarrassingly
blatant about secret information.
"Well, I guess that's understandable..." Before she could continue,
both their eyes flashed momentarily golden. As it faded from their eyes, their
faces changed dramatically, and Anya breathed out desperately, "Don't leave
me!"
Giles' face softened, and he replied, "Oh, Anya..." Seconds laterly,
he spun her around, dipping her gently, and crushed his lips against hers. He
manuevered her towards the table, where he laid her down and continued their
furious make-out session.
The front door opened, and Xander loudly entered, carrying a few pieces of lumber
and sporting a tool-belt. He couldn't see them on the table from where he came
in, and went about his business, "It really shouldn't be any trouble to
fix this table... I mean, wood is wood, right?" He walked around to try
to see where they were, and the lumbr went crashing to the floor.
All these disturbances didn't seem to catch their attention. They were rounding
second and quickly heading for third. Unfortunately, Xander was there to stop
the play, "What the HELL is going on?"
Giles finally sprang off Anya, and tried to collect himself, "I... sorry,
I know we said we would get a handle on such things..."
Xander was still in a state of shock, so he numbly repeated, "What the
HELL is going on?"
Anya looked decidedly off-put, "Xander, do you *mind*? I'm trying to get
some sex."
"Some... sex? From... Giles?" His mind was racing. He still didn't
have the answers he was hoping for, so he repeated, "What the HELL is going
on?"
Anya took a condescending tone, "Well, you see, Xander... when a man and
a woman are involved, they sometimes tend to want to have sex.... anywhere and
everywhere... so if you could just run along, Giles and I will get to it..."
She looked at the table appreciatevly, "Right here."
"Involved? You two are... Anya, you're cheating on me?" He missed
the confused looks on both their faces, "Y'know what... I don't even want
to... The wedding is off. Hell, it might not even have been on if this has been
going on for long... Anya, maybe you can try and explain this to me when I'm
calmer, maybe we can work something out... but right now, I don't want to see
you."
He turned around and left, still not noticing the looks of utter stupification
on Anya and Giles' faces. Giles walked a little way towards the front, so he
could see out the front door, "What the bloody hell was he talking about?"
*CUT TO: The Summer's House. Buffy is casually cleaning the house.*
Willow came moping down the stairs, her feet shuffling as she
made her way to the kitchen. Buffy watched her cautiously, waiting until she'd
come back out before speaking up, "Are you okay, Wills? Is something bothering
you?"
Willow half-ignored her, "No, I'm fine." She was about as convincing
as Spike saying he never looted anything during the biker gang's rampage.
Buffy wasn't going to let up so easily, "Willow, it's painted all over
you. Did you have a fight with Tara? Is that why she went stomping out earlier?"
Willow gave her a vaguely threatening look, "No. I'm just... feeling under
the weather, and she ran out to get me some medicine, okay?"
Buffy didn't believe her, "Are you sure, Wills? Cause if you need to talk,
you know I..."
"No! Would you just get off my back?" She ran up the stairs with the
food she'd retrieved from the kitchen and slammed her door behind her.
Buffy was about to follow her up, when a loud knock came at the door. She walked
over, and opened it, to reveal a smoking Spike with a blanket draped over his
head. He looked at her pleadingly, and she had to fight the urge to grab the
blanket and kick him back out, before stepping out of the way and cautiously
letting him in.
He walked in with a wide stride, stopping in the entryway just before entering
the living room. He turned his head and looked at her again with that 'do what
I want already' look. She reluctantly marched into the living room and closed
the shades, before demanding, "What do are you doing, Spike? Or should
I ask, what do you *want,* Spike?"
"I'm hurt by that, Slayer. You make it sound like I only come around because
I want somethin' from you."
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Maybe that's because you do?"
"Whatever... I just came... to see the Nibblet. She around?"
Buffy stood there impatiently, hand on hips, "You know full-well she's
in school right now, Spike. Just get to what you want already. I *was* in the
middle of cleaning house."
Spike nearly let his anger fly, annoyed at her prejudice towards him. He couldn't
do it, however, simply because it was her. "What I want, then? Fine. You.
I want you, Buffy. To be with you. You can't deny the chemistry we have together.
It's the perfect combination, really. A Vampire and a Slayer. We were made to
defy the rules together. Don't you want to be bad, in a good way?"
She sighed, "This again? You want to be with me, Spike? I can't begin to
describe just how much that idea disturbs me. Chemistry? The only chemistry
I want between us is finding out what chemicals burn you the fastest. It's *not*
the perfect combination... in case your brain is malfunctioning, I've tried
it before. No words for just how much that did *not* work."
He was about to protest, when she held up a hand to silence him, "This
is it, Spike. My absolute final words on the subject. I don't love you. I can't
love you. I will *never* love you, Spike." She paused, letting her eyes
close. She felt an unbelievable release inside her, as something became clear
to her. A smile came to her face and, for once, Spike didn't like it. She spoke
with closed eyes, "Because I love with someone else."
Spike let out a sigh. It was always him, wasn't it? The bastard that had taken
her heart so long ago, and just wouldn't let it go. He felt like making a trip
to L.A. to visit his grand-daddy, "Angel?"
Her smile grew infinitely as she was able to shake her head, "No."
She marched into the entryway, grabbing her purse off the table, "I'm leaving,
Spike. You better not be here when I come back. Don't eat all the Triscuts,
or I'll break your arms off."
*CUT TO: Xander's apartment. Xander is laid out on the couch, his hands covering his face. He's softly sobbing.*
The engagement band Anya had made him wear was laying on the
table. Xander honestly felt he had no use for it now. He'd throw it in the trash
later, but for now, he was stifling the desire to play country music as loud
as he could stand. The girl he loved, one of them anyway, had been cheating
right in front of him... and acted as if nothing was wrong, like it was something
natural.
And Giles. How the hell had that happened? Giles and Anya were at odds on almost
every topic you could mention. They grated on each other's nerves. They hated
each other, from all outward appearances. It hit him then that the situation
was familiar. Who else did he know that had been 'mortal' enemies forever before
an ilicit affair sprang up? He could say without a doubt that one participant
was in the room with him right now.
He supposed, if he looked at it with a more level head, it'd make perfect sense.
And for all he knew, he might take his own experiences to heart and forgive
Anya. He was the reason she'd come to Sunnydale in the first place, anyway.
He'd been looking forward to his life with Anya. It was the getting there that
frightened him.
He was knocked out of his thoughtful moment by a knocking on the door. He figured
it might be Tara. She'd left only a little while before, having come over in
a fit much like his own. He'd helped her calm down, putting up his brave front
and hadn't let his own troubles slip out. He wanted to be there for Tara, not
to dump his mistakes on her. There would be time for that later.
He got to the door, making sure his eyes were dry and he wasn't disheveled,
and swung the door open. "Didn't expect you back so soon..."
It wasn't, however, who he thought it would be. Buffy stared at him with a beaming
smile that he couldn't help but return. She poked him jokingly, "It's always
hard to resist that Harris charm... Xand, I've got something to tell you."
He nodded. He felt like he was about to burst, and Buffy would probably be the
best person to come out to about it, "Okay, Buffy, I do too. Anya and..."
She grabbed his hand and pulled him further into the room, "No, Xander,
I'm going first. If I don't, I might lose my nerve and I can't keep this inside.
This is way too good to keep bottled up." He made no further attempts to
resist, so she continued. She stood in front of him, grabbing both of his hands
and looking up into his chocolate brown eyes, "I was arguing with Spike
today... he was asking me to date him... Give me a moment to shudder."
She focused deep in his eyes, trying to convey the truth of her words through
her own, "I said I couldn't love him. Because I already love someone."
"Angel?" Xander said reflexively.
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Why does everyone keep saying that?" She tightened
her grip on his hands, "Xander, I love you."
He almost had to bring his hands up to keep his eyes from popping out of their
sockets. Six years he'd waited to hear those words from her. She'd died twice
in the course of that time, and they'd saved the world more than most people
could handle understanding. He'd done many things and saved many lives. But
he could honestly, without a doubt, say that today was the greatest day of his
life. Well, if you neglect to mention the whole failure of his engagement thing.
That reminded him. He couldn't let himself get *too* happy at Buffy's words.
He had to relate it to her, "Buffy, don't think I'm not thrilled to hear
that from you. I can't explain how much my brain wants to explode because the
improbable has happened today. But that's the point... today was a big day."
She could see the pain bubbling just beneath the surface, "Xand, what's
wrong?"
He sighed deeply, "Anya and I's engagement is off." He had to withhold
some of his emotions when he saw a flitter of hope pass along with the sympathy
in her eyes.
"What happened?"
He had to bring a hand up to his eyes to pinch the bridge of his nose, an effective
way of heading off any tears that threatened to fall. She saw this strategy,
and forced his hand back down into her own, holding tight so he couldn't stop
them. As they fell, he let out a ragged laughed, "I was at the shop today...
fixing the table you trashed when trying to take out the Mayor-possessed Spike...
I, uh, walked in... and found Anya making out... hell, damned near having intercourse
on the research table..."
Buffy nearly screamed, pulling him into a hug, "Oh my god... with who?"
He tried to avoid her eyes, "This is where it gets weird... it was Giles."
"Giles? But... he and Anya... they hate each other!" Buffy cried.
"Exactly my thoughts...." He paused, taking in a ragged breath, "But
remember me and Cordelia?"
Buffy made a face, "Unfortunately." She pulled back and looked in
his eyes again. The pain was lessened by his admission, that she could see.
He wasn't as mopey looking as before. She decided to do something very risky,
at least in her estimation.
She grabbed the back of his neck, and pulled him down into a kiss he had not
been expecting. Not expecting, and not liking were two completely different
things in his book. He responded to the kiss with a passion he hadn't felt for
years. The kiss lasted what seemed like forever, and when it broke they simply
stared into each other's eyes for another eternity.
It was fine, until Buffy saw the hint of regret floating in the deep brown pools.
She immediately panicked, "Oh god... oh god... I shouldn't have done that...
You're vulnerable, and you haven't even said you wanted to be with me... and
I only just discovered how I felt... and... oh god..."
"Buffy..." She continued rambling, "Buffy!" Her head jerked
upwards, "Calm down, okay?"
"Have I screwed everything up? I shouldn't have kissed you..."
He stopped her from going off on another tangent, "No, Buffy, you haven't
screwed everything up... It was pretty much all jumbled up on it's own, y'know?
I do, however, have to agree that you shouldn't have kissed me. I want to wait
until I've got things with Anya sorted out comepletely before *we* happen, y'know?
I at least want to offer Anya the chance Cordy didn't give me... because I still
*love* her. She deserves a chance to explain herself. If she screws up that
opportunity, well then she's out of luck." Buffy looked a little deflated,
and he knew just what to say, "I love you, Buffy. I just need time."
She nodded solemnly, though not as bad as she'd been moments before. Xander
still loved her, and now she loved him. Things would work themselves out, wouldn't
they? True love always won out.
She changed the subject slightly, hugging him tightly, "What was with your
greeting at the door?"
He appreciated the change, "Tara left about 10 minutes before you got here.
She came over to talk because she and Willow had a major fight. She wouldn't
tell me about the specifics, though. Just that she's worried Willow is going
too far with her magic."
Buffy looked slightly angered. He was going to ask what he'd said, when Buffy
spoke instead, "I knew it! I asked her if they'd had a fight and she told
me no. I wanted her to open up to me, to start rebuilding our friendship...
but she just brushed me off and went to her room. I agree with Tara, though...
Willow tried to use magic to microwave our breakfast this morning instead of
walking over to the *actual* microwave and punching a few buttons."
He nodded, "I think we're going to have our own respective conversations
with her about it... don't want to both go at once and frighten her with an
intervention."
She let go of him for the first time since she'd gotten there, "What do
you feel like doing now?"
"I dunno... maybe rent movies, eat ice cream, chit chat and such... y'know,
the stuff I was known best for back in high school." He smiled briefly
before heading to the fridge, "Should get a start on it too... you've got
patrol later."
"I was kind of hoping not to have to do that, but Slayage is unavoidable."
He nodded, "Now, who's gonna go get the movies? I think Tara might be stopping
back to spend the night here... so someone should be here if she shows up."
Buffy smirked as she flopped down on the couch, "I do believe it's your
gentlemanly duty to go fetch the movies."
He laughed, glad to have his mind off 'things,' as he took a bow, "Of course,
m'lady. I'll be back in a few."
*CUT TO: The Magic Box, the next day. Buffy and Xander are researching at the table with Willow, while Anya and Giles are huddled by the register.*
Xander wasn't quite sure how he'd managed not to dash across
the room and beat the crap out of Giles. He and Anya were all but groping behind
the register. Perhaps it was the comforting hand Buffy had placed on his knee
under the table. Yeah, that had to be about it.
Willow was nervously flipping through a book, not really paying attention to
the contents. She obviously had other things on her mind. Buffy and Xander watched
her intently, hoping she'd crack and admit something was wrong. Unfortunately,
she was sealed tighter than a submarine hatch on the subject.
Buffy squeezed his knee with her hand, and they exchanged a silent smile. All
she had to do was look at him, and Xander could tell the honesty of her words.
She loved him. It was a wonder none of the rest of the gang (aside from Tara)
saw it.
Speaking of Tara, Xander caught sight of her walking past the window of the
shop. She stopped outside the door upon seeing Willow there, but after a minutes
hesitation, she entered the shop. She held her eyes closed tightly as she blindly
made her away across the room, garnering everyone's attention, before plopping
down on the stairs in a huff.
She looked up, her eyes still clenched tightly shut. There was a strange look
on her face. She seemed deliberately cocky. Add in the blank, white eyes that
were revealed as she opened the lids, and they knew they were in trouble.
They were all startled from their seats, into a position near the register,
as she grinned, filled with the same cocky attitude, "Well, well... look
where I ended up." She pulled up her right hand and flexed it inexplicably,
"Looks like Blondie's hand works fine now." She looked at Willow with
a gleam in her eye, "Suppose you'd have the most experience with it."
Willow flushed, and shuddered, before Xander pulled her back to stand with Buffy.
He stood in place, and asked a question he didn't really need an answer to,
"So, who are you this time?"
"And I thought *you* were the smart one..." She rolled her eyes, "I
have to thank you guys. You helped me get home," She walked over to a bookshelf
and ran her finger along some of the bindings, "Course, it wasn't the way
I wanted. Being dead kind of sucks out all the enjoyment one can have in a hell
dimension."
"Glory?" Willow gasped.
"On the nose, Red." She continued grinning, "Your little demon
friend decided I needed a little... closure. So I'm here to do just that."
She looked at Buffy, "Where's the little sister?"
Buffy tensed and stepped forward, but Xander caught her arm. She looked surprised,
but his eyes told her everything, "It's Tara."
"And that's what I love the most about this. I've got all my power, and
you can't do a thing to me. Not if you want your little blonde witch to be okay.
No magic hammer pounding for me today." She shrugged, "I think I'll
do a little pounding myself." She stepped towards Buffy, to which Xander
responded by jumping in front of her. Just as quickly, he went flying from a
lightning quick backhand. He landed on the research table, scattering books
and papers, before rolling off onto the floor.
Tara/Glory was instantly on the Slayer, and they began trading blows. Unfortunately,
the battle wasn't going in Buffy's favor, because she had to pull her punches
so as not to permanently harm Tara.
Willow looked horrified as it went on, managing to delcare, "Buffy, remember
they only have a short time to do their thing... please, just hold her off until
it runs out!"
Buffy didn't even stop fighting as Willow spoke. She knew the drill by now.
The possession deal was getting really old, really fast. She glared at Tara/Glory
with extreme annoyance, "Are you ever going to get tired of possessing
my friends?"
"Not likely. He says it's fun with all the stuff he learns about them.
Dirty little secrets." She caught Buffy with a roundhouse kick that sent
her spinning into a nearby display case. Several items fell on top of her before
the case, too, fell on her. Tara/Glory put her hands on her hips, looking satisfied,
"Besides, this one has her own power. Makes me feel even stronger."
To accentuate her point, she quickly grabbed a book and threw it up in the air.
It began levitating in mid-air, before darting off and narrowly missing Giles
and Anya.
Everyone was on the ground now, save for Willow. Tara/Glory marched up to her,
getting in her face, and growled, "I've got a bone to pick with you, girlie.
Last time I saw you, you shoved your hand in my head and stole a bunch of lovely
energy. I want it back, and I'm more than willing to do it the hard way."
She brought her hand up in a flash, and delivered a blow to the red-head's temple.
She slumped back against the counter. Tara/Glory sidled up to her, and started
to bring her hands to Willow's head...
When a phwap noise and a pin-prick distracted her. She looked to the direction
it came from, to see a platinum-blonde, leather bound annoyance aiming a rifle-device
at her. "What are you gonna do, Spork? Shoooot me?" She looked down
at the dart protruding from her shoulder.
Spike simply smirked, "Already have, luv." Glory glared furiously
at him, as she sank to the floor. She was unconscious by the time she hit the
hardwood.
Willow was only spared by Giles' arms deftly catching her, saving her from a
long fall to the floor. Anya ran around and helped slide her to the ground,
as Buffy pushed the case off of herself and got back to her feet. She dusted
herself off and looked at the fallen Tara, "Y'know these threats that aren't
threats are getting really annoying."
Her head snapped up and she ran over to the other side of the research table,
"Xander! Are you okay?"
Everyone in the room was stunned by the emotion in her voice. It was intense
to say the least. Xander nodded his head weakly as Buffy helped him to his feet,
"I think we need to invest in possession insurance... think State Farm
covers it?"
*CUT TO: Willow in her & Tara's room. First-person perspective, she's looking in a the mirror and brushing her hair.*
Willow couldn't believe the past couple of days they'd had.
The shop was a mess again. The biggest mess, however, was her relationship.
Tara thought she was becoming too reliant on magic. How could that be? Magic
just made their lives easier. She could do things now that she didn't even dream
of three years ago. They just didn't understand how good it could be.
What they did understand, however, was the problems her and Tara had been having.
Because Tara had gone and told someone... she didn't know who yet. Whoever she
told, had told others, and now it was almost public knowledge. If she only had
time to fix the problems, there wouldn't have been a need to tell the others
about it.
She could buy back that time if she simply could make those who knew not remember.
If they didn't know there was anything to tell, they couldn't tell could they?
She didn't see any harm in it. She just needed it until she fixed things with
Tara, and then it wouldn't be an issue anyway.
The problem was figuring out who knew. Asking them was out of the question...
it would reveal her hand, and they might try to stop her. She picked up a handful
of something off the desk. She knew the answer. Holding up six of the flowers
she'd used on Tara. If she couldn't pinpoint who knew, she'd simply clear the
field. Buffy, Xander, Dawn, Giles, Anya, and finally Tara. She'd simply blank
these past two days from their minds, and she'd be able to get to work on *really*
fixing things.
She brought the flowers up into her line of sight, and spoke, "Forget."
The flowers each flashed in series. With those whispered words, she did untold
damage to the lives of those around her.
