Buffy sat at the kitchen table papers and envelopes strewn about, a calculator and checkbook in front of her. "I've got exactly $32.47 left from my Doublemeat check after I pay all the bills and I've still got to ask for time-off. Do you think I have any vacation pay coming to me after two months of work?" She rubbed her temples and closed her eyes.
Rummaging through her backpack, Dawn called out the contents, "I have a stick of gum, my pager, lip gloss, a scantron and $3.00. Can you pawn a pager?" She looked up hopefully at the others.
"After paying for the reception hall that never got used, the penalty on the plane tickets and the cancellation fees with the travel agency, I've got about 400 bucks," Xander confessed with a sigh. "Definitely not enough to fund our little recon mission."
Clicking away on her laptop, Willow groaned. "I just checked my bank account and I've only got $76.00. I could just make it to San Francisco. Maybe we can stow-away?" She said the last half-kiddingly.
The doorbell rang and Buffy looked around, mentally checking attendance. Tiredly pushing back from the table she volunteered, "I'll get it." If that's Spike smoldering under a blanket, I swear I'm just going to leave him there to fry on the front porch. Opening the door, Tara's warm smile greeted her.
"Tara! It's great to see you! We can use all the help we can get right about now." Not giving her a chance to respond she pulled Tara into her arms for a hug. "Look everyone! Tara's here!"
Xander saw a pained expression flit across Willow's face at the mention of Tara's name and reached across the table to squeeze her arm.
Buffy marched into the kitchen with Tara, who looked like a breath of spring in her peasant top, long skirt and shy smile. Tara tentatively waved at the group. "I just came to see how the scrounge for money was coming and put in my 2 cents. Or actually my $122.00"
Suddenly, a noise came from Willow's computer, "Thank you sir! May I have another?" bellowed a masculine voice.
Xander perked up and yelled, "I got it! Animal House!"
"Mmmm. Gold star for you." Willow looked down at her laptop, "Hey! I got an e-mail from Anya!"
"Why would she be e-mailing us?" Dawn asked.
Xander, who looked genuinely curious, "Do you think she has news?"
"Hold on, let me open it." After a moment of clicking, Willow began to read:
Olivia, Giles' girlfriend, or at least I think that's what I understood from her lengthy and convoluted explanation of their relationship--after she enlightened me that 'orgasm friend' is not an appropriate appellation--has lent me the use of her small computer much like Willow's in order for me to communicate with you in a more cost effective manner.
Buffy chimed in, "That's Anya, always with the miserly methodology."
Willow nodded in agreement and continued, skimming the message in front of her, "Then she berates me for not properly explaining to her about the business potential computers lend to small enterprise… um… here we go:
I realize that it is essential for all of you to come and help search for Giles. Even though I know I seem thoughtless and insensitive, I recognize that he means more to the assemblage of you than I will be able to comprehend. Through sensible saving and wise investment choices, I have some money that I'll be willing to advance you in the form of plane tickets.
"Excellent! And how Scrooge McDuck of her." Buffy remarked.
Willow interrupted Buffy's positive tone, "Wait, there's a stipulation…"
"Of course. Anya rarely does things out of the kindness of her demonic heart." Xander said resignedly.
"She says that we have to agree to work at the Magic Box for 45 days without pay during the rest of the year…. or pay back the cost of our ticket within 1 year, with interest. Then there's columns of figures showing accruement rates and due dates for monthly payments."
Scanning the screen Willow continued, "Ouch this next part is kind of abrasive, 'Except for Xander because he's the reason I left Sunnydale, and I don't even think I really want to see him now, let alone for 45 days, so he has to choose the payment plan'."
Willow gave Xander a look of sympathy and then continued to read, "Also, with your current problem with magic and all related objects I don't think that you, Willow, should choose to work unless Buffy or Dawn would be willing to be with you, which effect me labor-wise, so you need to choose the payment plan as well'." She looked up indignantly from the screen. "Oh! I think that I've been doing really well! I mean with Spellcaster's Anonymous, and steely willpower I just received my 75 day pin…"
"Well, at least she made the offer." Tara tried for reasonable middle ground.
"She's got us between a rock and... and something hard and she knows it!" Xander pounded a fist into his other hand and paced the floor ranting, "She never mentioned any savings or 'wise investments' while we were together. I bet she was planning on separate accounts after we were married too!"
Willow tried for a placating tone, "Xander, it's really not so bad. I mean, it's not as if any of us could ever afford to scratch up enough to go on our own. And 45 days, well, that's only 2 months in work days and a year is pretty generous, and…"
"As long as I don't have to help the same customer over and over and over again, I'll do whatever Anya asks." Looking at Xander with determination Buffy said sternly, "And so will you, Xander. You are not going to sulk and be mule-headed just because your ex-almost-wife has solved our transportation problem. I don't mean to be harsh, but Giles' life is more important than your twisty guilt issues."
Xander sank back into the kitchen chair looking grieved. "I just don't know how to deal. I feel all torn, loving her, wishing things were different, but angry that she's gone, and kicking myself for what I've done." He put his forehead on the table. "I'm a miserable, miserable man."
The girls watched Xander throughout his outpouring of emotion, quietly absorbing his pain. Dawn reached for his hand saying, "Well, at least we still like you. And that's something, isn't it?"
"Sure it is!" Tara piped up, "And what man doesn't dream of having the love and admiration of not one, but four women?" Her quiet smile punctuated her words as he lifted his head to look at her.
"Yes, otherwise why would we have put up with you for all these years?" Buffy teased. Looking at each person in turn she took command. "Now, let's get cracking. Dawn and I are going upstairs to start packing. Xander and Tara, you should go and do the same. Willow, can you start looking for cheap flights that leave ASAP?" After receiving nods from the group, Buffy smiled and then looked fiercely serious, "Let's go find Giles."