CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: REUNIFICATION

Buffy led Kat through the halls of the UC Sunnydale dorms, making sure that Kat actually followed instead of stopping due to nerves.  They had already stopped twice and Buffy had assured her that Rik would definitely want to know about Kat being in Sunnydale, alive and well.

Buffy knocked on the door, not allowing Kat to back down, keeping hold of her wrist.

"Just a sec," Rik called from inside, followed by the sound of scuffling.  "I'm not exactly wearing much."

Buffy laughed a little and Kat managed a grin.

"Take your time Rik," Buffy called through the door.

"Oh, hey Buffy.  We're gonna be late to class at this rate," Rik called.

"Uh, you're probably not gonna go to class," Buffy said with a grin.

"Why not?  Oh, you can open the door," Rik said.

Buffy opened the door and walked through, griping Kat tightly by the rest.  Rik was busy tying her shoelaces and didn't bother to look up.

"You won't wanna go cos I met someone this morning who had a bit of an interest in you," she said.

Rik looked up and almost fell off the bed.  Buffy just smiled and touched Kat's shoulder gently. 

"I'll cover patrol tonight Rik," Buffy said quietly, hating to disturb the solemn mood in the room, but knowing that these two girls would need a lot of time to talk things through.

Buffy stepped back and shut the door, leaving the two old friends standing there staring at each other.

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Rik stood up slowly, her eyes still wide with shock, her breathing shallow and uneven.  She swallowed hard and wet her lips, trying to think of something to say.

Kat was the first to break the silence.

"What?  No hug for your best mate?" she said teasingly, though she sounded nervous and unsure of herself.

The half-quip was all Rik needed before she had bounded across the room and had hugged her best friend as though there were no tomorrow.  Kat hugged her back just as tightly, tears forming in both of their eyes.  They stayed locked in an almost painful embrace for five minutes or so, just assuring themselves that the other was truly there.

Rik was the first to pull away, looking at her friend incredulously.

"How is this possible?  I mean…they were gonna kill you," Rik said incredulously.

Kat just shrugged and shook her head, not even wanting to explain what had happened to her.  She hated having to think about it, let alone trying to speak of it to someone else.  Plus, if she explained what had happened to her, Rik would fall into further guilt, and from what Buffy had told Kat earlier, Rik wasn't feeling guilt free about Kat giving herself up.

Rik just hugged her friend even tighter, knowing that she could afford to miss her lecture for her old friend.

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Meanwhile, out in the hall, Buffy just smiled softly and went to move down the hall.  She heard her name being called from behind her and stopped at the sound.  She turned and smiled at Tara.

"Hey Tara," she greeted.

"Hey Buffy.  Are you going to class?" she asked.

Buffy nodded and Tara gestured for them to walk together.

"Were you just visiting Erika?" Tara asked.

"Yeah.  One of her friends is in town, so…she won't be at the lecture," Buffy explained.

Tara smiled gently and then stopped in the hallway.  Buffy felt her heart leap into her throat, knowing what would be coming next.

"Why did you lie to us in the shop that day?  About being in hell?" Tara asked.

Buffy was surprised by Tara's sudden lack of insecurity.  This Tara was forceful, blunt and incredibly direct.  The Slayer was so shocked that she didn't even notice the red-headed girl who had stopped in her tracks at the word hell, had gasped and run in the opposite direction.

Buffy swallowed hard trying to formulate an answer. 

"Could you have handled the truth?" Buffy asked gently.

Tara sighed and just closed her eyes in defeat.  She hated herself for being part of the spell that had practically ruined Buffy's life.  There was nothing they could do about the fact that they had performed the spell.  There was no way to take it back, and there was no way that anyone would even want to take it back.

"Tara, I'm okay.  Things aren't exactly…they're not exactly back to how they were, but…it's never gonna be like that again.  And I'm mostly okay with that.  My life doesn't suck.  I mean…I've got another chance.  And I am so thrilled to have a chance with Giles," she said, putting a hand on Tara's arm, letting the gentle witch know that there weren't too many hard feelings.

Tara nodded and pulled Buffy into a hug, surprising the short blonde girl immensely.  The two of them had never been too close before she had died, and it was a bit of a shock, but a welcome one.  Buffy returned the embrace and just squeezed Tara gently when the witch murmured a soft apology.

"You weren't to know Tara.  It wasn't your fault.  It wasn't anyone's fault," Buffy assured her.

Tara nodded and wiped tears from her eyes.  "I'm still sorry."

"You're forgiven."

Tara could only marvel at the tiny girl beside her.  Her eyes held no lies, and there was only complete forgiveness written behind them.  She had never met anyone like Buffy Summers, and she knew that she probably would never know anyone like her again. 

"So," Buffy said after a moments silence, "class?"

Tara just smiled and linked arms with the Slayer, walking towards the lecture theatre.