Title: Forgiving Evil
Chapter 9/12: Magic Free and Very Good
(see chapter one for more detail)
Buffy hesitated a split second before running to Willow and pulling her into a tight hug. They began to cry and Anya slowly walked up to the two friends. "Willow! You're back! And magic free! That's very good."
With that, Anya put her arms around Buffy and Willow as they shared a group hug. It was a few minutes before Buffy and Willow let go and Anya went back to unpacking new merchandise. Dawn stayed quietly in her spot next to Spike. Willow scanned the room, probably looking for Xander, and her eyes settled on Dawn.
"Dawnie." Tears were running down her guilty face again. "I'm so sorry. I-I don't know what to do to make this better." Willow took a small step towards Dawn. "Do you-can you ever forgive me?"
It was quiet for a long thirty seconds before Dawn ran into Willow's waiting arms and cried. All Willow could do was mumble apologies as she stroked Dawn's hair. It was a long morning at the Magic Box as Willow told them how Giles had taken her to England and the same Coven that had given him their power took Willow in. They stripped her of her powers and helped her with her grief. When they decided she was ready to face Sunnydale, Giles brought her back. Giles was waiting outside in the car, hoping to escape from any post-Evil-Willow fights. He decided it was safe to come in as Willow was finishing her story.
Willow took turns talking to everyone, apologizing and, well, apologizing. Buffy filled her in on the summer's events and the more recent happenings with Spike. Willow gave Buffy her support in the whole matter.
"But now, I just want to try to get back to normal. Whatever that is. I learned that I can't change the past and I can't dwell on it either. I have to move on. Tara would have wanted me to." Buffy was so happy to see Willow's resolve face firmly in place.
By the time they left the Magic Box it was already after dark. Buffy dropped Spike off by the cemetery gates and then drove home with Dawn and Willow. She wanted to get back to normal, too.
They reached the Summers' home and each grabbed a bag from the trunk of the car. Buffy dropped her bag as she took out her keys and unlocked the door. She swung it open and held it for Willow and Dawn.
She followed into the house behind them and practically ran into Dawn. "Hey, why'd you stop?" she asked. Then she saw what…uh, who they were looking at. Sitting on the couch was a mightily brassed off Xander who looked on in shock at the redhead.
"Hey, Xand. How was your summer?"