Title: Half of my soul and all of my heart
Author: ladydewinter
Email: ladydewinter@gmx.net
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: W/K first, but I don't really like them...so W/T eventually :-) And this is becoming B/S as well, it seems.
Setting: The story takes place roughly after The Killer in Me, so spoilers up to then. And if you have no idea about Season Three of Angel you'll be spoilt as well...so don't come running to me *lol*
Disclaimer: Willow, Tara, Kennedy, Anya et. al belong to Joss Whedon and ME and - hey you know whom they belong to. The story however is mine. Oh, the title is taken from a book called "Magic's Promise" by Mercedes Lackey. And there may be quotes from the show included in this story - I haven't really marked them, but if it sounds familiar - I mean it as an homage, I don't wanna violate any copyright, really. Please don't sue me!
Feedback: I can't stop to thank you all for the nice feedback I get - I'm so glad you like this story. And I'm glad I started writing it. So let me say it once more, with feeling: THANKS!
Distribution: If you want it, you can have it, just let me know where it ends up.
Summary: This is what happened before the dream in our alternate universe.
Author's note: I'm sorry, I know I didn't keep my promise...the "there will be an update on Saturday" one, I mean....but you know, I went out with some friends and then there is this whole daylight saving thing...and now it's 4:15 am on Sunday... well, but - insted of just one update, you'll get two - the Saturday and the Sunday one. Have fun ;-)
***
When Tara woke up, it was already dark outside. She was surprised she had been able to sleep, but then again she really had been tired. She got out of bed and went into the bathroom. She hadn't dreamed anything...but she remembered everything she had talked about with Mr Giles and Buffy. She looked at herself in the mirror, smiling. She would find a way, and she would be together with Willow again.
She went downstairs to see what the others were up to. Tara wondered whether Buffy had told them already, and whether they thought she had completely lost their mind. When she was half way down the staircase, she stopped, listening.
"So - you're saying none of this is real?" That was Xander.
"No!" Buffy sounded a bit exasperated. "Our world - dimension is just as real as the other. It just isn't as old. Listen, I know this sounds weird, but - I think we should try to believe it. We don't have any proof that the theory is false."
"But there isn't much evidence saying it's right either, is there?" William wanted to know. "I mean, except for the dream."
"What about the books?" Dawn suggested.
"They could be fake," William replied.
"Yeah, but why in the world would this Mr Giles fake them? How would he know Tara would come to him because of the dream she had? That doesn't make much sense, does it?" Buffy asked.
"No, I guess it doesn't. Alright, let's just - assume it's right...what do we do now? And...did you say you were a superhero in that world?" William sounded impressed.
"Yeah...I'm the Chosen One there."
"You're my Chosen One here," he answered, pulling her towards her to kiss her.
"Oh my god, how cheesy is that?" Anya said. The she noticed Tara. "Hey, look who's up! How are you?"
"I'm fine, thank you," Tara replied, smiling. She joined others and sat down on the couch next to Dawn. "So - what do you think?"
"You mean, apart from 'this sounds as if both you and Buffy and that Mr Giles have gone completely mad'?" Xander asked.
"Xander!"
"What?" He looked at his fiancée who had scolded him. "That's what you are thinking as we, isn't it?"
"Well, maybe it is...but I'm with Buffy here...we maybe should try to believe it. I mean, what harm can it do?"
"Okay, let's pretend this world didn't exist before the 7th of May 2002 - let's pretend there are other dimensions, and one where Tara's soulamte is waiting for her. What do we do now?"
"We don't know," Buffy said. "But someone's coming over who might."
At that moment, someone knocked on the door. "I'm coming!" Buffy called, leaving Williams lap. "Hi, Mr Giles, I'm Buffy Summers. I'm glad you could come."
"Hello Miss Summers. Thanks for having me."
"Come and join us - Tara you know already - these are William, my boyfriend...Anya and Xander...and Dawn, my sister."
"I'm delighted to meet you," he said, smiling and nodding at them.
"Hi Mr Giles," was all the others replied.
"So..." Tara started, "Did you find anything?"
"Actually, no...not much. The problem is - I only have the few books I have and there isn't much in there. But I have an idea how we might be able to find out some more."
"You have?" Dawn asked. "What is it?"
"Well, if we assume there is this other world or dimension - we should be able to contact it somehow. I guess - as theirs is a world familiar with the supernatural - they have much more information available than we have. Maybe they might even know a way for Tara here to cross dimensions."
"Whoa, not so fast here," Xander interrupted him. "Even if all of this is true - and I'm not saying I believe any of it - I don't think we should rush with the 'cross dimensions' thing. And - how do we know it's Tara who has to the crossing anyway? I mean, why doesn't Willow just come over? I would like to see her again as well."
"Xander has a point," Anya said. "We can't know who has to cross, can we?"
"I don't know. It's just - if we assume this world was the one created to enable Tara to cross over some day? But then, that argument would work for the Willow side as well..." Giles stopped to think for a moment. "However, I think we shouldn't bother with that question now. We have to take one step after the other. So I suggest - let's find out what we can."
"How?" Dawn asked.
"Oh, that's easy. From what I have read about Slayers, they seem to be very sensitive concerning dreams. And there are some spells how to contact them via dreams. We should be able to reach at least one of them."
"One of them?" Buffy asked, sounding surprised. "I thought there was just one Slayer...she being the Chosen One and all of that..."
"You are right, but as this one Slayer - your counterpart, so to speak - has apparently died once for a couple of seconds, but has been brought back to life by CPR, another one has been activated...so now there are two. Anyway, as I said, we should be able to contact them."
"How do we do it?" Tara wanted to know.
"It's quite easy, actually. There is a potion I already mixed and a short incantation one has to say...then all you have to do is to go to sleep. And you have to concentrate a bit," Giles said.
"A potion?" William asked. "What's in it?"
"Some herbs...nothing to worry about...do you want to see the recipe? It's in here." He handed him the book he had been carrying. "I understand you all are concerned - this must have been a shock to all of you - and I gather you probably don't trust me at all - but I assure you, I don't want to harm anybody. I just want to help."
"What's in it for you?" Xander questioned him.
"In it?" Giles didn't seem to understand.
"Yeah, why do you help us? Do you want money, or - I don't know. What do you want?"
"All I want is to help you - and the Powers that Be. I have this feeling that what we do - or rather those in that other dimension do things that matter to the existence of the universe. And I think that we are here for a reason as well. Ever since I discovered these books, I've been thinking of contacting all of you, but I decided to wait and see if one of you will come to me. This dimension wasn't just created to help two soulmates to get back together again - the Powers may be romantics, but there's a limit to everything. I don't know why all this is happening, but I think there is a bigger picture and we are missing it. I know it's not easy for you to trust me - but I know a way how I might convince you that not all I'm saying is the product of utter lunacy."
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked.
Giles got a couple of books out of his briefcase. "Here - these are the Watcher's Diaries."
"You know we know you could've faked them."
"I know. But I don't think you suggest I could have faked this." He pulled out a last book - it was the one about witchcraft Tara had been reading while he was in his office. "Tara, would you be so kind to read the first page to us." He handed her the book.
"Of course," she replied and started to read. "'The Laws of Witchcraft. 1. Do what you will as long as it harms none; 2. Do what you will as long as you don't interfere with anyone else's free will; 3. That which you send out returns to you threefold.'"
"You're making this up," Xander said. He was standing next to her, looking at the book.
"What? I'm not - can't you read it?"
"Tara - the pages are empty." He took the book from her. "See? There's nothing in it." He showed it to the others.
"That's not quite right," Giles told them. "It says in the diaries that this is a book only witches can read. And as it always says that Tara in that other dimension is a very powerful witch, I guess it might proove that I'm not making this up."
"You mean, Tara is a witch here as well? How is that possible? Doesn't that mean I should be a Slayer, too?" Buffy asked.
"I'm not sure how all of this works. I assume that either Tara has kept her power because this world was created in order to enable her to get back to the one she came from and her powers are needed there or it's just that you," he gestured at Buffy, "don't have any special powers unless you are called."
"So - you're saying - I'm a witch?" Tara sounded surprised.
"And a very powerful one."
"Wow." She was impressed. "So - let's do it - the spell - the one to contact the Slayers with."
"Alright then... I think it will be best if you lie down for the procedure..as you will fall asleep during it. You will be in a dream as well - so it even might be you redream the dream you told me about."
"That's okay." Tara smiled. "Dawnie, if you get off the couch I could lie down here...or should I get up to my room?"
"I think it'll be fine here," Giles assured her. "So - after you drink this, say 'I call you, Chosen One. Heed my call. Heed my call. Heed my call'. Then just lie down and think of what you are going to tell them - or her."
"Okay. Anything else I have to do? How much time do I have?"
"I don't know exactly. One hour maybe? I have never done anything like this before." Giles took off his glasses and started cleaning them.
"I'm sure it'll all work out fine," Tara assured him and the others. "I'll be back soon." She smiled at them, then took a sip of the potion and repeated the incantation. "I call you, Chosen One. Heed my call. Heed my call. Heed my call." The next second, she was lying flat on her back on the couch. Then she fell asleep. She didn't even have the time to 'concentrate'.
Author: ladydewinter
Email: ladydewinter@gmx.net
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: W/K first, but I don't really like them...so W/T eventually :-) And this is becoming B/S as well, it seems.
Setting: The story takes place roughly after The Killer in Me, so spoilers up to then. And if you have no idea about Season Three of Angel you'll be spoilt as well...so don't come running to me *lol*
Disclaimer: Willow, Tara, Kennedy, Anya et. al belong to Joss Whedon and ME and - hey you know whom they belong to. The story however is mine. Oh, the title is taken from a book called "Magic's Promise" by Mercedes Lackey. And there may be quotes from the show included in this story - I haven't really marked them, but if it sounds familiar - I mean it as an homage, I don't wanna violate any copyright, really. Please don't sue me!
Feedback: I can't stop to thank you all for the nice feedback I get - I'm so glad you like this story. And I'm glad I started writing it. So let me say it once more, with feeling: THANKS!
Distribution: If you want it, you can have it, just let me know where it ends up.
Summary: This is what happened before the dream in our alternate universe.
Author's note: I'm sorry, I know I didn't keep my promise...the "there will be an update on Saturday" one, I mean....but you know, I went out with some friends and then there is this whole daylight saving thing...and now it's 4:15 am on Sunday... well, but - insted of just one update, you'll get two - the Saturday and the Sunday one. Have fun ;-)
***
When Tara woke up, it was already dark outside. She was surprised she had been able to sleep, but then again she really had been tired. She got out of bed and went into the bathroom. She hadn't dreamed anything...but she remembered everything she had talked about with Mr Giles and Buffy. She looked at herself in the mirror, smiling. She would find a way, and she would be together with Willow again.
She went downstairs to see what the others were up to. Tara wondered whether Buffy had told them already, and whether they thought she had completely lost their mind. When she was half way down the staircase, she stopped, listening.
"So - you're saying none of this is real?" That was Xander.
"No!" Buffy sounded a bit exasperated. "Our world - dimension is just as real as the other. It just isn't as old. Listen, I know this sounds weird, but - I think we should try to believe it. We don't have any proof that the theory is false."
"But there isn't much evidence saying it's right either, is there?" William wanted to know. "I mean, except for the dream."
"What about the books?" Dawn suggested.
"They could be fake," William replied.
"Yeah, but why in the world would this Mr Giles fake them? How would he know Tara would come to him because of the dream she had? That doesn't make much sense, does it?" Buffy asked.
"No, I guess it doesn't. Alright, let's just - assume it's right...what do we do now? And...did you say you were a superhero in that world?" William sounded impressed.
"Yeah...I'm the Chosen One there."
"You're my Chosen One here," he answered, pulling her towards her to kiss her.
"Oh my god, how cheesy is that?" Anya said. The she noticed Tara. "Hey, look who's up! How are you?"
"I'm fine, thank you," Tara replied, smiling. She joined others and sat down on the couch next to Dawn. "So - what do you think?"
"You mean, apart from 'this sounds as if both you and Buffy and that Mr Giles have gone completely mad'?" Xander asked.
"Xander!"
"What?" He looked at his fiancée who had scolded him. "That's what you are thinking as we, isn't it?"
"Well, maybe it is...but I'm with Buffy here...we maybe should try to believe it. I mean, what harm can it do?"
"Okay, let's pretend this world didn't exist before the 7th of May 2002 - let's pretend there are other dimensions, and one where Tara's soulamte is waiting for her. What do we do now?"
"We don't know," Buffy said. "But someone's coming over who might."
At that moment, someone knocked on the door. "I'm coming!" Buffy called, leaving Williams lap. "Hi, Mr Giles, I'm Buffy Summers. I'm glad you could come."
"Hello Miss Summers. Thanks for having me."
"Come and join us - Tara you know already - these are William, my boyfriend...Anya and Xander...and Dawn, my sister."
"I'm delighted to meet you," he said, smiling and nodding at them.
"Hi Mr Giles," was all the others replied.
"So..." Tara started, "Did you find anything?"
"Actually, no...not much. The problem is - I only have the few books I have and there isn't much in there. But I have an idea how we might be able to find out some more."
"You have?" Dawn asked. "What is it?"
"Well, if we assume there is this other world or dimension - we should be able to contact it somehow. I guess - as theirs is a world familiar with the supernatural - they have much more information available than we have. Maybe they might even know a way for Tara here to cross dimensions."
"Whoa, not so fast here," Xander interrupted him. "Even if all of this is true - and I'm not saying I believe any of it - I don't think we should rush with the 'cross dimensions' thing. And - how do we know it's Tara who has to the crossing anyway? I mean, why doesn't Willow just come over? I would like to see her again as well."
"Xander has a point," Anya said. "We can't know who has to cross, can we?"
"I don't know. It's just - if we assume this world was the one created to enable Tara to cross over some day? But then, that argument would work for the Willow side as well..." Giles stopped to think for a moment. "However, I think we shouldn't bother with that question now. We have to take one step after the other. So I suggest - let's find out what we can."
"How?" Dawn asked.
"Oh, that's easy. From what I have read about Slayers, they seem to be very sensitive concerning dreams. And there are some spells how to contact them via dreams. We should be able to reach at least one of them."
"One of them?" Buffy asked, sounding surprised. "I thought there was just one Slayer...she being the Chosen One and all of that..."
"You are right, but as this one Slayer - your counterpart, so to speak - has apparently died once for a couple of seconds, but has been brought back to life by CPR, another one has been activated...so now there are two. Anyway, as I said, we should be able to contact them."
"How do we do it?" Tara wanted to know.
"It's quite easy, actually. There is a potion I already mixed and a short incantation one has to say...then all you have to do is to go to sleep. And you have to concentrate a bit," Giles said.
"A potion?" William asked. "What's in it?"
"Some herbs...nothing to worry about...do you want to see the recipe? It's in here." He handed him the book he had been carrying. "I understand you all are concerned - this must have been a shock to all of you - and I gather you probably don't trust me at all - but I assure you, I don't want to harm anybody. I just want to help."
"What's in it for you?" Xander questioned him.
"In it?" Giles didn't seem to understand.
"Yeah, why do you help us? Do you want money, or - I don't know. What do you want?"
"All I want is to help you - and the Powers that Be. I have this feeling that what we do - or rather those in that other dimension do things that matter to the existence of the universe. And I think that we are here for a reason as well. Ever since I discovered these books, I've been thinking of contacting all of you, but I decided to wait and see if one of you will come to me. This dimension wasn't just created to help two soulmates to get back together again - the Powers may be romantics, but there's a limit to everything. I don't know why all this is happening, but I think there is a bigger picture and we are missing it. I know it's not easy for you to trust me - but I know a way how I might convince you that not all I'm saying is the product of utter lunacy."
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked.
Giles got a couple of books out of his briefcase. "Here - these are the Watcher's Diaries."
"You know we know you could've faked them."
"I know. But I don't think you suggest I could have faked this." He pulled out a last book - it was the one about witchcraft Tara had been reading while he was in his office. "Tara, would you be so kind to read the first page to us." He handed her the book.
"Of course," she replied and started to read. "'The Laws of Witchcraft. 1. Do what you will as long as it harms none; 2. Do what you will as long as you don't interfere with anyone else's free will; 3. That which you send out returns to you threefold.'"
"You're making this up," Xander said. He was standing next to her, looking at the book.
"What? I'm not - can't you read it?"
"Tara - the pages are empty." He took the book from her. "See? There's nothing in it." He showed it to the others.
"That's not quite right," Giles told them. "It says in the diaries that this is a book only witches can read. And as it always says that Tara in that other dimension is a very powerful witch, I guess it might proove that I'm not making this up."
"You mean, Tara is a witch here as well? How is that possible? Doesn't that mean I should be a Slayer, too?" Buffy asked.
"I'm not sure how all of this works. I assume that either Tara has kept her power because this world was created in order to enable her to get back to the one she came from and her powers are needed there or it's just that you," he gestured at Buffy, "don't have any special powers unless you are called."
"So - you're saying - I'm a witch?" Tara sounded surprised.
"And a very powerful one."
"Wow." She was impressed. "So - let's do it - the spell - the one to contact the Slayers with."
"Alright then... I think it will be best if you lie down for the procedure..as you will fall asleep during it. You will be in a dream as well - so it even might be you redream the dream you told me about."
"That's okay." Tara smiled. "Dawnie, if you get off the couch I could lie down here...or should I get up to my room?"
"I think it'll be fine here," Giles assured her. "So - after you drink this, say 'I call you, Chosen One. Heed my call. Heed my call. Heed my call'. Then just lie down and think of what you are going to tell them - or her."
"Okay. Anything else I have to do? How much time do I have?"
"I don't know exactly. One hour maybe? I have never done anything like this before." Giles took off his glasses and started cleaning them.
"I'm sure it'll all work out fine," Tara assured him and the others. "I'll be back soon." She smiled at them, then took a sip of the potion and repeated the incantation. "I call you, Chosen One. Heed my call. Heed my call. Heed my call." The next second, she was lying flat on her back on the couch. Then she fell asleep. She didn't even have the time to 'concentrate'.