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: Yes please!!! I really appreciate it.
Distribution: If you want it, you can have it, just let me know where it ends up.
Summary: The morning after...
Author's note: Just so you know: I'll be visting my parents over the next week. That means, I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update... I'll try, but I can't promise anything (it all depends on my brother - if he will let me work on his PC or not...). But rest assured, I'll be back on the 15th April...
***
When Faith woke up the next morning, Buffy was still asleep. So she got up as quietly as possibly and then went downstairs to get some breakfast. The potentials were all still asleep, and so seemed the others. So Faith was a bit surprised to find Willow in the kitchen.
"Red!"
"You know that's not my name, don't you?" Willow didn't sound too angry though, she smiled at her almost cheerfully. "Good morning."
"Good morning," Faith replied. "Willow," she added as afterthought.
Willow just grinned in return. "So, did you sleep well? And how was patrol last night?"
Does she know? Faith wondered. "Um, patrol was alright. We slayed a few vamps - there weren't too many of them."
"Yeah, it's really quiet right now. Hardly any vampires, no übervamps...and the First hasn't showed up for a while now, I mean, except for the whole posession attempt. That's a bad sign, I guess." She walked over to the fridge to get some milk for her cereals. She offered Faith some as well.
"Yes, thanks," the Slayer answered. "So, why are you so cheerful then?"
"You know - it's odd, but I have no idea, really. Just the feeling that something - good is going to happen. And the sun is shining, which is always nice."
They ate their breakfast in silence, only sometimes smiling at each other. When they were finished, Faith remembered something. "Willow, listen, I'm - I'm really sorry about the other night. I didn't mean to upset you or anything, I just didn't know Tara was-"
"I know. It's okay. I mean, how should you have known?"
"Yeah, but - I also kinda wanted to apologize for what I said to her. That's why I asked about her as well. I was pretty mean back then."
They were interrupted as some of the potentials came streaming into the kitchen.
"I still can't believe how many of them there are," Faith said. Willow just rolled her eyes in agreement as they both fled.
***
That evening Buffy scheduled an extended Scooby meeting. That meant she, Spike, Faith, Giles, Willow, Xander, Dawn, Anya and Andrew all met in the basement.
"It's been pretty quiet out there for the past few weeks," Buffy told them. "Just the occasional vampire. And the First has been all no-show as well."
"So what does this mean?" Andrew asked.
"I wish I knew," Buffy sighed and started pacing around. "I feel kind of restless really, but there seems to be nothing we can do except waiting for -" she stopped herself in time.
"Waiting for what?" Dawn wanted to know.
"For the First making it's move," Faith told her.
"Exactly," Buffy continued. "It's making me really itchy, but there seems to be nothing we can do really."
"I think there is something we can do," Anya said.
"What do you mean?" Please don't say anything about Tara, Buffy thought. That was another reason why she was itchy - she was living in the constant fear one of the others might accidentally tell Willow about Tara. Which was funny, really, because it always seemed to be herself who was about to slip.
"Well, I think we should do some more research about that prophecy I found. I mean, we have the prophecy, alright, but there probably is a spell or something that tells us how to destroy the First."
"But didn't it say we need Tara for that?" Xander interrupted her.
"Well, yes, but I think Anya has got a point. I think we all agree we shouldn't start the zombie debate again," Giles shot Willow a quick glance, "but maybe we can even find a way to do the spell without Tara."
"You're right," Buffy said. "But perhaps you should first try to find the spell at all. If there is one."
"Well, we have Anya's books," Giles replied. "And we can try and ask around some more."
"Yeah, and Connor promised to ask Wesley if he knows anything about it," Willow said. "I asked him to."
"Good. That really sounds - promising." Buffy sighed. "I'm sorry , I don't know what's up with me. I didn't sleep too well last night, and somehow - I guess we should call it a day. Or night. Maybe - Spike, Faith and I can go for patrol again. I really need to do something. And you - you can do research, if you want. It doesn't seem too urgent, so - take your time." Buffy smiled at them. "Or is there anything else?"
As no one had to anything, Buffy went upstairs, Faith and Spike following her.
"What's up with Buffy?" Xander asked. "Is it just lack of sleep, or is there something she doesn't want us to know?"
"I - I'm sure she doesn't keep any secrets from us. Why would she?" Giles answered him. "Anya, where did you put the books?"
***
At the cemetery, they started looking for vampires. As all seemed pretty quiet, Faith asked, "When do you think she'll do it?"
"Huh?" Buffy had been lost in her own thoughts, not really listening.
"When do you think she - Tara'll do the ritual?"
"Oh. I don't know. Why?"
"I was just wondering. I mean, although it is quiet now, it is urgent for her to come here, isn't it? I don't think she'll just come here and everything is going to be alright. Don't you think it was a bit unfair that you didn't tell her about Willow?"
"Faith, I couldn't." Buffy sounded exhausted. That was exactly what she had been wondering about all day. She feared Tara would feel - well, betrayed. Lied to. And what if she came back but didn't want Willow anymore? The more she thought about it, the more scared she got. "I - I really couldn't. What if she -"
"If she said she didn't want to come after all? I get your point, but that doesn't make it any better, does it? In fact, it makes it worse."
Spike, who had been silent up to then, agreed with Faith. "She's right. What if she's here and doesn't like it - or feels left out or something. She's stuck here then, isn't she?"
"I guess. But don't you think I'm worried about that too? I - we need her to destroy the First. And about the rest - I don't know. I just hope eveything is going to work out somehow. They are soulmates, after all. She - she just has to forgive her." Buffy sounded as if she was on the verge of tears, Spike noticed.
"Hey, what's the matter, love?" he asked her.
"Nothing. I'm really just exhausted. I need to go to bed, I think."
"So why don't you do it?" Faith said. The both of you can go home - I think I'll manage on my own."
"I can stay too, if you want," Spike offered.
"No, I'm alright on my own, really. You should..." Faith looked at Buffy.
"Right. Shall we go then?"
Buffy nodded and smiled at Faith. "Thank you."
"It's okay, really. I'll stay in another night."
"See you tomorrow then." With that, they left. Faith sat down on one of the stone coffin things and waited.
***
On their way back, Buffy didn't really say anything. Spike was silent as well - she obviously needed time to think, and he didn't want to disturb her.
"Do you think she is going to hate me?" Buffy asked him when they were almost home.
"Why would she?"
"Because I lied to her. Or, well, I didn't lie, but I didn't tell her everything."
"I don't know. But what I do know is that Tara loves her. So I don't think you should worry."
"But sometimes it isn't about love." She looked at him.
"It'll be alright, I'm sure," he said, trying to sound confident.
They were standing at the front door now, not really wanting to go in. They were just standing there, looking at each other.
"You promise?"
"I promise."
Spike suddenly leaned over to kiss her. She didn't back away. It was an almost chaste kiss, he just wanted to reassure her, make her feel everything was going to be fine. When they parted again, Buffy smiled at him. "Thank you."
He didn't reply immediately, but instead opened the door for her. "You're welcome."
***
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: Yes please!!! I really appreciate it.
Distribution: If you want it, you can have it, just let me know where it ends up.
Summary: The morning after...
Author's note: Just so you know: I'll be visting my parents over the next week. That means, I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update... I'll try, but I can't promise anything (it all depends on my brother - if he will let me work on his PC or not...). But rest assured, I'll be back on the 15th April...
***
When Faith woke up the next morning, Buffy was still asleep. So she got up as quietly as possibly and then went downstairs to get some breakfast. The potentials were all still asleep, and so seemed the others. So Faith was a bit surprised to find Willow in the kitchen.
"Red!"
"You know that's not my name, don't you?" Willow didn't sound too angry though, she smiled at her almost cheerfully. "Good morning."
"Good morning," Faith replied. "Willow," she added as afterthought.
Willow just grinned in return. "So, did you sleep well? And how was patrol last night?"
Does she know? Faith wondered. "Um, patrol was alright. We slayed a few vamps - there weren't too many of them."
"Yeah, it's really quiet right now. Hardly any vampires, no übervamps...and the First hasn't showed up for a while now, I mean, except for the whole posession attempt. That's a bad sign, I guess." She walked over to the fridge to get some milk for her cereals. She offered Faith some as well.
"Yes, thanks," the Slayer answered. "So, why are you so cheerful then?"
"You know - it's odd, but I have no idea, really. Just the feeling that something - good is going to happen. And the sun is shining, which is always nice."
They ate their breakfast in silence, only sometimes smiling at each other. When they were finished, Faith remembered something. "Willow, listen, I'm - I'm really sorry about the other night. I didn't mean to upset you or anything, I just didn't know Tara was-"
"I know. It's okay. I mean, how should you have known?"
"Yeah, but - I also kinda wanted to apologize for what I said to her. That's why I asked about her as well. I was pretty mean back then."
They were interrupted as some of the potentials came streaming into the kitchen.
"I still can't believe how many of them there are," Faith said. Willow just rolled her eyes in agreement as they both fled.
***
That evening Buffy scheduled an extended Scooby meeting. That meant she, Spike, Faith, Giles, Willow, Xander, Dawn, Anya and Andrew all met in the basement.
"It's been pretty quiet out there for the past few weeks," Buffy told them. "Just the occasional vampire. And the First has been all no-show as well."
"So what does this mean?" Andrew asked.
"I wish I knew," Buffy sighed and started pacing around. "I feel kind of restless really, but there seems to be nothing we can do except waiting for -" she stopped herself in time.
"Waiting for what?" Dawn wanted to know.
"For the First making it's move," Faith told her.
"Exactly," Buffy continued. "It's making me really itchy, but there seems to be nothing we can do really."
"I think there is something we can do," Anya said.
"What do you mean?" Please don't say anything about Tara, Buffy thought. That was another reason why she was itchy - she was living in the constant fear one of the others might accidentally tell Willow about Tara. Which was funny, really, because it always seemed to be herself who was about to slip.
"Well, I think we should do some more research about that prophecy I found. I mean, we have the prophecy, alright, but there probably is a spell or something that tells us how to destroy the First."
"But didn't it say we need Tara for that?" Xander interrupted her.
"Well, yes, but I think Anya has got a point. I think we all agree we shouldn't start the zombie debate again," Giles shot Willow a quick glance, "but maybe we can even find a way to do the spell without Tara."
"You're right," Buffy said. "But perhaps you should first try to find the spell at all. If there is one."
"Well, we have Anya's books," Giles replied. "And we can try and ask around some more."
"Yeah, and Connor promised to ask Wesley if he knows anything about it," Willow said. "I asked him to."
"Good. That really sounds - promising." Buffy sighed. "I'm sorry , I don't know what's up with me. I didn't sleep too well last night, and somehow - I guess we should call it a day. Or night. Maybe - Spike, Faith and I can go for patrol again. I really need to do something. And you - you can do research, if you want. It doesn't seem too urgent, so - take your time." Buffy smiled at them. "Or is there anything else?"
As no one had to anything, Buffy went upstairs, Faith and Spike following her.
"What's up with Buffy?" Xander asked. "Is it just lack of sleep, or is there something she doesn't want us to know?"
"I - I'm sure she doesn't keep any secrets from us. Why would she?" Giles answered him. "Anya, where did you put the books?"
***
At the cemetery, they started looking for vampires. As all seemed pretty quiet, Faith asked, "When do you think she'll do it?"
"Huh?" Buffy had been lost in her own thoughts, not really listening.
"When do you think she - Tara'll do the ritual?"
"Oh. I don't know. Why?"
"I was just wondering. I mean, although it is quiet now, it is urgent for her to come here, isn't it? I don't think she'll just come here and everything is going to be alright. Don't you think it was a bit unfair that you didn't tell her about Willow?"
"Faith, I couldn't." Buffy sounded exhausted. That was exactly what she had been wondering about all day. She feared Tara would feel - well, betrayed. Lied to. And what if she came back but didn't want Willow anymore? The more she thought about it, the more scared she got. "I - I really couldn't. What if she -"
"If she said she didn't want to come after all? I get your point, but that doesn't make it any better, does it? In fact, it makes it worse."
Spike, who had been silent up to then, agreed with Faith. "She's right. What if she's here and doesn't like it - or feels left out or something. She's stuck here then, isn't she?"
"I guess. But don't you think I'm worried about that too? I - we need her to destroy the First. And about the rest - I don't know. I just hope eveything is going to work out somehow. They are soulmates, after all. She - she just has to forgive her." Buffy sounded as if she was on the verge of tears, Spike noticed.
"Hey, what's the matter, love?" he asked her.
"Nothing. I'm really just exhausted. I need to go to bed, I think."
"So why don't you do it?" Faith said. The both of you can go home - I think I'll manage on my own."
"I can stay too, if you want," Spike offered.
"No, I'm alright on my own, really. You should..." Faith looked at Buffy.
"Right. Shall we go then?"
Buffy nodded and smiled at Faith. "Thank you."
"It's okay, really. I'll stay in another night."
"See you tomorrow then." With that, they left. Faith sat down on one of the stone coffin things and waited.
***
On their way back, Buffy didn't really say anything. Spike was silent as well - she obviously needed time to think, and he didn't want to disturb her.
"Do you think she is going to hate me?" Buffy asked him when they were almost home.
"Why would she?"
"Because I lied to her. Or, well, I didn't lie, but I didn't tell her everything."
"I don't know. But what I do know is that Tara loves her. So I don't think you should worry."
"But sometimes it isn't about love." She looked at him.
"It'll be alright, I'm sure," he said, trying to sound confident.
They were standing at the front door now, not really wanting to go in. They were just standing there, looking at each other.
"You promise?"
"I promise."
Spike suddenly leaned over to kiss her. She didn't back away. It was an almost chaste kiss, he just wanted to reassure her, make her feel everything was going to be fine. When they parted again, Buffy smiled at him. "Thank you."
He didn't reply immediately, but instead opened the door for her. "You're welcome."
***