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 want to violate anyone's copyright, really. Please don't sue me!
Feedback: Yes please!!! It makes me happy, and happy's always good!
Distribution: If you want it, you can have it, just let me know where it ends up.
Summary: The aftermath of the battle.
Author's note: This is the penultimate update - look for the last on Saturday or Sunday. Yes, then it's over... Oh, and as for those of you complaining about Kennedy being the Slayer - I like Kennedy, as long as she isn't together with Willow. And I think she's going to be a good Slayer.
***
When they finally arrived at Revello Drive, an ugly sight greeted them. Tara was shocked - she had thought what she had seen of the battle was bad, but this... There were bodies everywhere. For a moment she was afraid they were human - their friends - but almost immediately she realized that they were all Bringers. She couldn't believe how many of them there were - partly lying there in neat heaps over each other, partly in... parts. And there was blood. Lots of blood. But the battle seemed to be over.
She looked at the others. It seemed they were checking if any of the Bringers were still alive - and if there were some of their friends among the bodies. It was oddly silent, Tara thought. But then the front door flew open, and they all sighed an almost unconscious breath of relief. Dawn came running towards them and then flung her arms around her sister's neck. "You're alright!"
Buffy smiled and hugged her for a moment. Then she freed herself from the embrace to look at her younger sister. "Dawn, are you alright? And - what about the others, are they?"
Dawn nodded. "We're okay, mostly. Except..." her voice broke and she looked away.
"What? Except what?" Buffy urged her. "Dawn, what's wrong?"
"Amanda and Chloe - they're dead. And Rona's pretty badly hurt. But Giles said she's going to be alright. And -" suddenly her face lit up, "you don't know, do you?"
"Don't know what?" Faith asked her impatiently.
"That Kennedy's the new Slayer!"
There was silence for a moment. Then Willow asked, "Kennedy? Is she okay?"
"Sure! You should have seen her - she was amazing. Even after the two ubervamps had gone poof - what with the light coming down and all - the Bringers kept coming. I don't know where from, really - we were fighting and fighting, and they just kept coming. They killed Amanda and Chloe - we couldn't do anything. But then Kennedy stood up and - she kicked their ass. I mean it, she was amazing."
"Where is she now?" Buffy wanted to know.
"Inside. We're all inside. I'm okay, mostly, just a couple of scratches, but the others - well, Giles is patching them up, Angel's helping him, and Spike too, I guess. But how are you?" Dawn only then seemed to realize what it meant that Kennedy was the new Slayer. "Did the spell work? What happened?"
Buffy smiled at her sister. "We're alright, just a bit weak on our legs. Willow says it's because of the spell, though - that it must have cost us a lot of strength. That's why it took us so long to get here."
"Yeah, there's no need to worry, Dawnie," Willow added. "The light you saw came from us in a way, I guess. But they'll be okay - they just need to sleep. I think we all do." She looked at Anya and Xander, who both nodded.
Tara suddenly frowned. "Dawn, where are - I mean - Amanda and Chloe, are they still-"
"No," Dawn answered. "Angel and Spike took them inside - Giles wanted to call the - you know - but Angel told him to wait until this mess here is cleared up. I wonder how he wants to do this."
"He's right - I mean people around here are stupid and incredibly talented when it comes to turn a blind eye on something, but this - they would have to turn a Beljoxa's Eye on it," Anya said.
"We'll see about this." Buffy sounded tired. "Now - let's get inside, please?"
Dawn, Xander, Anya and the two former slayers went on their way to the house. Willow made to follow them, but Tara didn't move.
"What's wrong, baby?" Willow turned to her girlfriend.
"Is it always like this?" Tara continued to look around what had once been the Summers' front lawn, her face betraying her emotions.
Willow understood. "Not always," she replied gently. "But sometimes, yes. Often, even. That's - that's what life on a hellmouth is about, I guess."
"I never would have thought it would be like this," Tara told her. "It's - scary."
"Too scary?" Now Willow sounded afraid.
Tara looked into her eyes and smiled slightly at her. "Not with you around, no."
Willow closed her eyes in relief and then drew her girlfriend into an embrace, holding her tightly. The two of them remained standing among the Bringers' bodies, clinging to each other, not saying anything. Only when it started to get light, they let go and finally followed the others inside, still holding hands.
***
Inside, most of the others were already asleep. Only Giles, Angel and Spike awaited them, sitting in the dining room. When Willow quietly closed the door behind her, Giles stood up and came over to her and Tara. He was smiling.
"You did incredibly well out there, Willow." With that he put his hand on her shoulder.
Tara noticed Willow blush slightly at the praise. "We all did."
"Yes. We did." Giles sighed. "Willow, we need to do something about the chaos outside. I don't suppose you have any idea-"
"I have," she interrupted him. "Um, remember when you once went away to see the Watcher's Council? I accidentally made the cash register disappear. Afterwards, I kinda experimented with it - with the herbs and stuff that did this, and I think it kinda dissolves things - changes their structures."
"What do you mean? What does it do exactly?" Angel wanted to know.
"Well, mostly it turns things to dust. I always wondered whether this stuff was what they used in 'Dorian Gray', but - um, anyway, I think I can mix it again and then we can do it. Use it. It's a bit like acid, only less dangerous. If you know how to use it, that is."
"Great. Do you think you can do it now? I understand if you are tired, but -"
"This needs to be done. I know." Willow smiled at Giles and then turned to Tara. "Help me?"
"Sure. What do want me to do?"
Willow gave her a list of everything they needed for the spell. Having stocked up before the siege, they had all the things in the house. Tara and the two vampires went to collect them.
One hour later Willow and Tara had mixed everything together and had already succesfully tested it on one body. Quickly they and Giles worked on the rest of the Bringers' remains, and after two more hours the front lawn looked like a front lawn again. There still was some blood left, but at least there weren't any body parts lying around anymore. Angel and Spike had stayed inside and had helped - annoyed - them with helpful comments like 'Don't forget the arm under the bush over there.'
When they were finished, they slumped over to the front steps and collapsed there. Willow buried her face in her hands. "Oh goddess... I'm so tired..."
"You really should go to bed now. You did enough for the next - well, I guess, week or so." Giles smiled. Willow returned the smile weakly and then asked Tara, "What do you think, sweetie? Sleep now?"
Tara nodded silently, clearly too exhausted to sleep. Giles got on his feet and then helped the two witches up. "Rest as much and long as you want. You deserve it."
As they went into the house, Angel told him, "You should go to sleeo as well, Giles. We can take care of the rest."
"No, I'll just - I'll call the police and the coroner... we will have to think of a story..."
"Try gang related, PCP," Willow suggested. Giles nodded slightly. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it. Now go to sleep."
The two women slowly went upstairs. When they had reached their room, they undressed quickly and then practically fell onto their bed. Willow turned her head to look at her girlfriend.
"You're still here."
Tara grinned. "Yeah, looks like it."
Willow smiled dreamily and closed her eyes. "Good."
Tara didn't reply but simply watched her for some time. Then she leaned over and kissed her gently. Willow, already half asleep, murmured appreciatively. Tara pulled away from the kiss and then whispered,
"I'll always be here."
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 want to violate anyone's copyright, really. Please don't sue me!
Feedback: Yes please!!! It makes me happy, and happy's always good!
Distribution: If you want it, you can have it, just let me know where it ends up.
Summary: The aftermath of the battle.
Author's note: This is the penultimate update - look for the last on Saturday or Sunday. Yes, then it's over... Oh, and as for those of you complaining about Kennedy being the Slayer - I like Kennedy, as long as she isn't together with Willow. And I think she's going to be a good Slayer.
***
When they finally arrived at Revello Drive, an ugly sight greeted them. Tara was shocked - she had thought what she had seen of the battle was bad, but this... There were bodies everywhere. For a moment she was afraid they were human - their friends - but almost immediately she realized that they were all Bringers. She couldn't believe how many of them there were - partly lying there in neat heaps over each other, partly in... parts. And there was blood. Lots of blood. But the battle seemed to be over.
She looked at the others. It seemed they were checking if any of the Bringers were still alive - and if there were some of their friends among the bodies. It was oddly silent, Tara thought. But then the front door flew open, and they all sighed an almost unconscious breath of relief. Dawn came running towards them and then flung her arms around her sister's neck. "You're alright!"
Buffy smiled and hugged her for a moment. Then she freed herself from the embrace to look at her younger sister. "Dawn, are you alright? And - what about the others, are they?"
Dawn nodded. "We're okay, mostly. Except..." her voice broke and she looked away.
"What? Except what?" Buffy urged her. "Dawn, what's wrong?"
"Amanda and Chloe - they're dead. And Rona's pretty badly hurt. But Giles said she's going to be alright. And -" suddenly her face lit up, "you don't know, do you?"
"Don't know what?" Faith asked her impatiently.
"That Kennedy's the new Slayer!"
There was silence for a moment. Then Willow asked, "Kennedy? Is she okay?"
"Sure! You should have seen her - she was amazing. Even after the two ubervamps had gone poof - what with the light coming down and all - the Bringers kept coming. I don't know where from, really - we were fighting and fighting, and they just kept coming. They killed Amanda and Chloe - we couldn't do anything. But then Kennedy stood up and - she kicked their ass. I mean it, she was amazing."
"Where is she now?" Buffy wanted to know.
"Inside. We're all inside. I'm okay, mostly, just a couple of scratches, but the others - well, Giles is patching them up, Angel's helping him, and Spike too, I guess. But how are you?" Dawn only then seemed to realize what it meant that Kennedy was the new Slayer. "Did the spell work? What happened?"
Buffy smiled at her sister. "We're alright, just a bit weak on our legs. Willow says it's because of the spell, though - that it must have cost us a lot of strength. That's why it took us so long to get here."
"Yeah, there's no need to worry, Dawnie," Willow added. "The light you saw came from us in a way, I guess. But they'll be okay - they just need to sleep. I think we all do." She looked at Anya and Xander, who both nodded.
Tara suddenly frowned. "Dawn, where are - I mean - Amanda and Chloe, are they still-"
"No," Dawn answered. "Angel and Spike took them inside - Giles wanted to call the - you know - but Angel told him to wait until this mess here is cleared up. I wonder how he wants to do this."
"He's right - I mean people around here are stupid and incredibly talented when it comes to turn a blind eye on something, but this - they would have to turn a Beljoxa's Eye on it," Anya said.
"We'll see about this." Buffy sounded tired. "Now - let's get inside, please?"
Dawn, Xander, Anya and the two former slayers went on their way to the house. Willow made to follow them, but Tara didn't move.
"What's wrong, baby?" Willow turned to her girlfriend.
"Is it always like this?" Tara continued to look around what had once been the Summers' front lawn, her face betraying her emotions.
Willow understood. "Not always," she replied gently. "But sometimes, yes. Often, even. That's - that's what life on a hellmouth is about, I guess."
"I never would have thought it would be like this," Tara told her. "It's - scary."
"Too scary?" Now Willow sounded afraid.
Tara looked into her eyes and smiled slightly at her. "Not with you around, no."
Willow closed her eyes in relief and then drew her girlfriend into an embrace, holding her tightly. The two of them remained standing among the Bringers' bodies, clinging to each other, not saying anything. Only when it started to get light, they let go and finally followed the others inside, still holding hands.
***
Inside, most of the others were already asleep. Only Giles, Angel and Spike awaited them, sitting in the dining room. When Willow quietly closed the door behind her, Giles stood up and came over to her and Tara. He was smiling.
"You did incredibly well out there, Willow." With that he put his hand on her shoulder.
Tara noticed Willow blush slightly at the praise. "We all did."
"Yes. We did." Giles sighed. "Willow, we need to do something about the chaos outside. I don't suppose you have any idea-"
"I have," she interrupted him. "Um, remember when you once went away to see the Watcher's Council? I accidentally made the cash register disappear. Afterwards, I kinda experimented with it - with the herbs and stuff that did this, and I think it kinda dissolves things - changes their structures."
"What do you mean? What does it do exactly?" Angel wanted to know.
"Well, mostly it turns things to dust. I always wondered whether this stuff was what they used in 'Dorian Gray', but - um, anyway, I think I can mix it again and then we can do it. Use it. It's a bit like acid, only less dangerous. If you know how to use it, that is."
"Great. Do you think you can do it now? I understand if you are tired, but -"
"This needs to be done. I know." Willow smiled at Giles and then turned to Tara. "Help me?"
"Sure. What do want me to do?"
Willow gave her a list of everything they needed for the spell. Having stocked up before the siege, they had all the things in the house. Tara and the two vampires went to collect them.
One hour later Willow and Tara had mixed everything together and had already succesfully tested it on one body. Quickly they and Giles worked on the rest of the Bringers' remains, and after two more hours the front lawn looked like a front lawn again. There still was some blood left, but at least there weren't any body parts lying around anymore. Angel and Spike had stayed inside and had helped - annoyed - them with helpful comments like 'Don't forget the arm under the bush over there.'
When they were finished, they slumped over to the front steps and collapsed there. Willow buried her face in her hands. "Oh goddess... I'm so tired..."
"You really should go to bed now. You did enough for the next - well, I guess, week or so." Giles smiled. Willow returned the smile weakly and then asked Tara, "What do you think, sweetie? Sleep now?"
Tara nodded silently, clearly too exhausted to sleep. Giles got on his feet and then helped the two witches up. "Rest as much and long as you want. You deserve it."
As they went into the house, Angel told him, "You should go to sleeo as well, Giles. We can take care of the rest."
"No, I'll just - I'll call the police and the coroner... we will have to think of a story..."
"Try gang related, PCP," Willow suggested. Giles nodded slightly. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it. Now go to sleep."
The two women slowly went upstairs. When they had reached their room, they undressed quickly and then practically fell onto their bed. Willow turned her head to look at her girlfriend.
"You're still here."
Tara grinned. "Yeah, looks like it."
Willow smiled dreamily and closed her eyes. "Good."
Tara didn't reply but simply watched her for some time. Then she leaned over and kissed her gently. Willow, already half asleep, murmured appreciatively. Tara pulled away from the kiss and then whispered,
"I'll always be here."