Sereis: The Velvet Web
For the Episode: Who Are You - Chapter Six
Rating: PG (not hat it should be but in America it'd be labeled as such)
Description: After the Scooby meeting with Faith in Buffy, and for the rest of the episode Who Are You. This has got to be one of the longest pieces I've ever written. Sorry about the length. It's just there is soooo much in this ep. One in a series of scenes that I am currently writing that deal with what could have happened before/after a Willow/Tara scene in the episodes of season 4.
Spoilers: If you haven't seen Tara in season 4 episodes...
Feedback: Much appreciated since this wasn't read by anyone else and English is not my first language. (I have an interesting set up of grammar.) And thank you to those that have emailed me. I really appreciate it! hugs
Disclaimers: Don't own anything, don't make any money, and blah, blah, blah, Joss, blah, blah, blah, production companies, and blah, blah, blah, the Buffy writers... I just love writing to your inventions...
Notes: The transcript part is from the shooting scripts available in The Buffy Shooting Script Site. I like the shooting scripts more since they let you know what the characters were envisioned to say and act without the time constraints of commercial tv.
Written: July 2000
Willow held her breath as she phoned Tara. She had just gotten to her dorm room from the Scooby meeting at Giles' and was in a cheerful mood that was slowly fading as the number of rings on Tara's line continued. Just as she was about to hang up, Tara answered."Hi!" Willow declared a little too exited.
"Willow... How's everything?"
Willow couldn't contain her delight. "Fine and dandy. Faith is well taken care of by the Council. All is safe in the world of Sunnydale. Well, sort of...""Good. A-and Adam?"
"Still MIA but Buffy's out patrolling. She should be doing that for a while." Willow paused trying to get the courage to say what she wanted to say. "Do you want to go out – t-to the Bronze?""Umm, can you hold on a second?" Before even letting Willow reply Tara double clicked to the other line. After about ten seconds of silence she clicked back to Willow. "The Bronze? I-in town?" Willow could sense Tara smiling on the other side of the phone.
"Yeah. Was that Cassie on the other line?" Willow asked, thinking about the other caller."No." "Oh..." Willow was a little confused. "Well, you mentioned earlier you wanted to do something but you, umm, selflessly stayed with me and..." Willow stammered thinking maybe Tara already had plans. "Plus, you've mentioned that you've never been there before and I thought 'Hey, why not go to the Bronze.... with Tara - to celebrate'... And, uh... So?"
Tara was trying to stop smiling enough to speak. "Um, yeah. Ok. I-I need to change though."
"Why? Who are you trying to impress?" Willow kidded and Tara giggled. "I'm kidding. I'm changing too. So, I'll pick you up in fifteen?""Oh, Willow, you don't have to come all the way over here..."
"But want to." Willow didn't understand why. It's not like this was a date or anything. "I mean..."
Tara remained quiet for a second. "Ok. But, can you give me twenty minutes?"
"You are such a girl." They both laughed. "I'll see you in a bit."
Tara opened the door to Willow. After shyly smiling to the speechless redhead she quietly asked, "I-is this ok?"
Willow shook her head in shock. "You look absolutely great!"Tara smiled and lowered her head. "No... You look great. "She looked up at Willow and her heart pumped a little faster.
Willow grinned and reached out for her hand. "Well, come on. Fun time to be had."The two women headed down the corridor and out Dunwirth Hall. As they walked together hand in hand they talked.
Willow was laughing. "You watched "The Yellow Submarine" every year for your mother's birthday?"
"Yeah. She was obsessed with it. We didn't own a television so we'd go to the community center and watch it there. "
"What were your parents... hippies?" She smiled at Tara whose face reddened. How she loved to see her friend blush. It brought out a pinkish hue that contrasted her soft pale skin and always made Willow want to caress her cheek. But she never did because that would be to forward of her and she wouldn't know what to say afterwards. "Oh! Stony River was a commune wasn't it?! No, they were fugitives on the run from the government and hid in Canada." Tara laughed along with Willow as she shook her head softly. But then an upsetting thought made Willow frown. "Where they in a cult?"
Tara stared at her. "No...Willow. Stony River... It was like a - a collective, maybe?"
"For Wiccans?"
"Some were... Others weren't."
"This is so fascinating. And you seem so well adjusted!" Willow laughed as she watched Tara giggle.
Already holding Tara's right hand with her left one, Willow began to softly run her unoccupied hand over Tara's forearm with her fingers. "The Yellow Submarine... Talk about teaching your children the perils of drug use." She softly held on to her by the bend of Tara's arm delicately caressing her at that ticklish spot.
Tara had trouble formulating a sentence. "Yeah... It was fun though, you know?"
"You know, you never talk about your father."
Tara nodded her head and shrugged her shoulders. "H-he's dead."
"Oh! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"It's ok Willow. I was very young. I-I don't remember much about him." Tara began to get uncomfortable.
"Tara... I'm sorry."
"It's ok." She gave Willow her special smile and both looked onward.
Willow remained in thought for about a minute. Mainly thinking about how nice it felt to hold Tara's hand. "Tara, I have something to say to you but you need to promise not to freak out."
"Um, you have a drug problem?" Tara teased.
Willow shook her head. "No. I don't even drink. Well, I got drunk once, maybe twice, but... You?"
"I, uh, I used to smoke."
"Why? Cigarettes are so bad for you." Willow could sense people staring at them as they walked through the campus into Sunnydale. But, she didn't mind their stares. After all, Tara didn't even seem to notice there were other human beings on earth at that moment.
"Umm, n-not cigarettes."
"Oh... That's bad for you too." Willow frowned in her motherly impersonation.
Tara laughed. "I haven't touched the stuff for years. I-I don't drink either."
Willow smiled. "Oh... Well, what I wanted to tell you was... Don't take this the wrong way or anything..."
"You're a demon?"
"Tara..."
"Willow..." she replied kittenish.
Willow sighed at the way Tara said her name. "How do I say this..." Tara gazed at her a little worried. She already didn't like the sound of whatever it was Willow was trying to say to her. Willow smiled at her awkwardly. "You know how you can meet someone and instantly you feel this connection with them. It's like you've known them forever, but not really?"
Tara quietly exhaled. "Yes."
"And sometimes whenever you're with them its like there is not need for conversation because you feel so at ease with them. Like a kindred spirit." Tara nodded. "Well, I've never believed in that." Tara's heart sank and Willow noticed it right away. "No! I mean I've never felt that before. I've always heard stories about such connections but I never believed them. I guess it's the scientific geek in me. You know, theories must be tested and all that." Tara tried to smile. "But... With you... I feel it. I-I know it. "
Tara didn't know what to say. "I-I do too."
"For real?" Willow's brilliant eyes pierced Tara.
She was overwhelmed. "Yes! I thought that you were special the moment I saw you in the Wicca group. You just seemed so hard to reach, you know. You weren't really paying attention and all... Which is understandable considering everything you were going through with Oz... and Veruca - at that time. But, I just knew. A-and when you talked about spells... I was so afraid to say anything to you after that. I mean I couldn't even talk properly with you around. I hated that."
Willow shook her head. "I thought it was so cute."
Tara frowned at her. "Really? Cause I tend to do that when I'm nervous. I hate it."
"I love it," admitted Willow. Their eyes fiercely met but quickly disconnected.
Tara bit her lower lip. "Really? What else do you love? Uh, like?"
Willow sighed. "I don't know. I love how no matter how late it is you always make time for me. How you make me feel when we do spells, like I'm not some bumbling novice. How you'll recon with me even though you don't have to. I love how you listen to all my stories about the Scooby gang, even if I've told them to you before. I love it how you're not scared after everything that I've told you about us. About Oz... I love how you don't interrupt me when I'm babbling. Like right now."
Tara smiled. "It's cute."
Willow beamed. "Really? So, what else do you think is cute?"
Tara rolled her eyes. "Everything... I mean, the way you talk, and the way you get all excited when you're telling me your stories. The way your eyes light up when you smile. How you find humor in certain situations. How you're so...You just have this – thing – about you. I can't describe it. E-everything about you is wonderful and... I-I'm glad I met you."
Willow squeezed her hand. "Me too..."
Tara reddened. "Is that what you wanted to talk about?"
"Yes". But for some reason she added, "Well, no. There's... more."
"More?"
Willow paused. "Yeah. I, uh, I just need to know something..." She looked on to the pavement.
"What?" Tara asked her innocently as she turned to her.
"I know what you said earlier but..." Willow bit her upper lip. "Do you... do you like me?" Willow couldn't bring herself to look at Tara.
Tara was a little confused. "I thought we just covered that."
Willow slowly lifted her eyes to Tara. "No, I mean... Like me - like me, as in "in like" with me. Am I making any sense?"
Tara absorbed her question. "Oh... Like you - like you. In that way?" Willow nodded and Tara slowly let go of her hand and crossed her arms over her chest. "Umm... Well, I've never really, really thought about you like that. I mean I have, but... Uh... I can't figure out if it's the witchcraft connection we have or... s-something else... I don't know." Tara was busy staring at the ground.
"Have you ever... you know, with a girl?" Willow could sense Tara was uncomfortable. "Hey, it's no big deal." Willow reached out and unfolded Tara's arms, grabbing a hold of one of her hands again. She held on firmly. "I mean, I think I was a little gay when I was my vampire self from the other dimension. I mean - my vampire self may be gay. Or bi. Or me... I don't know."
Tara was a little mystified. "Huh?"
Willow chuckled. "Oh, it's a long story."
Tara half smiled at her affectionately. "Aren't they always with you? How much longer 'till we reach the Bronze?
Willow smiled realizing that they had a couple of minutes left to go. "Well, remember how I told you Anya, Xander's girlfriend, is an ex-demon?" Tara nodded. "She's a vengeance demon. Well, she was. She was the patron saint demon thingy for scorned women and performed vengeance wishes on ex-boyfriends. She came to Sunnydale because Cordelia made a wish after... Uh... No need to get into all the details. I mean, the reasons for Anya's coming to Sunnydale don't really need to be brought up again. After all that was a very, very long time ago and..." Willow took a deep breath and exhaled, "Cordelia was going out with Xander... andwekissedsotheybrokeupandchaosensued."
Tara's was even more confused now. "You kissed Cordelia?"
"God, no! Xander. I kissed Xander... A couple times."
"Oh."
"But see, I was going out with Oz at the time so it was a double whammy. And we only did it because - I don't know why, but I had this huge crush on Xander all my life and then we were both unavailable and always in danger and... And all these excuses sound so silly now. It was just hormones, I guess. I mean, we went to high school on the Hellmouth! I'm sure that does something to teenagers."
Tara half smiled. "So, Anya performed a vengeance wish because of Xander and now she's dating him? That's pretty funny."
"Yeah it is isn't it? I know he won't be cheating on her. Not that it was cheating you know. It was just...I don't know."
"D-did Oz, know?"
"Yeah. It was absolutely horrible. They caught us kissing as they were in the process of rescuing us from some impending doom."
"Ouch." Tara chuckled but stopped herself.
"Yeah. But he forgave me. And, uh..." Willow just stared ahead.
After a few seconds of silence Tara asked, "So, Anya turned you into a vampire?"
Willow shook her head. "No, apparently she created a whole alternate reality were Sunnydale had no Slayer and this diabolical Willow was a vampire – who, I might add, could probably beat Faith out on the skanky omnisexual category. She was bad. She and an alternate vampy Xander kinda ran Sunnydale or something." Tara softly laughed. "But Giles destroyed Anya's amulet power source and she got stuck in Sunnydale. In high school as a student. Helping us now as a Scooby. How ironic, huh?"
"I must agree."
"But now on to the part I was supposed to tell you five minutes ago." How Willow loved to see Tara smile at her. "Since it was an alternate reality we didn't really know about it until Anya tricked me into creating a temporal fold with her to get her amulet back. But it didn't work. Instead, it brought back-"
Tara grinned. "Your vampy self?"
"Yup. And all her glory. It was so weird. I mean she wore leather! Or, I wore leather. And Oz mentioned something about liking to ride people like ponies. -Which I should have kept to myself..." The look on Tara's face let Willow know she was amused with this story. "In order to defeat her, this Willow - me - had to wear her leather outfit after she - evil Willow - almost tried to turn me into a vampire."
Tara raised an eyebrow. "Why did you have to wear her outfit?"
"Well, she's was quite the organized little Willow. She had a group of vampires working for her holding a bunch of kids hostage at the Bronze for some sort of feast. It was horrible but I shot her with a dart gun after she attacked me in the library and we locked her up in the bookcage. I had to act like her, talk like her, dress like her and go to the Bronze to try to stop the situation she'd created. And we kinda managed to do that."
Tara giggled uncomfortably, "The same Bronze we are going to right now?"
"Oh yeah. Vampiric hotspot. But we're safe. They know not to stir up any trouble in the joint."
"Wow."
Willow nodded. "Her outfit – quite uncomfortable. But the lack of breathing certainly added to my cleavage."
Tara was a little amazed. "Wow. You dressed in leather..."
Willow nodded. "Uh huh. Very skanky."
"Sexy, I'm sure." Tara was taken aback by her comment. "I mean..."
Willow smiled widely. "Thinking back, I did look kinda hot."
"So, Buffy slayed her?"
"No way. I wouldn't let her. We sent her back to her reality. She's probably up to her old tricks right now."
Tara gently swayed into Willow. "Riding people like ponies..."
Willow smiled. "Yeah, cause I'm all about whips and handcuffs... Not really. Tara, you know that's a joke right?"
She laughed. "Of course I do. I think..." But then, Tara looked at her a little uncertain. "I-I don't understand. How come you think her being – whatever, makes you... umm, whatever?"
"Because..." Willow tried to assure her with her smile. "Well here we are. The Bronze. Gosh, I'm so excited!"
Tara surveyed the dingy area in the outskirts of south Sunnydale. "Why?"
"Cause its like uncharted territory for you. "
INT. BRONZE - NIGHT
Willow and Tara enter the Bronze together.
WILLOW- I can't believe you've never been here. The Bronze is the coolest place in Sunnydale. Course, not a lot of competition there... I think the vending machine at Burgin's came in second.
TARA- You used to come here a lot?
WILLOW- Lived here. Me, Xander and...Buffy...
She is looking off at...
ANGLE: FAITH (who looks just a whole lot like Buffy.) She is with a group of people, is watching a
guy try to chug his whole beer.
FAITH- Chug! Chug!
He can't get it all down, spills a lot. People laugh, clap.
FAITH- You failed! You get no love.
ANGLE: WILLOW is a little surprised to see her.
WILLOW- Wow, I didn't think she'd be here...
Deciding, she takes Tara's hand, pulls her along.
WILLOW- Come on. I want you to meet her.
Faith is leaving the group --
FAITH- Back off. You're nothing but a disappointment.
-- when she meets up with Willow and Tara.
WILLOW- Hey, Buff!
FAITH- Willow. And...
WILLOW- Buffy, this is Tara.
TARA- Hi.
FAITH- So we've never met. (Tara shakes her head) Okay. Cool. I'm having a thing with names.
WILLOW- Tara was in my wicca group.
FAITH- (not caring) Uh huh?
WILLOW- So what's going on? Patrol no go?
Faith sits at a table. The other girls do as well.
FAITH- I got tired. The whole Faith thing... I wanted to let off some steam.
WILLOW- Good for you. You can't work yourself too hard.
FAITH- That's my philosophy.
WILLOW- Anybody wanna soda?
Faith shrugs her head.
TARA- Water?
Willow goes to get. Tara watches her, Faith watches Tara. Sees the affection there.
FAITH- You guys have been hanging out a lot, huh?
TARA- Yeah. She's really cool.
FAITH- So Willows not driving stick anymore. Who woulda thought? Guess you never know a person till you've been inside their skin.
Tara's a little flustered.
FAITH- And Oz is out of the picture? I never did see two people so much in love. She just couldn't get enough of old Oz.
TARA- She, uh, said he wwww...
FAITH- He wwwww? You gonna get that sentence out sometime tonight?
Tara is stricken. Willow comes back, sans drinks, and missing Tara's plight in her urgency.
WILLOW- Buff. Guy in the corner.
Faith looks over at:
ANGLE: A GUY leading his DATE out toward the bathroom. He is sleaze and menace, she is innocence.
FAITH- Oh yeah. Good call.
TARA- What?
WILLOW- Vampire.
FAITH- He's wicked obvious.
A beat. Willow looks at her expectantly.
FAITH- So I better slay him then.
WILLOW- You want help?
FAITH- I got it.
(Kills vamp. Comes back in.)
WILLOW- Everything poofed?
FAITH- All's well in the world.
WILLOW- Tara's not feeling great, I'm gonna walk her home.
FAITH- (amused, mock sincerity) Yeah. You give her whatever she needs.
WILLOW- Are you gonna be in later, or are you going over to Riley's?
Buffy mischievously smiled at Willow, "That hunky beefstick of mine?"Willow was little taken aback by her terminology. "Uh, yeah..."
"You'll think he'll be in?" Willow nodded. "I'm sure he's convalescing in the frat house. You should call him.""Frat house, huh?"
"Are you ok?" Willow asked concerned by her best friend's mysterious behavior.
"Fiv- uh, fine...Never better. You go take good care of, uh, Tara." Buffy smiled at her.
Willow just stood there a little confused as Buffy walked past her and a few paces later, Tara. Buffy winked at Tara and blew her a kiss. Tara just crossed her arms tighter.
"Ok. Let's go."Willow said as she walked up to Tara.
They walked out of the Bronze in silence.
Willow noticed Tara was a still upset and touched her upper arm gently. "You know, if you want, we could go to my room. Watch some television. We have one in there. Somewhere. We've never used it... But I'm sure it works. Campus cable should have something campy on, or we could just watch the Indian channel." Willow didn't like seeing Tara upset. It made her uncomfortable and babbly.
Tara smiled awkwardly. "If you don't mind I'd like to go to my room."
Innocently, Willow asked, "Can I come?"
Tara nodded. "Of course. If you want..." She half smiled at her.Suddenly they heard a distinct British accent coming forth from the shadows, "Can I come as well, Red?"
Willow spun around. "Spike!"
"No, it's the wonderful wizard of Oz." Spike retorted as he walked up to the two witches.
"What?" Tara asked not quite comprehending what was going on.
Spike slowly scanned Tara up and down. "Who's the pretty blonde?"
Willow stood in front of Tara, shielding her, protecting her. "What do you want
Spike?"
"You, you know him?" the blonde witch asked.
Spike chuckled. "Perceptive little one. Let me guess - You're a teen witch too, eh?"
"She's – twenty." But Willow's look on her face betrayed her certainty.
"Got a new playmate." He winked at Willow and gave her a thumbs up. She didn't have a reply for that one. Spike simply rolled his eyes and began to walk away. "Be a pet, will you Red? Remind little Buffette to not forget our arrangement." He threw a beer bottle against the wall. "And tell her I'm mighty looking forward to my third belt." He took off singing, "Ding, dong the bitch is dead... the bitch is dead..."
As soon as he disappeared Tara spoke. "Y-you actually know him?"
"Spike? Yeah, he's..."
"A-a demon."
Willow was surprised. "Yeah. How did you know?"
"He has no soul."
"You can see that?"
"Uh huh... Well, sort of."
"Well, don't worry..." Willow smiled. "I've visualized the circle of protection and we're shielded from now on. No more demons."
Tara shyly smiled back at her and they continued on. They walked for a little while in silence.
"Why hasn't Buffy, you know, slayed him?"
"Who, Spike? He's harmless. I mean, he looks mean with his bleached hair and droopy wardrobe, but he's currently all talk and no bite. Literally."
"He's a vampire?"
"Yeah, but... Well, he's sort of got this brainwashy behavior modification chip in his head..."
"A chip in his head?" Tara's face showed concern. "What's it do?"
"Basically, it stops him from hurting humans. He can probably feed on what's already dead but I saw 'Interview with a Vampire' and I don't think that's good for him. He buys blood from the butcher shop on Main. He can hurt other demons though."
"Oh... How was the chip put in there?"
"He was abducted and taken to a special lab that works on... uh, demons."
"There's a lab?" Tara realized what Willow was talking about. "On campus."
Willow nodded. "Yes."
"That's why there is so much concentrated demonic energy. I was trying to figure that one out but I just thought - Sunnydale. I never would have guessed there was a lab right underneath us... Uh, who's lab?"
Willow went on to tell her about Professor Walsh and Adam's background, about secret agent Riley & the Initiative. By the time she was finished with her story the two girls were already at UC Sunnydale, entering Dunwirth Hall.
"However, the chip doesn't stop Spike from keeping his mouth shut... That's why Buffy hasn't poofed Spike. I mean, he's tried to kill her many times but he's harmless right now, you know? She wouldn't do such a thing."
"Really?"
"Buffy?! Yeah. Unlike Faith, Buffy has a code of right and wrong. She would hurt anything, or anyone, on purpose."
Tara felt sick again. "But Faith would..."
Willow sighed. "Faith is long over the border. She's like Pluto and we're, umm..." She just smiled awkwardly as Tara opened the door to her room.
INT. TARA'S DORM ROOM - NIGHT
Tara and Willow enter.
WILLOW- I'm sorry you're feeling blechy. But we'll get together with Buffy another time, some time soon. I really think you'll like her --
TARA- She's not your friend.
WILLOW- I may have overestimated the "you liking her" factor. But I wish you'd give her a chance; she's very important to me.
TARA- No, I mean... I don't think she's... her.
WILLOW- You lost me.
TARA- A person's energy has a flow, a unity. Buffy's was fragmented; it grated, like something forced in where it doesn't belong. Plus, she was kinda mean.
WILLOW- You think Buffy's not herself? Like she's possessed or something?
TARA- I'm not sure...
WILLOW- You didn't sense a hyena energy at all did you? Hyena possession is just unpleasant.
TARA- Do you have anything of hers?
WILLOW- Of Buffy's? Uh, uh, Ooh! Ah! (fingering them) Earrings!
Tara crosses to her desk, pulls a book out of her drawer.
TARA- There's a way we can... (flips through book) ... The passage to the nether-realm, there's a ritual, if you find her there you should be able to see...
She reads a moment. Willow comes up behind her, looks over her shoulder.
WILLOW- If it'll help Buffy...
Tara turns to her, concerned.
WILLOW- What?
TARA- The nether-realm exists beyond the physical world. Accessing it is, it's kind of like astral projection, it's very intense. I'd have to be your anchor, keep you on this plane.
WILLOW- I trust you.
TARA- It's not like anything we've ever --
WILLOW- I trust you.
INT. TARA'S DORM ROOM - NIGHT
We see various ANGLES of the girls preparing for the ritual:
WILLOW closing the curtains (shot from outside the window).
TARA lighting a row of candles near the wall.
WILLOW pouring oil from a small earthenware bottle into a shallow bowl (wood, stone, clay --
anyway it's old looking) while Tara reads instructions.
TARA anointing Willow. She puts her thumb in the oil, then presses it briefly to Willow's forehead, lips,
collarbone.
WILLOW does the same to Tara. As we cut to a:
LENNY ARM'S EYE VIEW: The girls sit crosslegged, not opposite each other but side by side, facing
opposite directions. Each of them has one arm slightly out, is tracing an arc back and forth along the
floor as through running their hand through sand. As they do this they whisper:
WILLOW/TARA- The Inward Eye, The Sightless Sea, Ayala flows through the River in Me...
They continue to do this for a while, both looking straight ahead. It begins to affect them physically, sweat beading on their faces, breath coming slightly deeper, slightly shallower.
ANGLE: WILLOW'S HAND traces along the carpet -- and suddenly leaves behind a CGI trail of light.
From the high view we see both girls are doing it, and that the arcs of light are closing around them, forming a perfect circle.
The girls stop chanting. They each take the hand closest to the other and hold them up, palm to palm. Breath still heavy, something clearly coursing through them as the hoop of light RISES, passes over them and dissipates, followed by another. And another. Willow looks over towards Tara, her eyes clouded with sensation. She takes a sudden, startled breath and keels backwards, a vision gripping her.
CLOSE ON her eyes, as she sees:
INT. RILEY'S ROOM - NIGHT
Riley and Faith making love, intercut with:
INT. VAN - NIGHT
Buffy, alone, miserable.
It had been about five minutes since Willow's astral projection. Tara was sitting next to her still holding her hand and worried she was taking a long time to come back. Without warning, Willow gasped for breath and returned to her body."Willow..." Tara whispered.
But Willow didn't reply right away. She gently shook her head and slowly opened her eyes. She was a little disoriented. "Who are you?" she rasped.
Tara continued to whisper, "Willow, it's Tara. You're in my room."Willow was still confused. "What?" She cleared her throat.
"Are you all right?" Suddenly, Willow began to breathe heavily. "Oh my god!"Tara was scared. "What? What's wrong?!"
Willow was trying to get the words out but was having difficulty speaking. "They've, they've switched bodies. Faith is in Buffy's body!" She tried to sit up but couldn't.
Tara shook her head. "Settle down. You've just come back. You have no energy."She shook her head as she turned her head to Tara. "We need to help - her..." But Willow passed out.
Carefully Tara covered Willow with a blanket and left her on the floor, sleeping. She quietly walked over to her desk and proceeded to scan through several of her majick books. For what seemed to her like hours, Tara researched body projection spells and wrote out some possibilities. Soon enough sleep conquered her too.
A couple of hours later, Tara heard a sweet voice call out to her. "Hey..." She felt a soft touch on her back. "Tara."
Tara didn't know if this was a dream or real. "Willow..." She raised her head to find Willow gently caressing her lower back. "What time is it?"
Willow whispered, "Around four. You've been researching, huh?"
Tara slowly sat up, she noticed her books sprawled all over her desk. "Yeah. I fell asleep... But I think I found out what happened."Willow smiled as Tara turned to her. "Sorry about the passing out."
Tara softly smiled. "You needed to repossess your energy."Willow walked back and sat on Tara's bed. "That was some spell."
"Yeah. Not to be taken lightly. You didn't have any problems coming or going?"Willow shook her head. "No... Just feeling all sweaty and..."
"Me too."Willow stood up. "I'm going to go shower."
This time Tara shook her head, "B-but we need to conjure a katra."Willow grinned. "We will. I just need to freshen up first."
Tara leaned back on her chair. "Me too...""Well, then, I'll see you in half an hour."
Tara stood up and tried to organize up her tomes. "I'll try to have all the things ready for you."Willow got up and walked towards Tara, who turned around after a hand touched her shoulder. "Thank you Tara... For everything." Willow hugged her close.
Tara shyly nodded her head, "Anytime."
Willow smiled as she walked away. "I know."
By the time Willow came back and the witches created the home version katra, the sun had since risen hours ago.
Willow was a little chaotic. "Ok. Now what do we do with this? How are we going to find Faith, uh, Buffy and switch them over? Oh god! Then this means that the Council has Buffy! How are we going to get her? What if they've already taken her out of the country?" Willow was pacing back and forth. "Oh my god!"
Tara sat on her floor watching her. "Umm, Willow... How about Giles?"
Willow's face beamed. "Giles! Of course. You are brilliant!" She ran over and kissed Tara on the cheek. "Umm, sorry. I'm a little exited here."
Tara just smiled.
Giles door flies open again -- Willow and Tara rushing in.
WILLOW- Giles!
BUFFY- Willow!
WILLOW- Oh my god.
BUFFY- Willow wait. You don't understand.
WILLOW- You're Buffy. You and Faith switched bodies, probably through a Draconian Katra spell.
GILES- She understands it better than I do...
BUFFY- How did you...
WILLOW- Tara. Tara this is Buffy, only really this time.
TARA- Hi.
WILLOW- Tara's a really powerful witch --
TARA- Not really --
WILLOW- No really, and she knew right away that you weren't you so we connected with the nether realm and found out what had happened and then we conjured this.
She pulls a box out of her purse, opens it to reveal a little ethereal glow sphere (CGI)
BUFFY- Does that --
WILLOW- (nodding) It's a Katra -- or, the home-conjured version. It should switch you back, if you can get hold of Faith.
BUFFY- Oh thank God. I was afraid I... you guys rule.
GILES- Yes. Of course I would have... had I known, I...
The phone rings.
GILES- I'll get it.
He picks it up...
GILES- Hello?
BUFFY- (to Willow) Do you know where Faith is?
Willow shakes her head.
GILES- ...Yes, Buffy's here with me. In fact, she -- Oh. Right.
He hangs up, crosses to the TV.
GILES- That was Xander. (turns it on) He said there was a report –
He finds it right away -- a news report. Special bulletin.
A REPORTER stands outside a church. Police cars and ambulances are parked in front of it. All attention is focussed inside (except for the reporter, who faces the camera).
REPORTER- ... and barricaded themselves in the church with at least twenty parishioners. One of the few who escaped described the three men as frighteningly disfigured, almost inhuman.
"To the truck!", Buffy rallied.
Giles turned to her, "Truck?"
"Yeah, the Council thought passage in an armored vehicle would save them from the Slayer." She turned to Willow. "Come on."
Willow looked at Tara and back to Buffy, "But..."
"Bring her. The more power we have the better." Buffy said as she exited Giles apartment.
Tara stood still as the rest of them followed Buffy. "Ok."
As he walked outside, Giles turned to Tara. "Tara, right? Remind me to thank you later. "
Tara nodded. "Uh huh."
Willow awkwardly smiled at Tara. "Welcome to the life of a Scooby."
For the first three minutes in the back of the armored vehicle the three girls were silent. Buffy was lost in thought as to the situation in the church and Faith, Willow was thinking about how Tara would react to this new incident in Scoobydom and Tara just stared at the floor, nervous.
Buffy broke the silence. "I'm going to kill her when I find her!" She noticed Tara was now staring at her. "Not literally..."
Willow shrugged her shoulders, "It's so weird to have you in there. What's it feel like?"
"I feel like I'm wearing a costume that's on too tight.... Oh god! I wonder what's she's done with my body."
"Eeeww."
"Willow, I don't mean that."
Willow didn't really want to tell Buffy right now that Faith had slept with Riley. "Oh."
Buffy smirked at Tara, "So, not one for much talking are you?"
Willow was flabbergasted. "Faith! Um, Buffy!"
"Sorry! I'm just..."
Tara shook her head and shyly smiled. "No, It's ok. Really. I'm, uh..."
"Freaked." Willow finished her sentence.
Tara nodded. "Yeah."
Willow smiled at Tara. "That's understandable- "
"Since this is my first time." Tara shyly smiled back.
"Yeah."
Buffy grinned at their rapport. "So you guys have been hanging out a lot lately, huh?"
Tara's eyes widened in recollection of her run in with Faith.
Willow didn't seem to notice. "Well, like I told you, uh, not you – you, but your body you – Faith. Tara's from the Wicca group."
"Oh, cool!"
Willow smiled at Tara. "Yeah."
Buffy added, "So it wasn't such a total loss after all."
Giles made a sharp turn that slid Tara onto Willow.
Buffy fell towards the wall. "Hey!" She screamed. "Get us there alive, Giles!"
"Sorry." Tara said to Willow as she backed off her.
Willow smiled. "No, me."
Buffy turned to both girls. "And were you ever planning on introducing us, or you just wanted to keep her all to yourself?"
Willow didn't know what to say. "Buffy! It's not like that."
"Well, why didn't you just tell me? This is great Willow. I'm happy for you." She looked at Tara. "You're not evil are you?"
Tara was shocked. "What?!"
Willow answered for her. "No! Buffy!"
Buffy smiled. "I know. I can sense evil... I wonder where she is."
"Who? Faith?" Willow asked.
Tara looked at Willow a little confused knowing this was the same conversation they had had the night before.
"Yeah. The thought of her in my body is making me all sick inside."
Willow rolled her eyes. "It's Giles' driving."Tara half smiled at the comment.
Buffy screamed out to him, "Are we there yet?"
Tara looked to Buffy. "The katra - should work. It should switch you back."
Buffy smiled at her. "Let's hope so, but I need to find her first."
Tara smiled back. "You will."
Willow put her hand on Tara's arm. "Scooby points for positive thinking!" She quickly let go when she realized what she was doing.
Buffy grinned. "I like her better than Anya already."
Tara half smiled. "Um, thanks."
Suddenly the truck stopped. They all flew forward. Again, Willow and Tara collided.
Buffy exited the church covering up a multitude of emotions. Riley followed closely behind. "I don't want to talk about it Riley.""But... "
Buffy turned to him as soon as they reached the armored truck. "I want to go to home. I need to shower. Alone."
"Well come on then." Giles pointed to the truck. "We've got this monstrosity you stole."
Riley was bewildered. "You stole an armored vehicle?!"
Buffy rolled her eyes at him. "It was the only thing available."
Riley uncomfortably smiled at Willow and realized Tara was standing next to her. "Tara? What are you doing here?"
"She's with me." Willow told him.
Riley was even more flustered now. "But...
"She knows everything." Willow calmly added.
"What?" he puffed.
Buffy turned to her former watcher. "I need to get out of here. Giles..."
An officer called out to Riley, "Agent Finn..."
Riley turned to him and replied, "Be right there..." He turned back to Buffy, "Buffy..."
But she was already opening the door to the truck. "I'll call you later. Let's go." She looked to Willow and Tara.
"Umm, we're going to walk." Willow said.
"What?! Why?""I got a little claustrophobic in the back. Not to mention the motion sickness."
"You must be joking! I was rushing to save Buffy's life!" Giles clarified.
Buffy slammed the passenger door shut. "Fine, I'll drive."
Willow shook her head as she stepped back. "No thank you. Last time you drove we crashed."
Buffy threw her hands in the air. "Hey! That was not my fault... FINE. See you at home then." Buffy turned to the truck only to spin around again. "Umm, Tara..."Tara looked up from the floor for the first time. "Uh huh..."
Buffy walked up to her. "Thank you. What ever you did... You saved me." She gave the blonde witch a hug. "Thank you." Tara blushed. "And you too, Red." Buffy winked at Willow. "Just kidding."
Willow laughed as Buffy and Giles got in the truck. After they drove off Riley tried to talk again.
"What..."
Willow interrupted him. "It's a long story Riley. Let her tell it to you."
Riley, beaten, turned to the officers who were patiently waiting for him.
Willow smiled at Tara. "Come on. Let's go."
The two girls began to walk back to the campus.
"Buffy... She's, uh..." Tara couldn't seem to find the words.
Willow smiled. "See, I told you you would like her."
"She's... She's..."
"Buffy... She gets that a lot."
"She looks so helpless."
"Yet she can kick anyone's ass in this town... Cool, isn't it?"
Tara's smile disappeared. "What about A-Adam?"
Willow shrugged her shoulders. "He'll probably go back into hiding. Makes an appearance and then disappears. That's been his modus operandus."
Tara grinned at Willow. "I need a nap."
"We could, uh, go to your place..."
"Shouldn't you, um... Buffy... She might need you..."
Willow nodded. "Oh... Yeah, I-I didn't even think of that... I'm so used to her being self sufficient Buffy. And..." She began to stare at the pavement.
Tara noticed this. "Hey. W-we could get together later. If you'd like..."
Willow smiled. "Ok."
Before they knew it they had reached Tara's dorm.
"Well, here I am..."
"Yeah... Ummm..." Willow embraced Tara. "Thank you." Willow didn't want to let go, but did as soon as the hug extended more than a minute.
Tara smiled. "Call me later?"
"Certainly."
A few hours later the sun had set and the two witches were in Willow's dorm eating sandwiches and watching the telly.
"This is the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the world."
Willow chuckled. "Oh, you're just saying that."
"No really. There's nothing better than eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich while watching the 'Secret of Nihm'." Tara took a sip from her juice box.
Willow smiled at her. "I'm surprised they even had this in the video library... I'm surprised there even is a video library in the library."
Tara nodded. "With VCR rentals too. I guess that makes sense. "
Willow observed Tara nibble her food. "You eat the borders first."
"Yeah. I love the middle. I save it for last."
Willow took a bite of her own sandwich. "What else do you like to save for last?"
"Hmm... The crust on pizza slices... The mushy inside of a French roll... The last chapter of a book..." Willow laughed. Tara's smile softly faded. "Umm... When do you think Buffy's coming back?"
Willow sipped her drink. "I don't know. She was asleep when I got in and gone when I woke up. Story of our lives."
"Star crossed..."
"Well, except for the lovers part...I mean, I love Buffy. Just not like, umm..." She nervously sipped her drink again.
"I didn't mean it like that... I just meant maybe one of you is, like, in retrograde."
"Like the planets?"
"Yeah. It's an optical illusion but i-it happens a lot. Sometimes, people grow apart for a while but eventually t-they reconnect."
Willow grinned. "So, what you're saying is that we'll be in conjunction again?"
Tara nodded. "Yeah."
Willow smiled at Tara. "I like that. It makes perfect sense... You are so amazing." Tara chuckled and lowered her head slightly, "No, you really are. It's like you have this completely different way of looking at things. "
"Not really."
Willow reached over and touched Tara's knee. "Tara..."
All of a sudden, the dorm door flew open and a fuming Buffy came in.
"He slept with her!" she screamed as she slammed the door shut.
Willow struggled to get up off the floor. "Huh?"
Tara dropped her sandwich on her plastic plate. "I should go." But Willow shook her head.
Buffy walked over to the side of her bed and reached down for her weapons. "Riley! He slept with Faith."
"But how did... Oh." Willow realized Riley must have told her.
"He didn't know! He couldn't even tell it wasn't me!" Buffy angrily said as she shoved various weapons in her slaying bag.
"But Buffy..."
Buffy looked at Willow for the first time and noticed Tara was standing by her. "Oh... No offense, Tara-" She stared at Willow, "But she knew it wasn't me and she doesn't even know me. I'd understand my own mother not recognizing me but this is crazy."
Willow was a little thrown off. "Buffy. We all know how Faith can, uh, be..."
"A slut! She probably threw herself on him and he didn't even bother to blink."
"I was going to say quite swaying..."
"Yeah. In her 'I want to sleep with every guy Buffy is going out with.' Buffy threw the bag over her shoulder.
"Where are you going?"
"I need a good slay. "she replied as she exited the room.
"Uh..."
Willow turned to Tara. "Wow."
"I..."
Willow couldn't say anything either. "Yeah."
Tara sat back down on the floor, perplexed.
Willow followed her lead. "Uh. You know, you never did tell me how you knew."Tara began to play with her food. "I did tell you. She, she was fragmented and m-mean."
"What did she do?"
"She said some stuff.""Like what?"
Tara looked up at Willow. "I-it doesn't matter... It was just the way you talked about Buffy... I didn't think she'd ever say those things."
"Please tell me."
Tara sighed. "Just some stuff... About you... About Oz."
"Oz?"
"Yeah. Well, she questioned where he was... I mean, Buffy would have known what happened, right?"
Willow nodded. "What did she say about me?"
"Nothing." Tara looked away to Willow's desk.
"Tara. What exactly did Faith say?"
Tara turned to at her. "Willow, I don't want to talk about it."
"Well, I do."
"I-I think I should go."
"What?! Why? We haven't even gotten to the part where Mrs. Brisby uses the sparkly to save her children."
"Willow..."
Willow inched closer to Tara. "What?"
"I feel weird."
"Why?"
Tara was getting nervous. "Cause I feel like... Faith... Uh..."
Willow was even more interested now. "What did she say to you?"
"She just mentioned... how... um, you might not be into... guys – anymore. Like, if you were interested - in me. Or..."
Willow laughed and Tara was confused by her reaction. "She said that?!" Willow smiled at her. "Leave it to Faith to be so... I mean... It's funny she said that. She saw us together for what, two seconds?"
"Huh?"
"It's funny. We were just talking about that too." But Willow saw Tara was still concerned. "Is what's going on between us freaking you out?"
"What? What do you mean?"
Willow gently reached for her hand. "This... Is this freaking you out? Just because we're connecting - in more ways then one... You shouldn't freak out about it."
"More ways than one?"
It was Willow's turn to be confused. "I thought you said you liked me. "In like" with me I quote. Don't you?"
"Uh, I do. But I didn't think y-you..."
Willow giggled. "Hello? Where've you been?"
Tara half smiled. "You're only feeling like this cause we've been hanging out a lot lately. And Buffy - she's not here - hardly. You're just..."
"I am not."Willow said adamantly.
"How do you know? I mean..."
Willow smiled at her. "Tara, this is kinda new for me. But I do know that I like you too. 'In like' with you."
Tara quickly blinked and faintly smiled. "Willow..."
But, Willow interrupted her. "It's settled then."
"What?"
"We are going to watch the movie, finish our dinner sandwiches and... cuddle?" Willow fearlessly smiled at Tara.
Tara broadly smiled back. "Ok."
End of Chapter 6