A/N: Face, really sorry that the SoR has to be in the story. He's a shit, but he's an essential player in the story. However, Captain Cardboard himself will be a very minor character. ( I hate him as much as you do) Ok. Anyway. Story time. Oh, and a quick note on who's who's godparents: Jimmy's are Buffy and Xander, Joy's are Willow and Giles. TA's were originally Dawn and Spike, but then season 7 happened, and Spike 'died' so Andrew became her godfather. But now that Amy and Andrew are together, Spike stepped back into the picture along with Harry (I'll explain in the story). Oh, and another side point - I know my kiddos change from sounding really mature to really goofy and kid like. I'm basically taking the way they talk from my younger cousins and nieces and nephew. They range from thirteen to two and a half and I remember most of my conversations with them (my grandfather passed away last week, so I spent a lot of time keeping an eye on them or just hanging out with them). So most of this is based on conversations or stuff that they inspired ('cept for the magic stuff). Anyway, big shout to Face and gidgetgirl.
Chapter Ten
October 17th, 2007 - The Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole, London
The Burrow was buzzing with people. The garden was freshly de-gnomed, and fall flowers burst through the ground. Ginny Weasley giggled up in the top room of the Burrow. She was crammed in up there with TA, Joy, Hermoine, and the very pregnant Amy.
She had come to know these women nearly intimately for the last two years. She had watched the little girls grow into little people. Dawn, Willow, and Faith were downstairs with the Bride. She smiled. In a few hours, she would be family to this rag-tag group of people.
"Whatcha grinning at Aunt Ginny?" Joy asked.
"Hmm? Nothing. Just thinking."
"Aren't these dresses pretty?" Joy gushed, spinning around.
All five women were garbed in flowing pale blue dresses. Ginny watched as the girl spun herself silly. She missed the days when she herself had been so carefree. Amy smiled at her daughter. Her hand clutched her own belly as she fondly remembered the simple wedding she and Andrew had had here at the Burrow two years earlier. Molly and Arthur Weasley had practically taken the whole lot of them in as extended family as soon as Ron and Charlie introduced them.
"I hate these stupid dresses. How come Captain Cardboard Jr gets to wear pants, but I gotta wear a dumb dress?"
"Tara Anne! I raised you better than that." Amy cried.
"But MOM! I look like a doof."
"You don't look like a doof, TA. You look like the rest of the bridal party. I think you look smashing." Hermoine knelt down to the blond girl, tucking one of her curls behind her ear.
TA gave her a look that obviously said, "you've got to be kidding me". She rolled her eyes, her newly perfected talent, and glared at her 'aunt'.
"Ya know, I thought you were supposed to be the smart one."
"TA!"
"Sorry."
"No, you're not." A chipper voice said from the doorway. TA burst into a huge grin as she turned and raced at the man standing in the doorway.
"Uncle SPIKE!" She screamed, hurling herself at the vampire.
He caught her up in his arms and swung her around. She giggled as she hugged one of her favorite uncles. Joy looked up and smiled at the brooding vamp standing in the doorway.
"Uncle Angel, do I look pretty?" She gave him the coy little smile that always worked on him.
"Come here and let me get a better look." He smiled at the little girl. She shyly made her way up to him. "Now that dress looks stunning on you."
"Oh, now you're a connoisseur of female fashions, Peaches? I think he's finally ready to admit something." Spike grinned at TA.
"Shut it, Captain Peroxide."
"Oh, have I hurt your mushy feelings, Poof?"
"I thought Riley was the only captain." TA said, staring up at her beloved uncle.
"Don't get me started on that poof! Captain. Captain of what?" Spike spat.
"Cardboard." TA said grinning. Spike let out deep chuckle as he planted a kiss on her forehead. "That's my girl."
"Spike, you should know not to encourage her. She goes out and says these things to their faces, you know." Hermoine said, glaring at the vamp.
"Moine, mind your own mischief, and leave my little pup to do hers. She likes being the way she is."
"Yep."
"Are you girls ready in here - holy moly. How'd y'all fit in up here?" Fred popped her head in the doorway "It's time. Molly's been hollerin' for y'all for the last ten minutes. They're ready." She grinned at her friends and the little girls who looked so different. "It's gonna be so pretty."
"Let's get this massacre over." TA sighed as Spike set her back on her feet. She grabbed Joy's hand, and whispered to her sister. "Don't tell anyone, but this is gonna be a freakshow."
Joy gave her a look, "Well, duh." She looked back at the group of people behind her. "Have you seen the grown-ups? They're all goofy."
* * * * *
On the grassy hill, as the sun was setting, an impressive organ began playing a sweet melody. A large group of people sitting in the seats turned to see the first of the couples in the bridal party come up the aisle. The first was the pregnant Amy and her husband Andrew, looking quite spiffy in his black suit and white shirt. The bride hadn't wanted the groomsmen to wear ties or bowties, so she had opted for the open collared look that she had loved on every man she had every man she'd ever loved.
They were followed by Hermoine and Ron, Faith and George Weasley, Ginny and Fred Weasley, Fred and Angel, followed by Dawn and Spike. Then the entire gathering awwed when they saw the two flower girls and ring bearers. The first pair was the identical looking Jimmy and Joy. They were followed by a blond couple.
Who looked ready to kill each other. But TA forced herself to smile as he pinched her arm in retailiation for the prank she'd pulled on him this morning. How was she supposed to know that he'd wet his pants cuz he was so scared by the ghoul in the attic? Jimmy and Joy had told him tons of stories about it. She'd get back at him later, when the grown ups weren't watching.
TA watched as Uncle Xander led the Maid of Honor, Aunt Willow down the aisle. She smiled to herself. Only she knew Aunt Willow's secret. She'd knew it, nobody'd told her, but she knew. It was one of those things that she just knew. She smiled bigger as Aunt Dawn gave her the 'what are you up to' look.
And then everyone stood up as the Bridal march played. Rupert Giles stood at the end of the aisle, his arm outstretched to the bride.
Buffy Summers never looked as beautiful as she did on her wedding day.
"Wow." TA gasped. Joy smiled at her.
"I'd love to look just like her when I get married." Joy sighed
"I don't like dresses, but that one's nice." TA said.
"Girls." Aunt Willow gave them a look, which only made TA giggle. "This is resolve face. What do we do when we see resolve face?"
"Behave." Both girls whispered.
Molly Weasley was crying in her seat as they all sat down. TA didn't understand why she was crying. Unless they were happy tears, cuz those were a whole other kettle of - figs? Or somethin else that started with f.
"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to bear witness to the joined of these two people, Buffy Anne Summers and Charles Henry Weasley, in Holy Matrimony. . . "
* * * * *
Willow sighed. She was hiding her hand, which was firmly laying on her stomach. She was gonna be a mother. The third in the revised Scooby gang to become a mother. Faith and Robin had had a little boy only six months ago, and then the original mommy of the group, Amy had had the triplets five years ago. She watched as Amy waddled toward her.
"Hey Wills. You're looking kinda lonely over here."
"Hey Ams. Actually, I wanted to talk to you."
"Uh oh. What did she do this time?"
"TA or Joy? Nothing. My goddaughter wouldn't dream of doing anything wrong. She's in fear of the resolve face. TA's in awe of the resolve face. But last I looked, Xander and Tonks were taking the kids back up to the house for bed. Anyway, I actually had a favor to ask of you."
"Sure."
Willow smiled at Amy. She took a deep breath.
"Will you be the godmother of my baby?"
"What? You're pregnant? Who's the -" Amy smiled as she remembered the surprise visitor they'd had two months ago. "Oz?"
"Yep. I haven't told him yet, but yeah." Amy pulled her in for a big hug. She was so happy for her friend.
"Oh, Will, I'd be honored."
"It seemed right, since I am Joy's and Buffy, even though she's my best friend, she agreed to be Nicholas' godmother for Faith and Robin. And I wanted you to know how much I appreciate you as a friend."
"Willow." Tears of joy came from Amy's eyes. She pulled her into a big hug.
Amy smiled, but her mind was wandering to another topic.
"You know why I asked you to be Joy's godmother and not TA's?"
"Yes. You didn't want me to compare her to the original Tara."
"No. Not just that." She took a deep breath. "TA reminds everyone of who we've lost over the years. Not just Tara. I thought - I thought Dawn needed the responsibility or thinking for more than just herself. Dawn needed to be reminded that she was more than just the slayer's kid sister, or the Key. Whereas Joy just needed someone to guide her."
"Joy? But she's usually the good one. . . "
"We were once considered the good ones. So was Giles. Lord knows we all went through abusive magic stages."
"I hadn't thought about that."
"TA's special. Not that Joy or Jimmy aren't equally special. But TA knows things no five year old should know."
"She sees into the hearts of everyone around her and knows their pain as her own." Lorne said sidling up beside Willow. "Dollface, your aura's just screaming out Baby on board."
"If that were true, TA wouldn't fight with Dylan so much. And hey! No fair. It's still a secret Mr. Blabbermouth Diva Demon." Willow said.
"There's a world of hurt in that little tyke. He reminds me of someone - and no, not Capt. Cardboard, as Angel and Spike call him. Who is it that I'm thinking of?"
"He does like to brood. He kinda reminds me of Angel." Amy said thoughtfully.
"Angel. . . .C - What was I saying?" Lorne asked.
Before either woman could answer him, the DJ called the bride and groom out for their last dance of the night and plugged in their song.
Every time I look at you the world just melts away
All my troubles all my fears dissolve in your affections
You've seen me at my weakest but you take me as I am
And when I fall you offer me a softer place to land
Andrew claimed Amy and swept his wife up in a dance. She giggled at him. Buffy and Charlie watched them. Buffy whispered to him, "I always hoped I'd have something like that, and now I do. Well, except for the guy being nothing like Andrew and everything."
You stay the course you hold the line you keep it all together
You're the one true thing I know I can believe in
Your all the things that I desire you save me you complete me
You're the one true thing I know I can believe
Harry fought as Dawn dragged him onto the floor. He watched as Ron had to drag Hermoine out as well. But he settled into the dance as Dawn rested her head on her shoulder.
Giles was asking a cool looking blond woman who looked a lot like Draco, Kennedy's boyfriend, to dance. Draco scowled over at them. Kennedy only grinned and gave Giles a thumbs up.
I get mad so easy but you give me room to breathe
No matter what I say or do 'cause you're too good to fight about it
Even when I have to push just to see how far you'll go
You won't stoop down to battle but you never turn to go
Faith bounced her son on her lap as Robin tried to drag her to dance. She'd rather sit the slow songs out. She liked fast songs anyway. The Weasley twins were twirling a giggling Fred between them.
You stay the course you hold the line you keep it all together
You're the one true thing I know I can believe in
Your all the things that I desire you save me you complete me
You're the one true thing I know I can believe
Angel offered his hand to Willow. She eagerly accepted her old friend's hand and let him twirl her around the dance floor. She watched as Spike yanked Ginny from her seat and whirled her around.
"Fancy a dance, Red?"
"Wh - sure." She grinned.
There are times I can't decide when I can't tell up from down
You make me feel less crazy when otherwise I'd drown
But you pick me up & brush me off and tell me I'm OK
Sometimes that's just what we need to get us through the day
You stay the course you hold the line you keep it all together
You're the one true thing I know I can believe in
Your all the things that I desire you save me you complete me
You're the one true thing I know I can believe
As the song ended, a large tawny colored owl swooped into the tent. It landed gently in front of the now sitting Willow and Lorne. She took the envelope from it's beak and tore it open when she saw her name of the front of it.
A pained gasp tore through the quiet tent. The letter fluttered to the ground as Dawn and Buffy raced to her side. Amy picked up the letter and read it, tears brimming in her eyes. Sobs wracked Willow's body as she hung onto Dawn. Amy handed the letter to Giles.
* * * * *
In the house, TA collapsed into tears. Jimmy had felt it as well. Joy cried in sympathy with her sister, not really sure why she was crying.
* * * * *
Willow,
This is a sad burden I bear to tell this to you. This night, less then a dozen minutes ago, your friend Oz was attacked here. He and I were working to improve the werewolf wizard relations. We were attacked on our way back from a conference. I'm afraid Oz received the worst of the injuries. As I write this, the life drains from his eyes. His last words were to tell you that he never stopped loving you. Your name were the last words to cross his lips. My deepest regrets are than I was unable to save him. My sorrows, I am sure, have no bearing on what you are now feeling. My deepest sympathies are with you.
Remus Lupin
Lorne looked down at the grieving witch and murmured something: Cast me gently into morning for the night has been unkind. . .
A/N 2: Ok. Wow, sorry, but I started tearing up the second Willow got the letter. I know, I'm pathetic. Anyway, Charlie and Buffy (he works with dragons, does anyone else see the coupliyness of them?) their 'song' is Push by Sarah Mclachlan, and the quote Lorne says at the end is from Answer by Sarah Mclachlan. As always, tell me what you think. The next chapter will have some explanations on why TA has more power. Till then!