In which we learn that yes, television can be educational. Plus, Willow and Tara actually do something.
Tara loved watching Willow wake up. It was a gradual thing accompanied by mumbling, some incredibly cute grimacing and twitching before one eye – usually her left – would open just slightly and she'd smile. "Good morning..."
"Morning, 'Mrs Maclay'."
Willow grinned with her whole face – yup, I could get used to that. "Would that make you Mister?"
"Oh God, I hope not." Tara peeked under the covers. "Phew." Giggles, and more cuddlage.
"What time is it?"
"Um... Wednesday. You've been pretty out of it for a couple of days."
"Oh." Willow thought about it. "I guess we should probably get up then, huh...?"
"Oh no. I'm definitely prescribing some more bedrest for both of us."
"'Kay." Willow didn't exactly seem unhappy about it. She gave Tara a quick kiss then scooted over to rest her head on her girlfriend's chest. "You know, I had the weirdest dreams..."
"You always have weird dreams, sweetie. Do I have to bring up the one about the dancing apples?"
"But these were... they just seemed real. And kinda creepy. You were in them..."
"Gee, thanks."
"... and there were some other people, and it felt like I'd known them my whole life... a girl, and a guy, and a couple of older people... and we were, like, saving the world from monsters. Vampires and werewolves and Frankenstein and, you know, stuff like that. There was even a vampire who looked like me. Oh, and you and I could do magic, and... " She looked at Tara, who was looking a bit too amused for Willow's taste. "OK, this is the part where you're supposed to tell me I'm not crazy."
"Um... maybe we should put the whole crazy-not-crazy thing on hold until we've seen what I found in town."
Tara wriggled out of bed despite Willow's protests and reached for her shopping bag, pulling out a video tape.
"Aww, baby, you got us some porn."
"It's not porn. At least I don't think so." Tara read the text on the back. "Have you ever heard of an actress named Alyson Hannigan?"
"Nope. Come back to bed."
"You sure?"
"I think I'd remember a goofy name like that", Willow replied.
"And you've never seen a movie called American Wedding?"
"Never heard of it."
"OK, this might weird you out a bit." Tara put the tape in the ancient VCR, pressed play, switched on the TV and got back into bed to watch the movie.
About an hour and a half later, the credits rolled. As did Willow's eyes.
"OK, now that... that... that was just... wrong. On so many levels. Wrong with a capital wruh."
Tara was a bit creeped out herself, but the look on Willow's face was just priceless and she couldn't help but laugh. "Sweetie, you never told me you were a movie star."
"But that wasn't... that couldn't have been... I would never..." Willow's mouth kept moving, but for a while she couldn't find anything else to say. "I mean... There were... and I... and they... OK, so at least it wasn't evil vampire me, but..."
"I don't know about that, I mean, there was the bit with the... um... sucking..." Tara collapsed in giggles as a pillow hit her straight in the face.
"STOP it!"
Tara's smile faded when she saw that Willow was really freaked. "Will, relax. It's not you, it's just some weird coincidence... I mean, if you had starred in a multi-million dollar movie, surely you'd know?"
"But that's just it, I don't remember not starring in a movie. I don't remember..." She was seriously distraught now. "Tara, where are we from? Where are we going? Where do we belong and how do we get back there? Who ARE we? I barely remember anything before driving up to the motel. Not that those are bad memories, but y'know, unless I'm only four days old there's gotta be something missing here, right? Is it just me...?"
Tara slowly shook her head. "No, it's not just you. I don't either. But whenever I try to remember, I get this feeling like... I don't remember for a reason, and it's better to leave it alone. We're happy here, and if we've worked that hard to forget something, maybe it's for the best?" Actually, that didn't make as much sense when she said it aloud. "OK, tell you what. We'll get dressed, we'll go into town and get some cash, and then we'll rationally and logically try to figure this out. That sound good?"
"Sounds great. 'Cept for the getting dressed part."
"I know..." Tara kissed her. "But I'd like to avoid that Linda girl, something about her just gives me the creeps. And walking naked across the yard just isn't very inconspicuous. Besides, we have to return the movie." Tara ejected the tape, but when the VCR was turned off the morning news came on instead. Tara jumped at the sudden increase in volume and reached out to turn the TV off.
"DON'T!" Willow was sitting straight up in bed, staring at the screen. At the young woman's face filling most of it as the anchorman started on a new story.
"On a happier note, here's a story about what some people in the medical community are already calling - a miracle. Bryan Gregory reports."
"Thank you, Jim. I'm here at Napa State Mental Hospital, where recently something extraordinary happened. Five years ago, 15-year-old cheerleader and honor student Buffy Summers was admitted to this hospital after what was thought to be a nervous breakdown, but rapidly deteriorated into acute psychosis which left her catatonic and virtually unable to communicate with the outside world. For five years she remained like that, not responding to any treatment, and her doctors and family had all but given up hope. Then, just over a week ago, the impossible happened; Buffy suddenly sat up and announced that she was back and wanted to go home. Not only was she conscious again, but most of her symptoms had disappeared almost overnight. According to medical expertise, this is almost unprecedented. Earlier today, Dr. Rupert and Buffy's family held a press conference."
The screen showed a handsome black doctor answering questions, while the girl, flanked by a man and a woman who had to be her parents, mostly picked at her sweatshirt and looked very shy.
"...in 20 years of working with patients with severe mental disorders, I have never seen a case like this. It seems that Buffy simply decided to become healthy and jump back into the real world. And what's more, she has very vivid memories of the... delusions she suffered while she was ill. With the right therapy, we have every reason to hope that not only will Buffy be able to return to her own life, but her experiences will be very useful in helping us understand and help others suffering from the same problems. Yes, I'll take one more question."
"Actually, if that's OK with you, Doctor, I'd like to ask Buffy how she's feeling."
The doctor nodded to Buffy. Her mother put her arm around her shoulders, supportively. There was a pause as the girl seemed to consider the question, her eyes darting across the group of reporters, blinking at the TV cameras' harsh light.
"I-I feel... like I don't belong in this place anymore. I just want to go back h-home. I want to be myself again. I'm very grateful to everyone... everyone's been really nice and I know I still need help... I want to go home."
Her father smiled, leaned over and kissed her forehead. The doctor smiled as well.
"I'm sure you'll get to go home very soon, Buffy. You're strong, and with some help, you'll be back to your old life in no time."
The report was over and the camera was once again on the anchorman in the studio.
"A miracle - or just modern medicine at work? A heartwarming story, in any case. Here's Tom with the weather."
Tara turned off the TV with a puzzled expression on her face. Something about that girl... then she looked at Willow, who was still sitting straight up, her face white like she'd seen a ghost. "Willow? Are you alright?"
"That..." She swallowed. "That was the girl I saw in my dreams. I think I know her." In her head, Willow replayed what the girl – Buffy? – had said. "Did she just ask for help to get back home?"
Author's note: Hope no one went "You gotta be KIDDING me..." We'll be back in Sunnydale next chapter.