CHAPTER EIGHT: SIMPLE
(Tabula Rasa with a B/T twist…)
"One week without magic."
"Fine. That's easy!"
"Go a week and then we'll see."
-----
"For Buffy and Tara, this I char,
Let Leathe's Bramble do it's chore.
Purge their minds of memories grim,
Of pains from recent slights and sins.
When the fire goes out,
And the crystal turns black,
The spell will be cast.
Tabula rasa, tabula rasa, tabula rasa."
-----
The Scoobies convened as they did every afternoon at the Magic Box. Spike ran in wearing a brown tweed suit and a chequered hat with ear muffs, causing the Scoobies to wonder about Spike's mental health. Willow and Xander arrived together, Willow in Xander's jacket, proving that chivalry wasn't dead after all.
Buffy and Tara stood near the counter, Buffy squeezing Tara's hand comfortingly as she saw the looks passed between Willow and Tara. The blonde Wiccan had told the Slayer about the fight that had happened and the cause of it, and Buffy had reaffirmed Tara's belief that she'd done the right thing.
"And no matter what happens between you and Will…it doesn't change that you're part of our family," Buffy had assured her. "And you will always be welcome in our house."
Tara had smiled and the two girls had hugged, until both of them had been a little teary. They'd then made their way to the Magic Box for the regular meeting.
"So, what's the what?" Dawn asked curiously. "Any new monsters or what not."
Giles removed his glasses and shook his head. "It's surprisingly quiet actually," he replied. "The vampires and demons seem to have quietened down now that Buffy's back on full patrol."
"And the Bronze has never been safer," Buffy said proudly.
Giles smiled at his Slayer, thankful that she'd managed to pull herself together. The steady job at the Bronze was providing her with enough money to pay the bills at home as well as some of the leftover medical expenses that had piled up from Joyce's surgery. He'd been worried that she wouldn't be able to cope with it all, but she had done amazingly well for herself.
"Willy's seems to have lost a lot of its clients as well," Spike offered. "And anyone who does go there nowadays seems to be more interested in kitten poker than killing humans."
Buffy and Tara's noses wrinkled in distaste at the thought of kitten poker. Tara still missed Miss Kitty Fantastico who had died in a horrendous accident involving Dawn and a stray crossbow that had been loaded. Neither Willow nor Dawn had wanted a replacement kitten, something that Tara sorely missed. She wondered if Buffy would mind having one in the house.
Tara turned to look at Buffy. "What do you think is causing it?"
Buffy shrugged. She went to elaborate, but felt her knees buckle. Tara steadied her, but felt her own legs sway, and she and Buffy fell to the floor in a tumble of limbs.
"Buffy!" "Tara!"
Before anyone could move to help them, each and every member of the Scooby Gang dropped to the floor unconscious.
-----
Buffy stirred, surprised by the weight of someone's limp arm resting across her stomach. She stilled and looked at the cascading blonde hair that covered the sleeping person's face. She wracked her brain trying to remember where she was and who she was with. And now that she thought about it, who she herself actually was. She sat up, dislodging Tara's arm and disturbing the girl from slumber. Tara sat up and looked at the blonde with wide eyes.
"Uh…hi," she said quietly.
"Hey," Buffy replied, equally unsure of herself.
"I uh…don't s-suppose you know where we are…or w-who we are?" Tara asked.
Buffy shook her head, unconsciously taking hold of Tara's hand and squeezing it gently. She looked around the room, her hand still in Tara's as the taller blonde girl stared down at their entwined fingers. It was such a comforting touch, one that she couldn't explain. She could feel a connection to the girl sitting beside her. She finally tore her attention away from their hands and looked around the room.
The two blonde girls stood up, their hands never separating.
Spike yelped loudly as he fell from the counter and onto the floor.
Dawn looked up at the group of people, her eyes wide and fearful. "Who…who are you people?" she asked quietly, her voice close to a whimper.
Buffy felt her heart go out to the young girl, and she regretfully pulled away from Tara. She glanced over her shoulder and gave an apologetic smile. Tara half-smiled back at her and Buffy moved to comfort Dawn.
Giles and Spike discovered their British accents as Xander began panicking.
"I don't like this," Dawn whispered.
"It's okay, don't worry," Buffy said comfortingly. "We'll take care of each other."
Several moments later, everyone was scrambling for their identification.
"It's me! 'Alexander Harris'. Cute picture. Hey, I exist."
"I'm Willow Rosenburg. Heh…funny name."
"I think it's nice," Xander complimented her. Willow smiled at him, and they looked to the others who were still searching their pockets.
"I'm Tara. And I'm a student from UC Sunnydale."
"I don't have a wallet," Dawn whispered.
Buffy smiled at the girl and noticed a silver necklace around her neck.
"Hey, look. You're Dawn," Buffy said.
Dawn grinned and read it upside. "Or Umad."
"I'm uh…called Rupert Giles."
"Made with care for Randy…Randy Giles? Why not just call me Horny Giles or Desperate-For-A-Shag Giles?"
Buffy searched her pockets and found no sign of who she was. She looked to Tara who saw the worried expression.
"You don't have a name?" Tara asked.
"Of course I do…I just don't happen to know it," Buffy replied. "I'll name me…Joan."
Dawn and Buffy discovered their incredible similarities, and decided that they were sisters. With that settled, Buffy took up her position next to Tara once more.
"Do you think we're…friends?" Buffy asked.
Tara looked at the girl in front of her and knew that they weren't just friends. There was definite affection for the other girl, and Tara knew within herself that she preferred the fairer sex as a choice for her lovers. She didn't know how she knew exactly, but there was a stirring within her whenever she looked at the blonde girl. It was strange because she was getting the same stirring for the redhead as well. But there was something within the blonde girl that was making her feel strangely protective of her as well.
"I think so," Tara affirmed.
Buffy took hold of Tara's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Good."
Tara breathed in deeply, trying to keep herself calm. Her eyes kept drifting to the beautiful blonde girl beside her, trying to open up a door to her memories that would explain to her why she felt the way she did about her.
"We have no idea what's wrong with us. I think a hospital's our best shot."
Tara smiled a little at her…friend. She seemed to fall into the position of leader so naturally, as though she was born to do it. Tara giggled a little. Like Joan of Arc.
The group moved towards the door, Willow and Xander walking arm in arm in their assumed coupledom.
Buffy opened the door and the group that surrounded her began screaming at the 'people' who were waiting on the other side. Buffy slammed the door shut, locking it quickly.
"Monsters are real! Did we know that?" Buffy asked.
Tara rubbed Buffy's back soothingly, her eyes drifting to the sliver of Buffy's bronzed skin that showed where her top had ridden up.
The door burst open just as the group had begun moving towards another exit that was a trapdoor that led to the sewers. The group ran, the vampires slamming Spike against a wall and grabbing Buffy around the waist.
Tara panicked as she saw her…friend…in the clutches of a demon.
"Joan!"
"Get your hands off me you son of a-" she was cut off by the vampire clamping his hand on her mouth.
Another vampire rushed towards the group and grabbed hold of Tara. Buffy freed herself from the grip of her captor and ran towards the vampire that had attacked Tara. She pulled it away from her…friend…and instinctively reached for a stake that had been on the nearby table.
"Stay" –punch- "away" –punch- "from Tara!"
Buffy slammed the stake through the vampire's heart, much to her own shock and the group's complete disbelief. They watched as the creature disintegrated before their very eyes.
"What did you just do?!" Willow asked in shock.
"Uh…I…I don't know!" she admitted. "But it was cool."
The remaining vampires turned tail and ran out the door. They quickly sealed off the exit, hoping to buy a little more time.
Buffy helped Tara to her feet and checked her over for injuries.
"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly.
Tara smiled at her reassuringly. "I'm fine. Thanks to you."
Buffy smiled and the two girls hugged. Willow watched, unsure of why she felt incredibly jealous.
They reluctantly pulled apart and smiled shyly at one another. There was a loud bang at the door, reminding everyone that they were still in trouble. Buffy couldn't help but take charge once again.
"You guys go through the sewers and get to the hospital. Randy and I'll give the monsters a run for their money," Buffy said.
Tara looked at Buffy, unwilling to be split up. Buffy gave her a small smile and cupped Tara's cheek fondly.
"I'll be okay. As long as you're safe. I'll meet you at the hospital," Buffy assured her.
Tara nodded and ducked her head, not wanting Buffy to see her tears. Buffy noticed them anywhere and gently tilted Tara's chin so that they were looking at each other.
Buffy stepped forward to embrace the taller girl, Buffy's arms around Tara's neck while Tara held Buffy around the waist, the two of them hugging tightly. Buffy lent her forehead against Tara's, and spoke quietly to her.
"I'll be okay. I swear it."
Tara nodded. She didn't know what else to say, but there was one thing running through her mind. She didn't want to leave the Magic Box without doing one more thing. Quickly, before she lost her courage, she ducked her head down and her lips met Buffy's, startling the shorter girl. Buffy rallied quickly and they kissed quietly, their passion and desperation shining through as their lips and tongues duelled.
They pulled away breathless and panting.
Buffy grinned and pressed a quick kiss to Tara's lips before stepping away. "There's no way I'm not gonna make it now."
-----
Sorry about the lack of updates. I keep forgetting about this fic. Glad you guys are liking this thing!
DKG.