Chapter 9
Spike had been following the two witches for the past week - ever since his late night talk with blondie. He figured that he ought to keep tabs on them and find out when and where the spell was to take place . He definitely wanted to be there, a pelt of the Han'thu Ladsha was worth a pretty penny on the black market. That was the reason - the ONLY reason he was doing this. Yes, Spike old boy, keep telling yourself that and one day, you might even believe it.
By the looks of it, the spell was going to be cast tomorrow night. Lover-wiccans had just returned from the Magic Box, laden with magic supplies tied to Willow's chair. They had waved goodbye to Anya as she locked up for the night and slowly made their way home. He decided that it was time to confront them, so he cut them off as soon as they reached Revello Drive.
"Spike!" Willow called out in surprised as he jumped from behind one of trees in the yard. "What are you trying to do, give me a heart attack?" She had almost not stopped her chair in time and only managed to when Tara reached out to grab one of the handles.
"What, a vampire can't take a stroll at night anymore?" he shot back.
"Well, I don't think many vampires would want to walk down the street the slayer's house is on" Tara smiled as she said this. She still felt that she owed Spike something. He may still be evil but he had recognized love and had helped them. For that, she would be eternally grateful.
"So you?ve been practicing spells again, have you? Spike smirked.
Willow, catching his double entendre blushed but it was Tara who answered "Yes, have you been watching?" she shot back and was pleased to elicit a hearty laugh from the vampire.
"No, no I haven't but its probably not from want of trying" he grudgingly admitted "So, when are you and Red performing the spell?"
Surprised that Spike knew about their spells, Willow asked the first question to pop into her head "You want to do spells with us?"
"Don't get your knickers in a twist. Blondie told me about the Blood Spell. That's all kinds of dangerous magics you're handling and with a Han'thu Ladsha on the loose, just thought you might want some Big Bad back up, that's all" he answered easily, lighting his ever present cigarette.
"Spike, Buffy's not going to change her mind" Tara gently replied "It's been a year, I think she's moved on and so should you"
"Bloody hell, not every bloody thing I do is related to the bloody slayer. One..." Spike held out his finger "That demon's pelt is worth a pretty penny on the black market and I aim to collect. Two, I still have this blasted chip in my head, which means that the only pounding that I can still do is on the demon population. And Three, I may be evil but the world may end depending on whether you wonder wiccans can do the spell and stop it. If it ends, I'd rather be on the front lines and have it over quick and if it doesnt - well, I get to make some money for smokes and beer, don't I?"
"Tomorrow, we're doing it tomorrow. We'll go to the construction site where Glory.." Tara replied but was cut off by Spike.
"Yeah, I'm familiar with the place. See you tomorrow then" and he was off.
"Well, that was all surreally in a not too unpleasant way" Willow remarked as they once again made their way up the street.
"What do you mean?" Tara queried, she was also kind of surprised at Spike's offer and wanted to know what Willow thought.
"I mean, five years ago, Spike was you know, Grrrrgh! Arg! Arg!, and trying to eat us. And for the past two years, he's only helped us because he wanted to get to Buffy and then because they were all couply and stuff and now..well he's volunteering to fight the good fight but there's nothing in it for him, well except for the pelt but that's a big risk to take, you know. I mean he's, he's being nice."
"Yeah, he is" Tara murmured as she thought about it "But honey, nice is different than good. I will always be grateful to Spike for the things he has done - looking after Dawn, fighting side by side with us. He's definitely ok but he's not good."
Willow marveled at the insight of her love, she could always see beyond the telling "Yeah" Willow agreed, "we're the good guys. And the good guys better get home soon, otherwise Buffy and Dawn are going to get worried and come look for us"
"Well, if they do, at least it wouldn't be as embarrassing as last night" Tara giggled.
Ah, yes, last night, Willow remembered - They had again come back late from the Magic Box. Giles had kept them there as he wanted to go over the spell and preparations with Anya's help. He had been busy the whole week, training with Buffy all afternoons and going over the spell with them in the evenings when Buffy went on patrol. This was the last night of preparation.
"Giles, they're witches, of course they know Latin, besides, reciting the English translation would be just as good. Its not HOW you say the words, Giles, it's the power you channel when saying them. Everybody! knows that! Well, demons and witches at least." Anya said, muttering the last part .
"Yes, well, not being an ex-demon or a witch has left me quite bereft of some of the more arcane knowledge but it is imperative that both Tara and Willow know the spell, nothing can go wrong." He looked over at the both of them, so brave and so beautiful. He would do everything and anything in his power to ensure their safety. And if that meant teaching them the spell until they knew it backwards then by God!, that's what he was going to do. They did look tired, though, Tara was sitting in Willow's wheelchair, with Willow in her lap. The red- head was whispering something in her ear and it made the blonde blush so. Perhaps, it was time to stop, or else he was sure that he would need to clean his glasses soon, very, very soon.
"Willow, Tara?" he called. "I do believe we are done for the night. Tomorrow, you can come back and collect the supplies but tonight, we have done all we can. The both of you are quite adept at the spell and well, you should just keep it up and um, perhaps and um prepare yourselves - get.. get in sync, if you will" he finished as he whipped off his glasses and began to clean them - Not quite looking in their general direction but hoping he had put his point across.
Anya, as usual, dived right in "What Giles is trying to say is that both of you should go home and.."
"Um, Anya, it's ok, we kinda got what Giles was trying to say" Willow chimed in before Anya could go off on one of her more graphic descriptions.
With that, Tara rose up, once again placing Willow in her chair and began their trek back to Casa del Summers.
It was a beautiful night and they decided to cut across the park. The moon was not yet full, though it would be in two days. In two days, they would again face another apocalypse, Willow thought, another Tuesday on the hellmouth. Despite everyone?s insistence that she make an appointment with her doctor to check out her legs as soon as possible, she had insisted to do it only after the battle. There was no need to hurry was there? They would endure and survive and then she would be able to face the possibility of walking or not. If they did not survive?then, knowing would not have made a difference. All these thoughts were running rampant through Willow's head - All vying for attention.
"Sweetie, everything ok?" Tara asked, she could feel that the red-head was lost in a world of Willowvoices. She wanted to anchor Willow, provide an oasis of calm for her.
"Yeah, just, you know, all the voices in the old noggin, kinda crazy is all.." Willow responded, confirming Tara's suspicions. Well, there was only one thing to do, Tara thought. She wheeled Willow off the path and behind some bushes and knelt down in front of the chair. She leaned forward and captured Willow's mouth. The kiss, in itself was not one of passion but one of promise. It spoke of forever love - not lust - not need, but pure unadulterated LOVE.
The voices in Willow's head had gone silent, they were replace by a single sound, that of her spirit rejoicing. Soon, however, the kiss did turn passionate. Fingers fumbling to undo buttons, the chair discarded to the side - sighs of pleasure and giggles of content could be heard both without and within.
"Do you think anything happened to them on their way back?" Dawn's wavering voice asked an anxious Buffy as they traced their way back to the Magic Box. Giles had called them earlier to inform them that Willow and Tara were on their way. However, after half an hour, with no signs of the witches, both Buffy and Dawn feared the worse and went out to find their friends.
"Tara likes to cut through the park, maybe something happened? I?..God, I hope nothing happened" Dawn repeated.
"It's ok, its going to be fine. We'll find them, that's the path up ahead". What she did not tell Dawn was that her slayer sight had picked up the shape of Willow's discarded chair behind some bushes. "Stay here" she whispered as she sprinted forward.
Her slayer hearing was recognizing the sound but not quite placing it - Oh Shit, she thought as she skidded round the bushes and surprised two very happy and very underdressed witches.
"Bbbbbuffy! Oh God!, What are you doing her?" Willow stammered as she hurriedly tried to put her shirt back on. Tara was already on her feet trying to gather up the discarded clothing and dressing at the same time. Buffy had never seen her move that fast.
"Buffy, is it them? Are they ok?" Dawn cried out anxiously as she too skidded round the bushes "Oh!" she exclaimed, "Ohhhhh!" she repeated as realization dawned and a knowing smile lit her face.
The two witches had the decency to look somewhat mortified but they still had smiles on their faces. Not wanting to further embarrass them, Buffy managed to right Willow's chair, place her in it and accompany them home without further (much) discussion.
As they reached the front door, Dawn casually added "You know, I'm 17 now and its not like I'm deaf. You really don't need slayer hearing?.."
"Dawnie?." Tara tried to cut in.
"No, just listen" Dawn continued "I just want you guys safe and at home and well! You can have sex anywhere in the house or backyard or in the Magic Box! Buffy and I will promise not to look or we'll go out or listen to the radio or TV really loud or sleep with ear muffs, ok?" she finished in a rush.
"Ok, Dawnie, sure" Tara and Willow chorused together, wanting to reassure the teen.
That was quite a night, Willow thought back, yes, indeed.
As soon as they reached the front door tonight, Dawn had rushed out to greet them. "Buffy and I were going to give you five more minutes before we came looking" she admonished.
"It's ok Dawnie, we got held up talking to Spike" Willow said as she entered the door.
"So what did the Billy Idol wannabe want now?" Buffy asked from the living room. She had just finished a shift at the Expresso Pump and was massaging her tired feet. But the job paid better than the Double Meat Palace and she was already Assistant Manager. Best of all, no smell and she had time for the college classes she was once again taking.
"I think he's going to help us tomorrow" Tara replied as she began to untie the packages from Willow's chair.
"Why?" Buffy was truly curious. For the past year, Spike was a non-fixture in her life. She would run into him every now and then, on patrol or at the Magic Box but he had kept his distance. He would help when necessary or when called and then leave. He did drop by to talk to Dawn or Willow on occasion, normally accompanied by Clem. Surprisingly, he and Anya had also become friendly on account of him helping her obtain troll dust at a very cheap price. Buffy had finally come to realize that Spike would always be there - she had resigned herself to that. But, maybe there was some hope for them, maybe they could be friends - she wanted that. She wasn't really friends with Angel - no that relationship was complicated beyond complicated. Seeing Angel would always hurt, but seeing Spike, that didn't hurt. Perhaps it was good he was going to be around tomorrow. Maybe, he wasn't good but at least he was trying.
"So, what's with the supplies?, You got everything we need for tomorrow?" Buffy again turned her attention to Willow and Tara.
"Yes, Anya finally got the Capedo of Erebus" Willow proudly displaying a simple clay bowl.
"Capedo of Erebus" Buffy exclaimed, for once getting it right. "Why on earth do they not call it a bowl, I mean that's what it is, isn't it. It's a bowl."
"Um, Buffy, Capedo means sacrificial bowl in Latin" Tara added helpfully.
"Oh, they should have just called it that from the beginning", Buffy replied, now distracted by Tara laying out some blue robes. "Is that a robe? Do we have to wear robes? I mean since I'm doing all the sacrificy stuff, can't I at least look stylish and pretty while doing it? I was all set to wear this new leather jacket I got" Buffy pouted.
"Well, the robes are optional, we just thought that since its going to be kinda bloody, you wouldn't want to ruin any of your pretty clothes"
"Awwwwww, you guys are so sweet, thank you. Its bad enough trying to afford new clothes on my salary and dry cleaning bills are all kinds of bad." With that, she moved forward and hugged her two friends. "So I guess we're all set for the rumble tomorrow, huh?. Oh! God! Did I just say rumble. Ok, someone please stop me before I start sounding like a Shark reject from West Side Story"
"It's ok, Buffy, we won't let Giles pick out the video on Movie night anymore and yes, I guess we're all set" Willow replied smiling.
Realising that there was really nothing more that could be done that night, Buffy suggested that they all turn in. She watched as Tara once again carried Willow in her arms- so gentle, so loving. It made her happy and her heart ached at the same time. She was so happy that they had finally begun to heal - She could not see or hear the broken shards of Tara's soul (for that alone, she would be eternally grateful) and Willow was once again showing her vulnerabilities and fears - Balance had been found. Her heart did ache though, not out of jealousy but out of frustration - of being alone in the presence of such love and wanting to find even a facsimile of it - hoping to. Maybe one day, she told herself, one day.
"Night you guys and don't worry about slayer hearing tonight, I'm all kinds of beat" she called out before kissing Dawn goodnight and entering her own room, alone.
'Why was it that bad days - days that ended horribly always started out with such promise?' Tara thought to herself as she slowly opened her eyes to a new day. Willow was nestled in her arms - safe. Yes, safe... but for how long? What could she do to ensure that Willow would always be there, always be safe in her arms? Tonight, they would again go into battle - Her family, her love. She would fight side by side with them - she would fight for them. Today would end well. She would ensure it with all her being.
Willow slowly stirred, instinctively knowing that Tara was awake and wanting to share the new day with her. "Hey baby, you sleep ok?" she asked, the last vestiges of sleep falling away as she felt Tara's strong arms encircling her, keeping her safe - loved.
"So, funny shapes or rounds?" Tara asked wanting to start the day like any other: pancakes in the morning, helping Dawn with the chores in the afternoon, and performing a blood spell...
"Baby, we'll get through this. No getting lost in Tara Thoughts, ok? We know the spell and we even have big bad back up so right now, Dr. Rosenberg is prescribing a hot shower - preferably with a sexy, kittenish red-head who has a thing for beautiful luscious blondes named Tara," Willow said, knowing that that would be a perfect distraction for both of them.
"I don't believe they used all the hot water! I mean, they were in there together. Doesn't that mean water conservation? I mean, it's on bumper stickers!" Buffy complained to Dawn.
"Buffy, even I know they weren't in there together to save water. Be happy that Tara felt guilty and made the blueberry pancakes that you like," Dawn answered back. She knew that she should also broach another sensitive topic with her sister and soon - and there's no time like the present, she thought and plunged ahead.
"Um , Buffy? About tonight, you know, I've...well, I want to.."
Buffy immediately cut her off, "Dawn, I know what you're going to say, and the answer is yes"
"But Buffy, I'm seventeen and Xander and Willow were fifteen when they started helping you and I love you and Willow and Tara as much as... Did you say yes?" Dawn stared at her big sister.
"Dawn, I love you, and if anything ever happened to you, I would never forgive myself. But we're all family, and I have to face the fact that fighting demons is the family business. However, you are to go nowhere near the demon if he shows up. You will stay with Xander and Anya while we prepare the spell, deal?" Buffy spat in her palm and held it out. She hoped Dawn remembered... When they were younger, doing that meant a promise that could not be broken, it was sacred - a Summers tradition.
Dawn spat in her own palm, grabbed her sister's hand, and pulled her into a hug "I love you too, and I don't want to lose you, ever. We'll get through this. We'll ALL get through this." After a few minutes, she reverted to teenageyness once again. " Ok... Getting weird now, so I'm just gonna call Anya and ask her when they're coming over with Giles."
'Time to start new traditions,' Giles thought to himself as he, Xander and Anya made their way to Buffy's front door. Before, they would have met at the Magic Box. They would have prepared themselves there, surrounded by the arcane and the mystical. But they were family. They should be surrounded by home and hearth - should celebrate being together before facing the enemy.
"Hi, Guys!" Willow was again there to greet them at the door. She looked happy and whole, and he was glad.
"Are you and Tara and Buffy ready for the spell?" he enquired.
"Yes, they're upstairs changing into their robes. Tara's going to help me with that later. I'm just doing some last minute changes to my chair. I wanted to be able to reach for this," at that, she held up a small throwing axe, "more easily, as well as have space for the spell ingredients"
"...Well, it is more comfortable," Buffy was telling Tara as they both came downstairs.
Xander's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw both Tara and Buffy in blue robes cinched at the waist. It didn't look like they had anything on underneath.
Anya, noticing this, smiled to herself, patted his shoulder, and said, "Xander, you should look all you want now at Buffy and Tara, because if you do so at the battle you are liable to get distracted and your head cut off. Not by me, mind you, but by the Han'thu Ladsha"
"An, honey" he turned to whisper to her, "I was picturing you in that, and hoping we could borrow them after." With that, he grinned and kissed her.
"We should get going. Tara, help Willow with her robe. ...and no fooling around," she added quickly. Despite what Xander thought, she was wearing a black leotard under the robe as was Tara. It afforded easy movement but it was also skin tight. God knows what Willow would do when she saw Tara's, or vice versa. They so did not have time for that now.
"Dawn, you need to pick up something from the weapons chest, and remember..."
"I know, I know," Dawn cut her off, "I will only use it in case of an emergency, and I will not engage the enemy. Geez, could you sound more like Riley, if you tried!" Dawn joked back. She did not feel like the key anymore, she felt like the little sister. The slayer's little sister who was going to kick some demon butt.
It was time to set off. The sun had set for some time and according to Giles, the Han'thu Ladsha would try and open the portal around midnight.
This meant that Tara, Willow and Buffy had to perform their spell as soon as possible, and then lay in wait for the demon so as to kill it. It was agreed that due to Willow's chair, she and Tara would head home after the spell.
Well, Willow hadn't agreed, but had acquiesced on account that both Tara and Dawn would accompany her back, and Giles, Anya and Xander would remain as back-up for Buffy.
"You know, there should be a song. We should have a song. I mean there's always a song when the good guys mount up and ride off to face the enemy. Like something from Aerosmith with a lot of jangly guitars," Xander commented as the group made their way towards the abandoned construction site, each of them carrying their weapon of choice.
"Or... or... It would be an instrumental piece!" Willow said, excitedly waving her hands, "you know, like from The Piano"
"I personally would like an instrumental piece, but, you know... with the guitars, bass and drums and stuff..." Tara trailed off as she noticed all of her friends looking at her. "I don't only listen to Lilith Fair, you know," tempering what she said with a smile.
As they arrived, they noticed that the site was worse than it had been two years ago. Debris was still strewn everywhere. However, something was still off about the site, a feeling in the air coursing around them - amorphous.
Tara and Giles went quickly to work. They cleared a space in the middle of the area, where the tower had stood. Three crates were placed there - One to be used as a ceremonial table and the other two for Buffy and Tara to sit on, in order to be level with Willow.
Soon, everything was laid out - the Capedo of Erebus and a jet athame were placed in the centre of the crate. Willow and Tara began lighting candles which were placed in front of each of the triumvirate for the spell.
Giles, Anya, Xander, and Dawn had positioned themselves just inside of the gate to the site. They were to look out for the demon or any other distraction that would cause the spell to go awry. Giles could hear Tara murmuring to Willow and Buffy, probably providing them with words of comfort. He knew they were about to begin when he saw Willow and Buffy, who were facing each other, join hands. Tara, who was the focal point of the triumvirate, placed her hands on their shoulders and began chanting.
"We call on you, Erebus. We entreat you to prevail over all your domain. Evinvere malum bono (Good will prevail over evil). Acceptum id vulnero sacrificium (accept this wound of sacrifice)."
The air around Tara seemed to shimmer and grow heavy. Her eyes closed shut as she felt the power. Magic flowed through her. Buffy, too, could feel the magic flowing from Tara and from Willow, her consciousness reduced to that feeling, and only that.
At the last sentence, Willow had picked up the athame and, as Buffy held her palms up, cut diagonally across them. She had to concentrate - had to do this right. People were counting on her - Tara was counting on her. She could hear a commotion at the gate. Spike was yelling - but she had to do this and not falter. She would trust that Giles and the rest would keep the demons at bay.
"Bloody Sodding Hell, Watcher! They're coming!" shouted Spike as he barreled through the gate. Giles and the others were so intent on watching the spell take shape that they had not seen the Han'thu Ladsha approach. Its singular approach would not have been a bad thing but it had company, six vampires by the look of it. Not newly risen ones - but old, and looking ready for a fight.
"Oh, God!" Anya exclaimed "It looks much bigger than I remember, and it brought friends"
"Spike! What the hell are you doing here?" Xander moved to confront the vampire.
"Don't be a twat, mate. As I see it, the slayer is otherwise occupied with wonder wiccans. You need me!" he stood toe to toe with Xander.
Giles, not liking the odds and accepting the inevitable, called out "Spike, try and take the Han'thu Ladsha out. We'll handle the vampires"! With that, he began to walk up the path. He had to put as much distance as possible between the demons and the spell. The Vampires, sensing a fight, began to quicken their pace. Soon, they would taste blood. Soon.
Spike, not wanting to waste any time, launched himself at the Han'thu Ladsha. Finding that his blows weren't slowing it down, he reached for his stake and plunged it into its chest. 'Damn! There goes the pelt,' he thought, 'but at least I hurt it.' The Demon let out a roar and barreled into Spike, sending them both to the ground.
Dawn was scared. She had been on patrols with Buffy before, but her sister was always there to protect her - to keep her from harm. Now it was her turn to protect Buffy. Giles was using his sword to engage two of the Vampires. Xander had managed to dust one by tripping him and embedding his axe in its chest. So he and Anya were now fighting a vampire each. Dawn had never seen Xander move so fast and attack so ferociously before, but he was trying to take them both on - he was protecting Anya.
"Well hello, little girl... Seems like your friends left me a little treat," the last unaccounted vampire said from behind Dawn as he launched himself towards her. She turned on the balls of her feet and immediately went into a crouching position. As the vampire sailed over her, she lashed out, catching him in the temple. He landed in a heap a few feet away. Yup, I am definitely the slayer's sister, she thought to herself. She ran to where he laid and plunged the stake into his back. Unfortunately, it wasn't where the heart was and the Vampire howled with pain. 'Oops,' she thought, and plunged again. This time she found her mark.
Willow could feel the power around her, flowwing through her. She could do this. She began collecting the blood in the bowl, and with infinite grace, she slowly poured the blood on the ground. She knew that both Tara and Buffy's eyes were closed and they did not notice the commotion going on around them. They were too caught up in the spell. She had to do this, end this now before the fracas got too close.
"Terminare Ocultum" she cried out "Aboleo, Magnum malum, Resolvo". With that, a great force pushed back at them. Buffy and Tara went flying off the crates. Willow's chair was sent rolling backwards. She reached wildly for the wheels, grabbing them with bruised fingers and brought herself to a stop.
She saw that Tara had landed next to where Spike and the Demon were still struggling on the ground. 'Too close,' she thought, 'too close.' She began to wheel herself towards her love - her life.
Buffy began to come to almost immediately. The fall brought her to her senses. She could hear the fighting in the background. She sat up and saw Giles drive his broadsword into a vampire, turning him to dust. He then began to charge at the other, and despite the cuts on his face and hands, he seemed to be winning. Perhaps training with her in the past week had helped him as much as it did her.
Anya and Xander were faring less well. Xander was on the ground, bleeding from a head wound, and Anya was fending off two vampires with his axe while Dawn was tending to Xander. Buffy immediately flipped to her feet and ran towards them.
One of the vampires saw her coming and turned to confront the slayer. Buffy ran towards him head on, but at the last minute, pivoted on her right leg, turned three hundred and sixty degrees - her hand extending as she plunged Mr Pointy into its back.
Anya shouted her thanks for the help and began to attack the remaining vampire with renewed strength "How dare you hurt my Xander!", she hit out, "He needs to be well! We're getting married, and nothing is going to ruin THAT! I love him!" she shouted as she swung, cleanly taking off the head of the vampire who dared hurt Xander.
"Way to go sweetheart. Remind me not to ever piss you off," Xander weakly uttered as Anya knelt down beside him and Dawn. "Where are Willow and Tara?" he asked anxiously.
Buffy knew that the most immediate threat was the Han'thu Ladsha - Spike was not faring too well, he was hitting it with all his strength, trying to get its attention away from the immobile witch. Oh God, Tara was still too close and Willow was barreling towards them. She saw it give once last swipe at Spike sending him thudding to the ground. The demon was turning to its next nearest target - Tara. The Slayer put on as much speed as possible. She had to make it in time.
Willow was slightly faster, and called out, "Hey, ugly! Leave my girlfriend ALONE!" as she steered with one hand while reaching for her throwing axe with her other. She grabbed it, and threw with all her might. The axe embedded itself in the chest of the demon but it did not faze it. He turned to Willow and stood his ground, her axe protruding from its chest.
Xander would later recall that Willow's next move was like something out of the Matrix. She had deftly avoided the reach of the Han'thu Ladsha by leaning back, swiveling quickly to the left and going around the demon to where Tara had landed. * Tara. Baby. Please be ok* Willow propelled herself out of the chair and landed next to Tara. She grabbed the blonde's hand and held on.
By this time, Buffy was feeling incredibly pissed off. This was not going to happen again. With a primal Slayer scream, she launched herself at the Han'thu Ladsha, hitting and kicking it repeatedly with Slayer grace, while at the same time avoiding its blows. She was a mighty force. In her ran the blood of generations of slayers before her. She was righteousness and goodness personified - she was THE Slayer. And she was going to send this Demon back to hell, the old fashioned way. She was going to kill it. Her hands hurt, and blood was flowing from her palms, but that would not deter her. This was her sacred mission.
Tara groggily swam to consciousness, she could hear Willow in her head. The Willowbabble sounded franctic * please Tara, be ok, be ok, be ok, love you, don't leave, come back, be ok, I need you, love you, be ok, please...* She squeezed Willow's hand in return. * I'm fine, love. Just a bit bruised. I think we have to help Buffy.*
Indeed, the Slayer was starting to find it hard going. Her cut palms were bleeding, and it hurt to hit, but this was her duty. She had paid attention, had caught it in time. She was not going to let this Demon hurt her friends. Buffy, still attacking the Han'thu Ladsha, did not notice that she was being maneuvered into a corner.
Willow and Tara looked at their joined hands, instinctively knowing what must be done - in unison, they directed their gazes towards the Demon attacking their friend. Totally focused and in sync, they sent out a huge psychic blow directed at the Han'thu Ladsha, propelling it towards an exposed metal girder - The force of their blast impaling it completely through its hairy chest. Despite all this, though, the demon was still trying to free itself, roaring and flailing about. Buffy, wanting to end it once and for all, went up to it, grabbed its head, and twisted till she heard a crack.
Silence once again descended on the site. Taking stock, Buffy looked around. Giles, having done away with the last vampire was holding Dawn as she told him of her fight and subsequent win over the vampire who attacked her. Xander's head was in Anya's lap and she was stroking it gently - They were lost in their own world.
Spike was sitting on the ground, nursing a broken wrist by the looks of it. She smiled at him and mouthed, "thank you." He nodded in acknowledgment as he made his way to his feet and began the long walk back to his crypt. And Tara and Willow were still holding hands.
Buffy's heart rejoiced. They had made it. They had triumphed. Attention had been paid.
Epilogue
Tara quietly made her way downstairs. It was not yet dawn, and the household was still silent. Willow was so tired last night, and looked so at peace in bed that she was glad that she had managed to leave the comfort of it without waking her love.
As she entered the living room, she spotted the discarded issue of Nature she had been reading just ten days ago. 'Goddess!, has it only been ten days?' she thought to herself. So much had changed since then. So many, many changes in ten short days. It was remarkable. Then she realized that perhaps it wasn't the length of time that was important, but the moments - The defining moments that changed your life forever.
She began to reflect back on such moments….
The first moment she noticed Willow at the Wicca meeting so long ago..…..The moment they first linked hands in magic….The moment they first linked hands in love….The moment Giles decided to come back to Sunnydale for good….The moment Buffy decided to sacrifice herself in Dawn's place…The moment the Scooby gang decided to accompany Buffy in her fight against Warren…..The moment Willow decided to come to her aid..….. The moment Willow felt her leg move…
All these extraordinary moments - some that start out with such good intentions and sometimes turn out so differently, so wrong. She would collect all of these moments and remember them. Those that ended well, she would cherish forever. Those that had turned out so dark, she would still keep and learn from. Each was so very important in its own way.
'Tara-girl,' she thought to herself, maybe it is too early for such thoughts. She knew exactly what Willow would say. She could hear it in her mind. Willow would say, "Ah, more Tara Thoughts, I guess we have to page Dr. Rosenberg." 'Yes, paging Dr Rosenberg, indeed,' Tara chuckled to herself.
* Hey baby*, Tara heard in her mind.
* Willow? Sweetie, why aren't you still asleep? You should rest. We have your doctor's appointment later*
* Yeah I know, but I kept hearing someone paging me,* Willow responded, pouting.
Tara could actually picture the pout the red-head was definitely giving * Sorry* she sent back.
* S'ok. I'm feeling really cold and the blankie's not warming me up enough. Besides, I believe Dr. Rosenberg wants to make a very important housecall anyway!*
* Does she? * Tara thought * and that impacts me how?*
* Well, Dr Rosenberg wants to give you an internal exam, so you better come up here, now!*
Tara could hardly hide her smile - another defining moment in their lives. A new day. * Well, only if I get to give you an exam too,* she sent up.
*I wouldn't have it any other way, love,* Willow replied.
As Tara made her way up the stairs, she began to appreciate, to understand that fighting all the demons, vampires, and monsters were important. But just as essential was fighting their own internal demons - doubt, fear, guilt. They had triumphed on both fronts this time. They had survived. But it was never the end. More demons would come, from without and from within. But the one lesson they had both learned, the one thing that would hold all the bad things at bay, was that they would always be stronger together. Always together, never apart.
*Always, baby, always,* Willow echoed in her mind.
The End