AN: Dopey me forgot to credit the songs I used in last chapter! Did I mention I have a really bad memory? Any way here they are now. Limp. B – Behind blue eyes, Jennifer love-Hewitt – Can I go now? And Casey Donovan – Beautiful.
Allen Pitt: I like Dawn a whole lot better in season 7. I suppose she's grown up more but in season 6 I would have happily staked her. I totally agree about getting Buffy therapy. She needs to join a hug club… or something!
ZELINIA: I liked Cordy in Buffy but not so much in Angel. Glad you liked the Michael thing because I will be using him later in the story! Not saying when though. Lips are sealed.
Philyra: See above AN for songs which I didn't write. Not musical at all! Tragic really but moving on… I would love to see if you can guess Tuscany's boy! It'll be fun! I'm just glad I'm keeping you interested!
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
ONCE MORE WITH FEELING Part 3
Tuscany was sitting at the magic box table with a book open on her lap. It had a mystical title on the outside but it concealed a magazine on the inside. Tuscany was shooting furtive glances in each direction to make sure Giles didn't sneak up and notice that lack of research. Anya and Xander were discussing something that sounded like sex in a corner and Willow was putting books on the shelves with a painful expression as she tried desperately not to listen to the conversation.
No body noticed as Tara burst in and ran past everyone. She ascended the stairs and flipped through books. She was devastated as she found the book she had been looking for. Lethe… for forgetting. Tara attempted not to cry.
Tara: I'm under your spell
God, how can this be?
Playing with my memory
You know I've been through hell
Willow, don't you see?
There'll be nothing left of me
You made me believe.
Giles: Believe me, I don't wanna go
Tara/Giles: And it'll grieve me 'cause I love you so
But we both knowTara came down the stairs to stand near Giles. They began a duet that nobody noticed.
Giles: Wish I could say the right words Tara: Wish I could trust that it was just this once
To lead you through this land But I must do what I must
Wish I could play the father I can't adjust to this disgust
And take you by the hand We're done and I just
Tara/Giles: Wish I could stay
Wish I could stay
Wish I could stay
There was a pause as the pair stared longingly at the subjects of their song before the ended.
Tara/Giles: Wish I could…. Stay!
Spike burst through the door then. Tuscany looked up startled from her magazine slash book and joined Anya and Xander in walking closer.
"Lookie lookie what I found," Spike was dragging a puppet like creature.
"Is-is this the demon guy?" Tara asked moving forward.
"Looks a bit like Pinocchio," Tuscany looked the minion up and down.
"Tara," Willow happily welcomed her girlfriend. Tara pretended to ignore her and pushed past Willow. Willow looked hurt.
"Works for him. Has a nice little story for the Slayer, don't you? Come on, then. Sing," Spike roughly pushed the thing forward. There was building in dramatic music before the minion stated in a monotone voice.
"My master has the Slayer's sister hostage at the Bronze because she summoned him and at midnight he's going to take her to the underworld to be his queen."
"Such a let down. After the rising music I wanted something bigger," Tuscany murmured at the same time Giles spoke over the top of her.
"What does he want?"
"Her," The minion pointed at Buffy.
"If that's all you've got to say, then…" Spike drew to a surprised halt as the minion cracked him across the jaw and made a break for it, "Strong. Someday he'll be a real boy."
"Dawn's in trouble. Must be Tuesday," Buffy was ironic.
"I just left her for a few minutes," Tara was clearly upset.
"Oh, it's not your fault," Buffy comforted Tara, "So what's the plan?"
"Plan, schman. Let's mount up," Xander proclaimed.
"No!" Giles killed any enthusiasm with that one word.
"Uh, Dawn may have had the wrong idea in summoning this creature, but ... I've seen some of these underworld child bride deals and, and they never end well. Well, maybe once," Anya reflected on her days as a demon.
"We're not just gonna stay here." Willow was incredulous.
"Yes we are. Buffy's going alone," Giles reinforced.
"Don't be a stupid git. There is no…" Spike began before Giles interrupted.
"If I want your opinion, Spike, I'll… I'll never want your opinion, Spike."
"A little confusion spell," Willow offered.
"No," Tara cut her off abruptly. She became aware of everyone's staggered looks and caught herself, "I mean… I just don't think it will help."
"Look, forget them, Slayer. I've got your back," Spike was determined.
"I thought you wanted me to stay away from you. Isn't that what you sang?" Buffy asked, cruelly, knowing Spike didn't want anyone knowing about his rock song.
"Spike sing a widdle song?" Xander mocked not making anything better.
"Would you say it was a breakaway pop hit or more of a book number?" Anya was genuinely interested.
"Let it got sweetie," Xander silenced his girlfriend.
Spike was furious and humiliated, "Fine. I hope you dance till you burn. You and the little bit."
He stalked out the door. Tuscany stepped forward, "I'll go with you Buffy."
"Tuscany..." Giles warned.
"No. I'm going to help her," Tuscany waved of his command.
"Why?" Buffy demanded, "Because we're sisters?"
Tuscany opened her mouth, searching for words. She had none but Buffy did.
"You aren't happy with me bossing you round and correcting you. Fine! You can go now," Buffy quoted Tuscany's song on purpose.
Tuscany looked about as pissed off as Spike. She made as if to storm out of the Magic Box. She paused as she reached Buffy and whispered in her ear.
"Don't take your issues out on me… I was only trying to help."
Buffy felt guilty as she watched her little sister leave the way Spike did. Two people who came closest to understanding her death hang up and she had just alienated both of them… right when they were offering to aid her again.
Frustrated Buffy turned to Giles, "You're really not coming?"
"It's up to you, Buffy."
"What do you expect me to do?" Buffy was lost and upset.
"Your best!"
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Buffy walked through a trashed street and paused by a can fire. A couple did a contemporary ballet routine. Buffy placed her hand in the fire and rotated it.
Buffy: I touch the fire and it freezes me
I look into it and it's black
Why can't I feel?
My skin should crack and peel
I want the fire back!
Now through the smoke, she calls to me
To make my way across the flame
To save the day
Or maybe melt away
I guess it's all the same
Buffy walked slowly away as the song built in emotion and power.
Buffy: So I will walk through the fire
'Cause where else can I turn?
I will walk through the fire
And let it…
Spike sat in an alleyway his head pressed against the brick wall. A cigarette dangled from his fingers.
Spike: The torch I bear is scorching me
Buffy's laughing, I've no doubt
I hope she fries
I'm free if that bitch dies!
I better help her out.
He jumped up and strode out of the dirty corner.
Sweet: 'Cause she is drawn to the fire.
Sweet: Some people… Spike: She will…
Spike/Sweet: Never learn. And she will walk through the fire and let it…
Giles was pacing nervously in the Magic Box and the Scooby's tracked his movements with their eyes.
Giles: Will this do a thing to change her?
Am I leaving Dawn in danger?
Is my slayer too far gone to care?
Xander: What if Buffy can't defeat it?
Anya: Beady Eyes is right, we're needed!
Tuscany: Or we could just sit around and glare.
Everyone looked up as the younger slayer appeared in the magic box door with a grin. She gestured them to follow her with her head.
Anya/Giles/Willow/Tara/Xander/Tuscany: We'll see it through
It's what we're always here to do
So we will walk through the fire
The group filed out past Tuscany. Giles was the last and as he went past he touched her shoulder fondly. Tuscany smiled to herself and shut the door behind them. Buffy was still walking alone.
Buffy: So one by one, they turn from me
I guess my friends can't face the cold…
Tara: What can't we face…
Buffy: But why I froze, not one among them knows
And never can be told.
Tara: If we're together?
Anya: She came from the grave much graver Sweet: So one by one they turn to me
Spike: First he'll kill her, then I'll save her Sweet: The distant redness as their guide
Buffy: Going through the motions
Tuscany: Everything is turning out so dark Sweet: That single flame…
Buffy: Walking through the part
Spike: No I'll save her, then I'll kill her Sweet: Ain't what they had in mind
Willow: I think this line's mostly filler Sweet: It's what they have inside
Giles: What's it gonna take to strike a spark?
Buffy: These endless days are finally ending in a blaze Sweet: She will come to me
Willow/Tara/Xander/Anya/Giles/Buffy/Spike/Tuscany: And we are caught in the fire
The point of no return
So we will walk through the fire
And let it
Burn
Let it burn
Let it burn
Let it burn!
Buffy kicked open the door of the Bronze.
Sweet: Showtime!
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Buffy strolled casually into the room. On the stage was a red demon in a blue suit and next to him was her sister, Dawn.
"I love a good entrance," Sweet said suavely.
"How are you with death scenes?" Buffy was too serious for it to be a joke. Sweet however chuckled and almost clapped his hands in glee.
"You got a name?" Buffy asked leaning against the pool table.
"I got a hundred," Sweet tried being charming and diabolical at once.
"Well, I ought to know what to call you if you're gonna be my brother-in-law."
"Buffy I swear I didn't do it," Dawn protested leaning forward.
"Don't worry. You're not going anywhere," She told her sister, Sweet sent a challenging look, "I am."
"What?" Dawn gasped. Sweet looked interested now and he watched the slayer waiting for her proposition.
"Deal's this. I can't kill you? You take me to Hellsville in her place," Buffy looked neutral at the thought.
"What if I kill you?" Sweet scoffed and leant back into his chair.
"Trust me. Won't help," Buffy held her stoic face.
"Hm, that's gloomy!" Sweet simply stated.
"That's life," Buffy retorted.
"Come now, is that really what you feel? Isn't life a miraculous thing?"
"I think you already know."
Buffy: Life's a show
And we all play our parts
And when the music starts
Buffy slowly unbuttoned her jacket in time to the music!
We open up our hearts.
She let the jacket fall to the floor. Making it easier for her to move and dance It's all right
If some things come out wrong
We'll sing a happy song
And you can sing along.
There was a brief instrumental and the puppet like minions ran at Buffy.
Where there's life Buffy swiftly hit one of the creatures with a pool cue
There's hope
Every day's She elbowed another one and it double over A gift
Wishes can She kicked one in the torso
Come true
Whistle while punched another in the head
You work She hit with the pool cue again. Right on beat
So hard Hit!
All day Buffy threw the pool cue to impale the last minion and Buffy stopped moving to sing to Sweet and Dawn.
To be like other girls.
Giles, Anya, Xander, Willow, Tuscany and Tara ran in then
To fit in in this glittering world. Don't give me songs.
Giles watched his slayer dance, "She needs backup. Anya, Tara."
Buffy: Don't give me songs.
Anya and Tara take up positions behind Buffy to be her backup singers and dancers. The three of them moved in time and danced
Buffy:
Give me something to sing about.
Anya/Tara:
Ahhhhh...
Buffy:
I need something to sing about.
Anya/Tara:
Ahhhhh...
The girls danced faster as a rock beat struck up. Tuscany began sneaking up on stage to see if Dawn was ok and protect her if needs be! Buffy was making the song a solo again.
Buffy: Life's a song
You don't get to rehearse.
And every single verse
Can make it that much worse.
Still my friends
Don't know why I ignore
The million things or more
I should be dancing for.
All the joy
Life sends
Family
And friends
All the twists
And bends
Knowing that
It ends
Well that
Depends
On if they let you go
On if they know enough to know
Buffy walked up onto the stage. Sweet was riveted and Tuscany used the opportunity and snatched Dawn from the distracted demon That when you've bowed
You leave the crowd.
Sweet indicated with his hand that Buffy should come closer and she did.
Buffy:
There was no pain
No fear, no doubt
Till they pulled me out
Of Heaven.
Tuscany and Dawn paused on stage, shocked by what they heard. Xander and Giles' mouth fell open. Willow looked horrified and so did Tara and Anya! So that's my refrain.
I live in Hell
'Cause I've been expelled
From Heaven
I think I was in Heaven
So give me something to sing about.
Buffy had been facing her friends as she told them the secret she had been keeping pressed inside. The secret she had only told Spike and which she was pretty sure only Tuscany suspected. Please
Give me something...
She looked to Sweet. Hoping for something… Hoping for anything! The demon shook his head. She needed to find her own song. Buffy gave him one last desperate look before she launched of the stage in a flip and began dancing. She swirled faster and faster and Buffy could feel the fire. For the first time in so long she could feel the fire inside her. Rising.
Every one watched, dismayed, as Buffy span faster and faster. The smoke started to stream off her. Dawn clutched Tuscany's hand in fear. Spike ran in the door, took in the scene, ran past the frozen Scooby's and grabbed Buffy's shoulders. Made her look at him. Her eyes pleaded him to help her.
Spike:
Life's not a song
Life isn't bliss
Life is just this
It's living
You'll get along
The pain that you feel
You only can heal
By living
You have to go one living
So one of us is living.
Everyone was frozen in the moment. The words were so harsh and true! Dawn broke away from Tuscany and walked to the front of the stage.
"The hardest thing in this world… Is to live in it," Dawn repeated Buffy's words just before she had flung herself off the tower. There was silence as Tara put her arms around Willow and the male Scooby's tried to comprehend what they had just heard. Tuscany was depressed for her sister. Spike was the only one there strong enough to support Buffy right now.
"Now that was a show-stopping number. Not quite the fireworks that I was looking for," Sweet broke the silence and his voice shattered any illusion anyone had about Buffy's feelings.
"Get out of here," Willow hissed.
"Mm, I smell power. I guess the little missus and I should be on our way," He held out his hand for Dawn. She backed away and Tuscany stood forward to stand by her side. They put aside their differences for one moment.
"That's never going to happen," Giles told the smooth demon.
"I don't make the rules. She summoned me," Sweet informed them.
"I so did not. He keeps saying that," Dawn objected.
"You have my talisman on, sweet thing," He reached to lazily stroke Dawn's necklace. Tuscany took a peak over her shoulder and realised that it was the one Dawn had stolen.
"I don't think she summoned it," Tuscany sighed.
", I, I, um, uh, this, at, at the Magic Box, on the floor, I was, I was cleaning, and I ... forgot ... but ... I didn't summon anything," Dawn stammered out a lie.
"Well now, that's a twist," Sweet looked exasperated.
"If it was in the shop ... then one of us probably..."Giles concluded. He looked at Tuscany.
She was offended that he assumed immediately that it had been her, "I got the pop numbers and you think I summoned him?" Tuscany was disbelieving. Everyone slowly turned to face each other… trying to work out who HAD been the one. Xander meekly put his hand in the air.
"Xander!" Anya cried.
"Well, I didn't know what was gonna happen! I just thought there were gonna be dances and songs. I just wanted to make sure we'd... we'd work out. Get a happy ending," Xander explained his motive with a blush.
"I think everything worked out just fine," Sweet said.
"Does this mean that I have to... be your queen?" Xander looked nervous.
" It's tempting. But I think we'll waive that clause just this once," Sweet visibly shuddered. He composed himself before beaming at the despondent group before him, "Big smiles everyone! You beat the bad guy."
Sweet: What a lot of fun
You guys have been real swell
And there's not a one
Who can say this ended well
All those secrets you've been concealing
Say you're happy now,
Once more with feeling.
Now I gotta run
See you all...
In heeeeeeeeeell!
There was final laugh and Sweet was gone in a ball of light. Again the silence reined. Dawn eyed Tuscany before stepping away from her. The sisters held eye contact before looking out of the stage.
Dawn/Tuscany: Where do we go from here?
Buffy/Spike: Where do we go from here?
Giles: The battles done and we kinda won
Giles/Tara: So we sound our victory cheer. Where do we go from here.
Xander/Anya: Why is the path unclear when we know home is near?
Every one moved to stand in a line.
All: Understand we'll go hand in hand On each beat they clasped hands But we'll walk alone in fear They broke away from the stagnant line Giles: Tell me All: Where do we go from here? When does the end appear? They waved their arms in the air and took steps back. Spike walked back into a pole and gazed at his hand in disgust.
"Bugger this," He stalked out of the Bronze.
All: When do the trumpets cheer?
The curtains close on a kiss, god knows we can tell the end is near. Where do we go from here?
Spike was outside walking away when he heard a voice shout after him.
"Hey," Buffy yelled. Spike faced the approaching slayer.
"You should go back inside. Finish the big group sing. Get your kum-ba-yayas out," Spike didn't feel like fighting with the slayer.
"I don't want to," Buffy managed.
"The day you suss out what you do want, there'll probably be a parade. Seventy-six bloody trombones," Spike had finally reached the end. He was losing his cool! The slayer had just been through a very traumatic experience… true but he was tired of being led around like a little dog.
"Spike..."
"Look I don't want you to say anything…"
Buffy: I touched the fire and freezes me Spike: I died so many years ago Buffy: I look into it and it's black. Buffy: This isn't real Spike: But you can make me… Buffy: But I just want to… Spike/Buffy: Feel
Buffy tilted her head up and met Spike's cool lips in a passionate embrace. Spike and Buffy's hand clasped together and Spike cupped her face.
Chorus: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
THE END
AN: Well that's the end of once more with feeling. Hope you liked. Next is tabula Rasa… I have a good idea for that…. I think. Pretty please review. The more reviews the better I write. Honest fact!
MD666