Her heart was broken. That much she was certain of. Everything else was confusing. She didn't understand why he would do something like this. Why he would give up everything they'd worked so hard for. The life they'd built; the love, the trust, the respect. He'd thrown it all away like it meant nothing. All for one night with some Texan girl he'd met in a bar. She wasn't even that pretty. She really wasn't. At least that's what Gina kept telling herself. It made her feel better somehow, but only a little bit.
He'd been lured in by those hazel eyes and mile long legs. Her long brown hair all but calling his name. But it wasn't her fault. Gina wouldn't blame the woman. Being a woman herself, she knew how men behaved. They see the thing they want and they just have to have it. Or her. Even if they're committed to another woman. Even if it's wrong. Then, just to add insult to injury, they lie. They tell you they got drunk and passed out in a friend's basement after a football game. They tell you they're sorry and next time they'll be more careful. They make it up to you with a night out. Then, two weeks later, after he'd forgotten that the Texan had put her number in his phone, you find it there.
He's says it's nothing. She's a work friend. But then you call her. You're not normally jealous, but hey, he was acting pretty suspicious. That's why Gina did what she did. That's why she went down to the local tourist trap. At least that's what she'd called it before. She hadn't believed in magic until now. Why would she waste money on lies and cheap tricks? But with all the pain and confusion, the old shop keeper convinced her to purchase the strange green idol. He said it had powers that would punish the man who had wronged her. Then she'd started crying. The man had shouted then, told her to stop before … before what she hadn't found out. How was she to know tears were the way to activate the idol?
She'd nearly dropped it as dark smoke poured from the mouth of the idol. It solidified, forming a towering green skinned creature. It smiled at her, then it disappeared. Mr. Bogarty, had begged her to leave before running into the back of the shop. Gina took her idol and quickly left the shop. She was shaken up by what she'd seen, but no longer had any doubts that the totem she clutched to her chest would be the undoing of her ex.
Willow raced through the hospital to the front desk. The far to slow receptionist pointed her in the right direction and she was off again. She ran down the hall to find the right room number.
"Tara!" she yelled throwing the door open.
"Willow," Tara said with a smile.
Tara laid in a hospital bed, covered up in a thin white blanket. Her left arm was in a sling and heavily bandaged, but otherwise she looked fine. She even smiled radiantly at the sight of her girlfriend.
"Tara," Willow said with a sigh feeling suddenly calmer.
She walked into the room and stood beside the bed. Tara smiled up at her.
"I told you I was fine, sweetie. It needed a couple stitches and I'm not supposed to use my arm for a while, but I'm fine," Tara assured her.
"What happened?" Willow asked sitting down in the chair beside the bed.
"Big ugly. Really tall and brown and pretty hairy. Kinda like a bear, but with red eyes. It came out of nowhere. I ran for my dorm, but it chased after me. I hid in a broom closet and my RA found me a while later and called an ambulance. I didn't wake up until eight o'clock this morning. Blood loss knocked me out pretty bad."
"You could have been killed," Willow said looking troubled.
"I keep telling myself that. Did it get anyone else? Have you seen the news?"
Willow shook her head. "I was about to head to class when I got your call. I didn't have time"
"You should call Mr. Giles. Someone's gotta stop this thing before someone gets hurt."
Willow smiled affectionately. "She gets attacked by a monster and all she cares about is the innocent and unaware citizens."
Tara smiled. Willow gave her a soft kiss. "I'll go call Giles. Make sure he knows about this."
"You don't have to stay either. You should go to class," Tara said.
"You sure? 'Cause I can get notes from classmates."
"It's fine."
"I just don't want you to be alone through this." Willow said with a heavy frown.
"The doctor's gonna let me go soon anyway, but I'll be waiting for you in my dorm and I'm expecting you as soon as class is over," Tara said with a playfully stern expression.
Willow smiled. "Okay. I'll see you then."
They day before had gone surprisingly well. Spike and Angel had ignored each other most of the day throwing a few comments around when necessary. Buffy hid the both of them in the basement as soon as Angel alerted her that Joyce had gotten out of the bed. Her mother gave her an odd look when she noticed the second coffee cup on the counter, but she kept her thoughts to herself as she worked to put her daughter's recent behavior together.
Joyce finally left for work and Buffy scurried down to the basement where she expected to find a display of testosterone and vampiric aggression, but both vampires were calm. They sat on opposite sides of the room. Angel sat on the floor leaning against the wall. His eyes were closed and he was either lost in thought or had been concentrating on listening to the conversation upstairs. Spike sat on top of a box, containing some long forgotten possessions of Buffy's, smoking a cigarette.
Angel tried to convince her to go school. He said they'd be fine alone, but she didn't buy it. Spike didn't comment, but Buffy suspected he was looking for an opportunity to rip Angel's throat out. So, she stayed home.
Both vampires followed her around the house as she tidied up her bedroom and washed her laundry. There seemed to be some sort of competition on who could invade more of Buffy's personal space until Buffy finally had enough and banished all vampires to the living room. When Buffy heard the flick of a lighter two minutes later, she ran into the room and confiscated Spike's cigarettes not wanting her mother to smell the smoke. Angel had looked deeply amused and Spike had snapped at him the second Buffy left the room.
After looking after the bratty, hungry, personal space invading vampires, Buffy was exhausted. By the time the sun took pity on her and disappeared from the sky, she was ready to drop. She sent both vampires out the back as Joyce came in the front with the impeccable timing that all parents seem to acquire.
The sun was back in the sky now and Buffy wasn't certain where those boys had run off to. She strode across the cemetery hoping to find them in Spike's crypt. By the sounds coming from within, she wouldn't be disappointed. She sighed and pushed open the door.
"I'm jealous?" Spike scoffed. "What do I have to be jealous of? You've got nothing you great pouf."
"You'll never have what me and Buffy do. Never!" Angel shouted back.
"You don't know what you're talking about. Buffy's mine!" Spike clocked Angel hard in the jaw and they both changed faces.
"Whoa! Hey!" Buffy yelled running to get between them. She held her hands out keeping them from each other. "This is enough! I've had it. I decide who I do or don't date and no overly masculine display is gonna change my mind."
"He says our love isn't real!" Spike shouted at her.
"He says he loves you more than I do!" Angel told her.
"You guys this is ridiculous," Buffy said.
"You love me don't you Buffy?" Spike asked, his face back in its human facade. His demeanor became something softer and more fragile.
Angel seemed to follow Spike's mood. "What we have is forever. Right Buffy?" Angel asked softly.
"What the hell has gotten into you two?"
Spike collapsed at her feet and clung to her leg. "I should have written you poetry. That would show you. Then you'd know I love you more than anything else." He nodded with childlike certainty.
"I could sing you a song," Angel offered. "Do you like Barry Manilow?"
Buffy looked back and forth between them unable to figure out just what was happening. They didn't seem to be drunk. Maybe this was some kind of vampire thing.
"Golden hair, hazel eyes. I could fly, were that you mine," Spike recited.
"If you're looking for the dream you dreamed of," Angel sang softly and off key. "Open your eyes."
Buffy pulled free of Spike's grasp. "Okay. This is a bit weird even in my line of work."
"Were that you mine, I would feel as bright as the sun," Spike continued.
"If you're looking for the one and only, in your life oh darling," Angel sang.
"You guys just sit tight. I'm gonna go find a doctor." Buffy back away a few steps before running out the door and into the safety of the day light. She closed her eyes and leaned against the door for a moment. "Please let them be sick."
She considered going to Giles for help, but how would she explain it? My dead ex boy friend and current boy friend that I've been avoiding telling you about are having some sort of breakdown over their love for me, didn't really sound like the right thing to say. Thankfully, Buffy had a best friend.
Willow, being a straight-A student even in college, was not in her dorm when Buffy ran through the door. Buffy hunted down the copy of her friend's schedule left for her for exactly this sort of purpose. She found the building where Willow's current class was and parked herself on the bench nearest the door.
Twenty minutes later, young adults came pouring from the building. One of which had red hair and a thoughtful look on her face. Buffy ran over to her and drew her from her thoughts.
"Buffy! What are you doing here?"
"Something weird is going on," Buffy told her.
"Oh boy. It's one thing on top of the next today isn't it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well this morning Tara called me from the hospital. She got attacked by some kind of monster. Then, one of my morning classes got canceled on account of the professor's body being found in the faculty parking lot with its heart all torn out."
"His heart was missing?"
"It was ripped from his chest or so I've heard. The rumor mill isn't the most reliable source. I figured Giles would have you all over this by now."
"Actually, I haven't talked to him since that last scooby meeting," Buffy confessed.
"You and Spike were supposed to get back with him about your nightmares. I thought I was just out of the loop. You should have gone to talk to him. We were really making progress," Willow told her with concern.
"I sort of found a solution on my own," Buffy said looking guilty.
"Uh oh. Do I wanna know?"
"I've gotta tell you one way or another. It involves the current weirdness."
"Shouldn't you go to Giles first? I mean he is your Watcher."
Buffy shook her head. "I'd like to keep this from him. At least until it's all sorted out."
"I promised Tara I'd meet her in her dorm. I don't think she's doing as well as she says, but maybe that's just worried girlfriend thinking." She perked up with a smiled. "I have a girlfriend."
Buffy smiled. "I'll walk with you. I can tell you on the way and then you don't have to miss out on your visit."
"Thanks, Buff."
"So... me and Spike sort of... kissed," Buffy started.
"What? Seriously? I mean I know he's really into you but I didn't think- I mean I wasn't sure- I mean how was it? What was it like? I mean it's Spike that's gotta be like- wow, ya know?" Willow said excitedly.
Buffy smiled nervously. "It was pretty wow. It was also several weeks ago. The first one anyway."
"If there's a first one does that mean there's a-?"
"Second. Yeah. And a third and fourth and," Buffy sighed. "We also kind of... slept together."
"You mean like?"
"I mean like."
"Whoa."
"Big whoa. You don't think I'm crazy do you?"
Willow shook her head. "I don't think you're crazy. This isn't the weirdness you meant though was it."
"I haven't gotten to the weirdest part yet." Buffy stopped walking and turned to face her. "Angel's alive."
Willow blinked, staring at uncertainly. "Angel."
"Angel."
"How is that possible?"
"It happened before."
"And it was some big bad evil that tried to drive him insane before. What is it this time?"
"It hasn't showed yet." Buffy's eyes widened. "Unless this is it."
"What's it?"
"This morning, I went down to Spike's crypt and Angel was there and they were acting really weird."
"Weird how?"
"Angel was singing."
"Singing," Willow said with confusion.
"And Spike wrote me a poem."
"Spike," she said with yet more confusion.
"Exactly."
"Wow."
"Yeah. They were arguing about who loved me more and then all of a sudden they went all... Barry Manilow."
"He sang Barry Manilow?" Buffy nodded. "Wow. And you think it's to do with this monster?"
"I didn't know what to think, but you said something attacked Tara. It doesn't seem likely that too monsters were both on campus last night attacking people and I don't see why it wouldn't be related to the weirdness. Has anyone else been acting strange?"
Willow shrugged. "Honestly, Buffy, I haven't thought about much other than Tara all day. Her arm's broken and she was unconscious for hours. If she hadn't been found and taken to a hospital I don't think she'd be alive right now."
Buffy nodded, understanding. "You go check on Tara. I'm gonna hang around campus and see if anything catches my eye. Can you do some research while you're there? See if anything related comes up on the net?"
"Sure."
"I'll call in a few hours. Try and look up the monster that attacked Tara, too. See if we can figure this thing out before anyone else gets hurt."
"And you don't want me to call Giles?"
"Not yet. I don't wanna have to explain about Angel."
"Okay, but if we can't find it on our own, I don't think you'll have much of a choice."
"I know. So, we'll just have to do our best."
They reached Tara's dorm to find the front entry covered in broken class. The hole in the door criss-crossed with police tape. They ducked under the tape carefully avoiding the broken edges of the door and stepped inside. Buffy investigated the crime scene, but found nothing other than glass and blood that was presumably Tara's. She left the building to investigate the campus.
"Don't you love me?" Xander asked pitifully.
"I only asked if you wanted to go out for lunch. Don't be so dramatic," Anya told him.
"I need you Anya! I love you. Promise you won't go," He clung desperately to her side.
"Okay okay. We'll order pizza. I was just hoping for something with less carbs. We can't survive on take out forever, Xander."
"But we can. We can survive forever, I know it. Our love is forever."
Anya pushed him off of her. "What's this all about?"
"I love you. Didn't you hear me?"
"We've said it before, Xander. We're in love. It's not a revelation."
"You're my everything, Anya. I'm nothing without you."
"Okay," Anya said, uncertain but flattered. "I'm just gonna go call the pizza place."
"Don't leave me!" he said clinging to her once more.
"You can come with me. I'm just getting up to get the phone."
"Oh."
He let her up off the couch, but held her hand the whole way as she found the phone sitting on the dryer.
"Something is seriously wrong with you, Harris. Not that I don't enjoy the attention, but you're acting different."
"Are you mad at me? Please don't be mad," Xander said, eyes wide with desperation.
"I'm not mad." She shook her head and dialed the number on the phone.
"I should buy you more stuff. Nice stuff! Like jewelry. You like jewelry don't you, Ahn?"
"Yes, I like jewelry. Now be quiet while order."
Xander wrapped his arms around her waist and laid his head against her chest. Anya thought maybe she should call Buffy next, but clingy, cuddly Xander didn't necessarily mean he was possessed or anything did it?
"Rupert!" Joyce said as she answered the door. "This is unexpected. Is something wrong? Did something happen to Buffy?"
"No, no. Nothing like that. I do wish to talk to you though."
"Well come in." Joyce stepped aside to let him through. "Coffee? I just made some."
"Yes, thank you."
Giles shrugged off his coat and Joyce hung up from the coat rack on by the door. He followed her into the kitchen and sat on the end stool. "Thank you," he said taking the cup she offered him. "I don't mean to bother you on your day off."
"It's no bother." Joyce shook her head. "I rarely get company. I haven't even seen Willow or Xander in a while."
"I imagine that gets very lonely."
"It does." Joyce smiled. "We're in something of the same boat though aren't we. I don't imagine you see many people other than Buffy and her friends."
"Quite right. We should keep each other company more often."
"Is there something you wanted to tell me?"
"Tell you? Yes... I uh-" he paused to take off his glasses and cleaned them off as he continued. "I was hoping you might like to have dinner with me."
"Are you... are you asking me on a date?"
"Well... well yes actually. I am."
"I see." Joyce set her coffee down thinking it over. "How about you stay for dinner tonight? It'll be just us most likely. I never know when Buffy will be in. She's always off on her own business that girl."
"I would like that." Giles smiled.
"Great. Do you like Italian? I was thinking pasta and garlic bread. Manicotti maybe?"
"That sounds delightful."
*Song- We'll Keep Each Other Warm, by Barry Manilow (and I claim no rights for it)
*Terrible poem- Something Spike Would Totally Write, by Me
