If Wishes Were Horses

Spoilers- Season 7, up to Potential
Disclaimer- I own none of these characters, not even the giant hamburger or the Loa (who, for obvious reasons, own themselves).
Note- Inspired by something Joss said in an interview about s7 story lines he would have wanted to do but couldn't for some reason or another. So even the plot isn't mine!
xxx

Part two

Buffy stumbled down the stairs, wiping the sleep from her eyes.

"Good morning, Buffy! I freshly squeezed some orange juice for you." Anya shoved the glass into Buffy's hand.

Buffy looked at the glass and raised her brows. "Uh, thanks?"

Anya smiled brightly at her and pulled a brown paper bag from behind her back, thrusting it onto Buffy's other hand. "And one of those chocolate croissants from that bakery you like so much."

Buffy opened the bag, the smell of flakey, buttery pastry and chocolate making her nose twitch.

"Have you done something different with your hair? And that outfit looks great on you!"

Buffy looked down at her tan pants and white button up shirt. "Anya, I'm not giving you back your powers."

Anya laughed flatly. "I never said anything about powers; I just want the savior of the world to start the day right."

"Right, okay. Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Anya smiled brightly at her and bounded away.

"That was weird."

xxxxx

Buffy absently finished off her chocolate croissant as she entered the kitchen.

"Hi, Buffy!" A brunette Potential smiled brightly up at the slayer.

"Hi, Charlotte." Buffy gave the girl a puzzled glance.

Charlotte looked over her shoulder to the small group of Potentials loitering in the kitchen. The girls smiled and nodded at her, making 'go ahead' motions.

"Um, Buffy? We- the other Potentials and I- were just wondering if you knew what you were going to wish for yet?"

Buffy looked at the hopeful faces of the young girls and winced. "No, but I've got it totally under control," she hurried to add as the girls' faces fell.

Forcing a smile on her face, Buffy fumbled for her bag. "Tell Giles I've gone to work, will you? And I- I'll see you tonight."

With a weak finger waggle, Buffy backed out the kitchen door, gratefully closing it behind her.

xxxxx

"Andrew, I am not using my one reality altering wish so you can meet Captain Archer. No! Andrew! I have to get back to work. No, I will not think about it. Goodbye, Andrew!"

Buffy slammed the phone down, remembering at the last minute not to smash it to itty bitty pieces. She let her head thump down on her desk.

"Friend of yours?"

Buffy raised her head and let out a soft groan upon seeing Principle Wood's curious face.

"Sorry. Annoying housemate. We only let him stay because…well, I'm not actually sure why we let him stay."

Principle Wood grinned. "I remember those people. Those people are the main reason I live alone."

Buffy sighed. "It must be nice."

"Yeah, but it can get lonely." Principle Wood cleared his throat. "Sorry, that sounded a little more… like a come on then I intended. So, um, there was an incident in the parking lot this morning."

"And you want me to talk them," Buffy finished.

"Yes, but… Dawn punched the Varsity quarterback. She broke his nose."

Buffy winced. "Did she say why?"

"No, she pretty much refused to say anything."

"I'll talk to her," Buffy sighed.

"All right, but unless she was just defending herself, she has detention for the next two weeks."

"Non negotiable?"

"The PTA takes violence very seriously."

Buffy sighed again. "Where is she?"

Principle Wood gestured over his shoulder. "She's waiting in my office."

xxxxx

Dawn barely twitched as Buffy quietly closed the office door behind her. Dawn hugged her knees tightly to her chest.

"Hi," Buffy said softly.

Dawn turned her face away.

"Did he hurt you?"

Dawn shook her head.

"Did he try to make you do something you didn't want to do?"

Dawn shook her head again.

"So what? He was a demon? He said your shoes didn't match your bag? He looked at you funny?" Buffy ran her hands through her hair.

"No!" Dawn finally looked at Buffy, her large eyes glistening with tears.

"Then why, Dawn? Why would you punch him? It's not like you."

"How would you know?" Dawn asked bitterly. "Besides those monks made me out of you, and you know how much you like to hit."

Buffy settled into the empty, struggling to remain calm. "I know you're angry, but there's use lashing out at me."

"He said something about Mom, okay! He said that she was better off dead because she doesn't have to see her two freak daughters! So I got angry and I hit him."

"Oh, Dawn!" Buffy slid to her knees beside Dawn's chair. "Don't listen to people like that. Mom would be so proud of you, just as much as I am. She loved you so much, never forget that."

A tear trickled down Dawn's face. "I just miss her so much, Buffy. I want her back. I even want her to call me 'pumpkin belly' again. And you have this wish, this amazing wish that you can do anything with. But you can't bring her back because of the greater good. It just so severely sucks."

Buffy smiled sadly at her little sister. "Tell me about it."

Dawn threw herself into Buffy's arms, burying her face into Buffy's shoulder.

"Stupid greater good."

xxxxx

Buffy exhaled heavily. "Giles, I just had Dawn here crying on my shoulder, I've had several teachers send disruptive kids and my boss is watching me. I haven't exactly had the time to sit down and make a list. Yes, I know I have to make a decision by tonight. Okay, Giles, I'll think about it."

Buffy reached into her desk drawer and pulled out a notepad. "Yes, I'm making a list now. I know how serious it is, Giles. Yeah, that sounds fine for dinner. Just don't let Kennedy near it, that girl can burn water just by looking at it. All right, Giles."

With a relieved sigh, Buffy let the phone fall back into the cradle. She pulled out a pencil and began to tap it absently against her cheek.

"Let's see," Buffy muttered lowly. "There's Giles' musty old books."

Buffy obediently wrote it down.

"Or maybe rocket launchers for all the girls. It did work for the Judge…"

xxxxx

It had been an awfully long time since Buffy had just leisurely window shopped. It was usually just rush in, find something that fit and wouldn't break the budget and rush out again, avoiding those shops that still had Dawn blacklisted.

So, with the weight of the world almost literally on her shoulders, Buffy decided to take some time to walk slowly down the main street looking at all the pretty dresses she could never afford and –oh- cute shoes.

Buffy stopped in front of a store's display window. There was an incredibly cute pair of shoes on display. They were high and strappy and would go oh-so-great with some of the stuff she already had at home. She could even get away with wearing them to work, if people didn't look at her feet. They would have been perfect, if only they didn't cost a month's salary.

Buffy sighed and pulled herself away from the window before she gave into the urge to smash and grab. It was a pity.

They were really cute shoes.

xxxxx

Willow jumped at the unexpected knock on her bedroom door. The girls didn't bother with things like that. Willow smiled at Buffy and carefully placed the framed photograph back on her bedside table.

"Hey, Buffy."

Buffy smiled wearily at Willow and walked around to stand beside her friend. Buffy reached down and picked up the photo frame. Buffy ran her thumb over Tara's smiling face.

"You really miss her, don't you?"

Willow smiled sadly. "It's like having my left arm ripped off. Tara calmed me like no one else. She made me believe I could do anything, just for her. She was my heart I could have spent the rest of my life with her."

Buffy sat on the edge of the bed. "She was good for you. She was good for all of us."

Willow sat beside Buffy and took back the photograph. "Even Spike liked her. He told me. She threatened him and made some smartass comments, that's what made him like her."

Buffy gave a little giggle. "Typical."

"How is he?"

Buffy sighed. "He's doing better. The First hasn't been visiting him and he hasn't tried to kill anyone, so that's progress."

Willow fidgeted, unsure how to ask the next question. "And you and him?"

Buffy looked up sharply. "We're just friends."

Willow raised her eyebrows. "Uh huh."

"We are," Buffy protested. "He actually gives really good advice."

"Like what to do with certain wishes?"

"Subtlety is not your strong point, Will," Buffy said wryly.

Willow shrugged, unabashed. "It seems to be the topic of the day."

Buffy snorted. "Andrew wants to meet some Star Trek character; Giles wants books; Dawn suggested some type of 'corporalizer' to make the First solid."

"I don't think that's possible." Willow chewed on her lip.

"Not without giving the First a huge power boost." Buffy paused. "I asked Giles already."

Buffy sighed deeply and threw herself back on the bed. "What am I going to do, Will?"

"The right thing."

Buffy groaned and covered her eyes. "Thanks."

Willow patted Buffy on the knee. "I'm sure you already know what to wish for."

"Yeah. Thanks for the vote of confidence."

xxxxx

Buffy idly kicked at the loose rocks in the drive through of the abandoned Jolly Burger. She watched calmly as a bolt of lightning sped down to the burger shaped speaker. The lightning hit. The speaker expanded, it's eyes glowing as red as it's bow tie.

"Slayer, the Loa have offered you a boon. Do you accept this offering?"

"I do."

"And have you to a decision?"

All the possibilities ran through Buffy's head again. Willow was right. The wish had been staring her right in the face the entire time. Automatically, Buffy's shoulders straightened.

"Yes, I have."

xxxxx

Buffy bounded into Willow's room, a huge smile on her face.

"Hiya, Wills!"

Willow grinned at Buffy, amused by this change in her mood. "Hi, Buffy. Do I take this happy mood to mean you've made the wish?"

"Yep."

Willow paused in the middle of making her bed. "So? What did you wish for?"

Buffy avoided eye contact and circled her foot on the carpet. "Oh, you know… Hey, do you like my new shoes?"

Willow looked down at he shiny new shoes in horror. "Buffy, you didn't?"

"Didn't what?" Buffy asked with an innocent look.

"You didn't use your wish to get new shoes, did you?" Willow asked in a strangled whisper.

Buffy laughed lightly. "Of course not. These are a 'sorry for filling your home with hormone ridden teenage girls' gift from Giles. He just gave them to me. Do you like them?"

"Yeah, they're very- What did you wish for?"

Buffy's grin widened. Silently, she nodded at Willow. No, not at Willow, behind her.

Willow turned around slowly. A breathy gasp escaped her lips.

"Tara."

Tara smiled gently. "Willow."

Tears instantly welled up in Willow's eyes and spilled, uncontrolled, onto her cheeks. "Tell me this isn't a dream."

"Buffy brought me back."

Willow fell to her knees, the trembling joints unable to hold her weight.

Unnoticed by her friends, Buffy backed out of the room and shut the door on the image of Willow fiercely hugging Tara.

Humming to herself, Buffy bounced down the stairs. The rest of the Scoobies hurried to their feet.

"Well?"

Buffy grinned. "I'd say she's pleased. I don't think we'll be seeing them for a few days though."

She rolled her eyes at a smirking Spike. "Pig," she muttered lowly.

"You're sure Tara's okay though?" Dawn asked anxiously.

"I wouldn't have brought her back otherwise. Tara wanted to come back. Willow needs her. We need her."

Anya pouted. "But I'm still human. All sticky innards and vulnerable."

Xander grimaced. "You don't need your powers, Ahn. You're scary enough without them."

Anya brightened. "Really? Oh, Xander, you say the sweetest things."

Buffy rolled her eyes again and Spike pretended to gag.

Buffy sidled up to Giles. "Sorry about your books."

Giles laughed. "Oh no, I have to say books are rather a poor choice comparatively."

"So I did good?"

"You did extremely well, Buffy."

Buffy grinned and slipped one arm through Giles' and grabbed Dawn with the other. Her family was back together, with a whole load of extras.

The First was toast.

xxx

end

Note- I was inspired for this fic after reading an interview with Joss. He stated that at one point he had wanted to bring Tara back using a wish but Amber's schedule wouldn't allow it so he had to ditch it. I believe the whole 'do you like my new shoes?' distraction was a part of the plan as well.