The Family We Choose
Ch 5 – Domesticity
It was just after seven when Buffy returned home. In the Jeep's storage area, April lay un-powered and Buffy was going to drop her off at the Magic Box before hitting the Bronze. Tara's surprise party wasn't until nine, but how Willow was getting her there without blowing the party plans, she wasn't too clear on.
As she stepped into the front foyer she couldn't help but notice the large bouquet of flowers sitting on the tiny table to her left. A vase had been filled to near bursting with carnations of every conceivable pastel color and their scent filled the area.
"Oh! Wow, what's all this?" Buffy took a peak inside the card attached to a plastic trident jutting from the arrangement. 'To a Beautiful Lady,' the note stated, 'Wishes for a speedy recovery. I look forward to a dancing date when you're better – Brian'.
Wow. Some guys know how to do things right, she thought. Of course that wouldn't save Brian from a thorough investigation. There was no way she was risking another Ted-incident.
"Mom? Mom?" Buffy called as she headed deeper into the house. It seemed quiet and that always made her Slayer senses tingle, even when it turned out nothing was wrong.
As she pushed open the kitchen door, she smiled in relief as Joyce stood behind Dawn at the central island. She was braiding Dawnie's hair and fastening plastic flowers into it. She'd also apparently allowed Dawn to apply some light make-up.
"Hey, mom, what's up with this Brian guy?"
"A dealer that sells things to the gallery," Dawn answered. "He's been hitting mom up for a date."
"He's really very polite," Joyce added.
"And does this Brian guy have a last name?"
"Mom won't tell me," Dawn said.
"And I'm not telling you either," her mother glanced back over her shoulder. "I'm not having you interrogate him. At least, not until after we've had a first date."
"You know I just worry," Buffy defended herself. "You're a marvelous woman, mom, and the guy has to be special if he wants to see you. Besides, we've been through this."
Joyce sighed, but she was grinning as she answered. "I know, but I've seen Brian in the sunlight…so no vampire and he doesn't have any horns, scales, or pointy teeth. I'm pretty sure he's not a demon. After I've had dinner and dancing, you can check into whether he's another homicidal robot, okay?"
Buffy smiled as well before leaning in to kiss her mom on the cheek. "Just get me a last name, and I'll have Willow know his whole life history in a day. Including his credit report…I mean, after all, it would help to see what the guy was really worth before you embark on a new romance."
"You're so romantic," Joyce said sarcastically. "I'll let you snoop after I see how he dances. Now, are you two ready for Tara's birthday?"
"Totally!" Dawn bounced until her mother placed a heavy hand on her shoulder. As soon as she was still again, Joyce went back to arranging her daughter's hair. "I got her this really nice silver chain. It was on sale, 40 percent off!"
"Well, I haven't even had time to shop at all," Buffy harrumphed. "I'm gonna have to grab something lame at the Magic Box and probably bribe Anya to gift wrap it for me."
"Well, you girls just have a good time. I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to make it. But, I want you to take my gift to her."
"Are you okay, mom?" Buffy worriedly bit her lower lip. She thought that they'd gotten through this.
"I'm fine, sweetheart. I think I tried to do a little too much today. I just can't stand not being back to my old self yet and now I've worn myself out. Please apologize to Tara for me, won't you… there Dawn; you're all set and looking lovely."
As Dawn and Buffy gathered their things together to leave, Joyce reminded them to have a good time and to try not to meet anything evil. She also pointedly told her eldest that her youngest had only had a sandwich the whole day, to which Buffy promised to see to it that Dawn had something real to eat before all of the junk food.
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In the Magic Box, Anya and Giles were clearing up and getting ready to close down the shop early. Anya wasn't pleased with the early closing, as she hoped to make a few more dollars before Tara's party, but she brightened when Buffy pulled out a pocketful of cash and asked for help in finding something nice.
As Buffy and Dawn entered the shop, no one noticed that they hadn't come in alone. For their part, the Lei-Achs; a group of three; had nearly been startled into a panicked escape when the Slayer had walked right near them. Terror had turned to wonderment and puzzlement when she didn't immediately attack them. And their puzzlement turned into a glee when they realized she wasn't reacting at all because she apparently didn't see them. Assuming that the hell-goddess had used some spell, the Lei-Achs slipped through the door, following behind the girls. It was difficult not to hiss in menacing excitement at the thought that they were unknowable and untouchable with their protective screen of invisibility. The leader, and the one whom Glory had 'recruited', pointed toward the rear and a side hallway and waved on his companions. He had them check for any other people that may be inside.
From behind the group, the door bell tinkled and Willow walked through, all smiles.
"Hey, guys!"
"Will! Thank god you're here," Buffy said quickly, "I haven't had time to shop! Quick, what does Tara need…I got fifty bucks!"
"Relax, Buffy," Willow said as she crossed behind the register counter. Bending she opened one of the paneled shelves and pulled out an assortment of blessed soaps, candles and incense – all of these were wrapped in a basket with clear plastic. "I thought with everything going on, you may not have time to get to the mall. I put this together during a research break. All together, twenty-two dollars."
"Wow. That was actually a good idea," Anya approved. "You should've put that together for our other customers. I'm sure we could charge thirty-five."
"Buffy?" Dawn looked at her sister warily. Her sister was suddenly wearing a cautious and confused look. "What's up?"
"Huh. Oh, nothing, I guess. I just…I thought my Slayer sense was dinging. Never mind, I'm sure it's that really annoying bell on the door."
"It's not annoying," Giles insisted, again, "It's charming."
"By the way, Buffy," Willow inserted, "where's Riley?"
"These days? Who knows. But he's supposed to be at the Bronze at around nine-thirty."
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Across town, Riley Finn strode into Willy's tavern looking for Sandy. He found her waiting for him at a small corner booth and immediately ordered them drinks.
As they chatted amiably, his concentration was rooted to her mouth and the fangs that he couldn't see. His bite marks itched and tingled and he wanted nothing more than to rush them both to her 'studio' where she could make him feel needed.
He didn't do this, however. He needed to be at the Bronze to celebrate Tara's birthday. He was pretty sure it wouldn't go over well if he came stumbling in pale and high. Besides, he was really trying to stop for Buffy's sake. Things had gone from innocent experimenting to something akin to having a lover on the side, and he was wracked with guilt.
On the other hand, he wasn't ready to walk away from the euphoria he felt whenever Sandy held him. And the other night with Harmony in the mix was mind blowing.
He was going to have to end this before he got caught, there was no question. But for right now, a friendly chat and a drink wasn't going to hurt anyone.
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Tara left her dorm room for the walk to the Magic Box. Willow had been pretty insistent on her meeting there this evening. It wasn't hard to guess why; surely there'd be a 'surprise party' awaiting her. It was a sweet thought, but Tara's mind wasn't on celebrating.
Her fretting over her family's arrival and her nascent inner-demon was interrupted by Beth's sudden appearance. She jumped a little, startled by her cousin's unannounced presence. What is she doing here?
"Beth! Uh, you startled me," Tara said. She looked for her brother and father, but it appeared Beth was by herself.
"Sorry, hon. I just came by to help you pack. I mean, I know you'll be leaving most of your things behind. All that witch stuff and everything, but you still have clothes to get bundled for the drive home."
"Beth, I-I'm not leaving tonight."
"What," Beth said, confused. "But your daddy said…"
"…I know. I have to talk to him, but I'm an adult now. I'm not ready to go back home. I-I have a life here, you know?"
Tara was taken aback at the anger that Beth suddenly displayed. She was confused at the hostility she saw in her cousin's eyes.
"You selfish, bitch!"
"What?!"
"How dare you?" Beth began to rant, "How dare you leave your poor father and brother alone in that house with no one to cook and clean for them? I don't know why they let you go in the first place, but you listen to me you selfish cow; they need you home! There's chores to be done and they need somebody to take care of them!"
Tara shook her head in dismay, "Beth, daddy and Donnie are grown men. They can take care of themselves."
"Men don't do housework!" Beth was nearly screaming now, only the fact that they were surrounded by other people kept her from raising her voice further. "And I have my own kin to look after. Besides, you know you can't stay here. Your demon is gonna ruin everything anyway if you don't come home."
"No, it won't! I-I can control it. I know I can!"
"Oh, Tara," Beth said with a little more sympathy, "do you really think your daddy is gonna take that chance? And what are your supposed friends gonna say when it's revealed?"
"T-they won't know. They don't n-need to know. I've…uh, i-it won't show."
"Well, of course it's going to show, Tara! How can it not? With you casting spells and…"
Tara looked away suddenly, feeling immense guilt. She wasn't good at being sneaky and she should have known everything would be written across her face.
"Oh, my god! You've cast a spell on them, haven't you!? I'm telling!"
As Beth began to stomp away, Tara grabbed her around the arm. Beth immediately screeched that she'd better let go and not try any of the 'hexing stuff', but Tara was far too distraught to worry about spell throwing.
"P-please! Please, Cousin Beth, please…don't t-tell. I promise; it was harmless! It was just so that they wouldn't see…s-see what's in me. I-it won't hurt anyone, I p-promise."
"Tara," Beth said with her features caught somewhere between disgust, anger and sympathy, "Tara, don't you see how out of control you are? Your family should have come long before now. Hell, we shouldn't of let you go in the first place. But everything is going to be better when you get away from here and these California attitudes of anything goes. Now, I have to tell your father what you've done. I'm sorry. If I were in your shoes, I'd go and confess everything to your friends and then get ready to say goodbye to them."
Tara nodded sadly, barely able to keep the tears suppressed. She watched as Beth marched away toward wherever her father had parked the R.V. Swiping at her bleary eyes, Tara turned and went toward the Magic Box. Everyone was going to hate her when they found out she'd spelled them, but she never meant anyone any harm.
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Harmony came noisily in through the underground tunnel network and into her and Spike's love pad. She was loaded down with pretty dresses in her size and feeling like a princess of the world. Spike was smoking, of course, and lying on the bed. He held his poetry book again and she caught his furtive movements to hide it under a pillow. Maybe he hid it because he was afraid that reading Yeats would make him seem weak, but Harmony liked that she secretly knew he had depths. Of course, if he was so worried about looking weak, he'd stop worrying about what happened to the Slayer and the Loser-Friends.
"Lookie, Spike! Aren't some of these to die for? I mean, they are so pretty. And they were on sale!"
"You paid for something," Spike replied unconvinced.
"Don't be silly. I just killed the clerk. Still, bargain shopping is fun!"
"So, what are your plans this evening?" Spike tried to sound casual, but couldn't stop himself from adding, "Not going to be hanging around gibbering away at me, are you?"
Harmony sighed, but then put on a pleasant expression. He had no idea the fun that she was planning on having tonight. "I'm going out for a bite to eat somewhere, then maybe a drink down at Willy's and finally over to the 'House' to see if Riley shows up tonight."
"Hmm. You seem awfully chipper about hanging around the old cat house."
"Well, you know how much I like to help you, sweetums. Besides, it's hard not to be in a good mood. I heard through the grapevine that some big demoness has hired or recruited or something that trio of homeless Lei-Achs to slay the Slayer. The thought of Buffy getting hers always fills me with a sense of joy. Plus maybe she'll kill one or two of them first, I mean, those things are just disgusting with all of that wound-weeping stuff. Gross! Why can't they just hang out under a pier somewhere with the other icky homeless, anyway?"
"Oh, yeah? Where's all this going down, then?"
"I'm not sure, to tell you the truth. Does it matter?"
"I guess I better head for the Magic Box, then."
"Why, Spike? Afraid your little gal-pal is going to bite it?"
"From a trio of Lei-Achs? Yeah, right! No, I gotta make sure Xander doesn't wind up in the middle of it, as usual."
"That's who I was talking about," Harmony said snottily.
"You watch who you're insulting in my home, you bloody sow!"
"God! I'm so sick of this. You are just pathetic, Spike. You should be helping to wipe out all of the Scooby gang so we can have the Hellmouth to ourselves. When did you turn into such a wimp?"
"Don't like it, then leave! It's not like I actually need you around here," Spike raged.
"Well, I should leave! It would serve you right for not appreciating me!"
"Well, don't let the tomb door hit you in the ass on your way out!" Spike stomped off through a tunnel entrance.
"Fine! Maybe I just will! Sometime, soon! You bloody jerk!" Harmony stormed up the rough hewn steps and out of the tomb door on her way out. The door doesn't even swing out this way; it can't hit me in the ass! That idiot!
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End Ch 5