Chapter Ten
Sanna sat in silence in the moments after her frantic conversation with Tash. Despite her confident words to her sister, revealing everything to Dawn was probably going to take a bit of finesse if they wanted to be in England anytime soon. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to think of some way to spill the beans without causing an instant uproar. She snorted. Yeah, as if that was likely.
Picking up her wand, she went to the mirror and got to work. She did the incantation to reverse the voice charm and she copied the spell Tash had used on her hair to grow it long again. She changed into clothes she'd brought with her from home and she had to admit to herself, she felt more at east and more comfortable than she had for the last week. Her confidence newly regained, she braced herself to face the outside world.
Sanna was so anxious to get this over with and go help Tash that she practically ran downstairs. She almost flew down the steps leading to the atrium and headed straight for the office where she knew her mother was. Connor caught her eye and she nodded. However, miracle child or not, he didn't reach her until she was already through the door and standing in front of Dawn's desk. The woman in question looked wide-eyed up at her daughter and Sanna opened her mouth to say something and nothing but a squeak came out. Stupid nerves.
"Tash, honey. You all right?"
Sanna shook her head, speaking in her real voice in what felt like forever. "No, I'm not, Mum."
Dawn froze. Her eyes grew wider still and her jaw dropped. "What did you just say?"
"I said I'm not all right because I'm not Tash."
Dawn stood slowly up from her desk, glancing at Connor who simply nodded. Dawn looked back to her daughter, her other daughter.
"I'm not Natasha, I'm Susanna. Tash is at the Burrow. With Dad."
"Ch-Charlie? She's met Charlie?"
"And I've met you."
Dawn dropped back into her seat abruptly, propped her elbows up on the desk and rested her head in her hands.
"Mum?"
"You're Susanna."
"My friends call me Sanna."
"And, oh Goddess, you met Tash at summer camp, didn't you?"
"Right in one. We hated each other. She thought I stole her face. Can't say the councillors appreciated it much. She had a photo of you and Dad. We figured it out and we swapped. The swapping was her idea, just in case you were interested."
Dawn didn't say anything so Sanna kept speaking.
"We couldn't just leave, pretending we'd never met each other when you and Dad had seemed so adamant to keep us apart. We're sisters. My entire life I grew up thinking I was an only child, when all along I had a sister and a mother. Not to mention another aunt. Now I have two, which is pretty cool. Aunt Ginny will be happy."
"Sanna?" Dawn raised her head from her hands.
"Yeah, Mum?"
"Why are you telling me this now? You've been here a week and I can only assume you were going to keep this up for a little while longer."
"Aren't you angry?"
"Damn skippy I'm angry but I can't really blame you for it. After all, I got to meet you, didn't I? And don't change the subject. Why now?"
Sanna blinked back tears and took a deep breath. "'sgotitintohisheadthathe'!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, kiddo. Slow down. I got like the first word."
"Dad started dating Veronica Aubrey when I was at camp and now they're engaged. He yelled at Tash and now we have to go fix it and tell him to get his head in the right place."
Dawn's heart clenched in her chest. Charlie? He was... she couldn't even finish the sentence in her own head. For some reason, she had just assumed that he wouldn't date again. Goddess knew she never had. Charlie had always been charismatic though. Charming and funny and handsome and she was going to stop that train wreck of a thought before she started crying.
"Mum? Earth to Mum. You still there?"
"I'm here. It's fine. That's totally fine." Dawn blinked. Once, twice, a third time and Sanna was worried she'd broken her mother. She blinked a few more times and then seemed to snap out of it. "OK, well, I suppose we're going to have to switch you back."
Sanna grinned and nodded, excited at the prospect of seeing Tash and everyone at home again. She was at the door before Connor stopped her with a hand on the shoulder.
"Connor?"
"You should go talk to Mick."
Sanna nodded vaguely but ran up the stairs hoping to avoid the boy and the confusion he brought. Unluckily for her, he was waiting in her bedroom.
"Hey T, what's kicking?"
"Sorry Mick but I'm not Tash."
Mick simply nodded and continued on as if she'd said the sky was blue. "I was training with Buffy and-"
"Um, hello, did you hear me? I'm not Tash."
"Oh, I know."
"You knew?"
"Well, I mean, after the wackiness that was last night, I spoke to Connor, since you two seemed all chum-like and he explained it all."
Sanna huffed in indignation. "Does no one know how to keep a secret around here?"
"I'll let you in on a little tip. Secrets, mysteries, all that crap? Doesn't go down well with Scoobies. Or Scrappies."
Sanna didn't say anything. She didn't think she could. She leant against the closet, staring at the floor.
"So I figured you told Aunt D the sitch."
"My dad's engaged to someone else and we need to fix it."
Mick snorted. "Pretty sure you can't fix shit like that. Heart's gonna do what it wants."
Sanna laughed, mostly at herself than anything else. "Tell me about it. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. Tash wanted to but Clay and Rachael already knew and I thought it would be too many people."
"I really thought I was losing it, yo. You rocked up with C and Rach and you just weren't you."
There was silence between them and Sanna couldn't stop berating herself. This silly little crush had gone on long enough. She was going to be back in England cleaning up her dad's mess and she didn't need to be thinking about the mess in LA on top of it.
"Sanna." Sanna looked up and jerked back when Mick was standing right in front of her.
"Merlin! Mick, don't do that, you scared me half to death."
"Sorry 'bout that. And this."
"Thi-" She was cut off as he leaned in and kissed her softly. She gasped and he pulled back, only to bury himself in her neck. "Oh, that," she said, eyes wide as she stared at the shoulder of the strange boy currently hiding somewhere between her ear and her shoulder. "Well, I think I can find it within me."
Oh dear. This was not good. They lived on two different continents but his hands were currently wrapped around her and she had never been attracted to someone like this in her entire life and she really wanted this to work. Her mind was apparently a traitor.
"Mick?"
"Yeah?" He stepped away, looking no different than when he'd been sitting on her bed moments ago.
"I have to go downstairs. I... have to talk to Mum. I'm going back to England."
"Sure thing. I'll come with."
Sanna nodded shakily. "OK."
"Oh, and Sanna?"
"Yeah?"
"I like the accent."
Sanna blushed and slipped past him, heading downstairs, hoping to hide the hotness in her cheeks.
It turned out hiding was out of the question. While upstairs, Dawn had told everyone the situation. Sanna was grateful but at the same time, it meant she had to deal with the bombardment of questions from all sides. She tried to answer but they just kept overlapping and jumbling up in her head and it wasn't until Connor came and glared everyone away that they stopped. She smiled gratefully up at him and he simply ruffled her hair. She aimed a light punch at his arm, knowing she'd miss but surprisingly he stood still for it.
"Sanna?" Dawn stood in the middle of the atrium, an unsure smile on her lips. "We've got plane tickets for tomorrow morning."
Sanna went up and hugged her closely. Dawn returned it, tears returning. She never thought she'd get this opportunity again. Thank the Goddess for trouble-making daughters.
"I'll never regret this, Mum."
"Me neither, kiddo."
* * *
No one got any sleep between then and the time they had to leave the next morning. Dawn and Sanna spent most of that time in Dawn's room, catching Dawn up on what had been happening in England since she'd been gone.
"OK, so all of the Weasleys are married?"
"And have at least two kids a piece."
"Well that's not unexpected. I'm just surprised there isn't more."
"Well, Uncle George has four and so does Aunt Ginny but Aunt Gin's got one in the oven."
"And she married Draco Malfoy?"
"Oh yeah. Don't mention that to Dad or any of the uncles. Or even Grandpa Arthur. They've all accepted it but it still gets them riled on a bad day."
"I don't really blame them. From what I remember, Draco Malfoy was... well, he wasn't the nicest guy ever."
Sanna giggled. "He's a prick."
"Language. But yeah, that sounds about right. I suppose Gin keeps him in his place."
"Pretty much. But you want to know what you're not going to believe?"
"Oh Goddess, I shudder at the thought. What is it?"
"Harry married Pansy Parkinson."
"Pansy who?"
"Parkinson. You know, she used to follow Draco around. She switched sides with him in the war."
"Oooh. The one Ron and Hermione called pug-face?"
"That's the one."
"Wow. Harry married a Slytherin. I'm sure Ron and Mione were thrilled with that."
"Well, they weren't really but they were too busy with Sebastian to care much. But when Pansy got pregnant, now that was a doozy. I'm glad we live in Romania, let's just say."
Dawn sighed and stroked Sanna's hair, tucking it behind her ear. "I missed so much."
"I know. You won't anymore."
"We'll work something out."
Sanna wasn't too happy with that. "Why can't you say anything in definites?"
"Because if it was up to me, we'd all be together again but we have to work out what your father wants."
Sanna nodded, knowing in her heart that no matter what, Tash and her would not be separated again. Not ever.
"Well, come on. We have to leave for the airport soon."
"Mum, who's coming with us, exactly?"
"Connor, Faith, Mick and I think Clay and Rach are kicking up a fuss."
"Cool. Let's go."
* * *
The flight was long and boring and the only thing that really drew Dawn's focus off Charlie was her daughter and Mick try to be covert about whatever it is they thought they were doing. Mick was being very handsy, she noted, and she was going to have to sort that out... or she could just point it out to Faith. Guaranteed entertainment.
Dawn, Faith and Connor were sitting a row in front of Mick and Tash, while Rachael and Clay had ended up across from them. Dawn felt sorry for the people around them. The teenagers, while considerate, kept leaning over and whispering and giggling and teenage girls were never really quiet when put into a small space where conversation was possible.
About halfway through the flight, Sanna leant over the chairs and tapped Connor on the shoulder. "Hey Connor. Can you promise me something?"
"I'm not saying anything until I know what you want me to do."
"Not punch my dad."
Dawn punched him instead. "When did you say that?"
"I asked her to do it for me. I didn't think I'd actually be seeing him anytime soon."
"Connor, you're avoiding the topic. Can you please promise not to punch my dad? I like his face the way it is."
"Me too," Dawn added. Connor looked at the two, who were both staring at him with those big blue eyes and he just sighed and nodded wordlessly. Dawn ruffled his hair with a smile. Sanna patted his shoulder and sat back, startled when Mick's arm came around her shoulders. She looked at him leerily before removing it. Mick frowned until she laced her fingers through his with a shy smile. He settled into his seat, a smirk on his face.
* * *
Two cars from the Council were waiting for them at the airport. There was barely five minutes from when they landed to when they left for the Burrow. At this rate, Faith, Connor and Mick were going to kill someone when they got out at the other end. Rachael wasn't far behind either.
When they finally reached the Burrow, the seven of them got out of the Council car as quickly as possible. They were more than eager for a bit of stretching and fresh air. But all that was forgotten when they caught sight of the Burrow. Tall, rickety and, most important of all, Sanna's second home. Sanna felt herself relax.
"Shit," Mick said, eyes wide.
"Language," Dawn said absentmindedly, studying the old house for changes and seeing close to none. It was exactly the way she'd remembered it fifteen years ago.
Sanna couldn't bear the wait any longer. She broke into a sprint towards the front door.
"Sanna!" Dawn sounded more exasperated than angry but Sanna still didn't care. Tash was in there. Tash and Charlie and Grandma Molly and Grandpa Arthur and she had missed them.
She practically ran into the door, bracing herself on the frame before she slammed into it. She knocked on the door, out of breath. By the time it opened, everyone had caught up and Sanna could feel the reassuring presence of Mick at her side, which was a little disconcerting that she felt that way already. Victoire opened it and froze for a moment. She looked at Sanna, looked towards the stairs, back to Sanna, then at all the strange people with her.
"Sanna?"
"Hey Victoire. Is Dad here?"
"No, he's not but why are you here? You've been at Teddy's all day. You just went up to your room like five minutes ago."
"Actually, that's my sister, Tash. Victoire, meet my mum," Sanna said, grinning and pulling her mum to front of the group. Victoire's jaw dropped.
"This is Bill's daughter, right?" Dawn whispered to Sanna. She nodded and her mother smiled at her niece.
"Hey Victoire. Would you mind letting us in?"
"Ummm... Grandmere!" Victoire called back into the house. "Sorry, but you never know, right?"
Sanna rolled her eyes as her grandmother came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a tea towel. "Victoire, what... Sanna?" She stood fully in the door and her eyes widened unbelievably as she took in the crowd at her door. Or rather, who was in the crowd. "Dawn! Oh my dear, come in, come in. Victoire, what are you standing there for? Go put the kettle on, love. Go, go, go."
Victoire grinned at her cousin and went to do her grandmother's will. The Scoobies filed in, staring in awe at interior. Sanna couldn't keep the grin off her face.
"Shit," Mick repeated.
"Language!" Dawn and Molly called in tandem. The older woman smiled fondly at her ex daughter-in-law and drew her into a big hug. Dawn hugged her back and revelled in what had been the closest thing to a mother when she'd been in England.
"Grandma?" Molly pulled away and looked at her eldest granddaughter.
"Sanna?"
"Where's Tash?"
"Natasha, hmm? She's upstairs in... your room," Molly trailed off as Sanna was already taking the stairs two at a time, Mick, Rachael and Clay close at her heels. "Dawn?"
"They met at summer camp and switched on us. Tash came to you and Sanna came home with Rachael and Clay. She hasn't been too much trouble, has she?"
"A grandchild is always trouble. Now," she said, facing Faith and Connor. "Faith, isn't it? Motherhood suits you, dear." Molly drew Faith into a hug that the dark slayer looked extremely uncomfortable in returning. She may be reformed but that didn't mean she found accepting generosity any easier. "What about you, dear? I don't believe we've been introduced."
"This is Connor."
Upstairs, Sanna reached her door. "Tash! Tash!" She didn't bother knocking, pushing the door open and finding her sister curled up on her bed, head hidden in her pillow. "Tash?"
Tash broke off from her sulking and her head snapped up to see her sister standing in the doorway, her friends from LA behind her and suddenly she felt so much lighter.
"Mick!" She leapt up, straight into his waiting arms. Her tears started again and she hated it because she hated to cry but it was all right because Mick was here and so was Sanna and her mom and that's all that mattered. "I missed you. I hate this stupid plan. Can I go home now?"
Mick laughed and pulled away gently, checking her face and wiping the tears from her eyes. "Missed you too, T. Thought you'd gone nuts."
"I'm sure Sanna did just fine."
Tash caught the blush that stained her sister's cheeks. Mick had an odd smirk. "She did just fine."
Sanna hit Mick. Hard. "Don't be a tosser."
"Sanna."
"Tash."
The sisters collided and held each other close, whispering to each other as if no one else was in the room. Their three friends let it go on for a while longer before someone felt the need to do something about it.
"Right," Rach said. "As touching as this is, I believe we were summoned for a reason."
The twins pulled away from each other. Tash nodded, sniffing. "Dad's gone insane and thinks he's going to marry some stupid vapid woman who doesn't have two brain cells to rub together."
"Ouch. Geez, don't hold back or anything, T."
Tash huffed. "You haven't met her. She's horrible. She doesn't like kids or dragons, which are pretty much the two constants in Dad's life. The marriage is going to be over before you know it, Dad's wallet's going to be empty and his heart broken. It's not my fault if he can't see it."
"Don't worry, Tash. We'll fix it. That's what Mum's for."
"Mom." Tash wriggled between her friends and practically skipped down the stairs. "Mom, mom, mom, mom."
Dawn stopped and she had a moment where she couldn't tell who it was but when the girl ran into her and didn't let go, she knew instantly who it was. "Oh Tash, sweetie. You all right?"
Tash shook her head. "Missed you."
Dawn ran her hand through Tash's hair, still masquerading as Sanna. "I wish I could say the same but I didn't know I was supposed to, did I?"
"Oh please, Mom, like you wouldn't have done the same."
Dawn opened her mouth to object before actually considering it. When she didn't say anything, Tash laughed.
"Yeah, that's what I thought."
"You sound weird."
"Right." Tash whipped out her wand and undid the charms on the spot, her voice then her hair. Dawn watched as her daughter returned to the one she remembered before her eyes. When it was done, she pulled her into another hug.
"That's my girl."
"What about me? I'm feeling very left out right about now," Sanna said from the stairs. Dawn opened her other arm and Sanna quickly stepped into it.
"There's my girls."
Tash and Sanna grinned at each other. This was more like it, but they had a job to do. "As cool as this is, Rach had a point. We're here for a reason."
Dawn sighed, a stubborn tilt to her mouth. Tash knew that look. It was almost as bad as Willow's resolve face. It never ended any other way than how Dawn wanted it. Except for that time when Tash was kidnapped, but that wasn't really her fault.
"Uh oh," Tash whispered to Sanna.
"That doesn't sound good."
"That's Mom's get what she wants face. Everything has to go the way she wants it. No questions, no comments, no buts."
"That's not fair."
"You're telling me."
"Tash, we can't just force your father to not... marry this woman," Dawn said, arms crossed. Boy, just saying marry had hurt. She really needed to get over this. "He's his own person and you can't run his life for him. Not everything ends like a fairytale."
Tash rolled her eyes. "Yeah, 'cos I was really expecting that. Mom, this is our lives. Nothing is ever like a fairy tale. Except for that one demon that was, but that doesn't count. The point is we're not asking you to break up Charlie and this woman, though that would be great, don't get me wrong. But if you and Charlie actually talk, you know, that whole communication thing that involves words spoken to each other, that could lead to, oh I don't know, me actually getting to spend time with my sister."
Dawn's expression softened but didn't dissolve completely. "Hun, I would love nothing more than that but really, it's up to your father."
"What's up to whose father?"
Everyone froze in their place as Charlie stood at the door of the living room, looking stunned at his two daughters standing side-by-side. Everyone that is except Dawn, who slumped to the ground in a dead faint.