Disclaimer: I own nothing, except Sophie.
"Yes, at least there's that" Tara smiled.
"Buts do Xander and Anya knows how to look after a wicca properly?" asked Sophie.
"Yes, wiccas aren't really any different from human people apart from their magic" Tara replied. Although, she thought to herself, now that she was older she realised the complete implausibility of a meerkat and a warthog being able to raise a lion cub, and a lion being able to survive solely on insects.
"Mama Tara?" Sophie frowned, waving a hand in front of her eyes.
"Sorry sweetie, I was just thinking" said Tara. "Anyway, Xander and Anya took Willow to their home in the rainforest.."
Xander had sat Willow down beside a small lagoon, and Anya was splashing her face with water. The little wicca slowly began to stir.
"Hey, Kid" she said as Willow opened her eyes. "Are you okay?"
"I guess so.." said Willow, still a little dazed.
"You nearly died" said Xander, concerned.
"I saved you" said Anya proudly. Xander glared at her. "Oh, and Xander helped, a little."
"Oh. Well, thanks" said Willow, getting up and beginning to walk away.
"Hey, where are you going?" Anya frowned.
"Nowhere" said Willow sadly.
"Gee, she looks a little blue" said Anya.
"Seems a perfect healthy pink to me" said Xander, confused.
"I meant she's depressed, Xander" Anya clarified.
"Oh" said Xander. He ran to catch up with Willow, crouching to her eye level. "Hey kiddo, what's eatin' you?"
"Nothing, she's on top of the food chain!" Anya laughed. Xander frowned at her to indicate that the joke wasn't funny, and her laughter slowed to an awkward chuckle. "So, where are you from?" she asked Willow.
"Who cares?" Willow sighed. "I can't go back.."
"So you're an outcast" Anya smiled, laying a hand on Willow's shoulder. "Well that's great, so are we!"
"What did you do?" Xander asked.
"Something terrible" said Willow, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. "I don't wanna talk about it.."
"Then we don't wanna hear about it!" Anya grinned.
"Anya" Xander frowned, before turning back to Willow. "Is there anything we can do to help?"
"Only if you can change the past" Willow sighed sadly.
"Well, in times like this" said Xander, "My girl Anya here always says 'You've got to put your behind in the past'. Willow gave him a confused look.
"That's not it Xander, now lay down before you hurt yourself" said Anya. "What he means is, you've got to put your past behind you." Willow just looked confused. "Okay, let's put it this way. Bad things happen, and you can't do anything about it, right?"
"Right" Willow nodded.
"Wrong!" said Anya. "When the world turns it's back on you, you turn your back on the world!"
"That's not what I was taught" Willow frowned.
"Then maybe you need a new lesson" said Anya. "Repeat after me: Hakuna Matata."
"Sudoku Banana?" said Willow, confused.
"Not even close!" Anya snapped.
"Go easy Ahn, she's just a kid. It's more like this," Xander smiled at Willow, before sounding the words out. "Ha-ku-na Ma-ta-ta. It means no worries" he explained. Anya let out a happy sigh at the thought.
Anya: Hakuna Matata,
What a wonderful phrase!
Xander smiled and joined in.
Xander: Hakuna Matata,
Ain't no passing craze!
Anya: It means no worries,
For the rest of your days!
Xander put his arm around Anya's shoulders.
Both: It's our problem free,
Philosophy,
Hakuna Matata!
"Hakuna Matata?" asked Willow, still confused.
"It's our motto" Xander smiled.
"What's a motto?" Willow frowned.
"Nothing! What's a motto with you?" Anya laughed.
"Never mind her" said Xander, rolling his eyes. "But really kiddo, these two words will solve all your problems.
"Yeah" Anya grinned. "Take Xander for example.."
Anya: Why,
When he was a young cyclops..
Xander: When I was a young cycloooooooooooooops!
"Very good" Anya smiled.
"Thank you" said Xander.
Anya: He found his aroma lacked a certain appeal,
He could clear all the Sunny Lands after every meal!
Xander: I'm a sensitive soul,
Though I seem thick skinned!
And it hurt, that my friends never stood downwind!
Xander flourished his hand over his forehead dramatically.
And oh, the shame!
Anya: He was ashamed!
Xander: Thought of changing my name!
Anya: Oh what's in a name?
Xander: And I got downhearted!
Anya: How did you feel?
Xander: Everytime that I..
"Xander!" Anya snapped. "Not in front of the kid!"
"Oops, sorry" said Xander sheepishly.
"Hee hee" Sophie giggled
Xander & Anya: Hakuna Matata,
What a wonderful phrase!
Hakuna Matata,
Ain't no passing craze!
The sad expression on Willow's face slowly turned into a smile, and she decided to join in too.
Willow: It means no worries,
For the rest of your days!
"Yeah, sing it kid!" Anya smiled, while Xander lifted the now giggling Willow on to his shoulders and headed towards the small patch of rainforest he and Anya called their own.
Willow & Xander: It's our problem free,
Philosophy!
Hakuna Matata!
"Here we are, our humble home" Anya smiled.
"You live here?" said Willow, looking around in awe.
"We live wherever we like" said Anya proudly.
"Yep, home is where your rump rests" said Xander.
"It's beautiful" said Willow, as Xander gently set her down. He then completely ruined the moment by letting out a huge belch.
"Man, I'm starving."
"Me too" said Willow. "I'm so hungry I could eat a whole cow."
"Too bad, we're fresh out of cow" said Anya.
"Any sheep?"
"Nope" said Xander.
"Pig?"
"Wrong! Look kid, if you're going to live with us, you're gonna have to learn how to eat like us" said Anya. "Hmm, this looks like a good place to rustle ub some grub." She lifted a log, revealing a variety of insects. She picked one up.
"Yuck!" said Willow, disgusted. "What's that?"
"A grub, what do you think?" said Anya, popping it into her mouth. "Mmm, tastes like chicken."
"Eeew!" said Willow. Xander picked up a worm and slurped it into his mouth.
"Slimy, yet satisfying" he smiled.
"These are rare delicacies" said Anya, crunching on a beetle.
"I wasn't too crazy about the whole thing either at first, but you'll learn to love them" said Xander.
"I'm telling you kid, this is a great life. No rules, no responsibilities" said Anya, offering a grub to Willow. "What do you say?" Willow hesitated for a moment, then shrugged.
"Hakuna Matata" she sighed, slurping the bug down. A small smile spread across her face. "Slimy, yet satisfying."
"That's it!" Anya cried, grinning. The newly formed trio continued to roam through the rainforest. They crossed a log lying across a river, and as they did, Willow appeared to age, growing first into a teenager, then an adult.
Anya & Xander: Hakuna Matata,
Hakuna Matata,
Hakuna Matata!
The now twenty-one year old Willow swung on a vine, jumping into the lagoon. Anya and Xander dove after her.
Willow: It means no worries,
For the rest of your days!
The three friends climbed out of the lagoon, walking side by side into the rainforest.
Willow, Xander & Anya: It's our problem free,
Philosophy!
Hakuna Matata!
"I likeded that part" Sophie smiled.
AN: For the purposes of this story, let's just pretend Xander and Anya are ageless.