Chapter 117: Family
Buffy sits with Giles, Piper, Phoebe and Paige. The house is dark except for the living room, which is lit only by table lamps. The mood is quiet, solemn - Buffy has told them everything about Dawn.
"I don't know what to say," Giles says.
Piper, Paige and Phoebe nod in agreement.
Buffy sighs, "Tell me about it."
"It's just difficult to wrap one's mind around... and she has no idea?" Giles asks.
Buffy looks at the stairs, "None. She thinks she's my kid sister; and Piper, Phoebe and Paige's cousin."
Giles nods, "Are you going to tell her?"
"How can I? She'd freak out and that's the last thing we need. We have to keep her safe." Buffy says.
Piper nods, "I think we should."
"If only to keep her safe. And I think we should start her training. She is Charmed, right?" Phoebe says.
Buffy sighs, "Yes, she is Charmed. I think with her power added to ours we could do a power of five. Your right she needs to be trained, if only just to protect her. I told her earlier I would teach her. But I didn't tell her why."
Giles nods, "This woman, this... whatever she was, she knows you now. Should we be thinking about sending Dawn away?"
"Away where? Where is more safe than with the Charmed Ones?" Buffy asks.
Giles sighs, "I don't know... Your father's?"
Buffy's face darkens a bit. "He's off in... Spain or something, with his secretary. Living the cliché. Besides he's not really interested anymore. I remember Dawn cried for a week when mom died and dad sent us to live with Prue, Piper and Phoebe. Except she didn't. She was never there, but I can still feel what it was like. Besides this is something I need. How can I be a mother to my own daughter if I send my own sister away?" She gets up, goes to the doorway, and she looks up at the dark of the stairs. "Dawn will you come downstairs, please."
Dawn comes down the stairs and looks at Buffy, "What now?"
Buffy moves back to the couch and sits down patting the cushion beside her as she does so, "Come here we have something we wish to talk to you about." She goes on to tell Dawn what the monks told her.
Moments later Dawn looks between Buffy, Giles, Piper, Phoebe and Paige. She can't believe what she has just been told. "How old? How old am I?"
Buffy sighs, "Your 14, you know this."
Dawn shakes her head, "No. the monks. When did they…"
"About 6 months give or take." Buffy said.
Dawn wipes a tear from her face, "I've only been alive for six months?"
Piper shakes her head, "Dawn it doesn't matter, none of it does. Your still our cousin and Buffy's sister."
Buffy nods, "Piper is right, Dawn. It doesn't matter how you got here or where you came from. You are my sister."
Dawn looks at Buffy not sure if she believes it. "How can you be so sure of that?"
Buffy smiles, "Because there's no way you could annoy me as much if you weren't."
Dawn laughs and hugs Buffy tightly.
"Now the question is do we tell the others?" Giles asks.
Piper shakes her head, "I think for the time being it would be better not to."
"Why?" Dawn asks.
Buffy sighs, "Well to begin with they would be all weird around you. Not sure how to treat you. Then there is the fact of what's inside you. The less people that know the safer you will be. We'll tell them eventually when were sure we know how to broach the subject with them."
"Ok." Dawn says. "So this is a secret to be kept like being a witch is?"
Buffy nods, "Exactly."
"Talking about that, am I still being trained?" Dawn asks.
Buffy nods, "Yes. But now there are more reasons to do it than you just being Charmed. You need to be trained so you can protect yourself."
The next day at the Magic Box a few customers milling about. A customer is leaving the counter as Anya puts money in the register.
"Thank you for coming! We value your patronage! Come again for more purchases!" Anya says.
Giles comes over to the counter with a box, and sets it down. "We could perhaps be a bit less effusive, Anya Let's not frighten the people away."
"I'm just so excited! They come in, I help them, they give us money in exchange for goods, and you give me money for working for you... I have a place in the world now. I'm part of the system. I'm a workin' gal." Anya says.
Giles smiles, "Yes. Well why don't you start organizing the shipping orders?"
Anya shakes her head, "No, that's boring; I just wanna do the money parts."
A young, disreputable-looking man, Donny, is looking at some items near the entrance. Behind him, Buffy and Xander enter the shop and walk over to the counter.
"Well, sure I forgot about the party. There's kind of a lot going on. And it's not, you know, the most thrilling social event of the season." Buffy says.
"It's a big deal for Will, though - I mean you are gonna be there?" Xander asks.
Buffy nods, "Sure. Barring monsters... Hey."
"Hi." Anya says.
Xander leans over the counter, "Gimme sugar. I've come to buy sugar." He kisses Anya fairly deeply.
"Mmmm... We value your patronage..." Anya says.
Giles emerges from behind the counter.
"Any breakthroughs on the identity of Miss Congeniality?" Buffy asks.
Giles shakes his head, "Well, I've narrowed it down some..." He indicates the table, which is covered in books.
"Your definition of narrow is impressively wide." Buffy says.
"Well, you didn't give me much to go on. She looks human, so the mug shots aren't any use... you can't be a bit more specific about what she was like?" Giles says.
"She was kind of like... well she was kind of like Cordelia, actually. If she were on steroids. That were on steroids." Buffy says. "I'm pretty sure she dyes her hair."
"Ah yes that one of course our work is done." Giles says, dryly.
"There's gotta be something on her." Buffy says.
"The answer's somewhere here. It's right in front of us and we're too blind to see it." Xander says. "What? You've never wanted to say that? I'm helping, I'm reading, I'm quiet." He sits and opens a book, as has Buffy.
"So what'd you get her?" Buffy asks.
"Huh?" Xander asks.
"Tara. You said you had a present already." Buffy says.
Xander shakes his head, "Yeah. That was a tangled web of lies, sweetie. I'm not really sure what kind of thing she'd... I mean I don't really know her that well."
"I know." Buffy says.
"I mean she's nice –" Xander says.
"Yeah yeah! Nice. I just sort of..." Buffy says.
"I don't necessarily 'get' her. But she's real nice!" Xander says.
Buffy nods, "Oh yeah. There's that thing, you know."
"That thing," Xander says, agreeing with Buffy.
"That thing of not understanding..." Buffy says.
Xander nods, "Half of what she says?"
"As for example. A lot of... not understanding. But she's so nice." Buffy says.
"You betchya." Xander says.
Buffy sighs, "You think there'll be a lot of other Wiccans at the party, besides myself?
"That's sort of her deal." Xander says.
Buffy smiles, "Which is cool."
Xander nods, "Oh yeah. Especially if she has an active power like yours."
"I just hope we fit in. Not awkward." Buffy says.
Xander nods, "With Willow, it's like she's got this whole new thing in her life, but she's still Willow, I can always figure her out. But Tara, I just know she likes Willow, and she already has one of those."
"Okay. I'm having a present-buying headache. Tara's damn birthday is just one too many things to worry about." Buffy says.
"Relax. You should take a few minutes, train, or stretch out... do something to work off the tension." Xander says.
"Come up with anything?" Giles asks
"Well candles, maybe, or bath oils of some kind." Xander says.
Buffy nods, "I saw a really nice sweater at Macy's, but I really want me to have it."
"And you are talking about what on earth?" Giles asks.
"Tara's birthday. We're at a loss." Buffy says.
Giles shakes his head, "You're in a magic shop and you can't think of anything Tara might like. I believe you're both profoundly stupid. Though I'm more surprised with you Buffy. You've been a witch for four years and I would think that you might have an idea of what to get her."
"Well, I don't know what kind of things witches really like, other than Buffy and Willow I mean. What, are we gonna get her some cheesy crystal ball?" Xander says.
Giles frowns, "Bloody well better not. I've already got mine wrapped. Xander though may I point out you know a witch, she's sitting right beside you. And you know what Buffy likes do you not?""
Xander nods as Donny approaches the table.
"Are all these magic books?" Donny asks.
Giles nods, "Private collection. The books for sale are along the wall there." He crosses toward the counter.
Donny doesn't leave; his hovering presence makes Buffy and Xander uncomfortable as they try to read. "So all these books got spells in 'em? Turn people into frogs?"
Buffy rolls her eyes.
"Yeah, we're building a race of frog-people. It's a good time." Xander says.
Donny nods, "So, are you all witches? Hey, don't do a spell on me..."
Anya and Giles look at him.
"Was there something in particular you were looking for?" Giles asks.
Tara and Willow enter the front door, laughing.
"'Her insect reflection'... that's so good..." Willow says.
Tara nods, "I just thought that'd be funny, you know, if her power was centered in—"
"Well what do you know," Donny says as Willow and Tara stops. The laughter drains from Tara's face. "What's the matter? Don't got a hug for you big brother?"
"Brother?" Willow asks, confused.
"Tara didn't say she had a brother?" Donny asks, smiling. "I'm a dirty little secret." He's actually being friendly enough, but there's something off - most obviously with Tara.
"Willow, this is D-Donny." Tara says.
"Hi." Tara says.
"Nice to meet you," Donny says.
"And these are m-my friends." Tara says, indicating Buffy, Xander, Giles and Anya.
"What, alla you hang out?" Donny asks. "That's more people than you MET in high school. Tara wasn't too social back when. I don't think she spoke till she was eight –"
"How did you find— I mean, how come you came?" Tara asks.
Donny smiles, "Well, duh, birthday girl. We came down in the camper, been all over the campus –"
"We?" Tara asks, slightly afraid of his answer.
Donny nods, "Dad, you know, and Cousin Beth. We went all over campus looking. They oughta circle back here in a bit."
"No, we should find them. We could go –" Tara says, before looking at Willow. "— I should go meet them."
Willow nods, "Yeah, sure –"
The doorbell tinkles behind, whipping Tara's head around. Her father, Mr. Maclay and cousin Beth enter together. Tara moves toward them, as does Donny. Willow stays politely a distance behind.
"Look who I found..." Donny says.
"Dad! Hi." Tara says.
Mr. Maclay nods, "Well. There's my girl." He hugs her a bit formally.
"It's such a s-surprise." Tara says.
"Yes." Mr. Maclay says.
Tara smiles, "Hey, Beth."
Beth smiles - she seems quite meek. "Hey."
"One of your dorm-mates said you might be here." Mr. Maclay says.
"Oh," Tara says. "Oh, these are friends... this is Mister Giles, he runs the shop."
Willow looks a little surprised at not being introduced.
"How do you do," Giles says.
Mr. Maclay nods, "Pleasure. Well, I don't mean to interrupt your plans, I know we've come on you kind of suddenly. But I thought we'd have dinner."
Tara nods, "Okay."
"Why don't I pick you up at six? And we'll... do some catching up." Mr. Maclay says.
"Yes sir." Tara says.
"Forgive me for running out – we're double parked." Mr. Maclay says.
"Didn't Uncle Jeff have a scar like this? He could have been dug up..." Donny says as he holds up a skull.
"Donald." Mr. Maclay says before looking back at Tara. "I'll see you tonight."
Donny nods, "Nice to meet you all." He goes out after the others.
Willow joins Tara. "That's so weird. Your whole family."
Tara nods, "Yeah."
"They seem nice." Willow says.
"They're okay. You know. Families are always..." Tara says as she rolls her eyes a bit, making light of it.
"They make you crazy." Willow says.
Tara nods, "Usually. You wanna get into research mode?"
Willow smiles, "Sure." They join the others, Willow not pressing any further.
Later back at the Manor, Buffy and Piper are sitting in the living room watching a little TV when Dawn comes in from the kitchen, on her way out.
"See you later!" Dawn says.
Buffy looks to Piper who shrugs as she gets up and makes her way into the foyer, "Whoah whoah whoah! Where are you going?"
"I'm going to Melinda's for dinner," Dawn says.
Buffy frowns, "Since when?"
"Nowish..." Dawn says, puzzled.
"You can't. It's not safe for you to walk there." Buffy says.
Dawn sighs, "It's across the street. Besides you said I could when I asked you yesterday."
"I did?" Buffy asks.
Dawn nods, "Yes. Of course that was before you found out I was the Key."
Buffy sighs, "Dawn… Alright. But I will be having Leo watch you."
Dawn sighs and nods. While she may not like it she can understand why Buffy would have Leo watch her. Till she had a handle of her powers she would be vulnerable not only to the demons that would be after her for her Charmed powers. But from the woman that Buffy fought when she had learned of what she had been. "Okay. I mean no offense here Buffy. But I'll be glad when I'm trained and can control my powers."
"I know," Buffy says. "And you do know I only do this because I love you right?"
Dawn smiles and nods, "I know." She turns and walks out of the Manor as Piper joins Buffy in the foyer.
"I think you dealt with that really well, Buffy." Piper says.
Buffy looks at Piper, "Was I like that when I was her age?"
Piper shrugs, "I have no idea. She's fourteen. You were sixteen when we met at Aunt Joyce's funeral. But yeah I think you were. I remember you and Prue came to a head a couple times there in the beginning. But this is different. Dawn is your baby sister, the youngest. She looks up to you. Every time she acts out she's trying to get your attention."
"My attention?" Buffy asks. "Why would…"
"Because between myself, Leo, Phoebe, Paige and Dawn. You do more things with us than you do with her. Add on top of that the fact you are in college. You hardly ever see her. With her mom gone and another paternal figure passing away last year. She's looking at you to fill the role, even if she doesn't know she is. You're the oldest. Well maybe not in this family since that would be me. But I mean the Summers family, you are the oldest."
"Like Prue did when we moved into the Manor." Buffy said.
Piper nods, "Exactly. Prue didn't want the responsibility having practically raised me and Phoebe. But she took it on because she knew that was what you and Dawn needed."
Buffy nods, "Okay."
Later that evening after Dawn came back from Melinda's, Buffy and Dawn headed over to the Magic Box. Piper had asked Buffy to pick up some herbs.
Dawn is at the shelves in the back, poking through books. Willow is just arriving.
"Hey, Will." Xander says.
"Am I late? Did I miss exposition?" Willow asks.
Giles shakes his head, "No, no, and I've nothing earth shattering to relate. I did have a few thoughts, though, and I want to make sure we're all on the same page."
"Can I buy one of these?" Dawn asks.
Buffy looks at Dawn and smiles, "Let me see which one you're thinking about and I will consider it. Okay?"
Dawn nod and smiles, "Okay."
Tara stands in the shadows, looking through the crack of the training room door at the gang. Silent and intense.
"First of all, I want to talk about safety. This creature could be –" Giles says.
"—WILL be –" Buffy says.
Giles nods, "—will be coming after Buffy and possibly all of us. Don't underestimate her."
"I'm not just talking about traveling in groups. You see a girl you don't know, you run. Just keep running 'til you drop. And don't drop." Buffy says.
Tara lifts her hand. There is a small pile of red dust in it. She incants in a barely audible whisper, "Blind Cadria, desolate queen, work my will upon them all, your curse upon them, my obeisance to you." She blows the powder from her hand, causing a mist to wend from it toward the group.
"Now, I think I may have a lead on the monk Buffy spoke with. There are a few orders I've read up on..." Giles says.
The mist shoots into the eyes of everyone assembled. They all jerk back ever so slightly.
"I'm sorry, where was I?" Giles asks.
"The monk." Buffy says.
Giles nods, "Yes. I'd like us to start looking into some of these orders. It's possible that whatever order this monk was from was wiped out entirely, and I'm sure that wouldn't go unnoticed –"
Tara fades back into the darkness, eyes on the group.
Later in the training room Buffy is stretching out as Willow talks to her.
"He's great... he's so considerate, and he's really understanding about my disturbing lifestyle, but every now and then he's mister snappy. I never know what sets him off." Buffy says.
"There's always gonna be a part of your life he can't get near. That's just part of relationships that people have to deal with, even if they feel shut out and the other person is acting all weird and doesn't want them to meet their family." Willow says.
"Behold the cunning segue. Tara's being funky?" Buffy asks.
"She's just never been like that before." Willow says.
Buffy sighs, "Well, families..."
Willow nods, "So, they're dorky. I feel like... it's something more. She's different."
"What do you mean?" Buffy asks, concerned.
"I don't know. I'm overreacting. Pay me no mind. People in love are always a little crazy." Willow says.
Later Willow is fetching a volume near the front door. She hears a noise, goes to open the door, "Is that Tara?" She opens the door.
A Lei-ach demon is standing right in front of her, his brethren behind him.
Willow looks at them, not seeing them. "I guess not. Thought I heard something."
The Lei-ach smiles.
Dawn is by the table near the entrance, looking at some stuff. She is perfectly nonchalant as the Lei-ach comes right next to her. He puts his face close to hers, sniffing her out - and another goes over in front of the table. They move on to the back, followed by the third.
"Do I get overtime for this?" Anya asks.
Giles shakes his head, "Certainly not. Dawn, shut the door."
"I didn't open it..." Dawn says.
In the training room Buffy is finishing up working the bag. The demons file in behind her, the lead one in front, the third staying to guard the door. They move slowly so as to be silent.
Buffy stops, her spidey-senses tingling. She listens as she does a slow turn and sees nothing.
The demon pounces - and Buffy blocks at the last second, takes most of the brunt on her arm, but he still takes her down. She flails, fighting an invisible foe.
"Giles! There's something in here!" Buffy says.
In the front room Xander is closest to the back room. He moves forward - and something invisible throws him back. He lands hard on his back. His eyes widen as something starts choking him.
Willow grabs a chair and smashes the demon on the back. She pulls the chair back and brings it down again - hitting Xander.
"It moved." Xander says.
Suddenly Willow is thrown back into the bookcase. She lands heavily and doesn't get up.
"Where is it? Where is it?" Anya asks as she retreats behind the counter.
Giles becomes aware of Dawn next to him. He pushes her toward the desk. "Under there. Go."
Dawn looks at him powering up an energy ball, "I'm Charmed, remember."
Giles looks at Dawn and nods, "Can you even see them to throw it at them."
Dawn looks at Giles and then shakes her head as she extinguishes the energy ball. She reluctantly climbs into the tiny desk space, Giles standing with his back to it, waiting.
In the training room Buffy throws off the first demon as the second grabs her from behind, choke hold.
Spike comes in from the back, smiles at the tableau. Buffy can't shake number two. Number one gets up, is gonna pounce, number two holding her for him - he lunges and Spike flies at him, tackling him from the side. They tumble into the corner.
With a burst of strength, Buffy flips her demon over her head and slams it onto the ground. She picks it up and throws it headlong into a wall. Its head makes a splatty noise.
Buffy runs toward the main room, not seeing the still struggling Spike.
"Uh, you're welcome..." Spike says.
Buffy rushes in to the main room to see Giles take a blow to the head from the invisible foe. She runs forward - but it's gone.
"It's over there!" Xander says.
"How many are there?" Giles asks.
"I've already been injured this month..." Anya says.
"Shut up!" Buffy says. "Dawn come here." Dawn gets up from under the desk and moves beside Buffy. "Power up an energy ball. But wait till I tell you where to throw it."
Dawn nods as she powers up an energy ball.
Buffy turns, concentrating, waiting for it to attack.
The door opens suddenly and Tara enters.
The demon is behind Buffy.
"Buffy, Dawn, behind you!" Tara says.
Dawn spins and throws the energy ball at the demon, missing it.
The demon comes for an exhausted Buffy. It grabs her throat - and Dawn makes a attempt at grabbing for it from behind. It shrugs her off, nails Buffy a couple of times.
"Where is it? Tara can you see it?" Buffy asks.
Tara realizes they can't see it. "Oh God..." She rushes forward, "Blind Cadria, lift your veil, give evil form and break my spell –"
The demon turns as she speaks the last - it pounces on her, slams her down into the counter.
Buffy jumps on its back.
Tara's family rushes in, Tara's dad sees the beast over his daughter.
"Tara!" Mr. Maclay says.
The beast throws Buffy off and goes for Tara's dad - he stumbles and falls – Buffy powers up a fireball throwing it at the demon. The demon is vanquished inches from Mr. Maclay's face.
There is a quiet moment, as everyone recovers from the action. Xander goes to check on Anya. Giles helps Dawn up from where she fell. Buffy stands before Mr. Maclay, who is still on the ground, staring at where the last Lei-ach demon was.
"What in the name of God was that...?" Mr. Maclay says.
Spike pipes up from the back, entering. "Lei-ach Demon. Fun little buggers; big with the marrow-sucking."
"I don't understand..." Mr. Maclay says.
"I'm not sure I do either." Buffy says looking over at Tara, who is still hunched by the counter. She is desperately unhappy.
"I'm sorry... I'm s-so sorry..." Tara says as Willow starts toward Tara slowly, confused. "I w-was just trying to hide... the spell went wrong..."
"Tara, what..." Willow says.
"I didn't want you to see... what I am." Tara says.
"What you are?" Willow asks, confused.
Mr. Maclay nods, "I told you, you try to run from it you'll put these people in danger. And, my God..."
Tara shakes her head, "I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt."
"I think you better explain. What do you mean, what you are?" Buffy says, staring at Tara, and she doesn't sound too pleased.
Tara can't get past her stutter before her father speaks, "Demon."
Willow looks astonished at her love, no idea what to do.
"The women in our family have... demon in them. Her mother had it; it's where the magic comes from. This isn't something we generally like to share with strangers. We came to take her home before... well, before things like this started happening." Mr. Maclay says.
Willow shakes her head, "Tara, you're not... how could you not say something to me... to me..."
Tara still can't answer - can hardly look at Willow.
"You put a spell on us to keep us from seeing your demon side. That's why we couldn't see our attackers." Giles says.
Buffy looks to Dawn, "Nearly got us killed."
Tara rises, trying to steady her emotions. "I'll go. I'm very sorry."
Mr. Maclay nods, "The camper's outside."
"Wait! Go? She just did a spell that went wrong! Buffy, it was just a mistake!" Willow says.
"It's not the point and it's not your concern. The girl belongs with us. We know how to control her problem." Mr. Maclay says.
"Tara, look at me." Willow says as Tara looks at her. "I trusted you more than anyone in my life. Was all of that a lie?"
Tara shakes her head, "No! No..."
"Do you want to leave?" Willow asks.
"That is not your decision, young lady –" Mr. Maclay says.
Willow nods, "I know that." She looks back to Tara. "Do you want to leave?"
Eyes brimming, Tara shakes her head ever so slightly.
"You are going to do what's right, Tara. Now I am taking you out of here before somebody DOES get killed. The girl belongs with her family, I hope that's clear to the rest of you." Mr. Maclay says.
This registers with Buffy. She looks again at Dawn, then back at Tara.
"It is. You want her, Mr. Maclay, you can go ahead and take her." Buffy says as she turns to face him. "You just gotta go through me."
"What?" Mr. Maclay asks.
Buffy smiles, "You heard me. You wanna take Tara out of here against her will, then you gotta come through me."
Dawn nods, "And me." She stands resolutely by her sister, ready for a fight. Primed to power up an energy ball, just waiting for Buffy's word.
"Is this a joke? I am not gonna be threatened by two little girls." Mr. Maclay says.
Dawn shakes her head, "You don't wanna mess with us."
Buffy points to Dawn and winks at her, "She's a hair-puller."
Dawn stifles a giggle.
"And you're not just dealing with two little girls." Giles says.
Xander nods, "You're dealing with all of us."
Spike shakes his head, "Except me."
"Except Spike." Xander says.
"I don't care what happens." Spike says.
"This is insane! You people have no right to interfere in Tara's affairs. We are her blood kin - who the hell are you?" Mr. Maclay says.
Buffy smiles, "We're family." She stares him down. The whole gang does, grouped loosely around Tara and Willow. Mr. Maclay turns away.
"Dad, you're not gonna let them –" Donny says as he starts down towards Tara, stopping near Xander. "Tara, if you don't get in that car I swear by God I'm gonna beat you down."
"And I swear by your full and manly beard you're gonna break something trying." Xander says.
Donny eyes Xander... doesn't say anything else.
"Well, I hope you'll all be happy hanging around with a disgusting demon." Beth says.
Anya raises her hand. "Excuse me. What kind?"
"What?" Beth asks.
"What kind of demon is she? There's a lot of different kinds, some are very very evil, some have been considered to be useful members of society..." Anya says.
"Well, I don't... what does it matter?" Beth asks.
"Evil is evil." Mr. Maclay says.
"Well, let's narrow it down..." Anya says.
Spike smiles, comes toward the group. He gets it now. "Uh huh... Why don't I make this simple..." He approaches Tara and pops her in the nose with a quick jab.
"OW!" Tara says.
The moment Spike hits her, he's gripped with wrenching pain. "Gyahh!"
"Hey!" Willow says before she gets it, "Hey!"
"He hit my nose!" Tara says moving her hand to her nose.
Willow smiles, "And it hurt! I mean, him!"
"And that only works with humans..." Buffy says.
"There's no demon in there." Spike says as he shakes off the last twinge. "That's just the family legend, am I right? Bit of spin to keep the ladies in line? Oh, you're a piece of work. I like you."
"I'm not a demon." Tara says.
Willow smiles, "You're not a demon."
"He hurt my nose." Tara says.
"Yeah, you're welcome." Spike says.
"Mr. Maclay, I'd say your business here is finished." Giles says.
"Tara... for eighteen years your family has taken care of you and supported you, if you wanna turn you back –" Mr. Maclay says.
"Dad," Tara says as she moves to him. Looks at him with quiet strength. "Just go."
Mr. Maclay turns and heads out. He pauses once at the door, looking back at the shop, muttering contemptuously, "Magic." He exits. Donny folds in behind.
Beth is the last to go, looking hatefully at Tara. "Are you happy now?"
Tara's smile answers her.
The next night at Payson's P5 it's decorated for Tara's party.
Xander, Willow, Giles, Anya, Dawn, Piper, Paige, Phoebe and Buffy, mingle with some of Tara's friends. In the center is Tara, having a great time.
Tara unwraps her crystal ball, pleased; she thanks Giles who's extremely pleased with himself. She then unwraps a large book, it is blank. Tara looks to Buffy, quizzically.
Buffy smiles and whispers in Tara's ear, "For your own Book of Shadows."
Tara smiles and hugs Buffy.
Moments later Willow and Tara are playing pool with Xander and Anya.
Buffy watches the pool game as Riley enters behind her, a present in his hand.
"Sorry I'm late." Riley says.
"You came!" Buffy says, beaming.
Riley smiles, "Of course I came."
Buffy pulls Riley close and they head into the party.
Moments later Dawn sits with Giles, Piper, Paige, Phoebe, Xander, Buffy and Riley.
"This place is so cool! You must be very proud of what Piper's done with the club, Buffy." Dawn says.
Buffy smiles, "I am."
"Why do I have to have this stupid stamp on my hand?"
"Well, that's to keep you from boozing it up." Xander says.
Dawn rolls her eyes, "Really? Buffy? I mean I'm the sister of the owner everyone should know me right?"
Buffy nods, "They should yes. But it's required by law." She holds up her own hand. "I have one too."
Dawn looks at Buffy and gives her a hug.
Tara is talking to Anya as Willow approaches. A slow song has come on.
"So what's an eagle reflection?" Anya asks.
Willow takes Tara by the hand, leads her toward the dance floor. "My dance." She and Tara begin slow dancing, holding each other close. "Good birthday?"
Tara nods, "Best birthday."
"I still can't believe you never told me about your family and all that." Willow says.
"I was just afraid if you saw the kind of people I came from... you wouldn't wanna be anywhere near me." Tara says.
"See? That's where you're a dummy. I think about what you grew up with, and then look at what you are... it makes me proud. It makes me love you more." Willow says.
Tara takes this in, overwhelmed. "Every time I... even at my worst, you always make me feel special. How do you do that?"
Willow smiles. "Magic."
Tara lays her head on Willow's shoulder as they pull closer, turning slowly to the music. They hold each other in the middle of the dancers, as Tara unconsciously begins levitating her and Willow causing them to float just above the floor.