Chapter 157: Entropy
"Thanks for coming, everyone," Buffy said. "Some of you already know what Dawn and I are going to tell you. Some of you don't."
"For those of you who don't, it will come as a shock. What you grew up knowing says what we are about to tell you is wrong," Dawn added. "That we should not feel the way we feel."
"That Dawn and I are in love," Buffy said. "Before anyone says anything. Hear us out. Tara."
Tara smiled. "I have the gift of aura sight," she said. "I can tell you what I see when I look at Buffy and Dawn's auras. They are soulmates, destined to be together, to be in love. Is it wrong to be in love with your sister in this way, society tells us yes. But love tells us no."
"Leo," Dawn said.
"I found Buffy having a candlelit dinner. At first it was hard to accept. Then I used the Whitelighter version of aura sight and I saw what Tara saw. That Buffy and Dawn are soulmates."
"Piper," Buffy said.
"I overheard Buffy and Leo talking," Piper said. "I too had a hard time of it. Then I talked to Leo and he reminded me of our relationship before he became an Elder. How we do not choose who we fall in love with, for if we could we would have chosen not to fall in love because we were forbidden. But we did, despite the Elders rules to the contrary. Now its Buffy and Dawn who are forbidden, but by society's rules. And like Leo and I, they did not choose to fall in love with each other. They just did."
"Phoebe," Dawn said.
"When one of the students of Magic School had the headless horseman attacking the teachers. Each of us; me, Piper, Paige, Buffy and Dawn were put on a path that would lead us to helping to save the school. My path was a vision quest. In this vision I saw a future where I was pregnant, and where Buffy and Dawn were already together. I saw Celia also, and she called Dawn, mama Dawn. I remember questioning that in my vision. And Dawn herself said that Celia had always called her that since she was old enough to talk. After we had dealt with the headless horseman and the student that was conjuring him. I talk to Chris, he told me that Buffy and Dawn are destined. That Dawn is Buffy's reward from the Elders for everything Buffy has gone through. That they believed that Buffy deserved someone who she could love and be in love with."
"Gideon confirmed the fact that Dawn is to be my reward for all I've done as the Slayer and as a Charmed One," Buffy said. "He also mentioned something else that Dawn and I want to talk to Paige first, alone. Now, Willow."
"I overheard Buffy and Dawn talking. That's how I found out. Then I questioned Piper. She told me about her own experiences, she told me what Leo and Tara had seen and what Phoebe had told her. And I knew that what Buffy and Dawn have is real and that I was happy for them."
"Now," Buffy said. "You've heard from everyone who has found out. Paige, Xander, you two are the only ones not to have found out."
"I have to ask," Xander said. "Why didn't you reveal this in the beginning. When you first found out. Instead of waiting?"
"I'd like to know that, too," Paige agreed.
"We had to make sure what we felt was real," Dawn said. "When Leo and Piper found out, we asked for a month to find out. We didn't want to tell you all till we knew for sure."
"While it is a bit of a shock," Paige said. "And by societies rules not really something that is done. If you two truly are in love with each other. Then I am happy for you. Especially when we know that it was destined to be. Despite how wrong society thinks it is."
"I have to agree with Paige," Xander said. "I remember when Buffy moved to San Francisco. I had such a big crush her on. To some small degree I still do. But if I have to lose out to Dawn, then I am happy to lose out. That said, if things seem weird between us for awhile, it's just me taking my time to adjust. It is not because this has broken up our friendship, I will always be your friend."
"What Xander said," Paige said. "About things being weird, goes for me also. Just because I'm happy for the two of you. Doesn't mean I am ready to see it either. Please understand that. I'm not trying to break up the Charmed Ones, or ruin what I have with you both, my sisters. I just need time to wrap my head around it is all."
"And we will give you both time to do just that," Buffy said.
A few moments later Buffy, Dawn and Paige stood in the dining room away from the others.
"What is it?" Paige asked.
"You know how we all thought I had been given half of Buffy's soul in my creation?" Dawn asked.
"Yeah," Paige said as she nodded her head.
"We learned from Gideon, that's not true. Dawn has her own soul. Or rather she has a soul reincarnated," Buffy said.
"Reincarnated," Paige said as she shook her head. "What do you mean?"
"When your parents died," Dawn said with a sigh. "Your mom, was pregnant." Paige's eyes went wide. "In her womb was your unborn sister."
"Oh my god," Paige said. "Why didn't they tell me they were expecting a baby?"
"They may not have known," Buffy said. "Gideon didn't tell us. But that baby's soul, now resides in Dawn."
"It does," Paige said as she looked at Dawn who nodded and she pulled Dawn into an embrace wrapping her arms around her sister and holding her tightly as tears dropped onto Dawn's shoulder. When she pulled back she looked toward the heavens. "Thank you."
Dawn smiled. "Are you alright?" she asked Paige. "You did learn two big things today."
"I'm fine, Dawnie," Paige said as she smiled. "Its nice to know that I had a sister who chose to be reincarnated into the sister standing before me. Which while still weird makes you two being in love easier to accept."
That night Buffy as two vampires exited a cemetery she tackled them. She grabbed the first vampire by the neck, trying to get a good position to stake him. The second vampire picked himself up and charged Buffy. He found himself scooped into the air by Spike who stood atop one of the gate's stone pillars. The second vampire struggled to get free of Spike's grip as he dangled in mid-air.
Distracted by Spike, Buffy lost her grip on the first vampire. He pushed her back, spun around and knocked her to the ground.
"How you doin'?" Spike asked.
"Fine. You know... Same old same old," Buffy said as she got back to her feet.
"Here, I could take care of this guy if you want."
Buffy kicked the first vampire sending him reeling back. "Whatever. Your call."
"I mean, sure he don't look like much..." Spike said with a glance at the second vampire.
"Hey hey!" the second vampire said insulted.
"... but I'd wager he could give you a bit o'nasty. I'll save you the staking. All you gotta do is—" Spike said.
Buffy rushed the first vampire. "I told Dawn about us."
"You do know that is wrong, right?" Spike asked.
Buffy tackled the first vampire to the ground, gaining the upper hand. "By what society says yes. But see here is the thing Spike. The Elders they wanted to reward me for all I've done as the Slayer and as a Charmed One. So they gave Dawn to me not only to be a sister. But to be love by her and in love with her." She staked the first vampire and he exploded into dust beneath her. She got up and walked over to Spike and the second vampire. "And Dawn, well it seems she didn't like the fact you and I slept together, but she's dealing. Has been willing to give you a pass because you helped me." She turned and walked off.
Spike watched her go then dropped the second vampire, who the moment he realized he was free ran at Buffy, fangs bared.
"In that case, why won't you sleep with me again?" Spike called after Buffy.
The second vamp can't help looking back at Spike as Buffy turned around and calmly staked him. She turned and kept walking away.
"Because I don't love you," Buffy said.
The next morning Dawn found Buffy had prepared plates of eggs, pancakes and toast. Had gotten out three kinds of cereal. "Uh, gosh. Did we open a chain? Are we the International House of something?" she jokingly asked.
"Got up early, seemed like a morning where I wanted to make breakfast for my lover. What kind of syrup you want on your pancakes?" Buffy said.
"Syrup comes in kinds?" Dawn asked.
"I've been thinking," Buffy said. "How about today we go to the mall, I want buy you something. Anything you want."
"Buffy that's nice, but you don't have to," Dawn replied.
"I know but I want to," Buffy said. "Then after we get back we could rent a movie and order a pizza."
Dawn smiled. "That sounds lovely," she said as she leaned over and kissed Buffy.
"Oh that's sweet."
They turned and saw Willow.
"Hey, Will," Buffy said. "Big day planned, right baby?"
"Right," Dawn said.
Later Buffy and Dawn walked through Sunnydale Mall. "What about that one?" she asked as they passed a store.
Dawn shook her head. "Buffy, you don't have to get me anything. Being with you is enough for me."
"I know," Buffy said. "But I want to."
Dawn sighed and nodded. "Okay."
"So how about that one?" Buffy asked as they passed another store.
"Follow me," Dawn said and she led Buffy through the mall and into a dress shop. "I've been eyeing this one dress knowing someday you would be taking it off of me after we had a nice fancy dinner. One where both of us had dressed up in evening gowns."
Buffy laughed as Dawn walked over to the sales lady. "Do you remember me?"
"Of course. You want to see the dress again?"
"Actually today I'm taking it," Dawn said.
The sale lady nodded and she went to retrieve the dress. When she returned Dawn took the dress and entered a dressing room. When she came out Buffy's jaw dropped at how beautiful Dawn looked in the gown.
~You are right,~ Buffy agreed. ~I can definitely see myself taking it off you, but slowly. That is the kind of gown that wants me to savor every second as I work it off your body.~
Dawn blushed at Buffy's telepathic thought. "I'm glad, you like it," she said as she entered the dressing room and changed back into her street clothes.
When Dawn emerged again they walked over to the sales lady who rang up the gown and Buffy paid for it.
As they left the store Buffy pulled Dawn out of sight of any curious onlookers and kissed her. "I've been wanting to do that since you put on that gown," she said as she kissed Dawn a second time.
After they had left the mall they noticed the open sign on the Magic Box and went inside to find Anya there.
"Hey your back," Dawn said.
"We've been so worried," Buffy said.
"Sorry. I just needed to ... I couldn't stay here. Not after that," Anya said.
"We understand," Dawn said. "Right, Buffy."
"Right," Buffy agreed. "But you're back now."
"It's complicated," Anya said. "There's a lot to deal with."
"If there's anything we can do, just let us –" Buffy said.
"Actually, there is an eensy something I could use a little help with. You're lesbians, so the hating of men will come in handy," Anya said.
Buffy blinked. How had Anya known. She hadn't even been at the meeting. "How?"
"How did I know, really just look at the two of you," Anya said. "But let's talk about Xander."
"He feels awful," Dawn said.
"You think it's anywhere close to what I feel?" Anya asked.
"No, but –" Buffy started.
"What if it were two of you, Dawn? What if all you dreamed about was that magical day? The day when the two of you would promise each other to cherish and protect your heart for the rest of your lives? But instead one of you shatters the others heart into a million jagged pieces. Bet you'd wish one of you felt more than just a weensy awful, wouldn't you?"
~I think stopping in to tell Anya hi and welcome back was a bad thing,~ Buffy thought towards Dawn who nodded in agreement. She looked back Anya. "We know what you're trying to do. You want us to hate Xander. He's our friend. We know what he did was wrong and if it had happened to us we'd –"
"— wish his penis would explode?" Anya said hopefully.
"No," Dawn said. "You know Anya we saw you were back and wanted to stop in and say hi. We're not going to hate Xander for you."
"What?" Anya said. "Xander doesn't deserve to suffer for what he did because he's your friend? And I'm not. Right. I get it."
"No, that's not what we're saying," Buffy said. "What he did was wrong. He knows that."
Anya's anger gave way to obvious pain. "It just—it hurts. He hurt me so much."
Buffy put a comforting hand on Anya's arm. "I know. He really did."
After they left the magic Box Buffy and Dawn returned home.
"Hey Buffy," Dawn said. "Did you get a lawn gnome?" she asked.
Buffy followed Dawn's gaze and shook her head. "No, I didn't." She walked over and bent down in front of it. "Boy this thing is creepy looking. She picked it up and went to put it in the trash when it slipped out of her hands and broke when it hit the ground.
"Buffy," Dawn said as she saw something in the gnome and knelt down and pulled out a camera.
"Oh my God," Buffy said.
Dawn frowned as she looked at the direction the gnome had been pointed before Buffy had picked it up. "Looks like someone's been keeping an us."
"What the—who—" Buffy started.
"My first thought is Spike, because well he is obsessed with you," Dawn said.
Buffy took Dawn's hand and flamed out and into Spike's crypt.
"Well well, if it isn't the Slayer," Spike said. "And brought the so called lover. Looking at trying a threesome?" Dawn shoved the camera into Spike's hand. "What's this?"
"It's a camera," Buffy said.
"Yeah, I got that part. Why am I holding it?" Spike asked.
"Someone was using it to spy on us," Dawn said. "And I think it could have been you."
"How better to get me to come back here than to break me and Dawn up," Buffy said. "If you caught us doing something you might be able to blackmail me into coming back."
"I may find what you two are doing is wrong," Spike said. "But I know what Dawn means not only two you but to your entire family. I would never break up the family even if I wanted to break up the two of you." He carefully handed the camera back to Buffy. "I don't want to hurt you not in that way."
Buffy looked down at the camera. "I know."
"What?" Dawn said.
Spike shook his head. "No, you don't. I've tried to make it clear to you, but you won't see it. Something happened to me. The way I feel ... about you ... It's different. No matter how hard you try to convince yourself it isn't. It's real."
"I think it is," Buffy said gently. "For you. I know that's not what you want to hear. And I'm sorry. I really am. But I am in love with Dawn, and you. You just... have to move on. You have to –"
"Get out," Spike said softly.
Buffy hesitated for a moment, wanting to say more as Spike turned away from her and Dawn. She then flamed herself and Dawn out.
When Buffy and Dawn returned home the immediately called Willow who came by and hooked the camera up to her laptop.
"How's it coming? Can you see who's getting the camera's signal?" Buffy asked.
"Should have something once I get tapped into the fiber-optic network," Willow said. "We're gonna use the feedback relay to get their signal routed into our system."
"If it's not Spike, and I'm not saying I believe him, but if it's not Spike," Xander said, "I think we already know who's behind this."
Dawn nodded. "Yeah."
"But it's not the who I want," Buffy said. "It's the where."
"Can't help thinking maybe you were closer than you thought that day you went out with the addresses," Willow said.
"You think they sent the demon after my baby," Dawn asked. "To keep her from finding them?"
"Makes sense," Willow said.
"I want. To find. These guys," Buffy said.
"Hey. Hey, I think I got something!" Willow said as Xander, Buffy and Dawn gathered around her.
"Talk to me, Will," Buffy said.
"Technology's pretty sophisticated, lots of booby traps and firewall stuff ..." Willow said.
Xander rolled his eyes. "Nerds."
"Yeah but we have the biggest nerd right here," Dawn said. "If anyone can do it, Willow can. She'll get us his location. Right?"
"Hey. I'm still me. Just one—whoa," Willow said.
"What? What?" Buffy wondered.
Willow looked upat the others. "There are other cameras." She accessed the cameras and began flipping through them. "Oh my God. Payson's P5, Dawn's new skating rink, My classrooms on campus, Xander's site..." She furrowed her brow.
"What?" Dawn asked.
"I can tell there are more feeds, I'm just having a harder time pinpointing 'em. Here, lemme..." Willow said as she typed at the keyboard. "Here, I think there are a couple more transmitters on the network, I've almost got us tapped into picture on 'em. I think I got the Magic Box –" Suddenly she stood up. "Whoa!"
"What?" Buffy asked as she looked to the screen.
"Wait, Xander, no," Willow said as Xander stared at the screen.
"Oh, God," Xander said horrified and shocked.
On the screen they saw Spike and Anya on the table of the Magic Box, having sex.
"I—what is she—?" Xander said.
Willow looked at Xander, desperate to help, not knowing what to do.
Dawn noticed the look on Buffy's face. "Baby?"
"That's enough," Buffy said as she turned and headed out the back door as Dawn followed her.
Willow watched as Xander, mortified, blankly walked out of the dining room and into the living room. "Here, lemme..." she said as she hit some keys on the keyboard. "You know, we don't even really know what we were just seeing, maybe there was something—there, got it–"
And then Willow heard the front door open. "Xander?" She walked into the foyer and found the door left open and Buffy's weapons chest in the living room lying open.
In the backyard Buffy sat on the backsteps, her arms wrapped around her legs.
"Baby?" Dawn said as she sat next to Buffy.
"I know its over with him, because I know I am in love with you," Buffy said. "But he seems able to still push my buttons."
"I know," Dawn said. "And I know it hurts. I know it will take time. But you did the right thing putting a stop to it. That relationship would have been bad on all levels. You might have come back hurt, or not at all. And you know what happened the last time you left me. I don't think I could survive that again. Not after finally having you."
Willow ran out the back door, a bit breathless. "Buffy. Xander's gone. And he took your axe."
Dawn grabbed Buffy's hands and shimmered out.
Outside the Magic Box Xander wrestled Spike up against a wall as he got in Spike's face. Spike doesn't even try to stop him, he just stood there, taking the abuse.
Xander punched Spike hard in the stomach. "Get up. Get up!" he said when Spike fell to his knees. Spike just looked up at him, unmoving. "You're just gonna sit there? Do nothing?"
Frustrated, full of rage, Xander grabbed Spike by the head and slammed him back against the wall. "That the kinda man you are?" Xander asked.
"Not gonna fight you. Chip," Spike said.
Xander kicked Spike in the stomach as Spike slumped. "Too bad."
Anya came out of the Magic Box having heard the noise and watched as Xander reached down, grabbed Spike by the collar and pulled him up. She watched as Xander pulled a stake out of his own jacket. "Xander, no! Stop it! Stop it!" she said.
Xander looked at Anya and doesn't see Buffy and Dawn shimmer in. Doesn't see Buffy shoving him aside, pushing him away from Spike. He stood there facing Anya and Spike.
"Xander. I –" Anya said.
"Don't even try to deny it. 'Cause we saw it all. The whole, beautiful show," Xander said.
"How..." Anya said as Xander glared at her. "Listen, it was just ... it was just a thing. I felt bad, he was just there."
Buffy glared at Spike. "Didn't take long, did it?"
Spike looked at his feet, guilty.
"O-oh! Okay ... then you had to do it," Xander said ignoring them. "Because he was there. Like Mt. Everest. Like I used to be."
"And then you weren't. You left me, Xander," Anya said. "At the altar. I don't owe you anything."
"So you bang the first body you can find? Dead or alive?" Xander asked.
"Where do you get off judging me—" Anya retorted.
"When this is your solution to our problems?" Xander said. "I hurt you so you get me back? Very mature."
"No, the mature solution is to spend your whole life telling stupid, pointless jokes so no one will notice you're just a scared, insecure little boy!" Anya replied.
"I'm not joking now. You let that evil, soulless thing touch you. You wanted me to feel something, congratulations. It worked," Xander said as Anya stared at him. "I look at you - I feel sick—'cause you had sex with that."
"Good enough for Buffy," Spike said as he looked into Buffy's eyes.
"Shut up. Leave her out of..." Xander said as he looked into Buffy's eyes. Saw the shame. "This."
"Spike," Dawn bit out. "That is low even for you.
"Buffy," Anya realized.
"Xander—" Buffy said as she moved toward her friend and watched as he stepped back.
"It was going to take time getting used to you and Dawn," Xander said. "But this, I don't want to know this, I don't want to know any of this." He put down the stake and walked away.
"Stupid tossbag," Spike said. "You know, I wish he would –"
Dawn powered up an energy ball and threw it and the moment it hit Spike he screamed in pain as it electrocuted him. "Don't," she said.
Buffy looked at Spike, full of hate and he braced himself for some serious damage. Buffy turned and followed Xander down the street.
"Buffy, baby," Dawn said as she moved to follow her lover. But she didn't make it as Buffy flamed out.
Dawn sighed as she shimmered out. She had to find the love of her life, before Buffy did something she might regret.
At Buffy's house Willow sat on her bed with a textbook. She hadn't been doing much studying though as she wondered what had happened to her friends after they had left. Had Buffy and Dawn gotten to Xander in time? Was Spike dust like he deserved to be?
Willow looked up when she heard the sounds of footsteps to find Tara standing in the doorway. "Tara..."
"You can't ever put them back the way they were..." Tara said.
"Are you okay?" Willow wondered.
Tara crossed the room and sat next to Willow. "I'm sorry, it's just... you know it takes time. you can't just have coffee and expect –"
"I know," Willow said a bit ashamed.
"There's so much to work through. Trust has to build again, on both sides ..." Tara said. "You have to learn if you're even the same people you were, if you can fit in each other's lives, it's a long and important process and can we just skip it? Can we just follow Buffy and Dawn's example and be two people in love. And can you just be kissing me now?"
Willow searched Tara's face wanting make sure. She smiled as she moved to Tara and kissed her lover, passionately. The fingers interlocked and they hold on to each other, not letting the other go as the continued to kiss each other passionately. And like with Buffy and Dawn, Tara and Willow realized they were in love, wholly and completely … forever.