Chapter 2~
There was no real plan. Melody had one job. All that Willow needed was a distraction for Faith and Dawn, and when the time came, possibly protection long enough to finish the spell. The day was only hours away from giving to night once again. The new moon was upon them, which apparently was the time needed for the spell. New moon meant a restart, she guessed. All the research she'd done over the years of magic, trying to figure it out, find something…. And she still couldn't fathom what seemed like some of the more basic concepts. It made sense though, if she thought about it. New moon was the new phase of the same cycle it took every month. In an insane way, it was the moon's own version of time travel. If any of them had paid attention to when Willow brought up the argument, they'd have noticed it was always the same time of the cycle.
All the redhead had needed was one person to acquiesce to the request. Someone else had to be knowledgeable of possible consequences, specifically in the form of attacks. No use bringing everyone back if they were killed doing so. Then there was the highly questionable consequence of what happened if it was interrupted…. While she had asked this question, the witch had avoided it like the plague. Protect them, and don't let the spell be interrupted. That was her job. The woman wasn't stupid. This was dangerous.
Willow was in her corner, very noticeably staring at the back page of her journal, while the other three women gave each other looks of knowing sadness. They all knew this behavior. "Hidden" within the final page was, of course, a picture of the one and only, Tara. Unbeknownst to Faith and Dawn, this was a ruse this time, as Faith did exactly as expected.
"Yo, you two wanna head outside? Get some sword training in?" It had become a ritual of sorts, Willow embraced her grief in the back of that book. They all had their own moments, and they each respected the space needed.
Willow felt more than completely heartbroken at the thought of deceiving both Faith and Dawn, especially using Tara to do so, but after last night, Faith would be more than suspicious of any alone time she outwardly requested. She stared at the picture, the blue orbs that once had started a fire in her heart at even the slightest glance, now haunted her every waking moment. Only in sleep could they return her heart to a puddle, if she were lucky enough to dream of them. Of that half smile, that could erupt into a full on masterpiece of light and beauty at the readhead's gaze, or the slightest touch.
Most nights these days, she wasn't so lucky though. Instead waking in a sweat at the horrifying destruction of the world they now lived in, or even worse, that fateful day her light was gone forever. She could almost feel it, when she slept. The blood on her face, "Your shirt…"
-x-
Dawn was the first to speak, as they hovered outside the back door. Melody had made swiftly for the empty dirt island ten feet from the door, "I know we should practice in dirt instead of on the broken up concrete, but I don't want to be too far if Will needs us." The young woman released a small tear from her eye as she looked back toward the door.
Before Melody could respond, Faith jumped in, "Safety first, D. If anything goes down me or Mermaid will hear shit, but we ain't risking getting hurt in a practice session."
"What practice session?! We all know it was an excuse to give Willow time. Like you and Willow actually talk about spells when I'm grieving! You don't know crap about magic, and most of what Melody knows is only because she wanted to figure out how," Dawn stopped here, realizing that, true or not, this particular line of conversation was going to bring another of them into a load of grief and turmoil if she continued. The youngest frowned, turning to the vampire with an apologetic and pained look.
Melody shrugged it off. It wouldn't bode well if she couldn't concentrate on her current task, which meant this was not the time for such thoughts. Might never be a time for them again, when Faith found out what was about to happen. While the sun, holy water and crosses couldn't harm her as they normally would a regular vampire, she doubted a stake through her heart would be as forgiving, or an axe clean through her neck….
-x-
The set up was quick. She'd read over the spell a million times. She could do it in her sleep if it didn't require so much energy and concentration. The items she'd needed, she covertly collected over the last year, simply waiting for one person to give in. Willow had known someone would eventually, as this was really their only shot. Though, truthfully she'd have thought it would have been Faith. Melody had an issue with magic, and while she didn't fight its use, she sure as hell wanted nothing to do with it herself anymore.
Faith, on the other hand, could care less. Or, at least, she used to. It's not really the magic that the Slayer had a problem with so much as the ending. Surprising the redhead as well as young Dawn, Faith had grown extremely protective of them both the last 4 years. It was as if Buffy's death made her believe it was her job now to protect them, and with the looming consequences of this spell, it was an immediate 'no' from the once reckless and troubled Slayer.
With almost everything in place, Willow took one last moment with the most important artifact of her tweaks. Had she led with this particular part of the spell, Dawn would have thought twice about it in one of the earlier debates. Whether or not it would have changed her mind, the witch didn't know. Especially as it wasn't full proof if the spell would even work, and safely, much less go as far back as this particular item was supposed to carry them. With that troubling fact in mind, Willow had decided not to disclose this information to any of them. If it didn't work, Dawn's hopes would be dashed. It was enough to know that she should at least be able to give her Buffy back, and some semblance of hope again.
Darkened in sorrow, Emerald eyes stared at the only item she ever truly refused to lose. It was the only picture of Tara she had been able to save during the fall of Sunnydale. She'd have given her life to keep that photo safe If it had come down to it, and she was certain Dawn would have too, if given the chance. The only thing more important to Willow than saving it, was keeping her family safe. Her one bit of luck was that had never been a choice she had to resolve herself to. It may have been an immediate answer to save the people she loved, but it would have felt as if it ended her soul.
"Baby, I've tried so hard to do what I could to protect them, be there like you would have," tears now fell freely from her eyes, "but I can't be your Amazon anymore. I wish I had you, more than anything, through all this. I promised I would always find you. So, as the literal last thing I'm going to do, is do my damnedest to make sure I live up to that."
A sob made Its way through her as she leaned against the dusty wall of the store. Tara could make it better. She's who would make the difference. Willow knew that in her soul. She'd been the strong one. The wise one. Everything that the redhead felt she fell short on. This war was theirs to win, and Tara was the difference. She knew it in every fiber of her being, knew it in every beat of her heart.
"I love you." With that final declaration, she grabbed the picture and walked with purpose to her place. This was her final stand. She wouldn't fail, wouldn't let Tara down. Not this time. She'd live in eternal hell of every bad memory she ever lived if it meant that she had succeeded in this goal.
Eight years. Not insurmountable for a woman who faced down a hell God, right? Darn tootin'. This was for Tara! For Dawn, for Buffy, Xander, Giles, and now even for Faith, Melody…. For goddess sake, she was even doing this for Anya.
-x-
Something was happening. They all felt it, a shift. Only half an hour had passed since they had left the redhead alone with her grief. The setting sun was the background to a new sensation. Magic was surrounding them, becoming the very air they were breathing. It only took thirty seconds, the sudden charge in the air, the slight shift of the winds, the low hum of almost electric energy in the world around them.
Faith dropped her sword, whirling faster than she ever thought she had in her entire life. One heart beat, two…. The dark Slayer was almost at the door, ready to rip it from its hinges, only to be stopped by her supposed friend and fellow soldier.
Melody had been quick to intercept Faith. This was it, and the look she received, gave her the third worst feeling she'd had in her life.
Dawn only joining the fray seconds later. "What is happening?"
Faith's cold stare felt like it was digging right into her very being. Almost worse than the demon… almost, "You interrupt, it fails, we lose her regardless."
"We shouldn't be losing her at all! You had to go and give in to this shit! I ought to beat you fucking senseless!" Faith was losing her cool, not that she'd ever had much in situations like these. This is what happened when you cared for people, and yet she knew it was too late to shut off her emotions. She was gonna lose Red, and it was about to tear her apart. So she was going to make sure someone paid for that. The vampire was currently at the top of her list.
Dawn stepped in between the two women, "I ask again, what is happening?! What did Willow do?" Though in her heart, she already knew. The arguments over the last year, Melody's words of warning to the Slayer, Faith's reaction. She looked straight into the eyes of the elder of their group, Melody, Hazel meeting baby blues, sad and ashamed, "No…"
Before more could be said, anger expressed, pain let loose, there was a new presence that joined them. Two actually. Turok- Han. A sure sign that The First knew something was up. While they had dispatched countless by this point, it didn't make them less dangerous, so Faith's anger became directed towards them. It had started, the decision made without her consent and without Dawn's, but made none the less. Now they had to survive long enough to see the end of the show, or in this case, the possible re-run of an already made episode.
Sparing a quick glance at Melody, Dawn immediately sprang into action, having brought her sword with her to the door. Melody following her only a breath behind, going for the same uber as Dawn, Faith quickly dodging the swings of the other one.