Chapter 11~
The move to the Summers home was hectic. Xander took over Willow duty, Tara trailing behind him. She could have been his shadow. Buffy once again took Dawn, though the young woman was in and out throughout the trip, insisting she could do it herself. Faith and Melody had gotten their own escorts of Anya and Giles, both leaning heavily on their walking partners.
"Yo, Mermaid, pick up some speed huh? First you sleep like Ruppleskintits, now you walking like that turtle in the race with the rabbit," Faith smirked behind Anya and Melody.
Melody stopped, having Anya help her semi turn, "Wait… so much to unpack there. First off, the turtle WON that race. Second, it's Rumpelstiltskin. Third, it's Rip Van Winkle who slept for twenty years, Rumpelstiltskin spun straw into gold."
"Well, how would Rumblespitskin make straw turn gold? Whatevs, I'm not Sister goose, ok? Hurry up was the point," Faith smirked again, then waved her hand forward with impatience.
Giles couldn't even comment on the conversation, as he felt his brain cells dying, and Anya seemed to be having too much fun chuckling at Faith's inability to say the name of her favorite fairy tale character. She was actually laughing so hard she didn't even have the ability to tell Faith he was real, and all about his obsession with eating first born children. The eating part never made it into the books.
Several stops, more banter, and lots of wincing later, they all finally made it into the house about the time the sun was going down.
While Dawn and Willow were put into their own rooms, Faith and Melody were going to require some thought. Giles was still staying on the couch, though he mentioned finding another apartment for the time being, since his stay would be extended once again.
To Faith's surprise, Buffy offered her bed to the dark Slayer for at least recuperating time. Faith turned that surprise back on Buffy, as she not only turned it down, but was very sincere when saying she wouldn't kick Buffy out of her own bed. Instead deciding she was more than happy with the living room recliner, as she had been fine with Xander's. They had all been using sleeping bags on hard floors for so long, the recliner felt like a dream bed to her as it was.
Melody just asked if there was a basement, which got her the small cot down there. While Anya and Xander were helping her slowly down the stairs, she was asking Melody questions. "Do you drink blood? We have a nice butcher shop. Are you gay? You look gay. If you're not, you can't have Xander," her voice fading as they got further away.
Giles turned towards Buffy, "That may have been a mistake, letting Anya alone with that woman."
"Xander's with her. You think she'll hurt them?" Buffy looked at him concerned and confused.
"No, but I imagine we'll need Melody's help, and the first people you let her be alone with are those two. It may result in her leaving," Giles tone was serious, but the look in his eyes gave away his attempt at humor.
Faith gave a short laugh, "Mermaid's gunna love demon girl. She used to listen to Xander's stories and get upset Anya kicked it before she could meet her." Faith smiled. While she still wasn't feeling great, she could at least move without wincing every inch, so her spirits were better. Slayer perks.
Both Buffy and Giles lifted their eyebrows at her in disbelief before Buffy spoke again, "Ok, I'm going to take a short patrol, then come home and shower. Hopefully get everyone fed, and then maybe some more explanations?"
"Sounds good to me, B. Shove a stick in a vamp for me, huh?" Faith replied, looking around and reacquainting herself with Buffy's house.
"Right…. I'll see what I can do. Any requests for dinner?" Buffy quickly changed subjects.
Xander appeared again with Anya in tow, having dropped Melody in her new area on the cot, "She was out before her head hit the pillow. Don't worry about dinner, Buff. For I am payday man. I shall get us food for the gods! Pizza good for everyone?"
Buffy let out a chuckle and couldn't help but smile at him, "Thank you, Xander. Pizza is fine."
-x-
Having gotten Willow settled and checking on the currently sleeping Dawn, Tara took a few short moments to herself. She showered quickly and allowed herself to relax under the warm spray. There was so much to process, and she wasn't even being given the chance to deal with everything going on before the time travel spell.
After her shower, feeling at least a small bit of relief, she got dressed in their room and headed back to the bathroom. Tara had noticed the dirt, grime, and dried blood on them all, and knew none of them were quite up for standing in a shower just yet. She collected washcloths and soaked them in warm water, deciding to deliver them to the three who were conscious if they were awake, before cleaning Willow up a bit herself.
Tara made her way downstairs, finding Faith and handing her one of the towels, while Xander informed her that Melody was out again for now. Then she made her way back upstairs to see if Dawn was awake. Tara was slightly surprised to see Dawn's eyes twinkling from the hall light coming through the door, "Hey, Dawnie. Would you like a w-warm towel? Wipe some of that ick away?"
Dawn's eyes met hers, sitting up a little slowly, and reached for the towel, "Thank you, Tara. I missed this. I missed you. You always think of the little things."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I can't imagine what you've been through. L-losing us all like that. Fighting a war." This was all Tara could think to reply. There was still so much they didn't know. She joined Dawn on the bed, sitting next to her.
Dawn's look of surprise at the mention of the war quickly melted to one of sadness, "I wouldn't have made it through without Willow." She started to slowly wipe her face and arms down with the warm cloth Tara had handed her.
Tara nodded, "Faith told us about the knife wound. She also said you saved Willow's life."
"That's not what I was talking about, but Willow saved mine first. I was talking about Willow herself," Dawn reiterated, "There wasn't… She kind of caved into herself a bit, didn't talk much for years, but she would always talk to me. Whatever I wanted to talk about. I think Buffy and Xander were even a bit jealous. Then we lost Buffy, Xander, and Giles all in one battle."
Tara could see the heartbreak, the pain, deciding a switch of topics was best for the time being, "What did you talk about? With W-willow, I mean."
"Either studying medical stuff, or I would ask for a story," Dawn smiled sadly as she stared off in memory.
"What kind of stories did she tell?" Tara couldn't help but feel curious. It was usually her that told stories, not Willow.
Dawn met her eyes again, "Some about Buffy, some about growing up with Xander, but mostly stories about you two."
"She talked about our r-relationship?" The surprise in her voice was clear as day.
Dawn giggled a little, "Of course. You were her favorite subject. Though she would really only mention you around me. I think she thought she had to be a grown up around the other grown ups? Or maybe she didn't want them feeling sorry for her? Or… well there could have been a couple things."
Dawn paused, not quite up to going into certain details just yet. They hadn't even been in this timeline for a full twenty-four hours. She took a deep breath and allowed another small smile to appear, "She told me everything from when she first saw you, when you first met, your first kiss, different adventures you guys had on campus. They were my favorite thing to request. She always told them so perfectly, as if the memory was playing in her head like a movie. She didn't know I knew, but she always ended up crying and going to talk to your picture after. I caught her a few times. Buffy told me I shouldn't stop asking though, when I told her. She said it was probably a relief to tell those stories."
All of this was making Tara's head swirl. A day ago she was packing to leave because magic had become more important to Willow than their relationship it seemed. Now, it again felt as if leaving was the worst option she could have turned to. Confusion set in as tears were threatening her eyes once more.
"I remember today, you know," Dawn whispered, her eyes downcast, "The calendar on my desk, I remember today. This was the day after you two broke up. You left the house. I hated today. So did Willow. I swear I could always see it when something reminded her of what she did to you with the memory thing. She could rival Angel's tortured soul look. You weren't wrong to leave, Tara. Even Willow said that."
"I…" Tara couldn't think of something to say, couldn't even think how she should feel.
"Will you tell me one of your stories?" Dawn tried to lighten the topic again, "I mean I'm pretty sure I know most of them, but I only know them from Willow's perspective."
Twenty-three years old, and Dawn still had the puppy look down pat, as well as seeming like she was still the fifteen year old from yesterday. Tara wanted to relent, "I was g-going to wash some of the yuck off Willow, from the fight you guys had I guess."
"Oh, no, it wasn't the fight. Willow wasn't even fighting. We haven't been able to regularly shower in awhile. We wipe ourselves down often, and we have water sources where we will bathe during sun hours, but I don't think I've had an actual hot shower in ages," Dawn explained the rough shape they all were in.
"You haven't even been able to shower?" Tara was really starting to fear the upcoming explanations of all that had happened in eight years.
"No, its been kinda rough. These are the best clothes I own…. But the story, that's perfect. I'm glad Willow will be there too, maybe she can hear, ya know? Like they say coma patients possibly can? I mean, if we aren't getting her back, at least maybe we can make it easier for her wherever she is," Dawn's words once again dropped to a whisper as she talked.
"I'll get her back, Dawn. I'll find her. I promise," Tara whispered leaned over to give Dawn a quick squeeze.
"You can't promise that, Tara," Dawn quickly whispered back, taking comfort in Tara despite the pain in her body, "They all said it, even Willow. No one who's done the casting part of that spell has woken up." More tears finally made their way down Dawn's cheeks again.
Tara met Dawn's sad gaze, her blue eyes dancing with determination, "Well, no one has ever gone back farther than three years either."
-X-
UC Sunnydale- December 1999
The morning light streamed through the window, and Tara could see the hustle and bustle of other students outside her dorm room. It seemed like it had only been yesterday when she first arrived. It was now December, the air was chilly, and everyone was scurrying to and from to get ready for finals and break. She was glad she didn't have any morning classes today, it had been nice to sleep in a bit.
Despite it being months since starting freshman year, she had yet to really talk much to anyone. The local Wicca group on campus had been an exciting option, until she realized they weren't exactly what she had been hoping for. All she wanted was a connection with one person. Someone who she could talk to without them running the other way.
It had always been difficult for her to make friends. Her stutter was always so prevalent, especially when nervous, and her father and brother were over the top strict and abusive. She hadn't had much time for anything but chores and school. Not to mention her father hated the witchcraft.
'Maybe today,' Tara thought, just like she did every morning. She was also thinking of skipping the Wicca group today in favor of trying something else she may find a friend in. The only problem was that she had no idea what that would be. Deciding to start one step at a time, she headed out to the local coffee area on campus, 'A little tea and a look at the activity board may give me some clue.'
She made her way over to the student café, the slight breeze giving her a chill, 'Probably not skirt weather…' she shivered as her jean skirt billowed slightly at her ankles. It only took a few minutes to get her order, but as she was adding a little sugar to it a flash of red went through her peripheral vision. Not knowing why, she looked up and her heart stopped.
The most beautiful girl she'd ever seen was walking up to the ordering counter, and she couldn't stop staring. She was so entranced she hadn't realized she was still adding sugar to her tea. The woman was ordering a 'extra chocolatey' mocha, and Tara couldn't help but smile at the adorableness. She finally put down the sugar, still not realizing what she had done, and stood stirring her tea, intently listening for the name of the redhead to be called. She hadn't caught it when she ordered, and hoped she could stall long enough to hear it.
"Order for Willow!" The call came and the woman stepped up, giving the most heart melting smile Tara could have imagined before thanking the employee and heading off.
"Willow." Tara couldn't believe someone so gorgeous, so adorable, would be attending the same school as her. Of all the colleges, she was here. Her brain now completely occupied with the amazing mystery woman known to her only as Willow, 'Such a beautiful name, and so fitting of her', she blew on her tea slightly before taking a sip while staring at the door Willow had left through. She immediately started coughing, as it was no longer tea so much as liquid sugar.
Finally collecting herself again, and deciding against the rest of her sugary drink, she left the Café. She figured it best to stick with Wicca group today, as she had thoroughly embarrassed herself in the little shop and had not had a chance to look at the activities board. Her brain was still in hyper drive with thoughts of Willow, when she arrived at the meeting and took her seat, head down. When the meeting started, she was listening to the same stuff she always heard, when a voice came to her ear, interrupting the leader of the group who was complaining about her 'power shrine'.
"Well, this is good. I mean, this is all fun ya know, but there's also other stuff that we might show an interest in, as a wicca group," Willow spoke, an uneasiness immediate among the other members.
The leader looked at her slightly offended and the woman who had started the group hesitantly spoke, "Like what?"
"Well, there's the wacky notion of spells, you know conjuring, transmutation…" Willow put herself out there, hoping someone would say something at least interesting.
Tara couldn't believe her ears. The Goddess from the Café was not only attending Wicca group, but had mentioned real spells. Having tried several times to say something, Tara's bravado left as everyone's attention was put on her. One amazing thing came from it though, 'Her eyes. They're so green. Like emeralds.'
-x-
Dawn was giggling from her spot next to Willow on the bed. They had slowly made their way into the room after their conversation, Tara careful and patient as she let Dawn set the pace. The pain she was in still evident.
After getting Dawn settled next to Willow, Tara pulled a chair up to the redhead's side of the bed and was tenderly wiping away the buildup of dirt from her face. She couldn't seem to deny the 'teenager' her request for a story.
"How much sugar did you actually use?" Dawn was still laughing, though lightly, the vibrations being difficult to deal with.
"Um, while I was dying from air loss, I looked to see that the once f-full sugar shaker was about half empty. Which was a lot, considering it was the size of a small jar of p-peanut butter," Tara was blushing at the memory, but giggling herself. She had finished revealing her love's face from behind all the grime, and continued to move down her neck. The gentleness of her touch not faltering despite the laughter.
Buffy took this moment to appear at the doorway, having heard Dawn's laugh before getting to her sister's door, "Hope I'm not interrupting?"
"Tara was just telling me about how her sugar addiction ended, and her Willow addiction began," Dawn smiled over at her sister. It felt good to smile for real again, and at her sister.
Buffy saw what Tara was doing, and also saw that Dawn was not only smiling, but she was semi cleaned up. Once again finding herself grateful for Tara's friendship and presence in their lives, but also combating the feelings and thoughts she had been having since her resurrection, she smiled back slightly, "Well, you'll have to tell me that too, sometime, Tara. I did a quick patrol, now I'm gunna shower. Think you'll be up for your own story time after, Dawn? Xander ordered pizza."
At this, Dawn's eyes went wide, from both the fact that she would once again have to face the problems that brought them back here and at the amazing prospect of pizza.As the Slayer in the doorway had attracted the attention of the room, they all missed the subtle movement of Willow's eyes darting back and forth momentarily under her eyelids before going still once again.
-x-