Disclaimer: Some of these scenes are directly from the show

Chapter Two: Consequences

Buffy and Dawn walked to the house and stopped.

"See? You're home." Dawn told her. "We're all okay now."

Dawn helped Buffy into the house. She turned on the light and Buffy closed her eyes for a moment. Everything was so bright. She opened her eyes and noticed that the house had slightly changed.

"Things are different." Buffy said.

"A little." Dawn admitted. "Willow and Tara live here now. We didn't do much."

Buffy walked away from her sister to check the rest of the house. Then, she got out of her burial clothes and into something more presentable. Dawn cleaned Buffy up a little and then wanted to work on Buffy's hands. Buffy hid her hands from Dawn. Dawn looked at her and said,

"It's okay." Dawn paused. "We'll work on that later."

"Okay." Buffy agreed.

Buffy walked away from Dawn and entered her mother's room. She was still in shock and Dawn turned on the light. Buffy winced at the light and asked,

"Willow and Tara?"

Dawn nodded. "It seemed to make the most sense. No one was using it and it's the biggest, but now that you're back we'll have to figure something else out."

Buffy started to walk away and Dawn stepped in front of her. "Hey Buffy, you wanna like stop?" She paused. "We can sit down and talk."

Dawn heard the front door open. The Scoobies piled into the house. Buffy jumped and Dawn turned to her sister.

"Hey, it's okay. It's just everyone." Dawn told her.

"Is she here?" Willow asked. "She has to be here."

Dawn and Buffy walked downstairs. Buffy sat on the couch and Dawn stood next to her.

"Buffy-" Willow started to say.

"We didn't know where you went." Anya said.

"Are you okay?" Tara asked.

"Hey guys, back off." Dawn said and narrowed her eyes. "You knew she was back? What did you do?"

"A spell. We did a spell." Willow admitted and Tara looked furious.

Why wasn't she included in said spell? Tara wondered. Why would Willow keep her from helping? She wasn't sure about any of this. Yes, Buffy was back. Tara was happy for Buffy, but why would Willow keep this spell from her?

She remembered being at the Magic Box when she passed out. Did Willow do something to her? So many questions ran through Tara's mind. She crossed her arms and walked over to Dawn. She stood next to her. Willow looked at her, confused.

"Do you want anything?" Xander asked. "We can get you something. Pizza! I'll get you pizza!"

"Buffy likes pizza." Anya commented.

"She doesn't want pizza!" Willow exclaimed.

"Guys, back off." Dawn repeated.

"Dawn's right," Willow said. "We should all be quiet and let Buffy tell us what she needs."

Buffy looked at her friends with a blank face. She stood up and said, "I think I just want to go to sleep."

"Sleep, yes, you should rest." Tara said.

Buffy nodded and walked upstairs. Dawn watched her sister leave and looked at the rest of the Scoobies. So did Tara.

"How could you do this without me?" Tara asked, clearly hurt.

"Tara, we decided it was best for you not to know." Willow said. "You could have gotten hurt."

Dawn glanced at Tara and noticed the hurt in her eyes. "We should look for Spike." She changed the subject.

"We'll look for him tomorrow. The town is safe for now." Willow said. "We should all get some rest."

"Right." Dawn said.

Xander and Anya left for Xander's apartment and the rest of the Summers' household went to bed. Tara and Willow were getting ready for bed, but Willow felt the anger from Tara. Willow looked at her as she was pulling pillows off the bed.

"Are you okay?" Willow asked and Tara shook her head.

"Do you think I'm stupid or something?" Tara raised her voice a little.

"What do you mean?" Willow asked.

"I know you used a spell on me, Will," Tara said. "I felt it. It came from you. You knocked me out before you cast the resurrection spell didn't you?"

"I just didn't want you to be involved." Willow defended herself.

"You could have gotten hurt. You could have gotten someone else hurt," Tara said. "Don't you get that?"

"I'm sorry, I understand I did it wrong." Willow said and Tara shook her head.

"You put that spell on me to get me out of the way, Will." Tara said. "How could you?"

"I thought you wouldn't agree." Willow told her. "I wasn't just going to leave Buffy there."

"Willow, you're using too much magic!" Tara yelled. "What about the consequences?!"

"Consequences?!" Willow yelled back. "Like what?"

"You don't even think anymore," Tara continued to yell. "You just do a spell!"

Willow shook her head. "I did what I had to do Tara."

Tara returned to her normal voice. "No more spells on me Willow."

Willow put her hands up in defense. "I promise."

"Unbelievable." Tara said and shook her head, clearly disappointed. "I'm going to sleep on the couch."

Tara grabbed a blanket and Willow tried to stop her, but Tara ignored her. Meanwhile, Buffy heard everything. The walls were so thin at her house. She understood why Tara was upset. She sat on her bed, in the dark, and absorbed her surroundings. Her room was still the same as she left it. When she died. Buffy stood up and looked at the pictures of her friends. After a second or two, the pictures changed.

It was as if she were looking at dead people. She closed her eyes tightly and then opened her eyes again. The pictures were normal. Nothing unusual. She thought that perhaps her eyes were playing games with her. Buffy sighed heavily and got ready for bed. She crawled under the covers and went to sleep.

The next morning when Buffy got up, she went downstairs. She saw Tara asleep on the couch and shrugged it off. She quietly made coffee and walked to the backyard. She sat on the steps and stared out into nothingness. Sleep was hard for her last night because of the dreams. Dawn walked outside and joined her sister. She turned to Buffy and asked,

"Are we going to look for Spike today?"

Buffy nodded. "We'll start with his crypt. He should be asleep by now."

"Okay." Dawn said and agreed. "Did you see Tara on the couch?"

"Yes," Buffy said. "I think her and Willow had a fight."

"Do you know what it was about?" Dawn asked.

Buffy shook her head. "No, but it must have been serious enough for Tara to fall asleep on the couch."

"I hope they're okay." Dawn said.

"Me too." Buffy told her. "I should get going. I'll let you know if I find anything."

Dawn nodded. "Do you want me to come with you?"

Buffy shook her head. "I got this."

Buffy left the house and headed for Spike's crypt. Some people were cleaning up the streets after the demon horde left Sunnydale a wreck. Buffy found her way to Spike's place and heard strange noises. It sounded like a baby was crying.

"Shh, come on little one." Spike said. "It's going to be alright."

Buffy opened Spike's door and found him with a child. Her eyes grew wide in disbelief.

"Spike, whose child is that?!" Buffy demanded.

"Buffy?!" Spike yelled. "But how? What?"

"Answer me first." Buffy told him.

"I can't do that." Spike said. "I promised I'd protect him."

Buffy shook her head. "I don't get it."

"How are you alive right now?" Spike asked, completely surprised.

"Willow brought me back last night." Buffy replied. "And how did you end up with a child?"

"All I know is someone named Wesley shows up with the kid and knows me." Spike explained. "I saved them from getting killed last night and then the guy dumped the kid on me."

Buffy's eyes widened at the mention of Wesley's name. No way! There was no possible way that Wesley came to town. She needed more answers. First of all, whose kid is this? Second of all, was Wesley Wyndam-Pryce really back in Sunnydale? Buffy shook her head.

"Spike, are you sure this guy's name was Wesley?" Buffy asked and he nodded.

"Okay." Buffy said. "I need to find him. Maybe he can explain himself."

The baby cooed in Spike's arms. Buffy smiled at him and asked, "Can you at least tell me what his name is?"

Spike nodded. "Connor."

"Pretty name." Buffy said. "Let me go see if Wesley is still around. I know where to look."

She walked out of the crypt and knew exactly where to ask around. Willy's Place. Buffy walked to the demon bar and to her surprise again, there was Wesley, at the bar. Buffy walked over to him and sat down next to him. Wesley's eyes widened, completely overwhelmed. Was that Buffy? He wondered and finished his drink. He asked the bartender for another one. This was going to be a long day.

Author's Notes: This chapter was a little late, but I'm really glad that I get to work on this project! There will be more to come! All reviews are welcome!