Title: Segue
Summary: A change in reality and what makes a family.
Warnings: none
Spoilers: BtVS:Family, AtS:Redefinition
Acknowledgment: My thanks and appreciation to Theo for his outstanding work and helpful suggestions. This story would not be as good as it is without him.
Part 4: All For One (and one for all?)
"Explain again why I, the proprietor and your employer, have to wear this, this..." Giles held up the silken purple robe, garishly decorated in golden stars and silvery moons, "this abomination, and not you, the employee?"
"I know something about promotion--" began Cordelia.
Xander coughed. "Self-promotion," he muttered, casually leafing through the morning paper while he sat next to the main sales counter.
Cordelia briefly looked annoyed but otherwise ignored him and pressed on with her explanation as if nothing had happened. "--and nothing says 'magic' better than Merlin. We need a Merlin for today's opening or it just won't work."
"I understand--almost--but why me?" Giles's voice had by now acquired an aggrieved tone.
Cordelia sighed and rolled her eyes as she tried once again to explain the oh-so-obvious, though with far less the tolerant humor than during the previous half-hour. "Merlin was a cranky old English guy, while I," she said, twirling about, skirt flaring out to reveal more of her legs and catching Xander's full attention at last, "am not. And purple is so not my color."
Giles glared at the clothing in his hand. "I'm not cranky!" he grumbled. Looking up and noticing skeptical looks from all those present he amended himself. "Alright, maybe I am. But I'm not old!"
Xander licked his thumb and turned to the next page and without looking up asked, "Who recorded 'Satisfaction'?"
"Brittney Spears," responded Willow and Tara simultaneously while Giles answered, "The Rolling Stones."
He looked over at the two girls in surprise. "Oh dear Lord," he sighed, looking heavenward. "I am old.' Resigned, Giles walked away shaking his head and prepared to put on the outfit. Xander smirked as he continued reading the funny pages.
"Thank you, Xander," said a relieved Cordelia.
"Anytime, honey. Anytime," he absently answered.
Xander glanced at his watch after finishing the page and jumped up. "Okay, I've got some errands to run this morning. Maybe I'll stop by later if I can; see how you're doing." Xander called over to Willow and Tara. "You guys wanted a lift to campus?"
Willow and Tara got up and joined him and they all quickly left the shop in a swirl of air and jingle of the door bell. With the loss of the three young adults the shop suddenly got very quiet, the soft ticking of the coffee-maker the loudest noise.
"Okay!" exclaimed Cordelia with as much enthusiasm as she could muster, "Now the customers will start rolling in."
"Yes!" agreed Giles, turning to face the entrance, pasting on the brilliant smile of an up-and-coming entrepreneur.
"Any moment now we'll be so busy we'll have to fend them off with chicken feet. This is the Hellmouth after all. Everybody around here needs some kinda magic junk in their life."
"Absolutely!"
Facing the door in anticipation, Cordelia rocked back and forth on her heels for a few seconds. "An-n-n-ny moment now."
They stood there for several long minutes, their cheery expressions becoming less and less cheerful by the moment.
Finally Giles grimaced and wandered back over to the sales counter. He hitched up the robe before sitting down, sighed again as he took one more look at the unmoving door, and began reading the paper Xander had left behind.
Cordelia had a bit more patience and fortitude but soon tired of the anticipation game as well. She went over and sat beside Giles. Glum, she accepted the offered cup of tea, blew across the top, and sighed in unison with Giles.
---
"You guys go on ahead. There's something I want to pick up in my room," Tara told Willow and Xander. "Just tell them I'll only be a few minutes late."
Xander looked around as Tara kissed Willow, and then waved goodbye to her before she rushed off toward her dorm. After seeing Tara off Willow rejoined him, winked at his embarrassment and decided to tease him about it.
"I thought guys liked to see two girls getting it on." She sidled up to him in a very suggestive manner.
Xander choked and coughed. "Well, yeah, I guess. I mean--but it's..." He stopped and gathered himself. "It's different somehow when one of them is my best friend. Don't ask why. It just is."
"Hmm, good recovery."
He offered his arm and she slipped her hand in the crook of his elbow as they started walking toward her meeting with some other Wiccans. Now that Anya was gone Xander was realizing how little time he had been spending with his friends lately, particularly Willow. He wanted to try and make up for it.
"How are the classes going?" Xander asked, squinting into the late morning sun bathing the campus.
"Oh, they're good, they're good. Lot's of learning happening in this neck of the woods. You know me, always enjoying the learning. Absorbing the knowledge. I'm a sponge, a knowledge sponge."
Xander looked sideways at Willow and saw right through her. "Not so fun, huh?"
A little chagrined, but not really surprised she couldn't fool her best friend, Willow didn't even attempt to back-pedal. "No. Not really. Don't get me wrong, it's all good stuff. Philosophy, ethics and value systems, religion, history of paganism. All great. But it's not actually 'fun'. I need to have some fun mixed in!"
"You're taking drama, that's fun isn't it?"
"That was supposed to be fun with Buffy. We could do scenes together and recite and practice and be overly melodramatic, but no-o-o, she has to train. Or slay. Or she's with Riley." She sighed and made a sour face. "I understand the reasons. We're all getting so busy with different things. All a part of growing up, I suppose. And it's not like Buffy can really take any time off. Still, sometimes it sucks."
They walked a ways in silence before Willow shook her shoulders and decided she wasn't going to let growing up and life's changes as a result thereof get her down. She was with her best friend on a gorgeous autumn day and that was all yummy goodness. "Enough about me, what about you? Your job, that's going well?
"Oh yeah!" Xander's eyes lit up and he become very animated, gesturing enthusiastically as he answered her. He described the projects he'd been recently working on and all the things he was learning about the trade. "I think I've really found my niche. Something I'm good at. I mean, something I am good and like. And it's helping people, y'know? I really like it. I like it a lot."
Willow was genuinely pleased and smiled proudly at him. "That's great, Xander!"
"I know it's not as important as what Buffy does, or even what you're doing. And the early hours are rough. I can't spend as much time at night helping out with the patrolling. But it's all good. Being on my own, away from that house, that's got to be the best move I ever made."
"Yeah, look at you! You're apartment man and promotion man and paying bills man. It's like you're a real grown-up, only young enough to still be kinda cool. I'm a little jealous in a way."
"Jealous?"
"Just a little," she winked. She remembered how it had been rocky for Xander the first year out of high-school, Anya being one of the few high points of his life. But it seemed to have been a great maturing process and he was all the better for it. The move away from home had been the final triumph and no one was more pleased than she when he'd finally gotten away from his parents. "But mostly I'm really proud of you!" She patted his hand and her eyes shone with pride.
Sheepish, Xander stopped and kicked at the ground lightly, toeing the dirt. He looked up at her. "Really? Proud?"
"Yes, Xander! You've really succeeded. I'm very proud of you." Releasing his arm Willow stepped around and up to him and pulled him into a tight hug. There was no trace of the awkwardness that once existed between them after the "fluke" and the factory incident. "We don't get to do this enough," she said into his jacket.
Xander squeezed just a little tighter. "You mean hug?"
"Yes, this too. Best friends should never be afraid of hugging. No matter what." She pulled her head back and looked at him sternly to make sure he got the message. "But this too. Just you and me, together, hanging out, like it was before Buffy."
"Bu--"
"Hey! Of course I don't want to go back to how it was before Buffy!" she reproved him. "But don't you sometimes miss it?" she asked in a light musing tone. "Just the three of us, remember? The duly sworn members of the 'We Hate Cordelia Club'?" Her voice assumed a sing-song lilt as she recited their motto, "'All for us, and one to hate!'" They both chuckled at the memory of all the silly little rituals they had invented for themselves.
But soon Xander's expression grew somber and he looked off into the horizon, peering around as if trying to find someone. When he finally brought his eyes back to Willow he took her hand in his and started walking again. "I miss Jesse," he said sadly, though without the paralyzing grief that used to plague him whenever he thought of Jesse.
"I do too," she agreed as she gently patted his hand again. "Heh, and now you're living with Cordelia!" Her face screwed up suddenly. "Oh, Goddess! Did I just really say that?"
"Living with Cordy," echoed Xander wonderingly, hardly believing he was saying it too. The somber moment gone as soon as it arrived, he chuckled. "Sounds pretty weird, doesn't it?"
Willow rolled her eyes and shuddered dramatically. "Boy, you can say that again!"
"Living--"
"But don't!" she hastily shushed him, pressing a finger to his lips.
Xander grinned and nodded but continued talking in a musing manner. "It's not as bad as I thought it would be. She's different somehow, don't you think?"
"Different?"
"Yeah. Like, she's really friendly with Tara. You must have noticed that. Could you have imagined that happening four or five years ago?"
"Well..." Willow paused to think about this new and not entirely welcome notion and was saved by their arrival in front of the steps to the building were the meeting was going to be. "Here we are. Thanks for walking with me, Xander." Willow gave Xander a quick hug before turning up the steps to Fischer Hall. She stopped a few steps up and turned around. "She is different, isn't she?" She turned before he had a chance to answer and quickly trotted up the rest of the steps, soon disappearing into the building.
Xander watched her go before turning and slowly wandering back through the campus to where he'd parked.
---
A very quiet and lonely couple of hours passed before Buffy and Riley sauntered into the customer-less shop. Riley, entering just behind Buffy, took off his jacket and hung it by the door and turned to continue.
"Hi Giles," he hailed, "how goes the Grand Op--"
He stumbled when he ran into Buffy, who was standing stock-still, gaping at Giles. When Riley looked past her shoulder he also gaped at the sight.
Recovering quickly, Buffy cocked her head first one way and then the other, looking very puzzled. A brilliant smile slowly emerged and she nodded her head approvingly. "You know, Giles, I like the new you. It works," she said cheerfully, "New car. New shop. New threads. We'll call you Giles, Mark II. Or maybe Kool-Aid Man."
"Been listening to Hendrix again, haven't you?" asked Riley, warily eying the colorful robe. "I thought you were married to your tweed. Going through a trial separation? Or are you going straight for the divorce?"
Giles's grin, brave and false, collapsed into a frown. "Yes, very funny. I think I shall reconcile with my tweed." Giles headed for the back room to dispose of the costume.
Both grinning and giggling like idiots, Riley and Buffy stepped down into the shop and casually looked about, not seeing anybody other than Cordelia fussing over by the candles.
"When do you start the Grand Opening?" Buffy asked Giles's retreating back.
"Since nine this morning," sighed Giles on his return. He pasted a smile back on his face. "Not to worry. I have confidence everything will work out splendidly. We just need a-a-a little more time for the word to spread."
"It's kinda spreading like cold molasses. You might have to wait years."
"I'm with you, Giles. I think you guys are gonna make it big!" Riley said enthusiastically, ignoring Buffy's mumbled "suck up" comment.
"Yes, err, thank you for your kind words of encouragement."
"Well in the meanwhile, since you're not too busy, here's a new toy for you to play with." Buffy dug into her bag and produced what appeared to be a frosted glass ball, about the size of a grapefruit, glowing with an inner shimmering silvery light.
Riley looked over Buffy's shoulder, curious.
Cordelia had finally bored of arranging the candles and made her way over to join them. She gave one glance at the ball and resumed her bored expression but nevertheless stayed to listen.
Giles was immediately interested and stepped up after polishing and donning his glasses. He extended his hands and Buffy handed the ball over. Gently and carefully rolling it back and forth, Giles squinted at it in concentration. After inspecting it from every direction he delivered his shrewd and considered expert opinion.
"Looks mystical."
"How can you tell?" asked Riley.
"It's doing that glow-y thing," Cordelia tossed over her shoulder.
Giles glanced over at Cordelia. "Err, yes, quite." He returned his attention to Buffy. "Where did you get it?"
"Last night. On patrol."
Riley looked both surprised and dismayed. "I thought you were staying in last night."
A guilty wince flashed across Buffy's face. "It was just a quickie. Patrol. A quick patrol. I just figured you still needed some more time to recover before going out again." She caressed Riley's arm, pouted and gave her best come-hither look but he still didn't look happy.
Giles asked, "It was just laying about?"
Giving up on placating Riley she turned and shrugged. "I guess. A security guard at the warehouse thought it belonged to me. He just handed it over."
Giles rolled it around some more, sniffed, and placed it down on a cloth on the counter-top. "Well, we'll look into it. I don't think there's any real rush though. In the meanwhile I think it would be a good idea to get some training in this morning."
"Can it wait? Mom wanted me to take Dawn shopping for some school supplies." She turned to head back out. "Riley?"
Distracted with his own thoughts Riley looked up in surprise before he answered. "Uh, no, no, I think I'd like to take up the workout offer. I can use the, uh, rehab. Meet you for lunch?" He smiled weakly.
"It's a date!" Buffy got up on her toes to give him a quick peck before she turned and breezed out the door. Riley watched her go, his face not betraying any emotion. While still staring at the door Buffy had just exited he asked, "Giles, it's alright if I use the..." he nodded in the direction of the training room.
Giles, examining the ball again, looked up quickly when he was addressed. "What? Oh! Yes, yes, by all means."
Riley nodded his thanks, turned and slowly made his way to the back room.
Cordelia followed him with her eyes and then shared a look with Giles. They listened to the muffled thumps and grunts as they waited in vain for their first customer.
---
"Thank you, and please do come again!" Giles cheerfully told the young woman. After watching her leave he waved one of the dollar bills in front of Willow. "See? Money! Someone came in to my shop, a-a-and purchased something. And gave me money!" He swept his arm about, "And look, there's another customer over there, and they might give me money too! After yesterday I was afraid we would have to close up straight away. I'm almost giddy!"
Willow grinned with shared excitement. "Congratulations, you're an official capitalist pig."
Giles couldn't wipe the silly grin off his face. "I'll have to think of what to buy with it. Perhaps--"
"I'm sure I've got some rope buried in here..." Willow had opened her bag and peered in.
Cordelia reached over Giles's shoulder and snatched the note from his fingers. "I'll take that."
Giles spluttered. "Cordelia! That needs to go in the cash register."
"No," she patiently explained, "This is our very first dollar from our very first sale. It gets framed and put on the wall. Tradition." She reached under the counter and brought out the small frame she had purchased prior to their Grand Opening and carefully fit the bill into it.
"But, but..."
Setting her bag aside, Willow said, "I hate to admit it, Giles, but she's right. It's very traditional to frame your first dollar. They can take away your business license if you don't."
Giles spun around. "Really?"
"No," Willow laughed, "But it's still a good running-dog tradition. Embrace it."
Giles demurred. "Well, in that case I suppose... But I'm allowed to spend the next one?"
"Absolutely. Splurge away. Live large!" Willow cheerfully patted Giles on the shoulder.
Some new customers entered and both Cordelia and Giles went over to help out. Willow sighed as she looked down at the pile of books before her and went back to scanning through the volumes. All her Internet searching had turned up nothing and so now she slowly flipped page after page, sometimes consulting another book to help decipher the text. She grew more and more dejected with each page full of nothing useful.
Willow brightened immeasurably when Tara returned after class and joined her, but her joy was short-lived when Giles quickly volunteered Tara to help out with the increasing number of customers and their naive questions.
Willow resumed her page turning, occasionally stopping and reading a bit, looking back over at the ball, and moving on. She looked up when Buffy burst through the door and went straight to Giles.
"Giles, I have an idea what's making my mom sick!"
"Oh? The doctor's found something?"
She waved him off. "No, not them. They won't find anything. It's supernatural!" She reached over to pick up the orb sitting next Willow. "The night watchman who found this thing? He went crazy - like overnight."
Willow pursed her lips and she and Giles both backed away. Buffy kept the ball and casually dismissed their concerns. "It won't hurt us. I had it on me all night. But this guy, he saw things... he said things."
"Such as?"
"They'll come at me through my family."
"They? Who will?"
"I don't know... yet. But whatever zonked this guy, it made him see something. Something the rest of us can't. He knew someone's hurting my mom and they're trying to get to me." Buffy looked desperate.
Giles sat and removed his glasses, waving them at Buffy. "Well, anything is possible, of course, I suppose," Giles said, trying to placate her, his brow puckered in concern. He was afraid Buffy was grasping at straws, grasping for any tiny thing she could do to help her mom no matter how silly or nonsensical it seemed. "But that's a bit of a stretch, don't you think? Your only proof is the ramblings of a madman?"
"But it's a start!" Buffy pleaded. "We need to find out who's making my mom sick and how."
Willow spoke up, trying to be calming, soothing, and encouraging all at once. "Okay, Buffy, we'll get on it. Madmen, glowing spheres, headaches. We'll find it," she told Buffy reassuringly.
Buffy's wild desperateness diminished fractionally. "We gotta find something, Will! I can't let my mom be hurt!"
---
"Hey guys, helping hand is here." Xander entered the shop, nodding with approval at the number of customers milling about. "That was some good work, Cordy. You've really gotten some notice around town. Even some of the guys at work were talking about it."
Expecting the usual jibe, Cordelia was non-plussed by Xander's sincere complement. "Oh. Uh...thanks." She flashed him a small uncertain smile and started to turn away when a thought occurred to her. "What are you doing here? I thought you didn't get off till four."
"You thought right. But it's foundation inspection time and Sunnydale's finest on-duty inspector has gone AWOL. They're trying to scare up the other guy, but until then we can't do a thing till we get their blessing. And as much as I'd like to guzzle beer with a bunch of guys with guts rolling over their belts and trading dirty jokes, I thought instead I might find somewhere I could actually be helpful. So here I am."
"You got carded, didn't you?"
"Well...yeah, that too," he admitted with a sheepish smile.
"You've found the right place. There's plenty to do," Cordelia said primly, waving at all the milling customers. She frowned when she saw Willow, having surrendered the research to Buffy, getting tangled in tape and paper. "Go help Willow with the gift wrapping. I honestly didn't think it was possible to be so pathetic." Cordelia shook her head in wonder and walked off to help elsewhere.
Xander briskly rubbed his hands together and went behind the counter to give Willow an assist. He unsuccessfully tried to keep from laughing as he patiently helped her get untangled from the tape monster she had conjured up and been nearly swallowed by. While removing the last bits of tape from Willow's hair he glanced over at Buffy. "Hey Buff! Anything new on the magic eight ball?"
"Huh? Oh, Um, no, not really." Buffy had had no more luck than Willow and casually flipped through a couple more pages without even looking at them. She blew a stray wisp of hair out of her face and closed the book with a decisive thump. "Not really the research girl here. There's too much stuff going on."
Looking around Xander noticed Riley wasn't present. He frowned. "Everything alright? You and Ri--"
"No, it's not that," she hurriedly corrected him. "It's mom. Her headaches are getting worse again. And that guy who gave me this ball was at the hospital this morning, acting all crazy. He said 'they' would get at me through my family. I think that's what's happening. Someone is attacking my mom, trying to get at me. Giles isn't so sure, but I am!"
Giles, having finished up with another customer, was still rather dubious. "I don't know..."
Tara, also nearby and overhearing Buffy's concerns, approached her. "I know of an incantation that can tell you if someone is under the influence of a spell. 'Tirer le Rideau'. It's--"
"Tired of riding?"
Willow winced. "Draw back the curtain."
"Do you mean Cloutier's?" asked Giles. "Yes, I've heard of that. I-I-it's a spell to see spells. Well, a trance to see spells, really. But still, I'm not sure this--"
"What do you mean "see" spells?" Buffy interrupted.
Giles dropped easily into lecturing mode. "All spells leave some kind of trace, a sort of signature. It's just not perceptible to the human eye. In this case, it could be the image of a hand choking your mother."
"Or a cloud of mist around her," added Tara.
"Or maybe the shape of the demon that's performing the spell?" asked Willow.
Giles agreed. "Possible, yes. This trance, if you perform it correctly, it puts you into an altered state of reality, allows you to see this spell, whatever form it may take."
Buffy looked pensive, tapping a finger on her knee as she thought. She nodded her head. "Okay, that sounds like what I need. I'll go home, I'll get trancey and I'll see who or what is hurting my mom."
Willow was worried. "I don't know, Buffy. Trances? They can be really quite intricate and tricky to do, a-and you need to get it just right. If something goes wrong you could be stuck in trance-ville."
"Yes, the Sorcerer Cloutier was legendary. His skills at achieving higher states of consciousness were--"
"But I've been practicing my concentration skills." Buffy was desperate. "I know I'm close, Giles!"
"Do you really think you're ready? The side-effects could be severe if something goes wrong. Or as Willow said, what if you never exit the trance. Or--"
Buffy didn't have to think any more about it. "It's my mom. I'll get ready." She swiveled to face her best friend. "Will, I'm going to do it. How do I get to Trancevillevania Station?"
Willow and Tara took Buffy over to one of the bookcases and pulled out the relevant volume. They sat down at an empty table and carefully explained it all to her. Then they helped gather all the necessary ingredients before going over it again even more carefully. Before she left, both Tara and Willow wished her good luck.
---
Tara suddenly looked excited, nodding her head as she re-read the passage. After reading it a third time to be sure, she called out, "I think I've found it!" She stood, pointing down to the dusty book in front of her and beckoning Giles.
Giles broke away from a customer and came over. "What have you got, Tara?"
"Look at this, Mr. Giles, I think this is it!" she said, pointing down at the page. "I think this is describing that orb."
Giles quickly read through the passage and became a little excited himself. He fetched the glassy ball from its place on the counter-top and brought it back to the table. He read through the passage again, more slowly, muttering as he compared the text description to the object in his hands. "I think you're right, Tara. A Dagon Sphere. It's some kind of defensive ward. A protection against ancient evil." His brow furrowed and he pulled off his glasses, biting down nervously on the ear-piece. "Hmm, it's not clear how it works, although it appears to be specifically targeted at 'That Which Cannot Be Named'. But at least it's not dangerous. Good work, Tara." He nodded approvingly. "I'll ring Buffy and let her know the good news."
Taking the book and the Dagon Sphere, Giles went behind the cash register and brought up the phone from underneath. He dialed quickly and drummed his fingers impatiently as he waited for Buffy to pick up.
"Buffy? Yes, Giles here. Listen, Buffy, we've found out what the ball is for. It's called a Dagon Sphere and it--what? Oh, Yes? What? Uh, wait just a moment Buffy."
With an impatient scowl he listened to the customer who had interrupted him, wanting to know where the bat ears were. "Over there, next to the shrew's tails." He pointed to the case containing all the small animal parts and returned his attention to Buffy.
"It didn't work? What do you mean?" He paused to listen to Buffy's answer. "Look, never mind that. Buffy, I think this is important. The sphere is a ward, a-a-a protection against evil, not the cause. Yes? Yes, I think that's a good idea. Ring me when you've found anything. Good. And be careful. If this thing is really a defense against evil it's possible that evil may not be far off."
Giles set the phone down slowly, his face set in an expression of worry, and stared pensively at the Dagon Sphere. Xander, who had just been getting the news from Tara asked Giles, "You gave her the good news?"
Giles looked up, surprised. "Oh. Yes, she got that. But the spell she performed, she said it's not working right."
"What do you mean 'not working right'?" asked Willow. "We gave her all the right ingredients. And the instructions. We went over them twice! And I even wrote them down, with little pictures and everything. A child could perform it."
"No, it's not that, Willow. It didn't show any magical or mystical influences on Joyce."
"That's good then, isn't it?" wondered Tara.
"One would assume, I suppose. But she then said something about, about..."
"About what?" asked Xander.
"About..." Giles hesitated to speak the next word "...Dawn. I didn't quite get what she was saying." He shook his head.
Cordelia, who had either been busy with customers or studiously ignoring the Scoobies gathered near the register, looked up suddenly. "Dawn?"
"Yes. She didn't add anything to that. After I mentioned the Dagon Sphere she decided to go back where she found it and see if there was anything more."
"We should go help," said Willow.
"I think Buffy is quite capable of doing a little investigative work on her own. She'll ring if she needs us. And," he looked around at all the customers that had flooded the store now that the office workday was over, "I need the help here."
Everyone was soon too busy to deal with or worry about the Dagon sphere, Buffy, or even Dawn. Not too much later an unhappy Riley arrived and chipped in as well.
---
Cordelia leaned back and moaned. "Oh...oh... yes! Right there! Yes. Oh my God, that feels so wonderful! Ahhh..." Her head lolled in rapture.
Xander glanced up from his ministrations, seeing an odd look from Willow. "What? You want next, Will?" he tiredly asked, "Get in line."
Giles looked up, interested, "Oh? There's a queue?".
"Nuh uh!" Xander emphatically shook his head. "I've got to draw the line somewhere!"
Willow wiggled her shoulder in anticipation and smirked at Giles.
Cordelia's eyes snapped opened when Xander had stopped. "Hey!" she said, demanding that he pay attention to what he should be doing.
With a weary sigh Xander bent back to his task and Cordelia was soon emitting soft moans of pleasure.
"Okay, now the other one," Xander instructed her, gently easing her stockinged foot back to the floor. She readily kicked off her pump and lifted her other foot up to his lap for its turn to experience Xander's foot massage technique. After cracking his knuckles and rolling and stretching his shoulders he began to gently knead her foot with both hands.
Cordelia's head rolled back languidly and her eyes closed, her features relaxing into rapturous repose. "Oh, that feels so wonderful. If I'd known you could do that I just might have considered taking taking you back."
Although she had made it an off-hand flippant comment, the reminder of his mistake nevertheless caused a flicker of guilty pain. Shrugging it off Xander kept on kneading and massaging her foot as she drifted away again.
When his hands and fingers began to tire and cramp he lifted her foot and gently set it back down on the floor.
"Thank you, Xander, that was...nice. Really nice."
"You're welcome. But damn, this retail biz is a rough gig! Gimme manual labor any day. But congratulations Giles, I think you've got a hit." Xander stretched and failed to stifle a yawn. "Now it's time for this carpenter to get some shut-eye. You coming with, Cordy?"
As Cordelia and Xander were collecting their jackets and preparing to leave she suddenly convulsed sideways, lurching into Xander. He stumbled but did not fall, automatically wrapping his arms around Cordelia to prevent her from falling as well. Her hand flew to press against her forehead as she suddenly cried out a loud and unintelligible sound.
She gasped as the vision poured in, a waterfall of pain cascading over and through her, blinding her to everything around. The pain began to subside, though only a little, and images flashed across her visual cortex. A dirty warehouse. A middle-aged man on his knees, screaming. A pair of hands somehow buried in his head, sucking the energy from his mind. The scrolling images repeated themselves as waves of agony continued to crash back and forth inside Cordelia's head.
Eventually, from a million miles away, Cordelia heard her name being called, repeated over and over. She tried to open her eyes but was blinded by the glare and immediately covered her face with her hands. She heard a voice tell someone to turn down the lights and she was immensely grateful. When Cordelia could finally open her eyes she saw all of her friends' faces clustered around her; shock, fear, worry and concern written on all of them.
"Can you hear me, Cordelia? What happened?" asked Giles
"Maybe she had an epileptic seizure?" wondered Willow.
Cordelia tried to shake her head but new spasms of agony stopped any further motion. "Vis--" was all she could croak out past a raw throat. "A vis--," she gasped once more before giving up.
Riley stood up, dumbfounded. "Avis? She wants to rent a car?"
Even through the tight rictus of pain Cordelia was able to express her disgust at Riley's idiocy. She needed to open her eyes and explain it to them but she also needed the pain to subside some more.
Xander had wadded up his jacket, placing it under head as a makeshift pillow, and was unconsciously gently stroking her hair. Xander looked up, suddenly realizing what she had been trying to say. "A vision! She had a vision." Seeing the confused expressions from everyone he clarified, "She gets visions of things that are going to happen. It's, um, something she picked up in L.A."
Cordelia managed to raise her hand slightly in Xander's direction indicating he had the right answer.
Giles looked skeptical. "Visions?"
"Yeah. She told me the other day. She gets visions of...bad things that are going to happen. So Angel can go stop it. She said they were really painful. I think that's what just happened."
Cordelia had a regained enough strength to nod her head to confirm Xander's statement.
Willow was plainly astounded. "You mean she's a, a...seer?" She was having trouble wrapping her mind around the concept that someone like Cordelia would be blessed with such a gift. Though now looking back down and seeing Cordelia's obvious suffering she wondered if "gift" was the right word.
As the receding remnants of mental agony slowly morphed into a merely killer headache Cordelia found she could finally speak coherently. "W-w-warehouse. Three-Eighty-Four San Tomas. Second floor. A man getting his brain sucked out by some demon. I didn't really see the demon. Stop. Have. To stop. It," she said breathlessly.
"What?"
Cordelia rapidly regained her strength and began to sit up. "Have to stop it." She still kept her eyes half closed.
"I'll try and ring Buffy," said Giles.
They waited as Giles called Buffy's house. Tara went to the bathroom and fetched some aspirin and water for Cordelia, who gave her a grateful smile.
Giles returned with a worried look on his face. "There's no answer," he informed them. "You said a warehouse, Cordelia?"
"Yeah," she nodded. Cordelia struggled to her feet and found the coat she had been about to put on. "Then we've got to go."
"Cor--" began Xander.
"Don't you 'Cordy' me!" she snapped, wincing and stumbling slightly before she was able to go on. "The longer. We wait. The more likely we'll. Be too late. We have to go. Now." She tried to step up the first step but found she lacked the energy and fell back again into Xander, who quickly set her upright.
Everyone stared blankly at her, either reluctant, or too confused, to follow.
She rolled her eyes. "Morons!" she said to the ceiling, "I've got morons on my team." With the force of a major earthquake for a headache behind it she leveled her most venomous glare at the assembled Scoobies. "Now, people!"
Everyone jumped into motion, Xander helping Cordelia up the steps as Giles held open the door. Willow and Tara went with Xander in his car when they realized they wouldn't all fit in Giles's.
---
The group ran up to the fence surrounding the warehouse where they saw Buffy huddled near the gate, hovering over a robed figure lying back against the fence.
"Buffy," called out Giles, "Are you alright?"
She spared a quick glance up to see her friends rushing toward her, interrupting her interrogation of the monk. In his weakened state the holy man was initially oblivious to the sudden presence of the newcomers and he continued speaking without interruption. Giles and the others arrived just in time to hear him say, "You have to... " He then noticed the others around and stopped, looking at each of the faces, reluctant to reveal what was meant only for the slayer.
But he knew his time was short and his message too important. With renewed determination he ignored them and focused once more on Buffy. "The Key. You must protect."
"Okay fine. We can protect the Key. Together, okay?" Buffy waved her hand. "Just far, far from here."
"He's looking bad," said Riley, who knelt down next to the monk and began gently checking for injuries. The monk winced at Riley's probings. Riley frowned and shook his head. "Not good." He took out a knife and started cutting away at the robe to expose the injuries.
Giles, more curious about what the monk was saying than concerned with his injuries, asked "What was that? Did he say 'Key'? What's this Key?"
The monk blinked and glanced up at Giles. "Energy. For the portal. It opens the do--"
"The Dagon Sphere!" burst out Willow.
The monk's strength was clearly fading fast as he made a barely noticeable shake of his head. "No. No. For centuries it had no form at all. My order its only keepers. The abomination, The Beast, it found us. We had to hide i-aughhhh!" He closed his eyes tightly and hissed in pain as Riley cut away another strip, wadded it up and began applying pressure to the worst of the wounds.
Riley looked back over his shoulder at the standing group. "I think he has internal injuries. We have to get him to a hospital. Now!"
The monk's eyes flickered open and he tried to push Riley away, singularly unconcerned for himself, focused only on his mission. "We gave it form, made it human... and sent it to you." The monk looked significantly at Buffy and sagged back even further. He needed the Slayer to understand so that she would fulfill her part.
Xander's face twisted in confusion as he also looked at Buffy. "Sent it to you? Human? What's that mean? Do you have a new house guest you're not telling us about?"
Buffy looked back at the monk, eyes growing wide and mouth falling open in shock as she began to understand the meaning of the monk's words. "Dawn. He means Dawn!" she said in a horrified gasp.
"Dawn?" echoed both Tara and Riley.
The monk nodded his head once. "She's the Key. We knew Slayer would protect."
"But...my memories. My mom's?"
"We made them." The monk gave a tiny shy smile, tinged with no small pride at his and his brethren's accomplishment.
Anger began to replace Buffy's disbelief and she snapped. "Un-make them! This is my life you're--"
The monk started a series of hacking rattling coughs, spitting up some blood onto his robe, even getting some on Buffy.
"Hospital, now!" shouted Riley again as he tried to lift up the monk.
Completely accepting of his fate the monk kept feebly pushing at Riley. He had only the one task to complete before he was done. He had to get the Slayer to accept her fate as protector of the Key. "You cannot abandon!" he husked.
Buffy got up, taking a small step back. "I didn't ask for this! Wha-wha-what is she?
The monk answered her with a small, sad smile, knowing his job was nearly complete the moment he heard the Slayer refer to the Key as "she". "Human. Helpless and human. She is innocent. She needs you."
Almost convinced despite herself, Buffy half-heartedly tried one more excuse. "But...she's not my sister," Buffy whispered.
Xander, still shocked by the exchange, squawked. "What? Not you're sister? Buffy, what're you two going on about?"
The monk steadfastly ignored everyone but Buffy, locking eyes with her. "She doesn't know that."
Giles, who was also in a bit of shock as he listened to the monk's words, shook himself out of his daze. They needed to know more. Much more. And they weren't going to get it if they allowed him to die. "Buffy, Riley's right, we have to get him to a hospital!" He knelt down and reached to get the monk's legs and help Riley lift him.
The monk saw Buffy's belligerent pose and expression gradually soften. He was done and he smile warmly up at Buffy, expressing his gratitude and confidence. Knowing his last earthly task was completed he exhaled one final wheezing breath and died.
Buffy, her life just turned upside down, stepped back and stared down at the body as Riley and Giles began administering CPR.
Xander kept on blathering, asking questions. "What's going on? What's he talking about? Dawn's not her sister? That's nuts!" Nobody was answering his questions so he turned directly to Buffy. "Buffy, wha--"
Cordelia smacked him on the back of the head. "Shut up, Xander!"
Buffy noticed the motion out of the corner of her eye and her face become cloudy again with anger. She marched around the monk's body to Cordelia and shoved her up against the fence.
"Hey, back off Mrs. Rambo!" Cordelia exclaimed, but quite unable to actually do anything about Buffy pinning her.
"That's what you were talking about, wasn't it?" Buffy angrily demanded from Cordelia, practically spitting in the taller girl's face. She pressed her harder against the fence, forearm nearly up in her throat. "What else did your 'vision' tell you about Dawn? About this, this 'Key'?"
Xander hastily jumped over and tried to pull Buffy away. At first Buffy didn't budge, eyes locked with Cordelia's. But she finally relented after a few seconds and let Giles and Xander pull her back, releasing Cordelia. While Giles held on to Buffy, Xander stepped between the antagonists and, after quickly making certain Cordelia was alright, turned to calm down his friend.
"Just hold on a minute, Buffy. What are you accusing her for? She's the sent us here, to help some guy getting attacked by a demon! We didn't know you were here also."
Buffy shouted over Xander's shoulder. "What else aren't you telling me, Cordelia? Huh? Are you mixed up with that hell bitch in there?" Buffy pointed at the warehouse on the other side of the fence, dust and debris puffing out of the ground floor windows. "Is that The Beast he was talking about! Well?"
"Hell bitch? Beast? What? Where?" asked Giles, rapidly turning his head to locate the new threat.
Despite her anger Buffy allowed Xander to gently push her back another step even as she continued to glare at Cordelia. Riley, after unsuccessfully trying to resuscitate the monk came up behind her and laid a hand on her shoulder, comforting his girlfriend.
As if it were a reminder Buffy's angry threatening expression changed to an anxious and worried one. "I've got to get home!" Buffy declared.
"What about him?" Tara asked, pointing at the body.
"I don't know, He's, he's..." Buffy trailed off, unsure about what needed to be done next.
"And the fellow we were sent to help?" asked Giles. "Is that the warehouse, Cordelia?"
Still rubbing her throat, Cordelia only nodded.
Giles turned to Buffy. "Did you see anybody else in there? Someone being attacked?"
Buffy's face knit in concentration. "Yeah. Yeah, I think there was some old guy. Kinda heavy." She looked back at the ruined warehouse. "I don't think he could have made it through that collapse," Buffy sadly informed him.
"Did he have a mustache? Balding? Maybe yay tall?" asked Xander, holding up his hand, palm flat.
"Yeah, that's him."
Xander sighed and shook his head. "I think we've found our wayward inspector," he said under his breath.
Buffy was getting agitated. "Can we get back to Dawn? And what about him?" she pointed to the deceased monk.
Decisively Giles said, "Riley and I will take care of it. You go home, Buffy."
"We will?" asked Riley, preferring to go with Buffy.
Giles's glare quickly caused him to agree. "I'll need a witness to vouch for my story."
"How do I get back then?" asked Buffy.
"Xander drove here as well. All of you can fit in his car. Riley and I will take care of this and then we'll all meet tomorrow."
Xander dithered for a few seconds, hesitant to leave, but then decided. "All right, let's go," he said. He led the way back to his car, leaving Giles and Riley behind to call 911. Xander had no idea what story Giles would spin to the cops, but for the time being he didn't care.
---
Xander slowed and gently turned up into the driveway at the Summer's residence, letting the car drift to a stop before toeing the brakes. It had a been a strange and uncomfortable ride back from the warehouse, the tension between Buffy and Cordelia still simmering. Fortunately they both had stayed silent rather than resorting to the vicious catfight Xander had almost expected. Tara and Willow had whispered together furiously in the back seat beside Cordelia but after an initial series of unanswered questions to Buffy they too became quiet.
His own thoughts were still spinning from all the news; not only that Dawn was not real, but that Cordelia had known something about it and never said anything.
It became eerily quiet after Xander turned off the engine. Nobody moved or said anything for several long moments, the sound of their breathing and the chirping of crickets the only thing they heard. Tara put her hand in Willow's and received a reassuring squeeze. Xander looked out at the house, seeing one of the lights on upstairs, absently noting it was not Buffy's room. He glanced in the mirror at Cordelia sitting in the backseat.
Finally Buffy reached for the door handle. Willow leaned forward against the seat and put her hand on Buffy's shoulder, stopping her. "Are you going to be okay, Buffy?"
"Yeah, sure," Buffy answered dryly.
"It's just...you've been silent for so long. And, y'know, best friend here. And I'm worried, and maybe we should all go in, and--"
Buffy turned and smiled for the first time all evening. "It's okay, Will. I'm good. Really." Buffy opened the door and stepped out into the cool night air. She walked hesitantly around the car toward her house and then stopped. She squared her shoulders and seemed to fill with strength and resolve. Looking back at her friends she said, "I just need to apologize to someone."
Cordelia raised her eyebrows expectantly.
"Who?" asked Xander.
"My sister."
---
Early the next afternoon they were all gathered around a picnic table on campus, just outside Stevenson Hall, in a slightly secluded spot within a small grove of trees. Tara was the first to talk to Buffy. "How's Dawn?"
"She's good," Buffy answered neutrally. Then she cocked her head and reconsidered the previous night's events and smiled brightly. "Yeah. Good. We're good."
"Buffy, you said you had to fight something before you rescued that monk fellow. Something about a-a 'hell bitch'? Was this the 'The Beast' the monk was referring to?" asked Giles.
Buffy looked unsure, wrinkling her nose. "Well, she didn't really look like much of a beast."
"What did she look like? And how do you know it was a 'she'?"
"She looked like a person, a woman. A really, really strong woman. Stronger than me. With an attitude. I don't like her!" Buffy declared.
"Attitude?" asked Xander.
"I did say 'hell bitch'. She was kinda like," she quickly glanced over and noticed Cordelia inspecting her nails, "nobody we know. Only with super strength and a bad perm. And the attitude. Did I mention that?"
Xander made a goofy grin. "Badder than a whole King Kong?"
"And meaner than a junk yard dog." Buffy's own grin faded. "Nuttier, anyway."
"Err, yes. If that's 'The Beast' and she's as strong as you say she is, then it's probable that's not her real appearance. Now, the monk said she would be after this 'Key'?"
"Which is what Dawn is!" chipped in Willow.
Buffy rolled her shoulders and rolled her eyes, showing she was still not entirely comfortable with the concept. "Yup."
"That's just so incredible. I can hardly believe it. Dawn is some kind of mystical..." Tara mused wonderingly.
Buffy gave Tara a hard look. Tara was immediately apologetic. "I-I-I only mean she seems like such a normal teenager. It's going to be a-a little strange. Being around her, knowing what she really is."
Willow nodded her head while Giles raised his eyebrows. However Xander was emphatically and angrily shaking his head.
"You don't agree, Xander?" asked Giles.
"No! Not at all. I was thinking about it last night--"
"Oh boy, here it comes," warned Cordelia.
"I. Was. Thinking." He glared at Cordelia, who looked away after a moment. He returned his attention to the others. "What difference does it make?"
"But she's not real!" pointed out Willow. "That's a pretty big difference," But Buffy was watching Xander with interest and motioned him to continue.
"Right. Right. She's not real." Xander looked around to each of them gathered and then back to Willow. "How do you know that?" he demanded. "You can all sit there and tell me she's this green key energy thingy. And maybe you're right." He tapped his finger to his temple. "But everything I know, everything I remember," he moved his hand over his heart, "everything I feel, tells me she's Buffy's sister."
"But those are fake memories," argued Cordelia.
He turned to face her. "And as far as I'm concerned, so what?" Xander waited for an answer and got none. "Fake or not, it's the reality I know. Who's to say what you're telling us isn't the implanted memory."
"But it isn't! That's what my first vision was telling me. Dawn isn't real. I didn't understand it then, but now it makes sense."
Xander nodded. "Okay. Prove it." Xander looked at everyone sitting around the table. "Prove to me Dawn isn't real. Prove that this scar, where she hit me with a lawn dart two years ago, isn't real. Prove that last year she didn't buy those cheap earrings I can see Buffy still wearing right now."
"Hey!" Buffy put her hand up to the earrings, a gift from Dawn she truly cherished.
"See, I don't think you can. So I don't care if some strange guy in a ratty bathrobe spins some crazy story about Dawn being a 'Key'. I don't care if your vision says she's made out of gooey green energy. Cause you know what? It just doesn't matter." The tone of Xander's voice had filled with increasing conviction and certainty. "She's as real to me as Buffy or the rest of you. And as far as I can tell that's just as good a theory as that guy's, and that's what I'm living by."
Xander's face was slightly flushed and he was breathing a little hard. He forced himself to calm down. The others were nodding their heads with thoughtful expressions. He turned and spoke directly to Buffy. "I don't know why, okay, but some demon hell bitch wants her, right? Okay, we deal. We'll protect her. All of us. We won't let anybody hurt your sister." Xander looked around at all his friends again and sat, slightly embarrassed over his outburst.
Giles was the first to say something. "Xander may have something there. If she really is human, and all our memories are consistent... meta-physically we may have no way of proving Dawn is not real." Giles stopped and shook his head a little to try and work things out.
"Good," said Xander, glad at least one of the gang was on his side. He looked up at Buffy who started smiling, a small one at first but quickly growing to a brilliant sunny smile.
"Thank you, Xander. You're right. You're absolutely right!"
"I am?" Xander couldn't help the big goofy grin forming on his face. "Really?" Buffy nodded her head. "Can I get that in writing? And notarized?"
She slapped him playfully and gave him a quick hug.
Giles stepped in with a dose of reality. "I would remain cautious and not ignore everything the monk said. Between the sudden appearance of that sphere, which I don't think is coincidence, this Beast or hell bitch or whatever, and since Cordelia's vision seems to independently confirm it, I think we should at least tentatively accept some of what we were told. We need to research this very thoroughly, particularly about this Beast and its goals. If this thing poses a danger to Dawn, and potentially to us and the world, for whatever reason, then we need to know its motives, its strengths and weaknesses."
The gang murmured their agreement. Giles said he would start looking through some texts he thought might be relevant and asked Willow and Tara to do their usual work on the Internet. Buffy said she would start keeping her ears open, maybe even try to interrogate some demons. Riley said he still had some contacts in the government who might know something.
---
Xander wandered out of his bedroom. "Hey Cordy, you ready to--" He stopped when he noticed Cordelia speaking on the phone, obviously in the final moments of her call.
"You too. And give my love to Gunn. Bye." Her wide smile faded when she hung up, replaced by a sad wistful expression as she stared at the phone.
Xander tapped her lightly on the shoulder. "Hey. You about ready to go?"
Startled by the touch she looked up to see Xander half-way into his jacket. "Oh. Good morning, Xander," she answered listlessly.
Xander waved his hand at the phone. "L.A.?"
"Yeah, um, yeah. That was, uh, Wesley."
"And everything is... good down there?" Although he had put most of his issues with Angel behind him, recognizing and accepting they had stemmed from a childish jealousy he still sometimes felt, Xander refused to ask about him directly. "Wesley's okay?"
"Sure. Peachy."
"Peachy," echoed Xander. And for reasons he couldn't explain he found the next question incredibly difficult to ask, swallowing hard in the middle. "You're going back then, huh?"
Her head snapped up. "What?"
"Everything is good in L.A.. Peachy. A whole bushel of fruity goodness. You've given us the message, y'know, from your vision, so I guess that means your job here is done. So you'll be heading back to Tinsel Town, right?"
"Well, no, not exactly. Wesley's okay. Gunn too." She smiled sadly, for she greatly missed her friends. Then her expression got cold and and a trace of bitterness edged her voice. "But apparently Angel is still being a dickhead." Realizing her anger wasn't going to do any good for anybody Cordelia sighed and forced herself to let it go. "Dawn is still in danger, no changes there. Unless the visions say otherwise, I'm staying-here-in-good-ole-Sunnydale girl."
Xander felt himself relax, an odd sense of relief sweeping through him. He hadn't realized how tense he had gotten hearing Cordelia might be leaving. His original worries, that having Cordelia for a roommate would be nothing but trouble, had turned out to be wonderfully misplaced. In fact, during the rare moments he was truly honest with himself, Xander could admit it was turning out pretty darn well. She didn't actually insult him very often, and even when she did they were half-hearted or obviously just teasing. Their verbal skirmishes lacked the calculated viciousness they had after their breakup and had regained some of the light teasing quality they used to have when they were a couple.
The only real difficulty was his growing feelings toward her. Xander was unable to deny it, even as he stayed in control and made sure she didn't notice anything. He knew she would eventually return to L.A. and he knew that day was going to hurt more than he once thought possible.
"Look, if you want to skip out on Buffy's move that's fine. You can drop me off on campus and take my car to L.A. to, y'know, check in with the gang. Call me if you decide to stay and I'll figure out a way to get the car back."
Her head whipped around, her face registering surprise. "No, Xander! I said I'm staying."
"Bu--"
"The sooner you stop talking the better for everyone." She fetched her purse and got into her sweater while he waited by the door. Then he waited some more as she made one last dash to the bathroom to check and fix her appearance, and then they were off.
---
"Hey, will Mr. Dork and Mr. Moron get their butts over here and actually help?" yelled Cordelia, who was in the middle of putting some pencils in a box.
Xander, who had Riley in a headlock, asked him, "Am I the dork, or the moron?"
Riley, about to lift Xander up into a suplex onto the mattress, looked puzzled as he thought about it. "You're the dork," he finally answered, "I think."
"And you're the moron?"
"Yeah, think so."
"Okay. Just so we're straight."
They both simultaneously broke their holds on each other.
"I've got a girlfriend, so we know I'm straight," Riley teased. "But you..."
"And that's supposed to imply something? Moron?"
The two roughhousers immediately went into a clench again, pushing each other around Buffy's cluttered dorm room, crashing into the desk and knocking over a stack of CDs and a bag of stakes.
This time Buffy interceded. "Hey! Don't make me enroll you in the Slayer school of hard-knocks. And I mean that in the literal!" She smacked her fist into her palm for show and emphasis.
The two boys jumped apart again, pointing at each other.
"He started it," they whined.
"Does it look like I care?" Buffy's mock scowl was enough to send Xander scurrying about picking up boxes. He raced out the door, leaving a very chagrined Riley behind to continue loading up. Buffy broke up into a fit of giggles after Riley disappeared into the other room to gather more things.
"Boys!" Cordelia rolled her eyes, and received an agreeing look from Willow.
"I don't know. I think they're kinda cute when they horse around," commented Tara, who had just wandered in for the tail end of the ruckus.
Cordelia looked up from dropping Beany Babies into a box. "You're nuts. You know that, right?" she said, her words softened by the friendly smile and tone.
"Maybe," Tara agreed with a small smile. "I've got two younger brothers, and Xander and Riley sometimes remind me of them."
"Just two brothers?" asked Cordelia, intrigued, as it seemed she had yet to meet anyone other than Buffy with siblings.
"Three. I have an older one, too." Tara's smile lost some of it's happiness.
"Yeah? So what's your family like?" Riley asked as he re-entered the room, hefting a large box. Tara picked up a stack of sheets and walked out with him, her answer lost as they disappeared into the hallway and around the corner. Soon after, Xander came back from dropping off his load.
Looking around quickly, Willow ducked into the hallway to make sure Tara was not around. She came back in and motioned for everyone's attention. "Guys, guys, tomorrow night, eight o'clock, it's all set!"
"All set?" asked a perplexed Buffy.
"Bronze. Tara's party." Willow sighed, slightly annoyed her best friend had forgotten.
"Party?"
"Tara's birthday party. Remember? I mentioned it a couple of days ago and you were all cheers and party mood then!"
"Oh that. Yup, we'll be there!" Xander cheerfully answered. "With the Party favors and the, uh presents, and the food. Right, Buff? Par-tay! Yes, fun!" Buffy quickly nodded her head and turned away, taking her load down to the car.
Cordelia gave Xander a suspicious look.
---
A short while later Cordelia and Xander carried the last of Buffy's boxes toward his already overloaded car. A hint of a smile played on his lips as Xander pretended to listen to Cordelia's litany of complaints about working on her day off.
"Ah yes," he answered when she finally ran down, "all the sitting about, the ever needful sarcasm, telling everyone about the sacrifice of giving up your beauty sleep. Awful, just awful. I feel for you, Cordy, I really do."
She didn't rise to the bait. "Just keeping you and Riley from breaking everything in sight is more than I should have had to bear. And Giles was no help at all! Kept crying about a double deviated hernia or something."
Xander smirked and said nothing. They soon reached the car and Xander opened the back door to stuff in the last box.
"So," Cordelia said to his back, "What did you get her?"
Xander backed out of the car and looked up, confused. "Huh? Get who what?"
"Tara. What did you get her? Birthday gift, remember?"
"Oh, that..." he turned away from her as he continued. "Well, it's something. Something very--"
Cordelia stepped in front of him and blocked his hurried attempt to open the front door, her stern expression a mix of amused exasperation and genuine disappointment. For the briefest moment he stared, transfixed by her, as he marveled at how much she could say with just a down-turned mouth and a raised eyebrow.
"You didn't get her anything, did you?"
"Well I meant to," he waffled. "I want to. I will. Really. I like her a lot, and she's really very nice. But it's, it's just..." He floundered when he couldn't explain himself.
"Just? Just what?" She leaned back against the car, arms crossed, preventing him from getting in. "I can't wait to hear Xander's reason for failing to get a friend a birthday gift! Well?"
Xander's face contorted in concentration as he tried to think of a good excuse. But he had none and so instead opted to honestly state his predicament. He had learned the hard way the truth was always better with Cordelia Chase.
"She's been with Willow for almost a year, okay? But in a lot of ways it's like I still hardly know her. This whole thing with Willow...it's new, the Wicca vibe and all. But she's still Willow, and I can always eventually figure out what to get her.
"But Tara..." he shook his head in confusion. "I just know she's really nice and she likes Willow." He gave a quick laugh. "And it seems like she knows lamer jokes than I do. Okay, that's beside the point. Other than that," he shrugged, "I don't have a clue. Look, I have a day, I'll figure something out." He stopped and looked at her curiously. "What did you get her?"
"Oh, I've already found the perfect gift." His eyes widened in surprise and she glared in return. "But you, Xander, you'd never figure it out if you had a lifetime. I don't know why I should, especially on my day off, but I'm going to do you a favor."
"A favor? You actually know what one of those is?"
"Something you don't deserve, but I'm feeling charitable today for some reason. I just have one word for you, Xander, one word."
"Yes?" Seeing her get oddly intense like this he got a little anxious and edged back a tiny bit.
Cordelia caught the motion and narrowed her eyes dangerously. "Are you listening to me, Xander?"
Promptly he stepped forward again. "Oh, yeah! Here. See? Me listening. Right here. A favor. One word, you said?"
Satisfied he was paying full attention she let him have it.
"Jewelry"
"What?"
"Jewelry."
"But she's Wiccan. And she already has Willow."
"Not Jewry, matzo-balls-for-brains! Jew-well-rey!" Cordelia slowly pronounced each syllable. "When in doubt, when all else fails, when you have no idea what to get a girl: jewelry."
At first Xander's eyes lit up but then he became downcast and his shoulders slumped. "Thanks for the thought, Cordy, but I can't really afford anything like that."
"Yes, yes, diamonds are a girl's best friend," she waved dismissively, "but even I've learned there are suitable alternatives. There's a nice store around the corner from ours. I'm taking you there as soon as we drop off Buffy's junk."
---
They entered the cool and tastefully decorated store, Cordelia with an easy confident air born of familiarity, Xander hesitant and overawed, head swiveling rapidly as he took in all the glittering displays flashing in every color of the rainbow.
Xander took another long look around and swallowed hard. "Cordy, I don't thi--"
"The semi-precious jewelry section is over there." She waved him over to the back of the store. When he didn't move and only looked more bewildered she arched a brow. "It's the stuff you can afford."
He made a silent "ah", and headed off in the indicated direction.
She remained in the section with the diamonds, rubies and emeralds. It wasn't Tiffany's or Van Cleef & Arpels, but the brilliantly sparkling baubles on display were impressive nonetheless. She looked longingly at the beautiful necklaces, earrings and bracelets she couldn't afford anymore and sighed. After a few minutes wistfully gazing at a pair of diamond earrings she sighed again and went to join Xander, for he was who he was and would most definitely need her help.
Coming up beside him she looked over his shoulder to see what he was interested in. He seemed to be focusing on a multi-colored amber pendent set on a delicate silver chain. The pendant was formed of three square pieces of amber, each of a slightly different shade in red, yellow and green, arranged in-line as a rectangle. Sensing her presence behind him he glanced over. "This one," he confidently told her.
"You surprise me Xander. It's beautiful." She gave him a approving smile. "Maybe there's hope for you yet."
Cordelia waited outside while he completed the purchase. He soon joined her and now that their mission was accomplished they stood together awkwardly, blinking in the California sun on this unusually warm day.
"I'm glad you found something. It's very nice and I know she'll like it." She paused, as if waiting for his turn to say something. When he didn't she turned to go but was stopped unexpectedly by Xander's hand on her arm. She flicked her eyes down at the hand on her arm then back at him, her expression blank.
"Cordy, I just... Thanks. I really don't know what I would have done. Thank you for helping me."
Her once expressionless face transformed into a warm and dazzling smile, and she tipped her head. "It was my pleasure." Then her smile disappeared. "But Xander?"
"Hmm?" he asked, wary.
"A word of warning. Jewelry is good. Almost always. But if that's all you ever get someone it means you don't care enough to find out what a girl really likes. Tara is more than just 'Willow's girlfriend'. Get to know her. Get to be her friend too." She reached up and gently straightened the lapel on Xander's coarse cotton work-shirt and smoothed it down flat, her hand lingering on his chest marginally longer than necessary. "Now I have important things to do, non-losers to be with, better places to be." She flashed him a last impish grin and walked off.
Xander stood rooted to the spot he was in, watching her walk away, strangely noting how her hair shone in the sunlight. He was still staring for several seconds after she had disappeared around the corner before he finally shook himself. The woman never ceased to amaze and surprise him. With a soft snort and a quick shake of his head Xander turned in the opposite direction and whistled tunelessly as he walked with a light step back to his car.
---
Cordelia and Giles were heading to the Bronze directly from The Magic Box, while Xander stopped at home to clean up some cuts incurred during the fight that had ended just before Tara's family arrived to take her away. As Xander cleaned a scrape he giggled as he remembered their faces when the Maclay clan was told to beat it out of town.
While passing Willy's he did a double-take, nearly hitting a parked car, when he saw Riley exiting the demon bar with a girl who was obviously not Buffy. He quickly pulled over and jumped out. Riley didn't notice him until Xander skidded to a stop in front of him and the girl.
Xander wasn't sure what the situation was and put on a front of false good cheer. "Hey Riley! Haven't seen you around in awhile, man." He clapped Riley on the back and winked at him ridiculously. "Who's the babe?"
Riley had started clenching his jaw as soon as Xander showed up. This was not something he had any kind of reasonable explanation for and he just wanted Xander to go away.
"Uh, Xander, yeah. Umm..." Riley looked sideways at the girl beside him giving him a quizzical looks. "Yeah, this, this is Sandy. She's... my sister. Visiting from out of town." He groaned inwardly at the lameness of the lie.
"Sister? Really? But I thought you only..." Xander looked unsure of himself as he glanced back and forth between Riley and Sandy, suddenly ashamed for thinking the worst. "Oh, I'm sorry. Where are my manners? Hi, I'm Xander, a friend of Riley's." He put his hand out to shake Sandy's, yanking it back when he heard her growl ominously. Xander shot a startled look of surprise at Riley, who was already in motion, his hand flashing out to stake the vampire.
Wordlessly they stared down at the pile of dust between them, Riley deeply embarrassed, Xander shocked. Xander finally looked up at Riley, as angry as he'd ever been. "You got an explanation for that?" he pointed at the ground.
Riley had the decency to look ashamed. He shook his head but said nothing.
Xander calmed himself down before he spoke. "This got anything to do with Buffy?"
Riley looked up quickly and started to deny it, "N--" He stopped and sighed. "Do I seem kittenish to you?"
"Huh?" It was not quite the explanation he was expecting.
"Uh, never mind. Forget it."
"Sure." Xander nodded his head sympathetically but was still angered. "Damn it, Riley, didn't you listen to anything I said last week? Huh?" He rapped Riley's head with his knuckles. "We got a learning disability here?"
Riley winced but gave no answer.
"Okay, let's start with the basics. Do you love her?" He saw Riley glance down at the blowing dust. "Buffy, I mean!"
"You know I do," Riley said in a small pleading voice.
"And you were listening to me before?"
"Yeah. Xan--"
"Shut up!" Xander flicked his hand in the direction of Willy's. "Why this, then? What the hell are you thinking?"
"She-- I feel like--" Riley looked up at Xander with imploring eyes. "It's like, it's like I've been put away on the shelf. She's shutting me out. And, I don't know, I just..."
Xander nodded in understanding. "Yes, she shuts down. We've been over this before. But if you say you love her, and if you really mean it, then you've got to stay strong! First for yourself, and then for her. You have to believe me. It may not seem like it sometimes, but she does need you. For God's sake don't fuck it up. Take it from me, I've been there. Don't do anything stupid you're going to regret. Don't screw up the best thing that's happened to you."
Xander relented. "C'mon, we got a party to get to."
Riley looked up, surprised. "You're not going to tell Buffy?"
Xander shook his head. "No, not this time. You've got one more chance. Make the most of it."
Xander started walking back to the car, Riley falling in line. They walked a few steps when Riley asked, "You and Cordelia?"
Xander shrugged and kept his eyes looking straight ahead. "Yeah. Buffy told you that story?"
"Uh huh."
Xander let out two years worth of guilt-ridden sigh. "I knew I had a good thing going with her, but...I-I don't know...I... for some reason I thought I needed more. Or something. I don't know. Looking back on it I think I was just plain stupid. And selfish. Nearly getting her killed didn't make it any better either. I just didn't realize how good I had it until too late."
He turned to look at Riley and make sure his friend got the message. "Don't let that happen to you." Riley nodded his agreement. Xander halted and put an arm across to block Riley and turned to fully face the taller man. "And don't ever do something like that to Buffy, or I'll have to kill you." Xander held his serious pose for another moment before he grinned and lightly cuffed Riley's shoulder.
With the tension eased, Riley laughed and threw a lazy punch back, which Xander easily dodged.
"Alright Xander, message received loud and clear."
---
Xander and Riley entered the Bronze and quickly spotted the far table where the party was just getting started. It was a busy night and they had to wade into the crowd and force their way through. Riley, seeing Buffy appear at the table, stopped, overcome with renewed uncertainty.
Xander refused to let him get cold feet and pulled him along, skirting around the pool tables. Just before arriving at the table Xander brought them up short. "We're about to enter another dimension," he intoned. "Not only of drink and dance but of merry females. This will be a journey which few men have come out unscathed. Time to get our testosterone on." They manfully squared their shoulders and resumed their approach to the table surrounded by all the women in their lives.
Riley indicated a figure on the far side of the table, engaged in conversation with Joyce. "But Giles is--"
"He's British, doesn't count. Thinks football is some sissy game where they can't even use their hands." Xander snorted.
"Gotcha."
There were warm smiles and loud raucous greetings all around as the two men joined in. Seeing that everyone was present Buffy called for their attention. She gave Giles the signal and he left to go back behind the bar to fetch something.
"Guys, guys! Everyone quiet down. Yes, that includes you, Xander."
Xander sheepishly ducked his head and grinned foolishly.
"Okay, it's now time to ruin our figures. But it's all in a good cause, for we have some important celebrating to do." She looked back to check on Giles's progress. "I see my able assistant has ably performed his duties..." Buffy stood back from the table to let Giles through.
Giles was carrying a beautifully decorated cake, with little icing witches flying on their broomsticks around the side, glowing in the light of the twenty candles atop it. He placed it on the table with a restrained flourish.
Tara, already overwhelmed by the outpouring of friendship, good wishes and warmth from her new family simply goggled, mouth open in joyful shock at the scene before. It took her a moment to realize they were nearly finished singing to her and she hastily tried to wipe away her tears.
"Make a wish! Make a wish!" several people called out.
Tara looked around and nearly burst out in happy tears again. Drawing in a strengthening breath and getting a reassuring squeeze from Willow she got herself under control. Tara briefly closed her eyes, prayed for the safety of all her friends and family, and blew out the candles. The cheering drowned out the music for a few seconds and everyone called for the eating of cake and opening of presents.
She gave Giles a chaste kiss on the cheek for the crystal ball he had gotten her. He mumbled something about decorum and then proceeded to wander about with a small silly grin on his face. The aqua and muted purple cashmere sweater from Cordelia immediately replaced the one she was wearing and the hug she gave Cordelia was returned warmly. Tara was nearly speechless when she opened the box from Xander and saw the amber necklace nestled inside. She gave him both a hug and kiss which he accepted far more gracefully then Giles.
As Tara continued to open her other gifts Willow nudged Xander. "I just want to apologize. I thought you were lying when you said you already had something. That is just so beautiful, Xander, I had no idea you had such good taste."
"Well...I did have some good advice." He cast a quick glance at Cordelia, which Willow did not catch. She assumed it must have been Buffy and didn't say anything.
When some of the hubbub had died down and a song Xander liked began playing he was the first to claim a dance with the birthday girl. After dancing for a few bars Tara spoke up. "I wanted to say thank you, Xander. What you did, all of you, it meant a lot to me."
Xander accepted her appreciation with quick nod. But she wasn't done. Tara swallowed hard and blurted out, "I never meant to hurt anyone! I was just so scared what everyone would think, and, and--"
"Hey, hey, hey, Tara, easy. Calm down. Believe me, when it comes to screwing up magic spells, you're talking to an all-time Olympic gold-medalist here. Look, nobody really got hurt, and we got to kill some demons and bully some bullies. And now we get to party! You can't ask for much better than that on the Hellmouth."
"But you could've gotten seriously hurt! And then when you stood up to Donny for me--"
Xander's happy expression quickly changed, becoming intense and serious. "We protect our own, Tara." Then he chuckled lightly and defused the mood. "Through rain and hail and nasty demons, and, and... oh, I forget the rest." He changed the conversation before she had a chance to feel any more embarrassed by anything she'd done. "So can you explain that thing again with the bug in the mirror?"
She explained about the meaning of the various types of "spirit reflections" and got him to laugh a little. "Not too bad, not too bad." He waggled his hand. "I'll give it a seven-point-five on the funny-meter. Now, where do you stand on elephant jokes?"
She gave him an odd look. "Elephant jokes? I don't know, I've--"
He grinned wolfishly, eager to introduce her to a whole brave new world of awful jokes. "Let's try an easy one, one of the best. Ready?"
She prepared herself for the worst, playfully flexing her shoulders and putting on a scowling I'm-ready-for-anything-do-your-worst expression. "Ready! Riddle your worst!"
"Why do elephants sleep on their backs with their feet in the air?"
Cordelia had been paying attention to Xander and Tara dance and talk, watching as Tara's initial awkward discomfort faded away with each passing moment with Xander. She watched as Tara intently listened to Xander for a few seconds and then break into laughter. She wondered what he had said and was glad to see him finally connecting with Tara, nodding in silent private approval.
The party soon got into full swing, some people dancing, others in shifting clusters of conversation as people drifted from one group to another. At one point Buffy chatted with Tara, while Riley and Willow danced to a fast number. Cordelia discussed the latest fashion trends in L.A. with Joyce. Xander was losing badly in a game of pool with Giles, grumbling about all the free work at the Magic Box he was going to owe if he didn't get a steadier shot.
When the fast song ended a tired Willow returned to the table, but Riley was all jazzed up and wanted to dance some more. Buffy, who had been doing plenty of dancing wanted to continue her conversation with Tara and desisted. He looked about and with only the slightest hesitation stepped over to Cordelia and asked her for the next dance.
Though surprised, she agreed as she had been getting a little into the groove herself and was hoping to do more than just sit and talk, even as pleasant as that had been. Cordelia was relieved to discover that although he was a bit long-limbed and oafish, Riley was actually a pretty decent dancer. She was able to really enjoy herself as she showed off some of her best moves much to the appreciation of the males around her.
The song ended and Cordelia thanked Riley as they returned to the table. When the next song began Xander and Willow took to the dance floor while Tara unsuccessfully tried to pull Giles out. Tara gave up with a laugh and rejoined the group at the table. Cordelia watched as Dawn, running off to cause some more mayhem, cut across her line of sight. Leaning back in her seat, rapidly puffing out the collar her dress to cool herself, Cordelia felt content as she let the flow of music and conversation wash over her.
"Having a good time, Xander?" Willow asked as they began dancing. A tiny worry line had formed on her forehead and Xander had the sudden urge to gently rub that worry line away. "I'm having a great time, Will!"
Glancing around Xander at the the table she asked, "Do you think Cordelia is having a good time?"
They turned and Xander also looked over at Cordelia, who was back in deep conversation with Giles and Joyce. He grunted in a non-committal way. "Maybe, I guess."
"Why haven't you danced with her?"
"Huh?"
"You've danced with Tara, Buffy twice, Dawn once. Even a couple of girls you don't know. But not Cordelia. Why?"
"I hadn't realized. Hmm. It's not as if I don't want to dance with her or anything. I dunno. Guess I just don't want to ruin anything with her."
"Ruin anything? There's a something to ruin? You guys aren't getting back together, are you?" she asked rhetorically. Then her eyes opened wide and she looked concerned. "Are you?"
"No!" he hastily told her. "It's just, after our talk a few days ago, it got me to thinking. It does seem kinda of weird, her being my roommate, after all of, well, everything. What's weirder is we're getting along pretty well, which kind of surprises the hell out of me, and..." Xander paused. "And I like it," he admitted. Though almost surprised at what he was admitting, as he did so he became certain. He really did like it. A lot. He looked back down at Willow. "I don't want to mess that up."
"And dancing with her is going to mess things up?"
"Hell yes! Dancing is holding and touching and can lead to all kinds of... I just don't think it would be a good idea." He was unsure how he knew, but he didn't want to take any chances.
Willow decided to go easy on him. "Xander, it's okay to dance with her. I won't mind," she made a face, "much. Buffy won't mind," she shrugged as they turned to the music, "Dawn probably won't. And Cordy won't mind. Have at least one dance with her before the night is over, okay?"
Xander looked at his best friend in abject surprise. "Why do you want me to dance with her so badly? You guys aren't friends, why the sudden concern?"
"Oh, it's nothing like that." Willow scrunched her face as she worked out the best way to say what she meant. "She shouldn't be left out. Last week got you to thinking and today got me to thinking. About all of us. Remember? We're family. And she may be like the snooty stuck-up aunt, the one nobody likes, that just came back from her whirlwind tour of Europe," Willow shrugged her shoulders, "but she's still... family."
Xander nodded his head thoughtfully and they finished their dance in comfortable silence. The song ended and a slow number started. Xander nodded to Willow as Tara approached and he started back toward the table. Tara smiled shyly at Willow and they put their arms around each other, drawing themselves close as they begin to dance together.
As Xander approached the table Riley was holding out his hand to Buffy. "Milady, may I have this dance?" Buffy, who had been doing pensive face since her discussion with Riley, beamed brightly at him and let him lead her out onto the dance floor. He held her in his arms and she sighed contently and wrapped her arms around him.
Xander, looking at the dancers swaying to the music, pursed his lips a moment before turning toward Cordelia. "Cordy, would, umm..." She gazed steadily at him, not cold or challenging, but not inviting either. He puffed out a breath and started over. "Would you like to," he inclined his head in the direction of the dance floor, "dance?"
She didn't respond immediately and he was just about to turn and get something to drink at the bar when she said yes. He smiled broadly in response to her own smile and he took her hand.
With a little awkwardness at first they finally managed to hold hands, his other arm lightly resting on her waist with his hand at the small of her back, her hand on his shoulder. They stood apart chastely and began to dance.
Though this was not nearly as close as they used to dance Xander's eyes closed momentarily, reveling in her touch and presence, his hand sliding to the curve of her hip, her bosom occasionally brushing against his chest as they moved.
He opened his eyes and asked her, "Having a good time?"
"Good time and this loser crowd? I'd forgotten how funny you can be sometimes, Xander."
"I mean, before this dance."
"Well, I guess." Cordelia looked down, but he could see she was smiling, and he smirked.
"Come on!" he teased her. "You are, and you know it."
"Well..." When she finally looked back up she was scowling at his presumption but he could read her well enough to know it was all show.
"Sure, I understand." His smirk briefly became a broad and open grin before he let it fade. He nodded in secret understanding before gazing off into the distance as they swayed and turned to the rhythm of the music.
Cordelia looked about as they turned with the music. She saw Willow and Tara together in a close loving embrace, not really dancing at all anymore, but rather just swaying slightly...and floating just above the floor? She smiled at that.
In the other direction, over Xander's right shoulder she saw Buffy dancing with Riley only a few paces away. They were talking and giving each other silly grins before Buffy lay her head against his chest and Riley held her tight.
Looking the other way as they turned, she saw Giles sitting by the table, his face a little flushed and he looked distinctly out of place in all his tweed. Joyce was scolding Dawn for some inconsequential infraction. Dawn hardly appeared chastised at all and promptly ran off again and Giles gave Joyce a knowing yet sympathetic nod.
In that moment Cordelia wondered why she'd ever left Sunnydale, left this, her real family. She knew there were difficulties ahead. Getting along with Buffy was always an exercise in patience and forbearance. And Willow could be as snippy and whiny as a little poodle. But they were still family and they had welcomed her back with open arms. The small smile Cordelia had been trying to hide grew to its full megawatt brilliance when she looked back at Xander.
And how odd was that? she wondered. They seemed to be getting along so well, it was sometimes hard to remember why they'd broken up. Her smile faltered a little as she suddenly did remember the betrayal and the pain he'd caused. But right here and now it seemed so long ago, as if it had all happened to entirely different people and her smile returned to its full radiance.
"Maybe I am. Just a little."
To be continued...
