Causatum
by sailor80
Eleven
[reviews]
Tara and Aislin stopped near and to one side of the main entrance to the lecture hall. "What time do you get out?" Aislin asked.
"In an hour," Tara said.
"I'll be here," Aislin said.
"You sure you don't want to wait in my room?"
"I'm positive. It's a beautiful day. I can sit out here and watch the women go by." Aislin grinned at Tara.
Tara tried unsuccessfully not to laugh. "You're incorrigible."
"Among other things," Aislin agreed, and leaned over to kiss Tara's cheek. "See you soon."
Tara nodded and headed inside. Aislin found a shady spot and settled herself to wait.
* * *
"Willow," Giles began, "I'm so sorry we put all this on you."
Willow shrugged. "We didn't really have a choice." Buffy's thumb slowly circled the length of hers.
"That's not an excuse not to think about the consequences before rushing headlong into increasingly dangerous situations," he said.
"Giles, it's not your fault. I chose to do the spells. All of them." Willow looked at Buffy. "And if we were in those situations again, I would do the same thing."
"No doubt," Giles said. "But when you get back from holiday, I'd like you to get some proper training. I'll do what I can, but I think Tara and Aislin can help you, as well."
"Okay," Willow agreed. She looked at him suspiciously.
"I'm not going to lecture you," he said.
"Are you feeling okay?" Buffy asked, frowning at Giles.
"I feel fine, thank you, Buffy. I failed you, both of you, in the most basic of a Watcher's duties, to provide the information you need to do your job successfully. It won't happen again," he promised, looking from one to the other. After a few moments, he told them, "Get out of here. Go have some fun."
Buffy bounced up quickly and waited for Willow. "We can get mochas, and embarrass Dawn by picking up her at school," Buffy grinned at Willow. She looked to Giles for a second. "We'll be at the Magic Box for a while."
He nodded. Willow didn't really look up to it, Giles thought, but he knew Buffy wouldn't suggest anything Willow couldn't do.
Buffy and Willow strolled toward the Espresso Pump. "Where do you want to go?" Buffy asked.
"I don't know," Willow replied.
"C'mon, there has to be someplace you want to go."
"You choose. I've been lots of places, but you've really only been to Los Angeles," Willow said.
"How about Italy?" Buffy suggested.
"Fine with me. Why Italy?"
"Good food, lots of museums and the occasional beach," Buffy explained.
"You want to go to museums?" Willow's disbelief was obvious.
"No, sweetheart, you want to go to museums. I'll just tag along."
"What about Dawn?" Willow asked.
"What about Dawn?" Buffy repeated.
"Maybe she'll want to go someplace else."
Buffy shrugged. "I'm sure we can work something out."
"I'm not sure this is a good idea, Buffy. What if"
Buffy cut her off. "No what ifs, Wills. If the Council wants to babysit the Hellmouth for a month, I'm outta here."
"But it's like they're too good to be true. The new and improved Watchers Council. We've had to fight them tooth and nail for everything and now they're your best buds." Willow frowned. "It's too easy."
"Don't look at a gift horse and all that. Besides, Travers always gave me the wiggins. I don't get that from Merry."
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth," Willow corrected gently. "And what kind of name is Merry for an adult, anyway?"
"Maybe her parents were hippies for a while, too," Buffy teased. "Grab a table. I'll be right back with our drinks."
Willow chose one of the outside tables closest to the wall. She sat in the shade of the umbrella and looked around. The usual afternoon foot traffic filled the sidewalks. Buffy was as good as her word and returned with two large paper cups. She moved one of the chairs around so she could sit next to Willow. She sat down, making certain to keep her knee in contact with Willow's.
"What about school?" Willow asked.
"Huh?"
"Can we wait until the semester's over?"
"It's only a couple weeks. I think we can wait that long to leave." Buffy sipped her drink. "Dawn won't be finished for another month."
"Uh huh."
"Anything I can do to help you get caught up?" Buffy offered.
"I'm not really behind. One paper to write, and study for finals," Willow told her. "You going back in the fall?"
"I think so. I mean, I can't really just lay around the house all day."
"You could. Especially if it meant I could come home for lunch with my naked girlfriend," Willow teased.
Buffy choked on her mocha and blew some of it out of her nose. Willow laughed, and passed her a handful of napkins. When she could breathe properly again, Buffy said, "You're feeling better."
Willow smiled. "That was priceless." She giggled.
"Just remember, payback's a bitch," Buffy told her, smiling. She reached over and covered Willow's hand with her own. Willow turned her palm up so they could wrap their fingers over each other's knuckles.
They weren't paying attention to anything but each other, and Buffy silently swore when Amy stopped at their table. Out loud, she said, "Go away, Amy."
"That's no way to treat a friend," Amy replied.
"You're not our friend," the Slayer answered in a low, dangerous voice.
"Sure, I am. Aren't I, Willow?" Amy started to move toward the redhead.
Buffy shoved the table at her. Amy fell to the pavement. Buffy stood up and pulled Willow out of her chair. She stayed between Amy and Willow. She looked down at Amy and said, "Stay away from us," and moved Willow away. Buffy stayed between Amy and Willow until she was sure they were out of Amy's reach.
They didn't say anything until they reached the park across from Sunnydale High. They sat in the shade of one of the larger trees and Buffy asked, "You okay?"
"Yeah," Willow answered distractedly. "Well, no. Thank you."
"You're welcome." Buffy squeezed Willow's hand.
"I don't understand why she keeps coming around." Willow's brow furrowed in confusion.
"I don't know. She better quit is all I have to say," Buffy said. "Nobody messes with my girl."
Willow giggled. "You sound so butch."
"Am I butch?"
"Not really. Only when you're being all Slayerish."
"What's that mean?" Buffy asked.
"Oh, please. 'I'm the Slayer and we'll do it my way.'" Willow imitated Buffy perfectly, and they both broke into laughter.
After that, they talked like they used to, holding hands and laughing. They didn't have to embarrass Dawn, who headed directly for them as if she knew they were waiting. They headed toward the Magic Box, but detoured for a snack. Willow watched while the sisters demolished a large pizza, knowing that they would both be clamoring for dinner two hours later.
They reached the Magic Box just before closing. Xander, Tara and Aislin were waiting there. Anya locked the door behind them, and went to sit at the table with everyone, although she would have preferred to count the day's take. Buffy told them about the vacation the Council was offering, and only Anya balked. After Xander whispered something to her, Anya changed her mind. Buffy, Willow and Dawn looked at each other and said simultaneously, "I don't want to know."
Xander just smirked at them as they laughed.
"I want, we want to go to Italy," Buffy said.
"Cool," Dawn agreed.
"We'll meet you there," Tara said. "If you want to go now, we can stay with Dawn until school's out."
"Us, too," Anya said. "Join you later," she sighed. "Though I guess we'll help with Dawn, too."
Tara looked at Willow. "You can make arrangements with school tomorrow."
Willow looked confused. "Why are you being nice to me?" she demanded hoarsely.
Tara stood and offered her hand to Willow. Willow took it and followed Tara to Buffy's training room. Tara shut the door. Willow was right there when she turned. "Why?" she demanded again.
"What's going on, Willow?" Tara asked softly.
"I don't understand." Willow's voice was quieter. "I don't..." she trailed off.
Tara waited for Willow to look at her. "Let it go, Willow."
"I don't know how." Willow looked at the floor again.
Tara pushed her toward the center of the room, then to her knees. Tara knelt, too, and they sat on their calves, knees touching. "Breathe."
Willow mimicked Tara's deep inhalation. After a few seconds, they exhaled in unison. Tara placed Willow's palms on the floor. They inhaled again. On their exhalation, Willow felt some of the excess power drain through her hands into the earth. They took half a dozen more deep breaths before Willow felt relieved and a little dizzy. Tara teased her palms up and held Willow there for half a dozen more breaths. Tara squeezed gently before releasing Willow's hands into her lap.
"Leave tomorrow," Tara said softly. "I'll take care of school for you. We'll watch Dawn until she's done school, and then we'll bring her to you. Okay?"
Willow nodded.
"Go tell your overprotective girlfriend you're all right," Tara instructed.
Willow bounced up. She bent down and kissed Tara's cheek. "Thank you."
"My pleasure," Tara smiled. "Go on." She pushed herself up as Willow went through the door.
Buffy's eyes went to the door the instant she heard Willow's hand grasp the knob. Her relief at how much better Willow looked was palpable. Buffy smiled widely as Willow slid back into her seat.