The Good, The Bad and The Fangy
by dawnm
The Facts of Life
[reviews]
Chapter 12 - The Facts of Life
"What do you mean you don't have any sacred sand?" Giles asked in disbelief.
"Sir, please calm down."
"Calm down? What kind of bloody magic shop is this?" The watcher raked a hand through his hair in frustration.
"We will be getting a shipment in tomorrow."
"Tomorrow." Giles repeated, stalking around in front of the counter. A moment later, the watcher turned and strode out of the shop, muttering to himself. "Why should I be surprised? Is anything ever simple?"
When he reached his car, he sat back in the driver's seat weighing his choices. With Faith on the loose and the growing chaos in Sunnydale, Giles quickly decided that waiting another day for the magic shop to get a shipment wasn't an option. "There has to be somewhere that I can get it today."
***********************
They had traveled for less than an hour when Xena stopped. "We can set up camp here. There's a lake. I can catch some fish for lunch." When no one responded, she continued. "Look, we should stay near Athens...in case we decide to go back." Three sets of eyes looked up at the warrior then.
Xena said no more, but moved toward the lake and tethered Argo's reigns to the branch of a nearby tree. Buffy followed the warrior, leaving Gabrielle and Willow behind. The hacker's brain had been in overdrive since leaving the temple and she could be silent no longer.
"We're not seriously considering this, are we?" She asked the bard.
Gabrielle looked up to meet her gaze. "I don't know. I think we have to consider it."
Willow swallowed hard, her mind reeling. "How? After all that's happened?"
"This might be your only chance to get home." The bard said sadly.
"You and Xena...your entire relationship has changed. Can you just give that up?" Willow asked in disbelief.
Gabrielle bent her head, raking her hands through her hair. "Can you and Buffy afford to pass up this chance if it means staying here permanently?"
***********************
Buffy approached the water's edge, finding Xena perched on a nearby rock, her sword in front of her as she ran the sharpening stone along the length of the blade.
"Xena?" Buffy called, trying to get the warrior's attention.
"Hmm?" She answered without looking up from the task at hand.
"Would you stop that and look at me?" Xena stopped and sheathed her sword, meeting the slayer's gaze. "Mind if I share your rock?" Buffy asked, smiling at her friend.
"Be my guest." The warrior returned the smile and scooted over to give the slayer more room.
"There's no need to get all broody-warrior on us." Buffy said, gently teasing her friend. "We're not going back to the Fates." She added, meeting Xena's troubled blue eyes.
"I appreciate the pep-talk." The warrior said soberly. " But...we have to consider it."
Buffy held up a hand. "Will? Gabrielle?" The slayer called, gesturing for the hacker and bard to join them by the lake. The two girls approached, both wearing sad faces. "Will...you look like you just lost your best friend." Buffy noted.
"Best friends and my girlfriend." The redhead said dejectedly. Buffy reached out, catching Willow's hands and pulling her closer.
"Do you want to go through with this?" The blonde asked, searching the hacker's face. Willow shook her head. "Exactly." Buffy exclaimed. "Neither do I." She turned to the warrior and bard then. "And judging by the looks on your faces, I don't think the two of you want to do this either. So, it's unanimous. We're not letting the Fates scramble our brains just so we can get a ride home."
The three women stared at Buffy. Xena spoke up first. "We need to think about this before we make a decision."
"Xena's right, Buffy." Gabrielle interjected. "You're the slayer. The future needs you. Besides, it's your home."
"I'm not saying we should give up." The blonde replied. "But we don't have to do this. Right, Will?" Willow shrugged. Buffy looked from the hacker to the warrior to the bard. They all wore similar expressions. "Hey?" She exclaimed, standing up to address the group with her hands on her hips. "I'm pretty sure at least one of you should be on my side here."
Willow took a step toward her girlfriend and reached for her hand. "No." The slayer said, backing away from the redhead. "You all seem to think we should do this, so I say we start right now. No more holding hands, no kissing, no nothing." She said, pulling the bard away from the warrior's side to break their linked hands. "Remember, you two are just friends...if you can call it that--"
"Buffy--" Xena stood up.
"No! Sit down, Xena. Sharpen your damn sword. That's what you do, right? Just pretend none of this is happening." The slayer was on a roll and gaining momentum with every word. "And Gabrielle, why don't you go set up camp? By yourself, like you always do. That's all I have to say to you two. After all, we don't even know each other, right? We never met. So, we're not friends. We're not...anything." With that, Buffy turned on her heel and stalked off, leaving the others behind in stunned silence.
After a moment, Gabrielle went to Argo and began unpacking the supplies to set up camp. Willow took a deep breath and trudged off after Buffy. And Xena sat staring at the surface of the water for a moment before drawing her sword and resuming work on the blade.
***********************
Willow followed the rugged path along the lake's edge. The trail was obscured by overgrown brush on both sides and was nearly impassable in a few places. After walking for several minutes, Willow had still seen no sign of Buffy. She paused, ready to turn back toward the camp until she caught a glimpse of movement on the path ahead. "Buffy?" The hacker called, continuing on the trail.
"Yeah. I'm here."
The path widened a bit in front of her and after a few steps Willow entered a small clearing, finding Buffy sitting on the ground reclining against a tree. "There you are." The redhead said. "I was beginning to think I wasn't going to find you. We must be halfway around the lake."
Buffy shrugged. "Sorry. I just needed some time to think."
"Should I leave? I-I can go back to camp if you want to be alone." Willow said uncertainly.
"Come. Sit." The blonde said, patting the ground beside her.
"Are you sure?"
Buffy smiled. "Will, please." The redhead breathed a sigh of relief and sat down next to her.
"Did you mean what you said before?" The hacker asked softly, absently running a hand over the grass between them.
Buffy reached out, capturing Willow's hand with her own. "I was trying to make a point." The blonde said. " Everything has changed. I can't go back." She paused, searching the green eyes in front of her. "Do you want to go back to the way things were before?" Buffy asked softly, her voice full of emotion.
"Oh, Buffy. No." Willow said, scooting closer to put her arms around the blonde. "It took us so long to get here. And these past few days...I've been so happy."
"I finally feel right inside, Will. Ever since I was called, it's been one apocalypse after another. Sometimes I felt like I was slipping away...losing myself. Now, with you...it's like I'm at peace. I can't go back to the way things were before." Buffy whispered, turning to bring their lips together.
Soon, they lay beneath the tree locked in an urgent embrace. Thoughts of losing all that they had just found amplified their need to be close. Their mouths found each other again and again, but no kiss seemed to satiate their needs. Each time they pulled apart to catch their breath, the yearning intensified.
With no thought to where they were, perhaps no thought at all, Willow brought her hands to the buttons of Buffy's shirt, fumbling with the few pearl circles that stood between her and the skin she longed to touch. The blonde shuddered as the last button gave way and Willow pushed the material aside. Buffy pushed herself up onto her knees, maintaining their kiss as she pulled the redhead into a sitting position, tugging at the hem of the hacker's T-shirt. Soft hands slid along Willow's sides, finally lifting the shirt up and over her head. They reluctantly broke off their kiss to finish the task, coming together again as if the distance had been unbearable.
Buffy guided Willow back to the ground, fashioning a makeshift pillow out of the discarded T-shirt. For several minutes they marveled at the feel of skin against skin, each taking turns exploring with hands and lips. Soon they parted, both gasping for air, both yearning for more. Buffy's fingers moved to the clasp of Willow's bra and she met the redhead's eyes, seeking permission. Her green eyes were dark with desire that matched Buffy's own. Willow's answer was clear as she mirrored the blonde's movements, quickly releasing the clasp of Buffy's bra, much to the slayer's surprise.
The blonde barely had time to work the clasp at the front of Willow's bra and slip the satiny fabric aside before being pulled down again by insistent hands on her hips. A soft moan escaped Buffy's lips as gentle hands moved over her naked skin, stopping at her waist. The redhead whimpered in frustration, tugging at the leather pants.
Buffy ended the kiss, breathing heavily as she grinned down at her pouting girlfriend. "'k, do you know where we are?"
"Don't care." Willow mumbled, trying to recapture her girlfriend's lips.
Buffy chuckled nervously. They were quickly moving beyond the point of no return. "Do you know what you're doing?"
"Not really." The redhead replied, looking up at her dreamily. "I was kinda hoping we could figure it out together."
The redhead was long past the point of thinking and reasoning, driven by a single need - to get as close to Buffy as possible. Buffy groaned as Willow's mouth found hers. Restless hands again began to roam, quickly meeting the same barrier as before. Trembling fingers fluttered across tanned skin and over taut stomach muscles, intent on the removal of Buffy's pants.
Lost in the moment and in each other, they worked together to remove the last of the clothing that stood between them. They tossed each article aside one by one, until at last they descended on the bed of soft green grass in a lover's embrace.
***********************
"They've been gone quite a while..." The warrior said, concerned.
"I'm sure they're fine. They're probably just talking...about the Fates."
"Gabrielle...you know that I don't want to go through with this, don't you?" Xena asked, reaching out to the bard.
"I know." Gabrielle said sadly, putting her arms around the warrior. "After all they've done for us...we have to do whatever we can to help them."
Xena nodded, holding the bard close. "I can't believe...after everything..." The pain was too much and the warrior trailed off, but her meaning was clear.
"I know." Gabrielle said. "Can't we just enjoy today, being together? Whatever happens, we'll deal with it then. Right now...I just need to be with you."
Xena met the bard's gaze and the warrior's heart ached at the thought of losing her love. Xena toyed with a lock of strawberry blonde hair and drank in the sight of the sweet green eyes. "I want you to know how much last night means to me, Gabrielle." Her voice was thick with love and her blue eyes held a tenderness that was reserved for the bard alone.
Gabrielle nodded and reached up to touch Xena's face. "I know...me too."
***********************
Across the lake, the slayer and hacker held each other, a tangle of arms and legs, hands and mouths, slowly coming back down to Earth. Buffy was first to remember where they were and chuckled softly as she looked around. Willow followed her wandering gaze and the redhead's eyes widened as if she realized only then that they had just made love on the ground in broad daylight. True to form, the hacker scrambled for something to cover herself with and Buffy couldn't help but laugh at the sudden change.
"You just seduced me, ripped off my clothes and made love to me and now...you're all shy Willow again?" She teased.
"What can I say? I'm a complex girl. I have many layers." The blushing redhead replied.
"Like this?" Buffy chuckled, playfully snatching the shirt that Willow had been covering herself with.
The redhead nodded and a seductive smile curved her lips. "And this...." She said, pressing her body to Buffy's and slowly kissing her. When Willow ended the kiss, the blonde stared at her, with a slightly dazed smile.
"Wasn't it just last night that I was talking about taking things slow?" Buffy mused.
"Uh huh." Willow replied, with an impish grin. "What were you thinking?"
Buffy chuckled. "I have no idea...maybe something like...this is all so new or I have no idea what I'm doing or just maybe I was thinking Willow is so sweet and innocent and shy..."
"I am...but a girl can only take so much of your teasing." Willow said, snuggling into her girlfriend's side. The redhead gazed up into tender hazel eyes. "Really though...I just needed you, Buffy. And nothing else mattered."
Buffy smiled a little misty-eyed, managing only a whisper past the lump in her throat. "I know...I feel the same way." She reached out, brushing her fingertips across Willow's cheek. "I adore you, you know."
"Me too. I-I mean you...I love you." The blonde silenced her babble with a tender kiss.
***********************
It was mid-afternoon by the time that Buffy and Willow made their way back toward the camp. The trip around the lake took longer than expected. They found that it was impossible to kiss while walking and completely unacceptable to go without kissing for more than a minute at a time. The combination of those two factors resulted in frequent stops along the trail. When they finally stepped out into the clearing, both girls were flushed and breathing heavily from the short trip. The many rest breaks they had taken had proven much more strenuous than the walk itself.
"Will...look at those two." Buffy said, pointing across the clearing at the warrior and bard who were wrapped in each other's arms. "Seems like my hands-off policy didn't last long with them either." Willow smiled at the sight. All was right with the world.
"You're back." Xena said, looking up as the slayer and hacker approached, arm in arm, both looking a bit disheveled.
"You were gone so long...we were a little worried." Gabrielle added.
"Sorry." Willow offered an apologetic smile.
"I was going to go look for you, make sure you were all right." The warrior said. Buffy and Willow shared a look, horrified at the prospect.
"I told Xena that you just needed some time to talk." Gabrielle interjected.
"Yeah..." Buffy exhaled. "That's what we were doing. We, we were just...talking, and we lost track of time. Right, Will?" Xena eyed the slayer curiously as she babbled and an uncharacteristic blush rose on the blonde's cheeks.
"Oh! Uh...right. We were..." Willow trailed off nervously.
"Talking?" Xena filled in, smiling at the two girls; both were wearing guilty faces. "You've got some..." The warrior plucked a blade of grass from the hacker's hair. "Grass in your hair." Xena finished, holding up the evidence for all to see.
Willow's eyes widened and she shot Buffy a 'why didn't you tell me?' look. The blonde rushed to defend her girlfriend's honor, while the redhead looked up at the warrior with a sheepish smile.
"Yeah. We were just lying on the ground looking up at the stars--" Willow elbowed her squarely in the ribs. "Clouds." Buffy yelped. "Looking up at the clouds, talking. So, the grass...well that explains it."
Xena glanced up at the clear blue sky, then back at Buffy with a knowing smirk. "None of my business." The warrior chuckled. "I'm just glad that Gabrielle convinced me not to go looking for you." Buffy and Willow both looked at the bard with grateful smiles.
***********************
Giles pulled up in front of the house and made his way up the front steps. After a brief pause, he knocked on the door. He heard footsteps inside and was relieved when the door finally opened. "Anya, I'm glad to find you home."
"What do you want?" The former vengeance demon asked, rolling her eyes.
"Actually, I was hoping you could help me." The watcher replied, a bit uncertainly.
"First you destroyed my power source, trapping me here in this, this mortal body. Then you ruined my chance to get it back." The girl said. "Why would I help you?"
"Well..." Giles faltered, trying to formulate an answer. "Perhaps because I know all about you...what you were. Now you are a mere girl. You are powerless. And if you don't help me, I can make your life very difficult." The watcher gave her his most intimidating glare, hoping that the weak threat would be enough.
"Do you know how many men I eviscerated in my time as a vengeance demon? Thousands. I'm not afraid of you." Anya said in a dismissive tone as she moved to close the door in Giles' face.
"Wait just a damn minute." He said, blocking the doorway. "Unless you want to remain in high school for many years to come, you will help me. If you don't, I'll see to it that you never graduate."
Anya, who hated being a mortal teenage girl, did not enjoy the tedium of high school. It was one of the things she liked the least about her new life. The watcher's threat broke her resolve. "All right...what do you want?"
"I need sacred sand." Giles said.
"So? Why don't you go to the magic shop and buy some?"
"Of course, why didn't I think of that?" The watcher said sarcastically. "I've been there already. They are sold out."
"They'll get more eventually, won't they?" Anya asked impatiently.
"Yes...but I need it today." Giles insisted.
"Why?"
"That's none of your concern." He said in clipped tones. "Now, do you have any or not?"
"What would make you think I would have some? Just because I'm a former vengeance demon? There's a big difference between that and being a witch. I'm not a witch...Willow is a witch. Did you check with her?"
"Willow is not available. And yes, I know you are not a witch, but just a few weeks ago, you were casting spells, weren't you?"
"Oh, only the one time. Just to try to get my powers back." Anya explained. "It's not like I do it all the time now."
"So, you don't have any sacred sand?" The watcher asked, glaring at the girl impatiently.
"Sorry." She said.
Giles ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Do you know anywhere I might be able to get it?"
"I know some people who might have it." Anya said slowly.
"Excellent. Come on." He said, grabbing her by the arm and leading her out of the house.
"Hey? What do you think you're doing?"
"Showing you to the car." Giles said, pushing her down the driveway. "You are going to take me to them."
***********************
Lunchtime had come and gone while Buffy and Willow had been...otherwise engaged, so the group decided on an early dinner. This time all four of the women waded into the lake, in various states of undress, to participate in the fishing. The whole event felt almost sacred. One way or another, they sensed that their time together would be coming to an end soon and the little moments that they shared like this, however odd, held a special significance for them.
Gabrielle had a little experience with this hands-on form of fishing. Xena had insisted on teaching her earlier that spring. Though she had only tried it the one time, she had a distinct advantage over Willow. Buffy explained the basics, just as Xena had taught her, while the redhead looked at her skeptically.
"Come on. You can do it, Will. Give it a try." Buffy insisted. The other three watched as Willow stood uncertainly in her panties and T-shirt, staring down into the water. Soon, the redhead thrust her hands beneath the surface and clutched at the large trout below. The hacker smiled triumphantly as she closed her hands around its body. When the fish began to squirm, however, Willow let out a shriek and pulled back so fast that she lost her balance and fell backward. She came up drenched and sputtering, to find the other three laughing hysterically.
"Very funny." Willow said, looking betrayed.
"Sorry, sweetie." Buffy said, helping the redhead to her feet. "I'll make it up to you..." She promised, giving her girlfriend a quick peck on the cheek. "I'll catch your dinner."
"Good." Willow said with a satisfied smile. "Then I might consider forgiving you for laughing at me."
***********************
They finished dinner with a couple of hours of daylight remaining and decided to gather at the lake for some quality lounging time. Finding two large trees close together near the water's edge, Xena claimed one and Buffy the other. They sat down, backs against their respective trees, facing each other. Willow settled on the ground between Buffy's legs, leaning back into her embrace. Xena patted the ground in front of her inviting Gabrielle to do the same.
When all four were settled, Buffy and Willow begged a story of the bard, wanting to hear more about Xena and Gabrielle's lives. With some prodding from the warrior, Gabrielle agreed and began spinning her tales. Xena soon interrupted, insisting that she tell the story about the day when she had first taught the bard her fishing methods...the day of the famous Henbane incident. Gabrielle's memory was somewhat foggy, having been drugged at the time, and Xena graciously filled in the details where necessary.
The slayer and hacker listened attentively as the bard explained how their combined swimming and fishing adventure (both of them naked, as always) had been interrupted by a group of men chasing a young boy named Icus. Xena had fought the men and saved the boy.
The highlights of the story, which the warrior pointed out, included Gabrielle eating an entire loaf of nutbread that had been drugged with Henbane. After which, the bard had dreamed up an imaginary choir, had in-depth conversations with rocks, and at one point had fallen to the ground in awe of Xena's beauty. That was clearly the warrior's favorite part as she proceeded to give a detailed account, which culminated with Gabrielle's declaration, "By the gods, Xena," the bard had said breathlessly, "you are beautiful." Buffy and Willow chuckled at the animated re-enactment the warrior gave.
"The only thing I enjoyed more that day was dangling in that old well." Xena said, smiling down at the bard.
"You can't be serious." Gabrielle said. "We almost died."
"Yes, but we didn't, did we?" The warrior said with a mischievous grin.
The bard shook her head. "So, what was so great about it?" She asked confused.
"The way you climbed up my body." Xena said suggestively.
Gabrielle chuckled. "That's what you were thinking about when we were about to fall to our death?"
"Uh huh."
Buffy chuckled at the exchange. "You know you lead a strange life when your fondest memories revolve around near-death experiences." Willow nodded her agreement, pondering the wisdom in her girlfriend's words.
"Well...not anymore." Xena declared, hugging the bard tighter. Gabrielle smiled up at the warrior in silent agreement.
"So, tell us about some of your adventures." The bard said, turning back to Buffy and Willow.
"I'm not much of a storyteller." Buffy said, shaking her head. "Any ideas, Will?"
"What about a couple of weeks ago...your aspect of the demon?" The redhead suggested.
"It was fun at first, but not so much later." Buffy said, thinking back on how she nearly went insane.
"I know. It wasn't all fun, but it was definitely interesting." Willow said.
Buffy conceded and began to tell them about the scabby demons with no mouths. She shuddered at the memory. After her encounter with the demon, her hand had begun to itch. Giles had done some research and told her that the creature she had fought was known to "infect its host with an aspect of the demon."
"Buffy was so freaked." Willow interjected. "I caught her running her hands through her hair and asked her what she was doing and she said she was checking for horns." Xena and Gabrielle shared a look.
"So," Buffy said defensively, "Willow was the one who came up with the idea that if it was a boy demon, my aspect of the demon could be...well, lets just say, more radical than horns." The blonde chuckled, looking at the redhead with an eyebrow raised. "I still can't believe you thought of that."
Willow giggled. "I remember having the fleeting thought that if that was your aspect of the demon, then maybe you'd want to date me."
Buffy's eyes widened. "You can't be serious!"
"I said it was fleeting...a fleeting thought." Willow insisted. "I can't be held responsible for every crazy little thing that goes through my mind."
"See, Gabrielle, that kind of puts the whole well incident in perspective, doesn't it?" Xena asked.
The bard nodded her agreement. "No comparison. You two live very weird lives indeed."
"What was it?" Xena asked. "Your demon part? Did you ever get it?"
"Oh yeah. I got it all right." Buffy chuckled. "It turned out it wasn't horns or scales or other parts which shall remain nameless." The blonde said, directing the last part of her statement at Willow. "It was telepathic ability. I could read minds."
"Really?" Gabrielle asked in disbelief. "How is that possible?"
"Don't know how...but in the past four years as the slayer, I've learned that pretty much anything is possible." Buffy drawled. "At first, it was fun. Of course, it got old really fast with Xander thinking about sex like every two seconds and Wesley getting all hot and bothered over Cordelia."
"And finding out about your mom and Giles doing it on the hood of a police car." Willow said, chuckling softly. Xena and Gabrielle looked at them curiously. "But that's another story entirely."
"Right." Buffy said. "Point is...all things I would rather not know. Giles and my mom, eew. Wesley and Cordelia, please. And I already knew that Xander had a one-track mind...I didn't need the details." Buffy said seriously. Turning to Willow, she added, "And the whole thing freaked you out. You were the only one I wanted to be around and you were avoiding me like the plague."
"Sorry...I was just afraid that you would hear me thinking some of the things that I had been thinking...about you." Willow admitted.
"What kind of things?" Buffy asked suggestively.
"Nothing like that." The redhead scolded. "Unlike Xander, my thoughts don't originate below the waist. I was thinking more along the lines of how your eyes sparkle when you smile sometimes or how I felt like I was gonna faint when you would hold my hand. All very innocent...but you would have known that I was having more-than-friendly thoughts about you. That's why I avoided you." Willow admitted.
"Seriously?" Buffy asked. The hacker nodded. "I had no idea." They sat for a moment, lost in each other's eyes, forgetting all about Xena and Gabrielle's presence, until the bard's voice interrupted their thoughts.
"That's such a nice story. A little odd...but sweet." Buffy and Willow shared a look, debating whether to tell the rest of the story or not.
"So, what happened?" Xena prodded. "You obviously can't read minds anymore."
"Well..." The slayer sighed heavily and continued the story, giving the shortened version of her spiral toward insanity, the killer in the cafeteria and her eventual cure by eating the heart of the demon. Willow added the bit about Jonathan's suicide attempt and how Buffy had saved him and had saved the rest of the students from the crazed lunch lady who was trying to poison the food.
"Wow."
"Yeah, fun." Buffy said dryly. "Just a day in the life of me."
"So...what about Giles and your mom?" Gabrielle asked curiously.
Willow chuckled softly. "The Band candy incident."
"Go ahead." Buffy urged. "You're dying to tell them."
***********************
The four talked for hours, sharing their stories and many laughs as they watched the sunset. The chill of the evening set in after dark and Xena suggested they go back to camp. Later, when they were gathered around the campfire, Xena and Gabrielle grew quiet, thinking about the topic they had all been avoiding - The Fates. Reluctantly, the warrior finally broached the subject.
"About tomorrow..." Xena began. "Gabrielle and I talked about it and we want you to know that we're fine with whatever you decide."
"Since you brought it up...I've got a few things to say." Buffy said, smiling at the warrior and bard across the campfire. "First of all, I'm hurt that you guys just want to forget us. Aren't you hurt, Will?" Buffy prodded.
"Insulted really." Willow tried to sound serious, but couldn't help grinning.
"I mean...think of all the great times we've had together. Like the first time when Gabrielle got attacked by that vamp in the cemetery right after we met."
"And the time we walked in on you two in the shower." Willow added.
"And when Gabrielle got attacked the second time at The Bronze." Buffy smiled, adding to the list of less than happy memories.
"A-and when Xena almost got stabbed by Faith when she was protecting me."
"And what about all of the baths we've taken together..." Buffy sighed wistfully.
"That's right! I don't get naked with just anybody, mister." Willow said with an impish grin. Xena and Gabrielle listened to the speech, both laughing.
"And I wouldn't let just anybody see my girlfriend naked." Buffy added, earning a shocked look from the redhead. "Sorry, honey. Just a little joke...The point is, there's been a lot of serious girl bonding going on."
"You got that right." Willow agreed.
"And second...there's the two of you together now. Even if we were willing to accept the Fates' terms, we wouldn't let you do this for us."
Xena started to interrupt and Buffy shushed her. "Besides...we don't want this any more than you do. I'm not giving up my friends and the girl of my dreams. That's too high a price to pay." Buffy said decidedly. "We'll find another way home."
"Well said." Willow smiled sweetly. "The girl of your dreams, huh?"
"You know it." Buffy gave the redhead a quick kiss before turning back to the warrior and bard. "So...are we clear?"
"I think so." Xena said.
"It's funny how things work out sometimes...isn't it?" Gabrielle said thoughtfully. "None of this would have ever happened if it wasn't for Kronos."
"You know, you're right. Every cloud has a silver lining." Willow said happily. The warrior and bard looked at her, clearly not understanding the comment and the hacker quickly explained. "Oh...it's a saying. It just means that even things that seem bad can have a good outcome. Like when Kronos sent you to the future."
"Right." Gabrielle smiled. "We met the two of you and with your help, Xena and I finally faced our feelings for each other. We've all become good friends...and you two, you're together now. A lot of wonderful things have happened."
"It's fitting really." Buffy interjected. "It's like we were talking about earlier...our fondest memories are often tied to the not-so-nice parts of our lives. Face it...the four of us...we're just not normal."
"Well, I for one, don't care if I'm weird. I'm just glad that there's good with the bad." The redhead declared, snuggling closer to Buffy's side.
Gabrielle nodded, smiling up at Xena. "Me too. It makes it all worthwhile."
***********************
The ringing of the phone interrupted Giles' frenzied pace as the watcher rushed to gather the rest of the spell ingredients. "Yes, hello." He said impatiently, stopping to pick up the phone. "Oh, Cordelia."
"Good news...Xander is awake and the doctor said he's going to be fine."
"I'm so glad to hear that." Giles said with a relieved sigh.
"He's back to his old self already...eating everything in sight and asking about Buffy and Willow."
"I have some news about that as a matter of fact. I've found a spell that may bring them home. I was preparing to cast it when you called actually."
Their chat lasted only a minute or two and soon Giles was busy with the spell preparation once again. He stepped up to his worktable to look at the ingredients and went over his mental checklist. He needed pictures of the girls. Turning to his bookcase, he quickly located last year's Sunnydale High yearbook. Flipping to the junior class section, he found Willow's picture and cut it out. On the next page, he found Buffy's picture.
He laid the two photographs on the worktable side by side. The candles were lit, herbs prepared, sacred sand at the ready. With a deep cleansing breath, he began the spell.
Eryishon. K'shala. Meh-uhn. Diprecht.
Doh-tehenlo nu-Eryishon.
The child to the mother.
The river to the sea.
Eryishon, hear my prayer.
Energy crackled in the air as the temporal fold began to open. The intense power of the spell made the watcher's hand shake as he reached for the sacred sand and began pouring it on Buffy's picture.
***********************
A light broke through the darkness of the camp as the portal opened and the slayer bolted to her feet. "Giles..."
"Buffy?"
"I feel strange...I think it's time." The blonde said, wavering slightly.
***********************
A loud noise broke the watcher's concentration. He looked up to find Faith standing in his now destroyed doorway.
"What's this?" The dark slayer asked, charging at Giles. The watcher panicked, dumping the rest of the sand on the picture. As Faith tackled him and began her assault, he silently prayed that what he had done had been enough.
The next sound Buffy heard was Faith's voice. The disoriented slayer struggled to her feet, finding herself in Giles' living room. She turned toward the sound and sprang into action, pulling Faith off of the watcher.
"What the hell?" The dark slayer protested, backing up a step. "Guess I was too late. Shoulda stayed gone, B." Faith lunged at Buffy and the two traded blows.
"What can I say, F? I just couldn't stay away." The blonde replied through clenched teeth as she landed a solid kick to Faith's gut.
"How sweet...I knew you'd miss me." The brunette taunted, landing a punch that split Buffy's lip.
The blonde laughed. "In your dreams."
Faith went wild at the comment and tackled Buffy then, pinning her to the floor. "Come on...give us a kiss." Desire flashed in her dark eyes as she stared down at the blonde.
Buffy saw it and chuckled nervously. Faith dropped her guard for a split second and Buffy rolled, taking control from the dark slayer, pinning her to the ground. "You're a sick girl, Faith."
Giles lay nearby, drifting in and out of awareness. He pulled himself to the desk and rifled through the drawer until he found his med kit. He slid it across the floor toward Buffy and then collapsed in a heap.
The dark slayer knew what was coming and struggled beneath the blonde, but Buffy swiftly buried the needle in her arm and Faith went limp as soon as the drugs entered her system. Buffy's first thought as she climbed to her feet was Willow. She scanned the room searching for her girlfriend, but the redhead wasn't there.
"Giles?" She called, dropping to the watcher's side.
"Buffy?" He answered weakly.
"Giles, where's Willow?"
"Faith..."
"No! Willow! Where's Willow?" Buffy prodded.
"The spell...." Giles tried to muster the strength to speak. "I didn't get to...finish."
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Continued in Chapter 13