Reminding the Fallen
by zenithar
Chapter 2
[reviews]
Disclaimer: Joss owns it all. grrrr
This is my first fic of any note so please be gentle.
Everything up to the episode Empty Places has happened, just a few changes from the last season. One: Wood and Caleb did not show up. Two: So obviously much changeings to endings of series. Also the weapon that Buffy got is changed to an actual scythe.
'It's been almost ten months since she left... no since we kicked her out.' Shaking her head to clear it of thoughts, Willow continued with combing her shoulder length auburn hair in the mirror. Looking into her emerald colored eyes she felt her mind wandering back to thinking about Buffy. 'What could be doing right now? Is she dead? Alive? Living a normal life? Or is she still fighting? Goddess I miss her.' Pausing in her musings to place her comb down and move over to her computer, she sat down before it and checks the search that Giles had told her to begin. Even as her fingers were flying across the keyboard her thoughts went back to the time Buffy left 'The next night after Buffy left we had gone to the vineyard. Don't really know what we were expecting to find there but it sure as hell wasn't tons of Turok-Han and bringers surrounding us. When they just sorta popped out we all thought we were going to die. Just before they could attack they gripped their heads as though in pain. As soon as they did that they ran. No one knew what had happened or what caused it, so we decided to head back home. The next night Spike found out that the First had been killed. No demons were gloating about killing the First so we guessed that Buffy must have found a way to kill it. After that Spike said he was leaving and with that he was gone. I think everyone's happy about that. With the threat of the First gone Giles thought it would be best if the Slayers in Training went to England and get official training, he said he would go with them to keep an eye on both the SiT's and how the council treated them. Kennedy decided to stay with me though, I'm grateful for that, because I know that without Buffy things will be horrible, but to not even have someone to cry to would be unbearable.' Hearing the front door open brought Willow from her thoughts again.
Calling downstairs, "How was patrol?"
"Hey Red, nothin' out of the ordinary, just a few newbie vamps," As Faith pushed some of her dark hair from her face she moved over to the fridge to find something to scrounge on. "Still kinda weird not having B, or someone out there with me," pausing to chew on a sandwich, "you don't suppose I could start taking D out with me?"
Willow started to descend the stairs with the last comment "Oh, no. We're not starting this again; we all decided that Dawn should be given the chance at a normal life, so that means: no slaying."
"Come-on, I can protect her fine on my own and you know D doesn't want a normal life, hell you've seen how she mopes around some days saying that things are 'soooo boring'," doing a good mimic of Dawns whining voice, "B was planning on training he-"
Willow cuts her off at that point "Buffy was only going to train Dawn because we were running out of people to fight with, if there was something she had always wanted, it was for Dawn to be able to grow up without having the pressure of fighting the forces of evil."
Putting the sandwich down, "News flash for ya Red! Dawn is grownup and Buffy ain't here to tell her what to do, so I'm just saying we ask her what she wants to do," and with that Faith leaves to the back door saying she was going to go train.
Sighing, Willow goes back up the stairs to what was once Joyce's room. 'Maybe she is right, maybe I should just let Dawn do what she wants to.' Shaking her head she sits down at the computer and looks at what the search pulled up. 'Why would Giles have called me three months ago about trying to find a spell that would restore a soul... the bigger question is why did I agree to it. The only use I can think of for a spell like this is to resoul a vampire but Giles just said it was for the council records, something about wanting a complete list of all spells that could be used for reinsoulment and needing me to authenticate them. I think he was holding something back but-' and once more her thoughts were cut off but this time it was by a pair of arms snaking around her from behind. Placing a kiss on Willow's cheek Kennedy asked "Whatcha looking up?"
"Oh, um just something for Giles," quickly minimizing the screen.
Looking at her with an eyebrow arched, "You're still taking orders from that old geezer?"
Turning to her girlfriend, "Hey! He's not an old geezer... he's just kinda... old... and not geezerish in anyway whatsoever too."
Laughing "Sound real sure of yourself there Will," sobering up some, "So what's he have you doing anyway? Researching the new big bad over in England or just some old dusty book?"
For some reason Willow felt that the soul research was something that should not tell anyone about, weather this was for better or worse she couldn't tell. "Ya, its just an old tome that Giles wants translated."
Kennedy just nodded her head, "Ok, wanna head over to the Bronze? Xander and Anya said they'd be there." After thinking for a moment Willow nods her head. "You think they're actually happy together?" Kennedy asks.
"Ya, definitely. They might have had their wedding a little early to get everyone out of the funk we were in but I think they really did it out of love," Willow responded. "I mean every second I see them they're either kissing or groping each other."
"True... very true... Well I'm going to head over to the Bronze now, so I'll see you there later right?"
"Yeah, I'll get there in about and hour or so. I'll see if Faith and Dawn want to come as well." "K, see ya," with a hug and a kiss Kennedy left.
Thirty or so minutes later Dawn shows up at the Summers residence. "Hey, anyone home?" "Up here Dawn." Setting down her backpack Dawn heads upstairs. "Where is everyone?"
"Oh, Ken, Xander, and Anya are at the Bronze, I'm planning on heading over there in about thirty minutes, you want to go?"
Dawn thinks about it for a second then asks "Is Faith going to show up?"
A quick flicker of a frown shows on Willows face but it's gone as soon as it came "Not sure, she said she was going out to train so who knows where she is or when she'd get back."
"Ok, guess I'll go check out what everyone is up to. See later Will," finishing with a small wave Dawn watches as Willow turns back to her computer. 'Hmmm, wonder why she's in researchy mode.' With the night quickly falling Dawn made her way to the Bronze in little time.
Even before Dawn was at the doors of the Bronze she could hear the loud, pounding music. Once inside hearing was nearly impossible with the mixture of music and voices, knowing where her friends would be sitting Dawn made her way over to their table. "Hey guys," after the usual greetings were done the gang settled in for some dancing and talking. Before long however Dawn asked "Any of you know where Faith is?"
Xander raises his voice a little to be heard over the din of the Bronze "I saw her earlier today, asked her to come here when ever she had a chance."
As if summoned Faith appears at the entrance of the club. Xander was wiggling his eye brows at Dawn "So something starting to creep up between you two? You both seem to be hanging out with each other often these days."
Dawn looking with wide eyes "What, where wa? Nononono... I'm just... curious.. where she is is all... yep that's it."
Faith at this point finally gets over to the table only catching Dawns response "What's with the denial D? Xand say something that was true?"
Dawns eyes seem to get larger, if that's even possible, "Umm... noooo...... no way could Xander be right..." even to her, her voice sounded weak.
Xander smirks while Faith eyes her oddly "Ok. So Xand what's with the gathering of Scoobs?"
Looking back to Faith Xander says "No real reason, just wanted to celebrate my wife's and mine second month anniversary."
Ken chimes in "Wow, it's already been two months?"
"Only one missing now is Willow, where is Will any way?"
"She said she'd be here..." Kennedy looks at her watch, "almost an hour ago now. I'll go home and see what's holding her up."
Standing to leave, Faith does as well. "I might as well get started on patrol, I'll see ya later."
Soon everyone is standing. Dawn simply says "I should get back as well, never know what Will and Ken will get into when no is around," she smirks.
Xander and Anya begin to leave as well "We should go home too, for orgasms in celebration of our wonderful union," Anya says perkily. Xander can only cover his face with his hands.
Soon its just Kennedy and Dawn walking home. "So you have any idea what's got Willow so researchy?" Dawn asked.
"She said it was for some old book Giles wants translated." Dawn nods as they continue the rest of the way in silence. When they come into view of the house the notice immediately the front door is wide open and Spike's ancient Desoto in the driveway. Looking at each other for a second they bolted for the front door.