"..and quarterstaffs. I'm taller than you, so I should be able to use them better. Giles always complained you fell over yours." Dawn continued her list of what she expected her sister to train her in over the coming months. "And I really think I should start patrolling with you…."
"I don't." Buffy opened the unlocked front door to their house, entering before her sister. She wasn't worried about any unwanted intruders. She already knew who was there. "At least not until I'm sure you can handle yourself better."
"Better! You saw me fight those tree thingies. I'm way ready…" She paused as she realized they weren't alone in the house. She broke into a radiant grin as she recognized the occupant of the sofa. A little battered and obviously in pain, but still a wonder to her. "Giles." She moved quickly toward his reclining figure, embracing him in a hug minus her usual enthusiasm. She didn't notice him wince despite her gentleness. "Buffy forgot to mention you came." She stole an accusing glare at her sister as she rose.
Buffy tossed her head in minor annoyance. "Well I was kinda busy trying to outrun a fireball that was about to blow you up. And then there was the fall down the hundred foot pit."
"Twenty"
"And then there was the small problem of getting us out. There were other things on my mind at the time." She smiled softly at her former Watcher before gathering him in an embrace much gentler than that of her sister's. "Hey. Glad to see the news of your demise was greatly exaggerated."
"Well that wasn't my fault! He told me he was dying." They all turned toward the vengeance demon bouncing slightly on her toes. "What?" Anya's exasperation was obvious as Buffy and Giles began laughing.
"It's alright Anya." Giles stroked his hand down Buffy's hair, enjoying the luxury of being able to touch her after almost a year apart. "I was able to regain my strength once Willow was stopped."
"H-how was W - I mean, is she…?" Dawn's confusion was obvious. No matter what she'd done to them all, Willow was still a part of their family.
"Xander stopped her. And no, she's still very much alive."
"Xander?" Buffy waited for Giles to explain further.
"He's a hero." Pride was evident in Anya's words and smile. "But don't tell him I said that." The other three smiled at her, then turned at the sound of footsteps on the front porch.
Xander entered first, obviously unsure if he'd done the right thing by bringing Willow, but confident in his own welcome. His hand grasping Willow's, he gently pulled her into the house. The witch looked toward the stairs, as if expecting Tara to descend them. She faced into the lounge, not willing to look directly at the people she betrayed. After guiding her into a nearby chair Xander straightened, only to brace himself for a breath-taking hug from Dawn. He returned it with equal enthusiasm before allowing her to make way for her sister.
Opening his eyes, Xander noticed Giles lying on the sofa. Not wishing to face his former fiancee until the last moment, he moved toward the older man with an outstretched hand. "Man, it's good to see you."
Giles grasped Xander's hand and pulled him down for a hug. "And I'm glad you understood my message."
"Yeah well, you take out the supernatural and that just leaves me." Xander straightened, not ready to talk about what happened.
"A hero." He turned surprised at Anya's words. There was a moment's hesitation, then they moved forward, their arms wrapping around each other. It was a moment of unity, a new beginning in a day where only endings were expected.
"Willow." The witch looked up at Giles' command, the man she least wanted to face. "You understand there must be consequences for what you have done?" His voice was gentle, yet commanding.
Willow nodded. "I broke laws. So many of them." Her regret was obvious, yet even she couldn't tell if it was because of her actions or because of what would happen to her next.
"She can't go to jail?" Dawn wasn't sure what Willow's punishment would be, but figured that it would be hard to prove murder by witchcraft.
"Man's laws are the least of her concern." Giles shifted slightly, moving into a more sitting position. "Anya? Could you do as I asked please?" The vengeance demon nodded, then transported away.
"Where did she go?" Xander questioned everybody's concern.
Before Giles could answer, the air near Willow changed, a haze developing before turning into a bright green light. Two flashes of white grew until they took human form. Anya materialised in her original position as two women stepped forward from the light.
Whoever they were, they didn't appear supernatural. The first was a few years older than Buffy, her blonde hair cut short. Her jeans and pullover were clean, but obviously not new. Beside her stood a dark skinned woman, her hair in a bob at the nape of her neck. She wore a business suit, and gave the impression of just having come from a board meeting. The blonde turned toward Giles. "Ripper." Her voice was definitely English, with a soft accent.
Giles nodded. "Willow, these women are from the coven who helped me. They've offered to help you. Will you go willingly?"
The blonde witch spoke before Willow could respond. "I would recommend you listen to your friend. You wouldn't like the alternative."
Willow straightened, some of her former arrogance showing. "You think you can hurt me? Your coven's combined magic couldn't stop me before, and now there's only two of you."
"Willow!" Xander's sharp reprimand seemed to bring Willow to her senses, and she slouched back into the chair.
"You foolish girl. We were trying not to kill you before. But rest assured we would have stopped you. Ripper found a way."
"How?" Dawn broached her question to Giles.
"A circle. Not just one coven, but several linked via the internet. An old friend showed me the idea once." Giles looked directly at Willow, reminding her of the time Jenny Calendar had needed such a circle after Willow had released a demon into the internet.
"I - I'm sorry. For everything." Willow directed her comments to everybody in the room. "I know I need help. I can still feel it inside me, wanting to - to hurt - somebody. I'll go with you."
The blonde nodded, then turned toward Giles. "You still owe me that date Ripper."
Giles smiled as Buffy looked toward him. "Date?"
He raised his eyebrows slightly. "You needn't sound so surprised."
"I-I'm not. I mean…." Giles chuckled, then hissed slightly in pain.
All three witches looked at him closely. "Giles?" Fear was evident in Willow's voice.
"Go. Now." The darker witch grabbed Willow's arm and pulled her toward the green light. "It's alright." At his reassurance she walked through the barrier with little resistance.
The blonde stood, waiting. "You know you have to go back with us."
"What? No! He just got here." Dawn stepped between Giles and the witch, soon flanked by Xander and Anya.
Buffy hesitated then asked. "What happens if he doesn't go?"
Ignoring the shaking of Giles' head, the witch answered. "He'll probably die. The removal of magic caused considerable damage internally. We can heal him."
Buffy nodded. "Then you'd better hurry up and take him. I don't want him in pain any longer than necessary."
Giles sighed in frustration. "Do I get a say in what I'm doing?"
"No." The two women smiled at each other. The Englishwoman continued. "I'll take good care of him for you."
"But he's coming back right? Because we need him." Xander received agreeing nods from both Anya and Dawn.
"No you don't. Not really. You've all grown up now. You certainly don't need me for research. Xander and Anya handle that quite well. Buffy doesn't need me for training, especially as she'll be working with Dawn in the future. And Dawn doesn't need me as a substitute parent. She has an excellent parent right here."
"That's not true. We do ne…."
"He's right." Buffy interrupted Dawn, then sat on the sofa beside Giles. "We don't need him for all those things, and there's a hundred other things we don't need him for." She lifted her hand, resting it gently against the side of his face. "But there are a hundred other things we need him for. But more important, we want him. Here. Home, with us."
Giles smiled in gratitude, grasping her hand gently. "Well then, the sooner I leave, the sooner I return. In a plane. With a passport." With Buffy's aid, he slowly stood, allowing his English friend to support his weight. "And hopefully with Willow." He paused before they entered the barrier, looking back at his young family. "Take care of each other until then." v The four remaining scoobies stared at the green barrier as it began to dissipate, as if to keep looking at it would miraculously return their friends to them fully healed. Buffy lifted her hand to move a stray hair from her eyes. Xander finally moved, glancing at the other two beside him. "So. What do we do now?"
"Well, I don't know about you, " Buffy sniffed at her hand and arm, "but I'm gonna take a shower."
The others looked at her as she moved toward the stairs. Anya spoke first. "I miss showers. I love showers."
"Do vengeance demons melt under water like the wicked witch of the west?" Dawn followed her sister up the stairs.
"No."
Dawn shrugged . "Then you can have a shower too."
Anya thought a moment then smiled. "Yeah. I can."
Xander opened the front door for his former fiance. "So. A two hour shower. Then what? Sleep for the rest of summer?"
"Yep."
"Sounds good to me."
"Vengeance demons don't sleep. As a rule. So don't tell D'Hoffryn."
The door closed upon the two exiting scoobies, the empty foyer silent save for the echo of remembered conversations, the spirits of loved ones gone. Through it all the house would stand, sheltering those remaining behind, providing a sanctuary from evils both supernatural and natural. And so it waited for the next adventure.