FIC: Episode 1 in T.C.P.S. "Home is Where the Stake is." (6/6)

[~~Kimber <kacoe@xxxxxxx>]

TITLE: Episode 1 in T.C.P.S. "Home is Where the Stake is." (6/6)
AUTHORS: Heather (nerdgurrl@xxxxxxxxx) & ~~Kimber (kacoe@xxxxxxx)
DISCLAIMER: All recognizable characters from the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer
belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. Any additional characters mentioned are the
property of the authors and may not be used without permission. This arrangement of words
in cyberspace is also owned by the authors and may not be displayed, copied, quoted from
or used without permission. This is a work of fiction done for enjoyment and the authors
who are in no way receiving monetary compensation for their efforts.
SUMMARY: Episode 1 in Heather and Kimber's "Convergent Paths Series". The alternate
universe version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
SPOILERS: Season one thru four including all season five speculations.
DISTRIBUTION: None. Lists only.
AUTHORS? NOTES:
Thoughts enclosed in <. . .>
Flashbacks enclosed in ((. . .))
Emphasis is denoted with *. . .*

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Willow weaved through the crowd of bodies surrounding the bronze like a swarm of
honeybees. Music pulsed and throbbed in the background, and the unspent energy of the
patrons was thick and palpable. It was the Saturday night before school was supposed to
start, and the club was filled to capacity. Every where around her, people were laughing
and dancing as if trying to squeeze out every last drop of summer vacation before the toil
of the school year began again. With a smile, Willow spotted Oz by the stage and made her
way over to him. She gave him a hug, but he pulled away stiffly.

"You made it," Oz said his eyebrows raised slightly.

"I said I would," Willow replied, giving him her best smile.

Oz walked over to his guitar case and pulled out some cords and began to hook them up to
the amplifier on stage.

"Yeah, well you've been kind of MIA the last few days," he said, trying to sound casual.
"I just kind of missed you that's all."

Willow reached over and hugged her boyfriend, this time he held on a little longer.

"I know Oz. I'm sorry I haven't been around the last few days, but Buffy needs me right
now, and I need to re-connect with her, ya know?"

Oz shrugged and resumed his task.

Willow studied him for a few minutes then took his hand and pulled him into the back of
the Bronze where it was quieter and they had some privacy.

"Oz, what?s wrong?" Willow asked, putting her arm on his shoulder. "Something is bothering
you, what it is?"

"Nothing Will, just getting ready for the gig, that's all."

Willow put her hand on her hips, and set in resolve face in place.

"Oz." she said reassuringly "You know that I like the whole taciturn cool guy thing that
you've got going, but I also know you well enough to know when something is wrong. And
something is wrong, so spill. Is it something I did?" Suddenly she was scared and
insecure. Oz was the first boyfriend she had ever had, and in the back of her mind she
was constantly afraid that he would wake up one day and realize that he had made a
terrible mistake and couldn't possibly want to date shy, mousy Willow.

Oz studied her for a moment, and must have read the insecurity in her eye's, because he
smiled at her and kissed her on the forehead.

"It's just that ever since Buffy came back, I haven't seen you at all. I missed having
you there at band practice and I really missed you on the last three wolf nights. The
wolf always seems to be calmer when you're around."

Willow hugged him again, and smiled apologetically.

"I really am sorry Oz. It's not like I wanted to be away from you. I know I?ve said this
before, but Buffy really..."

"Needs you," Oz said flatly. "So you said."

Oz looked over at Willow and began to pace a little. He was not used to discussing his
feelings with anyone. Hell, he wasn't really used to discussing anything with any one.
Breathing deeply, he composed his thoughts, feeling that his girlfriend needed to know
where he was coming from.

"I guess that's what's bothering me," Oz said agitated. "You almost get killed trying to
restore HER boyfriends soul, and she just takes of for months because 'She can't deal.'?
Oz said the last part imitating Buffy.

His pacing increased, he was really upset now and Willow was taken a back by his display
of emotion. Oz never showed emotion.

"I mean, Buffy takes off for parts unknown and we don't know whether she made it out alive
or not. I had to spend the whole summer watching you worry and suffer because she bailed,
and now that she's back it's like she never left. You've spent all of your time with her
and you've completely neglected me."

"Oz...I," Willow sputtered. "Where is this coming from? You almost sound like your
jealous. I have spent the entire summer with you, I?m sorry if I wanted a little time
with my best friend. It's just, this whole thing... is...is my fault." Willow sat down on
a nearby chair. Her lip was trembling and Oz could tell that she was trying to not cry.

Oz walked over and put her arm around her, but instead of leaning into the embrace, she
just sat there stiffly.

"The spell...the restoration spell that I did in the hospital. . .well, it worked. Angel
got his soul back and, I guess, Xander never warned Buffy that we where trying the spell
again, because she didn't know." Willow's voice wavered and tears tracked down her
cheeks. "They fought, and Acathla began to awaken. The spell worked and Angel got his
soul restored, only it was too late. Buffy knew that the only way to close the vortex was
to send Angel through it. So she stabbed him and sent him to hell. She still can't talk
about it, but she seems to feel better when I?m around, and you know what? I do too. I
care about you Oz, but I missed Buffy."

Oz hugged Willow once again and began to feel like the world?s biggest jerk for bringing
it up in the first place.

Willow smiled at Oz and returned the hug. "I hope you understand." Oz nodded and Willow
smiled once again. "I'm gonna fix things though."

Oz looked at her, confused. ?What do you mean??

?I?m going to find a way to bring Angel back from hell. Giles is going to help me find a
spell and...?

?I don?t think that?s such a good idea, Will. I mean you and this whole magic thing is??

?You don?t think I can do it?? she said crossly. Willow stood up and walked to the other
side of the room and folded her arms across her chest.

?I didn?t say that Will. I just mean that it?s dangerous and you don?t really know what
your doing yet?I just don?t want you to get hurt.? Willows face shifted into a mask of
anger.

?NO! You don?t think that I am capable of doing this! You think that all I?m good for is
research and being a?.a.. groupie!? Willow was so angry that her ears had turned red.

?I know that it?s dangerous OZ. I?m not stupid, but in this town going to the store at
night is dangerous. I can?t just sit by and do nothing. I thought that YOU would
understand. Magic might work, and I AM getting better.? Willow glared at him, as tears
threatened once more.

?Will I didn?t mean it like that. I just think that maybe you messing with magic isn?t
such a good idea.? Oz walked over to her and tried to comfort her. ?You know I think that
you can do anything you put your mind to.?

Willow shot him a withering look and pushed away from him.

?I gotta go.? She mumbled, as tears started to fall once more.

?I thought you were going to stay for the gig?? Oz asked.

?I have to go see Giles,? she muttered, and then turned and quickly walked out of the room
and through the front door of the Bronze. Once she was outside, she stopped to compose
herself, half hoping that Oz would come after her. Willow wiped the tears away and took a
few deep-calming breaths.

?Whatcha doing stranger?? a voice asked behind her.

Willow turned around to find a grinning Buffy. The grin quickly turned to a frown when
she saw the look on her friend?s face.

?What?s wrong Will??

Willow shook her head slightly. ?It?s nothing, Oz and I just had a spat that?s all.?

Buffy reached over and gave her friend a long hug. Willow sighed, and relaxed into the
embrace.

?Doesn?t sound like nothing,? Buffy said, concerned. ?You wanna talk about it??

Willow shook her head. ?Not really, but thanks for asking. What I really want to do, is
drown my self in mindless work for a while.?

?I guess you don?t feel like watching Oz?s gig now, huh?? Buffy asked sympathetically.

Willow smiled sadly and shook her head again. ?Nope. I promised Giles that I would help
him catalog the rest of his ?special? books before school started, so I think I?m going to
do that.?

Willow hated lying to her best friend, and mentally crossed her fingers behind her back,
but she didn?t want Buffy to know that she was trying to find a way to get Angel back,
until she was sure that she could.

Buffy gently took Willow?s hand and started to walk.

?Where are we going?? Willow asked confused.

Buffy smiled. ?Duh, to Giles?s, silly. I don?t want you walking by yourself.?

Willow smiled at her friend, unable to resist. ?But I thought you were supposed to meet
Xander? You can?t just ditch him. He?s already pouting because you?ve spent all your
time with me since you got back.?

Buffy laughed, once again amazed at how thoughtful Willow always was.

?I?ll tell you what? I?ll walk you to the library, and then I?ll come back here and hang
out with Xan. OK??

?OK,? Willow agreed happily, not really wanting to walk by herself anyway.

Buffy and Willow walked down the street in companionable silence. Finally Willow turned
to Buffy and smiled.

?So, how?s it feel? You know, being home.?

?Well, I feel like I?ll be apologizing to you, Mom, Giles, and Xander for the rest of my
life, but other than that, things are of the good.? Buffy smiled at her companion and
resisted the urge to hug her tightly. ?Mom and I are getting along pretty well. I mean
it?s gonna take some adjusting but. . .? Buffy shrugged knowingly then continued to walk
toward Giles?s.

?It?s weird.? Buffy said softly, ?For a while there, when I was in LA, it was kind of nice
to be good ole forgettable Anne. No demons or monsters or baddies to worry about, but
than I began to miss it you know??

Willow cocked her head to the side like a confused puppy. ?You missed the demons, monsters
and baddies??

Buffy chuckled at her red headed friend and then shoved her playfully. ?No silly, I missed
being the slayer and fighting the vampires and such.?

As if on cue, a prowling vampire jumped out of a nearby bush and attacked Buffy. Before
Willow could remove the stake from her backpack, the vampire was nothing but dust. The
two friends looked at one another and began to laugh.

?So, what you?re saying is, it?s good to be home?? Willow asked with a chuckle.

?Well Wills, you know what they say,? Buffy smiled at her friend with an evil glint in her
eye, ?home is where the stake is.?

The end of Episode 1.