FIC: Right In Front of You Part 18

["Callistosdarkside" <callistosdarkside@xxxxxxxx>]

Cordy, Anya, nuff said. Okay, other good plot developments too. :)

Read here, or here in html:
http://www.geocities.com/callistosdarkside/RightInFrontOfYou.html

-CDS

. Title: Right In Front of You Part 18
. Author: Callisto's Dark Side
. Email: callistosdarkside@xxxxxxxx
. Feedback: The more I get, the faster I write.
. Distribution: Can be found at
http://www.geocities.com/callistosdarkside/RightInFrontOfYou.html (My Site),
http://www.geocities.com/last_days_of_pern, and
http://www.peccath.com/extraflamey/mainframe.htm
. Spoilers: All of Season 5, but events take place before some events in
Tough Love.
. Rating: R
. Pairing: W/T & B/W
. Disclaimer: All characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer belong to the
almighty Joss Whedon and Company, and are only being borrowed for the fun
and enjoyment of us, the super fans.
. Summary: Willow/Tara fic in which the two love birds must manage to deal
with the consequences of a spell that threatens to tear them apart forever.

Chapter 18


"You sure this is it?" Buffy asked, pulling the car up to the former
Hyperion Hotel.

"Yup," Willow assured, taking a second look at the address she'd written
down.

"But it's so old, and, well, old," Buffy commented.

"Yeah, so not like Angel's style," Willow laughed.

"I guess you're right," Buffy scrunched her nose, parked the car and tapped
Anya on the shoulder to wake up the dozing brunette.

Buffy hesitated a moment before stepping out of the car, mustering the
courage to walk into her ex-boyfriend's life once again.

******

"Would you stop cleaning already?" Cordelia shouted, as Angel whisked
around the main room, dusting off everything he could.

"I can't, what if she sees I'm living like a slob? She'll want to help,"
Angel replied.

"And that would be bad, because?"

"Because, if she wants to help, then that means she'll stay longer, and if
she stays longer, things will get harder."

"You mean your thing?"

"Among others."

"Geez, you've been apart forever and you still got it bad for her."

"That's why she's gotta see I'm doing okay."

"Fine," Cordelia rolled her eyes, "Just make sure you don't bone her or
anything."

"Ugh!"

"What? Like that didn't cross your mind?"

"Yeah, but not in so many words."

"Sorry, oh politically correct vampire, but I've got better things to do,"
Cordy sighed, as she grabbed her purse and headed towards the front door,
only the door opened for her as Buffy, Willow and Anya stepped through.

"Buffy," Cordelia yelped.

"Cordelia," Buffy and Willow greeted.

"Well it's nice to meet you girls again," Cordelia shook the girls' hands,
only Anya was glaring at her silently.

"Likewise," Buffy responded, before her eyes went to Angel, who was holding
something behind his back, something furry from what the blonde could make
out.

"Buffy." Angel nodded.

"Angel." Buffy nodded in turn.

"Okay," Cordelia sounded out, "I think I'll leave before this gets any more
awkward."

"Yes, and I'll follow," Anya stated, grabbing Cordelia's arm and dragging
the fellow brunette out the front door.

Willow stood silently, watching the exchange between Buffy and Angel.

"So, what're you doing here?" Angel asked, throwing the dust-mop behind the
couch.

"Looking for something," Buffy replied.

"Something?"

"Yes, nothing you need to worry yourself about."

"You sure about that?"

"Yup."

"You'll be dealing with Wolfram and Hart, that means you're in my business."

"So, make it not your business," Buffy said, slightly confused as to how he
knew where she was going.

"I can't do that," Angel stated, stepping closer.

"Why not?"

"Because."

"Because I'm involved?"

"Maybe."

"Then look the other way."

"I can't, these lawyers are ruthless."

"Aren't they all?"

"Yeah, but these one deal in the supernatural."

"So, it's not like I'll be hiring them. I'll be in and out of that building
before they knew what hit them."

Angel chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Buffy asked.

"You. You think you can just walk into my town and take on my business?"

"I don't see why not?"

Willow backed up a step and stood behind Buffy, placing a hand on the small
of the Slayer's back.

"You'll see when they arrest you the moment you walk through their front
doors." Angel closed the space between him and Buffy, now looking down on
the petite blonde.

"Then I'll just have to deal with that," Buffy said, turning on her heel and
grabbing Willow's hand, "Come on Will, we're leaving."

"So fast? Why not stay and have a cup of blood?" Angel drawled.

"Because, my sister's at stake, that's why?" Buffy growled, turning once
again and ploughing through the doors.

"Sister?" Angel mumbled to himself.

******

"What's your deal?" Cordelia asked, rubbing her arm where the Ex-Demon had
grabbed on.

"Deal? You wanna know the deal?" Anya questioned huffily.

"I think."

"The deal is that you're trying to steal Xander away from me."

"What?" Cordy laughed, tilting her head back.

"What's so funny?"

"Xander?" Cordy laughed again.

"Are you laughing at my man?" Anya crossed her arms.

"Uh huh." Cordy nodded.

"Why? Why would you laugh at him if you're using him for sex?"

"Sex? Please, sex with Harris, I'd die before I'd go there."

"He's a gladiator in bed you know?" Anya said defensively.

"I'll bet." Cordelia rolled her eyes.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you don't have to worry about any woman coming onto your guy,
well, any sane woman that is," The leggy brunette drawled.

"I'll have you know that he's more man than you'll ever get."

"Of course, because men don't naturally flock to me."

"Oh, you think you're all that because you used to be rich, and because you
got the long legs that guys love, and the fake boobs that go with it?"

"Damn straight, except for the fake boobs, cuz these are all nat-u-ral."

"Then you won't mind if I have a feel?" Anya said as she reached out to test
her theory.

"Ack," Cordelia jumped back, swatting away Anya's hand. "What're you? Lesbo
number three?"

"Hardly." Anya rolled her eyes. "But if there weren't any more men on this
planet, I wouldn't mind going there."

"Okay, I'm leaving." Cordelia stepped wide around Anya, making sure her
arms were at-the-ready in case the Ex-Demon had any other plans of groping
her.

******

"That's right, keep fanning," Glory sighed, sunbathing while Anna cooled her
off.

"My arm hurts," The six-year-old complained.

"Then use the other one."

Anna promptly switched hands.

"This one hurts too."

"Already?"

"Uh huh."

"Fine, you can take a rest, but get me another drink while you're resting,"
Glory commanded, waving the girl back into the house.

"Yes Glory." Anna bowed.

******

"Wake up," Dawn said, shaking Tara by the shoulders.

"Ugh, why?" Tara mumbled.

"Because, we have spells to cast," Dawn smiled.

"Can't we do that later?" Tara brought the pillow over her face.

"Yeah, but I wanna do it now." Dawn pulled the pillow away.

"Why do we have to do them so early?"

"Early? It's the afternoon."

Tara wiped her eyes, looking out the window to see the glare of the
afternoon sun.

"I slept in?"

"Duh."

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"Question much?" Dawn said dryly.

"What?" Tara shook her head.

"Exactly," Dawn rolled her eyes, dragging Tara off the couch.

******

Willow sat silently in the front seat, staring at her best friend, who was
equally quiet, driving around the streets of LA,.

"Where are we going?" Willow asked softly.

"Wolfram and Hart," Buffy answered, not taking her eyes off the road.

"Don't you think we need backup?"

"And by backup, you mean Angel?"

"Yeah, and his crew."

Buffy chuckled, "Crew. He has a crew."

"Uh huh," Willow nodded.

"We can handle it ourselves Will."

"Umm," Anya raised her hand in the backseat, "If you guys are going to evil
lawyer building, then shouldn't I be with Xander?"

"No," Buffy stated coldly.

"But before, you said."

"Who cares what I said before Anya," Buffy snapped, "You're coming with us
so you can distract the guards."

"Okay," Anya squeaked.

Willow placed a hand on Buffy's shoulder to calm her friend, but the blonde
jumped at the contact.

"God Will, don't do that."

"I was just."

"I know," Buffy turned her head to lock eyes with Willow, "I just need to
focus," Buffy added softly.

"And focus you will, I just don't want you shutting other people out,"
Willow pleaded.

"I won't," Buffy replied, taking the redhead's hand in her own, "I don't
ever want to shut you out Will."

"I don't either," Willow agreed, her eyes tearing up upon seeing the
Slayer's eyes water.

Buffy pulled her eyes away from Willow and sniffled, letting go of the
redhead's hand and wiping her eyes.

"God Will, we gotta stop getting all sappy before the big fights."

"I know," Willow replied, wiping her own tears.

"Fight?" Anya asked nervously, "I thought my distraction was supposed to
prevent the killing, maiming, and general disfiguring."

Buffy and Willow ignored the comment as they drove down the street, on their
way to Wolfram and Hart, with Willow slipping her hand into her best
friend's grip once again for comfort.

******

"That was a real time saver," Leanna commented as she, Tara, and Dawn stood
watching the final drops of water rain down upon the fields from the
artificial cloud they had created.

"Yup, you can say that again," Tara replied.

"That was a real time saver," Leanna laughed.

Tara and Dawn couldn't help but laugh along with their fellow brunette.

"So what do you want to do now?" Dawn asked excitedly.

"Rest," Tara answered.

"But you always wanna rest," Dawn whined.

"Cuz you always wanna do spells," Tara countered.

"True," Dawn rolled her eyes, "But Leanna wants to do them too, so it's not
like I'm the only one pressuring you into it."

"So what is this, like peer pressure or something," Tara asked.

"Exactly," Leanna and Dawn answered together, each looping an arm through
Tara's and dragging the poor Wiccan off to do another spell.

"I should've never taught you two," Tara sighed, as they all went back into
the house.

******

"So, this is the Eye of Venus?" Ben caressed the smooth surface of the ivory
artefact.

"Yes," Lilah smiled, "I hope it's to your liking?"

"Oh, it is, I'm just glad you decided it was in your best interest to hand
it over," Ben smirked, as his minions held Lilah and several security guards
hostage in one of the many basement vaults inside of Wolfram and Hart.

"Anything for a new client," Lilah purred.

"New client?" Ben raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, it's not everyday I come across an actual God, not to mention a
handsome one, and I'm sure we could both benefit from an alliance."

"You mean you could benefit from my not killing you?"

"That, and you could benefit from our knowledge of the supernatural and our
ability to manipulate the laws of this world to our mutual satisfaction."

"Interesting proposal," Ben smiled, "I'll take it under consideration."

"Of course." Lilah half-bowed; still being held by one of Ben's minions.
"Take all the time you need."

"I will, but until then, you could do me a favour." Ben tossed the Eye of
Venus back to Lilah, who ripped her arms free from a surprised minion and
desperately caught the precious artefact just as it was about to hit the
ground. "Make sure the Slayer gets that," Ben smiled.

"What?" Lilah and Ben's followers shouted.

"Master," Minion number one bowed, "Why would you want the Slayer to have
the Eye?"

"Because green goop, it's much more fun that way." Ben patted the top of the
demon's head.

"I don't understand."

"You will," Ben smirked, as he walked out of the vault. "Oh," Ben
half-turned, "When you give the Eye of Venus to the Slayer, make it look
like you don't want her to have it."

"That can be arranged," Lilah complied, although still incredibly confused.

To be continued.