RoundRobin Chapter 20-Hunter

["xenaslave2000 <xenaslave2000@xxxxxxxxx>" <xenaslave2000@xxxxxxxxx>]

============Round Robin
Chapter 20
Frau Hunter Ash 


Willow curled her legs under her as she sat down on the back porch 
with a cup of hot cocoa. It wasn't the same as Joyce's but it was 
still good and reminded her of home. It was finally feeling like she 
was home again.  

Tara was asleep upstairs, curled up around Willow's pillow after 
their lovemaking. Despite feeling content and somewhat worn out 
herself, Willow was still wide awake. 

Part of it was waiting to see Dawn and Xander and the other part was 
waiting for Buffy to come home. Things were so confusing, between 
the prophecy, the feelings between her, Tara and Buffy, and facing 
her friends after the mess she had left, Willow was awake.

Now she was curled up on the back porch swing with a hot cup of 
cocoa, waiting for whichever came first: Dawn or Buffy. She really 
didn't expect Xander yet without calling or maybe in the morning with 
donuts.

The witch sipped her cocoa and thought about her time away. There 
were so many ways to describe it, she laughed softly to herself: 
healing, adventurous, and enlightening. Cordelia would be delighted 
things were working out between Tara, Buffy and Willow. The witch 
needed to call Queen C and let her know she was doing alright.

It was amazing how she had connected with Cordelia after all the 
years of fighting during high school. "Maybe we're both growing up," 
Willow muttered to herself.

"You look deep in thought," a voice ventured from the gate.

Willow almost dropped her cocoa as she brought up a large cross in 
her other hand. She was in Sunnydale, after all. She relaxed only 
slightly when Dawn stepped into the light of the back porch with an 
impish smile.

"Can I hug you or will you stake me? I swear I'm still human," Dawn 
quipped.

Willow stood up with a hesitant smile and sat her cocoa down on the 
railing and held her arms open, cross still in hand.

Dawn giggled and opened her shirt, showing her own cross and Willow 
sighed, lowering hers to the porch swing just in time as Dawn 
launched herself into the witch's arms.

"Oh God, I missed you, Dawnie," Willow whispered.  

"I missed you so much! Okay, I was really pis?mad at you for a while 
but I missed you more than was angry!" Dawn grinned.

"I'm so sorry for hurting you," Willow whimpered, tears filling her 
eyes. "I'm sorry I was gone so long, I needed to do that though."

"I know," Dawn smiled, pulling Willow back down onto the swing. "So 
you see everybody yet?"

"No, I haven't seen Xander yet," Willow answered slowly.

"What about Buff and Tara? You okay with them?" Dawn asked, her eyes 
probing the red haired witch's response and grinned when Willow began 
blushing.

"Seems to be working okay," Willow admitted with a shy smile.

Dawn squealed and hugged Willow again. "You got back together with 
Tara? Yes! Why aren't you with her now? What are you doing down here?"

"She's napping right now," Willow admitted softly, blushing a bright 
red.

"And Buffy? How's that going?" Dawn asked, obviously curious.

Willow blushed an even deeper red and glanced away. "It's, uh, going 
okay."

Dawn giggled and hugged the witch tightly. "You guys are so weird 
but I'm glad you're back."

"Thanks," Willow smiled. "It feels good to be back actually. A little 
wigging but good."

"Did going away help? Angel said you were doing okay and getting 
better," Dawn asked slowly.

"Yeah it did," Willow said thoughtfully. "I'm sorry I ran off but I 
really needed the distance to get myself back together. I learned how 
to go back to the basics with my magic and control."

Willow felt Dawn pulling back slightly. "The magic is okay though? I 
mean, no more creepy guy and demons?"

The red haired witch sighed heavily.  

"Yeah, I'm okay," she said softly. "I learned control. I had already 
figured out tripping like it was a drug wasn't the brightest thing 
I've ever done. I haven't crossed any lines since that night, Dawnie."

"What if bad guys attack? Would you use the bad stuff? This is 
Sunnydale, after all," Dawn asked with a deep frown.

"I was attacked by a werewolf and a sorcerer in LA and I used only 
positive energy," Willow said proudly. "Managed to hurt them and get 
away without getting bit or using black stuff."

Dawn squealed in delight and clapped her hands loudly, causing Willow 
to giggle and blush again.

"So now you get together with Tara and something with Buff and save 
the world?" Dawn asked bluntly.

"I, uh, I guess it's something like that, not sure how that prophecy 
thing works, as usual," Willow complained. "They're usually rather 
vague on the details."

"Sounds like my math teacher," Dawn smirked.  

"How, how is Xander?" Willow asked softly, afraid to see her old 
friend. Out of the entire town of Sunnydale, Xander had known her 
the longest and had been her friend all those years. The thought that 
she had disappointed Xander hurt the witch, almost as much as 
disappointing Tara and Buffy.

"Doing okay, I guess," Dawn shrugged. "He kept wanting to go and find 
you. He wanted you back from the start."

"I wanted to come back," Willow sighed. "I needed to get better 
first."

The witch smiled and nudged the teenager. "So, how is school? Any 
boyfriends?"

Dawn giggled. "No, not yet. Al the guys seem to be idiots."

"Any girlfriends?" Willow teased, laughing as Dawn's eyes widened and 
the precocious teen hit her playfully.

"You guys have that one covered, thanks!" Dawn quipped.

"Plenty of time for boyfriends or girlfriends," Willow giggled. "Tell 
me about school. The math teacher is boring?"

"Oh God! You should hear this guy!"

* * *

Tara turned over and reached for Willow. The blonde witch sat up on 
her elbows with a frown. Willow's side of the bed was crumpled but 
cold.  

Tara quickly turned on the lamp on the nightstand next to the bed, 
her eyes rapidly looking for Willow's bags. She sighed and tried to 
calm her rapidly beating heart once she saw the familiar backpack and 
luggage. "Oh Goddess, please?"

The young witch pulled her robe on and moved quickly downstairs. The 
front door was locked and the living room dark and quiet. Tara moved 
through the kitchen and sighed when she saw the back door open. A 
sense of relief, mixed with fear, filled Tara and she reached for the 
screen door slowly. 

"Will?" 

Dawn and Willow looked up, both smiling until they saw the concern 
and fright in Tara's eyes.

"I, uh, I've got some homework to do, catch you guys later," Dawn 
said softly. "I'm counting on pancakes in the morning! Tara hasn't 
made them the same since you left!"

"You bet," Tara said, trying to sound cheerful as the teenager moved 
past her.

Willow patted the spot next to her and Tara quickly sat down and 
curled up into Willow's arms.  

"What is it, baby?" Willow asked softly.

"I woke up a-and the b-bed was empty," Tara whispered, almost 
crying. "I? I was a-afraid it was a dream. Your s-stuff was there but 
y-you were gone again."

"Oh, Tara," Willow whispered, holding Tara tightly, beginning to rock 
the porch swing. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I promise, 
baby, I'm not running away again. I know it's going to take time and 
things are a little confusing right now but I'm here to stay."

"Y-you won't leave a-again?" Tara whimpered.

Willow kissed the top of Tara's head and forehead tenderly.  

"No, I won't run, baby," Willow promised. "I promise."

"C-could we go back to bed?" Tara asked softly.

"You bet," Willow nodded. "Come on, my love."

* * *

Buffy opened the door to Tara's room slowly and quietly. She could 
see Tara curled up in Willow's arms, both sleeping soundly.

The Slayer smiled slightly and crossed the hall to listen at Dawn's 
doorway for a moment. She knocked slightly and opened the door to 
find Dawn asleep in her bed with a History book open in front of her.

Buffy walked over and shut off the teenager's CD player and light.

"Sleep tight, kiddo," the Slayer said softly. It had been hard since 
their mother's death and Buffy knew it had to have been worse for 
Dawn when Buffy had died, leaving the teenager. "I'm not leaving you 
again."

The Slayer quickly got into a very hot shower, hoping to work away 
the kinks from the nightly slaying. Buffy sighed as her thoughts 
roamed across the hall again, picturing the two witches. Slayer 
senses had told the young blonde that Tara and Willow had reconnected 
on a very primal level earlier in the evening.

"Oh God," Buffy whimpered, shutting the water off. "I want you both."

* * *

Xander whistled as he opened the back gate and trotted up the stairs 
to the Summers house. He knew that Tara would probably be making 
breakfast about this time and he wanted in on pancake goodness. To 
contribute and be fair, especially since he was working fairly 
steadily, the young man had a large box of donuts in hand.

Xander opened the back door, balancing the box of donuts as he worked 
the doorknob. He wasn't surprised to see Tara by the stove and Buffy 
sitting at the table with Dawn, pouring orange juice.

"Hello one and all!" Xander said cheerfully. "I brought donuts! You 
should see it out there, the weather is perfect! I think we should 
all abandon Sunnydale and head for the beach. I'll even pack charcoal 
type things and cook burgers and dogs."

Xander noticed no one was responding to his usual morning 
cheerfulness and offers of chocolaty goodness in the box. Tara and 
Buffy both looked towards the doorway to the dining room.

"What?" Xander demanded and turned to look as well.

"Uh, hi?" Willow said softly from the doorway.

"Will?" Xander asked softly. "Willow!"

Xander dropped the box on the counter and rushed over, pulling Willow 
into a massive bear hug. Only after a few moments of protests did 
Xander lower Willow to the floor but not out of his arms for at least 
two minutes.

When he released her, the young man turned and wiped at his eyes.  

"You had better not leave again or I will totally lose my manly 
exterior in front of everyone again," Xander muttered, trying to joke.

"Okay, you're manliness will be intact, I'm not leaving," Willow 
promised.

Willow glanced over and found Tara's eyes filled with tears of 
happiness and Dawn clapping enthusiastically. The one that was 
puzzling was Buffy, the Slayer seemed to be watching Tara and Willow 
closely, as if judging reactions and emotions.

"Come on, grab a donut and tell me everything!" Xander said 
cheerfully, opening the donut box. "I want to hear everything! Even 
about Dead Boy."

"Xander, Angel hates it when you call him that!" Willow giggled, 
looking to Buffy and Tara before reaching for the box. Buffy nodded 
and Tara smiled in encouragement.

Willow grabbed a powdered donut and followed Xander into the living 
room.

Dawn giggled and then frowned when she caught both Buffy and Tara 
watching her. "What?" she demanded.

"You okay with Will being back?" Buffy asked softly, glancing over at 
Tara. She frowned as the witch turned to pay attention to the 
pancakes she was making.

"Yeah, isn't that the plan? You guys figure out whatever is going on 
with the prophecy and you save the world again. Other than that, yes, 
I am more than glad she's back," Dawn shrugged. "What about you, 
Tara? You two all with the snuggles again?"

Buffy quickly looked down at her glass of orange juice.  

Tara glanced at the slayer and younger sister.

"Do you know what the prophecy probably means?" Tara asked softly, 
not surprised when Buffy's head snapped up, her eyes wide.

"Something about the three of you being close," Dawn shrugged, 
getting up and grabbing a donut.

"I-it's possible that? that could mean really c-close," Tara said 
softly.  

Dawn's eyes widened after a moment. "You mean? the? the three of you 
snuggles? Together or rotating doors?"

Buffy almost ended her slaying career by choking on her orange juice.

"Yes, very likely," Tara nodded, trying not to laugh at Buffy's 
reaction. "How do you feel about that?"

"You mean, you and Buffy, you and Willow, Willow and Buffy or all 
three of you together?" Dawn asked, her face puzzled.

"All of the above?" Buffy said softly.

"What?!" Xander's voice snapped from the kitchen doorway.

"The t-three of us are in l-love with each other and that includes 
se? snuggles," Tara stammered. "W-we haven't talked about it much b-
but the feelings are there."

Buffy noticed Willow moving past the stunned Xander and expected her 
to move next to Tara. Instead the Slayer was very surprised when the 
red-haired witch rushed over and knelt beside Buffy. 

"You okay, Buff?" Willow asked softly.

"Oh God, I'm not ready for this," Buffy complained. "I need more 
caffeine before this."

"You!?" Xander squeaked. "The three of you like together together?"

"If they'll have me, I want both of them," Willow nodded, sighing 
with relief when she felt Tara's hands on her shoulders, squeezing 
her reassuringly.

"So what does that mean?" Xander demanded. "A bigger bed?"

"Xander!" Buffy snapped, finally finding her voice as Dawn watched 
the interaction, her eyes almost wider than saucers.

"What? I thought An had some weird fantasies but this? this?" 

"What?" Willow growled, standing and facing her long time friend. "So 
it's not common, so what? I love them both!"

"And I love B-Buffy and Willow," Tara said softly but firmly.

Buffy noticed everyone turning to her and began to blush. "Yes, I 
admit it! I love them both and that includes naked thoughts, okay?"

"Oh God, I need more chocolate and caffeine," Xander 
complained. "What about getting jealous? Anya would rip the eyes out 
of anyone getting near me."

"The three of us love each other, I? I'm not going? going to get 
jealous over Buffy and Will. T-they've been in love for years, just 
didn't admit it to themselves," Tara smiled softly.

"Does this mean you can beat the 'end of the world' thing?" Dawn 
asked calmly.

"Uh, yeah, we think so," Willow nodded.

"Okay, then what's the problem, Xander?" Dawn asked with a 
shrug. "Pancakes are burning!"

"Talk later, guys?" Willow suggested softly to both Tara and Buffy. 
Both nodded, watching each other and the red-head.

* * *

Giles sighed as he waited for the telephone connections to go 
through. Finally a familiar voice sounded in his ear.

"Travers here," the Council Chairman said briskly. "That you, Rupert?"

"Yes, any new about this prophecy or such?" Giles asked anxiously.

"I'm afraid not," the ex-Watcher could almost hear Quentin shaking 
his head. "Anything to add on your end? Are those three together 
yet?"

"I'm not sure, we just got Willow home," Giles said slowly. "I 
believe she's reconnecting with Buffy and Tara."

"Whatever it takes, Rupert," Quentin said firmly. "Love spell, drug 
them, whatever it takes. We're not talking about vampires taking over 
Sunnydale this time, this could be the end of everything we know.

"I'm bloody well aware of what the stakes are," Giles 
snapped. "They'll do what is necessary and I believe the love is 
there between the three of them. A love spell or drugs wouldn't help 
and you know it. A false joining won't help us."

"I know, I'm just worried, Rupert," Quentin admitted with a sigh.  

Giles was surprised, he never thought he'd see the day when Quentin 
admitted to being worried. 

"So am I," Giles said softly. "Call if you learn anything, Quentin."

The Watcher hung up the phone with a sigh, kicking his feet up onto 
the sofa. It seemed easier to sleep in the back of the Magic Box 
than the cold and empty apartment.

He dialed another number and waited.

"Olivia? Liv? It's Rupert," Giles said softly, his voice almost 
cracking. "You still talking to me, luv?"

"Yes, of course I am," Olivia's voice sounded like music in the 
Watcher's ear. "Where are you, Ru?"

"Still in the States," Giles admitted with a sigh. "God, I miss you, 
luv. More than you know."

Olivia giggled softly. "I've been missing you as well. When will I 
see you?"

"Can you get away for a visit? Soon?" Giles asked softly, trying not 
to sound anxious.

"Yes, actually," Olivia's voice sounded calm but excited. "The season 
is ending and I was thinking of standing down from the next 
production. Ru, are you alright? You've never asked me to dash over 
before."

"I need to see you, Liv," Giles admitted. "I want to ask you 
something and not over the phone."

Olivia laughed softly in his ear. "I love you too, Ru. I could be 
there next week? I need to finish the run here first."

"Perfect," Giles smiling broadly. "Ring me up, Liv, and I'll come 
round the airport and pick you up. I love you, luv. See you then."

Giles clicked his phone off and closed his eyes. "I'm not letting you 
go if we survive the next few weeks."

* * *