From: "cdreramius" <mike_mcd@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: ~Buffy*Wants*Willow~ FIC: Per Omnia Saecula Saeculorum 19
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2006 10:15:34 -0000
Title: Per Omnia Saecula Saeculorum
Author: Tony McD
Rating: M (15+ for language and adult themes)
Summary: The events and consequences immediately after `Grave'.
Distribution: Anywhere, just keep my name on it. As long as I am
remembered, I will never truly die.
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer nor do I own any
other characters. This is a work of fiction written for your enjoyment.
*-*-*-*-*
The drive from the airport was a silent one as everyone was lost in
their own thoughts. There was apprehension at how Willow would
readjust to her return to Sunnydale. Giles and the Coven reassured
them that she would be able to cope just fine.
But in the back of everyone's mind, especially Willow's, there were
doubts.
Pulling into Revello Drive, they parked the car in front of the house
and got out to look at the renovations.
The house had been extended to take in the driveway that used to run
beside the house. Unseen from their position, the basement had been
extended and expanded as well.
The new extension included a garage with laundry and storage space
behind it. Above the garage, a bedroom, bathroom, and study had been
added.
The front door opened and Travis, one of Buffy and Xander's workmates,
came out to greet them.
"Looking good Trav." Xander told him and he shook his hand.
"We wanted it all finished before you guys came back. As it stands,
we're still got the painting, electrical, and the carpets still to do
on the extension. Should all be finished by the end of the week."
Buffy gave Travis a hug and thanked him, making the former Canadian
blush. With a promise of returning tomorrow, he grabbed his tools and
left.
While the others unloaded the car, Willow stood on the lawn gathering
her courage. She had come thousands of miles yet the last 5 yards
between her and the front door threatened to defeat her. Giles came
out and stood beside her.
"You can do this." He gently encouraged her.
"What if I can't?"
"There's a house full of people waiting for you through that front
door who will do anything and everything to see you through this. Come
on." Giles held out his hand to Willow. Willow whispered a control
mantra she had learned in England and started walking, forgoing Giles'
offered hand.
There would be many, many times in the future where she would take the
outstretched hand of friendship and support.
But this was a challenge, albeit a small one, that she would meet
under her own steam.
The lounge room hadn't changed much, although with her renewed
attention to detail she was able to spot the slight dissidence between
the overwhelming femininity of the house and the occasional masculine
touch of Xander.
Xander's work boots by the door, a copy of Sports Illustrated on the
coffee table, one of Xander's clocks on the wall. All little things
but at the same time powerfully reassuring.
Xander had made this place his home and if Xander could do it then it
was possible that one day this could feel like home to her too.
A reassuring hand rested gently on her shoulder and Willow looked to
see Giles beside her.
"Let's see what they've done." He suggested.
"Look at the size of this hot tub!" Dawn yelled from up stairs. Willow
raised an eyebrow.
"Hot tub?"
"Something to ease the aches and pains of slaying, I'd imagine."
"This I gotta see." Willow headed upstairs to check out the latest
additions.
Following Willow up the stairs, Giles could only shake his head at the
extravagant size of the hot tub. It was big enough for all of them and
then some.
"We could do our research parties in here." Dawn suggested. Giles shot
her a venomous glare.
"No you won't. You're not taking any of my very old, very rare books
anywhere near here." In his mind Giles could see his books being
destroyed by the high humidity and the occasional dunking.
"You can take the librarian out of the library, you can take the
library out with a ton of explosives, but you can't take the librarian
out of the man." Xander joked. Buffy and Dawn giggled, Willow
unsuccessfully tried to hide her smirk. Giles closed his eyes and let
out a resigned sigh.
No matter how many years passed, their high school experiences would
forever be with them, for better or (in this case) for worse.
Opening his eyes again, he muttered something about respect and headed
down stairs.
*-*-*-*-*
quid est homo, quod memor es eius, aut filius hominis, quoniam visitas
eum?
(What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You
care for him?)
*-*-*-*-*
Dinner was courtesy a famous old Harris family recipe.
Chinese take-out.
Afterwards, Buffy went patrolling with Giles while Dawn crashed into
bed, her body clock completely out of whack and crying out for sleep.
Willow and Xander stayed up for a while watching TV together. It
wasn't too long before Willow's yawns became nearly continuous and she
said good night to Xander.
"You gonna share with Dawn or Buffy?" he asked.
Willow was quiet for a moment before she replied "I wanna stay in the
other room."
The declaration caught Xander short.
"You mean you want to share with me?"
"No."
Willow's intent to stay by herself in the room where her love had been
murdered was all too clear in her voice. It also screamed 'bad idea'
to Xander's mind.
"Ummm... you sure about this, Will?"
She nodded, determined to take this step on her road to recovery.
Unconvinced that this was a good idea but unwilling to fight her on
it, Xander acquiesced to her request.
"Just let me grab some PJ's. Just because Buffy let me sleep naked
with her in her bed once doesn't mean that she wants me to make it a
regular thing." he joked.
He grabbed what he needed then paused by the door and looked deep into
Willow's eyes.
"Are you really sure this is a good idea?"
"I have to deal with this sooner or later."
"Couldn't it be a little later?" Xander gently suggested. He could see
her apprehension. Willow shook her head.
"I need to do this. I'll be OK."
Xander moved aside to let her pass.
"If you need me..." he started.
"I know. Good night Xander."
With that Willow entered the room she had shared with Tara and closed
the door, leaving Xander alone with his misgivings.
*-*-*-*-*
ne quando dicat inimicus meus: Praevalui adversus eum!; neque
exsultent, qui tribulant me, si motus fuero.
(But I have trusted in Your loving kindness; my heart shall rejoice in
Your salvation.)
*-*-*-*-*
Buffy saw Giles to his new apartment after their patrol. He had bought
a new place not too far from Buffy's.
His place was by Buffy's side and it was as fitting and honored place
as any a man could ask for.
The patrol had reduced the local vamp population by two and had let
the demon underworld know that the Slayer was back.
It had also given Giles a chance to examine Buffy in action and see
that some of her techniques had become somewhat sloppy. He made a
mental note to remedy this in their training sessions.
Upon her return home, she found Xander sitting down in front of the TV.
"Willow gone to bed?" she asked.
"Yeah, her bed." Xander told her with emphasis on the last part.
"Oh." Buffy could see that Xander was as apprehensive about it as she was.
"I can sleep on the sofa if you want." Xander offered.
"Xander, you don't need to do that and you know it. Besides, I
generally sleep better when I'm not alone."
"Me too." he admitted then yawned.
"Come on sleepy head, time for bed." The pair went up stairs but Buffy
stopped just before her room.
"Do you think we should check on Willow?" Xander thought for a second.
"Probably a good idea."
The two headed to Willow's room and opened the door a fraction.
What they saw broke their hearts.
Willow was laying on the floor where Tara had fallen, weeping quietly.
She looked up at them with a look of complete devastation.
"She's gone."
An instant later Xander was scooping Willow up in his arms. He and
Buffy shared a look before coming to a silent agreement.
Xander carried Willow into Buffy's room and lay her on the bed.
With Buffy on one side and Xander on the other, Willow was able to
find the peace of sleep.
*-*-*-*-*
Quoniam non in finem oblivio erit pauperis; exspectatio pauperum non
peribit in aeternum.
(For the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the
afflicted perish forever.)
*-*-*-*-*