Ok, first another big thank you
as always for all the feedback and to everyone who bothers to read my fic.
Hope everyone had a happy and safe Christmas and that the New Year brings you all continued happiness and good health.
Today is my birthday (turned the big 30 today - funny how I still feel like I did when I turned 20) so I thought I would get off my butt and post the next part of my fic.
With this next part I could have gone in a few different directions but in the end I think it turned out pretty good the way it is. I have kind of settled on what is going to happen later on in the story so I have cut alot of what I had written out in order to get to the main plot sooner.
I hope you enjoy and that you aren't dissappointed that I haven't explored certain points a little further.
Jill
Title: Expensive at Half the Price – Part Seven.
Author: Jill (A.K.A. – WillowPowered).
Email Address: willow_powered@yahoo.com.auDistribution: If by some miracle you want to pass this on please ask me before doing so. Just drop me an email at the above addy.
Rating: R - Even though most of it is pretty tame there will probably be some violence and some Willow and Tara goodness (coughcoughsexcoughcough).
Disclaimer: Willow, Tara and any other characters that appear in Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the property of Mr Joss and Mutant Enemy etc. etc. etc. No breach of copyright is intended by me, I am just a fan expressing my ummm fan-ness.
Feedback: Are you kidding, bring it on whether it’s good or bad.
Comments: This picks up 2 years after part six.
Note: Plot, what plot??
Characters thoughts are in
Italics.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Two years laterOk this is really trying my patience. Buffy is pacing between the window and a row of uncomfortable airport seats where Anya, Dawn and Xander are seated all staring off into space.
Tara makes her way back to the group after checking with the counter staff, “they said the plane is making its final approach now so it shouldn’t be much longer.”
Heck it is only an hour late, what is a few more minutes of plastic chair torture.As if confirming what Tara had been told, an announcement is made over the airports PA system that the flight has landed. Despite being tired and a little grumpy the Scoobys jump to their feet at the news and make there way to the gate.
Giles sees his welcoming party before they see him. Well actually he sees the large sign with Welcome Home Giles painted on it first, it was impossible to miss.
Good lord.His friends all seem to see him at once and they instantly converge on him as one. As he is engulfed in a group hug Giles suddenly knows what a sheep must feel like when being hunted by a pack of wolves.
Good lord. “Hello everyone, it is good to see you all.”
It is the first time since before Willow left that they have seen each other, a fact that is not lost on any of them. After exchanging greetings they all head off to collect the rest of Giles’ luggage.
Some four hours after first arriving at the airport a weary Scooby gang enter the Summers house. They had brought some take out on the way home so after Giles has put his luggage upstairs they all sit down to eat.
The next thirty minutes is spent making small talk and picking at the food. No one is eating that much, well no one except Xander who never seems to have trouble eating.
Everyone at the table is skirting around the one issue, the one person that they really want to talk about, Willow. After leaving she has stayed in contact with Giles, all be it irregular contact.
Giles would fill Willow in on everything that had happened to her friends. He had heard the relief in the redheads voice when he had told her that Tara had moved in with Buffy and Dawn. He also heard the concern in her voice whenever he told her about the latest big bad that they were fighting.
In return Giles had told the rest of the Scooby gang any news that he had about Willow. Early on he had had to gloss over some of the details and on some occasions down right lie because initially Willow had struggled hard.
Giles had not passed on some of the details as he feared the affects such information would have on her friends, especially the pain that it would cause Tara.
Once approximately six months after leaving Willow had even called her friends. Unfortunately no one had been home as everyone was out fighting vampires so Willow had left a brief and what she hoped was a reassuring message on the answering machine.
After hearing Willows voice her friends had been on cloud nine for weeks. For Tara it had also silenced the aching loneliness she felt inside, well for a little while anyway. For the next few weeks following the phone call Tara had dreamt about Willow even more so than usual. Mostly her dreams consisted of vivid memories, images of her and Willow talking, touching, making slow lingering love and having hot needy sex.
As everyone listens to Giles describe his flight Anya rolls her eyes and decides to jump in with both feet. “Ok excuse me Giles. While your flight sounds exciting I think what everyone here really wants to talk about is a certain redhead.”
All eyes are on Anya as she slowly looks around the table, meeting each person’s gaze as though challenging them to deny it. “Oh come on, you all are dying to ask him, don’t tell me you aren’t.”
Everyone is silent as five pairs of eyes turn to focus on Giles expectantly. Removing his glasses and starting to polish them Giles once again understands the feeling of a sheep being hunted by a pack of wolves.
Good lord. Finally Tara asks what they all want to know, “Giles have you talked to her? How is she?”
Putting his glasses back on Giles can’t stop a small smile appearing, “well actually yes I have spoken to Willow. We have spoken several times over the last three months.”
Ok now Rupert be careful what you tell them, you promised Willow you wouldn’t give too much away.Without waiting for anyone to reply Giles continues, “you should all be proud of her, she is doing well, very well indeed.”
As Giles looks around the table he sees looks of pure joy on the five faces before him, even Anya seems remarkably happy at the news.
None of his friends ask him to elaborate they are all lost in their own thoughts for a moment. Not surprisingly each persons thoughts have a common theme. If Willow is doing good that must mean that she will be coming home and hopefully soon.
* * * *
“Gee Will, how much stuff have you got in here?” Jade is struggling to lift a large suitcase into the back of the car. “I seem to remember you moving in with a lot less stuff than this Willow Rosenberg.”
As Willow throws her backpack into the back of the car she can’t resist teasing her friend. “Hey what can I say, retail therapy has played a big part in my recovery.”
Moving towards the front passenger side of the car Sam can’t help but laugh at her lover and friend.
If these two were anymore alike I’d have to say that someone out there is cloning humans. “Now Jade honey if I’m not mistaken you actually helped Will buy most of that stuff so don’t go complaining now.”
Jade rolls her eyes “well I hope you don’t expect me to unload all this stuff for you when we get there.” Willow just flashes Jade a you bet I do smile as she gets into the back seat and closes the door.
Jade looks at Sam and shakes her head as they both climb into the front seat “great, hi my name is Jade Thomas removalist extraordinaire, no suitcase too big or too small.”
The three women crack up laughing as Jade starts the car and reverses out the driveway. “You better just hope this new place of yours doesn’t have too many stairs to walk up or else I’ll be charging you extra.”
* * * *
Tara and Dawn are putting the finished touches on a picnic basket when there is a knock at the door. Buffy races down the stairs answering it before Giles has a chance. “Hey Xander, come in.”
“Hey Buffy, Giles. Are you guys ready to get this show on the road? Anya is waiting in the car and you know how she gets if she has to wait.”
Before Buffy or Giles can answer Dawn and Tara appear from the kitchen carrying the basket between them. “Oh food, excellent. Anya and I brought some blankets for us all to sit on and I also packed some games to keep us busy and to work off some of that picnicy goodness.”
Shortly after Giles had arrived he had suggested that the gang go on a picnic. The Scoobys had been excited by the idea, setting a date for the following Saturday. They all saw it as a chance to relax and break away from their usual existence of research and bad guy fighting.
Arriving at the park just before noon the gang secure a nice spot under a rather large tree, not far from the playground. Everyone helps to get set up and before long they are all settled on the blankets, passing around food.
For the tenth time since arriving Giles checks his watch, an act that doesn’t go unnoticed by Xander. “You know Giles, looking at your watch every 5 seconds isn’t going to make time go any faster.”
Giles simply smiles at Xander as he sees a car pulling up in the car park next to where they themselves parked. The group look at Giles as though he has just grown another head as he stands and faces them, a very un Giles like smile plastered on his face.
Buffy can’t resist “what’s the matter Giles, you sit on an ants nest? I can’t remember the last time I saw you move so fast.” The rest of the gang can’t contain their laughter as they see the shocked expression on the ex watchers face.
Giles quickly recovers and addresses the group, his tone very serious “Now everyone, the reason I wanted to have this picnic is because I have a surprise for you all.”
Now don’t get too excited Rupert.Everyone’s attention is on Giles as their curiosity gets the better of them. “I want you all to close your eyes and don’t open them until I say.”
Buffy and Anya groan their frustration, Anya also putting hers into words, “come on just give us the present and cut the boring eye closing stuff.”
Giles stands his ground. “No, you have to close your eyes or it won’t be a surprise.”
Seeing that Giles won’t back down, the group close their eyes and wait patiently, surrounded by silence. The only sound that is heard is the distant opening and closing of car doors.
“This better be good Giles or I’ll use my slayer strength to kick your butt.”
Giles watches the approaching figures and smiles. As the others have their eyes closed all they hear is approaching footsteps. Buffy turns her head towards the sound, her slayer instincts automatically kicking in.
Three people coming this way.As the visitors pass the group heading towards where Giles is standing Tara smells a subtle and familiar scent. She draws in a deep breath as a series of memories are triggered by the smell.
Oh Goddess that smells just like her. I must be going crazy but oh god it smells just like her.Mere seconds pass in what feels like an age for the Scooby gang before they finally hear Giles speak. “Ok everyone, open your eyes.”
Five pairs of eyes snap open. As they slowly adjust to the bright light of the day they see two strangers one standing either side of Giles. Also standing next to Giles, in between the new comers is someone they all know very well. Willow.
Moving almost as one the Scoobys stand, their shock obvious on their faces. No one speaks as the realisation of what is happening sinks in.
Willow looks at each of her friends in turn, her eyes finally falling on Tara who returns her gaze. Almost losing herself in pools of blue Willow finally manages to speak, saying the only thing that her brain can come up. “Surprise!”
* * * *
~~~~~~~~
Willow - Say, you all didn't happen to do a bunch of drugs did ya?
Willow - I'm a blood sucking fiend, look at my outfit . . . .
....I guess the gang has a lot to read now.
Poor Tara! At least she does have the Scoobs to help with her sadness. Willow unfortunately is on her own. Thanks for putting abit about her in 
I was cyring reading those letters!!!
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I especially liked the:
