Rising from the Wreckage

Disclaimer: The characters and show all belong to Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, et al. No copyright infringement was intended. The storyline, however, is the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.

Summary: Willow reconnects with the rest of the Scoobies.

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 all right.

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.

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.

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.

"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?"

"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.

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?"

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?"

"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."

"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."

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

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

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.

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!"

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

"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."

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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?"

"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.

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

"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.

"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.

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

"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.

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

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

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.

"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.

"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."

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

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.

"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."

"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 all right? 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."

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Rising from the Wreckage

Chapter 20

By Frau Hunter Ash

Carrkjar@yahoo.com