Okay firstly yes mittens its a dream - I thought I'd explain that as the next scene doesnt, mmm and also thinking about it I will post two scenes here because the second one actualy does refer to it -

- Please excuse me talking to myself I do it often
Secondly - thank you to everyone of you for reading and supporting our efforts like you do, it means so much, especially when RL decides that it you dont need to have an even break now and again. Anyway ENOUGH of me -

- here;s the next bit - enjoy.
Buffy whistled lightly to herself as she walked through the cemetery. It was a cool but pleasant night and she had to admit that despite having to patrol it was almost a relief to have a few minutes to spend with just herself. Not that she wasn’t going to also enjoy arriving back to Casa Summers, which was filled to the rafters with people but at least for a few moments she could reflect on the recent events. The gangs run in with Maladic still gave her the creeps, but at least the staff had been destroyed.
The night was quite and the Slayer made sure that she kept her senses primed for whenever the undead decided to give her some work. As she turned the corner around a crypt she was completely surprised by the scene that waited for her.
“All right now we told you that if you want to be out after twelve there’s a new midnight surtax.” A tall blonde vampire flexed his muscles by pushing the obviously inexperienced vampire in tattered clothes to the ground. “And you already had your freebie so pay up.”
“Hey, excuse me, I’m out after midnight and I’ve heard nothing about this tax?” Buffy waved politely.
“Michael.” A second bigger vampire addressed his blonde counterpart. “Company.”
“Go away girlie, you get a freebie tonight too.” Michael waved her off.
“Oh no really can’t I stay around and see what happens next?” Buffy fluttered her eyelashes.
“Michael gets money or I beat the blood out of him.” A lisped warning was sent back at her.
“Shut up Billy.” Michael barked at the slightly less intellectually inclined vampire. “Look this has nothing to do with you so beat it before we drain you.”
“Believe me you don’t want to try that.” Buffy replied shifting in her place resting a hand on her hip.
“And who the hell are you?” Michael questioned licking his lips.
“I’m Buffy, who the hell are you?” Buffy parroted back.
“We’re your worse nightmare.” Michael reached out and pushed their mark away. “You get another freebie but remember tomorrow night you gotta pay to feed.” With the prompting the vamp quickly scurried away. “So little lady, since you’ve demanded our attention.”
“What little old me got big bad you’s attention? Wow go team me.” Buffy raised an eyebrow but didn’t move.
“She’s pretty, Uncle might like her Michael.” Billy ran a hand through his greasy slicked back hair.
“Mmmm you’re right he might Billy.” Michael nodded as he straightened his tie.
“Okay just who are you guys with the Gucci suits, the spanky leather shoes and the fangs? You’re like the Godfather meets the Munster’s or something.” Buffy scoffed with a slight wave of her hand.
“We’re the Brothers of Pain.” Michael snarled at her. “And you have something against Gucci?”
“No, no.” Buffy shook her head. “I’m sure its been a dream of mine to have a boyfriend who wore Gucci or at least could afford to but I mean you’re the undead, isn’t bad pants and torn shirts more your scene?”
“We have moved beyond the stereotype.” Michael straightened out his crisp cuffs that were held closed with large diamond cufflinks. “You know it’s not all about the biting and the bloodlust anymore.”
“I have to say, I’m supporting the change of look but you should re-think the name.” Buffy chuckled a little. “I mean ‘Brothers of Pain?”
“Billy, I’m getting bored here.” Michael waved his hand. “Kill her.”
Billy grinned and smacked his large sledge like fists together as he moved towards Buffy.
“Oh and we were having such a nice chat.” Buffy tutted and moved her hand just a fraction. The move let her reach into her coat as she pulled out her miniature crossbow and let off the small-sharpened stick instantly. The bolt whistled almost silently through the air and hit its mark, turning the vampire to dust instantly. “Now are you going to put up a fight or would that put the suit in danger?”
“Who are you?” Michael questioned a little unsure now. Buffy turned her hazel eyes up and looked straight at the remaining vampire.
“I’m Buffy, did I forget to add… The vampire Slayer?” She smiled brightly pulling out a stake from her waistband and twirling it.
“You!” Michael snarled as she realized who she was. He hung on the balls of his feet for a moment before he turned and began running away.
“Hey.” Buffy’s smile turned into a pout as the vampire ran. Then as she realised he was getting a long way away she changed her call to one of pursuit. “HEY!”
Buffy breached the small hill in the cemetery and stopped, glancing quickly down and round.
“Oh damn it!” She stamped her foot when she couldn’t see any sign of him. “And I wanted to ask where he got those cufflinks.”
******
Madalene pushed through the dark hallway towards the bathroom, not only cause it was the only room with a sliver of light piercing out from under its door but because she could feel weeping and it had woken her out of her sleep.
“Tara?” She whispered pushing on the door lightly to open it more.
“M-M-Madalene.” The blonde looked up from her perch on the side of the bath. Her cheeks were wet and her blue eyes rimmed in red.
“Are you in pain?” Madalene moved into the bathroom and closed the door fully behind her.
“No, no I’m fine.” Tara pushed herself up and wiped almost angrily at her cheeks. “Sorry, did you want to use the bathroom?” She made a move to go to the door.
“First I know you are not fine, if I didn’t have a connection to you cousin then the crying would be enough to know.” Madalene blocked the doorway. “Secondly, please I want to help.” Her voice was soft and caring.
“I can’t…” Tara shook her head and let it drop, a hard sob breaking from her throat.
“Can’t?” Madalene moved very slowly to hug her making sure that the contact was welcome.
“I can’t help her. I - I want to but I can’t do anything but hold her and comfort her after this has all hurt her one more time.” Tara leaned instantly into the support talking through her tears.
“But Tara that is help, that is so much help.” Madalene held a bit tighter. “It is what she needs right now.”
“But it doesn’t help her.” Tara shook her head.
“Did she have another nightmare?” The spellcaster questioned softly.
“Apparently, earlier.” Tara pulled back and wiped her cheeks. “She was shaking when I came up to check on her.”
“Tara, I know earlier I was horrible.” Madalene’s voice was soft and ashamed. “And Xander explained as best as he could to me magically what went on and mine might not be a popular opinion right now but I think the nightmares, I think they have something to do with the magic.”
“There is no magic.” Tara shook her head.
“That’s exactly what I mean.” Madalene offered instantly. “Mr. Giles can probably find out more, find out where these things are coming from but she can’t ever be healthy as long as she has holes inside her.”
“But we can’t fill those holes.” Tara shook her head. “I know this much Madalene, Willow cannot touch magic ever - ever again.”
“No, from what Xander told me about it would be far too great a risk to her and everyone.” Madalene agreed wholeheartedly. “What we need is a magic equivalent of Methadone but without the nasty side effects.” The spellcaster sighed heavily, she felt more like she was hurting the situation again rather than helping.
“Like what? There is nothing that is magical that isn’t magic.” Tara said definitely. “That is I don’t think there is, Goddess.” Her shoulders sagged again.
“I promise you we’ll fine a way.” Madalene vowed in a whisper. “Something has to exist somewhere that can do this.”
“Oh this is insane.” Tara suddenly dropped completely ending on the floor in a small heap.
“We need to focus, you need to gather your strength.” Madalene moved down to the tiles with the blonde sitting close and helping to straighten her body out to lean against the door. “What has been done has been done and we can’t change that now. What we can do is shape the future.”
“What future? Madalene, I couldn’t even remember that I’m allergic to shrimp, how can I help Willow get over something this huge?” Tara hated the now familiar feeling of her body literally draining of energy that crept over her at that moment.
“Because you love her.” Madalene soothed holding Tara in place so that she didn’t have to fight gravity. “I know that might sound even more scary, but I can see the connection between you two. Its a living breathing state of being and I can honestly tell you that what is even more scary than having something that monumental is rising to this world with nothing.” She breathed out quickly.
“Is it?” Tara choked out the words and looked up at the brunette.
“If you never remember another thing, even if we can never find a way to help fill the holes...” Madalene swallowed hard. “None of them will ever love you less, they will only love you more. You feed them life just by being here, you give them hope just by smiling.” She tried to make her statement not about herself.
“And what would it do to them to see me crying?” Tara forced herself to look at the spellcaster.
“It would break their heart to think for a moment that you felt you weren’t doing your very best.” Mads reached up and tenderly wiped a tear from Tara’s stained cheek. “Cause they know you are.”
******