*Jae* and *La* - thank you so much for the hugs. I still have over 300 e-mails to go through so I am happy that I have work. As for the update, Owl was nice enough to send it to me so I can post it .Hope you like it.
Spoiler Warning - It has some spoilers up to Normal Again and you may want to read my previous story as it is set in the same universe. If you don't want to, it's ok too. Just realize that Willow is in a wheelchair and this would be set around two and a half years from start of current US season.
Feedback - Good God! Yes, please.
Disclaimer - All characters, names etc belong to ME. I am just borrowing them for this short while in order to make them do what I want for a change instead of waiting to see what happens every Tuesday.
Rating - PG
Title : Left Of Center
Chapter 6a
The bell at the door rang as another customer left with purchases - But Anya did not look happy, she was staring at a pair of Bugs Bunny Slippers that Willow had given her last year. None of the Magic Box occupants looked happy. Buffy and Giles had stayed at the hospital to keep Dawn company. The young girl had woken up briefly earlier that morning much to the delight of the people crowding round her bedside. The ensuing noise they had made had caused most of them to be kicked out of her room. Only Buffy and Giles had managed to talk their way back in. Xander had reluctantly gone to work and Anya, Willow and Tara made their way to the Magic Box.
"Anya, are you?is everything ok?" Tara asked gently as she placed her hand on Anya's arm. Anya had not entered the money she had collected for the morning sales into the register and that worried Tara. Furthermore, she was staring at bunny slippers. Something she had not touched them since Willow had given them to her. But today, she had taken them out from the basement and placed them on the counter.
"I don't know" Anya replied miserably. "How can we live like this?? Why should we have to?? I need to know why." She looked at Tara and repeated "I need to know why?"
"Why what?" Tara probed, not quite understanding but wanting to help - needing to help.
"Why, things like this happen to us. Why we have to go through all these bad, bad things - why do we stay?" at that, she looked Tara in the eye, begging the blonde to give an answer, any answer - but it was Willow who answered.
"We stay because it's the right thing to do. Because, we have been tempered by our experiences here and going somewhere else won't change that. We stay because no one else will. We stay because if we don't more bad things will happen. And we stay because we're the good guys and the good guys always win" At that, she wheeled herself forward and took Tara's hand. She wanted that physical contact. Needed it, it meant that they were here together - that they would get through this together. It gave her strength.
"But?but, what if it's all some big cosmic joke. What if the balance is not good versus evil but just some roll of the dice. What if good guys don't win, what if we die. God! What if Xander died? How am I going to face that. I can't do this. I need Xander, we need Xander!" Anya placed her hand on her belly and started crying at that.
"We?" Tara was getting more confused by the minute. She knew how important Xander was, she loved him like a brother and he was essential but she got the feeling that Anya was not talking about them.
Knowing how oblique Anya's thought processes could be, Tara decided to change the topic slightly, "Anya, sweetie, why did you bring up the bunny slippers?"
"Well" Anya sniffed. "Humans think bunnies are all cute and cuddly eventhough they are most certainly not, right"
Both Willow and Tara nodded at that statement.
"And well, babies are also suppose to be cute and cuddly, right"
Again, the witches nodded in unison.
"So how am I going to love a baby if I can't love bunnies" Anya wailed "And how am I suppose to love it and care for it if we stay here. What if something were to happen with Xander, how will I go on? Why would I want to???"
"Anya, are you saying? But that's good news right, you're pregnant!" Willow exclaimed.
"Yes!" Anya wailed again as she launched herself at Tara "I don't know what to do. I want to leave but I really don't. And I don't think Xander would want to either and I'm all hopped up on hormones. And I beginning to use the word hop, which is associated with rabbits and now and I hope the baby is not like a rabbit because of it and and, oh God, I?m pregnant!?.?."
"It's ok, sweetie, we'll get through this. Have you told Xander?" Tara patted the ex-demon on the back.
Anya shook her head at the question.
"Maybe, if he knew, he would agree to moving away" Tara continued.
"What?, Tara, how can you say that!!!" Willow was taken aback - that was the last thing she expected. "No, we're family - family stick together! They can?t move away!"
"I-I-I know how you feel, Will, but this is different. All the other big bads we've faced did not want to come after us personally. They just had to go through us to achieve their goal - Adam wanted a demon utopia, Glory wanted to go home and the troika were just were bored little boys. But they all hurt us in some way. We fought those battles and gained so many battle scars but it was for the greater g-g-ood?... D-d-d-onnie and R-R-rack?" Tara's voice cracked as she uttered those names but she had to get this out "They want to hurt us. Not to open some hell dimension or go home, they want to hurt m-m-me and I won't stand around and see the people I love get hurt in the process"
"But, what are you saying? You want us to leave -YOU want us to leave YOU??" Willow shouted. This could not be happening. It was inconceivable to Willow that Tara would think that she would let her go. That was never going to happen. She had let the blonde go once and it was the worst mistake of her life. She was a quick study and promised herself that it would never happen again. They would always be together. How could Tara think that!
"If I thought you would, if I thought I could make you, I would" Tara replied. She knew that she couldn?t leave Willow much less make Willow leave her. They loved each other too much to be apart ever again.
*Damn straight, missy. I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE! * Willow sent back, putting her resolve face on for good measure. Tara looked at her and nodded. But she was beginning to feel so very frightened. Frightened that Donny knew her weaknesses ? that hurting her friends would hurt her the most ? that Willow was her life. She would not be able to convince Willow to leave but she could try convincing Anya.
"But, Anya, you're pregnant and it's not safe here. Maybe we can convince Xander?" Tara trailed off as she looked at her friend. She was surprised to see that Anya had the most cross look on her face. In fact, she looked positively pissed. Tara guessed that if human Anya could look that angry, demon Anya would have been a sight to behold.
"Are you CRAZY? Did Glory come back and take your mind?"
"Hey!" Willow intervened as she rolled herself in front of Tara, she so did not want Tara to be reminded of that.
"I'm sorry" Anya calmed down slightly "I just?. I don't want to leave - I just don't know what to do. You are my family and this baby needs you. We won't leave. We just need a plan. We need to know what their weaknesses are. We need to be prepared. I am not going to lose anyone. I want all of you there when this baby is born so?.so it can be like Sleeping Beauty!"
Willow looked at Tara and decided to plunge ahead "Sleeping Beauty?" she echoed
"Yes, Sleeping Beauty except not the cursing part or the sleeping for a hundred years, I mean think about the bed head??. I just want you guys there to you know wish her good things like beauty and intelligence and oh, no bunny qualities - And I really feel that it's going to be a girl, so it will be much easier to shop for presents now and buy the right color!" Anya finished and looked at the two women in front of her. These two people who would support her and protect her. She was indeed lucky. She couldn't wait for her child to bask in their love as well.
"So, now we need to do research. We need to know what kind of magic Donny knows - Tara, you have to help us on that"
Tara nodded, glad that they were going to do something and Anya had snapped out of her bunny reverie.
"Willow?" Anya continued "You need to research Rack, we need to know if dealers have any weaknesses. Perhaps you can do a chart with different colored pens. Those are always helpful"
"Sure, Anya. But what will you be doing?" Willow was glad that Anya had taken the initiative. It would take her mind off the baby and she hoped with their assignments, they could find something to protect themselves with. They had to - the scooby family was growing.
"I'm going to visit an old friend" Anya replied as she put on her coat. "Don't worry, I'll bring Xander along with me and tell him the news as well". With that she was out the door, only to pop her head back in, five minutes later to add - "Tara, could you keep the money in the register and ring up any other sales. And don't forget to charge 15% more on the lavender candles as one of the pagan festivals is coming up and they are going to be in demand"
With that, she left once again, leaving Willow and Tara surrounded by books and the difficult task ahead.
-----------------------------
You must think that something is happening with you, that life has not forgotten you, that it holds you in its hand; It will not let you fall
by Pixie gishmock » Thu Apr 25, 2002 10:07 am 
So umm... yes. I'm glad you're having a good vacation, Jomarch! May it continue!
. I am proud to note that my insomnia episode is over and hopefully it does not reappear when I get back home. Am having a family day today as my brother in law is taking half a day off from work and we are collecting my nieces from school early. Anyway, it still gives me a couple of hours to read some fic and answer feedback.
. 