Inner Demons
by Net Girl
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: The Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters are the property
of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and WB Network, and no infringement of
copyright is intended. All characters belong to them, except all the
others (), they're all mine ;-).
Spoilers: Nothing, but the part that there's Dawn, but it isn't
really a spoiler cause she is just her Buffy's sister, no key stuff
etc. Joyce is still alive and won't die in any of my stories (I like
her too much).
Setting: About 1 year after the events in Silent Tears 1-4.
Symbols: [] indicates a flashback. <> Indicates a thought. <<>> Is a
place or time stamp.
Warnings: Riley has never existed in my stories, so if something is
wrong with a description that is because Riley never existed.
Author's Notes: Well, as you can see it is a series now <BG>. This is the
sequel to Silent Tears.
Dedication: The whole willtara list for liking the story and
supporting me, you guys keep me going :-). And a special dedication
to Vlumila, a friend of mine, who told me never to stop writing.
"Who's up for some ice cream?"
Dawn didn't know how fast she had to ran downstairs when she heard Faith yelled it to her. Buffy stood beside her lover and looked at her watch. "Good god, you just set a new record Dawn" she said sarcastically, "It only took you 5 seconds."
"Yeah well, I've had some practice." Dawn said looking at Faith and smiled.
Buffy had to give her that, she indeed had some practice. She couldn't even remember how many times Dawn and Faith were running after each other through the house. Every time Dawn slapped Faith on the arm, the dark haired slayer would turn in to a 10 year old and ran after her sister. Even if she was a slayer, she never caught up with Dawn. The little girl always was a few seconds ahead of Faith.
"Mom we're going out, you want anything?"
"No thank you Buffy, have fun."
"Thanks, be back in an hour or so."
"Take care of your sister."
"Yes mom."
She didn't need to tell her that, ever since the Kaltaka she never let Dawn out of her sight whenever they would go out. The two sisters grew closer together ever since Dawn got stabbed by those demons, <Ok, happy thoughts Buff> she thought to herself.
"Are you ok?" Faith asked her.
"Yeah I am" Buffy kissed her lover and got in the car, "Come on."
"Can Tara and Willow come?"
"You've read my mind Dawn, let's go" Buffy said to her sister. As most of the times Dawn sat in the front of the car, but Faith didn't mind it at all. She had grown custom to it, they would argue on who would sit in the front. At one point Buffy was so sick of it that she decided that whoever wins a game of `rock, scissors, paper' would get to sit in front. And it was Dawn who won every time, if Faith didn't know better she thought the girl fooled her.
<<Willow and Tara's apartment, 1 hour earlier>>
"Willow" Tara had been trying to wake up Willow, she was having one of her nightmares again. She has had them for over a week now. Every night Willow would lay in Tara's arms and cry herself to sleep. Willow was afraid to sleep, afraid that the nightmares would start again.
And every night Tara would try and convince Willow that there wouldn't be any nightmares, even when she knew there would be. It was hard on both of them, Tara would be awake until Willow would finally fall a sleep. And that wouldn't be sooner then 4 o'clock at night.
"Honey, wake up" Tara tried again, this time shaking her a little. After a few seconds she finally woke up. She looked at Tara and started crying, the nightmares were taking it's toll; mentally and physically. "What is it? Tell me."
"No I-I can't."
"You have to tell me sooner or later."
"Not now, just hold me." Willow wrapped her arms around Tara and pulled her back in bed. Tara did what she asked and held her tightly. They would do this every morning, Willow would wake up from her nightmare, ask Tara to hold her and laid back on bed. And every time she would fall asleep in Tara's arms and catch up on the real sleep she missed at night.
<<Outside Tara and Willow's apartment, present time>>
"Come on, hurry!" Dawn was already at the entrance of the apartment building.
"Easy Dawn" Faith said to her, "We've got plenty of time."
"No we don't, we've only got 50 minutes."
The two slayers looked at each other and sighed. "Honey, I think your sister takes an hour to literal."
"Tell me about it."
"Can I ring the bell already?"
"Yes" both slayers said slightly annoyed.
"Could you get it?" Willow asked Tara.
"Yeah I will" Tara walked to the intercom and asked who it was. She was surprised to hear it was Faith, Dawn and Buffy, the girls usually went out on their own. "Will, it's Buffy and the rest, are you up for that?"
"Yeah, I want to see little Dawn again" she said trying to get a small smile on her face.
"Ok" Tara pressed the button so they could get in. After a few seconds she heard them knocking on the door and opened it. "Hey guys, come in."
There was a big hug fest when they got in, but the joy didn't last long when they saw Willow laying on bed. Dawn walked over to Willow and hugged her, it didn't take long before she jumped in bed and laid next to her. "Hey Dawn."
"Uhm Buffy, can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Yeah sure, what's wrong?"
"Could we…"
"O yeah sure" Tara and Buffy walked to the kitchen for a little privacy. Tara told Buffy everything about the past week, the nightmares, Willow getting more tired every day. With everything Tara told her, Buffy was getting more worried by the seconds.
"Have you asked her about the dreams?"
"Yeah I did, but it's the same every morning. She just wants me to hold her and lay on the bed" Tara replied, "She hasn't been out of bed for three days now."
"Ok, well she's getting out now."
Buffy walked to the bed, she almost ordered Willow to get out and get dressed. Willow reluctantly got up and dressed herself. After she had something to eat they walked out of the apartment and got in the car. "Ice cream, here we come."
Faith could help herself and laughed at Dawn when she said that. "What?" Dawn asked her.
"Nothing kid."
Dawn shrugged and got in the car. After about 10 minutes they arrived at the mall, it was going to be a girls day out. "I'm going to call mom and say were staying out all afternoon. Faith keep an eye on Dawn, she always wonders of every time we go to the mall."
"I do not!"
"Yes you do Dawn" Buffy replied, "Ok, going now."
After a few minutes Buffy returned with the news everything was taken care of, "O and when we are done shopping we're ALL going back to our house, cuz mum is cooking us all dinner."
"How you doing over there Will?"
"I'm good, thanks Buffy."
"Are you sure your ok?"
"Yeah I am Dawn."
"Good, come on." Dawn pulled Willow from the chair and walked with her to one of the shops leaving a worried Tara, Faith and Buffy behind.
"She always lightens up every time Dawn is around" Faith said.
"Yeah I know, she was at the birth of her and she is her godmother" Buffy replied, "I think Dawn is the little sister she never had. And trust me I love my sister, but it's nice to `loan' her to Willow sometimes."
"Hey, why don't you and Willow stay with us for the rest of the week." Faith said, "You know so you can get some rest and we'll take care of Willow."
Buffy gave Faith a `I-think-they-wanna-be-alone' look. Faith stuck out her tongue to the blonde slayer and looked back at Tara.
"I don't know."
"Oh come on, we'll make it an all girls week. And beside I think Joyce would like to see you and Willow again."
"Ok gotta be on Faith's side with this, mom would love to see you and Willow again."
"Are you sure it's ok?"
"Yeah" Buffy replied, "And besides you need the rest and so does Willow."
"Ok."
"Good" Faith said, "Come on, I think Dawn is buying the whole shop or something."
<<Summers' home>>
"Mom! We're back!"
"I'm upstairs Buffy, be down in a few minutes."
"I kinda have something to tell you, so I'll come up."
Buffy walked upstairs and found her mom in the spare room cleaning things. Buffy looked surprised at her mom, "How did you know?"
"Well honey, usually when Willow and Tara stay for dinner they also stay the night."
"Good then I didn't have to ask."
"Not really no" her mother replied, "Call them so they can put their stuff in here."
"Uhm just one thing" Buffy said as she remembered something.
"What?"
"They are kinda staying the rest of the week, no problem right?" Buffy got out of the room as fast as she could and left her mom standing with a surprised look on her face.
<<Downstairs>>
"Ok it's cool, she actually knew you were staying."
"How?" Tara asked.
"Well, remember the times you two stayed over for dinner?"
"O you mean every time we stayed the night… Oh gotcha." Tara replied smiling.
"Come on, let's get your stuff upstairs."
After putting all the stuff away it was dinner time. They had fun eating, Dawn was making jokes all the time and Buffy got annoyed by it, the others couldn't help but to laugh. After dinner they decided to rent a movie.
"Mom can I go with them."
"No Dawn, it's too late for you to go out. They'll come back with a good movie don't worry."
It took Buffy and Faith 20 minutes to get a movie Dawn was allowed to see. When they got back Willow was leaning against Tara and sleeping. "How is she?" Faith asked.
"She's sleeping, with no nightmares this time. Let's hope it stays that way for the rest of the night."
"I'll get you a blanket."
"Thanks Buffy, I would get it myself, but I got somebody leaning against me, Dawn is taking a shower and your mom is making some tea."
"How long has she been asleep?" Faith asked.
"We sat on the couch right after you left and it took her like one second."
"She needed the sleep, ok I'll get a blanket. I'll be right back."
Faith put the tape in the VCR and sat on the other couch waiting for her girlfriend to join her. A few seconds later Buffy and Dawn came running downstairs each with a blanket in their hands. Tara and Faith looked at each other and laughed. "Give me that blanket Dawn, we'll use it" Faith said smiling.
Buffy got on the couch and snuggled up to Faith, Dawn got a big pillow and sat on the floor leaning against the couch where Tara and a sleeping Willow were on. "Ok not complaining here, but the remote is on the television."
Faith, Buffy and Tara looked at Dawn and then to the television and back to Dawn, "O alright I brought it up, I'll get it". The others looked at each other and smiled. Dawn grabbed the remote, sat back on the floor and pressed play.
After an hour Faith noticed Buffy was asleep and kissed the girl on her forehead. Buffy never told Faith about the nightmares she had been having and Faith hadn't noticed anything. "Guess you, me and Dawn are watching the movie."
"Make that just you and Tara" Joyce said, "Come on Dawn, time for bed."
"But mom I wanna watch the movie."
"Dawn, it's already ten o'clock and you got a school day tomorrow."
"Alright, coming already."
"I'll be right back ladies."
"Ok" Faith and Tara said simultaneous.
After 10 minutes Joyce came back and saw Faith and Tara were almost sleeping themselves, "Girls, why don't you go to bed?"
They both looked up and nodded, "Good idea, Ms Summers."
"Tara would you call me Joyce already, you make me feel old."
"Ok, sure ms… Joyce."
Joyce smiled and walked to the kitchen.
"So what do you think we should do with these two, carry them upstairs?"
"Your call, you got the slayer strength."
Faith stuck her tongue out to Tara, she gently lifted Buffy up and brought her upstairs. After a few seconds she came back and gently lifted Willow up and brought her upstairs to the guestroom. Faith was on her way to the stairs when she was stopped by Tara, "Your not going to sleep?"
"No, I need to talk to Joyce for a sec."
"Ok, goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Faith walked downstairs and found Joyce sitting in the kitchen. "Hey Joyce, can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Sure, what's wrong?"
Faith looked up and sighed, "Everything."
The confessions that everything was wrong made Faith think about the past year. It had been a total bliss; she was with the person she loves more than anything. She was with her soulmate, but she still couldn't wash the guilt of her. The guilt of what she had done to Buffy and Joyce.
"What do you mean?" Joyce asked her.
"I'm happy Joyce, I've never been this happy in my entire life. That's why everything is wrong, this isn't how it's supposed to be."
Even after what Faith did to her, she couldn't help herself but to feel sorry for the girl. She still had a lot of feelings herself, but couldn't think of them now. She hadn't count on Faith forcing to think AND talk about them.
"Joyce, do you hate me?" Faith couldn't believe what she just said. She asked the mother of her soulmate if she hated her. Seeing the face of Joyce, Faith knew it was a surprise of her.
"To tell you the truth, I did."
"God! I knew this was going to happen." Faith said, "I've never been happier in my life and…"
"Faith, you didn't listen to me" Joyce had made up her mind about Joyce, in the few minutes they were in the kitchen Joyce threw all the hate and doubt feelings about Faith away.
"What do you mean?"
"I said I DID" Joyce began, "Yeah I hated you, hated you for everything you were and did. I hated when you came back to Sunnydale and tried to kill my daughter and tried to kill me, I hated you when you came back the second time and…"
"… and barged in to your life again."
"… and stole my daughter's heart, from both of my daughters."
"What?" Faith asked.
"Yeah you did."
[ <<Evening after Joyce came home>>
"Look Buffy, I didn't want to get mad at you when I got home. But what the hell is Faith doing here?"
"Mom, listen to me."
"No, you let a murderer in my house." Joyce said getting more and more angry at her daughter, "She almost killed you AND me."
"Mom! Stop it, will you just listen to me for a second."
"What?"
"I like her, I'm in love with her."
"What are you talking about?"
"I love Faith, I have never been this much in love. And I'm sorry if that upsets you."
"What did you expect? That I'd welcome her with open arms?"
"I'm sorry mom, but it's the truth. And to tell you the whole story, we're soulmates." ]
Faith looked at Joyce, Buffy had never told her about that conversation with her mother.
"When she said the word soulmates, her whole face lit up. Big smile, twinkles in her eyes, the whole deal. And that's when I knew she was really in love with you."
<<Meanwhile upstairs>>
"No, please, No!" Tara woke up from somebody screaming, "No, no!" She heard the voice again and knew it was Buffy's. Tara tried to get loose from the grip Willow had on her, it looked like she was having one of her nightmares again.
After a few seconds Willow loosened the grip and let go of Tara. After looking if Willow was alright she walked to Buffy's room. Seeing Buffy wasn't hurt she sighed, <Probably a bad dream.>
As she walked back to her room Joyce and Faith who also heard the screams of Buffy startled her. "What is it?" Faith asked her.
"It's nothing, she's probably having a bad dream."
"Good, she really got me scared for a while."
"I know Joyce, me too" Tara replied, "Ok I'm going back to bed, I think Willow's having one of her nightmares again."
"Is she ok?"
"I don't know Faith, we'll see. If she's awake when I get back she isn't."
Tara let a small smile come on her mouth and said goodnight to Joyce and Faith.
"Joyce, do you mind if we finish our talk tomorrow?" Faith asked, "Cuz I'm kinda tired myself."
"Sure, I was thinking the same myself" Joyce replied, "Goodnight Faith."
"You too."
Faith walked in the room and saw Buffy lying peacefully and wondered what happened earlier. She took of her clothes, grabbed a t-shirt from the closet and put it on. Faith walked to the bed and put the covers aside and stepped in.
The dark haired slayer was getting tired, patrolling the last couple of nights was hard. She looked at Buffy who was still lying peacefully and snuggled up to her. She laid her arm around Buffy's waist and closed her eyes.
Faith was almost a sleep when she felt Buffy moving, she opened her eyes again and saw a fist coming towards her. Faith easily stopped it and held Buffy's hand down until she calmed down. When Faith took a good look at Buffy she saw the girl was still a sleep, <God, she's even fighting demons when she's a sleep.>
<<The next morning>>
Joyce, Tara, Faith and Dawn were already having breakfast when Buffy and Willow came stumbling down. "Good morning sleepy heads." Both Buffy and Willow gave Dawn a cold stare and each sat beside their lovers.
"Sjees, cranky or what?"
"Dawn, leave them alone." Joyce said angry, "Here have some bread."
Willow and Buffy ate their breakfast and went to the living room and sat on the couch. Faith and Tara followed shortly after.
"Buffy, the next time you wanna fight demons, would please do that outside and not in bed?" Faith said to Buffy, "You almost hit me with your fist."
"What demons?" Buffy asked, "You mean Mexk and the older one?"
Tara and Faith looked at each other confused, "Buffy what are you talking about? We killed them a year ago." Tara tried to explain.
"I know, but they keep coming back." Buffy said frightened, "They keep coming back and back, even after I killed them again."
Tara and Faith were really confused about it. They knew it was just a dream, but Buffy sounded truly frightened of them. They looked at Buffy who was now rocking back and forth like a little child afraid of something.
Tara looked at Willow and noticed she was doing the same thing. "What about you Willow, did they attack you too?" Faith asked.
"No, not them, someone else."
"Who?" Tara tried. Willow didn't want to say anything, she knew that the name would be enough to get Tara upset. "Will…"
"No, No, No" Willow was getting panicked like a little child. Both her and Buffy put their hands against their ears, trying to block all sounds out. Now it was Faith and Tara's turn to get frightened, they didn't understand what was going on with them.
Suddenly Willow grabbed Tara like a little child afraid of something, Faith and Tara didn't know what was happening to their lovers. They were both awake, "Get away from me!" Willow suddenly screamed.
"Willow?" Willow looked up to Tara who called her name, "Willow, what is it?"
"Wolf…" Willow replied in a childish voice. Faith and Tara looked around but couldn't see a thing. Willow suddenly stood up and started running through the house like something was after her. Faith ran after her and told Tara to stay with Buffy, who was still rocking back and forth like a little child. It took Faith a few seconds to catch up to Willow and grabbed the girl.
Willow resisted to be held and tried to get loose from Faith's grip, but the slayer was too strong for her and she gave up. Faith carried Willow back to the couch and gently laid her on it. Tara looked at Faith, she was getting more worried by the second, "Faith we need to call Giles."
"I know, stay here I'll get him" Faith replied, "Calling him will take too long."
Faith got her coat and went to get Giles, Tara now had moved between both girls who held her tightly, <Ok, Faith really needs to hurry now. If they hold me any tighter I'm the one who's going to need help.>
<Come on, faster stupid car>, Faith didn't know how fast she was going, she didn't care. As long as she could get Giles and bring him to Willow and Buffy. It took her only five seconds to get there, she parked the car and ran to the front door. She started knocking on the door as if her own life depended on it.
"Yeah, I'm coming already." He opened the door and saw a panicked Faith standing in front of him, "What's wrong?" he asked her slightly panicked himself.
"Willow and Buffy" Faith answered, "They need help."
"Let's go, but I'm driving."
"Just hurry."
They got in the car and Giles started it. Knowing Faith never overreacted on something he even drove harder to the Summers house. It didn't take him longer then 5 minutes to get there. He rushed in and saw both girls clamping on to Tara.
"Ok, first let's get them of Tara so she can at least breathe."
"Thank you Mr. Giles" Tara said, "Cause I was running out of air."
After Tara was `freed' from her uncomfortable position, they put both girls on the couch next to each other. "I don't get it, last night she was fighting the demons in her sleep and now she's scared to death of them." Faith said, "And to make things even worse, she's awake."
"And Willow?" Giles asked Tara.
"Last night she was just moving around a lot, but nothing real" Tara replied, "And then this morning she was literally crying wolf."
"And then she started running around like crazy, like she was being chased by someone or something." Faith added.
"How long has this been going on?" Giles asked the girls.
"Well, to tell you the truth, Willow has been like this for a week" Giles looked shocked at Tara, "But it hasn't been like this, until now it was just the nightmares."
"And Buffy?"
"Nothing until last night" Faith answered, "She almost hit me, it looked like she was really fighting someone or something."
"It almost looks like they're daydreaming."
"Then it's one hell of a lively daydream" Faith replied to Tara.
"Yes well, I think we should get in to this." Giles said, "And they haven't told you anything right?"
"No" both girls replied.
"Then I think we should try it with hypnoses. To find out what they are dreaming."
"Uhm Giles, I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why not Tara?"
"When I asked Willow about what she was dreaming, she wouldn't answer. I think she's afraid to say anything about it."
"Ok, that's a problem then."
"Why is that a problem" Faith asked.
"Usually when you hypnotize people, they want to know what happened. And since Willow doesn't want to tell anything, I doubt we will get anything if we hypnotize her."
"What about Buffy?"
"I haven't asked her anything Tara, this is the first time I've seen her like this."
"Ok" Giles said, "Then we have to make them tell us, that is when they can actually make complete sentences and stop rocking."
"I'm with you on the rocking part" Faith said, "I'm getting seasick just looking at them."
"Giles? How did you get here?"
Everyone looked at Buffy, "You don't remember anything that just happened?"
"No Faith, what happened." Buffy looked at Willow, "And why is she rocking like that?"
"Look who's talking" Tara replied, "You were doing the same just a few minutes ago."
"No I wasn't, Faith tell her."
"I'm sorry honey, but you were."
"Ok" Giles said, "Why don't you tell us what you were dreaming."
"Do I have to?" Willow pleaded.
"You want to get rid of the nightmares right?" Tara said.
"Yeah, but I…"
"Willow, listen to me. These nightmares aren't good for you, you haven't been out of bed for a week." Tara was almost begging her lover to tell it, "I hate seeing you like this. The nightmares became so bad they became daymares and you were running around like crazy just now."
Tara was surprised she could get that whole sentence out in one breath, while the others were still stuck on the word daymares.
"Uhm Tara?"
"Yeah Buffy."
"Daymares?"
"You know, nightmares that happen in the middle of the day, you call them daymares…" They still couldn't understand what she was talking about, "… or not."
"I thought it was a good word" Willow said trying to comfort a shy Tara.
"Thanx" Tara replied, "So you'll let Giles hypnotize you?"
"Wow hold on, I can't do that."
"What do you mean?" a surprised Faith asked.
"I mean I can't hypnotize people, but I know someone who can."
"Who?"
Everyone was surprised to hear it was Olivia, or like Anya said, Giles' orgasm friend. The last time they saw her was when The Gentlemen were in town. Faith was confused about what was going on, that was a big part of Buffy's life she wasn't in.
"She never told us about that" Buffy said.
"I know, I'm the only one she told about it."
"Who?" Faith asked, but wasn't heard.
"Is she any good?" Willow asked.
"Apparently she hypnotized a lot of famous people."
"O, like the sound of that" Buffy said sitting up when she heard the word famous, "Like who?"
"Who is Olivia?" Faith asked again and again nobody heard it. "Hello? Question!"
"Ow sorry Faith" Buffy said and gave Faith a small but passionate kiss. "What did you asked?"
"Who are Olivia and those Gentlemen?"
"Olivia is, sorry Giles, as Anya said Giles' orgasm friend" Buffy got a death-look from Giles, she ignored it and went on with her story, "And the Gentlemen, that's kinda a long story."
"They took our voices, Buffy destroyed a box and we got our voices back, she screamed and they died."
"Apparently not that long, thank you Will!" Buffy said sarcastically.
"Did I mention Tara and I met one day before that" Willow looked at Tara and gave her a passionate kiss. The kiss deepened and they both forgot that people were in the room until Giles said something.
"Er, could you continue doing that let's say upstairs in a private room?"
Both of the girls said sorry with a blush on their faces. They couldn't help it, when they kissed everything seemed to fade away. It felt like they were the only two people in the world.
"I'll call Olivia, but it will take 2 days before she gets here." Giles said, "Can you handle that?"
"Do we have a choice?"
"I don't think you do Buffy. Unless the nightmares stop, you don't." Giles said goodbye to the girls and went back home to call Olivia.
"So what do we do now?" Tara asked.
"Well I got an idea" Willow looked at Tara who knew exactly what she meant. Tara grabbed Willow's hand and pulled her of the couch and they went upstairs.
"I like they way red thinks" Faith said as she walked to Buffy. The blonde slayer couldn't agree more and pulled Faith in for a deep, passionate kiss. Never breaking their touch they tried to move to the stair, but suddenly bumped in to the couch. They hit the couch so hard, controlling their actions became difficult and they fell down on it.
"Ok, remind me to look around the room before I start walking."
"I'll do that Buffy, don't worry" Faith smiled and kissed Buffy again, this time with more passion and lust then before.
"I'm home!"
Both slayers jumped up at the sound of Dawn. <Ok, that didn't work as well as I hoped> Buffy thought as she gave her sister an angry look.
"What?" Dawn asked, "What did I do?"
"Nothing Dawn, don't worry about it, your sister is a little cranky."
"Am not!" Faith stuck her tongue out to Buffy and got a punch on her arm back for it.
"When is Joyce coming back?" Faith asked.
"Mom said she wasn't going to be home for dinner, something about a new order coming in at the gallery" Dawn replied, "That leaves you for dinner Buffy."
"Uhm Dawn, I think you'd better run."
"Why Faith?"
"Because your sister is about to explode." Just as Faith said that a pillow flew across the room towards Dawn. Dawn's eyes widened as she was just in time to duck, Dawn grabbed the pillow and threw it back to Buffy and before they knew it there was an all out pillow war.
<<Two days later, Giles' place>>
"Thank you for coming so quick Olivia."
"Sure, no problem" Olivia walked to Giles and kissed him. The others just looked them with their eyes wide open. They remembered Olivia as Giles' girlfriend at the time, but didn't know it was like that. Olivia broke the kiss and saw the others looking at them, she blushed and let a small smile come on her mouth, "Nice to see you all again."
She looked at Faith and Tara and couldn't place them from their last visit, "I'm sorry, we haven't met, I'm Olivia."
"We know" Faith said, not really trusting the woman.
"Faith!" Buffy looked at Olivia, "I'm sorry, she's a little careful when it comes to new people. This is Faith, my uhm… girlfriend."
"And I'm Tara."
"MY girlfriend" Willow said with a proud voice.
"Ok" Olivia said feeling a little awkward, "I think this was a little too much information for the first time". She looked at Giles who was just laughing, "When did they…?"
"Faith and Buffy about a year ago and Willow and Tara basically since those gentlemen."
"Ok one more question, where's that cute blonde guy, Xander and Anya?"
"LA" they all said still trying to calm down their stomachs after hearing the word cute for Spike.
"So can we get the hypnoses thing over now, I'd like to have a night of normal sleep."
"It's not that easy" Olivia stated.
<Now what?> "Ok, what is the problem then?" Faith asked. She wanted this to be over as soon as possible, she couldn't take another night having the risk of getting hurt because Buffy was heaving real life dreams.
"I want to see what happens when they sleep" Olivia said, "When Giles called me I already had an idea of what was going on."
"What?" Willow asked eager to know what was wrong.
"I can't say for sure, I'll know tonight."
"Ok I'll call mom and say we are staying here tonight."
"One thing Buffy. If I'm correct about this, we are going to need your sister."
"Dawn?"
"Yeah, ask your mom to drop her off."
"I think we're going to get her. If we're all staying here then we need more than just the stuff we have here."
Buffy took Faith's hand and pulled her towards the door, "Come on Will, Tara. Let's go."
"Coming already, hold on Buffy" Willow replied.
They said goodbye to Giles and headed for the car. "I don't trust her."
"Faith, we don't have a choice."
"I don't want you to get hurt" Faith said, "And I don't want to see Willow getting hurt."
Buffy pulled Faith closer to her and kissed her, "If you see us getting hurt, then you can hurt her. I promise."
"Why do you think something is wrong with her? Normally I get all the bad vibes."
"I don't know Tara. It's her eyes, I just don't trust her."
"We'll think of something, come on, we need to get my sister and tell mom we are staying at Giles' house tonight."
<<Summers' Home>>
"Why do I need to come?" Dawn looked at Faith. "Can't you do something?"
"Don't look at me kid, I didn't ask."
"Dawn, can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Tara what are you…" Willow asked.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure she'll come with us" Tara whispered to Willow and walked to the the kitchen with Dawn.
"What's up with that?" Faith asked.
"I don't know, she's her lover, not mine."
<<Meanwhile in the kitchen>>
Tara sat on one of the chairs and pulled Dawn on her lap. "Listen to me Dawn, we don't know why Olivia wants you to be there. But we need to know what's wrong with your sister and Willow."
"What do you mean? They are just having nightmares, everyone has them."
"But these are worse, they are also happening during the day."
"You mean daymares?" Tara couldn't help it but to laugh, she was thinking the same thing.
"What's so funny?"
"I called them daymares to and they thought I was nuts, nice to hear someone thinks alike."
"Oh."
"Ok, so you're coming?"
"What about Faith thinking Olivia is bad?"
"Don't worry about that, Faith will protect you and so will I."
"Ok."
Tara kissed Dawn on her forehead and gave her a hug, "Ok, come on get your stuff." They walked out the kitchen and Dawn went upstairs to get her stuff. "Done."
"How did you… you know what, never mind. Tell me your secret later."
"Love and understanding Buffy, that's all."
Buffy looked at Tara and raised a brow, <How does she do it, Dawn doesn't even listen to mom>. "Dawn, you ready?"
"Coming!"
After a few seconds Dawn came running down the stairs, "Let's go." They all got their stuff and put it in the car. "Wait! Buffy don't we need to tell mom?"
"I'll call her when we're at Giles' place". They all got in the car and went to Giles'.
<<That Night>>
"Can we start already?"
"Faith, look at you. Willow and me are the ones that are supposed to be nervous remember. We are the ones that will be watched during our sleep, not you."
Faith gave Buffy a slight smile and sat on the couch. After a few minutes Olivia and Giles came downstairs. Both Giles and Olivia were wearing some kind of garment, the others could barely hold their laugh when they saw Giles.
"Yeah, nice outfit Giles."
"Very funny Faith, we need to wear this for tonight."
Olivia looked at Buffy and Willow "Ok, bedtime girls."
It didn't take long for Buffy and Willow to fall asleep, they were still tired from all the other nights they hadn't had much sleep.
"Now what?"
"We wait Faith, we just wait" Olivia replied. They didn't have to wait long, after 10 minutes of sleeping the first frightened looks came from Willow. "It's happening."
It didn't take long before Buffy started fight again in her dreams. She was kicking and punching, just trying to hit something.
"Faith?"
"Yeah Tara?"
"At this point I am really glad I didn't have to sleep next to her."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Faith said with an angry voice, she looked at Buffy and saw a pillow coming her way. She was unable to duck in time and got it full in her face, "Never mind."
Tara couldn't help it but to laugh. She wasn't happy for long when she heard Willow screaming, she looked at her lover and saw Willow coming straight at her. It looked like she was attacking something and Tara was just in the way. Faith jumped between the two girls and grabbed Willow, Faith had trouble keeping the girl calm. "Why is she so strong?"
"It's her subconscious."
"What are you talking about?" Faith asked in response of Olivia answer.
"Her subconscious makes her stronger" Olivia asked everyone to move aside, then she asked Faith to let Willow go again.
"Are you nuts?" Faith said not believing what Olivia just said, "She could hurt someone or worse herself."
"Trust me" Faith was reluctant to let the girl go, but did it anyway. To everyone's surprise Willow didn't move a muscle.
"How did you…?"
"I don't know, I just had a feeling."
Suddenly Buffy was crying out in pain, Faith immediately went to her and held her trying to comfort her. For a few seconds it seemed to help Buffy calm down, but it wasn't what they thought. Buffy jumped up and started attacking Faith, still in full dream mode.
Faith blocked her attacks with trouble, Buffy's subconscious made her stronger than ever. "I need a little help here!" Faith now was really having trouble blocking Buffy's attacks, the blonde slayer hit Faith on her face a few times when she collapsed. Faith quickly recovered from the punches and rushed to Buffy. "Buffy, wake up…"
"Don't worry, everything is going good."
"What do you mean everything is going good" Faith was really getting angry and was ready to hit Olivia, "She collapsed, that's never a good thing! I'm thinking about keeping the promise Buffy made to me."
"What promise?" When Olivia finished her sentence, Faith run towards her ready to attack the woman.
"Faith!" Faith froze when she heard Tara screaming her name, "Faith calm down". The dark haired slayer couldn't believe what she was hearing, she of all people told her to calm down.
"She's is doing this Tara, to Buffy… and Willow."
"Even if she was, look at Willow, she's resting peacefully again." Tara said, "Look at Buffy."
Faith looked at Buffy and saw she was also resting peacefully just like Willow. "How?"
"I don't know Faith, try to stay calm ok?" Faith didn't answer Tara. She walked to Buffy and took her lover in her arms. Faith kissed Buffy her forehead, a few tears rolled down her cheeks.
"What's happening down there?"
"Nothing Dawn!" Olivia said, "Go back to sleep!"
"Nobody tells me what to do!" Dawn came running down the stairs and saw Buffy laying on the floor in Faith's arms. Faith looked up to Dawn who noticed the tears, "O god, no she can't be."
"No Dawn she isn't" Faith said taking Dawn's hand and sitting her down. "She's not dead, she collapsed. I wouldn't let her…" Dawn leaned her head against Faith's shoulder and started to cry.
"This is all because of me."
Faith looked at Dawn, she couldn't believe what she was hearing, "Dawn, don't blame yourself."
"But it's true."
"Who told you that?"
"She did" Dawn said pointing at Olivia.
Faith was really getting angry at that woman, "Tara, don't try to stop me this time."
"Trust me, I won't." Everyone was getting angry at Olivia, even Giles.
"I called you to help them, not make it worse."
"I am helping them."
Now Dawn was getting angry at her, "You call this helping!"
"Ok, so you don't approve of my methods" Olivia tried, "But I am helping."
"How?" Tara asked, "By giving Dawn guilt feelings? Helping Buffy to collapse? And Willow…"
"Inner Demons."
"What are you talking about?" Faith asked.
"They are both fighting Inner Demons, something you can relate to Faith."
Faith felt the guilt rushing over her, but it was true. She too had fought against her Inner Demons. "But why is it like this… this strong?" Faith finally asked.
"Again I have to say their subconscious" Olivia replied, "It makes everything stronger and that's why they were having such strong nightmares and that's why it happened during the day."
"Ok and what does it have to do with me?"
"You got stabbed" Olivia said to Dawn, "Buffy is feeling guilty because you got stabbed. That's her Inner Demon, feeling guilty because you got stabbed."
"I couldn't help that!"
"No you couldn't, but it's not me who you have to tell, it's Buffy."
"What do you mean?" Faith asked.
"Dawn has to tell Buffy it wasn't her fault that she got stabbed and Buffy has to accept that and know it deep inside, that's the only way."
"How are we supposed to do that if she doesn't want to talk about it!" Faith said.
"Make her talk about it, if she doesn't the nightmares will only be worse every time."
"Then what?" Tara asked.
"She'll go crazy, she will be living her nightmare every single night AND day."
It took a few seconds for the news to sink in. Dawn still believed it was her fault Buffy was like this. Faith sat on the couch and pulled Dawn on her lap, she gave the little girl a hug. Dawn couldn't stop the tears anymore and just let them go and Faith just held her.
"Uhm I…"
"What is it Tara?" Giles asked.
"What about Willow?"
"Willow yes, er… Olivia?"
"Willow is a lot more complicated…"
"What do y-you mean?" Tara asked. She could feel her stuttering came back, she had reduced her stuttering to a minimum the last few years. It was the worst when she and Willow first met, Willow helped her with it. Willow didn't care about the stuttering, she only cared about Tara.
"I have no idea what her Inner Demon is" Olivia said, "She blocked it so far away that I can't even get to it."
"What are you, a psychic?" Faith asked.
"Not really" Olivia replied, "I can sense what is wrong with people, but I can't sense things when people are really trying to block it, like Willow is doing right now."
"But why w-would she…"
"Only one reason, well actually two, she doesn't want anyone to know about it or she doesn't want one person to know it because she could think it would affect her relationship with that person."
"How are we supposed to help her then?" Faith asked.
"Talk to her, that's the only thing you can do" Olivia replied, "That's the only way you can help her, if she doesn't want to talk about it, then you can't help her. She needs to know that, when she's awake again, tell her that."
Everything seemed to calm down with both Buffy and Willow. They decided to call it a night and went to sleep. Faith laid down beside Buffy and held her, Faith already knew she wasn't going to be able to sleep and decided to wake over Buffy and Willow. But there was no way she was going to leave Buffy's side, she held the girl even closer to her and unwillingly closed her eyes and fell asleep.
<<The next morning>>
Buffy and Willow were both awake before any of the others, wondering what happened the night before. "Hey."
"Hey Will."
"How are you?"
"I'm feeling ok, had a little more sleep then normal, you?"
"Same here."
Willow and Buffy both got up and got some breakfast. While eating they were looking at Tara and Faith, wondering if they should tell them about the dreams.
"Buffy?"
"Yeah?"
"What were your nightmares about?"
"You first."
"I asked you first."
"I can handle mine, your not the person I should be telling first. It's Dawn who I need to tell first" Buffy replied, "Tell me."
"I… It's.."
"Willow…"
"Oz."
Buffy was shocked, but not surprised to hear Willow was having nightmares about Oz. Buffy had a feeling Willow hadn't really dealt with Oz leaving her, even if she had Tara and they were soulmates.
"What do you mean?" Buffy asked.
"It's Oz… in wolf form" Willow babbled, "And he chases me, trying to kill me."
"You have to tell Tara about this."
"No I can't… she… she'll get upset."
"Willow trust me on this, she won't."
"What do you mean?"
"Because she's standing right there and heard everything you said and hasn't run away" Willow looked behind her and saw Tara standing in the doorway. "I'll leave you two alone, I need to have a talk with someone to."
Buffy walked to the door past Tara who grabbed her hand, "Thanks Buffy". Buffy nodded and walked away.
"Willow… We need to talk."
"I know, but not here" Willow replied, "Home, we're going home."
Tara walked up to Willow and kissed her, "I missed you, you know that?"
"I missed you too. Let's go, we have a lot to talk about."
"Good morning everyone."
"Hey Giles" Faith looked next to her in bed but couldn't find Buffy, "Where's Buffy?"
"Right here" Faith looked behind the couch she was laying next to and saw Buffy sitting on the floor next to Dawn. "Faith, we're going home."
Faith looked really confused and wanted to know what was going on. "Nothing's going on, we're just going home. But first we have to drop off Willow and Tara."
"So Willow told Tara?" Faith asked.
"Not yet, Willow wanted to do that at home" Buffy replied, "But Tara knows what's going on with her."
"And when was anyone going to tell me?" Giles demanded to know.
"As soon as they worked it out" Buffy said, "Where's Olivia, we owe her an apology."
"I don't know, she wasn't there when I woke up" Giles said, "But she left a note for you Faith."
Faith looked surprised, why would Olivia leave a note for her after all she said and almost did to her. "Where is it?" Giles handed Faith the note who opened it and began to read it.
"So what's in it?" Buffy wanted to know.
"I'll read the letter out loud."
`Dear Faith, I had to leave early so this is why I wrote the letter, send Rupert my love. I know last night was hard, believe it or not I too hated to see them hurting. You have to promise to each other that there will be no more secrets, everything that happened, you need to talk about it. Tell each other how you feel, if you don't want all of this to happen again. Tell yourself and the others not to be afraid to talk about things. Tell them I said hi and please do as I said. It will only make you feel better. Love Olivia.'
"Go home" Giles said.
"What?"
"Go home and talk."
Everyone got their stuff and put it in the car, they said goodbye to Giles and went on their way. Buffy first drove to Tara and Willow's apartment, they all hugged and said goodbye. Now it was time for Buffy, Faith and Dawn to return home and talk.
Faith still needed to finish her conversation with Joyce. Buffy and Dawn had a little more talking to do, their relationship as sisters and Buffy's guilt. Everyone knew it were going to be a few long hours of nothing but talking.
"Mom you home?"
"Mom working Buffy."
"I'm going to put our stuff away, you two need to talk" Faith said and walked away.
<<Tara and Willow's apartment>>
Even if Willow was the one saying they needed to talk, little talking was done. Willow had been avoiding Tara since they got home, Tara just sat on their bed watching her. Waiting for Willow to make the first step, hoping deep inside she would. <Willow, talk to me.>
"Why? You heard everything in the kitchen."
"No I didn't and you know that" Tara replied a little angry, "You wanted to talk to me and I'm here to listen, I'm not here to judge you."
"That's what you say, but that's not what I feel."
Tara was shocked, <How can she even think that I'll judge her?> Willow looked at Tara with hope in her eyes. Willow sat beside Tara on the bed and kissed her.
"You know what Olivia wrote…" Tara said, "No more secrets, keeping secrets mean I'll eventually loose you. And I… I couldn't stand that. I can't live without you."
"Ok, no more secrets" Willow moved against the head of the bed and Tara snuggled up to her, "Where do I begin?"
Tara looked at Willow and kissed her "Try at the beginning."
<<Summers' home>>
"Why does everyone say we have to talk?"
"Because I would go crazy if I didn't."
"Like you weren't crazy already."
"Dawn."
"Sorry" Dawn replied, "Is this about me getting stabbed?"
"Yeah it is."
"Why do we need to talk about that?"
"Because… because I feel guilty about that" Buffy began, "I let my only sister get stabbed… in her back. I wasn't there to protect you and you got stabbed and you almost died because of that and… if I hadn't ran downstairs."
"Buffy, it's ok."
Buffy looked surprised at her sister, she never thought it would go that easy. "What do you mean?"
"You did everything you could" Dawn replied, "You ran downstairs because those things were there. If you hadn't more people would have gotten hurt then just me and you know that deep inside. It's the only reason why you even went downstairs."
"Yeah, but I wasn't able to protect you."
"I told you it was ok" Buffy couldn't believe what she was hearing, maybe it wasn't her fault. <How could I have know that they would go upstairs.> Dawn leaned over to her sister and hugged her, with this gesture Buffy let it all go and started crying. Dawn just held her sister closer, she was the one with the comforting role now.
<<Back at Willow and Tara's>>
"Why do you think I would be upset if you dreamed about Oz?"
"I don't know" Willow replied holding Tara even closer, "Because it was Oz I dreamed about and not you."
"I don't even wanna be in them if it means doing what he did" Tara looked at Willow and smiled, "I'm here to love you, not hurt you."
"I love you too" Willow leaned in and kissed Tara passionately.
"Will, I still got some questions."
"Which are?"
"Why do you have dreams about Oz? I mean why is it that he attacks you?"
"I don't know" Willow replied.
"Maybe because he was upset of me being with you?"
"What do you mean Tara?"
"Remember that I told you he started to change after we met in the hallway?"
"Yeah…"
"Maybe your subconscious is making it worse." Tara finished, "And being afraid of his wolf form he chases you. I know it's a little off, but it's the only explanation I can come up with."
"I think your right, hard to believe, but right" Willow said, "How am I supposed to stop it."
"I think you just did by telling me."
"Let's hope so." With that Willow moved down and they were facing each other, Willow cupped Tara's chin with her hand and leaned in to kiss her. Tara was more then willing to reply the kiss and deepened it.
Faith came walking back downstairs and saw Buffy sitting on the couch watching TV. She wondered where Dawn was, but her question was answered when she was closer. Dawn was sleeping and laid on Buffy's lap. "Guess last night was a bit hard on her" Faith said.
"Yeah, she deserves to sleep" Buffy replied, "It has been a hard day and night for her."
"It's been hard on all of us."
"Yeah it has."
"Are you ok?" Faith asked.
Buffy looked up at Faith who leaned in and kissed her. "Yeah I am Faith, I really am" Faith kissed her again with more passion.
"Could you guys do that somewhere else, like say when I'm not trying to sleep?" Before she knew it Dawn had to hide from all the pillows that were heading towards her.
...continued in Five Witches And A…… Baby?...