XVII: Connections Finished

Disclaimer: See previous chapters. Nothing has changed. All the same people own exactly the same shows, characters, and etc.

Timeline: The night of Harry’s arrival and after the vision, three days later.

A/N: Thanks to all the readers, reviewers, and even those who just took a peak, but didn’t like. I meant to have this up earlier this week, but I spent up until Tuesday crying. My best friend married a very bad person. She doesn’t see it and won’t listen to anyone. And needless to say, I’m more than a bit frightened for her.

Happy Reading!

Grimmauld

She had been walking through the house for no more than a few minutes, but it felt like hours. The impression that Buffy got from the house was pretentious, gaudy rich, and evil. Well, the last she wasn’t so sure about, it was just a gut instinct.

“You cannot save him, girl. You don’t have the power,” the sinister voice came from all around her.

Rolling her eyes, Buffy began to turn in a slow circle, searching the shadows and dark for a figure – any figure. She had had enough of that power crap from the First and she wasn’t going to take it from some pretentious wanna-be bad ass.

“Heard the lack of power argument before, it’s really cliché and over done now. Wanna know what happened to all the Big Bads that used that excuse? I kicked their asses. I’ll do that to you too. And I won’t even break a sweat. So stop skulking in the shadows and show yourself,” Buffy snapped.

Before she could throw herself out of the way, a blue light hit her square in the chest and she was falling through the houses floors and through the Earth.

She fell, she fell so long that she didn’t know how long it was until she hit the ground and the breath rushed out of her.

Willow yelling her name, made her stand despite her lack of breath and the spinning world.

“Buffy! Where are we? What’s going on?” Willow cried, rushing to her best friend’s side and wrapping a steadying around her waist.

Leaning against Willow, Buffy straightened and glanced around, a desert, the First Slayer’s home.

“You’re in one of my visions and were in the First Slayer’s home. Have you ever met her? Lovely person, if you like single-minded killing machines, who only know and care about duty,” Buffy griped.

“Oh,” Willow responded and that was all she could say.

She didn’t know how to respond to the bitterness and anger in Buffy’s voice. There were stories that she hadn’t been told. And if she was guessing right, she would never be told.

“Stand back, she tends to rely on violence and isn’t much for talking,” Buffy advised, as she saw the First Slayer approaching.

“Who does that remind me of? Inappropriate moment, I’ll stay out of the way, if the First Slayer gets all cranky,” promised Willow.

The First Slayer stopped a few feet in front of them, crouched on her hands and knees with her dreed locks framing her face. Deep and dark brown eyes seared into their souls.

“You should have accepted the Shadow Men’s gift Slayer. Your refusal wrought changes to the line that should have never been. I am here to give you the gift,” the First Slayer said.

“What?”

Both Buffy and Willow yell that out in unison; Buffy in understanding and Willow in confusion. They both fell and were in the cave. This time, there were no Shadow Men just the First Slayer, Buffy, and Willow.

Willow was contained by a magical shield and Buffy stood in the center of the cave, chained down. Two chains wrapped around her neck, one for each ankle, wrist, and one wrapped around her waist. Not even Buffy could break free.

“Changes wrought cannot be undone. You are my Chosen One, above all others, I gift you with the undiminished essence. Do not fight,” The First Slayer whispered. “I must finish what you and the Witch began.”

Both women screamed as the First Slayer melted into a shadow mist and as tendrils shot out and wrapped themselves around Buffy.

“Buffy!” Willow shrieked and pounded against the shield. “Stop it! Stop it! Stay away from her!”

With a burst of searing white light, the shield broke and tendrils shot out and wrapped themselves around a still shrieking Willow. The tendrils seeped into her mouth, cutting off her screams, gagging her, filling her up with power, and finishing the connection between herself and Buffy that had begun to form with the spell to stop Adam.

The chains holding Buffy down snapped like twigs and she levitated; the black mist swirling around her. Unconsciously, Buffy opened the connection between her and Willow.

Memories from both women filtered across the bond and seeped into their beings, their memories. Connections and access to abilities were established. A dangerous and keen knowledge of power and the world, as it was filled them. What they could do with their shared powers and what they wouldn’t do.

A whispering, deadly voice of the First Slayer filled the cave and their thoughts.

“You thought you knew . . . what you were. You had no idea, you had only just begun.”

*******
Concerned and frightened voices penetrated Buffy’s mind. Through her full-body and mind ache, she could feel Willow. Feel Willow; when the hell had she been able to feel Willow?

Eyes fluttering open, she found herself staring up at Dawn, Remus, Sirius, Hermione, Xander, and Giles. Frightened and shocked gasps erupted from and most backed away, except for Remus and Sirius. Those two men stayed by her side; she could see their fear, but they didn’t falter.

“What’s wrong?” Buffy rasped out; it felt like she hadn’t spoken for days.

“It’s your eyes, Buffy. They’re glowing like mine were, when I first woke up,” Willow explained. “I woke up this morning; apparently, it’s been three days since the night Harry arrived.

Buffy felt the bed moving and Willow snuggling against her side. Dawn dropped beside her; all fear and shock forgotten or at least pushed aside.

“We were so worried. During the night both of you started screaming and nothing could wake you two up,” Dawn mumbled and pressed herself tightly against Buffy.

“How do you feel?” Remus asked, reaching out and clasping one of Buffy’s hands to his.

A wonderful warmth shivered up her spine the moment Remus’ hand clasped hers. Next to her, she could feel Willow give an echoing shiver.

“I have a horrible full mind and body ache, but other than that I’m pretty good,” Buffy answered and smiled reassuringly at the werewolf.

“Can you tell us what happened, my dear?” Giles asked. “Willow’s already told us about the vision and without the proper books . . .”

Giles trailed off when he noticed that his Slayer’s attention had once again focused on Remus, who sat with Sirius at the bottom of the bed. Xander had squeezed in beside Dawn, while Hermione had climbed in beside Willow.

He couldn’t stop the jealousy that spread through him. He couldn’t stop the feelings of being replaced. It was foolish. During the first week in L.A., Buffy had told him no one could ever replace him; he would always be one of the most important men in her life. It was that he was just used to sharing her with Xander and an occasional, fleeting boyfriend like Riley.

But with Sirius and Remus, especially Remus, they were not going to go away – not like Angel, Spike, and Riley had. They were in for the long haul; Giles knew that, even if they didn’t.

“Sirius, squish against Remus, so Giles can have a place,” Buffy gently ordered.

The werewolf and animagus gave Giles a searching and understanding look. Sirius pressed against Remus, so that the werewolf was squished against Buffy and Xander’s legs.

As he climbed onto the bed, Buffy gave him a look that said: ‘Silly old man.’

“Are my eyes still glowing?” Buffy asked.

“Yes, reminds me of lime jello, except without the jiggles.” Xander commented. “Don’t worry; the glow will go away in a bit. At least Willow’s did.”

Frowning, Buffy glanced over at Willow, who smiled and shrugged at her. Dropping her head back onto her pillow, she shut her eyes. A moment later she felt Willow laying her head on her shoulder.

“Alright, every out, my girls need their sleep. We can fill them in on the happenings later,” Xander said.

The group let the one-eyed man usher them out. Remus and Giles both lingered, casting concerned glances at the lightly sleeping duo on the bed.

“You two get out too, they’ll be fine. What could happen to them? They’re snug as a bug in a rug,” Xander stated, pushing both men out the door, so he could shut it.

*******
In the privacy of the attic, Buffy and Willow sat in a circle of chalk and incense. Their breaths fell in a contrasting rhythm, yet perfectly in tune. Unbeknownst to them, a soft white glow encased them.

They were in their own, but each others minds, studying three crystal orbs that represented them by themselves and their connection.

The orb representing Buffy held a mist the color of new spring grass with waves of pure white occasionally sweeping through like the tide.

Willow’s orb held a red mist the color of ripe strawberries with smaller drops of pure white and black occasionally appearing, not as constant as Buffy’s, but no less powerful.

The third orb was a mixture of green and red with tidal waves and drops of white, along with the drops of black.

“The black in my orb represents . . .” Willow trailed off, a worried look marring her features. “What if I taint you or drive you to the dark side?”

Sending Willow a sharp look, Buffy huffed her displeasure. “You aren’t going to taint me or send me to the dark side. Willow, you conquered the darkness within yourself. I knew that before, but now with this connection . . . I feel it. The darkness is still there, but you can beat it back, control it, keep it conquered, and with our connection – you don’t even have to ask to borrow my strength. It’s there for you to take and use when you need to.”

“Buffy . . .” Willow trailed off. She didn’t know what to say. Buffy’s complete faith in her abilities always astounded her.

“I get it now. Why I’ve been able to feel the earth, this world’s magick, it’s because of you and our connection. I think that as a Slayer, I was always capable of magic, but being connected with you has helped me develop my powers faster,” Buffy said.

“Even though, you can only blow things up,” prompted Willow. At Buffy’s pointed look, she held up her hands in surrender. “Okay, I’ve got no right to talk. Isn’t odd that we know how to do this? I mean meditate and here we are?”

Shooting Willow a reprimanding look, Buffy turned back to the crystal orbs. “You’re complaining? Hello, the Powers usually don’t tell us anything or are so cryptic it takes us months to figure it out. I’ll take knowing how to use our connection by instinct than not knowing what to do with it.”

“We don’t know what to do with it. Yeah, we knew how to get here, into whatever this place is, but using our connection – we’re still in the dark,” Willow reminded her best friend.

“That book, the one the creepy bookkeeper gave us!” Buffy cried. “Come one, let’s go look at it.”

Willow returned to her body with a less than gentle ease; for a moment the world spun and she lost her breath.

“Buffy, you could have warned me!” Willow admonished, bracing hands against the floor and shutting her eyes, trying to make the world stop spinning.

“Sorry, I was . . . I got excited,” Buffy lamely explained with a chagrined look. “You can do that to me next time.”

Groaning, Willow lowered herself to the floor and laid herself out, completely flat against the dark wood floor.

“Just let the world stop spinning, promise me that you’ll let me exit our connection-place until you have a better handle on magic, and then we’ll look at the book,” Willow pleaded.

“I promise.”

*******
Harry Potter glanced up towards the attic; a curious expression had permanently settled across his features, hours ago. He felt guilty and ashamed for being rude, especially since Hermione and the Weasley children had taken such an obvious shine to the Scooby Gang. The name for their group still made him feel strangely giddy and happy. How could a group that fought against darkness name themselves after a cartoon dog?

“Once they come down, Harry, you should apologize. They’ll forgive you,” Hermione said. “They’re the best . . .”

“How do you know that? You’ve only known them for a little over two months. How do you and the others know they’re the best?” Harry demanded.

“I know that, but it’s hard to explain. Fighting against darkness, against evil is what they do. And despite Buffy’s complaints and whining – it’s who she is. She’ll do anything to save the world and so will the other Scoobies.” Hermione said, confidently.

Harry turned to Hermione, a strangely, shuttered look on his face. “Are you a Scooby?”

“I . . .”

“Yes, Hermione’s a Scooby,” Xander answered for Hermione. “We usually don’t let people in like we did with Hermione and the others. Usually there’s a humiliating oral test and a dance, but we all voted to forgo that. Well, Willow, Dawn, and Giles did. Buffy and I wanted all of you to do, but we’re a democracy now.”

“Dawn and I must have missed that memo, Xander. I can’t recall any democratic votes that we, as a group, recently made. Ah, I guess you, Buffy, and Willow simply cast our votes for us, if were not there and none of you feel like waiting,” Giles said dryly, as he entered the library.

At Harry’s confused look, Hermione smiled patiently. “They’re joking Harry. They’re rarely serious, except for Giles.”

“Yeah, he usually mumbles, tells us to act our ages, and to take the situation seriously,” Xander pointed out. “He used to do it more, but he finally realized that it’s pointless.”

“Forgive me, for wanting all of you to take the ending of the world seriously.”

Entering the room, with Willow close behind her, Buffy pointed out. “We would if world endage didn’t happen every Tuesday. Hey, do any of you suppose the Lord Volly-ball Head would schedule his plans for Tuesdays? That way, I can schedule my very important beauty appointments around world endage. It’s so hard to get into good salons.”

“You’re not serious?” Harry asked, shock and dismay could be clearly heard in his voice.

“Of course she is,” Xander answered. “A girl’s got to have priorities.”