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It's Party Time
 
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REPLAY







Chapter 9- It’s Party Time



Halloween. The one day out of the year when the real monsters slept, and the fake ones prowled. It was also supposedly the slayer’s day . . . er night off. But Buffy unfortunately had another job to do. She was helping out at the Magic Box for a little extra cash.



The store hadn’t been this busy since its grand opening. Buffy was exhausted, and that was saying a lot since she had super-strength. There wasn’t a moment’s pause between customers. She didn’t remember it being so insane last time.



Anya skated past in her Farrah Fawcett costume.



“We’re running low on mandrake root,” Buffy said. “I’ll check the basement.”



“Good idea,” Anya said. “Are you sure you don’t want to consider a position here? You are doing a fabulous job.”



Buffy shook her head. “No thanks.”



She went over to the cellar entrance. She headed down. She reached the bottom of the stairs and turned. She jumped out of surprise when she spotted Spike.



“Ah! Don’t do that! I need to get you a little bell collar,” Buffy rambled. She laughed. She had forgotten that Spike would be there.



Spike gazed at her, expressionless.



Buffy’s humor faltered. “What?”



“Thought you wouldn’t be talking to me.”

“Oh. Forget about last night. I was totally loopy.” She motioned circles around her ear.

He eyed her with such intensity that it made her squirm.

She reached over and grabbed some vines. Then she handed them over. “Here. Burba weed, right?”

He narrowed his eyes.

She pulled back the vines. “That’s why you came, isn’t it? Goes good in blood?”

“How’d you know I liked burba weed?”

“I uh . . . “She faltered, lowering the burba weed.

He reached out and took the burba weed. Their fingers touched. She snatched her hand back, on fire from the contact.

“I know you were going to steal it. I’ll give Anya the money. I’m working girl now so I can spare a few bucks.”

Tilting his head, he studied her with curiosity. “Heard that, yeah. Why you’d lend me your good earned cash, though, I have no idea.”

Buffy fumbled with her hands. “Maybe I like you.”

A snort came from the vampire. Buffy lifted her head to meet his eyes. There must have been something in her expression because he became serious.

“Buffy?” Spike whispered.

The air crackled. This is it, Buffy thought. I should kiss him.

Just then the door above creaked.

“Buffy, we need that mandrake root!” Anya’s voice shouted from up the stairs. “What is keeping you!?”

Buffy turned her head from Spike. She grabbed the jar of mandrake root.

“I better get this upstairs,” she blurted.

Buffy rushed back into the store, her heart racing. Spike was left, watching her retreat in bafflement.

+ + +

Everyone was pooped. Dawn closed the door and leaned against it.

“Okay, I was polite with the ‘come agains’, but really I hope they don’t,” the teen commented.

From his position on the floor, Xander grunted in agreement. Giles and Buffy sat nearby, and Willow and Tara sat in chairs at the table. They all looked about ready to pass out. Only Anya, at the register, was cheery and upbeat. She grinned hugely and opened the drawer to count the money.

“That was the most incredible thing I have ever experienced,” she exclaimed.

Xander lifted himself slightly up to give her a look.

“Except for that,” she told him.

Dawn made her way over to Anya.

“What you all did for me tonight ... the astounding heaps of money you helped me ...us acquire. All I can say is, I hope we make as much tomorrow.”

Buffy raised her hand. “Can’t. I start at Video Haven tomorrow.”

“Oh.” Anya frowned. She surveyed the group. “But the rest of you are free for the post-holiday sale, right?”

There were moans in response.

Anya beamed. “Good.”

Giles grimaced. He got to his feet. “Brooms all around, then.”

“Or I could whip up a jaunty self-cleaning incantation, it'll be like Fantasia,” Willow offered.

“Will, I don’t think-“Buffy began.

“We all know how splendidly that turned out for Mickey,” Giles remarked.

“I think I'm a little more adept than a cartoon mouse,” Willow said.

“And you have more fingers, which is good, 'cause ...there's no need to wear those big white gloves to overcompensate,” Tara said.

The two girls smiled at each other.

Anya and Dawn caught everyone’s attention. The capitalist was teaching Dawn how to do her ‘happy dance’. They waved the bills around, turning clockwise around.

“This is fun,” said Dawn.

“A perfect end to a perfect day,” said Anya.

Xander was completely transfixed by the ex-demon. “I’m going to marry that girl,” he muttered.

His words perked Buffy up. She turned toward him. “Is there something we don’t know?”

Standing up, Xander announced, “Hey, everybody, can I um . . . there’s something Anya and I . . . wanna tell you.”

Dawn stopped her dance. She shot Buffy a smile, which her sister returned.

Xander walked over to the counter. Anya stepped up to his side.

“Now?” she asked.

“Now,” he confirmed.

He wrapped his arm around her. “We’re getting married.”

A squeal escaped Dawn.

Buffy jumped up.

“Congratulations!” Tara shouted.

Willow blinked. “That’s . . . That’s wow.”

“It’s a big wow,” Xander said.

“I thought you were waiting for the right moment,” Anya told Xander.

He squeezed her. “I did.”

The couple kissed. Buffy’s eyes misted at the sight. She reminded herself that this time this was for real. Anya and Xander were going to get married.

Anya giggled as her and Xander parted. She tossed the money into the air.

“Here, have some money!” Anya exclaimed.

Dawn snatched some dollars that floated her way.

Giles removed his glasses. He began to clean the lenses. Buffy frowned.

“Giles, quit. It isn’t that bad,” Buffy whispered.

“We have to do something for them,” Buffy went on, louder.

+ + +

About an hour later Buffy scolded herself for not grabbing decorations on the way home. How stupid could she get?

“This is just the first premarital celebration. There'll be lots more. With gifts,” Anya said.

“Sure, maybe we'll even have time to decorate for the next one,” Tara replied.

Before Buffy could react Willow had done it. In one wave of her hand there were streamers and paper lanterns. Buffy could have slapped herself.

“This is so much better than the way it usually looks. Thank you,” Anya burst out. She gave Willow a hug.

Giles, Tara, Buffy, and Dawn all shared a disturbed look.

The party continued. Buffy spent the time off to the side. She watched Willow closely. The girl didn’t have any idea about the repercussions of her actions. When she saw Tara head into the kitchen she followed.

The witch poured herself a cup of soda. Then she glanced up at Buffy, surprised.

“Tara,” Buffy said, “I’m worried about Willow.”

Tara set her cup down. “I-I thought I was the only one.”

“We have to talk to her.”

Tara nodded. “I was planning on it.”

“If it’s all right I’d like to back you up. She might listen more if we both confront her.”

“Th-That sounds good.”

+ + +

They didn’t even have to leave the room. Willow came in shortly after. She grinned at them, grabbing a bag of snacks.

“Hey, guys,” she greeted.

“Will, why don’t you sit down,” Buffy suggested.

Willow stopped. She glanced from her best friend to her girlfriend. A frown appeared on her lips.

“Why the serious faces?” she asked.

“We’re concerned,” Tara said.

“What?”

“You’re using too much magic, Wills,” Buffy said. “It’s okay to use it for important stuff, but –“

“This was important!” Willow interrupted. “How can you say Xander and Anya’s party isn’t important?”

Buffy’s eyes widened. This wasn’t going well.

“That’s not what she meant,” Tara told Willow.

“I can’t believe you guys are ganging up on me,” Willow said. Her face hardened.

“We’re not ganging up on you,” Tara said.

“It sure sounds like it.”

Buffy took a step toward the red-head. “All we’re saying is that you should stop relying on the magics when you don’t need to.”

“Yeah,” agreed Tara. “One of us could have gone out to pick up some decorations.”

“Why bother? These are perfect. And extra biodegradable-y. In a couple of hours, poof!” Willow informed.

“No, they're, they're great, it's just ... why use magic when you can do something naturally?”

“Well, you can fight monsters naturally, with sticks and stones. Don't recommend it though.”

‘I statements’, Buffy thought. She remembered ‘I statements’ from school. There were better results when you used them. She looked over at Tara. In this situation it would be a ‘We statement’.

“We’re getting off the subject,” Buffy intervened. “We only feel . . . We love you, and we don’t want you to do something that could hurt yourself or others.”

Willow’s eyes burned with fire. “How are pretty decorations going to hurt someone?”

“That’s not what she meant and you know it!” Tara yelled.

Willow shook her head. “I can’t believe this.” Her gaze fell on Buffy. “You weren’t complaining about my power when I was your ‘big gun’.”

“That was different,” Buffy said.

Silence fell over the kitchen. Willow suddenly turned. She stormed out of the kitchen. Tara hurried after her.

“Will, wait!” the other witch shouted.

Buffy followed.

Willow stormed into the living room. She swiped the air, making the decorations vanish. Then she spun around to face Buffy and Tara.

“Are you happy now?” she snapped.

Opening her mouth, Buffy wasn’t quite sure what to say.

Willow fled the house. She banged the door on her way out.

Giles took his glasses off. Xander stared at the door with worry. Dawn looked ready to cry.

Anya eyed them all. “Anyone want to dance?”

Buffy shook her head.

“I have to go after her,” Tara said.

So much for changing the past, Buffy thought. She had a feeling she just might have made things worse.

___________________________________________


 
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