REPLAY



The songs selected were picked by their lyrics. I did not take account for the genre they fall under.



Note- I changed a few words in some songs so that it went with the Scooby’s situation. You will know because I have the original lyrics in parenthesis.





Song credits:



That’s what Love is For by Amy Grant- Tara and Willow

I’ll Be There by Maria Carey- Xander and Anya

Never Gonna Say I’m Sorry by Ace of Base- Andrew and Jonathan

Heaven by Live- Giles

If You Could Only See by Tonic- Buffy

Right Kind of Wrong by LeAnn Rimes- Buffy







Chapter 12- Once AGAIN with Feeling



Buffy licked her lips and grinned. Lips of Spike. Yummy.

“Meet up tonight for a meeting?” she asked.

“Got it, pet. I’ll be there,” he said.

She gave him a quicker kiss before leaving.

Spike stood behind, glowing. He had never known the true meaning of effulgent until then.

+ + +

Tara decided to search for Willow. The red-head was a whiz on the computer and might be able to find out something about this singing extravaganza. That was the practical reason anyway, and Tara tried to be practical. But another part of her, (if she were going to be honest) a larger part, wanted to find her girlfriend to make up. With kisses, hugs, and snugglies would be nice.

She checked at the library, the park, and the Bronze before going home. It was back at the house that she founded her. Willow sat at the dining room table, her laptop in front of her, shut and turned off. Her posture was slumped, as if defeated. She looked tired.

“Willow?” Tara prompted.

Willow jumped. Her head swung to the side. “Oh, Tara,” Willow whispered. And that was when she began to cry.

Tara could never bear to see her girl cry. She immediately came forward and enveloped Willow in her arms. She stroked her hair and made shushing noises.

“I’m sorry,” Willow choked through her tears. “I’ll try not to use magic so much.”

“It’s okay, baby,” Tara whispered.

Willow lifted her gaze to meet Tara’s.

“You forgive me?”

Tara nodded.

“I can’t stand not to be around you,” Willow went on, her voice wavering.

The blonde’s lips lifted. Her eyes twinkled. She took both of Willow’s hands and placed a kiss on them.

TARA

Sometimes we make it harder than it is
We'll take a perfect night
And fill it up with words we don't mean
Dark sides best unseen
And we wonder why we're feeling this way.

Sometimes I wonder if we really feel the same
Why we can be unkind
Questioning the strongest of hearts
That's when we must start
Believing in the one thing that has gotten us this far

Willow wiped her eyes. She gave a little smile.

WILLOW

That's what love is for
To help us through it
That's what love is for
Nothing else can do it

Standing up, Tara pulled Willow along with her.

TARA

Melt our defenses
Bring us back to our senses
Give us strength to try once more
Baby, that's what love is for

Sometimes I see you
And you don't know I am there
And I'm washed away by emotions
I hold deep down inside
Getting stronger with time
It's living through the fire
And holding on we find

Believing in the one thing
That has gotten us this far
That's what love is for
To help us through it
That's what love is for
Nothing else can do it
Complete adoration had spread over Willow. It seemed as if she believed she could fly.

WILLOW

Round off the edges
Talk us down from the ledges
Give us strength to try once more

TARA AND WILLOW

Baby, that's what love is for
That's what love is for

The two inched closer. Their lips brushed together in a tender kiss. Suddenly Willow squealed, breaking away.

“Tara, I can’t feel the ground!”

Tara glanced down. Her eyes got big. They were both floating off the ground. She kicked her feet in the air and began to giggle. Her companion joined in with the glee. It didn’t look like they would be coming down to earth for a long while.

+ + +

Xander had been awake for who knows how long. He had just lay there, watching his beautiful fiancé sleep. He couldn’t imagine his life without her. She made him a better person.

Believe in your love and everything will be okay. It kept echoing through his head. The words gave him strength and hope.

The bed moved slightly and he heard a small moan. Anya was waking up.

“You want some breakfast, baby?” Xander asked.

Sleepily, Anya opened her eyes. She studied his face.

“You don’t have to go to work?” she asked.

“Nah, I shut the crew down for the day. My guys start dancing around me, I don't know if I can deal. It's a flab thing. So, waffles?”

“Will you still make me waffles when we’re married?”

“No, I'll only make them for myself, but by California law, you will own half of them,” he joked. He leaned over and gave her a kiss. “Hey, how about omelets? I could do an omelet.”

Anya stretched. “Sure, honey, that sounds great.”

Xander got out of bed. He went to fetch a skillet.

“Toast?”

“Mmm hmm.”

Xander started work on their two-egg omelets. He opened the fridge and grabbed the cheese slices. Before shutting the door he made a face at her weird green chunks.

“Will it always be like this?”

Her question caught him off guard.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Even when I’m old and wrinkly? Will we still wake up and have breakfast together? Will we always be together?”

He turned away from the stove. His eyes glazed.

XANDER

You and I must make a pack
We must bring salvation back
Where there is love
I'll be there
I'll reach out my hand to you
I'll have faith in all you do
Just call my name
And I'll be there

Anya jumped to her feet. She hurried to his side.

XANDER AND ANYA

I'll be there to comfort you
Build my world of dreams around you
I'm so glad that I found you
I'll be there with a love that's strong
I'll be your strength
I'll keep holding on

With that, he grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

XANDER

Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter
Togetherness is all I'm after
Whenever you need me
I'll be there

A huge grin formed on Anya’s face.

XANDER

I'll be there to protect you
With an unselfish love
I'll respect you
Just call my name
And I'll be there

ANYA

If you should ever find someone new
I know she'd better be good to you
'Cos if she doesn't
I'll be there

Xander cupped the side of Anya’s face. “How can you even question what we have?”

She grabbed the front of his robe. They stumbled back into the table.

“I’m not hungry for omelets anymore,” she whispered.

+ + +

Dawn had geek duty. They sat around the dining table, Monopoly between them. Dawn was actually enjoying the game since she was winning.

“Pay up,” Dawn demanded Andrew as he landed on a railroad.

He whined. “You own everything!”

She gave him an evil grin. She snatched the paper money with greed.

“Why couldn’t we have played D & D? I’m good at that,” Andrew complained.

“Yuck. That is the dorkiest game ever,” the teen said.

Jonathan crossed his arms. He sulked in his chair. “I’m good at video games. Too bad you don’t have a Game Cube.”

“Or a Playstation,” contributed Andrew. “Then we could play Final Fantasy.”

She rolled her eyes. “You are such losers. Do you even have a life?”

“Hey!” Jonathan protested. “That wasn’t nice!”

“We like the way we are,” said Andrew.

“Yeah!” added Jonathan.

ANDREW

I’m never gonna say I’m sorry
I’m a clown for everyone
I’m never gonna let you down
I’m always here like the sun

Dawn hit her head on the tabletop. “Oh no.”

JONATHAN

I’m a loser, that is a fact for sure
I’m happy even if you don’t want
To invite me out for a dance tonight
I’m not normal, I know it, I don’t care

JONATHAN AND ANDREW

We’re never gonna say . . . (I’m never)

We’re always here like the sun, we’re always here (I’m always here like the sun, I’m always here)

ANDREW

Like a ghost I follow your steps so true
You don’t have to bribe me to fill me up
Give me just a minute to shine with you
I will make you so happy, make you laugh

JONATHAN

I’m never gonna say I’m sorry for
The essence of my soul
There’s so many ways to change my life
Cause I want to . . . oh
I’m like a clown, I’m fun for everyone

JONATHAN AND ANDREW

We’re never gonna say we’re sorry . . . (I’m never gonna say I’m sorry . . . )

“Buffy, please hurry home, “ Dawn begged.

+ + +

Buffy checked the Bronze for Sweet. He wasn’t there yet. The only thing different was that it had become chaotic. Everyone was singing along with their usual dancing. She left quickly.

She returned to the Magic Box. She’d wait for everyone to get their by some warm-ups. She went into the back and stepped up to the blue mat on the floor. She began to do a few stretches.

+ + +

Giles snuck into the training room, holding a cup of tea. He took a moment to watch his slayer in action. She did a few flips and kicks. She was magnificent. His heart squeezed. A few weeks ago she had been gone. He had thought he would never see her again. It was truly a miracle to have her back. He wished there was a way to keep her away from all the evil that wanted to do away with her. It would break him to lose her again.

Buffy did the splits. Giles acknowledged how fluid and perfect her movements were. He had an absurd notion then. It was as if she had brought a piece of heaven along with her. No one could be so angelic.

GILES

You don't need no friends
get back your faith again
you have the power to believe
another dissident
take back your evidence
it has no power to deceive

I'll believe it when I see it, for myself

He stretched out his hand. Buffy didn’t pay any attention to his song. She continued to train.

GILES

I don't need no one to tell me about heaven
I look at my daughter, and I believe
I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sunset and I perceive

I sit with them all night
everything they say is right
but in the morning they were wrong
I'll be right by your side
come hell or water high
down any road you choose to roam

I'll believe it when I see it for myself

Buffy performed a few practice punches.

GILES

I don't need no one to tell me about heaven
I look at my daughter, and I believe
I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sunset and I perceive, yeah

darling, I believe, Oh Lord
sometimes it's hard to breathe, Lord
at the bottom of the sea, yeah yeah

I'll believe it when I see it for myself

Buffy paused for a second. Her gaze traveled up to the ceiling. Giles followed her eyes. He didn’t find anything there. What had drawn her attention there? Did she perceive something the others didn’t?

GILES

I don't need no one to tell me about heaven
I look at my daughter, and I believe
I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sunset and I perceive

I don't need no one to tell me about heaven
I look at my daughter, and I believe
I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sunset
I can see the sunset
I can see the sunset
I don't need no one
Ohhhh
I don't need no one
I don't need no one
I don't need no one
To tell me about heaven
I believe
I believe it, yeah

Buffy stopped. She looked over.

“Oh, Giles, hey. I didn’t see you there.”

Giles smiled. He took a sip of his tea.

“Yes, well . . . “He cleared his throat. “Xander and Anya just arrived.”

+ + +

Spike was the next to join them. His gaze immediately fell on Buffy, his eyes softening at the sight of her. She stood up.

“Spike.” It wasn’t a question or even a greeting, just the symphonic expression of his name. He recognized the feeling held in it and his lips twitched upward. It was the same way he said her name.

Spike glanced around at the others. Giles seemed displeased. Anya didn’t care. Xander had daggers instead of eyeballs. He decided to postpone his Buffy time for later when they could be alone.

“I uh . . . I beat up a few locals. I got the basic gist of this Sweet guy. He’s lookin for a queen to take back with him. The lucky lady is whoever called him with a . . .,” Spike informed.

“Uh oh,” said Xander.

Spike stopped talking. He arched a brow.

“Uh oh?” piped Buffy. “Uh oh is never good. What is the uh oh? You didn’t call him, did you? I asked you and you clearly responded with a ‘no’.”

Squirming in his chair, Xander averted his eyes. “I didn’t, but I think I know who did.”

“Who?” Buffy demanded.

Just then the Magic Box door opened and Tara stormed in. She looked frantic.

“Willow’s missing!” the witch exclaimed.

+ + +

“I can’t be your bride,” Willow said.

Sweet had just completed a song about how the red-head would join him in the underworld as his wife.

“You don’t have a choice,” Sweet said.

He took a hand and brushed it across her cheek. Her eyes got big. She was tempted to prove that she did have a choice. She racked her brain for a good spell. Maybe she could sew his lips shut. That would be a good punishment for a singing demon.

It was then that the gang burst in. Xander stepped up.

“Hey, leave her alone!”

Relief spread across Willow’s face. “Xander!”

Tara eyed Willow and Sweet, a frown forming.

“I can’t let you marry my friend,” Buffy said.

Sweet smiled. “The slayer. Do you think you can stop me?”

Willow turned to Sweet. Her hands began to spark with energy. “She doesn’t have to.”

Sweet took this in.

“A witch. I sensed power within you.”

“Yeah, buddy, and I suggest you let me go or you’ll be sorry.”

“I’d listen to her,” Xander said. “She turned someone into a rat once. I don’t think you can sing or dance as a rat.”

“I’ll do worse than that,” Willow declared. “How about a mute rat?”

Willow’s eyes became black as she let the power build. Tara neared. “Willow!”

It took a moment for Tara’s voice to filter into Willow’s ears. She looked over.

“Willow, don’t.”

“He deserves it,” Willow said.

“But . . . Let Buffy handle this.” Tara held out a hand. “Just come down here and . . .”

Willow’s eyes returned to normal. The electricity vanished from her fingers.

Sweet shook his head. “I didn’t realize,” he said. “You are with this woman, aren’t you?”

Willow crossed her arms. “Yes.”

“Well now, that's a twist. That won’t work. I think we'll waive the clause just this once.”

Willow let out a sigh. She stepped down from the stage, going to Tara.

“Big smiles everyone! You beat the bad guy,” Sweet went on to say. With that, he vanished.

Willow expected to go into welcome arms, but Tara didn’t offer them. Her expression went hard.

“Why did you do it, Willow?”

“Yeah, Will,” Buffy said. “I can’t believe. . .” She turned to Xander, equal wrath going toward him. “And why did you encourage her to do it?”

“Well, I didn't know what was gonna happen! I just thought there were gonna be dances and songs,” Xander defended. “Willow was so sad and I wanted her to have a happy ending like Anya and me.”

Anya beamed.

“That doesn’t make it all okay. What you did was wrong. You didn’t even research the consequences of the talisman.”

Xander was at a loss.

Buffy sighed. She spun around, coming face-to-face with Spike. She took his hand. Spike displayed shock at that.

“Come on, let’s go back to my house. I’ll fix you some hot chocolate with marshmallows,” she offered.

“Buffy, what are you doing!?” Xander proclaimed.

Giles took off his glasses. “Yes, I’d like an answer to that as well.”

Buffy squeezed Spike’s hand. “Spike and I are together.”

“What!” Xander yelled.

“He’s changed, Xander.”
“Because of the chip?” Xander dubiously said. “A piece of metal doesn’t change a demon’s nature.”

“No, but love does!” Buffy spat.

“I can’t believe this!”

Buffy couldn’t take this. She felt herself grow hot. She had the sudden impulse to hit Xander in the nose. She let go of Spike and her hand formed a fist. But instead of smashing it into her friend she let her feelings spill out in a song.

BUFFY

If you could only see the way he ( she) loves me
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do
If you could only see how blue his ( her) eyes can be when he ( she) says
When he ( she) says he( she) loves me

She glanced at Spike, who seemed pleased with her song.

BUFFY

Well you got your reasons
And you got your opinions (lies)
And you got your manipulations
They cut me down to size
Sayin' you love me but you don’t understand(but you don't)
You give your love but not the way I want (but you won't)

If you could only see the way he ( she) loves me
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do
If you could only see how blue his ( her) eyes can be when he ( she) says
When he ( she) says he( she) loves me

Seems the road less traveled
Show's happiness unraveled
And you got to take a little dirt
To keep what you love
That's what you gotta do
Sayin' you love me but you don’t understand( but you don't)
You give your love but not the way I want( but you won't)
You're stretching out your arms to something that's not your decision (just not there)
Sayin' you love where you stand
Give your heart when you can

If you could only see the way he ( she) loves me
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do
If you could only see how blue his ( her) eyes can be when he ( she) says
When he ( she) says he( she) loves me

Sayin' you love me but you don’t understand ( but you don't)
You give your love but not the way I want( but you won't)
Sayin' you love where you stand
Give your heart when you can
If you could only see the way he ( she) loves me
Then maybe you would understand
Why I feel this way about our love
And what I must do
If you could only see how blue his ( her) eyes can be when he ( she) says
When he ( she) says he( she) loves me

The Scoobies were stunned, not sure how to respond. Buffy decided to leave them to come to terms with her decision. She dragged Spike out of The Bronze. He was just as stunned as the others, but let her pull him along. She led him to the alley outside.

“Buffy, do you know what you’re doing?” Spike asked, incredulously.

He gestured to the club, indicating her friends.

“They’ll deal,” she said. “And if they don’t . . . They’ll deal.” The last part was said firmly.

He seemed unconvinced. “The whelp’s actions in there showed otherwise.”

Frustrated, Buffy took a step forward. “Don’t you get it? I don’t care.”

He froze.

Her lips lifted. “I don’t care,” she repeated, feeling light.



BUFFY

Know all about
About your reputation
And how it’s bound to be a heartbreak situation
But I can’t help it if I’m helpless
Every time that I’m where you are
You walk in and my strength walks out the door
Say my name and I can’t fight it anymore
Oh I know, I should go
But I need your touch just too damn much
Loving you isn’t really something I should do
Shouldn’t wanna spend my time with you
That I should try to be strong
But baby you’re the right kind of wrong
Yeah baby you’re the right kind of wrong

Buffy came closer. Spike backed away.

BUFFY

Might be a mistake
A mistake I’m making
But what you’re giving I am happy to be taking
Cause no one’s ever made me feel
The way I feel when I’m in your arms
They say you’re something I should do without
They don’t know what goes on
When the lights go out
There’s no way to explain
All the pleasure is worth all the pain
Loving you isn’t really something I should do
Shouldn’t wanna spend my time with you
That I should try to be strong
But baby you’re the right kind of wrong
Yeah baby you’re the right kind of wrong

I should try to run
But I just can’t seem to
Cause every time I run you’re the on I run to
Can’t do without, what you do to me
I don’t care if I’m in too deep
Know all about
About your reputation
And how its’ bound to be a heartbreak situation
But I can’t help it if I’m helpless
Every time that I’m where you are
You walk in and my strength walks out the door
Say my name and I can’t fight it anymore
Oh I know I should go
But I need your touch just too damn much
Loving you isn’t really something I should do
Shouldn’t wanna spend my time with you
That I should try to be strong

Buffy backed Spike into the exterior wall of the Bronze. His head smacked against it but he seemed unfazed by the blow. His eyes were mesmerized and they never looked so blue.

She realized then how Spike felt. Before in the crypt she had surrendered to him, but he had never anticipated this: an open relationship. Never had he even thought it possible.

BUFFY

But baby you’re the right kind of wrong
Yeah baby you’re the right kind of wrong

Her face was a fraction of an inch away from his. She took a moment, pausing for effect, before smashing her mouth down on his. At first he didn’t react. When he did, it was with a violent fervor. He grabbed her, bringing her closer.

Buffy’s mind clouded and all she knew was Spike.