Title: Tomorrow 8/?
Author: Madsdog
Disclaimer: If I just owned Willow's body, Dawn's hair and Giles' voice to sing me to sleep... okay... none of it's mine- those bits belong to the actors and the rest is Joss' and Marti's (Tara-killers) and Love Letter #1 belongs to Red
SPOILERS: UP UNTIL THE END OF 'TWO TO GO'
***
Season 6
***
"I think you know the rest." Willow prodded her ice cream, half- smiling at the memories.
"Faith found out? Did anyone else?"
"Spike. Almost you."
"How the hell did you keep Faith and Spike quiet?"
"There's this spell- `Tabula Rasa.' It effectively wipes memories- gives the subject a clean slate upon which to place their own."
"So they forget whatever happened and replace the void with something mundane?"
"Basically- it'll be like one of those days where you can't remember what happened, `cause nothing significant did."
"But still- that's pretty impressive that only three people were close to discovering you."
"Spike found out more than once."
"That was careless."
"He stole our chains!" A seriously heated colouring of cheeks followed the exclamation, as Willow realised what she'd just said. "I… I mean…" She blushed until she was almost purple at the devilish look on Anya's face.
"Oh I am so getting the `chain' details later. But first you have to tell me the rest."
"What rest?"
"Willow, I can't help you until you finish the story. From what you've told me so far everything was peaches and cream. You were engaged; you were going to run off to live in England together. But we both know that's not how it ends. Cummon. R and J me."
"R and J you?"
"Romeo and Juliet. Give me the sad ending. Why is he in England, and why are you giving me all the details instead of contacting him to give him the happy news?"
"Happy news indeed. Believe me this is the last thing he wants to hear."
"I doubt that's true. You have to tell me Willow, I can't help you if I don't know why he left. You only have to tell me this once, and then you don't have to go through it again. If you don't tell me now then you'll only keep replaying it until you do." Anya felt suddenly heartless as she looked up and took in the tear stained face of her friend. The memory was obviously still fresh and oh-so painful. Unless Willow was a lot stronger than she looked, Anya knew she'd be dealing with an almost broken girl by the end of the afternoon. But she also knew that although it would be hard, recounting the details would make it so much easier for Willow to deal with once she wasn't keeping it to her self anymore.
Leaning across the table, the shopkeeper offered the only support she could and took the witch's (ex-witch's) hand.
"I'm here for you Willow, you know that. That's why you came to me." The nodding head was barely perceptible, but Anya knew it showed Willow had made up her mind and was about to recall what she'd been trying to forget.
***
"Hello, Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless."
"Who're you?"
"We're Angel Investigations, a private in-"
"Yes I know where I'm phoning, I just want to know who you are."
"Oh, okay, I'm Fred. And you are..."
"Buffy."
"Dead Buffy?"
"That's the one."
"Did you want to talk to Angel? Cos he's-"
"No."
"Oh, Cordel-"
"Wesley."
"What?"
"I want to talk to Wesley."
"Oh, okay. I think he's in, let me just check." Buffy heard the line become muffled as the silencer button was pressed- although she'd never understood why it was called a silencer when the other person could still her- just not as well... especially when people yelled that loud.
"WESLEY!"
"Fred!" Buffy smiled at the annoyed male voice.
"Sorry. Is he coming?"
"He's here."
"You hollered?"
"Buffy's on the phone for you."
"Buffy?"
"The dead one."
"Yes, thank you Fred. Hello? Buffy?"
"Hi. How long were you a member of the council?"
"Better part of fifteen years. Father signed my life away."
"Good. Well not good, but... I need to know their line on relationships."
"On relation- I don't understand Buffy."
"That makes two of us. Look... say a watcher asked someone to marry them, would-"
"They wouldn't."
"What?"
"Watchers don't marry anyone, they have partners hand picked for them. Mind is matched with strength, logic with creation. The Council is constantly trying to create a superior race. Everyone is monitored, then matched up."
"But what if they fell in love?"
"The- subject- of the watcher's affections would come under intense scrutiny. But more often than not they will be found unworthy. Either the watcher is relocated, or..."
"Or-"
"Buffy, why are we-"
"I need to know the 'or' Wesley."
"There have been cases where one or even both parties have been..."
"Been?"
"Eliminated." A cold chill ran down Buffy's spine.
"Killed you mean."
"Yes."
"Shit."
"Are you in trouble. Do you need help?"
"Wes, Giles once told me that when discussing council matters, 99% of the time they're listening."
"More like 99.9"
"Us two need to talk. Somewhere The Council can't hear us."
"I'll be in Sunnydale by noon."
"Later then."
"Bye." She hung up. Not sure how she was going to pull this off. But she'd manage. For Willow she'd manage.