“Is it suppose to get that big?” Spike asked as he watched the marshmallows expand in the microwave. “Those were the small marshmallows, yeh?”
“I’m pretty sure they always kinda do that. We had a science lab with marshmallows once, and they did the same thing– - so as long as we take them out before the explode, it should be okay.”
She relaxes when Dawn sits down beside her, knowing the young woman was willing to let her speak and not storm away from her. She didn’t like Dawn being upset with her, and storming off it hurt her greatly, but right now, Dawn needed answers, and Tara was the only one that could give them to her, because that was Tara’s right. Now to figure out where to begin.
“Do you remember the demon who made us sing?” She asks Dawn softly. Blue eyes looking to the young as she spoke. Though Tara knew Dawn would know she decided to continue on with her explanation.
“Remember how you came into the room, and asked if we had made up? Well, I went to the magic box remember? I didn’t mean to leave you alone to get kidnapped.” She quickly added before letting out a deep breath.”I had found out, Willow took my memory away, so I wouldn’t remember the argument.”
pain was evident in the blonde’s voice now, her eyes looking to her hands that were clasped on her lap.”A-After that happened, when I found out, she did that s-spell that wiped all our memories.” She whispers, as she shakes her head.”A-After what happened with Glory, and after Willow gave her word she’d stop using magick’s, I-I couldn’t stay with her Dawnie. I-I can’t trust her.”
“Tara…”
Cold blue eyes soften with sudden understanding as she listens to Tara’s side of the story. Dawn hadn’t a clue that Willow had hurt Tara so badly– - of course, she knows about the time that had wiped away all of their memories, but never what (or who, it seems) it had really been meant for. Until now, she didn’t even think to blame Willow, just saw another person abandoning her and blindly resented her for it. Once Tara finishes, she doesn’t hesitate to pull the other into a hug, spindly arms wrapping around her frame. Now that she knows the truth, she feels a pang of guilt for how she’d lashed out at the already suffering woman. None of this had been Tara’s fault; Dawn had just been too blind, too angry to see that until now.
“I had no idea Willow did that… I’m so sorry I got so mad at you.”
“Now she tells me,” he said as he hauls himself up out of the armchair to head into the kitchen after her. “Well can’t really go wrong with chocolate…” Spike looked excited himself after a moment as an idea struck him, “Ooh and maybe some of thos little marshmallows?”
“Well, why not? Popcorn, chocolate, and marshmallows all taste good; there’s no way we could go wrong with that combo.“
“ I know the feeling. Everyone’s too busy to pay attention. But that doesn’t mean that we care any less about you than we do. I’m sorry, I really am. ”
“But that’s all anyone ever is! They say they’re sorry, but then never do anything about it. I get that you’re busy, but are you really so busy that you have no time for meat all?”
“Cordelia!? What– - why are youhere, inSunnydale?”
Sure, Sunnydale was always a little unpredictable and strange, but seeing the girl she had idolized in middle school back here was—– - well, weird, to say the least. Maybe a little unnerving, too. Honestly, all Dawn could really bring herself to do was stare.
She knew Dawn was right. She didn’t know anything and no one had told her anything. Tara always spoke to Dawn like she could understand the situation, for Tara always saw her as Dawn, an intelligent woman.
“Come sit with me, and let me explain, okay? But know I have to leave, but I’ll still be in town.”
Nodding silently, Dawn sat down beside Tara. She could tell from the look on the woman’s face that Tara had a good reason for leaving; she just wanted to know what it was so she wouldn’t have to watch another person who was so important to her go away without understanding why they were gone.
Pressing her lips together in what had to pass as a smile, Buffy gently reached out and brushed the back the back of her hand across Dawn’s cheek. It was meant to comfort when the older one knew her words would most assuredly fail. There was so much to do, so much to take care off –and she just couldn’t do it all.
Already, she was craving some time alone, so she could hide her tears with the sound of running water.
“Hm, no problem. –Did you do your homework?”
Dawn finally raisedher gaze as a familiar hand grazed against her cheek, offering up a tentative smile in return as blue eyes met green. After a heartbeat of indecision, she reached up to place her own hand atop Buffy’s– - even if there wasn’t much she could do either, she wanted Buffy to realize that she wasn’t alone. Even if their friends would come and go, the Summers sisters were in this together.
“Yeah, Brianna brought it over for me earlier. I did it, but she said my teachers don’t expect any of it ‘til I’m back anyways, so…”
