Chapter 5 - A Gathering of Friends

"Ann, isn't it a little cold for swimming?"

"Yes," Ann said. "So we're going to skip that part and get right to the talk."

"See, I told you. She always has an ulterior motive," Tara said.

"Still, dinner will be good," Willow said. "And we haven't seen Ann much at all lately."

"I would like each of you to promise that you won't talk about what I'm going to tell you until the second person joining us for dinner gives you permission, but we'll get to that later."

"Spike? What does he want?"

"It's not Spike, although he is featured in this story. Spike has been leaving roses in the alley where Buffy died."

"That's sweet," Tara said.

"That's not healthy," Willow said.

"That's fortunate," Ann said, "since it meant he was there when Buffy returned."

"Buffy's back?" Willow asked. "Buffy is back! Is she all right?"

"Wait. Are you sure it's Buffy? There are some nasty things that can mimic dead people."

"It's Buffy. That was the first thing I checked," Ann told Tara.

"When? When can we see her? When did she get back? Why didn't you answer about her being all right?" Willow asked.

"Because she's not all right. She has amnesia. A specific and selective amnesia: She has forgotten she was the Slayer."

"She really didn't like being the Slayer, the last few months she was alive. Would that be enough to do it?" Tara asked.

"Claire thinks it might."

"You've talked to Claire? It's really serious, then," Willow said.

"Yes. Claire agrees that it's serious. I talked to her again recently about bringing you in. Buffy wanted me to promise not to tell anyone she is here, but I agreed to only a week's seclusion."

"She's been back a week? And hasn't wanted to see us?"

"She was afraid you'd fuss at her," Ann said. "The way you appear to be fussing now."

"Well, I'm sorry, but I'm in shock," Willow snapped.

"Which is why she's upstairs and won't come down until we're all calm again. You can fuss at me all you want, for as long as you want, but you won't see Buffy until you've chilled."

"That's a good idea," Willow said. "But as I said, I'm in shock."

"Has she said why she came back?" Tara asked.

"We haven't asked and she hasn't volunteered that information."

"Why did you pick us?" Willow asked.

"We all went out to dinner a couple of days ago, and Buffy said the next time we go, we should invite you two to come along."

"You've been taking her out to dinner? Out in public?"

"Protected by me, Spike and Gang Long, yes."

"Has she asked about Dawn?"

"No, and Claire said not to press her about people or events she doesn't mention first. She's mentioned you two and Rupert."

"Is he coming tonight?"

"I thought three people at once would be overwhelming."

"You're probably right, but, Ann: Giles misses her, too."

"I know. I'll talk to her about him soon."

"How is she physically?"

"I think she's stronger that ever. It's difficult to judge, since her only exercise is cheerleader routines."

"Oh, dear," Willow said.

"Yes," Ann said.

"So what are we doing tonight?" Tara asked. "I mean, if we can't talk about what happened and we can't mention anyone we know, what do we talk about?"

"You can mention people you know, just don't insist that she knows them, too. As for topics, choose almost anything: Gardening this summer, the quilt that wouldn't stop, the unfortunate incident of the cookies. Avoid using the word remember and also avoid any story involving fighting or weapons."

"We all agreed not to mention the cookies," Tara said.

"Campus concerts this summer? The terrible summer movies? Like that?"

"Yes. Current classes are also fine," Ann said.

"We've never talked about that sort of stuff. Oh, damn."

"And how is she getting along with Spike? Is he still here?" Tara asked.

"That's right," Willow said. "I mean he's a vampire, does she remember about vampires?"

"She knows Spike is a vampire, but she seems to have forgotten everything she used to believe about vampires. After all, Spike is not an average vampire, but he is the only example we have at the moment."

"Oh, this is just too weird."

"Very much so," Ann said. "So do you want to stay for dinner?"

"Yes, of course," Willow said. "Can we? Am I unfussy enough?"

"You'll do fine. Now, Spike told her you were coming to dinner, and she agreed that I could tell you about her and that she would join us. I don't want either of you to tell anyone else without checking with her. I think she needs to be in control of more aspects of her life."

"What does Claire say?"

"Go slowly. She is of the opinion that the intervention you performed in the spring was an adequate patch for a difficult situation, but a slower therapy may result in a more thorough, more permanent, cure."

"OK," Willow said.

"Claire also says that if you want to consult with her, you can come to breakfast tomorrow. I'll port you there and back."

"I'd like that," Tara said.

"Good," Ann said. "We're having crab cocktail, turkey and four mushroom casserole on green noodles, braised endive aux amandes and cherry tarts with rum."

"See, I told you," Willow told Tara. "Dinner is going to be excellent."

"I'll go call Buffy," Ann said and left the library.

***

"Hi, Buffy," Willow said.

"Hi, Will. Nice pants." Buffy was a little stiff. Spike could see she was tense, but she handled meeting Willow calmly, at least on the surface.

"Low, low hip huggers," Willow said. "You look good." Willow was also stiff. She was careful to be restrained in her manner and to let Buffy set the tone of their meeting.

"Ann has these magic closets," Buffy explained. "No wonder she always looks so good."

"She cheats," Willow agreed.

"Please sit down," Ann smiled, taking the head of the table.

Spike sat facing from her, with Buffy beside him. Willow sat across from Buffy, with Tara beside her, at Ann's right.

"So where's Gang Long tonight, Ann?" Buffy asked.

"Australia again," Ann said. "Apparently it's the season for high surf."

"Did you know," Willow asked the table, "that sundials in Australia go backwards?"

"Yes," Spike said.

"No," Buffy said.

"Can you explain why?" Ann asked, smiling at the Witch and the vampire.

Spike and Willow, using a daisy from the centerpiece, most of the knives and the coaster from Spike's cocktail, demonstrated the difference between northern hemisphere sundials and southern hemisphere sundials. Buffy relaxed and even Tara smiled.

***

There were some awkward moments:

"He cooked for you?" Willow asked, glancing over at Spike.

"He said he'd been watching Ann and Señora Rivera cook and he thought he could boil an egg." Buffy smiled at Spike. "Who's Señora Rivera, anyway?"

"Dawn's and Giles's housekeeper," Tara said.

"She's a really good cook," Willow said.

"She's the mother of a vampire friend of mine," Ann said.

"I guess there could be more than one vampire, couldn't there?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah, there are more of us," Spike said. "And not all of us are as nice as I am, remember."

**

"So what else have you been doing, Buffy?" Tara asked.

"There are haiku bulletin boards on the net, did you know? I've been reading them. Ann has a lot of books of haiku, and I've even tried to write one--but it's not ready to be read yet."

"OK."

"Are you thinking taking that poetry class again next semester?" Willow asked.

"No," Buffy said at once and more firmly than the topic deserved.

"Next semester isn't till next year," Ann said. "You may change your mind by then."

"Maybe," Buffy said.

**

"Whose cell phone?" Willow asked, picking it up off the floor and putting it on the table.

"Oh, mine probably," Buffy said. "I leave it all over the place.

"I found it in the refrigerator the other day," Ann said.

"Yes, it's mine. Ann taped those numbers on the back for me. She's really sort of insistent about me carrying it."

"Well," Willow said, "you may want to call someone, sometime."

"Sure," Buffy said. "Sometime."

***

"Scrabble or Mahjong?"

"Scrabble," Buffy said. "Gang Long doesn't play Scrabble, and I've wanted a change from Mahjong."

"Fine," Willow said.

"All seven letters and a double word score."

"No personal names!"

"Is that a formal challenge?" Spike asked.

"Uh..."

"Challenge or accept."

"Challenge," Buffy said.

"Bartlett: a widely grown type of pear," Tara read.

"Capitalized?"

"No, I've seen both bartlett and anjou uncapitalized."

"Oft. uncap." Tara continued.

"Oh, shoot," Buffy said.

"Oh! Oh!" Willow said. "I can use the `t' and the `r': Theocracy! Triple word score and using all my letters."

As Willow started to add up her score, Ann's large crystal phone started a rapid chiming and flashing.

Ann ported into her library and touched the face of the phone.

"Ann, Ann, ANN!"

"Hold on, Cordy," Ann said. Cordelia Chase appeared in the room. Ann caught her, lowering her to the floor. "I'm here."

Willow left the Scrabble table and ran to the dining room.

Cordelia was clutching her head and sobbing. "It's bad."

"What, honey? You know you can tell us anything. Tell us," Ann was gentle with Cordelia.

Spike left the room.

"Glory's family! They've found out who killed her."

"Who killed Glory?" Buffy asked, looking confused and shocked. "I didn't, did I?"

"No," Tara answered. "It was Giles."

"They want to kill him," Cordy was saying. "And take back Dawn."

Buffy's face cleared. "Well, they won't," the Slayer said, standing up.

Willow ran back in with a glass of wine and handed it to Ann.

"Drink this," Ann told Cordelia. The phone started ringing again. "Get that, will you, Buffy, someone? Come on, Cordy, all of it."

Buffy touched the crystal. Angel appeared in the phone. "Is Cordy there? Is she all right?"

"Oh, hi, Angel. Yes, Ann's giving her something."

"Buffy. You're back."

Spike returned and handed Ann a damp napkin.

"Yes. Excuse me, I have to change clothes. Talk to Spike." Buffy ran out the door. As she went, she heard Spike saying:

"Angel, Cordelia's all right, just the usual headache, and that's fading."

"How many of them are there, Cordy?" Ann asked softly.

"Two and groupies. Lots of groupies." Cordelia struggled to sit up. Ann helped her to the chair in front of the computer, and handed her the damp napkin. "Lots and lots of groupies, and soon."

"Fine," Ann said. "We'll deal with them. You don't need to worry about them anymore. I'll send you home, all right?"

"I guess." Cordelia wiped her face.

Ann went to the phone. "Angel, Cordy's coming home. We'll get back to you." She touched the phone off. "Here," she handed Cordy a split of wine and a small package. "Wine, and some of the fancy lemon drops Claire gives Angel. She thinks they'll work with you."

"Was that Buffy?"

"Yes. She's back."

"Tell me what happens," Cordy said.

"Yes," Ann said, waving the girl back to Los Angeles. She turned to Spike: "So now we may know why Buffy returned. I'm fetching Rupert and moving Dawn. This is for Buffy, and this is for you." She handed the vampire a sword and a long knife.

Spike left the library and went upstairs.

"Tara," Ann said, "Decide if you stay or go. We'll be right back." She disappeared.

"Stay," Willow said, getting her backpack and removing some necessary ingredients.

"Stay," Tara agreed.

***

(Chapter 6)

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