Brown Eyes Blue

Growing Closer

That night as they sleep the blonde is spooned protectively around her redhead. Quietly the door opens and Kennedy steps inside. She smiles at the scene and walks back to the hallway to find Buffy leaving her room. “Hey!" says the Slayer.

“Hey-just checking on them.” She justifies being in the room.

“That’s what I was going to do-guess I don’t have to now.” Buffy smiles. “Up for a little more research?”

“Why not-can’t sleep.” They go quietly down the stairs.

Hours later they toss two more books onto the table, “Still nothing-can we go kill something?” Kennedy asks.

“I take you out again the only thing that that will die is me,” smiles the Slayer.

“Tara?” asks the teenager.

“Yeah-she says no more slaying for you till she okays it.” They are quiet, “How is your side?”

“Better-”

“But?”

“Still hurts like hell-” she half smiles. “But I bet you’ve had worse?”

“Maybe,” is Buffy's one word answer. This is a topice she doesn't want to discuss.

“Come on-if I can’t fight at least tell me about the bad guys. If I have to spend anymore time researching I might quit my calling,” she smiles.

“Right- like you could-like any of us could.”

“So-I won’t, but the fighting stories will make it more fun.” Kennedy tries again.

“Make her tell you about the time she died,” comes a voice from behind them. They turn to see Dawn.

“You young lady have school tomorrow and should be in bed.”

Dawn rolls her eyes, “She doesn’t have to go to school why should I?”

Buffy looks from one smiling teen to the other, “She has a point,” says Kennedy.

“So I should go enroll you?”

“No-I’m just saying-” Kennedy pouts. “I’ll be quiet now.”

“Thought so-Dawn bed.”

The teen huffs and turns going back up the stairs muttering the whole way, “That’s so not fair.”

“Did you really die?” Kennedy asks as Dawn gets out of sight.

“Yeah-twice.” Buffy gives in and says.

“Wow! So that’s how that thing-The First could be you?”

“I guess-” Buffy agrees.

“Mind if I ask, if you died why aren’t you still dead?”

“I got friends,” she smiles. Kennedy looks unsure- “The first time, I sort of drowned-for a second, Xander saved me with mouth to mouth.”

“And the second?”

“That was longer than a few seconds-a few months-Willow-used Magic-it was really weird for awhile. Put a strain on her and Tara-”

“Why?”

“Dark magic stuff-Tara agreed to it, they all did-but then Will kind of got lost. It was bad, but in the end with Tara’s help she was stronger.”

There is a strained silence as Kennedy process Buffy’s words. “You’re saying what?-Willow was bad?”

“No-not exactly just sort of got hooked on the magicks. But that’s over-she's all better.” Again they are quiet. “I talked to your dad-”

“And?” Kennedy asks getting an uneasy feeling.

“I told him I thought you should stay until we figure this thing out. You’re safer here-and we could use your help.” Kennedy smiles, “Which kind of brings us back to the school thing.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me-” her smile fades.

“Sorry-but your dad is faxing the necessary paperwork and Tara is going to enroll you tomorrow.”

“Damn, I hate school.”

Buffy smiles, “Right there with you-but sorry-”

“Tara’s idea?”

“Willow’s-” Buffy answers.

“Figures.” Kennedy just shakes her head.

The next day Kennedy is waken by a hand on her shoulder, “Go away,” she whines before her eyes even open.

“You sound like Willow,” announces Tara’s too cheerful voice.

Kennedy opens her eyes, “What if I say I’m not going to school?”

“Fine-be a dummy,” the blonde turns and leaves the room smiling.

She is sitting at the table eating pancakes and drinking coffee when the grumpy would-be-Slayer comes down the stairs. “I’m not a dummy-” she states firmly.

“Didn’t say you were,” Tara smiles. “Want funny shapes or rounds?”

“Funny shapes,” says Kennedy as she sits down.

At the high school an hour later Kennedy and Tara are sitting in the principal's office. “Miss Langdon-your grades are very questionable.” Kennedy nods as she sees Tara look unsure. “You might have a problem coming in this late in the semester, if you do we offer tutoring.”

“I’ll be fine-” Kennedy says.

“If there’s a problem it’ll be addressed at home.” tara answers the man more directly.

“Here’s your schedule-and we’ll see you tomorrow-the first class starts at 7:45.” He hands Kennedy a piece of paper.

“7:45?” Her eyes open wide.

“She’ll be here-” assures Tara.

“Someone from the office can show you around if you like.”

“That would probably be good,” Tara states.

They all stand and walk to the door, “Jill-” states the man and the teenager turns toward him. “Could you show Miss Langdon around campus?”

She smiles at the dark eyed girl, “Sure-you have a schedule?” Kennedy nods, a smile crossing her face.

Tara smiles as they walk away, but it fades as she hears the next words from the man. “Assure her that the behaviors in her file will not be tolerated here Miss Maclay.”

“Behaviors?” She asks unsure. He hands her the file and Tara begins to read.

On the way home Tara stops at the ice cream shop. After choosing a flavor and getting their order, the two of them sit down. “Kennedy-” Tara starts.

“He showed you the file?”

“Yes.”

“You gonna tell the others?” Worry fills the girl's words.

“Those things can’t happen here."

“They won’t-” Kennedy assures.

“Then it’s just between us.”

“Thank you for-” her words stop. “I’m different now.”

“Growing up happens-” she smiles and Kennedy nods.

The weeks pass and Kennedy struggles with school. Willow and Tara both help-at this particular study session Kennedy gets frustrated. “I just can’t do it-” she throws the book across the room. With her magic Willow levitates it and places it back in front of the girl.

“I couldn’t do that before either-a pencil was all I could move. Then I meet Tara-we studied and I worked hard, but more importantly she believed in me.” Their eyes meet- “She believes in you Kennedy and so do I-” the teenager drops her eyes as tears threaten to fall. “Why don’t we take a break?” Kennedy nods- “Mochas or ice cream?”

Kennedy and Willow both stand. “Ice cream before dinner-are you trying to get us killed?” The redhead smiles and puts an arm around the young Slayer-to-be without thinking.

“Mochas then-” they walk out together Willow’s arm still around the younger girl. Tara watches from the other doorway with a smile on her face. She realizes that the closer they become the more Kennedy can help the redhead when the day comes. The smile fades as she realizes the day will come and tears form, then fall.

Dawn walks in unnoticed, “Tara are you okay?”

“Fine Dawnie-” says the blonde as she smiles. “How’s the homework?”

“Finished-need help with dinner?”

“No-but the company would be nice.” She puts her arm around the teen and they go toward the kitchen.

A few nights later Kennedy is finishing her homework on the couch in the living room and Dawn is doing the same. Willow and Tara walk in, “How’s the homework?” asks Willow.

“Almost finished,” says Dawn.

“Kennedy?” asks Tara.

“Almost-would you proof my English paper?”

“Sure-” smiles the blonde. She walks over to them and as she does Bringers crash through the window and door. Kennedy jumps to her feet and rolls across the floor to the weapons chest. She grabs a crossbow and a sword-standing she tosses the sword to Dawn and aims the crossbow. She fells one Bringer then reloads. Willow begins to chant as does Tara-their words seal the window keeping out the others. Buffy!" yells the blonde as she shutters out a spell of her own. This one holds a Bringer in place until Dawn is able it kill him.

Kennedy picks up the knives and begins to fight the five remaining. “You’re gonna die you sorry bastards for what you did to Rich-” The first Bringer falls and she starts on the next letting her anger lead her.

Buffy runs down the stairs and into the room, Dawn tosses her a weapon. Soon they are able to kill all of the evil men. "Everyone okay?" Buffy asks.

Blood drips from the knife in Kennedy’s hand as well as her arms and clothes-and she begins to cry- Tara and Willow go to her as she falls to the ground. “Sweetie-are you bleeding?” asks Tara, the girl shakes her head.

“Let’s get you cleaned up-” they help her to her feet and up the stairs.

Buffy looks at Dawn, “You okay?”

She nods, “Yeah-I’m cool. Is Kennedy though?”

“She’ll be okay-”

“What happened?” Dawn asks as she looks up the stairs. "She was like this killing machine-all on auto-pilot."

“Later okay-let’s get this mess cleaned up.” She looks at the bodies around the room. “I like vampires,” states the Slayer- “No muss no fuss-just poof.” Dawn nods her agreement.

In the bathroom Willow and Tara work at getting the blood off the young would be Slayer. The couple exchange glances each worried about the girl. The slight dark tint to the redhead’s eyes also catches the blonde's attention. "Will your eyes-"”

“I can feel it-but I’m okay.” The redhead lies to her.

“We need to do another cleansing,” says the Wicca softly.

“I know-but after,” her eyes fall back to the teenager who is still trembling. Tara nods her agreement- she kneels to take off the girl‘s shoes and then stands. “Kennedy-can you stand?” The girl nods and stands.

Tara speaks, “Let’s get you in the shower.”

They walk her there and the redhead turns on the water. She gets the water hot but not too hot and Kennedy starts to walk in but stumbles. Willow looks at Tara and then without a word bends to pull off her shoes. She then puts her arms around the girl’s waist and walks under the water with her. They water hits both of them as Willow holds the young would be Slayer up- “You’re okay,” whispers the redhead.

Kennedy watches the blood as it hits the tub and circles down the drain. Her tears fall and she mutters- “I’m sorry Rich-”

In the bedroom Kennedy is lying on the bed curled into a little ball. Her hair is still wet and she is wrapped in an over-sized towel. Tears continue to fall.

In the witches’ room Tara and Willow are sitting on the floor a pentagram around them and lighted candles on each point. Tara chants as she anoints Willow with the cleansing herbs. She puts her fingers in the mixture and then touches her girl’s forehead, then her lips and then her heart. “Hear me goddess,” she repeats. The darkness slowly resends as the ritual is repeated three times. Finally the redhead’s green eyes meet those of her soul mate. “Thank you goddess,” she whispers.

After tucking the drained redhead into bed Tara decides she should check on Kennedy. She presses a soft kiss to her girl’s forehead and leaves the room quietly. She goes down the hallway and quietly opens Kennedy’s door. She finds the teenager as they had left her dressed in only a towel and tears still staining her cheeks. She sits beside her- “Kennedy sweetie, let’s find you something to sleep in.”

“Can’t sleep-” she whispers softly.

Tara brushes still damp hair from the girl’s eyes, “You can be strong-I’ve seen it. Be strong now.

“I can’t-I killed them-”

“It’s your job-” says Tara softly.

“Maybe-but I shouldn’t like it.”

“No sweetie-that was just anger, because of Rich-that’s all.” She presses a comforting kiss to the teenager’ s forehead. “You’re okay.” Kennedy’s hands pull Tara’s face closer and before the blonde fully understands what’s happening she feels soft lips on hers. From the doorway Willow watches the scene unfold her emotions running wild.