Over The Summer

Chapter 72: Doubts

‘Loft Apartment-Living Room’

“Do you think Mr. Summers’ plan will work?” Willow asked at the end of the movie from her spot on the living room couch next to Tara.

Tara turned to look at Willow. “It’s a good plan, and ong ong as they’re careful I think it’ll work.”

“I don’t mean to sound like a downer, but what if it doesn’t?”

“I’m sure everyone else is worried about that as a possibility, we just have to think positive. If it doesn’t work than Buffy and her family will come up with a new plan.” Tara replied.

“I hope it works.” Willow said leaning her head on Tara’s shoulder.

“We all do.” Tara said starting to stroke Willow hair.

“Not all.” Willow whispered.

“I don’t think Professor Winthrop’s wife knows what she really wants. She has an ideal idea in her mind and that’s what she’s going on.”

Willow sat up and looked at Tara. “How’d you get so smart, I thought I was the brains in the bunch.”

“You are the brains, I just know how to read things from a person and work those things out that way.” Tara said explained with a small smile.

“Maybe we should team up, you read the people and I help them once we know the problem.”

Tara nodded her head. “Sounds like a plan.”

Willow stood up from the couch and walked over to the television. “What movie do you want to watch next?”

Tara thought about it for a moment. “How ‘bout ‘Practical Magic’ with Nicole Kidman?”

“Sure, you put it in and I’ll go make some more popcorn for us.”

“Alright.” Tara said standing up from the couch.

“Do you want anything else?” Willow asked.

“I’m good.” Tara said as she put the DVD into the player.

“Okay, I’ll be right back.” Willow called over her shoulder.

“I’ll be here.”

*****

‘Willy’s Place’

“Can I get another?” Riley asked after finishing off his fifth beer of the night.

“Sure thing Kid.” Willy said with a nod taking away the old bottle.

“You sure you want to do that?” A voice asked from behind Riley.

“Got nothin’ better to do.” Riley replied never turning around to face the person.

“I see.” Faith said taking a seat on a bar stool next to Riley.

“What are you doing here?” Riley asked still not looking at Faith.

“Same thing as you.”

“Here ya go Kid.” Willy said as he placed another beer in front of Riley and turned to face Faith.

“Rum n’ Coke please.”

“Comin’ right up Doll.” Willy said starting on her drink.

“Last time I saw you you were kickin’ me out of your dorm room, why you talkin’ to me now?” Riley asked looking down at his drink.

“Didn’t know I needed a reason.”

Willy placed Faith’s drink in front of her. “Here you are.”

“Thanks.”

“You may not need one, but you’ve got one.” Riley stated.

“I’m tire of all this. Everything with B and our past together, it just doesn’t matter anymore.” Faith explained.

Riley finally turned to face Faith. “Do you really mean that, or are you just lonely.”

Faith thought about it for a moment. “Both I guess. I use to think she had it all, everything I ever wanted out of life.”

“And now?” Riley asked.

“The things she’s gone through these last few months I would never want to go through.”

“So you’re saying you’re done. You’re not gonna go after Buffy anymore?”

Faith shook her head. “Not anymore.”

“Even if she does something or says something to make you mad?” Riley questioned.

“I’m not sayin’ that we’re gonna be the best of friends now or anything.” Faith replied.

“What are you saying?”

“That I won’t do anything else to make what B’s goin’ through worse, and when it’s all over with I won’t start anything.”

Riley took a swig from his beer. “What do you want from me?”

“For now? Friendship.” Faith stakitaking a sip of her drink. “In the future? Maybe more.”

“Friendship I can do, anything more I can’t.” Riley told Faith.

“I understand. I can wait.”

*****

‘Montgomery Mansion-Angel’s Bedroom’

“Angel?” Cordelia asked as she sat up in the king sized bed she was sharing with her boyfriend.

“Hmm?” Angel mumbled eyes still closed.

“Angel are you a?”
?”

“I am now.” Angel said sitting up and placing his back against the headboard.

“Sorry.”

“What is it?” Angel asked.

“I can’t sleep.”

“And here I thought I did a good job a tiring you out.” Angel said in a mock hurt tone.

“Don’t get me wrong, you were great. Very relaxing in fact. I just can’t get to sleep.” Cordelia explained.

Angel understood what she was worried about and what was keeping her up by the tone of her voice. “There’s nothing you can do right now. All that’s left to do is wait and see what happens.”

“That’s what the problem is. I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

“You don’t think it will work?” Angel asked.

“It’s not that.” Cordelia said shaking her head. “I think something or someone is going to interfere with the plan.”

“Who?”

Cordelia thought about Angel’s question for a moment. “No one knows what happened with Parker.”

“That’s Buffy’s ex right?” Angel asked making sure he knew whom his girlfriend was talking about.

“Yeah. He showed up at the loft on night and Buffy met up with him at the hotel to keep him from running his mouth about the affair. Spike showed up before anything happened, and we haven’t heard from Parker since.”

“He probably just gave up and went back to Los Angeles.”

“I guess. Something still doesn’t feel right though.”

“Just try not to think about it anymore tonight, everything will be over soon.”

Cordelia snuggled into Angel’s arms and rested her head on his chest. “You’re right. I love you.”

Angel kissed the top of her head. “I love you too. Now try and get some sleep.”

*****

‘Carter & Deacon’s Apartment-Deacon’s Bedroom’

“Don’t.” Alyson moaned in her sleep.

“Aly. . .” Deacon called out as he turned over to face her.

“Please stop!” She moaned again.

“Alyson.” Deacon called out a little loader.

“Don’t touch me!” She yelled.

Deacon started to shake her. “Alyson wake up.”

“NO!” Alyson screamed as she shot up in the bed with tears running down her face.

Deacon pulled her into his armshh, hh, you’re okay. I’m right here, it was just a bad dream.”

“It wasn’t a dream, it really happened.”

“Is everything alright?” Carter asked as he came running into the bedroom.

“Yeah.” Deacon said with a nod as he held Alyson closer.

“Alright. I’ll be in my room if you need me for anything.” Carter said moving out of the room.

“Thanks.” Deacon called out.

After a few moments Alyson started to cry harder than she already was.

“Shh Baby don’t cry, it’s over now, you’re safe.”

Alyson shook her head. “It’s not over, it will never be over.”

“I won’t let anything happen to you.” Deacon declared.

“It already happened and I can’t change it.”

“What brought this up?” Deacon asked. “You were doing good last night.”

Alyson looked up at Deacon. “I yelled at Buffy tonight.”

“Why?”

“I was upset and hurt, I wanted to hurt her back. I was wrong.”

“About?”

“What Parker did to Buffy lasted years, what he did to me was one night.”

“It’s still just as bad.”

“She kept it to herself, what he did to her she didn’t tell anyone for a few years. I don’t know how she did it. I have nightmares after one night, but she’s got so many nights. I’m just now figuring that out.”

“Aly?” Deacon asked as he saw the far off look in her eyes.

“What if I don’t get a chance to talk to her?” Alyson asked.

“What?” Deacon asked in shock.

“What if the plan doesn’t work? The last thing she’ll remember about our time together is me yelling at her for something she had no control over.”

“You can’t think about it that way.” Deacon stated.

“How am I suppose to think about it?” Alyson questioned. “There’s a chance this plan won’t work.”

“But the odds are higher that it will work. You’ve got to think positive for now.”

“I’ll try.” Alyson whispered.

“Will you also try to get back to sleep?” Deacon asked. “I’ll be right here with you, nothing to fear.”

“Will you come back to L.A. with me?”

“When?”

“In a few days. I’ve got to get back to my classes.”

“I’ll talk to the guys about it tomorrow.” Deacon told her.

“Really?” Alyson asked.

“Yeah, I’m sure Spike’s gonna want to take a break for awhile anyways.”

“Thank you.” Alyson said lying back down next to Deacon.

Deacon wrapped his arms around her. “I said I won’t let anything happen to you and I mean it.”

“I know.”

“Lets try and get some sleep.”

“Okay.”

*****

TBC. . .