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Previously on "The Box"... One by one, the secrets of the Key have been revealed by "the box," Willow and Tara's birthday gift to Dawn. The lifetime and memories Dawn wishes were real are real, borrowed from another universe where Buffy really did have a sister. And although Dawn's life was created by a dark sacrifice, the life that was lost lives on inside her: Tara's forgotten familiar, Dark Dawn (a.k.a. Miss Kitty Fantastico). But the rift between the Slayers looks too deep to heal. After nearly making peace with Faith, Buffy is troubled by new signs that Faith's plans are evil after all. So when the others use the box to see Dawn's true magical beauty as the Key, Buffy declines. Meanwhile, Giles has been on the phone with someone named Miss Hartness about some secret business of his own. Is the Council after Faith again? And now, Dawn's last birthday gift is from Faith: a long velvet case containing the only thing she kept from the Mayor. Her knife. Dawn grins. She's picked up a taste for weapons along with her dreams of helping patrol. "You're gonna give me your knife, aren't you?" I trace a finger gently along Dawn's throat. "Yeah. In a way I am."

 

Already poised to tackle Faith at any moment, I react instantly to her words. I push her hand away from Dawn's neck, grab the velvet knife case and jump back, getting it away from her as far and as fast as I can. "Dawn! Get away from her! Go to your room and wait! Giles, don't let Faith move!"

Whatever Faith's been planning, with the Key and the sixteenth birthday and the sex-is-wrong act to keep her a virgin... it all leads up to this.

Everyone's looking at me like I'm crazy. Giles glances at Faith, who is good and pissed but not going anywhere. Dawn purses her lips at me and doesn't budge either.

I have a sudden premonition, clearer than just a daydream. I'm going to have to take Faith's knife out of this case and kill her with it. For real this time. I don't want to. I'll have to. Very soon. I don't know why it will happen, or how exactly. But I can't shake the feeling that's where Faith and I are doomed to go. The thought makes me sick. The knife that felt so light a moment ago now seems like it weighs a hundred pounds.

Keeping a wary eye on Faith, I open the knife case and....

I stare inside, blinking, trying to figure out what I'm looking at. Faith snatches the box back angrily. I'm too surprised to object.

The case is full of... jewelry?

Faith looks at the items, running her fingers over them, and some of her anger dissolves. She smiles. "You know, it turns out that getting a steel knife melted down ain't cheap. Or quick. But I had to do it. Had to destroy the thing that made me feel most evil." She looks at the box, not at us, and speaks quietly. "I thought of just chucking it in the ocean. But that wasn't enough to slay the beast inside me. It had to be gone. I had to see that it was gone, forever. I had to turn it into something good." She picks up some shiny thing and runs her thumb over it, then puts it back. Everyone's watching her with interest. "So I thought I'd have a new knife made from it." She looks up at me. "For you, B. A peace offering or something. But it wasn't just you I needed to make peace with. It was all of you. And a knife is for killing. It would've been the wrong thing."

Faith takes out a silvery rounded pin of some kind and turns it around in her palm. "I made these up myself. Genuine Faith originals. They came out kinda cool, actually." Dawn gives her a smile of encouragement. "Giles... this is for you. An eye... eye, Watcher... get it? It's crappy, I know. I didn't even know you'd end up being my Watcher. But hey, you can always use something to keep those ties out of the way in an apocalypse, right?"

Giles takes the pin wordlessly. I open my mouth to say something, warn him to be careful of it... but the words don't quite make it out.

"Xander... can't have too many crosses in this town, right? I guess I didn't know what to make for you." She gives him a little cross on a chain. He looks at it in the palm of his hand, surprised.

"Nothing for you, Anya, sorry. Didn't really know you. Still don't really." Anya looks slightly left out. Then again, she's been getting back to vengeance since Faith returned to town. A demon can't very well expect gifts from Slayers.

She hands two more necklaces to Will and Tara. "I didn't know you two would be so good to me, but I knew Dawn was crazy about you. I'm glad you got back together for me to give you these. They're pretty dumb I guess. They sorta fit together though." Each witch has a little steel hand. Sure enough, the two can clasp together. The witches smile, but still nobody but Faith speaks.

I don't know what to think of this. I just don't begin to know. I really wish I knew what Faith's game was.

I have a brief moment of panic when Faith lifts out the top layer of the case to reveal something underneath. But it's just more jewelry. Faith leans towards me and drops a shining necklace in my lap. A number 3? Oh... my initial "B." I stare at it blankly.

"I know, it's crappy," she says. "Throw it in a drawer. Flush it down the can. Whatever."

Faith pauses before taking out some kind flower pin. She kisses it and whispers, "Liz." What? She manages to find just enough fabric on her skimpy top to pin it to.

"They're so cool, Faith," says Dawn. "Who's Liz?"

"My Watcher who died." She sounds far away now. "Liz. I've never said her name since I watched her die. Liz. This is to remember her. Her favorite flower. A lily."

And one last item in the case. Faith takes out a necklace in the shape of a little skeleton key, and lowers it into my sister's fingers. "There ya go, Dawn. Unlike my animals, you can almost tell what it is! Happy birthday." She leans forward like she's going to hug Dawn, then glances at me and thinks better of it. "I love you," she says to Dawn. Her voice is quiet and shy talking like that in front of all of us.

Dawn beams. "I love it. I love you! Thank you."

Faith picks up the necklace from my sister's hand, and Dawn leans forward, delighted, so her "girlfriend" can put it on her.

"Hold it." I grab Faith's wrist to stop her. I don't know exactly what harm that necklace might do, but all my instincts are screaming a warning. The package didn't contain a knife, but that doesn't mean it's not the final piece of a very evil puzzle. There could be a curse on all this stuff! Or even worse sorcery than that. Dawn could put on that necklace, and thanks to Tara's magic she could suddenly turn back into the Key again! My sister would be gone and Faith would have whatever evil power the Key can give her.

Or maybe just killing Dawn is enough for her. I'm still not sure just how crazy Faith is, or just how much she might still want to hurt me.

Those are some bad question marks.

I take the necklace away from Dawn.

Everyone looks at me. Accusingly? Or in Faith's case, downright fuming. Things not going as planned?

Then I go around the room and collect all the jewelry from everyone. "Buffy..." says Xander, but he just shrugs sadly without objecting. Dawn sighs angrily, and I avoid her eyes.

Some things are not worth risking. My sister is one of them. The world is too. It comes down to trust, I guess. How much I can I really trust Faith?

This would be the time to answer that.

I really do hope I'm wrong. I hope these gifts are harmless decoration and nothing more. But somehow I know they aren't. Faith is obsessed with the Key, and it can't be just to protect Dawn, or help her deal with what she is. There's more going on.

I place the pile of trinkets on the table next to Tara. "Tara, can you check these for spells and curses? Any kind of magic at all?"

Tara's surprised. "I... Sure, I c-could... but..."

"Jesus, B," mutters Faith, clenching her jaw. Dawn glares at me, betrayed. But she'll understand soon enough. Something tells me she'll finally have to face up to Faith not being what she seems. Damn you, Faith, for hurting my sister, today of all days.

I ignore the waves of ill will and press Tara. "I just need to know if something evil's there, even if you can't tell what. It's not too hard is it? Do you need supplies from the Magic Box?"

Willow speaks up. "We have... I mean she has everything here... but Buffy, why? What's–"

"Just do it. Please. I have to trust my instincts on this." I don't know what made me so sure something was wrong. But Tara's magic will make everything clear.

Willow gives Faith a sympathetic smile. Tara shrugs sadly and kneels on the floor, getting stuff out of her purse. She lights a small blue fire in a little dish, and starts sprinkling herbs into it. Giles eyes Willow, who reluctantly takes the hint and moves back away from the flames.

I look around the room. Giles and Xander look pained and embarrassed. Anya looks confused. Dawn is very quiet. Very, very angry. Faith barely catches my eye and then looks down at the floor. Guilty? Worried? Hurt? Angry? Getting ready to defend herself or flee?

I give her a long look. I can tell when she's trying to deceive. Always could. I saw the danger in her the day she came to Sunnydale. When her new Watcher turned traitor, I saw she needed a friend even when she pretended she didn't care. And in the end, when she went over to the Mayor's side... I saw it in her eyes from the very start. She can hide herself from everyone else... but not from me. Maybe it's a Slayer thing.

She raises her head and her eyes are filled with rage.

And it's a lie.

Behind the act, she's less angry than... tired?

Yeah. Tired, down deep. Hopeless. That's what her eyes tell me. The thing I see her hiding is exactly the way I feel myself. The way I've felt for as long as I can remember.

We stare at each other, me trying to read her, her trying to hide from me. I look at Dawn, pointedly ignoring me and squeezing Faith's hand. I look back at Faith.

If the jewelry's harmless, she should be happy to have that proven. Tara's spell will help us all be sure about Faith, one way or the other. Tara's spell I can trust for certain. That, and my own instincts.

As Tara builds the fire higher and begins to chant softly, I listen to those instincts, watching Faith, trying to see deeper inside her. Faith's right hand is balled into a fist, and she glares at me without a word. She's ready for a fight, every muscle in her body poised to find a target. Me, no doubt. I sigh. After being in Heaven, everything takes too much out of me. This thing with Faith most of all.

And then it comes into focus for me. Looking at Faith and Dawn, holding hands yet glaring with fury, I suddenly understand. Faith's plans aren't a mystery anymore.

I know what to do now. I'm sure of it, at last. And it's much simpler than a spell.

"Tara, stop."

Tara looks up in the middle of reaching for the first piece of jewelry. Willow, misunderstanding me, raises both hands and leans further away from the little dish. "It's cool, Buffy. The Wicked Witch is staying clear."

"No, I mean it. Put it out." I don't wait for Tara. I step on the blue flame, extinguishing it and scattering the contents of the dish. This will all be over soon.

Everyone looks at me in surprise as I gather up the pile of jewelry again. For a moment I imagine, what if I just... gave it all back to everyone? Pretend nothing happened? Back down gently and just let them all have Faith's gifts?

Nope. That would sure be the easiest thing... but not the right thing.

I thrust the gifts back at Faith, returning them all. She looks pissed, but not surprised. Reluctantly, she takes them all back.

Dawn starts to get up, her fists balled now.

"Dawn," I say quietly, "sit down."

She starts to object, but something tells her I'm very serious about this. Brow furrowed, eyes cold, she sits again.

I gently pull Dawn's hair back over her shoulders, gather it together, and lift it away from her neck. She clearly doesn't understand.

But Faith does.

She stares at me, and I stare back, unblinking. Maybe she can see into me the way I've finally seen into her. Then she turns to Dawn, and tenderly fastens the chain of the key necklace around my sister's neck. I let the hair fall, and Faith solemnly smoothes it back into place. A small smile appears on Dawn's lips.

Then I kneel in front of Faith, not moving as she hesitates a long moment, and then slowly lowers my necklace over my head. Her hands near my throat. The letter B comes to rest over my heart.

Faith gets up and goes around the room. Thanks are muttered quietly as everyone allows her to attach her gifts with her own hands. Willow and Tara smile as they bow their heads to receive their necklaces. But everyone is watching me tensely.

I feel ashamed in a way, but... I feel pretty good too. This morning I trusted Faith, and then I lost that. It feels better to have it back. To stay this time, I think.

I get up and stand in front of Xander's mirror, looking at what I've been given.

Faith's eyes are shining when I turn around. Mine might be too.

I should probably apologize, but both of us could spend all week at that.

"Thank you, Faith. They're beautiful."

 

---

 

We clean up after the party, and I think Faith is starting to catch on that Buffy believes in her at last. Took her long enough! They're both quiet, not talking to each other, but Buffy is still wearing her necklace. We're all wearing what Faith made for us. I think that makes Faith pretty happy. I guess it shows her that everybody trusts her now. Even my sister. Trusts her for real, not needing proof. Don't they call that "faith?" But everyone's nervous, like we're all waiting for Buffy to change her mind.

She won't. I know my sister. And Faith knows her pretty well too. Buffy has let go of something that's been eating her up, and she might even feel better about that than Faith does.

Still, I know what I can do to make sure she doesn't change her mind. She's been blaming Faith for the box Tara made, thinking it was some terrible thing. And now she sees that it was a good thing after all. But she doesn't see see. I want her to know what Faith and Tara and Willow really did for me. And I want her to know the real me. I want everyone I love to know.

I find Buffy in the dining room straightening the chairs. "Buffy..." I hold up the box.

She's curious, I know. But she thinks I need her to pretend I'm just like everybody else. Maybe that used to be true. "It's OK for you to see, Buffy. I'm not just normal. I'll never feel just normal. But what I am makes me happy."

"It didn't used to."

"But now I've seen. I understand what I am. The Key, and with nobody left to use it for evil. I want to be what I am, even if that's more than most people see in me. Kinda like being the Slayer, maybe?"

"You were so hurt when Mom saw you. Saw the Key. I don't want to hurt you."

"She saw and she loved me anyway, Buffy. Now I need you to see. I need you to know what I really am, and still want me."

"Of course I'll always want you, Dawn!"

"I know, Buffy. So... see me." I open the box, and I want to breath in the magic myself, but I better not just in case Buffy freaks. I don't want to be too stunned to help her.

Buffy questions with her eyes, and I nod that I'm sure. So she takes a breath of the glowing mist.

Faith comes in, and can tell what we're up to. Buffy turns when she hears the footsteps, but when she sees who it is, it's all awkward. They don't know what to say, either of them.

"Look at Dawn," Faith finally says, gently.

Buffy turns back to me, and the box has taken effect... Her mouth falls open and she falls slowly to her knees.

Faith rushes over and catches her, holding her up.

"Buffy, it's me," I say. "It's Dawn. It's just me."

Buffy silently mouths my name, swaying, and then trembling... and then bawling! She crumples and balls up on the floor, shaking with hard tears. I think I can tell the happy tears by now, but it's a little scary. Does she even know it's Faith's hand she's squeezing so hard? Probably not. But Faith lets her.

I lean over Buffy and hold her head as she stares up at me, sobbing. There might be words in there but I can't make 'em out. "It's OK, Buffy. Everything's OK."

Faith kneels beside Buffy, looking embarrassed. She tries to get her hand free but Buffy won't let go.

Finally Buffy calms down, and Faith gets free. She hesitates and then slips out to let us be alone. I help Buffy to her feet.

"I didn't mean to freak you out like that."

Buffy sniffles. "I probably needed it... You're... You're..." She shakes her head in astonishment.

"I am, aren't I?"

We hug, tight. "You sure are."

"Guess what, Buffy? I got what I wanted for my birthday."

"The sword?"

"My sister and my girlfriend getting along."

"Don't speak too soon."

"You trust her. You know she loves me."

"Yeah. I get that now."

"She knows you get that."

"You think?"

"She knows. She has to get used to it is all."

"So do I."

"Yeah. And Buffy... someone's going to love you the same way Faith loves me. You do know that, don't you?"

Buffy smiles sadly. "That's a nice thought. You know, Faith said something like that too. But I think me and the whole love thing just aren't meant to be."

"I know how lonely you are, Buffy. But I just really think there's someone out there for you. That's what I think. And when it happens, they'll be lucky to have you. You're the strongest, best person I know."

"Stronger that Faith?"

"Faith needs to be taken care of. I should know. You do the taking care, of all of us, even when you don't think you can handle it. So yeah, I don't think there's anybody as strong as my sister. I guess you got it from Mom."

"Then I think you got some too."

I kiss her cheek. "Come on. Let's go play games with the others."

I lead her out of the dining room, but she stops me. "Dawn... do you know what the hardest thing about being back from Heaven was?"

I think about this. "Faith?"

"No, Dawnie. It's that I can't remember Heaven. When I first came back, I felt it all slipping away. Something so wonderful, and I was there for so long... and I couldn't keep it in my head! Not just what it was like there, or what I did there. After a few hours, I couldn't even remember how I felt there. I just felt the loss. I wanted to feel that way again, and I knew I couldn't. Maybe not ever."

"I'm sorry, Buffy. I wish I could make you feel it again."

"Dawn... you just did."

"The... box?"

"Yes. Looking at you... that's a little like how my Heaven felt."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Well you can see any time, Buffy! Any time you want to remember!" I smooth out her hair.

"I don't know if I can ever totally forget now... but I'll take you up on that anyway!"

We join the others. "Just in time for games!" says Willow. "No Pin the Tail on the Donkey. We promise!"

Faith gets up to let us have the couch, looking worried about Buffy. I give her a smile so she knows everything's cool.

And Buffy notices that Faith is concerned. "Faith... I..." My sister falls silent, but for the first time ever, I can see in their eyes that they used to be friends once.

"Yeah. Right back at ya B," says Faith quietly. Buffy nods with a small smile. I bet that's all they ever say to each other about these last few months.

Giles has been pacing around looking at his watch. I guess he doesn't like my party! And he's always watching Willow lately.

He looks at his watch one more time, cleans his glasses, and puts them back on. "I hate to interrupt the festivities, but there's something that needs to be dealt with," he says.

He just wants an excuse to go read his stinky old books. "Come on, Giles, you have stay!" I complain.

"I have to leave at once, as a matter of fact. And not alone." I can tell now, he's really worried about something. He approaches Willow and hands her a slip of paper.

"What's this? A plane ticket?"

"I'm taking you to England. Devon. I realize this is rather short notice, but you will soon be receiving Wiccan training from the wisest and most experienced witches alive. The training you should have grown up with. You need to learn to live with your powers... and now you shall do just that."

"But this flight leaves in an hour and a half!"

"I'm sorry, but this must be done quickly, and I only just got word that everything is prepared for your arrival. We'll be met at the airport in England, and a binding spell will be placed on you. It will not be painful, but I didn't want it to come as a complete surprise. Don't fight it, it's necessary."

"A binding spell?! Giles, I'm not a monster! Why does this have to happen right now?" Willow's eyes are wide, and Tara looks at Giles in disbelief, clutching her lover's sleeve.

"No, Willow, you're not a monster. You're veneficus. You hold power that could threaten every living thing on Earth, and you neither understand nor control that power. Abstaining from magic was a sensible precaution for a less-potent witch, but it turns out that this is no mere addiction for you. The powers you have pent up over the past months are highly unstable. You've been doing deadly magic without even being aware. The spell that attacked Buffy and Dawn will not be the last such incident, if you do not find a way to control your power very, very soon."

"But I can't Giles! I'm not in control!" Willow's terrified! "I don't want all this power! I want the coven to take it all away!"

"I am not envious of what you are. But this magic is your responsibility, Willow, and no one can take it from you. You cannot control your power now, but it is possible that you may learn to. The women of the coven are extraordinarily gifted, but you'll find that even they are afraid of what you hold within you. Afraid, but willing to help you anyway. They are good people. For your own sake and for everyone you care about, you must let them guide you."

"No! No, Giles, I can't go! I can't be away from Tara!"

"You most certainly cannot." He hands Tara a ticket. "At no point will you and Tara be separated. She will receive the same training as you."

Tara looks at the ticked, stunned. "B-but it's so soon!"

"This is how it has to be," says Giles gently. "You'll understand eventually. Now you'd both best pack a few things and then we'll be on our way."

"How long will we be gone?

"A long time," says Giles.

Oh, no!

"A month? A year?" I ask.

"Perhaps. Possibly even longer. As long as it takes."

"I'll miss you guys so much!" I protest.

Willow is speechless. Angry and scared and excited all at once.

Tara hugs her around the shoulders. "Hey, baby... I think this is for the best. Think of it as a romantic European vacation!"

"Romantic!" Willow's close to freaking out. "I don't think we're going to England to see the sights! It'll probably be all noses in the books, and dancing naked around fires and... and..."

Tara kisses her. "We can make that romantic if we try."

Willow pauses, collecting herself. "We have to pack!"

"Pack light," says Giles. "The coven has everything you'll need. And take no magic supplies whatsoever."

The witches get up, and Buffy hugs Willow. "Will! I can't believe you two are going!"

Xander and Faith look like they feel the same. "Hurry back," says Xander, hugging Willow next. "I hear very bad things about the food."

I hug Tara. I guess we'll get another chance to say goodbye after they pack, but it looks like Tara hugs are gonna be scarce this summer! And with Dark Dawn's weird cat memories now, I feel closer to her than ever.

"Will you three be OK on your own?" asks Tara, looking at me and the Slayers.

"Five by five," says Faith. But I know she's gonna miss them too. "Just don't be gone any longer than you have to, OK, T-Rex? And you take good care of Red."

"It's a promise, Faith. And you promise to pass your test!"

Faith smiles. "With Dawn's tutoring, it's a sure thing. This time next week, I'll have a diploma!"

"I'll call you guys all the time," I say. "There's gonna be phones there, right?"

Giles shakes his head. "Miss Hartness has a telephone, but Willow and Tara's studies will keep them out of touch a great deal. You'll be able to reach me, but not them directly."

"Oh, no!"

"It's OK, Dawnie," says Tara. "We'll call you. Every chance we get."

Which might not be many chances! I don't say that out loud though.

The witches run upstairs. Willow pauses half way. "Giles... Thanks." Giles smiles and nods. Soon we hear them crashing through dressers and closets.

Willow and Tara in England for months! Maybe years! I can't believe it!

"Um, Giles..." says Faith, sounding a little hurt, "what about the whole Watcher thing we got going on?"

Giles touches the eye on his lapel. "I'll still be in Sunnydale when I can. As a matter of fact, it appears as though I'll be the librarian at a certain new high school next year! Meanwhile, I believe I can help Willow, and she needs me more right now. But the coven will handle most of her training. I won't neglect my duties as Watcher. We've discussed your priorities for the coming weeks... I think you'll do just fine until we can resume your training."

"And mine?" asks Buffy, feeling left out.

Giles smiles. "Of course. We'll resume your training as well. I'll be back before you know it."

"OK," says Faith, "but don't blame me if I go all evil again!" A bad joke, but not even Buffy looks worried. Nobody really thinks Faith's a danger anymore. I guess Willow's the dangerous one!

"Faith," says Giles kindly, "you did do evil. But you are not evil, and you never were. Perhaps Dawn can help you work on that lesson in my absence," he half-jokes.

"I'm on it," I say, and give Faith a little kiss.

 

~ Continue to the conclusion: Episode 25 – Sunset ~

 

If you've enjoyed this story, try CV. Buffy agrees to a meeting with someone from her past. It's not what she expected. (Faith/Buffy. Faith and Dawn have a very different relationship in that story.)

I always appreciate feedback in my Guestbook, or by email. Thanks for reading! (If you'd like to be notified when I post new stories, let me know.)

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