Buildings and bridges are made to bend in the wind to withstand the world...

[shealone_stands]

A car loaded with teenagers pulls up in front of the Conrad. Finding parking in downtown Chicago is never easy, and Buffy is not willing to wait. She springs out of the car and races into the lobby - only to realize that while she knows the basement is where they keep the wanderers, she has no idea how to get there. Um.

The Doctor is wandering

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[computermagic]

Willow has been waiting for Buffy in the lobby - in fact, Buffy ran right past her on her way in.

This might be because Willow is hidden behind the stack of books she came through the Rift with.

"Buffy!" she calls out, and attempts to wave, and only ends up dropping everything with a squeak.

[shealone_stands]

At the sound of a familiar voice, Buffy spins around to face her without even breaking stride, squeaks, and lunges for her. The books will be picked up later. Right now, Willow is getting Slayer hugs. (Oxygen can apparently wait for later as well.)

[computermagic]

It's a good thing Willow'd rather have a hug, then. It's not like she's missed Buffy or anything.

She clings back for a moment, then, when the oxygen deprivation starts getting to her, squeaks out, "Buffy? Um, kinda need to breathe..."

[shealone_stands]

Buffy reluctantly lets go of her - or at least loosens her grip a little - and steps back just a tiny bit. "Sorry," she gasps softly, stares at Willow for a moment, and then hugs her again, though not as tightly. "I just really, really... Yeah. Missed you."

She's been here for a year. And she loves Tay and Piper and everyone, but she missed her friends from home more than she would have thought possible before she left. She's kind of fighting the impulse to cling and never let go.

[computermagic]

Willow does not at all mind the continued hugging. "I missed you, too," she says softly. "It's sorta been a mess without you. Cordelia's back and helping." Beat, frown as she pulls back a little. "Erm... well, was, I guess. What's the proper tense for current events in a place that you're not in anymore?"

She's totally ignoring the fact that she's worried everyone's going to die, and that she kinda just wants to go home (with Buffy and Xander in tow, obviously). Because that's... not really going to help any, now is it?

[shealone_stands]

"I, um... actually don't know." Buffy, for the most part, pretends not to think about what's happening back home without her - too scary, and no way of knowing whether she's right or wrong or just worrying about nothing at all, because maybe one day she'll find a way back, maybe a little older but there, and it won't be so big a deal after all...

"I usually go with was. Assuming things have moved on since I got here, which they obviously... have... Is everyone okay? Besides the whole vanishing act, obviously, which I'm all kinds of sorry for..."