Leaving Forgotten Memories Behind

[not_a_damsel]

I did it, well I thought I did it, I was still watching Kennedy do the rubbing of her head and the orientation thing, but I was almost sure that I had gotten her memories back. It was neat! I mean Ihad remembered my lab so well, and even better? Everything was functional.. which meant a lot of things. One it meant that Kennedy was better, and two

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[finesse_bottom]

I had pulled up a stool and was rummaging through the boxes trying to find that first book, just so I could start sorting all of these little bottles. Willow was already grins and sorting girl. She was doing pretty well, despite Illyria and her pessimistic attitude.

I was pretty immersed in figuring out whether it was a vial of Sage, or Saige and trust me BIG difference in one little letter, but I didn't hear someone else come in. All I heard was a loud thunk, and then a quiet southern drawl.

"Oh my stars..."

I glanced over my shoulder to see a very shocked Fred. Staring at well.. a rather Blue version of herself. Of course Xander was there to overreact. Fleeing to her like she was a damsel in distress.

"Whoa, take it easy, Breathe. Slow and steady. You alright?"

I rolled my eyes. Fred was a strong girl. I had met her once, I followed Willow to LA one time, just to pick up a few rare items for the shop, and I also had Willow and Fred help me pick out Xander's wedding band... but this Fred wouldn't know that. This Fred was about one year away from meeting me. If she would meet me at all. I had altered my own timeline so much in my life, who knows what her history was supposed to become.

"Of course she is alright. I mean the girl just had a fright is all."

I wondered how Xander knew Illyria, and how he was so quick to help Fred. It raised an eyebrow, but that was only curiousity as to his own timeline. I shook my head and went back to sorting the vials.

[not_a_damsel]

That was me wasn't it? Standing there with the odd tilt to my head. When did I get so abusive of hair care products? I brought my hand up to my hair lightly touching it, trying to see if I had already begun to develop the dry brittle hair I had over there.

She looked at me and I nearly fell over my own feet. She looked so cold... so lifeless. Was this the future that I was saved from? Xander must have seen my reaction, because he rushed to my side. It was odd. I wasn't usually being saved. Long time since the Handsome Man saved the girl...

"Whoa, take it easy."

He helped me over to a chair and of course I took a seat.

"Whoa, take it easy, Breathe. Slow and steady. You alright?"

"Of course she is alright. I mean the girl just had a fright is all."

I smiled, it was true. I was fine, just taken aback a bit. I mean it isn't everyday you look at yourself and see such an odd variation of it. Then I glanced to Willow, and then Willow. I knew how she felt in an instant. I stood up from my seat and tucked my hair behind my ear.

"Yeah, I am fine. Just a bit... shocked - would be an understatement."

I moved back to the items I had dropped. I lifted them up and put them on the counter still keeping the blue version of me in my peripheral vision. It was eerie she kept staring at me. What is her problem! Right now? I wish I had something to smoke. It might at least explain this whole thing.

I glanced at the stack of books and little bottles already getting gathered on the counter.

"Looks like your shopping went well. I might have some other things that might help us out too."

I started pulling out the small gadgets. I could explain some of them, but most were just for emergency only type items. The scanner could help us figure out if she was here when she wasn't visable, at least. That could give us some sort of edge. I stood there and I could feel her eyes on me. I wanted to get out of there... but I was needed. If Willow could handle her evil twin? So could I.

[marissadonnelly]

So I was getting used to the whole weird stuff. I mean my new girlfriend... the one that killed Vampires and Demons, that lost her memory from some spell, and then got them shocked back into her brain? Yep. Getting used to it. The people getting popped in and out of rooms, just by some purple girl with feathers for hair? Almost used to it. I will never though get used to seeing all the odd people.

I hung back.. but not too far back on the way back to the main rooms of the resort. Although can it really be called a resort? There are only three rooms. I started to think about that but of course side tracked because Kennedy was in front of me. Her walk has this slight pride to it, but it would make her hips sway this tiny bit and her -- okay. Thoughts need to focus. I can't rush things, if she wanted to talk to me? She would do it on her own time. I mean she just had the last few days or weeks or who knew how much shoved into her brain. Time to adjust? Needed. I would give her the space.

So when Fred dropped all of the stuff right when we got to the kitchen? Interest was peaked. I moved up pretty close to Kennedy leaning over her to take a look into the room. Woah.

Lots of books, and bottles and then I saw her. It was like Fred, if Fred was some raver chick. Like the kind of girl that paints her nails blue and her eyelids hot pink. It was odd looking. The girl turned towards us, staring at Fred and I swear my skin crawled.

I took a step back. The scent of Kennedy's shampoo lingered for a bit, but a deep breath and I was all good.

"Whoa, take it easy, Breathe. Slow and steady. You alright?"

"Of course she is alright. I mean the girl just had a fright is all."

"Yeah, I am fine. Just a bit... shocked - would be an understatement."

I couldn't agree more. That was just not something that I can ever get used to. It looked like Fred, but not Fred. It wasn't even like it was a change of clothing.. it was almost like someone had repainted her. I shook my head, and decided to leave the spells and magick and machinery to the people who understood it all. I didn't say a thing, but I moved back into the main room, and went to take a moment for myself. I sat in the big leather chair that Anya had managed to get down on her own from a room. I smiled at it. She was so smart to have figured it out. Plus the chair? Very much on the comfy side. I curled up in it and just sat there and watched what was going on. A whole lot of things I didn't understand.

[leather_queen]

This female thought they had the power to pull of such a spell, I was interested in seeing them actually achieve it. I would watch them with a great interest. The male, Xander asked for my assistance and I was hesitant at first. However it would be a feat for such mortals. I was going to at least watch. Then I watched a shadow fall across the floor.

I heard her before I saw her.

"Oh my stars..."

Like the echoes and fragments in my mind. I blocked it all out. Everyone else was insignificant now. I kept my eyes on her. Her movements. Her voice. Her scent. The others flock to her. As if she is weaker than she is. As if she needs to be tended to. No wonder my own presence cannot be held within her. She is weak.

She moved to the counter. Ignoring me. As if I am not even in the same room as her. She is unsettled.

"Looks like your shopping went well. I might have some other things that might help us out too."

She unpacks her items. More science. Things that will not help her overcome any of this. I cannot keep still, nor silent anymore.

"You are the shell. The vessel not capable of holding the power that I contain. You are weak. Your affections for others is your downfall. I feel it now within you. It is mortal and unwanted. I make you uneasy. The uneasy feeling is within me as well."

I moved towards her. Slowly cautiously. She was unpredictable. I looked her over. How was this the one my Qwa'ha Xahn thought was worthy of me. He was gravely mistaken. His death was quick, but his errors live on... in me.

[wishingwillow]

"Yeah, I am fine. Just a bit... shocked - would be an understatement."

I didn't know Fred as well as some of the others. All right, I didn't know her at all. But what I did know was that look we had just shared from across the room. Without thinking I crossed the space to stand beside where Fred was sitting. "If it makes it any better at all," I directed my words just to Fred. "After a while you might get almost used to it. I wouldn't let it go any further than that though -- we need to stay on our toes."

"Looks like your shopping went well. I might have some other things that might help us out too."

"These are great," I smiled honestly, watching as Fred stood and began unpacking what she had brought with her. Soon the counter was full of tools and ideas, both from the Magic Box and from Fred, and while I didn't know what everything did? I knew what it all could bring -- hope. We were going to work this out.

And get home. For the countless time since arriving here I thought of Oz. Oh yes, getting home most definitely needed to happen.

"You are the shell. The vessel not capable of holding the power that I contain. You are weak. Your affections for others is your downfall. I feel it now within you. It is mortal and unwanted. I make you uneasy. The uneasy feeling is within me as well."

I stepped between Fred and what was almost-Fred without even bothering to think it through. "As someone with 'affection for others'," I said evenly, briefly meeting Xander and Anya's gaze. "I take offense to the negative way you make that sound. And right now," I continued on. "Fred is working really hard to be part of the solution to our very big problem - life snatching, heart breaking big. Bigger than even how big you seem to think you are."

There was such a thing as middle ground, I knew that. That place between right and wrong that seemed to make up a lot of Sunnydale. But if I wanted to go back there I didn't have time for it.

"So there is the solution," I nodded at Fred. "Or the problem," I glanced at the other me. "Which one are you?"

[finesse_bottom]

So it was kind of shakey for a bit there. More conflict more double talk from Illyria and more confusion on how she got here. Either way it was a lot of confusion for all of us. Then Willow stepped in. I was so proud of her.

"As someone with 'affection for others', I take offense to the negative way you make that sound. And right now, Fred is working really hard to be part of the solution to our very big problem - life snatching, heart breaking big. Bigger than even how big you seem to think you are. So there is the solution, Or the problem, Which one are you?"

She was maturing right in front of me. All the power she had, all the life lessons she faced, all the friends she had made and lost over the years would have been smiling at her right then. Tara would have been proud.

She was taking charge. Buffy wasn't here and she knew that she had to step up. I hadn't seen it.. well since Buffy died... the second time, or was it the third. It was horrible I just remember that. We were all saddened, but Willow stood strong and everyone saw how amazing she was. I was seeing that now. In this younger Willow. This not used to being in charge but going to do it anyway Willow. I couldn't help but smile.

"I think rather than worry about the rogue gallery over there we just go on with what he have planned. If they want to help? Then they help. If not? Well then don't fill us with your pessimistic boo-on you thoughts. We are going to try this with or without you."

Willow nodded defiantly and we went back to sorting things out. I knew once we sorted out we were going to need everyone here for the power spell. Willow needed a lot of it, and well the only way to get it was to borrow it. Spike, Connor and Cordelia were all demons, or at least some part of them were. That is where the power was going to be. We could draw from the two trouble makers, if they would allow it, but I wasn't going to resort to that unless we got desperate.