Normal
Buffy was smiling so widely that Dawn thought her face would break as they walked across Sunnydale to Kingman's Bluff.
As they arrived, Buffy's arm covered Dawn's body, stopping her from moving any further. Xander and Willow were kneeling on the ground, Xander rocking her soothingly back and forth as she wailed. Dawn was relieved to notice that her hair had returned to its normal colour - and more than a little angry at Willow. She clamped her mouth shut, not wanting to upset Buffy as soon as she'd got back to normal.
Dawn opened the door and headed straight into the kitchen, needing some time alone to think. Seconds later, Buffy and Xander followed her in, supporting Willow between them. They set her down on the couch, Buffy wrapping a blanket around her. They stood nearby for a few minutes, looking at each other, desperately trying to comprehend the events of that night. Just as Buffy turned to find Dawn, they heard the door open again, and saw Anya walk in, supporting Giles to the best of her ability.
"Giles!" Buffy cried out, relieved beyond belief that he was all right. Xander exhaled deeply, a wide grin threatening to split his face.
"G-man," he cried. Giles smiled - vaguely at Buffy, and disapprovingly at Xander - before moving painfully slowly over to Willow. He stroked her hair lightly. Her eyes fluttered open, and she to see that he was OK.
"G-Giles," she tried to sit up, but he pushed her back down.
"Stay there," he warned her. "Don't move too much."
"We'll leave tomorrow," he said to the others. "The sooner we start the process, the better it'll be for her."
"Will she be OK?" Buffy asked him worriedly. Giles sighed heavily.
"I hope so."
"Night, Willow." Buffy had put Willow in her bedroom for the night; not wanting to risk her recovery. On the bed in her mother's old room, Buffy curled up into a little ball and started to cry.
Willow got up, gritting her teeth at the pain that met her every time she moved. She began to slowly make her way down the hall to Dawn's room.
Willow curled one arm around her belly. The acid inside her stomach was reacting with her magic; swirling around at a dizzying pace and making her feel sick. She leant against the door as she knocked, hoping to ease the pain slightly. It jerked inwards unexpectedly, throwing her off balance. "Dawnie," she croaked. "I need - can I just..." she gritted her teeth against the pain. Dawn nodded her in jerkily, closing the door behind her.
Silence filled the room. Dawn sat on her desk, and motioned for Willow to sit on the bed.
"Dawn...I'm sorry. I know it's not enough. I -"
Dawn set her jaw. "Why?" she asked in a haunted voice. "Why did you do it?"
"The magic - it's like a drug, Dawn. The more you use it, the more you need it. And I tried to stop, I really did. But...I'm a wimp." A sob escaped her. "I can't handle it. I'm not strong enough."
Dawn looked down at the floor, and swallowed heavily.
"Tara - Tara was the only one who cared about me. And now she's gone, and it's my fault, and everybody hates me..."
Dawn leaned in hesitantly, brushing her lips lightly against Willow's.
"That's not true," she whispered, walking out the door and moving down the stairs. Willow sat on Dawn's bed and shakily brushed her hand against her lips.
Willow noticed that, for the first time in a while, she felt...normal.