Originally broadcasted 06/24/08

 

Fade In:
Int.
Bureau Nine Headquarters – Magical Security Vault – Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cleveland

June 2007

Jody, the guard, stood transfixed over the Loathestone box. He looked over his left shoulder and then his right. Not seeing anyone around, he quickly took off the lid. Pulling the stone out, he slipped it into his trouser pocket and replaced the lid again.

Cut To:
Int.
Bureau Nine Headquarters – Magical Security Vault – Later

“Is that all of it?” Willow asked another guard.

“There are a few odds and ends still in there,” he told her. “But everything that’s been officially categorized has been loaded, yes.”

Willow nodded her thanks and turned to Jeff.

“Have the slayers arrived?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he replied.

“Good. Make sure to ride shotgun with this stuff, though. Slayer guard or not, having magical support is important.”

“Aren’t you coming?” he asked.

Willow shook her head. “I want to see if we can identify any of the ‘odds and ends,’ as they call them. I’ll be along shortly, though.”

“Okay,” he said. “Don’t be too long. or your wife will wonder where you are. Hehe. Wife. You’re an old married lady now,” Jeff teased.

“And you’re a snot nosed kid,” Willow teased back, giving him a light push. “Be alert, okay?”

“I will,” he promised as he walked away.

Cut To:
Int.
Bureau Nine Headquarters – Magical Security Vault – Later

“What’s left?” Willow said from the doorway.

Jody jumped at the sound of her voice. “Oh, just stuff we’re not sure about. A mirror, this empty box, stuff like that,” he answered.

Willow walked inside and looked around. The other guard she spoke to earlier had followed behind her. “Can you please get another truck ready? I don’t want to ship any of this with the items we’ve identified.”

“Certainly,” he said with a nod. “Right away.” He then looked at the other guard and waved him over. “Jody?”

“Right,” Jody said as he hustled around Willow, not making eye contact with her. Willow watched him for a moment and then seemed to shake off a weird feeling she was having by rolling her shoulders.

Fade to Black

Fade In:
Int.
Federal Detention Center – Visitation Room – Day

Hazelton, West Virginia

Present Day

Willow entered the room and began to smile widely. The guard even grinned, too. Willow quickly made her way to the phone. On the other side of the glass sat Rowena.

“Hey, Baby,” Willow greeted her. “I’m glad you made it.”

“Of course we made it,” Rowena said.

“We?” Willow asked.

Rowena put down the phone on the small desk in front of her and reached down, pulling up a baby in blue. Willow smiled even wider. The guard on the side with Rowena came over and helped her move the baby in pink to her lap, too.

Rowena wrapped her arms around both of them, giving them support as she picked up the phone again.

“I’d let ’em talk,” Rowena said, “but who knows how many people have touched this phone.”

“That’s fine,” Willow said. “It’s just great to see them…and you, too, of course. I just wish I could hold them for a while…hold you…Goddess,” Willow sighed. “This is so hard.”

“I know,” Rowena agreed. “But we’ll get through this. We’ll wait as long as it takes, Willow. I promise.”

Willow bit her lip. “It’s been over three months, Rowena. There’s no end in sight, so maybe…”

“Don’t go there, Will,” Rowena told her.

“You don’t even know what I was going to say,” Willow replied.

“That maybe I should move on? Is that what you’re thinking?”

“I’m just thinking of what’s best for you, for them,” Willow told her. “I don’t know when, if ever, I’m getting out of here. I don’t want you missing out on the best years of your life – the best years of their lives.”

“You’re what’s best for me, what’s best for them,” she added, pulling the babies slightly closer. But then a look of concern took shape on her face. “Unless you’ve met someone…”

“Goddess, no,” Willow said quickly. “You’re the only woman in this world I want…” Rowena then smiled again, and Willow found herself grinning. “If I mind my Ps and Qs, I might be out in five years, with this time served…that’s not so long, right? I mean, providing they quit moving my trial date and providing I’m convicted.”

“It took me twenty-nine years to find you, Willow Rosenberg,” Rowena told her. “I’m willing to wait twice as long to be with you again. Maybe longer, if I’m still around by then.”

Willow grinned. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, Sweetheart…so do these guys.”

Willow brushed her off. “They don’t even know me.”

“That’s not true,” Rowena replied. “I play some of our videos for them.”

“Rowena!” she said, shocked.

“No, not those videos,” Rowena chuckled. “Those I keep in the bedroom – and I have to admit, I’ve been watching them a lot. Lord, you’re sexy beyond belief.” She promptly blushed. “No, I mean the regular ones. They hear your voice, they see your pictures…they know you, Will.” Willow didn’t appear convinced. Rowena then said, “Say hello to your Momma Will, Alex.” She put the phone by his ear. Rowena motioned with her head to have Willow say something.

“Hey Sweetie,” she said. “You and your sis are getting big.”

Alex cooed and then kicked his legs. Willow laughed in response.

Rowena put the phone back to her ear. “See? They know you, Sweetie. So no more talk about giving up on us. Promise me?”

Willow put the phone down on the table for a moment. She had tears in her eyes, and she nodded.

Fade to Black

 

 

 

 

End of Teaser