Title: Unexpected Outcome

Author: Alan Hitchen

Email: darkmere2000@yahoo.co.uk

Disclaimer: BtVS belongs to Joss Whedon and others

Pairings: Buffy/Tara - Willow/Cordelia

Rating: PG-13

Information: Sequel to The Devil, You Say?

"I'm sorry, Buffy," Tara said again as they entered the house.

"Will you quit saying that," the Slayer replied. "It wasn't your fault. If only I'd punched him out when he first appeared, that would have been that. No, it should be me apologising to you. I should have realised he was just a flimflam man, a fancy suit and a fancy accent, all tricks and no substance."

"But I let you down," Tara insisted.

"How?" Buffy asked, taking Tara's hand in hers. "Because you were scared? Everyone gets scared, Tara, even me. I don't think any less of you for it, and anyway, you did just fine."

Buffy smiled at her girlfriend and Tara responded with a small smile of her own.

"Did I?" she asked.

"You did," Buffy confirmed, and followed the statement with a comforting kiss. "Now, you've met Will, Cordy, and Giles. Do you want to go see Xander and Anya, or have you had enough excitement for one day?"

"We can visit them tomorrow," Tara replied, slumping down onto the sofa. "We southern belles haven't the stamina of you northern hussies. Let us stay here and let me love you," she said playfully. 

"Why, Miss Tara, I do declare, that is a wonderful idea," said Buffy in a faux southern accent as she joined Tara on the sofa. "But this is such a small sofa and there's such a big bed upstairs going to waste," she pointed out hopefully.

"Really, Buffy, is that all you can think of?" admonished Tara.

"When I'm with you, pretty much," was Buffy's honest reply.

"And when I'm not with you?"

"The same," Buffy admitted with a sheepish grin, "but just sitting here with you will be fine." She snuggled up close to Tara and kissed her tenderly.

"No, it isn't," Tara whispered softly. She stood up and extended her hand to Buffy. "Let's go to bed," she said.

...

Joyce Summers strode briskly across Weatherly park. She was taking a rare opportunity to escape from the pressures of her job and motherhood, while taking the exercise she had long been avoiding. As she approached the benches dotted along the edge of the park, she saw a lone figure throwing a ball for her dog to fetch. She recognised the girl as one of the cheerleading squad from Sunnydale High.

"Hello, Harmony Kendall, isn't it, how are you?" she said in greeting.

The girl turned her unhappy face to Joyce. "Oh, hello, Mrs Summers, I'm fine," she said in a tone that conveyed the complete opposite of her words.

"You don't look it," Joyce said, looking into Harmony's haunted eyes. "It looks like you haven't slept for a week."

"That would be about right."

"Would you like to talk about it?" Joyce asked, realising her escape from the problems of the world had been short-lived.

"No, I don't want to trouble you. You can't help me anyway, but thanks for offering."

"Maybe I can't help," Joyce countered, "but talking about it might help you to see the solution."

Harmony considered this for a time, then said: "Alright, let's sit down, I've got a lot to tell you."

Joyce listened intently as Harmony poured out her troubles. It began with the realisation that she was attracted to other girls, and one girl in particular, Cordelia Chase. She had kept her feelings a closely guarded secret and did nothing, until Cordelia unexpectedly began a relationship with Willow Rosenberg. Then, motivated by jealousy, she had attacked the couple verbally in public, but had been shamed in return. Later she had planned a strategy that would pay Willow back for this slight and get Cordelia for herself.

She had asked Amy Madison for help to produce an illusion to amuse her friends at a party. She used this illusion spell to convince Cordelia that Willow was cheating on her. She was there to pick up the pieces, naturally, hoping that she could win over Cordelia before the truth came out, if it ever did.

It might have worked, if Cordelia hadn't stumbled on the truth almost at once. Willow had her revenge by arranging to have Harmony humiliated on local TV. She had managed to talk her way out of that by explaining it as a harmless prank taken too far, but that was all she had achieved from this escapade.

"So, now you know everything. You think I got what I deserved don't you? You hate me like they do."

Joyce maintained a neutral expression. "I don't hate you, thought I must admit Cordelia and Willow have good reason to. Did you really think this scheme of yours would work?"

"Not really," Harmony conceded, "but I thought it was worth a try, after all what could I lose?" She hung her head and began to weep.

Joyce stood up. "Come home with me, we'll talk it out and see what can be done."

Harmony looked up in surprise. "You mean it?"

"I mean it," Joyce replied, offering a welcoming hand. Harmony took it, and together they left the park.

...

"First you must apologise to Willow and Cordelia," Joyce advised.

"Must I?"

"Yes," Joyce insisted.

"And then what?"

"Begin to make a new life for yourself.

"That's easier said than done."

Don't I know it," Joyce said ruefully, recalling the troubles that led her to move to Sunnydale, "it's not easy but it must be done."

"Alright," Harmony sighed with resigned acceptance, "let's do it."

Willow opened the door. "Hello, Mrs Summers. It's nice to see you. What brings you here today?"

"Hello, Willow, I've brought someone to see you. She has something to say to you and Cordelia and I'd like you to hear her out."

Willow looked around Joyce and saw Harmony lurking behind her. "Oh no, not her!"

"Please, Willow, do it for me."

Willow stood in silence for a moment as various expressions of disapproval played across her face. "Alright, I'll listen. But that's all I'll do." As they entered the house Willow called out: "Cordy, we have guests."

As Cordelia entered the room Joyce spoke. "Well, Harmony, I've done my bit, now it's up to you."

Harmony looked from Willow to Cordelia and back again; both women stood impassively waiting for her to speak. "I... I'm sorry for what I've done to both of you. You know why I did it, but that's no excuse, I was selfish, cruel, and stupid. I've hurt you both dreadfully, and I'm sorry."

"Is that it?" Willow snorted.

"Thank you, Harmony, your apology is accepted."

"What!" Willow exploded. "Cordelia!"

"Willow," Cordelia soothed, "can't you see she's making an effort to put things right?"

"Yes, but..."

"Willow. Please. Can't we put an end to this?"

Willow regarded Cordelia's pleading expression and gave in. "Alright, alright. Harmony, your apology is accepted," she said grudgingly. Willow scowled; Joyce and Cordelia smiled. Harmony just wished the earth would swallow her up.

As they walked away from the house, Harmony posed a question for Joyce. "What now?"

"Well, sitting home and brooding isn't doing you any good. I know you don't need the money, but I need some help at the gallery. Would you like a job?"

Harmony looked askance at Joyce, then realising she had nothing better to do she accepted the offer. She turned out to be something of an asset at the gallery, proving herself to be a quick learner and a capable assistant. She was happy and so was Joyce - at first.

"Penny for them."

"What?" said Joyce, belatedly realising that Harmony was addressing her.

"A penny for your thoughts." Harmony smiled.  "You were miles away."

"Yes. I'm sorry. I was thinking about Buffy."

"She's okay?"

"Oh, yes, fine. Getting on well at college, ever so happy with Tara."

"I hear a 'but' coming on," Harmony prompted.

"But she has her life," Joyce continued. "I have mine, and I miss her."

"Ah, the empty nest syndrome. You need someone to share your life with."

"Yes," Joyce replied, studying the sad expression on Harmony's face. "It's not easy for me either." She laughed. "We make a fine pair don't we? I keep hearing that there's plenty of fish in the sea. I just wish a couple would swim in our direction." She looked again at Harmony and for the first time felt something more than friendship between them.

Joyce couldn't believe it at first and tried to dismiss her feelings as a silly schoolgirl crush. When that didn't work, after all she was no schoolgirl, she used more rational arguments.

How can I even contemplate such a relationship? You don't turn gay overnight do you? Besides, I'm twice her age. What would I say if Buffy brought someone like me home? Anyway, Harmony doesn't see me that way and it would be a betrayal of her trust in me if I took advantage of her.

So Joyce contented herself with fantasy by night and strict normality by day. Most of the time it was easy, but sometimes, when Harmony was being affectionate, it was very hard indeed. But Joyce carried on, gaining quiet satisfaction from the fact that Harmony was doing something useful with her life and that she had overcome her obsession with Cordelia.

Then one day, Harmony arrived at the gallery in a state of great excitement. She lost no time telling her employer the good news. "I've found someone, Joyce!"

"Oh," Joyce replied, trying hard to conceal her disappointment. "Who is it?"

"Ellen Weeton."

"The Ellen Weeton?" came the surprised reply. "Of the Sunnydale Weetons?"

"That's the one. She's just returned to America from her Swiss finishing school. She had such a European accent I thought she was a tourist at first. We met at the Expresso Pump, I literally bumped into her, we got talking and... we clicked!"

As Harmony happily burbled on, Joyce sat, smiling politely and nodding at all the right places, but not really listening. She'd always known this day would come, but now that it had, it felt like the end of the world.

At the end of the day, as Harmony anticipated a hot date with her new girlfriend, Joyce mulled over her own desolate love life.

Get a grip, Joyce. Mr Right will come along sooner or later. This has just been a silly aberration. Anyway, Buffy and Tara will be visiting this weekend...

Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a handsome, well-dressed man, who spoke with an English accent.

"Good afternoon, Mrs Summers. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Nicholas Beal, but you can call me Nick."

As they shook hands, the man whom Buffy and Tara knew as the Devil smiled warmly. His new plan was now in motion.