Hell Hath No Fury by Amazon Chyck

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Joss, Mutant Enemy, and whatever other corporate conglomerates have a stake in Buffy own most of these characters (except for the ones that spring forth Athena-like from my damaged brain) and this fiction is not intended to infringe the above powers that be's rights in any way. After all, I wouldn't have killed Tara.
Distribution: The Mystic Muse /mysticmuse.net
Feedback: Yes please.
Spoilers: Season 7.
Author's Note: I can't promise that this story won't suck since it's both my first attempt at fan fiction and my first attempt at fiction in general. So, any comments you have on the story would be much appreciated. Well, constructive comments anyway ;)
Pairing: Willow/Tara

Summary: Tara and Anya are in the afterlife, but an evil plot is going to bring those two worlds crashing together. Can everyone deal with the consequences of their feelings and actions in time to stop a war to bring hell on earth?

Willow tossed and turned in her sleep. Her eyelids were closed, but her eyes were darting quickly back and forth underneath them.

Willow grinned and giggled at the same time. She interlaced her fingers with Tara's and they headed out the bedroom door together.

"Willow! W-what are you d-doing? Slow d-down. It, it's too dark outside to be d-driving this fast without using your hand, hands."

Willow convulsed in her sleep, grasping the covers with a death-like grip and pulling them towards her. Beads of sweat begin to break out across her forehead.

Willow looked to her right, but there was nothing in the passenger seat save for a blue shirt draped haphazardly over the seat.

"Will. Will! Will, wake up!" Kennedy's voice seemed small and frightened as she shook Willow's shoulders.

"No. No. It was my fault. My fault. All of it." Willow curled into a ball on the bed and began sobbing.

At the sound of Dawn's voice, Willow straightened up and wiped her eyes. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay Dawnie. Just had a big bad dream." Willow smiled at Dawn half-heartedly. "Go back to bed. I'm sorry I woke you up."

Dawn looked at Willow with an inquisitive look, to which Willow nodded briefly. Dawn gave her a sad smile. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay, Will?"

Kennedy looked back and forth between Dawn and Willow with a confused look. "Uh, Will?"

Oh, Dawnie, I would love for you to stay, but yeah, don't think Kennedy will understand that quite so much. "No, no sweetie. I'm okay. Really. Go back to bed."

Hmm…explanation time. Or not. "Wow, that was quite the evil beastie," Willow laughed nervously.

Kennedy looked at Willow a bit apprehensively, but then smiled and said, "Yeah, well, we've been through a lot lately. Next time, just dream I'm there to chase the beastie away okay?"

"Yeah. Okay. I'm going to go, um, wash my face – teary-bleary and all," Willow responded matter-of-factly.

Willow walked a bit dazed into the bedroom's adjoining bathroom, closing the door behind her and turning on the harsh fluorescent light. She tucked her hair behind her ears and gave herself an appraising look in the mirror.

Willow sighed and turned on the faucet, running cold water into her hands and then splashing it onto her face. She wiped her face and hands on the hand towel next to the sink and returned her gaze to the mirror, a sad look on her face. For just the barest instant, she saw a fleeting imagine of Tara in the mirror with that smile, that smile she had on her face right before…

Willow turned around and gave Kennedy an all-too-big smile. "Yep. All washed up." She headed back into the bedroom and slid into bed.

Kennedy looked at the bathroom for a minute, then followed Willow's lead, sliding into bed and curling up behind Willow. She slid her arms around Willow's waist. "No more bad dreams for you," she said as she kissed Willow's neck softly.

"Nope. Not with you wrapped around me. Now I can get some sleepy-eye," Willow said, cuddling her body in closer to Kennedy's.

"Sleepy-eye? Oh right, yeah." Kennedy stopped her ministrations to Willow's neck and rested her head on the pillow, closing her eyes.

Tara looked around her. It was beautiful here, as it always was in the Summerlands. It very much reminded Tara of what the earth might have looked like before the hands of humanity had bent it to their will. There were large evergreen trees lining rivers that looked clean enough to drink out of with your bare hand. And of course, Tara's favorite trees – willow trees – were in abundance. Tara liked to spend countless hours, or what she guessed were hours since time had very little meaning here, underneath a particular willow tree that was on the bank of a bubbling brook. She liked to sit there and listen to the melody of the brook, to the way the ebb and flow of the tide bounced off the various pebbles and rocks beneath it. It sounded like music to her, and every now and then, she liked to sing along with it.

I'm under your spell
Nothing I can do
You just took my soul with you
You worked your charm so well
Finally I knew
Everything I dreamed was true
You made me believe…

"Ohmygosh. I haven't by some mistake walked into hell, have I? You know, the part where you are forced to sing musical melodies despite the fact that you can't sing and everyone on earth knows it?"

Tara smiled, "I guessed that. B-but how. I mean I figured you would be in a heavenly dimension is all."

"Ah. Yes. That. I was. Am. You know, they arrange heavenly souls by how they died, so I would up in the self-sacrifice section of heaven. And really, what a bunch of overindulgent whiners. I mean, you think that people who sacrifice themselves would be selfless, but oh no, not that group. And why would you organize heaven by how people died. It's morbid. And as to how I got here. They let me wander wherever I want. Something about them not getting the peace in heaven they thought they would. So here I am."

Tara put her hand in front of her mouth to quiet her giggles. "Nothing. It's really g-good to see you Anya."

"Oh. I g-guess I didn't really think about it. I h-haven't h-had anyone to… well, it's the first time I've d-done that since the whole being dead thing." Tara smiled nervously. "So, how did you know I w-was here?"

"Well…I've been traveling through a lot of heavenly dimensions searching for someone to talk to who wouldn't whine about how he was dead when his no-account brother, whom he saved most nobly, was still alive." Anya rolled her eyes. "And, anyway, I heard that this was where the Wicca were."

"And. Well. I also sort of gleaned that... well... it was easier to find out what was going on down here than in heaven. You know, they don't want to upset anyone in heaven, can't have any of the unhappies, might start a revolt, so you only know when your loved ones are happy, but not really how they're doing, you know?"

Tara gave Anya a whole-hearted smile. "No, it's not silly. It's j-just that, um, well... yes, y-you can find out w-what's going on somewhat. But not like watching a film…more like senses and imp-impressions you get. S-sometimes if they talk to you directly, you can hear what they're saying." Like the "I still miss you, baby" she heard a bit earlier that tied her heart into a thousand knots.

"Well. Sometimes I think it's b-better if you can't f-feel them. Means they're living. I still re- remember when Willow. When Willow…" Tara looked down at the ground and started fidgeting with her hands. "…went dark," Tara finished in a whisper.

"Yeah, well, I think we all felt that one," Anya replied, enlarging her eyes as she said it.

Both Tara and Anya turned around to see a woman appear out of thin air before them. She was bathed in blue light and a flowing white robe. In one hand, she held a ball of string which seemed to glow with a soft blue hue. Her eyes were completely black.

"Okay. Well, that's enough with the pyrotechnics. You look sufficiently in awe," the woman said as she snapped her fingers and appeared before them as a young woman in her twenties with raven-black hair and soft blue eyes wearing a white, flowing shirt and dark jeans.

"Ahh…that's much better," the mysterious woman declared, hiking up the sleeves on her shirt.

"Huh? Oh." Willow shook her head to clear the morning fuzzies from it. She got a bowl from the cupboard and began to pour cereal into it. "Yeah. Not a lot of sleepies last night." Willow opened the door to the fridge, removed some milk, sniffed it appraisingly, raised her eyebrow and nodded approvingly, and began to pour it into her cereal bowl. This place is so like our house in Sunnydale. Except bigger. And in Cleveland. Sometimes I miss that house. That room.

Willow was broken out of her reverie by the feel of Dawn's hand curled around her own.

"Yeah. I miss her too. But I like to think she's happy where she is. You know…like Buffy was, er, that one time." Dawn withdrew her hand and looked awkwardly at the ground. "So…how 'bout them Browns?" Dawn laughed nervously.

Willow smiled. Everyone still tip-toes around that subject, don't they? Especially around little old me. They think that spell, that was the beginning of it all. Probably had to do with that whole snake coming out of my throat thing. Yeah. But it started much sooner than that, it's always been there, been in me. I know that. I'm just not down with the whole liking or fully accepting it yet.

Willow covered Dawn's hand with her own. "I like to think she's all happy too, Dawn, with clouds, and sunshine, and pink fluffy bunnies."

"Bunnies? There's bunnies?" said Kennedy as she walked in through the kitchen doorway. She walked up behind Willow and wrapped her arms around Willow's stomach. "Mornin' gorgeous," Kennedy said as she planted a kiss on Willow's cheek.

"Hey there yourself." Willow turned around a kissed Kennedy lightly on the lips. She noticed that Kennedy was wearing one of her "slaying" outfits – a tight gray tank top paired with skin-tight black pants and boots that made her nearly as tall as Willow was. "Where are you going looking all slayer-rific? I thought training was tomorrow morning?" Willow looked at Dawn with questioning apprehension. "It's Monday, right?"

"Good. Because otherwise I would be sooo late for class. Not the best Willow-pression to leave on my new professors."

Kennedy laughed. "C'mon Will, I don't think you know how to make a bad impression on a professor. Besides, just flash 'em that sexy smile of yours and they'll forgive you anything."

"Ooo…that's not fair right before I have to leave," Kennedy pouted. Kennedy leaned in and captured Willow's lips in a lingering kiss, bringing her hands up to Willow's cheeks, and letting her tongue roam slightly over Willow's lips.

Kennedy and Willow broke off their kiss and turned their heads to look at Dawn. A slight blush flushed Willow's cheeks.

Kennedy just looked at Dawn, raised one of her eyebrows. "What?" she challenged.

"Right... where were we. Oh yeah, Tuesday training?" Willow questioned, her cheeks still slightly pink.

"Oh. Buffy said she wanted a few extra sessions this week and next. Dunno why. Said she thought something was brewing."

"Anyway, I better be off before Buffy kicks my ass for being late. Not that she could, of course," Kennedy amended.

Kennedy rolled her eyes. "Later you two," she said, pulling Willow in for one last quick kiss and then walking out the porch door.

Willow looked at Dawn quizzically for a moment, then realized she was referring back to their earlier conversation. "Conversational flow much?" Willow asked in a gentle, mocking tone. Her eyes descended to her cereal bowl. "Yeah. I guess I'm happy," Willow said, a bit of sadness at the edges of her voice.

"Well. I mean, I like Kennedy a lot and she looks really good in tight pants. Hey! No eye- rolling allowed, you asked. And I know she really likes me…"

Willow swallowed noticeably. "Yeah. Okay. Loves me. But um... various sounds of hesitation... come on tongue. Okay. You remember when Tara was all with the rambling after Glory…" Willow swallowed again.

"Yeah. Anyway, she was all with the rambling and I said that even if she was like that forever, I'd take care of her because she would always be…" Willow paused. "Always be my girl," she finished in a whisper.

"Well, I don't know if I feel that way…you know…about Kennedy." Willow finished, her eyes drawn back to her cereal bowl.

Silence permeated the room for a few beats as Willow continued looking at her cereal bowl and Dawn fidgeted with her hands.

"Well, I mean…I think it's okay. Not like I'm a wealth of experience in the love department. At least not when I'm not under a spell, but Buffy says that each time you love it's, like, not the same."

"Hmm. Well, I guess that's true. Buffy did throw in at least one human into her dating pool."

Both Dawn and Willow giggled. "So…umm, don't you have school to go to young lady?" Willow asked. More than happy to switch gears here. Dawn's not wrong. It's just... well, she doesn't need to know everything.

"Ugh…no matter which hellmouth we move to, I always have plenty of nagging moms," Dawn stated with emphasis.

"You!" Dawn stuck her tongue out at Willow, hurriedly picked up her book bag, and headed out the door.

"Brat." Willow said to herself. Alright. Enough hanging in your PJs Will, time to go get on the WiccaPhone and see what's going on.

"Clotho?" Anya questioned the raven-haired woman dubiously. "Aren't you supposed to be like a little girl or something? You don't look like one."

Clotho fixed Anya with a cold stare. "Don't they teach tact or class at vengeance demon school anymore?"

Tara looked between the two women a bit helplessly. "What about W-Willow?" She repeated softly.

"And I'm not a vengeance demon anymore. I am a soul who sacrificed herself for the greater good," Anya stated dramatically as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"The greater good for earth maybe, but definitely not the afterlife," Clotho responded, putting her hand on her hip.

Anya never got to finish her sentence as her voice was drowned out by one very animated Tara. "WILL YOU TWO SHUT UP!"

"We need your help Tara," Clotho responded, shooting one last dirty look in Anya's direction.

"We three," Clotho responded, gesturing to either side of herself. As she did, two women, or what appeared to be women, coalesced out of mist on either side of Clotho, each floating a few feet off of the ground. They were each wearing dark green velvet cloaks with hoods that covered all of their face and body. Their cloaked heads were bowed forward in Tara's direction. The only thing not hidden on their bodies were their long locks of hair – the one to Clotho's left had a straight and golden blonde mane and the one to Clotho's right had curly and fiery red locks. "These are my sisters, Lachesis and Atropos."

"Ohmygoddess, er, goddesses," Tara corrected herself. "The three sisters of fate." Tara's eyes widened.

The two cloaked figures turned their bowed heads toward Anya simultaneously, still revealing nothing of their features.

"H-help with what?" Tara asked Clotho. The cloaked figures turned their heads back towards Tara.

"Or end it," the voice belonging to the red-headed figure added, her voice containing the barest hint of caustic humor.

"W-what? W-why?" Tara asked disbelievingly. I know I didn't just hear what I thought I did. She looked at the red-headed figure quizzically and defiantly. That voice. Familiar, somehow, maybe.

Clotho cast a disapproving look in the direction of the red-head and then turned back to Tara. "Tara, walk with me for a minute, will you?"

Anya began to follow, when Clotho held her hand up. "No, Anya. This is between Tara and I."

Anya stopped, pouted briefly, and then looked over at the cloaked figures, who again had their hooded heads bowed in her direction. "Anyone know any good knock-knock jokes?"

Clotho and Tara began to walk along the brook. There was a clear path just along its edge demarcated by rows of willow trees on either side. As they walked, Tara fidgeted with her hands and kept her eyes primarily fixed on the ground, looking up every now and then to make eye contact with her otherworldly visitor.

"Tara, I understand that this is quite a shock for you, but I'm afraid we don't have much time for me to explain everything to you," Clotho began.

"For some, that's true. But on earth, it does and it does for you too." Clotho stopped walking and Tara followed suit. Clotho put her finger under Tara's jaw and lifted Tara's chin up towards her. "Don't tell me that every hour you spend here isn't another hour you count closer to seeing your Willow again." Clotho's voice was cold and emotionless. Tara started to speak, but had nothing to say, so she just looked down again. Clotho removed her finger. "It's nothing to be ashamed about Tara. Love like that is very rare. It's why we're here now. It's our only chance of stopping what's to come."

Clotho sighed audibly. "Look, Tara, I don't know how to say this and we don't have much time, so I'll just be blunt and hope you can deal. Dark Willow is what's coming and we don't know of anyone who can stop her except for you."

Tara just stared at Clotho. She had the distinct impression that the bottom of her jaw had just hit the ground.

Willow headed up the stairs and into the second-floor hallway. She often marveled at how much bigger this house was in comparison to the Summers' home in Sunnydale. Her new home was a five bedroom, four bathroom Victorian that Giles had purchased soon after everyone had relocated to Cleveland. Methinks it was the number of bathrooms that was the selling point after the whole bathroom fiasco in Sunnydale. When slayers get down with the catfighting, things get broken. Especially when they're all a-cyclin' together.

Willow giggled as she remembered one particular incident where Buffy had made a Faith- sized hole in the hallway wall. That must be why Xander decided to bunk down with Giles down the street. "The possibility of naked slayer pillow fights just isn't worth it, Will," Xander had said. A picture of Kennedy running around naked and thwapping people with pillows entered Willow's mind. She smiled mischievously. "How wrong you are, Mr. Harris."

Willow was still smiling as she entered the room she and Kennedy shared. Their room was spacious and adorned simply - there was a queen-size bed centered against one wall, a dresser to one side of the bed, a desk to the other, and two large trunks at the foot of the bed. One of the trunks was intricately carved with celestial symbols and held Willow's stash of magic supplies. The other trunk was a simple mahogany number that contained Kennedy's vast array of weapons. Not like she needs that many. I think she just likes to have more than anyone else.

Willow made her way over to her trunk, opened the intricately-carved lid, and began to rummage around the contents for candles.

"Ack. Only slug-scented left," Willow said with a frown. Why all magic shops seem to have a never-ending supply of slug-scented candles is proof there is true evil in this world.

Willow grabbed six of the strange-smelling candles and arranged them in a large circle on the floor. She then walked over to the desk, picked up some matches, a pad of paper, an ink bottle, and a fountain pen that was inlaid with blue tiger's-eye stone. She returned to the circle of candles and placed these objects in the center. Willow then closed the door to the room and the curtains on the windows so that the room dimmed in hue from bright sunlight to twilight. That should do it.

Willow returned to the center of the circle of candles and sat down cross-legged. She lit a match and began to light the wicks on each of the candles in a clockwise manner, starting with the candle directly behind her. Her nose wrinkled a bit as the aroma of slug wafted upwards.

When all the candles were lit, Willow picked up the pad of paper and pen, dipped the pen in the bottle of ink, and wrote three names on the paper: Sophie, Fiona, Zoe. She then put the pen down, closed her eyes, and said,

"I call on the goddess Vach.
Locutus.
Exaudio.
Remandus.
My sisters, hear my plea and allow me congress."

Willow opened her eyes, which were now pitch black in color, tore the sheet of paper she had written the names on from the pad, and lit the edge of it with the flame from the candle in front of her. As she did so, the names on the paper briefly glowed with an orange, flame-like hue and then disappeared as if they were never written at all. The paper burned slowly in Willow's hand, littering little blackened scraps all over the floor.

"Ah yes, but not nearly as much fun, now is it love?," a high-pitched Cockney voice echoed in Willow's mind.

"Very amusing, Fiona," said the voice of a not-altogether-amused matronly British woman. "Is there a reason why you couldn't use the phone, Miss Rosenberg?"

"I wanted to get the entire coven council together, Sophie. I've got a bad feeling in my tummy," Willow said.

"A good 'ol dose of the Pepto should cure what ails ya, Will." Fiona's voice sounded chipper.

Willow smiled. "I wish, Fi. I just have this, I don't know, tense feeling in my tummy. I would pass it off as my tummy's naturally gurgly self, but seeing as Buffy has ordered extra slaying sessions, I thought maybe something was up. Where's Zoe, by the way?" Willow could feel the apprehension that met her question.

"I don't know," Sophie's voice said. "She should have responded to your call." Willow could almost see Sophia frown in her mind's eye.

"You're spot on with the tense tummy, Will. Something just ain't right 'round here," said Fiona's voice, sounding now far less than chipper. "All sorts of wonkiness has been happening as of late - witches in the coven have been tossing their cookies and getting nosebleeds day and night and we've all been having major heebie-jeebies in our dreams."

Fiona's voice giggled. "Yeah, Will. You might be a bit more careful when you come knocking on our brains - I still can't get images of a certain naked slayer out of my mind from our last conversation."

"Fiona...that's not helpful," Sophie's voice admonished. "Let's get back to what happened last night, Miss Rosenberg."

"Oh, right. Just had my own heebie-jeebie is all. About Tara. Didn't seem too wonky, I've had nightmares about Tara before," Willow replied off-handedly.

Sophie seemed to frown again, more deeply this time. "Was this dream you had last night like the others you've had before?"

Willow thought about that for a minute. "Well, I'd have to give all of them a pulse-pounding terror quotient of extremely high, but no, this one was... different. Mostly I dream about Tara, well, about how she died, but last night, I was the one who hurt Tara." Willow paused. "And I was, um, you know, all with the black hair and veins," Willow added a bit sheepishly.

"Yeah Fi, I'm okay. A bit of midnight screaming helped," Willow said in an unconvincing tone.

"Zoe, what in the hell... " Sophie's voice started in an angry and authoritative tone. Her words were cut off, however, by an extremely loud crackling sound. It almost sounded to Willow as if lightning and thunder were bouncing off the walls of her inner ear, threatening to burst her ear drums.

The crackling sound stopped abruptly and was replaced by the sound of Fiona's voice screaming in pain.

Willow's temples began to throb. As she moved her hands from her ears to her temples, she noticed that her mouth was open and she too was screaming. She shut her mouth so quickly that her teeth clicked together, leaving no noise in the room whatsoever save for the thump-thump of her own heartbeat resounding loudly through every artery she had.

Ohmygoddess. That didn't just happen. No. They aren't. They can't be. Zoe wouldn't. She didn't.

"Not everything is what it seems," Zoe's voice echoed in Willow's bruised mind.

"No," Willow had a chance to whisper just before all the candles in the room blew out and left her sitting alone in darkness.

"I don't b-believe that," Tara said defiantly, shaking her head and looking at the ground. "Willow's strong... she is... like, like an Amazon."

Clotho looked confused. "An Amazon? Uh-huh." Clotho raised her right eyebrow and continued, "Tara, let's be honest for a minute, shall we? Willow has never been all happiness and light. Has she done good magic? Absolutely. But she's also done vengeful, dark magic. Whenever she loses something, she fills the void with magic. Like when Oz left. Like when you left." Clotho paused. "Like when you died, Tara. Do I need to go on?"

"N...no." Tara's shoulders slumped perceptibly. "B-but the scythe... that spell . . that was g- good. Re...redeeming." Tara kept her eyes on the ground.

Clotho sighed audibly. "Tara, you of all people should know that life is a constant struggle. Life, like magic, is neither pure good nor pure evil, but both at once. Simply because we reach enlightenment one day doesn't preclude descent into darkness the next."

Clotho held her hand up to cut off Tara's response. "As I said, we don't have much time. Your belief in your, er, Willow, is admirable and we wish you were right. But you're not. We have seen that Willow will lose something dear to her and she will, as she has always done, she will turn to magic to fill that loss. And I don't think I need to explain to you what the consequences of that can be." Clotho's eyes pinned Tara's.

Tara swallowed. I believe in Willow. I do. Don't I? How can I after what happened after I died? How can I not? I love her. But she's lost her way before. Or was it my way she lost? Maybe Clotho is right about Willow. Do I even know what Willow's way is?

Clotho threw up her hands. "Because fate is a complex combination of individual decisions, Tara. What Willow will lose exactly depends on the decisions of those around her. We can't foresee exactly what she'll lose, only the fact that she will."

Clotho stepped toward Tara, put her hands on Tara's shoulders and looked her directly in the eye. "Tara, we are asking for your help. We wouldn't ask this of you unless we thought it was important. Trust me, it's no easy feat to have you sent back to earth..."

Clotho smiled and nodded. "Yes. It is much more difficult to bring you back as you were than to re-incarnate you, but as humans are such visual creatures, we felt it would be more effective if you are as you were."

Tara took a step backwards and out of Clotho's grasp. She began to walk in a small circle. I would get to see her again. She would get to see me. Tara's soul did flip-flops at the prospect. Is that such a good idea, though? Will's moved on. But then why did she say she missed me earlier? Would she be happy to see me? Would she hate me? Would she believe it was really me? What would she say if I said I was there to stop her?

Tara's mind kept spinning furiously. Clotho crossed her arms and made a showing of looking at her right wrist.

All of a sudden, Tara stopped walking and exhaled a deep breath like she had been hit in the gut. She looked at the ground as if she were searching for an answer. What if? What if she does? Go. Dark. She has so much power. So much strength. More than me. I can't stop her. Even if I would want to.

Tara's thought process was interrupted by the sound of Clotho tapping her foot on the ground. Tara looked up. "I ca-can't stop her," Tara said simply.

Clotho cocked her head to the side and raised her right eyebrow. "Can't or won't?"

"Can't. I'm n-not strong enough. Will-Willow's magic is so much stronger than me, mine."

"We are well aware of the depths of Willow's power. I mean, she did manage to hurt a hell- god once." Clotho's lips curled upwards into a smirk.

Clotho nodded. "A rather large, powerful one I might add." Clotho looked pleased with herself.

Tara looked at Clotho in shock and then shook her head. "But, but borrowed power. Will's is natural, s-stronger." Tara's tongue felt like it was tied in knots.

"True. But it still is a good deal of power, borrowed or not. That in addition to you being, well, who you are should even the odds."

"And if not, well, the fact that we will be supplying you with your own coven should do it," Clotho said with a nod.

"Our allies on earth have enough power to raise two souls in addition to yours. Plus we have witches waiting to help you in your mission once you are brought back," Clotho stated matter-of- factly.

"Tara's got a mission?" Anya's curious voice cut through the tension in the air. "Exactly how is converting Tara to Mormonism going to help Willow?" Anya looked at Clotho, obviously waiting for an answer.

Clotho stared at Anya, imaginary daggers shooting out of her eyes. "I thought I told you to wait back there," Clotho said through gritted teeth.

"Yes, well, your two sisters weren't exactly very good hosts. At first, they didn't speak to me. Then, they just up and disapparated, and then a bunny hopped across the path near me and it was either kill or be killed, so I decided I'd had enough of waiting, thank you very much," Anya said with an emphatic nod.

Tara had the distinct impression that she saw steam rising from Clotho's head. "It's o-okay. Clotho and I were just f-finishing up."

Clotho turned to look at Tara with a surprised look on her face, one eyebrow raised in question.

Oh boy. I've made a decision. I just hope it's the right one. "You said two souls p-plus mine can go b-back, right?"

Tara raised both her hands to cut off Clotho's ire. "You-you're asking me to go b-back to earth to stop and p-possibly hurt the one person I love, love most. I need someone I can tr-trust with me."

Clotho gestured toward Anya. "And you trust it, er, her?" Clotho said in a thoroughly disbelieving voice.

"This was not expected." Clotho looked directly at Anya with disgust. "Wait here. I'll be back." With a crack that sounded like lightning hitting a tree, Clotho disappeared from before Tara and Anya's eyes.

Anya turned toward Tara and shook her head, "Okay. What the hell was that all about?"

Tara looked apologetic and clasped her hands together. "I'm s-sorry. I s-should have asked you first."

Anya nodded. "Yes. Absolutely." Anya then looked confused. "Wait. Asked me what?"

Tara marshaled her courage. "Well, let's see. Cliff's Notes version. The f-fates think Will's going to g-go dark and end, end the world."

Anya rolled her eyes and threw up her hands. "Oh. That again! Can't we think of an original way of ending the world this time. Like famine or plague maybe?"

"Yeah, I tried that once. It was very unpleasant and painful and I don't recommend it," Anya said matter-of-factly.

Tara nodded. "And she said that-that two souls from here can go b-back to help me. And, well, you know W-Will... and me," Tara finished in a whisper.

Tara and Anya both heard another sharp "crack" as Clotho re-appeared before them.

Clotho turned and addressed Tara, "We can accommodate your request Tara, but in return, we get to pick the third soul to go with you."

Tara nodded and smiled slightly. She then turned to Anya and gave her a questioning look.

Anya looked at Tara, then at Clotho, and then back to Tara. Her face set into a determined look. "Well, heaven has neither Xander nor oodles of cash to play with, so it looks like earth it is," she said with a somewhat forced laugh.

Clotho rolled her eyes. "Alright. It's settled then. Say any goodbyes you have in the afterlife ladies, you return to earth tonight."

Tara and Anya looked at each other uncertainly. What have I just gotten us into?

"Damnit Giles, pick up the fucking phone," Willow said in a panicked voice. Why did Giles pick last week to go back to merry old England? You'd almost think he leaves just in time for hell to start.

Willow turned her back to the living room wall and limply slid down its surface as she cradles the phone between her ear and shoulder.

Okay. Can't find Giles. Damnit. What next? Think Willow. Coven council dead or renegade. What should I do?

"DAMNIT!" Willow said aloud, throwing the cordless phone across the room. As she did so, the vases and picture frames adorning the fireplace mantle exploded, showering the room with tiny shards of glass.

Willow buried her face in her hands. Get it together, Will. Stop panicking. Think. Think. Think.

Willow raised her head in confusion, her eyes beginning to brim over with unshed tears.

Willow finally realized the voice was coming from the cordless phone on the other side of the room. She hurriedly scrambled on all fours to the phone, oblivious to the shards of broken glass that were biting into her hands and knees. She practically tackled the phone once she reached it.

"No Giles, I'm not okay. I'm freaking out here. What the hell is going on?" Willow said angrily.

"Slow down Will, I don't know what's going on. I only just returned from Germany. Why don't you tell me what's got you so upset?"

Willow's tears finally began to spill over and her voice choked up. "Sophie and Fi are dead, Giles. Zoe... Zoe made them dead. There was nothing I could do..." Willow's voice trailed off into sobs.

Giles's voice was firm. "Willow, get it together. How exactly do you know that?"

"Because..." Willow's voice broke as she started to explain. She paused, choked out a few more sobs, and then wiped her eyes with her shirt sleeve. Composing herself, she began again slowly, "Because I was all with the magic conferencing with Sophie and Fi when it happened. I heard Fi scream. I heard Zoe..." Willow paused again. "Giles, Zoe told me that nothing is what it seems, and then nothing, boom, and she's right, nothing is as it seems and I'm losing it and..."

"Okay, Willow, I want you to listen to me very carefully," Giles interrupted. "I need you to pull it together. What you witnessed is horrible, and if it's true, then there are indeed large troubles afoot, and large troubles seem to have a way of finding both Buffy and yourself, so I need you to be in control."

"Control. Okay. I'm down with the control. I'm strong. I am. Like an Amazon. No, not really like an Amazon because I'm not tall or buff or anything. Now that I think about it, why did Tara use the word Amazon exactly? I mean..."

"Okay. Will, I need you to get everyone together tonight. I'm going to go see what's occurred at the coven and I need you to brief everyone in Cleveland, okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah. I can do that. But what do I tell them happened, I mean I know what I heard, but I don't know why yet or..."

"Well, I may be able to help with that. I was in Germany because a sister coven there had reporting strange abnormalities in spellcasting. Witches were getting sick after performing spells and then disappearing."

Willow nodded. "Sophie said the same thing had been happening to them. She said the source had been poisoned."

"Yes, well, thus far that appears to be accurate. Something or someone is priming a great deal of magic for something, but the coven members left in Germany didn't seem to know what or, at least, weren't going to relate it to me." Giles sighed. He sounds like he's wiping his glasses.

"Giles. I'm scared. I mean, the whole mystical teleconference gone bad could have been a coincidence, but I don't think so. I think I was meant to hear that... feel that... and I'm scared of what that means."

"Willow, I can't say anything to make you feel better about this. Just get everyone together. I'll try to phone back tonight and let you know what I find out from the coven and we'll go from there."

The hum of the dial tone sounded in Willow's ear for a moment before she lowered the phone and turned it off. As the adrenaline began to drain from her body, the unpleasant tingle of cut flesh on the palms of her hands and the skin of her knees made itself known. She looked at her hands, which were colored an irritated red with drops of blood oozing from the deeper slashes. Yeah. Doing well at the whole control thing so far, Rosenberg.

Willow walked to the other side of the room, placed the phone into its cradle, and turned around. She raised and lowered her arms, blew out a deep breath, and gathered her courage. Okay Rosenberg, clean you and your mess up, get everyone together, and deal. At worst, it's just another apocalypse, right? Right. Been there, done that. Bored now, okay? With that, Willow nodded to herself, turned around and entered the kitchen in search of band-aids and a dust pan.

She was too preoccupied to notice the pair of eyes that were watching her from the living room window.

Within the space of an hour, Willow had managed to text message a "911 meeting" page to the entire gang, clean the cut glass from her hands and knees, and restore the vases and picture frames in the living room to their pre-shattered selves. She had used a restoration spell for the last task, as the shattered glass had managed to find nooks and crannies in the living room that even Willow didn't know existed. Besides, no point in everyone knowing I lost it. Everyone is going to have problems a-plenty to deal with as it is. Willow sat down at the kitchen table with a mug of hot chocolate and waited for everyone to arrive.

Tara. I wish you were here right now. I need you, baby. Your strength. Your clarity. Your touch on my extremely trembly fingers. I'm so tired of keeping it all together; I just wanna lay my head down and rest.

Willow laid her head down on the kitchen table, a tear slowly trickling down her cheek.

Tara was seated upright against the trunk of a tall, strong oak tree that lay at the edge of a vibrant forest glen. She was watching the local wildlife – deer, sparrows, and rabbits – cavort about the glen in an attempt to keep her mind off the current situation. Every so often, she would look up at Anya, who was busy pacing in circles around the same tree and muttering to herself. Tara wasn't sure what was making Anya more nervous – the resident wildlife or the prospect of going back to earth.

"You d-don't have to, you know," Tara said, looking up at Anya as she came around the front of the tree.

"Oh." Anya continued her circular pacing, continually shooting dirty looks at the local rabbit population. "No. It's okay. I want to. I miss being human. I miss Xander and Willow and even Buffy, who's tried to kill me as often as be nice to me." Anya stopped her pacing and sat down next to Tara. "I even miss the little klepto," Anya said with a sigh. "It's just going to be weird. For me, for you, for everyone. They're all going to think we're the First or demons or ghosts. Perhaps we should practice running away from sharp objects now," Anya said, more of a statement than a question.

Tara echoed Anya's sigh and looked intently at the ground. "Yeah." Am I sure I'm making the right decision here for Willow?

Tara heard her name and turned around to look at Anya, but Anya had stood back up to resume her pacing and glaring.

Tara craned her neck around either side of the tree, but could see nothing unusual, not that she knew what she was looking for. Willow?

Tara could feel the weight of her heart in her chest and her vocal chords noticeably constricted, creating a lump in her throat. I'm coming sweetie. Can you hear me? I'm coming.

"Your strength... your clarity... your touch on my extremely trembly fingers..."

Tara's eyes began to fill with water. Any hesitation she had about going back had now melted away, only to be replaced with an intense longing to see Willow, touch her, cover her with kisses and tell her that it would all be okay.

"Willow – you l-listen to me, you hold on," Tara said aloud. She was noticeably upset now, tears running down both of her cheeks and her hands balling into fists. "Willow..."

Anya stopped pacing and looked at Tara with a confused look. She looked all around her, but noticed nothing unusual except for the infernal bunnies. "Um, now's really not the time to start making imaginary friends, seeing as we're leaving and all," Anya said sensibly.

Tara dropped her head into her knees for a moment, her feelings of sadness and helplessness getting the better of her. After a moment, however, agitation became her primary emotion. She raised her head, a fiery glint in her eye, and slapped the backs of her thighs with her hands. "Damnit, we need to go back now. Where the hell is Clotho?"

Anya appeared a bit taken aback by Tara's outburst and had just opened her mouth to speak when a sharp "crack" interrupted her, making both she and Tara jump slightly.

"Right here m'lady," Clotho said as she bowed forcefully, sweeping her hand in front of her in an exaggerated manner.

Anya rolled her eyes and as they stopped their orbit, they noticed that Clotho was not alone. Tara also noticed and now they both looked appraisingly at this new figure. She was short and slight-of-frame with short black hair and a pale complexion.

"Well, this be she," Clotho said as she gestured toward the pale woman. "Her name is Enid."

Anya nodded in Enid's direction. "Pleased. I'm sure. But shouldn't we get this resurrection show on the road? No time like the present to scare the crap out of everyone on earth, as I always used to say back in my vengeance days," Anya said with a nervous laugh.

"Er... vengeance days?" Enid questioned, looking at Clotho. Her voice was high-pitched and squeaky.

"Oh yes. Your soon-to-be-fellow Wicca here used to be a vengeance demon, exacting retribution on the evil men of the world in all sorts of nasty little ways. I dare say her reputation used to proceed her. Then, she turned human, and her reputation sort of moved around to the backside so that it could come back and bite her in the ass. Often." Clotho grinned at Anya, a wicked glint in her eye.

Tara stood up, anticipating the verbal war about to erupt between Anya and Clotho.

Anya turned toward Tara, anger coloring her face. "Yeah. Back to earth never looked better than it does right now. The less time I have to put up with that little b-"

"Witch!" Tara interjected. "W-witch. Yup. All witches here." Tara smiled in a rather uncomfortable fashion.

"Ah yes. That. Quite right. It is time." Clotho began walking toward the other edge of the glen and gestured for all three of them to follow her. "Follow me ladies... oh, and has-been demons," Clotho said with a smirk.

Anya's sentiment was quickly cut short by Tara-hand being placed across her mouth. Anya angrily pried Tara's hand away and began her rant anew.

Tara's other hand had now found its way across Anya's mouth. Anya's eyes opened wide and she once again tried to pry Tara's hand away from her mouth. This time, however, Tara wouldn't budge, so Anya did the next best thing – she stuck her tongue out and slobbered on Tara's hand. Tara quickly removed her hand, looked at it in some disgust and puzzlement, and began to wipe it on her clothing.

Anya's mouth, free once more, decided to try its luck at insulting Clotho again.

Tara knew she had only a second before Anya and Clotho were at it again, delaying their trip back to earth. Willow needs me now, damnit. With that thought in her head, Tara chose to cut off Anya's verbal assault by grabbing Anya's face with both of her hands and planting her lips firmly on Anya's. After no more than half a second, she let go.

Anya's eyes became extremely wide and her mouth moved up and down, as if she were trying to say something. Finally, she managed to squeak out, "Um... I'm speechless."

"Good. T-that was the point." Tara said, turning back around and lowering her head toward the ground to hide the blush creeping into her cheeks. I can't believe I just did that. Oh well. It seemed to work. If we both make it through whatever's coming Willow, you owe me. Tara began walking in the direction of Clotho and Enid.

A few seconds later, a still somewhat stunned Anya caught up to Tara. "So... Tara. How long have you had a crush on me? I mean, not that I can blame you..."

"So, I, um, think that about covers it," Willow finished, pursing her lips. "Any questions?"

Willow had spent the last fifteen minutes or so filling the entire gang in on her nasty telepathic experience and the subsequent conversation she had with Giles. She had managed to control her nervous energy while she was addressing the group, but now that she had stopped, it began bubbling up inside of her and she started pacing around the kitchen. Kennedy rose from her chair and started massaging Willow's neck and shoulders. Willow shrugged Kennedy's hands away. "Thanks, but kinda need to be tension girl right now," Willow said with a placating smile.

"Yeah, sure, no problem," Kennedy sat back down, a hurt look written all over her face.

"So, now, Giles said that witches who had been using magic in Germany were getting sick and then disappearing, right?" Buffy piped in, focusing the tension in the room to the matter at hand.

"Yeah. And Sophie said the coven in England was having the same problems with getting sick and all." Willow frowned. "Oh, and nightmares too," she added.

"You know, this is your brain," Xander gestured to one side with his left hand, "and this is your brain on bad witchy mojo," Xander gestured to the other side with his right hand and began shaking it uncontrollably.

"Um, yeah, kinda like that Xander, except I don't remember anyone dying in those after- school specials!" Willow said, her voice holding an edge of angry sarcasm in it.

"Guys!" Buffy cut in. "We need to come back from the fond memories of childhood morality programming and deal with the current sitch."

Buffy looked at Willow, "Have you talked to either Faith or Andrew about this yet?"

"No. I thought you would want to be the one to call Faith and Andrew said, and I quote, 'I am not to be disturbed in my holy pilgrimage unless it's a dire emergency.'"

"Well, I think that psycho homicidal Wiccas qualifies as an emergency," Buffy said.

"Annual Star Trek Convention," Xander answered. "They're having a Next Generation reunion and Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, and Gates McFadden are all supposed to be there," Xander added helpfully.

"Not that I would, um, know who those people were. I mean, yeah, how about I just go give Andrew a call right now," Xander said as he abruptly left the kitchen.

"When he's done geeking out with Andrew, I'll call Faith and see if there's been any weird witchy stuff going down in L.A. I can also get the gossip on her and Wood while I'm at it," Buffy said conspiratorially.

"Tell Chao-Ahn 'hey' from us too," Rona said. "She'll know that word by now, right?"

"Yeah. Sure. Well, unless she's been around horses. Maybe I'll just shorten it to 'hi'?" Buffy said. She then turned and addressed Willow, "Why don't you and Kennedy get researching – see if any techno-pagans have reported similar incidents?"

Willow looked at Buffy with a bit of helpless look. Kinda need to not be around Kennedy right now, Buff.

Buffy's eyes got wide for a moment as she took in what Willow was telling her telepathically. "Actually, scratch that, I need a bad-ass on patrol with me tonight," Buffy covered. "Kennedy, you're with me, Dawn, you help Willow with the research, Rona and Vi, you're on house patrol until Kennedy and I get back."

Dawn looked excited. "Cool!" she said. Rona and Vi just nodded their heads. Kennedy looked between Buffy and Willow, frowned, and then shrugged her shoulders, "Yeah. Whatever."

Everyone stood up to get to the business at hand when Willow added one more sentiment, "Hey guys – be careful. Witches don't exactly play fair when they're all with the bad mojo. I should know. Don't take any chances."

Tara, Anya, Clotho, and Enid walked along in tense silence. They had walked for what seemed like forever to Tara, passing through innumerable fields that all looked the same. Finally, a dense forest arose before them, the trees growing so closely together they their foliage interlaced at the tops and blocked any light from passing through.

Tara and Anya both stopped at the edge of the forest and looked at each other. Tara could tell they were both having the same thought – "no way am I going in there."

"Illume!" Clotho commanded, raising her arm. A blast of blue light shot out from her hand and sailed through the darkness.

Tara couldn't see exactly where the ball of light went, but after a few seconds, a wide path began to appear before her, bathed in blue light.

"There now. All better," Clotho stated cheerily, venturing forward along the path.

Enid giggled and followed. Tara and Anya looked at Enid, and then at each other apprehensively, but continued moving forward nonetheless.

I'm doing the right thing. I'm doing the right thing. I'm doing the right thing.

"Um. How exactly is this whole resurrection thing going to work? Because Willow said that only those who die by mystical means can be resurrected, and both of us were killed by mere mortal means and... Hey! A vengeance demon like myself struck down by mere mortal means. That's insulting." Anya pouted.

Tara gave Anya an exasperated look. But she does have a point... why didn't I think about that earlier? I really need to stop letting my emotions get the better of me.

"Curious about how we're going to get you back in one piece, are you?" Clotho said, not bothering to look behind her.

Clotho chuckled. "Fair question. Anya's right – normally, only those killed by mystical means can be resurrected. Osiris is a bit jealous about his souls, but like any god, he can be plied with the right sacrifice. Besides, his main concern is keeping the living and dead realms in balance, so..."

"S-sacrifice?" Tara asked, uncertainty coloring her voice. Balance. That means three souls are going back, so three souls... "No! I c-can't..."

"Tara!" Clotho yelled, turning around on her heels so that she was facing Tara. "Look, it's not important that you know how you're going back. We're facing the possible destruction of the earth here, there's no time to get squeamish about how we accomplish stopping that. This is war, kiddo. Buck up." Clotho laid her hand on Tara's shoulder.

Tara eyed the hand, and then Clotho, making it clearly known she wanted Clotho's hand off her shoulder. Clotho raised her eyebrow and withdrew her hand slowly. "I won't be responsible for t-taking a life," Tara stated firmly.

"That's just great, the third member of our coven is possessed by a hyena. Just great," Anya stated with sarcasm.

Clotho ignored both Enid and Anya and looked directly into Tara's eyes. "Let me tell you something Tara. You decide not to go, fine. I'll simply send two other souls back with Enid to try and stop Willow and they'll probably fail, but it's all that I've got. You see, those sacrifices on earth? To me, they're already dead because everyone will be if we don't stop Willow. So, regardless of whether you go or not, those sacrifices are consecrated. The only question here is whether you're going to be on the sidelines for this one, watching the destruction of earth and of your precious Willow from up here, or whether you're going to get down there and stop lives from being lost. That choice is entirely up to you," Clotho said, emphasizing her point by poking Tara in the chest with her finger. She then spun back around and continued to walk forward into the blue- illuminated forest. Enid looked at both Anya and Tara and then fell into line behind Clotho.

"An' it harm none, do as ye will," Tara said softly. What's the real harm here? The sacrifice made for my resurrection or the sacrifices that will be made in the absence of it? I can't stand around up here and pray that nothing bad happens, not after what Clotho said, but... if I do this, someone is going to die. How can I live with that?

"Or, what we used to be about, you know, when we still needed air. The good of the many versus the good of the few. Buffy... Willow...they made those choices every day. Buffy killed Angel, Buffy tried to kill me, Buffy might have tried to kill Willow, although we're all a bit unclear on that since Willow pretty much kicked the world's ass." Anya paused for a moment. "How is this different?"

"No, you're right, Buffy and Willow were always around to make those choices for you. For all of us. Now they're not and it's your decision to make."

Tara looked at Anya with a helpless look. She's right. This is what it means to have the weight of the world on your shoulders. On my shoulders. Is this what Buffy felt every day? Willow? These are the choices we shouldn't have to make.

Tara took a moment and gathered all the resolve she possessed. She nodded once at Anya and began to walk in the direction of Clotho and Enid. Anya blew out a breath and followed.

Buffy would save the world, regardless of the cost. And Willow... Willow would come just to save me.

"Argh. We've been at this for hours and nada!" Willow threw up her hands in frustration.

"No, I don't think so Dawnie. Most of the covens on the web are a bunch of wanna blessed be's and those that aren't don't really post any personal-like information, just the basic Wicca rules like 'An' it harm none, do as ye will.'" Willow sighed. "Bored now!" she yelled at the laptop screen.

Dawn rubbed Willow's upper arm. "Hey. You've had a rough day. Why don't you go put some tea on and let me try a few searches, okay? I'd feel more useful that way anyhow."

Willow rubbed her eyes and then looked at Dawn gratefully. "Yeah. That's a good idea. Thanks." She put her arm around Dawn's upper back and pulled her in close, giving her a peck on the forehead before she got up and went into the kitchen.

What I ever did to deserve someone that great in my life, I don't know, but I thank the goddess above for her. I've been so blessed, really, given everything I've done, with Buffy and Dawn and Tara. Tara. . .

Why have I been thinking so much about Tara lately? I mean, I always think about her a lot, but she seems to be constantly in my head lately. Not so fair to Kennedy. Willow frowned. Or to myself. Why can't I seem to let her go? Make peace-y with it all.

The sound of the kettle whistling broke Willow out of her reverie and she poured two mugs full of the steaming hot water. She then opened the pantry and took note of their tea stock.

Willow smiled. Maybe I should talk to Dawn about it. I mean, she loved Tara too and she's kinda all grown-up now.

Willow put the a bag of peppermint tea into each mug, grabbed two spoons, and headed back into the living room.

"Um. I was kinda wondering if I could talk to you about something?" Willow said tentatively.

Dawn immediately stopped looking at the screen and directed her full attention toward Willow. "Yeah. You know you can," Dawn said, placing her hand over Willow's.

"I'm just all confused lately. I mean, I've been thinking about her a whole lot, I mean I do that all the time, but it's been like constant comment in my head lately and I don't know why... now," Willow took a breath to continue, but then just stopped and gave Dawn an uncertain look.

Dawn looked puzzled. "Do you feel any particular way, or you're just thinking about her more?"

"I dunno. I feel all confused, but that could just be because I'm thinking of her more."

"Kennedy. Myself. Why I can't let her go. It's been like over a year. I mean, clingy much?" Willow quipped.

"Well. You know, you loved Tara a whole lot. I mean, I can't even imagine how much. I don't think love like that just goes away, I mean, because then, it wouldn't be really lasting love, right?" Dawn ventured uncertainly.

"Yeah. I guess. I just. Since the big bad has been happening, I just want to pull away from Kennedy and I keep wishing Tara was here, you know?" Willow put her fingers to her temples and shook her head. "And I don't know what that means."

Dawn put her hands on Willow's shoulders. "I think it means you're scared and Tara always made you feel safe."

Willow sniffled. "Yeah. Maybe I should sort out my relationship problems when I'm not dealing with Cthulu's coven, huh?"

"Yeah. Almost as bad as trying to sort out your emotions right before your time of the month."

"The pity party maybe," Willow retorted. "Andrew have any interesting tidbits for us?"

"None that don't deal with Commander Riker, no. I think he's got a little crush." Xander grinned. "But, nothing on bad witchy mojo He said he would call us if he sees anything unusual, but I'm kind of afraid of what would be unusual where he's at."

"There's giggles? Giggles are good," Buffy said as she walked into the room with Kennedy.

"We were just imagining Andrew as a cross-dressing Klingon," Dawn informed Buffy with all seriousness.

Buffy's eyebrows knitted. "Didn't I kill one of those when I was a junior?" The Willow-Dawn- Xander giggle-fest continued.

"Okay, enough giggling about topics I can't relate to. Any progress with the Internet?" Buffy asked.

"No. Nothing on the Net yet. Hey! That rhymes," Willow said before she, Dawn, and Xander burst into a new fit of the giggles.

Willow covered her mouth to get her giggling under control. "Um, Dawn is doing a blog search right now."

"A blog – like an on-line diary. No coven websites are reporting anything wonky, but maybe there's a witch or two out there who keeps an on-line journal," Willow said helpfully.

"Ah. Cool." Buffy turned to Xander, "What did the cross-dressing king kong, er, Andrew have to say for himself?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary to report, or well, nothing witchy out of the ordinary to report."

"Hmm. Yeah, nothing out of the ordinary on patrol and Faith didn't seem to know anything either. She mentioned something about the Watchers' Council possibly being reformed and gave me a name, but if they're just getting up to speed, I doubt they'd know diddly."

"Oh. None of our damn business to the first question and Chao-Ahn is learning how to curse in English quite well," Buffy said with a smirk.

"Good 'ol Faith. Can always trust her to teach the important lessons," Xander said.

"Well, I'm sure everything's fine. You know the British, got to have tea before you get information," Buffy said with a reassuring grin. "We'll get everything sorted out in the morning. Everyone here should get some sleep. Could be a long day tomorrow."

"Alright, that means I'm outtie ladies. Have a good night," Xander said as he walked toward the front door.

The rest of the group headed up the stairs, except for Willow, who sat back down in front of the computer. Kennedy noticed that Willow had hung behind, and descended back down the stairs toward her.

"Nah. I'm not feeling very sleepy. I'm going to do a few more searches," Willow said.

"Nah. You go ahead to bed. Slayers need their slaying sleep," Willow said with a somewhat forced smile.

Kennedy looked crestfallen. "Yeah. Right. Got it." Kennedy turned on her heels and headed back up the stairs. A moment later, Willow could hear the slam of a door.

As Tara and Anya neared the far edge of the forest, Tara could see Clotho and Enid waiting for them. They were standing in front of the blue ball of light that Tara had seen shoot out of Clotho's hand earlier. Beyond the ball of light, Tara could see a sturdy wooden bridge crossing what appeared to be a deep chasm. The other side of the chasm was mostly hidden in the dark, but Tara could make out the edges of a very large structure. She squinted her eyes to get a better look.

"Glad you could join us, Tara. I knew you would make the right decision." Clotho said with a pleased look. "Illume Promovar!" Clotho commanded. The blue ball of light began to move forward slowly. Clotho and Enid followed it, and Tara and Anya joined in behind.

As they crossed the bridge, Tara could see small, jackal-faced statutes adorning the bridge posts. She also noticed that hieroglyphic script was written on the posts and on the planks beneath her feet.

"Anubis, Anubis, I guess I can see why you have such the huge ego. I might be full of myself too if I had statues of me all around. Course, I don't look like a dog, but..."

"Well, not in the biblical sense. I mean, he's got a hot body and all, but dog-headed demons have never really done it for me, you know? But yeah, I've seen him once or twice at a few death orgies" Anya stated matter-of-factly.

"Fine. You're the one who asked in the first place. Hmph," Anya huffed. Anya then looked over the sides of the bridge. "Hey Tara? Um. Did you notice that there doesn't seem to be any bottom to this here chasm we're crossing?"

"Yeah. Did-didn't really want to know that either," Tara replied keeping her eyes in front of her.

The large structure that Tara has seen was now coming into view as the blue ball of light closed in on it. My goddess. It was an impossibly large stone building. I can't tell where the stone ends and the sky begins. The ground around the building was ripe with lush vegetation. Tara could identify endless rows of lotus flowers littering the ground and stalks of papyrus standing tall against the exterior of the building, but the rest of the plants were foreign to her.

The blue ball of light had stopped in front of a large stone door that was completely engraved with hieroglyphs. On either side of the door, Tara could see two huge, elaborately carved statues. To the left, the statue was that of a man wearing a hat that reminded Tara of a bowling pin. His body was wrapped in a sheet and his hands were crossed before him. He held a cane-like object in one hand and a small whip in the other. The figure to the left was a woman wearing a hat that resembled a chair. Her arms were fastened into two large wings, which she spread before her. Tara noticed that the two figures appeared to be looking at each other in what Tara could only describe as a loving gaze.

Enid nodded. She then turned toward the stone door and spoke in a shrill, but forceful voice:

"Homage to thee, Osiris, Lord of Eternity.
Thou makest thy soul to be raised up.
Thou sendest forth breath from thy nostrils.
Thy heart reneweth youth.
Thou art the lord who art commemorated in heaven and upon earth.
Homage to thee, Osiris, O Chief of Amentet.
Grant thou that we may come forth in your presence."

The large stone door slowly swung inward. Tara let out the breath she had been unconsciously holding.

"Illume penitus," Clotho said to the ball of light, which surged forward into the building. "Last stop ladies. Shall we?" Clotho said, extending her arm toward the interior of the temple and waiting for the three of them to enter.

Willow was staring blankly at her computer screen. The house was dark and silent around her – everyone had gone to sleep hours ago. Her hours of Internet hunting hadn't turned up much else. There were a few blogs by people claiming to be witches that mentioned nose bleeds and flu-like symptoms after spell casting, but nothing that helped her puzzle out what had happened to her coven in England.

And Giles hasn't called yet either. Not so happy about that, he should have called by now.

Willow folded her arms on the table and laid her head down on them. I should go to bed. I can't even see straight anymore.

With that though, Willow forced herself to stand up and she moved over to the living room couch. She propped up some pillows on one end, lay down, and covered herself with the blanket that had been laying across the back of the couch. Not as comfy as my bed, but less complicated, at least for tonight.

As she closed her eyes, her mind drifted back to its favorite topic as of late – Tara. Willow could see Tara in her mind's eye, Tara's head resting on her shoulder and her own head resting on Tara's as they slowly danced together, floating a few feet above the ground.

"Every time I-... even when I'm at my worst, you always make me feel special. How do you do that?"

Tara, Anya, and Enid were seated in a circle on the floor of the temple. The temple was almost completely dark – Clotho had disappeared a few moments before, taking the blue ball of light with her. Tara noticed that a small amount of light was being provided by moonlit clouds and the twinkle of distant stars through a hole in the temple ceiling.

Can't see the big pineapple tonight, Willow. Can you see it where you are? Are you looking? I don't know what I'm doing here. I'm in a big, scary temple in the dark with a witch I don't even know and a friend I'm not sure I can trust and the cost of my ticket back to you is someone else's blood and I'm so afraid that I'm doing all of this for the wrong reasons. I'm afraid I'm doing all of this just to see you again, hold you in my arms. What kind of person does that make me? And what kind of person will you be when I see you? Will you be what Clotho says – a monster? I don't think I believe that but I don't know who to trust – I don't even trust myself anymore, I've made these decisions that I never thought I would have to. I've become...

"Illume," Clotho's voice commanded. Suddenly, torches alongside each of the four walls of the temple lit.

"It is time. The path is prepared." Clotho looked directly at Tara and spoke with a serious tone to her voice, "Tara, I had hoped you would have more time to prepare for the challenge before you, but it appears that Willow is closer to losing her grip on her inner demons that we had anticipated. I hope you'll forgive me for sending you into battle without proper preparation, but it can't be helped."

Clotho now glanced at both Enid and Anya. "You three will be heading to Cleveland almost immediately upon your, er, resurrections. Remember the plan is to stop Willow from turning, if possible, and if not..." Clotho settled her eyes on Tara, "you must stop Willow herself at all costs."

"We hope you're right, but you know the stakes Tara. Choose accordingly." Clotho paused for effect and then clapped her hands together. "Alright. Time is of the essence ladies, so let's get your essences back in your bodies."

Tara closed her eyes and sent a silent prayer to whatever goddesses might be listening. Please...

"There's Canis Minor and Cassiopeia," Willow pointed out to Tara as they lay snuggled next to one another.

"Oh, I'll teach you alright," Tara said in an angry voice as she put her hand on top of Willow's.

Tara, Anya, and Enid sat in a circle with their eyes closed, projecting their essences into the center of the circle their bodies formed. They slowly clasped each other's hands and began to chant in unison:

"The place which is closed is open.
That which lieth down in the closed place shall be revealed.
By the eye of Horus, I am delivered.
My limbs flourish.
The road of souls is opened.
Come, the eye of Horus hath delivered for me my soul.
Ye shall not keep in darkness my shadow.
The way is open to my soul and to my shadow.
The wardens of Osiris shall not hold me captive.
Heaven shall not shut me in."

As they chanted, Tara could feel a light breeze on her face. Once the chanting stopped, the light breeze escalated into a strong wind, whipping her hair around the sides of her head She opened her eyes, looked up, and saw a whirlwind fast approaching.

A bright light flashed and Willow found herself in a darkened forest. Her hair was black, blue-green veins lining her pale white face. She walked through the forest with purpose.

"Ensnare," Willow commanded. Ahead of her, she could her the sounds of branches tightening around someone's limbs. She followed the sound and came out into a clearing. Before her was Tara, her arms spread and firmly bound by the branches of two parallel trees. Her head was drooping downwards, her eyes cast on the ground.

The whirlwind descended until it was just above the three witches' heads. It then coalesced into a stony face with blackened holes for eyes and a large, gaping maw.

It settled its eyeholes on each of the three witches in turn. "How dare you ask the road of souls be opened – you were each souled by mortal means – in eternity you are meant to dwell!," the face shouted angrily. "And you," the face said focusing on Tara. "Someone has already tried to bring you back."

"Tsk, tsk, Osiris, stop trying to intimidate the poor girls," Clotho said as she stepped out of the shadows.

"I do. The proper sacrifices await you, my lord. Blood sacrifices as you require. The balance will be kept, I assure you," Clotho stated calmly.

Osiris once again focused on Tara. "And what of this one? She seems special – so much interest in her soul."

Clotho smiled. "Nothing special about her soul in this realm, my lord, but on earth she is loved, and that love has the power to help with chaos."

Osiris was quiet for a moment and then he turned toward Clotho. "This will be your first and last request."

With that, three beams of light shot out from the whirlwind that was Osiris. Tara felt as if she were disintegrating, being ripped apart from the inside out by the large blast of light. She was no longer aware of having limbs or a mind, only a single thought tied her to existence.

Soon, even that thought was obliterated by the light and Tara ceased to exist in any reality.

Willow smiled. "I've got a little surprise for you. A trip down memory lane of sorts," she said, cupping her hand before her to reveal a small metal bullet. "One tiny piece of metal can destroy everything, but then again, you remember, right?" Willow dropped her hand away, leaving the bullet floating in the air even with her chest. "This is what took my light away from me, and you let it, Tara." The bullet slowly moved towards Tara, penetrating the flesh and bone of her chest. "Can you feel it, Tara? Tell me, what does it feel like?" Willow taunted.

The bullet quickly shot out of Tara's chest and pierced Willow's, digging through bone and muscle in search of her heart. Willow could hear Tara laughing. "Finally free, Will."

Tara's consciousness awoke to excruciating pain. She opened the lids of her eyes, but all she could see was a blinding white light. She tried to scream, but she had no control over her muscles. The entire surface of her skin felt like it was being pricked with needles – it felt like it was on fire. She blinked into the white light a few times and it began to fade into a blurry gray nothingness. She became more aware of her body and how heavy it seemed. Tara felt as if gravity were tripled around her – her head and limbs felt like they were encased in lead. Her ears picked up the sound of a dull thud and her mind slowly associated it with the sound of something slamming to the ground. Moments later, she realized that it had been her own body, as the internal fire of bruised flesh screamed up her side.

She blinked a few more times. Her eyes felt irritated and wet. She tried to lick her lips, which felt cracked and dry, but her tongue felt like it was swimming through molasses. She blinked again, the dull gray nothingness slowly resolving itself into shapes and colors. She willed the lead weights that were her hands to move towards her center. Slowly, agonizingly, they made it there. She then drove the gravity that seemed to be plastering her body to the ground through the palms of her hands, slowly picking her upper body off the ground. She tried to focus on the shapes ahead of her.

"Welcome back Tara," said a voice that sounded impossibly loud and harsh in Tara's ear. She squinted and made out the shape of a woman dressed in black standing before her. She blinked a few more times, her right and left eye just beginning to work together. The picture before her finally came into focus and she realized that there were two women ahead of her – a taller woman with brown hair standing behind a shorter woman with gray hair tied into a bun. The taller woman held a curved dagger to the shorter woman's throat.

"Complete the exchange," the taller woman said. Tara watched in horror as the taller woman sliced the shorter woman's neck from ear to ear with the dagger, letting loose a stream of blood. The shorter woman's eyes rolled back in their sockets and she fell to the floor with a thud.

Tara thought to say something, anything, but as she drew up the strength to speak, the gravity and the pain overwhelmed her and she passed out.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp sting on her cheekbone, and her eyes opened wide to find Dawn staring at her in a state of shock, and a voice, her voice, screaming. She closed her mouth and looked around her. Buffy was standing behind Dawn with a worried expression, and the rest of the slayers were standing at the foot of the stairs looking at her, and each other, uncomfortably.

Willow collapsed forward into Dawn's lap and started bawling. "Oh Tara...Tara," she sobbed. "I'm so sorry, so so sorry. That wasn't you, I know that wasn't you, but it was me and I'm so very sorry."

Dawn caressed Willow's back and looked at Buffy with a helpless expression. Buffy shook her head, not knowing what to say. She turned back to look at the slayers who were gathered on the stairs – Kennedy looked like she had been shocked with a taser and Rona and Vi were whispering between themselves and shaking their heads. "Alright you guys, Will's just had a bad dream. Probably doesn't need to feel like she's the feature creature at the zoo. Go on back to bed and try to get some sleep."

Rona and Vi backed away back up the stairs, but Kennedy stayed and started to protest. Buffy shook her head firmly. "No, you too Kennedy. We'll take care of her, I promise." Kennedy looked at Willow, who was still crying into Dawn's lap, then back at Buffy. She nodded mutely and headed back up the stairs.

Buffy moved over to the couch and sat on the other side of Willow. "It's okay Will," she said. "We got you."

After a few minutes, Willow had composed herself enough to sit up and wipe the tears from her eyes.

"Will, what was that? You were screaming your head off. Dogs in Cincinnati are in heat," Buffy said, hoping humor would lighten the situation.

Willow smiled briefly. "I don't know Buffy. Something's coming down. Something bad, and, um, I'm not sure, but I think it might be trying to use Tara against me." Buffy and Dawn's eyes locked over Willow's shoulder.

Tara awoke with a start. She looked around helplessly, having no idea where she was. She noted that she was in a sparsely decorated room - there was only the bed she lay on and a dresser with a mirror on the wall opposite to her. The floor and the walls were made of solid stone, except for a small window near the bed. Tara looked out the window and saw a lush, green landscape lit by an overcast and foggy sky. She then looked down at herself and noticed she was clothed in simple black cotton drawstring pants and a black cotton peasant top with sleeves that extended beyond her hands. She recognized neither her clothes nor the room nor the scenery outside.

Okay. Where am I? I don't know. Let's see...what do I know? My name is Tara, I live in Sunnydale, er, no wait, I used to live in Sunnydale.

Reality suddenly hit Tara with full force, pushing all the air out of her lungs. Dead. Resurrected. Pain. Blood. Tara leapt off the bed in shock and immediately fell down.

"Ow!" Tara felt a jolt of pain as her elbows and knees hit the stone floor, which was both hard and cold. Tara slowly began lifting herself away from the cold stone, now noticing that her limbs were unbelievably weak and uncoordinated. Okay, I don't remember standing ever being this difficult.

Tara's entire body jumped slightly as she heard the door to her room begin to open inward. She lifted her head up and met the gaze of a young-looking woman with dark brown hair and green eyes. Well, this is embarrassing. The woman looked at Tara's position with some surprise and then smiled.

"Ah. Glad to see you're up and, uh, about," the woman said with a smile. Tara noticed that the woman had an English accent. "Wish I'd gotten here before you woke up though, could have told ya that resurrections are bloody hell on the body." The woman crossed over to where Tara was and extended her hand. "Let me help you up, doll."

Tara looked at the woman with a mix of confusion and fear, electing not to take the offered hand.

"Oh right. Where are my bloomin' manners? I'm Zoe, a member of the coven council here in Devon," Zoe said matter-of-factly, withdrawing her hand.

"Um. Okay, Giles never mentioned me, exactly, that figures. The coven that Willow and Giles are associated with in England... perhaps Giles or Willow mentioned a Sophie or a Fiona once, they were, er, are the other council members?"

Zoe suddenly smacked herself in the head with her own hand. "Bugger. Right. Right. Sorry, Tara. Willow came and stayed here after, well, after you died and she went a little berserker."

"You sure I can't help you up, that floor must be cold as a witches' tit, um, so to speak," Zoe said a bit flustered.

Tara looked around her and noticed that she was, indeed, still on the ground. "Yeah, that w- would be nice."

Zoe once again extended her hand and this time, Tara took it and slowly rose from the ground. Her legs still felt wobbly and uncertain.

Tara nodded and allowed herself to be moved back towards the bed. Once she felt the backs of her legs hit the side of the mattress, she sat down on the edge. "O-okay," Tara said when she felt stable. Zoe released Tara and took a few steps back. Brr. Her hand was colder than the floor. Tara shivered.

"Alright. Let's start this bloomin' introduction over again, shall we? I'm Zoe, and as I said, a member of the coven Willow was associated with. Also the coven that, er, um, the Fates may have mentioned to you..." Zoe looked at Tara, obviously waiting for Tara to confirm or deny.

"Hi. I'm T-Tara, but y-you knew that. Um. The coven t-that is going to, um, t-transfer p- power?" Tara said, stuttering more than usual.

"One in the same," Zoe smiled. "Now I've never been resurrected before, mind you, but I can't imagine it's a pleasant experience. The weakness and such forth is because the body doesn't take too kindly to be reanimated after being dead for such a long time. Normally, some of the damage is permanent, but don't you worry, we've got a spell that'll fix you up good as new," Zoe said excitedly.

"Oh." Tara looked at the ground and then jerked her head up, panic in her voice, "W-where's Anya?"

Zoe held up both her hands. "Take it easy. Anya's just in the next room. If it weren't for these thick stone walls, you could hear her cussing up a storm over there. Pity that reanimation doesn't seem to affect the vocal chords any," Zoe said with a frown.

"Of course you can," Zoe said, a bit taken aback. "We just thought that waking up might be a bit startling, you know, so we put you two in separate rooms. Enid is just the next room over from Anya, but she's a quiet type, that one."

Tara drifted off while Zoe was talking. She lightly touched her hands to her face, feeling the contours and ridges, making sure everything was in its place. Her eyes focused inwards. I'm alive, weak, in pain, and scared witless, but alive. And I feel like me, I think. Oh my goddess, I'm alive.

Tara felt a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Look, we don't have much time, but let's get you three ladies all together in the big room and then we can explain what we can there, okay?" Zoe asked.

Zoe looked at Tara for a moment and frowned. "Sorry about the knickers, love. They do hang a bit, don't they? Not much in the way of fashion 'round here, but I'll have someone get you something more appropriate before we send you off." Zoe moved toward the entrance to Tara's room.

Tara looked down at herself and began blushing at the thought of the whole coven having seen her naked last night, and moreover, having to dress her.

But Zoe didn't answer, instead she said, "Transporto Duo" and snapped her fingers. Tara's reality disappeared for the barest instant, the walls melting away into a gray nothingness, and then the nothingness took the form of rows and rows of ancient books lining the walls. Tara's legs gave out and she landed squarely on her backside. "Oof," she said. Tara took in her surroundings from her new position. She appeared to be in a large, circular room that was at least five stories high. The walls were completely lined with bookshelves and texts. In the center of the room was a round table, at which a number of women were sitting and staring at her curiously.

"Ugh. Damn these useless human legs," Tara heard a familiar voice say immediately to her right.

"Anya!" Tara said excitedly, throwing herself a bit awkwardly onto Anya in an attempt to hug her. Tara's unruly weight caused both women to crash backwards onto the floor. "I'm g-glad to see you."

"Tara. Now is not really the time for gay love. Ask me later when I can actually feel my fingers," Anya said exasperatedly.

"Anya!" Tara said, this time in a shocked voice, clumsily disentangling herself from Anya.

"What? I've seen lots of lesbian porn with Xander. That's his favorite type. I know how it works, with the fingers, and the tongue, oh, and the toys." Anya helpfully made hand gestures to visually describe her thoughts.

Tara looked absolutely dumbfounded. Option one, slap her. Option two, slap her. Option three...

Tara's inner thoughts were interrupted by an annoying giggling to her left. She turned and saw Enid on the ground looking amused. Option three – slap both of them.

"Well, looks like the gang's all here," Tara heard Zoe say from across the room. "First, let's see if we can't do something about that nasty spot of lethargy your bodies seem to be stuck in." All of the witches in the center of the room joined hands and bowed their heads.

Tara opened her mouth to ask Zoe exactly what kind of spell they would be performing, but her voice was cut off as a blast of warmth hit her body. Her heart felt filled with fire, a fire that began pumping its liquid hot warmth through her arteries, delivering its heat to every capillary in her body. Tara threw her head back and gasped. Her body felt on fire, alive, incredible. As the molten liquid made its way to Tara's extremities, it left a pleasant tingling in its wake. Tara smiled. I haven't felt this good since...

Tara was so engrossed in enjoying the warm tingling she was experiencing from her head to her toes that she did not hear Zoe make another incantation.

All of a sudden, the warm tinglies inside Tara's body ceased and she felt a blast of freezing cold penetrate her very core. She felt painfully hollow, as if a dagger made of ice had hollowed out her insides. She closed her eyes against the pain, only to have horrible images seared into her mind – she saw herself clawing at her own face, blood welling up in the deep furrows she made with her own fingernails; she saw herself bound to two trees, a bullet boring into her innards, looking up into the face of Willow, deeply veined with blackened hair and a sneer of satisfaction on her face; she saw Anya looming over her, slapping her in the face.

Tara willed her eyes open, erasing the images from her inner eyelids, and opening them just in time to see Anya land another slap on her cheek.

"Ow." She said, rubbing her cheek and regaining her senses. She still felt a bit hollow and chilled at the core, but she no longer saw the horrific images and she felt a bit of the warm tinglies in her toes and fingers.

"Tara!" Anya gleefully hugged her, suffocating the breath out of Tara's lungs. "Oh. I didn't know what to do. I thought maybe you were having an orgasm, but you didn't look happy, and if you were having an orgasm, you would have looked happy and I didn't want you to die and leave me all alone with this giggling idiot and if Willow ever found out that you were alive and that I let you die again, then Willow would kill me and I've died enough for one lifetime and..."

Tara put an end to Anya's babbling by slapping her lightly on the cheek. Anya gasped and raised a hand to her cheek in shock. "N-now we're even." Tara smiled. "And t-thank you."

"Oh. Right." Anya released Tara from the vice-like hug and stood up. "Hey! I can feel my fingers now," Anya noted happily, wiggling them for effect.

"That's nice," Tara noted sarcastically. She then turned her attention to the circle of witches in the center of the room, all of whom were staring at her.

"W-what did you just d-do to me?" Tara asked them, an edge of anger in her voice.

"Easy there, lass," Zoe said. "We did the body healing spell just as I told you."

"No. The s-second spell," Tara shivered, remembering the cold she felt, she still felt.

"Oh. We transferred our power to you, my dear. Just as the Fates told you we would. We just figured might as well kill two birds with one stone, you know? Is there, um, something wrong?" Zoe asked innocently.

"It f-felt cold and I, um, saw t-things," Tara said. Willow. The bullet. Her face. Tara shook her head in an attempt to clear out the shocking image.

"Oh." Zoe frowned. "Well, I'm sorry if it was unpleasant Tara. I don't mean to brag, but it is quite a lot of power all at once, bound to feel a bit wonky," Zoe reasoned.

"It wasn't w-wonky," Tara stated firmly. "It was..." Painful? Hollowing? Nasty? ". . . hellish," Tara finished.

"Oh dear," Zoe said with a smile that Tara could have sworn held the barest hint of a smirk. "Well, perhaps an old friend can make you feel a bit better about the whole shenanigans, eh?" Zoe nodded towards the door and Tara followed her gaze.

Willow awoke to a pounding headache and stinging eyes. "Oof," Willow said as she brought her hand up to her temple. The pounding in her head was palpable and it was causing a strobe- light effect in her eyes. Maybe if I stand up, all the blood will rush out of my head and leave me alone.

She tried to swing her legs over the side of the couch, but her motion was blocked by the weight of a human body. Willow opened her eyes and saw Dawn curled up against her legs on the couch. Ouch. That doesn't look comfie. Willow smiled despite the pain in her head. She's such a sweetie.

"Mornin' sleepyhead," Willow heard Buffy's voice say. Willow turned her head and saw Buffy exiting the kitchen, two coffee mugs in hand.

"Hey," Willow said, her voice cracking a bit. "Hmm…when did this frog get in my throat?"

"Where's the hyena and why doesn't someone kill it?" Dawn said grumpily from the couch, not bothering to look up at either Willow or Buffy.

"Well, good afternoon little miss ray of sunshine. Perhaps I should make it three coffees?" Buffy said as she handed one of the mugs to Willow.

"Ugh. How about a doubt shot of espresso and a massage," Dawn said, rising and attempting to stretch out her limbs.

"Yeah, you just keep dreaming about the life to which you would like to become accustomed," Buffy said with a smirk.

"Well, since you're making good use of your mouth for smart-ass comments, you won't be needing this," Dawn said as she swiped the other coffee mug from Buffy's hand with a grin.

Dawn shrugged. "I snooze, you lose," Dawn said as she sat back down on the couch.

Buffy smiled in spite of herself. "Yes, well, it's past noon, so perhaps we should wrap up the slumber party and go kill something."

"Or, we could just go eat something that someone else has already killed. I'm easy," Buffy said with a shrug.

"I think sis is trying to tell us that she's in dire need of a hamburger," Dawn remarked.

"Xander's working overtime today and the rest of the slayers already went in search of sustenance."

"You got three slayers out the door without waking us up?" Willow asked in marvel.

"Yeah. I told them that if any of them woke you two up, they not only had to deal with you two grumpies, but they had to let Xander pick all the movies for movie night for the next three months," Buffy said with a grin.

"Umm…Buffy, what if that had gone all backfire-y, wouldn't we all be stuck with geek porn TV?" Willow asked, her eyebrows raised.

"Okay, so I was bluffing. But they didn't know that. Outwit, outlast, outplay. I learned something from all those hours watching 'Survivor,'" Buffy said with a self-satisfied smirk.

"How to manipulate friends and influence people - the life lessons I learn from my big sis," Dawn said as she got up, put a placating kiss on Buffy's cheek, and headed upstairs to change.

Buffy and Willow smiled at each other, each taking sips of their coffee and letting a moment of silence fall between them.

"Yucky," Willow answered honestly. "My brain feels like it got beaten with a not-so-small rock and my eyes are the poster children for Visine."

Willow sighed. "I know. I don't know how I feel - a bit hollow and cold at my center, like my energy is a bit, I don't know, depress-y, but that could just be from being little-to-no-sleep girl. I've just..." How much do I tell her? The dreams? The shattered glass? The fear that I'm losing it? "I've just been having these dreams, no, well, okay, nightmares lately about..." Willow's voice trailed off again.

Willow shrugged. "Yeah. And you know, they could just be, well, just plain jane regular yucky nightmares, but after what happened yesterday, I'm not so sure. I don't really trust myself to be sure, you know?"

Buffy looked at Willow in empathy, putting her hand on Willow's knee. "Yeah, I know. When I was in Europe this summer, I dreamt about Spike a lot and I couldn't figure out whether that was good, because I missed him, or bad, because it made it harder to let go. Speaking of which, I think the jury's still out on that one," Buffy said with a laugh.

"I just...I'm not sure I trust myself at all right now Buffy," Willow said despondently. There, I said it. Please put me in a padded room or tell me I'm wrong or something.

Buffy grasped both of Willow's hands in her own. "Look, I don't know what's going on, but we're going to get to the bottom of this together. All of us. We all have to trust each other, okay?"

"Good. Now if you want me to make any more pep talks today, you'll have to feed me first," Buffy said with a smile.

"Deal," Willow said, smiling back. "Let me just change," Willow said, getting up and heading up the stairs.

Giles didn't really return the hug, but just patted her back a couple of times. "Yes. Well. It's, um, good to see you too. Alive."

Before he could answer, Tara heard the sound of rushing steps and turned to look in their direction just as Anya leapt into Giles' arms for a hug, knocking the both of them over.

"Oh dear," Giles said from the ground. "Hello. What's your name again?" Giles said, sounding perplexed.

Anya huffed. "It's Anya. Spelled A-N-Y-A. You know, the girl who's throat you slid your tongue down when Willow made you forget what a stuffy British suit you were. Here I am, all excited to see you and you can't even bother to remember my name. Now I know why I always got so many vengeance wishes from Englishwomen - because English men suck!" Anya angrily said as she stood up.

"What? Oh. Yes. Just a bit flat, I fear. Thank you," Giles said as he took Tara's hand to stand up. Whoa. His energy...it's... it's... repressed. Well, more so than usual.

"Are you s-sure you're okay Mr. Giles? You s-seem a bit out of it," Tara pressed.

"Yes. Tip-top. Just a bit of jet lag, just flew in you see. What? Oh right...more important matters to deal with. Willow. We should talk about Willow. Everyone's in great danger, you see."

"Yeah. It's like a broken record around here. Willow goes bad this, Willow turns evil that. And if I remember correctly, Mr. I'm Too British To Remember My Friends, she kicked your ass all over the Magic Box last time, so how in the hell do you exactly think me, Tara, and the giggling idiot are going to stop her if she gets all vengeful again?" Anya stated with a bit of panic in her voice.

Tara grabbed Anya's hand in hers and squeezed it once. Anya looked down at the touch and smiled briefly at Tara. For once, no smart-alecky comments escaped her lips.

"Yes. Quite right. Dark Willow can be quite powerful. But, we, I mean, the coven just transferred a great deal of power to you, Tara. With that power, you should almost be Willow's equal." Giles paused for a moment. "And don't be afraid to use it," Giles added.

Tara looked at Giles with a shocked expression and released Anya's hand. "You w-want me to h-hurt W-Willow?" she asked, disbelief coloring her voice.

Giles approached Tara and hugged her awkwardly, resting his arm over Tara's shoulders and pulling her closer, although maintaining a good six inches between their bodies. "It's not about what I want, Tara. I love Willow. You know that. But we, you, I, we, can't afford to have Willow change again. She would be forever lost to us if she did, so we must think of the world, eh kitten?"

Tara pulled out of the hug and looked at Giles squarely. "K-kitten?" she asked dumbfounded. I've never known Giles to use pet names. Especially for me.

"Kitten. It's a tiny cat. Used for demon poker currency," Anya stated matter-of-factly. "Hey... maybe he's saying that you're money!" Anya added happily.

Giles appeared to sway a bit. "I'm terribly sorry, Tara. I'm just so tired with my trip and all. Not feeling quite myself. I really should lay down."

"O-okay Mr. Giles. S-sorry you don't feel well," Tara said with an understanding smile.

"Tara, I won't get to see you before you head back, so, um, good luck with, well, everything," Giles said right before he passed out.

"Mr. Giles!" Tara said with panic in her voice. She rushed forward to help, but was blocked by Zoe. "No worries, lass, we'll make sure he gets some rest and gets fixed up good as new. We really should get you lot to Cleveland. Time's a-wasting!" Zoe said with a smile.

Tara noticed that another woman appeared in the doorway holding a stack of clothes. "Ahh…there's your change of clothes," Zoe said, moving off to relieve the woman of her burden.

Tara nodded mutely. Something's wrong with Giles, I just can't put my finger on it. He just didn't seem himself. Of course, I've never flown half-way across the world. Maybe I wouldn't feel like myself either.

Tara watched as a handful of the coven surrounded Giles, levitated him, and moved him out of the circular room as if he were on an invisible hospital gurney.

Of course, I don't feel like myself now. I still feel cold. Everything just feels so wrong. The only thing that seems right about this whole... mess... is that I get to see Willow again.

Zoe returned with the pile of clothes and handed Tara, Anya, and Enid each a small stack.

Willow. Maybe they're all wrong. They don't know her like I do - she's got so much beauty, so much radiance. It's just been a bit... shit, it's been a bit hardened by the weight of her responsibilities - responsibilities I never much helped with. I just kept telling her "no" or "don't do that." I never bothered to figure out the root. Great girlfriend-ing Tara. Well, not quite fair, she never really much let you help. But still...well, maybe when I get to Cleveland, Willow and I can figure this whole mess out. I mean, if we put our two heads together, there's nothing we can't do, right? Assuming she still wants my head around.

"EEK!" Tara's thoughts were broken by the sound of Anya squealing. She turned around and realized that Anya was naked from the waist up. Tara blushed and lowered her eyes back to the ground. "Oh, I am SO not wearing this. It has mutant little bunnies on it."

Tara kept her eyes on the ground and wordlessly extended the long-sleeved shirt that she had been given toward Anya. Anya snatched it out of her hands. "This coven is evil," Anya muttered as she covered her chest with the long-sleeved shirt Tara had given her. "Any coven that has bunny-laden clothing is evil."

"Yes, of course, if you must, but I'm not touching it," Anya said, crossing her arms.

Tara rolled her eyes and snatched the blue t-shirt off the floor. She looked at both Anya and Enid, who had apparently both just changed right in the room. She turned to where Zoe was standing, looking at her with a questioning eyebrow.

"Sshhh," Vi said from the couch. She, Rona, and Kennedy were all plopped down on the couch watching "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."

"Yeah, it is, but Bravo is having a Queer Eye marathon today," Rona supplied helpfully.

"Sshhh," Vi reiterated. "We're just about to find out what this dolt's girlfriend thinks of the makeover."

Dawn rolled her eyes and headed into the kitchen. Willow and Buffy shrugged to each other and followed Dawn.

"You know, I think they should have a show - Queer Eye for the Vampire Guy," Buffy announced. I mean, hello, every male vampire does the "black" thing. A little color wouldn't hurt."

Dawn and Willow giggled. "See, and here I thought that one of the pluses to being all without breath was to stop caring what you looked like. In high school, I always kind of pictured heaven as this little place in the sky where people like Cordelia were too cool to get into."

"Oh," Buffy frowned. "She was kind of like the female Carson Kressley in high school. Except bitchier."

"Yeah, well, believe-you-me Dawnie, Cordelia could have Carson quaking in his little fashionista booties."

Willow, Buffy, and Dawn were laughing so much that they didn't hear Kennedy come in the kitchen.

"Umm...hey, Willow, can I uh, talk to you for a minute?" Kennedy said, unsure of herself.

Buffy and Dawn looked at each other. "Hey Buffy, you remember that top you said you were going to let me borrow tonight?" Dawn asked helpfully.

"No. What top? Oh... THAT top. Right. Let's go get it. Um. Together," Buffy said not-so- subtlety, heading out of the kitchen with Dawn in tow.

"Well. I know you've been having a hard time of it lately and well, I thought maybe taking you out for dinner and some dancing might take your mind off things for a while, you know, if you want to," Kennedy asked.

"Yeah. Yeah. I would love to, but umm..." Willow paused when she saw the sparkle that had lit Kennedy's eyes when she said she would go start to dim. "I kind of told Dawnie that I would go to this concert with her tonight at the Rhythm Room. She had tickets and her friend is sick, so..."

"But maybe we could go out tomorrow night? Oh...except that would be Sunday and we all have books to hit, er, I mean study, and well, let's definitely do that this week. I'd really like that," Willow said quickly.

"Yeah. Sure. Whatever. Just let me know when you have some free time for your girlfriend, okay?" Kennedy said, not bothering to look up as she left the room.

Willow began to curse at herself in a few choice languages, when she became suddenly aware of a presence near the porch door. The hair on her neck stood up on end. She turned her head in that direction and swore she saw the barest hint of blonde hair through the window panes set in the door.

That's weird. Kind of glow-y and cold all at the same time. Should I get Buffy? No, it's probably nothing, just me getting overactive with the imagination.

Willow slowly approached the kitchen door. She could now swear that she heard a heartbeat quicken on the other side of it.

Okay. Officially freaked out now. Calm down, Rosenberg. It's probably just a cat and you're just oversensitive because you're all with the heebie-jeebies.

Willow unlocked and opened the porch door to the kitchen quickly, attempting to surprise she didn't know what on the other side. She saw nothing. She looked down, up, and to either side of the porch, but nothing. She did, however, feel magical energy resonate from the area next to the porch door.

Tara blinked her eyes and took in her surroundings. This was the second time today that she had absolutely no idea where she was. It was becoming almost comforting in its routine. She was in what appeared to be a dark, deserted warehouse. Trash was strewn across a dusty concrete floor and Tara noticed that most of the warehouse windows had been covered with black paint. The only light that came into the building filtered in through a few broken window panes.

"Gee Tara. You always take me to the nicest places. First a drafty stone castle filled with weird Wiccas and now a destitute concrete landfill. It's amazing you get any girl to put out," Anya said with a shake of her head.

Both Tara and Anya looked at Enid wide-eyed. Neither of them had heard her do more than giggle since they were in the Summerlands.

"Huh. Guess that warm tingly spell did something for her vocabulary," Anya mused out loud.

"Hey!" a voice yelled from the other side of the warehouse. Tara looked in the direction of the voice and saw a long-haired, somewhat overweight woman jogging towards them. "So sorry I'm late," said the woman, obviously out of breath. She bent over with her hands on her knees and began sucking in deep breaths. She raised one finger above her head to indicate that she would be a moment. Eventually, she righted herself and smiled. "Sorry about that. Not really used to all the running. I'm Emily, your local Wicca at your service," she said with a smile.

Tara immediately liked this girl - she had a warm smile - the kind that made her nose crinkle a bit. Kind of like Willow's. "Hi. I'm Tara," she said walking forward and shaking the woman's hand.

Emily became a little flustered. "Wow. It's so nice to meet someone of your power, uhm, Tara. Really a pleasure." Emily hadn't yet released Tara's hand and was shaking it quite vigorously.

"Oh look, the first official member of the Tara fan club. Perhaps we should create a newsletter and have you sign autographs," Anya said sarcastically.

Emily stopped shaking Tara's hand and looked at Anya appraisingly. Then she broke into a warm smile. "You must be Anya, the former vengeance demon, it's a real treat to meet someone who's over a thousand years old!" Emily said enthusiastically as she reached out shake Anya's hand.

Anya looked taken aback. Tara smiled. Probably can't decide to be flattered at the attention or upset about the age reference. Hee hee.

Anya reluctantly took Emily's hand. "Yes, well, naturally it's a real treat for you. And, um, a thousand years is really quite young in demon years."

Emily just nodded her head up and down excitedly and then focused on the third member of the group. "And, I'm sorry, but they didn't tell me your name." Emily looked rather embarrassed.

"Well, they said you two would have a third, but no, no details. But if she's with you two, I'm sure she's swell. I mean, we're like saving the world here and stuff - pretty exciting!" Emily said as she clapped her hands together.

Tara smiled, despite herself. Tara found the young woman's enthusiasm infectious. "W-why don't you tell us a lit-little more about yourself," Tara prompted.

"Sure, but we should really walk while we talk. When I last left Willow, she had headed back to the house, don't want to miss her leaving again or Amy will kill me!" Emily said, mock-choking herself for effect.

"Yeah. The coven has been having me keep tabs on her. You know, follow her wherever she goes. That's why I was so late, she ended up having lunch at a place completely on the opposite side of town as here and well, my scooter kind of broke," Emily said apologetically.

Emily smiled at Tara. "Oh...that's right, I almost forgot, you were Willow's, er, girlfriend before you died. Um..." Tara could tell that Emily was trying to be tactful about something.

"Yes. She was my, my everything, but I know that s-she has a new g-girlfriend," Tara said, trying to ease Emily's discomfort. Ouch. Okay. That hurt. I know I was dead and all, but life moving on without you hurts. Not that I don't want Willow's life to move on, but...

Emily grinned. "Yeah, well, I don't know how much longer THAT couple will be lasting. Been watching the house for at least a couple of weeks, and I haven't seen them out during all that time and last night, Willow slept on the couch with the little one. So, you know, maybe there's hope for you," Emily said as she playfully jabbed Tara's arm. Emily then frowned, "Well, you know, I mean, if she like doesn't get all wicked and destroy the world of course." Emily turned bright red and started walking faster.

Okay. That would be funny if we were talking about someone else's life. So, Willow and Kennedy are on the outs, eh? Tara smiled briefly. No, bad Tara. That probably hurts Willow and isn't very much fun, but, but, maybe there is hope for me, for us, if we can get this whole mess sorted out. Goddess Will, I miss you so much, it's like being without a piece of myself.

"As much as I'm sure that Tara is happy to hear that Willow and the little miss bossy slayer are on the outs, I think she meant how Willow is doing magically speaking - you know, destroying the world and all, remember?" Anya said, sounding a little annoyed. "By the way, how's Xander, is he dating anyone?" Anya added, trying to sound as if she didn't care about the answer.

Emily looked confused as to which question to answer first. "Umm. I don't really follow Xander, but he seems happy and I haven't seen him with any girls that didn't live with Willow."

"As for the magics, I hadn't really noticed anything unusual until a couple of nights ago. She seemed really upset about something on the phone and glass just started exploding all over the living room. It was messy - wasn't sure how the heck she was going to get every little shard up. Then last night, she woke up screaming bloody murder. I mean, I can't really hear anything when I'm outside the house, but I think everyone on the block could have heard that scream."

"D-did she s-say anything t-that night?" Tara asked worriedly, looking for a connection between the two events.

"Well, yeah, she appeared to be saying quite a lot, but I'm afraid I couldn't hear any of it. The slayer and the little one came down and hugged her on the couch and then they went back to sleep. And here we are today. Amy seems to think Willow's going to lose it soon, though. She's a seer," Emily stated proudly.

"Yeah. We're both in the same Wicca group at Cleveland State. The coven in England contacted Amy when they knew the whole Willow thing was going to go down and asked for our help. Amy, of course, said yes, and she let a few of us in on the secret," Emily smiled, pleased with herself.

"No. She doesn't go to Cleveland State. I've followed her a couple of times to Case Western - I think she goes there." That's my smart girl, finishing her studies. I wonder if she's still on the multi-colored pen system. Tara laughed unexpectedly and Emily and Anya both looked at her.

"And this makes you laugh? I think you got brought back wrong," Anya said dismissively.

Tara, Anya, Enid, and Emily continued walking through Cleveland. The industrial section of town where the warehouse had been gave way to a more commercial zone with a bevy of strip malls and shopping centers, which eventually gave way to a residential district that had evenly lined streets and cookie-cutter houses. Tara almost felt as if she were back in Sunnydale.

As the group walked, Tara and Emily did most of the talking, with Anya breaking into the conversation every now and then to make a quip or ask about Xander. Enid remained quiet, silently assessing their surroundings. Tara learned that Emily had gotten her interest in all things Wicca from her grandmother, who had been a pretty famous seer. Neither Emily's mother nor herself had ever demonstrated any real aptitude in the Wiccan arts, but Emily was determined to develop what little familial power she had. She reminds me a little of myself. Well, except perhaps less powerful and more happy. Huh. I wonder if that goes hand-in-hand.

Emily stopped walking and the rest of the group followed suit. They were standing in front of a huge Victorian house that was painted white with green trim. It was the only one like it on the block. There must be like seven bedrooms in that place! The sun had just begun to set and Tara noticed that there were lights on in the house. Well, looks like people are home. Maybe Willow-people are home. Oh gosh, I think I"m going to be sick. I'm not ready for this. Tara swayed.

"Sshhh...keep your voice down," Emily warned Anya in a whisper and then turned to look at Tara. "Golly, are you okay?" she asked quietly.

Tara nodded mutely, feeling as if her stomach was a cold bundle of Celtic knots. I'm so not ready for this, but I, I need to see her, for myself. I need to know she's okay.

Tara fought to keep her stomach under control and turned toward Emily, "We should go s-see what they're up t-to," she whispered.

"Yeah. Okay. You could probably just cast a spell from here and listen in, I mean, you've got the whole coven's power and all," Emily whispered excitedly.

Anya looked at Enid and then at Tara pleadingly. "You better be back soon," she said, crossing her arms and looking disaffected.

Emily and Tara crept silently across the lawn. They ducked down under the living room window, where Tara could see a flickering light pattern, indicating that someone was watching TV. Emily shot up to take a peek through the glass and then crouched back down. "No Willow," she mouthed silently. "Just Slayers." Emily pointed towards the side of the house and Tara nodded. They both rose carefully and crept across the lawn to the side of the house. There was a porch door there with a window that looked into a kitchen. Tara took a peek through the window and that's when she saw her - Willow seated at a table with Dawn and Buffy, laughing. Ohmygoddess, she's beautiful. Tara's breath ceased as a lump rose in her throat. Her heart physically hurt in her chest, like it wanted to fill and empty at the same time. She wanted to rush in through the door and latch on to Willow, to never let her go, but the barest trace of good sense kept her back. She simply remained transfixed by the sight of her Willow being within ten feet of herself - her human, not dead self.

Her riveted attention was broken by a tugging at her shirt. She looked down, saw Emily, nodded and mouthed the word "Willow." Emily nodded and Tara's eyes were once again solely focused on Willow. She noticed that the mirth that had filled the room before was overcome by a strange awkwardness as a fourth person entered the room. Tara watched as Buffy and Dawn made a hasty retreat toward the kitchen door, leaving Willow alone with this new person. Ahh...that must be Kennedy. She's cute, has a nice body, I don't like her. Tara sighed. C'mon Maclay, she's way hotter than you and you're jealous. You were dead and all. But I'm not now! Oh, this is so hard to watch. Tara focused her attention back on the scene in the kitchen, and noted with some subconscious happiness that there was a vast distance, both physically and emotionally between the two women. She watched as something Willow said appeared to sadden Kennedy, who promptly left the room with her head hanging down. She then watched as Willow began to silently curse herself. Oh Willow! Tara's heart reached out.

All of a sudden, Willow's head snapped around to the window where Tara was located. Uh-oh. Tara barely had enough time enough to duck under the window before Willow's eyes met hers. She looked at Emily in terror and pointed to her eyes and then at herself. Okay, I think now is the time to see if this magical transfer thing worked because I am so not ready to say, "Hi Willow, it's Tara, you know, your dead lover, resurrected especially to stop you from going crazy and oh how I've missed you, would you just dump your slayer-girlfriend and run away with me?" Tara grasped Emily's hand and quietely said, "Reduca Anya." The next thing Tara knew, she and Emily were standing next to Anya in the street.

Tara looked at Emily in some surprise. That wasn't her, us, it was all me. Wow. I could never do that before, but no, so not the time to think about it now.

"We need to, um, h-hide for a b-bit," Tara stated hurriedly. "I t-think Willow s-sensed me."

"Over there," Emily said, pointing to some tall bushes across the street. "Let's camp there and keep watch."

"Who is this again?" Willow screamed, trying to be heard over the sounds of a throbbing drum beat and a powerful bass line.

"Oh. Evanescence," Dawn said, raising her hands and rocking them in beat with the music.

"Ev-a -nes-cence," Dawn sounded out at the top of her lungs while rolling her eyes.

"Oh. Huh. They don't sound all vapor-y," Willow said, more to herself than anyone else.

"Nothing," Willow yelled as she shook her head and focused her attention on the stage. They're not bad really, just a bit on the too loud side.

"I'm dying again.
I'm going under.
Drowning in you.
I'm falling forever.
I've got to break through."

The bass thrummed a bit more, and then the sound of loud music was replaced by the sound of even louder cheering and clapping.

"Thanks y'all, we're going to take a short break," the female singer announced over the microphone.

Willow raised an eyebrow and looked at Dawn sternly. "Right. One Coke for you and no more 'Sex and the City' DVDs."

"But Samantha is supposed to get some girl action in Season 4!" Dawn pleaded. "We could watch it together?" Dawn suggested hopefully.

Willow made her way through the crowd, most of whom were having the same idea she was in heading to the bar. She found herself at the end of a rather long and raucous line. Maybe if I screamed really loudly, the line would get shorter? Did the trick at the Bronze. Willow chuckled a bit to herself and then noticed that a woman near the front of the line was beckoning Willow to join her. Huh. She looks familiar. Willow started walking toward the woman and then did a double take as she realized that the woman who was beckoning her was the woman who had been on stage singing earlier.

"Hi...looked like you were going to be stuck in line a long time, thought maybe I could help a bit," the woman said smiling. The woman was quite stunning - she had dyed black hair and light, blue eyes.

"Uh...thanks," Willow said, not really wanting to go back to the end of the line.

"Two cokes, please," Willow said with a small blush. Okay, got the total prude vibe working for me here. Hey wait, what am I working? Got a girlfriend, Rosenberg.

"Two cokes and a water, Jimmy," the woman said to the bartender, who immediately began to retrieve her order.

"Not really good for the throat to have anything other than water when I'm singing," she explained. "Besides, rock 'n roll ain't all about sex, drugs, and booze," she said with a laugh. "Well, at least not the last two," she amended with a grin. "I'm Amy, by the way," she said extending her hand.

Willow, hoping the darkened ambience of the club was hiding her flustered look and her blush, shook Amy's hand timidly. "Willow." I do believe she's flirting with me.

"Pleased to meet you Willow," Amy said as she turned around to grab their drinks. Willow began to pull a wallet out of her purse, but Amy put her hand on Willow's forearm, "Don't worry about it. They're free. Perks of knowing the band," she grinned. Yeah. Definitely flirting.

"Oh, yeah, I used to date a guitarist. Guy named Oz," Willow said matter-of-factly. Crap. Boy. Mentioned the boy. Am I trying to mess this up? Wait. Why aren't I trying to mess this up? Argh.

"Yeah. That was before, you know, I found out that I liked girl bands more than boy bands, I mean girls who played in a band, er, I used to like 'NSYNC, so I still like boy bands I guess, just not boys who are in a band, or well, any...boys...really. Umm...," Willow was now blushing quite noticeably and looked like she wanted to crawl out of her skin and slink off into a corner.

Amy once again laid her hand on Willow's forearm, leaving it there this time. "You are too cute." Cute? Me? She still likes me? Is this a good thing? No. Yes. No.

"So, ahem, maybe you're free after the show," Amy continued. "You know, we can grab a Coke, talk about why girl bands are better than boy bands?"

Willow gulped. She has the most amazing blue eyes. I mean, well, not as amazing as Tara's. Wait. Why am I thinking about Tara? Why am I comparing this woman to Tara? That's not fair. She's not Tara, but Tara's gone, but... whoa, what about Kennedy, Rosenberg, you know the other girl you keep comparing to Tara? Wait, do I? Well, duh. Yeah you do. No one measures up, do they? Not even yourself. But who could? I think my head is going to explode. Poof. All over this nice, pretty woman who thinks I'm cute.

"Hey, you okay?" Amy asked, interrupting Willow's visualization of her head exploding.

Before she could continue, she heard Dawn yell her name, "Willow!" Willow turned around and saw Dawn approaching her and Amy through the crowd. "Hey Willow, guess who..." Dawn stopped abruptly as she saw who Willow was standing next to. She shrieked. "Ohmygod, you're Amy Lee! Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod." Willow looked at Dawn quizzically as she hopped up and down.

Amy removed her hand from Willow's forearm and looked at Willow with a raised eyebrow and an unsure grin.

"Gotcha," Amy replied. "Hi, I guess you know who I am and you are?" she asked the hopping teenager.

"My name? You want to know my name?" Dawn looked at Willow, "She wants to know my name!" Dawn shrieked again and both Willow and Amy giggled.

"Little miss hoppy's name is Dawn," Willow supplied helpfully. "I haven't seen her this excited since she found out Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears broke up," Willow said to Amy in a conspiratory voice.

Amy giggled good-naturedly. Dawn pinned Willow with a death stare, "Oh I am so over that. And I am so going to get you later."

Amy turned toward Willow and slowly ran her fingertip across the length of Willow's arm. She then turned her head toward Dawn, "Actually Dawn, I was hoping that your very attractive sister might join me later for, uh, conversation."

Willow blushed and then noticed that Dawn had a mortified look on her face. "Dawn?"

"Conversation? What kind of conversation would that be?" Willow heard a familiar voice say behind her. She turned around and saw a very upset-looking Kennedy.

Amy finally spoke up, "Umm...is this your, er, girlfriend Willow, because you didn't mention..."

Kennedy threw up her hands, "Of course she didn't mention, she doesn't treat me like a girlfriend anymore!" she yelled. People in the club started turning their heads in the direction of Kennedy's outburst.

"She just hadn't gotten to that part of the conversation yet, Kennedy," Dawn said, trying to help out.

Kennedy turned to Amy. "No, no, you should stay. Willow might actually sleep in the same bed as you!" Kennedy said, her voice flaring with emotion.

Amy raised both her eyebrow, "Yeah, um, I hope you two work everything out," she said nervously, quickly turning to the side and making a hasty exit.

Dawn shrieked again, "Wait, Amy, will you sign my, erm, uh, shirt?" she said, following Amy through the crowd.

Kennedy and Willow were left alone glaring at each other amidst a sea of club-goers who were doing their best to hide the fact that they were listening to every word.

"I'm sick of this, Red. I mean, I figured you just needed time. Time to get over Tara. Time to get over the almost end-of-the-world. Time to get over what happened with the coven. But now I'm starting to think that you don't need time, you just don't need me. I mean, you don't seem to have much problem crying into Dawn's shoulder or flirting with complete strangers," Kennedy said, her voice raising as she completed her sentence.

"Kennedy, I..." What do I have to say to that? Nothing. A big fat 'ol nothing. I don't know what I need. "I really don't know what to say," Willow said with a frown.

"Yeah. I got that," Kennedy said shortly as she turned around and bumped into a tall, massive guy who had been pretending not to hear the conversation. "Take a fucking picture buddy, it lasts longer," Kennedy said angrily, pushing the guy halfway across the club.

Willow watched as Kennedy pushed her way through the crowd and exited the club with tears in her eyes. At that moment, the music started back up.

"Catch me as I fall
Say you're here and it's all over now
Speaking to the atmosphere
No one's here and I fall into myself
This truth drives me into madness."

For a few moments, the music hid the sound of every glass in the club breaking all at once.

Tara's heartbeat had barely resumed its normal rhythm in her chest when she heard a door slam across the street.

"Finally," Anya sighed, as she shot up over the bushes that she, Tara, Enid, and Emily were crouched behind in order to see the source of the noise.

"Anya!" Tara whispered frantically, pulling on Anya's arm hard enough to drive her back down to the ground. On the way down, Anya's other arm collided with a bush, causing it to shake and spit out a few leaves in protest.

Anya dusted herself off and shot Tara an angry look. She was just about to start a loud verbal assault when Tara put her index finger over her mouth in a shushing gesture. Anya grimaced and continued on in an agitated whisper, "That was totally unnecessary. I was only checking to see whether Willow had finally come down from her castle so that we could cease bush patrol. There was no reason to get bondage butch on me."

"I'm not..." Tara paused. I'm not even going to respond to that. "I just didn't w-want Willow to see you, us, w-wait, was it Willow?"

Anya nodded. "She and Dawn were heading that way," Anya whispered as she pointed. "Looked like they were going out by the way they were dressed. Willow looked pretty hot, I mean good, yeah, healthy." Anya gave Tara a fake, placating smile.

Tara's eyes widened. Anya was checking out my girlfriend. Former girlfriend. Future girlfriend? Nemesis? Ugh...this is so confusing. Regardless, if Willow and I both stay on this earth, I'm next in line. That's right, the line forms after me. Wait. Focus Tara. Gotta keep loud, obnoxious, lesbian-leaning former vengeance demons under control here.

"And why don't you want Willow to see us anyway? I mean, she has to see us eventually, doesn't she? If we want to stop her from being all veiny and leather- clad?"

"Eventually we're go-going to have to try and explain to Willow and the others our sudden life-ness, but not yet. We still need to f-find out what's going on with Willow." And I'm so not ready to have her see me. What will she think? Goddess, could I stand it if she didn't just jump into my arms? Could I stand it if she did?

Anya nodded. "Well, she didn't look veiny yet, though she might be wearing black leather. Can we get up and follow them at least – my legs are cramping in a not-so-nice way," Anya pleaded.

Tara looked at Anya, Enid, and Emily in turn and then nodded. "Yeah, let's f-follow, but quietly," Tara said, focusing on Anya as she said the last part of the sentence.

Anya simply rolled her eyes and stood up. The other three followed suit and headed off in the direction that Anya had pointed to. As they walked along in silence, Tara's mind raced. How should I go about revealing my being not dead to Willow? When? What will happen? What about Dawn? Goddess that had to have been so hard on her and Will wasn't there for her after. Why didn't I think about all this earlier? Tara could feel her heart beating faster in her chest and she had the urge to find the nearest bush and dry heave into it. Need to find something else to think about.

"Oh, well, if you're having sex standing up and you clench your legs around Xander's, er, the other person's middle during your orgasm, then sometimes your legs cramp, but in the nice, you don't really mind, let's do that again sort of way. I can demonstrate later if you want," Anya said matter-of-factly.

Tara's eyes bulged, her jaw dropped down around her knees, and she flushed three shades darker.

"Wait, that came out a lot more lesbian than it sounded in my head. I meant that Xander and I could show you later. I'm not sure I could pick you up that way, not that you're big, but I'm small and petite and meant to be lifted not the lifter..."

Tara smiled, despite herself. Well, with some minor Willow-fications, the picture gets a whole lot better. Speaking of Willow...

Tara squinted her eyes. She could barely make out the two forms a few blocks ahead of her. We really should get closer, but, Willow seems to be able to sense me. Tara turned her head to direct her voice over her shoulder "Hey g-guys?"

"I think you g-guys should get closer to Willow. She doesn't know you two, so it w- won't seem t-too weird," Tara said.

"Super! But how will we find each other again if we lose sight of each other?" Emily replied.

Tara thought about that for a minute. "Do you know how to do the Aradia light spell?"

Anya scoffed, "The tinkerbell spell! Jeez...I'm not even Wicca and I knew that."

Emily just looked more confused. "Tinkerbell spell? Umm...no, I don't really do so well at spells. I floated a pencil once, but that was with Amy's help," Emily looked deflated. "Sorry."

"Like this," Enid's voice said. It took Tara a few seconds to realize that Enid had not spoken with her lips, but directly into Tara's mind.

"You, you s-shouldn't have d-done that with, without asking!" Tara said, her anger rising quickly.

"It s-seems that Enid can co-communicate telepathically," Tara said to Emily and Anya.

Tara simply stood there blinking furiously and looking down at the ground. C'mon, under control, Enid didn't mean anything by it, she's just trying to help, she didn't know that you've got major mind control issues. Breathe.

"Umm...we should probably get going if we want to keep up with Willow - remember, I'm not so good at the running," Emily stated with a smile.

Tara looked up and smiled, appreciating Emily's efforts to break the tension. "Yeah, g-get going, we'll b-be right behind you."

Enid met Tara's eyes. "See you soon," Enid's voice said in Tara's mind as Enid and Emily began walking quickly ahead of them.

Tara and Anya arrived outside of a club called "The Rhythm Room," a large, two- story black structure with its name lit up in red neon lights. A large crowd of college- aged men and women were gathered in front of the building.

"Well, Willow has no rhythm, so it's not really the right room for her," Anya replied matter-of-factly.

"In the sack maybe, but on the dance floor, she's got two left feet." Anya paused and looked confused. "Why do you people use that term? It makes no sense. As long as both of your feet can dance, does it matter whether they're left or right?"

Tara simply stared at Anya, at a loss for any appropriate response. Sometimes, I can't figure out whether she's nuts, dense, or just difficult on purpose.

"Hiya guys!" Emily said bouncily as she and Enid approached Tara and Anya. Tara smiled, while Anya was too busy trying to experiment with what it would be like to dance with two left feet to respond. "Err…is that some kind of a spell?" Emily asked.

"I heard that," Anya stated as her right foot twisted and tangled around her left foot, causing her to topple to the ground. "Huh," Anya stated from the ground, blowing an errant piece of hair out of her eye. "Well, that expression makes more sense now."

"Well, Willow and Dawn just entered the club about fifteen or so minutes ago. There's a concert tonight, a band called Evanescence, they're really, really good, I have all their albums, okay, well there's only one really, but I'm sure I'll have all their albums by the time they have more," Emily gushed.

"Oh, well, the concert was totally sold out, I mean who wouldn't want to see Evanescence, I couldn't even get tickets a month ago, but Enid here just went up to the ticket booth and bam, she got us four tickets. I need to take her out with me more often!"

Enid regarded Tara for a moment. "I simply suggested to him that he had four tickets left and he should look again," Enid communicated to Tara telepathically.

"I r-really wish you w-wouldn't do that," Tara said firmly, a flash of anger in her eyes.

Enid raised her eyebrow at Tara and simply handed her two tickets. Tara accepted them with a frown. Enid handed another ticket to Emily. "Golly – thanks Enid!" Emily exclaimed as she hugged the smaller woman tightly and then bounced toward the front door waving her ticket in the air. Enid grimaced and then followed Emily.

"No." Well, at least, not yet. "Watch her," Tara said and then headed off toward the front door of the club.

The first thing Tara noticed when she stepped through the entrance to the club was the loud, blaring music.

"So I don't know what's real and what's not Always confusing the thoughts in my head So I can't trust myself anymore I'm dying again."

Morbid much? Didn't think this was Willow's type of music. Tara noticed that the venue was packed to full capacity. Ugh, how are we ever going to find Willow?

Tara felt a tug on her shirt. Anya pointed to an upstairs level of the club, "We could find her better from up there."

For once, Tara was glad that Anya almost always spoke at a volume louder than necessary. She nodded and proceeded to wind her way up the stairs, passing by concert- goers who were gyrating to the sounds of the raucous music. At the top of the stairs was a large platform with its own bar towards the far end. The platform, however, was packed with people and Tara could see no hole in sight from which she could scout for Willow.

"Allow me," Anya yelled loudly, as she proceeded to swipe a red-colored drink and napkin from a man passing by. "Hey!" he yelled loudly. "Thanks," Anya said as she proceeded toward the opposite end of the platform The man looked utterly confused for a moment and then he turned around and headed back toward the bar, mumbling something under his breath.

Tara stood there confused as she watched Anya head toward the railing on the opposite end of the platform and stop behind a woman dressed in a shimmery white top. Anya then abruptly threw the red-colored liquid directly at the back of the woman's shirt.

"Oh no, I am so sorry about that. Silly me with the tripping. Here, let me help you out with that." Anya then pawed forcefully at the wet spot on the woman's back with the napkin, snapping the small string of cloth that had been holding the woman's top up. "Oh no, I guess I work out too much at the gym, I am so sorry, let me..."

"No, I think you've done quite enough, thank you," the woman retorted before she and her friend rushed off in the direction of the bathroom.

Anya grinned and motioned for Tara to come join her at the railing. Tara couldn't keep the grin off her face as she joined Anya and looked over the side of the platform. A brilliant plan executed with no tact, whatsoever. Anya definitely has her moments. As fate would have it, the music died down at that moment, causing the crowd to disperse and making it easier for Tara and Anya to search the crowd for Willow.

Oh! There she is, talking to Dawn. And wow, yeah, Anya was right, she does look hot. Tara's eyes wandered up and down Willow's body, taking into account the way the leather pants and tight-fitting black shirt she was wearing accentuated her figure. Tara's face flushed a bit and she looked down for a moment before she patted Anya's shoulder and pointed to where Willow and Dawn were located.

Anya looked at where Tara was pointing and then back at Tara herself. "I told you she looked hot," Anya stated with a satisfied tone in her voice.

Did being resurrected turn me transparent? "Yeah. Score one for the straight girl," Tara said with a laugh.

"I never said I was straight and what's with that term? I mean, it's not like you and Willow are all bendy. Humans and their strange terminology," Anya muttered.

Tara flushed a little as she processed Anya's response. "Well, I g-guess I just assumed, you being w-with Xander and the lesbian porn and all," Tara said, somewhat at a loss for words.

Anya rolled her eyes. "More than 1,100 years on this earth prompts a little creativity in bed. I've not only watched lesbian porn, I've participated in it. Well, not on film or anything, I've only done that with Xander, but..."

"Too m-much information," Tara said, trying to will certain visual images out of her mind.

"Huh?" Tara followed Anya's line of sight and saw Willow in conversation with a short, black-haired woman dressed in pleather. The woman was playfully touching Willow's forearm. Hey, hey, hands off! That's my Willow-tree you're barking up. Tara pursed her lips and continued to watch their interaction. Their body language, it's, okay Tara, fine it's cute. Willow seems happy. Tara's heart lurched in her chest. Maybe this was a bad idea, seeing me, it's going to really mess up Will, maybe it would be better to just let her live her life as it is, no complications.

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Anya commented. "I see a complication walking through the door right now."

Tara turned towards the door and saw a very pissed-off looking Kennedy with her hands on her hips shaking her head.

"Uh-oh," Tara said. Is that what Will is going to lose? Kennedy? Is that what will push her over the edge?

"Heya gals! Did you have any luck finding Willow?" Emily asked and she and Enid came up behind Tara and Anya.

"Yes, and now be quiet, we're about to watch what happens when a witch pisses off a slayer by flirting with a lead singer. Damn I wish I had popcorn," Anya stated ruefully.

The four of them silently watched the tense scene below unfold. Tara couldn't hear the words that were passed back and forth between Willow, Kennedy, Dawn, and the mystery woman, but it was obvious that a good deal of animated yelling was going on. After a few moments, both Dawn and the mystery woman headed towards the stage, leaving Kennedy and Willow alone. After another verbal assault form Kennedy, Tara watched Kennedy storm off toward the club door, but not before pushing a large bear of a man half-way across the club. Damn, she's strong.

Tara's mind was spinning so fast it was making her nauseous. On the one hand, she was secretly glad that Kennedy and Willow's relationship was fraught with discord because that meant there might be a space in Willow's life for her. But on the other hand, Tara hated to see Willow the least bit upset, which she very obviously was right now. On top of it all, Tara didn't want to believe that Willow would succumb to her dark side, but the more Willow lost from her life, the more Tara was worried that she would do just that. And I'm not sure whether seeing me will make it better or worse. Goddess, I wish I was sure I would make everything better. How would I feel in her position? It would turn my world upside down and my heart would explode, but to have a second chance, I'd give everything for that. Everything. Tara nodded to herself, having made a silent decision.

"Well, that went well. Your typical yell, hit, and run. Should we..." Anya's question was cut off as the loud music started back up.

"Catch me as I fall Say you're here and it's all over now Speaking to the atmosphere No one's here and I fall into myself This truth drives me into madness."

What the hell was that? "Did you h-hear that?" Tara asked loudly. I swear I heard the sound of...

"What?" Anya yelled back. All of a sudden, the glass that she was holding in her hand exploded into thousands of tiny shards, causing her to yelp in pain as a few of the shards buried themselves in her hand.

Tara covered her eyes. The sound of breaking glass. Willow. No. Tara took her hands away from her face and searched for Willow's form amongst the pandemonium that was now reigning inside the club. Glass was exploding everywhere inside the club, sending concert-goers running for the exits. People began running into each other, sending many of them sprawling onto the club floor, which was becoming slick with the mixture of alcohol and blood. Tara saw Willow rooted to the same spot she was in when the glass started breaking, Willow's face a mixture of panic, disbelief, and horror at the scene around her.

"I'm frightened by what I see But somehow I know that there's much more to come Immobilized by my fear And soon to be blinded by tears."

Tara heard screams behind her, as the platform bar exploded outwards in a spray of alcohol and glass. Tara crouched down and pulled Anya with her, covering her face, as the spray of glass reached her. She felt the shards settle into her hair and nick her hands. She heard a stampede of people descend the stairs - panicked curses escaping their lips.

Tara stood up as soon as she felt the rain of glass cease. She shook her head, dislodging the broken bits of alcohol bottles from her hair. She noticed that the music had stopped, the band now running for the exits along with the rest of the crowd. She looked back toward the spot Willow had been and noticed she was gone. "Shit, W-Willow's gone, l-let's go," Tara said in a panicked voice. Where did she go? She's probably frightened out of her mind. We need to find her, to, to what? I don't know, we just need to find her. Tara headed toward the stairs, Anya right on her heels.

"Wait!" Emily yelled. Tara and Anya stopped and turned around. Emily tugged on Enid, but Enid simply stood stock still at the railing, her head fixated on the scene below.

"Enid!" Tara yelled. Tara's voice appeared to penetrate Enid's consciousness, as Enid shook her head and turned around, her eyes closed. I don't have time for this. "Let's go." Tara and Anya ran down the stairs, not really looking back to see whether Enid and Emily were in tow. Tara looked around the club, which was now mostly emptied of people, but could find Willow nowhere.

"The h-house. She'd p-probably go b-back there," Tara said, grabbing Anya's hand and running out the club door.

Tara? Is that you baby? I didn't do this! I didn't. Don't you believe me? Don't I believe me?

"Willow!" It took a moment for Willow to register that Dawn was right in front of her face, screaming at her.

"Dawnie? Ohmygod Dawn, you're bleeding!" Willow said in a panicked voice as she took into account the blood trickling its way down Dawn's face and arms.

"I'm okay Will, just a few small cuts." Dawn grasped Willow's hands and brought them to waist level. "We should get out of here though, okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah. You're right," Willow said as she allowed Dawn to guide her out the front door of the club.

Chaos reigned outside the front door of "The Rhythm Room." A collection of police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks were assembled outside, their lights reflecting red, white, and blue flashes off of the street and building surfaces. Many concert-goers were being treated for their various nicks and cuts, while others were standing around holding each other and trying to explain the mysterious incident.

"Maybe they over-chilled the bottles, causing them to explode when they heated up too quickly?"

Me, it could be me, Willow thought glumly, not wanting to believe she was capable of that. I am though, I know it, but I just don't think it was me - wouldn't I know if it was? I mean I knew it was me when I tried to end the world, you'd think I'd know it was me raining down a plague of glass.

Willow pulled Dawn down a side alley, wishing to avoid any confrontation with the police. What would I say to them? My girlfriend and I had a fight, so I think my subconscious went all kaflooey and shattered every bottle in the place to make itself feel better, but then again, it could have been something else? Yeah, that'll go over well.

Willow and Dawn walked in silence down the side alley and then around the block and back onto the street that would take them home. Dawn reached over and interlaced her fingers with Willow's. Willow looked down at their linked hands and smiled.

"I, I'm not sure Dawnie. I, we, need to talk to Buffy, I don't know, I don't know..." Willow's voice trailed off.

Dawn nodded and squeezed Willow's hand slightly. Willow's hand returned the squeeze and the two walked on in silence.

The minute Willow and Dawn walked through the front door, they were face-to-face with a not-so-happy blonde Slayer.

"The news?" Buffy looked confused. "Well, I haven't seen the news yet, but I don't think that a blow-out fight between Willow and Kennedy would make the news, even on a slow night."

"I wouldn't use the word talk, exactly. I would say more that she slammed a few doors and then yelled at me for a few minutes about what an ungrateful brat sister I have and how I and said ungrateful brat sister have done nothing but get in the way of her and your's relationship and that since we feel that strongly about you, we can have you all to ourselves, and then more door slamming."

"Well, not eww to you two per se, I mean you're both hot mamas, but you're both like my sisters slash parental figures and that's just eww," Dawn said, a look of distaste on her face.

Buffy giggled. "I think Dawn here is inheriting a dirty mind from her sisters slash parental figures, wouldn't you say? Hey, wait a minute, why are you both bloody? I told you that Dawn was not allowed in the mosh pit, Will," Buffy said in her best stern maternal voice.

"Can we discuss this in private?" Willow asked, her eyes straying to the couch, where an interested Rona and Vi were listening in.

"Sure," Buffy said as she headed into the kitchen with Willow and Dawn following behind.

Once they sat down, Willow related the scene at "The Rhythm Room" - the flirtation between her and the singer, the fight between her and Kennedy, and the subsequent explosion of glass. "Buffy...I know I'm capable of that, I've done so much worse, but I don't really feel like I did, you know? I mean, I think I would know."

Dawn reached her hand across the table and squeezed Willow's hand, "I believe you, Will," Dawn said with a reassuring smile.

"Thanks Dawnie, but, I'm not sure I believe in me, I didn't see anything else that would cause that," Willow said with a frown.

"Well, that's what family is for - to believe in you even when you don't believe in yourself, right?" Dawn asked, her eyes fixed on Buffy.

"Yeah, Dawn, but family is also for supporting someone who's dealing with something they can't quite control."

Dawn's rant was cut short by Willow. "Dawnie, I love that you believe in me, but um, Buffy may be right, there's kinda something I haven't told you guys." Oh goddess, they're going to look at me the way they did before, that look of pity combined with fear, but I can't not tell them, I can't fall into old patterns. If I need help, I need help. I trust them to be here for me. "The other night, when..." Willow paused. "After I got done talking to the coven and I was trying to get a hold of Giles to find out what the frilly heck was going on, I was so upset and scared that I shattered everything on the mantle," Willow stated, her voice holding an edge of fear.

"Yeah, I know, that's kind of cause I did a spell to put everything back the way it was. I didn't want you guys looking at me the way you are now with the "Oh, Will's an evil, out-of-control super witchy bitch" look." Willow sighed.

"That is not the look I'm giving you Wills. This is more the 'I'm disappointed that Willow didn't trust us enough to be honest with us about something that is completely understandable' look," Buffy replied, her hand grabbing Willow's other hand and squeezing. "I hit walls and doors when I'm pissed or scared or upset. You shatter glass. Maybe not the healthiest coping mechanism, but hey, these are the things you take for granted when you have a carpenter around to fix the damage for free," Buffy said smiling.

Willow laughed as tears pooled in her eyes. "Yeah." She squeezed both of the hands that held hers.

"Look, Will, if you really think that you weren't the cause of the club blow-out, then I believe you, but we should find out what was. It's gotta be magic of some sort, and that kind of magic is serious business."

"Yeah. I think there's a spell I can do to see if I cast the spell subconsciously, I just need to make sure, for myself, and then we can go from there, okay?"

Willow frowned a bit and looked at Dawn. "Well, it might make me feel more warm and fuzzy if I had an anchor I trusted?" Willow asked hopefully.

"You heard her, she's getting way too old for me to be the boss of her, and even if she ever did bother to listen to me, I would have to say, 'Absolutely.'"

Willow smiled as a few tears escaped over the rims of her eyes. "I don't deserve you guys."

"Oh yes you do, but just remember that the next time this ungrateful brat and I have you all to ourselves and decide to ruin your relationships," Buffy said with a wink.

"Nope. Nada. Nothing. I'm getting concerned. Punctuality is Giles' most annoyingly consistent trait," Buffy said with a frown.

"That is weird. Dawn and I can do a locator spell, that should tell us where he is and maybe who we can call to find out what's up."

"Okay, but check yourself first, we should make sure..." Buffy's statement was cut short by the sound of knocking at the door. Buffy looked at the clock. "Huh, it's a bit late for neighborhood callers, maybe Kennedy ordered an "I'd like to forget this night ever happened" pizza?"

Wait. No. That presence. It's the same one I felt earlier today. All glow-y and cold and familiar and powerful.

Buffy and Dawn looked at each other in confusion and followed Willow out of the kitchen.

Tara and Anya walked down the street in silence with Emily and Enid following a few paces behind. Tara was a whirlwind of emotion. She needed to see Willow, but the consequences of her desire worried her, especially after what had gone down in the club. Tara had never, ever, seen Willow that out of control.

Tara had felt Willow's descent into darkness through their spiritual connection, but even then Willow seemed like she was in control of her powers - scarily in control, but in control nonetheless. But what happened in the club was pure chaos and Willow, Willow's reaction was of confusion and fear, like she didn't know or didn't mean it to happen. The lines aren't clear here - this isn't dark Willow or light Willow, this is a powerful Willow with little to no control over her power, how can I stop that, how can I hurt her knowing that she doesn't mean it? I can't, I can't hurt her, not even if...but what about all those people in the club, bloody and scared, what will happen if I don't? I'm so scared that I won't be enough, that I'll be too much, that Willow won't... Tara started shaking.

Anya reached over and grabbed Tara's hand silently. Tara looked down at the interlocked hands and smiled slightly, taking some comfort from the gesture. Well, it's kind of too late now, Tara. You went and got yourself and Anya all resurrected and stuff and the one person you love more than anything else, more than yourself, is Willow and you're just going to have to trust in that, to trust that she trusts in that, and to hope that's enough. Because if it's not, goddess help us all.

Anya stopped walking and Tara noticed they were before the Victorian house they had staked out earlier. Tara could see that most of the house's lights were on, indicating that most everyone was awake.

Tara nodded and approached the door, not letting go of Anya's hand. In front of the door, Tara raised her hand to knock, but paused her fist in mid-air. "Now or never," the words echoed in Tara's mind. Never isn't an option, so I guess it's gotta be now. Tara rapped her knuckles twice on the door and steeled herself for the response.

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Hell Hath No Fury

by Amazon Chyck

Copyright © November 2003

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