The Liar, the Witch and the Watcher by D.F. Spinner

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I did not create BtVS or their universe. All rights to that still belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy as well as any other Big Wigs involved. No copyright infringement is intended nor is any money being made. I am just taking the characters for a spin. Some of the characters in this fiction are totally mine. If you know the show you'll know which ones.
Distribution: The Mystic Muse: /mysticmuse.net
D.F.'s Fics: /spellspinner.proboards19.com/index.cgi
Feedback: Yes please. I would really like to hear from you.
Spoilers: Post-Chosen.
Author's Notes: This is my first real attempt at fan fiction so I won't make promises that you will like it. I have not tried to undo what Joss and ME has already done, but am picking up the pieces.
Pairing: Willow/Tara

Summary: Someone has stolen Tara's body from the cemetery and an old nemesis appears to have returned.

Willow Rosenberg had lived a very long life in Sunnydale California for her very short years. The auburn haired witch who was now 27 years old had seen the end of the world more times than she cared to remember. Being best friends with The Chosen One or Slayer was challenging but it had always been rewarding. It had given her life purpose and made her feel like she was making a difference. At least it always had before. Now she wasn't sure.

Sunnydale, now there was a flood of memories including the town itself. She looked out at the waves of the ocean as she walked. She was saying good-bye to her beachfront home tonight and tomorrow would take her back to New Sunnydale. The original Sunnydale had been destroyed when the First made his exit.

Her best friends were scattered. Buffy and Dawn were living in Italy now and not doing a lot of big bad fighting although the counsel had started training Dawn as a watcher once she had finished her masters program in Paranormal studies. With Giles, Faith, and Kennedy in England…Willow paused at that thought. Kennedy, she wondered how the young woman was now. The young slayer had never understood why Willow could not stay with her, and she was not sure that she would ever be able to explain it to her. Then there was Xander…Xander Harris still needed her whether he wanted to admit it or not, especially with all the new Slayers-in-training. Yes, she thought. I have to go back for Xander. He had been so serious since Anya's death. Her job with the Witches Counsel would allow her to work from anywhere and Xander had asked her to come back and live with him at The Watchers Estate so she was going.

Her mood only darkened with her memories. She thought about the one person that she would always think of….

Xander Harris liked his life in New Sunnydale. The young man still held his boyish charm even with the eye patch he now wore. He thought it made him appear worldlier. Xander had been very active in the rebuilding of the city. He knew that even though it was quieter now than it had ever been on the Hellmouth, it still had to be guarded and what better place could he train young slayers. He really missed his old friends but they talked as often as they could and he never knew when something would bring one of them to town. Even Angel found his way to Xander's doorstep on occasion. He laughed under his breath at the thought he and Angel ever actually becoming friends but the had done just that. They had come a long way from the original Scooby's.

Giles and Faith would be in town in a few days. They were moving for an official Watchers Counsel branch her in the US. It would really make all of their lives easier if they could have more resources at their disposal. This was one of the main reasons that he had asked Willow to return. He would really need her help as the most awesome Wicca in existence. He could not help but to be in awe of his life long friends abilities. He smiled as he thought of his oldest friend. They had been through so much together and he was really worried about her. Maybe a new cause would help her to find her way out of the fog she had been in since Tara's death.

He continued to think about the auburn haired witch as he waited for her plane to land. He could not believe that it had been over a year since he had seen her the last time. Her voice was sounding emptier than it had in a long time and he was sure that she was not taking care of herself. Then he saw her. He tried to hold back the tears that threatened to be shed as he rushed to her. She was so thin and pale….

"Hi Xander," she smiled but it was empty and did not quite make it all the way up her face.

"Will, I'm sorry," he said letting her go. "Here let me get your bag for you and we can go home if you like."

She just nodded at her friend but was quiet all the way to Xander's new home. Her new home she reminded herself. He had built a wing on just for her. She looked at the house with appreciation. She knew that he said that he designed it and was well impressed by the details. As he showed her around she noticed the convenience of the layout. Everything was easy to get to from everywhere else. She looked at him as he stopped in front of a set of beautiful mahogany double doors.

"Now," he said with a playful smile. "This would be the resident witches new digs."

He opened the doors and stood to the side and watched as Willow entered. She looked around completely amazed at the detail he had put into her dwelling. There were so many things for a witch to do here. Her kitchen was completely stocked with herbs, candles, and other witchy stuff as well as the normal kitchen type stuff. There was also an altar. Well, that was different in a sweet, Xander sort of way. Glass patio doors led outside to a perfect garden circle. Tara would have loved that she thought sadly. The bedroom was large and decorated in Earthy shades and a nice fireplace and wood all ready for the flaming. Then she noticed that Xander was standing in front of a single door.

A large desk supported a massive computer system and everything that she would need for her favorite past time on one wall. There was even a big comfy chair in the corner with a cute little lamp on a small table where she could use her laptop. Then she turned and her breath caught in her chest and tears streamed down her face. There on the wall was a beautiful portrait of Tara in Willow's favorite blue dress. Beneath it stood a small table with a candle to each side and a picture of Willow and Tara in the middle. Willow staggered backwards to be caught by Xander before she could fall to the ground.

"Oh Xander," she breathed as the tears flowed over her cheeks. "It's beautiful. Thank you so much."

"I was hoping you would like it Will," he told her and hugged her close. "I know how hard it's been for you."

She realized that he really did understand since he had lost Anya. They stood there for several moments and just clung to each other. She reached up and caressed his cheek wondering just when he had grown up so much.

Xander left Willow alone with her thoughts to get settled into her new home and rest up after her trip. He thought about how tired she appeared and hoped that she would be able to rest now that she was home again. He hoped that she would be able to think of this as home and that he had not forgotten anything that she would need in her part of the house. He knew that she would need some privacy for a while anyway.

"Miss Rosenberg," she called. "I'm Nancy. I have dinner ready for you. Would you like to join Master Xander in the dinning room or would you prefer your meal here tonight?"

Willow made her way to the main dinning room. Dinner was beyond wonderful but Xander noticed how little Willow had eaten. He did his best to keep the conversation cheery and as little about business as possible at least for tonight. He did not want to push her too hard and make her feel uncomfortable.

"Good," Xander answered as he dabbed his mouth with a napkin. "He and Faith are coming to town in a couple of weeks and wanted to see us if we aren't too busy."

"Like I could ever be too busy to see Giles," Willow said almost jumping out of her seat.

He smiled that was the first time he had seen her really smile since she had been here and that was the most excited he had heard her voice in a year.

That night after Willow had retired to her quarters Xander placed an overseas call.

"Giles I am telling you," he started. "She is not looking too good. As a matter of fact she looks like hell or worse."

"Xander," Giles told him. "Faith and I will be there in a few more days. Keep her spirits up until then and hopefully between us we can figure something out."

Willow tried to get comfortable in her new bed. She tossed and turned half the night but she just could not sleep. She did not seem to ever be able to sleep anymore. She turned and stared out the big picture window at the moonlight in the garden. Beyond the garden, though she could not see it at this moment she knew that there was a wooded area. She wanted to go exploring when she felt a little stronger. Coming back to Sunnydale had been very difficult for her and she wondered if she had made the right decision.

Just before dawn Willow finally drifted into a restless sleep only to be awakened in a short time screaming into the night. Her body was wracked with sobs from the horrible nightmare. Xander burst through the doors in his pajamas to find the woman sitting in the middle of her bed in tears.

Over the next few days Willow just wandered around the large estate. She watched the young slayers training and she watched Xander. Somehow she could not believe all that he had already accomplished here. She knew that he was the youngest Watcher ever. Hanging out with Buffy seemed to have prepared him well for the position.

Each afternoon she would visit the graveyard to see her beloved Tara and her parents who were killed when Old Sunnydale was devastated. She knew that she should not come here so often but she did not seem to be able to stay away. Her dreams at night were tormenting her with the loss of her lover and best friend. Xander knew that she was slipping away from him and he had no clue what to do. He could only watch from a distance helplessly.

Willow had been back for over a week and he knew that she went to the cemetery each afternoon. Today however, she had not come back as she usually did. It was getting late so he went to search for her. When he arrived at the cemetery he was met with a site that horrified him. Willow's limp body was draped across Tara's grave. He ran to her side.

"Will," he screamed as he fell beside her pulling her into his lap. "Oh God Will talk to me here."

She was breathing and he could not find any sign of injury. He scooped her up into his arms and carried her to his car. When he picked her up he was shocked at just how light she was. He knew then that she had not been eating. In the car he kept talking to her. He noted the dark circles under her eyes and the hollow look to her face.

"Will, you have to stay with me here," Xander said with desperation as he drove. "You know I need you to keep me together. What would I do without you Will?"

Tears streamed down the young man's face as he pulled in to the hospital parking area. He scooped her up again and almost ran with her into the Emergency Room entrance. How many times had they repeated this scene for one or more of their group, but usually it was a big bad or at least a big bad wannabe that put one of them in here, not themselves. He knew that she had been despondent but figured that she just needed time to adjust to being home again. He had not given it much thought that she had been taking her meals in her rooms. His eyes opened wide as he came to a sudden realization as he waited for the doctor to return.

Tears washed over his cheeks again as he sat there with his head in his hands. He pulled the cell phone out of his pocket and dialed a number.

"I'm at the hospital," he told the voice on the other end. "You have to come now. I think I am losing her. (Pause to listen) "Okay, I'll talk to you in a few hours."

"I'm afraid that Miss. Rosenberg almost succeeded in starving herself to death," the doctor came back. "It will be touch and go for a few hours but we have nourishment going into her system now. With any luck she should come through it without any long-term effects, but Mr. Harris I cannot release her without orders that she go through some psychiatric evaluation. She will have to stay a few days."

"They are moving her to a private room now," he finished. "You can join her there."

Xander sat in silence beside Willow's bed and watched the beautiful Wicca sleep. How did things get so messed up for her he wondered? It had been hard on all of them but when Will lost Tara it was as if it sucked the soul right out of her. She had tried to move on with Kennedy but no matter how hard she tried she just could not make it work with her. Xander had figured out a long time ago that it probably had something to do with the magical connection that the two witches had. No one would ever be able to touch that. He had never seen two people so close and so dedicated to one another. He also imagined that had things gone the other way and Tara had lived and Willow died that he would be facing the exact same challenge with Tara, or Buffy would have because since she was closer to Tara. He hated seeing her like this.

"Welcome back," he started as he saw her green eyes looking up at him. "You gave me a scare there Will."

"The hospital Will," Xander whispered. "You are going to be okay. Willow you can't do this. You can't kill yourself. Too many of us need you."

She turned her head away from him as tears started spilling onto the pillow under her head.

"I just can't do this anymore Xander," she told him honestly. "Everything is empty and meaningless. Nothing makes me feel anything. No one…."

"Will," Xander started to stroke her hair. "I know that this has been more than hard for you. I know that you feel like part of your soul was ripped out, but Tara would not want you to end this way. She would want to know that you went out fighting with all that you have inside of you."

"That is just it Xander," her eyes leapt to him! "There is nothing left inside of me to fight anymore. I have nothing left."

"You still have me," he reminded her. "You still have Buffy and Dawn. You have Giles and Faith and even Kennedy if you would let her. She understands that she can't be your lover but you won't even allow her to be your friend."

She turned away from him and faced the wall. He let out a deep sigh and just sat back in the chair to wait. He was not sure for what but he would wait and watch.

After Xander had left Willow at the hospital he had run a few errands and checked in with Nancy at the estate. Once he was assured that everything was going well there he headed for the airport. Their plane would be arriving soon and he did not want to make them wait. The sooner they could all put their heads together the better off Willow would be, at least he hoped.

"Willow," the soft voice came to her through the mist. "Willow, I am waiting for you. Where are you baby."

Willow tossed in her sleep. "Here baby," she cried out. "I'm trying to get to you sweetie."

She awakened with tears streaking her face and her body covered with perspiration. Another dream she thought, but it seemed so real. She knew that Tara was trying to find her and that she must be in trouble. The dreams were coming every time she was asleep now.

Xander had not been at the airport long when he saw the familiar forms emerge from one of the terminals.

They embraced and he helped them get their bags before heading to the estate. He did his best to fill them in as they went on everything that he knew had happened. Including the dreams that awakened Willow every night screaming. They wondered if there was some supernatural cause for the dreams. They would begin their research as soon as they got settled in and went to check on Willow.

"She looks just like she did when Tara first died," he started "but without the black magic mojo going on."

"We'll figure out something guys," Faith tried to assure them. "I mean she is strong. She's the strongest person I know…right?"

"I hope so Faith," Giles interjected as he cleaned his glasses. "I certainly hope so."

"Master Xander, Mr. Giles," Nancy greeted "it is so good to see you. You must be Faith," as she turned to the young woman in greeting. "Welcome to our home."

"This is Nancy," Xander smiled. "She acts like the housekeeper but this place would fall apart if it were not for her."

"Master Xander," Nancy insisted. "I hate to bother you with this now, but we have reports of some strange occurrences over the past several hours. I thought you might want to send someone to check it out." She handed him a telegram.

"Thanks Nancy," he said looking at the report. Did he say when they might be hitting us?'

"Afraid not Master Xander," Nancy replied. "Only that if you need him to call and he would be here."

Xander offered him the paper. After reading it he removed his glasses and handed it over to Faith who saw fit to sit in the middle of the floor after reading it.

"But the First," she offered. "I thought we managed to close off his one route of escape."

"I don't know," said Giles. "It may not be him but it certainly looks like his calling card."

"I'll call the Watchers Counsel and see if they can send Kennedy to check out things in LA," Giles told them. "I am sure that Angel would be more than happy for the help."

"I am quite sure that we shall need you right here," Giles assured Faith. "Especially if this monk is one of the Firsts. We have an entire group of girls that may need protecting."

After Giles had made his call Xander gave them a quick tour of Slayer Central before they headed to the hospital. Giles seemed to be quite impressed by the Martial Arts Training classes. He was amazed at what Xander had managed to get approved by the counsel in such a short time. He knew that getting the counsel to do anything was like pulling teeth at times.

Faith had not said much about the facility, but she wanted to use the gym when they finished for the day. She needed to stretch her muscles and give them a good work out. Maybe she could get some of the more advanced trainees to spar with her so she could get a really good work out. Or maybe she would go out for a little slaying. That always took her mind off things as well.

Willow had awakened screaming again. She was not aware of the hand stroking her hair.

"Hey Red," Faith shushed quietly still stroking the redhead's hair. "It's okay. Just a bad dream."

"Yes," he started cleaning his glasses again. "Willow you've had us all a bit worried you know."

Willow looked up at the raven-haired slayer. She could not ever remember seeing such concern in the woman's eyes before.

"You know you have to hurry up and get better," Faith continued. "I need you to give me the 411 on this whole Witches Counsel thing. I have to work with them and I would rather it be with you."

"Yeah," Faith began. "Seems your boy over here has gotten this wild idea about starting a separate Watchers Counsel Headquarters here in the US and he wants to combine forces with the Witches Counsel so that everyone has the resources they need more easily."

Willow looked at Xander with a whole new respect. That was some undertaking and she could not imagine how he could have ever gotten one counsel to agree to try it much less both. They hated working together as a general rule.

"Will," Xander pulled her from her thoughts. The Doc says they are going to keep you in here for a couple of days but you should be out of here by Monday morning. I need you for this project if you are up to it. Maybe it will give you something to take your mind away from more painful things."

"Besides Red," Faith gave her that special smile. "Who am I gonna play with if you are in here the whole time?"

Willow's eyes opened wide at that thought. She had helped Faith when she had to find her way back out of the darkness that almost destroyed them all. They had even become friends but that comment worried her just a little. Faith was a handful even on a good day.

The friends talked but tried to keep the conversation light. They did not wish to over tax the witch's energy. They knew that she needed to rest and the last thing they wanted was to worry her with thoughts of the First being back in their lives. She listened to their banter and felt Faith still stroking her hair. It was not long before she was drifting back into sleeps embrace.

This time she awoke yelling Tara's name. Her three friends looked at her. Worry lined their faces.

"It's okay Red," Faith calmed her. "It was just a dream. I'm here and I have you now." She looked at Giles and Xander. "I'm going to stay here tonight."

They agreed and said their goodnights. Faith climbed onto the side of the bed and held Willow as she cried. When she wrapped her arms around the redhead her breathing seemed to calm. Soon she had drifted back to sleep. This time she did not wake up screaming or crying. Every time Willow seemed to be getting agitated Faith would talk to her in a calm quiet voice and stroke her hair and face. She reminded her that she was right there and that nothing was going to hurt her it as just a dream. Faith had never seen Willow like this. She would not leave her until they could figure something out. She did not have a lot of friends and she certainly did not want to lose this one.

As Faith had held Willow through the night she could not help but notice that the woman's bones were practically pushing through the skin in places. She had always thought that Willow was beautiful and she still was but her face looked hollow and almost dead with dark circles under her eyes and she was even more pale than normal. Faith swallowed the lump in her throat as she realized how close they had just come to losing this wonderful person. A single tear found its way down her cheek.

"Faith?" Willow questioned with those big green eyes staring at her. "Are you okay?"

Willow's hand made her way to the woman's check to wipe away the tear. She could never remember seeing her cry before.

"You just scared me Red," she told her honestly. "You are one of my only friends and I almost lost you without even knowing it was happening ya know."

Willow thought about those words as the woman clung to her. Faith's single tear had turned to many and Willow repositioned herself so that she could hold the woman close to her.

"I'm just so lost Faith," Willow told her. "I don't know how to function anymore."

"You have to let us help you Willow," Faith almost pleaded with her. "Please, talk to us. Please talk to me."

The redhead just simply nodded at her and she knew that meant that she would at least try. That was at least something. By the time Xander and Giles returned to get Faith she had moved to the chair next to the bed again and the girls were laughing a little at some silly thing that Faith had said. Willow was thankful that they had not come in before now. She knew that it was very hard for Faith to allow herself to be as vulnerable as she had with her earlier and that was something just between them. Just between friends.

Faith came back and spent each night. Willow worried about her not getting enough rest but she also knew that there was no talking her out of it. She had to admit she had gotten more sleep with her there than not. More sleep than she had had in weeks or maybe months. Monday morning bright and early Xander and Giles were there to take them home. Willow was still weak but the liquid nourishment had done wonders for her. Now if only she could get herself to actually eat. Faith had told them she would meet them at the house. There were some things that she needed to take care of before joining them.

Xander would not allow Will to walk once they got to the house. He picked her up and carried her to her suite of rooms. Placing her gently on the bed he started to tease her.

"You know Will," Xander started. "I know that I fantasized about taking you to bed but honestly this is not what I had in mind."

Xander managed to duck but Giles was not so lucky as he took the pillow in the face. He just gave them both a stern look before breaking down and smiling at them both and hitting Xander with the rogue pillow. A frantic pillow fight ensued with much laughter to follow.

"Ahem," Nancy cleared her throat at the door to the room to get their attention.

They all looked as if they had been caught with their hand in the cookie jar and she erupted with laughter before reminding them that there was work that needed to be attended to. She smiled at Willow as she chased the overgrown boys from the room.

Willow just shook her head and said thank you before trying to get settled comfortably on the bed. The trip from the hospital had zapped her energy and it was not long before sleep began to overtake her.

Faith had started through the door in time to see Willow climbing out the window. She dropped the bags that she had been carrying.

She picked Willow up and placed her back on the bed gently. The woman had never even completely awakened. That fact worried Faith a lot. How could they keep her from sleepwalking and was it as simple as that?

Late that night in the local cemetery two young slayers in training were on patrol. Kim and Beth were talking about the increased patrols and the new rule that no one was to patrol alone. They were wondering what that was all about. Sometimes it was nice to get away from all the other girls. After all they had to be with each other 24 hours a day most days.

Both girls swung into action as the Vamps attacked. These vamps seemed stronger than the typical newly animated demons that usually rose in the cemetery. Even so they managed to take them both down and even chased off a couple of others that had thought about joining their buddies. It was weird though. Since the incident with the First most vamps tended to stay to themselves in New Sunnydale.

When the girls returned to the Watchers Estate they reported immediately to Xander. He and Giles looked at each other for a moment and then made some comment about business getting back to usual.

"Well Faith as much as I would like to say yes that also means you," Xander looked frustrated. "I know that you wouldn't listen to me anyway. So no, that does not also mean you…but please, be careful."

Giles tried not to laugh at the young mans look. He remembered too many times when he and Buffy as well as he and Faith had the exact same conversation.

"She was sleepwalking I think," Faith returned. "She was trying to climb out the window saying that she had to help Tara. I am real worried about her Giles."

The next morning Willow awakened to find Faith sitting in her usual spot beside her. She could not help but smile at the young woman.

"Good actually," Willow answered. "I always seem to sleep better when you are here. Isn't that funny?"

Faith got up and brought over one of the bags that she had carried in the night before.

"And you won't be until you try putting some food into your body," Faith warned her. "I am going to sit here until you eat something and besides I brought you all kinds of goodies."

Let's see," she started. "We have bagels and I put the cream cheese in the fridge. There are also strawberries. I know how you always liked those. "

Faith waggled her eyebrows at that and Willow could not help but laugh at her friend.

"What else have we got in here," she dug around for a moment. "Ahhh, here we go Donuts and a book on Wicca for beginners."

Willow stopped and looked at the slayer shocked and confused. She could not believe that Faith was going to do any kind of studying much less reading up on Wicca.

"Well I figured if I am going to be working with witches," Faith admitted "that I should understand at least a little of what they are talking about."

Faith gave Willow one of those rare but beautiful smiles. It really touched the redhead to see the interest that Faith was putting into her and the cause that they had always strived for. It was good to see her on this side of the fight and not where she had started out.

Faith got a bagel ready for her as well as one for herself, and watched the frail witch eat. It took her some time but she managed to finish the whole thing.

"I also want to find out what you would like for lunch," Faith told her. "I need to tell Nancy early or you might have to eat my cooking and that would kill you."

Willow could not help but laugh. She really did not know what she would want so she just said that anything would be fine. Faith gently reminded her that she would be eating with her to make sure that she did.

"Would you see if Nancy or someone could take some fresh flowers to Tara's grave this morning?" Willow asked in a small quiet voice.

"Sure Red," Faith smiled. "I'll make sure it gets taken care of. If Nancy can't go I'll go myself."

It was a quarter past nine when Nancy left for the flower shop and almost ten when she arrived at the cemetery. She had decided that she really liked Miss Rosenberg so it was a pleasure to take care of this task for the young woman. Not that Nancy was old. The 33 year old had loved serving the counsel and Master Xander was extremely pleasant to work for. She hoped that they never asked her to return to England, she was enjoying her life here and she thought that she could really be of aid with Miss Willow. Nancy was nowhere near the powerful witch that Miss Rosenberg was but she was pretty good in a tight spot.

The walk through the cemetery was quiet and peaceful, not at all what the slayers described that had happened in the hours after sundown. Ah, there was Miss Tara's stone she thought. Oh my!

"Mr. Giles!" Nancy insisted. "I am telling you that Miss Tara's body is gone. The stone is still there but the grave has been dug up!"

He rushed to get Xander and Faith and they left immediately for the cemetery along with the two slayers that had patrolled the previous night. Sure enough there was the empty grave just as Nancy had reported along with the flowers that she had dropped in her moment of shock.

"Why would someone steal the body of a dead witch?" Faith looked confused at the two watchers.

Willow had decided to take a walk on the grounds that morning after Faith had made her breakfast of bagels. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shinning and there were flowers blooming. A cool breeze brushed across her face as she stared into the trees. She had passed several slayers training with staffs in the courtyard. She smiled at the thought that it was she who ultimately started this whole mess making it possible for there to be more than one slayer at a time. She was glad that Buffy and Faith no longer had to feel so alone in the world. A grim look crossed her face, like she was. She realized that even if there were someone with magical gifts that somehow came her way it would never be the same and never be enough.

The sun warmed her skin as she strode through the meadow. Taking a seat beside a solitary tree in the center she leaned back and tried to relax. She was tired from her walk and was about to drift off to sleep when she heard someone coming. She smiled.

"I should have gone with him," Faith complained pacing back and forth across the room in her usual black leather outfit. "What if she needs help getting back to the house?"

"Xander had his cell phone with him," Giles assured her. "He will let us know if they need assistance."

Willow entered the room clinging to Xander's arm for support. She'd obviously been crying. She could not believe that someone would steal Tara's body. They had to find out who and why. She would not rest until they did.

She did not even stop to look at anyone she just went straight to the computer and started to tapping away at the keyboard. Then she stopped for just a moment and turned to Faith.

"If you are worried about me eating," she started "You can have the food brought in here. I'll be working."

Willow listened to the watchers as they gave her all the information that they had on what was going on. Not really knowing if it even tied in but they could not take the chance to leave anything out. Willow searched for any information that could help them at all. She also e-mailed a friend and told her that she might need her help if she was available.

"I need to see the two slayers that were patrolling the cemetery last night," she said to no one in particular without ever looking up from her work.

Xander sent for Kim and Beth. They were nervous when they arrived at the door to see the witch. None of the new slayers had even really met her since she had arrived even though they had seen her wandering around the estate. They had all been too afraid to speak to her and now she had called for them. The only thing they really knew about her is that she had been ill and was slowly recovering. The girls looked at each other and heaved a collective sigh before they entered the room.

Willow looked at the girls. It was easy to see how nervous they were. She tried to smile to set them a little more at ease as she questioned them about the attack in the cemetery the night before and asked them if there had been anything out of the ordinary about this night or these particular vamps.

"Yeah," Beth finished. "Not like the newly dead that we usually meet out there."

"The two we killed at least," Kim reminded her. "The others ran before we could engage them."

Willow considered the information for a moment. "Did you see anything else going on in the cemetery," she asked them.

"We were umm," Beth interjected "a little busy with the vamps to notice much else."

Willow could not help but smile at the two younger women. It was cute how they finished each other's thoughts like that. It reminded her of the way that she and Tara had always been together.

"I would like for the two of you to assist me," Willow started as she turned to Xander. "That is if it is okay with your watcher?"

The two girls giggled with glee and Faith rolled her eyes. Oh boy she thought. Red has stolen two more hearts. She was actually glad to see her friend smile.

Willow sent the two slayers back out to the cemetery to see what they could find and to question any of their field contacts.

"Xander," she started. "I know that you really are not going to like this but I think we need someone that is especially gifted in gathering information of an unworldly nature."

"Xander you know he is the one that can get to the bottom of what is going on if we need undead information," Willow reminded him. "And it's not like I am asking you to room with him again."

"Oh, you just had to remind me of that," he sighed. "Okay, I'll call but I am not going to be all happy about it."

When the phone rang they were all in need of a short break. It had been a long time since they had faced this type of challenge together and they worked just as hard as they ever had even though their numbers and some of the members were different.

After a couple of minutes she handed the phone back to Giles and headed to the computer to start typing in some more information. Faith and Nancy had brought in a tray of sandwiches as well as soup and drinks for everyone.

Xander took the phone and gave his friend that "I can't believe you are making me do this," look.

"Giles," Willow called him over. "The monk fits the same MO as the ones with the First when we dealt with him the last time. Of That I am sure, but not much else. One slayer is dead already."

She was trying to go over the information in her head as Faith started pushing a mug of soup in her direction.

"Hey Red," Faith looked at her with concern again. "Not so hard okay. We'll get to the bottom of this but I don't want you to overdo it. Now eat something."

"It will be a while before Kim and Beth get back," Faith started again with a softer tone. "So after you finish your soup why don't we go to your suite so you can catch some sleep?"

Willow knew that Faith was right. She was exhausted and they would need her more as this investigation progressed and she had the feeling that she was going to need all of her energy for that.

"What's the matter Giles," Jenny returned. "Can't get your thoughts together? You know that Willow is not going to make it Giles. You can't trust her this time."

"No," Giles retorted! "She is a little weak but she will be fine. I know she will."

"Come on," she offered. "You know you have had your doubts about her ever since Tara's death. She is too unstable."

Jenny continued to talk as she moved in behind him and rubbed his shoulders. He could not believe it was she. Then he remembered the reports from when they had gone against the First the last time.

"No," he yelled! "You are not Jenny and I will not listen to your lies. Just go away!"

He stood and went back into the house. Seeing no one around he made his way to the library and grabbed some books and started to study.

"Xander," she continued. "How could you have allowed me to die that way? I loved you. I wanted to spend eternity with you."

"Anya," Xander started to cry. "No, I couldn't stop it. You saved Andrew and I couldn't find you."

"You know how futile it is to go up against me," said the being still looking like Anya. "You can't win. Not this time."

"And you know that we will never give up," Xander assured her before she disappeared.

Faith watched as the redhead slept her restless sleep. She had to quiet her a couple of times but at least this time she did not try to get out of the bed. She leaned back in her chair and tried to relax. She knew that her slayer senses would kick in if the woman tried to leave the room.

"Willow," the voice called again from the mist. "Willow I can't see you. Please where are you?"

The mist began to swirl around her and she could see the outline of a figure. She was almost sure that it was Tara but as she tried to move close the figure moved away from her.

"Hey Red," Faith shook her gently. "Wake up time Red. That is some intense dream there."

Faith looked pale. It had been all she could do to get Willow to wake up this time. She had shaken her for a good five minutes before the woman responded.

Faith climbed onto the bed next to the redhead and pulled her into her lap holding her as close as she could.

With that Willow seemed to calm down a bit as she realized where she was. She buried her head in Faith's shoulder and sobbed. Faith just held on and rocked the woman lightly and stroked her hair. She kissed her head and hair for her own assurance that the woman was okay and still with her.

Faith tried to stretch her back from sitting in the same position half the night holding the beautiful witch but she was trying not to wake her. Xander knocked on the door as he popped into the room.

"Whoa," he said shocked at the sight in front of him, he started to back out of the room. "Sorry, I'll come back later."

"Xander," Faith stopped him. "Get back in here. She was just having those dreams again," she assured him.

Okay," Xander exclaimed "but that was just weird seeing you two like…umm. Well you know."

Willow smiled up at him. You always did like jumping to conclusions she reminded him as she reached up and kissed Faith on the cheek.

"Oh like I needed that picture in my head," he complained as he closed the door! "Thank you very much!"

They quickly got up and Willow hit the shower as Faith got their breakfast from Nancy and brought it back to the suite.

Faith could not believe that this was the same young woman who she practically had to force to eat yesterday.

Beth and Kim did not have a lot to report. They had found an odd coin but Giles had not been able to find a match in any of the books as of yet. They were all waiting for Faith and Willow when they finally got there.

"Nice of you ladies to join us this morning," Xander poked at them with a smile.

Both Willow and Faith rolled their eyes at him as Giles gave them an odd sort of look. The slayers gave their reports quickly and gave the coin to Willow. She thanked them and told them that she would see them after they had gotten some sleep. She was hoping that they could find out something about the coin between now and then.

Giles and Xander both recounted their experiences from the night before. A sense of dread filled the witch.

"Well I think we can assume for now," she started "that we are dealing with the First again. That still does not explain why he would want Tara's body. Maybe we should assume they might not be connected."

"Maybe not," Xander offered "But let's just take it slow and make sure. No need to treat them as separate investigations just yet. Plus Will, we need to consider that your dreams might also be a part of this whole thing."

"No," Willow protested. "Tara is trying to reach me. She's in trouble or something. Maybe she is trying to tell me who stole her body.

The witch had gone into full babble mode. This was the first time since she had been there that this had happened. It actually brought a smile to her friends faces because this was the Willow they all knew and loved.

Willow popped onto her computer and became fairly excited. It seems that her friend had answered her e-mail and would be on her way to New Sunnydale as soon as she could get it arranged. This would be a great help in their investigation. She decided not to tell the others and to let this be a surprise to them. A very nice surprise indeed she smiled to herself.

After a good sleep Kim and Beth woke up ready to go. They had scheduled a training session with Faith for the early afternoon. They could not believe that they would actually be able to train with one of the original slayers. Faith had become legendary whether she knew it or not. This was the part of their studies that they loved. They hated working with the tutors on regular schoolwork, but they had to admit that the schedule that Master Xander had set up for them was much better than what they had expected. At least they get to sleep in after a night of slaying, not at all like the older slayers.

Faith stood in the middle of the gym in her black sweats and sports bra. She had been stretching and was ready to go. Beth being the more confident of the two jumped right in. After a couple of moves Faith stopped her and invited Kim to join her friend.

Looking unsure at each other for a moment they both went on the offensive attacking at the very same moment. Faith was amazed at the synchronicity of the two girls. Willow had been right about them. Every move was like a complex dance. She had to keep her head to keep up with them, but she still had more experience and she used that to her advantage. She had worked with the girls both together and separately for almost two hours before sending them to the showers.

Xander stood against the wall and slowly clapped his hands once the girls had left the room.

"I had almost forgot how good you looked doing that," he told her. "They are good aren't they?"

"They are," Faith complimented. "I would like to work with them some more while I am here. I think they are still holding back, not to mention they need to learn more about fighting without each other. They are almost unbeatable together but they seem lost when the other is not in the middle of the fight with them. That could get them killed."

"I agree." Xander nodded. "While you are here they are all yours. Within reason," he winked and turned to leave the room.

Faith stepped into the kitchen to find Xander standing in front of Nancy who was leaning back against the counter laughing at something he had said. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek and the woman blushed a bright red.

"Now that is what I call help," Faith teased which caused Nancy's color to brighten and Xander to also blush.

"And I really should get back to work Master Xander," Nancy smiled as she left the room.

"Master huh?" Faith taunted. "Well now that certainly puts things in a new light."

Willow had been working at her computer and with the books that Xander and Giles had provided all morning and afternoon. She only stopped when Faith came in because she was reminded that she had not had lunch yet. She sat down to pasta and garlic bread with the slayer.

She reached over and dabbed a bit of tomato sauce from the edge of the raven-haired woman's mouth. Faith's breath caught at the touch and pulled away. Willow smiled as they continued their conversation. Seems that they really did have a lot to talk about. So much had happened since Old Sunnydale and this was really the first time they had had to catch up. They had both been so many places and had some grand adventures. The Witches Counsel had recruited Willow right after their battle with The First. Faith had spent three years in Ireland and then on to England with Giles and Kennedy. She enjoyed telling the young witch about Ireland. She actually was thinking maybe she could talk her into visiting there with her when this was all over with. It was a thought anyway.

After lunch Faith talked the Wicca into a walk on the grounds. The sky was overcast and a breeze brushed by making it quite pleasant out. They stood and watched a group of young slayers practicing in the courtyard before heading into the woods and down by the stream. Faith sat under a tree pulling Willow with her. She tossed pebbles into the water as the witch settled beside her. She still looked so tired Faith thought.

Willow took her hand and allowed the woman to lead her head into her lap. As Faith stroked her hair they talked more about Ireland and Egypt where Willow had spent some of her time, she soon drifted off to sleep.

"She will never let you get that close to her," She commented looking down at the redhead. "She is just waiting to die you know that."

"Ohhh, such a temper," the voice was cool. "I just want to be your friend. Isn't that what you've always longed for? A friend that is. Not like you can trust any of the others to understand you or accept you? You're not like them. You never will be."

"Temper, temper now," the creature reminded. "You are going to wake her up. She really looks like she could use the rest. She is so pale and weak. I mean it would take almost nothing at all to end her life right now."

"Get Out Of Here," Faith growled! "You touch her and no place in this universe will be safe for you."

"The First," Faith said. "At least I think it was. He took the form of Buffy that time."

Willow nodded. "Yeah he took her form with Spike the last time," she reminded her.

They had always assumed he could do that because Buffy had been dead and they had brought her back after the fight with Glory. Willow sat up.

As the women arrived back at the Watchers Estate the slayers were heading out for their nightly patrols. They spot Kim and Beth, Faith calls to them. She wanted to talk to them about the changes in their training schedule only to find that Master Xander had already spoken to them. Both girls were very excited about their chance to train with Faith and they babbled nonstop. It reminded Faith a lot of Willow whenever she got excited.

"Looks like someone has groupies," Willow teased as the girls disappeared out of sight.

Just outside the walls of the estate a strange man in a brown robe lunged from the darkness to catch Kim's arm with a curved dagger. Another launched himself at Beth's chest. There was no time for the girl to even react. Just before his dagger finds its mark the man comes to a sudden stop, which is followed by a loud cracking sound and an unnatural twisting of the robed figures neck. A white haired man quickly turned on his heels and took down the other robed figure before he could strike at Kim again.

"Names Spike," he said. "Best get your little friend inside and get that arm looked at."

Beth quickly helped Kim to her feet and led the way as they all headed into the main house. Once there, Giles and Nancy met them at the door.

Nancy moved quickly to the girls' side checking out her injuries as Beth explained.

"Left two dead monks on your doorstep," Spike told them as Willow came through the door with Faith who was immediately beside the young slayer looking over her injuries.

She had seen Spike the last couple of times she had been in LA assisting Angel, and was always happy to see the vampire. They had always understood each other even when the others could not. She had even tried to console him when the initiative had placed that chip in his head and he could not bite her.

"She'll be fine." Nancy assured them. "A few stitches and she'll be good as new in a couple of days."

Faith watched to make sure the bandages were not too tight and that her slayer was being cared for properly.

The small group made their way outside to where the monks had attacked. It was definitely the same ones that had taken out so many potential slayers, killing them in cold blood.

Willow led Spike and the others to the office so they could fill him in on what they knew so far, including Faith's conversation with Buffy in the woods. They were now sure that they were dealing with The First but it might not only be The First. They still had to determine that part. Spike took in the information and he was ready to head out for a little fact gathering.

"I'm not dying this time," Spike said matter-of-factly. "It's someone else's turn.

That brought a smile to some faces around the room. None of them had forgotten the sacrifice that the vampire had willingly made the last time.

To everyone's surprise Xander offered to go on patrol with Spike. Nancy moved behind the seated watcher and placed her hand on his shoulder. Willow did not fail to notice the intimacy in that gesture. She also mused at how much her friend had matured since the last time they were all here together. Times they were a changin' she thought to herself.

"Sorry mate," Spike reminded him that he would have to go into some areas where humans would mean certain death for both of them.

Spike loved to annoy the crap out of Xander but he had to admit to himself that he rather liked the one eyed menace. Even if Xander still hated him.

Willow returned to her suite after Spike had left. Even she would have to admit as to how tired she was. It had been a long day all the way around. She had already gotten ready for bed when Faith returned. She was happy to see the slayer.

"Would you like me to crash somewhere else tonight?" Faith questioned. "You know give you a little space? I could always bunk in with the other girls."

"Not unless you want to," Willow told her. "I kind of like having you around to keep me company. Besides I sleep better when you are here," she said honestly. "un unless you are tired of me that is."

Faith smiled because she really did not want to sleep with the other slayers. She liked being here where she could keep an eye on the witch.

"We should probably do something about your sleeping arrangements though," Willow told her. "That chair can't be comfortable."

Faith came up with a quick solution and moved the daybed from the other room to the foot of Willow's bed. That would give them both some room and she could still keep an eye on Red.

The two women shared some thoughts from their day with each other as they settled into their beds. Willow was pleased that Kim was not hurt any worse than she was, and it was an absolute miracle that Spike had arrived at just the right moment to save the two slayers from those monks. Willow wondered how the monks communicated and if there was not some way to disrupt that communication in order to disable them. That was something that they had not thought to look into the last time they had to deal with them. She was glad that Spike was there and already looking into the problem. Now if her other agent would just show up their team would almost seem like old times.

It did not take either woman long to drift off to sleep, nor did it take long for the voice to call Willow into the night.

Willow climbed out of the bed being as quiet as she could. She moved silently across the grounds and through the woods. It was a beautiful night she was thinking. Once she arrived at the stream she stopped in her tracks.

The form turned around but didn't speak. The ghostly figure approached and reached out as to touch her. As she reached for her Willow fell onto the ground unconscious.

Faith awakened with a start. She could not catch her breath. It was as if someone was trying to suffocate her in her sleep but no one was there. She struggled for several minutes then suddenly she was free. Whatever it was that had held her was gone. She sat up gasping for air.

The witch was nowhere to be seen but the window stood wide open. She jumped out of the bed and ran out into the night yelling for the redhead. She wondered if Red was sleepwalking again. At least she hoped that's what was happening. Faith yelled into the night as she ran. She reached out with her slayer senses. There was something? What was it? She felt a sense of urgency as she rushed toward the stream where the women had been earlier in the evening.

She kneeled beside the woman and scooped her into her arms. She was shaking and cold. Faith picked up her friend and carried her back to the estate. She was met at the door by Nancy who for some reason had a blanket and a hot water bottle. She pushed past her and went straight to Willow's suite. Nancy had thrown the blanket around the still frail woman as she brought her in and followed them.

Nancy just nodded as she situated the hot water bottle on the redhead's stomach. Then she moved back and allowed the slayer to continue as she was. It did not take long for the witch to regain consciousness.

She was trying to get out of the bed and it took Faith all of her slayer strength to stop the witch.

Nancy mused at how gentle the dark slayer was with the Wicca. The woman was oblivious to everything else around her. Faith certainly did not fit the stories that the watchers had passed around about her. Something major must have happened to change the woman. Nancy had no doubt that the witch was in good hands so she excused herself to give them a little privacy as well as to catch Mr. Giles and Master Xander up on what was happening with their favorite witch.

"Did either of you happen to think it odd that it's the middle of summer in Southern California and she was freezing cold when you found her," Giles questioned. "I mean the low was 89 degrees last evening."

"I think we were both more concerned for warming Miss Willow." Nancy commented "than the temperature last night."

Faith hung her head still feeling guilty that she had not heard the woman get up and leave the room. Then there was the whole something suffocating her thing. She had told Giles and Xander about that feeling although no one was sure as to what to make of it yet.

"Beth and Kim are sitting with Willow this morning Faith," Xander informed her. "Why don't you go get some rest so that you will be ready for tonight just in case?"

Faith nodded and headed to one of the guest bedrooms. She knew that there would be no way she could sleep in the room with Willow if the slayer twins were there. She liked the girls but they were typical teenagers and did not know when to stop talking. Besides she did not even deal well with teenagers when she was one.

Faith's dreams tormented her as she kept seeing Willow walking off a cliff into the arms of some demon. Faith woke up in a cold sweat and decided that she had to work off some of the tension she was feeling. She hit the gym and worked out for over an hour at full speed and strength. Some of the younger slayers watched in amazement at how she never stopped moving.

After a shower Faith went to the kitchen to gather up a tray of food, which she took to Willow. Kim and Beth greeted her at the door. They informed her the day had been uneventful but that Miss Willow seemed to be having some disturbing dreams. She told the girls to go get some dinner as she placed the food on a small nightstand beside Willow's bed. Leaning over she brushed a strand of hair from the woman's face and kissed her on the forehead gently before she awakened her.

Giles and Xander were having a discussion with Spike about the information that he had found. Seems the First had reactivated their entire legion of blind monks to destroy the slayers. There entire objective was to search and destroy. Nothing had been said about the witch however. No one seemed to know anything about that. There was not even any speculation at this point as to why anyone would steal the missing witch's body.

Xander put in a call to the Watchers Counsel to warn them that something big was up and put all slayers on alert. He suggested that all the younger slayers be moved to safe havens and guarded by as many older slayers and Witches Counsel members as possible.

The counsel also had some information for him. Seems that some ancient wizard was found half dead last evening. The man had disappeared several hundred years ago and suddenly appeared off of the coast of Ireland on a floating block of ice. He had not been able to give them any information yet for he was trapped in some sort of sleeping spell and no one had been able to revive him as of yet. Actually until they had found him he had always been considered only a legend.

As morning arrived Faith awakened on the sofa to find Willow snuggled up close to her with the television still running. They had apparently fallen asleep watching that silly apple pie movie. She squeezed her arm tighter around the redhead just thankful to know that she had made it safely through one more night. Willow shifted slightly and smiled up at the slayer.

"You know," she said. "If we keep doing this people are going to start getting the wrong idea."

They went through their morning routine of getting ready as Nancy knocked on the door bearing food for the two of them. Willow had answered in her robe. Faith was still in the shower but with the door half open in case Willow had needed her.

"Nancy," Willow frowned. "If we are to get along you have to stop calling me that. Please it is just Willow."

Willow rolled her eyes but decided that was at least better. It did not make her feel as much like her mother. Faith had a wicked look on her face as she came out of the bathroom in her towel. Willow flashed a surprised look in her direction as Nancy smiled and excused herself from the room abruptly.

Willow reminded the Dark Slayer that she was incorrigible as they sat down to a scrumptious breakfast of Eggs Benedict and fruit. Nancy was an excellent cook and they had decided they all would be plump in no time at all with her in the kitchen.

The two women laughed all the way to their morning meeting with Xander and the rest of the Scooby's. Willow felt relieved to be finding her sense of purpose once again. She knew that somehow they would be able to help Tara if she were in trouble and stop The First as well. She had not felt this confident in a long time. She looked at Nancy as they entered the room. She gave her a knowing smile and wondered when the woman would confide in her that she was a witch? She had known since she arrived but she was not sure that Xander or the others knew.

Xander greeted her with his usual hug and Spike with his usual I'm not gonna smile face. It felt good to have the gang back together again. The morning reports were made and Willow was taken aback at the news of the Wizard and wondered how that could possibly tie in. She decided that it really couldn't and filed it away as an interesting occurrence.

"Faith we are going to send you out with Beth and Kim tonight," Xander explained. "Spike says that something is going down at one of the crypts and needs to be checked out. He will be joining you also."

"That would be my job tonight," Nancy spoke up. "Mr. Giles and Master Xander will be going out patrolling with other slayers."

"Until we know why you are sleepwalking," Giles started. "I think this is best Willow."

Everyone nodded in agreement with the watcher before they each headed in their own directions for the day. Willow had decided to spend her time in her suite as Faith did her training time with the girls. She was tapping away on her laptop draped across her comfy chair in her office. Several hours later she laid her head back on the armrest and drifted off to sleep.

Several slayers converged on the crypt where Spike had indicated he would be waiting. There was no sign of activity anywhere but there was that feeling in the air that something was about to happen. Faith could not help but think about the super vamps that they had had to battle the last time they came in contact with these guys, but she was pretty sure that they had destroyed the last of those guys.

The hair stood up on the back of her neck as Spike appeared from around the corner motioning for them to remain silent. He pointed at their weapons that they should have them ready and then they made their way into the dark opening.

When they entered the crypt it looked no different from the many others they had crawled around in over the years Faith thought. There was nothing there and it was in bad need of a cleaning. The slayers and Spike began looking around for a hidden door or some secret passage, as the room they were in was bare. Faith pushed back the lid to a single stone sarcophagus to the side of the room. There was no bottom so she motioned for the others to follow her.

They climbed deep into the earth, and the deeper they went Faith noticed that the colder it got. Not just cool like most caves and such but actually cold enough to see their breath as they breathed. Spike pushed by the girls in the narrow passage toward Faith.

"I know," Faith assured him. She had felt that ever sense they had entered the passage.

It was too quiet and she knew that was not about to last. They were expecting her or they would have already surprised someone down here. The passage began to widen just slightly and the floor began to level out. They were no longer descending as quickly. The girls behind her were breathing into their hands trying to warm them frequently.

Willow helped Nancy clean the dishes after they had dinner. It was eerily quiet on the estate with everyone on patrol except for the two of them. Nancy was talking openly with Willow about Xander and how she had come into his service, but the Auburn-haired witch could tell that there was more there than the blonde was telling her. She also suspected what it might be.

Nancy almost dropped the dish from her hand. She should have guessed that Miss Willow would be able to sense her even as she could sense the powerful Wicca.

"Yes, actually," she told her. "Master Xander figured it out in under a month after I arrived," she smiled.

"You see Miss Willow," Nancy informed her. "Every Watchers facility has an agent from the Witches Counsel in residence to keep an eye on things. Most are never discovered. Needless to say that I was quite impress and surprised that Master Xander recognized me so easily."

"I guess he was paying attention all those years as I was learning," Willow stated.

"Being best friends with the most powerful witch in the world probably has something to do with it Miss Willow," she said in a matter-of-fact manner.

Nancy just smiled at the shock on the woman's face. "Yes, Miss Willow I meant you."

"Nancy could we talk about this Miss Willow thing?" the redhead complained. "I would really prefer just plain Willow."

Willow stopped silent as if in a trance. "They are in trouble," she warned Nancy. "It's a trap!"

The witch grabbed Nancy's hand before the witch could even say anything and instructed her to just follow her lead.

The cold was beginning to slow the slayers as the passageway opened into a huge room. There was a single torch burning on the far wall. The group stepped into the room cautiously. Faith and Spike stood looking at one another in the middle of the room. One of the young slayers takes a step and trips over a vine or cord. There was a sound of stone grinding against stone and an unearthly roar.

There in the midst of them stood a white eight-foot demon with two legs and four arms each of which was armed with long knife-like claws. The face looked remotely human but the top the head was almost snake like.

"Whatever you do," Spike warned diving out of the way himself "Do not let him spit on you. You'll freeze where you stand."

The sides of the demons neck flared and expanded not unlike a cobra as he spat across the room at the slayers and Spike. Faith got in a low kick before being backhanded when suddenly the room was being flooded with brown-robed monks all with sharp pointy knives.

The slayers were in full fight mode and trying to avoid the freezing solution that the demon insisted on spitting at them and he had very good aim it would seem. His claws slashed out and struck one of the young slayers who went down. Her blood oozed out over the frozen ground beneath them. Faith rounded again as the bolt from Kim's crossbow landed directly in the center of the demons chest. It had no effect. Monk's were falling right and left at the hands of the slayers. Spike rounded behind the demon as he broke the neck of yet another of the monk's. He would strike the east from behind as Faith tried from the front. Maybe one of them would land a lucky blow.

The cold was taking its toll on the humans even though Spike did not seem to notice.

Beth was getting weaker though she and Kim had been fighting as a perfect machine taking out several monks and avoiding the claws of that demon. She stumbled and one of the monks landed a dagger into her leg before Kim decapitated him. She wanted to stop to check on her friend but she had to keep fighting and protect her. The demon caught one of Beth's shoes with one of his razor sharp claws digging in and pulling her toward him. Spike landed on his back and Kim leapt kicking the demon across the face knocking him off balance long enough for Faith to drag the girl out of the way. In the process Faith was slashed across the back by on of the strong claws. Blood quickly covered her clothing.

Faith opened her mind to the witch. She was feeling power surge through her and strength. Not just Willow's strength but also Nancy's. Faith was quickly back on her feet and when she spoke you could hear the three voices merged into one. Willow had performed a blending spell with Nancy to assist them. It was the turn of the battle as Faith pummeled everything that got into her way. With a sword in each hand she managed to stay out of the way of the freezing agent and behead the beast. When he fell she had them all to move quickly to the surface before they came across any more surprises.

Faith did not let up on them until they were outside and all were safe. All but one of their numbers had made it out. A slayer named Erica had succumbed to the demons freezing agent. Spike was checking on all the other girls when Xander and his slayers arrived. Turning to Faith to make a comment about the cavalry being late he watched the Slayer fall to the ground. That was when he noticed the blood that flowed from her back.

Nancy looked in awe at the witch standing across from her. She had never seen or experienced anything like that before.

"Nancy," Willow reached her hand out to her. "We need to head to the hospital. There were injuries."

Nancy pulled herself together as quickly as she could and brought the car around. When the women arrived at the hospital the others were already inside. She rushed to Spike.

"The Doc is in with her now," he assured her. "I'm sure she'll be okay. All that slayer healing you know?"

Willow wasn't so sure about that. She had felt the pain that the woman was experiencing even with the added boost she and Nancy had given her.

Willow sat next to the slayer and watched as her body fought the venom that had poisoned her. The lacerations had been easy enough for the doctors to attend to even though they were serious but the venom in the wounds was stronger than even that of the Australian Brown Snake and there was no anti venom that would work. It was all up to her slayer abilities to fight it. Willow's hand covered the back of the Raven-haired woman's as she stroked it gently. Fever took the slayer into the darkness.

The next day passed and Faith struggled trying to get back to the light. Willow had not moved from her side the entire time. Xander, Nancy, Giles, and the other slayers were in and out of the room.

Beth was battling the same poison in the next room but she was already starting to come around. Willow knew that it was because her injury was so much worse and she had pushed herself to keep going until everyone was safe. She had another friend that always did that as well. How many times had she sat in the hospital just like this with Buffy she thought?

"Just like when Tara was killed," the girl accused. "You were the reason that Tara was killed. Nothing you can ever do will change that."

Willow was in tears. She could not imagine Dawn standing there accusing her so cruelly knowing all that she had been through.

Then the thought came to her if the First was taking Dawn's form then her young friend was dead. She screamed out the girls name as sobs wracked her body. The witch collapsed to the floor weeping. Giles and Xander came racing into the room.

"Willow," Xander dropped down to her side pulling her into his embrace. "What's wrong Will?"

The look that crossed both watchers faces was one of horror and unbelief. No it couldn't be, could it. What had happened? When? There was so much to be answered.

Faith awakened to find the redhead leaning on the side if her bed and weeping. When she looked around she also saw Xander and Giles trying to hold back tears.

Back at the Watchers Estate, Xander was trying to contact Buffy by phone and by e-mail, but they had heard nothing from the slayer as of yet. Giles had contacted the counsel to let them know that they believed Dawn was dead. All of the younger slayers were being moved from the estate to a safe house with the Witches Counsel sending guards to help keep them from harm. Nancy made preparations for the witch's and warlocks that would be arriving and was making arrangements for their transport to the safe house. Charms and protection spells were put into place as well as a magical alarm system at both the safe house and that estate

Kim was placed over slayer patrols for the next few days while Faith and Beth were still recovering. A few of the patrols would even have a witch traveling with them when possible. Giles mused at the happenings of what Xander now called Slayer Central. He would never have dreamed of such an undertaking when he was a much younger watcher. Never would he have thought that the Watchers and Witch's Counsels could work in such harmony of purpose. Then again he would never have dreamed that a demur little red haired witch would ever break the walls to make sure no slayer would ever be alone again, but she had. A girl that he saw as his own daughter had not only become the most powerful witch of the age but she had even gone beyond that.

Beth had come home this morning and Kim was anxious to check on her. When she entered their room the blonde slayer was fast asleep. Kim sat on the bed next to her and thought about how close she had come to losing her best friend. The girls bluer than blue eyes fluttered open.

"Hi yourself," Kim said pushing her hair out of her own face. "How are you feeling?"

"Well that pretty much sums it up," the brunette reminded her. "I think you swung when you should have ducked."

Beth nodded and allowed the girl to help her get out of bed and dressed. They walked out of the slayers dormitory. It was so quiet here without the younger girls. Almost eerie even, they had both thought.

"Xander says that she should be home tomorrow if everything goes okay," Kim told her. "Of coarse I think Willow won't be home until then either."

They smiled at each other. They had seen how the women were almost as inseparable as themselves. They understood each other, and that was a special bond.

"She says she feels like a demon kicked her butt," Kim laughed as they both smiled.

"Well I guess that is normal," Nancy offered. "Beth, your mother called, she and your father will be here this evening to check on you. Master Xander called them yesterday and had a very nice talk with them and that is the soonest they could get a flight."

Beth smiled, she would be glad to see her parents. They had not been able to make the last parent weekend because her older sister Amanda had been ill.

Beth wondered at the comment. She knew that Kim had lost her parents when Vamps attacked her home. She placed an arm around her friend.

"Ummm, I'm not sure," Kim, said honestly. "I have to make sure all the patrols have their orders for tonight.

"Kim," Beth's eyes were gentle as she turned her friend around. "They will love you as much as I do," she assured her. "They ask about you every time I talk to them yet you always manage to disappear whenever they're around."

Kim blushed because she knew that her friends' words were true. She missed her own parents so badly and she was afraid to meet Beth's because something might also happen to them. She did not want the chance of getting to close to them.

Willow was sitting beside Faith on the hospital bed where the women had been talking for hours through the night. She had fallen asleep leaning against Faith's shoulder. The dark haired slayer had been feeling better and wanting to get back to work but instead they talked. Willow had shared some of her thoughts and confusion about the things going on with The First. The two tried to console each other about Dawn's death. Faith was really enjoying the closeness that had developed with her old friend. She had missed her so much the past few seasons.

Dawn Summers had been an important part of all of their lives since being dropped on their doorstep all those years ago as the key. Faith and Willow were especially close to her. Tara had almost been a foster mother to the girl after her own mother had died and that allowed she and Willow to share a special bond. Dawn had always had the most unique way of looking at life. There was always an adventure awaiting her in everything that she did.

Giles arrived to pick the women up and take them back to the estate early. Faith had refused to go to bed and rest. She wanted to get back into the game and no one was going to stop her, therefore she was assigned to assist Willow. They poured over both books and computer looking for some information about the coin that had been found at the cemetery. They were not getting anywhere with those. There were some odd writings on both sides of the coin and the picture seemed blurred rather than clearly pressed. Willow suspected that the writings might be Samarian but it was not a form of the language that she had ever seen before now. While Faith continued to dig through the books she turned the coin over in her hands several times. She began a quiet chant. The letters on the coin seemed to rearrange themselves as she did. Soon she was able to decipher the spell.

Reading aloud, "Inferei Imagilio Imundo Incepitae'. Cryomi Emarto Illusia Clementa!"

As soon as the words were out of the witch's mouth the coin melted into a water-like substance and ran from her hand to the table before disappearing altogether. All eyes turned to the witch and the temperature of the room suddenly dropped and just as quickly went back to normal.

"Will?" Xander questioned as he placed the phone on the receiver. "What just happened?"

She stood up. Suddenly feeling light headed she staggered backward to be caught by the dark slayer. Faith swept the witch into her arms and laid her on the nearby sofa. Willow had fainted and her friends were more than a little concerned for her especially after the mumbo jumbo act. Nancy was quickly by her side reciting a protection spell. Giles understood his expression darkened.

Faith took the small witch's hand into her own calling her name, but there was no response. The friends looked at each other and at Nancy as she continued her incantation. Lights began to flicker all over the estate and a wind seemed to sweep even through the walls. Willow started to call out to someone in her sleep. Faith could tell it was the dreams again only now she was not so sure they were dreams at all. Something was going on and they had no clue how to stop it or even why it was happening. The scent of sandalwood and lavender filled the room. Then all was quiet but the witch was still unconscious and a tear rolled down her cheek.

At that moment Beth strolled in with her parents to find them all huddled around Willow. The look on their faces told her that this was a serious situation. Her father Brad Delaney, who was a doctor, asked them all to stand back as he rushed to check the young woman over.

"Mr. Delaney," Xander offered. "I'm not sure there is anything medically wrong with her.

The man looked at them both as if they had lost their minds completely. Even though his daughter was some sort of slayer, which he still didn't get it, there was no such thing as magic.

"Red doesn't do drugs," Faith growled. "She might overdo the magic from time to time, but no chemicals."

They all looked at her knowing that Willow had not even wanted to do the magic of recent years. Not since Tara's death. It had taken all of them to convince her that she could really do well with it and handle it okay with their help. Again the man looked at them as though they were insane. There had to be a way he could get his daughter away from these lunatics without loosing both she and his wife at the same time.

Beth followed him but her mother stayed. She placed her hand on Nancy's shoulder and Nancy could feel the power increase as she continued the incantation. Soon Willow's green eyes fluttered open and stared straight at Monica Delaney.

Nancy just smiled up at her in surprise. "Yes," she answered. "He doesn't know does he?"

Nancy just gave her a knowing looks as did Willow. She knew that her secret was safe with them and that she was among friends. Xander turned to see Kim walking out the door and called to her. She stopped.

"Kim, this is Beth's mother," he introduced her. "This is the slayer that disappears when anyone mentions parents," he grinned.

The girl nodded and shoved her hands into her pocket as she found something on the floor to be very interesting. The next thing the young slayer knew she was being wrapped up in a warm loving hug.

"Kim we can not thank you enough for all you have done for Beth," Monica praised her.

Kim wanted to run away but the woman's grip on her arm told her there was not a chance of that happening.

As the two left the room everyone's focus turned back to Willow once again. Faith was asking her what had happened but the witch insisted she did not know. From the look on Faith's face it was easy to see that she was not buying that answer at all. Willow got quickly to her feet and headed to her suite with Faith close behind her.

Xander went back to trying to track Buffy down which included a call to Angel and Kennedy. Angel it seems had talked to Buffy a few days before and she was heading to Scotland to look into a massacre that appeared to be vampire related. She did not seem to know when she would be back and had said nothing about Dawn going with her on the assignment though Dawn acted as her watcher at times.

Kennedy was going to stay on with Angel for a while longer. They were having monk problems of their own it seemed. There was not much going on with them in the slayer department but they had been stealing artifacts from some very magically secure places. The items that were missing did not really seem to be related but then again it had to be. Xander offered to contact the Witches Counsel to send a magical management investigative team. Angel agreed that with Willow being busy in New Sunnydale that would probably be their best bet. He also promised to contact Xander or Giles if he heard anything about Buffy or Dawn.

Beth sat in the restaurant with her parents and her best friend who was not looking at all happy about the situation. She was glad that her mother had invited the girl but she really wished that she did not look like a rat in a trap with no way to escape. Worse yet was her father and mother arguing about moving the girl to a safer school. Her father was very insistent at the thought but Beth was glad that at least her mom seemed to understand as she always did.

After dinner Kim tried to excuse herself saying that she had some homework that she needed to attend too. Beth jumped up to follow her telling her parents that she would see them back at the estate.

The girl didn't stop. Beth grabbed her friend's shoulder as she caught up to her.

"No, you wouldn't wait for me," Beth's eyes were filled with hurt. "So why don't you tell me what is going on."

Willow had stopped in the kitchen of her suite and was mixing something in a pewter bowl.

Willow just nodded and continued placing ingredients into the mixture. It was not until she lit the candle that Faith asked what she was up to.

Faith looked at her a little curious but just watched as Willow practiced her craft. The woman, but especially where the witchcraft was concerned always amazed her. She had always been good but now she was a master. Faith knew that no other witch would ever be able to touch her in that department.

As she finished the spell it was starting to get dark out. Willow asked the slayer if she were on patrol that night and she said that she was going to go out for a while but would not be too late. She watched as the witch dressed for bed in a pair of black satin pajamas. She thought it odd that Willow had not gone into the bathroom to change, not that she was complaining. It was just that the redhead had always been shy about that before. Faith a little uncomfortable quickly excused herself and made her way to meet Kim and the other slayers that she would patrol with.

Willow went through another spell before she decided to go for a walk in the moonlight. She wondered about the dream or vision she had when she had passed out. Tara had spoken to her so clearly and she had been sure if the others had not been present that she would have been able to reach right out and touch her.

Willow had decided to take a walk after Faith had left for patrol. The moon was high and full over the woods that night. It was the eve of the Summer Solstice and everything was almost magical here in the Goddess's realm. She would be performing her blessings alone yet again this year, she sighed. She had passed a couple of slayers heading out on patrol before she left the grounds. Most people would be horrified to walk around New Sunnydale after dark but Willow was not worried. She could handle herself in most situations these days. As she walked through the meadow her thoughts were of a far away day when the Scooby's had been stuck in that musical singing and dancing all over the place. She noticed a couple of young deer playing in the meadow. She had stopped to watch them for a few minutes before continuing on toward her favorite place beside the water.

She sat there beneath the tree her mind wandered and thoughts of her long lost lover filled her head.

She turned to see the glowing figure of Tara standing not far away. Crying she jumped to her feet.

Tara just nodded and stepped toward her, taking Willow into her arms she allowed her to cry for a long time. As she held her, she seemed to become more solid. She kissed Willows hair and forehead. It had been way too long for both of them. Willow could feel a magical residue coming from her lover it was weak but it really was her.

"I'm glad that you found your way back," Tara whispered into her ear. "I was so worried about you when I died. They would not let me help you (pause) but I wanted to more than anything."

"I missed," Willow started. "I miss you so much. I don't think I can go on without you anymore."

"Shhhhh," Tara quieted. "You have to go on. We will be together again, but right now you are needed here. And now I can come and visit you sometimes."

Willow moves and pulls Tara's lips to her own. The kiss lingers long and soft before their passion begins to rise. Tara pulls back.

"Earlier you were thinking about that day when we were all stuck in that musical," Tara said with a wry grin.

"Now it's my turn," Tara finished as she pushed Willow to the soft moss beneath the tree.

Kissing her lover they began to float above the ground. Willow gasped at the sensation. She had always been the one who initiated floating when the two were together so this was a new sensation for her. Tara took her to places that she could never have even imagined before. She had always loved when Tara had taken the lead and this time was no different and she needed her so much more than she ever had before.

Back on the ground Willow drifted off to sleep in her lovers' arms. When she awakened Tara was nowhere to be found. Had it all been a dream? Was she destined to spend out her days without her soulmate? A pair of glowing eyes watched the witch from a distance without being noticed.

The night for the slayers had been a frustrating one. They had encountered several of the blind monks on their patrols but were not one step closer to finding out what the First was up to. Faith was also getting a little annoyed with Kim who had been acting like a sulky teenager all night, and she had forgotten just how lame Giles could be when it came to the whole slayer thing. She needed a new patrolling team or she was going to go nuts. She was hoping that Red would be up to some slayer action soon. She slipped into the shower to get the blood and dust off her skin and out of her hair before she headed up to Willows bedroom.

She opened the door quietly so that she would not disturb her friend. When she started to climb into her bed she noticed that Willow was not there. She stopped and looked around the rooms of the suite and even the garden. She made her way to the main part of the house and knocked on Nancy's door. She had not seen the witch either. She had gone to check on her earlier but assumed that she must have gone on patrol with Faith when she could not find her anywhere. The women looked at each other, concern clouded their eyes.

Faith told Nancy to inform the watchers and she would go out and start to look for her. She would start with the estate and the stream if the others wanted to look as well. Monica had emerged from her room when she heard talking in the hallway. When she heard that Willow was missing she ran to tell Faith that she had seen the woman head into the woods earlier in the evening. Faith thanked her and headed toward the meadow.

She had walked for several minutes yelling for Willow. There had been no answer. She was so worried about her friend. She walked in the direction of the stream because she knew how much the redhead loved it there. As she approached the stream she was met with a horrifying site. The witch lay naked under the tree where they had talked the other day. Her small body was freezing cold to the touch. Faith looked around and found the top of the woman's pajamas and slipped it onto her shoulders. She barely awakened and was gone again. Faith pulled off her own jacket and placed it over the frail body before she picked her up and carried her back to the estate. She was met on the way back by Xander and Nancy who were also searching.

Once back at the estate Faith had taken Willow back to her suite where everyone rushed around. They were still trying to warm the witch's freezing body.

"I was going to ask you that Red," Faith sat down beside her. I found you in the woods down by the stream."

"I had another dream about Tara," she said thoughtfully. "This one was different though."

She told them all that she could remember not adding the more personal details just a brief overview of the entire dream. They were all starring at her, worry etched on each face. Her friends, especially Faith, had not missed the fact that she had been found completely naked.

After they had gotten her warmed up and Nancy had made sure that Willow was not injured Faith had asked for everyone to leave so that the redhead could get some rest. She had pulled out some fresh pajamas for her friend and helped her to get dressed. This time she climbed onto the bed next to the witch.

Faith heard the voice. When she turned around she could not believe it was Tara. For a moment she had thought that it was the First.

Tara screamed with pain and disappeared. Faith awakened with a jerk. Willow still slumbered peacefully in her arms. It had been a dream, or at least she thought that it was. Faith could not go back to sleep after that. She just sat there and watched Willow sleep. They had to find out what was going on, and soon or she feared what might happen to her friend.

Beth bounded down the stairs of the dormitory and across the courtyard to the gym where Kim would be working out. She was excited to see her friend. She had hated that she had not been able to go patrolling with her the night before. She also wanted to apologize for the misunderstanding that they had had. She just wanted to share her best friend with her family and had forgotten to take Kim's feelings into account. She knew that the girl was still in so much pain from the loss of her own family and she would just have to give her some time. Master Xander had brought her to the school right after her parents had been killed. She knew that Kim was still scared to get close to others after that. She was amazed that the girl had allowed her close to her.

She stopped at the door for a moment to watch the young slayer work. She was totally amazing Beth thought to herself. She reminded her of a cat in the way all her movements were silent and graceful. Without thought Beth sprang onto the floor in front of Kim and went on the offensive pushing the girl to her limits and beyond. Their fight looked more like a carefully choreographed dance. That is until Beth slipped. Kim quickly and easily ended up on top of the smaller slayer, pinning her shoulders to the floor. Her head was close to the blonde looking into blue eyes. Beth felt the air catch in her chest as she thought that Kim had been about to kiss her, but just as quickly the girl was gone and out of the room.

Beth ran out onto the grounds to find the dark haired slayer but no one had seen her. Her mother caught her attention. It seemed that her father would be going home this afternoon but Monica had decided to stay on a few days to try to help Nancy as well as to spend some time with her daughter. Beth could not decide if that was a good thing or not. She loved spending time with her mother but right now she wanted to find out what was going on with her best friend. Beth went to see her father before he left.

The next few days were spent researching and playing tag with monks. They seemed to be getting nowhere. Beth and Kim were decidedly out of sync with each other and it was affecting the way that they worked. Doctor Delaney had gone back home and Monica had stayed behind to help out if she could. Beth's older sister would be on fall break soon and was planning to visit the school along with her mother.

They still heard no word from Buffy at all even though there had been reports of a decrease in Vamp activity around the Scottish countryside. Willow and Faith were having a serious discussion with Spike. He had a plan that they thought was a little too risky for some of the slayers. The monks had set up residence in a warehouse to the south side of New Sunnydale and word had it they were about to perform some sort of ritual that would prepare an unborn child to be an unholy vessel to their boss.

Willow was looking tired this afternoon but no matter how much Nancy and Faith insisted that she rest, the witch was having no part of it. She knew that there was too much work that needed to be done. Pouring over her options once again she turned to ask Xander a question but she found that she was unable to speak. She starred and soon all eyes turned to see what she was starring at, No one knew what to say as tears filled eyes and they soon all rushed the young woman in the doorway.

They all tried to speak at once but finally managed to explain what they had feared. Dawn took a seat overwhelmed. No one seemed to notice the young man waiting quietly just inside the door. Finally Faith looked up and saw the dark haired man with piercing brown eyes.

"Sorry," she said walking over to him. "We're not really rude much. Just a little shocked. I'm Faith."

"Oh Gosh," Dawn spouted as she jumped up. Everyone this is my friend Jess. He has been helping me the last few months."

They all took turns introducing themselves and greeting the ruggedly handsome young man. Willow hugged the girl and did not want to let her go.

Dawn took a few minutes to fill them in on an assignment that she and Jess had just completed in Munich. That was why it had taken them so long to get there. There had been a haunting problem that they had to deal with involving a magical locket and a young girl's 16th birthday. Had they failed the girl would have been sucked into the past and trapped there because of a curse placed on her family by the ghost of a Norwegian fisherman. It was nothing like the demons that they deal with in Sunnydale but an adventure to be sure.

Nancy soon showed Jess to their room but was surprised when he requested a second room. She had thought by the way that they looked at each other that they were together. She happily obliged.

Dawn had immediately gone into watcher mode and dove into the whole computer thing with Willow. There had been stories that were surrounding the disappearance of the wizard that was recently found off the coast of Ireland and she decided that merited a little research. So far no one had really paid much attention to that aspect.

Since Red had a study buddy to keep her company Faith had decided to go out patrolling with the Slayer twins. They would be checking out the warehouse and kicking some monk butt.

The evening seemed overly warm to the slayer. She was wearing her normal black leather pants but this time she was only wearing a black tank top for comfort. She hoped that they would not run into anymore of those Trillamble demons. In order for those back at the estate to remain in contact with the slayers and watcher, they were wearing wireless microphones. This was a trial run to see if they were a useful tool or a distraction.

Willow leaned over Dawns shoulder as the young woman tapped away at the computer keys. Sweat was starting to bead on her forehead and shoulders. The room felt stuffy and she turned and reached out with magic to open a widow. Monica looked surprised that someone would use magic so freely. She and Nancy were enjoying a cup of tea and some conversation as they waited. Nancy gave the witch a look of disbelief because she knew that Willow no longer used magic like that.

Giles and Spike were close behind Faith as they climbed up the fire escape at the rear of the warehouse. They would meet the others on the inside. Beth, Kim, and Xander were going in the front of the building but they would try to do it without being seen. Three other slayers were laying in wait outside the building in case they were needed. Faith did not want them to go inside without some sort of backup. Everyone was in place and they were just waiting for her signal. The monks were doing their thing and she was about to royally crash their party.

"Here we go boys and girls," she stated. "Try to play nice with the other children."

She jumped through the skylight and landed in the middle of their ritual. The other slayers were quickly inside the building and in the middle of the fight. They managed to take most of the monks down quickly but when she turned she saw one of them with a dagger stab a goat. The blood poured out onto the altar before she could stop them. She had the feeling that was not a good thing to happen. The fight did not last long from there. The monks quickly disappeared.

Willow had gasped as the room began to swirl around her. She stumbled and everything went cold and black. When she awakened Dawn was kneeling beside her as well as Nancy and Monica. She looked up at each of them a little disoriented and confused.

She nodded as she sat up rubbing her head. She was so cold. Se tried rubbing her hands against her arms. Dawn reached out to touch her.

Faith had been listening in to the conversation but no one was answering as she was trying to find out about Red. She was already on her way back to the estate with the others following close behind.

As the slayers entered the estate a pair of glowing eyes watched them from the darkness. Kim halted thinking that she had heard a voice. She was sure that it had been her father, her face paled as she looked around her. Beth came back to her.

"Umm, yeah," she said not at all sure. "I just thought that I heard something. I was going to check it out."

"I think there is more going on here than meets the eye Faith," she told her. "I don't think we are dealing with the First at all, at least not yet. This is not adding up if it is him."

Faith thought about it for a moment and decided to tell Dawn about the dream that she'd had about Tara.

"I think we are looking at the wrong demon," Dawn thought out loud. "I think maybe we need to be looking into things that are telepathic or mind manipulators."

"Sounds like a plan," Faith nodded. "You get on that I want to go check on Red."

Dawn smiled as she watched the dark slayer make her way to the witch's suite. She was glad that they had each other's friendship. It was great to see how close they were getting.

Outside Beth and Kim had their hands busy chasing shadows. Their slayer senses told them that there was danger but every time they though they had it cornered the feeling disappeared and moved to a new location. More than once they had caught a glimpse of something large and shadowy out of the corner of their eyes only to find nothing.

She stopped and looked but there was nothing. Beth had not heard anything so she was starting to think that she was losing it.

"Yeah I think you are right," Kim agreed. "Maybe my Spidey Senses are just off tonight.

They wanted to tell Xander and Faith what was going on before they headed to the dorm and also to check on Willow. No one was on the headsets so they had no clue as to what was going on inside.

"Kim, Beth," Nancy was calling into the speaker but no on was answering. Xander and Giles were on their way to check on the girls when they came through the doors.

"Why weren't you answering on the Talkies?" Xander was almost yelling because he was worried.

They looked at him as if he had grown extra limbs or something not really knowing what he was talking about.

He took the headsets from both girls to check them out. They both seemed fine and they picked up Nancy's voice as she spoke.

"It's okay girls," Giles assured them. "I'm sure that there are a few bugs that still need to be worked out of the system. Such as demonic interference," he muttered the last.

After they made their report about what had happened outside the estate and were assured that Willow was okay they made their way back to their room. Xander went to get Faith and they went to check out the girls report to see if there was any explanation for what had happened. As far as they could tell there was nothing happening around the estate but they decided to get two of the witches to patrol with the slayers on duty that night.

That night Faith watched as Willow slept and she became even more concerned as the woman's dreams seemed to suddenly have stopped. She was glad that her sleep was going undisturbed but could not help but wonder what had changed?

When the witch awoke she found a tired slayer sitting next to her on the bed stroking her hair.

For some reason Willow was not convinced but she knew that when Faith did not want to talk there was nothing she could do to drag it out of her. She was almost as stubborn as Willow herself was.

Xander quickly dressed asking Jess to round everyone up and to meet in the office in ten minutes. Jess moved quickly. Willow and Faith were the last ones on his list. He hated to disturb them but he was worried about Dawn. When they found out that the young watcher was missing they hurried to get ready. When they got to the office Nancy was the only one not to have arrived. They waited a few minutes before starting but she never came.

"This can't be good," Xander thought out loud. "Kim would you and Beth go see if you can find her?"

The girls left only to return a little while later empty handed. So now they had both Dawn and Nancy that were missing.

"We need to get everyone on the estate together in the courtyard," Xander began. "We will split up into groups and search the entire estate until we are sure if they are here or not. Everyone keep your eyes and ears open people. After what Kim and Beth experienced last night we are not really sure what we are dealing with here. Willow would you and Monica stay here in case anyone checks in with news and so the whole researchy thing?"

They just nodded as Willow was already gathering books and telling Monica what they are looking for.

Fifteen minutes later the courtyard all the teams have been formed and are heading to their respective search areas. Two warlocks are placed on the gates to make sure no one gets in or out without being noticed.

"If they are still on the estate we'll find them," Giles assured Xander placing his hand on his shoulder.

Willow worked furiously looking for anything that would lead them to Dawn and Nancy. How could anyone have gotten onto the estate with all the charms and protection spells that had been placed on the grounds? She knew that it had to have been some kind of telepathic or magical abilities to get past their security. That would be the only thing that would explain it. The First could come and go but had no caporal form so he could not physically pull their friends from the estate. She wondered what type of demon that he was using.

The witch was tempted to magically pull the information from the books but knew that she could not do that. Her friends were in trouble but she could not allow darkness into her life again. Monica watched what seemed to be an internal struggle going on in the young witch in front of her. She could tell by the aura around Willow that she was very powerful. Certainly the most powerful witch she had ever met but she had a feeling that there was more here than met the eye.

Faith searched the outer parameter of the grounds but had found nothing. Her head had started throbbing from a massive headache when she was down by the stream. When she entered the courtyard she was rubbing her temple. Most of the groups had checked in and no one had found anything. Not Dawn, not Nancy, and not even a clue as to where they had gone or how. The warlock reported that no one had tried to enter or leave by the gates either.

Xander and Giles had searched both Dawn and Nancy's rooms. There was no sign of a struggle in either place. It was as if they had simply vanished into thin air. Xander wondered if that could have been just what happened before Faith came to talk to him. She told him what Dawn had talked to her about the previous night. He and Giles looked at one another before the small group headed for the office to see if Willow and Monica had found anything.

Once inside the house Xander felt faint and leaned briefly up against one wall until it passed. There was a sound that caused Faith to stop in her tracks.

They all just shook their heads. No one but Faith had heard the voice. They started to continue when she saw something out of the corner of her eye and her Slayer senses jumped into full swing. She turned with a roundhouse kick but she was kicking into the air. There was nothing there. She grabbed her head again.

The slayer was suddenly doubled onto the ground in pain. They all looked around but there was nothing there. The two watchers pulled the slayer to her feet and helped her into the office. Willow rushed to her side as they told her what was going on. She was almost sure.

"Well Monica and I found something," Willow started, "but I can't be sure. It might be a Felinocker Demon."

"Well chances are if there is one there are more than one," Willow began. "They tend to travel and hunt in packs much like a Raptor, and just about as dangerous. They are a telepathic demon with the capabilities to make you see and hear things that are not there. They don't usually go for an immediate kill, as they prefer to toy with their prey first like a cat. The text says that they have the ability to hitch hike with a soul as long as the person is not telepathic or have magical powers."

"No there are no pictures," Monica told them. It seems no one really knows if they have seen what they really look like, as they are shape shifters. At least they appear to be."

"It could just be that they make you think they are shape shifters," Willow interjected. "They can create images from your own memory."

"So could it be this thing we have been fighting all along?" Faith asked again rubbing her temples.

"It could be," Willow offered giving the slayer a concerned look, "but that really does not explain the presence of the monks that the first always used or the disappearance of Tara's body."

"Just that," Willow answered him. "In magic places that are in between have significance. Places such as doorways and windows are in betweens. The largest in between is midnight however. Shadows are places of darkness that exist alongside the light."

"Spike is the only one here that can go in after them without much assistance," Willow explained.

"Spike is a Vampire," Willow tried to explain. "He is not alive or dead. He is in between."

"Oh, like I am supposed to be afraid of my own shadow," Xander said with contempt in his voice.

"I would assume," Giles started "because he has to have a way to bring them out of the in between?"

Again Willow nodded. "That is where I will come in but I have to prepare and I will need Faith's help," she looked into the slayers eyes. "Also you have to find the in between where he has them and is hiding. We really need to hurry. We don't know how long we have before he will try to kill them."

Willow and Faith left the other to begin to prepare. They would need some time to prepare while the others tried to find the place where the demon was hiding.

"I will need you to keep me grounded to this reality," Willow told her. "It may not be easy and I am not even sure you can do it, but you are the only one that might be able to do it."

Willow turned to her as they entered her suite. "Faith you are the closest friend that I have now. Even closer than Xander but I am just not sure that will be enough."

Faith took the witch's face into her hands. "I won't loose you Red. You are too important to me."

She was looking deep into the green eyes before her. She felt fear creep into her heart at the thought of anything happening to her friend.

"Faith I am just not sure anyone will be able to keep me here if the demon uses my memories of Tara," Willow warned. "You see in order for Spike to bring the others out I have to make a bridge between worlds. He can come and go with the right incantation but they can't. There is also a chance that I might see the real Tara. If that happens I am not sure I want to come back."

"You can be sure I won't let you go without a fight," Faith's voice almost caught in her throat. "I won't lose you." Faith kissed her forehead as she pulled her into a reassuring hug.

Dawn did not know where she was when she had awakened. It was dark and she could see shadowy figures moving about but really could not make out any form except the one beside her. Nancy was lying unconscious at her left side. Dawn rubbed at the knot on the side of her head. She tried to get up but some force was holding her in place. How had she gotten here, she wondered? The last thing that she remembered was the clock striking midnight and then the darkness. She tried to wake Nancy up but the woman would not respond.

There were voices around Dawn that seemed familiar but she could not make them out. Once she was sure that she had heard her mother, but she knew that was impossible. All the voices seemed to be mumbling or whispering just so she couldn't understand. A shadow started moving toward her and a wave of Nausea overcame Dawn, she began to feel dizzy. Everything went black again.

Spike, Xander and Jess had been all over the estate and now had taken to the woods to look for any clues as to where Dawn and Nancy might be being held by the Felinoker Demon.

"Well we'll have to go there again won't we then?" Spike gave him a look of disgust.

Spike noticed that Jess was quieter than he had been all evening. He turned to see the young man rubbing his temples.

"Oh, Yeah," Jess apologized shaking his head slightly. "Just seem to have developed a bit of a headache."

"Didn't you say that Faith had gotten a headache when she was attacked?" Spike questioned Xander.

Spike looked at the young man rubbing his temples again and then started to look into the shadows. There was a giant oak tree just beyond where they were standing and the young man was in the main shadow of the tree. The moonlight had cast shadows all around them but there was one clearing.

They all looked at each other then started back to the estate to get Willow and Faith. On the way back Spike heard a voice. He stopped and looked around.

Pinecones and limbs bombarded them as they ran back toward the estate. Even a hornet's nest was dislodged and landed at Spikes feet. He screamed as he received more than a few stings. Maniacal laughter followed them all the way back to the main house and voices called after them. Anya's voice called to Xander more than once from the darkness. They had been chasing after this thing all day and now they were the ones being pursued as they entered the house.

Willow and Faith were waiting for them along with Monica, Giles, Beth, and Kim. When she saw that the men were being chased Willow placed a barrier around them. They heard an unearthly scream as something unseen ran into the barrier. The thing tried more than once but could not break through. They could hear the demon and see where it tried to break through the barrier but it was still in the in between outside the house so they could not physically see it.

"Turn on all the security lights," Willow demanded knowing that would minimize the shadows, "and everyone stay out of the doorway and shadows."

"We have to get to the portal," Spike told her. "I think I have a plan. Red, give me the incantation."

He ran into the darkness away from the lights leading the others. The demon saw his prey trying to get away and went after them. Xander led Willow and Faith to where they had found the portal.

Faith and Monica stared at her wondering what was going on. Willow was reciting something quietly under her breath.

Nancy had awakened to find Dawn asleep beside her. She was about to try to awaken her when something came crashing in beside her. It was a huge, hulking mass of demon and it was headed straight at them. Suddenly a woman's figure, hardly more than a shadow appeared out of the darkness and kicked at the demon sending it hurling away from them. Nancy did not recognize the blonde but before she could say anything the woman smiled and disappeared. Just as she disappeared Spike appeared across from them.

He had started to reply but was attacked before he had the chance. The hulking mass of demon had managed to regain his composure and was trying to rip the Vampire to shreds. Suddenly it took a familiar form. He had transformed into Buffy. Spike hesitated and was knocked across the darkness.

On the other side of reality Willow was building the bridge. Faith had taken her hands to keep her in the here and now. There was no way she would lose her friend. Willow was depending on her, as was everyone else.

Nancy had managed to awaken Dawn who again was trying to figure out where they were and what was going on. It did not take her long to remember the experience from earlier. She saw Spike locked in battle with some unknown demon and then she heard a voice. It was Willow!

Dawn was not sure. This could be a trick. She and Nancy looked at one another trying to decide. Suddenly the demon had knocked Spike down and he was having a hard time getting up. The demon Buffy transformed again. This time it turned into Willow. He was reaching for them.

Dawn and Nancy tried to back away from the creature. Spike had managed to get to his feet and attacked from behind before it could reach them. They heard Willows voice again. They were sure now that it was just another demonic trick. There was a glow on the other side of where the demon was fighting with Spike. A figure started to enter. It was Tara or was it?

Nancy looked shocked, it was the same blonde that had attacked the demon before Spike had gotten there.

"Dawnie," Tara called to her. "You have to hurry. Willow won't be able to hold the portal open much longer. You have to get out now,"

"Look into your heart Dawnie," Tara responded, "and please tell Will that I love her."

Dawn didn't hesitate she knew the apparition was for real now. She grabbed Nancy's hand and pulled the older woman through the portal behind her.

Spike still locked in combat with the demon saw an amulet around its neck he made a grab for it managing to tear it from its home. As he did the demon lost his ability to change. Before him stood a demon of three foot tall. Spike started to laugh when he saw the blade of a saber appear. He managed to duck just in time and kicked the saber from the creatures grasp. Diving for it as it hit the ground he lopped of the beasts head. Taking a deep breath he realized that the portal was beginning to collapse. He dove through just as it completely closed. Willow fell to the ground beside him Faith still holding her hands firmly in her own.

The witch did not respond. Faith knew that she had to do something so she closed her eyes and did just what the beautiful witch had showed her. She projected herself to where the witch was.

She looked around. Everything was hazy but she could see the Redhead up ahead of her and she saw just as another image disappeared. It had looked like Tara, but how could it be Tara?

The redhead did not even notice when the Slayer was at her side she just stared into the nothingness.

"I can't Faith," Willow whispered. "I have to stay here. Tara needs me and I need her."

"No everyone back there will be fine," Willow stated. "She was here Faith. She's so beautiful and she hadn't changed a bit."

"Willow, look at me," Faith turned her face toward her. "Red this isn't real. Back there we are all real and we love you. (She hesitated for a moment) I love you Will and I need you. What would I do without you?"

Both the slayer and the witch gasped for breath and awakened at the same time. The small group was overjoyed to have all their family back again. Faith pulled Willow into her arms and held her close, just relieved to have gotten her back.

They stepped into the office once they had made their way inside. A woman was waiting for them.

"Well I am so glad that you are not dead like all my messages told me," she glared at Xander. "So I guess I don't need to kill anything now?"

"Buff!" Xander blushed. "Oh Geez Buff when she got here we were so excited I forgot to call. But HEY! We almost got her killed for you anyway," he assured her.

After a round of dirty looks and things being thrown at him they all rushed to greet the slayer.

Dawn and Buffy had taken Willow shopping for the day to get away from the estate and spend a little time together before Buffy had to head back. They had been so tied up in meetings with the Watchers Counsel members, and Witch's Counsel members that they had hardly even had time to visit. The three women had stopped at Dawns favorite place for a milkshake. It had been so long since they had been able to spend this kind of fun time together. Willow's milkshake sat in front of her hardly touched.

"Umm, Not really," The red head told the slayer. "Just not feeling very well today."

"Will I've been here for over a month now," she started. "You seem really pale. Are you sure there isn't something else wrong?"

"No," Willow assured her. "Just a touchy tummy because of all the not eating before probably, not to mention the stress of thinking the first was back."

"Buffy," Dawn reminded. "We should take her to that new Wicca shop before we wear her out."

Her sister agreed and the two each took one of the witch's arms and led her out of the mall.

There had not been a magic shop in Sunnydale since the one that Giles and Anya ran back before the first. The one Willow had blown apart. As they neared the shop Willow saw the sign out front.

"Ummm Guys?" she inquired. "Why is the name of that shop Willow's Magical World?"

Willow was speechless and a little over come by all the emotion. There were flowers and well-wishers everywhere.

"Since you have been so instrumental in getting the Witches Counsel to agree to a base of operations here," Giles began handing her a key. "We thought it only fitting that you should be the one to benefit with your own magic shop compliments of the Watchers Counsel, the Witch's Counsel, and your friends."

"Wow," Willow was stunned. "I actually don't know what to say. Thanks everyone."

"Yeah, well I kinda care about her too," Faith assured her. "She's a good friend."

The two slayers just nodded at each other. They had come to an understanding with each other back when they had to go up against the first. They were both happy that they did not have to do a repeat performance with that one. That little mind-manipulating demon had given them all a scare.

Willow had been making with the nice with everyone and trying to make her way over to Faith when she saw the two slayers talking so she had waited until they were finished.

Faith just blushed at that. "How do you like the shop Red?" she asked her quietly.

"It was a little hard to pull it off without you finding out about it," Xander said from over her shoulder. "We had to play not so fair and use a couple of our own witches to sneak everything by you."

"I was wondering what was going on with all those magical charms," she smiled at him and then at Nancy. "I knew you were hiding something just wasn't sure what."

They all got a laugh at that. They should have known that she would pick up on the use of any magic around her.

"And hey," Xander offered, "It comes with a full supply of employees as some of our older Slayers need a way to make a little money."

"That's great," Willow offered. "Now if you can find me a ready made book keeper I'll be all set."

Monica stepped forward. "If you are serious," she offered. "I will be needing a job," she said as she pulled Beth to her side. "My husband has asked me to leave. He thinks I am a bad influence on our children."

The woman thanked them with tears in her eyes. Nancy took her friend to make her some tea while the other continued to talk. Everyone around Willow was talking but she felt like she was in a fog. There was something going on but she had no clue at this point what it was. The slayer twins as Faith called them, had been telling her about slaying a particularly nimble vamp and when she turned the room began to spin. Faith had seen her from across the room and was rushing toward her. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion but Willow knew she was going down. Faith dove and cushioned her fall before she could hit the floor.

When Willow opened her eyes again there was a sea of faces looking down at her. Dawn was babbling, Xander, and Buffy were just looking concerned at her. She knew that her head was on something soft, and then she realized that it was Faith's lap. The woman was stroking her hair and talking to her softly.

Willow just nodded her head. She knew that there would be no getting out of it this time.

Once they had gotten back to the estate Willow apologized for ruining the party.

"Hey Will," Xander quieted. "You didn't ruin the party. We are all just concerned about you."

"Yeah," Buffy offered. "That's because we kinda love ya. You know it's the whole best friend thing and all."

They smiled at her and left her into Faith's capable hands to take care of her for the evening. They all knew that if anything were to happen Faith would call them immediately.

The next morning Faith had called the doctor and set up an afternoon appointment for Willow. They spent the morning taking it easy and relaxing. Nancy had brought them breakfast a little later than normal so that they could sleep in, but Willow had been up early as she had been for the past week sick to her stomach and was unable to eat. Faith was glad that the doctor would be able to see her on such short notice. She was getting worried about her friend being sick and weak all the time.

The nurse checked Willow's vitals as the dark slayer stared at her making her more than a little uneasy. She made a quick exit to leave the women to wait for the doctor. Doctor Jericho was a quiet middle-aged man with a calming smile. He checked the red head over from head to toe.

"Miss. Rosenberg," he started after a moment. "I'd like to run some blood work if that would be okay and do a pelvic exam."

"I don't think so," he continued. "There is just something I want to check before we go any further."

The nurse came back in a few moments to draw the blood and the doctor returned for the exam.

"Would you like your friend to step outside while we do this?" the doctor asked Willow.

Faith was a little shocked as the red head took her hand. She had expected to be asked to leave during the exam, but she was glad that she would not have to leave her friends side. When the exam was over the doctor informed the women that it was highly possible that Willow was pregnant. They would have the blood work back in a couple of hours and know for sure at that time. The slayer and the witch both looked as if someone had hit them in the face with ice cold water. They left in silence with instructions to call back for the results. Neither woman had much to say on the way back to the estate. They both knew that there was no way in the normal world that Willow was pregnant, but what about the supernatural world? The two avoided contact with anyone once they arrived at the estate and headed straight to Willows suites. It was not long before Buffy came knocking to see how things had gone. When they told her the story she was floored.

"Will," Buffy started. "Let's not panic just yet. Maybe it will turn out to be something different."

Willow and Faith had already been thinking about the sickness in the mornings, which no one else knew about. That, with the passing out yesterday and the dizzy spells she had been having spelled reason to panic as far as Willow was concerned. She had thought about having a baby when she was with Tara but not since. She was not sure she could handle this especially not knowing how it had happened or why. Would this be a normal baby and how had this happened? On the hell mouth there was no telling.

It was a slow agonizing two hours for the witch and her friends. When the time finally came to make the call Willow's hands were trembling.

When she hung up the phone tears started to pour down her face and she slumped in her chair. Both slayers knew at that moment what the answer had been. Their friend was indeed pregnant and now they had to figure out how and why. Faith rushed to her side and took the red head into her arms as she began to rock her.

Buffy, with tears in her own eyes left the room to go get Dawn. They had some research to do, and in a hurry. Once in the estate office the Slayer ran down the story to the others. Dawn, Xander, Giles, Spike, and Nancy all stood or sat with their mouths wide open in shock. No one knew quite what to say.

"So I need everybody on this thing now," Buffy told them. "One of our best friends is in trouble and needs some answers. It's up to us to find those answers for her."

With that they all headed in their own direction except for Spike who had to wait until after dark to do his part. Dawn and Giles were immediately on the computer and into the books. Xander got Angel on the phone and put his group into action finding out about one of the artifacts that had been stolen in their area. It somehow could be connected with this occurrence because it was used for soul transference.

Faith had picked up the sobbing witch and taken her into the bedroom. Once she had placed her onto the bed she had started to leave in order to give her some space.

The slayer just nodded and climbed onto the bed next to her. She pulled the frail frame into her arms and started stroking her hair.

"Whatever happens Red," Faith assured her quietly. "I will be here for all of it. You won't have to go through anything alone."

Willow snuggled her face into the slayers breasts and cried. She felt safe in her friends' arms. Willow was not sure about what it was that was growing inside of her but she was very frightened. It did not feel evil, but she of all people knew that it could very well turn out to be. It had taken some time but Willow finally drifted off to sleep. Faith never once moved or disturbed her. She would be a rock for the girl in her arms, no matter what it called for.

A couple of hours after Willow had finally fallen asleep Faith also drifted off. She knew that if anything threatened them she would awaken. In her dreams she saw Tara again.

As soon as the witch's spirit was gone Faith awakened. Willow was looking into her eyes.

"I was dreaming about Tara," Willow told her friend. "She said the baby was not bad yet."

"For now we'll believe that okay Red?" Faith assured her. "We will find a way to protect you and her."

As evening drew to a close the two headed into slayer central to see what everyone had found out. There was not much so far. Spike had just left on his rounds and they had not yet heard back from Angel. Dawn did find something interesting about the wizard that they had been told about the previous month however. It seemed that he had an arch nemesis. A woman named Morgana, and even though Morgana had started out a perfectly normal woman, she was also a witch. She had not been a particularly powerful one, at least not until she had deceived her brother into mating with her. Her powers grew extensively at that point and the child had been purely evil, nearly destroying an entire kingdom. Dawn did not have a particularly happy look on her face.

"Well all of this had been considered myth," Dawn began, "But now that they have found a wizard that seems to fit all the descriptions of this one, I have to wonder if the whole story is real?"

"Well we do know that Arthur was real," Giles reminded them. "So it stands to reason that Merlin would have been real also."

"What would have been strong enough?" Dawn quarried. "To place Merlin in stasis and almost kill him? I mean Merlin was like the most powerful wizard of all times."

"I'm not sure," Giles said cleaning his glasses. "However I think we should be expedient to discover the culprit. Because this time we do not have a witch with very little power that is pregnant. What we have is the most powerful witch in the world and even though she has turned away from dark magic we can plainly see how it pulls at her."

The power of that last statement struck them all and they all agreed as the phone rang. It was Cordelia on the other end. She had the information that they needed on the item in question. Seems that the talisman was used for transference of demonic energy into a pure, but magical soul. Only an infant created by magic could receive the energy and it was very dangerous. The only other time that they knew for sure that it had been used had been in the time of Merlin. Alarms began to go off in all that were present.

"I can feel the energy," Willow assured them. "I am sure Nancy can also feel it. The baby is still good. I mean since I have become aware that she is there I have started reaching out to her. I wanted to make sure she wasn't evil."

The older woman nodded as she placed a hand protectively on the young witch's shoulder.

"So now we have to find this artifact," Xander started, " and stop the ceremony that will do the transference.

The two slayers grabbed the hands free units and geared up. When they arrived in the dorms they told all of the older slayers to get ready. Nancy had also headed out to find as many of the witches and warlocks that were still on the estate and she called those in from the safe house as well. Giles and Xander looked on with a great sense of pride at the power assembled before them. The two oldest slayers had already headed out on patrol to see if they could find Spike or any other information.

Within 15 minutes of the assembly all units were heading into the field. Each team leader with a wireless com unit so that they could synchronize their efforts. They were not exactly sure what they were up against but they knew that it was apocalypse time again, and as usual they were on the front line.

Nancy, Dawn, Monica, The Slayer Twins, and five witches counsel members were assigned to Willow for protection. The witches accept for Nancy began their protection charms placing the small witch in a protective circle. Being pregnant meant that she would also be vulnerable because she might not feel free to access all of her powers in fear of hurting the child so the other witches would have to do that for her. Nancy would patrol the area keeping her senses sharp for anything unusual.

Sunnydale suddenly looked like a military zone with the movement of slayers and witches much like troops on the move. Twelve vamps had gone down in the first 10 minutes alone, but they were not the primary objective. They had just gotten in the way. Buffy had been the first to catch up with Spike close to the hellmouth. Faith was not far behind when B had called for her. They called for all units to converge at the hellmouth. There was definitely something happening here. All their spidey senses went on alert as they moved in closer.

There were several groups of monks that tried to stop the lead group. Each one had seen someone that they cared about and loved, but whom they knew was dead.

"I know," she told the darker slayer. "Something still doesn't feel right about it though. Just be careful."

Once inside the cave where the old school used to be the group was met with several types of opposition, including another Trillamble demon. Buffy and Faith worked together to defeat him this time. With the two of them it had been much easier than the last time. They could hear the chanting deeper inside.

"Faith," Buffy yelled across to the slayer! "No matter what we have to get that talisman and stop that ceremony."

Faith looked over at Spike who nodded at her. She would have to make about a 50ft jump in order to get to the other side of a large crevasse that stood between her and her goal. Once Spike had nodded she took off running in his direction. She jumped and he caught her foot tossing her all the way across to the other side. Once she was safely over Buffy followed with the same move. It was up to the two of them now. They both knew that there was no turning back.

Several torches lit around a large chamber broke the darkness. In the center of the chamber stood a huge mass of a being. Neither of the slayers knew what this was but they were about to find out. The creature took the talisman from the monk next to him and held it over his head. The talisman started to glow. Faith and Buffy fought their way through to the beast and Faith threw herself into the creature knocking it off balance. The talisman went flying to the floor. Buffy countered with a roundhouse kick to the beast's head. The two of them managed to keep it off balance until it disappeared into thin air. Buffy picked up the talisman and handed it to Faith for safekeeping. Faith looked at it and decided that it was too dangerous to be allowed to exist. She grabbed a battleaxe from the floor and placed the talisman down. She smashed the talisman into a thousand small pieces. There was an eruption of energy and light from the artifact and both Faith and Buffy were knocked across the room.

Once they were on their feet again they made their way back to the surface. The slayers and witches on the surface looked like they had been in some battle. It had been a difficult battle with more than a few surprises. Two exhausted watchers leaned against each other sitting on the ground.

"Well if that is all," Giles rolled his eyes. "You might want to warn us next time."

At the estate the witches were in for a fierce battle. When the creature from the cave had left Buffy and Faith it had gone straight to the estate. Nancy had been knocked unconscious and lay bleeding on the floor. Kim and Beth were giving it everything that they had to do battle with the demon. The witches in the circle were trying to maintain the magical shield around their charge while they were being bombarded with dark magical energy. It was all they could do to hold the protection shield in place.

Buffy had tried to raise someone on the coms but there was no answer from the estate. She grabbed Faith and insisted that they all head back there now. Giles and Xander followed as quickly as they could.

As they entered the gate they found the two warlocks lying dead on the ground. The color drained from the slayers faces as they realized that their loved ones were inside. Just then they heard Dawn crying just inside the door. They rushed to her to find the young woman holding an injured Jess in her arms.

Once they had made their way to the office where Willow was being guarded they found two very tired slayers still fighting, and they joined them. Willow was still in the center of the circle in some form of meditation. The witches around her were still giving their all to protect her. The slayers fought hard against the beast before them. Others soon joined them. Just as they thought that they might be wearing the creature down, it disappeared again. Leaving them all standing and staring at one another.

"We'll get her to the hospital," Giles told him as he went to call an ambulance.

The others scrambled to do clean up while Buffy and Faith checked on Willow and stayed close to their friend.

Willow looked thoughtful for a moment. The girls realized that she was checking everything out. A smiled crossed the red head face.

The waiting room of the hospital looked as if World War III had broken out right here in their midst, and it never ceased to amaze Giles that no one ever asked questions when the injuries were caused by magical or demonic means. He continued wiping his glasses and pacing as they waited to hear about Nancy and Jess. The two had been the worst injuries that their group had sustained other than the two dead warlocks.

Dawn was lying with her head in Willow's lap as the redhead smoothed her hair softly. She jumped straight to her feet when the doctor appeared in the doorway looking for Jess's family.

They all looked at her as she had made that statement without hesitation but the doctor seemed satisfied with the information and continued to assure the young woman that he would be fine. They had taken him into surgery and he had lost a kidney from his injuries.

"He has just gone into recovery," the doctor continued. "You can see him when we move him into a private room."

With that the doctor departed and Buffy moved next to her sister placing an arm around the young woman pulling her into a hug. Xander was happy that Jess was going to be okay but he was more than a little worried about Nancy. Monica seemed to understand his thoughts as she moved to his side.

"Yeah Xan Man," Faith teased. "No way she is leaving with a hunk like you waiting for her."

He smiled and nodded at them. He knew that they were trying to make him worry less but there was no way that was happening until she was out of danger. He needed her more than they could ever realize. Even more than he had realized until now. He hoped that he would have a chance to tell her.

The slayer twins had been bandaged and released to wait with everyone else. Kim had a busted rib and both had multiple lacerations but they had come out of the battle in good condition all things considered. Beth had her arm around her best friends shoulder as she leaned back against her resting.

"It was like whatever we threw at it was what it gave back to us," Beth commented to no one specifically.

"Well like Nancy," Kim started. "She hit him with a burst of magic and that is what he used to put her out of commission. With us it was the physical strength that we were using on him. He gave it back to us but he didn't really seem any stronger than we were."

"That's right," Beth chimed in. "If he had hit us with the magic he used on Nancy we would have been out of the fight in no time."

"And Jess," Dawn added thoughtfully. "He attacked with magic and the things bounced it right back at him. He threw a fireball at the thing and it was reflected back into his stomach."

"It's like we were fighting him and he could not figure out how to fight back," Buffy offered.

"Giles," Willow stood. "We need to get back to the library and start looking into this. Can you drive us?"

"I don't want to leave you Xander," Willow pulled the man into her arms hugging him. "But if this thing attacks again, and I am pretty sure that it will. We need to be prepared and really Faith and I are the only ones who can really leave right now. You and the others need to be here."

As they were getting ready to leave Kim hurried to join them. She knew that Beth needed some time with her mom and Monica would not be going anywhere as long there was a question of Nancy's condition. She was feeling more than a little uncomfortable with her best friends mom.

After flipping through several books Kim asked exactly what it was that they were looking for?

"Not exactly sure," Willow said somewhat distracted by the text that she was reading. "Any kind of demon that can copy powers or mimic…" She voice trailed off.

Willow looked at the two texts for a moment at first with a puzzled look, and then somewhat in horror. The others gathered around her.

"Oh my," she said. "This can't be good. Giles do we still have a copy of the information that the counsel sent on the Wizard that they found? Also are there any texts here on Merlin's disappearance?"

The Englishman quickly gathered the two items together and tried to wait patiently along with the others as Willow read and flipped though the pages. Faith had pulled a chair close to the young witch to read along with her.

"Oh god, that can't be right," she said from Willow's side. "You don't think this is all tied do you?"

"That is exactly what I think," The redhead said with her eyes glued to the text. "Giles we have to get Buffy and the others now."

"Giles I'll explain on the way," Willow cut him off. "Faith I want you and Kim to stay here and fill in the Witch's Counsel members that are here, and call the Watcher's counsel. Tell them to find out who knows the most about the wizard they found recently and get them on a plane and here now."

Faith nodded and she started to the phone as she sent Kim to round up the counsel members and then the slayers. There would be absolutely no time to waste.

Once Giles and Willow had arrived back at the hospital they found that Nancy had finally gotten out of surgery. She had several internal injuries including a damaged aorta in her heart, but if she could make it through the next few hours her chances of survival were good. Xander and Dawn would stay with the witch and warlock while the others headed back to the estate. No one noticed when Willow placed her palm over the woman's heart just before they left. Their friends were filled in once they were back on the road and headed toward the estate.

When they arrived back at Slayer Central, Faith greeted them with the news that there was an envoy on their way from England to assist with the research and hopefully the defeat of this demon or whatever it was. The disturbing news was that the old wizard had disappeared from a secure hospital the night before. No one knew what had happened but he was gone without a trace.

Kim was organizing the slayers and weapons that would be needed when Giles checked in on them. He was quite impressed with this young woman. She was all business when it came to slaying. She reminded him of another young slayer that he knew once upon a time. She always carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. The girl was Buffy made over. The only real difference that he could see was how she came into her powers and the death of her parents. Just like Buffy she worked non-stop even with broken ribs or other injuries. She too, tended to keep her friends at a distance trying to protect them, even if that meant protecting them from herself.

He was amazed at the precision of the drills the young slayers were going through. As a team he wondered how anything could stand against them, but he knew that evil always found a way to survive. Maybe this time would be easier but he doubted it.

As night drew closer there was a dark foreboding in the air. Everyone was certain that the mimic would be back soon, and probably tonight. Suddenly the alarm system that the Witch's Counsel had placed around the estate started going off. Something or someone magical had breeched there boarders uninvited. Everyone sprang into action all at once. The slayers and their companion witches or warlock went immediately to their stations. Willow felt an extreme magical presence that she had never felt before. Her face turned pale and her heart rate increased. Buffy had been standing next to her and saw her face change.

They both headed for the front of the estate with Faith close behind. When they reached the front door it flung open before any of them could reach for it. An old man stood there before them. His eyes were hollow with dark circles and there was a gray fire burning in them. His long white hair was unkempt and he wore tattered robes that looked as if almost all the color had been drained from them.

For a moment all eyes turned to the red haired witch as if she were suddenly a complete stranger. Buffy's eyes filled with awe at the reminder of the power that she knew her friend possessed.

Faith had positioned herself at Willow's right hand and Buffy at her left. The old wizard mused at the protective stance taken by the two warriors.

"These two may be impressive Goddess," he warned, "but you will need much more than two strong warriors to win this battle."

"I assure you Master Wizard that I have much more prepared than these two," Willow did not smile and her stance seemed regal. "Please allow me to show you around and you can tell me why you have come."

The others watched in amazement as the witch led the wizard away without so much as a word. What they did not understand was that at this moment she was working on instinct alone. She could show no weakness to this man and for her to take the time to acknowledge them would have proven her unworthy of what was to come and there would be more problems than what was already coming. Buffy and Faith fell into step behind the two as they walked much resembling an ever-present honor guard.

The man watches as several of the young slayers worked out. He was amazed at the strength of these young ones. They were truly impressive, and there was something about them that he could not quite figure out. He just assumed that their young goddess had blessed them. There was a massive amount of magic in this place. His senses were on overload especially after such a long time asleep. He feared that it might take him a few days to get back to his full strength but he did not want to show weakness to this young one. She needed his strength.

After a brief tour of the grounds Willow dismissed the others as she and the Wizard disappeared into a small sitting room. She had closed the doors and requested that they not be disturbed.

"They have been in there for hours," Faith complained. "What the hell is going on?"

"I'm not sure," Buffy commented, "but I'm sure that Will will let us know when she is finished. We just have to trust her."

Spike had arrived with a couple of his demon buddies that were willing to help out the Red Witch. They all wanted to stay on her good side even if she had been peaceful for several years. They all remembered when she had gone all badass on them, killing Rack and nearly destroying the world, not to mention the rumors about her dealing with the First Evil.

"Figured a little more muscle wouldn't hurt," he told the slayers as they both glared at him.

Buffy nodded. She finally trusted his judgment after all that they had been through together. She also knew that he cared a lot about Willow. The two of them always seemed to understand each other somehow. Buffy had given up trying to understand Spike long ago. As far as that went, she had given up on trying to understand men in general. She had not switched teams but she could understand why someone might.

Faith and Spike were going to patrol the grounds to make sure everything was in place. They wanted to make sure that nothing had been forgotten and all was secure. This was promising to be a long night and it was just getting started.

The old Wizard was laughing at something that the young witch had said. She was absolutely captivating he had to admit. The goddess knew what she was doing when she had picked this young one. He had only known her for a few short hours, but already he felt as if he had known her all his life. She was so curious about everything and her heart seemed truly good yet somehow incomplete. It was easy to see how much she cared about those around her. He knew that she would do whatever it would take to protect them all, and he would do everything in his power to protect her and her unborn child.

The unshed tears that appeared did not go unnoticed as she took a deep breath and started to tell him about Tara and how she had died. He also noticed the love and adoration that still filled the heart of this child for her fallen love. Their connection he knew ran deeper than anyone could possibly imagine. If it had not, she would not be facing his nemesis now. He was not sure how the creature had managed to accomplish so much in such a short time, and to use a dead witch? That was something new to be sure, and these monks? Who were they? How do they fit into this puzzle?

Once Willow had finished telling the old man about Tara, he placed his hand upon her knee as if trying to comfort her. Her tears were released at that moment to complete their journey.

"More than anyone knew," she agreed. "I always thought she was much more powerful than I am."

"Yes," she nodded. "Before Tara came into my life my magic never worked right. She was my teacher as well as my lover. She was my everything."

Willow was not sure but right before he asked if they could join her friends to prepare she thought that she saw a hint of fear on the old mans face.

The office was a hive of activity with the arrival of the Counsels team, Spike and his demons, and even Dawn and Xander had returned. It seems that Nancy was recovering more quickly than the doctor's thought would be possible and Jess was stable and resting comfortably. Willow smiled when she heard that. She finally took the time to introduce the wizard to everyone but there was not much time to get acquainted with the impending attack. They did not know how long they might have before the creature would be back but they knew their time was running out.

The counsel team was in awe of the wizard and wanted an explanation of how he had gotten out of the secure hospital and all the way here without them knowing about it. Not to mention the fact that he had no form of identification. He just smiled at them and went about his work. He called for Monica and another witch to help him with a little alchemy. He wanted to make a protection charm for the young goddess. He had no doubt that she could handle things on her own because the amount of power he felt within her was beyond anything he had ever come across. He also sensed that she was well aware of the price of extreme magic, and considering her condition he was not sure what she would actually risk. If she knew that the baby was her lovers' she would probably be less willing to use her magic in order to protect their daughter.

Willow started preparing a spell to confuse their attacker. She had gotten the idea because Buffy and Faith said that with them the creature seemed confused. If he tried to use their powers against them he might be in for a surprise this time. She did not wish to see anymore of her friends in the hospital anytime soon. Once she had prepared the concoction she poured it into a challis and sent it around the room for everyone to drink from even Merlin. He looked at her with a question in her eyes but did as she requested.

Willow was trying to relax as they waited but thoughts about the baby and her beloved Tara troubled her mind. Faith had been sitting beside her for the past thirty minutes talking but the redhead had no clue what about. She and Buffy had opted to stay with the witch since they were apparently the only ones that really confused the demon, but Buffy had been in and out of the room a dozen times already. She wanted to make sure that everything was secure on the estate and as usual, she was restless. Xander was out on the grounds with the slayers and Giles was keeping vigil inside the mansion with the others. Willow suddenly noticed a hand settling over her own and looked up at the dark haired slayer.

"Yeah," she nodded with a half smile. "Just a lot to think about right now. It's a lot to process you know?"

Faith certainly understood that. If they made it through this thing there were going to be some major changes in all of their lives with the baby coming. She allowed herself to think about that for a moment and a look passed across her face not unnoticed by Willow. She knew that the woman had just made her mind up about something but no clue what it was.

Willow knew better than to push for an answer. With Faith she would have to wait until the woman was ready to talk. She still kept so many things to herself.

Merlin had been all around the estate chanting his incantations and reaching out into the night with his magic. He wished that there were a more simple way to deal with the entity that they were up against but he of all people knew that this was a dire situation. He had lost several hundred years already to this beast and tonight he may lose even more. He felt something off in the distance.

"It's coming," he whispered quietly and rushed toward the house and the goddess within.

Everyone started to their assigned area and began to alert the others on the estate with the wireless radios. Spike suddenly appeared at the front gate and a slayer went down unconscious when he struck her. The platinum haired vamp was striking out at anyone who came near him until he came face to face with himself.

The second Spike attacked and the two fought furiously for several moments as all those who had rushed to the scene stood transfixed wondering, which was the real Spike? No one moved, afraid that they would choose the wrong one. Spikes two demon buddies jumped into the mix but were taken out quickly by the first vamp.

Buffy had appeared from the inside of the house and was stopped in her tracks at the spectacle of Spike trading blows with…Well, Spike. The look of confusion on her face would have been humorous had it not been for the threat to their friends at the moment. She jumped into the middle of the fray. Both Spike's stopped momentarily then one threw a punch. She immediately caught him with a roundhouse kick knowing instinctively the real Spike would have never attacked her.

"What's the matter big boy?" she growled at him. "Afraid to show us your real face?"

"Come on lover," he mimicked with an evil laugh. "Where would be the fun in that?"

Spike had jumped back into the battle but the creature did not seem to be able to read their moves as he had done the night before. They managed to keep him guessing and then he vanished. Buffy and Spike knew immediately that he had headed into the house after Willow. They ran all the way finding a couple of downed witches and one pissed warlock on the way. They had all had their own magic used against them.

In the corridor they found the creature facing Merlin and the slayer twins. The three of them were managing to keep him busy as Buffy and Spike jumped back into the battle. The creature was strong and even though he did not have the advantage now of being able to tell which power was coming from where he was still a force to be reckoned with. Faith and Monica had run into the corridor to aid in the fight. Buffy and Faith teamed up again and managed to throw the creature off his game. He disappeared again. There was a scream from inside the office. Everyone rushed in to find Dawn screaming and the demon had Willow around the throat. They all stopped afraid to move.

Everyone turned to see the glowing form of their friend where she had appeared. With all eyes turned to the apparition the demon disappeared with the red haired witch.

"He got away," Faith was yelling. "If you hadn't distracted everyone we could have stopped him!"

"No Faith," Tara tried to explain. "If you had not stopped when you did you would have gotten them both killed. Willow is torn and scared to use her magic."

"Master Wizard," Tara called to the old man. "You must undo what you have done. Too many lives are at stake now."

The old man stood wringing his hands together quietly. He knew he would have to explain but he was not at all sure that he could do anything to undo what he had caused. He began to explain about the feud that he and Morgana had been involved in. "It was an old-fashioned Wizards Duel as it were. A very dangerous practice no matter how you looked at it but it seemed that Morgana knew all the right buttons to push where I was concerned. She had been the sister of my young student Arthur. She was hungry for power and even though she had very little of her own she had learned to trick and manipulate others out of theirs. She had tried that with me and it had not worked but she had vowed that one day she would have my power. After she had tried several tricks I grew tired and impatient with her games. The final straw had been when she tricked Arthur into sleeping with her with a simple glamour spell that made her appear to be someone else. She had vowed to take the young man's kingdom.

I knew that I had to stop her and against my better judgment I called on an ancient sorcerer to assist me. The sorcerer however was not a sorcerer at all. He was a demon and in dealing with him I managed to create a brand new evil. A mimic was born. It was like nothing I had ever encountered before and it could not be controlled. No matter what I tried I could not send the evil spawn back to its master. Once Morgana had found out about the creature she approached it with a proposition. She would allow him the body of her unborn child as a host if he would grant her the ultimate power in the universe. She wanted to be a goddess. The mimic and its master agreed. The pact was made and her magic started to grow once the ritual of transference had been performed.

I had had to call on every ounce of power that I possessed and more even in order to trap the creature the first time."

Merlin was not at all sure what to do now and things were worse than before. Before they were dealing with a witch that basically had had no power of her own. Now they were dealing with an incarnation of the goddess. The child that she carried would also carry her power as well as the power of the other witch.

"There is something else," he told them looking at Tara. "The child that she carries is also hers."

"That is why he needed my body," Tara offered. "He has been using the power of The First that the monks had been able to harness. He needed my DNA in order for the spell to work. The child that Willow carries is a part of both of us. She will carry both of our powers. He also bound my spirit to my body so I could not warn you. It was not until Faith destroyed the talisman that I was able to get away."

"Both of your powers," Buffy repeated as her voice began to trail off. "Willow said that you were more powerful than she was."

Tara nodded. "I was when I died but my powers were not completed at that point. Had I lived longer they would have become stronger until they matched Willow's. We were part of the same magic. My powers were based in light and hers were based in darkness. Together they would have been complete. Our child will be complete in both."

All the color drained from the faces around the room as the truth of this revelation was realized. The mimic could not be allowed access to this child. With the power that he also brought to the mix there would be nothing in the universe that would be able to stop him.

"Merlin," Tara called to him. "Tell us what we need to do to get Willow back safely and destroy the mimic."

He looked around at the expectant faces and then he saw it in their eyes. Yes, the answer was right in front of him all this time. That is why he had not been able to defeat the creature before. Walking to the two older slayers.

"That is why you were so effective against the mimic the first time you met him. Why he was confused by you," the Wizard told them. "He does not know how to fight with love because love is not something that he is capable of. It cannot be copied. Your love for your friend was the reason you were fighting and the reason he could not win. "

"It's true," Tara agreed. "Love is the one thing that no one can copy. It has to be real."

"We will only be able to defeat him with true love," The Merlin offered. "Any of you who feel that for the Goddess I will need your help. The rest will need to stay here. He can always fight magic and strength, those things will not help in the battle ahead."

Xander moved to stand beside Faith and Buffy. He was soon joined by Dawn and Giles and much to everyone's surprise Spike. Buffy looked at him and smiled. The wizard mused at the odd collection of individuals that stood before him. No one but a goddess could be responsible for inciting love in such a diverse group he thought.

Tara's spirit acted as their guide to where the creature was holding Willow. He would not be able to do the ritual he first intended so he would have to have time to devise a new plan or so they hoped. They could not count on anything at this point. They would have to move quickly.

"Something is wrong," she said with a worried look on her face. "I think he's bound her powers, or someone has."

"They would had to have done that in order to control her," Merlin reminded her. "She would be much to strong for them otherwise."

Tara nodded in agreement and started toward the caverns once more. The friends all moved along quietly. They had no idea what exactly they were up against but they knew that they could lose someone they all loved very dearly should they fail. Dawn knew that all too well as she hung at the back of the group. She was watching Tara's spirit. She had lost her once and she knew that once this was over that she would be gone again. Tara had been the closest thing she'd had to a mother after her own mother had passed away. Now what if they also lost Willow?

She jumped, as she had been lost in her thoughts. She just shrugged and told him things were fine. She was just worried about Willow.

With that he headed back toward the front of the group leaving the young woman with her thoughts. She knew he was trying to help but he was not being all that convincing.

Willow struggled against the ropes that held her against the stone altar. As she looked around she realized that this was the place where the doorway to the hellmouth had been. She knew that her powers had been bound but there had to be a way for her to call them back. The blind monks that they had all become so familiar with surrounded her. They were chanting in an ancient dialect that she was unfamiliar with. One was adding something to a small cauldron. She heard yelling not far away. She was pretty sure it was the cavalry.

A monk came flying into the room on his back. An angry vampire soon followed him. Spike had his game face on and was in no mood to deal with the monks that kept attacking him. The Mimic was drawn to the scuffle as the others entered the room. He stopped and shook his head. Something was keeping him from reading this group but he still had his own strength. He took a swipe at Tara more than once, and looked surprised as his hand passed through her. Striking out he backhanded Faith, knocking her completely across the room and against the wall. The slayer was out cold. Buffy was busy with about a half dozen of the monks while Giles and Xander fought two others. Merlin's magic was bound the instant he stepped into the room. He stood silently stunned. Spike was left alone to face the Mimic and was not faring too well. Buffy managed to kill three of the monks that she was facing. Giles and Xander soon showed up to take on the other three while she went to help Spike.

At the altar one of the monks was raising a dagger over the red haired witch. Tara was instantly by her side but she could not stop him. She cried out for someone to help. Dawn had been standing silently watching, not knowing what to do. As she saw her friend in danger she leapt forward. She passes through the fighting unnoticed. No one had been paying attention to her because she had no powers that concerned them.

Willow realized as she stared at the dagger that the monks really were not trying to steal her baby but they were trying to reopen the hellmouth to bring The First back. They needed the combined power of both she and her baby and had deceived the mimic to accomplish their ultimate goal.

Dawn reached forward, grabbing the blade of the dagger, which cut into her flesh. She wrenched it out of his grasp as blood ran down her arm. With her other hand she reached out to Willow, trying to protect her. As she touched the witch a green glow began to emanate from her eyes, ears and mouth. As her blood dropped silently to the floor green energy started to spread out in front of them. A portal was opening. The monk that she took the dagger from was sucked in along with two others that were close. As Dawn touched her, Willow's powers were released and she dissolved the ropes that had held her in place. She immediately grabbed for Dawn who was being drawn into the portal that was continuing to open.

Buffy and Spike were still fighting against the Mimic when they saw what was happening. They were trying to force the demon back toward the opening. Merlin was hit with a rush of power when the young goddess had gotten her powers unbound. Whatever spell had been holding them was ended. Dawn rushed toward the demon with the dagger in front of her. When he saw her light he ran for her. Buffy hit him from the back forcing him upon the blade of the dagger. As his blood spilled into the edge of the portal it began to close. In an instant Merlin rushed forward and grabbed the demon pulling him into the portal before it could close. Both the Wizard and the Mimic disappeared just before the portal closed completely.

The friends stood looking at Dawn in disbelief. Buffy was quickly at her sister's side with her arms wrapped around her.

Willow slid from the altar and kneeled beside Faith. She placed her hand over the girl's eyes and she soon stirred. Faith looked up to see two witches staring back at her.

"Dawn's still the key," Buffy offered. "She opened up a hell dimension and they were sucked in."

Faith gave the younger woman a very confused look but decided to wait to ask any more questions until her head was not hurting so bad. Buffy offered to help Faith up and she and Spike assisted the dark slayer out of the caverns. Once outside all was quiet. Their friends said good-bye to Tara then left she and Willow alone, but Faith waited close by.

"I've missed you too," Tara assured her. "I wish that things could have turned out differently but we will be together again."

"I know," Willow whispered. She was resting her hand on her tummy over their child.

"Will…" Tara began. "You have to take better care of yourself now. It's not just you anymore."

Willow smiled up at her. "Is she really ours?" the red head questioned. "I mean both of ours?"

Tara nodded," Yeah, she really is. You will always have a part of me with you. You always have but now you just have to look at our daughter and she will help you remember that."

Willow reached out to hug Tara. At first there was nothing there, only air but then she felt the magic rising in her midsection. The baby was reaching out for her mother and for a moment Tara became solid and they hugged.

"I'll always be close for both of you," Tara assured her as she pulled away from her. "I have to go now." She turned to Faith. "Will you take care of them for me?"

Faith stepped forward and placed an arm around the red head. "Always," she assured Tara.

Willow stood at a new graveside close to the stream on the Watcher's Estate. Her thoughts had pulled her far away as Faith walked up behind her wrapping her arms around the redheads waist.

"Yeah things have been a little crazy," Faith agreed. "This was a great place to bring her."

The two stood there just leaning on each other for support as the sun started to sink in the sky. They walked back together listening to the sounds of the night and thinking about the future.

"I kind of promised Tara that I would stay on here and look after you and the baby," she sighed. "I just wanted to make sure that would be okay with you."

Nancy had been resting quietly in her room when Monica knocked. The woman had brought a few things for the party that afternoon. They had all tried to keep Willow from finding out but they were pretty sure that she at least suspected what was going on. Jess and Dawn had gone to the airport to pick up Buffy and Giles, and no one was quite sure where Xander has disappeared to right after breakfast but they were sure that he would be back before the party. Faith was doing her best to keep Willow busy and out of everyone's way but she was not being very successful so far. It was really hard to plan any kind of surprise for the witch but if she knew she was being a good sport and not letting on.

Monica had been excited to spend the morning with Beth and Kim. She had really been getting close to her daughter and the girl's best friend since all that business with the Mimic. She really liked the dark haired girl and she had really helped Beth deal with her father's decision about their divorce. Monica loved staying here at the estate; Xander and Nancy had really been great in helping her to adjust to her new life. She had been more than happy to fill in while Nancy recuperated after her surgery. Her job at the Magic shop kept her really busy also. She could not believe the amount of business that they had in the few months that they had been opened. Now they even had a web site for people to order from anywhere in the world.

"I was just thinking how wonderfully things had turned out," she smiled at her new friend. "I mean a few months ago things looked very bleak. Now I am closer to my daughter than I have ever been. I have a wonderful job and a home where I feel needed and wanted."

"Needed and wanted," she assured her friend. "Xander and I are so glad to have you here, and I know Willow would be absolutely lost without you at the shop."

"Now come on you," Nancy said with conviction. "We have a party to decorate for and not much time to get it done."

The two laughed as they headed down the hallway toward the kitchen. Kim caught them before they entered with a warning.

"Nancy," she called. "Faith is having trouble getting Willow out of the house. Have anything you need them to do?"

"I guess we were not so clever as we thought," she laughed again. "I think we can find something for her to do, especially considering I have some parcels at the Post that need to be picked up. Now scoot or they will wonder why I am not asking you to go."

With that Kim disappeared around the corner and grabbed Beth on the way out. They were laughing as they passed Faith and Willow close to the front door."

"Wonder where those two are off to in such a hurry?" Willow stated as she watched the girls disappear.

"Willow, Faith," Nancy caught their attention as she rushed into the room. "Could you run to the Post for me? I am expecting an important delivery and everyone has taken off."

"Sure," Willow confirmed. "Shouldn't be a problem." She looked to Faith to make sure it was not a problem.

"How's our little mother today?" Nancy asked as she reached out to rub Willow's tummy.

"Well other than the fact I'm as big as a house and I am growing a soccer player," Willow started, "I think I am doing pretty good."

"Will," Faith complained. "You're not as big as a house. Besides now there's more of you to…"

Nancy and Monica rolled their eyes and laughed at the two women as they argued their way out of the house. If Miss. Willow did not have her daughter soon they feared for the dark haired slayers safety.

Jess was all smiles as he greeted the two travelers. Giles could not help think he looked like the cat that ate the proverbial canary. Buffy as usual did not seem to notice. He wondered what might be up?

Dawn looked incredibly nervous. "Why else would he and I be moving in together?" she finished.

"Good Lord," Giles offered up cleaning his glasses again. "Umm, congratulations."

When Jess came back with their bags he was nearly knocked over by a short blond and an Englishman.

They stopped by a small coffee shop on the way back to the estate because they were running a little early. They wanted to make sure that they were the last to arrive as to keep their visit as a surprise for Willow. They talked about their plans over some steaming cups of latte'. Seems that Jess had taken an apartment in town away from the estate and Dawn had been spending more and more time there. That also gave Xander and Nancy more alone time as well as Willow and Faith getting ready for the baby.

"Nothing as far as anyone knows," Dawn replied. "Faith is still staying in Willow's suites but she has her own room. You should see what they have done in the nursery! It's gorgeous."

"Wow," Buffy started. "I can't wait to see it. Is Will doing okay? With the baby I mean?"

"Are you kidding?" Jess spoke up. "You would think that no woman had ever had a baby before. She is really excited."

"Yes, well," Giles, offered, " I think that could be attributed to the fact that she now has a part of Tara that she can hold onto."

"Giles she is happier than any of us have seen her since Tara died," Dawn confirmed. "It's like this baby has given her back her will to live."

Nancy and Monica, with the help of several of the girls managed to get all the decorations and refreshments in place. Everything was finally ready for their big surprise. Several cards and packages had been dropped off already for the event, those sat waiting on a large table at the head of the dining room. There were not a lot of names on the guest list but a few people had already arrived. Including Ms. Stebbins of the Witches Counsel. She was a petite elderly lady with amazing powers as a seer. She had been babbling since her arrival about how beautiful Willow's daughter would be and powerful.

Xander arrived just as Dawn and Jess pulled into the gates with Buffy and Giles. They would keep their guests out of sight until the last possible moment. No one noticed the small package he held tight to his body. The cars were moved out of sight and everyone was in place. Now they just needed the guest of honor and as if on cue, they heard Faith's voice booming in the entryway.

Willow was ready for a nap. Her back had been seriously hurting her all morning. She nodded at the slayer and waited. Her body was screaming for her to get off of her feet.

"Willow," Nancy called from the other room. "Could you come in here for a moment?"

"Geez!" she exclaimed as she clutched at her chest. "Are you tryin' to send me into labor?"

Everyone laughed and greeted the witch. Faith had known how tired her friend was; she was quickly behind her with a chair, which Willow sat in immediately. Once everyone had taken a moment to greet her Dawn stood in front of her with a string. She handed it to Willow and made her close her eyes.

"Make sure they're closed really good," she told her. "Now pull the string, and keep pulling until you get to the end. Oh! And don't open them until you get to the end of the string."

Willow did as she was told. She was smiling at the antic that reminded her so much of the teen aged Dawn that she had loved so dearly.

"This is some long string Dawnie," she teased. "Are you sure there is an end here somewhere?"

As the last words left her lips something warm met her hand on the string. It was another hand. She opened her eyes to find her best friend and her replacement father staring back at her.

Willow jumped up so quickly that she nearly fell back into her chair again. The hands of Xander and Faith reached out to steady her at the exact same moment. They smiled at one another.

Over the next hour the friends enjoyed refreshments, the playing of the silly shower games, and opening presents. Willow could not believe all the wonderful gifts that the baby had received from all around the world. Faith was also amazed at how excited everyone had been about the baby. She had never been around babies before and she was terrified.

"Yeah actually," she started. "We have been talking about that a lot. There are two really special names that came to mind, and I want my daughter to be a symbol of a new beginning. Because for me that's what she truly is. I had given up on life, now all that has changed for many reasons." She paused for a moment as she squeezed the slayers hand tighter. "We want to name her Tara Joyce," she said slowly. "And we will call her TJ for short."

Tears filled the eyes of every Scooby who remembered their two fallen family members.

"I can't think of a more beautiful name," Buffy said as she hugged her dearest friend.

Her mom would be so proud that Will had thought enough of her to name her daughter after her, and it was only right that she be named after Tara.

Willow was getting more uncomfortable by the minute she started to stand up but Xander had stopped her. She looked at him slightly annoyed because she had been sitting for over an hour and really needed to stretch.

He pulled out the package that he had been holding onto so dearly all afternoon.

Willow slowly and carefully unwrapped the package. Her eyes welled with tears when she saw what it was.

"This belonged to Tara's mom," she was weeping. "It's her Book of Shadows. Tara used to keep it in a locked box under our bed. I thought that it had been lost forever."

"It would have been," Xander tried to explain. "Tara told me where to find it when she was here. She wanted you to give it to TJ so I thought this would be the perfect time to pass it along."

Willow clutched the book to her and tried to stand. Pain wretched through her middle and she doubled over crying out.

Giles and Xander went for the car, Dawn sent Jess for Willow's bag, and the rest all tried to help her to the car at once. Monica chuckled to herself as it rather reminded her of an old episode of The Keystone Cops. They had to take several cars to the hospital where Willow's doctor was waiting when she arrived. The flood of people that came along with the petite redhead overwhelmed the charge nurse. She was trying to send everyone to the waiting room.

Finally she let the woman pass and she was led to get ready. Faith was not at all sure that she was ready for this but she had made a promise that she would be there for everything. She intended to keep that promise.

Several hours later all those in the waiting room were sent word that Willow and her daughter were doing fine. Faith would be out soon so they could all meet the newest Scooby face-to-face.

When Faith stepped out into the hallway with the small bundle in her arms she was dressed in a pink surgical gown and had a mask hanging down around her neck. She was smiling the biggest smile any of them had ever seen on the woman as long as they had known her. They all gathered around.

Everyone agreed. The little girl looked just like her missing mother, especially the blonde hair and blue eyes. They knew that would please Willow greatly.

They all cooed over the baby for several moments before the nurse called them back again. Faith carried the child all the way back in to her mother who was happily waiting to take her. Once Willow had TJ close in her embrace and Faith settled beside her on the bed she drifted off to sleep as the child nursed.

Faith could not help thinking that finally all things were right with the world. She would stay in New Sunnydale to protect Willow and TJ as she had promised. Finally she had the family of friends that she had always wanted. It felt good to belong.

Faith stood staring at the bassinets as the nurses tended to all the babies. She felt a presence next to her.

"Thank you for watching over them," the figure spoke again. "I know that they will be safe with you close by."

The figure stood there watching the small bundle a few more moments before she started to fade.

Faith continued to stand there. Buffy and Xander had walked up and were looking at the baby with her. They could not believe how their little family was growing. They had to admit that TJ was a wonderful and unexpected side effect of living on a hellmouth. It was not long before other member of the Scooby's joined them at the window.

They all started down the hall towards Willow's room. Faith paused as she felt a prickling at the back of her neck. She turned to look around but there was nothing there. She waited for a moment and the feeling went away. She continued toward Willow's room with the others. She did not see the dark figure appear at the nursery. He stood silently watching for only a moment and was gone.

The move from the hospital was almost as humorous as the trip to the hospital had been. Willow had been wishing that someone had taped their whole adventure so that she could show it to TJ when she was older. They could have surely won a prize on that Funniest Video program. At least now they could get back to life as normal, or as normal as it got here in Sunnydale.

Xander had a graduation to get ready for and Nancy had to keep him together which seemed to be working for both of them. Beth and Kim, who had integrated themselves nicely into the Scooby group, would be preparing for their senior year. Monica was watching the store. Buffy and Giles would be leaving in a couple of days after they helped Dawnie move. She smiled at the thought of Dawn being all grown up and in a relationship with a Warlock and not an untalented one at that.

Then there was Faith; she looked over at the raven-haired woman playing with her daughter. She would have never thought in a million years that she and this woman would ever be so close, the woman who had tried to kill them all so many years ago. Then again she had also tried to kill them all by trying to end the world. She placed the book in her hand on the shelf across from the crib. She cast a small protection spell so that she would know if anyone moved the book of shadows that had been Tara's Mom's.

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The Liar, the Witch and the Watcher

by D.F. Spinner

Copyright © 2005

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