Part 1

Willow stretched as she inhaled deeply. Slowly she opened her eyes. Almost
immediately, she turned her head toward the French doors. She smiled at the
chair on her balcony. It had been moved again. Every day before she left
for school she straightened it to face the yard and every morning she woke
up to find it facing into her room.

With a glance at her alarm clock, she pushed back the covers. Willow had
mixed emotions about her nightly visitor. She felt safe knowing he watched
over her, protecting her, yet she was apprehensive as to his reasons for
doing it.

Giving herself a mental shake, she made her bed before grabbing a shower.
****
“Willow,” a soft voice floated to her.

Willow turned in a slow circle looking for the owner of that voice. All she
could see was a beautiful green field.

“Willow,” the voice called again.

“Where are you?” she asked as she continued searching. “Who are you?”

A brilliant white light appeared before her. Willow had to shut her eyes
against the bright light. “Oops! Sorry about that, dear. Is this better?”

Willow opened her eyes and saw a familiar figure bathed in soft light.
“Nana?”

“Yes, dear.” She smiled at her granddaughter.

“Am I dreaming?” Willow asked. Nana died when she was ten.

“Sort of. I’m here to tell you about your destiny,” she said softly.

“Destiny? I don’t have a destiny.”

Nana laughed. She had missed her little Willow. The Powers That Be had
allowed her to check in on her granddaughter, but the visits had been
limited. “Yes, you do. A great destiny. You are a witch.”

“Well, not really. I just dabble with simple spells, but they never seem to
come out right. I can float a mean pencil,” Willow explained.

Nana smiled. “Not that kind of witch. An elemental. On your eighteenth
birthday you will come into your power.” She paused and looked up. “I
haven’t much time left. Many things will start to happen. Don’t be afraid.
It’s connected to your birthright. You’ll find a trunk in the attic.
Find the key and you’ll find answers inside.”

The ground shook violently. Nana began to fade away. Willow reached a hand
out to touch her. “Wait.”

Nana stroked Willow’s cheek. “I have to go now. I love you, my Little Red
Ridding Hood.”

“Nana! Wait! Don’t go!” Willow cried as her grandmother faded away.

“Willow!” a voice called out.

The ground shook once more. Willow woke with a start as Buffy kicked the
back of her chair again.

Confused, Willow looked around the class room. Everyone stared at her,
including the teacher standing over her.

“Nice of you to join us, Miss Rosenberg,” Mr. Grimes said sarcastically.

The bell saved Willow from further embarrassment. The class gathered their
things and left the room.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Grimes,” Willow apologized meekly.

The history teacher released his angry pose. Willow was one of his best
students. “Just don’t let it happen again.”

“Yes, sir.” She dropped her text book into her backpack and found Buffy
waiting for her.

“Are you okay, Will? You never fall asleep in class,” Buffy said as they
walked down the hall.

“I’m fine. I’ve just been tired lately. I need to talk to Giles for a
minute. I’ll see you later,” she said distractedly as she turned towards
the library.

Buffy stared after her friend. A warning bell sounded and Buffy headed for
her next class.
****
Willow pushed open the library doors. “Giles?” she called out.

Giles stepped out of his office. “Willow.” He noticed the circles under
her eyes. “Are you okay?”

She moved to the central table and sat down. “I’m not sure. Have you ever
heard of an elemental?”

“An elemental is a primeval spirit. You don’t want to mess around with
them. Why?”

“No, that’s not right,” she mumbled. “What about an elemental witch?”

Giles’ eyes widened a fraction. “An elemental witch? Where did you hear
about them?”

“So you know about them?”

“Stories, myths mostly. The Council had never been able to confirm their
existence,” he said as he sat beside her.

“Tell me.”

“Well, according to legend they control the elements. Fire, water, earth,
air. Usually they only have control over one element. It’s supposed to be
a hereditary trait. Passed from grandmother to granddaughter. For some
reason it’s supposed to skip a generation,” he said.

“Anything else?” Willow asked.

“That’s about all I can remember about the legends. Why?”

Willow looked at the Watcher. “I think I might be one.”

Part 2

“And then he said...” Buffy’s voice trailed off when she realized Willow
wasn’t paying attention. She watched the red head turn her head this way
and that, searching the crowed Bronze for something or someone. “Looking
for someone, Willow?”

“Where is he?” Willow wondered aloud.

“Who?” Buffy asked as she tried to catch her best friend’s attention.

Willow realized Buffy was talking to her. “What?” she asked, focusing her
attention on the curious blonde.

She rolled her blue eyes. “Who are you looking for?”

Willow turned her green eyes on her soda. “Oh, no one. I’m looking for no
one.”

Buffy nudged her with an elbow. “Come on, Wills. You can tell me.”

*Okay, brianiac. Think fast,* Willow ordered herself. “Xander! I was
looking for Xander.”

The blonde scrunched up her nose. “Xander? He’s right there,” she said
pointing at the boy flailing his arms around not three feet from their
table.

Willow sank back into her chair. “Oh, okay.”

“Willow, are you okay?” she asked concerned.

“I’m fine.” She saw Buffy’s look of disbelief. “Honestly, I’m fine. I’m
just tired.”

“You’ve been tired a lot lately. Maybe you should see a doctor,” Buffy
suggested.

“Maybe. Listen, Buff. I think I’m going to head home.” She stood and
slipped into her jacket.

Buffy looked longingly at the dance floor, but stood to leave with her
friend. “I’ll walk you home.”

Willow put a hand on Buffy’s shoulder to push her back into her chair. “You
don’t have to. I can walk home by myself.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” Willow said tiredly as she turned and walked out of the club.
****
Spike ran down the street, his leather duster flying behind him. He was
late, but hopefully not too late. He knew her ritual well enough to try to
Bronze first. He slowed down when he saw her exit the building and begin
walking home. He glared at the building for a moment. *But that damn
Slayer is still dancing when she should be protecting her friend,* he
thought as he followed at a distance behind the red head.

With each step she took, Spike grew more concerned. She walked slower and
slower and the steps became more stumbled. He moved closer to her. Finally
her knees gave out a block from her house. He rushed over to her and knelt
beside her. When he turned her over, the heat from her skin seared his
hand.

“Pet,” he said as he brushed hair from her face. She had a scrape on her
forehead from her fall. He lifted her into his arms. He carried her to her
house. The dark windows indicated her parents hadn’t returned from their
trip.

At the front door he tried to wake her. “Pet, you need to wake up,” he said
gently.

Willow moaned quietly as she tried to get closer to the cool skin against
her face.

“Willow!” Spike said more sharply.

She opened her eyes. “Spike?”

“Yeah. You need to open the door.”

Groggily she pulled a key out of her pocket and unlocked the door. Willow
wrapped her arms around Spike’s neck.

“You either enter under your own power or you need to invite me inside,
luv,” he reminded her.

“Come in,” she mumbled.

Spike crossed the threshold and kicked the door shut behind him. He carried
her upstairs and laid her down on her bed. She rubbed her face against the
cool pillow case. Spike set about removing her sneakers and jacket. He
tucked the blankets around her and sat in the chair by her desk.

Spike stared at his hand. Touching her had actually burned him. He was
worried, but didn’t know what to do. He thought for a moment before he
grabbed her phone. Kneeling beside the bed he shook her. “Pet, wake up.”

Willow pried her eyes open. “What? I want to sleep.”

“I know, but you need to make a phone call first,” he said as he dialed a
number. He listened to the first ring before setting the receiver against
her ear.

“Hello? Who is this?” she asked.

“Willow? It’s Angel,” he said. She didn’t sound right. “Are you okay?”

“I guess,” she answered.

“Why did you call?”

“I don’t know. Spike said I had to call you.”

“Spike! Where are you?” he asked. *If Spike has harmed Willow, he will
pay,* Angel promised silently.

“I’m at home.”

“I’ll be right there,” he said before hanging up.

Willow looked up at the blonde vampire kneeling beside her. “He’ll be right
over.”

Spike chuckled. “I’ll bet.”

“Can I sleep now?” she asked.

“Yes.” He watched as she drifted off. He looked at the phone receiver in
his hand. Touching the ear piece, he saw his fingerprint now imprinted in
the soft plastic.

Part 3

Angel bound up the porch steps and burst through Willow's front door,
thankful he had an invitation. "Spike!" he yelled.

Spike hurried down the stairs. His foot barely touched the last step when
Angel's hand wrapped around his throat and slammed him against the wall.

"Where is she? What did you do to Willow?" Angel demanded.

While he didn't need to breathe, Angel's tight grip was crushing his vocal
cords. He pointed upstairs.

Angel released his childe and took the stairs two at a time. He entered
Willow's bedroom and found the girl sleeping peacefully in her bed. Spike
stood right be hind him. "What's going on, Spike?" Angel asked as he
turned.

"I don't know. That's why I called you. I was following her," he started
to explain.

"Why were you following her?"

"Cuz Slutty didn't walk her home. I wanted to make sure she got home okay.
Lot of evil things walking the streets of Sunnyhell. Anyway, followed her
home. About a block from here she collapsed and I brought her here and put
the chit to bed."

Angel was surprised by the concern Spike was showing. It wasn't like him.

Spike held out his blistered hand. "When I touched her skin, she burned
me," he explained. "Even started to melt the phone when I made her call
you."

Angel moved closer to the bed; he felt a cool breeze brush across his face.
His dark eyes took in the fact that the windows and doors were closed.
Angel cautiously reached a hand out to touch her. His hand passed through
what felt like a steady stream of cool air before he touched her hot skin.

Spike watched his sire jerk his hand away. "What's wrong with her?"

Angel heard the concern and worry in his childe's voice. "I don't know,
Spike. I'm going to call Giles. Maybe he knows something." He picked up
the phone receiver and noticed the fingerprints imbedded in the plastic as
he dialed.

"Giles. It's Angel. Listen. There's something wrong with Willow. No. At
her house. Okay." He set the receiver in the cradle.

“Well?” Spike prompted.

Angel shook his head slightly. “He didn’t really say anything, but it
sounded like he was expecting something to happen.”

“But he’s coming over, right?” Spike asked.

“Yes.” Angel glared at his childe. “And while we wait, you can tell me why
you were following Willow. And don’t try to blame Buffy,” he said, pointing
a warning finger at him.

Spike stared at the floor for a moment. “Remember when I kidnapped the
witch and the moron? The spell I wanted her to do to get Dru back?”

“Yes. I thought you were going to go back to South America and torture her
into loving you again. What happened?”

“Got as far as Panama when I realized I didn’t want someone who didn’t want
me,” Spike said as he sat on the floor next to Willow’s bed.

“So you came back to Sunnydale to stalk Willow?”

“Not exactly. I never planned on coming back to this place, but somehow I
ended up here.”

“And Willow? How did that happen?”

Spike watched her peaceful face as she slept. “Spotted her walking home one
night. Alone. You know, that Slayer of yours doesn’t take care of her
friends very well,” Spike pointed out. Angel glared at his attempt to blame
Buffy. “Fine. She’s St. Buffy. I followed her. Didn’t want her to get
hurt. She did try to help me,” he mumbled. “Staked three fledglings who
wanted to snack on her.”

“How long has this been going on?” Angel asked as he finally sat down in
Willow’s desk chair.

“About three months.”

“Did Willow know you were following her? Before tonight.”

“For a couple of months at least.” Spike pointed to the balcony. “She
bought that chair about a month ago. And an ashtray two months ago.”

Angel smiled at that. It sounded like something Willow would do.

“Angel,” Giles called from downstairs.

Angel stepped into the hallway. “We’re up here, Giles,” he called back.

Giles hurried up the stairs. Angel stopped him before he entered the
bedroom. “Spike is here, too,” Angel warned. “He found Willow and called
me for help.”

Giles absorbed the news and nodded before he entered the bedroom. He
noticed Spike sitting by her bedside watching over her. The Watcher
reached out to touch the still red head, but Spike grabbed his wrist.

“Wouldn’t do that if I were you, Watcher,” he said as he held out his
blistered hand.

“Oh, my.” Giles pulled his hand back. He looked around the bedroom for the
trunk Willow mentioned earlier.

“What are you looking for, Giles?” Angel asked.

“Willow said there was a trunk somewhere that would give her answers.” He
paused to remember what she’s told him. “The attic. Go up to the attic and
find a trunk,” Giles ordered as he began pulling books from his satchel.

Angel and Spike found the trap door to the attic. Once in the small musty
space the searched for a trunk. They found four.

“Okay. Now what?” Spike asked as he pulled the last trunk into the center
of the room.

Angel stood at the top of the ladder. “Giles, there’s four trunks up here.
Which one are we looking for?”

Giles climbed the ladder halfway so he could see the trunks. “Try and open
them. Look for books, scrolls, something that might have some answers,” he
said before returning to Willow’s bedroom to search his own texts for
answers.

Angel pried the lock open on one chest while Spike dug through another. The
found old clothes, pictures and other junk people store in attics, but
nothing to help Willow. Angel moved to the third trunk. Even with his
vampiric strength he was unable to open the latch.

Spike opened the last trunk to find old toys. *These are Willow’s old
toys,* he mused as he pushed aside an old rag doll, a used chemistry set and
a couple old diaries. “Nothing here,” he said over his shoulder.

Angel stood back studying the trunk that refused to open. “This must be the
one, but I can’t get it open.”

“Maybe there’s a key somewhere,” Spike said as he closed the lid on Willow’s
toy chest.

“Let’s get it down stairs.” Angel lifted it by one handle and waited for
Spike to grab the other. “This thing weighs a ton,” he grunted under the
load.

Spike lifted his side and looked at his sire curiously. “You must be
getting old. Hardly weighs anything. Damn thing’s probably empty.”

Angel was surprised when Spike finally lifted his end. The weight seemed to
decrease by half. The two of them dragged the trunk into Willow’s room.

Giles looked up as the two vampires set the trunk in the middle of the room.
“You found it?”

“Don’t know. Can’t get it open,” Spike said as he kicked the side of the
trunk. The three of them watched in amazement as the latched fell open.
“Hey, what do you know? Thought it only worked on tellys and cars.”

Part 4

Giles immediately started pulling books out of the trunk. He handed a stack
to Spike and another to Angel. “Start looking through these,” he said.

Angel sat on the floor and started opening the leather bound books. “What
are we looking for exactly?” he asked.

The Watcher took his stack to the desk and sat down. “I suppose I should
tell you. I have reason to believe that Willow is an Elemental Witch,” he
said as he opened the first book.

“What’s that?” Spike asked.

“A very powerful witch who has control over the elements,” Giles explained
as he started skimming the text.

“Why would you believe Willow was one of those?” Spike asked.

“Because she told me she was,” he answered.

“What exactly are we looking for?” Angel asked.

“The Elemental power is supposed to manifest itself on her eighteenth
birthday,” Giles said as he turned the page.

“That’s in two days,” Angel reminded him.

“I know. We need to find references to the manifestation. What happens,
how does it work. That sort of thing.”

The three men spent the next four hours searching through volumes of books
for the answers. Spike closed another book with a frustrated growl. “I
hate reading,” he mumbled.

Angel looked up from his book. “I know you do, Spike. I’m sure Willow will
appreciate your help,” he said with a slight smile. Reading had never been
one of Spike’s strengths. It always took him twice as long to read through
a simple letter. It showed the dark vampire the length his childe was
willing to go to in order to help Willow.

“You know I’m not supposed to have boys in my room,” Willow whispered as she
sat staring at the three men in her room.

Giles looked up from his reading. “Willow. You’re awake,” he said as he
set aside his book.

Spike jumped up from his seat on the floor and enveloped her in a hug.
Angel smiled at the shocked expression on her face as she rested her chin on
Spike’s shoulder. Spike pulled back and held her face in his hands. He
pressed his lips to hers.

Willow blinked in surprise at Spike’s kiss. She closed her eyes and lost
herself in the feel of his cool lips against hers.

Angel glanced at the Watcher as the two kissed. When Spike’s hands began to
wander from her face to Willow’s breast, he cleared his throat loudly.
“Spike!” he said sharply when the subtle warning didn’t work.

Spike lifted his head to stare into her Willow’s bright green eyes. “You’re
okay,” he whispered.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked.

“You’ve been comatose for about five hours,” Spike explained. “Not to
mention too hot to touch.”

“Hot?” she asked as she wrinkled up her nose.

Spike held up his hand. Most of the blisters had healed, but there was
enough damage for her to see. Willow grabbed his hand. Some instinct told
her to brush her hand across his. Spike’s eyes widened as he watched the
rest of the blisters disappear before his eyes. He turned to show Angel and
Giles.

Willow spotted the open trunk in the middle of her bedroom. “You found it,”
she exclaimed as she jumped out of bed. She knelt beside the trunk and
began pulling out more books. “Did you find the key, too?”

“What key?” Angel asked.

“Nana said I had to find the key before I could open it,” she said as she
lifted to cover to one book.

“Spike just kicked the trunk and it popped open,” Angel said as he looked at
the blonde vampire hovering over Willow.

She looked up at the vampire behind her. “You did?”

Spike shrugged. “Works on the telly.”

“Just don’t try that on my computer,” she chuckled.

“Willow, are you sure you feel okay?” Giles asked.

“I feel fine. Did you find anything?” she asked as she scanned the book in
her hands. It was a journal and it was dated 1746.

“Some. I’m still not clear on what happened to you. Most of these books
are journals. Your ancestors I presume. We’ve been searching for
references to the change, but most of them seem to be written after the
power has come into effect,” Giles sighed as he watched Willow search
through the trunk.

Willow dug through the trunk and found a box at the bottom. Pulling the box
out she looked for a latch to open it. There didn’t seem to be any.

Spike pulled the box out of her hands. The lid was inlayed with movable
parts. He used his thumbs and moved pieces along their tracks. Finally
when the last piece was in place the lid popped open. He handed the box
back to Willow. His gaze shifted from Angel to Giles. “What? It’s a
puzzle box.”

Willow lifted the lid and looked inside. “This is like Hanukkah,” she said
as she pulled out a pendant. It was a five sided crystal. Each side
reflected a different color. Red, green, yellow, blue and purple. She held
it up for everyone to see. As she pointed to each color she named the
element. “Fire, earth, air, water and akasha.”

“What the hell is akasha?” Spike asked.

“The fifth element. Spirit,” Willow explained.

Angel saw a note in the bottom of the box. He pulled it out. “To my
granddaughter, Find the color and master your element. Blessed be,” he read
aloud.

Willow continued to stare at the crystal. “What does that mean? Find the
color? Which one?” she asked.

Giles picked up one of the journals he had been reading. “I pulled the
crystal out of the box and it shown a brilliant blue, like a sapphire,” he
read.

Angel opened a different book. “I can’t imagine a ruby could be any redder
than my crystal.”

Willow frowned at the crystal. “Well, that sucks. Mine’s broken.”
 

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