Six blocks from the shop, Emily saw the car fall in behind her.  Her mouth a grim line, she headed out of town and away from Sara.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Xander walked Tara back to campus.  They walked in silence, each deep in thought.

Tara wavered  between a resolution to confront Willow with her fears and the hope that continued loving support might be enough to bring their
relationship back.

Xander worried about Willow and Tara.  Then he thought that if a relationship that seemed so strong could change like this, what could happen to others? What could happen to him and Anya?

When they reached the Student Union, hey hugged and Tara thanked him.  She hurried off to class and Xander turned and headed back toward down town.

After the last hour, he needed some positive relationship reinforcement, he needed Anya,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sara sat at a table quietly drawing pictures with a pad and markers Anya had found behind the counter.  Anya was desperately trying to reach someone, anyone, for help.  Giles was out and Willow wasn't answering either.  Tara, Buffy and Dawn were at school and Xander was supposed to be here already. The more she thought of her AWOL boyfriend, the more she regretted losing her vengeance powers.

In the old days, she thought, I'd send him into a hundred year sleep as soon as he walked through that door.  That would teach him to be late, she thought with satisfaction.

The bell rang, the door opened, Anya turned and Xander stepped in.  He stood frozen, he tried to speak, his eyes rolled back and he collapsed onto the floor.

Anya rushed over and knelt beside him, "a hundred years why did I say a hundred years?"

She frantically tried to rouse him.  She shook him and began to slap his cheeks.

"Come on, Xander, I was just mad.  I didn't mean it, please wake up!"

He started to move, "whoa, stop with the slaps.  Boyfriend abuse is an ugly thing."

He sat up and shook his head in an attempt to clear it.

"Boy was that weird, I opened the door and the next thing I knew, you were whacking away at my classic features."

"It was all my fault, I was mad and …."

Anya stopped when she felt Xander suddenly tense.

"Who is that?" he asked pointed at the little girl.

"It's along story, that's why I was mad at you.  I wanted you to help me decide what to do…"

Xander waved her to silence.

He pulled out his wallet.  "Take a look in the pocket on the left side," he said handing it to her.

She grasped a small foil package, "I don't think this is the time for this, but .."

He glanced over at her, " no, the left side."

She slid the package back and pulled a picture from the opposite side of the wallet.

"Look at the picture, what do you see?"

Her eyes widened, " it's this girl, where did you get a picture …"

She turned and her eyes seemed to throw off sparks, " who was the woman that left her?  Are you the ….  A hundred year sleep will seem like a walk in the park when …."

"What else is in the picture?" he asked.

She looked again, "you lousy bastard, two?  Don't deny it, the little boy looks just like you.  What the hell were you doing when you were fifteen?
Model planes a little too quiet for your taste?  Needed a more exciting hobby?"

"Be quiet, " he said forcefully.  "Look on the back of the picture, what does it say?"

She turned it over and read.  She looked up with a puzzled look.

"It says, 'Will and me 1986'. "
 

(7)

For once in her life, Anya was speechless.

Xander got up and walked toward the girl, his mind bouncing between shock and curiosity.

"Hi, my name is Xander what's yours?"

The girl smiled and shook her head.

"Do you know where your mommy is?"

She shook her head again and went back to her drawing.

"Anya, " he asked, " tell me exactly what happened."

As Anya finished, the bell rang and Willow entered.

"Xander, I need to talk to you, " she said.

Glancing at Anya, she added, "alone.  It's kinda personal."

She braced herself for Anya's reaction and was surprised when she remained silent.

'Willow?  Are you Willow?'

She turned and saw the child. "Yes I'm Willow, who are you?" she replied.

She saw the puzzled look on Xander's face and realized that she hadn't really heard the question.  It had just popped into her mind.

'Can you hear me?' Willow thought.

The child smiled and nodded.

Xander watched as Willow seemed to just stare at the little girl for what seemed like an hour but was probably only a minute or so.

Willow walked to the child and took her hand.

"Sara and I will be at my house.  I'll call you guys later when I've got the whole story."

"Story, what story?  This kid is the spitting image of you when you were five.  We don't know where she came from and we don't know who she is, "
Xander protested.

"We should be calling the cops or at least Giles.  She could be dangerous, some kind of a demon or time traveler or I don't know what.  At least she's an abandoned child…."

Willow interrupted, "she wasn't abandoned.  I think she was left here intentionally and I think she was left here for me.  I'm taking her home and
that's it."

Willow walked to the door still holding the child's hand.

"Will come on, how can you take her to your place with evil brit boy almost back on his feet.  What kind of a place is that for a kid."

"At least he's a loyal friend who'll have some faith in me, which is more than I can say for the rest of you, " Willow said grimly as she opened the
door and left.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy was surprised when she opened the door and saw Tara.

"Hi, is Will with you?" Buffy asked.

"No," Tara said, " may I come in?"

Buffy gestured toward the living room and Tara entered.

"I'm worried about Willow, " Tara said.

"It's not more bad dreams is it?  I thought the counseling was working OK, "
Buffy replied.

"It's not that, it's Spike.  I think she's falling in love."
 

(8)

'Do you always talk this way, in your head? ' Willow thought as she and Sara walked to the nearest children's store.

'No, with Mom and Dad and teacher and kids I just talk like regular.'

'Let's try that when we're with other people, OK?'

"OK, " said Sara with a grin.

Willow asked her the usual questions.  She was five and she went to play school three days a week.  She recited her address and phone number, which Willow took down in her address book.  Her Daddy was at work and she didn't know where her Mommy was, but she said that the people in the shop were her friends and not to be afraid.

By this time, they had reached the store and one of the clerks was installing a newly purchased car seat into Willow's car.

"Would you like to go to my house and wait for your Mommy there?" Willow asked.

"OK, is your Mommy there?"

"No, " Willow said a little sadly, " sometimes my Mom has to go away too, but my friends help take care of me."

"Jus' like me?" Sara asked.

"Yes, " Willow smiled, "jus' like you."

~~~~~~~~~~

"Willow and Spike? " Buffy said I with amazement.  "You must be wrong."

Tara screwed up her courage, her usual soft and shy manner was replaced by a colder and harder look.

"I know the group doesn't think overly much of me, when they think of me at all."

Buffy began to object, but Tara waved her to silence.

"Don't try to tell me it's not true, at least give me that much.  I don't know whether it's my personality, the fact I'm a witch or that I'm the evil
lesbian influence on poor little Willow, but you guys don't like me.  You only tolerate me for Willow's sake."

"I can live with that, but Willow has always resented it.  She's never said anything, it's not her way.  Sometimes, I think you have her half convinced it's all her fault somehow.  That's the part that really pisses me off."

Buffy paled as she listened.

"I'm sorry, Tara.  You're right.  I guess I was kinda jealous."

Buffy began to color, "not that I ever wanted to .. you know .. with Willow. It's just that you two were so close so fast.  Will was my first friend in
Sunnydale.  I didn't know anyone and I was a transfer student and I didn't make cheerleader.  I was miserable and Will was my friend and she helped me ….."

Buffy stopped and wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand.

"All I can say is I'm sorry."

"Thanks, but I said all that to make you realize that I really know Willow and I know she's headed for trouble."

"OK, but with Spike a guy and a vampire?" Buffy said shaking her head.

"She was with Oz, a guy and a werewolf and the vampire part, well you have some history I hear."

Buffy just nodded.

"She's spent almost every free minute with him since he was hurt."

"Could just be gratitude and loyalty, she's like that you know, " Buffy answered.

"That's what Xander said too, but there's something I couldn't tell him."

Tara swallowed, " we haven't made love in a month, we've hardly touched."

Buffy looked a way, "ooh, touchy subject."

Tara smiled.

Buffy got even redder, " I didn't mean .. touch can be .."

Taking a deep breath, Buffy continued, " is a month gap uh unusual?"

Tara rolled her eyes, " when you were with Riley, would a month have been unusual."

Buffy lowered her eyes and nodded, " I see your point."

Tara thought, I bet you do, I heard that a couple of hours was a major dry spell  for you two.

"I believe you, what do you want me to do?" Buffy asked.

"Talk to her, talk to her soon.  Tell her the dangers involved.  You're her friend, help me protect her."

"How about you two?  I can try to tell her …"

Tara interrupted, " no, either we'll survive as a couple or we won't, but we have to stop this involvement with Spike for her sake not mine."

Buffy glanced at the clock, " she should be home now, do you want to come with me?"

"No, I think I'll stay at school for a few more hours."

They said goodbye on the front walk.

Buffy hugged her, " try to keep a good thought, I'll do everything I can.  I know you love her very much."

Tara squeezed back.

"Hey, was that a pass?  Watch out or I'll tell Will, " Buffy said with a grin.

Both girls smiled and set off in different directions.
 

(9)

"What have you done luv?  The whole sodding bunch have been calling for the last hour.  No messages, just a mysterious, have her call, " Spike called out from the living room.

"What ever it was, it's really got ….."  Spike stopped as Sara and Willow entered..
 

'That's Spike, he's kinda loud but he's OK, ' Willow thought.

'He's cold, ' Sara's voice said in Willow's mind.

'Are you afraid?' Willow thought as she bent to look in Sara's face.

'No, because he loves us, ' the girl thought back with a grin.

"Bloody hell, will someone say something? " Spike complained.  "Are you and your little friend just going to grin at one another? "

"Sorry Spike, this is Sara.  She's going to stay with us for a while."

"I'll be a son of a …."

"Spike! " Willow yelped.  "You're gonna have to watch your language from now on, OK?"

"Holy …… OK Red you win," Spike said snapping his lighter and raising it to the cigarette in the corner of his mouth.

Willow, hand on Sara's shoulder, continued to stare at him.

He snapped out the lighter and put the cigarette in his pocket grumbling all the while.

"Did you say something Spike?" Willow said sweetly.

He gave a strained smile, " I was just wondering how long little sweetness will be around, that's all."

"Don't worry, you'll get so used to her being around that you won't want her to leave."

Spike jumped up and stalked into the dining room.

Willow took Sara into the kitchen, 'would you like something to eat?' Willow thought.

'Cookies and milk please, ' Sara sounded in Willow's head.

Willow put a plate of cookies on the table and took the milk from the fridge.

'Did your Mom give you anything to give to her friends when you met them?' Willow thought, pouring milk for both of them.

Sara put down her cookie and nodded.  She handed Willow a folded piece of paper from the pocket in the front of her overalls.
 

On it was typed:
Sunnydale CA Interviews

Buffy Summers
Dawn Summers
Alexander Harris
Willow Rosenberg

Across the bottom was scrawled:

Sara adopted / from Collins Sunnydale / father? / Mother? /lies / Wolfram & Hart LA / danger.

Protect my little girl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy rang Willow's bell and waited.  She didn't want to barge in, this was going to be difficult enough.

"Buffy, come on into the kitchen, you're just in time for cookies and milk, " Willow said ushering her inside.

Buffy stood in the kitchen doorway and stared, "who's your friend, I didn't know you had a little sister?"

"Neither does my Mom so I guess that's not it, " Willow said with a grin. "This is Sara, she's going to be staying with me for a while."

"Sara this is Buffy, she's a friend too."

Willow heard, ' she's different, strong and good.'

She nodded at Sara and got a glass out for Buffy, "whole or skim?"

"No milk Will, could I talk with you alone?"

"Sure, Sara go sit with Spike in the dining room, you can take your milk."

"Spike!  You're letting him baby sit?"

"Spike is OK, I like him and he likes us, " Sara said as she took her milk and carefully carried it into the dining room.

Buffy stared at Willow.  Soon they heard the sounds of conversation from the next room, followed by the sound of Sara's laughter.

They both were shocked at the next thing they heard, "I love you, you love me…."  Performed as a duet between a child's falsetto and a Cockney whisky tenor.
 

(10)

Emily managed to avoid her pursuers for over an hour.  At first, she tried to get to the interstate, but she was expertly herded away as two additional cars joined the chase.  She soon realized she was being forced in a certain direction away from the city.  Despite her desperate efforts, she eventually found herself surrounded in a deserted industrial area.  A large man left one of the cars and came toward her. He signaled for her to put her window down.

"Mrs. Stevens I'm disappointed, all we want is for you and your husband to comply with our agreement.  It's time for Sara to meet our client.  Now where is she?"

The mildness of his voice frightened her more than any shouts or threats.  He was a man who had won and knew it, shouts and threats were unnecessary.

They took her into a nearby building.  She was seated in the middle of a small office and the man was standing in front of her.  Two more very large
men stood by the door.

"Mrs. Stevens, Emily isn't it?  Please tell me where you left your daughter. I know you don't have any friends or relatives in Sunnydale, did you leave
her with strangers?  Do you think that was very smart?  Things can happen to a child.  Why Sara could be in trouble now.  At least I bet she misses her Mommy.  She's probably wondering why her Mommy left her that way.  Maybe she's scared, I wouldn't be surprised.  It'll be dark soon and she'll be scared.  There are many scary things that come out at night.  Did you know that Emily?"

She was hypnotized by his even and calm tone.  Did she do the right thing? Was Sara scared and did she wonder if she had been abandoned?  What should she do, what would Walt do.

She cleared her throat, she'd been silent for so long, " where is Walt, where is my husband?"

The man slowly removed some things from his pocket and placed them on the desk next to her.

"You see Mrs. Stevens, Walt didn't believe me.  Not about Sara or you or even about the scary things.  That was a very bad mistake."

She looked as one by one he placed the things on the desk.  Walt's new wallet, his watch and his wedding ring.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Willow looked at her friend, "Buffy I know how hard it must have been for Tara to come to you."

"I'm sorry about all that Will, I really am.  I just didn't realize what I, what we all were doing."

"I know, in a way I even liked it a little.  It kept her closer to me, reduced the competition for her attention; but that's not what this is about."

"Ever since the dreams and the Collins thing, I feel my life has changed.'

"Maybe it's the counseling, trying to find out about yourself is hard work and it's damn scary.  I needed Tara when Oz left, she taught me so many
things."

Buffy blushed and looked away.

"Yes, that too, but she taught me not to hide my feelings because of what people might think.  She taught me so much about magic and she taught me to be honest and gentle and ….."  Willow began to cry.

"I don't want to hurt her, Buffy."

"Will, " Buffy said as she held her friend, " I know you and so does Tara, you'll do the right thing."

"Even if the right thing is Spike?" Willow whispered.

Buffy stiffened and didn't reply.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The man came out of the building and walked to one of the waiting cars.

"I suppose it's the motherhood thing, she didn't give me anything intentionally.  She avoided mention of the down town stop she made when we
lost her for a few minutes.  Go back to that area and see what you can find, anything to do with travel, a Western Union office, bank, kid's store
whatever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Your cousin, you say she had a little red haired girl?"

The large man in the dark suit nodded.

"Let's see.  Charlie are you back there?" the store manager called through a curtained doorway.

A young man came through the curtain, " yes sir, what can I do?"

"Do you remember a woman with a little red haired girl today?"

"They both had red hair, they almost looked like sisters.  She bought a car seat and I put it in for her."  He consulted an order book, " here it is,
Rosenberg, Willow Rosenberg.  It must have been about three or four hours ago but maybe she went back."

"Went back?' the man questioned.

"Yeah, she spends quite a bit of time at the Magic Box, it's a store in the next block."

After thanking them, the man left and scanned the street for a few minutes. He walked to the drugstore on the corner.  Once inside, he asked the clerk if he had a phone book.  He leafed through to the 'M's'.

The Magic Box
Rupert Giles Proprietor

Luckily, the book combined residential and business listings and he looked up two addresses.  Thanking the clerk, he returned to the car.
 

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