Amy took a deep breath as she looked up at the building looming over her,
the lion’s den, Wolfram and Hart. If the architects had wanted it to
look fashionable, but yet foreboding, then they had done a great job.
Lifting her chin and looking forward, she stepped towards the rotating
glass doors. She could do this. It would be easy. All she had to do
was keep going, one foot in front of the other, until she was standing at
the large front desk, the words, “Lindsey McDonald, please,” falling from
her lips.

The woman manning the part of the desk in front of her nodded as she
asked, “And do you have an appointment? His secretary has his afternoon
down as free, as is his usual schedule on a Saturday afternoon.”

Frowning, Amy looked around at all the people milling about, briefcase in
hand. For a late Saturday afternoon, the place sure seemed busy and
alive. Glancing back at the woman, she remarked, “Actually, we just met
at lunch, and I was discussing with him about a situation I am in. After
hearing the nature of it, he said to stop by and he would look into it.
I’m sure if you ask his secretary about me, Catherine Madison, then there
won’t be a problem.”

“Mam, either you have an appointment or not. It isn’t my fault you
didn’t go through the proper chan…”

A voice interrupted the lady from behind Amy. “It is okay, Raquel.
Trish must have left earlier without giving you my updated schedule. I
am actually expecting this one.”

“Sorry Mr. McDonald.”

Amy turned and smiled at Lindsey. Noticing he had offered his hand, she
took it and shook it as her other hand played with a strand of stray
blonde hair, escaping the tight twist she had fixed it into. “Thank you
very much for seeing me without a ‘proper appointment.’” At the end, she
looked over at the receptionist, stressing the words ‘proper
appointment.’

Lindsey nodded. “No problem, Ms. Madison. If you’ll just come with me.”

Following him to an elevator, Amy kept a careful eye out, watching for
any sign that someone may have caught on to them. These were the people
who had taken William, Doyle and Faith. Just because she wasn’t from
here, didn’t mean she would underestimate them. This was LA’s own
figurative Hellmouth, a hub where the powers of darkness could stretch
their tendrils into dealings around the world.

As the doors to the elevator opened back up, Amy felt a slight shove as
Lindsey glided her into the hallway. His hand at her back, she tried to
look comfortable as she kept herself from going rigid. Almost every
nerve was screaming as she noticed everyone looking at her. Lindsey’s
hand seemed to reassure her as it moved from her back to her shoulder,
giving a slight squeeze as they stopped in front of his office door.

The heavy door shut behind them and Amy found her breath hissing out
loudly. Placing her hand on her heart and slightly laughing, she took a
hold of Lindsey’s prosthetic hand, allowing him to lead her to a chair as
she seemed to sway about. It was like a rush, like the adrenaline was
just taking its course now that the first part of the mission was over.
Taking another deep breath as she sat down, she looked up, remarking,
“That was scary.”

“You don’t have anything to be scared of. Right now they are probably
checking their computers for a Cathernine Madison, finding that you were
a somewhat powerful witch who took over her daughter’s body, only to be
removed by the slayer and then placed into a statuette. According to the
record on Catherine and Amy here, both of you are supposedly missing in
action. In all, they’ll probably decide Catherine took over Amy’s body
again and is here seeking our help. And trust me when I say they will
love having Catherine for a client.”

“I hope you don’t mind me saying that you sound to sure of it, being they
are probably recording this conversation right now.”

Lindsey shook his head. “Recording devices go against lawyer/client
confidentiality guidelines. Plus, why use recording devices in the
office when all they have to do is bring in mind readers to find out all
your dirty secrets.”

Still feeling high from just walking up to his office, living off the
buzz, Amy reached out and grabbed a hold of his prosthetic hand, not
really seeming to care that it wasn’t real. Smiling up at him, she lowly
stood up, leaned in close and whispered in his ear, “Then they won’t be
able to see this?” Slowly she started to kiss up his jaw line towards
his mouth, where his lips caught hers.

The kiss became more frantic as Lindsey went from being pushed against
the desk to actually turning them around and placing her on the desk, his
hands slipping under her skirt as he perched her there. Amy gasped and
then laughed as she started to play at his tie, loosening it a little
before his hand reached up and he stopped kissing her. “Amy. Amy!”

Looking up with sad eyes, Amy saw a passion in his eyes that she had
never seen directed at her before, not even on Xander. His ragged voice
stated as he seemed to gasp for air. “We can’t do this right now. We
have to get the files.”

Amy nodded as she got off the desk, placing her clothes back in order as
his words sunk in. “So, how do we get her in here?” It still surprised
Amy how many of the Wolfram and Hart staff, including support staff,
worked on Saturday.

Fixing his tie, Lindsey reached down and lightly tapped his phone. A
voice sounded over the intercom. “Mr. Manners’ office, how may I help
you, Mr. McDonald?”

“I have client here that I thought might interest Mr. Manners. I was
wondering if you could come by and pick up some of her files I gathered.”

“I’ll be right there.”

When the phone clicked off at the tip of Lindsey’s hand, Amy asked, “And
you’re sure Holland isn’t in today?”

Lindsey nodded. “His wife has him running errands. Actually, the only
reason his secretary is here, is because she is putting files together
for a large case he is working on.”

“Sounds exciting and all that – working in the courtroom.”

Lindsey smiled down at her as she sat back down in front of his desk,
crossing her legs at her ankles in a proper manner as the door behind her
opened. Holland’s secretary walked in and then closed the door behind
her, being it looked like he was in a meeting. Turning around in her
seat, Amy smiled at her as she reached out, a simple word falling from
her mouth, “Sleep.” The secretary fell to the floor, just as Lindsey
reached her, catching her before she made a large noise on her way to the
ground.

Making her way from her seat, Amy took a deep breath, trying to grasp the
large pool of power, which resided into her. Taking hold of it, she
reached out, placing her hand over the face of the woman lying on the
floor. Closing her eyes and concentrating, she smiled as she felt the
tingling of magick playing at her face, contorting it with one of the
most powerful glamour spells, not just a simple spell to change her hair
from brown to blonde. When she opened her eyes, Amy looked over at
Lindsey who was studying her closely, a look of surprise on his face.
“Did it work?”

Lindsey simply helped her up and led her to a mirror. Amy gasped as she
saw before her not herself but the secretary. Smiling, she stated, “Now
we actually start the hard part.”

Nodding, Lindsey led her to the door, stepping over the prone secretary.
“Do you remember what the password is?”

Amy smiled as she placed a hand on his face. “Partnership.” Turning,
she opened the door and headed to the office Lindsey had given her
directions to earlier that day. Pushing up glasses she had stolen off
the secretary’s face, she walked through the halls, nose in the air. She
was Holland Manners secretary right now, and that alone made her
important and gave her lead way around the offices.

Stepping into Holland’s office area, which was vacant except for her, Amy
shut glass doors behind her by where her supposed desk sat. Running
fingers over the wood of the desk, she reached under it, pushing a secret
button that unlocked Holland’s office doors. Smiling as she heard the
click, Amy walked over to the large doors, feeling small, and then pushed
them open to reveal an office that looked more like a suite than a work
area. Closing them, she pulled a disk from her jacket. Opening its
case, she inserted it into the computer and then prayed that everything
Oz had shown her about breaking into heavily guarded computer systems and
covering your tracks would actually work.

Taking another deep breath, Amy stared at the computer where it asked
Holland’s ID and password. She slowly reached for the keyboard, holding
her breath as she entered ‘hmanners’ and ‘1234.’ Her breath hissed out
as it accepted it, and she almost laughed at the fact his main password
really was 1234. Popping her fingers, she leaned forward and played at
the mouse, passing from file to file until she slowly smiled, typing in
the password ‘partnership’ as she did so.

In his office, Lindsey paced back and forth. It was so strange. This
morning, he had woken up feeling lost, not knowing what to do with his
life. In a haze, he had walked to the only place he knew would receive
help, Cariatas. Now, hours later, his life had completely turned around,
and he was here in his office, worrying about the woman who had not only
walked into the bar while he was there, but also mysteriously into his
life. As soon as he had laid eyes on her, Lindsey had known that he
wanted her, and now, as he felt fear for her, he realized that it was
more than just want and desire. The Host was right, and Lindsey hoped
the road now before him would return safely.

Heading to the door, he stopped as it opened and Amy walked in. Closing
the door behind her, she handed him the disk as he placed it in his own
pocket. Bending down as Amy turned back into her own appearance and then
placed the secretaries glasses back on her, Lindsey started to shake the
secretary. Waking up, the woman shook her head. “What happened?”

Lindsey shook his head. “I don’t know. You just walked in and fainted.”

>From where Amy was kneeled beside her, Amy asked, “Are you okay, Ma’am?”

The secretary nodded as she looked strangely at Amy, allowing Lindsey to
help her up. Looking over at him as she rubbed her head, the secretary
asked, “How did I get here?”

Handing her a file from his desk, he answered, “You came by to pick up
this file for Mr. Manners.”

Taking it from him, she nodded, still dazed. “Yes. I seem to remember
something about that.” Turning, she headed from the office.

Lindsey looked over at Amy as soon as the secretary was gone. “And now,
we make our exit. Would you mind if I escorted you downstairs?”

Amy smiled. “As long as you don’t mind me escorting you to my new
friends’ office.”

Lindsey took a deep breath. He really was taking a new road. Looking
around his office for what he considered the last time, he once again
thought it was over. It was time for a new beginning, a new life without
working for Wolfram and Hart, even though something told him that it
wasn’t close to being the last association he would have with the firm.
Nodding, he smiled and shook his head at her before following her out.
“Not at all. Not at all.”
 

**

Lilah stepped quietly into the room, her heels not echoing at all on the
hard cold tile floor of her and Wesley’s quarters. The darkened,
renovated rooms of the Initiative head quarters were home to her, even
though at times, she felt like someone was looking over her shoulder,
watching her every movement, and at sometimes, even laughing at her.
This place held so many secrets in its vastness and past, and other than
the prickly feeling at her neck, the only other hint was the bloodstain
in front of the empty quarters left behind by the Initiative heads – a
bloodstain that would reappear, no matter how many times they washed it
away. It was a curse, a warning, and if anything, Lilah knew enough not
to touch any rooms past that spot.

Steady hands reaching out, Lilah placed them on the shoulder of the rooms
other occupant, asking in a statement as she did so, “Something is
bothering you.”

Wesley looked up from his computer, leaning his head back against her as
he threw his glasses onto his large wooden desk. “Giles stopped
reporting in.”

“They’re busy – maybe he is too worried to call the council every two
hours or so.”

“No. He has been reporting in religiously since we took her.”

Rubbing his temples as he groaned, Lilah suggested, “We could just kill
the slayer and leave. If they know about us, she is a liability.”

In a quick move, Wesley pushed himself away from the desk, ramming into
her. Grabbing her wrists, and pushing Lilah into a wall, he sneered, “I
will not give up. We both know the texts, and we both know if any of the
Angels live, then it will be the end of us, especially now that the lines
have been opened. I will not be damned because of that vampire!”

Taking in a deep breath and pushing him away, Lilah screamed, “You don’t
get it, do you Wesley? We are already damned, both of us! Killing Angel
is only going to save our lives and beliefs, not our souls.”

“Do you want out? Is that it?” Wesley walked back up to her, his breath
hot on her neck as he spoke into it on his way to her ear.

Lilah melted into him, wrapping her arms around him and throwing her head
back as he started to kiss her neckline, his hands working at the buttons
of her blouse. “I won’t leave you.” As his hands pushed away her white
silk top and pressed against her, she wondered if he could feel her heart
beating so hard. With his face so close to her neck, could he smell the
fear radiating off her, fear of him?
 

part twelve

Willow slowly made her way down the street, not speaking as she thought
through everything that had taken place over the last day or so.  Just
yesterday, things had been so carefree.  Spike was being nice, even
though they had planned to spend the evening with the Scooby Gang.  He
had even joked around with Tara and Graham.  Yes, things were going fine.
 That was, until Riley showed up, looking for Buffy.

This whole situation had Willow confused and upset.  Why Buffy?  Even
though she knew the answer, it still bothered her.  You don't take a
slayer to ransom off.  No.  It was suppose to be the other way around.
People had always been after Buffy, but the scoobies seemed to be the
ones being played with, not her.  Racking her brain, Willow tried to
think of a time when they had been in a position like they were now.
What she wasn't thinking of was where she was going, until a hand grabbed
her and forced her to stop.

Willow looked up at Graham as a car passed in front of her.  Pointing to
it, he remarked simply, "Car."

"Thanks."

Starting across the street and approaching the block Gray and Xander
lived on, Graham asked, "Something on your mind?"

Stopping on the other side, she shook her head.  "Do I even have to
answer that?"

"No, I guess not."

"So, tell me about you and Tara," requested Willow as they once again
headed down the block.  "Every time I talk to her about you, she turns
red and changes the subject."

"What do you want to know?"

"Is there something going on, or are you just friends?"

Graham seemed to pause, like he was looking for an answer.  Should he
tell her?  "Would you be mad if there was something going on, at Tara
that is?  I could take you being mad at me, but she couldn't."

Willow smiled, answering his question.  "Should I be mad?"

"No."

"Do you truly love her?"

Graham turned red as he looked straight ahead.  He answered her quickly
and then changed the subject.  "Yes, and oh look, we're here."  He
pointed towards a driveway, where his double was playing basketball.

Willow had stopped paying attention though.  Gray's tanned skin was
glistening with sweat, almost shimmering in the day's late sunlight.  His
muscles rippled as he went in for a lay up, his fingers gently tipping
the ball into the basket.  Licking her lips, Willow remarked, "Yummy."

Beside her, Graham shook his head, not sure if he should laugh or not.
"You are talking about me here.  You do realize that, don't you?"

Turning red, Willow rushed to the house with Graham.  Taking one more
shot, Gray rebounded the ball and then passed it to Graham.  Placing his
hands on his knees, he bent over some, his loose practice mesh shirt
hanging enough for Willow to view his well defined chest.  Catching her
attention by handing her the ball, Graham remarked to Gray, "We stopped
by to talk to you."

After taking a deep breath, Gray straightened up and remarked, "If you're
going to upset Xander any, then you should just leave."

Snapping out of it, Willow shook her head.  "No, we aren't going to hurt
Xander.  We're actually here to apologize and ask for your help."

Gray frowned as he motioned for them to follow and then picked up a towel
on his way into his house.  Wiping off his face with the towel, Gray
remarked, opening the door, "I don't need an apology, but Xander."

As the door opened, Xander called out, "Who are you talking to, Gray?"

Gray walked into the living room as Xander placed a book he had been
reading onto a coffee table.  Standing up, he looked at the two new
arrivals.  "What are you doing here?"

Willow answered as she sat down the basketball.  "We came to apologize."

Xander laughed.  "You need our help, don't you?  Your little gang points
their fingers and says hateful things, and then you think apologizing is
going to make everything better.  Well, I'm sorry.  It doesn't work that
way."

Laughing, Willow remarked, "Like you should talk.  The last time I was
here, all you did was say hateful things.  Have you ever wondered why the
Scoobies in this universe don't want to have anything to do with you?"
As soon as it was out of her mouth, Willow covered her face, not
believing she had just voiced what she did.

Graham stepped between them.  "This is crazy, both of you.  We didn't
come here to fight!"  Looking over at Xander, he went on.  "You were
right.  They had no right to say what they did.  Trust me, I know how it
felt.  As soon as you left, it all changed to my direction.  However,
everyone was just upset and people weren't thinking.  Things were said
that shouldn't have been, and if I forgave them, I am sure that Gray can
too.  That leaves you.  Can you forgive them, Xander?  Can you?"

Xander shook his head at first.  He knew how quiet his Gray was, and from
what he had seen of Graham, he had the impression that Graham was the
same way.  The outburst surprised him, and he slowly started to nod
instead.  "I can."  Turning his gaze to Willow, he added, "I am so sorry
for how I acted too.  It was uncalled for."

>From the door, Gray, who had been silent, asked, "Do any of you want
something to drink?"  When they all shook their heads, he left to room to
help himself.

Sitting down, Willow eyed the book Xander had been reading.  Smiling, she
read the cover and then looked over at him, questioning, "No one told me
you were into physics."

Taking the book from her, Xander sighed.  "Probably, because none of the
others knew or even care now what interests I have.  I was always the
rich kid, the snob who was better off and had more talent when it came to
sports.  The only reason I was even there, was because of Amy.  I knew
that.  I wasn't stupid.  None of them liked me, and they had every reason
not to.  It was expected, not only there but also at home."

"What happened then?" asked Graham, knowing there was a little more.

"I got tired of it.  Believe it or not, I didn't like always being the
bad person.  I had to get away, go somewhere no one would look for me,
not the group that saw me as a trader or even my family who prided
themselves in my popularity."

"Where did you go?" Willow found herself strangely curious.

"The park.  There was a small orchestra concert going on there.  I spread
out a blanket in the back, under a tree where I could be alone.  Then,
the music started, and for the first time, I found myself enjoying music.
 I just sat and listened to the emotion of it, the beauty.  It was then
that I realized that I didn't even know myself, that I had always been
what others wanted me to be.  When I finally opened my eyes, listening, I
looked up to the stage and saw the soloist, and at that moment,
everything changed."

Gray entered the room in the middle of the conversation and sat beside
Xander.  When Xander finished his story, Gray patted him on the knee and
remarked, "People just didn't want to believe that Xander could change."

Xander nodded.  "Amy, of course, hates me.  She won't even talk to me
anymore.  The Scoobies don't want to believe I've changed, and as soon as
I get around them, I feel really defensive and find myself going back
into my old mode.  Then there are my parents.  Who wants a gay son,
right?"

Frowning, Gray shook his head.  "No one has really paid attention to
Xander since then.  He moved in here with me, being his dad cut him off
and kicked him out of the house.  Plus, he has been trying to find an
interest, and for some strange reason, ran across physics of all things."

Xander poked Gray in the ribs teasingly.  "Hey, I happen to think it is
really interesting, thank you."

Laughing, Gray nodded. "Right.  Uh huh."

"No, really.  It is just a very misunderstood science.  If people would
just give it a chance."

Gray interrupted.  "Hold it right there and let me get my violin.  I have
to play a bit of mood music for this speech."

Graham laughed.  He had never imagined what had truly been going on
behind Xander Harris's mind.  Part of him wondered if any of the Scooby
Gang in this universe had started to understand Xander truly.  He sure
hadn't.  Both he and Angel had thought Xander seemed to not care, like he
felt the problem with Buffy was just an inconvenience.

>From beside Graham, Willow chuckled a small bit and then commented, "I am
sorry that you had to go through losing your family, and I wish I could
apologize for the misunderstanding you have with the group here, but I
can't.  They still see you as the other Xander, the one that turned his
back against them."

Xander nodded.  "I don't expect them to forgive me.  What I did was
probably one of the biggest mistakes in my life, and I know that.  If I
could take it back, I would.  I just didn't understand them. I hated them
for the way they looked at me, even though it never occurred to me that I
was treating them the same way.  Even now, when I'm around them, it is so
hard not to completely return to that."

Gray shook his head.  "It's in the past, Xan.  You can't change it."

Reaching down and squeezing Gray's leg, Xander nodded, "I know, and that
is something I live with constantly."

The room fell silent as Gray took the hand squeezing his leg.  Returning
the squeeze with his hand, he leaned back onto the couch.  Xander
followed suite, falling onto his lover's side and feeling very much at
home there.  Willow smiled at the scene while Graham seemed to not be
able to come up with a decision, his face displaying many emotions.
Gray, noticing the bit of uncomfortable feeling in the air, tried to
change the mood by asking, "Now, what brought you two here other than an
apology?"

"The Initiative," answered Graham.

Xander shook his head.  "But we already went over that.  Gray isn't in
the Initiative."

"No, but he knows his way around some of the tunnels down there, better
than our Graham, I bet."  Willow smiled as she spoke to Xander but looked
at Gray.

Graham added, "Because this is a different universe, we can't chance me
getting the layout wrong."

"You're going in, aren't you?" asked Xander, his eyes starting to grow
with fear.

"It is the only way we can think of to get her out," answered Willow.

Xander turned to Gray. "You aren't going in there.  If they are powerful
enough to take a slayer and hold her there."

Gray reached out and gently rubbed Xander's cheek.  "I have to and you
know it.  We have to help them."

"I know."  Xander looked down.

Taking Xander in his arms, Gray remarked, "I'll be careful. I promise."

Xander nodded against Gray's chest, but did not say a thing.  Willow
smiled at the scene and commented, "There will be plenty of others going.
 We will watch out for Gray."

Gray patted the silent Xander and asked, "So, what is the plan exactly?"

"We are all meeting tonight at William, Wills and Angel's place to
discuss layouts of the Initiative.  Then, we plan on striking tomorrow
evening."

Graham added to Willow's answer.  "Better to strike after sunset for the
vampires in our group - well, for Spike and both the Angels that is."

Xander looked up at them from where he was sitting.  "We'll be there."
 

part thirteen

Buffy opened her heavy eyes, blinking repeatedly to focus on what she was
seeing.  Above her, Drusilla cooed as she ran her fingers through Buffy's
hair.  "Sweet, pretty girl.  Everybody wants her, yes.  They want to hold
her safe, when she is the one who works so hard at keeping them safe.  Do
they not understand the burden you bare, the burden of a slayer?"

Buffy shook her head.  "Drusilla?"

Drusilla nodded.  "The watcher, he hates you.  He would rather kill you
than use you to get at daddy, but he needs you, yes he does.  What he
doesn't see, though, are the others.  They're meeting - the others,
Daddy, Mommy and my Spikey.  They will bring with them death, so much
blood.  I can see it, washing over me in soothing waves.  In the end, so
much death, so much pain, and all for you, for the love they all have for
a slayer."

Buffy sat up, holding her head as she did so.  "Can you really see all
that, Dru?"

Giggling, Drusilla nodded, looking like a child even in her deteriorated
state.  "The soldier burns for you, just like your Angelus used to."

Buffy interrupted her for a second.  "Angel, my Angelus goes by Angel."

"Yes, his soul lights through him, just like it does Daddy.  I see it in
her too, the darkness that haunts my dreams, her mind so close to
breaking at times and the coldness growing so much in her, that soon it
will take her over, leaving only a place for warmth to grow."

"I don't understand, Dru."

About to answer, Drusilla stopped as the door to their cell opened
slowly.  Lilah bowed into the room, carrying a tray.  Moving to the two,
she said quietly, "I thought you two might want to eat."

Reaching out, Drusilla timidly took a cup of blood.  Holding it close to
her body as if it might be taken away, she asked, "You can hear her too,
can't you?"

Sitting Buffy's food down in front of the slayer, Lilah stood up and
backed away.  "I don't know what you are talking about."

Drusilla nodded.  "Yes you do.  She is always laughing at you, watching
your every move over your shoulder.  But you needn't be afraid of her
right now.  No, it is he that you fear and rightly should.  I can feel
his hands, snaking around your throat."

Lilah's hand drifted to the area mentioned by Drusilla.  Shaking her
head, she remarked, "No.  You don't see or feel anything.  You're just a
crazy loon, a vampire.  I shouldn't listen to anything you have to say."

Smiling, Drusilla remarked in a child like voice, almost singing.
"You're right.  You shouldn't listen to a thing I have to say.  Stars
really don't sing.  No.  No they don't."  Eyes meeting Lilah's, she added
quietly, "They just whisper."

**

Amy leaned over the desk as Lindsey played at the keyboard, her eyes
glued to one of the computer monitors belonging to Angel Investigations.
Behind her, Wesley seemed to pace back and forth.  In all, he was making
her very dizzy, but she turned a blind eye to his habit, knowing that it
was all related to the feelings he had for his bosses safety, along with
Cordelia's.  Snapping his fingers, Lindsey pulled her attention back to
the screen.  "Amy, look at this."

Wesley joined them at the screen.  "What is it?"

Lindsey pointed to the screen, his finger drawing an invisible line under
one of the sentences as he asked, "Even after reading the scrolls,
haven't you ever wondered why Wolfram and Hart is so interested in Angel?
 It isn't just because he is prophesized to become human if he survives."

Amy felt her heart beating harder as her breath grew shallow.  "A souled
Angel is a key against them."

"Especially in the other reality, apparently," added Lindsey.  "No wonder
they agreed to help get rid of both Angels."

After reading what Lindesy had pointed out, Wesley remarked, "We got to
get this to Sunnydale - now."

>From where he was sitting off to the side, Gunn asked, "Field trip?"

Wesley nodded, "We got to get this to the other Scooby Gang."

"Couldn't we just email or fax it?  Then Giles could send it over in the
pen box," asked Amy.

Wesley laughed.  "I would be surprised if Giles could figure out how to
turn on the computer."

Pushing the print icon, Lindsey remarked, "Then I suggest you give them a
call, Wesley, and we will get everything ready."  As Wesley turned to
leave, Lindsey added, "Uh, Wesley, did you notice the signature on this
note at the end?"

Joining the group at the computer, Gunn asked as he studied his friend,
"Wesley's the bad guy?  What's up with that?"

**

Willow turned as she felt a hand light onto her shoulder.  Turning, she
looked over at Spike.  Smiling at her, he asked, "Did I frighten you,
love?"

Shaking her head, she turned and leaned into him as he wrapped his arms
around her.  Tilting her neck, she sighed as she felt him lightly kiss
her neck, leaving it open for him.  "You haven't frightened me for a long
time, Spike."

"Even though I'm still a monster?"

Willow moved around in his arms to where she was looking up at him.
"You're not a monster.  I don't care what they say."

"I've killed a number of people that you can't even comprehend."

"And how many have you killed now that you're with me, and how many do
you think you would kill if you got the chip out?"

"I try not to think of that, Willow - the bloody chip that is."

"You're not content though, are you Spike?  The demon is always wanting
out.  I have seen it in your eyes."

Spike searched her eyes.  "I love you, Willow.  Why are you asking me
these things?"

Willow looked through the light darkness of early evening towards the
house everyone was meeting at.  "Because, something tells me, Spike, if
we go through with this, not all of us will return.  I know this may be
awful of me, but I feel that I am bringing people to their deaths, just
to get Buffy back.  And what if one of us doesn't make it?  I guess I
just had to know, before going in there.  Am I holding you back, Spike?
Do you ever wish that you hadn't ended up with me?"

"Bloody hell, of coarse not. You mean everything to me.  I wouldn't have
it any other way.  I love you Willow, and I will do everything in my
power to bring both of us back from that place."

"But Spike, you still haven't answered me completely.  The demon?"

Placing his palm on her cheek and tracing a trail left behind by a tear,
he answered, "The demon is quiet when I'm with you, but I do know one
thing, it will never let anything harm you.  I feel that it has grown to
enjoy you."

"Enough that one day it may change me, just to keep me?"

Spike closed his eyes.  Speaking quietly, he answered, "Willow, there is
nothing more, to be truthful, that I would rather have than to be by your
side for eternity, and the demon agrees.  However, I love you, and I
promise never to hurt you.  Nothing will change that, and what ever
happens in the future, will be both of our decisions, not just mine or
the demon's."

Willow nodded and pulled him closer.  Leaning into him, she remarked,
"I'm just scared Spike.  I'm scared that we won't all make it, I'm scared
that Buffy won't really be there, I'm scared because I still dream
sometimes of what happened the first time I was there."  She shuttered as
she thought of Tara, of the fight that had ended with Willow taking
Tara's life.

Wrapping his arms around her and resting his chin on her head, commented,
"You don't have to go, you know."

"No, Spike.  I have to go.  Something tells me we have to be there.
Maybe it is fate, maybe it is her, but we have to go."

Above her, Spike agreed, "Then go, we shall."
 

Part Fourteen

Xander Harris looked up from where he was piecing together a shelf for
the Magic Box, a magick shop Giles had bought after the prior owner's
untimely death.  As a small bell rung above the shop's entrance, he
started to comment that the store was closed, but stopped mid-sentence as
he saw who had walked through the door.  "Wesley, Amy.  Wait!  Why aren't
you a rat?"

Amy lifted an eyebrow not only at his words, but also at his appearance.
What had she been worried about?  This Xander was a far cry from hers.
It was evident in the relaxed, carefree way he dressed or how even though
he was looking at her with a surprised expression, the corners of his
mouth were still drawn up in a somewhat boyish smile.

Wesley, standing beside her, commented as he motioned to Lindsey and her,
"Xander, this is Lindsey and Amy, the Amy from the other universe."

At hearing this, a head popped up from behind the counter.  Anya smoothed
out her hair and clothes as she came around the barrier.  "That's the
world without shrimp, right?"

Before they could answer, Xander asked, "Hey, didn't Willow and Spike say
I was dating the other universe's Amy?"

Anya lightly hit him over the head as she stated trough the gritted teeth
of a smile, her eyes narrowed at Amy, "I'm sure that doesn't have
anything to do with right now."

Amy shrugged and then reached out and took Lindsey's hand as she
remarked, "Actually, Xander broke up with me to date Graham."

Hitting an unsuspecting Xander again, Anya exclaimed, "You broke up with
us for Graham?!"

As Xander tried to explain it wasn't him, Giles came out from the back.
Pushing his glasses up, he asked as he eyed the three new comers, "Amy,
Wesley?"  and then again, "Amy?"

Wesley stepped forward, "Lindsey and the other universe's Amy broke into
Wolfram and Hart's computer system to find this."

Giles took the papers, rolling his eyes as he did so.  As he started to
read them, Amy pointed out, "I went ahead and highlighted what looks to
be the important parts."

Turning to a part highlighted, Giles found himself not believing what he
was reading.  Looking up at Wesley, he commented, "We need to send this
over now!"  Turning, he simply headed out without saying anymore, Wesley
following.

Trying to break the ice, Anya looked over at Lindsey and simply remarked,
"So, you have no hand."

**

excerpts from letter and files sent over from Amy.

Dear Scoobies,

I know this will be hard for some of you to believe, but with the help of
new allies that used to be enemies, we have come up with information that
might pertain to the situation at hand.  Lindsey and I broke into Wolfram
and Hart computers for the information they have recorded on this side,
and we have printed out what we found for you.  On the way to Sunnydale,
I will highlight everything that seems to be of importance. I hope this
helps you and await the outcome here in Sunnydale.

Amy
 

Wolfram and Hart: Project Partnership

The race has started, not only on our world but on countless others as
well, for the time of the apocalypse is nearing.  Even though the outcome
could take place at anytime, anywhere from a few years to centuries, we,
here at Wolfram and Hart, are working with our partners to establish
ourselves in the outcome.  Upon study, we have found one of the keys to
the apocalypse to fall upon one of our greatest enemies, Angel, the
vampire with a soul.  .

Angel (aka Angelus):  Born to an Irish merchant of means and named Liam,
Angel lived a life of ale and prostitutes.  A disgrace to his family, he
never really gave them second thought until he met up with Darla in 1753.
 Shortly after being sired, he returned to his family, where he brutally
murdered them.  It was about this time he came up with his name, Angelus
- a demon with the face of an angel.

.In the year of 1898, Angelus' bloody career came to a halt after he
killed the favorite daughter of a Romani gypsy clan, the Kalderash.
Using magicks, the clan set a curse upon him, giving him back a soul to
mourn the hideous memories of his demon's bloody past. Seeing himself as
something other than Angelus, he became Angel through the years after.

.After almost a hundred years of wandering the earth, even falling to the
point of living off vermin, Angel returned to the scene in 1996, where he
was recorded as helping the chosen warrior of the Powers That Be, a
slayer by the name of Buffy Summers.  It was at this time, during his
time with the slayer, that another part of the curse was discovered.  If
Angel was to experience true happiness, then his soul would be removed
and Angelus, one of the most feared Vampires in history would return.
After realizing this curse, and knowing his true feelings for the slayer,
Angel moved here, to L.A., where he has discovered his appointment as a
warrior for the Powers. .
 

Objective I:  According to our findings, Angel shall play an important
part in the apocalypse, as stated above.  What side he falls on, though,
has not been stated.  Angel, with a soul, could be a deadly enemy in the
end, but, if we can turn him, not into Angelus, but into something in
between, where he has thrown aside his fight for the Powers, then there
is a chance that the partners may step ahead in the end.
 

Notes on individuals from the other universe (mostly written by contact
on other side):

Objective 2: Other universes, as noted, are also nearing their
apocalypse.  A mirroring universe has contacted us and has indicated
interest in our Angel.  Their history and future, different than our own,
pivots more on their Angel.  If we can band our resources together, there
is a possibility that both vampires can be eliminated, therefore freeing
both of us.

Tara - A demon, who, if she had grown to her full potential, could have
destroyed Angel easily by taking over the hellmouth.  Unfortunately, her
own drive for power was her destruction and maybe our own, for she was
the one who first joined the two realities, therefore setting the
prophecy in motion. ..

William (aka Spike) - A grandchilde of Angelus, William also fell to the
same fate in this universe.  Not being a vampire for long, plus, his soft
past as a poet, helped this vampire adapt to his new life.  Giving Angel
stability, they both have fought for the Powers for almost a century now.
 He is Angel's best friend, and in a way, the backbone of what keeps
Angel going.  At one time, we gave him up, knowing that it may hinder the
prophecy some. ..

Faith - At first, we had thought her to be one of the weaker slayers in
history, but now, the slayers prophecy has come into being.  She is the
last slayer from the hellmouth, now truly immortal after being turned by
William.  A side effect, reported to us as being from the Gem of Amarra,
Faith is also impervious - as is William - from the sun and stakes. .

Angel (aka Angelus) - Now one of three vampires with a soul, this
vampires past mirrors that of his counterparts until the time of the
curse, where he suffered along with his grandchilde Spike.  Turning their
names to Angel and William, they set about working for the Powers That
Be.  As in your universe, here, the two met up with the slayer around the
mid 1990's.  However, in this universe, this group was led by a
charismatic leader who went by the name of Willow Rosenberg.  William and
Willow married, where as Angel fell in love with the slayer.  Here, his
soul staying in tact, Angel stayed with the slayer until her death a few
years later. .
 
 

.At first, some of us here at the council believed that Buffy would be
the slayer to rise immortal.  We studied her, knew her moves and the way
she fought.  For months, we sought to find a way to destroy her, pitting
her up against those we thought could easily defeat her. Then, one of our
most unlikely allies found a way to her heart through a stake.  Our
plight seemed to be over, until the two universes became joined, for that
shall mark our end.

Now that the new slayer, Faith, has become the one we feared, here at the
council, we seek help.  A marriage between Wolfram and Hart and the
council may be a start, but will it void the prophecy?  The only way we
see that happening is if we destroy the one who stands in our way, Angel.
 Knowing what plights await ahead, we seek your help.  If we were to take
something valuable to both Angels, then we could draw them both out and
end both of our plights.

Please take this into consideration, as we look forward to your response,

Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
 

**

As Tara finished reading the highlighted part of the papers sent over by
Amy, Cordelia looked up at Angel, her eyes widening in disbelief, "Wesley
is the bad guy?"

Wills, shaking her head, remarked towards Giles, "If Wesley is the one
heading this, then that means.." Stopping mid-sentence, she found herself
speechless as the implications started to set in.

Giles finished for her, "Then that means corruption in the council goes
higher than we even considered."

Wills turned white.  "If we can't even trust the group that has long
supported us, then who can we trust?"  These people, the council, had
come to mean a great deal to her through the years, and now, sitting in
her living room, she was going through them all, trying to come up with
which friends of hers had been stabbing her in the back all along.

>From the floor, Faith answered, "Ourselves, Wills.  Only ourselves."

Spike, smiling, almost laughed as he remarked, "That's right, red.  This
here, looks like it may be a trilogy, and as they say in the Scream
movies, 'in the third one, all bets are off.'  What were the rules they
mentioned, something about the past being a lie and coming back to bite
you in the ass?  And then there was the part where anyone can die, and by
the end, it may look like bloody fuckin' Reservoir Dogs."

Cordy nodded, "And the killer is invincible."  Looking up at Spike, she
added, "We also have that movie."

Wills shook her head.  "No.  Wesley is just as human as us."

Jaws locking, from the side, Riley remarked, "Well, I'm tired of being
someone's amusement, of being directed.  Once this is over, I say we
close the gates."

"Shut the gates?" asked Lindsey.

Doyle, looking over at Riley remarked, "You want to destroy the lines
between universes."

Angel, hiding in the corners of his living room, stated, "That could be."

"Catastrophic."  All eyes turned to Xander as he finished Angel's
statement.  In a very un-Xander like fashion, he lowered his eyes to the
floor and explained, "If we were to mistakenly destroy the wrong strand,
all reality would be erased from the singularity that caused our worlds.
Not only would our worlds cease to exist, so would any other worlds
branching from that singularity in time, because we would be unraveling
times as we see it."

Cordy, raising an eyebrow, asked, "Say what?"

Before he could go on, Willow cut in, "Don't we need to get to the topic
at hand?"

Graham started placing blue prints he and Gray had drawn up together on
an easel as Gray began to explain, "First of all, we need a plan on where
to enter.  There are three different places of known entry, one of them
being very centralized.  After talking to Graham and Riley, I have
decided that the best way would probably be the one you took when I first
helped you into the Initiative."

Willow shuttered inwardly as she looked up at the layout.  "That is right
by where."

Spike squeezed her shoulder, knowing the problem.  "Tara is dead, love."

Graham pointed to the layout.  "The good thing here is that this entrance
has access to the back of many important parts of the Initiative,
including holding cells."

Lindsey interrupted.  "What about the computer systems or even home
living ares?"

Cordy shook her head, "Why is that important?"

Wills smiled.  "Because the council is made up of watchers, and the one
thing watchers are good at is recording information."

Lindsey nodded.  "And Wolfram and Hart is big on technology.  Now, I take
it, we might want to find out the background information on what Amy sent
us, and who better to have it than this Wesley."

Cordy finished as she threw a few braid like strands of hair over her
shoulder, "And with Lilah on board, where better to look than on their
hard drive?"

Pointing to the layouts, Gray remarked, "The Initiative had a room set up
just for computers.  With the technology they left, I would start there,
and as you can see, it is also accessible."

Cordelia frowned, "That means we are going to have to split up."

Angel looked down at her.  "We?"

"Oh, don't go all protective on me."

"Delia, you're not a good fighter."

The other Angel added, "It's going to be too dangerous."

Cordelia shook her head. "But we all know Willow's going to go, and she
can't fight."

Angel almost growled.  "Willow can use magick and now isn't the time to
argue over this."

>From his corner, Angel agreed, "He has a point."

Cordelia shook her head.  "I don't see what the big deal is.  We are all
going to die anyway."  Looking from one Angel to the other, she went on,
"Look here, Angel and, uh, Angel.  Okay, does anyone else get as damned
confused as I do when talking to these too.  I swear."  Getting up, she
headed to the stairs, remarking loudly without looking at anyone.  "Like
I said, Spike was right, this is going to be a blood bath, and if I'm not
needed, then I don't want to stay and plan your deaths."

For a while, after she disappeared up the stairs, the room sat quiet.
Doyle broke the silence by remarking, "I'm not a fighter either, so I'll
go talk to her.  There is no need for me here."

As he got up, Wills spoke up.  "So, we split up into two groups, one to
get the disk and the other to find Buffy; any ideas there?"

Gray nodded, pointing to the holding areas.  "Even though it isn't shown,
there is a containment area behind these cells, with a testing area and
one large open cell.  The only reason I know about it is because I had to
help with the subject it was actually created for, a vampire they called
Princess.  My guess is they would hold Buffy there, where no one would
think to look."

Faith tilted her head in thought. "Just as a side note, who was
Princess?"

"I'm not completely sure.  All I know is that she was a top secret, to
the point that it wouldn't surprise me if she had been one of the
original subjects.  There had even been talk that she was given to us by
some group fighting the same battle we were."

Giles took off his glasses and started to clean them.  "The council.
Damn them.  I had heard stories about them actually taking vampires for
tests."

Spike, changing the subject because all the talk was getting to him,
reminding him of tests and his chip, asked, "So, we split.  What does
that leave?  Who's going and who is with which group?"

Reaching down and squeezing Tara's hand, Graham remarked, "I can lead the
way to the computers."

Looking over and meeting his doubles gaze, Gray also volunteered, "And I
can lead the other group."

Lindsey sighed, "I know my way around computers, and with Oz leaving for
a convention tomorrow, I would be one of your best bets to go with
Graham."

Cordy stood up and remarked, "Count me in with Lindsey."

Willow stood up beside her.  "I'll go with this group too.  Oz isn't the
only one here that knows about computers."

As everyone looked at Spike, he shrugged, "Where Willow goes, I must
follow."

Wills cleared her throat.  "Then that leaves the rest of us to go with
Gray."

William shook his head.  "Actually, I think that I'll go with Graham.
Each group should have a true immortal - that is one that can't be killed
with stakes or guns."

Giles, pushing up his glasses, added, "Uh, yes, and I think I will sit
this adventure out."

Wills nodded.  "Didn't expect you to come actually."  Looking around the
room, she started to list off people, "So that leaves both Angels, Faith,
Riley, Xander, Tara, Gray and I to go after Buffy."

Xander shook his head.  "Sorry.  I'm going to step out of this one.  I
would just be a hindrance."

Turning to Tara, Willow remarked, "You know you don't have to go."

Tara just looked around the room as everyone stared at her.  After
several seconds, her eyes looked up towards Graham.  "If I'm going in,
then I would rather be in Graham's group.  They need a magick user, and
Willow and I have a great balance."

Graham reached down to where she was sitting on the floor and placed his
hand on her cheek.  "Willow's right.  Don't feel that you have to do
this."

Placing her hand over his, she smiled.  "I'll be with you.  I want to
go."

"Then, it looks like we have a plan," remarked Wills.

Willow looked over at Xander as she slightly shook her head.  "As much as
I hate saying this, Riley made a point about shutting things down.  If we
get through this, we are going to need someone to help us do just that."

"And how do you suggest we do that?" asked Giles.

"I don't know how, but I am sure if we combine magick and science, then
we could have a chance.  It should be looked into, starting as soon as
possible."

Cordy added as she looked over at Willow, "You do realize, if we cut the
gates, we won't be able to visit each other."

Riley commented from his place, talking once again, "But we won't have to
live in fear of one of own being taken again."

Understanding, with a frown, Cordy remarked, "Fine.  So Tara, Wills and I
should look into the magick side, but none of us know enough about
science."

Willow slightly shook her head.  "No, one of us does.  Xander, could you
research the quantum physics side for us?"

Xander looked up and met her eyes.  Just by speaking to him, she had made
him feel valuable, something he had never felt with the scoobies.
Slightly nodding, he answered, "I get to it tomorrow, as soon as I
contact some of my other colleagues."

Faith, who had been silent, stood up and stretched.  "Well, looks like we
have quite a day ahead of us.  I'm sure you want to speak a little
longer, but I'm restless.  If you need me, I'll be in the basement
training."

William frowned as he saw a strange expression on her face, one of
sadness and fear.  "Good night Faith."

Turning and smiling one more time before disappearing, she returned the
wish, "And good night to all of you."
 

Part Fifteen

Angel quietly stepped off the last step of his basement stairs to watch
Faith as she gracefully went through her slayer warm up.  In the mirror,
he could see the beginnings of a reflection, a side effect from the ring,
which always seemed to take a while to come into being.  He smiled as he
recalled when William first saw his reflection, how he just sat in front
of the mirror all day, enjoying that he could once again see himself.
Somehow, Angel thought it might have helped him feel more human.  Now,
after taking off the ring, it had disappeared, and Angel wondered if
William's new reflection had started to take hold as Faith's had.

Faith turned in her warm-up, a kick moving towards him but standing still
in the air only an inch from his chest.  Smiling at him, she slowly moved
it to the ground after remarking.  "You really shouldn't sneak up on
people.  I could have kicked you."

Stepping up onto the practice floor they had built, he shook his head.
"You felt me as soon as I came through the door."

Looking up at him, feeling something coursing through her body that she
hadn't felt in the last year, she met his gaze, "I always feel you,
Angel."

In a swift move, he reached out and wrapped his arms around her.  For a
second, he waited for her to fight back, but instead, she seemed to lean
into him.  Bringing his lips to her ear, he whispered, "I can't allow us
to go in there without letting you know."

Faith brought her gaze up to him, her dark brown eyes getting lost in
his.  Her voice, quiet as his, speaking as if she thought someone might
be listening in, lilted, "Know what, Angel?"

His lips moved mere centimeters from hers, electricity seeming to pass
between them.  Using every ounce of control he had, something he had
grown used to, he answered, "You asked me if I hated you for taking her
place last night.  I never finished answering."

Gasping out of habit, she asked with a small tilt of her head, "And?"

"I don't see you as her replacement any more.  When I see you, I don't
think of her.  Instead, I think of. of."

"Yes?"

Angel moved closer, his lips lightly brushing over hers as he answered,
"I want you so much, Faith."  When Faith's eyes shot up, her gaze once
again meeting his, he added, "I love you, Faith.  I have for some time
now, but I didn't want to step in between you and Oz.  I would understand
if you don't want me, I just think you deserve to know before we go in
there, in case I don't make it out."

Faith stared for a second, seeming to take it in.  Creeping, a smile
played across her face.  For one of the first times in her life, she felt
as if someone was looking at her for who she was, Faith - not what she
was, the slayer.  It was something she had dreamed about, and now, seeing
the emotion in Angel's eyes, she knew it was real.  And the scary thing
was, she knew that it was reflected in her own.  It didn't bother her one
bit that someone she had always thought of as just a friend wanted her
for something more.  True, it was a development she had never considered,
but there was nothing she wanted more at this moment.  Stepping forward,
her lips gently tickled his cheek as she commented, "I want you too,
Angel."

In a swift move, Angel brought his lips to hers while picking her up at
the same time.  Wrapping her legs around him, she held on, her kiss
deepening, as she felt herself pressed against the glass.  Angel's kiss
became rough, but yet for some reason, Faith felt arousal.  Maybe it was
because she knew it wasn't time for tenderness, especially since she
could feel his hands frantically moving over her, as if this moment and
need was everything.  Her mind screamed for a split second as she
realized it was.  Angel was right, one of them might not make it out, and
this could be the only time - their time.

**

Turning over quickly in bed, Angel looked at the other occupant of the
room.  Cordelia sat in front of the window, the stars shining through the
night sky, lighting up her face.  Moving out of the bed, Angel let his
hands drift over her soft skin and then down a silk gown she had borrowed
from Wills.  "You know why I don't want you going, don't you?"

Slightly nodding, she answered coldly, "Because you don't want me to get
hurt."

"You just aren't that great of a fighter.  If you go in there, then you
could."

Cordelia turned to him for a minute, tears falling from her eyes, leaving
trails as they washed down her face.  "And what about you, Angel?  You
aren't invincible, and by walking in there, you're giving them the chance
to get what they want, to kill you."

"You know I have to."

Turning away, she returned to her cold voice.  "Because of her.  I know
it would be wrong for you to turn your back on her, but, well, what can I
say?  Maybe I am just a terrible person - I don't know.  All I know is
that I hate the idea of losing you because of Buffy Summers."

"Cordelia."

Moving her gaze back to him, she asked, "What, Angel, what?  Are you
going to tell me I shouldn't be threatened by her, that you don't want
her anymore?  If so, it still doesn't change anything.  Everyone always
talks about how you two were made to be together, how you loved her so
much you lost your soul, and then when you got it back, your love was so
strong you had to leave her.  Do you think I don't hear people whispering
about how I'm not her, not good enough?"

"People don't say that."

"No, Angel, they do.  I might not hear it, but I can see it in their
eyes.  It hurts Angel, it hurts so much to know that people don't think
I'm good enough.  It hurts so much, that I wonder at times how you could
love me, when I'm not her."

Angel wiped away her tears as a single tear started to roll down his own
cheek.  Did she know how much pain hearing her say these words caused,
her thinking that he didn't love her?  "Cordelia, I love you.  I don't
know how many times I have to say it to make you understand, but I won't
stop until you do.  I love you."

"And yet you're going to die for her."

By now, Angel had given up on wiping her tears away.  The strong
Cordelia, the girl that held up those around her, was breaking down, and
it hurt to know it was because of him.  Getting on his knees, to where
his face was actually below hers and he was looking up at her, Angel
commented, "No, I'm going to live Cordelia, for you."

Falling from the chair, Cordelia fell into his arms, her hot tears now
pouring against his shoulder.  "I love you, Angel.  I love you."

Rocking her, he made soothing coos as he let her cry it out, and then, as
her tears seemed to taper off, he slowly lifted her up, her head resting
on his shoulder.  Moving to a large over stuffed chair in the corner,
with a footrest, he sat down, still holding her.  Cordelia moaned a
little, already drifting asleep as she made herself comfortable in his
lap, lying against him.  Angel listened to her breathing as it slowed
even more the deeper she fell into sleep.  Then, smiling, Angel allowed
him self to fall asleep with her.

**

Tara looked up from where she was sitting on the couch, books covering
the coffee table in front of her.  Her eyes were puffy from being up late
reading, and the usually shiny whites of her eyes were now lined with
red.  Staring down at her tired eyes, Graham remarked above her, from
where he had just entered the room.  "You should really get some sleep.
I guarantee those books will still be sitting there for you in the
morning."

Yawning, she shut the book directly in front of her.  "Do you think my
staying up disturbed Cordy and Doyle?"

Helping her up, Graham shook his head as she leaned against his bare
chest.  "No, I don't think they minded at all."

Leading her back to her room, Graham helped her into the large bed and
then tucked her in.  Leaning down, he softly kissed her on the forehead
and then the nose, commenting as he hovered above her, "Sweet dreams."

Tara reached up, stopping him before he could get up and head to the
other room, where he had slept the night before.  "Don't go, please."

Graham moved to close the door, turn off the lights and then crawl into
bed, wrapping his arms around her. Tara, snuggling in closer, commented
as she closed her eyes, "I'm scared."

Kissing the top of her head as he drew her closer, Graham remarked as he
also closed his eyes, enjoying the simple closeness of her, "I'm scared
too."

Tara smiled, keeping her eyes closed.  "I love you."

Graham breathed in the scent of her, relishing it as he nodded slightly
against her, "And I love you."
 

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