Times of Darkness, Times of Light (completed 02/28/07)

[justin]

imjustme

okay. so...WOW. wow is a good word.

You're making me blush

so, i'm wondering why tara cut off her mother's head, but i'm hoping it's b/c it wasn't really her mother.

That could be it, but it could also be because Tara had really wanted a pony for her sixth birthday and her mother refused to buy her one

Thanks for the feedback

JujuDeRoussie: You're right the battle was a bit short, especially given all the build up. Though this is because in the end the Great One was just a pawn for the PTB. So now they've got the real battle ahead of them.

Thanks for reading. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Title: Times of Darkness, Times of Light
Author: Justin
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story, nor the setting. Please don't sue me, and for the love of god don't set Captain Copyright on me.
Distribution: Anyone can take it, just let me know
Feedback: Yes please
Summary: The final confrontation.

Gaia's Guardian

Chapter 3

“Tara...” Willow stopped, not knowing how to go on. She was finding it hard to believe that she'd just seen Tara decapitate her own mother.

“Willow, that wasn't my mother.” She pointed at the body, which was dissolving into the floor.

“You mean it was a fake? The Powers couldn't kill you so they tried to trick you into killing yourself? They really are mean. I'd like to give them a piece of my mind.”

“You might get a chance before this is over. What's it like outside?”

Willow walked over to the door and glanced out. “It's very foggy out there. There doesn't seem to be anyone about, human or demon.” She peered across the street. “I mean really foggy. I can barely see outside.”

Sitting Tara held her head in her hands a few moments. Then looking up she sighed and said, “Don't worry, the other's will come soon.”

***

They hadn't been waiting long when the door opened with a ring and Buffy walked in. “Hey, Willow, Tara.”

Willow stood up and said, “Buffy are you okay? How's everyone else?”

“I'm fine, so's everyone else. We were in a bit of trouble but then the demons all just left.”

“That must have been when Tara killed the Great One.”

Buffy turned to Tara, “You did it? I knew you could. We better get back. The other's are all worried about you.”

Willow and Tara started towards the door. Willow turned back to see why Buffy wasn't coming, just in time to see Buffy drawn a knife and strike at Tara. Willow threw herself in between them both, grabbing at the knife. They both fell to the floor.

“Willow!” Tara rushed over to them both.

Willow pulled herself up with a groan. They saw that Buffy had stabbed herself in the fall. A moment later the body began to dissolve.

“Another fake,” Willow muttered, an annoyed expression on her face.

***

The door opened and Buffy stepped in. “Willow, Tara, are you both okay?”

“Buffy!” Willow shouted as she jumped up, backing away from Buffy.

Buffy looked confused by this behaviour. “Willow what's wrong?”

“Buffy the Powers have been trying to trick us. They've already used your image once.”

“So you're saying you're not sure if I'm me? Man I'm really starting to hate the Powers.”

Willow nodded as she moved to be in between Buffy and Tara. “That's pretty much the problem.”

“Willow remember after you were kidnapped by the mayor and you said you wanted to stay to help fight evil and I said I think I kind of love you.”

“I remember. Buffy it is you,” Willow rushed over to her friend. “I'm sorry that we doubted you.”

“It's okay Willow. You just had to be sure that I am me. The others are coming, but I came on ahead, to make sure that you're okay.” She turned to Tara, “So you did it? You killed the Great One?”

Tara nodded. “That's not the end though. We need to stop the Powers.”

“Woah, easy there,” Buffy said. “You can't take on the whole world at once.”

“But...” Tara started.

“I mean you've just beaten a pure demon, and now you want to take on the Powers? You must be exhausted, you need to rest, or you'll get yourself killed.”

“Maybe you're right,” Tara admitted. “I'm just not sure how long we have to stop their plans.”

“And believe me when I say their plans are very bad,” Willow said.

“You mean like kill everything on the planet type bad?” Buffy asked.

“Well not quite that bad. More like start world war three bad.”

“Okay then, we'll wait for the others to get here and we'll come up with a plan. In the meantime Tara, you should get some rest.”

“Speaking of the others, how long till they get here?” Willow asked.

“I'm not sure. I did sprint over here as fast as I could. I was worried about you both.”

“Thanks Buffy.”

“I think I will go and lie down a while,” Tara said.

“I'll go with you.” Willow and Tara went through to the back room. When they'd gone Buffy went up to one of the book shelves and started looking through the books.

***

Buffy went through to the back room holding a book. “Hey I think I...” She stopped when she saw that Tara was asleep. “Oh, sorry. I didn't know.”

Willow stood up, being careful to not wake Tara. “You found something out?”

“Yeah, here.”

Willow walked over and was going to look in the book, when Buffy closed it and slammed it into Willow's face.

“Willow?” Tara looked up, still looking sleepy.

Buffy knelt down next to her. She put her hand on Tara's shoulder, pinning her to the floor. “Sorry Tara, but I have to do this.” She put her free hand over Tara's mouth and nose, blocking them.

Shaking off the effects of the blow, Willow glanced around the room. Dashing over to the wall she grabbed a knife and charged back to where Buffy was smothering Tara. She slammed the knife into Buffy's back.

***

Sitting in the main room, Tara slipped her arm round Willow and rested her head on her shoulder. “Don't worry, they'll come.”

The door opened and Xander walked in.

TBC

[JujuDeRoussie]

Uh oh! Hmmm some fakes who want to kill our Guardian... Just what is needed to become insane, isn't it?
Good update :-)
Now Xander... Fake or not Fake? That's the question

thanks for your fic :-)

Julia

[justin]

JujuDeRoussie: Yes, definitely an unpleasant experience.

As for Xander you'll find out in the next part.

Thanks for reading

Title: Times of Darkness, Times of Light
Author: Justin
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story, nor the setting. Please don't sue me, and for the love of god don't set Captain Copyright on me.
Distribution: Anyone can take it, just let me know
Feedback: Yes please
Summary: The final confrontation.

Gaia's Guardian

Chapter 4

Buffy watched as the approaching demons joined with the ones who were already there. They were hard pressed already, and she didn't think they'd be able to deal with the increased numbers. No sooner had thought this than she saw the new demons attacking the others. “What the hell is going on?” Buffy asked herself. She didn't have time to think about it as she was soon attacked by a tall, muscular vampire.

They had been fighting for almost an hour when Buffy saw a flash of light from the middle of town. Then she felt something. She wasn't sure what it was, but there was definitely a change in the air. The demons seemed to feel it as well as the ones who had been attacking the castle suddenly grew uncertain. They then started to pull back away from the castle.

Buffy found herself facing a large demon. She recognised it as the one that had been working for the fake Great One. “Didn't I kill you already?”

“You think you've won? The truth is you've already lost.”

“Yeah, yeah. I've heard that before.” Buffy rammed her sword through its throat. As it died Buffy saw that the attacking demons had all gone. She turned to the demons who had arrived to help, wondering what they'd do now. However they also started to leave. After a while there was a sole figure left where they'd been: Spike.

“Spike? What are you doing here?”

“Well when everything went black I knew things were bad so I started to gather together some help.”

“You mean good demons? I find that hard to believe.” Buffy knew there were some good, or at least harmless, demons, but she didn't think Spike would be able to gather an army of them.

“Well not good as such. The thing is there are lot's of demons who like it here. Lot's of sport and food for them to enjoy. When they heard the Great One was going to kill everything on the planet they decided to help stop him. The enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that.”

“Why'd the demons leave? I mean the ones who were attacking us.”

Spike pointed upwards. “Look at the sky.”

It was then Buffy realised that the moon was visible above her. “She did it. Tara killed the Great One.”

“I guess blondie's tougher than I thought,” Faith, who had just joined them, said. “So now what?”

“We should start gathering together the wounded and...” Buffy stopped. “They need us.”

“Who?”

“Willow and Tara, they're in trouble.”

“But they beat the Great One.”

“I know but they need us.”

***

Buffy made sure that the wounded were being taken care of, then she gathered together the others and they started walking towards the Magic Box. “How do you know where they are?” Xander asked Buffy.

“Didn't you see that burst of light?”

Xander shrugged. “To be honest I was too busy being a punching bag to see much of anything.”

“Oh, well it was coming from the Magic Box, so I guess that's where they fought the Great One.”

They had just reached the Main Street when a car pulled up alongside them.

“That car looks familiar,” Faith said.

“That's because it's the ponce mobile,” Spike said. As Angel got out he added, “See?”

“Buffy, are you okay?” Angel asked, “I was told you might be in danger.” As he was saying this Gunn, Cordelia and Fred got out of the car.

“Told? You mean Cordelia had a premonition?” Buffy wasn't sure she could trust any premonitions that might have come from the Powers. Not after everything she'd learnt about them.

“Not precisely, no. Lorne told me that he sensed something happening here. When we arrived there was this field stopping us from entering. A strange woman told us you needed our help.”

“We were looking for Willow and Tara. I guess you can tag along.”

***

“You shouldn't be doing this,” A voice said from behind them. Turning round they saw Whistler approaching them.

“What the hell do you want?” Buffy asked,

“I was talking to Angel.” Dismissing Buffy, Whistler focused on Angel. “You're making a big mistake.”

“Oh yes?”

“You've done a lot of good work for the Powers That Be. If you continue on this course, you'll undo all that work.”

Angel glanced at Buffy a moment then said, “I'm willing to take that chance.”

“She's just one witch. Will you give up your chance to be human for her? If you go on then the Shanshu prophecy will be nulled.”

“If I wasn't then I might as well give up.” Turning he started to walk away from Whistler, with the others quickly following.

“Angel, don't do this!”

Angel ignored him.

***

When they reached the Magic Box, there were two women waiting outside.

“Drusilla, Harmony?” Buffy asked. “What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for you, we was,” Drusilla answered.

“Waiting to be staked you mean?” Faith moved towards them, raising a stake.

“I told you this was a bad idea,” Harmony whined. “Now you're going to get us both staked, you lunatic.”

“You need our help. A little birdy told us so.”

“Wait a minute, you expect us to believe that a bird told you we need your help, and that you agreed to help us?” Buffy asked. “Aren't you supposed to be evil?”

“That's what I said,” Harmony said. “I said we're evil. We're not supposed to be helping the Slayer we should be killing her.”

“You can try if you want,” Faith said.

Harmony gave Faith a dismissive glance. “I said the Slayer, not the wannabe.”

“That's it! Does anyone mind if I stake them both?” Faith asked.

“You need us,” Drusilla said. “Four is for the vampires, drinkers of blood.”

“You mean this is connected to the poem Tara wrote?” Giles asked.

“It is and without us, you're two vampires short.”

Giles considered this. It was possible this was a trick, but it could also be for real. Ever since he had realised that the three witches were Willow, Tara and Amy he had been wondering who the four vampires could be. If they were telling the truth then they'd need the two vampires, on the other hand, if they were lying he was sure that Faith and Buffy could deal with them. “I think she's right, we do need them.”

“Fine but we can't trust them,” Buffy said.

“That goes without saying.”

“I'm saying it anyway.”

As they were going in Kathy said to Dawn, “I think it must have been Drusilla that Jenny saw. I mean she does look a bit like a princess.”

“So?”

“Just saying is all.”

***

“So we're here but where are Willow and Tara?” Dawn asked.

“Maybe we should look around?” Kathy suggested and they spread out through the shop.

Giles went over to Buffy saying, “I'm sure they're okay.”

“Oh, you're early.”

Spinning round they saw a woman standing in the corner of the room. She glanced at a pocket watch and said, “Must be slow.”

“It's her,” Angel said. “She told us you needed our help.”

Stepping forward Buffy said, “Who are you, and what have you done with Willow and Tara?”

“I haven't done anything with them. I can take you to them though.”

“You haven't told us who...”

While they were talking Kathy had come back into the front room. “Megan!” Rushing over she put her arms round the other woman. “I thought you were dead.”

“I was. I mean, I am. It's all kind of confusing.” Megan drew Kathy close to her, after her death she hadn't thought that she'd see Kathy again.

As the two women embraced each other Anya snorted, then said in a stage whisper, “And she had the cheek to say that she doesn't swing that way.”

Kathy and Megan separated. They looked embarrassed, as though they had only just remembered that there were other people in the room.

“Oh, right,” Megan said. “Where were we?”

“You were going to take us to Willow and Tara,” Buffy said, her arms were crossed and she was tapping one foot.

“Oh right, of course.” Megan threw her cane up in the air. “With a hey and a ho.” She caught the cane with her left hand and hit it on the floor. “And a let's go.”

There was a flash of light.

TBC

NB: sorry for the lack of Willow and Tara in this part. I promis they'll be in the next part.

[JujuDeRoussie]

Hello !!

NB: sorry for the lack of Willow and Tara in this part. I promis they'll be in the next part.

Sometimes usefull... also you'll have to make it up to us?! :mdr

so we have our key, our two slayers, our three witches ( ), and now our four vampires... miss just the five what? Hehehe we'll see...

an update full of informations :-)

waiting for more

Julia

[justin]

JujuDeRoussie: Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. I'll try to make it up to you later

Title: Times of Darkness, Times of Light
Author: Justin
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story, nor the setting. Please don't sue me, and for the love of god don't set Captain Copyright on me.
Distribution: Anyone can take it, just let me know
Feedback: Yes please
Summary: The final confrontation.
NB: There's a reference to the game Zork in this update. A prize to the first person who spots it

Gaia's Guardian

Chapter 5

As the light faded they found themselves still in the Magic Box. “You said you were...” Buffy stopped when she spotted Willow and Tara at one side of the room, kissing each other.

“Oh, my!”

“Xander!” Anya slapped Xander on the arm.

“Hey, it wasn't me, it was her. The new girl.”

“Sorry, it was just a reflex.”

Willow and Tara separated from each other. “Uh, hi,” Willow said.

“Please don't stop on our account,” Megan said.

“Hey, it's you again,” Willow said.

“How do we know, you're all really you?” Tara said. Seeing they didn't understand she went on, “The Powers have been trying there best to trick us.”

“Yeah, they've been making with the fake people,” Willow added. “There's been you and Xander and Tara's mother and your mother and... well I'm getting fed up of it.”

“I promise this isn't a trick,” Megan said.

“Hey where are Gunn and Cordelia?” Fred cut in, looking round the shop.

“I'm afraid I couldn't bring them. They're not needed.”

“Needed for what?” Giles asked.

“To take on the Powers That Be.” Taking a step back she looked at the group. “One is for the Key, weak yet strong. Two is for the Slayers, doomed to die young. Three is for the witches, doers of good. Four is for the vampires, drinkers of blood. Five is for the normals, whose power lies in there brains and muscles ,Together they'll set humanity free, together they'll stop the Powers That Be.”

“This is what that poems about?” Tara asked. “It loses a bit at the end.”

Megan nodded. “Don't be too hard on yourself, you were really sick when you wrote it.”

“Woah, wait a minute,” Kathy said. “What am I...” She did a quick count of the group. “Please tell me I'm not one of the five.”

“Sorry Kathy, but you're a part of this.”

“So what do we do now?” Tara asked.

“Now you have to face them.”

“Fight the Powers That Be?” Dawn asked, “Are you mad?”

“Not fight them, convince them that humanity can take of itself. that it'd be better off without their interference.”

“You are boring me,” Harmony whined. “What does any of this have to do with us? We're not human we're vampires.”

Megan turned to her. “The Powers haven't just been manipulating humans, but demons as well. As vampires you straddle both camps. A demon in a human body. That means you're most definitely involved.”

“So what do we do? How do we face them?” Buffy asked.

“Surely we have to be on their plane of existence?” Giles asked. “Where ever that is.”

“You're there now,” Megan answered. She turned to Tara. “Tara, you and Willow were brought here right after you killed the Great One. Then I brought the rest of you along.”

“But this is my shop,” Anya protested.

“Actually it's a replica of your shop, along with part of Sunnydale.” Her eyes went white a moment. “We should get going.”

“Hold on a moment,” Buffy said.

“This replica isn't going to stay around long.” Even as she said this they saw that the shop was starting to fade.

“Maybe we should get going,” Xander said. “I mean we can do the exposition stuff on the way.”

As they started to walk away from the shop they saw that the replica didn't extend far. “This must be why there's all this fog,” Willow said. “To stop us from seeing there are only a few buildings.”

“Must have got the idea from game makers,” Xander said, nodding sagely. “They sometimes use fog to reduce the graphics requirements of games.”

***

Once they were past the buildings the terrain soon grew rocky, and their progress slowed down quite a lot. Kathy sped up until she was walking alongside Megan.

“So are you going to tell me what happened?”

“What happened when?”

“I mean with you dying, that when.”

“Oh. Well the good news is I managed to translate most of those documents. The bad is they contained some kind of incantation which I must have activated in my sleep.”

“What'd it do?”

“Not much, it just connected me to everything in the universe.”

“That happened to me,” Willow said. “I mean I was connected to everyone on the planet.”

“Yeah but I wasn't just connected to everyone, but everything and not just this planet, but the whole universe. I woke up knowing everything.”

“And then?”

“Then the Powers killed me. They caused my aneurysm.”

“So this is about revenge,” Faith said, nodding. She had been wondering what Megan's deal was, but revenge was a motive she could understand. “You want to get back at them for killing you.”

“Oh no. If they hadn't killed me then all that knowledge would have destroyed my mind, at the very least. No, I'm actually grateful to them for that.” Megan stopped and turned to face the group. “While I knew everything, I saw what they'd done to your family, Tara. I also saw what they had planned for humanity. The latter worried me, but the former really pissed me off. So here I am helping you to stop them.”

“Plus Hecate offered to pay you,” Willow pointed out.

“That too,” Megan said with a nod.

“I guess it was you that sent me the letter,” Kathy said.

Megan looked confused at this. “What letter?”

“One of the documents you found at the dig. All about the Powers That Be and their followers. It was after that that I started having the nightmares again. Which is why I came to Sunnydale.”

Megan shook her head. “It wasn't me. I was busy getting things ready for the Wonder Wiccans.”

“Then who did?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.” Megan glanced at her watch then said, “We don't have long. We better get going.” Turning she continued leading the group.

“So where are we going?” Buffy asked.

“We'll find out when we get there.”

“You mean you don't know?” Giles asked.

“Not precisely no.”

“I thought you knew everything.”

“I did, until I died, then I forgot most of it,” Megan answered, with a shrug.

***

After they'd been walking about ten minutes they came to a tall wall which seemed to run for several miles in either direction. The top was covered in sharp spikes and the wall looked pretty impassable.

“Well I guess this is it,” Megan said.

As everyone gathered around Willow asked, “How do we get through?”

“That should be easy enough.” Stepping forward she tapped the wall with her cane. The wall started to warp and shift. After a while a door had appeared. Turning back Megan said, “I won't be able to come any further with you. In fact just helping you this much has gotten the Powers pretty...” She stopped, a shocked expression on her face. A moment later she exploded into a cloud of smoke.

“Megan!” Kathy started forward. Turning to the others she asked, “What happened to her?”

“I don't know,” Giles answered. “Though till we know more we shouldn't assume that she's been hurt in any way.”

Kathy nodded, though she still looked very worried.

Buffy opened the door up and they all filed through.

***

“Hmm another door,” Buffy said. They had entered into a small antechamber.

She was about to reach for it when Dawn said, “Wait. Where are the others?”

Looking round Buffy saw that only Dawn, Faith, Willow and Tara had come through with her.

“What's holding them up?” Willow asked. She turned back to the first door, then stopped. “Uh, where did the door go?”

“Dawn, wasn't Mr Giles in front of you?” Tara asked.

Dawn nodded.

“So they've split us up,” Buffy said.

“Divide and conquer,” Faith added. “Oldest trick in the book.”

“Well it's a choice between waiting here and going on,” Buffy said.

As she looked at each person in turn they all nodded, so she opened the door up and they went through.

***

“Is everyone here?” Buffy asked. A quick count showed that everyone had come through this time.

“We're all here,” Willow said. “The question is, where is here?”

“It looks like some sort of maze,” Dawn said, “Other than that I can't really say.”

“Well we can't stand here all day, so we might as well go this way.” Faith started off in the direction she'd indicated.

“I guess we should follow her,” Buffy said and they set off after Faith.

***

“Is it just me or are not getting anywhere fast?” Buffy asked in a annoyed tone. This whole thing was really starting to aggravate her.

“It's not just you,” Faith said. “The maze seems to be changing while we're going round it.”

“Well that's not fair,” Willow said.

“They're trying to disorient us, make us easier to deal with,” Tara said.

“So what do we do about it?” Buffy asked.

Tara glanced at Willow, who gave a small nod. They joined hands and turned to one of the walls. Part of the wall broke away and crumbled to the floor. “We change the rules,” Tara said.

“Cool!” Dawn said.

They stepped through the hole. When they were through the wall began to reform. After a short time they couldn't see any sign of the hole.

“That was very tidy of you,” Buffy said.

“It wasn't us,” Willow said.

“So now what?” Faith asked.

“We need to work out the way to centre, then we can make our way there,” Tara suggested.

“Okay B, give me a boost.”

Buffy crouched down, linking her hands. Faith stepped onto them and Buffy lifted her up so she could grab the top of the wall and look over to it. “Okay, I've got it.”

Once Buffy had let her down she said, “Right, it's this way.” And led the way.

***

Xander peered round a corner. “It looks like some kind of corridor.”

“Another one?” Harmony asked, “This is really boring.” She turned to Drusilla, “Why did you bring me?”

“You're needed,” Drusilla answered in a mysterious voice.

Kathy and Anya came along last. “About what you said earlier,” Kathy said. “I think you got the wrong impression. I like Megan, she was a very good friend, but I'm not gay.”

“If you say so,” Anya said, before muttering to herself, “I wonder if Willow had this much trouble with figuring it out.”

“And what exactly do you mean by that?”

“I just don't see why you can't admit you're in love with Megan. You don't seem to care about Willow and Tara being together, so why should your feelings for this Megan bother you?”

Kathy turned on Harmony, “I don't have... Oh forget it. Let's just see what's through one of these doors.” Kathy swung the first door open and marched through.

“I suppose we should follow her,” Anya said.

***

“This maze is really starting to get annoying,” Spike complained, as they came to another set of twisty passages, all alike.

“I presume this is some kind of test,” Giles said.

“The only thing it's testing is my patience.”

“Yes, that is what I think it's supposed to be testing.”

“Fred, have you got any ideas?” Angel asked.

“Well I'd probably be able to work out a way through the maze using some sort of mathematical algorithm, if it wasn't for the fact that it keeps changing.” Fred deflated slightly as she finished, “That makes things harder.”

“So that's a no then?” Spike asked.

“I'll handle this,” Amy said. She chanted a few words and she floated up above the maze. After a few moments she returned to the ground. “I know the way.”

“What about when the maze changes?” Spike asked.

Amy gave him a look that suggested she though that was obvious. “Well I can keep checking the way.”

***

Before too long Willow, Tara and the others had made it to the centre of the maze. A large circular chamber. The walls were lined with large statues. There was a fountain in the centre, which was covered in ornate carvings.

“Okay, I am really getting tired of this!” Buffy shouted. “We've had enough of your games. Why don't you just come here and face us!”

“Bringing our friends back as well, would be nice,” Willow added.

Everything went dark.

TBC

[imjustme]

Wow, again, this is such a great story. I'm glad that that wasn't really Tara's mom. IT's weird how they all got split up, but it makes sense that the powers would do that. I also like your take on the powers being both good and bad. The whole balance of good and evil thing. I am very anxious for the next update to see what happens. Well i'm going to sit patiently and wait for you to update. hope things are well for you.

andi

[JujuDeRoussie]

Hello Justin!

This maze looks like my campus... except it doesn't keep changing

“Okay, I am really getting tired of this!” Buffy shouted. “We've had enough of your games. Why don't you just come here and face us!”

“Bringing our friends back as well, would be nice,” Willow added.

Everything went dark.

She just has to ask! Here they are... aren't they?

“One is for the Key, weak yet strong. Two is for the Slayers, doomed to die young. Three is for the witches, doers of good. Four is for the vampires, drinkers of blood. Five is for the normals, whose power lies in there brains and muscles ,Together they'll set humanity free, together they'll stop the Powers That Be.”

the prophecy is complete hehehe 5 humans without any powers... I should have guess!

Tara : “It loses a bit at the end.”

Good update :-)

Regards

Julia

[justin]

Firstly the Zork reference was the line about the set of twisty passages, all alike, which is a famous line from the game

imjustme:

I'm glad that that wasn't really Tara's mom.

Actually I did consider making it Tara's mother. The idea I had was she had been so conditioned to believe that demon myth that she was trying to get Tara to kill herself in order to keep the demon from hurting anyone. That Tara had to kill her mother as the final act of breaking free from the influence of that myth.

After having a short lie down, though, I rejected that idea.

I also like your take on the powers being both good and bad. The whole balance of good and evil thing.

I got the idea from an episode of Blake's 7. In one episode Blake tries to form an alliance with some drug traffickers only to find out that they're working with the Federation. Avon makes the point that to have complete control you have to control both sides, both the law makers and the law breakers.

Thanks for reading. I'm glad the story still has the wow factor.

JujuDeRoussie: Hi Julia. Thanks for the feedback.

Title: Times of Darkness, Times of Light
Author: Justin
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story, nor the setting. Please don't sue me, and for the love of god don't set Captain Copyright on me.
Distribution: Anyone can take it, just let me know
Feedback: Yes please
Summary: The final confrontation.

Gaia's Guardian

Chapter 6

They found themselves in a large room. Or at least it seemed to be a room. They couldn't be certain since there weren't any visible walls, just the stony floor and a high arched ceiling. The only visible feature was a cloudy orb in the middle of the room. They could hear footsteps in the distance, but there was no visible source for them.

“They're trying to drive us insane aren't they?” Buffy asked. “I mean that's what all this running us around in circles is all about.”

“We've been here before,” Tara said, looking round the room.

“You have? How? When?” Buffy asked.

“It's a long story. I think this is the Powers' chamber,” Willow answered.

“I wonder how the other's are doing?” Tara asked.

“Don't worry they'll be here soon.” A hooded figure appeared.

“Are you one of the Powers That Be?” Buffy asked.

“I'd really like to have a word with you,” Faith added. She stepped towards him, a fist raised.

“Oh, no! I am merely a servant.”

There was a flash of light and Anya, Xander, Kathy, Drusilla and Harmony appeared. A moment later there was another flash and Giles, Amy, Fred, Angel and Spike also appeared.

“Oh good! Everyone is here. Now you all really have been most tenacious. The Powers That Be were most surprised at how hard you held on, how long you protected Tara. It has made them rethink their methods.”

“What are you saying?” Willow asked.

The hooded figure turned to Tara, “Tara they're willing to make you an offer.”

“They'll leave me alone?”

“More than that. They want you to join them.”

For a moment Tara could only stare at it in shock. “Become a Power That Be's, uh Is? You're kidding, right?”

“Oh they don't kid. They think that your purity and strength of spirit can guide them. Help to remove the corruption that is eating away at them.”

“Corruption. Like you did to my home town? Just how stupid do they think I am? They couldn't kill me. They couldn't trick me into killing myself, so now trying to trick me into joining them?”

“This isn't a trick. This is your chance to fix them.”

“You mean become like them. You get me on the inside and then you neutralise me.”

“I think Tara's given you your answer,” Willow said, standing next to Tara.

“In that case.” The figure ran at Tara.

Buffy threw a knife at it. The knife cleaved through the hood and the cloak fell empty to the floor.

“They really don't like taking no for an answer, do they?” Faith said.

“We don't need your guidance any more,” Tara said. “You should leave us to make our own decisions, our own mistakes.”

“Unacceptable,” A deep voice boomed.

“Xander, what's wrong?” Anya asked. Xander had been bobbing his head up and down, while turning it from side to side, looking out of the corner of his eyes.

“I don't know but I think there's something in here. I keep sort of seeing something then it's gone.”

As he said this Amy fell to the floor. “Something pushed me,” She said.

Spinning round Buffy raised her hands as though blocking an attack. She then kicked at something in front of us.

“There's something in here,” Xander said, “and it's not us.”

Willow turned to Tara who just nodded. Holding hands they started chanting. For a moment the room was filled with a light mist. When it had gone they could see the room was filled with demonic monsters, it was hard to see how many, but it seemed to be thousands, at least. Turning the creatures ran to attack.

Faith charged forwards with a cry, throwing herself into a group of the monsters. Buffy quickly followed her, swinging her sword wildly.

The four vampires looked at each other and assumed their demonic appearance. Then, as one, they joined the fray.

Willow and Tara, still holding hands, turned to look at a monster that was about to attack Buffy. It went flying into a group of the monsters, knocking them down.

Hanging back, Dawn watched the fight, muttering, “I should be doing something.”

Faith kicked one of the monsters and Buffy cut its head off. “Together?” Buffy asked.

Faith nodded. “How it was meant to be.” Turning back to the monsters they redoubled their attack, their moves perfectly synchronised with each other.

One of the monsters knocked Giles down but Xander charged at it with his axe raised, “Hey, I've got a question for you.”

One of the monsters hit Buffy, sending her flying towards a wall of spikes that had suddenly appeared.

“No!” Dawn shouted. Everything seemed to slow down as she watched Buffy heading towards the spikes. She wanted to save her but knew there was no way she could. Then a green light appeared round Buffy. She then disappeared, only to reappear at the other side of the room, where she stumbled to the floor.

The sounds of the fight faded as Dawn stared at her hand. “Did I do that?” She then turned to the monsters, with a furious expression. She started to walk towards them.

“Dawn what are you...” Tara started to call out.

“Dawn Don't!” Buffy shouted.

Dawn ignored them as she walked to the middle of the room. “Why don't you all just go to HELL!”

A green light started to come from Dawn. It spread out from her until it had filled the room. For a moment no one could see. Then the light was gone, along with monsters.

“Where'd they go?” Xander asked.

“I don't know, maybe Hell?” Amy suggested.

Faith looked at Buffy, “Buffy, remind me not to get your sister pissed at me.”

The room was filled with an urgent whispering sound. It sounded like someone talking just out of earshot. The volume and rate of the whispering increased until...

“Enough!” The voice boomed. “This has gone on long enough.”

Tara made a choking sound. She grabbed her throat with a shocked expression on her face. A moment later she fell to the floor.

tbc

[JujuDeRoussie]

hello!

You can't leave us with this last sentence!!! TARAAAAAAAAAAa!!! I hope you're not going to kill her are you? *makes her puppy eyes*

Ok really great. I really enjoyed this update...

Dawn has power that's cool She's still the key and is able to use her mystical energy, it was a good idea

The hooded figure turned to Tara, “Tara they're willing to make you an offer.”

“They'll leave me alone?”

“More than that. They want you to join them.”

For a moment Tara could only stare at it in shock. “Become a Power That Be's, uh Is? You're kidding, right?”

“Oh they don't kid. They think that your purity and strength of spirit can guide them. Help to remove the corruption that is eating away at them.”

“Corruption. Like you did to my home town? Just how stupid do they think I am? They couldn't kill me. They couldn't trick me into killing myself, so now trying to trick me into joining them?”

“This isn't a trick. This is your chance to fix them.”

“You mean become like them. You get me on the inside and then you neutralise me.”

“I think Tara's given you your answer,” Willow said, standing next to Tara.

Here Tara is really confident, no stutter, no hesitation... she's really strong, it's good to "see" her like that.

Thank you for your update,

Julia

[Willowtree252]

Justin that was not just a cliffhanger that was suspence with a capital S The powers that be can take a flying jump more more more please

[justin]

JujuDeRoussie: Hi,

I hope you're not going to kill her are you?

I wouldn't worry too much. It's my understanding that that sort of thing is frowned on round these parts

Ok really great. I really enjoyed this update...

Thanks

She's still the key and is able to use her mystical energy, it was a good idea

I knew I had to have Dawn using her key type powers right from the moment I first came up with the poem, many moons ago.


Dianneswillowtree: Thanks for reading and feeding back

Title: Times of Darkness, Times of Light
Author: Justin
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story, nor the setting. Please don't sue me, and for the love of god don't set Captain Copyright on me.
Distribution: Anyone can take it, just let me know
Feedback: Yes please
Summary: The final confrontation.

Chapter 7

For a long time no one said anything, there was nothing they could say. “Is she...” Giles started.

Buffy started to move towards Tara, not wanting to know for sure if she was dead. They all stopped as they heard something. The last thing they'd expected to hear. Willow laughing.

“Uh, Will?” Xander said as she started towards his friend.

Ignoring him, Willow looked up and said, “So how was this supposed to work. You 'kill' Tara and then what? I guess you're not hoping for me to go mad and then tear up the place.” Willow paused a moment, looking thoughtful. “No, I guess I'm supposed to be so worried about a repeat of what happened with Warren and so overcome with grief that I kill myself. Then I guess when Tara wakes up she's all 'O happy dagger! This is thy sheath'.” Willow mimed stabbing herself in the chest as she said this. “Right? There's one little problem, well two actually. The first is we've seen Romeo and Juliet. A girl from my drama class played Juliet and you know I think she's going to have a brilliant acting career, I wouldn't be surprised if she won several Oscars in the future. The other problem is thanks to my connection with Tara, I know she's still alive.”

As if on queue Tara's eyes snapped open. “What happened?”

Willow hurried over to help her up. “Oh they just tried to trick me into thinking you were dead.”

“Well that's mean, and dumb.”

“Is this really the best you can do?” Faith asked. “I mean I keep hearing about the great Powers That Be, how powerful you are, but you're nothing but a bunch of con artists.”

“Do not push us Slayer. You cannot conceive of the full extent of our power.”

“I've got three words for you,” Kathy said, “Bring it on. Since I met these guys I've been chased round a mansion by a malevolent spirit. been attacked by vampires and had a knife fight with something which I'm sure will feature in my nightmares for the rest of my life, but you, you're nothing compared to all that.”

“The powers are poor little kittens, hiding behind their threats and their deep voices but all they really want is to have their ears scratched,” Drusilla said.

“This is all starting to remind me of that film with Judy Garland as Dorothy,” Giles said.

“The Wizard Of Oz,” Willow supplied.

“So maybe we need to find out who's behind the curtain,” Angel suggested.

“I know why you're doing this,” Tara shouted out. “Why you're so frightened of me.”

“We are not frightened of you!” The voice answered.

“No,” Tara went on in a thoughtful tone. “You're frightened of my descendants. What they will do if they're not under your control.”

There was no answer.

“So what about if I don't have any descendants? I mean if I don't have any children, then the line ends with me.”

“You would give up the ability to have children? What would you want in return?”

“You know what we want, stop interfering with humanity.”

“Unacceptable.”

“Okay then, how about you make everyone forget about what just happened in Sunnydale.”

“That would put back our plans.”

“What? No war?” Willow jumped in. “How much do you think we'll put back your plans once we get away from here.”

“What makes you think you can escape here?”

“What makes you think you can stop us?” Buffy asked back. “We've beaten master vampires, pure demons and hell Gods.”

“Not to mention the way we keep beating your lackeys at Wolfram & Hart,” Faith added.

There was a pause. “Very well we agree to your terms.”

“Damn,” Faith muttered. “Maybe we should have asked for more.”

“Tara are you sure...” Willow started. Before she could finish Tara started to glow with a soft white light. The light drifted away from her before starting to fade.

A moment later they were back outside the maze.

“So is that it, can we go home now?” Dawn asked.

“Hey, you did really well,” Megan said as she appeared in front of them.

“You again?” Faith said, “Who do you want us to fight now?”

“Oh nobody, that's it for now.”

“For now?” Fred asked.

Megan shrugged. “Well you know how the world is. Always getting into some sort of trouble.”

Drusilla stepped forward. “What about the payment you promised me?”

Megan stepped up to her. “You're sure you want this?”

Drusilla didn't say anything.

Megan nodded then drove a stake through Drusilla's chest.

Drusilla turned to Angel and said, “Angel, I forgive you.” She then exploded into dust.

Harmony marched forward, “You killed her?”

“It's what she wanted,” Megan said.

“Well what about me?”

“I can do the same for you, if you want.”

“I think I'll pass.”

“Well then let's get you back.” She banged her cane against the ground.

***

Shortly after everyone had gone, Hecate appeared. “They did very well.”

“Yeah, they're a tough bunch,” Megan replied. “So about my payment.”

“Oh yes. Here you go.” She handed Megan a small envelope.

Megan opened it up and looked at the card inside. “Oh yeah, that's very helpful.” She realised that she was alone. “Talk to yourself why don't you.”

TBC

[JujuDeRoussie]

Hello!

Wow! the end was weird... but not in a bad way. Just..; well weird ^^

So no babies to Willow and Tara? I mean I suppose it's not just the fact to carry a child they took from Tara? Because if with magic she could have a child with Willow to carry they, it would be her descendant...

I suppose i'll see what next? ^^

“The powers are poor little kittens, hiding behind their threats and their deep voices but all they really want is to have their ears scratched,” Drusilla said.

I love Drusilla!!!

Good update... Good use of the connection between Willow and Tara... :-)

Thank you

Julia

[Willowtree252]

Well Willow told them dident she mess with her girl but no babys you just love making us wiggle in our seats don,t you Justin

[justin]

JujuDeRoussie: Hi

You've raised some good points about Tara's deal with the Powers. These questions will be covered in the next part and the final story.

Thanks for the feedback

DiannesWillowTree:

you just love making us wiggle in our seats don,t you Justin

Well I do like there to be a certain amount of tension in my stories.

Don't worry things'll be easier from here on.

Thanks for reading

Title: Times of Darkness, Times of Light
Author: Justin
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story, nor the setting. Please don't sue me, and for the love of god don't set Captain Copyright on me.
Distribution: Anyone can take it, just let me know
Feedback: Yes please
Summary: The final confrontation.

Gaia's Guardian

Chapter 8

“Are we there?” Dawn asked. She still had her eyes closed, not wanting to open them and find herself in another weird dimension. “Are we home yet?”

“No,” Buffy answered, her tone flat. “We're not home.”

“What?” Dawn opened her eyes. “Oh we're in the Magic Box.” She turned to glower at her sister.

“What? I said we're not home.”

“Very funny.”

Harmony looked around at the group before saying, “I think I should probably get going.”

“Yeah, you do that.” Faith said, fiddling with a stake.

“Well this was a total waste of time,” Harmony muttered as she fled from the shop.

Stepping forward Gunn said, “So where were you? Where did that woman take you?”

“To meet the Powers That Be,” Angel answered, his tone suggesting they'd just been down to the corner shop for some groceries.

“And did you?”

“Not exactly,” Tara said, “But the crisis is over for the moment.”

Willow took her hand. “It's been a long day. You probably want to get some sleep.”

“What I really want is you.”

“If you're good then maybe you can have both,” Willow responded, grinning.

As they both left Angel said, “We should probably get back to LA. Try to get back before it's light.”

“Of course,” Buffy said. “Thanks for coming.”

“Any time.”

***

Tara woke up to find the room bathed with light.

“The sun came up again this morning,” Willow whispered in her ear. “Thanks to you.”

“How long have you been awake?”

“Just a little while.”

Tara rolled over and looked into Willow's eyes. “Do you know how much I love you?”

“As much as I love you,” Willow answered.

“What about the wedding?” Tara asked. “We've been engaged a while now.”

Willow sat up at this. “You're right. How about tomorrow?”

Tara smiled, “I think we might need a bit more time to prepare.”

“Oh yeah. Then how about a month from today, the 25th. Oh, that's a special day.”

“And what's so special about the twenty fifth?” Tara asked.

“You mean you don't know?”

Tara shook her head. “No.”

Willow looked shocked. “You really don't know?”

Tara frowned, had she forgotten some anniversary or other important date? Considering this, she wondered if she could use having been dead as an excuse. “I really don't know.”

“Well the thing that is so special about the twenty fifth is that's the day we're getting married on.”

“Well I guess that is a very special day then,” Tara agreed as she wrapped her arms round Willow.

***

They got up a few hours later. Willow went to look out the window. “It's almost like nothing's happened.” She looked up and down the street. “Well there's a lot less people around. I wonder how many people we managed to save.”

“Not many,” Tara said as she went to join her.

“A lot more people would have died if it hadn't been for you.”

“I'm still having trouble accepting that I did it.”

“I've always known that you were special.” Willow looked uncertain, as if she didn't know if she wanted to say what she was about to. “You remember you said that in your vision of the future we had a daughter?”

“How could I forget?” Tara smiled as she remembered the vision she'd had. “She was such a cute little girl.”

“But that won't... what I mean is... I guess that isn't going to happen now. I mean if you can't have children.”

“Excuse me? I'm not the only one in this relationship who can have children.”

Willow at first looked puzzled, then her expression changed to one of comprehensions. “You mean she was my daughter?”

“Well, she did have red hair.”

“Oh! I guess I should have thought of that.”

***

When they went downstairs they found Kathy waiting for them in the kitchen.

“Oh, hi.” Kathy said. “I was about to head off but I wanted to say bye to you both.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I'm fine. It's been an intense few days, but I seem to have made it through them in one piece.”

Tara hugged Kathy. “Thanks for all your help.”

“I'm not sure I did all that much, but you're welcome.”

“You'll come to the wedding, right? it's next month.”

“Sure. I wouldn't miss it for anything.”

***

They found Buffy and Dawn outside. “Have you seen the paper?” Buffy asked.

“No. Anything good?” Willow asked.

“It seems there's been a gas leak from a local chemical plant. It killed half the people in town and caused mass hysteria. I think they're putting all talk of the demons down to that.”

“And the barrier that stopped people from entering?” Tara asked.

“There was no barrier. The authorities merely quarantined the town.”

“Due to the gas leak,” Willow supplied.

“That's it.”

“So I guess everything is back to normal,” Tara said. “With everyone forgetting about what happened there's not going to be any demon hysteria.”

“So no war,” Willow finished.

“But the Powers aren't going to give up are they? They're still going to be manipulating humanity.”

“Yeah, we'll need to keep an eye on that,” Willow said, “Later though. Right now we've got a wedding to plan.”

TBC in Times of Light

[JujuDeRoussie]

Hello

Sweet update ^^
It seems a little bit too easy, doesn't it? I wonder what you have in mind for the next update ^^

Thank you!

Julia

[lilkitty1389]

Okay i started reading this fic a couple of days ago and i just got caught up! I can't believe no kids for willow and tara....they find a way around that right? I love your story keep it up!

[Willowtree252]

Justin is it 2/28/07 Yet please say yes I am so happy with this story I declare there should be dancing in the streets or sheets which ever one prefers

[justin]

JujuDeRoussie: Hi,

Sweet update ^^

Thanks.

I wonder what you have in mind for the next update ^^

Well the name of the last story is a hint as to the level of angst in it.

Thanks for the feedback

lilkitty1389: I'm glad you enjoyed the story.

I can't believe no kids for willow and tara.

Well. no kids for Tara, but, as Tara pointed out, there's nothing stopping Willow having kids.

Thanks for reading

DiannesWillowTree:

Justin is it 2/28/07 Yet please say yes

Well the 28th is when I'll be posting the final update

I'm glad the story makes you happy

Title: Times of Darkness, Times of Light
Author: Justin
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story, nor the setting. Please don't sue me.
Distribution: Anyone can take it, just let me know
Feedback: Yes please
Summary: One wedding, no funerals

Times of Light

W minus 7 days

Willow was beginning to worry that Tara wouldn't show up when the wedding march started to play. The door to the chapel opened and Tara started down the isle, with Giles following close behind. Willow smiled as she realised that, as hard as it was to believe, Tara was even more beautiful than at the rehearsal.

Willow tried to figure out what she was supposed to do. Everyone was staring at her expectantly. Then it hit her. She should be reading her vows. The problem was she'd forgotten them. No that wasn't true. She'd never written them.

“Willow what's wrong?” Xander hissed.

“I didn't write any vows,” Willow hissed back.

“Just say I do,” came the harsh response.

“Uh, I do.”

“And now for the ring,” The vicar said.

Willow started panicking as she looked for ring. She was sure she'd put it in her pocket, but she didn't have any pockets. Which was probably because she wasn't wearing any clothes.

“Willow will now sing some songs from Madame Butterfly.”

***

Willow woke up, fighting the urge to scream.

“Willow is something wrong?” Tara asked, sounding like she'd just been woken up. Which was probably because she had.

“I just had a bad dream.”

Tara put her arm round Willow. “Well I'm here sweetie.”

As Willow lay back down she told herself she just had to get her vows written, then she'd stop having these anxiety dreams.

Write the vows and choose a dress.

Write the vows, choose a dress and buy a ring.

***

“You haven't gotten a ring yet?” Xander asked, his voice filled with shock. When Willow had dragged him down to the mall in order to do some shopping, he had never imagined it would be for this. Given how organised Willow was he was sure everything would be ready.

“Or a dress either.”

“Willow the wedding is in a week.”

“I know! Hence the panic.”

A reason why Willow might have put off getting organised occurred to Xander. “Willow, you're not, maybe having second thoughts about the wedding are you? If you are then you need to talk...”

“No!” Willow interrupted. “Absolutely, completely, totally no. There's nothing I want more in the world than to be married to Tara Maclay.” Willow hesitated a moment, “It's just the actual getting married part that worries me. I'm just worried I'll buy a terrible dress and Tara will think I look stupid and I'll forget my vows and I'll mess the wedding up and Tara will hate me. I mean I've already had my freebie, so if I mess up again I know she'll leave me for good.”

“Willow, remember what we said about needing to breath? You're not me, you're not going to mess up the way I did. Besides, this is Tara, who is totally in love with you. You could get married in a bin liner and she'd think you look gorgeous.”

“Okay, I'm calm.” Willow took a couple of calming breaths. “Let's go get a ring.”

As they walked to the shop Willow said, “There were two rings I was... Oh.”

“What's up?”

“One of them has gone.”

“That's good right? I mean now you know which one to get.”

“Yeah, and this is the one I was starting to lean towards.”

“Have you got Tara's ring size?”

“Yeah, I've got it here somewhere.” Willow rummaged through her purse as they walked to the counter.

When they checked the ring it turned out to be two sizes too big. Willow arranged to have it reduced and to pick it up the next day.

As they were leaving the shop Xander said, “See that wasn't so hard. You just needed a bit of pressure to help you make a decision.”

“And for someone to buy the other ring I was considering.”

“That too.”

***

The next stop was at the dress shop. “I don't suppose you've been able to narrow this down to two choices, have you?”

Willow shook her head. “I've been coming here surreptitiously for a while now, but I haven't seen anything that looks right.”

“And this is why you should have brought me along.”

“You're an expert at picking out wedding dresses?”

“Well not precisely, no. Okay, I probably won't be much help,” Xander admitted.

After they'd been looking through the dresses for half an hour Willow said, “Maybe I'm just being too picky.”

“Is there such a thing as too picky when it comes to a wedding dress?” Xander asked. “What are you looking for?”

“I dunno. Something that'll make Tara swoon.”

“In that case why not go, you know, skyclad?”

“Xander!” Willow's cheeks reddened as she remembered her dream. “How do you know the word for it anyway?”

“Come on, you don't spend as much time as I do with a couple of witches without picking up some of the terminology. So it's a no to naked wiccany goodness?”

“Yes, it is most definitely a no. You know Anya'll kill you if she found out you suggested this.”

“But Anya isn't going to find out, is she?”

Willow just smirked.

Xander started to look worried. “Please Will.”

The smirk grew even more evil looking.

“I was just joking around. You know that right?”

Finally relenting Willow said, “Don't worry. I won't tell Anya.”

“Thanks Willow. Now back to getting a dress.”

After another half hour Xander said, “Maybe we should try one of the other shops?”

“I don't know I looked in them before and neither of the others were as good as this one.” Willow sighed, “Well I'm not seeing anything I like here, so I might as well give them another go.”

The first place they stopped was a small wedding shop. “I don't think this is going to have many dresses,” Xander said.

“It doesn't, but it's on the way to another shop, so we might as well have a look.”

Going in Willow said, “They've got a selection of dresses at the back.” She led Xander to a couple of racks positioned at the rear of the shop.

Willow started looking through the dresses, a frown on her face.

“Have you thought about the dresses for the brides maids?”

“Oh we were going to reuse the dresses from your weddings,” Willow said in a blase tone.

“Buffy is so going to kill you.”

Willow looked up, grinning. “Actually Tara's handling that.”

Xander nodded and took a step back, almost walking into a dress rack. “Oh hey, there's some more dresses here.”

“Those have been reserved,” Willow said. She walked over to Xander and picked out a dress. “Which is a shame because I liked this one.” She glanced her watch then said, “How about we take a quick look at the other shop then get some lunch.”

“That sounds like a plan.” Xander patted his stomach, all this wedding shopping was making him hungry.

Before they could put this plan into action woman came and started taking dresses off of the rail.

“See she's taking the nice dress away. Probably going to send it to whoever bought it.”

“Actually I'm putting these back on the main rails. The people who reserved them never showed up again. A lot of them probably disappeared during that gas leak.”

“Well can I look at that blue dress.”

As they were leaving Xander said, “You see getting a ring and dress wasn't so hard. You just needed the xan-man along for moral support.”

***

Buffy was about to finish her patrol and head back home when a voice behind her said, “Slayer.”

Turning she replied, “Spike. Haven't seen you around much lately.”

“I've been doing some thinking.”

“About Drusilla?”

“Amongst other things. I still can't believe she's gone.”

“It's what she wanted.”

“So that bird claims. How do we know she was telling the truth?”

“Do you think Drusilla would have just let herself be staked like that if she hadn't?”

“No, you're right. It must have been what she wanted. Which brings us to our second topic, namely us.”

“Spike I've been thinking about this a lot and...”

“It's just not going to work out is it?”

“I'm sorry.”

“No, I understand now. We're just two very different people. Well I've decided I'm going to leave Sunnydale. This place has been nothing but bad luck for me.”

“You'll stay for the wedding though, right?”

“What, me, miss a party? Of course I'll be there.”

TBC

[Willowtree252]

Justin you are right on target with wedding worries we are living it right now I am so happy can,t wait

[JujuDeRoussie]

Hello!!

Willow's and Tara's wedding Yaaay !!

I have an idea about Who hae the other ring... ^^
And the same braid dresses? Poor Buffy!! But maybe Anya will understand what she did to her poor braids!!

Funny update ^^

Note to myself: call a Xan-Man when I need someone to help in wedding shopping!!!

Julia

[justin]

Dianneswillowtree: Thanks, I'm glad I got the tone right. Good luck with your wedding.

JujuDeRoussie: Hi

And the same braid dresses? Poor Buffy!! But maybe Anya will understand what she did to her poor braids!!

Don't worry, Willow was joking then. Tara's chosen better dresses

Funny update ^^

Thanks.

Note to myself: call a Xan-Man when I need someone to help in wedding shopping!!!

He's got a hundred and one uses.

Thanks for the feedback.

Title: Times of Darkness, Times of Light
Author: Justin
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story, nor the setting. Please don't sue me.
Distribution: Anyone can take it, just let me know
Feedback: Yes please
Summary: One wedding, no funerals

Times of Light

W minus 3 days

After collecting together all the hand washing, Tara poured some washing powder in the sink, then turned the tap on. She had just pulled on some rubber gloves when the doorbell rang. “Typical,” Tara muttered before calling out, “Dawn, can you get that?” When there was no response she tried again, “Dawn?” The bell ran again. “Anyone?” After a few moments Tara pulled off her gloves and went to answer the door, grumbling to herself all the way. “Kathy.”

“Hi. I know I'm early, but I thought I'd come down and see if you needed any help with the preparations.”

As Tara let her in she said, “It's not that I don't appreciate the offer, but you should have called.”

“Uh, I did. Last night.”

“You...” Tara noticed the light blinking on the answer machine, “Then I guess we need to check the messages more often. Where are you staying?”

“I got a room at a nearby motel. You know I missed this old town.”

Tara gave her a surprised look. “You did?”

“Not really. I guess most other people didn't either. I counted a half dozen U-hauls on the walk over here.”

“Everyone's leaving. That business with the Great One was the last straw, uh, I mean the gas leak. I guess everyone's getting wise to how dangerous this place is. Did you have any trouble getting the time off?”

“No trouble at all. That's another reason I came a bit early. I've been downsized.”

“I'm sorry to hear that.”

Kathy shrugged, not looking too upset. “It wasn't that great a job. I'm sure I'll be able to find another shitty, low paid job.”

“What about nursing?” Tara suggested. “I mean I heard you did a good job during the crisis.”

Kathy looked surprised at that, as if she hadn't considered the idea till now. “I guess that's an option. I did enjoy it. I mean it was stressful, but it felt like I was doing what I'm supposed to be doing.”

***

Dawn and Buffy were walking through the same part of the mall that Willow and Xander had been going through a few days ago. “So Xander's married, and Willow's going to be married in a few days. You're the last one in the group that's still single.”

“That's not funny, Dawn.”

“I was just saying.”

“Well maybe you haven't noticed but they're not exactly banging the door down and I don't really have time to go out looking for suitors.”

“But you've got more time now. I mean things have been quiet since we fought the Great One.”

“Why are you bringing this up now?”

“Because you're my sister. I want you to be happy.”

“Okay, I will stay open to the possibility of meeting someone. Just no vampires.”

“With or without souls,” Dawn agreed. “Or soldiers with an inferiority complex.”

“That too.”

“I'm sure you'll meet someone,” Dawn said.

“Thanks Dawn.” Buffy put her arm round her sister and hugged her.

***

That night Xander, Anya and Kathy all came round for dinner. Giles was invited but begged off, saying there were some things he needed to take care of.

“We've lost another neighbour,” Tara said.

“Who?” Buffy asked.

“Mr Thompson, from just across the street.” Tara waved her hand in the general direction of Mr Thompson's house.

“You're the only people on this street now, right?” Anya asked.

“No, there's old Mrs Maddison down the road,” Buffy corrected.

“The crazy old cat lady?” Dawn asked, “I think I saw her yesterday, collecting stray cats.”

“You shouldn't make fun of her,” Buffy said. “That's your future.”

“Hey!”

“My parents are leaving as well,” Willow said. “I got a call from them today. They've got a lecture in LA next week. They're going to look for a place while they're staying there.”

“The only thing keeping my parents here is they're too drunk to leave,” Xander added.

“Pretty soon we'll be the only people staying here,” Tara said.

“Why stay?” Kathy asked, “I mean if everyone else is leaving maybe you all should as well.”

“There's one problem, the Hellmouth.”

“The Hellmouth coped for the time before you moved here. It should be okay after you leave. The thing is when most of the people have left facilities will start closing down. The school and college probably won't stay open much longer.”

Buffy nodded, “You're right. I just wouldn't like leaving the Hellmouth unprotected.”

“We can talk to Mr Giles about that. Maybe there's something we can,” Willow suggested.

“Well if we could just close the Hellmouth, we would have done that before. You're right though, he might have some ideas.”

“It's a pity he didn't come tonight,” Xander said.

“Where is he anyway?” Anya asked.

***

Giles looked up from the book he'd been reading and rubbed his eyes. He'd come to the same conclusions as the others and had been looking for away to ensure the Hellmouth was safe. He'd been close to giving up when he'd stumbled on a reference which he thought might hold the answer.

TBC

[Willowtree252]

no no no not me my daughter is. I wish I could find a good woman counting down the days with ya for the big day

[JujuDeRoussie]

Hello!!

Close the hellmouth? The Best idea ever!!! And it's a pretty wedding present!

Sunnydale is gonna be a ghost town... so there are no people to protect.... no big deal if the hellmouth is closed :-)

Summary: One wedding, no funerals

it's great

Don't worry, Willow was joking then. Tara's chosen better dresses

I want a Tara!!! *pout*

Thank you for the update :-)

Julia

[lilkitty1389]

Great update! i can't wait to read more! I hope they get to leave the hellmouth and go live some where else! Keep it up! i'm totally hooked!

[justin]

Dianneswillowtree: Well I hope your Daughter's big day goes well.

Thanks for reading

JujuDeRoussie:

Sunnydale is gonna be a ghost town... so there are no people to protect.... no big deal if the hellmouth is closed :-)

That's the idea

I want a Tara!!! *pout*

You and me both.

Thanks for the feedback

lilkitty1389: Thanks. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Title: Times of Darkness, Times of Light
Author: Justin
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story, nor the setting. Please don't sue me.
Distribution: Anyone can take it, just let me know
Feedback: Yes please
Summary: One wedding, no funerals

Times of Light

W minus 1 day

Everyone gathered outside the school and set about breaking in. Xander used a bolt cutter to break the lock on one of the gates.

Kathy gestured at the fence, “Hey do you see how there's crosses in the fence, that'd keep vampires away, wouldn't it?”

“It wouldn't keep a determined vampire out, but it would be a deterrent,” Giles said.

“It's interesting how even though people don't consciously know about the vampires they know subconsciously and put up things like this to protect themselves.”

“Actually it was me,” Xander said, “I talked to the guy in charge of the fencing and convinced them it would be visually appealing with this motif.”

Kathy shrugged, “So much for that theory.”

With the gate opened they made their way into the school and headed for the library.

“We're here,” Giles said.

“So this is going to close the Hellmouth,” Buffy said.

“That's right,” Giles answered.

“Why haven't we done this before?”

“We went over this yesterday. This spell can only be completed by someone gifted with the power of the planet's spirit.”

“Someone like the Guardian,” Tara said.

“Quite. You should have enough power from your fight with the Great One to be able to do this.”

Willow stood next to Tara and said, “Not the sort of thing you normally do the day before your wedding.”

Tara turned to smile at Willow. “Don't worry they'll still be time for all the more normal stuff.”

“You mean like strippers?” Willow asked with a cheeky smile.

“No,” Tara glowered, her arms crossed, “Not like that.”

Willow shrugged and they turned their attention back to Giles.

“We need to place the candles around the Hellmouth in the pattern I described.” They set about doing this, while Giles threw several bundles of herbs on the floor.

“The candles are ready,” Willow said.

“Okay then, I need you to join hands and chant the words I told you. Tara you'll need to stand in the middle of the group.”

Tara nodded and stepped forwards. Everyone started chanting while Giles picked up an urn and began splashing some liquid on the floor.

There was a flash of light and the ground shook a moment.

“I felt something,” Willow said. “Did anyone else feel something? Like energy being released.”

Everyone nodded. Xander turned to Willow with a shocked expression. “Willow, your hair. It's gone white!”

“What?” Willow grabbed a handful of hair and looked at it. Seeing it was its usual red she said, “Oh very funny.”

The ground shook again.

“I suggest we get out of here before the building coll...” Giles started.

“Women and children first!” Kathy shouted, already rushing towards the exit.

They hurried away from the school grounds. Once they'd reached a safe distance they turned and watched as the school collapsed. “All that hard work, wasted,” Xander sighed.

***

When Kathy got to her motel she found Megan sitting in the lobby. Seeing her come in Megan stood up and said, “Hi, I was starting to think I'd got the wrong place.”

“I was closing the Hellmouth.” Kathy said, sounding as though she did this regularly. “How are you?”

“I'm good, I guess.”

Kathy led Megan to her apartment. “How did things go with Hecate? Did you get paid?”

“Kind of. I've changed since dying. Sometimes I don't know who I am any more. Hecate was going to help with that.”

“Did she?”

Megan handed Kathy the envelope Hecate had given her. Kathy opened it and read the card inside. 'You are Megan Dawson.' Looking up at Megan she said, “How very Mr Bergstrom of her.”

“That's what I thought. Anyway there was something I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Actually I wanted to talk to you about some things. After I moved away you probably noticed I didn't stay in touch.”

Megan nodded.

“The truth is, I was running away.”

“From me?”

“Yes. I mean no. I was running away from my feelings for you.” Kathy stopped, trying to regain her composure. “I don't see why this is so hard. Why can't I just admit it to myself?”

“Admit what?”

“That I'm gay. A lesbian, a dyke even.”

“Well that didn't seem too hard.”

Kathy blinked a couple of times. “You're right it wasn't. Makes me wonder why it took me so long. Now we've got the harder part.”

“Before that, can I say something?”

“Sure.”

Megan took Kathy's hand and said, “Kathy I love you. I have almost since the moment I first met you. I'd just been in a rather bad relationship before that, which is why I think I didn't really try to keep in touch after you left.”

“Oh.” For a moment Kathy didn't know what to say. “I was going to say the same thing. I mean that I love you.”

Megan started to smile, but then stopped, looking as though she couldn't believe her ears. “Really?”

“Yes. There's a problem though.”

“You mean me being dead?”

“Yeah, I know all relationships have problems but...”

“That was something I wanted to talk to you about. I'm going to go on a trip round the astral planes and I was wondering if, uh, maybe you'd kind of like to come with me.”

“Is that possible?”

“Yes.”

“I don't know. I mean...”

“I know it's a big decision and you don't have to decide right away. Think about it a while.”

“Sure. Will you be at the wedding?”

“I'm not sure if I'm invited.”

“I'll ask Tara tonight.”

“Okay then. I'll see you soon.”

***

Buffy and Giles went to the Magic Box to go over what they'd do now.

“So did the spell work?” Buffy asked as they were going in.

“As far as I can tell, yes. The Hellmouth here is no longer active. Demons won't be able to use it any more.”

Buffy smiled. “The fact we collapsed the school above it will help as well.”

“Indeed it will. “

“So is that it? I can retire?”

“The Hellmouth has closed but there are still plenty of demons and Vampires around, plus there are other Hellmouths, however...”

“I knew it was too good to be true,” Buffy grumbled.

“However,” Giles repeated, “with Faith less homicidal I think she can start taking some of the load. I think she can start working as a proper slayer.”

“There's still the matter of her government...” The door bell rang, cutting Buffy off. She turned to see who it was. “Well speak of the devil.”

“Nice to see you too, B.”

“So to what do we owe this pleasure?” Buffy asked.

“Uh, you do know that Red and Tara are getting married tomorrow, right?” Faith asked.

“Oh, right. Of course,” Buffy said. “I was just having a blonde moment.”

“Also I wanted to show you this.” She handed Giles a letter.

“Hmm, it appears that the order to-” Giles looked up at Faith, “What a lovely little euphemism.”

Faith shrugged. “Hey, I didn't write it.”

“Basically, the order to liquidate Tara has been cancelled.”

“Well that's a relief,” Buffy said. “So you won't get in trouble for not going through with it?”

“I probably would have done, but there's been some scandal in my department, involving misappropriated funds. The department's been shut down.”

“So what's going to be happen to you?” Giles asked.

“I've been put on secondment to a different agency.” She held up an ID which read, Agent Faith Lehane, Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“Dear Lord,” Giles said.

“Uh, what Giles means is congratulations,” Buffy quickly added.

“Oh yes of course,” Giles added, cleaning his glasses. “I'm sure you'll be the next Dana Scully.” Then, seeing the looks they were giving him, he added, “What?”

***

After dinner Buffy, Faith and Dawn went out patrolling. Willow had decided to spend the night with Xander and Anya, so she went to get packed. Which left Tara and Kathy clearing up.

“I met up with Megan today,” Kathy said.

“Are you okay? How did it go?”

“Pretty good,” Kathy answered, the way she was smiling suggesting that she was understating things. “She said that she loved me, and I finally admitted I love her back.”

“I'm happy for you.”

“She asked me to go on a tour of the astral plane with her.”

“What did you say?”

“I don't know. I haven't got much keeping me here. No job. My family weren't talking to me, even before I accepted I was gay and I don't really have any friends aside from you guys. Still it's a big step.”

Tara nodded. “This is more than just moving to another country to be with someone, this is a whole other plane of existence.”

“Exactly. What happens if things don't work out?”

“But sometimes you have to take a chance if you're to find true love.”

“You're right. Thanks for the advice.”

“Do you think Megan would like to come to the wedding?”

“I'm sure she would.”

***

Willow rang Xander's doorbell and waited. After waiting a minute she pressed the doorbell, holding it till she heard someone coming to the door. As soon as the door had opened she demanded, “Have you got the dress? Is the ring okay?”

“Hi Willow,” Xander said. “Anya and I are fine. How are you?”

“That's not important. The dress and ring?”

“Will, relax they're fine.”

“Okay, thanks for letting me stay over. It just seemed more appropriate to spend the night before the wedding apart. Otherwise we'd go from living together to living together, and there wouldn't really be any change.”

“We get it Will,” Anya said. “We did the same thing.”

***

Giles was checking his clothes for the next day when his phone rang. “Hello, Rupert Giles here. When was he found? It was definitely suicide? Did he name a successor? You've got to be kidding. No, you don't kid do you? Okay, leave this with me, I'll get back to you.”

Giles hung up and sat down. All thought of the wedding put out of his mind by the news he'd just received. Quentin Travers had been found in his office, dead. He'd hung himself. This news, as shocking as it was, paled next to what they'd told him next. They wanted him to take over the running of the Watchers Council.

TBC

[JujuDeRoussie]

Hello!

Woooow!!! Giles the council's head master !!!
Every body is going to have a real new life... great.
I can't wait for the wedding!!! Tara will be the most beautiful I'm sure!!!

Thank You!!!

Julia

[justin]

JujuDeRoussie: Thanks

I can't wait for the wedding!!!

I hope you like it


Title: Times of Darkness, Times of Light
Author: Justin
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story, nor the setting. Please don't sue me.
Distribution: Anyone can take it, just let me know
Feedback: Yes please
Summary: One wedding, no funerals

Times of Light

W

Willow woke up struggling not to scream. She had had the anxiety dream again. She tried to calm herself, telling herself that she still had a week till the wedding.

“Tara?” Willow looked round, trying to work out where Tara was. It was then she noticed she wasn't in her own bed. “Well then this must be Xander and Anya's place. But if I'm staying with them then this must be...”

Willow screamed loudly.

Xander came bursting in, a sword in his hand. “Where is it, where's the demon?”

“There's no demon.”

“We heard you screaming.”

“I'm getting married today!”

“Is that all?” Anya asked from her position behind Xander.

“Well since we're all up, why don't I get everyone breakfast?” Xander suggested.

“Have we got time?” Willow asked.

“Relax, we've got plenty of time.”

When Xander had gone Willow noticed Anya staring at her. “Is something wrong?”

“Don't even think of running out on Tara. I have friends.” With that Anya followed Xander.

***

“Willow?” Tara had woken up to find herself alone in bed. It took a few moments for her to remember where she was. “This seemed like such a good idea when Willow suggested it.”

She glanced at her clock. “In less than six hours time I'll be married to Willow,” Tara grinned as she said this.

***

Within a couple of hours both households were in a state of chaos. Xander was walking round his apartment wearing a shirt and jacket, but no trousers. “Anya, where are my trousers?”

“They're with the rest of your suit.”

“No, they're not.”

“Then they must be in the wash hamper.”

“What are they doing there?” Xander complained as he went too look for them. “Oh great they're all creased.”

“Then iron them!” Anya turned to Willow, “Sometimes I wonder how he manages to dress himself.”

“Do you think the dress is alright?”

“It's fine. I'm not sure about the colour, but it's great otherwise.”

“Thanks. Hey, what's wrong with the colour?”

“Well green would be better. Like money.”

“I prefer blue, like Tara's eyes.”

“You've really got it bad haven't you?”

“Yeah, I have.”

***

At the Summers house things were just as hectic.

“Buffy where are my shoes?” Dawn asked.

“Where you left them,” Buffy called back. “Now where is my bracelet?” She started going through her jewellery boxes.

Tara came in in her dress. “Are you sure this is okay?”

“It's perfect.”

“I just want everything to be right for Willow.”

“You've really got it bad.”

“Yeah I have,” Tara answered with a smile. She was about to go, but she stopped and said, “Don't worry Buffy you'll find that special person.”

“Were you reading my mind?”

“Nope, I just guessed that's what you'd be thinking.”

***

Buffy was helping Tara with the finishing touches when Dawn came in. “Giles is here.”

“He's a bit early, isn't he?” Tara asked.

“Typical Giles. Well better early than late.”

Tara nodded, looking nervous.

Buffy squeezed her arm. “Don't worry, everything will be fine.”

“I know. I'm just getting some pre-wedding jitters.”

***

When they got down to the car Giles said, “Tara, you look Beautiful. Willow is a very lucky woman.”

“Thank you, Mr. Giles.”

Giles glanced at the clock and said, “Depending on traffic we should arrive in ten to fifteen minutes. So we should get there with plenty of time.”

“Traffic?” Buffy asked, “There's no one around for there to be any traffic.”

“Of course, still better to be safe.”

It only took them five minutes to reach the right spot. Tara was about to open the door when Giles said, “Wait a couple of minutes Tara. We don't want to get there too early.”

***

Willow, Xander and Ira were standing in a wide field next to a small dais. Caitlin, the leader of the local Wicca group was standing on the dais. Various guests were seated around the clearing.

“They're not here yet,” Willow said, “Why aren't they here? Maybe something's happened.”

“Willow, relax. It's still early.”

“I thought you knew Willow better,” Ira said. “She won't relax till she knows everything's going to schedule. She's like her mother in that way.”

Caitlin, who had been going over the ceremony, said, “Are you sure you want me to do this? I've only been running the wicca group for a couple of years now.”

“Caitlin, we couldn't think of anyone better for this.”

“Rabbi Nelson,” Ira said in a low voice.

“He left for San Fran Sisco a couple of weeks ago.”

“He did? Oh yes, of course I knew that. I mean the only way I wouldn't is if I hadn't been to Synagogue in a while, and your mother and I have both been going regularly.”

“Will, they're here,” Xander said.

Willow turned as Tara came into view. The moment Willow saw her, she was overwhelmed by how beautiful Tara looked.

Tara walked down a gap in the chairs, with Buffy and Giles following her. When she reached the dais she turned to Willow, a bright smile on her face.

“A lot has been written about the ritual of handfasting and with each union more wisdom is accumulated. Now I must ask if you are both here of your own free will.”

“I am,” Willow said.

“I am,” Tara echoed.

“It is usual for the two women to be bound together.” Caitlin lifted up a long red cord. “It is red in colour to signify the passion of your love for each other. However I cannot bind you, that is something you must do.”

She handed one end of the cord to Willow who wrapped it round her left wrist. Caitlin then gave the other end to Tara, who wrapped it round her wrist.

“For this union to flourish it will require love. Not only of these two women but also the Goddess and most importantly, of the people here. So I ask you all to think about the bond between them, and to focus your love on it.” She waited a few moments then went on, “Your love is also represented by the rings which I'll now ask you to exchange.”

Using her free hand Willow placed her ring on Tara's free hand, then Tara did the same. As she did so Willow noticed it was the other ring she'd been considering at the jewellery shop.

“Now they have both written vows which they'll read.”

Tara cleared her throat and said, “Willow from the moment I first saw you, I felt a connection to you. It was like nothing I'd ever felt before. I could say I knew then I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, but that wouldn't be true. However I did know that I wanted to know you better and that I'd do anything in order to do that. Before I met you I found it hard, no impossible to start up a conversation, especially with a woman who was as beautiful as you. Yet I found myself walking across the university campus in order to see you. Of course I had the excuse of wanting to help everyone get their voices back, but that wasn't why I was doing it. I did it because I wanted to see you and hear your voice again. Even though things haven't always been easy since then, I have never once regretted that decision. Willow, your love gave me the strength to find myself and in return I offer you my heart and my soul.”

“Tara I can still remember the first time we met. Well how could you forget such a gorgeous woman literally running into you? At first I was just happy to have a friend who understood me so completely and who I could discuss magic with, but before long I realised our connection went a lot deeper than that and was magical in many other ways. During our time together I've made mistakes and did things that still shame me deeply, but you never once gave up on me. Tara I feel like I've always loved you, and I always will.”

“Finally, if you will jump over the broomstick.”

Willow swallowed. This was one part she had been worried about, after reading that if either of them touched the broom then the marriage would be void. They stepped up to the broom.

“You ready?” Willow asked.

“Yes.”

They both hopped over. Willow gave a small sigh of relief when she noted they'd both easily cleared the broom.

“I pronounce the two of you married,” Caitlin said, “You may kiss.”

In the history of the world there have been five truly great kisses. The kiss that Willow and Tara shared at that moment left them all behind.

***

Everyone gathered at Buffy's house for the reception. Once the celebrations were under way Buffy cornered Willow by one of the tables.

“So how does it feel to be married?” She asked Willow.

“It feels great.”

“Well it was a lovely wedding.”

“Thanks Buffy.”

A short distance away Anya was talking to Tara. “That's a lovely ring Willow bought you.”

“Yes.” Tara turned the ring round on her finger. “The funny thing is I was considering buying this ring, but in the end went for the one I got Willow.”

“That is a funny coincidence. Or it might just be you both thinking alike.”

“Could be.”

“It's just a shame you won't get any of the tax benefits.”

“That's not why we married.”

“I know. I mean it's not why Xander and I married but it's still a shame.”

Before Tara could answer Kathy joined them. “Hi. That was a great wedding. I mean, handfasting.”

“Thanks.”

“So I made a decision. I've decided to go with Megan. I mean I haven't really got anything here and exploring the astra planes should be fun, whatever they are.”

“Plus there's the fact you're in love with Megan.”

“Yes, that did weigh into my decision. You know I was up all night trying to write a letter to my parents. When I'd finally finished it I ripped it up.”

“Why?”

“I realised I don't have anything to say to them. Don't ask. Let's just say we haven't seen eye to eye for a long time, and I don't think my realising I'm gay will help with that.”

Tara gripped her arm a moment and said, “I know what it's like to be estranged from your family.” Tara turned to Amy, who had just joined them, “Hey Amy, I hear you're leaving us.”

Amy nodded, “Yeah, Mr Giles knows this coven in England who are going to train me, show me how to use magic properly. I think it'll be good.”

“I'm sure you'll learn a lot.” Tara said, “Plus I've always wanted to see England.”

As Tara was saying this someone put the CD player on.

“Finally some music,” Kathy said. “Well go on.”

“What?”

“You and Willow should have the first dance.”

Tara turned to look for Willow only to see her approaching. “Would you do me the pleasure of this dance?”

“Of course.”

As they danced together, Willow asked, “Good wedding?”

“Best Wedding. I mean it was the only one I've been to, but it's still the best if only because it was you I was getting married to.”

“Sweet talker.”

“Your sweet talker.”

***

After the party had been going on a while Giles went outside to get some air. He had just sat down when he noticed someone standing in the doorway. “Hello, uh, Megan.”

“I hear you've been made the head of the Watcher's council.”

“I only heard about it yesterday myself. It's something of a shock.”

“The Powers won't like that. I mean first they lose control of the Guardian and now the Slayer.”

“What do you mean? Surely there won't be any more guardians.”

“That's the theory, yes.”

“I don't follow.”

“Willow and Tara will have a daughter. Now she won't share Tara's DNA but she will be her daughter.”

“And will therefore be the next guardian. An awful responsibility.”

“She'll have the powers, what she does with them will be up to her. That is a consideration for another day though. What are your intentions for the council?”

“I'm going to overhaul it. For too long we've seen the slayer as just being a weapon to use against the forces of darkness. We need to recognise what she really is, a young woman who needs our support and guidance.”

“Wow, I was hoping you'd say something like that. Which reminds me, I was going to give you this.” Megan gave Giles a large envelope. Opening it Giles found a list of names and addresses.

“I don't understand.”

“It's a list of potentials.”

“Surely the council has all the potentials on file.”

“Not these ones. These are the ones that were kept hidden from the council. Didn't you wonder why Buffy wasn't found till she became the Slayer?”

“I just assumed that she had slipped through the cracks. You're saying that she was hidden from the council. Because of this interference she wasn't properly trained, she was put in danger.”

“True. However she also wasn't indoctrinated into their ways. Would Buffy have been so willing to accept help if she had?”

“Probably not. I guess it all worked out.”

“Come on,” Megan indicated inside. “We're missing out on the fun.”

***

Giles and Megan got back in just as Tara was throwing the bouquet. She turned around and tossed the bouquet over her shoulder, straight for Giles. “Oh my,” Giles said, before batting it away. It hung over the group for a second before being snatched out of the air by Buffy.

“You knocked it towards her on purpose,” Megan said.

“Yes, well considering her record, relationshipwise, I thought that she could do with all the help she can get.”

TBC

[Willowtree252]

YES Justin we have lift off I love it !!!! I always look forward to your updates both of them looing at the same rings shows how intune thay are life is not always candy and kisses but there can be happy ever afters right I need more of the wonderful story Justin Please

[JujuDeRoussie]

Hello!

Yes I liked it ^^

It will be great with Giles at the council's head. I wonder what is the story behind the hidden potentials... Faith was one too, isn't she? I mean she stayed with her mother ine her childhood...

I'm glad Ira was there for this important moment in Willow's life.

Their vows are so nice...

In the history of the world there have been five truly great kisses. The kiss that Willow and Tara shared at that moment left them all behind.

Hmmmm !!!

TBC

Thank you

Julia

[Chummy]

Justin man you are doing a great job in keeping us intrested in your story plz keep up the wonderful job and update soon.