Disclaimer: The characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy – but the story’s all mine…if you’d like to pass it on or copy it – all I ask is that you give me due credit. Thanks! If you would like this story in one continuous file – please email me at
firesign98@yahoo.comThanks!
Hope you enjoy! -CZ
Chapter SevenBuffy hung up the phone and ran to the edge of the circle, kneeling next to her friend...
"Hold on, Willow...we're going to help you...just hold on, okay? Please?..."
She’d lost so many people in her life…Angel…her father…her mother…the Slayer didn’t think she could survive if she were to lose her best friend, her strength, her sister-in-arms…her Willow. She looked at the pale shell of her friend, lying within the circle and cursed herself for ever having brought Willow into this world…this way of life…the pain, the death, the destruction…was it selfish of her to think that she could afford herself the luxury of such a friend? She wondered.
The welcome sound of footsteps heading up the stairway snapped her out of the daze.
“Buffy! What the…” then Giles saw Willow within the circle, his face dropped. “Oh no…Good Lord…” he said, dropping to his knees next to Buffy, just as Xander and Anya reached the top of the stairs.
Xander saw Willow, his first reaction to scoop the frail red-head into his arms and take her to the nearest hospital, he ran towards her body.
Buffy stopped him before he could reach her.
“No! We can’t! You may kill her!” she yelled.
“What the hell are you talking about?!” Xander yelled.
“Buffy’s right, Xander…if she’s still within the cast of the spell, breaking the circle may sever whatever tie her soul still has to this place…here, with us…” Giles said.
“What spell?”
Anya recognized the circle, the candles, and the spell book that lay next to her. This was not good. She had never been really too fond of the little witch, but she loved Xander – and she knew how much this must be hurting him. She lovingly stroked his arm…
“It’s a time travel spell…I’ve seen it a couple of times before…” Anya said.
“Wait a second…if it’s a time travel spell…why is she still here? Shouldn’t she be there? Wherever or whenever ‘there’ is?” Xander said, confused.
“I’m afraid that with this particular spell, your physical form is not transported, only your spiritual essence, your soul – if you will.” Giles added.
“Her soul?” Xander didn’t like the sound of that…neither did Buffy – it sounded so final…her soul, gone. That’s only supposed to happen when your dead, right? Was she, their friend, their confidante, Willow, dead?
“Yes, her soul. If we don’t do this correctly, she may not be able to return to us here.”
“Well…let’s get started then…what do we have to do? Let’s do it!”
“I’m afraid it’s not that easy, Xander. Just as we have to do everything properly…Willow also has to want to come back to us.”
“Well that’s just silly…I mean, why wouldn’t she want to come back to us…to all of this…death, destruction, slaying…and what am I saying? Why WOULD she want to come back to all of this?” Xander leaned against the wall for support, as his knees weakened.
“She’ll come back because she loves us.” Buffy said, looking at her, wondering if they even should bring her back…
Meanwhile…
Willow started to stir, light…light was coming from somewhere…she slowly opened her eyes, seeing the bright sunlight coming in through an open window.
It wasn’t a dream…I’m really here…
She looked around the room, it’s stone walls, shelves full of books, fireplace, small wooden table…but the woman…was she a dream? No, she couldn’t be…someone had to have brought her here. She sat up in the bed, looking down at herself…she no longer wore the clothes that she had on earlier that night…someone had taken them off and dressed her in a soft white cotton robe-like smock… she swung her legs over the side of the bed, taking her time before standing. There was something so familiar about this place – but surely, she had never been here before. She slowly walked, bare footed, to the door; opening it – she stepped outside into the sunlight. Had sunlight ever felt this good? It was cleansing…it seemed to reach right through to her very core…she leaned her head back, closing her eyes, taking all of the warmth in…
“Willow?” a voice, a familiar voice called out to her from outside.
“What are you doing up?”
It was the angel…that blonde angel with the endless pools of Saphhire blue in her eyes…
“I-I was just getting some fresh air…”
“You need to get inside before you catch your death of cold…you don’t even have any shoes on!” She said, taking her by the arm, leading her into the house.
“I’m fine…really…”
The blonde smiled…so warm…
Her smile…I’ve seen that before…goddess, she’s beautiful…but…
“I’m sorry…but…could you please tell me where I am? Or more importantly…what year this is?” Willow asked, rather tentatively.
Goddess…she still doesn’t remember…
The hurt and worry showed in the blonde’s eyes.
Forgive me for being selfish, goddess…I know I should be thankful just to have her alive…but I want her, I want my Willow back…
A voice entered Tara’s head.
Give it time, child…trust and have hope…the love you share is timeless…
To Be Continued….