RC 2018: NEW CHAPTER 7/7/07

[Sheridan]

Title: Shield

Author: Mike Mullen

Rating: NC-17/18 because of violence, and adult themes.

Spoilers: None what so ever

Disclaimer: All the original BTVS characters belong to Joss Whedon and ME. Everyone else in the stories are my personal slaves.

Summary: While Willow is Vegas Tara has to stop the First from destroying Sunnydale and ripping open the Hellmouth.

Authors notes: The other half of those turbulent days, the flip side of ‘Spear’

Feedback: Just add your comments at the end of the story.

Shield

1. "Defence"

The day Before Willow left for Las Vegas...

        It had seemed a simple enough task to Tara. Just drop in at the Summers house and see that Buffy and Dawn were ok. It was practically a given that with everything that had happened in the previous few days that the pair would have some issues to work through. Tara decided her condition must have been playing tricks with her brain because for some reason she had imagined the pair would sit down, have a heart to heart talk in a reasonable manner, and resolve things amicably.

        "Just because that's how you would do things doesn't mean I have to!" Dawn yelled from her position next to the kitchen door.

        Buffy was still sat on the sofa trying to look reasonable and show she was being the grown up here, "Ok hands up whose been a Slayer for six years?" The question didn't exactly help with the image she was trying to project.

        "Maybe I haven't but I've had a ringside seat for all your mistakes," Dawn snapped back.

        Tara could see this was the point at which things were going to be said that couldn't be taken back, "Guys enough," she spoke firmly enough that both sisters turned towards her, "Dawn, everyone makes mistakes. Buffy when you were a brand new Slayer how much attention did you pay when Giles tried to teach you about being the Chosen one?"

        The comments gave both young women pause. Dawn was simply grateful that Tara had stopped a fight she couldn't seem to find a way out of and Buffy couldn't give a good answer to Tara's question. She had always been determined to do things her own way; maybe Dawn had learned something from her after all, "That doesn't mean I was right to do it."

        "But it seemed to work pretty well." Dawn countered.

        "What about all those mistakes?" Buffy reminded her.

        "Hey it's like Tara said everyone makes mistakes." Dawn hastily backtracked.

        Tara smiled, "So I guess there's really nothing to argue about is there?" Reluctantly the sisters had to agree. That's one problem down, and about a hundred to go. Tara decided.



        Giles had stopped off at the Summers house for much the same reasons as Tara and had mixed emotions to discover the witch had already smoothed things over, glad the trouble had been averted, uneasy at feeling so redundant once again. Under the circumstances all he could was offer Tara a ride to the Magic Box. He was silent as they drove and Tara assumed at first he was just concentrating on the road. Slowly it dawned on her that since the roads were pretty empty and this was a route he had driven dozens of times he was concentrating a little too much, "How are you doing Giles?"

        Giles hesitated before answering, "The First didn't really harm me, I was more concerned for Buffy."

        Tara was of course looking at Giles' aura as he spoke and could see the disturbed currents. There was clearly something more he was avoiding, "You did your best to protect her." Tara reassured him, fairly sure that wasn't really what was troubling him but hoping that it would bring out what was.

        "Perhaps, but what about everyone else? I thought I was being so clever playing games with the First and I've ended up jeopardizing the world." Giles words were bitter.

        Tara found she didn't need to think about an answer, "That's not true."

        Giles was about to demand how she could possibly know that when he remembered she was the one person who might, "Even so I can't help but wonder if there wasn't a better way of handling things." It didn't sound like a criticism, more like wishful thinking.

        Tara found two words insinuating their way into her mind; Worlds End.. The vision of those dead worlds added emphasis when she assured Giles, "Actually I think this is about as easy as it gets."



        As she walked into the Magic Box Tara saw the immense look of relief on Willow's face, "Hey baby how are Buffy and Dawn?"

        They had been behaving reasonably when Tara and Giles left but she knew they had a long way to go before things were settled, "Taking a rest between rounds."

        "I thought Buffy was ok with what Dawn did?"

        "She mostly is; problem is now she's trying to give Dawn the benefit of her Slayer experience."

        "And driving Dawn nuts." Willow guessed.

        Tara noticed the pained look on Giles face as they discussed this and guessed that he hadn't completely accepted her assurances about the situation. She decided it would be best to get onto a different topic and saw the perfect opportunity as she slid into a seat beside Willow, "Hey you found the spear?"

        Tara listened to Willow's explanation intently, "Basically if we can find out where it's been for the last eight hundred years we're all set."

        Tara knew Willow wasn't being serious; it would be a big step forward though, "You really think this thing can take out the First and the Hellmouth?"

        "Think is the opposite word. I mean anything point and heavy could take out the First," Willow hesitated and Tara knew why. The First's decision to assume the form of Ellie Maclay had been rough on Tara; however Tara was not going to give the First the satisfaction of worrying about it. Seeing Tara taking it so calmly Willow went on. "But I'm not so sure how it would affect the Hellmouth."

        Tara considered the bloody nature of the spear and the evil of the Hellmouth, "Maybe it's like a magnet and the Hellmouth is the iron filings," She could tell from Willow's expression that she wasn't convinced by the explanation and Tara herself suspected there was something more to it than that. Right now though nothing else was suggesting itself

        Willow didn't dismiss the idea out of hand, "Could be, makes more sense than anything I'd come up with."

        "Glad I could help." Tara was going to say more when she had a sudden and very powerful premonition, but I only just got here. They can’t have gotten in trouble that soon. The vision ignored the plea, simply demanding something be done.

        Willow could see that Tara was being disturbed by a vision. "What's the matter baby?"

        Tara decided it might be better not to explain the details, especially as it would just annoy Willow, "Sorry honey but I'm going to have to run out on you again."

        "I could come with." Willow suggested.

        Tara patted her on the shoulder, "Trust me what you're doing is way more important."

        Willow reluctantly accepted that, "Just yell if you need me."

        Tara turned to Xander, "Can you give me a ride?"

        "Hey I'm here to serve," he said it so flippantly that Tara had to take a look at his aura to see if he was really ok with it or being sarcastic. Since he was being sincere she took the ride.



        Tara and Xander drew up outside the Summers house and saw Elias' SUV was drawn up outside. Tara had expected that and took a look through the rear window. She saw several large canisters parked there, "Guess he's planning a road trip." Xander offered.

        "Yeah, and I know where." Tara responded grimly. She had the nagging feeling that he had been waiting for her to leave before he turned up. She marched up to the front door and knocked on it. When Dawn answered it she was clearly hiding something behind the door because she had her left hand stretched awkwardly around it.

        "Tara, I thought you had gone to the Magic Box." Dawn wasn't making any move to allow Tara into the house.

        "Dawnie you might as well let me in, I know what you're planning.”

        "Oh." Was all the answer Dawn could muster. She stepped back and pulled her crossbow from behind the door.

        In the living room Buffy and Elias were on the sofa next to the coffee table, which was littered with weaponry, "Are you people nuts?" Tara showed an uncharacteristic lack of diplomacy.

        It took a few moments for Buffy to recover enough to come up with a response, "We wanted to make a contribution, and we figured this would be the best thing. It wouldn't leave you facing down the First, what with it, you know." Buffy couldn't quite finish the thought.

        "You mean because it stole my mothers face." Tara was too annoyed for any hesitation. That left the others speechless, which was a good thing as far as she was concerned, "I know whose idea this was," Tara stared at Elias, "and I thought you would have known better."

        That needled Elias into an answer, "I'm tired of watching magic dig us deeper and deeper into a hole. I figured the straight forward approach might just take the First by surprise."

        "Except the First knows you, it knows how you'll react." Tara insisted.

        Elias hadn't told her about his run in with the First at the bar so the effect of Tara's words was even more chilling. Nonetheless, "We can allow for that adjust the plan."

        "It's not like we were going for something super subtle anyway." Dawn piped up, not exactly helping Elias' argument.

        "At least that I agree with." Tara commented.

        Now Buffy felt compelled to speak up, "You already know exactly what we're planning."

        "I got an action replay." Tara confirmed.

        Elias knew that couldn't be good but he wasn’t going to fold, "So you know, great you can help put right whatever went wrong."

        "Or you could just take my advice and drop the whole thing." Tara had been hoping that the sisters would accept her advice but Dawn was clearly itching to do Slayer stuff and Buffy wasn't going to let her sister and her boyfriend go running off without her. Seeing that they weren’t going to take her suggestion Tara decided that left only one course open to her, and she was very glad she hadn't brought Willow along right at this moment, “Then I guess I'll have to come with you.”

        There was a clear desire to protest from the others but they couldn't very well claim it was too dangerous for her but safe for them. Besides Tara had acquired Willow's resolve face over the years and nobody was going to argue with that.



        The cave where the First had its lair was dark and silent, “Maybe it decided to move out.” Xander suggested hopefully.

        Tara dashed that hope, “No there's some sort of power lurking around here.” Something familiar, maybe even familial.

        Elias had dragged the two canisters from the back of the SUV and was busily attaching a couple of small tubes to the side of them, “Well these should certainly ruin someone's day,” he turned to Tara, “Can you keep me from getting spotted while I deliver these?”

        Tara shrugged, “Shouldn't be too hard.”

        Buffy looked at Tara, since the witch had given up trying to talk them out of this she had rather stood back from the proceedings. That needled Buffy and at first she couldn't figure out why. It finally struck her that it was the same pose Joyce struck when Buffy was little and threw a tantrum over not being allowed to do stuff on her own. Sometimes Joyce would just give up arguing and stand back and wait for the inevitable disaster, the incident with baking cookies when she was six stood out vividly, it had taken most of a week to remove the last traces of cookie dough from the kitchen. Tara had clearly decided that this was one of those unavoidable disasters and the best she could do was clean up the mess afterwards, “You really don't think this will work but your not going to tell us why.”

        “No, because you would just try something else and I think this should persuade you that the 'direct approach’ isn't going to do a lot of good with the first.” Tara confirmed.

Buffy almost yelled after Elias to come back but he was almost at the mouth of the cave by then and besides she couldn’t quite bring herself to side with Tara against him.

        There was a gentle incline at the entrance and Elias laid the canisters on their sides and rolled them in after setting the fuses. He sprinted back to the SUV with a big grin on his face, “That should take out a few minions even if it doesn't get the First.”

        “I really don't think so.” Tara sounded perfectly certain.

        That angered Elias, “Why the hell not?”

        Tara pointed, there were two remarkably familiar looking canisters parked on the grass barely five feet away.

        “Oh crap.” Was Elias' heartfelt if less than eloquent response. Tara gestured and a barrier sprung up, just in time for the night to be illuminated by two huge explosions. The blast and flame were held back by the wall of energy but a hail of grass and dirt rained down on the group as debris thrown high in the air returned to earth.

        Tara brushed bits of dirt and ash off herself but knew she wasn't doing a very good job, “You were right about one thing,” she commented.

        Elias was still staring unhappily at the twin craters he had blasted in the dirt, “What was that?”

        “You certainly spoiled someone's day.” She commented as she brushed a clod of dirt off her shoulder.

        Elias was too choked with emotion to reply with what he really thought, it's the magic, it's screwing up everything. On some level he knew that wasn't true but he was feeling too humiliated right now to worry about that.

2. "Fairly New Girl"

After exhausting themselves in the shower Willow and Tara had retired to bed for the sole purpose of sleeping. Tara found that hard to come by however; she lay wake and watched Willow's face. Only the faint light leaking in from the street illuminated it but it was enough for Tara. Her instinct was too wake Willow and ask her not to go to Las Vegas; they would stay here and figure out a different answer. The problem was she knew that was strictly her own selfish impulse, not some piece of foreknowledge.

        Less than a week ago the plan was clear; Willow and her were going to make a graceful withdrawal from fighting the good fight, at least for the time being. Tara had been under no illusions about it being a permanent escape, not when she knew that some day her daughter was going to be the Chosen one. However smart and powerful LJ was there was no way her parents were just going to stand aside and let her get on with it when that time came. For now though it had seemed like it was time to put that world to one side and live like normal people, well normal people with magic and a genetically engineered daughter anyway, and ensure that LJ had a safe and sane childhood. Instead here they were right back to saving the world again. Tara wondered if they were somehow fated never to get out of this, whether there would always be one last crisis to deal with. She set herself firmly against that notion. Closing the Hellmouth and taking out the First was an end to it, after this they had filled their world saving quota. If the world needed their help after this it was just going to have to make an appointment and come back later. With that decision made Tara finally drifted off too sleep.



        You better believe it. Willow's last words lingered in the air after she teleported out. Tara stood contemplating the space she had vacated. "So what have you got planned for today?" Dawn's question was annoyingly eager.

        "I actually hadn't planned much beyond the goodbye stage." Tara admitted quietly

        "Well I was thinking we should go check out the Hellmouth, just to see how it's doing." Dawn's enthusiasm was undiminished by Tara's uncertainty.

        "Well it certainly can't hurt." Tara decided it was actually a good idea, and it would give her something to do.

        Now Buffy decided to chime in, "Then I'll get my jacket."

        Now it was Dawn's turn to be hesitant. "Uh Buffy I was figuring this was a two woman job."

        "And what does that mean?" Buffy asked dangerously.

        Tara intervened before Dawn could stick her foot any further into her mouth, "I think what she meant to say was that we didn't go too all the trouble of freeing you from your destiny just so you could go right on doing it?"

        To Dawn's relief she saw the belligerence in Buffy's expression replaced by doubt, and she knew they had won when Buffy asked, "But what will I do with my day?"

        "Shop, watch some soaps, or maybe go to the college and see what courses you could take." Tara was pretty sure these suggestions had already been made to Buffy in a more global sense but she hadn't really believed they could transfer her powers then and she still needed to get used to the idea.

        “Well I suppose so,” Buffy was still hesitant but now there was just a hint of pleasure in the words, “So long as your sure.”

       

        As they walked towards the remains of Sunnydale High Dawn decided it was safe to let her guard down, "Thanks for bailing me out back there."

        "Uh huh," Tara replied, "because you weren't really thinking about what Buffy needed, you just didn't want your sister looking over your shoulder."

        "Well maybe it's not like she went Slaying with well, mom, looking over shoulder and offering suggestions." Dawn countered.

        "But she did have Willow and Xander and Giles even right back at the beginning." Tara reminded her.

        Dawn knew that but thought Tara was missing a point, "But you've all got other things to deal with now, I can't count on always having a gang around."

        Tara decided the conversation was heading straight towards another guilt trip and decided to divert it, "You could always advertise on the school notice board, 'recently called Slayer requires computer nerd stroke witch to form own gang', that sort of thing." Dawn gave her an odd look, "Maybe not."



        The work site at what had been Sunnydale High School still seemed largely abandoned. The recent earth tremors and a strange atmosphere around the site had brought the work to a semi permanent halt. As Willow and Dawn approached they did see a couple of figures clad in overalls, goggles and hardhats. Drawing closer neither witch nor Slayer were convinced that they were workmen, or men of any sort for that matter.

        Either they both need a visit to a chiropractor or their not human. Tara sent the thought to Dawn while trying to act casual.

        And out in daylight so I guess it must be important. Dawn glanced over at the demons who seemed to be trying to keep an eye on her just as casually.

        Just stay relaxed, watch their moves, and pick your moment.

        Dawn bridled at that, Tara I don't need your advice on slaying as well.

        Tara smiled, Actually that was courtesy of someone else, and those two demons seem to have made their minds up.

        Dawn could see the demons were both advancing on her; both still trying to conceal their appearance but quite determined. The Slayer took a few steps forward to put a little space between herself and Tara. Tara decided that was a good idea and slowly backed up, it was time to let Dawn do some on the job training, though she did line up a couple of spells just in case.

        The demons were definitely paying all their attention to Dawn but their casual approached suggested they didn't have the faintest idea who she actually was. That was fine with Dawn. She decided to hit the one on the left first; there was no real reason to pick on that one, it was just a little closer. Dawn pulled a knife from her pocket and let fly. The blade buried itself in the demon with such force that it knocked him backwards.

        Did I really do that? Dawn still found she had moments when the power of the Slayer took her by surprise. That almost let the other demon reach her but the creature suddenly found its forward motion arrested because it was hanging a foot off the ground.

        As soon as she saw Dawn was focusing again Tara let him drop and the Slayer finished him off with a loud snap of the neck, "Thanks, guess I do need to work on this some."

        "Taking a little advice wouldn't hurt." Tara suggested, "Now let's see why those two were hanging around here."

        Down in the cavern it was obvious that the demons hadn't just been disguised as workmen, they had actually been doing some building work, nothing that would have passed city building codes however. It was nothing more than two short stone slabs sticking up out of the ground with a third long one laid across it. Crude symbols had been carved in the top of the altar, "Well at least I know why they were concentrating on you." Tara commented as she finished her examination of the magic.

        "Really?"

        "Yes, and I'm sure that your sister would be delighted that your a 'nice girl'." Tara explained with a smile.

        It took Dawn a few seconds to figure what Tara meant; when she did she blushed furiously, "You aren't going to just leave that thing here?"

        "Of course not." Tara brushed her fingers over the horizontal slab and cracks ran through it and down into the two pillars. The whole structure collapsed in pile of stone chips.



        The gang had gathered at the Magic Box minus the out of towners, "So you've made sure no one can get back into the Hellmouth?" Giles asked.

        "I left a couple of spells in place." Tara confirmed, "Anyone trying to walk or teleport into the cavern will find themselves, elsewhere," she didn't expand on where elsewhere might be, "problem is that just because the First can't get at it directly doesn't mean it's just going to wait for us close the Hellmouth."

        "What exactly does that mean?" Buffy wanted to know.

        Giles laid it out for her, "If the First can't destabilize the Hellmouth then it will try and destabilize it's surroundings, in the hopes that will accelerate the instability of the Hellmouth itself."

        "The First is going to do every it can to raise hell in Sunnydale." Tara added, "We're just going to have to watch out for its next move."



        Getting into Sunnydale police HQ proved disappointingly easy for the First. The local cops had barely even been aware of her walking in beyond noticing that she was a fairly attractive woman. There was something in the First's eyes that quickly made them turn their attention back to their work. It hardly even needed the concealment glamour to slip past the guard and reach the property room. Inside the First moved among the shelves until she found something suitable. The amulet in her pocket was part of an old collection; things the First had accumulated over the years and never been able to handle. It traced out the design on the clay surface and then flexed it's fingers, snapping the amulet in two.

        A sickly green mist poured from the broken talisman and on to the contents of the shelf before soaking in. The First slipped past the idling police officers again and felt almost virtuous; these people clearly needed something to do, and they do say the devil makes work for idle hands.

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

[Sheridan]

3. "Cops"

Dawn had known that becoming the Slayer was dangerous; that it would require her to take risks, to put her life on the line when the occasion called for it, but this is going too far. She braced herself against the doorframe as Buffy swerved the SUV around another corner. Dawn had never understood the phrase 'hanging on for grim death' until now, "Are you sure Elias meant for you to use his car while he was out of town?"

        "He gave me the keys didn't he?" Buffy snapped back, taking her eyes off the road in the process. Dawn's horrified expression got her to hastily put her attention back where it belonged.

        When Dawn had suggested a quick trip around town to see how things were she had been imagining a brisk walk, then Buffy had suggested that they could cover more ground by car. This time there wasn't any way that anyone could successfully protest, after all improving her driving skills was part of every day living and they wouldn't exactly be patrolling, would they?

        Somehow Dawn wasn't surprised when she saw the police car trailing them, it was just a matter of time given Buffy's imperfect grasp of traffic laws. The ex-Slayer herself didn’t see it that way when the cop gave her a burst of lights and sirens, "Oh come on I didn't do anything." Buffy protested.

        Dawn bit her lip to hold back the obvious comment, like signal or look at the road signs, as Buffy pulled the car over to the side of the road. She stepped slowly out of the car as the officer beckoned to her, Dawn wound down the passenger window to listen to the conversation, ready to intervene in case Buffy got too heated.

        The way the cop looked Buffy up and down made her glad she had chosen jeans over a skirt for this trip, she didn't have Willow and Tara's telepathic skills but she didn't need them to tell that the words strip search were right at the front of his mind, "What seems to be the problem officer?" Buffy managed to keep her tone polite despite the leching.

        "Your driving was a little erratic back there miss." The cop explained, with his gaze not traveling much above her bust line.

        At another time Buffy might have been tempted to flirt her way out of a ticket, right now though she wasn't going to give this guy the least encouragement, "I guess I'm just not used to driving anything that big, sorry. How big a ticket are we talking about?"

        The officer's grin sent a shiver through Buffy, "Maybe zero, if you show how public spirited you can be."

        Buffy was aghast; she had sort of expected him to say something but the fact that he was practically standing on top of her and playing with his handcuffs in broad daylight told her wasn't horny, he was insane.

        "Hey are we ever going to get out of here?" Dawn complained from behind the police officer. The man spun round and his hand moved towards his gun. It didn't get there as Dawn grabbed it in mid move, "She doesn't drive that badly." Dawn's thumb pressed down into the cop's palm.

        The pain was out of all proportion to the damage being done and seemed to clear the officer's mind, "I guess not," he grunted

        Dawn released him and the officer flexed his fingers, "So we can go then?"

        "Just get out of here," he muttered as he stalked back to his car.

        Buffy slammed the door hard as she climbed back in to the drivers seat, "He is not getting away with this," she muttered.

        "Buffy you cannot kick a cops ass, that would just get you locked up in a cell. You want to be in custody with that creep?" Dawn asked.

        That did make Buffy pause, only for a second however, "Fine but I can tell his superiors what sort of jerk they have on traffic patrol."

        Dawn didn't think it would do much good but if it helped Buffy cool down, well it couldn't hurt.



        It was wonderfully quiet in the apartment as Tara sank into the sofa. She knew it wasn't going to last long but while it did she intended to make the most of it. She had brewed some herbal tea, a blend that Willow couldn't stand the smell of and so rarely got made. Tara sometimes wondered if curing Willow's aversion to caffeine had been a good thing, she had developed a certain snobbery about coffee that Tara tried her best not to laugh at but didn't always succeed.

        The taste of the tea soothed away some of Tara's tension, not much, but some. Getting rid of it all would call for a closed Hellmouth, an extinct First and a backrub from Willow. She was just contemplating that last idea when an inspiration filtered into her mind. Tara groaned, "You are really pushing this you know," she directed the complaint towards her stomach. Tara switched her attention to telepathy, Xander; can you give me a ride?



        The reception area at Sunnydale police headquarters was practically overflowing when Buffy and Dawn arrived. Buffy was still in too much of a temper to notice them but Dawn gave them a once over and was disturbed by what she saw. There were a lot of very uncriminal looking people sporting handcuffs and a selection of cuts and bruises. Since they didn't look like the sort who would resist arrest that made her wonder if she had been right to go along with this. Looking at the police officers themselves Dawn caught that same cruel and ugly look she had seen in the eyes of the traffic cop, something was definitely not right here, "Maybe we should come back later."

        Buffy shrugged, she was mad now not later, "I am not dropping this."

        Dawn realised that Buffy didn't understand what she was driving at, "I mean when this place is a little less evil."

        That did break through Buffy's wall of indignation and she took in the distinctly 'off' atmosphere in the station, not to mention the fact that there were a lot of very nasty looking cops with guns, "Ok maybe we could cool down a little before we get in anyone's face," she turned to go and found a plain clothes detective blocking her way.

        "You have a problem?" he demanded.

        Buffy bit back a sharp response when she spotted the man had his gun in his hand, "A little bit of a run with one of your traffic cops but nothing really worth getting worked up about."

        The cop wasn't interested in Buffy's attempt to smooth things over, "Great, another bitch complaining about the way we do things."

        The anger in the man's voice had Dawn preparing to make a move, until she saw he was hardly the only with a drawn weapon. In this crowded place one ricochet could wreak havoc on the innocent bystanders, "We aren't here looking for trouble."

        "Well too damn bad because that's what you found." The cop pressed the muzzle of his gun against Buffy, "Consider yourself under arrest."



        Xander's car pulled up outside the police station and Tara spotted the SUV in the car park. That wasn't what held her attention though, it was the peculiar energy that hung over the police station. It was like a human aura only magnified a thousand fold, and it wasn't a good aura. The energy was the colour of rage and madness.

        Tara stepped out of the car, "I think you should stay here Xander."

        "Are you sure?" Xander was uneasy about just letting Tara wander into this place regardless of how much magic she commanded.

        Tara didn't want to expose him to the miasma hanging over the station, "I think you should stay here, we might need a quick getaway."

        Tara steeled herself as she stepped into the psychic murk. The aura pressed in against her and Tara murmured a warding charm to repel it. In that brief moment she got a glimpse of how intense it's rage was directed against the whole world and right along with it there was an insatiable hunger for everything it felt it had been denied. Such an atmosphere was hardly designed to promote peace and tranquility, "What do you want lady?" The sergeant behind the front desk snapped impatiently.

        Tara let the magic of the ward stretch out to encompass the uniformed officer. For a moment he swayed on his feet as if hw was about to collapse. As he recovered his balance the sergeants expression changed, "Sorry ma'am it's been a little crazy around here today," he looked around, "maybe more than a little."

        "Did a young blonde woman come in here? She would have had a teenage girl with long brown hair with her." Tara asked politely.

        The sergeant nodded, "Came in a few minutes ago," he stopped as he recalled exactly what had happened and turned pale, "I need to go into the cells."

        "I think I should come with you." Tara suggested firmly. The sergeant hesitated and then nodded.

        Dawn was trying to find the right moment to move. There were three policemen with guns behind them and another waiting by the door of an open cell. There was no way Dawn was going to be trapped in there but she couldn't quite see how she was going to get out of it without acquiring some bullet holes.

        "Stop right there!" Everyone in the corridor turned to see an unhappy sergeant approaching, and behind him Tara, "What the hell do you guys think you're doing?"

        "We're doing what needs to be done." The plainclothesman responded.

        Tara had tried to extend the ward further, to encompass the other policemen. Instead it seemed to recoil and go around them. We're going to have to do this the hard way, she explained to Dawn silently.

        Dawn nodded, the three cops escorting her and Buffy were watching the sergeant, only the one by the cell still had her in his line of sight, and he seemed to be paying most of his attention to Buffy. Dawn stepped towards the watching cop, "Look this is all because of my sisters lousy driving, why do I have to suffer?" she whined.

        As Dawn had hoped the other three police were still focused on the sergeant and his gun. The fourth officer was simply amused at Buffy's offended reaction; right until Dawn grabbed his gun arm and twisted it up behind his back. Taken completely by surprise he released the weapon and Dawn propelled him into the cell where he slammed into the wall and slumped to the floor.

        The other three were turning to see what was happening when Tara struck. Lightning leapt between their guns and each responded in the only way they could; by letting them fall to the floor. None of the weapons got there, Tara had reached out and plucked from the air. She concentrated and the guns moved together and squeezed themselves into a ball of metal, "I really hate guns," she explained to the bemused sergeant. The man was a long serving member of Sunnydale PD and so simply accepted one more bit of strangeness to add to all the rest.

        The other three were transfixed on the remains of their firearms. Dawn and Buffy took advantage of that. Even without Slayer strength Buffy's well-aimed kick into the back of the knees of the man nearest her pitched him to the floor.

        Dawn grabbed the other two and slammed them into one another, hard. Tara took the opportunity to wrap threads of magic around each of the rogue policemen, "Sergeant can you watch them? We need to go and find the source of the problem."

        The sergeant nodded and Tara beckoned to Buffy and Dawn. They stepped past the bound policemen and followed her deeper into the police station.

        "I'm guessing your turning up wasn't just a lucky coincidence." Buffy commented.

        "I got prompted, and just as well by the looks of things. Something here is making the cops crazy." Tara replied.

        "I was afraid they had just been in Sunnydale too long." Buffy responded dryly.

        "If that was true you would have gone nuts years ago." Dawn pointed out before adding, "You know maybe it is true."

        Tara could see a tart answer from Buffy was imminent, "Guys could we stop the bad magic first and bicker later?" The sisters fell silent and followed her.

        Tara could feel the aura building in intensity, which told her she was definitely getting closer to the epicenter of the magic. It was a little bit of a surprise as she found it led to the property room, containing as it did nothing living. Tara soon realised that wasn’t wholly true; there was a faint aura clinging to some of the objects, probably imprinted by some hideous trauma they had been involved in. That was definitely the case when Tara finally located the source of the magic; a hunting knife with the remnants of dried blood still visible on it. This close Tara could feel the details of the event, an angry vengeful man and a hapless female victim. The magic had amplified that and imprinted it on everyone in the police station, unraveling their sanity and turning them into little more than a pack of savage animals. Tara didn't dare touch the thing; even the ward she had wrapped around herself might not protect her then. Instead she did the only things she could think of, she focused her energy on the metal blade until it began to glow and melt. As the metal dissolved so did the pattern imprinted upon it and without that to draw upon the magic imploded as well.

        Tara drew a deep breath as the evil miasma dissipated, it was like a physical pressure being lifted from her, “Come on we better get out of here before anyone finds out we've been tampering with evidence.”

4. “Red Alert”

“At this time authorities are unwilling to state exactly why police headquarters has been closed beyond referring to an 'environmental hazard'. Attempts to interview members of Sunnydale PD have been met with a wall of silence…” Dawn turned the TV down as Tara walked into the kitchen.

        "At least we stopped them all turning into homicidal maniacs." Dawn commented.

        Tara yawned and nodded, "And it is the most important thing," anything further was cut off by another yawn.

        "Couldn't sleep?" Dawn asked worriedly, "We could switch rooms."

        Tara shook her head, "No, the problem is the sleeping alone not the bed."

        Dawn thought of offering to share but knew that wasn't quite what Tara meant. At first Tara had resisted the suggestion that she stay at the Summers house until Willow got back but Buffy had pointed out that having the gang scattered around Sunnydale left them vulnerable, and besides did Tara really want to stay in an empty apartment?

        That argument had persuaded Tara and so here she was, back under the Summers roof just like the old days. Well not exactly like the old days, she reminded herself as her hand rubbed her belly.

        Buffy looked almost as bleary as Tara when she walked into the kitchen, and for much the same reasons; too worried about her other half too sleep well. She noticed the way Tara's hand was absently stroking her stomach and smiled, until the thought struck her that it could be her turn some day. Those kind of 'getting a life' thoughts still tended to sneak up on her and she decided to deal with it in her traditional way; changing the topic, “So what do you think the First has planned for today? Burn down the fire station? Unleash a plague at the hospital?”

        Tara had actually spent some of her sleepless hours thinking about the problem of tracking the First's activities, “I think we need to get a look at the big picture, so we need a map of Sunnydale and a visit to the Magic Box.”



        Anya was less than happy to see the gang back in her shop. The last time they had gathered here it had been invaded by the First's minions, and there seemed no reason to suppose it couldn't happen again despite Tara's reassurances that the wards she had set up would give them ample warning. It didn't make her any happier when they cleared the table and spread a map of Sunnydale over it, “You are going to be careful with that aren't you?”

        Anya was pointing at a bowl of dark viscous liquid that Tara had been concocting for the last half hour, “It's just going on the map.” Tara explained, for the third time, “It will cling to it and give us a sympathetic representation of the concentration of evil in Sunnydale.”

        “If it works,” Anya retorted, “ if it doesn't its going to make a total mess of my floor and you know how hard it is to get potion stains out.”

        Tara ignored her and concentrated on stirring the potion, it had to be stirred so many times clockwise and then so many counterclockwise. As was often the case Anya's complaining was threatening to create the disaster she was so worried about. Managing to finish without further interruption Tara took the bowl over to the table and before Anya could utter another word up ended it over the centre of the map. The thick red goo clung in a heap for a few seconds and then started to spread over the surface. Anya held her breath but the potion stopped at the edges of the map and restrained itself to the confines of the representation of Sunnydale. As the gang watched the fluid swirled and rippled. To Tara's slight surprise there were several places where the goo retreated to leave unmarked spots on the map, areas where it didn't want to go. In other places though it seemed to pile up, drawn in by the forces of magic acting in the real Sunnydale.

        Buffy was staring at the bright red mess, “Nice colour.”

        “Actually its normally charcoal grey,” Tara admitted, “I added some food colouring to make it a little easier to see,” she was bending over the map and looking at the area's the potion was avoiding. One was centered over the magic box and several others matched up with the locations of churches. One though was only a few blocks from the Bronze in a bad part of town.

        Before Tara could puzzle that out Dawn pointed to another part of the map, “Ok I understand why there's a lot of badness around the Hellmouth and the police station but what's up with the bus station?”

        Tara walked around the table and examined the spot Dawn was indicating. There was a lurid concentration exactly over Sunnydale bus station as the Slayer had said.

        “Place always had a skanky vibe,” Buffy commented, “but I wouldn't have actually called it evil.”

        Tara nodded, “Maybe not but something is going on there and I guess we had better find out what.”

        “Hey as long as I'm not being held at gunpoint I'm all for it.” Buffy responded; daring anyone to tell her she couldn't come along.



        Sunnydale bus station looked surprisingly normal, perhaps more people taking the buses out of town than normal but Tara knew that could be her imagination. There were passengers, drivers, buses, and luggage; evil was noticeably missing. The looks she was getting from Buffy and Dawn suggested they were building up the nerve to suggest that the spell had gone wrong. Tara knew that was possible in theory but the spell felt right, which was usually a sign that it was working.

        As Tara was thinking about that she was letting her gaze work its way along the row of buses, and stopped. There was a timetable stuck on one wall and Tara peered through the graffiti that was scrawled on the plastic covering the schedule, "Thinking of catching the bus for Vegas?" Dawn wondered.

        "Checking the times for the number thirteen bus downtown." Tara explained.

        Dawn frowned, "I didn't know there was a bus to downtown."

        "According to this there isn't." Tara explained.

        Dawn looked at the bus in question. It appeared perfectly ordinary but that didn't rule out it being evil, "You picking up any vibe from it?"

        Tara had been searching for anything strange but the bus was just a lump of metal and the driver's aura was just as ordinary. That meant there was only one way to solve the mystery, "We better see if Buffy has change."

        There were half a dozen other passengers on the bus as it pulled away from the station. By unspoken agreement Tara and the Summers sisters had scattered themselves around the seats to keep as much of it under watch as possible. Tara was watching the driver; the man's aura remained ordinary but close up there was something a little off about it. The aura was too; 'passive'. There were none of the fluctuations and variations that Tara would have expected to see as the driver dealt with the moment to moment sensory input.

        Tara decided it went far beyond simple boredom, the aura was more like that of someone who was asleep, or hypnotized. Tara shared that insight telepathically with the others who tensed up and made sure they had weapons to hand. It was also clear that unless the bus was taking the scenic route it wasn't going downtown. Instead it was on a back road that ran past the local woods.

        Tara wasn't surprised when the bus pulled over into a lay by, "Sorry folks there's some sort of vibration and I need to check it out." The driver announced fairly unconvincingly.

        There was a certain amount of grumbling as the driver disappeared outside. Tara kept track of him and could sense as he walked away from the back of the bus; she could also sense something in the woods, several somethings in fact. Whatever they were Tara could sense them moving closer but she couldn’t see anything much, just the sense of presence slithering towards the bus, "I think this is our stop," she announced to Dawn and Buffy.

        They followed her to the door, "You really shouldn't get off dear." An elderly woman near the front suggested, "It will just hold things up when the driver gets back."

        "I don't think that's going to be a problem." Tara explained kindly.

        "I can't see anything." Dawn complained as Tara stepped down beside her.

        "They are there, just not very solid." Tara concentrated and the sunlight rippled around them. As it did so a number of lumbering shapes were picked out as lumps of shadow. The way they moved it was if they sagged under their own weight with each step.

        "Now that’s better." Dawn commented approvingly and raced towards the nearest creature. She slammed a long knife into what she guessed was the chest and dragged it down. She was thrown backwards because the demon popped like a balloon as soon as the knife penetrated it.

        Seeing this Buffy joined in and ripped into the next demon, being carefully of the explosion. She was so worried about that she didn't notice when a third creature began to envelope her. It felt as if the demon was trying to flow into the ex-Slayer and for a moment it seemed like she was going to be overwhelmed. The sensation passed when Tara laid hands on the demon and the thing disintegrated. Dawn was also back on her feet and laying into the last two demons. Tara gave her a little help and then focused on Buffy, "Are you ok?"

        "It felt like the thing was trying to yank my brains out." Buffy explained still trying to clear her head.

        "More like your soul, and this probably wasn't the first busload of passengers they did it to." Tara pointed out grimly, she could still sense more of the things lurking in the fringes of the wood, "But we're going to make sure it’s the last." To the astonishment of the other passengers still sat on the bus lightning arced out of the clear sky and into the woods. The sense of wonder quickly faded away when they discovered they were going to have to walk to Sunnydale.



        Giles had come to pick up Tara and the others, not to mention calling a local cab firm to dispatch vehicles for the other passengers. As the girls piled out of his car and walked to the front door of the Summers house Giles couldn't help but notice that Tara looked tired, "How are you doing?"

        "About as well as I can, I'm mostly worrying about how much damage the First is going to do while we're chasing around Sunnydale. It seems to have a lot more manpower than we do."

        Giles couldn't deny that, "The question is what can we do about it?"

        "Well as much as I hate to say it; make it come to us. Get the First to focus all its resources on the Scooby gang."        Tara was right, Giles didn't like it, he also didn't have a better suggestion.

        Indoors Dawn had turned on the TV. Tara was inclined to blank it out until she saw the rather earnest face filling the screen and the street behind him, it was a couple of blocks from the Bronze, the same area that the potion had avoided on the map. Tara turned up the sound, "I realise that some people don't approve of the mission, that they feel it isn't really needed in a ‘nice’ town like Sunnydale but I would just point to the numbers of people I've had coming through my doors the last few days."

        The interviewer off camera seemed determined to be skeptical, “But do you really believe that this is all the product of evil forces?"

        "Are you going to tell me you don't believe in evil?" The man countered, "Regardless of what you believe is the source evil is real and it's on the loose in Sunnydale."

        "Reverend Tyler thank you very much." Now the newsperson sounded very eager to get out of the interview and the TV cut back to an anchor in the studio.

        Tara thought back to the map; the mission was obviously the cause of the blank spot and that had to make it worth a visit, her feet ached in protest at the idea, but not right now.

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

[Sheridan]

5. "Mission"

Tara was being circumspect about approaching the mission, it wasn't unknown for someone in Sunnydale to play at being one of the good guys until they had drawn people in far enough that they couldn't get out. The first thing that Tara noticed was the fact the people who were approaching the mission already seemed to be 'damaged', not so much physically as something distorted or missing in their auras. That was a clear sign of demonic attack but what Tara didn't know was if that was the before or the after.

        There was only one way to find out anything more so Tara had wandered into the building. It was clean and recently painted with a makeshift kitchen at one end and a scattering of tables with visitors sat eating or talking to what Tara guessed were staff members.

        As she looked around Tara spotted Reverend Tyler advancing towards her; there was nothing threatening about the move, simply coming to greet a new arrival. Tara could see nothing unusual in his aura so she simply stood her ground and waited for him, "Hello, you're looking a little lost."

        "Just getting a feel for the place." Tara stated easily.

        "Ah, we have had a few people coming down here since my interview. Some offering help, some simply curious." There was nothing harsh about the way he said it but Tyler clearly wanted to know if she was just a time waster.

        "Well I am curious but it isn't the idle sort," Tara assured him, "I saw the interview and what you had to say about evil, you seemed to be implying that it's a tangible thing, maybe more tangible in Sunnydale than other places."

        Tyler began to scrutinize Tara closely, "I've certainly gathered that impression from some of the people who have turned to the mission for help; some of them have even suggested that there are those who work to oppose that tangible presence."

        Tara was prevented from responding by the sight of a familiar face standing behind the tables holding the food. It was so out of place that it took a moment to really register, "How long has she been here?"

        Tara pointed and Tyler looked over his shoulder, "She volunteered a couple of days ago."

        "Volunteered?" Tara didn't try to keep the incredulity out of her voice, "Amy! Amy Madison!"

        The witch heard her name and looked up; as she did she turned pale and began to look for an exit. If there were a reference book for auras Amy's would be in there under panic. As she began to run Tara gestured and she was rooted to the spot.

        Tara walked over to Amy with Tyler staring at the scene in bewilderment. "I thought you were going to stay out of trouble Amy, that was the deal for bringing you home."

        "I have been." Amy squeaked.

        Tara gave her a cold look, "You want to say that again?"

        Amy knew that Tara could read her like a book and chose to take the fifth. Tara nodded and began to look over Amy, something in her pocket drew Tara's attention and she drew it out with telekinesis before Amy could protest. The small phial drifted into Tara's hand. It was made of clear glass but the contents were jet black. Opening the stopper and sniffing told Tara it wasn't ink; the smell was sharp and unpleasant, with a hint of the metallic tang of blood.

        "What is that?" Tyler's question nearly made Tara drop the bottle.

        "I think Amy can tell us."

        As she spoke Tara thrust the open bottle towards Amy who recoiled as much as she could given her feet were still fixed to the floor, "It wouldn't really have hurt anyone."

        Tyler looked horrified, "Why would you bring something like that here?"

        Tara had an idea of the answer, "Remember that tangible force of evil we were talking about? Amy's probably had coffee with it."

        "And you are acquainted with those who oppose it." It wasn't a question from Tyler.

        "She isn't as nice as she pretends." Amy snapped, "Ask her about her girlfriend."

        Tara looked at Tyler, was he the sort who cared about that sort of thing? She quickly got her answer, "Miss Madison this young ladies social life is her own affair, what concerns me is a person who lied to me and came here to do harm to people who have already suffered enough.”

        Tara decided that she like his response, “Reverend I think we need to talk more but right now I want to get Amy out of here; I need to find out how much damage she's done, and I don't think this little scene is making your other visitors very happy.”

        Tyler looked round to see that a number of people he knew had been through some very bad experiences were looking scared or actually leaving, “Perhaps your right but you will return later?”

        “Absolutely, and I'll make sure that evil force doesn't try anything else in the meantime.” A nice simple warding spell came to mind and it took Tara a moment to realise it wasn't one that she had ever read; LJ apparently was back on the case. Tara was glad of that; she might need some help getting anything useful out of Amy if the spiteful look on the other witches face was anything to go by.



        Amy thought she had been miserable when Tara confronted her at the mission. She now realised that had been just a prelude to true misery. Tara had brought her to the Summers house where she received a less than warm greeting from Buffy and Dawn. She had learned about the transfer of Buffy's powers when Dawn dragged her down to the basement and tied her to a rickety wooden chair. Once she was secured they simply left her while they took the vial to the Magic Box to figure out what was in it. A sharper person would have realised it was a softening up move, intended to unnerve Amy and make her more willing to talk. A sharper person though wouldn't have wound up tied to a chair in the basement in the first place.

        Tara stepped down into the basement and could see how agitated Amy was. With anyone else Tara would have felt guilty about treating them this way but Amy just pushed all the wrong buttons. Practically the first time she had seen Amy the girl had been using magic to manipulate someone's mind, and for an encore nearly got them eaten by a werewolf. Amy had also tried to drive a wedge between her and Willow as part of her efforts to beat off a demon she stolen magic from. The worst thing though was her activities in the parallel universe. Tara couldn't prove it but she was convinced a large part of the alternates Willow's problems had stemmed from having Amy hanging around and encouraging all her worst habits, not to mention the way she had sought to manipulate the alternate Willow's isolation and sexual confusion. Tara's Willow had felt incredibly guilty about the fact that her alternate had been on the road to destroying the parallel universe but Tara wondered how much of the blame for that could be laid at Amy's door.

        “How long are you going to keep me here?” Amy's tone was more plaintive than angry.

        “Until I know how you got involved with the First and what you know about its plans.” Tara explained succinctly.

        “Since I don't know who the First is that could take a while.” Amy responded evenly.

        Tara could tell it was a truthful answer but given Amy's propensity for getting herself into a mess without thinking things through that didn't mean much, “So you just decided to poison everyone at the mission for fun?”

        “It wasn't poison, it was just something to cause trouble at the mission.” Amy insisted.

        Tara gave her a disgusted look, “Right it would just induce hallucinations and paranoia, I mean it’s not like anyone might have gotten stabbed or tried to burn the place down while they were out of their minds.”

        Amy found she couldn't look Tara in the face, “I didn't have any options left, my magic was running out and the woman promised,” Amy came to a halt.

        Tara moved round so she was looking Amy in the eyes, “Tell me about it, all of it.”

        Amy had a lot of bitterness bottled up inside and decided that if Tara wanted 'all of it' she could have it, "When you offered to bring me back from the other universe I came because I was totally screwed there. Once everyone knew what I'd done I figured I was dead meat. That binding spell you put on the other Willow wasn't going to last forever and I was going to be top of her to do list when she got her magic back." Tara thought that was more than a little paranoid, or maybe Amy was just projecting what she would do in the alternate Willow's place.

        Amy could see that part of her explanation wasn't making her life any easier so she hurried on, "Problem was that after I got back things weren't a whole lot better here. There were a whole bunch of people, including my dad, who wanted to know where I'd been for so long. The only way I could get out from under was..."

        "Magic." Tara supplied

        "I had no choice." Amy seemed to be trying to convince herself as much as Tara, "It was the only way I could rebuild any sort of life. It took a lot of power, more than I really had. I had to go to the kind of people who could give me a boost."

        "You went back to the demons?" The last thing they needed was another vengeful demon chasing after Amy.

        Amy shook her head, "No I found a warlock, a guy named Rack who was willing to trade for the magic I needed, until someone took him out."

        Having met the warlock Tara didn't like to imagine what Amy might have had to 'trade' for his dark magic; and she wasn't about to tell Amy who had expunged Rack from this universe, "I guess without those boosters your spells didn't last long."

        Amy's face twisted in disgust, "They all just melted away and there was nothing I could do about it. A couple of days ago I was sat in the coffee shop wondering what I was going to do when this woman walked in and sat down. She seemed to know all about me and she offered to solve all my problems if did what she wanted."

        "What did she look like?" Tara demanded.

        Amy thought about it, "Kind of like you actually but a lot older," she had expected Tara to be offended by that description but Amy was disappointed when Tara simply nodded.

        "You didn't bother with a lot of questions of course; like why or what the consequences would be." Tara guessed.

        Amy wanted to refute it but knew Tara would spot an outright lie, "I didn't have a choice," she reiterated.

        Tara shook her head wearily and then muttered a spell; the ropes fell away from Amy. The woman looked at her suspiciously, "That's it?"

        "Since you obviously don't know anything useful, yes."

        Amy still wasn't convinced, "No warnings? No lecture? No binding spell?"

        “If I bound your powers you would just get yourself in worse trouble trying to undo it. And as for a lecture, well what's the point Amy? You won't listen and you won't believe me, so just get out of here and stay out of our way.”

        Amy couldn't think of anything to say to that so she climbed out of the chair and headed for the stairs. Tara looked at her back and shook her head; there really was nothing more to be said. That was the point at which Tara felt appalled, or rather her sitting tenant felt appalled, just because she screwed up and did dumb things with her power you're just going to turn your back on her?

        Tara was taken aback by the vehemence of the thought and got the impression this was something close to LJ's heart. She wasn't going to just let Amy wander off to oblivion the way she nearly did with…someone else.

        The voice that insinuated itself into Amy's head wasn't Tara's and it carried more than words, it was a fragment of reality, the memory of a small child wondering why her parents were both wearing black, and why they were going to visit someone it was clear they didn't like. It was only years later that she knew what they meant when they said someone had to go, that someone who knew her should be at the ceremony even if they couldn't find anything good to say about her.

        Amy tried to drive the image out of her head, she knew what it was, what the young LJ had witnessed but she couldn't do it, the mind driving the thought into her head was too powerful and by the same token Amy couldn't pretends that what she was seeing was a lie or made up. The dark image was replaced by a more soothing tone, the future isn't carved in stone that image can go away and become just a shadow, part of the 'myriad maybes'. Somewhere out there is someone who'll accept what you did because you matter more to them than your past mistakes. You can either try and find some new super spell to fix things or you can go looking for them, it's up to you.

        The voice left Amy's head and she turned back to look at Tara. Tara saw something she hadn't seen before in Amy's expression before; uncertainty. Amy couldn't find any words to say so she made her way up the stairs. Before Tara could ask LJ any questions her daughters voice piped up again, she just reminded me of someone I care about ok? With that LJ slipped away into the background of Tara's mind again. Tara knew full well that LJ more than simply 'cared about' this someone but wasn't going to pry, after all it was just a matter of time until they met and she had a lot more pressing matters to worry about, liking stopping the First laying waste Sunnydale and ripping the Hellmouth open.

6. "Reinforcements"

The ringing of the phone snapped Tara awake. She just intended to lie down for half an hour or so before planning their next move. From the lack of sunlight coming in through the windows Tara guessed she had rested a little longer than expected, or more accurately a lot longer than she expected. “She shook off the fuzziness of just waking up and answered the phone, “Hallo.”

        There was a brief hesitation at the other end, “Good evening, I realise this is rather awkward but…”

        Tara was about to put the phone down on what she took to be a really bad cold caller when she recognized something in the voice, “Reverend Tyler?”

        “Yes, yes it is. Is that you Miss Maclay?”

        “Tara,” she corrected him absently, no one ever called her Miss Maclay, “reverend how did you get this number?”

        “Well several of the people at the mission knew a surprising amount about you and your friends. I looked in the phone book and when I couldn't get through to you directly I decided to try the Summers house.”

        So much for the secret of the Slayer, Tara thought, maybe Dawn should just put an ad in the yellow pages. She decided it might be best not to mention that idea to Dawn, “I was going to get back in touch Reverend and explain about what happened earlier.”

        “That's not actually why I'm calling. Someone has arrived at the mission and I think perhaps you should talk to them. From what I've been told this may be more your area of expertise than mine.” The reverends tone was hesitant but concerned.

Tara frowned, she had no reason to suppose that Tyler was anything other than what he seemed but still, “I'm not sure I could get over there right now.”

        “There probably wouldn't be much point actually, the person in question has been sedated and probably won't wake up until morning.”

        “That I can do, you won't mind if I bring a couple of friends with me?” Tara suggested casually

        Tyler didn’t seem to mind the idea of Tara turning up with backup, “By all means, I maybe overestimating things but you may well need some support when the situation is explained to you.”



        In the morning it fell to Giles and Buffy to accompany Tara, whether or not she was the slayer Buffy had been insistent that Dawn was not skipping school, and cheerily passed over her own patchy attendance record when her sister tried to bring it up. Without Willow's computer skills Tara hadn't been able to find out much more than she had already seen with her own two eyes about the mission but the fact that the First had wanted it wrecked seemed like reason enough to trust that the place and its leader were on the right side.

        As soon as he spotted them in the doorway Tyler practically ran over to meet them, “I'm very glad you came, after my calling you out of the blue like that I was afraid you might have second thoughts.”

        “I did,” Tara admitted, “but not enough to stop me coming.”

        Tyler nodded and looked past her, Giles took this as his cue, “I'm Rupert Giles.”

        “”Buffy Summers.”

        “Ah yes I've heard of you Miss Summers.” Tyler commented.

        “Actually I'm sort of retired now,” she saw the reverend's puzzled look, “long story, and I hear you have one of your own to tell.”

        “Not my story,” Tyler corrected her, “definitely a dark and complex tale however. I'll take you to meet Virginia.”

        In a previous incarnation the upper floor of the mission had been a series of offices rented out to small firms. Declining business fortunes and a rise in the local density of demons had led to the building being abandoned and practically given away as a tax right off when the mission came looking for premises. The offices now had been converted in to basic but clean accommodation for those who needed more than just a bowl of soup and an encouraging word.

        The girl in the room Tyler led them to didn't seem to notice that she had visitors until the reverend placed a hand on her shoulder. Virginia looked up and saw Tara and the others standing in the doorway, "Do you remember me?"

        Virginia had fixed her gaze on Tara who found she did vaguely recall the girl, "You were part of the coven at the university." Tara looked at Tyler half expecting him to recoil in shock but the man remained focused on comforting Virginia.

        "I still am a member, or I am if there still is a coven." Virginia still didn't appear entirely focused on the here and now, "There was something in the walls, we tried to exorcise it and it came for us."

        Tara was looking at Virginia's aura and saw that there were voids in it, places where the normal flow of energy was gone and nothing was replacing it, as if the energy disappeared somewhere faster than it could be replenished, "What happened to the others Virginia?"

        "They're not there anymore, just empty shells trapped in the web." Virginia explained without a flicker of emotion.

        “Something attacked them?” Buffy tried to get something more specific out of the girl but the Virginia just ignored her, apparently only really registering the presence of Tara and Tyler. Tara suspected any further interrogation was a lost cause; there were too many broken and missing pieces in Virginia. It was something of a miracle that she could speak at all.

        Tyler cut off any further questions, "Try to get some rest Virginia," he gestured for the others to step outside, "Anywhere else I might have simply assumed that the girl had taken drugs. Here in Sunnydale I suspected that 'tangible evil' we were talking about might be involved, especially as I've seen an upsurge in college students coming through here in the last few days and frankly the behaviour and symptoms doesn’t seem to match up with any of the usual ‘recreational pharmaceuticals. Virginia however is the only one to be able to offer anything like a coherent explanation of what happened to her.”

        Remembering the map and the potion Tara recalled the campus had been deep red, just a hairs breadth behind the bus station, "I think you're right, and we need to get over to the university as quickly as we can."

        "I understand that," Tyler conceded, "but I would like to know more about what is actually going on here."

        Giles got in first with an answer, "Then perhaps you could come with us, I'll be more than happy to explain the history of Sunnydale, probably in more detail than you'll be entirely comfortable with."

        The reverend considered that for a moment, "Ignorance may be bliss but who needs to be that happy?" Tyler responded and fell in beside Giles as they walked to the stairs.



        The drive to the campus was not the most pleasant journey Tyler had ever undertaken. The driving was fine, some of the scenery was pleasant, it was the conversation that made it such an appalling trip, "I understand about the Hellmouth, and how Sunnydale came to be built on it. I can certainly believe that there is a force of evil that wants to unleash an apocalypse upon the earth. The only thing that I'm not clear on is why at this exact moment? I mean this creature could have struck at any moment in these last few years."

        Giles glanced over his shoulder at Tara, "That would be because Willow and me upset the balance," she explained, "when LJ was conceived it upset the balance between the powers that have lined themselves up with good and evil. That meant the bad guys got a free turn."

        "You make it sound like a game." Tyler commented unhappily.

        "Some of those powers seem to treat it that way." Tara responded. Tyler nodded; he had experience of people who were supposed to be focused on spreading the word of god but seemed more interested in their own power games, why should these unearthly powers behave any better?

        Tara hadn't been on the campus for a few days; pregnancy had been accepted as a solid reason for cutting back on her class load so she didn't have lectures every day. Willow of course had missed quite a few classes but Tara was of the opinion her other half could probably take the next couple of years off and still get her degree.

        Seeing the state of things Tara wished she had checked in a little more often, the atmosphere was pretty unpleasant. Tara hadn't even known the campus had so many security guards and she had uneasy flashbacks to the police station but the overriding emotion here was fear, amongst the students and the campus cops alike. Everyone was walking around looking over their shoulders, as if expecting something to leap from the shadows, which was a possibility, Tara felt distinctly vulnerable as she walked along and from the posture of the others they clearly felt the same way.

        The only problem was that Tara couldn't immediately see why. It was broad daylight and even though most demons didn't have a vampire's rather spectacular reaction to sunlight they mostly preferred the cover of darkness. On the other hand there was no strong sense of magical energies being thrown around and given that whatever was going on seemed to be spreading across the whole of the campus it would have been impossible to hide it, in fact a concealment glamour would have drawn her attention. There was just a chance that the atmosphere was the product of non supernatural means but the way Buffy, Giles, and Tyler were jittering made her think not; she knew Buffy and Giles too well and Reverend Tyler didn't strike her as the sort to be easily spooked, Maybe I'm just not looking in the right place. There was a way to look in a different place but Tara was reluctant to try it, it was right up there with teleportation on her list of things not to try while pregnant, you don't want to go there, you just need to take a look, an internal voice assured her and Tara found herself thinking about another of those odd looking spells LJ seemed so fond of. Tara began to recite the syllables softly, before trying very hard not to scream and run for the nearest exit.

        From Buffy's perspective Tara just started chanting something and then her eyes became blurry, as if in an out of focus photograph. When the witch developed a look of pure panic Buffy went over to her, “Tara, what's the matter?” Tara grabbed her arm and Buffy found herself looking through the witches eyes.

        As Tara had suspected the thing she was looking for was slightly out of phase with the rest of the world. What she had envisioned though was individual demons stalking the residents of UC Sunnydale; instead a great writhing tree confronted her. This tree was bare of leaves and its branches spread and divided as it reached out across the campus. What made it horrific was the fact that at the end of each of those dividing branches was a fine 'twig' plunged into a human being. The branches crossed, twisted and stretched as the people moved around but never broke their connection, and Tara could see branches reaching out to her and her companions.

        The branches flowed into a hub that was woven into the fabric of a campus building, the very one where the coven had used to meet, the one where they had been consumed and hollowed out. It wasn't just Tara who was appalled, something about the thing touched off a violent reaction with her daughter as well, a terrible shining place filled with things that had also wanted into her mind, Serpents, LJ truly deeply hated the Serpents. One of the branches was slithering towards Tara and neither of the Maclays was having any part of it.

        Giles could see the death grip Tara had on Buffy's arm and knew that both young women were seeing something not quite in this world. Looking at their expressions he was for once grateful to be kept in the dark. Tyler interrupted his thoughts, "Can't we do something to help?"

        "I'm afraid Reverend that the answer to that question is invariably no." Giles looked towards the building Tara and Buffy were staring at, just as it flickered.

        "Did that building disappear for a second?" Tyler asked; a question rendered redundant when it flickered again and students and faculty members came streaming out.

        From Tara's perspective the building was folding in on itself and pulling the branches in with it. They scrabbled and stretched as they tried to keep their hold on their victims but the next pulses snapped them and the whole mass collapsed into a point and vanished.

        Giles and Tyler had been joined by dozens of students and security guards who could only watch dumb founded as the building folded in on itself and finally disappeared with a thunderclap as air rushed into the vacated space.

        Tara released her grip on Buffy and her vision returned to normal. all around them people were stumbling and slumping down as the grip of the thing was released. Tara looked from the people to the empty space the building had occupied. Tara was far from happy. They had beat back the bad guys again but, a few more 'victories' like this and there won't be anything left of Sunnydale.



        A few more victories like that and the damned witch will ruin me. The First thought bitterly. The demons at the Hellmouth had been expendable but the amulet was a rare and puissant thing, the lurkers and the soul web were both exotic species. All were irreplaceable and all were gone. What upset the First wasn't so much that Tara had been able to stop any single one of the entity's schemes but all of them? That should have been beyond any mortal. The First stroked the back of its now solid hands, that spell should have been impossible as well, a mere mirage to draw unwitting humans to their destruction.

        The feeling of flesh was seductive but the emotions that went with it the creature didn't enjoy. There was a sense of barely contained panic that it was doing its best to push down. What was clear was that it had to rely less on magic and more on the direct approach, and above all it had to get the witch, wherever she went, and whatever the cost.



        Reverend Tyler had been dropped back at the mission in a state of shock. Tara didn't know what the man would think of them when he shook it off but she had to wonder if he would still believe in them as the good guys. She was still brooding on that when they walked through the front door of the Summers house to hear animated conversation from the living room, “I can't believe Dawn invited her friends over now.” Buffy muttered unhappily and strode into the living room, to be confronted by the sight of Wesley Wyndham Price and Cordelia Chase sat on her sofa.

        Tara walked in behind her and was just as baffled but before anyone could ask the obvious question a voice spoke up from beside them, “Hey Buffy.”

        All other conversation stopped and everyone turned to look at Buffy and Angel, who in turn simply looked at each other.

        When the silence became excruciating Tara decided to break it, “What brings you guys here?”

        That snapped Angel out of his trance, “Willow actually.”

        “Is she here?” Tara couldn't help asking even though she knew that if Willow was here they would be wrapped around one another by now.

        Angel shook his head, “She stopped by LA for some information and when I offered to help she suggested we could do the most good here in Sunnydale.”

        And she didn't tell me because she didn't want to answer awkward questions about how things are going in Las Vegas, of course I haven't told her everything that's going on here, Tara admitted to herself.

“Well I am glad to see you all.” Buffy commented, sounding like she had only just made up her mind about it, “Cause I think we're going to need all the help we can get.” That was a sentiment Tara could definitely get behind.

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

[Sheridan]

7. "Focus"

Tara checked through the supply of linen in the closet; luckily they had received more than their fair share as wedding gifts, which suggested of course that their friends expected them to spend a disproportionate amount of time in bed. She walked back into the living room to find Cordelia examining the decor, "Now you see this is the colour I think would work for the hotel."

        Angel looked pained, "Cordy I think we have higher priorities than decorating."

        Cordelia conceded the point, barely, "Yeah but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be on the list somewhere."

        Angel decided to get out of a losing fight by going to Tara, "Let me help you with those.”

        Tara was going to point out that she could carry a bunch of blankets without much any great stress but decided to let him make the gesture, "Thanks."

        Cordelia was looking at Tara and the small but definite bulge in her belly. Wesley had explained what he had learned from his old buddies in the Watchers, and she wasn't sure she believed all of it, or all of what she had heard about what had happened in Sunnydale, "Did you really nuke one of the campus buildings?"

        Tara nodded, "I'm afraid she freaked out a little," she placed her hand on her stomach to make it clear whom she was talking about.       

        "So you actually talk to her?" Cordelia asked cautiously.

        "Not her in the here and now, her somewhere in the future." Tara had experienced enough of the convolutions of time travel and alternate realities to take it in her stride; Cordelia still looked dubious, despite her experience with the visions.

        "How is Buffy doing?" Angel did his best to make the enquiry sound casual.

        "Still trying to adjust to not being the Slayer. She and Elias seem to be getting along, he's being a pain in the butt at the moment but he's usually a pretty decent guy." Tara made her tone equally light, though she hoped she had reassured him; however hard it had been his leaving had been the best thing for both of them.

        There was a knock at the front door and Tara answered it to find a figure wearing a fedora hat standing in the darkness, "Hey doll room for one more?"

        "I think we can manage." Tara assured Lorne with a smile as she led him in. The demon took off the hat; it was a thin disguise but good enough, especially in Sunnydale where people worked hard not to notice demons.

        "What did you find out?" Tara asked.

        "That demons in Sunnydale can't carry a tune." Lorne replied flippantly.

        "Which means you got them to sing," Cordy pointed out, "so spill."

        Lorne grimaced, "There's a seriously bad vibe around town. The First has its fingers in a lot of pies but right now it seems to be having a hissy fit about some religious guy, guess he must have pissed her off because the demons I got the info from say its going to steamroller right over the top of the place." Lorne let that sink in before he added, “It also seems that the First isn’t exactly a fan of some blonde witch who keeps ruining its plans.”

        Tara nodded, it was no big surprise but it did crystallize some houghts she had been having.

       

        The mission was relatively quiet now; most of the drop ins and volunteers had gone home. That let Tyler sit down and finish the last of the coffee. It was bitter and long past its best but it was still drinkable, "Hope you don't mind some company." Tara asked from the doorway, meaning her company.

        "I must confess to having some very mixed emotions about what happened today but come and take a seat."

        Tara sat down opposite him, "I know that was hardly a gentle introduction to the war that's going on here."

        "But it is war, and in war there are casualties?"

        "Buildings yes, people? Not if I can help it. The other side isn't nearly so concerned." Tara pointed out.

        "I know, and I know you are fighting for a righteous cause." Tyler admitted.

        "I'm glad you feel that way, because I think you're about to be drafted into the fight. Tara relayed exactly what Lorne had dug up; without getting into who, or what, Lorne was.

        "So you the First is coming after the mission, what exactly have we done to warrant so much attention?" Tyler seemed genuinely bemused.

        Tara had been considering that question herself since she had found out about the First's determination to destroy the place, and finally found something that made sense to her, "Because this place could become a rallying point for the people, somewhere hopeful for them to turn when things get bad, and they will get worse until Willow gets back with the means to stop the First."

        Tyler looked embarrassed, "I think you may be overstating our importance, we've just tried to reach out to a few people who need help."

        Tara shook her head, "Reverend that makes you pretty much unique in this town."

        "Not wholly unique." Tyler responded looking significantly at Tara.

        Now it was Tara's turn to be embarrassed, "Maybe separately we are insignificant but if my friends come here then we can pretty much guarantee getting the First's full attention."

        "A lightning rod for the storm," Tyler observed, "not the happiest prospect. Still a lightning rod performs a useful service. Very well Miss Maclay, bring your friends here."

        "Tara, I think at this point we're on a first name basis so call me Tara."

        "In which case you could call me Thadeus."

        "Though you would be a lot less embarrassed if I just stuck with Tyler right?" Tara guessed.

        Tyler smiled, "If you wouldn't mind, now while you organize your friends I'll see if I can rally my colleagues and visitors to help."

        There was no practical reason but Tara couldn't help feeling more cheerful, maybe it was just the prospect of gaining the upper hand over the First, or maybe it was that this just felt like the right thing to do.

       

        Deciding to walk back to the apartment had seemed like a good idea, she felt the need for a little space and a chance to work out a few details of the plan, alright all the details.

        After about fifteen minutes of walking it seemed less like a good idea. Her feet were beginning to hurt and the road home seemed to be getting longer. Given how grumpy she was beginning to feel it was hardly surprising when she spotted a familiar figure standing waiting for her, "Go away," she commanded the First curtly.

        "You aren't even going to try and capture me?" The First caught the exact tone of disappointment Ellie Maclay had used when her daughter failed to tidy her room to the required degree.

        Tara halted and waved an arm through the place where the First was standing, her arm passed right through the creature, "Astral projection, and not even a good one."

        The First shrugged, "It gets the job done," it fell in besides Tara as she walked, "I thought I should give you the chance to talk to me, ask me some questions."

        "I don't have anything to talk to you about, unless you want share the best way to destroy you?" Tara suggested.

        The First shook its head, "I wasn't thinking along those lines, I was thinking of all those things you must have wanted to ask your mom." It tapped a finger against its forehead, "I have the sum of who your mother was right here."

        Tara came to a halt, "That isn't true."

        "I can remember everything, that night in the field, the Fire, the demon. Haven't you always wanted to know what was going through mom's head that night?

        Tara couldn't make the word 'no' come out. She had always wondered about that night, in the years before she met Willow it had practically haunted her. She finally managed to frame a response, "Even if you did you would just lie; say things to hurt me."

        The First took the chance to stick the knife in, "You really think I would have to lie to hurt you?"

        All the magic the first had tried didn't come close to the pain that comment caused. Oh please, the thought welled up inside her, are you really going to fall for that? That's the kind of crap, granddad used to come out with.

        Tara didn't appreciate her daughter's bad language but the point was a good one; it was exactly the sort of guilt trip her father had been so fond of and she had long since rejected them. Tara certainly wasn't going to take it from the First, "Whatever you might think you have from my mom you've twisted it like everything else you've ever touched.”

        As Tara turned away the First called after her, "Believe what you like but I have the last of your mother inside me. If you get rid of me then you're throwing that away, just remember that."

        Tara didn't slow down or look back; she just balled her fists and kept walking. The First was just desperate and lying, that was all there was too it; Tara wasn't going to consider any other possibility.

8. "Stability"

Tara looked worriedly in the back of the pickup truck Xander had arrived in, "Are you sure its ok to use all of this?"

        "The job it was going to be used on wound up cancelled, besides they've lost a lot more than this on every job I've worked on." Xander reassured her, and then realised how that sounded, "Not that I took any of it."

        Tara just smiled and looked over the materials; planks of wood, a bucket of very large nails, cement, and some thin steel bars. Everything you needed for home security, Sunnydale style.

        As the truck pulled up outside the mission Tara was surprised at the number of people who were there, perhaps Reverend Tyler just hadn't told everybody about what was going on?

        "Oh I certainly told them," Tyler reassured her, "it seems a lot of people wish to 'face their demons' in the most literal way.”

        That didn't make really make Tara feel any better; it just meant there were even more people to feel responsible for. Still there was no guarantee they would be any safer on the streets of Sunnydale, at least here they wouldn't have to worry about the demons lurking in every back alley, “Somebody want to give me a hand here?” Xander asked plaintively, having grossly underestimated the weight of a bag of cement. Several mission residents moved to help and the supplies rapidly disappeared into the mission, “I have to confess Tara those weren't quite the sort of materials I was expecting you to bring.” Tyler commented.”

        “Oh I'll bring the other stuff along later but sometimes the best way to deal with the bad guys is just to have something sharp and heavy handy.”

        Tyler nodded, “I'll keep that in mind, though I have taken the precaution of laying in a few supplies of my own,” he gestured for Tara to lead the way into the mission.

        The selection of Crucifixes that Tyler had gathered would be enough to give any vampire nightmares and there were a number of large water cooler type bottles set on the floor next to them, “I spoke to some of the church leaders in town, they were more than happy to bless the water and provide some additional symbols. I tired to be as ecumenical as possible.”

        Now Tara noticed a Star of David amongst the other paraphernalia, and a number of other non-Christian items. She had often wondered why Christian iconology played such a large role in demon fighting and whether it was strictly a cultural bias but that wasn't the topic she decided to ask Tyler about, “Why didn't you bless the holy water yourself?”

        Tyler looked embarrassed, “Because I parted company with the church that ordained me some time ago. I wasn't sure if my blessing would have any force.”

        Since it was obviously a sensitive subject Tara decided to let it go for the time being, “Well combining all of these elements together I would say we'll make the First sorry it ever heard of your mission.”



        The bar was the sort of place that made the Bronze look like it should have a Michelin star by comparison. Even Willy's Place looked cozy next to it, and Willy's decidedly non-human clientele would have been an improvement over these alleged human beings. The all male denizens of the bar turned round when they saw a woman walk in. Several of the more inebriated patrons kept their attention on her, at least until she turned towards them and fixed them with a smile. There was something in that smile that spoke of death, not the quick clean kind but the kind with lots of blood and screaming.

        The First took some small pleasure in that reaction; even locked into this fleshly form its true self still came through. The First realized that the human component seemed just as content that it had repulsed the male attention, which set the first skimming through the memories of Ellie Maclay once more. To the First's way of thinking the woman epitomized the failings of humanity in general. Ellie had possessed a measure of real magical power, and allowed herself to be cowed into believing it made her 'wrong' and dangerous. She had been too afraid too leave a marriage that was clearly a mistake, and had only gotten into it in the first place because she was too afraid to face up to her friends and family about what she really wanted, perhaps I should have told the younger Maclay about that? Would it have unsettled her to know how much she and her mother shared?

        Thinking of Tara shifted the First's attention back to why it was in this dive to begin with. The man she was looking for was sat at a table with a row of empty beer bottle lined up in front of him. He had a morose companion sat opposite but another dose of the First's smile persuaded that one to leave and it took up the vacated chair in front of its prey. The man looked up for a moment, “I don't know you,” he slurred before turning his attention back to the bottle he was still working on.

        The First kept it's face placid, detritus, she thought, [/i]for every one like Maclay or Rosenberg who try to make use of their meager gifts there are a hundred like this, occupying space that could be more productively used by a higher life form[/i]. "I know you though." The First kept its voice neutral,

        "You don't know me." The man muttered blearily.

        "Oh I do," the First insisted, "I know you drive a broken down truck now but once you were a man with skills, who served his country well only to be abandoned."

        The First's words transfixed the man, her voice was almost hypnotic now, "All those things you could have done but they blocked you at every turn. Deniability, national security; all the excuses they used to justify cheating you, practically denying that you ever existed. You have every right to avenge yourself."

        Getting even had exercised the man on more than one occasion but the how had never crystallized, or perhaps his instinct for self-preservation had gotten in the way. As the First spoke all hesitation melted away, the man knew precisely what he had to do.



        Spike was hiding in his crypt; he tried not to think of it as hiding but since the unfortunate incident at the mall he had decided the best way to remain in one piece was to stay out of sight; and since the gang were every bloody where that meant spending quality time at home. That of course was no guarantee of privacy and there was something inevitable about the way the crypt door flew open and slammed against the wall with enough force to knock a precariously balanced bottle from the top of the tomb.

        "Hello Spike." The woman offered as she walked into the crypt.

        Spike had dived for the shadowy part of the crypt and stared at the intruder, there was something familiar about the face, especially that odd little smile, but he was equally sure he had never met this person before.

        The First cut off the obvious question, "You do know who I am."

        The tone of voice made the demon in Spike want to stand up and salute. Spike being Spike of course he stayed where he was, "Yeah, you’re the one responsible for nearly getting my head taken off by the Slayer."

        The First strolled into the crypt and waved away the accusation, "I just created an opening for you, I'm hardly to blame for your failure to see it through."

        "It was just a bleedin' trick, you put her under a spell." Spike couldn't hold back his bitterness.

        "That spell just removed inhibitions, everything else was strictly you two."

        Spike had a succinct response to that claim, "Bollocks."

        The First waved a hand and Spike was thrown against a stone wall; now he knew who the First reminded him of, so he shut up and let it talk, "Before I achieved my current state I got inside the Slayer's head. I know her little secrets, even the ones she doesn't know herself. Why do you think she chose Angel or the soldier boy? Because their so sweet and nice?" The First shook its head and Spike found himself increasingly unable to pull his attention away, "They both have a dark side, and that is what she craves even though she won't admit it to herself. Take away her little moral objections and, well, you saw the effect."

        The First paused and looked at Spike, he was completely focused on it now, "Did you know Angel was back in town? Of course I'm sure they'll behave themselves, Buffy wouldn't just go running back into his arms now would she? Just because he’s the great love of her life, and such a noble champion of good? No surely not." Spike slammed his hands down on the lid of the tomb and vamped out. The First walked back out, leaving Spike to stew in his own juices.



        Tyler was looking for Tara and spotted her sat on a chair with her eyes closed and a broad smile on her face. Tyler hesitated to disturb her, "She's making a long distance call." Xander explained as he walked behind the Reverend.

        "I beg your pardon?"

        "She's talking to Willow in Vegas, if they could teach that trick to everyone AT&T would go bust." Xander stopped when it occurred to him that talking about Tara's girlfriend to the reverend might not be such a hot idea. Tyler remained impassive and Xander hustled away.

        Tyler waited for Tara to finish before he sat down next to her, "Willow?"

        Tara nodded, "She's making good progress, she should be home soon," she was fiddling with her wedding ring as she spoke and she looked appraisingly at Tyler, "She gave this to me when we got married in Hawaii a few months ago."

        "Nice band, your engagement ring is unusual." Tyler commented.

        "And that's all that concerns you?" Tara had to know if this was going to be a big thing with her new ally.

        Tyler smiled, "You were doubtless curious about why I was no longer with my church? I had a member of my congregation, a man who was always first to volunteer for charity drives or soup kitchens. Always willing to give his time and money. After some years he finally chose to come out. My superiors heard about this, anonymously naturally, and insisted the man be expelled from the congregation. When I suggested this was an idiotic move I was informed that I could do it or leave my post." Tyler gestured around him, "So here I am. How is Willow really doing?"

        "She's found what she went looking for but she's pretty frazzled, and not sleeping well." Tara admitted.

        "She's not the only one, I think you've done enough here for one day." Tyler suggested gently.

        "But what if the first and its cronies turn up?"

        "Well I'm not an expert but tomorrow being the new moon wouldn't that have some significance for them?" Tyler asked uncertainly.

        Tara nodded, "Actually it might."

        "So we probably have a days grace, meaning you can go home and rest." Tyler stated firmly.

        Tara nodded, she should rest now, tomorrow's going to be a busy day.

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

[Sheridan]

9. "Diversions"

It amazed Tara that she had slept through the chaos that was threatening to overwhelm her home. Cordelia and Lorne were in the kitchen trying to turn the contents of her fridge into something resembling breakfast. Angel was nowhere to be seen; then again the sunlight streaming through the window explained that. Wesley and Giles were on sat on the sofa and apparently trying to discuss the Watcher's board of enquiry whilst Gunn supplied a sarcastic running commentary.

        Tara was about to cut through the noise to try and bring order when she ground to a halt in the doorway. Panic. Isolation. Running with nowhere to go and no time to get there. Tara turned and ran back to the bedroom. Cordelia noticed the departure, "You never catching me like that."

        "What?" Lorne asked.

        "Pregnant, morning sickness, no thanks." Cordelia asserted.

        Lorne looked at her askance, "You talk like it was some sort of big evil, it's the circle of life hon."

        "Great philosophy courtesy of the Lion King." Cordelia muttered.

        Further conversation was cut off as Tara reappeared fully dressed and shrugging on a jacket, "I have to go."

        Giles stood up, "Where? Should we come with you?"

        "No you should stay and get ready, I'll be back before sunset." Tara rushed the words out and before anyone could reply uttered some clipped syllables and made a pass through the air. Quite without warning the middle of the living room opened onto a busy street. Tara walked through and the fold closed up behind her.

        Wesley stared at the spot where Tara disappeared, "I've never even heard of that spell before."

        "I don't think it's been created yet." Giles observed.

        Wesley didn't think much of that as an explanation. He decided he probably wasn't going to get a better one so he changed tack, "Where was that place?"

        That Giles could answer with some assurance, "Las Vegas, I can't imagine anything that would prompt that spell to be available except if Willow were in dire trouble." Which means Elias is in trouble as well, or he is the trouble. Either way it meant Giles was going to have to make a visit he wasn't looking forward to.



        "She just upped and left?" Buffy demanded.

        "She was in a hurry, and rather distracted." Giles pointed out.

        "And she didn't say what the problem was? Or how Elias was?" Buffy finally got to the heart of it.

        Giles wanted to be reassuring but he wasn't sure he could carry it off. If anything were seriously threatening Willow then Elias would be in extreme jeopardy, particularly if he was the one doing the threatening. There was one thing he could offer, "Whatever the situation is I'm sure the two of them, indeed the three of them, will be able to sort things out."

        Buffy knew Giles wasn't including Elias in that count, "He shouldn't have gone along. I should have convinced him that he didn't need to go."

        "I'm sure you did your best."

        "No I didn't." Buffy contradicted Giles miserably, “I should have told him he didn't need to worry about Willow and Tara's magic; that they would work this out.”

        Giles knew he had to tread carefully here, he didn't want on increase the emotional burden on Buffy any further, still he felt he had to ask; “So why didn't you?”

        Buffy also hesitated, “maybe because I was afraid he was right; not that Willow or Tara would do anything bad but that it's all gotten beyond our control, beyond my control. Remember when we both first came to Sunnydale? How things were? The last couple of years I've started to feel obsolete, like it was time for a brand new model of Chosen one to be introduced; and I don't just mean passing the power along to someone else."

        Giles did understand; he had been shown some personal papers belonging to Quentin Travers. Since they pertained to Travers scheme regarding LJ he had decided not to share them; the Watchers HQ only had a limited maintenance budget. Quentin had dug up a remark from some ancient journal; 'The Slayer is the sword in the hand of the Council.' It was the sort of cold-blooded nonsense that would appeal to Travers's. When the man had learned of LJ Quentin had added his own annotation, 'If the Slayer has been the sword then with this we enter upon the nuclear age.' This being the newly conceived Lydia Joyce. From the way Buffy was staring Giles realised he had been contemplating rather longer than he intended, "I have thought along those same lines," he admitted, "but even if it were true I don't think that day has arrived quite yet. Right now we have a part to play and the power to shape our own future."

        "Even if it's all laid out in prophecy and visions?"

        Giles nodded, "If anything those prophecies and visions prove the future is not a single road. You, Willow, and Tara have shown there are always alternatives; those glimpses of the future are just road signs pointing out the forks and junctions." Realizing he was sliding into sounding like a philosophy textbook Giles stopped.

        Buffy though seemed to take the words to heart, "I guess I just wanted to carry on like the good old days were going to last forever. So I guess I can choose to live in the past or I can choose to deal and go forward." Buffy thought about that for a moment, "I think I have to go talk to someone else."



        Shortly after Buffy arrived at Willow and Tara's apartment everyone else found other places to be; with one exception. Angel stood nervously in the living room. He had been expecting some sort of; reunion? Confrontation? He wasn't quite sure which way this was going to turn out, hence the apprehension.

        "Cordy wants to copy Willow and Tara's colour scheme. Still a little hard to believe; Willow going for the whole home and family scene." Angel knew he was rambling.

        "Elias hasn't moved in," the words practically exploded out of Buffy, "at least not yet."

        "But he's going to." Angel extrapolated.

        "Pretty much." Buffy was trying to read the expression on Angel's face but it remained as difficult as it ever had been, "I'm not saying this to be hurtful," she slumped into a chair, "I'm making a mess of this. When you decided you had to leave I thought it was crazy; you were going on about all these things I might want to do with my future and none of it made sense. I loved you and all that stuff about family, career, and a life seemed plain stupid. We should just seize the moment. I even thought after you went that maybe you didn't really love me."

        Angel tried to interrupt, "Buffy..."

        She held up a hand, "Now I know better, I know you did what you did because you loved me. I just wanted you to know how much that means, that I'll always..."

        This time it was Angel who stopped her, "I just want to know you're happy, anything else, probably better left alone."

        Buffy nodded gratefully and then rose and gave Angel a hug; the kind of hug that would have had Elias searching for a stake. Though he might have restrained himself when he realised that this was a goodbye, to a love that both of them now knew was just a memory.

        It was a touching moment, almost entirely spoiled when something large wrapped in a blanket came crashing in from the kitchen.

        Buffy and Angel sprang apart and a certain irrational guilt kept them rooted to the spot just long enough for Spike to throw off the blanket and toss it over Angel and slam a fist into his stomach. Angel stumbled back and tripped over the low table Willow and Tara had set in the middle of the room. He sprawled across it, snapping two of the legs under the impact.

        Concerned about Angel Buffy took her attention away from Spike until he grabbed hold of her and pinned her against one of the walls, pressing very close to her as he did so, knocking a picture off the wall in the process, "Bloody faithless bitch," he muttered, "likes to play at being to good little girl but we know what she really likes don't we?"

        Buffy could feel a hand moving in a direction that would have gotten it snapped off, if she still had her Slayer strength, without it this could be, awkward. She looked towards Angel, he was still lying on the floor, this was going to get very, very awkward, "Spike this is stupid, you can't, just stop that hand right now!" her attempt to sound reasonable went up in smoke as Spike’s free hand began to slide up her inner thigh.

        Buffy's shout had drowned out the sound of a key in the front door. Nothing would have drowned out the yell as the door opened, "Who broke my coffee table!"

        Tara stormed into the centre of the room; she saw Spike and Buffy's position and made a quick gesture. Spike was yanked away and left drifting in mid air, "Do you have any idea how much time we spent choosing that? Should it be glass and metal or wood? Circular or square? And you just walk in and break it?"

        Buffy had gone over to pull the blanket off of Angel and check his condition. That turned out be dazed but otherwise unharmed. Still trying to regain her composure after being, 'frisked' by Spike she turned her attention to a burning question, "How did he get in here? Actually forget that how come he was able to lay his hands on me without his head exploding?"

        Tara had been so irate about the vandalism that she hadn't even thought about that, or checked to see if Buffy and Angel were ok, "I know I didn't invite him, and I'm certain Willow didn't."

        Angel had recovered sufficiently to add his opinion, "No one else has the right to invite him in."

        Tara lowered Spike several inches and gave him a thorough once over. There was definitely some sort of spell hanging around Spike and going through a short list of magic users in Sunnydale who might have done this she quickly settled on one, "Twice Spike, twice you've let the First get inside your head, and twice you've nearly gotten yourself dusted to provide it with nuisance value."

        The weary tone and head shaking that accompanied it began to sink in with Spike. The sensation that flowed through him was akin to a hangover; with a big dose of embarrassment ladled on top, "It just came into the crypt started talking to me."

        Tara stuck up a hand, "I don't need to know."

        Buffy was staring at the still hanging Spike; "Maybe we should do something before it decides third time is a charm."

        Spike looked alarmed at this suggestion, Buffy looked very pissed off. Tara's expression had become inscrutable, "I agree we need to do something." Now Spike looked panicky, "I think we need every hand we can get at the mission tonight, and I'm sure Spike will be thrilled to be on the frontline, right Spike?"

        Spike found himself shaking; not from fear, Tara was doing something with the magic that was levitating him, "Of course, always looking for a chance to fight the good fight."

        Tara smiled and nodded, she wasn't crazy enough to actually trust Spike but she suspected that given a choice between facing the First's minions and facing her, Dawn and Buffy Spike would make the smart choice, and if he doesn't there's always a firebolt.



        Night was settling over the mission and Tyler was getting restless until he saw the car pulling up and Tara and her friends pouring out. He was quite sure there were a lot more of them than there had been earlier but that was all to the good. The man with the bleached blond hair hesitated on the doorstep as he saw the crucifixes scattered around the walls, "Maybe I should stay outside," he offered in an English accent Tyler couldn’t place.

        Tara appeared to consider that for a moment, "Ok but don't go to far away."

        Spike nodded, he knew that there was nowhere he could go where Tara wouldn't find him, he was in the fight to the finish.

        “I’ll keep an eye on him.” Angel offered, no more enthusiastic about entering than Spike was. Tara nodded and Angel went to catch up with Spike.       

As Spike walked away into shadows Tyler stared after him, "What a brave soul, to go out into the night all alone like that." he was distinctly surprised at the peals of laughter that comment produced.



        The largest of Sunnydale’s graveyards was almost overflowing. The First was stood on top of a large tomb looking over the crowd of demons. Not enough. The thought rose unbidden in the First's mind and the creature forcefully drove it away. Only now was it clear what sort of swath the Slayer and the witches had cut through the supernatural denizens of Sunnydale, it will simply have to suffice. The First let its voice boom out across the gathering, "This is the time! We will rip this world asunder, starting with this last pathetic shred of hope! Tear it asunder! Turn it into a charnel house! When it is gone the gates of hell will open and we will sweep this world like a tidal wave!"

        There was a mixture shrieks and roars from the gathered demons. The First didn't know if they were really roused by its little speech, just so long as they fight, just so long as they win.

10. "Shield"

Tara and Tyler were staring out into the darkened streets. It was a somewhat futile exercise for the Reverend as there was a noticeable absence of streetlights. Somehow every one of them had been broken or the power lines to them had been cut without anyone attempting to repair them. Either way it was a clear sign that the demons were coming.

        The only problem was that the bad guys didn't seem to be in any hurry, and Tara's feet were beginning to hurt. "I don't feel like standing here all night," she commented.

        "It does seem wrong somehow to allow them to seize the initiative." Tyler agreed, not to mention the rising level of tension in the mission.

        That made Tara's mind up, "Let's take a walk."

        Almost as soon as Tara set foot outside she could sense something moving across the street, a lot of somethings. Get undercover. Tara let the thought reach out to every one of her friends and allies before she stretched her arms in the air. A small brilliant star rose from her fingertips high into the air; just before it exploded and turned night into the day. The vampires among the group advancing on the mission had a few moments to grasp what had happened before they vanished in burst of flame and dust.

        The remaining demons halted and stared at each other and Tara. There was a moment’s hesitation amongst them, until they felt a presence somewhere behind them making it clear there was no option but to go forward.



        Dawn had a grandstand view of the action from an upper window of the mission. She saw Tyler and Tara racing for the door and let fly with a crossbow bolt at a demon that was reaching out for the preacher. The creature was knocked backwards and fell to the ground. The door slammed behind the pair And Dawn watched several of the creatures lunging at it to tear it open before it could be properly secured. Next to her Dawn had a large chunk of wood from Xander’s collection of construction supplies. She picked it up with one hand and lobbed it out of the window.

        The wood itself hurtling towards the ground had a lot of damage potential; the long masonry nails hammered through it turned it into a lethal weapon. It tore through two of the demons and sent the others scattering as it rebounded off the concrete. Dawn watched satisfied and grabbed up her crossbow to keep them from regrouping.

        She had barely loaded a bolt when a great ripple moved through the sidewalk and the road; it picked up the demons and smashed them against the buildings on the opposite sides. When the tarmac and concrete settled back into place it had a nasty red stain spreading across it.



        The basement of the mission had been abandoned, it was too dark, cramped, and nasty to defend, and in theory there was no external access. The fine cracks that formed along the concrete floor contradicted that assumption. The sewer line that ran beneath the mission was packed with demons, most of whom were residents and intimately familiar with the layout of the infrastructure that ran under the streets of Sunnydale. The cracks spread out and a ragged section of the floor fell into the sewer below. A dozen demons clambered up into the room and gathered around the door. The leader of the group practically ripped it off its hinges, only to find a layer of brickwork barring the way.

        Xander was poised on the other side of the doorway and heard the sound of scrabbling fingers tearing at the innermost layer of bricks. There was a pot of paint and a brush set next to him. Xander grabbed the brush and looked at the sketch Tara had pressed into his hand earlier. He had practiced painting the symbol on the wall, and had it down pat. Of course when he was practicing the wall wasn't vibrating like it was about to collapse. Still he managed to slap together the lines of the symbol before anything with claws broke through.

        The rune Xander painted was the last component of the spell Tara had carefully marked out on the walls of the basement before Xander bricked it up. With the spell complete the basement was turned into the magical version of a microwave oven. The demons staggered back from the blocked doorway, desperately trying to reach the hole in the floor. They practically melted into puddles before they got there and nothing else was going to be coming up into the inferno that raged in the basement.



        The broad wings of the creatures were more useful for gliding than real flying. They were good enough when the creatures launched themselves from a tall apartment block towards the relatively low mission building. The mission had a flat roof with a low wall running all around it. It made for a perfect landing pad, which if the demons had been smarter would have made the creatures deeply suspicious about the lack of anyone waiting to meet them. There was a hatch set into the roof for maintenance access. It was locked but that didn't prove much of a problem. The leader of the 'wing' tore it from its moorings. That was when Xander's skills as a handyman and a life long taste for cartoons came into play. The lengths of metal and springs had been shaped into the frame of a giant mousetrap, with the addition of some spikes around the edges. It swung up and impaled the demon leader to the roof of the mission.

        The rest of the demons probed the opening carefully and only when they were sure there were no more booby traps did they begin to file into the building. The corridor was in darkness until someone shone a torch from the far end. The woman grasping it shrieked and ran away. The sight of a fleeing human produced an instinctive response in the creatures and they began to chase after her. As they passed the first of the doors leading into the converted offices they opened and the missions revenge hungry patrons fell on the demons backs with swords, axes, and baseball bats.

        As the demons turned around to try and fight they got tangled up in the narrow corridor. More doors opened and now the demons were pushed into a huddle as they were attacked from all sides. Unable to use their superior strength and speed the monsters were sitting ducks for the slashing blades and bludgeoning bats. In short order they were reduced to a pile of torn and broken corpses.



        Dawn had stuck to her place by the window using her large supply of crossbow bolts to pick off demons as they popped up. After Tara's artificial sunlight wore off she had turned to more technological means to keep finding targets. Buffy had been reluctant to let Dawn rummage through Elias' stuff and had been very firm that she was not to touch any firearms. She had allowed Dawn to take the night vision goggles Elias had kept as a souvenir from the Initiative. They were heavy and awkward but as long as they let her get at the demons she was prepared to put up with it. She looked out through the strange green haze that the goggles cast over and saw a glowing mass of demons gathering, "Tara!"



        The regrouping demons were forming up in an alleyway. In truth it was more a case of who was going to be shoved up front to be cannon fodder in the next attack. Tara couldn't see them directly but telepathically she could get a sense of what Dawn was seeing. That told her it was time to drop her last little surprise on the demons. She reached out to find the Slayer's sister, it's time, better get everyone ready.

        Oh we're ready. Buffy responded.

        Tara couldn't help smiling at the anxiety and eagerness mixed in Buffy's thoughts, Ok here we go.

        One second the demons were alone in the alley, the next they were being charged by a bunch of screaming humans, or as it turned out a bunch of humans and two vampires. Angel had spotted one particularly large and brutish looking specimen in the middle of the demons. It wasn't so much a matter of heroism on the part of Angel, it was just that demon seemed to be organizing things.

        Spike wasn't inclined to be so fussy; he just piled into whatever was nearest. His sudden attack of near suicidal bravery was based on the belief that he was safer with demons at his back rather than Buffy and her friends, especially Buffy. The ex-Slayer had spent the time sat under Tara's concealment glamour glaring at Spike in a manner that convinced the vampire he was going to catch a stake in the back as soon as Tara released the spell. As far as he was concerned all those demons were just body armour.

        As they launched into the attack Buffy could feel the adrenalin pumping, it was almost as if she had her power back for a little while. She couldn't quite explain her sense of eagerness until the thought struck her very clearly, this is the last time, no more hunts, no more patrols, one last time and I'm finally free! With that in her head Buffy charged in swinging her sword over her head with a will.



        The fury of the assault sent the demons spilling out of the alleyway, not in any sort of attack, just an effort to spread out and get the upper hand again. The move brought several other small groups of demons out into the open as well as they completely misread the move. Tara took that as a cue, she gestured to Tyler who undid the bolts on the door. He was worried as she stepped outside again. That was transformed into something quite other as she called out a series of syllables. Lightning strokes fell out of the clear night sky and landed amongst the demons with thunder echoing like an artillery barrage.

        For the remaining demon ranks this was just too much, their ranks were rapidly diminishing and blind panic overtook fear of the First or the desire for prey. Soon they were running in every direction; except towards the mission. To Tara it seemed like a spell; one minute the street was full of demons the next it was empty and silent once more. Not quite empty. The sense she was being watched pulled Tara’s attention to an adjacent rooftop. Even in the darkness she could see the aura and knew who it was. The First’s emotions were boiling mass of confusion. There was a lot of rage but beneath that there was something else. The creature vanished before Tara could get a good read on it but she had the distinct feeling she had seen fear welling up from the depths of the First. She was still contemplating that when a flash lit up the night, closely followed by a low rumble. It was distant enough that it couldn’t be anything to do with the fight at the mission but Tara had the ominous feeling that it was connected to the First. Afraid or not the creature still had some cards to play.



        “While details remain sketchy it appears the driver of the truck was an ex-army sergeant with a long standing grudge against the military. Officials at the army base are still refusing to reveal how much damage was done in the explosion but it is believed to be significant.” Tara listened to the TV with a sick feeling in her stomach. On the surface the truck that had exploded in the army base was just the work of some nut with a grudge but she was perfectly certain that the first had somehow set it up. The rest of the gang was gathered around looking equally gloomy. They had won a huge fight, seemingly stopping the First in its tracks and then this happened.

        The reporter had paused for a moment, someone was clearly speaking in his ear, “We are now being told that state and federal authorities have decided to take decisive action as this comes on top of an possible chemical attack on Sunnydale police headquarters and the still unexplained destruction of a building at UC Sunnydale. State troopers and National Guard units are expected to arrive in the town within the next hour.”

        Tara leapt out of her chair, “they can’t do that!”

        “Actually they can.” Xander pointed out with a hangdog expression.

        Tara shook her head, “No if they come here the First will turn the streets into a war zone, everything we did last night will count for nothing.”

        Tyler looked at her sympathetically, “I suspect your right but what can we do? We can hardly block every route into Sunnydale.” he hesitated when he saw the look on Tara’s face, “Can we?”

        Tara didn’t respond directly to the question, “We can’t let them in, and we can’t let the First get out,” she murmured and walked towards the front door of the mission.

        Out on the street Tara looked up into the clear blue sky and gathered herself for what she was about to try. Buffy and the others had followed her out and Buffy was about to asked her what she was doing when she caught sight of Tara’s eyes; they were lit up with a brilliant golden light. There was a low hum just at the edge of hearing that seemed to be coming from everywhere. It grew in intensity but just before it became unbearable the light erupted from Tara’s eyes, two pillars of golden fire that rose high over the town before spreading out and beginning to curve back down towards the ground in a great glimmering sheet.

        As soon as the energy was gone Tara began to sag. Dawn and Tyler moved quickly to catch her and they maneuvered Tara back into the mission. Buffy and the others took a little bit longer; they were still staring at the faint golden glow that now stretched from horizon to horizon. It should have been alarming but there was something oddly reassuring about the great shield that had just enclosed Sunnydale.

        Back inside Back inside Tara recovered swiftly; in truth it wasn’t really her energy she had used, nonetheless, “I don’t think I want to be doing anymore spells for a little while.”

        “Just how strong is that barrier?” Buffy wondered.

        “Nothing can get through it, at least for a while, neither by physical nor magical means.”

        Buffy nodded, and then hesitated, “Tara if nothing can get through it how exactly is Willow going to get back here?”

        Tara had known that was the problem she was creating for herself but she hadn’t really given it too much thought. She shared her reason why with the others, “I have no idea but I’m sure she’ll figure something out.”

Buffy thought about that and after a moment she nodded and smiled, oh yeah, even if it’s impossible Willow will figure out a way to do it.

TO BE CONCLUDED IN

‘LAST DANCE’



The last battle with the First

The last hope to seal the Hellmouth

The last opportunity to protect the future, and the past…

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

[tstcloud]

Once again, another wonderful update! Can't wait for the conclusion. I have total faith that Willow will make it through the shield.



Also, does the first ONLY possess Tara's mothers memories or is there something else of her in there as well?



T

[Grimaldi]

loved the update



i'm glad the reverend was one of the good guys, and for the reason why Tara put the shield around Sunnydale, looking forward to the conclusion

I'm not stealing, I'm just taking things without paying for them. In what twisted dictionary is that stealing?
They think she's innocent and sweet, but I know she's an evil bitch

[Sheridan]

Quote:

---

Once again, another wonderful update! Can't wait for the conclusion. I have total faith that Willow will make it through the shield.

Also, does the first ONLY possess Tara's mothers memories or is there something else of her in there as well?

---

Well tstcloud I take the view that whatever it says it only has the memory, after all if it had any real part of the person I don't think it could be so unremittingly evil. Am alreay working on the last part and it should be up in time for Xmas.

Quote:

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loved the update

i'm glad the reverend was one of the good guys, and for the reason why Tara put the shield around Sunnydale, looking forward to the conclusion

---

Thanks Grimaldi. I made a deliberate choice over the reverend because I thought it would be nice to have a religious person who wasn't a psychopath in a dog collar. As I say I'm writing 'Last Dance' now, the first of the 2018 stories will, quite appropriately be along in the new year.

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

Edited by: Sheridan at: 11/18/03 12:02 pm

[chronic]

Great update, really building up the tension for the last battle. I like the fact that your First is a busy little evil entity, up to no good all the time, unlike the series First which tried one attack then sat on its non corporeal butt for months. I think my favourite attack was the soul web, extremely creepy.



One question, is the 16 year old LJ helping Tara to change the past (from her point of view), meaning she grew up in a world where things turned out differently, or just doing it because future Tara remembers her doing it? Time travel is confusing!



Something that just occurred to me, does LJ being the Slayer mean that Dawn, or possibly Faith, has died by 2018? Or will the power transfer become standard practise for Slayers? Guess I’ll have to wait and see.



When Tara did the artificial sun spell, shouldn’t Spike and Angel have been dusted? Or were they lurking in some convenient shadows?



I enjoyed the two episodes at the same time idea, with hints given away in Spear that were finally explained in Shield. And while of course nothing beats the girls together, it was nice to see how they cope when they’re forced to act on their own. While it was obvious Willow would take charge in Las Vegas, it was good to see Tara in control in Sunnydale, not letting Buffy or Dawn rush in and make things worse.



Good cliff-hanger, its looks like Willow’s going to have to fight against Tara’s magic, without hurting Tara or destroying the shield. Looking forward to the last dance



chronic

---

Morning Amnesia – Nature’s way of keeping you from waking up screaming

[Sheridan]

Quote:

---

Great update, really building up the tension for the last battle. I like the fact that your First is a busy little evil entity, up to no good all the time, unlike the series First which tried one attack then sat on its non corporeal butt for months. I think my favourite attack was the soul web, extremely creepy.

---

Thanks Chronic I thought that was suitably nasty myself As to the questions. Well I take the view that there are some events which are crucial to the future and some which really don't make much difference. Amy's fate comes under the latter heading. LJ is mostly working off of event's as explained to her later by Willow and Tara, but she can't help getting 'creative' at some points, and she's very keen on giving second chances to witches who've done questionable things in their past...

As to question number two well as you say...

Quote:

---

Guess I’ll have to wait and see.

---

Just before Tara did the sun spell she did send out a telepathic warning, so all those who were averse to sunlight could get undercover, though I don't think she would have been too upset if Spike didn't get it.

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

[Sheridan]

Well 'Last Dance' is finished barring the editing. Owing to the extreme inconvience of being back in work everythings taking a bit longer but expect this to be up around Christmas Day/Boxing Day.

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

[chronic]

Yay!!

---

Morning Amnesia – Nature’s way of keeping you from waking up screaming

[MellindraX]

Aaaaaaawe! That was so sweet and fluffy and cute!

Though now I'm all a-curious about what would've happened if the memory spell had been mistimed...?



Anyway, loved it, worshipped it, wondiferous.



ETA: I'm a clueless bimbo, forgive me. That was my reaction to just the first page, cause I didn't notice the rest . I have a lot of reading to do, and damnit I'm glad!

I’ve never purposely gone out to take somebody out. Well, maybe, in elementary school I once did try to trip somebody. –Amber Benson

I'm an idiot. Ask me how.

Edited by: MellindraX at: 12/24/03 9:02 am

[Sheridan]

Title: Last Dance

Author: Mike Mullen

Rating: NC-17/18 because of violence, adult themes, and sex.

Spoilers: None what so ever

Disclaimer: All the original BTVS characters belong to Joss Whedon, but everyone else in the stories are my personal slaves, and will be for decades to come….

Summary: Willow and Tara pursue the First and find themselves back at the beginning

Authors notes: One more time for the old generation

Feedback: Just add your comments at the end of the story, and I do mean end...

Last Dance

1. "Beacon"

Elias was sitting on the hood of the car watching Willow. She in turn was sat on the grass with her legs crossed, her eyes shut, and the spear lying in front of her. Elias couldn’t help giving the weapon a resentful look. Technically it was an inanimate object but practically since they had heard of the thing everything that could go wrong had gone wrong, and the current situation was just the capper on the whole rotten sequence of events. They were currently parked on a back road about a mile from the barrier that now stretched around the whole of Sunnydale, and it was the whole of Sunnydale; Elias had driven and walked around the whole length of the thing to be absolutely sure that there was no 'trapdoor' hidden somewhere, some sewer pipe that cut through it or perhaps some deliberate concealed entrance left for them to use. The only thing he had learned was why the barrier had been put up. It was simply an educated guess but Elias given the trigger happy manner of the National Guard and the stories he had heard about what had gone on in Sunnydale recently he was sure Tara had simply trying to keep demons and soldiers apart. As much as he hated to admit it given the trouble it was causing Elias had to concede it was probably a wise move.

        Willow opened her eyes and clambered to her feet looking unhappy, “I can't raise anyone through the barrier.”

“And we can't phone.” Elias added to the gloom, “All the circuits have been rerouted through the military.”

“And we can't teleport if we want to take that thing with us,” she gestured at the spear, “and even if we didn’t it won’t work, the barrier is impervious.”

Elias looked at her, “Ok so it's impossible; how are we going to do it?”

Willow frowned; Elias' renewed faith in her magic was a good thing, even if it had required her and Tara rescuing him from a bunch of cultist yahoos to achieve it. Right now though it was in serious danger of being shaken because Willow wasn't sure how they could get round the barrier. It couldn't be broken through; you couldn't go under it or over it. Maybe we should just sneak past when it isn't looking, Willow decided to keep the sarcastic thought o herself, until it set of a chain of recollection that led to an inspiration, “The only way through the barrier is to be where it isn't.”

Elias suspected Willow was being deliberately cryptic but he decided to bite anyway, “Well since it's over the whole of Sunnydale and we want to go to Sunnydale I don't see how that works.”

Now Willow smiled, “Maybe it isn't over the whole of Sunnydale, just the ordinary three dimensions of Sunnydale.”

That was still cryptic but Elias had hung around the witches long enough to get it, “You mean you might be able to phase past it?”

Willow was a little disappointed that Elias had guessed so quickly but she hid it well, “Exactly, I know the spear will survive phasing because it was phased when I found it. I figure the barrier can only stretch so far out into the other dimensions, I mean I assume even LJ has her limits.”

Elias hadn't seen any evidence of limits to what Willow's daughter could achieve and he knew the perils of assuming but he was willing to bow to her judgment; especially if it got them back into Sunnydale, “So when do we start?”

“There's no time like the present.” Willow suggested. She picked up the spear and extended a hand to Elias. He managed to take it with only the tiniest moments hesitation.



The smell was beginning to reach the point where Tara couldn't pretend not to notice it anymore. She looked out on the street and could spot the source quite readily; dead demons practically as far as the eye could see. In addition to their many other vile attributes it appeared that most demons decayed very rapidly when dead but sadly not as neatly as vampires. “If you think that's bad you should see the basement.” Tyler commented as he joined her.

“Sorry.” Tara commented regretfully.

Tyler waved it away, “Don't be. I'd far rather be cleaning up this mess than the one those creatures would have made if they were still free to terrorize Sunnydale. If ever there was such a thing as a righteous battle I feel sure we fought it last night.”

        Tara smiled, "I hope so; still I think I should do some cleaning up, we don't want to drive people away from the mission." Having had a couple of hours to rebuild her strength it wasn't hard for Tara to send out a wave of magic that vaporized the remains. Tyler hadn't wanted to say anything but he was relieved to see the appalling remains disappear. Tara was just as happy to be rid of the smell, she had enough trouble with nausea without helping it along.

        She was just about finished when the SUV and Xander's car returned. The rest of the gang had gone on a sweep around Sunnydale. Tara braced herself for bad news but everyone looked fairly relaxed as they entered the mission, "I'm guessing you didn't have any trouble."

        "I've never seen Sunnydale so quiet." Buffy confirmed.

        "Just plain boring." Dawn clearly saw that as a problem.

        Tara was a little surprised, "I sort of expected people to be out trying to break down the barrier."

        "Well we saw some army types trying to get in but the locals just seem to have decided to stay home and keep out of trouble." Buffy supplied approvingly.

        Tara was relieved by that, she been troubled by the image of the population of Sunnydale crammed up against the barrier screaming and pounding, "No sign of it I suppose?"

        "Definitely not, the First seems to have taken the hint and is staying out of the way." Buffy confirmed.

        That should have been good news but Tara would have liked some sort of confirmation that the First hadn't escaped; she didn't want the creature hanging around but she equally didn't want it escaping to wreak havoc elsewhere. The barrier, the demons, the First, all problems that should be occupying Tara's attention, except of course there was one concern that pushed all the others aside, Willow.



        As she began the phasing spell Willow was watching the spear. It looked different, sharper and brighter than before. She had noticed the same effect when she first retrieved it but had assumed that was just the result of the strange lighting in the icy well. This time it was clear that the spear was changing as the spell worked. To begin with Willow simply nudged herself and Elias gently out of phase with the rest of the world. To her disappointment the barrier was still clearly visible on the horizon; they would have to push a little further. The last time she had phased so far she had the tuning crystal to act as a guide and anchor; this time she would just have to depend on willpower and determination.

        The second nudge brought a distinct change in the barrier, it was flickering and wavering. Clearly they were near its limits but not yet past them. The air seemed to be growing heavy to Willow and the world wad fading into shades of grey where the details were hard to make out. The only thing that stood out clearly was the spear. It now appeared to be made of brilliantly polished silver with an intricate pattern of energy flowing over the surface, to all intents and purpose a completely different weapon. Willow had always had a sense that there was a presence to the spear now it was unmistakable and Willow knew she had been wrong; this was the same spear, just a different facet, a single object spanning myriad universes and presenting a different face to each one, none of them ever seeing more than the tiniest part.

        Willow pushed the weapons rather smug ambience out of her head, all that mattered was she knew why it wouldn't teleport, it simply was too huge to be for the limited folding of dimensions involved in teleportation, and it just confirmed the spear as the right weapon against the First and the Hellmouth. That thought definitely dented the smugness surrounding the weapon. "Willow we can't just hang around here."

        Elias' voice seemed to be coming from a great distance but it had the desired effect, Willow concentrated on phasing again. She pushed again and this time the barrier vanished. The spear crackled in her hand, it was simply lightning bound into the vague shape of its mundane form. Everything else in Willow's surroundings had faded into a shapeless murk and she found she had no idea which way to go; the world seemed to spin around her until she saw something in the distance. It was a yellow light flickering like a candle flame, a warm and inviting thing, something she had to reach.

        Willow stumbled forward, keeping a firm grip on Elias and the spear until she was practically right on top of the light. With the last of her strength Willow dragged herself back to world. Sunnydale snapped into focus and Willow found herself staring up into a familiar face, "Hey baby." she croaked.

2. "Coming And Going"

Tara had been contemplating the barrier for a few minutes when she felt something at the edge of her perception, like an image seen out of the corner of her eye; something distorted but familiar. Without any conscious decision Tara tried to reach out but she wasn't quite sure she was getting through until the air rippled and Willow and Elias appeared in front of her and slumped to the ground.

        Willow's faint greeting snapped Tara out of her shock and she swooped down to embrace her, not to mention making sure Willow was ok, "What happened honey?"

        "Remind me never to phase again." Willow muttered.

        Buffy was checking out Elias in great detail but interrupted her inspection to comment, "I told you she would find a way."

        Tara smiled and looked into Willow's eyes, "But did you have to take the scenic route?"

        "I like to travel." Willow countered, sounding, and feeling, a lot stronger. She got to her feet so Tara could administer a proper hug, "Of course it would have been a lot easier if someone hadn't put this big wall around Sunnydale," she continued with mock severity.

        "Well we had a few little problems," Tara waved them away as if they were hardly worth mentioning.

        Tyler had been watching the reunion and decided now was a good time to speak up, "Perhaps we should continue inside, I think that perhaps your friends could use a seat and a cup of coffee; at the very least.”

        Willow hadn't really paid any attention to the stranger standing at the back of the group. She managed to pull enough attention away from Tara to be curious about who he was and why everyone was here rather than at one of their more usual hangouts. However since the prospect of a chair and some caffeine was irresistible she decided to save the questions for a little while.

        As Willow sipped from a mug of overly strong, overly sugared coffee she listened to Tara's account of what had gone in Sunnydale before and after her brief stopover in Vegas, “You weren't kidding about having to be back by sundown.”

        Tara looked diffident, “I figured we needed every had we could get here.”

        “You're being far too modest,” Tyler contradicted, “without you I doubt we would have survived the onslaught.”

        Willow glanced from Tara to Tyler and back, is this guy for real?

        Actually he is, Tara assured her, but he is exaggerating.

        Willow didn't believe that, “I'm sure your right reverend.” It occurred to Willow how that might sound to the others, “Hey I'm sure it was a team effort.”

        Buffy smiled at her embarrassment, “Don't worry Will, we did our part but the reverend is right; without Tara's magic we would have been toast.”

        That made Tara turn red and put a smile on Willow's face. She decided to spare Tara any further embarrassment by filling the others in on Las Vegas.



        Tara gave the story her full attention and felt moved to interrupt only once, “You cheated a casino?”

        Willow paused, “Well we sort of had to, and hey they had it coming.”

        Tara shook her head, “It's still a terrible example to be setting our daughter.” Her attempt to scold Willow might have worked better if she had been able to stop giggling.

        “In Willow's defence I was the one who got carried away,” Elias admitted, “If she hadn't come back when she did I would probably have broken the bank.”

        “Or got broken,” Willow pointed out.

        “Or that.” Elias conceded.

        Tara looked at the spear as Willow continued her account of how they had retrieved it, and its apparent reluctance to leave Las Vegas. There was a definite aura around the weapon, if it wasn't truly alive it was pretty close and if Tara had to gauge its mood in terms of a human aura she would have to say it was sulking, which hopefully meant it wasn't able to influence events at this point. There was quite enough still working against them in Sunnydale right now without having to worry about a weapon with an attitude. Tara picked the spear up and hefted it; it was surprisingly light for its size, especially if in fact it was spread out across the multiverse, “If this thing is truly pandimensional that explains how it has so much power; it's drawing on the magic of millions of worlds.”

        Willow had gotten used to Tara dropping words like 'pandimensional' into the conversation, and she was pleased to see the future interpretation of the weapon fitted in with her own guess, of course maybe that future information was just a refined version of her guess. That was a little too dizzying to contemplate, “However it works I think it should pack enough punch to destroy the First and the Hellmouth.”

        Tara agreed, “Now we just need to find the First, preferably before it tries anything else.”



        If Willow or Tara could have read the First's thoughts right at that moment they would have been taken aback by what was going through its mind; a simple and overwhelming desire to escape. The events at the mission had been a disappointment but the First had never placed great faith in the effectiveness of demons, they were all well and good for simply hunting down some unsuspecting human out in the open but soldiers they were not. Thus the defeat had been annoying but not surprising and the First had put more faith in the back up plan. Luring the human's own soldiers onto the streets of Sunnydale the First had been confident of a bloodbath that would have torn the Hellmouth and all its cousins asunder. It had been the response to that effort which had broken the creature's will to fight. There were other ancient powers that might regard its use of the title 'First Evil' as arrogant and overreaching. Nonetheless the First had existed practically since life appeared on earth and it has seen much sorcery in that time; it had however never seen anything like a single mortal creature throwing up a barrier such as the one that encompassed Sunnydale. The sorcerers of Atlantis had raised a wall to hold back the waters but they had been counted in the hundreds, and that wall failed when the Jaws of the Abyss fell on it. This barrier was in a different league; like too much of the magic the First had seen these past few weeks it was new and potent and the First had no answer to it. The time had come to get out of this place and leave the witches to the denizens of the Hellmouth when it opened under its own power.

        Easier said than done. The dome closed off any prospect of telepathy or teleportation. As humiliating as it was to a creature of the First’s imagined position the moment had come to ask for some help.

        The First picked a spot in the middle of its lair and sat down. The ground was dirty and uncomfortable but the First pushed that to one side, it needed to concentrate. The ethereal plane was familiar ground to the First but it had been expecting the realm to be a little more crowded. A number of old acquaintances it had been expecting to ask for assistance were notably absent. Suddenly found urgent business elsewhere the entity concluded bitterly.

        Abandoned the First was about to retreat back to the ordinary world when a beam of energy like a searchlight pierced the realm. For a moment the First was convinced that its foes had found it. The beam though was passing in to the ordinary realm rather than emerging from it. Only the fact that it seemed to be targeting Sunnydale had made the

First think otherwise.

        Fear quickly gave way to curiosity; if this beam could pass through the barrier then it was definitely of interest. The ray suddenly withdrew and disappeared, leaving a shockwave rippling through the ethereal plane. As it looked at the phenomenon the First realised that there were other such ripples, fainter but clearly from the same source, all searching for something in Sunnydale. Another beam appeared and this time the First latched onto it, determined to find out what it was.

        Sunnydale was spread out below it but something was wrong, this wasn't the town the First's physical form still lay in, it lacked some of the scars and wounds the town bore from the long battle between demons and Slayer, this was an earlier Sunnydale. More than that something in the town resonated with the beam, and answering power that matched its nature, something that could bend time and space, something that could get me out of here.

        The First was so excited by the prospect it lost its connection to the beam as it retracted. The entity was unconcerned and let its essence drift back to its physical form. All it cared about was that such a power had existed in Sunnydale in the past and would still exist somewhere in the future. That meant it might still be lurking somewhere in the town. It was a thin possibility to hang its hopes on but it was the only one the First had and it would pursue it the only way it knew how; ruthlessly.



        "He wrecked our coffee table and you let him live?" Willow was outraged, and it wasn't faked.

        "Now honey I did put Spike in the frontline last night, its just plain bad luck he survived." Tara offered apologetically.

        That somewhat mollified Willow as she studied the remains; though the way she turned the broken leg over in her hands suggested she was still thinking about shoving it in Spike. Tara's mention of the battle pulled Willow's attention elsewhere, "What was it really like last night?"

        "Scary." Tara admitted, "Not the fighting but the way everyone seemed to expect me to run things. I could really have used a system of coloured pens to help plan it."

        Willow slid an arm around her, "I wish I could have gotten back sooner but from what the others were saying you did just fine without me."

        "Maybe but I'm glad your here now," she kissed Willow tenderly. After she let go she let Willow in on the secret she hadn't shared with the others, "The First came to me, claimed she had a piece of my mother, offered to trade it for, I don't know what."

        "It was just trying to mess with you." Willow asserted, "You know that right?"

        "I know but it still got to me." Tara commented, "I guess that's the First's specialty," she gestured towards the coffee table as another example.

        Willow was loath to let Spike off the hook but she had to concede that the First had a real talent for getting under peoples skins and freaking them out, and even if Spike wasn’t exactly people he did seem to have a lot of issues the First could exploit. Of course the fact it taken the physical form of Ellie Maclay didn't help where Tara was concerned, or does it? "Baby I have an idea but you can absolutely say no if you want."

        "What sort of idea?"

        "A way to find the First, maybe." Willow began to wish she hadn't had the notion.

        Tara brushed aside Willow's hesitancy, "Honey we need to find it, so what have you come up with?"

        Willow sighed, "The First has taken your mothers form so doesn't that mean it has Maclay blood flowing in its veins?"

        Tara knew Willow's instinct had been right, she didn't like this idea so far, "Probably does, and that might mean I have a connection to it."

        "Yeah, and even if we can't track it with a regular locator spell maybe that would work but it is way too icky." Willow wanted to drop the whole thing.

        Tara felt the same, but "If it leads to the First then we have to try." Willow looked unhappy again. Tara kissed her again, "Don't worry Willow, I can handle this, so long as you don't go running off to Vegas again."

        Willow kissed her back, "Absolutely not, unless we run short of money." Willow followed that comment with a shriek as Tara swatted her on the ass.

3. "Generation Gap"

Slipping into the Hellmouth remained easy, no one seemed to be interested in the place, except for the gang. Willow was looking at the remains of the altar Tara had destroyed, she let some of the stone chips fall through her fingers and turned her attention to Tara who was staring at one wall of the cavern and looking very unhappy.

        Tara wasn't really aware of the cavern; all she could see was the flickering and shifting energies of the Hellmouth. She couldn't shake the feeling that it knew she was there and was reaching out to her. Tara ignored it; she knew it couldn't harm her, at least not yet.

        "How is it?" Willow asked softly, as if afraid to hear the answer.

        "Not good, I don't think we can postpone using the spear very long."

        "So we do need to track the First down as soon as we can." Willow had been trying the whole night to come up with something better than tapping into whatever blood tie Tara and LJ might have to First but so far she was drawing a blank.

        "Then we better go do some research." Tara replied firmly, if they were going to do this they better do it before she lost her nerve.



        Sat on a rooftop the First looked across the street and fumed. It had worked a complex and subtle spell to track the resonance through Sunnydale and could probably have saved the effort since it had simply led the creature straight to the Magic Box. If it had simply settled for guessing where this power might be this place would have been near the top of the list, and if it weren’t there it would be at the priests mission or the witches apartment.

        There was a powerful temptation to simply storm the place and take what it wanted. The First restrained it for the compelling reason that it had no idea exactly what it was looking for; the resonance simply hung like a haze over the shop and wasn't giving any further clue. Another thoughts also held the First back; there could be booby traps set inside the Magic Box to snare it as there had been around the Hellmouth. Even so the desire to simply charge in didn't entirely go away, at least until it spotted a familiar couple walking down the street. However much it needed whatever lay in the shop the First had no intention of confronting those two again. It needed more information, and it decided to consult with an expert.



        It would have been simple enough to whistle up a ride to the Magic Box but Tara was in the mood to walk, and this time she found the going easy, perhaps because of the company she was keeping. Willow had put an arm around her waist, "I can hardly reach," she commented lightly.

        Tara smiled, "I had to put all my jeans in the back of the closet."

        "It looks good on you." Willow let her hand rub Tara's belly.

        Tara leant her head on Willow's shoulder, "You have no idea how much I missed this."

        "Oh I think I have an idea. The hotel had nice beds but somehow I couldn't sleep." Willow countered.

        "Funnily enough our bed didn't seem so comfortable when you were away." Tara agreed. The contented air dissipated as soon as the pair opened the door to the Magic Box, it was pure bedlam inside.

        Every other store in Sunnydale might be deserted but Anya was doing a roaring trade in charms, wards, and potions. Spotting Willow and Tara through the crowd she was unnaturally cheerful and waved them over. She didn't even slow down serving as she greeted them, "I'm glad your here. You couldn't whip up some fresh protection charms could you? I'll cut you in." The combined withering look she received cut through even Anya's thick skin, "Alright, alright, the others are in the back."

        Dawn was beating the stuffing out of a tackling dummy while Buffy and Elias were leaning against a table looking extraordinarily tired. Willow couldn't resist teasing, "Did you guys have a rough night?"

        Dawn answered before either Buffy or Elias could, "Hah! I'm the one who had the rough night. Two pillows and the blankets piled on top of me and I could still hear them."

        Buffy looked mortified, "We weren't, I mean," she sputtered to a halt.

        Elias on the other hand remained cool under fire, "You know Dawn day is going to come when you bring some boy home, and I am going to remember this."

        That rallied Buffy as well, "And I know where the baby pictures are kept."

        Dawn didn't let that intimidate her, "Does that mean I can bring a boy home?"

        "Sure, just as soon Willow and Tara come up with a spell to freeze hell over." Buffy offered, then looked at the witches and frowned, "You don't have a spell like that?"

        "Not as such, but I could look one up." Willow offered.

        "I think we have enough problems." Buffy demurred.

        "We do have an idea about tracking down the First." Tara figured that this discussion was bound to go downhill from here so a change of subject was in order; besides Buffy wasn't the first person to be busted for being a little noisy one night in the Summers house.

        "Which you don't sound thrilled about." Elias observed.

        "It involves tapping into my connection to the First." Tara explained.

        Dawn looked bemused, "What connection?"

        "Shared blood." Buffy muttered sympathetically.

        Dawn felt stupid after she worked through the meaning of Buffy’s comment, "Right, sorry."

        Tara did her best to shrug it off, "It's gross but it might let us hunt the First down, that's what's important."

        Willow put a supporting hand on Tara's shoulder, "Right we want to catch it before it causes anymore trouble."



        Giles looked at the stack of books on his living room table and sighed, it was still far larger than the packing case had set aside for books. Perhaps I should consult Willow. Beyond her magical skills Willow had demonstrated a considerable skill for organizing and packing. Of course she could simply snap her fingers and send everything across the water to England in an instant. Giles had considered that option before and rejected it; he had talked with Thompson and it was clear that there were a lot of tensions in the council and not everyone was wholehearted in their support for the board of enquiry. There was no point in reminding those people of his close connection with the very witches who had blown things wide open.

        One volume had been set aside from the others and Giles picked it up. It was the first journal he had ever written when he came to Sunnydale. It was full of pompous irritation at Buffy's disregard of the Watcher's traditions and guidance. It was so appallingly hidebound Quentin Travers could have written the whole thing; indeed if it weren't for the handwriting Giles wouldn't have believed he had actually committed such rubbish to paper.

        The traditional approach to watching over a Slayer insisted on obedience, secrecy, and detachment. If Buffy had blindly followed that path the world would have been destroyed several times over by now, the great problem was getting the rest of the council to see that.

        A knocking at the door made Giles put the book down. He didn't even hesitate to open it; simply pleased that for once they had bothered to knock. He was considerably less pleased when he flew across the room and landed on his back.

        The First closed the door behind it and crossed over to the still dazed Watcher, "Mr. Giles we need to talk." Giles made to offer a salty reply, "Actually I'll talk, you just say silent and I won't have to start removing body parts." Giles decided that discretion was the better of valor at least until he though of some means of summoning Willow and Tara. The First nodded approvingly of his decision to keep his mouth shut, "Very good Giles. I've decided that the time has come to leave town. Of course the witches little barrier is making that tricky. You though might be able to help."

        "I have no intention of helping you." Even the prospect of maiming couldn't stop Giles making the defiant reply.

        The First didn't get angry, it had picked up something in Giles attitude it didn't like, "You genuinely don't want me to go, you want to keep me here in Sunnydale, now why is that?" Giles said nothing. The First shrugged, "Suit yourself."

        Before Giles could move the First squatted down beside him and laid her hands on his head, "This is really going to hurt." The first explained redundantly as Giles shrieked with pain.

        The First began to sift through the contents of Giles mind in the manner of a burglar ransacking a house; knocking things over and tossing the contents aside when they didn't prove valuable. It didn't the creature long to answer the first of its questions, the spear was sat practically at the front of Giles mind. The First recognized the weapon, it had known of the spear but it was no threat, not when I had no flesh for it to pierce but now… The discovery just increased the entity's need to get as far away from Sunnydale and those cursed witches.

        The search became more frantic and the First raked through memories for any hint of a power that could bend time and space. It quickly discarded the Key, that powers day had come and gone; except...

        The First saw another night before that vortex and another power being used to manipulate it. Once it had that memory in its grasp the First could follow the connections to a whole series of others, to one singular object, the tuning crystal.

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

Edited by: Sheridan at: 12/27/03 4:52 pm

[Sheridan]

4. "The End Of The Circle"

The spell looked ugly on paper and sounded worse as Tara incanted it. That might just have been Willow's natural bias against spells that involved blood or pain to Tara, and there was a lot to be biased about with this spell.

        Tara had a small knife clasped in her right and her left was stretched out palm up. She repeated the incantation three times and then drew the knife across the exposed palm. She didn't wince but Willow did, and did so again as Tara turned her hand over and clenched it into a fist, squeezing out several drops of blood and uttering a second cantrip.

        Running, praying, begging for mercy, it made no difference. The warriors of the steppe killed them all without discrimination, creatures after the First's own heart. Tara shuddered and Willow stepped towards her, "Baby let it go."

        Tara shook her head and concentrated, pushing aside the macabre visions of the First’s version of entertainment. She had known that there was a risk that trying to tap into this blood connection would also tap her right into the First. She had to ignore it, not look at all the misery and horror the monster had seen and enjoyed. If anything it proved the First had lied, there was nothing of the essence of Ellie Maclay in that shell, if there were Tara was sure she would have felt something more than malevolence and pleasure in human suffering. Tara used that certainty to steel herself and plunge further in, all that mattered was the here and now, and where the First had gone to ground.

        As Tara thought about that she saw a vaguely familiar living room but she couldn't quite place it because she was quite sure the colours couldn't be that garish or the furniture that tacky. It had to be the biased perceptions of the First. Tara focused on the image, wiping out the distortion, seeing what was actually there, "Giles," she breathed.

        "Giles?" Willow echoed.

        Tara focused her mind, "Giles' apartment, that's where it's gone," She fixed her gaze on Willow, "You need to grab Dawn and get over there right away."

        Willow cast a glance at the Spear resting against a wall, "No time to take that with us?"

        Tara was emphatic, "No time, no time at all."



        The First was so busy poking around in Giles' brain for the whereabouts of the tuning crystal that it almost missed the fact that someone was looking over its shoulder, psychically speaking. The First tried to look back and found itself staring into the appalling warmth and empathy of Tara Maclay, as bad as that was the First sensed another presence lurking somewhere behind that, a presence that nearly blinded the First with its radiance. The First snapped its connection to Giles mind and stood away from him; just as Willow and Dawn materialized in the middle of the room.

        Dawn didn't hesitate, she let fly with the crossbow she was carrying. The First's reactions were too swift however and the bolt passed through empty air before skewering a volume sat on Giles shelves. "Well thank you so much." Giles words were slurred but the fact that he was aware of his surroundings was a good sign.

        Willow pulled him up into a sitting position, "I think we need to get you checked out."

        "But what about my book?" Giles waved at the wounded volume, sounding concussed to Willow, or at least according to her interpretation of the medical textbooks she had leafed through.

        Dawn picked up the book; or rather the bolt that was sticking out of it, "Sorry Giles but I'm pretty sure its dead."



        At the ER the doctors gave Giles a once over and despite not being entirely sure what had happened to him decided that his symptoms were purely temporary. That was a distinct relief to Tara who had been afraid that the spell hadn't been in time.

        Dawn was pushing the wheelchair the hospital insisted Giles remain in until the reached the exit and Willow decided that with the clean bill of health it was time to ask Giles a few relevant questions, "What exactly was the First after?"

        "It seems that it has decided that discretion is the better part of valor, it wanted a way to escape from Sunnydale." Giles explained,

        Willow frowned, "And it thought you had one?"

        Now Giles looked uneasy, "To be honest that was the point at which it started to try and simply take whatever it wanted. After that the next thing I can clearly remember is a crossbow bolt thudding into my collection."

        "I said I'm sorry." Dawn reminded him.

        "I thought we had decided that we couldn't risk killing the First by conventional means?" Giles countered.

        "I wasn't trying to kill it, just maim it a little, that would be ok right?" Dawn looked at Tara defiantly.

        "Maybe, but perhaps you should try sneaking up on it, less wear and tear on the furniture." Tara suggested.

        "Could the First have been trying to find out how I got through the barrier?" Willow fretted.

        Giles shook his head, "That doesn't feel right, it didn’t seem interested in you two, well not directly," he thought about it a little more, "it did seem to be something to do with you and Tara but I just can't remember what."

        "Hey after what the First did I'm surprised you can remember your name." Dawn's comment was meant to be reassuring; the expression on Willow and Tara's faces said she had fallen a long way short.

        Giles ignored the comment as he tried to dredge up whatever memory the First had been so interested in, and had to face the unsettling possibility that it had been torn clean out. Still there was that certainty that it was connected to Willow and Tara, something important, something fundamental.



        The crowds at the Magic Box were thinning out and even Anya was relieved about that. For one thing she had been left to run things all alone after the others dashed off and for another she was all out of protection charms. She had finally put a sign on the door after she couldn't face being polite and apologetic to even one more customer.

        The bell rang and Anya looked up to see a middle aged woman walking in. Anya promptly ignored her, she was too tired even to try and make money. The woman apparently wasn't going to be ignored because she walked straight up to the counter, "Excuse me but there's something I want."

        Anya fixed a smile on her face, "We aim to please, what exactly were you looking for?"

        "A blue crystal, egg shaped, with a big crack down one side."

        Anya was about to instinctively explain that they did have one when it sank in what the woman had just described, and who she really was, "We don't have one of those for sale," she insisted rather weakly.

        "But you do have one Anya. Why don't you just go fetch it before I have to yank the exact location out of your brain and then flatten this place just for fun?" The First suggested amiably.

        Anya took a slow deep breath, "I can't do that."

        The First frowned, "Really Anyanka you've just let the side down so badly, losing your power center, taking up with mortals. This is your last chance to make up for your failures."

        Anya was genuinely irritated by the comment but she also saw the chance to play for time, "Maybe you should try it before you dismiss it."

        "I really don't think so, mortals are only good for torturing, you used to know that."

        "Actually sex is pretty good." Anya suggested.

        The First grimaced, "Now you are just being grotesque." The creature gestured and Anya found breathing becoming difficult. "I want the tuning crystal and I want it now."

        Anya felt like her ears were about to pop, the First was draining all the air from around her. She knew that the others would just have stared the First down, or come up with some clever ruse to turn the tables. All Anya could think of was how idiotic it was to be dying for that stupid hunk of rock. It was just gathering dust...

        "Thank you so much." The air rushed back in as the First skimmed what it wanted from the surface of Anya's mind. It could simply have ransacked it in the same way it had gone through Giles. The First however had found the experience to be akin to sifting through rotting garbage and hadn't been keen to repeat it. It had assumed that faced with death Anya would at least think of giving in.

        Anya was left on her knees desperately sucking in air and trying not to pass out as the First brushed past her and made for the basement. Once downstairs the First had no trouble finding the box Anya had been thinking about and despite the urgency of the situation it carefully picked through the contents, not wanting to break the fragile and all-important crystal. In truth the crystal looked far from impressive, especially with that burnt looking crack running down one side.

        As far as the First was concerned it was beautiful; it could feel the power flowing round the stone. The only remaining problem was how to use it. The First made its way back upstairs; just in time to make the phone go flying across the room as Anya tried to make a call. "I'm sure your friends will turn up shortly anyway. Tell them not to worry; I'll be back to watch the entertainment as soon as the Hellmouth tears open, if I'm not busy at one of the other gateways." With that parting shot the entity teleported out of the store.

5. "Weapon Of Choice"

Willow was feeling both annoyed and guilty; the annoyance came from the fact that when Anya's somewhat hysterical phone call reached them Anya hadn't exactly been full of details about what had happened. The guilt was because instead of trying to calm Anya down and find out what had happened they had palmed her off onto Xander.

        The guilt was slightly assuaged when she arrived at the Magic Box with Tara to discover the shop was still standing. In fact without Anya's phone call and Xander's follow up she wouldn't have been able to tell that anything had happened. Any last shreds of guilt were banished by Anya's testy greeting, "What took you guys so long?"

        "Giles is fine now thanks for asking." Willow snapped back.

        Tara could see this was going to get pointless very quickly and decided to remind everyone why they were here, "Anya what did the First want?"

        Anya expression shifted subtly, "It was suffocating me and it read my mind so it’s not really my fault."

        The sudden change from belligerence to bluster made Willow very suspicious, "What did it take?"

        "The crystal."

        Willow was about to ask which crystal when it struck her, "The tuning crystal? You gave it to the First?"

        Anya was spared from a possibly literal grilling when Buffy and Xander emerged from the basement. They had both heard Willow's rather loud comment and Buffy fielded the question, "It's gone Will but at least it didn't take anything else."

        "It doesn't need anything else," Willow commented darkly, "it just has to crush it and everything goes poof!"

        Buffy looked puzzled so Tara explained, "Buffy without the crystal LJ couldn't have traveled back in time, and if she wasn't there that day at the Initiative, well we wouldn't be standing here talking."

        Buffy worked her way through the logic, and she didn't like it. Anya had more or less figured this out already, "But we are still here, so maybe the First doesn't know about that."

        Willow was going to tell her to be quiet when it struck her that Anya might be right; she wasn't going to admit that directly of course, "Giles said the First was looking for a way out of town."

        "So it found out about the crystal and what it could do, but not why it's so important." Buffy sounded relieved.

        "But neither Giles nor Anya knows how to make it work, only Willow and me have used it." Tara added.

        Willow nodded, "And since we aren't going to tell, where's it going to go for help?"



        Willy's bar was packed out; Sunnydale's demon population was feeling the need to drown its sorrows. Willy was probably the only happy person in there; miserable customers were thirsty customers. He did his best not to smile, under the current circumstances that would be an invitation to a smack in the mouth.

        The only serious fly in the ointment was how long his stock would last with this weird barrier thing surrounding Sunnydale. He was so preoccupied with his profit margin that he didn't even notice the hush that had fallen over the place until the patrons parted like a curtain in front of the bar. Demonkind might still fear the First but there was resentment in the glances directed its way as well as trepidation; most of the demons crowded into the bar had lost a drinking buddy in the disaster at the mission, "I'm seeking a Tribex, where can I find one?" The request brought no immediate response beyond the shuffling of feet and demonic coughing, "I remind you that the Hellmouth will open soon enough, and rip apart all its brethren as it does so. When that happens this world will be mine and I will remember who served me well, and who did not."

        "Unless this is the time of the dark sky and earth light." Whoever made the comment had made sure that they were buried in the crowd.

        The First searched the faces of the demons anyway but couldn't pick out the offender, "That is nothing more than a human myth, invented to make them feel less worthless. Now I will ask this one more time, where can I find a Tribex?"

        Again there was a stony silence, which the First decided was a very appropriate expression.

        As it walked towards the door Willy caught a glint in the creatures eyes. The bartender hadn't stayed alive this long around his volatile and lethal clientele without knowing when to duck, and right now he hit the floor at record speed. He looked up to see something like a satellite image of a hurricane swirling through his bar, even down to what might have been lightning rippling through it. There were a handful of shrieks and groans; ominously curtailed as if the source had been cut off; Willy stayed as still as he could until the swirling mass vaporized.

        Climbing to his feet Willy was appalled, not at the fact that every demon in the place was dead; there were always more patrons. No it was a much pragmatic grievance, "Who the hell is going to move twenty butt ugly statues?"



        The swishing sound behind her drew a distracted plea from Willow, "Dawn would you please stop playing with that thing? Our home has suffered enough don't you think?"

        Dawn stopped, "Sorry but I just want to get the feel of this thing in case I have to use it."

        Willow looked round to see Dawn balancing the spear of Odin across the back of her hand. She flicked it upwards and grabbed it out of the air before resting the butt end on the carpet.

        Willow looked very worried and Tara smiled; Willow still couldn't quite accept the idea of Dawn with Slayer reflexes. That Dawn was carrying the spear to begin with was the product of a long argument at the Summers house. When Dawn had suggested, more insisted, on coming along Willow, Tara, and Buffy had all opposed it. Willow had been quite definite that they could handle the spear on their own; until Dawn brought up the subject of Las Vegas, not to mention what would happen if the First or its minions snuck up on them, and if Willow was going to use all her magic, including teleporting, wouldn't that mean Tara would have to carry the spear and be the prime target?

        That line of argument had ended the resistance on the part of Willow and Tara but Buffy wasn't interested in listening to reason, she was convinced that Dawn was getting in too deep too quickly. In the end Dawn fell back on the same principle Buffy had often invoked with her mom; that there was no way they could stop her; she was the Slayer and that was that. It might not have been diplomatic but it had worked.

        Having made sure Dawn wasn't going to add to their furniture casualties Willow turned her attention back to the spell Tara was preparing, "I wish this thing didn't need blood, those sort of spells always creep me out, especially when its yours."

        "I know honey but its just a couple of drops, and this should be a one time only deal." Tara reassured her. Willow had been adamant that however much they needed to find the First Tara was not going to repeat the connection spell. It was just too nasty, physically and psychically.

        Tara had suggested they try a sort of lodestone, something that would be drawn to the First. It still needed a little blood but as Tara had said once the charm was made it should be drawn to the First at all times, and without her having to get in its head. She hadn't suggested it before because it had one potential drawback that could render it useless. Tara painted runes on the charm made with a mix of several herbs bound with a couple of drop of blood. As it was dry Tara hung the charm on a fine gold chain from her jewllery box. Willow picked it up and let it dangle from her fingertips as she held it at arms length. After a moment the arrowhead shaped charm twisted and pointed straight at Tara, "Well it is drawn to Maclay blood."

        "Just not the blood we want." This was the drawback Tara had been worried about. She had a way round it but it wasn't guaranteed since you couldn't predict how spells would react to one another. She incanted the concealment glamour and held her breath.

        Willow watched the charm and after an agonizingly long second it turned ninety degrees and pointed out of the window and towards downtown Sunnydale. Dawn stared in the direction the charm was pointing, "It works, is Tara ok?" Dawn had seen the concealment glamour in action before but this was the first time she had actually seen someone fade out.

        "She's fine." Willow assured her as she felt a hand slip onto her butt, unless they had picked up a poltergeist Tara was absolutely fine.

        Dawn accepted Willow's assurance and was wise enough not to question the odd little smile on her face. Instead the Slayer hefted the spear in both hands and suggested, "So lets go arrange a family reunion." Willow gave her an odd look; "Hey fighting is easy, coming up with puns, now that's hard."

6. "Fox And Hounds"

The arrowhead held to a constant direction, unfortunately the streets of Sunnydale weren't co-operating. They couldn't seem to go fifty yards tonight without having to veer off at ninety degrees. Willow glanced at the spear grasped in Dawn's hands. Since they had gotten past the barrier the weapons malign influence had seemed to go into remission; now she was concerned that it was playing up again; trying to postpone its date with destiny.

        Tara was worried about Willow's worrying. Her instincts were to reassure Willow but that would have strained the concealment glamour to breaking point and you couldn't simply switch it on and off like a light switch. Tara herself was still certain everything would work out but the details were vague, or being censored deliberately. That was both frustrating and understandable, knowing too much about what was too come was dangerous, still a little nudge as to which corner to turn wouldn't hurt, would it? The lack of any direct reponse was an answer in itself.

        The three of them emerged from an alleyway to find themselves opposite Willy's bar and the charm pointing straight at it. "Maybe the First needed a drink?" Dawn suggested.

        "More likely looking for some cannon fodder." Willow riposted.

        "Whatever, do we try sneaking or just go straight in?" Dawn wanted to know; though the way she was tensed up said which option she preferred.

        On this occasion Tara agreed with the Slayer, "No point prolonging the agony."

        "Not ours anyway." Dawn commented.

        The door of the bar practically exploded when Dawn delivered a kick to it. Before the fragments even settled the Slayer and the witches stormed in, to discover the bar had been transformed into some sort of surreal art gallery. The figures were mostly standing or sitting though there were a couple caught in positions that suggested they were trying to flee. Willow was still taking in the scene when she heard some very faint, very odd sounds coming from behind the bar. She decided they had to be someone trying to crawl towards the rear exit without being heard, and Willow had a pretty strong suspicion who it was.

        Willow gestured and there was the sound of cursing as Willy banged his head against the counter before the levitation pulled him out into the open, "Hey Willy, customers seem a little quiet tonight."

        The bartender gave her a sour look, "I don't need this. First that wacko leaves me with this mess to clean up now you're hassling me."

        Tara had been watching the charm and seeing that it was spinning in a completely random manner she decided it wouldn't hurt to drop the concealment glamour, "Where is she?"

        Willy decided not to insult the witches by pretending he didn't know what they were talking about, "Hey it just breezed looking for a Tribex demon, then some smart mouthed demon said something it didn't like and I'm stuck with a bunch of ugly garden ornaments."

        "One of the demons insulted the First?" Even after its recent setbacks Tara had a hard time believing any of them would have the nerve to insult the creature.

        "Didn't sound like it, just said something the sky and the earth and the First got pissed off." Willy commented, still being reasonable in the hope of avoiding pain.

        "Caught between the darkness of the sky and the light of the earth." It sounded like a quote when Tara said it.

        Willow had experienced enough of these little moments lately not to bother asking where she had gotten that from. Instead she concentrated on the First, "Did it find out where this Tribex is?"

        "I didn't tell it." Willy cursed himself when he realised he had slipped.

        Willow hadn't missed it, "You do know where it is though?"

        "Yeah," he admitted.

        Willow made him float up into the air, "And you won't mind giving us directions will you?"



        If it weren't for the eyes the Tribex demon could have passed for human but they were a spectacular give away. It was the way they shifted that was so unnerving. One second they seemed like ordinary human eyes, then they were yellow with great cat irises, next insect like, and the next something that had never walked on the earth, or at least on this one.

        The Tribex had found a quiet spot in the middle of the woods. There were no amenities and few signs that anything lived here; which was the way the demon liked it. It was simply sat against a tree with its eyes closed waiting when the First found it. The creature drew out the tuning crystal and held it towards the Tribex, "You know how to make this work."

        The Tribex opened its eyes, "And I'll explain the method to you of course."

        The First should have been pleased by such obedience but after recent events it just made the thing suspicious, "You still maintain allegiance to me?"

        The Tribex shook its head, "By no means, I simply intend to play out the role that I have in such a manner as to buy as much extra life as I can."

        "Suppose I just kill you when you tell me?" The First asked maliciously.

        "Without knowing if I've told you the truth?" The Tribex shook its head, "Even you aren't that short sighted."

        The First bridled at the insult but couldn't fault the logic, "Perhaps not but if you don't hurry up perhaps I'll just take my chances."

        The Tribex shrugged, "Very well if you want the information you will have to look in my eyes."

        That made the First uneasy but the entity wasn't going to look weak, "Show me." And as it gazed into those ever shifting eyes the Tribex did.



        The demon had resumed its place against the tree when a slightly out of breath trio burst into the clearing. To be more accurate Dawn was Slayer fresh, Willow could have used a rest, and Tara wanted an oxygen bottle; on average though they were a little out of breath.

        Dawn menaced the demon with the spear, "Where's the First?"

        "Been and gone." The Tribex pointed out.

        "How long ago?" Willow demanded, she wasn't so much angry as afraid they were falling to far behind.

        The Tribex appeared to read her mind, "There's still time for you to catch up."

        "And why would you want us to?" Dawn asked suspiciously.

        The demon was becoming used to suspicion, "I simply do what I have to."

        "So where is the First?" Willow demanded.

        "Where this all began of course." The Tribex offered.



        Willow had been reluctant to believe the Tribex at first and yet its information couldn't just have conjured out of thin air, its powers didn't run in that direction and Tara was absolutely certain it was telling the truth. She wasn't sure she had actually been in this particular corner of Sunnydale’s extensive graveyards since that night. Now that's a lie, Willow scolded herself; she knew she hadn't been back here. Simple superstition but Willow wasn't going to knock it.

        As soon as they rounded the corner Willow was almost overwhelmed by the sense of deja vu; a figure in the darkness stood next to a tomb with the tuning crystal grasped in its hands. Of course this time there was a difference. Four years before Willow had been powerless, cowering behind a tombstone. This time there was definitely going to be no cowering.

        Tara was also ready for the fight, she was keying up her power when a strange sensation ran through her; as if her magic had blown a fuse, not just yet, the thought was calm, determined, and utterly maddening. Since Tara had come to a halt Willow and Dawn did likewise, that was all the delay that was needed.

        The First hadn't even noticed the trio approaching; it was focused entirely on the crystal and on making it open a passageway. The entity could feel something through the crystal, a ripple or distortion in the fabric of the world. It was of a wholly different order than the Hellmouth, which was no bad thing; the First found the Hell dimensions barely less depressing than earth. As the First used the tuning crystal to stretch the weakness open it discovered that the phrase passageway had been all to apt because the opening was inflexible, it led where it led and no power at her command was going to make it go anywhere else.

        It was in this moment of frustration, as the First looked around wondering if it should follow this unknown pathway or simply stay here, that the entity spotted Willow, Tara, and Dawn and realized that there was no choice at all. With the smuggest look it could muster the First stepped into the opening and vanished.

        Tara felt a moment of utter despair that was rapidly shoved aside by a sense of building power. Without a word she grabbed Willow and Dawn and pulled them towards the spot where the First had disappeared. She couldn't spare the concentration needed to explain; she had to focus all her efforts on the opening. It was already trying to collapse and Tara couldn't let it; she had to wedge it open, twisting energy into a complex structure that jammed the entrance open. Tara had no idea how she was actually doing it, she just knew she could, at least long enough.

        Before Willow or Dawn could protest she hauled them both into opening, leaving behind a dark and empty graveyard.

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

[Sheridan]

7. "Yesteryear"

Willow wished someone would get that flashlight out of her face; until it sank in that it was nothing more than morning sunshine. As her eyes adjusted Willow saw they were still in the graveyard, which simply fulfilled her more ominous expectations. The three of them had been displaced in time rather than space; the question was how far and in which direction?

        Tara was if anything more confused than Willow. Once again the details of how she had performed the feat were fading away like a dream and she was left to wonder exactly what she had done.

        Dawn seemed to be taking things in her stride, or possibly she just thought it would be sort of babyish to sit down and demand her sister come here right now and take her home, "This looks sort of fresher than last night, except for the burn marks."

        Willow was snapped out of her introspection, "What burn marks?"

        "Those." Dawn pointed at a group of memorials that Willow remembered all too well. They did show signs of having been struck by something, and recently. As she examined the stones an idea came to her and she ducked down behind the tombstone, ignoring the sense of deja vu that struck her as she did so.

        Tara watched a little dubiously as Willow approached holding out whatever she had picked up from the grass, "That night we ran into the demon with the tuning crystal Xander had a roll of Lifesavers. On the way here he split it and gave me half."

        As Willow was speaking Tara got a good look at what she was holding, it was as it happened half a packet of candy.

        Willow continued her story, "After we left the graveyard I reached into my pocket and they were gone. I remember because, well, I remember everything about that night."

        Tara took the roll and examined it, "It wouldn't lie here very long, and even if it did this would have to be at least three years ago."

        Dawn was impressed, "You did do some sort of magic test on it?"

        "Sell by date." Tara pointed to the printing visible on the back of the tube.

        “Oh right.” Dawn looked deflated and felt a little stupid.

        Willow smiled at that but her serious mood quickly returned, “I think we're further back than that, way closer to that day.”



        That same morning another Willow Rosenberg had gotten out of bed when the alarm woke her, brushed her long red hair the exact same number of times as every morning, packed her own lunch because her parents were out of town, and then set off for school in time to turn up ten minutes early; thus ensuring she didn't miss anything other than a few taunts from Cordelia Chase. To the outside observer this would seem to be a pretty typical Willow morning, only from the inside was there the certainty that something was decidedly off. It had started when she woke up and lazily stretched her arm across the bed and been momentarily surprised how narrow it was; not to mention empty. Actually it started in the Bronze, Willow corrected herself. Once everyone was reassured that she was fine despite being zapped by that blue crystal they had decided to divert to the Bronze and chill out for a while, except for Giles of course who decided he would go and put the crystal somewhere safe. Once in the club Willow had found herself sat at a table while Xander dragged Buffy onto the dance floor; and surprised herself when she wasn't remotely bothered by it. It was as if someone had reached into her head and blown out the big flaming torch she had carried for Xander Harris all these years, he's not the one, it seemed to say and suddenly that was ok.

        The thing that was bugging Willow intensely was that she couldn't put her finger on why; on where that sense of reassurance and warmth had come from, or where she could go to find more of it. She had considered telling the others about it but she suspected they would just want to get her checked for some sort of magical influence, or maybe a plain old concussion. Willow had studied enough medical books though to be sure that this wasn't just some after effect of head trauma…







…not that she had ever experienced one. Willow froze on the spot; the moment had been quite vivid and she had no doubt at all it was a memory. There was only the slight problem in that nothing like that had ever happened to her.



        Tara was concerned when Willow's gaze lost focus and she swayed on her feet but the moment passed before even Dawn could react, “What happened?” Tara demanded anxiously.

        Willow knew exactly what had happened, she had experienced it before and had devoutly hoped she never would again, “Got a crossed line with my other self, at least I know when we are now. I was walking to school, and thinking about last night; last night when the demon zapped me.”

        Tara's eyes widened, “You mean this is the day after that?”

“And about three weeks before everyone thought I had gone nuts.” Willow confirmed, with a little humour creeping back into her voice.

        Whilst Tara understood straight away Dawn took a moment to figure out the reference to Willow's trip to Quincy. When she did she smiled as well, until another thought struck her, “Willow are we all going to get these flashes?”

        Willow answered that very carefully, “Well it's happening to me because there's two of me in the same place at the same time…”

        “And there's only one of me.” Dawn said it matter of factly though inside she winced a little. Most of the time she just blanked out the fact that a lot of things she thought she remembered were just works of fiction.

        Willow guessed what Dawn was thinking but knew the best thing she could do was let the moment pass and turned her attention to Tara, "You haven't had any 'experiences' have you?"

        "Not yet," Tara responded, "maybe it needs proximity of location as well as time and the other me is far enough away."

        "Could be." Willow conceded.

        Dawn had finished thinking through her situation, "You know there's one good thing about the fact I'm the only me here."

        "What's that?" Willow asked when she untangled the syntax.

        "I can go scout the place out without being recognized."

        Tara nodded, "So can I come to think of it."

        Willow didn't like the way this was going, "But I can't."

        "Too many people know you, it could get messy." Tara reminded Willow, she understood Willow's feelings but they couldn't risk running into someone who would wonder how Willow got five years older and acquired a wife.

        Willow also knew that, she just wasn't going to give in without a fight, "We could try the charm again, see if it will take us straight to the First." Willow had tucked the charm in her pocket after the left Willy's bar; the sheer force of the entity's magic seemed to relentlessly draw the talisman back there. She let the charm dangle at arms length and it slowly turned to face Tara.

        Tara watched it and the worked the concealment glamour. The talisman turned away from her and proceeded to twist and turn, responding only to the movements of Willow's hands and the breeze in the graveyard. "Been and gone maybe?" Dawn suggested.

        Tara shook her head," If that was the case we would be probably be standing in the middle of a crater."

        "Which means we got here ahead of it, don't even try to figure it." The last part of Willow's sentence was directed at Dawn who was trying to puzzle out how they could have overtaken the First.

        "It also means someone should stay here and watch out for it arriving." Tara pointed out.

        "Perhaps we should all stay in that case." Willow tried one last gambit.

        "We can't be sure it will appear here, besides we should take advantage of being here ahead of the First to get the lay of the land and maybe set some traps." Tara countered.

        After what Willow had heard about the battle around the mission she had to concede that Tara was the expert on booby traps, "It does make sense I suppose," she admitted grudgingly.

        Tara kissed her on the cheek to soften the blow, "We're going to be careful, I promise."

        Willow gave in and Dawn handed her the spear, "Just in case."

Willow nodded and felt the balance of the thing as she watched the pair leave, "Remember, no buying shares or lottery tickets!" she called after them.

        Tara waved back noncommittally and Willow shook her head. Once they were out of sight she sighed and looked for a comfortable spot, or as comfortable as the graveyard offered anyway.



        When she couldn't see Willow anymore Tara let her shoulders sag. The truth was holding the passageway open had taken a lot out of her and LJ. Maintaining her connection from the future and working the magic had used up a lot of their daughters energy. Dawn spotted the change in her, "I'll take point," she stated firmly.

        "Ok but just remember we can't run around slaying demons, or doing anything else that might change anything." Tara warned her, Dawn wasn't stupid but she was still inclined to be a little over enthusiastic.

        Right now Dawn had her enthusiasm well in check, "Don't worry if I make a mess of the future Buffy will never stop nagging me. So what are we going to check out first?"

        Tara had already decided on that, "Well we don’t want to wind up stuck here so first thing we do is make sure we have a way home."

8. "Nostalgia"

After concluding that there was nowhere remotely comfortable Willow settled for somewhere with a good view of the graveyard. She dropped the spear and teleported onto to the roof of a large crypt. It wasn't very clean until Willow made a couple of quick passes that scoured the detritus away. A further gestured called the spear back to her hand and she hunkered down to keep watch; a little self conscious at being cast in the role of the hunter, huntress, lying in wait for her prey.

        If the First did turn up Willow wasn't quite sure what to do. There was likely to be at least a few moments when she would have the drop on the First; at least if it appeared in the graveyard. Willow had no qualms about shooting it in the back so to speak but if the creature fell on the crystal, or if the spear somehow found a way to shatter it enroute, then they could be stuck here. Thinking about the spears ability to invent trouble made up Willow's mind; she wouldn't use the spear until they had the crystal back and they were at point blank range.

        Having made up her mind Willow became aware of voices somewhere in the graveyard, familiar voices growing closer; unfortunately not the voices of Tara and Dawn. Buffy and Giles, what are they doing here? Snooping around the graveyard while everyone else is out of the way that’s what. Having answered that question Willow had to worry about another; what was she going to do? Hiding would be easy but if the two of them were still here and the First showed up...

        Getting down was the work of a moment and Willow quickly pulled together the familiarity glamour, if it worked with complete strangers she hoped it would work even better on people who knew her. "Look Giles I'm just saying if you were planning on getting me something for my birthday." Buffy's commentary was cut off when she spotted Willow. She looked puzzled and Willow was afraid the glamour hadn't worked until Buffy continued, "Will? What are you doing here?"

        "Doing a little snooping about what happened last night." Willow explained as casually as she could.

        Maybe a little too casually. Giles raised an eyebrow, "All by yourself? Commendable initiative Willow but a little dangerous by yourself."

        Willow was going to point out that was a little rich coming from him but held it back, "It's broad daylight I didn't think it would hurt," she offered instead.

        "And you had kind of a wiggins about what happened last night." Buffy suggested.

        Willow bridled at that but stayed outwardly calm, "I just needed to work a few things through."

        "I have to concede we were puzzled by the way the demon simply; vanished." Giles commented.

        You were going to say 'vaporized' Willow realised and now understood why the two had come; they were wondering if the crystal had destroyed the demon and whether she might go the same way in some sort of delayed reaction. Explaining the truth, that the demon hadn’t evaporated but simply wound up in the future where it had simply been slain, wasn’t exactly practical and Willow decided just to ignore that line of thought. Better just concentrate on getting the other two out of here, "I already had a good look, there's nothing here but scorch marks."

        Giles had been looking around as they were talking. He took off his glasses and sighed, "I was hoping we might find something more in the daylight but you appear to be right."

        Buffy shrugged, "Guess we better get back to school."

        That was something Willow hadn't considered, she really didn't want to go anywhere near Sunnydale High, just at the moment though she couldn't think of a good reason why the Willow Buffy and Giles thought they were talking to wouldn't want to go to back to school. She was temporarily distracted by the fact the air behind Buffy and Giles was beginning to ripple, well of course, Willow grumbled to herself. Before the other two could spot the shimmering she cast a quick spell and both Slayer and Watcher were rooted to the spot, she then blanketed them with a concealment glamour.

        As the First appeared it blinked in the light and felt relief as all it saw above it was clear blue sky. It was a lot less happy to see the familiar landscape of the graveyard and downright horrified to see Willow standing there, "What are you doing here?"

        "Waiting for you." Willow explained in a tone that implied it was a very stupid question, "You didn't think you could lose us did you?" The last was pure bravado, just an effort to unsettle the entity.

        Despite its best effort the First couldn't entirely avoid flinching. It recovered quickly, "You don't have me yet, and if you come after me I'll make it a very costly exercise." With that the creature teleported out.

        Willow had been half expecting that. At least she had gotten to rattle the First, and now they could use the talisman against it. She was going to call Dawn and Tara when she nearly tripped over the frozen and invisible Buffy; there was one more thing she had to do. She took up roughly the same position she had been in before she ensorcelled them and unraveled the spells.

        The pair blinked uncertainly and Willow decided to seize the initiative, "You're right, might as well get out of here." She didn't quite shove them in the back but she did stride purposefully towards the exit of the graveyard. That spared Willow having to confront the rather penetrating stare Buffy was casting in her direction.



        How did you manage to ditch them? Tara wanted to know.

        Just said I needed to go to the bathroom and worked the concealment. Willow explained, Buffy's going to think I've gone nuts.

        Is that what happened? Tara asked innocuously.

        Willow thought about it, and then replied hesitantly, yes she did because she claimed we had a conversation and I didn't remember a thing about it.

        Which puts our trip here in a different perspective. Tara observed.

        Willow had begun to think the same thing, that far from risking changing things they were supposed to be here. Willow suspected only madness lay at that the end of trying to untangle the mess that made of cause and effect.

        Tara picked that up and agreed. She decided to change the subject; did Giles and Buffy stay at the school?

        Yes, why?

        Just wanted to know if we're going to run into them anytime soon, Tara was truthful if a little misleading.

        Willow accepted it at face value, I think you're safe; we'll meet up at the rendezvous after I pick up the spear?

        As soon as we can, Tara assured her warmly.

        I'm counting the seconds, Willow answered before she let go of the link.

        Tara turned to Dawn, "Giles is at the library so we've got plenty of time."

        "You didn't tell her what we're doing did you?" It wasn't so much an accusation as an observation.

        "Willow would insist on joining us, and if anyone spots her hanging around here that could make things really complicated." Dawn didn't look wholly convinced since they could always use the concealment glamour. She was right to be suspicious since Tara really just didn't want Willow worrying about what her pregnant other half was doing.

        She decided to distract Dawn by explaining about their newly formed theory about their effect here, "You mean we were always here?" dawn frowned as she said it because she wasn’t sure she understood her own comment.

        "I think so, at least as much as I want to try thinking about it." Tara confirmed.

        That was a sentiment Dawn wholehearted agreed with, "Way too weird." Something did occur to her, "You know I think Buffy was worried about Willow right before she ran off to Quincy."

        Tara was leading Dawn towards a familiar courtyard, the block that held Giles apartment was quiet this time of day so Tara gave most of her attention to Dawn, “Doesn't surprise me, Willow couldn't make sense of what was going through her head until she broke the memory spell."

        Dawn nodded; and frowned, "There was something else though, something that made Buffy pretty mad but I can’t remember exactly what it was."

        That made Tara pause in front of Giles' front door. That recollection might be something to do with her actions here but it didn't seem to fit, so long as we don't trash the place, she thought as she placed her hand over the lock and sprang the mechanism.

        Giles apartment was as orderly as always and probably the place that had undergone the fewest changes over the years; indeed if it wasn't for the occasional demon attack Tara suspected it would be identical. "You really think he brought the crystal home with him?" Dawn wondered.

        "It's here or at the library, and we can't check that out until later so we might as well start here." Tara pointed out casually as she looked over the shelves.

        Dawn nodded and began to pull out drawers, "I thought Willow had been overdoing the homework and snapped; you know, when she ran away. I still thought so when she came back with this new best friend."

        Tara smiled, "It was a good kind of crazy." She noticed a small chest shoved into a corner and went to check it out. She opened it and was stunned to see the crystal shoved in amongst a collection of weapons, wrapped in a thin cloth and surrounded by things which could scratch or smash it, "No wonder he never told us where he kept it," she muttered darkly, "Come on we better get out of here."

        "Couldn't we do something useful? Leave him a warning about what's going to happen?" Dawn wasn't sure it was a good idea but she felt she had to bring it up.

        "If we interfere we could change the good as well as the bad." Tara felt the desire just as much as Dawn. For all their happiness together there had been pain and loss in Willow and Tara's lives; Jenny, Joyce, so many innocent victims of the battle, and yet, so many others had lived and so much evil had been defeated, how could they put that at risk.

        "I know your right," Dawn admitted, "I just wish you weren't."

9. "Flashback"

Willow decided she liked the apartment better in their own time. The outside had obviously been resurfaced somewhere between the two times and the current effect was a little garish for her taste. She felt the key in her pocket and was struck by the absurd temptation to put it in the lock and see if it would work.

        She was spared wrestling with the notion by the sight of Dawn and Tara walking down the street towards her, with the egg shaped crystal firmly clutched in her other halves hands. It was very noticeable because there was a pale blue glow emanating from it, "Have you tried a spell on it?" Willow wondered.

        Tara shook her head, "It was like that when we found it."

        Dawn gave Tara an arch look at the use of the word 'found'. Willow was too focused on the crystal to notice, "Probably reacting to the other crystal."

        "Maybe we could use it to track the other one down." Dawn suggested.

        Willow nodded and looked to Tara, "I agree but I think we need to do more than just chase after the First; we need to make a plan for one last confrontation."

        Tara knew Willow was concerned about what would mean. Even if it was only the image of her mother this wasn't going to be easy. Tara had already made her peace with that however, letting the First continue its impersonation would just tarnish Ellie Maclay's memory, "We finish this and we go home," she stated resolutely.

        "I'm all for it," Dawn chipped in, "So what exactly is this plan?"



        Retreating to its lair the First had become aware that something wasn't right; or rather that something else wasn't right. To begin with there was a nest of demons lurking in the place who had failed to show the proper respect and been slaughtered for their impudence. By all the signs they had been resident for some time and even the shape of the cave was subtly wrong, changed somehow.

        An explanation had formed in the back of its mind but the First wouldn't even to consider it without a lot more evidence. It was too wary to simply go bouncing around Sunnydale to confirm its theory, however it finally settled on a place that it was unlikely the witches could booby trap; a street corner about a hundred yards from the Hellmouth, or a hundred yards from Sunnydale High in this case.

        The First knew the building shouldn't be there but what disturbed it more was that it couldn't feel the Hellmouth. The dark portal should have cast a miasma of dark energy over the surroundings; instead there was only quiescence. The idea that the First had ignored now forced itself to the fore; the crystal had failed to displace it space but had succeeded in sending it elsewhere in time. Spotting a man carrying a newspaper walking along the sidewalk the First pulled it from his grasp. When he tried to protest he found himself flat on his back about fifty feet away.

        Scanning the newspaper the First confirmed its suspicions. Its First reaction was to rage at the Tribex demon. The creature had clearly known what would happen, I should find it and break it in two before it betrays me. That chain of thought snapped as the implication of its position sank in. Despite all its powers the one thing the First did not have was prescience; the future was as much a mystery to it as any mortal.

        Now for however brief a moment it knew what was coming, the shape of the world that would be, and how it had been formed. Even better, in this time its enemies wouldn't recognize it. That cheered the First considerably; they will die without even understanding why.



        Finding someplace to work proved to be the hardest part of trying to trace the connection between the two crystals. All the usual places were occupied; either by their younger selves or others who simply filled the space they would take up someday. In the end they wound up in a quiet corner of UC Sunnydale library, shielding the crystal from any curious bystanders with a stack of books lined up along the edge of the desk. "It's practically flying off the desk to go after the other one." Willow commented.

        "Might be a little conspicuous though." Tara suggested in return.

        "I think we can settle for a little snooping." Willow had laid a sheet of paper under the crystal and was carefully drawing symbols around it. Tara couldn't resist smiling at that; even in direst circumstances Willow couldn't bring herself to deface university property.

        Dawn had wandered off, allegedly to keep the students and staff at a safe distance. Tara noted that she had intercepted a student, a tall handsome male student. Dawnie we're here to work not flirt, besides he's too old for you.

        Dawn bridled at the unspoken criticism; he's only a couple of years older than me.

        More like six or eight, Tara reminded her.

        That did get through to Dawn, there's always something, she grumbled.

        Luckily Tara was spared any further thoughts about Dawn's love life when a misty glow began to form above the tuning crystal and slowly formed into an image. It was distorted and the angle was odd, like looking through a video camera that was being carried in someone’s hand.

        That didn't prevent Willow recognizing the location, "We're going to have to move."

        "I thought we were just going to trail it quietly and wait for an opportunity?" Dawn pointed out as she rejoined them.

        "The First just changed the plan." Willow stated bluntly. She scooped the crystal off the table and handed it to Tara, "Baby will you...?"

        "I'll tidy up and look after the stuff." Tara conceded amiably, gesturing towards the spear, which was carefully shrouded in a concealment glamour.

        Willow kissed her and grabbed Dawn, rushing off to find a quiet corner to teleport without freaking anyone out.



        Looking at the ring Angel wondered again if this was the right choice. Giving Buffy something like this for her birthday, well it wasn't an engagement ring or anything but still there was a certain symbolism. He closed the box and put it aside, it had taken long enough to choose this, and he wasn't starting over. "What an appalling place."

        Angel spun around at words and was confronted by the figure of a woman in her late thirties. He wasn't fooled however, there was an air of menace hanging over the woman, one that said she wasn’t truly human, "I've been meaning to get a decorator in but you know how it is." There was an ax lying behind the chair and Angel was edging towards it. The effort was wasted as the ax flew up into the First's hand.

        The entity examined the ax and idly gestured with its free hand, slamming Angel face first into a wall, "You know I never really appreciated the pleasure of beating someone to a bloody pulp before now. Perhaps I should see just how long you could last." The First punctuated its words by telekinetically throwing the vampire around the room. "On the other hand there's your girlfriend and the rest of her little gang. I think I'll let her mourn for a day or two before I dispose of her." It hefted the ax, "As for you? Well its all downhill from here so consider this a favour."

        The ax flew towards the vampire’s throat, and hung in the air inches from him, "You could put someone's eye out with that." Willow commented as she materialized with Dawn beside her.

        Angel heard the familiar voice and painfully turned his head towards it. The young woman he saw certainly looked like Willow but she was older and there was an air of confidence about her that Angel didn't associate with Willow. As he lay on the floor Willow and a teenage girl, who looked oddly familiar even though he hadn't seen her before, crouched down beside him.

        Reassured that there wasn't any permanent damage to Angel Willow swung her attention back to the First, "Kind of petty isn't it? Just because you didn't get him the last time?"

        "He would have been destroyed if the higher powers hadn't intervened." The First sounded rather sulky as it spoke.

        "Yeah right." Dawn's response twisted the knife.

        Willow was more concerned with what the First was carrying. There was something bulging the pocket of the coat it was wearing, "You didn't think you could get away from us did you? We practically had you tagged before you left the graveyard."

        If the First hadn't been so easily wound up it might have seen what Willow was trying for. Instead it snapped back angrily, "Do you think I don't know how?" It dragged the crystal from its pocket, “this thing has served its purpose." It threw the crystal at the wall at the same moment as it launched the contents of a table at Willow with its magic. Dawn though had been tensed for action since the moment they arrived. She jumped with all her might and wrapped herself around the crystal before it struck.

        Willow raised a barrier and the missiles deflected away harmlessly, with a snarl the First teleported out. Dawn pulled herself off the floor and walked over with crystal, "Maybe you could use them as book ends," she suggested as she handed it off to Willow.

        "There's really only one of them." Willow reminded her, "And I think we should keep them apart just to be safe." A groan from Angel as he pulled himself upright grabbed their attention. Dawn reached out and helped pull him to his feet.

        Angel didn't miss the strength behind that gesture but he was still looking at Willow, "It is me Angel," she assured him.

        The vampire hadn't been entirely sure but the expression on her face when she spoke was pure Willow, "You look..."

        "Older." Willow supplied.

        "I was going to say grown up." Angel corrected her.

        "Maybe a little bit of both." Willow muttered embarrassedly.

        "But you are older, a couple of years at least." Angel observed.

        "And a witch, and gay, and a mom." Dawn threw in, mostly to see the look on Angel's face.

        He remained disappointingly calm but he couldn't help asking, "You have a child?"

        Willow decided it wouldn't hurt to answer, "A daughter, or I will have as long as nothing happens to change things."

        Angel guessed where that was leading, "Like me remembering meeting you."

        "I'm sorry." Willow wasn't sorry about using the memory spell, she was sorry about all the things she couldn't warn him about. Angel slumped to the floor; Willow had added a little something to the amnesia spell. "Let's get out of here."

        Dawn nodded and then hesitated, "That's why Buffy got so mad."

        "What are you talking about it?"

        "I remembered Buffy getting mad but not why. It was because somebody beat up Angel but he couldn't remember anything about who did it or why." Dawn explained.

        Now she tells me, Willow thought acidly. She looked at the unconscious form of Angel, "Let's just go."

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

[Sheridan]

10. "The Abyss"

Tara usually enjoyed watching Willow, usually of course it wasn't this much hard work, skulking in the shadows and trying not be spotted by this Willow.

        When Willow and Dawn got back Tara was relieved to hear that nothing disastrous had come of the First's attack. Still they couldn't just count on predestination getting in the way, and the First was bound to keep targeting the gang. Willow had come up with what she regarded as a brilliant plan; Tara didn't see it that way but since LJ wasn't offering any objections and Tara couldn't come up with a plan that offered more prospect of success she had no choice but to agree with it.

        When they had divided up the guard duty Tara and Dawn had made a stand, they wanted to watch over their loved ones and so when Buffy, Giles, and Willow emerged from the Summers house and split up Tara had set off in pursuit of Willow while Dawn trailed after Giles and her sister.

        If pressed Tara would have admitted it wasn't just a matter of watching over the woman she loved; it was a curiosity about how Willow had lived her life before she came sweeping in to Quincy, after which of course everything changed. Willow had always done her best to describe her life in Sunnydale in the best possible terms. Tara always suspected that there was a big chunk of spin in that, and if this night was representative Willow had spent a lot of time left to her own devices.

       

        Willow Rosenberg knew she was being followed; she had no hard evidence because she was afraid to look back over her shoulder and provoke whomever it was but she was certain nonetheless. She had gotten to know the feeling of being stalked since hooking up with Buffy and this was definitely it. As the minutes had passed it seemed increasingly unlikely it was a vampire or a demon, they weren't usually so patient. When she couldn't stand the tension anymore Willow span around. Quick as she was all Willow saw was the merest glimpse of a female face before it faded away.

        Standing goggling at what had clearly been some sort of hallucination Willow felt a compulsion to run; towards the apparition. I'm losing my mind. It was a logical conclusion but Willow still shunned the thought. There was a good reason for all this....



        < She luxuriated in the sensation of warm flesh moving against hers; hips and breasts pressing together; lips and fingers exploring every inch of Willow before the mouth was pressed to her ear and demanded; 'Show me this feels.' Willow responded with a shriek that could have brought the roof down.>



        ...she just had no idea what it was. Willow nearly buckled at the knees; she had experienced every sensation of that vision and it left her dizzy, confused and, well, satisfied. She took deep breaths to try and clear her head and pull herself together; she needed to get home and try to figure this out, especially how to recapture that incredible sensation.



        Tara watched as the younger Willow set off down the street again. She had been so intent on watching Willow that she had completely forgotten to use the concealment glamour. When Willow had turned round Tara instinctively worked the glamour but was afraid she might have scared the younger Rosenberg to death in the process. However as Willow walked away she looked anything but scared, and there was a glow to her aura, one that Tara knew all to well, Willow was anything but scared. Tara followed cautiously and opened a telepathic connection to her other half.



        The elder Willow Rosenberg was visiting a long lost friend. She had nearly forgotten what Sunnydale High looked like when it wasn't a bombed out ruin. Now here it was; janitors cleaning the halls, a Hellmouth in the library, and Principal Snyder in his office scheming to get rid of troublemakers. Willow shook her head and decided that nostalgia was overrated as she slipped unseen past the janitor.

        When they divided up the gang Willow should have in theory gone to watch over Xander and Cordelia. However as much as she cared for Xander Willow couldn't pretend that he was going to be a high priority for the First, and as for Cordelia, well she decided that was even more unlikely. Instead Willow had headed for the library and the Hellmouth. Her task was to simply stake it out with a few guard wards.

        Honey I think I blew my cover. Despite the potential seriousness of the report Tara didn't sound worried.

        When she explained what had happened Willow had to agree that it wasn't so bad, thinking back she could remember that amongst the strange dreams that had haunted her after she returned from her first trip through time, actually I convinced myself it was a dream, a pretty good one but a dream.

        Well I think the other you was too confused to be sure of anything, Tara commented, I think we should check in with Dawn.

        Good idea... Willow hesitated as she spotted someone in the corridor, someone sticking to the shadows in a pathetic attempt at hiding given his long leather coat and bleached blonde hair made him stand out like a sore thumb, [/i]hold that thought baby[/i].

        Willow followed Spike and found they were headed for the same destination, which couldn't mean anything good. She hastily slipped through the door as Spike flung it wide open. As she watched he began to paw through the contents, looking over all her friends' stuff, trying to scope them out or maybe looking to mess with their heads; either way Willow didn't have time for it.

        Sliding in amongst the stacks Willow dropped the concealment glamour and considered the options. She could hardly count on getting a chance to use the memory spell on Spike; a more direct approach was called for; she gestured and every light in the library went out.

        Spike froze standing next to the table, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. They never got the chance because a spark of light raced towards him and hung in front of his face, blinding him and moving which ever way he turned, "What are you doing here Spike?" The voice was booming and echoed off the walls.

        "Who wants to know?" Spike wasn't going to be impressed by cheap tricks.

        Willow wasn't surprised and decided to spring for some more expensive tricks. Spike was jerked up into the air, then left, right, and back down so his toes were just brushing the ground, "Now are we going to remember who asked first?"

        Spike held his tongue, as he had been shaken around he had caught a glimpse of a female human form; which meant he was dealing with a witch, and a powerful one at that. Witches made Spike nervous because one minute you thought you were dealing with a nice normal human and then just when you were about to make them into dinner they turned around and hexed you. Spike decided to answer the original question, he had no intention of winding up like Angel; all whiny and chasing after the Slayer like a lost puppy, "I'm just trying to find something to use on the Slayer and her little pals."

        Willow almost drove him into the floor for that 'little pals' remark but managed to restrain herself, "Well I promise you that you aren't going to find anything, so you might as well leave."

        Since his feet settled firmly on the floor at that moment Spike realised it was more than just a suggestion. As he walked away he couldn't resist one last remark, “I hope we bleeding well never cross paths again.” The laughter that followed him through the door made even the vampires blood run cold.



        Hey Dawnie how's it going? Willow's thought chimed lightly into her mind.

        Dawn's mood on the other hand was far from light, where have you been?

        Got a little distracted, I take it there's trouble? Willow still didn't sound perturbed, why should Dawn have had an easier time than either her or Tara?

        There are demons following Buffy.

        That's not unusual. Willow reminded her.

        Dawn wasn't convinced, at least two different kinds? Who both ignored me when I practically hung an 'eat me' sign around my neck? Something's making them work together and stick to whatever job they've been given.

        There was only one power that could credibly have marshaled the demons and intimidated them sufficiently to achieve that degree of discipline, the First. Their planning an ambush, that much was obvious to both Willow and Dawn. Willow reached out her mind and sought to pull Tara into the conversation. To dawn the exchange between the witches was practically a blur; the telepathic process reduced to a shorthand that could only exist in two people who shared every instinct and emotion. It's not going to be subtle, Tara observed, the first is going for a version of the frontal assault it tried at the mission, and this we can't just throw everything we have back at it.

        That worried Willow because it indicated the First might actually be thinking clearly for once. Even if everything else they had done here had either been part of the course of history anyway or had been easily covered up there was no way an all out firefight in the middle of Sunnydale was simply going to be ignored by the younger version of the gang and trying to make everyone forget such a public spectacle would be, challenging, to say the least, we have to pick them off quickly and quietly, at least without Buffy realizing anyone is helping out.

        Tara considered it, the notion made sense but it troubled her, until it struck her that she wasn't the one who was troubled. Tara had become used to LJ hanging on the edges of her awareness now though LJ was heading right for centre stage.

        The fourth presence in their group was vibrant and immediate, LJ wasn't observing them through some sort of temporal telescope, she was here and now the First always likes to have a backup plan and you have to make sure which is which.

        All we’re seeing here is demons, Tara reasoned, there’s no sign of the First itself.

        The others could practically hear LJ nodding, luckily I have a plan, and before anybody argues I'm not the one, or ones, who came up with it. There were no prizes for guessing who the guilty parties were and as LJ outlined it Willow understood why she had been so eager to disown it; it was hugely risky and yet there was no way out. The group was firmly grasped in the clutches of fate and destiny; they were going to do it because they had done it.

11. "Stitch in Time"

The demons had been congregating in the alleyways parallel to Buffy's path. Their orders were quite specific, scoop up any other creatures of the night they came across and wait until they reached an open space, then encircle the Slayer and slaughter her; regardless of the cost.

        Willow slid up to the trio lurking nearest to her unnoticed. She had been in two minds as to whether she should take them out or just scare them away; after all they might be involved in a future battle. Looking at them Willow decided that it wasn't very likely their deaths would disrupt the space-time continuum so she dropped the concealment glamour. She swept her hand across her body with the palm faced down and a faint ripple of energy reached out towards the demons, who still hadn't noticed her. The ripple passed through the demons and they fell to the ground; in several pieces. Satisfied that they weren't going to pull themselves back together she moved on; there were a lot more demons gathering.

        At the same time Willow struck Dawn snuck up on a pair of vampires and staked them in the back; not a very satisfying kill but quick. Tara settled for a more indirect approach; she simply turned a patch of concrete into the equivalent of quicksand, three more demons simply sank in mid step.

        Watching all of this from its hiding place the First was satisfied; it hadn't expected much from the dregs it had rallied to the cause and they were fulfilling its lowest hopes. Still there were a lot of them, they were spread out; and the witches’ attention was fully occupied, and that was the point.

        The creature could have teleported straight to the Hellmouth but it expected that they would have laid some sort of trap and again it wasn't disappointed; the First finally felt it had the measure of Willow and Tara as it felt out the pattern of wards that would have frozen it in place if it had been foolish enough to charge in. Despite the delicate interconnection designed to prevent them being tampered with the First swiftly unraveled them. As soon as it entered the library it used one of the other lessons it had learned and threw a barrier around the room; it had no intention of being interrupted.

        The incantation that Rupert Giles had decrypted from the map was carefully tucked into a pocket of the jacket that it had 'acquired'. In the future it was working albeit imperfectly; unleashed here it didn't matter how long it took. There was no one in this timeframe with the skills to counter it, well there was but they were a little too busy right now.

        The First's mind was unreadable so it was pure coincidence that the disintegration of its scheme coincided with that thought. It was the prickling sensation of being watched that tipped it off. The creature spun around and shed any pretence of calm or dignity as it shrieked, "You can't be here!"

        Tara could have tried to explain things to the First but it would just give her a headache and it might just make the whole thing collapse in on itself, because if Tara thought to much about it she would have to think about being outside and that she was in two places at once; at that point is was distinctly possible it would fold in on itself and it was fifty-fifty in which place she would end up. LJ had tried to explain this 'mirroring' to her without any great success; somewhere in the depths of 'string theory' and 'n-dimensional space' Tara had become lost, possibly because it was the limit of LJ's understanding as well, suffice to say this particular twisting of the universe was allowing her and Willow to protect Buffy and confront the First.

        Willow wasn't inclined to philosophize at the moment, they had been lurking here for half an hour and the spear was getting heavy, "We're here and we aren't going to leave until we finish this."

        The First tried to pull down the barrier it had erected only to find the magic wouldn't budge, something had jammed it in place, "I still have the power to destroy this world." It grasped the spell in its hand ready to incant it and fracture every weak point on Earth.

        Willow's next words added astonishment to the First's anger, "No you don't, in fact you never did," she suggested casually.

        Seeing the astonished look on the First's face Tara added, "Let me help you." Tara gestured and the First's hand was forced open. The piece of paper rose up like a small bird and fluttered across the room into Tara's waiting hand. The First could nothing to stop it as the paper vanished in puff of smoke.

        As soon as it was gone Tara commanded the crystal and a jet of energy struck into the heart of the Hellmouth.

        Willow was watching the space behind the entity and could swear she saw the air flicker and shimmer, twisting into the ghostly shapes of tentacles that reached out hungrily; though that could have been Willow's imagination.

        The First watched this unable to change or deflect the powers being directed against it to even the smallest degree. To this moment the first hadn't really, truly, accepted the notion that this was the end of the road, it might be defeated but destroyed? Now cold fear crept into what passed for the creature’s soul.

        Willow could see the change in the First and it took a moment to place the mood of the monster because of all the emotions it had ever expressed dejection didn't number amongst them. Willow turned to look at Tara, "You don't need to see this baby."

        "We're doing this together honey, all of it." Tara stated firmly and took Willow's free hand. At that moment the spear and the tuning crystal rose into the air almost unbidden. They could feel something radiating from the weapon, a sense of gloomy inevitability to match the expression on the face of the First; they deserve one another, Willow decided. The crystal on the other hand was impassive, a tool doing its job and nothing more.

        "This won't save you." The First stated desperately, "There are things every bit as dark me, you can't defeat them all."

        That the First would admit it was anything less than the summit of all evil tended to make Willow believe the statement. She shook her head, "We're going to try, when the time comes."

        Before the First could muster a response the spear leapt across the room and pierced the beast straight through its heart, passing straight through without stopping. As it flew it soaked up the energy of the creature, swallowing up the First like a black hole.

        The spear struck the illuminated mass of the Hellmouth and seemed to shatter, fragmenting and smearing out along the dimensions of time and space until it touched the shuddering instability of the future Hellmouth and the entire multidimensional mass fell into it.

        Willow and Tara watched as the Hellmouth flared and tried to reach for them. Before it could it was snapped back, collapsing to the vanishing point; the current Hellmouth might survive and leave history untouched. The future version however was gone, taking the First with it, forever.

        "It's over." Willow whispered the words; afraid if she said them too loudly someone would pop up to contradict her.

        Tara was looking at the fleshly remains of the First. It was not her mother but that unmoving form dredged up painful memories. Willow understood instantly and didn't hesitate; the body vanished in a pulse of light.

        With ghastly reminder banished Tara's thoughts lightened immensely, "It is over," she echoed Willow's words loudly, daring anyone or anything contradict her. When nothing did she grabbed Willow and practically hugged the life out of her, "It is over!"       

        Willow kissed her passionately and when she finally broke away a thought finally occurred to her, "I suppose we should share the good news with Dawn." The notion of the Slayer still being out there fighting reminded them both that there was an aspect of themselves out there as well, which was enough to collapse the magic and leave Willow standing on her own in an alleyway with a pair of dead demons lying at her feet. There were several more standing watching her, "Luckily for you I just retired, so I suggest you leave before I change my mind." The demons took the hint and ran off into the night. Willow decided she was satisfied with that, now lets go home I want to sleep in my own bed.



        Tara was resting against a gravestone and waiting as calmly as she could. She was happy and exhausted and had wholeheartedly agreed with Willow's sentiment when they had a chance to share. That was why they had come straight back to the graveyard; tired or not they weren't spending one more moment in the past.

        Willow and Dawn materialized next to her, "Did you get it back?"

        "Right where it came from," Tara assured her, "though I did make sure it was wrapped a bit better than before."

        "I don't think we messed with anything Giles will notice." Dawn added.

        "He's still patrolling with Buffy, and wondering why it's so quiet tonight." Willow advised them.

        Dawn got an impish look on her face,” I'll have to remind her she owes me one, owes us one." she hastily amended.

        Tara picked up the future version of the tuning crystal, "Let's go remind her." She walked towards the monument that still bore the scorch marks of the Kresk demons abortive attempt to manipulate the crystal and held it before her. A faint tongue of energy began to play over a patch of air, slowly outlining a fracture in the universe, "After you." Tara gestured and Willow gave a little bow before she stepped in and vanished. Dawn just grumbled and followed.

        Tara took one last look around before she followed and hesitated for a moment; it could be construed as interfering but she couldn't help herself. As she stepped through the rift she let a single telepathic word slip out into the night, remember.



        The younger Willow had gone to bed and fallen into a fitful sleep. Her dreams were all fuzzy and out of focus, as if whatever she was dreaming about didn't want her to get a good look at it. Remember. The single word resonated through her mind and suddenly the images came into sharp focus. They were just fragments, confused bits and pieces of fantasy and recollections of the future world she had visited. It was still confusing but there was one clear image in all of it; the face of a girl, maybe not the sort who was going to make the cover of a fashion magazine but beautiful nonetheless. Willow still couldn't put a name to the face but she was going to keep trying and soon she would succeed, soon she would understand, soon she would set off on the journey that changed everything, soon.

12. "Tomorrow"

The hospital waiting room was making Dawn very uneasy; coming here had never meant anything good. Of course this time was different but still she couldn't shake the feeling. The other weren't exactly helping. Xander and Anya were engaged in another of their running arguments that Dawn had tuned out for long enough to completely forget what it was about. Giles had stalked off to the coffee machine fifteen minutes ago and failed to reappear; nothing suspect in that, simply not wanting to show how tense he was in front of everyone.

        Willow and Tara were, well, busy, and as for her sister, where the hell are you Buffy?



        Elias had finally found a space in the hospital parking lot and locked up the SUV, "Did you bring a gun?" Buffy asked Elias jokingly, mostly jokingly.

        "I'm counting on them being to distracted to actually try and lynch us," he explained.

        "Uh huh. Well just remember Dawn has all the Slayer strength now. If she tries to twist you into a pretzel I can't stop her."

        Elias did his best to be stoic, "I'll take my chances."



        When she saw the pair walk in Dawn almost did bounce them off the walls, "Where have you been? I tried your cell phone and I left messages."

        "Which we got or we wouldn't be here now." Buffy interrupted.

        "How's it going?" Elias asked.

        Dawn shook her head, "No word yet. But where were you two?"

        "Decided to go out of town for a couple of days." Elias explained.

        That didn't remotely satisfy Dawn, "Where?"

        "Las Vegas." Buffy answered diffidently as she extended her hand to show Dawn the gold band adorning her ring finger.

        Buffy held her breath as Dawn absorbed the implication of it. After a moment she nodded, "At least I won't have to wear one of those hideous bridesmaids outfits."

        Further discussion was cut off as Willow appeared. She made her way over to a water cooler. Everyone wanted to bombard her with questions but she looked so frazzled as she swallowed a cup of water that they held back and lost the chance as she disappeared back through the doors that led to the delivery room.



        When she had insisted on sharing everything Willow hadn't remotely been ready for what she was letting herself in for. It had been bad enough when she shared the sensation of morning sickness one time, this though brought a shared determination; we are never doing this again. That it was quite unlikely the occasion would ever arise wasn't helping a lot at the moment; especially as a contraction passed through her.



       



        Willow leant against the wall before she plunged back into the delivery room. As if the pain and exhaustion weren't enough the flashes were adding disorientation. After they had returned to their own time Tara had reported that LJ's presence had retreated, apparently deciding that she had done enough interfering.

        The problem was that when Tara went into labour it became clear that the great helix that connected the two times hadn't been destroyed. Now it was disintegrating and spilling out fragments of information in it death throws.

        Taking a deep breath Willow walked through the doors and returned to Tara's side. The delivery staff had been a little surprised when Willow turned up with Tara but that had soon passed and they became focused on their task, though they were surprised that Willow didn't appear to be offering words of encouragement.

        It will all be over soon. Willow tried to keep her thoughts as soothing as possible. She suspected that even with the telepathic bond Tara still wasn’t sharing the full sensations of the labour.

        If it isn't I'm going to try and teleport out and leave LJ here, Tara threatened wearily, before another spasm made thought impossible.



        "It's kill or be killed." Sabrina insisted.

        "We don't kill people." Willow explained frostily.

        "It isn't people, and if we don't kill them they'll kill us."

        "I suppose that makes it easy for you." Willow regretted the words as soon as she said them.

        Sabrina didn't shout she just shook her head and walked away, "Fine I'm the cold blooded killer I'll go do what has to be done and you can keep your hands clean and tell LJ what a rotten human being I am; again."



        Willow felt a chill run through her, who the hell is that girl?

        "Alright Tara one more push." The doctor’s voice drove the question out of Willow's mind. She turned all her attention and saw...



        The gang was being ushered through a door by a concerned looking nurse; the group had been engaged in nonstop bickering when the nurse tried to get their attention.

        Buffy was in the van of the little group as they walked into the hospital room. Willow was perched on the edge of the bed and Tara was lying there looking happy but exhausted, and cradling a small bundle in her arms, she pulled back the blanket to show a small pink face, "Say hello to Lydia Joyce."

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

[barnabasvamp]

Wow, wonderful way to complete the story, especially with Tara and the baby.



Really sorry to see this end, but enjoyed the ride. Thanks again!!



BV

"When choosing between two evils, I always like to take the one I've never tried before"-Mae West

[Sheridan]

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Aaaaaaawe! That was so sweet and fluffy and cute!

Though now I'm all a-curious about what would've happened if the memory spell had been mistimed...?

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Sorry I didn't reply to you sooner MelindraX but when I read your message I was thinking how can she have read 'Last Dance'? Hopefully when you read that you will understand how things worked out the way they did.

Quote:

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Really sorry to see this end, but enjoyed the ride. Thanks again!!

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Glad you enjoyed it Barnabasvamp, just remember this is the end of this series but 2018 is coming soon...

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Yep very much looking forward to see where you are going to take this.

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Well Karma where I'm taking it is the future....

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

Edited by: Sheridan at: 12/28/03 10:55 am

[Karmah]

Sheridan

great fic I can't wait for the second part humm so Sabrina is who Faith reminded LJ of eh ..... Yep very much looking forward to see where you are going to take this.

Arron

What lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

~ by Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

[tstcloud]

Great finale! Can't wait for the follow-up series. You're definitely to be commended for finishing up this series during the holiday season--especially given all the fun to be had at this time of year!



T

[Grimaldi]

great ending to a wonderful story, looking forward to the next installment

I'm not stealing, I'm just taking things without paying for them. In what twisted dictionary is that stealing?
They think she's innocent and sweet, but I know she's an evil bitch

[MellindraX]

Got it right this time



That was pretty well timed on my part actually, just in time to catch the ending. Of course, there were those few days sitting here reading (intermitted by going out, I do have a life contrary to popular belief [suuuure I do ]).



This was just... fun. Twisted and turnsome and saying a bit on that side of confusing sometimes would be an understatement, but you wrapped it up to make it work excellently. Especially pleased, actually, by the situation of Buffy's powers being foisted off to Dawn; I always felt kind of bad for the eternally-doomedestined Slayer.



Except we don't know what happens with LJ, who the hell Sabrina is, and when do we learn about the cursing brunette? Ignoring my personal guess the latter two are one and the same....



More, please? I'll beg, offer chocolates, bear children, whatever. Gimme more!

I’ve never purposely gone out to take somebody out. Well, maybe, in elementary school I once did try to trip somebody. –Amber Benson

I'm an idiot. Ask me how.

[Sheridan]

Quote:

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Great finale! Can't wait for the follow-up series. You're definitely to be commended for finishing up this series during the holiday season--especially given all the fun to be had at this time of year!

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Well Tstcloud truth Is I can't help writing. I have an Ipaq so i can write anywhere, anytime.

Quote:

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great ending to a wonderful story, looking forward to the next installment

---

Already into the depths of chapter two of the first 2018 story, so watch this space Grimaldi...

Quote:

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Got it right this time



That was pretty well timed on my part actually, just in time to catch the ending. Of course, there were those few days sitting here reading (intermitted by going out, I do have a life contrary to popular belief [suuuure I do ]).



This was just... fun. Twisted and turnsome and saying a bit on that side of confusing sometimes would be an understatement, but you wrapped it up to make it work excellently. Especially pleased, actually, by the situation of Buffy's powers being foisted off to Dawn; I always felt kind of bad for the eternally-doomedestined Slayer.

More, please? I'll beg, offer chocolates, bear children, whatever. Gimme more!

---

Well I appreciate the offer MelindraX but you don't have to go quite that far because more is coming. As to Sabrina well without giving too much away keep a close eye around the fifth or sixth story in the 2018 sequence...

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

[chronic]

Great finale, such a clever idea to have the story end back where it began. I liked that you tied up all the loose ends, right done to why the memory spell broke down all those years ago. And some hints of the future, can’t wait to see what those were all about.



So, one story ends and another begins…

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Morning Amnesia – Nature’s way of keeping you from waking up screaming

[Sheridan]

Quote:

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So, one story ends and another begins…

---

That's the plan Chronic. The first four stories will basically be setup plus some explanation of what happened to the rest of the old gang, both good and bad, and introducing the character who bears a lot of responsiblity for what happened twenty years ago, though they did already appear in one story...

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

[Sheridan]

Just to let people know that despite losing a few days to the flu the first 2018 stiry is finished. Should be up in a couple of days after some editing.

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

[Sheridan]

Prologue

Sixteen years ago the Hellmouth was sealed and The First Evil was destroyed. It was an immense blow to the forces of darkness, a defeat that drove them back into the darkest corners of the earth to lick their wounds and cower once more in fear of the power of the Chosen one and the Champions of the light. The demons weren't completely cowed of course, and some still dreamed of controlling or destroying the world but the truth was that it was like a bar room brawl after the 'total war' of the Sunnydale years.

        Some concluded that this was a great sea change, the beginning of the end for evil. Any student of biology could tell you that was unlikely. Wherever there was an ecological niche something would fill it, and by 2018 there was great big niche for evil…





Title: Bad Omens

Author: Mike Mullen

Rating: NC-17/18 because of violence and adult themes.

Spoilers: Actually less than zero

Disclaimer: All the original BTVS characters belong to Joss Whedon, but everyone else in the stories are my personal slaves, and will be for decades to come….

Summary: Sixteen years of peace and quiet are about to come to a shattering halt

Authors notes: New gang new setting and trouble coming that will make the Hellmouth look warm and inviting…

Feedback: Just add your comments at the end of the story.

Bad Omens

1. "Life But Not As We Know It"

"Now if I told you that I could make this levitate what would you say?" Willow lifted a stylus from the table in front of her and then let it drop from her fingers to bounce to a halt on the top. It made just enough noise in the quiet lecture theatre to establish its solidity. The students arrayed around the hall didn't respond directly, they just looked at her and then one another; fearful of some sort of intellectual ambush being laid. Willow let them squirm for a few seconds, "Ok no one wants to call the professor crazy, how about I just do this then?" Without so much as pausing her speech Willow had the stylus rise up and hover several feet over the desktop, "Now what do you say to that?" A male student near the front made the mistake of muttering loudly enough for Willow to hear, "What was that Thomas?"

        The student shuffled uncomfortably in his chair, "I said 'wires'."

        Willow nodded, "A nice logical suggestion, come up and take a look."

        Thomas reluctantly stepped up and waved his hands around in a manner that while it provoked some laughter demonstrated the absence of any support for the stylus. "Maybe you set that up with him in advance." A girl near the back suggested as Thomas sat back down.

        "And if I said I was willing to let all of you come up here?" That caused a resumption of the suspicious silence. Willow let the stylus fall back to the desk, "Actually I know what would happen, you would come up with ever more elaborate explanations for how I performed the 'trick'. What this illustrates is how hard this class is going to be for you, to try and understand how our ancestors viewed the world. To understand how magic, the belief in magic, influenced the course of human culture you are going to have to set aside your biases and see the world from a different perspective." The chiming of a bell interrupted Willow, exactly as she had known it would, "Alright, check your reading list and make sure you've completed block one before the next lecture."

        Willow watched the students filing out and saw them arguing amongst themselves. Her little demonstration was always good as a softening up exercise to get the students thinking, which was always the hardest part as far her fellow professors were concerned. One girl hung behind as the class filed out, which wasn't unusual either, "I have a theory professor about how you made the stylus float,” she announced as soon as they were alone.

        "Really?" Willow kept her voice casual.

        The girl nodded, "It wasn't wires, and the stylus is plastic so it wasn't magnets, and I don't think you hypnotized us."

        Willow smiled and nodded, "So what does that leave?"

        "You just willed it to float." The student did her best to make it sound a casual comment but there was a tremor in her voice.

        Willow considered her for a moment before responding, "Could I see your tablet?"

        The student handed over her small flat computer tablet and Willow used the stylus to enter some extra information before handing it back, "That's a link to a small private database I maintain, you might find the material in there interesting."

        "Thank you professor." The girl murmured and hurried off after her classmates.

        Walking across the car park Willow fretted about her decision. It wasn't exactly rare for one of her students to show an interest in the true nature of the art and she had long since concluded the best approach was to guide them, make sure they stayed out of the clutches of the darker elements of the magical world. Still sometimes she wondered if it wouldn't be safer just steer them away from it completely. As she always did Willow rejected the notion, if magic carried risks it could also enrich a life immensely, and no one knew that better than Willow Rosenberg.

        Climbing into her car Willow kicked her shoes off and ran her fingertips over a patch on the dashboard, "Good afternoon professor." The car chimed in as it identified its passenger

        "Afternoon Giles." Willow hadn't been able to resist giving the cars AI that name after the first time she heard its precise and slightly pedantic tones.

        "Are you going home?"

        Willow rubbed her neck, "Definitely Giles."

        The car started up and as it did so it interfaced with Willow's tablet and the communications network, "There is a message for you from Bernie Ramsay."

        That made Willow tense up again, "Play it back."

        "Hey Willow it's Bernie, got the editors notes back and the proposed cover art. Now I know you're going to hate it but that's the image the public has of your demon hunter and we're kind of stuck with it."

        "A mini skirt," Willow growled, "They've put Buffy in a mini skirt again." Sunny, she reminded herself; in the books she's called Sunny.

        Bernie's message was still playing, "Just remember it's your stories that sell the books, not some piece of cover art." the recording reminded her encouragingly.

        Willow sighed, "They're not stories, they're my life."



        The man stretched out on the couch was still talking about his dreams and Tara still wasn't really listening. That wasn't the product of boredom or of any failings in her skills as a therapist; it was just that she was more interested in the nuances of her patient's aura. Tara hadn't started out planning a career in the mental health profession but as she moved through her college studies she found herself ever more fascinated with psychology and an innate instinct to help people had sort of made it an inevitable choice, especially given her unique insight into peoples psyche.

        Right now Tara was examining the swirls and eddies of this mans essence looking for something that explained the source of his anxiety, "I wonder if you're being entirely honest?" she asked.

        The patient started, "I haven't lied to you."

        "I was thinking more that you were lying to yourself." Tara explained, "There are always things that we don't want to admit to ourselves, sometimes it's a painful memory, a desire, or simply an insight that we can't bring ourselves to think about."

        "And you think that's my problem?" he asked,

        I'm absolutely sure of it, Knowing how smug it would sound, and unable to reveal the source of her insight, Tara knew better than to share that tidbit of information with the patient. Instead she just nodded and said, "I think it's something we seriously need to explore if we want to get to the root of your anxiety."

        The patient pursed his lips and then nodded, "Maybe so, I have to admit that I keep feeling like there's something I should be doing but I can't think what."

        Maybe someone worked a memory spell on you, Tara suppressed the amusing but inappropriate notion, "I want you to see if you can pin down when that feeling started, and we can discuss it at your next session."

        The man rose from the couch and made for the door without even noticing the subtle dismissal. Tara rose from her desk to stretch her legs and caught sight of herself in the mirror. Her hair was darker now and she usually wore it up to emphasis a professional, detached look that her patients seemed to find reassuring. Her face had acquired a few lines but in truth the years had been kind to her; in more ways than one.

        Hey baby are you finished for the day?

        Willow's voice sounded light but Tara could tell there was something behind it, pretty much honey, why?

        I just got a message from Bernie[/i], Willow admitted.

        Now Tara understood, he sent you the editor's notes and you don't want to look at them until we're together.

        I know it's silly but it's always been lucky for me, Willow pointed out.

        You don't really need luck you know, Tara reminded her, they like what you write.

        Maybe but I still like to do it together.

        Tara smiled; Ok we'll do it as soon as I get back from picking up LJ.

        That provoked a slightly troubled note in Willow's thoughts; I just hope she hasn't created havoc this time.



        LJ swung the sword upwards as her opponent closed to attack and thrust their own weapon forward in a move designed to slide past her guard. LJ wasn't fooled and quickly moved her blade into the path of the other weapon, and followed it up with a couple of moves that drove her opponent back. Now I've got you, LJ could see precisely how to finish this, and she moved in eagerly for the kill. Unfortunately her brain was running ahead of her body and as she closed the distance she almost tripped over her own two feet. The stumble left LJ wide open and her opponent seized the moment to administer the coup de grace.

        The sound of the buzzer was shrill in LJ's ears, "That's three points to two, victory to Felix." The fencing instructor announced.

        It was all LJ could do not to throw the blade down in disgust. Instead she just took off her mask and shook hands with Felix, who was being the picture of proper etiquette, at least while they were in front of the fencing master, Mr. Mendel was a stickler about such things. Since her little match was the end of the session LJ made to grab her bag and hit the showers, "One moment Miss Maclay." The instructor's tone brought LJ to a grinding halt.

        "I'm sorry Mr. Mendel, I made a hash of that last attack."

        Mendel waved his hand dismissively, "That's rather obvious. No what I wanted to ask you about was what led up to it, you could read Felix's moves couldn't you?"

        "Sort of." LJ admitted.

        Mendel shook his head, "That's what I thought. You are the most frustrating pupil I have ever had. On the one hand you persist in making these appalling mistakes and yet on the other I keep seeing these flashes of something more from you. If only you could get that," he pointed to her head, "to co-operate with those," he gestured at her hands, "You could be championship material. Ah well we shall just have to keep working on it."

        Dismissed LJ headed for the changing rooms. She knew the instructor was right, she just couldn't make anything work right, everything about her was out of balance. Other girls her age tried out for cheerleading, or soccer, or basketball even, she fenced. She had a fashion magazine folded to an article on hairstyles with a copy of Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' tucked next to it, she felt like a jigsaw puzzle that no one had figured out how to put together.

        LJ's brooding was interrupted when she found Felix lurking near the door to the studio, close enough to have heard the conversation between herself and Mr. Mendel, "You? Championship material? Your parents must be paying him extra,” he sneered

        LJ wasn't going to dignify his inevitable sarcasm with a response, until he made the crack about her parents. LJ decided that Felix should find out what it was like to trip over his own two feet. His bag was carefully tucked behind him and LJ made a subtle gesture intended to drag it into his path. Instead the bag practically exploded scattering the contents over the floor, "What the hell happened?" Felix demanded puzzled and angry.

        "I'd like to know as well." At the sound of that voice LJ's heart sank. She turned to see Tara Maclay standing in the entrance of the fencing studio.

        "Hey mom." LJ greeted her as cheerily as she could, knowing full well it wasn't going to do any good, I wonder if there's a good spell for having the earth swallow you up?



        Jeannette pulled the hood of her coat tighter, it cut down on her visibility but she was willing to make the sacrifice to keep the drizzle out of her face. The truth was that with the dark and rain she couldn't see much anyway, which given the grim garbage strewn nature of the alley was not necessarily a bad thing. As she looked up she could just make out the shape of the Eiffel tower rising over the rooftops. Jeannette wished she could return to those tourist trap boulevards; sitting in some cafe with an overpriced coffee seemed very attractive right now, but you have a calling, her Watcher's word were so clear he could practically be standing next to her. He though was sat in some cafe, waiting for her to finish her patrol.

        Jeanette considered wringing out her sopping wet jacket over his head when she got back but at least his absence let her use a rather more modern approach to tracking her prey. Opening the metal glasses case Jeanette pulled out an overbuilt pair of goggles and slipped them on. Instantly the alleyway was picked out in a false colour image that let her see every detail of her surroundings, including a faint glow lurking amongst some dustbins about fifty yards away. Her Watcher would lecture her about relying on her instincts and not machines but until her instincts grew night vision she was sticking with the glasses.

        Pressing herself against one wall of the alley Jeanette edged forward and slid a bolt into her crossbow. She wasn't going to risk hand to hand with this beast, she was just going to put a bolt through it and go grab a hot shower. That intent lay in ruins when the back door of the building she was sneaking along opened and knocked her out into the alleyway. The crossbow fell from her hands and fired, sending the bolt ricocheting uselessly off the other side of the alley. Jeanette ended up on her hands and knees while the demon exploded from its hiding place and sprinted away from the Slayer.

        Jeanette climbed to her feet cursing, and turned her fury on the woman whose arrival had wrecked her patrol, "Do you have any idea what you've done?" She didn't wait for an answer, simply scooping up her crossbow and sprinting after the demon in the vain hope she could find its trail again.

        The woman watched Jeanette disappear with a sad expression, "Yes I'm afraid I do." She closed the door and then teleported away.

2. "Golden Age"

Tara was quiet, almost serene, on the way back from the school. LJ wasn't fooled by it she knew it just meant that her parents were silently discussing the matter between themselves. She could break into the link and put her side of the story but she had been firmly taught that it was only to be done in direst emergencies, and the prospect of semi-permanent grounding did not qualify, that was also a lesson that had been drummed into her and in this instance she would just be making matters worse, if that was possible.

        Tara had in fact finished talking with Willow and was now simply letting LJ stew. In truth there was a part of her that sympathized with her daughters actions; it was always tempting to teach some jerk a lesson with a little magic but down that road lay megalomania and splitting your girlfriend in two. It was a long way down it perhaps but every journey begins with a single step. They had progressively explained their history to LJ based on what Willow gruesomely referred to as the 'boiling frog' principle.

        In practice this meant explaining about magic when LJ was six and her 'imaginary friend' started terrorizing the neighbourhood; about slaying when she was ten and Buffy had made a verbal slip when they were visiting at Christmas, and explaining about her parentage when she was thirteen and working on a family tree. Some things though still remained unspoken. LJ had no idea that they had met before she was born, and Willow had been adamant, the Fire was never to be spoken of. Tara had to wonder at moments like this if that was entirely wise; LJ needed to understand there could be consequences to using her magic recklessly.       



        Willow was staring at a photo on the mantelpiece. It was a picture taken at LJ's sixteenth birthday party. For just a moment Willow had gotten her daughter to stand still and be photographed. LJ had done her best to look poised and confident for the snap, right before she wiped out a glass of champagne sat on the table beside her. The expression frozen by the picture made Willow feel unsettled, it was the same look of assurance she remembered on the face of the young woman who had come to rescue her from limbo. Hard as it was to admit the gap between that woman and the LJ of the here and now was a very narrow one and getting narrower every day.

        The sound of arguing voices as the front door opened broke her reverie and reminded her that while the gap may have narrowed physically it still remained a yawning chasm in every other respect. "So Lydia Joyce what do you have to say for yourself?"

        LJ wanted to look her mother in the eye but simply couldn't, Willow's 'resolve face' had faced down demons; a guilty daughter had no chance, "I didn't mean to make the bag explode, I just wanted to move it so Felix would trip over it."

        Willow stood there and tried to untangle the rushed explanation. She also reached out to Tara, is Felix that obnoxious testosterone bottle we met when we went to the open evening?

        Tara kept her face impassive, that's the one.

        Hmmm, well I kind of wanted to zap him after five minutes in the room, Willow admitted.

        But...

        But, Willow sighed, "However justified you may have felt you shouldn't have risen to the bait and you especially shouldn't have used magic. Even if it had worked perfectly suppose Mr. Mendel had come out and seen you levitating the bag?"

        That was a question that LJ didn't want to answer and she tried to divert attention from it, "You used magic all the time in Sunnydale," it sounded feeble even to her; if it had been a sword thrust Mr. Mendel would have thrown her out of the class.

        Willow parried it easily, "It wasn't all the time and this isn't Sunnydale, you can't just count on people ignoring things the way they did on the Hellmouth, and," Willow held up hand to cut off LJ's response, "And no it wouldn't be easier living on a Hellmouth, the day we closed it was the third best of my life."

        LJ didn't ask what the other two were. Centre stage on the shelf behind Willow were two large photographs. One showed her and Tara stood on a Hawaiian beach; the other the couple sat on a hospital bed cradling a small bundle between them, no better not too ask about those other two, it would just be mushy and embarrassing and she would really just rather be yelled at, "Ok, ok, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done it."

        Willow knew it was a grudging admission but probably sincere; she had been more concerned that LJ would notice that all inclusive 'we' she had used, "Alright, weren't you supposed to be going over to Emily's house to study?" LJ nodded, "Well you can go, but I want you to think about this and we will talk about it again."



        Once LJ was gone Tara got an arch look on her face, "I was expecting you to ground her for a week."

        "Well I'm not sure what good it would do and," Willow wilted under that penetrating stare, "and I didn't want her looking over our shoulders while we were looking at these." Willow pulled out her tablet and called up the notes Bernie had sent her.

        Tara slid into the seat besides her, "That's what I thought, so show me the cover."

        Willow grimaced, "You just have a thing for that Amazon they use on the covers."

        Tara smiled, 'Well she does have nice legs," she teased.

        Willow peered at the display on the tablet more closely, as if lost in thought; until Tara nudged her in the ribs, "Sorry I was just seeing if you were right."

        Tara affected an air of wounded pride and made to rise from the sofa, "Well I'm sure Bernie could get you her number."

        Willow pulled her back and gave her a kiss on the cheek, "Not my type. Seriously though what do you think of it?"

        Tara studied it carefully. The image had the aforementioned blonde Amazon clad in a t-shirt and mini skirt, wielding a large sword. Confronting her was a demonic figure dressed in a business suit and with a burning globe floating above its hand. The title, 'Elected to Evil: A Sunny the Demon Hunter Tale' was scrawled across it. "Well it's not the most lurid, I mean that would have to be the one with the fish guy, the bikini, and the ax."

        That was a point Willow was willing to concede, "I know but it really doesn't look a lot like Buffy."

        "Well your name isn't 'Anne Winters' but that's what it says on the cover." Tara reminded her, "We don't want anyone making connections and some insane fan turning up on our doorstep, or Buffy's."

        Willow knew that was true. Back when they first moved out of Sunnydale money had been tight; Willow was doing post grad studies and working at the same time. One day she picked up some trashy horror novel left lying around by one of her colleagues and came to a couple of conclusions; that she could write better, and had much more interesting stories to tell. The 'Sunny Chase' novels had been born from that. When it became clear that some publisher had actually wanted the first story the couple had discussed it with Buffy. They had cut her into a share of the royalties and agreed to change enough details that no one was going to connect it to their reality.

        Tara was thinking about another issue, "You know Will now that you've told the story of the mayor the next logical thing would be to write about the Initiative, and the final battle with the Shadow."

        "I had been thinking about that," Willow admitted, "I was considering working up new ending."

        "An LJ free version." Tara guessed.

        "I'm just not sure whether we want to have to explain all of that just yet, heck it's been nearly twenty years and I'm not sure I understand it."

        Tara appreciated the reasoning but, "We may be running out of time for not yet."

        Willow knew that, was certain of it, even so, "I want her to have every moment she can, before destiny gets its hands on her."



        The Third chair of the Circle of the Glade was currently searching for the Second; not necessarily an easy task when from one perspective the Glade was infinite. Fortunately from another it was a relatively modest stand of trees and meadows with only so many quiet corners; besides the Third knew where the Second liked to go and think.

        As expected the Second was perched on a large flat stone looking out over a fast moving stream. The Third was loath to disturb the Second, mainly because that would make her the receptacle for all the Second's pent up frustration. The Third sighed, there was sadly no alternative, "The rest of the Circle is waiting for your report."

        The Second waved the request away, "The Glade is timeless, they can wait."

        "The Glade is timeless, the patience of the Circle isn't." The Third pointed out.

        The Second grumbled but rose from the stone and fell in step beside the Third, "It's pointless really, I'll report, they'll look sad, then someone will say it's the plan and they'll all nod and move onto the next order of business."

        "You don't approve of the plan?" That did concern the Third; they couldn't afford dissent now.

        The Second shook her head, "No the plan is the best we could devise, the only plan that stood a chance. What I object to is the way the others have of acting as if the plan is a force of nature, that they have no responsibility for its creation, or its consequences."

        "Ah yes." There wasn't much else she could think of to say, she could hardly deny that some of their colleagues were markedly lacking in empathy.

        The Third's reluctance to defend the Circle left the Second's anger looking for a new outlet, "Of course perhaps their just less hypocritical. Lydia Maclay was my friend you know, a person I cared for and respected; and yet when we formulated this grand plan I was in the vanguard of driving her from the Circle, I was the one who left her daughter to die, who put her granddaughter through hell to save her soulmate, and now," The second hesitated.

        "And now finally we can save the world." The Third had listened to enough of the Second's self-flagellation; it was time to remind her of the truth. "Not to mention the Glade itself, is there any point to this agonizing over the choices made when there really was none?"

        The Second had spent her anger, feeling drained she conceded, "Perhaps."

        The Third was inclined to quit while she was ahead, "I'll let the others know your coming."

        The Second watched the Third hustle away. She knew the Third confused her agonizing for indecision and weakness. The truth was that while she might castigate herself for it later the Second would push yet another generation of Maclay's into harms way; sorry Lydia, with that small apology she followed after the Third.

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

[Sheridan]

3. "Luck Of The Draw"

LJ spotted Ally lingering on the steps of the high school looking anxious. That wasn't unusual; Ally was nervous more often than not, or 'borderline neurotic' as Tara had once described her when she didn't think LJ was listening, "So did you ask them?" Ally ventured without so much as a greeting.

        "Ask them what?" LJ was mystified by the question.

        "About dropping out of the field trip." Ally was edging from nervous to hysterical, "You didn't did you?"

        LJ groaned out loud; not so much because she had forgotten to ask as because she had forgotten about the field trip entirely, "That's this weekend."

        "Of course it is, and if you have to go I have to go."

        LJ felt Ally's logic was deeply flawed. When her parents had heard about the weekend trip to an archeological dig LJ's name had been the first one on the signup page. LJ had accepted it as gracefully as she could; she had long since learned that complaints about how hard she had it at high school didn't get her anywhere, unless she happened across a Hellmouth in the basement.

        Ally though was determined to change her parents minds about making her go, and by some warped logic had concluded that if Professor Rosenberg let LJ off the hook then her parents would follow suit.

        Standing in the biometric scanner that controlled access to the building LJ felt compelled to explain the gaping hole in Ally's plan once again, "They were never going to change their minds, its educational so I'm going, end of discussion."

        The scanner beeped and released the barrier to the hallway. Ally took her turn in the scanner, "But we have to stay there overnight, in tents." The teen loaded the word with horror. Because Ally was her friend decided not to point out that worse things could happen, especially since the girl would just start worrying about them as well.



        The locker-lined hallway was much the same as those found in any high school in the previous hundred years, on a casual inspection at least. The cameras that covered every inch of the hall were small enough to go unnoticed and the electronic field that was supposed to trip the digital kill switches installed in all modern firearms was invisible by its nature. The rest of the security system achieved the same invisibility effect simply through familiarity; it was just part of the way things were.

        The lockers themselves had eschewed simple combination locks for an electronic control that read retina prints, and was rumored to be able to 'smell' illegal substances, though that might just be propaganda designed to unnerve the student body. Ally was still grumbling when she stepped up to her locker to let it scan her eyes and verify that she was indeed who she appeared to be. LJ was only half paying attention but as the line of light moved down Ally's face on clear thought entered her head, too bright. She made to grab her friend but the light had reached her eyes and Ally had begun to shriek before LJ pulled her away. LJ kept a firm grip and swiveled Ally round, “Let me see, let me see,” she had to repeat the instructions several times and hold Ally's face firmly in her hands before the girl stopped struggling long enough to let LJ look into her eyes. What she saw wasn't good, they didn't seem to be focusing on anything and there was an odd glassy look to them. Blind, LJ was utterly certain of that, and knew that when Ally came to that realization she would become too hysterical to help, and LJ was going to help, regardless of the risk of exposure "Hold perfectly still," she commanded and was a little surprised when Ally obeyed, unaware of the authoritative tone that her voice had taken on.

        Trying to think of a spell that would repair the damage LJ realised that she didn't know one, that there might not be one, don't heal, reverse a calm inner voice suggested. The inspiration confused LJ for a moment until she looked deep into the eyes and saw that there was a residual trace of the old pattern of blood vessels and nerve endings remaining there, Just make the flesh go back to where it was.

        Right then it was just as well Ally couldn't see anything, the way LJ's eyes turned to quicksilver for a moment would have freaked her out more than simply not seeing. When Ally blinked and found she could focus on LJ's face all she saw was a concerned expression, "Can you see me?" LJ demanded.

        "Yes," Ally assured her, "and feel your hands squashing my face."

        LJ withdrew her hands, reassured that if Ally was grousing about that then there couldn't be much wrong with her. Besides none of that cut through the sense of awe that LJ was experiencing. The magic had worked, more than that she was sure that neither of her parents had ever described anything like what she had just done. Maybe they just didn't want her getting ideas, or maybe they didn't know how to do it. Willow and Tara had always insisted that she had more power than anyone else ever had, and thus had to be more cautious than anyone else. LJ had never quite believed it; until right now.



        The gloss on that moment was only slightly tarnished by the questioning she underwent over the next half hour. It started with the maintenance man, followed by her and Ally's home room teacher, followed by the deputy principal, followed by the principal herself. All of them wanted to know what had happened, and if there was any way the school could be sued. The maintenance man had disassembled the scanner panel, "Well there's you problem, simultaneous burnouts in the power regulator and the overload prevention circuit, million to one shot."

        "Practically an act of god." The principal suggested optimistically. She turned her attention onto LJ and Ally, "Are you two feeling alright? Would you like me to contact your parents?"

        Ally nodded a rather weak affirmation but LJ was adamant, "I'm fine so there's really no need." The principal was only too happy to accept the refusal, the less irate parents she had to deal with the better. After yesterday LJ had absolutely no desire for her parents to hear about this, regardless of how good her intentions were, or how well it worked out.



        Sitting through third period chemistry LJ brooded on the logic of that decision; if the accident was the result of some sort of mistake by the school should she really be helping them cover it up, even if it telling the story was going to land her in hot water?

        LJ was still thinking about that as the chemistry teacher launched into a demonstration. He had placed a beaker of some liquid in a fume cupboard and had produced a bottle of something, an 'ide' or an 'ate', LJ realised she really hadn't been paying attention; he had unstoppered it and was putting it into the cupboard when a small insect settled on his shoulder. Perhaps it stung him or perhaps the buzzing sound of it simply startled him. That wouldn't have been a problem if the teacher hadn't had the bottle in that hand. Dropping the bottle wouldn't have been more than embarrassing if another bottle hadn't been left in the cupboard from a previous class.

        The two bottles collided and both spilled their contents onto the floor of the chamber, releasing some nasty looking fumes that began to swell and spread towards the opening. The glass door of the cupboard was fitted with a system of springs and pulleys that let the heavy thing move up and down easily. The chemistry teacher slammed the door down, only to see it slide back up. He tried again with the same result, and now the fumes were leaking out, "Everyone out!" The teacher ordered, chivvying nearby students towards the door.

        The speedy evacuation meant no one had been exposed to the fumes, except for the teacher who appeared to trying to cough his lungs out. Safety had however demanded that the entire building be abandoned. Most of the students were standing around talking excitedly. LJ though was worrying. The sequence of events in the lab had just been a string of bad luck, really bad luck, twice, in one day.

        That somehow didn't seem likely to LJ, she began to wonder if there was some common factor that linked the two; and quickly came to the uneasy conclusion that there was.



        Willow was sat in her office reading a book; not one of her own of course, far too trashy for a respectable professor. She was instead reading a learned volume by an east coast compatriot on the subject of witchcraft and Wicca practices. She was alternating between snorting and laughing derisively as she leafed through it. The author had started from the assumption that there was no practical basis to magic and was trying to explain things in terms of sex and drugs, surprised he didn't try to work in rock and roll as well, she thought sarcastically.

        Hey mom are you busy? LJ's thought was distinctly hesitant.

        Willow jumped to the logical conclusion, what have you done?

        I haven't really done anything, LJ responded, well I don't think so anyway.

        The hesitation gave Willow a sinking feeling in her stomach, I think you had better explain yourself Lydia.

        LJ did her best not to wince at the use of her proper name, at least it was only half of it, she was only really in trouble when the 'Joyce' was added. She laid out the events of the day carefully editing out the part about how she had healed Ally.

        Willow considered the story, it sounded like LJ was having a bad day but that didn't explain the underlying anxiety she was picking up until LJ asked a question, is it possible for magic to leak out? Do things without you intending it to?

        Now Willow understood the concern, in theory but in practice I wouldn't worry about it, in fact I'm not convinced there's any magic here at all, seems more like clumsiness and bad maintenance to me.

        LJ wasn't about to argue with her mother but she wasn't wholly convinced, maybe.

        Probably, Willow countered, so don't worry about it; we can talk some more about it at home tonight.

        Ok see you later. LJ let the connection fade; she tried to still her conscience. She hadn't said she wasn't going to check into this further, and Willow hadn't forbidden anything, and if they ground me I won't be able to go on the field trip, so really I can't lose. As much as she tried to LJ couldn't quite believe that.

4. "The First Time"

Tara had fallen asleep a little while before but Willow was still awake, doing her best not to toss and turn so as not disturb her other half. Despite her reassurances to LJ Willow couldn't wholly dismiss her daughter's suggestion that there was some sort of supernatural involvement in what had happened at the school. Either incident could have been classed as freak accident if they had happened on their own; together they were,well, troubling.

        Lying there Willow applied the acid test, what if these events had happened at Sunnydale High? She didn't need to think very hard to come up with an answer; they would have been hitting the books and looking for suspects. Willow decided that perhaps she should do a little discrete checking, without letting LJ know of course. With a plan of action settled Willow finally drifted off to sleep, which is why she didn't hear the sound of someone tip toeing past the bedroom door, a teenage female someone.



        The household computer system had been given several very clear rules to add to its operating system; almost all of which were designed to keep the youngest member of the family out of trouble. Near the top of the list was informing her parents if she started doing any magical research. Willow would have been most put out to discover that one of the things LJ had inherited from her was a facility for bypassing computer security.

        "What would you like me to find?" the computer asked once LJ persuaded it she really was allowed into all those files it had previously been keeping from her.

        Sitting in the darkened room LJ spoke softly, "I want to know how to search for traces of magic."

        "There are several potions that will perform that function, liquids and powders." The computer informed her.

        "No I want something a little less messy, besides if I get seen hanging around school with strange powders then thing could get very messy." The last thing LJ needed was to get busted, if her parents had to come to the principal's office, or worse the police station... LJ shuddered.

        The computer had focused only on the first part of her comment and now answered it, "There are several spells but they aren't as reliable."

        LJ shrugged, "They'll have to do, put them on my tablet." With the information safely stowed away LJ snuck back to her room. She didn't like going behind her parents backs but someone had to investigate what was going on, and if it was nothing, well then the parents need never know, and if it was something with any luck they would be to intrigued to remember to ground her, in theory.



        Willow had arrived in her office early as was her wont to sip a coffee and check for anything that might require her attention; usually a student who was trying to sneak in a paper late and hoped she wouldn't notice the time stamp on the file. This morning Willow had more important matters to worry about so she locked the door, powered up her tablet, and let her fingers run over its surface with a spell she hadn't used in years. She was relieved to discover that computer security wasn't any more spell proof now than in the past and with full access to Clinton High School's computers she began to think about just what sort of search she was going to initiate. Unfortunately the best thing she could come up with was rather vague, “Access university computer network, transfer spare capacity to execute search program, incidents of extreme bad luck at Clinton High School, in, the past seven days.”

        A more primitive computer would have baulked at such a colloquial enquiry but the university system was design to deal with the vagaries of the student body so its system made the best job it could of interpreting the comments, “There are thirty five possible incidents.”

        Willow frowned, “Are the incidents which occurred yesterday with a chemical accident and a locker malfunction on the list?”

        “They represent the most likely match to your inquiry along with five others.” The computer confirmed.

        Willow was startled, she had decided to investigate but that was more to satisfy her curiosity and reinforce the reassurance she had given LJ, “Show me the other five.”

The incidents did indeed seem to follow the pattern of the events LJ had described, all hideously unlikely, and all perhaps laughable; if it hadn't been for the potential or actual harm done. Six players injured during a football practice, all by off the ball incidents. A computer failure that caused all the drivers ed cars to converge with another, a string of bizarreness that couldn't all be coincidence, there had to be something behind it all and something with a vicious sense of humour by the looks of things.



        Tara was still at home when Willow contacted her. In the same way that Willow liked to get into the office early Tara liked to luxuriate in the quiet and space that arrived when her partner and daughter departed. She loved them dearly but there was a certain pleasure in a few moments peace and quiet, especially when they were few and far between. Even so the tone of Willow's thoughts banished any irritation instantly. How sure are you about these incidents? She asked when Willow outlined what she had discovered.

        I checked back a month, three months, and six months. Nothing like these incidents, and a lot fewer of the minor kind as well; something caused the bad luck around that school to escalate way beyond normal. Willow had approached it with her usual methodical nature. She would have been shocked at the fact of how it had all been swept under the carpet, if she hadn't seen so often how eager people were to ignore anything that disrupted their tidy worldview. She might have suggested otherwise to make sure her daughter remained careful but the fact was that most people were expert at burying their heads in the sand.

        Tara was deeply unhappy about this, not so much the strange events as the conclusion they had led her to, this is going to make things tough with LJ.

        Willow didn't quite see that, well I wasn't planning on telling her anything until we have something definite pinned down, she meant that in a literal as well as metaphorical way.

        Uh huh, and of course LJ is just going to let this drop in the meantime? Tara phrased the question innocently enough.

        Well, I mean, it occurred to Willow that nothing in her conversation with LJ had forbade her from snooping, and for that matter the way her daughter had been so willing to just drop the whole subject… oh hell.



        LJ had tried to apply patience and logic to her investigation, and quickly found she had little of either. LJ was perhaps being harsh on herself, she actually wasn't too badly off in the logic department; patience however was running on empty. She had decided to start her search for clues to the magic at the beginning, checking around the locker where Ally had almost been blinded.

        Given that Ally had been granted the day off LJ had expected this to be a relatively easy objective; she had however greatly underestimated how many people passed through the corridor even when it was supposedly quiet. To add to her agitation the first two spell she tried didn't work, actually technically the second one did but all it managed to do was demonstrate that LJ had magical abilities and LJ already knew she was a witch; it was finding out if she had any kindred spirits here that interested her.

        It was the exhaustion of her patience that led LJ to put everything she had into the third spell without thinking how much 'everything' might be. Instead of concentrating on the locker the spell spiraled outwards and filled the roof of the corridor with threads of golden light. LJ half expected them to form into a giant arrow hovering over her head and telling everyone where to find the witch. Instead they spread out along the corridor and around the corners without generating any panic. The threads looked more like the thin contrails of highflying aircraft, passing by and crossing through one another. LJ decided that might be a good analogy, this was the trail left by something magical wandering the halls of the high school; though she had no idea what the something might be. LJ wandered through the corridors and discovered that the trails were everywhere but that her fellow students was oblivious to their presence.

        I suppose this counts as a success, LJ thought gloomily. She wanted to find magic in the school and she had, it was just that with it being all over the place it wasn't really telling her anything. There was no pattern, no direction, no sense that one trail was fresher than the others. LJ was still trying to figure out whether this was worth sharing with her parents when she turned a corner and found her path barred by a huge concentration of trails. She tensed for combat but discovered that trails were all that was there. Whatever the source was it liked to pass through this spot more frequently than others. LJ looked for some sort of hiding place, there were however no doors or vents nearby, just rows of lockers. LJ looked curiously at the lockers, they had clearly stenciled names on them and none were familiar except one, Jimmy Kelso. Jimmy wasn't exactly a friend, just one of those people you couldn't help noticing for all the wrong reasons, the butt of everyone's jokes, the biggest loser in school, Jimmy the...

        LJ felt a shiver of excitement as she recalled Jimmy's nickname and the reason for it; Jimmy the Jinx, bad luck follows him around wherever he goes.



Jeanette hated sewers, there were a lot of things she didn't like about being a Slayer but crawling around in sewers was the one she detested the most. Demons on the other hand loved the places and so Jeanette had been left with very little choice but to delve into the dank and fetid depths in search of her target. The only good thing about the situation was that the demon seemed to have set up its layer in an abandoned and closed off section of the sewers so at least Jeanette wasn't having to wade hip deep in water, although she had decided to burn her boots when she got out of here.

        The lair itself was in a short section of tunnel terminated by a thick concrete wall, meaning that this time the creature wasn't going to get away. The creature itself was lying in a pile of garbage; some of which might once have been human. Grimly determined Jeanette silently advanced on the demon with a long knife poised to strike. She was perhaps a metre away with the demon still oblivious to her presence when she heard the growling coming from behind her. Reluctantly Jeanette turned her head to confirm what she had already guessed; there were at lest five more demons crowding through the entrance to the lair. Even as she hefted the knife and drew another with her free hand Jeanette knew the odds were stacking up against her. She shrugged the thought off; she was a Slayer, impossible odds went with the calling and you either beat them, or died trying. With that thought Jeanette plunged into the mass of approaching demons.

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am

[Sheridan]

5. "In The Field"

Willow paced up and down in front of LJ who was looking extremely tense; wondering exactly how her parents were going to respond to her going solo. Willow was trying to decide that herself, yes LJ had been using magic in public again but it had probably been the only way to prove there really was something hanging around the school. Equally it was true that LJ had gone off on her own without a word to her parents about what she was planning but when she had tried to explain her fears to them Willow knew she had been dismissive, and had clearly been guilty of the same offence when she didn't tell her daughter that she was going to pursue the matter after all.

        It was that final thought that decided Willow's response, "You've definitely found something, something nasty and magical, you did a good thing." Willow watched LJ relax as she spoke, "But you could have been putting yourself in tremendous danger, and who knows if we could have reached you in time to help?"

        LJ wanted to deny that but decided a different tack might be more productive, "Ok that was a mistake, so what we should is work together to catch this thing and stop it," she suggested brightly.

        Tara was looking at Willow; their daughters idea was actually not a bad one and she considered speaking up in favour of it. She hadn't however maintained a relationship for twenty years without being able to read her other half's moods; Willow was resolutely against this and she wasn't going to budge.

        Seeing that Tara wasn't going to intervene Willow laid out her counter proposal, more of a final offer really, "We will find this thing, but you aren't going to be a part of this, you are going on your field trip and with any luck we'll have this all wrapped up before you get back."

        LJ's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe what she was hearing, "You two?"

        Even Tara bridled at LJ's tone, "We have defeated a few demons in our time remember," she reminded her daughter.

        LJ was too upset to think before she snapped back, "Sixteen years ago, you haven't had any practice since before I was born. I'm the one with Slayer blood, I'm the one who should be doing this, not a couple of has beens!" LJ's brain hurried to catch up with her mouth, it arrived just about three seconds to late. She jumped out of her seat and ran to her room; before her parents ordered her there.

        Willow stared after her for a moment, when she turned to Tara she looked more worried than angry, LJ had touched a nerve, "We're not has beens, are we?"

        Tara rose and put her arms around Willow, "No honey, we've just been on a really long vacation."



        Saturday morning found the atmosphere in the Rosenberg-Maclay house a little chilly. LJ felt bad about what she had said but saying so would be tantamount to giving in and she wasn't quite ready to do that. Willow and Tara on the other hand were content to let things stand as they were. LJ would have to calm down sooner or later; the exact timing probably depending on when she needed to hit them up for money.

        As the bus drew away LJ did unbend enough to wave to her parents and Willow and Tara waved back before they turned to plotting how they were going to deliver on their assertion that they could wrap this up before she got back, "So we're going to go to the high school?" Tara's question was mostly rhetorical.

        "It's the centre of things." Willow confirmed, "And we need to retrace LJ's steps." This last part was a grudging admission that she wouldn't have dared to make until her daughter was safely out of earshot.

        Tara was tempted to tweak Willow over that but resisted; "Ok so lets get back to work."

       

        Willow and Tara had spent enough parent-teacher evenings at the High school often enough that teleporting in wasn't a problem; they were even able to materialize right in the chemistry lab. Luckily LJ had shared the details of the tracing spell she had used before things had degenerated into a row. It seemed pretty straightforward to Willow, indeed it seemed suspiciously familiar, and she had copied it down onto a pieces of paper. It wasn't really necessary to do this but it didn't seem right somehow to just read a spell from a tablet screen. As they each held a corner of the paper Willow and Tara incanted the spell in unison and the faint glowing trails appeared, spreading out from the centre of the room; and fading out before it reached the wall. “That's not right.” Willow muttered, the trails were clearly chopped off at the edge of a relatively small area.

        Tara nodded her agreement and incanted the spell again. The trails stretched out a few more feet but still stopped short of the corners of the room, “I don't think we're going to extend it much further, at least not from this spot.” Tara suggested.

        Willow took the spell back and frowned at it, “According to LJ it lit up the whole school.”

        “When she did it.” Tara emphasized the point because Willow obviously didn't want to accept the logical conclusion.

        It took Willow a few moments longer to concede; she knew her daughter commanded more magic than the two of them combined, it was just that given LJ's day to day awkwardness with the power it was easy to forget how much more, “I guess that means we won't be looking around the school to see if there are anymore hotspots.”

        “Not without asking LJ to work the spell for us.” Tara hade expected the sour look that got her so she wasn't fazed by it, “Which means we'll have to pursue the one she told us about.”



        Trying to figure out how long it had been since they last used the concealment glamour had started to get depressing so Tara concentrated on reading the names on the lockers as they walked down the corridor. There was a good chance that on a Saturday morning the security cameras would be largely shut off but there didn't seem any reason to test that theory unless they had to. The glamour was one of those things that both parents had resisted all entreaties from their offspring to share; it would be just too tempting for a teenage girl to resist. Finding the right locker didn't prove much of a challenge, especially as Willow used her tablet to tap into the school records and find the assignments.

        The pair came to a halt as Willow matched their location to the display on the screen, “that should be the one,” she stated pointing to a locker. Tara confirmed that it did indeed have the name 'Jimmy Kelso' stenciled on it before standing back to maintain the glamour while Willow 'persuaded' the thing to open. This was one major reason why Willow hadn't wanted LJ along on this investigation; if she saw what they got up to they would never be able to discipline their daughter again. This particular piece of B&E proved simple enough. The retinal scanner was quite sophisticated but the actually lock and alarm were about as simple as it got; especially if you could reach past the protective casing to apply pressure to the mechanism that is;

        The locker door swung open a few millimeters and Willow held it in place before opening it wide; deciding that even if some camera did record a locker door opening on its own it would just be added to the list of odd events that had happened the past few days, “Good grief.”

        Willow's comment drew Tara to look over her shoulder and she instantly saw that the locker was strewn with good luck charms. A horseshoe, a rabbit's foot, several small medallions, and others that even the two witches weren't familiar with. There was however a distinct sense that the items had been pushed aside; they were simply lying there waiting to be disposed of, “Maybe Jimmy doesn't think he needs to worry about luck anymore.” Tara remarked.

        "Maybe he doesn't." Willow had spotted an old paperback tucked into the corner of the locker, "Elements of Spell casting," she read off the spine of the book.

        Tara frowned, "I think we need to speak to Jimmy, especially if that's what's he been learning his magic from."

        Willow nodded; the book was the kind that emphasized what magic could for you, without mentioning what it could do to you, or others.



        The dig site was exactly what LJ had imagined, and feared. There were a collection of tents of various sizes belonging to the archeologists and a pair of rectangular portable offices, doubtless housing their computers and other delicate equipment. Anything that might have passed for a canteen or a shower block was noticeably absent. She suppressed a sigh. Some of the others weren't so sanguine, "I've lost my link to home!" LJ turned to find one of her classmates stabbing at the display on his tablet.

        "Sorry but its side effect of the deep imaging system we're using." The man who was approaching the group was dressed in work clothes and was about as far from the Indiana Jones image of an archeologist as you could get. He was large, beefy, with a shock of bushy hair and a sunburned face, "There's a magnetic layer in the rock that interferes with everything. If the university let us have the up to date version," he let the gripe trickle away as he realised it might not be politic to talk about in public, "Anyway I'm Dr. Ryman and I wanted to welcome you to the dig, we can always use extra hands."

        LJ tuned out the welcome speech and tried her own alternative means of communications. She was unsettled to discover that she couldn't reach out with her mind. That suggested there was some sort of interfering magic present. LJ stuck her hand up to interrupt Dr. Ryman's speech, "Doctor do you think this was a ritual site?"

        Ryman wasn't upset by the interruption, "Actually that's exactly what we think. It would explain why this site is so many hundreds of miles north than anything else associated with this branch of Mesoamerican culture."

        Residual magic from some ancient site of power could interfere, especially given that LJ's telepathy wasn't always reliable to begin with. Still it was bad luck that both physical and magical means of communication were cut off, quite incredibly bad luck. A very large knot began to form in LJ's stomach, it was fifty miles back to San Diego and she wondered if she shouldn't start jogging now.



        The sanitation engineers were used to their leaders fluent cursing at the best of times and a Saturday afternoon was hardly that. Somewhere in a nice warm, dry, control centre a warning light had indicated a blockage in one of the sewer lines, which meant someone would have to be dragged away from their weekend to fix it.

        Down in the sewers the team made their way through the deepening waters; their mood growing ever darker as it rose. What they saw when they found the blockage drove everything else out of their minds, the numbed shock was probably a blessing as the alternative was to run scream hysterically and claw their way to the surface regardless of whether they were anywhere near a manhole cover.

        The blockage was a mass of twisted demon remains; pummeled and shredded they had simply drifted until they came up against a metal grating. The rearmost member of the team didn't have a very good view of the carnage and he was perfectly happy with that; until something brushed against his waist. It was a small miracle that he didn't scream and he needed a few seconds to work up the nerve to look round.

        When he did what he saw was even more astonishing than the incredible creatures; a young woman was floating in the water on her back. She was bruised and cut but to the workers amazement he found a faint pulse when he checked her wrist. The news pulled the rest of the team out of their shock and they hastened to get the battered Slayer out of the sewers.

       

6. "Investigators"

Finding an address for Jimmy Kelso was childishly easy for Willow, actually getting to him was another matter. It wasn't like they could just casually run into him and have a chat, and they could hardly turn up on his doorstep claiming they knew him from school, "Maybe we could pretend he's applied for early entry to the university." Tara offered.

        Willow shook her head, "I've seen his academic record, not exactly credible."

        Tara smiled, "He's no Willow Rosenberg, huh?"

        Willow returned the smile, "Definitely not. We could just try watching the house, wait for a chance to confront him."

        "Kind of risky for a university professor to be going around grabbing teenage boys on the street, not a great move for a licensed therapist for that matter." Tara pointed out.

        "So we need o do this somewhere that no one can identify us." Willow commented thoughtfully, "So we need somewhere we can put the squeeze on Jimmy without anyone paying attention," Willow tapped away at her tablet and nodded, "I think I have just the place."



        The field that stretched out in front of Willow was undulating, with most of the low hillocks dotted with trees. The long ridge she was stood on was an exception, The scrubby grass was devoid of any shade, unless you counted the long lines of soldiers strung out along the forward edge of the slope. There was a regiment of infantry several ranks deep equipped with spears and shields backed up by lines of men carrying slingshots. Looking towards the reverse edge of the slope Willow saw ranks of archers and wedges of cavalry on the flat ground beyond. Whoever had set this up was obviously hoping that whenever the enemy showed up they would throw themselves at the forward slope, whereupon the archers would move to the top to rain down arrows while the cavalry swept round the sides. A closer examination of the troops would have revealed they all had the same rather bland face, and the emblem borne on their shields and banners, of a hammer smashing down on a skull, wasn't one that appeared in any historical text.

        In truth Willow wasn't really interested in the strategic details of a synthetic battle, she was more interested in the other people spread out beside her on the top of the hill. If the soldiers were rather archaic Willow's companions were simply outlandish. Standing on her right was a figure that was simply a dark cloak wrapped around, well nothing apparently. To her left was the form of an ancient warrior; only where the soldiers were Roman or Greek looking this character looked like a stylised Japanese Samurai.

        Willow knew that she didn't look exactly normal herself. She had chosen to create an image that was based on her long ago encounters with her vampire incarnation, mostly because it was pretty intimidating and she felt she might need that when she managed to find her objective. Of course she hadn't really allowed for the fact that everyone else in the Arena wanted to look menacing as well. It could be worse, she reminded herself; he could have hung out in the sex zones instead of the game arenas.

        The Arena was the inevitable expression of the desire for ever greater realism and authenticity in computer gaming, the need to make the gamer feel like they really were a part of the game they were playing. To Willow who had seen more than her share of real violence it was childish and a little too 'neat'. After all it wouldn't do to have your virtual armies lying around shrieking and begging for help; that would spoil the fun.

        Looking at her companions more closely their images were overlaid with whatever information they were prepared to reveal about themselves, and it usually wasn't much.What was available was more than enough for Willow; she had dug into Jimmy Kelso's personal info far enough to find the name of his virtual identity and his favourite Arena; 'Belerephon' and the war games.

        Wandering casually through the crowd waiting for the action to begin Willow checked out the characters, and was uncomfortably aware that she was in turn being checked out, maybe I should have toned down the leather, or turned up the vamp thing. The only upside of her image was that no one was trying to avoid her. When she finally found 'Belerephon' Willow was surprised to discover that the image was rather sober. The image was clad in the field uniform of a World War II general, the only bright spot was the quintet of silver stars adorning the helmet, which in turn was set on top of a grim face, "Jimmy Kelso?" Willow asked pleasantly.

        The face of Belerephon didn't betray any reaction but the figure did back away, "Who wants to know?"

        "Someone who knows more about the elements of spell casting than you do." Willow pointed out bluntly.

        That brought Belerephon, or Jimmy as Willow was now convinced it was, to a halt, "You've been looking in my locker!" The accusation erased any doubts Willow might have had.

        "Somebody had to, after what happened to Ally, and what could have happened in the chemistry lab." Willow pointed out.

        "That was nothing to do with me." Jimmy insisted.

        "Really, so you didn't try to use magic to change your luck?" Willow asked acidly.

        "I just wanted something to go right for once." Jimmy whined, "The spell was supposed to get rid of my bad luck, it said it would dispel it forever."

        "It expelled your bad luck, you just set it loose on everyone else." With Jimmy's words Willow could now be sure which spell he had used, the only question was how he had used it, "Your going to tell me exactly how you executed the spell, and I mean every detail, or I'm going to show you what real warfare is like."



        Assembling her tent didn't take LJ very long since basically it sprang into shape as soon as she released it from its pack and the only real effort involved was staking it to the ground. Throwing her pack inside LJ decided to explore the site; ignoring the looks she was getting from some of her classmates who were still struggling to put up their shelters. If that's the worst they have to worry about they'll be lucky. She wished she hadn't thought of that word, luck was something they probably had far too much of at the moment.

        The dig site itself lay in a shallow bowl in the landscape, partly natural and partly manmade according to Dr. Ryman. He had gone into mind numbing detail about how the site showed all the signs of belonging to a Maya derived culture, which meant it should have been in the jungles of Latin America, not California. LJ couldn't share his enthusiasm, she was wondering exactly what would persuade those people to travel so far from home, what so valuable; or so scary?

        There was only one way to find and one way to check LJ's other suspicion. She found a quiet spot and started to recite the spell she had used at the school, once again packing as much power as she could into it, this time she wanted maximum coverage. The spell spread out across the site unseen by any of the other students or archeologists, which was probably just as well given what the magic picked out. The dig was covered with complex patterns, traces burnt into the landscape by ancient rituals. At first LJ couldn't make sense of them but by squinting and turning her head she finally decided they were supposed to represent animals, spirit creatures guarding; something.

        The archeologists would doubtless be delighted that the beasts appeared to be more at home in a tropical jungle than a Californian field, though LJ wasn't about to try and explain her 'evidence' and besides she was more worried about the other things she saw, faint contrails swirling and looping about the site. Either these things were everywhere, or something had decided to come along on their field trip. I know which I'd want to bet on, LJ decided grimly.

        "Miss Maclay are you planning to Join us?" LJ had been to distracted to notice Miss Ripley approachin. Her teachers withering tone told LJ it was question with only one answer.

        "I was just checking out the scenery." LJ lied

        "Very admirable," again the teacher didn't sound sincere as she extended a shovel, "but since we're here for archeology rather than biology I think you'll find this more useful.'

        LJ took the spade with a reluctant nod and trailed behind the teacher trying to think things through. She couldn't call out to her parents but perhaps she could teleport out? Right and if they notice I'm missing and start a full-scale search? LJ remembered how Willow had reacted to her prank with the sports bag, triggering a full-scale manhunt would be way worse.

        Besides at this point another factor had occurred to LJ; if she legitimately couldn't let her parents know what was going on then she had the perfect excuse to work on this alone, to prove she could handle things by herself and could be trusted with the big stuff, Slayer stuff.

        With that resolution LJ shouldered the shovel; whatever was going on here had to be centered on the site so it was appropriate that she should start digging around down there, literally if it came to it.

        LJ's look of resolve would have done Willow proud, unfortunately the younger generation was cheerfully oblivious to how much trouble that sort of resolution had gotten her elders into, though she was about to get a very large hint.

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the person you l-love

Willow: I am