Family Matters

by Frau Hunter Ash

Copyright © 2001

Carrkjar@yahoo.com

Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: The characters and show all belong to Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, and God only knows who else. The X-files characters and show all belong to Chris Carter, Fox and possibly others. No copyright infringement was intended and suing me will not make you any money! The storyline, however, is the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.
Distribution:
http://frau-hunter-ash.tripod.com/
http://mysticmuse.net
Feedback: Feedback welcome!
Grouping: Buffy/Willow/Tara

Summary: The gang, on a road trip, decides to make a stop in Reno for a wedding.

Part 6

"Carson?" Willow squeaked and started to rush past her wives when Buffy held her back and Angel stepped forward protectively.

"Are you our Carson, still a friendly ex-priest?" Buffy demanded.

"Ja, I am still a non-killing vampire," Carson smiled. "I came to celebrate your wedding and see Scarlet."

Willow pushed past Buffy and dashed into Carson's arms, both laughing as Tara and Buffy shook their heads, still not quite understanding the friendship between their werewolf wife and the unique vampire.

"How? Where have you been? We felt you die!" Willow demanded as Carson lifted her in the air and then brought her back down in his arms with a kiss on her cheek.

"Congratulations, Scarlet," Carson smiled, including Buffy and Tara in his glance. "You are truly blessed, the three of you. The how is that I didn't die. I went into a vampire coma and it took all this time to recover. Angel was kind enough to bury and not cremate me."

"I didn't want to take the chance since your body didn't turn to ash, I wasn't sure," Angel nodded, wrapping an arm around Cordelia's shoulder.

"What happened when you woke up?" Giles asked with a frown, knowing a vampire's mindless blood lust when awakening from an injury coma.

"I was a little out of my head, yes," Carson sighed. "Renfield found me and locked me away; feeding me until I was sane and myself"

Willow hugged the vampire tightly. "This is great!"

"I also come bearing serious news, Red," he said softly. "Can we talk?"

"Of course," Willow said with a frown and looked up to find Buffy and Tara approaching, alerted by her energy change. "Alone?"

"No, this concerns the three of you," Carson said calmly.

"Talk guys," Willow said, grabbing her wives by the hand and leading them and the vampire towards the house.


Carson smiled as he sat down and watched the three brides arrange themselves on the sofa, Willow and Tara next to each other and Buffy on the floor between them. The vampire knew that the arrangement was totally unconscious, born out of an unspoken need to be close to each other as much as possible.

"I came bearing bad news, actually," he began slowly. "Because of my fight back to sanity I've attracted the interests of The Powers That Be. You know of them, ja?"

Buffy nodded. "Angel's talked about them. Some kind of cosmic forces or something, playing chess with lives and stuff."

"Sometimes it seems like it," Carson nodded.

"So what do they want with you?" Willow asked, her face reflecting her curiosity.

"They are interested in my ideas of teaching vampires another way," Carson shrugged. "In exchange for encouraging me in my endeavors, they gave me information to save your lives."

Buffy was immediately alert, her eyes flashing intensely.

"What?" Tara whispered.

"If you leave for England you'll be walking into a trap, they plan on killing all of you," Carson said softly.

"Then why agree to train us and everything? Why don't they just try to blast us here?" Buffy frowned.

"The Council fears attacking you in Sunnydale, you have too many friends and the town itself," Carson explained.

"The Hellmouth?" Willow ventured.

"Ja, they fear the magical battle might open it again," Carson nodded.

"So what do we do? Go to war with the Council, every Slayer and Watcher in the world as well as the vampires?" Buffy complained.

"I don't know," Carson admitted. "The Powers don't give advice on this one, just allowed me to tell you. Now I shall leave you to your wedding day with apologies for bringing bad news to such a happy occasion."

Willow stood up quickly as Carson rose and hugged the vampire. "Thank you, meine freund," she whispered.

"Anything for you, Scarlet," the vampire smiled and accepted a hug from the other two brides next.

Willow followed Carson to the front door and watched him climb into a small compact car with Renfield behind the wheel after hugs, promises and some tears.

Buffy and Tara walked up behind their mate, each placing a hand on Willow's shoulder.

"We'll hear from him again," Tara said softly.

"I know, he says that he's going to Europe," Willow nodded.

Buffy, her eyes watching for Watchers, pulled Willow into the house and closed the door, locking it.


Giles was surprised when Quentin Travers stepped out of the car in front of the Magic Box. The ex-Watcher hadn't been expecting the head of the Council to be there for the meeting, Giles had just called two days before.

Quentin hadn't even asked why Giles was requesting a meeting with the Council and his kids, he had merely agreed and said representatives would be there.

Now it was the head of the Council himself approaching the shop after closing hours: Quentin and three aides.

"Aides or magic users?" Giles muttered.

"One normal, two mages," Willow answered from behind Giles.

He didn't bother to look around at the witch and Slayer. He knew Tara was in the back already, shielding the place from magical attack. Giles heard and sensed Willow moving towards the back to help her wife, leaving Buffy and the ex-Watcher to greet their guests.

"You ready, Buffy?" Giles asked softly, wishing he had a drink of scotch.

"Yes," Buffy said firmly. "Xander, Anya and Mom are standing by with cars, Willow and Tara say they're at the top of their game and I'm in great shape. You?"

"Glock pistol in my waistband, magical talisman to resist magic attack and I'm angry," Giles nodded. He moved to the door and unlocked it slowly before the Watchers could knock.

Buffy felt her muscles tensing and could feel Tara and Willow's energy shifting as well.

Quentin nodded slightly to Giles and faced Buffy with no expression either on his face or in his eyes. The Slayer moved back slightly and gestured towards the back room.

"We're set up with tea, scotch, sodas and stuff," Buffy said calmly.

"Of course," Quentin moved towards the back room with the three following. Buffy quickly noting that none of them were setting off her "spidey" senses and didn't seem to be projecting any magic energy.

Willow and Tara stood on the other side of a round table, holding hands and looking fairly nervous as the Watchers entered.

Quentin simply sat down and his aides moved to the sofa against the wall.

Buffy and Giles entered behind Quentin and hesitated.

"I gather from your magickal shields and cautious attitudes that something has changed," Quentin said bluntly. "Are we discussing this?"

The Sunnydale group sat down slowly, Tara keeping her eyes on the aides.

"The girls have discovered that you intend to kill them when they reach England, and probably Joyce and myself as well," Giles said bluntly.

"And what would be the point of paying for your plane fare if we intended to eliminate all of you? We could do that just as easily here," Quentin asked, his eyes and face still impassive.

"Hellmouth," Tara said softly, lowering her gaze.

"Excuse me?" Quentin questioned.

"Don't play ignorant, Quentin," Giles growled. "It doesn't become you."

"Alright," Quentin's eyes blazed for a moment before becoming lizard like again. "You are correct, if we intended to harm you, we wouldn't dare try it while in Sunnydale because of the danger of opening the Hellmouth with such powerful magicks."

"Why the hell are we fighting each other?" Buffy demanded. "You train Slayers to fight demons and vampires and save the world, that's what we've continued to do."

"We've been through this," Quentin complained. "Ms. Rosenberg's magick is too unpredictable and too powerful to allow to exist."

"I can be quite predictable," Willow said softly, her face flushing. "You're threatening my wives and family. Want to predict how I'll react, Hellmouth or not?"

Quentin sighed and two of the aides shifted uncomfortably on the sofa.

"No, that's why we would want to eliminate the threat somewhere other than in Sunnydale," Quentin agreed. "If that's what had been planned. So, I take it that you won't be traveling to England at this point? What are your alternatives other than attempting to run?"

"We could call a truce, you leave us alone but under watch, as usual," Buffy suggested. "We report on dangers, you advise us of upcoming dangers and you leave Sunnydale to us."

"The Council has determined that is too risky," Quentin frowned.

"Which will cost more? We tell every Slayer about the others, the girls go on the run and lots of people get hurt or killed. Maybe even a re-emergence of the Hellmouth or other power spots going out of control. Darkness wins, Quentin," Giles reasoned.

"Darkness has already gotten your Slayer and one witch, how long before the other one falls with them?" Quentin countered.

Buffy frowned. "Hey, we're right here and still on the side of good, thank you!"

"You've had an affair with a vampire which resulted in the world almost being destroyed, you gave into Dracula without even a fight and it's known that your pet vampire has more than a crush on you," Quentin snapped.

"I resisted Dracula! Especially when he wanted me to leave the light and Tara!" Buffy said in a low growl. "We all did! Even when she was hurting, Willow resisted and protected Tara and nearly gave her life for me!"

"This is not productive," Giles complained. "Either we figure out some answers or we start throwing magic bolts at each other like some bad science fiction movie."

"Yes, you're right, Rupert," Quentin nodded after a moment. "What would you suggest?"

"Send them to the university here, under the guidance of the Educator and myself," Giles began. "Train Willow and Tara to be Watchers and Buffy can train upcoming Slayers. We rejoin the Council but you treat my Slayer and her mates differently. They are adult women now."

"Same requests as before," Quentin mumbled.

"Yes, our needs and desires are simple," Willow smirked. "We don't want to go to war with you, we want to stay in the fight and we can help."

Quentin's eyes roamed towards his companion's eyes and Tara and Willow both tensed.

//Guys?// Buffy called mentally, her hand on a club under the table. //I can take him out with one blow.//

//Not yet, no magic energy coming from them yet.// Tara advised.

Quentin turned back to the table with a heavy sigh.

"Alright, we will try this," he said slowly. "I suspected as much when you called. I shall assign a Watcher from the training committee to arrange school and training schedules within the week."

Tara relaxed visibly but Giles and Willow still looked concerned. Buffy frowned, trying to sense the energy from her wives and the Watchers.

Giles glanced at the young women, his eyes questioning.

Willow slowly nodded and Buffy closed her eyes in relief and nodded.

"Yes, let's try working together, please," Tara said gratefully.


The week went by slowly for the girls. After canceling their travel plans, they had shifted their focus into going back to school at Sunnydale U with the help of the Council. The Watcher from the Educator program had worked closely with the three young women in planning their semester and school year.

The Sunnydale gang was still jumpy, even after working with the Council for that week. Buffy kept expecting an attack at every turn and was getting tired.

However, once back in school, Willow and Tara settled right in and hit the top of their classes immediately, as anticipated by family and friends. Buffy, spending her nights Slaying and her days watching over her shoulder, wasn't as focused on school.

Finally, after another week, the Slayer was back into the usual routine; school, slaying, and working with the educator the Council had sent.

The girls were beginning to think of future concerns, moving out of the house into their own place, training new Slayers and Hunters, graduating school. One common theme to the ideas was opening a "Self Defense Academy" to utilize Buffy's skills and talents. It would also give the trio an income other than from the Council.

The witches were also helping out more at the shop and Giles was thinking of expanding the shop now that they weren't planning a temporary future in England. The group began focusing on Sunnydale once again.


Anya wrapped her arm around Xander's waist as they exited the court house, guiding a tearful Xander away from the Halls of Justice. Buffy, Willow and Tara were waiting patiently outside, having already testified earlier in the day. The friends gathered around the young man for a tight group hug.

"It's okay, Xan," Buffy said softly. "You did it!"

"You are so brave!" Anya agreed.

"I… I don't feel brave," Xander grumbled. "H-he wouldn't take a plea, made me testify against him."

"Xander, your father should have been in a courtroom long before this!" Willow said firmly. "You didn't put him there, you are not to blame for this! He hit you all your life, it's not your fault."

"My head knows that but inside isn't so sure," Xander tried to smile.

"What did the Prosecutor say about the case?" Buffy asked, hoping to lead Xander away from the raw emotions.

"That defense lawyer was such a bitch and made it sound like Xander was the one who was the violent one!" Anya complained.

"The jury will see through that with his record of drunken violence," Willow pointed out.

"That's what the prosecutor said," Xander nodded. "Said I did real well and that my dad might even get some jail time and be ordered to stay away from us."

"When will you know?" Tara asked softly.

"Closing arguments are happening now, then it's up to the judge to decide," Xander answered.

"Yes, he was too much of a coward to face a jury," Anya commented. "Why would he choose a judge giving judgment over a jury? It is because he's a coward, right?"

"He knew the pictures of you after the beating would crucify him with 12 of his peers," Buffy said bitterly, unable to resist looking at the scars on his face and slightly crooked nose.

"Let's go for pizza," Anya suggested. "Giles is working the store today and you can tell us all about school and other mundane things."

"I agree, we took the day off from school," Tara nodded, wrapping an arm around Willow's waist as everyone turned to walk down the courthouse steps.

"Pizza?" Xander's face brightened.


By the time the gang had finished a couple of large pizzas, two pitchers of soda, several arcade games and fought over the jukebox, everyone was feeling good and close again.

Xander and Anya were snuggling and making redecorating plans for the apartment they had taken over from Giles. Willow and Tara were debating with Anya about color choices. Buffy sat back and watched her wives and friends with a smile.

The small group left the pizza joint laughing and playfully chasing each other with threats of tickle fights.

Xander grabbed Willow from behind and spun her around as the red-haired girl shrieked playfully. He put her down and dashed off towards Buffy's jeep.

Buffy dashed after her friend with shouts of "Tickle Monster", grabbing her best male friend.

At first Tara thought the sounds were a car backfiring or a power hammer or something at a construction site until Willow pulled her to the asphalt. Willow had thrown her body almost entirely over Tara's as her arms covered their heads.

"No! Buffy!" Xander's scream cut through the confusion Willow and Tara were feeling and they both looked up to see Xander cradling Buffy in his arms and Anya getting to her feet.

"No," Willow whispered and both witches scrambled to get to their wife.

Tara whimpered as Xander clutched Buffy in his arms and she could see blood spreading across her wife's chest.

"Xander, put her down! We need to see!" Willow said loudly.

Xander, tears streaming down his face as Anya shouted into her cell phone to the 911 operator, placed Buffy carefully down on the asphalt as people began gathering around the group.

Willow turned her wife over and growled as she took in three spreading circles of blood on Buffy's back. She pulled Buffy back over and ripped the blonde's shirt open but only found one exit wound.

"Anya! Three gunshot wounds, entry in the back, one exit wound!" she shouted at the former demon.

"Gunshots?" Xander echoed.

"That's what it looks and sounded like," Willow said bitterly, placing a hand firmly on the exit wound as she noted Buffy's shallow but steady breathing and Tara checked the blonde's pulse.

"Rapid," Tara whimpered as sirens began screaming in the distance.

"Buffy?" Xander whispered.

"Anya, call Giles and Joyce Mom," Willow instructed. "Xander, you stay and talk with the cops then follow us to the hospital."

Xander and Anya both nodded as the paramedics pulled up into the parking lot.

"Who the hell would shoot at us?" Anya demanded as she looked around.


Giles leaned against the wall of the waiting room, his hand on Joyce's shoulder as they waited and waited. It hurt to look up and see Xander's shirt covered in blood, knowing that it was Buffy's blood. They were still waiting to hear if the Slayer would survive.

A doctor had already been by several times to update the family and wives of the young Slayer and, so far, the news wasn't encouraging. The bullets had done quite a bit of damage to Buffy's lungs and the one that had gone through her body had traveled through the Slayer's heart, only her Slayer healing had kept her alive. During the ambulance ride to the hospital Buffy had stopped breathing from her collapsed lungs and lack of blood flow.

Her heart had been started again but they all knew it was touch and go two hours later.

The police had been through and had promised to check the whereabouts of Xander's father and the crime scene. The girls and Giles had been unable to think of anyone else that might want to assassinate either Xander or Buffy.

Giles frowned, wondering if the Council would try something so underhanded and prayed he was wrong. Even if he weren't, the Sunnydale police wouldn't be able to do much about a Watcher Strike Team out to assassinate his kids.

Giles had no idea how much time had passed when a different doctor entered the waiting room and approached them slowly. Willow was softly sobbing in Tara's arms, Anya was asleep in his and Joyce was sitting rigidly next to a hunched over Giles.

"Summers family?" the doctor ventured and everyone sat up straight, trying to ignore the blood on the doctor's surgical scrubs that looked much like the blood on Xander's shirt.

"Yes, we're Buffy's family," Joyce stammered. "How is she?"

"Miss Summers is in the ICU recovery room," the doctor said slowly, sitting down across from Giles and Joyce and next to Willow and Tara. "She's not out of danger yet. The damage to her internal organs was massive but repairable. The question now is up to her, she has to fight back and wake up."

"She may not wake up?" Willow whispered.

"There's a possibility that her coma may extend indefinitely or permanently," the doctor said, hesitating.

"We need to be with her," Willow said, her voice cracking.

"Two people at a time and only for 10 minutes out of every half hour," the doctor instructed. "She's unconscious but I believe that people in comas can hear their loved ones. Talk to her, encourage her to come back."

"Thank you, doctor," Giles said absently.

"Dr. Johansson was her surgeon and he'll be around in an hour to explain everything that happened with Miss Summers. I'm Dr. Ben Chapman, I assisted Dr. Johansson and if there's anything you need, please have the nurses page me."

Willow and Tara dashed for the elevator as Joyce broke down in Giles' arms.


Two days later the entire gang and family were exhausted and the vigil at the hospital was becoming long and weary. Buffy was still comatose with a machine breathing for her and a pace maker keeping her heart beating regularly.

On the third night, Xander volunteered to go out for food after the hospital cafeteria had closed and Willow offered to go with him. Anya was closing the shop up as Giles took Joyce home for some much needed rest.

After getting Tara to eat at least two slices of pizza, Willow and Tara once again debated about healing Buffy magically or letting the usual fantastic Slaying healing take over. Willow was in favor of magic and Tara pointed out that they didn't have clear ethics.

A heated argument ensued until Xander dragged them out of the ICU waiting room onto the roof of the Sunnydale hospital in the night air.

"Look, I know that we're not supposed to go against Fate and all that stuff but what good is our talents if we can't help Buffy?" Willow demanded.

"It might be Buffy's time, Will! We have to accept that and see if she survives!" Tara argued.

"Slayers aren't supposed to die from gunshots!" Willow countered. "Vampires, werewolves, demons, magic! Anything but someone shooting from a roof!"

"We don't know who shot Buffy," Tara countered.

"Goddamn it! What about Giles and Joyce Mom, they're hurting! Can't we save her for them?" Willow whined.

"Willow, please," Tara begged. "We need to wait!"

"Yeah, the police proved that it wasn't my dad but they don't think it was a random shooter," Xander added to the conversation.

Willow's hands clenched tightly as she looked at her best friend and wife. She turned and yelled at the sky in anger.

"Leave me alone for awhile, guys," Willow said softly.

"Willow?" Tara asked gently.

"Just need to yell at the Powers That Be for awhile, okay?" Willow smiled sadly. "I want Buffy okay. We're not complete without her."

"I know, baby," Tara nodded, pulling Willow into her arms as Xander busied himself by looking over the edge of the roof. "If she doesn't start getting better, we'll do a healing, I promise. It's just a gray area."

"With Faith in prison, the world needs a Slayer," Willow pointed out. "Go back to her, I'll be fine."

"Alright, don't be long, wife," Tara whispered, kissing Willow gently.


Xander frowned as he and Tara took the elevator down to the ICU floor.

"Tara? Why can't you heal Buffy? You're a strong witch type," he questioned.

"Just because we're witches doesn't mean that we can just go around using the power for whatever we like, even when it might mean someone's life," Tara said slowly.

"You healed Willow when she stabbed herself because of Oz," Xander pointed out and Tara's frown deepened.

"It… it felt right," she responded, her voice soft and unsure.

"And healing Buffy, the Slayer; Buffy, your wife; Buffy, Willow's wife and stuff doesn't feel right?!" Xander's voice squeaked in anger.

Tara shuffled her feet and let her hair fall over her face as she looked down.

"I-I don't know," she admitted. "The energy surrounding her is erratic and we can't reach her psychically and we should be able to. She might already be gone, Xander."

"You mean the machines might be keeping her alive but her spirit is gone?" the young man wrapped his arms around himself, wanting to curl up and hide somewhere.

"Yes, Willow won't look at that possibility," Tara explained, wiping at her tears.

"Neither will we until you know for sure!" Xander said firmly.

"Willow and I will try and reach her again tonight," Tara nodded.


Xander and Anya kept the nurses busy while Willow, Tara, Giles and Joyce stood on either side of Buffy's bed, holding hands and forming a rough circle over the Slayer.

Willow and Giles felt their minds shifting into "magic" mode as Tara began chanting softly, forming a circle. Joyce recognized the feeling of the gathering energy from when they had aided Buffy in her attack on Adam and relaxed into the chanting, closing her eyes and letting her mind drift.

Willow let Tara lead the energy circle, feeling her wife's stable influence dashing around the circle.

Joyce felt a sense of confusion soon radiating among the group as the energy wavered and she felt Tara and Willow's energy pull back. The worried mother opened her eyes slowly.

Tara and Willow looked equally as confused.

"Willow, Tara?" Giles asked softly, dropping his hand from Willow's as she stroked Buffy's hair.

"She's still there but lost," Willow whispered, tears streaking down her face. "It's like something is blocking her from coming back."

"Buffy can't find the line to come back to us, that's why her healing hasn't kicked in," Tara added.

"Do you know what's blocking her?" Giles asked, his face intense. "Is it a demon or magic?"

"I'm not sure," Tara shook her head. "It's not attacking, just blocking."

"Can you get through it?" Joyce asked softly, looking down at her comatose daughter.

Tara and Willow looked at each other and then back at Buffy.

"We've got to," Willow nodded.

"But we don't know how," Tara added.

"Research time," Giles declared. "I'll open the shop for you both and I'll research the books I have at home."

"Let's get to it," Willow agreed.

"I'm staying with Buffy," Joyce said, pulling up a stool and taking Buffy's limp hand into her strong one.


It was another two days before Tara called everyone on their cell phones to meet her at the Summers' home.

Soon everyone was sitting in the living room anxious for answers.

"I… I think we might be able to break through whatever is blocking Buffy," Tara said slowly. "I, uh, think if we kinda do what Willow did at the ocean only with Earth energy and break through and guide her back, it might work."

"Where would you do this?" Giles asked.

"There's an old Indian site in the woods, the local witches and pagans use it for rituals and holidays," Tara explained. "I think it would be easier to connect with the Earth energy there."

"Can we help?" Xander asked anxiously.

Tara frowned and shook her head. "I don't think so; except maybe watch over Buffy for us? Someone is doing this intentionally."

"We'll be there," Xander nodded firmly.

"I'll do what I can to shield her," Giles added. "When will you do this?"

"Now," Willow said quickly.

Tara nodded with a frown.

Giles stood up quickly. "Come on, Xander, Anya, we'll go back to the hospital and help Joyce watch over Buffy."

"This is moving too fast," Xander complained. "We don't even know who shot Buff for sure."

"We will!" Willow said firmly.


Willow watched impatiently as Tara set up the candles, incense and goblet of water in the ancient stone circle in the woods. The red-haired witch knew that it helped center her lover and tried not to rush Tara into the working.

The hacker-witch also knew that she needed to relax herself and began mentally forming the circle in her mind, using her energy to start raising the power as she walked the circle of stones.

Tara smiled as Willow's energy settled slightly and started melding with the energy of the area instead of fighting against it. Maybe Joyce had been right, Tara was the balance in the incredible teamwork of the group. Willow could be erratic, powerful but erratic and Buffy was all action.

The witch sighed and lit the candles and then incense, ensuring there was a bottle of water nearby incase something knocked a candle or incense over.

She sat down in the middle of the circle and held out her hands for Willow to join her.

Willow smiled and sat down cross-legged across from her wife and lover, feeling her energy and mind slip further into "magic mode." She knew Tara was right, this energy took longer and was harder to direct but it was more stable and life affirming than the chaotic energy she was tempted to use.

The witches reached for each other's hands and closed their eyes, sending their connection to the earth and feeling the loving acceptance from each other, their friends and the Earth herself.

Tara's eyes snapped open in surprise when Willow cried out in surprise and pain. The blonde witch tried to mentally process the sight of Willow's eyes becoming unfocused as she pulled out some kind of dart from her breast.

"T-Tar?" Willow whispered before her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell back unconscious.

"Willow!" Tara screamed, reaching for her lover as the connection fluctuated with the Earth.

Three figures stepped out of the woods, one carrying a tranquilizer gun. Tara's mind screamed as Quentin approached the circle and looked down at Willow.

"Perfect," he commented. "Don't fight us, please."

"Y-you shot Buffy?" Tara demanded, pulling Willow into her arms.

"When you have a fantastic team such as yours, the key is to break up the team and separate the fighters," Quentin shrugged. "It gave us the chance to take Miss Rosenberg into custody without interference from you and the Slayer."

Tara whimpered as the two men started towards her and Willow slowly, their faces determined.

"Don't fight us on this, there are two magic users behind you ready to shield against your magicks," Quentin warned. "They will hurt you if necessary."

"Y-you're not taking my wife!" Tara stammered.

"Once we eliminate her magical abilities, we will return her to you," Quentin commented, waving the men forward to take the unconscious Willow from Tara's arms.

"No!" Tara whispered, her eyes suddenly shifting to a bright blue, almost neon and painfully blue.

"What?" Quentin muttered, his eyes widening as Tara stood up. "Stop her!"

Tara held up her hand and Quentin saw his two magic users standing behind Tara go flying into the trees. In a moment, they were hanging by their collars from tree branches twenty feet above the ground unconscious.

The witch waved her hand and the two men reaching for Willow went flying back as well against tree trunks. Vines came up from the ground and encircled them, tying them to the trees.

"What?" Quentin repeated, taking several steps back.

"You are going against the wishes of those that watch over the universe," Tara said calmly but it wasn't the witches' normal voice. This voice vibrated and echoed around the Elder Watcher. "You are upsetting the balance that has been decided."

"What are you?" Quentin demanded, his expression betraying a sense of fear.

"I am Tara but I am also the spirit of Justice and Balance," Tara said easily. "You will cease this senseless attack on the Slayer and her lovers. You will either leave them alone or work with them in their fight."

"If we refuse?" Quentin growled, feeling his skin crawl from the energy radiating from the young woman as her hair flowed around her, as if blown by a gentle wind.

"You will be eliminated," Tara/Spirit shrugged. "These three are vital to the fight coming. You are not. Adapt or go extinct."

"Rosenberg isn't dangerous?" Quentin snapped with a deep frown.

"Of course she is, everyone is," Tara/Spirit smiled sadly. "Especially those with power. You will trust in her willpower and the love that the three of them share to keep her on the proper side of things. You cannot control things or people as you think you are allowed."

"You're controlling the witch!" Quentin countered.

"No, I am merely sharing her body for a moment," Spirit replied. "Don't mistake a momentary sharing as weakness. You'll see what draws us to Tara in a moment. Leave them alone, Quentin Travers."

"Alright," Quentin agreed. The fight had become much too expensive in costs and possibly lives.

Tara's head snapped back and the witch stretched out her arms.

Quentin fell backwards on the ground as Tara began levitating several feet off the ground and the wind suddenly whipped up around her. The Watcher was stunned when Willow sat up blinking in confusion.

"T-Tara?" she called softly.

In a moment the other Watchers were gone, including Quentin, and Tara fell to the ground on her hands and knees.

"Tara!" Willow shouted, rushing to her lover and pulling Tara into her arms. She whimpered when Tara opened her eyes and Willow saw the unnatural blue.

When Tara opened them again, they were normal and the witch was blinking.

"Hospital, got to get to hospital," Tara whispered as Willow helped her wife to her feet.


"Explain again what happened," Giles demanded as Buffy, Willow and Tara hugged and kissed in Buffy's hospital room.

"We walked in and found Buffy awake and fine," Willow grinned.

"You know what I mean," Giles smirked back, wrapping an arm around Joyce's shoulder as Xander giggled. Anya laughed and reached for her husband's hand.

"I, uh, we were reaching for the energy of the Earth and the Council attacked us," Tara began, settling in on one side of Buffy as Willow took the other. "They shot Willow with a tranquilizer dart and were going to take her. I, uh, stopped them."

"It was totally awesome, Giles!" Willow said enthusiastically. "Quentin was on his a… backside and two wizards were hanging in the trees by their shirts and two others were wrapped up like turkeys!"

"Turkeys?" Xander questioned.

"The Earth," Tara said softly, her head ducking. "I channeled the Earth energy and spirit. The vines and trees held them."

"What happened to Quentin and the others?" Joyce asked.

"He agreed to stop fighting us and they disappeared," Willow smiled, reaching up to nuzzle Buffy's neck.

"Where?" Giles pressed.

"Back to England," Tara blushed a bright red as Giles fell back into a chair, stunned.

"You… you transported five people half way around the world?" he whispered and Tara nodded.

"With the help of Mother Earth," she added.

"Wow!" Xander muttered and Anya nodded vigorously, having seen powerful magic before but usually of a dark kind.

"They'll leave us alone now?" Buffy asked, still angry at having nearly been killed and Willow almost taken from them.

"They'll work with us instead of against us," Giles nodded. "I received a call from Quentin. Seems there's something he wants to talk to us about, asking for our help."

"Now what?" Buffy complained. "Another apocalypse?"

"Not quite," Giles smiled. "Quentin said he would explain but they have a rogue Slayer, someone very unique and he thinks we might be best suited to train him."

"Rogue Slayer?" Buffy repeated. "Faith? They're letting Faith out?"

"No, not Faith, someone younger," Giles said calmly.

"Him, you said him," Tara frowned. "I thought Slayers were only female."

"That's the mystery," Giles smiled. "The new would-be Slayer is a male and a handful, Quentin admitted. He said that he'd explain."

"A male Slayer?" Buffy frowned. "Isn't that like against everything that's ever gone before?"

"Yes," Giles agreed. "And he should be here by the end of the week. Of course, I'm not sure how Quentin will explain missing stamps in his passport after your dimensional shift."

Willow's eyebrows rose in amusement as Buffy began to giggle. "Can we report them for leaving the country illegally. See how they explain that one?"

The End

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