Razor's Edge by Frau Hunter Ash

Disclaimers: The characters and show all belong to Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, and God only knows who else. 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.

Summary: A Slayer from another realm ends up in Sunnydale.

Jessica FitzHugh jammed her elbow back into the ghoul's face as his hands clawed at the Slayer's neck. She barely noticed the sound of his nose breaking and his howls of pain as he released her.

The Slayer moved like a cat, reaching behind her and pulling the ghoul over her shoulder in time for him to take the spear in the back that had been aimed at her chest. Fitz knew Giles would yell about the loss of life later but Fitz didn't care at that moment. Technically ghouls were human but Fitz had lost all sense of ethics in this fight.

She had lost it when Willow was kidnapped by the latest sorcerer. He wanted Willow's energy to tap into the Hellmouth and open the damned thing up again.

Fitz had nearly gone insane looking for her lover and when they had finally tracked the red-head and sorcerer down, Fitz had gone into a berserk fury. Willow was tied to an altar and her clothes had been cut away. What had driven Fitz to a homicidal rage were the bruises, cuts and burns on the pale skin of her lover. Willow had been tortured as the sorcerer attempted to steal her magickal energy.

The Slayer turned and saw Giles working at the ropes, holding Willow down, with a knife and turned her attention back to the sorcerer and his minions. Ghouls, humans, and vampires, Fitz knew she and Buffy could deal with. She didn't know how they were going to handle the wizard without Willow and it looked like her mate was unconscious.

Fitz saw Buffy grab two ghouls and ram their heads together, pull out her stake and backhand it into the chest of a vampire. She then spin kicked another vampire in the chest before jumping forward and staking him.

"Saints, Buff, you are good!" Fitz grinned as the blonde Slayer smiled back and wiggled her eyebrows.

Fitz frowned when Buffy lost her grin and her eyes widened. The dark haired Slayer turned and glanced around the cave.

Giles was putting Willow over his shoulder, the sorcerer was muttering inside his protection circle, three ghouls were trying to get back to their feet and two vampires were holding back from the Slayers. Fitz felt something grip her stomach when she saw what Buffy had been noticing; the rocks were beginning to move from the cave walls.

Fitz turned and ran for the opening of the cave, flipping over one of the ghouls and rolling into a crouch. She grabbed one of the sledgehammers the gang had dropped at the opening of the cave, along with swords, stakes, a crossbow, and crosses. She tossed the hammer to Buffy and grabbed the other hammer up in her hands.

"No!" Buffy screamed as a rock demon materialized beside Giles and hit the Watcher across the jaw, dropping him and Willow to the cold stone. Buffy somersaulted to stand over their Watcher, lashing out with the hammer. A good placed blow took the demon's arm off.

Fitz turned, distracted by several demons getting close to her. Fitz glared at the sorcerer in the circle as he looked up and laughed at their struggles.

The battle took a turn for the worse when four rock demons charged Fitz at the same moment while three others rushed at Buffy. The blonde Slayer launched herself into the air, letting the demons crash into each other, two of them smashed fatally, the third lay stunned.

Fitz started to make the same move except she hesitated, seeing a demon reaching for Willow's unconscious body. The dark haired Slayer felt the demons hit her from three different angles and screamed as darkness tried to crowd her.

The Slayer lashed out with the hammer, not aiming at anything, just swinging to try and keep the demons off her. Suddenly there was a flash of color and the demons weren't hitting her anymore. Fitz tried to breathe as Buffy knelt down beside her.

Fitz sat up slowly and moaned with the effort. "Oh that is a bit of a fix then," she muttered when she caught sight of her leg. It was twisted strangely inside her jeans and dark red was darkening the faded black material. It didn't help Fitz' confidence when she couldn't move her foot.

"Goddamn rocks busted me ribs, nose and leg," Fitz yelled, assessing her injuries. She knew she was hurt but not life threatening, yet. The Slayer turned over and began crawling towards where Buffy was fighting off three rock demons and the two vampires, trying to protect Giles and Willow.

Fitz crawled next to Willow and gently shook her lover. "Come on, Wills, we be needing your magics."

"You'll always return to me," Willow nodded and glanced up at her best friend and Slayer fighting the demons. "I'll try and help."

"Good girl," Fitz nodded and tried to pull herself up with the hammer but fell back onto the floor with a cry of pain when her leg refused to hold her. The Slayer had to wait for a wave of nausea to pass from the incredible pain. Fitz leaned against the stone wall as Willow stood up and faced the sorcerer.

Buffy took two of the rock demons down but the Slayer was badly beaten and tired as she faced her last rock demon and a vampire.

The dark Slayer yelped when the missing vampire landed in front of her and yanked the sledgehammer out of her hands. Fitz reached for a stake in her belt as the vampire raised the hammer over her. The stake flew into the vampire's chest as the hammer came down on her leg.

Fitz whimpered, not wanting to open her eyes. It was better in the dark; it didn't hurt as much.

The dark Slayer opened her eyes to find that not much time had passed. Buffy was struggling with the rock demon and the last vampire was rushing up behind Willow.

Willow was grabbed by the vampire before she could turn and Fitz screamed as the vampire sank his fangs into her lover's neck.

The blonde Slayer smashed the rock demon over the head with her hammer and turned, throwing a stake as she spun.

Fitz felt her world stop as the vampire twisted Willow's neck a moment before crumbling to dust. The dark Slayer didn't hear the snapping of the bones but watching Willow's body crumble to the floor told Fitz her lover was gone.

Buffy screamed and rushed to Willow's side, sobbing as she pulled her best friend into her arms.

The dark Slayer reached down into her boot and pulled out a dagger. Giles rose up on his hands and knees and spotted Buffy holding Willow's body. Giles began crawling towards them as Fitz rolled over and crawled two feet to one of the unconscious ghouls.

Fitz felt nothing as she slit the young male's throat, coating the knife in blood.

The Slayer began a slow crawl towards the sorcerer with the bloody knife in her hand.

Giles moved around in front of Buffy, looking Willow over. His Watcher eyes took in the fang marks and the angle of Willow's head. Buffy held the red-head close, tears streaking her face. The Watcher wrapped his arms around his Slayer and little friend.

He wiped at his tears and looked for his Irish firebrand; Giles' eyes widened when he saw her almost at the protective circle.

The dark Slayer reached the edge of the circle as Giles tried to get to his feet.

The Sorcerer laughed at the sight of the Slayer crawling towards him with murder in her eyes.

"I read Giles' book, the blood of one of your servants," Fitz growled and thrust the knife into the circle. "I'm taking you with me!"

Fitz gritted her teeth and shouted in pain. She had never felt anything like this in all the years of Slayer training and then actual Slaying with Buffy.

The Watcher was kneeling beside the wounded Slayer and looking very concerned and puzzled. Fitz could tell that much but the pain was making any more concentration than that difficult.

"Did that blow to your head rattle your brains again, boyo?" Fitz snapped, trying to joke.

<Willow? No, don't think of Willow!> she snapped at herself. <With this pain, you'll be following soon.>

"Giles!" Buffy's voice reached through the pain. "Xander called 911 and is going to lead them here. How is she?"

<Xander? What's she talking about?> Fitz asked herself. <Xander's been gone nigh three years.>

"It's bad, Buffy," Giles said softly as the dark haired girl clenched his hand. "She called me by name."

"No, not that I know of, but this is Sunnydale, after all," Giles pointed out to the blonde Slayer.

"One, it hurts like a sea dragon has been using my leg for a toothpick!" Fitz snapped, glaring at the Watcher. "Two: I know you but you don't know me. Three: Xander's been dead three years since Angelus nailed him to a wall. Four: I'm thinking I'm not in Kansas anymore."

"Damn, this is bad, girl," Fitz muttered, falling back onto the stone floor, thrashing in pain. "I've been your shadow for almost five years. Light and Dark Slayers, called when you were killed by the Master it was."

"But what about Kendra?" Buffy asked, obviously confused as Fitz slammed her other hand against the stone floor in anger from the pain.

"Where are they?" Giles demanded. "Buffy, release that tourniquet for a few moments."

Willow's hair fell back over her shoulders as the vampire sank his fangs in her neck. Fitz could see the look of pain on her lover's face and the absolute terror in Willow's eyes as they dimmed.

Fitz screamed at the sound of breaking bones as the vampire twisted Willow's neck.

"Hey! It's okay," a voice said, trying to sooth her. Fitz could feel someone holding her wrists down and started to fight back but then hesitated at the familiar voice. "You're having a nightmare! Come on, wake up."

Fitz opened her dark blue eyes and whimpered at the sight of beloved green ones hovering over her.

"Hey, I'm real!" Willow protested. "See, this is me trying to hold you down so you don't rip the IVs out of your arm. If you don't stop they'll strap you down again."

"No, I swear that I've never died yet," Willow shook her head, trying to smile and then slowly released Fitz' wrists. She reached over to the nightstand and held a cup with a straw to Fitz' lips. The Slayer drank the water gratefully.

Fitz leaned up as far as her wounded ribs would let her and wasn't surprised to find her entire left leg in a cast, complete with tension pulleys and an ace bandage around her ribs. Tubes ran under the covers and into her arm.

"Again?" Fitz questioned, noticing the restraints hanging loosely from the bed railing.

"You were out of it for awhile and kept trying to hit everyone," Willow explained softly. "They think it was from the pain and the trauma."

Fitz finally sighed and turned her attention to Willow, hoping and praying to every god, goddess and saint that she found that it was her Willow.

Fitz felt her throat tightening when she looked at this Willow. Her Willow had longer hair and seemed older, not as shy. Her Willow also wore a simple gold wedding band, the one that matched hers. The inscription inside remained hidden from the world, shared only by them.

"Yeah, physical and emotional," Fitz muttered and opened her eyes again. "You're not my Willow, are you?"

"My Willow," Fitz said firmly, suddenly needing answers. "My best friend, Scooby Gang member, and my wife."

"Well, I am a Scooby Gang member and I could be a friend….wife?" Willow's eyes went wide as she backed away from the bed.

"Leave me please, lass," Fitz said wearily, wishing she could turn over, away from the young woman that had the body, face, voice and eyes of her lover. The wife that she wouldn't see until death.

"Your Willow died, didn't she?" a voice asked softly and Fitz tried to remember to breathe as she fought back sobs.

"Aye! Just before I got zapped here. Leave me please!" Fitz begged, throwing an arm over her eyes.

Fitz heard the door shutting behind Willow and let her tears overcome her emotions and rational thought.

When Fitz opened her eyes again she found Giles sitting in a chair next to her bed, reading some obscure book on demonology and spells.

"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage," Giles said slowly, putting the book aside and leaning forward.

"Jessica FitzHugh, Slayer," Fitz replied. "You're Rupert Giles, Watcher of Buffy Summers. At least in my world, you are."

"Yeah, you've always been saying I'm awfully clever for an Irish brat," Fitz complained. "In this world Xander is alive, Willow isn't my…she's not my Willow and you don't know me. That means I'm out of place."

"We need to talk about what got you here and how to get you back," Giles nodded, having come to the same conclusions.

"Well, yes," Giles stood up and nervously pulled off his glasses and began cleaning them with his shirt tail.

"How weird is this?" Fitz muttered and smirked as Giles turned with a questioning expression. "You clean your glasses when you're nervous, my Giles does that."

"Well, yes," Giles said, frowning. "Well, the doctors think that you'll be able to keep the leg. It seems that whatever happened to you is fairly unique. Opposing forces connected at the same time, breaking your leg at an odd angle and then there was the other breakage."

"Three rock demons hit me at once and then a vampire used a sledge hammer on it," Fitz grumbled, explaining.

"You're being awfully damned Brit today, Giles," Fitz complained. "Is it me Irish accent that has you uncomfortable or just me?"

"I could care less whether you're Irish, Scots, Russian or Haitian," Giles replied indignantly. "I'm just confused about your presence here and how to set things right again."

"You're about to tell me I'm not going to walk on me leg again," Fitz countered. "I just watched my…I saw Willow killed in front of me. There's nothing to go back to."

"Aye," Fitz said thoughtfully. "You've got me there. I will be missing them if we don't set this right. Saints, Giles, I saw Willow die! She couldn't…I didn't even have time to…"

"Willow said that you mentioned you and your Willow were, uh, close?" Giles asked.

"Aye, Watcher," Fitz answered, not removing her arm. "Against Council wishes and without their blessings, we were married in a religious ceremony. You gave away the bride when her family rejected her because she choose me after Oz was killed by the bounty hunter."

"They're together then?" Fitz asked, trying to tell her heart not to feel anything. <It didn't matter; this wasn't her Willow. She wasn't being rejected for Oz, she didn't exist in this realm. This Willow didn't even know her name.>

"No, he left a month ago to find a cure for the werewolf part of him," Giles explained. "We need to find out how you got here."

"Call a Scooby meeting and compare notes as usual?" Fitz suggested. "How long am I here?"

"Six weeks," Giles answered absently. "And how did you know I was going to tell you that you may not walk again."

"I'm slightly psychic and I saw the leg," Fitz said, keeping her eyes closed. "Call the gang then."

"I don't know you," Fitz snapped. "You have the names, the bodies and maybe even some of the same history, but you're not my Watcher and Willow isn't my…she's not my Willow."

"Yes, well," Fitz could hear Giles moving toward the door. "I'll call the group together."

"Tell me how I got here," Fitz demanded once the gang was assembled around her bed. The dark Slayer fought her emotions down when Xander and Willow walked into the room. She wanted desperately to hug them both but fought against the desire. These weren't her best friend and lover. They were strangers. She didn't recognize the girl with Xander and nearly came off the bed when Spike walked in. Fitz grabbed for the rosary hanging from her bed rail.

"Tame?" Fitz questioned, wondering why he hadn't been staked by Buffy yet and that the gang seemed to accept him.

"A secret government agency put a modifier chip in his brain," Willow explained, her voice soft and shy. "He can't attack anything human."

"Aye, that I am," Fitz agreed with a snarl. "In my world you're just a pile of dust along with that crazy bitch you hung with."

"Enough you two!" Giles snapped. "My God, Spike, do you piss off everyone you come in contact with?"

Now they were gathered around the hospital bed and looking at a Slayer none of them knew.

"We were looking for Willow," Buffy began explaining. "She had been kidnapped by a sorcerer."

"Same in my world, bastard wanted revenge on my…on Willow for finding and performing the spell that sent his half brother back to hell."

"Yes, exactly," Giles nodded. "He had her in a cave and was about to torture and kill her."

"He told me the best revenge was losing someone you love," Willow joined in, her manner still extremely shy. "Darius said that he was going to do a spell that would bring my soul mate to the circle and then he was going torture and kill them in front of me."

"In my world, Will was kidnapped by Darius the sorcerer," Fitz said thoughtfully and wiped at the tears in her eyes. "He…he didn't have grand plans. He just figured on torturing and killing Wills was all, trying to steal her magic. Darius had a protective circle and we couldn't get to him without Wills awake to counter his spells."

"You were…Wills was unconscious when we got there," Fitz said softly, turning her attention away from Willow, it hurt too much.

"Maybe not in this realm but in mine we were…" Fitz hesitated. "We were close."

"You and Red were shagging?" Spike smirked, loving the way Willow turned a bright red and ducked her head in embarrassment.

"Willow's straight, don't even think of trying anything here!" Xander warned Fitz.

"You look like my Xander and you even act like him but don't be threatening me, boy!" Fitz growled. "Cast or no, I could still snap your spine if you got close enough."

"Yeah, maybe Red there has been playing for the wrong team," Spike suggested with a laugh. "You did say that weird vampire twin of hers played both sides."

Spike found himself pinned to the wall with his boots dangling in the air as Buffy's hand wrapped around his throat.

"Shut up, Spike," she growled and released him, sending him tumbling to the floor.

"Everyone shut up!" Giles snapped. "Whether the spell went wrong and grabbed Jessica here or whatever, we need to find the spell and send her back."

"Fitz, please call me Fitz," the dark Slayer said absently. "Everyone calls me Fitz except Wills, she…nevermind."

"You said your Willow was unconscious, what happened during the fight?" Buffy asked.

"We were holding our own but I got smacked by three rock demons," Fitz said slowly. "They took me leg out. You were busy with three of the bastard things and two vamps. Wills woke up and took on the sorcerer."

Fitz hesitated and smiled but avoided eye contact when Willow handed her a plastic cup with a straw.

"Giles was down, broken jaw this time, I'm thinking," Fitz continued. "One of the vamps grabbed my hammer and smashed my leg again and everything went gray."

Fitz stopped as the memories of a vampire's fangs sinking into her lover's throat flooded her mind.

"We were fighting ghouls and vampires, no rock demons," Xander commented. "Willow wasn't hurt, just tied down."

"The sorcerer had already cast his spell," Giles continued. "There was this blinding flash and you were in the circle, injured and with a knife in your hand."

"Aye," Fitz nodded. "After Willow was…after she…Buffy and Giles didn't see me for a bit as I crawled to the circle. I had read something in your book about breaking a protection circle with the blood of a willing servant of the sorcerer."

"The bloody knife," Giles reasoned, his face becoming stern. "Do Slayers normally kill humans in your realm?"

"No," Fitz admitted as she glanced at a confused Willow. "I saw the light of my life killed in front of me, my leg was shattered and I knew I was dying. I was going to be taking that bastard with me."

"You killed one of his servants with the knife and broke the circle," Giles nodded.

"Aye," Fitz admitted, her own jaw clenched and her eyes challenging anyone in the room. "I don't remember anything after the circle exploded until you were telling me to be still."

"There was a blinding light and you were there with the knife," Giles repeated. "You crawled over to the barely conscious sorcerer and slit his throat."

Fitz wasn't sure what she felt. She knew she should feel horrible for having killed a human but didn't. She wasn't happy at getting revenge for Willow's death either. Fitz realized she didn't feel anything, just numb inside.

"And if I was in my realm the Council might let me off then?" Fitz smirked. "Might just let me retire since I won't walk again? Maybe set me up in a small library in Eire?"

Giles frowned. "We didn't find his spell book at the cave so we'll have to find where he was hiding or living and find the book. It's the only way we'll be able to send Fitz back to her realm."

"Okay but I'm not sure how we'll track that down," Buffy said slowly and thoughtfully. "We're usually tracking someone living or undead. Finding someone after the fact will be a little harder."

"I suggest we get on it right away," Giles said calmly. "I'm going to stay here for awhile and talk with Fitz."

"I don't think I was in any shape to have pissed you off meself so what bug crawled up your bum about me?" she demanded.

"You thinking you're close to Wills," he snapped. "Bad enough Oz was stupid enough to leave without some pervert coming in and confusing her."

"As it is, until she can be moved, we can't send her back or she'll lose that leg," Giles pointed out. "I suggest we make her as welcome as we can. She is a Slayer."

"And a Scooby Member in her world," Willow pointed out, jumping to Fitz' defense. "That makes her okay."

"Yeah, well Faith was a Slayer and a member and look what happened with her!" Xander countered.

"Is that what's got you all twisted?" Buffy demanded. "You think she's their version of Faith?"

"Well, it would make sense!" he grumbled. "We got Willow's double that time, why not Faith this time to mess us up."

"One: Faith is here and alive; two: this is not Faith," Buffy snapped, listing the things on her finger. "Faith has dark eyes and is American, Fitz has blue eyes and is Irish. Three: Faith was called when Dru killed Kendra, Fitz was called when the Master killed me in her realm. Four: nothing Fitz has said indicates that she's a psycho like Faith."

"Except intentionally killing two men," Xander countered. "Even Faith thought the Mayor's assistant was a vampire when she killed him."

"Xander, what would you do if you saw someone kill Anya in front of you?" Willow asked softly.

"You're just upset because she was with Willow in her realm," Buffy complained. "You've always been overprotective and jealous of Wills. Though the thought of a gay Wills is a little strange."

"Aye, even in my realm he was," Fitz nodded wearily. "He always suspected how I felt about Wills."

This world version of Xander turned almost purple with anger at the thought of the dark Slayer with his best friend.

"Don't tell me we're stuck with another Slayer for two months," Spike complained and Fitz' eyes widened.

"No, you've got to send me back sooner than that!" she demanded. "I don't care about the leg, just get me out of here."

"I hate hospitals, I hate being bored, I hate recovery!" Fitz shouted, pounding her fist against the mattress.

"Typical Slayer," Buffy smirked. "Don't worry, we'll find ways to keep you busy."

"Everyone go on," Giles ordered and sat down in the chair next to Fitz' bed. Willow hung back as the others left, bickering and debating with each other where to start looking for the living space of a dead sorcerer.

"No, none," Fitz shook her head. "That's why it took so long to find him and he had time to…to do his rituals."

"I'd like to stay," Willow said softly, noticing that Fitz wouldn't meet her eyes.

"Well, Fitz is going to be here at least six weeks," Willow pointed out. "She's going to need a friend."

"No!" Fitz snapped, glancing at the red-head for a moment and then looking away. "Send Xander to sit with me, our fighting will get me tossed out of here quick."

"I'd like to stay," Willow repeated. "I want to know about you and your world, maybe it'll help if you can talk about your Willow."

"Just seeing you kills me, lass," Fitz said softly, finally meeting Willow's eyes.

"Everything," Giles smiled. "We know there are other realms, including demon ones and parallel ones. The more we learn the better it will be if any of us get caught up like you have."

"Okay, let's see," Fitz said thoughtfully. "One, my town is Sunnyville, California, United States of America. I was born in Belfast, Ireland, part of the United Kingdom. I'm Catholic, mostly non-practicing. I was orphaned at age 10 by an Ulster bomb and lived in various foster homes."

"The Protestant side of the Irish/English conflict in Northern Ireland," Giles explained.

"Aye, happens a lot. The Provos of the IRA bomb an Ulster police station or English troop convey and they turn around and bomb us," Fitz agreed.

"Aye, I was IRA when I was twelve," Fitz nodded, closing her eyes. "I was in a foster home in Derry. Four of the boys had already died fighting the Brits. I began running guns across the countryside on my bike or hiking them in from the coast. Then this really weird Brit shows up looking for me when I was thirteen."

"He starts going on about Slayers and vampires and how I'm supposed to go with him," she snorted.

"I don't understand," Willow said. "Don't Watchers and Slayers transcend international boundaries, like the UN?"

"Aye, but you first have to get that through the mind of a stubborn Irish rebel," Fitz pointed out. "I wasn't impressed with the man and figured him for some lame English trap."

"He was following me and telling me about vampires," Fitz said. "I tried to walk away from him and we were jumped by three vampires. He was slashed to bits in front of me. Being a decent Catholic, I held them off with my crucifix and ran into a church."

"When the next one came looking for me, I was ready," Fitz shrugged. "They sent a German woman this time. She took me to England and trained me for the next two years until I got the call, the strength and everything. I was sent to Sunnyville to replace Buffy and take on the Master and try and to close the Hellmouth."

"I found Buffy alive, the Master dead and the Hellmouth a pain in the arse," she grinned. "The demons and vampires kept getting stronger so the Council decided I should stay with Buffy as a team."

"I was sixteen and beginning to realize I was in love with Willow and Buffy was all nuts for the vampire with a soul," Fitz said softly, her eyes cloudy with memories. "Then came Buffy's birthday and we got Angelus."

"Angelus was a right bastard, he was," Fitz continued, her eyes hard. "He…he hurt all of us."

"In case you can't send me back and I'm stuck here?" Fitz ventured, her voice bitter.

"Yes, actually," Giles answered honestly. "We all need to know a bit about you."

"Why? I won't be a Slayer anymore, you won't need me," Fitz said bitterly motioning at her plaster encased leg.

"You were a Slayer and a Scooby member, that makes you family," Willow protested and Giles nodded. "If you are stuck here, you'll need friends. You don't even have an ID."

Willow felt her face flushing; she never thought anyone would look at her with such adoration before. Not even Oz looked at her that way.

Fitz closed her eyes. "Don't say I didn't warn you, Watcher. Angelus first went after Buffy, taunting and then teasing her sexually. She knew right away something was wrong but his words and actions still hurt the girl, she was so vulnerable. Then he killed Will's fish and left a drawing of Willow, nude, tied down on an altar with an upside cross above her."

Fitz didn't open her eyes but by the sound of Willow's gasp something similar had happened in this realm as well.

"I…I never showed anyone the drawing," Willow said softly. Fitz opened her eyes and wasn't surprised to find Willow's head ducked, hair falling and hiding her face. "I knew it would just upset everyone."

"Aye, it did," Fitz agreed, closing her eyes again. "I knew I was in love with you…I mean, my Will, but she was still grieving for Oz."

"In my world he was killed by a bounty hunter our sophomore year," Fitz explained. "We spent a lot of time together and I knew I had fallen for her and Angelus torment of Willow just sent me into a berserker fury."

"I went raging after him and was caught," Fitz said slowly. "He threw me to Dru and Spike while he set about destroying Buffy and the others."

"You wanted to hear it, Watcher," Fitz snapped, her eyes opening and Giles flinched under the stern stare of the Irish woman. "They decided to keep me alive and torture me a bit."

"Let's just say it wasn't a very pretty sight," Fitz said firmly. "I was more dead than alive when Buffy and Xander rescued me. In revenge, Angelus killed Jenny and her unborn child."

"Giles?" Willow asked softly as his face sagged with the horrible memory of finding his own Jenny murdered in his bed.

"Angelus kept leaving drawings, notes and such to all of us," Fitz continued. "I was in the hospital for three days and Buffy was nearly out of her mind with worry about all of us. My Giles tried to go after Angelus and nearly got himself and Buffy killed."

"Buffy, Xander, Will and Cordy set a trap with me as the bait," Fitz continued. "Angelus, Spike and Dru walked right into it. We managed to kill Druscilla and Spike went insane, breaking Xander's arm before we drove them off."

"We were in over our heads and couldn't face it," Fitz complained. "Every time we tried something, Angelus would merely counter with something more horrible. This time he kidnapped Cordelia, tortured her for hours and carved upside crosses in her cheeks."

"Aye, her parents sent her overseas to the best plastic surgeon they could find and she transferred school to Paris," Fitz nodded, still keeping her eyes closed.

"Saints, haven't you heard enough?" Fitz demanded, opening her eyes but turning away from the Watcher and young woman. "The next night Angelus overpowered Xander with a pack of vampires and crucified him to the front wall of Buffy's house. He had his vampires slowly drain and torture the boy before he died."

"The bastard had decided that the end of the world would be a good thing and set about calling up a particularly vicious demon," Fitz continued.

"To get the incantation and spell right, he kidnapped my Giles and tortured the hell out of him," Fitz noticed the expression and look in Giles' eyes and her own widened. "You too?"

"Yes, Buffy and Xander rescued me when she came to kill Angelus. Spike turned against him and rendered Druscilla unconscious and then left," Giles answered.

"Maybe without Spike and Xander there is why it was worse with my Giles," Fitz pondered.

"His kneecaps were drilled through," Fitz answered brutally and smacked herself mentally as Giles turned pale. "He can walk with braces and crutches but not well and he's in pain most of the time. Much like I'll be I'm thinking."

"I'm sorry but please don't take your anger out on us," Giles growled. "We're trying to help."

"I know," Fitz said wearily. "I'm scared and I've never admitted that to anyone in me life. Willow died in front of me, I couldn't move, I couldn't help her, I couldn't protect her and she was my life. I watched her die, Giles."

"Aye," Fitz said softly, her eyes filling with tears. "Spike was really angry at me for Dru, I was the one that killed her. He kidnapped Willow and…and…both he and Angelus hurt her."

"She was shattered. They left her in my bed for me to find," Fitz continued. "It backfired in a way. While I was blubbering like a fool, I told Will how I felt about her. Spike made the mistake of trying to sneak up on me in the hospital while I sat with Willow. I took his head off."

"Buffy and I found Angelus and Giles. I got Giles out of there while Buffy took on the vampire," Fitz explained. "When I went back inside he almost had her but she rallied, she did. Buffy took him down and she shoved her sword through his chest as I took his head."

"Angelus killed Jenny, tormented all of us, came between Buffy and her mother and such," Giles began. "He planned on bringing Acathla into the world here as well. Spike didn't want the world to change so he struck a bargain with Buffy, he would help her in the battle if she let him take Druscilla and leave. Buffy was reluctant because Druscilla had killed Kendra, the other Slayer, and had put Willow in the hospital."

"Kendra, she's the Slayer in training after me," Fitz commented. "What happened?"

"Willow found a spell on one of Jenny's disks that would restore the curse and performed the spell," Giles continued. "Xander rescued me while Buffy took on Angelus. Spike surprised him and rendered Druscilla unconscious and then left. Buffy was able to defeat Angelus but the spell had been cast and Acathla was crossing over. Willow's spell worked and Angel was back but the world was about to be destroyed. Buffy killed Angel to stop the spell."

"Our Willow's spells are hit and miss sometimes," Giles admitted. "They seem better since she started practicing with a girl she met on campus."

"She's our best friend and new Scooby member," Fitz explained. "In my world, she's dating Verucca, a werewolf singer."

"Our Verucca seduced Oz and liked being the werewolf and killing, that's what broke Willow and Oz up," Giles countered.

"My Verucca is okay, we just lock her in an old bomb shelter three nights a month," Fitz shrugged. "What else, Watcher? I'm getting tired."

Fitz' face looked pained. "After Angelus, I found out she heard me and my confession of love and she said she had been fighting the same feelings and…and she was so damned cute! I don't know much except we were kissing, crying and were together after that. No one batted an eye except her parents; they disowned her and threw her out. Buffy's mom took her in."

"Hah!" Fitz snorted. "With you, I mean, with my Giles. With his legs all busted up, we moved him into a ground floor apartment with two bedrooms."

"Fitz was just telling me that she lives with the other Giles," Giles explained. "Seems his injuries from Angelus were more serious than mine."

"Aye," Fitz nodded, noting Willow's troubled expression. "In my world, Will didn't find a spell and she wasn't in any shape to be casting one if she had found it. Buffy had no reservations about killing Angeles and neither did I."

"That means Angel didn't come back, I wonder what the Powers That Be had in mind for your realm?" she said thoughtfully.

"Yes, he returned from hell," Giles answered, his own voice curiously flat. Fitz had the feeling Giles still wasn't sure if he wanted Angel back or not. "He has an investigation service in Los Angeles, he and his team help people in trouble, usually of a supernatural origin."

"Unsure about losing his soul again," Giles commented. "So he left rather than face the temptation and putting both of them through the hell of seeing each other and unable to be together."

"Dust," Fitz said simply. "He tried to attack me and my Will while she was in hospital and I took him out."

"We found the Mayor was at the bottom of some major drug dealing, bribery, harboring of demons and vampires, and planned on blowing up the school on graduation to open the Hellmouth again. He had made a deal with demons that the graduating class would be dinner."

"Our Mayor became invincible and planned on this Ascension to godhood or something," Willow countered. "We stopped him."

"No, we didn't get that far," Fitz admitted, smiling at a little at the one-up-manship game. "We did take down a really mean biker demon bar that had me and Buffy on the ropes for a bit."

"Did you have the really weird episode of where no one could talk because of The Gentlemen?" Willow asked enthusiastically while Giles kept quiet and took notes, not wanting to break the friendly and informative banter.

"Yeah! You ran into Tara from the Wicca group," Fitz grinned. "I mean, my Willow did. They were in serious trouble and I didn't know it. I was looking for her and Buffy. They managed to protect themselves by combining their powers."

"Aye, best friends, the lot of us," Fitz nodded, her eyes going distant with memory. "Tara began dating a musician, Will and I were together and Buffy had just hooked up with an old friend from her previous school, Billy Ford."

"Our Billy boy is quite healthy," Fitz countered. "And quite taken with our Slayer."

"Well, Fitz," Giles interrupted and stood up. "I think the questions can wait for another day. Come on, Willow, she's exhausted."

"Willow," Fitz said gently. "I know you're trying to help. You're so much like my Willow, she's the first to help, put in the long hours, never complain and be a friend. Because you're so much like her, it's killing me. I need to sleep, I need a pain shot and I need to cry some more and I don't do that well with company."

Giles was surprised, if Fitz was anything like the other Slayers he had known, the pain must be incredible for Fitz to ask for painkillers.

"I don't even have a picture of her," Fitz said softly, closing her eyes, touching her wedding ring.

"You said the Council didn't approve of your marriage, why?" Giles asked, seeing the wedding ring, suddenly curious.

"Blasted stuffed shirt Brits!" Fitz snapped, her eyes blazing. "Said they wouldn't allow a Slayer to get 'emotionally' involved with anyone while they were active Slayers, they did. Pointed out the disaster of Buffy getting involved with someone, a vampire and such. I pointed back that Willow sure in hell wasn't a vampire and they could twirl on their blessed umbrellas."

"And the Irish Church agrees with same sex marriages?" Giles countered and watched Fitz blush.

"Nay, you're right there, Watcher," Fitz admitted. "But then Mother Church hasn't said much about me life since I joined the IRA either. Willow had already been disowned by her parents and we told the Council to stuff themselves."

"The Council showed up on our doorstep and said they'd be testing Buffy and for us to stay out of it," Fitz said slowly. "Giles found out what the test was and told them off and threatened to expose them. The Council and Giles compromised, they followed Buffy and me for two weeks without us knowing it. They even called in some particularly nasty demons and vampires to test us and we passed, using our resources, brains, talent, and strength. They passed all of us. What happened on this end?"

"The test was a major bitch and Giles agreed to it!" Willow snapped. "He drugged Buffy so her Slayer strength was useless and she had to defeat an insane and super strong vampire on her own."

"Well, we didn't and the Council threatened to send me away, with me being a minor at the time and such," Fitz said. "I told them plain that I wouldn't leave and they didn't want a war with two Slayers, two witches, a werewolf and a Watcher with magic training."

Fitz glanced away quickly. "He did. Tara, in my world, is dating a female werewolf."

Giles nodded and placed his hand on Willow's shoulder as Fitz rang the buzzer for the nurse.

Willow was unusually quiet on the ride back to the college in Giles' car. He knew the last two weeks had been difficult on everyone but especially on Willow. First she had received word from Oz that he wasn't returning and then she had been kidnapped by that damned sorcerer.

Now they had Fitz to deal with. An angry, confused, and grieving Slayer. One who was very much in love with her own version of Willow.

"No, I'm not," she admitted, keeping her eyes on the passing scenery. "How do we help her, Giles?"

The Watcher smiled gently, thinking this was the reason he loved the kids so much. Their undying love for each other and especially Willow's innate goodness. Even though everything was confusing, she was quick to jump in and try to help the wounded woman in their care.

"Yes," Giles nodded. "I know it would kill me if Jenny's double came through a portal somewhere."

"Of course, Willow," Giles said calmly, letting Willow go at her own speed in the conversation.

"No, I think all vampires are highly sexual and aren't particular about gender but she definitely had a preference for females, I believe," Giles said honestly.

"Buffy said that the demon vampire doesn't reflect the person's personality," Willow pondered.

"I'm not sure she was correct on that point," Giles fought to keep his voice calm and steady. He could sense the girl was struggling with something and had a good indication of where she was heading. The Watcher didn't want her retreating back into her shy shell. It had taken over a month to get her to stop crying over Oz and Giles knew the new girl from the Wicca group had been a big part of that recovery.

Giles also knew that Willow might be on the edge of trusting him with something she probably hadn't even talked with Buffy about and he didn't want to scare her off.

Giles kept his eyes on the road but glanced at the young witch out of the corner of his eye and found her blushing a bright red, just as he thought her reaction would be.

"I, uh, I like Tara, a lot," Willow stammered. "I don't know…it feels…and then there's Fitz."

"Well, nothing wrong with that," Giles said easily. "It's not something easy to discover about yourself but it can be very nice too."

"We've found over the years that most Slayers are bisexual, vampires are just sexual and a good portion of the human race is bisexual or gay," Giles shrugged. "You won't shock me if you discover that you are bisexual or lesbian."

"You…you won't be disappointed in me?" Willow asked, her voice soft and so young sounding it nearly broke the Watcher's heart.

"Why?" he asked. "Because you have the capacity to love someone? Willow, that's what makes you so much YOU. My Willow gives so much and loves with all her heart. I don't care what gender the person is that receives that beautiful part of you. Besides, you remember Ethan. We were more than close at times, that's one reason I have trouble taking permanent action against him. Never question love, Willow, gender doesn't matter."

"You've known Tara for awhile now but you just mentioned there was something about Fitz that disturbed you?" Giles asked.

"I don't know," Willow frowned. "It's like I'm drawn to her and don't want to leave until I know everything about her. It doesn't feel like…I don't know what it feels like."

"Fitz hasn't even begun to grieve," Giles warned. "I don't know what happened but she watched as her Willow was killed in front of her. It would be natural to cling to you, especially now."

"Yes, they had a ceremony in which they were 'married' in all ways except legally, I believe. My counterpart walked your counterpart down the aisle," Giles said.

He watched the witch as she walked towards her dorm, head low in thought and he felt his heart aching for her.

"Will, please, no!" Fitz thrashed on the bed as cool hands and voices tried to calm her. "No, don't hurt her! Willow!"

"Her wounds have become infected and she's spiking a high fever," an unknown voice answered as hands held her arms down and someone was strapping her wrists in restraints.

"I'm here," a voice answered and a familiar hand and energy brushed black hair from the Slayer's forehead.

Fitz calmed instantly, crying as Willow wrapped her arm around under Fitz' head, moving as close as she could.

"I saw you die, please don't let it be real," Fitz sobbed. "I can't do it without you, lass."

"I'm right here, Fitz," Willow's voice reassured her. "Its okay, let them give you a shot for the pain and the fever, okay?"

"You saw how she's flailing about, she'll rip the IV's out," a male voice protested.

"You also see how she's calmed down with Willow there," Giles countered. "Willow can call for a nurse if Fitz begins thrashing again."

Fitz felt her right hand being freed and managed to focus on the green eyes she adored so much as Willow slipped Fitz' hand hers.

"I'm here, Fitz," Willow said softly, tears streaking her face. "She's hurting so bad, Giles."

"I know," he said softly. "Don't mistake empathy or sympathy for something else though."

"The doctor says Will can stay with her since it's the only thing that seems to keep Fitz calm," she announced.

"I'm not sure this is a good idea," Giles grumbled. "Fitz is grieving for her own Willow, having our Willow here all the time will only delay that grief and there's a good chance Fitz will rebound right into Willow."

"She's right, Giles," Buffy added. "With Slayer strength, the nurses will have a hard time if Fitz is out of her head and fighting."

"Until the fever breaks and then you put some distance between you and Fitz," Giles ordered.

Giles pretended to not notice Willow's infamous 'resolve face' and saw Buffy frowning as she watched her best friend's reaction to the order.

"I know, Fitz, it'll be okay," Willow said softly as Buffy and Giles left the room.

"I'm sorry, I'm just so worried about you," Willow said quickly. "You're my Jess, just like Jesse James."

"Aye," Fitz smiled, closing her eyes. "Like that Cher song you like so well. Yours forever, Will."

"Why couldn't you have been in this realm?" Willow asked the Fates. "No one could love me like you did her."

Buffy hesitated outside the door, her Slayer hearing everything Willow had muttered. The blonde Slayer turned to go and find Xander and Anya for the evening patrol.

So what the hell do we do with Fitz?" Xander demanded as they walked along in one of the many graveyards in Sunnydale.

"What do you mean, Xan?" Buffy asked. "We help her recover and send her back to her own realm, like we did Willow's vampire double."

"I think Will is spending too much time with her," he grumbled. "She's been at the hospital almost four days straight now!"

"You know how Will is," Buffy shrugged, keeping her senses alert for any vampires or demons. "She wants to help anyone that's hurt."

"Yeah, will this injured puppy has major issues with Willow and I don't think we should be encouraging them to spend any time together," he snapped.

"What is your major maladjustment?" Buffy finally demanded, spinning to face her friend so quickly that it surprised Xander and almost knocked him over. "Fitz is a Slayer and in the wrong realm! It's not her fault!"

"For some reason the thought of Fitz and Willow being orgasm friends bothers him," Anya said calmly.

"Yes," she joined in. "Is it the thought of two women together? I don't think so because of the porn movies you like, they include a lot of woman-to-woman action and you seem to enjoy that very much."

"Enough!" Xander growled. "I am not homophobic, I just don't want Will getting hurt. She's not even over Oz yet and here's someone totally head over heels for her."

"Will is an adult and will make her own decisions, Xander," Buffy growled back. "She's not dating a werewolf, a vampire or a former demon. In fact, they're not dating! She's helping keep Fitz calm until Fitz can heal."

"We know that already," Buffy complained. "Let's find that damned spell book and send her back so we can all continue on with life, Fitz included!"

"What if she doesn't want to go back?" Xander demanded. "Her Willow is dead, ours is alive!"

"Why would that bother him?" Anya asked. "Xander, why does Willow's sex life bother you so much?"

Willow looked up from her laptop as the sound of Fitz' breathing increased and the Slayer moaned in pain and a nightmare.

Tara was supposed to drop by and compare research notes on getting Fitz back to her own realm and Willow was worried about the fiery Slayer. Fitz didn't seem to be getting any better from the fever.

The red-head moved closer to the hospital bed as Fitz began clutching at the blanket with her hands.

Then the Slayer was speaking in Gaelic and Willow didn't have a clue as to what Fitz was saying but it was very emotional, judging from the expression on Fitz' face.

Willow had discovered that loving words and touches from her could usually calm the nightmare and fever wracked Slayer like nothing else seemed to do.

"I'm here, Jess, I'm here," Willow said softly. She hated herself for deceiving the Slayer. She knew that Jess thought Willow was her Willow but it seemed to comfort the Slayer.

Willow leaned over to brush a lock of dark shaggy hair from Fitz' face and the Slayer reached up and gently stroked Willow's cheek. The witch felt her breathing suddenly quicken as she looked deeply into Fitz' eyes and saw nothing but love and desire in them.

Unaware she was doing it, Willow leaned into the touch with a sigh and felt Fitz' fingers roam through her hair, to the back of her neck, drawing Willow closer to her

The kiss was soft, gentle and at the same time electric. Fitz moaned and shifted slightly on the bed. Willow whimpered and felt her own hand moving over Fitz' ribs, moving closer to the Slayer's breast

Willow didn't know how long the kiss lasted but it felt like forever. The witch was panting from the emotional shock and leaned her head against Fitz' as her body shook.

Willow pulled back slightly and gently placed Fitz' arm back onto the bed as the Slayer fell back into a restful sleep.

The hacker was no closer to answers when Tara walked in twenty minutes later to find Willow bent over her computer with an intense frown.

"She's sleeping better and longer, which is a good sign," Willow answered as she stood to hug the other witch.

Tara drew out of the embrace after a moment with a questioning look into Willow's green eyes.

Willow was once again quiet for a long time and Tara let her contemplate what she wanted to say as they walked in front of the hospital.

"What's up, Will?" Tara asked softly as the red-haired witch moved under the shade of a tree and leaned against the bark.

"Not totally," Willow frowned. "I was confused before she showed up. I was getting confused about…uh, I was wondering about my sexual feelings before that."

The witch risked looking up and noticed Tara was looking down at her shoes but smiling slightly.

"Is my babbling contagious?" Willow teased, sitting down and sighing with relief when Tara sat next to her.

"She's still out of it because of the fever," Willow frowned. "Jess thinks I'm her Willow."

"She thinks her lover is with her," Tara joined Willow in frowning. "What happens when she comes out of it and knows that you're not her Will."

"Fitz probably won't remember any of it," Willow muttered. "And she'll have time to grieve for her Willow."

"You're letting yourself fall for her knowing that she's leaving," Tara scolded and still frowning. "Willow, I could fall in love with you and I think you're setting yourself up for some serious heartbreak."

"Willow, you can't stop how you're feeling about anyone or anything," Tara said slowly. "You know I've been spending a lot of time with Sarah, from the group."

"Terrific," Willow said, somewhat sarcastically. "Fitz will go back to her realm and you'll be dating Sarah and I lose both of you."

"You won't lose me," Tara snapped back. "You can't ask me to hold back hoping to be second choice when Fitz goes back."

"You're right, of course," Willow nodded. "I'm sorry. I would do anything not to hurt anybody. I don't like being hurt either."

"Why can't Fitz stay here?" Tara asked the unspoken question that had been running through Willow's mind for days.

"I…I don't know," Willow admitted. "I'm not her Willow, we're not her friends and this isn't her world. She's out of place."

"No, I want you to be happy," Tara said softly. "I don't think it's with me. What about you going to her realm?"

"Her Willow is gone, there wouldn't be two of you," Tara pointed out, wrapping an arm around Willow's shoulders.

"Still, wouldn't that mess up karma stuff, like changing things by going back in time?"

"I don't know," Tara said softly, her breathing quickening as Willow's warmth spread to her and the wonderful scent of Willow's hair filled her senses. Tara mentally kicked herself, trying to fight the sudden sensations.

Willow sensed the change in her friend and possible lover and shifted slightly until she was looking Tara in the eyes.

Both moved forward slightly until their lips met. Tara thought Willow might pull back and was surprised when the red witch shifted and her hand went behind Tara's head, pulling her closer.

At the gentle gesture, Willow broke down and collapsed into Tara's arms weeping. Tara closed her eyes against her own tears and held Willow closely, rocking the confused young woman.

"Yeah," Tara admitted. "I could really fall for you Willow Rosenberg and it would be wonderful. Kinda like best friends who are lovers."

"Wow!" Willow muttered, her eyes widening in thought. "Can I get back to you on that?"

"You're falling for her, Will," Tara said softly. "You're heading for a lot of pain. You aren't her Willow."

"I know, she hasn't had time to grieve and here I am getting all goo-goo eyed," Willow complained with a heavy sigh.

Tara sat back against the tree, her arm around Willow and the red haired witch snuggled in her arms, taking comfort in the closeness and friendship.

Willow glanced up from her laptop with a smile for the confused blue eyes looking at her. She got up and held a cup with a straw to Fitz' lips.

"It wasn't a dream, was it then?" the Irish woman asked softly, taking in the slight physical differences in this Willow from hers.

"No, it wasn't," Willow said softly, pulling her chair closer. "I'm not your Will, you're in a strange world and we don't know how to get you back."

"Everything hurts," Fitz complained. "I feel like a wet kitten left in the rain."

"I don't doubt it," Willow smiled. "You've been pretty out of it for five days."

"What?" Fitz whispered in disbelief. "I don't remember much. Nightmares and such and Willow with me."

"Yes, it seemed to help," Willow said softly as she replaced the cup on the nightstand and sat down.

"Thank you for that," Fitz said slowly. "I think I remember talking with Giles and the others before everything went fuzzy. You don't know how to get me back to my world?"

"No, Buffy and everyone is looking for the Book of Shadows or grimoires of the sorcerer but they haven't found anything. If we can't find the spell he used we could end up sending you to a different world and you wouldn't want that," Willow explained.

"She still wouldn't be your Willow, just like I'm not," Willow countered, her voice sounding almost hurt, surprising Fitz.

"You're right," Fitz nodded after a moment. "I'm lost no matter what happens. Guess it doesn't matter what realm I end up in."

"Yes it does, we know of one realm where vampires control Sunnydale and humans live in fear," Willow told the Slayer.

"We got my double from that realm," Willow explained. "Only that Willow had been turned and was like totally evil."

"Whoa, that had to be a different experience seeing yourself like that," Fitz commented and was puzzled when Willow began blushing a bright red and ducked her eyes away from Fitz'. "What?"

"She was…kinda like me but…me as a vampire was so…weird!" Willow stumbled. "She was so skanky and evil and…and…"

"And?" Fitz asked, amused by Willow's discomfort. The hacker was so damned cute! So much like her Willow but different in little ways.

"Like so sexual with anyone!" Willow blurted out. "She even wanted to snuggle with me!"

Fitz bit her lip to keep from laughing but couldn't hide her smile. "That had to be one of the weirdest experiences yet."

"Total freak-out!" Willow agreed, finally looking up and managing to grin at the situation.

"I don't know, neither does Giles," Willow admitted, grateful that Fitz seemed to be able to look her in the eyes now. "I brought you something."

"Flowers? I'm not much a flower type person," Fitz teased. "Unless they're black."

"The evil Slayer, right?" Fitz asked as Willow nodded. "Well, my Giles always bitches that I dress more like a vampire than a Slayer."

"What does a Slayer dress like?" Willow grinned. "Faith preferred leather, tops that barely covered any skin and the tighter the better, Buffy can be trendy or total casual."

"I'm into black; jeans, t-shirts, jackets and such," Fitz said slowly. "What did you bring me?"

"I, uh, it's nothing much," Willow stammered, reaching into the backpack next to her chair. She slowly handed over a picture.

Fitz felt her throat tightening as she looked at a picture of a young Willow, Buffy and Xander in front of the high school, arms around each other and smiling for the camera.

"You don't have anything to remind you of your Willow, that was taken about the time you said you met your gang," Willow explained, her voice soft as tears filled Fitz' eyes. "I thought it might help give you something."

"Thank you," Fitz whispered, wiping at her eyes. "I don't know how I'm going to live without her."

"Would you tell me about her?" Willow asked. "I know that I look and sound like her and that it hurts but it might help to talk about her and remember the good things you had."

Fitz frowned, pondering Willow's words for a moment, giving it fair consideration. "Aye, it might help."

The conversation was interrupted by the nurse making her rounds. She smiled at the coherent patient and went to grab a doctor. The next hour was spent explaining the infection that had hit the dark Slayer, explaining about the damage to her leg and Fitz' future recovery probabilities.

Fitz had been right, the doctors didn't believe that she would walk on the leg again. Willow's eyes widened as Fitz' eyes narrowed and brightened. The witch had a feeling that she was seeing the Slayer's own 'resolve' or stubborn face.

Fitz managed to dodge most of the doctor's questions about her background and the numerous scars they had found.

Finally the doctors were satisfied with Fitz' recovery from the fever and their exam of her leg and other injuries. They then left the two young women alone with a nurse. The older woman went about her duties as Willow filled the awkward space with general chit chat about her school work, Xander's job in construction, and Giles' employment at the museum.

Fitz sighed as the nurse left and closed the door. "It doesn't bother you?" she asked Willow.

"No, why should it?" Willow asked easily. "You can't walk to the bathroom so things happen differently under those sheets."

Fitz blushed profusely. "You heard the docs, if they let me out early, I'll be needing help."

"Well, I know you'll probably end up either at Buffy's place or Giles' apartment," Willow said thoughtfully. "My parents are never around and I've got school during the day. We couldn't leave you alone. Xander and Anya work during the day and his parents don't even notice if they're around."

"On campus with me, but Joyce wouldn't mind having you. She's been here several times to visit you while you were out of it," Willow explained.

Willow lost her smile. "She's not in your world?" Fitz pained eyes answered her. "I wouldn't mention that bit to Buffy."

"She took Faith in," Willow said cheerfully. "Listen, Buffy and Xander are supposed to stop by later and I need to check in with my professors. Can I come back later?"

Fitz' eyes filled with tears and she looked away quickly but didn't pull away when Willow reached out and held her hand.

"I'm scared," Fitz admitted, letting the tears flow. "I've never owned to that in my life but Giles. I'm scared and alone."

"You're also tired, sick, hurt and grieving," Willow pointed out. "But you're not alone. You won't ever be alone."

"Willow, you can't promise that," Fitz grumbled. "You're going to try and send me back to my own world."

Buffy and Giles were obviously uncomfortable when they entered the hospital room but were trying to be cheerful.

"Yeah, Willow says that you haven't a clue on getting me back," Fitz responded, getting right to the point.

"That I'll never put weight on me leg again," Fitz said calmly, a lot more calmer than Buffy figured she'd ever be facing that future. "They don't know me or my strength. They said the best hope would be to walk with a leg brace at the knee to the foot and a crutch or special cane."

"Doctors don't know about Slayer strength, that will help," Giles agreed, sitting down in the chair that Willow had been in.

"Look," Buffy said finally. "You might be stuck here. We should face that and figure out what to do."

"Well, I was figuring that I'd get back on my feet," Fitz said slowly. "Beyond that, I'm not sure where to go."

"Who says?" Buffy asked, her voice turning stubborn. "You got along with the other Buffy."

Fitz blushed. "Yeah, I, uh, she adopted me. Does she know about you as a Slayer?"

"Yeah, she found out when I went up against Angelus," Buffy said slowly. "Giles told me about your Angelus and what he did."

"Yeah, right royal bastard he was," Fitz muttered. "Your Watcher told me about your Angel and that he's trying to redeem himself."

Buffy nodded and Fitz waited, wanting to see where Buffy would take the conversation next.

"Cool, tomorrow is Saturday," Buffy said, planning. "I'll get the gang together and we'll put the Risk board or something across your bed."

"The docs say that I've got at least a month in this traction thing, another four months in a cast and then years of physical therapy," Fitz said thoughtfully. "This like sucks! I don't even have a single item to me name except my ripped up clothes."

"I haven't a clue!" Fitz complained. "I don't even know how to pay for any of this. In my world the Watchers would handle it. Here, I'm a stranger. Talk about your illegal alien!"

"Don't worry about the medical bills," Giles said softly. "I've been talking with the Watcher's Council and they are more than interested in interviewing you, extensively. They are willing to pay all the medical bills and get all the paperwork and identification you need if you would tell them everything you know about your realm and be willing to train Slayers in training."

"What would keep you busy?" Buffy asked. "Being in the hospital would drive me crazy."

"How about we surprise you with puzzles, a Game Boy or something?" Buffy suggested.

"Nah, you're family," Buffy grinned. "A distant cousin we're getting to know or something."

The two Slayers began chatting. This conversation was different than the previous one with Giles, this one was more friendly and casual. Giles soon excused himself.

Two hours later, Fitz growled and shoved the tray table aside, leaving ninety percent of the hospital dinner uneaten.

Buffy laughed and switched the channels on the TV again, finally settling on a Harrison Ford movie.

Both Slayers grinned when Willow opened the door with a heavy backpack slung over one shoulder and a large pizza box in the other.

"I had to bribe the nurses with a box of chocolate to get the pizza in," Willow grinned.

"Wow, you came prepared!" Fitz smiled and felt her heart lurch. It was something her Willow would have done.

Buffy and Willow pretended not to notice Fitz' sudden silence and pained look and set about dividing the pizza.

Fitz managed a small smile as Buffy handed her a slice of a wonderful smelling combination pizza.

"I brought some books, a Game Boy, a word search puzzle book, my old CD player and some CDs," Willow answered, rummaging through the pack.

"We were talking about how to keep Fitz from going stir crazy," Buffy said. "Figures Will would beat us to it."

The next three weeks crawled by for the dark Slayer but almost always by her side was Willow. Fitz had demanded to know what Willow was doing about school and argued with the witch for half an hour when Willow informed the Slayer that she was studying most of the night and taking make-up classes. The witch had informed her professors that her step-sister had been in a major accident and Willow was sitting with her at the hospital.

Willow had put on her 'resolve' face and refused to give up her daily visits to the dark Slayer.

In turn, Fitz and Willow had talked almost non-stop until they each knew more about each other than Fitz had known about her own Willow.

Tara, Buffy and Joyce were frequent visitors. Fitz didn't say anything but it hurt that Xander seemed to be keeping his distance from the new Slayer. Fitz knew that this Xander wasn't her best friend but she had hoped to get to know the man her Xander might have become.

The initial confusion and anger soon melted into an uneasy acceptance of the friendship the Scooby Gang was offering, especially Willow.

Willow frowned when she entered the room and heard Fitz moaning. The witch quickly realized the Slayer had fallen asleep and was now caught up in a nightmare. Willow quickly moved around the bed and began shaking the Irish woman gently.

Fitz sat up in the bed abruptly, blinking in confusion as Willow held her shoulders. The Slayer was covered in sweat and was breathing heavily.

"Oh Jesus, Mary and Joseph," Fitz whispered, lying back on the white sheets as Willow rushed to the bathroom to wet a washcloth in cool water.

"Bad one this time?" Willow asked gently as she placed the wet cloth on Fitz' forehead.

"Aye, I keep remembering more details of that last night," Fitz whispered, tears beginning to fall from her eyes. "She was so beautiful. I saw her eyes as she died and there was so much there, fear, regret, love."

"You usually slip and start to say 'you', meaning me when you speak about your Willow," Willow pointed out.

"I think I caught that," Fitz said thoughtfully and frowned as she pondered what Willow had said and then nodded. "I've spent a lot of nights crying, yelling and pounding my pillow into a tiny ball. I miss her so badly."

"I think I've accepted that you're not my Will," she said softly. "You look like her and sound like her but there are differences."

"I don't know," Willow said slowly, sitting down in the chair. "I know that's a good thing, everyone was so afraid you'd try to make me your Willow and wouldn't be able to separate the realities."

"I know it doesn't make sense but it makes me feel left out again," Willow grumbled.

"Oz left to go find a cure for the werewolf part of him and because we had both messed up in the relationship. He didn't even ask me to go with him," Willow said with a frustrated expression. "Not that I could have, with school and future and stuff but he didn't even ask! Then Tara tells me she could fall for me but doesn't think she's the right person for me and is dating someone from the Wicca group. Buffy was so wrapped up with Riley that she barely noticed Oz had left and then you show up proclaiming undying love only it's not for me but someone who looks like me."

"Wow! A full blown babble," Fitz smirked. Willow glared for a moment and then smiled.

"Who does Tara think you should be with?" Fitz asked and Willow quickly glanced away. "Are you upset because I'm not in love with you?"

"Yeah, I guess I can admit that now," Willow said softly. "I'm not sure what I am."

"Giles says Slayers are just downright sexual, I happen to prefer females for me first choice in sexual and life partners," Fitz said calmly and hesitated a moment. "Who does Tara think you should be with?"

"Willow, look at me, please," Fitz begged softly. "Giles and Buffy haven't found that damned spell book and I might be stuck here. I have a choice of staying here and trying to build a life or going to England and working with the Watchers there. What do you want?"

"No, you're not my wife," Fitz said gently. "You've become my friend though, even more of a friend than my Willow was."

"I like you, Jess, and I'd want you to stay because I'd miss you if you went to England," Willow admitted.

"Shouldn't you be concentrating on your schoolwork and future instead of taking care of a crippled stranger?" Fitz suddenly snapped.

Willow was stunned and looked as if she had been hit physically across the face. "Where did that come from?" she whispered.

Fitz sighed. "I don't know," she admitted. "I've fought against having any feelings for you and everything is all jumbled up inside. I just don't want you being my friend because you feel sorry for me."

"I don't feel sorry for you," Willow said slowly. "I've seen those weights you do the arm lifts with, I know you're a Slayer and will walk again. Okay, maybe you'll need a brace and cane but you'll still be stronger than anyone except maybe Buffy! And stubborn? I thought the stereotype of the Irish being stubborn was just that, a stereotype, but you fit it real well!"

"Fought against feelings? How the heck does that work? Please teach me that one!" Willow snapped, jumping to her feet. "I would love to have control over my feelings! Maybe it wouldn't hurt so bad when I look at you!"

"Willow, wait!" Fitz yelled as Willow dashed out the hospital door. The Slayer swore at the cast and pulleys holding her captive to the bed and threw her water cup across the room.

Joyce found a very irritable Slayer taking her frustration out on the Game Boy games when she visited Fitz in the hospital that evening.

"The doctors say that the traction can come off tomorrow. They'll put you in a smaller cast, one that doesn't go across the hips and you can come home," Joyce announced.

"No big deal, it'll be kinda nice," Joyce said. "Buffy and Willow are going to move back in off campus and help take care of you. Giles is planning on driving you crazy with questions from the Watcher Council."

"Well, Spike is absolutely livid that he's not the only rebel in black anymore in Sunnydale," Joyce teased and Fitz managed a smile. "What's wrong, Jessica?"

"I pissed Willow off," Fitz admitted. "We both figured out that I'm not thinking of her as my Will, that I've gotten to the point where they're different people in me head. I thought that was a good thing but it seemed to upset her."

Joyce frowned and sat down the bag of cookies and cartoon of milk she had brought. The mother was delighted to discover that this Slayer was just like any other young adult in the Scooby gang, complete with a weakness for Oreos and milk.

"Buffy says that Willow has been spending almost all her time here with you. Could it be that she's fallen for you?" Joyce ventured.

"I wouldn't be that lucky," Fitz muttered. "She's so much like my Willow, she's just trying to help me because I'm hurting."

"Why did your Willow fall in love with you? Was she feeling sorry for you?" Joyce asked, trying to keep the smirk out of her voice.

Fitz thought Willow would be back the next day, especially since she was getting out of the hospital, but the red-head didn't drop by the hospital. She wasn't at the Summers' home when Buffy and Joyce managed to wheel the injured Slayer into the converted den downstairs either.

Buffy told the other Slayer that Willow had decided to stay in the dorm until the semester ended in a month before moving into the Summers' home or back with her parents for the summer.

Fitz had cried herself to sleep that night and wasn't sure who she was grieving for, her Willow or the new Willow that had a hold on her emotions.

The next two weeks were miserable for the dark Slayer. The physical therapy was a nightmare as she learned to walk again with the aid of the crutches. Having been stuck in bed for over a month had weakened Fitz to a point of extreme embarrassment and working to rebuild her muscles was taking longer than the Slayer was comfortable with.

The only thing that seemed to distract her was Giles' never ending questions from the Watcher Council. The Council finally relented and allowed Giles to purchase a laptop computer for the injured Slayer and paid for the monthly Internet connection so they could talk directly with Fitz so she could type in her reports and answers.

The Council and Giles were surprised but pleased to find that Fitz was highly intelligent and quick to pick up the basics of the computer.

Giles and the Council found that Fitz' realm wasn't too different from their own. There were some major differences that had affected the Slayer; one being that Southern Ireland hadn't gained its independence from the United Kingdom yet and the IRA in her world was fighting a vicious terrorist war against England.

Minor differences were also noted: American had converted to the metric system in the early 70s; Yugoslavia hadn't broken apart and the Soviet Union had retained its power structure until 1999, causing planetary panic over Y2K.

The Council was very pleased with Fitz' intelligence but not her sporadic education and training nor with her current mental state.

Nothing Buffy nor Joyce did seemed to help bring Fitz out of her depression either. The blonde Slayer was unusually attentive in helping Fitz during her recovery. When questioned about it, Buffy merely shrugged and pointed to the cast and crutches, saying that it could easily be her one day.

What was really driving the dark Slayer crazy and quickly into a deeper depression was the fact that Willow hadn't been to visit since she had run out of the hospital that day. Fitz had tried to call but Willow had either let the answering machine pick up or had told the Slayer she was on her way out the door and hung up.

Buffy confided that she had talked with Willow but the witch had clamed up and refused to discuss Fitz with anyone.

"Look, this is ridiculous!" Buffy snapped, causing Fitz to jump in her wheelchair. Anya looked over as she lay curled in Xander's arms on the sofa watching videos. "I've been talking to you for five minutes and you haven't heard a word anyone has said tonight."

Fitz shrugged. "You're right, I'm right miserable company tonight, I am," she admitted. "I'm going to head off to bed. Thanks for seeing me, Xander and Anya."

"Sure," Xander said softly as Buffy glared at Fitz as the dark Slayer wheeled herself out of the room.

"I can't get Will out of the room at the dorm, neither can Tara, and Fitz is here being just as miserable!" Buffy complained.

"What is your problem with that?" Buffy countered. "Oz isn't coming back, Willow and Tara are just very good friends, why shouldn't Willow be attracted to Fitz?"

Fitz turned the volume up on Willow's CD player to drown out the voices and the pain. The track on the CD didn't help the Slayer's mood either but she left it on anyway.

<Red Hot Chili Peppers, Otherside>

How long how long will I slide
Separate my side I don't
I don't believe it's bad
Slit my throat
It's all I ever

I heard your voice through a photograph
I thought it up and brought up the past
Once you've gone you can never go back
I've got to take it on the otherside

Centuries are what it meant to me
A cemetery where I marry the sea
Stranger things could never change my mind
I've got to take it on the otherside
Take it on
Take it on

How long how long will I slide
Separate my side I don't
I don't believe it's bad
Slit my throat
It's all I ever

Pour my life into a paper cup
The ashtray's full and I'm spillin' my guts
She wants to know am I still a slut
I've got to take it on the other side

Scarlet starlet and she's in my bed
A candidate for a soul mate bled
Push the trigger and pull the thread
I've got to take it on the otherside
Take it on the otherside
Take it on
Take it on

How long how long will I slide
Separate my side I don't
I don't believe it's bad
Slit my throat
It's all I ever

Turn me on take me for a hard ride
Burn me out leave me on the otherside
I yell and tell it that
It's not a friend
I tear it down I tear it down
And then it's born again

How long how long will I slide
Separate my side I don't
I don't believe it's bad
Slit my throat
It's all I ever

Buffy gently closed the door as the dark Slayer wept into her pillow and finished off the bottle of Irish whiskey she had been working on for two days. One good thing about Sunnydale, she thought to herself, they even delivered the alcohol to your doorstep.

Fitz sat in her wheelchair on the back porch late the next night, watching the moonlight.

Buffy moved through the yard with the grace of a cat and vaulted over the railing to land in front of Fitz easily.

"Call her already!" Buffy urged, frowning at the bottle. "Should you be doing that with those pain meds?"

"One, she won't talk to me. Two, the combination helps ease the mental as well as the physical pain then. Three, I'm Irish, whiskey isn't gonna kill me, Buff," Fitz answered somewhat sarcastically.

"Have you told her that you love her?" Buffy asked, sitting down on the railing.

"Why the hell would you tell her that? You are so hung up on her it's getting pathetic!" Buffy declared.

"Aye, and I wasn't about to say that to her! She's confusing pity and friendship for love," Fitz countered. "I wasn't going to add to that confusion. I don't belong here! I'm not right for her. I had my shot with a Willow and I lost it!"

"Aye, it's either that or this!" Fitz growled and held out her hand, revealing a razor blade in the palm of her hand.

Buffy's eyes widened and she slowly stood up and took the razor blade from her fellow Slayer, carefully watching the dark Slayer's blue eyes. Buffy was alarmed by the bright, almost manic look in Fitz' eyes.

"That's never an answer," Buffy whispered, her own eyes blazing with emotions: fear, anger, confusion and hurt.

"What would you do, Buffy?" Fitz demanded, tears filling her eyes. "I don't belong in this world and I don't belong in mine now. I've fallen in love with this Willow and I'm not a Slayer in either world. I knew being the Slayer wasn't fair but this is a little beyond even what a saint could take and I'm not a saint!"

Buffy ignored her and went inside the house for several minutes before coming back out. The blonde Slayer sat down on the railing again but didn't say anything to Fitz and the Irishwoman let the silence lay between them.

"I'm fine," Buffy growled. "You, on the other hand, are a mess and this is not an option!"

Buffy held up the razor blade for Anya and Xander to see. Fitz turned bright red at the sudden glares she was getting from the young couple.

"What?" Fitz demanded. "You wouldn't care if I did! I don't belong here, right?"

"Okay, maybe I said that last night but that doesn't mean I want you dead!" he growled. "I just don't want Wills hurt."

"Xander has a pickup, we're going to pack you into the back and take a ride," Buffy declared. "Since you can't beat me, you don't have a choice."

"Lay off!" Fitz snapped and attempted to wheel herself around the Slayer but Buffy easily held the chair in place. Fitz' face became panicked. "Please, whatever you've got planned, let it go. I'm gone next week, she'll never see me again."

"Is that what you think will make her happy?" Buffy demanded. "I've never seen her like this! This is worse than when Oz left! You two got to each other somehow during all this mess. Maybe the spell was the right one that brought you here! Ever think of that?"

"You mean she might really be Willow's soul mate?" Xander demanded with a snarl, echoing Fitz' questioning thoughts.

"Odds are really good that she is," Anya said calmly. "Spells like that are usually very specific and the demons who do the fetching are very good at what they do."

"Willow's gotten over Oz, she was attracted to Tara and has fallen for Fitz, that doesn't sound like Oz was her soul mate to me," Buffy added as Fitz frowned.

The dark Slayer squeaked as Buffy grabbed the handles of the wheelchair and Xander reached down for the bottom as they carried her down the stairs to the sidewalk.

"Get over it," Buffy growled. "I may be a miserable friend at times and ignore my friends but not this time!"

Somehow the three active young adults got the injured Slayer into the back of Xander's pickup on a sleeping bag without too much hassle once Fitz gave in and quit fighting and arguing. Buffy settled in next to her fellow Slayer and wrapped her arm around Fitz' shoulders.

"Not if you keep her occupied with lots of kisses," Buffy suggested and grinned as Fitz blushed.

Fitz decided that talking wasn't helping either and kept quiet on the ride over to the dorms. "We can't get in, no key," Fitz growled.

"I still live with Wills, technically," Buffy countered, holding up her keys. She jumped over the side of the truck easily when Xander parked. Together they got the wheelchair and Slayer out and headed towards the dorm.

"Then we'll put you in my bed and take the wheelchair, you two will have to talk when she gets home," Buffy countered and Xander smirked.

Buffy opened the door with her key and held it open while Xander wheeled the dark Slayer inside.

"Hey, Buff, aren't there supposed to be lights?" Xander asked as Buffy turned and shoved him aside, drawing out her stake and Fitz reached for the absent dagger in her boot.

The lights snapped on and Buffy turned to shove Anya out the door when something slammed into her from behind, sending her to the floor.

"Buffy!" Xander yelled as he turned and saw two vampires standing just inside the door, one holding Anya, a knife at her throat.

The common area of the dorm was filled with students and vampires. Three students were already dead, their throats and pale skin revealing how they had died. The other students were clinging to each other as vampires threatened them with guns and knives and their vampire 'game faces.'

"No!" Fitz screamed, trying to climb out of the chair as Xander held her back and Buffy jumped in front of them.

"One move and my friends will start cutting down on the college campus' population," a voice smirked.

Buffy's eyes widened as Spike stepped out from behind several students and walked over to wrap an arm around Druscilla's shoulders.

"Oh I still can't do a bloody thing with this sodding chip but Dru can," Spike growled.

"Yes, Miss Edith tells me that flame here is the one that brought Angel back and took Daddy away from us," Dru said in her child-like voice. "She must be punished for that."

"Drop the stake, Buffy," Spike demanded, pulling the unconscious Willow up into his arms. "I'll let Dru kill her."

"Spike, how can you do this after we took you in and protected you?" Buffy demanded.

"Hello! I'm evil! Remember!" Spike shouted. "Just because I got a stupid chip in my head doesn't change the basics!"

Willow shook her head and opened her eyes slowly. Fitz' heart skipped several beats when the witch squeaked and struggled in Druscilla's arms. The insane vampire laughed and held Willow close, her fangs hovering at the girl's neck.

"No!" Fitz screamed and fell out of her wheelchair, struggling to get to the witch and vampire.

Fitz pounded on the floor at the look of fear in Willow's eyes as they silently begged the two Slayers for help.

Several of the students were crying loudly and some of the males began shouting at their vampire captors. Buffy looked around quickly as Spike turned his attention to yell at the students and the vampires attempting to control them.

Buffy spotted the typical fire extinguisher, fire alarm and the fire axe behind the sealed emergency glass on the wall near Xander. The Slayer looked back at Willow and moved her eyes back to the axe. Buffy saw comprehension in Willow's eyes and the witch calmed and stopped fighting Druscilla as she concentrated.

Xander, alternating his concentration between the Slayers, Willow and the vampire holding his fiancée, saw the lock on the fire axe glass snap open and pretended to stumble, moving closer to the axe.

Fitz, laying next to the sofa, was also glancing around for anything to get them out of the situation and saw a typical college sofa, complete with a worn-out underside with cloth hanging down to the floor.

"Tell me something, Buffy," Fitz said calmly. "Did you get thrown out of Hemry in this realm too?"

"Yeah," Buffy said absently, watching for any opening. "I, uh, the gym was destroyed."

"Well, it kinda burned down," Buffy said slowly and glanced over at the dark Slayer.

"Kinda like this sofa?" Fitz asked, rolling away from the furniture in question.

The reaction was immediate from everyone. Students sitting on the sofa screamed and dived off, stumbling into other students and vampires. Students near the doors turned to run, adding their screams to the confusion. Several vampires, fearing fire as much as sunlight, joined the rushing students. Spike was shouting, Druscilla was laughing and Buffy was moving.

Fitz turned over and saw Xander grabbing the fire axe as Anya stomped on the foot of the vampire holding her. As the vampire howled in rage, Xander swung the axe when Anya ducked.

Buffy dived forward, tackling Druscilla and Willow to the floor as the vampires gave up trying to control the students and decided to follow the students out the door.

Spike howled in rage and smacked Buffy across the jaw and fell to the floor, holding his head in pain. Buffy and Willow grabbed Fitz' arms and pulled the Slayer away from the burning sofa. Xander dropped the axe, grabbed the fire extinguisher and set the fire alarm off.

"Get out of here, Spike!" Buffy shouted. "Take Druscilla and get out of town! If I see either of you again, chip or not, I'll stake both of you!"

"Sod off, Slayer!" Spike grumbled as Dru helped him to his feet and dragged him to the door.

Willow and Buffy helped Fitz back into the wheelchair as Xander finished putting out the fire. Sirens filled the distant air.

"My leg hurts a little but not as much as seeing you in Dru's arms," Fitz admitted as Willow knelt beside the wheelchair. "You alright then?"

"Yeah, just a knot on the back of my head," Willow smiled, reaching out to hold Fitz' hand.

"Willow, since Fitz doesn't have an ID or anything, why don't you take her up to our room and we'll handle the Fire Department and cops," Buffy suggested.

"Dragging Fitz' sorry ass over to talk with you," Xander growled. "Now get it over with and get out of here."

"Please, Will," Fitz asked softly. "I really need to talk after seeing you like that, almost dead and all."

"Fine," she snapped and moved the chair towards the elevator as Xander and Anya dashed outside to guide the firemen in to check the sofa and take their reports.

"Are you alright?" Willow repeated as she opened the door to the room she shared with Buffy.

"The leg is hurting a bit from diving out of the chair but I think I'm okay," Fitz replied.

"Buffy said we needed to talk," Willow ventured, her face and eyes hard, not giving an inch.

"Aye, they dragged me over in the back of Xander's pickup," Fitz nodded, turning her wedding ring around and around nervously. "I…I guess they're worried about me."

It was hard to admit any weakness but Fitz felt numb all over. She was still stunned from the sight of Willow almost being killed by a vampire. The images of her own Willow dying that same way kept flooding Fitz' mind as her hands shook.

"Fitz?" Willow asked softly, noticing the shaking hands and paleness of the dark Slayer.

The Slayer didn't seem to hear the witch as Fitz wrapped her arms around herself, beginning to tremble all over, her eyes dark blue with pain.

Willow moved off the bed and pulled Fitz out of the chair and swung her around onto the bed with surprising strength. The dark Slayer tried to curl up in a ball as her breathing became ragged and she tried to hold back sobs.

Willow lay down next to Fitz and took the young woman into her arms as Fitz broke down completely, sobs racking her body.

"I can't be doing this anymore, Will," the Slayer whispered, sniffling. "I'm leaving next week if you'll not see me."

"Aye, to England to work with the Watcher Council," Fitz nodded, keeping her arms and hands close to her body, not daring to reach out to the red head holding her.

Willow frowned as Fitz turned over, out of her arms, struggling with the leg cast to move away from Willow.

"How can we even be friends, Fitz?" Willow complained. "How can I trust that you're not reaching out to me because I look and sound like your Willow?"

"I don't know the answers to anything anymore," Fitz complained, still keeping her back to Willow. "I thought I could kill my feelings, that I could drown my grieving and what I'm feeling for you."

"What do you mean?" Willow asked, moving down further on the bed and curling up behind Fitz. She felt the Slayer stiffen when she reached an arm over the Slayer's ribs and moved against the Slayer's back.

"I lied when I said I wasn't in love with you," Fitz admitted after a minute. "I wasn't trusting if it was avoiding my grief for my wife or if it's real between us."

"My leg was shattered, broken in several places and Buffy was fighting three rock demons and a vampire. Will got up and took on the sorcerer. The vampires broke away from Buffy, one grabbed my hammer and smashed my knee and the other went for my Willow. I blacked out for a minute and when I came round the vampire had Wills," Fitz said softly, letting Willow hold her from behind.

"Right in front of me, I saw her eyes losing their life, begging me to save her, forgiving me for not saving her," Fitz whispered. "I screamed for Buffy and she spun, throwing a stake perfectly but it was too late. The vampire snapped…Will's…I knew she was dead before she hit the floor."

"When I saw that bitch with her fangs tonight…I thought I had lost you too," Fitz muttered.

"Fitz?" Willow called softly and noted the steady rhythm of the Slayer's breathing and relaxed muscles under her arm. "Jess?"

A soft knock on the door brought Willow up off the bed with a small curse. She wasn't surprised to find Buffy outside the door.

"No, but she's sleeping peaceful for now," Willow muttered and moved into the hallway. She pulled her robe around her and rubbed her eyes wearily.

"I heard screams downstairs and tried to call for help but the phones were dead," Willow explained, leaning against the wall. "I went down with cross and stake and they were waiting for me, Spike and Druscilla. I got tossed around a bit and then you guys showed up."

"Not much, she was pretty shaken by the vampire attack," Willow admitted. "She told me how her Willow died the same way. It freaked her out tonight."

"I can understand that," Buffy nodded. "She's figured out she's in love with you and almost lost you tonight. It almost killed me to see you so close, I can imagine what it did to her."

"Buffy, I know you want things okay between Fitz and me but I don't know if I can do this," Willow said slowly. "It's not the girl-girl thing, I think I'm okay with that. I mean, I've kissed Tara and Fitz and it felt more than okay so I don't think it's that. I was stupid and fell for Fitz, knowing that she's in love with the other Willow. How can I trust that it's me she wants and not using me as a substitute?"

"Wow! This earned a full babble," Buffy smiled, teasing her friend into a slight smile. "Look, I give up trying to figure out love, I can't seem to get it right but I do know how to recognize it in others. I pulled these off of Fitz tonight, Wills."

Buffy held out her hand, showing Willow a small and almost empty bottle of Irish whiskey and a razor blade.

"Fitz doesn't think she can kill herself fast enough with pain pills and alcohol so she was considering the razor," Buffy said slowly.

"I know," Buffy nodded. "One of the few things I know about Catholics, suicide is up there with the list of unforgivable sins. I think she's feeling so lost that losing her soul to hell seems like just a continuation of the pain she's already in."

"Fitz said she was going to England next week if I wouldn't see her," Willow said softly.

"Yeah, the Council can get their hands on a Slayer again, even if it is one that can't slay anymore," Buffy complained. "Even with our friendship, it's not enough to get her through this. She needs you, Wills."

"Will, you spent almost a month non-stop with her," Buffy countered. "Fitz even admitted that she realizes that you're not her Willow and she's still in love with you."

"Buffy, I got some serious stuff going on right now and I can't risk being hurt again," Willow said firmly. "I thought I could protect myself when I was taking care of Fitz but I couldn't. I fell in love with her, now I have to give myself some distance."

"We're trying to send her back!" Willow snapped. "I'm supposed to go back in there and begin a relationship while we're trying to figure out how to get rid of her? Isn't that asking a little much?"

"You're right," Buffy nodded. "And I don't think we should be looking for an answer on sending her back anymore. Fitz is here, she's our friend and her world has moved on, probably thinking she died in that circle with the sorcerer."

"He will if we ask him," Buffy countered. "The Council wants her here for research. I want her here because I like her and it's nice to have someone around who understands what it's like. I also want her here because you're in love with her."

"To hell with Xander if he can't get over it," Buffy growled. "He'll adapt, he's already coming around and likes Fitz even though he's trying hard not to."

"Perfect, let me leave a note in case Jess wakes up," Willow said and Buffy smiled. No one else called Fitz by her first name and Buffy had the feeling that was the other world Willow's name for Fitz.

It was cool on the roof and Buffy wrapped her jacket around Willow's shoulders as they moved around to the other side of the small door enclosure, out of the wind.

"Yeah, I'm scared Buffy, I am really so scared that I can't see straight any more," Willow admitted as they sat with their backs to the wall, Buffy's arm wrapped around Willow's shoulders. "You know it's been two, almost three months since Oz left, right?"

"Yeah, you spent the first month crying yourself silly and the second month taking care of Fitz. The last two weeks I haven't seen much of you," Buffy nodded.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking, brooding, crying, and visiting the doctor," Willow confided.

"Six months," Buffy said slowly, noticing Willow's hands hovering around her stomach level. "Plus three equals nine months. Oh God, Wills, how long have you known?"

"I was in denial the first month and thought it was just stress throwing my cycle off the second month," Willow said slowly. "I finally broke down and bought one of those kits last week and saw the doctor the next day when there were two lines instead of just one. It's confirmed, I'm going to have a werewolf's baby."

Buffy tightened both arms around her friend as Willow's calm exterior broke down and she began crying gently in the Slayer's arms.

"Willow, I love you," Buffy said gently. "Whatever you decide, I will stand with you, protect you and be your best friend for life."

"Thanks, I don't know what I'm going to do!" Willow whimpered. "We were careful. I was on the pill and he used protection and we only did it twice!"

"So, either the condom broke, he didn't use it right, or werewolf sperm is really potent," Buffy quipped and smiled when Willow smacked her leg with a snort of amusement.

"I have a couple of options, none of which wins the lottery," Willow said slowly after a few moments. "I can have an abortion, have the child and give it up for adoption, or keep the child and be a single parent."

Buffy frowned. "We need to do some research about babies born of a werewolf and human."

"I know," Willow nodded. "That kinda lets out option number two. How could I give up a child for adoption knowing they might turn into a werewolf when they become a teenager and accidentally kill their family?"

"No, I didn't tell him when he called for me to send his stuff," Willow said calmly. "I couldn't tell him I was pregnant while he was telling me he wasn't coming back. That's the last way I want to bring my boyfriend back. I suspected I was pregnant but didn't know for sure when he called."

"No, he gave up that right when he left," Willow growled. "He couldn't handle the responsibility of a relationship, how the hell could he handle the responsibility of deciding on ending the life of a child or if I should keep it?"

"It is unfair, the whole situation is unfair," Willow complained. "That's why I can't risk getting involved in a relationship with Fitz if she's going back to her world, that'd be worse than Oz leaving."

"Damn, if Oz has been gone almost three months, you don't have a lot of time for decisions, do you?"

"Do we tell Giles and ask for his help researching werewolf pregnancies or have you decided?" Buffy asked.

"No, I haven't yet and I know I'm running out of time," Willow muttered. "Fitz is right, I almost died tonight. Me and my child could have died tonight."

The red-haired witch stood up and wandered to the edge of the building, looking at the stars and the surroundings. Buffy got up and stood beside her.

"We lost Jesse just after you got here, Principal Fluete, how many students over the years? Miss Calendar, Faith, Kendra, Amy, Angel. How many deaths, Buff?"

"How can I kill a child growing inside of me?" Willow asked, her voice almost a whisper.

"Only you can make that ultimate decision, Wills," Buffy said gently. "I understand the decision either way. You've got your future ahead of you, major universities want you in their graduate programs, computer companies have been sending you interest letters and the government will probably be knocking on our door for your computer skills soon."

"Maybe," Buffy grinned. "Single motherhood might put a crimp in those plans. Raising a child who might turn into a werewolf is a downside. On the other hand, it is a new life in this hell we call Sunnydale and it's yours."

"I don't think I can have an abortion, Buffy," Willow said finally, leaning against Buffy's shoulder.

"Good, that means I'm going to be an aunt!" Buffy smiled, noticing Willow's sigh of relief. "And Xander will go crazy playing Uncle. Oh God, my mother is going to go bananas doing the grandmother bit!"

Willow smiled for a moment and then began frowning. "My parents are going to be so unhappy."

"No," Willow shook her head. "Major disappointment time. Single as in unmarried and pregnant. Pregnant by a musician who isn't even Jewish and not around. Good thing they don't know about the werewolf thing!"

"What about Fitz?" Willow countered. "I can't tell her this and I can't see her. I have to think about my future, Buffy. If she's going back to her realm then I can't get any more attached, especially with a child coming. I can't ask her to get into a relationship with me being pregnant either."

"Fitz loves you, give her a chance to love your child," Buffy urged. "Heck, you've got one of the major hurdles a lesbian couple faces beat!"

"Alright, I want you to go back and get some sleep," Buffy suggested. "I'll be back in a little bit. Giles called earlier and wanted a Scooby meeting tomorrow. I'm going to roust him out of bed and find out what the 411 is."

"Because it might have to do with that damned spell and Fitz, and I want the answers before you two wake up in the morning," Buffy explained. "You've made the decision to keep the baby, now we need to find you answers for making the decision for your heart."

"Buffy, just let it go," Willow urged. "Fitz will leave next week and we can move on with our lives."

"Just think about this until I get back and what it takes to reach out for this thing," Buffy said and held out the razor blade. "Even after I killed Angel and sent him to hell, I didn't reach that point. I thought about it a lot of times but kept going. Spike taunts me that Slayers have a death wish but I don't think so. Slayers fight to the last breath to live and fight. Think about what it takes to seriously consider taking your own life because you love someone."

Buffy was gone through the door before Willow could respond. The witch looked down at the razor blade in her hand with a frown.

"Giles!" Buffy yelled as she opened the door to the Englishman's condo. All the Scooby Gang had keys to each other's houses, apartments and dorm rooms in case of emergencies. Buffy doubted Giles would see this as an emergency right away but she also knew that she could be stubborn and she wanted to be.

"Giles! It's Buffy!" she yelled, not wanting to go roaming up into his bedroom, she knew he kept weapons very close to hand, even in his own home. Much like she did.

A few moments later Giles appeared down the stairs, belting his robe together and running a hand through his unruly night time hair.

"Everyone is alive and okay," Buffy said quickly. "But major life decisions are being made tonight and I need some information before mistakes are made."

Giles frowned. "I'll put on coffee and tea," he muttered. "It is rather late, want to fill me in?"

Buffy followed him to the kitchen and explained Fitz' depression and the trip to the dorms, explaining the confrontation with Spike and Dru and ending with Fitz in Willow's room. Then Buffy talked about Willow's confusion over her feelings for the dark Slayer.

"Well, I was going to tell everyone I found the spell that sorcerer used to bring Fitz into this realm," Giles said calmly, pouring coffee for his Slayer and tea for himself. "The problem is that there was a time limit on the spell. To reverse it, we needed to contact the same demon that fetched Fitz here before the next full moon ended."

"No, she's stranded here," Giles nodded. "I feel terrible, she has to be feeling so lost and confused. The best thing is to let Fitz decide if she wants to stay in Sunnydale or go to England."

"No, not just that," Buffy said slowly. "I like Fitz and it's nice to have someone who understands exactly what being a Slayer is. I know that you guys try and you come the closest, being my teacher and all but no one can know what it's really like except another Slayer."

"I do understand that," Giles nodded. "I like the young woman. Despite that rough outer shield she puts out there, she's very intelligent, caring, and vulnerable. So what are the major decisions being made tonight?"

"I can't talk about some of it just yet," Buffy frowned and rubbed her eyes. A glance at Giles' clock didn't surprise her, it was 4am in the morning. A night of slaying, talking with Fitz, driving Fitz to the dorm, fighting vampires, talking with firemen and police and then with Wills had filled up the night.

"I found Fitz drinking again tonight," Buffy started slowly. "I've found several empty bottles since she got out of the hospital. I was hoping it would slow down but it hasn't. She also had a razor blade and admitted thinking about it."

"Yeah, I know," Buffy acknowledged. "Like I told Wills, I didn't even get that far after sending Angel to Hell."

"Is it because of her Willow or our Willow?" Giles asked, coming right to the point.

"Both. I think she's grieved for her Willow and recognizes that our Wills isn't her wife," Buffy said thoughtfully. "I also think she's fallen for our Wills."

"I'm not surprised, they spent so much time together and the attraction was bound to be there for Fitz," Giles commented. "I'm sure our Willow has a lot of the same characteristics and traits that drew Fitz to her own Willow. What about our Willow, does she feel the same?"

"Yeah but she doesn't trust that Fitz isn't rebounding and doesn't want to take the chance on being hurt again," Buffy explained.

"She's already fallen in love with Fitz, how would exploring a relationship hurt any worse?" Giles asked.

"There's a difference in cutting off a relationship early and diving in and having it falling apart later," Buffy pointed out. "Wills thinks if she can cut it off now and Fitz goes to England that they'll be able to move on."

"Well, there is something that they both seem to have forgotten," Giles pondered aloud. "That spell was meant to bring Willow's soul mate to her. What if it worked and Fitz leaves?"

"They'd both be somewhat empty for the rest of their lives," Giles said frankly. "They could build good lives, even find love but it wouldn't be the relationship they were meant to have in this life."

Buffy frowned. "Fitz won't last long in England," she commented after several minutes.

"I don't think so either," Giles agreed. "The Council assures me that they'll treat her as a respected and retired Slayer, she's earned that no matter what realm she fought in, but I don't like her in their hands."

"The Council is making noises that they might want all of us back," Giles explained. "They would have major conditions, which we would reject, of course. Negotiations, arguments, threats, promises, lies and possibly a new partnership."

"Hmmmm," Buffy muttered and then yawned. "I swear I'm going to sleep all day when I finally get to bed."

"What are you waiting for and did you get the answers you needed for these major life decisions?" Giles questioned.

"I think so," Buffy nodded. "I'm waiting for dawn so I don't have to slay any late night vampires on the way back to the dorm. Fitz is in Willow's bed and I want to talk to both of them before they decide anything major."

"Major life stuff but it's not me for once," Buffy smiled. "Hell, I'm going over there now. Go back to bed and call all of us around 2pm for a meeting. Hopefully, we'll fill you in then."

"Alright, just be careful," Giles urged as his Slayer stood up. He tried to appear calm and not worried but he knew all of his kids had come very close to being killed and it always unnerved him.

The ex-Watcher knew he wasn't going to get any more sleep and so curled up on his sofa with his guitar.

Buffy thought it was a good sign that Willow was curled on her bed with Fitz, with a blanket thrown over both of them. The Slayer took in the sight of her best friend spooned up next to Fitz' back and the peaceful look on both their faces with a smile.

Willow moaned and rolled over with a yawn. "Hasn't anyone told you eight hours of sleep is a good thing for non-Slayer types?"

"I know and I'm sorry," Buffy smiled. "Come over to my bed, I've got news I want you to hear before Fitz wakes up and you make decisions."

"I'm tired, Buff," Willow complained as she sat up and then moved to Buffy's bed. "I've got a headache from where Dru smacked me, it's way early in the morning and I've got a suicidal Irish woman in my bed."

"And you're probably stuck with that same Irish Slayer in your bed if you want her," Buffy joked. "Giles found the spell but it had a time limit to reverse it."

"Time limit? The demon put in a time limit? Clever," Willow muttered and tried to focus her eyes. "Time limit? How long?"

"Yeah, we can't reverse the spell and Giles won't let you do the spell yourself, it's too dangerous," Buffy explained. "Something about summoning demons to perform services and promises and risks and all that black magic stuff."

"I understand, that stuff is dangerous and demons are always looking for loopholes in the contracts to grab your soul or kill you and stuff," Willow said absently. "Fitz is stuck here?"

"Yes," Buffy repeated. "You don't have to worry about us sending her back, not that we would if you got involved with her. You only have to worry about convincing Fitz not to kill herself or leave for England."

"If I want to risk a relationship," Willow added with a frown. "How can I ask her to take on this kind of responsibility?" the witch demanded, pointing at her womb.

"Shouldn't that be her decision?" Buffy countered. "The Council is willing to supply her with a legal background, so she can get a job here or there with a museum, college or whatever teaching or research. Seems she's extremely intelligent and well learned, mostly self-taught. Giles also thinks that if she's able to get on her feet that we could open a dojo and teach self-defense. There's a martial arts technique that uses the cane and it's taught to a lot of people who can't use other techniques because of some physical problem."

"Good, now let's grab some sleep," Buffy suggested. "Giles is going to call around 2pm for a meeting."

"Okay," Willow muttered and moved back to her bed, crawling under the blanket with Fitz.

Buffy was pleased with the move. She knew that Willow had no problems sleeping with the blonde Slayer, they had spent the night together as friends plenty of times, Buffy took it as a good sign that Willow returned to her own bed to snuggle with Fitz. Buffy relaxed and fell back into sleep with a smile on her face.

Fitz opened her eyes and smiled as she took in the sleeping beauty of Willow Rosenberg. The red haired witch had a leg thrown over Fitz's good one and an arm thrown over the Slayer's ribs and was still sound asleep.

The dark Irish Slayer felt her heart melting as she watched the woman sleeping in her arms. Somewhere during the long hours in the hospital, Fitz had grieved for her wife and had become friends with her double. That had turned into love quickly, Fitz knew.

Fitz wasn't surprised and knew the odds had been stacked against her and this Willow the more time they spent together. This Willow was so much like her Willow that the Slayer couldn't help but find her feelings softening towards the girl.

Jessica FitzHugh reached out and gently brushed a lock of red hair from Willow's eyes and moved to stroke Willow's cheek, her hand trembling slightly. A half smile crossed Willow's face and Fitz felt her heart lurch in her chest.

"Blessed Mary, woman, it would take a saint to resist you," she muttered, moving closer to Willow, trying not to moan aloud as Willow's arm tightened around her in sleep, welcoming Fitz closer.

Fitz swallowed and ran her hand down Willow's arms, not daring to move past the witch's elbow or over her ribs, despite the building arousal in the Slayer. Willow shifted in her sleep and Fitz' hand fell to Willow stomach, just below the belt line of her sweat pants.

Fitz moaned and moved to kiss Willow, asleep or not, the Slayer couldn't resist a moment longer. Suddenly she pulled back and sat up on her elbow with a very surprised look on her face.

"Hmmm?" Willow muttered, snuggling closer to the Slayer. "Shut up, Jess. Go back to sleep."

"Wills?" Fitz said softly, spotting Buffy's sleeping body in the other bed. "Please!"

Fitz pulled back from Willow and struggled to sit up against the wall without banging her cast against Willow.

Willow blinked and frowned with the loss of bodily contact with Fitz and leaned up on her elbow.

"I got attacked by vampires, you wigged but saved us by starting a fire and confusing the heck out of the said vampires," Willow began explaining. "We came up here, you told me about your wife and fell asleep. Buffy came in later and then you woke me from a very nice sleep snuggled with you."

Fitz frowned. "Last night you didn't want to see me, this morning you want to snuggle? I can't take games, girl," the Slayer warned.

"No, but you can take the easy way out?" Willow demanded, sitting up, fire in her eyes. "A razor blade? Do all Slayers focus on blood?"

"Damn!" Fitz muttered, realizing Buffy had told Willow about the razor blade and probably about the drinking as well. "Tis fine then that I'm leaving, right?"

"Only if you want to run away and be a coward," Willow snapped and didn't flinch when Fitz pulled her fist back, the Slayer's face livid.

"You're the one that won't take a chance because I loved my Wills," Fitz snapped.

"Are we going to do this tennis match of words all day?" Willow demanded. "I've had very little sleep and a major wigging last night. You told me you didn't love me."

"And last night I admitted I lied," Fitz countered. "Want me to shout it to the world? I am in love with Willow Rosenberg who lives in Sunnydale, not Sunnyville. The Willow who is a computer hacker genius and witch. I'll always love my Willow but she's gone. This Willow isn't my wife but I'd like her to be!" Fitz shouted, startling Buffy.

"It's okay, honest," Buffy muttered, falling back onto the bed and turning over.

"Willow, I'm not one for begging," Fitz said slowly. "I have fallen in love with you, not my wife but you. If you'll give us a chance, I'll stay here. I won't go back to my world and I won't go to England."

"Fitz, you can't go back to your world," Willow said softly. "Giles found the spell but there was a time limit and we missed it."

Fitz leaned back against the wall, lost in thought. "Then it's settled, either I go to England and not see you again I promise you that I'll be right miserable for the rest of my life but I'll never bother you again. Or I stay here, try and build a life around this crippled leg of mine and treat you right for the rest of our lives."

"Jesse, before you ask that," Willow said slowly. "I need to tell you something, something that you need to think seriously about before asking me this."

"I know about the child," Fitz said softly and grabbed Willow's arm before she could fall off the bed in shock.

"I'm a bit psychic, love," Fitz said gently. "I felt the child this morning when I touched you."

"Listen, guys, I'm going to get some shoes on and go for donuts or, better yet, something healthy for us," Buffy grumbled, grabbing for her shoes and wallet. Since everyone had slept in their clothes, she didn't have to get dressed.

"I figure its Oz' and given the time bit, you've decided to keep the child, right?" Fitz asked softly.

"And you can't give the child up either, especially if he's inherited his father's furryness," Fitz commented.

"No, I'm keeping him or her," Willow said firmly, her eyes almost challenging Fitz to try and talk her out of it.

"Aren't you going to argue that I'm too young, I have my future to think about, it'll be too hard as a single parent and all of that?" Willow demanded.

"No, I'm figuring that your parents will be doing enough of that," Fitz pointed out.

"Yes," Fitz said firmly. "I'm scared to death here, Wills, and I'm admitting it. If you'll have me then I'll take care of you and the child. I'll force the Council to hire me on for something or find a way to make a living."

"We don't even know if a relationship would work and you're willing to take on me and a child?"

Fitz laughed softly. "Tell me you don't feel it between us, you know it'll work because something brought us together."

Fitz sighed and leaned over to grab Willow's hand and pulled the red head closer.

"Come here," Fitz said softly, pulling lightly on Willow's hand. "Kiss me and tell me it's not something cosmic."

"How the hell would you know what it's like kissing me?" Willow demanded. "I'm not your Willow."

"I remember the electric spark when I thought you were, when I was feverish and all," Fitz countered. "And I would like you to be my Willow."

"I can't risk being hurt, not with what's happening with me," Willow mumbled, still frowning.

"I love you, Willow Rosenberg," Fitz said firmly. "Tell me to go and I'll walk away."

Willow turned, throwing her legs over the side of the bed. "I'm supposed to decide the rest of my life in the next five minutes!" she complained. "I already decided the most major thing someone can decide, I'm having a baby and keeping it."

"I know, and if you want, I'll leave you alone," Fitz said softly. "Just help me back into me chair."

"No, you need time to think and I want a drink. Just get me back into my chair," Fitz growled.

Willow could hear the pain underneath the anger and didn't know what to do. "Jess, just give me a day."

"It's Saturday, I'm scheduled to leave Tuesday," Fitz said softly. "Take the time, just once I hit that boarding gate I'm gone and I'll not be back, Willow. You've been hurt and I know that but understand this, I've been crushed. I can't just be friends with you. Seeing you at first hurt because of my Willow, now it hurts to see you because I can't have you. I can't live with this pain."

"You'll help me into my chair and a cab for me," Fitz said firmly. "Or you'll turn around kiss me and I'll never let you go."

Willow closed her eyes against the overwhelming rush of emotions and confusion crowding her thoughts.

"No, Wills," Fitz said softly, reaching out to touch the witch's shoulder. "If we wanted a future with children, we'd have to look outside ourselves for help anyway."

"Not exactly easy starting a relationship with someone already pregnant with someone else's child," Willow frowned.

"I'm a crippled Slayer without a past and an unstable future," Fitz pointed out. "I think I can handle you being pregnant. You'll be giving me a future, my love."

"I'll go to England, let the Council dissect me and my past and slowly drink myself into oblivion," Fitz answered honestly.

Fitz noticed Willow's clenched hands and pained expression and wanted to reach out but held back.

"Jess, the way you look at me makes my heart race and I can't breathe," Willow said softly, reaching out for the Slayer's hand. "I need to know if it's me that you're thinking of and not you're wife. I'm not that Willow and I can't be a replacement for her."

"How can I prove that to you?" Fitz demanded, her expression one of frustration.

"What did you call her? Your special name?" Willow asked softly, moving closer on the bed to the dark Slayer.

"What would you call me?" Willow asked, moving along side the Slayer's body, letting Fitz wrap an arm around her.

"My Red Willow," Fitz said softly, her voice dropping an octave as Willow moved into her arms. "Gentle but with a hidden strength, roots that are deep and strong."

"Can I call you Jess or Jessie?" Willow asked, moving her lips to Fitz' throat. "Like Jesse James?"

"Yes," Fitz whispered as her body began trembling, Willow's hand began roaming over her rib cage, pulling Fitz down onto the bed. "Oh Saints, Willow!"

"Tell me how I'm different," Willow demanded, moving to lay beside Fitz' body, snuggling in the Slayer's arms.

"My Wills wasn't as good on computers as you," Fitz said slowly as Willow's hand moved under her t-shirt, exploring the Slayer's skin. "She was quick with the magic."

"Uh…she was a little harder," Fitz muttered, cursing the cast on her leg as Willow shifted a leg over the Slayer. "Please, Red," the Slayer begged. "We got together in our Junior year and her parents threw her out."

"Spike and Dru wanted me back as their torture and sex toy," Fitz said bitterly. "We used that against them and set a trap. I took Dru's head off and Buffy hit Spike with holy water, ruining half his face. Then we found Xander after Cordelia was hurt. Something died inside my Wills that night."

"Aye, we do seem to complicate things, don't we?" Fitz smiled and then lost the smile. "Xander was killed horribly and Wills lost a lot of her aura of innocence."

"My Wills was taken by Angelus and Spike," Fitz snapped. "They snapped her mind, her will, and her body before tossing her back to me."

"Fitz, Jess, I'm sorry," Willow said softly, leaning up on her elbow, her face pained.

"It took a long time for her to come back to me," Fitz continued. "Angelus wanted her like Dru, insane before he turned her but we got her back. Wills wasn't the same though. It took a year before a smile would reach her eyes."

"Angelus just choked me and Dru dropped a bookcase of books on me," Willow muttered.

"When Wills parents found out about us, they threw Wills out and disowned her," Fitz continued. "She lost a lot of that carefree spirit and trusting nature that you have."

"You really know the difference between us?" Willow asked, her fingers beginning to move over Fitz' ribs again.

"Aye, you're not the young girl I fell in love with or the shattered woman I married," Fitz said slowly. "You look like Wills and sound like her but you've both had different experiences at a young age that shaped who you became. I am in love with you, Willow, my Red."

"I love you, Jessie," Willow whispered, pulling back to look into the Slayer's bright blue eyes.

"I love you, Green Eyes," Fitz smiled, delighted in the smile that the name brought.

Fitz moaned and pulled Willow on top of her, ignoring the stab of pain from her cast enclosed leg. The Slayer's fingers trailed through the red hair that she adored as Willow explored her lips, demanding entrance with her tongue. The Slayer responded readily, her body jerking in response.

"Forever, my love," Fitz answered, her hands moving under Willow's pajama top, not wanting to move too fast but Willow seemed to have other ideas. Fitz raised up slightly at Willow's insistence, her t-shirt pulled over her head and off.

Fitz felt her heart skip a beat as Willow sat up over her, the absolute look of desire and wonderment bringing tears of joy to the Slayer's eyes. Fitz' hands, shaking with emotion, slowly unbuttoned Willow's pajama top. The Slayer's breathing was ragged as she took in the sight of Willow's beautiful pale skin and breasts that Fitz would always think of as perfect.

Willow's eyes burned with desire and she moved her body down over Fitz until their lips met again, both women moaning as bare breasts touched, sending sparks of energy between both of them. Willow thought she would crash right then, nothing she had ever shared with Oz had been like this. The witch ran a hand along Fitz' cheek in amazement and began rocking her body slightly, Fitz' thigh between hers, skin meeting sex, offering little relief.

Willow moved her lips back to Fitz' neck and lightly nipped at the nerve center, causing the Slayer to cry out and her hips to buck, her nails digging into the witch's shoulders.

"Ah! Oh Saints, Red, don't stop, please!" Fitz begged as Willow's teeth worked at her neck and the witch's fingers played over already aching nipples and breasts of the Slayer.

Willow moaned and danced her fingers over Fitz' ribs and stomach, delighting in the way Fitz was responding to her touch. Small sounds escaped the Slayer's throat as her hands clutched at Willow and her body writhing under the witch.

Fitz rose up and sank her teeth into Willow's neck as Willow's tongue moved down to the Slayer's nipples. The red-haired witch cried out and Fitz felt Willow's body shudder in her hands.

"Let me touch you, Willow, please," Fitz asked, pulling Willow's chin up until their eyes met, letting Willow see her desire and love.

Willow squirmed off Fitz, afraid of hurting the Slayer's injured leg, and pulled her pajama bottoms and underwear off. She was blushing red as Fitz leaned up on an elbow, relishing the sight of the witch's body.

"Aye," Fitz agreed, trying to raise her hips as the witch pulled the sweat pants off over the cast.

"Goddess, you're beautiful!" Willow exclaimed, taking in the muscular but curved body of the Slayer, including the dark hair that seemed to beckon to her. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Ah, I'm so turned on that I don't think a hammer could hurt me again," Fitz smiled. "Sit on my hips and kiss me."

Willow, blushing a bit, moved her naked body onto Fitz and felt shudders rack her body as she took in the heat radiating from the Slayer, echoed by her own. Willow's head fell back when Fitz' teeth went to her neck again and the Slayer's arms wrapped around her, holding Willow close to her, skin to skin. Willow's fingers danced through Fitz' spiky hair as she rocked against the Irish woman's body.

Fitz moved and played her tongue over Willow's nipples, first one and then the other until the witch was moaning and squirming in her lap.

"Oh sweet Mary, you're so wonderful!" Fitz whimpered, moving her fingers slowly down Willow's back and then over the young woman's hip. The Slayer moved cautiously, gauging Willow's reactions, trying to sense any hesitation. Finding nothing but impatience, she moved her hand between Willow's legs and cupped the witch's sex.

"Oh!" Willow mewled and bucked against Fitz' hand. Willow laid her forehead against Fitz', panting. "Please, I need you, Jess."

"I don't want to hurt you or scare you," Fitz said softly, kissing Willow's lips and neck and lips again.

"Jess," Willow pulled back with a smile to look into Fitz' bright blue eyes. "I've had sex, just never with a woman. I…I…I've never felt like this. I need to feel you inside of me."

Willow blushed at her own forwardness as Fitz kissed her neck and moved back to her nipples and then cried out as fingers parted her labia lips, discovering that she was soaking wet from arousal.

Fitz moaned at the softness and warmth before moving her fingers over and through the lips as Willow's body jerked and her lover bit back another cry. The Slayer captured Willow's lips with hers and thrust two fingers into her love.

Willow found whatever sound her body made at the intense reaction drowned in the kiss as she clung to Fitz' shoulders. The red-head groaned in frustration when the Slayer held still inside of her, teasing until Willow's body began rocking against the fingers.

Fitz whimpered herself and moved deeper inside her lover. She was rewarded by Willow's head snapping back in reaction and then forward again, her fingers digging into Fitz' shoulders.

Fitz realized with a moan of her own that Willow was describing her approaching orgasm like it was something the young woman had never experienced. "Oh God and Saints, just let it ride, love. Trust me and try to relax into it."

Fitz added another finger, thrust deeper, pulled on Willow's nipple with her teeth and ran her thumb over Willow's clit all in the same moment.

Willow screamed as her body bucked against the fingers, taking the Slayer deep inside and clamping down as waves of heat shook her body. "Jess!"

Only Fitz' Slayer strength kept Willow in her arms as her lover thrashed, digging her nails into Fitz' skin and drawing blood, as she screamed again. Afraid of hurting Willow too much, Fitz withdrew gently as Willow collapsed in her arms, sobbing.

"Shhh, tis fine, Green Eyes," Fitz said softly, pulling Willow down beside her, holding her close and stroking the red hair. "I love you, Red Willow. I'm right here, I've got you."

Willow's breathing finally settled down after a few moments as she clung to the Slayer.

"I should hit you for mentioning Oz in our bed," Willow muttered, closing her eyes as her fingers lightly played over Fitz' tight abs. "But, no, it never felt like that with Oz. It felt like something beginning to build inside of me but it never happened."

"Thank you, my love, for gifting me like that then," Fitz said gently, her own eyes filling with tears of gratitude.

"Thank you," Willow smiled. "I want to touch you and drive you insane but sleepy now."

Fitz grinned and hugged her lover tightly. "Shhh, we've all the time in the world now."

Willow frowned, remembering the same line in a James Bond movie, just before his wife was killed.

"Bad thoughts," Willow muttered, snuggling closer. "I'm not going to lose you now."

"For once a spell worked right in Sunnydale, I found my soul mate," Willow smiled, drifting into sleep.

Buffy grinned when she opened the door a few minutes later and found both women very naked and asleep. The scent of arousal lay heavily in the room as Buffy grabbed a comforter off her bed, tossed it over her friends and lay back down on her own bed. "Guess that means Sunnydale has two Slayers again."

The blonde Slayer growled and threw a pillow at the desk when the phone refused to stop ringing sometime later. Buffy glanced over and grinned as Willow's feet hit the floor as she moved to answer the phone, moving in automatic pilot.

Willow, looking down at her naked body, squeaked and jumped back onto the bed, throwing the comforter back over her and Fitz.

Buffy laughed and grabbed for the phone. "Yeah? House of Lust, can we help you?"

"Hi, Giles," Buffy said cheerfully, enjoying the fact she had embarrassed two of her friends in less than a minute. "Time for the meeting?"

"Yes, I thought we'd let everyone know what we found about the spell and I've been in touch with the Council today," Giles informed her.

"Okay, let me get these two dressed and call for Xander to transport us over," Buffy grinned at the blushing faces of Willow and Fitz as they watched her.

Buffy laughed and hung up the telephone, she could almost hear Giles taking off his glasses and begin cleaning them. A tell-tale sign that he was uncomfortable with the sexual talk.

"I'm going to use the pay phone in the hall to call Xander so you two can get dressed," Buffy grinned. "I've seen you both naked before but I understand first sex together thing."

"Someday, I will find a way to make you suffer, Buffy Summers," Willow threatened.

"Just that I fell asleep," Willow said honestly. "I don't think I've ever been this happy with anyone."

"It'll not be easy," Fitz warned. "Your parents won't be happy with me or our child and I've been here long enough to realize that both realms are a bit brutal in how they treat lovers of the same gender."

"Yes, we'll be called names, some might try to even get physical," Willow nodded as she sat up and moved to her dresser for clean clothes. "We could lose jobs and housing because of it."

"I love you, Jessie," Willow said firmly, slipping on a pair of carpenter's pants and moving to help pull the sweat pants back over Fitz' cast. The witch took advantage of the position to grab a quick kiss. "I'm the one asking you to make sacrifices. I know the Council was going to offer you a decent living. All I can offer is hardship."

"Xander and Anya will be here in a few minutes. Fortunately, he called in sick to work today after staying up most of the night fighting vampires," she announced.

"Nope, knowing them, they didn't," she grinned. "See, danger and fighting vampires always gets Anya hot and bothered."

Fitz shook her head in amusement as Buffy moved to help her into the wheelchair. "I'm glad I get to see the adult Xander."

"Let's find out what Giles has worked out," Buffy suggested, spinning the wheelchair towards the door. "Have you decided if you're going to tell the gang about your decisions, Will?"

Buffy was almost feeling giddy herself at the sight of her friend looking and acting so happy.

"Well, unless you two want to go back and change into turtle-necks, the gang will figure out that you both hooked up," Buffy teased and grinned when Willow began blushing, feeling the side of her neck. "I mean about the other decisions."

"Yeah, all of it," Willow said softly, her mood dampening, unsure how everyone was going to take the news.

Xander's eyes narrowed when he spotted the look on Willow's face and her neck and his eyes quickly went to Fitz' neck as well. The Slayer wasn't sure if he was going to hit her for a moment. Fitz heard a warning growl from Buffy behind her and Xander gritted his teeth and moved to the back of the pickup to let down the tailgate.

Watching her boyfriend's furious expression, Anya nodded and climbed in the back with Buffy and Fitz as the blonde Slayer helped pull Fitz into the bed.

Fitz and Buffy, despite Slayer senses, couldn't hear anything from the cab of the pickup because Xander had intentionally turned up the music. The three young women could see the expressions on both Xander and Willow's faces on the short ride. They saw a range from angry and hurt to confusion but then nods between the two oldest friends.

When they pulled up next to the curb in front of Giles' condo, Xander was quiet and Willow merely shrugged at Fitz' questioning look. Together the group got the injured Slayer out of the pickup and into the wheelchair just as Joyce drove up to join them.

"Giles asked me to attend the meeting, I guess since Jessica is living with us and I'm involved," Joyce answered.

"Okay," Buffy smiled as Joyce's eyes widened, taking in the bruises on Willow's and Fitz' neck and her mouth dropped open when Willow leaned over and kissed the Slayer. "Careful, Mom, you'll catch flies."

Joyce snapped her mouth shut and glared at her daughter. "I guess they worked things out."

"Yeah, it's been a really long night," Buffy nodded. "Vampires, fires, rooftop discussions, life changing events, and very little sleep."

Once inside Giles' apartment, Buffy and the gang repeated the story of the previous night's events up to the point of visiting Giles. Buffy also left out Willow's surprise, figuring that was up to the witch to decide how to tell everyone else.

"Yes, well," Giles began, cleaning his glasses. "I found the spell that brings one's soul mate to the ritual circle. To reverse the spell required that the same demon be summoned before the next full moon. We're too late to send Fitz back to her own realm."

"Because that's extreme black magic and I'm not willing to go back to that level of magic," Giles explained. "I won't let Willow do it either."

"Besides, I'm not going back," Fitz said firmly and met Xander's glare with her own hardened eyes, challenging the young man. "I've been gone so long they'll think me dead as it is. My life is over there in that realm."

"Xander!" Willow snapped. "I told you this is what I want! I fell in love with her!"

"In case someone missed it, Jessica FitzHugh and I are together as a couple," Willow said firmly, her eyes blazing at Xander and then softened. "Xander, please, I don't want to fight with you. I need you and our friendship, now more than ever."

"Why, you've got Buffy as your best friend and Fitz as your girlfriend, where do I fit in with Slayers?" he demanded.

"Is that what the problem is?" Willow asked softly, getting to her feet from sitting on the floor next to Fitz' wheelchair. She walked over to Xander as he leaned against the wall, sulking. "Xander, you've my best friend since kindergarden, sometimes you were my only friend. I need you, especially now."

"I love you too, Xan," Willow smiled and fell into his arms when he extended them for a hug. "Thank you," she whispered.

Willow nodded and turned out of his arms and moved back to stand next to Fitz. The dark Slayer, sensing her nervousness, reached out for her hand.

"What did you find out today, Giles?" Buffy asked quickly. She knew once Willow made her announcement; all other discussion would be forgotten.

"Yes, well, I told the Council that there was a good possibility that Fitz would like to stay here in Sunnydale with us. They were less than happy," he smirked. "They wanted her under their control, of course. They threatened to cut off any financial assistance."

"I told them that in a more polite manner," Giles smiled. "After several hours of haggling and bargaining, we reached a settlement if everyone agrees. One: Buffy continues to be the Slayer, complete with pay. Fitz will answer any questions they have about her realm through email as she's been doing."

"Pay, as in I get money for doing this?" Buffy asked, her voice reflecting her disbelief. Giles grinned.

"We all do," he announced. "Buffy and I get a salary, retroactive, I might add. The rest of you get half-Watcher salary for being invaluable to Buffy and her Slaying, which includes Fitz. They are also in agreement to pay all of Fitz' medical bills and continued therapy. They feel it's only right since you were a Slayer and injured in the line of duty."

"Buffy and I have talked a bit about that," Giles said slowly. "The Council also agrees. They and I think it would be an excellent cover for Buffy to start a dojo and teach self-defense. It'll also help pay the bills now that she's an adult. Fitz, you can join in once you're back on your feet. There's a martial arts style that is structured around a cane."

"Nice, maybe a little teaching of Irish history," Fitz nodded. "I've learned that the basics are pretty much the same in both realms."

"That's my love, brawn and brains," Willow teased, delighting in the embarrassed smile from the dark Slayer.

"Well, they would get regular reports on your slaying and any new information we gain on demons, vampires and whatever the Hellmouth throws at us," Giles explained. "They can also request our help at other hot spots around the world."

"They want to train Willow to be a Watcher," Giles said slowly and wasn't surprised at the rapid protests coming from Xander, Joyce and Buffy nor the silence from Fitz and Willow.

"You're highly intelligent, have great computer skills, have magic abilities," Giles explained, "and you've survived 20 years on a Hellmouth. You already know Slayers, demons, vampires and werewolves."

Willow began blushing and Fitz wrapped an arm around her lover's waist. Giles was confused. He didn't think that Willow's recent relationship with Oz would be a problem in her new relationship with Fitz, the Slayer hadn't even known Oz.

"They would offer you complete graduate studies at Oxford: housing, training, everything," Gils continued. "Of course, I'm not overly fond of the Council but it is a good training considering everything we've been through."

"Two, uh, questions," Willow said slowly, kneeling down beside Fitz' wheelchair, leaning on the arm as Fitz wrapped her arm around Willow's shoulders. "How would they feel about Fitz?"

"I don't think they would be amused but they couldn't say much, some Watchers are married," Giles said thoughtfully. "Second question?"

"Uh," Willow hesitated. "How…how would they feel about a married student with a wife and child?"

"What?" Xander muttered, sliding to the floor as Anya stood next to him, looking stunned.

"I…Oz…we tried to work it out," Willow whispered, her head dropping and hair falling forward to hide her face. Fitz tightened her hold on her lover. "He doesn't know."

"How can I? I don't even know where he is," Willow growled, her head snapping up.

"Yes, I can't do an abortion after all the death we've seen," Willow said, welcoming the hug. "I can't give the baby up for adoption since…because he or she…because Oz…"

"Because the child might inherit Oz' lycanthropy," Giles finished and Willow nodded, beginning to cry as Joyce held her.

"She told me last night, that's why the lack of sleep," Buffy nodded. "I came over and talked to Giles. I knew both Wills and Fitz were about to make major life decisions last night and I wanted to know if we were sending Fitz back or not. Willow told me about the baby."

"Right fine with me!" Fitz snapped back. "I'll love the child, werewolf or not, as if it were my own. I'll be there every step of the way if Red will let me."

"Why?" Willow demanded. "He lost his options when he left and cut all contact with me. I don't need him in my child's life."

Xander frowned and dropped his eyes. Fitz moved her wheelchair across the floor and turned it sideways, getting as close as she could to the young man.

"Xander, in my world, you died too young and I never got to see the man you would have become," Fitz said slowly. "Now I get that chance. I want to get to know you. I need you in our lives. Willow and I will need help raising a child, especially since I won't be able to run after a rug rat. Will you stand with us and be the child's uncle?"

"Uncle? I get to be an uncle?" Xander's face lit up and Willow sighed with relief. "You mean football, trips to Disneyland and all that?"

"Not yet," she said slowly as Fitz moved back across the room, Willow's eyes never leaving the Slayer. "I just decided last night to keep the baby and this morning to keep Fitz."

"Well, I'll talk with the Council," Giles said slowly. "I'm sure they could set up a small apartment or something for the three of you if you wish to study with them."

Willow noticed the tightening of Fitz' face and leaned over the wheelchair, her hands on the arms, looking deep into Fitz' eyes.

"You're hurting," Willow declared. "You didn't have your pain pills with you last night."

"Thanks for accepting me. I'm sorry for worrying you, Buff," Fitz said softly and reached in her sweatpants, handing the blonde Slayer something.

Buffy took the wrapped object and unwrapped the small paper and looked up at Fitz. "No more walking on the edge of this thing?" she asked softly, holding up a razor blade.

"No, I found my soul," Fitz smiled, looking up at Willow with such love that Buffy felt her eyes filling with joy for her friends. Fitz turned her wheelchair to face Willow and held up her left hand for the red-haired witch to see. Slowly Fitz removed her wedding ring and tossed it to Buffy.

"Willow Rosenberg of this world, will you be marrying me?" Fitz asked softly. "I'd be down on one knee but I can't bend my leg."

"Yes!" Willow grinned and almost knocked Fitz out of the chair with a massive hug. After a moment she looked up at the grins of her friends as she wiped away tears of happiness. "Can you take us home, Joyce Mom?" Willow asked. "Fitz needs her pain pills and some rest."

"Nah, I'm going to grab some of Willow's stuff from the dorm," Buffy grinned. "I think she'll be staying with us for awhile."

Willow leaned over the wheelchair. "I want to download that Cher song you mentioned. Then I'm going to take down my own Jesse James."

You're struttin' into town like you're slingin' a gun
Just a small town dude with a big city attitude
Honey, are you lookin' for some trouble tonight
Well alright

You think you're so bad, drive the women folk wild
Shoot 'em all down with the flash of your pearly smile
Honey, but you met your match tonight
Oh, that's right

You think you'll knock me off my feet
'til I'm flat on the floor
'Til my heart is cryin' Indian and I'm begin' for more
So come on, baby
Come on, baby
Come on, baby show me what that loaded gun is for

If you can give it
I can take it
'Cause if this heart is gonna break, it's gonna take a lot to break it
I know tonight
Somebody's gonna win the fight
So if you're so tough
Come on and prove it

Your heart is down for the count and you know you're gonna lose it
Tonight you're gonna go down in flames
Just like Jesse James

Willow Rosenberg hesitated outside her house and she felt Fitz' hands on her shoulder, the warmth reassuring her.

"You sure you don't want me to come in with you, then?" Jessica FitzHugh asked softly, leaning heavily on her crutches.

"I…I don't want to go in," Willow admitted. "I really don't know how to do this. They've been gone for six months this time. I'm six months pregnant and my fiancée is a non-Jewish woman. This isn't exactly the homecoming they wanted."

"Red," Fitz said slowly, "I'm here for you. I love you more than life itself. I'll be right outside here with Ma in the car."

"Aye, I lost my world and gained the universe," Fitz said softly, resisting putting her arms around Willow. They had no idea if Willow's parents might be watching out a window or something.

Willow sighed heavily. "Don't go too far?" she asked, her voice small and fearful.

"I love you, Jessie, don't doubt that," Willow said firmly, reaching up to squeeze the former Slayer's hand before moving towards her parent's door.

Fitz wanted to dash after Willow and take the red-head away, to somehow erase any stress and worry from her lover's life but knew she couldn't. The dark Slayer was feeling helpless.

"Come on, Jessica," Joyce called through the open car window and the Slayer turned to maneuver her encased leg and crutches into the car.

Joyce moved the car up the street and turned around so they could watch the front door of the Rosenberg house, waiting for Willow in case things didn't go well.

"I understand that sentiment," Joyce nodded. "It's been a rough few months for you two."

"Aye, Willow was just mentioning that, she was," Fitz nodded. "Getting tossed into a strange alternate universe after seeing my Willow killed and me being crippled was enough to test anyone's sanity, it was."

"I'm glad that you ended up stuck here," Joyce said firmly and with a smile. "It's been good for Buffy to have you and Willow at the house, especially after Riley turned so weird and left."

"Strange lad, that one," Fitz agreed. "Turning to vampires for affection instead of hashing it out with Buff? A bit touched, that is."

"She's not sure," Fitz said slowly. "Red wants to play that by ear, just telling them about the pregnancy and her decision to keep the child without the father will mess them over enough to start."

Willow listened to the silence that filled the dinner table. After the initial small talk about her parent's long educational tour of Europe, Willow's grades at the University, questions about her plans for the future and their assurances that they would see more of their daughter this year, finally the topics had turned serious.

Not that discussions of Willow's education weren't considered serious by the highly respected educators, it was the one area where they did pay attention to their daughter. They expected high intelligence, perfection in school, and had gotten it. The only disappointment had been Willow's insistence on staying in Sunnydale instead of attending any University in the world. They wanted Harvard or Oxford, Willow wanted Sunnydale and had put her foot down.

Finally the parents asked about Willow's social life and wanted more information about Willow's plans for the future now that her Freshman year was behind her. They were hoping that she was over whatever fascination Sunnydale had for her and was ready to transfer to a more appropriate school.

"Well, I don't know if you got my letter telling you that I had broken up with Oz, or not," Willow began.

"I think I remember that one," her mother said absently. "He dropped out of school and went off to 'find himself' or something?"

"Not exactly," Willow said slowly. "I…uh…I've been offered full scholarship for Graduate studies at Oxford after I graduate in three years."

Willow's mother, Sheila, fairly danced out of her seat in delight, coming around the table to hug her daughter tightly as her father applauded.

"Well, they know I want to complete my studies here," Willow said. "It's being offered by the same people that trained Mr. Giles for his work at the museums and universities. I'd be working for them when I graduate."

"Computers, research, teaching, and setting up new sites for their research centers and stuff like that," Willow explained, trying to be detailed without giving any real facts about the Watcher Council.

"Sounds exactly what you love doing," her father, Ira, said with a nod of approval.

"They also understand that I need a couple of years here before traveling overseas for studies," Willow said slowly.

"You said when you graduate in three years," her mother said thoughtfully. "I know on the accelerated program you had set up that you were going to graduate with honors in three years. Has something happened to your grades?"

"Not yet," Willow said. "But I will miss a lot of school at the beginning of the next semester and the professors have amended my program to give me that time so I don't burn out or kill myself studying."

"Why on earth would you miss school?" Sheila demanded. "You've never missed school unless you were in the hospital."

Willow resisted snapping at her mother, her parents hadn't even visited her in the hospital, despite being put in a coma by Druscilla.

"Well, I…" Willow felt her face turning bright red and hated it but couldn't control it. "I'm six months pregnant and I'm due just after the semester starts," she blurted out, keeping her eyes on her plate.

"At least she didn't commit another sin by having an abortion," Sheila muttered to Ira. "Have you picked a couple for the adoption?"

"Of course you're not," Ira snapped, throwing his napkin on the table. "Unless you're about to tell us that you've gone and gotten married and the young man is waiting outside to be properly introduced!"

"No, Daddy," Willow dropped her head again. "The baby is Oz' and he doesn't know because I don't know where he is and I wouldn't marry him even if he did know."

"I'm keeping the baby, it's a boy and I'm keeping him," Willow said firmly. "I know it won't be easy going to college and everything but my professors are already planning my schoolwork around it."

"Don't get smart with me, young lady!" Ira shouted. "You won't bring disgrace to our family like this!"

"It would only be a lesser disgrace if I went off somewhere, had the child and gave it up for adoption, right?" Willow demanded angrily. "No, I'm keeping my child!"

"I was hoping you would be part of this, the child is going to be your grandson," Willow said calmly, fighting back the tears stinging her eyes. "Your only grandson. I have my close friends, Mrs. Summers, Mr. Giles and…and...there is someone special."

"I said there wasn't a young man," Willow clarified and saw the puzzled expressions on her parent's faces and knew they didn't get it. "I've met someone who loves me beyond compare and who will be with me to raise my son."

"No, a young woman," Willow admitted and braced herself. "She's Irish, my age, and was injured recently."

Instead of the usual questions about religion and future plans, silence greeted Willow's announcement. The silence lasted for five minutes until Willow thought she was going to go insane with the tension.

"Leave!" Ira snapped. "We have no daughter. Your things will be left on the back porch tomorrow."

"Please, we can talk about this," Willow begged. "I need you both so much! You've never been there and I need you now! My child needs his grandparents!"

"We have no daughter," Sheila repeated. "We will say the Kaddish for our daughter."

Willow stumbled to her feet and managed to get out the front door as her tears blinded her.

"There!" Fitz cried, seeing Willow stumbling out the door and down the steps. She opened the car door and leaned out. "Willow!"

Joyce jumped out of the car and met the staggering young woman in the center of the street, pulling Willow into her arms as the witch sobbed. The mother of the Light Slayer looked at the Rosenberg house and glared as the porch light went out and the curtains were drawn. Joyce turned Willow towards the car where Fitz waited anxiously.

Willow cried all the way to the Summers' home and refused to repeat what her parents had said. Fitz held the red-head throughout the night as Willow slept restlessly between bouts of tears. Not even Buffy and Joyce's reassurances that Willow would always have a home with them seemed to make her feel better.

The Dark Slayer had a pretty good idea what Willow's parents had said. She had been through it already with her Willow in the other realm. Her Wills hadn't been pregnant either, she reflected. Still Willow's parents had disowned her and had thrown her out in their Junior year of High school when they discovered the relationship between Fitz and their daughter.

The former Slayer placed a hand on Willow's womb and smiled as the child within kicked or punched, causing Willow to stop sobbing and gasp in surprise. Fitz loved the look of love that always crossed Willow's face whenever her baby kicked up a fuss, no matter how uncomfortable it made the witch.

"We should be thinking of names for the lad," Fitz suggested, hoping to distract her lover.

"I'd like that," Willow smiled slightly, snuggling closer to Fitz and laying her head on the Slayer's shoulder. "I'm glad you didn't leave for England. I couldn't do this without you."

"Aye, I'm right glad of that myself," Fitz smiled. "I am sorry about your folks, Red."

"It'll be their loss, my love," Fitz said softly, feeling Willow's energy slipping into sleep.

Buffy, Xander, Anya, Joyce and Giles made the trip to Willow's former home and gathered what few belonging had been left in her room. Just as they had threatened, Willow's belongings were on the back porch of the Rosenberg's home. It was only Giles and Joyce urging the kids to gather Willow's things that kept Xander and Buffy from pounding on the door and confronting her parents.

Fitz and Willow were at one of Fitz' endless therapy sessions. The full leg cast had been replaced with a cast that went from mid-thigh down to include her foot. The doctors were more than pleased and surprised at how well the Slayer was recovering but were still cautious about her future abilities.

The rest of the former Slayer's body had made a quick recovery from the beating she had taken from the rock demons in her own realm. After a month of being bed-ridden had weakened Fitz and she was determined to get back on her feet as quick as possible.

Willow watched as Fitz moved along the parallel bars that were set at waist level, helping Fitz rebuild her uninjured leg muscles. The young Irish woman was sweating and stopped for a moment to readjust the bandana tied around her head. She was breathing heavily and Willow could see Fitz' arm and leg muscles beginning to tremble.

"Jess," Willow said softly and wasn't surprised when Fitz glared at her for a moment but then the Slayer's eyes softened.

The therapist standing behind Fitz waited, hesitating to grab the young woman by the safety belt. She had been on the receiving end of Fitz' impatience and frustration and knew better than to "order" the woman to do anything. She learned quickly from Willow that suggestions seemed to work best with Fitz.

Fitz gritted her teeth and moved a few feet down the bars and leaned heavily on her hands.

The therapist, Anna Ramirez, grabbed the belt firmly and Willow jumped up and moved the wheelchair to the end of the bars. Together, they helped Fitz turn around and settle down into the chair. Anna handed Fitz a towel and smiled.

"You're doing very well," Anna encouraged. "I really think that you'll manage with a cane and special leg brace, eventually."

"Doc Wang doesn't think so," Fitz muttered as Willow leaned over the back of the wheelchair, wrapping her arms around the dark haired woman's body.

"Dr. Wang is being overly cautious," Anna responded with a smile. "Just don't over do it. How's the baby coming along?" she asked turning to Willow with a grin.

"He's getting bigger and my doctor thinks the pregnancy is going well," Willow said softly.

Fitz leaned against the red-haired witch's arm and Anna smiled. At first she had been a little uncomfortable once she figured out the relationship between the two women but she had quickly discovered that Fitz and Willow were like any other couple, especially a couple deeply in love. Sometimes Anna found herself envying the two young women, she had never seen such devotion and love between anyone before, other than her parents.

"Not yet, we were just talking about that last night," Willow smiled, noticing the pain that Fitz was trying to hide.

"Do you have any favorites yet?" Anna asked, moving to help wheel the injured young woman through the hospital.

"No, my father's name is Ira," Willow said softly, biting back her emotions. "I can't see naming a child Ira."

"My father's name was Kevin, a bit boring that," Fitz smiled as Willow walked beside her chair. "Knowing Red here, we'll be cruising the 'net' for the next two months debating it."

Fitz smiled and nodded, grateful that Xander had gotten over his initial dislike of the stranger who had claimed Willow's heart.

Buffy and Joyce found Fitz asleep and Willow working quietly over her laptop after they unloaded Willow's belongings into the Summers' garage. They had refused to let Willow help at all because of the heavy weight she was already carrying. Fitz was tired and hurting after the therapy so they had been banished to the room they shared.

Willow looked up with a tired smile. Both Buffy and Joyce were beginning to worry about their friend. With Willow's small framed body, at six months into the pregnancy, she already looked like she was smuggling a basketball under her shirt and was beginning to look tired all the time.

Fitz had confided to Joyce that Willow wasn't sleeping well at night, that she couldn't seem to get comfortable. Joyce had suggested a pillow under the stomach so Willow could lay on her side occasionally and Fitz had hugged Joyce tightly the next day for the suggestion. Now it seemed that Willow had hit another uncomfortable stage in carrying her son.

"Don't worry, I actually got her to take one of the heavy duty pain pills, she's out," Willow smirked, glancing over at the sleeping form of her lover.

She thought Fitz still looked as adorable as the first time she had seen the Slayer, especially without the bruises, cuts, dirt and tears. The blue-eyed dark haired Irish lass had let her hair grow longer and it was now down past her shoulders in the back but still a bit spiky on the top and shaggy on the sides, much like an 80's Joan Jett, Willow thought.

"How did you do that?" Joyce asked with raised eyebrows. "We can never get her to take her pills. Then again, I can't get Buffy to take meds either."

"But they still hurt," Willow countered. "I know she didn't sleep much last night because she was worried about me. Then she over did it at therapy, as usual."

"We got your stuff, Wills," Buffy said softly and Willow frowned, ducking her head and nodding. "They didn't come out."

"I didn't think they would," Willow said softly. "They told me they were going to recite the Kaddish for me. Can't get more final than that."

"Prayer for the dead," Willow whispered, tears beginning to escape down her cheeks. Joyce moved to join Buffy in wrapping their arms around Willow as she began to cry again.

"They just can't deal with the disappointment," Willow muttered and Buffy drew back, her blue eyes blazing.

"Don't even think that!" she snapped. "You are the most intelligent and wonderful person I have ever known, Willow Rosenberg! You could never be a parent's disappointment! It's their loss!"

"Buffy's right," Joyce nodded. "Any parent would be proud to have you as a daughter, me included."

"I see a young, beautiful woman who is capable of so much love that it's almost frightening," Joyce countered. "You're going to bring a child into this life and it won't be easy, I won't lie to you about that, but you're continuing with your future and building a life."

"You don't do drugs, you haven't dropped out of school, you haven't killed anyone," Buffy jumped in. "You're an honor student, a computer whiz and you've saved my life on more than one occasion! You are the best, Will."

"Thanks," Willow said shyly and let the Summers' women wrap her in their arms again, accepting their love.

"Do you want lasagna for dinner? Maybe a nice large salad with that?" Joyce asked.

"Two and a half here," Willow smiled, attempting some humor. "And I'll vote a yes for Fitz, she loves your lasagna."

"Better than that fried stuff she always wants for breakfast, no wonder the Irish die young," Joyce muttered.

"Fried food and drink," Buffy nodded as she glanced over at the sleeping former Slayer as her mom left to start dinner. "Is she okay?"

"Yeah," Willow said slowly, also watching her lover. "She hasn't had a drop to drink since that night she thought about suicide."

"Goddess, was that only three and a half months ago?" Willow said softly, her face blushing.

"Speaking of which," Buffy said, standing up and digging into her jeans. "I've been meaning to give this to you. I found it in my drawer the other day and kept forgetting."

Willow took the small gold band and turned it over in her hands thoughtfully. "Fitz' wedding ring."

"Yeah, I remember her taking it off in front of all of us and asking you to marry her the next morning," Buffy nodded. "She tossed it to me just before you tackled her."

"She took it off to show me and everyone that she was leaving her Willow behind and asking me, the me of this realm," Willow said thoughtfully as she looked inside the band. "I don't know what this says."

Buffy took the ring back and looked at the inscription and shrugged, handing the ring back. "I think it's Gaelic. I thought she might want it in the future, it's the only thing she has from her life in that realm and her marriage to that Willow."

"No, not really," Willow smiled. "I've started researching the different ceremonies. It's a little complicated, Jess is Catholic, I'm Jewish and quite a bit pagan thrown in."

"I'm not sure, Fitz is so damned stubborn! She wants to be able to stand at the ceremony," Willow smiled. "I think it runs in all Slayers."

"Hey!" Buffy protested with a laugh and noticed Fitz beginning to toss in her sleep.

"Damn, those pills only keep her quiet about three hours, they're supposed to last six," Willow complained.

"Let me," Buffy asked as Willow sighed heavily. The Slayer moved to the bed and cautiously sat down on the edge next to Fitz.

"Thanks, Buff," Willow said softly, watching the two Slayers. "My feet are killing me. I don't think I've seen them in the last month."

"Hey, Fitz," Buffy said gently, reaching out to softly shake the Slayer's arm. Willow knew that Buffy's muscles were taunt and ready to spring. It was a rather dangerous task, waking a Slayer. Willow had never been hit or tossed out of the bed but anyone else waking Fitz up had come close to having arms or noses broken.

"Looks like pain," Willow said, reading her lover's sleeping expressions and body language.

Fitz slowly opened her eyes and looked puzzled to find Buffy sitting next to her instead of Willow. Her eyes instantly searched the room until she saw Willow and smiled.

"Bring me some aspirin and join me?" Fitz suggested, noticing Willow's tired face.

"My parents are probably going to withdraw their funding tomorrow, I need to find alternatives," Willow protested.

"Later, Will," Buffy said, standing up and shutting the laptop. "You have to stay healthy."

"Aye, you've a crippled wife to tend to and a child on the way, you've got your hands full," Fitz added.

"It doesn't bother me to say it, Willow," Fitz said as Willow moved slowly to the bed and sank down next to the Slayer with a groan. "It's what I am now. I really don't mind. I'm luckier than most Slayers, I even get a second chance at love and I found my true soul mate after being crippled. I'll thank the Fates everyday for that."

Fitz smiled and held out her arm, letting Willow settle next to her, the witch's head on her shoulder. She gently stroked the red hair and let the energy of her love spread over Willow like a blanket.

Xander looked at the 3x5 index card that Fitz had placed on the counter of the jeweler's shop in curiosity.

"Wow!" Xander whispered and put the card back on the counter as the jeweler returned with a calculator and two wedding rings. They were a matched set, one larger and meant for a male. Gold with a silver band circling the center.

"The sizing is free of charge, of course," the jeweler said absently as he punched in numbers into the calculator, consulting the tags on the boxes that held the rings. He turned the calculator around to face Fitz and the former Slayer nodded, sealing the deal.

"I want the wording and letters exact," Fitz said firmly. "I know it's a foreign language and all."

"There should be no problem, I'll do the engraving myself," the jeweler said calmly. "That's a fine set you've chosen."

"They'll be ready in a week, I want to take the time with them," the jeweler assured Xander and Fitz.

Fitz pulled out a bundle of bills and noticed Xander turn away, giving the former Slayer some privacy as she counted out several bills and handed them to the businessman.

Fitz knew she wasn't getting much of a break on the rings but smiled back. It didn't matter when it came to her Willow.

"She's going to love those, especially the diamond engagement ring," Xander commented, wandering back to Fitz.

"I'm hoping so," Fitz grinned. "Thanks for driving me. Kinda hard to do any shopping for your fiancée with her right by your side."

"Yeah, I understand that!" Xander grinned. "We haven't even started planning the wedding yet and Anya is making little lists everywhere."

The jeweler handed Fitz her receipt and the ex-Slayer carefully put it away in her wallet, determined not to lose it. She already had the engagement ring in her pocket.

"How is it going with the Watcher Council dude?" Xander asked as he opened the door to his pickup.

"Not too bad," Fitz said as she maneuvered her cast into the pickup and then the rest of her body. "At least they sent me someone not so British."

"No, he's not," Fitz agreed. "The first one they sent to me was so stereo British that he was lucky he wasn't shot the moment he got out of his car in all that tweed."

"I don't understand that whole Irish/British thing," Xander admitted. "I tried reading on it but it seemed confusing."

"Aye," Fitz nodded, pleased that Xander had wanted to learn something about her background. "The basics are that England decided that anything near belong to England a few centuries ago and that included Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Mann and Ireland."

"Yes, surprised that your lot didn't take over the whole damned continent," Fitz grinned. "Scotland, Wales and Ireland fought to keep the English out, none totally succeeded. The English beat, starved or over-ran all of them. To conqueror the Irish, the English decreed that anything about being Irish was illegal. A Catholic couldn't practice the religion, any priest caught on the island was under a death sentence and any priest trying to land was the same."

"Wow," Xander muttered, unable to comprehend such drastic measures having been raised with a different church on every block.

"Aye, a Catholic couldn't own land, couldn't hold public office, wasn't allowed to attend school and couldn't attend Mass," Fitz explained. "The Irish fought back over the ages. There was a major uprising almost every fifty years, each new generation taking a stand, I think."

"I learned that Ireland gained something of its independence from Great Britain in this realm," Fitz said slowly. "In my realm we didn't yet. After the terrorist's attacks, hunger strikes and protests in the early 70's the English cracked down hard and no one outside of Ireland protested. The terrorist's actions continue on both sides and Ireland is in a state of siege."

"Yes," Fitz nodded. "I know it's different here and they're viewed as terrorists. In my realm we're fighters and never target civilians."

"Just two ghouls and a sorcerer," Fitz said slowly. "The night I came here was the first time I ever killed a human being."

"Still thinking I might turn out like your Faith?" she finally asked and watched as he blushed, knowing he had been caught thinking exactly that.

"Buffy and Willow have told me a bit about the girl," Fitz said thoughtfully. "Raised by an abusive mother, tossed around a lot, probably abused by anyone she met until she discovered her strength and such. Her first Watcher killed in front of her, not easy that."

"We took her in, accepted her and she turned on us like some rabid pit bull," Xander snapped, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. "She tried to kill Angel, hurt Buffy and sided with the Mayor to rule the world."

"And she loves you very much," Fitz commented. "She'd be lost without your friendship."

"Aye," Fitz nodded, meeting his demanding glare firmly. "I loved my Willow with everything and she was the best. I was willing to die for her, Xander. This Willow is different and…and…I fell in love with her. It's deeper than what I felt for my Willow and I didn't think that was possible."

"Understood," Fitz nodded, not mentioning that they both knew Fitz could probably kill him with one hand.

"Not bad, he's been studying ways of researching other realms without actually crossing over or bringing over any more like me," Fitz said.

"Why send a Watcher if you're not going to be a Slayer?" Xander asked, his voice non-judgmental, merely curious.

"They want to meet Willow and get to know her before her training with them as well as me. Seems they think we'd be a good team," Fitz grinned.

"Is that why Willow has started training with Giles on some of the defense moves and stuff when she first learned she was pregnant?"

"Yeah, if she's going to be a Watcher, she'll have to be in the best shape she could ever get to," Fitz explained. "They can't do a lot because of the child but they'll really crack down on her training after the little one is born."

"Out for a bit longer, I'm under orders," Xander grinned as Fitz raised her eyebrows.

Fitz thought about threatening Xander but decided against it, reaching in her pocket to check on the ring box for the tenth time.

Fitz was surprised when Xander pulled up in front of the apartment he shared with Anya. The young construction worker merely grinned and jumped out to hold open the door.

"Your presence is requested inside," he grinned, pulling the crutches out of the back of the pickup.

Fitz pulled the familiar aids under her arms and slowly started up the sidewalk towards the building. Xander quickly caught up and opened the security gate and held it open for the former Slayer.

"You'll have to wait," he smirked and led the way to his apartment and knocked on his door. He ignored Fitz' questioning look.

Fitz entered the apartment uneasily, as if walking into a trap and Buffy laughed.

"Yup! You two skipped over some major parts of the whole relationship thing and we decided to help fix that," Buffy explained. "Dating equals a nice night out on the town with dinner and dancing and then you bringing that ring out of your pocket and proposing."

"One, I can't drive with this damned cast," she protested. "Two, does Willow know about the ring?"

"Just stand there, hold her and sway to the music," Buffy smirked, not giving in. "Come on, let's get you changed."

"Oh Saints protect me!" Fitz whined, reluctantly following the Slayer. Knowing Buffy, Fitz didn't think that the clothes would be black or have the logo of the latest rock metal group.

Willow tapped her fingers nervously as Anya and Joyce played with her hair. The red-head looked at herself in the mirror and frowned. She was too pale and had dark circles under her eyes, she decided.

"I look like a beached whale," Willow complained. "My feet are swollen; I can't fit into any of my clothes, including my bra!"

"I'm sure Fitz isn't complaining about that," Anya said easily, unaware that she was ending up teasing Willow, as usual.

"I hope she likes the plans," Willow said nervously still blushing from Anya's comment.

"Don't worry, under that rebel leather is a confirmed Irish romantic," Joyce assured her adopted daughter.

Xander waited patiently in his front room as Buffy fussed over the other Slayer in his bedroom and bathroom. The young man was pleased with himself and his friends. It had taken a lot to get over his initial hostility to Fitz but once they had started talking, Xander had discovered that he actually liked the Irish rebel.

Once Fitz had asked Xander to drive her to a jewelers he had set plans in motion. Everyone had agreed that the young couple needed a night out and set about planning things, as seriously as if they were planning on tackling the latest demon to hit Sunnydale.

He knew that Joyce and Anya were currently helping Willow get ready for the evening while Buffy helped Fitz on this end. Xander picked up the cordless telephone and checked a number on a notepad he pulled out of his pocket.

"Tara? Xan, here," he grinned. "Yeah, both camps report things are going well. You ready on your end?"

"Cool, tell Ramon that I owe him," Xander said with a grin and clicked the telephone off. "Hey, Buff! Tara and Sarah are set!" he yelled.

"Cool!" Buffy yelled back as she laced up the side of the leather trousers covering Fitz' cast.

"Where in the devil did you get these?" Fitz demanded, watching the other Slayer work her way up the leg.

Xander glanced up from the TV and then looked back with a stunned expression on his face.

"Wow!" he managed to stammer out. Buffy stepped out from behind Fitz with a wide grin of satisfaction. "Girlfriend, you are hot!" Xander declared as Fitz blushed.

"Blessed Mary, protect me from friends!" Fitz growled as Buffy and Xander laughed.

"The Bronze?" Willow squeaked as Joyce pulled up to the popular hang out. "I thought it was being redone or something."

"Oh," Willow said softly, wondering what her friends had planned. It certainly seemed more complicated than just taking her and Fitz to a restaurant for dinner.

"Come on, Willow, the evening is planned," Anya declared, opening the door and lending a hand to the very pregnant Scooby Gang member.

Willow walked slowly behind Joyce and Anya as they went to the main door and knocked. The red-head glanced around, nervously and wondered what was making her more nervous, being in Sunnydale after dark or the unknown waiting for her inside.

Willow was very surprised when Tara opened the door with a wide smile. "They're not here yet," the witch announced to Anya and Joyce and held the door open for the three to enter. "You look good, Will."

"Thanks, Tara," Willow said with a blush. She was very grateful they had moved into a good friendship when Willow had admitted she was attracted to both Fitz and Tara. The former Slayer had insisted on learning more about Tara and her new girlfriend, Sara until the four of them had become good friends. Willow was grateful that no one seemed jealous that the attraction had been there between her and Tara, including Tara.

Willow's eyes lit up at the sight of the Bronze under multi-colored dim lighting and a table set in the center of the dance floor. Covered in white linen, roses in a vase, and fancy flatware, all which impressed the student.

"We'll be invisible tonight except for serving your dinner," Tara said softly as Sarah walked over, sliding her hand into Tara's.

Joyce hugged Willow and kissed her cheek with a smile. "Sarah and Tara will come pick you up when you're ready. It seems Buffy is insisting on a game and video night and everyone is crashing on the floor. Be careful coming in tonight and don't step on anyone."

"Just say thanks and promise to work really hard on my wedding," Anya said firmly.

Willow laughed and nodded. "Will do. How are Tara and Sarah getting over there?"

"After you finish dinner, they're going to put on a long music tape and go to my place until you call," Joyce explained. "Don't worry, no one is going to be walking around alone or even in pairs since Druscilla and Spike have gotten braver this last month."

"We have Italian tonight with grape juice for both of you," Tara informed her friend. "You mentioned that Fitz hasn't had anything to drink in months."

Willow nodded shyly. "She's afraid of worrying me because it started to get bad."

Tara laughed softly and glanced up when another knock sounded at the door, causing Willow to squeak.

"Goddess, why am I so nervous? I feel like it's our first date or something," Willow complained.

Tara stood up as Sarah opened the door and moved into the shadows as Fitz stepped into the light. The blonde witch smiled as Sarah joined her and they watched the two women stare at each other for a moment.

"By all the Saints, you are beautiful!" Fitz exclaimed, a little more poetic in her response as Willow stood up.

Willow's hair was slightly curled and fell around her face, framing her pale skin in red that was accented by the subtle lipstick and makeup that Joyce and Anya had applied so carefully. It brought out Willow's unquestioned beauty with her green eyes shining.

The red-haired hacker was dressed in a beautiful cream-colored Chinese blouse that split up the sides to allow for the expanding waistline and child with dark red wine colored panels that matched the color of the skirt. The skirt was specially made for Willow's condition.

Fitz was sure that she had never seen anything more beautiful in her life and stared in admiration.

Willow in turn was fascinated. Fitz was dressed in leather pants that had been designed with laces up the side of the legs, showing off her Slayer muscles and allowing room for the cast. A wide leather belt with a silver cross for a belt buckle caught the witch's eyes as they moved up the Slayer's body with obvious desire. Fitz had on a simple white dress shirt open almost to the belt with a leather vest over that. A silver crucifix hung at her throat and Buffy had insisted on silver dangling earrings. The coal black shaggy hair framed her face like Willow's and the Slayer had even consented to Buffy applying some light makeup to highlight her dark blue eyes.

Fitz smiled shyly and moved slowly across the floor until she was standing in front of her mate.

"You are adorable!" Willow countered with a wide grin. "You look like an outlaw."

Fitz blushed and held up a single red rose that she had managed to hold in her hand and maneuver the crutches at the same time.

Not matter how hard either of them thought about it, they never could really remember what they talked about that evening over dinner. Fitz could just remember looking deep in Willow's eyes and feeling lost. Willow felt Tara and Sarah melting into the background and nothing existed but her Jessie, her rebel, her outlaw.

It didn't even take much to talk Fitz onto the dance floor since it was only two feet from their table in either direction. The crippled Slayer letting Willow settle into her arms as they gently swayed to the music that Sarah and Tara left running.

"Yes," Willow nodded, gasping slightly as the child inside her womb kicked or punched.

"Decide on a name yet, Green Eyes?" Fitz asked softly as they headed back to the table.

"I…uh…do have one I like," Willow admitted. "I don't know anyone with it so no one can get jealous."

"I like that," Fitz smiled. "What would be the lad's last name? Rosenberg or something invented?"

Willow's jaw muscles tightened. "No, not Rosenberg. Maybe someday but not right now. I was hoping that you wouldn't mind if we gave him your last name. He's going to look pretty Irish between Oz and me."

"I would be more than honored, my love," Fitz said gently. The dark Slayer felt her face blushing as she reached for her pocket. "Willow Rosenberg, will you marry me?" Fitz asked, opening the box and showing Willow the engagement ring.

Tears of joy filled Willow's eyes as Fitz pulled the ring out of the box. Fitz had thought ahead about Willow's swollen fingers and had attached the ring to a beautiful gold chain which she slipped over Willow's head.

"I love you, Jesse James," Willow smiled as the Cher song came on the tape. "How did Tara know?"

"Buffy and Tara raided your laptop for music you've downloaded," Fitz explained. "I didn't know they were planning this though."

Fitz ran her hand over Willow's womb softly, delighting in the feeling that she was going to share in raising the child growing inside her lover. Willow smiled gently, watching Fitz as the Slayer slowly ran her hands all over Willow's body, as if exploring it for the very first time.

Willow had worried about being merely a replacement for the Willow that Fitz had lost in her own realm but the Slayer had dispelled those worries over the three months they had been together. Especially when Fitz took such delight in touching the red-haired witch, whispering how wonderful and different it felt as well as how new the emotions and feelings were.

"I love you, Jessie," Willow smiled back at her Irish rebel, loving the feel of Fitz' hands on her skin, never losing contact with the witch's body.

In bed was one place where both the former Slayer and pregnant witch were somewhat on more equal terms physically, both being disabled in some way that made making love a challenge at times, especially as Willow's pregnancy advanced. Fitz felt more confident and loved how she could use her natural Slayer strength of the upper body and arms to hover over Willow, tormenting her lover with lips, teeth and tongue until Willow was almost begging.

Fitz heard Willow sigh with happiness and grinned. She moved up alongside her mate.

"Turn over, take some of the pressure off your spine, my love," Fitz suggested, moving a pillow over, so Willow's large belly could rest on it.

"It's a date, we're supposed to make out all night," Willow complained but turned over so Fitz could hold her from behind. As Willow lost track of seeing her feet as her stomach expanded, it became more and more difficult to hug her comfortably from the front but Fitz loved curling up behind her lover, feeling protective.

"Shhh, I won't tell if you won't," Fitz grinned, running her tongue along the base of Willow's neck.

"Oh goddess," Willow whimpered, feeling Fitz' fingers moving across her cheek to between her legs from behind.

"I've been asking questions and reading on how to please a pregnant wife," Fitz whispered and Willow knew the Slayer was grinning as her lover whimpered in response.

"I'm here, lover," Fitz promised, her other arm wrapped under Willow's body, holding her close to the Slayer. "I'm never letting you go."

"Tell me about your wedding," Willow said softly as she curled up in Fitz' arms much later. Willow, knowing her Slayer, knew that Fitz was frowning.

"I'm not feeling threatened by your Willow," the witch said, trying to reassure her fiancée. "I'd like to know. I feel like we've been together forever and I know so much about you but you don't talk much about your Willow."

"It was a small wedding," Fitz said, beginning slowly. "Xander was gone, so was Cordelia. Angelus, Spike and Druscilla were dead and so was Ma."

"Aye," Fitz nodded, her hand stroking Willow's hair gently. "Buffy stood with me and a girl named Amy stood with Willow. She was beautiful. Dressed in white with touches of green, like her eyes. I was dressed in dark blue, Buffy actually getting me out of something black."

Willow laughed along with Fitz' grin. "I wonder if our Buffy can work that same miracle."

"Willow was…she…was a little self conscious as Giles walked her down the aisle," Fitz continued. "Angelus and Spike had done terrible things to break her, including cutting her hair off. It had grown out, about as long as Jamie Lee Curtis in Trading Places but Willow had prized her hair."

"You said her family rejected her because of you," Willow commented, thinking about how her own father and mother had disowned her.

"Yes," Fitz nodded. "Giles and Joyce had insisted that we tell them. Then Ma…then she got sick and we were all thrown into an emotional meltdown, we were. I snuck into Willow's room one night and found her crying over a picture of her, Buffy, Ma and Xander."

"She seemed to need me in a sexual way, as if connecting with me would prove we were alive," Fitz said slowly.

"We had never done anything in her house except some pretty good make-out sessions but nothing that far," Fitz continued. "I guess I was lost in the moment and in her arms. I never heard the door open until Willow's mother screamed. We weren't totally naked or such but it was enough for them to know what had been happening."

"Aye. Willow's father stormed in while Willow was trying to button her pajamas up and I was pulling my t-shirt back on. No mistaking that, there was," Fitz grinned ruefully. "He proceeded to beat the devil out of me."

"Nah. How could I? It was her father and he had the right," Fitz said seriously. "Willow and I were minors and I was in bed with his daughter."

"Seeing how I couldn't hit him, especially with Slayer strength and all, he had me at a disadvantage and Mrs. Rosenberg would jump in occasionally with a well placed hit or kick. Everyone was yelling or screaming and Willow was trying to drag her father off me and he back handed her."

"I didn't know what was happening for a bit after that," Fitz admitted. "I snapped out of it with Willow pulling on my arm and begging me not to let him go. We had ended up out on her balcony and I had him dangling over the edge by the collar."

"Aye. I pulled him back and threw him out of Willow's room," Fitz said. "I stood guard at the door while Willow quickly packed a few things and we went out over the balcony. She hid out at Amy's while Willow's parents called the police on me and went crazy looking for her. They planned on sending her away to a 'readjustment center,' to cure her of her gayness."

"Aye, there are places that say they can cure you with Aversion therapy. That usually means giving you drugs to make you sick if you get aroused by showing you pictures of naked people of the same gender," Fitz nodded. "With males, they sometimes put electrodes on the genitals and zap the poor lad if his body responds."

"Thank the Saints that it was California," Fitz continued. "Giles got Willow a lawyer and the lawyer lass blocked any attempts to send her away. She even took pictures of me and my bruises to prove that they might actually harm Willow to 'correct' her deviant behavior. Willow was declared an independent minor and her parent's rights were severed. She moved in with Buffy and Buffy's Aunt and we were married right after graduation."

"Buffy, Billy Ford, Amy, several friends from school, Giles, Buffy's Aunt Lucy, and a couple of tame demon types that I had made friends with were there. Giles gave Willow away. It was a mixed wedding of paganism, Catholic and Judiasm. Amy caught the bouquet."

"It's weird. I'm sorry you lost her but I'm not sorry I got you. Does that make sense?"

"I love you, Red," Fitz said sleepily. "You're not that Willow. I never could save her. You, I'll protect beyond death, my love."

Buffy smiled as Fitz moved down the ramp of the therapy office, using her new special canes that hooked onto Fitz' forearms so she wouldn't drop them. The blonde Slayer waited patiently by the small car as Fitz struggled, not offering to help, knowing Fitz' irritation at being disabled.

"Going alright," Buffy grinned. "Will is with Xander and Anya at the doctor's. Last I heard on the cell phone, your fiancée was throwing a fit about scheduling her appointment at the same time as yours."

Fitz laughed as she moved around to the passenger side of the car. "That's my girl."

"What about you? Any sign of Druscilla or Spike?" Fitz asked as she struggled to get into the small compact car.

"No," Buffy frowned and got behind the wheel. "I even threatened to pound Willie senseless but he didn't have any information."

"Still no sign that anyone has been there other than runaways and junkies," Buffy shook her head.

"Me either," Buffy agreed. "I really can't believe Spike turned against us after everything we did for him after he was chipped."

"It doesn't make sense," Buffy complained. "Okay, Dru blows back into town and grabs Spike by his…"

"By his leash," Buffy finished with a smirk. "I know he has no backbone when it comes to Dru but just losing his mind like that was ridiculous."

"Only Angelus could ever get them to do anything and Angel is still fine," Buffy said, ignoring Fitz' frown at the mention of Angelus and Angel's name. Buffy knew that Fitz probably would never be included on Angel's fan list after her experiences with Angelus.

"Sounds good," Fitz agreed. The dark Slayer grinned when her cell phone began beeping and she looked at the number. "Fitz."

"Hey, lover," Willow's voice reached Buffy's heightened Slayer hearing over Fitz' phone. "Doctor says me and Caleb are doing fine but she might want to put me on bed rest in a couple of weeks."

"Don't worry, I'm okay," Willow said softly and Buffy could imagine the smile on her best friend's face. "Honest, my love. What about you?"

"I got me new canes," Fitz said with a smile. "I won't have to do the wheelchair much unless it's like at a fair or something."

"Excellent! That means you'll be standing at the wedding!" Willow said excitedly.

"I'm thinking a small ceremony before the little one gets here," Fitz said softly.

"Well, then we'd better get busy if they're going to put me on bedrest, not that I'm looking forward to being stuck in bed. I especially hate being in bed and bored…"

"Red! I agree, we'll start planning then," Fitz grinned, cutting off a trade-mark babble.

"I love you, Jessie," Willow laughed and Buffy smiled at the absolute sappy look of love on Fitz' face.

"I'll call Giles and set up a meeting at our place for tonight," Buffy said, returning to the original conversation.

"I say they're up to something," Fitz grumbled, losing her good mood as memories of Willow in Dru's arms, fangs about to pierce the skin, tumbled into her mind.

Fitz frowned as she looked at the brace on her leg. She had lost her wife in her home realm, she didn't intend on losing Willow in this realm.

Fitz could see how tired Willow looked when the red head got home. The Slayer quickly moved over on the sofa and welcomed the witch into her arms.

"You sure everything's right?" Fitz asked, rubbing her hand over Willow's extended stomach.

"Yes, my love," Willow smiled, closing her eyes and relishing the comfort of Fitz' strong arms. "The doctor is a little worried about me being small and already so large. We're to watch for any sign of spotting or premature labor pains."

Buffy glanced in the living room and motioned with her head for Xander and Anya to look. The couple joined Buffy in smiling at the sight of the sleeping young couple.

"Should be within the next half hour," Buffy replied. "Tara and Sarah are coming over right after their last class."

"Constant pain will do that," Xander noted. "Willow's uncomfortable and Fitz is always in pain. That's gotta wear you out."

An hour later the Scooby gang was in full session. Buffy, Fitz, Willow, Tara, Sarah, Giles, Xander, Anya and Joyce sitting around the Summers' dining table as they tossed ideas back and forth as to what Spike and Druscilla could be up to or who could be controlling them.

After an hour of it Buffy, never one for research and discussion, threw up her hands in frustration. "Okay, this is pointless. Game plan?"

"Start searching in the daytime and dragging vampires and demons out into the sunlight unless they give up Spike and Druscilla?" Giles suggested.

"Since the Council is speaking to me, I'm going to hit them up for any information," Fitz said thoughtfully. "They might know if something new is in town."

"Aye, you've told me a dozen times, yet," Fitz grinned. "I know they're using me to keep an eye on you but it can work both ways."

"Buffy, we going to argue this again?" Fitz demanded. "I've a child and a wife to think of and a crippled body. It's not like I can go on the government dole and collect disability. I don't even exist in this world. The Council has offered me retirement and a new job, I have to think of it."

"We'll be fine, Jess," she said softly. "The scholarship thing is taken care of and companies are already lining up to grab me when I graduate."

"It is rare for a Slayer to survive and actually retire," Giles commented. "The Council feels they owe Fitz the retirement even though she didn't fight in this world, she's still a Slayer, after all."

"Anya and I will go," Xander volunteered and Anya nodded as everyone began standing up, leaving Fitz and Willow at the table.

"Jess," Willow said softly. "I don't care that you're not 100%. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Me and our child."

Willow shrugged Fitz back into a sitting position and turned to face her fiancé.

"Look, I know you hate the pain pills but you need them. It's not like you're taking them to get high," Willow said firmly. "You're not sleeping and the pain is affecting your concentration. I need you as healthy as you can be, especially once Caleb gets here. If you need a pain pill to sleep then take it!"

"Always," Fitz smiled. "It's not easy being a crippled Slayer. I know people are crippled every day and move on with their lives, look at Christopher Reeves. This is different though."

"They had normal lives and strive to return to normal lives," Fitz said slowly. "Slayers attract trouble and even as a powerful Slayer I couldn't protect the other Willow. How can I protect you and Caleb when I can barely walk?"

Willow frowned. "Then we'll protect you, Jess," she said softly as her mind began working on overtime and Fitz leaned into her.

Willow knew that Fitz was more exhausted than the Slayer was letting on. The others knew that both women were hurting and uncomfortable but Willow was the only one who knew Fitz tossed and turned most of the night, crying out in pain, keeping both of them awake.

Buffy was surprised to find Willow sitting on the back porch several nights later when she returned from Slaying.

"Wills! What the hell? You know it's not safe!" Buffy snapped and jumped over the railing, coming face to face with a cross and a crossbow in either hand of the witch.

"I've lived in Sunnydale and been your friend long enough to take precautions," Willow smirked as she lowered the crossbow.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" Buffy smiled, sitting down on the chair swing with her best friend.

"Couldn't sleep. I finally got Jess to take her pain meds and she's sleeping peacefully for once and now I can't sleep," Willow complained. "Maybe I got used to her punching me in my sleep."

"Something Jess said tonight, Buff," Willow said softly. "Slayers attract trouble."

"Yeah, even when I ran away it seemed to follow me," Buffy nodded. "I still ended up fighting supernatural evil."

"I understand that," Buffy nodded. "And I've still got my body in one piece. I worry all the time about all of you. That's why the Council insists that Slayers don't have friends or close family, they think it makes us weak because we worry."

"I agree," Buffy nodded. "That's why I told them to drop dead on my birthday. I'm only alive this long because of you guys."

"Yeah, one of the best days of my life," Buffy nodded. "You could have had your choice of any university in the world and you chose to stay here and help me fight."

"But now you need to," Buffy finished and smiled as Willow's eyes widened in surprise and filled with tears.

"Makes sense, Will," Buffy said softly, fighting back her own tears. "Xander and Anya can get married and then slowly back away from full time Slaying and lead a normal life. Well, as normal as you can get in Sunnydale. You, you're marrying a Slayer and that means trouble will find you, especially in Sunnydale. If you weren't having a baby it would be different, you could still be research and magick girl and keep up the good fight."

"With a baby, things change," she said softly. "You need to think about a future, not the fight anymore, Wills. I know that. Being a Slayer, Fitz will always attract supernatural trouble but not as much if you're not living on top of a hellmouth."

"It's okay, Will," Buffy said softly, wrapping her arm around Willow's shoulders. "I'm going to miss all of you but things change and you've got to protect Caleb and Fitz."

"I've talked with the Council," Willow sniffled. "Jess doesn't know it yet but I've been talking with them. They're willing to set Jess up in a good job doing research and book stuff up in San Francisco. They've got a strike team up there that we can be the brain part of without getting close to the danger. They want my computer skills."

Buffy frowned. "San Francisco is definitely bigger than Sunnydale, not as much danger of tripping over a vampire every time you go out at night," she said thoughtfully. "What about school?"

"I can transfer to night classes up there after Caleb is born," Willow said calmly. "School isn't the most important thing anymore. I could get an extremely well paying job with several companies right now and I've been approached by a couple of government types already."

"Wow," Buffy smiled, loving how Willow blushed. "When are you going to talk to Fitz?"

"Tomorrow," Willow said softly, wiping away at her tears. "I don't want to leave, Buff. I love you guys."

"And I love you, Will," Buffy nodded, hugging her friend. "More than you know but I want you safe and happy. Fitz is incredibly wonderful for an anarchist."

"Well, there is Spike in his black leather duster," Willow teased and Buffy glared at her friend.

"Don't even think it!" Buffy growled. "Bad enough we let him hang around after he was chipped."

"No, none. I've spent the last four days dragging vampires into sunlight and threatening every demon I can find and none of them know anything or aren't talking. There is something I thought of tonight."

"What's that?" Willow asked, curling up in Buffy's arms as they swung gently in the moonlight.

"When you told me about that attack in the dorm, you said that you heard screams and stuff and the phones were out," Buffy said.

"Yeah," Willow nodded. "I grabbed a cross and tried to go for the pay phones in the main lobby but Spike and Dru were there with a bunch of vampires."

Willow frowned. "I guess it seemed like it. Spike and Dru were just standing there with hostages and the other vampires were holding students and killing a couple of them but they weren't moving on or anything."

"Could be. They grabbed me and one of them took a really bad burn getting the cross out of my hand before tossing me to Spike and Dru," Willow said, remembering. "Dru placed her hands on my face and looked in my eyes. Goddess, that was scary as hell. It was like she was seeing deep in my soul or something. Then she smiled and said…oh hell, what did she say?"

"She said 'the stars sing to you,' and then she hit me," Willow said. "Next thing I knew was you guys were there and Druscilla was about to snack on my neck."

"I think Angelus was the only one who really understands anything she says," Willow complained.

"They cut the phone lines, attacked several students, causing the screams to draw you out. Spike and Dru attacked late at night, after I was done slaying. If I hadn't forced Fitz into agreeing to talk to you that night, we would have been in bed. Spike and Dru weren't expecting us at the dorms."

"I don't know," Buffy complained. "I do know that not even the CIA could get near you since then, so we may have missed that their intention was to grab you."

"This isn't funny!" Willow grumbled. "Especially with Caleb on his way and the doctor wanting to put me on bed rest soon."

"I know. It hurts all the time, the back, the feet, my breasts and places I didn't even know could hurt inside," Willow admitted.

"Well, let's get you two married and little Caleb out of his hiding place," Buffy grinned.

"I'll talk to Jess tomorrow and we'll make arrangements with the Council to move right after Caleb is born," Willow said softly, fighting back tears again. "I don't want to leave but Jess was right the other night, I've got a wife and son to think about. It's not some vague future now."

"Yeah, I called Angel and he went out and saw her personally," Buffy smiled. "She's doing alright in prison and is actually behaving herself. Now stop worrying and go to bed and get some sleep."

"Okay, I've got a doctor's appointment tomorrow, late in the afternoon and no classes. I'm sleeping in," Willow declared.

"Mom," Willow answered as they both stood up and stretched. "We'll be back in time for her to make dinner."

"Okay," Buffy smiled and held the door open for her very pregnant friend. "I'm meeting with Tara and Sarah tomorrow to work on the Handfasting ceremony. Since I'm your best friend, they want my input before they present you with the ritual for your approval."

"You're more than my best friend, Buff," Willow said softly. "You just are the best."

"God, your hormones are making you mushy with your friends!" Buffy teased. "Anya and Xander are planning a surprise baby shower next week, by the way."

"Anya's planning it, I didn't want you to be too surprised by whatever she comes up with," Buffy grinned.

"We do have some unusual friends," Willow grinned as she slowly walked up the stairs, stopping every few feet to rest for a moment.

"Yeah, de-rat Amy and we'll have a full house," Buffy agreed, keeping her voice low.

Fitz growled from the pain as Buffy carefully massaged her lower leg. The former Slayer hated having to depend on anyone and especially hated asking for help but collapsing to the floor with painful leg cramps had alerted the blonde Slayer that Fitz was in pain.

Together Xander and Buffy had helped Fitz to the sofa. Buffy quickly worked the straps that held the complicated leg brace on Fitz' left leg off and began massaging the cramping muscles as Fitz gritted her teeth.

Xander and Anya made excuses to leave and go make some tea so Fitz wouldn't feel so weak in front of them.

"The muscles are really tight," Buffy commented. "I can feel them going bananas. You overdid it at therapy, didn't you?"

"Nay, I didn't!" Fitz protested and clenched her hands into tight fists as she cried out and threw herself back against the sofa in pain. "I don't know what set this off!"

"Fitz, this isn't easing up," Buffy said, her voice sounding worried. "I'm getting your muscles relaxers."

"Not during the day," Fitz growled and clenched her jaw as another wave of pain hit.

"I don't care, this is the worst yet!" Buffy snapped. "Anya! Bring those pill bottles!"

"You got it!" Anya shouted from the kitchen and appeared a moment later with a basket of pill bottles. Buffy quickly looked them over as Fitz cried, clutching at her leg. Xander appeared a moment later with a glass of water.

"Tea will be ready in a few minutes," he said softly, watching the Irish Slayer crying from the pain.

"Good thing we got used to having tea around here for Giles," Buffy teased as she opened one of the pill bottles and then a second one. "You Irish and English with your tea habits, you know."

"Two heavy duty codeine and a cyclobenzaprine, a muscle relaxer," Buffy said as Fitz whimpered, trying to find any position that would take the stress off her leg muscles and unable to find relief.

"Yeah, she doesn't know why the pain is flaring now," Buffy complained, unsure how to help beyond what they were doing for the rebel.

"Past due," Buffy growled, glancing at the window and the darkening sky outside. "Anya, do me a favor and call the doctor's office, ask if they've already left or not. If they haven't I'd like you and Xander to go over there and follow them home."

"How long before those pills hit?" Xander asked, bending over to massage Fitz' uninjured leg, trying to help calm the thrashing Slayer. When Fitz opened her eyes they were almost glazed with pain.

"Another 10 or 15 minutes," Buffy muttered. "Then they only work for half the time they're supposed to. I've had to go to drug dealers and get more. Doctors do not understand Slayer strength when it comes to pain pills."

"The doctors won't give her a proper dose because they don't know how much you two can take," Xander said thoughtfully, trying to understand.

"Exactly, it's like giving a rhino the same dose you would a zebra to put them to sleep," Buffy agreed.

Buffy and Xander looked up as Anya walked back into the room. "They said that Willow and Joyce mother left about 10 minutes ago."

"The office person said that the doctor official person was running late," Anya complained.

"Figures," Buffy complained and felt Fitz' muscles beginning to relax. She looked up and sighed with relief when it looked like Fitz wasn't in as much pain. Buffy, thankful for Slayer strength and stamina, continued massaging the leg muscles until Fitz' hands unclenched and the dark Slayer nodded gratefully, letting her head drop to the cushions on the sofa.

"Let's get that leg elevated or something," Buffy suggested, helping Fitz swing around on the sofa until she was lying down with her leg propped up on two pillows. "Just rest, Fitz."

"Find her, Buff," Fitz whispered. "Something's wrong. Psychic stuff, something's wrong."

"Fitz is a little psychic, she knew Willow was pregnant before Will told her and she knew the doctors were going to tell her she'd never walk again," Buffy explained.

"Yeah, let's get everyone together, we're going to look for Mom and Willow," Buffy said firmly.

"Okay, I'll call Tara, Sarah and Giles and put them on stand-by," Xander said. "Someone will need to stay with Fitz while we're out."

"Good idea," Buffy nodded, glancing over at the sleeping Slayer. "With those meds, she's not moving for a couple of hours."

"Sound asleep through an earthquake," Buffy nodded. "We'll be lucky if she gets three hours out of them."

"In a way, if she hadn't been a Slayer she would have died from those injuries or totally lost the leg," Buffy nodded as she looked out the window. "Where are they?"

"They probably stopped at the store for dinner stuff," Anya suggested but everyone continued to frown.

Tara and Sarah arrived at the Summers' home just ahead of Giles and found Buffy pacing restlessly while Fitz was still asleep on the sofa.

"I gave her meds and knocked her out," Buffy explained in a whisper. "Fitz was having really bad leg cramps and pain. Xander and Anya have already retraced their route from the doctor to here and no sign of them. The car isn't at the grocery store either."

"You said you think Spike and Dru might have targeted Willow that night at the dorm?" he asked.

"I think it's a possibility. They didn't expect us and she said they seemed to be waiting for her to come out of her room," Buffy explained.

"How could they get to Willow and your mother in a car?" Tara demanded as they moved into the dining area to let Fitz continue sleeping.

"Well, I've been looking for Spike and Dru for months now, I still don't know where to look," Buffy complained.

"If we can find where she disappeared and if she had time to cast a track spell," Tara nodded.

"Okay, how about we retrace the route from the doctor's office again and see if Tara can spot anything?" Xander offered.

"Hang on, guys," she said and ran to answer it. The Slayer glanced through the peephole and felt her heart skip a beat and a roaring fill her head. "Guys!" she shouted and opened the door slowly.

A uniformed police officer and an obviously plainclothes detective stood on her porch, as the gang rushed from the dining room into the living room behind Buffy. Everyone stopped in their tracks for a moment and Giles moved through the small group to stand behind Buffy, his hands on her shoulders.

"Of course, let them in, Buffy," Giles said calmly but Buffy could feel his hands shaking.

The police officer and detective gave the sleeping Fitz a strange look but Buffy ignored them as she went to the sofa and shook the dark Slayer.

"Miss Summers," the detective hesitated. "I'm afraid there's been an accident involving your mother's car this evening."

"It appears that your mother's car was struck by a drunk driver going at a high rate of speed," the detective continued.

"Oh God," Buffy whispered and Giles wrapped an arm around her shoulder as Anya gasped. "Is she and Will….?"

"Willow Rosenberg, she lives here with Buffy and Jessica FitzHugh," Giles explained.

"I'm sorry, Miss Summers," the detective said calmly. "I'm afraid the car caught fire after impact, almost instantly. I'm afraid both people in the car were killed."

"No, no, no," Xander muttered, sliding down the wall to the floor. Anya knelt beside him, pulling him into her arms as he began to weep.

Tara quickly crossed the room and knelt in front of Fitz as the Slayer blinked in confusion. "Fitz?"

"We found their identification in the car," the officer explained. "If it's any help, the firemen said that they were gone before the fire reached them."

Buffy and Fitz looked like they had been hit across the face with a cold, wet towel.

"They have no contact with their daughter," Giles explained. "They're probably out of the country again. You'll find that Jessica FitzHugh over there is listed as her next of kin, emergency contact."

"Well, I'm afraid the Coroner will be identifying the bodies through dental records," the detective said softly and handed a card over to Giles. "You can contact her tomorrow at that number and the number for Victim's Assistance is also on there."

"Well, there was your mother's purse and this was on a chain around the other woman's neck," the detective pulled out a chain with an engagement ring on it and Fitz moaned. Giles reached out slowly.

"Her engagement ring," he muttered. "Because of the pregnancy it didn't fit so she wore it on the chain."

"The car was stolen and the driver got away," the officer growled. "We're looking for him."

"Blonde, hair slicked back, black clothes, long black coat," the officer quoted from his notes.

Fitz had no idea how she got back up to the room she shared with Willow. She knew someone must have walked her up but couldn't remember whom. The faces and words seemed to blur together as Tara, Sarah, Giles, Anya and Xander tried to help her and Buffy get through the next five minutes. Then the next five after that.

"I can't think about this right now," the first voice snapped. "Let's take care of Fitz and Buffy and then I'm going to need you to hold me all night long as I cry."

"I don't want you getting up without someone to help you, okay?" the voice asked and Fitz nodded again and lay back on the bed.

"Major shock, neither of them can process it right now," a third voice entered the conversation.

"Keep an eye on them and get them through the next few days," Giles said softly. "Which won't be easy."

"I can't believe this!" the first voice snapped and Fitz realized it was Xander. "She can't be dead! Not with the baby and everything!"

"Shhhh," Giles urged. "Come downstairs. I've got Sarah and Tara sitting with Buffy."

"Willow?" she whispered. The dark Slayer could feel the build up in her body and mind and moaned, trying to hold it back. Fitz knew once it broke loose she'd probably not come back any time soon. She struggled to move on automatic as she went to the dresser to stuff the loose bills and coin she found. She put on her jacket next.

Getting down the trellis wasn't going to be easy, Fitz realized as she tossed her canes out the window but she still had the upper body strength that would make a body builder proud.

Buffy didn't really sleep through the night, she mostly stared at the ceiling. Finally at 4am she got up and wandered into her mother's room. The Slayer looked at her mom's favorite picture on her dresser, it was of her and Buffy taken the summer before and both were smiling and playful for the camera.

Finally the tears hit and Buffy curled up on her mother's bed with the picture held tightly to her chest.

"What do you mean she's not here?" someone demanded out in the hall and the blonde Slayer curled up around the picture, wishing the voices would go away and let her drift back into sleep. It didn't hurt when she was asleep. When she was asleep her Mom was okay, Willow was expecting a baby and Fitz' leg was mending.

"What do you mean? Both are missing?" Giles shouted and Buffy whimpered when the door to her mother's room slammed open. "Here she is!"

Giles crossed the room quickly and then hesitated by the bed, seeing his Slayer curled up on the bed in an almost fetal position, holding a picture frame in her arms.

"Buffy, listen closely," Giles said slowly. "That detective, Detective Randy Gaiman called this morning. He caught what I said last night about Willow being pregnant."

"So? She was pregnant and now she's gone," Buffy snapped, her eyes beginning to show some life.

"That's just it," Giles continued explaining. "Something struck the detective as strange and he got the Coroner up bright and early this morning to examine the bodies. The young woman wasn't pregnant."

"Exactly and the other body in the car was a young male, not your mother," Giles smiled.

"This isn't funny, Giles," Buffy growled as she sat up on the bed, her eyes blazing.

"No it isn't," he agreed. "That means someone placed an innocent couple in your mother's car and rammed it and torched it so we would think your mother and Willow are dead."

"Probably, the couple had to already be dead since he drove the car and can't hurt a living human," Giles said thoughtfully as he stood up. "There is another problem though."

"This is before you told her that her only reason for living is alive, right?" Buffy asked bitterly.

The driver of the pickup pulled over to the side of the road and leaned over to unlock the passenger door. The young hitch-hiker climbed in awkwardly, moving her canes out of the way as she slammed the door shut.

The driver, a teenage male who had his worldly belongings packed in cardboard boxes in the back, looked at the girl not much older than he was with interest. Black clothing, leather wrist bands, and shaggy haircut and he nodded. They probably shared the same musical interests, that would be good, he decided.

"Okay," Tom shrugged and clicked in the latest CD by Limp Bizkit. As he figured, his passenger didn't complain or frown at his choice. "What's with the dust on your jacket."

"I can think of better places to sleep than a graveyard!" Tom exclaimed. "Especially in Sunnydale! That's why I'm leaving, too many weird things happen here and our high school has the highest mortality rate in all the world, I think. Just last night my best friend and his girl disappeared, right in front of me. This blonde guy and weird chick stood by as these gang types grabbed my friends as they got out of my pickup. Really weird. I'm leaving this freaky stuff behind."

"Me too," Fitz agreed, wondering if the dust on her jacket was from any of those that had grabbed his two friends. A night in the graveyard had led to Slayer instincts, several vampires dying and Fitz no closer to getting herself killed than when she started.

Half a bottle of Irish whiskey later, she was on the road just to keep moving. Fitz hoped if she drank enough and moved enough, she wouldn't have to think and remember. She wouldn't remember losing two Willows and a child.

Sunnydale's evil population really wasn't sure what landed on them when Buffy and the Scooby Gang hit the streets later that morning. By nightfall the manhunt included the gang from Los Angeles as Angel, Cordelia, and Wesley joined in the search for Willow and Joyce.

Willie's sustained a fair amount of damage and Willie himself was seen in a cast and sunglasses the next day after the Slayer wasn't happy with his answers. Other denizens of the night found themselves on the sharp end of stakes and threats. Some made it to another night, most managed to growl once before turning into dust.

By the third day word had spread that the Slayer was on a rampage and taking no prisoners. Her friends were only slightly less lenient.

Buffy spun with a pistol in one hand and crossbow in the other as a figure stepped out of the shadows near the Bronze.

"Easy, Slayer," a voice said calmly and a small, older man stepped into the light with his hands in sight. Buffy's eyes narrowed. He appeared human but her "spidey" senses were going crazy and she kept both weapons trained on him.

"Call me Doc," he said with a charming smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "You and your group are going around making things difficult for everyone on both sides of the fence."

"Both sides," Doc answered easily. "I deal in magic and it has no boundaries, just limitations sometimes."

"An unnamed favor that you can call in at any time? I don't think so!" Buffy snapped. "I like receipts and warranties, and few surprises in my deals."

Doc squeaked as his feet dangled above the ground, Buffy's hand wrapped around his throat, crossbow on the ground.

The Slayer yelped and dropped the sorcerer and shook her hand, feeling the burn almost all the way to her elbow. Buffy's eyes widened as Doc floated slowly back down to the ground, his clothes smoldering slightly from the sudden heat of his body.

"Would you rather sign a contact in blood?" Doc grinned and Buffy shook the now normal-temperature hand.

"A Jewish demon that wants to move up in the ranks, Schirim. Some kind of goat demon. He wants to offer the Princes of Hell the opportunity to train a werewolf witch to be their champion," Doc explained. "Your mother will be the blood sacrifice."

Buffy, always keeping the phases of the moon in the back of her mind for dealing with werewolves, knew that was the next night.

"Yes, at 9pm," Doc nodded. "They intend to induce early labor and take the child from your friend. Sacrifice the witch and your mother."

"The alignment of the five planets?" Buffy asked, remembering Tara, Sarah and Giles talking about the five closest planets lining up in the sky.

"How do I take out this demon?" Buffy asked with a glare, ignoring the blonde comment.

Buffy hesitated, wondering if Giles would have the information or not. It was usually Willow and Giles that found those answers for her.

Buffy held out her hand and the wizard withdrew a very sharp looking dagger and pricked her finger. A vial appeared out of nowhere and the wizard gathered the requested blood with an eagerness that made the Slayer uncomfortable.

"A knife made totally of iron, which isn't so easy these days, or a knife made out of flint or obsidian," Doc said. "In the heart or the throat."

Doc laughed as his eyes darkened to a magic black. "I agree, especially the smelly ones. Goat demons don't bathe often. Good luck, Slayer."

"I think things would be more interesting with your budding witch with a werewolf witch son, I want them around to see how it turns out," Doc smiled and again Buffy wasn't comforted by the smile.

"So we raid the place, kill the demon, stake Spike and Druscilla and rescue your Mom and Will," Xander said calmly.

"Well, I've been to every dive joint in this town and no sign of her," Angel complained.

"I don't think she's in Sunnydale anymore," Tara said softly. "Sarah and I did a spell using some hairs from Fitz' hairbrush and she's not within a fifty mile radius."

"Let's get Mom and Will back and then we'll reunite them," Buffy growled and laid out a map of the city streets and pointed to an unmarked section. "That little guy said the new street is here."

"There's an obsidian dagger at the shop," Anya offered. "It's expensive though."

"Charge it," Cordelia snapped and shrugged when Angel looked at her with a questioning look. It wasn't often that Cordelia Chase ran into someone more money oriented than she had been and Anya irked her. Cordelia also remembered the role Anya had played in the horrible disaster of the alternate universe. Even though Cordelia had no memory of the universe and being killed by vampires Willow and Xander, she still resented that it could have possibly happen because of Anya as a Vengeance Demon. Seeing Xander with the same former demon was a little unnerving to the former cheerleader as well.

"Good," Giles nodded, ignoring Cordelia's discomfort. "I suggest we go in armed to the teeth. Angel, Buffy and Xander each with a special dagger, the rest of us with crossbows and crosses."

"I don't have a problem with that, Buffy," he said. "I can't promise that I can kill him or Dru. If they've hurt Willow or Joyce, then there won't be any question but I don't know. He is my Childe."

"Just make sure to kill the demon and get Will and Joyce out of there and don't stop me," Buffy snarled.

"Bloody hell, Dru," Spike muttered as Willow screamed from another contraction. Joyce was shouting, demanding that they let her go and call an ambulance for Willow. The demon was shouting at Joyce to shut up and several vampires were grumbling among themselves. "Can't you shut her up?"

"She's having a child!" Dru snapped back. "Miss Edith says it is extremely painful."

"Try shoving a bowling ball up your ass and then passing it, you'll know what it feels like," Joyce snapped.

The blonde vampire looked out as the demon watched as Willow thrashed on the bed, gripping at the ropes tying her wrists to the bed posts. The red-haired witch was sweating, her red hair plastered to her head as she screamed again.

One of the female vampires, one who had actually been a mother, waited patiently between Willow's legs as Dru watched over her shoulder.

"The contractions are closer together," the vampire informed everyone but they had figured that out with Willow's scream getting closer together.

"Those drugs and spell worked wonders," Spike commented to the demon: a figure with the torso of a man but head and legs of a goat. The demon nodded and probably smiled, Spike couldn't be sure.

The door to the living room crashed in and Spike muttered several curses under his breath as Buffy jumped into the room, crossbow in one hand and dagger in the other. The blonde vampire barely ducked, letting one of the minion vampires take the crossbolt through the heart as the rest of the Scooby and LA gang poured into the house from various entry points.

"Damnit!" Spike shouted and backhanded Tara as she tried to rush by him to get to Willow. He suddenly howled and fell to the floor, clutching his head in agony.

Spike looked around at the number of Slayerettes and the quickly reducing number of vampires and how close Xander, Angel and Buffy were getting to the demon and growled. Suddenly Angel was in front of them, yanking Spike to his feet.

"Take him and get out of here, Dru," Angel ordered. "This is the last favor I ever do for you. Next time I take both of your heads."

"Get out of here, Dru," Angel said firmly. "The others will kill you and I won't stop them."

"Bloody bastard! Siding against your kind!" Spike growled as Angel shoved him through the front door.

"They were good to you, Spike, when none of your kind would have protected you," Angel growled, letting his vampire face come forward. "Get out of here and don't come back. You crossed the line when you touched her mother and best friend."

"Damnit, Angel!" Spike shouted. "That's my only chance to get this damned chip out of my head!"

"Was that what your deal with the demon was?" Angel nodded; it made sense. "Deal's off, Spike. Get lost or Buffy will have your ashes scattered to the wind in an hour."

Dru pulled on Spike's arm, urging him away from the house as vampire screams filled the night, matching the ones Willow was making.

Angel turned to the inside of the boarded up house in time to see Xander drive his knife into the throat of the demon and Buffy throw her knife to Anya and the former demon ram it into the demon's heart.

Angel moved quickly over to Joyce and untied her ropes as Buffy and the others gathered around Willow. Tara and Sarah cut the ropes holding her and each grabbed a hand as another contraction hit the witch.

"Oh Goddess, thank you," Willow whispered once the pain had passed. "I knew you'd come. It hurts, oh God, it hurts!"

"Xander, call 911 and get the paramedics here and stay on the phone, have the operator talk me through this," Joyce demanded.

Giles shifted on his feet before going through the rest of the house, bringing in a couple of sheets and towels left behind in a linen closet.

Buffy knelt by Willow, wiping the witch's damp forehead as Sarah and Tara held her hands.

"It's okay, Will, we're here," Buffy said softly as another wave hit and Willow screamed and then fell back onto the bed, exhausted.

"How long as she been in labor?" Tara asked as Joyce moved one of the sheets under Willow's lower body.

"About three hours, I think. It was in the afternoon when they started the drugs and spells to send her into labor," Joyce growled. "Okay, Xander, you got them?"

"Yeah, the contractions are about every minute now," Xander said into the phone.

"Okay, they say that the baby isn't waiting for the paramedics and that Willow should push really hard with the next contraction," Xander repeated from the phone.

"What the hell do they think I've been doing?" Willow shouted. "Maybe they should trade places and tell me when to push!"

"Women always get really pissed off during birth, it's a natural reaction," she explained. "If Oz were here she'd probably break his hand squeezing it."

Willow screamed and sat up in the bed, her entire body turning red with the strain. After several moments she fell back into Tara's arms.

"Okay, the head is out," Joyce said and Xander repeated. "Now the shoulders, Willow and it's over."

"I'll get them!" Cordy offered and dashed out the front door, waving to the flashing lights.

"Wow," Buffy, watching her mother, whispered as Joyce wrapped the tiny red and purple thing in the sheet.

After a moment a powerful voice wailed, announcing his arrival into the world. Joyce smiled and carefully placed the boy in Willow's arms as the paramedics rushed in.

Buffy and the others moved aside but Willow's eyes pleaded for Joyce to stay close as the paramedics moved in and began working, ensuring the mother and child were safe and healthy.

"Yes, they fed us and let us use the bathroom," Joyce nodded. "They didn't intend on hurting us until tonight."

"I think she will be, the baby is a little early but he's obviously breathing okay which is the first concern with a premature one," Joyce said thoughtfully as Willow and son were moved onto a gurney.

"Spike and Dru put someone in your car before crashing and torching it," Buffy said quietly as the attendants wheeled Willow towards the waiting ambulance. "We thought all three of you were dead."

"They even had Willow's engagement ring. Fitz disappeared sometime that night and we haven't found her."

"Now that we've got you guys back, we're going to find her and bring her back!" Buffy said firmly.

Willow watched Caleb as he pulled himself upright in the playpen and then fall backwards onto his diaper. She laughed at the frustrated and determined look on his face as he reached for the sides of the pen to try again.

"He's got your 'resolve face', " Buffy commented, watching her adopted nephew with a smile.

"I know, it's only been a few months," Buffy nodded, watching the other various ages of children playing in the park under watchful eyes of parents.

"No, Angel's got contacts in all the major cities looking but it's kinda easy to disappear if you're willing to become one of the nameless masses on the street," Buffy said softly.

"You know Jess almost killed herself when she thought I couldn't love her," Willow said sadly.

It had been a rough adjustment for Willow when she discovered that Fitz was missing because she thought Willow and child dead. The only thing that kept Willow going was Caleb and Buffy knew it.

"Did I tell you I heard from my parents?" Willow asked, watching her red-haired son smile at them.

"No, you didn't," Buffy said cautiously. Willow was too calm if it had been good news.

"They sent Caleb's birth announcement and picture back," Willow said softly, ignoring the tears filling her eyes.

"I know. I was just kinda hoping that Caleb's birth would help," Willow said in a low voice. "He's their only grandchild but they won't budge."

"Well, someday when he's fifteen they'll drag you onto Jerry Springer Jr and beg for a second chance," Buffy declared and was relieved when Willow smiled.

"Which this?" Willow asked, knowing exactly what Buffy was talking about. They had fought about it enough. "Yes, I'm sure. You know we were planning on leaving when Caleb was born."

"That was when the Council wanted Fitz because she had been a Slayer," Buffy grumbled.

"They especially want me because of my skills with the computer and the magic stuff," Willow countered.

"I'd take care of you, Will," Buffy said softly. "And Fitz might wander through here."

"You know Sunnydale would be the last place on earth she'd ever return to," Willow shook her head. "She lost both Willows in Sunnydale and Sunnyville."

"Yes, and hers is on a chain around my neck," Willow said easily. Willow had wept for days when Xander had picked the rings up from the jeweler after Fitz' disappearance and gave them to Willow. He translated from the card Fitz had given the jeweler from the Gaelic inscription and Willow had dashed upstairs sobbing.

Buffy jumped to her feet, instantly on alert when a pickup skidded to a stop at the edge of the park, recognizing it as Xander's. Willow felt a familiar sense of fear grabbing her heart as the young man dashed out of the truck, heading their direction at a full run.

"Will! Will!" he shouted as he ran and Buffy relaxed at the sight of a goofy grin on his face. "San Francisco! Come on!"

"Fitz! They found Fitz!" he grinned and Willow began breathing quickly. "Angel called, one of his guys in SF found her. She got arrested for a bar fight and won't talk to anyone, even the lawyer Angel arranged for her."

"Fitz won't listen and won't talk," Xander tried to explain. "Apparently she's half out of her mind and thinks it's a plot by demons or the Council to get to her."

"Oh hell," Buffy complained. "Only way to fix that is for Will to go up and get her."

"Exactly!" Xander grinned, helping Willow to her feet and hugging her tightly. "Angel's lawyer is actually arranging to have her held in jail on something until we get there."

"Don't worry, me and Mom will take care of Caleb," Buffy assured the nervous young woman. "Xander, take Will home and pack an overnight bag. You'll need to stay the night once you get up there."

"Right, Anya is already calling for hotel reservations, a really nice place out on the Point, she says."

"Won't be easy," Xander warned. "Seems she's been a street person and living on more alcohol than food."

"I thought that might happen," Willow nodded as she and her male best friend dashed for the pickup. "We'll handle it."

Fitz grumbled and shook off the lawyer's restraining hand as she slipped her leather bracers back on. The former Slayer wasn't in a good mood and didn't care who she took it out on.

The only benefit of being locked up was they let her shower and gave her decent cast off clothes and three meals a day. The major downside had been the lack of alcohol and the nightmares that came with sleep without it.

The Irish woman blinked in the sunlight as she adjusted her cane arm brace around her forearm. It felt good to have the damned things back. Not trusting the combative drunk with long metal objects, the police had confiscated the canes and put Fitz into a wheelchair for her ten day stay in the facility.

It was something Fitz never wanted to repeat. She had detoxed off the alcohol and it hadn't been pleasant. The doctors had all urged her to stay sober and get back on her feet, literally, but Fitz knew she was a hopeless case.

Fitz noticed the lawyer talking anxiously with someone in the parking lot and turned away. The Slayer had just enough money for a large bottle and intended on blocking out all thoughts and memories as soon as possible.

"Jessie!" a voice shouted to her and the Slayer froze with a frown. She turned and looked at one of the figures breaking away from talking with the lawyer, moving towards her.

Fitz stopped and turned slowly. "Whatever demon you are that you've taken this shape, it's not funny, I'll not be falling for it and if you get near me I'll ram one of these down your throat."

"Jessie, as cute as you are when you're doing the butch Slayer thing, I'd really rather hug you than fight," Willow said slowly as she approached the skittish and half insane Slayer.

"Jessie, Spike and Dru tricked everyone," Willow said slowly, keeping her hands in sight as Xander and the lawyer watched from a distance. "I didn't die. They grabbed us right outside the doctor's office and stuck a young couple in Joyce Mom's car."

"Jessie, they wanted our son for a demon," Willow explained. "They wanted Caleb to grow up with demons, that's why they wanted me."

Willow held out her hand and showed Fitz the ring. She then took off the ring on the chain around her neck and handed it to the Slayer.

"Loach/Badb seirc thar taimh, Warrior and witch love beyond death," Willow whispered. "Xander brought me the rings after you disappeared."

"We have a son, Jess," Willow said, moving a little closer. "A beautiful son with red hair and green eyes named Caleb Finn FitzHugh."

Willow moved forward as Fitz' eyes rolled back up in her head and the Slayer went limp.

"I'd say malnutrition, acute alcoholism, pneumonia and too many nights in the cold air for her shattered body," the doctor explained as Willow and Xander waited impatiently.

"I don't understand the malnutrition," the lawyer, Lucy Madden, complained. "She's been in jail for almost two weeks, they get fed there."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean she at the food she was given," the doctor pointed out. "You've got a fairly suicidal young woman in there. The only reason I'm not ordering a 72 hour hold on her is I can't prove she's suicidal right at this moment. The alcoholism, the living on the street and the fact that she's a cutter are major symptoms of a serious mental or emotional problem."

"Miss FitzHugh has cuts on herself, it's self abusive, dangerous and more than a cry for help," the doctor explained. "We usually see it in teenagers and very young adults."

"If she's your friend, you need to seriously find a way to get her off the streets and into a mental institution," the doctor advised.

"Look, Doc," Xander said softly. "Fitz thought Willow as killed in a car wreck, that's what set this off. Now we know where she is, we can show her that Willow isn't dead and help her deal."

Fitz broke into tears at the sight of Willow and Xander. The witch quickly walked around the bed and drew the Slayer into her arms.

The dark Slayer slept for two days straight through and seemed much like the Fitz, Xander and Willow had known before Willow's disappearance.

Willow and Xander made plans about returning to Sunnydale with their wayward Slayer.

Fitz held Willow's hand tightly as Willow described Caleb and the antics of a toddler almost a year old. Willow ran her hand over the cuts and fresh scars along Fitz' forearms.

"With you gone, there was nothing left for me but pain," Fitz said softly. "I couldn't seem to find a vampire or demon to kill me. Slayer instincts would kick in and I'd dust them, even with the crippled leg."

"I know, not very original for an Irish rebel but it killed the pain for awhile."

"Jess, I need you healthy," Willow said firmly. "I need a wife, a partner, a friend and a co-parent, not someone feeling sorry for themselves."

"You've got me, lass," Fitz promised. "Now that you're not dead, I don't need to kill myself with drink then."

"Aye, you're Jesse James," Fitz agreed, looking at a picture of Caleb and Willow. "I wish I had been there. I promise, no more running, no more doubts and no feeling sorry for meself."

"Good, we've got a life and a family to plan for," Willow smiled, bending over the bed to kiss her mate. "And a lot of months to make up for."

Willow noticed shaking hands and thin body and knew recovery for both of them wasn't going to be easy. She now had an alcoholic, starved, and self-abusive lover and a son to deal with.

"I know the Irish and English don't mix too well, but how do you feel about England for a couple of years?" Willow asked softly.

Being a Slayer had lead Fitz to this point, Willow decided she was determined the Watcher Council was going to help her get Fitz well again.

"I didn't know we'd find you and I've made arrangements to finish school and train as a Watcher in England," Willow said. "I can changes those plans though, I know we need to talk about it and we've got a wedding to plan and stuff."

"Green eyes," Fitz said sharply but with a smile. "It's fine with me, you wanted away from Sunnydale if you were marrying me anyway." The Slayer hesitated, "Do you still want to marry me then?"

Willow stood up and glanced outside the hospital window for a moment. Then faced the doorway and raised her arms up and out.

"I call upon the Guardians of the East," she turned slightly, "the South." Another quarter turn, "the West," another turn. "and the North to join us in this rite. To protect and honor us with your presence."

The witch glanced down at Fitz for a moment and then raised her eyes just above shoulder level.

"I call upon the Goddess and the God, Lord and Lady and the guardian spirits of our ancestors to bless us and join us, to witness this rite."

Willow pulled the silver chain out from her clothing and unhooked it, taking the gold band in her fingers.

"I, Red Willow, announce to the Powers That Be that I desire to marry my soul mate, Jessie FitzHugh for the traditional year and a day and beyond that. I promise to stay with you, build a future with you and our son, to make passionate love with you and to love you for as long as there is love between us."

Willow easily placed the ring on Fitz' gaunt finger as the Irish Slayer felt tears flowing down her cheeks. Willow removed her own wedding ring and handed it to Fitz firmly.

"I, Jessica FitzHugh, announce to all the powers and to my own Saints and Mother Mary that I love you, Red Willow. I want to marry you forever and will take whatever time-line or limits you want. I'll gladly remarry you every year for the rest of our lives. I promise to stay with you, to regain my health, to never drink again, to turn to help when I need it. I'll build that future with you and Caleb and make you both proud to be with me. I swear."

Fitz, with shaking hands, placed the ring on Willow's finger. "Loach/Badb seirc thar taimh, Warrior and witch love beyond death."

Willow leaned in for a gentle but passionate kiss as Fitz moaned with the long lasting contact.

"Lord and Lady, God and Goddess, Guardians and spirits," she intoned. "We thank you for your presence and for witnessing this rite and our pledges. Thank you and go in peace from this circle but lend us your blessings, strength and happiness in our lives. Blessed Be!"

"We'll have a ceremony with everyone else," Willow promised. "I love you, Jessie."

"Better alive than dead, my love," Willow smiled, crawling onto the hospital bed as Fitz squeaked in surprise.

"What about?" Fitz stammered. Willow waved her hand and Fitz heard the door locking. "You've been practicing?" she whispered as Willow slid her body along the Slayer's and Fitz wrapped her arms around her wife.

"It seems to come naturally after Caleb was born," Willow answered, lowering her lips to Fitz' for a long kiss before moving to the Slayer's neck. "I know you're weak and have no energy, don't worry about it. Just enjoy."

"Green Eyes," Fitz protested even as her body tried to move even closer to her wife. "I want to make proper love to you on our wedding day."

"Shhhh, need you!" Willow growled, her hands moving under Fitz' hospital gown and the Slayer gave up the fight with a moan as her body arched, needing Willow just as much.

Fitz felt tears of happiness escaping her eyes as Willow's touch became familiar again and the dark Slayer realized she had a future to look forward to. A wife and child to build that future around instead of a razor and bottle.

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Razor's Edge

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