Coming Home by Jen D

Summary: Willow returns home after six years a very different person.

Buffy sat on the grave marker and contemplated her life. She was going to turn twenty-five in a few days. She was now officially the oldest living slayer. She no longer patrolled on a nightly basis, usually leaving that up to Faith. She did help on occasion and that is how she found herself sitting in the cemetery tonight. She would rather be at home alone tonight, lost in her own world, wondering what her best friend was doing after all these years away. She thought back to the night she came back to her dorm room and found that all of Willow's stuff had been cleared out and a note sitting on her bed.

By the time you get this I will be gone. I don't expect you to understand. I have to go please forgive me for running away. Maybe someday I can come home to the only family that I have ever known. My parents will not know where I went and I don't want you to look for me. I don't think you will be able to find me anyway. I have made sure to cover my track fairly well. Please find Tara and tell her that I am sorry and I wish that I could have stuck around and found out what was between us. Yes Buffy I think that I am gay. That's not why I am running away. Please know that I love you all. Xander is going to need you now more then ever. Tell him I love him and take care of him.

Buffy carefully folded up the letter and slipped it back into her pocket. That had been six years ago and she had not heard anything from her best friend since then, not even for her parent's funeral.

They had tried to find her but it was useless. Willow had covered her tracks; it was like Willow didn't exist anymore. Life had moved on for the gang. Faith had come back three years ago and had worked hard to regain their trust after everything she had done to them in their senior year. Xander and Anya got married and settled down, buying a house not to far from where she lived now.

Buffy did seek out Tara and found a wonderful new friend in the process. They now shared a house not to far from the new high school where they both taught. Tara was an English teacher and Buffy was the gym teacher. Giles had moved in with her mom shortly after she had graduated from college. They talked about getting married but just never seemed to want to complicate a good thing. Buffy sighed, got up and headed for home.

Willow pulled her car into the familiar driveway and shut the engine off. She looked at the sleeping figure in the front seat and the two in the backseat. She tapped the girl who was asleep beside her, "Hey hon, we're here and I'm going to go in for a minute. I'll stay on the front porch so that I can see you but I have to do this."

"Okay," the teenage girl mumbled. Willow smiled at her and patted her on the arm and got out. She stopped on the front porch and looked around, not much had changed in the six years she had been gone. She only hoped that the occupants hadn't changed. She knocked on the door and was relieved to see the familiar woman open it.

"Willow, my god where have you been. Buffy has been trying to find you for years. Xander damn near worried himself to death. You didn't get turned did you?"

"No watch," Willow said and stepped into the house and then stepped back out, "I wouldn't have been able to do that if I was a vamp. I have a pulse to. Do you want to check"? Joyce laughed, "Only in Sunnydale would my daughters best friend ask for me to check her pulse. Please come in, Willow. Giles will be thrilled to see you."

"I wish that I could but I have people asleep in the car and I don't want to leave them out here alone. Does Buffy still live here."

"Oh okay, when you see her will you tell her that I will be at my old house. I'm going to be living there now that my parents are gone, I figure it ought to be of some use."

"Willow I was sorry to hear about your parents death," Joyce said softly and put her hand on Willow shoulder.

"Thank you. It was hard but then again they were never there for me anyway. Well I'd better get going. It was nice to see you again."

"Glad your back Willow. Come by soon so that we can catch up," Joyce said and watched the red head get into the car and pull away. Joyce closed the door and headed straight for the phone. She dialed the number and waited for the other person to pick up the phone.

"Tara, is Buffy back from patrol yet. She is...good, will you two come over here. I have something you might both be interested in. Okay see you in a minute. Bye." Joyce sat down and waited for the girls to show up. Fifteen minutes later both girls came barreling through the door. Buffy skidded to a halt when she saw her mom sitting peacefully on the couch.

"Okay what is it and do I have to kill it," Buffy asked. Joyce seeing that her daughter was in slayer mode raised her hands, "Nothing to kill, honest. I had a visitor just a little bit ago that I thought you might both be curious about."

"Willow," Joyce said and watched as her daughters and the girl that she had come to think of as a daughter mouths dropped open.

"She is. She came by here looking for you. She said to tell you that she was staying at her parent's old house. Tara and Joyce watched as Buffy began to pace back and forth.

"Buffy, you're going to wear a hole in your mom carpet if you keep this up," Tara said.

"How can you be so calm Tara? I mean she shows up six later and you're not upset?"

"A little but then again I didn't know her as well as you did. Yes it hurt to lose her, I think I could have loved her if given the chance but she didn't strike me as the type to just leave for no good reason."

Buffy looked at Tara and could see the hurt in her eyes and knew that the same hurt was in her own. Tara and Buffy had spent more then one night sharing there feelings for the red head and it had been Tara that had made Buffy realize that she had been in love with her best friend. Buffy always regretted not being able to tell her before she had ran away.

"I know, come on Tara we have a certain red head to go interrogate," Buffy said and grabbed her hand.

Buffy and Tara found themselves standing at the front door to Willow's house. Neither made a move to ring the doorbell.

"I know, I'm just nervous. Okay here it goes," Buffy touched the doorbell and they both waited for Willow to answer. Buffy could hardly believe that it was her best friend who answered the door.

Willow seemed so much older and gone were the fuzzy sweater, in their place were jeans and a white t-shirt. Her hair was short and curly. To Buffy and Tara she looked perfect. Willow leaned in the doorway and looked at the two women in front of her, she was not expecting to see Tara, and honestly she was surprised to see Buffy here so soon.

"Hey guys, I'm glad you could stop by. Come in," Willow told them. Willow led them into the living room and was about to say something when she heard a voice behind her, "Damn it mom, those basement steps are a pain," the blonde said.

"Yeah mom, damn it," the smaller child said. Willow turned around and glared at the kids, "Beth Anne Rosenberg, I cannot believe that came out of your mouth. I think you ought to go to your room and think about things." Willow watched the little girl slink away and turned to the older girl who was trying to slip away.

Angie raised her hand knowing her mom was about to let lose on her, "I know, sorry mom. I think I have homework to do." Angie came over and kissed Willow on the cheek and bounded up the steps.

Willow turned to see the shocked faces of her old friends and was getting ready to say something again when another girl came in from the kitchen.

Willow looked at them, "Come on lets go to the kitchen and I'll get some coffee going and I will explain things." Buffy and Tara followed her into the kitchen and watched as Willow made coffee. She stopped at the fridge and pulled out a beer and looked at her guests.

"Want one?" Both girls shook their heads and Willow shrugged her shoulders, "Okay well lets go out on the deck so we can talk and I can smoke."

"Yeah, Cheryl used to tell me about how it used to help her relax and after the last six months I would do anything to relax."

"Will, who are those kids? You have only been gone for six years and the oldest one looks to be about 14," Buffy said.

Willow watched and she could almost see the wheels turning as Buffy and Tara began to calculate Beth's age.

"Yeah, I ran into him a couple of years ago in Seattle. One of the reason's we had planned on coming back was so we would be closer to him."

"I think I ought to start from the beginning. I found out I was pregnant about two weeks before I left. My parents told me that they were leaving and wouldn't be back for a year, so I decided that I should tell them about the baby. Well, to say they freaked is an understatement. They told me that if I had this baby they wanted nothing to do with me ever again. I guess in a sad way they did…they died a month before she was born. Anyway I guess I just kind of lost it."

"Why didn't you tell us? We would have supported you?" Buffy asked her best friend.

"I wasn't thinking right, Buffy. My parents had just rejected me and I guess I was afraid you would too, so I ran. I know, not one of my brighter moments but I had just met Tara and had all these strange feelings for her. I was afraid, I knew she would want to help and I couldn't ask someone to start a relationship based on that.

"Buffy, you were dealing with your own stuff and your relationship with Riley. I knew you needed that after everything you went through with Angel. So I left and went to Seattle. I got a really good job working for a computer company. I met Cheryl there…she was my boss's assistant. I didn't know anyone there and she kind of adopted me. I started spending a lot of time with her. We were both alone. Her husband had died the year before and I think we both just needed a friend. It was about a year before we both figured out we had feelings for each other and another six months for us to admit it to each other. She was an amazing woman. Cheryl was ten years older than I was. Angie and Jen are her kids."

Willow paused and got up and walked to the side of the deck. She discarded her cigarette and looked up at the sky.

Seemingly lost in her own world Willow continued, "We decided six months ago that we were going to come home or my home. Oz is a pretty successful studio musician in LA, so when the chance for her to transfer to LA we jumped at it. I worked from home anyway so I could do it there just as easy. We were so excited.

"There were so many things I wanted to share with her. I wanted her to meet the gang. We spent so many nights sitting in front of the fireplace talking about you guys. I told her about everything, she was stunned and then she kissed me and told me how proud she was of how I saved the world."

Willow let out a chuckle lost in the memory, "I really thought she would call for the rubber room but she just took it in stride. I told her about being a witch and she called me Samantha for a week. She wanted to know if I could wiggle my nose. Then one night she was late getting home. I really didn't worry too much because she worked late a lot. I guess I should have."

"I got caught up working on this program and the kids were being so good that night which was a rare thing. I should have known something was up. The next thing I know there was a police officer standing on my front porch. It was no one's fault-just a stupid accident. I don't know how I made it through the night. Cheryl didn't have any family and we only had a few friends, so we were on our own. I'm not sure if I would have made it if it hadn't been for the kids."

Willow paused. "She was incredible; she always knew what to say. Cheryl made the world right. She always knew where I left my keys and would call everyday just to make sure that I had eaten lunch cause I would get involved in something and would forget. She always told me I was like having another kid. Sometimes I feel so lost, especially at night when I wake up and she not there. We all are lost, that's why I moved them here, and I hope that a new start will help. We haven't been living.

"We wake up eat breakfast go to school and work, come home and start all over the next day. It's been so hard for everyone. I... ," Willow trailed off and wiped a tear from her eye.

Buffy put her arm around Willow but she pulled away, "I'm going to go say goodnight to the kids and grab another beer. Help yourself to more coffee." Willow left the slayer and the witch to take in everything she had told them.

"Yes she is," Angela said from the backdoor. "They were the world to each other. Mommy was always so happy when they were together. We always did things as a family. I don't know what to do for her, she is always there for us but she doesn't have anyone herself. I hear her sometimes at night-she never sleeps anymore. I found her one night sitting in front of the TV watching a video from our last Christmas. We had a long talk before we came back here-she told me about how she left and how she never called. She is terrified that you won't want her to be part of your lives. I know she regrets what she did but she always told me hindsight was 20/20. I guess what I am saying is that she always told me that you guys where the only family she had, are you going to let her back in because if your not it will devastate her and I need to know so I can be there for her."

"Angie, Willow is my best friend and I can't speak for Tara but I will always be there for your mom. I would have been there all along if she had let me. She was always there for me-she has saved my life more times than I could count," Buffy said and looked at Tara.

"I haven't known Willow as long as Buffy but she was good to me at a time when I needed her and I will be here for her all the way," Tara said and smiled at the look of relief that the teen had on her face.

"Good, I was hoping that was your response. I'm going to bed now. Thank you both. She needs you. She's been so busy taking care of us that she hasn't taken the time to grieve and I'm afraid that when she does it will be very difficult. She won't need her daughters-she'll need her whole family."

"Of course, somehow I think if it was the other way around she would be here for us."

Willow came out the door and leaned over the railing, "I know that I can't show up and slip back into being the same Willow you knew. I'm not her anymore. I know things change and I don't expect them to go back to the way they were but I was wondering if there's any chance that you would take the time to get to know me again. Can you forgive me?"

Buffy and Tara got up and went to stand on either side of her, each taking a hand. Buffy gave it a squeeze, "Already forgiven."

Willow was putting the last of the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Jen yelled flying down the steps. Jen opened the door and found Buffy and Tara standing on the front porch.

Buffy and Tara followed Jen into the kitchen. They saw Willow sitting at the table reading the paper.

"We thought we would stop by and see if you needed any help with the kids and to see if Angie wanted a ride to school but you seem to have everything under control," Tara told her.

"Cool! If you think this is under control you should have been here an hour ago. Total chaos," Willow laughed. "The movers won't be here until nine and we had some problems finding things but disaster avoided. Hang on a second."

She turned to her daughter, "Jen go find Beth, the bus will be here in a minute and tell Angie to come down too."

Willow smiled when Beth came bounding down the stairs followed by Angie and Jen.

"Okay Jen and Beth lunches are in your book bags. The bus is here, have a good day. I love you." Willow hugged the girls and watched from the porch as they got on the bus. She gave one last wave and shut the door.

"Two down and one to go," she sighed. "Angie, Buffy and Tara want to know if you want a ride to school?"

"Boy you two got old," Willow chuckled and shook her head. "When you were fifteen would you want to be seen with a teacher? Hell it was bad enough to be best friends with the librarian."

"How would you like to have dish duty for a week?" Willow asked in her most stern voice, causing Buffy and Tara stare at her in amazement.

They both just shrugged their shoulders and looked at each other, both red with the thoughts that they knew the other was having about a stern Willow and the fantasy that it brought.

"Yeah I called her last night. I thought it would be nice to catch up with her."

"That's cool but duty calls, come on kid. We'd hate for you to be late on your first day," Buffy told her.

"Would you mind dropping me at the corner so no one see us. You know I have a reputation to get," Angie teased.

"Hey Willow, it's nice to have you home again. I haven't seen Buffy this happy since you left," Tara said.

"It's good to be back. I never meant to be gone so long. Time just seemed to fly by."

Tara pulled Willow into a hug and whispered in her ear, "I missed you too." Tara kissed her on the cheek and walked out the door.

Joyce walked into the restaurant and saw Willow sitting at the table working on her laptop. She approached the table and sat down. "Hello."

"Mrs. Summers, I'm glad you could join me today. We can move to non-smoking. I just wanted to check my e-mail and get my work for next week."

"No this is fine. I don't mind smoking; I used to back in my youth. I am surprised to see you smoking though and please call me Joyce."

"I know. I thought Buffy was going to fall over when I told her. I guess I just needed something to calm down."

"Willow, Buffy told me everything that's happened. I'm sorry. I still think you should have had more faith in us all back then. Hell you could have lived with me, I always thought of you as a daughter. I don't understand your parent's reaction. I don't think I could have ever turned my back on Buffy much less my grandchild."

"I know, now that I am a mom myself, I couldn't not be there. I mean Ang is almost sixteen and we talk all the time. I remember there being a whole year that I didn't even talk to my folks," Willow said and pulled pictures out of her briefcase. "This is Angie. This is Jen-she's ten. This is Beth, she's five and this is Cheryl. I took this when we went to the zoo last year."

"You have a very nice looking family. It's so hard to believe that you have three kids. I had one and I don't know how you manage."
"It's not easy and it's been even harder since Cheryl's been gone. It helps that I can work from home, so I'm always there for them. I can't imagine what it would be like if I had to work outside the house."

"Willow, I want you to know that I'm proud of what you have done with your life, raising someone else's children and your own at 25. I also want you to know that if there is anything that Giles or I can do just let us know. You were always there for Buffy."

"Thank you Joyce, I might need it. I have one question—were Buffy and I this much of a pain as teenagers? God, Angie is so moody and temperamental, sometimes I feel like I'm beating my head on the wall."

Joyce laughed, "Yup, I always told Buffy I hoped she had one just like her, well except for the slaying thing."

Now it was Willow turn to laugh, "Joyce, are you okay with the whole me being gay thing? I know that I never told you that your opinion of me meant more to me then my own parents. I don't think I could handle disappointing you. I think that was one of the things that scared me the most when I found out I was pregnant-your reaction. So when my folks who didn't give a damn about me went ballistic, it scared me and I ran."

"Willow your parents were nuts, you could never disappoint me. As far as the baby, I would have been there. I can't even imagine how hard it must have been to be alone and pregnant in a strange place. I am very glad that you were able to find someone who helped you and took care of you when we couldn't. I don't care if she was a she or a he. I know that Tara is gay and I know that Buffy doesn't care what sex she dates as long as she likes them."

"Um, well, um, we haven't really talked a lot. The first night was me talking about where I'd been. I would never have guessed."

"I guess being friends with Tara for all these years just made her realize life is to short to limit herself to one gender."

"I don't think so. They have been close but they never said anything about it. I know they both have dated other people."

"I don't honestly know the answer to that," Willow thought for a second, "I don't think so. They both deserve to be happy. They seem to get along really well. From what I've seen I think that they would be good for each other."

"I'm not. I haven't had time. The kids are my first priority. I need to make sure that they are okay first, and then I'll deal with it. I'm just not sure how. Joyce she was my life. I got out of bed everyday because of her. Sometimes I think about her and it hurts to breathe. If it wasn't for the kids I think I would have just curled up into a ball and died. I had to get a smaller bed because the one we had was just to big for me."

Joyce reached across the table and took Willow's hand. It took all of Willow's strength not to breakdown.

"Willow honey, we are here and you don't have to do this by yourself now. Let us help you. I have three grandkids that I haven't even met. I expect you to be there for Sunday dinners and Christmas Eves and birthdays. We are your family and we have missed so much already. We love you."

After talking to Joyce most of the afternoon, she knew she didn't have much time until the kids got home. She made some coffee and went to her room to change. After deciding on a pair of old comfy jeans and a black tank top, she went back down stairs turned on the radio on full blast to cut through the silence and started to go through the boxes in the kitchen. The sounds of music filled the house and the bass shook the windows. She was so caught up in the music and trying to put the extra glasses on the top shelf, which she was too short for, she didn't even hear the door open or the three pair of eyes watching her. Buffy and Tara both studied the red head.

"MOM!" Angie yelled above the music, startling Willow. She dropped the glass she had been putting up. Willow tried to catch it but it hit the counter breaking, cutting her hand in the process.

"Will, let me see," Buffy asked as she took her hand. Tara went to turn the radio down.

"Will, this looks pretty nasty. I think it's going to need stitches," Buffy said looking at the deep cut.

"I agree with Buffy. Why don't I stay here and watch the kids and Buffy can take you to the ER," Tara said looking at the cut.

"Willow, don't argue with me. I'll carry you kicking and screaming if I have to."

"Okay, okay, we wouldn't want to piss off the retired slayer now would we?" Willow said and smiled.

Willow came back into the kitchen, "Angie, tell Jen and Beth to start unpacking the boxes in their room. You can do your room too."

Willow sat on the exam bed and waited for the doctor to come back to put the stitches in her hand, "Buffy, when did you decide you were bi-sexual?"

"Huh? Who? Oh, Mom. Well I guess it was not too long after you left. Tara and I spent a lot of time together after you went away, she made me look at things that I had been to afraid to face."

"I love her. I'm not sure what would have happened after you left if it hadn't been for her. I'm not saying she took your place because no one could ever do that but we both needed a friend. I guess Tara was my Cheryl."

"I don't know really. We talked about it once but we just always felt we would be cheating on you."

Buffy laughed, "You have been hanging around the kids to long. I had this first grader once who always asked me why." Buffy face took on a serious expression. "Will, I'm not sure this is the best place to have this conversation."

"Buffy I have three kids, do you realize this is the quietest place I have right now?"

"I know, but what I have to say might make you run screaming from this room and I don't think the doctor would like that much."

"Okay just don't give me that look. It makes me feel like I'm three years old again. One of the other things Tara made me realize was that I loved you."

"Buffy I love you too, why would I run from the room. You were my best friend for five years."

"No Will, I realized I was in love with you," Buffy said and looked at the floor.

"Buffy I'm glad that you felt like you could tell me. I'm flattered, another time, another place and who knows but I don't think that I have a place in my life right now for that kind of love. I do love you and I do mean more then a friend—I always have, I think. I know that I was in love with Tara too. I know that I'm not ready to move on yet Buffy and I'm not sure when or if I ever will be. It's not fair to you to wait around for something that might never happen."

"I know but I just can't and that shouldn't stop you from moving on. Buffy, I think you should ask Tara out. She is an amazing woman and I think you could make each other happy. I told your mother that today."

"Good but Buffy don't wait to long. One thing that I have learned is life can be taken away before you know it," Willow said just as the doctor came in.

Willow and Buffy came into the kitchen laughing. Jen came running down the steps and jumped into her mother's arms.

"Tara said you got hurt and I was scared. She said it wasn't anything too bad but still."

"I really liked it. My teacher is really nice too. We talked and she said that she had you in her class when you were little."

"I know, I remember her, she was a good teacher. You should do well. Where is everyone?" Willow asked seeing the empty downstairs.

"Well Angie is in her room putting stuff away and Tara is in our room helping us."

"Nope, Tara is down here. Buffy, Angie needs some help moving the dresser in her room. We tried but I think we might need someone with a little more strength then us," Tara said.

"Oh now she needs the teacher's help. Come on Jen, you can help me tease your sister," Buffy said and took the blonde child upstairs.

"Yeah I was just going to get pizza but this smells much better and healthier," Willow laughed.

"Okay then why don't you take it and I will tuck you into bed. Dinner is going to be a little while longer. Buffy and I will help the kids with homework or unpacking. We will wake you up when dinner is done."

"No arguments! Now let's go. You can say hi to the kids on the way to bed. They are great kids. I have Angie in my class, she seems very bright and outgoing."

Willow flopped down on the bed after having the kids drag her into their rooms to see all the things that they had done since was gone.

Willow took the pill and pulled the covers over her. "Tara, Buffy and I talked at the hospital. I want you to know how much it means to me that you took care of her after I left."

"We took care of each other. She is an incredible woman and to be able to be a part of her life has meant the world to me."

"I love you too and her but I'm not ready and I might never be. Love her Tara. Make a life for you both. You deserve to be happy," Willow said and fell asleep. Tara pulled the blanket over her and kissed her forehead, turned out the light. She took one last look at the sleeping red head and shut the door.

Buffy was sitting at the kitchen table when Tara came in. Buffy studied the blonde thinking about what Willow had said. Tara sat down.

"Yeah I can see that. We had a good talk when we were waiting on the doctor. I told her that I loved her. She told me she loves me and you both but that she wasn't ready for that."

"I told her too and she said the same thing. I think we need to talk Buffy. She said some things that have made me think."

"I know. Me too. Tara, she's back, we have our Willow back and she's okay or will be sometime. We can help her. She told me it was okay for us to be together."

"I know. She said to love you and to make a life for us. Buffy I love you and I think she might be right at least for now."

"We take it slow...go out...get to know each other as more then friends and take care of her."

"I think I can handle that. Now I think we have some kids to feed and other good aunt things to do."

"We're aunts. I like the sound of that," Tara and placed a light kiss on Buffy lips.

Willow rolled over and looked at the clock. She groaned when she saw that the glowing numbers said it was 7:30 . She jumped out of bed and ran to the kid's rooms. Finding them empty she made her way downstairs coming to a halt in the kitchen where she found the kids with Buffy and Tara.

"I was going to but you looked so cute sleeping. I just didn't have the heart to wake you up," Buffy said.

"The kids got their rooms done last night. We got homework done and everyone is ready for school. Speaking of school I think I hear the bus, guys. Kiss your mom and get going," Tara told the younger kids.

"Beth don't forget that your dad is picking you up for the weekend," Willow said.

"Yeah, he wants to start being a bigger part of her life now that we are closer. He feels guilty for missing so much of her life, even though it wasn't all his fault."

"That's nice to know that you two can be friends and be there for her," Buffy said wishing that her own father had been a bigger part of her life.

Tara looked at Angie, "Hey you ought to go get your bag. We should be ready to leave in a minute." Tara waited until she was out of earshot and tuned to look at Willow, "What about the wolf? Does Beth change?"

"No from what I found out she had a fifty-fifty chance of inheriting the werewolf. I think she missed it."

"Well Tara and I wanted to talk to you. We both have lunch at 11:30 and wanted to know if you would join us."

"Sounds good. I have some more unpacking to do, even though the kitchen seems done," Willow said looking at her best friends.

Tara blushed, "Well Angie helped me put things away. I hope you don't mind. I hope I put things where you want them."

"No of course I don't mind. It's just one less thing I have to mess with. Now don't you have kids to mold and shape into the future leaders of the world."

Willow walked up the steps to the new high school. She stopped and read the names on the plaque by the front door that had all the names of the kids that had died in the `gas explosion' on graduation day. She shook her head and sighed as she read the names, they all had been so young. After signing in at the office she walked the hallways and remembered her own days in the old school. She stopped outside of one room after hearing a familiar voice float through the hallway. She peered through the door and saw Tara standing in front of a group of kids.

Tara saw her watching and Willow gave her a small wave. Tara opened the door and stepped out. "Hey glad to see you made it. Buffy will be in the gym."

"Um, Will, the gym is the other way," Tara laughed and pointed Willow in the right direction.

"I knew that," Willow waved goodbye and made her way to the gym. She went through the doors and saw Buffy refereeing a volleyball match in the middle of the room. She waved and sat down on the bleachers to watch.

Buffy dismissed her class and sat down next to her best friend, "Hey I see you made it. Tara's going to grab us some lunch and meet us in my office."

"Yup, I love being the teacher. It's so much better then being a student," Buffy laughed and led Willow into her office and gestured for her to sit down.

"I thought we would wait for Tara to get here first, seeing how this has to do with her too."

"Tara's here and she has brought food too," Tara said stepping into the office and shut the door.

"Okay you're both here, spill." Tara pulled a chair over to the desk and sat down next to Buffy, "Willow, you know that we love you, both of us."

"It's okay, Will. I can't even begin to imagine what you are going through and I honestly hope I never do," Buffy said. "Tara and I did some talking last night, we have decided that we are going to take your advice and start seeing each other."

Willow jumped out of her seat and pulled them both into a hug, "I'm so happy for you. It's about time."

Willow rested her head on Buffy forehead, "More then I could say. Take care of her."

Willow sat down and looked at both of them, "Take care of each other. Tell each other how much you love them whenever they walk out the door. Never, ever take the other for granted. Thank god every night when you go to bed for giving you another day together. Love and live each day to the fullest."

Tara had to wipe the tears out of her eyes, "We will and we will always be here for you."

"Yup and you're the first to know. We're going on our first official date tonight."

"He just called he should be here in just a few minutes," Willow told her excited daughter.

"She really does love her father," Buffy said coming in behind her and watching her run up the steps.

"I still have problems seeing Oz as a weekend father or you a mother for that matter."

"Yeah, we kind of dated," Tara said unsure of exactly what her and Willow had done.

"Cool, nice to meet you. Will, I have a big studio party tomorrow night and I was thinking that maybe Jen and Angie would like to go with me." Angie perked up at hearing her name, "Mom, can we go please."

Oz watched her go up the steps and turned to Buffy, "You don't know how glad I am to see you here, Buffy. She was so afraid that you wouldn't forgive her for running away."

"I figured she would call or come home when she was ready. She's been through hell the last few months, guys. That's why I'm taking the kids. I know she hasn't had a lot of time to herself lately."

"She loved you from the minute she met you, Buffy. I always knew that I was second best. I just thank god for giving me the chance to be a part of her life and for the beautiful little girl she gave me."

"So Will, you have the whole weekend to yourself, what do we have planned for tonight," Buffy asked.

"Well you two are going on a date and I am going to curl up on the couch with a book and a beer."

"No, don't Will me. Tara tell your girlfriend that she is going on a date and dates do not contain three people."

"Huh?" Willow stammered, "Um I don't know. Go have fun, call me tomorrow and give me details. We can go out tomorrow night, I promise."

Willow poked at the wood in the fireplace not because it needed it but because she needed something to do. After kicking Buffy and Tara out she had settled down with a book but her thoughts kept replaying the words that Tara had said. Willow sighed and looked at the TV. She opened the cabinet and found the tape that she was looking for. She put it and pushed play. She watched as the screen filled with the images from her last birthday party. Cheryl and the kids had worked hard to surprise her. For the first time since Cheryl had died Willow allowed herself to cry. The doorbell cut through the quiet that had settled on the house and Willow opened it to see Faith standing on her porch.

"How the hell do you think I feel? I'm alone in this house. My girlfriend is dead. I'm never going to see her again. I'm never going to hear her say she loves me. I'm never..." Willow's knees gave out and only Faith's slayer speed stopped her from hitting the floor.

Faith scooped her up and carried her to the couch. The dam broke inside of Willow and she lost the control she had fought so hard to maintain.

Faith wrapped her arms around her, rocking her and rubbing small circles on her back trying to offer some comfort.

"I ran into Buffy and Tara on patrol, they told me that you were going to be alone tonight. I just wanted to stop by and make sure you were okay and I see that it was probably a good thing. Red, I know I did some bad things in the past, I hurt you but I changed. I paid for what I did. I can't take it back but please don't judge who I am from the past."

"I told Buffy the first night I came back that I couldn't be the same Willow that I was when I left. How could I expect you to be the same person you were when you left?"

Faith watched as the red head and the blonde danced on screen. "She was very pretty."

"Okay but let me get some drinks first," Willow said and headed for the kitchen but turned around. "You really have changed."

Faith laughed and turned her attention back to the TV. Willow returned with a tray with four beers, shot glasses, salt, and a bottle of tequila.

"I worked part time as a server when I first moved to Washington. I got good at balancing things," Willow said and sat the tray on the table.

"You weren't kidding about the drinks were you?" Faith asked as she looked at the tray.

"Nope. I want to get completely knock down drunk. Care to join me on my trip?" Willow asked giving her a smile.

Willow tried to see the clock on the wall but couldn't make out the numbers in her present state. She looked at the empty bottles on the table beside her and groaned, "Yup it's official, I am going to have one hell of a hangover tomorrow."

"You know you have changed, too. You went from a geek to a mature woman who I might add is very hot."

Willow blushed, stood up, and turned the radio on to a classic R&B station. "If I didn't know any better I would think you were flirting with me."

"Not all bad...just a little." Faith looked so serious that Willow jumped in her lap and started to tickle her.

"Hey! No fair sneak attacking me," Faith said and flipped her on her back causing the coffee table to tip over. "Payback is a bitch."

Faith jumped up before she could act on her desire to kiss Willow. "Dance with me. I love this song." She pulled Willow into her arms. They danced in silence just enjoying the feeling of being in someone's arms.

"Do you feel better," Faith asked tucking a stray lock of red hair behind Willow ear.

"I do, thank you," Willow said and thought about how they had just talked for hours about her life. Willow snuggled closer to Faith.

"Red, from everything you have said she wouldn't want you to close yourself off from your feelings. I think she would want you to feel again."

"I know. She would hate the thought of me being this way. She would probably yell real loud."

Willow thought for a minute and looked into the brunette eyes, she saw nothing but concern and caring, "I think that I'm pretty happy right now."

"I want to show you how to feel again," Faith whispered in her ear causing Willow to shudder.

"I know you love them and I know that they love you. I'm not asking for love or tomorrows. I'm more of a here and now kind of girl," Faith said and leaned in and kissed her.

Willow was just beginning to return the kiss when the doorbell interrupted the moment. They jumped apart as if their parents caught them and Willow giggled at the guilty look on Faith's face. She opened the door to find Buffy and Tara on the front porch. When Buffy saw Willow's tear stained cheeks and the overturned table and Faith standing in the middle of the room, she went into slayer mode. She started after Faith but Willow blocked her path.

"B! Damn it Faith, now you got me calling her that," Willow said giving the dark slayer a glare but when Faith shrugged her shoulders she giggled. "Buffy she didn't do anything. She came over to see how I was doing. I guess I wasn't doing very well cause I kind of broke down."

Faith laughed, "Honey, you didn't breakdown, you went into total meltdown. I really expected the EPA to show up to clean up the mess."

Faith saw the glare she was getting from Buffy, "Well Red I think I will head out of here."

"Faith, sit. Buffy, it's okay. She didn't hurt me; she was actually a big help. We talked a lot, drank, cried, drank and cried..."

"Well we were just playing around and I kicked it over. Guys, I'm okay really. For the first time since Cheryl died I can breathe again and it doesn't hurt. I needed tonight. Now go home. Buffy, make love to your girlfriend. Tell her how much she means to you. Show her, hold her. I will be here tomorrow being hung over, but I'll be here. Call me, we'll go out then."

"I know, I love you too. It'll be okay," Willow told her and kissed her on the cheek and then did the same to Tara, "Now go have fun."

She closed the door, walked over to Faith and pulled her up. "I think you said something about showing me how to feel."

Willow woke up to the feel of someone hugging her close. She opened her eyes and looked into the eyes of the dark slayer.

"Mmm...better then I have in months. Well, after you finally let me go to sleep."

"How about I tell you what I'm thinking and then you can decide? I don't love you, Faith. I think I care for you. I had a wonderful night last night. It's been a long time since I have laughed so much. You are fun and I miss that. Cheryl was always there to cheer me up when I felt down. She reminded me of Xander because of her ability to find a joke in almost everything. I'm not going to lie about my feelings for Buffy or Tara but they need to figure out their own relationship before I throw myself into it. I'm not too conventional to think that a relationship between three people couldn't work. Hell I lived on the Hellmouth for the biggest part of my life. I know that you have to find love when you can because it might be gone the next day. I'm not ready yet, though. They're not ready for it. I want them to find the love that they share for each other so there is no fear that one or the other might leave for me. I want them both, but I can wait. Until then Faith, I want to offer you a really good friend who cares for you and maybe from time to time more. Oh yeah, lots more."

"Red, I think that's the best offer I've had in a long time. What are you going to tell the others? Mainly Tara and Buffy that is?"

The phone next to the bed rang and out of instinct Faith turned and answered it.

"Faith what the hell are you doing there?" Willow heard Buffy scream into the phone.

"Where's Will?" Faith groaned and handed the phone to Willow. She had to stifle a giggle.

"Fine, how was your night?" Willow asked and had to fight hard to not to moan as Faith began to kiss her neck. Willow half listened as Faith continued to have her way.

"Hey Buff, I need to talk to you guys today. Why don't you come over about 5 and we can have dinner and then we can go out?"

"Okay Will, we'll see you at 5" Willow hung up the phone and pulled Faith down on her.

"Only on one condition, Red. You'll go as my date and I don't have to be here when you talk to Buffy and Tara."

"Will, you home?" Buffy yelled coming in the front door. She looked around the living room and noticed that the mess from last night had been cleaned up.

"Thanks Buffy. It's got to cook a little more why don't you go sit in the living room and I'll get some coffee."

"Ugh no way. I had a headache all morning or most of it anyway," Willow said and thought back to the one time she didn't even notice.

"Yeah and this may take a minute. I want you to know that I love you both. Faith made me see a lot of things last night. If Cheryl could talk to me right now she would be really pissed at me. She would never want me to turn down the opportunity to love again. I have been so afraid of letting go because I thought that if I let go I would lose her all over again. Faith made me realize that no matter what happened Cheryl would always be with me. In my heart, my memories and in the faces of the kids. A lot of who I am now is because of her and the life that we built together," Willow stopped and took a breath.

"So are you trying to tell us that you and Faith," Buffy said thinking back to Faith answering the phone.

"No...well, kind of...but not really. I had a good time with her last night. We talked and she's not a bad person. I love you Buffy and you Tara but I honestly am not going to come between what you guys are building together. Tara I know you asked why three people couldn't have a relationship together and I think that they can, but we aren't ready for that yet. I'm in no position to have something like that in my life. I don't think that the kids would understand, even if they do think that the sun rises and sets on you both. So that leaves me with being the third party. I want you to find your own way together and then maybe we can find us. Until then I have every intentions of having a unique relationship with Faith so if either of you have a problem with that or with anything I've said please tell me now so we can talk."

Buffy and Tara sat in silence thinking of all the things Willow had just told them. Buffy was the first to break the quiet that had come over the room since Willow had stopped speaking, "So the three of us?"

Willow tried to hold back her laughter but couldn't any longer. Willow and Tara collapsed on the floor in a fit of laughter.

"You don't want to know," Buffy groaned. "Perverts that's what they are. Just trust me."

Willow regained her composure and grabbed Tara hand, "Come on you can help me finish dinner. We'll leave the slayers to compare notes."

"Yeah. Just make her happy. But from what I heard you did a pretty good job of that."

"Aww man, is that what they were laughing at? Me?" Faith asked and blushed, something Buffy never thought she would see.

I thought about things for a minute and shrugged, "Well, it seems pretty quiet in there. I think it will be okay. So what do you think about all this."

"I don't know really. The last few days with Buffy have been incredible. We have been taking things slow but somehow it feels like I found my home. Last night after we left we went home and just cuddled in bed for a long time. I have only felt that complete once and that was back in college when you used to stay. Will, what did you mean you would be the third party to this?"

"I can't be in a relationship with two women, not right now. I have the kids to think about and they have to come first. As much as I love you both I can't bring you both into my bed everyday. Angie would probably understand but the others are just too young. They have had so much to deal with already; I don't want to add any more confusion to their lives. It doesn't mean that it can't happen just not the way that I want it to. So you see for now, when we are ready, it will always be me coming to you guys. That's why I want you to find the love between you two," I said and tried to read her face.

I saw emotions that I couldn't recognize go across her face. "You're a good mother and when you feel that we are ready I would like it very much to have you around."

"Good because I want to be there," I said and felt tears trying to escape. It seemed like I had been holding my breath waiting for her answer.

I felt strong arms wrap around me and pull me close and a whisper tickled my ear. "You okay?" Faith asked me.

I turned in her arms so that my face was inches from hers, "Yeah, I think I am. I take it there was no bloodshed in my living room?"

I watched as Buffy snuck up behind Tara and snatched a piece of tomato from the salad. Tara swatted at her and laughed.

"Yeah, they are," I said and kissed her on the tip of her nose, "You're pretty cute yourself."

"Flattery will get you everywhere, Red." I used to hate it when she called me that but now it seemed right. It was meant as an endearment now and not an insult

"Really?" I asked. "Will it get me...," the rest I whispered into her ear, not wanting the other couple to overhear.

Faith let what I'd said sink in and turned as red as my hair, "Red!" she choked. I had to giggle and Buffy and Tara looked at us.

"Well," I said. "I think dinner is almost ready. Faith can you grab some drinks while I set the table? Buffy can you grab that bowl? Tara can you bring the salad?"

I laughed at the way they all jumped and began to run around the kitchen, running into each other. This could be way too much fun I thought.

"Red!" I cried. I can't believe she said that to me and then just giggled. I thought I was going to lose it right there in her kitchen in front of everyone.

No, I was right when I told her she had changed, she was defiantly not the same shy geek she was in high school. Nope, no way. I wanted to just skip dinner and our night out and just carry her upstairs right now.

Oh great one, now their just looking at me with smirks on their faces, come on Faith, get it together.

She talking again. Hell, what did she say? Get drinks. Gotta move. She's giving me that mom look. Drinks, getting drinks. Now she is laughing. What is she laughing at? I look at her and she has this 'cat that ate the canary look.' I wonder what she is thinking. I can't believe she said that to me and then giggled. She is so in trouble when we get back here tonight.

Ooh, I like the sound of that. The way it rolls off my tongue. My girlfriend. Tara is my girlfriend. I'm really not sure when I have been this happy. I have Tara. Willow is back.

I glance around and see Faith holding Willow, whispering in her ear. I see Will smile, I'm not so sure if I like the thought of her and Faith but she does look happy. Plus she gave me hope for some kind of future with her and that's all I can ask for right now. A threesome—oh how the mind can wander.

Tomato, I see it, can I get to it before she see me? Jackpot and I got away with just a swat and a smile. I love a Tara smile—it lights up the whole room. I think I could lose myself in it. I open my mouth to tell her just that when I hear Faith yell. Tara and I both turn to see what had happened. Faith is standing their as red as Will's hair.

Well, that is until she sees the blushing and then she just smirks. I don't think I have ever seen Faith so lost.

"Not yet," she said and I really had to concentrate to keep from having to pick my jaw up off the floor.

I looked at Tara and saw what I know had to mirrored on my own face. Disbelief, shock, and I might add just a touch of lust.

"Well," Willow said, "I think dinner is almost ready. Faith can you grab some drinks while I set the table? Buffy can you grab that bowl? Tara can you bring the salad?"

Grab the bowl was all my brain was able to digest as I run into Faith getting drinks. She's laughing at us, I try to read her face but all I see is a look of pure mischief, oh boy we are in so much trouble.

I can feel her sneaking up behind me, she thinks that she is being sneaky but I know. After all of these years of being beside her through the good and bad, I always know where she is. This is the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. Well, her and a certain red head.

Will people understand? Oh hell, like I care, after everything I have seen in the last six years. They love me...me...scared shy little ole me. Me who grew up thinking I would turn into a demon, the one thing that these wonderful people had pledged their lives to fight. Buffy saved me from my family and I'm sure if Willow hadn't had to go fight her own insecurities she would have, too. They were my family now, all of them.

She grabs a tomato out of the bowl and pops in her mouth. I swat at her arm. She gives me these sad puppy eyes and all I can do is laugh. She has me wrapped around her little slayer finger. She knows it and I know it. She looks at me like she would like to lose herself in me. I have seen that look many times in the last few days and I will never get tired of seeing it. She opens her mouth to say something but is cut off by a cry from Faith.

"Faith, are you okay?" I asked but when I saw the blush all I could do was smirk and wonder what Will could have possibly said to make the slayer blush like a school girl.

"Will, I think you hurt her," Buffy said and I was going to agree until Willow in a straight face said "Not yet".

I thought my eyes were going to roll across the kitchen floor. She started to issue orders, we all jumped almost running over each other to comply. She just stood there and laughed. I stopped, looked at her and for minute I couldn't help feeling like I was getting on a very long roller coaster and it was going to be one wild ride.

I took off toward the bar. I watched the three of them as I waited for the drinks. If you'd asked me three days ago if I would be here with the three of them I would have laughed.

Sure, I had made amends with Buffy long ago but we were far from being best friends. We were more like co-workers. Now after one day...well one very interesting day, I'm sitting at a bar having drinks with them.

It's all Red's fault I thought, if she hadn't came back so damn sexy, I wouldn't be here. I sigh, grab the drinks and head back to the table

"Okay, one coke for the slayer, another coke for the beautiful witch and for the sexy mother of three...a beer," I smiled and couldn't help but flirt a little after there little tease fest in the kitchen earlier.

After I left her house today I did a lot of thinking and I had to admit that a part of me was scared that I might be jealous but I realized now that I didn't think I was going to be. Willow had been very up front with her feelings and what she wanted from me and the others.

"Yup, Red I'm the only active slayer now, sure B helps when I need it and Tara has even helped with witchy stuff, but I'm pretty much on my own nowadays. I know there is a possibility that I might die tonight, I can't ask someone to put up with that crap. You know about me, you learned to accept that a long time ago with B. I like you. I mean look at you, you are one of the hottest girls I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, and you want me." I saw the blush creep up her face and I laughed.

"Thank you, Faith. I like you too, but you are not on your own any more. Come on," she said and pulled me toward the dance floor. We stepped into the middle of the crowd and she pulled me close.

"Faith, I will always be here for you. I know that Buffy and you haven't had a very close relationship since you came back but I have a feeling that that might change now that you and I have this between us," she said and kissed me.

"I still owe you for that in the kitchen today," I said and picked her up and twirled her around.

I saw Tara watching Faith and Willow sitting at the table, "So what are you thinking about?"

"I know, I can't believe Faith of all people was the one that helped her. She has always seemed so selfish. Maybe I was wrong?"

"What do you think about what Will said today," I asked. It occurred to me that we hadn't talked about it.

"It could work but there will have to be a lot of honesty and communication for it to work."

"Do you understand what she is saying because I am a little confused about it," I asked her.

"I think she is offering us the same thing she is to Faith, friendship with more. We talked in the kitchen today and she knows that a three way relationship isn't possible for her because of the kids. That doesn't stop her from wanting us though."

"Yes. I think so. She loves us Buff, but I think there is still a part of her that is afraid of those feelings. That she feels like she is cheating. Remember the day I had lunch with Angie? We talked a lot about Will and Cheryl. Angie showed me pictures of the two of them together and Buffy it was incredible. I could see it, the love that the two of them shared. I had never seen her that happy. Even now there is sadness behind her smile. It almost broke my heart to look at her then and to see her now. They were meant to be together forever and now she's gone, way to soon."

I looked into her eyes and kissed the tear that was making it's way down her cheek, "Kind of like us. I mean the being together forever and the incredible love that I feel for you."

"Hey that's my job now...to make you happy and feel good," Buffy told me and pulled me back into her strong arms.

For a long time after Willow went away I thought it was her that I had wanted to spend my life with but then my father came to get me and Buffy stood up to him. I think...no, I know...that was the minute I knew what I felt for her was more. I fell for her that day. I tried to hide it for so long, I knew she loved Willow and so did I. I knew we would never be able to put the ghost of the red head behind us, so we concentrated on becoming the best friends we so desperately needed.

Willow's departure left us both so lost and confused. I knew that Buffy had nightmares of coming across Willow some night on patrol and having to kill her best friend. No, not just her best friend, but someone she loved more then life itself. I know that part of me is angry at Willow for leaving us. She went away and got to be happy while Buffy and I had to ignore the feelings that were bouncing between us. I looked at Faith and Willow dancing not to far from us and I have to shake my head, she had been scared and the emotional abuse that her parents had laid on the already lacking self confidence girl had been to much. I guess I couldn't blame her for running.

Isn't that what I'd done with my own family? Somehow I felt she had already been punished enough for her youthful mistake.

She never really talked about her life before coming here but after meeting her brother and father I didn't think I ever wanted to know. If I ever did I might have to go and kick their ass.

"Mostly, I was thinking about the moment I realized that I was in love with you."

"I will always save you," she told me and I lost myself again in her arms. I somehow knew that she would too. I saw Willow and Faith settle beside us.

"No, have fun," I told her and found myself in the arms of the other slayer. I hadn't known Faith when she had come to Sunnydale the first time but I had heard the stories, she had not been someone that had been easy to like. I know it had taken everything inside of Buffy to forgive the dark slayer but Faith had shown all of us that she had changed. I never really talked much to her but considering the odd relationship that was forming between the four of us I felt it was a good idea.

"Faith, why did you turn against everyone the first time you were here?" I asked her.

I looked at her confused face and chuckled. She blushed and said, "Um that sounded a little strange didn't it?"

"I didn't have a very good home life growing up. I wanted to be good, hell I wanted to be just like Buffy but I got scared and I guess I ran. Not from here physically like Red did, but from them. Maybe that's why I understand her leaving better then anyone. The Scoobies were so close and tight knit that the thought of disappointing them can just be too much, even if you know deep down inside that they will always forgive you and be there for you. She was scared of letting them down more then she was afraid of raising a child on her own."

I wondered for a second about whether Faith had been reading my mind a little bit ago but shook it off.

"I know about how hard it is to keep control of your emotions when everything around you feels like it is falling apart. After my mother died, my father and brother used to beat me," I whispered.

If it hadn't been for my slayer hearing I'm not sure I would've been able to hear her whisper. I never would have imagined that this sweet forgiving woman could have went through something like that.

"I know. No one really does. I couldn't tell Buffy about it because I think she would hunt him down and do god knows what to them. I'm saying that I understand you more them anyone."

I had always wondered why she had been the one to defend me and encouraged the others to accept me back and now I knew why. I felt the rage inside build, not at my own mother but at the men that could hurt this amazing woman that was dancing in my arms.

"How did you survive to become who you are? I tried to forget it and move on when I got here but I couldn't. The rage and hatred was always right there just waiting to explode all over the place."

"I guess maybe because it happened later in my life. I was seventeen when my mom died. She always tried so hard to make sure that had a somewhat normal life. I was already who I was by then. Faith, I'm not the same person I was when I got here. Willow can tell you that. I couldn't even look at anyone because I felt like they knew. I was so shy. Sometimes it hurt just to think about having to talk to someone."

I looked over to where Buffy and Willow were dancing. Buffy was laughing at something and for a minute I knew how perfect this life was becoming.

I wondered whether she was right, "Who knows maybe it wouldn't have made a difference, maybe you needed to do the things that you did to become who you needed to become. Just like maybe I needed to do the things that I needed to do. Or Willow and running away, would she be who she is today. Would Buffy? Would I? Would you? If she stayed would we be here. Fate and life are funny things. I for one, happen to think that we might be better the way we turned out. We all had our fair share of pain that we had to weather but I think we are stronger for having done it."

I listened to her and for the first time in a long time I felt a peace that I hadn't felt.

"I don't think I have ever felt this close to anyone before. I always put distance between myself and others. I was afraid to get to close to anyone because of the fear of getting hurt."

She hugged me closer and whispered in the sweetest voice I have ever heard, "We would never hurt you."

I saw Tara wipe a tear from Faith cheek and I wondered what they could be talking about that would make her cry. I wanted to rush over and protect her but I knew that the two of them shared something that Buffy and I couldn't understand.

"I missed you too, Buffy. There wasn't a day go by that I didn't wonder how you were doing."

"Why didn't you call us. Damn it. Willow, do you know how many nights I had nightmares about having to stake you?"

I lowered my head in shame. I knew I owed her an explanation but I honestly didn't know where to start.

"Of me?" I choked out. It was more then I would have been able to take if she was going to tell me that the reason she hadn't come home was because of some fear I would hurt her.

"No, not of you. Of myself and what I had done. I was pregnant with a werewolf's baby. You are the slayer. What if things had turned out different with Beth? What if we hadn't been able to control her, what would you have done? There was no way I could have stood by and had to watch my best friend have to kill my daughter. I just felt like it was better that I go and deal with it on my own. Then by the time I knew for sure it was okay, so much time had passed. I was different and I wasn't sure if you would be able to forgive me for leaving. My parents were so disappointed in me and I couldn't have been able to handle it if you all would have been too."

I felt myself relax a little as the she spoke. I knew she was right to some extent. I would have had to handle it if Beth had been bad and I knew that our friendship wouldn't have survived. We had grown up so much, her and I in the time she had been gone.

"It's okay Buffy. I made a big mistake in not trusting in you and everyone but I was young."

"How about we make a pact right here and now that the past in exactly were it should be in the past."

"I like the sound of that. Buffy, I always planned on coming home it just took a lot longer than I planned on. I never thought I would get wrapped up the way I did."

"Why did you come back then?" I asked her. "I mean why not stay there and be normal?"

"I missed it...here, you, everyone. I needed my family. I don't know what I would have done if things hadn't work out with everyone. I guess we would have just went to LA and lived there. I stopped and talked to Angel when I went to LA before I came here. He told me I always had a place there and I could have helped them."

"No, I have to have some normal but at some point I'm going to have to talk to the kids about who I am and the things that go on here. I mean Beth's father is a werewolf how normal can we pretend to be."

She had always just wanted to live a regular life but I knew that after you know what we knew it wasn't possible. What I hadn't told her was the reason that I had chosen Seattle or the things that I had done when I was there. I guess it just made me feel closer to the old gang and made me feel like maybe I was helping in some way. I caught Faith and Tara out of the corner of my eye and decided that Buffy and Faith needed to talk too.

"Buffy, about Faith. I know things have been okay between you since she came back but are you really okay with her and I?"

"Why her?" I asked. Faith had changed, I couldn't argue that. She had paid her price for the things she had done but part of me could never trust her. Now one of the women I loved was getting involved with her.

"Buff, I never thought that I would say what I'm about to say about Faith of all people but she's funny and there's warmth and understanding there. She tries to hide it below this tough cold exterior but it's there. You just have to know where to look. Think for minute about how far she was gone and how far she has come."

I glanced over seeing her with her arms wrapped around Tara, she was smiling and laughing, I think for the first time I really looked at her since her return. I had always been afraid to look into her eyes, afraid of seeing the cold emptiness that had always been there, what I saw tonight almost made my knees go week. She was looking at my girlfriend with so much understanding and I had to admit concern.

"You're welcome. How about we switch for a little while. I think I would like to dance with your girl."

Before I even knew what hit me I found myself in the arms of Buffy. I stiffened a little and tried to put some distance between us.

I looked into the blonde's eyes and saw something I have never seen in Buffy's eyes, respect.

"No, let me talk for a minute. I know I haven't been support girl for you since you came back, but Faith so much happened between us I was scared. I was afraid that if I trusted you that you would hurt me again."

I tried to gather my thoughts, I knew this was my chance to finally make things right with us, something I had wanted to do for so long.

"B, I couldn't hurt you. It's my own fault. I should have trusted you all back then but it was hard. All I wanted when I came here was to be like you, and I ended up being the opposite of you. I let all the bad things she had said and done to turn me into something I didn't want to be but the only person I thought I could be. That turned out to be the dark slayer."

"Faith, I was jealous, I never gave you a chance. Maybe if we had accepted you, you wouldn't have had to find acceptance with the mayor."

"It doesn't matter now, B. Tara just told me that maybe the things that have happened have happened for a reason. We are the people who we are because of all of it."

"I agree," I said and relaxed into her arms. I caught Red eye and mouthed thank you to her and her smile lit up the room.

My smile could have lit up the room when she mouthed thank you to me. I knew that I accomplished what I had came here tonight to do.

"Yup, they needed it. They need each other. The slayers have feelings and emotions that only another slayer can understand. Tara, I want this to work and the only way is if everyone can be open with each other about the things they are feeling."

"Well, were do we go from here," Tara asked me and I suddenly realized that they were all here because of me.

"We take things slow, get to find the friendship again and then go from there but for now I need to get a drink." She laughed and lead me back to the table. Buffy and Faith collapsed beside us.

I saw him out of the corner of my eye, I glanced around to Faith and Buffy to see if they had noticed it too but they were both caught up in talking to each other about some demon that Faith had killed last week.

I stood up, "Hey I'm going to go get some more drinks"; I said and made my way to the bar.

"Can't I come to visit my partner without getting the third degree, my friend?" he said not even turning around to look at me.

"Not when there are two slayers sitting thirty feet away, who would love nothing more then to stake your ass right here." He turned and glanced toward the table that I had just left.

"You know we did, you would feel it if I didn't. Keep that up and I might start to think that you care."

"They're fine, doing well. You need to be careful in this town, Micah. This is not Seattle."

"I know but something is going to happen, soon," he said and I felt a shudder run through me.

"Don't know but I do know that it will involve your daughter and I shielded it from you, I wanted to know more before I told you."

"My sweet Angela. Willow I think you need to call the council on this. They know but they are keeping it to themselves."

"The council knows though. Damn I really don't want to have to call them. Mike, would you do it," I asked him and batted my eye lashes at him.

"I know but I had to give it a shot. I don't want to have to explain everything about my time in Seattle."

"No. Buffy thinks I had this normal life. They have no idea of the things I was there for. Micah you don't think..."

"Yes we did but not yet. We are being watched, you had better go back before they get suspicious, my friend."

"Who was that," I asked her. At first I thought it was just some guy trying to hit on her but I saw an expression of familiarity directed toward him.

"Who was who? Oh that guy, no one. I worked with him for a little while in Seattle."

"I thought you worked from home," I asked feeling like she was hiding something.

"Oh," I said still feeling like something wasn't right. I glanced around to look at him one more time but he was gone.

I saw Buffy looking for Micah but I had seen him go out the front door as soon as I had sat down. I knew that she didn't believe me. I had a feeling that I was going to have to tell them all very soon.

"I have to run to the restroom, I'll be back," I told them. I slipped out the backdoor and lit a cigarette; I pulled my cell phone out and dialed the number.

"Robert, what the hell is going on? I just had Micah show up in Sunnydale telling me that something is going to happen with Angie. What do you know?" I said trying very hard not to scream at him.

"Willow, I don't know. Quint is being very hush hush about whatever it is. It sounds like you may know more then I do."

"Robert that's not good enough. I want you to tell Travers that he has until tomorrow to call me or so help me god, Robert I will go over there and kick his ass."

"Thanks I'm sorry I yelled at you but damn it this is my kid we're talking about this time."

"I know I'll be in touch." I clicked off the phone and sighed. I threw the cigarette on the ground and turned around, running right into Faith. Shit, how much of that did she hear?

"Just wanted to smoke," I said quickly maybe too quickly.
"Last time I checked it was okay to smoke in the bar," she said and gave me a puzzled look.

"Not much just an apology for yelling and something about it being your kid. Which one? What the hell is going on? First you're talking to a strange guy in the bar then yelling at someone on the phone. Raises a few red flags in my book."

"Faith," I started but my phone started to ring interrupting me. "Hold that thought. Yeah...Faith can you give me a minute." I saw her start to argue with me but turned and walked back into the bar.

"Hey, I know how I would feel if it was my kid. I did what you told me and I have to say that I'm impressed I have never seen the old man look scared before. I got the file and I both think we know what it says."

"Well it looks like time has run out. I'm on the next flight out. I should be there Sunday night."

"Well at least she has had a heads up for while. You won't have to go in cold like most times."

I sat down at the table and looked at Buffy and Tara, "Something's going on with her."

"No. As soon as I asked her the phone rang and she asked me to leave. When I went out there she was yelling at someone telling them it was her kid this time."

"I don't know but when she was talking to the guy at the bar I could have sworn that my slayer senses were going off."

"Mine too but I thought maybe I was sensing one somewhere else," Buffy whispered.

I walked up to the table and saw the group stop talking and look up. I knew that they had been talking about me.

"Nope, no trouble here. We are a trouble free zone," I babbled. Oh great job Will they'll really believe you if you keep this up. Buffy has a look of disbelief that I know that if I look will be on the other two's faces.

Maybe change the subject. "I had a wonderful time tonight. I haven't had a lot of chances to go out lately."

I see that they aren't going to bite, "Okay, would you settle for I'll tell you tomorrow. There's someone I need to talk to first."

"I guess I don't have much of a choice now," I said and stopped. I felt Micah in the shadows and a dull feeling he was not the only one.

I felt rather then saw Mike come from the shadows and head toward us but before I could say anything Faith pulled a stake from her coat and ran for him

"Faith," I yelled and concentrated on the stake in her hand. It flew out of her hand and hit the vamp that was coming from behind.

"Trust me and let us handle this," I yelled to the three women standing to the side.

"Willow catch," Mike yelled and threw the second to me. Then the third. The fourth one hit me in the face and I went down. I kicked him off of me and jumped up, "You know you picked the wrong damn day to piss me off."

I kicked in the stomach sending him flying. I stood over top of him; "I have had one hell off a day already. What? Do we look like we would make a good dinner?"

I looked over and saw Micah losing his battle, "You're lucky my partner over there is having problems cause I would like nothing more but to take some frustrations out on someone."

He turned to dust just as the last one came flying toward me. I raised my stake...oh hell who was I kidding...my branch and he was gone. I brushed off my pants and walked toward Mike, "Why can't you be a real man and just rip their heads off or pull out their hearts?"

I started to walk away, "Oh no you'd rather I get all dusty? You are such a wuss. Well next time you can play catcher." I kept walking and turned to say some other remark about his lack of manly hood, when I noticed he'd stopped. I turned around to yell at him when I saw Buffy, Tara and Faith standing there slack jawed. Shit, shit, shit, I just did that in front of everyone.

"Six actually, so much for tomorrow. Guys, I would like you to Micah. Micah this is Buffy, Faith and Tara."

"It's a pleasure to meet the slayers in person, even if you were trying to kill me," Micah laughed.

"Well hell, I knew there was something funny about him. Mike why didn't you tell me," I said sarcastically.

"I don't know I saw a little humor there which is more than she usually has," Micah teased. I glared at him; I was not in the mood now.

"Someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? I would think that getting some last night would have helped your less then sunny personality."

"How about we go back to the house and I'll try to explain things," I said and turned to Mike, "Robert's on his way."

I groaned and glanced toward the rest of the group. This was going to be a long night. I opened the door and let everyone in, "Micah come in."

Buffy turned on the light and her and Tara sat down on the couch. Faith grabbed a chair.

I said and went into the kitchen. I started the coffee and grabbed the phone, "Hey Oz how was the party...good...it's time...I know, wanted more time too...just watch your back tonight...no I don't think they know yet...I'm getting ready to talk to them now...Micah's here...Yup it is serious...I'm going to tell her tomorrow...tell them I miss and love them...goodnight."

I hung up the phone and finished the drinks. I carried them to the living room. I looked at the group of them and wondered if they had even breathed since I left. I sat down on the floor in front of them. I opened my mouth to speak when the phone on my pocket started to ring.

"Okay let me see if I got it," I told him and went over to my desk. I looked over the paper that was sitting on it and handed it to Mike, "Robert please tell me this is a joke."

"Got it. See you soon," I clicked off the phone and faxed the paper to someone I'd hoped could help me.

"This just keeps going down hill faster and faster doesn't it, my friend?" Mike said.

"What the hell was the council thinking? I mean he is going to go ballistic on them when he finds out."

I glanced at the rest and saw that they were losing patience quickly. "Guys give me just a few more minutes with this and I'll be right there." The last thing I needed tonight was two pissed off slayers and a witch.

"Nope just made things a hell of a lot more complicated, Angel. Is it possible," I asked him.

"I did feel something when she was here but I wasn't able to put my finger on it. It is possible. He's going to be pissed."

"No just stay put. I'll call you if I need you. I want to have a back up plan. Thanks Angel, I'll be in touch soon." I sighed and sat down.

"Here. There wasn't much to drink in there but I think you may need this," Micah said handing me a glass."

"Have I told you that if I had to have someone in my head I'm grateful it's you."

"Not usually, ready to get started? I think the slayers' heads are going to explode."

"Willow Rosenberg I have waited patiently for you to sit down and explain to me first why are you fighting with a vampire; second, what do you mean inside your head; third, which one of your kids is in trouble and why; fourth, why did you call Angel and fifth, well I'm sure I will have other questions," Buffy said.

"Okay. Well how about I start from the beginning? When I decided that I was going to leave I called the council. I thought maybe I could go over there and go to school. I thought about being a watcher and coming home. Sounded good in my head. They accepted me but they didn't want me to come to England. I was staying in the US and working with a girl that they thought was going to be a slayer. At first I figured I would be teaching her how to research and be like a big sister. Well there was a lot that the council didn't tell me about her until after I had already gotten there. It seemed that this slayer was special. She was a child of a vampire and a slayer witch," I paused to let that sink in for a minute.

"They don't know...the slayer refused to say. We know that it had to be some kind of spell but we don't know for sure. As soon as the council found out about the baby, she was shipped back to England and her watcher was shipped to god knows where. I believe he died shortly after. The slayer was killed as soon as she had the baby. They brought the baby back to the US and she was given to a women who's own child had died soon after birth. The woman didn't know that the child she had raised for nine years wasn't hers. No, I had the pleasure of informing her about that. She took it well all things considering. That's were Micah comes in. He was in charge of her magic training. Robert was her watcher and I helped with magic and just being a friend. About two years went by and then the shit really hit the fan. The child's prophecy calls for her to close the Hellmouth but first we have to keep her alive long enough."

"Angie" I whispered, "There is a lot of people gunning for her. We have kept her safe, how many times is it now, Micah, eight or nine."

"Or twelve. Really that many times? Damn, oh okay back on track. This time is different though. The threat is very big this time. There has been rumbling in the demon community for a while now. A very strong vampire wants her because not only can she close the Hellmouth but she can open it too."

"I don't know maybe neither, the prophecy is pretty vague. It never said whether she had to be called to do it. I have researched until I have exhausted all of my leads, now we just sit back and fight what comes up and play it by ear."

"Tell him I guess and hopes he cares enough about his child to help protect her."

"Well, Micah decided that he wanted to rid himself of his demon, so after some research we were able to find a soul restoration spell that didn't have a happy clause. It anchored his soul to mine. One of the drawbacks is we know what the other is feeling all the time. The other is that we both share each others memories."

"A little my ass. If I had known she was doing that spell I would have never allowed it. I thought we had lost her for a while. The brain just wasn't made to handle a 125 years of horrific memories in minutes, her brain shut down. The spell called for my demon and her soul be split in half. We each received half of each. She was in a coma for a week. It took us another week to get her out of the closet and I don't mean that metaphorically either. She spent a week curled up in a fetal position in her closet. It took another three weeks for her to talk. We had to finally get the council to send us a doctor. It was almost another month before she would come out of their bedroom. She still has to take pills to control the emotions."

"No, Will remember I'm in your head. I know how you feel about these women and I'll be damned if you are going to keep things from them. How do you think she went so long without breaking down after her girlfriend died? Why do you think she is so afraid of her feelings for you all, it's not because of Cheryl? No Cheryl would kick her ass if she knew she was using her as an excuse. She knew in the line of work that we did that our time together was short. We talked about what we wanted if something ever happened to one of us and the one thing she always made sure of was that, Will would come home to you guys. Willow, Cheryl knew you loved her with all your heart but she knew she shared it with Buffy and Tara. No, Willow's afraid to feel."

"But I did. You gave me the right to butt into your life when you lied to me about the spell. We share a soul now. I know what you feel; I know how much you love Buffy and Tara. I was there when you realized you loved Buffy. I was there when you realized you loved Tara. I was there when you fell for Cheryl. I also can feel the feelings and emotion swirling in you about Faith. Willow, Cheryl is dead, they're here. She's gone and she's not coming back. If you can't see that then you are a damned fool. Look at them they are standing here offering everything they have and you're still afraid to take it. Why? Because you might feel human again," Mike yelled at me.

"I didn't have a choice. We needed you; I couldn't protect them on my own. I couldn't worry about you going nuts and having to defend us against you too," I yelled and began to pace.

"No but I would have if it would have saved you from having to go through what you have."

"I will do anything to protect my family," I said and looked at the rest of them. I could see the fear and confusion in their faces.

"She wouldn't put you in that kind of danger. We have to be on the lookout at all times. We have spent the bigger part of the last six years looking over our shoulders waiting for the next attack," Mike said.

I needed to get out of this room, "I'm going to go smoke and get some air. Don't hurt him ladies, it gives me a headache."

I watched her go out the backdoor. I wondered where the shy hacker that had left six years ago went. I glared at the vampire sitting in front of me, was it his fault or was it everything she had been through had made her that way? I felt Tara reach out and grab my hand.

"What can we do to help her," I asked the one person in the room that really knew her.

"Realize she is not the same person she was when she left. Respect that and understand that this is not your fight. This one is ours. We know what we are doing. She doesn't need you to protect her. I would bet money that she could probably kick your ass. She needs you guys to support her and stand behind her."

"Show her. Tell her I will be around tomorrow when Robert gets here. Stay tonight, talk, cry, yell, sometimes she needs to be yelled at. Hell, the four of you have wild passionate sex and I'm not just saying that because I can feel it either. Even if she won't say it out loud she needs you," Micah took one last look at us and walked out the door.

I thought about what he had said. Could we be lovers the four of us? I guess Faith must have been thinking the same thing, "Can we I mean would that work?"

I looked at Tara to figure out what she was feeling. If anyone in this room could figure it out she could.

How did I feel about Faith? If you asked me yesterday if I would even be considering sex with her I would have laughed in your face, hell if you asked me two hours ago I would have laughed but Tara was right—the rules had changed. Willow had made me see things that I hadn't been able to see on my own.

"I think I might be. I mean you love her, I love her and what about you Faith?" Tara said looking at Faith.

"I care about her. Is it love? Maybe a little to soon to say but after hearing everything about her life since she left, there is a hell of a lot of respect."

"Would it be rude to do Xander's happy dance around the living room?" Faith asked.

"Okay. Well, I pass on the dancing but feel free to do it...I'm human and two hot women dancing always was a turn on."

I looked up at the stars and sighed. I had my back to the door but I could feel them come out.

"After living with just half a demon for the last couple of years, I can understand why she was nuts. Look I'm sorry for the scene in there tonight. Sometimes he knows how to push its buttons."

"Most of the time. Sometimes when the emotions are strong it's harder to keep it under control. I'm even known to let it come out and play sometimes."

"No. I only have half and if I get to far gone Micah can sense it and pull me back. I use it to fight a lot. It comes in handy to have a 125 year old demon in your head once in a while."

"The bond, remember? I know what he is doing at all times," I closed my eyes and smiled for a minute, "Right now he is beating the crap out of some demon at Willy's trying to get information."

I saw all of them blush at knowing that I probably knew about him telling them to sleep with me. I lit a cigarette and sat down in a chair. I figured I'll let them tell me what they had decided after Micah had left.

"The thought of sleeping with three women doesn't wig you out at all does it Will?" Buffy asked me.

"Nope, guys there are a lot of things that wig me out but the thought of the three of you in bed with me isn't one of them."

"What? Have more than Cheryl in my bed? Yes, after my little breakdown, they began to understand that we were different. I loved Cheryl, hell even the demon loved her but it needed more. She understood that sex was different for the demon. It needed something that she couldn't give it. It wasn't about love, it was an outlet for the aggression that it had."

"Oh yeah. So what was the verdict?" I asked and tossed my cigarette off the deck.

"Depends on the answer. Is it on the surface waiting to come out and play? Yeah. I told you when my emotions go haywire it's harder to control."

I saw the three of them look at me. I was the reason they were here and they were looking at me for the guidance. I was the one with experience that none of them had. I looked at them one more time and tossed my finished cigarette off the patio. My demon screaming for me to just take them right there on the porch of my dead parent's house, but the human soul saw the trust that they were giving me. I stared out into the night sky—the demon and human soul waging a war inside my head.

I closed my eyes and leaned into the embrace that I never thought I would find myself in. I felt Tara's light touch on my arm.

Faith stood in front of me and searched my eyes. "We trust you, please trust us."

I felt my body tremble and wasn't sure if it was from the cold or from the closeness of the three of them. I closed my eyes and laid my head on Faith's shoulder and sighed, the battle slowing but never coming to an end. I looked into Tara's eyes and for just a minute I let her see the fight that was just below the surface.

Tara kissed her way down my neck, nipping and tugging the flesh. "Let it go, we're here, we can handle it."

Buffy taking the hint from her girlfriend, slipped her hands under my shirt and drug her fingernails down my back. The demon fighting closer to the surface growled and pulled Faith into a searing kiss. I felt Buffy fingernails dig deeper into the flesh on my back. Tara bit down harder on neck. Faith broke off the kiss and gasped for air.

I turned in Buffy's embrace and pushed her against the railing, my hands roaming, touching her body. I pulled her shirt over her head and ripped open the front of her bra. I felt Buffy shudder under my hands. I lowered my head and took one of her nipples into my mouth biting down hard.

"Will", she screamed which only added fuel to my already burning hot
fire. My mouth latched on to her neck, the demon in me needing to mark what was its.

I turned from the panting blonde slayer to Tara. She lowered her head and pulled her hair to one side exposing her neck. I growled and felt the demon screaming for its release. I buried my teeth into the flesh of her neck.

I started for Faith but before I could get to her she shoved me against the rough surface of my house.

She lifted my arms above my head and looked into my eyes. I knew from the way she studied them that they had turned yellow, the only noticeable side effect of my vampire soul.

"Do you think that you could take me that easy?" Faith growled at me, pulling my arms up higher over my head.

I kicked her legs out from under her and she landed on her butt with a thud. Before she had a chance to recover I was straddling her waist. I used one hand to pin her hands above her head and one to pull the front of her shirt open. I leaned my head forward and licked at the soft flesh of her breast.

I felt rather then heard the moan deep in her chest as my teeth dug into the soft skin.

I felt Buffy's strong hand on my shoulder, "I think we should move this somewhere a little less open, now."

I looked into her eyes and saw not my friend and soon to be lover but the eyes of the slayer. I growled at her and pushed her away, the demon finally taking control.

She grabbed me by shirt and slammed me against the wall, "We are the slayers," she said and pointed to Faith on the deck. "We may be yours but you are ours and you will never, ever push me away."

"No. She needs this. Don't you, Will? She's a demon with no master of her own," Buffy said.

I saw Faith take Tara by the hand and lead her into the house. I tried to pull out of her hands and was rewarded with a punch in the face.

"Don't make this any harder than it has to be, Will," Buffy said and ran her hand down the front of me, "I'm stronger and faster than you. I will win and all you will have to show for it is a bloody lip and bruises. You are mine and theirs."

She pulled my nipple between her fingers and tugged on it until I was on my knees in front of her.

She grabbed a handful of hair, pulled me up by it and slammed me back into the house.

"Why don't we go join the other two in the house?" she said and led me into the house.

I sighed and rolled over to look at the warm body cuddled up beside me. Buffy had her arm thrown over my waist and I snuggled up closer. I just wanted to enjoy the feeling of being in the blonde slayer's arms. I looked over and found Faith and Tara in much the same position as Buffy and I. I gently rolled out from Buffy's embrace and threw some clothes on. I made my way down the stairs and found Mike sitting in the dark.

"Not as good as yours I bet. You know you could have blocked all of that. I damn near lost control tonight," he growled at me.

I couldn't help but giggle at him, "I know. I was just getting ready to shut it off when you did it for me. I just thought you might enjoy the show."

"So lets go have some coffee and I'll tell you what I had planned. From what Robert said we don't have a lot of time."

"Damn it if he said that then I'm thinking we only have a day or two. Why the hell can't the council give us a little more time on these things," Mike grumbled.

"So what do you think? Can we make it work?" I asked him after I had explained my plan to him.

"No I don't. Mike, I never planned for things to move this fast. I'm kind of confused about the whole thing. I really didn't plan on it happening at all but damn they are all so cute-how could I not fall for them?"

"Will, just remember that you love them and they love you. Where things go from here is up to you. I know that you are worried about what the kids will think but love is love and it shouldn't matter where it comes from."

"You know that and I know that but the rest of the world doesn't but if we don't stop this threat it isn't going to matter anyway," I said and grabbed my jacket from beside the door.

"It's almost light outside so I should be alright but there's two slayer asleep upstairs if I'm not."

"Thanks, Mike…for everything. I wouldn't be able to do this without you. See you in a little bit."

I knocked on the door of Spike's crypt and waited for him to answer. When no one answered I opened the door.

I sat down and waited. I really did hate the council right then. I had half a mind to call them and tell them where to go and how fast to get there. I had just pulled out my phone when the door opened the blonde vampire walked in.

"Well, I wish that I was here to chat but it's business. Spike did you have an affair with a slayer?"

"No she didn't, Spike. She is a happy, healthy normal fifteen year old. I should know, I've lived with her and help raise her for the last six years. Her mother was my girlfriend. Spike, your daughter didn't die."

"Yeah and she's in trouble. I need your help. She has a pretty nasty vamp after her."

"I'll rip the head off of anyone who tries to hurt our little girl," he growled. "Can I see her? She doesn't have to know who I am. I just want to see her and maybe get to know her."

"Spike, she knows her father is a vamp. I just never knew who it was. I would never have kept her from you." I pulled out a picture of the five of us at the zoo and handed it to him. "This is Angie your daughter. Jen is her sister and this is Beth, my daughter with Oz."

"You have a beautiful family, Red. Tell me about her?" he asked me with tears in his eyes.

I walked through the front door of my house and my nose was assaulted with the smell of bacon cooking. I had sat and talked to Spike for the better part of the morning and now my stomach was telling me about it. I walked into the kitchen and found the windows covered in blankets. Tara was standing at the stove cooking. Buffy, Faith, and Mike were sitting at the table.

"Good morning, guys," I said. Tara came over and kissed me, followed by Buffy and Faith. I could get used to this.

"Not really, he swears it wasn't a spell, so who knows maybe she was just meant to be here."

"Sweetie I know that you didn't get any sleep last night so I want you to eat and then go take a nap," Tara told me.

"I wish I could but I have too much to do right now. I had planned on grabbing a shower and then heading over to Giles' and see if he can add anything."

"We can handle that. Faith can take Mike through the tunnels. You go to bed. You can't help anyone if you are tired and grumpy," Tara said and pointed to the steps.

"How the hell did you do that? I have only seen one other person who could get her to do something she didn't want to. I think I finally figured out. You only listen to someone who can take away…"

"If you value your undead life you will not finish that thought," I threatened and walked over to the blanket on the window.

"Mike, leave her alone and you get, go to bed," Tara said and kissed me on the cheek. I glared at him and stuck my tongue out. I kissed Buffy and Faith and headed up the stairs.

Buffy and Tara walked into the Magic Box to find her mother there helping Giles.

"Buffy, Tara, what brings you guys in here on a Sunday morning?" Joyce asked returning Buffy's hug and smiling at her blonde girlfriend.

"Well as usual it's research time," Buffy said looking at her mother. "Tara why don't you fill Giles in while I talk to Mom in the back?" Joyce followed Buffy into the training room and sat down on the couch.

"Mom, you know that I love Tara right but that I have loved Willow since almost the minute I met her, right?" Buffy said and waited for her mother to nod before she continued. "Well, some things happened last night that I want to tell you about."

Buffy spent the next half an hour explaining the relationship that the four had decided on and about the demon and the bond that Willow shared with Mike. She told her mother about Angie being a slayer and being in trouble.

"Ok, let me get this straight," Joyce said shaking her head. "Willow shares a demon with a vampire. The four of you had sex last night. Willow's daughter is a slayer or will be if one of you dies and may be able to close the Hellmouth. Right so far?"

"Are you all crazy? I could handle my daughter being gay and being in a relationship with one girl but three? Buffy I think that might be asking a little too much of me. I love Willow like she was a daughter and well Faith could grow on me but this is just too much," Joyce yelled.

Buffy listened to her mother rant and rave about her choice of a lifestyle, finally when her mother had run out of steam she asked, "Feel better now?"

"That's all I ask, beside I'm not even sure how far it can go right now. Willow doesn't want to hurt the kids any more than they already have been."

"I have to agree with her. A least she is thinking things through," Joyce sighed thinking she may never understand her daughter.

"Oh hell you know Willow, she is sometimes too smart for her own good. Come on, lets go see if Tara needs any help with Giles."

"You guys are going to give that poor man a heart attack someday," Joyce laughed taking Buffy's hand.

"Sometimes that's half the fun," Buffy said and ducked to avoid a slap on the arm.

"I can't believe this," Giles said taking off his glasses and cleaning them for the hundredth time, "I had heard rumors of this around the council for the last few years but everyone just blew it off as just that, rumors."

"Believe it old man, we been living it," Mike said coming out of the basement following Faith and Spike. "You must be Rupert Giles. I'm Micah or Mike if you like it better."

"So I take it you can't shed any light on this thing either, Giles?" Buffy asked pulling Tara closer to her.

"Robert should be here soon and he will have everything the council has," Mike said sitting down at the table.

"She didn't get a lot of sleep last night, Spike kept her up way past her bedtime," Buffy said.

Willow walked into the store and found the group pouring over the books, "Hey guys."

"Oh you know what you did, young lady. I could live with you running away. I can understand your fear but to have gone through what you did and not call us. What the hell were you thinking? Buffy's the damn slayer, you didn't think about asking her to help. Not only is she the slayer but she is your best friend," Joyce said.

"There was no excuse for not asking for help from us. Don't think just because you have three kids that you're too old for me to kick your ass," Joyce explained in her best Mom tone, then softened, "But I want to tell you how proud I am of you too. I know that you have gone to great lengths to protect your family and for that I respect you more then I thought that I ever could."

"Willow, I want to second that," Giles started and then came up beside her, "I have heard the rumors of the things you have stopped before they came here and if only half of them are true, I thank you."

"I still have a few things I would like to discuss with you later about last night's activities but that can wait," Joyce said.

"Okay, well Robert should be here in a little bit so why don't we see if we can find anything out in these books?" Willow said, trying to sway the subject away from sex.

The gang spent the afternoon talking, sharing funny past stories. Willow shared stories about her time in Seattle and her mistakes as a first time mother. They were laughing about Buffy's first day as a teacher when the door to the shop opened. Buffy stared at the nicely dressed man who entered.

"Robert, how the hell are you?" Willow said jumping up and giving the man a warm hug.

Robert took one look at her and turned toward Mike, "Someone got laid while they were here."

"You did not just say that in front of a room full of total strangers," Willow blushed looking between the two men.

"Yup sure did. But they won't be strangers if you introduce me," he said and stepped forward.

"Guys this is Robert, Robert this is Buffy, Tara, Faith, Joyce, Spike and Giles."

"Cause you have no tweed and you're not English," Buffy said, "I mean I thought that they were all carbon copies of Giles."

"Yes well, not all watchers are from England. I was actually raised in Ohio," Robert answered.

"Yup, home of the Buckeyes. As for the tweed too itchy, I prefer silk myself and I know Will has a fascination for leather."

"Well I…um…really can we just focus here and get off my sex life and secret obsessions for a little while. I mean there are people here that I consider parental figures. The kids are going to be back soon and I would really like to have a plan in place. So when and where, Robert?"

"Today's Sunday, we only have two days to figure this out?" Buffy asked in shock. "How did the council expect us to be ready by then?"

"Hell we were lucky this time, most of the time they don't even tell us," Willow said pacing the room, "Ok well here's my thoughts, when Oz gets here I'm going to ask him to take Beth and Jen back with him. I think we need to keep Ang here with us. I would rather have her close. Robert, Mike and I will go to the old high school tomorrow night, maybe get a jump on them. They won't be expecting us to take the offensive. Buffy, Tara, Giles and Faith can stay behind at my house and watch over Angie there. Spike you are the final barrier, if all of us fail; I want you to take Angie and head to LA. Angel will be waiting to take you to somewhere safe. Any question, comments?"

"Don't you think it would be wise to take at least one of the slayers with you?" Joyce asked.

"No, I'd rather have them looking after Angie. I figure if we fail at the Hellmouth then Spike's gonna need all of the distractions and power to get her out of there."

"Hopefully kick their ass and get rid of this guy. Look I know you guys are worried but I need you to trust us. We've done it before and we can do it again."

"Will," Buffy started and looked to Tara and Faith, then settling on the red head, "Can we talk privately?"

"Umm…sure. Mike, you and Robert work with Giles find out if there's anything we can do to give us the advantage. Has anyone been around the old school?" Willow asked.

"Ok work with them on the layout, we need to know anything and everything we might run into. I want to know if there is any place they could be hide for an ambush. Where they might be in there," Willow said.

Buffy shut the door to the training room and turned to Willow, Buffy was been impressed with the way Willow was taking charge, "Will hon. are you sure Faith or I shouldn't go with you?"

"Yeah I mean we are slayers we're better suited to handle these kinds of things," Faith said stepping up to Willow.

"Look guys I know that when you knew me before I wasn't much of a fighter but that changed. I'm not the shy girl who runs away anymore. I really, really need you to understand that. I need you to protect Angie, that is the most important thing. I know what I got into a long time ago. I don't want you to worry about me. I can take care of myself. Remember nasty half demon in my head and trust me he hates to lose."

"So we protect the house and Angie, got it?" Buffy asked pulling the redhead into a hug.

Willow couldn't contain her growl when the blonde slayer began to kiss her neck, "Think they'll miss us?"

"Shit, not again," Mike mumbled shaking his head at the closed training room door.

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