Alterations With Time by LilBit

Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: All the characters from BUFFY: THE VAMPIRE SLAYER are the property of Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy, Inc.
Distribution: The Mystic Muse http://mysticmuse.net
Feedback: Of course. Please!
Spoilers: Post-Chosen.
Author's Notes: Post-BTVS – This story is a continuation of 'The Sacrifice' – reading that story first is recommended.
Pairing: Willow/Kennedy

Summary: Can Willow and Kennedy handle all that life and evil have to throw at them?

She watched as the wood tip pierced through the polyester Brazilian World Cup soccer shirt, followed its lightening path tearing into dead skin. It was the distinctive sound of bone shattering that told her the end was almost near. The heart was speared and, as if no time passed, the creature turned to dust. It always seemed to happen in slow motion though it really only took an instant. Kennedy's slayer senses had become so sharpened that she could see the death scene of her vampire victim as if viewing a movie reel frame by frame; she could hear the impact of wood on skin. She watched as her spike turned demon to bone and then to dust. It was the noise she waited to hear, because then she knew no other innocents would have life drained from their veins by that particular living dead.

'God, I love being a slayer,' Kennedy thought to herself as she dusted off her shirt and jeans. She turned, facing four other slayers.

The girls with her, four of the new slayers found, looked on impressed. Even though they were slayers, they were still lacking in actual hands on combat. There was a consensus in the new Council that slayers would have more training before being put out for patrol. Slayer history was filled with stories of Chosen Ones who lived less than a year due to their inability to properly defend themselves. Giles in particular wanted the new generations of slayers to live long lives even to the point of 'retiring' from their destiny. That could be done only with cautious training and the benefit of a multitude of slayers.

The Sao Paulo branch consisted of twenty-four slayers, not all lived in the city. Some lived in desolate areas or places ravaged in poverty. For these girls, Miguel tried to arrange accommodations in the complex he acquired or at least a lifeline to where they lived. Some girls refused to leave home, determined to fight evil in their own back yard. For them, Miguel along with the Sunnydale couple gave whatever assistance or support was needed. The slayers at the complex were a different matter. Initially, Miguel took charge of their training, both physical and mental. Because of the demanding nature of that responsibility, he often left it to Kennedy and Willow to make contact with newly found slayers. Kennedy had become proficient in the national language rather quickly, making the Brazilian's presence unnecessary. After not too long, the man could see his charges needed more stimuli, harder competition. Kennedy was happy to oblige.

With each passing month in Brazil, Kennedy grew more attuned to her slayer destiny. She was reveling in the spectacular abilities her body possessed. The brunette finally felt whole. She was not like Buffy or the thousands before her who were thrown into their powers, their destiny, unsuspecting. Kennedy had been drilled the life of a slayer since early childhood. She was always supposed to be a slayer. She was taught to think like a slayer, act like one and be willing to die like a 'chosen one.' It wasn't until Willow's spell sent the power surging through her that she felt she had finally arrived. With that supernatural energy, Kennedy had been reborn. Though the sensation was something she had never experienced or could have explained, the brunette was instantly at home with it. It seemed to have existed inside the girl her entire life. Now that she had the whole slayer package, Kennedy promised herself she would be the best slayer possible; she would live up to the expectations of the legacy and her dead watcher.

Her lack of a watcher was of concern in the beginning, but as time passed she decided no one could have replaced her Thomas. Anything he hadn't taught her, she would learn on her own, the ultimate on-the-job training. She also talked to Giles and Buffy on some matters, but it was Faith that she called most often. Her connection with the lone slayer was solidified when Faith saved her from the Truxdeiro, but she knew it went even further back. From the first time they met at Buffy's, there had been a connection. Though they came from different ends of the earth, they shared a basic philosophy – push the envelope. They were both confident to the point of arrogance at times. There was also something about Faith's constant "five by five" attitude the brunette could relate to on more than one level. So, whenever she wanted to talk strategy, weapons or just shoot the shit, Kennedy called Faith. She became a closer friend to Kennedy than any the brunette had had in school.

The brunette slayer used the information she got during those calls in her patrolling and training. She took on the responsibility of helping out with the slayers once Miguel observed he had landed on the wrong end of a slayer's fist once too often. Kennedy enjoyed training the girls. She had enjoyed the sessions with the potentials she led at Buffy's and this was just the same, but with the intensity level cranked up one hundred fold. The brunette was not a lenient teacher; she pushed hard, expecting full effort every single second. She trained like she had been – no mercy. She wasn't mean or controlling, just demanding, because she knew that's what would keep her, and those she trained, alive to experience more in life than merely slaying.

Kennedy's sense of obligation was to the legacy of fighting evil and protecting the innocent. She wanted that life. She didn't carry the same stifling weight like Buffy had all those years. The brunette never had to think about being the only defense between good and evil. While Buffy had tormented through moments of doubt and fleeting desires to be rid of her destiny, Kennedy could never imagine her life now without this honored responsibility. In the months since she was infused with the slayer power, Kennedy had come to see herself as a slayer in mind, body and soul. Without any part, the brunette knew she'd be lost.

In Brazil, Kennedy was finally able to come into her own. She was head slayer and the word got out soon in the demon world that she was to be feared and avoided. The more vampires she dusted, the greater her confidence grew. After a while, she didn't fear patrolling alone nor having company because she knew she was strong enough to protect all those in her sight. That's why she initially said yes to Willow patrolling with her on occasion. Kennedy knew Willow had her own share of work with locating slayers and then helping Miguel with setting up the Brazilian council branch. The redhead, at first, wasn't supposed to be as involved as she was. However, when she started to help the man after being asked, she found she enjoyed the administrative side of the mission and offered to assist even more.

There were times, though, when Willow wasn't locating, paper shuffling or honing her witchcraft. There were times when the witch actually felt the itch for action. She had grown confident enough with her powers that she knew she could help Kennedy rid the world of a few demons. The redhead trusted Kennedy enough that her fear of fighting had eased. In the early years, Willow hid from any physical engagement. She was 'research girl' and left the fighting to Buffy. As years passed and her magic developed, she was thrown into the mix more often, usually involuntarily. After Tara's death, the witch realized she had immense powers at her disposal; she feared using them because of her lack of control. While in Brazil, she had conquered that demon and now felt strong in mind and ability. She wasn't powerful like a slayer but she had other ways to pack a powerful punch. Willow began to think it was also her place to actively help rid the world of evil; she too felt an obligation to be on the front line, if only infrequently. So, one day she simply asked Kennedy if she could join her on a patrol. Kennedy, knowing the power her witch possessed, and feeling confident that she could keep Willow safe, agreed to the proposition. "We are going to kick some vampire ass tonight!" Kennedy saw this as just one more part of her life to share with her girl.

Their patrols together were also time for them to develop further the bond they shared. Willow practiced her 'sensing' of Kennedy, always finding her with her mental powers when they separated for battle. They also practiced their 'mindspeak', Kennedy finding out that she too was able to get into the redhead's mind. They were able to fight demons as a single unit despite being physically apart, their supernatural senses heightened like a blind man's hearing or taste. Demons who thought they had the upper hand over the slayer in a fight or were ready to kill a cornered witch were always sadly disappointed. Just when they thought they had accomplished a great victory, the other half of the dynamic duo would appear and dust, disintegrate or otherwise kill the bewildered demon.

One interesting benefit to their mutual patrols was Willow's appreciation for the physical capabilities of a slayer. During some fights between Kennedy and a demon, when the slayer had things well in hand, Willow would just watch her girl in action – really watch. The redhead had seen Buffy, and even Faith, fight on many occasion but realized she never paid attention to what they actually did. With Kennedy, Willow watched the graceful and fluid movements she made, every action in orchestration with the next; she was a symphony of motion, each leg kick and arm thrust a perfectly placed note in her intricate score. Willow saw the gracefulness of a dancer and the stealth of a leopard in her brunette. Watching her slayer outwit and annihilate a vampire in a matter minutes, Willow was filled with awe and pride in Kennedy. Seeing what Buffy had done over the years, Willow knew Kennedy was as proficient if not as seasoned.

The patrols also gave Kennedy additional reason to be in awe with her redhead. The brunette felt privileged to have been witness to the emergence of a great power in the fight for good. Willow was no longer 'research girl'; she had grown into a sure and confident force against evil. The witch showed so much poise and strength fighting the demons. She may not have had slayer strength, but she was cunning and intelligent in the use of her powers. The witch befuddled and confused vampires; she used spells, barriers and energy pulses to gain dominance. Kennedy bemused that Willow didn't need brawn; her brains were lethal enough. The witch in addition helped Kennedy perfect their mindspeak and showed her how to use it most effectively. The redhead also had a knack for logistics and strategy. She would often help Kennedy put the finesse in a planned attack. Her mind was as intricate and systematic as the computer to which she set her fingers. Kennedy marveled at the sight of her redhead; she had gone from a scared, self-doubting witch to a self-assured, commanding goddess. Willow had become a steel flower, delicate beauty hiding within apocalyptic power.

What Kennedy brought to her own slaying in terms of its seriousness, she shared with Willow. When the couple patrolled, the slayer made sure they planned like master thieves They executed like expertly trained soldiers with lightening speed, and then satiated themselves in the hunger for each other that fighting evil always produced.

"So do you get this way after every patrol?" Willow asked her slayer as they were walking home after their first shared outing. Willow felt wired, exhilarated and down right horny. The blood was rushing through her veins. She blamed it on an adrenaline rush. Her feeling was overpowering; she couldn't imagine how her slayer's body felt. She started to understand the reason for the ravenous attitude of her slayer on previous nights.

"Most times…unless there was no action at all." Kennedy answered nonchalantly. The brunette had become used to the sensation and had learned how to quench it – with Willow's body, or dissipate it – with a very cold shower. She never let it get out of hand, never let the hunger dictate her actions as if she were some wild animal. As time passed, Kennedy quickly realized that her post slaying 'desires' were at their strongest when she patrolled with her witch, even when they encountered very little demon activity. Those were the nights neither girl got much sleep, the nocturnal hours being used for intense unrestrained sexual contact instead of undisturbed slumber.

All was not slaying and sex for the couple. Willow, as part of her quest for increased knowledge of witchcraft, had begun to do more than just 'communicate' nonverbally with Kennedy. She had sought out a coven member by the name of Frisha, who was well trained in not only astral projection but projection of other kinds…and teleporting. Willow had performed mind projection before, when she got inside Buffy's mind during the time with Glory. When she was 'Veiny Willow', she had come close to teleporting. Her evil self had been able to bend time to make her leave one place and reappear in another in what seemed to be instantaneously; but it wasn't. Her actions were not true teleportation. They were incredible facsimiles, but not the real deal.

Time travel fascinated her. It always had, even before her witch days when she was just a nerdy girl who liked science. Willow talked with Frisha as often as she could and tried to learn from her. She listened as the woman told her of the solitude and concentration of mind it took to teleport. Frisha explained the immense physical and mental energy required and the lingering after effects and potential harm it caused. Time bending and most importantly teleporting were unnatural states for mortals, humans. Vampires and other demons easily passed through time and could be sent through time because they were of that world; they were not of an earthly physical birth or existence. Humans, however, were and their bodies and mind took much punishment splitting the dimensions. It wasn't as simple as made out in Star Trek or other sci-fi movies.

But still, something inside Willow said that being able to teleport, at will, would somehow unlock the door to other immeasurable powers. If she could corral the energy to do that, she knew she'd be on the path to understanding the full expanse of her strength; then, she could be a truly powerful instrument for the fight against evil. So she studied.

As good as things were for the lovers, there was still an undercurrent of uneasiness about the situation with Kennedy's mother. Kennedy didn't like to talk about it and insisted that she was better off leaving her mother out of the picture. Willow, on the other hand, felt that Kennedy was denying her feelings, refusing to even try to give it another chance. And that ring was still stuck in the redhead's mind. She knew there had to be a connection between that ring and Kennedy's mother's strange actions that day at her house. Willow began to research the matter; she did it when her brunette was patrolling or training. She didn't want her slayer to know unless she could give her some hope that another meeting would be better. She started to research on the internet and the books on hand. Her research kept leading to dead ends, but she didn't give up, the uneasy feeling she got from the ring kept pushing her further.

It happened to Kennedy one night, on a patrol no different than any other. It was the night that started the downward descent for the slayer. Kennedy didn't know how it happened and she was ashamed it did. She stood naked in their bathroom; it was 2am. Luckily, this was one night the redhead's tiredness kept her from being able to wait up for her slayer to come back from patrol. Kennedy looked down at the back of her right thigh; she had washed away the blood and what remained was a one inch diameter puncture wound that had gone through muscle and down to bone. "How the fuck did I let this happen?" she whispered to herself in total disgust. She reflected on the night's events.

Because Willow had research and a conference call with Giles to tend to, Kennedy had asked Miguel to patrol with her that night. She had heard rumors of a nest of vamps in a sewer near one of her favorite cemeteries and wanted to check it out. If her snitch was right, there was a potential for some serious vampire action. The slayer knew backup would make things quicker. The two patrollers got to the location and found the aforementioned demons. There were even more than she was told, six total, and she and Miguel decided that a daytime assault would be better and guaranteed to obliterate all the offensive vamps. As they backed away from the brush area next to the sewer entrance, Miguel stepped on a dead tree branch on the ground. As soon as she heard the crackling of the dried leaves under Miguel's shoe, Kennedy knew the demons would be on their way. She ran over to the man, grabbed him by the arm and demanded, "Let's get the hell outta here, NOW."

They hadn't made it ten yards when the first vampire sprung out at them from behind a row of trees. Kennedy instinctively grabbed for the stake that was nestled between her belt and waistline of her jeans at her lower back. The vamp lunged at her and she quickly jolted to the left as the vamp fell into the stake in her outstretched arm and turned to dust. Before she had a chance to regain balance and continue her escape another demon came at Miguel from the same direction. The man also had a stake and holy water but was no where near as swift as Kennedy. The vampire was on the man, grabbing for his neck. Just as he had his dead fingers wrapped around the man's neck, Miguel saw a change of expression on the creature. His eyes widened and a hiss came out his gaping mouth. After he turned to dust, Miguel saw the standing Kennedy in front of him, looking down at the stake on the ground that she had just hurled into the vampire's back.

The slayer helped Miguel off the ground, picked up her stake and they once again tried to make their way to safety. They made it to the cemetery's side entrance before they were overtaken by three more vamps. Two tackled Kennedy while the third went for Miguel. The Brazilian was ready this time and when he felt the dead hand grasp his shoulder, he stopped short and threw holy water into the creature's face. That disoriented the vamp and gave Miguel enough time to stake and dust him.

The brunette, though, had her hands full. She was knocked to the ground and the demons were taking turns kicking her. It reminded her of bad professional wrestling. She covered her face and waited for the right moment. It didn't take long. The vamps were lazy and slowed their onslaught, each taking turns with their pummeling. Kennedy took her que and grabbed the leg of the smaller vamp when it came at her. Kennedy twisted the leg sharply; she heard a distinctive cracking sound as the bone snapped. Her force was so hard that it sent the vamp off balance and to the ground. That was enough to allow Kennedy to flip herself up to a standing position. She took the other vampire, who was startled by the action, by the arms and head butted her. It was hard enough to make her own forehead bleed. The vampire regrouped quickly, but not quick enough. The brunette pushed the vamp over the still agonizing demon who lay writhing on the ground. Kennedy advanced and pounced on the injured prey punching their faces in a flurry of action. All the demons could do was to try to deflect the barrage of punishment. It didn't work. After the brunette had worked her victims into a frenzy of confusion, she grabbed her stake which was waiting for her in her back pocket and "thwap...thwap" – the rapid succession of that sound she loved to hear. Her enemies turned to dust. She then quickly got up.

Miguel and Kennedy stood there, looking at each other, waiting for another attack. Nothing happened. They listened and heard nothing.

"You think some stayed behind?" Miguel asked. Kennedy thought the proposition too good to be true.

"It might be a trap, we better…" Just then another vampire landed on top of Miguel; he had been waiting, sitting atop a very large granite statue. As Miguel fell, he hit his head on a tombstone and landed on the ground limp.

"Miguel!" Kennedy shouted as she jumped at the vampire. She sent it reeling back. She snapped her head in the Brazilian's direction and could see his chest rise and fall. "He's still alive." Then she faced her next victim; the sight startled her.

The vampire that had caught them off guard and injured Miguel was the spitting image of Elvis – no rhinestone jumpsuit, but Elvis just the same.

"What the fuck!...are you kidding me?...we were attacked by a hunk a hunka burning dead?" First of all, Kennedy couldn't figure out how they didn't see the demon sitting on the top of the statue; he was big – come-back Elvis, not the sexy thin young version.

Kennedy started to laugh. She had fought ueber vamps, turakons and the first evil. She chuckled, "Now it's the King of Rock 'n Roll." Kennedy couldn't help herself, she kept laughing. Elvis wasn't amused. "You're going to die slayer, and then we'll see who's laughing."

"Oh, really…" Kennedy said between the chuckles. "Why don't you come down here and we'll have a dance off…best one gets to kill the other." She was really having fun with her joker now. Kennedy began to gyrate her hips in classic Elvis style. That's when it happened.

As Kennedy swiveled, her left shoe caught some moss on the top of a flat rock. Kennedy had been so busy toying with the vampire, she didn't notice the condition of the ground. On one particularly hard shift, her shoe slid across the moss, throwing her off balance. Elvis reacted immediately. He lunged at her, knocking her down on her stomach. Her stake popped out of her back pocket and was quickly retrieved by the vamp. It took only seconds and the demon jammed the stake into the back of Kennedy's leg.

"A-A-A-H-H-H-H!" Kennedy screamed in excruciating pain. Elvis didn't stop there; he was on her, straddling her, knees pinning her arms down, hands pushing her face into the damp night ground. His weight kept her from twisting from under him and the pain in her leg fuzzed her senses. Then she felt a cold, dead hand grip the back of her head and another clench her chin and slightly turn it. "Not laughing now are you slayer…time to die." The words were cold but carried an air of certainty.

'I'm dead' was Kennedy's first thought then 'Willow'; the feeling behind the thought was one of shame for failing her witch and sorrow for leaving her. Kennedy had but a split second to prepare for the jerk of her neck that would break it and her life.

Instead of the sound of her own neck snapping, Kennedy heard that familiar sound of wood on dead flesh. Instantly, the weight was off her back. She rolled over and saw Miguel standing above her, stake in hand. There was blood dripping down his face.

"Well, that was close," was all the man said as he held out his hand to assist Kennedy to her feet. The slayer got to her feet in agonizing pain, the blood streaming down her pant leg. Brown eyes locked on the man who had just saved her life. He stared back – "Let's get you home." Miguel understood the event that had just happened. Kennedy had made a mistake. The slayer would have been dead but for the fact that Miguel had come out of his brief state of unconsciousness at a very fortuitous moment. He knew Kennedy was a superior fighter; he had seen her battle on numerous occasions and was always impressed. That's why he knew the brunette had to be damning herself on the inside for her slip up. He didn't want to cause any additional shame. He put an arm around her waist and started to lead her to the front entrance of the cemetery.

They walked in silence the entire way to Kennedy's car; Miguel drove her home even though she had picked him up and his motorcycle was at his place. "You don't have to help me to the door…I can make it," the slayer's head looked down as she said it. They both got out of the car; Miguel decided to leave the vehicle there and walk home.

Kennedy started to limp to the front door. After a few painful steps, she stopped, and without turning around, "Thank you, Miguel…" the words were sincere and soft. "…please don't say anything about this to Willow." There was shame in her voice.

Kennedy started to walk again, "You'll feel better tomorrow, Kennedy." His words were spoken to help her hurting body and soul. Miguel watched Kennedy hobble into the house and, when the door closed, he turned and started walking home.

Kennedy went to the bathroom, the pain in her leg having only slightly eased. The bleeding had stopped or had soaked her jeans to saturation, she couldn't tell which. In the bathroom she took off her clothes. Knowing she had to dispose of her pants, she hid them at the bottom of the hamper, making a mental note to do laundry in the morning so that Willow wouldn't find them. Her plan was to be healed enough by morning that her limping would be gone or could be passed off as just a bruise from banging into a headstone. Kennedy felt like such a failure and she didn't want her redhead to know about her blunder. She didn't want Willow to have to worry about her; didn't want the witch to think less of her as a slayer.

When she was all cleaned up and the blood in the sink and on the washcloth gone, Kennedy gingerly walked into the bedroom. The night light in the outlet next to the bedroom door was on; Willow always plugged it in when she didn't think she'd be able to wait up for her slayer. 'She's always looking out for me,' the brunette thought fondly. Kennedy went to the bureau and took out a pair of pajama bottoms. Even though it was hot outside and rather warm inside, Kennedy had to cover her wound. She left her top naked and went to the bed. She slowly sat down and lifted her injured leg and placed it on the bed. She situated herself so she was on her back, her bad leg closest to Willow. She could hear the steady deep breathing of her girl. Then Willow stirred and rolled over, placing her arm across Kennedy's stomach and her leg on top of the brunette's wounded thigh. Kennedy clenched her teeth and tensed, trying not to cry out in pain or move and wake her redhead. After several minutes, the throbbing pain from the contact subsided and Kennedy closed her eyes, hoping that sleep would come and put her out of her agony.

'How the fuck did I let this happen?' That question kept her awake most of the night.

"There's no way we're living in Brazil and not going to Rio for Carnival." Kennedy had put her foot down. "We'll call Giles from a hotel there. Who cares where we are when we check in?"

The couple had made plans to go to Carnival in Rio for several reasons. One was just for the experience of it, even if it wasn't the most authentic for that festival. It was like going to Paris and having to go up the Eiffel Tower. Another purpose was to celebrate, albeit several days late, the anniversary of their first date and that first tumultuous kiss that changed both their lives forever. Lastly, Kennedy had heard rumors of some big bad making waves in the city and she thought they might be able to do some investigating while they were there. The day before they were to go, which happened to be the day after Kennedy's meeting with Elvis, Andrew called about an emergency conference call. Giles had requested a collective call to discuss the progress of the Scoobies and to inform them of disturbing information he had about Angel and his crew. The call would be the following day which was when the couple was supposed to be basking in the sun and taking in the fun of the robust festival.

"I don't know…what if Giles wants details that are in my notes?...All that stuff is here." Willow wanted to go to Rio, but her responsible side was getting the better of her.

"There's nothing he could ask that you don't already have memorized. You've got a mind like a steel trap, Will. Besides, you have it on all on the laptop right?" Kennedy knew the answer was yes. That computer was Willow's life line. Kennedy thought to herself amusingly, 'She's so anal retentive, she probably has it backed up twice.'

"Fine…so we'll take it along and you don't have to worry about looking like a slacker in front of Giles."

"That's not it, I-I just w-want…" Willow was stammering. She hated to admit it, but she still felt like she needed to make Giles proud of her, show him how well prepared and knowledgeable she was.

"It's ok, Will…you look cute when you're trying to suck up." Kennedy gave a teasing smile.

"Oh…you are such a brat…" Willow chased Kennedy to the couch and grabbed her, pulling her down. She noticed the brunette had a slight limp.

Instantly and briskly, "No…" then more relaxed, "…no, I'm fine. Just banged my leg against a tree." She hoped the lie worked.

"Good…can't do this if you're injured." Willow started to tickle Kennedy. The brunette, though in pain, couldn't stop laughing.

"How can I say no to my slayer?" Willow ended her torment and replaced it with a soft kiss to Kennedy's forehead.

A little later that day, Kennedy went to the market to get some things for their trip. Willow started to pack when the phone rang. She had almost decided to let the machine pick up but a strange feeling told her not to. So she went to the phone and answered it.

"Hello?" There was no response. "Hello?" Willow said again. She thought she could hear breathing on the line. "Kennedy…is that you?...I swear, if you're messing with me…."

"Willow?" The voice was soft and nervous. The redhead recognized it though she had only ever heard it for a few hours one time before.

"I called hoping to speak with my daughter…I take it she's not there." As Gabriella said those words the voice that had been plaguing her for days pushed into the head again. 'She'll never be there for you, she hates you.'

"Umm, that's right…she's at the market." Willow felt there was more to this woman, something battling in her heart, trying to get back to Kennedy. Willow's dilemma was that this was the same woman who had shattered her lover's world; there was good reason to disregard her and let her slayer live in peace. But then the image of the ring popped into her mind. Willow decided to take a chance.

"I can tell her you called…if you give me your number, I'll make sure she gets it."

Gabriella tried to answer but the voice grew louder and more adamant. 'She hates you so much she wants to kill you.' The woman pushed the words away. The words swirling in her mind were mixing with the burning sensation of the ring on her finger. "I don't know Willow…I-I don't want…" The voice rushed back. 'You don't want her…you never did…you're an evil person…she should kill you.' Gabriella was trying to respond to Willow and banish the voice, her thoughts getting entangled. The voice kept pounding, 'you should die…you should die…die…die…"

"LEAVE ME ALONE," Gabriella shouted over and over, her free hand pushing against her exposed ear. She couldn't take the barrage of torment that was now occurring everyday, night and day.

A startled Willow took the phone from her ear, staring at it, listening to the shouting words of what could easily be described as a mad woman. The plea was not directed at her or Kennedy, but what she didn't know. Once the outcry ceased, Willow held the receiver back to her ear.

"I knew this was…mistake…it told…me…" Gabriella realized her situation was hopeless. She would never free herself from the voice; it would haunt her with her past until she died. She resigned herself to the fact that she couldn't make things right, or even better with her daughter. She gave up hope. "…she's right to hate me…I deserve it…I'll never bother her again.…"

After those words were said, Willow heard the buzzing tone of a phone line disconnected.

The redhead knew something was wrong with Kennedy's mother. The fear and disappointment in her voice was inconsistent with her calling at all. Willow tried to remember what the woman said. "Was someone there…or did she think someone was there?" The witch had a feeling that Kennedy's mother's erratic behavior was induced. Some one or thing was making her hear things or scaring her. More than ever, the witch knew she had to find the answer.

When Kennedy got home, Willow was searching through her magick books. "Hey, Red. Shouldn't you be packing?"

"Kenne…your mom called a little while ago." Kennedy stopped dead in her tracks and the smile on her face vanished.

"I think she's in trouble." Willow said the words hoping her girl wouldn't shut her out.

"I don't care…and if she is, so what." Kennedy sensed that Willow felt some pity for the woman. She felt a slight twinge of betrayal. "…I'm sure she doesn't need me to help…she hasn't for fifteen years."

"No, babe, it wasn't like that…she called to talk to you then…" Kennedy cut her off.

"Will…I already told you. I'm done with her…I don't want her in my life." The firmness in her words didn't go unnoticed by the redhead.

"But if something's trying to hurt her…" Willow was cut off again, this time with Kennedy shaking her head.

"No…no…I'm not doing this, Will…so, please, if you love me…just let it go." Brown eyes were adamant and matched the harsh tone in her voice. Kennedy looked at Willow and her face softened. "I just want us to go to Rio and have fun for a couple days, ok?"

Willow knew she couldn't push Kennedy on this; the girl had good reason to shun away from anything having to do with her mother. "Ok, Kenne." The redhead let the matter go, knowing in the back of her mind she was still going to find out what was happening.

They took the early flight to Rio the next day. It wasn't until they were twenty minutes in the air that Kennedy remembered she forgot to discard the bloodied pants from the bottom of the hamper. 'I'll do it as soon as we get back.' The job was put in the brunette's mental 'to do list' and her thoughts then went to the fun she and her redhead were going to have.

Carnival was an experience that the couple could never have described with the slightest of accuracy until they actually took it in. Kennedy and Willow got into their hotel early enough to participate in the conference call with the other Scoobies. It turned out that the Council needed immediate accurate information about the total slayers found, numbers of those still unfound, housing arrangements, and all sorts of other administrative facts. Giles stated that the Council had a chance to take advantage of some very lucrative financial dealings and the information was needed for them to make a sound, well-reasoned decision. "If this works out, it will mean additional sources of income and a chance to really set up a first class international slayer network." Giles was very optimistic.

The other piece of information the watcher had was disconcerting. He had received tidbits of facts, from contacts he had, that Angel and gang were dealing with the evil mongers. Andrew was able to verify it. It appeared that Angel was no longer fighting only for the side of good and righteousness. He had been bartering deals with demons and other low lifes; that didn't sit well with the Council. After the shock, and initial desire to deny the allegations, the Scoobies realized this was not something they could ignore. Giles told them his contacts would keep guard of the situation and any contact with Angel should be discussed with the Englishman. Buffy was most hesitant to think her former lover had turned to the side of evil. "Something must be happening…find out more Giles." She wanted to know the truth.

Willow and Kennedy left the phone conference with their spirits slightly down. Willow had more of a disheartened attitude to the news. "I can't believe it…how could Angel do that?" The brunette didn't know Angel that well except for the generosity he showed when they had all showed up at his doorstop last May. He seemed to be genuinely decent, but she knew people changed and sometimes for reasons that could never be known. She didn't want her redhead to be down any longer. "People change, Will…but let's wait and see what else they find out." She wanted to give Willow at least some ray of hope that Angel was still the souled vampire she knew.

After considering Kennedy's words, Willow's demeanor did lift and by noon, the two women were ready to take in the wonders of Rio. This was not their first visit. In fact, they had been to Rio on several occasions to locate slayers. They even went there once for no other reason than to relax on the beach. Rio was a place unlike any other on the face of the earth. It was born between the sea and the mountains. The 'cidade maravilhosa' – the marvelous city, was one of the most densely populated places in the world. Its inhabitants, the cariocas as they are called, thrived on dance, drink, beach, sport and fun. They were a mixture of Indian, white and black cultures fermented in a stunning natural scenery. Rio was a city of Dionysian spirit whose people thrived on life. If Sao Paulo was the economic engine, the brain, of Brazil then Rio was its heart, its spirit. Each visit by the lovers gave them more insight to the glory of the city. Of course, on their previous visits, they did all the touristy things. They took the little train that climbed up Corcovado Hill, where a statuesque Christ stood with open arms above Guanabara Bay, and looked over the city. They took the cable car up Pao de Acucar and lost their breath at the beautiful panoramic view of the city. To escape from the heat, they walked around the Botanical Garden with its palm covered alleys and tree lined streets. To their amazement, there was a tropical forest, Floresta da Tijuca, with waterfalls and cascades within the urban area.

But the jewel for the city was its beaches. Going to the beach in Rio was more than abandoning oneself to the sand and sea. Kennedy and Willow loved walking, bicycling and watching the sunset. Kennedy thrived in the heat and sun, letting her ancestral genes take in the life giving rays. As much as Willow also enjoyed the beach scene, her light complexion was not so forgiving and she often found herself under an umbrella or donned with a shirt and hat while her scantily clad girlfriend was 'frying' in the sun. Willow wouldn't have had it any other way.

Their visit for Carnival was just as magical as they wandered their way into the city. They took in the opulence of the festival. Carnival was a five day celebration right before Ash Wednesday and was celebrated all over Brazil. However, in Rio, it was 'the biggest show on the planet.' In its Samodromo, a tiered street designed for samba parades, the top sixteen samba schools put on a spectacle. It was an exhibition of colors and music; the unforgettable rhythm, sights and sounds creating a frenzy of sweat and mayhem. The city echoed and vibrated with the sound of surdos, tabors, and tambourines.

The couple took in the city wide party and then went back to their hotel for a brief respite. The intensity of the free spirit attitude, the lust for dance and drink had placed the couple in a rather 'wanting' state for each other. Knowing that sex in a deserted alley was out of the question, not only because of both women's sense of privacy but also because there were none, they quickly headed to their hotel room and partook of a slice of that Dionysian pie.

After satiating their wanton needs, and filling their hungry stomachs with food from festival vendors, the couple again ventured out into the sea of people amidst the celebration. Kennedy was in heaven. Her sense of adventure, the quest for the new and exciting, was being filled to the brim. She kept yanking Willow by the hand, going from place to place. They kept moving, taking in every nuance they could, searching out unusual, non – touristy parts of the experience. The redhead loved seeing her slayer so happy, so excited with the scenes before them. Kennedy loved life and she showed Willow how to do the same, to absorb ever speck it had to offer. The witch watched Kennedy, face beaming with a smile, ponytail waving in the air and sweat trickling down her face from dancing in the streets with the masses. Willow knew her life would never be boring. She would always have adventures with Kennedy; the brunette would keep finding ways to surprise her. Willow knew Kennedy had a spirit that could wander the world, and the redhead realized she'd gladly walk with her anywhere.

When Kennedy saw the redhead looking at her, she stopped dancing. "What?" the brunette said as she wiped the loose raven strands and sweat from her face. Willow just smiled. "I love you." Kennedy smiled back, understanding Willow's way of reconfirming their commitment to each other. Then she got a seductive smile. "Then dance with me, meu amor." Like a rocket, the slayer was off again, grabbing her witch by the hands and swaying and rocking to the music.

Willow thought to herself, 'yes, I am your amor – your love.' As the witch danced with her slayer she smiled to her self about Kennedy's pet names for her. They were never constant, like her brunette. Kennedy had a variety of endearing names she would call Willow, depending on the mood. There was "Will" and "babe", of course, but also "Red". She remembered being startled the first time Kennedy called her by that name. The only others to ever use that particular term were Spike and Faith, both during their evil days. When it came from the brunette's mouth, though, the redhead knew it wasn't said with the slightest of hatred or ridicule. She liked the way it sounded coming from Kennedy; it was sexy and made her feel the same. In their more intimate romantic moments, when the slayer wanted nothing more than to sanctify the grace and beauty of her witch, Kennedy would whisper "baby" or "Willow", said in hushed calm as if in a holy site. Since their arrival in Brazil, Kennedy's terms of endearment had taken an ethnic twist. She loved the language, how the words rolled off her tongue. Even the simplest of phrase or word took on a heavenly quality. Often when they had finished making love and were embraced in each others' arms, Kennedy would whisper to her girl, "meu amor" – my love, or "meu anjo" – my angel. Each pet name used by Kennedy carried the same amount of love in it and Willow treasured every one for they were like her slayer, never boring, always changing and forever true.

Willow looked at Kennedy again, leaned in and said, "I love dancing with you, baby." Kennedy aimed that beaming smile at her again. In contrast to Kennedy, Willow had the one term of endearment for her slayer – "baby". That was the word used for the person who had captured her heart, completely. When she initially started 'dating' Kennedy while at Buffy's she found herself afraid to use that term. It was what she and Tara had called each other. The redhead tried calling Kennedy 'sweatie' and that worked for a while. Willow wasn't sure if she refrained from using 'baby' out of respect for Tara and not wanting to betray that memory, or if she didn't want to force anything from her relationship with Tara on Kennedy. The brunette was never a replacement to the blond witch and Willow didn't want to use the term if there was a chance that she might be doing exactly that to the brunette. But then there was the night in the motel in Santa Bruallo after the final battle, when Willow found her girl crying, naked curled up in a chair. Seeing her confident slayer in such a revealed state set something off in the witch's heart. She wanted to mend her slayer's aching soul. The emotion filled Willow and her words flowed naturally, "Baby…it's ok if you're scared…." Willow had called Kennedy "baby" ever since, knowing there was no betrayal, no replacement. Willow used the word because that was what was in her heart.

The witch and the slayer kept dancing together. If Kennedy was overjoyed with the anniversary outing, she knew it was really due to her redhead. All of her life was better because it was shared with Willow. The music was livelier, the food tastier and the atmosphere more festive because of a certain redhead. The brunette had never met someone so deceptively open and willing to jump into new experiences. As it turned out, nothing about the woman labeled her as small town or entrenched in the familiar. Anything that Kennedy posed to her lover, Willow willingly and eagerly accepted. Despite the redhead's self description as a "chicken", the slayer knew her girl was in reality a closet adventurer. For Kennedy, Carnival was a weekend to treasure, not so much because of the wondrous spectacle of the event but because of the redhead who had become Kennedy's reason to enjoy life.

After a few hours, it was well into the evening and Willow was wondering when they were going to do their reconnaissance for the evil brewing in the city. Kennedy had it all planned out.

"We'll party around and end up in the places where we're most likely to get info."

"Won't that put us in some shady areas of town?" Willow still had some fear of confrontation despite her new found fighting abilities.

"Please a slayer and a witch…we can handle anything. Besides everybody's too busy partying…who'd bother coming after us?" Kennedy had actually decided that she was more in the mood to let loose with her witch than buckle down and do some serious detective work.

"Well, we can't be too careful. Demons like to catch ya off guard." The redhead still had lingering doubts.

"Don't worry, Will…I'll protect ya." Kennedy pulled Willow in a strong embrace and kissed her on the cheek.

They had gone to numerous spots in the older part of the city, all the while still managing to have a good time. The gathered no useful information other than there was someone bartering, or killing when necessary, for power. The creature had started to cause commotion in demon establishments but no one was able to give any real description or whereabouts. It seemed the troublemaker hit quickly and with purpose. It wasn't random killings but ones thought out and planned. The perpetrator had already amassed quite a lot of energy. Targets weren't only demons but the occasional witch, but those were always ones of unique qualities and powers.

As the couple made their way down yet another street with a band playing and people dancing, Kennedy saw something that caught her eye. She grabbed Willow by the hand, "Come on, Red…look at that crowd up there." Up ahead was a group of celebrators gathered around a dozen or so local dancers, doing traditional styles to updated music. There were people everywhere and the women had to inch there way to the spectacle.

That's when the hair on the back of Willow's neck stood on end; she got a very uneasy feeling, like eyes watching them. She looked around as she and Kennedy continued their march. "Kenne?...do you sense anything's wrong?" Kennedy stopped and took in her surroundings. She really didn't notice anything different except the slight buzzing swirling in her head; she concluded that was because of the drinks she'd had.

"No…everything seems ok to me." Kennedy was in a groove now; she just wanted to experience more of what the night had to offer.

"I don't know Kenn…I'm getting a weird feeling." Willow didn't like the penned in feeling of dense crowds such as they were in but she sensed her feelings were more than that. Kennedy could see the concern on her face.

"Are you ok?...Too many people?" The tone in the slayer's voice made Willow know she would turn around and get out from under the crowd if the redhead merely nodded her head. Willow also knew that Kennedy was having the time of her life and she didn't want to spoil that.

"No, it's ok...we can keep going." Kennedy instantly gave her a big smile and continued through the throngs of people.

Kennedy didn't even feel Willow's hand slip from hers. One minute her witch was beside her and the next she was gone. Kennedy realized her redhead had been taken from her only when Willow's voice went screaming through her head – [K-E-N-N-N-E-D-D-Y-Y!!!]. Her head jolted around to find her witch gone. Then the redhead's voice once again washed through her mind, softer this time – [Help me, Kennedy… He's going to kill me!]. It was that fast. In a blink of the eye, Willow was gone, her life in danger and Kennedy hadn't a clue of how it happened.

She frantically looked around, pushing people aside, ramming her way passed the wall of bodies. "Will-o-o-w-w!" she kept screaming over and over, her heart pounding and breath chopped with fear. Whenever she reached any open space, the slayer hysterically ran around trying to search every inch of sight before her. She found nothing. She was so upset, she was gaining the attention of passersby; she didn't care. Willow was gone and her only concern was finding her.

Finally, she calmed herself down enough to attempt to think the situation out. As she thought, she retraced their steps, scrutinizing everything that got in her view. Then she remembered Willow's words to her about feeling something was wrong. "Why didn't I just listen to her," she admonished herself. Kennedy knew her desire for a good time had won out over her redhead's concerned disclaimer. Her quest for fun had made her ignore her own body's signals of potential danger. 'If anything happens to her, I'll never forgive myself.' The truth of that thought pounded at the base of her skull. 'I've got to find her.' Kennedy tried to recall Willow's exact words and their location when she said them. Kennedy had a nagging feeling that the evil brewing trouble in Rio had somehow found Willow. She chastised herself for not taking the rumors more seriously.

There Kennedy stood, motionless in a sea of activity and noise. "That's it!" The slayer had the mental picture of the spot where Willow disappeared. She scanned the scene and saw the people, buildings…then it came to her. She saw a dark shadow of a figure in front of a curio shop. Kennedy knew at that moment, that shadow had taken Willow. Where the witch was now was her next problem. There was no time to go to try to scribe for her; besides, Kennedy knew her magickal skills could no more find Willow than a democrat in Utah. She knew the only way to find her girl in time was to get help from Willow herself. Kennedy hoped that their connection was strong enough to bring them together; she prayed her love was enough to reach her girl. She concentrated and reached out to Willow with her mind.

[Willow?...can you hear me?...please baby, can you hear me?]. If the words had been spoken, they would have been wavering. She waited.

She tried again, her thoughts more uneasy, more emotional. [Willow…please…please hear me.]

Silence…and then, [Kenne?...I can hear you]. "She's alive," the slayer said quietly out loud, releasing the breath she'd been unconsciously holding.

[My arms hurt. They're tied behind my back…I don't know exactly where I am…in a music shop].

Kennedy knew there would have to be hundreds if not thousands of those in the city. She needed more.

[I see kind of a red light in front of me…I don't know if it's coming in from a window or not…I can't tell].

Then Kennedy heard her witch's voice catch in her throat. [Kenne…please hurry…he won't keep me alive for long]. Kennedy's mind heard the terror in Willow's words and she shuddered.

[Will, stay strong…I'll find you, baby…I'll find you]. The panic rose again in the brunette's chest.

"W-w-i-l-l-l-o-o-w!" Kennedy screamed. Something had happened to her witch. Her panic turned to rage. "You motherfucker!" the slayer yelled into the air. "I'll kill you…I'll kill you…" Kennedy's fury had led her to stunned inaction. Her mind was churning with incoherent thoughts. After a few moments, she regained a semblance of clarity and focused on finding Willow.

'A red light…maybe shining through a window…maybe it's a billboard?...or a store sign…' Kennedy was swirling the possibilities in her mind. Then the slayer made an assumption if wrong would surely mean the end of her witch; she went on the premise that Willow was still very near. Willow said she could feel her and she had only been gone for a short while. Kennedy knew if she was wrong, she'd never find Willow in time. She started looking around. Then she saw it – a big billboard sign for a local liquor distillery. It had a large neon bottle of booze – all lit up in red. Kennedy started to run towards it. After running at lightening speed for five blocks, she was standing directly under it; there were people passing around her, oblivious to the life and death situation she faced. The slayer scanned the area looking for a music shop. She found it at the end of the block on the other side of the street from the sign. She quickly, but not noticeably, jogged over until she was to the side of the window to the store. She slowly moved in so she could just see inside. There was nothing and no one to be seen. The lights were out and the closed sign in the window.

[Will?...can you hear me?]. 'This has to be the place', she thought; 'Willow has to be ok', she added. There was no reply. She peered into the window further, trying to make out shapes in the darkness of the store. Then she glimpsed movement out of the corner of her eye. "Somebody moved in there." That was enough to satisfy her that Willow was inside and action was needed now. She wasn't going to wait and she wasn't going to be quiet. Kennedy ran to the front door and crashed into it with all her might breaking it off its hinges.

"I'm here Will!" she cried as she rushed to where she saw the movement only moments before. The brunette rushed into a side room off the main showcase of the store. She stopped dead in her tracks.

"Oh my god," she whispered. By the wall to the right, on the floor, lying motionless in the midst of broken shelves and sheet music was Willow tied to a chair.

Working their way up to the crowd of dancers, Willow couldn't believe she had ever questioned coming to Rio for Carnival; she was having the time of her life. Being with Kennedy, taking in the festival was a wonderful way to celebrate the anniversary of their first date and kiss. The redhead now knew how lucky she was that Kennedy had exhibited an unwavering attitude when it came to courting her. Kennedy's persistence back at Buffy's had led the witch to her present state – genuine happiness. As the two traversed up the street to hear the mesmerizing music, the witch told herself to remember to tell Kennedy just how lucky she was to be with the brunette. She never felt like she told her enough.

As they walked, Willow felt a presence and then a hand grabbed her free arm. She turned and saw cold, black eyes staring at her. Before she had a chance to react, the man behind those eyes snatched her out of Kennedy's grasp and put his arms tight around her, picking her off the ground. Before the witch could use magick to undo her captor's grasp, she felt something encase her. It was as if an invisible net had been placed around her, imprisoning her powers. Willow went to yell, but a hand clamped over her mouth. So she threw her thoughts to her slayer and yelled for her lover. She started to struggle, but was met with an unshaven face next to her cheek. "Be still or I kill you right here." Willow could feel the man meant what he said. She also 'sensed' from her contact with the man that he intended to kill her eventually. She kept her cool and mindspoke to Kennedy the intended purpose of her captor – [Help me, Kennedy… He's going to kill me]. She tried to look around but produced only more consternation from the man. "Stay still you bitch." Willow felt a blow to her head and then all went black.

When she woke up, she was sitting in a chair, hands tied behind her back and to the chair, pinning her down. She looked around and saw instruments everywhere. "I'm in a music shop?" She didn't realize she'd said it out loud.

"How observant, Ms. Rosenberg." The voice was her captor. She turned toward it and saw a man come out from a side door. He was dressed in a black shirt and dark blue jeans. The man was unremarkable in every other way, nothing to ever make one suspect he was a kidnapper and would be killer. "Expecting someone more ominous?"

"Who are you?" Willow said defiantly, the strength in her voice echoing her true emotions.

"Roberto Jesus DeAntiao, warlock extraordinaire," he said as if she should have recognized the name. Staring at him, the cogs in her mind began turning trying to place the name or face. Nothing came to her. She decided she didn't want to know anymore and tried to use magick to rid her of her bondage.

"Ah, that won't work, Ms. Rosenberg…I've bound your powers…I may not be the smartest warlock alive, but I'm not stupid either."

Willow tried to struggle free but felt the binding effect of the invisible shackles surrounding her. "This won't last long…I'll break free and then you'll see just how stupid you really are."

"Is that so?...I know you'll undo my spell…but not in time for what I have planned." His words made her uneasy.

"What else…your power." Willow looked at him with confusion. He continued, knowing that the witch would be dead soon and feeling the need to gloat in his accomplishment. "I've been trying to make a name for myself in this country for some time now. I've been covertly buying, or taking when necessary, power as of late. Killing demons isn't my strong suite, but it gets me the power I know I need. You see, I'm no powerful demon, just a regular man with magickal inclinations, I'm afraid. Then you come along…what better way to gain respect than to kill the great Willow Rosenberg and take her power."

The redhead instantly knew that her captor was the "big bad" in the rumors she and Kennedy had heard about. The witch couldn't believe that the unimposing person in front of her was the villain that had been wreaking havoc on the Rio demon world. Then she thought about Warren, Andrew and Jonathon and the horrible events that "geek squad" had produced. Willow knew evil didn't always come with fangs and it wasn't always a lingering presence. Some times it sprang out of nowhere with 'normal' written all over its face.

"How did you know who I was?" Willow couldn't believe she was known to others outside her circle of friends and slayer dealings.

"Come now…don't play modest…the witch who woke all the world's slayers…do you think something like that doesn't get around?"

"But how'd you know I was in Rio?" Willow decided so long as the warlock was answering she'd keep asking, hopefully buying her time until she could figure out a way to get free or Kennedy came to save her.

"I'm not completely without connections. Your arrival in Sao Paulo was easy…Wiccans, like the rest of you women talk too much…they talk at the market, in church. All you need is someone who's listening." DeAntiao took some pride in his little but effective network of snitches and minions. "Once I found out you were there, I kept tabs on you…it was quite fortunate that you decided to come to Carnival. You saved me a trip to Sao Paulo."

Willow had heard enough. "You won't get away with this. I'll stop you or Kennedy will find me." Willow surmised that if the man knew about her, he had to also know about Kennedy.

"You'll never do it." Willow's voice had become hard. She despised the confidence the man had and she knew he was wrong. She stared at him as if he were an ant she was waiting to stomp.

"You think I can't kill you and get away with it?" It was the warlock's time to espouse his philosophy. "I don't need to be powerful to get your powers…just precise. Do you know that most people kidnapped are killed within the first hour. The one great disservice television and movies have done to the viewing public is to give them a distorted picture of real crime." The man started to walk around as he continued his story. "You would have been dead already but to transfer your power does take a spell with some chanting and powders…obviously that's why you're here and not already lying dead in some alleyway." DeAntiao saw that he had Willow's complete attention now. "I'm not going to drag this out, you'll be dead very soon."

"You can't take my powers if I'm dead…they'll die with me." Willow refused to believe her force could be taken that easily.

"This is true…but I can with a spell if you're dying and too weak to fight it." The warlock saw the bewilderment in the witch's face. He took out a gun from behind his back. "You see, simplicity is best. I always wondered why demons used magick and over the top supernatural actions to take down the righteous…This simple invention does the job so often…It did the trick quite well on your dead girlfriend." Willow's eyes narrowed and hate filled them.

Then he walked over to Willow, leaned over and stood with his face inches from hers; he grazed the gun against her cheek. "I know I can't beat you magick to magick. But I can confine you long enough to shoot you…and you'll die just slow enough, and in just enough agony, so you can't fight back." He smiled and then stood back up. "It won't take more than a few minutes…and neither you nor your precious slayer will be able to do a thing about it." He looked at her with disgust. "It's always the powerful that people like you fear…and yet your undoing is usually from the Ted Bundy's of the world…the guy who looks like the boy next door…" He snorted a laugh, "…when will you ever learn."

Willow had been listening to the madman in front of her, trying to determine if his plan actually had merit. Then she heard it, Kennedy's voice in her head – [Willow…please…please hear me]. She tried not to look startled. She kept studying the man while she answered her slayer letting her know she heard her. She then told Kennedy about being unhurt and tied. When Kennedy asked where she was, the witch knew she had to look around. She moved her head as little as possible and could only see the red hue of something seeming to come into another room. That's when DeAntiao leaned in and ushered his death promise to her. [Kenne…please hurry…he won't keep me alive for long].

The warlock fixated on the redhead; something wasn't right. He knew the witch should have reacted to his words. 'It's almost like she's not paying attention…' That's when he realized the witch had to be throwing her thoughts. He leapt in front of her and struck her across the face. "Stop that you fucking bitch!...you're slayer won't make it in time." Willow heard Kennedy tell her she'd find her. She ignored the pain and the fiery look in the warlock's eyes; she spoke to Kennedy again – [I can feel you, Kenne…I love you, Ke….]. Willow never finished the sentence because DeAntiao centralized his magicks and threw an energy ball at her, sending her, chair and all, into the wall, crashing a large wood bookshelf to pieces. Willow heard a cracking sound as her back slammed into the shelves. Her head bounced off the wooden frame and she slumped to the floor unconscious.

"Fine…there's more than one way to kill a witch." DeAntiao had hoped to watch the redhead agonize to her death; he knew he had a sadistic side, but shooting an unconscious witch would work just the same. He had to act quickly; he wasn't sure how much information the witch had imparted to the slayer, but he couldn't take any chances. He stuffed the gun in the waistband of his pants and walked about the room quickly to start the spell.

That's when Kennedy came bursting in. Before the warlock knew it, the slayer was at the doorway to the back room where he had Willlow. He saw the slayer look at the motionless body of her witch. Then he saw the look on her face, in her eyes. He had never seen so much hatred before in his life. He tried to throw another energy ball but had been weakened by the one thrown at Willow. He knew then he had to run. He didn't even make it five steps.

Kennedy let out a blare that sounded like a lion's cry just before it killed its prey. She was on him in a second. She pinned him to the ground and started bashing his face with her fists…she kept punching.

"I'll kill you…I'll kill you…I'll kill you…." She yelled it over and over as she demolished the man.

It wasn't until her knuckles were raw and drenched in blood that she slowed, and then stopped. Her chest was pounding, heaving air in and out. She dropped her hands by her side and stared at the warlock. The man was alive, barely, blood spitting out with each labored breath.

As she went to get up, she saw a slight movement of his hand. She grabbed the gun that had dropped by his side when she tackled him. She placed it under his chin, her index finger lightly touching the trigger. Kennedy knew she could pull the trigger, kill a human being; she wanted to. Then the hand fell back to the ground; DeAntiao let out a gurgle; bloodied eyes almost shut from the punishment looked at the slayer, begging to be spared. With a tone full of hateful conviction, "If I ever hear about you again or you ever come near Willow again…I'll kill you." Kennedy hit the man with the gun knocking him unconscious. She then dropped the piece and got off the man, dazed. After a moment, she shook her head and turned to where her witch lay still motionless. The brunette went to her redhead.

"Will?...Will, baby…wake up…p-p-please." Kennedy was distraught. She saw blood coming from the side of Willow's head.

"Please baby…wake up…please…" The slayer was crying. She put her hand under Willow's nose and could feel her breathing though it was shallow. The slayer knew she had to get Willow out of that place. She untied the witch's arms and gently picked her up in her arms. "I've got you, baby…don't worry now…you're gonna be ok."

Kennedy walked with Willow in her arms the entire way back to their hotel room. She ignored the stares and comments from those not so engrossed in the festival as to notice. The entire way, Kennedy kept whispering to her unconscious girlfriend that she loved her, needed her and couldn't live with out her. She apologized for not trusting the witch's instincts and promised to always listen to her. Internally, Kennedy was chastising herself for allowing her witch to get hurt; she had made a vow to herself that she would always keep Willow safe.

She took Willow to their room, refusing any help from the hotel staff when she entered the lobby. Willow never left her grasp as she got her room key from her pocket and opened the door. Once inside she tenderly laid Willow on the bed and brushed crimson strands from her face. She quietly went and got a warm wet face cloth from the bathroom and wiped the blood from the side of Willow's face, exposing a cut. 'Scalp wound," Kennedy thought. Her heart beat a little slower, such a wound was known for producing much blood but little damage. However, Willow still hadn't awakened and the slayer feared a concussion. Kennedy's worry resumed full force. She sat by her witch and held her hand. "Please Willow…wake up."

The brunette felt the redhead's hand move at the same time she saw her eyelids flicker. Willow slowly opened her eyes. Kennedy's anxiety washed away.

"Willow…you're awake." Brown eyes filled with tears; she silently said thank you to the heavens.

"I knew y-you'd find me." A small smile inched its way to the corner of Willow's mouth.

Kennedy leaned in and gave her witch a gentle kiss. "I was so scared Will…I thought I lost you." The tears started to streak down her face.

"You aren't ever…getting rid of me," the redhead said and gave a slight laugh. She winced in pain.

"We should get you to a hospital." Kennedy's concern was met with Willow shaking her head. "No…I think I cracked a rib…nothing a hospital can do…I just need to try to stay still for a few days."

"What can I do, Will?...tell me what you need." Willow contemplated the statement for a moment and then took Kennedy's hand.

"You could let me borrow some of your energy." Brown eyes stared, confused. "It's like what I did for you after the Truxdeiro…except this time you help me to heal."

Kennedy squeezed the redhead's hand. "You take as much as you need…take it all if you have to." The slayer meant the words; she would give up being a slayer if her girl needed that.

Willow then showed Kennedy what she needed her slayer to do and the witch concentrated, using the brunette's slayer strength to hasten the healing process. After a few hours, the witch felt somewhat better. "Now, I'll be ok with just a little more rest."

That's exactly what she got. Willow stayed in bed while Kennedy waited on her every need. Kennedy couldn't let go of the guilt, of the knowledge that Willow's injuries were caused by her 'fuck up.' She tried not to show her disappointment in herself around Willow. She was nothing but cheery for her girl. By the end of the next day, Willow was well enough to get on a plane back to Sao Paulo.

On the flight back, Kennedy held her witch's hand. "I'm sorry I screwed up, Will…not exactly a great anniversary."

"Kenne, I told you this wasn't your fault. Things happen…bad people happen…" Willow privately recalled all the times her life was put in danger in Sunnydale. She knew well the potential for injury that always awaited those who fought against evil. It was a part of her life that she accepted now. She didn't want Kennedy to feel that she could have somehow avoided the events.

"You saved me…again." Willow squeezed her lover's hand tighter. Brown eyes gazed into green.

After their return from Rio, Kennedy began to act differently. She was quite and pensive. She was also starting to argue with Willow.

"Kenne?...what happened to your pants?" Willow was holding the pants that Kennedy had placed at the bottom of their hamper. It was the day after their return; Willow had decided to do laundry, to help out her brunette. As soon as the slayer saw the pants she chastised herself for having forgotten to throw them in the trash outside.

"It's nothing…just a little something that happened a few days ago." Kennedy hoped her matter of fact tone would appease the witch; it did not.

"Baby, this isn't a 'little something'…there's a giant hole and there's blood all over these pants." Willow walked over to the brunette and stared at her until Kennedy looked back. "Did you get hurt?...you never told me you got hurt…what happened?" Willow was concerned; her slayer had never held back information like this before.

"It was nothing, Will, I told you…now can ya let it drop, please." Kennedy was still embarrassed by her failure that led to the bloody trousers. Her recent debacle in Rio had made her even more unsure of her slayer senses. Willow wouldn't give up; she knew Kennedy was hiding something.

"Kenne, I don't know why you won't talk to me about this…if some mega vamp hurt you…" Kennedy snapped off the rest of the sentence.

"For the last time, I told you it was no big deal…end of story." Her words were harsh and resentful. The brunette then walked out of the room, leaving a bewildered redhead wondering, 'What just happened?'

That night, Kennedy went to bed early. When Willow snuggled up behind her, in an attempt to make peace, Kennedy didn't respond. Willow reached over and took her lover's hand.

It wasn't as if the couple had never gone to bed without having sex; they had on many occasions. But those times were for different reasons like because of an exhausting day, or one of them having had too much to drink. There was even the incident of Willow's forty-eight hour 'gastro intestinal problem.' "Geeh, Will…I don't know if they call it Montezuma's Revenge here in Brazil." Sometimes, they'd just cuddle, not needing the physical act to be intimate. But the lovers had never gone to bed mad; neither had ever denied the other the simplest of affection. Willow fell asleep that night confused about the coldness by her brunette.

In the days that followed, Kennedy remained distant. It wasn't a complete disconnect to the witch. They talked and watched tv, but the intimacy had been restrained. Eventually, Kennedy did slightly come out of her gray state. She tried to be nicer and more involved. She knew Willow had no idea the turmoil churning inside her.

The slayer armor Kennedy wore was beginning to chink and she was at a loss as to why. To Kennedy, being a slayer meant doing everything right. This was her destiny; she was supposed to protect. "It'll be up to you to protect the weak," her watcher used to tell her. He drilled into her the importance of being on her 'A' game. "When slayers make mistakes, people die." She remembered Sinclair telling her that as if it were yesterday. Kennedy was used to being pushed to be 'the best.' Her father accepted nothing less from her in school; he had expected exactly that because she was a Prescott. And she had not disappointed. She was an excellent student both in school and in training. She got good grades and received compliments from Sinclair for being a superior potential. She stood out at Buffy's as being heads above the other SITs in terms of readiness and maturity. Kennedy had always thought that if she wanted something she would get it; if she put her mind and body into something, she would be the best at it. However, since the Elvis episode, her entire conception of who she was had begun to lose shape like moisture droplets dripping down a water color canvass.

Every time she looked at her girlfriend all she saw was her huddled body on the floor of that music shop. She was mentally lashing herself for not protecting her. "Stop being so hard on yourself, Kenne…I'm ok." Willow said that to her on several occasions, but to the brunette she wasn't being hard, and her redhead being fine wasn't the point. The slayer had messed up.

The brunette couldn't help but sense that she was losing grip of her slayer abilities, getting lazy..or cocky, perhaps. It was a problem she thought only she could solve; only she should have to carry. It weighed on her mind and frustrated her in her inability to control that part of her life; the one to which she had been destined. She had seen Willow be able to overcome her inner turmoil; Kennedy was aggravated that she didn't have the same ability. Her consternation overflowed to her dealings with the one person she never wanted to hurt or make feel anything other than what she was – the most important thing in her life. She didn't know how to deal with her confusion and had started to revert back to her 'I'll deal with it myself' instincts.

For Willow's part, she too was at a loss about the situation. She had tried to tell her slayer that what happened in Rio was not her fault, that there was nothing the brunette did wrong. Willow worried that Kennedy was doubting her slayer powers. She had seen that same worried face, the same punishing stare of confusion on Buffy on more than one occasion. The lack of a legitimate watcher for Kennedy bothered Willow at times. She knew how much Giles had aided Buffy during hard times, how he showed her that being chosen didn't mean being perfect. Buffy had leaned on Giles many times when she thought she was inadequate. Kennedy had none of that. Willow witnessed her brunette handle everything on her own; she saw how she even guided Miguel at times. Willow thought of calling Giles about Kennedy's predicament, but decided otherwise. She knew Kennedy would see right through any veiled attempt by Giles to give assistance; she knew it would only make her slayer feel worse. Instead, she gave Kennedy some room but was always there for the girl whenever she got the itch to talk or just go for a walk.

Eventually, Kennedy decided that the best way to deal with her problem was to keep the possibility of her failing from hurting anyone else. She no longer let Willow go on patrol with her. At first, she told the redhead that she needed to go by herself to get her bearings back. Later, she made up excuses to keep the witch away. She'd tell her she was checking out a new area and it would be easier and quicker for her to do it alone. Other times, she'd say that Miguel had asked to go with her. She often used the other slayers as the reason. "I've got to help get these girls ready, Will…they need the experience."

Kennedy never outright lied to Willow. On the times she said Miguel or the other slayers were going, they did. But with the Brazilian, she always made the patrol sweeps quick. Even with the new slayers, Kennedy kept to places she knew well and those that had moderate activity. After the girls were brought back to their complex, Kennedy would then go back out and finish her real patrolling.

The slayer's patrols after Rio also underwent a transformation. Her confidence and quick decision making skills floundered. There were occasions when she hesitated in attacking or trusting her instincts. She never got in grave danger because of it, but she had temporarily lost the upper hand needlessly in several fights. These misgivings only added to her deflating sense of self. They were becoming a self fulfilling prophesy.

Willow couldn't understand Kennedy's decision to lock her out of her slaying. She realized her slayer was worried about her getting hurt, but Willow surmised Kennedy's concern went deeper. She couldn't get the brunette to talk to her. The redhead desperately wanted things to go back to normal; she wanted her Kennedy back. She didn't know how to get her. The redhead was a powerful witch but couldn't even get the woman in her life to talk to her. Willow felt like a failure in this regard, like that self-doubting teenager from so long ago. The with and the slayer were living in a fog, seemingly on concrete footing and looking with clear vision, but in reality unable to see the dangers just ahead.

Besides her worries for her slayer, Willow still had the inclination that she needed to help Kennedy's mother. Something inside her told Willow that her brunette and the long lost mother could be brought together, needed to be. Though she knew Kennedy was against any aid to the woman, Willow rationalized her girl's decision as one made from years of hurt and not total objectivity. She kept telling herself that if this were a complete stranger, the brunette would be behind her actions one hundred percent. The witch decided that she would have to make the next move in solving the mystery that she was certain loomed over the woman. So one day, while Kennedy was at the gym training, Willow made the call.

"Ms. Gonzalez…I don't know how to ask this…so I'm just going say it…" The witched prayed that she got the correct response. "…has someone…or…some…thing been saying things to you…" Willow knew that she wasn't being clear enough. "…have you been…feeling scared…or like you're being stalked?"

There was only breathing on the other end of the line, and then, faintly, "y-yes." Willow clenched her first as if victory. 'I knew it', she said to herself. "This may sound crazy, but we may be able to help…please trust me, and tell me what's been happening to you." By hearing the actual events that were occurring to Kennedy's mother, the witch hoped she would be able to find an answer.

"Willow…dear Willow…I don't think anyone can help me now." The woman had begun to accept the words spewed at her by the voice living in her head. She had become scared to close her eyes because that's when it came to her the most. This was her penance for having ruined the lives of her daughter and so many others her life touched.

Willow heard the frightened and defeated tone in the woman's voice. "Please…believe me…your daughter has an amazing gift that I know can get rid of whatever is terrorizing you." How the redhead knew it would come down to Kennedy, she wasn't sure, but she had seen enough demons and magick to know that sooner or later it always came down to the slayer doing battle.

It was the tone in Willow's voice, the assurance with which she spoke the words, that made Gabriella take a chance. "I believe you, Willow…but I don't think you'll believe what I have to say." That said, Gabriella Gonzalez emptied her soul to Willow; told her every horrible detail of the voice and the fear and resignation that had become her life. She never mentioned the ring.

After hearing the woman's story, Willow asked but one question, "You think your ring has something to do with this…don't you?" She waited for a response.

"Yes…but I don't know why." Gabriella was amazed that her daughter's lover had mentioned the ring at all. She was starting to think there was more to the redhead than she ever thought.

"Ms. Gonzalez, I believe that ring you're wearing is what's causing your problems…Have you ever tried to take it off?"

"I can't…it won't let me." The words were flat. To help Kennedy's mother, Willow knew she'd have to explain the real reason for their presence in Brazil; she'd have to divulge that she was a witch and her daughter, a vampire slayer.

"I'm gonna tell you some things now about me and Kennedy that you might not think could be true…they are…and for your own safety and sanity, you need to believe them." Willow went on to give the woman a synopsis of the couple and their job in the country. She told her of the magnificent person her daughter was, how she fought against evil with her super human powers. The redhead told her how it was she who cast the spell to infuse that power into her daughter and how her witchcraft was also used to champion the cause of good. When she was done, "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Gabriella understood perfectly. She was a believer in ghosts and demons, in the underworld and the strife between good and evil. She laughed to herself when she remembered she used to tell Kennedy old Indian tales about the battles between the gods in heaven and the demons and devils on earth. She had seen so much evil in her life; it had to have been born from a place other than earthly existence. "I understand Willow…and I do believe."

Willow was elated and relieved. She was now certain that she and Kennedy would be able to help. There was hope that once the evil barrier was vanquished maybe the mother and daughter could have another shot at reconciliation. "Thank you. The first thing we…"

Just then Kennedy walked in. Willow never heard her approach the front door or the door knob turn. The redhead froze. The brunette saw Willow standing there in the kitchen but didn't notice the phone to her ear. The slayer started talking as she went to the bathroom to wash up, her voice increasing so her girl could hear her.

"I found out how that DeAntiao guy knew we were in Rio. One of his goons tailed Miguel." Willow kept listening, the phone still to her ear but no words said to the woman on the other end. "I told Miguel about what that asshole told you…about the coven ladies and him having connections here…Miguel said he thought he saw someone hanging around near the gym." Kennedy came back into the living room, drying off her face with a towel. "He figures the guy overheard him telling the girls that we weren't going on the retreat cuz of Rio." Kennedy finally looked at Willow and saw the phone in her hand.

"Sorry, Will…didn't see that you were on the phone. That Buffy?" Kennedy looked perplexed when she got no answer. "Who is it, Will?" Kennedy hoped it wasn't bad news from a parent.

"Ummm…uh…it's…it's…" That's when Kennedy heard a voice coming through the phone. It was loud enough for her slayer hearing to pick up on it. She looked at the receiver in her witch's hand.

"Willow?...are you still there?" Kennedy recognized the voice instantly. She turned to her girlfriend; brown eyes stared at the redhead. They were filled with a look of betrayal. She went over to Willow and took the receiver from her and put it to her ear.

"There's been a mistake," and she hit the off button. Kennedy stared at Willow the whole time and then, after a moment that seemed to hang in the air for hours, Kennedy put the phone down, lowered her head and walked past Willow and into their bedroom, shutting and locking the door behind her.

Willow was stunned. The hurt in Kennedy's eyes was overwhelming and directed at her. The redhead couldn't believe she was the cause of such a look. She went to the bedroom door and knocked. "Kenne…please let me explain." Willow knew that if she could just explain the call to her slayer she'd understand. The only reply she got was, "Leave me alone, Will." Kennedy's voice was angry.

"But baby, it's not what you think…there's something evil after your mother…please, we need to talk about this."

"Kenne, I think this is more than just the problems between you and your mom." Maybe slayer responsibilities would get her girl to listen.

"Fine, you're so interested, you help her." There was more anger and hurt building in the words.

Willow stood outside the door, staring at it. How could things have gotten so jumbled? Things between her and Kennedy weren't back to normal but they were starting to make progress. The redhead didn't want to fight with Kennedy, and she didn't want her girl thinking that she couldn't be trusted. Willow would do anything for Kennedy. Right now, she had to make the slayer understand she wasn't betrayed; that this was a matter of fighting evil. She leaned into the door, putting her forehead and hands on it. "Please baby, open the door…please." There was a begging quality to her words. She repeated quietly "open the door" several times; with each utterance her voice cracked a little more, the emotion of knowing how much she had hurt her slayer growing stronger.

On the other side of the door, Kennedy stood conflicted. She was furious over what Willow did, but she also hated to hear her girl upset. As much as she wanted to let Willow stew in her regret, the brunette knew she had to make the redhead's anguish stop. She went to the door and unlocked and opened it. Kennedy's eyes were transfixed on her girlfriend; "I don't want to do this Willow…and you don't wanna know what I feel right now." Kennedy didn't know how much longer she could keep her emotions in check. They were bubbling inside her, inching their way to attack Willow.

There wasn't much time before Kennedy went off the deep end, Willow could see that plainly. She did what she was always afraid to do with others; the redhead did what her time with Kennedy had given her the understanding she could do. She got forceful. "I know what you must be thinking and how you're feeling…but you're going to listen to me, and then you can say what you want." Kennedy huffed, folded her arms and in a defiant tone said, "Fine."

Willow went on to tell her slayer about all her intuitions when it came to her mother. The redhead recalled her concerns over the ring, its bizarre pull on her, how it seemed to constantly control her thoughts on the subject. She told the brunette about her research attempts, saying it gingerly knowing that it was done behind her lover's back. Then she told her of the recent phone call and the confessions of the mother about the voices stalking her. When she was done, she waited for a reaction.

Kennedy was quite for a long time, the information told to her swirling in her head. Could there be a reason for her mother's dismissive attitude? Was there a chance for some sort of reconnection? Could she let something evil have its way, even if the victim was her abandoning mother? Kennedy also was confused with how to react to Willow's part in all of this.

"Why didn't you tell me, Will?" Willow could hear the hurt in her girlfriend's voice.

"You were so upset about her…I didn't want to make you more upset. And when I started thinking it had to do with the ring…I didn't wanna get your hopes up if I was wrong." She went to Kennedy and stood in front of her. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Kenne. I'm sorry I did…but I'm sure your mom has something after her…and we can help her."

After a few moments, Kennedy lowered her arms. She was a slayer and she knew Willow was right; she had to help – even her mother. "Ok…we'll help her…but that doesn't change how I feel about her…and Will," Kennedy looked her redhead square in the eyes, "…don't do that again…don't go behind my back." Kennedy still harbored some anger. "I won't, Kennedy. I promise."

They finally embraced and Willow could feel affection from her slayer. 'This is better,' Willow thought hoping that things would start looking up for the couple.

Gabriella Gonzalez sat in the back seat of the blue Camry as it raced towards the hospital. She was oblivious to the passengers in the front seat discussing the possible scenarios that could have gone wrong with the plan to kill the Fear Caller demon. She didn't hear Miguel as he explained the horrible, bloody sight he witnessed when he went rushing into the mission to offer help to Kennedy. Gabriella was lost in her thoughts, examining yet another regret, another episode of ruining her daughter's life. This time, however, the woman had the added burden of knowing that she would be the reason if her daughter died.

'I never should have let her help me.' Gabriella looked down at her hand; her fingers were bare. The only reminder of the ring that had held her captive was a band of lightened skin. She touched the area with another finger. 'She freed me.' The woman was amazed that her daughter, the little girl she had once held in her arms and rocked to sleep, had the strength and fortitude to defeat her demon. When she thought about it, she knew somewhere deep inside she had always known Kennedy was meant for great things, that life had a special path for her. It was that sense that had pushed her to buy the charm bracelet for her little girl; all the charms were of power and strength. 'She's so brave and strong…she's nothing like me.' The woman felt shame for how small of a person she really was. At that moment, Gabriella felt like she didn't deserve to have been rescued; Kennedy should have used her talents on someone worthy of the danger and sacrifices willing to be made by the slayer.

"Please, God, don't let her die." The last time Gabriella prayed was the day before she left her family. She sought guidance and a sign from above that she was meant to stay with her family, her daughter. God never answered and Gabriella quit asking, deciding that the good Lord Jesus had forsaken her. Now, she didn't seek divine intervention for her own sake; this was for Kennedy alone. There was a selfless, genuine burst of love for her daughter and her continued survival. The woman would gladly live the rest of her life alone, without ever seeing her daughter again, if the trade off was the girl's healthy recovery. This was the first time Gabriella Gonzalez put the welfare of her daughter first without ever considering how she would be affected.

The car turned into the parking lot of the Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo-Hospital. It wasn't until it stopped at the front entranceway that Gabriella came out of her contemplation. She stared at the large letters on the front of the covered walkway – 'EMERGENCIA'. She started to shake. She was terrified of going into that building and finding out the status of her daughter. She rebuked herself for having such strong feelings. 'You left her so long ago…how can you have such feelings…she doesn't even know you as her mother.' Gabriella struggled with the pain that was twisting at her gut. She realized the reason for her desperation; despite all the mistakes she had made, she was still Kennedy's mother. She had pushed that tiny creature screaming into the world, held her fragile little fingers and stared at the newly born angelic face thinking how utterly perfect the child was. She saw her first step, heard her first word and received her first hug. Kennedy was her flesh, her blood and nothing could change that. She loved her daughter like she had spent her whole life with her. Regardless how Kennedy viewed her, Gabriella knew she was, and always would be, the girl's mother, even if her selfishness and stupidity had blinded her to that fact for so long. A mother's need to comfort her child welled inside and Gabriella opened the car door and rushed into the hospital.

Her anxious requests for information about her daughter met a similar fate as Willow. She was told her daughter had received life threatening injuries and was in surgery. As she was being escorted to the elevator to take her to the surgical waiting room, she saw Miguel and his dark haired companion come through the doors. Both individuals had helped her daughter in ridding her of the Caller demon, both had been willing to place their lives in jeopardy to save her. She knew she owed both a wealth of gratitude. She sensed the dark haired woman shared a special bond with her daughter, that they had a friendship built on more than just a common calling. Thank you's would have to wait; she had to find out about her daughter.

"I don't know…she's in surgery…they're taking me there…please find Willow." The two nodded their heads.

A nurse took Gabriella to the waiting room. As soon as they got to the entrance, the woman saw Willow standing to the left side of the room with her back to them. Upon hearing footsteps, Willow turned around, a faint hope that doctors had come to tell her Kennedy had made a miraculous recovery and was waiting for Willow to take her home. What she saw was Gabriella with a look of complete worry across her face.

"Willow…have you heard anything?" Willow shook her head as she watched the nurse walk away, leaving the two women alone.

"She's ok, yes?...Can you sense that?" Willow saw the hope that Gabriella wanted to put in the response from her. She wanted to give that hope life, but knew Kennedy's mother needed the truth.

"She's not doing good, Ms. Gonzalez." Gabriella heard the dejected tone in the hushed words.

"Not if I can help it…I've gotta go…find a place where I won't be disturbed." The witch was running out of time and she had to act fast.

"Magick…I'm gonna connect with her." Willow had an idea where she could go and she started out the door. Gabriella grabbed her arm as she went by. Dark eyes stared into green.

"I will," the witch said reassuringly. She resumed her exit. Willow turned to the left once in the hallway and repeated the promise to herself; 'I'll save her or go with her.' The witch truly didn't know which it would be.

"Are you sure you can't come?" Willow had asked her brunette that question many times before, always knowing the answer.

"You know I would if I could…I don't want to be here without you." Kennedy felt bad every time she had to give her redhead that same answer.

In the days after the 'telephone' incident, there was still tension between the couple, but things were getting better. Willow had made a phone call to Kennedy's mother and left a message on her answering machine. They hadn't heard back from the woman yet. Then they got a call from Giles.

The watcher was calling a meeting for the Scoobie Gang in Cleveland, Ohio. "Don't worry, there's no apocalypse.…" The assembly was more of a review, state of the union address of sorts, concerning the development and progress of the slayer network. There was also some real estate and financial matters that he had to handle there. Everyone had been working very hard and Giles decided that the best way to really find out how everyone was doing was to look them in the face and ask. Besides, Giles had to admit, he missed his Scoobies; he felt like a surrogate father to them, and like any good father, he wanted to see his children. He told the members that the gathering would take several days and they were to bring with them certain administrative papers and documents for perusal by the Council members once he got back to London. Willow and Kennedy were the last ones called.

"Buffy told me to tell you, Willow, that she wants the, and I quote, chocolaty goodness scoop on Miguel, unquote…I take it you understand her meaning."

After some more information was transferred, Willow said good-bye and hurriedly went to the gym to tell Kennedy they were going for a reunion.

"You have to go…everybody'll be there." Kennedy's response had startled the witch.

"What about my mother?" Once Kennedy had decided that she had to help the woman, she knew she had no choice but to do her duty as best she could. "She hasn't called yet…we don't know what's going on with her."

Willow instantly knew her slayer was right. As much as she wanted Kennedy with her, they had an obligation to protect her mother. "I'll stay too…I can call Giles…" Kennedy cut her off.

"No, Willow…you should go. We don't both need to stay here…you really should go hang with Buffy and the rest…I want you to." Kennedy's mother was ultimately her responsibility and she didn't want to deny her girl a chance to see the friends that she missed so much.

"But Kenne, I want you to come with me." Willow felt a twinge of uneasiness thinking she might have to do without her brunette for a few days.

"And I want to go…but I need to make sure she's ok…I need to find out about whatever's after her."

"But I won't be here to help with that." Willow was continuing her research, a part of the 'help' that Kennedy understood she had to let Willow handle.

"Well, maybe you could do some in Cleveland if you have time…you said the resources there are better than what you have down here." Willow nodded; that was true. She tried one last argument.

"It's only a few days, and you deserve to see everyone and relax a little as much as I do." Willow knew that the reconnection by Kennedy with her fellow slayers would help with the funk the brunette had been in lately.

"I wish I could…I really do…but I think I need to stay here." The thought of being apart from Willow made her nervous, she didn't want to think of coming home to an empty house, an empty bed. But she had her slayer obligation. There was a part of the brunette that didn't curse not being able to go. With all her recent blunders and failures, she wasn't sure she could look Faith and Buffy in the eyes. She was sure her disapproval in her slayer abilities would show like a beacon on a clear night.

So it was decided that only Willow would make the trip. Kennedy had allowed her to tell Giles of the reason for her nonattendance. The redhead called and told the Englishman the entire sordid matter of Kennedy's mother, from her abandonment of the slayer to her most recent phone call with the woman. The watcher understood completely and advised Willow that he would assist her in researching the matter if she chose to while in town. "Thanks, Giles…that'll mean a lot to Kennedy."

The day for Willow's departure came quicker than either had wanted. It was a late evening departure so the couple spent the day together at their apartment, just spending the hours with each other. When it was time, Kennedy took Willow to the airport. They held hands while waiting for Willow's flight to be called. Kennedy's stomach was in knots; she didn't know how she'd get through even a day without her redhead. She laughed at herself, 'I never needed anyone…I never got scared being alone.' Kennedy knew she'd be a lost soul until Willow returned.

Willow was just as silent as her brunette. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep right without Kennedy next to her. The brunette was her life, a part of her and being without her would be like missing a limb. She wouldn't be whole until she was back with her slayer.

When it was time for Willow to board the plane, the two women got up from their chairs and stared into each others' eyes. They embraced as if it were the last time they'd ever touch, holding on like their survival depended on it. Then they kissed; it was tender, holding in it the longing they already had for each other. "I'll call you as soon as I get in…and every chance I get." Willow didn't care if her friends thought her 'obsessive.' Despite the redhead's consternations, Kennedy had bought Willow a cellphone that could make international calls. "They have a phone there, Kenne." The brunette quickly responded; "Yeah, but this way you can call wherever and whenever." In the end Kennedy won out, her rich, bratty side outlasting the redhead's resolve. It was decided that Willow would make calls to Kennedy since it was the witch's schedule that would be the most erratic. "Call me whenever you want, Will…if I'm not at home then call me on my cell."

The last call for the witch's flight blared over the loudspeaker. The couple kissed again, hastily. "Tell everybody I said hi…I love you, Willow…I'm gonna miss you." Kennedy's eyes were hovering on watering. "I love you, too, Kennedy…I'll be back before you know it." Emerald eyes followed the way of their counterpart. With one last kiss and a lingering hold onto Kennedy's hand, Willow finally separated from her brunette, picked up her shoulder bag and walked down to the boarding tunnel. She looked back momentarily, waved to her lover and walked out of Kennedy's sight.

When Kennedy got home, she didn't have time to miss Willow because there was a message waiting on the answering machine. She played it back; it was from her mother. The brunette felt a sense of relief when she heard her mother's voice. She didn't know if her slight happiness was because it was her mother that was still alright or if she would've felt that way for anyone she was protecting. Knowing she had to get up to speed on her mother's problems, and tell the woman the latest development with Willow, Kennedy called Gabriella.

"It's me, Kennedy." The brunette felt uneasy about nonchalantly throwing out the word 'mother' or 'mom', so she used neither.

"Kenn, I'm glad you called me." Gabriella was cautiously optimistic that it was her daughter and not Willow that called.

"Willow had to go to Ohio on business." The mother's optimism faded knowing her daughter had no choice but to call. "Where were you?…Willow left a bunch of messages for you."

"I went to some people I know…sort of like Willow…to see if maybe they could help me." After the last phone call, Gabriella felt that her daughter wanted no part of Willow's mission.

"Hah…I told Willow you skipped again," Kennedy tried to say it jokingly. It went over like a lead balloon. She quickly cleared her throat. "Did they help?"

"No," was the flat reply. Kennedy knew that meant the voice, the torment, continued for her mother.

"Well, don't worry…Mom…we'll get whatever's after you." Gabriella could hear the confident tone of her grown daughter. "First thing is I need to…."

Kennedy then went on to tell her mother the plan that she and Willow had developed. When done, Kennedy went back to the first part of the plan; she needed her mother closer. "I can't help you four hours away…and I can't leave here, there are other obligations I have." Kennedy also wanted to see if her mother's house or town had any influence on the episodes. "Is there any way you can stay in Sao Paulo til we figure this thing out?" Kennedy then realized her mother might take that as an invitation to stay with her and Willow. That was the furthest thing from the slayer's mind. This was still just a slayer duty to her; she was not looking for mother/daughter bonding. "I mean…there's a hotel not far from here. It would be easy for me to keep an eye on you."

"I can do that." Gabriella was impressed by the precise manner in which her daughter laid out the plan. She sounded like a field general preparing for an invasion. The woman realized she knew so little about her daughter, her strengths and weaknesses and how she got them. If she wanted any possibility of a future with her daughter, Gabriella knew she'd have to entrust herself over to her wholeheartedly.

"Good. Can you get here tomorrow morning?...I'll give ya the info on the hotel." Gabriella said yes and the conversation ended for that night.

Kennedy then found herself alone in the apartment. She looked around, and though Willow was not physically with her, the redhead was everywhere in their home. Kennedy saw her in the magick books overflowing their bookcase, the little throw pillows on the couch that Willow just had to have, and the "Chocolate is Happiness" coffee cup rinsed out and placed perfectly in the left hand corner of the sink. At the same time, the apartment never felt so empty and Kennedy never so alone. She wondered what Willow was thinking that very second, 'probably-why am I doing this, I hate to fly.' A smile came to her face. The brunette walked into their bedroom and changed into one of Willow's night shirts. She then went back out into the living room and turned on the television. She lay down on the couch, grabbed one of Willow's silly little throw pillows and hugged it. Kennedy slept on the couch that night, not wanting to feel the empty space beside her in her own bed.

Gabriella did as her daughter said and she took a room at the LaTorni Hotel, which was about fifteen minutes from the couple's apartment. Kennedy met her there. Her initial action was to study the ring. As soon as she saw it, Willow's description flooded her mind. She too felt that odd sense her witch discussed, the feeling that the ring wanted something; its pull for life. Once again, Kennedy understood the magnitude of her redhead's magickal senses. She again reminded herself never to doubt her witch when it came to these matters. She then had a discussion with her mother while eating breakfast concerning the situations when the voices and tormenting occurred. Kennedy was trying to gain insight as to when the events happened, if there was a trigger or some other common denominator. She also asked detailed information as to the content of the mental torture, the subject matter. Gabriella hesitated in answering.

"I really need to know…some times the smallest detail makes all the difference." Kennedy didn't know if she had touched upon a private or intimate matter for her mother. After a few moments, Gabriella responded.

"They all have to do with you," she said plainly. Kennedy was startled by the statement.

"The voices come when I'm thinking or talking about you…they tell me I shouldn't be forgiven…that you hate me." The voices had said more to the woman but she was hesitant to divulge that they told her Kennedy wanted to kill her.

"Oh…." The slayer didn't know how to respond. Was she the reason for her mother's tormented soul? Gabriella saw the look of dismay on her daughter's face.

"Kennedy…the voice lashes out at me for what I did to you…they remind me of the fact that I don't deserve you to forgive me…this was all my doing." The mother didn't want the daughter burdened with guilt in any way.

The brunette thought about her mother's words. There before her was an apology thinly veiled. Her mother was trying to say she was sorry. The woman was admitting that she had made a mistake and didn't expect her daughter's forgiveness. "Nothing has the right to drive anyone crazy…no matter what that person did." Kennedy said strongly. Gabriella smiled slightly. 'Was that a baby step to forgiveness,' she thought. Gabriella decided she would take whatever her daughter could give and be thankful.

Kennedy left her mother to settle in and told her she would come back in the late afternoon so they could discuss the situation some more and get some dinner. The slayer then went to the gym to train for a while. Willow wouldn't be at the house the Council had bought for the U.S. branch of the slayer network for several hours and the girl didn't want to go home to the empty apartment. There were several other slayers already at the gym, going through techniques with Miguel. The new slayers were always pleased when Kennedy was around; there was usually a trick or two that the slayer could show them. Although since her return from Rio, the group noticed that the American didn't have the same drive.

By two in the afternoon, the brunette was back home. She found herself getting anxious knowing that Willow would call soon. The slayer couldn't believe how much she missed her redhead. She'd been separated from family and girlfriends before; she usually accepted the distance and time apart without question. But this was different. She felt out of sorts without her witch, like she was lost in a snowstorm unable to see the road signs to keep her safe. Being away from her witch, Kennedy realized just how much she depended on the woman. Willow was her steadying force and her emotional rudder. Those emerald eyes could lift her spirits with just a glance; her smile could send the brunette into the clouds. Kennedy laughed to herself, 'I am so-o-o whipped….'

Continued thoughts of the redhead were disrupted by a ringing phone. Kennedy almost jumped on the phone to answer. "Willow?"

"Kennedy? Hey, baby…how'd you know it was me?...were you waiting by the phone?" Though ecstatic to hear her slayer's voice, Willow knew she had the chance to make her girl squirm a little.

"What?...no, I was ummm…just here…and the phone…hmmmph…alright, you caught me…I was waiting."

"Kenne…that's sweet…I miss you." Willow suspected their separation would be a challenge for her slayer.

"Yup, all accounted for." In the background, Kennedy heard a chorus of "We miss you Kennedy."

The lovers talked for quite some time, to bridge the divide of time and space between them, to ease their uneasiness of being one alone instead of two together. Willow told Kennedy that the Scoobies were all well and doing fine. The slayer house was given a quick description, the redhead promising further detail once she had a chance to get a better look at the place. Kennedy recounted her call and meeting with her mother. The witch felt a twinge of hope after the story. When it was time to end their call, neither wanted to be the first to actually say good-bye. Finally giving in, Willow told Kennedy she'd call that night. "You're only two hours ahead of here, so it won't be so bad with the calling." The couple exchanged "I love you" and ended the call. Kennedy instantly felt calmer. 'Couple calls a day and I might be able to get through this just fine." The slayer nodded her head and went to the bedroom to change for her meeting with her mother.

When Willow turned her cellphone off, she let out a deep breath. She felt a sense of relief come over her. She missed Kennedy, that girl had become firmly planted in the witch's heart and soul; being apart from her tore at her. Willow didn't believe that she would ever feel that connected, that close to another again. It was testament to the heart's resilience. She thought back over the last day.

"Why am I doing this?...I hate to fly." Willow's fourteen hour flight was just a third of the way over and all she wanted was to be back with Kennedy. She knew she was over reacting and she really was excited to see her friends again, but she was sad that her slayer couldn't be with her. She remembered what Kennedy told her to do to calm herself, "Just close your eyes and think about that time we went snorkeling." It worked; the witch felt better and was even able to sleep through part of the evening, an uneasy feat known by anyone who's ever taken a red eye flight.

Willow made it through customs at her connection in Houston and had an hour before her flight to Cleveland. She sat by the gate and reached into her shoulder bag. She pulled out the Chronicles of the Han Nurrabi. She couldn't wait to surprise Giles with a view of the book. The witch was nervous at first taking it with her, but Kennedy had convinced her that everything would be fine if she took it on board. "Wait til Giles sees this thing…he'll be green with envy." Kennedy laughed at how excited Willow sounded. The redhead now sat, flipping through the pages and waiting for her journey to continue. She was still in awe with the tome. The information she had already gleamed from its pages was invaluable. It gave her further insight and knowledge into her craft.

By the time she walked off the plane in Cleveland, Willow couldn't wait to see Buffy and Xander. They were waiting for her at the main terminal entrance. Giles was also there and everyone welcomed the witch with big smiles. There were shouts of her name, followed by hugging and kissing from everyone. The Scoobies had reunited and it felt great. The ride back to slayer house was filled with nonstop discussion about how wonderful everyone looked, the individual adventures in flight by each to get to the slayer summit meeting and a quick update on life since their last calls.

The slayer house was impressive by anyone's standard. It wasn't as inspiring as Kennedy's mansion Willow thought to herself, but large nonetheless. It was an old Victorian that was built in 1891 and originally owned by Cleveland's most prosperous builder at the time. It had nineteen rooms, including a ballroom which had been converted to the training facility, and a large library which had quickly been filled with magick books, slayer chronicles and other relevant subjects. The rooms were not overly ornate, the style having changed over the years. Bedrooms were on the second and third floors. "This place is great Giles…how'd you find it?"

Giles told Willow that Kennedy's father had actually been part of the reason they had the house. Jackson Prescott had been told by his daughter of the slayer network/watcher council idea before they all left for their assignments. Her father then contacted the watcher and told him to contact the man when he found a house he liked for the U.S. branch. It was only because of Jackson Prescott and his ability to make tax issues, legal filings and prime interest rates disappear that the Council was able to obtain the house and the thirty-five acres that came with it. "He never told Kennedy he did that." Willow had a new insight into the father of her slayer. He could be generous to his daughter without her ever knowing it. Kennedy's father had done this to help erase the years of doubt he had held for his daughter's destiny. He had done it because of his love for the girl.

Situated at what was the end of the city at the time, the house stood like a castle on the rolling highland valleys of England. Over time, the city grew up around the building but it still managed to keep an air of grandeur about it. The place had a colorful history. The original owner killed his neighbor in the third floor hallway after finding the man in bed with his wife. The house was placed for sale and went empty for twelve years until the archdiocese for the Catholic Church in Cleveland bought it and turned it into a school for orphaned girls. That lasted for thirty-five years, until donations could no longer support the endeavor, at which time the place was bought by a 'new money' Tennessean who hadn't lost his shirt in the Crash of '29. He turned the house into a hotel and did quite well until his death in 1954. It passed to his son who sold it to a wealthy woman born and raised in Cleveland. After that, the house bounced around to several owners due to bankruptcy or just the urge to move out of the city. By the time Giles found it, the place had been abandoned for eight years and was in need of major improvements. That's where Faith and Robin came in.

Giles knew he couldn't oversee that house from London, so he put Faith and Wood in charge of not only contacting and setting up the slayer network but also renovating the place. They did a great job. In fact, instead of meeting Willow, Faith had stayed behind to make sure everything was in order and ready for the witch's arrival. Faith was leaning against one of the large columns at the front entranceway when the car full of Scoobies pulled up. "Yo…Welcome to Slayer Central." Willow went to Faith and gave her a hug. She immediately noticed that Faith hugged back. The reformed slayer had become accustomed to displays of affection; she wasn't trying to be the 'hard ass' any longer.

Once inside the house Willow excused herself from the conversation so she could call Kennedy. "God, Red…K got you that pussy whipped already?" Faith said sarcastically. Willow just smiled back as she called her girl. She felt much better after talking to her slayer. She planned on calling later and decided on doing some serious catching up with her friends.

That night ended the same for the witch and the slayer. Both had gone out to dinner and talked about times past. In Willow's case, old friends were picking up where they left off, like they never left each other's side. For Kennedy, though still treading lightly, mother and daughter were discovering each other as if for the first time. They weren't bringing up old memories but were, as it would turn out, making new ones. Willow and Kennedy talked on the phone for over an hour. "The phone bill won't look pretty," the redhead quipped. The two told each other about their day, the plans for tomorrow – all the things they would have said had they been together in the same room. Unbeknownst to the other, they were both laying on their beds, each on the side that the other usually occupied, both focusing on an article of the other. Willow held Kennedy's picture in her hand while the brunette held onto Willow's pillow. They talked softly, each knowing their separation wasn't the end of the world, even if at moments if felt like it was. "Just four more days…" Kennedy whispered. The lovers finally said good night and ended the call, each knowing that sleep would not come easily without the other beside them.

The next few days were so strange to Kennedy. She talked to Willow each morning and then again at night. She did leave it to her redhead to call so that she wouldn't interrupt any meetings or reacquainting by old friends. Their conversations were matter of fact, going over information Willow learned from Giles and the brunette being filled in on the current state of affairs of everyone. Willow confirmed what Kennedy had expected after several calls with Faith; she and Wood were no longer a couple. The brunette always asked Faith how Robin was when they spoke. She had noticed that over time, Faith's answers became more ambiguous. Knowing the reformed slayer was not used to divulging her personal business, Kennedy didn't push. She knew that some people were wired to keep things inside; Faith was one of those people. Willow only knew because the slayer couldn't keep it hidden with all of them in the house.

Willow and Kennedy also talked about the ring. The witch had continued her research and had employed Giles to help. They had gotten several leads but all fizzled out. "Don't worry, Kenne…we'll find the answer." "I know you will, Red." It never entered the slayer's mind that her girl wouldn't find out what was at the route of her mother's problem. She had complete faith and confidence in Willow.

The lovers also reminded the other how much she was missed. For Kennedy's part, she realized the extent to which she had come to lean on the witch. Willow was the one to help her with logistics with slaying; she calmed her when a patrol went other than perfect and celebrated with her when there had been an exceptionally 'good' dusting night. The redhead was always there for her, in times of need or passion. Kennedy could share anything with the woman; she knew in the last few months, she should have shared more. Simply put, Willow calmed the storm that would occasionally rise in Kennedy's soul. The slayer would easily leave her life in the witch's hands if the circumstances called for that. She trusted the redhead completely; she loved her emphatically. The girl who was once so scared to expose her true feelings to the witch was now ready to jump off a building, knowing in her heart that her redhead would catch her.

The calls with Willow were the only part of their separation that gave any normalcy to the slayer. Because of her mother's issue, she had cut back on her patrolling, sharing that duty with the other slayers and Miguel. She didn't stop altogether, just kept her sweeps to the small dangerous area of the city. The new slayers did quite well; Kennedy's training had made them sharp and prepared.

Most of the time that the brunette made in her daily schedule was spent with her mother. She still did what was necessary around the apartment, but had her meals with the woman and spent at least some of the afternoon and evening hours with her. At first, Kennedy had Gabriella tell her more about the 'episodes', the voice that accompanied them and the ring. Her mother was questioned about how, when and where she had acquired the ring. She also forced her mother to try to remember in detail what was said by the thing in her head and how she reacted. It was obvious to both that the episodes were increasing in frequency, duration and intensity. Gabriella told her daughter that the barrages somehow seemed to have become more intimate like they were becoming a part of her. "…And they're more terrifying…I'm shaking with fear when it stops…I'm scared to move, look around…even breath…I don't know how much more I can take."

Their talks turned to other topics as well. Little by little, Gabriella got Kennedy to talk more about her childhood and herself. The brunette eventually filled her in on growing up in New York, being told about being a potential and her training with her watcher. They didn't talk much about her father other than for the brunette to say he was doing well and still married. Gabriella, too, exposed more of her past to her daughter. She kept the more seamy details to herself, but was quite frank about the 'mess' she had made of her life. Gabriella decided that the only hope of true dialogue with her daughter was for her to be honest about her mistakes.

With time, Gabriella was able to give some explanation for her behavior, though she still knew that knowledge didn't necessarily mean understanding or forgiveness. She also told her daughter how her father, Kennedy's Grandfather, had died before Gabriella's return to the family. "He never knew I turned my life around." It was one more event for which the woman had guilt.

At one visit, Kennedy brought the blue box and queried her mother about its contents.

"That bracelet…I remember. We were in the Village and there was a street vendor. For some reason I stopped…you were still young, probably not even out of diapers…I looked at what he had and spotted that bracelet…I don't know why, but I just had to buy it…I was going to give it to you when you were old enough." Gabriella shifted in her seat nervously. She realized she had deserted her daughter before that time came.

Kennedy felt the same pain but went on trying to hide the disappointment. "What about the handkerchief?"

"That was done by your Grandmother…it's custom for all girls to have one as part of their dowry."

"Well, I guess that was a waste of time…not seeing me with any Prince Charming." Both women laughed. Then Gabriella looked in her daughter's eyes.

"I can tell she loves you, too…what you two have is special, anyone with eyes can see that…don't let it go, Kenny…it doesn't happen all the time." There was a sad tone to the woman's words, like it was coming from one who knew first hand the emptiness from a life without true love.

After the talks with her mother, Kennedy never knew what to say or how to feel. Had this been a stranger, the slayer would have felt total compassion and kindness to her. But this woman had abandoned her, disappeared from her life like Houdini. A small part of the brunette, the side she was not proud of, felt that the woman deserved this punishment. The pain and hurt her mother was going through now was her penalty for what she had done to her daughter. Every time that insidious mean thought reared its head, Kennedy tried to push it away. She was a slayer and she had no right to think ill of an innocent. But she was also a wounded daughter who, giving in to her childhood feelings, just wanted someone to feel as bad as she had for so long.

Kennedy had gone to see her mother that night as she had on the previous nights, but this time when she knocked on the hotel room door no one answered. The brunette knocked several more times and when she still received no response, she panicked thinking the unknown demon had attacked. She broke the door knob and lock with her hand and rushed in. The television was on, as were the lights, and her mother was standing in the middle of the room rocking forward and back with her hands over her ears. Her face was flushed and contorted, her eyes closed tightly. "No…No…No…" repeated in sharp utterances was all that came out of her mother's mouth, and she kept tapping her ring on the side of her head. She looked like some one who should have been in an asylum under heavy medication. She was a different person than the one Kennedy had seen only that morning. Kennedy rushed to her, grabbing her by the arms.

"Mom!...Mom!..." Kennedy shouted as she shook her mother. The woman remained the same, still repeating the words. Kennedy pried her hands from her ears. "Mom…listen to me…your ok…I'm here now…nothing can hurt you." Kennedy could hear the terror in her mother's voice. She kept trying to get her mother to come out of her daze; nothing she did worked. Gabriella kept shouting "No" which was soon followed by tears. Then she starting shaking; her eyes fixated on a point across the room. Kennedy had never seen anyone so obviously petrified. Brown eyes followed her mother's line of vision. The slayer couldn't believe what she saw.

There was a definite haze appearing in the room where her mother watched. It wasn't form or physical in nature, but it was most certainly a presence. Kennedy looked back at her mother. A brief thought of losing the woman flickered in the brunette's mind. In that instant, Kennedy realized she didn't want her mother gone; she wanted the woman in her life. The slayer did the only thing she could think of…she held onto Gabriella and said, "Don't give in, Mom…stay here with me…I want you with me…" Kennedy held on tight, the side of her face up against her mother's chest, her eyes beginning to water.

The struggle continued for Gabriella, the unknown tormenter never letting up with its barrage. 'She hates you…she despises you…she's here only to kill you…you ruined her…" Gabriella couldn't keep out the pounding words.

Then she felt Kennedy's arms and heard her daughter's words, her plea. She fought her way back and the voice receded, as did the misty mass in the room. The shaking stopped and Gabriella opened her eyes to see her daughter still clinging to her. Her breathing slowed and she regained her composure. The woman placed her arms around Kennedy; both felt the emotion passing through the embrace. Gabriella leaned her head down and kissed her daughter on the top of her head. Kennedy looked up with tears in her eyes.

"Kennedy…Sweatheart…I'm ok now…the voice went away." Her words were said with the soothing kindness spoken by any mother to her worried child.

"Shhhh…I'm sure…everything's going to be fine." The mother was comforting her child. They finally let go of their embrace.

Kennedy had previously made the suggestion that they try to take the ring off her mother's finger, but Willow cautioned against that. "We don't know what might happen if we try." Willow reminded her slayer that the ring wasn't hurting her mother other than the affects when the voice was present. "She's had the ring on for years and, until recently, was fine with it." The witch also knew that the ring had some metaphysical presence because Gabriella couldn't remove it. "If it's got enough power to keep your mom from taking it off, it seems to reason it wouldn't allow anyone else to remove it." Willow worried that any attempt at removing the ring would lead to injury, or worse, for either the wearer or the remover. "We can't take it off her until we know how to do it safely."

Kennedy didn't want to accept Willow's take on the situation. All she knew was that the ring was causing her mother pain and that was enough for her to think it should come off. Willow kept talking to the slayer, arguing at times, to listen to her. She told Kennedy rushing into this could have serious consequences. The witch finally told the brunette to trust the redhead's instincts. Kennedy ultimately saw past her unreasoned position; she squelched to need to have to be the one with the solution. Willow was right she told herself when she looked beyond her own initial reaction. Her witch was the expert when it came to magick and she remembered she had promised herself to trust her girl in these matters. So, she never did bring up that subject again.

However, now seeing her mother in such horrendous torment and pain, Kennedy couldn't just bide her time any longer. The need to 'do something' overwhelmed her. She decided she had to take a risk.

She went over to her mother. "Mom, I've gotta try to take it off…I'll throw it away…or crush it…I'll wear it if I have to…you can't keep going through this."

With those words, Kennedy took her mother's hand and went to grab the ring. As soon as she touched it, Kennedy felt a burning sensation on her fingers. It was as if she'd put them on a hot stove. She instantly jerked her hand back. "Shit," she yelled as she shook her hand. "Did you feel the burning?" the daughter asked expecting an affirmative answer.

"No, I didn't feel anything." Gabriella looked at her daughter's fingers, blisters were already forming. "Oh my God, Kenny…you're hurt."

"Don't worry, Mom. Slayer healing…this'll be gone soon." Kennedy couldn't tell her mother the pain she was in; she knew the woman had enough reasons for guilt and burnt fingers was one she could do without. Kennedy stared at the ring knowing that Willow was right; until they could figure out what was causing the problem and a way to safely remove the ring, it would stay on her mother's finger. The anger inside the slayer bubbled out.

Kennedy had finally found her mother and she wasn't going to lose her again. Gabriella was astonished at the look of fortitude behind those beautiful brown eyes.

It took some time for the two women to get their emotions back under control. Once they did, Gabriella told Kennedy about the episode, what the voice said and how the ring was "buzzing almost" against her finger. The haze in the room was a new addition and both knew that wasn't good. The brunette decided she couldn't risk her mother being by herself, so she decided to take the woman back to the apartment. She also figured taking her away from the hotel couldn't hurt the situation. Gabriella was actually relieved to know she didn't have to spend the night alone waiting for another attack.

Later that night, after her mother had fallen to sleep from exhaustion, Kennedy got her nightly call from Willow. The slayer had thought about calling her girlfriend; she wanted to hear her witch's voice but knew the girl was not only doing real Council work but also reconnecting with old friends. She didn't want to end her redhead's jubilation any sooner than necessary. As soon as she heard her redhead say "How's everything, baby?" Kennedy felt relieved and told Willow about the latest happening.

"It's getting bad, Will…We've got to find out what's doing this…what the hell her ring is." Willow could hear the concern in her brunette's voice.

"I'm scared, Will…what if something happens to her?" There was a sad tone to the statement, like the slayer assumed her life would once again end in heartache.

Willow wanted to reach through the phone and hold her slayer. In the three days since she left, Willow heard her brunette tell her how she had been slowly reconnecting with her long lost mother. Now, just when there was a ray of hope for her girl, evil once again threatened to snatch it away. Willow resolved that there would be no sad ending this time; she would find the answer.

The couple talked some more, Willow making sure her slayer was calm before saying good night. They knew it was only two more days until Kennedy picked up her redhead at the air port and they could defeat this evil together.

When Willow shut off her cellphone, she felt a new sense of resolve. Even with all her new found inner powers, the woman had still come up with nothing substantial. Every ring her and Giles researched ended up not fitting the pattern of behavior from Kennedy's mother. Willow knew Gabriella's episodes were escalating and time was running out. The witch felt like she was letting her slayer down; failing her at the one time she desperately needed her. The redhead knew she was "research girl"; she was the one Kennedy was counting on to save the day. The self confidence she'd been carrying around took a slight decline.

Willow's time in Cleveland had been eye-opening in many ways. She was ecstatic to see her friends again. After settling in and calling Kennedy, Willow spent the rest of the day and into the night catching up with Buffy and Xander. Dawn was back in Italy in school being watched by Andrew of all people. It turned out that the ex-nemesis of Buffy made a very good assistant to Giles and had become quite indispensable in many ways. When Faith saw the group after they initially entered the house, she could tell they needed their Scooby alone time; she had her patrolling to do and giving the old friends space was fine by her. Everyone asked about Kennedy and Willow partly lied by telling them that "Everything's great...couldn't be better." Willow knew all too well how private her slayer was and she didn't want to break her confidences.

The friends talked for hours about their time apart from each other. Xander had actually returned to the U.S.A. from his mission in Africa. He and his assistant, Richard Welmsport, with the help of a powerful medicine man, had found a few dozen slayers who were in training at the Cairo, Egypt branch of the slayer network. Willow saw that her oldest friend had matured yet again. He had worked through his sadness over Anya's death; he was at peace with those past events. Xander talked about the adventures he had roaming the Serengeti, traversing the pyramids and trenching through the rainforest. He seemed wiser; that scared little boy had grown up. Willow was proud of the wonderful man her friend had turned into, but at the same time sad that the boy was gone. She was at least happy that the sense of humor was intact. That fact came out when they discussed his slayer girlfriend. "Imagine kinduva tanned Anya…with an attitude…" He saw the dumbfounded look on his friends. "What can I say…I'm a sucker for punishment." Xander then told his friends that Rhianni was coming to America in three weeks. "For good?" Willow asked. Xander hesitated in his reply. "Well, at least for a long vacation…we'll see how it goes." Willow and Buffy were glad that their friend had been able to find happiness again.

Buffy's story had some familiar tunes her friends had heard before. She too had finished her slayer locating but decided to stay in Italy until Dawn finished the school year. Her little sister had had so much upheaval in her young life already that the blonde slayer wanted to give her some semblance of stability. Buffy confirmed that she'd had a beau for a while. It was the Immortal, oddly enough a long time nemesis to Angel and Spike. "I don't know how it happened…it just did." She told her friends that it was never love or even the needy lust that she'd had with Spike. "He was nice and we had fun…no strings, no expectations." That was exactly what Buffy wanted after her arrival in Italy. After seven years of being 'The Chosen', the woman was ready to let go of the burden of saving the world. It took some adjustment; years of always being in charge and responsible didn't dissipate over night. But slowly, she found herself accepting the new slayers' help more and taking extra time for herself. She told Willow and Xander about her trips to the Sistine Chapel and the canals of Venice. She went to the Louvre in Paris and to the top of the Eiffel Tower. She drank wine in an old farm house in Tuscany and partied all night in a discotheque in Amsterdam. All this while contacting thirty-two slayers and slaying demons during her own patrols.

To Willow and Xander, the blonde slayer had never seemed more at ease. She looked genuinely happy with her life. The angst that was once on her face, especially during the time before the final battle, had disappeared. In its place was the expression of relaxation, of knowing her life would never be as hard as it had been. Buffy was finally getting to do what others took for granted. She was living 'her' life, the life of Buffy Summers, not just Buffy, the vampire slayer. She was her own person and the look was the most attractive thing she'd ever wore. The friends were happy that the blonde had finally found serenity.

The biggest change, though, was seen by Xander and Buffy in their sweet redhead. She was still the kind, gentle natured girl they always knew, but the two were amazed at the wonderful, confident woman she'd become. Willow told them about her friendship with the coven women, the advances in her witchcraft and new found sense of obligation to assist in fighting evil. "You go on patrols with Kennedy?" Buffy couldn't believe that her friend who used to cringe from confrontation now actively sought it out. Willow fascinated them with her stories of the teamwork she and Kennedy had. She also recounted to them their trips to Rio and the Amazon. Her friends were stunned when they heard of her exploits in rock climbing, parasailing, and canoeing down the Amazon River. They listened as their witch described her present interests in astral projection and teleportation. Buffy saw how comfortable Willow had become with her magick. The redhead was no longer scared of it, of what she could do with it. Buffy knew that Willow was in control of her power. Xander noticed that Willow wasn't staying in the background during the visit. She didn't act like a sidekick anymore. Willow was assured and prepared in all their discussions with Giles; she had become a force. Both friends were overjoyed that Willow had finally gotten through the dark times; they were impressed with the woman before them.

"When you two coming home, Will?" The redhead looked at Xander and didn't know exactly how to answer. She knew they had found all the slayers; she had finished that mission awhile ago. They stayed to help Miguel; they stayed because of Kennedy's mother. Part of her also knew that they stayed because they were happy living their lives together and fighting evil. Some small part of Willow was in no hurry to go back to America; she wanted things between her and her slayer to be great again. She wanted Kennedy to be happy again.

Willow spent time with Faith also. After the Truxdeiro event, the redhead felt like she owed Faith. The dark haired slayer had unselfishly put her life in danger to help her brunette. The witch could feel in her heart that Faith really had turned her life around and Willow wanted to show her that her friends were proud of her for that. The witch also knew that the older slayer and Kennedy had a special friendship and that her girl would want the latest scoop on her friend's well being.

"Are you ok about Robin…about it being over?" Willow asked gingerly. The relationship with Wood was the first time she, or anyone for that matter, had seen Faith show real emotion for someone.

"Ya know, the funny thing is we're both fine with it." Faith didn't try to hold back with Willow; she knew the witch and Kennedy were worried and it finally felt good to get it out in the open. Faith told Willow how there was no animosity between her and Robin. They were never in love and always saw their differences. They were comfort for each other at a time when they both needed it.

"I can't say we drifted apart…cuz we never really were a 'couple' in the typical sense…we just ran our course." Faith didn't sound bitter or sad; there was only fond remembrance of the experience. "We'll always be friends…he helped me through some shit." Then with a raised eyebrow, "Although I must admit, I'll miss the sex…the man is a dynamo in the sack." Willow's stunned look was enough to tell Faith she had probably given too much information.

Faith too seemed pleased with how her life was going. Willow was happy for her. Faith asked about Kennedy and every time Willow was about to tell her that her slayer wasn't fine, that she was struggling, she stopped herself. She didn't want her girl to think she was going behind her back, make her feel worse about her recent mishap. So, she kept it in, letting Faith think all was well in paradise.

The only one that knew about Kennedy's problems, from her mother to the slayer's recent change in disposition about her slaying abilities, was Giles. Willow still thought of the man as an authority figure, one that she could turn to when she couldn't make sense of things. And she knew the watcher would keep the matter to himself. Giles was well aware of Kennedy's prideful streak; he promised Willow he wouldn't say a thing unless she wanted him to.

After her arrival, Willow showed Giles the birthday gift from Kennedy. "I can't believe she bought you the Chronicles of the Han Nurrabi…this must have cost her a hefty sum…" Between paying for the apartment, buying the book and getting the Council the Cleveland house, Giles was beginning to get a picture of just how rich the Prescott family was. Giles also knew how much the brunette slayer must love her witch to go to such great lengths to obtain such a book.

Between meetings and hanging with Buffy and Xander, Willow discussed with Giles her new found understanding of her magickal powers. Just from their conversation, Giles saw that Willow was finally grasping her true potential, her true destiny. He saw the magnificent witch that he always secretly knew Willow could be. He also could see how Willow was struggling with not finding the answer to Kennedy's mother's problem. They researched when they could and thought they had found the answer several times but quickly discovered their error. After the call from Kennedy about the latest attack on her mother, Willow's resolve became more fervent. "I can't let her down, Giles…I've got to find the right ring…I know that's what's doing this."

One day later, on the night before she was to return to Sao Paulo, while waiting until she knew Kennedy would be home to answer her call, Willow looked through the Chronicles. There was so much information in it; Willow had taken her time reading the book, giving herself occasion to take in its lessons and words of wisdom. There were potions, spells, references to demons, warlocks, and dimensional battles. There was a world's life time of history in her hands. She started to get fidgety so she began to thumb through some pages…flip…flip…flip.

Willow held open the book and stared at the left hand page. Before her eyes was a picture of Kennedy's mother's ring. The redhead almost jumped off her bed. She hurriedly read the passage that accompanied the picture; it was in old English which she had enough experience with to decipher. Her eyes intently scanned left to right, line after line, as she devoured the information. She burned the words into her memory. When she was done, a big smile came across her face. "I've found it!" Willow had the answer to Kennedy's mother's demon. She couldn't wait to tell her slayer.

At that moment, Willow felt a small chill go through her…and then her cellphone rang. She looked at the phone on the nightstand as it rang again. The redhead got an uneasy feeling. She slowly reached over and picked it up. Something told Willow it was Kennedy. She looked at the caller id; it was her brunette. She flipped open the phone, hit a button and put the device to her ear.

It was Kennedy's voice but not as Willow had ever heard it before. The word was barely audible, trembling and interlaced with fear. The redhead heard despair in her slayer's voice. In that split second, Willow knew something terrible had happened.

Despair that overwhelms the soul of a person comes from many forms. Some times, it's the slow inching decline found at the bottom of a never ending bottle of booze. For others, the fate ensues due to a sudden, tragic loss of a loved one. There has always been an eternal source for the despondency enveloping even the mighty after their fall. For Kennedy, her spiral descent into the quagmire of despair and hopelessness took the form of beautiful blue eyes staring at her begging to be saved.

"Tomorrow, tomorrow…I luv ya, tomorrow…Will's only a day…uh-h-h…wa-a-y-y." Kennedy had been singing her own version of that irritating song from "Annie" all day, even though she hated the real one. But her Willow was coming home in one day and she was elated. "Only one more night without her," she mumbled to herself as she walked through the cemetery on her nightly patrol.

The previous night went uneventful, fortunately; her mother didn't experience another onslaught and had actually been able to get a decent night's sleep in the couple's spare bedroom. In the morning, Gabriella insisted on going beck to her hotel room. "I don't want to impose or cause any trouble here," the woman said, "Besides, my clothes are at my room." With some hesitation, Kennedy allowed her mother to go back and spend time without her daughter being there. Kennedy did check in around noon so they could get lunch. She planned on seeing her mother later that night. "I'll try to come by after I patrol…it may be a little late." Her mother told her that was fine and even gave her daughter her spare room key card so that she wouldn't feel like a guest. "You do whatever you need to do, honey, I don't know what I'd be doing without you." It was the first time Gabriella had used a term of endearment to her daughter. She didn't even realize she said it until it was out of her mouth. She examined her daughter to see if the remark was unwanted. She saw no displeasure in her daughter; she smiled to herself.

So there Kennedy was, making her rounds knowing that by the same time tomorrow night, she'd be picking her redhead up at the airport. She was so excited she had the jitters; the brunette was restless, wanting time to magickally speed ahead. 'Maybe Willow could…' she began to think, but then cut herself off. Though she didn't doubt her witch skilled enough to fast forward time, Kennedy knew that was just too much of a personal reason to justify her redhead's powers. 'I'll just have to wait'; her lone expression of mock sacrifice made her laugh.

Kennedy tried to concentrate on her patrolling. She wanted to get the job done so she could visit her mother, make sure the woman was fine. The brunette had found herself unexpectedly with more feelings and concern for her mother than she thought would be there. Despite the horrible thing her mother had done to her, the slayer didn't want any harm to come to her, and not just because evil was involved. The brunette wanted to get to know her mother, wanted to see if they could have some form of a relationship. Kennedy sought after the love she had been denied all those years.

As Kennedy walked around, a stake tucked inside each boot and another in her waistband, she suddenly stopped and cocked her head. She thought she heard a sound; she strained to listen. There was nothing further, so she continued to walk. Then it happened again. This time Kennedy was sure she heard a noise. She started to walk in the direction from where she thought the sound was coming. Then a loud shrill filled the quiet night. The slayer halted and stood motionless. There were several more screams. The brunette was certain the voices were coming from the area where there was a large mausoleum. She had killed several vamps there; they liked to set up home inside.

Kennedy thought about running over to the site to see the source of the screaming. Before Elvis, she would have, never hesitating at the sound of someone in danger. But the slayer had been doubting herself since that near fatal fight with the King. Willow's injuries in Rio, for which the brunette blamed herself, had only added to the deflation of her self-confidence. She hadn't been the same since; she questioned her every move, hesitated during fights and second guessed her understanding of the cunning of her demon rivals. As she stood there Kennedy thought, 'This could be a set up…some vamp pretending to be a human in trouble…just to get me over there so it can do a surprise attack.' Kennedy decided to wait for more legitimate evidence. The screams kept coming; there were two she could hear, a man's and a woman's. Then there was silence.

The slayer didn't finish the internal dialogue because she heard another scream…this one from a young child, a girl.

The slayer's entire body shivered as the high pitched screaming went through her. She instantly panicked, knowing her previous scenario was dead wrong. Humans were in trouble and she needed to save them.

Kennedy started to run as fast as she could to the mausoleum. Once there she quickly went to the front door and peered inside its small window. The slayer froze from the scene she saw.

In the middle of the space, draped over a prayer table, was the lifeless body of a woman. Her legs were hanging over one edge and her head the other. Kennedy could only see the woman's torso and feet. But the brunette knew she had been drained; her skin was pasty white. The slayer had seen that color enough times to know what a body drained of its blood looked like. The horror didn't stop there. About ten feet to the left of the woman lay a man on the floor. His pose was unnatural, his leg positioned in a manner only possible if it had been twisted from the hip bone. He was on his stomach but his head had been turned around so that it almost faced the ceiling. Kennedy could see the two puncture wounds on his neck, blood congealing around the small openings. The man was dead but Kennedy could tell he had fought for his family before his inevitable demise.

The most terrifying sight caught the slayer's attention out of the corner of her eye. Within seconds of seeing the two adults, the brunette saw movement in her peripheral; she looked to her right. In the back corner, only visible because of an "eternal remembrance flame" which shined on the wall above, Kennedy saw a vampire. In his arms was a young girl – still alive. She had blonde hair and blue eyes; she couldn't have been more than twelve or so, 'She looks kinda like Emma ,' the slayer thought. The vampire was crouched and held the girl in front of him; he had one hand under her neck and the other under her lower back. The demon had the young girl close to him so that her pristine neck was almost touching his waiting fangs. Kennedy grabbed the door knob to crash in, never taking her eyes off the girl. At that instant, the vampire lifted his head back slightly. The girl, whose head was turned facing the door, looked straight at Kennedy through that little window. Her blue eyes seared into Kennedy's. Those eyes pleaded to be saved. They looked at the slayer with terror and confusion. Kennedy didn't even have time to turn the knob; fangs dove into the girl's neck. Shock filled blue eyes and then nothing. That quickly, the young blonde headed girl was dead.

"No-o-o-o!!" Kennedy yelled as she opened the door and lunged at the soulless creature. He dropped the girl to the floor and tried to slide out of the way of the slayer flying at him. Kennedy caught an arm as she landed. She gained her balance and flipped the demon over by his outstretched arm. He landed on the ground, face down. Kennedy jumped on him, placing her boot at the back of his neck and gave a hard push; she heard the crack of his neck. The slayer grabbed a stake from her boot still pushing on his neck and lunged it into the vampire's back. He turned to dust.

The brunette jumped to the where the girl was; she took her in her arms and lifted her up. The body was limp as the slayer stood up. Kennedy stared into the blue eyes that were still open, still looking at her. All the brunette could see was this girl, one no different than her own sister; a girl she should have saved.

After several moments, Kennedy lowered her head on the dead girl's stomach and started to cry. "I'm sorry…I shoulda saved you…I'm sorry…I shoulda saved all of you.…"

Kennedy knew her hesitation was the reason a family had been brutally murdered; her ineptitude as a slayer caused the carnage before her now. She had not saved the innocent; she had killed them. When Kennedy looked back into the blue eyes, they no longer begged to be saved, but ridiculed the slayer for being a failure, for having their blood on her hands.

The slayer couldn't stand the look; she placed the girl by her dead mother and ran from the death scene. She kept running, never slowing until she got to the front door of her and Willow's home. The entire way, she could see nothing but those blue eyes staring at her in disdain. She tried to get away from them, to block them from her mind, but those eyes followed her. She saw that face, the bodies, the death.

By the time she opened the front door, the brunette was heaving for breath; sweat poured from her skin and her muscles burned. She got inside and slammed the door shut. No lights were on; only the moon in its last quarter gave assistance for lighting. Leaning against the door, the slayer put her hands to her face. 'What have I done?...what have I done?' rolled over and over in her mind. Kennedy couldn't catch her breath; they came in gasps. The slayer tried to move but couldn't, her desperation setting her feet as if in concrete. Still leaning on the door, she slid to the floor. She began to cry again.

Kennedy had fallen into the abyss, down a dark endless hole and her perception now took on an 'Alice in Wonderland' feel. Nothing made sense and everything was distorted. Her sense of self, her slayer pride, was gone. She was nothing; her life had spiraled out of control and innocents were dead because of it. Kennedy knew there was no demon behind all of her recent failures, no magickal forces. All of her failures were of her own doing, her own inadequacies and shortcomings. She could only blame herself; she had to blame herself. Putting her life in danger was one thing, allowing Willow to be hurt and being the reason for others' deaths were too much. The blue eyes had finished her off.

Kennedy was terrified, not knowing how she could cope with the burden one more minute, one more second. The guilt came crushing down on her. She was drowning and desperately wanted to be saved.

Through the flashing scenes of blue eyes, dead bodies and sadistically smiling demons came the one saving grace in her whole existence – Willow's face. In that moment, Kennedy wanted her witch, needed her more than anything else in life. If Willow could just hold her, the slayer knew she wouldn't be damned; Willow would be her sanctuary. The brunette ached for her redhead, to hear her voice say everything would be ok. Kennedy didn't know how she would make it through the night without Willow; she knew she couldn't wait to hear her voice.

She pulled herself up, went to the kitchen counter and took the phone off its cradle. She keyed in Willow's cellphone number. Then she heard the line connect and ringing. She waited, hoping her lover was there. Time seemed to drag on for hours.

Kennedy thanked the heavens that Willow answered the call. Then all her fears came rushing back. Would Willow think she had failed too? Could she forgive the slayer's inadequacies? Could she help calm the brunette's soul? Kennedy could hardly speak.

"Baby?...w-what's wrong?" Willow immediately thought that something terrible must have happened to her girlfriend's mother.

"…Will…some…thing b-bad…." Kennedy started crying. Willow became frantic.

"Kennedy, please baby…try to tell me what happened…is it your mother?" Kennedy kept crying, the sobs increasing. Willow didn't know what to do, how she could comfort her slayer over a phone line. "Shhh….shhhh, Kenne, baby…please, try to calm down…please tell me why you're crying." Willow waited, her body tensing from the situation that she had no ability to control. After another minute or so, Kennedy's crying eased and she tried to answer her witch.

"Not Mom, Will…o-on patrol tonight…there w-was a family…I-I shou…shoulda saved them…they're d-dead…" The crying started again. "…her blue eyes…they won't s-s-stop staring at me, Will." Kennedy had to stop, the swirling emotion of despair causing her to feel ill.

Willow didn't fully understand what her girl was trying to tell her. It was obvious to her that Kennedy had undergone a horrendous event and that people were dead. It felt like Kennedy was trying to tell her that it was the slayer's fault. Willow knew that couldn't be right. She gently pressed her girl for more facts, trying at the same time to get her to calm herself. Willow had never heard her brunette in such a devastated state. She was almost incomprehensible.

Slowly, Willow coaxed out of Kennedy a bit more information; she knew a family, including a little girl around Emma's age, had been killed by a vamp which her slayer had dusted. Kennedy told her she didn't get there fast enough, that she should have. The whole time Kennedy kept crying and saying it was her fault. She was getting to the point of being incoherent again. Willow was frenzied with worry for the emotional state of her brunette. She hated that she wasn't there with her. She felt like she needed to be.

Quietly, "I wish you were here, Will." Willow could hear the under current of pleading in her girl's voice.

"Oh, god, Kenne…I wish I was, too." Willow had long ago stopped using the word 'wish' because of the problem of vengeance demons and such. But now, she didn't care. She honestly did wish she could be home with her slayer. She went to talk some more, but there was knocking at her door.

"Hey, Will?...We all decided to go get ice cream, you wanna come?" It was Xander.

"Yeah, Willow…get your butt out here…We'll buy you two scoops of double chocolate." That was Buffy.

Kennedy heard the voices from her end and remembered her witch was having the time of her life with her friends. Kennedy instantly felt guilty for taking away whatever time left her redhead had with her long time friends. She chastised herself for reaching out to her girl all those thousands of miles away, expecting her to be able to soothe the slayer's emotions. The brunette thought herself selfish for wanting her witch to share in her hurt instead of handling it on her own. She had to handle it on her own. Kennedy stopped her tears and shook her head. She composed herself so she could speak calmly.

"I'm sorry, Will…I know you're busy with the gang…I shouldn't have called… don't worry about me…I'll be ok…it's not that bad…I'll be fine."

Willow was worried by the sudden change of her brunette's tone. She knew the calm tone was a lie. "No, Kennedy…you were right to call, baby…" Willow tried to go on but the knocking continued.

"Willow…if you don't answer the door, we're coming in…whether you're decent or not." Xander was laughing as he said it. Willow didn't care about answering her friends; she only cared about the scared girl on the other end of the phone call.

"I'll be ok, Willow…just overreacted…talking with you helped…please go with your friends…" The words were flat and without emotion.

"I love you," Kennedy said then hung up. She wouldn't burden her witch with her failure as a slayer. She didn't want Willow to hear her in total defeat. She would try to hang on and keep from falling farther down into the black hole of despair.

Willow heard her lover's words and then a dial tone. "Oh, God, …Kennedy." The witch was completely scared now. The way Kennedy said those last words was as if she knew she'd never say them again. The redhead threw the cellphone down on the bed and quickly got up, moving to the door. She opened it.

"It's about damn time you opened the door…" Xander said. Then looking behind the witch to the phone on the bed, "Whatta ya doing in here, phone sex with Kennedy?"

The expression on Willow's face instantly told the friends something bad had happened. Willow stared them in the eyes.

"Willow, you know I don't have to tell you how dangerous this is…and that you should reconsider…there has to be another way." Giles and Willow were discussing the redhead's announcement of her plan to go to Kennedy that night.

"Teleporting's the only way, Giles." The witch had made up her mind and nothing anyone could say was going to make her change it. Giles noticed how his Scooby had picked up a little of the stubbornness of her slayer girlfriend.

After the statement to Buffy and Xander in her bedroom, Willow instantly went to her phone and tried to call Kennedy again. She didn't answer and the answering machine didn't pick up either. Buffy looked at Xander confused, then at her friend. She knew there was something wrong. "What happened, Will?"

Willow answered as she tried calling again. "Something's wrong with Kennedy…really wrong…and I need to get back tonight."

"I don't know if there are any flights this late." Xander said looking as bewildered as Buffy.

"I'm not flying," the witch said plainly. The two friends glanced at each other and then at the redhead.

"How are you getting there then?" Xander questioned hesitantly. The witch just stared at him. By this time she had tried to reach Kennedy four more times.

"Teleporting?...like you were telling us about before?" Buffy didn't like where this conversation was going.

"Yes…I have to get to Kennedy and this is the only way." Willow understood this was her only option.

Both Xander and Buffy walked closer to the witch who had started searching through her carry on bag which was on the chair in the corner of the room.

"Whoa, wait a minute, Will…there's gotta be some other way…what about calling that Miguel guy?" Xander said thinking that a reasonable alternative. Willow had already considered that option.

"Can't…not there. He took the slayers at the complex on a trip…sorta like the vision quest Giles took the potentials on…it's been planned for a couple weeks."

Buffy chimed in, "What about Kennedy's mother? I heard you mention her when you were talking to Kennedy the other night…She could go over." Willow shook her head.

Willow didn't have time to explain the state of events concerning Gabriella. "I don't know where she is…Kenne only told me she was in a hotel in Sao Paulo, not which one…besides her mother is in no condition to help…I don't think Kennedy would want her to." Willow looked intently at her friends. "I'm the only one who can help…don't you see that…Kennedy called me…she asked me to help," then more softly and as if said only to herself, "She needs me."

"But Will, you said you've been studying teleporting…you've never done it, right?" Xander could tell the witch was putting her life in danger.

Willow nodded grudgingly. "But I know how to do it…I can do it; I know I can."

Buffy went to talk again, but the redhead put up her hand in front of her. "No…I'm not talking about this anymore. This is just wasting time. Kennedy needs me…end of story. You guys have no idea what's been going on with us…how much we've been through. I'd never let Kennedy down…no matter what the risk." Willow recognized that her friends were unaware of how much she and the slayer loved each other. They couldn't begin to comprehend the depth of trust that the two shared, and how their lives had melded together. She would go to her lover or she would die trying.

"Listen I know you guys are worried, but don't be…I know what I'm doing…now I really need to be alone so I can do this. I need to concentrate." Willow knew she had one chance to get this right; she didn't want any disturbances.

"You can't just say it like that and expect us to think it's no big deal…let me get Giles. Maybe he knows something we haven't thought of." Xander was not giving up on protecting his life long friend from possible death.

"You've got five minutes, then I'm locking my door." The man knew his redheaded friend meant it.

As a result of that small concession to her friend, Willow now stood in her room having a similar battle with Giles while Buffy and Xander watched. The watcher had taken off his glasses and was holding them with his hand to his forehead. "But Willow, if you've never teleported, how do you know you can do it safely?"

"Giles, I've read all I can and I've been learning from a coven woman who has done it."

"No, Giles…this was never about transporting other things…I've always wanted to do it myself." Again, Willow thought this philosophical dialogue was wasting time.

"Giles, you know me. After all I've been through; you know I wouldn't do this unless I knew I could." Willow was at the end of discussing the matter; she would teleport with or without her friends understanding.

Giles stared at Willow. In the last nine months in Brazil, his Scooby witch had grown into a full fledged goddess. He had heard from Miguel and the coven women in Brazil about the redhead's amazing abilities and her surety of control. Giles decided it was time for him to stop playing father and let the woman decide her own fate.

"I need to be left alone…if it's gonna work, it'll happen quickly…if it doesn't, I'll still be I my room and I'll be out soon." Then she gave the instructions that she knew they would be following. "If you don't hear anything after about five minutes, it worked. Don't call our place to see if I made it to the other end…I need to be alone with Kenne…I'll call in the morning after everything's settled down." Her words were said emphatically; she didn't want any misunderstanding.

"Yes, Willow," Giles said as Buffy and Xander nodded their heads. With that, the three left, leaving Willow to gather her thoughts and find her energy and concentration for the journey.

The witch sat on the floor, cross-legged, and put both hands, palms down, on the floor; eyes closed. She took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled; the exercise was repeated several mores times until the witch had slowed her heart rate down, to a staggering slow rate such as done by yoga masters and Tibetan holy men. She focused her energy on one spot – her and Kennedy's apartment. She kept focusing, sharpening her energy, pinpointing it to that location. She began to feel a sensation she had never experienced before; it was indescribable. She didn't worry though; the awareness she had brought no fear, only a feeling of her body getting lighter. Then she started to see tiny blasts of light behind her closed eyes. The sensation grew stronger…and stronger…then nothing.

Exactly five minutes after Willow closed her door, Giles and her two oldest friends walked in. They didn't know what to expect. A smile came to the Englishman's face after looking around…Willow was gone.

For a person to teleport, the physical body must be demolecularized. The source for this feat of the impossible must pinpoint and analyze all of the atoms that make up the human body, more than a trillion trillion atoms. Once the breakdown has occurred, this information must be sent to another location, where the person's body has to be reconstructed with exact precision. Molecules can't be even a millimeter out of place. The laws of physics have calculated that to accomplish teleportation, a person must travel at the speed of light. If any miniscule aspect of the travel is altered or incorrect, severe neurological or physiological damage…or death results. Willow's attempt at teleporting to her slayer defied not only every scientific law but also every common sense understanding of putting one's self in imminent danger. The fact that she even tried was a credit to the resolve she had in her own immense powers and the love she had for her slayer.

Willow was sitting down, cross-legged, both hands, palms down, on the floor. She slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the plant on the kitchen table. 'I did it,' she thought. Then a massive spasm convulsed through her body, knocking her to her side. It felt as if every muscle in her body had tightened, like a runner getting an immense leg cramp. The pain was unbearable and Willow grabbed her legs to her chest trying to make the throbbing go away. Tears were coming down her face, but she didn't make a sound; she couldn't, her speech also impaired due to the tightening of vocal chords. She stayed in that horrendous condition for what seemed like hours, even though it was actually a matter of a few minutes. When the agonizing pain subsided enough, Willow was able to slowly sit back up. Her head was reeling and she was extremely nauseous. 'Oh, yeah…just like Star Trek,' she sarcastically thought to herself. She tried to get up but felt dizzy, so she leaned forward, placing her head on the floor, her forehead touching the cold tile. Willow stayed that way for a few minutes, until the dizziness passed.

Then the witch very slowly got up. She had to hold onto the kitchen chair to assist her. Her legs felt wobbly and there was a definite tingling to her skin. Willow gave considerable thought to whether she had actually made it through in the same condition as she had left in Cleveland. After standing for a few moments, and though she felt an ache behind her eyes, she began to look around for Kennedy. She saw no one in the two rooms she could see. The only item that caught her attention was the phone which was off its cradle and lying on the counter. She started to make her way to the bedroom, her legs still shaky, leaving the lights off; she was certain her senses couldn't have taken such an assault.

Willow gingerly walked passed the bathroom and glanced inside; it was empty. She kept walking and when she got to the entrance of their bedroom, she heard a very soft sound. She walked into the room. The nightlight that she had plugged in the day she left was still there shedding low level light into the room. The redhead looked around; Kennedy was not on the bed or anywhere Willow could see. Then she heard the sound again; it sounded like a gasp. The witch prayed her voice was intact.

"Kennedy?" the witch said gently. The words felt like fire in her throat. She heard the gasp again, louder.

"Kennedy, where are you, baby?" Her words so calmly spoken despite the pain they caused the redhead.

"W-willow?" Her name was said so softly, like spoken by a small frightened child.

The voice came from the other side of the bed. Willow slowly made her way around. What she saw scared her and broke her heart.

In the dark, in the corner of the room, wedged between the wall and the nightstand, was the slayer, sitting crouched up, knees to her chest. Her arms clenched around her legs pressing them into her further still. She was shaking terribly, and the streaks down her face let Willow know she had been crying for quite some time. The brunette's face had the expression of a broken soul; those beautiful brown eyes were blank. Willow went to Kennedy and knelt down in front of her, the dizziness and nausea recapturing a hold on her. She reached out and placed her hand gently on the woman's cheek.

"It's gonna be ok now, baby…I'm here…I'm here…" The soothing words were matched by the witch's soothing touch. Willow fought back the stinging ache she still felt in her muscles. Her only thought was to be strong for her lover.

The slayer didn't know if the sight before her was one more addition to the torment she had faced that evening. She looked into emerald eyes and saw pure compassion. 'She's here,' Kennedy stammered in her head.

"You came back?" The statement was soft but filled with surprised gratitude. The burden of the night's events came crushing back, enveloping her. The brunette lowered her arms and pushed forward until she could touch her girl, her savior. She hurriedly put her arms around Willow's waist, laying her head onto the redhead's lap. Kennedy didn't speak another word; she just cried. Willow comforted her brunette the only way she knew how; she clung to her lover and let the woman rid herself of her tortured tears.

It seemed forever before Kennedy's sobbing ceased. Willow never let go, never moved even though the nausea, muscle pain and dizziness from her journey overwhelmed her. Had this been any other situation, the witch would have been unable to function, the physical assault on her body from the trip was more pain than the witch had ever experienced. But this wasn't any other scenario; this was her Kennedy, so she pushed away the pain and concentrated on being strong for her slayer. Once Kennedy got her emotions under control, she sat back, grasping Willow's hands.

"How did you do this?" The brunette had been certain that she was going to have to drift through that endless dark night alone.

Kennedy instantly understood what Willow meant. She had talked with the brunette about teleporting on many a lazy evenings as they snuggled on the couch describing to each other their hopes and dreams. The slayer also realized the enormous danger the redhead had taken for her sake. "Willow, that was too dangerous…you shouldn't have."

Willow let a small smile cross her face. She remembered saying almost that exact sentiment to Kennedy after her return from the Truxdeiro. The redhead had said the same thing to Kennedy about being willing to sacrifice her life for the witch. Willow responded as her girl had done.

She then took her slayer in her arms, in a warm embrace. Willow stood Kennedy up and, despite her own dizziness, put her on the bed, lying beside her. She stayed with her slayer for some time, holding her and then gently stroking her arm. After the slayer calmed down, Willow got off the bed. "I'm gonna put some water on the stove for tea …I'll be right back." She kissed her brunette and walked out.

Kennedy was in a state of disbelief. Willow was home; her redhead was with her. The brunette knew her redhead had risked her life to get to her. Kennedy realized her witch was stronger than she could have ever imagined, more powerful than she would ever know. The pain in her soul eased at least in the regard that she wouldn't be alone. She still felt lost in knowing she had blundered again and that it had cost lives. But at least with Willow there, her damning thoughts wouldn't completely overtake her waking hours. Maybe, just maybe, when she closed her eyes she would see beautiful loving emerald ones and not pleading blue.

After giving her girl some chamomile tea, Willow spent the rest of the night trying to calm Kennedy's emotions. Each time she thought her slayer's mind had eased for sleep, the redhead would feel the eruption of new raw emotion and Kennedy would undergo another round of crying or ridiculing herself for her failure. Willow talked softly and compassionately to her brunette. She tried to tell her slayer that she didn't fail, that there was no blood on her hands. Finally, after hours of quiet talk and embracing, the slayer fell asleep; Willow's racked body quickly followed.

It was the pounding of her head that woke Willow. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked at the brunette that was still held tightly in her arms, sleeping. The witch's headache was of migraine quality; it pulsated and sent an aching feeling behind her eyes. She squinted at the sunlight that came through the opening in the window curtains. Willow forced her eyes to open again and finally gain perception. She glanced around and then down at herself. She was startled at the sight of blood down the front of her shirt. The redhead got nervous thinking her journey had caused physical damage she had not felt during the night. She knew she had to determine the nature and seriousness of her injury. She also didn't want Kennedy to see her in that state. She slowly and gently slid out from her embrace with the slayer and eased the brunette back on the bed, still sleeping. Willow got up quietly and went to the bathroom. As she walked, the redhead immediately noticed that there was no muscle pain or nausea. The dizziness had left also.

When she looked in the mirror she was relieved. She'd had a nose bleed sometime during the night. She'd experienced those before with lesser forms of magic, the last time being when she transported Glory to an alternate dimension. The redhead took inventory of her physical state; the problems of the previous night were gone. All that remained was the headache, albeit a very intense one. She opened the medicine cabinet, grabbed the bottle of aspirin and took out four. She turned on the water, cupped some in her hand and put the water and the pills in her mouth. Swallowing caused her head to hurt some more. She then looked back into the mirror. 'Not too bad for my first flight,' the witch chided to herself. She recalled her coven friend, Frisha, telling her how, with practice, the arrival should get easier. "It's the hardest kind of practice though." Willow then recalled that Frisha had told her that she only teleported three times. "The pain was too much. I couldn't get it to lessen…I realized I didn't have enough concentration or power." Willow understood now what she meant by pain.

Once she had gotten herself sorted out, Willow had two immediate chores. One was a new shirt; she didn't want Kennedy to see the end result of her teleport. The other was to make a phone call. The witch went to the kitchen. She knew there were anxious people in Cleveland waiting for her call. Giles answered and their discussion only lasted a few moments. Willow spoke softly, telling Giles she had made it safely and would call later with an update about Kennedy. "How is she, Willow?" The watcher was genuinely worried about Kennedy's well-being. "I don't know, Giles…last night was really bad." It was the most honest answer the redhead could give. She thanked the man for his concern and ended the call so she could tend to her slayer.

Kennedy was curled up on the bed when Willow went back to check on her and to change shirts. She quietly walked over to her bureau. This time, the slayer heard her witch's movements and woke from her restless sleep. She turned and looked at her girl. She immediately saw the blood on Willow's shirt.

"Don't worry, Kenne…just a little nose bleed. I'm fine." '…except for the pounding in my head', she added to herself. The redhead opened a drawer, took out a shirt and switched it for the one she had on. "There…good as new." She then went and sat on the edge of the bed.

"How are you doing, baby?" The witch had never seen such a disturbing sight as the despair Kennedy had been in.

"Kenne…baby…you didn't kill anyone…sometimes even a slayer can't save everyone." Willow saw that her slayer was picking up on her self punishment right where she left off before she fell asleep in her witch's arms.

"You don't know that Kenne…and something mightuv happened to you if you had just run in there." Willow was trying anything to give her slayer reason not to torment herself.

"Maybe it should have," whispered the slayer as she turned on her side facing away from Willow.

"Kennedy…don't say things like that…you don't mean it." Willow didn't like the downward spin the conversation had taken.

"Willow…I'm tired. Can you just leave me alone for a while?" Kennedy never moved as she said her words to Willow. Frustrated, the redhead was at a loss. She wanted desperately to get Kennedy out of her depressed state, but she knew that her slayer must have been exhausted. 'Maybe after some more sleep, she'll feel better,' the redhead rationalized.

"Ok, baby…but I'll be right in the other room…if you need or want anything, just call me, ok?"

Willow gave Kennedy her space; she let her brunette be by herself. What was supposed to be time for more sleep turned into hours of solitude by the slayer. She stayed in the bedroom, saying no to food and drink offered by her witch. The day stretched into night and Kennedy still remained in bed. Willow had phoned Miguel earlier and left a message for the man to call her on his return from the retreat with the slayers. When he did call, later that evening, Willow told him, in very short form, the events of the last day and the problems with Kennedy's mother. The witch conferred her concern for Kennedy's mental state and implored the man to check up on Kennedy's mother so that she could stay with her slayer. "Of course, Willow. And please, if there's anything you need me to do, just call."

For the next several days, Kennedy's demeanor didn't change. She came out of the bedroom to use the bathroom and eat. She even neglected to take a shower until the second night.

Willow had never felt so useless. The witch had gotten over the physical affects of her 'flight' by that next morning. When she let herself think about it, Willow was amazed at the breathe of her magickal powers. She knew she had accomplished what very few people on the face of the planet could do. The witch had the realization that she was truly among the elite of her craft. There was no denying it, Willow was proud of herself.

And yet, she couldn't get through to her slayer. She tried talking to Kennedy, telling her about the events in Cleveland, hoping that news of her friends would lift her spirits. She told her slayer that she had found the answer to the "ring" mystery. The witch explained that the Chronicles had a section on the Fear Caller demon that went hand in hand with the mystery of the ring. Willow told her slayer that her mother's ring was one of many made and had existed for centuries. Kennedy seemed glad that a solution was available, but the redhead could tell her slayer was worried that she would be expected to handle it.

Willow had a sense of failure for not being able to get her slayer out of her state. Kennedy told her that her mood wasn't because of her witch. "Will, you've been great about this…I don't know what I would've done that first night without you." Kennedy meant those words. She really did feel that Willow had saved her that night. But her present state was a feeling that she couldn't shake, a bad flu that lingered despite the will to be healthy. "I can't get rid of that little girl staring at me, Will…it'll go away, and I start to think I'm ok…and then she comes back."

When she saw the look of failure in emerald eyes, Kennedy reiterated the one sure thing she did grasp. "Willow, you're the only thing that's giving me hope…I'm trying, Will…I really am."

More days passed and the slayer's mood didn't change. She refused to patrol, leaving the fight against evil to Miguel and the other slayers. The brunette called her mother to check on her situation. She went to her hotel once and had actually asked her mother to come to the apartment several times. Willow and Miguel had been the woman's companions since that horrible night. Every time Willow tried to bring her slayer out of her 'funk', Kennedy responded the same, "I need more time…I'm not ready."

The redhead knew her slayer was being honest; she also realized Kennedy's issues weren't about their love or devotion. Willow was there for her girl in every way she could be. The witch understood Kennedy's feelings of self doubt and failure sprang from her dedication to her slayer obligations. The redhead also knew that she wasn't in the position to give her girl the assistance she needed. One night while her brunette slept, after deciding that Kennedy had to have a stronger slayer connection, Willow made a phone call.

Willow prayed that this would help bring her brunette back to her confident, brash self.

Faith stood there in the middle of the Emergency lobby, having just watched Gabriella Gonzalez be escorted upstairs to await the fate of her daughter. The last four hours had been a blur to the slayer. Everyone involved in the plan to save Kennedy's mother was certain the outcome would be a success. The scenario her sister slayer laid out had been a masterpiece, or so she thought. It seemed like all contingencies were covered; that was obviously wrong. The result of what she was certain would be some miniscule or unknowable oversight was that her friend's life was in jeopardy. And Kennedy was Faith's friend, a real friend like the woman had never had in her previous tumultuous life.

"Fuck…" she said softly but angrily. For a fleeting moment Faith wished she were her old self, alone, beholding to no one, caring about no one. But she quickly discarded the feeling; she had left that girl for dead over a year ago, and not even the prospect of losing her friend would make her go back to that barren existence. The slayer cared now and there was no way she could get around that. But caring meant hurting and the pain in her heart right now was stifling. She felt something she wasn't quite sure if she had felt before; she was scared, scared for the life of her friend, of how Willow would react if her brunette died, and of how she would mange losing someone she cared about for the first time in her life.

To soothe her internal distress, Faith reached her hand over and slipped it in that of Miguel's. The man looked at the slayer, into her brown eyes and tried to give a reassuring smile. "She's strong, Faith. If anyone can make, Kennedy can." He said it to help ease the brunette slayer's uneasiness; he wanted to believe its truth so badly.

Staring at Faith, Miguel wanted to tell her that it was ok for her to lean on him, to let whatever emotions she had bubble out. He wanted to, but he didn't. In the time that he had come to know the impetuous slayer during her time in Brazil, there was trait about the woman that was painfully apparent. The woman seldom let her true feelings show. He had received the "five by five" tag line on more than one occasion. Miguel had seen glimpses of the emotional side of Faith on rare instances. He knew enough about her past to realize that he couldn't push the slayer into demonstrating her emotional state. Life experience had taught him that people evolve and grow at their own pace, in their own way. He didn't need Faith to pour out her feelings to him; it was enough for him to just be there for her, silently if need be.

Faith felt the dark eyes of Miguel on her; she squeezed his hand a little harder. There was a quite strength in the Brazilian, a quality that had attracted Faith from the start. She appreciated the fact that Miguel didn't press her to be anything but who she was. The slayer was thankful that she could lean on him as much or as little as she wanted without having to explain her actions. In the short time she had known the man, it was his hands-off approach that had her falling for him. She knew that was a subject she'd have to deal with later, but right now, Kennedy was the only person that had her attention. That meant she had to find Willow.

"Kennedy's mom looked pretty upset. We'd better find Red for her," the brunette said. Miguel nodded in agreement.

"We'll probably find her faster if we split up," Miguel replied. Now it was Faith's turn to nod.

"I know Will and she'll stay close to Kennedy…unless she needs a quite place." Faith was surprised that she knew the witch so well as to be able to predict her behavior. "Why don't you go check up on the surgical floor and I'll scope out down here." She had a strange feeling Willow wasn't sitting idly by waiting to hear news about her slayer.

"Good idea. Whether we find her or not, meet up in the surgical waiting room in fifteen minutes?" Miguel figured they would have to talk to Kennedy's mother regardless of their search results.

"Fifiteen minutes…you got it." Faith started to leave, but Miguel kept holding her hand.

"Promise?" Her eyes searched for the answer she wanted to hear. All Miguel could offer was a faint reassuring smile. He let go of her hand and the two parted.

Willow knew where she could go to find the solitude she would need to perform her mind connection with Kennedy. As she rounded the corner of first floor hallway, she saw the sign, "Chapel"; it was the same in both languages. The redhead stared at the door; inside she would be able to connect with Kennedy undisturbed for however long it took to keep her lover alive. As she made her way towards the room, she heard a familiar voice.

"Red…I finally found you." It was Faith. Willow was glad to see the slayer but didn't want another discussion eating up valuable time.

"Faith, I'd like to talk but there's no time…Kennedy's not going well…I've got to help her."

"Whoa…what's happened?...I only know what Mickey told me on the way here." Faith had to have a nickname for everyone, even the attractive, silent Brazilian man. The witch could see that the slayer was concerned about her brunette.

"Kenne's been hurt really bad, a cut to her stomach…she's very weak, and getting weaker…" With those words, the realization that Willow might lose her lover set in again. The emotion welled up in her throat; she felt a heavy pain in her chest and tears instantly formed in her emerald eyes. "…I'm losing her, Faith." Willow put her hands to her face and started to cry.

Faith instinctively went to the witch and embraced her gently. "Shhh, Willow…don't cry. Kennedy needs you now…You've gotta be strong for her." Faith comforted the redhead like any true friend. Willow nodded her head and composed herself, wiping the tears from her face. She backed away from the slayer.

"I have to save her, Faith…she's in here because of me…because I failed, not her." Faith had a look of confusion. "My spell had to have screwed up…the cloaking didn't work. I saw her expression change…when we were still in the mission…and then she told me to leave…to go help her mom and that she'd handle the demon on her own…I just left her there…alone." The witch was shaking her head. "Don't you see, because of me, the demon got to her…somehow …and I wasn't there to help her...she's dying because of me."

Faith knew this wasn't Willow's fault; there was never a guarantee when fighting demons. There were a thousand things that could have gone wrong, none of which involved the witch. But, the slayer also knew she would never get Willow to believe that at the moment, so she decided to use it to Kennedy's advantage, hopefully.

"Red, I'm not arguing with you now that this wasn't your fault…we can't undo what's happened…however it happened… but you're right that you have to help K. So, what's your plan?"

Willow then told Faith of her plan to mind meld with Kennedy and to help her slayer keep her energy and power to stay alive. Faith had a worried look on her face when the witch ended.

"That's pretty dangerous, isn't it?...I mean I heard you guys talking about when you did it to Buffy. Giles seemed pretty upset…Remember, he kept talking about all the things that coulda happened to you?"

Willow thought about lying and telling Faith this was different, that there weren't any serious consequences, but she decided not to. Somehow she surmised that Faith would understand her actions. She concentrated her gaze at the slayer.

"It is dangerous, Faith…but it's Kennedy's only chance to live; she'll die otherwise." Willow leaned in closer and spoke softer. "I have to do this, Faith…I don't care what happens to me… I need to be with her." Willow waited for some sign that Faith comprehended the depth to which the redhead loved her slayer, the price she was willing to pay if her actions didn't work.

Faith stared back at Willow. She knew the witch was telling her that she was willing to die to try to save Kennedy. Faith could tell by her tone that death was a real possibility. Could she let Willow, her friend, put her life in jeopardy for a slayer? Faith had accepted long ago the reality that slayers died, that they gave up the dream of a long and happy life in order to protect the innocent from evil. Wasn't that what Kennedy had done, she questioned? Would Kennedy want Willow to risk death to save her from a fate she too had accepted?

But then Faith remembered that she had been willing to die before for Angel, because of what he had done for her, because he had saved her from herself. At the time, Faith knew she had to help the vampire even if it meant her life. Though she was a slayer, she knew all to well that her actions for Angel also came from the part of her heart that wasn't a slayer. Was Willow's proposed endeavor really any different?

Faith took a deeper look into Willow's eyes. She saw the love there for the younger slayer. The slayer thought about how her vision of the future was clouded by her past experiences. The future was no longer unattainable for Kennedy, for any slayer, even her. Willow's spell had seen to that. What Faith saw in those green eyes was a person fighting for the future she wanted, needed. There was no slayer destiny of death to Willow; she just wanted her love back, and she was willing to sacrifice all to get it. It didn't take the slayer long to respond.

Willow let out a deep breath. She had an ally. The redhead was struck with the strangeness of it all. Faith had become more than a mere friend to Willow. The slayer was someone she could lean and depend on. The same person who, just a few years earlier, had despised her and was willing to kill her, was now her frontline support. The redhead wasn't quite sure how it had all worked itself out but she was ever grateful it had. She and Faith were fighting on the same side now, and Willow was glad the slayer was there.

"I need to go in that room and not be disturbed…don't let anyone in." It was a simple request.

"No one goes in," Faith dutifully restated. Willow walked past her and when she pulled on the door handle, Faith placed her hand on the witch's shoulder.

"Good luck, Willow…go save our little brat." She gave the witch a supportive smile.

"I will, Faith…I will." The witch went through the doorway, the door closing shut behind her.

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Alterations With Time

by LilBit

Copyright © 2005

Epallen@tampabay.rr.com