Shades of Gray

Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Willow, Tara, Xander, Giles and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, together with the names, titles and back story are the sole copyright property of Josh Wheldon, Fox and Mutant Enemy. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Please contact the author for permission to reproduce this story on any other fan fiction site.
Distribution: The Rainbow Writer's Homepage: http://www.therainbowwriters.com/
Mystic Muse: http://mysticmuse.net
Spoilers: Season 7.
Feedback: All feedback is welcome.
Pairing: Willow/Tara    Buffy/Other    Faith/Dawn

Part 16

Buffy watched as the bible was passed around the room between all of the major decision makers, noting how the revelation dawned on each of them causing what she thought was a unanimous agreement.

"So all we need now is for someone." She smiled at Willow and Tara. "To find a way to make it fleshy and then we can kill it."

"I'm seeing that look Buffy." Willow smiled brightly. "Tara and I will get right on it, right baby?" She glanced at the other witch who was still looking a little pale.

"Of course." Tara replied though she sounded a little distracted.

"In fact we'll go start hunting right now." Willow stood up and went to the back of Tara's chair to help her out. "I want to do as much as I can on the net in case the DSL does go down."

"Don't work too hard guys." Piper smiled at them as Tara got up.

"Never, though you can bring us up lunch in a few hours." Willow smiled at everyone and led Tara up the stairs to their room closing the door securely.

"Baby what's wrong?" She could tell just from the vibe she was getting downstairs something was very not right.

"It's..." Tara glanced at her lover her expression cloudy until she saw Willow's soft green eyes and her own face relaxed into a smile. "I've seen that quote before or something like it, I mean I know my Father was kinda religious but..." She frowned again thinking of the past.

"It's not that most common a quote is it? So maybe there is something in your big brain that is flagging up." Willow sat down next to her and rubbed her arm. "Try to think baby."

"I think it is quite common." Tara frowned. "It's a very Christmassy quote." She turned around and smiled at her lover. "For the Jewish you would make that rather hard to know." She pointed out lovingly. "Maybe that's why it's so familiar." She frowned again.

"Maybe if we get into some research, distract you from the idea then it will clear up?" Willow tried to be helpful.

"You're probably right." She breathed out and hugged Willow gently. "Thank you for noticing."

"It's my most important job taking care of you." Willow assured her returning the hug. "Where do you want to start? General spell search?"

"Probably best." Tara nodded and pushed up. "I could look through some of my old books." She smiled softly as she looked at the pile of crates in the corner of the room. "Though I'm almost scared to open those boxes."

"Why?" Willow looked over at them herself. Most of Tara's stuff had been moved out of the storage Xander had put it in for Willow after her death so that the blonde could have more of 'home' with her.

"Just you know, thinking of that thing Candice created. It had all my things, my clothes, my stuff." Tara shivered.

"Try not to think about that baby." Willow shivered with her. "It wasn't you, that's all we have to remember, nothing that it did was you." She shivered again moving to her laptop.

"How can I not think about it?" Tara whispered as she pulled open the top box. "It touched everything." She frowned glancing at Willow. "Even you." She breathed out the horrible reality.

"It makes me feel horrible." Willow looked down her body shaking more. "Makes me feel like I hurt you again."

"No baby no." Tara turned and hurried to Willow. She put her arms softly around her lover. "It's just, I feel I let it happen, that I let the First hurt you."

"How could you? You didn't know what it was doing. I should have known, I should have known it wasn't really you." Willow started to cry almost hysterically as the weight of this admission added itself over everything that was going on, everything they were going through falling to crush down on her again.

"Willow, oh sweetie." Tara held her close. "It's okay, you couldn't have known. Candice, she obviously wanted to hurt me, and the First well it's pure evil, it's obvious what it wanted. From what I can guess, the limited research I have done and know, it was really me almost. It was a mimic created..." Her voice suddenly drifted off. "That's it." She whispered almost absently.

"I know it was a shade, I know it was made to be you, like a photocopy, but I should of known. I just so wanted you to forgive me, to want me again." Willow held on not noticing the change in her lover's words.

"Oh I do forgive you Willow." Tara blinked focusing back on her lover, she tipped the redhead's chin upwards. "Willow, I forgive you, for the spell, for the addiction, for everything." She whispered the heartfelt words.

"I won't do it again Tara, I promise, never ever." Willow sniffled looking into forgiving blue eyes.

"Sweetie I know." Tara brushed her thumb over her lover's cheek wiping away the tears. "And if even if you slip or something, this time I promise I won't walk away, I'll stay and I'll try harder to work it out."

"I don't want to slip, I want to be better." Willow breathed in looking at her. "I know how stupid I was, how selfish, I know what I was doing wrong."

"You know now sweetie yes, but you didn't then. It wasn't your fault, you were just taken in by the power." Tara shook her head softly. "It's okay sweetie." She pressed her lips to Willow's damp cheek.

"I won't do it again Tara I promise." Willow vowed with everything she was.

"Shush Willow." Tara shook her head. "I don't need promises, I just need you."

"I need you too." Willow nodded managing a small smile. "I guess we should get researching."

"You look like you need soft snuggling a little more than hard research." Tara whispered honestly.

"But we need to find a spell." Willow protested weakly as she leaned against Tara.

"We will, but what you and I need right now is to hold each other, to forget that which hurt us and remember, touch, feel what we have now." Tara argued gently.

"You're so smart." Willow hugged her tightly.

"No, you're the smart one, I'm the pretty curvy one that can sing." Tara giggled and eased onto the bed beside her lover.

"Beautiful curvy one that can sing, dance and do anything in the world." Willow corrected settling with her.

"You Willow Rosenberg are biased." Tara leaned to drop a kiss on her forehead.

"Oh course I am." Willow laughed. "You're my everything." She closed her eyes feeling the warmth of the kiss.

"Well not your everything, I mean you'd be lost without colored pens and your laptop." Tara hugged her closer chuckling.

"Do you still think I'm quirky?" Willow checked smiling.

"Only in the very best of ways." Tara grinned. "I think you're much more sexy and loving than quirky." She winked a sparkling blue eye.

"I love you." Willow leaned up and kissed her tenderly.

"I love you too, and…" She paused. "I'm proud of you Willow. Giles told me about your time in England, about how much you have learned and how strong you have been. You make me proud every single day Will." She underlined tracing the redhead's jaw line with her fingertips.

"I can't believe we were both in Europe, I mean Italy isn't that far away." Willow closed her eyes feeling the touch soothing her.

"We always said we couldn't stray too far from each other." Tara said warmly.

"We can't." Willow nodded. "And we never will again." Green eyes opened slowly.

"You know Willow, if we do find a spell it's probably going to be massively hard and powerful." Tara's voice grew a little more serious.

"I know, bringing form to the First can't be easy." Willow nodded.  "But we can do it together." She added optimistically.

"That's just what I wanted to talk about." Tara nodded. "Magic." She added turning to look at Willow.

"Yes?" Willow questioned softly.

"I was thinking, we should, you know begin to cast together again. Just little things, but to tie our essences to back to one another." Tara explained her reasoning.

"You mean you still want to do magic with me?" Willow bit her lip almost not believing the offer.

"Willow the fact that you are special and a gifted, powerful witch hasn't changed. The fact that casting with you adds a whole dimension to our relationship hasn't either. You've learn a lot about temperance and power Willow and so have I." Tara showed that she wasn't worried.

"I think it would be good if we did... I did a lot of group work in England. Learning to work with others, how to compliment their gifts instead of overpowering with my own." Willow nodded.

"So you want to, cast together again that is?" Tara checked.

"Yes." Willow was honest.  "I know this is silly but I feel like it's a test, to have your magic accept mine again and not reject it for being dark and bad."

"Willow." Tara chided her gently. "You know your magic isn't bad or dark, you just have allowed that aspect of it a channel and that won't ever close but you can learn not to open it ever again." She smiled softly.

"I know, I know that power has no type, it only has intention." The redhead nodded. "I said it was silly, it's just the fear I have."

"Not bigger than frog fear I hope." Tara smiled lovingly.

"Much smaller." Willow laughed lightly. "Did you want to do something now? Before we start the big research."

"If you're not too tired or anything." Tara nodded.

"I'm not, are you?" Willow checked softly.

"I am a little, but that will be good, because it will test your control, because you will naturally want to add your power to mine, where I was thinking a synchronization spell would be good, which would mean you tempering your powers." The blonde explained her intentions.

"You mean something like the rose spell?" Willow remembered the first time they had tried it.

"I think we should aim for something less pretty and more, you know, useful." Tara smiled at her lover.

"Like what?" Willow questioned not sure what she spell she meant.

"How about..." Tara thought for a moment but then looked at Willow. "We could try the rose spell but with…" She glanced around. "With a daisy." She grinned seeing the small flowers in a pot of water that Willow had brought up with breakfast.

"But I thought you wanted more useful?" Willow questioned. "Something defensive or tactical?"

"We've seen enough of that, let's just go for pretty and well, non dangerous." Tara chuckled and shook her head. "I feel like pretty."

"Okay." Willow agreed sitting up. "In here?" She questioned moving to pluck a daisy from the bunch.

"It's as good a place as any." Tara nodded. "If you're sure?" She added the proviso softly.

"I am, I can do this." Willow nodded moving down onto the floor cross-legged.

"You can." Tara followed carefully and took her place opposite the redhead as she laid the daisy on the floor. She shook out her arms for a second and then reached out across the daisy for Willow's hands.

Willow reached her hands up gripping them to Tara's lightly as she centered herself. Tara let her eyes close and took a breath watching as the world's view slipped away to be replaced with the once familiar swirl of hers and Willow's essences.

Willow did the same, the warm and comforting feeling filling her almost up to bursting as she felt the connection joining between them stronger and more powerful than she had ever felt it before.

Tara slowly opened her eyes looking over to Willow past the now floating daisy.

"You're so..." Willow breathed in so slowly. "Powerful now."

"The difference is noticeable eh?" Tara smiled a little unevenly.

"Don't you think?" Willow questioned knowing her essence must feel different as well.

"You feel the same." Tara smiled more. "Then again, I always told you, you were powerful."

"You did but I never knew... you never let this much out of your own before." Willow admitted.

"Because I didn't think I could handle it, it scared me, you scared me remember." Tara softly whispered.

"It is scary until you are in control." Willow nodded. "Did they do lots to help you feel in control in Italy?"

"They did until..." Tara paused.

"Until?" Willow prompted her.

"Until they had to change my training." Tara clarified in a whisper.

"To get you ready to come here." Willow nodded that she understood.

"Yes." Tara nodded back.

"How am I doing?" She questioned not sure that she wanted to explore exactly what the Italian coven had prepared her for yet.

"Great, I can tell you can feel that I'm dipping slightly because of yesterday, but you're not over riding me, you're balancing me." Tara nodded softly. "Do you want to do the petals?"

"I think we should." Willow nodded. "It's easier when I don't try to force things like I used to, that's what they taught me in England."

"That's right just let it happen naturally, though we'll have to counteract the disturbance from the First while we do this, remember how Ethan threw us off last time, the First is a little more powerful than that. The dampener I have around the houses should effectively block it, but you know just be aware." Tara warned gently.

"Yes, when I used magic to repel it before it bores in." Willow nodded. "Perhaps it would be best to let it invade but then just let it slide by, sorta evasive maneuvers rather than meeting it head on?"

"Maybe." Tara nodded softly and then smiled. "You really have changed haven't you Willow." She said softly.

"I had to," Willow contradicted.

"No, you didn't." Tara shook her head

"I did." Willow contradicted softly. "It was either I change or the world went boom."

"Plenty of witches didn't change, they just kept trying to do the latter." Tara pointed out.

"I know and I did try but I couldn't go through with it." Willow frowned softly. "I knew it wouldn't be what you wanted."

"That's right Willow it wouldn't have been, I wasn't worth ending the world over." Tara shook her head.

"You're worth saving the world for." Willow whispered. "I saved the world from me for you. I know that sounds crazy."

"It doesn't." Tara shook her head. "And its time to do it again, but this time we'll be saving it together."

"I think we're in synch." Willow finally looked at the flower between them. It had every leaf pulled off and they were revolving around in almost as if they were dancing.

"Looks that way." Tara smiled proudly.

"No matter what spell it is we can do it." Willow smiled back.

"I never doubted it." Tara vowed looking into her lover's green eyes.

"You're tired baby, we should rest and research." Willow squeezed her hands softly.

"You're right." Tara nodded. "Shall I get drinks?"

"Okay." Willow nodded and the flower and its petals came to rest on the carpet.

"Willow." Tara slid their hands apart. "You really are special, remember that."

"Just as you are." She smiled back at her love, receiving a gentle kiss on the cheek before the blonde went to get them tea.

Owl watched as Faith rolled the wooden dummy out into the middle of the yard. She could see the way everyone was watching that they had great expectations for her, great expectations for the 'new Slayer.'

"Go on." Faith moved back encouraging her to start.

Owl nodded twisting the staff in her hand, the weight seemed perfect for her hands as she spun it and moved forward. A few quick strikes up the dummy's body reverberated through the back yard as the hard strikes bent into the wood. She twirled throwing some blocks and punches before she twirled the staff over her head, the extensions coming out to make the staff a true battle staff.

Feeling the new power from the large weapon she lined up and with one sure strike broke off one of the dummy's arms, with a snapping stroke before she swung the bottom end around breaking off a leg. She pulled back sidestepping as if the figure had attacked her and moving behind it she hugged the staff to her hip striking it around to break through the middle of the wooden creature. Bringing the staff fluidly around her back, her hands even leaving it for a second as it spun on momentum she curled it up and struck the head off the top. The chunk of wood that had been the poor creature's head came to rest at Faith's feet.

"Okay well any questions?" Faith laughed as she looked at the devastation and then at the crowd of SITs. Slowly one hand rose. "Vi." She nodded at her.

"When are we going to kick its ass?" She grinned brightly.

"That's the sprit." Faith walked over the short distance and patted her on the shoulder.

"When are we going to do something pro-active?" Kennedy asked seriously.

"Soon, the witches are working on a spell to make the First have a form so that we can kick its ass good." Faith assured them all. "And when that times comes we're going to need everyone to help us get to it and kill it."

"So we're not redundant now?" Emily asked warily.

"No one was ever redundant." Buffy shook her head stepping into the circle. "You are all still potentials. You are all still important in this fight and it is all of our duties to fight."

"We weren't gonna start shirking Buffy." Felicity smiled at her.

"Good, I know you are all antsy and its hard being here like sitting ducks but we need to be ready when we go on the offensive. I want our attack to be the start and the finish of this war." Buffy nodded.

"So do the witches think they have a chance with this spell?" Kennedy challenged.

"They won't have any trouble." Faith shook her head.

"Do they have a spell?" The question came from someone on the second row.

"Not yet but they are researching, they want to find the best possible one." Buffy assured the young girl. "Trust me everyone, if there are two witches we want doing this it is Willow and Tara."

"But what if they don't?" Kennedy challenged.

"They have spells Kenny, they just want to find the best one." Faith corrected her.

"So come on people." Piper stepped forward. "Go to the weapons chest and choose the one that feels best for you, its time to do some focus work on a weapon. This is going to become 'your' weapon okay, so choose carefully."

All of the potentials milled over to the chest and began the heavy task of trying to find the best weapon for them.

"How are Will and Tara doing?" Piper sidled up close to Buffy.

"I don't know. Good I imagine since they haven't come in yet." Buffy admitted watching everyone getting comfortable with their choice or taking a few moments before changing weapons to find something else.

"I'm not sure Mr. and Mrs. Watcher were convinced I was right with the whole bible thing." The new Slayer pointed out.

"I think they're pissed off they didn't think of it." Buffy smiled at her lover.

"You think?" Piper grinned.

"Wouldn't you be?" Buffy glanced back at the house. "Out done by the new slayer in less than 24 hours?"

"Are you going to tell Felicity she's not well enough to wield that broad sword or am I?" Piper nodded at the well meaning potential tried to get comfortable despite her recent injury.

"Go on, they need your guidance." Buffy encouraged her. "I'll go check on Willow and Tara."

"Okay." Piper nodded and jogged off towards the potential.

Willow blinked as she looked at the screen reading over the text again. She knew it was probably time to take a break as the words were starting to melt together a bit.

"Baby." She didn't look up but tried to call for Tara's attention. "Tara." She looked up when she didn't get a response. "Tara... baby?" She pushed the laptop aside and moved down and over to where Tara was sitting on the floor surrounded by clothes, books and other things from the boxes she was unpacking.

"Oh baby its broke." Willow moved down onto the carpet next to her lover, only then did she see the crack in the glass of the picture frame she was holding. "It's okay love, we can get a new frame." She put her arm around the blonde.

"But it wasn't." Tara shook her head running her fingers over the crack in the pane.

"It is now baby, we'll get a beautiful frame." Willow hugged her a little more.

"But how?" Tara's forehead crumpled.

"How? We'll go to the store or we could get a plain one from the craft shop and you could decoupage it." Willow offered.

"No, I mean how did it get broken." Tara frowned harder her finger pressing down over the crack as if somehow trying to take it away or make it better.

"I don't know baby, it was like that when Xander packed it I think." Willow admitted softly.

"No." The hand Tara held the picture in began to shake.

"Baby?" Willow slid her hand down over her lover's hand.

"It had no right to do this to her, to you, to me." Tara pulled away from Willow and tossed the picture towards the bed only to have it fall short and smack onto the floor the broken glass flipping up out of the frame. "No, Mommy!" Tara scrambled over to the picture trying to pick up the dislodged piece and press it back into the frame.

"Tara, honey, be careful." Willow moved over with her collecting the glass. "We'll fix it." She assured her.

"I let it do this." Tara looked down at the broken frame, a heavy tear falling down to splash onto the photograph.

"Tara." Willow softly pulled the frame out of her hands and laid it on the bed before she reached to take her lover's hands in her own. "You didn't. Tara, you didn't know. If you had known you'd have come back right away. You didn't know baby."

"I did, you don't understand." Tara frowned harder.

"You didn't love." Willow shook her head back.

"I did, I went to Candice, and I played into its hand." Tara shook her head.

"Tara, you had no idea that Candice was working with it. You thought she was your friend, you went to her for help." Willow shook her head. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"I think... I think I know why she did it." Tara whispered. "Candice that is."

"Why?" Willow whispered back.

"I could be wrong, I could just be paranoid but…" Tara glanced over at the empty boxes and piles of stuff.

"But?" She urged her on.

"You." Tara blinked damp blue eyes at her lover.

"Me?" The redhead had been expecting anything other than that. "Why me?" Willow questioned still not understanding.

"I remembered earlier where I had seen that phrase." Tara tried to explain. "It was scrawled on the back of a photograph. I didn't know what the picture had been of, that is I didn't until about five minutes ago." She pushed up and away moving back to one of the piles. She flipped open the top book which turned out to be a photo album. She eased a picture out of the first page.

Willow watched her trying to understand but not seeing how the pieces fit together. Tara held the photograph out for Willow, knowing that the instant she turned it over she would recognize it as the photograph of them both at Tara's twentieth birthday party, only Tara had been carefully cut out of the picture.

"What... who did this?" Willow looked at it in disbelief.

"Candice did, I was with her when she did." Tara admitted sheepishly. "She said it was best, that I needed to separate myself from you and that this was the symbolic way of doing it." The blonde shivered.

"What did she do with you?" Willow asked her voice soft.

"This is how I know it was you she wanted." Tara replied. "She took both parts of the picture, I'm guessing she needed an image of me for the spell, but why keep this half?" She asked looking at the picture of Willow in the redhead's hand. "She said she was going to destroy it."

"Because it's a symbol." Willow leaned against the bed taking a slow breath. "The First knew without you I was going to self destruct, that I would have no balance."

"The words on the picture that I saw briefly on Candice's dresser said 'to give form where there is none, to create life in a shell. I'm guessing the picture was the me half of that photograph." Tara's head dipped.

"Tara you didn't know what she was doing." Willow moved closer guiding her face up. "You didn't know. It's not your fault."

"But I'm guessing I gave her everything she needed, well apart from the spell, that bit must have come from the First." Tara couldn't shake off the guilt. "I just let her lead me along to give her everything she needed."

"Tara, you gave her nothing that she couldn't have taken. I'm just so glad she didn't hurt you." Willow hugged her tightly.

"If we could find her we could turn the stupid First's damn spell back on it." Tara felt herself get angry.

"Why can't we?" Willow questioned pulling back to look in blue eyes.

"Why cant we what?" Tara blinked unsure what Willow was asking.

"Find her, question her, find out all that she did to help the First so we can know more about it and beat it." Willow pointed out.

"Xander and Anya tried to find her remember, she was gone, well now everyone's gone." Tara shrugged dejectedly.

"Yeah but she has to be somewhere." Willow pointed out. "I can search for her on the web."

"I suppose there's a chance." Tara nodded.

"Its worth it isn't it? To try." Willow nodded back.

"Definitely." Tara smiled weakly.

"But Tara you need to believe me okay, this wasn't your fault." Willow assured her honestly. "You would never have helped it knowingly."

"I made everything so easy for it, by being weak, doing what I always do when I get scared. I shouldn't have run away." Tara shook her head.

"And I shouldn't have made you have no choice but to leave." Willow reminded her. "Tara we can go in circles, it's no one's fault but the First. It planned all of this, it wanted to hurt us."

"It succeeded." Tara said glumly as she looked at the broken photograph frame.

"But baby it didn't." Willow moved to take her hands again. "We're together, in love and it can never split us up again."

"I think I need some painkillers and maybe to lie down again." Tara said weakly reaching up a hand to her head.

"Okay baby." Willow kissed her on the forehead. "Let's get you comfy then I'll get you some headache pills."

Tara somewhat reluctantly pushed up and was about to move towards the bed when someone knocked on the bedroom door.

"Let me get it." Willow encouraged her to lie down before moving to the door. "Buffy." She opened it to see the blonde Slayer.

"Yeah, wow did a bomb go off in here or something." Buffy stepped into the room looking at the various piles.

"Tara was just unpacking some stuff to get her books." Willow smiled tightly. "She has a headache I was getting her some pills." She filled in the Slayer before she got comfortable.

"Oh right, well I just came on you know reconnaissance, seeing how the research was going." She glanced between Willow to Tara, who wouldn't meet her eye contact.

"It's going." Willow nodded. "I have some leads."

"Leads are good." Buffy nodded feeling oddly awkward as the tense atmosphere of the room settled against her.

"How is training?' Willow questioned moving to close the curtains a bit to cut down the light.

"Wanna come get pills?" Buffy glanced at the door.

"I'll be right back baby, do you want juice or milk?" Willow leaned down to kiss Tara on the forehead.

"Juice please." Tara requested softly.

"With a crazy straw." Willow smiled and kissed her lightly moving to pull the quilt up over her. "Be right back."

Buffy crossed to the door and eased it shut as Willow left the room. She didn't wait very long before her questions began.

"Is Tara okay? Is this still back flash from the meditation?" Her voice was full of concern.

"No." Willow wound her arms around her body. "She feels guilty for what the First did, letting it impersonate her or at least she thinks somehow she let it."

"But that's crazy, how was she to know?" Buffy shook her head.

"I know, but she feels like it's all her fault." Willow shook her head sadly.

"Still self effacing old Tara huh?" Buffy sighed.

"I just... I hate this thing. It's hurting everyone I love." Willow growled angrily.

"Easy Will, we're getting there, we're going to beat it." Buffy tried to soothe.

"We have to Buffy." She nodded. "I'm going to try and track down Candice over the net."

"We will, hey that's a great id..." The ringing of the phone cut off Buffy, just as they passed it in the hall. "I didn't think these were working." The Slayer picked it up with a slight frown.

"I didn't think it was either." Willow frowned with her.

"Hello?" She offered holding the phone at a distance from her ear.

"Buffy, its Angel." The response came in the vampire's usual bland voice.

"I recognized the voice but how the hell can you be talking to me on a phone that doesn't work." Buffy put it to her ear.

"Long story, involving Fred, an odd spell and some fuse wire." Angel replied simply. "Giles had called me on the cell, we weren't here, what's the problem?" He outlined the reason for his extraordinary call.

"Giles called you?" Buffy frowned.

"Yes, like I said when we were out," Angel replied obviously slightly confused. "You didn't know?"

"No, I didn't know." Buffy admitted wondering why her Watcher hadn't told her.

"Look has this got anything to do with Faith?" Angel sounded a little tired to have to be mentioning her name.

"No Angel, definitely no, she's been really helpful, talking of which though, why did you send her here?" Buffy took the opportunity to ask.

"Because I was concerned about what was going on there, I wanted you to have all the help you could." Angel filled in vaguely.

"Concerned how and what did you know about what was going on here?" Buffy pushed for details.

"Buffy, a girl showing up in LA as a vegetable after what I'm told is some sort of demon attack peaks my attention that something is wrong in your end of town worry." He said honestly.

"Angel what are you talking about?" Buffy frowned more. She didn't know anything about any girl.

"A Sunnydale girl showed up in an LA hospital Buffy, she's got head injuries as if she was beaten up badly but there is no signs of trauma." Angel filled her in. "They found her comatose on a bus from Sunnydale to LA."

"They did? Angel when was this." Buffy pushed.

"About a month or so before I sent Faith." Angel guessed. "I thought maybe it was something you'd need help with. A friend of mine at the hospital tipped me off."

"Did this 'friend' have any ideas as to what might have cause this?" Buffy felt a tingle in her spine.

"She didn't know, just she said it couldn't be natural if you know what I mean. She didn't even have a bruise but over half her brain was traumatized." Angel filled in sadly.

"Angel I know this is pushing it but you don't have a name do you?" Buffy glanced at Willow.

"Let me see if I wrote it down..." Angel pushed around some papers. "I think it was Karen, Karen Manesh." He didn't find what he was looking for. "Something close to that, why?"

"Nothing it was a wild shot at best." Buffy sighed slightly deflated.

"Oh no wait, here it is." Angel's tone didn't really change. "Candice Marreshi."

"Angel I love you." Buffy's eyes flared.

"Buffy?" Angel stammered obviously thrown by the sudden exclamation.

The blonde Slayer was too busy putting her hand over the mouthpiece and turning to Willow to notice his stammered response.

"Guess who found Candice." She hissed at her best friend.

"Angel?" Willow hissed back and wasn't surprised when Buffy nodded. "Where?"

"Let me get details." Buffy pulled her hand off the mouthpiece. "Angel, are you still there?" She checked.

"Yes, I'm not sure how long Fred's spell will work." He urged her to talk quickly.

"Where is she Angel, can you go see her, talk to her?" Buffy pushed.

"Buffy, didn't you hear me? She's a vegetable." Angel knew it sounded horrible but it was the truth.

"Well yes I heard you say the word but I thought you know maybe you were exaggerating." Buffy winced as the reality became clear. The lead had dried up as soon as it had presented itself.

"No. She's alive, barely but there isn't any higher brain function." Angel underlined. "That's why her putting herself on a bus and getting to LA was such a mystery. That and all of her injuries are internal."

"Angel, are you basically telling me that though this girl may exist in a hospital bed in LA, she's actually dead? The equivalent I mean." Buffy's voice was dim.

"Yes." He affirmed and Buffy's eyes flicked up to Willow's knowing the redhead was listening. "And they can't figure out how she would have been injured so drastically."

"Angel we need you to find out everything you can about her, what she was wearing if she had anything with her, please its important." Buffy said hurried as the line began to crackle and hiss a little.

"Okay, can we reach you on the cell phone?" He hoped she had heard him.

"Anytime." She called as the phone when completely dead.

"What did he say?" Willow jumped on her almost.

"You must have heard most of it Willow." Buffy needlessly put the phone back in its cradle.

"But how? How would she get like that?" Willow asked the million-dollar question.

"No one seems to know, Angel suggested it wasn't physical damage." Buffy encouraged Willow to move with her to where Giles and the research team were working.

"Someone made her a vegetable magically?" Willow thought out loud.

"Is that possible?" Buffy came to a quick stop. "I mean is it allowed?" She asked frowning.

"No it's not allowed, it would be a very bad, bad, no definitely not allowed." Willow shook her head. "But it could be possible."

"What is it Buffy?" Giles called as they blundered in the meeting. "And did I hear the phone?"

"Okay guys, conference time." Buffy nodded pulling up a chair. Willow sat down chewing on her lip and thinking.

"Have you found out something?" Sandra looked at the Slayer.

"I'm going to finish the story before I open the floor to questions okay." Buffy stated glancing around to a circle of nods. "Okay, so here it is..." Buffy gave the facts as clearly and precisely as she could and then looked around. "Anytime now guys wow me with explanations and ideas." She leaned back in her chair.

"I might have one, but…" Tara's voice was quiet and slightly shaky as the tall blonde witch stepped into the doorway. "I don't think anyone is going to like it."

"Tara." Willow was up and on her feet. "Baby, you should be resting." She moved over to her.

"I couldn't." Tara took Willow's hand and then brought her other hand from around her back, bringing with it a book that she held closed around her finger marking a spot.

"Tara what did you find?" Giles encouraged her to tell them not liking the pale color in the witch's cheeks.

"I should have remembered." Tara whispered as she opened the book at the marked page and dropped it heavily on the table. With a slight push of her hand she pressed it down the polished top towards the Englishman. "I really did bring all of this on you." She frowned harder.

"Baby, no." Willow shook her head.

"I did." Tara flashed sad blue eyes at her lover. "The spell Mr. Giles." She encouraged the Watcher to look. Reaching out he pulled the book towards him and slipped his glasses on his nose.

"The Spell of Corporeal Shades." He read the title pulling of his glasses and looking up. "Tara I'm not sure..." He began frowning slightly.

"Its the spell Candice used." Tara said quietly.

"That Candice used." Willow underlined. "Not you."

Tara leaned forward and took the book back from Giles and handed it to Willow.

"Look at the book Will." She released it to the redhead's care and Willow immediately did just that. "It's my book Willow, the book you found the spell to bring Buffy back in, the book that let released the First into this dimension, and the book Candice used to hurt you all." Tara replied her hand shaking as she reached out to take it back. "Its my book." She looked into green eyes.

"That doesn't mean anything." Willow kept the book as she skimmed the text. "This here." She pointed to a line. "And the one who will be, the shell that is to come, must never meet lest the spell be destroyed. You couldn't make this." She argued softly with her.

"Willow is right Tara, the spell, the book, none of this is you." He supported the redhead and encouraged her to hand him the book. She did so immediately.

"Baby, this isn't your fault. Candice could have gotten a copy of this book anywhere to use, the First could have found one for her easily." She moved closer to the blonde.

"Tara is right though." Giles quickly flicked the old tome open and looked at the original spell. "This does explain what has happed to Candice."

"How?" It was Buffy who asked for more information.

"The spell clearly states that the shade must be dissipated by its creator." Giles tapped the text. "Or the created and the creator suffer the same fate." He read aloud.

"When Warren shot the shade... Candice..." Willow looked at him with wide eyes.

"Died." Giles nodded. "Not corporeally, but her essence."

"So that's why no marks on her." Buffy nodded seeing the connection.

"Exactly, though this does suggest that Tara being shot by Warren was in no way a part of the First's plan." Giles pointed out. "Where as I have no doubt its intention was for the shade of Tara to leave and attempt to break Willow, I'd wager it was planning something more physiological as it were."

Willow looked at her the color in her face draining more.

"None of which is particularly relevant now though is it Rupert." Sandra cut in noticing the pair of pale witches.

"What?" Giles blinked. "Oh, no, no, not at all." He coughed lightly.

"All it tells us is that the First is evil but not as smart as it wants to be.' Faith underlined coming in from the kitchen where she had been listening. "And we're going to kick its ass." She vowed to both the witches.

"And we have the spell Candice used to create a person, a body." Dawn added the positive standing at Faith's shoulder. "Which means we have a way to make the First fleshy doesn't it?" She looked around hopefully.

"Do we?" Buffy looked at her Watcher. Giles looked down at the spell reading for what felt like an age.

"Come on G man." Faith moved in and put her hands flat on the table. "Speed it up." She hissed at him.

Pulling off his glasses Giles looked slowly up from the book and then straight at Buffy.

"I believe we do." He said his voice a breathless whisper.

"See there you go, you're book saves us all Tara." Faith stood up. "Now I think you too should have a rest. B can you get them whatever they need to relax and some juice." She tried to urge them towards the stairs.

"But it's not as simple as that." Tara began objecting. "Mr. Giles, we will have to work on the spell, rewrite it a little."

"Tara, I can work on that." Zoë spoke up for the first time. "Get it started, get a framework then you and Willow can tinker."

Blue eyes tracked over to the Canadian almost noticing her presence for the first time.

"You... would you?" She whispered her voice suddenly intensely tired and weak.

"Oh course, I can do this Tara. Let me help." She nodded urging Faith to make them move. Faith put her hands on their backs pressing them towards the stairs.

"I am tired." The blonde admitted as her feet began to shuffle forward.

"I need to get you pills." Willow tried to veer towards the kitchen.

"I got it Will." Buffy got up moving to get them as Faith had asked.

"I'll help." Dawn pushed up and hurried after her sister.

"Let me see the spell, I'll start making option notes." Zoë moved up a few chairs closer to Giles.

"Actually Zoë." Sandra pushed up out of her chair holding the book towards Giles. "If you wouldn't mind, I would like a word with you." She met the Canadian's eyes.

"Okay." Zoë made a small noise with the agreement and stood up waiting for her to lead.

Sandra eased out from her side of the table and led the younger woman out through the house to where Piper and Kennedy were still working the SITS.

"Zoë, I want to talk with you about Italy." The Watcher explained her reasons for bringing her out as she leaned against the railing.

"About what exactly?" Zoë questioned.

"About the work you and Miss. Maclay did there." Sandra answered softly.

"About it how exactly?" Zoë looked at the watcher.

"I was wondering what techniques you were taught, what harnessing methods you use, the reason Miss. Maclay was sent here, what her training entailed." Ms. Webster expanded her questions.

"She was sent here because she's an incredibly balanced witch with great power." Zoë gave the simple but honest answer. "As for my teachings, I'm a mediocre witch with apparently more potential than ability. "

"Please don't misinterpret my reasons for asking Zoë." Sandra softened her tone.

"I'm not. You want to know because you need to know what we can do, how you can factor us all into the fight. I'm telling you the truth." Zoë was honest back. "Tara is an amazing witch, I am not. It's not a self-disparaging comment Ms. Webster. It's a fact. I know I can do more but I can't yet find the way to use the power inside me."

"I appreciate your honesty and openness Zoë, thank you." Sandra gave a soft nod. "And I feel sure that you have ability to match your enthusiasm deep inside you."

"I can do this though, modify the spell, Tara can fine tune it." Zoë added. "They tell me I have a flare for the construction not for the execution."

"I don't doubt your ability." Sandra smiled more. "Ah you see, you are the brains and not necessarily the brawn behind the magic. Both are of equal importance." She patted Zoë's arm lightly.

"And I'm here to fight if needed." Zoë nodded firmly.

"I'd let the fighters to the fighting and the thinkers do the thinking if I were you Zoë." Sandra advised cautiously.

"I should work on the spell." Zoë began to move back to the house.

Sandra watched her leave for a moment and then looked out to where Piper and Kennedy marshaled the workouts. With a soft breath she smiled and then slowly turned walking back into the house, there was a lot to be done.

Buffy closed up the clips on her jacket looking over at Piper who seemed to be trying to decide between a jean jacket and her leather.

"It really doesn't matter what you wear, it might get trashed." She gave the small piece of advice.

"Yeah but come on, look who I'm going with, I have to look good." Piper laughed. "Which do you think?"

"Leather." Buffy pointed at it.

"You sure." Piper slid it on.

"Yeah very sexy." Buffy nodded as she tucked her stake into her coat and then tucked a dagger into her boot.

"I thought I was supposed to look mean and hard and ready to kick ass." Piper struck an imposing pose.

"You do. Sorry, I'm distracted." Buffy admitted.

"Distracted?" Piper crossed to the blonde frowning, "What's wrong baby?"

"Patrol." She looked up. "It's nothing, just getting in the game it's been awhile."

"Would you rather I stay home, cover while you just go out with Faith?" Piper offered softly.

"No, Piper it's not that." Buffy shook her head. "I just don't know what to expect out there."

"Well Giles says that there aren't any vampires or demons out there so, maybe a whole heap of nothing." Piper shrugged. "We could be bored out of our minds."

"Giles could be wrong." Buffy picked up the staff and handed it to Piper. "I know the Watchers mean well but don't trust what they say when it comes to what you're going to fight. It's usually much worse than they make it out to be."

"Hold on, I'm not taking this." Piper looked at the mystical weapon.

"Yes, you are." Buffy pushed it against her chest and then let go knowing Piper would catch it as she moved to the stairs.

"Buffy." Piper pushed after her. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay here? You know I will and I know you're worried about those girls we're not taking with us."

"You need to get out there Piper." Buffy shook her head. "This really isn't about me not trusting you okay. This is patrol." She tried to make her understand.

"Then let me go alone." Piper challenged.

"No." Buffy shook her head. "That is not an option."

"Yes it is, even Giles suggested it." Piper reminded her.

"Giles can be an ass." Buffy pushed up more stairs. "Come on lets get started."

"Buffy." The front door swung open and Kennedy jogged in. "Giles wants to talk to you."

"Why?" Buffy looked at her not happy with the change in plans.

"He says he wants to talk to you." The potential explained.

"Piper, come on." Buffy moved out and towards the other house.

"Piper?" Piper shrugged.

"Chia, Donna, Alice, we're leaving." Owl called the rest of the patrol group to attention.

Buffy turned and was glad to see her finally getting everyone moving. The small troupe moved around to the other house, Kennedy falling in with them.

"Giles what do you want?" Buffy pushed in through the door, asking him instantly.

"We need to talk through some of the changes we have made to the spell." Giles glanced at her. "Hello Owl, ladies." He nodded to them all.

"We're going on patrol." Buffy pointed to the group.

"Yes I know this will only take an hour or so." He explained.

"We don't have an hour." Buffy shook her head.

"Are we going to get this show on the road?" Kennedy hassled.

"We'll discuss the spell when we get back." Buffy nodded that they were and moved back to the door.

"Buffy I am asking you in my discreet way to stay here." Giles pointed out.

"I have to get Faith to go with them then." Buffy relented a little.

"Faith is training the girls here." Giles shook his head. "Buffy Piper is a slayer, she can handle a patrol."

"Giles, kitchen." Buffy pointed at it and stomped in. Giles pushed up and walked slowly to follow her. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Buffy hissed at him trying to not let the others hear.

"I'm am trying to get you to concentrate on the spell while Piper takes some of our more skilled potentials on patrol." The watcher replied.

"Yeah her first patrol." Buffy reminded him unnecessarily. "With the First running around."

"She's a slayer Buffy." Giles seemed unmoved.

"Giles, I'm not sending her out there alone. There are three slayers, so there is no reason to do your horrible Watcher send her out to die or fight motto." Buffy shook her head.

"There are three slayers, but we have injured SITs that need watching, those less skilled that are remaining here to train." Giles continued undeterred.

"I'm going with her. Giles the first could be waiting out there with Ubers or more bringers." Buffy pointed out the window.

"We have no way to be sure that the First has any Ubers Buffy, and Piper has shown she can deal with Bringers." Giles folded his arms over his chest.

"You don't know that it doesn't, it sent one after Willow. " Buffy argued.

"It could be one it managed to drag form the Hellmouth before we sealed it." Giles countered.

"Giles what do you expect me to be able to help with the spell?" Buffy looked at him.

"I don't, I expect you to be here to watch over those people here who need you." Giles pointed out.

"You expect me to shove her out there to fight or die." Buffy countered again.

"Buffy, we need to know she's capable." Giles boiled everything down to the basic fact.

"So we let her go out solo and hey if she dies then we know she wasn't capable?" Buffy scowled at him. "I thought you'd learned Giles, I thought you knew that the Council's way wasn't the best."

"In the normal situation of course Buffy." Giles gave a little. "But this isn't normal."

"No it's ten times as dangerous." Buffy pointed out. "Giles I'm not going to watch Piper, I'm going to watch the others. You're right she needs to be out there but she needs a little safety net. She doesn't need to have five other SIT"S lives on her head."

"She's taking the staff that's a safety net." The distant closing of the front door ended his voice prematurely.

"What's going on?" Buffy moved back into the living room.

"Kennedy, Vi and Chia took off." Alice explained. "Piper went after them."

"What? Will these girls ever learn?" Buffy moved to the door.

"Buffy!" Giles called walking back to the door. "Kennedy was only doing as we had asked her to do."

"You set me up." Buffy turned glaring at him. "How dare you? Why is it that you're way is always the best way? Why is it you can do whatever the hell you want because you know best? I'm sick of these games Giles." She snarled at him pulling open the door.

"Close the door Buffy." Sandra ordered her voice steely.

"With all due respect Ms. Webster, kiss my slayer ass." Buffy pulled the door open and moved out slamming it behind her.

"You're slayer lacks discipline Rupert." Sandra shook her head.

"Giles don't let her talk like that." Dawn looked at the older Watcher and then glared at Sandra.

"I'm afraid Sandra is right Dawn, I asked Buffy to stay here." Giles shook her head.

"You also told her to kill me, was she supposed to listen to you then?" Dawn stood up screeching at him. "You're horrible. You're both horrible." She moved back towards the kitchen and back door.

"Dawnster." Xander pushed dup and hurried after the teenager.

"Should we go and get her?" Sandra looked at Giles.

"I know I'm not part of this whole thing but do they teach you Watcher's to be like this?" Zoë asked honestly.

"I beg your pardon?" Giles looked at her.

"We're in a highly tense situation, we are fighting for our lives against a foe that we are not sure we can defeat and the only thing that is going to keep any of us and well the world in one piece is those three slayers." Zoë closed her notebook. "And with all that as fact, all you two seem to be doing is teaching the SITs to deceive them, teaching each of them not to trust the other and on top of that most of the time you talk to them like they are five year olds in your kindergarten class you just found eating paint in the corner."

"Zoë I understand how it could look slightly like that to you from the outside..." Giles objected.

"No, that's exactly how it looks like." She stood up. "And yes I am on the outside so take this opinion with whatever weight you like, but stifling them into submission isn't going to make them behave." She looked at Sandra. "They are slayers, they live and breath fighting and protecting all of us, to be stuffed down and slapped on the ass like a dog who sat on the couch after it was told to stay on the carpet makes them resentful not obedient."

"Once again you're a little out of line." Sandra raised an eyebrow. "You know nothing about what a slayer is."

"And you don't know what it's like to be one." Zoë looked at her. "I don't want to have your job and again this is just an opinion. I'm sure you won't give it much weight." She shrugged and moved to the kitchen. "I'm going to keep working on the spell."

"Well perhaps we should go back to our own houses." Alice looked uncomfortably around.

"No Alice, go and bring the SITs still here into this house, we can keep and eye on you here." Giles contradicted and slowly the young potential moved to obey.

Zoë clutched the notebook in one hand twirling the pen around her other. She'd come out back knowing the perimeter was up but she wasn't even sure if she cared. She needed some air. Sometimes there was only so much she could take of the two stuffy overbearing watchers and everyone bickering.

Taking a deep breath she held her hand out with the pen focusing on it and managing much to her own surprise to lift it a few inches from her palm.

"Guess I'm getting better." She admitted managing to lift it higher as she took another breath. Slowly the pen began to spin in a slow clockwise turn. "Wow." She watched it and concentrated hoping to make it spin more. Obediently the pen moved faster more.

"Okay I'm on a roll." Zoë grinned and tried to make it go the other direction.

The pen wobbled a little stopping and then spun the other way a little unstably.

"Come on." She encouraged it to stabilize. "I can do this."

However instead of stabilizing the pen shook more and then flew upwards out of her hand.

"Shit." Zoë cursed reaching up to try and catch it.

"Oops butterfingers." Stepping out of the dense shrubbery beyond the perimeter a fairly tall, incredibly pretty young woman came into view.

"Holly?" Zoë looked at her completely shocked.

"Hello Zoë." She smiled rather too sweetly.

"What the hell are you doing here? Where is Beth?" Zoë looked into the tree line.

"Oh she's not joined me yet." The young actress shook her head.

"Where is she?" Zoë stepped closer.

"Right now?" The other woman asked.

"Where is she if you're here?" Zoë nodded.

"She's in Manhattan right now." Holly looked down at her nails.

"Oh my God you're not Holly." Zoë felt her blood go cold.

"Not Holly? What makes you say that? Does this light not show my best side?" She flicked strawberry blonde hair over her shoulder.

"How are you doing this? She's not dead." Zoë looked at the First in disbelief.

"Oh aren't I?" Holly raised an eyebrow and pushed up the sleeve of her pretty blue floral shirt to reveal her inner elbows. Zoë looked down at the deep red bruised track marks that bore into her otherwise perfect flesh. "Want to change your mind about anything?" She smirked.

"When?" Zoë tried to hold her dinner down.

"Three weeks ago." Holly shrugged. "100% pure isn't good for anyone."

"Bethany?" Zoë squeaked the name not able to believe that she would have done heroin but not knowing for sure with what she was looking at right now.

"Well you know you have to swing with the lifestyle you live in." Holly shrugged seeming disinterested.

"Show me her." Zoë challenged.

"Why? She left you Zoë." Holly frowned.

"Because I think if she was dead you'd have come as her." Zoë tried to be brave but her voice shook.

"But wouldn't this hurt you more, me the woman she left you for, taunting you." Holly sneered at her.

"No, I don't care about Holly." Zoë shook her head. "Holly was a disaster waiting to happen. I'm sorry she's dead but I don't care about her. Show me Bethany, I don't think you can."

"Perhaps I cant." Holly laughed. "Yet."

"You can't." Zoë underlined more confidently. "Because she's not dead."

"Is that a challenge Zoë?" Holly smirked.

"No." Zoë's answer was a little too quick and sharp. "I mean why would you need to hurt her? She doesn't have anything to do with this."

"But she does have to do with you." Suddenly the missing pen slammed into the ground next to Zoë's foot.

"But I'm nothing." Zoë pointed out honestly.

"Oh you are." Holly agreed quickly.

"I can't even float a pen." Zoë shook her head.

"Maybe not but," Holly's eyes glanced up to the house. "Someone in there thinks a lot of you, believes in you, trusts you."

"I'm the outsider. I'm disposable." Zoë tried to disagree with it.

"Then why don't you dispose of yourself?" Holly shrugged.

"Cause I'm not suicidal." Zoë laughed at the sad attempt. "Is this your best plug at me? Oh go on Zoë off yourself?"

"I didn't for once think of such a thing, I mean more dispose of yourself from this situation." Holly chuckled back. "As in scoot, vamoose, leave."

"Because you'll let me just walk away." Zoë made little walking motions with her fingers.

"Why wouldn't I? You're nothing remember." Holly picked at her nails again.

"Because you're evil incarnate." Zoë offered the reason.

"Wouldn't that suggest I have bigger fish to fry that a pathetic little nothing?" Holly scoffed.

"No that suggest you have to get your kicks somewhere." Zoë smiled. "Including torturing the nothings."

"Oh I like it when people like you show a little foresight A little knowledge. So let me just get this right, you're not going anywhere and you challenged me to bring Beth next time, right? I want to check the details before disappearing off you know." Holly laughed and clapped her hands together.

"No, I didn't challenge you to bring her." Zoë's eyes narrowed. "I challenged you to leave her alone."

"And because I'm evil incarnate I'm going to do that aren't I?" Holly questioned loving the game of words.

"I don't know what you're going to do." Zoë shook her head. "You'll do what suits you, it has nothing to do with me."

"So I can slit your little ex lover's throat and bathe in her blood then can I, can I really?" Holy rubbed her hands gleefully.

"If you touch her, touch one hair on her head I will find a way to destroy you." Zoë moved closer to the apparition. "And you'll wish you'd died like Holly because you wouldn't have known what hit you when I hit you."

"Big words from a nothing." Holly hissed back.

"I'm Canadian, we keep the peace and right now bitch first you're breaking it. Do I have to get my blue hat on and kick your ass around the yard?" Zoë hissed back.

"The truth is nothing, there is ironically nothing you can do to stop me. You or any of your pathetic little friends." Holly stepped back. "Come on out of the perimeter little girl." She beckoned. "Let me show you what I can do."

"Come out of the perimeter?" Zoë stepped right up the boundary. "Oh wait why so you can do something? When right now you can't touch me? You want me to beg for her life? You want me to plea and cry? Would that even make a difference to you?"

"I'd quite enjoy the show." Holly nodded. "Seeing you cry and beg."

"I bet you would and if I thought it would keep her safe I would give you the performance of a lifetime." Zoë admitted. "But it won't."

"True." The First nodded again. "Well I suppose I should be running along, I have a little affair in Manhattan to organize."

"If you go to Manhattan we'll defeat you, you'll give us the opening we need." Zoë challenged.

"Go? Me go to Manhattan." Holly laughed. "Well a holiday would be nice but... I have friends all over the world little nothing." She shook her head. "You might have met a few, wear brown, have no eyes, that kind of thing. Oh and very large sharp daggers."

"I thought those were the ones that the slayers were destroying all the time." Zoë smiled back.

"You can tread on a few dozen ants nothing and there's still a whole hill full waiting." The First began to turn away.

"And we can drop poison in the mound and kill the Queen." Zoë winked at her.

"Yes but by then we will have consumed your English rose." She winked back and then disappeared.

"FUCK YOU!" Zoë screamed at the night that was left in its place.

"Zoë?" Felicity and Alice ran from the house, weapons in hand at the sound of her scream.

"It was here." Zoë tracked back grabbing a sword from one of them. "Fucking son of a bitch." She whacked it into the nearest tree.

"Hey, hey, Maple Leaf what gives?" Suddenly the dark haired Slayer jogged in from the adjacent garden.

"Fucking son of a ten cent Goddamn whore." She hacked at the defenseless tree. "I hate this, I hate this... I hate being nothing."

"Well in a little while you're gonna be wearing that tree branch if you don't calm it down." Faith held her hands out towards the Canadian. "What went on Zoë?"

"It's going to kill her." Zoë went to take another swing and dropped the sword limply. "It's going to kill her and I can't stop it."

"Kill who?" Faith frowned.

"Bethany." Zoë sat down in the grass.

"Zoë?" Tara, dressed in a pair of pale pink pajamas was suddenly at the back door. "Faith?" She added stepping barefoot onto the grass.

"It's okay Tara, the First was just paying Maple Leaf a quick call." She tried to settle the air as she reached down for the long sword.

"Oh Goddess." Tara took a breath in and rather than retreating back hurried across the cool grass to Zoë's side. "Zoë?" She whispered kneeling down.

"It's going to kill her Tara, Holly is dead... it's going to kill her it said it was." Zoë rubbed her hands over her face.

"Holly's dead? But how? The First didn't..." Blue eyes flared in horror.

"Heroin overdose." Zoë shook her head.

"And it said it was going after Beth?" Tara hardly dare ask the horrible question.

"It said it was going to kill her and bathe in her blood." Zoë choked on the words.

"Okay not knowing what the hell you guys are really talking about." Faith leaned on the sword a little. "I'm guessing this Beth chick is the girl who left Zoë for the actress, who I'm guessing is Holly." The dark haired Slayer recapped. "And the First is going to off her."

"Yes." Zoë nodded.

"Tough break." Faith shrugged. "Hell of a way to be taught to stay faithful."

"Get away from me." Zoë snapped at her. "If that's all you can say get away from me."

"What? Woo what the hell did I say." Faith took a step back.

"You think she needs to be taught a lesson by dying?" Zoë looked at her.

"Faith not everyone can just fall in and out of love, it's not as simple as that." Tara tried to soothe.

"I'm not saying it is." Faith defended. "All I'm saying is there's not a damn thing we can do about it, if they're all apart and single these days is there? Its not as if we can call her cell phone and tell her to get her ass in hiding or better still here so we can keep and eye on her." The Slayer went on. "Strikes me this Beth chose her own path when she left Zoë, what can we do about that?"

"I have her number." Zoë looked at the Slayer as she ranted.

"You have Bethany's number?" Tara looked at the other witch whispering the question softly.

"I bought her the cell phone, she won't have changed the number." Zoë shook her head to the idea. "She can't get the union jack faceplate on any other phone in north America."

"Do you want to call her?" The blond witch asked.

"I phone her and tell her what? The biggest nastiest evil showed up as Holly and told me it's coming to kill you?" Zoë laughed sadly.

"More that you heard about Holly, you were worried about her, maybe suggesting she come here to see you." Tara offered more believable alternatives.

"Do you think she'd come?" Zoë looked at her. "Can we get her here before it gets her?"

"We can try." Tara nodded. "If we find out exactly where she is, we can work out the easiest safest way of getting her here."

"I should go get her number." Zoë nodded back and pushed up. "Thanks Faith." She looked at the dark haired Slayer.

"For pissing you off?" Faith chuckled.

"For making a suggestion wise ass." Zoë stuck her tongue off as she went by.

"You don't think we've got a hope in hell of getting her here safely do you?" Faith chuckled as she did and looked at Tara.

Tara glanced at the house as the door swung closed after Zoë.

"We need to try." She whispered.

"That's not what I asked." Faith carefully clarified.

"I know, but it's the only answer you're getting." Tara pushed up and began a slow walk to the house.

Part 17

Zoë pressed the end button on the small cell phone and sat down on the edge of the bed shakily. The conversation had been difficult, Holly indeed had overdosed at a party a few weeks before but luckily Beth hadn't attended so she'd been no where near the fatal drugs that had killed the actress, two others at the party and sent a few more to the hospital.

If the witch had been anywhere near the US most of that time she would have probably noticed heard about it, but between being in Italy in combination that no one in Sunnydale was paying much attention to outside news meant the pretty sensationalized event had gone unnoticed in this corner of the world.

Zoë didn't exactly know how she was feeling now. This whole place was like being in a bubble, she'd almost forgot there was a world outside the Hellmouth. Almost forgot that there was an after to all of this hopefully, an after that included the same feelings and disappointments she'd been dealing with for awhile.

"She's coming." She heard the door open a bit and knew from the soft perfume in the air it was Tara. "She's going to fly into LA and then drive here. I told her to only do it in the daytime, she didn't really question."

"How is she?" Tara asked softly.

"Devastated... Freaked out... Confused about what I was not telling her." Zoë admitted. "But she's coming at least. She said nothing unusual had happened since Holly though so maybe the First doesn't know where she is."

"And how are you?" The blonde's voice was softer still.

"This isn't exactly how I dreamed of us seeing each other again." Zoë put the cell phone on the side table and then sat with her hands in her lap. "Her coming because Holly was dead, the world ending, you know?"

"But you do want to see her again?" Tara checked that making the call had been the right thing after all.

"Of course I do, I tried to not let it see how much hurting her would hurt me, how killing her wouldn't get it anything but I couldn't hide what I feel for her. It knew it could hurt me by hurting her more than it could hurt me by hurting me." Zoë tried to remember what had happened in the backyard. "Tara, it was weird. Why did it go to all this trouble to taunt me?"

"I wish I knew." Tara shook her head. "But maybe it has something to do with why you were sent here in the first place. M wouldn't have sent you if there wasn't a specific reason for it being you, even if you did volunteer." The blonde gave her the warmest smile.

"How am I going to explain all of this too her?" Zoë looked at the blonde witch obviously overwhelmed.

"Slowly, carefully and honestly if you want to." Tara replied simply. "If not you could always call her back and tell her to go to M in Italy, she would make sure she was safe."

"What would you do?" Zoë asked her. "If say it was Willow."

"I'd bring her here." Tara said without question. "If only to be with her if it all does go to Hell." She admitted softly. "But it's different for Willow and I, this is you and Beth. I can't say what is right for you."

"I have to at least try to keep her safe." The Canadian sighed. "I can't leave her out there at its mercy, even if she doesn't love me anymore."

"I know." Tara reached out and put her hand on Zoë's. "When should we expect her?"

"She's taking the flight tonight, arriving early tomorrow morning then she'll drive in. So before lunch hopefully?" Zoë frowned. "Maybe I should have gone to get her at the airport?"

"If you like I am sure Giles wouldn't mind you and one of the slayers going to get her." Tara nodded to the idea.

"I don't want to take one away from here and protecting the SIT's." Zoë shook her head. "This fight isn't about Beth and I."

"Zoë no, you can't go by yourself." Tara shook her head. "If you took the bus then you could take some SIT's with you, call it training out on the field." She chuckled softly.

"I guess I should talk to Faith about it." Zoë nodded. "See what she thinks is best."

"In the morning." Tara nodded. "You should try and rest. It's getting late."

"I can't sleep." Zoë shook her head. "I'll work on the spell, I think there is lots we can do with it." She looked around. "Damn I left my notebook in the yard."

"I'll get it." Tara pushed up softly.

"No, Tara you should be with Willow." Zoë shook her head standing up. "I'm fine, rant over, no biggie."

"Zoë stop it." Tara shook her head. "I am quite capable of going out into the yard and picking up your notebook for you. I'm on battery duty as it is at eleven." She glanced at her watch seeing she only had fifteen minutes left before then.

"Okay. I could meet you down on the couch we can bounce ideas while you charge up the shield?" Zoë offered. "And then I can make us coffee."

"Are you really that energetic?" Tara raised an eyebrow.

"Hey we only got attacked once last night." Zoë smiled. "Okay, okay, I'll try to sleep and if I can't I'll come down and see you okay?" She tried a compromise.

"Better." Tara nodded as she slipped out.

The yard was nearly pitch black as Tara slipped out into it, the light from the kitchen window only spread to about half the depth of the long lawn. The white spiral bound notebook that Zoë had been using though was clearly visible off near to the final tripwire boundary. The blonde was glad she had taken the time to slip some shoes and a cardigan over her Pj's as she strolled out to retrieve the book.

"Is Maple leaf okay?" Faith questioned from the outside edge of the trip line.

"Goddess Faith you started me!" Tara looked up and shook her head. "What are you doing out here and over the boundary line too? You might be a slayer but that doesn't mean you take unnecessary risks." She smiled brightly.

"I was just checking out how secure it is, we have a few holes. You must have been teasing Red too much when she did the work." Faith laughed and winked.

"Faith!" Tara blushed and then sobered as Faith's words cleared in her head. "Though do we, show me." She added with a frown.

"Here near the trees, there is a break in the fence line." Faith moved over silently. "We could have hordes of Bringers coming in through it and getting to the house." She turned to Tara and then smiled. "Well if they weren't all busy hunting down the new Slayer."

"You don't think they'll go after Piper do you?" Tara looked up at Faith briefly as she examined the uneven fence posts from a distance.

"Naw, I mean they don't know she's out there alone right? Besides they're probably all keeping an eye on us." Faith shrugged. "So I have to ask, is Zoë the girl you, you know, in Italy?" She made a vague gesture with her hand.

"She's not out there alone Faith, Buffy went after her." Tara shook her head and then stalled a bit at the question. "And…" The blonde glanced at the house. "Yes Zoë is." She replied stepping closer to the fence.

"That's cool, I can see you and the Maple Leaf getting along. She's spunky." Faith grinned. "Wait did you say B went? I thought she was pissed at Giles and stayed in?"

"No, I don't think so..." Tara shook her head. "Though I guess she might have gone back to the other house." She frowned slightly. "Everyone asleep at your place?" She glanced along the houses to look at the third in the row; there was only one bedroom light still on.

"Zonked." Faith nodded. "So how is her spell going? How we gonna kick it's ass?"

"Oh." Tara glanced back to where she had started from realizing she'd left the notebook on the floor. "I don't know. I'll look when I get back inside, but we'll find a way for sure, you know that." Tara smiled as she quickly moved back and grabbed it before walking over to Faith again. "We can't be the weak link that lets you, Buffy and Piper down can we?" She reached out to pat Faith's shoulder.

"Watch the trip wire Blondie." Faith stepped back away from her abruptly and Tara looked down seeing her ankle was nearly pressing it.

"Willow wouldn't like it if I tripped over that, thank you." Tara smiled again. "So what made you check the perimeter?" She asked as she wrapped the cardigan around her a little tighter. "Did the first's visit to Zoë make you a little wiggy?"

"Yeah, I mean why bother with Zoë? She's nothing special, Hell we don't even know why she's here." Faith shrugged again walking down the perimeter line a bit.

"Faith, she might not be the witch Willow and I are, but she is special, very special, you'd know that if you got to know her." Tara watched her move and then walked after her. "M sent her here for a reason, I trust that, we'll work out what that reason is, I know we will."

"You guys sound as bad as me with this M business, who is M?" Faith questioned looking through the dark at Tara.

"You'd hate her Faith." Tara smiled more. "She's the leader of the training center I was at in Italy." She explained. "Heavy with the self control, centering and focus approach." She paused for a moment. "Why don't you come inside, have a coffee with me I'm about to take over charging the shield?"

"Naw, I should finish my perimeter sweep." Faith shook her head.

"Want some company? I have ten minutes to kill." Tara offered smiling brighter.

"Yeah come on, you can tell me more about Zoë." Faith nodded beginning to walk the fence line on the outside.

"What do you want to know?" Tara walked with her. "And do you like toying with danger?" She pointed to the trip wire she was walking the other side of.

"I do." Faith gave her a toothy grin. "Anything, like why you think she's special even if she isn't big witch on the block?"

"Oh come on Faith." Tara laughed softly. "You can see she's special, she's warm and caring."

"Yeah but come on what's that going to do against the First and a shitload of Ubers?" Faith cocked her head to one side.

"Not everything is about muscle Faith." Tara objected softly.

"So what did you see in her?" Faith stopped them at the far end of the yard away from the house.

"What do you mean?" Tara tilted her head slightly leaning against the thick trunk of a tree bordering the yard.

"I mean you and Red were broke up and you went for her, had to be something that caught your eye other than the northern drawl and the fact she can drink like a sailor." Faith chuckled. "Doesn't qualify her as your type."

"I didn't go for her!" Tara objected frowning hard. "It wasn't like that." She stopped. "You know it wasn't. You know 'friend' I should hex you for teasing me." She laughed softly. "Or at least chase you or something."

"I am your friend." Faith underlined. "You can tell me anything, you know that right?"

"Thank you." Tara stopped for a moment and looked at Faith, her words sincere. She could see the way that the Slayer was watching and contemplating, it was obvious the First's most recent visit and Piper being out on patrol was worrying her. "You're not settled are you?" She appraised. "Look we could go for a walk if you like, there's a coffee store just around the corner we can free some coffee. I don't have to take over on the couch for a little while, last I checked Andrew was asleep on there anyway."

"Sure that would be great, if you can get outside without setting this off." Faith winked at her.

"It's not a prison Faith." Tara laughed lifting one leg over the trip wire, before stopping. "Oh sorry I didn't mean that." She apologized quickly.

"It's cool, you'd have liked prison, all those girls." Faith grinned at her walking backwards and leading her away from the trip line.

"Faith, do you always turn everything into something verging on the lurid?" Tara shook her head as she walked down the short gravel path that led from the side of the yard to the road beyond.

"It's expected." Faith laughed as she walked down the back alley with the blonde witch. "And come on if you were in prison we both know you'd be that scary quiet girls that the lifers tell stories to the newbies about. You know 'damn that's Maclay, stay away from her, she killed twenty people and that was just the cops that tired to arrest her, spends most of her time in solitary'. Sorta your Hannibal the Cannibal type, too pretty and smart to be your dumbass criminal."

"Are you trying flattery to make up for dodgy comments?" Tara chuckled speeding up her steps to match the pace that Faith set with her long athletic legs. A trip to the store with the dark Slayer was going to be record quick.

"You think calling you a psychopath is flattery?" Faith asked back laughing.

"I was focusing more on the pretty and smart lines actually." Tara shook her head. "You are terrible you know that don't you?"

"I'm just a pussy cat." Faith purred playfully.

"And the vampires are your mice?" Tara chuckled.

"My playthings yes." Faith smiled.

"Poor mice." Tara laughed softly.

"Well that's how it works, eat or be eaten." Faith shrugged and moved closer. "You're incredibly edible you know that don't you?" She whispered to the blonde as they moved into the empty store parking lot.

"Faith!" Tara squeaked and laughed at what she took as a teasing comment. "Behave."

"Why? We both know you're with Red. I'm not talking long-term relationship since we both know the world is going to end. Don't you want to know what you're missing?" Faith stood right toe to toe with the blonde witch first causing her to stop before she brought her down closer to Tara's.

Her surprise at Faith's blatant come on filled the shy part of Tara's brain with fear and apprehension but all of that was overridden as her body screamed at her to notice that with the close words there was no noticeably warm breath accompanying it.

"Oh Goddess, you're not Faith!" Tara took a step back.

"What? Oh my, I was doing so well." The First pulled back and smiled. "What gave me away? The breathing isn't it. No hot, humid breath to wash over your skin."

"You could never be anything close to human." Tara felt anger and fear mix fast in her blood stream the battle between fight and flight raging.

"I know pathetic isn't it? I'm the greatest evil and I can't recreate human life." The First tutted softly at the reality. "And I mean how I would love to recreate this." She slid her hands down Faith's hips. "I thought Buffy was yummy but this body, this must have fun. You can just feel the life trying to flow through her."

"You're sick." Tara backed up a little hearing shuffling feet on the sidewalk some distance away.

"To be sick you must be alive, I'm not alive Tara. I am evil." Faith's face twisted into a snarl. "I suggest you stay close though Blondie, if you stray then my boys will come for you."

"Bringers." Tara whispered despite herself taking a step forward closer to the apparition.

"I wanted to talk to you, they're here to finish the conversation." The First nodded.

"How many?" Tara swallowed.

"More than you can magic through." The First confirmed for her. "So be a good girl and chat with me, it might buy you some time."

"Haven't I told you everything you want to know yet?" Tara's self hatred was obvious. Her she had been babbling on about Zoë, about two of the Slayers being away from the houses and that M was in Italy.

"No, not everything." The mimic smiled.

"Okay I'm officially complaining." Andrew's voice was a quiet whine and when no one answered him it grew louder. "Hello has everyone forgotten me?"

"Andrew what is your problem?" Willow came to the top of the stairs.

"You'll do, where's the blonde one?" Andrew motioned for her to come to the couch. "I'm so over due for a rest."

"Tara went to check on Dawn. She didn't come back?" Willow came down the stairs.

"Typical forget me." Andrew huffed. "She probably went over there and fell asleep or something. Fell asleep in a bed I might add."

"Stay there." Willow pulled on her shoes and a jacket. She moved to the door and jogged over to the other house pushing her way into it without any hesitation. "Tara?"

"Hey there Red, what's up?" Faith looked up from a game of poker she was playing with Xander at the dining room table.

"Where is Tara?" Willow looked at them obviously growing more panicked.

"Can't help you with that one Red sorry." Faith shook her head just as Zoë came out of the kitchen with a drink and a heat pack.

"Hi Willow." She smiled softly at the redhead.

"Do you know where Tara is?" She checked with the new arrival immediately.

"She was going to pick up my notebook from the backyard and then go take over for Andrew." Zoë explained seeing the serious expression.

"Hey guys we're back." Kennedy announced as she pushed the door open. "Safe and sound."

"Faith, something wrong." Willow turned to the dark Slayer ignoring the SIT's arrival.

"Faith, what are you doing here?" The dark haired potential stopped and looked from Willow to Faith as the Slayer pushed up off her chair.

"What do you mean?" Faith stared at her.

"Because hello just bitching at from across the car park at the store, way to ignore us." Kennedy huffed.

"What?" Willow looked at Kennedy. "You saw Faith at the store?"

"Yeah I figured her and Tara had gone to liberate more coffee." Kennedy felt the hair rise up on her neck. "But they were in this serious conversation so we just came home."

"It's the First." Willow felt her body shake a little. "We have to get to her."

"Stay here Willow." Faith hurried to the door. "Kennedy with me."

"No." Willow shook her head not stopping her move to push past the silent SIT's to the doorway.

"Red come on, having one of you super witches out is bad enough." Faith tried to reason.

"I'm not letting her get hurt." Willow pulled the door open and moved out pushing her body into a quick run.

"Red! Fuck this." Faith took off after her realizing that reasoning wasn't going to help her case. Willow ran to the end line and knowing where all the trip wires and sensors were jumped them heading into the street. "Red, slow down." Faith pushed hard and caught her.

"It's not hurting her." Willow was a wave of flowing red hair as she stalked down the street.

"It can't." Faith reminded as they rounded the corner and they could see the store in the distance. "It has no form."

"But they can." She saw the dozen Bringers that circled Tara and the second Faith.

"Oh fuck." Faith cursed seeing the group.

"Tara!" Willow starting running closer, throwing out her hands and tossing one side of the containment Bringers across the tarmac.

"Willow!" Tara's head whirled around as four bringers jumped from their positions running for Willow and Faith.

Faith kicked two back with a jump flare kick and knocked the third with her fist but the forth ran past her towards Willow.

"Tara." Willow called again waiting until the Bringer came charging at her and then she tucked and rolled clumsily but effectively out of the way.

"Gotta go." The First winked at Tara and disappeared just as a Bringer ran forward and backhanded her to the ground, Zoë's notebook flying out of her hand.

"WILLOW! FAITH!" Piper's voice called out from behind them as the new Slayer rushed into the fight.

"Get to Tara." Willow reached up and struck her bringer with a punch sending him away from her.

In a flash the newest Slayer ran past Faith and Willow towards Tara's prone form, a Bringer towering over the blonde already.

"Oh no you don't." Leaping, she hit the Bringer in the side pushing it well away from Tara.

From out of no where, Buffy ran up and drove her sword into the Bringer that Willow was fighting before she kept going on towards the other minions.

"Piper, behind you." She warned as she threw a flying kick at another one.

"Got it." Piper spun and flashed her fist out knocking it away. Buffy didn't second guess as she moved to slice the sword into one then another Bringer.

"Baby?" Willow reached Tara and knelt down with her. "Are you okay?" She began to pull her lover up to her feet.

"I was so stupid." Tara groaned and got up, bleeding a little from a graze on her knee.

"It was Faith, how?" Willow asked stupidly as the Slayers finished with the rest of the Bringers.

"Because she died." Tara pulled her cardigan around her feeling so exposed.

"We should get back, this could be a diversion." Faith pointed out reaching down to pick up Zoë's notebook from where Tara had dropped it during the fight.

"I'm sorry." Tara dropped her head.

"It's okay." Willow shook her head. "Let's get back home where everyone is safe."

Leaning heavily against Willow, Tara didn't really think as the three Slayers walked them quickly towards the houses to check on everyone else.

"Looks like we got lucky." Faith moved over the intact tripwire to see Zoë and some of SIT's on the front lawn looking worried.

"Is everything okay?" China pushed up from her place.

"Will, get Tara inside." Buffy urged the redhead. Willow nodded and keeping a firm grip on the blonde moved her towards the main house.

"We had a Bringer swarm." Faith explained lightly to the confused crowd. "But we killed them all."

"Come on people lets get some rest." Buffy clapped her hands and watched the girls disperse.

"Tara really I don't believe it's necessary to make apology pancakes for all three houses." Giles poured two cups of tea as the blonde worked in the kitchen.

"I need to do this." Tara shook her head. "I should have checked, I should have made the logical assumption that the First would use Faith's form against us."

"Tara, please." Giles shook his head. "I think its fair to say no one even contemplated the First doing that before last night."

"Faith thought I was an ass." Tara eased a pancake out of the pan and put it on the pile.

"No, I didn't." Faith appeared in the back door and shook her head. "I thought you got duped like the rest of us, easy mistake."

"You're up early Faith." Giles noted. "I believe this plateful is for you and your household." He nodded to a plate stacked high with pancakes.

"Great." Faith moved over and slid the plate over. "How you doing?" She looked at Tara.

"I was stupid, I'm suffering from post stupid Tara disorder." Tara poured more batter in the pan frowning.

"Yeah well I know I felt stupid when the Mayor showed up and rattled my chain." Faith stuffed pancake into her mouth. "But hey we got to ambush some Bringers so it's cool."

"Cool in a careless idiot got herself into trouble kind of way." Tara flipped her pancake forcefully.

"No, my beautiful girl is never an idiot." Willow came sweeping in and hugged her from behind.

"I was." Tara shook her head. "And I'm sorry." She added slipping away from Willow and hurrying off up to the upstairs bathroom.

"Can you watch the pancakes?" Willow blurted out and hurried up after her. She didn't even wait for either Faith or Giles to move to the stove as she backtracked the hall and went up the stairs as quickly as she could. "Tara?" She followed her to the bathroom and found herself bashing into the unexpectedly locked door. "Tara?" She jiggled the doorknob. "Tara, honey, unlock the door."

"I'll be down in a while." The blonde replied through the barrier.

"Honey, please." Willow knocked again and there came a soft click from the other side of the door. "Tara, what's going on?" She pushed in slowly.

"I let everyone down again." Tara looked up with sad eyes. "Every time I think I'm better, start believing in me…" She frowned. "I get it wrong."

"You are not wrong." Willow shook her head. "Tara baby, it had already came to Zoë, you didn't have any reason to think it wasn't Faith and no one ever thought about it taking her form."

"But I should have just thought about it more, worked out the little things." Tara put her hand flat against the mirror.

"Love it was dark, it was late, you were tired." Willow put her hand on Tara's back.

"I still should have checked." Tara back tensed instantly beneath the redhead's fingers.

"Love look at me." Willow urged her to turn around.

"Why?" Tara didn't turn.

"Because I want you to look at me and see that I don't think you did anything wrong. No one does, this is what the First does, it tricks us. All of us at one time or another." Willow assured her and Tara turned slowly. "Remember it made Owl jump the trip wire, it made Spike kill people, it tried to tell me to kill myself, it made Faith freak out." She summed up.

"I still let you down." Tara whispered shaking her head.

"Tara you're here with me this morning, you didn't let me down." The redhead shook her head firmly. "No one got hurt and we killed a lot of Bringers."

"You were great." Tara smiled just a little.

"So were you." Willow reached forward and hugged her.

"I grazed my knee." Tara leaned her head down onto Willow's shoulder.

"Why don't we clean it and put a bandage on baby?" Willow hugged her tighter.

"I don't think it needs that." Tara shook her head.

"I could kiss it better." Willow breathed out.

"It might be too sore for that." Tara frowned.

"I could kiss other places better than." Willow rubbed her hand up and down her lover's back.

"Please." Tara nodded bringing her hand up to play with long red hair.

Willow slipped her hand around; guiding Tara's face up so she could move her lips down over her lover's kissing her tenderly. Tara's eyes dipped closed as she felt the tension in her shoulders drop slightly her worry melting at the touch of her lover's lips.

Willow concentrated on the soft contact, feeling the way their lips fit together. Tara let her fingers trace back over red hair to rest on Willow's neck as she pressed her body a little closer to the other woman's.

"I love you." Willow whispered parting their lips for a moment a she enjoyed the light massage at her neck. Feeling desire rising inside her she pressed her open mouth back to Tara's. Tara dropped one hand low guiding it lightly around Willow's waist. A little surprised at the change from the light tender kiss her lover had begun kissing her with, to this still tender but desire driven one. "We should go back to our room." The redhead breathed out pressing closer.

"I have to finish pancakes." Tara pulled her head back, drawing in a quick breath.

"They can feed themselves." Willow leaned forward kissing her. "I need you."

"But Willow the house is full and people will be awake." Tara objected weakly feeling her body flare with need as Willow breathed the last three words onto her lips.

"We can be quiet or loud and they can all be horrified, I don't care." The redhead kissed her again. "Tara, please."

"Need me." Tara whispered kissing her hotly.

"Need..." Willow breathed out after the kiss it hitching in her throat. "You."

"Bedroom." Tara slipped her hand into Willow's. Willow smiled broadly as she felt herself pulled across the hall until they were able to safely lock the door behind them. "Tell me more about this need." Tara asked softly as she stepped away from the now locked door.

"I need to make love to you." Willow stepped to follow her.

"Really?" Tara didn't stop until she was at the bed, and then she lowered herself onto the mattress on her back, her hand reaching out to Willow.

"I do." Willow moved over slipping up over her on the bed. "I need to kiss you."

She leaned her lips down.

Lifting her head off the pillow Tara pressed her mouth to Willow's in a long sensual kiss. The sheer pleasure the kiss brought made Willow press down her body over the blonde's. Tara pressed up in response, her legs sliding a little open so that Willow dropped the short distance to nestle between them.

"I need you so much." Willow settled in place arching her hips down.

"You have me." Tara assured her. "I'm sorry last night I was so distant." She added moving her arms around her lover's body rubbing lightly over Willow's ass.

"It's okay, I know you were upset." Willow shook her head arching more at the touch.

"But upset doesn't have to mean shut Willow out, I think it should mean let Willow help." Tara replied.

"You did, we snuggled and feel asleep." Willow leaned down to kiss her neck.

"You do realize this means I'm more or less confined to a day on the couch. Andrew's not going to be a pretty sight if I don't offer." Tara's hips flexed up as Willow's lips touched her throat.

"I can stay with you." Willow whispered as she kissed up the tender flesh.

"You can try and teach me that baseball game again." Tara laughed as her hips dancing a little from side to side, pushing up to Willow's.

"I'm not that good." Willow laughed lightly though her body pressed back to each jump.

"You are good, the only thing I'm better than you at on that machine is fishing, though why that should be I really don't know." Tara laughed softly back let her fingers wander down to the edge of Willow's shorts on her thighs.

"You know how to..." Willow groaned as Tara's hand moved. "Charm the fish."

"Luring them with my charms huh." Tara teased her fingers up the tight fitting sleep shorts to graze over the back of Willow's thighs.

"Mmmmm or maybe that's me." Willow tipped her head back a bit. "I'm distracted by your charms."

"No, you're not." Tara shook her head rubbing her hands lightly back and forth stopping at the soft crease of Willow's curved butt cheeks each sweep.

"Aren't I?" Her voice visibly hitched.

"No you're distracted by me generally." Tara chuckled again.

"Because I'm in love with you." Willow pressed harder with her hips.

"Mmmmm." Tara's reply was postponed as the blonde moaned lightly in pleasure at the tighter contact. "I'm in love with you too." She breathed out hotly.

"I love you so much." Willow reached up trailing her fingers down Tara's cheek. Tara turned her head and softly kissed her lover's fingers.

"I know." She admitted her voice full of conviction.

Willow breathed out as she leaned down kissing her again deeply, her tongue playing over full lips. Very slowly Tara eased her lips open, her body pressing up her hand sliding up to cup Willow's ass.

At the invitation Willow's tongue slid just a little inside her lover's warm mouth, skimming over smooth teeth as she pressed back into Tara's hand. This time her long fingers pressing into warm skin. Opening her lips a little further Tara slid out her tongue encouraging Willow deeper, and when she'd gotten what she wanted Tara closed her lips and sucked lightly on Willow's tongue her hands tightening on the redhead's small shapely butt cheeks.

A moan came back as Willow's body pressed back against Tara's hips. Releasing her lovers tongue, Tara breathed heavily for a moment. She began a slow hard circle up against Willow's body. Willow moaned again as she pressed back down into the move.

"I want you Willow." Tara let her breath come hot and heavy.

"I so want you." Willow panted back.

"Oh yes." Tara increased the speed of her rotating.

"You feel so amazing." Willow pressed with her.

"Do I?" Tara asked her voice full of surprise and passion.

"You always do." Willow vowed leaning down to kiss her neck again.

"Always?" Tara squeezed Willow's ass at the same time.

"Always." Willow licked up around the blonde's earlobe.

"Ohhh Willow." Tara groaned turning her head for Willow to lavish her ear. Willow licked around again before she sucked lightly on the lobe. "Mmmmm." Tara closed her mouth and moaned in soft delight pressing her hips tighter urging the redhead to lick and suck harder. "Touch me." Tara panted softly.

Willow continued to tease her ear as she moved her hand over sliding it up under her lover's shirt to rest her full palm over one warm breast, massaging the ample swell.

"Oh yes." Tara whispered her pleasure at the move.

"I love the way you feel." Willow whispered hotly into her ear as her thumb ran over her hard nipple.

"I love the way you make me feel." Tara admitted her upper body arching.

"How do I make you feel?" Willow breathed hotly.

"Hungry, hot, aching inside." Tara whispered loving as she could close her eyes so that her skin was alight with Willow's touch and her ears were filled with their passionate words.

"Mmmmm." Willow groaned pressing down harder with her hips as she licked down her lover's neck, pressing up the material of her shirt. Soon she had it high enough to close her lips over the nipple she was teasing.

"And how do I make you feel?" Tara groaned and rolled her hips up.

"Like I want to kiss every inch of you." Willow licked her tongue around and around the peak.

"Even though sometimes I'm...." Tara began but was stopped by a wave of pleasure.

"Beautiful." She sucked again and then swirled her tongue. "Sexy."

"You're biased." Tara groaned louder, whimpering slightly as her body melted a little more.

"Mmmmm no, it's the truth." Willow moved to suck and lick the other nipple.

"We should have got undressed." Tara chuckled as much as her excitement would let her.

"Too late now." Willow kissed over the blonde's creamy stomach.

"You're just going to drive me crazy and undress me as you go are you?" Tara moaned her body arching against the redhead's lips.

"Maybe." Willow teased moving her hands to the tie at the top of the blonde's skirt.

"Maybe?" Tara repeated the word, her voice a hot whisper.

"Maybe I won't undress you." She kissed lower pressing her mouth against the material that covered between Tara's legs.

"Oooooohhhhh!" Tara pressed her hips up against Willow's mouth.

"Mmmmm." Willow began pushing the skirt up more. "You had to wear the complicated skirt didn't you?'

"I wasn't thinking." Tara shivered with anticipation as she felt her legs fully exposed. Willow smiled as she pushed it up further and pressed her lips down to the blonde's panties. "Sorry love, next time... Ahhhhhhh!" Tara groaned again mid apology. "I can put on the wrap around when we're done." She relaxed again against the mattress.

"Mmmmm too late." Willow pressed her tongue against the material swirling it over Tara's center.

"You know you know exactly how to touch me." Tara wiggled a little.

"Because I love you." Willow pressed a bit harder as the material soaked through with sweet wetness.

"Do you know how difficult snuggling on the sofa with you is going to be after you have done this?" Tara moaned again pressing her hips directly up and down against Willow.

"But that makes it fun." Willow peeled back the ruined material breathing in the intoxicating scent of her lover before she pressed her lips back, sliding her tongue along the edges of swollen lips.

"Vixen." Tara pressed her head back and her hips up, breathing harder as the direct contact made her tingle.

"Vixen?" Willow placed slow kisses up one side and then the other, sucking lightly on the edge of excited flesh.

"Yes, teasing me, with all this lovely licking and touching, and then admitted you're going to be deliberately sexy all day long." Tara pointed out her breathing more erratic.

"Mmmmm yes." Willow slowly dragged the tip of her tongue down the full length of her body.

"Ohhh baby!" Tara arched harder, her body coming up on her heels a bit.

Willow moaned and pressed in more as she repeated the long move. She did this a few times before she finally pressed in fully, just catching the tip of her tongue off Tara's center.

"AhhhhhHHmmmmmmmWillow." Tara bit her lip lightly, her hips pressing up higher.

"Yes baby?" Willow breathed out against hot flesh.

"More please, don't stop kissing me, touching me." Tara panted desperately. Willow slid her tongue in quickly, directly sliding in wide licks over the sensitive spot. "Yes, oh Goddess Willow yes." She curled one hand lightly in the bed sheet.

Willow eagerly continued in the same spot not wanting to tease anymore. Moving her other hand Tara drew it over Willow's hair, lightly, not putting any pressure on it at all, just caressing over it with soft long strokes. Feeling her need for more pressure Willow closed her lips sucking down on the hard flesh under her lips.

Unable to resist tightening her grip on her lover's head just slightly, Tara pushed her hips up higher pulling them around in a soft circle, moaning low and heavy. Willow kept up the hard pressure letting Tara move against her.

"Oh please Willow, a little harder." Tara breathed out.

Willow grunted her agreement as she sucked harder, using her fingers to spread open wet lips so she could press her lips closer. Tara's smooth hip circling changed into a more staggered push against Willow mouth making Willow fight to keep her lips in place, flicking the flesh she'd caught with her tongue.

"Goddess baby I'm..." Tara's back arched harder.

A groan of encouragement sounded as Willow was forced to release her lips to breath but she slid her fingers around flicking over the flesh she released.

"AHHHHH! Willow, Willow, Willow, baby, aaaaaaahhhh!" Tara's hips dropped suddenly and then pushed up over and over in a hard fast staggered rhythm.

Willow hung on panting as she licked her tongue over her fingers as Tara's body moved. Unable to talk anymore Tara just moaned and whimpered her immense pleasure as her body let go. Jumping and jerking erratically Tara wouldn't have been able to tell you how her exploding body had been responding to the hard orgasm, before slowly she found her body settling down back onto the mattress. Tara panted exhaustedly as Willow slowed her tongue and then finally moved up.

"So I'm a vixen?" The redhead grinned kissing her on the cheek.

"Oh my beautiful Willow, yes, yes you are." Tara panted still.

"I don't think you were supposed to agree." The redhead laughed lightly.

"How could I not, you can be such a tease." Tara managed to lift one hand to run over Willow's cheek.

"Mmmmm true." Willow leaned her head on Tara's shoulder listening to her heart.

"Still beating?" Tara checked laughing softly.

"Fast." Willow nodded resting her hand on Tara's stomach. "But I love the sound of it."

"Well I can't think why it would be fast." Tara chuckled weakly, she closed her eyes feeling the aftershocks spiking through her body.

"I can." Willow smirked to herself resting her chin lightly on one breast. "You still thinking wrap around skirt?" She winked as blue eyes opened again.

"Could you keep your hands out of it all day?" Tara challenged cheekily.

"Nope." Willow shook her head being honest.

"Then don't you think I should wear jeans instead maybe?" Tara offered the next choice.

"Baby you know what you're like in jeans." Willow teased. "Will you be able to last the whole day?"

"What are you suggesting/" Tara slapped her lover's thigh lightly, pulling Willow's leg up her body a bit so she could leave her hand there.

"You're a vixen too." Willow laughed snuggling into the blonde's body.

"Willow!" The blonde blushed. "I am not."

"You are too missy aroused with the jeans seam." The redhead grinned.

"So what should I wear?" Tara smiled knowing that her lover knew her too well to argue.

"Nothing." Willow leaned up and kissed her.

"I'll be on the couch!" Tara objected her blue eyes sparkling.

"Mmmmm your wrap around." Willow smiled and settled her cheek against Tara's breast again.

"Sweetie, why does it feel like you're settling down for a nap?" Tara asked snuggling herself into the mattress and sliding her hand over Willow's arm.

"My happy place." Willow snuggled closer and closed her eyes.

"It is early, and we didn't sleep so great." Tara reasoned that it would be okay to stay there, at least for a little while.

"Exactly." Willow squeezed her slightly and closed her eyes.

Faith led everyone through a group series of moves and poses, testing everyone's general muscle strength and balance.

"Come on." She urged them when they started to tire. "Just a couple more." She kept doing front kicks and made sure they followed.

"Are you sure you slayers aren't robots?" Felicity tried to keep up the pace but was floundering as her wound hampered her.

"Yeah you know like transformers, robots in disguise." Beatrix laughed softly.

"Yeah we are. But hey we have something awesome for lunch so come on then more." Faith encouraged them all.

"Lunch, great I'm starved." Chia grinned dropping out of anything that remotely resembled a ready stance.

"Not yet, I want ten more front punches." Faith called them all to keep going.

"Slave driver." Felicity mumbled but winked at the dark haired Slayer.

"Pick it up Flick." Faith urged them.

"Hey I'm injured." She pointed to the bulky dressing laughing softly.

"See this." Faith held up two fingers and rubbed them together. "World's smallest violin just for you, you might be injured but I want all you got. Either that or you're on injured list and no more sword fun for you."

"She's got your number Flick!" Beatrix laughed

Felicity turned and poked her tongue out at the other SIT when suddenly the air was filled with an ear splitting explosion. A plume of black smoke mushroomed up into the air from a short way off in the distance. The noise was tripled in its sound by the eerie quiet of the deserted city.

"In the house, double time, double time." Faith began waving at them all to hurry indoors as she looked to the distance. She kept her eyes on the tree line waiting for another surprise attack but everything after the initial bang was eerily quiet.

"B! We got action." She yelled to the blonde as she followed the SIT's in.

"What the Hell was that?" Buffy questioned as she came running.

"Did the apocalypse start already?" Anya poked her head out of the kitchen. "Why didn't anyone tell me we were to expect it today?"

"I don't know but we better go check it out." Faith nodded moving to pick up the shotgun she'd taken out of the hotel. "Birdy gets house watch, where is she?"

"If it helps, I'm not picking up anything wiggy in the magical dimension." Tara looked up from her place on the couch. "Are you sweetie?" She glanced at Willow who was beside her.

"Nothing." Willow agreed.

"Could have been anything, maybe a minor explosion? Something mechanical that needs to be maintained but since no one is here." Xander offered a harmless reason.

"Sorry guys, was just working on staff maneuvers." Piper ran in carrying the still extended war staff.

"B and I are going to go check it out, you got house watch. Keep that with you."

Faith nodded at her handing Buffy a sword. "Ready?"

"Shouldn't some of us come with you?" Kennedy argued as she came in after Piper to hear the plan.

"We don't know what this is." Faith shook her head. "Could be a ruse to flush SIT's out. We're just doing some recon, then we'll be back."

"Exactly so stay over at your house for protection in case, it's better that we keep the main group assembled and at their posts." Buffy backed up Faith's reasoning. With a reluctant nod Kennedy moved back outside towards her post. "If things get crazy, don't try to be a hero." She crossed over to Piper and briefly put her hand on her arm.

"You got it." She winked at her lover.

"Let's go." Faith was at the door and stuffed some extra shells in her pockets before she cocked the shotgun she was carrying.

"Is that a shotgun?" Buffy said hurrying to grab a double-headed axe instead of the sword Faith had given her.

"Yeah, if this isn't Bringer I want something universally intimidating." Faith grinned.

"I'm not even going to ask." Buffy shook her head and hurried out of the door.

"What's going on?" Zoë came almost tumbling down the stairs a few moments later. "I was meditating then something... what's going on?" She questioned Willow and Tara looking panicked.

"Zoë." Tara took Willow's hand without thinking about it. "We don't know, Faith and Buffy have gone to find out."

"We were out in the yard and there was this big explosion." Beatrix filled in. "Plumes of black smoke, it was kinda cool."

"Oh God." Zoë irrationally went to look out the front window. "It's got to be her. She should be here already." The Canadian panicked more as she looked at the clock on the mantle. "I have to go look for her." She stated to everyone and then moved to the door.

"Zoë, Zoë wait." Tara pushed up from her place.

"Hey sorry there Zoë, but no go." Piper moved swiftly to stand effectively barricading the door with her tall, strong frame.

"Beth is out there, get out of my way." Zoë looked at her standing about eye to eye with the tall Slayer and not showing that she felt one ounce of intimidation.

"Sit down Zoë." Piper's voice dropped a little as she pulled herself up to stand a tiny bit taller. "If Beth's out there or has anything to do with it, Buffy and Faith will find her."

"Get out of my way." Zoë stared back at her harder. "You're 'I'm a big Slayer stare' isn't going to work on me."

"Zoë, I get it okay, you're worried." Owl tried the calm approach. "I would be too in your shoes, but think about it. Buffy and Faith are out their looking for her and they are the two people I'd want out there fighting for anyone I loved."

"Owl, I said get out of my way." The Canadian's eyes narrowed and Owl flashed a quick look at Tara hating the idea that this might get physical. The last thing she wanted to have to do was risk-injuring Zoë if she got too forceful about leaving.

"No one is leaving." Owl underlined gently.

"You're wasting my time!" Zoë flashed her hand and before the Slayer or any of the witches could react, Owl felt a tight grip slide around her body constricting her tightly before she was pushed over out of the hallway and to the other end of the living room against the far wall. Not even watching what she had done the Canadian opened the door and ran out of it

"Fuck me." Piper cursed hard and struggled for a few seconds before she had full control over her gross motor functions. "I thought she was a crappy kinda witch?" She scowled at Tara and Willow as she scrambled towards the door and wrenched it open. By the time Piper managed that task, Zoë was in one of the cars near the front of the house and had peeled off showing that race car driving was another of her hidden talents as the vehicle turned the corner accelerating into the turn.

"Oh you can't leave." Anya piped up helpfully making Piper look back at her. "Faith and Buffy would be very pissed if you left and Bringers came and ate us."

"Bringers aren't cannibals, and I'm not going anywhere." Piper growled and slammed the door shut turning back to look at Willow and Tara. She blew up into her hair.

"Can she find her?" Willow looked at Tara.

"Could you find me?" Tara replied softly, not wanting to think too much about Zoë's display of magic.

"Yes." The redhead nodded.

"That's your answer." Tara nodded and urged Willow to come back to the couch with her.

Faith leveled the shotgun as they approached the street where the plume of smoke rose. It hadn't taken them long to track the location of the explosion and the fact that it was only ten blocks away made the dark Slayer very uneasy. In about the middle of the street there was a car wash and impeded into the side brick wall of the building was a car. The flames from the wreckage explaining the continuing plume of smoke they were following.

"Don't look good." She moved closer to the flame-engulfed car trying to look inside but not able to see anything through the burnt window. "Out of town plates." She pointed to the back.

"Tell me I'm imagining that is a Bringers dagger." Buffy pointed with the axe head to a spot by the burning wreck where a glimmer of flame sparkled off metallic blade in the gutter.

"You're not." Faith shook her head. She moved as close as she could, straining to see inside. "Definitely someone in there, but they're dead." She relayed frowning at the burning outline slummed in the front seat. "Probably the impact." She looked to where the front of the car was crumpled violently.

"Trying to get away?" Buffy looked at the skid marks on the road. "Or did something force it into that wall?"

"Could be both." Faith shrugged. "Far as we know Bringers don't drive so I go with forced off while trying to bolt."

"Are you thinking who I'm thinking?" Buffy attempted to get closer to the burning shell but was forced back from the heat.

"Yeah, and I'm also thinking we should swing by the hospital and get some sedative." Faith was harshly honest. "Because Maple Leaf is going to go postal."

"And thus begins the huge guilt trip because I refused to let her and a group of us go get Bethany." Buffy shook her head.

"B, this is the exact reason we couldn't. She got ran off the road by Bringers, screams big honking set up." Faith tried to make her see the truth. "First must have sent a shit load of them to intercept her, probably expecting us to be here."

"She was an innocent Faith, from what I gather a pretty little English girl, without much of a clue about how big and bad the real world is." Buffy scowled slightly, not at Faith but at her own inner turmoil.

"I'm not saying I'm happy B, I'm fucking pissed off." Faith picked up the hot blade and threw it into the brush.

"We should get back to the house, there's nothing to see here." Buffy turned

"Yeah." Faith sighed swinging the gun over her shoulder.

"You gonna tell her or am I?" Buffy sighed as they began their retreat.

"I think we should get Tara to do it." Faith answered honestly. "They know each other more, she's going to need all the support she can get."

"Good point." Buffy nodded. "Then we keep her away from any and all black magic books and sharp objects, agreed?"

"Agreed." Faith sighed again. "Fuck every time we get a break it beats us down."

"In a funny way, this means were getting somewhere though, right?" Buffy's heart felt heavy as they walked on.

"And whatever Zoë was doing she must have been doing good or it wouldn't bother messing with her." Faith added.

"Exactly." Buffy nodded. "Its clever Faith." She frowned hard as she made the appraisal.

"Which means we got to patch Maple Leaf together and get her to finish. Tara said she was good with the spell work." Faith pushed on their out loud tactical thinking.

"Yeah, you're right." Buffy nodded. "God how mercenary are we sounding?" She glanced at Faith with troubled hazel eyes.

"Look B I know it's shit but I promise we'll find her the best crazy house if we have to when it's over, right now whatever it is she can do we need her to still do it." Faith was blunt. "Bottom line we don't beat this what she's lost won't matter."

"We're going to beat it." Buffy shook her head. "Come on lets go get the worse day of Zoë's life started, she deserves to know." She picked up their pace.

Piper dropped her ready stance when she saw the two Slayers coming up the front walk. Glancing at the clock she wasn't sure if them returning so quickly was a good sign or a bad one. She hung back as Faith pulled open the door and with Buffy slipped inside.

"You okay?" She asked instantly checking Buffy over quickly but obviously for any injuries.

"I'm not hurt." Buffy shook her head. "Where's Zoë?" She asked looking at the witches on the couch.

"Ah yeah well I was just about to do my I didn't do as good as you report." Piper frowned at her lover.

"We found Beth's car." Faith filled in plopping down on the sofa obviously upset.

"Oh Goddess no." Tara looked at her shaking her head as the reason for Faith's mood became clear.

"Looks like the Bringers forced her off the road into a wall." Faith looked down.

"The explosion was the car." Buffy clarified somewhat unnecessarily. "It drove into the side of Quickie Car Wash at a high speed."

"And she didn't..." Tara felt herself go pale.

"It's still on fire, when it stops we can try to get her out and well bury her." Faith offered and leaned back defeated.

"Oh Goddess." Tara pushed off the couch and started to pace the room as her own emotions struggled to stay in check. Willow went very pale as she sat there in disbelief.

"You guys are sure right?" Piper checked needing to know that there was no other option.

"Out of town plates, Bringers knife nearby, burning body in the car." Faith nodded. "As sure as we can be."

"Zoë will be back soon, we need to..." Piper stopped and frowned, accepting now the reality of what they needed to deal with. "Wait didn't you see her?" She asked confused. If Beth had been in the car, then that is directly where Zoë would have headed according to the witches.

"What do you mean Zoë will be back soon? Where the fuck did she go to?" Faith stood up angrily.

"See prior reference to me not going as well as you guys." Owl pointed out. "She left, to find Beth is it?" She looked to see Tara nod she'd gotten the girl's name right.

"It's not Owl's fault, she used magic." Anya pointed out.

"Magic?" Buffy stared at Willow.

"She..." Willow made some motions with her hands. "She moved Piper out of her way, it was all too fast for her to do anything to stop Zoë. We didn't know what she was doing 'till she was in the jeep and gone."

"Great!" Buffy hissed quietly.

"I'm sorry Buffy." Owl apologized quickly.

"We need to get to her, the Bringers are going to be out there waiting for her." Faith moved back to the door.

"Right." Buffy clapped her hands together.

"I want to go, she left on my watch." Piper pointed out.

"I should go too." Tara broke from her pacing.

"No." Willow stood up objecting immediately.

"Look just I'll go, I can take the bike." Piper offered trying to stop all the confusion.

"Buffy, you stay here keep the witches in place. Birdy and I will go." Faith outlined a plan.

"Go, go where?" The front door slid slowly open as Zoë stepped into the house asking the question immediately.

"Zoë." Buffy breathed out seeing her.

"Zoë." Tara said softly moving across the room towards her.

"Everyone this is Beth." Zoë pulled back a bit to reveal a small petite blonde woman hovering in the door. The view of Beth made everyone including Tara stop in place. "Bethany Wallace." She elaborated guiding her inside before turning back to pick up the luggage.

"Bethany but..." Tara frowned in confusion for just a second before hurrying forward lightly taking the smaller woman's hand. "I'm Tara." She smiled as sweetly as she could manage.

"I… I've heard about you." The soft-spoken English accent just barely breathed out from soft bow lips.

"Yeah this is Tara." Zoë smiled. "That's her fiancée Willow and Buffy Summer, Faith, Piper but well everyone calls her Owl, Anya." She went around the room.

"I'm afraid I won't remember any of your names until I've hear them a few more times." The small woman said apologetically.

"That's okay, there's so many of us." Willow assured her instantly.

"Do you... do you all live here?" Beth looked around a little bemused.

"I have a lot to explain." Zoë admitted. "Why don't I show you my room and you can get settled?" She smiled hoping everyone would stay quiet for a moment.

"Oh, yes okay." Beth nodded. "It was nice, meeting you all and everything." She smiled at the group.

"Is everything okay?" Zoë made the quick check when everyone just stared at her.

"Everything's fine Maple Leaf." Faith nodded breaking the stale air. "Go get her settled in."

Zoë nodded and picked up the suitcase leading Beth back outside.

"I'm learning more and more not to underestimate the power of those with the mojo." Owl admitted showing her shock as she put her arm around Buffy.

"Everyone seemed very…" Beth paused quietly as Zoë opened the door to the other house for them and led her inside. "Serious."

"I have a lot to tell you." Zoë admitted again leading the blonde up to where she was bunking. "But it's sorta going to make us all sound insane so I think maybe we need to get you settled and rested okay?"

"Whatever you say." Beth nodded standing in the door way to Zoë's room, looking tiny. She'd dropped at least twenty pounds since the Canadian spellcaster had last seen her and her long blonde hair had been cut short into her neck and around her ears.

"Do you want anything?" Zoë asked quietly moving to bring her suitcase and other bag in and closed the door behind them.

"To rest, you know how traveling disagrees with me." Beth pulled the three quarter length black leather jacket she wore closer around her.

"I could get you some tea and a heat pack." Zoë moved over and encouraged her to give up the jacket before she guided her towards the bed. Beth shrugged off the over sized coat to reveal a soft brown peasant top underneath to go with the soft brown suede pants "So tea?" Zoë checked before she guided her over pulling down the top blanket so that she could crawl inside and get warm.

"I don't want to cause a problem, be a pain, you know?" The English girl frowned.

"Beth, you're not. You're exhausted, let me take care of you." The Canadian offered softly.

"Thank you." Beth replied in a whisper as she pushed off small flat shoes and slipped between the sheets.

"It's going to be okay now." Zoë tucked her in and rubbed her hand over her ex's. "I promise."

Tara delicately knocked on the door not wanting to awake the person possibly sleeping behind it as she balanced the lunch tray in front of her. Zoë had said she'd already tried to bring up lunch, but there was just something inside Tara's breeding that made her have to try again before everything was packed away after the mini slayers had filled up for a few hours.

"Hello?" The soft English voice called from behind the door.

"Hello Beth, it's Tara. I was hoping to persuade you with some lunch." Tara offered trying to sound friendly.

"Actually I'm not hungry, but thank you." Beth pulled open the door and stood leaning on it as she looked out to the taller blonde.

"I could leave this up here for you, in case you want to nibble at it. With everyone running around it might make give you a better chance to settle in." Tara tried again seeing how thin the English girl was, much thinner than any of the pictures Zoë had shown her.

"I wouldn't want to spoil good food, I would imagine that with all these people here you have a tough time keeping them all fed." Beth smiled a little.

"No, Faith went on a big grocery run, we're fully stocked." Tara assured her.

"I don't mean to sound ungrateful or anything, but why is Zoë here? Why are any of you here, when quite frankly it seems that no one else is?" Beth moved a few things so that Tara could put the tray down.

"Zoë hasn't explained that?" Tara tried to keep her smile.

"Zoë's not really spoken to me, just offered me drinks and snacks." The small blonde sighed.

"Oh." Tara turned to see the fallen look. She watched for a minute observing the woman's slumped shoulders and distant eyes. "I think she's just a little overwhelmed to actually have you here. She's missed you... a lot." She added softly.

"I missed her too." Beth put her hands together softly and wandered across the bedroom to the window, looking out of it frowning gently at the sight of Faith working with a small group of girls on the back lawn. "But I knew she'd never go if I was still with her."

"Never go?" Tara brain perked up at the wording.

"Her mother wanted her to travel, especially to this center in Italy, but we were happy, she wasn't ever going to even think of leaving me to pursue some crazy traveling notion." Beth sunk down on a small chair by the window.

"Did she tell you what the center was for?" The blonde witch sat on the edge of the bed on the far end.

"No, Zee used to just say it was something she didn't need, that it wasn't a part of her she needed to focus on." Beth shook her head again. "Her mother said it wasn't something she could ignore."

"I know what it's like to let someone you love go to try and help them." Tara nodded softly.

"Oh I didn't mean to make me sound all selfless, I wasn't, I did leave Zoë to go with Holly on her filming tour, but... it wasn't what Zoë thought, not initially." Beth frowned.

"I'm sorry about Holly." Tara admitted trying to be sensitive.

"So am I." Beth's head dropped lower and her eyes filled with tears. Tara felt an uncomfortable silence fill the air for a long few moments. "How is Zoë?" Beth asked quietly, breaking the stillness.

"She's..." Tara looked up trying to weigh her words. "Doing her best."

"I hurt her terribly didn't I?" Beth sighed despondently.

"She loves you, I think you above anyone know what that means for Zoë." Tara didn't agree or disagree.

"But she went to Italy didn't she, it's where you two met?" The smaller woman looked at Tara.

"Yes, she was there until about two weeks ago." Tara nodded.

"And how did she do?" Beth asked sitting up a little.

"She did well, very well. She has amazing potential." The blonde witch admitted easily. "She just has trouble focusing on it, but even that she's been improving."

"So she's good at whatever this is?" Beth shifted around more to look at Tara. "I mean I don't really know what it is, I was thinking maybe art or something, being Italy and all."

"You never asked her about it?" Tara sidestepped answering.

"Oh no I did." Bethany shook her head. "But she used to tell me it was 'silly' and childish."

"You should ask her about it, I'm sure she wouldn't say the same thing anymore." Tara admitted.

"I would if she was talking to me." Beth laughed sadly.

"She's a little overwhelmed having you here, worried that you don't love her anymore." Tara questioned wanting to know where things stood.

"Oh." Beth turned away again frowning.

"I'm sorry Beth, this probably really isn't any of my business." Tara shook her head and stood up. "It's just with everything going on, you don't want to waste time waiting for her to come to you."

"What is going on?" Beth turned and looked up at her.

"I'll tell Zoë to come up and explain it to you, it's really something she should tell you." Tara nodded as she moved and pulled the door closed behind her.

Walking quickly and quietly down the stairs, Tara slipped into the almost empty dining room in the larger house. It was empty aside from Zoë who was sat at the end of the table, her feet up on the large oval table.

"Hey there." She said softly.

"Hi." Zoë looked up from the spell book.

"Making any headway?" Tara strolled over and pulled a chair out, resting on it.

"Some, as soon as I find something then I find a kink to work out. But I'm getting there." Zoë admitted as she tucked a pencil behind her ear.

"No one said you had to work on it on your own, I mean I am sure Willow or I can help out." Tara pointed out. "Unless it's proving to be a useful distraction." She added softly looking up.

"You know me I keep most of the links up here." Zoë tapped her head then looked into blue eyes. "Why would I need a distraction?"

"Because of a tiny English girl." Tara glanced briefly to the stairs.

"I could lie and say no but yes a little." Zoë sighed and closed the book. "I just... I don't know where to start, what to say, I don't know anything."

"I didn't know she didn't know." Tara reached out a finger and drew small circles over the thickly dusted cover of one of the books on the table.

"Well how do you tell someone you're a witch?" Zoë laughed sadly.

"You just said it to me." Tara pointed out.

"Tara, you're one too." She explained.

"Yes I am, but Beth doesn't exactly seem the type to order a bonfire or put you on a ducking stool." The blonde smiled.

"No, but it's not just that anymore. There are the slayers, the potentials, the Hellmouth, the fact we're facing the first evil." Zoë shook her head.

"So what are you going to tell her?" Tara asked, not in challenge just softly, concerned.

"I have no friggin clue." Zoë chuckled putting the book down.

"How does it feel, having her here?" Tara leaned back in her chair lightly.

"I don't know, it feels good to be close to her but I don't know. It's not the same as it was before. She's not mine anymore." The Canadian sighed heavily.

"Then why is she here?" Tara questioned gently.

"To protect her, Tara I told you what the First said." Zoë looked at her friend. "I couldn't just leave her out there to die."

"I know why you want her here, but why is she here, she didn't have to come." Tara pointed out.

"I want her here because I love her, you know this." Zoë pushed up picking up the book again absently.

"You're not listening Zoë." Tara shook her head. "I know you love her, I know you want her where you can keep her safe, I asked why you think she came? She's a full grown independent woman Zoë, why did she pack up her things jump on a plane, rent a car and drive here just because you said so?"

"Because..." Zoë tried to answer but couldn't come up with one. "I don't know."

"Don't you think you should ask her?" Tara offered softly.

"Maybe because I'm afraid of what she's going to say?" Zoë admitted.

"She doesn't look too frightening to me." The blonde witch smiled.

"I'm not afraid of her." Zoë laughed lightly. "Tara, what do you think she's going to say when I go on about all of this? She's probably going to think I'm fit for the mental."

"I don't know." Tara admitted. "But I do know she needs someone, you, to talk to."

"Okay." Zoë sighed. "There was one thing I did need help with. The spell keeps referencing something." She opened the book and pointed out the section. "I keep wondering if there is something in M's book to explain."

"Well why don't I go back to the main house and start some searching with Willow?" Tara offered. "I could take everything you have so far." She offered to relieve the Canadian of her workload.

"No, no, I have something I want to try with the other stuff. It's just that sidebar that is muddling my thinking. If you and Willow are looking after it I can concentrate on the main. Like a puzzle." Zoë smiled at her.

"And Beth?" Tara jotted down the needed reference on a piece of paper from Zoë's notebook.

"I'll go talk to her." Zoë nodded picking up her book when Tara was done and moving towards the stairs.

"Zoë." Tara called softly to her.

"Yeah?" She looked back.

"She seems lovely." The blonde smiled.

"She's thin, but still stunning." Zoë smiled happily.

"I'll keep the house people free for you." Tara nodded softly.

"Thanks." Zoë took in a deep breath and then started up the stairs.

Part 18

"Bethie?" She pushed the door open a little.

"Smelled the ham and cheese sandwiches did you?" Beth smiled from her place sat at the window.

"I did." Zoë smiled as she moved in and closed the door. "You haven't eaten anything." She looked at the tray. "I'm surprised Tara couldn't even tempt you."

"She left it here, I think she thinks I'll crack." Beth smiled softly. "She's very sweet." She added turning again to look out of the window.

"Beth..." Zoë sat down on the bed near her. "I have to talk to you, and I swear when I do I'm going to sound insane but it's all true."

"You insane, never." Beth chuckled lightly as a thousand memories of crazy things the Canadian had done all flashed into her mind, quickly followed by memories of her calling Zoë crazy or insane every single time.

"Usually." Zoë smiled at the relaxed laugh. "This is the reason I had to go to Italy." She held out the spell book.

Frowning slightly Beth leaned forward and took the book. In silence she looked at it, flipped it open and then closed it.

"Old books?" She looked confused.

"No baby, read." Zoë opened the front again to the first page which was gold leaf inscribed with 'Boreham Almanac of Spells'.

"It's a spell book." Beth frowned more. "Magic?" She looked at Zoë.

"Magic." Zoë nodded. "Mom wanted me to go to see a coven in Italy to help me with my magicks." She could hardly believe she had said the words.

"I'm guessing we not talking Paul McKenna here." Beth shook her head slowly.

"Paul McKenna?" Zoë raised an eyebrow.

"I knew I'd get his name wrong, that guy who stands on top of hundred feet tall pillars, and buries himself in ice." She tried to explain her example.

"Oh, no he's a magician. He does tricks baby, misdirection. I'm a witch." Zoë smiled. "I sorta do stuff like..." She looked at the side try and with a little effort made the fork lift up and float over. "For a start."

"Woo back up." Beth pushed up from her chair. "Put that down!" She squeaked looking at the object and Zoë reached out and pulled it out of the air. "You're a witch." Beth repeated what sounded like completely unbelievable words.

"I'm a witch." Zoë nodded. "Mom was a witch, Nanny was a witch. I come from a long line of witches."

"Are we talking devil worship kind of thing here?" Beth frowned again.

"Devil, no!" Zoë shook her head. "It's just a harnessing of the natural energy around you in the world."

"I… I can't believe you didn't tell me." Beth stammered slightly.

"I never took it seriously 'till I went to Italy." Zoë tried to explain.

"Until I left you?" Beth frowned.

"Well... yes." She nodded.

"Your time in Italy, was good?" Beth checked.

"Bethany, what do you want me to say? Yes it was, I loved Italy had a blast. Or no, no matter how good it was it sucked without you but I can't be a sad loser who holds out forever pining for you to love me like some stalker.' Zoë looked down.

"The truth would be nice." Beth looked down as well.

"Italy was beautiful, wonderful and I spend the whole time wishing you were there with me so it sucked." Zoë summed up.

"And you trained in your... wait... is Tara a witch too?" Beth blinked.

"Her and Willow." Zoë nodded.

"So this place, it's what, a witch's college? I thought that kind of thing was only in Harry Potter." Beth frowned more.

"No, it was a coven. A very special coven where they do instruction, nothing like Harry potter." Zoë shook her head firmly.

"So why aren't you there any more?" Beth tried to process what Zoë was saying.

"Because... well... because there is an evil entity called the First trying to destroy the world." Zoë startled to ramble. "Buffy and Faith and Owl are special women, called slayers who are prophesized to kill vampires and save the world. I had to come to deliver Tara and Willow a book and now I'm helping kill it."

"Stop, stop, stop." Beth pushed up. "I need to get out of here." She picked up her small purse.

"Beth, you can't." Zoë moved to stop her. "There are demons called Bringers outside the perimeter of the house, they'll kill you."

"Zoë, stop, listen to yourself, you're talking about witchcraft and demons and evil that is going to end the world." Beth shook her head.

"Yes, and its all real Beth." Zoë nodded. "How do you think I knew Holly was dead?" She pointed out suddenly. "How did I know where you were when I called?"

"The papers." Beth replied hesitantly. "It was in the papers. It's how I heard." She kept frowning as she looked at her ex.

"The papers..." Zoë stopped and then looked at her. "You... you weren't with her when it happened?"

"No, I didn't love Holly." Beth took a breath her head shaking again as she sat down and sighed. "And I couldn't stand by and watch the roller coaster to Hell she was riding."

"You didn't love Holly?" The Canadian's face showed her confusion. "But you went..." She didn't finish.

"I went because she asked me to. I talked to your mother for a long time before agreeing Zee." Beth frowned even more.

"And Mom said what?" Zoë looked horrified as she stood up. "That you should leave me for Holly?"

"I didn't leave you for Holly." Beth pushed up again and moved to the window.

"Okay maybe I'm being thick here but when you said 'Zoë it's over I'm going to New York with Holly', I was supposed to take that how exactly?" Zoë followed her.

"You were supposed to take it like you did I suppose." Beth frowned even harder. "That I was going away, but that I wouldn't be alone. The last thing I told you was that I loved you." The young English woman looked out of the window leaning forward to rest her head on the glass.

"Baby I never though you didn't love me but you leaving to go with Holly gave me the distinct impression you weren't 'IN' love with me anymore." Zoë clarified. "And then when Holly came over and told me that you didn't want me at the airport, you wanted just to have a clean break and not have a scene well that just sealed it you know?"

"I'm sorry." Beth whispered. "But you would never have gone to Italy if I had stayed and you needed to go."

"I needed to become a part of a world that you now think I'm crazy because of?"

Zoë shook her head. "Look Bethany I know this sounds insane I really do but even if it does, the threat is real. I brought you here because it threatened you and I couldn't let it hurt you, ever, no matter how or what you felt about me."

"I didn't know what this 'world' was." Beth turned almost scowling. "But yes, your mother was..." She stopped. "Threatened me?" The words made her train of thought change again.

"It can take the form of dead people, it came as Holly and said it was going to kill you." Zoë looked up her eyes honest and serious.

"So it's like a ghost?" Beth tried to assess.

"It's an entity without form. That's why we haven't beat it yet, I'm trying to figure out a spell to give it form so the slayers can kill it." Zoë nodded that Beth was thinking the right things.

"The Slayers." Beth nodded slowly. "She's one of the slayers." She pointed out of the window to Faith who was now wielding a long sword.

"Yes." Zoë looked out briefly.

"And she plays with a sword?" Beth took a breath as she felt her legs go a little shaky.

"No, she fights and kills evil things with it." Zoë corrected.

"Are these people keeping you here, is this some kind of cult or sect? I can help you Zoë if it is." Beth turned and crossed quickly over to the other woman.

"No, no baby. It's not like that." Zoë shook her head. "It's real."

"No, this kind of thing, this isn't real..." Beth reached out and put her hand over Zoë's. "Let me help you." She looked up into her ex lover's eyes. "I can make this better."

"Beth, it is real." Zoë held onto Beth's hand.

"But how?" The small English woman asked the limits of her imagination pushed and broken.

"Because evil has always existed." Zoë held them tighter. "And someone has had to fight it while everyone else is oblivious."

"And you're what? Going to fight it? With them?" Beth felt her hands shake.

"I have to help." Zoë nodded solemnly.

"By what floating a fork?" Beth felt herself shake more. "Baby you can't fight like this."

"I'm helping with the spell, you know how good I am at research." Zoë shrugged as Beth pulled her hand away. She stepped back she wrapped her arm around her waist and pushed the other one up through her hair. "Beth, how can I make this easier?" Zoë questioned softly.

"I... I don't know." Beth shook her head.

"Do you want some time to think? Would it help if someone else told you about it?" Zoë questioned anxiously.

"I doubt it." Beth was honest. "It's... it's a lot to take in."

"I know, I'm sorry but I had to get you here where I can keep you safe." Zoë whispered.

"I..." Beth stopped. "Thank you." She tried a smile but it came out more than wobbly move of her lower lip.

"Nothing to say sorry for baby, you know I couldn't do anything but." Zoë underlined softly.

"No I didn't, I broke your heart, hardly inspires loyalty does it." The blonde pointed out sadly.

"It doesn't matter, I still wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you."

Zoë shook her head reaching out for her hand again.

"I didn't leave because I wasn't in love with you anymore Zee." Beth whispered looking up at her.

"Good, because I never stopped loving you." Zoë held light brown eyes.

"I'm sure you did." Beth frowned.

"No, I only went to Italy because everywhere at home reminded me of you."

Zoë smiled softly. "And since I didn't have you, I just flew off to wherever."

"Tara's nice." Beth said softly blinking at the other woman.

"She is, we talked a lot. She'd had a bad break up with Willow but they're back together now." Zoë filled in holding her gaze.

"That's nice, that they're back together." Beth nodded, her eyes tracking ever centimeter of the Canadian's face.

"I miss you." She breathed out barely audible.

"Don't!" Raising a shaking finger Beth rested it on Zoë's lips. "Don't say it."

"Why?" Zoë questioned feeling the light pressure on her lips.

"Because, this situation doesn't seem like it needs to be made harder." Beth didn't move her finger.

"I understand." Zoë stayed there for a second then she turned her head. "I'll let you rest." She moved to stand up.

"Do you?" Beth let her move her hand moving to rest on her cheek.

"You don't want me to tell you I love you because you either a) think I'm crazy or b) believe me and figure this is not the time to have to tell me you don't want me." Zoë summed up closing her eyes and resting against the small hand.

"No, I don't want you to tell me you love me, because if you do, I won't be able to stop myself saying it back." Beth moved her thumb back and forth lightly.

"I know you do, but it's not the same is it?" Zoë didn't open her eyes as the tiny motion soothed her.

"Not the same?" Beth whispered.

"You're not in love with me anymore." Zoë finally opened her eyes.

"I've never not been in love with you Zee." Beth shook her head.

"I don't understand." The Canadian opened her eyes.

"Think about it Zee, we had everything, we were settled and comfortable, and God, we were barely past twenty. There was so much both of us still had to do, but that I knew we would never do together. You would never have gone to Italy, I would never had had that wild ride that some dark part of me seemed to want." Bethany explained. "I know now it sounds stupid, but I felt there was something I could never give you. A part of your life I could never reach. Now I find out its this." She looked around. "Magic."

"I didn't need it when I had you." Zoë nodded that she agreed.

"You did." Beth objected.

"I didn't, I still don't. I'm not that good at it Beth." Zoë shook her head.

"Then why are you here?"

"Because I had to help when I knew they needed it." Zoë gave her a crooked smile. "You know what a sucker I am."

"In other words you volunteered?" She raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you?"

"My mentor in Italy had a book that they needed here in order to help them fight, she couldn't trust it to be shipped so yeah I volunteered." Zoë gave her a crocked smile.

"When will you ever learn?" Bethany shook her head softly.

"Probably never." Zoë continued to smile. "It was like when I went after the shy well breed British exchange student when no one said I had a chance."

"You got me." Bethany chuckled softly.

"I know this is unfair but I want to kiss you." Zoë whispered.

"I know it's not fair but I want you too as well." Beth admitted as they looked at each other in anticipation.

"Can I?" Zoë pressed up a bit closer as she questioned.

"Yes." Beth swallowed, closing her eyes in anticipation.

Zoë licked her lips before she moved forward and pressed them over Beth's. A soft groan escaped from the back of the smaller woman's throat as she felt her body bend towards and against the tall Canadian. Zoë's arms reached around her instantly to steady her, as they pressed closer.

"I miss you." Beth pulled back breathing lightly.

"I miss you too." Zoë's eyes tracked over her face quickly.

"I'm glad you found something." The smaller woman stroked her hand over Zoë's shoulder.

"I didn't so much find it as figure out what had been inside me all this time." Zoë admitted. "Though I'm not very good with it."

"Possibly because you've spent twenty years ignoring it." Bethany suggested innocently.

"Could be." The Canadian laughed lightly. "But I know now it's the right thing, something I need like you said but I need you too."

"Still?" Beth sighed softly.

"Never stopped." Zoë shook her head.

"Holly and I… we never..." Beth glanced over her shoulder at the bed before looking at Zoë again. "I've never been anyone but yours." She pointed out wanting Zoë to be very clear about this.

"You didn't even kiss her?" Zoë questioned softly.

"Never on the lips." Beth clarified.

"I have to tell you when I was in Italy, Tara and I kissed once... briefly... but it just made me know you were the only one." Zoë whispered as she made the admission.

"It's fine." Beth raise her finger to Zoë's lips again. "You thought I'd left you, that I didn't love you, there is nothing you 'have' to tell me about the time were spent apart." She clarified softly.

"All of it I spent pining horribly over you." Zoë admitted leaning to kiss her again.

"Remind me again that this is all real?" Beth requested keeping their lips apart.

"This is real." Zoë nodded her voice honest.

"All of it?" Beth stressed.

"All of this." She nodded. "Even what I told you."

"So what happens now?" Beth blinked trying to get some idea of the future.

"With the First or between us?" Zoë asked for clarification.

"With either, both." She gave the honest reply though if she was honest she was more concerned about what Zoë wanted for them in the future. That was something tangible she could focus on and understand.

"The First, I need to figure out the spell to give it a body so that it can be killed." Zoë gave the easy answer. "Us... I want you Bethany." She whispered in a low voice.

"So you can forgive me?" Beth checked hardly able to believe the words were true.

"Already done." Zoë smiled at her.

"God, I just want to hold you." Beth stepped forward and nestled against Zoë's body. "The last three weeks have been hell."

"I can't imagine." Zoë snuggled her close.

"It's best if you don't even try." Bethany confirmed breathing in the clean lightly fragrant smell of whatever shampoo the tall Canadian was using. It was a familiar thing as she'd never associated a perfume or any other artificial scent with Zoë and an arousing one as breathed in the more natural scent that was just her tall ex.

"If you need to talk about it..." The witch encouraged.

"I'm not thinking talk right now." Beth admitted.

"Me either to be honest." Zoë leaned to kiss her again and Bethany pushed up to meet the kiss.

"Knock, knock." Sandra reluctantly opened the door when her initial knock hadn't been responded too. Bethany jumped back out of Zoë's arms, but the Canadian who was just as startled stepped to protect her. "Oh sorry." Sandra apologized. "I'm rounding up people for meeting and food, attendance is compulsory." She added. "You both need food and relaxation. So please."

Moving on automatic both young women shuffled off after her but not until Zoë had slipped her hands in Beth's.

"So come on Giles, what's the news?" Buffy leaned on a chair back and looked at her Watcher who was browsing through pages of hand written notes that the Canadian had handed over during dinner before slipping off back to the big house with Bethany.

"She's done some good work." Giles nodded and looked up form the paperwork. "I think she's created a viable spell, what we need to do is check and double check the full details of the original version of the spells she has modified. Without a clear picture we could have a little bit of a problem."

"What problem?" Buffy questioned immediately.

"Well to put it simply it won't work." Giles replied with a shrug.

"Wait, so our great spell is useless?' The Slayer scowled.

"Buffy do you actually listen to anything I say?" Giles scowled back. "The only complication when creating a spell is that you have to research all the backgrounds spells completely, to make sure there are no contradictions."

"How do you test destroying the one true evil?" The Slayer didn't rise to his scowl back.

"Exactly we can't test this particular spell, so research is the key." The Watcher sighed. "Honestly Buffy I said we're doing well, we need you to be as optimistic as I am."

"Did she come up with any?" Buffy kept asking questions.

"Contradictions?" Giles checked.

"Yes, I'm trying to be optimistic. Tell me she's already worked out some of them."

Buffy gave him a plastic smile.

"Buffy it's not that simple, it's the kind of checking it would take me days to complete." Giles frowned.

"Okay so she's working on it yeah?" Buffy looked for something remotely optimistic.

"Hang tight and give the girl room is what you're saying?" Faith filled in from the end of the table as she shined her boots.

"Well I think that Sandra and I will be taking over from here on in, as she might have other things she needs to concentrate on." Giles coughed slightly.

"But Giles do you think you can do this better than she can? Or is she our best bet." The blonde Slayer questioned him harshly.

"She's done the hard work, our job is to make sure the hard work pays off." Sandra offered.

"When do we get to kill it?" Faith questioned leaning back again.

"When we check and double check the spell, the spell conditions, and of course get the ingredients together." Sandra looked up at her.

"Yep B, hurry up and wait." Faith put her arms behind her head looking like she was going to have a nap.

"You'd rather rush in and try something and it not work?" Giles arched an eyebrow.

"No, we got one shot at this." Buffy shook her head. "We're just not great at waiting but we'll wait."

"I am sure you can keep yourselves busy." Giles frowned briefly as he looked at the book from Italy. Sandra watched him frown and leaned closer.

"What is it?" She questioned seeing the Slayer's brief attention was already distracted.

"I'm not sure." Giles frowned and picked up a dictionary beside him. Sandra continued to look over his shoulder at the page. "Il tre possono sconfiggere l'un, ha amato con l'un ha fatto tre dal due." He tapped the passage he was looking at.

"Are you taking the literal translation?" Sandra stared concerned now with him.

"Well that's the problem, literally it means, 'The Three can defeat the One, armed with the One made Three by the Two'." Giles frowned. "Which rather sounds like something Willow would come out with during one of her babble fests."

"I know, which would suggest that we are missing something as we have no two making a one into three." Sandra frowned with him.

"You do know you two are sounding like a bad TV comedy right now don't you?" Buffy pointed out.

"Perhaps it would be best if we do get Zoë's input on this, to see if it is a relevant reference to the partials she has been combining." Sandra relented softly.

"That's probably the best way forward." Giles nodded, and glanced at his watch. "What are you girls doing with the evening?" He asked Faith and Buffy.

"Dividing lots for patrol." Faith smiled at him. "You want me to go grab the Maple Leaf and let her know you need all witches in the pow wow?"

"No, we'll work on it more and tomorrow morning we'll keep her back after the meeting." Giles shook his head to Faith's offer.

"We should go get your Birdy B and decide which of us are going out." Faith stood up.

"Work hard." Buffy got up and looked at Giles.

"Thank you Buffy we will." The Watcher arched his eyebrow.

"Oh and Giles." Faith paused in the doorway. "Tone down the aftershave, who are you impressing anyway?" She winked at the two of them.

"I'm sorry Rupert, but I like her." Sandra laughed softly as Giles looked down blushing as the two slayers left.

"You haven't had nearly enough exposure to her." Giles huffed straightening his waistcoat.

Patrol for Faith's group had brought them two dead vamps and a demon that had apparently just come out of hibernation to find that the city was empty and its number was up. Of course now that she was faced with the aftermath of some good hard slaying, Faith was reconsidering her anxiousness to get out there to patrol at all.

"Not sleepy little D?" Faith looked up as Dawn wandered into the living room where the dark Slayer was watching bad television.

"Amanda's snoring." Dawn flopped down on the couch. "Why are you not tucked up asleep?" She added looking up at the Slayer.

"Well you know, did patrol, killed a couple of bad things and got that rush going on." Faith shrugged. "I think I'm gonna let Buffy or Owl take patrols from now on, because at least they got each other to wind down with." She sighed and flicked the TV station a few times.

"I'm not tired, we could play cards or something." Dawn offered trying not to think of her sister winding down with anyone.

"You're cute you know that right?" Faith smiled warmly.

"I try." Dawn smiled back. "We could steal Andrew's play station and play that game with the vampire woman you like. You can even put her on jiggly boob mode." She blushed and laughed.

"Okay you know you have been watching me way too much Dawnster." Faith chuckled more. "So you like the jiggly boobs too eh?" She winked.

"Well you know, I have to have someone to crush on." Dawn grinned cheekily.

"So you chose an animated vamp girl with jiggly boobs, you know you're kinda sounding like Andrew there." Faith laughed more.

"No, you silly." The teenager rolled her eyes. "Though your appeal is dropping dense girl."

The comment made Faith laugh more as she looked at Dawn. She smiled at the long silk pants and strap top that the youngest Summers was wearing.

"You know if I was younger and a better person, I'd jump on you and kiss you right now." Faith winked at her.

"Good. But you're old so lets play a game." Dawn smiled finally getting what Faith had been trying to say to her the other night when she'd rather embarrassingly thrown herself at her. There was no reason to rush things; no reason to think it was all about sex. She actually wished it were something she could tell Buffy and the others to make them see how much the dark Slayer had changed.

"Any good at poker?" Faith asked quickly.

"Buffy won't let me play, but Clem showed me." She grinned. "We could play for cookies."

"Well I'm not going to get you to change it for smokes am I?" Faith nodded to Dawn to get the cards.

"What would I want with cigarettes?" Dawn made a face. "That stuff is gross, it gives you wrinkles."

"Wrinkles?" Faith laughed more. "And what science is that?"

"Science of 'Clinique skin care', the lady at the mall told me." Dawn said officially as she went over to the drawer and pulled the cards out moving back to the couch.

"Well I'm not seeing any wrinkles, so maybe slayers are immune." Faith turned and put her feet on the couch. "So cookies?" She looked unconvinced.

"Or we could just keep score I guess." Dawn shrugged. "Or we could play for smokes but you'd be getting them all in the end."

"Nah come on live dangerously." Faith grinned. "We have to play for something we both want and if cookies are the best I'm going to get."

Dawn laughed at her and moved quickly into the kitchen getting a big bag of Oreos and a half bag of chocolate chip cookies, she grabbed some vanilla wafers as well.

"Okay Oreos are highest, then chocolate chip then wafers." Dawn explained plunking them down.

"You know if this ever gets out that this is how Faith the vampire slayer deals with HH syndrome my reputation's done." She stole a vanilla wafer and ate it.

"Hey you're in debt to the house already." Dawn pointed a finger at her.

"What?" Faith frowned. "No fair I was hungry." She grabbed another and put it in her mouth sideways grinning around it.

"I'm so going to win, your first H is going to do you in." The teenager took her half of the total plus two wafers extra. "You can deal."

"Nah this is just my way of making the game even." Faith winked and took an Oreo from the bag munching it.

"Out of your stash missy." Dawn stole one and added it to hers. She picked up the cards that Faith dealt her. "So what was it like?"

"Creamy, not crunchy and so chocolaty." Faith organized her cards.

"I know what an Oreo is like, I meant prison." Dawn laughed moving her cards around studying them.

"Parts of it make Sunnydale look like a pleasure beach." Faith leaned back.

"Did they have a hole that they put people in like the movies?" Dawn put down four cards to the discard.

"Dawn it was the big house, not some bad b movie." Faith arched her eyebrow. "Why are we talking about this? It's a bad place Dawn, so keep smart and stay out of them."

"Just wondering." Dawn shrugged. "Mostly because if I ask you'll tell me." She added picking up the new cards that Faith dealt her.

"It's bad Dawn, you're either locked up or being watched 24/7." Faith took a breath. "Though it helps you think a bit, about what you've done, what you might do in the future."

"Two Oreos." Dawn put down the cookies into the pot. "So when did you know you liked girls?" She tried to look nonchalant as she asked.

"I'll see your two Oreos and raise you a cookie." Faith sectioned off the relevant treats. "Since I was younger than you, and its not so much liking girls, it's loving the lovin."

"You love to have sex you mean?" Dawn contemplated her cards then added another cookie and a wafer.

"Yes something like that, the fire that races though you, the way everything feels bigger, more real, alive and electric." Faith gave a shiver trying to focus on the game.

"Do you think that we can really beat it?" Dawn looked up at her changing topics quickly again.

"Yes." Faith nodded quickly. "We can do it little D."

"Two more Oreos and I call." Dawn laid down her cards. "Four queens."

"Beats me." Faith laid her cards down too. "You've got a good poker face." The dark Slayer collected the cards and shuffled them. "Why the questions?" She looked into brown eyes.

"The world is ending." The teenager pointed out sadly. "Must be Tuesday." She sighed.

"Wanna go for a ride?" Faith put the cards down.

"Where?" Dawn's eyes lit up.

"Anywhere, I think we need to be reminded of what we're trying to save don't you, just a quick run out to somewhere pretty how about it?" Faith offered.

"Sure." Dawn ate a cookie and pushed up. "We're taking the jeep?"

"We'll take the vehicle of your choice." Faith pushed up to.

"Can we take the Harley?" The brunette asked excited by the idea.

"Sure as long as you promise to hang on tight. Owl and I fixed her up, she's running okay and I think that means Birdy owes me one right?" Faith nodded.

"Definitely. I've never been on a Harley, Spike had a crappy dirt bike but whatever." Dawn moved over to grab her coat.

"You need to cover those up." Faith pointed to Dawn's bare legs from the bottom of her shorts down.

"I'll throw on some jeans." Dawn ran upstairs almost toppling down them when she came back down still trying to do them up. Faith laughed softly at her attempt to get changed as soon as possible.

"Easy Dawn, I'm not about to retract the offer." Faith assured her as she pulled on her jacket.

"I know. I just can't wait to get outside the perimeter. Do you think the slushy machine will still work at the 7/11?" She finished with her belt.

"Maybe, let's find out shall we." Faith opened the door. "Come on baby." She chuckled and winked back making Dawn giggle as she grabbed the spare helmet off the rack and moved after her.

Faith got up and shook melting ice off her collar grimacing at the sticky blue raspberry syrup that dribbled from the obviously broken slushy machine down onto the floor.

"Okay so I can't mend slushy machines." She frowned and looked back at Dawn. "Sorry."

"You tried." Dawn looked down from the counter banging her feet lightly against it. "Though hey if we were playing poker for smokes there is a ton here." She pointed behind her to the cabinet.

"No, wait I might have it." Faith reached back in through the open side panel seeing another wire was loose.

There was a short 'fizz' noise, then a brief scream from Faith as a plume of white smoke shot out from the machine and threw Faith across the short corridor into the counter that Dawn sat up on.

"Faith!" Dawn yelped trying to dive out of the blue stream of slushy syrup as it continued to pour at them.

"Pull the power." Faith gasped, her back arched hard in pain.

Dawn scrambled around, thinking enough to not step into the blue material as she found the large plug in the underside of the counter. She kicked it out of the socket and the stream died down immediately.

"Faith, are you okay?" She moved back over around to the dark Slayer.

"Yeah I'm okay." Faith smiled and then promptly fainted.

"Faith!" Dawn yelped moving over to her and pushed her off her stomach onto her side. "FAITH!" She yelled trying to wake her up, checking for any sign of injury but she couldn't find any even as the dark haired slayer didn't respond. "Oh my God, oh my God." She started to panic looking around. "Faith, please Faith." She rubbed over her face.

Faith gave a low groan but didn't seem to move any closer to consciousness. Dawn reached into the Slayer's pocket searching for a cell phone. Thankful when she found the slim silver phone she flipped it opened and dialed the house number.

"Pick up Buffy." She urged trying to magically make it happen.

"Hello?" It was Piper that answered the call.

"Owl... oh God Owl you have to help me!" Dawn's voice was obviously at the brink of total panic.

"Woo calm down Dawn, I'll be right over." Owl assured her.

"I'm not at home." Dawn pointed out instantly. "Faith and I went for a ride, we're at the Seven Eleven on fourth. The slushy machine... she was trying to fix it... she won't wake up Owl."

"She was trying to fix the machine? What happened?" Owl could be heard getting up from wherever she was.

"It started shooting blue stuff like crazy, I had to pull the plug, oh my God!"

Dawn gasped looking at it. "I think it electrocuted her." She came up with the only explanation.

"She didn't disconnect it?" Piper could be heard to curse sharply.

"I don't know." Dawn tried to sit her up. "Please get here."

"I'm coming Dawn, check her breathing and her pulse rate, get her in the recovery position okay." Piper's voice came out hurried but controlled.

"The who what?" Dawn tried not to drop the phone.

"She's breathing right?" The sound of a car door closing could be heard on the other end of the phone. Dawn wiped the blue sludge off her hand on her jeans and then moved it up to Faith's mouth.

"Yes." She confirmed into the phone.

"And her pulse?" Piper checked.

"Piper where are you going?" A new voice came into the scene as Buffy followed out onto the lawn when she saw her lover getting into the jeep.

"Two seconds Dawn." Owl apologized and then put her hand over the phone muffling her response. "Dawn and Faith have run into a bit of bother at the Seven Eleven."

"A bit of bother?" Buffy walked out to the car. "Wait why the Hell are they at the Seven Eleven?"

"I don't know Buffy, but then need someone, and I'm being that person." Piper replied and said something muffled into the phone that the blonde couldn't hear.

"I'm coming." She went to move around.

"You can't, we can't leave everyone here unprotected." Owl pointed to the houses.

"Get them back." Buffy was about to go into her usual 'it's my sister rant' but saw the determined look on Piper's face.

"I will." Piper promised.

Buffy stepped back and urged her to go. Piper smiled tightly and threw the car into drive, pulling out onto the main road.

Driving fast, but safely, Owl was at the small convenience store in an amazingly short time. Screeching to a halt and taking a few months wear off the tires she was almost out of the car before it had stopped

"Dawn?" She pushed the door open.

"OWL!" Dawn yelled to bring her over to the machine at the end of the shop.

Piper hurried through taking in the mess of blue slush and unconscious Slayer.

"Has she done anything? Said anything?" Piper dropped to her knees.

"Groaned, nothing else." Dawn shook her head.

"Well that's better than nothing, no blood or anything?" She checked as she pressed her fingertips to the other Slayer's neck.

"Not that I can see in the goo." Dawn looked around.

"She's out cold." Piper frowned.

"We need to get home." Dawn looked around feeling very vulnerable.

"You're right, think you can drive the jeep back?" Piper asked of the teenager

"Anything." Dawn nodded.

"The best thing I can think of to do is have you drive her back to the house, I'll escort you on the Harley, keeping you safe." The Slayer made her plan of attack.

"Are you sure?" Dawn looked around.

"Dawn, we've seen how the First and the Bringers work, if I'm in the car with you, I can't stop them." She pointed out.

"I can drive." Dawn nodded. "Do you want me to help you carry her?"

"No, I'll get her." Piper shook her head and eased Faith into her arms.

"I'll get the door." Dawn moved to open it.

Carefully Owl carried her out to the jeep and after Dawn had prepared the back seat she eased Faith down, pulled the safety straps over her and then fixed a blanket around the unconscious Slayer.

"Okay Dawn." Piper pulled back and closed the door.

"You going ahead or behind?" Dawn questioned obviously nervous.

"Well you just get going. I'll probably pull in front of you." Piper replied.

Dawn nodded and got into the front seat starting the jeep. She put both hands on the steering wheel looking nervous.

"You can do this Dawn." Piper put her hand over Dawn's. "Remember, don't stop for anything or anyone, just drive home, no matter what, clear?" Dawn nodded and moved to put the car into gear. "Faith's going to be fine, just get her home Dawn." Piper smiled encouragingly as she pulled back and slammed the car door.

Dawn put the car into gear and started to drive when she heard Piper roar the Harley to life. A loud low hiss filled the air, roaring louder than the engine of the Slayer's bike. Turning Piper froze to see an Uber vampire moving towards her. Dawn looked in the rear view mirror and tried not to scream. Flicking her head back briefly Piper looked at the car.

"DRIVE!" She screamed swinging her leg off the Harley as she looked for something to arm herself with.

Dawn put her foot down feeling the engine scream to life as she pushed it down the road.

"Hi there ugly, I don't think we've had the pleasure." Owl steadied the bike and side stepped back towards the door of the shop.

The Uber followed move for move, timing a jump at the Slayer just as Piper stepped back and slammed the door forward onto the vampire, smashing the glass and frame over the disfigured body.

Growling louder the Uber shook itself and climbed in over the glass and broken steel hardly loosing its momentum. Backing up Owl was still trying to look for something to fight with. When she heard a noise from behind her, she turned her head quickly as she watched two Bringers moved into the main shop floor from the back room.

"Oh now I get it." Piper slowed down. "You plugged the machine back in didn't you? I knew Faith was too smart to play with main line juice." She glanced back at the Bringers shaking her head. "Two slayers with one sweep huh." She continued as one of the Bringers jumped up on the counter, not happy with the slow approach, it jumped down onto Piper bringing her to the ground, but in a brief, relatively non violent struggle the young Slayer snapped its neck and armed herself with the long arced dagger. "Better odds." She smiled tossing the knife from hand to hand.

Owl didn't have anywhere to go stuck between the chip cabinet and the counter.

She ducked down at the last minute letting the Uber overshoot her. She felt the heavy weight of it shift off her back as she pressed forward under it.

The Uber rolled bowling into the other Bringer and sending it scattering into the machines behind. The two creatures seemed to fight with each other for leverage and seeing her opening she reached up ripping the electronic cash register off the counter and pulling the cord free from the back she threw it down at the blue slushy puddle.

When the live wire hit the liquid the whole room sparked up as the badly ran electric cable didn't have trip switch and it continued to pump electricity into the Uber and Bringer until the Bringer dropped dead and the Uber melted into a pile of dust.

"I've always thought that slushy was an electric blue color for a reason." She chuckled to herself as she turned and walked towards the door.

"Nice move Birdy." Faith stepped out in front of the door.

"Your little plan failed bastard." Piper growled stopping and straightening up.

"Did it?" Faith smiled at her. "How do you know I haven't sent a dozen Ubers after your little jeep? They could be having that little girl for lunch, what would your lover say to that?"

"Fuck you." Piper pushed forward closer to the First.

"I mean I'm sure she's taken a new tone when you and her are doing the nasty but I have never heard Buffy Summers really use that language." The First shifted its form into Buffy. "Now, now Piper, play nice."

"Don't use her form." Piper growled. "You have no right to use her."

"You'd prefer I use your other woman's?" Buffy cocked an eyebrow.

"Wouldn't some one like Ted Bundy suit you more?" Piper pointed out.

"I know who you'd really like." The First's form shifted again to that of the peroxide vamp. "Hello pretty, Mmmmm now don't you look all rumble tumble tough." Spike growled at her looking her up and down.

"You can't work me up like this." Piper did her best to ignore the leering look from Spike.

"Can't I?" Spike gave her a grin. "You mean if I ask your opinion on whether you think Buffy is more of a moaner or a groaner?"

"She moans in pleasure, when someone is loving her, neither you nor that prick you are pretending to be will ever know what that sounds like, or feels like." Piper felt her chest tighten a little.

"Oh I've heard her moan, when she used to go down on her knees she used to moan." Spike hooked his hand into his belt.

"She should have bitten it off." Piper snarled.

"No darling, she was gagging for it." He licked his lips.

"She was looking for love." Piper countered feeling herself get more and more angry.

"She got it, all she could take." Spike shrugged.

"You're fucked up in the head." Piper moved forward again for some reason trying to move around the non-corporeal form.

"You don't stand a chance Piper." Buffy form came back into focus as the First turned with her. "I'm going to kill you all, slayer, potentials, witches and watchers."

"Keep dreaming your little delusions of grandeur." Piper stepped out into the parking lot.

"You forget I have all the time in the world, give you long enough you'll kill yourself." Buffy laughed.

"And just why would we do that?" Piper scoffed moving directly to her Harley.

"Because you're foolish impudent humans." Buffy laughed back.

"And you're a non corporeal nothing!" Piper bit back.

"You better run Piper, just in time to maybe save a little bit of Dawn to prove to me how you failed." Buffy waved her off.

"You're history." Piper spurred her bike into life and screeched off down the highway.

Speeding dangerously fast Owl soon caught up with the jeep that seemed to be having little or no trouble driving down the road. Pulling out and around it Piper over took the bigger vehicle, turning briefly and giving Dawn an okay symbol as she smiled at the teenager. Dawn gave her a shaky okay single back.

Piper actually relaxed the throttle slightly as she pulled into the middle of the road in front of the jeep, pleased that the First seemed to have once more over estimated its position. Checking back over her shoulder the young Slayer's attention was drawn away from the road and had she not been distracted she would have seen the movement in the shadows at the sides of the road.

Piper caught sight of the rope stretched across the road at mid body height just a fraction of a second too late and she tried to prepare herself for the hard meeting.

Dawn had been looking around so much petrified that she had easily seen the movement. Lucky for Owl, Dawn had seen the rope as it rose and even more to her own surprise she put her foot to the floor making the Jeep squeal ahead of the bike driving the grill into the rope and dragging the creatures that held it out of the bushes to skid along the tarmac.

Piper blinked trying to catch up with what had happened. She flipped the visor up on her helmet.

"BRAKE!" She screamed and Dawn followed her instruction putting her foot to the floor on the other peddle. Screeching to a halt the rope catapulted forward throwing the Bringers with it. Piper braked too and jumped off her bike. She sprinted to the jeep and pulled the passenger door open. "Go, go, go." She hit the dashboard. Dawn put her foot down squealing off rubber as the jeep took off down the road. "Nice driving Dawn." Piper flashed her a grin that vanished when there came a dull thud on the jeep's roof. "Shit, sounds like we got company." She sighed and glanced at the window.

"What do I do?" Dawn questioned frantically.

"Keep driving." Piper instructed. "I'll deal." Piper pushed open the door, and didn't so much climb up onto the roof as was pulled up there by a Bringer.

It had immediately slashed its knife at her throat when she was high enough and Piper fell back her spine hitting the jeep roof hard.

"OWL!" Dawn screamed hearing the noise and the jeep lurched a bit.

The Bringer had to hold on for a moment trying not to fall off the top before he managed to try and take another swipe at her.

"Ugh little D, what's going on?" Form the back seat a groan came from the dark Slayer.

"Owl's on the roof fighting an Uber." Dawn's voice was thick with fright.

Up on the roof Piper pushed backwards and felt the knife swipe across her abdomen cutting through her jacket and shirt slicing into her skin beneath. Trying to further roll away from the blade she ran out of space and began to topple down the front of the car. Dawn screamed as the windshield was obscured when Owl's legs came dangling down in front of it. At the same time blood from her stomach wound began to pour down the glass.

"Faith, do something!" Dawn squealed trying to see enough to figure out where she was going.

"Speed up." Faith instructed clearly though groggily. Dawn wanted to disagree but she put her foot to the ground trusting that Faith would know what was best. Owl's body sunk a little further down the glass bending down the radio antenna slightly.

"Birdy hang on." Faith called weakly but she could see Owl nod a bit. "Dawn brake hard."

"But?" Dawn looked between Owl and Faith before she closed her eyes and put her foot on the brake. She snapped them open when she heard a loud bump on the hood to see the Bringer falling forward past Owl and then she was jolted up and down in her seat as she ran over him.

Seeing the precarious hold that Owl had, she stopped the car and watched helpless as Piper's body slid down the windshield slowly to land on the hood.

"Owl?" Dawn moved to undo her belt and pushed out of the car.

"Ow." Piper rolled off the hood and dropped onto the tarmac.

"Oh God you're bleeding." Dawn moved down to where she was. "We have to get you in the car." She looked around fearfully.

"Yeah..." The Slayer tried to push up but ended up more or less crawling around to the door. Dawn helped pull her up inside to slump on the front passenger seat. "Go." Piper encouraged moving as best as she could to put on her seatbelt. Dawn moved around to the other side and started driving as fast as she could. "You were great Dawn." Piper smiled at her weakly holding her arm across her stomach.

"How bad are you cut?" Dawn made a squealing turn around a corner.

"Well you know..." Piper breathed in painfully as her body was thrown a little.

"Almost home. Faith, are you awake?" Dawn checked as she turned another corner less drastically.

"Was I kicked by an elephant?" Faith asked with a groan.

"No, the slushy machine." Rather sadly Dawn was forced to turn on the windshield wipers to wash the thick blood off the window as she found it harder to drive.

"What?" Faith tried to move. "Why the hell am I strapped in here?"

"You were unconscious, people let me drive then you can ask questions." Dawn fretted as she finally managed to pull up into the driveway of the house honking the horn loudly. "BUFFY!" She started screaming at the house as soon as she cut the engine.

"Will somebody please explain to me what's going on?" The front door to the main house opened and Giles stood there rubbing his eyes.

"Giles, Owl is hurt, so is Faith." Dawn scrambled around the car.

"Dawn!" Buffy came out of the other house with the staff already an axe just in case. "Piper." She felt herself pale when she saw all the blood.

"I'm okay." Faith called from the back seat. "I just don't want to break the car by ripping these safety belts off." She growled as Giles opened the door and reached in to flip the belts loose. "Oh okay, less with the I'm fine. Everything hurts." She more or less fell off the back seat.

"Get her in the house." Buffy instructed to Giles as she picked Piper up out of her seat and moved quickly with her towards the house where Tara and Willow were. "Dawn get Zoë, now." She underlined knowing the Canadian seemed to have the most medical expertise, putting her in a league with Giles. "TARA, WILLOW!" She screamed as she pushed the front door open and moved to put Piper on the couch.

"Is... Is Dawn okay?" Piper groaned as she was laid lightly on the couch.

"She's fine." Buffy pushed out more flat as she ripped the shreds of shirt away to expose the wound.

"What's going on?" Willow rushed down the stairs obviously half asleep. "Oh my Goddess, I'll get the kit." She raced towards the stash in the basement.

"And Fai...OW!!" Piper groaned, tipping her head to the side as pain flashed across her stomach.

"I'm okay Birdy." Faith said from where Giles's leaned her in the doorway. "I just need to rest, take me home G man." She leaned more heavily on the Watcher. Sandra hurried to add her support to the other side as they moved the Slayer next door.

"What happened?" Willow slung the large kit on the floor and opened it moving to take out a pressure bandage for Buffy.

"I don't know." The Slayer shook her head as she pushed it down onto the bleeding.

"Okay... Okay I'm here." Zoë showed up looking even in worse shape than Willow. "What did this?" She moved closer trying to get past Buffy to see.

"I'm guessing a Bringers dagger." Buffy frowned hard and put her hand on Piper's forehead. "It's okay Piper, you're going to be okay." She whispered.

"Move over please." Zoë tried not to be too aggressive as she moved in pulling the bandage back to get a better view. "Its not deep, just long, flesh wound." She reached down tearing open more gauze. "Do you want painkillers or for me just to stitch it?"

"Just stitch." Piper growled blinking her eyes open, her teeth gritted.

"Buffy can you get her something to bite on soft, not worth ruining all that dental work Owl." Zoë was glad when Willow moved to help pressure the wound while she started to get the needle and thread ready. "We're going to have to clean it too if you could get some towels you don't mind getting blood on."

"I'll get them." From behind the scene Tara's soft voice interjected.

"Thank you." Zoë moved to finish prepping everything. She opened up one of the sterilization pads and began working on her own hands and fingers, then moved up her arms. "I know you're a slayer now but the last thing we need is an infection."

"Right now all I care about is you stopping my lover's stomach falling out." Buffy looked at the Canadian.

"That's exactly what I'm doing." Zoë didn't bat an eyelash or rise to the anger as she directed Tara to put the towels down. "Get ready this is going to hurt." She started to bathe the wound in alcohol and worked to get any dirt out of it.

"I'm sorry Buffy, I'm sorry." Dawn whined a little from near the doorway.

"Not now Dawn!" Buffy snapped accidentally as she curled her hand around Piper's. The newest Slayer was pale and sweating, her teeth clenched around the rolled up tea towel Buffy had sorted for her.

"I only wanted a slushy." Dawn whined feeling her eyes fill up with tears.

"It's okay Dawnie." Tara whispered softly as she pulled the teenager into a loose embrace, kissing her head softly.

In tense silence, Zoë finished cleaning the wound and then reached back as Willow finished readying the needle and suture thread. Just as she took the small implement the ear piercing sound of the barrier alarm being breeched made everyone leap.

"God-damn it no, not now." Buffy pushed up with a frown letting Piper's hand go as she looked up out of the window to see bringers flood towards the houses. "Dawn help Chia get Georgia down into the basement. Giles, Sandra, grab what weapons you can." She ran to the door.

"We're ready." Flick and Beatrix stood on the stairs, both armed and bright eyed, they moved aside as Dawn ran up and then reappeared moments later with the injured Georgia helping her through and down to the basement as bringers broke through the front and back door almost simultaneously.

"Will, Tara, watch Zoë and Piper, Zoë, please get her fixed up if you can. Flick, Beatrix you have the back door." Buffy instructed with a nod as she headed to the front door to defend it.

"What about me?" Andrew whined.

"Grab a sword dumbass." Buffy hissed at him.

"Kennedy." Faith groaned the potential's name as loud as she could when the alarms began, to her credit the dark haired SIT was in the lounge the next instant, armed and ready, with Vi on her tail.

"Faith can you get up the stairs to Xander and Anya's room?" She asked looking at the trashed Slayer.

"I'm not leaving you to fight." Faith pushed up staggering a little to get to her feet.

"You don't have a choice, Giles and Sandra are on their way back to the other house." Kennedy just lightly pushed her shoulder and sent her sprawling to the floor. "You're no use right now, protecting Xander and Anya is job enough." The SIT's voice was slightly wavering but final.

Faith growled more in annoyance than anything as she pushed up the stairs taking Amanda's offer of support as she got to the landing.

"Can we do this?" Vi looked at Kennedy and swallowed.

"We have to." Kennedy said with a nod and ran to cover the back door, leaving Vi and Amanda to head off the front assault.

"What's that noise?" Blinking Bethany opened her door and stepped out into the hallway almost being run over by one of the young girls.

"It's the proximity alarm." Jo replied looking back to her, the tall potential already stood at the top of the stairs with an axe.

"Proximity alarm?" The young English woman's face contorted into a harder frown.

"Mean's they're coming." From behind her Alice stepped out of another room carrying a short sword. Seeing the weapons Bethany's eyes grew wider.

"It's okay, we have Buffy and Owl here, we're good." Jo tried to introduce calm.

"They're not here." Emily's voice called from downstairs.

"She's right, Dawn came and got Zoë about ten minutes ago, Buffy needed her at the main house." Bethany explained.

"Then we're on our own." Jo took a breath. "Alice, you and Donna, stay with Bethany and hold things up here." The tall woman instructed. "Carmeal, you and Emily cover the back, Stacey, you and I have the front. Okay?" She tried to breathe slowly and remain calm but it was obvious that she was frightened.

"Okay." Everyone agreed and with a quick nod they began moving.

"Giles, this is crazy." Buffy panted as she glanced over to where the Watcher was fighting off two Bringers near the front door with some assistance from Andrew. "If they've attacked the other houses with this much force, we're in trouble. Oh hell, the girls…" The Slayer's mind raced thinking of everyone at her house alone.

"Bethany." Zoë pushed up from where she was more or less cowering over Piper to protect her, unable to work on the Slayer's wound because of the flying furniture and Bringers.

"Stay down Zoë." Tara hissed.

"I can't I have to get to Bethie." Zoë turned a glare on the blue-eyed witch.

"Sweetie, I need you." Tara said her voice dropping a little as she reached out her hand to Willow. Without question the redhead slipped her hand into Tara's. "Enemy within, enemy without, dispel our fears, failings and doubt, strengthen our hearts, combine our powers, make our minutes, for them be hours." Tara breathed the short spell and then her and Willow moved their hands in an arc over the heads coming to end with one hand clasped and one pressed palms together.

Suddenly the world around them seemed to shimmer a little, and though Buffy, Giles and Andrew were all moving normally, the Bringers actions were slowed, every movement they made slowed down to take and age.

"Tara, what the…" Buffy turned her head sharply.

"Quickly Buffy, we can't hold this." Tara blinked sparkling blue eyes.

Buffy jumped up spun and drew her sword through the nearest Bringer, the only way she knew it was dead was that the sword literally went through its mid section.

"This is so cool, just like the matrix." Andrew enthused. "Not to mention the fact that I can kill them now too." He started stabbing at the closest Bringer.

"Is it like this in all the houses?" Buffy checked looking at the spellcaster.

"In all." Willow replied in a somewhat monotone voice.

"I'm going to the big house." Buffy ran to the door. "Just keep it up as long as you can guys." She breathed heavily and then ran for the house.

Buffy had been gone for about ten minutes, the Bringers in the main house were all in theory dispatched but with the time delay it was hard to tell. Tara and Willow in that time had moved to sit on the floor keeping their hands together in the same way, though their arms shook as they forced the connection between them to stay strong.

"We have to stop." Willow panted looking at the soft trail of blood from Tara's nose down to her lip.

"Just a little longer." Tara breathed shallowly.

"No." Willow pulled her hand back to break their connection and making both witches slump forward instantly.

"Tara." Zoë frowned and hurried to her side as around them dead Bringers dropped to the floor.

"Willow." Giles hurried over to the redhead.

"I'm okay." Willow tipped her head back flicking her hair out of her face. "Baby?" She looked at Tara.

The blonde haired witch more slowly raised her head and wiped her bloody nose.

"I'm okay." She breathed before collapsing onto Zoë.

"That's my girl." Willow gave an unfocused smile and fell into Giles' arms.

"Okay so what was that?" Flick came in from the kitchen.

"That was a time changing spell." Zoë replied moving carefully to lay Tara down. "They must have cast together." She frowned slightly.

"Impressive." Sandra noted as she got cushions for behind both Willow and Tara's heads.

"Dangerous." Giles assessed with a deep frown as he pushed up from the floor. "Zoë, finish with Piper." He glanced at the unconscious Slayer. "I'll check on the other houses."

Less than an hour later everyone was settled again and the proximity alarms had been reset. Now in their own bedroom, Buffy rounded the side of the bed slowly looking down at Owl who was laid out with a thick bandage across her stomach.

"You know just because you're a slayer now doesn't mean you're knife proof." She sat carefully down on the edge her voice showing the edge of worry inside her.

"Feeling the proof of that." Piper nodded easing one eye open. "I'm not imagining it am I, the houses got attacked didn't they?"

"Yes, but everything is fine. We had one minor cut but Tara and Willow did a time spell so we were able to kill them all." Buffy explained what had gone on. "But you don't have to worry about that, you need to rest."

"A time spell." Piper made a vague attempt to sit up.

"Hey, you're resting remember? Zoë took along time stitching you up." Buffy held her down. "I'm sure she didn't think she'd ever have to perform combat surgery."

"I bet not, did she do a decent job, I want a straight scar." Owl smiled slightly.

"She did great." Buffy nodded. "So are you up for telling me what happened?"

"With what?" Owl evaded the direct question.

"With the fact you got slashed up, Faith is acting like she had electroshock therapy and Dawn is acting like she phoned the First and invited it to come kill us all?"

Buffy explained that unless Owl was in too much pain to answer, she didn't want her questions evaded.

"Well from what I pieced together Dawn wanted a slushy, Faith took her to the store on the Harley but the machine wasn't working and Faith tried to fix it." Piper recapped.

"And?" She pushed knowing there had to be more.

"I'm pretty sure Faith took the precaution of unplugging it, but our friendly Bringers plugged it back in." Piper went on.

"So she was electrocuted?" Buffy felt bad for her earlier comment now.

"Pretty much yes." Owl smiled. "But it's okay you didn't know baby."

"How did you get cut?" Buffy reached up taking her lover's hand.

"I think Dawn acted pretty quick and switched off the juice, oh..." Piper looked at Buffy's hand. "The First had a bit to tease me about when I'd sent Dawn off with Faith and then started to threaten Dawn. I raced after them, thanks to Dawn I wasn't garrotted off my bike, but a Bringer attack on the jeep meant that one of the bastards got lucky." Piper moved her other hand over the bandaging. "Your sister knows how to handle a jeep."

"On the jeep, you mean like on the roof of the jeep?" Buffy cocked an eyebrow.

"Yean, on the roof exactly. I guess I was whacked out and a little slow after the whole Bringer, and ugly vampire attack in the 7 11." Owl gave a crooked frown.

"I can't believe you..." Buffy went to berate her about being up on the jeep roof, and the fact that Dawn was driving when she stopped. "Ugly vampire? You mean you were attacked by an Uber?"

"Yeah." Piper nodded. "They fry great, but smell like shit."

"There shouldn't be any more Ubers." Buffy shook her head her hand slipping from Owl's. "I mean fine the one that Tara blew up but that was just one, now what a week later another one pops up and comes after you. We've had three Bringer attacks and no Ubers, why wouldn't it send Ubers if it had them?"

"Well maybe it was just an ugly vamp." Piper pushed uncomfortably up as Buffy pulled away slightly.

"How did you kill it?" Buffy stood up and stepped back.

"Cash register lead strikes back to help the good guys with the help of the slushy goo." Piper replied.

"You dropped it on it?" The blonde looked at her pacing a bit as she thought.

"No, reference to frying Buffy." Piper pushed off the bed, groaning in pain as her weight rested on her feet.

"You burnt it?" Buffy finally focused on her. "What are you doing? Get back in bed." She moved over to keep her from walking away from the bed.

"I'm trying to get close to my girlfriend who seems more set on getting as far away from me as possible." Piper pointed out Buffy's continuous retreat.

"What? No." She shook her head. "I was just thinking, there's something I'm missing here."

"Snuggling next to me?" Piper offered trying a charming smile.

"No... Yes... I... the Ubers." Buffy tried to focus. "There shouldn't be any more of them."

"Maybe it just had them." Piper offered. "You know like in the wings."

"Please just lie down." Buffy looked at the bed. "I'll stay right here."

"No, you're worried, you want to go out or something? Check the seal?" Piper shook her head wrapping her arm lightly around her stomach.

"We can't risk going out yet." Buffy shook her head. "Maybe tomorrow, when we talk to Giles." She motioned again. "Piper, please."

"Buffy, it's just down the road, we can go and be back." Piper fought to keep her eyes focused.

"Lie down before I make you." Buffy said sternly.

"You're not settled Buffy." Piper frowned but she did sit down again.

"Of course I'm not settled, you've got your stomach ripped open, Faith was electrocuted, you got attacked by an Uber, Dawn was driving around Sunnydale... we got attacked... again!" Buffy listed all her reasons. "Willow and Tara did a spell I'm really not sure I want to know about because it had to be a little too close to dark evil Willow then I ever wanted to see again and... and…" Her voice started to shake. "I can't do a thing to stop any of this." She clenched her hands at her sides.

"You are doing so much Buffy." Piper pushed up and went to her. "You're keeping us all focused and together." She stated softly. "Come on, we're going to the high school." She forced herself to walk towards the door.

"There is no point." Buffy shook her head sitting on the bed. "It can't be open, we'd be over run with them if it was. I just don't know how it has gotten more."

"Well like I say, maybe it kept them back." Piper crossed back to the bed holding her stomach a little tighter as her stitches pulled.

"I have to start thinking, I have to out think it. I have to figure out what it is doing." Buffy looked down at her boots. "No more waiting, I have to figure all this out now."

"Tomorrow." Piper encouraged as she sat back down on the bed.

"Are you okay?" Buffy blinked at her lover.

"No." Piper shook her head. "I need to lay down, I feel kinda sick and the world is spinning, and... Well I think I nearly died back there and…" She stopped and dropped back down onto the mattress. "And I wanted to get back to you."

"You're not allowed to die." Buffy turned and moved up on her knees close to the tall Slayer. "Okay you get that in your head right now. No more dying." She added almost irrationally, her tone not one she would normally direct at Piper, especially with the woman being injured.

"Hey I didn't want to die, just you know when Dawn had to put the wipers on to clear the blood..." She stopped when she noticed the other Slayer's shoulders shaking and that Buffy's jaw was locked almost painfully. "Buffy, whoa, baby." She frowned and opened her arms. "Come here baby."

"No, we need to get this straight!" Buffy growled at her. "There's not going to be anymore dying, no over the top slayer heroics, I don't want you or Dawn outside the compound again... ever." She shook her head resting her hands on her thighs as she sat there. Her fingers gripped into the denim and flesh still showing how they shook no matter how her body tried to fight it.

"Buffy, Buffy." Piper reached out and put her hands over the blonde Slayer's. "Look at me, look at me." She demanded softly.

"Promise me, promise me." Buffy looked at her lover with wild eyes. "No more dying." Her breath came hard and fast out of her nose.

"Buffy shush." Piper pushed up and took Buffy in her arms and pulled her close. "Let go baby, let go." She put her hand over the back of Buffy's head leading it down to her shoulder, rocking their bodies slightly.

"I can't... do this..." Buffy's body shook stiffly as she was cradled her voice thick and difficult as she struggled a bit to get away.

"You have to do this." Piper contradicted and used her new Slayer strength to keep her from getting away. "For your sanity, for both of us." She kept them rocking. "You need to give in, let go and feel this."

"I... I ... can't." Buffy shook her head slightly not fighting as much now as her body shook harder.

"Buffy please." Owl pulled her back slightly and looked into hazel eyes. "You need to do this, you're hurting, you're scared, and you're tired of seeing people in pain. Let it affect you."

"I can't... I have to be strong." Buffy blinked her eyes trying to stop them from tearing up.

"Why? Who sees this? Who knows about this apart from me? Buffy I'm not in love with Buffy the hard ass emotionless shell, I'm in love with Buffy, the prettiest, softest, most warm hearted slayer I know." Piper pointed out her voice soft and loving.

"Because, you'll doubt me... you'll think less of me." Buffy shook her head trying to get back some grip on her self-control.

"I'll doubt you more if you don't." Owl shook her head.

The blonde seemed to weigh her options, looking for a moment as if she would pull away completely and sink further into herself. But as she heard her lover's words and felt the soft way that Piper held onto her, remembered the way she had been holding onto her trying to offer her comfort and safety she found that she didn't want to run away anymore, she wanted to fall into it and stop fighting so hard for just a little while at least.

"I just want it to stop." She suddenly leaned back against Owl's body, her own small form being racked by hard oppressive sobs.

"We'll make it stop baby." Owl held her and kissed her head. "We'll make it stop together."

Part 19

Zoë ran her hands under the tap trying to clean the rest of Owl's blood off them. She tried to keep her eyes out of the sink to keep from watching as the red swirled down the drain. She dried them off looking up into the mirror to the dark circles under her eyes. They hadn't really got a good night's sleep since all of this had started and it was starting to take their toll on everyone.

"Zee?" A soft British voice inquired from the door.

"It's not locked." She turned pulling the door open. "Hi." She gave a soft smile.

"I was hoping it was you." Bethany let herself in and crossed to lean against the wall near the sink, she was pale and shaking slightly.

"I was just trying to clean up first... I had to stitch Owl up... it was messy." She admitted the cadence of her words not quite even as she saw how disturbed Beth was.

"Stitch her up?" Beth innocently requested details.

"She got slashed by a Bringer, I'm not sure exactly how but she was out with Dawn and Faith and the three of them were attacked." Zoë turned off the water. "Are you okay?" She checked for herself. She'd already gotten confirmation from the others in the house that the English girl hadn't been injured or seen much of the fighting.

"Slashed by a Bringer?" Beth restated the earlier comment. "Badly?"

"Flesh wound." She shook her head. "From what I hear her Slayer metabolism will have most of it healed by the morning. I just needed to stop the bleeding and give the flesh a helping hand."

"But you... you're not qualified to do that kind of thing." Beth frowned. "You could have caused more damage."

"I know, but I'm the closest thing we've had to someone who is qualified, well other than Mr. Giles, but he can only do so much. I guess all those boring hours you made me study paid off eh?" Zoë tried to smile.

"Zee we have to get out of here." Bethany's voice shook as she played nervously with her hair.

"We can't baby." She shook her head.

"We have to." Beth stated again with more firmness.

"Bethany I don't think you understand, if I don't help them beat the First the whole world is doomed." Zoë tried to show the weight of the situation.

"I… I can't do this." Bethany began to shake more.

"I'm sorry, I wish I could stop this." Zoë moved closer to her. "I wish I could have kept you safe another way."

"I need to leave." Beth turned and left the bathroom heading to the bedroom she had shared with Zoë.

"Beth, Bethany." She followed after her. "You can't. If you leave it will hurt you."

"I… I don't know that." Beth moved into the room and picked up the smallest of her bags.

"Beth, I can't let you leave." Zoë moved over and put her hand on the bag. "I can't let it hurt you."

"I don't understand any of this." Bethany shook her head.

"I know you don't, I wish I could explain to you but a certain amount of it is on faith. I need you to trust me." She put her hand over Beth's.

"Trust you?" Beth looked up at the other woman. "When you've always hidden all of this from me?"

"I didn't hide this, you said yourself I never acknowledged any of this before." Zoë shook her head. "Beth, do you remember when that New Years in Toronto, when we were at the club downtown and we were mugged?"

"Of course I do." Beth looked down.

"Did you never ever wonder how we managed to get away?" Zoë squeezed her hand. "I never thought of it myself until I was in Italy but how else could he have just disappeared?"

"I don't know, we both said we weren't sure what happened." Bethany clarified not sure she wanted to think about this.

"I know what I did now. I know what happened." Zoë took a deep breath and concentrated. "Move." She whispered and with less effort than she expected they both moved to the other side of the bed.

"Don't!" Beth jumped up away from Zoë. "Magic is… its wrong!" She frowned hard.

"Why is it wrong?" Zoë looked at her surprised.

"It's not… how can it be natural?" Beth felt her hands shake.

"It is natural, it is the most natural thing. Magic is all around us." Zoë argued softly.

"My father told me it was evil." Beth looked at Zoë.

"What did you dad know about magic Beth, true magic? I'm not talking story books, or evil satanic worship." Zoë sat down. "I'm talking about harnessing power, natural power."

"I want to believe you." Beth admitted her voice soft. "I want to be here with you."

"After this is done Beth, if you want me to give it up I will. I won't study, or practice or ever do another spell but right now I need to do this and I need you behind me." Zoë looked up at her, her voice almost a whisper.

"You don't need me." Beth shook her head.

"I need you." Zoë underlined standing up and moving over to her. "I have always needed you."

"What can I possible do for you? I'm not a part of this world." Beth looked up unable to keep her hands off the other woman as she brushed her palm over the Canadian's hair.

"I don't care about that." Zoë shook her head. "I only want you because I'm in love with you, you make me happy, you know me better than anyone else in the world. You're my Beth."

"Make love to me." Beth said suddenly, her voice barely a whisper.

"Oh God baby I want you." Zoë admitted moving to kiss her, sliding her arms around the other's woman's body and pulling her closer.

"I was hoping that that hadn't changed." Beth admitted closing her eyes meeting the kiss.

"I remember the floor and a cushion, I don't remember cozy bed and clean Pj's." Tara kept her eyes closed mainly because of the banging in her head. Her hand ran over and over the soft sheet and the light smell of fabric softener near her nose told her that she was no longer in blood stained sleepwear.

"We moved you up here, you passed out." Willow soothed her from very nearby. Her hand came up to ease the newly heated pack onto Tara's head. "Try to rest baby."

"You need to rest too." Tara countered, moving her head to keep Willow's hand on the head pack, her fingers smoothing over soft warm skin.

"I am resting, right here watching my girl." Willow vowed moving her leg over to brush against Tara's to show her she was under the covers with her. The move caused a smile to grace Tara's tired features.

"Mmmmm Willow leg." She whispered, turning her aching head towards Willow, her eyes still closed.

"Yes, might be hairy Willow legs I didn't do a good job shaving this morning with you in the shower with me." The redhead smiled. "Do you need pills for your head baby?"

"Your legs are never hairy." Tara chuckled softly. "They're always soft and smooth, the most they ever get is a tiny bit prickly and I don't mind that, Willow prickles." She smiled more. "My head's not that bad. Are you okay?" She whispered.

"I'm fine. I don't have backlash headache." She shook her head. "I don't have any backlash actually, do you think that's because it was with you?"

"I can hope so." Tara smiled lovingly. "When casting spells like that I make sure to run your power through me, not visa-versa." She explained. "That way the First can't work through them to get to you."

"Wait, are you saying you took all the backlash for yourself? Tara, no you can't do that." Willow shook her head against the pillow.

"It's just until the First is dealt with." Tara tried to placate her lover.

"No, unacceptable." Willow defied the idea. "I don't like you using this much power or taking all of it into yourself. I can deal with my own backlash Tara."

"If you channel the power through yourself Will, the First can hurt you with it, in a way that it can't hurt me." Tara again tried to clarify the difference. "This way I'm the caster and you don't get hurt. It works for me."

"Yes, but if I don't temper my magic properly you'll be streaming it into you without a chance of buffering the changes. It's too dangerous baby, I don't want you doing it that way." Willow continued to object squeezing Tara's hand. "I won't hurt you with magic again, I can't."

"I don't know if there is another way baby." Tara slowly opened her eyes and whispered. "You've already felt what the First can do to you through magic, I have to make sure that it can't hurt you again, but we need your skills, we need your power." She smiled tenderly. "I'm just your, filter." She tried to make her lover feel more at ease.

"But a filter that gets pain because of me?" Willow couldn't help objection to the provision.

"Willow I'm not doing this because I have to, I'm doing this because I want to." Tara breathed. "I want to get 'us' right this time, I want to be the understanding, supportive helpful girlfriend I should have been the first time round."

"I don't want you to be that understanding, I don't want you to let me hurt you and then think well it's your fault, think you needed to be better girlfriend. That's not right Tara." Willow sat up. "I can't have you doing that, I love you too much for that."

"Willow, Sweetie." Tara moved the heat pack off her head and sat up too, "This isn't about me failing, you failing, or anything like that. This is just about now, and what needs to be to get us through this. Nothing more, nothing less, when the First is beaten, and his ability to hurt you is over, so is the filter."

"I hate it, I hate it." Willow clenched her hands. "I hate that its hurt you, hurt me." She moved forward and hugged Tara.

"I know sweetie, I know." Tara held her tightly. "But it's just for now, just for a little while." She rubbed her hand up and down the redhead's back. "And it's never you hurting me, never, remember that. All of this, everything, it's the First."

"I love you, I hate it." Willow admitted with as much emotion in both statements. "We have to find a way to beat it."

"We will, I have great hopes for the spell that Zoë is working on, together it should be a snap." Tara tried gentle encouragement.

"Oh Goddess is your head okay?" Willow leaned back realizing the blonde was sitting up.

"It's felt better." Tara admitted letting her eyes dip closed.

"What can I do to help?" Willow reached up rubbing her arm.

"Hold me, kiss me." Tara replied opening her eyes again.

"Are you sure baby?" Willow leaned closer to her studying her lover's eyes.

"Am I sure what?" Tara asked softly.

"That you're up for kisses. You know how carried away I get in the girl on girl action." Willow teased not wanting to face the horror of the world outside of the two of them at least for these few precious moments.

"I'm up for Willow kisses, my Willow might get carried away, but she never does anything I don't want." Tara nodded.

"Mmmmm never ever again." The redhead moved to guide her lover back down on the bed before leaning in to enjoy a soft kiss.

Willow settled on her side, pressed close so that her lower leg was draped over Tara's, her hand rubbing up and down the blonde's side as the kiss lingered.

"You're beautiful, you know that right?" Tara broke the kiss to whisper.

"You always say that and then I always say no you." Willow smiled at her tracing her hand around Tara's stomach.

"Mmmmm I could lie here, and you could, you know." Tara blushed as she let her eyes close. "You said it was the best medicine for headaches."

"Could what baby?" Willow kissed down her throat.

"Make love to me." Tara purred tipping her head back a little exposing more of her long throat.

"Yes baby." Willow kissed down further, pushing up the material of Tara's shirt. "But I meant more how?"

"Willow mouth, Willow tongue." Tara breathed out feeling her body relax. "The other day was no amazing."

"Mmmmm nice way." Willow smiled as she skipped over the bunch of material and pressed her lips to Tara's stomach, placing kisses across the warm tanned skin.

"One of my all time favorites." Tara tensed her stomach arching up a little for her lover.

"And what is your favorite time?" Willow urged her to speak as her own mouth busied with more kisses before her tongue slid out caressing skin.

"As if I could specify." Tara murmured softly. "You know you're the only one who can just touch me and make me melt inside, just one look and I'm just wanting you, needing to touch you, taste you. Oh Willow, I never knew this kind of love, our kind of togetherness, and connection existed." She breathed in and out quicker as her temperature notched up and her pulse rate increased.

Willow slowly kissed her way up warm skin, gently pressing the blonde's tank top up as she did so that it was always a few inches ahead of her lips. She kept her body off to the side so only her hand and her lips touched Tara's body giving her only the small moments of contact to focus on.

She was glad they were both in the pjs so that she didn't have to deal with a bra. With Tara on her back the blonde's ample breasts swelled out to the sides with perfect curves breaking from her body.

The redhead broke off in a V from her sternum kissing along the underside of her right breast to the outer edge before she dragged her tongue back inwards along the meeting point of her breasts and ribs. When she reached the space between she changed back to kisses, moving to trace the bottom of her left breast before she repeated the motion with her tongue into the center.

Tara found herself exactly where she wanted to be as she reached her arms up, her elbows bent as she pressed her palms up into the headboard. A flag raised in her brain as she felt the slow and calculated kisses and movements that her lover was using to explore her breasts.

She'd experienced this before, times when Willow had used a pace so slow that when she finally stumbled into release it was blinding with its pleasure, the lengthy over stimulation leaving it so that just a kiss made her body flare again and again and she also knew now it was just what she wanted.

Willow's lips began to map out a grid of kisses, crisscrossing across and then down, one small touch of her lips falling on each nipple as she moved. The brief contact making Tara arch up slightly as the touch she had been waiting most for came and went far too quickly.

Moving in the same pattern back, Willow purposely moved a few inches in closer so it was only the corner of her lips that touch the hard flesh. The same path came again, but this time Willow was just out of reach of the hot spots as her kisses passed on the outside edges.

"Willow." Tara breathed out feeling her body arch up more as the continued feel of the redhead's warm breath over kiss dampened skin made her feel as if her breasts ached.

Green eyes flicked up, joined by a wicked smile as she kissed a straight line across, her lips falling lower than the blonde's nipples but close enough that her short nose nudged across them as she moved. Feeling the strong way that Tara pushed up and the stronger contact, Willow settled her lips below the blonde's left nipple, licking with the firm end of her tongue so that it slid up the underside of the hard flesh a moment after her nose had, she repeated the motion licking down.

"Will... yes." Tara's arch stretched up higher on that side, as the still light contact didn't fulfill what she wanted.

Willow heard the gentle plea and decided her lover was ready for a bit more as she flattened her tongue out and swirled it around the throbbing flesh. She marveled at the way that each move echoed in Tara's hips as they pressed up trying to find some pressure only to find nothing pressing back.

Tara on the other hand wasn't really aware of her lower body as everything focused on the wet touch over her nipple. She never used to believe that such a small area of her body could be so sensitive, but whenever her breast-loving redhead was in the mood she was always proved wrong.

It was only when Willow's lips pulled back giving her a moment without stimulation that Tara was left to realize that her small pj's shorts were stuck up against the wet patch she had squeezed out of her body as she pressed her legs together.

Willow only left her with a brief moment of contemplation as her lips closed firmly over the other nipple and she sucked strongly on it. The gasp of pleasure she felt echo in Tara's body made her smile as she rolled the captured flesh against the smooth back of her front teeth with her tongue.

"Oh Goddess baby." Tara groaned as she managed to look down and see Willow pulling her lips back with the still captured flesh, the tension making her feel the throb between her legs even more. Willow gently released the pressure smiling up at the green eyes that watched her.

"I know angel." She reached down and waited for Tara to lift up as she pushed the shorts down off her lover's body. She followed the move down with her lips, kissing up the front side of Tara's leg from her mid shin all the way up to her hip before she kissed across her stomach and made the same trail down on the other side.

"Mmmmm feeling less headachy and more mmmmm every second." Tara moaned softly.

"I know what you want me to do, what you need me to do, and I want to do that, I need to do that." Willow put her hands on lover's knees, guiding them easily open as she settled her body down closer inhaling the sweet scent of the arousal she had caused. "Want more Mmmmm."

"Oh Willow, there's so much more for you, just for you." Tara pushed a little harder on to headboard.

"I want it all." Willow pressed her lips closer running her tongue up the wet line that existed in short blonde hair.

Tara felt her taut stomach muscles quiver in pleasure. A small whimper coming from her open mouth as she moved her hips a little left to right. Indeed wanting more Willow pressed her tongue, carving in deeper.

The response was immediate as Tara's hips flared open, trying to draw her lover's tongue deeper still as she pressed harder against the headboard to lever her body.

Willow's tongue didn't disappoint as it began to wind around Tara's throbbing center, carving out the soft edges within and seeking out the sensitive spot that she knew would make her lover's hips rise off the bed.

Stroking it with the tip of her tongue she was ready when Tara's body flared up and a louder moan filled the room around them. It seemed obvious that her attempt to draw out their lovemaking wasn't going to be possible as Tara's hips jumped and flexed to each of her movements in such a way she knew that the blonde was much closer to orgasm then probably even she knew herself.

Greedily wanting to feel just that, Willow took a deep breath and pressed her lips inward so that she could close them over the flesh she teased and sucked.

Tara felt her hips shift back and forth under the new harder tension that flared from deep with the core of her body. A familiar shivering began in her inner thighs as she tried to push down closer to her lover's lips, but the press down made the pressure increase and with a quick turn Tara found herself lifting up off the bed with her upper body as all the muscles inside her body started to spasm, her orgasm breaking hard through her body.

Willow could hardly believe the uninhibited show of love that Tara was experiencing and she did her best to draw the pleasure out as long as she could. When Tara's body finally settled back on the mattress she moved up beside her lover drawing the blonde's tired body to hers.

"I love you so much." She kissed her cheek seeing that Tara was still panting to hard for a mouth-to-mouth kiss.

"I love you too." Tara managed to reply. "Mmmmm I don't have a head to have a headache anymore." She let her eyes flutter closed and her arms dropped down.

"That was my plan." Willow smiled happily as she pulled the sheet up over them. "Rest baby, I'm right here."

"Mmmmm, snuggle me." Tara requested softly.

"Forever." The redhead pulled her close spooning around her body snuggling close.

"I think I've found it." Giles looked up from his book pulling off his glasses.

All the eyes in the room went to look at him immediately.

"Sorry." He apologized. "I didn't mean to sound quite that victorious"

"What is it Giles?" Buffy offered him the opportunity to expand.

"Well I've been puzzling out magic babble." He began.

"Babble can be magic?" Willow grinned. "I must look into that more."

"We did come across a phrase Rupert donned, 'the Willow passage'." Sandra smiled at her.

"And what does it suggest?" Willow smiled at the name.

"Well when we first encountered it we had the rather literal translation of 'The Three can defeat the one, armed with The One made three by The Two.'" Sandra explained the passage.

"Definitely Willow babble." Buffy laughed lightly.

"Precisely." Giles nodded.

"Well I think it's cute." Tara reached out and squeezed her lover's hand.

"Maybe I wrote it in another life." Willow squeezed Tara's hand back.

"Possibly." Giles didn't smile. "But unfortunately I don't have good news."

"Bad me in a previous life." Willow looked at him and stuck her bottom lip out.

"I'm sure it wasn't your fault baby." Tara encouraged her.

"Giles." Buffy tried to bring the attention back to the Watcher. "Bad news?"

"Oh yes, well 'The One' it refers to apparently, is the staff." Giles filled in.

"Got that bit." She nodded and saw everyone agreeing.

"Well yes that's the bad news, taking the translation we have to have three staves." Giles sighed.

"So you mean we need three of them for the three of us?" Faith pointed between Buffy and herself, and then upstairs to where Owl was resting.

"Exactly." Giles nodded.

"Where are the other two?" Buffy asked bluntly.

"I don't know there's no reference to that." Giles shook his head and rubbed his temple.

"But it says there are three." Buffy underlined. "We only have one. You said the three made by the two, if you can figure out who made them we can find the others."

"I don't want to be the knowledge girl, but wouldn't the phrase suggest that its not that there is three, more that we have to 'make' three." Tara interjected.

"Yes, that's the assumption we'd been throwing around." Sandra nodded to her idea.

"There are several replication spells around." Tara put forward.

"Yes, yes." Giles frowned a bit more. "But none of them will work." He sighed heavily hating to squash the enthusiasm.

"Why not?" Buffy was the first to question.

"Because the staff is mystical." Giles looked at her. "If it were that easy to clone or replicate mystical objects then every spellcaster would be doing it." He pointed out the reality. "I'm afraid that it really isn't that simple." He pointed to the book he was reading. "To clone something mystical like the staff, one first needs something that itself is mystical." He tapped the paragraph he had translated.

"We have a ton of mystical stuff, what sort do we need?" Buffy found a shred of hope again.

"Well that's not exactly clear either." Giles again frowned. "They have to be unique, and blessed."

"We'd have to have something equivalent in stature to the staff itself, blessed by an equivalent power and just as rare. The cost of the spell backfiring would be to destroy the artifacts you were using, a very big risk." Zoë threw in listening to what he was outlining.

"And there is a further complication, the artifacts have to be personal." Giles flipped the book closed.

"You mean we have to find mystical underwear?" Faith rose an eyebrow grinning.

"You mean owned by the spellcaster?" Willow questioned at the same time gnawing on her lip.

"Oh that kind of personal." Faith nodded.

"Willow's kind yes." Giles clarified.

"More like something that has gained reputation while in the spellcaster's possession or something that has been willed or passed on by rite to the spellcaster." Zoë continued to explain.

"Quite." Giles nodded impressed at her general knowledge. "Basically we're looking for two unique, personalized, blessed mystical artifacts, that are owned by two specifically powerful spellcasters." He summed up.

Willow looked at Tara for a moment digesting his words. Everyone seemed to mill around oblivious to them as they digested the new breakthrough.

"We... we might have something." She whispered.

"We might?" Tara glanced at her

"The arrow." Willow looked into blue eyes.

"Oh my." Tara whispered and put her hand up to her lips.

"The arrow?" Giles couldn't help but eavesdrop.

"Blessed, it's ours and ours alone." Willow filled in her voice still almost inaudible.

"Willow what are you talking about?" Buffy asked edging forward on her chair.

"Do you think it will work?" For a moment Willow looked only at her lover.

"I... I don't know." Tara in turn only looked at Willow and though her words were hesitant her head was nodding.

"We... we have an arrow... halved and blessed by Artemis." Willow squeezed Tara's hand slowly turning to glance at the others.

"Blessed by who?" Faith frowned.

"Artemis, Greek Goddess of the hunt." Zoë filled in with wide eyes. "Patron deity of the Amazons."

"Unbelievably I find myself adding to the inane questions." Giles interjected. "How on earth did you come by this?"

"We… Um... we asked." Willow chewed on her lip again.

"Asked? One doesn't just ask a Goddess to bless an arrow." Giles frowned at the redhead.

"Yes one does." Willow shook her head back. "It's when I asked Tara to marry me, and we shot it off asking for blessing and we got it."

"This is great right?" Faith perked up. "Red and Blondie can do the mojo, then wham bam three staves, and we kick the First's ass."

"Tiny problem." Zoë put up her hand.

"And that would be Maple Leaf." Faith looked at her with a grin.

"If Willow and Tara are working to maintain the replication, who is going to give the First form?" She held out her notebook and waved it slightly.

"Well I suppose I could." Giles offered raising an eyebrow slightly.

"I'm going to have to rework this for one caster." Zoë huffed a bit pulling it back into her lap.

"And it looks like we're looking at cloning spells." Tara glanced at her lover.

"Well considering that was pegged to be a downer meeting." Faith pushed up. "It went kinda well. So you can go relieve your insane girlie now B. I mean I know we heal quick, but after ten hours I'm not sure she should be showing the gang how to vault over their opponent with their sword."

"What?" Buffy looked out the window and scowled. She could hardly believe that she was looking at exactly what Faith had described. Owl, who should have been in bed resting, was out training the SIT's.

"She's keen, you gotta love that." Faith grinned and leaned to pick up her can of coke from the table.

"Work on the spells." Buffy pushed up and moved towards the back door.

"Should I go out and save Birdie?" Faith grinned even more broadly. "Or do I just grab a shower?"

"Shower. They don't need you interfering." Sandra gave her a look.

"Shower it is." Faith nodded and took long strides out. "Good luck with the spells."

Reaching the backyard, Buffy stopped her hands on her hips.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" She barked at the tall Slayer.

"What... oh err… Kennedy, take over here will you." Owl shook out her arms and held out her sword to the dark haired potential.

"Busted." Kennedy gave her a sly grin moving over to take the sword and Owl pulled away from the group of girls and looked at Buffy

"Hey baby." She tried a bright smile.

"What are you doing?" Buffy hissed. "You're supposed to be healing not high vaulting things."

"But I feel fine, the stitches aren't even pulling." Owl objected. "We could slip somewhere quieter and you could check they're ok." She winked.

"You're incorrigible." Buffy shook her head.

"I am, and I'm taking that as a no." She added.

"Get upstairs." Buffy growled stalking into the house.

"Looks like I'm in Shit Ken, keep going, Faith should be out soonish." Owl turned and shrugged. "Good start by the way guys, great recovery of skills after last night." She smiled at them all before moving towards the house that her and Buffy had taken up residence in.

Buffy was standing at the bottom of the stairs inside the house, tapping the stair rail as she waited for Owl to join her. Owl eased the basement door closed and slowly descended the stairs, passing Buffy to stand just by the dresser.

"You make me worry half to death, make me spend half the night away worrying more about you and then I find you out with the SIT's launching over things like you're fine?" Buffy moved over in front of her.

"I was just, you know working on their confidence." Owl wasn't sure for a moment how to gauge Buffy's statement. After all it was hard sometimes to judge if the blonde was angry-angry or just upset and overwhelmed.

"You didn't think perhaps if you had ten tons of energy you could have come to find me instead?" Buffy pushed closer to her.

"You were in a meeting remember." Owl smirked and stepped forward feeling her inner worry melt away as Buffy's intentions became clearer.

"Yeah well naked and waiting on the bed didn't occur to you?" Buffy looped her arms around Owl's neck.

"You told me to look after the SIT's." Owl defended sliding her arms onto Buffy's hips.

"Just accept you're wrong, I'm right... time to suck up." Buffy leaned up on her toes and kissed her open mouthed.

"I accept it." Owl pushed Buffy up a little, her hands firmly on her hips, growling as she felt the other Slayer's body push up off the floor and latch around her body. "How can I make it better?" She pressed her lips to Buffy's throat.

"Much sucking up and down." Buffy growled arching her hips against Owl's.

"Oh that would be my pleasure." Owl slid her hands back onto Buffy's ass squeezing.

"We have good spell news." Buffy ground against her hands.

"Oh do tell." Owl carried Buffy to the bed, laying her down gently.

"Willow and Tara have a way to make three staves... Three staffs... Whatever... We're each going to have one." She leaned up and kissed Owl full on the lips.

"One each, cool." Piper grinned in the kiss. "Not wanting to sound stupid, but how are they going to do that? I kinda thought that the staff was like THE staff, as in singular." She wiggled her body closer so that she was pressing her center to Buffy's.

"Mmmmmm..." Buffy groaned her eyes dipping closed with the movement for a moment. "They have a spell where if you use other sacred objects you can mimic the staff, apparently its all part of the staff's prophecy. The one made into three by the two."

"Sounds like magic babble to me." Owl admitted dipping her head down to kiss Buffy's neck.

"Exactly." Buffy leaned her head back wanting more of the attention as she gripped her legs harder to grind against Owl's hips. "All I know is it gets us all a staff."

"Which means the three of us can kick the First's ass at the same time, I like it." Owl kissed over and over the newly exposed skin. "But wait, I thought the magical duo were making the First all fleshy so we can do the kicking."

"That was the glitch, Giles is going to have to do it now." Buffy reached up unbuttoning her top. "Zoë is pissed because she has to redo the spell but too bad, we need everyone with staffs."

"And at least our little Canadian has her little Brit to keep her happy now." Piper pointed out the other positive, smiling as Buffy worked.

"We're like the UN." Buffy laughed finally getting it pulled off her body so that her stomach and bra was exposed. She reached up pulling at Owl's T-shirt.

Owl pushed back and pulled off her shirt, revealing the neat row of stitches across the completely sealed wound.

"Bringing together the nations of the world huh." She chuckled dropped the shirt off the side of the bed.

"Something like that." Buffy leaned up kissing the flesh of Owl's collarbone as it was exposed.

"So don't you want to do a wound check or something?" Piper breathed deeper, enjoying the warm kisses being planted across her collar.

"You say you're better, if I find out you're not you're in bigger trouble." Buffy warned reaching down to the buckle on her lover's belt.

"You know for the girlie in this relationship, you're kinda bossy." Owl winked.

"Good thing you like it." Buffy looked up at her grinning.

"You have a point there." Piper nodded smirking back. "So pretty lady, what mood are you in today?" She reached down to help with her belt.

"You." Buffy answered simply. "Way too much talking already." She pulled Piper down harder and flipped her over straddling over her hips as she bent down kissing her.

"Mmmm." Piper growled lightly reaching her arms up around Buffy's back, at the same time the Slayer pressed down tight against her hips. "God you're hot today." She broke the tongue filled kiss with a second growl.

"So are you." Buffy kissed down her body moving to manhandle off the tall Slayer's bra before she closed her lips sucking hard on her left nipple.

"And hungry apparently." Piper pushed her back up in a hard arch.

"Always." The Slayer licked and sucked across her entire breast, bringing up several red spots on the flesh.

"God you're amazing." The tall woman reached and pressed her hands into Buffy's thighs.

"What do you want?" Buffy asked quickly before moving over to her other breast.

"To make you explode with pleasure." Piper slid her hands back and forth up Buffy's thighs. "To feel you on top of me, around me... mmmmmm, I want to have you."

"You don't have what you need on." Buffy growled licking down and up her stomach.

"Is that a request or a demand?" Piper smirked noting the careful way that Buffy lessened the pressure as she ran her tongue over the wound line.

"Observation, you said what you wanted but you're not ready for it." Buffy teased licking back up between her breasts.

"Well maybe you want a turn." Owl's smile grew a little.

"Do you think?" Buffy leaned up looking at her. "I mean I've never..." She admitted unnecessarily.

"I know you haven't, but that doesn't mean that now isn't a great time to be a first time." Piper countered.

"Where is it?" Buffy grinned liking the idea.

"Saddlebag, in the closet." Piper nodded.

"Get naked." Buffy kissed her again deeply before moving over to the closet door and swinging it closed so she was obstructed from view.

Piper got off the bed and quickly got rid of her remaining clothes, grinning almost inanely to herself, that Buffy was, well doing was she was doing. It just confirmed to the tall Slayer what she had suspected before their first kiss, behind the tight and somewhat prudish front, Buffy was longing to be a sexually confident young woman.

"Do you want shorts on or just her?" Buffy questioned from behind the barrier.

"Which ever feels best baby." Piper replied as she lay back down on the bed, shifting the pillows and sheets slightly beneath her.

The shuffling of Buffy working in the close quarters could be heard and a slight muffled curse sounded as something banged against the wooden door.

"What flavor?" Buffy tried to ask without showing how nervous she was.

"Bring the box babe, we can chose when we're ready." Piper encouraged her.

Buffy knew why she felt nervous this wasn't something she had ever done. For all she knew Piper could take one look at her and start laughing.

'If anyone had ever suggested I'd be standing here with a leather harness and a very large silicone...' Her mind stopped.

"You didn't say who you wanted." The Slayer poked her head around the door.

"Baby either is fine. There's only two in there to chose from." She laughed softly. "Pick whichever. You're gonna look stunning in either."

Buffy pulled back checking the straps and the buckles making sure it was tight enough, as she adjusted the central strap that went down around between her legs she groaned as the leather pressed up against her very hard center.

"Close your eyes." She requested picking up the box of condoms and taking a deep breath.

"They're closed." She called reassuringly. Piper willingly followed the soft requested wanting Buffy to feel completely in charge and comfortable.

"I feel silly." Buffy admitted in a soft voice as she leaned out to check her lover's eyes were closed and then moved over quickly to the bed when she knew they were. She pulled up the light sheet and lay down next to her pulling the covers up over her body. "Okay."

"Buffy listen to me." Owl kept her eyes closed but turned on her side to face her lover. "If you don't feel comfy with it, then take her off." She said softly. "There's no has to about this, some people don't like to wear them, hell some people don't like them at all."

"No, she's comfy." Buffy turned to face her putting her hand on Owl's side.

"So did my girl chose shorts or no shorts..." Piper quizzed as she inched a little closer, her hand reaching over, under the sheet to Buffy's hip.

"No shorts." Buffy pressed a little closer so that Piper could feel. "Just the sheet."

Slowly and carefully Buffy felt as her lover traced her hand over the leather at Buffy's hip, trailing back and forth gently.

"So she feels comfy, anything else?" Piper moved her body up closer to Buffy's so that her breast grazed against the other Slayer's, her stomach touched Buffy's lightly. "Does she make you feel any…" Piper paused. "Different?" She asked carefully.

"Mmmm snug." Buffy shifted her hip so that her knee pressed against Piper's thigh. "And a bit silly to have, well you know." She stopped her hand cupping it over the other Slayer's ass. "Since I'm not a boy. You can open your eyes." She leaned in to kiss her.

"I was waiting for that." Piper kissed Buffy tenderly for a long moment and opened her eyes when they pulled their lips apart. "So, what do you want to do now baby?" She ran her hand around and then down the front of the leather harness, sliding her fingers lightly over the silicon shaft, down to the base, and then pressing it back against Buffy's body.

"I..." Buffy was going to attempt an answer when the pressure made her gasp in for air slightly. "Sorry?" She forgot the question surprised by the amount of sensation the simple move had caused. Piper smirked softly and leaned in kissing close to Buffy's ear.

"I asked what you wanted to do now baby." She whispered huskily, moving the base up and down a little.

Buffy found she was ignoring the question again as her hips moved without her asking against the pressure.

"I think..." She pressed forward wanting to kiss her lover again desperately, feel the press of their bodies together.

"Mmmm." Piper pressed up against Buffy's body as they kissed deeply, the taller Slayer's tongue instantly diving into Buffy's hot mouth, grazing around her teeth.

Buffy barely knew what she was doing as she pressed closer, her fingers curling into the soft skin and tense muscles of Piper's butt cheek as she pushed her mouth closer.

Smiling to herself as Buffy pressed closer, Piper breathed deeply through her nose, so to not break the deep kiss. She pulled her hand free of the silicon and very gradually she lifted her leg and placed it over Buffy's, pushing her body up a little so that her warm center rested against the thick leather just above the metal 'O' ring holding the shaft in place.

"Piper?" Buffy questioned not sure from the positioning what her lover was doing. "I didn't... You didn't pick a flavor remember." She reminded subtly.

"Relax Buffy, we're just warming up." Piper pressed her lower body firmly against Buffy's. "The flavor doesn't become an issue until you really want me." She cocked and eyebrow and brought her hand to cup over Buffy's breast.

The new sensation made Buffy cough as her body pressed against Piper's hand.

"I feel warm." She admitted with a slight blush. "Leather rubbing... I feel like I'm going to dive into a Willow babble."

"Feel free, I'll be right here, lavishing your neck and well other things." She kissed Buffy's throat and squeezed her hand over the soft skin it covered.

Buffy didn't bother to utter a word as she tipped her head back a bit, enjoying the hot row of kisses that went down her skin as the ache in her nipple intensified as strong fingers pulled and pressured it. She ran her hand down Piper's thigh, flexing her fingers into it as her hips rocked slightly.

"That's it baby, feel the rhythm." Piper breathed words of encouragement onto Buffy's throat as she kissed and licked her way back. Her hand moving back and forth capturing the stiff peak of her lover's nipple between the webbing of her fingers and then squeezing her whole hand into the soft mound.

"God Piper!" Buffy moaned letting her body move more freely as she focused on the fire building between her legs.

"Feel good?" Piper breathed hotly again on Buffy's skin.

"Amazing." The Slayer nodded. "I don't know why... It's different from when you have her on." She admitted softly.

"Of course." Piper assured her gently. "That's because you're going to be taking me, you're going to be the one to make me squirm and pant for release." She drew her tongue in a wet line up Buffy's throat and over her chin, pulling back to press their lips together. "You're going to fuck me." She whispered, her eyes sparkling with desire.

"Can I..." Buffy pulled back her voice soft and a little unsure. "Can I make love to you?" It dipped down almost silent.

"Every day for as long as you like baby." Piper replied kissing her lightly. "And I want grape, when you're ready." She added looking loving at the other Slayer.

"You're addicted to the grape." Buffy found a laugh despite the serious emotions that were running through her body. "Can you put it on?"

"Of course." Piper slid her leg off from Buffy's body and rolled over softly, her arm reaching down to the small black box beside the bed. Picking it up she flicked it open and pulled out her chosen flavor, dropping the rest of the box on the floor as she turned back on her side to face Buffy. "This whole thing might be easier if we lost the sheet." She pointed out as she ripped open the small square packet.

"Okay." Buffy nodded feeling very exposed and vulnerable. She knew she shouldn't she knew this was Piper and the other Slayer had never done anything to warrant such a fear but it still shadowed her.

"No baby, it's okay, sex in sheets can be great to. Do you want top, bottom, or are you happier side by side?" Piper pulled the sheet over them again moving her hand down almost on automatic, finding the hard silicon and sliding the grape scented condom in place.

"You want to see don't you?" Buffy looked at her as the other Slayer worked.

"Not more than I want to see you enjoy this." Piper flicked her eyes up to smile at Buffy.

"You can take it off. It's okay." Buffy put forward feeling her bravery attempting to be strong but failing. "God I don't know why I'm feeling like such an idiot." She cursed herself.

"Buffy come on, it's okay, you're feeling just a little odd because this is new and you've never even contemplated it before, and because not every sexual experience you've had has been great." Piper smoothed her hand up Buffy's side. "The sheet is fine where the sheet is, it'll give me something to hold on to."

"Did you feel odd the first time?" Buffy questioned reaching up to run her fingers along Piper's shoulder trying to relax and forget what was going on for a moment.

"Oh yeah." Piper nodded. "And it was made worse by the fact that the first harness I had was elasticized nylon."

"Who did you wear it for?" Buffy smiled at the image, she couldn't imagine anything other than leather being effective.

"You so don't want to know the answer to that question." Piper chuckled. "It was for a party, I went as Superman, Nina insisted I matched all criteria." She tucked a blonde lock of hair behind Buffy's ear.

"Mmmm it sounds cute. Did Nina appreciate your effort?" Buffy slid her hand down exploring over the mounds of her lover's breasts as she relaxed.

"Yes, very much so, though God forbid I was a real boy, with the amount of attention she paid to it, stroking and everything." Piper moaned softly as her nipples stiffened a little more.

"Real boys can't stand that much attention." Buffy nodded as she teased more moving down to the hard peaks.

"Believe me I was struggling." Piper admitted.

"Did anyone else notice?" The Slayer wound her thumb around the nipple she was torturing.

"Oh only most of the rest of the party, I got close to twenty offers that night." Piper groaned as flares of pleasure pulsed through her.

"How many did you accept?" Buffy teased pushing her over onto her back, the split attention between their conversation and what was going on making her much more comfortable. She lowered her lips to where her fingers were sucking and licking.

"Just one." Piper nestled into to mattress panting lightly.

"Nina?" Buffy teased licking around faster.

"Oh God no, she was just my best friend!" Piper chuckled. "Don t ask why she spent all night rubbing my crotch."

"You're so called 'best friend' spent the whole night rubbing your crotch?" Buffy looked up laughing as she settled more over her lover, the silicon shaft pressing against Piper's thigh. "Are you sure you weren't more than friends?"

"Don't even tease me about that, every one thought we were, but no we weren't, we kissed a few times, and mmmmmm." Piper's voice faded as she felt the gentle slide of lubricated silicone against her thigh.

"You kissed your best friend and you don't think you were more than? I've never kissed Willow, ever!" Buffy teased licking across to the other nipple.

"You were straight." Piper argued arching up.

"And you and Nina were too eh?" Buffy grinned, feeling her body settling in closer as Piper spread her legs up and more open.

"I wasn't." Piper shook her head. "I've appreciated girls for a long while."

"I love that you're so confident." Buffy admitted looking down at her bringing herself up more so they were eye to eye. "I'm not sure what to do next." She admitted softly.

"What do you want to do?" Piper reached up and ran her fingertip over Buffy's shoulder.

"Make love to you." Buffy brushed their lips together.

"Then you might want to test I'm ready for you." The taller woman whispered.

"Test you're..." Buffy quirked an eyebrow and then smiled. "Oh test." She grinned as she slid her hand down, moving the silicone to one side as she curled her fingers through damp hair before she pressed two fingers in flicking over Piper's clit.

"Mmmmm ohhhhh Buffy, baby." Piper pushed her head back into the pillows as her body flexed up.

"I don't think you're ready yet." Buffy teased as her fingers swirled around the sensitive nub of flesh. "I should keep testing."

"Mmmm feel free." Piper's voice notched up a little. "God Buffy you are amazing."

"Let's not get into the amazing debate." The Slayer laughed as she swirled her fingers and dipped her head back down doing the same to a hard nipple.

"Mmmmahhhh." Piper shivered and moaned. "I want you." She breathed out.

"You want me." Buffy repeated slipping her hand back to grasp the silicon moving it in to nudge against the tall slayer's clit much as Piper had done to her many times.

"Oh sweet heaven, God Buffy you had no idea how good that feels." Piper caught her bottom lip with her teeth, sliding her legs further apart.

"I know how good it feels when you do it to me." Buffy swirled it in place, the round head pressing in a large area.

"Mmmm but I've done it before." Piper appraised.

"I'm trying to be a quick learner, I have a good teacher." Buffy smiled slipping it around a few more times before she moved it lower sliding it around soaked inner lips.

"Maybe you're just an excellent student." Piper moaned again here eyes narrowing slightly in pleasure.

"I never was with anything else, you must inspire me." Buffy worked to get her weight up on her knees, pulling them up to Piper's body as she continued to swirl. Bracing her one hand up she got herself in the best position before she pressed the slightly thicker head in just a little, guiding it carefully with her fingers.

"Oh yes Buffy," Piper moaned deeply. "That's so good."

"I don't want to hurt you." Buffy knew how silly the comment sounded since they were both Slayers. She eased her body down pressing a little deeper.

"You won't." Piper assured her. "Please Buffy, make love to me." She whispered.

"I want that." Buffy slowly pressed down all the way, feeling the way the pressure slowly eased as Piper's body accepted her. She moaned as their hips went flush together and slowly she began to pull back.

"That's it baby, mmmmmm God I needed you inside." Piper purred. "Don't pull too far back, they have a habit of slipping out." She warned softly.

"Okay." Buffy nodded, her hand still down between them as she guided to a point where she felt the pressure start to slip before she pressed back in.

"So good." Piper encouraged. "So good baby." She felt her body open more easily this time, eager to take her lover.

"You feel so good." Buffy moaned moving her hand back as she pressed in and began to pull out a bit again, shortening the move as she flexed her hips in and out.

"Oh... God... Yes..." Piper rocked beneath her. "God Buffy... so good." She wrapped her arms around the other Slayer holding her close, pressing her body up to her to meet the short thrusts. Buffy groaned as she watched the way that Piper was reacting, she pressed her hips down with a bit more force meeting the other Slayer's press up. "That's it baby, feel her, feel me, ooh!" Piper panted harder and faster. "Push baby." She encouraged.

Buffy didn't so much think about how she could change what she was doing as she did it. She pulled back and forth in longer faster strokes, pressing her knees under Piper's legs for leverage as she leaned her whole light frame into the strokes.

Piper panted harder her body rocking and pressing up against Buffy in perfect rhythm.

"Can I put my legs around you?" She asked before confining the other Slayer.

"Yes." Buffy groaned pressing and staying in close so that Piper could move.

The taller Slayer shifted just a little moving her legs to lock around Buffy's, pulling her lover close to her, pressing the now warm shaft deeper still. With a deeper groan Piper pushed up hard.

"God Piper..." Buffy groaned with her as she shifted her weight so that she could press down harder as their bodies rocked against one another.

"Okay?" Piper checked breathless as their pace sped up al little

"You feel... Unbelievable." The blonde vowed as they moved. She pushed up her upper body a bit so that she could use the leverage to lift them a little pressing as deep as she could.

"There you go." Piper growled. "God I've realized I've never done this as a slayer, with all that gives me. God Buffy, yes, more!"

"Lots of things that being a slayer makes different." Buffy moved faster, their motion making the bed rock on its base slightly.

"God I can't wait to discover them all." Piper grunted slightly as they moved more erratically. "Ahhhhhhh OHHH GOD!" The tall brunette bucked hard. "Ahhhhhhh, Ahhhhhhh BUFFFY! God… Yes… harder!" She panted.

Buffy pushed her knees into the mattress thrusting hard enough that she could feel her breasts sliding against Piper's. Piper felt her body shake and tighten around the hot silicone inside her, her legs gripping Buffy hard too, she pushed her back up in a hard arch.

"OH GOD!" She screamed more than loudly, her body releasing in a hot spasm.

Buffy watched amazed, trying to keep the rhythm up between them even as Piper's hips got more erratic and it was harder to make sure she didn't slip out. She kept her thrusts short, an easy task now that the muscles that gripped the silicone were tight and hard.

Piper gave up trying talk just letting her body completely release the passion that had built up. Then she dropped heavily onto the mattress, panting harder.

Buffy pulled to a quick stop still buried deep inside as she reached up to brush hair off Owl's forehead.

"You're so sexy." She grinned proudly.

"Says... the...girl...who just… did that." Piper couldn't string her words together properly.

"I had some expert help." Buffy leaned the short distance to kiss her a couple of times lightly not impeding her breathing. The lean shifted the angle of the silicone inside the taller woman a little making the Slayer moaned. "How is your stomach?" Buffy checked softly staying still again.

"Feels fine, kinda fluttery." Owl smiled. "You rock my world baby." She chuckled. "You don't have to stay still."

"I mean your wound." Buffy laughed at her purposely circling her hips. "Do you want to get on top?" She asked with a smile.

"Oh so my gorgeous girl's not tired?" Piper smiled brightly.

"Not at all." She shook her head. "Just getting started." She licked her lips.

"How exactly did you stay single for any length of time, when you are such a Goddess in bed and great at all the other important things too?" Piper grinned and leaned pulling Buffy into a hug, but also rolling them over, her legs still locked around the other Slayer's body so that the silicone shaft stayed deep inside her as they rolled. "Oh fuck that felt good." She groaned pushing up off Buffy's body when the Slayer was against the mattress. Piper's long legs now wedged under Buffy's body.

"Show off." Buffy laughed at her lover as she moved. She didn't bother with the other question, it wasn't something she wanted to examine at the moment, the last thing she wanted were any negative thoughts encroaching on the good feelings she had fuelling her mind and body.

"Hey I can't take all the credit, you rolled with me, a lot of people would have pushed against my move and slipped out." Piper winked.

"I don't want out." Buffy shook her head reaching up her hands to cup Piper's breasts.

"So she feels okay then?" Piper smirked using her back to pull her upright making her gasp as the penetrating angle changed completely. She took a second or two to adjust before sitting more or less up right, her back arched slightly pressing her breasts out for Buffy to hold.

"Mmmm wonderful, now I know why you love to wear her." Buffy nodded kneading the flesh she held.

"After all the shit dies down, we'll get you your own." Piper moved both hands and drew her fingertips over Buffy's collarbone.

"Wouldn't that be a little butchy for the femme?" Buffy grinned.

"We'll get yours in pink." Piper winked. "So, you ready to be ridden?" She added wickedly

"Can't wait." Buffy admitted urged her to start moving.

"You might regret that." Piper winked again and pushed slightly forward beginning the hot, passionate loving process again.

Bethany listened to the cross grumble that escaped Zoë's mouth and then watched the pen her lover was holding flicked up into the air to land on the bed. She turned from her place on the chair beside the dressing table and smiled at the Canadian.

"Not going well?" She asked softly.

"Not going well. I mean this is an entirely different spell if there is only one caster. I have to do balance, aura projection, spell maintenance, not to even start in about backwash and rebound." She shook her head. "This must sound totally boring for you." She gave a lopsided smile to her lover.

"Weird maybe, boring no." Bethany shook her head. "Maybe a break from it would be good, we could go for a walk."

"Around the back yard? Are the SIT's still practicing?" Zoë leaned back and stretched her arms putting the books and notepad on the table beside her.

The small English woman pushed up and moved to the window, pulling back the lace curtain looking down onto the yard below.

"No the SIT's are probably munching, I can't imagine the energy they must expend." She dropped the drape back into place.

"Neither can I, or the Slayers for that matter." Zoë pushed up and moved over hugging her from behind. "You look very beautiful this afternoon."

"Mmmm I feel it." Bethany leaned back and relaxed as she felt the taller woman rock them gently. "You look beautiful too, though stressed, and almost cross with certain 'older' members of this little group. Run it by me again… Piper, Buffy and Faith are slayers, right? The rest of the little gang are possibly going to be slayers apart from Willow and Tara who are witches, and the two other Brits are, what was it again, watching?"

"Watchers, from a Council dedicated to helping the chosen slayers fight evil. I mean the two of them from what I know are nice but they don't have the most broad perspectives on things." Zoë rocked her slightly. "Everything is this or that, they don't look at all the other bits and pieces."

"Well I'm sure they have a tough job." Beth leaned back a little heavier. "So remind me again, how my beloved Zee got involved in all of this."

"M, the leader of my coven in Italy needed to have a book brought to Tara. We couldn't trust it to just anyone so I well volunteered to play FedEx." Zee laughed lightly. "You know me, all heart and no head when it comes to a fight."

"Yes." Bethany nodded with a soft sigh. "So, walk?" She offered again.

"Definitely." Zoë pulled back a little to let her move. "Where do you want to go after this? You'd love Italy."

"Do you need to go back there, to train more?" Beth crossed to the dresses and pushed her feet into soft pink sneakers.

"I don't know. I learned a lot but there is always so much more to learn. Where do you want to go?" Zoë questioned again.

"Well I've not been back to England for a long while." Beth mused as she walked with Zoë down the landing and through the house to the back door.

"I miss it, need a good feeding of fish and chips." Zoë nodded as she opened the back door for her.

"You hate fish and chips." Bethany laughed as she stepped onto the concrete path that led up the garden.

"I know but I haven't had any for so long I miss bitching about how I hate them." Zoë laughed and skipped ahead a bit.

"Then let me remind you," Bethany paused and then flipped into a fake Canadian accent. "Ewwww! These are gross, gross I say, I mean look…" She wiggled the imaginary chip. "Look at the fat on that Ewwww!" Zoë stopped laughing so hard she almost buckled. "Oh you've so missed my Canadian accent." Beth stopped and turned laughing softly, still wiggling the invisible chip.

"Do more of me." Zoë kept laughing.

"Mmmm." Beth contemplated for a moment. "Beth, Bethie, I'm hungareeeeee, hungareeeeee." She chuckled rubbing her tummy.

Zoë kept laughing falling down to sit on the grass watching the show.

"I could do my British impression." Zoë grinned. "Bloody hell, I can't believe that anyone would dare be so rude." She put on a very bad accent.

"You are so bad at that, I can't believe after all this time you've not improved." Bethany chuckled. "I mean what is that about, eh?" She winked.

"I have no idea." Zoë responded as properly as she could. "I guess I'm just a friggin Canuck eh?" She grinned putting on a thicker accent.

"You are and I love you." Beth beamed as she leapt down on top of the Canadian, her knees on the grass, her light frame straddling her lover.

"Not as much as I love you." Zoë reached up hugging her closer.

"So you think you're going to beat this, what ever 'this' is?" Bethany asked her smile disappearing and her tone falling serious.

"Yes." Zoë nodded just as serious. "Want to know how I know?"

"Yes please." Beth nodded looking deep into her lover's eyes.

"Because I have you back in my life and nothing on Earth or that the Hellmouth can spit out is going to ruin our second chance." Her voice was honest and firm.

Bethany smiled a little again and leaned her head down against Zoë's chest.

"Is it going to be terrible? Like... I don't know, like a war or something?" She whispered, hearing her own voice shake.

"I think so, but we won't be anywhere near it baby. You don't have to worry about that. The Slayers and SIT's will be doing the fighting. We'll just be backup, probably holed up here with Dawn and anyone still injured." Zoë assured her. "They won't want us to fight, we're more of a worry than a help. I'll probably be in charge of keeping the shield up to offer some protection."

"But I have to do something." Beth frowned. "I can't just be here like some, I don't know, lame duck."

"You're going to be with me, that makes you the most important thing of all." Zoë hugged her. "My inspiration."

"To you maybe." Beth's brow was furrowed, her thoughts obviously troubled.

"What's wrong baby? This isn't your fight." She offered softly. "No one here expects you to do anything like pick up a sword or start throwing spells around."

"Then just what am I supposed to do?" Beth sighed. "Everyone else is rushing around doing something"

"Look sexy and make me drool." Zoë squeezed her hands into Beth's butt.

"It's not enough." Beth pushed up and away frowning hard.

"Beth, what do you want to do?" Zoë frowned as she moved away.

"I don't know." Beth turned and frowned too. "Oh Zee I'm sorry." She sighed heavily, coming back over. "It's just... it's just its all too much like being with Holly, its like I'm on this rollercoaster to doom and I can't get off."

"I'm sorry, I never wanted to do that too you." Zoë pulled up to stand. "I swear if I could get you out of here and keep you safe I would but this is the only place I have a hope of keeping you safe."

"But... but maybe it wouldn't come after me, you know, maybe it was just trying to make you more afraid." Beth rubbed her hand on her forehead.

"I can't risk that it was a ruse Bethie, I can't." Zoë shook her head firmly. "Would you if something told you it was going to hunt me down and kill me?"

"You know I would try and stop it, make you safe." Beth frowned harder. "I just can't do nothing, there must be something, anything that I can help with."

"I know this is going to sound silly but I'm sure everyone would die for like one of your amazing dinner party meals. I mean you see the shit the girls have been eating, something nice and healthy to keep up their energy." Zoë thought of one of Beth's talents.

"You're suggesting I cook?" Beth arched an eyebrow.

"Only because you are the best chef in the universe." Zoë smiled at her.

"In your opinion." Beth smiled back.

"Beth, you see these girls. Most of them aren't even out of high school. And the Watcher's aren't much help. They need a nice sweet older sister and I know how good you are at being there for people." Zoë moved closer to her.

"Right so you want them sleeping in our room, and me reading them bedtime stories huh?" Beth teased.

"No!" Zoë had a flash of stern resolve come over her face. "Only me and you in bed, in the room, in the near vicinity."

"Calm down." Beth laughed. "Just you and me in the bed for sure."

"Mmmm good." Zoë hugged her. "We could go test it?" She grinned.

"I thought we were walking." Bethany pointed out. "You have yet to tell me what kind of fuscias those are." She pointed to a purple flowered bush.

"Pretty ones?" Zoë offered with a smirk.

"You're terrible." The slight woman shook her head.

"Tell me they aren't pretty?" The Canadian countered.

"Of course they are pretty." Beth sighed tenderly. "I give up."

"Go on tell me what they are." Zoë hugged her from behind.

"Oh so as well as cook, big sister and counselor, I'm horticulturist." Beth leaned back again their position similar to how it had been in the bedroom.

"Yes, you are an amazing woman of many, many talents." Zoë kissed her throat. "You're also are a brilliant philosopher and an amateur etymologist."

"You haven't added the other bit." Beth arched her eyebrow.

"Goddess in bed?" Zoë whispered lustily into her ear.

"I was beginning to think I was losing my touch." Beth breathed out.

"Never." Zoë assured her kissing her ear.

"So come on, walk and talk, I so missed the sound of your voice." Beth encouraged her along.

"What do you want me to talk about? We should go house hunting up near Wells. You love being by the seaside." Zoë slipped her hand into Beth's.

"MMM steady on there Zee, that's soundly like a commitment." Beth chuckled as they began a gentle stroll.

"Hey I've been good and haven't asked you to marry me." Zoë winked at her.

"You'd better not either." Beth warned with mock sternness.

"Why not? You'd turn me down?" Zoë checked.

"I might." Beth teased.

"The horror." Zoë laughed.

"Yeah you think the First is bad, you ask me on the wrong day and you'll see what evil looks like." Beth laughed a little harder.

"Oh and what makes a good day?" Zoë checked.

"I'm not going to tell you that am I?" Beth shook her head and walked out in front their hands still held together.

"Well would I need to have a ring?" Zoë offered the first criteria.

"Maybe." Beth swung their stretched hands a little.

"Would you want a big party where I surprised you and asked you?" The Canadian questioned expecting a no on this one.

"Mmmm maybe." Beth grinned.

"You going to even give me a hint?" Zoë laughed.

"No." The young English woman laughed and then moved back close to her lover. "Now tell me more about the garden."

"It's pretty." Zoë laughed looking around. "I think those are roses." She winked.

"Hey come on you two love birds get out of my training grounds!" Faith's voice called brightly to Zoë and Beth as she led the group of potentials out into the slightly dimming daylight.

"We booked the room." Zoë teased back.

"Yeah well it's that way with a wooden door on it, sparing the rest of us from the sights, if not the sounds!" Faith chuckled as the group spaced out. "Hey unless you want to give the group a lesson, Tonsil hockey 101."

A number of the gathered SIT's clapped slightly.

"I'm Canadian Faith, don't tempt me to show you up about anything vaguely related to hockey." Zoë grinned as she put her arm around Beth. "Come on baby, I think the Slayer wants her backyard back."

"We could stay and watch." Beth offered.

"We could." Zoë nodded up to the chairs on the back porch.

"No way, this isn't a spectator sport." Faith called to them. "Get your asses up and join in." She laughed. "No wait, forget that I don't want to be explaining to Buffy how we broke you two."

"I think that's a challenge baby." Zoë laughed and looked at Beth. "You ready to prove her wrong?"

"Shouldn't we tell her we've both studied..." Beth began to object.

"No, let her learn the hard way." Zoë winked at her moving over to get into line with the SIT's.

"Right ladies." Faith clapped her hands together. "We're just going to do a few limbering up exercise, don't worry Maple and Britney if you can't bend as far as us."

"Okay straight down ladies, palms flat on the grass." Faith demonstrated quickly.

"Like this?" Zoë bent down her body reaching her fingertips. "Or like Britney?" She glanced sideways knowing Beth would have her hands down to her wrists on the ground.

"Okay, so you're supple, haven't met a dyke yet who isn't." Faith couldn't help be slightly impressed.

"Faith, watch the lip." Zoë stood up and gave her a short head shake.

"Believe it or not Maple, that was a compliment." Faith grinned. "Okay up and stretch and shake out, then its jogging time." She moved her body easily into a soft bouncy jog and everyone started to imitate her. "There you go I bet you're feeling better already, shaking off the calories from those extra cookies." Faith chuckled brightly.

"You are the most annoying personal trainer Faith." Zoë laughed as she jogged.

"I'm taking that as a compliment." Faith winked. "Okay, when you're feeling nice and ready to work, get into your pairs. You think you can take on Britney there Maple?"

"I can." She nodded.

"Right you worked on vaulting earlier, we're going to be looking at high jumping and low ducking to avoid kick and staff, sword swing attacks." Faith looked around at the assembled pairs of women. "And I would be about to demonstrate if I had a partner..."

"I'll help." Dawn stepped out from the house.

"Yeah okay D, bring it on, over here." Faith waved her out. Dawn moved over and got in a ready stance. "Now, the point of this exercise is at no point in time to touch your partner, the attacker you're to give no pre-empt to whether your strike is going to be low or high. For now we're just practicing which means no weapons." Faith turned to Dawn. "So if as attacker you go high..." Faith flung her arm out at Dawn's head level not yet bringing it in. "As defender you duck low." She paused and looked into brown eyes. "Ready?" She received a nod of confirmation.

Sweeping her arm across at about half slayer speed, Faith began the collision course for the youngest Summers head. Dawn ducked down and away from the swing.

"Just like that." Faith smiled. "And if as attacker you goes low…" She struck out a leg. Dawn jumped up over it coming back down to find her balance quickly. "Just like that." She grinned broadly. "Now remember no contact, if either of you come into contact with the other, sit down, take five and then get back at it." She moved over to Dawn and slung her arm comfortably around her shoulders.

"You could help me practice." Dawn smiled at the Slayer that hung off her.

"If you like." Faith nodded. "Okay guys, partner with the name that comes first in the alphabet, is the attacker first, switch when I call switch, got it?" She turned and pulled away from Dawn. "You sure you wanna do this?"

"I need to be sharp." Dawn nodded putting up her hands.

"Yeah I guess you do, keeping an eye on the spellcasters here you're going to need to be prepped." Faith agreed.

"I'm not staying here, I'm coming to fight." Dawn threw a punch at her knowing Faith would be able to block it.

Dawn's fist collided with Faith's hand, which closed around it and held it firm.

"No, you're not." She said quietly.

"I am." Dawn twisted and hit her in the thigh with a sidekick.

"What does your sister say to that?" Faith's hand flashed out and caught Dawn's foot, upending the dark-haired girl and sending her on her back to the grass in a controlled move.

"I don't care what she thinks." Dawn moved to press up to stand again coming at Faith with a series of punches and kicks.

"You should, she's your sister." Faith evaded them all, ending with a jump that landed her on Dawn's other side. She kicked up her leg to bring her boot level with Dawns chest, holding it a few centimeters short.

Probably to Faith's surprise Dawn had managed to step in around the kick and nailed her with a knee to the inner thigh making her stance shaky.

"That kinda hurt mini D." Faith dropped her other leg and steadied herself.

"I thought we were practicing." Dawn's face was still serious as she kept her hands up ready.

"Okay we are, but then we do what the rest do." Faith brushed down her pants. "No contact, you're attacker first."

"You're the Slayer, why are we no contact?" Dawn dropped her arm for a moment.

"Everyone else is non contact." Faith pointed out, nodding at the group, a couple of who were sitting down obviously having failed to duck or jump "You wanna hit me?"

"Not to hurt you but to learn, the Bringers aren't going to sit down if I hit them." Dawn argued.

"True they're not." Faith nodded, as she looked at the other woman noticing almost for the first time how much like her sister. No, how much of a fit young woman she was. "Okay then, lets go full contact. Get me on the floor if you can."

"I promise not to hurt you." Dawn grinned as she shook out her arms and bounced in spot.

"You wish mini D." Faith grinned.

Dawn came in close knowing the Slayer would give her the leeway before she threw a blatant punch at Faith.

"Cute." Faith let the lunch land on her side. "But that's the only freebie you're getting."

"I don't want freebies." Dawn swept her leg around attempting a judo flip.

"I know." Faith jumped and flipped landing behind Dawn putting her arm around the tall girl's neck.

Dawn did the only move she knew falling limp down and out of the closing grasp, it left her vulnerable on her knees, but she pushed back through clawing at the ground to grapple between Faith's legs. She reached up and punching into the back of one of the Slayer's knees wildly trying to put her off balance.

"Okay, no." Faith lifted the punched leg and span, reaching down she lifted Dawn easily off the floor her arm around her waist. "Don't panic react." She instructed putting her down.

"Sorry." Dawn nodded seeing the mistake. "I didn't get the angle on the flip."

"It's okay, and no you didn't. Also I had you around the throat, but I didn't have your arms controlled, see." Faith gently got them back into the position. "Now you could easily have brought this elbow." With her free hand Faith tapped Dawn's arm. "Back into my ribs."

"But that would just make you squeeze harder." Dawn questioned seeing the move but not sure if it was best.

"Not if you got the right point." Faith shook her head.

"Where am I aiming?" Dawn questioned turning to look at Faith in the close quarters.

Faith suddenly stopped and looked down at Dawn, her breath catching a little.

"You're serious about this aren't you." She dropped her voice low.

"I want to learn to really fight, fight to win." Dawn nodded softly. "Not to survive or run, to win."

"Then right here, with the gang, isn't the right place or time." Faith dropped her grip.

"But you'll teach me?" Dawn turned to look at her not moving away.

"Yeah I'll teach you." Faith nodded.

"Hey Maple." Faith called to the Canadian as the training group spilt up and began to filter back into the house. The dark haired Slayer jogged over and nodded over to Bethany who was just going through the back door chatting with Flick. "You two can handle yourself pretty well." She made the comment casually.

"Yeah well sometimes its not easy being out and proud, best to you know be able to look after yourself, and…" Zoë looked after the English girl too. "The ones you love."

"It's good that you can." Faith nodded in agreement. "Because we're gonna be you know kinda relying on you to keep your eye on the two little witches. I mean yeah we're planning on keeping the action way away from here, but you know plans don't always run smoothly."

"I hear ya." Zoë nodded. "I'm going to be where ever Beth is, I kinda got her into this, so I'll be sticking with her."

"Of course, you're okay Maple." Faith paid her about the biggest compliment she knew.

"You too, if a little easy going with the lip and the sexual blatancy." The Canadian smiled slowly.

"Hey I kinda grew into the 'say it like it is' pattern at an early age." Faith shrugged. "I figured I'm too old to change now."

"You're never too old to change Faith, no one is." Zoë smiled again and then pushed off towards the house.

Faith watched her go and look through the kitchen window, where some of the SIT's had gathered mainly around Bethany, they seemed to be talking about menus from what the Slayer's sensitive hearing was able to pick out. With a soft smile Faith shook her head and began a slow walk of the perimeter.

Part 20

"Come on in Dawn, just because the door's closed doesn't mean that you can't come in." Faith smiled as the timid knock came on her basement door, if it weren't for her Slayer hearing she probably wouldn't have heard it at all.

"You might not want company." Dawn pushed it open and made sure to close it tight behind her before she moved down the stairs.

"You're not company D, you're like, well someone who doesn't need to have an invite. Here look I'll even tidy for you." Faith picked up a pile of weapons and leather from the chair and dumped it on the bed. "A seat just for you."

"Thanks." Dawn smiled and sat down. "I wasn't sure when you wanted to do the other training." She asked almost immediately.

"You're eager. We only came up with the idea, what, two and a half hours ago?" Faith arched an eyebrow as she sat on the bed.

"But going on the First's schedule we should be attacked at three am." Dawn pointed out firmly. "I want to be ready to do more than just run away."

"I don't think it's so much a schedule Dawn as you know, opportunity." Faith sat up bit and glanced at the small travel alarm clock on the side. "Well, okay, its ten o'clock, what do you want to learn first?"

"How to kill Bringers." Dawn stood up anxiously.

"Don't pick something too easy now will you D." Faith watched her stand up, "Look…" She said her tone softening slightly. "You've got good physique, and you've inherited your sister's sense of timing and keen awareness so that puts you two steps up from your average Joe." She tried to encourage her. "I've seen you wield a sword, and various other weapons, you can defend yourself. All this training is about is honing those skills. D you weren't born to be a slayer, you're just you know, you."

"I'm a key, that has to give me something." Dawn bit the words.

Faith took a breath and stood up, she crossed the room and put her hand on the younger woman's shoulder.

"You're Dawn, you're not some dumb ass key, you're Dawn." She stated firmly. "And anything you have, you have, yeah it might be from something in your past, but hey if you want to take that line, I'm not Faith, I'm just 'The X slayer.'" She arched an eyebrow, looking across into brown eyes.

"But you were a girl before you were a Slayer, you had a life, everything in my life is made up." Dawn moved over and sat on the bed.

"You know some of us, well me, would like it if the past was something just made up rather than having to live with the fact that actually it was all real and taking the responsibility for screwing it all up." The dark Slayer admitted.

"I'm sorry." Dawn looked down. "Maybe this is a bad idea. I just... I'm sick of feeling like a little girl."

"Any one with eyes can see you're not a little girl Dawn." Faith smiled gently. "And being able to fight won't make people think you're grown up, well not on its own any way." She pointed out. "Being an adult is about the way you handle and approach everything, not just one facet."

"But even when I do that no one looks at me like an adult, Buffy still thinks I'm like six." Dawn leaned back reaching up to rub her face. "I mean even when I talked to her about Owl she was acting like me saying S E X was like I'd just slapped her."

"The fact that your sister is a stuck up tight ass has nothing to do with how accurately she views you, that's just her." Faith grinned. "So you talked to her about her and Birdy eh? Good for you."

"I mean I love her, but I don't want to be a stuck up tight ass like her." Dawn bent up on her elbows looking at the Slayer. "I mean it's not that big a deal right, I saw a documentary that says humans are meant to be bisexual anyway."

"Preaching to the converted here Dawnie." Faith smirked. "And no worries you're not stuck up tight ass material." She assured her. "You choose to be in my company for a start." She winked at the other woman.

"I like your company." Dawn smiled at her. "So you want to play poker again?"

"I thought you came here to train." Faith raised her eyebrow.

"You didn't seem to want to." Dawn pushed up. "Come on then. Show me something, start small." She peeled off the thicker sweater she was wearing to reveal a tank top that left a strip of her stomach exposed.

Faith pulled off her denim over shirt putting her in a black strap tight fitting top, which was tucked into her dark black jeans.

"Okay, something small, right how about we go for the duck and jump thing we were doing in work out, but add weapons." Faith offered.

"Cool." Dawn immediately went over to the bed and picked a short sword out of the chaos.

"Okay," Faith moved over and picked up a long handled axe. "So you can use the furniture to jump on, but not dive under, invariably diving under shit is a bad idea, unless there is more than one way out from under it or you have no other choice possible left."

"Don't get stuck anywhere you can't get out of check." Dawn gripped the sword with both hands and got ready.

"So you wanna be attacker or defender first?" Faith asked twirling the axe purely for effect.

"Attacker." Dawn nodded as she stepped closer and made a practice thrust at the air with the sword. "Just don't let me hurt you really." She whispered as she did.

"Don't worry D, I won't." Faith smiled and bounced lightly on her feet. "Whenever you're ready Dynamo."

"Here I come." Dawn locked her jaw and moved in taking a side swipe which she saw Faith easily block before she twirled and tried to thrust at her.

Faith jumped sideways spinning the axe, catching the sword blade in the twirl and pulling it from Dawn's rather loose grasp. Landing on the balls of her feet, Faith stopped the spinning weapon and pointed to the sword.

"Hold her a little tighter." She nodded for Dawn to pick it up. "It's a sword not a pencil, if you can't keep it in your hand it's useless."

"Okay." Dawn picked it up tightening her grip before she made another series of fast hard strikes at the Slayer.

This time Faith had to work a little faster at blocking the speedy strikes, still managing eventually to better her though and pin the younger woman's sword down on the floor with her foot.

"Okay now when your opponent has your weapon, and they are bigger and stronger than you, let it go." She advised.

Dawn let go and improvising she moved to tackle Faith, striking her in the throat with her forearm hoping to knock her down. Faith dropped her axe and coughed, completely surprised by the move, she took a step back off Dawn's sword, coughing more as she rubbed her throat.

"Oh God Faith, I'm sorry." Dawn moved forward trying to soothe her. "I just though... I'm so stupid."

"No, no it was a good move D." Faith dropped her hand from her throat and put it on Dawn's shoulder squeezing it a little. "A great move." She slipped her hand around onto the other woman's upper arm and rubbed gently for a second or two before pulling her hand back almost too quickly.

"So a move I should repeat on some stupid Bringer?" Dawn smiled at the touch reaching up to rub Faith's throat.

"Yeah but don't offer to rub it better for them afterwards." Faith smiled and let the brown haired woman touch her throat for a few light caresses of her fingertip, before closing her hand over Dawn's, pulling it back. "Great, so it looks like you learned some things." She smiled backing up and bending down to get her axe.

"What else can I learn?" Dawn moved to pick up her sword.

"Who knows what tomorrow's going to teach you D?" Faith carried her axe and stowed it neatly behind the chair.

"Otherwise known as lesson over eh?" Dawn moved over and sat on the bed.

"Come on by the time you get showered and in bed it's gonna be nearly twelve." Faith reasoned. "Get a few hours before that attack you're predicting."

"I'm not tired." Dawn shook her head. "Can't I hang out here anyway?"

"Dawn, why would you wanna hang around in my room? I'm pretty sure it smells of leather and possibly laundry, not to mention that dead Spike smell I spend hours trying to get rid of." Faith sniffed and made a face.

"I don't smell anything bad." Dawn shook her head. "And do I really want to spend the night listening to everyone else having sex?" She said bluntly. "Buffy and Owl, Willow and Tara, Anya and Xander, even Giles and Sandra, not to mention Zoë and her girlfriend. All the houses are full of it."

"Okay so to put it bluntly you want to stay here because I have zero action going on?" Faith chuckled at the honesty.

"Unless you've found someone to have action with, yes." Dawn smiled at her. "You don't have to entertain me. I just want to hang out."

"Why don't you grab a shower, I'll make milkshakes, and meet you on the couch?" Faith offered the compromise.

"Cool." Dawn hopped up.

"See you there." Faith laughed at just how enthusiastically Dawn moved up and out of the basement.

Zoë watched the redhead as she read down the page in front of her. She could see the way green eyes narrowed the slight flash of white as she chewed on her lip as she read down further. She anxiously sat down finally beside Willow on the couch waiting for any comment.

"How did you?" Willow flipped back and forth between the three pages of writing. "I mean... this is..."

"I think I factored in everything." Zoë leaned forward a bit watching her. "Do you see any holes?"

"No, Zoë, what I mean is this should have taken you months to work out. You've mixed four different spells, balanced them and managed to work in a viable diffusion." She poked at the different areas.

"The hint in the combat magic helped." Zoë shrugged. "And the diffusion was the easy bit, it's that which I need you to look at." She pointed to a middle portion. "I can't think of any other way, there has to be a pre-empt spell. Has to be a conjuring of alignment and at least a twelve-hour lag between the start and then the secondary spell. I tried it every other way but it wouldn't have the strength."

"No, no it all makes sense. The pre-empt singles out the spellcaster, the alignment begins to build the being power font and then the conjuring solidifies the spell." Willow nodded her agreement.

"Singles out the spellcaster and does preparation on the crystals used for the final conjuring, without it I can't even begin to find a way to meld crystals like that." Zoë smiled. "Minus using a blow torch."

"Messy." Willow laughed. "I think we should get Giles to do the pre-empt as soon as possible." She nodded. "You really did great Zoë."

"Thanks, I mean being around two people who are as powerful as you and Tara I have a lot to live up too." Zoë shrugged.

"Oh Goddess no, there is no competition." Willow shook her head. "You need to find your own place within the magic, you're own talents. I thought I had found mine but I had so much to learn."

"I heard my name." Rubbing her eyes, Tara wandered into the room dropping a kiss on Willow's head before slipping onto the cushion beside her.

"Willow was just being kind and looking over the spell I came up with." Zoë smiled at the blonde. "I have her seal of approval."

"That's great, though Mr. Giles will need to study it in and out and then in again, you both know that don't you?" Tara laughed gently as she reached out curling her finger in red hair.

"I wouldn't expect him to trust me." Zoë laughed.

"He'll want to check all the translations too." Willow nodded smirking.

"He'll want to check our outfits on the day we make the move." Faith's voice called from the doorway as the dark haired Slayer strode in. "Good morning ladies, I just came over to find you Maple."

"Morning." Zoë turned to look at her. "What's up?"

"It's no good you have to get rid of her." Faith looked at the Canadian and shook her head.

"What's no good?" Zoë looked at her confused.

"That English bird, she has to go." Faith leaned on the doorframe.

"Why?" The Canadian stood up, her tone indignant to the suggestion.

"Because have you seen what she's making my SIT's for breakfast?" Faith laughed at the Canadian's immediate defense of her lover.

"She was making crepes as far as I know." Zoë shrugged.

"Yeah and the rest, there are waffles and hash browns, omelets and bacon, and for the love of God she's baking bread!" The dark Slayer threw up her arms.

"Okay gotta go." Zoë grinned and moved to the door. "I'm not missing out on fresh homemade bread. Is she making me quick jam?" She pressed passed Faith.

"You see that's exactly what happened when I told the SITs what she was doing." Faith laughed and shook her head.

"Faith, you know if you asked her really nice I'm sure she'd make you one of the colossal bacon and egg sandwiches you like, the yolk running all over the place." Zoë teased.

"Too right, I put my order in already." Faith chuckled. "Oh and she said to say to you the word 'Molasses'."

"Molasses?" The Canadian's face lit up. "I really gotta go, I'm not sharing that with anyone." She raced out of the house.

"What is molasses?" Willow questioned.

"Don't ask me she had this jar in her hand and a big frying pan." Faith shrugged. "And something that looked like bread dough."

"Tara?" She looked at her lover.

"I really have to go too." Tara grinned, planting another kiss on Willow's head before she moved to the door. "Maybe Beth needs so help with all that eating... I mean cooking."

"Faith I think whatever this molasses is, we better get some soon." Willow stood up to follow her.

"I'm thinking Canadian." Faith guessed. "How good could it be?"

"Okay more for us." Willow rushed past her to follow everyone else out.

"And I thought the way to a man's heart was through his stomach, not a bunch of young fit women." Faith shouted as she turned and followed laughing softly.

Dawn hung around the doorway to the basement, neither Owl or her sister had been seen since breakfast, Sandra and Anya were giving the SIT's a pep talk about Bringer and Uber anatomy and all the Slayers had officially been given the morning off. She had a bit of a wait but finally the door swung open as Buffy came up carrying empty coffee cups.

"Dawn?" She looked at her sister. "Is something wrong?"

"No, I was just..." Dawn dug her hands in her pockets. "Waiting for you."

"Oh, what's up?" Buffy moved towards the kitchen figuring that Dawn would follow her.

"Is now a good time?" Dawn did follow very slowly.

"Yeah, what do you need?" Buffy put the cups in the sink.

"To talk." Dawn said quietly.

"About what?" Buffy turned looking at her and reached out trying to connect a bit with her sister as she rubbed her hand down Dawn's arm.

"Stuff, sister stuff." Dawn pulled her hands out of her pockets and fiddled with the button on her sleeve. Buffy nodded waiting for her to continue. "I was hoping we could, you know, maybe go to your room." She glanced at the basement door.

"Um okay, I think Owl was getting ready to go tinker with her bike." Buffy moved back to the basement door. Ever since they'd managed to tow the bike back Owl had been obsessing about the mechanical beast.

"No, no I mean if you two are having couple time, it's okay. I can go find Faith and train some more." Dawn lagged behind again.

"Come on it's fine." Buffy motioned for her to go down.

"No, I mean don't you need to go warn Owl…" She checked nervously.

"It's fine Dawn." Buffy shook her head moving down past her sister to see Owl putting her boots on. "Make sure you and Faith don't waste the whole day on that thing." She teased moving over to make the bed.

"Okay baby. Hi there Dawn." Piper looked up as the teenager moved to the top of the stairs.

"Dawn, are you coming down or what?" Buffy prompted her.

"Yes, okay." Dawn jogged down the stairs.

"Okay getting the sisters talk time vibe." Piper laughed softly looking between them.

"I think Dawn wants to see if we can move the milkshake machine here from the Double Meat." Buffy fluffed a pillow.

"Have fun you two." Piper waved as she ran up the stairs, only to turn on the top step and jog back down. "I love you." She moved back to Buffy and kissed her cheek.

"You too." Buffy added softly.

"Later." She waved again and ran back up the stairs leaving this time and pulling the door closed.

"So Dawnie what's up?" Buffy sat down on the bed.

"I have a problem." Dawn admitted shifting her weight from one hip to the other.

"What kind of problem?" Buffy motioned for her to sit.

"You and Owl seem to be getting on well." Dawn sidetracked as she slowly made a lap of her room, taking the long way to get to the bed.

"Yeah." Buffy smiled punching her hand into the pillow to fluff it.

"So how is it?" She asked quietly.

"How is what?" Buffy asked her not understanding.

"Being with Owl." Dawn felt her cheeks heat a little.

"Dawnie, I so don't think you should be asking me that." She saw her sister's cheeks blush and she stood up.

"Buffy I am nearly eighteen, it's just a question." Dawn objected. "I wasn't asking for intimate details."

"I know, but you're my little sister." Buffy objected back.

"Buffy who am I supposed to talk to about this type of thing if I don't talk to you?" She looked at the blonde, her unhappiness at Buffy's dismissal evident.

"What do you want to know Dawn?" Buffy sat back down looking at her and trying to keep her flared reactions in check.

"I think I'm in love." Dawn took a breath and her eyes scanned around the room before she finally settled on her sister.

"In love?" The Slayer's mouth dropped open. "I mean in love." She tried to relax and not put such emphasis on the words. "With who?" She followed up immediately.

"A girl." Dawn's confidence began to wane as she saw the tension creeping into her sister's shoulders.

"A girl?" Buffy repeated almost stupidly. "Thank God, now I don't have to get Andrew blood on my boots." She thought over her options. "Wait a girl, you mean like a girl here now?"

Dawn's eyes again flicked off her sister and scanned around the room before finally feeling the way Buffy's stare was fixed on her she nodded. Quickly Buffy went through the possible SIT's.

"Alice?" Buffy thought of the youngest one. She was cute enough the blonde decided, minus the fact she still was a bit obsessed with cuddly toys and ballet.

"Hello? Alice is like sixteen." Dawn frowned hard.

"Oh... mmmmmm... Jo?" Buffy tried again aiming a little older in the SIT ranks.

"Totally straight." Dawn shook her head firmly.

"Flick?" Buffy quirked an eyebrow. She'd got the 'gay vibe' from her as Willow would say but she was inseparable from Beatrix.

"I don't really want to scrape it out with Bea, thanks all the same." Dawn again shook her head.

"Georgia?" Buffy tried another name.

"Are you just going to go through all of the potentials?" Dawn stopped the guessing game.

"I'm trying to figure out who Dawn. You could make it easy and just tell me." Buffy urged her sister to give her something.

"Faith." Dawn whispered dropping her head, she didn't want to see the look on her sister's face when she heard the name.

"Faith knows?" Buffy didn't want to hear things right and filled in her own answer.

"No, Buffy would you listen to me." Dawn stated looking up. "It is Faith."

"What?" Buffy stood up. "Faith? You're in love with Faith? Has she touched you? I'll kill her." She marched towards the stairs her brain clouded by instant anger.

"Buffy stop!" Dawn hurried after her. "She hasn't touched me."

"Good, I won't have to cut off her hands." Buffy stopped turning to her sister.

"Even when I asked her to she wouldn't." Dawn scowled at the blonde's response to her admission.

"You what? You asked her to, as in asked her to touch you in a not friendly platonic way?" Buffy eyes were on fire.

"I went to her room naked." Dawn replied honestly. "Asked her to sleep with me." The teenager's face was set and defiant.

"I have to sit down." Buffy moved over to the bed sitting down looking around lost, her knees felt weak as she thought about what Dawn had just said. "You're not the First because I've touched you and we have the shield but you must be a clone or something."

"Why? Because I have feelings, because I have needs?" Dawn heard her voice tighten as her current feelings were viewed as being one of the First's evil plans.

"Needs? You don't have needs." Buffy shook her head looking at her sister. "You're seventeen, you're not even done sophomore year. You have no needs." Her voice was high and strained.

"Of course I have needs! Buffy any day, any moment we could all be dead." Dawn growled. "Maybe I don't want to die a virgin!"

"You're not going to die!" Buffy growled back. "I'm going to keep you safe Dawnie." Her voice softened. "I know that everything is crazy, but you don't want to do something equal crazy like throwing yourself at Faith or anyone else just because of what is going on."

"I've already done the crazy throwing myself thing." Dawn objected. "Which just helped confirm things."

"How did that help confirm anything?" The Slayer shook her head over and over. "Dawn you're too young to be worrying about this, any of this. We're going to beat the First and then you can find any girl or boy your own age to go on dates with and in a few years then you can think about all this."

"It confirmed things because she said no. She wouldn't even look at me." Dawn explained what Buffy would see. "She has changed so much Buffy."

"I'm supposed to give Faith points for not sleeping with my very underage sister?" Buffy looked at her incredulously. "Sorry Dawn if I'm not jumping up and down for that victory."

"I'm four months under age!" Dawn squeaked. "She's barely three years older than me."

"And Faith is a twenty one year old slayer, who's done time for murder. Murder Dawn, she killed someone, actually many people but for one I was there." Buffy barked at her. "This crush you have on Faith ends right now. Do you hear me?"

"What?" Dawn screeched back.

"I'm forbidding you from thinking you're in love with her." The blonde laid down the ultimatum. "I'm forbidding you from being alone with her. I want you in here with us from now on where I can keep an eye on you."

"I came to you to talk about this, to do the right thing and turn to the one person I have, my only real family and you just preach and forbid me to even think." Dawn put her hand on her hip. "Do you know how crazy that is, banning me from thinking?"

"Dawn, that's the point I am your sister, your family and I want what's best for you. Throwing yourself at Faith is not what is best for you." Buffy shook her head.

"I've already told you I've done the throwing myself bit, now I'm just at the sit and gaze at her, spend as much time with her as I can." Dawn stomped towards the stairs. "Laying in bed thinking about her and how she could touch me stage!"

"Okay stop talking about the touching." Buffy shivered distressed for a minute before she raced after her. "Dawn, okay you're seventeen you have..." She gulped and pulled her to a stop. "Needs. But Faith isn't the one to find them with okay?"

"Why not?" Dawn stopped and turned.

"Because she'll use you Dawn, you'll be another notch on her already notch filled bedpost." Buffy didn't pull any punches. "On top of the fact, she's probably teeming with diseases. She wasn't exactly picky about who she slept with in prison if you listen to her talk."

"You are such a hypocrite! You'd already slept with Angel by my age, and forgive me for pointing this out, but hello mass murderer." The brunette growled.

"Angel was... is different." Buffy shook her head against the return attack.

"Why because he's an undead, blood sucker?" Dawn frowned hard.

"No, because I was in love with him." The Slayer spoke the words and tried not to feel the backlash of more obvious hypocrisy that slapped her.

"I'm telling you I'm in love with Faith, just like at my age you were in love with Angel." Dawn argued. "Why can't I be in love with someone too?"

Buffy pulled back for a moment, her arms coming around her body as she turned her back to her sister.

"Because I don't want you to get your heart broken," she admitted softly.

"But it's my heart Buffy," Dawn pointed out. "I should get the right to choose who breaks it and when."

"Dawn, am I wrong for wanting to save you from that?" She questioned turning back.

"I didn't say you were wrong for wanting to protect me, just that there are some things you can't protect me from," Dawn shook her head.

"I don't want to ever see you go through what I had to go through." She pointed out trying to make her sister see the reason for her responses.

"Buffy, Faith isn't going to go mental and try and kill us all." Dawn vowed what she already believed.

"I'm not talking about that." She shook her head. "I'm talking about if she leaves you, if she hurts you emotionally, if she walks away when you're begging her to stay."

"Then I cry for weeks and eat ice-cream." Dawn shook her head. "Hopefully my big sister will be there telling me how it wasn't my fault and watch sappy movies with me." She added in a soft voice.

"Who the hell gave you permission to grow up?" Buffy asked somewhat angry as she was faced with the reality of just that. Her little sister wasn't a child anymore.

"I think its somewhere in the maturing paperwork." Dawn smiled. "But Buffy...." She frowned again. "The reason I wanted to talk to you wasn't so much about the fact I love Faith." She looked down. "So much as..." She stopped not sure if she was ready for another Buffy meltdown.

"As?" Buffy prompted.

"How I get her to take me seriously," Dawn admitted sheepishly.

"I..." Buffy sat down. "I have no idea how to answer that question." She patted beside her and Dawn crossed and sunk down to sit finally. "Part of me wants to kick her ass for not finding you attractive, I mean how dare she?" She kicked her toe into the pile of the carpet.

"I'm not sure that would win me points." Dawn chuckled lightly.

"I'm not sure I want to win you points. Are you sure you can't crush on anyone else?" The blonde grinned hopefully.

"Like who? Andrew?" Dawn arched an eyebrow

"I'm sure you could beat up Beatrix." Buffy tried the obvious.

"I suppose there is Kennedy." Dawn arched an eyebrow.

"No." Buffy shook her head. "I think she's too busy stalking Willow secretly anyway."

"She's smarter than that." Dawn stuck up for her. "Isn't she?" She had a second of doubt.

"Remains to be seen." Buffy shrugged. "Okay you, I feel this overwhelming presence of Mom telling me to ask you if you have any other questions." She screwed up her face a little. "Birds and the well I guess birds questions."

"I was hoping Faith would clear up those questions for me." Dawn admitted hoping Buffy wouldn't freak again.

"No, really if you need to ask anything... there's me... or Tara... even Owl." Buffy tried to be open.

"Thank you." Dawn actually smiled.

"Dawn, I'm still not sure Faith is the best choice but I want to be here for you." Buffy offered softly. "Even when Mom and I were still on opposite sides of the world about Angel she was always there for me."

"I wanted to talk to you about it, something Faith said to me yesterday gave me that extra push." The dark haired woman explained.

"What?" Buffy questioned not understanding.

"She said that one thing didn't make me grown up." Dawn recounted the conversation. "But that it was a combination of everything. I realized the right thing to do about how I was feeling was talk to you."

"I know I'm not the easiest person to have as a sister." Buffy sighed putting herself down.

"It's not that." Dawn shook her head. "It's just you have a tendency to be you know predictable about some things."

"Hey I didn't kill her." Buffy gave a slight smile. 'Yet.' She added to herself.

"She has changed Buffy, I mean come on, what would old Faith have done if I walked into her bedroom in just a raincoat?" Dawn offered evidence for her trust.

"Where did you get that idea?" Buffy tried not to even think about what could have happened.

"I think I saw it in a movie." Dawn admitted biting her lip.

"No more naked raincoat days okay?" Buffy requested hoping at least that could be agreed on.

"I wasn't hurrying to try it again, since it so dramatically failed." The younger girl sighed.

"Dawn, totally trying to get over my Faith bias here but sometimes the hard and obvious approach isn't the best way." Buffy tried to help her as best as she could.

"So I should try subtle and gentle?" Dawn sat up again.

"Actually I think maybe you should try time Dawn." Buffy was honest. "We have so much going on right now, I know this feels right to you, I know you feel like it's love, but everything is so intense right now. You need to give yourself a bit of time to get comfortable and to make sure this is truly what you feel."

"Buffy, I don't mean this in a bad way." Dawn frowned softly. "But you don't know how it feels right now, sleeping on your own, being alone."

"Okay being honest in not a bad way, but you don't know the responsibility that comes when you're in that kind of relationship with someone Dawnie." Buffy countered. "And yeah I know you have to be there to find out but it's not all fun and no hard work."

"Can I suggest you've forgotten what I have seen in the last few years Buffy?" Dawn questioned her voice gentle.

"No, but I want to remind you Dawn. You've seen what all of us have gone through, its not ever true love conquers all." The Slayer pointed out sadly.

"Isn't it?" Dawn tipped her head.

"Not always Dawn." Buffy nodded sadly.

"I get it." Dawn nodded and paused contemplating what was being said. "So what is Owl?" She looked at her sister.

"What do you mean?" Buffy looked at her blankly.

"True love or a nice distraction for the moment? Or something in the middle?" There was no edge to the young woman's question.

"Something in the middle." Buffy answered after a long pause not wanting her bad 'True Love' history to ruin anything if she gave her relationship that label.

"And if she walks away from you even when you plead with her to stay?" Dawn turned her sister's words back on her softly leaning against her sister.

"We will need to buy extra ice cream, maybe move the shake machine over from the Double Meat." Buffy smiled softly and put her arm around Dawn hugging her.

Despite the large numbers of spectators, the room was ominously quiet. All of the furniture in the bungalow's large family room had been moved aside so that Giles had a very large area on the wooden floor in which to perform the spell. Everything breakable had been removed and everyone hung around the large archway in the hallway watching.

Large white pillar candles burned in a four-corner pattern, oriented so that Giles faced out of one side of a diamond. A circle of pine bows wound around the two candles that he somewhat faced, while a circle of pine ash that they had burnt in the back yard wound around the other two behind him.

The small area that gapped the two overlapping circles was where the Watcher had been forced to stand. Outsides of the circles were four dark pottery bowls, turned over so that they hid the crystals that had been placed inside. They were in a half arc off to the left side of the Watcher, outside of both interior circles. From her front row place in the hallway Willow chewed on her lip and glanced at her watch.

"Something isn't working." Giles broke his position frowning. "I'm not getting any power indication."

Over a half dozen attempts so far had ended up within no results. The outline of the spell indicated that the bowls would rearrange themselves, almost as if they were playing the famous cups and ball game so that at the end the three empty bowls would break and the remaining bowl would hold the melded crystals.

"It should be working." Willow shook her head looking around at everything.

"I should review the outline, perhaps it's a timing issue. We might need a more accurate sun or lunar cycle." Giles carefully moved out from his spot.

"That's stupid, this is not environment dependent." Zoë shook her head moving in to reform one delicate area of ashes that the Watcher's footsteps had caused to move.

"Miss. Hanlon I assure you that I am not making a stupid suggestion, despite your efforts this is obviously not working." Giles' voice was tight and annoyed.

"And I assure you that my spell is fine. You must be incanting it wrong." Zoë scowled at him.

"Guys, whatever it is we need to figure out why it's not working." Willow tried to bring a little bit of peace to them both.

"Rupert, lets review the text. Perhaps you need to center a bit." Sandra tried to draw him away to calm him down, the only way they were going to get this to work was if everyone was focused and relaxed.

"There is no reason this isn't working." Zoë scoffed slightly angry. She knew she'd done so much work on this there was no reason it shouldn't be working. "The set up is perfect, you stand in the right spot." She moved to where the Watcher had been standing and took a quick look around to see everything was perfect. "You say the incantation." Without really thinking about it she began the spell chant in her mind to double check the word translation.

Unexpectedly the candles at the corner of the room began to spark brighter.

"Zoë?" Willow questioned seeing the change.

"Oh crap." Zoë looked a little scared as her hands shot out at her sides, her arms stiff with her palms pointed up. "I think I did something."

"Keep going." Willow prompted her seeing the strain on the Canadian's face. "You have to finish." She felt Giles and Sandra press in behind her.

"I can't finish, I don't have this kind of power." Zoë objected trying to turn but feeling her head stuck looking forward.

"Zoë, you must finish it." Buffy's eyes went wide as the candles began to circle the room, sliding along each wall in time with each other to reach the next corner before moving again.

"I can't." The Canadian managed a small headshake.

"You either have to finish it or dispel the forces." Willow shouted as a loud howling wind began to form in the room following the path of the candles. In place, unaffected by the wind, the circle of ashes and pine bows began to spin lifting up to waist height around the Canadian's body.

"I don't know how!" Zoë yelled back feeling like a huge weight was pressing down on her, it was like being on a spinning ride where you were pressed against the wall but unlike a carnival ride the pressure kept rising higher and higher.

"You know how to finish it!" Willow screamed back not sure if she would be heard over the howling wind.

"Willow, can she do this?" Buffy slid closer to the redhead.

"I don't know, she started it, Giles couldn't." Willow looked at Slayer.

"Zoë, finish it!" Buffy added her support.

It took the Canadian a few more moments to relax the panic inside her but realizing she had no choice. She focused on completing the rest of the spell from memory, which wasn't hard with all the hours she'd worked on it. Beside her as she reached the end of the incantation the bowls began to slide against the floor mixing in their places at an almost impossible speed so that you couldn't tell which one had started where.

"She's doing it." Willow informed everyone her knuckles white as she held onto the doorframe watching on.

All of the movement in the room reached a fevered pitch, the torrent around Zoë enough that her hair was spraying wildly around the air and her body was shaking from the intense pressure.

"Cease." Zoë screamed suddenly in pain as used all her strength to clap her hands together in front of her just as three of the bowls shattered into oblivion, leaving only the left middle bowl intact.

The candles fell over extinguishing as at the same time the circles of ash and pine flung out to the sides of the room causing everyone in the doorway to momentarily duck for cover.

"Zoë?" Willow coughed as she tried to see through the settling debris.

The Canadian was left standing in the center of the room though as she tried to turn towards the redhead's voice she staggered sideways off balance.

"I think my head is still in the void." She offered blinking as she collapsed down to sit on one bent leg.

"You're fine, just try to relax." Willow moved forward to try and steady her first before easing her to sit more comfortably.

"Should one of us check the crystals?" Buffy looked at her very silent Watcher and Sandra.

"Lift up the bowl, the spell is gone now." Willow assured the Slayer as she checked Zoë over frowning at the blood spots that were forming through the Canadian's white shirt just below her collarbone. "She's bleeding." She moved to lie her down as Giles and Sandra rushed over.

"What?" Buffy didn't look under the bowl as she moved over.

"I'll get a kit, take a look please." Giles tried to be discreet and moved away.

"I'm just going to look Zoë." Willow explained as they began to undo the buttons on her shirt.

The wounds turned out not to be large, just two slices that formed a perfect 'V' the point facing down between her breasts as the lines went up to the hollow of her shoulders. They were not deep enough to need stitches that everyone could tell but they were bleeding very freely and would likely scar.

"I think a branch scratched me." Zoë mumbled her eyes unfocused as she tried to talk to Willow.

"This was not a branch." Sandra shook her head. "Buffy check the crystal." She prompted the blonde Slayer.

Reluctantly Buffy moved over, nudging it with her foot as if she was worried that some creature was waiting beneath the clay. Finally satisfied that it was harmless, she lifted it up to reveal that the four singular crystals were now melding into one sculpture.

"Looks like modern art." Buffy picked it up holding it in two hands.

"We should get her up to bed and clean up the cuts." Willow spelled out the plan of action.

"Then can someone try to explain how she did this?" Buffy prompted as she looked at the crystal.

"I'm fine." Zoë tried to push up. "I just have one mother of a headache." She admitted as she managed to get herself into a sitting position. "Damn, why am I bleeding?"

"We're not exactly sure." Sandra moved with Willow to support her on each side. "Perhaps we could move you to the couch."

Willow nodded and with a little help from Buffy they managed to get the tall woman up and over sitting on the couch.

"Trade." Giles came back exchanging the crystal for the first aid kit as he went back into the dining room to inspect the creation and to re-read the spell.

"Do you remember anything?" Willow questioned as she cleaned the cuts and began to put a dressing on them, pressing down hoping to have them stop bleeding.

"Mmmm, not really." Zoë admitted. "Let me think while you clean." She offered closing her eyes. Willow smiled tightly and continued her work.

"What's going on?" The front door to the bungalow swung open and Beth hurried through, not caring how hard it moved or who might be behind it.

"Hey, Bethany." Buffy blocked the doorway glancing over to where they were just finishing patching up Zoë. "We were just cleaning up after the spell. Maybe you and Tara could go make tea?" She looked to the blonde witch following the Brit.

"Where's Zee?" Beth rested her hand on her hip, staring at the Slayer, not fazed by her instruction.

"Beth, maybe we should make tea like Buffy suggested." Tara urged the smaller woman.

"Where is she?" The blonde didn't move.

"She's on the couch." Buffy glanced over to see Willow helping her button up her shirt.

"I'm fine baby." Zoë called over trying to be helpful but the tone of her slightly disoriented voice was probably not the best thing for the English woman to hear.

"Fine? How are any of you fine? Did you not hear the cacophony that was coming from here?" Beth pushed forward into Buffy. "Why do I just not believe that you are possibly fine with her in my way?" She added trying to push up onto her toes.

"You'll find I'm a really good door." Buffy smiled at her trying not to be completely rude but having no choice.

"It's fine Buffy let her in." Willow prompted tucking the bloody tissues and bandages away.

Instantly the Slayer stepped back and Bethany hurried to the couch, completely focused on the Canadian.

"Hey baby, I heard you using big words again." Zoë gave her a lopsided smile. "You know no one understands some of them."

"Oooo don't even try to charm me." Bethany shook her head. "That's not what I call a ten minute zip-zap." She scowled but her eyes were full of love and concern.

"We had trouble with Giles zip but somehow I managed to come in with a big zap." Zoë blinked again grimacing a bit.

"You?" Bethany dropped down onto her knees and put her hand on her lover's thigh. "What do you mean you managed to zap?" She frowned more.

"Zoë did the spell." Willow filled in softly. "Can you get her to lie down she won't listen to us?" She questioned hoping that Beth would have more persuasive methods.

"Why does she need to lie down?" The young English girl turned and stared at Willow.

"She has a headache." Willow glanced up at the doorway to Tara hoping she might be able to help.

"Just like one of my silly migraines, it's no big deal." Zoë attempted to protest.

"And magic tends to wear you out, wear anyone out." Tara moved a little closer.

"One of your migraines?" Beth turned back to look at her lover. "Well in that case... wait, what's that on your shirt?" She leaned forward taking the light cotton between her fingers.

"It's... um..." Willow frowned stepping back closer to her fiancée.

"I got cut by a angry pine bow." Zoë offered her acceptable answer.

"You, bed!" She looked at her lover before pushing up to stand. "You." She turned to Willow. "Kitchen, you have a lot of explaining to do."

"Baby, this isn't Willow's fault." Zoë pushed up to stand wobbling a bit.

"Am I talking to you?" She turned and looked at Zoë for a moment. "Now I know I look like a five foot pathetic young woman, but I can assure you I can be mean and vicious when I'm angry. I'm not angry yet." She added. "Now Willow, please if you have a moment, the kitchen would be the best place to talk I feel."

Willow nodded and moved towards the kitchen feeling everyone's sympathy fall on her for having to do so.

"Tara, if you could help Zee to our room I would be more than grateful." Bethany smiled sweetly at the taller blonde. "Maybe you too Buffy." She added glancing at the Slayer.

Everyone for some reason decided that less confrontation was better and they helped Zoë to the door.

Bethany paced lightly across the tiles of the kitchen floor her hands clasped together, her brow deeply furrowed.

"First question." She glanced at Willow who was hanging close to the sink, waiting patiently for the wrath she knew was coming. "I may know nothing about magic, or you or what the Hell is going on it this crazy little Californian town, but I do know my girlfriend. I know that a) she did not design that spell for herself, b) she does not have a 'migraine', c) she is no where near the 'witch' or 'warlock' or whatever boy witches are called that Mr. Giles is, so just what the Hell is going on?" She stopped her pacing and stared at Willow.

"Honestly, we don't know." Willow gave the lackluster answer. "Giles was trying to do the spell but it wasn't working, so he walked out of the circles and then Zoë walked in upset that we were saying it wasn't working. I guess she started the incantation in her head and before we knew it, things were happening."

"Oh wait." Bethany backed up a little. "She got herself into this didn't she." She shook her head.

"I swear Beth, she was in the middle and everything starting swirling and moving." Willow continued. "She had to either finish it or pull back and disperse, the only thing she knew to do was finish, and she did. She melded the crystals."

"But that means she has to do the second half of the spell doesn't it?" Bethany put to the redhead.

Willow felt her mind stall as the new revelation struck her; they hadn't had much time to actually think of the consequences.

"Well... yes." She nodded sadly.

"No, no she's not." Bethany shook her head.

"This isn't how we wanted it." Willow shook her head back. "But we have no choice now."

"You, you, Tara, and who ever else, you work out a way of undoing." Beth's voice tightened a notch. "We're not part of this, this insanity."

"Beth, I don't think there is any way to undo her part in this now." Willow admitted. "Like it or not Zoë has a lot more power than any of us imagined."

"I don't care if she's a magical dynamo." Beth frowned. "You are missing my point. She is mine. She is not part of this. She only ever went to bloody Italy because of me, because I left her, and I am not, I will not let her do this."

"Beth, if she doesn't help us kill the First there won't be a you or a her to be an us." Willow bit her voice more angry. "The First will kill us all."

"Someone else can do it." Bethany growled.

"Who? The spell wouldn't work for Giles, Tara and I have to mimic the staff." Willow showed her disagreement.

"There must be someone, Sandra? That Andrew boy." Beth tried other options.

"The spell picked Zoë, this is how magic works sometimes. Only one person, only one person in the world can do what needs to be done and obviously that person is Zoë Hanlon." Willow explained her. "Zoë is the only person who can make the First vulnerable. She's the only one that can put the First Evil in a position to be hurt."

"Do you know how insane you sound?" Beth's brow furrowed.

"Probably absolutely certifiable but Beth I have seen so many things, so many things that make me sound crazy that this is just another log on the fire of my crazy time." Willow made a motion by her head. "Look you're telling me in all the years you've known her that you've never seen anything odd happening around her?"

"I'm not telling you anything." Beth shook her head turning away from the redhead.

"You have." Willow moved around the kitchen to be facing her again. "Things that were crazy, things you couldn't explain, things that probably scared you and her."

"Stop it." Bethany barked pacing away. "You don't me, you don't know Zoë. You don't know anything about us."

"Bumps in the night, things she has done that no one should be able to do, perhaps she was touched as a child, but something." Willow pushed the fact. "Admit it Beth, you know she is a part of this world, both of you have been running from it for forever."

"When this is over, we are out of here." Beth didn't reply. "You're never going to have the chance to hurt her again." She turned angrily and pushed towards the door.

"We don't want to hurt her." Willow irrationally threw her hand up and closed the door. "Beth when all of this is done, the First defeated I'll drive you two to the airport myself but we have to do this."

"Do I look like I can't read?" Bethany stopped and turned slowly.

"Of course not." Willow shook her head.

"Then don't fucking patronize me." Beth hissed her eyes full of rage.

"How am I patronizing you?" The redhead tempered her own voice.

"I've read that spell." Beth seethed. "I bet something Zoë forgot to tell you about me, was that I am fluent in over twelve different languages, both ancient and modern."

"I didn't know that..." Willow faltered. "But I'm sorry what are you talking about?"

"Oh now I get the wide eyed innocent look." Beth shook her head and leaned against the nearest work unit

"No, it's my confused what the Hell is she babbling on about look. You're acting like the spell is going to make her sprout another head or something." Willow scoffed.

"I'm talking about 'Liv tvinger skapt, co finnes med creator, finnesing sammen, strømming sammen, drenering sammen'." Beth stared hard at Willow.

"I don't speak or read whatever that is." Willow pointed out.

"Oh this gets even better, Zoë hands you a concocted spell and you don't even read a language that part of it is written in." Beth shook her head.

"Look if you have something to tell me spit it out please." Willow urged her.

"Liv tvinger skapt, co finnes med creator, finnesing sammen, strømming sammen, drenering sammen." Bethany repeated the passage. "Is ancient northern European for 'Life forces created, co-exist with the creator, existing together, flowing together, draining together'." The English woman stared at Willow.

"That's why she's bleeding." Willow went a shade paler as she turned to the side her mind reeling.

"You didn't even know did you?" Bethany spat appalled.

"Do you think I'd have even let Giles do the spell if I knew?" Willow turned growling at her.

"How the hell do I know anything about you people?" Bethany snarled in defense. "I've been with you what, less than a week and I watched more corpses being dragged out of house, dumped and left, more weaponry, more wounds and more so called magic, than I've ever read about. And believe me I've read a lot. All I know is that you have Zee, and that you have nicely managed to weave her into a spell that might well kill her. I'm sorry if I'm not feeling overly trusting of you." She wrenched the door open. "But not one, not a single one of you, has done anything and I mean ANYING to even try and prove any of this to me."

Willow pushed open the study door causing Sandra and Giles to jump as she stalked in.

"Who knew this was a linked spell?" She barked at them.

"Ah Willow, sit down won't you." Sandra smiled at her.

"What is going on?" Willow looked at Giles seeing the furrow on his brow. "I just had Beth tear a strip off of me, how did she know when none of us did?"

"Willow please." Giles frowned. "I was under the impression that Zoë came to you with the spell to check it through, in fact she assured me she did."

"She did, but I never say anything in some ancient language about the caster's life force being matched to the First's death." Willow kept staring at him.

"It's right there Willow." Giles turned the small notebook around and tapped the very first page. There was some untidy hand written scrawl next to a paragraph of the elusive language that read 'Combined forces.'

"So you were going to go into this and tie your life force to the First's?" Willow questioned him directly; unable to think about how she would have felt knowing it was Giles who had completed the spell. "Knowing the Slayers are going to kill it?"

"It's the only thing we have Willow." Giles frowned slightly. "We all learned with Glory that sometimes it takes drastic measures to get what we want as an ending."

"The only problem is that Zoë is now the spellcaster and I don't think she is prepared to sacrifice herself, she shouldn't have to." Willow leaned against the desk.

"Well there is a chance that death will not occur, Candice is not dead." The Watcher put forward.

"She's a vegetable Giles." The redhead snapped causing him to look down out of her wrath.

"If I could possible intervene here." Sandra offered trying to cut the tension. She was pleased when Willow stopped her momentary tirade. "There is a passage within the spell context underlining that if the creator severs the link with the creation, before death, then they will not suffer the same actions. I have a feeling from what Rupert has told me about Candice and the spell she created, she never had any warning or any expectation that her creation was destroyed, thus she had no chance to severe her connection with it."

"So if Zoë is able to pull back prior to the Slayer's striking the death blow then she won't die with the First?" Willow hung onto the point.

"That's what the text suggests, though I'm afraid that if before the death blow occurs they in any way engage the First then it's injuries will be shared with our bold, if foolish Canadian friend." The female Watcher nodded.

"This means she's going to have to cast the spell in visual range so that she can see when the Slayer's make the strike. It also means they have to make a the first strike the last, Zoë won't be able to survive as the First would." Willow ground her fingernail into the wood.

"Well, yes." Sandra looked down knowing there was no other answer.

"How on earth are we going to keep a secure area around her while she does this?" Willow looked between them.

"She has to go in with the SIT's, Rupert and I." Sandra looked at the other Watcher.

"We'll do our best to protect her." Giles added solemnly.

"How are you going to protect yourselves from a horde of Bringers?" The redhead questioned sadly.

"That will be our problem Willow, not yours." The older Watcher smiled with a slightly furrowed brow.

"This is all of our problems Giles." Willow stood up. "All of our problems because more of us are going to die." She pulled open the door.

"Willow, we must all do our part." Giles pushed up looking at Willow knowing she wouldn't turn again to respond to him. "If for some of us our part is to die to save humanity, I think that's a worthy role, don't you?"

From behind the large tree at the edge of the property bright blue eyes watched the stamping footsteps of the small blonde figure that made her way around the yard in a circle over and over.

"Did someone spill ink on your Gucci again darling?" Holly's sing song voice called to Beth from the tree line.

All color drained from the small blonde's face when she heard the voice, the memory of it hitting deep inside her brain.

"Who... who's there?" She demanded, her voice shaking. She didn't want to believe her own ears.

"You can tell me." Holly walked out further so she was visible. "Do I look good or what?" She smoothed her hands down the silk dress she was wearing.

"You... you can't be here." Beth shook her head at the apparition

"Oh course I can honey, they told you how this works." She pointed to the house.

"You're the First" Beth squared her shoulders.

"Well yes, but I thought you'd like to see an old friend to make you feel better." Holly gave her a winning smile. "Or worse as the case may be."

"And this is how you got into Zee's head?" She asked unable to believe how much it looked like Holly.

"It wasn't hard darling, what I told her was true. I knew exactly where you were and if need be I would have killed you." Holly admitted.

"So why haven't you?" Beth demanded unsure of what keeping her in her spot and why she wasn't running screaming to the house.

"Strategic planning." The First smiled. "I just love building up their hopes..." She pointed to the house. "Only to tear them down. Though you were such a lucky thing when that boy stole your car. I mean I thought last of the good guys, off trying to pay for gas in a deserted town. You are just too nice for words honey."

"You killed him." Beth stated her spine trembling.

"My Bringers did actually. Seems they didn't quite realize it wasn't a little blonde girl in the car but I digress." The First smiled again. "I'm not here to talk about the past Bethany, I'm here darling to talk to you about the future. That is if you want to have a future at all."

"What?" Beth frowned.

"Do you want to have a future with your little Canadian?" Holly asked her with another sweet smile.

"There's a way?" The small blonde continued to frown.

"There is always a way." The First encouraged.

"How do you know of a way when they don't?" Beth challenged it.

"Bethany, what they are doing is running around preparing to die, what they do changes nothing in my plan." The First explained. "My plan has nothing to do with you and your little girl, I want to end the slayers, neither of you are slayers. If you stay out of my way, if you help me..." She added softly. "Then you and your Zoë can walk out of here unharmed."

"Unharmed? Isn't it a little late for that. I think that Zee's going to be haunted by nightmares of this for the rest of her life, I know I will." Beth scoffed at the easy solution.

"You prefer being dead to a few nightmares?" Holly scowled.

"I've not heard you offer anything better with substance or evidence." Beth wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.

"My boys are coming at midnight tonight. Have you and Zoë outside in this backyard, leave the back door open when you come and they will walk by you to show you that they have no interest in you." The First outlined.

"And then what?" Beth questioned unable to believe the outline.

"You leave sweet Bethany. Take Zoë and go far, far away from here." The First smiled.

"What's the catch?" Beth arched her eyebrow.

"The catch is that if you do anything more to help the Slayers then I will kill you both." Holly's face went stern and dark.

"Midnight." Bethany checked.

"Midnight." The figure nodded. "Can I trust you to do what I've asked darling?"

"I'll think about it." The English girl offered.

"Don't think too long darling, remember they want to kill your lover." Holly disappeared.

Dawn carefully came up to the top of the stairs carrying the covered tray. She balanced it in one hand for a few moments as she checked her hair and straightened her shirt.

"Faith?" She called hoping the dark Slayer wasn't busy.

"In here." Faith called from below. "Come on down."

"I thought you might be hungry." Dawn reached the bottom smiling as she saw the Slayer was laid out on her bed reading some sort of magazine, which she didn't quite know why Faith was now trying to stuff under a pillow. "So I brought us a snack."

"Hey!" Faith coughed a little and shifted up to a sitting position. "That's great, bring it on in." She encouraged.

"Sorry did I interrupt something?" Dawn raised an eyebrow as she moved over to put the tray on the bed.

"No, no, it's nothing that can't wait." Apparently unhappy with her chosen position she shifted again to be sat at the edge of the bed, her legs over the side.

"You're tense, what's up?" Dawn ignored what she'd brought for a moment moving closer to rub her hand over the big knot she always saw pop up in the Slayer's shoulder when she was uncomfortable.

"I'm not tense." Faith tried to deny, but was then forced to focus on not letting the pleasured groan that built up in her throat as Dawn touched her escape and be heard.

"You are too, you're like a brick wall." The teenager scoffed as she put her other hand up massaging the knot. "I should have put you in a hot bath instead of making you a snack I think." She laughed lightly trying to cover up her own momentarily fantasy of pushing Faith into the hot water, looking down at the Slayer's naked body. She shivered a bit as she tried to concentrate on the here and now.

"Dawn, urgh mmmmm God that feels good." Faith admitted as her resolve dipped a little.

"Does it?" Dawn was a little shocked by the tone of Faith's voice and the way it made her feel warm deep inside. She moved both hands to either side of the Slayer's neck kneading against the tight muscles.

"Yeah, I guess I'm tenser than I ... That is, yeah." Faith pushed to sit up straighter as the feelings flowing through her changed subtly from general pleasure to physical enjoyment, enjoyment similar to that which she had been experiencing before the young Summers had arrived. "But hey…" She coughed again trying to focus. "We have snacks."

"I'm sure we have some heat rub upstairs, I could put some of that on it if you wanted." Dawn offered pulling her hands back feeling the electrical connection end. Faith's reference to her reason for coming in the first place made her reset her mind. "Um yeah snacks, Beth made more cookies so I stole us some warm ones."

"Well everyone loves fresh baked cookies, she's a bit of a whiz that little Brit." Faith shifted a little further away from the other young woman.

"Did you want some?" Dawn pulled off the cover to show off the almost steaming cookies that were just out of the oven and two large glasses of milk. "Or should I just leave it and go?"

"I'm not meaning to give the 'Dawn, Piss off vibe', if that's what I'm doing." Faith smiled at the doe eyed woman.

"You sure?" Dawn checked picking up a cookie and nibbling on it. "I mean it's okay if you want to have those vibes."

"I'm sure, D relax, you're good company and even better you brought cookies, what's not to like in that situation?" Faith smiled broadly.

"Cool." Dawn leaned back eating through her cookie quickly licking the sticky melted chocolate off her fingers. "What were you doing?"

"Just you know, reading." Faith concentrated on eating her cookie.

"Anything good? I mean I shouldn't complain about no school but since the High School was closed I feel like I'm on total brain drain." Dawn laughed sipping her milk.

"Well I'm sure the G man has some books that'd cover that for you." Faith made the assumption.

"So you're telling me that you're not going to tell me what you were reading?" Dawn put the glass on the table beside the bed turning in to look at Faith.

"Just a magazine." Faith shook her head. "Do you really want to look at a magazine?"

"What kind?" Dawn snaked her hand under the pillow to pull it out and see. "Has to be better than Buffy's obsession with Vogue." Her eyes went wide when she had it out.

"That wasn't an invite to..." Faith tried to stop her but failed. "Your sister's going to kick my ass now." She shook her head.

"Where did you get this?" Dawn bit her lip as she looked at the air brushed pictures. "So you were reading the articles eh?" She flipped onto her back skipping through the pages of the Playboy.

"You know, your sister would be horrified if she ever knew you'd just asked that question, and besides, you're a smart girl D, you know what I was doing." Faith shook her head and finished her glass of milk.

"What? Like I've never seen a Playboy." Dawn laughed. "I go to high school in the year 2003, it's a given. The senior boys like to post up pictures to 'freak out' the girls." She looked over at Faith. "You could have said you know, I wouldn't have forced cookies on you."

"Like I said D, what I was doing can wait, Hell why pass up the time to be with a real girl." She stopped and tried to correct herself. "I'm not sure that came out right, but you know what I mean, yeah?"

"Did you mean it to come out like you were flirting or like you were trying not to flirt?" Dawn smiled at her flipping through more pages.

"The latter." Faith underlined quickly. "Though tell me, was it a decent flirting line?"

"It was." Dawn smiled. "Can you explain this to me?" She pointed to one of the off color jokes. "I don't get it."

"Okay, let's see it." Faith moved up along side the other woman and looked at the magazine. Dawn held it out to her for her to inspect and interpret. "Oh, its not even funny D." She shook her head.

"Come on, I don't get it." Dawn urged her. "Even if it's not funny I want to know why it's not funny."

"Why on earth would a girl like you want to understand smutty low jokes in a boys mag?" Faith asked with an arched eyebrow.

"So that I can understand them and not let them affect me. Come on if a boy asked me to..." She looked at the line. "Shine the general... Ewww! Is that what I think it is?"

"Yeah it's what you think it is D." Faith nodded. "And believe me, the more ways you can think of shining it the better, for them that is."

"Is it as gross as it sounds?" Dawn looked at her curious. "I mean boys aren't well known for their hygiene."

"They're not, well some of them aren't, and it can be gross." Faith assured.

"But sometimes it's nice?" Dawn pulled the magazine back flipping to the front and then through the sections she'd missed.

"Well its very nice for a guy." Faith nodded. "Some girls like to give though."

"Sara Debenet as school was showing off how she can put on a condom without using her hand, but she's a slut." Dawn filled in stopping to read down the details of the centerfold with a chuckle.

"Well that she knows what a condom is and when it should be used is a good thing." Faith appraised and then looked at Dawn smiling a little and shaking her head. "Got enough girlie flesh imprinted in your brain yet?" She teased.

"What? Aren't I allowed to look?" Dawn went a little pink and closed the magazine.

"Of course you are, it's healthy, and well I think it's healthy." Faith assessed. "Though ask Jo, she has some boy equivalents."

"The boys ones are gross, she was showing them off the other night." Dawn screwed up her nose. "Girls are pretty naked, boys well boys should wear at least undies."

"Some boys are okay naked, depends what 'state' they're in." Faith leaned back against the pillows.

"You mean they can get it in shape?" She scoffed a little.

"Well they look better when everything looks, you know, beefed up a bit." The Slayer laughed at her question.

"So what's oral sex with a woman like?" Dawn leaned over looking at Faith.

Faith was very grateful that she had finished her glass of milk and cookies because if she hadn't they would have just been sprayed across the room at mach speed.

"It's.... well just like with boys it depends, its very different if the girl you know shaves, or trims and each girl tastes different." Faith wanted to answer the inquiry but thinking about this wasn't helping her relax at all.

"I can see that, they were telling us in Sex Ed it's all very hormonal." Dawn nodded.

"Yeah it is, see you didn't need my input after all." Faith was pleased that Dawn was as smart a cookie, as she seemed even about these things.

"I did, you've done it." The brunette smiled. "Gives me hands on experience to rely on."

"Willow and Tara have done it too, far more recently than me I'd wager." Faith offered with a laugh.

"Can you imagine asking Willow about oral sex?" Dawn laughed with her. "She'd go into world ending babble mode and end up telling me about USB ports or something equally neutral."

"Well personally I'd not ask Willow about anything lesbian." Faith admitted trying to be honest.

"I guess I could ask Tara, but she gets a little sidetracked by the why are you asking part." Dawn nodded. "You just tell me." She smiled at the dark Slayer. "Thank you."

"My pleasure D." Faith smiled back. "You deserve straight answers to straight questions, I can't imagine many people have given them to you much in the past."

"No." The brunette bounced her feet against the bed. "It's hard to 'grow up' when your sister's the slayer. Everyone runs around treating you like you're six so that she won't kick their ass."

"You're doing a great job." Faith took the magazine back and dropped it on the floor by the bed.

"Do you want to train?" Dawn asked lazily.

"Yeah you're giving off training vibes." Faith chuckled at the cookie filled brunette's reclined position on the bed.

"Mmmmm not so much." Dawn looked at her. "We could play poker?"

"You turning into a card shark on me D?" Faith pushed up from the bed and wandered to the drawers where she had put the cards.

Having spent so much time concentrating on giving reasonable answers and not letting her mind get away from her she forgot the small hand held control that she had shoved under the pillow with the magazine. With her previous position on the bed the long black cord hadn't been pulled but as she stepped away from the bed it was pulled free and fell onto the floor. Dawn didn't really question as she rolled over and picked up the small device.

"What's this?" She spun her thumb up the wheel on the side.

"It's... aaaaammmmm, Dawn can you just reverse that little action you did then." Faith stood up leaning against the dresser, her eye squinted a little as she tried to get the words out calmly.

"This?" Dawn spun it back. "Why?" She spun it back and forth wondering what it did. "Do you have an electric blanket or something?"

"No." Faith bit her lip and turned away from the other woman, fiddling around for a moment. A low buzzing sound emanating infrequently from whatever it was that Faith was moving as Dawn played with the control. When Dawn had turned it off she put the small silver oval vibrator on the side and coughed.

"Oh my God." Dawn looked up and then realized what she had been doing. "I'm sorry, I didn't..." She turned bright red.

"It's okay." Faith shook her head, as she turned round. "Though you mind if I take this back." She smiled trying to play it all down.

"I had no idea you were that busy." She sat up tossing the controller at Faith. "I should go."

"Dawn, its okay." Faith shook her head. "I could have told you to come back later."

"Yeah but you were really busy... busy with..." Dawn looked at her. "What is that exactly?"

"With something that can wait." Faith underlined and glanced over her shoulder to dresser. "That?" She pointed at the small silver object. "I thought you'd done Sex Ed."

"They didn't bring in things that vibrated." Dawn shook her head.

"Oh." Faith leaned back and picked up the small silver oval. "You guessed what it is." She continued. "It's just a area specific one."

"Where did you get it?" Dawn looked over to where it was on the counter.

"An adult toy store." Faith pulled open a door on the dresser, she pulled out a scented wipe and ran it quickly over the small gadget and then brought it over to Dawn for a closer look. She spun the wheel back and forth showing the brunette how it increased in power.

"Do you have other stuff?' Dawn watched her curiously.

"I have a couple of things yeah." She nodded and shrugged.

"Can I see them?" The brunette reached up tucking her hair behind her ears.

"I'm not sure big sis would like that D." Faith shook her head.

"It's sex education." Dawn looked at her seriously.

"It's not Sex Ed D, it's looking at the contents of Faith's private bottom drawer." She raised an eyebrow.

"Well then fine I'll look on my own." Dawn swung her long legs out and moved down to pull open the drawer.

"Hey, hey!" Faith moved quicker and stopped her. "I thought we were friends."

"Yeah so?" Dawn kept her hand on the pull.

"So we'd need to be much more than friends to go examining in there." Faith pointed out.

"You think I'm a kid." Dawn pushed up to stand letting go of the drawer finally.

"Woo, how the hell did we get there?" Faith frowned at her.

"Because apparently whatever is in that drawer is only for adults." Dawn looked at her.

"It's not that." Faith shook her head. "What's in my drawer isn't for my friends of any age."

"Maybe I want to know what's in that drawer so we're not friends anymore." She added sternly.

"You don't want me Dawn." Faith drew in a breath threw her nose and looked at the tall young woman.

"No, you don't want me." Dawn shook her head.

"Dawn stop it, listen to me. I am not good enough for you, that's it, bottom line." Faith pointed out her tone short and precise.

"That's your bottom line." Dawn snapped at her. "Not mine."

"What do you want Dawn, do you want me to just grab you and kiss you?" Faith asked feeling backed into a corner.

"It would be a start, I'm not saying I want to jump into bed with you." She put one hand on her hip.

"This time." Faith pointed out with her eyebrow arched.

"Maybe." Dawn scowled. "I'm not easy or anything, not even for you sexy leather pants girl. The other night was just… the other night."

"You sister would kill me if I so much as thought about you the wrong way." Faith backtracked a little unable to take her eyes of the dark smolder in the brown eyes staring at her.

"That was her first suggestion when I told her but then I pointed out the whole you wouldn't touch me with a ten foot pole fact. Look this is pointless." Dawn sighed turning to move up the stairs as she changed her tactic. "I'll stop bugging you."

"Whoa, you told her?" Faith stepped forward putting her hand around Dawn's arm.

"Of course I told her I'm not a little girl. I don't have to hide things." Dawn shook her head. "I certainly don't have to hide my feelings and needs."

"No, you're not a little girl." Faith turned Dawn back so they could look at each other. "You're a beautiful and special young woman Dawn."

"Look do you want me to suddenly say I have experience, I don't. But I'm almost eighteen and I'm not into Barbie's anymore. I want to know what it's like to be close to someone, to feel things." Dawn spelled out her desires. "I want to know what it's like to have someone."

"There are some nice girls around you right now D, better people than me." Faith kept her voice soft, moving her hand to rest on the side of Dawn's cheek.

"That's great, but like I told Buffy I don't want anything from them." Dawn looked up into dark eyes. "I want you."

"Oh fuck this." Faith cursed softly under her breath, she pushed her hand almost roughly back into Dawn's hair and then onto the back of her head pulling her forward and pressing their lips together.

Dawn was caught completely off guard but soon melted closer to the Slayer's body as she kissed her back. Trying to keep at least a limited rein on her actions, Faith let the kiss linger for a few moments before she detracted herself.

"You kissed me." Dawn put her fingers up to her lips.

"Yes I did." Faith nodded taking a small step away.

"Wow." Dawn smiled as she registered the wonderful feeling.

"Yeah, you taste good." The Slayer felt herself smile slightly at the other woman's reaction.

"Chocolate chip cookies." Dawn flicked her hair sub consciously.

"And milk." Faith nodded. "Sure as hell beats cigarettes and booze."

"Don't really like either." Dawn shook her head. "So do I have to go?" She pointed up the stairs.

"I didn't tell you had to go in the first place." Faith pointed out as she crossed her room and picked up the small personal massaging unit and slipped it into the bottom drawer.

"So I can stay?" Dawn followed her.

"Dawn." Faith stopped as she closed the drawer and stood up again. "You can stay any time."

"Like now?' Dawn moved over and sat down on the bed.

"Sure." Faith nodded. "I'll take the floor." She added moving to the closet and pulling out a sleeping bag.

"Faith, we can both sleep on the bed." Dawn shook her head.

"We will, just I'll be in the sleeping bag, I'm not that altruistic D." Faith chuckled a little.

"Oh... you mean... you'd find it hard?" Dawn asked the question with a soft pleased smile.

"Exactly." Faith nodded. "You mightn't figured them out yet D, but when my whole lust hormones kick in, I need to be in a sleeping bag too."

"I've figured out my lust hormones." Dawn gave a knowing smile. "I have lots."

"Oh really." Faith chuckled.

"Thousands of them." Dawn giggled and looked at the clock. "You know it's seven thirty, we don't really have to go to bed yet. In fact it would be kinda lame to go to bed this early."

"No, we don't, so what do you wanna do?" Faith leaned on the dresser looking at the teenager.

"Play poker?" Dawn laughed at the repetitive suggestion.

"Oh come on think of something else." Faith laughed too.

"Truth or dare." The brunette gave a wicked smile.

"Truth or dare eh?" Faith laughed harder.

"Yes." Dawn nodded sitting down on the bed.

"Okay, you got it." Faith agreed moving to turn on some music.

"Who goes first?" She leaned against the pillow on her elbow.

"Oh you should." Faith smirked moving to sit at the bed at the bottom looking at her.

"So truth or dare." Dawn challenged.

"Truth." Faith put her feet up on the bed getting comfortable.

"Have you ever been in love?" Dawn put forward, playing with the edge of the comforter.

"No." Faith shook her head quickly.

"You're turn." Dawn smiled at her.

"Truth or dare." Faith relaxed a little, she was glad so far there wasn't any more sex questions.

"Dare." Dawn wiggled her eyebrows.

"Ohhh straight in with living dangerously." Faith nodded impressed.

"Only you and me." She shrugged defiantly.

Faith pushed off her bed and moved to the drawers, she pulled out a pair of gray boxer shorts.

"Put those on over your jeans, and go and ask everyone else in the house if they want a drink before bedtime." She tossed them at the bed.

"Faith, we're the only ones playing I shouldn't have to go upstairs." Dawn laughed at the dare.

"She's backing out already folks." Faith played it up to an imaginary audience.

"No, no I'll do it." She snatched them up and stood up yanking them on. "How do I look?"

"Cute." Faith assessed giving her thumbs up.

"Be right back." Dawn strutted over to the stairs and up them. "Be ready for a dare of your own!"

Continued...