From Dust Returned by Renegade

Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I don't own any of them. They belong to Joss, UPN, ME, WB and whoever else has rights to them. Me personally, I don't have any rights to them – except the characters I made up for the story (Ash, Aleora and whoever else I concoct) No one is getting any money from this – especially not me since, well, I'm still poor.
Distribution: The Mystic Muse http://mysticmuse.net
Just ask – please.
Feedback: Oh yes – yes please – but be kind it's my first time.
Spoilers: None – unless you can tap into the twisted world I like to call my imagination. It's after after Season 7. Or there's spoilers from Season 4 & 5 if you haven't watched them.
Pairing: Willow/Tara Tara/Other Willow/Tara/Other

The power had rolled into its senses and tantalized it back into being. The force of the spell had awoken it and as it had stirred from it's eternity of slumber it sensed a hole. A rip in the fabric of existence. Emptiness where there should be completion. Uncertainty in what should be history.

It had been over a week since the Gentlemen. A week since she had called Tara. A week since she'd seen her love for the again for the first time. A week since she had heard from or seen her.

She had gone to Tara's dorm several times trying to find her at home. She'd even staked out the blonde's old haunts but she hadn't seen a trace of her.

Even the Slayer had tried to track down Tara but to no avail. Finally, as Willow began to show signs of cracking Buffy had declared a 'best friend' night at the Bronze and drug the redhead out to the club.

Everyone has their loved ones back. Buffy and Dawnie have Joyce. Xander has Anya… Willow couldn't help but smile at the recollection of Anya's reaction to Xander sweeping her off her feet and kissing her.

"Xander, what did you do to your eye…were you running with pointy sticks again?" The ex vengeance demon had asked… oblivious to Xander's show of love.

The redhead had tried to put the muffled gasp that she had heard the blonde give out of her head. But she couldn't – it disturbed her beyond words. Why had Tara gasped like that?

Willow tried to shut out the questions as Buffy returned to the table with drinks.

"Okay, I know your upset about Tara…" The Slayer began but the hacker cut in before she could finish.

"Upset? UPSET? Buffy, upset doesn't even begin to cover it! I mean, I see her and then poof she's gone again. And I can't find her and I always told her I'd find her. Even you can't find her and you're Miss I can find anything. So no I'm not upset – I'm really frickin' upset!" The redhead finished her rant panting a bit.

The Slayer looked at her sympathetically as the first notes of a tango song began to filter over the sound system. "It's all right Will – we'll find her. I mean she's obviously still in Sunnydale. She doesn't really have anywhere else to go. So she's around here somewhere."

Willow huffed and stared down into her soda not noticing that Buffy had started to stare open mouth at the dance floor. "Yeah, like where?"

The blonde was in a sheer black dress that looked more like a slip that went to mid thigh. Tied around her waist was a red lace half sarong. Her hair was pulled up in a loose bun – revealing her long gorgeous neck. She was wearing a little makeup – from what Willow could tell – just black eyeliner that made her already sultry blue eyes just smolder.

All and all the outfit left little to the imagination but enough to make all the heads in the place turn towards the blonde.

She stood poised hands on her hips as a tall dark hair woman in leather pants, tight shirt and a tattoo down the side of her face, sauntered up to her. As the guitars broke into the song the taller woman grabbed Tara around the waist as the blonde swung her leg up and around the other woman's hip pushing the thin material of her dress nearly up to her hipbone.

"Oh boy…" Buffy managed as the two began to dance so sensuously that Willow could almost smell the pheromones flooding the room.

Willow watched helpless and speechless as the two continued to dance. She'd seen Tara dance before but she'd never seen her dance like that. She was mesmerized as the blonde's hips swayed and circled in ways that Willow had only seen when they had made love.

"I didn't know Tara could tango…I didn't know she could…" Buffy tilted her head as the taller woman dipped Tara backwards revealing a substantial amount of the blonde's cleavage, "Move like that… oh my, Tara parts…."

Willow was now completely slack jawed. "Tara?" She squeaked. She watched as the taller dark haired woman spun Tara around and pulled the blonde back against her.

With her back pressed against the taller woman and a look of pure enjoyment, Tara wrapped her arms around the back of the woman's neck and then slowly yet very suggestively slid down the front of the taller woman and then back up.

This snapped Willow out of her astonishment and back into reality. Her resolve face cemented, the redhead stood and started towards the dance floor before the Slayer could react.

"This is pathetic and sardonic and sadistic and psychotic. Tango's not for three was never meant to be…"

Willow stalked up to the two dancing women and was about to reach for Tara when Buffy nearly tackled the hacker and dragged her off the dance floor.

"Calm down Will. She doesn't know you yet. How's that going to look? Some random chick coming up to her and interrupting her dance? Hmm? She'll think your nuts." Buffy tried to talk sense into her friend.

"You're right… I mean we're soul mates and she… it's just a dance… a dance with some tattooed freak…" Willow began to reason with herself. As the last notes ended Tara pulled the woman in for a searing kiss.

"What? What is she doing?!" Willow burst out scrambling to get out of the Slayer's grasp.

Wow, she's a lot stronger than she looks. Buffy thought as she wrestled her friend and wrapped her arms around Willow's upper body effectively pinning her down in what looked like a hug.

Willow seethed as she watched the taller woman lean down and whispered something into Tara's ear. The blonde turned and looked directly at Willow and Buffy. A smile spread across her face and she started towards the two.

Okay, that's good she's coming over here… Willow thought and then she glared as she noticed that Tara was bringing her 'tango partner' with her. All right, happy non homicidal thoughts Will. You can do this. Just think happy non homicidal thoughts. Especially, not towards tattooed freak woman who would make an excellent target for knife throwing practice…

"Well it couldn't be because you're so incredibly sexy, could it? Or that you know how to dance?" Tara purred back into Ash's ear.

"I suppose – but I don't think that's the reason behind those two women staring at us." Ash whispered back finishing with a kiss on the blonde's earlobe.

She smiled. There off to the left was the gorgeous redhead that she had seen at the coffee shop and her girlfriend.

"Willow," she breathed remembering the redhead's name. Without thinking she started towards the two pulling Ash with her.

"H-hello Willow – how are you feeling?" Tara asked holding tightly onto Ash's hand. For some reason her nervousness was getting the best of her.

"Feeling? Oh, I'm feeling good. Yep, couldn't be better." Willow replied through clenched teeth.

"H-how is y-your blood sugar?" Tara inquired. She didn't really know what to say to the redhead – but a part of her really wanted to keep the conversation going.

"Oh, her blood sugar is fine." The short blonde next to her piped up. "She just needed to eat. Not like she's diabetic. She wouldn't have died. Though for a moment, I thought she might go into a coma…"

"That's g-good. By the way, m-my name is Tara." Tara offered her hand that wasn't otherwise being occupied by holding Ash's.

"I know – I mean, you look like a Tara. It really fits you. Because you know Tara, it's really a gentle name and you look like a gentle person. Not that I'm weird and went to find out your name…" Willow began to babble which for some reason Tara found incredibly adorable.

Oh Goddess – I hope Ash isn't tuned in right now… The blonde suddenly felt guilty for thinking about Willow in the adorable sense.

Actually, again, you're broadcasting pretty loud – but that's fine. She is pretty adorable. Is that what you called it? Ash's voice answered back in her head.

Oh sweet goddess – it's not what you think Ash. Tara began to explain as Willow continued her babbling.

No, really Tara, it's fine. I wouldn't say she's adorable. I'd say she's hot. Ash returned squeezing Tara's hand reassuringly. Tara glanced back quickly at Ash who just smiled back at her.

She's wonderful. Tara thought to herself. Ever since she had met Ash she was continually surprised by how different the woman was from everyone else.

Tara turned her attention back to the redhead who was still babbling at this time. Finally, her girlfriend cleared her throat.

"Oh, sorry." Willow apologized. "I have a tendency to, um, babble." She extended her hand and took Tara's hand into hers.

"Willow, but you knew that, and this is Buffy." Willow introduced herself. But Tara was again distracted. This time by the electricity and the magicks she could feel passing between herself and Willow.

"Do y-you practice? Magicks I mean?" Tara whispered again looking deeply into Willow's eyes.

The redhead opened her mouth to reply when suddenly the doors to the Bronze burst inward.

Tara didn't know what happened in the next few moments because of the confusion and screaming that ensued but when she could think again she was being held in Willow's arms, which she found strangely familiar and comforting. Meanwhile, through the doors all sorts of creatures which Tara for some reason knew were demons were pouring.

She looked around quickly. Ash had already sprung into action heading straight for the first demons that were beginning to attack the patrons.

"Ash!!" Tara called after her but the dark haired woman didn't hear as she picked up a pool cue and slammed it into the chest of a man with a distorted face. The man burst into dust.

"Will! It's Adam!" The woman Willow had identified as Buffy cried as the blonde launched herself into the fray.

Willow stared in shocked disbelief. She couldn't believe the number of demons and vamps pouring through the now shredded doors of the Bronze.

The taller woman had planted a hand on Tara's chest and pushed the blonde back into Willow's arms.

"Ash!!" Tara cried after the woman as she grabbed a pool cue and slammed it into a vamp, dusting the vamp before he could even think to put up a fight.

Tara felt Willow wrap her arms around her and pull them back into the shadows. She felt a little awkward at first in Willow's embrace but after a moment she relaxed and pressed herself deeper into the redhead's arms.

Tara couldn't explain the feeling of safety and comfort in the woman's arms. She'd only ever felt that way with Ash. But the familiarity of the situation was giving way to other feelings. That's when she started to hear Willow's thoughts.

Oh Goddess! She's in my arms. It's been so long. She smells the same. She smells like the last time we… smashing Rosenberg, having naughty thoughts in the middle of a fight.

What? What is she talking about? The last time we… Oh Goddess! Tara swallowed a moan. Willow was no longer thinking in words…

Out of the corner of her eye she could see the taller woman was matching the Slayer blow for blow – dusted vamp for dusted vamp.

Wonder where she learned how to fight Buffy wondered as she ducked a vamp that had hurled herself at the Slayer. Maybe she was an activated Slayer?

Buffy straightened and turned kicking the female vamp in the back, knocking the vamp against a dart board. The Slayer picked up a pool cue and hurled it like a javelin at the stunned vamp – dusting her and impaling the cue in the center of the dart board.

"Ha!" Buffy called to the taller dark haired woman. "Bull's-eye! Plus one dusted vamp. Let's see if you can do better."

The Slayer didn't know why she was taunting the woman. Without the dark haired woman, Buffy knew she would have been over whelmed long before this.

The woman turned and regarded the Slayer, then picked up a bar stool and chucked it at two vamps that were advancing on her. The stool struck the closest vamp making him fall back into his buddy. The two fell backwards with their momentum against another dart board.

The woman toed a pool cue that was lying at her feet and kicked it up into her hands. Spinning it quickly in her fingers she took aim and let the cue fly. With deadly accuracy and force it pierced the hearts of both vamps. They exploded into dust – leaving only the cue sticking out of the very center circle of the board.

"Double Bull's-eye," The woman deadpanned before spinning and driving her elbow into the face of a scaled demon before snapping its neck.

Willow and Tara were naked. The scent of their love filled Tara's dorm room. They were making love by candle light. There was a rhythm as their bodies and breathing moved as one.

They were in a bathroom. Tara pushed against the wall as Willow held her from behind her fingers gliding over her, in her. The power of Tara's impending orgasm causing the blonde to bite her full lower lip and clutch uselessly at the wall for purchase.

Tara was floating above a bed, while Willow worshipped her center with tongue, lips and fingers.

Tara shook her head trying to clear out the images that were passing through her mind like a river. They were so graphic and detailed that the blonde was on one hand disturbed and on the other completely turned on.

"Uh, yeah?" The redhead replied her breath tickling the blonde's neck causing shivers to run down Tara's spine.

"W-where… h-how…how do you…?" But Tara couldn't bring herself to finish the question. First it would be weird and secondly, she didn't want the redhead to think that she was invading the privacy of her thoughts. Because they were her thoughts – even if Tara had the starring X rated role.

The blonde tried to think. How could Willow know in detail Tara's body? Every answer seemed impossible.

Tara opened her mouth to try and ask again. She NEEDED to know how Willow could be having such vivid and accurate thoughts about her. But before she could she saw a tall patch worked man enter the Bronze.

He looked part human, demon and computer hard drive and Tara instantly knew that he was the cause of the attack.

Looking around quickly, Tara noticed that Ash and Willow's girlfriend had managed to kill off most of the demons and vampires. Now the two were fighting the last two demons between themselves and the patchwork man.

Ash killed her demon and was about to attack when suddenly she was thrown by an invisible force backward. She smashed painfully into a pillar and crumbled to the ground.

"Oh Goddess. Ash!" Tara cried and freed herself from Willow's embrace she ran to where her lover had fallen.

"Tara!" Willow called after her but the blonde didn't hear her. Her only thought was of getting to her fallen girl.

"Adam, yeah I know." Buffy interrupted. Demons and vamps dispatched the Slayer stood in a defiant yet uncaring pose.

Secretly, the Slayer was scared. Adam had obviously thrown the taller woman with the use of magicks. Something that he had definitely not had the first time she had come up against the hodgepodge demon creation. Something was so not right – but right now she couldn't let him sense that she was afraid.

"Yeah, just enough to know that you're a sucky loser wimp with computer mush for brains and no sense of self identity seeing how you're made up of anything Walsh could concoct." Buffy quipped. "By the way, did you kill her yet – because I really didn't want to have to deal with her Martha Stewart attitude about psychology?"

Good, it'll get him outta here without a fight. We really need to get to Giles because this is all too messed up. The Slayer thought to herself.

"It is interesting you know so much considering that this the first time we've met," Adam began.

"Count on it, Tin Man." The Slayer replied as Adam turned in the carnage and left the Bronze. Buffy watched him go and made sure there was no other threat before she turned back to Willow. Who looked impossibly torn as she lingered a few feet behind Tara, who was cradling her now very unconscious lover in her arms.

"Sure, let's go." Buffy started towards the door but stopped short when she realized that Willow wasn't following. "Will?"

Buffy squatted down by Tara. The blonde was cradling the dark haired woman in her arms, gently running her fingers over the unconscious woman's face. Tracing down the intricate tattoo and over her neck.

"Ash, sweetie, can you h-hear me?" She whispered gently, her voice shaky. Buffy waited for a moment before placing a hand on Tara's forearm.

Tara lifted her head and looked at Buffy. Her troubled blue eyes causing the Slayer's heart to tighten.

Buffy had never dreamed she'd ever be this close to the Wiccan again. She had missed Tara as much as Dawn had. The Slayer and the Wiccan had just begun to explore their friendship when Tara had been so cruelly ripped from their lives.

Now, looking into the blue depths of Tara's eyes, Buffy was struck again with not only joy but also pain. Tara was back – but she would never remember all she had experienced with Willow and Buffy and the rest of the Scoobies.

"I-Is s-she all r-right?" Tara's worried stutter brought Buffy out of her revelry.

The Slayer shook herself mentally and reached two fingers down to Ash's pulse point and waited. Her pulse was strong and steady.

Buffy nodded. "Yep, she's fine. She's just making with the unconsciousness. Worse case scenario: She'll have to become intimate friends with a bottle of aspirin when she wakes up."

Tara let out a sigh of relief and leaned down. She placed a gentle kiss on Ash's forehead before whispering: "Hear that sweetie? You're going to be fine. Just a little bit of a headache, but I know how to cure that…" She trailed off leaving no doubt as to what "cure" she was talking about.

Buffy quickly looked over to Willow. The hacker's arms were stiff at her sides, her fists clenched.

God fate sucks! First, Tara dies and then she manages to get her back but now suddenly Tara is with someone else?! This is so not right in the karma department.

Willow nodded stiffly. "Yeah, Fine. Big with the fine… let's just get back to Giles' house," she managed.

Tara shook her head. Buffy quickly and gently scooped Ash up into her arms. Though the woman was unbelievably light, the Slayer found that the woman's height proved to present a little bit of a problem for the shorter Slayer.

Tara gaped at Buffy and for a moment the Slayer was confused. Then it dawned on Buffy that Tara didn't know that she was the Slayer.

"How…?" Tara questioned her eyes wide as she watched Buffy walk easily towards the door with Ash in hand.

"Um… she works out… a lot," Willow offered guiding the blonde out the door with her hand on the small of Tara's back.

"S-she's very strong," Tara commented as she and Willow trailed behind Buffy on the sidewalk.

The blonde Wiccan was very curious about Willow and Buffy's relationship. Why did the smaller woman not care that her redheaded girlfriend was so obviously hitting on Tara? And, most importantly, how the hell did Willow know, in detail, Tara's body?

"Huh? Oh, yeah. She's carried me out of dangerous sitches more than once." Willow replied smiling in Buffy's direction. Then her face scrunched up and she back tracked saying: "I mean, we – er, I – I'm always in trouble… Not bad trouble – curiosity trouble… curiosity killed the cat – say… do you like cats?"

"Um, yes?" Tara wasn't sure how to respond to Willow's adorable babble. When she looked she could see the other woman blushing despite the darkness. "Willow?"

Tara stopped walking and took Willow's hands in her own. Once again, she felt herself connect with the other woman in a way that shocked her to the soul, but in a good, warm way. Sort of like with she had connected with Ash, only different. A good kind of different.

"Yeah?" Willow spoke, her voice rough and husky. Her green eyes met Tara's blue and wouldn't look away. "Yes, Tara?"

"I… I was w-wondering s-s-something," she managed, wondering why this woman, who she hardly knew, would cause her to begin stuttering once again. How, when she felt nothing but safe and whole when in Willow's presence and arms could she embarrass herself like this? Strangely, though, Willow only smiled wider and acted as if she didn't notice.

It was like a gentle caress of Tara's soul. She had to stop herself from shivering with pleasure. Nobody, not even Ash, could make her feel like that simply by saying her name.

Willow started and threw a dirty look at the blonde's back. "Also, sometimes, she's bossy."

Tara couldn't help but giggle, which only seemed to make Willow's grin bigger; it nearly cut her head in two. It was a beautiful, infectious smile. Tara couldn't help but return it with one of her own. Then, without a word, they joined hands and jogged to catch up with Buffy and Ash.

As they reached Buffy, Tara could hear Ash mumbling in the strange but familiar language the blonde heard her speak during spells and sometimes in her sleep.

"Hey, any idea what she's saying?" Buffy inquired as they turned up the walk to, what the blonde figured, was Giles' house.

Tara shook her head. She looked at her unconscious lover. Sure, Ash was beautiful, hot, sexy and mysterious. But, oh, Willow. She sighed inwardly.

"I-I'm not sure, I think it's her native tongue," Tara replied as a blush crawled up her neck, her thoughts of Ash's "native tongue" taking a definite turn towards the adult.

"Oh, Spanish?" Buffy asked as she stopped in front of the door. Willow reached around and opened the door allowing the Slayer to step in.

"Well, she WAS dancing the tango," Buffy replied making her way to the back of the house.

"So… that makes her Spanish?" Tara wondered out loud at Buffy's logic. The Slayer pushed open another door and deposited Ash on the bed inside the room. Tara looked around and wondered idly where they were at.

Buffy turned and instantly Tara dropped Willow's hand. She didn't want to get Willow in trouble with her girlfriend.

"I'm going to find Giles and tell him what happened. I'm sure you can stay the night here. We'll figure all this out in the morning." Buffy said and then winked at Willow as she walked out into the hall.

"Um…maybe…y-you should follow y-your girlfriend," Tara muttered, her throat clenching even as she said the words to Willow.

The redhead looked hurt and then confused. "Um – she's not my girlfriend…nope, definitely not – I'm girlfriendless, unfortunately. Not that I'm straight. No, nowhere close to boyland. I'm very opposed to crossing the borders of boyland – I'm just currently unattached to anyone of the fairer sex…" Willow babbled.

Tara grinned. How come she was so happy to hear that Willow didn't have a girlfriend?

Ash groaned and murmured Tara's name bringing the blonde back to reality. Tara sighed inwardly.

Sure, Willow didn't have a girlfriend – but Tara did and that said girlfriend was hurt and unconscious. Tara looked behind herself and then back at Willow, who now looked stricken.

"I'll, um, see you in the m-morning right?" Tara asked hesitantly. Willow nodded numbly.

"Yeah, Buffy and I are going back to Buffy's house. We'll be by in the morning. You're safe here, so, please stay?" Willow asked, her voice childlike and her beautiful green eyes imploring.

At that moment, Tara wanted nothing more than to kiss the redhead. Her heart was screaming for her to – but Ash and she didn't really know Willow. Though, for some reason, the redhead knew her.

"'Kay, I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight Tara." Willow said in a sad voice and left, closing the door before Tara could reply.

"Goodnight, Willow," Tara whispered to the closed door. She sighed deeply and turned back towards the prone form of Ash.

The blonde climbed onto the bed. She gently removed Ash's clothes and carefully searched her body for damage. Her lover was battered and bruised but none the worse for the wear.

Tara knew she cared deeply about Ash. She could even be so bold as to say she loved her. The short, intense amount of time she had shared with Ash had allowed her to grow extremely close to the mysterious woman.

In all honesty, she could say that she had "in love" type feelings towards Ash. But the even shorter amount of time with Willow had proven to be just as strong, if not stronger, connection with the redhead.

Sure she felt comfortable, safe and even loved with Ash. More so than she had even in her entire life. Tara felt connected with her. But Willow, oh sweet Willow! – All that was there and so much more.

"Right here sweetie," Tara whispered leaning down on an elbow near Ash's beautifully tattooed face. Ash opened her eyes and Tara's breath caught in her throat.

She has the most gorgeous eyes She mused as she traced the angles of Ash's face.

"It's okay darling. We're all right," Tara soothed tracing down Ash's neck and then placing a tender kiss on her lips.

Tara pulled back a small smile on her lips. "You w-were so hot fighting," Tara's voice was low and husky. "You fight so well,"

"You," Ash informed her looking meaningfully at her. The intensity of the gaze made Tara's breathing speed up. The blonde moaned and kissed Ash passionately. After a moment Ash whimpered.

When Ash didn't answer Tara grew worried then nervous. "What do you mean Ash?" Tara began to raise herself up.

"What are you-?" Tara began but was cut off as Ash touched the palms of her hands to Tara's temples. Suddenly, images, memories, emotions flooded into the blonde's mind:

Tara's life: her life with Willow – Buffy's death – her own death Willow's fall into dark magicks – Warren – the First – Kennedy – Anya's death – the destruction of Sunnydale – the spell to resurrect Sunnydale… and so much more that Tara didn't understand.

She was giving all of Tara's life back to her. The warrior had opened her mind and all her knowledge to the blonde. In so, she had unblocked Tara's mind to her past lives and her true essence. Releasing, with Elfin magicks and wisdom, not only her entire mind from the dark but also all of her power.

She would go back to her soul mate and Ash would be done in the human realms. The half elf smiled bitterly.

She could go "home" now but somehow she knew her heart was with Tara and home just wouldn't be that without her.

Tara's face had aged. Ash knew that had Tara lived the first time she would be 25 years old. The knowledge had seemingly brought the blonde's physical appearance to her correct age.

At least she didn't age 800 years Ash mused trying to compose herself for the inevitable.

The warrior noticed that Tara's hands were trembling and finally tears escaped her still closed eyes.

"Ashlan," Tara breathed weakly. Ash groaned. The warrior had never told the blonde her given name. The weight of what Tara had now become hit Ash. Tara was now the Goddess' Prophetess. An incarnation of the Goddess' spirit.

"Willow," Tara whispered and pushed herself away from Ash's body. The blonde looked down at the warrior's naked body and choked back a sob before turning and running from the house.

Willow shut and locked the front door behind Buffy. Then just to be safe, she checked the back door too.

Not that mere wood would offer up much protection against Adam or the magicks he somehow now had at his disposal. Will figured that she could protect herself long enough to make a get away, so she wasn't too worried about it.

She was pretty sure the weird freaky tattooed chick had Tara under a spell. She could feel it.

Well, she couldn't feel it, the way she felt magicks to her soul, but a spell was the only explanation she could come up with.

No, that wasn't true, entirely, only she didn't want to think about the other possibility…

The pain Willow had felt when she saw Tara on the dance floor of the Bronze with the tattooed, granted, highly attractive woman, had broken her heart.

Then, holding her so close during the ensuing battle, Willow had only been able to think of one thing. Yes, her mind had been in the gutter. She just couldn't help thinking about all the times they had gone out fighting, or even patrolling without fighting, and had come home only to fall into each other's arms.

When Buffy had first told her about the hungry/horny aftermath of fighting, Willow had scoffed. She figured it was just a Slayer thing. Until she met Tara. In which case, she could take care of the hungry/horny all at once.

So, since Tara was under a spell and currently indisposed with the freak woman-thing, Willow went to the kitchen to rummage around in the refrigerator.

When they'd gotten home, Buffy had wanted to talk. However, upon finding a note from Dawn saying she was at the Mall, the Slayer had gone to retrieve her sister.

Dawn was taking full advantage of now being able to shop at all the stores in Sunnydale since her past "mad thieving", as Anya had once put it, was no longer known here.

While Buffy trusted Dawn not to regress back into her kleptomania now that Joyce was back in their lives. Still, the Slayer looked out for her sister.

It was not, of course, the first time Willow had been alone since they'd been back. However, tonight, as the hacker sat down on the couch with a piece of cold chicken and flavored seltzer water, she couldn't help think just how unfair this all was.

Buffy and Riley had a second chance, though, Buffy didn't seem to care – maybe she was still stuck on Spike – Willow didn't know.

Then there was Giles and Joyce – an unlikely couple, but very sweet (once everyone got over the "ick" factor).

And she should have been with Tara by now. They would have done spells. They would have smiled, laughed and done other stuff. The kind of stuff Willow could now only fantasize about.

The hacker sighed. It wasn't late but she didn't see any reason to stay up. If Buffy wanted to talk she could wake Willow up.

Deciding that, Willow threw her chicken bones away, put her plate in the dishwasher and made her way to the stairs.

As she set foot on the first stair, despair overcame her and she sank to her knees. Tears of rage and injustice that she'd held back all night began to leak from her eyes. Then, like a dam bursting, Willow sobbed loudly in front of the stairs.

"Why?! Why Goddess?! Why did you take her away from me again? We were supposed to be forever? Forever…"

Something pounded on the front door. It was a frantic sound, like someone in trouble. Through her despair, Willow was only peripherally aware of the noise.

This time the noise startled Willow out of her tears, for a moment, unsure if she'd really heard anything.

Willow sniffled and got to her feet. The tears would not stop but she approached the door.

Looking through the peep hole, Willow saw nothing; her eyes were too bleary wet.

"Okay, geez," she muttered and slid the deadbolt open slowly. "You better not be a demon. I am so not in the mood."

"Willow. A-Are you okay? I… Hi." Tara reached out and gently touched the redhead's wet cheek with the back of her non-injured hand.

Willow closed her eyes. When she opened them, Tara was still there. Her heart skipped a beat as she brought her gaze to meet Tara's blue eyes.

Willow put her hand up and Tara took hers from the redhead's cheek to meet it. Instantly they laced their fingers together, but it was Tara who tugged Willow forward.

Surprised, Willow half stumbled over to the doorway. Tara reached out her swollen hand and caught the other woman, and then she slid her arm around Willow's waist and pulled her against her.

Willow didn't resist. She wrapped her own arm around Tara and laid her head against the blonde's shoulder. Tara followed suit.

They stayed like that for a quite awhile, until Willow felt her flood of tears slow to a trickle. She lifted her head and met Tara's eyes again.

Willow smiled a little at that and escorted Tara inside and into the living room. They sat on the couch together, as close as was possible without being in each other's laps.

"I'm not sure, exactly. Ash, she… knows me… us… all of our history. She gave it to me, showed me…" Tara looked meaningfully at Willow, "Everything."

Willow hung her head. Her mind was reeling. Who, what was Ash? How could she know everything? And Tara? Tara knew about Warren. Willow could tell by her voice.

Willow continued to stare down at their joined hands. When Tara untangled one hand from hers, Willow automatically held tighter to the one still in her grasp.

Tara cupped Willow's chin and lifted her love's head up until Willow would meet her eyes.

"I would have done it. If it was you Willow, I would have… he deserved it. He was human but… he deserved it." Tara told her, her voice firm. Willow gulped audibly and her lower lip quivered. "Willow…"

Tara leaned forward and placed her lips on Willow's. A sigh stole through the redhead and a hole in her soul that had opened the moment of Tara's death was finally filled.

Tara moved her hand along Willow's jaw and then ran her fingers through the soft red hair. Then she placed her palm on the nape of Willow's neck, pulling the hacker more into the kiss.

A little shocked, as she had been the first time she and Tara had ever kissed, Willow wasn't sure how to respond. After a moment, her mind caught up with what was happening and she gladly returned Tara's affection.

"I've missed you, Willow," she said, then slid the tip of her tongue seductively over the redhead's bottom lip. The thoughts that Willow had had at the Bronze jumped to the front of her mind again.

"Mmm," Willow purred. She unlaced her other hand from Tara's and slid it around the blonde's back and then under Tara's top. The softness of Tara's skin caused Willow's heart to speed up even more.

The blonde's eyelids fluttered shut and she arched her back like a cat as Willow stroked the length of her spine. When Tara opened her eyes again, they were blazing blue, hungry.

When they kissed a second time, it was full of passion. Lips parted and tongues met, battling at first, and then slowing to caress each other knowingly.

Willow's other hand joined the one at Tara's back, gliding up and down over Tara's silky skin. She passed them over her shoulders, playing, teasing at her bra strap.

The hacker left Tara's mouth to kiss along her jaw and down her neck, the way she knew turned Tara on.

Tara left out a soft moan and cupped Willow's head, keeping the redhead from going too far.

Willow nibbled gently at the hollow of Tara's throat until the blonde let her go. She returned to the blonde's lips and Willow let her fingers deftly unclasped Tara's bra before moving her hands around to the front of the blonde's body. She motioned to remove Tara's dress.

Happily the redhead obliged and she was faced with a vision. The nearly naked, beautiful perfection of her soul mate's body; her perfect breasts, her nipples already erect and waiting, the goose flesh that covered her skin at the removal of the clothes.

Willow forced herself to blink and breathe. "Oh, Tara…Baby, I've missed you so much."

The hacker shifted on the couch and leaned into kiss Tara again. Her arms locked around Tara's naked upper half as they both lay down on the couch. The blonde giggled.

Tara moaned again and Willow's fingers drifted across the bare skin of Tara's stomach, causing the muscles to tense and tremble under her touch.

Willow stopped for a moment to consider Tara's words. This perturbed the blonde slightly and she growled, calling the redhead's attention back.

With a wicked laugh, Willow captured Tara's lips once more and cast invisibility glamour.

There was only one porn shop in Sunnydale and it catered to both the human and the demon population.

The now chipped vamp was hoping that a demon would drop "leftovers". He knew that certain demons had very "odd" sexual appetites. "Odd" being they would kill or maim a human victim to get their jollies.

Bloody chip! Making me into nothing better than a bloody vulture. Cleaning up the leftovers.

He needed to find away to get his vamp hood back and when he did – he was going to make those wankers in uniforms pay. After that, he was going after the Slayer and her band of pups.

The peroxide vamp heard someone approaching from around the side of the building.

Letting his demon visage come out he waited, back against the wall, until he heard footsteps a few feet away. With a snarl he bounded out of his hiding place and then stopped short, surprised.

"What in the hell-?" He started but never finished as he exploded into dust, covering the black leather duster of the intruder.

"I wonder what Freud would say? The old looney," Spike looked down at the remnants of his younger, resurrected self, as he lit a cigarette.

Ash had managed to dress in what was quickly becoming a sorry excuse for what use to be her clothes and was headed for what she thought was the outskirts of town.

It's about time you enlightened the Prophetess. Aleora projected into her mind as the Warrior stole through the night.

"Bite me. When do you ever?" Ash replied aloud before she frowned. Where had she gotten that? 'Bite me' – she didn't know what it meant. Well, she did but not in that context…

When you opened your mind to the Prophetess, you acquired her knowledge of human culture. In a way, she's as much a part of your mind as you are hers, Aleora informed Ash.

Because you haven't even begun to finish the Prophecy, the Elderess replied sagely.

"Easy? Do you think falling in love and then having to give that up, is easy? Listen lady, I'd like to you do it!" Ash said aloud.

An old woman who was passing Ash at that moment stared at the half elf as though she'd lost her mind.

"Sorry, I'm in a band," Ash offered. The old woman nodded knowingly and continued on her way.

Wait for the Goddess' Prophetess to return to you. Whatever she asks of you – you do. You are her servant.

What? Aleora inquired. Ash could tell that the Elderess was now as confused as the Warrior was with Ash's new found insight into the human world.

You started it. If I hadn't had to open Tara's mind, I wouldn't have words like 'dude' in my vocabulary.

You should address the incarnation of the Goddess' spirit by her appropriate title.

Aleora, we've had sex. We've made love. I'm not going to address her as "Goddess' incarnate" Ash smirked. Well, maybe I'll call her Goddess… in the throes of passion, when she's-

Then go away! Aleora shouted within Ash's mind. I can't believe I'm even having this conversation. I can't even talk her anymore…

Ash smirked a little. In some weird way, it was rewarding to irritate the Elderess.

Looking down at her clothing, the elf decided that she need to find new clothing soon, especially if she was to stay in the human realms.

It was the intense magical energy that caught Spike's attention. The peroxide vamp stopped and watched as a tall woman approached him.

There was something strange about her, other than the tattoo down the side of her face.

"Well, I'll be a milk maid's bastard son – an elf!" He exclaimed as the woman came with in arms reach.

"I've heard about you blokes…but I'd never thought I'd see one." Spike was truly surprised as he eyed the attractive woman.

"Aren't you supposed to be shorter?" He asked coming full circle and stopping in front of her.

"Actually, I am short for an elf. But that is because I'm half human." She informed him. She paused and tilted her head to the side. "There's something off about you."

"You're a vampire but…" It was the elf's turn to circle. "Your soul is still inside you. Aren't you suppose to be soulless?"

"Yes, but… it's complicated." Spike adjusted his duster. "You wouldn't understand."

There was a moment of silence. "It was a woman wasn't it? You reclaimed your soul for love." The woman smirked, "You idiot."

The vamp pulled out a smoke. "Yeah, it's easy to tell love's bitch." He lit his cigarette and took a drag. "For instance, I can tell you're one too…"

"I can smell girl and frustration and anger. You're whipped too. Caught by the balls…clit…whatever."

She produced a wrapped purple leaf. Spike, being chivalrous, lit her "cigarette". The elf stared at the lighter as he did.

"What? Never seen a lighter before? It's nice and handy. Bloody humans made some improvements in the last hundred years." He flicked the wheel of the lighter causing sparks. "Wicked, eh?"

"Actually, I was thinking how primitive. Why not just get two sticks and rub them together?"

"Take too long," he commented, then stuck out his hand. "Name's William but my friends call me Spike."

"Well, Ash, it's a pleasure. Planning on staying with this mess we call the human race long? Because if you are, love, you're gonna to need some new clothes because those look like shit. Besides, you don't blend well."

"Yeah, love, with the tattoos and everything." Spike turned on his heel and nodded down the street. "Come on, I'll help you fix that. In the meantime, you can tell me why you left you're cozy little elf hole and came to this mess."

Buffy sighed. "Okay, I know I'm not Mom, but I'm still older than you. And I'm the Slayer."

They were walking down the dark street on their way home. Dawn wasn't really mad at Buffy for coming to get her; she just really liked giving her sister a bad time.

"Could you say that any louder? I don't think the vamps and demons in L.A. heard you."

"Does it matter?" Dawn bantered. "What? Are you afraid if the monsters know you're not the only Slayer, they'll be less scared of you?"

"Yeah, who would have thought we would miss living on a Hellmouth? The world is a cra-a-a-a-zy place," Dawn grinned.

They turned up the sidewalk towards their house. The light in the living room glowed through the curtains.

"Hey, Will is still awake," Buffy commented as they reached the door. "Good, I want to talk to her about tonight."

As soon as they entered, they were assaulted by a cacophony of passionate moans coming from the living room.

There were clothes thrown willy-nilly about the floor and coffee table. They could hear the moans, but they couldn't see anything. This, as far as Buffy was concerned, was a good.

"Oh please! I lived with them for three months. This one time, I kind of saw them in the kitchen-"

"Well, yeah…I mean NO! Absolutely no! We go. Now. Before they hear us and think we're pervs!"

"Believe me, they don't hear anything when they're like that," Dawn tried to assure her sister as Buffy closed the door as quickly and quietly as possible.

"We stop at Fort Giles; grab some weapons and go-a-demon hunting. And I'll tell you what happened tonight." Buffy informed her as they started down the street.

"Yeay!" Dawn grinned and skipped a bit. She loved patrolling as much as she loved gossiping.

Tara slid Willow's top off over her head, only to see that the redhead wasn't wearing anything underneath.

Willow could always get away with that. She was wonderfully beautiful. Her ivory skin was still flawless and smooth.

Tara tickled along Willow's ribs, making the redhead sigh. She slid her hands over Willow's stomach and up to her naked breasts.

Willow arched into Tara's hands, all the while keeping her mouth in place teasing and sucking Tara's nipples. The blonde gasped as Willow took a tiny, very erotic nibble.

Willow halted long enough to grin. Then, she lightly kissed the nipple. At least Kennedy had been good for something.

The redhead bent her head to continue, all the while her fingers deftly running under the elastic of Tara's silk panties, tugging them down slowly. After a moment, the teasing was too much even for Willow and she yanked them over Tara's hips and tossed them over her shoulder onto the floor.

She paused only for a moment to pull back and admire Tara's nakedness. Her eyes roved longing from Tara's face; her skin flushed, her eyes half lidded to her chest which rose and fell in time with Willow's, as if they were one. Next, Willow's gazes went to Tara's stomach and then lower.

The redhead stopped breathing and her heart sped up as she beheld the blonde's swollen and wet center.

"Will!" Tara gasped her lover's name, bringing the other woman back from her private moment. "Please, Will…" Tara pleaded arching her hips a little.

Without a second thought, Willow played her fingers softly over Tara's stomach, toyed a bit with the moist dark blonde curls.

Tara's blue eyes snapped wide open as Willow plunged two fingers into her. Her hips bucked upward of their own volition. Heat surged through her blood and she threw her head back, a load moan escaping her lips. Suddenly, Willow was there; cover Tara's body, cradling her head with one arm. Tara bucked, thrust and ground against Willow's hand and body.

The redheaded witch skillfully brought Tara to her climax, slowly and tenderly riding with her wave after wave of pleasure until at long last Tara passed into a blissful haze.

"So, Adam just attacked and the chick that Tara was tangoing with vertically, of course, just jumped in and kicked demon ass without a second thought?" Dawn repeated just to clarify it within her own head.

"Yep, and she was good too. Well, that was until Adam showed up and made with the mega mojo and threw Her Tattooedness into a support beam. Then she was making more with the unconscious than with the ass kicking." Buffy replied.

Dawn stopped. They'd swept nearly all the grave yards and were heading towards the UC Sunnydale campus to check on Initiative activity.

"That's because he didn't the first time around. Something is definitely on the whacked around here. I don't think Sunnydale came back quite right." The Slayer scrunched up her face. "Kinda like me."

Dawn opened her mouth to negate her sister's comment when Buffy froze ready to strike.

"Well, well, well. Slayer. Seems you haven't lost your edge," Spike's voice came from the shadows.

"Come on out Spike, so I can stake you." Buffy snarled. She'd forgotten that the resurrected, still-bent-on-evil Spike would be in Sunnydale.

In that moment, Buffy resolved to stake Spike's double to preserve the memory of the man Spike was.

"Now is that anyway to greet a friend?" Spike stepped out from behind a tree followed by…

"Take it easy there, Buffy. My name is Ash, not Her Tattooedness." Ash said evenly. She looked from Buffy to – "Dawnie!" She cried and made a move towards the Slayer's sister.

The Slayer quickly stepped between Dawn and Ash. "One more step and I'm going to skewer you." Buffy pressed her knife to Ash's stomach.

Spike chuckled from behind Ash. "Glad to see you haven't changed much. How was Europe?"

"Europe? What do you mean…I mean… I only told Angel…" The Slayer's brain was in overdrive.

"Wait. Okay…wait." Buffy looked at Spike. "Are you – Spike? I mean, I know you're Spike but are you the real Spike?" She questioned.

"That's true; I did die after the little champion ball o' sunshine thing. But then I got stuck in Limbo over at Nancy boy's place. The Powers that Be, though, decided to give me corporeal form and sent me on my merry way back to Sunnyhell. They said something about you needing ol' Spike's help." He finished rocking back on his heels and puffing out his chest.

Buffy nodded slowly. She wasn't really clear on the whole matter but she did know that Spike was Spike. She smiled, "It's good to see you Spike."

"As for you, what are you doing here? How do you know mine and Dawn's names?" Buffy slipped into demon interrogation mode.

"I'm here because I'm suppose to be and I don't know how I know your names." Ash replied looking honestly confused.

"What's that suppose to mean? You're here because you're suppose to be-" Buffy wasn't satisfied with Ash's answers.

"Whoa, slow down solider." Spike came up to stand beside Ash. "Give her a break. We've compared notes. She's here for the same reason I am. Come on, Buffy, do you sense evil from her?"

"I can see why Tara likes her," Dawn whispered to Buffy as the Slayer stepped back.

"It's not so bad – she obviously knew who I was," Dawn faltered and then looked at Ash. "Say, how did you know who I am? And why did you call me Dawnie – only Buffy, Mom, Tara, Willow, Xander, Anya – wait a minute – never mind, a lot of people call me Dawnie – but you…"

"Give 'er a break lil' bit. She's been saying things she doesn't understand all night," Spike admonished her.

Dawn pouted and then looked Ash up and down. Slowly, a mischievous smile spread across her face.

"Can't complain. Well, I can. Being stuck in an evil law firm for a few months can bring a man down."

"Don't be. It beats going to hell – "Spike shrugged, "Well, not by much anyway. How are things?"

"Okay, I suppose. I mean, we managed to bring everything back obviously, but things are happening that we just don't understand. We're fighting past big bads but now they've got new powers and they're popping up left and right of each other." Buffy finished with a sigh.

"Like I said, love, The Powers that Be knew that there was going to be some trouble, that's why they sent me over. They didn't tell me what the trouble was going to be, though. Same story with Ash there. Although, from what she's told me, the elfin council sent her here saying she needed to fulfill some prophecy. But, you know how council's are with prophecies – they never bloody well tell you what's in 'em – "

"Wait, wait." The Slayer held up a hand to silence Spike. "What did you say about a council?"

"Oh, bloody hell, what's so hard to understand? She's an elf! You deal with the metaphysical! Like the existence of elves is such a stretch from vampires, demons and hell gods!" Spike spat in frustration.

Ash furrowed her brow and then turned her head a bit so Dawn could see her ears better.

The youngest Summers bounced up and down. "Look Buffy! Pointy, pointy, pointy ears!"

Instantly, Dawn stopped. "Sorry, cool ears." Dawn narrowed her eyes a bit into something that resembled a leer. "And nice tats…"

"Oh that, well, it seems Ash here is somewhat of a beacon for anyone hailing from the Isle of Lesbos," Spike replied simply, "Got a weird effect on women."

"Because you don't like box," Ash spoke for the first time in the conversation and then looked wide eyed at Spike. "The hell does that mean, Spike?"

"Don't know what you're talking about, Buffy. Maybe…maybe…it's just some sort of thing that…never mind," Dawn finished lamely.

"You and I are going to talk later Missy," The Slayer replied sternly. Buffy turned back to Ash. "Anyhow, so you're an elf? I thought you'd be, you know, shorter."

"Lippy one isn't she?" She said looking at Spike then back at Ash. "So, why are you here? Come to make shoes?" Buffy smirked.

"No, like you've been told before, I don't know what's in the prophecy. I'm just hanging around," The half elf paused again looking confused at her own use of language, "Until I know more." She finished.

"So, you just took up with Spike? Tara goes running back to Willow and you take up with Spike? By the way, why is Tara back with Willow? She didn't know Will from Adam – no pun intended – two hours ago and now they're making like bunnies on my couch." Buffy's tone demanded answers from the elf.

"I released her mind. Like I was destined to. So she could remember her own destiny. That part of the prophecy I do know." Ash finished in a disgruntled whisper.

"Oh, so you were also destined to seduce her?" Buffy was suddenly very defensive of Willow and Tara.

"Now, now Slayer lay off. If I remember correctly, it'd be hard not to fall for Red's girl. A good soul that one – beautiful too. Make someone want to fall in bed with her too-"

Dawn noticed that color leave Ash's face for a moment. The young woman wanted to console the elf. She'd always known the effect Tara could have on a person. But Tara was with Willow first and they were in love. But it didn't take away the sympathy that Dawn felt for Ash.

She must really care for her to look that hurt, the youngest Summers thought to herself.

"Ash and I were going to go and pop in on Adam," Spike replied. "I owe him a visit. You know, repay him for what he did. We figured tonight would be a good time since you and the elf took out a lot of his minions."

"You can't go in there. He already handed Ash her ass once tonight," Buffy snorted.

"We know that Adam's powerful, but we thought we'd go in there and rough him up a bit. Then you could bring Red and make with the hocus pocus and take him out the way you did last time." Spike was almost whining. "Come on, Buffy! I even got Ash here all decked to the nines in a bad ass fighting uniform."

"A Sex Pistols T-Shirt? That's the "bad ass fighting uniform"? The Slayer gawked.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Whatever. You two stay here. I'm going to go get the gang. We're going to do the right way. I'll be back with more weapons and a couple of witches. Come on, Dawn."

The Slayer started towards home then turned. "You two better not go in there. I don't want to have to save your necks. Just lurk or something until I get back."

"You have no idea." He paused and looked over at the elf. "And good use of context on the 'smart ass' comment, by the way."

"I hope we aren't interrupting anything," Dawn commented as they took the steps up to the front door at a jog. "Okay, I mean, again."

"Dawn." Buffy said sharply. The teen only shrugged and made sure she opened the door as loudly as she could.

Beside her, Buffy only squeaked and stared aghast at her sister. She knew Dawn was growing up, but when had she grown cojones? Cojones being about the only word Buffy knew in Spanish.

The two sisters heard giggling coming from the living room. Before the Slayer could react, Dawn made for the sounds.

Wary of what she might see, Buffy covered her eyes with one hand and followed her sister.

It wasn't a BAD sight – Willow and Tara cuddling cutely in the aftermath of whatever they had been doing (that Buffy didn't really want to think about). They were covered, sort of, by Willow's long denim skirt, which they had pulled over themselves.

Dawn only blushed at the compliment, and then grinned back at the two naked women. She was obviously more than thrilled to see them back together, no matter the circumstances.

"Hmm?" The blonde replied, not really paying attention to anything but Willow again.

"How?… I mean, when did you?…Not three hours ago you were falling all over the tattooed elf… How?…"

Willow shot Buffy a look, then turned her head back to Tara. "She's an elf? Like Arwen?" The redhead questioned.

Willow frowned in Dawn's direction. Tara reached a hand up and stroked the redhead's cheek smiling sweetly.

"Its okay, Will." She soothed softly. Willow ducked her head and kissed Tara's lips.

"Actually, I, um, hate to interrupt, but…Ash and Spike went to go after Adam. Will, I need you to do the spell and then some." Buffy stammered.

"She WHAT?" Tara shot straight up causing Willow, and what little cover they had, to fall to the floor.

Buffy immediately shut her eyes tight and turned her back. Dawn only smiled and Buffy had to grab at her sister blindly. Finally, she got a hold of Dawn's arm and forced her to turn around as well.

"Geez, Buffy," the young woman muttered. "It's not like I've never seen another woman naked."

"You two get dressed," Buffy suggested. The Slayer ignored, for the moment, her sister's comment. "We need more weapons and we need to call Giles and Xander."

"Yeah," Tara agreed and went on to add, "What in the hell is Ash thinking? She's going to get herself killed."

Buffy hauled Dawn out of the room and into the kitchen before she could hear anymore.

"You, call Giles and Xander. I'll go upstairs and collect weapons," the Slayer ordered. "Oh, and what the hell were you talking about in there? It better be gym class…"

"Not gym, e-exactly. But working out…" Dawn started to explain, "I-In the t-training room, in Cleveland…"

"Buffy, I'm eighteen! I can see people naked if I want to!" Dawn protested. "I don't need your permission to kiss someone."

"What's wrong with her?" Dawn was defensive. "She's good now Buffy. Didn't you figure that out?"

"WHO IS JEANETTE?" Tara had to practically scream to be heard. Everyone stopped and turned to stare at her.

"Sorry sweetie," Willow apologized. "Jeanette is the name I set up for Faith after she helped save the world. Jeanette Faith Devins."

"U-Um… I think I kinda like girls and boys. Or just Jeanette, I'm not sure." Dawn admitted.

"No, I'm still a … you know. I've only kissed…and it was an accident – seeing her naked. Just an accident."

"Well, you know you can come to us if you need to, right?" Willow said maternally.

"Uh-huh. Thanks. Gotta go call Giles." Dawn stole away to the phone in the living room.

Ash and Spike slipped down into the Initiative compound undetected. The two could hear the sounds of fighting, punctuated by the occasional scream, echoing down the once white corridors.

"God, I hate this place." Spike said as he prodded the body of an eviscerated sergeant with the toe of his boot. "It's always so stuffy in here."

The elf who was eyeing the blood smears on the wall raised an eyebrow. "Stuffy? You think?"

"Oh yes, without a doubt. All the recycled air… it really doesn't do much for the place." Spike reached down and pulled an army issued machete out of the partially severed neck of a scientist.

"Huh. I would have said it was the entrails and decapitated bodies that were killing the ambiance but I can see stuffy." Ash dead panned and started towards the direction in which the sounds of fighting were coming.

Ash stopped and turned her hands in her coat pockets. "What makes you say that?"

"Because she's the only bird I ever met that had such an off sense of humor. She was always quirky like that. And now it seems that quirk is contagious…" Spike smirked.

The elf rolled her eyes and then passed her hand in front of her eyes. "What was that? Why did my eyes do that?"

"It's what humans, especially young girls, do to show irritation or annoyance." Spike enlightened Ash as he stepped over a body and headed down the corridor with Ash.

As they drew closer to the fighting they noticed that there were very few demon "casualties".

"I hope you know how to fight. Because, there are a lot more dead humans than dead demons…" Spike trailed off.

"I know how to fight Spike." Ash muttered. "I've been fighting since before you were born."

"Eight hundred and three years old." Ash nonchalantly. Spike opened his mouth to laugh at the elf and boost about his age but faltered.

"Uh…it's not important." The vamp muttered suddenly feeling inadequate for some reason. "So, where's your weapon? You think you can take on demons with your bare hands?"

"No, I have my weapons." Ash replied and produced a bundle of sticks from inside her jacket.

"No," Buffy groaned and scrunched up her face. "I don't want to open my eyes until someone tells me that my sister did NOT kiss Faith."

"Um – okay. She didn't kiss Faith." Willow offered trying to keep a smile off of her face. Buffy opened her eyes. "She kissed Jeanette."

The Slayer groaned and closed her eyes. "This is a nightmare. Demons, apocalypses – these things I can handle but not Dawn liking…"

"She could like a tattooed pointy eared she-elf." Willow complained before looking over at Tara and biting her lip. "Um, I said that out loud didn't I?"

"Sorry, baby. It's just…" Willow began then trailed off not knowing what to say.

"I know we need to talk, sweetie. But right now, I would appreciate it if you could save the anti-elf comments until we take care of Adam and save Spike and Ash from themselves." Tara returned gently but firmly.

"Why would we need to save Spike and Ash? I told them to stay put until we got back there." Buffy replied, "Spike usually does what I tell him. Well, he use to anyway. I don't know if he picked up any bad habits from Angel or not."

"I hope Spike still listens to you. But as for Ash-" Tara sighed and Willow could of sworn that it had besotted quality. "She has a need to play army and hero of one."

"Ash probably went into the Initiative as soon as you were out of sight." Tara finished for the Slayer.

"Great. An elf that likes to play hero and a vamp that can't be out done. Something tells me that those two are probably up to their ears, pointy or not, in demons." Buffy muttered. Dawn chose that moment to return to the kitchen.

"All right, Xander said that he would meet us over at Giles. Giles said that Mom was coming home." Dawn clapped her hands together. "So, when do we go?"

"We. We are going nowhere. You are going to stay here until Mom gets back and then you and she will bake after slaying munchies. Hopefully, this time when we do the spell, we won't have the angry, spirit of the first Slayer after taste." Buffy crossed her arms and took up "bickering" stance as Dawn protested.

Tara giggled and leaned over to Willow. "It's good to know some things never change."

Xander had nearly broken Tara's ribs in a bone crushing hug upon catching sight of the blonde. Giles had even been uncharacteristically emotional when seeing Tara again. An hour after the happy reunion the mood had sobered and the group had set off towards the Initiative compound.

"You haven't asked about my eye," Xander brought up as they walked toward the "backdoor" of the underground complex.

Xander gave a short laugh. "You're telling me," he paused. "Hey. How do you know about him?"

"It's a long story. I'm not even quite sure how it is I know as much as I do." The blonde Wiccan shook her head wondering, not for the first time, at all the images playing through her mind.

"Okay. First stop – secret underground military compound." Buffy announced coming to a halt. "So does everyone remember the game plan? Giles, Xander and Will make with the ooga-booga while I make with the butt kicking. Simple enough, for ya?"

"Uh, Buff? I was thinking we should have Tara anchor for us." Willow offered. "I mean, we all know that my, uh, magicks can get a little iffy with a side of wonky lately and I've always been better when I had Tara there…" The redhead began a babble but was cut short by Tara squeezing her hand lovingly.

"A'ight, all of you guys make the mojo and I will do the ass kicking." Buffy scrunched up her brow. "I suppose we should find Spike and Legolas first so they can protect you guys while you're under your witchy trance thingy."

"Yeah, yeah…Tara, it seems, has a thing for elves." Buffy bent down and found the hidden hatch in the grass.

"No, as in, six foot, tattooed, pool cue wielding; vamp stomping, neck breaking elves. Like Legolas." Buffy countered pulling open the hatch.

"Apparently, but I suppose it makes sense, especially if magicks, vampires and demons exist, right?" The Slayer mused as Xander started down the hatch.

"Don't tell Willow I said this but, the elf, she's hot too." Buffy murmured to Giles. Tara grinned as the Slayer winked at her.

When the group had reached the bottom of the shaft they were greeted by blood and carnage.

Bodies littered the corridor; parts and pieces of scientists and military personal lay everywhere.

Tara gasped and covered her mouth, while the color drained away from Xander's face.

"I guess it's safe to say that this ISN'T Spike and Ash's handy work." The Slayer said solemnly.

"Ash – like the tree? And you had a tryst with her?" Xander questioned Tara. Tara nodded. "What's with you falling for people named after trees?"

The blonde opened and then shut her mouth. She frowned. "You have a good point there Xander."

"All right, as much as we all want to analyze Tara's love life with various people named after trees-" Buffy started.

"We have a mismatched demon to stop." The Slayer finished. "So let's go find our illustrious wanna-be heroes before they get themselves in over their heads…if they haven't already."

"Sure sweetie. What's on your mind?" The blonde replied squeezing Willow's hand as she stretched her senses out. Tara could feel Ash's presence on the fringe of them.

"How… I-I mean… Ash, she, how do you – I mean, you don't – are you?" The redhead jumped nervously from thought to thought.

The Scoobies had entered the central chamber. Now, interspersed with the bodies of the Initiative personal were the bodies of demons.

"I just wanted to know; of course you don't have to tell me, do you like Ash?" The hacker finally managed.

Tara looked at Willow with a smile. "Of course I do Willow. I wouldn't have…" the blonde faltered and looked down biting her lower lip.

"Been with her… like hanging out?" The redhead's voice sounded plaintive and childlike.

"Uh, well, we did hang out but we also…you know… several times." The blonde finished sheepishly.

"But you have to understand that I did – I do – care for Ash. It's not like I got i-involved w-with someone I didn't f-feel s-something for." Tara hastened to explain.

"Well, that makes me feel better, knowing that you care about that tattooed freak. You know, I would have felt better if you'd said that you didn't feel anything, nothing, zilch on the feel o' meter." Willow started a babble rant.

"Oh, so you're saying you would prefer I s-slept with p-people I felt n-nothing for? Like Kennedy?" The words were out of Tara's mouth before she could censor them.

"No, it's okay Tara. I'm sorry. I had no place to – I mean, it was before you remembered me, er, us and I-I'm sorry."

Tara stopped and touched Willow's cheek… "Sweetie, if it wasn't for Ash, I would have never remembered."

It was the blonde's turn to nod. "I don't just quit c-caring for someone. I mean, I did l-lose my v-virginity," she whispered the last word and then resumed her normal tone, "to her this time around."

Willow stopped dead in her tracks and opened her mouth to say something when Buffy's voice cut into their conversation.

Tara looked around taking in for the first time that they had made it down to a lower level in the compound. Here there were nothing but demon corpses – most with broken necks or missing their heads – but a few were nailed against the wall by sticks through their bodies.

The Slayer was currently looking at a yellow demon with a grotesque Mohawk that had been stabbed through the chest and was being held to the ceiling by a three foot stick.

"They were probably swords when she did that," Tara replied a bit in awe herself.

The Wiccan nodded. "Yeah, it's how she, um, gets weapons. She does a glamour of sorts and changes them into swords."

"Ooooh, handy. So, not only can she fight but she's also handy with the-" Buffy wiggled her fingers in a gesture that was suppose to represent magicks use.

"Good, then I can use her." The Slayer replied not catching Tara's double entrendre and continuing, sword ready, down the hall.

"Hey, since when did you come out of the closet and become all publicly vixen?" Willow came up beside Tara again.

"I've always been vixen-y sweetie; I just decided not to keep it to myself anymore."

"Willow," Tara sighed. "A lot has changed. Mostly in the past four hours but, still, a lot has changed. You've even changed. You can't expect nearly three years to go by and have everything be the same."

"Yeah, but-but- you were, you know, so you couldn't have changed that much. I mean, yeah sure, you were dead and resurrected and hey, that's a big life change but you couldn't have changed that much."

Tara put her hands on Willow's arm stopping her and turning the redhead to face her.

"Willow," she said in her most serious tone. "I've changed." At that moment, the sound of a large group of demons came from around the corner.

"Heads up, its show time." Buffy called back as the group of demons came into sight.

Tara never looking away from Willow raised her hand and in a flick of her wrist sent the entire group of demons flying backward, stunned against the wall.

"You might want to kick them while they're down." The blonde looked at the Slayer who was staring wide eyed at her. Without being told twice Buffy headed for the demons en masse.

"How?" Willow asked when she'd found her voice again. She'd never seen Tara even come close to being able to display that amount of power. The blonde caressed the hacker's cheek.

"I told you honey. I've changed." With that Tara placed a kiss on Willow's lips and walked towards Buffy who was dispatching the stunned demons. As she neared she heard, "Ah, bollocks!!"

"Of course, it's me! Hey, could you get me out of here. That last little stab you took nearly rid me of my manhood." A hand appeared from under a demon body. Buffy reached over and yanked, pulling Spike free of the tangled mess.

Dusting himself off, he looked around. "Thanks. Now, who made the magical tidal wave and knocked these wankers into us?" Spike caught sight of Willow. "Oh, never mind. How you doing Red? You didn't have to do that you know. We had them on the run."

"And now we have them on the dead." Buffy quipped surveying the demons she'd already killed.

"Beside, Willow didn't do it. I did it." Tara spoke. The peroxide vamp looked at her and gave a small smirk.

"Yeah, yeah… let's start a club. The 'I died and got resurrected' club. I'll be the president." Buffy grunted as she shoved the sword through a plated demon.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Spike reached out to stop the Slayer from plunging the sword again. "Watch it Slayer! There's an elf under there somewhere."

"Ugh. Can someone get me out from under here? This one has spikes in its back and I don't want to find out if they extend involuntarily at death. Besides," There was another groan. "It smells like ass under here." Silence. "The hell does that mean?"

"Ash, are you okay?" Tara breathed kneeling down beside the warrior, running her fingertips over Ash's cheek.

"Yeah. Watch where you go flinging your demons next time, okay? That hurt like a son of a bitch." The elf frowned and then shook her head.

"I've been meaning to ask you Blondie – do you cuss a lot? Because the elf here seems to have picked up on your grasp of human language and she tends to swear like a sailor on leave."

The vamp straightened. "I figured. She probably just hasn't developed internal censors."

Tara had tuned out the conversation and was looking at Ash again. Every time she was near Ash she had a feeling of peace and an overwhelming need to be with her.

"I'm glad you're okay." The blonde smiled and then looked down at Ash's T-shirt. "I like your T-shirt. It fits you." She said her tone husky.

An explosion sounded through the room and the demon next to Tara and Ash exploded, splattering the two in green ooze.

"What was that?! Exploding demons? I've never run into exploding demons before." Buffy sounded a little panicked.

Willow huffed. The group moved towards the central control room that they had encountered Adam before.

*Um, Tara? Why is Willow trying to kill me with her thoughts?* Ash projected into Tara's mind.

*Oh, she's a little bit upset about you.* The Wiccan returned. *She wouldn't really act on them. I hope.*

*Okay. That's good to know. So, when she's chanting "Flay, flay, flay" and I can feel my skin starting to pull – I shouldn't worry?*

"It's not nice to try and flay people with your mind." Tara chastised. She stopped. "I can't believe I had to say that to ANYONE."

"Okay. Witchy type doings over here. Wanna-be heroes out here guarding the witchy types and I'll wait until you guys give me a power boost then I'll take care of the tin man." The Slayer ordered.

Giles, Xander, Willow and Tara moved into a side room and began the enjoining spell.

Ash nodded and took up a reclining position next to the vamp. "Uh, what can you do?"

"Hey, get on mate – you're getting some sort of grasp on human language." The vamp congratulated the elf.

Ash grinned. "Eventually, the chaos starts making sense." She frowned. "Or not, because, I don't know what that meant but it sounded like the right thing to say."

The warrior looked at him confused. "Of course, one step at a time. Have you tried taking two steps at a time? It's damn near impossible."

"She all right in there?" Spike asked looking apprehensively towards the room that Buffy was in. Ash closed her eyes.

"Yep. She's fine. Struggling a little bit because of his magicks but Tara and Willow are – oh, oooh, – oh, wow." Ash started to breathe a bit heavier.

Ash opened her blue eyes and grinned knowingly. "Now I understand why I suddenly have the urge to call sex 'doing spells'. Their combined energy is … um… saucy."

The elf finished and then furrowed her brow into what was quickly becoming a standard face for her. "Sauce – isn't that what you put on food?"

"Wanna play twenty questions?" Ash asked pulling a rolled tobacco leaf out of her jacket.

"Do you know what that means?" Spike inquired as he pulled out his own cigarette.

"Even though it seems straight forward enough – no." The elf replied passing her hand in front of the leaf lighting the end. "Besides, when people ask me questions, I answer with the first thing that comes to mind – whether it's from my mind or not. So, let's not play – it doesn't seem much like a game anyway."

The vamp chuckled. "Man, Blondie sure did a number on you. How 'bout Truth or Dare?"

"Well," Spike lit his cigarette, "I ask you 'truth or dare' and you say which one you want. So, if you 'truth' I ask you a question and you have to answer honestly. If you say 'dare' you have to do whatever I dare you to. Got me?"

"All right." Ash nodded. There was a thump on the wall. Spike looked questioningly at Ash. The elf waved off the noise.

"Just checking. Don't get all testy." Ash grumbled and then her eyes widened and she looked down at Spike's crotch. "Forget I said that. Your turn."

The vamp chuckled. "Don't worry. It's a Slayer thing. They've all been short. Even the Dark Slayer was scant millimeters taller than Buffy."

"Hell no – she'd stake me before I even got close." The vamp stamped out his cigarette. "Truth or Dare?"

"Dare." Ash replied. Spike opened his mouth but before he could say anything a familiar voice spoke:

The enjoining spell finally kicked in as Adam had Buffy by the throat – literally. The Slayer gripped Adam's wrist and began to pry his fingers.

"You can not win Slayer," Adam began only to be cut short by a blow to the back of his head.

"Yeah, she might not win but do ya' think you can kick my ass and hers?" Adam stumbled forward and Buffy was able to break his grip.

Faith launched herself at Adam and landed a normally deadly kick to the demon's temple.

"It's not going to work Faith." Buffy's multi-layered voice interrupted the Dark Slayer's barrage. "You must destroy his power core."

Adam growled and managed to roll over and knock Faith into a wall. The brunette shook her head and struggled back up.

"I'd love to destroy his power core B but first of all, I don't know where it is and second of all you're the one hopped on magicks – you do it." Faith yelled and picked up a nearby chair and tossed it in Adam's direction, only to have it thrown aside by Adam's magicks. The demon advanced upon Faith.

"Fear not Slayer. Your death shall be quick." Adam took another step only to find Buffy on his back.

"Not if we have anything to do with it." With that Buffy leveraged herself on the demon's back, reached over Adam's shoulder and drove her hand into Adam's chest. A second later she ripped the power core from it.

The demon stared for a moment at the silver object in Buffy's hand and the crumpled face first to the ground.

Buffy disentangled herself from the crumpled body of Adam. Her eyes had resumed their normal blue color.

"So, not that I'm not just completely ecstatic that you're here, in the same town as my sister but what are you doing here?" The blonde Slayer asked straightening her clothes.

Faith tossed her dark hair casually. "Well, I got word something big was going down in SunnyD, which I found a little odd since, last time I was here; here was a big hole in the ground."

The brunette scoffed. "Like you thought that was gonna to last B? Don't know me too well obviously."

The blonde Slayer readied herself to replay when the back wall of the room was ripped away with a shuddering force. Both Slayers stumbled backwards away from the commotion as a figure stepped through the dust.

Spike was going on abut another conquest when Ash sensed a powerful, malevolent force enter the building.

She tossed down her tobacco leaf and pulled a switch from her jacket. With a thought, it transformed into a sword. Alert, Ash stretched her senses and then bolted towards the room Buffy was in.

"Why? Why would I run from a diseased, skanky, bitch-whore?" Faith glared at Glory.

"Because, Faith, that diseased, swanky, bitch-whore is a hell god. A very angry, very mean, hell god."

"Better listen to Goldie Locks there, pumpkin. She knows what she's talking about." Glory recommended in sickeningly sweet voice. As she moved towards Faith, she stepped on Adam's corpse, crushing it flat where her foot fell.

*Tara! Get the others. We have to go.* The warrior projected to the Wiccan before Buffy could even get across the hall.

The Scoobies split up on the way home. Giles, Xander and Spike took off to Giles house. Faith, Buffy, Willow, Tara and Ash headed for the Summers'. Buffy and Giles had decided on the run for their lives to separate and meet at Angel's mansion in a few days.

The women tore into the Summers' house. Buffy slamming and locking the door behind them.

"No time Dawn. Will, can you put up that spell you used at the abandoned gas station?" Buffy asked slipping into defense mode.

"Not that it's going to do any good." Willow was cut off by Tara's voice. Everyone turned and looked at Tara.

"Over here," Tara's voice came again. The group turned and looked over into the living room. There standing in drawstring cargo pants and a blue top covered in blood was Tar or at least the First in Tara form.

"Shocking isn't it? Bet you never thought you'd see what you looked like when you died. Pretty cool huh?" The First Tara leveled its blue eyes with Tara's own.

"Hey lover – is that anyway to talk to your girl? That sort of tone will get you dumped." The First pouted.

Ash, by this time her curiosity getting the better of her judgment, had wandered up the First Tara and was circling the doppelganger.

"I'm here to inform you that Glorificus won't hurt you. She's working for a much higher power – me. Hey! Stop that!"

"Oh. So you're going to unleash hell on Earth? Tell me. Do your plans ever change? Or is there an evil bad guy convention every year, the theme of the summit being 'This year we unleash hell on Earth'?" Buffy quipped, her fear being pushed down by Ash's antics.

The elf had moved from passing her hand through the First to walking back and forth through Tara's doppelganger.

"Seems you haven't lost your knack for mouthing off Slayer… Knock it off elf!!… No, all of existence, in all realms – I shall destroy it… STOP IT!!… With help of course…. I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!" The First shouted at Ash, who was now standing in the image of Tara.

Ash had bent her knees so she was the same height as Tara's doppelganger, making for an interesting double image. It looked as if Tara had a tattooed face and pointed ears.

"Look honey. You'd be kinda, all sexy with pointed ears." Willow pointed out. Tara giggled.

The First, frustrated, disappeared and reappeared across the room in the form of the Preacher.

"Laugh as much as you want. Soon enough, you will regret ever coming back to this place. You made a huge mistake for humanity by bringing back Sunnydale. You will have unmade existence." With that the First was gone.

"What was that about?" Buffy wondered staring at the empty space the Preacher had been.

"I think that was the introduction to our Big Bad." Faith offered dropping down onto the couch.

"Did – was that – did the First-it said something about Glory… Is Glory here?" Dawn squeaked.

"Oh Dawnie, its okay." Tara left Willow's arms and went to the youngest Summers.

"The question is, do we worry about Glory or the First? Are they working together to try and get Glory back to the hell dimension?" Buffy asked sitting down on the couch next to Faith.

"No. I mean, she couldn't. That time has passed. It'd be pointless for her to try. So, I don't think she's trying to get back there – right?" Willow offered.

"Willow is right." Tara spoke up. She had Dawn in her arms. The young woman's head was pillowed against her chest and she was gently stroking her hair. Willow smiled sadly. It was a position the redhead had seen the two in many times before, during the three months Buffy had been dead.

"I don't think Glory is here to try and return to her hell dimension." Tara continued. "For some reason I know Glory isn't the higher power here."

"That's obvious. The First said the Glory was working for it." Faith pointed out.

"No," Tara countered, letting go of Dawn. "The First isn't the higher power here either. It's something much, much bigger."

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From Dust Returned

by Renegade

Copyright © 2003

renegade@wrongmail.com