A Different Kind of Magic

Rating: NC-17

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Buffy characters. I am only playing with them and promise to return them when I am done. Please don't sue me. I am a collage student, so that means I am broke.

Distribution: http://mysticmuse.net

Feedback: Oh ye gods…yes please…good, bad, ugly, whatever. Just know flames will be met with a fire extinguisher.

Pairing: Buffy/Tara

Spoilers: A world of no.

Author's Notes: I am taking everything from the Wicca meeting and taking it out a whole new door. There may be vague hints at what happens in canon, but the pairing makes it much different…um…yeah…that's it for that.

Part 11    Part 12    Part 13    Part 14    Part 15    Part 16    Part 17    Part 18    Part 19    Part 20

Part 11

Buffy winced as she put her fist in the bowl of ice water Faith had prepared. 

"I told you B…Not the face, or the head. I fought that type of demon in Mass, and they can be pretty nasty. Their only soft spot's are on their chests and backs. Seven inches of bone armor as hard as steel cover all the rest." Faith shook her head.

Buffy frowned. "Well…he wasn't very forth coming." She pouted.

Faith smirked. "Why should he be after you broke your hand on his face." She grinned. "Not very intimidating."

Buffy nodded. "It was my gut reaction. Monster doesn't talk, slayer punches monster in the face until he does."

Faith shrugged. "Next time…listen to your fellow slayer."

Buffy nodded, flexing her hand a little and whimpering. "I think it's really broken." She said softly.

Faith pulled her hand out of the water and examined it briefly. "Yep. At least fractured." After lowering Buffy's hand back into the water, the front door of Buffy's home opened and Willow and Xander walked into the kitchen. Faith immediately went to the sink and began refilling the ice trays.

Buffy frowned and decided it was time to have a talk with Willow.

"Hey Buff. What's with the ice bath?" Xander asked, walking over and peering over Buffy's shoulder.

"Hard headed demon." She said, watching Willow glare at Faith.

Xander nodded. "I hate those guys. They never just fall down." He shrugged and walked over to the refrigerator. "All nighter tonight, or do we have this thing wrapped up?" he asked.

"Well…we found out that there has been a lot of military activity lately. Some army guys have put the fear of Uncle Sam in the demon population. But nothing on Tara." Faith said, turning away from Willow when she saw the redheads stare.

"Maybe if she was safe at home instead of running around in a cemetery in the middle of the night, you wouldn't have gotten her captured." Willow said.

Buffy sighed. "Willow. Can we talk?" she said softly, still not believing she was going to defend faith to the redhead.

Willow nodded, sitting next to the blonde. Buffy looked around. "Um…alone guys, please." She said.

Xander and Faith made their way out of the room and onto the porch. "So…how have you been?" Xander asked nervously. Faith just grinned.

Willow sat next to the blonde slayer and smiled happily. "So…what's up Buff? Need me to do a spell or something?" she asked.

Buffy sighed. "I need you to stop riding Faith so hard." She said softly. When Willow didn't respond, she continued. "She has been busting her ass to try to find Tara, and patrol while we are busy with Adam, and all you have done is treat her like dirt." She said, catching the redhead's gaze. "I love you Wills…I really do. But you are being so unfair to her that I almost want to slap you. The fact that she hasn't yet speaks volumes on how much she has changed."

Willow just stared, dumbfounded. "I…but…Tara is missing and… isn't exactly Miss Innocent. She…" Willow tried defending herself.

Buffy interrupted. "She has changed." Buffy put her hand on Willow's shoulder. "Will's…she's not the same woman that took you and hurt you." She said softly.

Willow's lip began to tremble. "She hurt you too…all of us." She said, a single large tear rolling down her cheek. "I…I don't know if I can ever trust her again." She said, shaking her head.

Buffy hugged her best friend. "I think it's safe to say we can trust her…at least give her a chance Will's…please?" she asked.

Willow nodded. "Sorry…it's just really hard, you know?"

Buffy and Willow were interrupted by Xander's yelling from the front porch. "BUFFY!" He bellowed. Buffy was on her feet in a second, sprinting for the front of the house.

Xander bellowed for Buffy and watched in horror as the lumbering mass walked towards the house. Faith wasted no time in vaulting from the porch to meet with the monstrosity. Xander watched as she leveled punch after punch at the behemoth with no effect. Adam simply smiled, blocking her every punch.

Buffy skidded to a halt on the porch and stared at the sight. Tara was slung over the shoulder of a rather brutish looking demon as Faith sent a flurry of blows at Adam, all with no effect. Buffy vaulted the railing and sprinted towards the demon holding Tara.

Willow closed her eyes and began to mumble, gesturing slightly. An invisible wall flared slightly around the house and shimmered as she and Xander watched as the fight began.

"Interesting. Not only are the stories Mother had of the Slayer true…but it turns out that there are two of them." Adam said, blocking one of Faith's roundhouse kicks. "And you are remarkably strong…stronger than Buffy. Tell me…is your increased strength natural, or an adaptive property of the slayers power, making the next more powerful than the last?" he asked, sending his fist into Faith's ribs three times before she could react.

Faith felt bone give under the hits and began seeing bright flashes of light. She did a back flip to get out of Adam's reach and landed, dropping to one knee. "Just clean living I guess…" she said, her voice cracking with pain.

Adam nodded. "I see. Witty banter…defiant behavior. I do understand the need for bravado to keep morale alive in the face of a superior enemy." He stalked forward, jutting his Polgara spike out of his arm.

Buffy reached the lumbering demon and punched it. The demon stumbled and Buffy reacted, grabbing Tara and pulling her close. After making sure she was alive, Buffy turned and sprinted towards the house. 

Faith jumped, lashing her foot out and catching the spike at its base and snapping it. She caught the spike in mid air and spun it, bringing the point down into Adams sternum with so much force, the patchwork monster stumbled, staring at the spike in his chest.

"Well done." He said. "I have not been injured before. I now have a wealth of new information to process." He lunged at Faith and she snapped her foot out, catching the end of the spike and driving it further into him. Adam ignored the new sensation and grabbed the dark slayer around the neck, lifting her three feet off of the ground. "I understand that when a slayer falls, another rises to take her place."

Buffy laid Tara down and turned back to face the street. Time slowed to a crawl. "No…Faith!" she yelled, running as fast as her legs would pump.

Adam smiled. "I cannot wait to meet her." He said. Faith's eyes bulged as she struggled, kicking and scratching at Adam. With a quick twist of his wrist, Faith felt white-hot pain in her neck and then…blackness. Adam dropped Faith to the street and faced Buffy. "I enjoyed your friend. We will meet again." He looked at Faith and the spike in his chest as he slowly turned. "Very interesting." Adam turned and jogged into the night.

Buffy skidded to a halt as she came to Faith and dropped to the ground. Frantically, she checked Faith's body and saw her neck twisted at an odd angle. "Oh god…Faith…no, no, no…please…Faith…" she cried as she held the brunette.

Willow waved her hand and dashed into the street. "Oh my god…Buffy…she's…"

Willow was interrupted by a small whimper. Looking, she saw Faith's wide-eyed stare looking at her. "Buffy! She's still alive!" she screamed. Turning back to Xander, who was frozen on the porch, she told him to call an ambulance.

Buffy pulled back from Faith as tears fell down her face. "Faith! Oh god…hang on…help is coming…hang on Faith…" she cried, wrapping her arms around herself as she rocked.

Faith smiled. "I…I got…him…g-good…B…" she forced, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Every word hurt her worse than she had ever felt and she could feel her limbs getting heavier. "I…got…him." She choked. "Tara…is safe…so…" she coughed and cried out in pain.

Buffy shook her head. "Faith…don't you dare give up on me…don't you dare!" she said, gritting her teeth.

Faith closed her eyes and inhaled, her breath almost choking her. Her lungs rattled and she grimaced. "I…made up…for everything?" she asked, looking at Willow.

Willow nodded, heavy tears rolling down her face as her breath came in heaving sobs. "You did…Faith I am so sorry…just hang on…I can hear the sirens…please…hang on…" she gasped.

Faith smiled, almost relieved. "I…I can see everything…so clear now…" she said softly, feeling blackness starting to pull her. "Everything is so…." Faith closed her eyes and the air in her lungs rattled from her body. 

The ambulance screeched to a halt a few feet away and the EMT's jumped out…pulling their gear from the truck. Running forward, they began trying to revive the brunette.

On the porch, Xander watched in open-mouthed horror as the scene unfolded, and didn't notice the small blonde behind him chanting softly under her breath and rocking in a trance. Tara had lost so much…she wasn't about to lose her closest friend.

Part 12

Tara paced outside the floor back and forth as Willow watched. She was more than a little concerned and looked back at the double doors trying to will a doctor to come through it.

Willow sighed. It had been over eight hours since the ambulance had brought Faith in and Tara had held tightly to Faith's hand the whole time. As she did, Willow thought she heard Tara praying. She never realized the shy Wicca felt so strongly for Faith.

Buffy walked through the entrance to the hospital and sat down heavily next to Willow. "Any word?" she asked. Willow just shook her head. Looking up, she saw Tara staring at the double doors. She stood and went over to the blonde. "You ok?" she asked softly, taking Tara's hand.

Tara smiled sadly. "I-I'll live." She said softly. "We still haven't heard anything from the doctors. Why don't they just pop their heads out and j-just say `We're still working on it…' " She growled.

Buffy nodded. "I'm sure they are doing everything they possibly can." She said, wrapping Tara in a close hug. As Buffy held onto Tara, the doors opened and a doctor walked through. "Is there a Buffy Summers here?" she asked. Buffy nodded and rushed over with Tara and Willow in tow.

"Miss Summers, I'm Dr. Thomas. I have here that you are Faith's sister?" she asked, looking the small blonde over and not seeing any resemblance.

Buffy nodded and smiled sweetly. "Well…half sister. Same father. How is she?" she asked.

Dr. Thomas gestured to the seats. "Why don't we sit down." She sighed and looked at the three girls. "I have some news on her condition, and it's not good. But it's not hopeless either. Faith has suffered bilateral facet dislocation of C six and seven…that is she has a broken neck with a dislocation onto the spinal cord. She has lost power to her limbs."

Tara covered her mouth and began to weep. Buffy just closed her eyes and thought of the consequences for a slayer that was paralyzed.

Sensing the tension, Dr. Thomas raised her hands. "Now…to release pressure from her spinal cord, we sedated her and applied weight to her head. After this, some motor control was restored…so there is hope." She said, cautioning the three. "She has had an MRI and is in the orthopedic ward. We will, with your consent, operate tomorrow. It will be long and dangerous. Either we will relieve pressure on her spinal cord or she will revert back to the way she was…paralyzed." She said sadly. "Her vitals are very strong and her blood work is very good. She's a fighter." She added, trying to reassure them.

Tara looked up. "Can we see her?" she asked.

Dr. Thomas shook her head. "No…I'm sorry. She is in stable, but critical condition and she can't see anyone. Maybe tomorrow after the operation." She said.

Tara nodded and reached into her pocket. "Then could you put this in her room?" she handed the doctor a small figurine. "It's for luck and…well…that's about all." She didn't feel the need to add that it was a ward, basically making the hospital room a private residence, thus making vampires unable to cross the threshold without an invitation.

Dr. Thomas nodded. "I'll put it there myself. As for right now, all you can do is prey…and make sure you get some rest."

Buffy and Tara stood, thanking the doctor. "Coming Wills?" Buffy asked, her arm resting casually around Tara's waist.

The redhead just shook her head. "I'm gonna stay." She looked up at Buffy. "I just want to make sure she's ok…this is Sunnydale and she is a crippled slayer…she's a target, Buffy. Especially since we know how much Adam loves chaos. He'll spread the news like wildfire."

Tara nodded. "I made the figurine a portable residence…so the room will be safe from vampires, at least." She said softly. "And I doubt Adam will use demons…that's a little open for him right now…isn't it?" she asked, suddenly looking at Buffy.

Buffy furrowed her brow. "Maybe…but we better not take chances. You two stay here, guard her with the magic while I do perimeter patrol?" she asked. Both girls nodded and Buffy turned to walk away. Suddenly, she stopped and turned back.

Walking towards Tara, she took the blondes hand. "Tara…I almost lost you when Adam took you…I almost never got a chance to…" she looked down. Buffy inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself. Looking back up, she leaned forward and kissed the blonde softly. Pulling Tara to her, she increased the pressure, running her hands through the long blonde hair at her fingertips. Pulling back, she smiled sheepishly. "I…I almost missed out on that…" she touched her lips gently. "Wow…" she turned and jogged down the hall, leaving a very stunned but equally speechless Wiccan behind.

Turning, Tara saw Willow grinning from ear to ear. "That…was kind of…um…" she stammered.

Willow nodded. "Yep…saw that…"

"I mean…she was very…" Tara sat down next to the redhead, still dazed.

"Yep…I think she likes you." Willow smiled, leaning back. "I just want to go on record as saying…I knew it."

Tara grinned. "Wow."

Adam studied the screen intently as his hands moved of their own accord. One of the advantages he had as a cyborg, demon, and human hybrid was his ability to multi-task. He smiled as he watched the image on the screen replay over and over. The break was clean and precise. He predicted less than a .0135 percent variation from the desired result, taking into account that she was a slayer.

She should recover soon…but what had baffled him was the fact that she was alive and ready to be operated on. By his calculations, she should have died on scene, which she did, but she recovered her condition far quicker than he had anticipated. She should have stayed dead for another four minutes and twenty seconds, at least. That would have been long enough for the brain damage to occur.

And as with Buffy Summers before her, Faith did die. That meant his theory would prove to be true…he would see soon. The figure under his jumped slightly and Adam froze. "If you persist on moving, I cannot guarantee you will survive the procedure without harm." He said coldly.

Spike just growled. "Just get this sodding chip out of me and let me at the Slayer…she'll be the least of your worries." He said, buckling down.

Adam peered at the opening and slowly extracted his fingers. A small microchip was held delicately between his fingertips. "Done." He said, dropping the chip to the floor and stepping on it. Adam began to close Spike back up and smiled. `Soon…all of the players will be in place. We only await one.'

Spike grinned. `Soon…the time will be soon…' he winced as he felt the needle pass through skin, pulling the thin nylon suture tighter.

Buffy walked, twirling her stake. There wasn't anything going on and it was almost dawn…soon, she could go and sleep. She had been patrolling most of the night and even her slayer stamina had its limits.

Turning, she slipped the stake into her waistband and walked through the emergency room doors. Heading up to the elevator, she pushed the button. It was on the third floor and had to descend.

She looked at the small table in the waiting room and wondered if she had enough time to grab a cup of coffee. "Well…there's always time for caffeine." She nodded, heading over to the table.

Spike grinned as he stepped off of the elevator on the third floor. The Slayer was here, Faith. Buffy had been unbelievably easy to get past. Rupert would have to talk to her about that. Walking down the corridor, he turned the corner and came face to face with the blonde he let out of the initiative cells.

Tara stared, wide-eyed at the soldier in front of her. He was the one that got her out of the cell, but he also delivered her to Adam. She debated whether to scream or not, but before she could react, he smiled at her.

"Well, well, well…doesn't the little bird clean up nice." He nodded, looking her up and down.

Tara recoiled from his gaze, fear beginning to creep into her slowly. "W-What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to sound brave.

Spike grinned rakishly. "Just visitin' an old friend, luv…you?" he asked, smelling the fear roll off of her in waves.

Tara nodded. "Same." She said simply. "Um…he a soldier?" she asked.

Spike nodded. "Of sorts." He sighed. "Look, bird…relax. Me and Frankenstein's monster split ways…difference of viewpoints." He said, trying to get her to calm down. He was here for a reason, and he needed to carry that out. While it was true that he had split from Adam, the monster didn't know it yet.

Tara nodded. "Oh…ok then. Great…well…see you later." She said, waving and heading down the hall towards Willow.

Spike followed her. After a few steps, he paused and cocked his head to the side. "Who's your friend?" he asked, seeing they were heading in the same direction.

Tara quickened her pace as Spike began walking again. "She's just a friend…I doubt you know her." She said. `Please…Buffy…Willow…help' the preyed as she moved.

Spike narrowed his gaze. "Oh bloody hell…" he muttered as a ball of light hit him square in the chest. Spike flew back into the hallway and skidded to a halt. Sitting up, he shook his head and sighed. "Evening red…long time, no see." He said, brushing himself off as he stood up.

Willow stood in the doorway of the waiting room, her hand glowing as another blast built in it. Her forehead was dotted with perspiration and she had a small trail of blood trailing from her nose.

Tara rushed over and wiped Willow's nose. "Willow…calm down…the magic is to strong alone…we have to be together." She said, taking the redheads hand.

Willow immediately felt supercharged as another bolt sprang into existence in the palm of her hand. She grinned. "Spike…leave…they just vacuumed the hall and I don't want them to have to do it again." She growled.

Spike smirked. "Cute. Jokes…thought that was Xander's department." He looked at Willow and Tara there and could sense a lot of power. "I thought the bird was the slayers?" he said, cocking his head to the side. A sharp blast of pain caught Spike in the lower back and sent him slamming into the wall, sliding down it face first.

"She isn't mine, per se…but we haven't really hammered out the details." Buffy said, looming over Spike and crossing her arms. "But it looks good."

Tara smiled broadly. "You tell him…" she nodded.

Buffy looked back at her and smiled. Turning back to Spike she raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here Spike?" she asked.

Spike stood up and leaned against the wall, wiping his split lip. "Just came to deliver a message…word is that Adam is gathering an army…by proxy." He said. "The army brats are making a lot more captures…and their cells are almost full to bursting. Adam has full run of the computer systems there and he is going to let all the little nasties out. Hundreds of demons, vampires and other little buggers are going to swarm the G.I. Joes and then, Sunnydale." He looked at Buffy. "You may be the best damn slayer that ever lived, but even you can't stop that many…you're gonna need back up." He smirked, sliding his hands into his duster and pulled out a cigarette. He turned to Buffy and smiled.

Willow squeaked her protest. "She has help…she has us." She said firmly.

Spike rolled his eyes. "Oh please…when she wants to float a pencil or make pretty lights, she can call for you…this is gonna be a war…bloody, nasty and brutal." He said.

Buffy reached out and plucked the cigarette out of Spikes mouth before he could light it. Pointing to a sign behind him, Spike turned to look and Buffy slapped him in the back of the head, bouncing his head off of the wall. "First off…why are you telling me this? Second…" she crossed her arms again. "Why should I believe you?"

Spike rubbed his head and glared at Buffy. "Because, Adam is a bloody lunatic, that's why!" he sputtered. "He is wanting to start a war, just to watch people and demons die. And as much as I enjoy watching a good massacre, I don't like the tin man. He's a crazy bugger and he used me….no one uses me and gets away with it." He finished, glaring at Buffy, looking stern and cold.

Willow snorted. "He just doesn't want us to stake him when we're wiping the floor with Adam's cronies." She rolled her eyes. Tara giggled.

Stiffening, Spike rolled his neck. "Might have been a concern, yeah…but that's beside the point. Point is…it's going down, and soon…I say about a week." He said.

Buffy nodded. "I'll check with Giles…see if he has anything on Adam. There has got to be a way to beat him…something we haven't looked for yet." Buffy sighed, rubbing her eyes. "Sun's almost up, Spike…leave now or you'll be trapped here." She said wearily.

Spike raised his eyebrow. "Could think of worse places to be trapped than in a nice big building with lots of blood." He smirked.

Buffy shot him a look. "Fine…leave now or we drag you home in broad daylight, strapped to the roof of my mom's Jeep." She said.

Spike nodded. "Right then, I'm off…see you at sundown…" he said, waving.

Buffy shook her head. "See us at…what?" she turned.

Spike nodded. "Yeah…planning, strategy, research…I assume you'll need help now that miss leather and strut is getting doctored up?" he said.

Buffy shook her head. "No way…forget it…" she started.

Spike rushed up and grabbed Buffy, spinning her around and pinning her arms behind her. He pressed her against the wall and switched to his game face. "Like it or not Slayer…we gotta team up again. I'm strong, fast and I know how to fight…" he pulled back as Buffy spun to face him. Morphing his face back, he smiled. "I'm what you have…and the witches. Trust me…you'll need all the help you can get."

Buffy sighed. "Sunset is at seven…be at my mom's by seven fifteen or you're out." Spike nodded.

Tara walked over to Buffy and took her hand. "Are you ok?" she asked softly.

Buffy nodded. "Yeah…he was just trying to make a point, not actually hurt me. At least, I think he wasn't…cause if he was…man was he pathetic." She laughed.

Tara smiled. "You're so tough." She poked Buffy in the stomach, finding her one vulnerable spot and began to tickle her.

Buffy squealed, spinning around with Tara. Willow smiled, shaking her head.

Tara pulled Buffy close and kissed her, biting her lip as they broke apart. "So…what were you saying about this getting off to a good start?" she asked, looping her arm in Buffy's.

Buffy grinned. "Well…I think it is…I mean…I'm not sure. I think I need more smoochie research…" she said as they walked through the double doors into the waiting room.

A few seconds later, Willow yelled at them. "Oh geez…get a room!"

Jacob Erstine III watched as the young girl spun, sending the vampire flying. She pulled her stake and plunged it into the creature's heart, dusting it. When she came back, she took the towel he offered and wiped her forehead.

"Thanks. So…what were you saying?" she asked. Jacob was her butler, chauffer, masseuse and personal trainer. He was also her best friend.

"I was saying, you need to go to California." He said patiently. "And work on your spinning back fist. It's slow and you telegraph it. I could have dodged it, and I am sixty three." He said.

"Yeah, well, that vampire was a lot older…plus, you got better reflexes." She grinned at him. "What's in California?" she asked.

Jacob smiled. "An old colleague of mine from University. He is a Watcher, like myself…and he trained one of the most successful slayers ever. She is still alive, so I'm told…but I'm not sure, since you were activated." He said sadly. "He has knowledge I cannot even begin to touch and, well, he is much younger."

The girl nodded. "Guess I can go talk with him. Isn't the Hellmouth in Cali too?" she asked.

Jacob nodded. "It is…his slayer watched over it…another reason to send you." He stepped in front of the young girl and smiled. "I have watched over you since your parents passed away. And in those eleven years, you have been like a daughter to me. I admit, I had hoped you would not be called…but I always knew it would come someday." Taking her shoulders, he smiled. "True, you are only just 17, but you are very well trained, armed and now, you are the Slayer. You have a destiny…a calling…and I could not be more proud." He said.

The girl smiled up at him and nodded. "You aren't going back to England…you're coming with me." She said. "If you think I would just let you drop me off all the way across the country and bail on me…well…you've got another thing coming." She smiled. "Start packing…we're going to California."

Jacob smiled. The council would be furious…but he had to go with his instinct. The council wanted his slayer to come to England for more prep training and testing…but Jacob knew that something was brewing on the Hellmouth, and who better than Rupert Giles to help train his protégé.

"I thought you would say that…everything is packed, we leave tonight." He said.

Part 13

Tara lay with her head in Buffy's lap and lightly dozed. She felt safe, loved and more than that, she felt sure that this was where she was supposed to be. Her future had been so unclear. She was at school to study art, and maybe even open a gallery, or become a critic. But that was only something to do…she never dreamed that there would be someone as beautiful as…

"Buffy Summers?" the nurse said softly, breaking through Tara's thoughts. Tara sat up, looking around the room. The hospital waiting room, and she was here because of "Faith…" she whispered.

Buffy opened her eyes, looking around. "I'm up…I'm…up…yeah…" she rubbed her eyes, looking at the nurse.

"I just wanted to let you know that Faith is heading into the OR as we speak…and there is good news. There was a massive reduction in swelling, she already has some limited movement in her legs and arms…she should be just fine. Dr. Thomas just wants to make sure…it won't be a very invasive operation and she wanted to let you know that you may sit in the observation lounge, if you'd like?" the nurse said.

Tara was ecstatic. "That's wonderful…Buffy…" she said, turning to Buffy and hugging her tightly. "Thank you…thank you so much…" she said to the nurse, taking the three badges from the nurse and passing one to Willow and holding one out to Buffy.

Buffy was hesitant. "Buffy?" Tara asked, worried.

The blonde slayer shrank away from the badge and wrapped her arms around her knees, beginning to cry.

Tara instantly pulled Buffy close, running her hands down Buffy's back and trying to soothe her. "Shhh…it's ok Buffy…she's going to be fine…she's going to recover." Tara whispered, reassuring the Slayer.

Buffy had bottled everything up…Faith was hurt, almost dead, and there wasn't anything that she could do to stop it. The brunette slayer had been a friend, confidant, would be enemy and finally, staunch ally. There was a myriad of emotions running through Buffy, not the least of which was relief. She was terrified that Faith would not recover.

As much as she hated to admit it, she really liked the dark slayer. They worked so well together, and really, Faith was the only person on the planet that really understood Buffy.

Willow looked on and thinned her lips in thought. She wished there was more she could do for her best friend, but Tara had the consolation floor. She wasn't jealous, she was happy that Buffy finally had someone that she could really love, and that really loved her. She wasn't jealous…but she just wished that…someone would look at her like that again. Slipping the badge over her head, she made her way to the observation lounge.

Faith looked so helpless, so vulnerable. Willow stared at the dark slayers form. She was so beautiful when she was relaxed…she didn't really seem to be the same person she was, and Willow felt awful for treating her so badly.

Tara quietly opened the door to the lounge and sat down next to Willow. "Are you ok?" she asked the redhead.

Willow looked over at Tara and bit her lip. "I…I was so mean to her. I never believed she could change…never thought it was even a remote possibility. She was all…'Oh look at me…I'm wicked cool…I'm five by five…' " She mocked the Slayer. "I never thought to look underneath and see the terrified person hiding behind that wall,” she said, wiping her eyes.

Tara nodded, just listening. "I know…but when she gets out, then you will have lots of chances to make it up to her." She said.

Willow nodded. "I will…but…the problem is, I don't think she'll let me. I mean…why would she. I was so mean to her. I judged my day by how many times I could make her feel like dirt." She admonished herself.

Tara frowned. "All she ever wanted to be was a person in your eyes…she felt so bad about what she did…you, Buffy. Xander and Giles were the only things she cared about. She became a better person for all of you." She said, placing a hand on Willow's shoulder.

Willow shook her head. "She was always a great person…Cordelia, Xander, me…we all saw it. Even Oz was drawn to her along with the rest of us. She had…has…this powerful personality that just screams out to you, ya know?" she said, smiling. "The way she dresses, talks, and acts like she just doesn't care. It's so freeing, and it made all of us feel so…so…cool just being around her." She said, grinning, sure she sounded like an idiot.

Tara nodded. "Besides…she looked really good in leather, and not many people could pull that off." She grinned, seeing Willow smile dumbly and nod.

"Oh yeah…that's for…" she shot her eyes open and whipped her head around. "I mean…um…sure…if you like the cleavage-y slut bomb look…" she tried to defend herself.

Tara just raised an eyebrow.

Willow rolled her eyes. "Ok…she was hot. But I think that's all part and parcel with the whole slayer gig. I mean…take Buffy for example…" she grinned, now seeing Tara's eyes go into the dreamy stage.

Tara nodded. "And man can she kiss…" she said.

Willow made an `ew' face. "Stop it…that's Buffy you're talking about…" she slapped playfully at Tara. "I mean…she's like…my sister or something." She laughed.

Tara raised an eyebrow and shook her head. "She's not my sister…and I say…she's a good kisser…" she sighed dramatically.

The banter finally calmed as they got more and more interested in the operation. About halfway through, the door opened and Buffy walked in. She stood in the back, almost scared to look through the glass at what was going on. Eventually, though, she moved down to the front row. Sitting next to Tara, she unconsciously slipped her hand into the blondes and held onto her.

Tara squeezed her hand reassuringly and continued to watch.

Jacob smiled as he watched Kennedy sleep. She was, in almost every aspect, his daughter. He had worked for the council for most of his life, and when he came to America to work for Kennedy's parent's under the guise of a Gentleman's Gentleman, it became very clear very quickly that he and Kennedy would get along quite famously.

<New Hampshire, 11+ years ago>

"Are you going to be our new butler?" Kennedy asked, looking up at the tall stranger.

Jacob smiled down at the small girl. She was wearing blue jeans, a small tee-shirt that said `Princess' on the front and riding boots. She was also covered head to toe in mud. He smiled. "That is what I am hoping for." He answered.

She smiled at him, her front two teeth missing and she poked the tip of her tongue through the gap. "Good. The other ones smelled funny." She stage whispered, conspiratorially.

Jacob smiled. "And how do I smell?" he asked.

Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply. "Like…spice cakes and leather. And aftershave…I like it." She said, nodding her head.

"Then in that case, I guess we hire him." Said the deep, resonating voice from behind her.

Spinning, she saw her father standing there. Standing just over six and a half feet tall Marcus was a solid wall of muscle topped with dark hair and piercing brown eyes. To everyone, he was a very intimidating and shrewd businessman. But to Kennedy, he was…

"Daddy!" she shrieked, running and leaping into his arms. Jacob raised an eyebrow, filing away the fact that neither the father nor the girl seemed the least bit surprised that she had made an eleven foot leap at the age of six.

Marcus smiled and hugged his daughter close. "There's my little button. How was your ride?" he asked.

"It was fun…but I think I broke Mr. Thomkins." She said of her riding instructor.

"Well…then I have good news…Mr. Erstine here is a champion jumper." He smiled as Kennedy squirmed around, smiling broadly at the Englishman.

"Really? " she asked, delighted.

"I am accomplished at holding on…the horses did all the jumping." He winked at the girl.

Marcus had seen enough. "How soon can you begin, Mr. Erstine?" he asked.

"As soon as you will have me, sir." He said.

Kennedy beamed. "Then welcome to the family." She said.

Jacob bowed his head once in thanks and smiled.

Jacob sighed and looked out the window. It seemed just yesterday he was passing on his expertise on holding on and now he was sending her to meet her fate as a slayer. He knew he wasn't supposed to get involved like this with his charge, but she was impossible not to love. Being a Watcher made several demands on his time, and he never found time for a family. Looking over at Kennedy as she slept he let a slow smile spread across his face. "That's not entirely true is it, my dear child." He said softly. Reaching over, he brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face.

Kennedy smiled and sighed. "Spice cakes and leather…" she opened her eyes. "Are we there yet?" she asked Jacob.

Jacob shook his head. "About another hour…go back to sleep, my dear." He said softly.

"M'kay…" she said, wriggling deeper into the plush leather seats. "G'night poppi…" she said, using the affectionate nickname she made for him so long ago.

"Good night, button." He said. "Sleep well."

Jacob looked out the window and sighed. He would soon be giving her up…he wasn't sure he was ready for that. Inhaling deeply, he buried the doubt, fear and anxiety he had under the stiff British façade. He was a Gentleman's Gentleman, after all. He had a certain decorum to live up to.

Part 14

Willow had only closed her eyes for a second, but Tara was shaking her lightly. The redhead blinked her eyes open and smiled. "Sorry… I'll stay awake." She said.

Tara grinned. "W-well…it's over. They're taking her to recovery now." She whispered, her body pinned under a very determined slayer.

Willow grinned. "She's a snuggler…I should have warned you."

Tara nodded. "That's fine with me." She ran her fingers thru Buffy's hair. "I like snuggles." She said softly, gazing at the blonde. She stopped and crinkled her brow slightly. "Um…not to pry…but how do you know she's a snuggler?" she asked, looking at Willow. "Did you two used to…um…" she tried to find a tactful way of asking if they had dated.

Willow let her stew for a few seconds before she shook her head. "No… nothing like that. Xander, Buffy and I used to do slumber parties all the time." She grinned. "And Buffy liked to snuggle. I'd always wake up with her arms wrapped around me and one leg pinning me to the bed." She giggled. "It was very hard when I had to go to the bathroom, because she's persistent, to. And plus…slayer strength." She nodded.

Tara smiled. "You guys are really close, huh?" she asked.

Willow nodded, leaning her head against the glass. "Yeah. Buffy met Xander and me our sophomore year. I'm pretty sure if she hadn't been there…we'd both be dead." She sighed sadly.

Tara frowned. "She's very special to you then." She said.

Willow nodded. "She's my best friend…the sister I never had and she's…she's my hero." She added softly. "She and Faith go out every night and slay…keeping the world safe for one more day until…" she stopped, looking out at the operating room. "Until something comes along and tries to stop them." She said.

Tara looked at Buffy and smiled. "I have my own guardian angel." She said softly.

Buffy smiled slightly in her sleep, tightening her arms around Tara's waist a little.

The blonde witch sighed. It felt very good to be loved.

Dr. Thomas opened the door to the observation lounge and walked over to the girls. "Faith is in recovery room four. She'll be asleep for another few hours. But I think it's safe to say everything went remarkably well. Her recuperative powers are extraordinary." She said.

Tara smiled. "Thank you doctor. Can we see her?" she asked.

Dr. Thomas pursed her lips. "Well…she's not awake yet…but I don't really see any harm. But only for a very brief visit." She conceded.

Tara and Willow both smiled broadly. Looking at the excited redhead, Tara nodded to her. "Why don't you go ahead Willow…I'll wake Buffy." She said.

Willow nodded eagerly and followed Dr, Thomas. Tara leaned her head on top of Buffy's. "Buffy…" she whispered.

Buffy stirred slightly in her sleep, nuzzling her face into Tara's shoulder.

Tara smiled. "Buffy…time to wake up." She said softly.

Buffy groaned and shook her head lightly. "Don wanna…like it here…" she muttered, still asleep.

Tara smiled. "I like you there too…but Willow has gone to sit with Faith. We should stop by and see her too." She said, lazily dragging her nails softly down the exposed back of the blonde slayers neck, causing goose bumps to rise. Buffy shivered. "Mmmm…" she moaned, running her hands over Tara's midsection and slipping her hands under the edge of the Wiccan's shirt. Buffy splayed her fingers over Tara's stomach and arched them all, making her nails rake slightly over the blonde's stomach.

Tara bit her lip. "You're hands are w-warm." She mumbled, closing her eyes and enjoying the feel of Buffy's hands.

"You're warm too…" Buffy mumbled, nuzzling Tara's neck.

Tara opened her mouth and sighed. "Oh goddess…" she said softly.

Buffy wriggled her hands free and sat up, opening her eyes. "No…no goddess. Just Buffy." She said, smiling. Buffy leaned over and kissed Tara softly, taking her bottom lip and nipping it lightly. "Soft…" she muttered, kissing the witch again.

Tara kissed the slayer back, sinking deeper into the feel of Buffy's lips. They had kissed before, a lot, but nothing else. Tara was still reeling from the fact that this beautiful woman had found her attractive. She could have easily had her pick of the town…but she was here…with Tara.

Buffy crawled over the armrest and straddled Tara's lap, cupping the Wiccan's face as her desire steadily grew.

Tara moaned into the kiss, wrapping her hands around Buffy's waist. "Oh no…not just Buffy…beautiful, wonderful, sexy, smart Buffy… but never plain Buffy." She said.

Buffy hugged Tara tightly. "Can I stay here forever?" she asked, her eyes closed, soaking up the feeling she was getting from the blonde.

"In my lap?" Tara asked softly, silently wishing that Buffy would do just that.

"No…" Buffy said, leaning back and placing one hand over Tara's heart. "Here…can I stay here forever?"

Tara bit her lip and nodded, her eyes misting. "I'd l-love that." She said, entwining her fingers with Buffy's and kissing each small fingertip, relishing the slayers touch.

Buffy smiled. "Good…I like it there. I feel safe…loved and the world doesn't seem quite so cold." She sighed, laying her head on Tara's shoulder. "Tara?" she asked.

Tara closed her eyes and rubbed her cheek over Buffy's hair. "Hmmm?" she answered.

"Will you go on a date with me?" Buffy asked softly.

Tara nodded. "I'll go anywhere with you." She said.

"Good." The blonde slayer answered. 

Willow sat by Faith's bed and watched as the dark haired slayer breathed. Breathing was a very simple act. It was controlled by the medulla along with several other autonomic body functions. Heartbeat, blinking, digesting food…all were controlled unconsciously. But breathing…the breathing gave Willow something to focus on.

The slow, steady rise and fall of Faith's back as she went about respirating her body fascinated the redhead. It gave her a focus other than the bandages wrapped around the slayers neck.

It gave her a focus other than the sickening sound vertebrae made when they were snapped. Like a cross between thick stalks of celery snapping and clacking two heavy rocks together. It made Willow cringe just thinking about it.

Willow reached for the slayer's hand. Her fingertips brushed Faith's and she paused. She had given the rogue slayer such a hard time before. She couldn't forgive her for what she did…but still Faith tried to make amends. "I just wouldn't let you…" Willow whispered softly, tracing a soft pattern into Faith's open palm.

Willow felt a small tear roll down her cheek. "But I am going to start right now…I promise. Wake up for me and we can be best friends… we'll go to the mall together and veg out in front of the TV. We'll paint each other toes and do each others hair…well, maybe not. Because, hello…not much to do to mine, and yours…well. You have it under control." She smiled. "God…I'm babbling." She sighed, wiping the tears away.

"S'ok…I like it…" Willow heard a rough voice say, which made her jump about a foot from the bed.

"Faith!" she said, running around the bed and kneeling down, eye level with the slayer.

Faith tried to smile, but found moving, even to smile, more than a little painful. "Ow." She managed to say.

Willow jumped up. "I'll get the doctor…don't move. Well, you can't move but you know what I mean…" she cut of the impending babble before it got underway.

Faith closed her eyes. She was tired, and she hurt and she was confused. After the fight, she remembered very little. Images here and there, vague recollections of sounds. She remembered feeling cold, than warm again…and she remembered Tara whispering to her, begging her not to leave. Like she could, she had a broken neck. All of the images flickered in her mind, but one feeling she felt clearly. One sensation was fresh and strong in her mind, and it was the most confusing.

She clearly remembered, right before she croaked out a small sentence…she remembered Willow tracing a small heart in the palm of her hand.

Part 15

Faith was frowning. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail and small beads of sweat were beading her forehead. Off to the side of the parallel bars, Willow was biting her nails nervously and Tara was sure she hadn't taken a breath in almost three minutes. Faith grunted and shifted her weight again, taking another perilous step forward. With a deep sigh, she sat back down in the chair and smiled broadly.

Michael grinned. "Damn girl, you are a stubborn one," he said as he began messaging her legs, feeling the muscles spasm under his firm hands. "Muscles are shaking, that's a good sign," he said.

Faith smiled down at her physical therapist. "I told you I heal fast." She looked at Tara, who was beaming with pride and Willow was grinning as well. But Faith thought, for just a moment, she saw something else. Sighing, she looked down at her therapist. "So can I?" she asked.

Michael grinned. "Don't ask me, I don't have anything for you," he said, nodding over at Willow.

Faith looked over at her and raised her eyebrows expectantly. Willow grinned and took a small box from behind her back and hurried over to Faith.

Faith cocked her head to the side. "This isn't my Walkman," she said, pouting. She had been going crazy, listening to the boring elevator music being piped thru the hospitals speakers. Two days ago, she promised her therapist she would double her recovery time if he allowed her to have her Walkman and a few tapes back. He agreed, and Faith quadrupled her efforts. The results were nothing short of a miracle.

Willow shook her head, almost giddy. "Nope. It's an MP3 player. I went through your tapes and downloaded all the songs from the Internet and put them all here. Just go through and you can hear all of your favorite tunes without switching tapes, which can be annoying and then you have to suffer thru the hospital music." She paused and whirled to Michael. "Not that the music isn't good, I'm sure it's fine and calming, which patients need for relaxing and stuff, especially when they are really sick. There was this one time, in third grade, I got so sick and I went to the hospital and they played classical piano and I got so relaxed…" she stopped when Faith shook her.

"Come up for air, Red," she grinned. "Show me how to work this thing."

Willow stopped and shrugged. "Sorry. I babble. It's one thing I am famous for," she said meekly.

Michael waved it off. "No problem, Willow," he said, standing and clapping his hands. "I think the music sucks too." He grinned.

Tara looked out the window at the courtyard. Buffy was out there with Giles, he came in last night saying he had urgent news. She told him to wait until day and the Watcher showed up at the crack of dawn.

Buffy didn't look happy as Tara watched her gesture emphatically and she smiled when Giles began the clean his glasses.

Buffy turned and stormed into the building, Giles following her. Tara turned to Willow and sighed. "Willow, Buffy looks upset," she said softly.

Willow furrowed her brow. "Probably another apocalypse." She rolled her eyes and stopped when Michael raised an eyebrow. "Um…that's what we call bills?" she offered.

Michael nodded. "Oh, right. I just figured it had something to do with all the weird crap that goes on at night." He shrugged his shoulders as Buffy came thru the door.

"Sorry I'm late. Giles just had to have his chat." She sighed.

Tara took her girlfriends hand and furrowed her brow. "Everything ok?" she asked. "Do we n-need to gather everyone?"

Buffy nodded. "Might be a good idea." She took Tara's hand and sighed. "I missed you this morning," she said softly.

Tara blushed. "I-I thought it would be better if I didn't stay all night. Your mom and stuff…" she said shyly.

Buffy shook her head. "I think my mom has enough on her plate with my life in Sunnydale in general that me having a girlfriend would seem positively normal to her." She grinned.

Tara shrugged. "I just didn't want to make any trouble."

Buffy took both of Tara's hands in her own and moved in front of the shy witch. "Tara Maclay, let me make one thing perfectly clear to you right now, before we go any further in this relationship, ok?" she said softly. Reaching up, she cupped one of Tara's cheeks with her hand and smiled. "No matter what, you will never, ever be any trouble," she said softly.

Tara smiled softly. "I think I could fall in love with you," she said softly. "I mean real, deep, scary love," she said. "Ok?"

Buffy nodded. "I hope so, because I know I love you."

Tara smiled. "Good," she said simply, leaning in and kissing Buffy's lips softly.

Buffy melted into the kiss, sighing. "There's nothing like Tara kisses to take the worry away."

Tara crinkled her brow. "W-what did Mr. Giles want?" she asked.

Willow and Faith both perked up.

"Yeah, you didn't seem to happy when you came back," Willow stated. She had unconsciously laced her fingers loosely in Faith's as she looked at Buffy.

Faith swallowed hard. "Yeah B, what's the what?"

Buffy sighed. "Faith, we'll all meet in your room today. Giles went to get Xander and Anya. Everyone has to be here for this one," she said.

Faith nodded. "Okay," she agreed. "Is it Adam?" she asked, a trace of fear in her voice.

Buffy shook her head. "No." she said simply. Turning to Tara, she smiled. "I gotta go and get some things. I'll be back around two," she said softly.

Tara checked her watch and nodded. "That's about an hour. You need any company?" she asked.

Buffy looked back at Willow and Faith. They were going over all of the songs on the MP3 player. "Think they will be okay?" she asked.

Tara nodded. "Five by five." She grinned.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Oh please, not you too." She smiled. "Then yes, I would love your company."

Taking Tara's hand, she turned and the two blondes headed for the door. "See you in an hour Wills,"Buffy said as they left.

Willow just waved goodbye without turning from Faith.

Faith had just keyed 'Cheap and Evil Girl' by Bree Sharp. She was bobbing with the music as Willow watched, entranced by the sight of the Dark Slayer. "When did you get so beautiful?" she asked softly. Faith turned to Willow and smiled, and for a second Willow thought she had heard. But Faith pulled off her earphones and offered them to the redhead. "This song was written for me, Red," she said.

Willow took the phones and smiled as the lyrics poured through.

<<The Cheap and Evil girl, dances if your worthy She teases every twirl, she's deviously dirty And you fantasize about the ample Milky thighs you'd like to sample Vocalize to her example Deep, illegal sighs, it's a scandal!>>

Willow offered the headphones back to Faith and nodded quickly. "Yep. That's my, um, our Faith," she said, blushing a deep crimson.

Faith wiggled her eyebrows. "Thanks for this Red. The music was driving me nuts," she said.

Willow nodded. "Yep. My pleasure," she said.

Faith looked back at the player and smiled. "She's so adorable when she blushes," she thought to herself. "I don't have a prayer." She sighed, looking at the redhead.

Tara watched as Buffy walked up and down the aisles, absently tossing things into the cart. "Um, Buffy?" she asked softly.

Buffy looked at Tara. "Yeah?"

Tara looked at the cart and pulled up the canned asparagus. "Who is this for?" she asked. "You hate asparagus," she said. "Is something wrong?"

Buffy lowered her head. "No," she sighed. "Yes. I don't know."

Tara walked up to Buffy and touched her shoulder. "You want to talk about it?" she asked.

Buffy shook her head. "It's no big. Just, let's just say the Hellmouth is getting crowded," she said cryptically.

"Hey Buffy!!" Buffy turned and saw a small brunette running towards her. She leapt into the blonde slayer's arms and hugged her tightly. "I have heard SO much about you!" she said.

Buffy eased the over eager brunette down and forced a smile. "And you must be Kennedy," she said.

Buffy looked at a very confused Tara. "Tara, this is Kennedy," she said.

Kennedy looked at the blonde witch and raised an eyebrow. "Yum," she said softly, her eyes raking over Tara's body.

Tara's eyes went wide and she stepped behind Buffy. Buffy narrowed her eyes dangerously.

Kennedy nodded her understanding. "Right, sorry." She raised her hands. "So, what do you have for me Obi Wan?" she asked Buffy.

Buffy sighed. "First, the name is Buffy. Second, we go to the hospital. Faith and Willow are waiting there for us." She looked over Kennedy's shoulder and saw Giles walking with an older man. "Giles, are you ready?" she asked.

Giles nodded and waved. "We'll meet you there, take Kennedy with you, start…bonding or whatever it is you do." He waved them off as he left.

Kennedy beamed and headed for the front of the store. "Cool. Girls night out."

Buffy lowered her head and sighed.

Tara shook her head. "Who is that?" she asked, coming out from behind Buffy.

Buffy looked at Tara. "That was Kennedy. She's the newest slayer," she said.

Tara did a double take back at Kennedy. "Oh," she said simply. Faith was going to take about three seconds of the over eager brunette before another was called. "This should be...interesting."

Buffy nodded. "Yep. Come on, we'd better catch her before she gets to far."

Tara took Buffy's hand and kissed it softly. "You okay?" she asked.

Buffy smiled at the contact. "Getting there. I may need more smoochies." She grinned.

Tara smiled back and kissed Buffy. "If I must, I will sacrifice my lips for the cause," she said, drawing back and smiling.

Buffy sighed. "Yay me."

Buffy looked around the room at the gathered group. Faith was sitting up in her bed, Willow sitting on the edge flipping through the playlist on Faith's new MP3 player and Faith running a commentary on the songs.

Xander and Anya stood in the back of the room, Anya looking annoyed that she had to be there and Xander looking pensive about the new arrivals.

Tara stood next to Buffy, her fingers laced with the blonde slayer's as Kennedy, Jacob and Giles flanked them.

Giles coughed softly. "Buffy, would you care to do the honors or shall I?" he asked quietly.

Buffy nodded and, squeezing Tara's hand, stepped forward. "Right. Well guys, um, this is Kennedy," she said, gesturing to the eager brunette in their midst. Everyone waved and said their hellos, except for Anya. She narrowed her eyes and crept forward until she was a few inches from Kennedy's face.

"You seem a decent enough girl, but let's get a few ground rules in. One, you can't have Xander, he's mine. Two, you can't have Tara either, she's Buffy's. And three, you can't have Xander. It's very important that you remember that rule, which is why it is listed twice." Anya said.

Kennedy raised an eyebrow and grinned. "You can have Xander. While I'm sure he's a great guy, he's not really my type." She leaned in close to Anya and whispered. "What about the redhead? She's cute. Can I have her?" she grinned, peeking over Anya's shoulder and smiling at the blushing hacker.

Anya looked at Willow, then back at Kennedy. "Is there something in the water in Sunnydale I should know about?" she asked, exasperated. "Because I love my Xander and I don't want to be gay." She pouted. "I need to know if I should just switch to imported water from now on." She stormed back to Xander and took his arm firmly in her grasp.

Buffy rolled her eyes and Tara smiled at the ex-demon's antics. Anya was, unique, Tara had to give her that.

Faith, however, had narrowed her eyes. "I don't think Red is interested, Kennedy, wasn't it?" she practically snarled, all of the sudden feeling a little defensive.

Willow nodded her consent. "Right. No interest here." She said quickly. "But thank you all the same, I'm flattered. I mean, I was a geek in high school and now I have everyone wanting to jump my bones." She smiled. "I mean, here you are all new and you want little ol' me…" she paused. "Um, who are you again?"

Buffy sighed. "Guys, Kennedy is the new slayer, and Jacob is her watcher."

Xander's jaw fell open. "Holy Frijoles," he muttered, astonished. "Three slayers?"

Buffy nodded. "Yep."

Faith grinned. "B, this is wicked cool!" she said excitedly. "Three slayers! Adam won't have a prayer!"

Kennedy looked at Faith and then back to Buffy. "Who's Adam?" she asked.

Giles stepped forward and pulled off his glasses. "Adam is a human, demon, cyborg amalgamation and the one directly responsible for Faith being hurt, apparently much more than we thought," he said, looking at Faith sadly.

"Cool. Let's go and take him out, B," Kennedy said excitedly.

Giles' eyes got as big as plates as he took he handkerchief and began to furiously clean his glasses. "Good lord," he muttered, backing away.

Willow spun and looked at Faith. "Uh-oh," she said softly.

Kennedy looked around the room at all of the shocked faces. "What did I say?" she asked, clearly confused.

Faith was steaming, a low growl issuing from deep in her throat. She and Kennedy would have to have a nice, long chat.

Part 16

Kennedy ducked as the vampire went sailing over her head and crashing into the smooth marble of the crypt. She smiled over at Faith and nodded her head. "Nice job. But he's a fresh one, wait until we get to fighting some of the heavies." She said, staking the new vampire.

Faith rolled her head slightly and smiled. "No problem. I'm back and the local fang gang had better just beware." She said.

It had been almost six weeks since Faith's release from the hospital. On top of the physical therapy she was receiving from the hospital, Giles and Jacob had made a very tough recovery schedule for her as well. If she weren't a slayer, she would most likely be dead.

"How's the neck?" she asked, seeing Faith rolling it.

"A little sore, but nothing to bad. Slayer healing is freakin' awesome." She winked. She and Kennedy had a long talk about things, and now they saw eye to eye. She laid out the ground rules for the junior slayer and Kennedy agreed quite readily.

First and foremost, only she got to call Buffy, B. Second, Kennedy was to stop looking at Willow and Tara like they were on a buffet. Kennedy only giggled. She knew both women were taken, she just like watching the other slayers squirm. And third was Buffy's main rule. The one she felt should have been first, but Faith had others she deemed more important. Don't get dead. That was rule number one.

Kennedy went on patrols with them on a regular basis. She was to be paired up with either Buffy or Faith on all patrols until she learned the ropes in Sunnydale. Kennedy didn't care, she just wanted to slay. And so it went for the last six weeks. Faith was on her first patrol without Buffy and she was loving it. She liked hanging with Buffy, but the blonde slayer was a very big worrier. Luckily, Faith had an inside man, or in this case, an inside woman. Tara and Buffy had a date tonight, which Buffy wanted to do during the afternoon to patrol later with Faith and Kennedy. But Faith wasn't going to hear of it. Finally, Buffy relented and Faith got to spend some one on one time with Kennedy, who she had to admit, was a very good slayer. She had been training since she was eight, so she knew her stuff.

"How do you think they are doing?" Kennedy asked, breaking Faith's thoughts.

"Who? B and Tar?" Faith asked.

Kennedy nodded. "Yeah, I mean, it's obvious how much they care about each other, anyone can see that. I just hope they're having a good time." She said.

Faith nodded. "Me too. B needs to have a good time without worrying about the Hellmouth splitting open and swallowing everything into hell. I mean it's just a date, what can go wrong?"

Kennedy stopped in mid stride and slowly turned to face Faith. Willow and Xander had filled her in on the Hellmouth's curse, and how their sophomore year, they had pushed fate. She stared open mouthed at Faith.

Faith rolled her eyes and sighed. "Don't tell me, let me guess. Willow and Xander?" she smirked.

Kennedy nodded. "Uh-huh."

Faith laughed. "I believe in curses about as much as I believe in the tooth fairy."

Kennedy was just about to speak, but grabbed her stake instead, throwing it over Faith's shoulder with lightning quick reflexes.

A vampire exploded all over Faith as she spun, catching another in the ribs with her foot. "Man, is there a convention in town?!" she asked, whipping her stake out and piercing the demon's heart.

Kennedy put her back against Faith's as she gauged her surroundings. Coming out of the shadows and mist, she saw several forms take shape. Vampires and demons both, at least two dozen.

Faith gritted her teeth. "Vamps and demons don't work together, what the hell is going on?" she asked over her shoulder to Kennedy.

Kennedy shook her head. "I don't know, I just moved here. Maybe he knows." She pointed at the large figure moving from the mist.

Faith turned and her eyes went wide. She tried moving her mouth but no sound escaped as the stake tumbled from her fingers. Kennedy turned and saw paralyzing fear grip the Dark Slayer.

"Faith?" she said quickly. "Dropping the weapon not a good battle strategy." She said, flipping her stake in her hand for a downward thrust move. "And I sure as hell ain't ready to vacate the slayer mantle just yet." She hissed over her shoulder to the brunette.

Faith took one step back, then two as the large form came even closer.

Kennedy grabbed Faith's arm and tugged her closer. "Faith, snap out of it, I need you now…" she said, panic starting to break thru her voice as she dusted a vampire trying to take advantage of her split attention. "Faith, what the hell is wrong!" she snapped.

Faith's voice trembled as she croaked one word, to low for Kennedy to hear. "Faith, what did you say?" the new slayer asked, kicking at a T'vern slime demon. She wiped her shoe on the grass, making a face as she backed after Faith. "Faith, I couldn't hear you." She said.

Faith shook as she stumbled back. "Kennedy, we have to run. We have to find Buffy, and Willow and Tara, and Giles." She said. "Hell, we need to call the fucking marines." She muttered.

The giant form stepped into the light and Kennedy froze in place. He was hideous. A mottled collection of parts, sewn together like something out of a Mary Shelly novel. The left half of his face was metal, along with his right arm. He walked with purpose and the heavy thuds of his footsteps vibrated power thru the ground under her feet. She knew without Faith saying anything what this thing was. "Adam." She said softly. Looking at the small, almost insignificant weapon in her hand she swallowed hard. "I'm gonna need a bigger stake."

Buffy closed her eyes and took the offered bite from Tara. "Mmmm." She sighed, letting the rich flavor of the alfredo sauce dance on her tongue. "Tara, that's delicious." She said, opening her eyes and turning her head around to face the blonde sitting behind her. "I mean it. You should bottle and sell it." She said.

Tara lowered her head. "It's my mom's recipe." She said, her hair falling and hiding her features.

Buffy quickly reached back and brushed the blonde cascade back. "You have a lovely face, beautiful eyes and a neck as slender and graceful as a swan's." She said softly. "You shouldn't hide them." She smiled.

Tara grinned back and nodded. "Hard to break out of some habits, you know?" she said, looking around her room. It was not cluttered, exactly, but it was homey. She had various crystals, books, incense, spices and other things stacked and stuffed in every crevice. And then, there were the twinkling white Christmas lights laced around the border of the room. They added something undefinable, yet wholly Tara, to the room.

Buffy loved the room. She could, and sometimes did, spend hours, in the dark just staring at the way the shadows danced from the twinkling lights. She told Tara once that they reminded her of the outdoors, with a wide-open sky and no mosquitoes. Tara laughed; she lay down next to Buffy and looked as well. They had both fallen asleep and rested peacefully in each other's arms.

"I'm glad you like it. It was my favorite when I was younger." Tara said. She and Buffy were supposed to go out tonight but decided instead to have a nice, romantic dinner in Tara's room. Tara made her favorite dish, Vegetable Alfredo with Angel Hair pasta. She had spent most of the afternoon making the sauce, and considering she only had a small microwave oven and a two-burner hot plate, she was pleased with the results. Tara thought back to the beginning of the date. 

Buffy, who wasn't big on dating, didn't really have anything else besides the traditional dinner on the town, and then a movie. So she was quite surprised at the incredible smells coming from Tara's door when she knocked, holding the large bouquet of flowers in front of her. When the door opened, she smiled broadly. "I brought flowers." She said.

Tara took the arrangement and returned the smile. "They're lovely." She said. Stepping aside so Buffy could enter, she leaned over and stole a quick kiss from the slayer.

Buffy sighed, breaking the kiss. "Are you ready to go?" she asked, seeing Tara in a long dress and peasant top, the locks on either side of her face braided in a long strand.

Tara looked down and winced a little. "Actually, if you don't mind, I was hoping we could eat in tonight." She said softly.

Buffy's smile slipped a little but she quickly regained her composure. "Sure, whatever's good for you." She said, feigning indifference. But truth be told, she was really looking forward to going out on the town.

Tara caught her tone and cocked her head to the side. "Are you sure you don't mind?" she asked, taking Buffy's hand in hers. "I mean, I-if you want to, w-we can go out." She stammered.

Buffy frowned, catching Tara's stutter. "No. Really, Tara. In is good." She smiled when Tara reached behind her and turned off the main lights and switched on the Christmas lights. They began a soft pattern of twinkling, which made Buffy's grin blossom into a full- blown smile.

Tara led the slayer to the bed, where she had laid out a picnic. "No mosquitoes and no ants either." She said softly.

Buffy looked over the scene, complete with picnic basket and plaid blanket. "Tara, this is amazing." She said, sitting on the bed. There was a bowl of pasta, a small bowl of steamed vegetables and another with creamy, white sauce. A basket, brimming with two baguettes and a jar of homemade honey, a small plate of real, cream butter and a bottle of red wine. "Red wine? Aren't we a little young?" she asked playfully.

Tara shrugged. "It's a special occasion." She said. "Faith is better, there's no impending apocalypse and we are on a date. I'd say that's celebration worthy." She said.

Buffy's eyes glinted mischievously. "Why, Miss Maclay, are you trying to get me drunk?" she asked.

Tara raised an eyebrow. "You'd need to be drunk?" she asked, sliding over next to the slayer.

Buffy swallowed as she shook a little from nerves. "No. Not drunk. Nope." She whispered.

Tara wrapped her hands around Buffy's waist and nuzzled her neck. "Good. I think that would be bad." She sighed into Buffy's ear.

A shiver raced up Buffy's spine as she felt Tara's breath scalding her ear. "Try the sauce." The blonde witch said, holding a fork with pasta and sauce on the end.

Faith stood back to back with Kennedy. "We have to get out of here, Kennedy." She said quickly as the vampires circled them. There were easily twenty vampires, making it ten each. "We need B." she said, her eyes never leaving Adam.

Adam stood motionless, watching as the two slayers were surrounded, taking in new data and formulating algorithms to expedite their defeat. "Attack." He said, his optical and auditory sensors open and ready to receive the stream of data from their deaths.

Faith heard the command and lashed out at the nearest three vampires, quickly staking two and kicking one back into another cluster. Fighting back to back had one advantage she could think of. "Kennedy, just attack. They have to be careful; we can hit any of them. Close the circle and make them come to you. Don't rush into their midst." She said hurriedly to the young slayer.

Kennedy, already having staked three vampires and beating on another grunted her acknowledgement. "What about crosses?" she called back to Faith.

Faith mentally slapped herself and pulled out a large, wooden cross and brandishing it in the faces of an advancing trio of vampires, who instantly recoiled. She pulled out a bottle of Holy Water and pulled the stopper as she and Kennedy kept the vampires at bay. Any who dared to defy the natural repulsion from the cross got splashed in the face with Holy Water and sent screaming into the back of the ranks of undead. Slowly, the two slayers made a break in the circle and sprinted away from the cemetery and headed for the dormitories.

Buffy had her eyes closed as Tara placed feathered kisses along the back of her neck. Dinner was wonderful, but right now the bed used for a picnic blanket was developing into a much different form in the slayer's mind.

Tara was shaking as she lightly brushed her hands over Buffy's shoulders. She sat behind the slayer, her legs wrapped securely around Buffy's waist as she kissed the blonde softly along her neck. She felt the heat rising between them and shivered in anticipation of what was to come. She had been with one other woman before, but that was a clumsy, easily forgettable time. This was different, this time it was Buffy, and it was with someone she loved very much.

Buffy had just reached over her head, running her fingers through Tara's hair and tilting her own neck further allowing the Wiccan easier access and showing how much she delighted in the sensations when there was a frantic beating on the door.

Tara squeaked and jumped back, the spell broken as Buffy growled, glaring at the door as if it were a living thing she could slay. "There had better be an apocalypse." She muttered, climbing off of the bed.

Tara walked to the door, trying to straighten her disheveled appearance as she opened the door. Kennedy and Faith stood in the doorway, gasping for air.

"B. We got a lot of trouble brewing." Faith said, walking through the doorway as Tara stepped aside, ushering them in.

Buffy went immediately into slayer mode, "What happened?" she asked. Seeing the bruises and cuts already healing on both of the slayers.

Faith took a bottle of water Tara offered and downed over half in one long drought. Wiping her mouth, she shook her head. "It's Adam." She said in way of explanation. "He's back, and he brought an army."

Buffy looked at the assembled group. "We need to get at Adam. Take the battle to him. We can't just keep getting attacked over and over again, being worn down."

Willow, Xander, Faith, Kennedy, Giles and Tara all looked at the blonde slayer and nodded silently. "Okay. So we need a plan. Any suggestions?" Buffy asked.

No one spoke for a second, than Xander raised his hand. "I have a really bad idea." He said softly.

Spike whistled as he walked, carrying the bag of groceries, which consisted of four cartons of cigarettes, three boxes of wheat-a-bix and six pints of blood. He walked casually and came to a halt as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Stopping, he turned slowly, surveying the landscape. "Alright, come on out. I don't have all bloody night to play." He growled, trying to get a fix on what he was sensing.

Buffy stepped from behind a tree. "Hello Spike." She said casually. "I've come to get your help." She said softly, walking towards the vampire.

Spike snorted. "That right, Luv?" he sneered. "And I should give you this help why?" he asked, lighting a cigarette.

Faith stood behind him, her arms crossed as she spoke. "Because we asked nicely." She said, making the blonde spin to face her. She held a crossbow leveled at him. "You always start off negotiations with a loaded crossbow aimed at a bloke?" he asked, starting to worry. He had killed two slayers before, but was under no delusions he could take out two at the same time.

Kennedy dropped from a nearby tree, pulling a short sword out from a sheath strapped to her back. "Only when we really, really need the help of a low life, blood sucking creature of the abyss." She said, swinging the sword a bit as she advanced.

Buffy stood still as Spike backed into her. "What about it?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. She looked into his eyes, silently pleading with him. "Please, William." She said softly.

Spike's features softened a little as he looked into Buffy's eyes. "Bloody hell. You're lot are going to ruin my reputation as The Big Bad." He grumbled, handing his groceries to Kennedy as she came to stand beside him. "But I don't see how I have a choice." He said.

Faith grinned. "This just might work." She said to Kennedy, smiling broadly.

Kennedy hefted Spike's bag into one arm and shrugged. "Maybe. I just want another shot at Adam."

Spike jumped from the table. "Are you bloody daft?!" he yelled at Buffy. "This is a suicide mission and you know it!" he pointed a finger at Buffy.

Buffy stood up and grabbed Spike as he turned to walk away. "I need you in this Spike! You have infiltrated the commando complex before. You know the layout." She said.

Spike turned and faced the group. "That was when Adam was shutting the alarms off and opening all the right doors. You're talking about taking out the base without any help from Mr. Frankenweenie!" he shouted.

"W-we have to stop Adam, Mr. Spike." Tara spoke up quickly, regretting it as soon as Spike turned towards her.

Spike pointed at the blonde witch. "You know, out of all this lot, I figured you were the sane one. This isn't going to do anything but get everyone killed." He said. "And I can't believe you're in on this Rupert." He said, turning towards Giles. "I thought you would be smarter." He picked up an old book and shook it. "This little…spell will just end up getting everyone killed. And if, IF, by some chance Buffy is able to defeat Adam, then what? I was there. You know how many demons there are in that complex? Thousands. They are jam packed like sardines." He shook his head. "It's bloody suicide." He said, but sat back down.

Faith grinned. "So, you in for a massacre?" she asked the bleach blond vamp.

Spike nodded. "Oh I'm in, just wanted to point out the fact it's suicide." He grinned at the brunette.

Faith rolled her eyes and settled back into the couch next to Willow, who she had noticed, was much closer to her than before. She didn't mind the proximity of the redhead; in fact it was just the opposite. She rather enjoyed it.

Willow had watched the tirade between the vampire and Buffy. She knew Spike loved a good brawl, but she thought maybe he was right this time. This was their toughest battle yet, and she was more than a little nervous. What if she messed up the spell, what if Buffy was…no. She couldn't think like that. She and Tara had been casting together for a long time now, and she was sure they could pull the spell without much trouble. She listened as Faith spoke up, watching her pacing there in front of her. She watched as the brunette moved, or rather how her leather pants moved, as she walked. 

'What are you doing, Rosenberg?!' she chastised herself. 'This is Faith! Clevagey slut bomb Faith. Remember?'

She looked back up at the Dark Slayer and smiled. 'Mmmm…clevagy…' she hummed to herself. 'No! nonono!' she tried to block the image out of her head and almost succeeded when Faith sat back down. She fell a little towards Faith and sighed. `I guess I could like this.' She muttered to herself, feeling the heat from the slayer's body only a few scant inches away.

Buffy nodded. "Alright. Than it's settled. Willow, Tara. How much time do you need to prepare for the spell?" she asked.

Tara bit her lip, glancing at Willow. "Well. We need about a day to prepare ourselves, do a cleansing, and about two more people." She said sadly. She and Willow were powerful together, she couldn't deny that. But the spell specifically called for four vessels to carry the power needed. If any of them tried to carry more than one, they would be subject to severe draining, opening to dark forces or backlashes leaving them all comatose for days. Maybe all three.

Giles coughed lightly. "I think I could sit in the circle. I still remember how to cast, I think." He said softly.

Tara nodded. "That's one." She said, glad to have Giles wisdom there to call on.

Xander raised his hand, and everyone raised an eyebrow. "What? How much help am I gonna be against thousands of demons? Buffy'll spend more time saving my butt than kicking Adams. If it's not to complex, I can give it a shot." He said meekly.

Tara smiled at Willow. "I think he'll do nicely." She said.

Willow nodded her consent. She knew exactly where to place Xander.

Faith clapped her hands together. "Alrighty then. I guess it's time to get ready." She smiled as the group stood.

Willow nodded. "Tara, Xander, Giles and me will be at Tara's, getting ready. What time do we move tomorrow?" she looked at Buffy.

Buffy furrowed her brow. "At dawn. Faith, Kennedy, Jacob and I will begin preparing as well." She looked around the room at the group. "Spike, try to find us the best way in." she said. "Everyone. Thank you. This is…" she paused.

Tara went to her girlfriend and hugged her close. "We'll be fine Buffy. We believe in you." She reassured the blonde slayer.

Spike snorted. "Believe all you want, it's still a suicide mission." He grumbled as he sat and began sketching floor diagrams as best as he could remember them.

Buffy grinned. "Let's get the show started." She said, kissing Tara softly then pulling her close. "Good luck." She said.

Tara shrugged. "Don't need luck, I have you. You give me all the strength I need." She said softly.

Buffy smiled. "See you tomorrow morning." She let the blonde go as Willow, Xander and Giles all headed for the door.

"Right then. Ready for a workout, girls?" Jacob said, rolling up his sleeves. He was older than Giles, to be sure, but there wasn't an ounce of fat on him. He would work the girls well, then get them to meditate and center their energy. He swelled with pride knowing his little poppet was a part of this. "Let's go then." He said, beginning to stretch.

Buffy watched the door close and turned to see Faith and Kennedy stretching. "Tomorrow, Adam. Tomorrow, you won't know what hit you." She growled as she joined the others.

Part 17

Buffy ached a little, but more than that, she felt energized. The workout hadn't been as strenuous as she thought, but it had loosened her corded muscles and calmed her down, giving her focus. She breathed in slowly, catching a bit of salt on the air and she felt the cool, crisp morning air rush into her adding to her strength.

"Let the cold air infuse your body. It is your fire, your fuel. Use it. Let your body process it and store the energy. It is magical, a thing as timeless as the ocean it rolls off of. Feel it sharpen your senses further." She heard Jacobs voice break through her mind and she doubled her efforts. She stood on one hand, balancing a heavy lead crystal in her had and a candle on her foot.

Faith's breathing had slowed to almost nothing as she entered into a deeper trance. She was the one Jacob feared for the most. She had already been `killed' once by Adam, and she was defiantly the most frightened of the three.

Buffy opened one eye and looked over at Kennedy. She stood on her hands, eyes focusing on a single candle flame. She slowly lowered herself and stood, motionless, and waited for Buffy and Faith.

Buffy lowered the crystal slowly and flicked her toes. The candle flipped into the air as Buffy flipped over and landed squarely on her feet, catching the still lit candle. She set the candle in the candelabra next to Kennedy's. She waited along with the youngest slayer for Faith.

Faith opened her eyes and slowly curled her body down. Her toes touched in front of her head and she rolled her body back upright, ever so slowly, as she finally stood shoulder to shoulder with the other slayers.

Jacob smiled. "How do you feel?" he asked them.

Faith looked at Jacob. "Ready." She said simply. Buffy and Kennedy only nodded.

Jacob nodded and raised a crossbow. He was a little over sixty, but he was still rock solid and lightning fast. He had spent the last eleven years training a potential slayer, and he was in peak form. The crossbow fired s bolt and a split second later a knife sailed across the lawn. Both projectiles sailed for Buffy's head.

Faith moved like greased lightning and caught the bolt inches from Buffy's face. The blonde never flinched.

Kennedy snapped her hand out a split second later and caught the knife by the handle, the tip of the blade a centimeter from Buffy's left eye. Again, the blonde didn't even blink.

Buffy raised her head. "I trust the women at my side with the power they hold." She said simply.

Faith and Kennedy both turned back to Jacob and dropped the projectiles. "We hold the life of our chosen champion and trust her with the power she will possess." They said; beginning the ritual Willow had left for them.

Jacob nodded. "As overseer of the ritual, guide to the chosen and keeper of the power I do consent to the transfer." Jacob said solemnly.

Slow, loud claps came from the doorway as Spike clapped sarcastically. "Cute trick, but Adam won't be impressed by a game of chicken." He shook his head. "Maps are done as best I can remember. But keep in mind, Adam was turning off alarms, sensors and cameras as well as opening locked doors for me last time. He's gonna see you blokes coming a mile away." He sighed, lighting a cigarette.

Buffy turned to Spike. "You want out, William?" she asked, calmly.

Spike looked at Buffy and thought for a long while before sighing. "Bloody Hell." He muttered, throwing his cigarette down and crushing it out. "In for a penny; in for a pound. Come on then." He said, walking back inside. "You get in here," he pointed at a doorway on the map as the girls gathered around him.

Willow clasped hands with Giles, Xander and Tara. She felt the air humming with energy as she completed the spell. Their auras and souls cleansed, they were ready to channel the kind of power it would take to defeat Adam. She slowly opened one eye and smiled.

Tara sat in front of her and she could feel raw power radiating from the blonde. Giles, who held a fair amount of his own power, sat on her left, his face calm and his own stores of mystical energy thrumming in the circle.

Xander, on her right, sat with his face calm and beads of sweat forming on his brow. She smiled softly. He meant so much to her, to them all. He had no mystic talent in him, but that didn't stop him. He didn't even whimper as the energy in the circle between Tara, Giles and herself coursed thru him and washed over him. He sat there, only his courage to do what needed to be done and his love for everyone in the group kept him in contact. His heart was big enough for them all. `Good, we need that Xander.' She thought to herself.

Across the circle Tara nodded as she looked at the young man. Willow looked wide-eyed at Tara.

<Can you hear me? > Willow thought silently.

Tara looked over at Willow with a puzzled look on her face. <Yes. Aren't you sending to me? > she asked, a little confused by Willow's surprise.

Willow only shook her head. Tara gulped and tried to smile. <Maybe it's a side effect? > she looked at Giles and called out to him mentally. <Giles. Can you hear my thoughts? >

Giles only sat there; still absorbed in the feel of the magic washing over him. It had been a long while and old tendencies tried to take him away. Only years of dedication, control and great force of will held him in place. That and Willow anchoring him.

Tara looked at Willow and then to Xander. <Xander, can you hear me? > she called a little louder.

Xander only sat there, his eyes closed tightly and his breathing coming in deep breaths.

Willow bit her lip. <I think it's just us. > she said. <We need to tell Giles about this later. ? > she said. Tara nodded.

"I think we're ready." Willow said softly, letting Giles and Xander's hands go. "Tara?" she looked over at the blonde.

Tara nodded, picking up her tarot deck. "As we'll ever be." She said, quickly dismissing the worry she felt about the powerful connection she and Willow were sharing.

"Than let's be off. Buffy and the others will be waiting. Willow, your laptop." Giles said, pointing at the hacker's desk.

Willow grabbed to thin computer and smiled. "They won't know what hit them." She said as they packed the item needed.

Giles looked at Xander and a frown covered his features. Kneeling down, he placed a hand on Xander shoulder. "Xander, are you sure you are up to this?" he asked softly.

Xander opened his eyes and smiled bravely. He had never felt anything like that before. It was powerful, almost electric. He felt so charged and yet his limbs felt like Jell-O. "Let's go and get frankenweenie." He gave a thumbs up.

Giles grinned. "Yes. Come on then." He stood and walked to the door with Willow and Tara.

Willow paused and looked back. Xander still sat there, his thumb in the air. "Xander?" she said, concern etching her features.

Xander gave a lopsided smiled. "I, uh, I think my legs are asleep." He said, falling to the side. "Yep. Totally numb." He sighed.

Willow smiled and walked over to help her friend up. "Come on. You should try casting in that position and anchoring three other people." She grinned.

Xander shook his head. "No thanks. I'll stick to my fantasies about you and Tara doing spells. The real thing is a bit of a let down, you know?"

Tara blushed as Willow helped Xander to the door.

"Now you can say you casted spells with us." Willow grinned mischievously.

Giles took off his glasses and began to rub them furiously. "Dear lord, Willow. Don't encourage the boy." He said quickly. Tara smiled. "Yeah. And, um, Mr. Giles was there too." She said as they closed the door.

"Aw man!" Xander cried from the hall. "Thanks a lot Tara." He whined as they laughed, each of them trying to live in the levity of the moment instead of focusing on what lay ahead.

Adam looked at the screen as a worm wriggled its way thru his security systems. Someone was actually trying to break his encryptions. Focusing his considerable brainpower on the screen, he traced the source and found the computer. Opening files and scouring the host computer, he came upon the owner. Willow Rosenberg. "Interesting." He said out loud.

A vampire standing near him turned as Adam spoke. "Sorry boss? What did you say?" he asked, eager to carry out his master's wishes.

Adam spoke without turning. "The slayers and their friends are coming here. Do not offer resistance until I give the order." He said, his deep voice ringing off of the cold, steel surfaces in the room. "When I do give the command, kill them all." He turned now to the vampire. "And make their deaths…interesting. I must study them." He said, turning back to the screen and turning off the appropriate alarms the worm was supposed to. He would let them enter.

The vampire smiled, his fangs glistening in the light. "You got it boss." He turned and ran off to tell the others and pass the word. The slayers were about to walk into one hell of a trap.

Willow knocked on the door and waited. She smiled back at Tara and shrugged. <Can you still hear me? > she bit her lip.

Tara nodded. <Loud and clear…sorry. >

Willow sighed. <We wait until after to tell Giles, right? >

Tara only nodded as the door opened. Spike stood in the door, standing back from the sunlight filtering through the morning clouds.

"Well, well. How is the 2000 graduating class of Hogwarts?" the blonde vampire smirked.

Xander grinned. "Hey Willow, can I do that fire spell inside?" he asked, lacing his fingers and smiling.

Spike took a step back and watched the young man cautiously.

Giles sighed. "Xander, not inside my flat, the books are priceless. Take him outside to play." Giles sighed, breezing past the pair.

Spike's eyes went wide and he took another step back. "No hold on a minute. I got the plans, so no setting the nice, and may I say helping you, vampire." He said. Spike looked at Tara. "Come on bird, someone has to be on my side." He almost pleaded.

Tara gave the vampire a half smile. "Sorry Spike. You're, um, on your own." She shrugged apologetically. Looking around the room, she bit her lip to try to hide her impending laughter and went to find Buffy.

Spike looked at Xander and the dark haired boy wiggled his fingers. "Poof!" he said and laughed as the blonde vampire jumped.

Xander and Willow both laughed and walked away.

"Fire is dangerous. Shouldn't be playin' with it." Spike muttered, closing the door. Buffy sat in the middle of the yard, her legs crossed in lotus position. She stretched her consciousness out and felt the energy move around her. She smiled softly as she felt a very familiar wave of energy hit her. "Tara." She said softly, turning and looking over her shoulder to see…"Willow?" she furrowed her brow.

Willow waved. "Hey." She said nervously. "You ready for the big show down?" she said, sitting next to Buffy.

Buffy nodded. "As ready as I will ever be. You guys?" she asked, picking a small blade of grass and twirling it slowly.

Willow nodded as well. "Yep. Ready and able. Even Xander." She said.

Buffy smiled. "How did he feel about doing spells with you and Tara?" she grinned.

Willow laughed. "He was a bit put off that Giles was there, but overall, I think there was still a Xanderish reaction." She shrugged and sat down next to Buffy.

Buffy grinned and nudged her shoulder with Willows. "What's on your mind?" she knew the redhead so well, after all, it had been almost four years and they had grown a lot closer than most people their age. Saving the world from unspeakable evil tended to build strong bonds between people.

Willow smiled at Buffy. "I'm a little nervous, about the spell." She said softly. "I mean, it's big. Huge even. Way bigger than floating a pencil or a rose." She said.

Buffy furrowed her brow. "Are you gonna be ok with it?" she asked quietly.

Willow shook her head quickly. "Oh no, I'll be fine. Finey McFine, that's me. If Fine were a country, I'd be the president." She babbled. "I'll be there for you Buffy. Always, you won't face Adam without support."

Buffy smiled sincerely. "I meant will you be physically ok, Will's." she said. "I don't want you hurt. Any of you. This is my job, my destiny. Not yours or Xanders, or even Giles." She said. "Or Tara's." she whispered, almost imperceptibly.

Willow wrapped an arm around Buffy's shoulder and hugged her close. "How can I turn away from the dark, knowing what's in there trying to kill me, you, everyone I know and love. Someone has to stand up to it. Someone has to fight it. I for one am darn tired of getting pushed around." She said firmly. Buffy smiled.

"Besides, who would you call for witchy backup if I wasn't here? Tara is a powerful witch, so I can see her doing good, but two is better than one any day. That's a mathematical fact." She nodded as Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Trust you to drag homework into an apocalypse." The blonde slayer groaned.

Willow laughed as a shadow fell over the two friends from behind. Buffy turned and saw Faith. "Hey there. Ready for this?" she asked the Dark Slayer.

Faith nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be...uh…B." she stumbled over the last few words. "Can I talk to you, red?" she asked Willow.

Willow nodded, tilting her head to the side. "Uh-huh." She muttered, noticing how nice Faith looked. She wasn't dressed in her usual leather clad oxygen deprivation attire. She wore faded hip hugger jeans and a full t-shirt that had a picture of a motorcycle riding into a sunset. It said `Live fast, die young and leave a good looking corpse.' She accented the outfit with a blue jean jacket that had, to Willow's surprise, a picture of the cast of Looney Tunes on the back. She still had her steel-toed boots on, black of course. But she looked lovely. She wasn't wearing much makeup and her hair had that `I don't care what my hair looks like today' look that Willow found to take almost an hour to successfully do.

Faith grinned. "What's so funny?" she asked, seeing Willow's grin.

Willow only shook her head. "Nothing. Just…I like you're outfit. It's nice." She said, reaching up and quickly brushing Faith's jacket sleeve. "I like Bugs. He's so wascally." She mimicked Elmer Fudd.

Faith grinned. "My leathers are dirty…slayer stuff. You go through a lot of clothes. This is laundry day attire." She shrugged, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

Willow nodded. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?" she asked, taking Faith off to a more private area of the yard as she saw Tara timidly approaching Buffy as the blonde slayer went back to her meditating.

Tara watched Buffy breathe and felt her heart ache just to touch her. She sat softly on the grass next to Buffy and just watched. Buffy sat there wearing loose jeans, suede boots and a white peasant top. Her hair was pinned back in a ponytail and Tara couldn't help but trace the contours of her neck with her eyes. She smiled sadly. She was so beautiful; it almost pained Tara to look at her. Her eyebrow went up mischievously as thoughts of Buffy in other more interesting outfits and poses crossed her mind. "Well, it doesn't hurt that bad to look." She said to herself.

Suddenly there came a squeak of surprise and Willow jumped from behind the bush, shooting a glare at Tara. <Hello! We share a brain now! > she thought at Tara.

Tara bit her lip as she saw Willow pointing her finger at her and yelling in her head. <Sorry. I forgot. > she shrugged apologetically at Willow, who now stood in front of a very confused Faith, with her hands on her hips still glaring at Tara.

<Just keep the thoughts on a PG level, ok? > Willow turned and went to walk back to Faith and stopped, looking at Tara. <And what's this about red vinyl…and who is Vampirella? > she shook her head and walked away.

Tara blushed and turned back to watch Buffy, who was now staring intently at the blonde wiccan.

"Hey beautiful." Buffy said, leaning in and kissing Tara softly on the lips, trailing down her cheek and nuzzling her neck. "How was your night." She asked, leaning into the blonde.

Tara smiled. "It was cold, I missed my snuggle bunny." She said wrapping her arms around Buffy.

Buffy hummed as Tara held her. "I dunno. Willow can be a great snuggler." She said quietly.

Tara raised an eyebrow. "And how would you know how good of a snuggler Willow is?" she asked, leaning back to look at Buffy, a mock glare on her face as she waited for a reply.

Buffy stammered. "Uh…sleepovers. In high school. A long time ago. I only had the one bed; she and Xander would come over. Xander stayed on the floor, in a sleeping bag. Willow and me got the bed. It's a big bed, king size. And she's small. She got one side, I got the other." Buffy babbled, ignorant to Tara's breaking smile. "I guess she got cold easily, cause I would wake up with Willow draped over me like a cat, and heaven forbid I move. That was like, a lifetime ago… honest." She put on her best pout.

Tara grinned. "Relax Buffy, I believe you." She said, poking Buffy's bottom lip. "Put that away or use it." She said, her voice dropping low and dripping with innuendo.

Buffy raised an eyebrow, surprised by how forward Tara was all of the sudden. "Or use it, huh?" she asked, leaning forward and capturing Tara's lips with her own. Her hand snaked through Tara's hair as she deepened the kiss and pulled the blonde witch closer. A low moan escaped Buffy's throat while her hand traveled over Tara's shoulder and down her arm.

Tara was floating. She had never felt anything so soft, so supple and so wonderful in her life. It had to be love. She raised her hand and interlaced her fingers with Buffy's hand, which was trailing down her arm.

Buffy kneeled in front of Tara and raised a quivering hand, slowly, towards Tara. She wanted to feel, to touch, and to be touched. She wanted only to feel Tara and nothing else. Not the air on her skin, not the soft grass beneath them and defiantly not the clothes that separated them. Before she knew it, she hand her hand softly tracing over the witches breast.

Tara arched, as if electricity had suddenly shot through her body. She was on fire at Buffy's soft touch, but no matter what she felt, she had to stop it. "Buffy…" she whimpered, pulling softly away from the slayer, breaking their kiss with fast, wet pecks. "Buffy…wait." She managed to say between kisses.

Buffy bit her lip and stared at Tara. She was fully inflamed and somewhere, deep inside of her, a low growl rolled forth. Not of anger or rage, but one of deep lust. A hunger needing to be sated. "Tara?" Buffy said, her voice low. She cleared her head of the red haze threatening to take the goddess before her and furrowed her brow. "I'm sorry...I got a little, I guess I got carried away." She cleared her throat and sat back, trying to hide her disappointment.

Tara smiled, cupping Buffy's cheek. "Oh no, Buffy. It's not that I don't want to." She bit her lip and blew a strand of hair out of her face in frustration. "Believe me. I want, very much want." She sighed. "But not in Mr. Giles' backyard, and not with everyone twenty feet away." She smiled sadly. "I want to make love to you when it's only us. When we are the ones experiencing each other…" she paused and turned around smiling. "And without an audience."

Buffy nodded. "I guess you're right. Sorry. I'm hormonal gal." She stood up and offered her hands to Tara. "Forgive me?" she asked as she pulled the wiccan up.

Tara nodded. "Only if you will kiss me again." She bit her lip.

Buffy leaned in slowly and closed her eyes, her lips touching gently on Tara's. She opened her mouth and slowly, tentavily; her tongue brushed the lips of her lover. She felt Tara shake in response and soon felt her tongue gently seeking entrance as well. Buffy deepened her kiss and pulled the blonde closer, wrapping her in her arms and holding her tightly.

Tara had her fingers entwined in Buffy's hair, not caring that she had pulled it out of its tight ponytail. Somehow, she had managed to catch the tie on one finger and ran her fingers through the golden locks. She pulled slowly away, breaking the kiss. "Whoa." She whimpered, clearing her head.

Buffy took a step back and smiled dreamily. "I like Tara kisses." She said, reaching for the blonde. "Let's go round up the others." She said, taking Tara's hand and heading inside.

From behind a hedge, Willow popped her head up and swallowed hard. Her face was flushed and she was breathing in rapid, shallow gasps. "Was the PG part to confusing?" she whined, stomping towards the house.

Faith staggered from behind the hedge, her hair tousled and smears of red from Willow's lipstick across her throat and jaw. She and Willow had been talking when the redhead suddenly latched onto her. Faith grinned, straightening her hair, pulling out a couple of leaves and twigs, and strutted towards the house. "I love being one of the good guys." She whispered as she began to whistle.

Part 18

The full moon hung over the campus of UC Sunnydale, the great eye watching as three forms flitted in and out of the shadows, one instant there and the next vanished from view. As the trio moved, another group came in behind them, not bothering to hide their presence, four companions walking with great purpose and lengthy strides. The moon, white and luminescent in the dark sky, didn't much care what was happening. But other eyes watched the group, other yellow eyes, accustomed to watching in the night.

Mikey raised his walkie-talkie and pressed the button. "They're heading to the frat house now, boss." He whispered into the device. A crackle split the night air as he awaited a reply.

"Let them come, send three vampires to make a token resistance." Came Adam's baritone reply.

Mikey looked over his shoulder and nodded. Three vampires, newly raised, grinned and lurched forward into the night, eager to taste slayer blood. Mikey shook his head and sighed as the fools rushed after the group. When they got out of hearing range, Mikey raised his walkie-talkie and pressed the button. "The sheep are headed to the slaughter." He said, slipping the communications device into his pocket, knowing Adam wouldn't respond. As he turned, he heard the unmistakable sound of a dulled scream, followed by a muted explosion. One of the three had been staked. Looking at his watch, he swallowed. The slayers were on their game tonight. It had only been about fifteen seconds. Shaking his head, Mikey faded into blackness and crept back to Adam's lair.

Buffy watched as Kennedy twirled her stake and kicked the vampire in the crotch, dropping him to his knees. The blonde winced and shook her head. "Kennedy, just stake the poor guy already." She said.

Kennedy smiled and shrugged. "Just suck all the fun out of it B." she looked at Faith scowling at her as the Dark Slayer dispatched the two vampires she was fighting. "Uffy. Buffy." Kennedy smiled at Faith.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Is that all of them?" she looked around and the other two slayers nodded.

"We got them all, B." Faith shot Kennedy a look. "Relax. Big, bad and patchwork won't know we're coming until we're kicking his tin plated butt all over the place." Faith rolled her shoulders. "We got him this time."

Buffy only frowned. "I hope you're right, Faith. We're only getting one shot at this. If we screw it up…" she looked down and then shook her head. "If we fail, Adam is the next slayers problem." She said softly.

Faith drew her lips tight and sighed. "We'll get him B. He doesn't stand a chance."

Adam showed no emotion when Mikey delivered his report. He just stood, not moving and listened. When Mikey finished, Adam turned and looked at his monitors. They showed the detention cells, the labs and even the offices in the complex. All of the Imitative soldiers went about their daily tasks as if they were in control. All of the doctors busied themselves with the seemingly docile demons, running their experiments and tests. Soon, another experiment would come. An experiment in which all would participate, Adam included.

Never before had any demon or vampire faced three slayers, but Adam was not any demon. He was not human either. Adam was unique, and that would prove to be his greatest ally. "Allow them to enter the complex, but make sure they are caught by the good General. It will be most enlightening to see what he says about them." Adam said without turning.

Mikey narrowed his eyes. "You mean throw a bunch of my boys in the path of three slayers, two damn powerful witches and a rogue vampire to be slaughtered for your kicks?" he growled.

Adam turned and cocked his head to the side, as if he was amused by the question. "That is precisely what I mean." He said, his tone and posture unchanging.

Mikey took the non-responsive demeanor as a sign of weakness and puffed his chest out, screwing his courage deep. "Or maybe we'll just devour them en masse. Save you your little blood bath." He said, morphing into his demon form.

Adam sighed and shook his head. "That would be most unfortunate." He said, clasping his hands behind his back and slowly stalking around the vampire. "I have been planning this experiment for a long time, and I do not want to begin again." He said sadly, stopping face-to-face with Mikey.

Mikey growled. "Tough crap, Frankenstein." He growled. "We're through being cannon fodder for you." He hissed, lashing out with a foot. He caught Adam in the mid section, connecting solidly and pushing all of his preternatural strength behind it. Mikey was strong, stronger than most vampire. He was almost a master. So naturally, he was more than shocked when Adam didn't budge and them force backlashed and sent Mikey sprawling onto the cold, hard cement floor.

Adam smiled. "There seems to be a misfire in your synapses, causing a momentary spasm in your leg." He said analytically.

Mikey scrambled to his feet and swallowed hard. "Look. Boss. I was just playing." He shrugged, backing away from the hulking hybrid.

Adam continued his advance. "I see. The time for games has come to an end. I need lieutenants that are obedient without question. Any question they would have, I have already conceived and addressed. Any scenario they can devise, I have run a hundred just like it." He grabbed Mikey by the throat and lifted him into the air, dangling the vampire almost three feet off of the ground. "Any problems that arise, I have anticipated. Paul?" Adam said over his shoulder. A vampire stepped forward and nodded, ready to obey Adam's command. "Go and lead the resistance." He said simply.

Paul merely nodded and headed out the door. The last thing he heard was a muffled scream of the demons soul leaving the pile of ashes on it's way back to hell as Adam tore Mikey's head from his body.

Spike strained as he held the iron grate. It wasn't the weight; he could lift considerably more. He was a vampire after all and a few hundred pounds was nothing. No, it was lifting the grate without making any sound in the dead of night that presented the problem. If all he had to do was tear the grate up and toss it over his shoulder, he would have little trouble. But Buffy wanted quiet and, well, she had the stakes.

Buffy slipped down into the base access tunnel. It was supposed to be secret, and Buffy didn't know of its existence, but Spike pointed it out as one of three access points they could use. Her senses were focused and all she could hear was the gentle humming of the electricity running through the high voltage cables on the walls. Giving the all clear, she moved as Xander, Willow, Tara and Giles slipped into the passage. Kennedy and Faith followed and finally Spike came down, gently sliding the iron grate back into place with a dull thud.

"Through here, and then we can access the electrical tunnels running down the backbone of the imitative." Spike said softly. Buffy simply nodded. Spike pushed an old door open and then turned the handle of the door marked "APPROVED SED PERSONNEL ONLY" FOR THE Sunnydale Electrical Department. It opened without any trouble, which made Spike a little nervous. Last time he came this way it was easy because "Adam knows we're coming." He said quickly.

Buffy pushed forward. "What?" she hissed, looking around.

"Look slayer. Last time I came this way was to get your bird for him, and he opened all the doors and shut off all the alarms. He's not the type to forget to reset them. He knows we're coming." He said, looking around, finally spying the camera on the ceiling. He pointed the small bubble out to Buffy and shook his head. "He's known the whole bloody time." He growled.

Buffy gritted her teeth. "Ok. He knows we're coming, but does he know what we're planning?" she asked.

Spike shook his head. "Not likely. Probably thinks you plan on attacking him frontal, with your nice shiny weapons. You know, slayer style. Maybe a bit of mojo with the witches, but nothing he won't see coming. I think your plan is safe." He said.

"Good. Than we proceed." She said. "Through here?" she pushed on the door and stopped suddenly.

"Everyone freeze." The MP said, as he and six other's powered up their blasters.

"Oh look. The welcoming committee." Faith muttered under her breath as they filed into the hallway.

Colonial McNamara paced as he read the files in his hand. "Buffy Summers. Slayer. Student." He snapped the folder shut and threw it on his desk. "And all around pain in my butt." He growled, facing the assembled group. "Just what in the sam hill did you think you were doing breaking into a top-secret military installation?" he growled.

Buffy squared her shoulders. "Cleaning up after the incompetent personnel that run it." The colonial narrowed his gaze. "Is that so?" he nodded to the four MP's at the door. "The same personnel that caught you?" he puffed his chest a little.

Faith rolled her eyes. "We so don't have time for this, B." she said impatiently. "Adam is gonna open those cages and all hell is gonna break loose, and that may be literally."

Colonial McNamara looked at the dark slayer. "How do you know about Adam?" he barked.

Faith raised her head. "He sort of broke my neck and has been planning this little coup for the last few months. Your cells are full to bursting, captures have been easier and easier. Put two and two together, or is it true what they say about military intelligence?" she spat.

The Colonial's face grew pale. "It'll be a slaughter." He whispered.

Adam sat at the console, watching the screens. "Now." He said, punching a key.

A scientist and soldier walked, looking at a chart when the tell tale snap of the locks rang along the corridor.

"What was that?" the scientist asked nervously.

The soldier powered his blaster. "I don't know, move it." He said, shoving the scientist lightly.

Suddenly, all of the doors opened all along the corridor. The demons were free.

"Run!" the soldier said, shooting twice with his blaster before the demons were on him. The wet sounds of claws and teeth rending flesh mixed with his screams as the scientist reached for the alarm.

The demons jumped and a trail of blood sprayed the console as the scientist died, screaming, the sound of her flesh being torn apart overwhelming the corridor. A bloody hand shot up, slamming on the button as her screams died and the alarm klaxons blared.

Colonial McNamara spun and looked at the monitors. The carnage was erupting and he swallowed a lump in his throat. "Guards. Secure the prisoners and then follow me. We need to take the armory!" he spun, grabbing his gun.

"Colonial, please! We can help!" Buffy pleaded.

"What you can do, Miss Summers, is stay here until I can bring you up on formal charges of espionage, treason and sabotage!" the Colonial yelled, storming out of the office.

Buffy growled, slamming her fist into the desk, punching a hole in the metal top.

The remaining MP swallowed hard. A young man of barely eighteen, he watched in horror as his friends were shredded on the monitors. "Can you really help?" he asked, his voice squeaking.

Xander nodded. "We've been doing it since high school. I swear, if anyone can help, that girl can." He pointed at Buffy.

The guard nodded. "Tell them you hit me." He said, opening the door and stepping aside.

"Thanks kid. No do yourself a favor and run as far from here as you can." Kennedy said as she ran by.

The guard bit his lip and powered up his blaster. "Can't do that ma'am." He said, running out after the group. They split at the intersection, Buffy and the gang heading deeper into the complex, towards 314 and the guard into the holding cells.

Buffy skidded to a halt and turned to the gang. "Ok. Willow, Tara, Xander and Giles, find a place to do your thing. Faith, Kennedy make sure they are safe. Spike…don't get staked. I'm going after Adam. Work fast Wills." She sighed.

The gang nodded and split, Spike following Buffy. "Slayer wait!" he called.

Buffy turned and looked at Spike with an annoyed glare.

"Be careful, slayer. He's stronger and faster than anything you've ever faced." He said softly.

Buffy nodded, smiling slightly. "Hopefully, I'm the same to him. Be careful, Spike." She said.

Spike nodded and trotted off and slammed his fist into a demons face as he passed, knocking the demon cold. "No worries luv. I'm in my element." He smiled, morphing into his game face.

Buffy smiled and kicked in the door to 314. "Come out, come out wherever you are." She sang.

Faith and Kennedy paced nervously as Willow set everything up.

"Ok. I'm scared. I admit it. I didn't think I would be, but I am." Kennedy said, biting her nails. She looked over at Willow and Xander. Xander was tossing some salt at Willow, who in turn tossed a small stone at him. "How can they be so freakin calm?!" she stomped her foot.

Faith grinned, picking at her nails with her knife. "Like Xander said, they've been doing this since high school. They have absolute faith in Buffy." She said, admiration in her voice.

"She's really special, isn't she?" Kennedy asked quietly.

Faith looked at the closed door and nodded. "She's The Slayer." She answered simply. Suddenly, a loud banging rang throughout the small room. Faith looked at the door than at Kennedy. "Ready to go to work?" she grinned.

Kennedy nodded her head. "As I'll ever be." She said swinging her sword. The door cracked open and a massive green hand reached in and scarred the metal wall, leaving three deep gashes in the steel. "Eww. I hate the green ones." She whined.

Faith rolled her eyes. "Baby. I'll kill him; you get the little red ones though. They creep me out."

Kennedy nodded. "Deal."

Willow let a small smile cross her face and raised a warning finger at Xander, who was holding a pile of salt up. He nodded and set the salt aside. Willow closed her eyes and the mood shifted. She nodded to Giles, who lit a candle. Willow began chanting.

"The power of the Slayer and all who yield it. Last to ancient first, we invoke thee. Grant us thy domain and primal strength. Accept us in the power we possess. Make us mind and heart and spirit joy. Let the hand encompass us. Do thy will." She said softly, picking up a deck of tarot cards.

"Slayer. Welcome to the experiment." Adam said, stepping through the doors and smiling at Buffy. "Are you prepared for your role in this grand test?" he asked. Buffy cocked her head to the side. "Are you?"

Adam smiled. "This will be interesting."

Faith stood back to back with Kennedy fighting with a feyrl demon. He was strong, but not to bright. She feinted to his side and he moved to block, but Faith grinned and stabbed him through the chest. He fell without a sound. Faith turned, flashing a grin to Kennedy. "Having fun yet?" she asked, blocking a punch by a vampire.

Kennedy snarled, kicking a demon in the head. "No. Broke a nail." She said, smashing her sword across the creature's neck, severing its head. "Bastards."

Faith nodded. "Slaying is hell on nails."

Kennedy shook her head. "Why wasn't that in the brochure?" she asked. She looked up and saw a large, piecemeal man/monster approaching. "Um…friend of Adams?" she nudged Faith.

Faith turned and her face fell. She sort of recognized the man that captured Tara. "Oh god."

"I told you to forget this supernatural stuff, slut. Should have listened. Adam sent me to kill you now." Forrest, or what was left of him, said, approaching the girls.

Suddenly, a scream pierced the air from the pit near the center of the complex. The initiative scientist's needed help.

Faith popped her neck and rolled her head. "Kennedy, try to save as many of them as you can. Leave the knock off to me." She growled.

Kennedy nodded, sprinting to the edge of the pit and diving over the railing.

"Ok stud. Let's dance." Faith grinned, digging her heels in and jumping, snapping a kick leveled at Forrest's head.

Forrest jumped back, grinning. "Oh good. It's no fun if you just fall over dead. I'll lead." He growled and attacked.

Willow held her eyes shut, blocking out the sounds outside. She pulled a card off of the top of the pile and read it. "Spiritus… spirit."

Willow pulled another card and read the glyphs she handed it to Xander who read it out loud. . "Animus…heart." He said, placing it in front of him.

Willow took another card, handing it to Giles, who read it out loud. `Sophus…mind." He said, placing it in front of him.

Willow pulled the last card and breathed in. "And Manus…The Hand." She turned to Tara and nodded.

Tara inhaled deeply and sent her energy into the magical essence ready to transform Buffy. She grounded their essences, making it safe for the transfer. She sought, and surprisingly enough, received permission from the primeval source of Buffy's power for the use of its power. She nodded to Willow who than continued.

"We enjoin that we may inhabit the vessel--the hand...daughter of Sineya...first of the ones...we implore thee, bring us to the vessel, take us now." Willow pleaded and then, she felt the surge of power hit her. And then the energy blasted through the wall. Tara barely held onto their essences.

Adam punched Buffy, sending her flying into the wall, she felt her ribs cracking as she crashed into a computer console. "You cannot last much longer." Adam said, his voice cold and eager.

Buffy rose to her feet, feeling untold power flow through her. Her eyes were glowing orange. "We can. We are forever." She said, her voice echoing throughout the ages.

Adam cocked his head. "Interesting."

Faith spun and lashed out her foot to kick Forrest's head from his shoulders. Her foot connected and she felt his neck snap when she suddenly became overwhelmed, as if something was ripped from her. Faith fell next to Forrest, suddenly feeling as weak as a kitten. "Oh hell…" she muttered, seeing a cadre of vampires snarling as they approached.

She pushed herself up and raised an axe, which felt like it weighed a ton. "Oh bloody hell…" she gripped the handle and felt fear run through her.

Kennedy ran up beside Faith. "Did you feel that?" she asked, almost panicked.

Faith nodded. "Yep. No more slayer power." She said, testing the balance of the axe and felt it almost slip from her grip.

The vampires grinned, one brave enough to rush them. Kennedy raised her crossbow and launched a bolt straight through its heart. "We said we didn't have slayer powers anymore…" she raised her sword and spun it in a complicated pattern. "We never said we were helpless." She said, her voice dangerous.

The two slayers faced off against the four vampires remaining for a heartbeat, and then they charged each other.

Adam raised his gun and fired at Buffy, who simply raised her hand and made some sort of force field. "Very interesting." He said, launching a missile. Buffy once more raised her hand and the missile transmutated into three doves and flew off. Adam watched, fascinated.

Adam rushed Buffy, punching faster and harder with each blow. Buffy blocked every one with little effort.

Suddenly, Buffy kicked Adam and he flew back into a wall. Buffy charged him, lifting him by the throat.

"H-How…how can…" he gasped, his computerized brain trying to grasp the events. Every scenario coming back as an error message, telling him that this simply was not possible.

Buffy looked into Adam's eyes and narrowed her gaze. "You could never hope to understand the source of our power." She said, punching into Adams chest and digging through his flesh. "But we have yours right here." She said, clutching the small cylinder embedded next to Adams spine and tearing it out.

Adams face was fixed with a horrified expression as Buffy held his power source in the palm of her hand. He fell wordlessly, to the floor dead. Buffy watched as the power source floated above her hand and disintegrated into nothing.

The power exploded from Buffy and she looked around, tired but determined to finish the fight.

Faith stood back to back with Kennedy and sighed, looking around. The vampires were dust and they took the moment to rest. Suddenly, a low deep growl echoed behind them. They turned, seeing the massive, gray hulk of a demon trudging towards them. It's hide thick and worn and its muscles powerful and spasming, anticipating the kill.

Faith backed slowly away, as did Kennedy. For all of their bravado, they knew they would be no match for a demon of that size. A sudden rush hit the two girls, filling them with power and energy. They felt their senses and their energy explode to beyond superhuman.

Smiling, the two slayers turned and prepared to fight the behemoth, anticipation filling them where fear and doubt had ruled before.

Willow slumped back, exhausted as she felt herself returning to consciousness. Xander and Giles fell also, Xander unceremoniously into the bowl of water. And he was snoring.

Tara grinned and looked at Willow and Giles. Now, she had the task of getting them home. Standing, she quickly gathered the supplies and set them aside.

<Willow? Can you hear me?> Tara sent to the redhead.

<Uh-huh.> Willow replied, groggy but regaining strength.

Tara nodded. <Good. I need you to help me. Come on…> Tara reached for Willow and took the redheads hand and a flash of power overwhelmed them. Energy the likes of which neither had ever felt rushed into their bodies and they felt connected on every level, each one experiencing every aspect of the other. Memories, passions, fears and hopes all flooded and mingled as Tara shook, holding onto Willow's hand.

Willow dropped Tara's hand, suddenly super charged with energy, her fatigue forgotten. "Tara. What the frilly heck is going on?" she squeaked.

Tara just stared at Willow, tears streaming down her face. If what she experienced was real, was what she thought, she didn't know what she was going to do. Her mother was always telling her about destiny and finding your other half. Your soulmate. Tara had listened, but if what she felt was true…was real and what she thought…where did that leave her and Buffy?

Suddenly, the door shattered, sending steel and plastic showering into the room. A large demon reached through the door and roared.

Tara skittered back, pin wheeling her arms and trying not to fall. She grabbed Willow and the connection was re-established. Power surged through the witches and they both turned to the demon. It stopped; it's deep, powerful roar silencing and fell forward, asleep.

Willow blinked and turned to Tara. "That…that was." She looked into Tara's eyes and felt herself pulled forward. Willow kissed Tara, feeling her essence mingle with the blondes. She never felt so alive, so powerful, so free.

Tara gasped, moaning her desire and need into Willow as she grabbed the redhead around the waist, running her hands over Willows back. Suddenly, Tara felt the room shift and broke the kiss, her senses recovering. Tara stared in horror over Willows shoulder.

Willow spun, ready for an attack and was mortified by the sight in front of her. She was ready to face anything, anything except "Buffy." She whispered, horror and guilt crossing her face.

Buffy stood, open-mouthed as the witches stared at her. Swallowing hard, Buffy found her voice. "Get Giles and Xander, we have to finish this." She said softly, grabbing a sword and turning away.

Tara rushed forward. "Buffy, wait!" she called.

Buffy spun. "Not now Tara. Please, we have a job to do. Let's get everyone out of here alive." She said, a tear running down her cheek.

Tara lowered her head and felt everything she had been hoping for, everything she loved rush away from her. "I-I'll get Giles." She stuttered and hurried after the Watcher.

Buffy turned and ran from the room, leaned on the wall outside and cried. She had loved Tara, she still did. With all of her heart, but to see that, and with Willow no less…Buffy cried, sliding down the wall as great, sobbing gasps shook her frame. "Oh god…please…please no…" she muttered, sobbing against the wall.

Spike inhaled and the cigarette glowed fiercely as he watched Buffy cry. He had seen everything after the demon attack. Shaking his head, Spike tossed the cigarette away and morphed into his demonic visage. Turning, he let his anger flare one the few remaining demons and vampires he could see. William The Bloody tore into them, leaving screaming, dying monsters in his wake.

Faith and Kennedy laughed as they surveyed the surroundings. The soldiers, what few that were left, all ignored them as the two slayers headed for the exit.

"Man. I am so jazzed. That was a hella fight. Think Buffy is ok?" Kennedy asked, almost bouncing with excitement.

Faith smiled at the young slayer. "B? Yeah. She's a tough one. Not much can get under her skin. And with blondie having her back, she is gonna be just fine." She smiled, seeing the group ahead. "Come on, before they decide to leave us behind." She said, hurrying her pace.

Kennedy jogged quickly after them.

Buffy emerged from the tunnel and looked into the sky. The moon was high and she blinked back the tears, threatening to overwhelm her. The air was clean, sweet and cool. The sky was clear and crisp and the moon was so bright it lit the grove in a beautiful luminescence. Looking back, she caught Tara's eye and saw the guilt and fear there. She never wanted to see that look on Tara's face. Buffy turned back to the night and shook her head. It had never looked so ugly to her as it did at that moment.

Faith looked at Kennedy and shrugged. "Hey guys, we won didn't we?" she asked everyone as they walked. "I mean…Adam's dead, right?" she asked.

Buffy nodded her head and looked away from everyone. "Yeah. We won. Yay us." She said sadly. "Let's go home."

Part 19

Buffy punched at the bag with full force, rocking the heavy piece of equipment until it almost dropped from the ceiling. Her blows came faster and faster until a voice finally broke through the red haze she was in.

"B…B…BUFFY!" Faith yelled, finally laying a hand on Buffy's arm. "B, what the hell has gotten into you?" she asked, shaking her head.

Buffy sighed and looked at the dark slayer. "Sorry. Just needed to blow off a little steam."

Faith let the bag go and shook her hands. "Yeah well, good to know. Warn me next time, my hands are wicked sore." She said.

Buffy growled as she pulled her hair back and turned away from Faith. "I just…I can't deal with this right now, Faith." She said, sounding tired and sad.

"What's the what B?" the dark slayer asked, handing Buffy a bottle of water and a towel. "Last time you trained this hard was…well, I don't know when." She said, tilting her head. "And what's the deal with you and Tara? You guys haven't seen each other all day yesterday and today. You going through withdrawals?" Faith wiggled her eyebrows and poked at Buffy.

The blonde slayer turned her head towards Faith and a tear fell down her cheek. "You can say that." Buffy whispered.

Willow gasped as she pulled the pan from the oven, setting it on the cooling rack and hurriedly moving to the pan that was done cooling. She started scooping the cookies off as fast as her small hands could move.

"Do you think I made enough? I mean…slayers are known for their appetites. They can eat. Do I have enough, you think?" she asked Tara, who was sitting by the back door, watching the stars with a far off look in her eyes.

"I think there's plenty." Tara said quietly without even turning around.

"Tara! I'm serious! I feel really bad, and I need to do cookie therapy. Is there enough?" Willow asked, looking panicked.

"I think thirteen dozen cookies are plenty, dammit!" Tara said, slamming her hands on the countertop. "Don't you get this? Don't you realize what I have done?!" she said, her voice breaking under the emotion.

Willow just stared, her eyes wide from hearing the usually gentle and shy Wiccan in front of her shout. "I-I'm sorry. I just…she's my best friend. I can't believe what..and then there's…" Willow closed her eyes. <And then there's this. What the frilly heck is this all about? > she thought to the blonde.

Tara's head jerked up and she shook her head. Even with her mental shields in place and backed with every single magical reinforcement she knew about, Willow still came through loud and clear. "I wish you'd stop doing that." Tara said sadly. "I just…I lost her Willow." She said sadly.

Willow crossed the room and rubbed Tara's back. "I know. So did I." The hacker sat down and pouted, looking at the plates covering every open space in the kitchen.

Without warning, the back door shattered in, as did the front door. Tara and Willow were on their feet in an instant, having joined hands to fuel their magical defense.

Standing at the back door, Willow gasped as a tall black man aimed a crossbow at her and a demon with spikes protruding from his face snarled at them, with a very sharp looking sword in his hand.

Through the front door came two people Willow never thought she'd see again. "Cordelia…Angel?!" she said, surprised.

Angel, morphed into his vampiric form, morphed back. "Willow?! Where's Buffy!" he asked, spinning around and looking frantically.

"Um…Magic Box. Training." The redhead said, dropping Tara's hand and running forward. "Why?"

"Doyle got a vision. Something bad is happening and soon. Even the Powers That Be aren't talking. I know, I have the scars to prove it." He said, rubbing his back.

"Oh. Cookies!" Cordelia said, handing her dagger to Angel and walking to the kitchen. "God, I'm famished!" she sighed, biting into one of the warm cookies. Everyone was staring at her and she looked around. "What?" she asked.

Buffy sat on the bench and rubbed her face. She wanted to tell Faith, but she just didn't have the energy right now. "Kennedy is on patrol?" she asked the dark slayer.

Faith nodded, watching Buffy with a concerned eye. "She's got it handled. Take the night off B." Faith said, sitting next to Buffy. "Want to go to The Bronze?" Faith asked.

Buffy shook her head. "I don't think I'm up for dancing tonight. I'm just gonna head home and curl up under the covers." Buffy said softly, unwrapping her hands. "Fight still got you upset?" Faith called after Buffy. It had been almost a week since Adam, and they all felt really restless after the big showdown.

Buffy stopped and thought. "No. Not the fight." She finally said. "I'll call you tomorrow, Faith. Goodnight."

Faith sat on the bench, confused and frustrated. "And I thought I wasn't forthcoming with my feelings." She grumbled. Taking her keys from her jacket, Faith switched off the lights and locked the back door to The Magic Box. Jumping on her latest pride and joy, she grinned as she gunned the engine of the motorcycle. "I'll see if Kennedy needs a hand." She muttered to herself.

As Faith roared down the street, she didn't notice a robed figure, skin of gold, watching her with a very curious stare from the rooftop above. "How intriguing." He muttered, then looked skyward. "Oh shut up. I shall simply see to my task and than be gone." He said. He listened for a few seconds. "It is so necessary. Things have an order, this lines order, for some reason, was broken. I have repaired the damage and…" he paused, glaring at the skyline. "How dare you. You cannot do this to me!" he said, shock evident in his voice.

Slowly, the gold color drained from his skin and it blushed with a red glow. "You cannot steal everything away. I am still powerful. Are you really ready to risk them all like this?" he snarled. "You brought in who?" he asked, his voice now holding a twinge of fear. "I see. Well Champion or no Champion, I will see that the events are made to go back on their pre determined course." He said, jumping from the rooftop, landing with a crack of thunder on the pavement below. "And no one will have the power to stop me. Not even our…" he paused and looked at his skin. "Not even your Champion."

Angel shook his head when Willow offered him something to drink. "Sorry for busting in here, but with Doyle's visions and stuff, we kind of took off in a hurry." He said.

Tara still stared at Angel. Seeing him coming to Buffy's aid so quickly stirred up old feelings. And with what happened with Willow, she wasn't sure she had the right to object.

Willow frowned and looked at Tara, feeling the emotions rolling off of her in waves. Walking over next to the blonde, she gently laid a hand on her shoulder. "She loves you more than you know." The redhead said softly.

Tara turned to Willow and tried to smile. "I love her so much Willow. I can't just let her go." She said, turning to Angel. "I have to go now…I'm sorry." She said, running to the door.

Angel turned to Gunn. "You wanna make sure she gets home ok?" he said softly.

Gunn nodded. "I'm on it." He said, munching on a cookie. Willow was glaring at him as he chewed. "Cordy said I could have one," he stammered. "I'm going now." He sprinted after the blonde.

"What the hell is going on?!" Buffy yelled from the doorway, glaring at the assembled mob in her kitchen.

Willow smiled and held up a plate. "Cookie?" she stammered.

Gunn followed the blonde Wiccan as she hurried down the road, hearing the sobs as they escaped from her body. He sighed, looking around the street and narrowed his gaze as it fell on a blonde lurking in the alleyway. Black trench coat, the red glow of a cigarette illuminating his features as he watched Tara run, Tossing the cigarette aside, the blonde man stalked after the witch.

"Oh, I do not think so…not on my watch." Gunn muttered, twirling his axe and running after the man.

Tara turned and her eyes got wide, which was all the warning Spike needed as he easily sidestepped the axe about to crash against his skull. "Bloody Hell!" he hissed, jumping away from his attacker.

Gunn stepped in front of Tara and glared at the vampire. "Run girl, get home. I got tall and peroxide here." He grinned, rushing Spike.

"Oh bugger off mate. I'm gonna see the bird home, where we can have a nice long talk." Spike said, thrusting the palm of his hand out and smashing against Gunn's chest, knocking the hunter to the pavement. He then kicked the axe out of Gunn's hand, sending it twirling into a nearby wall.

Tara rushed forward. "Spike, Mr. Gunn. Please!" she said, stepping between the two. "Mr. Gunn, Spike is a, well…" she turned to the blonde vampire and then back to Gunn. "He's a friend." She said, squaring her jaw defiantly.

Gunn stood and shook his head. "Man, I remember when we used to just hunt these guys and kill them." He muttered, dusting himself off. "Now we're making nice?"

Spike grinned and shook his head. "Same here mate." He grunted, a feral grin spreading across his face.

Tara rolled her eyes. "I don't have time for this. I'm going home." She said, starting her walk again.

Spike and Gunn hurried after her. "Not alone you're not." Spike said, catching up with the blonde.

Gunn hurried after the pair, pacing alongside Tara and glaring at Spike. "And not with just him." He said.

Tara just rolled her eyes and wished Buffy was there.

Buffy sat at the counter and looked around the room. Willow, Cordelia, Angel and Doyle all just sat there looking at everything but Buffy. "Is someone going to tell me why my mom has to replace the front door, back door and maybe the carpet?" she asked, glaring at Angel. "Angel?" she prompted the brooding vampire.

Angel sighed. "Well…see. Cordelia had this vision. It was you, and Tara. There was fighting, and this guy attacked. He killed you and turned to face Tara and Willow. He shot them with some magical beam… thing." He sighed, realizing how vague the vision sounded.

"And you just had to come and save the day?" Buffy said, rubbing her forehead.

Willow moved to the kitchen cabinets and pulled the aspirin out. "Here Buff…take this." She said, handing Buffy a glass of water and four of the pills.

"Thanks Will." Buffy sighed, taking the glass and pills. "Oh wait. I'm mad at you." She pouted, setting the glass down.

Willow looked down. "Buffy, I'm so, so sorry. I don't know what happened." The redhead stammered, looking at the floor, a tear escaping and running down her cheek.

"You kissed my girlfriend, and not in a healthy, we're really good pals way. It was more of a late, late night cable show kind of tongue wrestling match." Buffy growled.

"Yeah. I know what happened, I just…I don't know what happened, happened, you know?" Willow said, moving forward. "I just, I wasn't thinking. It just happened." She said, reaching for Buffy's arm. "A fluke. Like with Xander and the dress clothes. But without a cumber bun this time." She rushed through the sentence, grasping Buffy's hands. "Please, Buffy, she loves you so much, and so do I. Not like that, though. I mean, you're cute and all, and I love you a lot, just not the sweaty, heavy breathing and moans kind of love you."

Buffy just stared at Willow as the redhead babbled. "Will, I swear, that babbling should not be used in an argument." She half smiled. "She loves me?" Buffy said, her voice soft.

Willow nodded enthusiastically. "Totally! She was all sorts of mad at me, thinking I took the one thing in the world that she loved away from her." She beamed. "Buffy, she is so in love with you."

Buffy smiled. "I don't know why. I'm nothing special. I'm grouchy, spoiled and after I slay…sometimes, there are odors." She pouted.

Angel huffed and grinned. "Yeah there is." He whispered.

"Hey…" Buffy glared at Angel and looked around the kitchen. "Where is Tara?" she asked and everyone in the room looked away again.

Tara smiled sheepishly at Gunn as he knelt in front of Tara's door. A few seconds had gone by and then they were rewarded with the sound of the locks tumblers rolling and Gunn stood up and opened the door.

Tara smiled and walked in, flipping the switch. She smiled and picked her keys up off of the desk. "Thank goodness my head is attached." She smiled, waving the keys.

Gunn only shrugged and followed Tara into the room. "No problem. I'm just happy no one came and saw our little adventure. A brother on his knees picking the lock of a campus girls door can be misinterpreted, at best." He smiled at the blonde.

"Yeah well, took you long enough mate." Spike muttered, walking forward and was immediately pushed back by the barrier of Tara's room. "Bloody Hell." He muttered and looked at Gunn, who was only smiling.

"Looks like you can't come in." Gunn said, closing the door. He turned and he smile fell as Tara stood there with a very deep frown on her face.

"Charles Gunn. That was very rude." Tara said, hurrying to the door and opening it. "Sorry Spike. Won't you please com…" Tara spoke the rest but no sound came out of her mouth. She turned back to see Gunn looking away from her and followed his gaze.

There, sitting in a chair sat a man dressed in dark blue. The suit was obviously fitted to him and very expensive. "Sorry. I really don't think you want to invite the vampire in here." He said, standing up.

Gunn glared at the man. "Yo Spike, come on in." he said.

Spike once more tried to cross the threshold and was thrown back.

"You don't live here, Mr. Gunn." The man said. "My name is unimportant, but my reasoning for being here is not. You see Tara; I am one of the greatest powers of good in this realm. I know you cannot believe that right now, but trust me. I am one of the…" he was cut off by Gunn. "He's one of the PTB's Angel is always going off about. Mysterious, vague, always throwing us into battles with little or no prep or forewarning, and then when we ask why they couldn't help, they hit us with…" he cocked his head at the man who finished his sentence.

"We cannot interfere." He said simply.

Gunn shook his head. "But you can give Doyle migraines and send Angel all over L.A. to fight your battles for you?" he growled. "And since when do you come down for personal visits?" he asked, suddenly much more cautious.

The man smiled. "You are an observant one. That's to bad." He said, flicking his wrist and sending Gunn smashing into a wall with such force that it cracked all the way down. Gunn slumped to the floor, unconscious.

Tara turned and screamed for Spike, who tried again and again to burst through the barrier.

"He can't come in Tara, so just listen. You are not supposed to be with the slayer. She has a destiny separate from yours. The witch, she is your destiny. I tried coercing you two and it obviously failed. Your will is very strong, so I had to take a more direct approach." He said. "Your slayer will die tonight, and Willow shall comfort you. The bond will start a little late, but it is strong none the less."

Spike's eyes got wide and he looked at Tara, who was begging him with her eyes. That was all he needed to see. He bolted as fast as his legs would carry him.

The man smiled. "He's not going to get there in time. I have arranged everything." He waved his hand and Tara sputtered.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, rubbing her throat.

"The order must be maintained. You went down the wrong path and in doing so you are going to cause to much hardship." He said. "Trust me Tara. Trust me and do as I ask and no one has to die. Just say you will forgo your affair with the slayer and she will live. I promise you that. What do you say?"

Tara held her head up and looked out her window, towards Sunnydale. She nodded once and spoke. "Come in Spike," she said. The mans eyes went wide as he looked back at the door and saw…nothing.

The window beside him exploded as leather clad man burst through. Spike stood, his game face on, and pummeled the man. His fists were a flurry as he hammered with all of his might, never relenting and not letting up.

The man simply raised his hand and caught Spike's fist, blood seeping from his mouth. "Foolish move, vampire." He sneered. His hand burst into flame and enveloped Spikes fist.

Spike screamed in agony as he felt the flesh of his hand burn, then turn to ash as the flame spread up his arm.

Tara watched, horrified, as the flame engulfed the blonde vampire. In seconds, Spike had crumbled to ash.

Covering her mouth, she felt tears slipping down her face. "No… no,no,no,no." she cried, slumping against the wall and sliding down it.

"All I needed was your word, witch. And none of this had to happen." The man said.

"And all I need is for you to back off!" came the yell as the man in blue felt a sharp kick connect with his side, sending him sprawling across the room. Buffy knelt next to Tara and smoothed her hair back. "I'm here baby. Go with Willow, you'll be fine." She said quickly.

"Slayer. I'm surprised you are alive." He sneered, standing and dusting himself off.

"If you mean that wuss of a demon you sent after me, well, it had to face off against me and two other slayers." She rolled her eyes. "Oh, and a really good friend of mine." She smiled.

The man narrowed his eyes and snarled. "I can sense you, Champion." He growled. "Come out where I can see you."

Angel stepped through the window and smiled. "What happened to the whole not interfering?" he asked, shaking his head as Faith and Kennedy came in behind him.

"Things weren't going the way they were supposed to go. I had little choice." He said, appraising the situation. Three slayers and The Champion. He was sorely out numbered.

"So you thought you could make Tara leave me?!" Buffy hissed, her anger writhing just beneath the surface. "Why?"

"Because, you silly girl. Tara and Willow together have more magic at their disposal than anyone in the entire span of human history." He said, shaking his head.

"I-I love Buffy." Tara stuttered, taking the blonde slayers hand. "I want to be with her."

"It does not matter what you want. Soon enough, it will make little difference." The man said. "I will make the decision for you." He said, raising his hand. A green nimbus of energy swirled around his hand and shot forth, aimed right at Buffy.

"No!" Tara screamed and grabbed Buffy, throwing her to the side as the energy blast struck her full in the back. An earth-shattering explosion shook the room and everyone was knocked to their feet. When the smoke cleared, Buffy scrambled on her hands and knees, searching for Tara.

All she found was a smoking patch of carpet.

"She wakes." Tara heard a soft voice speak. She ached all over, blinking as the bright light washed over her and blinded her for a moment.

"We have interfered. We have broken the mandate." A male voice said.

"We have broken nothing. We have set right the mistakes of the past." The female voice said.

"W-Where am I?" Tara said slowly, trying to sit up.

"You are with friends, Tara Maclay. Rest, you shall be returned soon enough." The male voice spoke.

Tara looked around. The room was bright, but there was no visible source of light. It just…was. Before her, two figures stood, draped in…togas? Their skin was gold and they appeared to be studying her.

"Oh my goddess." Tara said softly, scrambling to her feet.

The female grinned. "I always said you were a smart girl." She said. "Tara, we have a lot to tell you." She said.

Buffy turned and glared at the man, a smirk on his face. "I'll kill you." The slayer growled, jumping to her feet and kicking the man in the chest. She felt ribs snap under her assault and jumped on top of him. She began punching him as fast as her fists could fly, the wet sounds of bones breaking and snapping under every powerful blow. "She was everything to me! I loved her, why can't you just leave me alone?!" she screamed as Angel and Faith tried to pull Buffy off of him.

"B. You're gonna kill him!" she yelled, struggling with Buffy's arm.

"Good! He deserves it! He killed her, Faith. He killed her!" Buffy yelled, yanking her arm away and continuing her punching.

Angel wasn't faring any better. "Buffy. This isn't the way. Please, I can talk to The Powers." He yelled, desperately trying to hold Buffy's arm.

"She's dead, Angel! Dead! He killed her and now I'm going to kill him!" Buffy said, tears of rage and anguish streaming down her face.

"Enough!" the man yelled, sweeping his arm wide. Buffy, Angel and Faith were tossed across the room. "How dare you assault me! I am one of the Powers That Be. Your fates are mine to decide. They are mine to shape, for the best interests of the world. Who do you think you are?!" he growled, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"We are mortals. You guide us, you do not shape our destinies." A voice spoke from above him. Looking up, the man stared open mouthed as Tara floated down on a beam of light.

"Impossible. You're dead." He said, shaking his head.

"She lives to serve her purpose, you are no longer interfering. Come home with us." The golden woman said, coming down after Tara.

"Leave now? Why in heavens name would I do that?" the man asked.

"So I don't kill you where you stand." Buffy growled, now shielding Tara and scooting her out the bedroom door. She wasn't going to risk her again.

"You just don't get it do you?" the man asked. "There is an order, a balance that needs to be maintained. You are destroying everything!" he shouted now, making everyone in the room tense up.

"They are living their lives, and we shall let them. Enough of your games. We are leaving now. Champion?" the golden woman turned to Angel. "As always, you shall bear the burden of remembrance. All of this shall be yours to bear." She said sadly.

Angel nodded his head in understanding.

Tara slowly raised her hand and coughed.

"Yes child?" the golden woman asked softly.

"Will I remember anything?" she said softly, almost afraid of the answer.

"No. You made your choice. Now I am pleased to let you live with it." She smiled, waving her hand. A bright light flared and then everyone faded away.

"You know as well as I do that this is not meant to be." The man grumbled, shaking his head.

"I know nothing of the sort. Love is love. She chose the slayer. Their bond is strong, you saw that when you attempted to kill her." The woman said softly.

"I do not agree. But…we shall see." He said, fading from her view.

"It shall be a thing of beauty. A love to span time." She said and turned to gaze out of the window, towards the horizon. "I hope it can survive the Glory." She said and faded away as well.

Buffy looked in the door of the lab and smiled at Tara, who was gathering up supplies. "See. That wasn't so bad was it?" she grinned as a demon came roaring at her. Before she could move to defend or attack, Spike jumped on the demons back and twisted its head around, snapping its neck.

"Everyone alright?" he asked hurriedly, dropping the demon.

Tara stood, ready to either cast or pass out, she couldn't decide which.

Buffy smiled. "Thanks Spike. But you can stop the sucking up. I already said I wouldn't stake you." She patted his shoulder as she passed him.

Tara bit her cheek as she grinned.

"Right. No ones getting staked. Always a good thing." He said, nodding to Tara. "Need help with the troops?" he asked, looking at Willow, Giles and Xander all sleeping soundly in heaps on the floor.

Tara nodded. "Please. Xander's a sweetie, but he's a heavy sweetie." She grinned and she and Spike began moving the unconscious casters to the surface. Kennedy and Faith both came running to help after a few minutes.

"I am wicked jazzed right now." Faith said, wriggling as she walked, feeling buzzed from the slaying.

"I could really go for a non fat yogurt right now." Buffy added as she followed the group out. "I mean…really." She shivered and raked her eyes over Tara from behind.

Faith grinned. "Do they make blonde witch flavored yogurt?" she stage whispered to Kennedy who only laughed.

Tara, to everyone's surprise, turned and raised an eyebrow. "All you need is a cup of yogurt..and then add me. Instant blonde witch flavored yogurt." She grinned as Buffy, Faith and Kennedy's face fell in shock.

"I am so craving it now." Buffy almost growled.

"Ain't it funny how slaying always does that to you?" Faith nudged Buffy with her elbow.

Buffy only nodded and sighed. It had been a long, bloody night. She was glad it was over and she couldn't wait to get home and lie in her girlfriend's arms. Tomorrow she would have to worry about the lab, what to do, who to talk to, who to avoid. Tonight, she wanted to devote everything to her girlfriend. `I just hope Tara isn't tired.' She thought to herself.

<Don't worry. I'm all sorts of energetic. > Buffy heard Tara in her mind. She snapped her head up to see Tara looking back at her and grinning.

Buffy smiled and quickened her pace. She suddenly couldn't wait to get home.