FF: Fallen 4/6 B/W? W/T

["carrkjar" <carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Fallen
Part 4

Author: Frau Hunter Ash 

Copyright © 2002 by Hunter Ash. All Rights Reserved.

Email: carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx Feedback welcome!!

Homepage Addy: http://www.hunterash.com/ 

Disclaimers: The characters and show all belong to Joss Whedon, Fox, 
Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, and God only knows who else. The storyline, 
however, is the sole property of the author. This story cannot be 
sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made 
for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright 
notices.

F/F romance: the story assumes a loving and sexual relationship 
between people of the same gender and may even include 3 at the same 
time <G>. If this offends or is illegal for you, then please leave.  
Come back when you are older, have an open mind, moved, or changed 
your laws. 

Spoilers: Wrecked

Summary: The gang tries to figure out a way of saving Willow's soul, 
what to do with her unborn demon child, and how to protect both of 
them from Rack and Amy.

Rating: R Pairings: B/W? W/T, X/An, A/C

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

When Willow opened her eyes again, she was in Tara's arms and the 
witch was gently rocking her and singing softly.

Everything came rushing back to the battered red-head and she broke 
into tears and clung to her ex.

"Shhhh, its okay, Willow," Tara said softly, crying along with her 
lover. She had left because Willow wasn't seeing how the magick was 
affecting her and everyone around her. Now Willow was paying more of 
a price than Tara could have ever imagined and she was hurting like 
hell for her ex-lover.

"Tara," Willow whispered. 

"I'm here, Will," Tara said softly, holding Willow tight.

"I missed you so much!" Willow continued crying. "I'm sorry for 
everything!"

"Willow, shhhhhh," Tara kept saying until Willow calmed down.

"I can't do this! I might be pregnant with a demon child!" Willow 
cried.

"I know, I know," Tara spent the rest of the evening in the familiar 
bed with Willow in her arms, finally sleeping more than just a few 
short hours.

+++++++++++++++++

The next morning, Buffy felt her heart crashing when she looked in on 
Willow. She found Tara and Willow sound asleep and wrapped in each 
other's arms.

"Hurts, doesn't it, Slayer?" Spike demanded from the shadows in the 
hallway.  

"F**k off, Spike," Buffy growled, closing the door quietly.

"Looks like we're both out in the cold," Spike smirked.

"You feel like a pounding this morning?" Buffy threatened.

"No, but shagging would be a nice distraction from all this angst 
stuff," Spike countered.

"Never again, Spike," Buffy said firmly. "Never again."

"Never say never, pet," Spike laughed, moving into Buffy's bedroom 
and throwing himself into a chair and tossing his jacket over his 
head to sleep during the day.

Buffy really wanted to hit him but decided she just didn't have the 
energy and turned to head down the stairs for breakfast when she saw 
Tara standing in Willow's doorway.

"I heard what Spike said," Tara said softly. "Can we talk?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Buffy said wearily.  

The two young women moved through the kitchen to the back porch, 
ignoring the questioning looks from Anya, Miss Dorothy and Giles as 
they drank coffee.

Buffy sat down heavily in the rocking chair her mother had loved when 
she was alive. Tara sat on the railing, looking at Buffy.

"You've realized you're in love with her, haven't you?" Tara started.

Buffy frowned, "I hate living in Sunnydale."

"Buffy," Tara said softly, trying to get Buffy to focus.

"Yes, damnit! I'm in love with Willow!" the Slayer snapped.

"Okay, so am I," Tara said calmly. "I'm still in love with her."

"So what do we do now?" Buffy complained.

"Pistols at ten paces?" Tara joked and Buffy looked at the witch as 
if Tara had lost her mind.

"Okay, where's the pod and where's our shy Tara?" Buffy smirked back.

"I-I suggest that we get Willow through this and see what happens," 
Tara said calmly. "I know Willow loves you, always has. I also know 
she loves me. I'll accept whatever she wants."

"I only want Willow happy," Bufy agreed.

"Me too," Tara nodded.  

"Let's take her up something to eat, it's going to take some time 
before she can even walk again Dorothy says," Buffy 
suggested. "She's been in bed so long."

"I know, it's going to hurt too," Tara added.

+++++++  

By the next day everyone settled into a routine and the three young 
women were tactfully ignoring the turbulent emotions going on between 
the three of them.

The mornings were spent with at least two of the gang helping Willow 
exercise, rebuilding her strength after the devastating effects of 
detoxifying from the black magick. The afternoons were spent on 
conference calls with either Angel or the Watcher's Council, trying 
to find a way to break Willow's pact with the Arch Demon Prince and 
keep Rack and Amy from getting their hands on her again.

Willow was never left alone at any time, especially when she reported 
to the group that she could hear Rack calling her psychically.

Everyone would take turns staying with her and sleeping in a chair 
next to her bed.  

On the third day Willow, realizing that neither Buffy or Tara would 
spend any alone time with her, snapped and demanded that both of them 
to sit down with her.

Tara and Buffy sat on either side of the bed as Willow leaned against 
the headboard, exhausted from the morning routine and emotional 
crisis everyone was still going through.

"Okay, I need to know if either or both of you will ever forgive me 
for everything," Willow said softly, her green eyes no longer 
irritable, now they were frightened.

"Already done, Wills," Buffy said eagerly. "I know I was upset and 
didn't know how to deal with coming back to earth. I'm sorry I took 
it out on you and then ignored you, especially when things went a 
little crazy. I know you did it because you love me and was trying to 
save my soul."

"I still love you, Willow," Tara added. "I understand a little better 
why the black stuff grabbed you and I'm here."

"Then why won't either of you talk to me?" Willow demanded. "I know I 
really messed up. Now I'm pregnant with a demon child that's destined 
to destroy Slayers and I really need to know if I need to leave."

"Leave?" Buffy asked, frowning deeply. "Why?"

"I'm going to give birth to your ultimate enemy if the prophecy is 
right!" Willow snapped. "Something else I've done wrong to you, 
Buffy."

"Wills," Buffy started to protest but Willow held up her hand, 
stopping her.

"I need to know if you're both doing all of this because we were once 
friends or lovers," Willow said bluntly. "If I'm endangering 
everyone because of a sense of duty, I need to leave."

"Where the hell would you go?" Buffy snapped back. "And we are so not 
doing this because of obligation or anything. We love you, Willow."

"You two won't even be alone with me!" Willow countered in a voice 
that bordered on whining. "I can go to England with Giles, the 
Watcher Council is working on my problems and would prefer to train 
me in my out-of-control witchcraft skills if I survive the pregnancy."

Buffy glanced over at Tara and saw the same unhappy expression that 
the Slayer knew she had.

"Wills, we haven't been alone with you?well, I guess we're playing 
fair with each other and you," Buffy tried to explain.

"What? Translate," Willow demanded.

"We haven't wanted to push you about what your feelings for either of 
us might be," Tara said softly.

Willow blinked in surprise and confusion.

"My feelings for both of you?" she asked.

"Will, I know that you've been in love with Buffy for years," Tara 
continued. "I also know that you love me and we haven't wanted to 
add to the mess."

Willow's eyes sought out Buffy for more answers and the Slayer found 
herself blushing a bright red.

"This isn't how I wanted to tell you," Buffy complained. "It took 
almost losing you but I finally admitted to myself and Tara that I 
love you. I guess I always did."

Willow frowned, looking down at her hands as she thought about what 
they had said.  

After a few moments the witch raised her head and looked at both Tara 
and Buffy.

"Yes, I love you both and I can't think right now," she muttered. "I 
do love you and that hurts so bad right now."

Willow's head dropped as she began crying again. Both Tara and Buffy 
were by her side instantly, each wrapping an arm around her 
shoulders. They glanced at each other and saw no animosity or anger, 
just understanding and acceptance of the situation as it was.

"How about this," Buffy began. "No more avoiding spending time with 
you but no pushing emotions or feelings. And no more talk about 
leaving us until we get you through this."

"I'm endangering everyone," Willow muttered, leaning into Buffy's 
shoulder but holding Tara's hands as Tara's head rested on her 
shoulder.

"No, no leaving," Tara protested.

"It would kill us, Wills," Buffy agreed.  

"Okay," Willow agreed in a soft and shy voice.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Rack finally gave up trying to reach Willow psychically and 
disappeared, confusing the gang and Willow.

A week passed and everyone began relaxing a little as Willow regained 
her strength and was able to easily move about. They still wouldn't 
leave her alone and she didn't mind after hearing how she had 
attacked Dorothy in an attempt to get back to Rack.

Even though Willow was back on her feet, Dorothy elected to stick 
around since there was still magickal danger and Giles was grateful 
for the extra knowledge and the others were grateful for the company 
and help with Willow's recovery.

Spike returned to his crypt and rarely dropped by now that Willow was 
out of immediate danger, apparently and as Buffy refused to have sex 
with him.

Dawn was overjoyed to have Tara back in the house and Willow back to 
more of her normal self.

The main difference in the house, besides Anya and Xander moving into 
the den, Giles moving into Joyce's bedroom and Dorothy dropping by 
everyday, was Willow's obvious pregnancy.

Just as the Council had suspected, it wasn't a normal pregnancy and 
Willow looked four months pregnant at just two weeks and she was 
getting larger as the child grew at an unnatural rate.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

The second month was half over and Willow looked six months along 
with the child and was throwing up constantly and crying all the time.

It seemed that nothing anyone could do helped.

Giles knocked softly and opened Willow's door slowly. He saw Willow 
lying on the bed with her back to the door and Tara sitting at the 
desk working on Willow's laptop.

That was one of the other changes, he reflected as he walked in 
slowly. Tara had taken over Willow's role in research, even on the 
laptop. Between Xander's surprising newfound computer skills and 
Tara's general knowledge, they were able to somewhat make up for 
Willow's reluctance to continue helping with the research. Willow 
explained that it was just too difficult to concentrate on it when it 
involved her, the pregnancy and her lost soul.

Tara looked up and saw Giles' serious expression and nodded 
slightly. She got up as he moved closer.

"She's down tonight, the baby is kicking and it's depressing her," 
Tara answered the usual question.

He nodded as she moved past him and out the door. Giles sat down 
slowly next to Willow, taking in her tear stained face and curled up 
body.

"Rough night?" he asked gently.

"Yeah," she answered. He was never sure how Willow was going to 
respond to anyone at times. There were long periods when she refused 
to talk, going deep inside herself and brooding worse than Angel ever 
thought of trying. "Giles, it's so hard. I'm going to have a child 
but it's not a child, it'll be a demon that wants to kill Buffy and 
any other Slayer. A child that wants to kill me just by being born."

"Your body and soul wants to be motherly and protect the child but 
everything else is against the child and you," he nodded.

"Yes," Willow agreed. "Giles, no matter what happens to me, kill the 
child."

"I don't know if I can promise that, Willow," Giles frowned.

"It's not going to be human! You know that! I don't want to be 
responsible for some future Slayer's death," Willow pleaded.

"Alright, I promise," Giles muttered. "We'll find a way to stop 
this, Willow. We have to."

"Giles, it was worth it if Buffy lives," Willow said softly and he 
gently brushed away a tear from her eyes.

"What are you going to do about both of them?" he asked, feeling more 
like a father than Buffy's Watcher.

"I truthfully don't know," she admitted. "I love them both and I 
can't sort it out. I don't want to face my death without either of 
them."

Giles didn't bother arguing that she wouldn't die, they both knew the 
argument was pointless. There was a very good chance that she would 
die when the child was born or when they faced Rack.

"I've been talking with Angel and the Council, everyone agrees that 
we should probably move against Rack well before your due date and 
force the battle to him," Giles suggested. "If we can eliminate one 
danger we can then focus on how to break your pact with Baal-beryth."

"Okay, any time you suggest, Giles," Willow agreed easily.  

+++++++++

"Rough slaying tonight?" 

Buffy spun with stake in hand as a figure in black stepped out of the 
shadows, just beyond her sensing range. The Slayer relaxed only 
slightly as Spike stepped into the light.

Buffy knew what she looked like as she waited for the vampire to get 
closer. It had been a rough night taking on several demons and ten 
vampires. They had joined together and Buffy had barely got away 
after killing most of them but she had taken quite a few hits 
herself. Her hair was messed up, her clothing ripped and bloody, she 
had a black eye and a cut cheek.

"What do you want, Spike?" 

"If he is smart, then the vampire will go down on his knee to me," a 
deep voice suggested and Buffy spun, stake up again.  

Standing on her porch was Rack, Amy and a huge demon.

At least Buffy thought that it must be a demon. Green skin, yellow 
eyes, slight horns where the temple hairline should be, and a huge 
body.

The Slayer dropped the stake and pulled out a sword instead. They 
were between her and the house, which meant they were between her and 
Willow.

"Spike?" Buffy asked.

"Orcus," he whispered beside her and Buffy could hear the fear in his 
voice.

"Get out of here!" she snapped, knowing that he probably couldn't 
help fight this demon.

She could tell he was about to argue with her and clamped his mouth 
shut as Orcus laughed heartily at them. Spike spun on his heels and 
ran for the shadows and nearest manhole cover.

Buffy swallowed, knowing she was already tired, beaten and she was 
about to take on a Prince of Hell, a powerful sorcerer and a powerful 
witch.

"I love you, Willow," she muttered. "I don't remember inviting 
someone green to my house," she quipped and faced the three.

"What would you do for Willow Rosenberg?" the demon Prince asked.

Buffy's Slayer senses could hear movement inside along with frantic 
voices and hoped help was on the way. That was until Orcus raised 
his hand and her front door became a solid wall and the windows 
turned into bricks.

"Anything," she answered easily.

"Even trading your soul for her?" Orcus asked. "You offered your 
soul for the world when you died, a perfect Slayer's death. Then you 
offered your soul for your sister when the demon Sweet wanted her.  
Would you do the same for Willow?"

"Yes," Buffy nodded.

"Then my offer is simple, your soul for hers," Orcus offered.

"Listen, Orca whale demon," Buffy growled. "I know you're only the 
messenger boy and I'm not dealing with you. You take my soul and 
Willow dies when that demon rips itself out of her, no deal."

"I'll throw in Willow's life in the exchange," Orcus countered. "I 
will take the child without endangering her life for your soul and 
life."

"You'd get the Anti-Slayer to raise and my soul to throw at future 
Slayers, right? That was the point of this whole mess with Willow, 
right?"

"Very good," Orcus laughed and Rack frowned.

Buffy wondered if he was beginning to realize there might be more to 
his deal with Orcus for more power by offering Willow's soul.

"No deal. Not even for Willow can I risk every Slayer after me," 
Buffy snapped, a tear escaping down her cheek.

"Good, I wouldn't want you too."

Buffy glanced over to see Willow walking around from the side of the 
house.

"Where's everyone else?" Buffy demanded.

"Trapped inside, they want me outside, remember?" Willow pointed out.

"Wills, get inside where you'll be safe," Buffy snapped.

"No, this is my fight, Buffy," Willow said firmly.

"Ready to come back to us, Willow?" Rack smirked as Willow 
blushed. "I'm sure wouldn't mind another couple of hot nights with 
you, pregnant or not. I know Baal wouldn't mind that either."

Willow grabbed Buffy's arm as the Slayer growled in anger.

"No, that's what they want," Willow snapped. "Stay with me, please. 
They don't dare attack me for fear of hurting the demon I'm carrying. 
They hope that killing you in front of me will break me."

"Wills," Buffy said softly.

"It would work too, you know," Willow said absently, watching the 
demon and witches closely. "I would be lost without you or Tara."

"Wills, get out of here, please," Buffy begged.

Orcus laughed and Willow moved Buffy behind her.

"I get to protect you this time, Buff," Willow said firmly.

"How can you handle a demon Prince, Rack and Amy by yourself?" Buffy 
demanded as the three enemies raised their hands, preparing to attack.

"Who said I was alone?" Willow smiled. "Look down at your feet, 
Orcus."

All three of the chaos workers looked down and Buffy looked over 
Willow's shoulders, making out a triangle painted on the boards of 
her porch.  

Orcus roared and tried to move but Willow snapped her hands up and a 
bolt of energy shot out, hitting Rack in the center of the chest.  
Amy screamed as another bolt of energy hit her from the side and 
another one hit Orcus from the other side.

Buffy's eyes widened as Dorothy and Tara stepped into the light.  

Orcus disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving Rack and Amy shaking 
their heads.

"Get out of here you two or we'll forget you're human," Dorothy 
yelled at them.

Rack dragged Amy to her feet and they stumbled down the porch stairs 
and down the street.

"We should kill them," Buffy growled and then squeaked as Willow 
collapsed in her arms. Dorothy and Tara rushed over as Giles, Xander 
and Anya stormed out the door, everything having returned to normal.

They could see Willow was barely conscious and her nose was bleeding 
in a steady flow.

"That bout of magick did her in," Giles muttered. "Let's get her 
inside."

"I've got her," Buffy insisted.

"Buff, let us get her," Xander insisted. "You're a wreck."

Buffy started to protest but nodded after a moment, admitting she was 
worse for wear.

Xander grabbed Willow under her arms and Giles grabbed her feet as 
Tara and Dorothy kept an eye out for Rack and Amy.  

Willow was groggy but the bloody nose had stopped by the time they 
got her upstairs to her room.

"You stay with her, Tara," Buffy suggested. "Everyone else can fill 
me in."

Tara nodded and moved behind Willow, wrapping her arms around Willow 
as the red-head mumbled, drifting off into sleep.

Buffy and the others gathered around the table as Dorothy sealed the 
house again.  

"What happened to Spike?" Xander asked. "He was supposed to be 
keeping a watch on things outside."

"Orcus showed up and threatened him," Buffy explained. "I told him to 
get out. So what happened out there?"

"We thought those three might show up, dark moon," Giles began 
explaining as Dorothy walked in and sat down, reaching for the coffee 
pot. "Dorothy had Xander paint a holding triangle and we charged it. 
We figured he'd make a grand entrance through the front door or at 
it."

"To keep Dawn safe, we took the fight outside when we realized they 
were between you and the house," Xander added. "Tara, Dorothy and 
Willow formed a triangle of magick and Orcus was trapped in the 
holding triangle. It's designed by ceremonial magicians to hold 
demons when they appear on this realm and to protect the caster."

"Wow, tech talk," Anya teased her lover and Xander blushed.

"Willow used magick and you all let her?" Buffy demanded with a 
frown. "I thought an addict couldn't do that."

"It's very dangerous but she was right, they didn't dare harm her and 
we were able to get the drop on them with her distracting them," 
Dorothy explained. "They won't fall for that again, children."

"Meaning we take it to them now?" Buffy reasoned.

"Yes, I think it's time," Giles nodded.  

"Okay, battle plan time," Xander said firmly. "The problem is 
finding them."

Buffy frowned. "Can we track Willow? Like with magick?" 

Giles' eyes widened in surprise. "Use Willow as bait?"

"Yeah," Buffy said unhappily. "They'll come after her again, let 
them take her, track them down and take them out."

Xander looked as unhappy as Buffy with the plan but nodded his head. 

"It is a workable plan," he complained.

Giles stood up and began pacing the kitchen, cleaning his glasses as 
he walked, thinking. He finally stopped and frowned.

"Miss Dorothy?" he asked.

"We can track her without them knowing it," she nodded. "You said 
that this Rack keeps his place shielded. Might be the only way to get 
to him."

"Alright," Giles said slowly. "Only if Tara and Willow agree. If 
anyone has any doubts, it's off. This is one fight where we can't go 
in half cocked or with any fear."

"That's for certain, children," Dorothy nodded. "Any doubts in your 
heart that we can't defeat Rack or Orcus and they'll have you."

"Giles, can you talk to Willow and Tara about this? I'm not sure I 
can send Willow back to that bastard and I'm the one that thought of 
it," Buffy asked.

"Yes, of course," Giles nodded.

Tara was unhappy with the entire idea but Willow nodded slowly.  

"Its okay, Tara, we need to do this," Willow said gently. "Rack's 
threat has to end."

"Then we figure out how to break your deal with Baal?" Tara demanded.

"Yes," Willow agreed, not even arguing that the situation was 
hopeless anymore, knowing that Tara and the others wouldn't give up 
on her.

"Then let's work out the details, shall we?" Giles suggested as 
Willow stood up slowly, Tara by her side, watching for any sign of 
weakness after the magickal use.

"I'm okay," Willow muttered. "Just a little light-headed from the 
bloody nose, I think."

"If you feel any of the cravings getting painful or too much to 
handle emotionally, you tell us immediately!" Giles instructed and 
Willow nodded wearily. 

"I know, I know," she muttered, heading down the stairs.

The two sat down at the dining table with the rest of the Gang, minus 
Spike. Willow intentionally sat down between Tara and Buffy. She 
was finding it difficult to keep juggling time with both of them and 
wondered how anyone with multiple dating partners ever arranged it.

Then again, she thought, they probably didn't all live in the same 
house.

"How do we do this so they believe it?" Xander asked as Anya leaned 
into his arms.

"Let Willow and Dawn get caught outside at dusk," Anya suggested.

"Anya!" Buffy shouted, along with Tara, Giles, Willow and Dorothy.  
Dawn merely glared and Xander winced.

"What? They won't hurt the girl, they'll believe it and take Willow," 
Anya explained.

"Rack wanted Dawn to corrupt, remember?" Buffy demanded.

"He doesn't want her now, he's got his hands full," Anya countered.

"I can do it, Buffy," Dawn said softly, catching everyone's attention.

Buffy shook her head. "No, don't like this! It's bad enough letting 
Willow go. I'm not going to risk you getting hurt or in that 
bastard's hands."

"We could be nearby, protect her and track Will," Tara suggested.

Buffy looked around and noticed no one wanted to meet her eyes except 
Willow and Dawn.

"Okay, where and when?" Buffy muttered, knowing she had lost the 
fight, possibly her sister and the woman she loved if something went 
wrong.

+++++++++++

Giles kept a hand on Buffy's shoulder as they watched Tara, Dawn and 
Willow exit the movie theater. He knew she would react instinctively 
and didn't want that this time.  

The Watcher's jaw tightened as he thought of the other precautions 
surrounding them. Dorothy was near the alley where the trio would 
pass by, her magick prepared to protect Tara and Dawn at any price if 
Rack decided he wanted to take them as well as Willow or sought to 
hurt them.

The most radical was Xander and Anya on a nearby roof. Giles 
wondered how he was ever going to explain things if Xander was forced 
to act and actually fire the rifle he was waiting with. The young 
man understood that his was the last line of defense, only to be used 
if everyone else failed and either of the three was in serious 
danger. Xander was to shoot Rack and Amy and hope the police never 
found him.

That was something Giles didn't want to think about. Both he and 
Buffy could face charges from the Watcher's Council if Xander acted.  
Serious charges that might even lead to a prison term or death for 
willingly taking a human life, no matter what the reason.

The three girls looked around as if realizing what time it was and 
how dark it had gotten in the movie. They had intentionally chosen a 
very long film and were now acting as if they hadn't realized how 
long they had been inside.

Willow grabbed Dawn's hand and Tara the other as they began to move 
quickly away from the center of town.

Just as expected, Rack and Amy stepped out of the alley, both 
grinning viciously.

Buffy couldn't hear but Willow shouted, Dawn screamed, and Tara fell 
immediately to an energy bolt from Amy. Willow raised her hands and 
threw a bolt at Amy instead of focusing on the more important danger 
of Rack, just as planned.

Buffy whimpered and felt Giles holding her back as Rack rushed 
forward, backhanding Willow into a wall. Dawn was kneeling by Tara 
as Willow shook her head and zapped a bolt at Rack when he reached 
for her.

The Slayer growled, Willow was either playing it well or actually 
fighting back. Giles continued to hold Buffy back.

"I know, I know," he said miserably as Rack shouted and hit Willow 
hard, connecting at the witch's temple. Willow dropped like a rock 
to the asphalt.

Dawn tried to shield Tara as Rack stood over them and turned away 
after a moment. He helped Amy to her feet as the young witch shook 
her head. He bent over and pulled Willow up into his arms and the 
two disappeared with their captive into the shadows of the alley.

Buffy rushed forward to pull Dawn into her arms as Giles helped a 
groggy Tara to her feet. Dorothy joined them from across the alley 
way.

"Can you see Willow's trail?" Buffy demanded, holding Dawn as she 
broke into tears.

"Yes, Slayer," Dorothy said calmly.

"Buffy, he was scarier than before!" Dawn whimpered.

"She's right," Tara nodded. "We were really scared and Willow wasn't 
acting either."

"How so?" Giles asked as they began walking along the alley, slowly 
so Xander and Anya could catch up with them.

"It was like his face was shifting or melting at times," Tara tried 
to describe.

"Kinda like that guy in the Dark Half," Dawn added.

"Giles?" Buffy asked.

"Could be that Rack has gone too long and needs a demon boost," 
Dorothy commented and the Watcher nodded.

"Yes, he needs Willow's soul and the child so he can gain power and 
longevity again," Giles added.

"And Baal-bad breath is laughing his ass off because Rack can't 
deliver on either soul," Buffy growled.

"Exactly, just perfect for a demon, especially an Arch Prince," Giles 
agreed. "Rack will be left hanging and Baal-beryth will probably 
kill him."

"Painfully, I hope," Xander added as he and Anya trotted up.

"Let's get moving!" Buffy urged. "I don't want Willow with him again!"

"He won't dare touch her, Buffy," Dorothy said gently. "She's now 
considered Baal's property and Rack won't touch her sexually."

"Oh God," Buffy muttered, reaching out and holding Tara's hand, both 
seeking comfort.

"We need to wait until they believe they weren't followed," Giles 
added, reminding the Slayer of their plan.

"Just keep reminding us, Giles," Tara snapped. "You didn't see how 
scared she was up close."

"Or how scared we are now," Xander quipped.

+++++++++++++++

Willow raised her head slowly. Everything hurt, including whatever 
she was carrying in her womb. She winced as the demon child kicked 
her. 

"I so hate being kidnapped," she muttered, her breathing quickening 
as she took in the fact that she was somewhere surrounded by stone 
walls, lying on something cold and hard with feet and wrists chained.

Under a tapestry of a large Baphomet on black, was an altar draped in 
black silk with several items that Willow couldn't quite make out 
from her angle. She knew what was there, though from experience.  
Chalice, candles, incense, dagger and maybe even a sword.

Willow had expected to be taken somewhere and held for a few days 
until she was further along with the demon child. She didn't expect 
to be the center of attention in a black magick ritual.

Black candles filled the dank room and the witch could make out black 
cloth covering the walls in most places, most with obscure magical 
symbols and sigils. There was no sign of Amy, Rack or Orcus.

Willow wondered how long she had been unconscious and if her friends 
were nearby. She didn't dare reach out psychically for them, she 
could only hope they were there.

Willow heard a door creaking open and glanced upside down and frowned 
at the sight of Rack and Amy, both in black robes, walking into the 
room.

Rack leaned over and smirked at the red-haired witch as she struggled.

"You know, if you hadn't fought the other night, Orcus would have 
taken the kid, left you alive and you could have lived forever," Rack 
sighed, as if sorry about the turn of events.

"What are you talking about? How could I live forever, you intend to 
corrupt me and give my soul to Orcus," Willow snapped, seeing a 
slight frown cross Amy's face.

"No, that was never my plan, Strawberry," Rack grinned. "I was going 
to show you how I work it. Gaining souls for the demons, in exchange 
they extend your life indefinitely and give you power."

"Souls like Amy?" Willow questioned, her voice bitter.  

Again a frown crossed Amy's face but Rack merely laughed.

"Of course not," he said easily but Willow knew he was lying. She 
wondered if Amy realized it or not.

"And the child? You got me pregnant for brownie points?" Willow 
demanded.

"Basically! Orcus said that Baal-Beryth had specific demands and that 
was a powerful female witch," Rack explained. "When they heard I had 
contact with a friend of the Slayer's they were delighted and 
promised me over a hundred years this time."

"Baal used you, you jerk," Willow muttered. "What happens now?" 

"Lord Baal and Orcus have decided that it's too risky to let you stay 
with the Slayer and the others," Rack frowned. "The Watchers just 
might decide that you're better off dead with the kid. You get to 
see Lord Baal again, Strawberry."

Willow felt her body go cold with fear.

"This time you won't be out of it," Rack smirked. "Of course, you 
won't live long once you do. Then you get to spend eternity with him."

Willow no longer had any witty comebacks or even miserable ones; she 
was terrified into silence.

The red-haired witch closed her eyes as Amy and Rack moved to go 
through the complicated ritual of summoning an Arch Prince of Hell.  

Oh God, please let them be on their way. Willow pleaded and prayed 
silently.