Re: FF Children of the Earth (10/10)

["Jamie" <jamie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A beautiful end to a great story ^_^

Really, well done...

- Jamie.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: WillowX 
To: BWW List 
Sent: 09 November 2002 18:22
Subject: FF Children of the Earth (10/10)


Title: Children of the Earth, Chapter 10 of 10

Author: WillowX

Feedback: Here's your last chance. If you read the whole story please drop me a line and tell me if you liked it. willowxbvsb@xxxxxxxxxxx

Rating: NC-17

Classification/Pairing: B/W romance

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Fox.  

Summary: This chapter actually begins before the last section of Chapter 9 just so you see what was happening to Willow while Buffy was off trying to save Dawn. Seeing as how it has been a while since I last posted, I prepared a small review of details and foreshadowing from previous Chapters that will culminate in this one. Enjoy. 

   

In previous Chapters..




Chapter 4

   

"You're not listening again. You must learn to listen. listening will be the key. I said YOUR spell will be successful." Willow sat in shocked silence for a few minutes as Hope fully appreciated the expression on her face. She smiled broadly, leaned in really close, and whispered, "Why do you think it hurts so much? Why do you suppose you've endeavored down this path? Why does her death cause you so much pain? I saw it the minute you walked upto me outside. There is a great tear running down the center of you." She explained.

"I'm .her soul mate?" Willow asked cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper.

"That you are." Hope finished.

   

Chapter 7

   

"Yes.that's right little one. The Slayers come from a long line of Children of the Earth. It was only fitting. They were the God's favorites. Choosing one of them, generation after generation, and returning her powers with the purpose of defending the Earth against evil, made sense." Hope explained.now that got Buffy's attention.

"But you said the Children of the Earth had both strength and mystical powers." Willow stated.

"Good.you were listening." Hope said with a smile. "That is correct my child. You too are of a long line of Children of the Earth. You see.the spellyou performed was not really a resurrection spell.but more of a soul joining spell. It just so happens that one of the requirements was that one of the parties had to have died a physical death by mystical forces. When you die, your soul remains in a state of peaceful suspension, in a place that iswarm and loving. There you wait for the death of your soul mate so that you can both be re-born again in the same cycle of life and time. You called on Osiris to return her soul to you.the very God that separated you both inthe first place." Hope finished with another smile.

   

Chapter 8

   

*~*

   

"That is correct my child. Methos performed that spell centuries ago ." Hope looked at Willow with a steady gaze as if expecting her to figure it out any minute. "He used it to resurrect me! I am of the Children of the Moon.and Methos is my other half." Hope finished with distinct sadness in her eyes.

   

*~*

   

"Tell the Slayer if she wants to get the little bint back to meet me tomorrow at midnight at our love nest." Spike chuckled evilly right before he walked out, banging Dawn's body against the doorways as he made his exit.

   

Chapter 9

   

"But.her powers.they've grown. I can feel it. It's in the air that surrounds us. She is strong. She will surely sense you coming." Amy said referring to Willow.

   

"Yes.that is true. But I will shield their vision. They will not see the evil approaching." Methos finished with yet another evil smile.

   

*~*

   

"Power. I gave you some. I want you to be able to defend yourself. Use itwisely." Willow explained and watched as Tara sat back slowly. She couldfeel Tara's body humming with strength but she wasn't worried though. Taracould handle it. Her soul was pure.

   

*~*

   

"What time is it?" Faith asked.

"A quarter past midnight." Xander provided.

"We've been here a half hour already." Buffy whispered. Something didn't seem right.

"Looks like your vamp is late for a date, either that or this place is booby trapped." Faith interjected.

   

"There aren't signs of anything Buffy. Look at the floors. They are covered with dust and dirt. Nobody has walked on these floors in months. The only footsteps here are ours." Xander concluded.

Just then Buffy felt a sharp pain rip through her heart. Something had gone desperately wrong. She doubled over in agony with a loud groan. Her vision blurred and a bright light appeared in her minds eye. She screamed in fear when she saw it. Oh God no. No no no no!!

"Buffy what's wrong?" Xander screamed as he rushed to her side. Buffy could barely breathe the pain was so great. Oh God no.

"This was a decoy. A trap." She whispered in between gasps.

"What's wrong? What is she talking about?" Faith asked confused.

Buffy felt her body tremble in Xander's arms. The pain was devastating. How could this be? How did she not see it? How could she be so stupid?

"Buffy! Buffy! You're freaking me out! Buffy talk to me!" Xander screamed.

She laid her head on the floor and screamed with all her might.

"WILLOW!"

   

   

Chapter 10

Nowhere But Here

   

Here I am . alone . in the dark . sitting on my bed. The bed that used to belong to Joyce, that later belonged to Tara and I, but that now . belongs to me and Buffy. This is our bed. Buffy and I are a 'we'. Two months ago I sat here wondering if she'd ever speak to me again and now I sit here waiting for her to get home . waiting to hold her in my arms again.  

   

I should be training. I should be preparing for the battle that's to come, but I can't concentrate right now. I can't move. I can only think of her.of Buffy. In a few minutes it will be midnight and her own battle to save Dawn will begin. She's ok now though. I can sense her. I can feel what she's feeling and I know that she's safe. As a matter of fact, it's kindof cute, she's actually missing me right now. The thought of that alone makes me smile.

 

Hope disappeared a few minutes after Buffy left. She didn't say where she was going, just that she had to go. That it was something of great importance. I tried inviting myself to the fieldtrip but there was no use, she insisted it was something she had to do herself. Her abrupt departure concerned me a bit and when she left she was shielding her thoughts from me. She hadn't done that since she arrived and I didn't find her unexpected secrecy very comforting. Suddenly I got very suspicious. I don't like being suspicious ... I'm not generally a suspicious person. Well ... at least I try not to be. Ok Ok so there was that one time I was suspicious of Oz and Veruca. But...HEY... I wasn't being the 'jealous girlfriend', I was being the 'diligent Scooby'... she was evil! Ok Ok so I got a little suspicious of Faith...but I can't help it... Faith's got that whole 'let's get naked' attitude ... I mean ... Have you seen the way she looks at Buffy sometimes?'B this and B that' ... And ... and ... ugghhh head ranting is sooo not user friendly. I'm getting tummy rumblings already. What was I talking about again?

   

Hope! Right! Suddenly it became very important for me to find out as much as possible about Methos and Hope. Something wasn't sitting right with me. I remembered having seen a book at the Magic Box that mentioned Methosback when I was researching the resurrection spell. I asked Tara and Anyato get it for me. I'm hoping it will shed some light on our current situation.  

   

After Anya and Tara left it occurred to me that I was alone in the house.For the first time in a long time fear consumed me like a burning fire. Actually, it was a strange feeling. My head kept telling me I had nothing to be afraid of. It reminded me that I am a Sorceress, that I have power, that I can sense evil approaching. What could I have to fear?

   

My heart, however, was having a severe case of the wiggins.

   

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

   

The room was dark except for the dim glow of lighted candles and the smoky smell of burning incense filled the air. I closed my eyes momentarily toabsorb my surroundings. Instantly, a rush fluttered through my body as I felt the evil in the room dance around me . it was invigorating.   

   

"Are you ready to begin Amy?" Methos asked as he looked at me from across the smoke of the burning incense. We were sitting on the floor facing each other surrounded by an army of candles. My nerve endings were tickling and Methos knew it.

   

"Yes. I am ready." I responded. Methos carefully opened a wooden box that was sitting between us on the floor. Once the lid had been uncovered abright red light shone from within. His face slowly contorted into an evil grin.

   

"This is the Orb of Gehasi." He explained. My eyes widened in shock.

   

"Gehasi? The Gehasi?" I asked astounded. 

   

"Yes. The Harvester of Mystical Energy himself. Legend has it that the Harvester roamed the Earth stripping witches and sorceresses of their powers. He hated women but, more importantly, he hated women with authority. In his lifetime he hunted thousands of witches and eviscerate their power. storing it here." He finished as he held the Orb up for me to see. A chill ran down my spine.

   

"Let us begin." He instructed and I nodded in agreement. This was way cool.

   

"All powerful Lords of the underworld hear my plea

Cover the eyes of the Sorceress so that she can no longer see

Strip her of her strength

Strip her of her power

Make her weak this very hour."

   

The Orb of Gehasi began to glow bright red. I stared at the center of itas we chanted in unison and, for a second, it seemed as if it incased an ocean of blood. For a moment my mind wondered as to how much power that orb, the size of a mere baseball, contained. How many lives has it ruined? How many witches fell powerless to its hold? And now, thousands of years after its creation, it will bring forth the end of the world. The birth of the age of evil ... Armageddon.

   

Yes. This was invigorating indeed.

   

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

   

"I've checked the house Boss, she's the only one home. If we want to attack we have to do it now while the others are away." The vampire explainedto Spike. We were kneeling in the bushes on the side of my house. Spike had my hands and legs tied and he had gagged me with a dirty cloth.

   

"Did you hear that Nibblette?" Spike hissed into my ear. "Your sister IS as stupid as I always said she was." He finished evilly.

   

My body was exhausted from fear. Every single part of me ached. I had no idea it was possible to hurt so much. My nose was stuffed from crying and it was getting harder and harder for me to breathe through the gag. I'dbeen holding back the urge to vomit for hours. Every breath of air I tooktasted like blood.  

   

Out of the corner of my eye I can see Janice. She woke up about an hour ago. The look of anguish on her face was heartbreaking. I might just be ateenager but I know what fear looks like. I've seen it plenty of times. I've seen it in Buffy's eyes. I've seen it in Willow's eyes. I've even seen it in my own. Janice's fear, however, is different. She has no idea what's going on, what she's up against, why they took her. She must be wondering what she did to deserve this. Little does she know that the only thing she did wrong was choose her friends poorly.

   

"It's time to get this circus started then." Spike said happily. He grabbed my hair again and dragged me roughly along the ground as he walked towards the back of the house. His demon face grinning proudly.

   

"Do you know what the best part about the last two years has been?" He growled harshly as he walked. All I could do was whimper in response.

   

"All the knowledge I acquired." He said with a smile and then chuckled. "You see Niblette, now I know how it works. The group. The team. The Scooby Gang." He finished sarcastically and stopped walking when he reached the steps to back porch. I couldn't see Janice but I knew she was somewhere behind me. I could hear her muffled crying. Before I had a chance to turnto look for her Spike started up his big bad speech again.

   

"I studied you all from the inside out. I know how you react. For example, you see this door here?" He asked as he pointed at the kitchen door. "Ordinarily I would be able to walk in without a problem. But you see. your sister's new bitch probably put a bit of the mojo on it." He chuckled again. "A 'de-invite' I think you call it." He paused for a moment to finish chuckling and then removed the gag that was covering my mouth.  

   

"So now." He said with threatening eyes, "I need a Key to get in." He whispered evilly into my face. With one forceful swing he threw my body hard against the door. I felt as my bones crushed against the wood and glass.The door broke open and the next thing I felt was my head hitting the hard kitchen floor. There was hot blood running all over my face, covering myeyes so that I couldn't see. I was panting fiercely against the kitchen floor.

   

"DAWN! OH DAWNIE! LOOKY LOOKY HERE!" Spike singsonged from outside. Iturned slowly wiping the blood from my eyes and that's when I saw it. Spike was holding Janice. The look on her face. Oh my god.the look on her face.

   

"Invite me in!" He growled. My heart was pounding vigorously. The thumping was so hard I could hardly hear anything else around me.

   

"Stop it Spike! Stop! She has nothing to do with this! I'm the one youwant!" I managed to get out through labored breaths.

   

Spike swung his head backward in a hearty chuckle. "You're the one I want? You're the one I want? When are you going to get it? You're the one nobody wants!" With that said he snapped Janice's arm like a dry twig. I heard her muffled holler as her eyes squinted in pain.

   

"Invite me in or I'll drink her." He threatened as he stood at the doorway of the kitchen. I couldn't think. Janice's eyes were beginning to rollback into her head. I hesitated for two seconds and Spike quickly pulled her head to the side and sunk his teeth into her. I watched in horror as her body went into convulsions from fear.

   

"OK. Spike stop!!!! Ok." I screamed through tears. He lifted his head slowly as blood dripped from his mouth. Janice was still moving. She was still alive.

   

"Come in Spike. Come in. Come in." I said as my voice trailed off softly between tears. I didn't want to think anymore I was so exhausted. I couldn't even feel my legs. The smell of blood on me was sickening and I no longer had the strength to continue. Just then I heard a familiar voice call from behind me.

   

"DAWN!"  

   

I rolled over slowly and saw Willow. She was shocked to see me and I toowas shocked to see her. All this time it was Buffy I thought he was after. All this time I was expecting him to get a good ass kicking

   

What have I done? What have I done to Willow?

   

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

   

I sharpened my senses to find evil and roamed the streets of Sunnydale atnight searching for the moving door. As I walked over the bodies of the junkies lying scattered over the floor I knew it was true. Only one person could be responsible for this. 

   

"Rack?" I asked confused as I walked into the back room. I was surprised to have heard his name mentioned earlier. But I didn't believe it. I couldn't believe it. Why hadn't I sensed him before? He turned slowly at the sound of my voice and glared in my direction.

   

"Hope." He said with a cynical hiss. My chest tightened. It was him...but why?

   

"I thought you were dead." I exclaimed.

   

"Correction . you'd hoped I was dead. Wishing something would happen doesn't automatically make it true." He responded in a lazy voice.

   

"That's not true. I never wished for your death. I would never." I began to explain but he interrupted harshly.

   

"Don't patronize me! I know what happened. I don't need you explaining it to me. I was there. remember?" He said with anger dripping from his eyes. Of course I remembered. How could I possibly forget? It was one of the worst days of my life.

   

"I still have the scar you gave me as parting gift." He said as he traced his finger over his right eye.

   

"Your father did that to you!" I countered and his anger increased.

   

"DON'T YOU DARE!" He threatened.

   

We stood breathlessly observing each other for a few minutes. What happened to him? His features emanated evil. His intentions were all evil. There was no good in him. He looked at me, smiled broadly at what I had mentally concluded and then proceeded to speak.  

   

"So what is this Mother? Did you come here to assess my intentions? Read my mind? Well.go ahead. I wouldn't want to disappoint you." He said sarcastically and opened his mind to me.

   

I closed my eyes in pain as all the evil thoughts in his head flooded outlike a violent river. He was, indeed, very disappointing. The longer I let his thoughts invade me the more pain ripped through my soul. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse I gasped and opened my eyes in agony.

   

"You're going to open the Hellmouth!!" I stammered and he smiled broadlyin response.

   

"Have you any idea what consequences your actions will bring?" I asked in a disciplinary tone.

   

"Have you?" He asked in response. His question surprised me to say the least.

   

"Well.have you Mother? Have you any idea what consequences YOUR actions will bring? Are you willing to take that step? Is the red head really that important to you?" He asked.

   

I stood before my son for the first time in centuries. Nothing about himwas familiar. Nothing about him was good. He wasn't even the shell of the person I held in my arms such a long time ago. I blamed myself for him. I blamed myself for everything that had happened. For not being strong. For not doing the right thing. 'Is the red head really that important to me?' He had asked.

   

Yes. She was.

   

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

   

When I heard the crashing sound of something breaking I was sure it was coming from outside, perhaps the wind blowing a tree against the door, but then. I heard the screaming. This was not the wind blowing. I ran out of my room, down the hall, and down the stairs. The faster I ran the louder the screams became. It sounded like Dawn crying. But.it couldn't be. I made a sharp left turn at the bottom of the stairs and went into the dinning room. That's when I saw it, Dawn on the floor.bleeding. I ran to her as quickly as possible.

   

"DAWN!" I screamed.

   

Her clothes were filthy and stained with blood. She rolled over slowly and I watched as the blood dripped from her forehead. When she finally saw me her expression was fear. Intense fear.

   

"I'm sorry." She whispered through tears. I couldn't understand what was happening. The door was broken but there was no one there. Had Dawn escaped? Did something happen to Buffy? How did she get here?

   

"Dawnie!! Oh My God Dawnie! What happened to you? What happened?" I screamed as I ran to kneel next to her body. She was going into shock. I couldn't understand a word she was saying.

   

I was leaning over her body trying to help her when all of a sudden I felt it . a strong hand gripped the back of my neck, lifted my body straight up in the air, and flung me against the kitchen counter. My vision blurred for a moment from the bang of my head against the hard surface. When I focused again I wish I hadn't. Spike's bloody mouth was an inch away from mine.

   

"Well well well. Just the Witch I wanted to see." He growled into my mouth.

   

"GET OUT!" I threatened through gritted teeth.

   

"Make me!" Spike said with a harsh growl.

   

I closed my eyes and called on the wind. Nothing!

   

I called on the water. Nothing!

   

I called on the Earth. Nothing!

   

I was powerless before Spike and he knew it. He gripped my neck and squeezed slowly. I watched in horror as his eyes gleamed with excitement. He finally had me exactly where he wanted.  

   

Leaning in closer he whispered in my ear. "So your girlfriend hates vampires, huh??? Do you think she'll hate you? I'll tell you what.if you're agood little Witch I'll help you hunt her down and kill her later." He said happily as if that was the part he was most looking forward too.watching me kill Buffy later. I struggled for him to release me. Kicking and twisting and pulling at his hand around my neck. 

   

"Now now now," he said in a disciplinary tone, "we can't have none of that, now can we?" He said and strengthened his grip around my neck. I could hardly breathe now. The more I struggled the harder he squeezed. Oxygen. I need oxygen. With the last bit of strength I had left in me I concentrated on calling Buffy. I closed my eyes one last time and called on Buffy with all my might................

   

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

   

We stood around in silence for a few minutes, watching our surroundings closely, expecting the attack at any minute. My body was sore from all the tension. I felt as if I've been at battle for days. And my mind.well my mind was deep in thought. Hope's words to me earlier this afternoon still lingered. What's to come? What am I? What decision do I have to make?

   

"What time is it?" Faith asked.

   

"A quarter past midnight." Xander provided.

   

"We've been here a half hour already." I whispered. Something didn't seem right.

   

"Looks like your vamp is late for a date, either that or this place is booby trapped." Faith interjected.

   

"There aren't signs of anything Buffy. Look at the floors. They are covered with dust and dirt. Nobody has walked on these floors in months. Theonly footsteps here are ours." Xander concluded.

   

Just then I felt a sharp pain rip through my heart. Something had gone desperately wrong. I doubled over in agony with a loud groan. My vision blurred and a bright light appeared in my minds eye. I screamed in fear whenI saw it. Oh God no. No no no no!!

   

"Buffy what's wrong?" Xander screamed as he rushed to my side. I could barely breathe the pain was so great. Oh God no.

   

"This was a decoy. A trap." I whispered in between gasps.

   

"What's wrong? What is she talking about?" Faith asked confused.

   

I felt my body tremble in Xander's arms. The pain was devastating. How could this be? How did I not see it? How could I be so stupid?

   

"Buffy! Buffy! You're freaking me out! Buffy talk to me!" Xander screamed.

   

I laid my head on the floor and screamed with all my might.

   

"WILLOW!" 

   

"Willow what? What's wrong Buffy? What's wrong?" Xander repeated hysterically. I opened my eyes to look at Xander just in time to see the vampire that was stalking us from the skylight.    

   

"Xander. behind you!" I managed to squeal out in pain.  

   

One by one they dropped in on us from the ceiling. The first two found themselves face to face with Faith, the Kung Fu Slayer. She wasn't kidding about all the training she underwent with the Council. They were dusted just as the next four dropped in. Xander stood and joined Faith with the Crossbow. I watched paralyzed in pain as they battled. For every vamp Faith and Xander dusted, three more appeared in its place. We were surrounded bythem and Faith was loosing strength.

   

"B? Can you move?" She screamed over her shoulder as she cornered two vamps against a wall.

   

"Mmm Hmmm." I groaned. The pain had been subsiding slowly.

   

"Then it's time to go!" Faith concluded. "Xander grab Buffy and let's dip."  

   

Xander ran towards me. He was tired and sweaty. His left hand was bleeding from a vamp bite but he didn't stop. With one swift move he flung me over his shoulder while Faith held off the other vamps. Once outside Xanderlaid my body on the floor and dropped the weapons bag next to me. He searched through it for a few seconds until he pulled out what looked like a water gun.

   

"What's that?" I asked as I stood slowly. The pain had significantly minimized now.

   

"My secret weapon.the Super Soaker!" Xander responded in awe. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He had lost his mind. He squeezed the trigger slowly and drenched the first vamp. I watched in amazement as the vamp started emanating smoke. Suddenly it started making sense.

   

Xander continued soaking the vamps, forcing them back into the building. They were crouched on the floor covering their faces in agony. He turned to me with a proud grin. "What do you think?" He screamed.

   

"I'm guessing Holy Water." I responded.

   

Faith stopped, fished a lighter out of her pocket, and lit it. Holding the lighter out for me to see she finished my sentence "and gasoline!" She said with a proud smile as she threw the lighter into the building. The building burst into flames. Xander and Faith gave each other a high five andI wondered if I had stepped into another dimension by mistake.

   

"Wuuuuu Huuuuuuu!!! I told you it would work." Xander cheered.

   

"Who's idea was that?" I asked astounded at the mere simplicity of it.

   

"The Holy Water Gun was mine and the gasoline was Faith." Xander explained.

   

"Of course the little Pyro of the family." I said with a smirk.

   

"What happened to you in there B?" Faith asked. The battle had distracted me but when she asked the question the memory of what happened fell on me like a ton of bricks.

   

"Spike has Willow. I saw him through her eyes."

   

"What do you mean you saw him?" Xander asked confused.

   

"Willow and I are connected.um.it's a thing. The last thing I saw was Spike and then I lost contact with her. I can't feel her." I stammered out afraid.

   

"What do you mean you can't feel her?" Xander asked.

   

"All of a sudden I lost her and it's as if I lost myself. The pain was overwhelming."

   

"Is she ." Faith began to ask and Xander interrupted "NO! She's not. Don't even say it. Don't even say it Faith!" He warned emphatically.

   

"I don't know. I don't know. I can't feel her. I can't .." I repeated tomyself out loud.

   

"What about Dawn?" Xander asked.

   

"This was obviously a trap. Spike had no intention of returning Dawn andfrom the number of vamps that stormed in here I'd say his intention was tokill you." Faith concluded.

   

"No..his intention is to make me suffer." I corrected sourly. "If he wanted me dead he would do it himself." Just as the words were exiting my mouth a pack of six vampires turned the left corner of the alley and were walking towards us. I looked towards the right and another six appeared. They were walking slowly as if teasing us with their presence. I didn't know what to do. I just didn't know. Dawn was gone. Willow was gone. We're surrounded. I just couldn't.. I couldn't take it anymore. I kneeled on thefloor holding my head in exhaustion. The world was spinning out of control. I had lost her. She was gone. My Willow was gone.

   

"Oh God Willow." I moaned as the flood of tears took over.

   

"Hey! Hey! She's not dead! Get up!" Xander said. "GET UP!!" He screamed with all his might. "What's wrong with you? Snap out of it! We needyou NOW!" He said as he pulled my arm until I was standing again.

   

Grabbing my shoulders harshly he turned my body and looked deep into my eyes. His gaze was intense and piercing, concerned and angry at the same time. Like I had let him down. "What would Willow say if she saw you like this?" He asked.  

   

His words resonated in my ears. He was right. Willow would probably kick the shit out of me if she saw me like this. Giving up. Defeated. At the very least she'd give me her 'Resolve Face'.  

   

"Umm.guys.these dudes are getting closer. Can we save the nervous breakdown for a time when we're not in mortal danger?" Faith said shadowing my sarcastic remark from earlier in the evening. I looked at Xander helplessly. What am I supposed to do?

   

"Run." He whispered. I looked at him confused. "Run! Go!! Faith and I will do the rest! Go save your family." He said sternly.

   

I turned and climbed onto the dumpster that was a few feet away. From there I used a nearby fire escape to climb up the side of the building. I didn't look down until I had reached the top of the building. When I turned to give my friends one last look I noticed a vampire following me up the side of the building. He looked up at me just as I was looking at him and growled. At that moment, right before my eyes, he suddenly turned to dust. When the cloud of dust dissipated I saw Xander standing on the ground belowholding the crossbow still aiming in my direction. I nodded at him in gratitude and he smiled. There stood a good man.

   

I moved as fast as I could catapulting from rooftop to rooftop. As soon as I had cleared a few and was sure I wasn't being followed I climbed down and looked for the main road, the one that ran through the center of Sunnydale. It was the fastest way home.  

   

I ran with the speed and agility of a panther, as if I was running for mylife.for Dawn's. for Willow's. My heart was pounding and sweat was pouring down my face in huge droplets. Visions of Spike plagued my mind. I wondered if he was enjoying this. If he was enjoying causing me pain. Images of our night together haunted me. The way he looked at me. The way he touched me. The harshness of the act. The sense of worthlessness afterward. I felt sick all over again.  

   

Slowly what was once fear turned to anger and anger quickly turned to rage. I hated him. I hated him with all my might. and tonight he will pay forall the pain he's caused me.

   

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

   

The sound of tires screeching made my whole body goose bump. Ugghh.I really really really hated that sound. My eyes were sealed tightly in fear asI felt the gusts of wind coming through the windows blowing my long blondehair around the car. My fingernails were gripping the seat as I opened myleft eye slowly and cautiously.afraid of what I would see. What in the world possessed Willow to send me somewhere in a CAR with ANYA driving?

   

"I thought you said you've driven before." I asked frightened.

   

"Yes. I have." Anya said with a nervous smile "once!" She finished.

   

My eyes bugged out of my head!

   

"Don't look so afraid Tara. I already know that the left pedal makes it stop abruptly." She said as she slammed her foot on the floor of the car todemonstrate. The engine revved thunderously and we accelerated with a jump.

   

"Your left!! YOUR left Anya!! Not the pedal's left!!" I added with a scream.

   

"Oh. Right. Of course." She said as she smiled broadly. She had a sort of maniacal suicidal look on her face.

   

"Anya, close the windows I can't read the book with the pages all blowy."I instructed trying my best to hide the fear in my voice. Anya nodded atmy request and flipped a switch on the driver's side door . all the car doors unlocked at once!

   

"Ok. Forget the reading. I can read when we get home." If we get home! 'IF we get home' would be a more accurate statement.  

   

I found the books that Willow wanted from the Magic Box. We would have been home sooner except that Anya made me fill out an IOU card seeing as howI didn't have any money on me. She actually keeps a shoebox full of IOUs from all of us.sometimes I just wonder about her.

   

"Would you like to hear .?" Anya began to ask but I couldn't make out the ending of the question over the sound of the wind roaring.

   

"WHAT?" I screamed.

   

"Music! As in a melody, rhythm, tune, song.you know, for your auditory pleasure." She finished with a crazy smile and head bob.

   

"What are you a book of synonyms often including related, contrasting words, and antonyms?" I asked with a pinch of sarcasm. Hey.I can too be sarcastic. I was making fun of her literal matter of speech. You get it? Sheesh ... that was a bigger bomb than my insect refection joke.

   

Anya blinked at me blankly for a few minutes. I shook my head and turnedto face the road again. Suddenly I got a glimpse of someone. A woman.running towards us on the road and Anya was swerving the car in that direction.

   

"ANYA WATCH IT!!!" I screamed pointing in the direction of the pedestrian.

   

Anya hit the break pedal, the correct one this time, and gripped the steering wheel with both hands as if preparing for the impact. I flinched again at the sound of the tires screeching against the pavement. We were too close. There was no way we wouldn't hit her. Just as I had mentally concluded this. the woman jumped, ran over the hood of the car, onto the roof, and down the back. I turned to watch her land safely on the ground. Once the car had stopped completely, Anya and I hurried out to check on her. Shewas kneeling behind the car on the exact same spot where she had landed. It looked like.

   

"Buffy?" I asked softly. Buffy stood and turned around. Her eyes were filled with rage and she was panting fiercely with her chest expanding and contracting at an exaggerated rate.

   

"You nearly ran me over you idiot!" She screamed at Anya.

   

"And you nearly put a Slayer size dent in my boyfriend's car!" Anya saiddefending herself.

   

"Buffy..." I began to say.

   

"Where's Willow?" She barked harshly cutting me off.

   

"We left her at the house." Anya responded.

   

"You left her alone? What were you thinking?" Buffy barked at her.

   

"After you left, Hope disappeared, and Willow became suspicious of her. She sent us to the Magic Box to get some books about Methos she had seen there." I explained.  

   

"Where's Xander?" Anya asked afraid.

   

"He's with Faith." Buffy responded.

   

"FAITH! Ah! You were supposed to be with them. You're the lesbian chaperone! I can't believe you left my Xander with that hussy! I." Anya was about to keep going but the look on Buffy's eyes stopped her. Something wasn't right.

   

"What's wrong Buffy? What happened? Where's Dawn?" I asked cautiously.

   

"I don't know. Spike never showed up and I've lost contact with Willow."She responded.

   

"Then there's no time to waste. We should get to the house as soon as possible." I concluded.

   

"I'm driving." Anya chimed.

   

"Not a chance!" Buffy said as she took the keys from Anya. Anya stood still blinking blindly again. She was about to protest when I shook my headpointing at Buffy with my lips.

   

"Ok then. I got shotgun!" Anya announced instead.

   

The three of us got into the car again. I sat in the back seat and reached for the seat belt. This was going to be a bumpy ride.

   

"Anya?" Buffy asked with a scary look on her face and Anya looked at herattentively. "Maybe not today.maybe not tomorrow.but when this is all over, I'm gonna hide a bunny somewhere where you least expect it.I promise!"

   

Anya's eyes bugged out of her head. Deciding that perhaps silence was the best way to go she turned slowly. Who says that threats don't work?

   

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

   

We watched the Summer's residence closely from across the street. Sometimes the accuracy of Methos' predictions astounded me. He foresaw that Willow would be alone and she was. He foresaw that Spike had turned evil againand he had. He foresaw that Spike would try to abduct Willow and he did.Finally, he foresaw that Willow will bring forth Armageddon and. well.that's why we're here . to stop that from happening.

   

When we arrived a few minutes ago he was already inside the house. I could see him through the windows.

   

"Mr. Giles?" Witherspoon asked with a slight jitter. I looked over at him annoyed. I've asked him to be quiet repeatedly. The last thing we needis to announce our presence.

   

"What?" I whispered back.

   

"There are two vampires. Two! And that is not including the vicious oneinside...umm.Spear or Lance or whatever his name is." He said nervously.

   

"Spike! His name is Spike." I said correcting him. Spike's name was not to be forgotten.

   

"Yes. Of course. Spike. Lovely. I should have known you'd be on a first name basis with all the killers of this wretched town." Witherspoon said distastefully. I caught his inference of my personal relationship with Willow and shot him an angry glare.

   

"You're skating on thin ice Witherspoon." I warned.

   

"Yes well . regardless ... Three! There are three vampires! We must abort the extraction mission. Methos will understand." He concluded.

   

"If you think I'm leaving without her your mad. Lord knows what he intends to do with her." I muttered without taking my eyes off the house. 

   

"Perhaps it's for the best. If he takes care of her then we won't have too." He said.  

   

I turned suddenly and gripped his neck. "Let's get one thing straight Witherspoon. I don't like you. Never have, actually. The only reason I agreed to this was to stop Willow before she did something she would regret. She hasn't done anything wrong yet and if I hear you repeat what you just implied again I'll deliver you to Spike myself." 

   

I released my grip around his neck and Witherspoon began coughing vigorously. "Be quiet!" I scolded again.

   

"No. by all means. make a lot of noise. I like it when they scream!" I heard the rough voice say from behind. I turned slowly to see one of Spike's vampires standing behind us. The vampire snarled as he appreciated the expression of surprise on our faces.

   

"Oh. Oh. please don't. don't hurt us. we were just..." Witherspoon began to whine.

   

"Oh for God's sake would you bloody shut up you blithering idiot!" I said cutting him off. Reaching into my jacket I pulled out a hand held crossbow. Aiming the weapon at the vampire's heart I shot out a stake the size ofa pencil. In a matter of seconds he was gone. Dust!

   

"Look Witherspoon now that there are only two you can stop soiling your knickers." I whispered under my breath sarcastically while returning my attention to the home. A few seconds later Spike walked out carrying Willow over his shoulder. The other vampire was at his side. Willow seemed to laylifeless over his shoulder. Like a rag doll with arms and legs flutteringall over. I feared the worse.

   

"Are you ready?" I asked Witherspoon. He nodded nervously in agreement.I handed him the crossbow and we proceeded with our plan.

   

Staggering out onto Spike's path I began mumbling, "Oh Spike!! Thank heavens. We've been looking for you. It's Buffy. She needs your help. What? What happened to Willow?"

   

Spike smiled broadly. He looked like a child who just found another giftunder the Christmas Tree. "Well well well. Been looking for me, have you? You're going to wish you never found me."

   

Before Spike knew what had hit him I pulled the stun riffle I'd been shielding from under my overcoat. I shocked Spike and he quickly dropped Willow. Simultaneously, Witherspoon shot the other vampire with the hand held crossbow. Once Willow was on the floor I continued shocking Spike until helost consciousness. The vampire that Witherspoon was supposed to have killed was choking him. I pulled a spare stake from my coat and dusted him myself. Witherspoon lay on the floor holding his throat.

   

"Are you alright?" I asked moderately concerned. He started grunting asI walked away from him..he was fine. Willow was lying lifeless on the floor. I knelt over her body and felt her pulse. She was still alive but unconscious.

   

"Come on. We have to get her back to Methos before it's too late." I advised Witherspoon as I put Willow over my shoulder. I sigh relieved. We found her just in time to make everything right. Just in time to stop her. 

   

"What do we do with the vampire?" Witherspoon asked. I thought about itfor a moment. What did Spike deserve?

   

We dragged his body to a nearby tree. out of sight. I reached into my bag and found the metal shackles we brought along in case Willow resisted. I used the shackles to tie him securely to the tree.

   

"Tomorrow ... when the sun rises ... he will get what he deserves." I concluded. 

   

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

   

The drive home seemed to last forever. Every street corner, every house,every car was a reminder of how far away from her I was when she needed me. How could I have been so stupid? How could I have listened to Hope? Willow should have been with me. By my side. where I could have defended her. protected her . taken care of her.

   

When we finally arrived the front door of the house was wide open and allthe lights were on. I don't remember parking the car or getting out. Theonly thing I remember is standing at the door of the house. I heard a slight rustling coming from the kitchen and quickly made my way there. Once Igot there my heart stopped. Literally stopped.

   

"You!" I said in disgust. Hope was kneeling over Dawn's body on the floor . her eyes black with magic. Her hands were bloody and I could hear Dawn's painful whimpers.

   

"Buffy.I.she..." Hope began to explain as I charged towards her. With one swift swing of my fist Hope's body flung in the air and landed hard on the kitchen counter. Before she could recuperate I ran up to her and grippedher neck.lifting her body high over my head.

   

"This was all you! You've been planning this all along! Orchestrating it! Looking for a way to separate Willow from me!" I screamed at her with all my might. Suddenly gusts of wind began blowing through the kitchen doors and windows. Plates, glasses, and utensils began flying around the roomin a circular motion around us.

   

"Let me go!" Hope muttered angrily through her teeth with her eyes consumed in darkness. I responded by tightening my grip around her neck. She reached down and placed her hand on my chest.in an instant I felt as if I'dbeen kicked in the heart by a force stronger than a hundred vampires. I flew weightlessly through the air like until I felt my body smash against the wall of the kitchen. Seconds later I landed on my knees a few feet away from Dawn. When I look up Hope was preparing for her second attack. A huge wind tunnel was forming in the palm of her right hand and I saw as she flung it at me. I closed my eyes and covered my head to prepare for the blow.

   

"ENOUGH!!!" The familiar voice screamed from the doorway that leads to the dinning room. Suddenly I was encased in a green shield and watched as the wind tunnel bounced off. I looked at the doorway and there stood Tara .her own eyes black with magic.

   

"That's borrowed power!" Hope growled.

   

"But power nonetheless!" Tara countered.

   

I knelt helpless beneath the glowing green shield Tara protected me with.Tara and Hope were looking at each other angrily. Dawn was still breathing because I could see the expanding and contracting of her chest and therewas someone lying on the floor just outside the kitchen door that I couldn't quite make out. It wasn't Willow though. the clothes were not familiar.

   

"What have you done?" Tara asked Hope in a forceful voice. The minute the question reached Hope's ears her facial expression changed. Her eyes softened and returned to their olive green shade.

   

"I haven't done anything. I got here a few minutes ago and found her on the floor. I was trying to heal her when Buffy walked in." Hope turned tome and showed me her bloody hands, "I was healing her little one. Healingher!! I would never hurt her or Willow."

   

Tara looked at me and I nodded at her. The green shield that had been protecting me disappeared and I crawled towards Dawn's body as soon as possible.

   

"Dawn! Dawnie, honey, are you ok? Dawn please open your eyes." I pleaded with her. A few seconds later her eyes opened. She smiled softly glad to see me, but her smile quickly disappeared as her eyes swelled with tears.

   

"He took her." She whispered.

   

"I know." I responded.

   

"Is the 'Wicked Wicca Fest' over?" Anya screamed from behind Tara. Tarawas still in battle stance and her eyes were black, fixed on Hope.

   

"Buffy. it's Janice." Dawn whispered as she turned over slowly pointing towards the back porch. Hope quickly moved outside and placed her hands onJanice. A yellow light began to shine brightly. I leaned over Dawn to cover her eyes from the glow and felt as her heart weakly beat against mine. My eyes swelled with tears.

   

"I was so worried about you Dawnie. I was so worried." I whispered softly and she moaned lightly in response.

   

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

   

We did it. We beat Glory. Buffy stumped her to near death a few minutes ago and now she is with Dawn on the tower. Tara was with me. Everythingwas ok. Everyone was safe.

   

Suddenly the sky exploded with a bright light. Tara and I crouched on the ground holding each other ... covering our eyes. The earth started shacking and cracking all around us. A few seconds later a huge electric current charged out of the center of the light in the sky and a demon appeared...then another...then another...something had gone desperately wrong. The gates of hell were opening.

   

The gates of hell were opening!

   

Looking up at the platform I covered my face and squinted my eyes trying my best to make out what was going on. Buffy and Dawn were together. I couldn't figure out what had gone wrong. Then right before my eyes it happened. My life changed forever. My heart broke.  

   

I saw Buffy run down the span of the platform and...... jump. Such a graceful jump. Such beauty. Her body sliced through the air as bright lightsbegan appearing all around her. In a matter of seconds everything stopped. The world was silent. The gates of hell were closed....and Buffy's bodylay lifeless on a pile of rubble.

   

She was dead...and I never got to tell her how much I loved her. How much I really loved her.

   

"BUFFY!!!!!!"

   

"Sheesh....talk about homoerotic obsession. You scream her name even while unconscious." The sound of that voice made my blood boil. I opened my eyes and, at first, was unable to focus. My hands and feet were bound to the chair I was sitting on and my neck and head were sore. I blinked repeatedly but the light was making it hard for me to see. Once my eyes had adjusted to the brightness, I saw her ... Amy ... standing before me with her arms crossed and a smug look on her face.

   

"I should have given you rat poison when I had a chance." I muttered. The smugness in Amy's expression quickly morphed into rage as she raised herhand up in the air to slap me.

   

"Amy." A deep voice warned from behind her. Her hand stopped mid air and she glared at me intensely. The feeling of hatred was overwhelming...unnatural hatred. Unhappy that she could not strike me, she leaned in closer and spat on my face.

   

"That's quite enough Amy." The deep voice warned again. "Step away so Ican see her."

   

Amy stepped aside reluctantly and I got my first look of the room I was in. It was an office or study or something. There were shelves filled withbooks on the wall and a grandiose mahogany desk. Sitting at the desk was a dark man.

   

"Methos." I concluded.

   

"Very good Ms. Rosenberg." He replied.

   

"How did you...?" I began to ask but Amy interrupted harshly.

   

"Thanks to our friendly neighborhood librarian." She said.

   

"Giles?" I asked confused.

   

"Yep! The best part was that it didn't even take a lot of coaxing to gethim to stab you in the back.... and of course...the look on his face when he realized what he had done." She chimed pleased at herself.

   

"Amy...leave us...I need to speak to Ms. Rosenberg alone." Methos instructed. Amy hesitantly obeyed his instructions and left the room. As soon as the door closed behind her Methos began to speak.

   

"Willow Rosenberg. It is an honor to finally make your acquaintance. I've been waiting for you for centuries...."

   

"What did you do to Buffy?" I interrupted harshly.

   

"Nothing." He responded nonchalantly.

   

"Why can't I feel her? Why can't I feel her?" I asked angrily.

   

"Ahhh...yes...well...your getting ahead of me."

   

"Is she dead? Did you kill her?" I demanded to know. He smiled and chuckled a bit at my question.

   

"You have no idea, have you?" He asked amused at my apparent ignorance.

   

"What?"

   

"Nevermind. The reason you can't sense the Slayer is sitting at the end of this desk." He explained as he motioned towards a glowing red paperweight.

   

"It's not a paperweight. Really, Ms. Rosenberg, you're disappointing me." He said reading my thoughts. "It's the Orb of Gehasi and the reason whyyou have yet to strike me down." Suddenly it made sense. The Orb of Gehasi...of course. The candidness of his comment, however, surprised me a bit. Did I really have the power to strike him down?

   

"Twice over." He responded. "Now if you only knew how to use it...then I'd really be in a pickle."

   

"What do you want?" I asked sourly. I was growing impatient.

   

"What everyone wants....POWER!!! We are sitting on the mouth of Hell. Do you have any idea what kind of power we can harness from here? We could control planets....dimensions...time and space....good and evil....we couldcontrol it all. Re-write history to our own liking." He finished with anevil gleam in his eyes and I looked at him with such disgust.

   

"Hope was right... you are corrupt and evil," I paused for a moment and then finished my statement "I'd rather die than help you!"

   

Methos sat quietly at his desk. His stare was piercing and I could see his jaws moving as he grinded his teeth. The longer he looked at me the harder my resolve face became. After a few minutes he nodded slowly in agreement "Yes. You would. I can see it. However, you will help me accomplish my goal...whether you're a willing participant or not." He finished in disdain. Just as the words had excited his mouth, the door opened and in walked Amy, Rack, Giles, and a man I didn't recognize.

   

"Mr. Giles ... Mr. Witherspoon .... please escort Ms. Rosenberg to the gateway." Methos instructed coldly.

   

"Giles! Giles it's me! Willow! It's me!" I pleaded with him.

   

"The Council fights evil...the Slayer is merely the instrument. The Council fights evil...the Slayer is merely the instrument. The Council fights evil...the Slayer is merely the instrument." Giles chanted over and over again with a spaced out look on his face. I felt my face go pale. Giles? I heard Amy chuckle from behind me.

   

"Neat trick, huh?" Amy asked proud of herself. "Oh come on. it's not thefirst time you see me do it."

   

I couldn't believe what was happening. Where is Buffy? Where is Buffy?

   

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

   

Life is filled with defining moments . instances that change the course of your existence forever. Time and circumstance can be very perplexing. Have you ever looked back at a point in your life and wondered what would have happened if you hadn't been in that same exact spot at that same exact moment? What would have been of your life? I've done that a thousand times... wondered what would have happened had I not been called. What would have happened had we stayed in Los Angeles. What would have happened if Mom had chosen any other town in California other than Sunnydale.

   

The answer is always the same...I would have never met Willow. Or would I? She's my soul mate...would I have met her eventually? Would we have crossed paths at one point or another?

   

"Where will they be taking her?" I asked Hope. It had been a while since the chaos that ensued earlier. Xander and Faith were already home, Dawn and Janice were resting, and it was time to concentrate on Willow.

   

"The Hellmouth. The ritual must be performed at the very entrance." Hope explained and Xander shot me an awkward look.

   

"How do you know?" Tara interrupted. Hope looked at her silently for a few minutes. After a while she smiled broadly and nodded her head.

   

"I'm very proud of you. Willow gave you extraordinary power...but instead of using it against me...you used it to protect your friend. I was rightabout you all along." Hope finished.

   

"Ummmm...is it just me or did she just not answer your question?" Faith asked Tara annoyed. Returning her attention to Hope she began to speak again. "Look lady I'm getting sick of your crypto 'I'm helping you but I'm not' talk. I'm not big on chasing my own tail here. Now...answer the fucking question. HOW DO YOU KNOW?"

   

"How I know is not your concern. You may choose to use the knowledge or not. It's up to you." Hope explained emotionless. "I note, however, we do not have much time left. It has been foreseen. At 7:30 A.M. a great sorceress will die and the world as you know it will change forever." Should I trust her? Should I trust her with my life....with all our lives? Hmmmm...the funny thing about defining moments is that the decisions are never easy.

   

"So tell me more about this red ball you were talking about earlier." I responded. Faith and Tara were not satisfied but followed my lead. Is this a trap? Have I changed our lives forever? Am I positioning myself in right spot at the right time?

   

There is only one way to find out.

   

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

   

Sunnydale High. Well...the ruins at least. It seems only fitting that Idie here. Right where it all started. Right where we first met.

   

"Tie her securely to the altar." Methos instructed Amy and Rack. Amy tightened the ropes that were holding my hands and Rack had a stiff expression on his face.

   

"What time is i