Greater London was in the middle of what could be best described as hell on earth. Well, not literally of course. The heat wave hit in the end of July and had been relentless ever since. At this hour of the day, people were just starting to come out of their homes and businesses because it was the only time the sun wasn’t beating down on them. It was an Indian summer.

Willow Rosenberg had spent most of the summer in quiet introspection. Working on new spells and studying with the Council filled most of her time. She could hardly wait to see Buffy again. It would be another day until she came for a much needed visit. Inwardly, she had to admit that she missed Buffy most of all. Only three short years ago was when they all parted after college graduation. She kept in touch with Xander, and Angel and Cordy who were still in LA.

When she thought of Buffy, she felt a longing there and something inside of her ached. It wasn’t a bad ache really, more of a comfort if anything else. Comfort because she knew she loved the slayer, after all they were best friends, and she knew Buffy loved her.

She sat down in the cool grass and leaned back against the tree. The sun had already begun to sink down and she was always grateful for this quiet time. She promised herself that she would do this every night no matter how much studying she had ahead of her. For some reason, watching the sunset made her feel like she wasn’t so far away from home. In those moments she thought about nothing and it was like she was a normal person with a normal life – not a witch residing in the a mansion full of stuffy tweed wearing Watchers. But who was she kidding? She’d be one of those stuffy Watchers soon enough.

The sun sank down and Willow sighed deeply. "It’s so beautiful tonight."

"I’d have to agree."

Willow was startled by the voice from behind her. Slowly she reached in her pocket for a stake and turned around.

"Buffy!" She dropped the stake and ran over to her friend. "When did you get in? Why didn’t you call? How are you?"

"Uh, just now, I wanted to surprise you, and fine . . .I think that about covers it." She smiled into the mane of red hair. "Giles told me I could find you here. I missed you, Will."

Willow pulled away to look at her friend. "You look great. . .you got a tan."

"Yes, which I’ve decided is an upside to fighting the powers of darkness. I kinda blend in." She noticed the stake on the ground and leaned over to pick it up. "Hey, you were gonna stake me?" She managed a mock pout.

"You can never be too careful." Willow shrugged and smiled back.

A strange expression began to play on Buffy’s face. "No, I guess you can’t."

All of a sudden, Willow found herself on the ground. Buffy knocked her down and was on top of her. They struggled, but the slayer was more than a match for her. "Buffy . . .what are you doing?"

Buffy smiled down at the red head. "Taking what I want." She vamped out and was at Willow’s neck in an instant.

Willow began to swoon. She couldn’t believe this was happening. <Buffy . . .they got Buffy.> Just as she was beginning to loose feeling in her limbs, Buffy pulled back and looked down at her.

"Mmm, you taste as good as I always thought you would . . .maybe even better." She licked her lips.

Willow tried to keep focused. "Who . . .who did this to you? What happened?" She blinked a few times. She tried to lift her head but the pain in her neck was too intense.

"Lets just say I ran into a little trouble in the sewers a few nights ago." She leaned in so they were nose to nose. "I had a choice. Die and never complete my destiny or live forever and stop you from completing yours." She leaned over and licked the side of her face and dropped her voice to a whisper. "Good choice, don’t you think?"

Willow tried to remain calm. "My . . .my destiny?"

Buffy pulled up so she could see Willow. She shifted out of vamp face and began to chant. "'One be the champion, one the eternal. One be the savior with struggle internal. One be the witch with powers for teaching. A prophesy fulfilled, effects far reaching. Each one in turn will save this earth, beginning with the slayer’s re-birth."

Willow struggled to hear the words, but she could feel the darkness creeping up on her. "Buffy, I don’t understand. . . I . ."

She was silenced by a cold finger against her lips. "Shh, Will . . .my sweet, sweet Willow. Don’t you see?" She began to nuzzle against Willow’s face. "It’s our destiny to be re-born, to live together forever in the night. . ."

Willow could hear purring coming from Buffy’s throat. Her breathing had become erratic and if she wasn’t in so much pain, she could swear she was turned on by this display. The purring stopped and Willow held her breath, afraid of what was coming next.

"Time is short my love." She leaned in a little closer. "Want, take, have." She vamped out and clamped down on Willow’s neck.

Willow felt the darkness closing in all too quickly. <This can’t be happening! No . . .no . . .NO!>

"NO!"

She was breathing heavily. <Breathing . . .I’m breathing.> Her hand shot up in the darkness to where Buffy had bitten her neck. She found no marks there, only beads of sweat. Slowly she focused her eyes and realized that she was in her room. Calming herself a little more, she tried to focus on everything she’d seen. <It was a dream . . .only a dream.>

There was a knock on the door. "Willow, it’s Giles . . are you alright?"

She took a deep breath. "Come in Giles."

"Are you alright? I thought I heard you screaming?" He stood in the doorway with a stake in one hand and a cross in the other.

"I had a dream. A very BAD dream."

He stood there in quiet contemplation for a moment. "Was it, um, anything like the others?"

Since Willow had begun her training as a watcher, she began to have prophetic dreams. Many of them were warnings about things to come and by working with the Council, they were able to avert catastrophe on many occasions.

"Yes . . but this one was worse." She looked up at him. "Buffy was. . .Buffy was a vampire, Giles, and she came here to turn me. She said something about stopping me from fulfilling my destiny. Only, she used words that rhymed."

"Oh, dear." He took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Try to get some sleep and we’ll notify the council in the morning." He turned to go but stopped short. "What time do you pick her up tomorrow?"

"Noon."

"Good, good. Very well then. Try to get some sleep." He walked out and closed the door.

-----------------------

"Flight 6984 arriving from Los Angeles, United States, gate 42, gate 4 - 2"

Willow broke into a full sprint down the corridor. She’d overslept and Giles was out so he was unable to wake her up. She arrived at the gate just as the passengers were pouring out. She leaned against a pole to catch her breath and kept one eye out for Buffy. She tried to get back to sleep after the dream, but every time she closed her eyes Buffy’s words came back to haunt her. But the other part, the sexy, purring, licking part. . . .Willow’s pulse quickened just thinking about it.

"Mmm, heavy breathing. Anyone I know, Will?"

She spun around and came face to face with the slayer.

"Huh? Buffy. . .No, I was late and, my alarm didn’t go off and . . .I ran." She smiled and brushed the hair away from her forehead.

"I can see that. So are you just gonna stand there and pant at me or do I get a hug?" She looked up at her through her eyelashes.

"Of course, come over here." She enveloped the slayer in a hug. Slowly she reached up and put two fingers on her neck. <Good, she has a pulse. That’s always a good sign.>

Buffy noticed the odd gesture and pulled away. "Will? What’s going on?"

"Nothing, really. Come on, I’ll explain on the way to the mansion."

"Okay, but . . .It’s not every day your best friend checks your pulse."

Willow gave her a disbelieving look.

"Then again . . .Hellmouth being our home town and all . . ."

Smiling back at her, the two girls made their way to the baggage carousel and then to customs.

------------

Willow was fussing around the kitchen, trying to find something to eat.

"Willow, you’re back."

She turned around. "Yeah, just got in about a half hour ago." She smiled.

". . .and Buffy, she’s, ah . . ."

"Sleeping Giles. And totally with a pulse. I was going to take her on a tour of the mansion, but the next thing I knew she was getting cozy with my pillows."

"Jet lag . . .I see." He smiled and put on a pot of tea. "Willow, we must talk about your, um, episode last night. The Council wants to launch an investigation and. . ."

She came around and sat down at the table. "I know, Giles, I know."

He smiled at her at the opposite end of the table. "Now, the dream . . "

"It was strange. I was watching the sun set and suddenly Buffy was behind me. We hugged, and at first I thought there was a vamp behind me, so I had a stake and . . ."

They delved into the meaning of her dream for the next three hours. Giles tried to draw every detail out of her and with each new discovery, he jotted down notes. They came to the conclusion that it may be a prophetic telling, and decided to notify the council at once of what they’d discovered.

". . .it was just so real, Giles. It really weirded me out. I haven’t felt like that since we left Sunnydale. I mean, she was on top of me, and I was swooning from the loss of blood, her teeth were clamped down on my neck and . . ."

"What!?" Buffy rushed to Willow’s side and began to examine her. "Where? Who bit you? Are you alright…..I’ll kill them, Will, I swear. . ."

She reached out and stopped her friend’s musings. "No, Buffy, it’s okay. It was a just a dream I had last night, that’s all." She smiled.

It took a moment for it to register. "Are you sure?"

Willow was touched by her concern. "I’m sure. . .look . . .no fang marks." She tilted her head to demonstrate the point.

"It’s nice to see you too, Buffy." Giles broke in.

"Giles!" She went to the other side of the table to give him a hug. "It’s so great to see you. How have you been?"

"Very busy with Council affairs as usual." He was glad to see her again after all these years. "How is your mother?"

"Fine, fine . . .everyone is good. Mom is in charge of the Gallery now. They actually let her invest some of her own money, so now she has more of a say in what goes on there. Xander is working at the Bronze collecting at the door and still living in his parents basement. I haven’t heard from Angel and Cordelia in a few months, I guess no news is good news."

"I spoke with Cordelia recently. Seems the business is going well and our favorite vampire with a soul has his hands full." Willow chimed in.

"Swell." Buffy rolled her eyes. Angel was apparently still a sore spot with her.

Willow picked up on the gaffe and decided to change the subject. "Why don’t I give you that tour I promised earlier?"

Buffy agreed and they left Giles with his tea and notes.

They made their way through the entire mansion. Each floor was equipped with a training room, a library, a den with a fireplace and a kitchen. From what Buffy surmised, Willow had one of the best rooms in the entire place and it was in the center of the house with windows looking out to a beautiful garden.

"And here we are back at our room." They had come full circle through out the entire house. Willow noted Buffy’s confused expression and began to explain. "You’ll have to stay with me because there’s a convention in town. The Watcher’s council get together every three months to go over business in person. They come from all over the world . . and they have to sleep someplace."

"It’s not a problem, Will. It’ll be just like old times." Buffy offered as they entered the room. She turned around to face her friend. "There’s one thing I don’t get though. You’ve been here for three years, and I know that the Council has a lot of old retired Watchers laying around, so why’d you get the primo room? I mean, it’s not that I don’t think you deserve it, but it struck me as strange."

Willow listened and was unsure of how to answer her question, or if she even wanted to right this minute. It would bring up so many other questions . . .questions she just didn’t feel like going into right then. "It’s a long story, Buffy. Let’s just say that I’m a favored pupil of the Council and they’re going to great lengths to make me comfortable while I study."

"Comfort isn’t the word I’d use, Will . . .this is luxurious!" She flopped down on the bed with her arms spread out.

There was a knock at the door and a disembodied voice came from behind it. "Miss Rosenberg, you’re evening meal is prepared. Will you and your guest be taking it in your private study?"

She looked up and gave Buffy a guilty grin. "Yes, James. We’ll be up in a moment."

"Very well, Miss." They heard his footsteps retreating down the hall.

Willow got up and tried her best to avoid her friend’s gaze.

"Private study?"

"Buffy . . ."

"Miss Rosenberg?" Buffy walked around the bed to her side.

"Come on, Buffy. Cut it out."

"Evening meal? Is the soon-to-be-watcher too good to eat with her kind?" Buffy jabbed at her for good measure.

"Cut it out." She gave a defeated sigh. "It’s just some of life’s guilty pleasures. Let’s go eat."

They approached an elevator. Willow punched in a sequence of numbers, it opened up, and they stepped inside. Moments later the door opened to what was the most interesting collection of things Buffy had ever seen in one room before, yet, it was all very Willowy. "Will, this is . . .this is amazing!" She stepped out and began to inspect everything.

Upon closer inspection, Buffy realized that the room was a half circle and they were on the topmost floor of the mansion. "You have a computer center and over here are all kinds of books. . .some of them I can’t even pronounce! Then there’s this part where all of your witchy stuff is . . .hey, is that a cauldron!? Do you actually do spells here? You’ve got a wide screen TV and a state of the art entertainment center. . . .and those couches look comfy enough to drift to sleep on. You’ve got everything here . . .it’s like . . .it’s like a wet dream!" She flopped down on the sofa and decided to test her theory. "Mmm, even better than I imagined."

Willow stood at the elevator amused by the excited display Buffy just put on. "It’s not that big a deal, Buffy. I guess I’m used to it." She crossed the room and joined her on the couch.

"Well, I could definitely get used to this. Too bad the Hellmouth has to be across the sea, this slayer could use some pampering."

They finished dinner and Buffy suggested they watch a movie. Willow led her over to a cabinet recessed in the wall and told her to pick what ever she wanted.

"You’ve got to be kidding me, Will. Some of these aren’t even out of the theaters yet back home." One particular title caught her eye. "How about this one?" Buffy held up the box.

"Uh uh, no way Buffy. Do you know how many times I’ve seen that already?" Willow hoped she wasn’t serious.

"Come on, pretty please . . .with a cherry on top?" She resorted to the eyes.

"No, not the slayer eyes again? Really, Buffy . . .exactly how many times can you watch him drown?"

"At last count? Seventeen."

"Aw, man. . . how many times can you hear my heart will go on, and on, and on and on . . ." She pouted some more and Willow caved. "Fine. Pop it in, but I get the control and you make the popcorn."

"Deal." Buffy headed for the elevators. "Um, Will . . .that whole keypad thingy. How do I get back up here?"

"Oh, sorry. The code is 0-3-1-0-9-7. Then press the OK key twice."

Buffy repeated the sequence to herself a few times then was off to make popcorn.

-----------------

Back in the US

"Angel investigations. . .we help the hopeless."

Angel was lurking around the office when the phone rang. He caught clips of the conversation but nothing he could figure out. He’d been in LA for over three years now. It was tough at first, but with Doyle and Cordelia’s help, he finally found his nitch in the world. Doyle. The vampire couldn’t help but think of the demon from time to time. He’d given his life to save the world from The Scourge and Angel couldn’t help but think sometimes it was too heavy a price to pay.

"Angel?"

He was shaken out of his reverie by the brunette in front of him. "Yeah."

"What planet were you on?" She scoffed at him. "That was Giles on the phone, looks like the council might need your help."

"The council, huh?"

"Yes, and before you go and get all broody, I already told him that there’d be a fee involved. You’re not a free agent anymore."

He smiled. Good old Cordelia . . .she never changes. "And what did he say?"

"He said the council would pay what ever we asked them to. Do you know what that means, Angel? I can finally get a decent manicure and we can get a decorator in here to liven up the office. I mean, the boss may be dead, but, that so doesn’t mean the décor has to be." She flashed him a smile and took a step towards him.

"Anything we ask them? This has to be pretty big Cordy." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Don’t think you’re gonna blow this like the last time. Bills first, fun later. Got it?" He tried to give her a reprimanding look and almost pulled it off. Except, she was looking at him in THAT way. "Don’t give me that look Cordelia."

"What look?" She asked innocently.

"The look that you get right before I cave in and give you anything you want." He looked down at her and furrowed his brow.

She stood on her toes and brushed her lips against his. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

--------------------

Giles emerged from the elevator. "Good, you’re both here. I have some news." He approached the couch where the two girls were sitting. "Good, God . . .has something happened? What’s wrong?"

Buffy was wiping her nose and sniffling. Willow on the other hand seemed unaffected. She looked up and him and shrugged. "Um, Titanic."

He looked appalled. "I see. Well, no time for that now. The council has come to a decision about your vision, Willow, and. . ."

"Vision? What Vision? What’s going on, Will?"

Willow sank lower into the couch.

"Apparently you haven’t told her yet." Giles asked in her direction. She shook her head no. "Well, I’m going to let this wait until tomorrow then. You should explain everything to Buffy. We have work to do." He rose to go and stopped short at the elevator. "Willow, please try to not leave anything out, will you?" She gave him a horrified look but he smiled and left.

They sat there in silence for a few moments. Willow was trying to figure out where to begin.

"So?" Buffy gave her a look.

"So. . ." She sighed. "I don’t know where to begin. So much has happened to me in the past three years Buffy. . .I’m different now. . .everything is so different."

"Well, that’s as good a place to start as any." She sat up and faced the red head. "How are you different?"

"I was coming back to the house from the library one night. It had almost been a year and I hadn’t seen any kind of activity, so I let my guard down. I was almost to the gate when I was attacked by a cadre of vampires and an icky green slimy demon." She closed her eyes reliving the moment. "I was mortally wounded, Buffy, and the council was beside themselves. The summoned Giles from Sunnydale, hoping that he’d get there before it was too late."

Buffy sat in a state of shock. "I remember when he left. . .he said it was council business . . ."

"Yes, they told him not to tell you. You had your duties and couldn’t be distracted. He arrived and met with the Council. They decided that the best way to deal with this was to plead with a higher court. Giles went off to contact The Powers That Be."

Buffy looked thoughtful for a moment. "I thought that was only a saying?"

"No, they’re real, believe me. I owe my life to them, and Giles. So he make his plea to them for my life. He was gone for two days, the Council had almost given up on him. He pulled through. He came back with a liquid of some kind and had me drink it. Almost immediately I felt better, but different."

Buffy sighed. "Let me guess, there was a price."

"You could say that. In order for the Powers That Be to spare my life, they needed something in return. The elixir contained healing elements, but it also included some elements you find in a slayer." Willow paused to gauge her reaction. "I’m nowhere near a slayer, but close. I have the ability to predict future situations through dreams, slayer healing powers and slayer sense. That mixed in with my witchy ways . . .well, lets just say that I think it worked more in their favor than mine."

Buffy sat quiet for a moment trying to absorb everything she was saying. "So you’re working for the Powers That Be?"

"Not exactly. I work for the Council and the Council works to achieve the goals of the PTB. That’s what all the fuss and muss over me is about. I don’t owe the Council anything, I owe Giles. I made them very aware of that. So in order to get me to stay, they hired him back to work with me."

"I see. That’s why he never came back."

"That and. . . " She hesitated a little. "There’s something big coming up, Buffy. Really big. I had a dream the night before you got here. Giles and I went over it and, well . . ."

"Let me guess. I’m involved." She sat back and closed her eyes. This was going to be some ‘vacation’. A million thoughts ran through her mind. Giles . . Willow . . working for the Council . . .the Powers That Be. It was all too much to digest right now.

Willow reached over and touched her arm. Buffy startled a little and looked over at her.

"I know Buffy. It’s hard to understand."

She got up and began to pace. "No, you don’t know, Will. How . . .why didn’t you and Giles tell me any of this? I’m a big slayer now, I could have handled it." She ran her hands through her hair in frustration. "You almost died! I almost lost my best friend and I learn about it now, three years after the fact?"

Willow rose and inched over to her. "Buffy, it was my decision not to tell you. I thought you had your plate full and didn’t want to worry you. There wasn’t anything you could have done but worry. We both know you couldn’t have left Sunnydale." She reached up and put her hand on her shoulder. "Besides, look at me . . ." She lifted Buffy’s chin up and noted the tears. "This is me, standing in front of you . . not dead."

"Not funny, Will." It was all to much for her. She let out a sigh and leaned into Willow for a hug.

She gathered the sobbing slayer in her arms. She reflected on everything she’d said and couldn’t believe herself when she thought of the things she’d gone through. It was for a higher purpose though. Wasn’t it? There had to be some sort of gold ring to latch on to after all of this.

Buffy straightened up and looked into her friend’s eyes. "I’m sorry, Will. I shouldn’t have lost it like that."

Willow reached up and touched her cheek. "It’s okay, Buffy, really. I’ve been known as your crying pillow on more than one occasion you know. I kind of missed it." She smiled hoping to lighten the mood.

"But Will, you’re so . . .detached. It’s like you’re reading a script or something. Come on, am I the only one allowed to shed a few tears here? What’s with you?" She looked at her, but her facial expression never changed. "Will?"

Willow sighed in defeat. <Giles did tell me to tell her everything.> "Buffy, the work I do, it’s . . .it’s really hard. The council has been a great resource for me, and I’m improving my spells and gaining more control over them every day." She tried to sound enthusiastic, but from Buffy’s expression she could tell she wasn’t buying it.

"Come on, Will. You’re avoiding the question. . ."

"Okay, well. . .The council gave me a mentor to study with. They thought that honing my Wiccan skills would just be an added bonus. In order to remain focused, my mentor gave me a gemstone to help me be unbiased about the prophesies and visions and all the work I’m to be involved in. It’s called the Gem of NoiTome, pronounced no – to – may. It keeps my emotions in check." Willow lifted her hand and showed Buffy the small ring on her left middle finger. It had a thin silver band with a petite setting. The gem glowed with a dark gray hue. It almost looked like it was made for Willow’s slender finger.

"So this ring thingy keeps you from feeling extreme emotion?" Buffy shook her head in disapproval. "I don’t like it, Will. . .it’s not natural." She reached out to try and touch it and was met with a little electrical shock. "Ow! That didn’t tickle."

"Only the person who wears it can take it off. It’s not that bad, really. I can take it off. . .and it’s not like I’m numb or anything. . .the ring stores up all of my unfelt emotions and when I remove it, I can feel them naturally as if they were happening right then. The good thing is I don’t have to feel them all at once. I can do it slowly and kind of de-charge the ring until they’re all gone. It’s just a precaution."

"I still don’t like it. I knew there was something up with you . . you just weren’t acting like yourself." Again, Buffy shook her head.

"Myself? What? You miss the angsty, unsure heap of no-self-confidence that was once me?"

Buffy thought long and hard about it. "Yes, yes I do. I miss the real Willow. That’s who you are, Will. And no ring is going to change it. You lead with your heart and take other people’s feelings into consideration. You weigh the consequences, both emotional and physical. . . that’s what’s always been so great about you. That’s the Willow that’s my best friend." Buffy was becoming agitated. "Not this, this uncaring calculating walking watcher-thing you’ve turned into! What the hell have they don’t to you here?"

Willow walked away from her. "I’ve changed, Buffy. You didn’t expect me to change at all in three years? I can’t even begin to think of how much I owe to the Council. I have a life here now, and I have a job for as long as they need me . . maybe even longer. Retired Watchers have it really good you know." She was calm, cool and collected. . .and it chilled Buffy right to the core.

"I’m not going to get anywhere with you while your wearing that thing. Take it off so I can talk to the real Willow." Buffy came up behind her and crossed her arms across her chest.

Willow turned around and sighed. "This is the real Willow, Buffy. I told you, I’ve changed." She reached up and unfolded Buffy’s arms and took her hand into her own. "I need to make one thing clear to you. I can’t ever let you see me without the ring. It’s just too difficult for you to handle." Willow detected a protest form on her lips and shook her head, needing to go on. "No, it’s not going to happen. I made the mistake of letting Giles be there once. He stayed with me for two days and it took me a week to convince him to not kidnap me and take me back to Sunnydale. We’re working for a greater good here, and there are certain sacrifices that need to be made. This is one of them."

Buffy saw her resolve face and knew she didn’t stand a chance. For now, anyway. "Can you at least take it off sometime after you’ve de-charged it or whatever? When there isn’t a threat of danger?"

Willow knew her friend was only trying to look out for her. "I’ll consider it. I’m not making any promises though."

Buffy pulled her into a hug. "If I had known, Will. I could have been there for you. . .but all your letters said you were okay and I believed you. I should have known something was up when you wouldn’t return my calls. I should have come sooner."

"I didn’t want you to know, Buffy. I had to do this, start my future, alone. Please understand."

"I know, and I do understand in a way. You have a job, you have obligations. Believe me, I know about sacrifices." She inhaled deeply and exhaled. She realized she almost forgot how good it was to be in her best friends arms again, to have her senses invaded by all that was Willow. "You feel good, Will. I missed this."

Willow nuzzled in closer to the slayer. "I missed it too." She closed her eyes and smiled. "More than you’ll ever know." She smiled under the blonde mane that curtained her face. After a few minutes she broke away. "Come on, I think we both need some sleep. Giles will want us up bright and early tomorrow."

Buffy moaned a little but knew she was right. They headed for the elevator arm in arm.

-----------------

"I don’t like it, Giles. You have to at least give her some warning . . ." They had been on the phone for over an hour. Angel was still trying to convince him to tell Buffy they were coming to London, but Giles wouldn’t even consider it.

"No, Angel. I cannot. We can’t give her time to process this. She’ll know how dire the situation is as soon as you walk through the door. There are things you can do, people you know, that no one else has the resources for." He removed his glasses and sighed. "She’ll get over it. We’ll all be much too busy to think about high school crushes and love lost. Don’t you agree?"

"I just hope you’re right." He hesitated, not knowing how to approach the subject. "Giles, there’s something you need to know. Cordelia and I, well . . .we have a different relationship now. It’s more . . ."

"Intimate. I see. I trust you’re both careful?" This was just another wrench to throw into the works.

"Willow’s curse . . .when she cursed me with my soul again, she must have done it wrong, or right. I suppose it’s how you look at it." He was struggling.

"Your soul is permanent then?" He sighed on the other end of the receiver. "And you chose now to make me aware of this little fact?"

"I didn’t know until recently. The Powers That Be told me about it. That’s when Cordy and I . . ."

"I really don’t need a play by play, Angel." He just couldn’t believe what he was hearing. "I suppose Xander would say in this situation that you’re sending me to a scary visual place."

The vampire chuckled. "Yeah, I guess so." He cleared his throat and changed the subject. "So, we’ll be there in three days. I received the tickets by messenger from the Council. . .on their tab I’ll assume."

"Yes, indeed. We’ll see you then. Have a safe trip." Giles hung up the phone.

He was sipping tea in his private study. After he came back into favor with the Council, he was given back all of his old privileges. But what price had he paid? What price had Willow paid for it all? He looked back on the past three years with some regret, and some fond memories. He always knew she was headed for much bigger things than any of them could imagine. He just never imagined it would all happen so soon.

<She’s had to grow up so fast in these three short years. The life she’s committed herself to . . .I don’t think I’d wish it on even Ethan. I still don’t fully trust the Council either.>

He sighed and absentmindedly sipped his tea. In the short time the three of them had been reunited in the kitchen and then in Willow’s study, he knew Buffy’s mind was turning everything she’d seen over in her mind. It was only a matter of time until she found out about the gem, and all the things Willow had to sacrifice.

<That damn gem! I should have smashed it into oblivion when I had the chance.>

He looked back on those two days he’d spent with Willow with much regret.

<The things she’s gone through, the things she’s seen. . . I can’t even imagine how she must have felt when . . >

He let his mind move on to more pleasant thoughts. There was no use in dwelling on things he didn’t have the power to change.

He smiled thinking about how close they’d become. It was much like a father and daughter relationship. She respected him immensely and the feeling was returned. He thought Buffy being here would do her some good, maybe even give her a few hours without that blasted ring. Now, with the dream she’d had it was as he feared. They were all headed on a collision course with destiny. He shivered and knew . . things would never be the same for any of them.

-----------------

As soon as she heard the soft rhythm of Buffy’s breathing, Willow slipped out the door and made her way to Giles’ study. She knocked on the door. "Giles? Are you up?" She opened the door a little and spotted him in his recliner by the fireplace.

"Yes, come in, Willow." He sat up and gave her his attention. "Is something troubling you?"

"No, just reporting to duty." She gave him a mock salute. "I told her. Everything more or less. I haven’t told her about the dream yet, though. I thought it could wait until we were all together." She moved over and sat opposite him.

"More or less?" He arched his eyebrows, urging her to continue.

"Everything important. I didn’t tell her about, that time." She shrugged her shoulders. "I didn’t think it was important right now. It’ll keep."

Giles shook his head in disapproval. "Absolutely not. I thought we agreed that you would tell her about it. It’s the only way you are going to heal, Willow." He sat forward and looked imploringly into her face and took her hand. "Not with this blasted gem!" He gave her hand a squeeze for good measure. "The Council never would have let her come otherwise. They realize how important she is to you and she’s the one who can help you heal."

"Giles don’t do this now. . ."

He stood, angered by her offish ness. "That damn gem. I have no choice, Willow, you must realize that. If you do not start the healing process WITHOUT it. . .the Council will see it fit to take it away from you and force you to deal with all that has happened." He turned to her and knelt down in front of where she was sitting. "They’ve informed me of as much. . . .you have no choice. You’re no good to anyone, or yourself, if you continue on in this manner."

Willow knew what he was saying was true. "Giles, I told her that she can’t see me without it. That it would be too hard for her to handle. She’s never seen me like that . . .you know how she gets and if it’s anything like what you went through then. . ." As she spoke, she inched the ring higher and higher up her finger and brought his attention to it. "I can control it Giles. The more it comes off, the more I feel." She closed her eyes, feeling the all too familiar ocean of emotions begin to sweep her away. "You have to try and understand how hard this is for me. Can you?" She looked at him and a lone tear fell from her eye.

He was moved at her plea. "I do understand. But you must understand also. There are precautions we can take. She can be put under protection. And if you choose, the council will see to it that she forgets." He felt a bit more reassured now. He felt a glimmer of hope that he was actually getting through to her. "They want to arrange for you to take a trip to Callaway. It’s a small fishing village down south. They have a retreat house there and it’s as good a spot as any for a small vacation of sorts. I assure you, you won’t be bothered." He looked down and noticed that the ring was back secured on her finger.

". . .But we have so much work to do, dreams to interpret. . ." She was self assured again.

"I will keep . . .at least for the next few weeks. I’ve called in some back up and . . ."

Willow nodded her head in acknowledgement. "Angel and Cordelia , I figured as much."

"You must understand, he has the ability to contact others, and his resources alone. . ."

"You don’t have to justify yourself to me Giles. I’ve never questioned you before." She gave him a little smile. "I just wonder how Buffy’s gonna take seeing them together. She’ll know something is going on."

He looked at her puzzled. "Am I always the last one to find out?"

"I called Angel at his apartment about a month ago. I forgot about the time difference and must have woken them up. Cordy answered the phone and, well . . .I caught them red handed so to speak."

"I see. Well . . ." He stood up and paced around a little. "Should I tell the Council you’ve agreed to go?"

"I don’t see what choice I have. I hope you know what you’re doing. All of you."

"Don’t worry about Buffy. She’ll be able to handle this far better than either one of us will give her credit for. I’ll explain to her in the morning and you two should be packed and ready to go by supper time. Agreed?"

Willow rose and headed for the door. Before slipping out she nodded her head and whispered. "Agreed."

END PART I

------------

". . .I'm afraid the only way to describe it is addiction. She's become dependant on the

ring and the Council is worried about the effect it's having on her." He turned to the

slayer and dropped his voice. 'I tried Buffy. God help me, I tried. You don't know how

many times I've wanted to smash it . . .but it's a necessity to her position."

"So they want to send her on a little mental vacation so she can get deprogrammed and not

need it anymore?" She still had so many questions and was trying to follow the best she

could.

"I'm afraid that's not possible. As long as she works for the Council, she will always

need the ring. Right now, it's a matter of life and death that she, temporarily at least,

live without it. There are things that have happened to her, things she refused to deal

with and the Council, myself included, is worried that it could mean . . ." He was unable

to continue.

Buffy realized, maybe for the first time, the severity of the situation. "This is really

bad, Giles, isn't it?" She wasn't sure, but it almost looked as if he was going to cry.

He took a few moments to compose himself and continued on. "I'll assume she told you

about when she was attacked . . .when we almost lost her?" Buffy nodded her head. "She

was taken by the cadre of vampires, not just attacked." He turned away unable to face

her. "She was raped, Buffy. The demon that was with them raped her while the vampires

watched and drank from her. She was left for dead in a back ally not far from the

mansion. They did it to make an example of her. To make an example of the Council, to

show them that they weren't that powerful after all. To show that they could infiltrate

the ranks, that they had the power." He sighed heavily. "It was one of the novice

watchers, the demon that is. He befriended her. He was a shape shifter and was living

here all along." He banged his fist on the table and Buffy jumped. "He was my charge. I

was assigned to train him and I never saw it. Never saw the monster for what he truly

was. She was found by chance. Quentin was out for a walk and found her there. . .almost

completely drained." He waited a few moments then came around the table to sit next to

her. "Do you see now why I had to stay? Why I couldn't abandon her? I felt so

responsible . . ."

"It wasn't your fault, Giles." Buffy wiped the tears from her eyes and placed her hand on

his for comfort. "If a houseful of Watchers and slayers-in-training couldn't see it . .

then how could you?"

He smiled at the simple truth of it. "Yes, I suppose you're right. You need to take care

of her, Buffy. Help her heal. Try your hardest, would you?"

Buffy nodded and leaned over to give him a hug. "I will, Giles. I promise."

Willow walked into the kitchen and caught sight of them there. "I see you two have been

plotting my demise?" She walked over and opened the refrigerator for closer inspection.

They were shaken at her presence. Buffy spoke up. "No. . . no demise plotting here."

She managed a weak smile.

Willow turned around and scrutinized them both. "I see. And I suppose the tears are just

because you're so happy that we're having turkey for dinner?" She arched her eyebrows and

went back to her task.

Buffy gave Giles a surprised look, and then directed her attention to the girl in front of

her. "Gee, Will, callous much?"

She didn't turn around and gave her reply to no one in particular. "If I didn't have my

ring on I'd be really insulted by that remark." She dead-panned.

<That's it!> Buffy got up and stalked up to her. She grabbed her shoulder and turned her

around. "Enjoy your monotone-melancholy little performance while you can, Red." She

grabbed her hand and held it up between them. "You're not gonna have this security

blanket much longer."

Giles tried to defuse the situation. "Yes, well . . .I'll assume you're both packed and

ready to go?"

Without taking her eyes off of the enraged slayer, Willow responded. "About as ready as

I'll ever be I suppose." She broke from her grasp and headed out the door.

Buffy stood there in shock. "How can you stand her like that, Giles?" She motioned to

the door. "Three years ago, she never would have . . ."

"No, she wouldn't. You must realize what you're dealing with, Buffy. If you're not up to

it, then . . ."

"Believe me Giles, I'm up to it." She walked up to him. "I'm all over being up to it."

She exited the same way Willow went just moments before.

He stood there for a moment and ran his hand through his hair. <For her sake, I hope you

are.>

-------------

The ride to the cottage was made in relative silence. Buffy attempted about two minutes

worth of conversation until Willow pulled her headphones over her ears for the rest of the

trip. They traveled along the coast for about three hours until they came upon a small

village. The driver rolled the divider window down and announced that they'd be there in

ten minutes.

<Great. Let the games begin.> Willow heard him through the headphones and began for the

thousandth time to reconsider her position. <I don't know if I can do this.>

They walked into the cottage and the driver left the bags by the door. "James will be

staying in the servant's quarters. He's been instructed to prepare your meals and perform

all household duties. Beyond that, he will not interfere." The driver fished around in

his pocket and produced a letter. "These are some final instructions from Mr. Giles. I'm

sure you'll find everything you need." He handed it to Willow, tipped his hat, and was

out the door. A few moments later they heard the car pull away.

Willow opened the letter and began to read:

Dear Willow and Buffy,

I hope this finds you both well and safe within the cottage. You have all the supplies

you need and James will tend to the house. There is no reason for either of you to be

discouraged in this task. I'm sure you will face it together. The Council has informed me

that the ring will slowly deactivate itself. It will not go any faster or slower than

either of you can handle. I pray that this brings you both closer; but most of all, it

brings you, Willow, closer to healing. You're in my thoughts, Giles.

---------------------

"You know we wouldn't do it if it wasn't absolutely necessary, don't you Rupert?"

Giles was gazing out the window. "I know Quentin. I just hope it works. Our lives

depend on it."

-------------------

"I still don't understand why we have to go so soon. We don't leave for another day and I

haven't even packed my walking shoes."

Angel looked up at her and past her shoulder. The suitcases where spread from the door to

the kitchen. "I have to go see the Powers That Be."

"Since when do you read Dr. Seuss?" She chuckled at him.

"What?" He realized what he'd said and smiled. "I'm serious Cordy."

"Fine. But if I break a nail rushing, you're paying for one of those Paris manicures."

----------------------

A week later in Callaway.

"Will . . ."

"No."

They had been arguing with the bathroom door between them for over an hour now. It had

been a rough week. <Giles wasn't kidding when he said this was gonna be tough.> "Come

on, Will. I won't do it again. I swear."

"You swear?"

"Yes. Now would you please come out?" She saw the door creak open a little and pushed it

back the rest of the way. Buffy looked over at her cautiously. "I'm sorry, Will. Not

until you're ready, I promise."

Buffy had made the mistake of trying to take the ring off her finger when she was

napping. She forgot about the little security system it had and yanked so hard the shock

sent her back a few feet. Willow woke up from the charge and made a bee-line for the

bathroom.

"Okay then." She looked down at her from her perch on the counter.

"You still hungry? I could make us something to eat?"

"Mmm, no. I'm alright." She managed a little half smile. "Let's go watch some TV."

Buffy sat next to her and took Giles' coveted position . . .she watched. She noticed that

Willow had already begun to change and her emotions were beginning to surface. As Giles

promised, it wasn't happening too fast, giving them both enough time to adjust to the

changes. Buffy already saw hints of the old Willow come through. She figured it would

only be a matter of time before she was alright again.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Willow looked over to her.

"Ah, nothing really. Just thinking about how much I missed you is all."

"Yeah, it's been a while since we were able to do this. . .Just sit around in our PJ's

watching TV." She smiled. "I forgot how nice it felt . . ." to be near you, and look

into your eyes and know that I'll be ok because that's what you believe and I believe it

because you do. <Well, that's what I wanted to say anyway.>

Buffy noted the thoughtful expression on her face and decided to press on. "I . . .Will,

Giles told me about . . ."

"I figured as much when I walked into the kitchen with you two huddled up" She looked

down and began to play with the ring. "It was so horrible, Buffy. . ." The ring came off

a little more. "I never thought I could feel so horrible about anything, ever."

<This may turn out to be a long night.> "Giles said that he was a watcher in training.

That no one knew he was a demon."

"A novice, and yes, a demon." She concentrated mostly on the ring. She was shifting it

back and forth between two fingers now. "There's more, Buffy. There's so much more . .

"

"Take your time, Will. I'm not going anywhere."

--------------

"Giles, are you sure?" Angel was staring at the sketch as if it would jump off the page

any minute. "This is the thing that attacked her?" He motioned to the sketch on the

table and continued to pace.

"Yes. She drew it herself. We told her it wasn't necessary, but . . ."Giles noted the

agitation the vampire had worked himself into. "Angel. . ."

It's a rogue . . .it was probably banished from the clan because of something unforgivable

it had done." He stopped and motioned to the sketch on the table. "The collar it has on

can tell you as much . . .do you have any idea what it takes for a demon to banish it's

own kind? Whatever it did, must have been . . "

"I can't even begin to imagine." Giles picked up the sketch again then brought his

attention back to the vampire. "You know what this is, don't you?"

He shook his head. "I can't be sure."

"If you have any idea, Angel, it will be the only idea any of us have had in three years.

Please."

He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms in front of him. After a few moments he

began to speak. "It's a Mohra Demon. Their blood has regenerative powers . .it can

re-animate a vampire, or any dead creature, and make it live again."

Giles was on his feet. "And you know of this thing how?" He raised his voice . .

possibly in fear.

"I was attacked by one once. I contacted the Powers That Be and they told me how to

destroy it. You have to smash the jewel in it's forehead." He gave the man a few moments

to process the information. "There's more, Giles."

He sighed. "There bloody well always is."

"Mohra Demons are powerful assassins. Their purpose is to kill individuals on the side of

Good. They are dual examples of evil-as-corruption, because they defend evil's ability to

destroy, and they have a goal of bringing the apocalypse."

"Hell on earth and the end of days."

Angel could do nothing but nod in agreement.

He lurked behind the door, listening intently to the entire conversation. <Damn. They

weren't suppose to find out so soon.> He rubbed his temples in deep thought before taking

off down the hall.

------------------

Willow got off the couch and began to pace around the room. "It's frowned upon by the

Council. . .but I . . .we were seeing each other. I was involved with him for about a

month before." She stopped at the bay windows and looked out at nothing in particular.

"I trusted him. . .I thought he was different, I thought I was . . special."

Buffy realized what she'd been so scared of. She was seeing a demon and didn't even know

it. He tricked her. <And for that he must die!>

"We were walking back from the library . . .a-and the vampires descended on us right

before we got to the mansion. . .I was here for a year . . .there wasn't any activity and

I thought I was safe. . .I ran . . .I ran so fast I thought my chest would explode, then I

ran some more." She was crying now, the ring had fallen to her feet.

Buffy approached her slowly. The last thing she wanted to do was startle her. She saw

Willow look up into the glass and notice her approach.

She whispered. "I'm okay . . .just give me a second." She saw Buffy nod in

acknowledgement. She closed her eyes and pressed on. "There were four or five of them . .

they took me to an ally . . .it was dark, there was a dumpster there and a lamp post a

few feet away. . .the ground was warm from the sun that afternoon." She sniffled and

wiped her nose with her sleeve. "They held me down . . .they fed off of me a-and he . .

he changed right in front of me, it was so disgusting." She made a little face as a

shiver ran down her spine. "He got on top of me and I felt him, IT, go in . . .I must

have passed out from the loss of blood. . .or it was a side effect of the fear." She gave

a cynical chuckle. "Next thing I knew, Quentin was kneeling down next to me telling me

not to move." She turned around to face Buffy and leaned on the window pane for support.

"Giles was flown in the next day and two day's later he brought me the elixir. . .I was

able to sit up within ten minutes." She sighed. "The next day, my mentor gave me the

ring." She looked down at it on the rug.

Buffy nodded her head sadly. She looked over at the clock on the wall. It was 4am

------------

"This girl grows stronger . . .I can feel it." He gave a menacing look to the band of

vampires before him. He got up from the throne and began to pace around the room. "She

should have been destroyed when you had the chance!" The walls shook with the boom of his

voice. They all dropped to their knees and cowered. "She will not defeat me, they will

NOT win!" A thunder clap could be heard in the distance. "So help me, if my plans are

detained in anyway, it will be your heads mounted on these walls! All of you!"

------------

"Will . . ."

She remain still and continued to lean against the window with her eyes closed. Silent

tears streamed down her cheeks attesting to the events of the night, and bearing witness

to all she'd felt, or, was unable to feel. She opened her eyes and saw the sadness

mirrored back by the face that studied her.

Buffy took a chance and tried to reach out for her.

Willow pressed herself closer to the window, if that was possible. She shook her head and

looked down at the floor. "No . . .don't." She wiped the tears away. "You can't . . .I

don't want you to." She looked up at the girl in front of her. "I . . .you can't touch

me . . .I don't want you to . . I'm . . .I feel so dirty, Buffy."

A sob escaped from her throat and her hand went to her mouth. She wanted to help her, so

much. She didn't know what she could do, she felt like her hands were tied. "Will, I

want to help you. Please, let me. I don't know what you're feeling, I can't even begin

to imagine. . .but no matter what happens to you, no matter how much you change or what

you do, good or bad, I love you." She took a step closer. "I love the gawky shy hacker,

I love the wiccan, I love the soon to be watcher." She smiled at her and took a breath.

"And yes, I even love the person who feels dirty. There's no two ways about it, Will. .

I just love you."

That's all it took. She took a baby step forward and leaned her head against the slayer's

chest. Buffy's arms came up slowly and upon contact, Willow collapsed into her. They

sunk to the ground and Buffy kept her hold on the girl, all the time rubbing small circles

around her back. "It's okay now, Will. You're gonna be okay."

They stayed like that for maybe a half-hour until Buffy heard the soft rhythm of her

breath and found that she'd fallen asleep. Gently, she lifted her off the floor and

carried her to the bedroom. She laid her down and covered her up with the comforter. She

sat on the edge of the bed for a few moments before quietly tiptoeing to the door.

"Buffy?"

<Damn!> "Sorry Will. I tried to be quiet."

"Where are you going?" She turned over at looked at the slayer.

"Back to my room. I thought you could use some time alone."

She sighed in the darkness. "I've been alone for three years, Buffy . . .I don't want to

be alone anymore. Will you stay with me?"

She crept up to the bed again and got under the covers. Willow snuggled down next to her

and Buffy smiled at the sweetness of it. "I'm glad the big bad hacker still needs me for

something."

Willow shifted to look at her. "I'll always need you Buffy. You don't know . . .I

couldn't tell anyone, not even Giles . . .I guess I was just saving it for you." She sat

back and was thoughtful for a moment. "I mean, the Council sent me to therapy and all

that, but. . .there's no better medicine than sharing it with a friend. You know?"

The tears pushed through again and crept down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here for

you, Will. If I was here, it would have been different. You never would have been . .

"

"And if Giles went with us it never would have happened, and if Quentin went for his walk

earlier he could have prevented it, and if the Council implemented DNA identification

sooner it never would have. . ."

"Okay, okay. . .I get the point." She smiled down at her and kissed her lightly on the

forehead.

"See . . .right there, I feel better all ready."

Buffy considered that for a moment then leaned down again, placing a kiss on her cheek.

"Would-you-run-away-screaming-if-I-said-a-little-to-the-left?"

It was a rushed whisper, but Buffy was sure of what she'd heard. "Will, I . . ."

"Never mind.." She turned on her side away from her.

"Will . . .I don't want to take advantage of you." She reached up and put her hand on her

shoulder to bring them face to face. "You've been through so much, I don't want you to

get hurt."

Willow smiled at her concern. "I didn't think it would hurt . . .I . . .I was kinda

hoping it would feel good." She scrutinized the girl in front of her. "Wait. Does that

mean . . .you've thought about it?"

"Of course I have, Will." They both laid back and stared at the ceiling.

"You have?"

"We were in the Library, remember when you walked in and we thought you'd been turned into

a vampire?"

"Uhh, I still have nightmares about it."

"Well, after we found out that it wasn't you at the bronze, and after Xander and I hugged

you . . .I stood there and looked at you . . .I mean REALLY looked at you. . .and that's

when it hit me."

Willow waited a moment, maybe remembering all that had happened that night. "What's

that?"

"That I wasn't just fighting every night to save the world from evil anymore . . .I was

doing it for me and Giles and Xander and yes, even Cordelia . . .and I was doing it for

you. When I thought that something could have gotten you, that something evil crept up

close to home and did this to you. . .it made me want to fight harder." She paused a

beat. "Nobody messes with my Willow."

"Aww." She looked over and put her hand on her arm. "Why didn't you ever tell me?" A

realization hit her and she whispered. "Oz."

"And Angel." She shifted so they were once again face to face. "But I'll make a promise

to you now." She reached up and touched her cheek lightly. "I promise you we'll find the

right time, and when we do, nothing is going to keep us apart again, ever." She leaned

over and brushed Willow's lips with her own.

-------------

Morning came, and Giles walked over to the window to close the drapes.

"Thanks." Angel looked up at him. "When are they due back?"

"James phoned earlier this morning. He expects that they would want to come back this

afternoon or early this evening. Apparently they were up all night and he found the ring

on the floor in the living room after they'd gone to bed."

"So it worked." Angel was relieved.

"Yes. I didn't doubt it would." Giles smiled to himself.

"Do you ever plan on telling her the power it has wasn't lost in the first place?" It was

the vampire's turn to smile.

Giles looked up surprised. "How did you . . .?"

"Gem of NoiTome. . .worn by Zeus himself when planning for battle. A gift from his mother

after he killed his father Kronos and was caught cheating on Hera. It made him

level-headed in battle and in marriage." Angel looked up for Giles' reaction. "The only

way to destroy it is to smash it, just like the Gem of Amorah."

"You bloody well never cease to amaze me, Angel." Giles took off his glasses and rubbed

the bridge of his nose.

"Yes, well. I try." He brought his attention back to the book he'd been studying

earlier. "Tell me more about the dream Willow had. . ."

He sat down and began flipping through a book and began to trace with his finger a passage

he found. "Yes, here it is. I won't bother you with the translation. Basically, there

are certain forces that have been joined. An unholy marriage, if you will. These

specific forces will gather with one purpose in mind. . . The death of the slayer will

trigger a series of events that will prevent the Immortal Watcher from taking her rightful

place. Without the Immortal Watcher, the council will become infected with double agents

and rendered powerless." He flipped through some other pages. "The death of the slayer

will not be an ordinary death..she will be turned into a vampire. Since she will still be

walking this earth, it prevents the next slayer from being called thus bringing about the

end of the Watcher's Council and the biggest stronghold that exists on the side of good."

He shook his head. "I just can't seem to connect the demon with any of this though."

"Why don't we cross reference the times when the Immortal Watcher is mentioned with rogue

demon activity." Angel said thoughtfully. "Whatever's happening, this demon has an

agenda."

"Mmm, I've never met one who hasn't." Giles looked up and realized what he'd said.

"Sorry, present company excluded of course."

"That's alright, Giles. I make no excuses for my past." Angel got up and began to pace.

"Now, what would a rogue hybrid shape shifting Mohra demon want with the Immortal

Watcher?" Angel stopped and turned to him. "Is it safe to assume that the Immortal

Watcher is . . "

"Willow, yes." He sighed. "She knows. She's known since she arrived and has been

training for it."

"Who has been training her?"

"Quentin has. Before he was appointed to the Council, he was the High Priest of one of

the largest coven's in England. They saw his potential and recruited him. He's her

mentor."

"He's the one that found her that night, isn't he?" Giles nodded his head. "And he gave

her the ring afterwards?"

"Yes. What are you getting at, Angel?"

"Who recruited this novice Watcher turned demon?"

A look of questioning washed across his face. "Quentin did, but . . "

"And who better to summon a Mohra demon than a Warlock Watcher." Angel slammed his fist

down on the table for good measure. "Damn."

"It couldn't be. . .What use would it serve? Why would he have her attacked and brought

to the edge of death, then to spare her life? It just doesn't make any sense. You must

be mistaken, Angel."

He looked up at the Watcher and shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Giles. Answer me this:

How does the Immortal Watcher become immortal?"

"You know that as well as I do Angel. . .It is attempted every thousand years or after the

death of the five-hundredth slayer. I've never witnessed one myself so I don't know the

exact process . . ."

"Yes, and what number slayer is Buffy?" Angel looked down at him with concentration in

his eyes. "I've been around long enough to know that she's number 1499, and with faith in

a coma and stripped of her slayer powers, that makes her 1500. Her death means . . ."

"The rise of the Immortal Watcher. . .but if the slayer is a vampire and can live forever,

then. . ."

"Then the Immortal Watcher will never take her post." Angel sat down and opened up

another book. "Come on, we have a lot more work ahead of us."

Giles was broken out of his thoughts. "Yes, I want to have more information before they

get here. We can't run off half-cocked on this you know."

-----------

"Are you certain they know?"

"No, but they are close. It's only a matter of time before they find the pages missing."

He paced around the office. <God help me, this better work.> "Let them find them."

"You can't be serious. Do you have any idea what I had to go through to get him back

here? She almost died for God's sake!" He was on his feet. "He'll kill me . . then

he'll come after you." He turned around and shook his head. "Ripper may be gone now, but

he's not forgotten, I assure you."

"Quentin, there are four people in this mansion that I trust implicitly. Myself, James,

you and Rupert. Everyone else is under suspicion, you know that. Anyone of them could be

a double-agent."

"He'll leave." Quentin turned and faced the older man. "And he'll take the lot of them

with him! We'll be unable to keep them under surveillance, under OUR protection. . .

surely you must reconsider."

"That's what I'm counting on." He dropped his voice. "The fate of the world depends on

it. As soon as he suspects, he'll be gone . . .and she'll be under better protection than

these wall can offer."

Quentin dropped his hands to his side in resignation. "I hope you know what you're

doing." He turned to go.

"Make the pages findable."

He nodded his head and was out the door.

--------------

The car had no sooner stopped, then Buffy and Willow were out the door. The headed

straight away for Giles' study, wanting nothing but to get to work on the prophesy that

lay before them.

Willow burst through the door first. "We're back, Giles." She stopped short.

Buffy wasn't far behind. "Hi Giles . . ." Her gaze shifted to the table where a vampire

sat without expression. "and Angel?" She reached out and grabbed hold of Willow's hand.

The gesture didn't go un-noticed by him. "Buffy. Nice to see you again." He nodded in

the redhead's direction. "Willow."

All she did was wave.

Cordelia chose that moment to walk in with an armful of bags. "Hello? Someone care to

give me a hand with this?"

Angel got up and took some of the packages.

"Thanks. Anyone ever tell you you're a sweetie? Even for a dead guy . . " She dropped

her bags and walked over to him. "Guess that's why I lo . . ."

He cut her off. "Uh, Cordelia?"

She followed his gaze and stepped back " . .look, it's Willow, a-and Buffy. Buffy and

Willow, here, together.with us in the same room." She smiled and jabbed him in the ribs.

He winced. "Yeah, they just got back . . .5 seconds ago." He looked down at her.

Giles decided to step in. "Yes, well . . now that we're all finally here." He motioned

to the chairs, hoping they'd all sit down.

No one moved.

Buffy found her voice and spoke up. "Giles, what's going on here?"

"I decided to call Angel in to help out. We've already made some headway with the

prophesy and . . ."

" . . .and Cordelia made herself useful as usual by shopping?" Buffy sent a glare at the

brunette.

"Listen here missy, I'll have you know that Angel and I . . ."

"Work well together." Angel cut her off with a look. "We've been working together for

over three years now. She is a lot of help."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "I can just imagine."

It was Willow's job to do the jabbing. "Buffy, cut it out. They work together, that's

all." She dropped her voice to a whisper. "You're not gonna go psycho-jealous-slayer on

me, are you?"

Her lips formed a protest but she thought better of it. "Okay, I'm sorry. It's just a

shock to see you after all this time, that's all." She moved to the table to sit down,

never letting go of Willow's hand. "Come on. We have work to do."

Giles sighed in relief. "Good. Well, now that the reunion is over with, Angel and I would

like to explain what we've discovered." Giles sat down and motioned to the vampire.

"Angel?"

He nodded to the table and Cordelia took a seat. Buffy thought it was odd - Cordelia

taking silent orders from him - but decided not to question it.

Angel began, "So this is what we have so far. . ."

They worked diligently into the night. All of them, even Cordelia, were immersed in one

volume of the Codex or another when Giles finally broke the silence.

"That's odd . . ."

They all looked up and turned their attention to him.

"What is it Giles?" Angel questioned before walking up behind him.

"This book . . there are pages missing from it."

Angel bent down for a closer inspection. "You're right. Who else has access to these

books?"

Giles thought for a moment. "No one. This is my private study . . .I have the only key

other than . . ." He shook his head in disbelief.

Angel stood up straight. "Quentin."

"I'm afraid so."

Willow broke into the conversation, confused. "What does Quentin have to do with this? I

thought you ruled him out as a suspect because he's my mentor?"

"He's your mentor?" It was Buffy's turn to be confused.

Willow nodded her head and smiled at the blonde. "Guess I forgot that part." Her

attention went back to the vampire. "But Quentin? Are you sure Angel?"

"No, Willow, I'm not. But there's only one way to find out." He sat down next to Giles.

"Here's the plan. . ."

---------------

She knocked on the door. "Quentin? Can you give me a hand with something?"

He looked up from his book at the redhead. "Certainly."

"James isn't around and I can't get my suitcase from the elevator to my study. Think you

could help me?"

"Of course." He rose from his chair and followed her out the door.

-----------

They waited around the corner until they saw the elevator doors close. They slipped

quickly into the study.

Angel whispered. "Check all the drawers, filing cabinets, and bookcases." He moved over

towards the window. "I'm gonna try and find out if there's a sliding panel here

somewhere. Giles said all the studies on this floor have the same floor plan and he has a

safe in the wall behind the picture."

The blonde nodded to him. "Roger 007 . . I'm on it." After giving him a mock salute, she

turned to inspect the desk drawers.

He shook his head and couldn't help but chuckle. <Good old Buffy . . .never changes.> He

could have sworn she was humming the tune to Mission Impossible.

-------------

". . .Well, I'm glad you're better. Now maybe we can get to work on interpreting that

dream you had. The Council wants you to start right away."

Willow had just finished filling him in on what happened in the last week. "We're already

on it. Giles and Angel think they have a few leads."

Quentin looked over at her. "Really?" He shrugged his shoulders. "I shouldn't be

surprised. Rupert has always excelled at his job. Graduated top of the class." He

looked down at her hand. "Where's your ring, Willow?"

She looked down and realized she wasn't wearing it. "Oh, James must have it. I'll get it

from him later." She waved her hand.

"I must say, I'm quite impressed with your demeanor. You've managed to control your

emotions the entire time we've been talking. I never would have known you weren't wearing

the ring." He smiled up at her.

"Thanks." She looked at her watch. "I should be getting back downstairs. We still have

a lot of work to do." She rose to go but he reached up and stopped her.

"So, fill me in on what you've found so far."

----------

"Ah ha!" Buffy's head popped up from underneath the desk. "Three missing pages from the

codex." She held them up and waved them around. "Now I wonder how they got here?" She

got up off her knees and walked over to Angel.

He took them from her and glanced over them. "No."

Her expression turned from victory to concern. "Angel, what is it?" She looked at the

passage he was pointing to. "No." She stepped back and tried to process what she'd just

read, then it dawned on her. "Oh my God. Willow's alone with him! Get Giles, quick!"

She sprinted out the door with the vampire close behind. "We'll be up as soon as we can."

--------------

Willow shifted nervously under his gaze. "Quentin, you're hurting my arm."

He smiled and let her go. "So what have you discovered?"

"We, ah . . found out that it was a hybrid Mohra demon that attacked me." She backed up a

little and he followed in step.

"A Mohra demon.? How odd . . " He never stopped smiling.

"Yeah, so Giles thinks it has something to do with the Immortal Watcher Ceremony, and, uh

. ." She swallowed hard. "These things never seem to go smoothly, demon rising,

apocalypse happening . . .you'd think they wouldn't even care I was . . ." She saw the

look in his eyes and gasped.

His advance on her increased.

"Quentin, you're making me nervous. . .what are you doing?"

Before she knew it, he had a hold of both of her arms. "You never should have

interfered!" He began to shake her. "Things would have gone off smoothly if it wasn't

for that damned vampire. . ."

His rant was interrupted by Buffy's fist hitting his face.

"Get your tweed paws off of her!" She pushed Willow behind her and walked up to him.

"How dare you . . .how could you have done this to her! You were her mentor!" Buffy

reached down and yanked him to his feet. "I'll kill you for this."

Giles ran over to them. "That's quite enough, Buffy. He's worth more alive to us than

dead." Quentin sighed in relief and Giles caught it and looked at him. "For now."

She looked over to him never loosening her grip. "But Giles . . ."

"I read the pages, Buffy. I know what's happened." He turned his attention to the

cowering man under the slayers grasp. "As for you. You'd better start talking fast.

She's never been well known for following her Watcher's orders."

He raised his hands in defeat. "Fine, fine . . .I'll tell you anything you want."

Giles nodded to Buffy and she threw him on the couch. Without missing a beat she went

over to Willow. "You okay, Will?" She reached out and put her hand on her shoulder.

"Fine, fine. . .I'm okay, Buffy." She shook her head a few times to clear it. "What's

going on? Did you find the pages?"

Angel stepped up. "We not only found the pages, but we found out who the demon is working

for." He gave the man on the couch a menacing look. "I think you should take this one

Quentin old chap."

Willow looked over at her now former mentor. "Who was he working for?"

He looked up at her with sadness in his eyes.

She walked up to him. "Quentin?"

He brought his hands to his head and looked at the floor. He couldn't bear the way she

was looking at him. "The Council. He was hired by the bloody Council."

She stood there in shock. "The Council? They hired him to . . .they knew what he'd do

all along?" Hot angry tears formed in her eyes.

He looked up at her finally, ready to bear the consequences. "They hired him to befriend

you and Rupert. He was to gain your trust and on the night of the full moon, he was to

put his seed in you to begin the process for immortality." He shook his head in

disbelief. "It went horribly wrong. You were supposed to be willing . . .we didn't know

he had his own agenda. . . .the cadre of vampires were working for him." He sighed and

pressed on. "And he is working for something greater than any of us."

Giles broke in. "The end of the world." He took off his glasses and began to pace the

room. "Mohra demons work towards two goals. . .evils ability to commit evil and the

apocalypse. This particular demon made a deal with a Warlock." Giles motioned to

Quentin. "He was to instill the ability to shape shift and in return the demon would

grant you the first step to immortality. I'll assume the Council didn't count on him

double crossing you?"

Quentin shook his head. "No. After their 'encounter' he was to be destroyed. The

Council would have had no use for him after that. Whom ever he's working for knows about

the rise of the Immortal Watcher and struck a deal with him to prevent it."

Angel stepped up into Quentin's view. "You know who he's working for, don't you?"

His head shot up. "I have no idea. You must believe me."

Angel reached down and brought the man off the couch and dangled him in the air. He

shifted into game-face. "You KNOW who he's working for." Angel put him down and leaned

into his neck. "Do you know how long it's been since I've tasted the blood of a human

directly from the source?" He sniffed his neck. "Too long." He leaned in for a bite.

"Rayne!" Quentin shook with fear. "Ethan Rayne . . .he's working for Ethan Rayne!!"

Angel tossed him back on the couch and turned to Giles. "Think that's everything?"

"For his sake I hope so."

The elevator doors opened and Cordelia walked in. She saw the scene before her and walked

up to Angel. "What's going on?"

He shifted out of game-face immediately. "Cordelia. We found the missing pages and

Quentin here was filling in the blanks for us."

"Ohhh." She nodded her head as if she understood.

Buffy rejoined the conversation. "Now can I kill him?"

Willow took a deep breath and spoke up. "No. They planned this all along. Richard knew

about this too, didn't he?" She didn't wait for the answer. "The only way we could have

found those missing pages is if you wanted us to. This has to do with the dream I had and

the death of the slayer." She walked up and hovered over him. "It's not going to happen,

Quentin. . .mark my words, it'll NEVER happen. Not as long as I'm alive!" With her last

words the house shook with a roll of thunder and they saw lightening flash outside the

window.

He spoke in an eerily calm voice. "That's what we're all afraid of my dear."

------------

"How is she?" Giles inquired through the rear view mirror.

"Sleeping still." She didn't move, and spoke in no direction in particular.

"Let me know if you need anything. We'll be there soon."

She nodded her head and closed the divider between them.

They were on their way to James' retreat in the mountains. No one knew of it, thankfully,

and Giles decided it would be best if they didn't stay in the mansion any more. Angel and

Cordelia were following in the van that was packed with necessities, and James and Giles

were in the front seat of Willow's limo. They'd left three hours ago and were determined

not to stop until they arrived. Before they left, James removed the tracking device from

the car and smashed it. Now the Council would never be able to find them. They hoped.

<Immortal Watcher. . . Quentin as her mentor/tormentor. . .raped by a hybrid demon.> That

was just about everything wrapped up in the form sleeping next to her. <So much on your

shoulder's Will. I don't know why you never told me any of it. God, I know I have my own

stuff to deal with, but, I love you so much, you're my best friend.> Buffy sighed and

glanced at the now stirring form beside her.

Slowly she opened her eyes. "Where are we?"

Buffy whispered. "We should be there soon."

She sat up and wiped the sleep from her eyes. She slumped over to the other side of the

seat and put her head on Buffy's shoulder and yawned. "So sleepy. How long have I been

conked out?"

The slayer smiled. "About two hours." She anticipated the next question. "We've been

driving for three."

Willow sat up and looked at her friend apologetically. "I'm sorry. You must have been

bored to death with me snoring into the upholstery." She gave her a sheepish grin.

"No, it's okay, Will . . .it gave me some time to think." Absentmindedly, Buffy was

playing with a few strands of red hair in her fingers.

"What's on your mind?" Willow gave her a worried look.

"No doom and gloom, promise. " Buffy reassured. "I was just thinking about you, me, us.

.how most things change, but still stay the same, and how it's really cool in a weird

sort of way, you know?"

Willow blinked. "Uh, riddle me this, riddle me that?"

Buffy smiled. "Sorry. . . my mind got ahead of my mouth. I guess I was just thinking

about the whole situation we've gotten ourselves into here. . . and prophesies seem to

have a way of following my around you know. I'm sorry if I got you involved, I didn't

mean to."

"Got me involved? Buffy, you know as well as I do that we can't control this kind of

thing." She studied her hands a moment and continued. "I'm sorry I didn't call you

sooner. It kinda wipes out the whole 'no secrets allowed' rule."

She touched her cheek with her hand. "It's okay, Will. You told me in your own time . .

that's the important thing. . . .that and your safety in whatever we're about to get

ourselves into."

She leaned into the slayer's touch. "I'll be fine, as long as you're around." In a bold

move, Buffy began to draw the girl closer.

"Buffy, Giles and James are . . ."

"Shh, no more talking." She silenced her by placing one finger across soft lips. Soft,

kissable lips. "Just one, little tiny peck." The intentions were good, but she hardly

got the end result.

The kiss was tentative and restrained. Just enough to make their hearts leap but not too

much.

Buffy pulled back and looked into troubled eyes. "Will, what's wrong? I'm sorry, I

didn't mean to. . ."

"No, it's not you Buffy, I just. . . you were right, we need to take it slow." She smiled

at her. "It was nice though."

Further conversation was interrupted by the car stopping. Giles rolled down the divider.

"We're here, thankfully."

They all followed up to the cabin. From what they could tell, it was situated in the

middle of nowhere and there were trees as far as you could see. Upon entering, they all

chose rooms.

"This is great, James. It's so big."

"Yes, Miss Rosenberg . . it is quite deceptive from the exterior, isn't it?"

She smiled at the older man. "Please, James. . .if we're going to be working together,

you'll have to start calling me Willow."

Dinner was eaten in relative silence and everyone decided to turn in for the night. There

would be a long day waiting for them tomorrow, and they weren't full recovered from the

trip yet.

------------

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK. "Busy?"

She turned around from brushing her hair. "Cordy, no. . .come on in."

She stepped into the room and closed the door. "We didn't get a chance to talk earlier,

you know, with impending death and prophesies . . .I was wondering how you were doing?"

She sat down on the bed a few inches from Willow.

"Okay. Just trying to digest everything I guess. I mean, a lot has happened and who knew

about Quentin, and then the trip to Callaway and I knew you and Angel were coming but I

didn't tell Buffy and do you think that was okay? I mean I feel like I should have warned

her and we haven't seen each other in three years and it's all the same but different, but

things are changing and. . . "

She put her hand on her shoulder. "Relax, Red . . .from zero to babble in record time as

always. I didn't come here to make things harder for you. I just wanted to see how you

were . . .I'd better go." She began to get up but Willow reached up to stop her.

"No, don't . . I . . .it's just weird after all this time. . .you know? I don't want this

to be weird. But I guess it's just getting weirder by the minute." She shrugged her

shoulders.

She sat down again. "So you and Buffy? I mean., did you tell her . . "

"God, no . . I couldn't. And yes, Buffy and I." She saw her expression change. "It just

sort of, happened. I wasn't looking for it, or maybe I was, but . . .we've only kissed

once and we've talked about this, Cordy."

Cordelia took the brush from her hand and turned to stroke it through the mane of copper

in front of her. "I know we have. And I thought I was alright with it but. . .I'm not

and I can't pretend to be, I know it was a long time ago, but . . ."

"It feels like yesterday, I know. . .but now everything is different. You're with Angel

and sometimes LA seems like it was a dream or something."

She stopped brushing and placed her hands on slender shoulders. "But it wasn't a dream,

it was real from what I remember and Angel and I are, well, complicated. He knows about"

She turned. "You told him? How could you tell him?" She got up and started to pace

around the room. "Oh God, this is way too much to handle at once. . . I think I'm going

into overload."

Cordelia got up and stopped the redhead from wearing a hole in the carpet. "Hang on

there, Red. . .slow the train down a sec. . .he's good with it. We got caught red handed

anyway. He came over late one night to drop off some papers and I left the bedroom door

open. He saw you in there and I had to fess up."

"Just knowing he knows what he knows is . . ."

She backed up a step. "Are you ashamed of it? Of everything that happened?" She began

to retreat for the door but Willow reached out and stopped her.

"No, you know I'm not. Cordy, when I went to you two in LA . . I was so lost, I felt like

I didn't belong anywhere. The Council told me I could go anywhere and I went to you and

Angel. I needed to heal and process everything that happened. It had only been 6 months

since the rape." She released her grip a little and let her hands fall down to entwine

with the ones in front of her. "You helped me, you don't know how much, and when I went

there I wasn't looking for anything but to get away. You did that . . .you helped me get

away and get comfortable in my own skin again. . . .getting involved with you was only a

bonus." She smiled a moment and allowed the brunette time to process everything she'd

just said. "You gave me what I needed back then and when I left we agreed that no matter

what happened, the friendship we'd created wouldn't be changed."

She reached up and touched her cheek lightly. "I saw you standing there in the library,

holding her hand and I just. . ." She leaned over so her forehead was pressed against a

pillow of red hair. She whispered. "I wished it was me . . .I remembered when it was me

and how you smelled, and how you felt, and how your eyes lit up when you laughed and. . ."

"I know, Cordy. I saw you reach up to kiss Angel and I."

The sentence was long forgotten in a kiss. They soon remembered every crevice, every nook

that made the other shiver. Cordelia pulled her in closer and Willow gasped from the

pressure. Taking that as an invitation, Cordelia ran her tongue lightly across a pink

swollen lip and was met with it's match. The kissed for what seemed like forever when

Willow finally broke away.

"Cordelia . . "

"I know, we can't do this. Angel"

"And Buffy." She gave her an apologetic smile. "I'll never forget what you did for me,

you know . . .we have to be . . .we have other people in our lives now, other people that

love us very much."

"I know. And I wouldn't trade Angel for the world, but that doesn't make me miss you any

less."

"Me either." She leaned over and gave the taller girl a big hug. "We can do this. It's

our time to try out the friendship side of us. Angel deserves a chance and so does

Buffy."

She smiled into a mane of red hair. "I know. I just hope they know how good they've both

got it."

----------------

<This isn't good . . .not good at all.> Giles was standing outside Willow's room. He'd

meant to speak with her but heard voices from the other side of the door. He didn't mean

to eavesdrop . . he caught clips of the conversation and what he'd suspected happened,

had. When Willow returned from her trip to LA she was withdrawn and sad. Now he knew

why. <These secrets are going to be the death of her. The death of them all.> He was

left in a quandary. The dynamics of the relationships in this little group could be the

undoing of this entire mission. One slip, one misspoken word and they were all doomed as

well as the world. It would all unravel. He noticed the door begin to open and was left

with no choice but to hide. Not very well, though.

"Giles?"

"Yes, I was just coming to speak with you, but I heard voices and . . ." He raised his

hands and sighed. "I think we need to talk, Willow."

Cordelia made a hasty exit and Willow invited Giles into her room. <So much for sleep.>

----------------

". . .and that's everything?"

She got up and stretched. "Yes, Giles. Now you know everything." She walked over to the

night table with her back to him. "Every embarrassing, sordid detail. . . well, not all

the details, but"

"That's quite alright. I don't need, um, details." He got up and put his hand on her

shoulder. "There simply isn't much choice here. You know what has to happen, don't you?"

She sighed in resignation. "Yes, dad, I know."

"There's no need to be flippant with me. I'm only trying to help."

She turned around regretting the words. "I'm sorry, Giles. My brain is misfiring from

all of this. I can't believe I have to do this."

"Yes, well. There's no time like the present, don't you think? It's not too late and if

all goes well, then."

"Giles, this is the Scooby gang your talking about. . . since when has all ever gone the

way it was supposed to." She glanced over at the clock. "Hmm, nine thirty. I guess we

can start and anything that goes unresolved can be dealt with in the morning."

"Very well. I'll gather the others. No need to wake James. He's thankfully no part of

this."

"Giles, we didn't do this on purpose."

"I know, and I'm sorry."

-------------

The hallway was a popular place that night. He watched Giles leave, stepped out into the

shadows and glanced down at his watch. <Right on schedule.> It was to happen tonight,

their lives were never going to be the same. The past three years had culminated to this

point and they didn't even know it. They didn't know they'd brought it on themselves.

------------

"I'm sure you're all wondering why we've gathered here." He stopped and looked at them

sitting on the oversized couch. Willow was sitting next to both Buffy and Cordelia and

Angel took up the leather chair by the fireplace. "In what we are about to undertake,

there has to be a level of trust achieved, a level of understanding."

Buffy broke in. "We do trust each other Giles. I mean, it's not like we haven't worked

together in the past."

He took his glasses off and continued. "I'm well aware of that, Buffy. But there are

secrets here. . .secrets that must come out in order for us all to have clear minds when

this begins."

"Giles, I still don't understand why . . ."

"Buffy. There are things you need to know. Things that I haven't told you." Willow got

up off of the couch and walked over to the window.

"Will, what is it?"

She waited a few moments and began her story. "After I was attacked, I was lost. I felt

empty inside. I didn't know what to do and the Council didn't know what to do with me.

It was six months after it and I decided that I needed to get away and clear my head."

Angel caught on to what was happening. "Willow, you don't have to do this."

She looked over at the vampire and smiled a sad smile. "Yes I do Angel."

"What? What's going on, Will?" Buffy looked thoroughly confused and was becoming

panicked.

"I went to LA to stay with Angel and Cordelia for a while. Almost a year actually." She

was still looking out the window, unable to face them.

Buffy sat still for a moment trying to process what she was saying. "You were in LA for

almost a year and didn't call me?" She stood and walked up behind her. "You told them?

Everything?"

"Turns out that the best therapists are in LA . . .must have to do with Hollywood being so

close and all the stars being so neurotic." She gave a little laugh, but was unable to

find the humor. "I had a relationship with someone while I was there. This person helped

me deal with everything that had happened." She turned to face Buffy. "I told this

person everything I told you. I'm sorry Buffy, I lied when I said you were the first

person I told.".

"Is that what this is about? Will, it doesn't matter, as long as you're okay. . .I don't

care who you told or who you had a relationship with." She has a quizzical expression on

her face. As the words came out, a look of realization came into her eyes. She looked

over at the vampire in the armchair accusingly. "Angel?" She looked back at Willow. "

With Angel, you . . "

"No, Buffy. It wasn't Angel." A little voice broke in from the couch.

She'd almost forgotten she was sitting there. "Cordelia? You had a thing with

Cordelia?" Buffy began to pace in front of the fireplace then stopped short. "I saw her

come out of your room earlier. Is that was this is about? And in the limo? God, I

thought I was pushing you." She brought her arms up around herself. "You two must have

had a great laugh at my expense."

Cordelia got up from the chair and crossed the room. "No, Buffy. Not everything is about

the all mighty slayer. I wanted to see how she was doing because I haven't seen her since

then."

"And we're together. Have been for a year now." Angel stood and walked over to

Cordelia. He protectively placed her a step behind him. "Before you assault me with a

million questions let me explain. I have a soul - it's permanent. I can't lose it in a

moment of true happiness. Cordelia and I have been working together since she came to

LA. That's almost six years. Our relationship changed when Willow left. It took me

getting jealous to realize what was right in front of me."

They all held their breath. Willow finally spoke up. "Buffy, say something."

She smiled. A horrible, twisted, mocking smile like only she could pull off. "Say what,

Will? You lied to me! You of all people . . .I thought you trusted me, I thought we were

special to each other? Now I find out that not only did you have a relationship with

Cordelia of all people. . . now she's got Angel too? I can't believe you people. . . and

you. "She turned to Angel "How long have you known and your still doing the tortured

soul routine? You" She turned on Cordelia next. "First you take Xander, then Willow,

now Angel? Is there anything else of MINE you'd care to have? How about my mother? Or

my life!? You want those too?"

"Buffy, please calm down. There's no need to panic." Giles tried his best to diffuse the

situation

"You wanna be next Watcher-guy? Cause I've got a whole three years of hurt saved up

special for you." She watched Giles back up then turned to Willow.

"And you. How could you do this to me? How could you keep this a secret? I can almost

get past the fact that you've been getting it on with this pathetic excuse of a high

school debutant but, Angel? You knew about them and you didn't tell me?"

"It wouldn't have mattered. . .wouldn't have changed things. You know that." Angel spoke

up again. He couldn't stand to see her on the attack with Willow.

Buffy ignored him and continued her verbal assault. "When did you plan on telling me?

Over dinner? When we're fighting for our lives? Watch out behind you and oh, by the way

I warmed Cordelia up so Angel could take over while I was gone? Is that how it was gonna

be?"

Everything stopped, everything stood still and the slap Willow placed across Buffy's face

was the only thing they heard. Buffy gave her a look of horror and bolted out the door

into the night.

"I'll go." Angel took off after her.

Cordelia closed the gap between her and Willow. "Red, you alright?" Willow shook her

head no and fell into her embrace.

Giles leaned against the wall and let out a sigh. <Dear God, what have I done.>

------------------

An hour later Angel walked into the room carrying a knocked out slayer.

"Angel, what happened?" Giles rushed over to where he stood.

He walked past him and laid her on the couch. "We fought. . .she was so angry, we were

out front. I tried to just block her punches but I got mad. . .we fought like we never

have before. . .not even when I was . . .she advanced on me and I threw her off. . .Giles,

I . . .what have I done?"

He knelt down to examine her. She had gashes across her face and was bleeding heavily

from her head. He listened to her chest and checked her pulse. "Her pulse is weak. She

may not make it Angel." He looked up at the vampire with sadness and anger in his eyes.

Before he knew it, Angel was thrown against the wall. Rupert Giles was no more and Ripper

took over. He punched him in the face once, twice, three times. Angel's legs gave way

and he wound up on the floor. Giles took the opportunity to kick him anywhere he found an

opening. Angel never lifted a finger to defend himself. Willow and Cordelia walked in

with James in tow.

"Rupert. . .Rupert stop! What are you doing?!" James ran over to restrain him.

Willow and Cordelia stood there in shock. Then Willow noticed the still form on the couch

and went over to her. "Buffy?" She shook her gently then turned to Giles. "What

happened? Can someone please tell me what's going on?!" She was crying, wiping the blood

away from Buffy's face and smoothing the encrusted hair away. It wouldn't stop, the blood

just kept coming.

Giles shook free of James and turned to Angel. "You very well may have just killed her

you bastard."

Angel looked up at Willow. "We fought. . .she, I threw her off into the bushes. . I

didn't think she'd get hurt. . " He couldn't continue.

James tried to get a hold of the situation. "Alright, all of you, that's enough! We'll

not have anymore of this bickering." The room turned silent and he continued on. "I was

hoping to avoid this, but now you give me no choice." He turned to Giles and began to

explain. "Richard wanted you to find the pages because he knew you'd leave the mansion.

He knew you'd take the lot of us and go. It's the prophesy, Rupert. It's been coming for

over three years now and whether your aware of it or not, you've all been taking part in

it for that long." He turned to Willow. "Willow, you must listen to me. You must trust

that I will not steer you in the wrong direction."

Willow nodded her head. "Just make her better, James. Anyway we can."

James walked over to where Angel lay and spoke softly. "Can you get up?" Angel nodded

yes and James helped him to his feet. He helped Angel over to stand next to Giles. "Now

listen to me, we don't have much time. The minute the slayer dies, Willow will go through

the final change and will take her place as the Immortal Watcher."

Giles began to protest. "No, she can't die . . she is the slayer! The one in all the

world . . .she's . . like a daughter to me." He broke down and a tear fell from his eye.

"Rupert, you must trust me. The Council has anticipated this for three years and we are

prepared . .every one of us in this room has the equipment to see this through." He

turned his gaze to Angel.

From the expression on the vampire's face, he knew what was coming. "I won't do it. I'll

die first."

James squared his shoulders and looked him dead in the eye. "You must. If you don't

she'll be lost forever and the forces of darkness will win. You don't have the slightest

idea of what we're facing here."

Giles watched the exchange between the two men and it dawned on him. "You can't be

serious, James."

"I'm afraid I am, Rupert." He took something out of his pocket and held it in front of

him.

Giles knew the object all too well. "The orb of Thesula. But that's impossible . . the

last one was used on Angel."

"You thought it was, but the Council has been keeping it safe. When this is used, there

is one left at the mansion."

Willow watched in silence at the entire exchange. Slowly she got off the floor and walked

up to Angel. She took his hand in hers and whispered. "Do it." He shook his head, but

she pressed on. "Do it, Angel. I won't lose her, I can do the spell and I can make her

soul permanent like I did for you. Just do it."

He reached up and touched her cheek. "You don't know what you ask, little one." He

turned a sad gaze towards Cordelia.

With tears in her eyes, she acknowledged him and nodded her head yes. They all saw the

exchange and were confused by it. There was no time for questions though, there was only

time to act.

"Five minutes alone with Cordelia. That's all I ask. Then I'll do this." The words came

shakily out of his mouth.

The three of them nodded and left, leaving Angel and Cordelia alone.

---------------------

She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I thought we'd have more

time." She cried into his shirt.

"Two-hundred forty six years, you'd think I'd learn to spend it wisely." He grasped her

hands and brought her around in front of him. "Tell her. When you leave here, wait an

hour then tell her. I should be gone by that time . . .there's plenty of blood packets in

the refrigerator." He kissed her forehead and let out a choked sob, then kissed her with

sad passion. He broke away and held on to her. "I've never said it, it was never the

right time . . .I love you, you know that. You have to believe."

She couldn't speak at first, only nod her head. "I know. I love you too." She kissed

him softly, lingering for a moment before pulling away. "Come back to me? After it's all

said and done, come back."

He laughed a little. "You too, don't know what you ask." He closed his eyes and breathed

in. "If we . . .if you win, Willow can do it, she can bring me back. . . you just have to

hold on." He hugged her tight then let go. "Now go, be with her. She needs you now and

I have a slayer to turn."

There was nothing left to say. She touched his cheek lightly and backed out of the room.

He took a few minutes to compose himself and approached the still form on the couch. He

lifted her onto his lap and moved the hair away from the nape of her neck. "I never

thought it would come to this, yet I always knew." A tear fell from his eye and landed on

her cheek. He whispered in the darkness. "Please forgive me." He vamped and clamped

down on her neck.

--------------

Fifteen minutes later, Cordelia knocked on Willow's door. When she found no answer, she

opened it and saw Willow laying on the bed.

She looked over at the girl and offered a weak smile. "Hey."

"Hey. How are you doing?"

She sat up and shrugged her shoulders. "As good as can be expected I guess. How's

Angel? I mean, did he. . .?"

Cordelia closed her eyes at the sound of his name. "He's. . .doing it now. He said to

wait an hour before we go back in there." She leaned against the door jam and looked like

she was almost ready to collapse.

Willow got to her feet and walked over to her. "Cordy, what is it?" She reached out and

touched the brunette's hand.

She shook her head. "Nothing . . stress, this whole night, the long ride here. . .

everything."

James appeared behind Cordelia and put his hand on her shoulder. She jumped a little and

turned to face him.

Her expression was all the confirmation he needed. "You know then?'

She nodded her head sadly. "I've always known. It was a condition put on him by the

Powers That Be. He knows what he's gotten himself into."

He observed her sadly. "I'm sorry my dear . . .it's for the greater good. I know it's no

consolation, but"

"James, what's going on?" Willow looked back and forth between them both. Neither one of

them were eager to answer. Giles appeared behind him and he stepped aside. "Perhaps we

should all sit down inside."

Willow and Giles sat on the bed and Cordelia walked over to the window. James stood

before them and was unsure of how to begin. "There is a killer among us. Someone who

will betray us this very hour."

"James, you're scaring me."

"I'm sorry Willow." He cleared his throat and continued. "As you know, the last time you

anchored Angel's soul, it became permanent. You said yourself you changed the incantation

and the Powers That Be confirmed it to Angel last year. However, there is a loop-hole."

Giles snapped out of his thoughts. "There always is."

"If he turns someone, anyone, the cost is his life. As Angel that is."

Giles looked up at him in shock. "No, it can't be."

Willow stood up and went over to Cordelia. "Angelus?"

Weakly, she nodded her head and confirmed her fears. "He'll turn back into Angelus an

hour after he turns her. He knew . . .he's always known but we never thought, he never

imagined he'd ever do it again." A sob escaped and she collapsed into Willow's arms. "He

knows how much you love her. He did it for you, Red, he did it for you."

They heard glass break, then a scream. They all filed out of Willow's room into the

living room and the site that was waiting for them. There was Buffy, chained to the wall,

curled up in a fetal position. They all stood there and held their breath.

Willow approached her cautiously. "Buffy?"

The slayer stirred and looked up at the redhead with a blank expression. "Will? Oh, God,

Will . . .what's happened to me?"

Willow continued her cautious approach and reached out to her. "Buffy . . you're going to

be okay, I promise. I'm going to"

Suddenly, Buffy reached out and grabbed her arm. She twisted her arm around her back and

Willow let out a little squeak. "You did this to me you little bitch!" She tightened her

grip. "And for that I'll kill you. Do you hear me?" She reached up and grabbed a hand

full of hair. She shifted into game face and leaned in. "I've been dying to know what

you taste like. . .I've held out long enough, don't you think?"

Suddenly she went stiff and slumped over, breaking her grasp on Willow. Willow looked up

to see Giles holding a tranquilizer gun. He ran over and knelt next to Willow. "Are you

alright?"

She closed her eyes, took a breath and whispered. "It's not Buffy . . she's not Buffy . .

she's not Buffy."

Giles reached down and helped her to her feet. "James, the orb. . .we must do this

before she wakes up."

Ten minutes later they were all sitting in a circle a safe distance from Buffy. Cordelia

was lighting the herbs and Giles was lighting the candles.

Willow took a deep breath and cast her stones. "Are we ready?"

They all nodded in unison and Willow nodded to Giles to begin.

"Quod perditum est, invenietur. . .What is lost, return."

Willow cast the stones again and chanted. "Not dead... nor not of the living. Spirits of

the interregnum, I call. Gods, bind her. Cast her heart from the... evil... realm.

Return. (pants) I call on... (pants)." Her head falls to her chest. Suddenly, her head

snaps back and she looks up with her eyes wide open. Her head snaps back down and her eyes

stare into the Orb. She begins to chant steadily in Rumanian as though possessed. "Te

implor, Doamne, nu ignora aceasta rugaminte. . .I implore you, Lord, do not ignore this

request!"

Giles looks at her concerned but Cordelia whispers to him. "I remember this part . .

she's okay. . .it's almost done."

He gives her a nod and behind them, Buffy begins to stir.

Willow continues on and her eyes take on a luminecent light. "Nici mort, nici al fiintei

. .Neither dead, nor of the living...Lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-i va transporta,

sufletul la el. . .Let this Orb be the vessel that will carry her soul to her. . . Asa sa

fie! Asa sa fie! Acum!. . . So it shall be! So it shall be! Now!

Buffy scrambles to her feet and lets out a piercing scream. "NO! NO!"

Willow is unfazed. "Acum!. . .Now!"

The Orb glows brightly for a brief moment and goes dark. Willow suddenly relaxes, and

looks over at Buffy who has just fallen to her knees.

Willow scrambles to her feet, Giles tries to stop her but she was determined. She kneels

down in front of her and notices a purplish light leaving her eyes. She reaches out

tentatively and brushes her shoulder. "Buffy?"

She shakes her head a little and looks up to the girl in front of her. "Where am I?" She

leans back against the wall and runs her hands through her hair. She blinks and a look of

understanding washes across her face. "Angel . . we fought. . .I hit my head." She

reaches up and flinches from the bruise that's still there. "It was dark. . .I felt like

I was falling, then I was suddenly pulled back up. . .the blood, it tasted . . " She

looks at Willow and a tiny blood-tear rolls down her cheek. "I'm not human, am I?"

Willow shook her head. "No. You were going to die. . .Angel had to . . ."

Giles walked over. "It was the only way, Buffy. We simply had no choice." He took off

his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You have your soul. Willow saw to

that." Giles began to unlock the chains and help her to her feet. "Are you alright?"

Buffy's gaze never left Willow. "I'm fine. A little, um. . . " She shrugged her

shoulders.

Cordelia caught on. "In the fridge . ."

Buffy looked at her and smiled. "Thanks." She walked away towards the kitchen.

Willow began to get up. <How could this have happened?> "James. I think you owe us an

explanation."

James nodded his head. "I do." He walked over to the leather chair and sat down. He

placed a few more logs on the fire and began. "I've been working with Richard and Quentin

for the past three years. Believe me when I say that the death of the slayer was

inevitable. Now that she is a vampire, the next slayer will not be called as long as she

walks this earth . . .living or dead." He looked over at them and they all took seats

around the room. "Willow is now the Immortal Watcher, Angelus has returned, and Buffy is

a vampire with slayer powers. This was necessary to stop Ethan Rayne's attempt to open

the new Hellmouth located underneath the mansion."

"I don't feel different." Willow dryly commented.

"I don't suppose you would. It's a simple process really. All it took was the slayer's

death. You must believe it was inevitable." He walked over to where she was sitting and

knelt down in front of her. "Please. . .hold no ill thoughts about me. I kept it from

you to keep you safe. You never would have agreed to it if you knew what it entailed.

Your station now seals Rayne's fate. He will be stopped."

Willow smiled down at him sadly. "I know, James. I know. . . it's for the greater good."

"The price seems much too high." Giles looked over to them.

"It does now, Rupert. Trust me when I say we'll win. We can do this, and with the help

of Buffy the way she is now."

As if on cue, Buffy emerged from the kitchen. "Twisted poetic irony, don't you think?"

She crossed the room and stood before the three of them. "I've become what it is . . .was

my destiny to destroy." She walked over to the fireplace and turned around. "I can't do

it . . .I can't be this creature, this demon shadowing what I was! I'll die first!" She

produced a stake from her hand and rammed it through her heart.

Willow got up. "Buffy! No!" She stopped short inches from her.

Buffy stood there with a look of shock on her face and a very large stake protruding from

her chest. She fell to her knees and began to cry. "God, I can't even kill myself

right. I must be off my game."

Willow joined her on the floor and took her hand. She gasped a little from the coldness

of it but didn't pull away. She held Buffy's hand up in front of both their faces.

"Recognize this?"

Giles walked over and knelt down too. "The Gem of Amorah."

Cordelia joined them. "That's impossible. . .he smashed it after he killed Marcus." They

all looked up to her confused. "Oz gave it to him. . .Spike captured Angel and had this

vampire child molester guy torture him until we agreed to exchange the ring for Angel. .

they fought, but Marcus got away and headed for the beach. Angel got the ring and killed

him. Doyle told me he smashed it."

"Um, guys? Stake in heart, pain. . ." She looked at Giles. "Take it out please?"

He reached over and yanked on it none too carefully.

"Ouch. . .hey!" She looked at him under hooded eyes.

"Serves you right. Think next time before you try and kill yourself." He shook his

head. "Um, I mean. . .oh, never mind." He shook his finger at her accusingly. "Don't do

it again. Understand?"

Buffy gave him a mocking smile. "Yes dad."

"I still don’t understand. What are we waiting for, Giles?"

He sipped his tea and joined her at the window. "Word from Richard or Quentin. James has shown me the records they’ve kept in the past three or four years." He looked down at her and smiled. "I assure you, they can be trusted. You should look at the journals, though. They explain quite a lot."

She shifted and leaned her head against his arm. "I’ll get to it. Right now we have a brooding slayer on our hands."

He nodded his head. "How is she, uh, dealing with these changes?"

I don’t think she is." She turned to him. "I don’t know what to do, Giles. Day after day she goes out there, sits on that bench and doesn’t move until dark. She comes in, eats, and retreats to her room . . .just to start the whole process over again the next day." She ran her hands through her hair. "It’s been a week . . .she can’t go on like this."

"Do you want me to try and talk to her?"

"We both know she won’t listen to you, Giles. Vampire or not . . .she’s still Buffy." She waited a moment then left the room.

-------------------

"Hey." She walked around and sat on the bench.

Nothing.

She inhaled deeply. "Nice night. You can still smell the warmth." She turned and brought her feet up on the bench. "I have a few things to say to you, and I’d like it of you’d give me some indication that you’re listening."

Her head dropped a bit and she exhaled needlessly.

"Good. Buffy, I . . .I am so sorry that this has been done to you. . .if I had any control over it you know I would have stopped it, but I didn’t so that’s kind of a moot point. I don’t know what your thinking, or feeling, or what you want to do. . .even now it looks like you’re ready to bolt, and I know I have no control over that. I can’t make you stay. After everything I’ve involved you in, I wouldn’t blame you if you took off and never came back. . . but I don’t want you to. I want you here with me, so we can fight this thing together."

She got up and walked a few feet away.

Willow got up and continued to talk to her back. "First and foremost you’re the slayer. You’re a slayer with slayer powers and with a two hundred forty-six year old vampire’s blood coursing through your veins. Do you know what that means? Even without the ring, you can’t die that easily. Not only did Angel give you his blood, he gave you your own back . . .from when you cured him from Faith’s poison arrow. You are now one of the most powerful vampires if not THE most powerful walking this earth." She stepped closer so they were inches away. "Do you know what that means to me?" She reached up and turned the slayer to face her. "NOTHING. It means absolutely nothing to me. . .because to me, you’re Buffy. You’re still just Buffy. My best friend, my roommate from college, my best bud. . . things may seem all upside down and ruiny now, but if you can find it in yourself to trust me, to trust us . . we’ll be okay."

It was a low whisper. "I’m a demon." She looked her in the eyes. "Buffy’s dead. I’m just an demon animating her dead body." Her eyes filled up with tears threatening to spill over.

She grabbed her by the shoulders. Buffy looked at her with menacing eyes, but she pressed on. "Don’t even try to give me the slayer-eyes now. You are Buffy. You’re my best friend. Whether there’s a demon inside you or not, that’s who you are and not even death can change it. . . not even death can change the way I feel, the way I love you." She pulled her closer and pressed her lips violently against the blonde’s.

She resisted at first. . .she knew she could kill her in an instant if she wanted to, but she didn’t. Something welled inside of her, something familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. She returned the kiss with equal passion, equal yearning. She backed the redhead up against the house and continued the assault on her mouth. Her lips parted and without invitation she invaded her mouth with a hunger she’d never known before.

The slam against the house was a surprise, but her reaction was even more so. Everything in her life, in her world, narrowed down to the woman in front of her. When her tongue first invaded her mouth, she let out a little sob but continued to match her stroke for stroke. She reached up and grabbed a handful of hair, trying to pull her even closer, if that was at all possible.

They broke away at the same time and Willow pulled her into a fierce hug. She struggled to catch her breath, and Buffy struggled to regain some composure. . .breath was a non-issue.

The slayer pulled away a little so they were nose to nose. "It takes my un-dead status for you to tell me you love me?" She dead-panned.

Willow chuckled a bit and lowered her eyes. "I’ve told you hundred’s of times that I love you . . .I guess it took your un-dead status for it to sink in just how much."

Buffy took a step back and Willow groaned a bit from the loss of contact. "Come on, we’ve got work to do."

They walked into the house hand in hand.

---------------

They worked well into the night and the silence was broken by the phone ringing. They all sat still for a moment until Giles rose to answer it.

"Hello? . . yes, yes, I see. . .when? . . .are you sure?. . .yes, we’ll leave at first light. . .yes, it’s been done. She has the ring, there’s no danger. . . Dear, God. . . .how much blood did he . . .he’s resting then. Good. . . just keep him strapped down, he’s our best shot. Yes, see you in the morning." He hung up the phone and turned to them.

"Giles?" Willow was the first to speak.

"Richard and Quentin have cleared the mansion. They found Ethan almost drained on the front steps, he was carved up pretty badly, but he’s still alive. They have him in the basement but they don’t know how long he’ll last. We must leave in the morning."

James stepped up next to him. "How did it happen, Rupert? Ethan was our greatest barrier in this entire fight, with him incapacitated, then. . ."

Giles looked up at him and answered dryly. "Angelus has taken his place. Ethan is no longer a threat."

"Are you sure?" It was Cordelia.

Giles turned to her. "I’m afraid so. He had small crosses carved into both his cheeks."

Cordelia looked over to Buffy and Willow. "Angelus’ calling card. Great." She got up and moved to the window. "I say we pack and leave now. If we drive fast enough we can get there before first light." She didn’t wait for an answer. She walked out of the room.

Giles spoke. "Well, I guess that settles it. Let’s go."

------------------

"Cordelia?"

She turned around and wiped her eyes with a tissue. "Hey, you ready?"

Willow crossed the room and stood in front of her. "Yeah. Are you okay?"

She chuckled. "Fine, fine . . I mean just because my boyfriend’s turned back into the murdering nightmare of a vampire that almost killed us all a few years ago. . .why wouldn’t I be?"

Willow looked at her with sympathy in her eyes. She remembered all too well how he tortured all of them. She took her hand and placed something in it. "Here. I think you need this now more than I do. He won’t get to you, he won’t be able to send you over the edge with this. If you wear it, and we all make it through. . .there’s still hope left that you can get him back."

Cordelia opened her hand and saw it was Willow’s ring. "I wish I could say I don’t want it, but I do. I’d do anything to get him back, Red. Anything." She reached over and pulled her into a hug.

Buffy walked in and the hug was cut short by a low growl emitted from her throat.

Willow looked up. "Buffy." She crossed the room and put herself between the growling slayer and Cordelia. "I gave Cordelia my ring. She was thanking me." She looked into her eyes hoping that she got through.

Her gaze never left the brunette’s. "I see. And we wouldn’t be trying to cop a cheap feel here, would we?" She passed by Willow and approached her. "After all, you’ve tried to put yourself in my shoes before. . ."

"Buffy," Willow cut her off. "Cordelia and I are friends. She loves Angel."

She turned to face Willow. "I don’t trust her." She turned back to Cordelia and began to approach. "I can smell the arousal on you. Just being in the same room with her gets you hot. Doesn’t it?"

Willow walked over and reached out to grab her shoulder. "Buffy. . .we don’t have time for this."

She stopped at the touch and smiled. "No. I guess we don’t . . .RED." She turned on her heel and walked out.

Cordelia let out her breath. "God . . what is her deal?"

"She’s dead, Cordelia. She’s having a hard time adjusting." Willow shrugged.

"Yeah, no kidding. Just keep your psycho girlfriend-slayer-vampire-whatever she is, away from me. Can’t you put her on a leash or something?"

"Cordy. . .that wasn’t very nice."

"Neither was her little territorial display. She’s got some serious issues to work out." She closed her suitcase and placed it on the floor in front of her. "I just hope she can work them out before someone gets hurt. . .namely you."

"It’ll be alright. I promise." She said it more for herself than for Cordelia.

----------------

They arrived at the mansion a little before dawn. As soon as they walked in, Richard appeared from a corridor and led them to the basement. There in the corner of the room, strapped to the bed, was Ethan Rayne. Or what was left of him, anyway.

Giles crossed the room and sat down in a chair. He leaned in and whispered. "You bastard."

He stirred and was barely able to open his eyes. "Such drama, Ripper. Don’t waste my time." He managed to turn his face away from him.

He stood and grabbed Ethan by the collar. "You don’t have much TIME left."

Richard rushed over and pulled Giles off of him. "Rupert, you’re not helping."

"I’m not helping? I’m not helping!? Don’t you think it would have helped, Richard, if you had told us about the prophesy three years ago!?" He walked away from them both and noted that Buffy and Willow were watching. "Look at them, Richard. Look at them closely. My slayer is a bloody vampire and Willow is the Immortal Watcher! I have a girl upstairs who is ready to fall apart at the seams because the man she loves is now the demon who will be the death of us all!" He took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. "You’re priceless, really. Bloody well priceless."

Ethan gave a little chuckle and whispered. "So she’s ascended then. Isn’t that wonderful?"

Giles looked at him with venom in his eyes. "Fag off you limey bastard! That’s no concern of yours anymore. If I were you I’d be wondering when my last breath was coming, not the end of the world."

Willow walked past all of them and approached Ethan. "Tell me what’s going to happen." She leaned down closer to him. "Then you’ll tell me how we stop it."

Giles walked up behind her. "Willow, be careful . . ."

"I know what I’m doing, Giles."

Ethan smiled. "You’ve got to be kidding me."

"I’m afraid not." She reached down and put her hand on his chest. "I can heal you . . ."

A blue-green glow emitted from her hand. Within ten seconds, all of his wounds disappeared and he looked at her with wide-eyed wonder.

"How did you do that? It doesn’t hurt anymore, it doesn’t . . ."

"Or I can kill you." She placed her other hand on his chest and a red-orange light emitted from it. His featured contorted and all the scars re-appeared.

He screamed in agony. "Ahh! No . . NOOOOOOOO!" He panted, unable to catch his breath. He glared at her with a mixture of blind terror and respect.

Richard huffed from behind her. "Someone’s been practicing."

Giles looked down at her. "You’re not kidding." He shook his head, still unable to grasp what he’d seen.

She stood and smiled, quite pleased with herself. She turned to say something but was stopped by the confused, hurt look on the slayer’s face.

Willow knew what she was thinking. Quickly she walked up to Buffy and whispered in her ear. "Only because I’m the Immortal Watcher. . .I couldn’t do it before. . .I can now because you."

"Will, I get it. I almost didn’t get it, but I got it."

A look of relief washed across her face and she brushed the slayer’s face with her hand. "Good." She turned back and spoke to Ethan. "Tell them everything or you’ll deal with me." She grabbed Buffy’s hand and walked out the door.

---------------

They were ascending the stairs when a thought crossed Buffy’s mind. "That was pretty cool, Will, but how did you do it when you knew you couldn’t do it until you were the big IW?"

Willow stopped and had to dissect the sentence before responding. "The big?. . .Oh, I get it. Quentin and I used a controlled study. He conjured the effects of each of the spells I was studying and when I did them right, I knew because I saw the objects I used change, but I wasn’t really doing the spells."

Buffy gave her a confused look. "In English, oh Great One?"

Willow thought for a second. "Kinda like with Star Trek. You know . . the Holo-deck. The places they go aren’t real, but they think they are. . .and the actions they take in the not-real world have specific reactions. Like if you build a fire. . you feel the warmth, but it’s only the computer program making you think it’s warm. When I did a spell right, Quentin make me think I was giving the right, or wrong, effect. I guess you can call me the first Holo-pagan." She smiled. Suddenly, she felt dizzy and took a step backwards.

Buffy grabbed her and held her steady. "Whoa there. . .you’re brain hurt from that big ol’ explanation?"

"It’s the spells. It takes a lot out of me." She righted herself and tried to shake it off. "I’ll be okay. I just need to re-charge."

"So where do I plug you in?" Buffy stepped closer and kissed her earlobe. "Here?"

She giggled. "Buffy! I mean rest. I’ll feel better after I rest." Suddenly, Willow found herself about four feet off the ground and face to face with a very amused slayer.

"By all means, then. Let’s get you upstairs."

"Buffy, put me down!"

"Sorry, little one, time to put this slayer-vampiric strength to some use." She started to walk up the stairs.

--------------------

"I was rather bitter after I was refused admittance to the Watcher’s Council. It’s what I’d worked for all my life. After Rupert and I parted ways, after that whole Ehgon mess, I became entangled in the underworld. I had the costume shop, we know how that turned out, then there was the deal with Trick. That was a mess if I’d ever been in one. I know you probably won’t believe me, but I didn’t know that the sacrifice was to be infants. I swear."

"I came back to England after the slayer stopped the ascension. I was in a bar on the outskirts of town, quite hammered I must say. I was on my way home when I was attacked by a fire-demon half-breed. He and his little troupe beat me to within an inch of my life. I was on the ground, in an ally, when suddenly it all stopped. I thought I had died quite honestly."

"I looked up and standing in front of me was a Mohra demon. He said he knew things about me, knew my potential, and wanted to strike a deal. The apocalypse was to occur in six years time and there was a way I could both help and repay his saving my life."

"Of course I agreed. . .I’d be a fool not to. The details aren’t that important, but suffice it to say that I’ve met some very interesting creatures in the past six years. You wouldn’t believe the stamina of a vengeance demon after she’s given an aphrodisiac. . .but I digress."

"My basic mission was to muster all the force I could. Every race of demon, every age of vampire, succubus, incubus, burrowers, creatures of hell. . .you name it, I met it. The basic principle is this: to create a creature unlike any other. To join all the strengths of each creature into one. Once perfected, the male and female creature would mate, creating more creatures. I don’t even know what to call it."

"It’s amazing Rupert, you should see it! The strength of a thousand year old vampire, the blood of a Mohra demon, the breath of a fire-demon, the ability to shape-shift, it can’t be harmed by the sun, yet it can feed like a vampire, resistant to heat that would melt steel, yet it can breath underwater. Truly amazing. It has the gestation period of a fly . . .just 24 hours and it can give birth to a litter of six at a time. It takes one month for it to grow to maturity, then it goes on to breed and the process is started all over again."

"The shape shifting ability is it’s greatest asset. . .but from the way you cleared out this mansion, you must have had some idea, Richard. Didn’t you? Yes, it lives among you, among us. It could be the banker working from 9 to 5 or the grocer on the corner. . .right down to the little boy playing cricket in the park with his friends. That’s the beauty and the horror of it. You don’t know where they are. You don’t know . . .you don’t know. . . .the horror. . ."

Richard reached over and checked his pulse. "He’s still there. Must have passed out."

Giles was standing behind him. "Hmm, too bad."

"Do you think that’s everything?" He reached over and pressed stop on the tape recorder.

"For his sake, I hope so."

They walked out of the room and locked the door behind them. They began to walk upstairs, but Richard stopped and turned to Giles. "You know why I had to do it. Don’t you, Rupert?"

Giles nodded his head. "I know your position, Richard. Being the head of the Council can’t be easy and I must say, I’ve never wished for your job, ever. James explained everything." He smiled at the older man. "You knew I’d leave. Am I really that predictable?"

Richard placed a hand on his shoulder. "Thankfully so, Rupert. Like a lion protecting his young."

---------------------

"Demon?"

"Check."

Vampire?"

"Check."

"Succubus?"

"Check."

"Incubus?"

"Check."

"Burrowers?"

"Check."

"Creatures of hell?"

No answer.

"I said, creatures of hell."

Buffy looked over at Giles from the whiteboard she was writing on. "Creatures of hell? That’s a bit non-committal, don’t cha think? Care to vague it up for me a little more?"

"I’m afraid that’s all I got out of him. . .before he passed out. That’s all we’re going to get, at least for now. And before you suggest it, it’s much to taxing on Willow to heal him. We have him at a disadvantage if we keep him in the state he’s in now." He looked at her from over the top of his glasses. That usually meant ‘end of discussion’.

"Something’s not right here." Willow got up and paced back and forth for a moment. "When he said breeding. . . did he mean the offspring grow up and breed or the two original creatures continue to breed?"

"Either way it’s a big screw-fest down there in the sewers. Demonstock ’06."

"Buffy!" Willow almost looked embarrassed. "That was a very un-Buffy like comment."

"Yeah, well, I’m not really feeling like myself these days. Hmm, could it be because I’m dead?" She was dripping with sarcasm.

Giles saw the discussion going nowhere. "Girls, if we could just focus on the problem at hand, please."

"I for one have had it with talk." Buffy moved from the whiteboard and stood in front of the watcher. "Too much talk, too little action. Why can’t I just go down there and kill it?"

"Charging in much like John Wayne isn’t going to get you very far I’m afraid." Ethan was leaning against the doorway.

Giles stood at the sound of his voice. "Ethan . . .what the hell?"

Richard came up behind him. "It’s alright, Rupert. I had Quentin heal him. He’s willing to help."

"Are you out of your mind, man?!"

"Giles." Willow came up next to him. "It’s the only way we can do this."

Ethan limped into the room. "Ah, yes. . .words of wisdom from the Immortal one. How does it feel, luv? To know you have to power to kill with a thought, to set a city block ablaze the movement of your finger?" He move up so that they were face to face. "Intoxicating, isn’t it?"

She turned her head to him and blew into his face.

He reeled back and fell to his knees, grabbing his heart in pain. As quickly as the attack came, it left. . .and he was kneeling on the floor in front of her. "Tell me you don’t get off on that."

She raised her eyebrows. "Hardly." She raised her arms and at the same time he was raised off the ground. Swinging her arms to the left she placed him in the closest chair with a thud. She raised her arms in front of her and made a quick beckoning motion. His chair slid forward and pushed him into the table. He tried to move, but was unable to. She gave him a look of amusement. "Now, that, I enjoyed."

They all remained still as she leaned over the table to leer at him. She reached out and pressed her palms against his temples. She looked into his eyes and used her thumbs to force him to look into hers. He began to squirm and choked sobs began to come from his throat. After about two minutes she pulled away and slumped over on the table. "He’s telling the truth. . .(pants). . .he’ll help."

"I don’t care if you’re the bloody Queen of England. . .don’t ever do that again!" He leered at her.

She placed her head in her hands. "Believe me, it wasn’t a trip to Disneyland for me either."

Giles reached out and touched her shoulder. "Willow? Are you alright?"

There was no answer. He turned her over and saw that she was passed out.

Richard spoke up. "It’s exhaustion, Rupert. She’ll be fine." He turned to the slayer who was observing everything from the corner of the room. "Uh, Buffy, would you?"

She nodded and walked over to pick her up. Giles held the door open for her and she disappeared through it.

----------------

"How can they be destroyed? Where are they? Are they always together or is it possible to destroy them one at a time?"

He laughed. "So inquisitive, Rupert. . .you never stop in your thirst for knowledge, do you?"

"Just answer the bloody questions, would you?"

He exhaled. "Not without a deal."

Richard approached from behind. "I should have known. What do you want, Rayne?"

He smiled. "My freedom when. . .if you win. If you don’t I won’t have to worry about it, because you’ll all be dead."

Giles shook his head. "No way, Ethan. I’ve let you go twice already. The third time will not be the charm in this case."

"Ah, yes . . .I was prepared for that response." He closed his eyes in thought for a moment. "Then all I ask of you is this: Place me with a new identity in one of the remote holdings of the Council’s. I enjoy what I do, you can’t argue that I’m not good at it. Why not put it to some use?"

"Absolutely n. . ."

"It’s a deal." Richard cut him off.

"Richard, you must be mad? We can’t have him working for the Council."

"I see it as the only way, Rupert. At least this way we can keep tabs on him. No one is incorrigible. . .I believe you were the case study in point. . .or do I need to remind you, Ripper?"

Giles stammered a bit. "N-no, I suppose not." He shook his head. "I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this. Fine. I’m sure you’ll do quiet well in Siberia or Belgium or some other third world country, God help them." He pushed play on the tape recorder. "Now talk."

-------------

"It’s like a mother animal and her young. If you take the offspring away from the mother too soon, the offspring will die from starvation…It’s the same principle, only after you destroy the father AND mother, the offspring cease to exist. The mother and father are the direct lifeline to all they’ve produced. If you pull the plug, so to speak, it’s over. . .death is inevitable and instant."

"How do they cease to exist?"

"I don’t know. The mother and father haven’t been killed, yet, now have they? They are mostly a mixed race of demon, so it would be safe to assume they won’t explode into dust. The second most prominent characteristic is the ability to shape shift. I killed one once for trying to pilfer my lair. . .it simply melted down to this oozing, smelly mass of Jell-O and slithered off back to the parents. I’ll assume it was absorbed and used again. I saw it burrow into the mother’s stomach."

"How did you kill it?"

"Now that’s interesting. They wear helmets. This one had it’s helmet off and was placing my things in it. I put a dagger through it’s skull. You see, even though it was at full adult size, it still retains the soft spot found on most infants. As with most infants, it doesn’t entirely close up until reaching the age of three or four. As I said, it turned to slime and slinked away. Quite disgusting actually."

"Then how do you kill the adults?"

"In much the same way your mythical modern fairytales tell you how to kill a vampire. Their hearts must be ripped from their chests. It’s quite difficult considering they wear breastplates, but I assure you it can be done."

"Is there any particular way to kill the mother and father?"

"The female is the strongest link. Many mythical legends and fantasies point to the fact that behind a great man, you’ll find and even greater woman. It can ‘t be described as anything other than a feeding tube. There is a tube, about three feet wide, attached to the back of the female. The female has burrowed into the ground with the tube and is feeding off of something. Before you ask, I don’t know what. Nor do I know how deep it goes. It’s my belief that if you destroy the tube the female will begin to die. Adults don’t ooze, they shrivel. You must wait for the right moment when the female has shriveled just enough . . .then you remove the breastplate and rip the heart out from the chest. After the female has died, the male will begin to shrivel. Do the same and I believe all the offspring will follow suite. Without the female to return to, the slithering masses will be looking for anything to borrow through. My only suggestion would be to torch the place. Burn it further into the ground than it already is."

-------------------

Buffy walked into Cordelia’s room and found it empty. There were signs of a struggle. Tacked with a dagger to the wall was a drawing. Definitely Angel’s doing. It was of Cordelia tied to a bed, knocked out, in a small cell. She removed it and noted the blood on the blade . . .uncharacteristic to Buffy, but second nature to her vampire self, she licked the blade and tried to discern the taste. <Definitely female.> An image flashed in her mind. Cold. . musty smell. . .dark corridor. . .leather straps. . .a door. . . torches lighting a room. She took a few steps backwards from the reality she felt as the images past. <Now that was interesting. . . totally frickin creepy, but interesting.>

"What did you see?"

She turned around and saw Willow standing in the doorway. "What? I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"Angel took her. . .I felt it." She walked up to her and took the dagger and drawing from her hand. "This is her blood. What did you see?"

"You felt him take her? What, are you two connected or something?" Buffy walked away a few steps trying to wrap her mind around this new development. Willow, her Willow, had a connection with Cordelia that not even she had. She turned around and looked at her accusingly. "What the hell happened in LA anyway?"

"Buffy, we don’t have time for these jealous games! We have to help her. . .if this drawing is true. . .Angel doesn’t have her, Angelus does. Please, tell me what you saw. . ."

She ignored her pleas. "The entrance is under the mansion. Isn’t it?"

"Buffy. . ."

"Just answer me Will!"

"Yes." She whispered. <I hate it when we fight, I hate it.> She tried to form the words that would appeal to her reason, but, before she knew what was happening, Willow was thrown against the wall as a blur that was distinctly not human ran past her. <Damn it Buffy.> She took a moment to right herself and ran to get Giles.

-------------

She rushed through the door and noted that Ethan, Giles and Richard were huddled up at the table.

"Giles."

He looked up. "Ah, yes. . .Willow. Ethan was just mapping out the lair. . .it’s located in the sewer."

"In the sewer system, I know. Giles, Cordelia’s gone. Angelus took her." She placed the drawing and dagger on the table.

"Oh, as always, dear."

"That’s not all. Buffy. . .I think she had a vision of where Cordelia’s been taken. I tried to talk to her, but she took off. I think she went after them."

Richard looked at her quizzically. "A vision? I don’t understand."

Willow was impatient. "It’s a long story, Richard. Doyle, a half-breed demon, worked with Angel and Cordelia. He was Angel’s direct connection to the Oracles. Doyle died fighting The Scourge, but not before he kissed Cordelia and passed his gift on to her. She’s not half-demon, but she does have the gift. It’s connected to her fluids. Buffy licked the blade and. . ." She shuddered at the imagery the last comment presented.

"Not such a long story then. Very well, we don’t have any time to waste. We’ll muster our weapons at once. Willow and I will be one team. . .Giles, Ethan and Quentin the other."

"No way, Richard. He’s not going, we can’t trust him."

"We don’t have time to argue about this. Quentin will be with them. . .he can keep a leash on Ethan if need be."

She looked torn but finally agreed. "Fine. Lets just go. Let’s kill these things and get them out of there."

That settled, they all filed out of the room to prepare for the battle ahead.

-----------

"Lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-i va transporta, sufletul la el. . .Let this Orb be the vessel that will carry his soul to him. . . Asa sa fie! Asa sa fie! Acum!. . . So it shall be! So it shall be! Now!"

The air was punctuated by a blood curdling scream. He slumped over as the blue light faded from his eyes. He took a few moments to gather his thoughts then the realization hit him. Everything he’d done, everything he did to her. A sob escaped from his throat and two strong hands yanked him up by the collar.

"No time for that now, man.." He slapped him to try and bring him to his senses. "We’ve a demon to stop. . .I bloody well don’t want to die down here. Do you?"

He shook his head and tried to focus his eyes. "No. . .we have to save them, we have to." Angel reached out and grabbed the hands that held him up. A blood-tear ran down his cheek. "My God, what have I done?"

"No time now. We have to get out of here and carry on like nothing has happened." He smiled to himself. "Just think, if we make it out of here alive, I’ve got a new job opportunity. . .I’d make a pretty good witch you know." He gathered up the man in front of him and led him out the door. <This better work.>

-----------------

<You’ve seen one sewer, you’ve seen them all.> Buffy walked through the sludge and slime collected in the pipes located under one of the most beautiful cities in the world. She walked with a purpose, with direction. . .finally she knew what she was supposed to do. Angelus was close by, the blood humming in her veins told her that much. <Must be the sick little connection a childe has to it’s sire.> Until now, she’d been scared to use the vampiric strength and sense. Since she’d been turned, she was afraid to give into this dark, twisted gift. Inhuman speed, strength of 1000 men, night vision, sense of smell that would put a pack of bloodhounds to shame. Ethan’s comments about the power being intoxicating were directed to Willow, but Buffy heard him loud and clear, and the consequences ran through her mind.

Before she went on the hunt, she had the good sense to change her clothes. She was wearing a pair of form fitting leather pants, leather boots that came mid-calf and a simple white tank top. For good measure, she took Angel’s duster. With her blonde locks pulled back in a pony tail, she looked genderless. Ultimately she was. . .she was no longer female or even a slayer. . .she was a vampire. That point had been driven home time and time again when the blood lust ached in her chest. It had been almost a month and she’d been able to avoid taking a life, but the temptation was there. Every time someone walked into a room, every time she came close, Buffy literally heard the blood coursing though her veins and her heart pounding a methodical, maddening rhythm in her ears. Willow’s blood, Willow’s heart. Even as she put distance between them, she could swear she still felt her there so close. <Can’t think about that now.> She shook her head to get rid of the thoughts.

She came upon a crossroads and pressed herself against the wall. A stray thought came into her mind about a poem she’d read in high school. Something about the road not taken. . .or less traveled or making a difference. . . or was it

"Buffy."

She was no thought and all action. Her arm swung back to where the voice had come from and upon contact heard the crack of bones.

"Ow! What the hell was that for!"

She looked back and saw Quentin kneeling on the ground holding his nose. . .Giles and Ethan were about five steps away. She reached down and grabbed him by the lapels and pressed him against the wall. "Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to sneak up on vampires?"

"Apparently not. I didn’t think it would result in a broken nose!"

"Serves you right. I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time." She smiled at him and shifted into game-face.

Giles cleared his throat. "Ahem . . .good, we’ve found you. Here." He dropped a knapsack at her feet. "This is everything we’ll need to fight this thing." He looked down at her and shook his head. "And for God’s sakes, wipe that face off, please."

She never took her eyes of Quentin. "I don’t remember sending out party invitations." She let him go and turned to Giles, morphing back to her human guise. "I have to get her out of here. It’s what Willow wants, and I’m doing it alone."

"Willow? It’s what we all want, Buffy. Or have you forgotten how Angelus tortured me? I wouldn’t wish that on anyone." He looked back at Ethan. "Not even him."

"That’s not what I meant, Giles." She shrugged her shoulders. "Look, Will loves her. . .I get that now, and if Cordelia makes her happy then I plan on getting her out of here in one piece." She grabbed the knapsack and began to walk away. "Just let me do this one thing right. . .for Willow."

Giles had had it. He dropped his bag and grabbed her by the arm. "That’s it! That’s why you’re down here? You amaze me sometimes, Buffy. Honestly."

She growled and gave him a piercing gaze. "Let me go."

They faced off for what seemed like forever. Neither one of them budging. Finally, Quentin took hold of the situation. "Buffy, we really haven’t any time for this nonsense. I have a map that takes us right to the lair. You’re either in or your out. As for Willow, yes, she and Cordelia are connected, but not in the way you think. Cordelia has a gift from the Oracles. . .prophetic visions. These visions act as an aide to Angel so he can seek out people in trouble. Since they had a relationship, some of the gift has been given to Willow. . .it’s transmitted through fluids. . .only she has prophetic dreams. You witnessed a vision when you tasted Cordelia’s blood. As for the connection. . . Willow gave her the NoiTome Gem. . .it was made for Willow by the Oracles themselves. . .that’s how she knew Cordelia had been taken. . .she felt the ring’s vibrations grow faint." Buffy stood there is shocked silence, unable to look at any of them. Quentin picked up his bag. "Good, well, a silent vampire is a good vampire." He motioned to the pipe leading off to the left. "Shall we?"

Wordless, they continued on with Quentin leading the pack.

------------

"She’s close. . .I can smell her fear." He smiled and a hint of fang gleamed in the torchlight.

A demon approached him. "The . .The Immortal Watcher?" He shuddered at the thought.

He reeled around and the demon was met with a right cross to the face. He flew into a wall with a dumbfounded expression peppered with pain. "No, you fool. . .the friggin Easter Bunny! Yes, The Immortal Watcher. . .idiot, I don’t know why I bother." He shook his head wondering for the infinite time just how reliable these creatures were. <Leave it to Rayne to muster up the stupidest creatures earth and hell has to offer. Where’s a God damn Chaos-demon when you need one?> He was shaken out of his thoughts by another demon walking into the room. He looked up and growled. "What do you want?"

He was unshaken. <All bark, no bite.> "The lookouts confirm the approach of the Immortal Watcher from the west. I’ve also been informed that another little troupe approaches from the east as we speak."

<Closing in from both sides. . .> He smiled again. "Good. Let me know when they’re just outside the perimeter." He turned to go but stopped. "Let them find the bitch. . .I have no use for her. There are bigger fish around to fry."

"Do you think that’s wise?" The demon couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

"You question me?! They’re weak, she’s weak. . .and they bloody well won’t leave here without her. It’s perfect. . I couldn’t have planned it better myself." He crossed the room quickly and stopped inches away from the demon. "Damn Mohra demons. . .one purpose in mind." He took on a mocking tone. "End of the world, end of the world. . you’d be spouting off about the end of the world forever if I hadn’t come in here and taken over. It’s happening because of me, I’M the catalyst that will be the death of them all." He stopped his rant and sniffed the air. "She’s close." He returned his attention to the demon. "You strike to kill anything that gets in your way. . .save the Immortal one and the slayer for me." He straightened up and squared his shoulders off. "The Big Bad is back. . .and there’ll be hell to pay. . .when I get my hands on her, I’ll"

The sentence was interrupted by a stinging backhand from a figure standing behind him. He landed on the ground with a thud and whipped around to find Angelus hovering over him. "You’ll what, Spike?" He chuckled and backed up two steps, bringing his hands to his chest and closing his eyes. "Wish really, really hard that you could bite them? Huh? Maybe you should pull your fangs out tonight and put them under your pillow." The air was punctuated by his maniacal laughter. "That way, the tooth fairy will come and give you a pair that’s not so defective." He stopped laughing and put out a hand to help his childe up. "I swear I only keep you around for amusement purposes." He dusted him off and slapped him on the back for good measure before walking away.

"You’re a real bastard, Angelus. Anyone ever tell you that?" He shook his head and ran one hand through short platinum blonde hair.

"Once," He turned, game-face firmly in place. "but her thoughts were interrupted when I ripped out her heart and shoved it down her throat." He growled and looked at Spike from under a hooded brow. "It’s kinda hard to talk with your mouth full."

Spike threw his hands up in frustration. "You’ve lost your marbles! I’m convinced of it now! The Immortal Watcher and the slayer-vampire-thing, whatever the hell she is. . . they’re moments away and all you can talk about is lunch." He shook his head and paced around the room. Finally he stopped in front of his sire. "So tell me, Great One, what’s the bloody plan? How do we stop them?"

Angelus laughed. "In the words of the mother country. . .sod off! You’re on a need to know basis, Impotent One. You’ll know when it’s time." He walked out leaving Spike alone.

----------

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" She sensed him moving around her in a predatory circle. "Cordelia. . .I never figured you for S&M." She felt him come closer and his hand went to her cheek.

She tried to pull away from him but the quick movement only produced a sob from her throat and a sadistic chuckle from him.

"Get away from me you bastard." She spit at him.

He removed the blindfold and peered into her eyes. He shook his finger at her. "Now, now . . is that any way to speak to your lover? Hmm?" He smiled and she noticed a fang peek out from his upper lip . . it made her shudder.

"You’re not Angel . . .you’re Angelus, I know the difference."

"I see you’ve bought into what that slayer bitch has been feeding you." He took on a mocking tone. "Angel loves me, Angelus is the demon, he’s the bad one, boo hoo." He shifted into game-face. "Spare me. . .I’ve heard the song before and believe me it’s gotten old." He leaned in and sniffed the nape of her neck. A tear fell from her eye and he noted it by continuing up her neck and licking it off her cheek. "Hmm, great taste, less filling."

"You sick bastard!" She managed to lift one of her feet and plant it firmly in his groin.

He fell back immediately, bringing his hands to the quickly swelling area. Two demons rushed in. One helped him up and the other backhanded her.

"Tie her feet up and teach her a lesson." He straightened up, trying to keep the apparent pain from his expression. "I’ll deal with you later."

"What’s wrong Angelus. You have to send your boys to do a man’s job?" She managed to sound defiant, but the fear was still there.

He turned to her and smiled a sad smile. "You don’t know the half of it." He shook his head and began to walk out. "You don’t know the half."

Both demons began to tie her legs together. After replacing the blindfold, they turned her over and once gagged, she felt the sharp sting of a whip on her bare back. After about five lashes, she thankfully passed out..

-----------

She stirred and tried to open her eyes. It was useless. The blindfold was still firmly in place and any kind of movement just brought more pain. Her arms were shackled to the wall and her legs were tied together with rope. She was propped up against the wall, a very slimy cold wall, and she wasn’t sure how long she’d been out.

The last thing she remembered was laying down for a nap after talking with Willow. Next thing she knew, she was in this same position and her muscles protested the slightest bit of movement. She moved her fingers a little and gave a sigh of relief to find that the ring was still firmly in place.

Over the course of what she thought was four or five hours, Angelus had come to visit her three times. She twitched remembering the things he’d said to her. . .the way he tortured her. She huffed in the darkness. <I asked for it. I did tell him to come back to me.> She licked her lips and tasted the dried blood. <Ugh, gross.> Finally, she realized that the situation was hopeless. He bindings were too tight and even now, she could feel the blood oozing from the cuts on her arms from the shackles. There was nothing left to do but wait.

------------

Willow and Richard walked through the tunnels in silence. The map was clearly marked and if it was correct, they were right next to the cell that held Cordelia.

"Richard, we have to find a way in. There has to be a manhole, or a grating or something." After feeling around in the sludge for a few moments, Willow’s had ran across a latch. "Ah ha! Here we go."

Richard bent down and began to unscrew the grating. Cautiously, Willow peered in and found that they were about 2 feet off the ground. Directly in her line of vision was Cordelia’s badly beaten form, shackled to the wall.

Silently, she shimmied in and dropped down to the floor. She crept over to Cordelia and put her hand across her mouth. "Shh. . .it’s me, Willow. We’re gonna get you out of here, Cordy. Just don’t say ANYTHING."

Her hand was met with a meek nod of acknowledgement.

------------

The demon burst through the door and found Angelus laying on the bed. "Sir, the alarm."

He got to his feet ad stretched. "Good." He winced a little from the pain of his earlier encounter with Cordelia. Slapping his hands together, he shifted into game-face. "It’s show time!"

-----------

Willow had a tough time getting the shackles off and finally resorted to magic. Once they were off, she removed the blindfold and the ropes from her legs. She pressed both hands to Cordelia’s temples and a blue-green light emitted from them.

The warmth from Willow’s hands stretched to all parts of Cordelia’s body. When she could finally open her eyes without pain, she looked up at Willow.

Her eyes were closed and beads of sweat were beginning to appear on her forehead. Her mouth scrunched up in concentration and she began to falter, only to be snapped out of it by Cordelia grabbing her.

"Will, stop! You’re gonna kill yourself trying to fix me."

"Willow’s eyes opened wide. "Cordy, I told you to be quiet." She shook her head and heard footsteps approaching from the hallway beyond the door. "Come on. . quick!" She grabbed her hand and rushed over to the opening.

Richard was smiling at them through the now replaced grate. "Sorry, ladies. Slight change in plans." He secured the final bolt.

Willow couldn’t believe her eyes. "Richard, what are you doing?!" The words formed, but as she got them out, she knew full well what was happening.

Before their eyes, he shifted into demon form. His eyes turned a haunting blue, his skin a deep green. . .and as his clothes fell from his now muscular body, a breastplate and helmet appeared. . .as did a black collar around his neck. "Surprise." An evil grin formed across his face.

Willow shook her head. "No. . .it can’t be. . . .Richard, you bastard!" She lunged at him and shook the grating.

He stepped back and laughed. ""Now is that anyway to treat your lover? Hmm? You still have a chance you know. . .agree to be a good little witch and next time I pry apart your dimpled knees I’ll be more gentle." He tilted his head and frowned at her.

The lock on the cell door squeaked and Angelus appeared. "Well, well, well. . .now what do we have here?" He waltzed over to Cordelia and grabbed her by the arm. "Leaving so soon? . . and after I’ve been such a gracious host?" He smiled at her and leaned in so they were a breath away. "I see you’ve brought me dinner." He motioned to Willow. "How kind."

He waved his hand and two demons grabbed Willow and put black shackles on her. She was still dumbfounded by Richards’ appearance in demon form that she didn’t even struggle.

Angelus threw Cordelia to the ground and took Willow’s face in his hand. "Don’t even bother with your hocus pocus." He grabbed the chain between the shackles on her wrists and pulled them up violently. "They’re magic. You’re powerless as long as you have them on." With his other hand he grabbed a fistful of red hair. "Back to normal, little one. . .the old pathetic, scrawny little wanna be witch you’ve always been. Where’s your little slayer now? Huh?" He walked a pace away and waved his hand in the air. "Get them out of here. . .just the sight of them makes me sick."

He turned his attention to the grating in the wall. "Well? What the hell took you so long? I expected you hours ago."

The demon smiled apologetically. "Took a wrong turn and had to double back. Demons aren’t notorious for their sense of direction you know." He snarled and changed his demeanor entirely. "And I’ve warned you about taking that tone with me, Angelus."

Angelus nodded. "Sorry boss. . .and the others?"

"On their way as we speak."

---------------

They walked down a corridor and opened the cell door. They stood in the room where Angelus stood only moments before.

Giles shook his head. "Something’s wrong. She’s not here and there aren’t any demons around."

Quentin walked around the perimeter. "Yes. . .something’s up. This isn’t right."

"Way to state the obvious, guys." She smiled. "And you became Watchers how?"

Giles took his glasses off and turned to Ethan. "Well, any suggestions?"

He wrapped his arms around himself and his gazed went around the room. "He’s got them. There’s no other explanation." He began to pace around the room. "You don’t understand Rupert. It’s not supposed to happen now. . .the end of the world I mean." He stopped and laughed to himself.

Giles walked over to him and grabbed him by the shoulders. "What the hell are you babbling about?"

He looked at him with fear in his eyes and spoke to no one in particular. "I can’t believe he pulled it off. . .the bastard’s got balls, I’ll give him that. . .the blood of the Immortal Watcher"

"Richard is with her. He won’t let anything happen to her. He’d die first!" Giles was shaking him with every syllable.

Ethan ignored him and continued to stammer ". . . .their reproduction time will increase ten-fold. . .There’s no way to stop him now without getting them both killed." He wretched away from Giles’ grasp and pounded his fist against the wall. "Don’t you see, Rupert! It was Richard. . .or should I say the rogue Mohra demon. It’s not Richard at all. . .there’s never been a Richard." He began to laugh uncontrollably and put his hand against the wall to keep from toppling over. "Watcher’s Council? Ha!! More of a demon council if you ask me!"

Buffy rushed him and landed a round-house kick to the side of his face. "You knew! You knew and you didn’t tell us?!"

He continued to laugh unfazed. "I didn’t think he’d be able to do it. . I didn’t think he’d pull it off."

Giles pulled out the tranquilizer gun and shot him. Before drifting into unconsciousness he muttered something. "Male first. . .then. . female. . .destroy them. . .destroy." He slumped over.

Giles’ gaze turned to Quentin. "And you. . .how much of this were you aware of?" He was reloading the gun as he spoke.

Quentin put his hands up in defeat. "None of it, Rupert. I swear." He shook his head, still unable to grasp what just happened. "Had I known, I never would have." The sentence was cut off by another round leaving the gun.

Giles inhaled and exhaled deeply. He looked over to Buffy. "I should have known better than to trust the Council again."

She absentmindedly nodded her head and looked up at him. She shouldered her bag and grabbed Ethan’s. "Come on. If this map is right then I have a plan."

"And if it’s not?"

She shrugged. "We get another plan."

He followed her out and threw the lock in place behind them.

-----------------

She was blindfolded and pushed into a chair. The air was thick with the stench of death, the smell of blood. Willow tried to get up, but a strong hand reached down and put her back into her place.

"Not yet, little one. "Angel breathed into her ear. "You’ll know when the time is right."

She gasped at the familiarity of his voice. "Angel?" She whispered.

"Yes, little one. No time to explain." He walked away for a moment then came back and crouched down next to her. "Cordy’s out cold. Spike is around . . .trust him, he won’t steer you wrong." He reached over and pulled the blindfold up a little bit. "Just follow my lead and you’ll be fine." He kissed her cheek quickly. "I have to run. Remember this: Male then female. . .not the other way around. . .it’s the only way. Good luck."

--------------

Buffy and Giles crouched low to the ground. Both of their gazes took in the room completely. Buffy whispered over to him. "We doubled back because they’re expecting us from over there." She pointed to the opposite end of the room where some demons were converging. "If we stay here long enough and bide out time, there’ll be an opening. . .I’m sure of it."

<This is going to be the longest night of my life.> "I hope you’re right."

<I hope so too.> She pointed to the other side of the room. "There, that’s the female, I’m sure of it. Look behind her, the tube. . .it goes right through the ground."

"Looks like my lessons on observance weren’t totally lost on you." He smiled despite the grimness of the situation.

"Hey, I listen. I’m a very good listener." She jabbed at him for effect.

Continued...