The Liar, the Witch and the Watcher

by D.F. Spinner

Copyright © 2005

spellspinner17@yahoo.com

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I did not create BtVS or their universe. All rights to that still belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy as well as any other Big Wigs involved. No copyright infringement is intended nor is any money being made. I am just taking the characters for a spin. Some of the characters in this fiction are totally mine. If you know the show you'll know which ones.
Distribution:  The Mystic Muse:  http://mysticmuse.net
D.F.'s Fics: http://spellspinner.proboards19.com/index.cgi
Feedback: Yes please. I would really like to hear from you.
Spoilers: Post-Chosen.
Author's Notes: This is my first real attempt at fan fiction so I won't make promises that you will like it. I have not tried to undo what Joss and ME has already done, but am picking up the pieces.
Pairing: Willow/Tara

Chapter 1    Chapter 2    Chapter 3    Chapter 4    Chapter 5    Chapter 6    Chapter 7    Chapter 8    Chapter 9    Chapter 10    Chapter 11    Chapter 12

Willow Rosenberg had lived a very long life in Sunnydale California for her very short years. The auburn haired witch who was now 27 years old had seen the end of the world more times than she cared to remember. Being best friends with The Chosen One or Slayer was challenging but it had always been rewarding. It had given her life purpose and made her feel like she was making a difference. At least it always had before. Now she wasn't sure.

Sunnydale, now there was a flood of memories including the town itself. She looked out at the waves of the ocean as she walked. She was saying good-bye to her beachfront home tonight and tomorrow would take her back to New Sunnydale. The original Sunnydale had been destroyed when the First made his exit.

Her best friends were scattered. Buffy and Dawn were living in Italy now and not doing a lot of big bad fighting although the counsel had started training Dawn as a watcher once she had finished her masters program in Paranormal studies. With Giles, Faith, and Kennedy in England…Willow paused at that thought. Kennedy, she wondered how the young woman was now. The young slayer had never understood why Willow could not stay with her, and she was not sure that she would ever be able to explain it to her. Then there was Xander…Xander Harris still needed her whether he wanted to admit it or not, especially with all the new Slayers-in-training. Yes, she thought. I have to go back for Xander. He had been so serious since Anya's death. Her job with the Witches Counsel would allow her to work from anywhere and Xander had asked her to come back and live with him at The Watchers Estate so she was going.

Her mood only darkened with her memories. She thought about the one person that she would always think of….

"Tara," she whispered on the wind as a single tear escaped down her cheek.

Xander Harris liked his life in New Sunnydale. The young man still held his boyish charm even with the eye patch he now wore. He thought it made him appear worldlier. Xander had been very active in the rebuilding of the city. He knew that even though it was quieter now than it had ever been on the Hellmouth, it still had to be guarded and what better place could he train young slayers. He really missed his old friends but they talked as often as they could and he never knew when something would bring one of them to town. Even Angel found his way to Xander's doorstep on occasion. He laughed under his breath at the thought he and Angel ever actually becoming friends but the had done just that. They had come a long way from the original Scooby's.

Giles and Faith would be in town in a few days. They were moving for an official Watchers Counsel branch her in the US. It would really make all of their lives easier if they could have more resources at their disposal. This was one of the main reasons that he had asked Willow to return. He would really need her help as the most awesome Wicca in existence. He could not help but to be in awe of his life long friends abilities. He smiled as he thought of his oldest friend. They had been through so much together and he was really worried about her. Maybe a new cause would help her to find her way out of the fog she had been in since Tara's death.

He continued to think about the auburn haired witch as he waited for her plane to land. He could not believe that it had been over a year since he had seen her the last time. Her voice was sounding emptier than it had in a long time and he was sure that she was not taking care of herself. Then he saw her. He tried to hold back the tears that threatened to be shed as he rushed to her. She was so thin and pale….

"Willow," he said so quietly she barely heard him as he hugged her close.

"Hi Xander," she smiled but it was empty and did not quite make it all the way up her face.

After a few minutes in his iron embrace she tried to pull away and could not.

"Air," she reminded him. "Becoming an issue."

"Will, I'm sorry," he said letting her go. "Here let me get your bag for you and we can go home if you like."

She just nodded at her friend but was quiet all the way to Xander's new home. Her new home she reminded herself. He had built a wing on just for her. She looked at the house with appreciation. She knew that he said that he designed it and was well impressed by the details. As he showed her around she noticed the convenience of the layout. Everything was easy to get to from everywhere else. She looked at him as he stopped in front of a set of beautiful mahogany double doors.

"Now," he said with a playful smile. "This would be the resident witches new digs."

He opened the doors and stood to the side and watched as Willow entered. She looked around completely amazed at the detail he had put into her dwelling. There were so many things for a witch to do here. Her kitchen was completely stocked with herbs, candles, and other witchy stuff as well as the normal kitchen type stuff. There was also an altar. Well, that was different in a sweet, Xander sort of way. Glass patio doors led outside to a perfect garden circle. Tara would have loved that she thought sadly. The bedroom was large and decorated in Earthy shades and a nice fireplace and wood all ready for the flaming. Then she noticed that Xander was standing in front of a single door.

"This is your office," he told her opening the door, allowing her to enter.

A large desk supported a massive computer system and everything that she would need for her favorite past time on one wall. There was even a big comfy chair in the corner with a cute little lamp on a small table where she could use her laptop. Then she turned and her breath caught in her chest and tears streamed down her face. There on the wall was a beautiful portrait of Tara in Willow's favorite blue dress. Beneath it stood a small table with a candle to each side and a picture of Willow and Tara in the middle. Willow staggered backwards to be caught by Xander before she could fall to the ground.

"Oh Xander," she breathed as the tears flowed over her cheeks. "It's beautiful. Thank you so much."

"I was hoping you would like it Will," he told her and hugged her close. "I know how hard it's been for you."

She realized that he really did understand since he had lost Anya. They stood there for several moments and just clung to each other. She reached up and caressed his cheek wondering just when he had grown up so much.

Xander left Willow alone with her thoughts to get settled into her new home and rest up after her trip. He thought about how tired she appeared and hoped that she would be able to rest now that she was home again. He hoped that she would be able to think of this as home and that he had not forgotten anything that she would need in her part of the house. He knew that she would need some privacy for a while anyway.

A couple hours later the housekeeper knocked on Willow's door.

"Miss Rosenberg," she called. "I'm Nancy. I have dinner ready for you. Would you like to join Master Xander in the dinning room or would you prefer your meal here tonight?"

"Hi Nancy," willow said sleepily. "I'll join Xander tonight thanks."

Willow made her way to the main dinning room. Dinner was beyond wonderful but Xander noticed how little Willow had eaten. He did his best to keep the conversation cheery and as little about business as possible at least for tonight. He did not want to push her too hard and make her feel uncomfortable.

"I talked to Giles a couple of days ago," he said between bites of pasta.

Willow smiled. "How is he," she asked?

"Good," Xander answered as he dabbed his mouth with a napkin. "He and Faith are coming to town in a couple of weeks and wanted to see us if we aren't too busy."

"Like I could ever be too busy to see Giles," Willow said almost jumping out of her seat.

He smiled that was the first time he had seen her really smile since she had been here and that was the most excited he had heard her voice in a year.

That night after Willow had retired to her quarters Xander placed an overseas call.

"Giles I am telling you," he started. "She is not looking too good. As a matter of fact she looks like hell or worse."

The young mans tone was exasperated.

"My best friend is slowly dying and I don't know what to do," he finished.

"Xander," Giles told him. "Faith and I will be there in a few more days. Keep her spirits up until then and hopefully between us we can figure something out."

Willow tried to get comfortable in her new bed. She tossed and turned half the night but she just could not sleep. She did not seem to ever be able to sleep anymore. She turned and stared out the big picture window at the moonlight in the garden. Beyond the garden, though she could not see it at this moment she knew that there was a wooded area. She wanted to go exploring when she felt a little stronger. Coming back to Sunnydale had been very difficult for her and she wondered if she had made the right decision.

Just before dawn Willow finally drifted into a restless sleep only to be awakened in a short time screaming into the night. Her body was wracked with sobs from the horrible nightmare. Xander burst through the doors in his pajamas to find the woman sitting in the middle of her bed in tears.

"Will," he questioned? "Are you okay?"

She just shook her head as he slid onto the bed next to her and held her.

Over the next few days Willow just wandered around the large estate. She watched the young slayers training and she watched Xander. Somehow she could not believe all that he had already accomplished here. She knew that he was the youngest Watcher ever. Hanging out with Buffy seemed to have prepared him well for the position.

Each afternoon she would visit the graveyard to see her beloved Tara and her parents who were killed when Old Sunnydale was devastated. She knew that she should not come here so often but she did not seem to be able to stay away. Her dreams at night were tormenting her with the loss of her lover and best friend. Xander knew that she was slipping away from him and he had no clue what to do. He could only watch from a distance helplessly.

Willow had been back for over a week and he knew that she went to the cemetery each afternoon. Today however, she had not come back as she usually did. It was getting late so he went to search for her. When he arrived at the cemetery he was met with a site that horrified him. Willow's limp body was draped across Tara's grave. He ran to her side.

"Will," he screamed as he fell beside her pulling her into his lap. "Oh God Will talk to me here."

She was breathing and he could not find any sign of injury. He scooped her up into his arms and carried her to his car. When he picked her up he was shocked at just how light she was. He knew then that she had not been eating. In the car he kept talking to her. He noted the dark circles under her eyes and the hollow look to her face.

"Will, you have to stay with me here," Xander said with desperation as he drove. "You know I need you to keep me together. What would I do without you Will?"

Tears streamed down the young man's face as he pulled in to the hospital parking area. He scooped her up again and almost ran with her into the Emergency Room entrance. How many times had they repeated this scene for one or more of their group, but usually it was a big bad or at least a big bad wannabe that put one of them in here, not themselves. He knew that she had been despondent but figured that she just needed time to adjust to being home again. He had not given it much thought that she had been taking her meals in her rooms. His eyes opened wide as he came to a sudden realization as he waited for the doctor to return.

"Oh my god," he thought out loud. "She came home to die."

Tears washed over his cheeks again as he sat there with his head in his hands. He pulled the cell phone out of his pocket and dialed a number.

"I'm at the hospital," he told the voice on the other end. "You have to come now. I think I am losing her. (Pause to listen) "Okay, I'll talk to you in a few hours."

Xander waited for what seemed like hours before the doctor reappeared.

"Mr. Harris," he called him?

"Yes, that would be me," Xander said as he snapped to his feet.

"Mr. Harris, has Miss Rosenberg been depressed?" the doctor started.

"Yes, she has," Xander nodded. "Doc, How bad is she?"

"I'm afraid that Miss. Rosenberg almost succeeded in starving herself to death," the doctor came back. "It will be touch and go for a few hours but we have nourishment going into her system now. With any luck she should come through it without any long-term effects, but Mr. Harris I cannot release her without orders that she go through some psychiatric evaluation. She will have to stay a few days."

"I understand," Xander nodded again. "When can I see her Doc?"

"They are moving her to a private room now," he finished. "You can join her there."

Xander sat in silence beside Willow's bed and watched the beautiful Wicca sleep. How did things get so messed up for her he wondered? It had been hard on all of them but when Will lost Tara it was as if it sucked the soul right out of her. She had tried to move on with Kennedy but no matter how hard she tried she just could not make it work with her. Xander had figured out a long time ago that it probably had something to do with the magical connection that the two witches had. No one would ever be able to touch that. He had never seen two people so close and so dedicated to one another. He also imagined that had things gone the other way and Tara had lived and Willow died that he would be facing the exact same challenge with Tara, or Buffy would have because since she was closer to Tara. He hated seeing her like this.

"Welcome back," he started as he saw her green eyes looking up at him. "You gave me a scare there Will."

"What…" Willow started. "Where am I?"

"The hospital Will," Xander whispered. "You are going to be okay. Willow you can't do this. You can't kill yourself. Too many of us need you."

She turned her head away from him as tears started spilling onto the pillow under her head.

"I just can't do this anymore Xander," she told him honestly. "Everything is empty and meaningless. Nothing makes me feel anything. No one…."

"Will," Xander started to stroke her hair. "I know that this has been more than hard for you. I know that you feel like part of your soul was ripped out, but Tara would not want you to end this way. She would want to know that you went out fighting with all that you have inside of you."

"That is just it Xander," her eyes leapt to him! "There is nothing left inside of me to fight anymore. I have nothing left."

"You still have me," he reminded her. "You still have Buffy and Dawn. You have Giles and Faith and even Kennedy if you would let her. She understands that she can't be your lover but you won't even allow her to be your friend."

She turned away from him and faced the wall. He let out a deep sigh and just sat back in the chair to wait. He was not sure for what but he would wait and watch.

After Xander had left Willow at the hospital he had run a few errands and checked in with Nancy at the estate. Once he was assured that everything was going well there he headed for the airport. Their plane would be arriving soon and he did not want to make them wait. The sooner they could all put their heads together the better off Willow would be, at least he hoped.

"Willow," the soft voice came to her through the mist. "Willow, I am waiting for you. Where are you baby."

Willow tossed in her sleep. "Here baby," she cried out. "I'm trying to get to you sweetie."

She awakened with tears streaking her face and her body covered with perspiration. Another dream she thought, but it seemed so real. She knew that Tara was trying to find her and that she must be in trouble. The dreams were coming every time she was asleep now.

"I'll find a way baby," she whispered. "I'll find a way somehow."

Xander had not been at the airport long when he saw the familiar forms emerge from one of the terminals.

"Faith, Giles!" he greeted. "I am really glad to see you."

They embraced and he helped them get their bags before heading to the estate. He did his best to fill them in as they went on everything that he knew had happened. Including the dreams that awakened Willow every night screaming. They wondered if there was some supernatural cause for the dreams. They would begin their research as soon as they got settled in and went to check on Willow.

"How is she looking Xander?" Giles asked him blankly.

"She looks just like she did when Tara first died," he started "but without the black magic mojo going on."

"We'll figure out something guys," Faith tried to assure them. "I mean she is strong. She's the strongest person I know…right?"

"I hope so Faith," Giles interjected as he cleaned his glasses. "I certainly hope so."

"Master Xander, Mr. Giles," Nancy greeted "it is so good to see you. You must be Faith," as she turned to the young woman in greeting. "Welcome to our home."

"This is Nancy," Xander smiled. "She acts like the housekeeper but this place would fall apart if it were not for her."

"Master Xander," Nancy insisted. "I hate to bother you with this now, but we have reports of some strange occurrences over the past several hours. I thought you might want to send someone to check it out." She handed him a telegram.

"Thanks Nancy," he said looking at the report. Did he say when they might be hitting us?'

"Afraid not Master Xander," Nancy replied. "Only that if you need him to call and he would be here."

"Okay this is great," Xander sighed.

"What is it Xander?" Giles inquired.

Xander offered him the paper. After reading it he removed his glasses and handed it over to Faith who saw fit to sit in the middle of the floor after reading it.

"Are they sure?" she said.

"Yes, I think they are," Xander offered.

"But the First," she offered. "I thought we managed to close off his one route of escape."

"I don't know," said Giles. "It may not be him but it certainly looks like his calling card."

"And we are down one very powerful witch," Xander reminded them.

"I'll call the Watchers Counsel and see if they can send Kennedy to check out things in LA," Giles told them. "I am sure that Angel would be more than happy for the help."

"Are you sure you don't want me to go," Faith questioned him?

"No," he and Xander started at the same time.

"I am quite sure that we shall need you right here," Giles assured Faith. "Especially if this monk is one of the Firsts. We have an entire group of girls that may need protecting."

After Giles had made his call Xander gave them a quick tour of Slayer Central before they headed to the hospital. Giles seemed to be quite impressed by the Martial Arts Training classes. He was amazed at what Xander had managed to get approved by the counsel in such a short time. He knew that getting the counsel to do anything was like pulling teeth at times.

Faith had not said much about the facility, but she wanted to use the gym when they finished for the day. She needed to stretch her muscles and give them a good work out. Maybe she could get some of the more advanced trainees to spar with her so she could get a really good work out. Or maybe she would go out for a little slaying. That always took her mind off things as well.

Willow had awakened screaming again. She was not aware of the hand stroking her hair.

"Hey Red," Faith shushed quietly still stroking the redhead's hair. "It's okay. Just a bad dream."

"Faith?" Willow questioned.

"In the flesh," she looked worried. "Must be your lucky day."

"Must be," Willow tried to smile.

Willow looked around and saw Xander and standing beside him was Giles.

"Giles," she smiled again. "It's been too long."

"Yes," he started cleaning his glasses again. "Willow you've had us all a bit worried you know."

"I'm fine," Willow assured them. "Just not sleeping well."

"Sounds like you're not eating either Red," Faith corrected with concern.

Willow looked up at the raven-haired slayer. She could not ever remember seeing such concern in the woman's eyes before.

"You know you have to hurry up and get better," Faith continued. "I need you to give me the 411 on this whole Witches Counsel thing. I have to work with them and I would rather it be with you."

Willow looked at her a little befuddled.

"You are going to be working with the Witches Counsel?" she questioned.

"Yeah," Faith began. "Seems your boy over here has gotten this wild idea about starting a separate Watchers Counsel Headquarters here in the US and he wants to combine forces with the Witches Counsel so that everyone has the resources they need more easily."

Willow looked at Xander with a whole new respect. That was some undertaking and she could not imagine how he could have ever gotten one counsel to agree to try it much less both. They hated working together as a general rule.

"Will," Xander pulled her from her thoughts. The Doc says they are going to keep you in here for a couple of days but you should be out of here by Monday morning. I need you for this project if you are up to it. Maybe it will give you something to take your mind away from more painful things."

"Besides Red," Faith gave her that special smile. "Who am I gonna play with if you are in here the whole time?"

Willow's eyes opened wide at that thought. She had helped Faith when she had to find her way back out of the darkness that almost destroyed them all. They had even become friends but that comment worried her just a little. Faith was a handful even on a good day.

The friends talked but tried to keep the conversation light. They did not wish to over tax the witch's energy. They knew that she needed to rest and the last thing they wanted was to worry her with thoughts of the First being back in their lives. She listened to their banter and felt Faith still stroking her hair. It was not long before she was drifting back into sleeps embrace.

"Willow," the voice called to her again. "Please Willow, I can't find you."

This time she awoke yelling Tara's name. Her three friends looked at her. Worry lined their faces.

"It's okay Red," Faith calmed her. "It was just a dream. I'm here and I have you now." She looked at Giles and Xander. "I'm going to stay here tonight."

They agreed and said their goodnights. Faith climbed onto the side of the bed and held Willow as she cried. When she wrapped her arms around the redhead her breathing seemed to calm. Soon she had drifted back to sleep. This time she did not wake up screaming or crying. Every time Willow seemed to be getting agitated Faith would talk to her in a calm quiet voice and stroke her hair and face. She reminded her that she was right there and that nothing was going to hurt her it as just a dream. Faith had never seen Willow like this. She would not leave her until they could figure something out. She did not have a lot of friends and she certainly did not want to lose this one.

As Faith had held Willow through the night she could not help but notice that the woman's bones were practically pushing through the skin in places. She had always thought that Willow was beautiful and she still was but her face looked hollow and almost dead with dark circles under her eyes and she was even more pale than normal. Faith swallowed the lump in her throat as she realized how close they had just come to losing this wonderful person. A single tear found its way down her cheek.

"Faith?" Willow questioned with those big green eyes staring at her. "Are you okay?"

"Five by five." Faith said in almost a whisper.

Willow's hand made her way to the woman's check to wipe away the tear. She could never remember seeing her cry before.

"Faith?" she questioned again. "What's wrong?"

"You just scared me Red," she told her honestly. "You are one of my only friends and I almost lost you without even knowing it was happening ya know."

Willow thought about those words as the woman clung to her. Faith's single tear had turned to many and Willow repositioned herself so that she could hold the woman close to her.

"I'm just so lost Faith," Willow told her. "I don't know how to function anymore."

"You have to let us help you Willow," Faith almost pleaded with her. "Please, talk to us. Please talk to me."

The redhead just simply nodded at her and she knew that meant that she would at least try. That was at least something. By the time Xander and Giles returned to get Faith she had moved to the chair next to the bed again and the girls were laughing a little at some silly thing that Faith had said. Willow was thankful that they had not come in before now. She knew that it was very hard for Faith to allow herself to be as vulnerable as she had with her earlier and that was something just between them. Just between friends.

Faith came back and spent each night. Willow worried about her not getting enough rest but she also knew that there was no talking her out of it. She had to admit she had gotten more sleep with her there than not. More sleep than she had had in weeks or maybe months. Monday morning bright and early Xander and Giles were there to take them home. Willow was still weak but the liquid nourishment had done wonders for her. Now if only she could get herself to actually eat. Faith had told them she would meet them at the house. There were some things that she needed to take care of before joining them.

Xander would not allow Will to walk once they got to the house. He picked her up and carried her to her suite of rooms. Placing her gently on the bed he started to tease her.

"You know Will," Xander started. "I know that I fantasized about taking you to bed but honestly this is not what I had in mind."

"Xander Harris," Willow blushed and threw her pillow at him!

Xander managed to duck but Giles was not so lucky as he took the pillow in the face. He just gave them both a stern look before breaking down and smiling at them both and hitting Xander with the rogue pillow. A frantic pillow fight ensued with much laughter to follow.

"Ahem," Nancy cleared her throat at the door to the room to get their attention.

They all looked as if they had been caught with their hand in the cookie jar and she erupted with laughter before reminding them that there was work that needed to be attended to. She smiled at Willow as she chased the overgrown boys from the room.

"Miss Rosenberg," she inquired, "Can I bring you anything?"

Willow just shook her head and said thank you before trying to get settled comfortably on the bed. The trip from the hospital had zapped her energy and it was not long before sleep began to overtake her.

"Willow," came the voice from the mists again. "Can you hear me?"

"Tara," Willow was looking around for her. "Where are you baby?"

"In the woods," the voice came back.

Faith had started through the door in time to see Willow climbing out the window. She dropped the bags that she had been carrying.

"Whoa!" she grabbed Willow. "Hey Red, wrong way there."

"I have to go to Tara," Willow tried to pull away. "She needs me."

"Hey Red," Faith quieted. "It's just another dream."

She picked Willow up and placed her back on the bed gently. The woman had never even completely awakened. That fact worried Faith a lot. How could they keep her from sleepwalking and was it as simple as that?

Late that night in the local cemetery two young slayers in training were on patrol. Kim and Beth were talking about the increased patrols and the new rule that no one was to patrol alone. They were wondering what that was all about. Sometimes it was nice to get away from all the other girls. After all they had to be with each other 24 hours a day most days.

Two Vamps jumped out of the shadows at the two girls.

"Oh look Kim," Beth said sarcastically. "It's a Vampire. Should I run now?"

Both girls swung into action as the Vamps attacked. These vamps seemed stronger than the typical newly animated demons that usually rose in the cemetery. Even so they managed to take them both down and even chased off a couple of others that had thought about joining their buddies. It was weird though. Since the incident with the First most vamps tended to stay to themselves in New Sunnydale.

When the girls returned to the Watchers Estate they reported immediately to Xander. He and Giles looked at each other for a moment and then made some comment about business getting back to usual.

"Just make sure that no one is patrolling on their own," he reminded them.

"That include me?" Faith complained as she wandered through the door.

"Well Faith as much as I would like to say yes that also means you," Xander looked frustrated. "I know that you wouldn't listen to me anyway. So no, that does not also mean you…but please, be careful."

Giles tried not to laugh at the young mans look. He remembered too many times when he and Buffy as well as he and Faith had the exact same conversation.

"How is Willow?" Giles inquired of her.

"She was sleepwalking I think," Faith returned. "She was trying to climb out the window saying that she had to help Tara. I am real worried about her Giles."

"We all are Faith," Giles continued cleaning his glasses. "We all are."

The next morning Willow awakened to find Faith sitting in her usual spot beside her. She could not help but smile at the young woman.

"Morning sleepy head," Willow said.

"Hey Red," Faith answered back yawning and stretching. "How'd you sleep?"

"Good actually," Willow answered. "I always seem to sleep better when you are here. Isn't that funny?"

Faith got up and brought over one of the bags that she had carried in the night before.

"How about some breakfast?" she questioned.

"I'm not really very hungry," Willow complained.

"And you won't be until you try putting some food into your body," Faith warned her. "I am going to sit here until you eat something and besides I brought you all kinds of goodies."

She started pulling things out of the bag.

Let's see," she started. "We have bagels and I put the cream cheese in the fridge. There are also strawberries. I know how you always liked those. "

Faith waggled her eyebrows at that and Willow could not help but laugh at her friend.

"What else have we got in here," she dug around for a moment. "Ahhh, here we go Donuts and a book on Wicca for beginners."

"Beginners?" Willow said incredulously. "Who's a beginner?"

"Um Red," Faith tried to calm her down. "That would be for me."

Willow stopped and looked at the slayer shocked and confused. She could not believe that Faith was going to do any kind of studying much less reading up on Wicca.

"Well I figured if I am going to be working with witches," Faith admitted "that I should understand at least a little of what they are talking about."

Faith gave Willow one of those rare but beautiful smiles. It really touched the redhead to see the interest that Faith was putting into her and the cause that they had always strived for. It was good to see her on this side of the fight and not where she had started out.

"I think I will have a bagel," Willow smiled. "With the cream cheese please."

Faith got a bagel ready for her as well as one for herself, and watched the frail witch eat. It took her some time but she managed to finish the whole thing.

"I also want to find out what you would like for lunch," Faith told her. "I need to tell Nancy early or you might have to eat my cooking and that would kill you."

Willow could not help but laugh. She really did not know what she would want so she just said that anything would be fine. Faith gently reminded her that she would be eating with her to make sure that she did.

"Would you see if Nancy or someone could take some fresh flowers to Tara's grave this morning?" Willow asked in a small quiet voice.

"Sure Red," Faith smiled. "I'll make sure it gets taken care of. If Nancy can't go I'll go myself."

It was a quarter past nine when Nancy left for the flower shop and almost ten when she arrived at the cemetery. She had decided that she really liked Miss Rosenberg so it was a pleasure to take care of this task for the young woman. Not that Nancy was old. The 33 year old had loved serving the counsel and Master Xander was extremely pleasant to work for. She hoped that they never asked her to return to England, she was enjoying her life here and she thought that she could really be of aid with Miss Willow. Nancy was nowhere near the powerful witch that Miss Rosenberg was but she was pretty good in a tight spot.

The walk through the cemetery was quiet and peaceful, not at all what the slayers described that had happened in the hours after sundown. Ah, there was Miss Tara's stone she thought. Oh my!

"Mr. Giles!" Nancy insisted. "I am telling you that Miss Tara's body is gone. The stone is still there but the grave has been dug up!"

He rushed to get Xander and Faith and they left immediately for the cemetery along with the two slayers that had patrolled the previous night. Sure enough there was the empty grave just as Nancy had reported along with the flowers that she had dropped in her moment of shock.

"Why would someone steal the body of a dead witch?" Faith looked confused at the two watchers.

"Not just any dead witch," Xander reminded them. "Willow's dead witch."

Willow had decided to take a walk on the grounds that morning after Faith had made her breakfast of bagels. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shinning and there were flowers blooming. A cool breeze brushed across her face as she stared into the trees. She had passed several slayers training with staffs in the courtyard. She smiled at the thought that it was she who ultimately started this whole mess making it possible for there to be more than one slayer at a time. She was glad that Buffy and Faith no longer had to feel so alone in the world. A grim look crossed her face, like she was. She realized that even if there were someone with magical gifts that somehow came her way it would never be the same and never be enough.

The sun warmed her skin as she strode through the meadow. Taking a seat beside a solitary tree in the center she leaned back and tried to relax. She was tired from her walk and was about to drift off to sleep when she heard someone coming. She smiled.

"Worried about me Xander?" she asked her old friend as he walked up behind her.

"It kills me how you can do that," he reminded her.

"I always like doing that to you," she confessed with a half smile.

"Will," he said more seriously. "There is something that I have to tell you."

"I should have gone with him," Faith complained pacing back and forth across the room in her usual black leather outfit. "What if she needs help getting back to the house?"

"Xander had his cell phone with him," Giles assured her. "He will let us know if they need assistance."

Willow entered the room clinging to Xander's arm for support. She'd obviously been crying. She could not believe that someone would steal Tara's body. They had to find out who and why. She would not rest until they did.

She did not even stop to look at anyone she just went straight to the computer and started to tapping away at the keyboard. Then she stopped for just a moment and turned to Faith.

"If you are worried about me eating," she started "You can have the food brought in here. I'll be working."

Willow listened to the watchers as they gave her all the information that they had on what was going on. Not really knowing if it even tied in but they could not take the chance to leave anything out. Willow searched for any information that could help them at all. She also e-mailed a friend and told her that she might need her help if she was available.

"I need to see the two slayers that were patrolling the cemetery last night," she said to no one in particular without ever looking up from her work.

Xander sent for Kim and Beth. They were nervous when they arrived at the door to see the witch. None of the new slayers had even really met her since she had arrived even though they had seen her wandering around the estate. They had all been too afraid to speak to her and now she had called for them. The only thing they really knew about her is that she had been ill and was slowly recovering. The girls looked at each other and heaved a collective sigh before they entered the room.

Willow looked at the girls. It was easy to see how nervous they were. She tried to smile to set them a little more at ease as she questioned them about the attack in the cemetery the night before and asked them if there had been anything out of the ordinary about this night or these particular vamps.

"The Vamps seemed wicked strong," Kim started.

"Yeah," Beth finished. "Not like the newly dead that we usually meet out there."

"The two we killed at least," Kim reminded her. "The others ran before we could engage them."

Willow considered the information for a moment. "Did you see anything else going on in the cemetery," she asked them.

"No," Kim answered honestly.

"We were umm," Beth interjected "a little busy with the vamps to notice much else."

Willow could not help but smile at the two younger women. It was cute how they finished each other's thoughts like that. It reminded her of the way that she and Tara had always been together.

"I would like for the two of you to assist me," Willow started as she turned to Xander. "That is if it is okay with your watcher?"

"Sure Will," Xander's smile seemed to go on forever.

The two girls giggled with glee and Faith rolled her eyes. Oh boy she thought. Red has stolen two more hearts. She was actually glad to see her friend smile.

Willow sent the two slayers back out to the cemetery to see what they could find and to question any of their field contacts.

"Xander," she started. "I know that you really are not going to like this but I think we need someone that is especially gifted in gathering information of an unworldly nature."

"Awww Will," Xander shook his head. "Not him, Please Will."

"Xander you know he is the one that can get to the bottom of what is going on if we need undead information," Willow reminded him. "And it's not like I am asking you to room with him again."

"Oh, you just had to remind me of that," he sighed. "Okay, I'll call but I am not going to be all happy about it."

When the phone rang they were all in need of a short break. It had been a long time since they had faced this type of challenge together and they worked just as hard as they ever had even though their numbers and some of the members were different.

"It's Kennedy," Giles reported. "Yes Kennedy go ahead."

After listening for a moment he turned to Willow.

"She would like to speak to you," as he handed her the phone.

After a couple of minutes she handed the phone back to Giles and headed to the computer to start typing in some more information. Faith and Nancy had brought in a tray of sandwiches as well as soup and drinks for everyone.

"Xander," Giles handed him the phone. "Ask him."

Xander took the phone and gave his friend that "I can't believe you are making me do this," look.

"Giles," Willow called him over. "The monk fits the same MO as the ones with the First when we dealt with him the last time. Of That I am sure, but not much else. One slayer is dead already."

She was trying to go over the information in her head as Faith started pushing a mug of soup in her direction.

"Hey Red," Faith looked at her with concern again. "Not so hard okay. We'll get to the bottom of this but I don't want you to overdo it. Now eat something."

Willow smiled her half smile at Faith as she took the soup.

"It will be a while before Kim and Beth get back," Faith started again with a softer tone. "So after you finish your soup why don't we go to your suite so you can catch some sleep?"

Willow knew that Faith was right. She was exhausted and they would need her more as this investigation progressed and she had the feeling that she was going to need all of her energy for that.

Giles was sitting on the patio alone when he heard a voice.

"Hello Giles," she said.

"Jenny," Giles shoved the glasses onto his face. "Jenny I…. What…How?"

"What's the matter Giles," Jenny returned. "Can't get your thoughts together? You know that Willow is not going to make it Giles. You can't trust her this time."

"No," Giles retorted! "She is a little weak but she will be fine. I know she will."

"Come on," she offered. "You know you have had your doubts about her ever since Tara's death. She is too unstable."

Jenny continued to talk as she moved in behind him and rubbed his shoulders. He could not believe it was she. Then he remembered the reports from when they had gone against the First the last time.

"No," he yelled! "You are not Jenny and I will not listen to your lies. Just go away!"

He stood and went back into the house. Seeing no one around he made his way to the library and grabbed some books and started to study.

"Xander," Anya's voice called to him.

"Anya," Xander spun around. "What are you doing here? How?"

"Xander," she continued. "How could you have allowed me to die that way? I loved you. I wanted to spend eternity with you."

"Anya," Xander started to cry. "No, I couldn't stop it. You saved Andrew and I couldn't find you."

"You left me there Xander," Anya taunted him. "I thought you would follow me."

At that Xander realized. "No, you're not Anya!"

"You know how futile it is to go up against me," said the being still looking like Anya. "You can't win. Not this time."

"And you know that we will never give up," Xander assured her before she disappeared.

Faith watched as the redhead slept her restless sleep. She had to quiet her a couple of times but at least this time she did not try to get out of the bed. She leaned back in her chair and tried to relax. She knew that her slayer senses would kick in if the woman tried to leave the room.

"Willow," the voice called again from the mist. "Willow I can't see you. Please where are you?"

"I'm right here baby," Willow assured her. Follow my voice, I'm right here."

The mist began to swirl around her and she could see the outline of a figure. She was almost sure that it was Tara but as she tried to move close the figure moved away from her.

"Hey Red," Faith shook her gently. "Wake up time Red. That is some intense dream there."

Faith looked pale. It had been all she could do to get Willow to wake up this time. She had shaken her for a good five minutes before the woman responded.

"No," Willow screamed! "I have to go back! Tara!!!"

Faith climbed onto the bed next to the redhead and pulled her into her lap holding her as close as she could.

"Red," Faith pleaded. "Stay with me Red. I need you here!"

With that Willow seemed to calm down a bit as she realized where she was. She buried her head in Faith's shoulder and sobbed. Faith just held on and rocked the woman lightly and stroked her hair. She kissed her head and hair for her own assurance that the woman was okay and still with her.

Faith tried to stretch her back from sitting in the same position half the night holding the beautiful witch but she was trying not to wake her. Xander knocked on the door as he popped into the room.

"Whoa," he said shocked at the sight in front of him, he started to back out of the room. "Sorry, I'll come back later."

"Xander," Faith stopped him. "Get back in here. She was just having those dreams again," she assured him.

Okay," Xander exclaimed "but that was just weird seeing you two like…umm. Well you know."

Willow smiled up at him. You always did like jumping to conclusions she reminded him as she reached up and kissed Faith on the cheek.

"Thanks for last night," she teased them both.

Faith turned crimson and Xander almost slunk out of the room.

"Oh like I needed that picture in my head," he complained as he closed the door! "Thank you very much!"

Willow looked up at Faith smiling, "We really should go see what he wanted."

They quickly got up and Willow hit the shower as Faith got their breakfast from Nancy and brought it back to the suite.

"I love pancakes," Willow said as she finished off the stack.

Faith could not believe that this was the same young woman who she practically had to force to eat yesterday.

Beth and Kim did not have a lot to report. They had found an odd coin but Giles had not been able to find a match in any of the books as of yet. They were all waiting for Faith and Willow when they finally got there.

"Nice of you ladies to join us this morning," Xander poked at them with a smile.

Both Willow and Faith rolled their eyes at him as Giles gave them an odd sort of look. The slayers gave their reports quickly and gave the coin to Willow. She thanked them and told them that she would see them after they had gotten some sleep. She was hoping that they could find out something about the coin between now and then.

Giles and Xander both recounted their experiences from the night before. A sense of dread filled the witch.

"Well I think we can assume for now," she started "that we are dealing with the First again. That still does not explain why he would want Tara's body. Maybe we should assume they might not be connected."

"Maybe not," Xander offered "But let's just take it slow and make sure. No need to treat them as separate investigations just yet. Plus Will, we need to consider that your dreams might also be a part of this whole thing."

"No," Willow protested. "Tara is trying to reach me. She's in trouble or something. Maybe she is trying to tell me who stole her body.

The witch had gone into full babble mode. This was the first time since she had been there that this had happened. It actually brought a smile to her friends faces because this was the Willow they all knew and loved.

Willow popped onto her computer and became fairly excited. It seems that her friend had answered her e-mail and would be on her way to New Sunnydale as soon as she could get it arranged. This would be a great help in their investigation. She decided not to tell the others and to let this be a surprise to them. A very nice surprise indeed she smiled to herself.

After a good sleep Kim and Beth woke up ready to go. They had scheduled a training session with Faith for the early afternoon. They could not believe that they would actually be able to train with one of the original slayers. Faith had become legendary whether she knew it or not. This was the part of their studies that they loved. They hated working with the tutors on regular schoolwork, but they had to admit that the schedule that Master Xander had set up for them was much better than what they had expected. At least they get to sleep in after a night of slaying, not at all like the older slayers.

Faith stood in the middle of the gym in her black sweats and sports bra. She had been stretching and was ready to go. Beth being the more confident of the two jumped right in. After a couple of moves Faith stopped her and invited Kim to join her friend.

"Okay you two," Faith tempted. "Give me everything you've got."

Looking unsure at each other for a moment they both went on the offensive attacking at the very same moment. Faith was amazed at the synchronicity of the two girls. Willow had been right about them. Every move was like a complex dance. She had to keep her head to keep up with them, but she still had more experience and she used that to her advantage. She had worked with the girls both together and separately for almost two hours before sending them to the showers.

Xander stood against the wall and slowly clapped his hands once the girls had left the room.

"I had almost forgot how good you looked doing that," he told her. "They are good aren't they?"

"They are," Faith complimented. "I would like to work with them some more while I am here. I think they are still holding back, not to mention they need to learn more about fighting without each other. They are almost unbeatable together but they seem lost when the other is not in the middle of the fight with them. That could get them killed."

"I agree." Xander nodded. "While you are here they are all yours. Within reason," he winked and turned to leave the room.

Faith stepped into the kitchen to find Xander standing in front of Nancy who was leaning back against the counter laughing at something he had said. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek and the woman blushed a bright red.

"Now that is what I call help," Faith teased which caused Nancy's color to brighten and Xander to also blush.

"Oh Faith," Xander stammered. "We were just, Umm…Talking."

"And I really should get back to work Master Xander," Nancy smiled as she left the room.

"Master huh?" Faith taunted. "Well now that certainly puts things in a new light."

"Faith!" Xander called as she left him standing.

Willow had been working at her computer and with the books that Xander and Giles had provided all morning and afternoon. She only stopped when Faith came in because she was reminded that she had not had lunch yet. She sat down to pasta and garlic bread with the slayer.

She reached over and dabbed a bit of tomato sauce from the edge of the raven-haired woman's mouth. Faith's breath caught at the touch and pulled away. Willow smiled as they continued their conversation. Seems that they really did have a lot to talk about. So much had happened since Old Sunnydale and this was really the first time they had had to catch up. They had both been so many places and had some grand adventures. The Witches Counsel had recruited Willow right after their battle with The First. Faith had spent three years in Ireland and then on to England with Giles and Kennedy. She enjoyed telling the young witch about Ireland. She actually was thinking maybe she could talk her into visiting there with her when this was all over with. It was a thought anyway.

After lunch Faith talked the Wicca into a walk on the grounds. The sky was overcast and a breeze brushed by making it quite pleasant out. They stood and watched a group of young slayers practicing in the courtyard before heading into the woods and down by the stream. Faith sat under a tree pulling Willow with her. She tossed pebbles into the water as the witch settled beside her. She still looked so tired Faith thought.

"Come here Red," Faith coaxed.

Willow took her hand and allowed the woman to lead her head into her lap. As Faith stroked her hair they talked more about Ireland and Egypt where Willow had spent some of her time, she soon drifted off to sleep.

"You are still crazy aren't you?" Buffy's voice questioned her.

"B," Faith looked up not believing her ears. "How did you get here?"

"She will never let you get that close to her," She commented looking down at the redhead. "She is just waiting to die you know that."

"You're not B," Faith seethed. "What do you want?"

"Ohhh, such a temper," the voice was cool. "I just want to be your friend. Isn't that what you've always longed for? A friend that is. Not like you can trust any of the others to understand you or accept you? You're not like them. You never will be."

"And you still talk too much," Faith spat at her!

"Temper, temper now," the creature reminded. "You are going to wake her up. She really looks like she could use the rest. She is so pale and weak. I mean it would take almost nothing at all to end her life right now."

"Get Out Of Here," Faith growled! "You touch her and no place in this universe will be safe for you."

"Faith," Willow looked up at her. Her eyes were filled with confusion.

"The First," Faith said. "At least I think it was. He took the form of Buffy that time."

Willow nodded. "Yeah he took her form with Spike the last time," she reminded her.

They had always assumed he could do that because Buffy had been dead and they had brought her back after the fight with Glory. Willow sat up.

"We should probably head back now," Willow offered quietly.

As the women arrived back at the Watchers Estate the slayers were heading out for their nightly patrols. They spot Kim and Beth, Faith calls to them. She wanted to talk to them about the changes in their training schedule only to find that Master Xander had already spoken to them. Both girls were very excited about their chance to train with Faith and they babbled nonstop. It reminded Faith a lot of Willow whenever she got excited.

"Looks like someone has groupies," Willow teased as the girls disappeared out of sight.

Faith blushes at the comment and they head inside.

Just outside the walls of the estate a strange man in a brown robe lunged from the darkness to catch Kim's arm with a curved dagger. Another launched himself at Beth's chest. There was no time for the girl to even react. Just before his dagger finds its mark the man comes to a sudden stop, which is followed by a loud cracking sound and an unnatural twisting of the robed figures neck. A white haired man quickly turned on his heels and took down the other robed figure before he could strike at Kim again.

"Bloody Monks," the man stated. "Can't abide the buggers."

"Who are you," Beth insisted ready to spring into action if need be!

"Names Spike," he said. "Best get your little friend inside and get that arm looked at."

Beth quickly helped Kim to her feet and led the way as they all headed into the main house. Once there, Giles and Nancy met them at the door.

"Spike," Giles greeted looking at the girls. "What happened?"

Nancy moved quickly to the girls' side checking out her injuries as Beth explained.

"Spike saved our lives," she insisted. "We didn't even see the attack coming."

"Left two dead monks on your doorstep," Spike told them as Willow came through the door with Faith who was immediately beside the young slayer looking over her injuries.

"Spike," Willow welcomed with a lilt in her voice.

She had seen Spike the last couple of times she had been in LA assisting Angel, and was always happy to see the vampire. They had always understood each other even when the others could not. She had even tried to console him when the initiative had placed that chip in his head and he could not bite her.

"Is she okay?" Xander questioned.

"She'll be fine." Nancy assured them. "A few stitches and she'll be good as new in a couple of days."

Faith watched to make sure the bandages were not too tight and that her slayer was being cared for properly.

The small group made their way outside to where the monks had attacked. It was definitely the same ones that had taken out so many potential slayers, killing them in cold blood.

Willow led Spike and the others to the office so they could fill him in on what they knew so far, including Faith's conversation with Buffy in the woods. They were now sure that they were dealing with The First but it might not only be The First. They still had to determine that part. Spike took in the information and he was ready to head out for a little fact gathering.

"I'm not dying this time," Spike said matter-of-factly. "It's someone else's turn.

That brought a smile to some faces around the room. None of them had forgotten the sacrifice that the vampire had willingly made the last time.

"Hopefully it won't come to that," Willow tried to assure them all.

To everyone's surprise Xander offered to go on patrol with Spike. Nancy moved behind the seated watcher and placed her hand on his shoulder. Willow did not fail to notice the intimacy in that gesture. She also mused at how much her friend had matured since the last time they were all here together. Times they were a changin' she thought to herself.

"Sorry mate," Spike reminded him that he would have to go into some areas where humans would mean certain death for both of them.

Spike loved to annoy the crap out of Xander but he had to admit to himself that he rather liked the one eyed menace. Even if Xander still hated him.

Willow returned to her suite after Spike had left. Even she would have to admit as to how tired she was. It had been a long day all the way around. She had already gotten ready for bed when Faith returned. She was happy to see the slayer.

"Would you like me to crash somewhere else tonight?" Faith questioned. "You know give you a little space? I could always bunk in with the other girls."

"Not unless you want to," Willow told her. "I kind of like having you around to keep me company. Besides I sleep better when you are here," she said honestly. "un unless you are tired of me that is."

"Me tired of you Red," Faith teased. "It'll never happen."

Faith smiled because she really did not want to sleep with the other slayers. She liked being here where she could keep an eye on the witch.

"We should probably do something about your sleeping arrangements though," Willow told her. "That chair can't be comfortable."

Faith came up with a quick solution and moved the daybed from the other room to the foot of Willow's bed. That would give them both some room and she could still keep an eye on Red.

The two women shared some thoughts from their day with each other as they settled into their beds. Willow was pleased that Kim was not hurt any worse than she was, and it was an absolute miracle that Spike had arrived at just the right moment to save the two slayers from those monks. Willow wondered how the monks communicated and if there was not some way to disrupt that communication in order to disable them. That was something that they had not thought to look into the last time they had to deal with them. She was glad that Spike was there and already looking into the problem. Now if her other agent would just show up their team would almost seem like old times.

It did not take either woman long to drift off to sleep, nor did it take long for the voice to call Willow into the night.

"Willow, it called. "Please Willow, I need you."

Willow climbed out of the bed being as quiet as she could. She moved silently across the grounds and through the woods. It was a beautiful night she was thinking. Once she arrived at the stream she stopped in her tracks.

"Tara?" she whispered.

The form turned around but didn't speak. The ghostly figure approached and reached out as to touch her. As she reached for her Willow fell onto the ground unconscious.

Faith awakened with a start. She could not catch her breath. It was as if someone was trying to suffocate her in her sleep but no one was there. She struggled for several minutes then suddenly she was free. Whatever it was that had held her was gone. She sat up gasping for air.

"Willow," she called!

The witch was nowhere to be seen but the window stood wide open. She jumped out of the bed and ran out into the night yelling for the redhead. She wondered if Red was sleepwalking again. At least she hoped that's what was happening. Faith yelled into the night as she ran. She reached out with her slayer senses. There was something? What was it? She felt a sense of urgency as she rushed toward the stream where the women had been earlier in the evening.

As she approached the stream she could see the redhead lying on the ground.

"Oh God Willow," she breathed.

She kneeled beside the woman and scooped her into her arms. She was shaking and cold. Faith picked up her friend and carried her back to the estate. She was met at the door by Nancy who for some reason had a blanket and a hot water bottle. She pushed past her and went straight to Willow's suite. Nancy had thrown the blanket around the still frail woman as she brought her in and followed them.

Faith placed her on the bed and started rubbing the arms and legs to warm them.

"How did you know," she questioned Nancy?

"I felt her as you brought her toward the house," Nancy smiled.

"You're a witch," Faith said with surprise!

Nancy just nodded as she situated the hot water bottle on the redhead's stomach. Then she moved back and allowed the slayer to continue as she was. It did not take long for the witch to regain consciousness.

"What happened?" Willow asked groggily.

"You decided to take a walk in the middle of the night," Faith said quietly.

"Tara," Willow sounded panicked. "She called me, she needs me."

She was trying to get out of the bed and it took Faith all of her slayer strength to stop the witch.

"Whoa little Red," Faith quieted holding her in place.

Nancy mused at how gentle the dark slayer was with the Wicca. The woman was oblivious to everything else around her. Faith certainly did not fit the stories that the watchers had passed around about her. Something major must have happened to change the woman. Nancy had no doubt that the witch was in good hands so she excused herself to give them a little privacy as well as to catch Mr. Giles and Master Xander up on what was happening with their favorite witch.

Giles looked at the two women in front of him and then at Xander.

"Did either of you happen to think it odd that it's the middle of summer in Southern California and she was freezing cold when you found her," Giles questioned. "I mean the low was 89 degrees last evening."

Faith and Nancy just looked at each other feeling a little embarrassed.

"I think we were both more concerned for warming Miss Willow." Nancy commented "than the temperature last night."

Faith hung her head still feeling guilty that she had not heard the woman get up and leave the room. Then there was the whole something suffocating her thing. She had told Giles and Xander about that feeling although no one was sure as to what to make of it yet.

"Beth and Kim are sitting with Willow this morning Faith," Xander informed her. "Why don't you go get some rest so that you will be ready for tonight just in case?"

Faith nodded and headed to one of the guest bedrooms. She knew that there would be no way she could sleep in the room with Willow if the slayer twins were there. She liked the girls but they were typical teenagers and did not know when to stop talking. Besides she did not even deal well with teenagers when she was one.

Faith's dreams tormented her as she kept seeing Willow walking off a cliff into the arms of some demon. Faith woke up in a cold sweat and decided that she had to work off some of the tension she was feeling. She hit the gym and worked out for over an hour at full speed and strength. Some of the younger slayers watched in amazement at how she never stopped moving.

After a shower Faith went to the kitchen to gather up a tray of food, which she took to Willow. Kim and Beth greeted her at the door. They informed her the day had been uneventful but that Miss Willow seemed to be having some disturbing dreams. She told the girls to go get some dinner as she placed the food on a small nightstand beside Willow's bed. Leaning over she brushed a strand of hair from the woman's face and kissed her on the forehead gently before she awakened her.

"Hey Bright Eyes," She whispered in the witch's ear. "Dinner time."

Willow's eyes fluttered open to see Faith leaning over her.

"Morning," she groaned.

Giles and Xander were having a discussion with Spike about the information that he had found. Seems the First had reactivated their entire legion of blind monks to destroy the slayers. There entire objective was to search and destroy. Nothing had been said about the witch however. No one seemed to know anything about that. There was not even any speculation at this point as to why anyone would steal the missing witch's body.

Xander put in a call to the Watchers Counsel to warn them that something big was up and put all slayers on alert. He suggested that all the younger slayers be moved to safe havens and guarded by as many older slayers and Witches Counsel members as possible.

The counsel also had some information for him. Seems that some ancient wizard was found half dead last evening. The man had disappeared several hundred years ago and suddenly appeared off of the coast of Ireland on a floating block of ice. He had not been able to give them any information yet for he was trapped in some sort of sleeping spell and no one had been able to revive him as of yet. Actually until they had found him he had always been considered only a legend.

As morning arrived Faith awakened on the sofa to find Willow snuggled up close to her with the television still running. They had apparently fallen asleep watching that silly apple pie movie. She squeezed her arm tighter around the redhead just thankful to know that she had made it safely through one more night. Willow shifted slightly and smiled up at the slayer.

"You know," she said. "If we keep doing this people are going to start getting the wrong idea."

Faith just smiled. "At least it gives them something to talk about."

They went through their morning routine of getting ready as Nancy knocked on the door bearing food for the two of them. Willow had answered in her robe. Faith was still in the shower but with the door half open in case Willow had needed her.

"Good Morning Miss Rosenberg," Nancy greeted.

"Nancy," Willow frowned. "If we are to get along you have to stop calling me that. Please it is just Willow."

Very well Miss Willow," Nancy corrected.

Willow rolled her eyes but decided that was at least better. It did not make her feel as much like her mother. Faith had a wicked look on her face as she came out of the bathroom in her towel. Willow flashed a surprised look in her direction as Nancy smiled and excused herself from the room abruptly.

"Gee," Faith teased popping a grape into her mouth. "Was it something I said?"

Willow reminded the Dark Slayer that she was incorrigible as they sat down to a scrumptious breakfast of Eggs Benedict and fruit. Nancy was an excellent cook and they had decided they all would be plump in no time at all with her in the kitchen.

The two women laughed all the way to their morning meeting with Xander and the rest of the Scooby's. Willow felt relieved to be finding her sense of purpose once again. She knew that somehow they would be able to help Tara if she were in trouble and stop The First as well. She had not felt this confident in a long time. She looked at Nancy as they entered the room. She gave her a knowing smile and wondered when the woman would confide in her that she was a witch? She had known since she arrived but she was not sure that Xander or the others knew.

Xander greeted her with his usual hug and Spike with his usual I'm not gonna smile face. It felt good to have the gang back together again. The morning reports were made and Willow was taken aback at the news of the Wizard and wondered how that could possibly tie in. She decided that it really couldn't and filed it away as an interesting occurrence.

"Faith we are going to send you out with Beth and Kim tonight," Xander explained. "Spike says that something is going down at one of the crypts and needs to be checked out. He will be joining you also."

"Who will be sitting with Red," she questioned?

"That would be my job tonight," Nancy spoke up. "Mr. Giles and Master Xander will be going out patrolling with other slayers."

"That's okay guys I don't need a babysitter," Willow protested.

"Until we know why you are sleepwalking," Giles started. "I think this is best Willow."

Everyone nodded in agreement with the watcher before they each headed in their own directions for the day. Willow had decided to spend her time in her suite as Faith did her training time with the girls. She was tapping away on her laptop draped across her comfy chair in her office. Several hours later she laid her head back on the armrest and drifted off to sleep.

Several slayers converged on the crypt where Spike had indicated he would be waiting. There was no sign of activity anywhere but there was that feeling in the air that something was about to happen. Faith could not help but think about the super vamps that they had had to battle the last time they came in contact with these guys, but she was pretty sure that they had destroyed the last of those guys.

The hair stood up on the back of her neck as Spike appeared from around the corner motioning for them to remain silent. He pointed at their weapons that they should have them ready and then they made their way into the dark opening.

When they entered the crypt it looked no different from the many others they had crawled around in over the years Faith thought. There was nothing there and it was in bad need of a cleaning. The slayers and Spike began looking around for a hidden door or some secret passage, as the room they were in was bare. Faith pushed back the lid to a single stone sarcophagus to the side of the room. There was no bottom so she motioned for the others to follow her.

They climbed deep into the earth, and the deeper they went Faith noticed that the colder it got. Not just cool like most caves and such but actually cold enough to see their breath as they breathed. Spike pushed by the girls in the narrow passage toward Faith.

"Something is not right about this," he warned her in a whisper.

"I know," Faith assured him. She had felt that ever sense they had entered the passage.

It was too quiet and she knew that was not about to last. They were expecting her or they would have already surprised someone down here. The passage began to widen just slightly and the floor began to level out. They were no longer descending as quickly. The girls behind her were breathing into their hands trying to warm them frequently.

Willow helped Nancy clean the dishes after they had dinner. It was eerily quiet on the estate with everyone on patrol except for the two of them. Nancy was talking openly with Willow about Xander and how she had come into his service, but the Auburn-haired witch could tell that there was more there than the blonde was telling her. She also suspected what it might be.

"Nancy?" Willow said tentatively. "How long have you been a witch?"

Nancy almost dropped the dish from her hand. She should have guessed that Miss Willow would be able to sense her even as she could sense the powerful Wicca.

"All my life," Nancy smiled back at her. "My mother raised me in the art."

"Does Xander know?" the younger witch questioned.

"Yes, actually," she told her. "Master Xander figured it out in under a month after I arrived," she smiled.

"You see Miss Willow," Nancy informed her. "Every Watchers facility has an agent from the Witches Counsel in residence to keep an eye on things. Most are never discovered. Needless to say that I was quite impress and surprised that Master Xander recognized me so easily."

Willow laughed again, impressed with her life long friend.

"I guess he was paying attention all those years as I was learning," Willow stated.

"Being best friends with the most powerful witch in the world probably has something to do with it Miss Willow," she said in a matter-of-fact manner.

Nancy just smiled at the shock on the woman's face. "Yes, Miss Willow I meant you."

"Nancy could we talk about this Miss Willow thing?" the redhead complained. "I would really prefer just plain Willow."

"All right then," the blonde smiled. "As you wish Just Plain Willow."

Willow stopped silent as if in a trance. "They are in trouble," she warned Nancy. "It's a trap!"

The witch grabbed Nancy's hand before the witch could even say anything and instructed her to just follow her lead.

The cold was beginning to slow the slayers as the passageway opened into a huge room. There was a single torch burning on the far wall. The group stepped into the room cautiously. Faith and Spike stood looking at one another in the middle of the room. One of the young slayers takes a step and trips over a vine or cord. There was a sound of stone grinding against stone and an unearthly roar.

"Trillamble Demon," Spike yelled pushing Beth away from an icy spray!

There in the midst of them stood a white eight-foot demon with two legs and four arms each of which was armed with long knife-like claws. The face looked remotely human but the top the head was almost snake like.

"Whatever you do," Spike warned diving out of the way himself "Do not let him spit on you. You'll freeze where you stand."

The sides of the demons neck flared and expanded not unlike a cobra as he spat across the room at the slayers and Spike. Faith got in a low kick before being backhanded when suddenly the room was being flooded with brown-robed monks all with sharp pointy knives.

The slayers were in full fight mode and trying to avoid the freezing solution that the demon insisted on spitting at them and he had very good aim it would seem. His claws slashed out and struck one of the young slayers who went down. Her blood oozed out over the frozen ground beneath them. Faith rounded again as the bolt from Kim's crossbow landed directly in the center of the demons chest. It had no effect. Monk's were falling right and left at the hands of the slayers. Spike rounded behind the demon as he broke the neck of yet another of the monk's. He would strike the east from behind as Faith tried from the front. Maybe one of them would land a lucky blow.

The cold was taking its toll on the humans even though Spike did not seem to notice.

Beth was getting weaker though she and Kim had been fighting as a perfect machine taking out several monks and avoiding the claws of that demon. She stumbled and one of the monks landed a dagger into her leg before Kim decapitated him. She wanted to stop to check on her friend but she had to keep fighting and protect her. The demon caught one of Beth's shoes with one of his razor sharp claws digging in and pulling her toward him. Spike landed on his back and Kim leapt kicking the demon across the face knocking him off balance long enough for Faith to drag the girl out of the way. In the process Faith was slashed across the back by on of the strong claws. Blood quickly covered her clothing.

Faith was going down when she felt her. Willow, she thought.

"Faith," Willow spoke to her mind. "Just trust me."

Faith opened her mind to the witch. She was feeling power surge through her and strength. Not just Willow's strength but also Nancy's. Faith was quickly back on her feet and when she spoke you could hear the three voices merged into one. Willow had performed a blending spell with Nancy to assist them. It was the turn of the battle as Faith pummeled everything that got into her way. With a sword in each hand she managed to stay out of the way of the freezing agent and behead the beast. When he fell she had them all to move quickly to the surface before they came across any more surprises.

Faith did not let up on them until they were outside and all were safe. All but one of their numbers had made it out. A slayer named Erica had succumbed to the demons freezing agent. Spike was checking on all the other girls when Xander and his slayers arrived. Turning to Faith to make a comment about the cavalry being late he watched the Slayer fall to the ground. That was when he noticed the blood that flowed from her back.

Nancy looked in awe at the witch standing across from her. She had never seen or experienced anything like that before.

"Willow," she gasped as she fell to the floor from exhaustion. "That was…"

"Yeah, it was," Willow looked at her. "Are you okay?"

The witch only nodded. Willow knew that she was just tired from the experience.

"Nancy," Willow reached her hand out to her. "We need to head to the hospital. There were injuries."

Nancy pulled herself together as quickly as she could and brought the car around. When the women arrived at the hospital the others were already inside. She rushed to Spike.

"Faith," she asked?

"The Doc is in with her now," he assured her. "I'm sure she'll be okay. All that slayer healing you know?"

Willow wasn't so sure about that. She had felt the pain that the woman was experiencing even with the added boost she and Nancy had given her.

Willow sat next to the slayer and watched as her body fought the venom that had poisoned her. The lacerations had been easy enough for the doctors to attend to even though they were serious but the venom in the wounds was stronger than even that of the Australian Brown Snake and there was no anti venom that would work. It was all up to her slayer abilities to fight it. Willow's hand covered the back of the Raven-haired woman's as she stroked it gently. Fever took the slayer into the darkness.

The next day passed and Faith struggled trying to get back to the light. Willow had not moved from her side the entire time. Xander, Nancy, Giles, and the other slayers were in and out of the room.

Beth was battling the same poison in the next room but she was already starting to come around. Willow knew that it was because her injury was so much worse and she had pushed herself to keep going until everyone was safe. She had another friend that always did that as well. How many times had she sat in the hospital just like this with Buffy she thought?

"This is all your fault you know," Dawn's voice came from the doorway.

"Dawnie," Willow said weakly. "No I helped her."

"If it wasn't for you she wouldn't even be here," the young woman commented.

"Dawnie No," Willow protested!

"Just like when Tara was killed," the girl accused. "You were the reason that Tara was killed. Nothing you can ever do will change that."

Willow was in tears. She could not imagine Dawn standing there accusing her so cruelly knowing all that she had been through.

"No," Willow spat! "You can't be Dawn."

Then the thought came to her if the First was taking Dawn's form then her young friend was dead. She screamed out the girls name as sobs wracked her body. The witch collapsed to the floor weeping. Giles and Xander came racing into the room.

"Willow," Xander dropped down to her side pulling her into his embrace. "What's wrong Will?"

"Dawnie," She screamed! "The First…Dawnie."

The look that crossed both watchers faces was one of horror and unbelief. No it couldn't be, could it. What had happened? When? There was so much to be answered.

Faith awakened to find the redhead leaning on the side if her bed and weeping. When she looked around she also saw Xander and Giles trying to hold back tears.

"Oh God," she said weakly. "Tell me I didn't die?"

Everyone halted and turned to look at the slayer.

Back at the Watchers Estate, Xander was trying to contact Buffy by phone and by e-mail, but they had heard nothing from the slayer as of yet. Giles had contacted the counsel to let them know that they believed Dawn was dead. All of the younger slayers were being moved from the estate to a safe house with the Witches Counsel sending guards to help keep them from harm. Nancy made preparations for the witch's and warlocks that would be arriving and was making arrangements for their transport to the safe house. Charms and protection spells were put into place as well as a magical alarm system at both the safe house and that estate

Kim was placed over slayer patrols for the next few days while Faith and Beth were still recovering. A few of the patrols would even have a witch traveling with them when possible. Giles mused at the happenings of what Xander now called Slayer Central. He would never have dreamed of such an undertaking when he was a much younger watcher. Never would he have thought that the Watchers and Witch's Counsels could work in such harmony of purpose. Then again he would never have dreamed that a demur little red haired witch would ever break the walls to make sure no slayer would ever be alone again, but she had. A girl that he saw as his own daughter had not only become the most powerful witch of the age but she had even gone beyond that.

Beth had come home this morning and Kim was anxious to check on her. When she entered their room the blonde slayer was fast asleep. Kim sat on the bed next to her and thought about how close she had come to losing her best friend. The girls bluer than blue eyes fluttered open.

"Hi," she smiled weakly.

"Hi yourself," Kim said pushing her hair out of her own face. "How are you feeling?"

"Like a demon kicked my butt," she teased.

"Well that pretty much sums it up," the brunette reminded her. "I think you swung when you should have ducked."

"I'll try to keep that in mind next time," Beth's smile broadened.

"Think you're up for a walk?" Kim asked her.

Beth nodded and allowed the girl to help her get out of bed and dressed. They walked out of the slayers dormitory. It was so quiet here without the younger girls. Almost eerie even, they had both thought.

"How's Faith?" Beth questioned her friend.

"Xander says that she should be home tomorrow if everything goes okay," Kim told her. "Of coarse I think Willow won't be home until then either."

They smiled at each other. They had seen how the women were almost as inseparable as themselves. They understood each other, and that was a special bond.

"Beth," Nancy called her from behind them.

They stopped and turned.

"Hi Nancy," the girls greeted.

"How are you feeling Beth?" the older woman inquired.

"She says she feels like a demon kicked her butt," Kim laughed as they both smiled.

"Well I guess that is normal," Nancy offered. "Beth, your mother called, she and your father will be here this evening to check on you. Master Xander called them yesterday and had a very nice talk with them and that is the soonest they could get a flight."

Beth smiled, she would be glad to see her parents. They had not been able to make the last parent weekend because her older sister Amanda had been ill.

After Nancy had left them Beth noticed that Kim was really quiet.

"Everything okay?" she questioned her.

"Yeah," the other girl said. "I'm glad your parents are coming."

Beth wondered at the comment. She knew that Kim had lost her parents when Vamps attacked her home. She placed an arm around her friend.

"You will come meet them won't you?" Beth asked softly.

"Ummm, I'm not sure," Kim, said honestly. "I have to make sure all the patrols have their orders for tonight.

"Kim," Beth's eyes were gentle as she turned her friend around. "They will love you as much as I do," she assured her. "They ask about you every time I talk to them yet you always manage to disappear whenever they're around."

Kim blushed because she knew that her friends' words were true. She missed her own parents so badly and she was afraid to meet Beth's because something might also happen to them. She did not want the chance of getting to close to them.

"Come on Kim?" Beth pleaded. "Just this once for me?"

"I'll think about it," Kim promised and hugged her friend.

Willow was sitting beside Faith on the hospital bed where the women had been talking for hours through the night. She had fallen asleep leaning against Faith's shoulder. The dark haired slayer had been feeling better and wanting to get back to work but instead they talked. Willow had shared some of her thoughts and confusion about the things going on with The First. The two tried to console each other about Dawn's death. Faith was really enjoying the closeness that had developed with her old friend. She had missed her so much the past few seasons.

Dawn Summers had been an important part of all of their lives since being dropped on their doorstep all those years ago as the key. Faith and Willow were especially close to her. Tara had almost been a foster mother to the girl after her own mother had died and that allowed she and Willow to share a special bond. Dawn had always had the most unique way of looking at life. There was always an adventure awaiting her in everything that she did.

Giles arrived to pick the women up and take them back to the estate early. Faith had refused to go to bed and rest. She wanted to get back into the game and no one was going to stop her, therefore she was assigned to assist Willow. They poured over both books and computer looking for some information about the coin that had been found at the cemetery. They were not getting anywhere with those. There were some odd writings on both sides of the coin and the picture seemed blurred rather than clearly pressed. Willow suspected that the writings might be Samarian but it was not a form of the language that she had ever seen before now. While Faith continued to dig through the books she turned the coin over in her hands several times. She began a quiet chant. The letters on the coin seemed to rearrange themselves as she did. Soon she was able to decipher the spell.

Reading aloud, "Inferei Imagilio Imundo Incepitae'. Cryomi Emarto Illusia Clementa!"

As soon as the words were out of the witch's mouth the coin melted into a water-like substance and ran from her hand to the table before disappearing altogether. All eyes turned to the witch and the temperature of the room suddenly dropped and just as quickly went back to normal.

"Will?" Xander questioned as he placed the phone on the receiver. "What just happened?"

She looked up at him, "I'm not sure," she answered.

She stood up. Suddenly feeling light headed she staggered backward to be caught by the dark slayer. Faith swept the witch into her arms and laid her on the nearby sofa. Willow had fainted and her friends were more than a little concerned for her especially after the mumbo jumbo act. Nancy was quickly by her side reciting a protection spell. Giles understood his expression darkened.

"What is happening to her?" he insisted.

Faith took the small witch's hand into her own calling her name, but there was no response. The friends looked at each other and at Nancy as she continued her incantation. Lights began to flicker all over the estate and a wind seemed to sweep even through the walls. Willow started to call out to someone in her sleep. Faith could tell it was the dreams again only now she was not so sure they were dreams at all. Something was going on and they had no clue how to stop it or even why it was happening. The scent of sandalwood and lavender filled the room. Then all was quiet but the witch was still unconscious and a tear rolled down her cheek.

At that moment Beth strolled in with her parents to find them all huddled around Willow. The look on their faces told her that this was a serious situation. Her father Brad Delaney, who was a doctor, asked them all to stand back as he rushed to check the young woman over.

"Mr. Delaney," Xander offered. "I'm not sure there is anything medically wrong with her.

"It's magical," Nancy finished for him.

The man looked at them both as if they had lost their minds completely. Even though his daughter was some sort of slayer, which he still didn't get it, there was no such thing as magic.

"Has she taken some kind of drug?" he suggested.

"Red doesn't do drugs," Faith growled. "She might overdo the magic from time to time, but no chemicals."

They all looked at her knowing that Willow had not even wanted to do the magic of recent years. Not since Tara's death. It had taken all of them to convince her that she could really do well with it and handle it okay with their help. Again the man looked at them as though they were insane. There had to be a way he could get his daughter away from these lunatics without loosing both she and his wife at the same time.

"You're all crazy," he informed them and left the room.

Beth followed him but her mother stayed. She placed her hand on Nancy's shoulder and Nancy could feel the power increase as she continued the incantation. Soon Willow's green eyes fluttered open and stared straight at Monica Delaney.

"Is she okay?" Monica asked.

Nancy just smiled up at her in surprise. "Yes," she answered. "He doesn't know does he?"

"No," Monica told her, "and please don't tell him."

Nancy just gave her a knowing looks as did Willow. She knew that her secret was safe with them and that she was among friends. Xander turned to see Kim walking out the door and called to her. She stopped.

"Kim, this is Beth's mother," he introduced her. "This is the slayer that disappears when anyone mentions parents," he grinned.

"Kim?" Monica questioned. "Beth's best friend?"

The girl nodded and shoved her hands into her pocket as she found something on the floor to be very interesting. The next thing the young slayer knew she was being wrapped up in a warm loving hug.

"Kim we can not thank you enough for all you have done for Beth," Monica praised her.

Kim wanted to run away but the woman's grip on her arm told her there was not a chance of that happening.

"Come on," Monica coaxed, "Let's go find Beth and her father."

As the two left the room everyone's focus turned back to Willow once again. Faith was asking her what had happened but the witch insisted she did not know. From the look on Faith's face it was easy to see that she was not buying that answer at all. Willow got quickly to her feet and headed to her suite with Faith close behind her.

Xander went back to trying to track Buffy down which included a call to Angel and Kennedy. Angel it seems had talked to Buffy a few days before and she was heading to Scotland to look into a massacre that appeared to be vampire related. She did not seem to know when she would be back and had said nothing about Dawn going with her on the assignment though Dawn acted as her watcher at times.

Kennedy was going to stay on with Angel for a while longer. They were having monk problems of their own it seemed. There was not much going on with them in the slayer department but they had been stealing artifacts from some very magically secure places. The items that were missing did not really seem to be related but then again it had to be. Xander offered to contact the Witches Counsel to send a magical management investigative team. Angel agreed that with Willow being busy in New Sunnydale that would probably be their best bet. He also promised to contact Xander or Giles if he heard anything about Buffy or Dawn.

Beth sat in the restaurant with her parents and her best friend who was not looking at all happy about the situation. She was glad that her mother had invited the girl but she really wished that she did not look like a rat in a trap with no way to escape. Worse yet was her father and mother arguing about moving the girl to a safer school. Her father was very insistent at the thought but Beth was glad that at least her mom seemed to understand as she always did.

After dinner Kim tried to excuse herself saying that she had some homework that she needed to attend too. Beth jumped up to follow her telling her parents that she would see them back at the estate.

"Kim," Beth called to her. "Wait up!"

The girl didn't stop. Beth grabbed her friend's shoulder as she caught up to her.

"What is going on?" she insisted as Kim turned to face her.

"I have to patrol," she reminded her.

"No, you wouldn't wait for me," Beth's eyes were filled with hurt. "So why don't you tell me what is going on."

Willow had stopped in the kitchen of her suite and was mixing something in a pewter bowl.

"Red?" Faith questioned softly. "Are you okay?"

Willow just nodded and continued placing ingredients into the mixture. It was not until she lit the candle that Faith asked what she was up to.

"Nothing really," she answered. "Just a purification ritual."

Faith looked at her a little curious but just watched as Willow practiced her craft. The woman, but especially where the witchcraft was concerned always amazed her. She had always been good but now she was a master. Faith knew that no other witch would ever be able to touch her in that department.

As she finished the spell it was starting to get dark out. Willow asked the slayer if she were on patrol that night and she said that she was going to go out for a while but would not be too late. She watched as the witch dressed for bed in a pair of black satin pajamas. She thought it odd that Willow had not gone into the bathroom to change, not that she was complaining. It was just that the redhead had always been shy about that before. Faith a little uncomfortable quickly excused herself and made her way to meet Kim and the other slayers that she would patrol with.

Willow went through another spell before she decided to go for a walk in the moonlight. She wondered about the dream or vision she had when she had passed out. Tara had spoken to her so clearly and she had been sure if the others had not been present that she would have been able to reach right out and touch her.

Willow had decided to take a walk after Faith had left for patrol. The moon was high and full over the woods that night. It was the eve of the Summer Solstice and everything was almost magical here in the Goddess's realm. She would be performing her blessings alone yet again this year, she sighed. She had passed a couple of slayers heading out on patrol before she left the grounds. Most people would be horrified to walk around New Sunnydale after dark but Willow was not worried. She could handle herself in most situations these days. As she walked through the meadow her thoughts were of a far away day when the Scooby's had been stuck in that musical singing and dancing all over the place. She noticed a couple of young deer playing in the meadow. She had stopped to watch them for a few minutes before continuing on toward her favorite place beside the water.

She sat there beneath the tree her mind wandered and thoughts of her long lost lover filled her head.

"Tara," she whispered. "I miss you so much baby."

"I miss you too," a voice came from behind her.

She turned to see the glowing figure of Tara standing not far away. Crying she jumped to her feet.

"Is it really you?" she wept as she tried to reach out but hesitated.

Tara just nodded and stepped toward her, taking Willow into her arms she allowed her to cry for a long time. As she held her, she seemed to become more solid. She kissed Willows hair and forehead. It had been way too long for both of them. Willow could feel a magical residue coming from her lover it was weak but it really was her.

"I'm glad that you found your way back," Tara whispered into her ear. "I was so worried about you when I died. They would not let me help you (pause) but I wanted to more than anything."

"I missed," Willow started. "I miss you so much. I don't think I can go on without you anymore."

"Shhhhh," Tara quieted. "You have to go on. We will be together again, but right now you are needed here. And now I can come and visit you sometimes."

Willow moves and pulls Tara's lips to her own. The kiss lingers long and soft before their passion begins to rise. Tara pulls back.

"Earlier you were thinking about that day when we were all stuck in that musical," Tara said with a wry grin.

Willow blushed at the fact Tara had known her thoughts.

"Remember how you made love to me?" Tara questioned.

Willow smiled and nodded.

"Now it's my turn," Tara finished as she pushed Willow to the soft moss beneath the tree.

Kissing her lover they began to float above the ground. Willow gasped at the sensation. She had always been the one who initiated floating when the two were together so this was a new sensation for her. Tara took her to places that she could never have even imagined before. She had always loved when Tara had taken the lead and this time was no different and she needed her so much more than she ever had before.

Back on the ground Willow drifted off to sleep in her lovers' arms. When she awakened Tara was nowhere to be found. Had it all been a dream? Was she destined to spend out her days without her soulmate? A pair of glowing eyes watched the witch from a distance without being noticed.

Chapter 7

The night for the slayers had been a frustrating one. They had encountered several of the blind monks on their patrols but were not one step closer to finding out what the First was up to. Faith was also getting a little annoyed with Kim who had been acting like a sulky teenager all night, and she had forgotten just how lame Giles could be when it came to the whole slayer thing. She needed a new patrolling team or she was going to go nuts. She was hoping that Red would be up to some slayer action soon. She slipped into the shower to get the blood and dust off her skin and out of her hair before she headed up to Willows bedroom.

She opened the door quietly so that she would not disturb her friend. When she started to climb into her bed she noticed that Willow was not there. She stopped and looked around the rooms of the suite and even the garden. She made her way to the main part of the house and knocked on Nancy's door. She had not seen the witch either. She had gone to check on her earlier but assumed that she must have gone on patrol with Faith when she could not find her anywhere. The women looked at each other, concern clouded their eyes.

Faith told Nancy to inform the watchers and she would go out and start to look for her. She would start with the estate and the stream if the others wanted to look as well. Monica had emerged from her room when she heard talking in the hallway. When she heard that Willow was missing she ran to tell Faith that she had seen the woman head into the woods earlier in the evening. Faith thanked her and headed toward the meadow.

She had walked for several minutes yelling for Willow. There had been no answer. She was so worried about her friend. She walked in the direction of the stream because she knew how much the redhead loved it there. As she approached the stream she was met with a horrifying site. The witch lay naked under the tree where they had talked the other day. Her small body was freezing cold to the touch. Faith looked around and found the top of the woman's pajamas and slipped it onto her shoulders. She barely awakened and was gone again. Faith pulled off her own jacket and placed it over the frail body before she picked her up and carried her back to the estate. She was met on the way back by Xander and Nancy who were also searching.

"What happened?" Xander pleaded.

"Not sure," Faith responded. "I just found her down by the stream like this."

Once back at the estate Faith had taken Willow back to her suite where everyone rushed around. They were still trying to warm the witch's freezing body.

"Was it another Trillamble Demon," Xander questioned?

"I don't know," Faith answered. "She is cold but not frozen."

"Tara," Willow sat up. "Wha…, Faith what happened?"

"I was going to ask you that Red," Faith sat down beside her. I found you in the woods down by the stream."

Willow thought for a moment. Then she thought about her dream.

"I had another dream about Tara," she said thoughtfully. "This one was different though."

She told them all that she could remember not adding the more personal details just a brief overview of the entire dream. They were all starring at her, worry etched on each face. Her friends, especially Faith, had not missed the fact that she had been found completely naked.

After they had gotten her warmed up and Nancy had made sure that Willow was not injured Faith had asked for everyone to leave so that the redhead could get some rest. She had pulled out some fresh pajamas for her friend and helped her to get dressed. This time she climbed onto the bed next to the witch.

It was not long before both women were asleep.

Faith heard the voice. When she turned around she could not believe it was Tara. For a moment she had thought that it was the First.

"Willow is in trouble," Tara was telling her.

"I know that," Faith said angrily. "What can I do to help her?"

"You have to stop him," Tara warned. "It's not who you think."

"Then who is it?" Faith wanted to know.

Tara screamed with pain and disappeared. Faith awakened with a jerk. Willow still slumbered peacefully in her arms. It had been a dream, or at least she thought that it was. Faith could not go back to sleep after that. She just sat there and watched Willow sleep. They had to find out what was going on, and soon or she feared what might happen to her friend.

Beth bounded down the stairs of the dormitory and across the courtyard to the gym where Kim would be working out. She was excited to see her friend. She had hated that she had not been able to go patrolling with her the night before. She also wanted to apologize for the misunderstanding that they had had. She just wanted to share her best friend with her family and had forgotten to take Kim's feelings into account. She knew that the girl was still in so much pain from the loss of her own family and she would just have to give her some time. Master Xander had brought her to the school right after her parents had been killed. She knew that Kim was still scared to get close to others after that. She was amazed that the girl had allowed her close to her.

She stopped at the door for a moment to watch the young slayer work. She was totally amazing Beth thought to herself. She reminded her of a cat in the way all her movements were silent and graceful. Without thought Beth sprang onto the floor in front of Kim and went on the offensive pushing the girl to her limits and beyond. Their fight looked more like a carefully choreographed dance. That is until Beth slipped. Kim quickly and easily ended up on top of the smaller slayer, pinning her shoulders to the floor. Her head was close to the blonde looking into blue eyes. Beth felt the air catch in her chest as she thought that Kim had been about to kiss her, but just as quickly the girl was gone and out of the room.

Beth ran out onto the grounds to find the dark haired slayer but no one had seen her. Her mother caught her attention. It seemed that her father would be going home this afternoon but Monica had decided to stay on a few days to try to help Nancy as well as to spend some time with her daughter. Beth could not decide if that was a good thing or not. She loved spending time with her mother but right now she wanted to find out what was going on with her best friend. Beth went to see her father before he left.

The next few days were spent researching and playing tag with monks. They seemed to be getting nowhere. Beth and Kim were decidedly out of sync with each other and it was affecting the way that they worked. Doctor Delaney had gone back home and Monica had stayed behind to help out if she could. Beth's older sister would be on fall break soon and was planning to visit the school along with her mother.

They still heard no word from Buffy at all even though there had been reports of a decrease in Vamp activity around the Scottish countryside. Willow and Faith were having a serious discussion with Spike. He had a plan that they thought was a little too risky for some of the slayers. The monks had set up residence in a warehouse to the south side of New Sunnydale and word had it they were about to perform some sort of ritual that would prepare an unborn child to be an unholy vessel to their boss.

Willow was looking tired this afternoon but no matter how much Nancy and Faith insisted that she rest, the witch was having no part of it. She knew that there was too much work that needed to be done. Pouring over her options once again she turned to ask Xander a question but she found that she was unable to speak. She starred and soon all eyes turned to see what she was starring at, No one knew what to say as tears filled eyes and they soon all rushed the young woman in the doorway.

"Hey everyone!" Dawn said. What's going on?"

They all tried to speak at once but finally managed to explain what they had feared. Dawn took a seat overwhelmed. No one seemed to notice the young man waiting quietly just inside the door. Finally Faith looked up and saw the dark haired man with piercing brown eyes.

"Sorry," she said walking over to him. "We're not really rude much. Just a little shocked. I'm Faith."

He nodded and tried to smile, but all he really did was look very nervous.

"Jess," he told her.

"Oh Gosh," Dawn spouted as she jumped up. Everyone this is my friend Jess. He has been helping me the last few months."

They all took turns introducing themselves and greeting the ruggedly handsome young man. Willow hugged the girl and did not want to let her go.

"Oh Dawnie," she sobbed. "I was so afraid…"

Dawn hugged the witch telling her it was okay.

"You're not getting rid of me that easy," she assured her.

Dawn took a few minutes to fill them in on an assignment that she and Jess had just completed in Munich. That was why it had taken them so long to get there. There had been a haunting problem that they had to deal with involving a magical locket and a young girl's 16th birthday. Had they failed the girl would have been sucked into the past and trapped there because of a curse placed on her family by the ghost of a Norwegian fisherman. It was nothing like the demons that they deal with in Sunnydale but an adventure to be sure.

Nancy soon showed Jess to their room but was surprised when he requested a second room. She had thought by the way that they looked at each other that they were together. She happily obliged.

Dawn had immediately gone into watcher mode and dove into the whole computer thing with Willow. There had been stories that were surrounding the disappearance of the wizard that was recently found off the coast of Ireland and she decided that merited a little research. So far no one had really paid much attention to that aspect.

Since Red had a study buddy to keep her company Faith had decided to go out patrolling with the Slayer twins. They would be checking out the warehouse and kicking some monk butt.

The evening seemed overly warm to the slayer. She was wearing her normal black leather pants but this time she was only wearing a black tank top for comfort. She hoped that they would not run into anymore of those Trillamble demons. In order for those back at the estate to remain in contact with the slayers and watcher, they were wearing wireless microphones. This was a trial run to see if they were a useful tool or a distraction.

Willow leaned over Dawns shoulder as the young woman tapped away at the computer keys. Sweat was starting to bead on her forehead and shoulders. The room felt stuffy and she turned and reached out with magic to open a widow. Monica looked surprised that someone would use magic so freely. She and Nancy were enjoying a cup of tea and some conversation as they waited. Nancy gave the witch a look of disbelief because she knew that Willow no longer used magic like that.

Giles and Spike were close behind Faith as they climbed up the fire escape at the rear of the warehouse. They would meet the others on the inside. Beth, Kim, and Xander were going in the front of the building but they would try to do it without being seen. Three other slayers were laying in wait outside the building in case they were needed. Faith did not want them to go inside without some sort of backup. Everyone was in place and they were just waiting for her signal. The monks were doing their thing and she was about to royally crash their party.

"Here we go boys and girls," she stated. "Try to play nice with the other children."

She jumped through the skylight and landed in the middle of their ritual. The other slayers were quickly inside the building and in the middle of the fight. They managed to take most of the monks down quickly but when she turned she saw one of them with a dagger stab a goat. The blood poured out onto the altar before she could stop them. She had the feeling that was not a good thing to happen. The fight did not last long from there. The monks quickly disappeared.

Willow had gasped as the room began to swirl around her. She stumbled and everything went cold and black. When she awakened Dawn was kneeling beside her as well as Nancy and Monica. She looked up at each of them a little disoriented and confused.

"What happened?" she questioned.

"You fainted Willow," Dawn told her. "You okay?"

She nodded as she sat up rubbing her head. She was so cold. Se tried rubbing her hands against her arms. Dawn reached out to touch her.

"Willow you're like ice," she said with worry on her face.

Faith had been listening in to the conversation but no one was answering as she was trying to find out about Red. She was already on her way back to the estate with the others following close behind.

As the slayers entered the estate a pair of glowing eyes watched them from the darkness. Kim halted thinking that she had heard a voice. She was sure that it had been her father, her face paled as she looked around her. Beth came back to her.

"Kim you okay?" she questioned.

"Umm, yeah," she said not at all sure. "I just thought that I heard something. I was going to check it out."

"I'll help you," Beth assured her as they began to look around.

When Faith entered Dawn met her at the door.

"We have to talk," she told her with a solemn look on her face.

She pulled Faith into the kitchen.

"What's up little bit?" Faith asked seriously.

"I think there is more going on here than meets the eye Faith," she told her. "I don't think we are dealing with the First at all, at least not yet. This is not adding up if it is him."

Faith thought about it for a moment and decided to tell Dawn about the dream that she'd had about Tara.

"Old Jedi Mind trick," Dawn mumbled.

"What are you talking about?" Faith looked in confusion.

"I think we are looking at the wrong demon," Dawn thought out loud. "I think maybe we need to be looking into things that are telepathic or mind manipulators."

"Sounds like a plan," Faith nodded. "You get on that I want to go check on Red."

Dawn smiled as she watched the dark slayer make her way to the witch's suite. She was glad that they had each other's friendship. It was great to see how close they were getting.

Outside Beth and Kim had their hands busy chasing shadows. Their slayer senses told them that there was danger but every time they though they had it cornered the feeling disappeared and moved to a new location. More than once they had caught a glimpse of something large and shadowy out of the corner of their eyes only to find nothing.

"It's your imagination," a voice whispered in Kim's ear. "I'm not really here."

She stopped and looked but there was nothing. Beth had not heard anything so she was starting to think that she was losing it.

"Maybe we should head in," Beth said getting more than a little spooked.

"Yeah I think you are right," Kim agreed. "Maybe my Spidey Senses are just off tonight.

"I don't think so," Beth disagreed. "Because if they are mine are off too."

They wanted to tell Xander and Faith what was going on before they headed to the dorm and also to check on Willow. No one was on the headsets so they had no clue as to what was going on inside.

"Kim, Beth," Nancy was calling into the speaker but no on was answering. Xander and Giles were on their way to check on the girls when they came through the doors.

"Why weren't you answering on the Talkies?" Xander was almost yelling because he was worried.

They looked at him as if he had grown extra limbs or something not really knowing what he was talking about.

"We weren't getting anything on them," both girls chimed at once.

He took the headsets from both girls to check them out. They both seemed fine and they picked up Nancy's voice as she spoke.

"Honest," Beth swore. "There was nothing before!"

"It's okay girls," Giles assured them. "I'm sure that there are a few bugs that still need to be worked out of the system. Such as demonic interference," he muttered the last.

After they made their report about what had happened outside the estate and were assured that Willow was okay they made their way back to their room. Xander went to get Faith and they went to check out the girls report to see if there was any explanation for what had happened. As far as they could tell there was nothing happening around the estate but they decided to get two of the witches to patrol with the slayers on duty that night.

That night Faith watched as Willow slept and she became even more concerned as the woman's dreams seemed to suddenly have stopped. She was glad that her sleep was going undisturbed but could not help but wonder what had changed?

When the witch awoke she found a tired slayer sitting next to her on the bed stroking her hair.

"Couldn't sleep?" Willow smiled.

"No," Faith said simply not wanting to worry her friend anymore.

‘Faith?" Willow questioned. "Is everything okay?"

"Five by Five Red," she half smiled.

For some reason Willow was not convinced but she knew that when Faith did not want to talk there was nothing she could do to drag it out of her. She was almost as stubborn as Willow herself was.

Jess knocked on Xander's door bright and early.

"Have you seen Dawn this morning?" he asked as the watcher answered the door.

Xander just shook his head before asking what was up.

"Dawn's bed was not slept in last night," Jess informed him.

Xander quickly dressed asking Jess to round everyone up and to meet in the office in ten minutes. Jess moved quickly. Willow and Faith were the last ones on his list. He hated to disturb them but he was worried about Dawn. When they found out that the young watcher was missing they hurried to get ready. When they got to the office Nancy was the only one not to have arrived. They waited a few minutes before starting but she never came.

"Jess you did tell her didn't you?" Xander questioned.

"Yes Sir," Jess started. "She was the first one I saw."

"This can't be good," Xander thought out loud. "Kim would you and Beth go see if you can find her?"

The girls left only to return a little while later empty handed. So now they had both Dawn and Nancy that were missing.

"We need to get everyone on the estate together in the courtyard," Xander began. "We will split up into groups and search the entire estate until we are sure if they are here or not. Everyone keep your eyes and ears open people. After what Kim and Beth experienced last night we are not really sure what we are dealing with here. Willow would you and Monica stay here in case anyone checks in with news and so the whole researchy thing?"

They just nodded as Willow was already gathering books and telling Monica what they are looking for.

Fifteen minutes later the courtyard all the teams have been formed and are heading to their respective search areas. Two warlocks are placed on the gates to make sure no one gets in or out without being noticed.

"If they are still on the estate we'll find them," Giles assured Xander placing his hand on his shoulder.

"I know Giles," he tried to smile.

Chapter 8

Willow worked furiously looking for anything that would lead them to Dawn and Nancy. How could anyone have gotten onto the estate with all the charms and protection spells that had been placed on the grounds? She knew that it had to have been some kind of telepathic or magical abilities to get past their security. That would be the only thing that would explain it. The First could come and go but had no caporal form so he could not physically pull their friends from the estate. She wondered what type of demon that he was using.

The witch was tempted to magically pull the information from the books but knew that she could not do that. Her friends were in trouble but she could not allow darkness into her life again. Monica watched what seemed to be an internal struggle going on in the young witch in front of her. She could tell by the aura around Willow that she was very powerful. Certainly the most powerful witch she had ever met but she had a feeling that there was more here than met the eye.

Faith searched the outer parameter of the grounds but had found nothing. Her head had started throbbing from a massive headache when she was down by the stream. When she entered the courtyard she was rubbing her temple. Most of the groups had checked in and no one had found anything. Not Dawn, not Nancy, and not even a clue as to where they had gone or how. The warlock reported that no one had tried to enter or leave by the gates either.

Xander and Giles had searched both Dawn and Nancy's rooms. There was no sign of a struggle in either place. It was as if they had simply vanished into thin air. Xander wondered if that could have been just what happened before Faith came to talk to him. She told him what Dawn had talked to her about the previous night. He and Giles looked at one another before the small group headed for the office to see if Willow and Monica had found anything.

Once inside the house Xander felt faint and leaned briefly up against one wall until it passed. There was a sound that caused Faith to stop in her tracks.

"Did anyone here that?" she asked.

No one had heard anything. They just looked at her.

"B's voice?" Faith said slowly. "You had to have heard it."

They all just shook their heads. No one but Faith had heard the voice. They started to continue when she saw something out of the corner of her eye and her Slayer senses jumped into full swing. She turned with a roundhouse kick but she was kicking into the air. There was nothing there. She grabbed her head again.

"Faith?" Giles looked at her. "What's wrong?"

The slayer was suddenly doubled onto the ground in pain. They all looked around but there was nothing there. The two watchers pulled the slayer to her feet and helped her into the office. Willow rushed to her side as they told her what was going on. She was almost sure.

"Has anyone been seeing anything unusual?" She asked them.

"Faith was fighting something but we couldn't see anything," Giles told her.

"What do you think Will?" Xander asked.

"Well Monica and I found something," Willow started, "but I can't be sure. It might be a Felinocker Demon."

"Felinoker Demon?" Giles questioned.

"Well chances are if there is one there are more than one," Willow began. "They tend to travel and hunt in packs much like a Raptor, and just about as dangerous. They are a telepathic demon with the capabilities to make you see and hear things that are not there. They don't usually go for an immediate kill, as they prefer to toy with their prey first like a cat. The text says that they have the ability to hitch hike with a soul as long as the person is not telepathic or have magical powers."

"Do we know what they look like," Xander asked?

"No there are no pictures," Monica told them. It seems no one really knows if they have seen what they really look like, as they are shape shifters. At least they appear to be."

"It could just be that they make you think they are shape shifters," Willow interjected. "They can create images from your own memory."

"So could it be this thing we have been fighting all along?" Faith asked again rubbing her temples.

"It could be," Willow offered giving the slayer a concerned look, "but that really does not explain the presence of the monks that the first always used or the disappearance of Tara's body."

"Where does this thing like to hang out?" Faith asked getting to her feet.

"The book says in the shadows and the in between," Monica answered.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Xander jumped in.

"Just that," Willow answered him. "In magic places that are in between have significance. Places such as doorways and windows are in betweens. The largest in between is midnight however. Shadows are places of darkness that exist alongside the light."

"So how do we get Nancy and Dawn away from this thing?" Giles asked.

"You go in after it," Spike said from the doorway.

"How do we do that?" Xander seethed at him.

"Spike is the only one here that can go in after them without much assistance," Willow explained.

They looked at her as if she had lost her mind.

"Spike is a Vampire," Willow tried to explain. "He is not alive or dead. He is in between."

"You'll have to watch your own shadow," Spike warned looking at Xander.

"Oh, like I am supposed to be afraid of my own shadow," Xander said with contempt in his voice.

"You should be mate," Spike almost smiled. "That is how they get you."

Xander looked at Willow who confirmed what Spike was saying.

"Well why aren't you going after our friends," Xander asked?

"I would assume," Giles started "because he has to have a way to bring them out of the in between?"

Again Willow nodded. "That is where I will come in but I have to prepare and I will need Faith's help," she looked into the slayers eyes. "Also you have to find the in between where he has them and is hiding. We really need to hurry. We don't know how long we have before he will try to kill them."

Willow and Faith left the other to begin to prepare. They would need some time to prepare while the others tried to find the place where the demon was hiding.

"What do we have to do Red?" Faith asked her.

"I will need you to keep me grounded to this reality," Willow told her. "It may not be easy and I am not even sure you can do it, but you are the only one that might be able to do it."

"What is it Will?" you know I will do anything that I can.

Willow turned to her as they entered her suite. "Faith you are the closest friend that I have now. Even closer than Xander but I am just not sure that will be enough."

Faith took the witch's face into her hands. "I won't loose you Red. You are too important to me."

She was looking deep into the green eyes before her. She felt fear creep into her heart at the thought of anything happening to her friend.

"Faith I am just not sure anyone will be ab