Title: Fabric of Time

Author: Leslie

Rating: R

Summary: Willow goes back to 1888 London and meets Jack the Ripper and William the Bloody

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, I am just borrowing them for a bit of fun.

Feedback: Always welcome

Part 1

Willow was nervous about going to the new antique store, Timeless Treasures. The store had replaced Giles' magic shop that she had destroyed in her thirst for vengeance last year. Xander's company built it and Anya was going to manage it so she couldn't blow off the opening as much as she would have liked to. 

The memories were getting less and less painful as time went on.  Tara would always hold a special place in her heart but her friendship with Spike had helped her embrace life again. Nursing him through his insanity after she first came back to Sunnydale gave her a purpose. It also brought back memories of when she helped Tara when Glory had sucked her sanity away. Helping him had made her feel useful again and helped her take tiny steps toward her own redemption.

She was just getting ready to get into her car when her cell phone rang. "Hello?"

"Hey, Wills. Where are you? I thought we were going to meet at the store at 11:00. I wasn't supposed to drive by and pick you up was I?"

"Sorry, Buffy. I got caught up in memories and the time slipped by. I'm just pulling out of my driveway now I should be there in a few."

"Okay, see ya in a few."

~~~~~~

Willow was surprised at the number of people that had crowded in the store. Spotting Xander, Buffy and Dawn she made her way through the crowd. "Hi guys, sorry I'm late. Who knew so many people would come to an opening of an antique store. How's Anya doing?"

Xander said, "Ask her yourself" and nodded behind her. Willow turned and saw Anya smiling coming her way.

"Willow! I'm glad you could make it. Now go, look around and buy something."

Willow gave her a welcoming hug. "Looks like the store will do well. Congratulations Anya."

Anya was able to combine her duties as a vengeance demon with her antique store duties. She had told Willow that when she explained to the owner that she might have to take some trips unexpectedly because of family commitment, the owner told her that was fine just try to look for anything that might be able to sell in the shop while she was traveling. So consequently the store had antiques from all over the world.

Willow wandered around the store for a bit but not really seeing anything that caught her eye. She knew she had to buy something if only to keep Anya off her back.

Spotting a little room off to the side, Willow went to investigate. She could feel a little bit of magick coming from the room but she just put it down to residual magick from the magic shop. As she walked into the room she noticed some old books on a shelf and thought maybe she would find something for Giles.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw a dress dummy with a beautiful antique gown on it. It was made of delicate dark blue silk with lace on the cuffs and around the collar. Willow couldn't take her eyes off of it. The craftsmanship was amazing. She couldn't see any wear in the dress at all. Someone had taken very good care of it.

"That's a beautiful dress. I think it would look very pretty on you." A man with a British accent said softly.

Willow turned around to see who had spoken and she saw an older gentlemen standing behind her.

"It is beautiful but not really me."

"Oh I don't know . . . I think in another time you would have been beautiful in it. Maybe going to the opening of a new Gilbert and Sullivan opera in London."

Willow smiled. "Maybe in another time and place but what would I do with it now?"

"Antique clothing can be a very good investment, besides I'm sure a lovely girl such as yourself would be able to find opportunities to wear it if you wanted to."

"It is beautiful." Willow knew with the connection she felt with this dress if she didn't buy it she would be kicking herself. "Okay, you talked me into it."

"Wonderful, let me just take it off the dummy and I'll bring it up to the front for you. Please, continue looking around."

Willow smiled her thanks and went to look at the books hoping to find something for Giles. She never noticed the sly look in the older man's eyes or the person in the shadows watching them.

The red head picked up a 1st edition of a lesser known Charles Dickens book and thought it would make a nice Christmas gift for Giles. Last year he had just started to collect 1st editions and she thought he might like a nice Dickens book to add to his collection. Thanking the Goddess that her computer games had taken off and she no longer had to worry about money.

Picking up the Dickens novel she noticed a small book that looked like a journal or diary. Ooh, now that looked interesting. As she thumbed through it she saw that it was written in 1888, Willow added this for herself to the book for Giles and went to the counter to pay for her purchases.

"Hey Willow, whatcha buyin'?" Dawn asked.

"I found a couple of books and a really nice Victorian dress."

Anya walked up behind the counter with the dress that Willow had seen earlier.  "I brought this back with me when I had a 'trip' to London recently. It was at an estate sale in one of the suburbs. When I saw it I thought about you, I'm glad you're the one buying it."

Willow gathered her purchases and went with Dawn to meet Xander and Buffy outside.

The older gentleman walked to the back of the shop after watching Willow leave with Dawn. "Well it looks like your plan is coming together. How could you be so sure that the witch would buy the dress?"

The man turned to his father, "In the journal I found that had the entries about the Ripper murders, it mentioned a red haired woman in that dress. The description of the woman tugged at my memory but it wasn't until last year when I saw Ripper with the red head in England that I figured out who the description reminded me of."

"I saw she bought a journal too. It wasn't your journal was it?"

"Give me some credit, father. I kept the journal I don't know what journal she bought but it wasn't mine."

"I hope you know what you're doing, Ethan."

Ethan Rayne just smiled, "As soon as Anya bought the dress at the estate sale and told me that it was for your shop I knew everything was falling into place."