Title : The Cat-alyst
Author : Tariq ( formerly Aeris Jade Orion )
Rating : R
Pairing : WR/TM
Timeline : Season Six
Crossover: American McGee Alice
Summary : Willow is the Cheshire Cat.

Authors note: It's unbeta'd. At the moment I
have no beta reader for this genre. So drop me
a line if you're interested.

Second, due to health issues, and taking care
of my disabled mom, I haven't been able to
write much. But over the last several years
I've managed to slowly write on a number
of stories.

What I've decided to do is go ahead and
publish what I've managed to put together.
The stories are unfinished, and sometimes,
the last chapter I worked on is unfinished.
Plus, there maybe multiple chapters, each one a
different version. Just warning everyone.

So I apologize in advance.

Disclaimer : Not mine. All characters belong
to Joss Whedon, and too many others to name.

00000
Prologue
00000

The Cheshire Cat stared numbly from the towering
mushroom, invisible to all. A very familiar fog
of inky black was rolling rapidly over Wonderland
Woods, engulfing the land and all it's occupants.
Swirling down over them vapor of dark, chaotic
magic.

It was infecting everything. Transforming
everything it touched from the light hearted
insanity into the nightmarish hell they'd dealt
with once before.

Except...

The feline flinched as the fog wave splashed over
the mushroom where she was hiding. She desperately
tried to keep observing the fog and ignore the
pain from the dark magic.

Already it was switching her red fur to gray skin.
Her slim but full body into an emasculated form
until you could see the bones under the clinging
skin. Black tattoos appeared on her body resembling
tribal markings, along with a single gold hoop
earring in her right ear. Last her emerald eyes
changed an eerie glowing gold.

A crackling filled the air, and she crawled forward
on cat's paws. Blood stained incisors hidden with
a rare frown. There was a series of purple
discharges in the fog. Which hadn't happened last
time.

What in Hatter's name had happened to Alice?

Her mental and physical health effected Wonderland.
When she saw her family die in a house fire and
ended up in an asylum it had warped Wonderland into
a Hell dimension. Worse, it had transformed everyone
into demons.

It had been most unfun.

Cheshire had been somewhat lucky. An old safeguard
on Wonderland. Hence the wonderful tattoo's. It
kept the feline from getting turned demonic,
outside the cosmetic changes. It would also protect
Cheshire from the corruption of any black magic.

The creator of Wonderland had installed the
safeguard in case this ever happened. So like last
time, she could guide Alice, help her recover her
health, and heal Wonderland.

Just like it had helped guide June Liddell, Faye
Liddell, Dana Liddell, and Eliza Liddell. Everytime
it got worse and worse. Everytime Wonderland
suffered more and more harm. Becoming more insane,
more hellish, harder to heal, and she feared a day
would come it wouldn't recover.

The Liddell's had never been stable, so neither
had Wonderland. Alice was... She was...

" Cheshire..."

Here?

She carefully teleported into the shadows of a
mushroom twenty from her old friend. She had
watched Alice grow up from a small child. Visiting
her in the real world, checking up on her, even
breaking into the asylum when she was comatose.

Alice was a dear friend. A very dear friend.
Cheshire had helped her fight through the hell
dimension Wonderland had been, and toward the end
of the long bloody war, gave her life for that same
friend.

Stepping forward cautiously, she suddenly felt
every cat sense, every magical warning, and every
bout of insanity ( with some sanity thrown in ),
telling her to run far away very fast.

But it was Alice.

She let her invisibility drop and found her
friends eyes on her. There was a brightness
like usual, but something was off, not quite
what it should be.

" Cheshire, my dear friend, I looked everywhere
for you. " Alice beamed, walking slowly forward,
the Vorpal blade gleaming in her hand.

" Search nowhere and your cat will be found,
search everywhere and your cat will forvever
remain lost. " Cheshire lazily answered, all
the while scanning Alice, and the surrounding's.

Alarms were blazing in her head. Alice was dressed
normally in her blue dress and white apron, but the
apron was stained with blood on the bottom. The
deep green eyes were more intense than normal with
a thin black line outlining both eyes.

The hair which had always been a dirty blonde, and
over the years started to lighten to a blonde shade,
was raven black.

" Must you always speak in riddles. " Alice
complained lightly.

" Just when confronted with impertinient brats,
Royals who are pains in my paws, and abnormal
normality with a nasty dose of sanity. " She
brushed off with a yawn.

The surroundings cleared of the fog as the tide
headed on to other parts of Wonderland. With it,
revealing a small army of the Queens men. The
Cards all armed and standing behind Alice at
attention.

Worse, she could see Jack standing to the left
and behind Alice's left arm. His grotesque and
heavily demonic transformation complete, but
for some reason, he like the Cards seemed to
be waiting.

On Alice.

" Oh dear, my surprise is ruined, " Alice sighed.
" and I so wanted to explain everything to you
first. "

A purple energy crackled in Alice's eyes and
Cheshire knew if she still had fur it would be
standing on end right now. As it was her new
claws unsheathed, the longer, much sharper,
blood stained bones sank into the dead ground.

Alice grinned down at her. " I offered the Queen
a treaty. One she unable to refuse. I'm the new
Queen of Hearts. Isn't it wonderful Cheshire? "

By Dormouse's tail, the Liddell Guardian couldn't
possibly be considering leaving Wonderland a Hell
dimension.

" Oh? Did you use a standard Head's off approach?
Or a more a more tarty one? " Cheshire jested.

" Of course, I need a court Advisor and I couldn't
think of anyone better for the job than my old
friend Cheshire. " Alice explained.

It was over.

" Woe unto the guide never may they lead. Always
to visit but not to live. To befriend and not
marry. If ever she falls to temptation so to shall
the lands, and never shall they heal. ' " The
feline recited from memory.

" Another riddle? " Alice asked.

" My first and last advise as your court Advisor. "
Cheshire bowed regally.

Taking a step back, she vanished from Wonderland.

Forever.

00000

Cheshire had been in Oxford for two weeks. She was
still stuck in her more demonic form, but at least
she could shift into a human persona, and even a
half human half Cheshire persona.

Though for now she stayed a cat, invisible,
skulking around. She'd already been all over what
was left of the Liddell house, and Rutledge
asylum where Alice had been treated before.

She slunk through the closed library to the
newspapers. Unfortunately, she had to shift into
her human form. A cat simply wasn't equipped for
reading.

Cheshire grabbed two months worth of newspapers,
moving to a nearby table. She began to scan them.
Boring news after news in each one. At least
until the last newspaper.

Where she found her answer. Why Alice Liddell had
permantely snapped, and taken Wonderland with it.

She slowly refolded the paper. Her life as Cheshire
was over, and there was nothing of Wonderland to
save. It was time to move on, with a new life, and
new identity.

Her emerald eyes drifted to the newspaper, landing
on the article about some park dedication. A small
picture showed the Governor cutting a ribbon in
front of a large willow tree.

A willow...

Hmmmm.

Willow.

' To bend but never break. ' She smiled bitterly.
' How appropriate. '

" From now on I shall be Willow. " She whispered
firmly. Her last name would depend of course.

She would need to deage herself and get adopted
by a family. Alice had an Aunt in Wells. Florence
Liddell. Florence was an oddball even by a
Liddell's standards.

In point of fact, the oldest of the three Liddell
siblings had been estranged from the family since
she was eighteen. Florence was highly magical, a
white witch of high power.

Better yet, she was sterile, and desperately wanted
children. A perfect canidate for Cheshire. She
would be a mother to the feline, a teacher of Earth
magic, and a way to keep an eye on the Liddell's
after Alice's break.

Perfect indeed.

11111
Chapter One
11111

Willow Rosenberg, formerly Liddell, slowly entered
Rack's inner sanctum. It had taken years of careful
planning, manuevering, and manipulating events to
get an invite.

But she was here. All thanks to the deratting of
her good friend Amy Madison.

Oh, but she'd had to wait. Wait until an
oppurtunity appeared when Amy was otherwise
occupied and wouldn't be anywhere near Rack's
place.

" Back for another taste, Strawberry? "

She strolled around the circular couch to where
Rack was sprawled lazily laying out rune stones.

" No, I'm afraid you left a bad aftertaste. " She
joked. " I'm here about one of your customers.
Amy. "

He chuckled under his breath never stopping what
he was doing. " Let me guess, if I don't stop
seeing her you'll sic the big bad slayer on me. "

Willow stopped right in front of the unconcerned
Warlock. The dealer had been servicing the Madison
witches going back three generations starting with
Amy's grandmother. He alone was responsible for
their plung into black magic, and magical abuse.

" Actually, I figured I'd just kill you, and be
done with it. " She shrugged.

The dealer casually stood up, his chuckle growing
dark as he faced her fully. " I believe you should
leave before I take your magic for myself. "

" No. " She slammed her right hand into his chest,
and ripped his magic from him. Or rather tried to.

A shimmer ran over Rack, leaving behind a Card from
Wonderland. It was low in rank. A Two, and worse
in her opion, from the Diamond suit. Meaning it was
a harder demon to kill.

" Son of a Hatter. " She cursed. Moving rapidly
she shoved the Card into the wall. " What in
Rabbit's name is a Wonderlander doing here?! "

" You know what I am? " The Card growled.

" Reveal! " She whispered the spell.

A spirit appeared. Jack appeared, prowling
forward.

" The Queen wants the two remaining Liddell lines
found. When found contact me for further orders.
Do nothing until then! Is that understood?! "

The Deuce wrenched from her spell.

Willow screamed in red hot pain. She grabbed her
stomach as the Card slashed her several times with
a Wonderland dagger. Blood gushed from her fingers
and she shifted into her Cheshire cat form, hissing
at the guard.

" Sir Cheshire! " The Card dropped the dagger and
sheath in shock. " We must return immediately. The
Queen has ordered you brought to her. She has been
most impatient for your return, Sir! "

She forced herself back to her human form. " Has
she? "

" Oh yes, Sir Cheshire. She had you Knighted when
you left, and you're the Royal Advisor. She
also... "

She slit his throat with the dropped dagger. The
blood heart shaped red gem on the hilt lit up
sucking out, absorbing every drop of the Cards
blood and magic. Finally it finished and his body
poofed to ash.

Willow clipped the sheath on her belt and slid
the dagger home. A single thought activated her
invisibilty magic over it.

A sharp pain in her stomach brought her attention
back to her wound. She was losing a lot of blood.
Worse it was made by a Wonderland made magical
weapon. It would scar and it would be hard to heal.

A double whammy.

She quickly ripped several long strips from her brown
slacks and made a compress bandage. Trying to put
it on without help was almost as painful as getting
the wound itself.

Once on, she turned to Rack's living space. No
matter how badly she was hurt, she had to search
it to make sure there was no other items from
Wonderland laying around.

She began flipping over each and every couch cusion.
Tearing into them with the dagger. Then using the
dagger to cut into the couchs themselves.

Slashing into the last of the circular couch, at
the very bottom was an amulet. The Cheshire eye.
Rage bubbled up at the sight of it.

It was her creation. Her amulet. Her masterpiece.

Someone had stolen it from her over a thousand
years ago. She had been searching for it and the
thief since. So what was the Card doing with her
property?

A hiss of anger escaped.

' He died too fast. '

She started to feel light headed.

Sighing, she grabbed the amulet, and put it on.
It was literally a Cheshire eye. A tiny emerald
cat eye, glowing with power. It was about the size
of a quarter.

The eye was outline with red the color of her hair.
It also had an eye lid which couldn't be seen except
when it would close.

The chain was thin and platium in color. The
difference was it was far stronger than any metal.
Being Wonderland made it would never break.
Shimmering with red in the right light.

She scanned over the rest of the room. The amulet
let her see there was nothing else from Wonderland
here.

' Thank Goddess. '

She stumbled to the shadows, teleporting to the ER.
Hoping she would get there in time.

11111

Willow struggled into the scrub top the nurse gave
her. Six long slashes, each requiring twenty to
twenty six stitches, and heavily bandaged made it
an almost impossible task.

At last she got it on, and it fell around her
waist with an exhausted exhale. Sweat poured from
her forehead from the fight.

She carefully guarded her stomach and stood up
from the stretcher. Despite the shot of pain
killers, she found herself fliching.

The witch paused to pick up the plastic bag of
bloody rags, and bag of medicine filled by the
hospital. The one thing going right for her.

Well, the second thing. The first being her finding
her amulet.

Stepping into the shadows, she walked into the front
yard of the Summer's house. A cold breeze hit the
thin scrubs she was wearing.

She shivered violently.

Alice was up to something. Not just were Cheshire
was concerned, but also with the Liddell family on
Earth.

The question was what.

Why would Alice keep Willow as Royal Advisor? Why
not appoint someone else? Surely Hatter or Dormouse
would make good replacements. Why Knight her? What
else had the Card been about to announce?

Still, Cheshire couldn't take the risk. The Card
had to die. Wonderland magic was dangerous, far
more than Earth magic. More importantly, just
saying Cheshire's name could attract the Queen's
attention.

No, he'd had to die. Information be damned.

There was also the Liddell's. Why the concern? Did
Alice suspect what Willow was planning? If so, why
the lack of action?

Alice was far too impatient to sit on information,
or wait, or even use a long term plan. It was just
one reason why she wanted Willow for her Advisor.

She went up the porch stairs, groaning at the
strain, and entered the house.

" Where were you? " Dawn demanded. " What happened?
Are you hurt? "

" I had a run in with a knife. Other than a few
stitches I'm fine. " She explained.

" A knife?! Were you robbed? " Dawn tugged Willow's
shirt up and paled at the large amounts of bloody
bandages.

" No, a drug dealer didn't want to take no as an
answer. " She yawned tiredly. " I'm going to bed.
Goodnight, Dawnie. "

Her mind ached from worry over what she'd found
out, trying to figure out what Alice was going do
next.

No, she desperately needed some sleep.

11111

Willow hobbled into the kitchen, mumbling under
her breath, each step sending shock waves through
her stomach.

" You okay, Will? " Buffy interrupting her
creative cursing.

She grimanced at the gentle question. It was the
first time she'd heard any concern from Buffy
since her resurrection.

" Oh I'm fine, great even, just a little sore. "

" Really, cause you're walking like a Ninety
year old drunken cripple. " Buffy wrapped an
arm around her and helped her into a kitchen
chair. " Feel up to breakfast? "

" You offering? "

" Eggs and toast, okay? "

Willow nodded, then dropped her head onto the
table.

Despite her injuries she would have to hit the
streets after breakfast. She needed to find out
if there any more Cards in Sunnydale, or if there
were any major Wonderlander's around.

Her mind wondered back to Glory.

When the rip in the dimensions had opened, she had
seen something. For a few seconds she'd seen a
familar shadow taking shape in the discharge. It
had been the driving force behind her bringing
Buffy back.

Behind the night terror's over the summer. The one's
Tara had been unable to sooth. The one's which had
her waking in terror's so horrific she was unable
to make a sound.

Cold sweat broke out on her skin, making her button
up emerald shirt stick to her back. She took a
steadying breath, pushing the shadow from her
memory. There was nothing she could do about it.

It either sensed the Hellmouth or it didn't. If
it did, then Sunnydale, and the Scoobies were lost.
If it didn't, then Willow had simply earned a few
new nightmares.

The Deuce was too low ranking to know to report
about the Hellmouth. He wouldn't have the
intelligence to realize what Alice or one of the
major Wonderlander's could do with it.

' Thank the Goddess. '

There was also Amy to think about. The last of
one of the two lines of the Liddell's. She was
addicted to magic. Heavy in the black magic, and
insane.

Not the good kind either.

Oh yes, Willow had left Amy a rat for a very definte
reason.

She had no idea how to handle the ' Mad ' ison
line. Despite her best efforts, a criminally mad
monk had married into the Liddell line. Corrupting
it beyond repair. In the next generation a gypsy
with a taste for blood had married the only
daughter of the monk.

Madder and madder. Easily addicted. A taste for
vengeance. With a craving for blood.

The name Madison was well deserved.

Then Amy came along. Her friend. A sweet girl.
Awkward, an outcast, with a respect for magic.
She'd hoped she would overcome the family lineage.

Before Rack.

' Damn you Alice. ' She cursed.

Leaving one line of Liddell's left.

" Here you go, Chez Buffy. "

She sat up and smiled weakly at her friend.
" Thanks. "

" So you going to tell me what happened last
night? "

" Didn't Dawnie...? "

" I mean what really happened. " Buffy ordered.

She frowned at her food. It never occured to her
Buffy might notice. The slayer had been so out of
things, which was understanable, that she hadn't
seen the sun from the rain. Something she'd been
counting on.

" Amy's been seeing a magic dealer, and a couple of
days ago she took me to him. " She saw the look her
friend was getting and waved her hands. " I wasn't
interested, but I was worried about her, so I went
with her, and can I just say ewww! "

" And last night? "

" I went back without her. I wanted to talk to him
about not seeing her anymore. "

" Let me guess, he said no. "

" With a big pointed dagger. Times six. " Willow
nodded sheepishly. " Of course that was 'bout
the time I also found out he was actually a demon
in a glamour and killed him. "

" You are so grounded. "

" What?! " She squawked.

" You should have let me handle it. " Buffy
lectured. " Or asked me to tag along. "

" I don't need a baby sitter. "

" You could have been killed. " Buffy protested.

" But I wasn't. " Willow argued.

" No, instead you ended up in the ER. Again! "

" That's beside the point. "

" Is not! "

" Is to, and as my best friend, you have no
grounding rights! " Willow stuck her tongue out.

" We'll see what Tara has to say. " Buffy narrowed
her eyes.

" Ex-girlfriends have no say either. " She
waved her fork.

" We'll see. "

" See what? " Dawn asked, walking into the kitchen.

" If Willow is grounded. " Buffy grumbled heading
for the phone in the living room.

" What? " Dawn blinked in confusion. " Did I miss
something? "

" Never you mind. " Willow dismissed, turning her
attention to her breakfast.

" Wait, what'd I miss? " Dawn demanded.

" Nothing! " Came the duel answers.

" No, seriously. What!? " Dawn demanded.
" Guys? "

22222
Chapter Two
22222

She did not need this now. Seriously. She hadn't
thought Buffy was really going to sic Tara on her.
They were broken up. Trust issues. A memory spell
she'd used on the other witch, etc.

Yet before she could get past the front porch
she'd found herself in the porch swing next to
the blonde wiccan. Getting chewed out. Again.

" Why didn't you take Buffy with you? "

Why did she have to be so damn cute?

" A slayer against a warlock was just asking for
bad mojo. " She chuckled at her own joke, but it
faded when Tara gave her that look. The one of
quiet disappointment, telling her it wasn't the
time for jokes. " You know what I mean. "

" He was a demon. "

" I didn't knowing that, I didn't even know there
was such a thing as magic dealers until Amy
dragged me to him. "

" You... You didn't use him, did you? " Tara
asked.

" No. "

She leaned her head back to watch the clouds pass
by. Magic was so different on Earth. Here it was
restricted due to addiction, black and white,
human and demon.

Wonderland, when it was a haven dimension, had no
such restrictions. Magic simply was. There was no
addiction. No white and black. No human and demon.
They used magic for everything and nothing. It was
in the very air they breathed.

Cheshire was magic. Then she came to Earth. She
played by their rules, and it was... limiting.
Until Tara came into her life.

Tara was a breath of life. She was magic, and
Wonderland, and freedom, and love, and passion.
She was everything and nothing. The air and blood
of Cheshire.

For a while, she was able to keep her head around
the blonde, but Tara was like a dose of catnip.
The longer she was around the wiccan the higher
she got, the more she forgot, the freeier she felt.

And one day she forgot it wasn't Wonderland.
Letting lose with her magic. Using the old magics.
They gradually started fighting over it, and she
couldn't explain the truth about the them to Tara.

Then Halloween night happened. A night of powerful
energies. She went into heat of all things, and
her passions for Tara hit an all time high. Tara
had defintely not complained but when it was over,
she'd demanded answers and Willow had blocked the
memory.

It wasn't worth the risk of an apocalypse.

Beside's finding a demonic cat in your bed would
freak anyone out, and Tara had been no differnt.
The poor blonde, once she'd recovered had looked
caught caught between yelling for Buffy and getting
all with the butch.

Willow wasn't sure her heart would survive being
rejected by Tara over her origins, or for being a
freak of nature. She wasn't a species, she was a
singular. An only. A one of a kind. Uno. Ein. Ich.

A very lonely exsistence until Tara came into her
life. Becoming her light. Her beacon. The nip in
her cat. The paw in her print.

" Will? "

" I know you don't belive it, but I'm no addict. "

" I don't know what to believe anymore. " Tara
admitted.

" Meow..."

Emerald eyes glanced absently around the
neiborhood for the source of the noise. Pausing
on a single cat sitting under on the sidewalk in
front of Buffy's front yard.

It was black with white chest and paws. A single
blue ribbon was tied around it's neck. Hanging
from it was a small gold bell the size of a dime.
The cat met her eyes intently, and she noticed a
slight cracking of purple snake across them,
disappearing quickly.

' Dinah. '

" I wonder who that cat belongs to. " Tara mused.

" Probably a neibhor. "

Dinah let a single incisor show then slowly
strutted away. Gold eyes watching them until the
small cat had gone too far.

" Strange cat. "

" Yeah, strange. " She laughed nerously.

' No, just very dangerous. ' She thought. ' But
for her to be hanging around... Goddess don't
let Alice know. '

" Listen, I've really enjoyed talking to you,
and I want to do it again soon, but I have a ton
of errands to run, and I should really get going. "
She stood up slowly with Tara's help.

" Maybe I should go with you. You can barely stand
with your stomach like that. "

" NO! I-I mean, no. I'm fine, finey mcfine in fact. "
Willow backed up. " S-so I'll see you around, then,
right? Right. Bye. "

She took off before Tara could respond. She had to
get to Dinah and find out what in Rabbit's name it
was up to. The stupid cat was Alice's personal pet,
not to mention a firestarter, and pyromanic.

Why would Alice have Dinah here anyway? Surely
there was some reason or plan? Though this was
Wonderland she was thinking of. Sanity was never
an issue.

Her amulet let her see the trail of left over magic,
and she jogged after it despite the pain. The further
she went the faster she went.

' No... She wouldn't... '

Smoke bellowed in the distance. It confirmed her
fears, and answered several questions she'd been
thinking of. Hitting the nearest shadow, she
teleported to a house several doors down from Amy's.

Dinah was sitted right next to where she appeared.
The cat watching the Madison house burning down
with a loud rumbling purr. The whole building was
entirely consumed. Twirling in blazing flames.

Willow felt bile stir in her stomach as a female
scream pierced the air. A figure pounded on Amy's
bedroom window, smashing the glass, and then the
scream died when a backfire exploded out the
window.

' One Liddell line is extinct. ' She tried to
rationalize.

Dinah trotted off.

' She... ' Willow felt her stomach tumble.
' She will... '

Not bothering with shadows, she teleported to her
adopted parents backyard.

It was too late. The house was on fire, but it
hadn't spread yet. Maybe...

She sprinted for the back door, hitting it at a
dead run, thanking every deity she knew it was
unlocked.

" MOM! DAD! " She bellowed. " WHERE ARE
YOU!? "

She sprinted upstairs feeling her stitches tearing.
The hall was swirling with flames. The walls were
almost gone, and from the top stair she could see
her bedroom filled with fire.

Burning wood rained down around her. The floor
cracking and breaking open gaps. A long support
timber came crashing down through the stairs.

Willow pressed forward to the back of the hallway.
If the fire was set at the front there was a
chance, a small chance it hadn't hit her parent's
bedroom yet.

" MOM, WHERE ARE YOU?! DAD! ARE YOU HERE?! "

" WILLOW?! " Her dad called back. " GET OUT OF
HERE! "

She hurried to the steaming door. " I'm going to
open the door! "

" NO! DON'T! " Her dad ordered. " Please!
Just go! "

" Dad!? " She almost whispered.

Her magic flared and with a flick of her hand the
door was opened. Fire shot up over it, destroying
it in seconds.

It was then she realized how bad the situation was.
The fire was magical. Having engulfed the walls and
spreading out three feet into the room so her
parents were in the very middle unable to move
from the spot.

" I love you, dear, but it's time you go. " Her
mom cried.

" No, I can save you. " Willow denied. " I... I
lied. I'm not human. I'm... "

" ...the Cheshire cat. " Her dad finished.

" We know, dear, we've always known. " Her mom
smiled. " Just as all you're adopted parent's
knew. "

Several tears escaped Willow's iron will.

" The Liddell family were honored to be chosen
by you, and we all loved you. You were our
child. Our blood in everyway that truly mattered. "
Her mom explained.

" I'll get you out. " She choked out.

She teleported for her parents, and was bounced
violently into the flaming wall. The feline twisted
so her hands caught the wall, pushing and falling
to the floor in a roll.

" WILLOW! " Ira yelled.

A gasped tore from her throat. Blood flowed from
her stomach. Her hands and arms burned.

' Great, but why was I blocked? '

She clambered weakly to her feet. Blood and burns
ruining another outfit in two days. ' This is
getting to be an expensive habit. '

She activated her amulet and scanned the house.

' Dinah has upgraded her act. Good for her. Bad for
me. '

" What happened? " Her dad demanded.

" The arsonist used magic to stop me from
teleporting. " She grumbled.

" Then it's time you go. " Sheila said.

" No. I can save you. "

Willow ignored her stubborn parents and kept
puzzling out the fire. It was magical and shielded.
So no jumping. But as a Wonderlander, maybe...

The flames jumped another foot into the room, right
to her parents feet. There was no more time. One
more jump and they would be overtaken.

" I'm coming in. " Willow announced. " When I get
to you, I'm going to cover you in my magic. It
should give you enough protection to survive the
fire. You might be injured but you'll survive. "

" NO! " Her dad shouted. " ENOUGH! Willow, Go! "

" Dad... "

Her parents exchanged a silent look.

" We love you, Cheshire Cat, or Willow Liddell. "
Her mom smiled bravely.

" Always know how proud we are of you. " Her
father said.

Before her horrifed eyes they clasped hands and
stepped into the fire. Leaving her to watch their
last moments on earth. Her only companion a small cat
appearing from a flaming hallway falling down around
them.

22222

' She's solidified her hold on Wonderland. '
Willow hazily sat on the bed in Tara's empty dorm.
' Alice knew I could transfer guardianship of
Wonderland to another Liddell so she killed them
off, but why wait so long? '

' Alice can't know where I am, or at least
didn't, but Dinah is a major problem. ' She
absently tugged at the bandages covering her
arms and hands. ' No way I could touch Alice's
personal pet. It would bring her and her entire
army down on Sunnydale. So by now Alice know's
where I am, and my identity. '

' Letting the murdering pyscho go will still
bring Alice down on Sunnydale, but at least
she won't bring her army with her. ' She wryly
thought. ' I hope. '

There was little doubt about the kind of damage
her army could do to the small town. Slayer or
no. Worse if any of the major players get
involved.

' How do I keep Alice from finding out about
the Hellmouth? What if Dinah discovered it
already? '

Hell, how did she handle Alice when she showed
up? Willow hadn't seen the other woman since
1867. Cheshire had been raised by several sets
of Liddell parents. Each very different in type.
Ranging from witches to scientists.

On the other spectrum, Alice was living in a
Hell dimension. No, not living, ruling part of
it. Fighting wars, killing, maiming.

The Alice she'd known and loved was dead. She
had no idea how to deal with Alice, Queen of
Hearts.

" Oh goddess, Willow! "

Willow blinked as Tara gently traced her soot
stained face. The smooth hand trailed down over
her scrubs to the bandages on her left arm.

" They're dead. " She whispered numbly to Tara.
" I couldn't save them. What good is magic if
it can't save the people I love? "

" Who's dead? " Tara gently prodded, kneeling in
front of her.

" My parent's and the Madison's. "

She fell forward onto Tara's shoulder. Despite
their seperation, their fighting, the blonde
wrapped her arms around her.

" I'm so sorry, baby. "

Willow breathed in the gentle vanilla scent
of her ex. It calmed her slightly. Eased some
of the tension, the panic trying to set in.

She was the Cheshire Cat. The Advisor of
hundreds of Liddells. The planner of thousands
of plans. The mighty spy cat. The unshakeable
emotional stone wall.

And she was falling apart.

" I don't know what to do. "

" You know I'll do anything I can to help you. "
Tara reassured her.

She pulled away, taking a swipe at the few tears
escaping her. " I, uh, I'd have to temporarly
remove the memory spell I put on you. "

" Meaning you're going to redo it? " Tara's face
closed off. The wiccan standing up abruptly.

Willow didn't bother answering. Tara knew it.
There was no way her ex would agree to such
terms. Not under any circumstances.

" Alright. "

Willow's head snapped around in shock.

" I'll do it. " Tara took a seat in her desk
chair.

" But... What? " Willow couldn't believe it.

" You're obviously in trouble, and if this is
the only way I can help you, then so be it. "
Tara firmly stated.

The feline reached for the magic containing
Tara's memory of Halloween night and collapsed
it. Letting the blonde relive it.

Tara reacted immediately. Leaping to the corner
wardrobe, she wrenched a sword out and swung it
at Willow. The metal whistling at the high arch
of the blade.

Never the less, Willow remained numbly seated at
the end of the bed. Her hands limply hanging over
her knees, head bowed in anguish.

The sword lightly came to rest on the back of her
neck. Not piercing the skin.

" You're a demon. " Tara pressed on the sword.
" When did you get turned? What kind are you? "

" It's complicated. " Willow sighed.

" Uncomplicate it. " Tara demanded.

" I was permantely changed in 1867, but I was
changed temporarily on and off over several
millienium before that. As for the kind, well
there is no kind. My birth name is the Cheshire
Cat. "

THUMP.

The sword hit the carpet as Tara sat on the bed
beside her. Blue eyes blinked at her in confusion.

" I think you better complicate it again. "
Tara calmly stated.

" Tara, my home dimension is Wonderland. "

" As in... "

" Yeah, Alice in Wonderland, and Through The
Looking Glass. "

" Then how are you a demon? " Tara frowned.

" Alice is linked to Wonderland. Her mental
and physical health directly effects my dimension.
My friend went insane in 1865, but I managed to
heal her and revert Wonderland back from a Hell
dimension. "

She growled as a single tear fell against her
will.

" Then in 1867, Wonderland was again changed
into a Hell dimension. Alice showed up halfway
through the process, a number of the Queen of
Heart's men with her. She had overthrown the
Queen, and offered me the position of Royal
Advisor but I refused. The got out of dodge. "

" 'Course I investigated Alice's descent into
madness. Why she took over Wonderland? "

" What did you find? "

" After she left Rutledge asylum, she married
and gave birth to a set of twin daughters. Her
husband became suspicious she was a witch, and
their daughters had inherited her abilities. "

" Oh no. "

" Yeah. " Willow breathed. " Alice walked in on
him killing their children. She... She tried to
stop him, in the process killing him, but it was
too late to save the children. "

" Goddess. "

" She lost it. Really and madly lost it. I don't
think there was any sanity left in her. " Willow
mused. " She just came straight to Wonderland,
clothes stained with her childrens blood, and
carrying the knife she used to kill her husband. "

" Will..."

" Maybe if I'd gotten to her before the Queen
of Hearts I could of still healed her, but
that thrice damned, man hating psycho bitch got
to her first! " Willow growled. " She got there,
and Alice already on the edge, ripped her apart! "

" Willow, there was nothing you could do. "

Willow turned pleadingly to Tara. " How do you
know? You weren't there? You don't know Alice,
or, or..."

" Sweetie, listen to me. From the books, from
what you said, she would never want to be the
Queen of Hearts. Muchless want Wonderland
be a Hell dimension. Not the Alice you knew. "

Not if there was any sanity left to save.

" I watched each and every Liddell grow up
from a baby. I was friends with the ones who
visited Wonderland. But Alice was special. She
was my closest friend. I kept a close eye on her
when I could. "

" I'm sorry. "

" Goddess help me. " Willow groaned. " Two
hundred years I've been hiding. Juggling
dozens of plans and counter plans. Secretly
hoarding intel to try and find a way to heal
Wonderland. But in a twenty four period it's
all been destroyed, with less than a day
left before Alice finds out where I am. "

" How bad are we talking about? " Tara asked.

" If we're really, really lucky and she doesn't
bring her army of Cards, or the major players.
We're talking Glory. If we're a little lucky,
she'll bring the Cards, but no major players.
Then we're talking Glory occupianied with a
bunch of Adam strength minion's. "

" A-and if she brings the m-major players? "
Tara trembled.

" Run. " Willow whispered.

" You have to tell the others. We have to
start researching. Maybe we can find someway
to stop her. "

There wasn't a way, except for one.

" I'll handle it. " She argued.

" Will if she's as powerful as you say... "

" Don't forget I'm a demon. Plus, Alice wants
me alive. I can't say the same for any of you. "
She carefully stood up to leave, and faced her
ex to reapply the memory spell.

" Can you explain one thing? " Tara stopped her.
" Halloween night. You shifted into a half cat
demon and well... "

" Ravished you? " Willow blushed.

" More than that. You bit me on my breast and
injected magic. "

" Ah yeah. " Willow felt the blush spread down
her neck into her top. Never in her life had
she lost control like she did were Tara was
around. " See I went into heat Halloween,
and I'd been flittering with the idea of
asking you to be my mate. Then I got so
caught up in you I lost control and I marked
you as my mate. "

" Does this mean we're married? "

" Not until you you mark me. " Willow shrugged.
" Since you haven't my mark will simply fade in
another month and be taken as rejection. No harm
done. "

" How would I be able to mark you? I'm human. "
Tara frowned.

" But you're a witch, so it's just a matter of
biting my left breast with magic gathered in
your mouth. Poof, instant mark. " Willow lifted
her hand to Tara's forehead and redid the memory
spell. " I'm sorry. "

But she had managed calm down enough to get the
basis of a few plans started. So it was time to
go.

" Will, you have to tell the others. " Tara's
firm voice stopped her in terror. " If you don't,
I will. "

" Wh-? " She stopped as the blonde pulled a very
old, very powerful protection charm from under
her shirt.

" You sneak! You tricked me! " She crowed in
the oddest combination of outrage and delight.

" Sneaky like a spy cat? " Tara asked a little
too innocently.

Willow gaped at the blonde wiccan in disbelief.
Her heart racing as her ex used a single finger
to close her dropped jaw.

" Cat got your tongue, sweetie? " Tara whispered.

" You...? "

" Yes? "

She couldn't believe it. Tara had gotten her.
She'd actually gotten one over on her.

" I believe a great mind once told me never to
go to a cat, make the cat come to you. " Tara
answered her unasked question.

" You were listening? " She shyly toed the carpet.

" I always listen, even when you don't say
anything."

" You don't play fair. " Willow whined, slumping
in defeat. " How's a cat supposed to win against
a fully trained, Master kitty hunter, huh?
Especially the super secret one's with catnip in
their veins. I shoulda guessed what you were when
I saw you with Miss Kitty Fantastico, but with
the catnip in you I can't seem to keep my head
straight. "

Tara's lips were twitching suspiciously, but she
ignored her ex.

" I want to see your degree, and the names of
everyone who trained you. There is going to be
hell to pay. I won't have people hunting cats on
my watch. " Willow continued, following a silently
shaking Tara out of the dorm. " And you missy, you
should be ashamed of youself hunting cats like... "

22222

Willow huffed as Tara pushed her into a chair
at the research table in the Magic Box. The others
were already there unfortunately. News of the
two fires having spread through the small town.

" Thank god, you're okay. When I heard about
your parents, I thought... " Xander choked.

" I'm fine, Xander. A little extra crispy,
but nothing serious. " She smiled.

" Not funny. " Buffy scolded, hugging her
tightly.

" Easy with the goods. They had to redo the
stitches, and I'm sore to all heck. "

" Right, and we're back to the grounding
issue. " Buffy joked.

" I second the motion. " Xander raised his
hand.

" Careful, Xanman. " Willow waggled her scorched
eyebrows. " I have over fifteen years worth of
blackmail material stored away, with pictures and
handwritten evidence. "

" You wouldn't! " He paled.

" Aquaman underoos. " She said. " Pictures
included, Mr. Motion. "

" You would! " He yelped like a little girl. " I
vote no grounding! "

" Wait, you have blackmail, and you never shared? "
Buffy pouted.

" Hey! Why do you get to blackmail my fiance and
I don't? " Anya demanded.

" If I shared it wouldn't do much good as
blackmail. " She pointed out.

" Good point. " Buffy nodded.

" Anya, you have to get material from him to
blackmail him with. You're a very smart, twelve
hundred year old ex-demon. I'm sure you can come
up with something. " Willow went on.

" Don't give her idea's. " Xander protested.

" You're right, of course. " Anya agreed. " I'm
sure he's bound to make a fool of himself soon. "

A sharp whistle from the mighty cat hunter
destroyed Willow's attempt at distraction. Not
her best work, but a hit to her pride notherless.

" All of you sit down, and be silent! We have a
possible apocalypse hitting Sunnydale in less
than twenty four hours. " Tara voice cut sharply.

" What? " Dawn weakly laughed. " You're joking,
right? She's joking. "

" I wish I was, Dawnie, but I'm not. The good
news is, we don't know if it's an apocalypse yet
or not. "

" What do we know? " Buffy demanded.

Willow felt Tara's eyes land on her. Waiting.

" Will, if what you told me is true, then you
have to tell them. Sunnydale won't survive
otherwise. "

" Tell us what? " Xander asked.

Willow stood up and slowly paced away from the
table, turned so she wouldn't have to look at
the disgust when they learned the truth. When
they abandoned her to her lonely fate once more.

" My name isn't Willow Rosenberg. I was born the
Cheshire Cat. "

" No offence, Will but you're not a cat, and
you're not a guy. " Xander pointed out.

" I have a limited shapeshifting ability. I can
take three forms. Cat, human, and hybrid. " She
leaned against the counter, hands flat.

" But the guy thing? " Xander questioned.

" I was never a guy, Xander. Everyone just thought
I was cause my voice in cat form is all masculine.
It has to do with the voicebox in felines. " Willow
laughed loudly in memory.

" What's the joke? " Buffy asked.

She risked turning to her friends. They seemed
okay so far. Just really curious, and hurt by her
secrets.

" I hated my voice when I was a young kitten.
Everyone kept thinking I was a guy, like Xander
High School. " She couldn't help but tease. " But
when I was a teenager, I visited the Queen of
Heart's castle with Hatter... "

" Wait, hold up, Hatter? You mean, the honest to
goodness, Mad Hatter? " Xander demanded

" Yeah. Anyway, I was in human form. While Hatter
was distracting the Queen... "

" I.E. trying to keep his head. " Buffy snorted.

" I decided to explore the castle... "

" Breaking, entering, and sneaking around. "
Anya supplied.

" Shows what you know. " Willow sniffed. " Why
would I break in when I can simply teleport? "

" Oh, I didn't know you could teleport. " Anya
blinked.

" Yep. Teleport, shapeshift, invisibility, and
magic. "

" Cool. " Dawn wiggled. " So you were saying. "

" I was examining various magical artifacts I'd
located... "

" Stole. " Xander smirked.

" Hmph. Anyway, Jack of Hearts found me. Let me
tell you, if ever there was a cad, a cad he was.
Took one look at me and he was on bended knee. All
flowery words, false flattery, and trying to
bribe me with expensive gifts. In love with my
looks, no care for me, the person. " Her cheeks
puffed out with narrowed eyes just remembering
the right bloody rogue.

" 'Course I put my foot in his squishy bits, but
the fool took it as me playing hard to get. Chased
me all over the castle. Cornering me every chance
he could. He was desperate to force me into his
bed. He actually called the guards in at the end. "

" Wait, if you can teleport, why didn't you just
pop out of there? " Dawn asked.

" Where would the fun be in that? " Willow gasped.
" I lead Jack on a merry chase. I had him hanging
by his ankles over the side of the castle at one
point. Tripped him into an empty suit of armor
which start a domino effect. Two hundred fifty
nine suits in all. "

Xander snickered.

" Why, I pants the man in front of the Queen of
Hearts herself. Invisible though. Even I'm not
insane enough to try it while visible. " She
proclaimed. " Had her screaming her head off. "

" But the pierre de resistance was my disappering
from the castle. "

" I don't get it. " Buffy frowned.

" Simple. Jack was a womanizer. He was like
Parker. Bed 'em and leave 'em. I got away from
him, so he became obsessed with the one who got
away. " She explained. " I would show up in the
castle randomly, making sure only Jack would
see me, and lead him on a short chase. Sometimes
I would appear in the nearby woods where he could
see me, or start a rumor about me being spotted
somewhere else. Jack would always come running. "

Anya burst into hysterical giggles. The vengeance
demon getting it.

" Oh, oh. " Buffy's eyes widened with a satisfied
grin, obviously imaging Parker in Jack's shoes.

" After my experience with ol' Jack I never
complained about my voice again. Let me tell you
being mistaken for a guy is a blessing at times.
Plus, I had quite the time dropping riddles on
Jackie boy. " Her eye's gleamed. " But the joke
was, everyone, but Jack and the Queen knew the
truth, and they never told them. "

" Brillant. " Anya praised.

" That's great and all, but what does it have
to do with the apocalypse? " Buffy wiped some
tears of laughter away.

' Another distraction lost. '

" Nothing. I'm just... "

" ...stalling. " Xander piped up.

" I'm from a dimension named Wonderland. Before
1867, it was a Haven for Earth mortal's in need
of healing, but now it is one of the lowest
level Hell dimension's. The character's you've
read about have all been transformed into
pureblood demons which make the mayor seem like
a teddy bear. I'm talking the ancient beginning of
the world demons Giles used to always lecture us
about. "

" When you say every character...? " Buffy hedged.

" Including me. " She admitted freely. " At least
mostly. The God who created Wonderland gave me a
set of magical protections so I couldn't be
corrupted. So my mind a-and magic remained pure,
but my body... "

She hesitated, but she needed them to understand.
If she had to tell them the truth, then they had
to be ready to retreat to LA at a moments notice.
Even if it meant Buffy felt it was her duty to
slay her. Even if it meant giving her friends more
nightmares.

Willow shrank into her cat form.

" Great googly moogly, it's a mutant gremlin! "
Xander chair flipped over, the boy scrambling
backwards rapidly for a weapon.

Dawn was on the table, darting across it, and up
the stairs to the loft clutching a large glass
bottle in seconds. The tall teen found the
darkest corner and scrambed up the bookcase,
somehow tucking her bodying on top of it.

Anya screeched out, batting her chair at Willow,
then dived for her favorite Mace. The ex-demon
continued through to the training room. The
bottle blonde forsaking her precious money, to
save herself.

" Jesus! " Buffy recoiled, catching the axe
Anya threw her. The Slayer backed away. Eyes
darting away, and then back, as though she
couldn't stand the sight of Willow.

Willow flinched at her families reactions. She
had known they'd do this. Why wouldn't they? It
had taken her a good year to be able to look in
a mirror longer than a minute at a time.

She slowly, painfully, sprawled on the floor. The
furless tail tucked close. The little tuff of hair
at the end brushing against her skin.

Her head lowered onto the floor, and she let out
a long, sad mewl. Her manical grin gone.

" I used to have such beautiful red fur. Brillant
red, it would shimmer in the sun, and it was so
soft and short. You almost couldn't feel it. Clean,
fresh, with a hint of honeysuckle. " She rumbled
pitifully, ears falling sadly.

" Now look at me. I'm like something out of a
slasher movie, o-or those stupid gory horror
movie's. " She rolled her eyes up to Buffy.
" Make it fast, I won't stop you. "

" What about me? Don't you think I hava say in
this? " Tara asked, sitting down by her.

" Buffy slayer. Slayer slays demons. Willow
demon. " Willow prounced slowly.

" Buffy slays bad demons. Willow good demon. "
Buffy shook her head. " Okay, I really need
to stop the Cave Slayer impression. Look, Will,
you may look all... "

" ...Nightmare in Wonderland? " Xander suggested
appearing hesitantly, armed with a sword.

" Yeah, but I can see you in there...
I think. "

" Way to inspire confidince there, Buffster. "
Xander sat his sword on the table. " Willow,
Buffy may not be sure, but I can see you. It's
hard not to. "

" He's right, sweetie. Your eye's give you
away. " Tara confirmed, placing her hand on
her head, tendery rubbing her ears.

Dawn and Anya came out of hiding. The two
eyeing Willow with caution. Though both were
recovering fast. Being a teenager and ex-demon
resectively. They were rather hard to keep
down long.

" Actually you're rather awesome looking. "
Dawn spoke up. At everyone's silent looks,
she quickly tried to explain. " In a Gothic,
Punk sort of fashion. "

" No more Hot Topics for you, young lady. "
Xander wagged a finger.

" Guys, apocalypse. " Buffy put her axe by
the sword.

Willow shifted back to human form, shuffling
back to the table with Tara, and sat with the
others.

" No more dramatic's Will, explain. " Tara
scolded.

" Fine. " Willow pouted. " Alice is the Queen
of Heart's and she's going to be here soon.
She may or may not destroy the world. "

" Will! " Tara slammed her hand on the table.

" You said to explain. " She innocently blinked.

" For the love of... " Tara pinched the bridge
of her nose.

" Um, I thought Alice was from Earth. " Buffy
forehead wrinkled in confusion.

" She is. " Willow nodded sagely.

" And the Queen is from Wonderland? " Dawn piped
in.

" Uh-huh. " Willow bobbed her head.

" Then how in the name of all that's holy is
Alice the Queen? " Xander inquired.

" Easy. She overthrew the Queen. "

" Of course, how silly of me. " Xander rolled
his eyes. " What I don't get is why? Or better
yet, what does it have to do with the world
ending? "

" Simple. Alice went 'round the bend. Not in the
good wholesome Wonderlandish way either, but in
the manical, serial killer type of way. " Willow
lazily said, delibrately being difficult.
" Problem is she'd mentally and physically linked
to Wonderland so she took us with her. Hence, Hell
dimension. "

She couldn't help the attitude. It was Tara's fault.
The blonde had beat her at her own game. The wiccan
had proven herself to be Willow's equal. As a mate,
as a magical user, and as an intellect.

So now her pride as the Cheshire cat was making
her push Tara. To see where the boundaries were.
To see what the blonde was capable of. To see how
she would react. How she would handle herself.
Whether it was a one time occurance, or if she
was truly capable.

" How strong is she? " Buffy finally asked.

" Glory. " Willow bluntly stated. " Her army
of Cards are at Adam's level, and the others,
such as Hatter, are somewhere in between. "

" Oh god. " Dawn paled.

" I didn't touch Dinah when she killed my
parents. She got back safe. I made sure of
it. So Alice should be in a relatively good
mood. " Willow went on.

" Isn't Dinah Alice's pet cat in the books? "
Tara finally spoke.

" Yeah, still is, but in addition she's also
her personal assassin. Specializing in fires.
She's a pyromanic and with very strong magic. "
Willow shivered, dropping her attitude.

" Dinah know's who I am, human form or not. She
is smart, high ranking, and is aware her owner
has been searching for me since I ran away. No
doubt she reported me the minute she returned. "

" Alice is impatient so she will want to leave
the instant she can. If she's in an extremely
good mood, and nothing interefer's with her
coming here, she'll come alone. I should be able
to contain the situation if that happens. "

" If she's really so strong, how can you
stop her? " Buffy asked.

" Not stop, contain. " She corrected. "I'm not
completely sure of the situation. However, Alice
had me knighted after I ran. She also kept me as
Royal Advisor. "

" Wait, how could you possibly know this? "
Xander wanted to know.

" Rack wasn't just any demon. He was a Deuce of
Hearts. He had more information, but Wonderland
magic is weird so I couldn't risk letting him live
long enough to get it. "

" Fine, so how are you going to contain it? "
Buffy demanded.

" Alice is after me. I'm her primary goal, and
hopefully, her only goal. " Willow frowned.
" My main fear is the Hellmouth. Whatever happens
she can't find out about it. "

" No one will say a word, right? " Buffy sharply
eyed the group.

" Right. " Everyone nodded.

" Good, cause you don't want to know what she
would do if she ever got hold of it. " Willow
swallowed a lump of fear. " Alice is very...
creative. "

" What about you? " Tara questioned. " You
said your Alice's goal. "

" Yeah, but I don't know what kind of goal. "
She admitted. " The Deuce said she wanted me
returned, not retrieved. Dinah didn't attack me.
Yet, I've been working on ways to set Wonderland
right. "

" So why isn't Alice treating you like an enemy? "
Xander asked the question.

The question remained in the air for a long
moment. There was no answer she could give him.
She had nothing to tell him. She had been away
from Wonderland too long.

" There is a few things. If it comes to it.
Wonderlander's are immortal, and Earth weapons
don't work against them. Should Alice bring an
army with her, just keep them off my back long
enough to let me kill Alice. "

" What good will that do? Are you planning on
overthrowing her as Queen? Is this some evil
scheme to take over the world? You're going to
send the demon rabbit after me, aren't you? "
Anya panicked.

" Anya, Alice is linked to Wonderland, remember?
If she dies so does Wonderland. " Willow reassured.

" Oh, I get it. " Dawn perked up. " So you kill
her and her army goes kamplooey. "

" Exactly. No Alice, No Wonderland, No inhabitants. "
Willow beamed at the teen.

" What about you? " Tara quietly inquired.

" What? " Willow blinked.

" What happens to you? " Tara intently eyed her.
" You're from Wonderland, so what happens to you. "

" I die. " Willow smiled in a carefree manner.

" No. " Buffy stood up like the general she was.

" Buffy... " She tried.

" Don't sit there acting all selfsacrificy on me
Will! " Buffy exploded. " I won't lose you to
this thing. We'll figure out some other way.
Beside's you said yourself, we not sure if she
will bring an army with her. "

" But if she does... "

" I don't want to hear it! " Buffy cut her off.

" Damn it, Buffy! " Willow yelled at her best
friend, standing to meet her head on. " Will you
shut up?! I'm an immortal cat, who's been alive
as long as the Earth has stood. It's been a lonely,
neverending exsistance. Worth far less than of
your's. "

" You're wrong. " Xander stopped her. " You're
our family, and in case you didn't notice, that
makes you worth quite a lot in my book. "

" We will figure this out, Willow. Just give us
a chance. Please? " Tara begged.

She felt herself crumbling under the combined
attacks of the Scoobies. It really wasn't fair.
Several millinium of lonliness had left her
vulnerable to the whole family thing.

" Fine, I'll wait. For now. " She agreed. " But
when we get home I'm raiding my emergency potion
supply. I won't risk having to fight Alice
injuried. "

" Potion's? " Anya appeared with a gleam.

" Wonderland potions. We have one for healing,
almost instant magic recharging, deaging, aging,
growth, shrinkage, etc. " Willow explained.

" How would you like to sell a line of potions
here? At the Magic Box? I'll give you twenty
percent? " Anya rubbed her hands together.

" While I appreciate the offer. " Willow dubiously
stepped away from the extremely excited woman now
on the verge of cackling. " I'm going to have to
go with a resounding no. "

" Thirty percent. " Anya grabbed her.

" An... " Xander reluctantly tried to pry her
off.

" Anya, I can't. The ingridients come from
Wonderland. To get them I have to sneak in to
the other dimension and harvest them. It's not
easy, or safe. Everytime I go there I have to
fight, and last time, I got into a major
battle. " Willow reasoned.

" 'Course that's not including how difficult
the brewing is, or time it takes to make them.
The easyest one has twenty steps to it, and
brews for a month. "

" Okay, forty percent, but not a penny more. "
Anya haggled.

Willow groaned in frustration. " Anya, I have
five potions left. Five, no more. I'll need
them for whatever Alice has planned, and there's
no way I'll be able to harvest more ingridients
for a long time. So just drop it, okay? "

" Well, for now, at least. " Anya agreed, releasing
the red head.

" If the floor shows over, I'm going to call Giles. "
Buffy announced.

" What? Why? " Willow squeaked.

" Because we're in over our heads. " Buffy picked up
the phone.

" No we're not. We're fine. " Willow disagreed.

" When we start comparing the bad guy to Glory,
and talking about sacrificing one of the Scoobies,
then I say we're over our heads. " Buffy dialed.

" Tara, tell her, we haven't researched yet. We
have to at least research before calling Gile's.
It's... It's sacriliage... and aren't we mad at
him for running away. He abandoned us in our time
of need. So hang up the phone, missy, in fact,
slam it down on him! " Willow babbled.

" Giles, it's Buffy... No, we're not fine...
The Rosenberg's are dead... Possible Glory sized
apocalypse... You wouldn't believe me if I told
you... Uh-huh... Waaaay over our heads... Less
than a day if that much... Uh-huh... " Buffy
twisted at the phone cord. " I suggest grabbing
everything the Council has on Wonderland, and
getting back here yesterday... Yep you heard
right, Wonderland. As in Alice in Wonderland. "

Everyone could hear the thump of the dropped phone,
and the string of Dear Lords.

" No I'm not joking... Willow can explain everything
when you get here... Uh-huh... Uh-huh... Right...
Got it... See you in a minute... " Buffy hung up
with a strangely bemused expression.

To Be Continued