Kitchen, The Summers residence, 1805hours.

Tara had been quietly holding on to Willow's waist and brought the red head closer to her until her back was squeezed gently against the blonde's body. Tara watched as Willow put down the phone on the island, before she put her head on Willow's shoulder, and the redhead put her head on the blonde's head. It was true that she was surprised by what had happened in the living room when she saw the bleeding, older Willow… the one her Willow had called Captain… 'or was it Major' she thought to herself. Either way, this was something that she never expected from someone she was starting to have deep feelings for, but it wasn't something that was bad. Tara sensed that whatever had happened to Willow, whatever had happened for her to give up magic had something to do with the other Willow. And as if she was reading Tara's mind, Willow sighed and turned around to face the blonde.. her hands still around her waist.

"Something happened to me Tara" said Willow softly while she kept on hearing the others trying to convince Joyce to tell them what was going on. Willow heard the older blonde woman tell Buffy and the others that it was Willow's story to tell, and they should wait for her… and support her no matter what. Willow heard Buffy and Xander say something before Joyce interjected, telling the both of them in unequivocal terms that they had to sit down and be patient.

"You told me" said Tara as Willow looked back at the blonde witch, after she had glanced at what was happening in the living room, "something happened that made you stop magic, you said that you met someone who showed you what it was like living a life without magic."

"Yea" said Willow softly.

"Was it her?" asked Tara as she nodded at the living room.

"Yea" said Willow, "she made me see that I could have a future out of Sunnydale, away from the Hellmouth, away from magic."

"Because that's what you feared?" asked Tara, "whether you'd have a future outside Sunnydale?"

"Yea" said Willow with a smile, "you know me so well."

"You don't have to tell us, you know" said Tara.

"I called the man who I hope will be my future Commanding Officer, he said I tell part of the whole story" said Willow, "Tara, if I do this.. there'll be a lot of secrets I'll have to keep from you. Are you alright with that?"

"Are they secrets that absolutely have to be kept?" asked Tara quietly.

"Yea" said Willow, "I'll understand if that's a deal breaker between us and…."

"Hey" said Tara as she caressed Willow's cheek, "I understand, I'm ok with it…. I… I care about you and I… I just want you to be sure that this is what you want to do."

"It's kinda unbelievable" said Willow.

"I just saw your ghostly bleeding and swollen duplicate" said Tara with a smirk, "how bad can it be."

"Oh" said Willow, "it's a real doozy all right."

"'Sides" smirked Tara, "the older you in an uniform was kind of hot."

"Hey!" yelped Willow as Tara pinched her waist before she whispered into the blonde's ear, "wait till tonight, I'll get you for that."

"Oh you better" grinned Tara, "you ready?"

"Yeah" said Willow as she held Tara's hand and walked into the living room to face everyone.

Living Room, the Summers Residence, 1910 hours.

Joyce was seated on the sofa in uncomfortable silence as Giles sat on a chair with his hands together, playing with his thumbs, Anya was circling around the area where the other Willow had been earlier, Xander was looking out the window with is face reflecting a look of uncertainty that was eating away at him, while Buffy was leaning against the fireplace rubbing her temples trying to make sense of what just happened.

"Mom" said Buffy, "that was Willow… Willow.. she looked horrible… she…."

"Buffy" said Joyce, "I've told you before, this is Willow's story to tell."

"Joyce" said Giles as he looked up at Joyce, "what just happened… I know there wasn't a spell…. I know I didn't do a spell and Willow hasn't been using magic for over two months now. But whoever, is using magic… it's pretty powerful to come up with something like that."

"She was from another reality" said Anya nodding her head as Xander turned around to face them, "I know that much. I could see it in her eyes… but there was something else as well... something you see in someone who's known battle. It's the same with Buffy, but…"

"But?" asked Buffy as she looked up at Anya.

"It's like she's been through hell" said Anya as she shrugged her shoulders, "at least that's what I could tell. NO idea about what she was talking about though. Ori? I mean, what the heck is that? But I don't think that was a spell."

"Anya" said Xander, "Giles is right, you didn't do a spell…. Remember the vampire Willow, she came here because of a spell you and Willow did. I agree that maybe someone in town is trying to play us… and I say we go after them. Buffy?"

"We don't know where to start" said Buffy, "unless Willow gives us something to go on, it could be another witch who sensed that Willow's not using her magics, maybe she or he, thinks that they can come after her with that trick."

"It's none of that" said Willow who walked into the living room hand-in-hand with Tara and looked at everyone, "it wasn't another witch, or anything supernatural… that was really me from an alternate reality."

"Willow" said Giles as he stood up, "that's not possible, travel between realities is not only dangerous.. but without the right magic in place, impossible. You of all people should know that."

"That's what I thought at first too" said Willow, "but it's not, Giles. Nothing's impossible, you taught me that."

"Did you talk to Colonel O'Neill?" asked Joyce, and smiled when Willow nodded her head, "maybe you should start?"

"About two and a half months ago" said Willow as she looked at Tara who squeezed her hand, and then looked at the others, "I was nearly kidnapped by a secret organization that experimented on demons, vampires and monsters."

"You mean the Initiative?" asked Giles, "the ones that Spike…. The now neutered Spike was talking about?"

"Yes" said Willow, "they tried to kidnap me after class, Riley was the one sent to do it by Walsh because he was closer to me.. and that I trusted him. But he didn't succeed; I was rescued by a team from the Air Force, one of whom was me from an alternate reality."

"Willow" said Giles as everyone, even Tara looked on surprised, "that's not possible."

"She used an alien device" said Willow, "and…."

"Wait" said Xander, "alien? Seriously? Look Will, you know how much I wish that aliens were real… that Roswell really happened, or that one day I get anally probed…"

At that, Xander found that everyone was looking at him and he stepped back, "forget the last part.. but still, Will."

"She's right" said Joyce as everyone looked at her, "I should know."

"Mom?" asked Buffy, "what are you talking about?"

"Colonel O'Neill told me what happened after Willow's counterpart and the other Air Force officers took down the Initiative" said Joyce, "but before that, he told me that a total of three people came through the device."

"They called it a Quantum Mirror" said Willow as she looked at Tara, "a piece of highly advanced alien technology. My duplicate…. Major Willow, described it as a window into other realities… you touch the glass, and you're transported there immediately. I've read about the multiverse theory, and this technology…. It proves that theory. Can you imagine, billions.. or even more realities out there. All because of a piece of alien tech."

"Willow" said Giles, "aliens? You know how that sounds?"

"Demons? Vampires? Monsters? Slayers? Hellmouths? Witches?" said Willow as she looked at Giles, "if they exist Giles, how can you say that there aren't aliens out there?"

"Willow" said Anya softly as she touched the redhead's arm, "the one we just saw was older than you, I could tell."

"It's something to do with quantum theory" said Willow, "not every reality runs at the same speed, this one is slower than hers…. Basically this reality is her past. She told me another one where she went to a future reality where…"

"Willow?" asked Tara.

"Where a me from that reality travelled to her reality through a quantum mirror to kill her" said Willow as everyone looked on shocked, including Joyce.

"Willow" said Joyce, "you never told me that."

"The other me never joined the Air Force" said Willow as she avoided looking at Tara, "she blamed the Major for someone she loved dying."

"But she didn't succeed" said Giles.

"No" said Willow as she stared at an angry Buffy, "Buffy actually brushed past the Major."

"No I didn't" said Buffy, "I would have know that it was you."

"She was wearing a holographic disguise" said Willow, "remember that younger guy who came in with the older guy? The class a few days before Thanksgiving? Before the now neutered Spike 'joined' us, kept talking about commando's and some girl beating him up?"

"Oh" said Buffy, "but…."

"The reason they came after me" said Willow, "was because someone else had come through the Mirror earlier. Remember Spike told us that someone had beaten him."

"Yeah" said Buffy.

"She came here first" said Willow, "the alternate version of me came after her, to rescue her. Walsh and the other Initiative members saw her use her powers."

"Po… powers?" asked Tara, "I.. I thought you said she didn't use magic?"

"She didn't" said Willow as she looked at Tara, "she said that her abilities are genetic, and that she hasn't used magic for a long time. At first I was angry at her for leaving everyone in her reality, I wasn't sure why she'd do it… then she explained everything to me.. that she wanted to live her own life. She looked happy.. she loved what she was doing and…. and I wanted that…"

"Look" said Buffy, "Will, this is all a nice story and all but…"

"Willow" said Giles as he walked up to the redhead after he interjected Buffy, "if I had known about this earlier… look are you sure you're not doing this… I mean going to the Air Force for some other reason?"

"I thought you supported me?" asked Willow as she looked at Giles.

'I do" said Giles as he shook his head before taking off his glasses, "I mean, are you doing this for the right reasons? Are you doing this just to leave Sunnydale and live someone else's life?"

"Tell him what she showed you, Willow" said Joyce.

"What did she show you?" asked Giles confused.

"We were in the basement just talking" said Willow excitedly, "I asked her to tell me more about herself. Instead of talking, she put her hands on my head and showed me. Giles, she's a telepath… I lived her experiences. My God Giles, ships… she flew in ships.. planes.. some of the most advanced fighters the Earth has built.. and the battles, I felt her rush.. the excitement, even the heartbreak. But nothing beat her getting hands on new technology, Earth built or alien. It was awesome, Giles.. she worked hard to get where she is.. and I want to do the same too. This isn't about her Giles, she showed me what my potential could be… what I could become.. and I want that. I want to achieve what I'm capable of and I can't do that here, I can't do that in Sunnydale."

"But Will" said Xander, "you're still living someone else's life. It's not what you want to do, you know it's not."

"Xander" said Willow as she started to fight back tears, "how can you say that? You don't think I of all people deserve something different? Something more?"

"How about me, Will?" said Buffy as she stepped forward, "you think I don't want to get out of here and do something with my life? Why is it that you get to leave? Everyone's 'oh look, Willow had to get out because she has a future outside Sunnydale… yaaaay!' But what about me? I'm stuck here at the goddamn Hellmouth because some crappy destiny crap says that I'm the Slayer. Why do you get to go?"

"Buffy" said Joyce as she looked at her daughter, "enough."

"No, mom" said Buffy as she started to tear up, "this is bull and you know it. She would never be leaving if that other Willow never came here, she would still be here… still being at my side, and…."

"That's what this is about?" asked Willow, "you're upset because I'm trying to make a new life for myself? You're upset because I'm not going to be your sidekick anymore… cause let's admit that… I'm Buffy's sidekick… yaaay… I do all the 'Oracle' bits while you be Batman…. Is that what you're saying? That I'm better in research mode? That I've got no business doing anything else? That I have no right, to pursue a dream?"

"But you wouldn't have had this so called dream if she didn't come here!" shouted Buffy to the surprise of everyone, especially Joyce and Giles.

"You had a chance to leave!" shouted Willow as Tara looked on in surprise, "you had a chance to quit being the Slayer, there was Kendra… there was Faith… but nooooo, you had to continue, you had to be the Slayer. You had your chance to go to, where was it? Northwestern? But you didn't go… I stayed here for you… FOR YOU! and now that I want to leave, you're saying it's my fault? It's my counterpart's fault."

"Buffy… Willow" said Giles sternly, "that's enough."

"Buffy" said Joyce as she walked to her daughter, "the both of you have been best friends since we moved to Sunnydale, please don't say anything that the both of you would regret."

"Will" said Xander as he glanced at Buffy who was heading back to the fireplace mad, "we're just worried about you."

"I… I think we sho… should let Willow decide" said Tara as she gave a small smile to everyone.

"Tara" said Buffy as she looked at the blonde girl and held up her hands, "please, keep out of…."

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Buffy" said Willow as she pointed her finger at the Slayer, "don't you dare."

"Will" said a suddenly surprised Buffy.

"All I asked for was support from you" said Willow as she pointed at Buffy, "my best friend, or at least someone I thought was my best friend… and Xander, who's supposedly my oldest friend."

"Will" said Xander, "I…."

"I… I'm leaving tomorrow" said Willow as she looked at Joyce who gave the redhead a small smile, "I was hoping tonight would be something that I could remember you all by, and it certainly has."

"Will" said Xander as he walked towards Willow and placed a hand on her shoulder. He was surprised though when she pulled back and Tara stood next to her protectively.

"Xander, Buffy" said Willow as she looked at her oldest fiend and the blonde Slayer, "I hope that eventually you support me, but I'm not changing my resolve to join the Air Force because you have no faith in me."

"It's not that, Willow" said Xander, "we're just…."

"Giles" said Willow as she ignored what Xander wanted to say, "thanks for your support from the very beginning, but please don't let this stuff about alien technology go to the Watcher's Council. This is none of their business or any of their concern."

"But if you need anything" said Giles as he walked over to Willow and hugged her, "you call me or Mrs. Summers."

"I will" said Willow as she kissed Giles' cheek, "thank you so much."

"We just want you to be careful" said Giles as Willow hugged him tightly before she nodded and stepped back before wiping a tear that went down her face.

"Anya" said Willow as she turned to, and tightly hugged, a very surprised vengeance demon, "I know we haven't seen eye to eye on a lot of things. But thanks… for supporting me."

"I'll make sure, Xander comes around" said Anya, "I'll probably have to withhold the sex and the spanking but it will happen."

"Too much information" said Willow as she smiled at Anya before turning to Tara and holding her hand tightly.

"Mrs. Summers" said Willow as she smiled at Tara before turning to face Buffy's mother, "I'll understand if you decide not to come with me tomorrow. I don't want to make it awkward for you, I just want to thank you for looking after me… you know, after that incident. I know you set a place for us at the table, but I think Tara and I should get home. I have an early morning."

"Willow, stay" said Joyce as she walked toward the redhead and looked at Buffy, "the both of you are best friends, disagreements like this will happen and it'll pass. Once day, when you're much older, the both of you will laugh at tonight's events."

"And it's after dark, Willow" said Giles, "stay for dinner, and I'll drive you, and Tara to the dorms… and Xander and Anya to Xander's house."

"Th.. That would be best, Willow" said Tara.

"Alright" said Willow as she nodded her head.

The Summers Residence, 1950 hours.

It had been twenty minutes after that argument that left a dark cloud hanging in the living room. Willow and Tara had gone out to sit in the backyard while looking up at the stars. Joyce smiled when she overheard the redhead pointing out star constellations to the blonde girl. She had a view of the living room from where she was standing but couldn't find Buffy standing or sitting at the couch. Instead, she had earlier heard her running up the stairs and shutting her door, while Xander was talking to Anya. While Joyce was in the kitchen preparing the meal, she had noticed that Giles had walked in and started to help her take out some plates and cutlery.

"Giles" said Joyce as she closed her eyes and leaned over the roast with both arms on the island as she suddenly looked exhausted, "if Buffy attends the Air Force Academy, will Faith be able to take over for her?"

"Faith?" said surprised Giles, "she's in a coma."

"I know" said Joyce, "when she wakes up, can she take over for Buffy?"

"Joyce" said Giles, "what's bringing this on? Let's forget the fact that Faith is a danger to herself, and others… she's also a rogue slayer who murdered two people, and worked with the Mayor to bring about an apocalypse. Not only is she being closely monitored by the police who I have no doubt will arrest her if she wakes up, the Council is also watching her. If she wakes up, they'll take her to England and put her on trial."

"What do you know about Finch's murder? Or Professor Worth's?" asked Joyce as she looked at Giles.

"I…. " said Giles, "how do you know about…. Them?"

"The other Willow told me" said Joyce, "she said that Finch was an accident; and that the Professor's murder was ordered by the Mayor. Is any of that true?"

"Joyce, I…." said Giles as Joyce interrupted him.

"She told me that in her reality, she wanted Faith killed to save Angel" said Joyce, "is that true?"

"You don't understand" said Giles, "I'm sure that we would have prevented Angel from killing Faith, but at the time our situation was desperate."

"You were willing to go ahead and kill a human being?" asked Joyce as she shut her eyes tightly and looked down, "just like that?"

"We were trying to save the world" said Giles, "that's why Buffy got you out of Sunnydale, so that you wouldn't get caught in the crossfire."

"So Faith was a casualty of war?" asked Joyce as she looked up at Giles, anger evident in her eyes.

"It's not that simple" said Giles as he shook his head and took off his glasses, "why this sudden interest in Faith?"

"One of the people who came through the Quantum Mirror was an alternate version of Faith" said Joyce to Giles' surprise, "she and that Willow were together, as in that they were in a relationship… and it seemed that she had her head on straight while she saved our Willow's life."

"Joyce" said Giles as he put on his glasses while looking surprised.

"If Faith is so broken as you and this so called Watcher's Council claim" said Joyce, "then why did she prevent the alternate Willow from killing the man who aimed a gun at me? Willow was within her rights to kill him…. At least that's my opinion… but Faith prevented her."

"That's a different Faith" said Giles softly, "the circumstance here are different."

"Everything is the same" said Joyce, "she begged me Rupert, she begged me to watch over the version of her here. She said that she'll be broken.. that she'll do many bad things. That she needs someone to be there for her before any of that even happens. She needs someone to help her."

"Joyce" said Giles, "she's dangerous."

"I've been visiting her a few days a week for a few hours" said Joyce.

"I.. I know" said Giles as he rubbed his temples, "someone from the Council called and asked me why you were visiting her."

"I see" said Joyce as she stood up straight and looked at Giles, "tell your Council this… I will go visit Faith if and when I please. If they try to stop me in any way… and I mean, in any way… I will notify the Air Force. I will tell them exactly who Faith is, and what she can do. I will convince them to get her the help she needs because frankly, I don't trust the Council to look after her best interests."

"Joyce" said Giles, "I understand this is an emotional reaction to seeing a well adjusted Faith from another reality, but…."

"I will watch over her and Buffy" said Joyce, "if the Council even comes close, then I'll call the military…. If Faith happens to disappear, I'll call the military. If I have to, I will adopt Faith. Make no mistake Rupert, nothing is to happen to her. In fact, I'll be calling the Colonel in-charge of the operation that took down the Initiative and tell him about Faith. True, what I'll tell him is second hand information, but I'll convince our Faith to talk to him when she wakes up; to tell him the truth."

"Joyce" said Giles, "the Council….."

"I am not afraid of your Council" said Joyce, "if they even threaten me or Buffy, I'll notify the Air Force. If Faith dies while in the coma, I'll ask the Colonel to launch an investigation. He and I had a long talk, not about Slayers mind you… but I know what kind of a character he has."

"The Council is powerful, Joyce" said Giles, "please, just let it go. Faith is a lost cause, there's nothing you or I can do to help her. I agree that she needs help, but the Council is equipped for this. It's been like this for centuries, the Council is responsible for punishing Slayers if they're determined to have done something wrong."

"Really?" said Joyce, "what do you know of Faith's background?"

"What she told me and Buffy" said Giles, "she's from Boston, taken out of school, her watcher was killed in front of her, another watcher betrayed her…"

"And after all that" said Joyce, "did the Council give her any help in dealing with the consequences of what happened?"

"That's not the point" said Giles.

"That's precisely the point" said Joyce as she picked up the roasting dish and walked towards the dining room, "tell them Rupert, tell them what I told you. If she's moved, the Air Force will know… I'll make sure they know."

"Joyce…" said Giles as he watched the older blonde walk away.

"Please call Willow and Tara, Dinner's ready" said Joyce as she lay the dish on the dining table before heading to the living room and at the foot of the staircase, "Anya, Xander, Buffy! Dinner's ready."

"Coming" said Xander as he walked over into the dining room, only to see a stressed Giles turn around and head towards the backdoor, "Oh boy, this is gonna be one interesting dinner."

TBC.