Buffy didn't answer for a moment as they heard the rumbling that had been growing louder for the last several hours finally reach it's zenith just as one of the girls rushed back in, yelling, "They're here!"

"Everybody to your positions!" Buffy yelled into the room where the others were still gathered and they rushed past her, Xander pausing to toss flak jackets and helmets to Willow and Buffy before he joined his troops outside.

Willow dropped the armor, her eyes sliding closed as she murmured rapidly in Latin. There was a loud crash and the ground trembled.

"What was that?" Buffy asked, yelling to be heard over the sudden cheering and noise from outside. "What did you do?"

"Shield," Willow gasped, trying to catch her breath. "It should reflect any missiles or big stuff they shoot at us. But it'll keep our stuff in too, so don't let Xander shoot anything big inside the field."

"Can they get through it?" Buffy asked.

Willow nodded, grimacing. "They'll be forced to stick with close range, man to man fighting, but it should limit how much damage their tanks and planes can do. But they still have their guns," she reminded the Slayer.

The cheering outside had been replaced with yells and they could hear Xander loudly issuing orders. They both hurriedly put on their vests and helmets and collected two guns on their way out to join him.

"Xander! Don't use the secret weapon until the shield comes down!" Buffy ordered and Xander immediately relayed it into his walkie. "Willow bought us some time, we don't want to waste it."

Oz ducked behind the barrier they were crouched under and they all blinked in surprise to see a naked man following him. Buffy clapped a hand over Dawn's eyes, but the stranger paid them no attention, making no move to cover himself.

"This is Monroe. He's a wolf, like me," Oz said.

The other man scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm not a wolf like you. I don't hide what I am, try and make excuses for the animal that lives inside me…"

"Yeah, whatever, you're the big bad wolf, we get it," Buffy interrupted him. "What are you doing here?"

"He's here to help," Oz said. "He and his wolves are here to fight against Twilight with us."

Buffy nodded. "Welcome then."

Monroe nodded, phasing into his wolf form right in front of her before howling loudly and rushing into the battle, other wolves coming from all sides to join him. Oz followed him out to rejoin the fight.

Xander was anxiously watching. "Guys, this isn't going well. I don't think the shield is going to last too much longer."

Willow shook her head. "It's not. Get whatever you've got up your sleeve ready. I'll tell you when to use it."

He nodded, issuing instructions to his squad. They could see Andrew's pseudo magical efforts having an effect and Buffy jumped as she heard someone yell her name. She didn't have time to respond as they all heard the rumbling crack as Willow's shield finally broke and the tanks rolled into battle.

"Now!" Willow shouted, closing her eyes. Xander signaled his group and he could see them jump back in surprise as the torpedo they had had hidden suddenly appeared to duplicate, half a dozen of them rocketing into the air, falling in an arch toward the tanks while the real torpedo slid unnoticed down the hill toward the lead tank, gaining momentum on the icy slope. The vehicles adjusted their guns to shoot down the torpedoes, stunned when their shells shot through empty space.

It was too late to do anything when the real torpedo reached them. The explosion was massive, taking out several tanks and sending shrapnel flying in all directions. They all hit the ground; Buffy coving Dawn as much as she could while Xander covered Willow. Buffy jumped up as she dimly heard her name again through ringing ears. She noticed Oz waving frantically and she took off towards him.

"It's Bay. She's been hit," Oz said as the Slayer reached them. "Help me." She took the injured woman's feet and they lifted her together, hurrying back inside. Willow and Dawn followed them, the younger girl rushing off to get bandages while Willow put a hand over the deep belly wound as they put her down gently.

"I can't fix this, not all the way," she said, worried. "I'll do as much as I can," she assured Oz, seeing the heartbreak in his face and remembering all too well how it felt to watch the person you love die in your arms. He nodded tensely and she shut her eyes, reaching out with her power and resolving that what had happened to her would not happen to Oz.

She opened her eyes a short while later, relieved to the see that the wound had closed partially. However, Bay was still bleeding and she groaned in pain as Willow and Dawn did their best to clean her wound.

"The goddesses…" the injured woman moaned. "They promised….protection."

Willow frowned in confusion, leaning closer. "Goddesses? What goddesses?" She looked up at Buffy, seeing the same confusion in her friend's face. "Bay?" Willow tried to get her attention, shaking her as she tried to get the other woman conscious enough to explain.

Oz quickly pushed her back, cradling his wife's shoulders protectively. "You can't do that, Willow! My wife could be dying!"

"So could mine!" the redhead shot back vehemently, tears welling suddenly in her eyes as her fear rushed to the forefront of her mind. Buffy put a soothing hand on Willow's shoulder as they all stared at each other tensely.

"Oz, we need Bay's help here or we're all going to die. Bay, Tara, Kelden too," Buffy said quietly. "Willow needs whatever information Bay can give her. Please."

He sighed heavily after a long moment, leaning in close to his wife and gently shaking her awake, wincing at the groan that tore from her throat.

"What about the goddesses?" Willow asked. "How can we reach them?" Frowning in thought, she murmured to herself. "Tara said something about goddesses earlier, said she was fighting them..." Raising her voice. "Did Tara know about the goddesses?"

Dawn surprised everyone as she jumped to her feet and bolted into another room. "Tara was reading these," she announced as she raced back in, arms full of papers and books. She dropped it all on the floor and Buffy dropped to her knees to sort through the papers with her sister.

"It was just superstition," Oz said, frowning in thought. "The chants were traditional, not actual prayers."

Willow was thinking herself. "You know better than that, Oz. Every tradition has to start somewhere. If these goddesses really are real, that would explain how my power got taken so fast." She grimaced in realization, slapping a hand to her forehead. "And why Tara was struggling so much to get it back."

"What do you mean, Willow? Didn't you mediate too?" Buffy asked, confused.

The redhead nodded. "Yeah, but I was focusing on getting the connection back. They never actually took that away completely. I don't think they could because so much of it was between me and Tara, more than our normal magic."

"Anger…" Bay moaned, voice barely audible. "Anger will reach them…" She fainted in Oz's arms and Dawn carefully finished dressing her wound.

Willow shot to her feet, eyes wide and furious, and Buffy looked up at her quickly, grabbing her hand. "Willow, wait. I know you're angry, I am too." She stood up next to her best friend. "But maybe I should talk to them. I don't think you're up to slaying another god right now."

Willow shot her a look. "Like you are?" she demanded.

Buffy shook her head. "No, I'm not, but I didn't just find out that my wife has been hurt by these people. I'm a little bit more rational right now, that's all."

Willow's eyes closed slowly under her friend's concerned gaze and she nodded. Opening them again, she looked at Oz. "Is there somewhere safe we can move her to? I want to take Tara there too. Where's Kelden?" He nodded without speaking and Willow stepped over to lift Bay's legs, helping Oz lift her. "I'll follow you," she said, eyes swimming with fear and anger.

They took Bay to a deep cellar dug into the side of the mountain where the monks had hidden the young children of the monastery, Kelden among them. They helped Oz make a pallet to lay Bay on, one of them stepping forward to check her bandages.

"Can you help?" Oz asked him. "There are more wounded." The monk nodded and Oz clapped him on the shoulder. "Thank you." He turned to look at Willow. "Let's go get Tara." He eyed her cautiously. "Maybe you should sit down here with her for a while when we get back. You're looking kind of wiped," he suggested.

She waved away his concern. "I don't have time to rest. People are dying out there. I'm the only one who can do something."

He nodded. "Maybe, but you can't do anything if you're unconscious."

She just took a deep breath, leading the way back up to the surface. She started running as she realized suddenly that Tara's voice was coming through the walkie in her pocket, the transmission filled with static, their underground location disrupting the reception. Oz was surprised and stayed several paces behind her, unable to catch up with her frenzied pace. She burst into her room, seeing Tara sitting up in the bed. Willow looked around the room in a rush, making sure there was no one else there. Oz appeared in the doorway a heartbeat later, breathing hard.

"Tara, are you okay?" Willow asked as she hurried to the bed. Her hands pressed against her wife's forehead, immediately relieved that the fever appeared to have gone down. "Oz, get her some water," the redhead ordered, smiling gratefully at him as he brought her the glass.

"Willow," Tara breathed, staring at her wife as if she'd never seen her as she dropped the walkie she'd been using.

Willow frowned in confusion, nodding. "It's me. I'm right here. How are you feeling?" she asked as she pressed the glass into the blonde's hand.

Tara shook her head to clear it, taking a long drink from the glass. "I feel weak, but I'm getting better I think."

Willow's head dropped onto Tara's shoulder suddenly, relief washing over her. "Tara, you scared me half to death, baby."

"I'm sorry, Willow. For earlier. I didn't mean to make you get upset like that. I was just trying to help you," Tara said quietly, closing her eyes and leaning her head against Willow's.

Willow nodded against her and Tara could feel her take a deep breath, releasing it slowly. "I know that, Tara." She pulled back to look her wife in the face seriously. "Just don't do it again. The only thing you're going to do for the rest of the day is focus on getting better." She looked distractedly over her shoulder to where Oz was waiting. "Buffy is trying to reach those goddesses that took our powers."

Tara flushed, realizing that Willow had figured out the details of what she'd done earlier. "Willow, I'm sorry, but…"

Willow interrupted her with a look, one hand coming up to cup Tara's cheek. "It's not you I'm mad at, love. Buffy went instead of me because she said she was the more rational one right now."

"Marvel at the thought," Oz commented dryly and both women looked over at him. "I'm glad you're awake, Tara. Willow's been freaking out." He smirked. "She took it out on some tanks though, so it's kind of been a good thing." Willow shot him a look and he quickly clarified. "Not a good thing that you're sick, just a good thing that Willow bombed some tanks."

"Sweetie, you fought plural tanks?" Tara asked, frowning and still scared despite the fact that she could see with her own eyes that Willow was okay.

Willow quickly shook her head. "It was Xander's torpedo! I just made it look like we had six of them and they were coming by air. Really we only had one and it was on land." Tara still looked concerned and Willow hastened to continue. "And I wasn't anywhere near it actually! I was behind the bunker and I had my vest and helmet on!" she said quickly, pointing at the armor. "And Xander covered me up when the explosion went off."

Tara sighed, pulling Willow into a tight hug. "I might have to kiss him," she commented, laughing as Willow shook her head firmly.

"Sorry. No matter how grateful you are, that's not happening. Tara-kisses are all mine," Willow said firmly, leaning in to get one. They kept it brief and Willow turned her head to look at Oz. "I'm sorry Oz, I'm sure you want to get back to Bay." She looked back at Tara. "Can you walk, baby? We need to get you down to the cellar." The blonde witch looked between the two of them, finally nodding. "Go ahead, Oz. We'll be down there soon." The werewolf nodded, rushing off without speaking.

Tara ran a hand over her lover's face, smiling in relief at seeing her whole and unharmed. "Honey, I don't know what you have in mind, but I'm not going to just hide in some cellar while you go back out and fight. I'm going wherever you are."

Willow shook her head fervently. "Tara, no! You may be feeling better, but there's no way you're well enough to be out fighting."

Tara met her eyes. "I'm with you, Willow. I can't just sit and wait in the dark and not know if you're going to come back to me."

"Our connection is back. You'll know I'm safe," Willow reasoned.

Tara shook her head. "That won't make it any easier. If something happened…"

Willow pulled her in tightly, pressing Tara's face to her shoulder. "No, baby, no. Nothing is going to happen to either of us. We're going to make it through this." Her hand slid into the back of Tara's hair, holding her wife tight against her. "Nothing will keep us apart, remember?"

"Nothing will take you away from me," Tara corrected her fiercely. "I mean to make sure of it, Willow. I won't lose you."

Willow's mind was racing as she held Tara. She knew the risks of letting Tara go into battle with her, but she also knew well her wife's stubborn streak. She finally pulled back with a heavy sigh. "Tara, I don't think I'll be able to force you to stay in the cellar without giving you more medicine, but I can't just let you go out like this." Tara opened her mouth to object and Willow shook her head to stop her. "The monks are going to need help tending the wounded though. Will you help them? Please baby, I've already made things worse for you by letting you go out in the blizzard. I can't let you go into the fight too."

Tara took a deep breath, finally nodding. "I'll stay in and help the wounded as long as you make sure that you're not one of them." Willow smiled and Tara couldn't stop herself from pulling her wife back into a tight hug. She grimaced against the heavy armor Willow was still wearing, knocking on the heavy plate that covered her wife's back with her knuckles. "You know baby, I'm glad you're wearing it, but this stuff can't be comfortable. It's so heavy!"

Willow's shoulders went minutely up and down. "I've kind of been running on adrenaline. I didn't notice it until I sat down and was still." Tara immediately sat up, hands reaching for the snaps to open the heavy vest but Willow stopped her gently. "I can't take it off yet." She glanced toward the door. "We actually should probably go out there." She paused, looking at her wife carefully. "If you're sure…"

Tara nodded quickly and Willow stood up, offering the blonde a hand. Tara kept a tight grip on it, steadying herself as she stood up. Willow waited as Tara pulled her boots back on and they held onto each other's hands as they left their room to rejoin the others.

Willow gave Tara a stern glance as they walked slowly. "I don't want to even imagine that I feel any of your power coming into me, Tara. I really want to keep holding your hand, so please don't make me drop it," she said firmly, squeezing her wife's fingers gently.

Tara sighed, smiling. "You know me too well." She hesitated. "But Willow, I can still help you."

Willow nodded. "And you will. But not that way." She looked across at Tara. "I need you to be able to defend yourself out here."

Tara leaned over to press a kiss to her temple. "I'll be fine. I promise."

"You'd better be," Willow said warningly as they reached the large central room just in time for the earth to rumble beneath their feet. Willow covered Tara with herself as dust rained down on them. The trembling didn't stop and Tara gently pushed Willow off, taking her hand to pull her towards the door. They both stopped and stared in amazement as they saw the three goddesses stomping their way through the enemy forces. The women were immense, each one twenty feet tall with three eyes.

Buffy was right outside and she turned as they came up behind her. She threw her arms around Tara as her stunned mind recognized her friend's presence. "I'm glad to see you up and about, Tara. You scared us."

Tara looked around. "So there are the goddesses," she said, still shocked. "And where are Xander and Dawn?"

Buffy shrugged, her anxiety obvious. They all stood in silence for several minutes, watching the released goddesses stomping across the battlefield. Finally Buffy blinked, nudging Willow with one arm and pointing at a overturned humvee that was lying nearby. "Do you think you can help me turn that over? I need to go out there," she said, gesturing out toward the field.

Willow frowned, nodding. "I can turn it over, but why do you want to get out there?" she asked, worried.

Buffy sighed, still watching the goddesses. "There's someone out there I've got to find." She looked at Willow. "It's important."

The witch concentrated for a second, the vehicle righting itself. "I'm coming with you," she said as Buffy climbed into the driver's seat, pulling herself into the passenger seat. Tara put a hand on Willow's shoulder and the redhead turned to look at her. "Tara, you have to stay here, baby, please. I have to know that you're safe."

Tara nodded silently, her hand moving to the back of Willow's neck, away from the firm armor that covered her shoulder so that she could feel her wife's skin under her fingers. "Come back to me."

Willow nodded firmly. "I will. I always will," she said softly, feeling Tara's hand on the back of her neck. She smiled as she felt the fingers gently pulling her in and leaned down from her seat to kiss Tara gently.

They pulled back slowly and Tara shivered uncontrollably in the cold air. Willow frowned as she saw it and pointed firmly at the temple door. Tara smiled and raised both hands in defeat. "I know, I know. You don't have to say it. I'm going back inside."

Willow nodded, smiling. "Thank you, love. Send some of the monks out to gather the wounded. You stay inside as much as you can. And stay bundled up." Buffy started the truck and started them moving, seeing Tara's smile. "And drink lots of water!" Willow called loudly as they vehicle moved away, gratified to see Tara moving back towards the temple entrance.

Buffy was driving as erratically as she ever did, slowing down only long enough to search faces in the scattered wounded. Willow held on tight to the side of the door, yelling to be heard over the noises of battle still going on around them. "Who are we looking for? I can help if I know who I'm looking for."

Buffy nodded. "Riley. We're looking for Riley."

"Riley? Riley Finn? Your ex-boyfriend?" Willow asked, surprised.

"That's the one," Buffy said. "We've been in touch. He's been spying on Twilight for us. I think it's about time we got an update."

Willow nodded, falling back in her seat as Buffy swerved to avoid getting stomped by one of the rampaging goddesses. The witch frowned up at the gigantic leg. "Wasn't that kind of close? Isn't she supposed to be looking out for us?"

Buffy slammed on brakes as the foot stomped just in front of them. The next step landed on several of Twilight's soldiers, narrowly missing several slayers. They looked at each other, realization on both of their faces. "They don't care who they kill. They're going for anyone who's moving." Willow said.

"We've got to get Riley and get out of here," Buffy said. "We have to get as many people as we can into the temple. Our people and their people. The goddesses aren't going to stop."

It took another few minutes before they found Riley, Buffy jumping out of the truck to help him up, pulling him into the back seat of the humvee. Willow climbed into the back to look at his wounds.

One of his hands was on his stomach and she gingerly moved it to look at the bleeding injury. He groaned, smiling up at her. "It's good to see you again, Willow. It's been a few years. What have you been up to?"

Willow smiled distractedly at him as Buffy floored the truck, grabbing onto the seat to keep her balance. "I activated the slayers, moved to Scotland, married Tara. How about you?"

"Traveling, spying on Twilight. You know, the usual," he responded, groaning again as the truck jostled. They pulled to a screeching halt in front of the temple and Buffy and Willow helped Riley out of the vehicle as several monks came out in a hurry to escort them in. Tara met Willow's worried eyes as the redhead immediately searched the room for her. She gave her a reassuring smile before going back to her work tending the wounded slayers.

"Are you okay? How are you feeling? Is your fever still down?" Willow couldn't stop herself from asking, forcing herself not to physically interrupt her wife's work.

Tara smiled as she continued to work. "I'm fine, baby. I've been meditating whenever I have a moment and I'm getting stronger. I'll tell you if something is wrong. Was that Riley you came in with?"

"He's been spying for us. He's hurt, but not too bad."

Willow finished patching him up and he and Buffy quickly moved back outside to issue retreat orders to their troops. They waved everyone they could find into the monastery, organizing less injured slayers to help any wounded they could find.

Willow hurried to join them, reluctant to leave Tara, but anxious to find Xander and Dawn. They each searched in different directions for hours, only the impending nightfall driving them to stop looking, and they were hiking back to the monastery together when Riley pulled them both down into the snow, kneeling and putting a cautionary hand to his mouth telling them to stay quiet.

There were military troops surrounding the monastery, several squads holding their guns on the slayers. They could see Xander and Dawn in the group of prisoners, as well as Oz and Bay, Kelden held tight in his father's arms. As they watched, Kennedy and Satsu came out, Tara in between them. The blonde witch had an arm around both slayers' shoulders, her head hanging and her feet dragging behind her. Kennedy had obviously fought back, her nose bloody and a bruise forming over one eye. Willow moved to go to her wife immediately, but Buffy and Riley grabbed her hurriedly.

"Will, you can't. They'll kill you," Buffy hissed, the blood rushing out of her face as she saw Warren and Amy walk out behind the slayers and unconscious witch. "Oh God," she groaned, looking anxiously at the witch.

"If he touches her, I'll kill him," Willow breathed, struggling against the tight grip her friends were keeping on her.

Buffy swallowed, glancing at Riley over her friend's head. "Willow, please. We have to wait for a better time." Willow glared at her fiercely and Buffy had a vivid flash of fighting against her best friend, her eyes black with rage and grief and magic. "If he touches her, I'm with you, I promise, but he doesn't know who she is, he has no reason to single her out," she said reassuringly. Willow nodded, her eyes returning to her wife immediately, worried and scared but still green.

They watched as the slayers gently laid Tara down, the other girls quickly clearing a space. Xander and Dawn pushed their way into the circle and checked on the witch. From where they were, they couldn't hear anything, but they could see the look of relief on Dawn's face as she took Tara's pulse and Willow forced herself to take a deep breath.

"Are you okay?" Buffy asked her quietly.

Willow blinked, still watching the scene and slowly letting out her breath. "No, but you can let me go. I'm not going to do anything stupid."

Riley waited for Buffy's nod before he released Willow's shoulder and arm from his grip. "So, what's the plan?" he asked, keeping his voice down.

"I'm going to kill Warren and Amy, and then we're killing Twilight and ending this," Willow said firmly.

Buffy nodded, pointing to the witch. "That's the plan."

Riley nodded, smiling bitterly. "I like it."

They watched as Faith was dragged from the temple, struggling and fighting against every step and it took four men to restrain her. Buffy winced as she watched her counterpart recoil from a sharp blow to the face with the butt of a rifle. Willow stiffened beside her, her eyes locked on Tara as the witch sat up slowly, Xander helping her gently. The crowd tightened too much for Willow to see, but there was a soldier in Tara's face immediately, tying her wrists together tightly before taking several cautious steps back, obviously scared of her.

"Something is wrong, Willow. Are you okay? Where are you?" Tara contacted her wife as soon as her fuzzy mind realized what was happening.

"I'm okay, Tara. We're watching. I'm with Buffy and Riley. I was going to come…"

She was interrupted immediately, Tara's voice scared. "Willow, no! Stay where you are. Don't come after me. I'll be okay."

"I'll come if they raise one hand to you, Tara. I promised you that Warren would never touch you and he won't. That goes for Amy too. Have they done anything to you? Dawnie? Xander? Are you all okay?"

"We're okay. The soldiers got the jump on us from behind. Amy signaled me out to get taken down first so they knocked me out. Andrew's tricks worked. They're not sure who's got powers. Mine are so low right now, I'm not sure they know they're there, but they're scared of me."

"Well, that might actually help if it doesn't get you killed. If they think you're powerless, they won't be expecting that you can defend yourself or that we're talking," Willow reasoned.

"That's what I was thinking too," Tara agreed.

"But Tara, if anything happens, you screw the plan and save yourself. Don't let anything happen to yourself, okay?"

"Willow…"

"I mean it, Tara. You keep yourself safe," Willow said firmly, still staring at her from their hiding spot. She blinked in surprise as Tara's head turned and looked straight at their location for several long seconds before she looked away. "Promise me."

"I'll be careful," Tara responded.

"That's not good enough. I need you to promise me," Willow said firmly.

"I promise that I'll be okay. I won't sit by and let the others get hurt though, either Will. If it's me or them…"

"The second anyone threatens you, you tell me and I'll come…" Willow stated immediately. "I'm serious Tara. Look out for the others, but you take care of yourself too."

"I will. I'll be okay. But Willow, I need you to promise me something too."

"Anything."

Tara hesitated and Willow could feel her anxiety going up by the second. "You have to promise me, no matter what happens, I don't want you to kill them…" Willow immediately started to object and Tara continued. "Willow, please. You can't…I can't bear to see you like that again. Please, for me, say you won't kill them."

There was a long silence between them and Willow finally relented. "I won't kill them."

"No matter what happens to me," Tara prompted her to continue.

"Nothing is going to happen to you! I won't lose you again, Tara," Willow instantly responded.

"We're both going to be fine," Tara agreed.

Willow let out a deep breath, forcing herself to believe that Tara was telling the truth, that they would both walk away from this, but doubt lingered. "I'll let you know what the plan is so you can be prepared. You be careful, Tara."

"You too, Willow. I love you."

Willow felt her eyes slide closed, the statement causing her resolve to stay away waver, everything in her telling her to get to Tara's side, no matter the cost. "I love you, Tara." She could feel Buffy's hand on her shoulder and she blinked, opened her eyes slowly. "Tara's awake. She doesn't think they know about her having her powers back." She could see Buffy's fear and answered her without the Slayer having to ask. "Dawn is okay. Xander too. They're all okay," she assured her friend, trying to let the assurance work for her as well. "They're all going to be okay," she repeated, glancing back down to their friends.

They could only watch as the troops got all of the slayers on their feet, forcing them to march through the snow back across the battlefield. The prisoners walked within a dozen yards of their hidden friends and they had to hold Willow back as they saw one of the soldiers shove Tara from behind. The witch stumbled, her tied hands making it hard for her to catch herself, but Dawn helped her stay on her feet while Xander pushed the trooper back, getting punched in the jaw for his efforts.

As the last troops vanished over the hill they stood up slowly, brushing snow off themselves. Buffy was watching Willow carefully and immediately noticed that her friend was shaking. She rested a hand on her shoulder gently. "Are you cold, or is that the anger?" she asked.

Willow shrugged, her face expressionless. "Combination of both."

Riley was looking around, night falling quickly around them. "Let's go see if they left us anything useful in the monastery," he suggested. The girls nodded and followed him slowly inside. The contents of the monastery were wrecked; papers, clothes, bandages, and ammunition scattered all over the ground.

Riley cautiously kept his gun at the ready, exploring cautiously. Willow stopped in the front room, kneeling in the mess to try and find the papers Tara had been reading earlier. Buffy went to check on the status of Xander's weapons, looking for anything that had been left behind.

When she came back she was dragging a large crate. Willow went to help her and the Slayer pried open the box with a crowbar she found in the mess. Riley came back and started checking the guns while the girls gathered usable bullets from among the scattered debris. He sat down to start reloading the clips for the guns and Willow went back to looking for the ancient papers she hoped could give them a clue.

Buffy was pacing anxiously, glancing toward the doors. They could still feel the rumbling tremors the goddesses were causing with their stomping. "I have to go look for more wounded. We can't leave them to get stomped or freeze to death. You guys don't need anything from me here, right?" They both shook their heads and she took off out the door.

Willow let out a cheer as she finally found what she'd been searching for and immediately started reading as fast as she could. Unfortunately, a lot of it was in some language she didn't recognize. "Tara, those papers Bay gave you, what language are they in? I'm trying to find something that can help us."

"It's Chinese. Most of Tibet speaks Burmese now, but those are in ancient Chinese."

"Damn, I don't read ancient Chinese."

"Hang on, I'm going to try and find someone who can. Maybe one of the monks, or Giles?"

"Be careful. Don't draw attention to yourself," Willow cautioned her. "How are you? Your fever? Are you still hiking? It must be freezing."

"We're stopped for the night. My hands are tied so I can't check my forehead, but I feel alright, just tired. It is cold though. Are you inside? It's too cold be out here."

"Don't remind me. I hate that you're out there, baby. And what do you mean that your hands are tied? Who touched you?" Willow demanded, scowling down at the papers in her hands.

"It was just one of the soldiers. And he didn't hurt me, he's just scared, following orders," Tara assured her.

"He should be scared. He's messed with the wrong witch. No one touches my wife but me."

"Willow, it's okay. I promise that I'm okay for now. Now, you describe those Chinese symbols to me. I'm going to try and draw them in the snow and we'll see if the monks can figure out what they say."

Willow sighed, not satisfied with the change in subject, but she knew how important getting the translation was to getting Tara back. She started explaining the symbols in detail, writing down the translation and pronunciations carefully as Tara recited them. Willow got more excited as they finally finished. "That should do it, Tara. Thank you so much, baby. If we've got this right I should be able to get the goddesses to give Buffy her powers back. If the other slayers were still here we could probably get their powers back to them too."

"It'll be alright. We'll find another way to get their powers back. How about you? How are you feeling?" Tara asked.

"I'm getting stronger. I don't have to fight as hard to get my magic back now that the goddesses are out of the earth. They're not very good at controlling themselves," she said, thankful that the deities' recklessness had been good for something.

"It's the same way for me. The magic is coming back more easily this time."

Willow pursed her lips, remembering Tara's foolish stunt in the snow. "Don't remind me how bad I screwed up on that one," she requested and she could feel Tara's protest coming before the blonde could answer. "We can argue about that later," she said, forcing her voice to hide her doubts and fears. "Do you know where the scythe is? Did they get it?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Amy has it. She's giving it to Twilight when we get back to their camp tomorrow."

"Oh, Buffy isn't going to be happy about that."

"If she gets her powers back, maybe she'll be happy with an ordinary stake," Tara suggested, smiling despite the trouble they were all in.

Willow blinked back tears, missing Tara so sharply at that moment that it was a physical pain. "I love you, sweetie. I love you so much."

"I know you do, Willow. I love you too."

"You know I'm going to get you back. You know that, right?"

"It never even crossed my mind that you wouldn't, baby."

Willow sighed, her eyes dropping closed. "You just stay safe until we get there. I'll let you know when something happens with getting the powers back. You tell me when they move you guys, okay?"

"You'll be able to feel it, but I'll tell you," Tara promised. "You be careful with those goddesses."

Willow promised that she would be and quickly explained what she was going to try to Riley. It was then that it occurred to them both that they hadn't seen anything from Buffy in a while. They had both been working on their individual tasks for a long time and neither one had noticed the Slayer come back. As the realization settled in, they both rushed out into the snow. The snow storm had gotten worse and it was impossible to hear anything over the wind. They could barely see the goddesses in the dimming light and Riley suggested they look for Buffy in that direction.

Willow righted another one of the overturned humvees and they drove into the storm, both keeping a careful eye out for the Slayer. They didn't find her until they were practically under the goddesses' feet. Willow quickly gestured for Riley to shoot up into the air, effectively drawing the goddesses' attention as the bullets whipped past their faces.

The redheaded witch climbed onto the hood of the truck and one of the inhumanly large women leaned over to look at her more closely with all three of her eyes. Willow started shouting out the first passage she and Tara had painstakingly translated, Riley staring at them as Buffy started moving through the snow to them. Willow finished her recitation, waiting anxiously.

It was only a moment before the goddess stood up straight, snapping to attention. They were all surprised when her hand shot down, picking Buffy up easily between her fingers. The Slayer fought as she was lifted into the air, the goddess holding her at eye level for several minutes. Buffy was forcing herself not to look down, coughing when the deity exhaled a long breath into her face. There was another long pause, the goddess just staring at her before finally dropping her. They paid no attention to where the Slayer landed, which was fortunately a deep snow bank, instead giving their undivided attention back to the witch. Willow consulted the sheet she'd written the translations on and shouted another phrase up at them hesitantly, squinting in the dark.

Riley had climbed out of the truck to get to Buffy and had to catch his balance as there was a bright flash and a sudden earthquake, a crack opening up and welcoming the goddesses back. There was a loud peal of thunder as their energy disappeared, the crack sealing up behind them.

Willow jumped down off the truck, unable to see in the sudden darkness. Green spots floated across her vision as if she'd been looking at the sun and it took her several seconds to find Riley in the snow. "Is she okay?" she asked anxiously.

He lifted the unconscious Slayer, shrugging. "We need to get her back inside. Can you look her over while I drive?"

She nodded affirmatively, climbing into the back seat while Riley put the Slayer next to her. Willow probed her cautiously with her magic, feeling a tickle that sent a rush of excitement through her. She leaned forward in the seat to shout up to Riley. "I think it worked. She looks okay, but there's something different." He nodded, concentrating on driving fast without sliding on the icy snow. "Tara, baby, I think we did it. The goddesses did something to Buffy before they left. That earthquake didn't hurt you guys, did it?"

"That earthquake was you?" Tara asked in surprise. "Sweetie, what's going on?"

"I recited that stuff to the goddesses and one of them picked up Buffy and blew in her face and then dropped her and they went back inside the earth. The quake was when the crack opened up for them to get back in."

"Is Buffy okay?"

"She's unconscious, but I can feel her powers. Riley's driving us back to the monastery now."

"Okay, we're moving out of here at first light. I'll let you know exactly when later, okay?"

"That's fine. You should get some rest if you can. Are you going to be warm enough? Get someone to check your face for fever too. You're still sick, Tara."

"Yes, ma'am," Tara responded sarcastically and Willow bit her lip, trying not to smile.

"Keep it up with the sass, and just wait and see if I don't keep you in bed for a week after this," Willow said warningly.

"In bed for a week with you…I can think of nothing I would like better. Or was that supposed be a threat?"

They pulled up to a halt in front of the monastery and Willow hurried to open the door while Riley carried Buffy inside, looking for the nearest bed. Willow led him to it and he put Buffy down carefully. "Can you watch her? I need to finish loading those guns." Willow nodded and he went back out, leaving the witch alone with her unconscious best friend.

"Can you just tell me if you're feverish?" Willow requested, her anxiety overpowering her normal reaction to her wife's teasing.

"Dawn says I'm a little warm, but nothing serious. We walked a long time today."

"Thank goodness."

"How are you doing with the magic, sweetheart? How's your control?" Tara asked and Willow's eyes slid closed at the love and concern she could hear in her beloved's voice.

"I'm doing good. How about you?"

"I've got enough power to take care of us over here until you can get here," Tara assured her. "What do you think is going to happen to Buffy?"

"I actually have a theory about that," Willow responded, not having to see Tara's face to know that her wife was smiling, amused even now by her scientific mind. "I think the goddesses were struggling to control the power they took. It's not theirs, and it's natural place is with us, the people who create it, control it, like our magic. The power wants to be with us, in us, so we were, in effect, playing tug of war over it with the goddesses. Once they got out of the earth, they were so excited to be free that they weren't pulling as hard as they should have been," she explained. "Does that make sense?"

Tara was smiling, knowing that Willow would know it despite not being able to see her. "It makes sense. So now if they're back in the earth, and Buffy's the full powered Slayer again, where is the rest of our power?"

"I'm not sure. My theory doesn't go that far," Willow confessed. "Do any of the girls with you have their strength back?" There was a pause and Willow felt her back stiffen, wondering if it could possibly be that simple.

Tara's voice was there a second later. "Sorry, baby. Faith says she doesn't have anything."

Willow sighed, looking down at Buffy's unconscious body on the bed. "It was a long shot anyway. It's late, love. Can you guys get warm enough to sleep?"

"I think so. We're going to have to get in a big group to share heat." There was another pause. "Xander says that he gets a free pass tonight. He doesn't want any punishment for sleeping with me."

"Tell him I said that I'll know if he touches anything that's mine," Willow responded. "Seriously though, thank him for me. I saw him take that punch earlier. I'm glad he's there with you. Not that I'm glad any of you are prisoners, just, I'm glad he's there to look out for you. That's all I meant. Of course I wouldn't ever want Xander to be captured, or you, or Dawnie…" The redhead could feel her anxiety rising swiftly out of her control as she stared down at Buffy, dropping to sit on the edge of the bed.

Tara's voice interrupted her gently, hearing the hysteria rising in her wife's voice. "We know, sweetheart. It's okay. Calm down. Just take a deep breath. It's all okay."

"Thank you," Willow breathed, her eyes sliding closed. "You should get some sleep," she said, reluctant to stop talking, but knowing how exhausted the other woman had to be.

"I'm not sure I can do it without you, but I'll try. Take care of yourself and Buffy."

Willow agreed and returned to watching over the Slayer, gradually stretching herself out on the bed next to her. Her mind was too anxious to let her rest, but she shut her eyes, trying desperately to figure out a plan.