AN-Thanks for the reviews! Glad to know the story is being enjoyed. Time to heat things up!

Chapter Sixteen-Light versus Dark

The days cooled in Sunnydale as December deepened, but every once in a while the weather gods would bestow upon the mere mortals a glorious, unnaturally warm and deeply appreciated reprieve. It was even more unusual for that day to occur on a weekend, in this case a Saturday.

The cool morning had quickly heated and by the time the late risers on Revello Drive were up, all could see it would be a beautiful day. Isobel insisted a visit to the park was required. Buffy called Xander and Willow and the gang all met up at their usual place near the small grove of trees.

Willow was feeling slight trepidation at the prospect of being included in the usual gathering. Although she had been with everyone many times over the last several months and on Thanksgiving, she had not participated in any group outings that included Tara. She was excited and wanted to make sure everything went well in hopes of being included in the future.

"Willster, are you trying to kill me?" Xander asked laying back on a large blanket and moaning at the redhead.

"Did I do something?" she asked quietly.

"Ya. You brought way too many tasty treats. I think I may explode!"

"Oh. Sorry Xan. You like?" She smiled, glad to see Xander joking with her.

Before he could answer Anya said "Xander. You better save some of those for Buffy and Isobel. You know how the Slayer gets. And that child has quite the sweet tooth."

"Sure honey, I can't take anymore right now anyway." He answered his wife.

Just then Tara returned from the play area, leaving Buffy to attempt to tire out Isobel a little more on her own. She found herself sitting down close to Willow.

"Those look great. Is there chocolate in them?" She asked pointing at a tin of cookies sitting nearby on the blanket.

"You know me, never without chocolatey goodness," Willow answered with a grin, holding out the tin for Tara.

Tara found herself lingering over her cookie selection as Willow held the tin for her patiently. Finally she picked one and took a small bite.

"Wow, those are great. Where did you get them?" Tara asked, still by Willow's side.

"Actually I baked those."

Xander sat up surprised. "When did you learn to bake?"

Willow found herself in a quandary. It was a simple question really, learning to bake cookies. She could just fudge and say it was a recent thing. But that wasn't the whole truth. And while she did not want to make anyone, especially Tara who was sitting so nice and close to her, uncomfortable, she did not want to lie, even about baking cookies.

"I learned in Khul. While I had time, uh, dealing with some stuff. It helped me relax." She said with as much calm as she could muster.

For a moment there was an uncomfortable silence, which Xander felt and broke by saying, "well you learned good Will. You can bake for me anytime."

"Not anytime Xander, you'll get fat and that can impeded good sex. Here, let me try one." Anya filled in as she reached for a cookie. "These are good Willow. Thanks."

Willow smiled gratefully at the couple and relaxed back onto the blanket.

Tara found herself stealing glances at Willow lying at her side. She was wearing jeans and a long-sleeved fitted shirt, which formed to her body nicely. Tara had noticed the redhead always wore long-sleeved shirts to cover the scars on her arms.

The cookie discussion and her thoughts about attire had made Tara realize she knew almost nothing of what had happened to Willow during the years she was gone. Willow had been back in Sunnydale for most of the year and somewhat back in her life for several months and Tara had never asked any questions concerning her time in another dimension.

She had seen the tattoos and the scars and Buffy had described Willow's magickal combat against the Vampires and the Grappler demons, which sounded impressive, but she hadn't actually seen any of the witchiness in action. Of course she had asked about Rack at that first meeting at the Espresso Pump. But beyond that she knew nothing of what her former lover had experienced over those years.

Part of her didn't want to be reminded of her past, but the truth was she had been so completely focused on whether Willow posed a danger and on Willow's burgeoning relationship with their daughter that she had never thought to ask. Her own feelings about the redhead were so confused, she tended to suppress them.

A giant slice of Willow's life had gone by and she had shown no interest, in fact had almost discouraged any attempt at conversation. That, she realized all of a sudden, was incredibly selfish on her part.

"Willow?" Tara asked softly. "Do you think you might want to get together sometime, just the two of us? Maybe to talk?"

Willow sat up on her elbows and looked at the blond and her brows knitted slightly.

"Really? You want to get together, alone, with me? Like for coffee or something?"

Tara gave a shy nod and the smile Willow gave her in return shone like the sun. As the two women sat gazing at each other, Isobel flew onto the blanket landing between them. "Mommy, I'm hungry! Aunt Buffy is too."

"Well let's get some food in that tummy!" Willow pulled Isobel into a hug and rubbed the little girl's stomach, making her laugh. "I brought all kind of goodies, all healthy for growing children of course," she said sheepishly still smiling at Tara.

"How about growing Slayers?" Buffy crashed onto the blanket and grabbed a handful of cookies. Following a round of sandwiches for all, Buffy announced, "I am worn out. Xander, you get the post lunch shift."

"No way. It's my turn to play!" Willow exclaimed as she grabbed her daughter's hand and ran with her to the swings. Tara watched as the two powerful witches, adult and youngster swung side by side, higher and higher, with the sun shining down on their backs. They were laughing without a care in the world and seeing them together, Tara felt peace in her heart.

Late in the afternoon, Anya informed the group it was time for Xander and herself to be on their way. Soon after their departure, Buffy received a phone call from Dawn asking if she could get a ride back to campus. Buffy asked Tara if she was alright to get home on her own and departed after the blond witch indicated she was fine. Tara, Isobel and Willow found themselves alone, enjoying the sunny late afternoon, alternating play and snacks with occasional naps by all.

Tara found herself drifting into a peaceful dream. Willow was holding her, stroking her hair gently as Tara cuddled up beside her on the couch, holding her around the waist. Tara could feel her cheek resting comfortably on Willow's chest, she could hear words of love murmured into her ear, she could sense her magick weaving in and around the redheads, completely compatible, and it all felt so good, so right. Even in her dream she was surprised to see the scars on Willow's wrists extending out beyond the sleeves of her shirt. This wasn't a dream of the past, of things that had been and could never be again. No, this time Tara found herself comforted by the love of this Willow, the woman of sadness and joy, pain and strength, betrayal and love, with the emotional and physical scars befitting her complexity.

Tara awoke with a start to the feel of a cool breeze on her skin. Isobel and Willow were still asleep on the blanket at her side. Looking around the park, she realized they were alone, and the sky was beginning to darken. The day had been wonderful. Tara could not remember the last time she had been so content and comfortable, and Isobel had been so happy all afternoon having her entire family around her.

The breeze picked up and became cold rapidly, and Tara felt a strange tingling sensation coming from the direction of the grove of trees behind them. Just as she was about to reach over Isobel and wake Willow, the redheaded witch sat upright with a jolt.

"Something's wrong." Willow whispered to Tara over the sleeping child.

"I feel it too." Tara responded. "Let's go."

Tara woke Isobel gently as Willow hurriedly packed up.

Suddenly Willow stopped and took Tara by the arm. "I need you to do exactly as I say. Get Isobel behind that rock wall over by the play area and stay there."

Tara had picked her sleepy daughter up and was holding her in her arms as she looked over her shoulder to where Willow's gaze was focused. She gasped as she saw four men in camouflage standing at the edge of the trees in the shadows. All were armed with large weapons.

"Place yourselves in a protective shield, as strong as you can." Willow stated with authority. "Stay there no matter what. I've got this."

As Tara hurried to get behind the wall with Isobel she started her defensive incantation. Willow stayed her ground long enough to make sure Tara and Isobel were out of sight before sweeping her cloak from the ground and securing it with the clasp at her neck. She ran her fingers over the clasp thinking of the person who had given it to her. It was Elena's last gift, imbued with her family's magick to make the garment it secured as strong as armor.

As the Light Witch turned to face the oncoming soldiers, she only hoped she could be half the magickal combatant Elena was. Her training was extensive, but she had never used her skills against people. She had recognized the Dark soldiers from Khul immediately. The uniforms and weapons were not ones used in this dimension. She didn't have time to analyze why they were here, she only knew she had to stop them. They would not hurt her family.

Willow moved closer to the soldiers as they advanced as a unit out of the trees. The Light Witch felt the skin of her back begin to buzz as she called forth all the elements of nature she could conjure. Her tattoos glowed as she felt Light Magick fill her with power.

The soldiers spread out into a semicircle pattern and leveled their weapons at the redhead. A soldier at one end fired first and was rewarded for his premature solo action when the laser he fired was reflected off of the witch's palm directly back into his weapon which exploded, along with his hands.

The other three soldiers demonstrated better teamwork as they attacked in concert, firing blasts simultaneously. The lasers arced towards the redhead who thrust both hands in front of her body, creating a shimmering blue shield. When they struck, the shield absorbed two of the blasts completely. The third was weakened but still struck Willow's cloak where it burned the enchanted fabric but did not reach her body.

Tara and Isobel were crouched behind a thick rock wall that surrounded the play area. Tara had cast the strongest protective shield she could manage to encase her and Isobel. Tara kept Isobel down low, but found herself unable to resist glancing over the wall to see what was happening. She was astonished at what was transpiring before her.

After the initial volley, the soldiers fired at will. Willow was keeping them moving with a counter-assault of her own. Blue-white bolts flew from her hands in quick succession, forcing the soldiers to weave and retreat to the safety and protection of the trees. The soldiers continued to fire from behind the trees, and the sides appeared evenly matched with no one gaining an advantage.

Willow understood the strategy of the Dark. While they were at a stalemate at the moment, the weapons of the soldiers would not tire as she would. They were patiently wearing her magick down. On Khul, the Light would swap out combatants with fresh reinforcements, but here she was on her own. She made a tactical decision that Tara and Isobel needed to get back to the house, where the shield and The Slayer could protect them. She could hold off three Dark soldiers long enough for a retreat and still even the numbers if she was lucky.

As she started to back up towards the play area to relay her message to Tara, movement at the opposite end of the park caught her eye. She realized with horror that two additional Dark soldiers had been circling around from the woods to approach from the other side of the park, and Tara and Isobel were now caught in between the two groups of armed men. They had planned the attack to cut off the route out of the park and back to the house.

Nothing was as important as protecting Tara and Isobel. Willow raced to get closer to her daughter and the woman she had always loved, ignoring the blasts that found their way through the weak shield she kept at her back.

She leapt onto the rock wall and reached into her cloak pocket, drawing out one of the few precious items she had brought back from Khul. Incanting a short phrase, the Light Witch threw a packet of powder in the air and gestured toward the oncoming pair of soldiers. The powder turned into a white cloudy mist which rapidly enveloped the two soldiers. Muffled cries could be heard, which quieted quickly.

Tara looked up at Willow standing on the wall above her. The witch was drenched in sweat and shaking lightly. Her cloak was torn in multiple places and Tara could see several wounds where the lasers had reached her skin. Her back was now turned to the blond witch in order to fight the remaining three soldiers, but her bolts were coming less frequently.

Willow looked down at Tara. "You need to go. Run for the house and Buffy. That way should be clear now that those two are caught in the mist. I can't hold the others much longer."

Tara started to object, but she knew they really had no choice. Her power lay in defensive and protective magick and she was using everything she had to shield Isobel.

"Follow us, please." She said to Willow. "I will open the house shield for you when you get there."

Willow started to say something, but a laser blast singeing her arm forced her to refocus on the battle. "Go now. Tara, I love you."

Without waiting for a response she hopped down off the wall and began a slow march towards the three remaining soldiers. She didn't look back as she gathered the strength she had left into a final furious assault.

Tara was running in the opposite direction towards Revello Drive with Isobel in her arms. She took one last look over her shoulder at Willow. The Light Witch was a wonder, spinning and leaping, her hands flinging out blue bolts at a furious pace. The last thing Tara saw was red hair gleaming under blue-white magickal light, and then she was out of her sight.

The blond witch did not stop until she reached the house, completely out of breath. She groaned in frustration as she realized Buffy's car was not there and she was probably still out with Dawn. She set Isobel down on the couch where she could still look out the front window for Willow and held the young girl tight as she cried.

The Light Witch was spent. She fell to her back on the grass in the park thinking of what a wonderful day it had been. She had spent time with her friends and daughter. Tara had not only wanted to spend time together, but had asked her out, just the two of them. Willow wanted nothing more than to have that date, but it didn't look like it was going to happen now. At least she had succeeded in getting Tara and Isobel away safely. She knew that Buffy would protect them now.

The Dark soldiers were approaching her warily, afraid that her lack of movement represented a trap. If only she could muster the energy to play possum, she thought. She had used literally every ounce of strength and every trick up her sleeve.

As they got closer, one soldier stepped forward, apparently the leader of the squad. In the language of Khul he informed her that she was his prisoner and asked for her surrender. Willow thought about that for a moment and laughed. She knew she would die before she ever wore the magickal binders again in this lifetime. He indicated she had one more chance to speak and raised his weapon to fire.

He never got the opportunity to pull the trigger. A fireball took off his right arm at the elbow. Then a series of fireballs ripped the weapons from the hands of the other two soldiers. One soldier attempted to retrieve his weapon from the ground, a fatal mistake. When he bent over, the fireball that would have hit him in the armour covering his chest instead struck his left eye and seared into his head, killing him instantly. The third soldier grabbed his wounded leader and they ran for the safety of the woods.

Willow was still gazing up at the now dark sky unable to move when a familiar face came into her field of vision and she smiled, "What brings you to this dimension?"

Elena looked down at the redhead, returning her smile. "It's nice to see you too Willow."

Buffy veered the car into the driveway at high speed. Tara had called her just as she was dropping off Dawn at the dorms to tell her about the attack at the park. Unfortunately Slayer speed didn't really apply to driving and she found herself cursing at every traffic light. It seemed to take forever to get back to the house.

The Slayer flew from the Jeep and into the yard. Seeing no activity, she ran into the house to find Tara with a scared, sniffling Isobel in her arms.

"Did you see Willow?" Tara asked Buffy.

"No. She's not with you?"

Tara looked out the front window. "She was supposed to follow us. Buffy, she stayed to protect Isobel and I, to give us a chance to get away. You have to help her."

"I'll go look for her. Retrace the way to the park. Let me get a weapon." The Slayer headed for the door and out onto the porch when she saw Willow approaching the house leaning heavily on someone else.

"Tara, come out here. Someone is with Willow. Is it one of those soldiers?"

Tara ran onto the porch and looked down the street. "No, all those soldiers were men, that is a woman."

The blond witch and the Slayer watched as a tall dark haired woman practically carried Willow down the sidewalk until they stopped in front of the house. The uniformed woman lifted her hand until it sparked off of the shield surrounding the yard.

"May we enter?" She called out with an odd accent.

The Slayer ran down to the duo, taking Willow in her arms as Tara whispered the phrase to open a door in the shield.

"Of course, come in." Buffy said.

Elena laughed as she saw Buffy scoop up and carry Willow with no more difficulty than a sack of groceries. "You must be Buffy."

"I am. And since I let you inside our security, I sure hope you are Elena. Willow told me about you."

"Elena Colonade, First Commander, Light Magick forces. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Come in. Tell us what happened. Is Willow hurt? What does she need?" Buffy asked.

"She needs to be checked out, but I think she is mostly just exhausted. I found her at the park. She was completely drained. I took care of the remaining soldiers, but two got away. I couldn't go after them because I needed to help Willow. She gave me directions to get here."

By the time Elena finished, Willow had been placed on the couch and Isobel had curled up next to her, clutching her tightly.

"Oh, don't cry baby girl. I'm fine, just a little tired. Help me take a nap, Ok?" Willow rasped.

"Ok Mommy. I was so scared."

"Shhh. You know your Mama and I would never let anything happen to you."

Elena stood to the side watching, allowing the implications of what she was seeing set in. Willow had a daughter, an adorable girl who looked just like her. The redhead had told her so many times about the events that had brought her to Khul, and her fear of what might have happened to the woman she loved here. Apparently Willow had succeeded in stopping Rack and had a daughter to prove it. The girl was in her life. So where was the woman, Tara?

"I brought the first aid kit." Tara came out of the kitchen to hand the medical supplies to Buffy. She looked shyly at the tall soldier standing in the living room.

Elena took a deep breath and approached the lovely blond woman. "Tara, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Elena, a friend of Willow's from Khul."

"It's nice to meet you." Tara stated as she shook the soldier's hand.

Buffy had begun to patch up the passed out redhead. "Tara, could you take Isobel to bed? I need to get a good look at Willow's back."

"Sure Buffy." Tara slipped her arms around the small girl and carried her up the stairs.

"You look pretty tired yourself Elena. Please sit." The Slayer waved towards the recliner.

As she finished bandaging several wounds on the witch's back, all of which seemed superficial, she asked Elena if they were in any immediate danger.

"I know you probably want to talk to Willow first, tell her what is going on and why you are here. That's fine with me as long as you think we are safe for tonight. We have the shield, and I'll keep an eye out of course."

"I don't think this house will be attacked tonight. The Dark soldiers suffered losses tonight and the man who brought them will want to re-evaluate. He does not act rashly. They know of my presence here and that is unfortunate as we lose an element of surprise, but it could not be helped. They will regroup accordingly."

"You can sleep in my room tonight, I will be up anyway." Buffy offered.

"Thank you, but here is just fine. I want to keep an eye on Willow if you don't mind."

Buffy got an extra blanket from the closet and gave it to Elena. "I think I understand. Try to get some sleep."

Elena nodded and the Slayer went out onto the porch to start her watch. As soon as Buffy left the room, Elena went to Willow's side and smoothed her red hair back from her sleeping face.

"I've missed you. I'm sorry this mess happened, but I'm glad I got to see you again. We'll fix this, together. She leaned down and kissed Willow lightly on the forehead. "You were amazing tonight, you did the Light proud. Sweet dreams my love."

Only then did Elena return to the recliner, cover herself with the blanket and fall deeply asleep.

From the top of the stairs, Tara turned back toward her room, her legs shaking. She had intended to check on Willow herself but had stopped when she heard the woman from Khul speaking, professing her love. She took a deep breath, but it didn't make the pain in her chest go away, that was too deep in her heart.