AN-You all are so kind with your reviews! Thank you, and Tanner12-no need to apologize, I appreciate your attention to detail! Enjoy.
Chapter Nineteen-Sunrise, Sunset
Willow pondered sunsets as she sat on the porch swing waiting for Tara. She had seen the beautiful rainbow of colors a West coast setting could provide; warm yellow, sparkling orange, deep red and that rare lovely dark pink. She had experienced the oddity of the never quite setting Khul sun, ranging from a muted yellow to a brown-gray throughout the seasons. Sunset as a Scooby always signaled the time of increased danger with patrol soon to follow. Tonight the approaching darkness filled her with two very contradictory emotions, joy and fear.
She found she would rather think about the joy. The last 24 hours had been magickal in the best sense of the word. Tara had found her, kissed her, and told her she loved her. They had spent a wonderful evening talking, reconnecting, which had flowed into the blissful completion of making love.
She had awakened in Tara's arms, head snuggled on her abundant chest, such that the first thing she saw on wakening in the morning was a gorgeous breast close enough to her lips that she was unable to resist placing the lightest kiss on the creamy swell of skin.
When Tara's eyes had opened, Willow felt a little guilty for indulging in that kiss, until the blond had quickly suggested they put some clothes on unless they wanted Isobel to jump on the bed and find them naked.
Not ten minutes later, the small redheaded whirlwind flew into the room. She had been surprised and excited to find both her Mama and Mommy and wanted to know if there would be more 'sleepovers' in the future. Willow had looked to Tara for the response and her day had started with a smile when the blond had answered, "most definitely."
The smile hadn't left her face for the rest of the day, in fact watching the sunset she was still smiling. To an outside observer nothing special had happened. Breakfast, shower, playing games together, lunch, discussing Scooby matters with Buffy, more play time, sneaking off for a few kisses with Tara, all ordinary activities.
It all meant so much more to Willow. Just spending the day doing nothing special with the people she loved. It was everything she had ever wanted; love, family, friends and the opportunity to fight the good fight. For whatever reason the Goddess had given her this chance, and she would not waste it this time.
She felt the peace in her soul and knew, no matter what, the darkness held no appeal or sway over her. Her hard acquired Light Magick skills would be used to protect her family, friends and community against this unwelcome intruder from Khul, the man from her nightmares, and anyone else who threatened them. She had even told Tara a little bit about her time as Morton's prisoner and had explained how the binders had scarred her and how he had invaded her mind, although she didn't go into great detail.
Despite the overwhelming joy the day had provided, she knew the coming of this night was also a cause for fear and uncertainty. Elena was putting herself at great risk tonight. She could be captured or killed in the attempt to free Faith. Even if all went well and Spike delivered the two women back to Sunnydale before the next sunrise, Willow knew she would have to break Elena's heart yet again tomorrow.
Her feelings for the woman for Khul had always been complex. It seemed inadequate and insulting to call her just a friend. Elena had saved her life, repeatedly. The tall, serious soldier had been compassionate, caring and supportive during her recovery. Willow had shared her darkest actions and emotions with the Light Witch and she had been embraced and loved despite her darkness. But she had always tried to be honest with Elena that her feelings didn't include romantic love.
As she was starting to feel her smile dim from concern over Elena and the events of the night, the Jeep pulled into the driveway and Tara got out of the driver's seat. Willow got up and met her angel at the car with a kiss. "Let me get those groceries, Baby."
Elena could never have imagined her current situation. Riding in a car with two vampires headed to a maximum security prison to break out a convicted murderer. And they were the good guys. She shook her head and did her best to focus on what she needed to do, but her thoughts kept drifting to Willow. She had spent so much time back in Khul worrying about the redhead after she had left. Now she was here and she was still concerned. She did not know why Morton was so focused on Willow and her daughter. Somehow that seemed to be a crucial piece of information they were all missing.
Her personal feelings kept bubbling up as well. What had happened between Willow and her ex-lover? Would she return to a happy 'friend only' or a devastated 'possibly more than friend'? She knew she shouldn't get her hopes up, Willow had made her feelings clear, but her heart just couldn't let go.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't realize the car had stopped until Angel spoke.
"We're here."
Elena nodded and gathered the magickal items she needed for the operation. She got out of the back seat and found an area of flat bare earth nearby for the first step. After measuring and pouring with sand, she invited Angel to join her and then sealed the circle.
"Sit, please, and take my hands. I will need to gather magick to me and then perform a chant. It shouldn't take long." Elena instructed the souled vampire.
After only a minute the air inside the circle gave off a faint glow and the Light Witch began to speak in her native tongue. She repeated the phrases twice, dipped her head reverently and the glow dissipated.
"Bloody Hell. I have to say, that is impressive." Spike exclaimed.
"Thank you Spike. It is a simple but effective spell of invisibility. Incorporating Angel is more difficult, but I was able to focus on the presence of his soul. It should last for a sufficient time for us to achieve our objective." Elena said.
"Let's get going." Angel prompted. "The prison is about a half mile through the woods."
He then turned to Spike. "We will be back as soon as possible. Stay unless trouble shows up or the sun is about to rise. If that happens you will need to get to Buffy and tell her something went wrong."
"Good luck and hurry. I want to get back to Sunnydale and get paid." The blond vampire added as he lit the first cigarette of his long wait.
Darkness had settled over Sunnydale for another long winter night. The solstice was in just a few days with Christmas not far behind. Buffy had brought home a tree and everyone gathered to eat another Tara-inspired culinary delight for dinner and stayed to decorate.
"I'll be damned if that bastard from Khul is going to ruin our holiday." Buffy announced as she got the tree settled into a stand.
Xander had brought several boxes of ornaments and other decorations up from the basement and Dawn and Anya started sorting through them deciding what to put on the tree and mantle. Willow was finishing the clean-up in the kitchen when Isobel came in and asked if she could have some cocoa.
"That is a great idea. Let's make some for everyone." Willow said, wrapping her little girl in a big hug.
"Mommy, will you be here for Solstice and Christmas?" Isobel asked as they were scooping the powder into mugs.
Willow didn't want to overstep her bounds and was trying to decide how to answer when Tara came into the kitchen and saved her.
"Yes honey, your Mommy will be here for both." Tara stated confidently as she gave a grinning Willow a quick peck on the lips which made Isobel giggle.
The evening was filled with conversation, music, festivities and family. The tension of the looming threat was set aside without discussion as if every one of them knew this might be the last chance for a carefree evening and they were determined to enjoy every minute.
Nothing needed to be said about the obvious reunion that had occurred between the witches; they all felt as if a weight had been lifted. Both women looked happy and content and Isobel was gleeful. A peaceful presence filled the house, and while no one individual would have been able to define it, they each felt it, and their souls were strengthened.
Angel had taken Elena through the woods in twenty minutes. They now faced the thirty foot tall concrete walls topped with concertina wire that surrounded the women's maximum security prison. The outer walls formed an octagon with guard towers at each of the corners. One driveway led to both a delivery and visitor entrance, but the duo would stay far away from that area.
They approached the segment of the wall that the blueprints indicated was closest to where Faith's cell would be located. Elena asked Angel to step close to her and waited until the searchlight had passed the top of the wall where they would ascend. Although invisible, they would still cause bright light to be reflected in an abnormal way that might attract unwanted attention.
As the light passed, Elena once again called her magick and placed Angel's arm over her shoulder, placing her arm around his waist. With an incantation they lifted on a cushion of air rising up and over the wall without pause before a change in the wording brought them down again on the other side. They were now inside the State of California's maximum security prison for women; home to thieves, arsonists, murderers and those waiting on death row.
Elena took a brief moment to catch her breath and then allowed Angel to lead them to where Faith was housed. The inmates lived in three story buildings that jutted out from a central common area like spokes on a wheel. Faith's cell was on the top floor. The Light Witch knew she would have to perform the next step of this escape by herself while Angel waited below as lookout.
Each cell was built for a single inmate and had a tall, narrow window, only inches across. Elena would have to carve an opening around the window large enough for Faith to exit using her fire magick as a cutting tool. She planned to push the reinforced concrete material into the cell as it became displaced. Of course, she would have to do all of this silently. She would also have to cast an illusion to cover her use of magick. Lastly, she would need to be close to get everything correct, so she would be levitating outside the window twenty feet in the air while she performed multiple spells. No problem, she tried to convince herself.
For just a moment before she began, Elena thought maybe she should have asked Willow to help. The two Light Magick witches working together could have made short work of the cell wall. She wondered what Willow was doing at that moment and hoped it was more pleasant than her current situation. No, she was right to keep Willow in Sunnydale, she needed to be there to protect her family. Elena had agreed to do this and it was time to get on with it.
It took several minutes before she felt she had gathered sufficient power for the necessary magicks. Her tattoos were buzzing in a way familiar to the soldier as if she was about to go into combat. Once she was ready she simply nodded to the brooding vampire and began to rise into the air.
After decorating and several rounds of cocoa, the gang had settled in for a movie. Tara and Willow had Isobel say goodnight to everyone and followed her up to her room to tuck her in and read a story. Willow read tonight, making the young girl giggle as she used funny voices to portray the various characters. After the story was finished Isobel snuggled under the blanket and received several kisses from both of her parents. As they stood up to leave, Isobel peeked out from the covers.
"Mama I'm really happy. Are you really happy?"
Tara stepped back so she could kiss the little redhead on the forehead and whisper in her ear. "I'm really really happy. And I'm so glad that you are too. I love you." With one more kiss, the blond rose gracefully and took Willow's hand as they exited, closing the bedroom door behind them.
"That was sweet. She has such an incredible heart, and I know just who she gets that from." Willow bumped Tara's hip as she spoke.
"She gets that from both of us." Tara sighed as she wrapped her arm around the redhead's waist. "Do you think we can get out of the movie? I'm feeling selfish and don't want to share you anymore tonight."
"Why Ms. Maclay, did you have something in mind that can't be shared with our friends?" Willow smirked.
"Oh Ms. Rosenberg, the things I have in mind should only be shared with you, that is if you're interested." Tara replied with a sultry smile.
Willow gulped, then suddenly detached herself from Tara and ran down the stairs alone. The blond was left standing in the hallway stunned, until she heard her lover's voice from down below.
"Guys, enjoy the movie. Don't forget early morning tomorrow. Tara and I are gonna turn in. Love ya!"
Tara could only smile as Willow scurried back up the stairs, grabbed her hands, and dragged her towards the master bedroom as the light laughter of their friends drifted up to them.
Once she was positioned in front of the correct window Elena cast the illusion spell such that the wall in front of her appeared behind her, concealing her use of fire magick. While she was most comfortable with fireballs in combat, here she needed a precision tool. She molded the fire into a long thin flame that extended from her hand like a blowtorch. She was estimating the thickness of the wall and hoped her flames were not traveling too deeply into the cell. She carved quickly but carefully and as she approached the final segment she could feel herself weakening from holding so many spells simultaneously.
She was startled to hear Angel call out with their arranged warning sound. When she heard the sharp trill she instantly stopped the fire magick and reinforced the illusion spell below her as well. When she looked down she saw a guard on patrol walking between the rows of housing. She could do nothing but wait as the armed man paced slowly down the space looking left and right. Finally he turned the corner to patrol the next housing block. Waiting one additional minute to make sure he would not be returning, Elena finished cutting through the wall. Drawing the fire back, she now raised her hands palms out toward the precut segment of wall and pushed.
The magick wasn't as strong as she wanted, but slowly the masonry loosened at the edges and the entire cut wall moved inward. When the opening was clear, she carefully set the segment down on the floor of the cell. Her head hung for a moment as she gasped from the exertion. When she looked up at the dark opening she had created she was stunned to see a small metal object flying out of the cell. In two seconds it was almost upon her and she saw that it was a crudely made knife, aimed directly at her chest.
Tara was still smiling as Willow spun her into the bedroom and stopped to close and lock the door behind them. The blond thought her lover had never looked more beautiful. It wasn't the clothes; she was wearing a simple print skirt and solid orange long sleeved shirt which were nice, but not remarkable. It was her presence, her emotions, her aura. She gave off a confident strength and a calmness that hadn't been there before, ever. Just looking at this new woman took Tara's breath away.
And yet the same playful girl that had always been such a fun part of the redhead was still present.
The combination was intoxicating and Tara couldn't stay away another second. She took Willow in her arms and kissed her passionately. Willow melted into her and opened her mouth daring Tara to come in, a challenge the blond took instantly, stroking and sucking the redhead's tongue until they were both moaning. Willow pulled away enough to express herself in words.
"I want to make love to every inch of you. Last night was an incredible reconnection, but I think we were both a little emotionally drained. I feel well, amazing tonight, like I have been re-energized. I know everything I am feeling is because of you. You replenish my soul every time you look at me and I want to show you how that makes me feel."
Willow began to unbutton the blond's sweater, touching each bit of smooth skin with her fingertips as it was uncovered. She stepped around to Tara's back to slip the sweater off her shoulders and down her arms, letting the garment drop to the floor. She unclasped Tara's bra and let it fall forward. Willow had always found the blond's back incredibly sexy. It was shapely with a lean feminine muscularity. Now she traced her hands up and down the long expanse with her hands, then her lips.
The redhead then took off her own shirt and bra and brought her chest up against Tara's back, feeling her nipples harden in response as her hands now softly teased the delicate skin of the blond's flanks making her shudder. When Tara laid her head back onto Willow's shoulder, the redhead moved her hands to cup the ample breasts she loved. She kissed the blond's neck as she caressed before taking both nipples in her fingers simultaneously. She rolled them into hard peaks, then gave random pinches before adding in little tugs.
The multiple areas of stimulation were driving Tara crazy. But knowing what Willow had said it was important to allow the redhead to take control tonight. She needed to just let go and enjoy. Really, who was she to complain, being the recipient of the passion she knew her lover was capable of. It was just that this was the cost; her knees were starting to weaken and she thought she might be trembling. Her skin was on fire where Willow's nipples brushed her back and the attention to her breasts had her arousal pooling in her still present panties. When she couldn't take anymore, she moaned more than said her lover's name.
"Willow."
The redhead knew the effect she was having on her woman. She had been waiting for a signal from the blond and when she heard her name she slipped one arm down Tara's waist to help support her. It also allowed her to undo the button on the pants she was wearing at the same time. She had to use both hands to draw them down, leaving them in a pile on the floor along with two sets of panties and her own skirt. She backed them both to the bed and finally stepped back in front of the blond.
"Lay down."
Tara didn't say a word. She moved up the bed until she was resting on a pile of pillows, her legs turned, knees together. She gave the redhead a gaze full of longing and desire and held out her hand, silently asking her lover to join her.
Willow was transfixed. Tara had always been a sexy woman, but now she was lying on the bed looking ready for her portrait by Botticelli. Sultry didn't even touch the depths of the blond's expression. Her eyes were dark blue, like the color of a clear deep mountain lake. When Tara held out her hand, Willow was shaken out of her brief paralysis. She was again overwhelmed by the intensity of the love she felt for the woman now offering her body and soul. Willow smiled as she settled herself next to her lover and began to caress her again.
"Now, where were we." Willow said with a glint in her eye.
Tara simply let her head relax back into the pillows and sighed.
Elena knew that it was only a lifetime of training that saved her. As the well-targeted shiv flew toward her she thrust her palm out and created a small shield just as the weapon reached it and bounced away. She couldn't help but be impressed at Faith's ability to aim at her while she was invisible. Anticipating a repeat performance, the soldier left the shield in place as she spoke.
"Faith, I'm going to bring Angel up to talk to you. I know you don't know me, and you won't be able to see either one of us, but we are here to ask for your help. If you could refrain from killing us, we would appreciate it."
No response came out of the dark space, but no more weapons came out either, so Elena proceeded to levitate the vampire up to the opening. He stepped onto the remnants of the wall and the Light Witch allowed her levitation to dissipate. She moved closer to the cell in order to hear the conversation and to be in a position to act if necessary.
"Faith, it's Angel. May I step in?"
"Visiting hours aren't until tomorrow, big guy. You've made a big ass mess of my cell, bound to cause me trouble. What's going on, cause I thought you were trying to help me. And who the hell is the flying witch?"
Angel took the conversation as a good sign and stepped fully into the small cell. "Buffy needs your help. We couldn't wait for a more conventional way to get you out, sorry. The witch, Elena, is a friend. Buffy had to stay in Sunnydale so she came to assist."
"Shit soul-boy, really? You're breaking me out? This has trouble written all over it, mostly for me." Faith saw all of her efforts for an early release circling the drain. But it was for Buffy. B wanted to give her a chance, needed her help, and that was worth any cost.
"Oh hell, you know I can't say no to B. So what's the plan, we fly away on Tabitha's broomstick?"
"Let me bring Elena in here, she can explain." Angel said as he called the Light Witch into the cell.
Elena stepped in and was glad for the continued invisibility spell. If she looked as bad as she felt, it would not have made a good first impression. She was close to completely drained, and she still needed to perform several more spells. A moment of rest could only help.
"I'm Elena, a friend of . . . Buffy's." Elena paused, not knowing if Faith was aware that Willow was even back in Sunnydale. She didn't think it was a stretch to call Buffy her friend. "I can get you out the same way we came in. Levitate down to the ground, an illusion spell to cover you across the yard, then levitate the wall."
To her credit, Faith didn't waver or ask unnecessary questions. She simply nodded and went over to her bunk to retrieve a few items which she shoved into the pockets of her jumpsuit.
"Let's do this." Faith had approached the opening in the wall and turned back to Elena and Angel to ask who would go down first. Of course, with her guests lacking visible form, the dark Slayer's vision through the cell bars and into the heart of the prison was unimpeded. So she was the first one to see the guard walking the catwalk in front of the cell raise her shotgun and call out in alarm at the same time.
"Oh crap." Was all Faith got out before the blast.
Tara was sure she had never been this aroused in her life. Willow was everywhere, touching, fondling, kissing. Currently all she could see was red hair as Willow did amazing things to her breasts with that talented mouth. Her determination to let the redhead do what she wanted was fading fast as her need grew to an intense throbbing. She didn't want to sound like she was begging, but she needed to say something.
"Willow. Please touch me."
An instant later she felt lithe fingers sliding over her clit and between her inner lips.
A growl came out of the redhead's throat. "You. are . sooooo. wet."
The new stimulation was welcomed by the blond, who began to move her hips, but soon found her lover was not ready to provide any real pressure or rhythm yet. Fingertips grazed her bundle of nerves and toyed with her entrance, never delving deep. Soon Tara found she could only whimper and clutch at the redhead. She wasn't above begging now.
When Tara was sure she couldn't handle any more and would have to take matters into her own hands she felt Willow sliding down her body to nestle between her legs. Never stopping the movement of her fingers, the redhead's mouth and tongue immediately went to work. First flicking over the blond's clit then lathing in long strokes, finally Willow took it in her lips and sucked hard. Tara's moans got louder and louder as her hips bucked wildly. When the redhead sensed the blond's release was near, she thrust two, and then three fingers into her.
Tara had always orgasmed deeply. Like everything else she did, she put her all into it. Somehow this time was more intense than ever before. She felt her internal response and heard her own voice call out, but it was as if her soul had projected out of her body. She needed to touch Willow with that innermost part of herself, to feel that ultimate connection with the woman who meant everything to her.
Willow loved bringing Tara to that moment of exquisite tension and then feeling her body release. She loved the blond's scent, her taste, and the little noises she made to express her pleasure. But this moment was different somehow. She could feel Tara. Not only physically, but her essence. It wasn't magick, the Light Witch realized, it was their souls touching. She rose up and Tara crushed her in a strong embrace.
As the two clung to each other, souls intertwined like their bodies, each could see the other in complete truth without guarding, without barriers. Willow took in Tara's pain of her own betrayal and the subsequent heartbreak and loneliness. She also saw the forgiveness, trust and love that were in Tara's heart now. Tara felt the raw emotion of Willow's years of guilt and pain and rejoiced in the ever present love the redhead truly held for her.
The experience left both women breathless and in tears.
Elena was watching the second Slayer approach the opening in the wall to evaluate the drop. She had turned back as if to say something and the soldier saw the slightest dilation of her dark pupils in the dim light, a threat reaction. Without the time to even cast a shield, Elena simply billowed out the back of her cloak, which was facing the bars of the cell, making it as wide as possible. She heard and felt the shot simultaneously as it struck.
Without the magick that imbued her cloak, Elena knew that she and the Slayer would now be dead. Her garment had absorbed the bulk of the shot, but several pellets had found their way into the vampire. He grunted briefly before telling her to protect Faith who appeared unharmed. Within seconds the gun had left the guard's hands and the butt of the weapon had struck her in the forehead. She fell to the catwalk alive but unconscious.
Now all three of them could hear lights being turned on, loud voices and running footsteps approaching. Angel spoke first. "Get Faith down, now."
Elena didn't argue. She moved to the opening and slipped her arm around the Slayers waist. "Hold on to me."
As soon as Faith did as told, Elena stepped out into the night air and quickly descended.
"Whoa. A girl usually buys me a pack of cigs around here before I let her touch me like that." Faith laughed as her feet touched the ground.
"You'll have to stay close to me. I can't carry the illusion far." Elena was all business.
"Fine, no problem. What about the Vamp?"
Elena could sense Angel at the opening above them. "Jump, I'll cushion the fall." She called out knowing secrecy was of no importance now.
Angel did as instructed. The landing was a little rough, but he hadn't broken any bones. The trio made their way back to the outer wall under the glare of multiple searchlights. Leaning up against it for a moment Elena realized Angel appeared to be slightly visible.
"Faith, can you see Angel?"
"Yeah, just a little, he kind of fades in and out."
"The invisibility spell is wearing off. It's probably weaker on him because of his, um nature." Elena wondered if anything else could go wrong tonight. She felt tapped out and now they needed to get over the wall before Angel was simply a flying duck for the guards to take potshots at."
"We need to levitate now, all three of us together. We have to try, but I'm not sure I have the power left." Elena told the others.
"Leave me, take Faith. I'll find another way out." Angel offered.
"No. We all go together." Faith wasn't going to argue. She turned toward the witch. "Can you use any of my power? Slayers are sort of mystical."
Elena touched Faith's hand and was surprised to feel the power there when she tuned into it. "Yes, I think I can use that. Hold my hand and hang on to my shoulder, you too Angel."
It was a different sort of power, but held no inherent darkness, and as the Light Witch began to take it in the three rose up to the top of the wall and over. The downhill ride was again a little fast for comfort, but they were moving toward the trees as soon as their feet hit the ground.
"That was intense." Willow spoke first after she got herself under control. "What happened?"
Tara was still feeling overwhelmed by the multiplicity of strong emotions she had experienced from the redhead. She focused on her breathing and grounded herself in the moment.
"I think my soul projected to find yours. We felt each other's raw emotions."
"Wow. Did you expect that?" Willow asked.
"I didn't even know it was possible." The blond laughed and then became more serious. "I hope it didn't upset you. It probably felt very personal."
"Baby, I am more worried about you. I'm sorry you had to feel my mess of emotions. There is a lot of bad stuff in there." Willow stroked Tara's cheek with concern on her face.
"I'm not sorry. Touching you like that, I could feel the truth of everything, the bad and the good. I know how you really feel, and it makes me love you more." Tara sealed her statement with a soft kiss. "Can I show you?"
Willow turned to lie back, nodded and smiled.
The walk back through the woods to the car was quick and quiet. The women slipped into the back and Angel took the passenger side. Spike had them on the road and headed back to LA when disaster loomed one more time. A roadblock had been set up, no doubt looking for the escaped prisoner in the back seat of the car. Elena looked forward and evaluated the process as the cars ahead of them were searched and the occupants questioned.
"No dogs. Good, they are harder to fool than humans. Stay in line, we will be fine." Elena stated.
"You sure love? We could pull off, make a run for it." Spike asked.
"Just drive up, roll down the window and stay quiet, everyone." Elena slumped back into her seat. At least this spell just required concentration and not physical activity.
As the car with four occupants approached the checkpoint, the Deputy Sheriff who had been pulled from sleep in the middle of the night to stand on a poorly traveled country road saw only a kind elderly blond gentleman behind the wheel. The old man was happy to pop the trunk and allow the Deputy to inspect the inside of his vehicle. After waving him on, he wondered why everyone couldn't be so congenial and cooperative with the police these days.
"That's it for me, I'm tapped out. Think you guys can get us back to LA and Sunnydale without any more trouble? Because I'm going to pass out now." And with that, the woman from Khul slumped onto Faith's lap and became fully visible.
"Shit Angel, this chick looks terrible. Think she'll be OK?" Faith found herself wiping away some of the sweat pouring off Elena's forehead and trying to make her more comfortable.
"She should be fine, just needs rest. That was an impressive display of magick." Angel turned to get a good look at the Slayer. "You doing alright with this? Spike is going to drop me off and take you two back to Sunnydale. You should get there just before dawn."
"You're not coming?" Faith asked.
"I can't leave LA right now, and I need to get someone to take this buckshot out of my back." Angel replied.
"Sorry you got shot. You going to be Ok?"
The vampire just nodded. "Buffy will tell you what's going on when you get to Sunnydale. I don't really know all the details myself."
"Don't worry Faith, you and me can have a nice little chat while the witch sleeps. Last time we talked, I think you were looking an awful lot like Buffy as I recall." Spike interjected.
Willow was startled awake sweating. She had been dreaming pleasantly, holding Tara's hand, walking through the park as Isobel scampered in front of them chasing a butterfly. Then the sky had darkened and lightning struck the ground, over and over again as a massive storm raged with ferocity. Suddenly Tara and Isobel were gone and she was alone high on a bluff overlooking Sunnydale. When she had glanced down at her dream hands, she saw dark veins running over pale skin.
The redheaded witch had never stopped having dreams of her past. Guilt, regret, and pain had been her constant nighttime companions over the years. But while the feelings of darkness in this dream had been similar, these images were not from her past, and that was disconcerting. Isobel had never been in one of her dark dreams before and that was very troubling.
Willow slipped out of Tara's embrace and into a robe. She needed to think, and she was sweating so much a shower wouldn't hurt. When she saw it was almost 4am she realized it was just as well she get going as they were all hoping Elena and Faith would be back in the next couple of hours.
After getting dressed, Willow gently woke Tara and Buffy and went downstairs to start some coffee. Her shower had provided no additional insight into her dream and as she sat at in the kitchen waiting for the coffee to brew, she felt restless and uneasy. Just last night she had marveled at the beauty of the setting sun and the calm that had permeated her at the time that usually signaled danger. Now she was waiting in the predawn darkness for the sunrise and found herself filled with inexplicable dread.