~*Part 10*~

Devon spoke first.  "He...can't be."

Tara looked at everyone going from one side of the room to the other in slow motion.  Everyone was shocked.  Was this her purpose?  To save her mother, at the price of her father?  No, he had to live.

"His spirit hasn't left, yet."  Tara started to go in a trance.  She would find him.

"What is she doing?"  The nurse asked.  "I'm calling the doctor."

Tara could no longer hear anything.  "Oz? Dad?"  She called out, and the darkness shook with the vibrations of her thoughts.  "Dad?!"

She tried to think of some memories of her father to draw herself to him, but nothing was coming to mind.  Her memories had been erased because of the time travel.  What was she going to do?  Wait, she did have some memories.  Memories of the last two days.  She tried to conjure all of them in one thought, and closed her eyes.  When she opened them she was blinded by a bright light.  There was a figure moving towards it.  She started to panic, but then remembered she had to stay in control.

"Dad! Oz!"  The figure turned at the emotions in the thoughts.

"Tara?"

She nodded.  "Dad come back.  Don't move towards the light."

He looked back at the light.  "Its so peaceful.  Its calling me."

Tara realized the light was winning.  "I'm calling you!  I need you.  You still have things to do in this world."

"The pain is leaving.  I feel...nothing."

"Dad!"  He started walking towards the light again.

******

Willow looked at Oz laying on the floor and Tara frozen in a trance beside him.  "I hope they're okay."  She looked back at Buffy and Devon who were holding the nurses in the corner of the room.

******

She had only one more idea to try.  She sent thoughts of what she had learned from the spell to save Willow.  Reasons he had to stay.

Oz stopped and turned away, and the light vanished.  Tara wrapped him in a hug and held on tight.  She whispered into his ear, knowing what she had to do.  "Tell her.  And Dad, I love you both."

The demon already powerful from feeding on Oz instantly jumped into Tara as Oz woke up in the physical world.

Tara fell dead, and so did the demon.

******

Willow lay on the grass next to the tombstone.  She didn't know how long she'd been laying there crying.

She sat up at the sound of crunching grass behind her.  Her face was wet with tears.  Oz kneeled down next to her slowly, he was still weak from the encounter with the demon.  He wrapped his arm around her.

Willow sniffled.  "I don't understand.  How could I send her back, if I knew she was going to die?"

Oz looked at the tombstone.  "I don't know.  Maybe you didn't know when you sent her back.  Or maybe her death has a different meaning."  He paused and looked into her eyes.  "Or maybe she's still alive."

Willow looked at him questioningly.  "What do you mean?"

"Tara told me when she saved me.  She told me why you had been so sick.  Why the demon attracted to werewolf blood was attracted to you.  You're pregnant."  Willow was astonished, and looked down at her stomach.  "You're six months pregnant."

Willow continued looking at her stomach.  "How?"

"Remember the last time?  Before I left, when the condom ripped?"  Willow nodded.  "The demon was taking the baby and your energy, and that's why it didn't show, but it will now."

Willow looked back at the tombstone.  "This is..."

"I have something else to tell you."  Willow looked back at him.  "Actually, something I've been wanting to ask you for a while now.  Willow, will your marry me?"

Willow smiled and broke into tears.  She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder.  "Yes, of course."

In the air a song played.

I don't think you notice

When you see my face

I guess you're waiting

To spin me around again

Wheels I guess are turning

Somewhere inside my head

I know that this is

Deeper than you get

But you're coming back again

You don't mean to waste my time

But you're coming back so

Chorus

Don't tell me

How to be

'Cause I like some suffering

Don't ask me

What I need

I'm just fine

Here finding me

Me

I've already given

Up on getting through

I never question

Who I'm talking to

Oh so much for nothing

But nothing means so much

I know it's touching

But I've been out of touch

And it's all that I can do

I'm a sight for my sore eyes

But it's all I am so

Chorus

I don't think you notice

When I can't reach out

I guess you're waiting

On somebody else again

Oh so much for talking

It's all been said before

I'm hearing something

but I wish you'd just say more

But you're going off again

When I try to just hold on

But you're going off so

Chorus

 

THE END

Finally I'm done!  So, what did you think?  You like?