Title: Family Ties (Sequel to Sold)
Author: UniDagger
Email: sj10113@alltel.net
Feedback: Yes, please!
Distribution: Just let me know.
Spoilers: none
Pairing: W/T, B/S, X/A…you know, the usual *G*
Rating:
Disclaimers: Joss and Co. own all.
Summary: When grandma calls, Tara and Willow rush back to another dimension to rescue her, aided by the slayer. Is it just a rescue mission? Or is Destiny calling. And if it's Destiny calling, how did she get their number? Inquiring minds, want to know.
NOTE: No bunnies, and no strange men with cheese slices appearing for no reason.

Part 5

Dawn woke early as a small foot kicked her in the ribs. "Umph!" She opened an eye blearily and looked at the small boy next to her then recalled Willow coming in the night before. "Built in baby-sitter." She sighed. Chronos moaned again in his sleep and flipped over, almost hitting the teenager in the head. Dawn carefully extracted herself from the dangerous child and stood up, looking at the clock. It was almost seven, she decided to get her shower now, while Chro was sleeping. Maybe Spike could watch him while she went to school. She didn't like the idea of dropping him off at the Happy Clown Child Center, there was just something about that huge painted clown that wigged her out.

She took her school clothes into the bathroom to get ready for the day ahead. She didn't see the figure in the closet as it hid deeper to keep from being caught, nor did she hear the three year old as he whimpered in his sleep.

****

Spike opened his eyes slowly, he'd only been asleep maybe an hour when he sensed something in the house. His keen eyes cut through the dark but found nothing out of the usual. He crept up the stairs and into the kitchen, all the blinds were down so he continued up the stairs. He heard Dawn humming in the shower and smiled. Quietly he searched each room, the smell getting stronger when he entered the teen's room where his 'nephew' was still sleeping. The smell was dissipating, but it had been in the closet, he was sure of that.

Spike growled. He didn't like things creeping about in the closets of his family. He swallowed hard as that last word rolled about in his mind. Family? Is that what he thought of them. "Spike, you've gone soft." He scolded himself half-heartedly. "Unca-Spike?" a sleepy little voice asked. With a smile, the vampire walked over to the boy. "Hey sleepy head. Aren't you missing some cartoons or something?"

Chronos smiled and reached up for a hug, which the once-evil, creature of the night gracefully accepted, returning one of his own. Chronos clung to him, as Spike stood up, the child hnging from his neck giggling. Spike grinned and tickled him, causing him to lose his grip, but the vampires arms held him before he could fall. "Let's see whats on the telly, then." Spike suggested and carried him downstairs to let Dawn finish her morning rituals. "Can we work on the tree house?"

Spike raised an eyebrow, "Well sure, Buddy. 'Cept then you'll have to call me Uncle Dusty." The boy giggled then shook his head. "Nooo. I mean tonight. Mama-Willow and Mama-Tara had to go and Buffy too. So, you don't have to patrol right?"

"How do you know Buffy went too?" Spike asked, a little surprised.

The little boy looked at him as if he were joking then shrugged. "Because I do. She was…" he searched for the right words, frowning, "Um…gone…when Willow and Tara were."

"You can feel when they leave this realm?" The boy nodded, then looked back into Spike's eyes. "Is that bad?" "Shoot no, that's great. You know what that means?" Spike flipped on the tv and continued after getting a head shake, "That means you'll know when they return…and we wont get in trouble for not having the house cleaned up or getting caught eating lots of ice cream when they decide to sneak up on us."

Setting the grinning boy down on the couch, he went in to get some food for his nephew, something simple. "Ah, Pop Tarts. Simple enough." He took the package into the living room and opened it, handing them over. "I'm going to pop down for a rest, Tiny. You come wake me when the Lil'Bit is ready to go for school, ok?"

Chronos giggled at the antics of Bugs Bunny then nodded. "Ok, Uncle Spike." Spike turned to return to his room then stopped as the little boy called his name, "Uncle Spike?"

"Yes?"

"Th-they're gonna be ok…right?" his voice was worried and sounded on the verge of tears.

"Hey, don't sweat it Little Guy. They'll be just fine." He smiled what he hoped was a reassuring smile…or as reassuring as a vampire can give. "Who's a match for two wiccans and a slayer anyway!" The boy seemed to be mollified so he continued downstairs, his own doubts causing him to frown.

Part 6

Willow sat resting against a tree, her head back and eyes closed. A beam of light filtered through the canopy of leaves and branches to dance softly over her red hair. Tara stared at her soulmate, loving the way the sun shone on her face. She could handle anything as long as she had Willow at her side. Willow lifted her eyelids slowly and peered at Tara with a soft smile. "You're staring." She accused Tara. Tara blushed and looked away.

The redhead stretched then made her way to sit next to Tara, and ran her fingers through her golden locks. "I don't mind. I can feel your love when you look at me like that." Tara turned to look into Willows eyes and smiled. "I do love you." Willow grinned, "And I love you. Too bad we're on a mission." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. Buffy coughed from her position a few trees away.

Shaking her head and chuckling, Buffy told the girls, "I'll give you two..uh…a moment. Going to look for water…or something." Willow and Tara giggled. After Buffy disappeared, Willow bent her neck to place a soft kiss on the lips she so cherished. Tara kissed her back, getting lost in the moment. As Willow at last pulled back so they could breathe, she looked around. "Wow."

"What?" Tara asked as she snuggled into Willow's arms.

"We're actually alone. We haven't been alone in so long. No little boy running in at odd times." She chuckled.

"I miss him though. I didn't even think…Will! What if something happens - ?" Tara sat bolt upright, worried as terrible thoughts assaulted her mind.

"Shhhh. Baby, nothing is going to happen. We're the Wicca Girls. AND! We have the slayer. We'll be fine and home before Chro knows we're gone." Willow assured her lover.

Tara settled back into her Willow's arms with a sigh, only half consoled. Absentmindedly, Tara began caressing Willow's arm with soft strokes. As she heard the other witch's breathing quicken, she paused then grinned wickedly. She moved her hand and slowly began to inch it under Willows shirt.

Willow jumped to her feet, almost knocking Tara over. "Wha- ? Hey?" Tara started but was shushed. Willow peered into the woods. After a minute, she whispered, "Something.." Just then a black shadow zipped between the trees and Tara saw it too. She jumped up to stand ready at Willow's side.

Suddenly something struck Willow from behind, knocking her down. Tara screamed but before she could utter a spell, it had grabbed her by the throat, its red eyes bearing into her. She kicked it in the gut, earning only a snarl of rage, and a tightening on her throat. Willow stood, focused on the creature and throw a bolt of energy from her hands. It hit him in the back causing him to drop Tara. Barely missing a beat, it lunged at Willow, who sent another bolt crashing into him, knocking him to the ground.

The dark creature howled and rolled away, right into Tara who had just stood up and was summoning her own spell. The creature whirled on her and a shadowed arm reached out and slashed the blonde across the shoulder and arm. Tara cried out in pain and fell away from him as he raised his hand. Sensing a third bolt being sent his way, he ducked and disappeared into the woods as Buffy came running up. Willow rushed to Tara's side. "Oh Baby!" she gasped as she saw the cut that went almost to her elbow.

"I-it's ok. It's n-not that bad." Tara answered, trembling as she held her arm tightly, trying to hold back the tears. Buffy ran after the creature to see if it was still lurking about, or for signs of where it had gone but saw nothing. "Damn it!" She swore, angry at herself for having gone off. What was I thinking?! She returned to the girls to find Willow bandaging Tara's arm. "Is it -?"

Willow looked up and smiled weakly. "It's not too bad. I did a brief heal spell…but we really have to leave now. I'm sure someone will have sensed our magic." Buffy nodded and helped her get Tara on her feet. Buffy picked up one of the bags and slung it over her shoulder, "I'm sorry I left…"

"Buffy, it wasn't your fault. It..just came out of nowhere. Something…about it…" Willow grew quiet as she thought. Tara placed her hand on Willow's arm and smiled. "We need to go." "Right, " Willow acknowledged. The trio gathered their belongings and quickly began moving across the meadow. Their hope was that they could be across and into shelter before anyone got there.

****

It snarled from its hiding place, eyes burning hotter than ever. It should have waited. But it wanted them so badly. It raised it's hand and licked the trace of blood from the blonde witch off of its claws. A fanged smile spread slowly across its shadowy face. Soon, it would have them soon. It didn't like that the Slayer had come, but no matter. It would find a way to separate them, then the witches would be his.