"Come back to me Xander."

He felt her words tear into the heart he once had and at that moment, he wanted to say yes. He wanted to be lost in her again. To find the peace he had felt a very long time ago when they had caused nothing but mayhem across the land. But now he knew that that was the past and that it was wrong what they had done, what he had created.

"I can't," he whispered.

Mara drew her hand back and slapped it across his face. "Can't," she spat, "or won't?"

Xander met her gaze. "Both," he replied.

"Then you shall die with the rest," she sneered.

"Its what I deserve," he said softly.

Faith laughed. "I thought only Angel went in for the deep and brooding moments."

"You think you know everything Faith. But in the end, you know nothing. You are nothing."

"Nothing?" she said between clenched teeth. "I'll show you just how nothing I am. I will use your ashes to grow roses in. You are the nothing Xander. You always were and always will be. You think you can stop us? You think that you and those idiots can stop Richard from undoing what you did? My father will return and this time, you will not be around to ruin his homecoming."

Xander laughed. "Still have that high opinion of yourself don't you Faith? I guess self esteem is a good trait but you are abusing that."

Faith reached into her jacket and pulled out a small stake. "I'll show you abuse," she sneered as she ran at him.

"No," shouted Mara as she knocked the stake out of Faith's hand.

Faith's fist curled up and slammed into her face. Mara fell to the ground. Faith stood over her, watching as Xander melted into the darkness.

"Lets get one thing straight," she growled. "They might think you're important, that we need you, but I don't. I think you are nothing more than a fly in the nice pretty ointment. And the best thing to do with flies is to squash them. And that's what I will do with you if you interfere again."

Mara smiled as she watched Faith leave.

"Boromir was still at the warehouse when we rescued Willow. But I do not know if he is still there," Legolas said.

"He'll be gathering forces before making his move," Giles replied. "He's been defeated twice by Buffy and he'll not risk anything without a lot of back up now."

"Boromir has desired the Ring since he first saw it, but are you sure he is the one we must stop?"

Giles thought for a minute. "I'm not certain of anything anymore. A lot has changed over the past few days. Things I never thought I'd ever see. Xander... Faith..."

"Things happen for a reason. It will all become clear with the passing of time," Legolas said softly.

"Time is the one thing we might have much of," Giles replied.

"Yes I know," Legolas smiled sadly.

"We don't know why you stayed..." Giles started.

"And we do not know how long I shall remain here," Legolas finished for him.

"I see how you look at her. She's a very special person," Giles said.

"I love her," Legolas replied.

"Per obscurum of nox noctis , meus vox vocis dico vobis. Solvo meus mens quod permissum mihi animadverto verum. Permissum lemma totus animadverto verum."

She had done all she could. If this failed, then there was no telling what would happen next. Willow blew out the candles and lay down, to wait.

"I couldn't find him," Buffy said as she walked back through the door.

"He will return," Legolas replied. "He needs time alone to think."

"I hurt him bad didn't I?"

"You weren't very tactful," Giles scolded her.

Buffy poked her tongue at him in reply and moved over to where Legolas stood. "How's the research been going?"

"Slowly, but I think we might have a lead. We need Faith though. Any idea where she went?" Giles asked.

Buffy shook her head. "I only know what you know. She went to pick something up from her place...hours ago. Do you think something's happened to her?"

"Its too soon to speculate," Giles said, but the words sounded hollow to him too.

"So we're missing Faith and Xander now," Buffy said. "Any word from Willow?"

"She has not returned," Legolas replied.

"Giles, what if something's happened to her."

"She's been through a lot over the years Buffy, and she's always survived. This will be no different."

"I hope you're right."

Xander wandered the streets, enjoying the approaching night. He had missed the way the setting sun painted the surroundings with its palate of colours. He had also missed the sounds of the night. He had never understood them or appreciated them until now. Night time was different. It was more exciting. He was sad when he thought back over all the nights he'd wasted. That was, of course, before he'd met Buffy and found out that night time was something to be feared, not embraced. Now he was the thing that went bump in the night. Now he no longer feared the night.

He stopped in front of Giles' door. Did he really want to go back into the accusations from Buffy? Part of him knew she didn't mean it. that didn't make it hurt any less though. She could forgive Angel all his mistakes. Why couldn't she forgive him?

He opened the door and slowly walked in.

"Xander!" Buffy exclaimed as she ran towards him. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean..."

"I know," he said softly. "So, does the name Richard mean anything to anyone?"

"Richard?" Giles asked. "Who is Richard?"

"I was hoping you could tell me," he said. "Oh I bumped into Faith. She is playing some kind of game here and I don't think it has a character from any Mountain of Roses in it."

"What happened?" Buffy asked.

Xander took a deep breath. "I was in one of the numerous cemetaries and I bumped into an old friend. Faith was with her."

"Old friend?"

"Mara. Also known as "the mother" from the prophecy. I thought Giles explained this."

"I've had a lot on my mind," Buffy snapped.

Xander noticed her gaze had shifted to Legolas. She definately had a lot on her mind. All 6 ft. blond haired of him.

"As I was saying, Faith was with Mara and they were playing very nicely with each other. Angel was also there. And I mean Angel in the bad sense. Faith said something about us not being able to stop Richard bringing back her father."

"So Boromir is not the one we are looking for after all?" Legolas asked.

"No," Giles replied. "We're looking for a Richard."

Buffy sighed. "He could be anyone."

Giles opened his mouth to reply, but before the words could come out, they all slumped to the floor unconscious.