Stepping carefully around headstones, the gang moved quietly through the Sunnydale Cemetery.

"Uh-oh," Xander whispered, motioning to an open grave. "We've got company. Newbies, at that."

On alert, the foursome split up, Xander and Anya going one way and Willow and Tara going the other, coming around opposite sides of the grave. Willow moved quietly, stealthily, Tara a step or two behind her. Suddenly, a vamp, face twisted in a reflection of the inner demon, leaped from the bushes, tackling Tara.

Tara screamed, rolling with the blow. "Willow!"

Her red hair flying, Willow whipped around, quickly assessing the situation. She ran toward the struggling pair, saying a powerful spell of protection for Tara.

"You're messing with the wrong chica," Willow said. "Pick on someone your own size."

The vamp growled angrily. "More to drink, that's all."

"I'll keep my blood in MY veins, thanks," Willow said, executing a perfect roundhouse kick to the vampire's head. He stumbled, falling back. Willow pressed her advantage, pummeling the vamp with powerful blows.

The vampire backhanded Willow across the face. She rolled with the punch, landing next to the axe she'd dropped. Grabbing it quickly, Willow swung it back and with an efficient swipe of the glittering blade, decapitated the vampire. Its head fell to the floor, its body following shortly. Both parts exploded into dust.

Willow stayed frozen in position for a moment, the axe in her right hand, her head turned over her left shoulder, breathing hard.

"Will?" came a very uncertain voice. "How did... why did... the axe ... " Xander's voice trailed off as he and Anya stepped from the bushes. "We heard Tara scream. I'm confused. You could've been Buffy with those moves."

Tara stepped up, putting her hands on Willow's chin. "That vamp gave you a hard hit. Are you okay?" she asked.

"Feeling better already," Willow said nonchalantly.

"You... never fight like that," Tara said.

Confused herself, Willow turned to the group. "Let's go see Giles."

They trooped back into the magic shop.

"Giles?" Tara said. "We need you."

"What about?" he asked crisply. "I was headed out to meet someone."

"It's Willow," Xander said, pointing. "Smart girl went Slayer girl!"

"What?" Giles asked. "Somebody interpret please. I don't speak Xander."

Tara looked up at him. "We were on patrol, she and I," Tara said. "A vamp jumped me. She gave him a roundhouse kick and then punched him like a punching bag. Then she decapitated him with the axe!"

Giles blinked.

"What were you doing with an axe, Willow?" he asked.

"That's what we asked," Xander said. "I told her she could've been Buffy with those moves!"

"You tried to save Buffy when she died, didn't you?" Giles asked, chewing thoughtfully on the earpiece of his glasses.

"I thought with what I'd learned from Glory ... and ... and the power of the dark magicks, I could save Buffy," Willow said softly. "But I failed. Her mind went dark. I almost didn't make it out myself."

"I wonder," Giles said. "Maybe mind melds aren't a Star Trek thing. Tara, can you assist me with something?"

"S-s-sure, Mr. Giles," Tara said.

Giles pondered, looking through a few books, and suggested the three of them go to the training room. "I think it's very possible you were successful in grasping Buffy's essence, Willow," he said. "That's where the 'live for me' comment came from, the moves like Buffy. I think there's a way we can know for sure."

He explained what his goal was. Tara and Willow would hold hands, amplifying their power. Tara would attempt to enter Willow's mind as Willow had Buffy's and it would be like active hypnosis.

Shuffling quietly, a little nervous, the girls sat Indian-style in the middle of the floor. They reached out to each other and grasped hands. Staring deeply into Willow's eyes, Tara began saying the spell that would allow her into Willow's subconcious. The room drifted away for both of them.

A petite redhead, hair in pigtails, sat at a computer desk, her legs swinging as she flipped through files on the Internet.

"Willow?" said Tara.

"Yeah?"

"Have you seen Buffy?"

"She's next door," the child-Willow replied, grasping Tara's hand, leading her toward the door of her room. "I got to play with her again! It's been a long time! We played knights and dragons! I'm learning to fight!"

Tara nodded, more than slightly amazed. They knocked at the door of a white house. The door opened to reveal a small girl, blonde hair in a ponytail.

"Willow! Come to play again?"

"I can't, Buffy," pouted Willow. "The big one wanted to see you. I like her though, anyhow."

Tara gulped. "I'm a bit over my head," she said. "You two play. I have to leave now."

She murmered the spell and came back to herself. Willow blinked and smiled, squeezing Tara's hand. Giles stepped forward, a questioning look on his face.

"It's her," Tara said softly. "They're both there." A look of amazement crossed Giles' face. "A Slayer and a Wiccan sharing one body? That's ... unheard of," he breathed.