A/N sorry for taking so long in updating this story. I've been kind of busy with other stories and since people hardly read this one, I put it on the back burner. Anyway tell me what you think of this chapter.

also to new readers to see when this story is updated, just go to the Tara Maclay section of this site and check it out.

Also thanks to the new reviewer irismoon and to BAKAMAN I uploaded two chapters at once so tell me what you think.

Chapter 11

Ghosts part.1

Head pounding, Tara quickly opens her eyes. The first thing she notices is that she's in an all white room. As she tries to get up off the floor, she feels that she's lying on top of somebody. Looking over her shoulder, she see's that it's Angel.

"Angel get up." Tara said as she sits up and slaps him on the arm.

"Wha... I'm up, I'm up." Angel says groggily as he opens his eyes and see's Tara.

"What the hell is going on here" Angel asks as he stands to his feet.

"It's funny you should mention hell." a voice replies from behind them. Turning they see that it's Cordelia.

"Cordy I don't understand." Angel said as he walks up to her. "Why are we here and why are me and Tara seperated"

"Well you're seperated because, it's easier to talk to you that way. As for why are you here, it's because we made a slight boo boo."

"What kind of a boo... mistake" Angel asked as he crossed his arms. Cordy looked real glum about what she was about to say.

"Well do you remember when I told you that after you died someone powerful raised the old one's " Cordy asked. Angel only nodded.

"Well he knows of Tara's existence now. Even though he doesn't know everything about her, he's still aware of her."

"Damnit" Angel explodes.

"Who is he " Tara asked, ignoring Angel's outburst. Cordy let out a sigh.

"It's the Devil." she says simply. Tara's eyes widen at that.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me" Angel yells again. Before he can continue with his tirade of curse words, a voice interrupts him.

"Hey dog what's up with all the shouting " a male voice asks. With wide eyes at recognizing the voice, Angel turns and see's Gunn, Wesley, and Spike walking up to him.

"Well if it isn't the galloping poofster." Spike says with a grin. "Oh don't start boo hooing, mate." he adds as he see's the look in his grandsire's eyes.

"But how " Angel asks as he walks up to them and shakes their hands, but only gives Spike an icy glare.

"We're at the meeting place." Cordy explains.

"All the people who die, they come here to meet with the living." Wesley adds.

"Listen, I'm sorry that..."

"Hey man you better not be apologizing for us dying." Gunn starts. "We knew the risks and we took them."

"Yeah but Fred..."

"What about me " Fred asked as she joined the group. Giving a quick kiss to Wesley, she looked back at Angel. Breaking his tradition of not hugging, he embraced Fred with the biggest one he could muster.

"How " he whispered into her hair, still hugging her. As they broke their hug, he looked down at her expecting answers.

"The only being that can truly destroy a soul is God." Tara says. Then all eyes fall on her. "Hey, I read the bible, before." she adds with a shrug.

"Oh, I'm sorry guys, this is Tara." Angel says as he stands behind her.

"We know who she is Captain Forehead." Spike says with a shake of his head.

"We're in heaven and we can see what you do." he explained.

"Heaven " Angel snorted. "Why the hell did they let you up there " Angel asked.

"Oi" Spike yelled in outrage. "I helped save the world..."

"Ignore them." Gunn says as the two keep bickering. "I'm Charles Gunn at your service." he says as he kisses Tara's hand. Tara blushes and hides her face behind her hair.

"Also I saw what you did for me. The alive me... anyway that was real decent of you. I remember that we starved for another day, before we could get enough food for everybody."

With a smile she starts to talk to the rest of the Angel Investigations team. They even tell her that she saved another life. It seemed that Pike was supposed to die that day when that demon attacked him from behind. As she's busy talking to them Angel pulls Cordy to the side and asks her a few questions.

"Cordy I have to ask you something." Angel whispers to her. At her nod he continues. "When me and Tara are combined together, why does her attitude change so much ? I know that she's a good girl, but sometimes I can sense so much anger in her. Is it because of me "

"Kinda..." Cordy starts. "Really it's not your fault, it's really Angelus'." she explains.

"What does my alter ego have to do with..." then he realizes what he's saying. "Oh."

"Yeah every since you two combined, she gets everything. Your powers all the way down to the Angelus persona."

"I don't want her to go through that." Angel explains. "She's a good kid and I don't want Angelus bringing her down."

"Then be there for her." Cordy tells him. "You really love her don't you " she asks.

"Yeah." Angel admits as he runs his hand through his hair. "She reminds me so much of..."

"You're little sister, Kathy." Cordy finishes for him. Angel only smiles.

"Oh it's time for you guys to go back to earth." Cordy says loud enough for Tara to hear as well. Tara looks dissappointed that she has to leave so soon. Saying her goodbyes to Gunn and the rest she joins Angel's side.

"Wait before we go, what are these things " Tara asks as the guanlets appear on her wrists. Cordy just smiles.

"I think I'll let her tell you." Cordelia says as she looks over Tara's shoulder. Following her line of vision Tara see's a woman with short brown hair, wearing an all white dress much like Cordelia's.

"Mom" Tara yells as she finally recognizes her. All the years of abuse and sickness took away her mom's beauty. Now she looked younger and beautiful.

"Tara." her mom says with a smile and her arms opened wide. As the two hugged and embraced, they began to talk about what was happening and what was going on in Tara's life. After that Elizabeth started to tell her about the bracelets.

"I'm really glad Master Tao decided to give you those." she started. "They are called Dragon Guanlets. They give the user extra strength and speed for awhile and they also give you the power of the fire element." she explains.

"I'm sorry you two, It's time for Tara to leave." Cordy announces.

"But...but..." Tara stammers.

"Don't worry Tara, we'll meet again one day." her mom assures as she caresses her daughters cheek. "And thank you Angel, for keeping my daughter safe." she says with a smile. Angel smiles back.

As Tara closes her eyes, she opens them again and see's that she is back in the warehouse. As she scans the room she see's Giles running towards her, with a worried expression on his face.

"Tara are you alright." he asks worry evident in his voice. "You dissappeared for a second and then you reappeared." he explains.

"I'm just fine." she says a little woozily. "I just need a little rest." she says ignoring his last statement.

"You need to explain yourself first." Angel stated as he stood beside Giles. "How did you know about me and what exactly are you " he asks.

"Angel why are you attacking my charge " Giles demanded as he glared at Angel. Tara just watched this exchange.Maybe Giles didn't like Angel from the beginning, Tara thought to herself. And here I thought that it was just because of Miss Calendar's death.

"Listen, I'll explain everything." Tara said before the two could start arguing. "Let's just go to Giles house. I'll tell you everything there." she says as she walks off. Angel and Giles glare at each other and then they follow her.

"So you're a witch " Giles asked as he, the scooby gang, Angel and Jenny sat in his living room. Cordelia decided to go home, to be honest she just hated Tara. Tara decided not to tell them the full truth. How could you tell someone you were possessed by a spirit and was sent to take out the major players of evil.

"Yes sir." she replies after a second.

"But the moves you did earlier... I've never seen a witch do stuff like that." Angel comments.

"Well I learned some karate from Master Tao and everything else I learned from... my brother." Tara replies. Angel smiled inwardly at this, because she was talking about him.

"But... " Angel tries to start again only for Buffy to cut him off.

"Let it go Angel." she says softly. "Listen Tara, I wanted to say that I'm sorry for the way I treated you earlier. I was acting like a total bitch." Buffy wanted her to know.

"It's alright." Tara said with a smile returning to her face.

"Friends ?" Buffy said as she extended her hand.

"Friends." Tara said as they shook hands.

"I think somebody should be an official scooby." Xander comments, as everyone starts to smile.

"Maybe tomorrow." Tara says with a yawn. "I'm kind of tired." she comments.

"I hear ya." Buffy says as she and the others stand. "I'll see you guys later. Willow do you want me to walk you home "

"Yeah sure." Willow replies as she walks to the door. "Hey Tara, I was wondering if ummm... maybe you could teach me some magick " Willow asked nervously. She was really hoping Giles wouldn't say anything about it, because he didn't want her getting involved in the magicks.

"Sure anytime." Tara replied. Then Angel whispered something into her mind. "But know that magick isn't a game it's something serious and it should be regarded as such." Tara cautioned.

"Okay." Willow replied. And with that Willow, Buffy, Angel, And Xander left.

"I'll see you tomorrow at school, Rupert." Jenny said with a smile as she kissed Giles on the cheek. Before he could respond she walked out of the door. With a frustrated sigh he turned to Tara.

"I'm extraordinarily proud of you Tara. On the way over Buffy told me how you took charge and saved all of our lives. If there's anything I can ever do for you then just name it."

Tara sat there and thought about it for a moment. "Well I have some friends that live in LA that I have to visit. Is it okay if I go to meet them this weekend " she asks.

"Only if I go with you." he says after a moment of consideration.

"Deal." she replies. "Wait I think Angel should come too."

"Why " Giles asked confused.

"Just trust me." she replied with a smile.

TBC...