CHAPTER 7

Everyone stared in disbelief.

"Faith?" Buffy asked incredulously. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, it's like this B."

Faith began walking around the room, eyeing everyone. She recognized some of them, like Willow, Xander and Giles, but she didn't recognize the slender blonde eyeing Xander.

"I can't tell you yet who sent me here. She said she would make herself known when she's ready. All I can say is that you're gonna need me. And the others."

"Others?" asked Xander. "Who else is coming?"

"I don't know them all, but I do know one of them is Willow's old man, Oz."

Willow grimaced at the memory of her life before she realized who she was, sexually speaking. But she couldn't help but wonder two things. Who was sending the help their way and who else they could expect to come to their aid.

Later that night, Dawn and Willow are alone, getting some research done. Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed throughout the room. But neither of them ready for it.

"So, there you both are."

Dawn and Willow both looked up in stunned disbelief to see the shimmering figure of Willow's first girlfriend, Tara Maclay.

"T-T-Tara?" Exclaimed a stunned Willow.

"Wow." Was all Dawn could muster.

"Yep! It's me!" Exclaimed Tara.

"But…but how?" Asked Willow incredulously. "How is this possible?"

"Well, it's like this, sweetie. I'm here as a guide, to help you guys. There's something major coming, and I've been granted permission to give you guys whatever assistance I can. Which, unfortunately won't be much. I just wanted you guys to know that I'm available to you."

A look of recognition came over Dawn's face as things started to piece together.

"It was you who sent Faith, wasn't it?"

"Yes. And Faith is just the beginning."

"Yeah! She told us Oz was coming. When will he be here."

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Then Tara was gone.

Dawn opened the door and gave a shriek of delight when she saw Oz at the door.

"Oz!" Exclaimed Willow, and hugged him.

"Hey Willow. How you doing?" Asked Oz.

"I'm good. Good. Ummmm, I'm still a lesbian, though, in case you, ummmm….had any ideas or anything."

Oz giggled. "Don't worry. I'm not here for that. We have much more important things to worry about."

"I know what you mean. Ummmmm….how are the herbs and meditation working for you?" Asked Willow.

"Well, since you asked, I don't need them anymore."

He could see the stunned look on Willow's face, and not wanting to cause her any worry, explained further.

"Tara came to me about two weeks ago and told me I was needed. More specifically, she told me my werewolf was needed. She gave me this pendant…" He showed them a little blue crystal attached to a necklace. "I can use this crystal to morph into my wolf whenever it's needed."

Willow was happy for her friend, knowing the struggle they had gone through many times when they were dating. "Wow! That's just….Amazing!" Exclaimed Willow.

They sat up the rest of the night, drinking coffee and getting reacquainted with one another.