I'm not sure of some of the time frames for this chapter, just pretend that it's all right okay. By the way thanks for the great reviews, I appreciate it.

Chapter 2: Righting that which went wrong

Sunnydale, California

Three years previous.

Joyce Summers sipped her morning coffee as she read the paper. Dawn had just left for school and Joyce could relax for a couple of hours before she had to go to the gallery and open. Suddenly a clap of thunder sounded outside, which made Joyce cringe.

"My God that sounded like it was right on top of us." She looked skyward "Don't tell me it's going to rain." She moaned, the weather reports said nothing of rain.

The door to the kitchen opened, and Joyce screamed as a large hairy man entered her home.

"M'lady, I am not here to harm thee." Champion began as he got down on one knee

Grabbing a butcher knife off of the counter, Joyce held it in front of her.

"Who are you, get out of my house!" She demanded

"Please M'lady, hear my words and I shall leave." he said needing to make this woman understand.

Scared witless Joyce backed up towards the phone to call the police.

Champion did not move a muscle, just simply stared at the woman "M'lady, I know that thou art the mother of the Slayer. Please, hear me."

Joyce stopped short, he knew about Buffy. Perhaps he was here to warn her about something to do with Buffy.

Still holding the knife towards the Champion, she nodded "Okay, say what you have to say and leave."

"Thou art in great danger, M'lady." Champion told her

Joyce lowered the knife a bit, "Me? Not Buffy?" she asked confused

Champion shook his head, "The slayer is not in danger at this moment, however she will be soon. For I have seen the future M'lady, thy daughters will suffer greatly if thou does not heed my words."

"What?" Joyce asked, he said daughters, that meant that Dawn was in danger too.

"A fortnight ago, thou went to the healer."

Joyce blinked in surprise, "How did you know? I've been having some headaches…"

Champion nodded "Yes, M'lady, and thou has been lied to as well."

"Lied to? By who?"

"The man thou went to see, owed a favor to someone of my acquaintance, a man I know to be evil incarnate. To repay this favor, he was to lie to thee and say that thou are fine and healthy."

Joyce gasped and sat heavily in a chair, "I knew something was wrong, I never get headaches…"

"Yes M'lady, thou must travel to the city of lost angels. You must go today, thou cannot waste any time, do it this very day."

"Lost angels? Los Angeles!" Joyce realized what the man was saying "What about Dawn? Buffy?"

Champion shook his head, "Thou cannot tell anyone, the ones who wish thee and thy daughter's harm, have ears and spies every where. Go now to the city of angels, go to a healer, no time can be wasted. Please M'lady, if not for thy own sake, for the sake of thy daughters. They will need thee soon, more than ever in the time that is to come. Thy daughter Dawn can go to Buffy for now. Thou can send them a message later and explain. However, thou must go now."

Joyce thought a moment, this man a complete stranger, was telling her to go see a doctor. This could be a trick, get her out of town…but why would he do that? What purpose could he have? Joyce lifted a hand to her temple and rubbed, trying to rid herself of the pain. Joyce looked at the man before her, she stared into his eyes, even though they were mostly covered by hair. Joyce could see the pleading look in his eyes. She made her decision.

Grabbing her purse off the counter, "I'm going right now." she promised

Champion sighed in relief, "Thou art a wise woman." he stood "I shall leave thee now as I promised."

Joyce stared at the man "Who are you?"

"I am Champion."

"Thank you for your warning, Champion, I knew something wasn't right."

"Fair thee well, M'lady. We shall meet again, I think." With that Champion turned and left. He had to find the Wicca Witch Willow. Again he disappeared in mist and thunder.

Joyce rushed out to her car and dialed her phone "Hi, I need a ticket on your next flight to Los Angeles…"

Los Angeles Medical Center

Two weeks later

After two days of intense testing, a small tumor was found in Joyce Summers brain. The doctor had told her, how lucky she was that they were able to catch it at such an early stage. The surgery was, while not easy, was not that dangerous either. On the third day, Joyce was wheeled into surgery. Two days after that, she called her daughters, both of whom were going out of their minds with worry. Catching the next plane, Buffy and Dawn were at their mothers side.

The next day, after much tear shed, the doctor came into the room smiling. The latest results of Joyce's MRI in his hand.

"Clear…you're going to be fine…" Were the only words Joyce actually heard as her daughters tearfully and carefully hugged their mother.

Three months later

Dawn sat in her bedroom, her tears falling, her heart breaking.

There was a knock on the door, and it opened

"Can I come in?" Joyce asked gently seeing that her daughter was in pain.

Confused and hurt Dawn turned her back to Joyce. Dawn melted as she felt her mother's arms come around her holding her tight.

"What's wrong Dawnie? Is this about what Buffy and the others were talking about earlier?" she asked

"H…h...h.ow can I not be your daughter?" she asked confused "I have memories, birthdays, picnics, growing up here with you!"

Joyce shook her head, "You are my daughter." she said simply

Dawn turned to her tears in her eyes "Don't you understand! I'm the key! I'm not even human! I'm…"

Joyce grabbed her daughters face, "YOU ARE DAWN SUMMERS!" she said forcefully

"You are my daughter, you will ALWAYS be MY daughter. I don't care what anyone says!" She hugged Dawn fiercely

Dawn smiled in her mothers embrace, "Thank you mommy."

One year later

"Mom? Can I talk to you?" Buffy asked from the doorway

Joyce had been expecting this for a long time now, patting the bed she sat up and waited.

Buffy sat down, then quickly laid down placing her head in her mothers lap. Joyce smiled and ran her fingers through her daughter's hair and waited.

"I'm so confused mom." Buffy began "I don't feel anything anymore. I was so happy where I was, why do I have to come back for more pain!" she asked wiping at her tears.

"Your life wasn't done yet." Joyce said simply "When you died…" Joyce stopped, "When you died, I felt like a part of me died as well. I was a zombie, so was Dawn, if it wasn't for Spike coming here and taking care of us…"

Buffy smiled wiping her tears "He promised me he would."

Joyce smiled and nodded, "He did, Spike took care of both Dawn and me. I think that you are a positive influence on him."

Buffy buried her head in her mother's lap, "I've been sleeping with him." She admitted "With an evil…"

"I know." Joyce smiled

"You knew?" Buffy sat up shocked "Why didn't you say anything?"

Joyce wiped her daughter's tears "I knew that you would tell me, when you were ready."

Buffy nodded in understanding, "It's the only way that I feel alive."

"No it isn't." Joyce told her, grabbing Buffy's hand she placed it over her heart "Do you feel that?"

"What your heart beat?"

"Yes." Joyce moved Buffy's hand over her own heart "Now, do you feel that?"

"Yes, but…"

"No buts, no thinking, just feel it. Your heart is beating, you can touch, you can smell, you are alive. You are back for a purpose honey. I don't know what that purpose is, I do know that it will be important. Just remember this, God will never give you more than you can handle.

Buffy nodded, then asked sheepishly "Can I sleep here with you tonight mom?"

Smiling, Joyce nodded and just like she had when she was a little girl. Buffy quickly jumped underneath the covers and snuggled closely to her mother and quickly fell into the first peaceful sleep she'd had in months.

Joyce reached out and turned off the bedside light.

"You were right Champion, I am needed. Thank you."

Champion appeared at the Summers house again but on a very different day and looked at the sky. Well night actually.

Buffy and the Scooby's were heading home, Champion spotted them as they headed down the street. Looking around for who he wanted to find, he finally found him.

Warren gun in hand made his way towards the Scooby's. One thought running through his head. That this time he was going to kill the slayer! Raising his gun, Warren aimed, something slammed into his back and he squeezed the trigger…

The shot went wild, the Scooby's all hit the ground and all looked frantically around to see what was happening.

Warren dropped the gun as he looked down in amazement at the two feet of polished and sharpened steel stuck out of his body.

"Young fool." Champion shook his head sadly, "If only thou were not an idiot. This would not have been necessary." Pulling out his sword, Warren falls to the ground, his eyes blank and staring at the sky.

Looking up from the body, Champion saw that Buffy and her friends are all staring at him. Wondering what had just happened, and wondering if they should attack.

Joyce Summers stopped short spotting who it actually was, having heard the shot and knowing that her daughter was outside. She came running, panting and with her hand over her heart she saw the dead boy on the street and Champion standing over him.

"Champion?" Joyce gasped "What happened?" she stared at Buffy and also saw that both

Anya and Xander were holding onto each other in shock, Anya in particular looked terrified. Tara and Willow also held on to each other, offering each other comfort.

Buffy's eyes opened wide in shock, "You know grizzly Adams?"

Joyce nodded "Yes honey, he's the man that I told you about. The one who came to see me that day in the kitchen."

Buffy did know, and also knew that she owed this man a lot for saving her mothers life.

"What happened Champion?" Joyce asked again.

Champion sheathed his sword, "This young foolish pup, decided that he needed vengeance for his loss to the slayer. Such the coward he was, he had not the courage to stand before her, face to face, with honor. Instead, he tried to be a cheap assassin." Looking up angrily, he faced Willow. Then pointed.

"Thou, Witch, is who I have come to see." Champion said gravely

Willow stared at the giant man, more than just a little intimidated. "Me?" she asked innocently

In fact every one was staring at Willow now

"Thou hast become powerful Willow. Some would say too powerful." Champion began

"Today I have stopped something that would have taken the world to the brink of destruction. By you…"

"Me?" Willow stared incredulously "I could never…"

"But thee did." Champion stated it as fact "I saved thee from it this time, I will not do so again. Be warned witch, thy powers are vast, too vast, if thou art not careful, consume you the powers will. Listen to what thy lover Tara tells thee. Stop using thy powers for everything. Be careful young witch." Champion warned one last time as he turned to leave "Oh!" Champion turned one last time "The rat thou keeps in your bedroom."

Shocked Willow and Tara stared at the man "How did you know…?"

"There is a reason she turned into a rat, for that is her true personality." He warned "Trust her not, better yet, leave her as she is. The world will be better off." Nodding to Joyce one last time "Tis good to see you so well M'lady. Fair thee well. Till we meet again."

In clap of thunder, Champion was gone.

"So" Xander looked at Willow, who was shivering with fright "What do we do about the body?" he asked lamely

Willow and Tara sat in their bedroom talking about what had just happened.

"He's right Willow." Tara said again "You are using too much magic, it's beginning to scare me."

Willow took Tara into her arms and kissed her gently, "I'll ease off." She promised "I don't want to scare you, or lose you." she told Tara "I love you too much to do either."

"Promise me." Tara asked

"I promise." Willow smiled, vowing to herself that she would not hurt Tara like this ever again.

Los Angeles, California

One and a half years ago

Holtz watched approvingly as Justine ran the others through their places with the captured vampire. Knowing that tonight was going to be a very important night, the night that he would get his vengeance against Angelus. Holtz watched as Justine corrected one of the moves that one of his men had gotten wrong.

Suddenly the entire group turned as they heard someone clapping his hands.

Holtz spotted the giant hairy man first.

"Thou art very well trained, Justine." Champion complimented her

Justine stared at the man as he made his way into the room.

"Who the hell are you?" she demanded looking to Holtz who shrugged his shoulders

"You may call me Champion." he told the others

"Why are you here?" Demanded Holtz as he grabbed his sword

"Why…" Champion began as he placed a hand on his sword "I am here to try and to reason with thee. Holtz, thy plan that thou have for tonight. I cannot allow it to take place, thou dost not know what evil you shall be unleashing into this world. I have come to try and plead with thee. Forget about thy vengeance, live life as the good man that thou were once. Before thy need for vengeance twisted thee into this."

Holtz nodded to his men and to Justine, who began to surround Champion.

"I see, I am guessing that Angel sent you here to plead for his life."

"Be not a fool, Holtz!" Champion told him in no uncertain terms "Take this chance that I am offering to thee."

"If I don't?"

"Thou shalt leave me with no choice." Champion drew his sword

Holtz chuckled as he hefted his own sword, "I'll take my chances." the men began to close in on Champion, who shook his head sadly

"So be it." he said softly and sadly

Wesley Wyndam Price, nervously made his way towards the Hyperion. He knew what had to be done, the child must be taken to a place of safety, before the prophecy came true. Stopping just outside of the hotel, Wes took a moment to collect his thoughts and gather his courage for what he was about to do. Suddenly a bloody sword rested on his shoulder.

"Wesley Wyndam Price." Champion began "Do not be a fool!"

Wes jumped and turned to see the hairiest man he'd ever seen. Staggering a few paces back, Wes collected himself

"What…?"

"Thou art being played for a knave!" Champion told him quickly "Conner is in no danger from his father. Already the good lady Fred hath learned the truth."

"What are you talking about?" Wes demanded "And how do you know…"

"Listen Wesley." Champion put his sword away "I know that thou art a good man, and that thy intentions are noble. But thou art being led by lies, lies told to thee by Wolfram and Hart."

Wesley's head was beginning to spin "Wolfram and Hart? But the prophecy!"

"Lies." Champion told him "Told to thee so that thou would do this very thing. Remove the baby from where he is safe, to a place where Wolfram and Hart can take him or be killed by Shirjan. Although that will be difficult…" Champion smiled "I have already taken care of him." he patted his sword "As I have dealt with Holtz and Justine. It would have been her that took the child." Champion told Wes "They chose thee because thou art a noble man of conscience. They knew that thou would protect the child."

Wes stared at Champion "You killed Holtz?"

"He left me with no choice." Champion admitted "I begged him to stop his plans, but he would not. What he would have done to Connor is unspeakable."

Feeling a bit more sure of himself now, Wes demanded "How do I know that you are telling me the truth!"

"The green one, that thou call Lorne." Champion suggested

"Lorne?" Wes thought a moment "Yes he can read you."

"Also, Lady Fred has some research materials, tell her to begin at once. Then thou shalt see that I tell you no lies, only the truth."

Lorne looked up from his book as Wes entered with the wildest looking man that he had ever seen.

"My, my, my." Lorne began "Someone can sure use a date with my stylist."

"Lorne." Wes began "I need you to read this man for me."

Lorne looked confused "Why…"

"Please Lorne." Wes practically begged, just wanting to know the truth, needing to know what to do for the best. "All I need to know is, if he is telling me the truth."

"That's it?" Lorne asked "Nothing more?" He could see that this meant a lot to Wes. The man was almost frantic, Lorne thought.

"Yes, just if he is telling me the absolute truth."

"Okay, Wes, I'll do it." Smiling Lorne turned to Champion "Just sing for me."

Champion began to sing an old song, one that his mother used to sing to him when she had tucked him into bed at night.

Lorne listened to the charming little song, then he felt the truth come over him. The other mans feelings flowed through him. Lorne shivered at what he felt, never had he felt such loneliness, despair from one man in all his life. The song over, Lorne stared at Champion, with such compassion.

Placing a hand on Champions arm, "I am so sorry." Lorne said sadly "I hope things change for you soon."

"Hope returns." Champion told Lorne

"Lorne?" Wes asked desperately

"He's telling you the absolute truth Wes." Lorne smiled at the nervous man, not fully understanding what was going on, only he sensed that whatever it was, was very important. "I would trust this man, Wes. Whatever he told you, it's true."

Wes nearly collapsed, as he placed his head in his hands, "Oh thank you God." Connor was safe, and he did not have to betray Angel nor the rest of his family. Taking Connor would have killed Angel and Cordelia, and would have ended with Angel as his enemy.

Lorne sat by Wes's side and put an arm around him "That serious Wes?" he asked worriedly.

"Yes it was." Wes admitted and looked up to the man who just saved him from the worst mistake of his life. "Thank you."

Champion smiled "No, it is I that thank thee, for now my work is done. That which was done wrong, is now right." he said and turned walking back out into the night.

Pulling out his medallion, he thought "Time to go home."