Chapter 16

Peace was deceptive…temporary…and chaos always reasserts itself…

When the girls were four, Kara decided to try putting them in pre-school for a couple hours a day, to get used to being around other kids in a learning environment. The twins were used to going to babysitters, so they didn't put up a fuss at the pre-school. Ana plunged right in to play with the other children, pulling Lillian along. It was the start of their second week when Lillian hung back, not wanting to leave the house.

She tugged on Kara's hand, pulling her to a stop. "Mommy, don't make me go!"

"Why don't you want to go to pre-school, Lillian? I thought you were having fun."

"It hurts," she admitted quietly.

"What does, baby?" Kara asked, kneeling in front of her daughter.

"Too many voices…it hurts." Lillian pointed to her head, tapping it with her finger.

"You mean other people's thoughts? You're hearing a lot of them at once?" Kara asked, to clarify.

"Uh-huh. I don't wanna go…"

"Oh, sweetie, why didn't you tell me sooner? It's Mommy's job to make sure you don't hurt. You need to tell me, no matter what." Kara brushed the tears off her daughter's cheeks. "Okay, tell you what. You go upstairs into Mommy and Daddy's room and sit on the sofa and color, while I take Ana to school. Does that sound okay?"

"Okay…" she responded, sniffling.

"Ana, stay right here, I'll be right back. Come on, Lilli…" She carried her upstairs and sat her on the sofa in the sitting area. "Now, be really quiet, because Daddy is sleeping, but if you really need him for something, you wake him up, okay? I'll be back soon." Kara kissed her cheek. "Love you, be good."

"Yes, Mommy."

Kara hurried downstairs to get Ana out the door and to school on time.

Lillian colored for a while, but since it was only 8 AM, she was still sleepy. She crawled up on the empty side of the bed and snuggled up to her father, and fell fast asleep. Kara decided to let her be when she found them like that twenty minutes later.

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"I'm glad you're up. I wanted to talk with you about Lillian."

"Oh? Let me get my breakfast, and then I'm all ears, luv." Spike walked over to the refrigerator, scratching his bare chest, and took out the pitcher of blood.

"Okay…well, she didn't want to go to preschool today."

"That's pretty typical for little ones, isn't it?" he asked, putting his mug in the microwave.

"Yeah, but her reason is unique. Her powers have grown strong enough that she's picking up all the children's thoughts at once. She said it hurts. We were about to head out the door this morning, when she tugged on my hand and begged me not to make her go."

"Is she alright now?" he asked worriedly.

"Yeah, she and Ana are playing. She took a nap next to you when I left her here to take Ana to school. It was pretty cute."

He would have blushed, if he were capable. "Thought I smelled more than you in the bed…and I'm not cute. The Bits are cute."

She tousled his messy hair, grinning. "Believe what you want, baby. Anyway, we need to find someone to train her to block what she doesn't want in. Lillian is too young to be picking up the thoughts of everyone she might be around. I certainly couldn't take her to a mall right now."

"Call Lorne or Wesley and see whom they'd recommend. We'll just have to limit her exposure until we find a telepath we trust," he replied.

"At least Ana's abilities are easy to deal with. We just have to keep teaching her control of her strength and speed. Things we already had to learn, ourselves. But who knows what further abilities they'll gain as they get older," Kara sighed.

"Whatever it is, we'll deal with it, and we'll teach them. And the older they get, the easier they'll understand what we're trying to say. It'll all work out, kitten," he reassured.

She leaned into his chest as he wrapped an arm around her. "Yeah, I guess. You always know the right thing to say."

"Hardly," he snorted. "I can't open my mouth around Demon Girl without betting yelled at."

"It's nothing personal. She's just anti-men right now cause the pregnancy is making her cranky. Anya likes you."

"Well, she doesn't have to take it out on me. I'm not the one who knocked her up for the third time," Spike replied.

"I'd hope not, or we'd be having a very serious talk."

He caressed her cheek and tilted her head up. "Only chit I want to be stickin' it to is you. Who else could keep up with me?"

"Oh…very romantic," she retorted dryly.

Her mate gave her his patented leer, tongue curled behind his teeth. "You're complainin' now? You didn't seem to mind all the dirty little things I whispered last night…"

"We were role-playing," she said, her look clearly stating 'duh!'.

"Uh-huh…and who's idea was it to shag on the side of the road last week cause she couldn't wait to get home, hmm?"

"So…that was last week," Kara pouted.

"Look at that lip…"

"Mmm…" she moaned, as he captured that lip in a kiss, swiping his tongue along her slightly parted mouth.

"Want you," he growled. "Always want you…"

Clothes were just being pushed aside, when they heard the shuffle of little feet on the tile.

"Daddy's up!" Ana cried.

"You can say that again," Kara muttered. She got a pinch on her rear in answer.

"Daddy, will you draw with us?" Lillian asked.

Spike adjusted his sweats, before coming round the kitchen island. "Sure, sweetheart. What have you two been doing today?" Each girl took him by the hand and led him into the living room, back to their coloring supplies.

Kara resumed cleaning the counters, after sending an erotic picture to her mate's brain. He was so gonna get it later for winding her up.

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"Thanks so much for coming over, Lorne. I thought it'd be easier to figure this out in person."

"No problem, Kara-dear. Where's the little honey-bun hiding?" The green demon was his typical smiley self.

"She was in the living room a minute ago…Lillian! Uncle Lorne's here!"

"Really!" she called from her room. "Yay!" Lillian ran down the stairs, well, more like hopped down them. "Hi, Uncle Lorne!"

"Hey, honey-bun…I hear you didn't want to go to school today."

"Unh-uh…too noisy…" she replied, scrunching up her nose.

"That's what your mom said. Would you like to play a little game with me? It's going to help you around other people."

"Okay!"

"You can use the music room, Lorne. You're sure this will work?" Kara asked.

"As much as I can be. A lot depends on her, and how much she's able to focus. I'll do my best, but it's probably going to take more than one lesson." He stood and took Lillian's hand. "Okay, dumpling. Let's go play."

"Jolly Green has an idea, eh?" Spike asked.

"Yeah…best we could do on short notice. I really don't want to have to bind her powers until she's older."

"You could do that?"

"Yeah…it had to be done once in a while when an Ossirian child was a danger to themselves and others because they couldn't control their abilities. It's a complete spell, though – binding everything, so healing powers wouldn't work anymore, either."

"How is the place doing, after six years?" he wondered.

"Good. The population is thriving. There has been very little crime. I couldn't hope for a better renewal. You could always come with me, you know. You have authority there, too," Kara replied.

"I'm no leader, luv…don't have the patience for it. Just ask my former minions," he said.

"Little hard to do without a séance, honey. Anyway, the offer always stands. I'm going to introduce the girls to their birthright eventually."

He groaned. "They're spoiled enough, as it is, without thinking they're princesses!"

"Hey, mister…the 'spoiling' is not my fault. You and your cousin have a fair amount to answer for on that front. The toys are going to need their own room, soon," Kara scolded.

"I backed off after their 3rd birthday, if you recall. It's all Bas' fault…bringing back loot from around the world," Spike pouted in return.

"If you say so, baby. As long as your daughters aren't the only girls in the house to be spoiled…" Kara said, crawling into his lap. "We have a little time right now," she purred.

"Is that right?"

"Mmm-hmm…Ana's down for a nap until dinnertime, and Lorne will be with Lilli for a while…"

"So…I could take you up to our mostly soundproofed room and have my wicked way?" he asked, sliding his hands up the back of her shirt.

"If you wanna…" She squealed in the next instant, being thrown over her mate's shoulder as he took the stairs two at a time up to the bedroom.

Spike tossed her on the bed and stripped her from the waist down at the same time. She blinked, and he was naked and joining her. Damn, he's fast!

Downstairs, Lorne smiled to himself at the giggling mated couple, before returning to the lesson. Happy people made his day.

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"So, it looks like we'll have the best chance of closing the Hellmouth, here, in May," Willow said, pointing to the calendar.

"Wow…we can really do this?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah, I think so. The energies will be good. You fighter types will take on any demons that manage to escape through the hole, and we'll do our spell. With any luck, the rift should be sealed for good by lunchtime," the redhead replied cheerfully.

"That's what I like to hear. I hope you're right about the Hellmouth dying back over these years…though, I have to wonder where the energy has been going, instead…" Buffy pondered.

"Giles said there's another Hellmouth in Cleveland. That would be the nearest one to Sunnydale."

"Faith is already there. I still can't believe the Watcher's Council got her out of jail…I guess they just can't leave a Slayer unused. I don't envy poor Wes being her watcher," Buffy added.

"From his last e-mail to Kara, they seem to be getting along pretty well. He said that Faith made a lot of positive progress while she was in prison, with Angel visiting often. She seems to be dedicated to the cause, now. I'm just relating what Tara told me, though," Willow informed her.

"Well, as long as I never have to see her, I'll be a happy camper. Make the preparations, and let me know when we can do this."

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Buffy sat with the Scythe on her lap, polishing the blade. It was pretty nifty, handed down to her by the Guardian lady last fall. Apparently, she was supposed to find the Slayer if a Slayer ever made it to age 25, and give her the weapon. The nice Guardian lady had shown up at the apartment with it, told Buffy all about it, then left, saying she could finally be at peace. Every time Buffy held it, she could feel the weapon's power, adding to her fighting skills and making her even more deadly. She also thought that Sebastian had a little Scythe envy.

"This spell isn't going to blow up the town, is it?" Joyce asked, sitting with Giles and Buffy.

"No, dear. It's just supposed to close the rift for good. There might be a little ground shaking under the school, but the spell is safe.

"Good…I still think we should pack up some things, just in case."

"If it makes you feel better, Mom. Willow is pretty confident, though," Buffy added.

"It would make me feel better to stash a few things at the gallery, just in case. When are you doing the spell?"

"In a week. The energy of the universe is supposed to be on our side, or something. Willow could explain it much better. Well, I gotta take off. I told Sebastian I'd pick up dinner." Buffy gave her mother a kiss on the cheek and Giles a hug.

"Have a nice evening, honey. Tell Sebastian we say hello."

"Always do, Mom. Later!"

"So, Rupert, is this plan really going to go as easily as she says?"

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"Willow! The spell!" Buffy yelled. She was battling two Turok-han. Sebastian was handling another on the other side of the cavern. She could see another one starting to claw its way up through the small rift in the ground.

They had started to do the spell, when the first Turok-han had come out of the earth, diving for Giles and Tara. Tara had used a spell to fling the uber-vamp away from Giles, but the ex-Watcher had still hit his head on the stone when he fell. Buffy had commanded her to take him back up to the surface out of harm's way. Willow could handle the spell by herself.

Willow stepped up now and started to chant, her voice mystically rising in volume. The edges of the rift started to shimmer, and wailing and roaring could be heard from below.

"It's working," Buffy whispered to herself, before beheading her last opponent. She looked over to her husband, to see that he had just done the same with his ax. They came to stand behind Willow as she worked the magic, wind whipping their hair.

All sound seemed to suddenly be sucked out of the air, then BOOM! A mystical shockwave threw them all against the rock wall.

Buffy's ears were ringing as she shook her head to clear it, pushing herself up off the ground. She stumbled towards where the rift had been and examined the ground.

"Willow! You did it! It's like the crack was never there." Buffy turned around to see her husband bent over her friend, checking her for injuries. "Willow?"

"She's unconscious, Buffy. We might want to get her to hospital."

"Okay…let's hurry. Tara is upstairs with Giles."

Sebastian gently picked up the witch, supporting her head, and followed Buffy out of the basement. Tara was standing by the car, Giles sitting on the back seat with an ice pack held to his head.

"Willow!" Tara cried, running forward as soon as she saw them come out of the school. "What happened?"

"There was a shockwave, a backlash from the spell. I haven't been able to rouse her," Sebastian replied.

"Lay her in the backseat. We'll take her to the emergency room," Tara said. "Sebastian, could you drive? I want to sit back here and support her head."

"Of course."

"We'll follow," Buffy said, leading Giles to her car.

Sebastian started out of the parking lot as soon as Tara said she was settled in. It would only take a few minutes to get to the hospital, but they seemed to take forever for the blonde witch.

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"I came as soon as I got your message. How is she?" Kara asked, giving her best friend a hug.

"Still asleep. They can't really find anything wrong, other than her body seeming a little tired. She just…won't wake up," Tara replied.

"Do you think it's mystical?" Kara whispered. "A side effect of the spell?"

"It's the only explanation. She has no injuries indicating a concussion that would account for the coma. I'll call Althanea, once it's morning over in Devon."

Kara nodded. "Do you need anything? Have you eaten?"

"I'm not hungry. I could do with some tea, though."

"You got it…"

"Ms. Maclay? We're moving Ms. Rosenberg up to a private room soon. One of the nurses will let you know," the doctor interrupted.

"Thanks."

Kara waited until Buffy had come back out of Willow's room, before heading for the cafeteria. She didn't want Tara to be alone right now. Sebastian had taken Giles home so Joyce could patch up his head. The knight was on his way back.

"She's so still. I'm not used to seeing Willow like that," Buffy murmured. "I'm sorry…I shouldn't have let her do the spell alone."

"It's not your fault, Buffy. We just underestimated the power still held in the Hellmouth. All goodness willing, Willow just needs a nap, and then she'll be just fine. This could just be a case of her energies being drained," Tara said hopefully.

"I hope you're right. It's been a long time since we had any casualties. I'd like to keep it that way."

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Two days later…

"No change?" Kara asked the blonde witch. Tara had spent most of her time at the hospital, except when they'd convince her to sleep for a few hours at Joyce and Giles'.

"No…Althanea is coming out, along with her best healer."

"Tara, have you eaten yet today?"

"Not really. I've wanted to be here, in case she wakes up."

"You need to keep up your strength, honey. If I get you something from the cafeteria, will you eat?"

"I'll try."

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The next day…

"Tara, how are you holding up?" Althanea gently asked, embracing the younger woman.

"I'm okay. My main concern is Willow. She's been unconscious for three days."

"Well, we're here to try to fix that. You remember Naomi," she gestured to the woman beside her, who had a serene presence.

"Hello, Tara. It's nice to see you again, though I wish there were better circumstances," Naomi said in her silken voice.

"Thank you. It means a great deal that you both came such a long way. Is there anything I can help with?"

"Just keep an eye on the door, dear, while we do a scan. We don't need to scare some innocent doctor," Althanea said humorously.

Althanea and Naomi moved to opposite sides of the bed and held hands over Willow's body. With closed eyes, they murmured a few words, and began passing their hands over Willow, from head to toe. They finished, and their eyes met simultaneously in silent communication.

"What is it?" Tara asked.

"She's not here."

"I don't understand…" the young with said.

"Willow. She's not in her body, not really. It's like she's only attached to it by a tether."

"What does that mean?"

"The energy backlash that you described seems to have knocked her consciousness out of her body. Willow is stuck in the ether. We have to move quickly, or her connection to the world will fade and she will move beyond."

"And her body? What happens then?"

"I think you know, dear."

No, no…not her Willow tree…I'm her anchor. I'll bring her back.

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Willow felt…free. Released of all mortal boundaries. It was amazing! She felt a part of…everything…and instinctually, she knew she was becoming more than she had ever been. She had passed a threshold.

Maybe she could even walk amongst the stars.

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"So, what do you have to do?" Buffy asked.

"Using the link Willow still has with her body, with our world, I have to trace it to her self, her consciousness, and pull her back to us. She should recognize me right away, and follow me home. They say spirits feel lost in the ether, until they move on in some other direction," Tara explained.

"So…if you can't get her back, Willow might go to heaven, or something?" Dawn asked.

"That's a possibility, Dawnie. I don't think we've gotten to that point, yet, though," Tara replied.

The hospital had released Willow to Tara upon her request. There was nothing they could do but make sure that Willow was fed through an IV. Tara had explained that she was going to take Willow to a private facility, and there had been no problem.

Willow was now lying in Buffy's old room, as they prepared for the spell. It was little more than a deep trance, actually, and Althanea would be guiding Tara through it.

"Drink this tea. It will put you in a deep meditation," Naomi said, handing the cup to Tara.

She drank it down and lay next to Willow.

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Tara stood on a platform in the midst of the heavens, surrounded by stars. This is odd. "Willow?" she called.

The redheaded woman materialized in front of her. "Tara! Isn't this beautiful?"

"Willow, where are we?"

"Outside…I'm not sure how to explain it…"

"Will, you were thrown out of your body by the spell to close the Hellmouth. You need to come back with me, baby."

"Don't you feel it?" Willow asked, not really listening.

"Feel what, Willow?"

"Everything! I'm so connected, now, Tara…I'm more than just Willow…"

"Will, you're not making sense!" Tara tried to grab Willow's hand, to get her attention, but she passed right through it. "Damn it, Willow! Listen to me! This isn't real. You need to come back to your body before it's too late."

Willow looked at Tara, as if really seeing her for the first time. She lifted her hand and caressed Tara's cheek. "Don't cry, baby. I'll always be with you." She kissed Tara tenderly.

When Tara opened her eyes from the kiss, she was back in the bedroom, and where Willow had been, there was now a brilliant ball of light.

"Willow?"

"She's not here, child. Willow has a destiny to fulfill. One day, she will return to you."

"Wait! I don't understand! Who are you?"

The ball of light touched Tara's face, and she understood.

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The gift to Tara had been an enhancement of her abilities. Tara now possessed an uncanny perception into the hearts of people. She was also more in tune with nature, and the way it spoke to her. The one completely new element was her "early warning system", as Dawn had dubbed it. Tara now knew what was going to happen right before it did. Xander was now calling her "The Oracle", a reference that was lost on everyone but Kara.

"I see her in my dreams, still. We go on walks, and I tell her about my day. I can't help thinking she's actually there, in that moment."

"If it's possible, I'm sure she is, Tara," Buffy said.

"Willow was always the overachiever," Xander added.

"It's all very remarkable," said Giles. "I wonder if she's part of the Powers That Be?"

"If she is, then she'll do the old farts some good. They haven't had any new blood in centuries," Kara replied. "Wipe those frowns away. Willow isn't dead. She's just graduated to a higher plane, and left Sunnydale a safer place in the process. It's cause to celebrate."

"You're right," Tara softly agreed. "This is temporary. They're lucky to have her."

"This means we can get really drunk, right?" Xander said.

"Oh, yeah," Buffy replied.