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Chapter Eight

"Giles, look out!"

The other boy was shouting and before Willow knew it, a stake was spinning through the air directly towards her. She blinked in surprise before a body suddenly collided into hers and she was pushed aside. The stake bounced off the table behind them.

"She's not a vampire, Mike!"

Annie straightened up after shoving Willow out of the path of the missile, a little harder than perhaps was necessary. The boy who had nearly impaled her, was looking at the dark haired woman like he couldn't believe she could be so stupid.

"Are you insane?" he demanded, his angry voice laced with unmistakable panic. His eyes were fearful as they darted back to Willow.

Giles stood up and addressed the edgy group of young people, who stood around at an uneasy impasse. "She's right, Michael. This...girl was unconscious from the attack. Annie had to pull a vampire off her."

Willow barely heard the raised voices around her. Her mind was still reeling at being confronted with the ghost of her lover. His living, breathing, real and solid - ghost.

Oz had been silent throughout the explosive exchange. He was surprised to say the least, to see the notoriously vicious vampire he had somehow managed to dust a time ago, looking at him like - that. It was interesting. So he remained quiet, and waited for the others to calm down and for someone to explain things.

The doors swung open again, and another person came upon the strange scene they were all experiencing.

"Rupert, I -"

Willow nearly fainted. The woman caught sight of her and smiled warmly; soft dark hair, longer than she remembered, fell around a face Willow never imagined she'd ever see again.

"Oh, you're awake."

"Miss…Miss Calendar?"

The shock of everything finally hit her and she stumbled backwards. To find not one ghost but two…The back of her knees hit a chair and firm hands helped guide her into it. Willow was still staring at the face of her murdered computer teacher. She'd been dead for over a year! She could still remembered the night Miss Calendar had died; Giles's empty voice on the phone; Buffy slumped on the floor in horror; Mrs Summers holding her distraught form as she cried. What did this mean? Buffy? Angel…? Willow let out a small whimper and her head slumped forward into her hands.

"Uh, Giles? Any thoughts on what the hell is going on?"

The Watcher looked over from the trembling girl, to find several pairs of questioning eyes on him. He sighed. Yes, he was usually answers guy but the number of hours he had available to devote to research had dwindled considerably over the past couple of years. And this was clearly something that was beyond the average Hellmouth activity.

"Well, well clearly something…very…strange…has happened."

Annie raised an eyebrow. Oz cast an almost amused expression in the Watcher's direction.

"Wonderful. Clear as mud. Good thing you were here." Mike muttered, tossing his hands up in exasperation.

Giles frowned at the teenager, before looking back at the very human form of a very dead vampire sitting at the table. The poor girl was obviously as confused as the rest of them. He laid a comforting hand on her shoulder; she flinched at the light touch and raised her head from her hands, looking up at him.

"Um, well it seems that you know us, but I'm afraid we don't know you. Well, not as you are now. You see, well this is all very baffling. You look, exactly like a…a vampire that lived here. But we thought she had…and you're not…" The librarian pulled off his glasses and twirled them nervously as he tried to think. To his surprise, the girl touched his hand with a sad smile on her face.

"Giles, it's okay. I think I should explain."

"Yes? Oh, yes that would be...good."

"Yeah, how about starting with how you came back from the un-dead?"

Giles threw a severe look at the unfamiliar boy, who shrugged unapologetically.

"Michael, why don't we just listen to her first? I understand your emotions but this girl doesn't deserve your hostility." Willow glanced over at the figure of Miss Calendar as she briefly laid a calming hand on his arm before catching her eye. It was a surreal sensation. "Am I right in thinking that you're a witch?"

Willow was caught off guard at the astute observation; her eyes darted around her assembled audience who looked just as shocked, before landing back on the teacher. She shouldn't have been so surprised, really. After all Miss Calendar was a gypsy, and the one who had unintentionally first led Willow in the direction of magic. At least, things had played out that way where she had come from.

It was enough to make her head hurt, even worse than her previous concussion.

"It's okay," Jenny Calendar stepped over to the girl slowly. "I saw what you managed out there. Pretty strong magic. Daylight spell?"

Willow nodded quietly.

"You're very talented."

She looked into the face of the not-quite-so-dead woman and managed a small smile. "Thank you."

The teacher returned the smile and Willow felt a little better. Now that she was beginning to get over the shock, she began to appreciate the unexpected gift of finding people again; people she had thought lost. Though it was still hard to believe. Miss Calendar was - alive. Giles was here. Oz…

Her eyes travelled to the silent boy who was watching the events closely; keeping his thoughts to himself with such a familiar lack of expression, that it made her want to laugh out loud with relief. His hair was slightly shorter than it had been, and currently dyed blonde. Other than that, he looked almost exactly as she remembered. His clothes, like those of everyone else except her, were dull and muted colours, though still in his inimitable style. His eyes were the same piercing shade of green...

A self-conscious cough from beside her made Willow catch herself and she looked over to see Giles eyeing her expectantly. Oh boy, she had quite some explaining to do. She twisted her hands together as she wondered how to even start. "Okay. Well, um, the thing is... I'm not, exactly - from this world."

There was silence. Her eyes swept worriedly across the faces in the room, awaiting a reaction.

"So, you're what? An alien?"

"As if that would make our lives any weirder." Oz's response was typically deadpan as he turned to the other boy, speaking for the first time since he'd entered the room.

"No! No, I mean, I'm just from - Look, I am Willow but, well, I guess I'm who your vamp Willow would have been if she hadn't been vamped and the Master hadn't risen and if things - well, just everything had turned out a little different!" She watched as Giles slowly paced to his office door and back, a deep frown on his face as he twirled his glasses thoughtfully.

"Is this a trick?" Annie's hand was twitching the bow with agitation.

Willow shrunk back slightly in her chair. "No! No, it's true! The Sunnydale I come from is…well, better. I mean, people went out at night and I went to school here, and Buffy fought the vampires and we all helped - what?"

Giles had halted abruptly in his pacing and turned to look at her sharply. "Buffy Summers? You knew the Slayer?"

"Y-yes. I mean, she came here in my sophomore year and she stopped the Master. Me and Xander, we were her best friends and we would fight too, and you were her Watcher…" Willow trailed off at the look on his face. Giles sat down heavily at the table, his expression pained. Jenny went to him and touched his shoulder gently; he briefly squeezed her hand without looking up and she turned back to Willow.

"So, you're from another reality? A reality, I guess, where…the Slayer came to Sunnydale."

"Is that even possible?" Mike stepped forward, his tone harsh and sceptical, his gaze fixed on the older woman.

"Well, we know other planes exist separate from ours, like the demon hell dimensions. There's no reason to assume other realities can't exist on other dimensions also. Though travelling between them…" She glanced over curiously at Willow, who avoided the silent question and looked down.

"A world where the Master didn't rise…" Giles was muttering softly to himself; he closed his eyes for a moment.

Willow was still trying to get to grips with the ways of this reality. "So, you mean here, Buffy never came? Like - at all?"

She looked around in the silence that followed, a heaviness building in her chest. But if that meant she was still out there somewhere, maybe they could find her and bring her here! The thought of possibly seeing her best friend again…

"No. At least, not right away." Giles straightened in the seat but didn't look at anyone. "A few months ago, I succeeded in tracking her down. I felt she was needed here at that time – there were rumours of unthinkable plans being put into action by the Master."

Mike moved quietly to the book cage and began putting weapons away, his back to the conversation. Oz watched the younger boy but didn't comment. Giles put his glasses back on wearily and continued. "She came to town and was determined to take out the Master. She found them at a factory where they had rounded up people to…" He shook his head. Willow found she almost didn't want to know. "Anyway, there was a battle. Several of the Master's followers were taken out. Including, well your...counter-part I suppose, and her paramour." His face tightened in a momentary grimace as he fought to keep the unrelenting guilt at bay, his voice lowering. "Unfortunately, Miss Summers also lost her...The Master killed her."

Willow felt her faint hope crushed. Air was suddenly hard to come by. Buffy? Buffy - was dead. Willow took a hold of herself firmly. No, her Buffy was still alive. She still existed, back in her own reality…and out of Willow's reach forever now. Vamp Willow's lover. Her fingers gripped the arm of her chair in an unconscious reflex, seeking support. Trying to keep her spiking emotions grounded to something solid. Xander. Willow had known she had already lost her oldest friend to the demons in this Sunnydale. The thought alone made a fresh wave of grief wash over her. But, in a strange way, she also felt a sense of relief. At least he was free. She wouldn't be forced to see the monster that had taken over his body. Willow didn't think she could have handled that. She felt her heart groan under the weight of loss.

"I'm-I'm sorry. So, I really am dead here. Buffy...W-What about Angel?"

Confused glances were exchanged, though she noticed that Miss Calendar stayed quiet, eyes subtly averted. Willow frowned in thought. Finally Annie spoke up. "Who's Angel?"

"He was a...a friend of Buffy's, and he helped us a lot. Okay, he was kinda a vampire, but he had a soul. He was one of the good guys." Willow's gaze strayed to Jenny and Giles. She forced herself to look away.

"I'm afraid I-I don't know. We never-"

"Uh, not to interrupt but-" Everyone turned to see Oz with his hand in the air. He looked over at Willow. "A good vampire?"

Willow felt her breath catch in her throat as he spoke to her, but nodded.

"At the factory, the guy who broke the holding cells and helped us get out - I saw him get staked in the fight. I didn't really get a chance to think about it…" He caught Willow's eye again. "Sorry."

"Oh."

She looked down, trying to absorb everything. It was a lot to take in. Angel and Buffy had never met. The idea seemed impossible. So much had revolved around their tumultuous love affair. Buffy and Angel were just - the definition of star-crossed lovers. Angel had died still fighting the good fight; Buffy had lost to the Master who she had died from once before...but she couldn't come back this time. And Xander had been lost a long time ago, yet he and Willow had still been together to the end. Even in this embattled world. It seemed fitting, in a twisted and sad way.

Yet, they were all still alive. Right where she had left them.

'Are you willing to give it all up and take a new path?'

Willow had known what her decision would entail; everything required sacrifice. She breathed in and out deeply. It hurt like hell, but she didn't regret her choice. She couldn't. Willow knew she needed time to come to terms and make her peace with all she had lost. She glanced back up and met those familiar eyes that were watching her thoughtfully. He was really here. Her heart knocked against her ribcage in heady jumps as she soaked in the sight once again. For the first time since she had arrived in this reality, Willow offered silent, heart-felt thanks to the powers that had brought her there.

"Well, not to be rude, but what are you doing here? I mean, this isn't your world. How did you get here?"

Everyone looked to Annie, who was staring at Willow with narrowed eyes.

Willow blinked as she was snapped back to the conversation. "Um, I don't know. I-I just kind of…woke up here. I'm not sure what happened."

She knew it was beyond lame and no-one would honestly believe her, but she had panicked, and Willow wasn't ready to tell them what had happened. Not right now. It was too personal. And when in doubt – plead ignorance. That had always been Xander's philosophy. Well that, and to consume vast amounts of Twinkies until the problem got resolved.

"But how did you know about your vampire double?"

Annie was clearly a woman on a mission. Willow shifted uncomfortably under her intense scrutiny. "Oh, well she briefly appeared in our reality a while ago. A spell gone wrong. But we managed to send her back." Willow felt like she should add 'sorry' to the end of that sentence. But she was dead now anyway, and as much as Willow was relieved, she still felt a little funny about that.

A chair scraped and Giles got to his feet. His brow creased in an expression of deep thought the Watcher always got when confronted with a problem. "I take it you had to take part in the spell to send her back?" At Willow's confirmation he went on, walking slowly around the floor. "Yes, I thought so. I'm afraid I haven't heard of any spells to return displaced people to their own worlds. Crossing dimensions is so rare, and even more rarely written about. We could have perhaps re-worked the spell you used before, but with your counter-part in this reality gone…"

Willow watched him as he came to a stop and leant against the table. He looked at her apologetically. "I'll-I'll have to look into it, but I fear you may have to learn to live in this reality for a while."

Her heart was twitching in panic; she hadn't thought they would try to send her back. She wouldn't have thought it was possible. She looked back into Giles' face earnestly. "That's okay. I was actually thinking maybe, maybe I could help you? I fought demons and vampires in my Sunnydale for three years, I want to be able to help with the fight here too. It's a good cause after all."

The Watcher allowed himself a small bemused smile as he watched the girl's keen determination. She couldn't be more different from the Willow they had known here. Full of bravery and optimism; this wasn't even her world but she still wanted in on the doomed fight. Rather extraordinary. He cleared his throat. "Yes, well I'm not sure. I mean, that's a very noble sentiment, but you don't know the full extent of what you're getting into. This town is more dangerous now than it's ever been. I won't be responsible for-"

"But you won't! Giles, I want to help, to be able to save people. This is everyone's fight; and besides, it's my choice." Willow stood up too, animated and in full blown 'resolve' mode. Giles stared at her for a second, slightly thrown at the fierce purpose burning in her face. It was clear she knew her own mind very well, and he suddenly knew beyond a doubt that he could never get her to stay out of harms way, even if he tried.

Willow was unaware of the scrutinizing looks she was receiving from the others in the room as they followed the debate.

"Rupert, if she knows what's involved, we have no right to deny her the chance to fight. Besides, she's a very bright witch from what I saw – she could help us a lot."

Willow beamed gratefully at the teacher. Giles sighed and reluctantly nodded in assent. He knew when he was beaten.

"Very well." His lips twitched in a tired smile. "You are indeed full of surprises, Willow."

Annie suddenly frowned and peered harder at the girl. "Did you get bit?" she demanded bluntly, striding across the library floor to get a closer look. Willow spun round, her smile vanishing as she saw the dark eyes flashing in her direction. All gazes were fixed on her as Willow's hand jerked to her neck. Giles stood up in worry and Willow retreated slightly. She had forgotten about her injury, but as she touched the tender spot, a painful twinge shot through her neck. It wasn't bleeding anymore, but the wound was still raw.

"No! I mean, not just now. This is from…something else." Her eyes flickered briefly to Oz before she could stop herself. She quickly looked down. Giles observed this fleeting exchange with a slight frown. There was clearly a lot more to Willow's story. He filed the mental note away for later.

Annie looked sceptical and was about to press on, when Giles intervened. "Well then, I suggest you all head home for the night, it is very late. I'll see you all tomorrow."

There were scattered nods. Annie hesitated before reluctantly moving to pick up a leather jacket from the library counter. She headed out without a word, still clutching the cross bow that she hadn't set down since Willow had woken up. Mike retrieved and pocketed his stake from the floor by the table, his eyes scanning the room before mumbling a quiet good-night. Oz cast one last look at Willow and nodded to Giles and Jenny before following the other boy out.

"Jenny, could have a word?"

Miss Calendar walked over to Giles, adjusting the collar of her jacket, where they talked softy for a minute. Willow was still staring at the door, slightly dazed, and jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Willow? Rupert and I agree that, if it's okay with you, you come back with me tonight. I have a spare room you can sleep in."

"Oh, yes, that would be great. Thanks."

The teacher smiled and started to lead her towards the door, but Willow stopped. Suddenly she turned around and ran back to the librarian. Reaching up, she threw her arms around his neck in a tight hug, not caring that she caught him off balance. She breathed in the familiar scent of worn tweed and smiled sadly as she mumbled into his jacket. "Thanks Giles. I'm really glad you're here."

The surprised Watcher awkwardly returned the embrace, a faint blush coming to his cheeks. She plastered on a light smile and then hurried back to Miss Calendar who was grinning at the fussy Englishman's embarrassment.

"Good night, Rupert," Jenny called with a laugh as she and Willow disappeared through the doors, leaving the befuddled man alone with his discomfort.

o0o

AN Whew! So there you go. Sorry it took a little while. I don't know if anyone's interested in my story musings but I'll carry on anyway, just cause I feel like rambling at the moment! So yeah, this is pretty much the set up for the Wishverse Willow has travelled to. I decided to try and follow a parallel time-line so that the same amount of time has passed in both realities since the Wishverse was created, making it a few months since the fight at the factory. I felt that for the sake of continuity I wouldn't mess with what happened, so unfortunately Vamp Willow, Xander, Cordelia, Buffy and Angel have all died - which kinda wiped out 70% of my characters! :( So, enter Annie and Mike to make up the White Hat numbers again, and their stories will be explained later. And yes, Mike has kinda replaced Larry - since his fate wasn't revealed in the episode, it is my duty to inform you that he has sadly fallen in the fight. Partly because I just didn't really know how to write him, so I thought I'd start from scratch with my own character. Anyway, I hope they come across ok - please give them a little time to get familiar! And feel free to let me know if and how you think I'm letting them down, but for now - that's pretty much their introduction. The way I've imagined things in the Wishverse, in case people are confused, is that no-one remembers Anya and the circumstances of Cordelia's visit. Sort of one of those mystical balance memory tricks that the powers that be love pulling. Cause the Wishverse didn't disappear when the spell was broken, once it was created, things were tweaked so the multiple dimensions balanced out again on their own separate tracks. Also, for those wondering why Willow didn't bring Oz to her, I mentioned a little of my reasoning here, and a little is to do with the spell she did to get there. If anyone's really interested in more info, just ask and I'll do my best to explain my strange thinking! Moving on, I couldn't resist putting Giles' brilliantly anti-climatic line back in, and it was a nice mirror moment of his counter-part's reaction to the exact same circumstances in the Buffyverse. And it was fun to put in the others' responses again, though of course I could never compete with Xander's classic line! And finally, yay - Miss Calender is back! I was really excited to bring her back into my Wishverse (which I'm growing absurdly attached to!) So we may have lost Buffy, Xander and Angel, but I've given Jenny back! Since Angel never met Buffy and lost his soul in this reality, I felt that there was no reason why she wouldn't be there and naturally helping with the fight. Plus, it's a nice feeling to have another familiar face. Though quite a shock for poor Willow! But we haven't quite seen the last of Buffy, Xander and co yet ;)