Complement

by Michele D

This is the first fanfiction I wrote. I began it in 2000 & completed it in 2002. I will mark it complete once all chapters are up. I'll be posting a few chapters at a time. Just a heads up, it is long. Starts in the future that only lives in my head (Prologue). Takes place right before & during Judgment (Part I).

19. XVIII - Between The Hammer & The Anvil

XVIII - Between The Hammer & The Anvil

xxxxxxxxxx

Storm warning ~ But there's no fear ~ Lies forming ~ The sacrament lays bare...

xxxxxxxxxx

It was one of those old, very large lion's foot porcelain bathtubs. She lay with her bad bleached blonde hair spread out behind her. The water in the tub was almost to the rim and overflowing with bubbles. Three minions, who resembled human-like, plague-ridden rats with long greasy hair, knelt blindfolded by the side of the tub. They were each holding a tray with various items on them. A loofah, magazines, Mimosas, a box of chocolates, and other such nonsense were on the trays.

Glory had been babbling at them for a while now, while they groveled, struggling to give her the right answers, hoping not to incur the wrath of the exiled 'God'.

"Okay, now I asked for the Key, and you brought me a vampire. A pulseless, impure, follicley-fried vampire. Loofah." She hissed between whining and pouting. They were idiots for the most part, but they had their uses, after all, Jinx did managed to get Ben to slip about the 'Key' being changed into human form by the monks. Although Jinx had almost died because of it, and if it weren't for the fact that Ben had tried to kill him, Glory would not have believed the whole 'Key-In-Human-Form' thing.

All three minions paid closer attention to her the second she had mentioned the 'Key'. The minion named Muck handed her the loofah. Glory lifted one of her legs from the water, resting it on the edge of the tub; she began using the loofah to rub away the dead skin.

"Now, what I think we have here is a failure... FOR YOU TO DO YOUR FRIGGIN' JOBS. Pardon my French. Mimosa." Glory yelled, in a sickly sweet tone. She held out her hand waiting for Slook to hand her the Mimosa, which he did trying to control his own trembling hand and not spill any. Glory took a sip before continuing, "Mmm, vitamins! So, I think you better rack your little Minion brains and tell me everything that you saw when you were spying on Buffy and her wacky pals. Everything. Then I'll figure out who the Key is." Again, in that same sickly sweet voice.

Had Faith or Xander been there to witness the bizarre scene they would have thought that it looked like something out of a really, really, bad cartoon.

xxxxxxxxxx

Faith straggled down the stairs to the kitchen and poured herself her usual large cup of sugar and cream with a little coffee. She headed out to the garden where Buffy was. She was surprised to see Buffy already showered and dressed. That's right, she remembered now, Buffy was going to see Dawn's principal today, and she wasn't happy about it.

"Morning," Faith voice was low, husky and slightly hoarse.

Wonder how that happened? Can we all say B!

"Morning," Buffy turned towards Faith waiting for a kiss.

Faith leaned down, gave her a quick peck on the mouth and sat down in a chair.

"What was that?" Buffy pouted.

"I didn't want to mess up your lipstick."

"I've got a whole tube of lipstick. Now get over here and give me a real good morning kiss." Buffy purred and Faith growled in response, moving quickly to accommodate Buffy. They had definitely spent way too much time hanging around with vampires, they were starting to act like them, purring and growling.

"Mmmm... Strawberry. Like strawberry..." Now Faith was the one who was purring.

Buffy couldn't stop the quiver of desire that ran through her at the sound of Faith's purring voice. It was a wonder they ever managed to leave the house at all. Although being out of the house didn't stop them either. They were going to be caught, not just heard, for real one of these days.

"That was much better... Now go sit... Before I forget I have to go see Dawn's principal... Or I end up being late or looking like I just crawled out of bed with someone... Christ! Stop feeling like that..." Buffy was getting echoes of wave after wave of desire coming from Faith.

"Me! What about you? I'll stop when you stop!" Faith squirmed a little in her chair. "Besides isn't it supposed to be like this in the beginning?" Faith asked genuinely, not even thinking for a minute that Buffy didn't want her, not with the echoes she was getting from her.

"Yup! And I'm not complaining believe me. I'm just pissy that I have to leave. 'Cause sitting in the principal's office is the last thing I want to be doing this morning. Trust me!" Then Buffy started giggling. "We're like bunnies on Viagra!"

"Yeah B... but more like that little pink bunny with the sunglasses and the bass drum...the ahhh...the battery bunny... I got it... We're the 'Energizer Bunnies' on Viagra, we just keep on going and going and going and going..." Faith started giggling herself.

Damn if she didn't look like a kid when she did that, and that thought sobered Buffy up and made her think about Dawn and what the principal wanted, the giggle dying on her lips. Faith immediately stopped giggling seeing the worried expression on Buffy's face.

"Worried about seeing the principal B?"

"Yeah. I wish I knew what she wanted. I just feel like this is all way over my head. I worry about messing up with Dawn. If I'm doing the right things. I just don't know anymore. I really wish Mom were here." Suddenly Buffy felt tired and old, the weight on her shoulders had become a thousand times heavier and she was weary.

Before Buffy could even finish processing her own thoughts, Faith had picked her up and settled her down on her lap, cuddling her.

"Don't worry B. It'll all work out. We'll work it out together. I know we can. I wish your Mom were here too. But I know that wherever she is, your Mom knows Dawn is in good hands, loved and safe as long as she's with you."

"And you. She's in good hands, loved and safe with you too Faith." Buffy sat up pulling a little out of Faith's arms and turned so that she could look into her eyes, her expression getting even more serious. "Faith there is something I want to ask you. I don't want you to feel like you have to say yes. Promise me you won't say yes 'cause you think that's what I want you to say."

Buffy had been thinking about this for a while. Had actually started considering the idea the day after they had returned from L.A. It wasn't until yesterday that she had made her decision, and she had a feeling that even her Mom would approve.

"Okay. I promise," Faith's whole demeanor became solemn; instinctively she knew whatever it was that Buffy wanted to ask her was very important to her.

"Being a Slayer you know..." Buffy paused, trying to figure out how to say what she wanted to say. Taking a deep breath, she decided just to say it. "Faith if something should happen to me... If I should d..."

"Nothing is going to happen to you Buffy. I won't let it!" Faith didn't want to talk about this. Didn't want to think about it. Didn't want to hear those words come out of Buffy's mouth. The second she realized what Buffy was going to say, she felt like someone had put a vice around her heart and started tightening it. She was unconsciously shaking her head in denial.

"Faith," Buffy said soothingly, capturing her face with her hands. "Faith believe me, I'm not planning on anything happening to me anytime soon. Anything happening to either of us. I plan on both of us being around a long, long, time. I wanna turn old and gray with you. I want us to both beat the odds. But there isn't just me to worry about anymore, now more than ever that Mom is gone. There is Dawn. And there is you. But the reality is I'm a Slayer, and you are too. You know as well as I do what that means."

"Yeah I do. But it doesn't mean we have to talk about. It's bad enough waking up every morning and wondering if today is the day. It's not so bad anymore, not since you. At least I'm not alone. It makes it easier somehow. I just always figured I would be first. Until you, I never even looked past getting through the day. I lived like there would be no tomorrow. Now all I want is for there always to be a tomorrow. I don't think I can ever go back to being all alone again. I don't think I could survive without you, could survive all alone again..." Faith whispered out the last part.

"Faith you'll never be alone again. There is Dawn, Willow, Tara, Giles, Wesley, Cordy, Gunn, Xander, Anya and Angel, they all love you, care about you. Hell even Spike cares about you. They would never abandon you, even if I weren't here."

"It's not the same. They're not you B."

"I know baby. And none of them could ever be you... No one could ever even come close... You and Dawn are the two most important people in my life. I don't know what I would do without either of you. Dawn is still a kid, still needs me and you... And if I should die..." Buffy gently placed her fingers over Faith's mouth to stop her from protesting. "We both know it could happen to either of us. If I should die... I want to know if you would take care of Dawn. Raise her for me, if she's still too young to take care of herself. Would you do that? Would you even want to do that Faith?"

"Me? You want me to take care of Dawn? I'm fucked up! What if I went psycho, evil again? B, there are things about me you don't know... ugly things. Things I can't even think about. Things I can't, don't want to remember. Why me? Why not Giles, or one of the Scoobs? Fuck even Angel would be a better choice than me!"

"Why would I want anyone else to take care of one of the two most precious people in my life? And if you don't already know it you are the other most precious person in my life. You won't go all evil again! I know that! I trust in that! I trust you! And yes I know there are things you haven't told me. I can only guess at those things, but I am pretty sure what type of things they are. I can figure out what happened to you when you were just a kid." Buffy saw the panic, shame and fear rise up in Faith's eyes, felt it inside of her in one of those echoes.

"None of it was your fault. You have nothing to be ashamed of. No child should ever have to go through that. It makes me cry inside to think of what was done to you." That haunted look that Buffy had never ever wanted to see again in Faith's eyes was there again. She could taste Faith's fear, bitter, and strong in the back of her throat, and she knew Faith was afraid that she would ask her to talk about what happened, and afraid that once she found out, she would leave. Buffy knew that like other children that had been subjected to this type of abuse, Faith blamed herself, held herself responsible for what had happened.

"B... Please... don't ask... I can't..."

"Sssh... It okay, you don't have to tell me. You don't have to talk about it. If or when you're ready you can tell me, talk to me about it if you want to." Buffy gathered Faith back into her arms, holding her tightly, offering Faith her strength to lean upon. She tried to control her own rage at the person who had done this to 'Her Faith'. She wanted to rip their fucking heart out. She waited until Faith stopped trembling, and her breathing became calm again, before continuing softly, "You wanted to know why I would pick you to raise Dawn if I should die. Why I would want the strongest, bravest, most loving, caring, tender, gentle, good, most beautiful soul I have ever had the honor to know take care of my sister? Someone I know who would take care of Dawn, protect Dawn at the expense of their own life, someone who would love Dawn like she was their own sister, love Dawn like I love her. Is that what you want to know Faith? It's because you are that person Faith. You are all those things."

Faith started shaking her head in denial of all that Buffy said.

"Yes you are! You are! I know it, Faith!"

"No. No I'm not! I can't be those things. I can't... I've done too many bad, evil things."

Buffy's heart broke a little for Faith. She knew it wasn't just what happened between them that Faith was referring to, this all went so much deeper.

"Too late Faith, because you already are, I know you are. Are you forgetting I can feel you. I can feel what you feel. You are a part of me, just like I'm a part of you. There is a part of you that lives inside of me, is with me always, just like there is a part of me that lives inside of you, will be with you always. I know what's in your heart, I know what's in your soul. There's a light that shines from you Faith that is so bright that it's almost blinding. If I can't be here to take care of Dawn, then I can't think of anyone else better than you to do it for me, if you wanted to. I'm sure if I asked Dawn she would pick you too. The question is... Do you want to, Faith?"

Faith was crying and didn't even realize it until Buffy gently wiped away the tears. "Do you want to, Faith?" she asked her softly again.

"How could I not want to B? You and Dawn are the only family I've ever had. How could I not want to take care of my family?" Faith paused; Buffy believed in her, she had to learn to believe in herself. She could do this, she could protect Dawn, she could make sure that nothing ever hurt her, could have the childhood that Faith was never allowed to have herself. Determination, showed in her eyes, was in her voice when she swore to Buffy, "I promise you I will take care of her, treat her, love her the way you would, like she was my own sister. 'Cause in my heart that's exactly what Dawn is. I'll make sure nothing bad ever happens to Dawn ever no matter what. Not now! Not ever!"

"I know you will Faith. You already do that now... and I know you will if something should ever happen to me. Thank you." Buffy lay her head down on Faith's shoulder, putting her arms around her, feeling Faith's surround her back. She felt as if a ten-ton weight had been lifted from her shoulders, knowing that her sister would be loved, protected, and safe no matter what happened. And knowing that Faith would have someone who would love her unconditionally, someone to help her, someone who would never leave her all alone again, and a reason for Faith to keep on living should something happen to her.

xxxxxxxxxx

Lounging on the couch in one of the small tight dresses she was so fond of, Glory stared at the three minions who were standing in front of her. Instead of the look of frustration, the three minions had grown used to, there was a look of confidence, and a smile played around her lips. They thought she looked almost serene. This was the 'God' they were used to. This was the 'God' they wanted back, wanted to restore to power.

"So it's her. Under our noses all this time. I like the detail work those monks did. Quirks, foibles, passions. It's all so cute, so human, ya know?" Her smile grew a little larger. The three minions nodded and smiled back at her. "Pretty convincing really, but not convincing enough."

She pondered about it for a minute, her smile turning a little evil. She stood slowly, and looked at each minion, being sure to lock eyes with each one for a second or two. Glory knew they were just waiting for her orders, but she wanted to savor the moment, she was so close to getting everything she wanted. So close to beating that damn little blond Slayer and her inept gang. Oh she couldn't wait to see that little bitch's face.

"You all know your assignments." She paused relishing the taste of the words as they fell from her lips. Her smile growing larger, almost impossibly so, "I think it's time to collect the Key."

She twirled around, a soft giggle coming from her and headed out the door. The three minions, Murk, Slook, and Jinx followed her out single file.

xxxxxxxxxx

...The sinner ~ Will testify ~ They'll suffer ~ When sacrificed on high...

xxxxxxxxxx

They were getting ready to go to the World Culture Fair that the college was having. Tara was in the closet searching for jackets for them. Willow sat down on the bed, bending to put on her shoes. She had paused in their conversation and was thinking again about Buffy's reaction to how they had been trying to help Dawn with a geometry problem. Buffy was totally stressing over the fact that Dawn had been skipping school, Willow understood that, but she still felt Buffy had overreacted to the whole situation. Who said learning couldn't be educational and fun, that was all she had been trying to do. Breaking away from her internal musing she picked up her conversation with Tara where they had left off.

"It wasn't anything, really; Buffy was just being kinda crabby at Dawn about her schoolwork." Was she trying to convince herself or Tara that this was all that was really bothering her?

"Well, it's understandable..." Tara turned around closing the closet door and tossed two jackets on the bed.

"Sure it is! I'd totally be blowing off classes if I was in Dawnie's shoes." Willow almost sounded convincing.

Tara smiled at her shaking her head knowing better. Willow blow off classes, right, she thought, about as likely as the moon being made out of cheese. "Sweetie, you wouldn't blow off class if your head was on fire. And I meant Buffy."

"Buffy what?"

"Understandable. About the crabby; I mean she has to look after Dawn now."

"Yeah, but not in a 'Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Girls' way, I mean she'll just make Dawn even more rebellious..." Willow said as she put on her jacket.

"I had to deal with my brother's problems after, I mean... you really can't know what it's like to..." Tara was almost hesitant; she knew what Buffy was going through. Went through many of the same things after her Mother had died and she had to take care of her brother, and her Father. But she didn't want to hurt Willow's feelings, losing a parent was something no one could really understand until it happened to them.

"I know that," Willow's tone was defensive; there was a touch of bitterness in it too. Just a little but it didn't escape Tara's notice. She made a sound that was almost of displeasure, she frowned, not really at Willow, and sat on the bed next to her.

"I- I didn't mean..." Tara stuttered a little, something she hadn't done with Willow in a long time. She was getting a bad feeling about where this conversation was heading.

"No, I just, I mean I know I can't know what you went through, I just..." Willow laughed, but it was a false laugh and they both knew it. "It's no big." Willow finished, but her tone was saying something else, there was a hint of... Tara wasn't sure but she thought it might be anger.

"I made you mad." Tara was nervous, worried, and that bad feeling was growing stronger.

"No, no..."

"All I meant was that..."

Willow took a deep breath pausing before she spoke. "...It's okay, the whole Buffy thing just... Forget it."

Tara wanted to let it go but she just couldn't. "No, please, if I... I mean, tell me if I said something wrong. Otherwise I know I'll say it again, probably often and in public."

Willow was thinking to herself she should let it go, but she didn't, this wasn't just about Buffy and what happened today, it had grown into more. Though, neither of them knew what.

"No, I was snippy gal, it's just... I know I can't, on some level..." Willow sighed, "...it's like my opinion isn't worth anything because I haven't been through..." She stopped and sighed again, "I didn't lose my Mom, so I don't know..."

"Well I'm not the expert, I mean, I only lost one..." Tara paused and began again uncertainly, almost afraid to ask. "Do I act like I'm the big Knowledge Woman?"

Without even realizing it, they had moved away from each other on the bed. There was a good foot between them now as they looked at each other.

"No..." Willow's voice was weak and her 'No' was not convincing. And Tara knew it, and Willow knew, she knew it.

"Is that 'no' spelled Y E S?"

" of... it's just... I mean I just feel like the junior partner sometimes, you've been doing everything longer than me, you've been out longer, and practicing witchcraft way longer..."

Tara frowned at Willow a little hesitant to say anything else but did anyway. "...Oh but you're way beyond me there. In just a few... I mean it frightens me how powerful you're getting." Willow frowned at her and Tara knew it was the wrong thing to say.

"That's a weird word."

Tara smiled nervously at Willow and purposely picked the wrong word when she replied. "Getting?"

"It frightens you? I frighten you?"

She should have listened to her instincts, listened to her 'feeling'. She knew better after all these years, Tara jumped up from the bed. "That's so not what I mean. I meant impresses, impressive..."

"Well I took Psyche 101... I mean, I took it from an evil government scientist who was skewered by her Frankenstein-like creation right before the final... but I know what a Freudian slip is." Willow was upset, she saw that Tara was as well, but she had to know. She had to ask her, she stumbled over her words a little. "D-D-Don't you trust me?"

"With my life!" Tara answered Willow quickly. But she knew that was not what Willow was asking her. Why didn't she just listen to her feeling, she berated herself silently again.

"That's not what I mean."

"Can't we just go the fair?" Tara was silently praying that Willow would say yes, but she already knew she wouldn't.

"I'm not feeling real multicultural right now. Wh... What is it about me that you don't trust?" Willow stood up, she was getting more upset by the second, but she couldn't let this go. The old Willow might have, but she wasn't that Willow anymore.

"It's not that. I worry. Sometimes... you're changing so much, so fast, I don't know... where you're heading..."

"Where I'm heading?" Willow was confused. This conversation was so far removed from where they had started. How did that happen she wondered, what was going on here?

"I'm saying everything wrong," she wasn't good at this, had never been good at expressing herself, explaining what it was that she wanted to say.

"I think you're being pretty clear. It isn't the witch thing... this is about the other changes in my life." There was so much vulnerability in Willow's voice, and right now that was how she felt.

"I trust you. I just..." Tara paused as she dropped her eyes from Willow's, and looked at the ground. "I trust you. I just... I don't know where I'm gonna fit in. In your life, when..."

Willow cut Tara off, her stance, tone confrontational. She didn't miss the look of surprise on Tara face. "When I 'change back'? Yeah, this is just a college thing, just a little experimentation before I get over the thrill and head back to boys' town." Willow paused, again a little afraid to ask, a little afraid of the answer Tara will give her. "You think that?"

"Should I?"

"You know, I'm really sorry I didn't establish my lesbo street creed before I got into this relationship. But you're the only woman I've ever fallen in love with, so how on earth could you possibly take me seriously?" Willow's tone was bitter, she was angry, she was hurt, confused, so many emotions she couldn't handle them all.

Willow turned and started walking towards the door.

"Willow, please..." Tara pleaded.

"Have fun at the fair," Willow said not turning around, she opened the door and walked out.

Tara watched her receding back, and felt like the whole world had just dropped out from under her feet.

xxxxxxxxxx

Outside of the house, two of Glory's minions watched Buffy and her sister through the window. Buffy was folding towels, while Dawn was sitting at the dining room table doing homework. Dawn's expression changed from sullen to wary as she looked at her sister. Buffy was going on about charts and schedules, Dawn couldn't believe how excited her sister was about the whole chart idea thing. Dawn was angry and upset, with her sister, with the world in general, she leaned back and crossed her arms. Buffy stopped folding the towels and looked at Dawn.

"I'm just trying to give you a normal life."

"Well, good luck."

Buffy didn't miss the sarcasm in Dawn's voice. She looked at Dawn and waited for Dawn to return her gaze. They stared at each other for a few seconds.

"What? What am I doing wrong now?" Dawn rolled her eyes at her sister, something she had unconsciously picked up from Buffy. They would never admit it but they were a lot alike the Summers' sisters.

"This is for real, Dawn."

"No, it isn't. I'm not real, so why would my exciting graph of chores be real? Who cares if a Key gets an education anyway?" Dawn slammed her schoolbook closed, and shoved it defiantly towards Buffy. Angry she folded her arms again.

Buffy pushed the schoolbook back at her. "It's not a graph. It's a chart. And you are real."

"Yeah? Those Monks put grades K through Eight in my head. Can't we just wait and see if they drop Nine in there too?"

Buffy slammed her hand down on the table, 'That's it!' she thought. Dawn jumped and winced, surprised.

"Dammit, Dawn, this is serious!"

"Why? Why should I care about any of this?"

"Because they'll take you away!" Buffy yelled it at Dawn, trying to keep the fear out of her voice.

Dawn stared in shock at Buffy, while Buffy tried to compose herself. She didn't want Dawn to see how scared she was. There was enough for Dawn to worry about with Glory still on the loose, she was only fourteen, more than anything else in the world Buffy wanted her sister to have some semblance of a real childhood, unlike herself.

Dawn unfolded her arms, she was trembling a little, and she was scared.

"Take me away? What do you mean?"

Buffy consciously kept her voice soft and calm when she answered her sister, but a little fear made its way through anyway. "They'll take you away from me. That's what your principal told me when you weren't in the room. If I can't make you go to school, I won't be found fit to be your legal guardian."

There was a minute or two of silence between the two sisters as they stared at each other. Buffy started folding the towels again, needing something to do with her hands.

"Where would I go?"

"I don't... Dad, maybe? Or foster care? I didn't... I didn't really want to ask." Buffy answered her still keeping her voice soft.

"You could've told me that."

"I just did."

Buffy locked eyes with her sister, Dawn's eyes were pleading with her silently for a way out of all of this. Buffy shrugged, she was helpless, she was scared, she didn't know how to fix this, how to make it better. For the first time since being called, being a Slayer didn't give her an edge, an advantage, in fact, it could make things worse.

Buffy sat down across from Dawn. Even though only the length of the table separated them, they were very far apart, each caught up in their own nightmare.

xxxxxxxxxx

Faith came in the house and found them still sitting at the table. She took one look at both of their faces, the cheerful greeting dying on her lips. Something was seriously wrong.

"What? What happened? What's wrong?"

"Principal Stevens told Buffy they could take me away from her. Send me to Dad's or a foster home." Dawn's voice was trembling.

"LIKE FUCKING HELL THEY WILL!"

Buffy and Dawn looked at Faith in surprise, Faith's anger, her panic, her fear, pulling them out of their own. They watched as she started pacing around the table, ranting, throwing her hands up, mumbling under her breath. They had learned this was something Faith did when she was upset. They let her, knowing that until she vented, Faith wouldn't listen to anything.

In the middle of this, Buffy couldn't help think how adorable Faith looked when she did this. Faith was just as upset over this as both Buffy and Dawn were, and if Buffy didn't already know she had made the right decision in asking Faith to take care of Dawn if something happened to her, she would have now. And Buffy loved her even more for it.

Dawn watched Faith pacing in circles, ranting, getting a little bit dizzy. As she watched her, a calm came over her, and the fear started to slip away. Dawn believed without a doubt that between Buffy and Faith, no one would ever be able to take her away from them. And Dawn loved them both even more for it.

Faith kept pacing and ranting.

No one! No one will take away my family! No fucking way! Think Faith! Think! You can beat the system! You beat the system, the social workers all those years living with Mom and Johnny! Fooled them all! Know what they want to hear! They can't take Dawn away! Won't let them! Kill them first! Okay so I won't kill them. They can't have her! NO WAY! I love them both too much! Think! Calm down and think!

They watched as her pacing slowed, and Faith stopped flinging her hands around, as the mumbling became less and less. She finally stopped and stood at the head of the table. Her hands on her hips, looking a lot like the cocky Slayer that Buffy had first met, only now where there had been indifference in her expression, there was a calm confidence and love. She gave the sisters her infamous, 'Shit-Eating-Five-by-Five' grin.

"Don't worry Gamin... For once, something good can come out of my fucked up childhood. I know my way inside and out, all around this whole social working, school system shit. We'll work it all out. It will be a cold day in hell before the fucking system beats me. A cold day in hell before anyone fucking takes you away from me and B!"

"Faith!" The sisters yelled together.

"What?" She yelled back, knowing damn well what they were going to say. She had cursed on purpose hoping to ease the tension a little.

"Cursing!" The sisters said in almost perfect sync.

All three laughed, and they knew that between the three of them they could handle this. No one, nothing, could separate them, together they could get through anything, together they were strong.

xxxxxxxxxx

She was sitting in the magic shop alone. She was feeling afraid, sad, angry, confused and very alone. Their first fight had gotten so out of both of their control. Both saying the wrong things, both jumping to conclusions, and neither one saying what was really bothering them.

Willow sighed wearily, she knew one thing for certain, she loved Tara with all her heart and soul and she would do anything to keep her. She started to think about everything they had said. She saw that her feelings of being a Jr. Partner when it came to the connection that Tara shared with Buffy was a lot like what she had felt when she was threatened by the Slayer connection that Buffy and Faith shared. That was the crux of it, wasn't it?

Who was she afraid of losing? Tara? Buffy? Or both? She had been feeling left out, insecure, and helpless. Helpless because she didn't know what to do for Buffy and Dawn to make things better. Willow hadn't felt helpless in a very long time. She didn't know what to say to either Buffy or Dawn, didn't know what to do. Other than to mutter 'I'm sorry', she hadn't a clue as to what to say, to do. What she began to realize was that it was the helplessness that really made her feel this way, the inability to help out her friends when they needed her most. It was all confusing to her. But she knew one thing, her reaction to this was wrong. She should have talked to Tara about how she was feeling, and not have let it build up until it all came out in the wrong way.

The whole frightened-of-her thing just blew her away though. But the more she thought about it the more she could understand it. How many times had she heard stories of women or men who experimented while they were in college? If she remembered correctly it was called a 'one-off'. It seemed to be happening more, now that being 'gay' was in a very odd way, 'chic'. She couldn't blame Tara for being a little afraid, it hurt her though to think that Tara doubted her love for her for even one second. She wondered though if it was simply that or was Tara truly afraid that Willow would leave her as her powers grew, if Tara's own powers didn't grow to be equal with hers.

They both should have talked to each other. They both had let their own insecurities keep them from speaking about their fears, what it was they weren't getting from each other, what it was that they needed from each other. They both had made mistakes. Willow looked at the door, and made her decision.

xxxxxxxxxx

Tara was sitting alone on a bench at the fair, a woman walked by and smiled at her seeing the sad expression on her face. The two witches would have been surprised to know that their thoughts almost echoed each other's exactly.

Tara watched as the happy, smiling students walked past her with a blank expression on her face. There was music playing brightly in the background but Tara didn't hear it. She didn't notice that the sun was out and warm upon her skin. She vaguely registered the numerous booths that were set up with food, art and music from all different cultures. A large Chinese Dragon puppet was weaving through the crowd a little ways off in the distance she barely spared it a glance. There was an air of happy chaos on the quad. All she could think about was the fight, and how sad, scared and all alone she felt and how much she missed Willow.

She blinked, looking at the hand that slid into hers gently squeezing. Her first thought was Willow had found her. She started to look up, turning her head towards Willow, a smile beginning to form on her face, which quickly turned to fear and shock.

OH GOD NO!

Glory smiled at her, and Tara was frozen in place, the fear written across her face and Glory was loving it.

"This seat taken?" Glory asked in that irritating voice of hers. She tightened her hold on Tara's hand, ensuring she couldn't escape.

xxxxxxxxxx

...The burning sermons purge their evil words ~ Between the Hammer and the Anvil...

xxxxxxxxxx

Willow got up from where she was sitting. Her expression blank, she wandered over towards Giles by the counter who was cutting open a package tied in twine. When Giles asked her if she was all right she tried to lie but he wasn't buying it.

"I had a fight with Tara. It was awful."

"I'm sorry."

"Me too."

"You two don't quarrel much, do you?"

"Never. 'Til today."

"Well, it's over now."

"Over? How can it be over? I just found her!" Willow panicked.

"The quarrel is over," Giles said in a calm voice, when he saw the panic spreading across Willow's face and heard it in her voice.

"Oh. Yeah."

As they talked, Giles picked up the merchandise and moved through the swinging doors, and placed the stuff on a shelf. Willow followed him. He looked intently for a second at the side door. The 'Ripper' part of him could sense that there was something at the side door although it barely registered with him, the Giles part. He continued speaking to Willow in a calm, even tone.

"And you'll feel better when you make your apologies. Then you'll know you can fight without the world ending." Giles casually rested his hand on the doorknob while he continued speaking, "I know it must seem bleak now, but as they say, This too..." As his voice trailed off, Giles yanked open the door swiftly. One of Glory's minions fell through the door. Just as quickly, Giles slammed the door halfway, cracking the minion's skull with it. He pulled the door open again letting the minion fall face first onto the floor, and finished his sentence, "...shall pass."

Anya had run in during the commotion, she and Willow stared at Giles a little bit awed. "Wow!"

Giles grabbed the minion Slook, and dragged him into the open area of the shop. Taking a hold of the minion by the hair, he shoved him into a chair.

"Now, what do we have here?"

"He's one of those things that work for Glory," Anya told both Willow and Giles.

"Yes. How helpful."

The minion looked Giles square in the eyes before he spoke, "I do indeed work for the God. Let me go if you do not wish to incur her anger."

"But she's not here. What a marvelous opportunity for you and me to talk." There was something a little different about Giles, Willow thought as she looked at him. Was Giles letting a little bit of 'Ripper' show through?

"I will never betray Glorificus. I will never talk, no matter what heinous torture..."

"Actually, you're talking quite a lot. But not about the right things. Tell us why you were here." Giles voice was hard, calm and determined. Now Willow was certain they were seeing a little bit of who Giles had been when he was called 'Ripper'.

"No words shall pass my lips that would bring peril to Glorificus."

Giles held the minion's gaze while he directed a command to Willow and Anya, "Quickly you two, on the counter... get the twine. Let's tie him up."

Willow and Anya moved to the counter quickly and gathered up the twine. They were startled when they heard a loud crunching noise, followed by an anguished gasp and sob. They turned around and were amazed to see the minion on his knees; he was pale, sweaty, and trembling at Giles feet.

Desperately Slook said to Giles, "Don't... I'll tell you anything. Please. Whatever you want to know. Just... I'll... anything..."

"What happened?" Anya was confused, so was Willow for that matter. Did Giles do something while their backs were turned?

"He changed his mind," Giles tone was almost casual, sheepish. He was once again just Giles; all traces of 'Ripper' were gone.

"I'm... I'm supposed to watch. We're watching the Slayer's people," Slook hesitated, trying to compose himself; it didn't work, "while Glory fetches the Key."

The room become deathly silent, none of them wanted to register or understand what the minion had just said.

"Glory knows who the Key is?" Willow asked, panicked. They were all panicked.

"Oh God."

Not my daughter. Oh God NO!

"We've got to call Buffy."

"Too late. Too late. Glorificus will find the witch and there's nothing you can do to stop her."

"Witch. What do you mean..." Anya looked at him puzzled.

TARA! OHGODNONONONO!

"Tara!" Willow turned and started heading for the door. Tara, she had to get to Tara!

"Willow, wait. I'll go with..."

"No. Call Buffy. Go look in Tara's room. I'm going to check the Fair." Willow yelled firmly heading out the door, and then she was gone, trying her best to shove down the panic that threatened to overwhelm her.

xxxxxxxxxx

...Force rises ~ False rituals ~ Baptizes ~ The body and the soul...

xxxxxxxxxx

"Buffy... Faith... I think you better listen to this message," Dawn yelled from the living room.

The Chosen Two went running for the living room from the kitchen when they heard the fear plainly in Dawn's voice.

"What? Who is it?"

"It's from Angel. Cordy's missing."

"WHAT?" Faith yelled. Dawn just pushed the play button on the answering machine.

"... Cordy has been gone since yesterday. Wesley is working on solving the scattering problem. As soon as he figures it out, we are going to try to rescue Cordy... Faith... Buffy... I don't know if we will make it back... I... just wanted to let you know... Faith there are papers in the safe here... Bank books... stocks and stuff that Wesley invested in for you from part of your salary... If we don't make it back make sure you come and get them... That's it... I'm not going to say goodbye... Just know I care about you both and Dawn too... Take care of each other, be good to each other... Later..." Then the 'automated' voice came on saying the message was received at Eight-o'clock P.M., the day before.

Faith grabbed the phone and frantically dialed the Hyperion. She slammed the phone down in frustration when no one answered, thankfully it didn't break.

"Why didn't he call me at the Mansion? Why? Why leave a message?"

Buffy walked over and put her arms around Faith, comforting her, trying to calm the fear that was radiating off her in waves.

"Angel was probably afraid that you would want to help. You know how he is. He wants you happy. Probably didn't want to interfere in what was going on with us here. Didn't want to risk everything you have now, knowing there was a chance that they might not make it back."

Faith stared at Buffy her mind racing a mile a minute. She knew what Buffy said was true; Soul-boy was trying to protect her. Protect what she had with Buffy. But how could she not help them? They had been there for her, all four of them. God only knew what would have happened to her if Cordy hadn't taken over where Angel left off when he was going through his Darla struggle. The four of them had pulled her back from the abyss. If it weren't for them she wouldn't even be standing here now with Buffy and Dawn. Wouldn't know what it was like to be loved, have a family, be happy for the first time in her miserable, fucked up life. How could he deny her the chance to repay any of them for that? She knew what she had to do, and she prayed silently that Buffy would agree with her. Either way, whether Buffy agreed or not, this was something she had to do, it was the right thing to do.

"B..." Faith paused, gathering her courage, she was risking everything. She started talking fast, not wanting to give Buffy a chance to interrupt her, "B, I have to go there. I have to help them if I can... It's the right thing to do. They saved me. I wouldn't be here with you now if it wasn't for them. I owe them more than I can ever repay them. I have to do this. I know I am risking everything here by going. But I have to, I just hope you understand."

Faith held her breath waiting for a reaction, something, anything, from Buffy who just continued to stare into her eyes after her hurried speech. God, for once, why couldn't things be easy? For the first time in her life she had people who loved her and who she loved, friends, a family, a home and Faith was frightened, afraid she was going to losing everything if she went running off to L.A.

"I do understand Faith. I want to be selfish and tell you not to go, but I can't. I know you have to do this. It's what I would do if the situation were reversed. I'm just afraid of losing you after just finding you. FUCK! Why can't things just be easy? Why can't we just be normal people?"

"Hey you're not going to lose me! For the first time in my life, I have a home and people to come back to. I have you and believe me; I would crawl through the depths of hell if that was what it took to come back to you. God herself couldn't keep me from coming back to you."

"Maybe I should come with..."

"No. You know you can't. You have to stay here, have to take care of Dawn. Have to play their game. Have to figure out how to kick that skanky, bleached blond bimbo's ass. I'll be back before you know it!" Faith gave Buffy one of her lopsided grins, and threw in a little of her cocky attitude for good measure as well.

"This sucks..." Dawn wasn't happy. She didn't want Faith to leave, but even she knew what Faith was doing was right.

"Yeah Gamin it does. But you know this is something I have to do. Don't you?"

"I know. It doesn't mean I have to like it." Dawn voice was sullen, but there was also fear in it. "You'll be careful won't you?" Dawn asked in a small voice.

"You know I will. 'Cause I know if I'm not, I'll be tortured by the infamous ticking of the Summers' sisters." Faith told her trying to lighten Dawn's mood a little. It didn't look like it was working. Faith moved out of Buffy's arms and went over to Dawn. She gathered the young girl's hands into hers. "I promise I will be careful. Like I told Buffy, there is nothing powerful enough in this universe to keep me from coming back to my girls. 'K?"

"'K," Dawn practically threw herself into Faith's arms, hugging her tightly and Faith hugged her just as tightly back. Buffy moved over to them and wrapped her arms tightly around both of them. They stayed that way for a few minutes, before Faith moved out of the sisters' embrace.

"I should get going. The sooner I go, the sooner I get back. I need to go back to the Mansion first and pack a few things before I catch the bus to L.A."

xxxxxxxxxx

Both Buffy and Dawn took Faith back to the Mansion to packs, then they drove her to the bus station. They waited with her for the bus to come even though she insisted that they didn't have to.

"I, we want to wait with you Faith. 'Sides that means, I... we get to do the long kiss goodbye thing like you see in the movies."

"You're not really gonna kiss here are you?" Dawn squeaked out. She had already noticed the nasty glares her sister and Faith were getting from people, and all they were doing was holding hands. Who knew what would happen if they actually started kissing in public.

The Chosen Two looked at Dawn in surprise. They had thought she was all right with them being together maybe they were wrong. Maybe they were seeing what they wanted to see and not what was really there.

"Gamin..." How to say this? How to ask? "Gamin is it not okay with you that me and B..uffy are together? You know like a couple together?"

Now it was Dawn's turn to look at Faith in surprise. "No..." Dawn hesitated; she didn't want to say anything about how people were looking at the Chosen Two. She knew they were oblivious to the stares; she didn't want their feelings to get hurt. She saw the fallen look the two of them were giving her and realized that her one word answer had been misinterpreted.

"I don't have a problem with it. It's not me... Some other people here do though. I just don't want your feelings hurt if someone looks at you funny or says something is all. I think you guys fit together. I hope I find someone, someday, who fits with me the way you guys fit with each other." Dawn blushed when she said the last part.

Buffy pulled her sister into a tight hug. Dawn returned the hug and quickly squirmed out of it, feeling shy all of a sudden. "We don't care what anyone else thinks Dawn. We only care about what you think. Let them stare, let them say something, it doesn't matter. You're all that matters. As long as you're okay with me and Faith then that's all we care about." Over the P.A. system came the boarding announcement for Faith's bus.

Dawn turned her back on them so they could say goodbye in semi-privacy. She glared down anyone who even looked funny at the Chosen Two. A man who was passing by started to say something and the look the fourteen-year-old gave him, made him snap his mouth shut and hurry away.

"I'm going to miss you. Miss you a lot. Promise me you'll be careful. Promise me you'll come back to me. You're doing the right thing and I'm proud of you. I'm still gonna miss you. I kinda got used to waking up next to you in the morning ya know."

"I'm gonna miss you too. I promise to be careful. I'll be back, you can count on it. You know Soul-boy; he's probably exaggerating the whole situation. The whole brooding thing kinda makes you look at things in a different way, like the glass is half-empty instead of half-full. And B, I like waking up next to you too. I especially liked the way you woke me up yesterday." Faith gave Buffy another of her goofy lopsided grins and then quickly pulled her into her arms, giving her a tender kiss.

"Hey Gamin. Do I get a hug or what?" Dawn was hugging Faith before she even finished. "Take care of B for me while I'm gone. 'K?"

"'K. Take care of yourself. Remember your promise Faith." Dawn squeezed her tighter.

"I will." She squeezed Dawn one more time, turned and pulled Buffy to her again, kissing her a little more lingeringly and then she was off running for the bus.

Dawn and Buffy watched the bus until it disappeared over the horizon. In silence, they drove back to their house. They entered the house to the sound of the phone ringing, echoing loudly through the deathly still, empty house.

xxxxxxxxxx

...Our union ~ Their fall from grace ~ Confession (confess your sins) ~ Will seal them to their fate...

xxxxxxxxxx

"This is nice. Just hanging out. Just us girls." Glory's voice was friendly; she was still holding Tara's hand. Tara was looking at Glory with fear and Glory was all but bathing in it. She lived for the fear; it was like food to her. "You like this sort of thing, don't you?"

Glory was referring to the two of them, two women holding hands. Before Tara could answer her, Glory started to squeeze her hand tighter. Tara's look of fear quickly turned to one of intense pain, and a gasp of pain forced itself out. If anyone had been listening, they would have heard the sound of bones breaking.

"Don't make a sound," her voice soft, menacing, evil. Tara looked around wildly at the crowd, no one seemed to notice them, no one seemed to care. Tara saw two large, burly men nearby, a whimper escaped her lips, Glory followed her gaze.

"Nuh-uh. They won't help you." Three uniform cops passed them by on bicycles, Glory barely spared them a glance before continuing. "I'd kill them. You know that. There's no one here that can stop me." Glory waved her free hand indicating everyone in the crowd. Tara was whimpering low in her throat in fear, in pain. Glory started speaking to her again in a voice that terrified Tara deep down in her soul. "I'll kill her. And them. And I'll kill him. And him. And her. And it'll be all your fault."

Glory waved towards random people as she spoke. When she was finished she began to squeeze Tara's hand again, her nails digging into her skin, blood started to drip from between their hands, and dimly Tara heard the sound of more bones breaking. She whimpered softly again in pain, but managed not to make any other sound. She didn't want anyone else to get hurt because of her. Her breathing was erratic and she idly wondered if she was going to pass out.

"It's kind of funny, isn't it? All these people here and nobody who can do a thing. Not a person who can help you. That's people for you; pretty worthless."

Tara looked up at Glory and the smile Glory gave her made her skin crawl. She couldn't remember ever having seen such pure evil as this. She whimpered again, feeling the bones that had broken through the skin as Glory continued to hold her hand.

"But Keys on the other hand... Keys are worth a very lot." Tara's eyes widen when the realization hit that Glory thought she was the 'Key'. She frantically shook her head in denial, but it was already too late. She watched in horror and fear as Glory raised her hand up, closing her eyes in anticipation and licked the blood that was dripping from between their entwined hands, savoring the blood and the moment. She couldn't help the whimper of fear as Glory's eyes snapped open. Glory gagged, spitting out the blood in disgust.

"You lying little tramp. You're not the Key. You're nothing. Just another worthless human being." Low and furious in that irritatingly, sickly sweet voice.

"I didn't..." Tara whimpered in fear.

"I hate being lied to. It makes me feel so betrayed!" Glory smiled at Tara again, and Tara whimpered.

"Hey! Do you want to make it all better? If you tell me who the KEY really is, I'll let you go. Think about it. You think your hand hurts? Imagine what you'll feel with my fingers wiggling in your brain." Glory squeezed Tara's hand again breaking more bones to emphasis her point. Tara just whimpered again not saying anything.

"It doesn't kill you. What it does is make you feel like you're in a noisy little dark room. Naked, and ashamed. And there are things in the dark that need to hurt you 'cause you're bad. Little pinching things that go in your ears and crawl on the inside of your skull. And you know that if the noise and the crawling would stop, you could remember how to get out. But you never ever will." Glory voice was quiet, and for a change, it wasn't in that irritatingly, sickly sweet tone, Tara had noticed that Glory had fidgeted uncomfortably the whole time she had been speaking. Glory spoke with a voice of a person who had experienced true madness herself. Tara looked at Glory terrified, speechless.

"Who is the Key?"

As Tara looked at Glory, she knew that Glory would brainsuck her no matter what. She let her thoughts drift to Willow, her love, her life, her heart, her soul. Her thoughts drifted further to Dawn, Buffy, Giles, Xander, Anya, Faith and even Spike. They were her family, they had stood up to her own Father, brother and cousin when they had come to Sunnydale to try and force her to return with them. Stood up for her even when there was the possibility that she was a demon, she would do nothing to harm them. She loved them and they loved her, unconditionally. She wanted to pull a 'Faith' and tell the ex-God to 'Go Fuck herself', but she wouldn't give Glory the satisfaction. Instead, she straightened up a little, the fear leaving her face, proudly she faced Glory, jutting her chin out, offering herself to Glory, as the tears silently fell from her eyes.

"Fine," Oddly enough, Glory gently caressed the side of Tara's face, she knew Tara would never tell her who the 'Key' was. "Let's go crazy."

xxxxxxxxxx

...The burning sermons will survive their curse ~ Between the Hammer and the Anvil...

xxxxxxxxxx

"TARA!... TARA!..." Willow yelled, running through the happy fair goers. Scanning the crowd she spotted Tara and Glory on a bench across the quad, she started heading in their direction, running faster, knocking people out of her way. Glory's hands were on Tara's temples, their faces side by side, and there was something almost intimate about it. Willow increased her speed and began chanting a spell.

"By force of heart, and mindful power, By waning time and waxing our..." Willow saw Glory's fingers sink a few inches into Tara's skull. She picked up her pace a little more, still chanting, ""I echo Diana, um, when I decree... what is it... what is it..."

Glory plunged her fingers deeper into Tara's skull. A light began to shine from where Glory's fingers went into Tara's head. As Glory's fingers began to go deeper, both cried out. Glory began to writhe in an obscene imitation of ecstasy, while Tara writhed in very real agony.

"No...NOO! That she I love must now be..." Willow screamed at Glory. "Free. TARA! NOOOOO!"

Willow saw as if in a dream Glory turn towards her and smile. She lunged for her, only to be blocked by the Chinese Dragon puppet. The dragon passed by in a blink of an eye, but it felt like forever, as she ran towards Tara she saw she was alone her head lolling to one side. Reaching her Willow grabbed her by the shoulders, Tara didn't look at her, there was no reaction from her at all.

Oh Goddess NO! PLEASENONONONONO!

"Tara! Are you okay?" Willow asked terrified.

"It's dirty. It's all dirty. And all over me. Dirty, dirty, bad. Bad!" Tara whimpered as she started brushing her stomach, brushing at some imagined dirt. Willow began crying pulling Tara to her, holding her desperately tight. She was too late!

"Tara, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." Willow whispered over and over again, rocking Tara, as her tears continued to fall.

xxxxxxxxxx

Buffy walked into the hospital room heading straight to Willow pulling her into a tight hug. God she hated this place with a passion. "Will. I'm so sorry."

Over Willow's shoulder, Buffy could see Tara, who was sitting on the bed in a hospital gown, one of her hands in a cast. She looked at Buffy with glazed eyes and smiled strangely at her. Willow and Buffy pulled apart. Willow smiled brightly at Tara, but her heart wasn't in it.

"They kill mice," Tara's voice was almost childlike and Willow couldn't hold back the tears any longer.

"Tara," Buffy said a second before she pulled Tara into a hug. Tara didn't react to or acknowledge Buffy at all. Pulling away slowly from Tara, Buffy once again turned around to face Willow.

"I'm sorry it took me so long. But I'm here now and Dawn's safe with Spike so I-I can stay as long as you need me." Willow nodded her gratitude to Buffy before gently taking Tara's uninjured hand into hers.

"I'm so scared." Willow's voice trembled, and Buffy silently cursed herself for ever letting any of them get involved with her. She gently put her hand on Willow's cheek offering what little comfort she could.

xxxxxxxxxx

Dawn and Spike were walking through an underground cavern. Spike had been trying to convince Dawn not to be scared. So far, he had been unsuccessful. It was a difficult task considering he was still battered, bruised and limping from his encounter with Glory, which scared Dawn even more. She knew vampires healed quickly like Slayers, so for him still to be this damaged after all this time made her shudder in fear and horror over what Glory could do to Tara.

Spike stopped walking when Dawn didn't respond to his last comment. He turned around and saw her sitting on a rock, facing away from him, the fear he felt coming from her making his un-beating heart bleed for her.

"Hey," his voice was soft as he slowly made his way over to her. He reached out gently to caress her hair, wanting to comfort her.

"You want to know what I'm scared of Spike?" Dawn turned around quickly facing him. Spike pulled back his hand making like he was going to run it through his hair all cool-like. Dawn was trying to keep the unshed tears in her eyes from falling. "...Me. Right now, Glory thinks Tara's the Key. But I'm the Key, Spike. I am. And anything that happens to Tara is 'cause of me." Dawn pointed to his bruised and battered face while she continued to speak. "Your bruises, your limp... That's all me, too. I'm like a lightning rod for pain and hurt... and everyone around me suffers... and..." She could no longer hold the tears back and they started to fall silently.. ."..And dies. I... This stupid Key must be something horrible... to cause so much... evil."

"Rot..."

"What do you know?"

Spike paused slightly before answering Dawn, "I'm a vampire. I know something about evil. You're not evil."

"Maybe, maybe not. Maybe I'm not evil but I don't think I can be good." There was almost a hopeful expression on her face as she looked up at Spike. He paused again before answering her, carefully considering his answer.

"Well, I'm not good, and I'm okay."

xxxxxxxxxx

Tara was frantic as the nurse wheeled her out of the room. Willow silently cursed the doctor, silently cursed the Hellmouth, Glory and the stupid rules that said Tara had to spend the night in the psychiatric ward.

"Don't... please don't with that treachery. I told the cats. And now I beg my mother, sitting all alone." Tara strained to look at Willow as the nurse wheeled her out of the room.

"Bye Tara. I'll see you tomorrow. I love you." Tara reached out for Willow in desperation, fear on her face.

Willow watched for a second, but she couldn't let her go. She moved quickly towards Tara, but not quickly enough, Xander caught her around the waist stopping her, holding her.

"Will, no. It's just for one night." Xander told her softly, he knew though the words would offer no comfort.

"Yeah, I-I know. but... it's a whole night and I don't think I can sleep without her."

"You can sleep with me." Anya paused when everyone turned and looked at her. She realized what she just said. "You know, that came out a lot more lesbian than it sounded in my head."

Buffy moved closer to Willow. "Will, you just have to rest. Right now there's nothing you can do."

Willow pondered Buffy's statement for a second, then a look of determination came over her face before she answered Buffy, "Yes, there is." Willow walked out the door into the hallway before anyone could stop her.

"No. No way!" Buffy yelled following Willow quickly out the door stopping her in the hallway before she had gotten too far. "You can't even think about taking on Glory."

Willow looked at Buffy with an expression that Buffy had never seen before on her face. There was strength and determination in that look, and a little something that almost frightened Buffy.

"You saw what she did to Tara. I can't let her get away with it."

"No, you have to let her get away with it. Even I'm no match for her, you know that."

"But maybe I am." Willow started to walk down the hall again, determined that no one would stop her. Buffy moved around her again, grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"You're not. And I won't let you go."

"It's not your choice, Buffy; it's mine."

"This is not the time."

"When, Buffy? When is? When you feel like it? When it's someone you love like I love Tara? When it's Dawn, is that it Buffy?" Willow's tone was almost accusatory, and laced with red-hot anger.

"No. When we have a chance. We'll fight her when we have a chance. You wouldn't last five minutes Willow. She's a god."

Willow looked at Buffy, suddenly she felt as if the weight of the world had come crashing down upon her thin shoulders. The sadness threatened to overwhelm her. She wanted to rage, scream, hit something, she wanted to rip Glory to little tiny pieces with her bare hands for what she had done to Tara. She wanted her Tara back. And suddenly it was all too much for Willow.

"Fine. I'll wait." Willow's voice was weary.

Buffy tried to make her tone reassuring as she told Willow, "It's the only choice."

"Yeah," Willow turned away from Buffy and started walking down the hallway in the opposite direction.

"Can I do anything..."

"Just let me be alone." Willow didn't turn around as she spoke, and Buffy watched her walk away feeling helpless.

xxxxxxxxxx

She entered the closed Magic Shop moving fast, almost running. She headed straight for the back to the ladder, with an agility that none of the other Scoobs had ever seen, she climbed up the ladder to the balcony. She ignored the sign that said 'OFF-LIMITS-SECTION' just like Dawn had when she was searching for ingredients to perform the magic to raise her Mother from the grave. There was nothing hesitant about her movements or actions, her decisions were quick and decisive, she moved with purpose, not worrying about putting things back the way she found them.

She scanned the shelf looking at the more evil, dangerous potions, things only a very experienced practitioner of Witchcraft should ever be able to access. She found what she was looking for on the top shelf and pocketed a small leather bag that was full of powder and a red glass bottle.

She knelt down and yanked open the drawer on the bottom shelf. She rummaged through the talismans, runes, knives, until she found the jeweled dagger that she was searching for and pocketed that as well. She continued to rummage through the shelves pulling off the bottles and potions that she needed and putting them in her bag along with the rest of what she had taken.

She started scanning the bookshelf again, searching. She stopped for a moment, thinking, then feverishly started to pull books from the shelf tossing them carelessly to the floor. Finally, after all the books lay scattered across the floor, she saw what she wanted, the giant black leather book with a huge brass lock on its page side. It was in the far recesses of the shelf as if it were hiding. She pulled the book from the shelf struggling with its weight, until it lay upon the ground. She checked it again, reading the title 'Darkest Magick' to reassure herself.

Grabbing an axe, she swung it with deadly accuracy at the brass lock. The lock broke open on the first try, and the evil, dangerous pages began to flutter as if they were being blown by a sudden gust of wind. They continued to flip rapidly in the wind, as Willow stood watching them.

xxxxxxxxxx

...Transgression ~ They prey on grief ~ Our mission ~ To purify belief...

xxxxxxxxxx

Glory walked down the stairs in her apartment. Her walk a little unsteady as if she had been drinking to excess. As usual, her three minions followed her. She looked out the window and noticed that it was the 'tween hour, the time of the day when it was neither night nor day.

"You know, I think I'm a little buzzed from eating that witch. What a mind she had. Nummy treat."

"...Is your grace not the slightest bit... concerned about..."

"What, about the Slayer? Don't be stupid. I know I'm closing in. The Key's as good as mine. Girl like Buffy's got just so many friends. All I gotta do is rip through 'em, one by one, until I finally..."

Glory trailed off listening. There was a noise that sounded suspiciously like thunder, it continued. The floor began to shake lightly, than with more gusto, a vase fell from the shelf, the thunder was getting louder, and more knick-knacks began to fall. The minions looked at Glory in confusion, who returned their gaze just as confused. The room began to get darker, and Glory saw that it was now completely dark. Darkness had fallen over Sunnydale quickly and early.

"Did anybody order an apocalypse?"

Before she had even finished her question, the bolts and the locks on the double doors unlocked themselves and the doors flew open.

Floating in the doorway about a foot and a half above the floor, her palms facing forward, arms extended, her hair and clothes flying around her as if being blown by some unseen wind, was Willow. Her eyes were completely black, there was no pupil, no green, and they were glowing with an unholy light. She began to float slowly forward, towards Glory, an incantation falling from her lips, softly at first, then growing in volume.

"Kali, Hera, Kronos, Tonic..." The minions ran from her in terror, hiding somewhere in the back of the apartment as she continued to come further into the room still chanting. "Air like nectar thick as Onyx... Cassiel by your second star..."

As if a light bulb had suddenly gone off in Glory's head she realized who the redhead was, ""It's the lover... That's so cute."

"Hold mine victim, as in tar!" Willow chanted as Glory moved towards her.

Glory only made it a few steps closer to Willow before the spell stopped her dead in her tracks. She pushed against the invisible wall in surprise, but it was immobile. Glory snarled at Willow like a wild animal, not wanting to play with the witch anymore.

"I... Owe... You... Pain..." Willow's voice was strange, she sounded almost like the 'Wicked Witch' from the 'Wizard of Oz'. On the last word, her eyes began to glow brighter. She rose up her hands, pointing her fingertips at Glory shooting blue energy directly at her, hitting her in the shoulders.

Glory screamed in pain when the unholy energy hit her.

xxxxxxxxxx

Buffy was running, pushing herself harder, faster than she ever had before. She had to get to Glory's, she had to help Willow! How could she have been so stupid? How? It had taken a vampire, Spike, and her fourteen-year-old sister to point out to her human reactions, emotions. How could she have been so blind? Christ! She would have done the same thing if she were in Willow's place. Buffy kept running hearing, her words, Spike's, and Dawn's echoing in her head.

"How's Willow?"

"She was looking to go all paybacky on Glory for a minute there, but I cooled her down a little. Actually, a lot."

"She's not gonna do anything rash, then... So, you're saying a powerful and mightily pissed-off witch was planning to go out and spill herself a few pints of God blood until you... ...explained?..."

"You think she'd...? No. I told Willow, fighting Glory'd be suicide..."

"I'd do it... Right person. Person I loved... I'd do it..."

"Think, Buffy. If Glory'd done that to me..."

As the voices faded Buffy's only thought was, 'Stupid... Stupid... How stupid can I be?'

xxxxxxxxxx

Tears streaked Willow's face; but her eyes were still glowing strangely. She was standing on the ground and she was becoming tired. Glory's apartment was in tatters, trashed, furniture was broken, curtains lay upon the ground. The leather bag and the red potion bottle Willow had taken from the Magic Shop were nothing more than scattered pieces of glass on the floor by her feet.

"Shatter!" A large mirror on the wall shattered at Willow's spoken command. The pieces of fractured glass rained down over Glory.

Glory looked at the witch, she knew she was tiring, she laughed at her, and continued laughing as she spoke, "Is that it? Is that the best you can do?" Glory staggered a little as she moved towards Willow. Despite her laughter, she looked like she'd been dragged around the block a few times.

"You think I care about all this? The apartment, the clothes..." To make her point perfectly clear to the redheaded witch, Glory ripped her dress from her, revealing the full black slip she wore underneath.

"I don't give a rat's ass when it comes right down to it." Glory was standing directly in front of Willow; she backhanded her, flinging Willow across the room, over the couch, where she landed on the floor. "Sucking on your girlfriend's mind, now that was something to treasure."

Willow raised her head, her eyes never leaving Glory as she continued to taunt her. She rose to her feet, her eyes still black, glowing brighter with the unholy light. The leather bag Willow had brought with her slid across the floor fast to her. It untied itself, opening, blossoming like a flower.

Glory shook her head amused. "What's this? Bag of tricks?"

A dozen or so knives, rose up out of the bag, pointing at Glory, they hovered in midair frozen. "Bag of knives." At Willow's words, the knives hurtled towards Glory all at once.

Glory didn't move. In the blink of an eye, she batted the knives away from her, the ones that did managed to get through, bounced harmlessly off her. She laughed again at Willow. Picking up the coffee table, Glory threw it at Willow with incredible force.

The table crashed into Willow knocking her to the ground. Groaning in pain, Willow managed to gasp out weakly, "Spirit of serpents now appear. Hissing, writhing, striking near."

The carpet rose up around Glory, forming into a snake. She ignored it walking over the snake, as it dissolved around her feet. "Now this is getting weak..." Glory bent down as she got close to Willow. She reached out and grasped the redheaded witch by the face, like a hunter looking over its prey. "And so are you, honey... Aren't you?"

Willow was weak, in pain, her eyes had returned to normal, but that didn't stop her from spitting in Glory's face.

Glory just stared at her, not flinching, and let the spittle drip off her face, hiding how startled she was by the witch's action. "You're going to regret that."

Glory grabbed Willow by the wrist and with ease started to drag her across the floor to where the knives lay, ignoring Willow's weak 'No'. Without missing a beat Glory picked up a knife, pulled Willow up by her wrist, shoving her against the wall and holding her there by the throat.

"You know what they used to do to witches, Lover?" Glory paused, then raised the knife high, getting ready to plunge it into the redheaded witch. "Crucify 'em."

Glory looked up in surprise when her lowering hand with the knife was stopped dead.

"They used to bow down to gods." Glory smiled at Buffy as she said this, Buffy answered her smile by kicking her in the stomach. Glory let go of Willow, and Willow, weakened, fell to the floor. Buffy twisted Glory's wrist, eliciting a gasp of pain from her. Punching her Buffy told her, "Things change!"

Cart-wheeling across the floor towards Glory, Buffy hit her hard with a roundhouse kick to the head. The kick sent Glory flying sideways. Pressing her advantage, Buffy let go with a series of punches, in quick succession, landing all of them. Buffy continued to throw more punches. Glory evaded some of them, and countered. Glory captured Buffy's arms and pinned them behind her back, then threw her over the couch.

"That witch barely slowed me down." Glory glared at Buffy, she hated the blond Slayer bitch.

With everything Buffy had in her, she kicked the couch sending it flying at Glory and pinning her against the wall. Like a blur, she ran over to Willow helping her to her feet. Glory shoved the couch aside, purposely she moved towards the Slayer and the witch, her confidence showing in her stride, watching as Buffy started to lead Willow out of the apartment.

Willow heard Glory stalking them and over her shoulder with as much strength as she could muster, in a voice belying her weakened condition she said, "Thicken!"

The old cliché, 'The air was so thick you could cut it with a knife', became a reality, immobilizing Glory.

"This isn't over. Do you hear me? It isn't over!" Glory yelled at their retreating backs, the last few words, louder, angrier, as she screamed them at the empty doorway.

xxxxxxxxxx

...This altar ~ Gives power and light ~ They'll falter ~ While we are shining bright...

xxxxxxxxxx

Faith slept fitfully on the long bus trip to L.A. From Sunnydale, it took almost four times longer to get there by bus. Her emotions had been running the gamut while she slept, between fear, sorrow, pain, anger, calmness, back to fear, to anger, to pain. She jerked out of sleep, sweat dripping off her skin. She took a few gasping breaths. 'What the fuck?' she thought to herself. It suddenly dawned on her what she had been feeling in her dreams weren't her emotions, but Buffy's. Fear began to coil in the pit of her stomach. What the hell had happened in Sunnydale since she had gotten on this godforsaken bus? What the hell was going on? She started to calm down a little as she felt Buffy's fear and anger start to recede and be replaced by relief and concern.

She closed her eyes again and found her center. She focused on Buffy like Giles had been teaching them, modifying the meditations they used while doing Tai Chi, to further open the connection between them. Faith reached out to Buffy with her concern, her worry, her curiosity. Almost instantly, she felt Buffy reaching back out to her, calming her fear, soothing her concern, and in an odd way letting her know to wait. She reached back out sending Buffy her love, lending Buffy her strength, surrounding her in peace, and tranquility. She relaxed against the seat and waited for her cell phone to ring.

xxxxxxxxxx

Buffy felt Faith reach out to her. She had been so concerned about Willow that she hadn't blocked her emotions from traveling to Faith. That wasn't good; they needed to get a better grip on this. Giles had been teaching them how to control it, but they hadn't much practice yet. The last thing she wanted was to worry about was Faith rushing back here blind, not knowing what was going on and falling into Glory's waiting arms.

Buffy reached back out to Faith, letting her know she was all right, that everything was okay. She then tried something new; she sent her the thought or the feeling of 'Wait'. She was a little amazed when she felt Faith sending back her understanding. While helping Willow get comfortable, Buffy smiled as she felt Faith surround her with her love, giving Buffy her strength, enveloping her in peace and tranquility. God she loved that woman!

xxxxxxxxxx

"B!" Faith practically shouted into the cell phone answering it before it had finished its first ring.

"Faith."

"You okay? Dawn okay? What happened? I felt you! Is everyone okay?" Faith rushed out and even without the echoes of emotions they shared, her concern, worry carried clearly over the phone to Buffy.

"Promise to stay calm baby, 'K?"

"'K," Faith said hesitantly not really wanting to make a promise she didn't know if she could keep.

"First everyone is okay. Well not everyone... Tara... Let me start over... There was a little problem after you left..." Buffy began.

By the time Buffy finished telling Faith everything that happened, she was livid. She desperately wanted to perform one of her ranting tirades, which was impossible to do on the bus. Instead, she just settled for the verbal part of it, "I'm gonna fucking rip that skanky ass, ugly, fucking, bleached blonde..." Faith trailed off lowering her voice as she saw the other passengers glaring at her. "That's it! I'm getting off at the next stop and coming back... That bitch better hide cause when I get my hands on her..."

"Faith... Faith! FAITH!" Buffy yelled interrupting her ranting.

"WHAT?"

"I don't want you to come back..."

"What? What do you mean you don't want me to come back? You don't want me back B?" Faith's voice became small, her insecurities taking a firm hold of her.

"I mean I want you to come back... come home to me... but, I want you to go to L.A first. Find Angel... Bring him back, bring the whole crew back... We can use the help. Glory is going down. Can you do that baby?"

"Yeah... I can do that... Sorry I just had a lapse into insecurityville..." Faith grumbled out a little embarrassed.

"It's okay baby. I wish you were here too. More than I can even possibly begin to tell you..." Buffy's voice was soft, tender, loving, soothing. "I miss you. Miss seeing you. Touching you... Just miss you..."

"I miss you too B..." Faith's voice was husky, the longing in it clutched at Buffy's heart.

They talked a little while longer, then Buffy had to go and check on everyone. She needed to make sure they were all okay. They hung up agreeing that Faith would call Buffy if she found out anything that couldn't wait until the morning, otherwise Buffy would call Faith after they got Tara home from the hospital and settled in.

xxxxxxxxxx

Faith enter the hotel, it was dark and empty. She yelled at the top of her lungs hello and only got an echo of her own voice as an answer. She walked over to Cordy's desk and picked up the phone. First she called Cordy's thinking that if they had found her that was where they would be. She stayed on the line until she heard Cordy's voice or rather 'Queen C's' voice when the answering machine picked up. She hung up, not leaving a message. Next, she tried Wesley's, same results, then Gunn, no answering machine but no one picked up. Last, she tried Angel's cell phone and was told the cell phone was out of range. More like out of this dimension, Faith thought to herself.

She started nosing around the desk looking for anything that could give her a hint as to where they were. She noticed a lined pad on the desk with just a torn corner of paper; it looked a lot like someone had ripped the paper off in haste. She looked for a pencil on the desk, and whispered 'Eureka' under her breath when she found one. She lightly shaded the paper with the pencil like she had seen in one of those late night, T.V. movies. She smiled when she saw two street names in Angel's handwriting, and doodles of Cordy's name around them. Faith left the hotel quickly heading in the direction of the streets on the pad, silently praying that she would find them there.

xxxxxxxxxx

After hours of searching, first at the two streets, then over at the Host's club, which was curiously enough, closed, Faith went back to the hotel with the only thing she had found, a big black book.

She climbed the stairs up to her old room, and sat down on the bed wearily. She pulled off her Doc's and rubbed her aching feet. Stripping out of her clothes, she crawled up the bed and under the sheets, thinking that the bed was way too big and lonely. She reached out from under the covers and pulled the large black book up towards her and under the sheet, not trusting that her only clue wouldn't disappear into the night like the L.A. crew. Sighing she fell asleep, her hand holding the book whose name 'Shrsqwrn', she couldn't even begin to hope she could pronounce.

xxxxxxxxxx

Tara was sitting crossed-legged on her bed in her Dorm room, her expression blank. Buffy, Dawn and Willow sat on the edge of the bed by her. They all looked a little exhausted. They were eating and chatting. There was an air of peacefulness, a sense of being safe. As if the four people in the room had found a safe haven from the brewing storm. They were enjoying the calm, joking but in more of a teasing sort of way that only true friends can share.

The subject turned to Tara, how she was doing and what Willow would have to do in order to care for her until they found a way to undo what Glory had done.

"It's okay. I can do this. I'm gonna take care of her. Even if she never... She's my girl."

"I understand," and Buffy did, because without a single doubt she knew she would do the same thing for Faith.

"I know you do." Willow locked eyes with Buffy, letting her know that she believed her. Willow leaned in close to Tara and whispered for her ears only, "Hear that, baby? You're my always."

Willow kissed Tara's forehead, and Tara smiled sweetly back at her a second before all hell broke loose.

One minute they were bathed in the soft glow of the dorm room's lamp, and the next they were blinking, blindly, rapidly into the raw light of a bright sunny day. Where there used to be a wall, there was now only the open expanse of the sky. They were totally exposed, and suddenly the blinding light of the sun was blocked, and in its stead stood their worst nightmare.

Dawn and Buffy jumped up, Buffy quickly crouching into a fighting stance.

"I told you this wasn't over."

"No! The place is cracking. It's cracking. Cracking, no, no, no..." Tara pleaded, frantic.

Willow anxiously tried to calm Tara. Dawn just stared at Tara, still feeling it was her fault this had happened to her.

"No, Tara, it's okay." Dawn's voice was soothing. Tara stared at her transfixed.

"Oh, look at that, look at that. The light!" Buffy turned her attention away from Glory to look at Tara as she continued to speak. "Oh, it's so pure! Such pure green energy!" Tara began to cry as she looked at the beauty that was Dawn. Dawn turned and gasped in horror looking at Glory, and Glory smiled at her, it was pure evil. "It's so beautiful." Tara continued to cry.

Glory evil smile became impossibly large. Dawn turned to Buffy, fear screaming from her in waves. Buffy looked at her sister for a split second before turning to glare at Glory. Who just smiled back and Buffy knew Glory knew Dawn was the 'Key'.

In less than a blink of an eye Buffy went into total 'Slayer-Mode'. Grabbing her sister, she ran towards the back door, she crashed through it, running down the hall, dragging Dawn with her, her adrenaline pumping, her fear boosting it even more.

Willow held Tara tightly to her, kneeling beside her on the bed. Glory started after Buffy and Dawn, only to be stopped by Willow who held up a hand at her, chanting a spell in Latin. Glory stopped moving, she was pissed, then she was flying backwards out of the building into some bushes. Willow and Tara got up running after Buffy and Dawn.

They were running through students, Buffy still dragging Dawn by the hand. She slammed through the door to the outside. Glory crashed through the wall into the building they had just exited. Students started screaming and running away. Glory stopped, looking around carefully, and then saw the door the blond bitch and the 'Key' had just ran out of. She started running again becoming merely a blur, moving faster than the human eye could comprehend.

The students stared as Buffy and Dawn ran across the lawn.

"Buffy!" Dawn gasped out to her sister.

"We have to keep moving!"

"I can't!" Dawn stumbled and fell. Without a thought, Buffy hauled her back up and scooped her into her arms, and started running again, jumping over the bench that was between her and the street.

'Just get to the street' was all Buffy could think and then she was there. But so was Glory, standing right in front of her. Buffy put Dawn down, they both stared at Glory. This time Buffy couldn't control the terror that rolled over her, almost making her knees buckle.

"Last words, slay-runt?"

"Just one... Truck."

The sound of an eighteen-wheeler's horn blared out. Whipping her head around Glory saw the truck bearing down on her, but it was too late for her to get out of the way. It slammed into her at full speed, rolling right over her, the semi's brakes squealing in agony as the driver tried to stop.

Grabbing Dawn's hand again, Buffy took off, heading for the park across the street running through it, the terror right behind her nipping viciously at her heels.

Glory landed a few hundred yards from where the truck hit her on the roof of a parked car with an ear crunching crash. The windows exploded, the car alarm sounded, she snarled. Glory was in a rage! She started to get up to go after Buffy and 'Her Key' but stopped suddenly, her face twisting in pain.

"No! Not now, you idiot! Let... go... of my..." She yelled out to no one, to Ben, the human whose body she shared, her prison in this world, this dimension.

The transformation began, they yelled out together, "...BODY!"

Then there was just Ben collapsing to his knees, his body exhausted. He was feeling the pain from what Glory had been through.

"Oh god..."

xxxxxxxxxx

Faith staggered, dropping the coffee pot on the floor and almost fell as the fear, the terror crashed into her with more force than a tidal wave.

"B!" She choked out. "OH GOD B...DAWN!" She was frozen in place, her own fear joining with Buffy's; she hadn't felt this kind of fear since she was a child living in Boston with her Mom and Johnny. That thought sobered her up. With the strength of character that at one time only Angel could see, she straightened up and pushed the fear down. Using the strength of will that had enabled her to survive for so long, Faith blocked out the echoes she was getting from Buffy, leaving only a small opening so she could feel faintly any change. She didn't like doing it, but Faith knew she would be useless if she didn't.

Turning she ran for the stairs, not noticing as the glass from the shattered coffee pot sliced her feet. She was dressed and out the door, in a minute flat, pausing only long enough to leave a hurried message on Angel's answering machine. Letting them know there was big trouble in Sunnydale, to hurry up and come, they needed help and apologizing for taking Wesley's Harley, which she had been forbidden to drive.

As she jumped onto the Harley, the bag with the book on her back, she thought for some odd reason about the movie 'The Perfect Storm'. And she had the eerie feeling that the storm that was brewing in Sunnydale would make the storm in the movie look like child's play...

xxxxxxxxxx

...The burning sermons consecrate their sin ~ Between the Hammer and the Anvil ~ Storm warning ~ But there's no fear - Judas Priest

xxxxxxxxxx