Disclaimer: None of the characters in this story belong to me. They belong solely to Joss Whedon. I just borrow them and toy with them a bit.

Characters: Willow and Tara

Other: More femmeslash to come, not for da little kiddies.

Tara got out of the hospital the next day, with the doctor saying she was in perfect health, but to take it easy anyway. Willow was overjoyed. The entire ride home, she filled Tara's ears with all sorts of Willow-babble. About anything and everything. She accidentally let it slip about Tara's surprise 'Welcome Home' party, of which Giles flew in from England for. It made Tara giggle when Willow clapped her hand over her mouth and turn red. "Oops..." was all Willow said.

They got home and got out of the car. "Now remember, act surprised. I wasn't supposed to tell you. And you really have no idea how much everybody missed you." Willow said, grabbing Tara's hand and walking her to the door.

Tara just smiled. She couldn't wait to see everyone. Well, everyone that didn't visit her at the hospital. She made a note of it to give them a hard time on that one. The suspense was killing. But then again, there was also some part of her that wanted to say forget about the party. She just wanted to go upstairs in Willow's room and spend eternity alone with her. The party was a nice thought, though.

They ascended the steps of the house, just glancing at the wreckage that Buffy hadn't gotten repaired yet. Willow opened the door, expecting to hear a nice big 'WELCOME HOME' from the party goers, but got dead silence. She stepped in and looked around, as Tara's heart fell. I guess she did want the party after all.

Willow gave Tara's hand a loving squeeze, then let go. She walked into the living room, and then the kitchen, and everywhere else she could think of. Everything looked normal, but it was too quiet. Then she thought of something. Walking to the basement door, she cracked it a bit. Peering down what she saw horrified her. Buffy was lying unconcious on the floor in a pool of blood that was leaking from her neck, and there were broken chains connected to the banister. "Buffy!!" she yelled. She flung the door open all the way, and bolted down the stairs.

Tara watched as Willow's expression went from confusion to horror, and bolted down the stairs yelling. She half-walked half-ran to the opening herself to see what the fuss was about. She saw Buffy too, but what worried her was how Willow had stopped at the bottom of the stairs, instead of going to see if Buffy was alright. She was staring off into an unknown part of the basement. "Will? You okay?" she called down to her.

Willow just stood staring at the carnage before her. Xander was chained to the wall, his neck was also bleeding, and Dawnie lay passed out in the corner. All Willow could see was a wound on her head, no vampire bites so far. Looking to her right, she also saw Faith lying unconcious on the floor.

"Welcome home, Red." Came a voice from the shadows. It was Spike.

"It's nice to have you back." came the voice of Angelus.

Willow's mind kicked into overdrive. Angelus and Spike... No. They were both supposed to have souls. And Spike isn't supposed to be allowed to hurt anyone. He still had that chip in his head. Everything was wrong. What happened...? "Wha...?" she said aloud, completely perplexed at the whole situation.

Tara had heard the voices and immediately went to touch-my-Willow-and-you-die mode. She had at least four spells fresh in her mind, ready to cast at a moments notice. She just got Willow back, she'd be damned before she let some stupid blood-suckers take her away again. Then again, that's probably the idea. It most likely wouldn't be long before the others roused into vampires. That is IF they can't help their hearts continue to beat.

Spike and Angelus stepped out of the shadows, both in all black, as usual. They both had very menacing looks on their faves. "Any minute now, they should die, and come back as one of us. Then what's poor little Willow going to do?" Angelus sneered.

This snapped Willow out of it. Immediately Willow's eyes turned full black, and the vampires flew backwards into the wall behind them. Then Willow rounded on Buffy. She put her hand over her wound and healed it, and Buffy woke up. "Will, your eyes... You..." Then she remembered what had happened, and immediately became alert to her slayer power going haywire, due to the two undead in the room. "Will, help Xander, and Faith. They're about to turn, I can feel it. Dawnie didn't get bitten, they just knocked her out. I'll hold them off." Buffy said, as Spike and Angelus regained their step.

"Bloody witch. I'll kill you for that." Spike said, preparing to charge Willow down.

Tara heard him, and she literally flew down the steps. Her eyes matched Willow's, but only white. "No!!" she cried aloud, and sent Spike flying hard into the same wall, only this time, he smashed through all of the concrete, and tumbled out into the night. Angelus smiled. "Wow, pretty powerful..." he said, sizing Tara up. "...for a witch!!" he said, and then he ran for Tara. Tara yelped a little and covered her face, preparing for the impact, but Buffy brought her leg up, and kicked him hard in the face. He stumbled backwards, holding his mouth, and said, "Would you make up your minds. Who am I fighting here?"

Willow finished rousing Xander and Faith, when she turned to see Tara. Her eyes were... Is Tara the Earth Goddess...? Oh well, no time. Spike had just appeared in the hole in the wall. He caught sight of what was going on, and his face immediately change, releasing the beast within. Angelus did the same, and they both charged. Angelus at Buffy, and Spike at Willow, with Faith standing next to her.

Tara, once again jumped into action to protect her lover, and sent a ball of energy blasting into his ribs. Spike yelled and fell to the ground, just as Faith grabbed a stake to drive into his heart. As he stood, she ran up to him, and the fight commenced. There was so much ducking, and hitting that Willow could barely keep track of who was winning.

Tara ran to Willow. "Are you okay?" she asked, looking for marks.

"I'm fine, but you need to get Dawn out of her. Take her upstairs, and wake her up, then have her tell you how to get to Vanessa's house. I don't either of you to get hurt." Willow said urgently. Tara's eyes were still white, and would, no doubt, cause fright to Dawn when Tara woke her up. But she'll get over it, right now Willow had more pressing matters.

Tara frowned. "But I want to stay here. I want to help you, and make sure you're safe."

"Tara." Willow said fiercely, as the image of fire flashed in her black eyes.

Tara nodded. She knew now wasn't the time to test Willow. She quickly ran to Dawn, checking her pulse first, then picked her up, with a little help from magic, and carried her upstairs.

On the way by, Angelus saw them, and moved to attack, but Buffy paried it. "Ah, ah, ah." she said. "This is our play time. Aren't we having so much fun?" She struck him on his right cheek, and his head jerked to the right, then she kicked him as hard as she could in the abdomen.

He flew backwards into the wall, which gave Buffy the opportunity to check what was happening else where. Spike was having it out with Faith and Xander, while Willow strode up to Buffy. "Tara took Dawn upstairs. She's going to wake her up, and have her take them to Vanessa's."

Buffy felt slightly relieved. "Good. Now I need a stake. And quick." she said as Angelus was standing up. Willow looked around in desperation, when she spotted a pile of stakes in the corner. She stuck out her hand and beckoned to them, and two flew into her outstretched palm. Handing one to Buffy, she prepared herself for Angelus. This was going to be a long and bumpy ride...