A/N1: The binding spell can be found at http/ Changes to the wording by yours truly.

A/N2: Buffy will be referred to as Bella for the rest of the story – unless it's one of the original Scoobies speaking to her or of course Faith who will always call her B.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN – Confrontations and Closure

1630 Revello Drive – Dining Room

As everyone filed into the dining room Bella nodded at Amanda and both women moved to surround Willow joining hands. As soon as their hands clasped a white light began to glow around them forming a circle.

Willow struggled trying to free herself from the magic circle but was unable to move. Xander and Giles tried to break her free but were pushed back by the magical barrier surrounding the women.

Bella and Amanda chanted:

By air and earth,

By water and fire,

So be you bound,

As we desire.

By three and nine,

Your power we bind.

By moon and sun,

Our will be done.

Sky and sea

Keep harm from all.

Cord go round,

Power be bound,

Light revealed,

Now be sealed.

The women chanted the spell three times and solemnly intoned, "So mote it be."

Willow struggled within the circle sobbing as she felt her power drain away. "What have you done to me?"

Bella and Amanda had been busy in the hour before they'd left the mansion for the vineyard. Not only had the cast a charm on a crystal to protect Bella from any magic cast on her they'd also begun the binding spell for Willow. All they'd needed to complete the spell was to join hands around the red headed witch and perform the chant to bind her from performing magic. It was a serious spell but Bella and Amanda both knew that given the chance Willow would not hesitate to use magic against them and in the upcoming fight against the First they could afford no wild cards in the form of an out of control witch.

The two immortals released each other's hands and the magic surrounding them dissipated into the air. As the circle dissolved Willow collapsed on the floor and Xander and Giles rushed toward her.

Giles turned accusing eyes on Bella, "Why did you do that? We might need her magic's in the fight against the First."

"Why? Why?" Bella practically screamed. "How dare you ask me that.. After what you three did to me, to Dawn."

Xander looked at Bella, "What are you talking about Buffy we never did anything to Dawn. And as for you all we've ever done is help you."

Bella couldn't contain her rage as she slapped Xander across the face. "Don't lie to me Xander Harris. I remember everything. I remember the three of you holding Dawn down on the floor of the Magic Box. I remember the energy of the Key racing into me as Dawn died. And most of all I remember the spell Willow placed on Spike and I forcing us to forget. Forcing us to believe that Dawn, a sweet innocent girl committed suicide. Don't you dare try to tell me you've helped me after you killed my sister and raped my memories."

Giles warily stood and approached Bella, "Be that as it may that gives you no right to bind Willow from performing magic. That is a serious decision."

"I had every right to bind her. She was using her magic to harm others not to help them. Her attitude goes against everything a true practitioner believes. But, I don't expect you to understand that Watcher. After all you're the expert on magic for selfish reasons – does Eyghon ring a bell. After that you were so scared to use magic you ran from it never learning from or paying for your mistakes. When Willow started to abuse her magic you didn't help her see the dangers that you knew too well. You didn't support Tara when she tried to help Willow. As far as I'm concerned you share a large portion of the blame for Willow's magic abuse."

Bella stood before the three people she'd considered family for so long clenching her fists and trying to gain control of her temper.

The room grew silent except for Willow's sobs. Finally, Spike could stand it no longer. He strode forward grabbing the witch by her shoulders and shook her hard. "Shut up, bitch! You have no right to cry. Dawn will never cry again. She'll never laugh again. She'll never do anything again and it's your fault. Don't think I don' know you were the driving force behind her death. Xander could never come up with something like that on his own. And even if Giles considered it he never would have acted on it unless he thought there was no other way." His voice turned low and deadly, "What did you say to convince them? Or better yet what did you do to convince them? Perhaps Bella and I weren't the only ones you performed a spell on."

Giles turned accusing eyes on Willow. "Did you? Did you perform a spell to get us to help you kill Dawn?"

Willow quickly began to speak trying to explain herself to Giles. "Giles, it wasn't like that. I knew that Buffy would never do what needed to be done. Xander knew it. After sending Angel to hell – we knew she'd never be able to make that decision again. You knew it to. You told her it might come down to Dawn's death. I just 'helped' you realize there wasn't another choice. It was really only reinforcing your own thoughts – giving you the strength to make the choice."

"My god Willow! How could you?" Giles turned to Bella with tears in his eyes. "Oh! My dear girl. I am so sorry," he said as he collapsed in a chair with his head in his hands.

Bella stood looking at Willow and Xander and then spoke to them in a low voice empty of feeling, "Leave this house. Leave Sunnydale. I don't ever want to see either of you again. If I do I'll kill you." She turned her back to them and reached blindly for Duncan as tears streamed down her face. He gathered her in his arms, murmuring soothing words and stroking her hair.

Willow and Xander started to speak but Spike beat them to it. "The lady said to leave. I suggest you take her advice. You need to be out of this house within the hour and gone from the town by sundown tomorrow. If you're not your dead. It's as simple as that. Even if the slayer won't kill you I will. You best find a nice life in some boring town where you think I'll never come because if I catch even a whiff of your putrid scents you're dead."

A very frightened Willow and Xander left the room to pack and get out of the slayer's house both knowing that if they stayed they'd surely die.

1630 Revello Drive – Living Room

As Xander and Willow entered the living room the potentials and Andrew looked at them in shame and horror. They'd heard every word said in the dining room. They couldn't believe what the two had done to Bella and her sister Dawn.

Willow walked to Kennedy where she was sitting on the sofa nursing a bruised and bloody jaw.

"Kennedy, Xander and I are leaving Sunnydale – I'd like for you to come with us."

Kennedy looked at Willow and saw someone she didn't know. She'd never liked Bella but what Willow had done was inexcusable. "I can't go with you Willow. What you did – was horrible. I know Bella hates me but I'm staying here until she asks me to leave."

Willow's sobs started anew as Xander drew her into his arms and guided her up the stairs to pack their bags.