"Riley…"

Damn. He was tired and not in the mood for Bronwyn right now. "Bronwyn…"

She came out from her room, the one right across from his. "Hello."

"Hi," he said, walking into his room.

She followed him. "So this is your room? Mmm, it's nicer than mine." She came towards him and he backed up. His knees hit the edge of the bed and he sat down.

He tried to tell her to get out but she grabbed his face and kissed him hard. He didn't want this. He wanted…Willow to be here. Willow forcefully making a pass at him. Willow pushing him onto the bed…stop… stop… it's not Willow… it's "Bronwyn…" he muttered as she pulled off her shirt and undershirt. "Stop."

"Why? Does this disturb you, Riley?"

"No, Bronwyn, go back to your room. I don't want this."

"But I do. And you're a guest…who's da going to believe? Me or you?"

Damn. "Bronwyn, why?"

"Because you're mine. I know you're mine. You'll always be mine. You belong to me." She unbuttoned his shirt. "You have such a nice chest…" She ran her nails over his muscles.

"Riley?"

Ohgodohgodohgod please don't let it be…

"Willow," Bronwyn said sweetly. "How are you this fine evening?"

"Riley?" Willow said again in a whisper. Her face crumpled and she ran.

"Stupid!" he cursed himself. Pushing Bronwyn away, he sprinted after her. "Willow! No! It's not what you think!" Damn, she was fast for a small girl.

She ran across the field and up the meadow. Jumping over the fence she started climbing up the hill. She was standing on the edge when he climbed up.

"Willow…"

"Don't Riley. Just don't! Stay back. I can't believe you! You won't cheat on Buffy with me but you'll do it with a Scottish slut…" Tears were streaming down her cheeks. "I can't find a spell to get us home, Riley. We're going to be here for a long time and I won't watch you and her grow old and have kids. I'll kill myself now. I'll jump. Did you know that that lake is Loch Ness? The one with the monster…if I don't die on the rocks or the impact on the water, I can get eaten by the monster." She shook with tears and hiccupy sobs. "I just w-want to g-go home, Riley. I j-just w-want everything to be normal again. I want to go to the Bronze and laugh and make jokes but I can't. I can't talk to anyone about my other life because there's no one here to do it with. Colin is like Xander but he's not. He doesn't even know what a toaster is…Calista is kinda like Buffy and Cordy mixed and I miss everyone so much! Did you know that I saw a Giles look-alike today? I just wanted to jump him and ask all about demonology. But he wouldn't know anything about that! Giles isn't even born yet! You are off screwing Bronwyn and I just want to cry. T-to think I was coming to tell you that I love you and apologize and I find you and her h-half naked on the bed. And then there's the whole Buffy and Oz thing and my whole brain's going to fall out! Forget it. Just go away. I'm not really suicidal. I just need to think." She turned away and looked over Loch Ness. It was so peaceful. She heard the crunch of loose rocks and Riley's strong arms went around her waist, pulling her against his chest. He was murmuring into her hair… she turned in the circle of his arms and put hers around his waist.

"I'm so sorry, Willow. I put you through so much in the past few days. I was horrible."

"No, I was the one who was horrible. I pretty much threw you out of my life even though you're the only one who's really in my life right now. I left you. I'm sorry, Riley."

He kissed her on the forehead. Then he tilted her face up and kissed her gently on the mouth.

She deepened the kiss. Riley. Pure Riley. Mine, she thought possessively.

"Willow?"

"Mmhmm?"

"What about Buffy and Oz?"

"She was cheating on you with him…he told me the day that you came over…"

Riley paled. "Well, that takes out a lot of complications…"

They slowly walked back, telling each other what had happened to them in the past week away from each other.

¥ ¥ ¥

"How long until they get here?"

When Willow and Riley came inside, the men were gathered around the main fireplace arguing about something.

"Riley Finn. Ever been in battle?" James asked, sidling up to them as they entered.

Willow gasped. His hair was matted with blood and some of it trickled down onto his face.

"Uh, no, well, sort of. Why?"

"We're going to war against an English castle not far from here. They've taken Bronwyn and Calista and a few other women. Who knows what they are doing to them now." James' hands gripped the table so hard that his knuckles turned white.

Riley snapped into military mode. "How long ago were they taken?"

James shrugged. "In the past hour or so. I heard horses but I thought it was just men coming in because the English have become restless and we have to be ready. They were even dress as Scotsmen. Grabbed the girls before anyone could sound the alarm. I tried but…" he trailed off gesturing to

"It's not your fault…here…" Willow muttered a few words and touched James' wound. It healed up and the blood went away.

He felt it and a look of awe went over his face. "You're a witch," he whispered.

"Yeah, Kinda. But don't tell anyone. They seem to want to burn them nowadays…"

He nodded and they turned back to the men. Riley pulled Willow closer. "I'm glad you felt suicidal when you did…" he joked lightly.

"You're lucky I have a sense of when my husband is going to cheat on me…" she shot back, elbowing him in the stomach.

James gave them each a funny look then went back to the group of men. They conversed then Old Simon called Riley over.

"See you later," he said, quickly kissing Willow before being swallowed by the group.

She nodded and walked back to her former room. Grabbing her stuff, she went over to Riley's room. She relaxed on the bed, thinking happy non-thoughts.

When Riley came in, it was almost four in the morning. He crashed into the table and swore, waking Willow up. He looked tired.

"Well?" she asked, sliding over in the bed as he crawled in.

He grunted and she kissed him softly.

"C'mon, Riley. I can't wait for you to sleep eight hours before knowing!" she whined, poking him lightly.

He smirked and grabbed her around the waist. "Who said I was going to sleep?" he growled as she shrieked and giggled.

¥ ¥ ¥

Later, she lay curled up in his arms. "Well, Riley? Going to tell me now?" She asked, stroking his hand lightly.

He kissed her behind the ear. "We're going to attack the castle tomorrow. Not this morning tomorrow, tomorrow tomorrow."

She tensed. "We? Riley how did we get roped into this?"

"We did not get roped into anything, Willow. You're not going anywhere. You're staying right here."

She turned around and faced him. "What? No. I'm going with you. You're going to need me. I just know it."

"Listen, Willow, you're the reason the men came here each time. You. Not Bronwyn. Not Calista. They heard about you and your magic and they want you on their side and when you don't join them, they'll kill you. Burn you at the stake. Fire, Willow. It's not a game," he said deadly serious.

"And what about you? What if you get taken? They'll torture you. Keep you 'til I go. Or even worse, killed? It doesn't matter; I'll go either way. With or without your help."

"No, Willow…"

"Yes."

"No. If I have to chain you to the bed, I will. I'm not joking around here, Willow. If I lost you…"

"And what if you die?"

"Let's not talk about this now. It's been a long night…"

"You think you're going to die, don't you? You know for sure, don't you? Forget it. I'm going."

"Willow…please…"

"No. End of discussion." She turned away and went to sleep.

¥ ¥ ¥

"Wake up, you two! It's time to get ready!" James crowed as he entered the bedroom. The two were sprawled on the bed, waking up slowly.

"I don't wanna go to school today, mom," mumbled Willow, half-awake.

Riley got up. "Don't wake her up. She's not coming. Let's go." He was fully in commando mode.

They snuck out.

¥ ¥ ¥

When Willow woke up, they were gone. All the men were just gone. "Dammit!" she yelled, grabbing clothes from the floor. Pulling them on, she raced out the door to the stables. All the horses were gone. Damn. She muttered and pulled something from her pocket, throwing it in the air. A midnight-black horse appeared. "Time to go…" she said, hoisting herself up.

As she was going out the gate, a man jumped up. "No! You're not supposed to leave! Finn told me not to let you!"

"Too bad!" she yelled, kicking her horse to go faster.

¥ ¥ ¥

Riley was at the front of the army. He didn't know why he was in command. He hadn't been there for more than two weeks. This is dumb… you shouldn't be here, shouldn't be messing with the past, he thought. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted something moving in the trees. "What is that?" he yelled.

The trees ended soon. The people would have to show themselves soon. The trees broke and he cursed himself at not going through with the chains idea. It was looking very fine right about now. "Willow! What the hell are you doing here?!" he yelled across to her.

"You don't own me, Finn!" she yelled back. "This is my choice. Are you going to help me or not?"

"Damn," he said to himself. "Come on over here where I can keep an eye on you!" he yelled over to her.

She came over and grinned and he had lost. She knew it. He knew it. The whole army knew it. "I'll protect your back, Riley."

"You're not going into battle. That's where it stops."

"No, no, not into the battle. Don't worry I'll be far back but I'll protect you witchily, don't worry. I have all the stuff for it. Do you trust me?"

He nodded, unable to say anything else.

And then they were at the meadow in front of the castle.

"Stay here," he said forcefully and she nodded obediently. "Whatever happens, promise me you won't come in after me."

She shook her head. "No. Riley you can't make me make a promise that I know I won't keep. That you know I wouldn't be able to keep. Okay. Just don't worry. I have protection. Same as you." She held up a medallion. "I found it in my hand when I woke up."

"Fine."

"Finn! They're coming out!" James yelled from the front line.

"Take care of yourself, witch." He kissed her hard on the mouth.

"Come back to me commando boy." She returned it and hugged him hard.

He reluctantly let go and rode towards the front lines.

¥ ¥ ¥

"There she is." Eric Tomas gazed out over the battlefields. "There she is at the back, probably doing something to keep her precious knight in shining armour safe. Send someone to knock her off balance then take him out. She'll come then. For revenge if nothing else. Then we'll take her."

William Smith nodded and signaled a man at the fringe of the trees. The man melted into the shadows.

Willow felt the back of her neck prickle. Someone was trying to sneak up on her. She turned and saw the staff come towards her. Throwing up her arm she deflected it and threw a handful of dust into the man's face.

"That's it, David. Keep her busy." He felt the shield weaken around her knight. "Good." The men started smashing down on him. He fought well. "Maybe he can serve us after Willow comes to us…"

"No! Riley!" she screamed, understanding why they were doing this. Distracting her so they could take down Riley. Throwing the last of the dust at the man she spun her horse around. "Riley! I'm coming!" She went as fast as she could, close but far from him. They met eyes and she almost cried. "Riley. You survive. You have to survive." She was too worked up to shield him and it didn't matter. They had turned and were coming after her now.

"No!" Riley yelled.

She frowned at the sudden turn of events and wheeled her horse around, cantering the other way. They took up the pursuit.

¥ ¥ ¥

"No! Leave her alone!" Riley looked around frantically for a horse, finding nothing. "Ohgodohgodohgod. Willow. Hang on, I'm coming…" He ran after her and the riders. She had wheeled around in a tight circle and was headed for them, straight on. They split and she kept going, towards Riley. Archer's bows twanged and a wall of fire sprung up between them. "No." She turned and went along the firewall. She knew that he was running on the other side. She wasn't going to make it but she could try. Kicking her horse sharply in the ribs she leaned forward. No. No, no, no. Nonononononono. Bad. Had to get out. Get away. Evil. The wall turned into a circle. She was trapped with the English soldiers. They circled her and one hit her over the head. She fell off the horse and went down in a pile on the ground. One soldier picked her up and they went to an edge. Someone on the outside doused the flames and they rode through, into the forest.

"Willow! No!" Riley saw through the flames. Saw them circle her. Saw her go down. Saw them pick her up. Saw them ride off just before someone hit him from behind.