Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy, but I do own Sophie, baby Lily, and Echo the puppy :)

At the very mention of 'The cave', baby Lily, as strongly connected to her sister as she was, began to bawl.

"A cave?" said Riley. "What cave? Where?"

"Not a cave" said Willow as realisation hit. "The cave." Tara gasped as she too began to catch on. Riley, however, was oblivious.

"Okay, where is the cave then?"

"This is a very sensitive matter, Riley" Willow frowned. "How much have we told you about Sophie?"

"She's your daughter and she was born from magic" Riley replied. "That's about it."

"It's true that she was born from magic, but not ours" Willow explained. "She was created by a group of demons who wanted to.."

"Demons?" Riley cried, shocked. Sophie ducked behind Tara's leg as the soldier's eyes fell on her. "How could you.."

"If you say even one word against my daughter you will regret it" said Willow, glaring at Riley. "Because I will hurt you, and there's not one person in this room who would do a thing to stop me."

"I'd cheer her on. Hell, I'd probably even hel.." Spike began, but Angel elbowed his grandchilde to shut him up. Riley looked around the room, finding everybody now glaring at him. The threatening gazes of Willow and a certain blue-skinned God-King were particularly unnerving.

"Alright, I didn't mean to upset anybody, I just thought.." he gulped as Willow's eyes narrowed. "Nevermind, go on."

"The demons created her so tthey could use her to steal my magic, and they kept her in their cave until she was three years old" Willow continued. "But one night she escaped, and ended up running into me, then the demons chased us but luckily we ran into Faith and she helped us.. boy, somebody really must have been watching over us that night huh?"

"Got that right" Tara smiled.

"Anyway" said Willow, smiling back, "Three days and one kidnapping later I found out who she really was, then another few days later Tara was resurrected, and we haven't mentioned the cave since, until today when we've found out a powerful magical healing herb apparently grows there." She paused, a little confused. "What would demons want with a magical herb?"

"They used to makes me take it" Sophie whispered, peeking out from behind Tara's leg. "I got sick a lot when I was with them." Willow once again felt hatred for the demons swell in her chest, knowing that her daughter's illness would most likely have been caused by lack of care or poor nutrition. Riley, unfortunately, lacked any sort of attachment to Sophie that would help him to sensitively deal with the situation.

"Great" he said, smiling at the little girl. "We can go to this cave, you can show us where the Vervain is.."

"Whoa, hold up" said Willow, cutting him off. "We are not taking her back there."

"Well how else are we supposed to find the herb?" said Riley, annoyed. "A cave able to house that many demons must be huge, we don't have time to search it all ourselves!"

"We'll have to make time" said Willow, crossing her arms. "It's a miracle Sophie came through all this as well as she did. There is nothing you can say to convince me to take her back to that cave." Riley opened his mouth to argue, but Sophie got in first.

"I can shows where to look" she said, turning to Tara. "Mama Tara, hold my hands."

"Okay.." Tara obeyed, a little confused.

"And close your eyes." Sophie closed her own eyes, and Tara followed suit. "Now concentrate real hard." The pair remained silent for a minute, while the others looked on, confused. "Do you see it now, Mama Tara?"

"I think I can" Tara smiled, "Yes, I can." The blonde's smile widened as she opened her eyes. "I know where to go."

"Then let's go" said Riley, gettting to his feet.

"You're not coming, this is a family thing" said Tara. "And Anya, it might be a bit dangerous for you, so do you mind staying here and watching the girls?"

"Of course not" Anya replied, taking Lily from Willow. The sunlight posed a problem for Spike and Angel, which left the cave hunting party to consist of Willow, Tara, Xander, Dawn, Connor, and Illyria.

"I can't come, but your taking the demonic blue girl?" cried Riley.

"Yes Riley, we're taking the demonic blue girl" Willow grinned as they headed out the door. "Now come on Scoobies, we've got a Slayer to save!"