Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy: The Vampire Slayer or Charmed.
"Tara?" Willow asked in shock, unable to believe her own eyes.
The face with blue eyes full of kindness and a happy smile looking at Willow, who had almost died a moment ago after being attacked by a demon just helped her.
"It's me, Willow." Tara said.
Just to be sure it wasn't just the First Evil taking her form, Willow held Tara's hand… and the hold of it as Tara squeezed Willow's hand was all she needed, alongside the kind look Tara was giving her and then Willow remembered when Melinda had mentioned that Willow's Whitelighter would be someone she could trust… and suddenly, all the pieces fell together, but at the same time, all the emotions Willow had been bottling up since Tara's death suddenly burst out, among them her grief and guilt over her using dark magic and trying to end the world and kill her friends, and then using Kennedy as a rebound among other things and tears were filling her eyes as she began sobbing, pulling Tara in for a hug, while Tara wrapped her arms around Willow.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" Willow sobbed.
"Shh… it's alright, Willow. It's alright." Tara said, soothing Willow gently and patting her on her back.
"Willow?"
"Will?"
Melinda, Buffy, Xander, Faith, Dawn and Faith ran into the back alley as they saw Willow on the ground, but what shocked the Scoobies was who held her in her embrace.
"Tara?" Dawn said in shock, while Buffy, Xander and Faith froze, rendered speechless.
Tara helped Willow on her feet as Melinda smiled at Tara.
"Well, you sure know how to pick your timing." Melinda said.
"Well, someone had to help Willow, if you couldn't." Tara said with a smile as the Scoobies looked in between them back and forth in confusion.
Dawn then slowly approached Tara and reached with her hand to be sure she wasn't imagining it as Tara smiled at her.
"Hi, Dawnie." Tara said as Dawn looked into her eyes, on verge of tears before they hugged each other.
"I missed you so much…" Dawn whispered.
"I know… I know…" Tara assured, fondling Dawn's hair.
"Can someone please explain to us what's going on?" Buffy demanded, speaking for all the Scoobies.
"I think we should head back inside first." Melinda suggested and they nodded.
They sat in the corner booth, which was quieter and outside of the range of the noise of the music.
"Tara's death and Willow's attempt to destroy the world shook a lot of trees. There were some that decided it was not their place to interfere and engage with Willow at all, unlike with Angel, who was their Champion, but there were those that saw the potential, both in Willow and Tara." Melinda explained.
"Some Elders like Sandra or Kevin thought it might be best if you had someone to look out for you after what you'd been through, that it was unfair that you had been pushed down this path, but there were those like Odin and Kheel and other more narrow-minded Elders thought that you had made your own bed by letting magic corrupt you in the first place and that you would eventually become a threat you'd be taken care of one way or another." Tara said.
"They wanted to, what, kill me?" Willow asked, shocked, while Buffy, Faith, Xander and Dawn were angered on her behalf.
"I don't think they'd go that far with you, but they wouldn't treat you any better than any demons they despise, no matter how redeeming qualities they might have." Melinda said, remembering the stories about Cole and Phoebe.
"But most of the Elders decided that it might be best if you had some good influence around you and chose to pick me as your Whitelighter after…" Tara trailed off and it was clear what she was implying as they all with shudder remembered Dark Willow.
"But first they needed to be sure that you would heal and that you'd be ready to return to magic safely, which is where I came in, when you showed up in San Francisco." Melinda said.
Suddenly, the pieces fell together for Willow. It was no coincidence Melinda helped her out, having a job, new home and friends and when she mentioned that Willow's Whitelighter would be someone she could trust…
"Why? I mean… why help me?" Willow asked. "Don't get me wrong, I appreciate it, but…" She sighed, looking away guiltily.
"Willow. It's all in the past." Tara assured, holding her hand, as it was clear to her and the Scoobies she had not gotten fully over her guilt over going dark and her magical addiction hurting others.
"You're not the only one who has been corrupted by magic and done things to people you love you never would've under any other circumstances. My family would tell you stories." Melinda said before she looked at everyone. "I understand if you're angry I didn't tell you who would be Willow's Whitelighter."
They all looked at Melinda and smiled, letting out a soft laughter, Buffy, Willow, Dawn and Xander fighting tears.
"You're kidding?" Xander chuckled.
"How could we be mad?" Buffy asked.
"You gave us the greatest gift we could've asked for." Dawn said as they all smiled at Tara, though Faith looked a bit awkward.
"Yeah… I'm not sure about…" Faith trailed off, remembering how she had treated Tara, while in Buffy's body. "I'm sorry about… back then. When I switched bodies with B." She said awkwardly. "All the stuff I said about you—"
"It's alright." Tara said and Faith looked in surprise at how easily Tara would forgive her. "We all came a long way since then, don't worry about it."
Faith stared at Tara with a mix of surprise, understanding and happiness now, now seeing for herself why did the Scoobies like her. They weren't exaggerating, Tara was the sweetest person they could ever meet before she relaxed a bit. If she showed such kindness to her and Spike even after what they had done, that already told Faith how much of a good person Tara was as she relaxed and smiled. "If you're sure, thanks, I guess."
Though there was something still bothering Buffy. "Who was trying to kill you?"
"I wish I knew." Willow said.
"I don't know any more than you do. All I knew was that Willow needed me." Tara said.
"It's obvious someone is taking charge in the Underworld, it's one thing they'd target my family, but the fact that the demons are trying to kill you too just raises more questions." Melinda said.
They all walked out, when they saw another demon shimmer in front of them and Melidna instinctively stepped up before the demon raised his hand. "I come in peace."
"Like if I'd trust you." Melinda spat.
"Another demon?" Xander asked and Melinda nodded.
"I'm not looking for a fight. I just came to send a message to the Charmed Ones and the Slayer." The demon said.
The Scoobies and Melinda were ready for a fight, but relaxed a bit.
"What message?" Melinda demanded.
"Haven't you found it odd that it's been years since the demons went after the Charmed Ones and only now attack you, when the Slayer shows up?" The demon asked rhetorically as they looked at each other.
"What do you know?" Buffy demanded.
"Recently, a couple of magicians showed up, trying to power play in the Underworld, make a big name for themselves by targeting you and the Charmed Ones, Slayer. Rumor has it that those two have some history with you." The demon said.
The Scoobies looked at each other as their suspicions began to grew and their eyes were slowly widening in horror. If it was who they thought it was, this just meant a whole new world of trouble for them. Trying to keep a straight face, they turned to the demon.
"You're taking a big risk warning us like that, what's in it for you?" Faith questioned.
"Simple, no one down there trusts them, but they're too strong for most of us to take them out." The demon said.
"So helping us helps you." Xander realized.
"Call it whatever you like. You take those wannabe rulers down, it's a win-win for everyone." The demon said.
"Tell us their names first." Willow said.
"I think you already know who they are." The demon said before he shimmered away and the Scoobies looked at each other worriedly, starting to suspect who was behind it.
Later, Halliwell Manor
"Yeah." Buffy sighed as she hung up. "Riley said that Ethan had vanished from custody months ago, but no one realized it because he'd placed into his cell a magical decoy."
"And it's been two years since we've heard of Amy the last time." Willow said, all of the Scoobies remembering when she had turned her into Warren. "I wouldn't be surprised if she began working with demons."
"So now she's sending assassins after us instead of jinxing us." Xander grumbled.
"If what you told me about them is true, the demons wouldn't follow them unless they thought that Amy and Ethan would be useful to them somehow or unless they had become much more powerful than before." Melinda said.
"They are powerful magicians in their own right, but Willow is on a whole new level, maybe as strong as the Power of Three." Tara said and Willow smiled at the praise. "I don't think the demons would follow them if they had only their own magic, it's possible someone's aiding them. Someone with dark power."
Meanwhile, the Magic School
Paige and Leo had orbed into the Upper Regions as they walked down the hallway of the Magic School with Sandra.
"It's one thing the demons would target your family, but why would they attack the Slayer and her friends?" Sandra questioned.
"Because my daughter's charge is Willow Rosenberg, one of the most powerful witches ever." Leo said and Sandra stopped, understanding and now thoughtful.
"The one that almost used the Effigy of Proserpexa to destroy the world after Tara died." Sandra said and Leo nodded. "We decided to bring Tara back as Whitelighter after what she'd done for everyone as Willow's Whitelighter, but the timing of attacks, when they are all in one place is… disturbing."
"You think something is at play here?" Paige asked.
"I can't say for sure. But I'll be honest, even the Elders are worried lately. Something is rising, something powerful and maybe even greater than the Ultimate Power. Something malevolent and sinister and familiar. The fact that the demons rise up after years makes me wonder…" Sandra trailed off.
"A new ruler of the Underworld?" Paige asked, catching onto her thoughts and groaned. "Great. The last thing we need is another Source or Zankou."
Halliwell Manor
The Scoobies, Phoebe and Melinda walked down the hallway, when a shimmer appeared in front of them and a group of people with dark outfit appeared, forming energy balls and fireballs in their hands. But what shocked the Scoobies was that asides from them, some people were turning their faces into vampiric one and it shocked them to see both magical demons and vampires trying to kill them.
Hope the reunion with Tara was OK.
And now the Scoobies and Charmed Ones know who is behind it, though they don't know it's the old Source yet. As for Amy's, Ethan's and the Source's plan, just wait. You probably expect some larger scheme than a series of demonic attacks, but all I will reveal that Amy and Ethan are playing the long game, it's all part of the plan.
So, what do you guys think?
Please review and let me know if you have been enjoying this so far.
