Briefing Room, SGC, 1100 hours.
Vala stood at the window that looked down at the Gateroom while SG-1 was waiting for Willow to come up to brief them on what happened in the other reality. The dark haired alien glanced back as Colonel Carter, Faith and Teal'c walked into the room and sat down at the table with Colonel Mitchell and Daniel. Vala knew that Anya wasn't present since she had to help Daniel get some work done since he was still recovering from his possession by Moros. Vala nodded and smiled at the newcomers before she looked back out at the Gateroom before thinking about what happened when she visited the redhead after Dr. Lam allowed people to see her.
"Vala" said Willow when she walked into the Isolation Room with Colonel Carter and the others, "I.. I'm sorry about Adria."
"Wasn't your fault" replied Vala shaking her head, "the Ori made her into a being that was dead set on ruling the galaxy and… well, she paid for I with her life."
"Still" said Willow, "I'm sorry."
"We got you back" said Vala as she patted Willow's shoulder, and we got to meet your mother… nice woman. A bit on the mysterious side."
"What Ancient isn't?" asked Colonel Mitchell.
"What do you mean?" asked Willow confused as she looked at Vala, "what did she tell you?"
"She said that Vala would have to do something" said Colonel Mitchell.
"Your mother implied a sacrifice was imminent" continued Teal'c as Colonel Mitchell nodded his head, "are you certain that Adria has been killed?"
"I broke every bone in her body" said Willow who turned to look at the Jaffa, "and shot her through her chest. She's dead, but then again you never know. If the Ori are still in the picture; if the device failed.. but it can't be, Vala and I completed it to my father's specifications. But Adria…"
"And she's more powerful than you" said Anya as everyone looked back at the ex-demon who shrugged her shoulders, "you know it's true. She has, or had, all the knowledge of the Ori and their powers… it could be possible that she managed to heal herself."
"At this point" said Colonel Carter as she looked at Vala, and then at Anya, "we can't discount anything. She could be alive, and she may not… either way, we still have those Ori ships to deal with."
"The rest of our ships, ma'am?" asked Willow as Faith rushed into the Isolation Room.
"The Excalibur and Avalon's got another two months" said Colonel Carter, "the Rasputin and the Shen Long will be done in another two months."
At the confused look on Willow's face, Colonel Mitchell told her that the Russians and Chinese just submitted their names for their Avalon-class ships.
Back at the briefing room, Vala looked at the reflection on the glass in front of her and smiled as Willow walked in with Dawn. The dark haired alien then sat down next to Dawn, who sat next to Willow, who in turn sat next to Faith. It was a few seconds later that General Landry walked in from his office and told Willow that General O'Neill said hello.
"He wished he could be here" said the General as Willow nodded, "but he's got a meeting with the President on the next stage in regards to disclosing the Stargate Program. But in the meantime, Major?"
"Has Dawn already briefed everyone on her.. I mean… you know. Who she really is?"
"Yea" said Dawn as she looked at Willow, "they know the basics; that I was born in Atlantis… but the rest I thought I'd tell you and Buffy first before I tell the others."
"We'll have another briefing on that, Major" said General Landry as Willow nodded her head, "and now, if you'd please?"
The General looked at Willow and nodded his head as Willow leaned back and closed her eyes before telling them everything from her ascension, to her return to her own reality a few hours earlier. Once Willow was done, everyone looked at her with their mouths wide open in surprise, especially upon hearing about the weapon; the Scythe. Once everyone had asked every type of question imaginable, including why Willow didn't have her powers available, to which the redhead gave her theory; General Landry ended the briefing and asked Willow to finish up her report before she went for her three day vacation. He then turned to the rest of SG-1 and told them that Colonel Mitchell and Teal'c, along with Vala, Daniel and Anya were needed in Eden to assist Sarah and her team, along with SG-28 and Sg-29. He then turned to Colonel Carter and asked her to lead her science team in getting Merlin's machine to work.. that with a total of ten Ori ships in the galaxy, they needed all the help they could get.
"I'll pass on my notes to you, ma'am" said Willow as the Colonel nodded her head before turning towards General Landry.
"And about the Slayer weapon, sir?" asked the Colonel.
"I assume that the Major would like to inform the BPRI about the weapon's existence?" asked general Landry looking at Willow who was nodding her head, "very well, I'll have a team on stand-by to help the BPRI search for the weapon. But, inform them about what we discussed in regards to its use, Major."
'Understood, sir" said Willow as she nodded her head.
"Alright" said General Landry as he stood up, "all of you are dismissed."
"Sir" said Willow, Colonel Carter and Colonel Mitchell as they stood up straight. Once the General had left for his office, SG-1 were prepared to go went their separate ways while Willow would go back to her quarters to finish her report on the trip to the other reality. But before they left, Colonel Carter asked Willow what they were doing in that reality since there was no Stargate program. Willow told them everything, except for what happened to General O'Neill, and all the others could do was look at each other with disappointment before looking out into the Gateroom.
"Our lives would be that different, huh?" asked Colonel Mitchell before he looked at Colonel Carter, "hey, at least you'd be on the I.S.S."
"Yes" said Colonel Carter, "but I doubt that I'd have Debra, or that my dad would be alive."
"Tue" said the male Colonel before looking at Willow, "sorry about your death."
"She did ascend" said Willow, "so.. I guess that's a good thing."
"Yea" replied Dawn as she looked at Willow.
"However, the Jaffa are still slaves" said Teal'c as everyone looked at him, before looking at Willow again as she nodded her head.
"Unfortunately" said Willow, "but Thor told me that they had already retaken many of the Replicator occupied planets, and that once they had gotten that pest problem under control, then he and the others would start on an offensive against the Goa'uld."
Willow looked at Teal'c and told him that she didn't want to risk Ra, or Apophis attacking Earth, which was the reason why she didn't come to him on Chulak.
"It would have been unwise" said Teal'c as he nodded his head, "there would be no way to ascertain if I would have given any information about the Tau'ri to Apophis."
"Hopefully they get their freedom too" replied Willow.
"Indeed."
"Alright gang" said Colonel Mitchell as he clapped his hands and rubbed them together, "we have our own missions to go on. So I suggest we get to it so that we could see what we can do on Eden."
"You're just excited about looking at the Number Six's on that planet" said Vala who had her hands folded over her chest.
"No" said Colonel Mitchell, "the personnel carrier ship that they have is pretty sweet, I'm excited about giving that a go."
"Uh huh" said Vala as the group walked towards the hallway that led past General Landry's office, "that wasn't what you said during our date."
"Date?" asked Faith as she and the others turned around and looked at the red faced Colonel, while Vala just stood there grinning.
"Date, Colonel?" asked General Landry who peeked his head out of his office door after having heard Vala say that particular word.
"Sir" said Colonel Mitchell, "it wasn't a date. Vala wanted to get out of the mountain; she was whining about it actually… so I figured it would be a good idea to get her used to some social situations in case we have to… you know… go for a party or something after saving the world again. Plus she was bugging me."
"Uh huh" said Colonel Carter with a grin, "if you say so."
"Oh, come on" said Colonel Mitchell as everyone grinned at him.
"Let's not embarrass the man about his date" said General Landry just as Colonel Mitchell was about to interrupt him, he continued, "you all have your duties, hop to it people."
"It wasn't a date" said Colonel Mitchell as he kept on mumbling that while he walked away with Vala by his side. The same Vala who winked at the others while biting her lower lip, before giving them a massive grin.
"Good luck, Cam" said Daniel as Vala put her arm around his shoulders as he kept on mumbling.
"I think he's broken" said Faith as she nodded her head, before turning to Willow and Dawn, "I'll take the pipsqueak and finish up some work. Call us once you're done?"
"Yea" said Willow as Dawn hugged Willow again before she walked off with Faith, leaving the redhead with the original members of SG-1.
"Willow" said Daniel, "you never told us what happened to Jack. I mean without the Stargate Program… I mean…"
"He still lost Charlie" said Willow softly, after which she saw the horrified looks on their faces as they realized what that meant. They knew that the only reason the General decided not to kill himself was because of his experience after the first Abydos mission, but without that particular mission then anything could have happened.
"It is an unfortunate loss for that Earth" said Teal'c as Colonel Carter gave a small smile.
"Yea" said the Colonel, "or else we wouldn't have been asked to go to his cabin."
"Or have team nights with beer steak, beer chicken" said Daniel as they made their way into the hallway, "or any meat that could be marinated with beer. We would have lost a leader, and a friend."
"Indeed" said all four of them together as they continued down the hallway.
The Summers Residence, Sunnydale, 2000 hours.
Throughout the entire plane ride to Sunnydale, via Los Angeles, Faith was seated in the middle of a tired Willow who had propped her head on the slayer's shoulder. It was Dawn, who was seated next to Faith, who put a blanket over the couple so that they could keep warm; and hold their hands under the blanket while the redhead slept peacefully.
The briefing that Willow had given them had left everyone open mouthed, especially when the redhead talked about the Scythe, the same weapon that Willow had created for Sineya. A weapon which her alternate ascended self, said had the ability to activate every single Slayer of the current generation. That led to further questions by the two Colonel's of SG-1 and General Landry, particularly on the ethics of using such a weapon to force girls around the world to accept a destiny, and the accompanying responsibilities of said destiny; especially when the girls are unaware of it being forced onto them.
"Isn't there a way to activate only those who are willing?" asked Daniel several hours ago during the briefing.
"From what I understood" said Willow shaking her head, "no. The current generation of Potentials, including those who either refused to become involved with the BPRI, or the ones that the BPRI haven't gotten to yet would be activated. And we're talking about even little girls younger than me when I first joined Buff; actually, even younger than Buffy, gaining new abilities."
"Not to mention criminals" said Dawn as she leaned back, surprised by everything that Willow revealed about her trip to the alternate reality, "can you imagine Slayer powers given to a murderer? Or a serial Killer? Don't get me started on what would happen if someone in a mental institution got those kind of powers, and the memories that come with them."
"This is a very powerful weapon" said Teal'c with his hands on the table, "a very powerful weapon that belongs to the Slayers. I believe it is their decision to make, as long as they understand the implications of what would happen if it is activated."
"I think we're forgetting one thing" said Vala as everyone looked at her, while she looked at Faith, "we already have a Slayer, maybe we should ask her what she thinks."
"Miss Lehane?" asked the General as he looked at Faith.
"Ummm" said Faith as she fidgeted in her seat as she looked at everyone, "all I can say is that the situation is different here than in the other reality. They were faced with an apocalypse and had no choice but to activate every single Slayer. From what Red said, they were operating alone and without any back-up, but here… the guys do have back-up. They have the NID, an army of Potentials who are well trained and still stronger than a regular human; they have backing from the military.. they have us to help them if it come down to it, and back-up could be sent to them in literal flashes of light. Honestly, the two situations are so different that I'm not sure. Personally, if I wasn't a Slayer, I'd either be dead or…. Or let's just say that I won't be here; nor would I be in Sunnydale. If B weren't a Slayer, then she'll probably be living a normal life. Out of the three Slayers in the world, the only one who would be super excited about being a Slayer is Kennedy. Personally I don't think we need an army of Slayers, at least not yet. But I think the Scythe should be safe in B's hands, it was made for the Slayer after all."
As she was seated on the plane while holding Willow's hand under the blanket, that was the question going through Faith's mind; What would her life be like if she wasn't a Slayer? She looked at Willow and knew that the biggest thing would be that she wouldn't be with the redhead, and that she'd either be dead or be forced into selling her body just like her mother had been. Being a Slayer brought her Watcher to her and changed her life, sometimes for the worst… but eventually it gave her a stability in her life, and a family.
'And hope' thought Faith silently to herself as she looked at Willow, 'a hope for something I haven't told her about.'
Faith then leaned back and looked over at Dawn who had her eyes closed while listening to her MP3 player. She looked at the brunette and remembered how she held her hostage, along with Joyce all those years ago. How angry she had been when she arrived to help out with the battle before the creation of the Slayer Council. Eventually they made peace, and the brunette thought of the Slayer like a second sister.
'Funny how life is' thought Faith to herself as she looked at Dawn again before she closed her eyes, and lay her head on top of the sleeping Willow's.
It had taken another two hours for the plane to land at the Sunnydale airport, and by eight at night, the car that Faith rented stopped in front of Joyce's house. The three young women got out of the car before they just looked at the house as Dawn stood next to Willow, while the redhead stood next to Faith.
"I was here" said Dawn softly, "the day Buffy and mom moved in to Sunnydale, and into this house… I was here. I knew she was the Slayer, and that she'd play a pivotal role in the Mayor's ascension. I watched over you while you were growing up, well me and mother, and we saw the friendship you'd have with her. I was there in the High School the first time you guys met, you were so alone.. I mean yeah.. you had Xander and Jesse, but you were still so alone."
"I saw you, and mother" said Willow softly as she put her arm around Dawn's shoulder, and another arm around Faith's waist as they walked towards the house, "my light; my guardian angels. I thought I saw the two of you the day I re-ensouled Angel… I remember I was so weak that day."
"You could finish the spell" said Dawn as they walked up the pathway to the porch, "mother and I interfered and healed you as much as possible so that you could activate the spell."
"Thank you" said Willow as she kissed Dawn's cheek while Faith looked on and smiled. Willow then turned and pulled Faith closer before giving her a deep kiss.
"Eew" said Dawn after the couple kissed, "get a room."
"Uh huh" said Faith as she poked Dawn's arm as they reached the stairs leading to the porch.
Dawn smiled at Faith, and then at Willow, as the three of them walked up to the porch and knocked on the door. The three of them stepped back as they heard the sounds of someone running from the main staircase down to the first floor.
"Dawn" shouted Jay as he ran to hug the brunette with Rose close behind him as she ran down the stairs.
"Dawn, Auntie Faith, Auntie Willow" said Rose as she ran to Willow and Faith and hugged their legs and looked up at them, "any chocolates?"
"Rose" said Joyce as she walked in from the dining room, "really?"
"Sorry, momma" said the little girl as Faith put down her bag and sighed. The dark haired Slayer then unzipped the top before reaching in and taking out two large chocolate bars for an excited Rose and Jay who yelped with excitement before running into the living room; but not before giving Faith and Willow a hug as well.
"Kids!" shouted Joyce as she peeked into the living room, "one bite only; or else you ruin dinner."
"Yes, mother" said Jay and rose together as they sat on the couch and unwrapped the bars. Joyce smiled at the two young children before turning towards Dawn and giving her a tight hug.
"Hi, sweetie" said Joyce as she whispered into Dawn's ear, "this is a really surprise."
"Yep" said Dawn as she kissed Joyce's cheek before hugging her even tighter, "I love you so much."
"I love you too, sweetie" said Joyce before Dawn pulled back. The older blonde then looked at Willow and hugged her before telling the redhead that she heard about what happened, "I'm so happy that you came back safe and sound."
"Thanks, Mrs. Summers" said Willow.
"Mrs. S" said Faith, "is Tara around?"
"She's been exhausted" said Joyce as Willow pulled back when they heard a door close at the top of the stairs, followed by a shuffling of feet. Joyce turned around and saw a groggy Tara standing at the top of the stairs while giving a small wave at Willow.
"You're back" said Tara after she rubbed her eyes and yawned, before she smiled at Willow again.
"I heard you did a lot to sent Faith to me" said Willow as Tara slowly walked down the stairs.
"She did" said Faith as she smiled at Tara before Willow walked up and gave the blonde witch a very tight hug.
"Thank you" said Willow as she whispered into Tara's ear, "thank you for letting me see her in the other reality."
"It was nothing" said Tara as Willow stepped back, "I'm glad you came back safely."
"I bet you've got stories to tell?" asked Joyce as she patted Willow's shoulder.
"Oh yea" said Willow as she glanced at Dawn and Faith, before looking at Joyce, "a lot, actually."
"Mom" said Dawn as she walked towards Joyce and wrapped her arm around the older blonde's, "where's Buffy and Xander?"
"They'll be coming soon" said Joyce, "they just returned from a mission; Buffy said she's almost done with her report and then they'll be home. Then we'll have dinner together…. I even made my pie."
'Oooh" said Willow excitedly, "the pumpkin one with the burnt edge, and the burnt middle?"
"Uh huh" said Joyce as she nodded her head.
"Neat" said Willow, "my favourite."
"Mom" said Dawn, "there are some things we need to talk about after dinner, important stuff… maybe it would be better to have Mr. Giles, Angel and Cordelia here after we've eaten."
"Umm" said Joyce as she looked at Dawn, willow and then Faith, "yeah… sure. Everything alright?"
"Yea" said Willow, "I saw some things in that reality that I think we need to talk about…. If you don't mind holding it here, I mean."
"I'll make sure the kids are occupied" said Tara before Willow interrupted her and told the blonde that she needs to hear what's going to be talked about, as would Kennedy, "you could be key in this, Tara."
"O.. Ok" said Tara.
"Then after the kids are asleep?" asked Joyce as Willow and the others nodded their heads.
It was an hour later that Buffy, Xander and Kennedy retuned to Joyce's house; surprised by the visit from Willow, Faith and Dawn. The redhead thanked them all for helping send Faith to talk to her before they sat down for dinner where they just talked about their lives so far, and left out talk of wormholes, alternate realities and Slaying while Jay and Rose were still at eating at the table.
"We are old enough" said Jay when Buffy started to say the word 'slay' but stopped herself almost immediately before looking at Jay.
"No you're not" said Joyce as she smiled at her young son, and then at Rose who was cutting her meat, "later on, maybe. But not now. Alright?"
"Yes, mother" said Jay.
It was thirty minutes later that they finished their dinner and Joyce had called Giles and the others to come to the house; saying that Willow returned and that she had some things to tell everyone. It was another hour later that Giles and the others had come to Joyce's home, and in the meantime the older blonde ordered both Jay and Rose to get ready for bed. However, the two of them started complaining which led to Joyce putting her hands on her hips and staring at the two of them with an eyebrow raised. This sight led to giggles from both Dawn and Buffy when they recalled Joyce having done the same thing to them when they were still children.
"Rose, Jay" said Joyce as she tapped her foot.
"Watch this" whispered Buffy as she leaned in to Faith.
"Yes, mother" said Jay and Rose as they hung their heads, which led to a smile from Joyce, "but will you read us a story?"
"Alright" said Joyce as she carried Rose and held Jay's hand as she walked up the stairs. She then looked at the others and told them to continue without her. Rose and Jay waved their hands at the group who waved back before sitting down on the various chairs and couches that were available.
"Willow" said Angel as he stood against the wall with his hands in his pockets with Cordelia next to him seated on an armchair, "glad to see you back."
"Thanks, Angel" said Willow smiling, "it's great to be back. I saw a lot of things in that reality, and… and some changes too."
"Such as?" asked Xander.
"Well" said Willow as she looked at Xander, "seemed like you and Anya were together."
"Hey!" said Buffy as she slapped a shocked Xander's arm before she looked back at the redhead and gave her a wink.
"It wasn't me" said Xander as he rubbed his arm while the others smiled.
"That's one" said Willow as she looked at Cordelia and told the surprised woman that she had visions from the Powers, visions that contradicted the ones that Buffy received. She told them about the whole mix up of where the Scoobies in that reality thought that the redhead was a demon that came back in the form of the dead Willow.
"You died?" asked Buffy.
"Yeah" said Willow, "my alternate self ascended, and she told me what happened. Basically I.. I mean she, was shot through the heart."
"Oh" replied Buffy.
"Angel and his team still operate from Los Angeles" said Willow as she looked at the vampire, "you know someone called Lorne? Green skinned demon with horns?"
"Yea" said Angel, "he's still there working with Spike. Along with Gunn and his team."
"That's just some of the differences" said Willow as she glanced at Angel while decided not to tell him about his alternate's son, at least not yet. Instead, Willow told the gathered Scoobies about what the alternate version of Buffy and her Scoobies faced, and what they did to deal with the First, the Bringers and the Turok-Han vampires. By the time that Willow was done talking, everyone just looked at the redhead with their mouths wide open. It was a few minutes later that everyone started talking at once, which was when Faith put her fingers in her mouth and whistled.
"Thanks" said Willow as she smiled at her wife before looking at Buffy who was shaking her head.
"The First" said Buffy as she looked at Angel, "the First."
"Christmas Day" said Angel, "the day it snowed."
"Huh?" asked Willow as she looked at Buffy and Angel, "you mean you know the First?"
"Yeah, I mean I saw it" said Buffy as she went on tell Willow and the others what she had seen, and experienced, the day that Angel wanted to commit suicide but was prevented by a freak snow storm that hit Sunnydale that morning. Buffy told Willow everything, including meeting the First in the form of Miss Calendar.
"Oh" was the only thing that Willow could say at the revelation.
"Are you sure about the First?" asked Giles as he looked at Willow as he recalled what she told them about her theories regarding the First.
"The Alterra never heard of it" said Willow, "and it never heard of the Alterra, but it did know the Furlings. That's why I am guessing that it's the first demon that came through to this dimension through the Hellmouth. The first evil being."
"And this Scythe?" asked Kennedy, "it activated all the Slayers of that reality's generation?"
"Yeah" said Willow as she glanced at the worried look on Buffy's face.
"Buffy?" asked Willow as everyone looked at the senior Slayer, "you alright?"
"Something that can activate every Potential on Earth" said Buffy softly, "if the First is still out there then…"
"Then all of us will take care of it" said Angel as Buffy looked up at him, "Giles, Wesley and I are keeping an eye on the readouts from the Sunnydale Outpost regarding the Hellmouth, and so far we're not getting the type of activity that can be related to an appearance of a massive force of ancient vampires."
"They had no back-up, B" said Faith as Buffy tuned to look at her, "you do here. You've got the BPRI, the NID special squads, you got the military for back-up."
"And the SGC" said Willow, "including some extremely powerful weapons that can destroy multiple battalions of Vampires should that type of apocalypse scenario happen in this reality."
"She had no choice" said Buffy as she hung her head, "my counterpart had no choice then?"
Yeah" said Willow, "there was no choice. I took care of the vampires in the Hellmouth, but Buffy and the Slayers took care of the Bringers, and there were a lot of Bringers. At least seven out of forty died in that battle."
"The Scythe was made by Red for the Slayers, B" said Faith, "it belongs to you and Kennedy."
"It contains Sineya's power" said Willow, "her essence. It's a magical artifact thanks to the tiny amount of naquada which I'm sure absorbed, and amplified the magical energy it absorbed. It was that amplification that possibly caused every Slayer to be activated."
"And.. and I did that?" asked Tara nervously.
"Yep" said Willow.
"And this Scythe is in Sunnydale?" asked Cordelia as she looked at Willow.
"I think so" said the redhead, "at least we found it here… but I can't be sure if it's located in another place in the States, or if it's still in Egypt somewhere. Basically, it could be anywhere, but the place that the alternate version of Buffy found it was in the Shadow Valley Vineyards."
"Can't be there" said Buffy as everyone turned to her, "that place has been destroyed in the last 'almost apocalypse' we had, the one before we created the Council."
"Right" said Giles as he fixed his glasses before he looked at Tara. He asked the blonde witch if there was a way she could track the Scythe, find out where it was being hidden.
"I.. I could try a locator spell" said Tara, "but I'll need to tap into both Buffy, and Kennedy's aura to find it. You see, the aura of a Slayer is unique.. and if the Scythe contains the essence of Sineya.. than I could use their aura to form the basis of a special locator spell… but I'm still weak."
"When you get stronger?" asked Kennedy as Tara smiled and nodded her head.
"General Landry talked with General O'Neill and the President" said Willow as she looked at Buffy and then at Cordelia and Angel, "they'll be calling tomorrow to ask that the Scythe, if found, not be used to activate every single Potential."
"It could be very bad" said Giles as he stood up and rubbed the bridge of his nose while Buffy and Kennedy looked at him confused. Giles turned and looked at them before saying that while, relatively speaking, Buffy.. Kennedy and Faith were well adjusted; there could be Potentials Slayers out there that they still haven't gotten who could use their new Slayer powers for their own ends.
"Like super powered serial killers?" asked Xander as Giles nodded his head while the dark haired young man put his hands around Buffy, "then that insane Potential in L.A…. Can you imagine her with Slayer powers?"
"So there's no way to activate only selected Potentials?" asked Kennedy as she looked at Willow.
"I'm not sure" said the redhead, "before I left, I asked Dr. Lam if there could be some combined medical and magical way.. but it's completely out of her field. But, she does have one idea but it needs your cooperation."
"Civil War" said Buffy softly as she thought about what was being said; Slayers, the current generation of Slayers all being activated. She thought about retirement while Kennedy and the new Slayers took over duties while she gets on with her life. But then she thought about what could happen with rogue Slayers. She remembered what happened with Faith when they first met, and she feared what could happen if there were more out there like the earlier version of the Bostonian. That's what made her shudder before she looked up and saw everyone looking at her, "huh?"
"You said Civil War" said Cordelia as she leaned forward and looked at Buffy.
"Just thinking" said Buffy, "having every potential be activated as a Slayer would mean I get to retire; well not retire but maybe take over training duties… be the head trainer or something. Free from the field; and free to create a new life for myself with Xander. You know, finally Finish College and all. I know mom doesn't bring it up; but I can tell she's thinking it. Have kids without having to tell them that I may die on patrol one night is also a plus. But having bad eggs inside the pool of Potentials getting powers would cause one Slayer army to go up against another Slayer army. Everyone would get caught in the crossfire.. and in the end…"
"The demons would win" said Dawn as Buffy nodded her head.
"The Scythe was created for the Slayers" said Buffy as she looked at Willow, "and we'll use it as it was meant to be used. As a weapon."
Willow smiled and nodded at her best friend before telling them that Dr. Lam would be calling them later on to talk about her idea; and if it has any potential. After they had spent another thirty minutes talking about everything else that Willow knew about the Scythe, and the alternate reality. The small group slowly made their way out of the house just as Joyce closed the door to the children's room and walked down the stairs.
"All done?" asked Joyce as Angel and Cordelia, who were just about to leave, turned around and smiled at Joyce.
"Yes, Mrs. Summers" said Cordelia as Angel nodded his head, "have a good night."
"You too" said Joyce as she waved at both Nagel and Cordelia, before Giles followed them out the door.
"Willow" said Giles turning around after he walked onto the porch, "will you be staying in Sunnydale long?"
"We've got a three day leave" said Willow as Giles nodded his head, "so yeah, we'll be here before we head back to Colorado."
"Good, good" said Giles, "I would like to talk to you about the First tomorrow. As you know, I am writing a new addition to the Watcher's Codex;; an addendum of sorts. And I would like your input, as well as Dr. Jackson's."
"Daniels helping the Cylons" said Willow as her eyes went wide, "hey, you know Ancient Greek?"
"A little bit" said Giles.
"Enough to carry on a conversation?" asked Dawn when she realized what Willow wanted to ask the man.
"Yes" he replied.
"Think Angel and Cordelia could spare you for a month off-world?" asked Willow as Giles looked on.
"I.. I can talk to them" said Giles, "is this about the Colonials, and the Cylons?"
"Yep" said Willow, "Dr. Gardner needs some people to translate for the SG teams on that planet."
"And" said Faith, "I heard that some of the Cylon chicks look like Victoria Secrets models."
"Oh" said Giles as his face turned red, "umm…. If it's to help these people talk to humans, then yes… but I would have to talk to Angel and Cordelia. Victoria Secrets models you say?"
"Uh huh" said Willow as Buffy, Tara, Kennedy, Faith, Dawn and Joyce all looked at the nervous man.
"I heard that there are thousands of one model that looks like she's cut out of a magazine" said Faith as Giles started to cough.
"Hey" said Xander, "how come no one asked me?"
"You speak Ancient Greek?" asked Buffy as she looked at her husband.
"No" said Xander, "but…"
"Then no" said Buffy as the other women gave the man a grin.
"But… I…" said Xander.
"No" replied Buffy.
"But…"
"No"
"Children" said Joyce as Buffy playfully punched Xander in the arm before giving her a grin.
Giles told Willow that he'll talk to Angel and Cordelia before he left for his car; all the while, Buffy could swear that he was whistling as he walked down the pathway. Once he had left, Kennedy told Buffy that she'll go on patrol since the blonde Slayer had been doing it for the past week. Buffy nodded as Kennedy gave Tara a kiss before she walked down from the porch and walked down the pathway before making a left. Next, it was Buffy and Xander's turn to leave.
"Mom" said Buffy as she kissed her mother on the cheek, "it's time we left."
"No" said Dawn as she held onto Buffy who, in turn, looked back at her sister, "please… don't go… not yet."
"Dawnie?" asked Joyce as she walked towards her daughter who turned to look at her, "everything alright?"
"I… I need to talk to you" said Dawn as she looked at everyone and then nodded at Willow. The redhead smiled at Dawn before she asked everyone to return to the living room. Everyone; Tara sat on one armchair, while Buffy, Joyce and Xander sat together on a couch while Faith sat on an armchair next to the couch as Willow stood close by Dawn, "I… I… need to tell you something…. As a family."
"I.. I think I should go" said Tara as she went to get up before Dawn rushed to her and held on to her shoulder, and asked her to sit down. Tara looked into Dawn's eyes, and noticed that something had changed.. it was Dawn but there was something different.
"You are family" said Dawn as she kissed Tara's forehead, "please stay?"
Tara nodded her head as Dawn walked back to the middle of the group and took in a deep breathe, before closing her eyes.
"You are all my family" said Dawn, "and… and you know I love you very much…. You know that, right?"
"Oh my God" said Buffy as she leaned forward, "you're pregnant."
"No!" said Dawn while the Scoobies and Joyce looked in shock, while Faith was laughing and Willow coughed hard, "I'm not pregnant."
"Dawnie" said Joyce as she shook her head, "even if you were pregnant, we all love you…. we love you no matter what. Nothing changes that."
"Something recently happened" said Dawn as she looked at Willow, and then at the rest of her family, "you.. you know that Willow had a sister on Atlantis?"
"Yeah" said Buffy, "we talked about her remember?"
"Right' said Dawn as she shook her head, "I love you all.. you know that right?"
"Dawnie" said Xander, "we do love you.. no matter what you have to tell us… we will love you."
"Of course, Sweetie" said Tara as Dawn looked at the blonde with, "all of us love you.. and will continue to love you."
"So" said Xander, "if you have a boy…"
"I'm not pregnant" said Dawn, "I…. I'm Hera. I'm Athena's sister…. Willow's sister. The same one that died ten thousand years ago."
"Ok" said Xander as he, along with everyone else in the room, looked on in shock at Dawn after that revelation, "didn't expect that."
SGC Beta Site, 0700 hours.
Sharon Valerii knew that she was in what the Earth humans called Beta Site, but her immediate surroundings were unfamiliar to her. She looked down at herself as she wore a Colonial Fleet uniform, but with her baby bump missing as she looked back up in panic and then looked around. She saw people all around her they went about their merry way, doing their own business. Sharon started to breathe hard as she looked at the collection of buildings far away, before she looked at a large plaza from her vantage point at the top of a staircase.
She saw various stalls selling all manner of objects like toys, fruits and vegetables as people just went from one to another. Sharon then narrowed her eyes when she saw someone she recognized, someone that was impossible.
"Galen?!" shouted Sharon as she spied Chief Galen Tyrol of the Battlestar Galactica near some vegetable carts. She ran towards the man that her counterpart, Boomer, loved on the Galactica and once she reached him; Sharon reached for him, and then looked on in shock as her hand passed right through his shoulder.
"What the frak?" asked Sharon when she felt the ground tremble. Turning around to her left, she saw a bright light in the distance, followed by a mushroom cloud, "oh dear God."
Sharon then heard some whistling sounds as she looked up in the sky and opened her eyes wide when she noticed the grey contrails from the three missiles that were heading towards her location. Sharon turned towards Chief Tyrol who looked quizzically at the missiles before there was a bright flash of light. Cursing again, Sharon closed her eyes just as the sounds around her vanished in an instant; however, she didn't feel the heat from the blast wave… nor did she feel in pain. Opening her eyes again, she found herself on a desolated world. Once where there were hundreds of people… now everything was grey. She looked around shocked as the formerly tall building she had seen were destroyed, and everything was left crumbling.
Sharon could hear nothing, no sound… no crying.. just silence; the only woman in a desolate and dead world.
It was then that Sharon snapped open her eyes and looked up at the ceiling in her quarters on the Beta Site. She lifted the blanket off herself and gave a sigh of relief when she noticed her baby bump before shoving the blanket away and just lying on her back and looking at the ceiling.
'That was a strange dream' thought Sharon to herself as she placed her forearm on her forehead, 'very strange dream. Where was that? I know it wasn't the Colonies, could it have been Earth? But Galen? Why was he there?'
With all of these questions swimming around in her head, Sharon could only sit up before turning around and hanging her feet off the bed. She knew something was wrong, she could feel it deep inside her.
'Something's wrong' thought Sharon to herself, 'something's wrong.'
TBC.