Book 4: In Thrall

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Buffy walked back into Willow’s room as she toweled her hair with a smile, expecting to find both the red haired and blonde witch still sleeping. The Slayer lost her smile when she saw Willow lightly shaking Tara, a concerned look on her lover’s face.

Buffy was beside their lover immediately and quickly checked Tara’s pulse and then the girl’s neck and wrists for bite marks.

“Her pulse is good,” Buffy muttered and began to gently shake Tara as Willow brushed the brown-blonde hair out of Tara’s eyes.

“What’s going on?” Giles asked from the open doorway, tying the belt to his robe closed.

Any other time the girls would have found his appearance adorable, hair spiky from sleep, no glasses, and a puzzled but gentle look on his face.

Giles quickly wheeled himself across the room and examined the witch, the same as Willow and Buffy had and added in checking the girl’s eyes.

“Her breathing is regular, heartbeat is normal and her eyes respond to light,” he commented as Joyce appeared in the doorway. “I’d say she is in something like a coma or trance.”

“She came out of that ritual fine last night!” Willow protested. “Tara was groggy but we all were.”

“Could it be from the ritual, Giles?” Buffy asked as she glanced at the clock. Since they had all been out until past midnight slaying demons, werewolves, vampires and evil cyborgs, the Slayer wasn’t surprised to discover they had all slept in and that it was now 11a.m.

“I don’t know, did she eat much last night after we got back?” he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed next to Willow. “I don’t remember a lot.”

It had been a mass of confusion for each of them for different reasons. Buffy had been busy fighting and the others performing the ritual that led to the defeat of Adam, the cyborg/human/demon hybrid.

After the ritual Willow, Joyce, Xander, Giles, and Tara had been groggy and exhausted from the energy backlash they had suffered when the spell ended abruptly. Fortunately, Angel, Wesley, and Cordelia had driven everyone back to the Summers home and forced the magick workers and Buffy to eat something to help rebuild their energy and help ground any residual magick.

Willow remembered someone waking her up at the dinning table and trying to get her to go to bed.

“Carson carried you and Tara up, Angel carried Giles and Buffy up,” Joyce answered from the door. “Anya put Xander on the sofa and helped me up the stairs. Cordelia cleaned up the kitchen.”

“Do you remember anything different about Tara, Mom?” Buffy asked, gently stroking the witch’s forehead and cheek.

“She seemed more quiet than the rest of us,” Joyce said, frowning as she tried to remember.

“Tara?” Willow whispered when she noticed Tara’s eyes moving behind her eyelids and felt her lover’s body jerk slightly. “Tara?” she said a little louder.

“Come on, my love,” Willow insisted and Tara opened her blue eyes with a small smile until she noticed the concerned looks on everyone’s face and the fact that Giles and Joyce were in the room.

“Come on, stay with us, Tara,” Giles urged firmly. “Sit her up,” he instructed and Willow and Buffy pulled the young woman into a sitting position on the bed.

“Energy back-lash,” Giles announced. “We need to get some food and probably some caffeine in her. We need to treat this like a case of exhaustion. Some food, caffeine and then a long nap this afternoon.”

“Should we let her sleep now?” Buffy asked as Tara’s head dropped forward, asleep again.

“No, I don’t think so,” Giles said thoughtfully. “She… she could slip away and her spirit… well, it could detach from the body.”

“Yes, we need to keep her at least semi-aware until her body has a chance to ground and focus on this realm,” he explained to Buffy and Joyce.

Anya looked up from the easy chair she had slept in with a frown at all the noise until she took in the concerned faces of Joyce and Willow and the fact that Buffy was practically carrying Tara down the stairs. The Slayer put Tara down in one of the chairs and dashed back up to grab Giles from the wheelchair and carried him down as well. Willow brought the wheelchair down the stairs behind them.

“What is wrong that you are dragging Tara down the stairs?” the former Vengeance Demon demanded.

“Tara is suffering from total energy drain from the ritual,” Giles muttered.

They somehow got the semi-conscious witch into the kitchen and found Cordelia already making coffee. She looked very surprised at the small group dashing in all at once.

“Actually, we can’t,” Giles countered. “Tara needs food and coffee, we all do.”

Over the next hour, with Joyce and Cordelia doing the cooking, everyone was fed and Tara became a little more coherent. Buffy and Willow began to relax as Tara started to focus more on her surroundings.

“What the heck happened?” Buffy demanded, looking to Giles and Willow for answers.

“I’m not sure why she was affected more than the rest of us,” Giles began. “We didn’t ground properly last night after the ritual and it drained all of us. Eating and resting should have rebuilt that energy.”

Tara was sitting at the kitchen bar with Buffy on one side and Willow on the other. Buffy was holding one hand and Willow had her head resting on Tara’s shoulder.

“I g-gave more… more energy t-than everyone,” Tara said softly, dropping her head and letting her hair hide her face.

The Slayer and Willow were still concerned; there was a distance in Tara’s eyes that disturbed them. Everyone in the room sensed that she would fall right back to sleep if left alone for even a few moments.

“Me?” Willow squeaked, her face reflecting her confusion. “What about me, Tar?”

“I knew t-that drawing on the basic…basic powers… that you’d be v-vulnerable to t-the wolf,” she stammered.

Buffy was dying to demand answers from both of them but didn’t want to break in on the revelations either.

“Yes…I thought d-during a circle…I m-might be able to k-keep the wolf back,” Tara answered.

“Buffy,” Giles said softly, motioning for her to be quiet for a moment, listening closely to the two witches.

“I d-didn’t want to w-worry you,” Tara answered, looking deep into Willow’s green eyes. “You…you were the only one…strong enough to c-call the power. If y-you knew the w-wolf might c-come out, you wouldn’t do it.”

“Tara,” Giles interrupted the conversation finally. “You knew Willow might turn into a werewolf in the circle and didn’t say anything?”

Tara’s head dropped. “I-I knew Buffy needed the r-ritual and I knew I could k-keep the w-wolf back.”

Giles frowned deeply and most everyone in the kitchen knew he was extremely upset. Buffy pulled Tara into her arms and reached over to touch Willow’s hand, trying to reassure her mates.

“I could have killed all of you and the magick rush would have killed Buffy,” Willow muttered, her eyes distant and fearful.

“It didn’t happen!” Buffy snapped. “We aren’t going to beat ourselves or each other up over what might have happened!”

Buffy growled and slammed her hand on the counter, catching everyone by surprise.

“Listen! Everyone!” she snapped. “We aren’t doing this! Willow didn’t turn into a werewolf last night! I wasn’t fried by magick! I wasn’t killed by Adam or a demon! Tara didn’t kill herself spending all her energy!”

“Buffy is right,” Joyce said firmly. “Giles, you can lecture them later about taking the chances they did. I’m sure they are already aware of the danger they were in.”

Giles looked over at the two witches and could see how miserable both were, thinking of what might have been and how Tara had taken a major chance with the magick.

“Yes, of course,” he agreed. The ex-Watcher was smart enough to agree with his fiancée, that this wasn’t the time to scold and lecture either of them. Everyone’s nerves were too raw. “We’ll sit down and discuss the ritual and how it might have been handled differently for future reference. We’ll also discuss keeping things from each other.”

“Yes, Giles,” Tara said softly, accepting the slight scolding for endangering everyone.

“I could have changed?” Willow muttered, her mind still trying to comprehend.

“You didn’t!” Buffy snapped, pulling Willow out of her thoughts. “We’re all fine!”

“Buffy’s right,” Joyce repeated. “I suggest that we gather everyone up and pile into the cars. I suggest a day out of Sunnydale.”

“I think that’s an excellent idea except for the dead boys,” Xander agreed from the kitchen doorway.

“They can ride in the trunk,” Joyce suggested. “We’re heading to the beach for an overnighter.”

“Okay, we can head back to Los Angeles from there,” Wesley said thoughtfully. “Now that Adam is taken care of, Willow is home and in safe hands, and the Initiative is out of town.”

“Totally cool,” Cordelia agreed. “I’m running out of things to wear,” she complained.

Buffy shook her head and got up between Willow and Tara and grabbed them in a hug.

“Come on, guys, let’s grab the sweats,” she suggested. “It’ll be cold on the beach.”

“Great, we can have a barbeque on the beach at night so the vampires can attend, like in those beach movies on bad day time television,” Anya said enthusiastically.

Buffy shook her head again and grinned for the first time in weeks. Her mom was right, Buffy thought, they needed a day or more spent as friends. They had saved Sunnydale and maybe the world again and they needed to do something other than research, planning the end of the world or actually fighting.

Tara and Willow moved slowly up the stairs, holding hands as Buffy walked behind them, smiling at the sight of her groggy lovers.

The Slayer stopped at a knock at the front door. “Go on, guys, I’ll get it,” she said and bounded down the stairs. There were advantages to being the Slayer and one of them was the need for very little sleep and rapid recovery time from exhaustion, wounds, and illness.

Buffy’s smile faded when she opened the door to find Riley Finn standing in front of her.

“Riley?” she asked softly, not sure if she really believed he would either be stupid or brave enough to approach her or the Scooby Gang.

“Yeah,” he answered, shifting uneasily on his feet. “I just wanted to tell you that they’ve shut down the Initiative research part of the program. The only thing left is the strike teams and only when there is a problem with demons. Sunnydale is now off limits and I’m leaving.”

“Thank you. We heard that from an inside friend,” Buffy said, keeping her voice neutral.

“I also wanted to say that I’m sorry for everything that happened. I was a jerk and I was wrong about all of it,” Riley said, his eyes downcast. “I could blame it on the drugs they were feeding me but it was me and I know that. It hurt when you left and I wanted to hurt you. I know none of you will ever forgive me but I am sorry. Please tell Willow that.”

“Riley,” Buffy began but wasn’t sure what she wanted to say. She had thought at one time she might even love the man in front of her but now she didn’t even feel the anger she had the day before. It seemed like Riley and the entire Initiative was far away even though it had been less than nine hours. “I’ll tell her. Good luck, Riley.”

Buffy looked over at her mom and grinned, failing to notice Xander dodging past Carson just in time to tackle the Slayer to the sand.

“Hah!” Xander shouted as he jumped to his feet and leaned down to help his friend up. “Not watching where you were going, Slayer!”

“Yeah, and which team is creaming you guys?” she demanded, brushing the sand off her jeans after tossing the football to Angel.

Buffy reflected that her Mom had been right; they all needed this trip. She was even seeing a side of Angel that she never knew existed. A playful and relaxed vampire with a soul that could actually smile and have fun playing football on the beach.

The Slayers’ eyes gleamed in the moonlight when she saw Giles get the fire in the barbeque pit going and Willow walking along the edge of the water with Tara. Carson had easily carried the Watcher from the car onto the beach. Angel had brought the chair along and some boards to put under the wheels so it wouldn’t sink into the sand. It was killing everyone to see how much pain the Englishman was in and it was worse dealing with the wheelchair.

Buffy lined up with her team for another round as Willow led Tara towards the dunes.

“Feeling better?” Willow asked softly as they wandered among the sand dunes and finally settled on a picnic bench near the parking area.

“Yeah, the sleep in your arms on the way over h-here helped,” Tara said, leaning over onto Willow’s shoulder.

“We should have talked about the ritual before last night,” Willow said slowly.

“I know and I trust you and your power, but Giles is going to yell at you,” Willow said with a small smile.

Willow smiled and raised Tara’s chin up and lightly brushed her lips over Tara’s and felt the other woman shiver from the contact as Willow lightly ran her fingers into Tara’s hair.

“Yes,” Willow answered, letting Tara see her eyes darkening with desire. “It’s been so long,” she whispered.

Tara whimpered and pulled Willow lips back to her and the kiss quickly became heated, almost desperate. The blonde witch and Buffy had gone nearly insane when Willow disappeared. Having her back home seemed almost like a dream, having her in Tara’s arms was sparking a fire within the blonde witch’s body.

“As long as you’re home n-now and don’t d-do it again,” Tara said softly, leaning forward to lightly nibble on Willow’s earlobe. The redhead hissed and drew her head back.

Accepting the invitation to Willow’s neck, Tara moved off the table to stand in between Willow’s legs as Willow wrapped her arms around Tara’s neck. Tara moved her lips from Willow’s ear to her neck and began kissing her, exploring her again as her hands worked their way inside Willow’s jacket to hold the red-haired witch closer.

“Oh goddess,” Willow whispered, her own hands working under Tara’s jacket and shirt to find bare skin.

Tara whimpered again and bit down on Willow’s neck, causing the young woman to gasp with the shock running through her system and settling in her sexual center.

“You feel s-so good, Will,” Tara whispered. “D-Don’t ever leave again.”

“Never!” Willow promised, her hips jerking in response as one of Tara’s hands went between her legs to stroke Willow through her jeans. Willow cried out and clung to her lover. “So long, please!” she begged

Tara’s lips moved down the neckline of Willow’s shirt to continue kissing the other side of Willow’s neck and she tightened her hold when she bit down and Willow’s body jerked against hers.

Tara increased the pressure of her hand against Willow’s sex and the young woman whimpered and thrust against her. Willow grabbed Tara’s head and pulled her back to Willow’s lips, her tongue demanding and pleading.

Tara felt her own body melting at Willow’s hands and tongue and willed herself to stay upright.

Both froze when Joyce’s voice calling for them worked past their sexual desire-fogged brains.

“Yeah,” Willow agreed, trying to catch her breath, her body was shaking so badly. “What you do to me, woman!” she teased and then her body jerked with loss when Tara moved her hand away.

“I understand that,” Willow whispered back as they walked towards the campfire.

Giles glanced up from his plate as he finished off the last of the potato salad Joyce had packed along for their beach dinner of steaks, potato salad and other assorted goodies. He frowned as he caught Willow’s intense green eyes observing him.

Everyone else, caught up in jokes or story telling, didn’t notice the sudden tense reaction from the ex-Watcher. He watched carefully as Willow squeezed Tara’s hand and got up to walk around the circle of friends and family to sit next to him.

He was sitting on the sand along with everyone else with the wheelchair behind him.

“Giles,” Willow said softly, seeing Joyce grow quiet, noticing the young red-haired witch and her fiancée apparently getting serious about something. “Do you trust me?”

“No, I need total honesty,” Willow insisted, her voice quiet but intense. “You’ve been afraid of the magick and you’re not sure about what I’ve been through over the last couple of months. Can you trust me totally?”

Giles frowned and gave the question the soul searching that Willow was asking. After a few moments he looked up into Willow’s green eyes and pulled off his glasses, angrily swiping at the emotions trying to fill his own eyes.

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “You invoked such strong dark magick, Willow. I know you did it to save Buffy but you could have damned your soul. I have a feeling that whoever runs the universe took pity on you and gave you a benevolent werewolf spirit but it could have easily have been a monster.”

“I know and I knew the risk I was taking,” she said softly and glanced over at Buffy. The Slayer was laughing at something Anya had said, Xander was blushing a bright red and Angel was trying not to fall over from laughing so hard. Buffy was holding Tara’s hand now and Willow’s face softened at the sight of her two lovers. “I would do anything for them.”

“I would have killed myself, you already know that,” she said calmly, ignoring the gasp of surprise from Joyce.

“Yes, I figured you had that planned,” Giles nodded. “That’s why waking up covered in blood freaked you so badly.”

“Yeah, I couldn’t think and Carson took care of me that first day,” Willow explained. “He took me someplace warm, cleaned me up and let me sleep. I was trying to figure out how to come back to all of you when Buffy mentioned the Initiative was still in town.”

“I wish you had reached out to us,” Giles scolded, his voice soft and kind though.

“I know and I realize I was trying to run away from myself and the wolf,” Willow agreed. “I somehow knew something was wrong but I wasn’t sure if it was the wolf. I knew I had killed so I convinced myself that it was that.”

“And now we know the wolf killed the other werewolf because he was attacking the girl and your wolf isn’t evil,” Giles deduced. “So now do you still feel something is wrong?”

“Yes, and it scares me, Giles,” Willow admitted. “I-I’m really s-scared.”

Joyce immediately realized how much Willow was revealing as the young woman slipped back into her shy geek-mouse behavior from early high school and frowned.

“Yeah, been working on it instead of sleeping today after the ritual last night,” Willow smiled a quirky smile. “Buffy and Tara were so out of it they didn’t even notice me not sleeping this time.”

“Giles, I have a sense of incredible power inside, neither good nor bad,” Willow frowned, trying to explain. “Tara didn’t need to shield me, though I understand the fear. I opened a door with that transference ritual, Giles. It was a doorway that would have taken years of study and development to reach. That door was blown wide open when I killed that werewolf and tasted human blood.”

“You’re saying that you’re now an extremely powerful witch,” Giles said softly.

“I think so and I’m not sure I’m ready for it,” Willow admitted. “It’s calling to me, beckoning. Like chocolate or something. A thing that’s really good but you could overdose on it real quick.”

“Guidance but also trust,” Willow smiled and touched his hand. “I would like to try something if you’ll let me.”

“I want to tap into the power of the Mother Ocean for something and I want you to open up, totally,” Willow said vaguely.

Giles continued to frown and looked at Joyce, the question unspoken but loud enough for the Slayer’s mom.

Giles could see the worry in her eyes but something else too, confidence. The ex-Watcher leaned forward and lightly stroked her cheek lovingly, his eyes drilling into hers, as if he was trying to see into her soul.

Willow, sensing a shift in emotions from across the fire, held up her hand, motioning Buffy and Tara to stay where they were. She could sense Giles’ own mental and magick probes touching her shields and mentally lowered hers.

Buffy had glanced up and was surprised to see Willow and Giles in obvious deep conversation and the somewhat worried look on her mom’s face.

Tara’s head snapped up and glanced over at Willow a moment later when Giles reached up and began stroking Willow’s cheek, gently, almost like a lover.

“He’s trying to… to sense her,” Tara tried to explain. “Like when we drop our s-shields for each other.”

Buffy frowned and started to get up when Willow’s hand shot up, signaling them to stay where they were.

Tara tightened her grip on Buffy’s hand and Buffy could feel the concern radiating from the blonde witch.

“She’s opening up to him but not us?” Buffy whispered, her voice reflecting the hurt and confusion.

After a moment they saw Giles draw back, pulling his hand away from Willow’s cheek. They were very surprised when both red-haired witch and ex-Watcher wiped tears away from their cheeks. Both of them appeared lost in thought for a few moments.

Slayer and witch watched Giles nod to Willow and lay back onto a blanket on the sand and Willow sit up on her knees.

Buffy’s eyes quickly sought out her mom’s face and Joyce tried to smile a reassuring smile to her concerned daughter.

“Willow?” Tara suddenly questioned and Buffy’s attention snapped back to her other lover as Willow’s head fell back.

Willow’s eyes were closed and her arms extended out from her body slightly to the sides, palms facing up, as if she were about to beg someone for something.

“Tara?” Buffy questioned and glanced around the circle. So far only Carson seemed to have noticed something had changed but he was staying in place.

Willow felt her head fall back as she opened up her shields totally and extended her senses, her connection. She felt her energy form reaching out, like branches and roots on a tree. Willow, using the imagery of a tree, sent her “roots” down through the sand, through the hardpan and earth, hitting underground water, bones, dirt, and finally the heat. Her “branches” extended until they were touching the sky, absorbing the energy from the moonlight. Finally, she sent her “self” over the sand to the ocean and sank into its depths.

Buffy and Tara tried not to flinch when Willow’s body jerked violently, almost falling backwards but Willow managed to right herself.

“Willow?” Cordelia’s voice sounded across from the fire and everyone’s attention focused on the witch.

“Tara! What’s happening?” Xander demanded, jumping to his feet but staying next to Anya.

Willow felt the massive energy hit her system, almost throwing her to the ground and almost overwhelming her body and mind. She cried out with the pain as her face reflected her torment.

“Wills?” Buffy said softly and Tara quickly wrapped an arm around Buffy’s shoulders.

“I don’t know what she’s doing but we can’t stop her now,” Tara said firmly.

Willow felt like she was on a boat in the middle of the raging sea and tried to find her balance. She knew instinctively that she was in the middle of an energy overload and struggled to find her center, her balance.

She felt her breath torn out of her in ragged gasps and finally found the solid ground inside of her and clung to it. Willow forced herself to focus and pulled the energy in around her like a blanket. She could feel it swirling all around, still trying to pull her off balance.

Willow felt their energies joining hers, balancing and stabilizing her. The swirling of energies became calmer and the red-haired witch began to focus.

“Guys, what’s going on?” Xander asked softly as they watched Buffy and Tara apparently join Willow in whatever was happening.

“Some kind of major magickal working,” Carson commented and began rubbing the back of his neck. “Goddamn energy! Making my skin crawl!”

Angel nodded and ran a hand over his spiky hair as well. “I think Carson and I should get away from here,” he commented as sparks began to fly from Willow’s outstretched hands.

“Why?” Joyce asked, watching her daughter and lovers closely, trying to squeak or react when blood began flowing from Willow’s nose.

“We’re vampires,” Angel said calmly. “Willow is drawing up some major nature energy; it sometimes goes crazy with vampires and attacks us.”

“Because they aren’t part of the natural order of the world,” Anya said easily. “Demons, vampires and werewolves belong to darker realms than this, sometimes magickal energy zaps us, I mean, them.”

“Then won’t it zap Willow?” Xander demanded, suddenly very worried for his best friend.

“Possibly, she is a werewolf but also a witch,” Anya said calmly. “The witch might be powerful enough to hold the energy or it might fry her.”

“She’s right and we need to get out of here!” Carson snapped as he leaped to his feet. The sparks flying from Willow’s hands began to shoot out towards the two vampires across the fire.

“Come on,” Angel urged as he scrambled to his feet and the two vampires ran away from the small group and finally settled on watching from about fifty yards away.

Willow concentrated and opened her eyes. She wasn’t aware of Joyce squeaking in surprise and fear as the mother took in the sight of Willow’s totally black eyes. The witch looked down at Giles and smiled slightly.

The Englishman appeared unaware of what was happening around him but he was very aware of the energies building in the young woman next to him and fought to control his concern and building fear. He knew if he let the fear overtake him, that energy she was about to direct his way could do more harm than good, whatever she was planning. He struggled with his own magickal training to stay focused, open and trusting.

Willow’s head snapped back and one arm shot up and hand pointed to the sky and the other at Giles.

Joyce, Anya and Cordelia screamed as lightning hit the young witch and traveled through her into Giles and Angel, blinding everyone.

Xander blinked and sat up slowly. Anya was shaking her head and looked confused.

Cordelia quickly scrambled across the sand to help Angel with Buffy and Tara as Joyce looked over at Giles as he sat up blinking along with everyone else.

Buffy and Tara moaned slightly and opened their eyes reluctantly as Cordelia and Angel held them.

“Willow? Hey, Scarlet,” Carson said, urging the witch to wake up as he wiped away the blood from her face.

Buffy frowned and pulled out of Angel’s arms to crawl across the sand to look down at Willow.

“Oh, thank God,” Buffy muttered and pulled the red-head up into her arms. She looked over Willow’s shoulder into Carson’s concerned eyes.

“I think she’s okay,” she said softly, beginning to trust that the vampire truly did care for her love in some way.

Cordelia helped Tara to her feet with Angel and they guided her over to Buffy and Willow.

They turned and found the Englishman’s face looking confused as he reached down and felt along his legs and back.

“My God, Willow,” he said softly, looking over into Willow’s green eyes as the girls broke their embrace to look at the ex-Watcher. “What did you do?”

Joyce thought she looked like the Willow she had first known when they moved to Sunnydale, the young woman eager to please and to do good, especially for her friends.

“Yes, if you meant to cure my back and legs, then I think it worked,” Giles said softly, sounding like he didn’t believe it.

Giles slowly brought his legs up to his chin and then moved slowly, with Joyce’s help to a kneeling position, testing his legs and back. Leaning on Joyce, he slowly got to his feet.

Willow watched closely, looking for any sign of pain from him and her face broke into a grin when his eyes widened with the knowledge that there wasn’t the constant shooting pain from his back and down into his legs. Giles stood on his toes and then rocked back onto his heels. He cautiously did a slow knee bend and stood back up.

“Oh God,” he whispered and began to grin himself. Joyce laughed and melted into his arms in delight.

“Willow?” Angel asked slowly, asking the question everyone but Giles wanted to know.

“I tapped into the energy from the earth, the moon and the ocean to cure Giles’ injuries,” she explained.

“Like in that movie The Craft?” Xander demanded. “Are we going to find dead whales and sharks on the beach in the morning?”

Willow lost her smile and began to frown. “No, I didn’t take the energy; I just channeled it and directed it. Any price was mine.”

“You’re not going to start floating across the floor and throwing daggers are you?” Xander demanded and Anya grabbed his hand. She wasn’t surprised to find it trembling.

“Hey, I thought I just did a good thing here,” she protested, her voice getting sullen.

“I, for one, am pleased,” Giles announced and grabbed Willow into a hug. “I know how powerful that was and how dangerous. I think you also knew the risks going in. Thank you.”

Buffy and Tara glanced at each other, still trying to process what had happened.

“Wills, what happened with us?” Buffy asked and Willow left Giles’ arms and went back to Buffy and Tara’s.

“I was hooking into a lot of raw and primal energy,” she explained as everyone began to sit back down around the fire, pulling their coats tight in the cold night air. “I almost got caught in the whirlpool. I found my center but I couldn’t hold the focus and balance. I called out for both of you.”

“Yes, we k-keyed into Willow and helped b-balance her and she was able t-to control the energy with our help,” Tara said softly.

“If you two hadn’t joined in, what then?” Angel asked, still frowning. He had seen a lot in his years as a vampire and powerful magick was among his experiences. Angel knew he was looking at some dangerous and powerful levels in the young woman.

“I could have been lost in the energy,” Willow said softly, not meeting Buffy and Tara’s eyes. “I knew I could get back out but I would of h-had to abandon the healing. With Buffy and Tara’s help I did it.”

“That was quite a rush,” she admitted softly. She leaned into Buffy’s arms as the Slayer sat down behind her and Tara leaned over to kiss her.

“I suggest we head to the hotel,” Carson urged. “Have a drink at the bar, decide our futures, talk about nothing significant and let the humans sleep.”

“Karnstein, you are truly warped,” Angel grinned as he wrapped an arm around Cordelia’s shoulder.

Willow caught the soft sigh the former cheerleader gave as she leaned into the tall vampire.

“Let’s get out of the cold then,” Xander agreed and helped Anya to her feet.

Everyone carefully watched Giles as they set about gathering everything together and trekked across the sand to the cars and were pleased that he showed no sign of his previous crippling pain.

Willow tossed the football to Buffy and the Slayer laughed, catching it with one hand and grabbing Tara around the waist with the other. Both lovers laughed and began racing to the cars.

The red-haired witch wasn’t surprised when Angel lingered behind the others and fell into step beside her.

“If it worked, and that’s a big if. No guarantees that it worked, nope, not with this one. Especially since it wasn’t a spell, but kinda a healing thing…”

Angel stopped and Willow wasn’t sure if he was going to fall on his ass from the shock she had just delivered to him.

“If it worked, I sealed your soul to your body,” she explained. “No more ‘happiness, lose soul’ clause.”

“Oh God,” he whispered and sank to his knees in the sand and Willow knelt beside him. “Are you sure?”

“No, I’m not and that’s the tricky part,” she admitted. “To test the theory….”

“I have to risk losing my soul again and turning into Angeleus,” he finished.

“I’ll leave you to talk,” Willow said softly and kissed Angel on the cheek as she stood up. “Don’t take too long.”

Carson settled into a chair in the darker part of the hotel bar with a vodka and fruit juice in front of him. Xander still glared at him occasionally but had settled into mostly ignoring the new vampire in their midst and Carson was grateful for that.

He knew that Xander was part of Willow’s family and he had the feeling he could like the annoying young man given time so he resisted growling at Xander.

The vampire grinned as he looked up and saw Buffy, Tara and Willow on the dance floor together. Giles and Joyce weren’t too far away and the ex-Watcher seemed determined to make up for his time in the wheelchair. Xander and Anya disappeared, presumably to their room, he thought.

Wesley was engaged in conversation with one of the bartenders and Carson wondered if the other Englishman was going to have company in his room that night. Given the body language and unspoken communication going on between the two, Carson thought it very likely and grinned.

He was also very pleased to see Willow relaxing and connecting again with Buffy and Tara. The vampire had encouraged her for the entire month they had been in Los Angeles to return to her lovers and now that she was back, he was more than happy to see the spark in her eyes. Carson was pleased with himself most of all.

The vampire hadn’t felt any urge to vamp out while he was with Willow except when she was the werewolf. The former priest was also proud that he had spotted the inner spark inside the cowering, blood covered girl in the sewers that morning and had taken her in.

Now he was in the company of powerful witches, vampires with souls, and a group that was stronger than any family he had ever seen. Carson had a feeling he could make a home among them.

The only ones puzzling him now were Angel and Cordelia. They had been silent during the ride back to the hotel and had quickly made excuses to everyone before disappearing just outside the door to the hotel bar.

The vampire, far older than Angeleus/Angel, had learned to read people while he was still human and a priest. Living as a vampire who couldn’t kill humans long before Angel had been cursed with a soul, had enhanced the gift of reading people like an open book. He figured if he ever got bored he could always take up psychology, he knew enough about human behavior to treat most anyone’s problems.

Angel was deeply troubled about something and Cordelia was happy, scared, and confused.

Carson had seen the lightning hit Angel but the vampire appeared unharmed and hadn’t said anything so Carson kept quiet. Now he figured something was up with the other vampire and it was life-giving or life shattering.

Carson also knew that none of them, except maybe Angel and Giles, knew exactly what could be facing the girl or how powerful she was.

He spotted Willow making her way to the table and stood up as she approached. She laughed in delight at his chivalry and sat down across from him. Carson glanced over and saw Buffy and Tara continuing to dance.

Willow laughed and reached out to hold his hand. It was so good to see her laugh and smile, Carson thought.

“Well, I could go back to LA with Angel, work for them or grab back my job at the club. We still have the apartment,” he pondered. “Or I could go back to Sunnydale and find my niche there.”

“Yes, they help people in trouble,” Carson nodded. “I could do that. I don’t know if I could join your group, Willow.”

“I’m a vampire, Willow,” Carson said gently. “I may not kill and I’ve never turned anyone but I’m still a vampire. I couldn’t hunt others and kill them and that is what your group is called to do.”

“No, and given time they might not be either,” he said. “I have to believe that my life, dead or alive, has purpose and that God put me here for a reason. If I can get my soul back, maybe others can too without the spell thing.”

“You’re going to try and convert vampires into being nice guys?” Willow asked in disbelief.

“I guess that describes it,” he agreed. “I can try that in Sunnydale, it seems to draw the vampires or I can do that in LA.”

Willow frowned, lowering her head in thought. When she looked up tears were filling her eyes.

“Then you won’t,” he said just as softly. “Willow Rosenberg, I will be your friend always. I know your friends are suspicious of my friendship with you and I don’t blame them. I’m unique in their experiences but I am a man of my word. I am your friend forever.”

“Can you live in Sunnydale with Buffy being the Slayer and killing your converts?” Willow asked.

“I don’t know, maybe we can all wear the same t-shirts that say ‘don’t slay me, I’m trying!’ or something,” he suggested.

Willow almost fell out of her chair laughing at the mental image that created in her head. She could just see Buffy about to stake some poor vampire when he ripped open his jacket to reveal his Father Karnstein t-shirt, guaranteed Slayer proof.

Carson grinned and Willow shook her head. He looked a lot like Oz but with more depth in his eyes and Willow had to remind herself that he was even older than Angel.

“Okay,” he agreed easily and then lost his smile. “You know you’re heading for some tempting times with that magick of yours.”

“Yeah, I’ve talked to Giles about it. With him and Tara worrying over me, I should be okay,” she shrugged.

“I’ll be there too,” he promised. “Now, go and grab your lovers and have a long talk with them before making love all night long.”

“Rebuild your connection with them, youngling,” he advised. “They love you very much and I know you’d die for them. This space between you is pointless.”

“Yes, dad,” she teased and pulled his hand up to her lips. “You know, I don’t understand our friendship at times.”

“It is a night for serious discussion and events, ja," he muttered. “Do you believe in reincarnation?”

“Yes,” Willow answered easily. “I was raised reformed Jewish but have expanded my views a bit.”

“I have a gift, Willow,” Carson said softly. “I can see where souls have been. It comes to me in flashes.”

“Not quite, it’s like seeing a chopped up video in my head when I meet someone,” he tried to explain. “Maybe I’m part of the plan that those Powers That Be of Angel’s have. I don’t know, I still believe in God and his unknown purpose with this world.”

“Okay,” Willow almost whispered, almost afraid of what he was leading up to.

“I’ve told the others about a girl I once knew,” Carson said, slipping back into his original Germanic accent. “She was Irish, yes?”

Willow, sensing his discomfort and struggle slipped into German. “I understand you.”

Father Karnstein looked relieved. “After all these years, sometimes it is easier in the native tongue,” he muttered. “She was Irish and beautiful. Red hair, flaming like yours with green eyes that could melt an emerald.”

Willow began to blush at the display of emotions from the normally aloof vampire.

“I fell in love with her,” he admitted. “I was stunned. I had spent my teen years training for the priesthood and resisting normal human sexual behavior and then I fell in love after becoming a vampire.”

Carson took a long drink of the alcohol in front of him. “Damn, they use cheap vodka,” he muttered. “She was a werewolf,” he added.

“Yes,” Carson nodded. “I fell in love with the natural enemy of the vampire, a werewolf.”

“She was taken from me and corrupted,” Carson’s head dropped slightly. “Siobhan came back caught up in the hunt, she liked to kill and she tried to kill me.”

“Yes, and it nearly drove me insane and the demon almost won,” Karnstein admitted. “It was what the vampire who took her planned. He wanted me to lose my soul and give into the demon. I resisted by crawling into the deepest and darkest woods I could find in the Carpathian Mountains and preyed on animals for a hundred years until I could face people again.”

“No,” he answered gently. “I don’t believe we are soulmates, Willow. Your path is with those two over there and I know that. I think I am being given a chance to make up for losing Siobhan to the darkness by helping you.”

“That’s why you helped me that morning? You saw me hovering on the brink.”

“Yes, after what you went through with the Initiative, you could have snapped and given into the wolf,” he agreed.

“I can’t say, Willow,” Father Karnstein shook his head. “Too many lives and…” he hesitated.

“You are powerful and you have been powerful,” he whispered. “It will draw darkness to you like a moth to the flame. You already opened a door to the darkness by taking that werewolf curse to yourself. You’ll find a lot of things darker than the wolf hovering outside that door, hoping that you open it again, even a crack will be deadly.”

Willow couldn’t speak. She knew he was right but it was hard hearing it from someone. Especially someone gifted with the Sight.

“I better go,” she muttered and pulled out of his hands and ran for the door.

Carson looked up to find Buffy and Tara glaring at him and heading for the door behind their lover.

He finished his drink and headed to the bar for another one. Probably several more after that one, he thought to himself. There were times he cursed God for his gift of Sight and Satan for his curse of eternity as a vampire. It meant he had seen a lot and was going to see a lot more before it was over. Carson would have been grateful for a simple fifty years with the Gift, not several hundred.

Willow sighed when she heard the bar door open and slam behind her and leaned against the wall, waiting.

Willow opened her eyes and smiled at Tara and Buffy as they moved closer but cautiously.

“I’m okay, honest,” she said and opened her arms. Both women hugged her and looked at her closely, judging the truth of her words and smiled at her in return.

“Well, I-I know we haven’t had time to talk about him,” Willow said, frowning as she put her thoughts together. “I-I really didn’t know what drew me to h-him after he took care of me that morning. I f-felt safe with him and it wasn’t like I feel safe around Spike because Spike can’t hurt us now because of the chip thing. It was more a safe warm fuzzy feeling,” she rambled.

“Warm fuzzies for a vampire?” Tara asked with a grin and Willow shrugged, acknowledging how ridiculous that sounded even to her.

“I know but it…it's just…just okay with him,” Willow struggled with the words. “I knew I could hide and rest with him. When Mulder told me the In…Initiative wasn’t looking for me, I planned to come home. Carson encouraged me to come back.”

“It was s-safer for him,” Willow tried to smile. “I’d wake up with n-nightmares and broke his ribs once with an energy bolt. He’d h-hold me,” she whispered as her head dropped, unsure how her lovers would take to the news that she had sought comfort from a male vampire.

“No, nothing sexual between us,” Willow agreed. “Just comfort. He f-felt like Xander.”

Buffy smiled and Willow saw the Slayer relax, that was a comparison that Buffy could relate to. Both Buffy and Tara knew that Xander was more than a brother to Willow but short of a lover and everyone was comfortable with that.

“He wants to stay in Sunnydale and be my friend,” Willow answered truthfully. “He can’t be part of the gang, not like Spike or Angel. He…he wants to try and save some of the vampires.”

“Sort of, he conquered his demon and wants to try and show others how to do it to,” Willow tried to explain.

“I know we live on a Hellmouth but things just keep getting weirder by the year,” Buffy complained.

“I’m game,” Buffy shrugged. “Not sure how we’ll work it but he’s been good to you.”

“Thanks, Buff,” Willow said gratefully and considered telling them about the soul connection with Carson’s past love but decided to mull that information over a bit longer herself.

Buffy leaned back into Tara’s arms as the blonde witch moved closer behind the Slayer and Willow smiled, loving the sight of both of them.

Willow lost her smile though when her heightened senses heard Angel and Cordelia nearby arguing and realized what they were probably arguing about. His soul. Willow saw Buffy frown and knew that her Slayer senses had heard their voices as well.

“I need to tell you both something,” Willow said reluctantly. “But I need to talk to Angel and Cordelia for a minute, okay?”

“Wills, what’s going on? We said no more secrets,” Buffy reminded her lover.

“I know, just give me a couple of minutes and I’ll explain, I promise,” Willow said softly and kissed Buffy and then Tara before dashing off towards the angry voices.

“You get the feeling we’re out of the loop?” Buffy asked in a sullen voice.

Giles and Joyce looked up from their drinks and smiled at the sight of the two girls coming back into the bar. Both of them frowned at the concerned and distant looks on their faces.

“I don’t know,” Buffy complained. “Willow got into a really heavy conversation with Carson, ran out the door and says she’s fine. Angel and Cordelia are fighting and Willow won’t say what’s up with them until she talks with them.”

“I think I followed that,” Giles muttered. “Willow is at the center of something going on with everyone and you don’t know what it is yet.”

“Well, whatever it is upset Carson as well, he’s over there on his fifth vodka and whatever,” Joyce pointed out.

“Yeah,” Buffy nodded. “Giles, that healing she did on you, that was major, wasn’t it?”

“It was like being caught up in a river of colors,” Buffy said softly and found Tara reaching for her hand at the same time Buffy was reaching for hers.

“We could see Willow’s energy at the center and focused on that, surrounding it,” Buffy described, closing her eyes with the memory. “It was like chaos around us except where we were.”

“Yes, it was a major working,” Giles said softly, holding Joyce’s hand. “Something I never thought she would be able to do without the ceremony and ritual.”

“I’m not sure,” Giles admitted. “Doing that ritual to take the werewolf opened up some doors.”

“Everyone keeps saying that,” Buffy complained. “Willow did that because she loves me, not to gain power or anything evil!”

“I know, Buffy,” Giles said gently. “But we have to accept the fact that she performed Black Magick and called on demons and evil spirits to accomplish that. It’s like robbing a bank to pay the rent for the orphanage.”

“The end may have been for the good but getting there was the wrong path,” Buffy translated and Giles nodded as Buffy and Tara’s eyes filled with tears. “Damnit! I’m tired of my friends being hurt because I’m the Slayer!”

“And Willow would argue t-that she couldn’t t-take you being hurt because of her,” Tara countered. “You took t-that bite to save her.”

“No, the door was unlocked and opened slightly with the transference spell,” he explained to the two young women what Willow had explained earlier in the evening to him and Joyce. “When she killed that other werewolf, good cause or not, she tasted human blood.”

He frowned and took off his glasses. “Because of her lycanthropy, she could have developed a taste for the hunt and human blood, her werewolf side turning totally evil. It didn’t, thank God. You see it get complicated because she’s not only a werewolf but a witch, when she tasted the human blood it hit her magickal side and… and…”

“I’m not sure what it’ll mean,” he frowned. “She’ll need a lot of guidance and support.”

“It’s l-like a drug, Buffy,” Tara said softly. “You w-work with d-dark energies like that and it c-can be addictive and d-deadly.”

“Then insist on total honesty,” Giles advised. “No more surprise spells or rituals and no doing magick without thinking and talking about it.”

Angel glanced up, cutting Cordelia off in mid sentence. The brunette started to snap at her boss and would-be boyfriend for it when she realized he was watching over her shoulder. She turned and found Willow approaching them as they paced and argued in the parking lot.

“Angel, Cordelia, can I talk with you?” Willow asked, burying her fists in her jacket and looking uncomfortable.

“Yes,” Willow nodded, ignoring the sarcasm in Cordelia’s voice. “If it worked, I used the energy to heal Giles’ spinal injuries and seal Angel’s soul to his body. No more curse and no more Angeleus.”

“He gets happy about something and we possibly have Angeleus back?” Cordelia snapped. “No thanks; he was a bastard to deal with then, thank you!”

Willow’s eyes blazed with sudden anger. “I remember that better than you do, Cordy! I was the one that ended up in the hospital and I never did tell anyone everything Angeleus did to me!”

“Easy, guys, please,” Angel begged, moving almost between the two women. The last thing he wanted was to bring up Angeleus’ past crimes against Buffy and her friends.

“And what if didn’t work?” Cordy countered. “What do we do with Angeleus?”

“I have an orb and the ingredients I need for the spell to restore his soul with me,” Willow said calmly and winced at the shock on Angel’s face.

“And get your hopes up? I didn’t even know if I could include you in the working,” Willow growled.

“So what does this mean, we get him happy, wait and see if Angeleus shows up and then you do the ritual to bring back his soul and we go on like before?” Cordy demanded.

“I think I followed that,” Angel muttered. “It’s either that or we never test whether it worked and we go on being miserable.”

“And how do we test this theory, hook him back up with Buffy?” Cordy snapped and Willow drew back a fist just as Angel stepped between them.

“Cordelia!” he growled. “Willow was trying to help me! Why are you attacking her? She was trying to help US!”

“Us!” Angel insisted, grabbing Cordelia by her arms. “There is no ‘me and Buffy.’ She’s moved on and I’ve moved on. I’m not her soulmate, Willow and Tara are.”

“All I heard about for years was your tragic love for her!” Cordy shouted. “The doomed love affair of the ages. Vampire with a Soul and the Slayer, never to be together but lovers forever!”

Willow touched Angel’s back and saw him nod slightly. She quickly moved away and headed back to the bar. She knew they’d find her shortly, if they could get past the old argument and wounds.

“Buffy loved me but not like she does Willow and Tara!” Angel insisted. “I knew she was in love with Willow for years! That’s why Angeleus attacked Willow first and so brutally, I knew she was Buffy’s weakness. I didn’t even attack Buffy’s mother, just played with her mind for a bit and caused tension between Joyce and Buffy. Willow I attacked and…and, I almost killed.”

“What did Angeleus do to Willow?” Cordelia frowned. “I know you almost killed her but there’s more isn’t there?”

“I don’t know if she remembers it or not and I don’t want to,” he growled. “I’m not in love with Buffy.”

“I’ve been guaranteed to be miserable and hold onto my soul because I can’t have the woman I’ve fallen in love with,” the vampire said softly.

“If you tell me it’s that Darla bitch I’m going to stake you!” she threatened, beginning to sob.

“I love you, Cordelia Chase,” he said softly. “I’ve loved you for a long time.”

Willow spotted her lovers sitting with Giles and Joyce and mentally steeled herself. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Carson and his unfocused eyes, several empty glasses in front of him.

She dismissed his problems for the moment as the approached her family and sat down.

“Well, I’m guessing that I’ve b-been the topic of conversation,” she smiled slightly.

“It’s okay,” Willow continued to smile and reached out for Buffy and Tara’s hands. “I expected it. Did Giles tell you what we talked about earlier?”

“About the magick being wide open for you now?” Buffy asked and Willow nodded. “Yeah, he mentioned it and that it might be a little rough and tempting for you.”

“Yes, and I-I’ll admit that scares me,” Willow said. “I n-never got into drugs because I-I was afraid of what t-they could do. This is more powerful.”

“We’re here for you, Willow,” Tara said firmly, her blue eyes showing her determination and love for the red-haired witch and Willow sighed gratefully.

“I should probably talk to you privately first but I don’t think we have time,” Willow muttered, watching Buffy’s eyes. “What do you feel for Angel?” she asked bluntly and Buffy blinked in surprise and looked confused.

“I like Angel,” she said easily. “I did love him but it’s like that was so distant, a lifetime ago. Why, Wills?”

“If the healing worked, I sealed his soul. He can’t lose it,” Willow answered, watching Buffy closely.

Buffy sat back heavily in her chair, her face confused as she tried to process what Willow had just told her.

“No, if it worked,” Willow clarified. “Only death can separate his soul from his body now.”

“My God, Willow,” Giles said softly. “Without an orb and spell, you just did it?”

“It wasn’t that easy,” the red-head frowned. “That combination of energy could do anything but I wouldn’t want to try it again. I have an orb to bring Angel back if the spell didn’t work and we get Angeleus again.”

“He’s trying to explain the risks, what I did and he’s telling her, I hope, that he loves her,” Willow said, watching Buffy’s reaction.

“Angel and I talked when we came to pick you up in LA, he admitted he had fallen for her but couldn’t have her,” Buffy said, smiling at her lover and noticing Willow’s body relaxing relief. “Wills, I love you and I love Tara. Angel and I have changed. My love for both of you is beyond what I felt for him.”

“God, this is complicated,” Giles complained. “The only way to see if it worked is to endanger everyone with Angeleus.”

“And extreme happy moments are usually done in private,” Buffy pondered and began to blush when she caught her mother’s disapproving glance.

They both remembered what had caused Angel to lose his soul last time, Buffy losing her virginity to him on her 17th birthday. Joyce had been less than enthused to find out about that one.

“She can bind Angel and…and if he turns…then yell for you, after they….”

Everyone glanced up to see Angel and Cordelia almost to their table. Cordelia was actually smirking at their embarrassment.

“We actually thought of that,” Cordelia grinned and everyone noticed how Angel stood behind her and wrapped his arms around the smaller brunette.

“The problem is we don’t have any bindings,” Angel explained, thankful that he didn’t have enough blood in his system to actually blush along with the rest of them.

“We do, actually,” Giles said softly and turned almost bright red when Joyce pulled back and looked at him like he had grown another eye in the center of his forehead. “In the trunk under the tire, werewolf precaution,” he muttered.

“What, Buffy?” Joyce asked, her face innocent but the eyes were playful and teasing.

“So I chain good looking here down, have my way with him and see if we get Angeleus?” Cordelia asked and felt Angel’s body jerk behind her in response to her words.

“Well, I’m not sure what to suggest then,” Giles muttered. “Everyone go to their rooms, Willow stands by in case she’s needed?”

“And if you don’t hear me screaming within two hours, go to bed?” Cordelia suggested sweetly. “No, wait. I just might be screaming.”

“Cordelia!” Joyce snapped, her eyes wide as the boldness of the former cheerleader and Angel managed to actually blush.

“Enough!” Willow snapped. “Listen, I’m tired. I just want to curl up in Buffy and Tara’s arms. Everyone go to bed, if something happens, pound on our door.”

Willow looked around and saw Carson’s head laying on his arms on the table in front of him.

“Don’t worry,” Wesley suddenly appeared at their table. “I'll take him up to the room.”

“Yeah, I’ve handed drunken love-sick vampires before,” he muttered as he headed towards Carson.

Everyone finally headed to their rooms. Willow, Tara and Buffy in one room, Cordelia and Angel in the room next to them, Wesley and Carson two doors down, and Giles and Joyce across from the girls.

Willow threw herself on the bed with an exaggerated sigh getting giggles out of both Buffy and Tara. The blonde witch jumped onto the bed into Willow’s arms and both looked up from the bed, grinning at Buffy.

“Wills, you are so damned adorable,” Buffy exclaimed and jumped on the other side of the red-haired witch.

“She’s right you know,” Tara said softly, leaning up on one elbow to lean down and kiss Willow.

Willow whimpered, one hand reaching up to play in Buffy’s hair and the other to pull Tara closer.

“Guys?” Buffy’s voice drew Tara and Willow’s attention. Buffy’s eyes were loving and yet cautious asking a question without words.

Willow glanced up into Tara’s eyes, asking the same question among the three of them.

Tara nodded at the same time as Willow and they turned to the Slayer. Tara reached across Willow and drew Buffy’s head closer and kissed her softly as Willow’s hands danced in their hair, her body under them.

“Oh Goddess,” Willow whispered and Tara turned her lips to Willow’s and Buffy’s hands moved to unbutton Willow’s shirt, her hands trembling.

“It’s been so long, Wills,” Buffy whispered, her voice husky with desire as she looked at her two lovers kissing passionately.

Willow’s back arched and Tara began nibbling on her neck as her hand reached out for Buffy. The Slayer pulled Tara’s hand to her, kissing the palm gently and lightly running her tongue over the nerve endings in the wrist. She heard Tara gasp in surprise at the stimulation.

Looking at Willow and Tara the Slayer knew the mood was broken for the moment as the other two sat up as well. Tara wrapped her arms around Buffy from behind and Willow hugged both of them.

“Does it bother you?” Tara asked Buffy as more moans came from the room next door.

“No, not really,” Buffy smiled at her loves. “Just weird hearing it, like listening to Xander watch a porn movie.”

“Oh, that’s just the visual I need in our bed!” Willow protested with a laugh.

“Yeah, we’re going to jump out of our skins at every sound tonight,” Willow agreed.

“That sound like pleasure,” Tara commented as Buffy and Willow settled into her arms.

Buffy opened the door to her hotel room just as Angel was passing by. The former lovers stopped for a moment.

“Yeah,” Angel said slowly, feeling awkward. “Buffy, I…I don’t know what to say,” he finally admitted.

“I know, it was always Willow and Tara is fantastic,” he said as softly. “I just want you to know that you meant everything to me and still do.”

“You mean, did last night work?” he asked. “Yeah, I’m happy and still here, no more Angeleus.”

“Willow and Tara still asleep?” he asked, relaxing a little as they began to walk towards the coffee shop.

“Willow is but Tara wasn’t in the room when I woke up,” Buffy answered, a slight frown on her face.

“I’m beginning to get an idea,” Buffy said slowly. “Willow admits that it’s dangerous and possibly addictive. I think that’s what bothering Tara this morning.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, grateful that the coffee shop was inside the hotel and not outside. It was a nice sunny day at the beach and Angel really didn’t want to spoil his newfound freedom by turning into a pile of ashes.

“I can sense what Willow and Tara are feeling and they can sense me,” Buffy explained.

“You said that in LA, I wasn’t sure you meant all the time or just strong emotions,” Angel commented, opening the door for the Slayer.

“Almost all the time if we concentrate. We can communicate as well,” she said and grinned when she spotted Carson leaning over a cup of coffee with Wesley and another young man.

“He is when they aren’t trying to rip each other’s throats out,” Angel continued to grin. “He swings.”

“Must be interesting working with the two of them,” Buffy laughed and grinned at the young men as they noticed the vampire and Slayer.

Buffy saw Wesley’s eyes widen and become fearful and Carson, noticing Wesley’s reaction, snapped his eyes towards Buffy and Angel. Buffy glanced over and noticed the love bites on Angel’s neck and the contented look on the vampire’s face.

“Yes, I’m still Angel,” the vampire said, trying to reassure his friend and ex-Watcher. “Willow.”

Wesley, wanting a full explanation, glanced over at the bartender in frustration and merely nodded.

“Still asleep, she… uh, she was up late last night,” Angel admitted and Wesley looked at Buffy with a confused look.

Buffy began to blush when she realized the ex-Watcher thought she had gotten together with Angel the night before.

“Have you guys seen Tara?” she asked. “She wasn’t in bed when I woke up.”

Given Wesley’s confused face and Carson’s smirk, Buffy knew she had made it clear who had slept where, finally.

“She’s outside walking along the beach,” Carson said. “Willow still asleep?”

“Yeah, the ‘party’ on the beach last night wore her out,” Buffy responded, getting to her feet.

“I think we’ll be heading back to LA later today,” Angel said and Buffy nodded as she headed outside.

The Slayer was glad she had thought to bring her jacket when she walked out the far door of the coffee shop; it was a little cold along the coast in the morning sun. She also thought her mom had been right; the group had needed the break after the recent nightmares they had been through.

Buffy couldn’t believe it had only been four months since Oz had came back to Sunnydale, demanding Willow’s return and all the damned things since: werewolf bites, curses, Initiative tortures, Willow's disappearance, and then Adam.

Buffy smiled when she caught sight of Tara sitting on some rocks near the waves, lost in thought, watching the ocean crash against the rocks and sand. The Slayer felt her thoughts and face soften as she approached her lover.

Tara, sensing Buffy’s presence, looked up and smiled. She waited patiently as the Slayer made her way across the rocks and accepted Tara’s hand, sitting next to the blonde witch. Buffy leaned her head onto Tara’s shoulder and sighed with pleasure.

“Morning,” Buffy smiled as she held Tara’s hand. “I missed you this morning.”

“Yes, it worked. Is Willow’s magick wigging you?” Buffy guessed and felt Tara nod.

The two sat watching the ocean for awhile, cuddled in each other’s arms and content to simply be with each other while thinking about Willow.

“Why don’t you wake up Willow and I’ll see if everyone else is finally up?” Buffy suggested.

“You don’t want to wake her up with me?” Tara asked, a gentle and welcoming smile on her lips.

“It’s the first time since she’s been gone, we’ll take it slow,” Buffy suggested.

“Okay,” Tara nodded, agreeing with her lover as they stood up and began to walk back to the hotel.

Buffy found Giles, Joyce and Cordelia sharing a table for breakfast with no sign of Angel, Wesley or Carson.

“No, not yet,” Giles answered, reaching across the table to hold Joyce’s hand.

“Well, I’ve got some news,” Buffy said with a grin. “It worked, Angel and Cordy got happy last night and no Angeleus. Most of the night, in fact.”

“Buffy!” Joyce squeaked, realizing what Buffy meant and Buffy grinned a mischievous grin, knowing she was making her mom and Giles uncomfortable with references to sex. The Slayer could see a love bite on Giles’ neck just below his collar too.

“Oh thank God,” Giles muttered and Buffy knew he was remembering when they had all dealt with Angeleus. It had cost Jenny her life and Giles had gone almost insane with grief. Being tortured physically and mentally by Angeleus didn’t help Giles’ trust of Angel either.

“Where’s Willow and Tara?” Giles asked and then pulled his hand back to start cleaning his glasses. “Uh, never mind,” he muttered as Buffy grinned.

Joyce shook her head at the look of amusement on Buffy’s face. The mother of the Slayer still wasn’t sure she understood her daughter’s relationship with Willow and Tara. Joyce knew that they were closer than any other lovers she had ever seen but it was still hard to adjust to. Joyce knew the three of them were happy together and seemed lost whenever one was around but Joyce wished it could be easier for the three girls. Even if they lived in a normal town and led normal lives, a three-way relationship was more than difficult and Joyce didn’t know of any that lasted more than a few years at the longest. Joyce also reminded herself that most Slayers didn’t reach legal drinking age either.

Tara opened the door to the hotel room quietly and was surprised to see Willow still in bed and glanced at her watch with a frown. She never knew Willow to sleep this late, but then again, she had never known Willow to do such powerful magick before either.

The blonde witch was across the room in an instant when she heard Willow whimper. Tara pulled the covers back to discover Willow in a fetal position, clinging to her stuffed fox, the witch’s face troubled. Willow whimpered again and absently pulled at her hand, the one that had been shattered by Oz’s manic grip.

“Willow, hey,” Tara said softly and slowly lay down next to her lover. Tara gently touched Willow’s shoulder and winced when Willow flinched and drew away from her touch, the red-haired witch crying out in her sleep, caught in a vicious nightmare.

“Willow, it’s okay,” Tara continued talking, keeping her voice low and soothing and touched Willow’s arm again. When Willow didn’t flinch away, Tara moved closer, letting her warmth touch Willow. “Willow, come on, baby,” she called softly and began to shake her lover.

“Come on, Wills,” Tara urged and saw Willow’s frightened expression become puzzled. “That’s it,” she urged. “Wake up, Willow.”

“No,” Willow mumbled, her hands moving slightly, as if warding off blows. “Don’t hurt me again…Angel, please don’t do this…not this…”

Tara frowned, her face puzzled. She had gathered enough from the Scooby Gang that when Angel had lost his soul and became Angeleus that he had tormented all of them, killed Jenny, tortured Giles and had almost killed Willow. She just didn’t know the details of how he had hurt Willow and now her lover was caught in a nightmare about Angeleus.

“Willow!” Tara snapped and shook Willow roughly and then wrapped her arms around the witch when Willow cried out and opened her eyes. “It's okay, Wills. I’m right here.”

“I’m here, Willow,” Tara reassured her mate as Willow broke into tears. “Willow, it’s only a nightmare. You’re safe.”

“Yes! It's okay, Buffy saw Angel, he’s happy and still Angel,” Tara said quickly.

“Oh thank the Goddess,” Willow whispered, wiping at her tears. “I couldn’t face Angeleus again.”

Willow glanced away. “Nothing, just the usual torment stuff…killing my fish…choking me…threatening death…having vampires drop bookcases on me…you know,” Willow rambled softly.

“At least about Angeleus,” Tara agreed, her eyes loving and concerned. “I love you, Willow. I-I don’t want you h-hurting.”

Tara held Willow until she felt the red-haired witch relax and snuggle next to her. Tara began to slowly stroke Willow’s hair and kissed her forehead softly before moving down to Willow’s lips.

Willow whimpered and melted into Tara’s arms. Tara broke off from the kiss and leaned her forehead against Willow’s.

Willow drew back slightly and looked deep into Tara’s blue eyes and saw the love and desire that caused Willow to moan. Something snapped inside Willow, causing her walls and shields to crumble. The walls she built up to protect her mind from the horror of having killed, of becoming a werewolf and the fear of the overwhelming power open to her, she let them fall away from her.

The young woman felt Tara’s welcoming energy and spirit and touched it cautiously. Instead of recriminations for leaving, Willow found openness and love; instead of fear, Willow found trust and a calming presence to balance her.

“Yes,” Tara said softly and opened up even further and let her desire for Willow and Buffy flow from her to Willow. She watched as Willow’s head snapped back, a moan coming from the witch.

“Oh Goddess,” Willow whispered and cried out as her own desire overwhelmed her.

Willow growled softly and flipped Tara over, putting herself on top of Tara. Willow felt her body trembling and wasn’t surprised when her hand was noticeably shaking when she reached out to stroke Tara’s face and hair.

“The feelings,” she whispered. “I’ve been shut down for so long; it hurts.”

“Shhh,” Tara said softly, wrapping her arms around Willow. “What do you need, Will?”

Willow’s eyes darkened to an emerald green. “You,” she whispered. “But it’s so strong, so intense.”

“You won’t hurt me,” Tara assured her. “Come back to me. I’m yours, Willow.”

Tara cried out as Willow’s lips went to her neck and the witch’s hands began pulling at her clothes. The blonde witch sat up with Willow in her lap, lips meeting in a rough and passionate kiss that felt like it was going to bruise both of them. Tara grabbed at Willow’s pajama top with a whimper and Willow pulled back from the kiss long enough for Tara to remove the top. Willow felt her body trembling again as the connection with her mate deepened and she felt Tara’s desire for her sweeping over her like a tidal wave.

Tara gasped in surprise and arousal when Willow grabbed the front of her shirt and ripped the buttons off, revealing her plentiful breasts to the red-haired witch. Willow’s face and eyes reflected her desire, her lust, and Tara blushed at the absolute look of wanting.

“You are so beautiful,” Willow whispered and lowered her lips to Tara’s nipples. Tara’s head dropped back as she ran her hands through Willow’s hair.

Giles looked over at the Slayer when he and Joyce noticed her jerk suddenly and begin blushing.

Buffy looked away quickly. “I, uh,” she stammered. “I think Angel, Cordelia and Wesley are heading back to LA this evening.”

The Slayer gritted her teeth as another mind wave hit her and moved her hands under the table where Giles at least couldn’t see her clenched fists.

“Really? Is Carson going back to Sunnydale or LA?” Giles asked, trying to ignore the Slayer’s obvious discomfort. Whatever was bothering the girl, she didn’t want to talk about it, apparently.

“Sunnydale,” Buffy answered. “He has a weird idea of trying to convince other vampires they can exist without killing. Wants them to conquer their demons like he did.”

“Most vampires weren’t priests in their human lives,” Giles frowned and then raised his eyebrows as Buffy began to look flushed and nervous.

Willow suddenly giggled and rested her head on Tara’s shoulder. Tara looked at her lover like she had lost her mind, causing Willow to giggle even more.

“I caught a flash from Buffy,” Willow giggled. “She’s having coffee with Giles and Joyce Mom and catching our energy.”

Tara joined in Willow’s giggles until Willow began nibbling on her neck once more and her hands roamed to Tara’s breasts.

Willow encouraged Tara back down to the bed and worked her way to Tara’s nipples with her lips, kissing and lightly nibbling down Tara’s neck, shoulders and chest. Tara whimpered and raised her hips when she felt Willow’s hands at the waistband of her pajama bottoms, demanding. Willow pulled what remained of Tara’s clothes off and Tara followed with Willow’s clothes.

Both women moaned as skin touched skin. Willow began a trail down Tara’s body; exploring every bit of her with her hands and lips. The blonde witch was quivering beneath her lover when Willow went between Tara's legs, working her way down one leg and up the inside the other.

Tara focused on keeping her shields open and Willow bounced Tara’s energy and added her own back to Tara, locking them in a circle of energy and desire.

Tara almost screamed in frustration when Willow’s fingers and tongue merely began to tease her without any release or stimulation.

“Think she’ll be alright?” he asked as Joyce tried to ignore what was happening to her daughter.

“She’s probably about to jump into that very cold ocean,” Joyce commented, finally smiling and trying to see the humor in the situation. “I take it that Tara woke up Willow.”

“I assume so,” Giles grinned. “Either that or your daughter found our conversation extremely stimulating.”

Tara grabbed the headboard as Willow’s tongue alternated with her fingers by entering the blonde witch and dancing across her clit. Tara moaned and tried not to thrash, she was rapidly becoming afraid of throwing Willow off the bed.

It took Tara a moment to realize that something was different. She opened her eyes and squeaked when it became clear that she was about three feet off the bed, levitating, and Willow was sitting up, continuing her sexual attention to the blonde witch.

The sensation of floating and being driven crazy sexually combined into heightened waves of orgasm that sent Tara's mind into red and then darkness before crashing back on the bed.

Buffy leaned against the wall of the hotel hallway and tried to control her breathing. She managed to straighten up and moved down the hall as quick as she could.

Finally the door opened and Buffy pushed past the vampire and sat down on his bed, wrapping her arms around her knees.

Carson, dressed only in a pair of blue boxers looked at her in disbelief as he shut the door.

Carson studied the young woman in front of him for a few moments. He finally shrugged and crawled back into the bed and threw the sheet over his body. He sat up after a couple of minutes and watched Buffy rock slowly on the bed.

“Willow told me that she’s connected to you and Tara,” he commented. “Does it work both ways?”

“Yes,” she whispered, gritting her teeth as the sexual attention turned from Tara to Willow.

“We haven’t… not yet…we just got Willow back,” Buffy struggled with the words.

Buffy tried to focus on strengthening her shields as another wave of desire from Willow hit her.

Willow smiled as the door to the shower opened and familiar hands reached for her from behind. The red-haired witch leaned back into the arms of the Slayer and sighed with pleasure.

Buffy’s lips began exploring Willow’s neck and she moaned as she felt a shiver of delight run over Willow’s body, followed by Buffy’s hands.

“You two just about drove me insane in front of Mom and Giles,” Buffy scolded, her voice husky with desire.

“I can’t say I’m sorry,” Willow teased and gasped as one of Buffy’s hands went to her breasts and the other between her legs. “Oh Goddess,” she whimpered and grabbed the shower walls for balance.

“It was a little awkward, thank you,” Buffy growled, dancing her fingers in between Willow’s sexual lips, while pinching first one and then the other nipple.

“So, this…this is my punishment?” Willow teased. “What…what about Tara’s punishment?”

Buffy was so overjoyed to hear the teasing and laughter in Willow’s voice that tears of joy filling her eyes. Willow feeling Buffy’s emotions, turned and grabbed the Slayer to her lips, the kiss passionate and desperate.

Buffy moaned and held the witch close to her, Buffy’s heart pounding loudly in her ears. The blonde whimpered as she felt Willow’s energy touching hers, Buffy concentrated on mentally lowering her shields and grabbed for the shower wall behind her as the emotions, desire, fears, and love from Willow hit her.

Willow followed Buffy, her lips going to Buffy’s neck, her hands to Buffy’s breasts and between the Slayer’s legs. The rebound of the energy from Buffy and her own, hit Willow like a blow, dropping what few shields she had left, leaving nothing but an overwhelming need between them.

Buffy cried out as Willow, growling with desire, thrust into her and bit the Slayer’s neck hard but not hard enough to break Buffy's skin. Her hands held Willow’s body tight against her as she thrust against Willow’s fingers and the witch matched her moves.

“Oh, don't stop, please, Wills!” Buffy begged, her hands gripping Willow’s shoulders tightly.

Buffy whimpered and tried to stay upright in the shower as Willow’s lips and teeth left her neck and began to work their way down her body. She took a long time, driving the Slayer’s nipples and breasts into an overload of sensation with light kisses, sharp bites and raking of the teeth over them.

Buffy wasn’t sure she could stay on her feet as Willow went to her knees, her lips exploring Buffy’s ribs and tight stomach, finally settling on breathing in the essence of

The Slayer was beside herself and grabbed the shower rod for balance as Willow gently lifted Buffy’s leg to a bended position on the side of the tub. Buffy felt herself becoming flush as she looked down into the dark green and hooded eyes of her lover.

Buffy cried out and almost whacked her own head against the shower wall as her head snapped backwards as Willow entered her again and began running her tongue along Buffy’s labia lips and over her clit.

Buffy felt Willow’s own pleasure building as the witch lost herself in loving Buffy. The blonde knew that her emotions and building orgasms were reflecting back into Willow as well and felt her legs trembling beyond any control.

Willow mewled as her body connected with Buffy’s, tightened every muscle in her body and shocked every nerve ending. She knew she would never get enough of Buffy and Tara; ever. Each woman was different in all aspects and Willow wouldn’t have been able to answer which woman she loved more or even preferred sexually. Each had their own scents, own rhythms, needs, erogenous zones that Willow had delighted in finding and exploring. And each touched her differently but just right at the same time.

Willow clung to Buffy as the waves hit both of them, pulling a scream from Buffy and Willow’s breath from her.

Buffy went to her knees beside Willow and kissed the red-haired witch firmly. They held each other as the water crashed over their heads.

Both women looked up and blushed as Tara opened the door and laughed at the sight of them, an impish glint in her eyes.

“You t-two look like d-drowned rats,” she teased. “Do I get to dry both of you off?”

Buffy looked at Willow and saw the same impish glint in the red-headed witch’s eyes.

Willow sat in a chair near the main desk as the evening grew darker and smiled when Angel finally appeared from the elevators with Cordelia.

The former cheerleader spotted her friend and dashed over as Willow stood up, grabbing the young witch in a rib crushing hug.

“Thank you!” Cordelia kept saying over and over again. Willow laughed and playfully smacked Cordelia’s arms until the brunette put her down.

“Why don’t you check us out, Cordy?” Angel suggested, “While I give my own thanks to Willow here.”

“Sure, lover,” Cordy grinned and headed towards the desk, taking the room key from Angel as he sat their bags down.

“I see you wanted private goodbyes before everyone else sees us off,” he said.

“Yes, I wanted to tell you I just found that spell a month ago, before everything broke loose in my life,” Willow explained. “I never would have held it back from you and Buffy.”

“I know that, even though you’ve loved Buffy for years, you never stood in the way of our love,” he nodded. “I also know that you forgave me for things that were unforgivable and fought for me and my soul. Thank you.”

“That was Angeleus!” Willow repeated firmly. “Not the man I know as Angel.”

“I can never repay you or make it up to you,” he said softly. “Just know that I will always be there for you and will always be your friend.”

“Even when I show up on your doorstep about to sprout fur and fangs?” she teased and grinned when he laughed a deep laugh.

“Yeah, even covered in red fur!” he agreed and grinned at Cordelia walking over to them, his eyes darkening with desire.

Cordelia smiled at the look on her lover’s face as he released Willow and tossed her hair back, revealing his mark on her neck. She saw Angel lick his lips unconsciously and Willow broke into laughter.

“You two should take the room back!” Willow teased. “I don’t think you’ll make it back to LA before attacking each other again.”

“You should talk, Ms. Shy Computer Geek who screams like a banshee!” Cordelia countered. “If I were into females I might have to make a play for the shy types, seems you and Tara nearly took the paint off the wall this morning.”

Willow tried not to choke and come up with a witty comeback but Cordelia’s sharp wit and tongue were victorious once again when the round was called to a halt by the appearance of the rest of the group.

Hugs took up the next half hour as both groups made their farewells to each other with promises to visit more frequently. Promises that were actually believed by both parties this time.

Within an hour Willow was snuggled in Buffy’s arms in the backseat of the Summers’ car with Tara in front watching her two loves.

Carson was riding back with Giles, Xander and Anya and being basically ignored in the back seat but the vampire didn’t mind. As long as the young couple in the front seat wasn’t trying to stake him or bore him to death, he was pleased.

He was also pleased with the way things had turned out over the last two months and congratulated himself on trusting his instincts when he took a naked and confused Willow into his life that morning in the sewers.

Now Angel had his soul firmly rooted and was letting himself feel love; Buffy, Willow and Tara were connecting again; Giles and Joyce were planning their wedding; and Xander and Anya were busy working on their own sex record; and the Slayer wasn’t out to kill him.

Adam and the Initiative were both either dead or out of Sunnydale and Carson had new friends.

He tried not to think of the law of averages in Sunnydale that told him good times lasted for a damned short time, especially for the Slayer and her friends.

“So what next, guys?” Buffy asked as she dropped her suitcase on the floor and grinned at Tara and Willow’s confused faces.

“I mean, think about it,” Buffy continued as she threw herself across the bed and rolled over to look at them. “No more Adam, no Initiative, no Riley. Spike isn’t talking to us; Angel has his soul firmly in place and no danger of Angeleus coming back and no Mayor or high school. What shall we do for fun?”

“You are twisted, warped and have a strange sense of humor, Buffy Summers,” Willow declared with a laugh and landed on the bed on one side and Tara on the other in the Slayer’s arms.

“Well, considering how much school I’ve missed,” Willow said seriously. “I think I need to withdraw for the semester and start again next time.”

Buffy and Tara frowned. “Wills, won’t that mess up your record?” Buffy asked.

“No, the administration knows how injured I was and I’m sure Giles can vouch for my mental breakdown this last month,” Willow shrugged. “If I keep up my grades I think I can talk them into erasing this semester of any Incompletes I’ve collected.”

Willow laughed at their concerned faces. “You know me; I’ll be a student walking around with gray hair and a cane!”

“Nope,” Buffy said firmly. “You’ll be running your own computer company or a well respected professor by then.”

“I could get used to this,” she mumbled as Tara reached across Buffy’s ribs for Willow’s hand.

Across town two men began unloading a large crate in front of a castle-like mansion, as a storm breaks loose in Sunnydale.

Allen Robertson grumbled as he lifted one end of the heavy crate. “Come on, hurry it up. I’m getting soaked.”

The box dropped out of their hands, landing hard on the ground. Both men moaned when they noticed the split boards.

Tommy frowned and knelt down beside the crate, examining the dark substance spilling out between the cracks. “Look at this. The guy’s carting dirt around.”

“Leave it, we’ll turn the thing on its side,” Allen suggested. “Maybe it’s dirt for a prime crop of pot.”

As they tried to turn the box, more boards shattered and Allen couldn’t comprehend the fact that a hand shot out of the box. Tommy fell backwards clutching his throat as blood flowed through his fingers faster than the rain off his hat.

Allen was still staring at Tommy’s terror filled eyes when the box broke wide open and a figure was flying at him.

Buffy jumped over a tombstone and landed cat-like on her feet. The Slayer brought her fist in an uppercut, catching the male vampire under the chin and rattling his jaw and crashing his teeth together.

Tara and Willow, standing nearby with hands ready to lend a magickal hand, if needed, smiled at each other.

“It’s amazing how much s-she enjoys t-this,” Tara commented and Willow nodded, leaning into Tara’s arms but very aware of everything around them. Cemeteries weren’t exactly the safest places in Sunnydale to catch a snuggle with a lover, Willow knew.

Buffy followed through with the blow with several punches from both fists that kept the vampire off balance and his head spinning. To add further insult, the Slayer grabbed the vampire by his shoulders and rammed her knee into his crotch.