Prophecy's Curse by Alex P

            Title: Prophecy's Curse

            Author: Alex P.

            Feedback: Please any comments or suggestions to: keeper444@webtv.net

            Archive: Whatever or whoever Just tell me

            Summary: A year after "If Destiny Wills It" and a whole new threat has

            come to town, that will test the Slayer and Great Sorceress's new found

            powers.

            Spoilers: This is my own twisted little universe and, while there are

            characters and Sunnydale from the show their skills and places in these

            stories are purely of my own demented imagination. Sorry if it offends

            (not).

            Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy, Willow, Giles, and any others from

            BTVS are the property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy etc. No

            infringement of any kind intended and no money made.

            Warning: Contains scenes of a loving relationship between two consenting

            women. If you have a problem with that (why are you here?) or it is

            illegal where you live (I suggest you move to my end of the

            gutter...quickly) then PLEASE DELETE THIS NOW !!!!!

            Rating: Possible PG-13 to R in some places.

            Pairing: B/W

      [[thoughts]]

   ***flashbacks***

++++++++++++++++++

Title: Prophecy's Curse

Author: Alex P.

++++++++++++++++++

The moon was reaching its zenith and Buffy was headed for home. Another

slow night of slaying: only three newbies, and a stray demon whose heart

wasn't really in it. She would have been bored if her mind hadn't been

occupied elsewhere.

Here it was, June twentieth already; less than six shopping weeks left

until their first anniversary and she had no idea what to get her wife.

[[Geez, talk about a stereotype,]] the Slayer scolded herself in

frustration. [[We've know each other all this time, I can see her

thoughts for God's sake, and I haven't the slightest idea what she wants

or what would make her happy.]]

The small blonde was so distracted that she almost didn't feel her

slayer sense going off like a car alarm. She spun around, trying to

locate the threat, but the unnatural speed of the older vampire suddenly

behind her helped him to blindside her.

Running at full speed, he collided with her from the side: the blow took

her off her feet and together they rolled across the dewy grass of the

small clearing.

They both regained their feet quickly; spun to face each other, slowly

circling, looking for an opening to attack. Then as if a signal was

given they attacked simultaneously. The vampire tried to grab Buffy by

the throat, stopped just in time by a right cross to the temple.

She knocked him back a few steps, trying to follow through but her

opponent countered with a side kick that launched her sideways, flying

through the air until she slammed roughly into a crumbling tombstone.

She let out a gasp of pain as she felt a rib give way on impact.

The vampire noticed her gasp and saw the way she winced as she pushed

away from the granite.

"My my, Slayer," the vampire hissed, his face got even uglier as he

attempted a victorious grin. "Could it be that the Chosen One isn't as

tough as she pretends to be?"

"Don't count on it, Fangs." Buffy snarled. "I could kick your butt in my

sleep with both legs broken. By the way, who dresses you, a clown?!"

Growling in fury, the vampire launched himself at the weakened Slayer;

enraged by her disrespectful comment, reacting just as Buffy knew he

would.

Sure of a quick victory, he charged, blinded with anger at her

insolence, he made it easy for Buffy to side step his awkward leap, and

she brought a lightning-quick elbow down on the back of the vampire's

neck.

The blow, combined with his uncontrolled forward momentum, drove him

head first into the same tombstone she had hit.

His head slammed into the solid granite, the stone cracking under the

impact.

The stunned vampire rose to his feet and shook his head, trying to clear

it. Before he could regain his senses, the Slayer leapt into air and

delivered a scissor kick that connected with his chin and sent him

sprawling to the ground.

She somersaulted over to land straddling the vampire's abdomen, and with

a flourish produced a stake seemingly from thin air, driving it into his

heart.

Buffy watched as her opponent disappeared in to a cloud of dust. She

felt rather pleased with the outcome of the fight, until she moved and

was reminded of her broken rib.

It joined her other forgotten injuries in protesting loudly at her

neglect. Letting out a distracted sigh, she gingerly dusted herself off

and slowly rose to her feet.

Once again she turned towards home and the red-headed center of her

universe, her eyes glazing over as she once again became lost in

thought.

"Where was I," she asked herself brightly. "Oh, yeah. What *do* you get

the witch that has everything?"

==============

"Damn it, Giles, are you *sure* there's nothing we can do?" the

red-haired witch asked for the fifth time. "I mean, there's always been

some way around these prophecies before." Her tone was that pleading but

somehow irritated tone he recognised so well. "Why not this one?"

"Really, Willow," Giles said trying to calm the agitated young woman

stalking his living room. "it's not as if the prophecy is calling for

the end of the world. It just says that the "prince of darkness" will

come to the Hellmouth in search of his lost love. Why is it upsetting

you so badly?"

Willow tapped the book impatiently. "Are you losing your fabulous highly

trained watcher skills, Giles? 'He will come in search...'" She skipped

over a couple of over-flowery lines, "'And find her at great cost to

all'."

He blinked, looking at her blankly. Willow gave him an exasperated sigh

for his troubles. "Giles, where have you been the last seven or eight

years?" she snapped, unsure why the ex-watcher and her wife's surrogate

father was being so obtuse. "Does the phrase "at great cost" ring a

bell?

Giles took off his glasses, cleaning the lenses absently as he watched

the young witch - and more importantly soulmate to his Slayer - pacing

back and forth in front of his desk.

He was sure that the expensive Persian rug would soon have a rut worn

through it. Willow was the picture of frustration: she couldn't believe

that this normally intelligent man didn't understand why she was so

worried.

"Willow, please sit down." he pleaded quietly, attempting to calm the

Slayer's wife, "I'm sure, if we just sit down and give this some

thought... "

The redhead threw herself into one of his over-stuffed leather easy

chairs, obviously in a mood, her eyes glaring holes through the man

behind the desk. She couldn't believe how things had changed, usually it

was she that was the voice of calm and reason, reassuring the others,

but now she could see the obvious problems presented by this new

prophecy that apparently even Giles couldn't.

"Look, Giles, I know you just aren't looking," she said calmly, trying

desperately to get the ex-watcher to see her point. "The prophecy says

this "prince of darkness" will be *led* to the Hellmouth to find his

lost love. She will be found but refuse him at a great cost to all.

Isn't that what it says?"

"Well, yes, but there is no mention of the Sorceress or the Slayer."

Giles studied the ancient text in front of him again, flicking the

pages, "So I don't understand why you are as worried as you are.

This is just an obscure prophecy written in a little known book of bad

poetry, by a half mad Romanian monk that spent most of his short sad

life confined in an isolated monastery.

The only reason I even have it is one of my old contacts thought it

would be a great joke to show me such mad ramblings. I only showed it to

you because I thought you'd like to see a prophecy that didn't involve

you or Buffy for a change.

So why are you so upset?"

The Sorceress let out a long suffering sigh and leaned forward, locking

eyes with the normally observant Englishman, hoping that the

story-telling techniques Lugh had shown her would help him grasp what

she was saying.

"All right, now look at this from my point of view," the frustrated

witch said, her eyes taking on an eerie glow, and her voice sounding

like a someone teaching algebra to a particularly dense child. "First it

says he will be *led* here. But it doesn't say by whom, does it? And I

would think that might be important, don't you?"

"Well, yes but..."

She held up her hand to stop his premature comment.

"Not yet, I'm not done," she warned casually. "Okay, now, it talks about

a "prince of darkness". I have no idea who that might be. Do you?"

Giles could only shake his head and wait for her to continue.

"It would seem to me that it would be pretty important to know who and

what he is, don't you?" she went on before he could comment again. "Most

important, though, and what bothers me the most is this thing." Her

glowing eyes intensified as she spoke. "The prophecy speaks of something

at a great cost and do you have any thoughts about who usually pays the

great costs on this Hellmouth? The *Slayer* that's who, and if my Buffy

is hurt because you and your people treated this like a joke or held

*anything* back then I promise you, the Hellmouth will seem like a

resort vacation compared to what I'll do."

"Really, Willow," Giles protested, unsure of this person with the

glowing eyes, "I see no reason for threats."

"Oh, no, my dear watcher," Willow purred menacingly. "I'm not making

threats, this is a *promise*. I may be sworn not to take a human life,

but there are things I know that would make death seem a charitable

gift."

The two stared across the desk at each other for several heartbeats

judging each others resolve. It was the ex-watcher that dropped his eyes

first.

"Very well, Willow. We will investigate this further," He promised

conceding defeat. "but I hardly see any reason for all this worry."

"That's fine, Giles," Willow answered softly, "I'll worry enough for us

both." She glanced up. "Enough of this for now, Buffy's here."

All further discussion was interrupted when Giles' front door slammed

open.

"Hey guys, I'm home!" the exuberant voice of the Slayer echoed through

the townhouse. "Where's my honey?"

With a 100 watt smile on her face the red headed witch ran out of the

study and leapt into the waiting arms of her beloved wife.

"Hey babe, how was your night?" Willow asked as she nuzzled Buffy's

neck. "Anything exciting goin' on out there?"

"Uh-uh, cutie." Buffy said between kisses holding her universe tightly

in her arms. "Nothing out there is as exciting as my Wills, not even

close."

The witch stopped nuzzling and looked into her wife's eyes.

"You Slayers say the sweetest things," she whispered so that only Buffy

could hear, then got serious. "Now tell me where you're hurt, and don't

try to fool me. I can feel it."

The Slayer winced slightly at her wife's intense gaze, giving up before

she was hit with the dreaded resolve face.

"All right, all right, just don't look at me like that." She stepped

back and rubbed her side. "It's mostly bumps and bruises, nothing to

worry about."

She tried to stop there, but one look at her lover's face told the

Chosen One that the Great Sorceress wasn't buying it.

"Okay." She knew when she was beaten. "I think I probably broke a rib,

but that's all."

"That's all!" Willow quipped trying to hide her irritation at the

Slayer's evasiveness. "I think that's quite enough."

She stepped back and quickly examined her lover.

"Well at least your clothes aren't a complete loss, but that top is

totalled." She glanced over the rest of Buffy's clothes quickly, then

looked at her tired and hurt lover and gave her a sultry smile. "Come on

home, baby, I'll run you a nice hot bath and we'll take care of all

those nasty ol' Slayer boo-boos."

They both laughed and wrapped in each others arms headed for the door.

"We'll finish this tomorrow, Giles," Willow called as they went out the

door. "Right now I have a Slayer to bathe."

"Oooh, can I have bubbles too?" Buffy asked in her best little girl

voice. "I reeeally like bubbles and maybe a dash of my pretty Willow?"

"Only if you're very, very good," Willow purred teasingly. "Have you

been very good?"

They both laughed, shutting the door behind them with a loud slam. Giles

shook his head and chuckled, knowing the answer to Willow's question

without hearing it. He enjoyed the two young women's banter. It made him

feel as if there was hope left in the world as long as they had each

other.

Remembering his promise to Willow, he returned to his study and began

searching through his collection of ancient books and writings to see if

he could find any mention of the Romanian prophecies, this 'prince of

darkness' or any connection they might have with the Hellmouth.

His mind wandered back to his last conversation with Wesley... and how

strangely the nervous little man had sounded as he adamantly insisted

that Giles say nothing about the prophecy to either of his surrogate

daughters.

He only hoped the little twit wouldn't have apoplexy when he found out

he'd already told Willow.

+++++++++

Willow finally got her beloved wife settled into their large bathtub

with bubbles up to her chin, and after fending off several amorous

advances decided to try to get the house in order.

She began picking up the clothes that had been discarded in the heat of

passion the night before.

[[How in Hades did her panties get up there?]] the red head wondered

chuckling as she pulled a pair of her lover's best underwear off a blade

of the ceiling fan. [[I don't think I did that.]]

She had meant to straighten their bedroom as well, but she should have

known better.

"Oh Willlllloooow," Buffy's voice called lyrically from the bathroom, "I

need my Willlllllooooooow! Come on, baby. I need that magic touch of

yours, you know... like last night?"

Willow turned to fire off a well tied retort about the night before, but

was stopped short.

"You...I...ah...we...whoa!" was all that came from her college educated

mouth.

All she could do was stare, open mouthed at the vision before her eyes.

It was a sight to fuel a thousand fantasies. There was Buffy - her lover

and wife - standing framed in the bathroom doorway, her considerable

charms exposed to Willow's suddenly lust filled eyes. Water dripped from

her body, giving her an aura that took Willow's breath away and drove

all thoughts of cleaning from her mind.

"What wonderful thing have I done for the Goddess to have blessed me

with you?" Her voice was so soft, almost a prayer of thanks. "You are so

beautiful it hurts."

Buffy giggled and blushed from her toes to her scalp, driving her wife's

fiery passions into an uncontrollable inferno.

"Do you see something you like?" the petite blonde asked smiling shyly

"I see everything I like," the inflamed witch growled as she advanced

toward the object of all her desires. "and everything I'll ever need."

Her hands went to the buttons of her blouse as if they had minds of

their own, and began opening the clinging silk garment that soon was on

the floor along with the clothing from the night before - and soon

followed by the rest of her clothes.

"Does this mean I get a dash of Willow in my bath?" the Slayer ask her

voice getting husky as her own heat rose in watching her beautiful wife

disrobe.

"I couldn't possibly deny you anything,." Willow admitted quietly, her

voice

tight with emotion and desire.

"I need you, my Willow," Buffy purred seductively as she backed toward

the oversized tub piled high with bubbles. "Only you can make me feel

this way. Only you have what I need."

Willow slowly entered the bathroom and was being driven nearly insane

with lust.

The power of their love and desire for each other became visible, as

Willow's green aura began glowing and joined Buffy's own bluish-white

aura intertwining and swirling around the two Chosen lovers in a

dazzling display of their souls uniting.

Buffy stepped into the water and held her arms out in an invitation for

her Wills to join her. The young witch didn't think twice before flying

to her lover's arms to be enveloped in the protective embrace of the

very center of her universe. Willow's soft lips found Buffy's and melded

to them, her tongue running over her love's lips, begging entrance. It

was joyfully given: Willow felt more than heard her red haired lover

groan as their tongues swirled around each other in a dance for

dominance.

It was a long wet passionate kiss meant to stoke their desires until the

lust they had was almost a living thing demanding release.

Soon the house was filled with the sounds of splashing water and cries

and screams of needs being fulfilled.

+++++++++++

On the narrow winding road that led through the foothills down to the

picturesque town of Sunnydale, a long black sedan, its once shining

surface now dulled by the dust and film of the thousands of miles it had

covered, pulled into a turn out and stopped.

Its lights went out and the motor stopped, leaving only shadows and dust

filling the night air.

Only the ticking of its cooling engine could be heard; the air silent,

as if waiting for the vehicle's occupants to make the next move.

The right rear door opened without a sound coming from its well oiled

hinges. A tall gaunt figure dressed entirely in black stepped out and

stretched out the kinks from the hours of travel in the confines of the

vehicle.

The figure glided more than walked over to the edge of the cliff and

looked out at the bejewelled vista that spread out from the base of the

cliff toward the sea.

The tall figure brushed away some imaginary lint from his expensive

custom made Italian suit, then straightened out to gaze out into the

darkness looking for his destiny.

Another figure exited the sedan just as silently and walked across the

gravel to stand beside the first. He was a shorter, stockier built man

also dressed in all black but not as stylish as his companion. He, too,

stared out over the scenic view; but for a much different reason.

"Is this the city the demoness spoke of, my Prince?" the shorter man

asked, sounding somewhat confused. "The lights are pretty in a

provincial kind of way, but the city does not look much."

"Ah, Victor, you are such an elitist in your Old World views." the tall

man answered with a slight laugh. "Yes, this is our destination: and I

would advise you not to underestimate the Americans, my friend. There is

much more to this little hamlet than meets the eye."

"What could possibly be here that would be of interest to you, my

Prince?" Victor asked looking up at the taller man. "I thought we had

everything we needed in our homeland, now that the Communists are gone."

"My dear loyal Victor, how little you know." the tall man sighed. "This

small spec on the map holds something I have been searching for...

seeking for over a hundred years. The soul of my beloved has been reborn

again and resides here. This time I will make her mine for an eternity."

"I see." Victor answered respectfully, knowing the man he served had

suffered over the years yearning for his lost love. "We must go my

Prince, The sun will rise soon and I want to have you resting

comfortably before that occurs."

The tall man nodded and turned to follow his travelling companion back

to their vehicle. Just before entering the back seat he turned and took

a last look at the many-jewelled vision that was Sunnydale at night.

"I have found you at last my love," he murmured so softly it was almost

a prayer. "This time I will not loose you. Do you hear me, my beautiful

Elizabeta? You will be at my side again, and this time forever."

He got into the car and his assistant started the powerful engine, put

the car in gear and left in a cloud of dust that hid the receding tail

lights.

++++++++

Buffy woke up and knew instantly that something wasn't right. She

reached for her wife, but instead of a warm soft body she found cool,

long vacant sheets.

Instantly wide awake, her mind shot to life with visions of the events

of a year ago, just before their wedding.

The Slayer reached out with her mind attempting to locate her absent

lover, but found nothing.

[[Damn it!]] she thought in frustration. [[She's closed her mind to me

so I would wake up, cute. I gotta talk to her about that.]]

Buffy thought about calling out to her soulmate, but she knew only her

lover's touch would calm her now. She slid out of bed and slipped on her

robe to go in search of her missing wife.

When she failed to find Willow anywhere else in the house, she

eventually reached to the kitchen and found the kettle on the stove

still hot. That along with the combined scents of chamomile and pachouly

permeating the air gave the Slayer a pretty good idea where to find her

missing red-headed lover.

She went to the sliding glass door that led to their patio and smiled

slightly when she found it open.

[[Geez, she knows me too well,]] she thought, knowing full well that her

Wills had left the door open so she could find her. [[Gods, I love

her!]]

With the silence only the Slayer was capable of Buffy slipped out the

door and padded across the concrete slab to the four foot wall that

surrounded the area where she could see the silhouette of her lover.

Apparently lost in thought and staring out at the summer sky, Willow was

totally oblivious to Buffy's approach.

Not wanting to frighten her beloved wife - startling the Great Sorceress

being almost as dangerous as sneaking up on the Slayer - Buffy slowed

down and waited until her wife had sensed her presence.

Then she walked up behind her quiet lover and wrapped her arms

protectively around Willow's waist.

Willow hummed in pleasure as she felt the waves of loving concern

radiating from her partner. She leaned against the deceptively small yet

powerful body behind her laying her head back to rest on her wife's

shoulder.

"What's up, babe?" the petite blonde whispered into her lover's ear, her

warm washing over the sensitive organ causing Willow to almost purr in

arousal. "Whatcha doin' out here?"

"Oh, it's that damn Romanian prophecy that Giles found." Willow groaned.

wallowing in her lover's protective embrace. "I can't believe he thinks

it's some kind of joke. I mean, yeah, we aren't mentioned by name or

anything, but it says something about a great price, and who always pays

the great price around here?" She didn't wait for the obvious answer.

"*Us* that's who!"

Buffy could sense her wife's growing agitation and tried her best to

calm her. She knew her Wills well enough to know that the sensitive red

haired witch would make herself sick with worry if Buffy didn't distract

her some how.

"Shhh, babe," Buffy whispered softly. "Don't let it worry you now. We'll

get the whole gang over here tomorrow and we won't stop until we have an

answer. Full research mode, 'kay?"

Kissing and nipping her way to the pulse point where Willow's long

beautiful neck joined her soft white shoulders. The Slayer's heightened

senses revelled in the taste of her lover's flawless skin.

"Ummmm...full...research...mode?" Willow groaned her voice thick with

her steadily rising desire.

"Uh huh." Buffy answered as she began sucking, licking, and biting at

the tender flesh covering the pulsing artery just beneath that white

skin, feeling her lover's heart beating faster and faster until she was

sure it would burst.

"Promise?" Willow breathed as the Slayer's hands slid up to cup her full

firm breasts, her calloused thumbs began teasing the redhead's quickly

hardening nipples through the thin material of her silk robe.

"Pinky swear." Buffy whispered into her lover's ear her pink tongue

sweeping around the reddening organ. "Have I told you how hot I get when

you wear this and nothing else?"

"Mmmm...I think I heard something about that somewhere." Willow hissed

as she turned in her wife's embrace to face her and let her burning eyes

rake over the firm athletic body of the woman that owned her heart and

soul. "I see you came to the party in the same outfit."

Her hands began working at the belt that held her wife's robe closed. As

soon as she was successful her long, nimble fingers began roaming freely

over Buffy's muscular body: dancing lightly over the Slayer's soft,

smooth, tanned, skin leaving trails of fire with every touch.

Buffy's senses were reeling as she put a hand behind her wife's neck,

tangling her fingers through her silky soft red hair and gently pulled

the witch's mouth to hers.

As their lips met Buffy slid her free hand down between Willow's

beautifully shaped thighs, searching through soft red curls until she

found her lover's hot, now very wet center. Willow moaned into her

devouring mouth at the feel of it; probing caresses found her throbbing

swollen clitoris and began circling the hyper-sensitive bundle of

nerves, a slim finger searching out the center of her urgent desire.

They opened their minds to each other, sharing the impulses and feeling

that were scorching along their nerves throughout their bodies.

"Oh... my... sweet... Goddess..." Willow sighed as their lips parted and

her head fell back. "I love you, Buffy..."

"I love you too, my Sorceress." Buffy gasped as her lover's hot wet

mouth found and engulfed a hard nipple and began sucking firmly. "If you

have me under a spell for Goddess' sake don't ever release me."

In a surge of passion, she swept her wife up and cradled the redhead in

her arms. Willow wrapped her arms around her neck and began nuzzling and

kissing, knowing exactly what it did to her lover.

"No spells, my Slayer." she whispered with a smile. "All there is

between us is love."

Buffy smiled: without further words, she carried her Sorceress inside

and up to their bedroom.

++++++++

As usual,despite their late night both Buffy and Willow were awake and

by ten a.m. they were knocking on Giles door. It was a surprised

ex-librarian that answered the door and found his two surrogate

daughters. He stepped back and allowed them to enter his home.

"Hey Giles-y," Buffy said lightly "we brought donuts, even the jelly

ones you like."

"To what do I owe this sudden spate of courtesy" the stunned ex-watcher

inquired curious about why the two young women didn't just use their key

and walk in unannounced as usual "mind you I'm not complaining but I

have learned that when you people show me this kind of respect,

something bad is about to happen."

"Oh Giles," Buffy said as they both rolled their eyes while making

themselves at home on his couch. "you are just so full of it."

"Buffy!" Willow scolded "you just don't like it cause he's right. By the

way Giles have you been grocery shopping lately?"

"Yesterday, why?" Giles asked, studying his two young friends

"Weeell...we kind of called Xander and Cordy and told them to meet us

here for a research marathon." the red head confessed, giving her best

shy innocent face. "and I mean you know how Xander can be when it comes

to food."

"Yes I do" the Englishman snorted as he picked up the phone and began

dialing the number of the nearest 24 hour pizza delivery. "How long is

this going to be?"

Buffy looked at her mentor, her face suddenly deadly serious, her

blue-green eyes boring holes into his very soul.

"It will take as long as it takes to find everything there is to know

about this 'Romanian prophecy' and that's it." The Slayer snapped

irritated at her ex-watcher for trying to get her wife to keep secrets

from her. "We've called Xander, Cordy, and Dr. Fallon, who by the way,

even offered to bring some books he had that referred to the Prince of

Darkness, the prophecy, and anything else he could find. Isn't it funny

the way the representatives of the church are being *so* helpful?"

Her sarcasm wasn't missed by Giles and he was feeling a little guilty

because he knew he deserved it and a little hurt because she wouldn't

let him explain why he hadn't wanted her to know about this crazy

prophecy.

"Really Buffy, if you would just listen," the sad eyed man pleaded "I

know I could explain..."

"Enough Giles!" Buffy snarled stopping his apology before he could get

it out "I can't believe you, you sat here not a year ago and lectured

*me* about keeping secrets and not tellin' Wills about things going on.

Remember the night before our wedding and now you try to get my *wife*

to hide things from me, un-frickin'-believable."

"Buffy, please honey, let it go." Willow asked softly and almost

instantly the Slayer calmed down, quit pacing and sat back down next to

her gentle wife.

Willow smiled indulgently at her beloved and highly emotional lover.

Their roles and reactions had been defined from the beginning by their

calling. Willow the shy quiet intelligent girl was now the great

Sorceress, still quiet, gentle, and extremely intelligent, but now she

was confident, out going and self-assured, an anchor to her wife and

friends.

Buffy on the other hand had become a volatile and intensely protective

Slayer, completely comfortable with her greatly enhanced Slayer

abilities. Her shortness of patience and the ever present danger of her

reacting to everyday irritations with a wild flurry of physical attacks

were held in check partially by the disciplines of the oriental martial

arts that Willow insisted she continue.

However, the single most stabilizing influence in the Slayer's life was

her life-partner and soulmate, Willow.

No matter how intense the situation a single soft word or touch from the

red head and the deadly blonde Slayer would stop and calmly wait.

On the other hand one threat or insult, real or imagined, aimed at the

quiet red head and the Slayer's hyper-protective nature took over and

the outcome was always potentially fatal.

All this flashed through Giles mind as he saw the anger literally

flashing in the Slayer's eyes.

He would never forget the night the three of them had discovered that

particular new Slayer power.

A new vampire , called Spike had come to town and began to try to rally

the younger vampires around him, hoping to create a vampire army to face

the Slayer.

Angel had been called in L.A. and he confirmed that the new vampire was

in fact his childe, and while the bleach blonde vampire was known to be

vicious and completely ruthless, he wasn't too bright just mostly lucky.

Spike sent several of his followers after the Slayer and her friends.

For the most part they met with the same fate as most of the Slayer's

other opponents, dust buster chow.

Then a bizarre twist of fate put Willow and their friend Cordelia in

Spike's hands.

Thinking he had the upper hand, he forced the Slayer to meet with him in

the old industrial district,at an old abandoned warehouse, by

threatening Willow's well being.

Unfortunately for Spike, no one had told him the consequences of

incurring the wrath of the Slayer, especially when her Sorceress was

involved, or about the ability of the two warriors of Light to draw

power from each other.

Giles and Xander had, against Buffy's wishes, followed the Slayer to the

meeting place that night.

While they didn't actually witness what happened from their vantage

point, they saw the entire interior of the old warehouse light up in a

burst of bluish-white light that seemed brighter than the noon sun, then

came the horrible agonized screams of dying vampires.

To this day Giles still got a chill down his spine when he remembered

that

sound.

Later when Cordelia had calmed enough to tell what she had seen, Giles

refused to enter it into his watcher's diary for fear someone might see

it and realize the terrifying ramifications of the powers demonstrated

that night.

According to Cordelia, when Buffy had entered the building she was

almost instantly surrounded by Spike's minions all snarling and growling

in full game face.

Buffy stood in the middle of the hostile group of vamps, completely

calm, with her arms crossed over her chest and her foot tapping

impatiently on the concrete floor.

When Spike finally arrived the Slayer totally ignored the other vampires

as if they didn't exist and focused her attention on the arrogant bleach

blonde English vampire.

*******

"Hello Slayer," the vamp taunted "I think you came for these."

Two vamps stepped out of the shadows, each one holding a bound and

gagged hostage. Spike reached out and grabbed Willow by her hair and

roughly pulled the red head to him holding her close to his chest.

"Let them go Spike," the Slayer growled "that was the deal."

"Ah...but Slayer...I think I've changed my mind." Spike quipped and

licked the side of Willow's face "This one's quite the tasty little

piece."

"Shoulda' kept your word Ssspike" the Slayer hissed drawing out the

vamp's name, her hazel eyes narrowed, she'd locked eyes with her wife

the second she'd come into view, "You are a second rate night crawler at

best. It's no wonder even your sire wants nothing to do with you. Now

you're a liar too and I can't stand a liar."

Spike was about to give a smart retort when the bright lights shot from

Willow and Buffy's eyes and met between them in an almost blinding burst

of light, that filled the entire warehouse.

Then according to Cordelia, the vampires began melting, their screams of

fear and agony were nearly enough to drive a person insane.

Spike was frozen in horror as he watched his people melt into puddles on

the concrete floor.

Willow easily stepped out of his grasp and walked calmly to her lover,

who began removing the ropes that bound the witch.

Once she was free, she gave her beloved Slayer a quick hug, then turned

toward

the antagonist that had kidnapped her and her friend and caused her wife

so much worry.

"Look guys, hey, no harm, no foul right?" Spike said in panic when he

saw the two women focusing on him "I mean I was just kidding, really. I

was going to let her go."

"Spike! You laid hands on the one I love, *my* mate!" Buffy growled her

anger just barely under control. "If it was up to me, your short life

would be an eternity of pain, but it was my Wills you took and

assaulted, so I leave you in her more than capable hands."

The Slayer turned her back on the terrified vampire and left him facing

the angry red haired witch whose eyes were glowing eerily. Willow began

chanting, quietly at first but as the glowing in her eyes grew brighter

and spheres of green light appeared in her hands the sing song rhythm of

the chanting became louder and faster.

It wasn't that Willow raised her voice, instead it was as if her voice

was joined by voices from the air. As the ghostly chorus grew in volume

and strength, the more terrified Spike became. Finally, Willow spoke

over the etherial chorus.

"Do you hear them, Spike?" Willow said as if condemning a prisoner to

death "Do you here the voices calling you,do you feel their hands

reaching for you.

Those are the souls of every human you have torn from this plane before

their time. We have rendered your pitiful demon impotent, being the

selfish entity it is, it won't allow you to destroy yourself, and he can

stop you I've made sure of that.

No other Slayer will touch you. You will spend every minute of every day

for eternity hearing those voices.

They will hound you until the powers that be have decided you have paid

fully for your transgressions with your suffering, and they allow you

the mercy of death. Until that time, William Blood,

I bid you good bye."

Having finished with Spike the two women went to help Cordelia to her

feet and removed her bonds. As they led the still frightened young woman

out she looked over at Spike curled up in a fetal position in a corner,

trembling in fear. His eyes were rolling wildly and he was mumbling

incoherently.

Cordelia could feel a chill of fear run up and down her spine as she

became aware of the power her two friends wielded so casually.

"Pay him no mind." Willow reassured her frightened friend "That one will

never bother anyone ever again."

Cordelia shuddered but the truth was at that moment the ex-prom queen

wasn't sure if she was more afraid of the evils of the Hellmouth or

Buffy and Willow and the power they seemed to use with impunity.

**********

In fact it was several weeks before she would be comfortable around them

and several months before she would allow herself to be alone with them

again.

It had only been a couple of weeks that the group had started hanging

around with each other without the "Spike incident" hanging over their

heads and to be honest they were actually looking forward to spending

some time together doing something as normal as research together.

+++++++++

When Wesley arrived from LA that afternoon the other researchers were

already hard at it.

In addition to the regulars, the group was also joined by it's newest

member Dr. Jeffrey Fallon or Brother Jeffrey as the group also knew him.

He had proven his worth as an ally during the fight with the demoness

Countess Hela and had earned the trust of not only the Slayer but also

her Willow who had not trusted him at first because of his ties with the

church.

He had been an invaluable asset both in a fight and when it came to

research, and had been accepted by the others readily, even Giles who

was overjoyed with the doctor's easy and willing access to the church's

extensive occult library.

The doctor had brought over several extremely rare and priceless volumes

that he'd obtained through his contacts in the Vatican.

Dr. Jeffrey, as the Scoobies called him, was proud to be a part of the

group and was pleased when he learned of Giles obsession with ancient

writings and prophetic works. The two of them had spent many hours over

the last year comparing notes and arguing the merits of various

writings.

He had as usual been able to locate several volumes that had references

to "the Prince of Darkness" and had forwarded a request from Giles and

Willow for anything else on the subject that could be found.

Dr. Jeffrey also informed them that he'd received word that a search was

on going and all the results of the search would be forwarded as soon as

humanly possible.

When Wesley showed up he looked around the room and a satisfied smirk

crossed his face when he saw the group hard at their research. He

dropped the materials he'd brought and called Giles into the study.

Although the small man hadn't noticed, Buffy had seen the self satisfied

smirk on the weaselly little man's face.

Ever since his involvement with the Faith incident she had never

completely trusted the "ex"-watcher and the secretive way he handled

himself had done nothing to cause her to change her low opinion of him.

He'd never done anything that was outright detrimental to her or the

group, since that time, but she'd noticed that things always seemed to

go wrong when he was around.

Something about the way he had more or less ordered Giles into the

library caused her to twitch, and it irked her to see the way the little

weasel treated him like he was less than Wesley was.

Using some techniques Willow had taught her, Buffy focused her attention

on extending her hearing so that she could eavesdrop on the

surreptitious meeting in Giles study.

To everyone else in the room, with the possible exception of her wife,

Buffy appeared to be concentrating on one of the texts in front of her,

but all her inner powers were concentrated on her hearing enabling her

to listen to them.

She could hear every word uttered in that room as if she was sitting in

there with them, and the words she was listening to were making for a

very angry Slayer.

"I'm telling you Giles, you can't tell them, they simply won't believe

you." Wesley was saying "Deep down you know it's time to call the

council and ask for help."

Giles snorted derisively at the man's suggestion. He knew that there was

no way he would ever trust the council again, and even if he did he was

equally sure that neither Buffy nor Willow would allow the council

access to them again.

"I told you Wesley, I didn't like holding out information from Willow

and Buffy when you called earlier, and I like it even less now." Giles

retorted, his contempt and frustration for the little man fairly dripped

from each word. "As far as the council goes, well they can go straight

to Hell. They are nothing but a bunch of lying, murdering, pompous

windbags.

All I ever got from the council since coming to California is deceit and

betrayal, I've sworn to never trust them again and I see no reason to

change my mind now."

There was a pause and Buffy could hear some one pacing.

"Don't you see it Giles?" Wesley spouted off again "If this truly is who

we think it is, then we need them. The council is better equipped to

face his return than you and that group of children out there."

Buffy could hear Giles laughing loudly but without humor at the

arrogance and stupidity of the skinny, little ex-watcher.

"You are either blind or stupid Wesley." Giles declared impatiently.

"The glorious council can't even take care of itself. Don't you remember

those inept fools they sent here for Faith?

My god man, use your brain, the Watcher's Council is an outdated,

impotent, old boys club that should have disbanded years ago. To be

honest, if you're right and the Kaziglu Bey, is this "Prince of

Darkness" in the prophecy I hope he shows good taste and does away with

the council before he comes here."

"B...but you can't be serious." Wesley sputtered, shocked by the older

man's attitude

"My good man," Giles snarled making Buffy smile with pride as her friend

and mentor put the other man in his place, "I am deadly serious. Now if

will excuse me, I'm going out there and help my Slayer and her wife look

for the answers they need. Come along if you are a friend and wish to

help, if not than either stay out of the way or better yet leave."

Giles rose from behind his desk and went into the living room, followed

by a humbled Wesley Wyndom-Pryce. Buffy looked up at them, and Giles

couldn't help but notice the triumphant smirk on her face.

He wondered what she was so happy about, but let it drop for now to be

discussed later. The librarian went on to his favorite chair and sat

down with a weary sigh.

He was already tired of having to argue with either Buffy, Willow, or

Wesley every time he made a decision. Giles leaned his head back and

closed his eyes trying to relax as Jeffrey and Willow filled him in on

what they'd found so far.

"We have found references to a "Prince of Darkness" all the way back to

the ancient Egyptians. Even further if I have translated some of the

older texts properly." The doctor said quietly, he was still nervous

about being this close to the Slayer and even more afraid of the

Sorceress, remembering her attitude when they first met. "There are even

mentions of him being a noble of Atlantis that escaped the sudden

violent destruction of that civilization.

In fact the name pops up at least once in nearly every great

civilization, and always as a prince or close adviser to a great leader.

In Egypt he was the adopted brother of Ramses the first and was credited

with the expansionist wars of that time.

He disappeared for a few years after Ramses death, only to return to

assist Ramses the second nearly a hundred years later to help make Egypt

the most powerful civilization of it's time."

"Yeah, this is some strange stuff." Willow joined in "For nearly every

great conqueror there was, there is the mention of an adviser or general

who's always called "the Prince of Darkness" but always by different

real names."

All through the briefing Buffy just sat there quietly seeming to rest,

but she was in reality keeping her eyes on the two ex-watchers.

Both of them were well aware of the Slayer's gaze and Wesley was

squirming from it's intensity. Giles because he knew that Buffy still

hadn't forgiven him for keeping secrets from her, and Wesley because

he'd seen what the Slayer and her Sorceress could do and had a deep

seated fear of strong women.

When Willow and Dr. Jeffrey had finished their summery of their research

and finds, Buffy decided it was time to drop her "little" bomb.

"Hey Wesley, Giles," The Slayer spoke a little louder than normal,

getting everyone's attention, "I was wondering, I have heard this other

nickname for our dear elusive guest, and I couldn't help but ask. Do

either one of you know who the Kaziglu Bey is?"

Wesley nearly exploded.

             ++++++++++

At the mention of Kaziglu Bey, both men froze and an apprehensive

silence fell over the room. Simultaneously they turned and looked at the

Slayer, Giles expression was the definition of amused curiosity,

obviously wondering how his Slayer had learned that name.

Wesley was another story, at the mention of Kaziglu Bey, he was the

poster-boy for panic. His eyes went wide and darted from side to side as

if looking for an escape, looking like at any minute he'd be in a fight

for his life.

"Where did you get that name?" Wesley blurted out, panic and desperation

evident in the edge in his too high an octave voice, and his hands were

curled into fists "That name is known only to a few in the Watcher's

Council and it comes from a text that is only in the council library."

Buffy tensed as she read the weaselly little man's body language telling

her instincts to prepare to fight.

"What does  that have to do with it." Buffy demanded, her contempt for

the man

dripping from her words. "Why does that name scare you so much Wesley?"

"W-w-what do you mean?" Wesley sputtered incredulously "That name means

nothing to me."

Unfortunately the conversation had the attention of the Slayer's mate,

and her mate was a powerful witch. Any one could have told the

"ex"watcher you never ever lie when the Great Sorceress can hear you.

"WESLEY!" the witch roared, the venom in Willow's voice surprised even

Buffy "I would suggest you leave, not just here but Sunnydale all

together. I would also suggest you arrange to leave the U.S. as well,

and I would suggest you do it as soon as possible"

The surprised man looked at Willow wide eyed, his mouth open with shock

at the young woman's words.

"W-w-why s-s-should I l-l-leave." he stuttered in defiance "W-who are

y-you to t-t-tell me to l-leave?"

"Why, Wesley?" Willow explained how bad the man's mistakes were, "I'll

tell you why. You are at the very best a spy and betrayer, who has tried

to harm both my wife and myself.

Not to mention the lies and damages you have caused those around us and

the poor people that made the mistake of expecting your kind to have

either ethics or morals, not to mention a least a modicum of human

decency.

I suggest you leave now, while I can persuade my wife to let you live,

but if you refuse I can not make any promises."

The great Sorceress rose from her chair (and there was no doubt this

was, the Great Sorceress, not Willow), and approached the now trembling

man. With each step she softly chanted in an ancient forgotten language

that even Giles didn't understand.

She pulled the athame she always carried on her belt and slowly drew it

across her palm as her chanting continued.

When Willow was face to face with Wesley, she drew back her now freely

bleeding hand, and with a final word, slapped the watcher across the

side of his face surprising everyone in the room.

Blood splattered all over the side of Wesley's face and shirt. He stood

there trembling wondering what came next, he didn't have long to wait.

"Willow! Why did you do that?" Giles asked almost afraid to hear the

answer.

Instead of answering right away the Sorceress turned and held up her

wounded hand revealing the deep cut on her palm to everyone. As they

watched the wound disappeared as if it never existed as did the blood on

Wesley's face.

Before any of the others could speak, Willow addressed them.

"Wesley, I would warn you that you really don't want to be here after

the next 24 hours." The red head announced softly her voice taking on an

etherial quality only a few had heard before. "You have been revealed as

a blood enemy to my clan. That would include my wife, her line, and our

mystic family as well.

That includes Angel and Rupert Giles. As a blood enemy if you are in

sight of any of my clan after 24 hours you will face the consequences of

your betrayal.

Your life will be an eternity of agony and insanity until you pass from

this realm to the next."

Everybody in the room gasped at the Sorceress' curse except Buffy, she

walked up behind her lover and protector and wrapped her arms around her

red haired soulmate's waist. Looking over Willow's shoulder at Wesley,

the Slayer gave the frightened little man a predatory smirk, causing him

to let out a small whimper of abject terror.

Wesley knew that every minute he spent here put him in further danger,

but he knew if he left he would be of no further use to the people that

hired him.

"You tried to turn the man I call my father against me, you bastard!"

the Slayer snarled her entire body trembling with rage, "You are a lucky

man, Wesley Wyndom-Pryce, if my wife hadn't been here to stop me I would

have broken every bone in your body, one at a time."

Wesley fell back into a chair looking around wild eyed for an ally, his

mind reeling at the sudden way his smugly superior life had fallen apart

before his very eyes.

"You can't do this to me!" he yelled his voice cracking with panic and

his mind loosing it's grip on reality "I am a Watcher, the Slayer must

obey a Watcher, it's tradition! You must end this...this unnatural

relationship with that...that...that WITCH! You must return with me to

the Council to be retrained properly. You and your concubine can NOT put

curses on me!"

"Oh my Wesley, you just made a terrible mistake." Buffy laughed like a

child "I don't think my wife likes it when a weak, spineless, whiny,

bigoted, idiot like you calls her an unnatural concubine."

As the Slayer stepped back, an anything but friendly smile on her face,

a green glowing sphere formed around the little man. Willow began

chanting once again and the sphere's light intensified making it opaque.

The man inside began screaming in fear, with a sudden burst of blinding

bright light the sphere disappeared taking the offensive little watcher

with it, leaving only the fading echoes of his terrified screams behind

and those faded quickly.

++++++++++++

As the final echoes of Wesley's screams died out Willow turned and faced

her friends. She looked around and saw every emotion, from awe to abject

fear written clearly on their faces, and knew she needed to give them an

explanation for her actions and her methods.

The young witch knew from Cordelia's reactions after Spike, that both

she and her mate were looked on with a certain amount of fear by their

friends.

A lot of this fear was generated by the shear power the two young women

now wielded since their acceptance of their destinies as The Chosen

Ones.

Both Buffy and Willow had acknowledged that they needed to inform their

friends and allies of their new found powers, and the extent and

limitations of their uses.

They knew they owed their friends whatever reassurances were necessary

to allay their fears.

In short now that the traitor in their midst had been exposed, and dealt

with it was time to come clean, and let everyone know that despite their

seemingly limitless powers, the two were still Buffy and Willow and

subject to the same short-comings and in need of the same help as they

always were.

They just had the means now to deal with the groups problems a little

better than before.

They were also desperate to let their fellow Scoobies know that they

were free to ask either of them or both for what ever help they needed.

As usual, before either could say anything their friend Xander opened

the subject, with his usual style and grace.

"Whoa...a light show, and getting rid of Wes-man at the same time,"

their oldest friend exclaimed "Can you do that trick with my boss, oh

say six or seven times, then I can be an assistant manager at the donut

shop."

They all laughed at Xander's reference to his part time job. The pay for

rookie cops wasn't that good. Well it was okay, if you didn't want to

have a place to live, to eat, or have a life, that includes a

girlfriend, soon to be wife.

With the mood lightened considerably, Xander asked the question that was

nagging him ever since Cordilia had told him about the melting vampires.

"What did you do with him?" the young man asked quietly, hoping in his

heart his friends had a favorable explanation, "You

didn't...like...uh...you know...well...kill him or nothing did ya'

Will?"

With the question out in the open the tension in the room rose sharply,

each member of the group felt their hidden fears about what the two

young women had become, and if the great powers they had were in anyway

turning them into the very things that the group had joined together to

fight.

Even Dr. Jeffrey could sense the sudden chill in the atmosphere as all

four of the assembled inner-circle watched, and waited anxiously for the

Slayer and her mate's answer to Xander's question.

Buffy and Willow looked at each other for a moment then burst out

laughing as they received each other's thoughts. They hugged each other

tightly then returned to the couch.

Like the young people they were, the two flopped down on the comfortable

piece of furniture.

Willow sat back against the corner formed by the arm and the back of

Giles couch and brought one leg up to lay across the seat, then she

pulled her beloved back to sit between her legs.

Buffy leaned back to rest against her lover and smiled as Willow rested

her chin on Buffy's shoulder. They were getting comfortable, knowing

that once they began answering, they wouldn't stop until their friends

were at least no longer afraid of them. It was going to be a long night.

"No Xander, he isn't dead." Willow said giving her wife a sideways

glance and a mischievous smirk, "but I'm not really sure where he is."

"Really Willow," Giles spoke up a little upset at the frivolous manner

in which they were acting "I know he is a worthless little git but if

you don't know where he is the how do you know he's not either dead or

dying?"

"Weeelll...ya' see...it's kind of a wording thing." Willow admitted

timidly "Ya' see the language I used was kind of ambiguous and...so I uh

I well kind of maynothavesenthimexactlywhereIintended."

They all sat there staring at each other waiting for someone that spoke

fluent Willow babble to translate. Xander's eyes suddenly nearly bulged

from their sockets when he realized the meaning of the red head's

statement.

"Willlll...what did you do?" Xander asked drawing out his friends name

like he had when they were children, causing his life long friend blush

deep red while hiding her head behind her wife's shoulder and giggling.

"Come on little Will...tell the grown ups what you did with the

irritating little jerk."

Willow peeked out from behind Buffy looking like a little girl playing

peek-a-boo.

"Well for one thing, where ever he is, Wesley is totally naked," The

powerful witch said giggling like a mischievous little child, and

looking extremely cute in the process at least to her wife, "the spell

destroys the recipients clothing.

It's kind of a mystic's practical joke, it's not meant to hurt and in

fact it won't work if there is any danger to the recipient, so I know

he's safe.

The only problem is the name of places, and things, don't always

translate properly."

"Soooo, Will," Xander teasing her like always, now that he realized that

while she was the Great Sorceress, she was still, and would always be

his life long friend, "where did you send the twerp really?"

"It's kind of complicated, but Wesley's either in England at

Stonehenge," Willow explained shyly "or he's in Nebraska, at Carhenge."

The room exploded with laughter at the young woman's confession, and the

true comedy of the situation was revealed.

"You what?!!!" Giles blurted out yelling to be heard over the loud

laughter, "How could you possibly do that? I mean mistake England for

Nebraska, or...or the glorious splender and wonder of Stonehenge for

that glorified junkyard in the middle of no where?!!"

"It's not my fault Giles really," Willow shouted innocently holding her

hands up in surrender "I had to try to think, and cast in visuals, and

when I thought of Stonehenge my mind went back to a show on the

Discovery chanel, and wham he was gone.

I don't know if he went to the original place I meant, or to the picture

that was in my mind at the time. It's all cable's fault they shouldn't

show things like that as educational. Yeah I'm gonna write them a really

nasty note tonight."

"Yeah right Will," Xander threw in sarcastically "I can see the head of

programming now as he reads:

 Sir.

    I wish to lodge a complaint, I am a practicing witch known,

as the Great Sorceress, and because of your program on that ridiculous

place called Carhenge, I may have teleported a man to the wrong place. I

must protest. Oh, and can't you do something about that crocodile

person, I worry about him.

Oh that'll get action..."

The young man's speech was halted by his renewed uncontrolled laughter.

"Eeeeww.." Cordilia let out suddenly drawing everyone's attention, "I

just thought of Wesley naked, eeeeww. Really bad visual place believe

me."

"Yikes! You got a point Cordy," Buffy snorted in disgust "can you

imagine Wesley, and the look on his weaselly face where ever he is,

naked, and screaming like a girl.

He'll be lucky if they don't lock him up some where, let alone believe

any story he tries to tell them.

I can just hear it. 'Really officer a witch put a curse on me and sent

me here like this.' Yeah, they'll buy that."

With Buffy's vivid image of what was happening to the man that had lied

to them, manipulated them, and betrayed them, being humiliated and

arrested, locked away for psychiatric examination, the whole group burst

out laughing.

They had a good laugh at the traitor's expense. The total ridiculousness

of the situation even got a sincere chuckle from the normally serious,

Dr. Jeffrey.

It was almost beyond his imagination that anyone could take the trials,

and tribulations that these people went through and still have any sense

of humor left. Yet here they were laughing at a cosmic, bad practical

joke as if nothing had happened.

He knew he would probably never understand the small, eclectic band of

battle scarred warriors, but he was sure glad he was given a chance to

join them, and was now given the privilege of calling all of them his

friends.

Watching them now as the laughter died down to a low chuckle, he could

only shake his head in wonder at this group thrown together by the

fates. The one time monk sent up a prayer to his God to ask for his

divine protection for the Slayer and her friends.

Once everything was back to normal, Buffy turned to look at Giles and

decided it was time to ask once again her question.

"So Giles-y," Buffy began her tone falsely bright "Now that we've

handled all the pressing old business, and everyone has been brought up

to speed. Don't you think it's time to get back to the business at

hand?" Buffy looked over at the man she considered far more than just a

watcher and mentor, after all they'd been through and after all the

times he had held her, trying to sooth her over whatever problems she

had from the loss of some high school crush up to and including the

murder of a friend.

No, when her parents had divorced and her father had more or less

abandoned her, then when people she trusted had turned on her because

she loved Willow it was Giles that had held both of them trying to ease

their pain.

No, that was not a friend or a teacher or even a mentor. That by any

definition of the word was her "Dad".

Not her father, anyone that could create sperm could be a father, but he

was her "dad", the man that was there for her and loved her

unconditionally, even loving his child enough to discipline her when she

deserved and needed it.

The stoic Englishman was much more than a friend and she decided it was

about time to show him and everyone else in the room just how she felt.

A smile crept across her lips as the perfect answer came to her, the

perfect way to let everyone know in no uncertain terms exactly what the

relationship was between Buffy Summers and Rupert

Giles.

"Now *dad* it's time to fess up." Buffy said loud enough for everyone

there could hear "You need to fill us in on who or what this Kaziglu Bey

is and what he has to do with the elusive "Prince of Darkness".

Giles sat there stunned for a few minutes looking at his Slayer trying

to be sure he really heard her call him "Dad", when she turned that

beatific smile to him and he saw the hopeful gleam in her eyes Giles

realized that she not only meant to refer to him as dad but how much it

mean to her that he accept her gesture in the same manor and depth of

emotion that she had.

This was like an answer to a prayer for Giles and when he returned

Buffy's smile of quiet complete acceptance, he was so happy he felt his

heart about to burst out of his chest, but on he surface neither of them

acknowledged any more than superficial changes in their conversation.

"Yes Buffy I think you have the right idea." he said more in answer to

her mention of his status than to the actual question, "If you will all

pay close attention, this is a long and convoluted tail and it is one I

really don't wish to repeat often."

"Okay, dad." Willow answered letting both Giles and her wife know that

she hadn't missed their exchange.

Xander just smiled at all of them.

[[Yes!]] he told himself [[it's about time we all realized we're just

one big, almost, happy family]]

++++++++++++++

The older man held up a hand to stop the Slayer, and looked deep into

her intense, determined hazel eyes. He saw her dedication to her destiny

and her need to once again be able to trust the man she had just called

"dad".

Giles also caught a glimpse of a tired old soul residing in a young

woman whose life had seen far too much for one so young.

[[ I'm so sorry,]] Giles thought, hoping his remorse would show through.

[[ I just for once wish she and Willow would be free of this accursed

town and could, at least for a short time, make believe nothing existed,

but them. The Gods know they deserve it.]]

Giles shook his head clear of those more pleasant thoughts and returned

to the reality of life of the Slayer on the Hellmouth.

"I know Buffy," Giles began letting his shoulders slump in defeat, once

again this place had forced him to break another personal vow. "I know

you heard us, the growth of your powers is amazing and more than a

little frightening."

"That's true Giles, but sometimes having these abilities comes in handy,

not only did they allow me to get the truth about Wesley, but I also

knew that you had stood up to that twerp, and was coming out here

determined to tell us the truth." Buffy said almost whispering "Wills

and I knew we could trust you, but we wanted to trap that bastard before

he could hurt any of us anymore."

Buffy stopped for a moment to take a deep breath and relax into her

wife's arms then sat back up ready to begin telling her story. She felt

it was important that the other Scoobs knew and understood why she and

Wills had done that to Wesley at all, and know she had waited until she

had proof.

"It took us a while but we finally figured out that Wesley was a

traitor, he was responsible for the Faith incident." Buffy hissed

between tightly clenched teeth "It was really Wesley that turned Faith

against us, not the Mayor.

We really had to be sneaky to learn what the little jerk, and his

buddies on the council were up to.

They had planed on Faith taking me out, and possibly Giles, then once

she was alone and vulnerable, Wesley was to take out Faith, so they

could put a new Slayer on the Hellmouth that they could control."

"How did you find all that out?" Cordelia asked wondering how the man

had managed to fool her. "And, how long have you known?"

"Research!" Willow spoke up brightly, relieved that the question of a

betrayer in their midst was finally answered and dealt with, "well that

and a little state of the art technology, enhanced with a little magic.

We figured out about the council last fall, but Wesley's part in it

didn't turn up until this Romanian prophecy showed up. Wesley was so

adamant that it wasn't important, telling us all to just forget about

it, that it aroused our suspicion, and when he became so insistent that

nothing was going to happen well...once we had read it and figured out

what was said in it, we knew that Wesley was up to something. It wasn't

until we came up against the power of the curse and felt it's connection

to our dear friend, well then we knew something was up and judging by

the way everyone was acting we thought we'd keep quiet until we were

sure."

"Yeah," Buffy added "We had to be extra sure that Wesley was the

council's spy before we did anything. Everybody knows how little I think

of the little sleaze. I'm sorry we had to keep you guys in the dark, but

well you see, Wills and I know how to block anyone from our thoughts,

but you don't, if Wesley had been smart enough to have brought in a

telepath, he would have known what we were up to and then he could cover

his tracks."

"That's amazing," Giles said his eyes reflecting his pride. "Both of you

showed maturity and intelligence in your pursuit of this matter, and

followed it through by the book. No one can question your methods or

your conclusions. The way you handled the entire investigation makes me

proud of you, and honored to call you my friends and students."

"Oh Goddess Giles," Willow scolded the ex-watcher "your gonna make me

cry again."

"Oh geeeeez, Will not the water works again." Xander quipped "you keep

this up and there's gonna be a flood."

"Back off Xander, or I show everybody those special baby pictures I

found when we moved." Cordilia threatened her fiancee. "It's Willow's

prerogative to cry whenever she feels like it!"

"Hey!" the young man exclaimed "That's not fair those are private

pictures and not everyone is allowed to see them."

They all laughed at Xander's ego problem, some harder than others, until

Buffy spoke up.

"Alright guys" Buffy announced "All this family bonding is great but

it's not helping us get our research done. Besides I believe our dear

old "dad" was going to fill us in on the information he has."

"It's fine Buffy," Giles sighed resigned to telling his young charges a

story even they would have a hard time believing. "All I ask is that you

hear me out before passing final judgment can you do that for me?"

"Well sure Giles," Willow agreed for the group "Why would we scoff at

any thing after all these years on a Hellmouth?"

"Just wait okay?" their mentor emphasized

"Fine," Buffy agreed impatiently "Come on will ya'? It's got to be good

if the all knowing council wants it hidden."

"To begin with, one of the reasons the council was hiding it is that it

includes one of the greatest failures in council history." Giles began

"But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The first thing you have to understand is that I'm not speaking of your

everyday run of the mill vampires, this is not a corpse being animated

by a demon without a soul."

"You have got to be kidding me." Xander spoke up sarcasm dripping from

his words "Another dead boy with a soul. That's just what we need."

Buffy turned to Xander and glared daggers at her friend at the mention

of her one time lover.

"Hey sorry," He said seeing her anger "you already know how I feel and

the possibility of another Angelus I don't think any of us want that do

we Slayer. I mean according to what I heard this one is even actively

seeking his happiness."

It was the dark haired boy's turn to glare at the petite blonde.

Chocolate brown eyes locked with angry Hazel in a battle of wills. Each

feeling the guilt they carried over what they felt were their personal

failures that occurred when Angelus had terrorized the Hellmouth.

The two continued to stare at each other neither one willing to concede

to the other. The tension in the room was becoming so thick you could

cut it with a knife.

"If you don't mind," Giles said interrupting the stare down, "I really

would like to get back to my tale of the 'Prince of Darkness' and what I

have recently learned about him. Believe me when I tell you that you

will never believe what I have found out about the man the council

refers to as the 'Kaziglu Bey'."

With his timely interruption, Giles had managed to break the

confrontational mood pervading the friends attitude. Once he was sure he

had everyone's attention he returned to the lecture.

"You were correct about his involvement in Egyptian and European

history, he has been connected with Julius Ceaser, Alexander the Great

the Emperor Caligula and many of the more infamous despots. Always as an

important part of not only of their bloody and violent rise to power but

in the cultivation of their darker sides. He was known to be at the side

of whomever he was with through all manor of debauchery and excesses

only to disappear just before their downfall and/or death.

Then he mysteriously disappeared for several hundred years only to

reappear as the adopted son of a Wallachian prince called Vlad Dracul or

Vlad the Dragon when he came to power around the 1430's."

"Wait a minute, I know that name," Xander spoke out surprised at his own

excitement "Are you trying to tell us the guy that's coming here to find

his true love is Dracula! You can't be serious."

"No...you can't mean that." Willow echoed grabbing Buffy's hand and

staring dumfounded at the revelation "Everybody knows that Dracula isn't

real, he's a-a myth, isn't he?"

Buffy patted her wife's hand and looked at her mentor in the hope that

he wold have the answer that would reassure them all.

"I'm sorry Willow," Giles answered wishing he had never had to tell any

of them what he'd learned "Both Vlad Dracul and his successor Vlad

Dracula or Tepes as some called him were very real and far worse than

any creature created in literature or movies."

"My dear God," Jeffrey said just above a whisper, "if this is truly him

in all these histories he's the oldest recorded vampire ever."

"Not exactly Jeffrey," Giles explained patiently "He is not the regular

vampire.

He is Wampyre the undying, long before our recorded history, this being

sought out the Darkness and through rituals and intensely dangerous

majiks he was made immortal.

Like a vampire he needs a certain amount of blood to survive but unlike

his more primitive cousins, not just any blood will do. His sustenance

must be human blood. He isn't a corpse animated by a demon and he

doesn't become disfigured when he feeds. From all accounts he is tall

with a very aristocratic appearance, and like the Darkness he

represents, he is very seductive."

"Okay so he's not a nice guy." Xander said trying to lighten the mood

"What makes him any worse than any of the others."

"What you don't seem to be getting my young friend," Giles answered

becoming exasperated by the groups failure to grasp the importance of

what he was telling them. "For one thing he is not a vampire, he is far

older and wiser than any of them, his abilities don't come from some

minor demon, his power comes from the very source of the Darkness

itself.

For another thing when he took over power from Vlad Dracul and assumed

the throne for a short but bloody reign he proved himself to be one of

the greatest military minds ever, and he has only gotten better."

"So what stopped him?" Buffy asked simply "We find out what stopped him

before and we use it now. So...what was it? Do you know?"

"Yes I know." Giles said quietly "the same thing has stopped him twice

but I pray we won't have to use it again."

"So" Cordelia asked impatiently. "What's so horrible that you'd rather

not use it now?"

"Love and grief." Giles said so softly they almost didn't hear him.

"What aren't you telling us Giles?" Willow asked fearing his answer "I

know you don't want to finish the story but you're going to have to."

"I know Willow, please just give me a minute." Giles answered his voice

raspy from emotion. "When Vlad Dracula came to power the Wallachia was a

part of the Hungarian Empire that was ruled by the Hunyadi royal family.

While Vlad was on a state visit he met and by some bizarre twist of fate

fell in love with a distant and mentally unstable cousin of the Hunyadi

family named Elisabeta.

He asked for her hand and seeing a way to get rid of a potential family

scandal and to help bind the tempestuous Vivode to the throne the couple

was given permission to wed. Shortly after the young couple were called

home because of border problems with the Turks."

Giles stopped and took a long drink of his tea. He got up and fixed

himself a tall glass of scotch to fortify his frayed nerves. This

particular part of the story always got to him.

"When Vlad returned to Wallachia the newly wed didn't go to war as was

expected, instead he tried to negotiate a peaceful settlement," Giles

continued as he went back to his chair and sat down heavily "It was said

that his new wife had requested he try, He apparently doted on her every

whim, and for the first time that anyone can find, he was truly in love.

His catering to her was almost as legendary as his punishments for law

breakers.

As your history will tell you the Turks were not known for being a

peaceful people and eventually war broke out. Even though Vlad didn't

wish to leave his fragile wife his duty insisted that he did and so

promising to return he rode off to face overwhelming odds.

The ensuing battle was historic for it's ferocity and the tactics of

Vlad. Finally against all odds Vlad won the battle and was returning

home.

Unfortunately some Turkish infiltrators murdered Elisabeta to revenge

the defeat of their army and the subsequent execution of all prisoners.

So when the triumphant Vivode returned home he found his beloved wife

dead. He went berserk and before his grief and rage had subsided he had

destroyed his home and soaked the earth of Wallachia with the blood of

anyone he found.

Then he disappeared. No one could locate him.

By this time the Watcher's council had been formed and the legendary

Vlad The Impaler was high on their list to either find and destroy or

prove a myth. Every bit of power they had was put into the search for

the "Prince of Darkness" or "Kaziglu Bey" which was the name the Turks

gave him. Nothing was heard of the entity and eventually he was

considered a myth."

Giles took another long drink and looked around at his audience to make

sure he still had their attention. He didn't want to have to repeat this

story ever again.

"Nothing was heard save a few rumors of someone matching his description

visiting some of the temples in Tibet and the far East but never

anything conclusive." Giles finally began again "No serious sightings

until the summer of 1888. Then Vlad Tepes returned to the annals of the

Watcher's council with a vengeance."

++++++++++

Judging by the look in everyone's eyes Giles was sure he had everybody's

undivided attention.

[[I certainly hope they pay attention]] the ex-watcher thought as he

took another long sip of the expensive glass of scotch. [[This is one

story I really don't wish to repeat]]

"In the late spring of 1886 a new slayer was called." Giles began "Her

name was Mina Murray, and before you, Buffy, she was one of the most

successful Slayers of all time.

Like you, she too had a "close friend" by the name of Lucy Westenra, and

the

journals hint at her having strong supernatural powers, that she used to

assist her Slayer in the same manner as you, Willow. Together with

Mina's watcher, a Jonathan Harker, they did a remarkable job of holding

back the forces of darkness.

That is, they did until the last part of August in 1888. That was when

rumors of an ancient and powerful vampire had come to London and was

creating quite a stir in the Whitechaple area. "

Giles stopped to take another drink, then turned back to begin again

when he was interrupted by Cordelia.

"Are you trying to tell us that this Dracula guy was 'Jack the Ripper'?"

She inquired.

Everyone turned and looked at the former May queen surprised that she

even knew who 'Jack the Ripper' was. "Because if you are then I have to

tell you he wasn't."

"How do you know that Cordy?" Xander asked trying unsuccessfully to hide

his pride that his girlfriend not only contributed, but knew something

none of them did. "Where did you learn about the "Ripper"

"Well, I know you guys think I'm "Miss Perfect"," Cordilia stated flatly

"but when I was in Junior High, I went through this dark phase. All I

wore was black, and I was constantly reading about death, and murders

and stuff like that, and the 'Ripper' case always intrigued me."

"So "C" what makes you think you know who he was," Buffy asked

incredulously "I've heard hundreds of real detectives have studied that

case, and none of them know for sure who the Ripper really was."

Cordelia looked at Giles who looked back at her, and nodded. He already

knew the true identity of Jack the Ripper. He let her have the spot

light on this one. Giles firmly believed the ex-cheerleader earned the

right to her moment in the sun.

"I know because he told me." she answered smugly.

"What?" Xander cried out in surprise, and worry, knowing that the woman

he loved was anywhere near some psychopath like that. "When did you meet

'Jack the Ripper', and better yet why didn't you tell me?"

"Well, by the time I could have told you it was over," Cordilia defended

"geez Xander, Macho much!"

"Sorry honey." Xander sighed knowing he was acting like some big dumb,

macho Neanderthalic jock "It's just that I worry sometimes, and when I

find out you never told me something like you spent time with Jack the

Ripper, it's kind of hard not to get upset, ya' know?"

"I know my big, strong, protector." the beautiful young woman purred

into her lover's ear, causing him to blush outrageously "I'll give my

big, tough, bodyguard a closer look at what he's guarding, later."

Xander blushed even more than anyone thought possible, and his

girlfriend giggled at his obvious embarrassment. Buffy and Willow smiled

knowingly at the two young lover's, both happy that their friends had

found each other.

"Ah...Cordy...Ahem!" Buffy finally got the ex-prom queen's attention,

and tried to refocus it on the matter at hand. "Are you going to nail

Xander there on the couch, or are you going to tell us who the Ripper

was? One or the other, cause if it's Xander, I gotta tell ya', I am *so*

outta here."

"Eeeewww! Buffy! Bad visual place!" Willow wailed reprimanding her mate.

"You gotta stop doin' that."

"Sorry Wills" Buffy apologised with a quick kiss. "Won't happen again.'

"Now," the Slayer said turning back to her friends "Out with it "C", who

was the famous 'Jack the Ripper' so Giles can finish his story. K?"

"Okay, sorry about that." Cordilia began, "When Spike took Willow and I

hostage, and Willow was still unconscious, he decided to try to scare me

more than I already was, like I could get more scared. So he began

describing all the different methods he had used to kill others in his

long life.

While he did that, some of the descriptions sounded familiar, and while

he talked, my mind sorted through all the information I'd picked up in

Junior High, and then it hit me, that he was describing the Whitechaple

murders.

So I asked him and he was real proud that I remembered his work.

Then he told me that it was only partly true, that he was only

responsible for three of the murders and that something far more

powerful had killed the very first one, the one that no one is sure of,

and the last one.

He said the last one was part of an ancient ritual that he wanted no

part of, and that the kind of magics involved would destroy a mere

vampire.

So you see, if for no other reason than he killed most of the women,

Spike was Jack the Ripper."

With this revelation everyone sat in silence, until Buffy realized that

the scratching sound was Dr. Jeffrey writing in a leather bound book,

that looked like a Watcher's journal. She narrowed her Hazel eyes, and

watched the monk turned warrior of the Light, and their supposed ally,

by order of the Church, as he wrote feverishly.

Willow noticed her wife's distraction, and hostile posture then she

followed her gaze till she saw what was upsetting her lover,and smiled.

"Buffy," Willow whispered "kind of reminds you of Giles when he first

started doesn't it?"

"Yeah it does." the Slayer growled suspicions clearly written on her

face "Are you sure he's not some council spy?"

"Yes Buffy, I'm sure." the young red head told her partner. "I asked him

to keep a record of what happens and what we learn for the church, and

for those that come after us. Like the Watcher's library, only the whole

story, and a truthful record, instead of forcing what we believe on

someone else. Is that alright, I know I didn't ask you but I figured you

wouldn't mind considering all the nasty lies we know the council is

going to write about us. Was I wrong?"

Buffy saw a tear fall from her beloved's fabulous green eyes, and felt

the familiar tightening in her chest. She reached out and pull her witch

to her and gave the red head a fierce hug hoping it would help her

forget Buffy's mortality.

"Of course you did the right thing," the now teary eyed blonde said "and

as usual for all the right reasons."

After that everyone remained silent, thinking about what they'd already

learned, until Dr. Jeffrey finished writing. Then the group turned to

Giles as a signal for him to continue his story.

"Ah...yes now where was I?" Giles sorting out his thoughts.

"Mina Murray, Lucy Westenra and Jonathan Harker." Willow prompted him.

"Yes that's right the betrayed ones." Giles mumbled, before anyone could

speak he held up his hand to stop their questions, "That is how I've

always seen them, it's one of the reasons I've never completely trusted

the council, as the story goes on you'll understand everything."

Giles sat up now that he was once again the focal point of the room. He

took a quick sip of his drink and sighed as the potent amber liquid sent

it's warmth throughout his system.

"Alright, now let's see, I think we can skip through the "normal"

occurrences just suffice it to say that since the main Hellmouth at that

time was in London the council was able to keep a closer eye on Mina's

behavior." Giles countenance darkened as his story progressed. "After a

while the council began to question the Slayer's loyalty, along with

that of her watcher.

It is my belief that Mina, and her friends began to notice the

inconsistencies in the council's methods, and were becoming

disillusioned much as you were Buffy. It was then that the Whitechapel

murders began.

It is my belief now that the council had something to do with calling

Dracula to London, and that Martha Tabram was a street person they

sacrificed in order to contact that being. I won't go into the entire

sordid tale, but after several clashes between Mina and Dracula, Harker

was severely injured and confined to the hospital, Mina Murray had all

but abandoned the council, and Lucy Westenra was dead.

This last being enough to destroy any fighting spirit the poor girl had

left, especially considering Ms. Westenra was killed by a crossbow

bolt,which leads me to believe that it was the council that murdered the

misfortunate young woman.

In the end the council called in an old fanatically religious, Watcher

who was also a Rabbi named Abram Vanhelsing. From here everyone believed

that the conflict went to the continent where Dracula was defeated and

everyone lived happily ever after.

Nothing could be further from the truth, some persistent researcher kept

digging until he unearthed the original version of Jonathan Harker's

journal.

According to it, the final battle took place in London, and when it was

revealed that Mina Murray was the reincarnated soul of Dracula's one

time love Elisabeta Hunyadi, Vanhelsing, with the council's full

knowledge, and consent killed Mina Murray, in front of Dracula's very

eyes."

Giles stopped his story there for a moment while everyone else sat

stunned to silence, he was able to take a long drink of scotch, savoring

the calming effect it had on his over stressed nerves.

Then the watcher sat back and waited for the storm of outrage and

confused questions to commence.

He didn't have to wait long, and as he guessed it was Willow that spoke

first.

++++++++++++++++

"Giles you mean to tell me that a Watcher murdered a Slayer in cold

blood," Willow asked her voice strained "Just to get at some enemy and

for no other reason?"

"Oh Willow, you haven't been listening." Giles answered his hate for the

Watcher's council clear in his voice "Mina Murray's murder had nothing

to do with Dracula, neither did the death of Lucy Westenra, or the

paralyzing of Jonathan Harker.

It was done in the name of control. Dracula was just a convenient excuse

so that a Slayer with initiative and an independent spirit could be

removed from the Hellmouth and one the Council could control could be

put in her place.

Van Helsing now holds a place of honor in the Council's records and

those two brave young girls are barely a footnote in the archives. In

the end, Dracula not only got away but he got a small measure of

revenge, he used a very ancient ritual to close the Hellmouth and the

council was forced to go in search of the new active Hellmouth."

"Wait a minute you mean to tell me this guy can close a Hellmouth?"

Buffy asked suddenly excited "Why can't we do that, I mean if we can

close this last active Hellmouth then we could rest and be like everyone

else, couldn't we?"

Giles felt sorry for the girl. She thought she had found a ray of hope,

and he had to crush it. He always hated this part of his calling.

"No Buffy, we can't do that." Giles told his Slayer "Do you think for a

minute I would not close the damnable thing if I had a way to do it, a

humane way?"

"What do you mean humane?" Willow asked now curious

Giles got into a file marked Ripper, Jack T. and pulled out two sheets

of paper.

One was a description of the last crime scene of the final Whitechaple

murder, the second was a series of photographs of the scene and the

victim before she was moved.

As Willow read she became very pale and when she looked at the pictures

the sensitive young woman dropped the papers and ran to the bathroom,

where everyone heard her loose the contents of her stomach.

Buffy picked up the papers and looked them over to see why her partner

was so affected by them. Even the Slayer paled as she looked at the

papers.

"My god Giles, this is just sick." the petite blonde who had killed

vampires and demons without a second thought said. "What the hell is

this?"

Giles held up his hand stalling the outraged Slayer until they were

joined once again by a very pale Willow.

"That is the official report and crime scene photographs of the final so

called, Ripper murder, a Ms. Mary Jane Kelly." he said trying to keep

the revulsion from his voice. "Those are the files the council has, not

the cleaned up version the police have. That, Willow, is why I can't use

the same spell Dracula used to close the Hellmouth. No matter how bad it

gets I could never do that to a person.

Oh did I mention that the sacrifice is kept alive and conscious through

the entire ordeal."

"Dear sweet Goddess," Willow whispered her voice quavering in shock "how

can anything do that to any being just to perform a ritual."

"Hey don't forget babe we're dealing with something way more evil then

we're used to." Buffy said sitting down next to her wife "I guess that

kind of thing is what makes it evil."

"Precisely" Giles answered for Willow "no human with a spark of decency

in them and in their right mind, could do something like that to another

human. Only someone so completely immersed in the Darkness that their

humanity ceases to exist would ever consider doing something like this."

"So what do we do to stop this thing," Willow asked "and which one of us

is the reincarnation of Elisabeta Hunyadi?"

All eyes were once again focused on Giles as he tried to find a way to

tell them his news or rather lack of it.

"Well you see that's where this gets difficult." the ex-watcher began

"Going through the old records it would seem that Mina Murray and

Dracula's Elisabeta were mirror images of each other and using that as

our criteria then to be honest neither. Neither of you even come close

to the descriptions of either one of them. Of course it would be easier

if we had a picture of either of them to work with, but as far as I can

tell there are no images of either left in existence"

"So what do you know?"Willow asked her analytical mind working overtime

on the puzzle. "If we have any way to dig up any accounts of Dracula's

time in London, then maybe we can figure out what's going on here."

Giles watched as the focus of the room shifted from him to the young

witch, it caused a fatherly grin of pride to spread across his face. His

feelings for the two young women were well known to everyone in the

group and a few on the outside as well. Joyce had even gone so far as to

put Giles down as well as herself as emergency contact on all Buffy and

Willow's paper work.

Xander and Cordelia had slowly just become part of the family as time

went by, Xander's parents had emotionally abandoned him early in his

childhood and he had kind of drifted along without a caring guiding

influence.

Then Buffy and Giles came along and soon after Xander and Willow had

joined them in the fight, after their first year as a team the

father/daughter relationship between Giles and Buffy had begun to show.

It wasn't long after that when Xander started going to Giles with

personal problems that were completely unrelated to Slaying.

After that without much fuss or notice Giles was fulfilling the paternal

part of the young man's life. When Xander's alcoholic parents finally

went too far and beat the boy so badly he ended up in the hospital,

Giles quietly took over and using his connections became Xander's legal

guardian moving the boy into his home until he found his own place.

Although Giles put up his stoic Englishman front all the Scoobies knew

they always had someone they could rely on when the chips were down.

Cordelia had become family at first by her dating Xander in High school,

then after the two had broken up the ex-watcher had made it perfectly

clear that she was considered part of the group if she wished.

It was left like that even after she moved to L.A., Giles had kept tabs

on her making sure she was alright and after she moved back they had

accepted her with open arms. Now she was living with Xander and they

were talking marriage.

He surveyed his eclectic little "family" and felt a warm feeling in his

heart for them.

He was also glad that Joyce had taken up the reigns as the "mother" of

this brood. He and the mother of his Slayer had been dating quite

sometime now and unknown to the "kids" the couple were also considering

matrimony.

Dr. Jeffrey said something to Willow and the laughter drew Giles

attention to the newest family member. Jeffrey Fallon was older than the

others by a few years, but when it came to any kind of life outside of

books the man was a complete babe in the woods.

So while he was older in years and education than the other kids, they

were light years ahead of him in experience with real life both normal

and supernatural. However when it came to research or some obscure

demonic ailment there was no one better.

Giles was going through these thoughts when he suddenly realised someone

was calling his name.

"Giles, Giles," Buffy called growing impatient with the man's

inattention to what was being discussed "Giles---HEY DAD!!!"

Giles jumped in his chair startled from his thoughts when Buffy called

him by his new name. An embarrassed grin formed on his face when he

realized how out of it he was.

"Ah yes quite," he said looking guilty "sorry I was...ah...thinking

about the logistics of our situation."

"Ah, yeah...okay." Buffy answered her disbelief clearly showing "Anyway,

it's pretty clear that we're working in the dark with this."

"So it would seem that what is necessary here is some serious research."

Giles said belaboring the obvious. "and as I'm sure the person best

suited to assigning that task is Willow. Are there any questions or

comments."

"Y-yes I have one." Dr Jeffrey said timidly still uncertain of his

position in the group "I think it is very important that none of us, not

even the Slayer should go anywhere alone, day or night. If I am not

mistaken according to the Stolker novel, that Willow assures me, is a

dramatization of real events, Dracula can go out in the daylight, it's

just that his powers are drastically curtailed until sunset, at which

time he is at full strength."

"That's right and a very good point Jeffrey" Willow agreed especially

pleased that someone besides her brought up the point. She just knew she

was going to like this new guy, even if he did smell of Rome "This guy

is a real wild card in the deck, and since we know so little about him

it makes sense to take a few extra precautions. Please honey, just until

we know what we're dealing with."

"Okay, Wills, if that will make you happy," Buffy acquiesced gracefully

knowing this was a fight she couldn't win, "I'll even ease up on the

patrols. How's that?"

"Thank you," the relieved red head sighed and wrapped her arms around

her blonde lover's neck pulling her into a deep kiss successfully

embarrassing their friends

"I'm just afraid this guy might have something up his sleeve that we

don't know about and I don't want to loose you from lack of research,

K?"

"Alright I already agreed," Buffy commented with a smile "so save all

this persuasion for later when..."

The mischievous blonde leaned over and whispered into her other half's

quickly reddening ear causing Willow's green eyes to grow wide and her

skin to become scarlet from the neck up.

"BUFFY!" Willow squealed suddenly "How could you...there's no way I'm

letting you...ah...well there's no way. Besides even you can't bend like

that."

Buffy laughed then grabbed the last slice of pizza and stood up. Then

she leaned down and whispered something else into her wife's ear. When

she finished whispering she quickly kissed the now bright red witch and

looked her in the eyes and waggled her eye brows.

"Oh my Goddess what you do to me." Willow sighed and began fanning

herself with a folder from the coffee table.

"Well you can tell me later, after" Buffy laughed "but for now I need

something else to drink, any one else, speak now or get it yourself."

The small blonde powerhouse spun on her heel and headed toward her

watcher's kitchen her mind on a YooHoo she'd seen earlier.

<>If that Xander got my last YooHoo again I swear<> Buffy threatened

mentally<>[I'll tear his tongue out and then...<>

Buffy didn't get to finish the thought as a familiar voice roared in her

head.

<>BEWARE SLAYER<> the voice warned <>THE SORCERESS IS TO BE ATTACKED<>

Buffy turned, her errand to the kitchen a thing of the past and moved as

quickly as she could to her Willow's side vaulting over a stunned Giles

to get there.

"Really Buffy," her watcher began to scold her for her antics "if you

wish to practice your acrobatics I wish you would..."

He was cut off when Willow suddenly stood and swayed on her feet as if

she was going to fall, which she would have if Buffy hadn't been there.

"Giles something isn't right." Willow hissed as Buffy slowly lowered the

seemingly entranced witch to sit on the couch with Buffy knealing next

to her.

Her bright green eyes seemed to be staring off some where in the

distance, and her voice took on a far away quality as she spoke again.

"I can feel it...it's him...he's searching for a weakness...he's wanting

to find something." she said her body flinched as if she was being

struck. "I can't tell..if...it's....here....and........he's....wait

something isn't right I can't keep this up. No wait Giles we need

to...Aaaaarrrghhhhhh!!!"

Willow grabbed her head and screamed in agony as a horrible pain lanced

through her skull threatening to blow it apart.

Buffy pulled her wife to her chest and began rocking her gently and

stroking her soft red hair as her lover cried out in pain.

"Wills, baby what's wrong?" Buffy asked the anguish clear in her voice,

she looked up at Giles trust shining in her hazel eyes as tears of fear

and desperation flowed from them. "Giles help her."

Giles wasn't sure what to do or if he could do anything but his love for

the two young women wouldn't allow him to just stand there. He did the

same thing helpless fathers have done since the dawn of time when their

children were afraid and in pain, he leapt to their side and wrapped his

arms around both of them and held them close sheltering them as best he

could.

Jeffrey was right behind him and he immediately began examining Willow

while her lover held on to her and Giles held onto them both.

After a few moments Jeffrey went to his bag and returned carrying a

large rose colored quartz carved into the shape of a she wolf curled up

around her pups guarding them.

Willow's cries had calmed to a low constant keening wail as the two most

important people in her life held her, surrounding her with

unconditional and protective love. Their presence seemed to ease the

unendurable agony exploding in her head.

She felt more than heard Jeffrey kneeling in front of her as he gently

but firmly pulled her hands away from her head placing them on a cool

comforting sculpture.

The sculpture's peace and cool tranquillity seemed to flow into her body

letting her relax.

"Hold this Sorceress." Jeffrey said, in his soft yet firm doctor's voice

as Willow called it. "Clear your mind and follow where the crystal leads

you. It will take you to a quiet tranquil place where the pain can't

reach you."

As he spoke Willow's cries eased until they were gone entirely. The

quartz in her hands glowed brightly with a soft rose tinted aura that

reached and engulfed both young women.

Giles felt his two "daughters" relax and released his hold on them. He

straightened up and went over next to Jeffrey who was writing the

experience down in the journal he was keeping for Willow.

Everyone's attention was on the couple wrapped around each other on the

couch surrounded by a glowing rose colored aura.

"Any idea on what attacked her?" Giles asked the doctor "As many wards

that she and I have placed around our houses I don't understand how

anything could have gotten past them."

"I have no idea what was after her." Jeffrey said, shaking his head and

holding up a strange looking implement that was glowing steadily. "Your

wards were attacked alright and I believe that is why the Sorceress

still lives, but they still stand and with a few things I've learned

over the years I think I can reinforce them so this won't reoccur."

"Thank you Jeffrey." Giles uttered gratefully "I don't know what I'd do

if anything happen to my girls."

"That's what I'm here for my friend" the young former monk told the

distraught man placing a sympathetic hand on his shoulder "I'm just glad

I could help."

Everyone was still focused on the couple on the couch when a soft

feminine voice came from behind them startling all four of the

observers.

"You've done well doctor." the voice said. "But they require more

assistance than you are capable of giving them in order to face this

challenge, my friends. This means you must do without them for a time."

They all turned to see a regal looking blonde woman, wearing a beautiful

forest green gown and matching cloak with silver trim. Her blonde hair

was loosely braided and allowed to hang to her waist with a small tight

braid at her left temple.

She smiled brightly at the four other people in the room and a feeling

of warm, powerful, yet comforting, energy warmed the room, radiating

from the woman whose light blue eyes glowed softly reminding them of a

summer sky. She was a vision of peace and serenity.

"Welcome Lady Brigit," Jeffrey said reverently as he bowed respectfully

to the woman, "We are honored by your presence."

"Yeah well we're not here for you little man." a huskey yet intensly

feminine voice, with a haunting Irish lilt, said from the shimmering

space behind Brigit. "We're here to care for our little sisters and I'll

not be tolerating any interference."

The owner of the second voice stepped out from behind Brigit and her

presence grabbed everyone's attention.

She was nearly six feet of graceful preditor, with wild fiery red hair,

beautifully chiselled features and cold green eyes that seemed to pierce

anyone she looked at to the soul revealing their darkest secrets.

She was dressed all in black leather with two long wicked looking knives

hanging on either side of her heavy leather belt.

This was the Morrigan in all her fierce deadly glory and when she saw

the Slayer and her Sorceress and the distress they were in, Morrigan

went into full protective mode. Both Giles and Jeffrey were driven back

with a single glare from her angrily flashing green eyes.

"What my other means," Brigit said quietly as she stepped up next to

Morrigan and placed a calming hand on the bristling red headed warrior's

shoulder. "is that if we don't prepare the Slayer and her Sorceress, a

great evil might be loosed on the world."

Calmed by her other's touch, Morrigan focused her attention on Buffy and

Willow. She took one of Buffy's hands and gently stroked Willow's hair

trying to sooth the still sobbing youngster and her obviously worried

and frightened partner.

"Ye'll be comin' wit us little ones." Morrigan whispered softly, her

concern caused her accent to be more pronounced "It'll be lovely sparin'

wit ya' again Slayer darlin'."

"Can you help her Morrigan?" Buffy asked sounding like a small trusting

child, tears falling in streams down her face "S-she's hurting so bad

a-and I c-couldn't m-make it go away, s-she w-w-wouldn't l-let me in."

Morrigan looked up into the light blue eyes of her other half asking

silently. Brigit gave the red head a knowing smile and knelt down to

take both younger women in her arms.

"Hush now little ones," the serene and comforting blonde said "it is

time to come with us. There is much to learn and very little time."

Buffy stood up still cradling her beloved wife in her arms. She looked

deep into the flashing green eyes of her friend and legendary teacher

and saw the spark of hope in them.

"We are going with our sisters Giles." Buffy informed her watcher her

eyes never leaving Morrigan's, "we will return when it is time."

"What of you wizard?" Morrigan asked loudly her eyes never leaving

Buffy's "will you be going to support our sisters. Or are ya' leavin'

them to fight alone as your kind always does?"

Before anybody could speak the resonant voice of Lugh filled the room.

"Speak not my brother." the voice instructed "Your time is not now.

Morrigan, bring your little sisters *they* require your strength now."

With Willow still cradled in Buffy's powerful arms and Morrigan and

Brigit's arms around Buffy's shoulders the four women walked toward the

hallway. The air around them seemed to ripple and with a swarm of

twinkling lights that looked like a thousand fireflies the quartet

disappeared leaving behind four friends that had absolutely no idea what

was going on...all but one that is.

+++++++++++++

END BOOK ONE

Fiction