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Part One

Two women sat at a table outside a busy restaurant.  They were almost the same height and one was slightly older than the other.  The woman on the far left had long sandy blonde hair that was tied into a ponytail at the base of her neck.  She wore a dark brown shirt with small flowers embroidered all over it.  Over her shoulders, she wore a light brown jacket that covered her from the shoulders down to her legs.  The woman smiled as she watched the woman across from her begin drinking a rather large chocolate milkshake.

The other woman, the younger one had long dark hair that hung freely about her head and shoulders.  She wore a dark blue shirt with a blue sweater jacket over her shoulders.  She wore a pair of jeans over her legs.  The older woman wore a pair of pants, rather than jeans.  The dark haired woman took a long gulp of her shake as she noticed her associate shaking her head.  "What?" the dark haired woman asked, lips turning upwards in a smile.

The blonde haired woman lifted a hand to indicate the shake.  "Once again....that's a god awful lot of shake." Tara MaClay shook her head, amazed at the dark haired woman's tenacity for the shake.

Dawn Summers laughed, missing the time she used to spend with the blonde immensely.  "Hey!  I love Chocolate.  So sue me."

Tara leaned back in her chair and listened as Dawn began a ramble about the different things she and her friend Janice had been doing lately.  It was nice, Tara reflected wryly, just hanging out with the younger Summers sister.  Ever since the shooting at the Summers House, Tara missed just spending time with Dawn.  She had once told her lover that she loved Dawn like the sister she never had.  And that was very true, even after everything that's happened.

As she continued to hear Dawn's voice go on about her and her friend Janice, Tara couldn't help but reflect how nice life had been going for her and her girlfriend, Willow Rosenberg.  It had been less than three weeks since she was taken captive by the vampire known as Deacon and the mysterious sorceress Sonya Baxter.  So much had happened since then.  Tara and Willow were closer than the blonde could remember them ever being.  They'd even started doing something they hadn't done in so long.  At night, they'd go up to the roof of the Summers House and look at the stars.  Look and argue about them.  It was a facet of their relationship that both women were missing very much and they were finally beginning to get back to that.

There were still bandages over Tara's wrists, the result of the Sacrifice machine taking her blood to ignite the powers of the Blood God for Deacon.  The lacerations were, for the most part, healed.  She would have two scars over the skin of her wrists and when Giles first told her that, she had frowned.  Some small part of her had hoped she would get away without any scars, but no such luck.  She sighed and took a sip of her soda.

Tara looked over at Dawn as the youngster continued her rambling about different things.  Tara knew she should listen to everything the girl said, but Tara was just too overjoyed at being back to do so.  Not only was she glad to be returning to her familiar life with Willow, but she was glad to be back in life to enjoy many things.  Spending time with Dawn was one of the bigger ones.  She knew how distraught Dawn had been when she'd found her body in that room.  Tara could feel the despair, the pure emotion from where she was in limbo.  It had broke her soul in two when she felt the emotion coming off Dawn in waves.  It was just now starting to get better for Dawn.

"Tara?" Dawn's voice broke the blonde's thoughts.

Tara shook her head.  "Yeah Dawnie?"

Dawn tilted her head.  "Where did you just go?  I've been saying your name for like minutes."

Tara smiled.  "Sorry.  I was just thinking about things."

"What things?" Dawn asked.

Tara shrugged.  "You know...things.  Being back, how things are with you."

"Willow." Dawn said plaintively with a smile.

"Well, yeah...duh." Tara chuckled at Dawn.

Dawn smiled at the blonde Wiccan.  Dawn was overjoyed at having her back.  When she'd found Tara's body at the Summers House, it had literally torn Dawn into a million pieces.  Tara had always been there when she needed someone to talk to, to hang out with, whatever she needed, Tara always took time out of her life to be there.  Even when Tara was extremely busy, she put her things aside and spent time with Dawn.  No one else had done that much.  Not Xander, not Buffy, not Giles, no one.  In some ways, Dawn preferred Tara as her sister than Buffy but Dawn knew that wasn't fair to Buffy.  The Slayer had to slay, it was part of her destiny.  But still, finding Tara's body had been like losing her mother all over again.

When they told Dawn that Tara had been brought back, a large part of Dawn couldn't believe it, wouldn't believe it.  She'd been there in that room with Tara's lifeless body for hours, crying over the loss and just huddling there, her gaze fixed on Tara's body, not moving.  It hadn't seemed real to Dawn that Tara was dead until she sat in the living room and watched the Coroner take Tara's body out in the black body bag.  Then, hearing that Tara was somehow alive, it just didn't seem possible to Dawn.  Then, the younger Summers had seen Tara alive and well and that had been an emotional moment in her life.  She had Tara back and she wasn't ready to let go.  Not ever again.

"So....you ready to go see that movie Dawnie?" Tara asked as she began to fish in her bag for her cash.

Dawn nodded, not wanting to dwell on the horrible thoughts any longer.  She stood up and gathered her things while Tara paid the cashier for their lunch.  When Tara began heading back her way, Dawn noticed something that normally, she would have missed.  Halfway back to her, Tara's eyes fluttered closed for an instant and Dawn say Tara wince before Tara finished walking back over.  But her concern was already in her face and Dawn grasped Tara's elbow.  "Are you alright, Tara?" she asked.

Tara put her arm around the younger girl's shoulders and gave her a squeeze.  "Of course I am, Dawnie." Tara said, hoping to convince her of that fact.  Tara had thought she'd been very careful about hiding the sudden winces, or the muscle movements.  The pains were hitting her more frequently now and Tara was beginning to realize she couldn't hide it from everyone much longer.  Just until I see Dr. Shaw today. she thought to herself.  "Dawnie, why don't wait by the sidewalk for me, I've got to use the restroom." Tara said.

Dawn still looked concerned and now, hesitant, but she nodded as she grabbed her satchel and headed to the sidewalk, where she and Tara would head over to the movie theater.  Tara waited until Dawn had rounded the corner of the restaurant before she moved her hand out and grabbed the back of a chair as the pains hit her chest again.  She had trouble catching her breath for a moment before she began taking deep breaths to steady her heartrate.  Her eyes were closed, so she didn't see the waiter approach.

"Are you alright, miss?" the waiter asked politely.

Tara jumped, startled at the sudden appearance.  She nodded after a moment.  "Yes.  I'm fine." Tara replied as she headed to the rest room.  Entering it, she walked over to the sink and splashed some cold water over her face, looking at the face reflected back at her through the mirror.  After a moment, she opened her bag she carried and brought out two small bottles of pills.  Popping the caps off the bottles, she took out two pills from each bottle and tossed them into her mouth.  She took a few sips of water to wash the pills down.  She shook her head as she put the bottles back into her bag.  "You can't keep this up much longer, Tara." she told her reflection.  The bottles of pills she had been forced to buy to keep the chest pains from being so painful were expensive and the last batch of pills she had to buy took up most of her money.  Plus, she was having trouble keeping Willow from finding out.  The redhead had almost found one of the prescription receipts recently and Tara had to make up something to cover for it.  Tara didn't like to lie, especially to Willow, but she wasn't ready to tell her loved ones what was wrong with her.  Not yet anyways.

Tara splashed one last dose of water over her face and she left the bath room and rejoined Dawn, who was waiting for her at the sidewalk outside the restaurant.  Together, the two headed towards the movie theater.

---**---

Buffy sighed heavily.  "Would you please relax, Willow!"

Willow Rosenberg stopped and glared at her friend.  The two were outside of Timothy's Jewelers, one of the more expensive and more popular jewelry shops in Sunnydale.  Willow had practically begged her best friend to come with her today and now that they were there, Willow's nerves were taking control of her.  She was jumpy and jittery and she was beginning to get too nervous to go inside.  "I'm trying to relax, Buffy.  It's just...this is like....what I've been wanting to do for a while and I'm...I'm scared, okay!" Willow looked flustered.

Buffy smiled at her friend.  The Slayer was dressed in a sleeveless white shirt with a panther design on the front.  She wore a pair of red pants over her legs and she left her shirt untucked.  She had her short hair combed back, but not held by into a ponytail.  She crossed her arms over her chest and smirked at her friend.  "Willow, you came to me two weeks ago about this.  You were sure of yourself then, what's changed?" she asked, knowing why Willow was flustered.

Willow looked at the floor.  "Buffy, there's a lot of things that could go wrong.  I mean, I could mess up and get a bad looking ring...or I could get one that's not the right size...the coloring could be off...Buffy, there's just so many things that could go wrong!" the redhead began backing away.  She was wearing her Skinny Skulls long sleeved shirt and a pair of blue jeans.  Buffy reached out and grabbed her arm.

"Oh no you don't!" Buffy said, holding her still.  "Willow, when you asked me to come with you today, you gave me this big speech.  Are you standing here and telling me that speech didn't mean anything?"

Willow's eyes flashed.  "Of course not!  It's just that I don't know if she'll like the ring.  Or if she'll even say yes."

Buffy sighed.  She loved Willow, but the redhead could be so frustrating sometimes.  "Willow, believe me when I tell you this.  Tara loves you.  She wants to spend her life with you.  She waited for you to come after her in that limbo realm.  So, don't doubt this.  Now c'mon, let's go take a good look at this place."

Buffy and Willow entered Timothy's and each began looking around the spacey jewelry store.  Buffy's eyes roamed over the earrings and the different necklaces while Willow merely looked at all the different rings that were on display.  The clerk behind the counter approached the redhead.  "May we help you, miss?" she asked in an Irish accent.  Willow smiled at the woman as she glanced at the rings.

"Yes, I'm looking for a ring." Willow said, her gaze locked on the rings.

The woman behind the counter had dark brown hair, which was long and wavy, and she wore a red business suit.  Her hazel eyes gleamed at a proposed sale.  "Any ring in particular you looking for, ma'am?" the woman asked.

Buffy walked over to where Willow was standing.  She eyed the woman behind the counter.  Willow reached into her pants pocket and produced a small folded piece of paper.  Unfolding it, she handed it to the woman.  "Do you think you can have a ring like that done?" she asked as the woman glanced at the small picture depicted on the paper.

The woman studied the picture.  The picture had two dolphins on top of the ring, their bodies wrapped around the gem that Willow would pick out.  After a few moments, the woman looked back at Willow.  "Our jeweler can do this, but it'll take a couple days for him to finish it." the woman said.  "Do you want to have it made?"

Willow nodded.  "Yes, I would."

The woman motioned Willow and Buffy over to a small desk to the side of the store.  Willow sat down across from the woman.  The woman had a small clipboard with an order form.  "Alright ma'am, I'll need your name." she began.

"Willow Rosenberg." the redhead said.  Buffy was standing behind her.

The woman wrote the name down.  "And the person you're buying this ring for?"

Willow smiled.  "Tara MaClay."

The woman wrote the name down.  She looked up.  "And, what is the relationship?" she scribbled something down.

"Tara's my girlfriend." Willow said with pride, very glad she still could say that, even after everything.  Buffy squeezed the redhead's shoulder.

The woman started to write that down, then stopped halfway through as the meaning of the words hit her.  She looked up at Willow.  "Excuse me?" she said, backing her chair up.

Buffy's hackles rose and she was prepared to step in, but Willow stopped her.  "You heard what I said, ma'am.  Tara MaClay is my girlfriend.  If you can't handle that, then get someone who can."

Buffy smiled at Willow's words and watched the woman across from her.  Her face had an expression of disgust on her face and she was about to rise and walk away when a voice from the counter stopped her.  "Clarice." the male voice said.

Clarice, the clerk, looked at the counter and swallowed.  A man of medium height stood there.  He wore a crisp black business suit.  The man walked over to Clarice and spoke in a clear and crisp voice.  "Clarice, go mend the counter." he ordered.

Clarice glared at Willow as she left to follow her boss's orders.  The man sat down where Clarice had been.  "I'm sorry about her behavior, Miss....Rosenberg." he looked at the paper.

Willow smiled at him.  "It's alright.  I'm used to encountering people who....who don't agree with parts of my life." Willow was grateful for Buffy's hand on her shoulder.

The man smiled back.  "I understand.  Clarice has had complaints made about her views many times.  Anyways, let's continue with your order." the man smiled as he began asking her more questions about her order.

---**---

A woman wearing a pair of tight black pants and a low neck white shirt walked down an empty alley.  She had dark auburn colored hair that went just past her shoulders.  She had a confident walk as she walked down the alley.  Halfway down the alley, she stopped and glanced down both ways of the alley to ensure she wasn't being watched or followed.  Then, she faced the wall of one of the buildings and placed her palm flat against the brick wall.  "Delnata." she said in a clear voice.  A magical gateway opened up in front of her and the woman entered the gateway. It closed directly behind her.

At the other end of the gateway, the woman found herself in a dark place with the only light being that filled by numerous torches.  There were stone pillars around the entire area and a small table sat at the center of the place.  The woman looked around before walking to the center of the room.  She sat down at the chair that was next to the table and merely waited.  As was her instructions, she sat and waited for him to come.

Her wait was only for a few moments as a being shimmered in behind her.  She'd felt his presence before, so she wasn't surprised at all when he walked over and in front of him.  She looked at him, wanting to know why he summoned her here.  The being in front of her wore dark robes all over his body.  The only things not covered were his hands and his face.

He had gray rough looking skin on his hands and over his face.  He had dark eyes, as well as dark hair that covered most of his head.  A long deep scar ran across his face and he merely looked at the woman sitting down before he lashed out with his right leg and kicked the chair the woman was sitting in upwards, knocking her on her back and the chair down.

"Hey!" the woman yelped.

"Please shut up." the figure in the robes said.  "Just because I've given you entrance to my home doesn't mean you get to be comfortable."

The woman got to her feet and began dusting herself off, not wanting to have dirt on her clothes.  She glared at the being in front of her.  "You're the one who searched me out, weirdo.  I didn't go looking for you.  Now, you wanted to meet.  What do you want?" she continued glaring.

The robed figure walked around the darkened chamber.  "My recent plans haven't worked out the way I'd hoped.  The blasted prophecy's still out there and it could still come true.  I need power and lots of it if I'm to be ready when the final days come."

"So," the woman shrugged, not caring one way or the other, "what's it to me?"

The robed figure walked up to her and, without warning, he struck her across the face with his fist, sending her flying backwards.  She crashed onto the floor with a loud bang.  "First of all, little missy, you need to learn some manners.  You're in my home, so behave."

Sitting up, the woman touched her now bleeding lip.  She snarled as she rose.  "Beklidor tioma!" she chanted, sending a powerful rush of energy straight at the being.

He merely raised his hand and the powerful energy dissolved instantly.  "Witch, what did I tell you about manners!  Besides, dark magic doesn't work on me." he paused.  "You want to know what I want, fine.  I felt a great presence of power surge through realities recently.  I've tracked it to this wretched little town called Sunnydale.  That's why I tracked you down.  You know the ins and outs of this place.  You're going to help me."

She watched him.  "Help you what?"

"This presence...it's a powerful Witch of some kind.  Only, she's stronger than any witch I've ever sensed.  She has......massive power and I doubt even she knows about it yet.  You help me find her and lure her into a trap and I'll.....give you whatever you want." the being promised her.

The woman wiped a drop of blood from her lips.  Then, a cruel smile crossed her lips.  "Alright, you've got a deal.  Do you have a name for this powerful witchy gal you're searching for?" she asked.

"No.  I've only got a face and I've never seen her before." he said.

"Well....show me. I might have seen her around before." the woman said.

The demon looking being raised his hand and an image floated into the air.  In the image was the face of the woman that the being wanted.  The woman smiled, recognizing the face and instantly knowing she'd soon be able to get a measure of revenge against an old friend.  Well, the woman thought, not really a friend.

"I know her.  And I know where you can find her too." the woman said.

"Good." the being said.  "Now, what is it you're going to want in return?"

The woman, who during high school performed a spell that turned her into a rat, smirked at him.  "I want enough dark magic power to destroy the Slayer and all her friends and family." Amy said with a cruel and sinister laugh.

"You want to destroy the Slayer.  Well, that is going to make things interesting." the demon looking being said.  He chuckled to himself.  Things were going his way and, if things continued going the way they were, he'd have his power soon enough and the Witch would be nothing more than a vegetable.

---**---

Tara sat on one of the orange plastic chairs in the waiting room.  She and Dawn had gone to the theater and watched a comedy before they headed back to the house.  She had told Dawn that she had something to take care and she had quickly headed off here, to her doctor's medical clinic.  During her last visit with Dr. Shaw, she'd been warned by the doctor that she would have to consider letting her friends know about what was happening to her.  And so far, Tara hadn't done that.  She didn't want her friends, or Willow, to worry about her.

The receptionist walked out behind the glass.  "Tara?  Dr. Shaw will see you now."

Tara rose and followed the attractive brunette towards Dr. Shaw's office.  She entered and took a seat across from the desk.  After a few nervous moments, Helen Shaw entered the office and sat behind her desk.  She had Tara's fully detailed file in her hand and she flipped it open as she began looking through it.  Helen Shaw was a little taller than Tara and she had short sun gold hair that she held in a clip at the base of her neck.  She was a caucasion, but she had some Indian in her.  She had deep green eyes and she wore a light yellow blouse tucked into a pair of black pants.  Her white doctor's coat was on over her clothes, however.

She looked up at her patient.  "How are you feeling Tara?"

Tara shrugged.  "About as good as all the other days, I guess."

Dr. Shaw nodded.  "Tara, has the medicine I prescribed helped you at all?"

Tara took a deep breath.  "The pills don't have much effect, just makes me sleepy.  The needle medicine helps lessen the pain."

Dr. Shaw made a note on her pad.  "And have you told the people you love about this yet?"

Tara's lips twitched.  That was all the answer the doctor needed.

Dr. Shaw sighed.  "Tara, you can't keep this a secret any longer.  I ran a series of blood tests on the last blood sample we took from you.  Tara, you're not receiving enough blood to your heart.  That's why you're having so much trouble breathing normally.  And the last x-rays we did have confirmed my concerns.  Tara, these mysterious chest pains that keep hitting you are coming more frequently now.  One of these times, it's going to hit you while you're with your partner...or while you're in public."

Tara nodded, she knew the doctor was right.  "I know, Dr. Shaw.  But, I just don't know how to tell them about this.  I mean, I still don't even know where these pains are coming from."

Dr. Shaw looked at her.  She knew how scared Tara was since she first started getting the chest pains.  And the worst part of it was that Dr. Shaw couldn't figure out what was causing the chest pains either.  Dr. Shaw couldn't figure out if there was even something she could do to help her.  The only thing she'd been able to do for Tara was give her the pills that were designed to reduce massive pains and she'd hoped they'd be enough.  The injection medicine, Dr. Shaw hoped, was to lessen the pain of the chest pains.  Until recently, they had been working fine.  But, during the past few months, the pains had been hitting Tara more frequently and they seemed to be getting worse.  And the doctor didn't know what to do.

Dr. Shaw went through a few other things with Tara before the appointment was called to an end.  "Alright Tara, I'll give you the prescriptions for the pills and I'll have the injection medicine put together before you leave.  The only advice I can give is to keep taking the medicine.  And Tara," Dr. Shaw's eyes drilled into the blonde's, "you need to tell your family about this.  Even if it's just your partner, Miss Rosenberg.  Someone has to know what's happening here."

Tara nodded, knowing what Dr. Shaw said couldn't be avoided any longer.  She had to tell Willow and she would do it, tonight.  She just hoped and prayed that Willow would forgive her for not telling her sooner.  Tara felt scared at the possibility of having to fight through so much to be with Willow only to be separated by these chest pains.  If these chest pains were going to take Tara from Willow, the blonde was convinced to put up as much of a fight as she could.

---**---

Tara arrived back at the Summers House about twenty minutes later to find an empty house.  She used the key she was given and entered.  She grabbed a soda from the refrigerator and headed upstairs.  Entering the bedroom, she stopped cold as a fresh wave of memories flooded her vision.  It was the last moments before the bullet ripped through her body.  She remembered looking at Willow and loving the way the white shirt looked over Willow's upper body.  Then, she remembered seeing a splash of red hit the shirt and Willow's throat.  Then, the next thing the blonde knew, she was waking up on that field in the limbo realm.

She'd known right away that something horrible had happened and she'd died.  What she couldn't figure out, however, was why it had happened to her and Willow.  The two had so many plans for their lives together and Tara hadn't been ready to give any of that up.  But, even with all the confusion of waking up there, somehow and someway, Tara felt that things were going to work out.  And she'd been right.  Willow came for her and brought her back and the two were starting to get their lives back in order.

And Tara was about to put a big fork in those plans.

She hated herself for keeping this secret from Willow.  At first, she'd kept it because she knew that Willow's rising use of the magicks were getting worse.  Then, she and Willow were no longer together and Tara had foolishly thought that because of that, Willow had no business knowing.  How foolish she was for thinking that.  Even when they were free to see other people, neither woman had eyes for anyone else.  For Willow, it was always Tara.  And for Tara, it was always the pretty redhead.

Tara sighed as she sat down on the bed.  She rested her back against the headboard and took several drinks from the 7-Up soda she'd brought with her.  She wondered where Willow was now.  Willow had told her that she was going to have lunch with Buffy and Xander and she'd wanted Tara to come along, but the blonde knew she had the doctor's appointment to deal with, so she declined.  She had fun with Dawn, but she knew she was delaying the inevitable.  And Dr. Shaw had told her that because the pains were more frequent and that they seemed to be getting stronger, the next one could kill her on the spot.  Tara shuddered, she wasn't yet ready to give up her second chance at life with Willow.

"Tara."

The voice to her far right startled her and she jumped off the bed, the 7-Up can clenched in her hand as she faced the wall where the voice came from.  A woman Tara had never really expected to see again stood there, her arms crossed over her chest.  Tara cautiously backed away towards the door as the woman looked at her.

"Mi--Mi--Miss Baxter?" Tara said, "Wha....wha...wha...what are you doing here?"

Sonya Baxter uncrossed her arms and stuffed her hands into her pants pockets.  She had her hair tied back into a thick single braid.  She still had dark hair, only now there were lines of blonde hair dyed into it.  She wore a red silk blouse tucked into a pair of white pants with a black belt tied around her waist.  Over her shoulders and along her sides she wore a leather jacket.  She smiled at the blonde.  "I'm sorry to have startled you, Tara.  But, I needed to see you."

Tara felt nervous and scared.  She remembered clearly what happened the last time she was around Sonya Baxter.  The woman had betrayed them all and helped the vampire Deacon abduct her.  But, things had turned out for the better.  Tara now had a better understanding of what Sonya had gone through during her immortal life.  "W..why?" she stuttered.

Sonya walked over to the window and glanced out.  She touched the window with the tips of her fingers.  "I needed you to know that I'm sorry." the dark haired woman said.  "I'm sorry for what I put you through, I'm sorry for the betrayal, and I'm sorry for hurting you."

Tara relaxed only a measure.  Part of her wanted to believe Sonya's words, but part of her still remembered when Sonya had lashed out and grabbed her by the throat.  She licked her lips.  "Miss Baxter, what's done is done.  There's no changing that." Tara said.

Sonya nodded, turning to face her.  "That's right, Tara.  There really isn't no changing the past, is there." she smiled as she walked over.  She noticed Tara moving back and she frowned.  "Tara, I understand your hesitation to be around me.  But, there is an important reason why I'm here.  Yes, I wanted to apologize, but that's not the main reason I'm here."

Tara sat the drink down and crossed her arms over her chest, ready to bolt if she felt Sonya was going to try anything.  "What is it?" she asked timidly.

"Tara, do you know why you were allowed to return to Earth?" Sonya asked.

Tara's brows furrowed.  "Willow brought me back."

"Yes she did." Sonya agreed.  "But, do you know why she was allowed to bring you back?"

Tara raised her chin.  "I'm not understanding you."

Sonya sighed.  "Tara, everyone and everything on this planet fulfills a purpose in the world.  That's why the Powers That Be exist, to ensure that that purpose is fulfilled before a person or a thing's life is ended.  Tara, I didn't tell this to your friends, but I'm going to tell you.  Before you were shot, you fulfilled your purpose to the world."

Tara's eyes widened.  She felt the truth coming from Sonya and she wasn't ready to believe it.  "That's not true!"

Sonya pursed her lips.  "I'm afraid it is Tara.  At the time of your earlier death, your purpose in this world was to bring unite with your soulmate, Willow.  I lied to your friends.  I told them you were not fated to die for many years.  You were actually fated to die when you did and exactly how you did.  Your soul should have gone to either Heaven or the Elysian Fields.  When I first realized that you'd gone to limbo, I didn't understand why."

Tara leaned her back against the door, too shocked from Sonya's words to even try to verbalize anything.  She stared, open mouthed at the woman across from her.  "Why....why am I here then?" she asked in a quiet voice.

Giving her a small smile, Sonya replied.  "I don't know.  Obviously, the Powers have a new purpose for you to fulfill.  You would not have been allowed to return otherwise."

Tara sat down on the edge of the bed, aware of Sonya walking towards her and stopping a few feet from her.  "Tara, I need to tell you something else that's very important and you can't tell anyone."

Tara looked up.  "I can't keep secrets from Willow." Tara stopped at saying that.  She was already keeping a secret from Willow.  That would end tonight, though.  "I can't.  Keeping secrets is what almost ruined things for us before."

"Alright, then listen to what I'm about to say to you and if you want to tell her, go ahead." Sonya said.  "Tara, I was contacted by the Powers last week.  I had gone to one of my country estates in Canada and I was approached by a messenger for the Powers.  He told me what my mission is.  What the Powers want me to do."

Tara looked at her pants.  "What is it?"

Sonya looked at the blonde, noting the irony of the situation.  "Although I don't know why you were allowed back, I do know something about your return.  Tara, the Powers That Be infused within you great power.  Power that normally, you wouldn't have had.  This power they have given you....it's part of your purpose here.  I've been told by the Powers to be your guide, to help you use your powers.  And don't sit there and deny it because you used that power on me in that Temple."

Tara didn't even try to deny it, she knew she had more powers than she'd had before.  "My guide?"

"Yes.  The Powers have gifted you with great power.  And, as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility.  Tara, it is widely known that power corrupts and I have been told to not let that happen to you.  The powers you have been gifted with are similar to my own in that they are powers of sorcery.  If you will let me, I want to help you learn how to use those powers." Sonya said.

Tara just stared at Sonya for several moments, not moving but thinking about it.  The idea that she had a lot of power surging through her and not knowing how to use it frightened her because Tara didn't want to accidentally hurt someone or worse.....kill someone.  She wasn't sure she could handle that.  She looked down.  She had a lot to think about.  First, she had to clear things with Willow.  "Miss Baxter, I need t...time to think about this."

Sonya rose.  "I understand Tara.  Here." Sonya handed Tara a small talisman to place around her neck.  "When you have made your decision, just touch the talisman and call my name.  No matter where I am, I will feel the call and I will answer immediately." Sonya waited until the blonde took it before she vanished in a shimmer of radiant red and white energy.

Left alone in the house, Tara could do no more than lay down on the bed and close her eyes.  Her life had just gone from only slightly complicated to extremely complicated in less than one hour.  Tara didn't like it one bit.

---**---

Buffy, Xander, and Willow sat at a table outside one of the smaller restaurants in Sunnydale eating lunch.  Xander had himself a nice juicy and very large cheeseburger, with extra patties.  Buffy was eating an order of fries with a smaller version of Xander's cheeseburger and Willow had just ordered an order of the restaurant's lasagna.  They were all halfway through their lunches and they were amicably chatting about their day.

Xander had the day off from his construction job, so he pretty much had nothing to do.  Well, that's not entirely true.  He was planning on seeing Anya later.  He was hoping there might still be a chance to reconcile things with her.  Maybe he was holding onto false hope, but it was something he found himself desperately clinging to.  Buffy pretty much had nothing to do since she didn't have any shift at the Doublemeat Palace.  And Willow, the redhead was just looking forward to getting back to the house and getting back to Tara.  She knew she and Tara still had a lot of things to talk about.  Recently, though, Tara had been acting more strange than she could ever recall her girlfriend acting.  Things were finally getting better for them, but Willow couldn't shake the feeling that there was something bothering Tara.  And the fact that Tara wouldn't tell her was stinging places in Willow's heart.  She didn't like it and she was determined to get to the bottom of it and soon.

"Willow?" Xander said, waving a hand in her face.

Willow shook her head.  "Oh...sorry."

Xander smiled.  "It's alright.  Thinking about Tara again."

The fact that they knew her so well engaged a laugh out of her.  "Well of course.  I'm just glad things are finally getting better for us.  It's been a long...long road."

Buffy squeezed her hand.  "I know Will.  With everything that's happened, Warren, Deacon, Miss Baxter, it's good that you two are getting back to what you used to be."

Willow looked pensive for a moment.

"What?" Xander asked upon seeing the face.

Willow looked at her food for a moment.  "I know it's gonna sound strange, but....I can't shake this feeling."

"What feeling?" Buffy asked, taking a drink from her soda.

Willow shrugged.  "It's just this nagging sense that's telling me that Tara's....that she's hiding something."

"Will, that's crazy!" Buffy exclaimed, her thoughts about it evident.  "Willow, there is no way Tara would hide something from you."

"Yeah, everyone here knows how much that woman loves you." Xander agreed with Buffy.

Willow nodded.  "I know.  You guys are right.  Tara's not hiding anything." Willow tried to convince herself that, but, something just keeps triggering in her brain.  There was just something different with Tara.  She couldn't figure it out.  She first noticed it about seven months prior.  They had been broken up for just over two weeks when she saw Tara across campus.  Tara had been leaning up against a building and it had appeared that she was having trouble breathing.  But, then Tara had started walking again so Willow didn't put much thought into it.  She was beginning to wonder if something was wrong with her lover.

The three friends finished their meals and were ready to leave the restaurant.  Xander had just headed off to pay for the meal when a woman walked up to Buffy and Willow.  Willow recognized the woman instantly, wishing it wasn't who she recognized.  It was the woman that Willow had seen Tara with that day at the school.  The girl who had kissed Tara on the cheek.  Kissed HER Tara.  Willow already felt the beginnings of the green eyed monster of jealousy.  It was rearing it's ugly head inside her and for once, it was a welcome distraction from her thoughts.  Forcing a polite smile on her face, she turned to the woman.

"Yes?" Willow said, her voice sounding gentle, but only someone who knew her extremely well would be able to note the hard undertone that was there.

And Buffy knew Willow better than most and she heard it in her friend's voice and her eyebrows arched, not understanding why Willow was reacting this way.  The woman didn't notice the hard edge to the voice and she smiled at them.  "Hi...um...my name is Melissa Rogers.  You hang out with Tara MaClay, right?" she asked.

Buffy could see the tension in Willow's jaw and she held back a laugh, recognizing the jealous sparks when she saw them.  "Yes, we do." Buffy answered for her.

Melissa smiled a full cheeked smile.  "Good.  I was hoping I recognized you both.  I'm sorry to be bothering you like this.  But, I was wondering, have you seen her lately?"

"Why are you wanting to know?" Willow asked.

Buffy bit back a snort at hearing the question.  She was enjoying watching Willow deal with jealousy.

Melissa was taken back by Willow's attitude.  "Well, I haven't seen her in over a month and I was hoping to see her."

"How did you two meet, anyway?" Buffy asked, sidestepping Melissa's question.

"Oh!  I met Tara at one of the Gay Pride meetings on campus.  We met and started talking and we really hit it off." she told them.  Noticing their lack of response, she figured they knew about Tara's being gay and all.  "I was wondering, could you tell me where to reach her.  Last time I saw her, we were.....well, I kind of thought we were getting close to having a relationship.  I mean....she's gorgeous!"

Even though Willow's jealousy was hitting her in waves now, she had to smirk at Melissa's assessment.  She's right.  Tara is gorgeous.  But, Willow also knew that Tara wanted her and her only and that one fact helped calm her down.  "I can tell you where she is, but, I need to tell you something first."

"What's that?" Melissa asked, anxious to see Tara.

This time, instead of jealousy, Willow felt a warm feeling spread through her at the thought of Tara.  "Tara's my girlfriend."

Realization hit Melissa full in the face and she staggered back a few steps.  Now, she knew why Tara had always backed off when Melissa got real touchy.  "Oh." she said, very disappointed.  "I'm sorry to have bothered you, then." Melissa said, turning and walking away, her shoulders slumping somewhat.

Xander came back as Melissa was fading from sight.  "Hey, who were you guys talking to?" he asked.

"Oh, just someone who sparked Willow's jealousy vibes." Buffy answered with a laugh.

Willow glared at her.  "I do not have jealousy vibes."

A snort from the Slayer.  "Please, I saw the way you were acting with her.  You were like...ten seconds from strangling her." she said.  "That was a friend of Tara's who told Willow that Tara is gorgeous."

Xander nodded, smiling.  "Oh, I get it.  Willow just doesn't like anybody that's not her appreciating Tara's body."

"Xander!" Willow punched his arm.

"What!  I'm just stating the facts." Xander rubbed the spot.

"Come on Will.  Let's head to the house." Buffy said, putting her arm over Willow's shoulders and steering her away from Xander.  He followed silently behind.  The three friends started heading back to the house.

From the shadows behind the restaurant, the former rat named Amy watched them with seething rage.  She hated Willow for ending their magical relationship and she was going to have her revenge on Willow and everyone she held dear.  She just had to be patient and play things smoothly.  Especially since she now has someone helping her achieve her goal.  Nodding to herself, she followed the trio.

---**---

Later that night, Buffy, Dawn, Willow, and Tara were the only ones in the Summers House.  Xander had gone home to his apartment and Giles had gone back to England to gather a few things.  The Englishman had decided to return to Sunnydale for a while until things settled down as far as Willow was concerned.  Giles was still concerned that the police might find evidence to arrest the redhead with and Giles was convinced to not let that happen.  The Scoobies' new ally Jacob had already left Sunnydale.  With the vampiric threat no longer a concern, Jacob had left, telling them that until his mission to find the vampire who bit his mother was finished, he couldn't ever settle down in one place.

They saw him off just the week before.  Buffy and Dawn were downstairs in the living room, watching television.  There wasn't anything good on, but they skimmed through channels.  Upstairs, Willow and Tara were involved in a rather intimate moment.  Tara was flat on her back, sweat coating her skin.  The sheets on the bed covered her from the chest on down and she had an expression of pure bliss on her face as she moaned into the air.

"Augh Willow!" she moaned as Willow's talented mouth found her sensitive bundle of nerves.  Moments later, Tara reached the peak and her sweat glistened body arched, pushing more of herself into Willow's mouth.  As she began coming down from her intense orgasm, Willor crawled up her lover's body, finally settling herself with her head on Tara's left shoulder and the rest of her body wrapping around Tara's left side.

After a moment, Tara looked down at Willow's face.  Willow was watching her face and the blonde had a smug look on her face.  "Stop smirking." Tara told her lover, wrapping her left arm around Willow's bare back.

"Mm, can't help it baby.  I love touching you and I love hearing you when I'm doing it." Willow said, leaning up and lowering her lips and meeting Tara's.  The kiss was deep and quite sensual as they explored each other's mouths.  Pulling back, Willow allowed her fingertips to move over Tara's face, mesmerized.

"Willow, what's that look for?" Tara asked, seeing the intent and serious expression on her lover's face.

The redhead looked into her eyes, deadly serious as her fingers continued to trace her cheeks.  "Tara, I can't tell you how much....how much I missed you.  I don't really think I would have made it without you."

Tara felt tears glistening her eyes and she closed them for a few moments.  Then, she laced her fingers in Willow's red tresses and pulled her face closer, kissing her long and deep, doing her best to show Willow exactly how she felt.  Pulling back from the kiss, Tara locked eyes with her.  "Willow....I love you." she said, meaning every last syllable.  "Even when we were apart, I loved you.  And there's nothing in this world that will ever make me stop loving you."

Willow put her head back on Tara's shoulder.  "I think you should know I feel the same way." Willow sighed happily.  "You complete me."

Tara's smile slipped somewhat.  She found the opening to the conversation she wanted to have with Willow and she knew the time had come to have it.  As she opened her mouth to begin the conversation that would reveal her secret about her health, she winced.  NO!  Not now!! Tara shouted inwardly.  She felt the pains hitting her chest full force and she couldn't stop the loud and very audible gasp from slipping through her lips.  She found that she couldn't breathe properly and she couldn't even speak.  Her hand left Willow's face and she grabbed at her chest in a panic.

Willow heard the gasp and she looked up, frightened in an instant when she saw Tara's face.  "Tara!" she said loudly, tears already threatening to fall.  "Baby?  Oh god no!  Please no!!" she managed.

As Tara's breathing continued to trouble her, Willow dove off the bed and headed towards the stairs, stopping at the head of the stairs.  She raised her voice as loud as she could and she screamed in a panic.  "BUFFY!! CALL 911!!!" she screamed before running back to stay with Tara.

Buffy and Dawn were watching a rerun of one of Dawn's favorite cartoon action shows, Spider Man, when they heard Willow's voice scream out.  Buffy dove off the couch in an instant, running up the stairs.  She called back over her shoulder.  "Dawn, call 911 and do it now!!" Buffy yelled.

Dawn got to the phone and she began calling.

Back upstairs, Buffy entered Willow and Tara's bedroom and her eyes widened in shock as she saw Willow desperately trying to help Tara breathe.  Willow had pulled on a pair of boxer shorts and her red and gray jersey shirt.  She was trying to breathe air into Tara by mouth to mouth resuscitation.  She looked up with tears in her eyes and tears over her cheeks as she continued trying to breathe for her.

"My god...what happened?" Buffy hurried to the bed.

Willow raised her face.  "I ...don't know.  She just started gasping and reaching at her chest.  Where's the damn paramedics Buffy!!" she snapped.

"They're on their way Willow." Dawn entered the room and she trembled from shock.  Tara was breathing, but her breaths were short and erratic and she couldn't say anything.

Two minutes later, the EMTs arrived at the Summers House and Dawn led them to the bedroom.  The two EMTs kneeled down over Tara's body and went to work.  One of the medics started CPR while the other put a plastic mask over Tara's nose and mouth and started pushing air into her lungs.  Buffy held Willow upright as she felt the redhead was dangerously close to losing it.  The EMTs didn't waste anymore time before they brought the stretcher in and loaded Tara's body onto it.  After another moment, they started wheeling her out.

The ambulance was there, with the back door opened as they placed her inside.  Willow ran after them and jumped into the ambulance, grabbing her lover's hand as one of the EMTs began to close the door.  He turned to Buffy and Dawn.  "Is she family?" he indicated Willow.

Buffy nodded.  "Yeah, they're partners."

The EMT nodded, closing the door and hurrying over to the driver's side.  Shutting the door, he prepared to take off.  Buffy hurried over before they could leave.  "Which hospital are you taking her to?" she demanded.

"Sunnydale Regional." he answered, wasting no more time as he pulled away from the Summers House, leaving two very concerned woman behind.

---**---

Using a visualization technique that he'd perfected over the years, the demon sorcerer Saijhan watched as the ambulance pulled away from the Summers House.  As he continued to watch, he saw the two women left behind re-enter the house.  His eyes were sharp as he kept watch over the house.  Then, about fifteen minutes after the ambulance left, a blue four door car pulled up and a man with strong upper arms exited.  Moments later, the two women and the guy were in the car and leaving.

Amy was leaning against one of the stone pillars, looking very bored and wishing she was somewhere else.  Saijhan raised his hand and the image vanished.  The demon turned back around and looked at the witch.  "Did you just see what happened?" the demon asked.

Amy shrugged her shoulders, finding herself not caring one way or the other.  "Sure I did.  Ambulance just pulled away with that with you seem so interested in."

Saijhan walked over to her and debated whether slugging her again.  He figured it wouldn't stop the comments from coming, so he merely looked at her.  "That witch is an important part of my plans.  If she dies, I don't get her power.  And if I don't get her power, you don't get what you want.  Are you getting the picture yet?" he sneered at her.

Realization hit Amy's face as she heard his words.  She stood upright.  "Well she can't die then!  We have to do something!" she urged.

Saijhan turned and walked around the chamber.  "We will.  For now, we just have to wait and hope that blasted witch doesn't die.  My plans aren't ready yet to make my move against her.  Time is what we have."

Saijhan didn't see it, but Amy's eyes went coal black and she considered using magic on him.  A moment later, her eyes returned to her normal brown as she recognized the correct assessment of his words.  She hated waiting, but at the moment, she had no choice because if they tried something while she was at the hospital, too much attention would be garnered and Amy knew that Saijhan didn't want the Slayer to know he was here.

---**---

There weren't that many vehicles parked outside Sunnydale Regional Hospital.  There were some, but not many.  Xander, Buffy, and Dawn jumped out of the car and started running to the double glass doors in a hurried frenzy.  The glass doors opened automatically as they neared.  Entering the hospital, the waiting room was to their left.  It was large and spacey and at the moment, it was almost empty.  There was one figure there.  It was Willow.  She was sitting on one of the orange plastic chairs.  She was leaning forward and had her head hunched forward, her hands wrapped in her hair and they could see her shoulders shaking.  It was obvious to them that she'd been crying.  They hurried over.

"Willow!" Buffy called as they neared her.

The redhead looked up at them, tears soaked over the skin of her cheeks.  Her lips trembled and the three feared the worst.  That Tara had suffered a heart attack or something to that measure and died.  They were all silent as Willow leaned back.  "Is she..." Xander left the question unfinished.

Willow closed her eyes, breathing hard.  "I don't know.  They ushered her off behind those doors when we got here.  No one will tell me anything."

Buffy sat down on one side of Willow and Dawn took the other seat.  No one said anything for a few moments.  "Let me go check with the receptionist lady." Xander said, walking over to the window where the receptionist was.

Buffy leaned over and put her arm around Willow's shoulders.  "Are you okay?" she asked after a moment.

Willow looked at Buffy.  "No." she said, her voice hollow.  "Buffy, I can't go that this again.  I can't lose Tara again.  I just can't."

Buffy sighed, wishing she could say comforting words like everything will be okay, but Buffy didn't know that.  The past year had been so unpredictable to everyone that Buffy didn't know what to say at all.  She rubbed her hand over Willow's back, trying to comforting just through the physical closeness the two friends shared.  Buffy looked up as she heard two sets of footsteps approaching.  Dawn and Willow glanced over as well.  Xander was returning to them with an older woman.

The woman had sun golden hair and she wore a yellow blouse tucked into a pair of crisp black pants.  She had on a white doctor's coat over her shoulders.  Dr. Helen Shaw gave them a small smile as she approached them.  She could tell right away that the lady in the center was Tara's lover, her girlfriend.  Helen had heard all of the terms for that significant other.  Husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, lover, whatever.  Helen knew the moment she laid eyes on Willow that it was her that was hurting more than the others were.  She stopped a few feet from her.  She'd hoped after their appointment that Tara would have told her friends and her lover about her health problem by now.  Looking into Willow's eyes, she realized the redhead truly didn't know.  And the fact that Helen was going to be the one to tell her was not a pleasant sensation for her.  She sighed and tucked her hands into her jacket pockets.

Willow rose immediately upon seeing the doctor approach with Xander.  She had hope etched into her heart as she waited for the doctor to stop.  Finally, she locked eyes with the doctor and she saw the small smile and Willow nearly collapsed in relief.  She knew her lover was still alive, but she wanted to know what happened to her.

"Are you Willow Rosenberg?" Dr. Shaw asked.

Willow couldn't sum up the strength to speak, so she nodded.

Helen Shaw nodded, then looked at the others.

"I'm Buffy.  This is my sister Dawn and our close friend Xander.  Tara's family to us all." she told the doctor.

Dr. Shaw nodded.  "Alright.  Miss Rosenberg, let's go to my office and talk."

As Dr. Shaw was turning, Willow gripped her arm.  "No!  I want to see Tara."

Helen rested her hand over Willow's, her expression and voice compassionate, but intent and serious as well.  "Miss Rosenberg, YOU need to talk with me first." she told her sternly.

Willow swallowed, not sure if she was going to like this conversation.  She followed behind the doctor, relieved when she felt Bufy, Dawn, and Xander come into the office with her.  There were four chairs in the office.  Two of them were plastic and they were placed near the wall.  The other two were across from Dr. Shaw's desk and they were cushioned seats.

Willow sat down on the cushioned seat to the left as Buffy sat on the other one.  Dawn and Xander brought the plastic chairs over closer to the desk and sat down on them.  They all turned their eyes on Dr. Shaw.

"Miss Rosenberg, because you are Tara's partner, I can explain what happened to her to you.  But, the others here....do you want them to stay to hear this?" Dr. Shaw asked.

Willow numbly nodded.  He hands were rubbing over the skin at her knees.

"Alright." Dr. Shaw nodded.  "Miss Rosenberg, Tara.....well, this whole situation starts a little over a year ago."

"Excuse me?" Willow found her voice.

Helen Shaw took out Tara's folder and flipped it open.  She pulled out a piece of paper that held the different appointments Tara had made with Dr. Shaw.  "Tara first came to my clinic just over a year ago." she handed the paper to Willow, who looked through it.  "She told the doctors here that she was having intense chest pains and she didn't understand why.  She was referred to me and I took her as a patient.  She's been coming to me for treatment for these chest pains for over a year now."

Willow's eyes were full of shock as she looked at the detailed visits that proved that Tara had been coming to Dr. Shaw for over a year.  She looked at Buffy.  The Slayer's face was...as well...full of shock and confusion.  "Wait.....Tara was having chest pains." Buffy said, not understanding.

The doctor nodded.  "Yes.  Let me explain.  The first time she came to this hospital and met with me, she told me that she'd started getting chest pains.  Sometimes they weren't that bad and she could take deep breaths and the pains would pass.  Other times, she told me that the pain was so unbearable that she couldn't breathe and she would often pass out.  We ran multiple blood tests on her and we performed multiple scans of her body, but we haven't been able to figure out where the chest pains keep coming from.  The only thing we've been able to do for her is give her medication to take when she begins to feel the pains coming."

"She was having these pains and she didn't dare tell us!" Buffy said, her voice angry.

The doctor looked compassionate to her.  She'd been telling Tara to tell them for a long time now.  "I understand your concerns, Buffy.  And I have been urging her to tell you all about her pains.  I don't know why exactly she won't tell you, but I know there's a reason."

After a few moments of silence, Willow looked up.  "What happened tonight?"

Helen leaned back in her chair and she sighed.  "For some reason that I haven't been able to figure out, the chest pains have been hitting Tara more frequently and they have been stronger than they've ever been before.  Up until tonight, I've been giving her prescription pills to help dull the pains and mixtures of medication to help her breathe.  Tonight..." she paused, "tonight was the worst pain attack she's ever had.  It hit her so suddenly that she couldn't even breathe to even speak.  And if she had been able to speak, she would have told you where she kept her medicine."

Xander shook his head.  "I don't understand why she wouldn't tell us about this."

"When Tara wakes up, you can ask her.  When she was brought in, I already knew what had happened.  I gave her the medicine she needed and she was able to breathe normally.  She's resting right now.  She'll probably wake up in a couple hours.  Miss Rosenberg, why don't you go home and get cleaned up." Dr. Shaw said.  Although it was evident that the others couldn't tell because of the reason for them being here, Dr. Shaw could smell the scent that was rolling off Willow in waves.  She knew the scent well.  It was the scent of freshly made love.  The scent of sex and she could smell it.  She didn't want to be rude and point that out, so she merely suggested Willow go and clean herself up.

Willow frowned at the woman.  "No, I want to be here when Tara wakes up."

Buffy turned to her friend.  "Willow, the doc's right.  You need to change your clothes.  Dr. Shaw said Tara probably won't wake up for a few hours.  That's plenty of time for for us to get to the house and change and be back here before she wakes up, alright?"

Willow's frown deepened, but she reluctantly nodded.  "Alright." she mumbled.

They left the hospital and Dr. Shaw headed into Tara's hospital room to check on her.  Like she'd told the others, Tara was asleep.  As Helen Shaw looked at the blonde, she saw Tara begin to mumble in her sleep.  "Will.." she mumbled.

"She'll be here soon, Tara." Dr. Shaw told the sleeping woman.  After making a few more notations on her board, she left Tara's room to do her rounds.

---**---

Sonya Baxter entered an empty chamber made out of solid white stone. There was an alter at the front of the chamber and she walked towards it.  She was dressed in the same outfit as she had on when she visited Tara.  The mere thought of Tara brought a sense of sadness to her chest.  Things that were now happening to Tara and to the rest of the Scoobs were happening the way the Powers That Be had designed.  And things were going to get worse before they got better for them.

The sorceress had done a lot of horrible things in her entire history, most of which she felt disgusted with herself for doing them.  The one good thing she'd ever had in her life was taken from her about eighty years ago.  Her former lover, Gabriella Stuart, was always a gentle person.  That's one of the attributes that first attracted the sorceress to her.  Sonya could still remember the feeling of touching Gabriella, of Gabriella touching her, of kissing her and begin kissed.  But most of all, Sonya remembered the night Gabriella was taken from her.

On the alter was a small shrine with a picture of Gabriella's face.  This was the place that was the most sacred of all places to Sonya.  Whenever she felt herself delving into darkness, she would come here and remember her fallen lover.  The memories of her lover always kept her darkness at bay.  She touched the picture with silent reverence.  She traced the picture with her eyes, knowing one day, she would be reunited with her.  Whether it was on Earth or in the afterlife, she didn't know.  She just felt that they would be together again one day.

Sonya stiffened as she felt a presence inside the stone chamber.  She turned around and watched as someone walked towards her, not stopping until that person was only a few feet from her.  It was the messenger that always approached her when he was giving her messages from the Powers.  Sonya really didn't want to talk to him, but she couldn't ignore him.

"What do you want, Skip?" Sonya asked.

The messenger for the Powers walked around the stone chamber.  "I was just wondering why you're not doing what you're supposed to."

Sonya stared at the messenger.  "I've been busy, alright!"

Skip looked at the shrine, then back at Sonya.  "You're supposed to be preparing Miss MaClay for the coming trials.  But you're here, remembering the past."

Sonya looked at the shrine before she started heading to the exit.  "Skip, I promise you that she'll be ready when the time comes."

Skip saw that she was leaving and he knew he had to tell her.  "Saijhan's in Sunnydale."

Sonya stopped and slowly turned around.  "Are you sure?"

Skip nodded.  "Yes.  I felt his presence when he first came here.  He's found a human who has something against the Slayer and her friends.  The human's helping him.  Saijhan's planning to steal Miss MaClay's powers.  If he does that, he'll be strong enough to change the prophecy in the Nyazian Scrolls.  That can't be allowed to happen.  Otherwise, reality will be forever altered."

"I am aware of everything that's at stake here, Skip.  I thought Saijhan was trapped in that urn."

"He was." Skip answered.  "But someone freed him recently.  The Powers can't even foresee who it was that freed him.  Whatever it was, it's a powerful dark force.  Stronger than even Saijhan.  Nevertheless, the Powers have taken a glimpse into the future and they have predicted two outcomes.  If Saijhan completes his plan and takes her powers, he will become too powerful to be stopped.  He'll start destroying realities and every alternate dimension will collapse.  The other possibility is that the Slayer and her friends stop Saijhan from completing his mission."

"But Saijhan can't be destroyed.  You've said it yourself." Sonya said.

"That's right.  Saijhan can't be destroyed on Earth.  But, if he were forced to battle within the Astral Plane, he could be destroyed there." Skip told her.

Sonya understood exactly what Skip was talking about now.  "You mean, the Powers want me to lure him to the Astral Plane so their champion can destroy him."

Skip nodded, staying quiet.

Sonya shook her head.  "When I think the Powers can't surprise me anymore, they do just that."

Sonya turned and walked out, Skip watching her leave.  A moment later, he shimmered out.

---**---

Willow entered the hospital room in silence.  She'd gone home with Buffy and Xander and she'd showered and gotten dressed before having them bring her back.  She didn't want Tara to wake up and not see her in the same room.  She'd changed into a pair of faded blue jeans and her red long sleeved shirt that she'd worn when Buffy was trying to get back into school after she was brought back.  She walked over to the side of the bed and gently picked Tara's hand in her own and gave it a gentle squeeze.

Tara's body was covered with a normal light blue hospital gown and the sheets were pulled up over her body to her waist.  Willow didn't like the experience at all.  She always hated hospitals and the last time she was actually in one was when she pulled the bullet from Buffy's body.  The same bullet she eventually used to help inflict intense pain on Warren.  Willow shivered, not wanting to dwell on those bad thoughts.  She knew she'd have to face the fact that she'd killed a person sooner or later, but now wasn't the time for it.

"Will?" Tara's whispered voice broke Willow's thoughts.

"Tara...baby?" she replied, leaning forward and perching herself on the edge of the bed at Tara's waist.  She placed her palm over Tara's cheek and rubbed the soft skin underneath.  She waited a few moments and Tara's eyes fluttered open as she looked around the room before locking her eyes with Willow.  Her lips trembled and she was about to cry, but Willow made a move that stopped her tears from coming for only a moment.

Willow leaned down and placed her lips on her lover's.  After the intense fright she'd received when Tara had been hit with those chest pains, Willow didn't ever want to let her lover go again.  Willow continued to kiss Tara's lips for several more seconds before she pulled back.  "God..Tara.....thank god you're alright." she said, leaning her forehead against her lover's.

Tara couldn't find her voice, so she raised her arms and wrapped them around Willow's upper body, hugging the redhead for all she was worth.  Willow wrapped her hands in Tara's blonde locks and pulled her closer to her.  They stayed that way for several long moments before they heard the door to the room open and Dr. Shaw entered with Buffy and Dawn.

Xander followed a moment later and he watched with a wistful smile as Willow pulled her body away, but kept some part of her body in constant physical contact with Tara.  Both women looked at Dr. Shaw.  "Hello Tara.  How are you feeling?" the doctor asked.

Tara leaned back against the bed.  "I'm okay.  My arm's a little sore." she indicated the IV that poked into her arm's skin.  "What happened earlier?  It's never been that bad." Tara deliberately avoided Willow's eyes, knowing that by now, Willow knew what she'd been reluctant to tell her.

"Well, it's like I've been warning you about, Tara.  The chest pains are becoming more painful than they were before.  We need to figure out what they are and soon.  I don't think your heart can take many more of these attacks." Dr. Shaw said, producing a necklace from her pocket.  "Oh, and this was taken from your neck earlier." it was the talisman that Sonya had given Tara earlier in the day.

"Thanks." Tara said, holding the talisman in her hand.

"Tara, I'm going to release you in the morning.  I want to keep you overnight just to make sure you don't have anymore of those pains too close to this one.  I'm going to give you another prescription of the pills and I've decided to increase the dosage of the medicine mixtures.  It should help you breathe more." the doctor said.  "I'm going to leave you to rest now.  I'll be here all night, so if you have anything you need, just give the nurse a holler and she'll find me."

Dr. Shaw left the room, leaving the four of them alone.  As the door shut, Dawn moved forward.  "Are you alright, Tara?" the teen asked with worry.  She'd been a wreck ever since she'd dialed the 911 number.

Tara nodded, still not meeting Willow's eyes, which were locked on her face.  "I'll be fine in a couple days, Dawnie."

Buffy glanced at Tara, then at Willow and she realized they desperately needed some alone time and they needed it now.  "Um...Xander?  Why don't we take Dawn down the hall and get some snacks?"

Xander noticed what Buffy was getting at and he nodded.  They ushered Dawn out, leaving the redhead and the blonde in pained silence.

Willow rose from the bed and walked over to the window at the far side of the hospital room.  She looked outside, her stance tense and direct.  Tara swallowed, she knew the time had come for that conversation about her secret.  She hated seeing Willow in pain, but worse, she hated that she was the cause for it.

"Willow?" Tara's voice questioned.

Willow turned around, her eyes wide and angry.  "You should have told me about this earlier!" she snapped.

Tara pursed her lips and nodded.  She looked down at her hands, which were laced together at her stomach.  She felt tears stinging her eyes at the harsh words.  But she knew it was her fault.  It's like her father always told her growing up, when things go bad, it's always her fault.  And now was no exception.

"I'm sorry." she whispered in a quiet voice.  She didn't have the strength to say any words louder.

Willow started to move forward, but she stopped herself.  She had to have this out with her lover.  "Why Tara?  Why didn't you tell me?!" she demanded, hands on her hips.

Tara gazed sadly at Willow.  "I didn't want to upset you Willow.  So much was going on in your life...things were already so complicated.  I didn't want to add anymore complications to your life."

Willow took a deep breath.  "Tara, don't you get it yet.  I love you....I'm in love with you.  What affects you....affects me.  I thought you understood that."

"I'm sorry, Willow.  But, I couldn't tell you that there was a chance I could die.  I didn't want you to be there if one of these pains kills me.  I still don't." Tara said.

Willow froze.  "What did you say?"

"You know what I said, Will." Tara managed through her tears.  "I....I think it would be be....better if you stayed away from me until Dr. Shaw can find out what's wrong with me and fix it."

Willow moved forward with blinding speed and grabbed Tara's hand.  "Baby no.  You can't do that to me...to us.  Tara, you once told me that I don't get to decide what's better for us.  That we were in a relationship and that we're supposed to work on things together.  Are you laying there and telling me that's not true?"

Tara looked away.  "No, of course not." she said, looking back at her.  "Willow, I don't want you to have to see me go through those pains.  I don't want you to go through it."

Willow smiled through her emotion.  "Well, too bad missy.  Because I'm not letting you get rid of me.  I'm not going to abandon you and I'm not going to let you abandon me.  We're in this together Tara.  No quitting.  Do you hear me!  No quitting."

Tara looked at her hand, wrapped lovingly in Willow's.  Even though she knew in her heart it would be better for her just to walk away.  And she knew she could.  She could leave Sunnydale without telling Willow and she knew her lover would never find her, not if she didn't want to be found.  But, as she looked into Willow's eyes, she realized the choice was never really hers to make.  It was theirs.  And if Willow was willing to stand by her, then Tara wouldn't give up.   "Okay.  I don't like it, but I know your right Will." she said, her voice cracking.  "I....I don't want to leave you again."

Willow knew the double meaning in the words and she leaned forward, kissing Tara.  Pulling back, she whispered two words.  "You won't." she said, "Tara?  When did the pains first start hitting you?"

Tara licked her lips.  "A couple days after that whole mess with Glory was over."

Willow looked down. "Do you think these chest pains were caused by that spell I did to Glory and you?"

Tara shook her head.  "No. And the reason why I know it doesn't is because the illness my mother died from started with chest pains like the ones I'm having."

Willow swallowed, just the mere notion that Tara was suffering from the very thing that her mother had died from was giving her nauseous feelings.

"Will, will you stay with me tonight?" Tara asked.

Willow smiled.  "Of course baby.  Like I'm leaving you alone."

Tara blushed, "I mean, will you sleep in the bed with me." Tara asked, indicating that there was room for Willow to fit in.

Willow blinked.  "I don't know...Tara we are in a hospital.  And hospitals aren't the places to be frisky."

"Willow!" Tara slapped her hand.  "That's not what I meant and you know it, doofus!"

Willow grinned as she rose.  She walked over to the door and opened it.  Looking down the hallway, she noted that it was relatively empty.  She closed the door, hearing the solid clink that indicated it closed.  Willow took off her shoes and slipped into the bed next to Tara.  To make sure the IV didn't hurt Tara's arms, Willow fitted herself around Tara's body, on her left side.  She pulled the blanket around their bodies and she pulled Tara's hospital gown a little bit so she could rest her cheek against soft skin.  She sighed in blissful pleasure and closed her eyes.  She felt Tara lean her head against hers and she smiled, falling asleep.  A little while later, Tara joined her lover in slumber.

---**---

Around two hours later, Buffy was walking down the white painted halls of the hospital.  She'd taken Dawn home since it was so late and she'd returned to the hospital to check on Tara and Willow.  She approached the hospital room she remembered Tara being assigned in and opened it as quietly as she could.  Ever since she'd left the room earlier, she'd hoped that the two witches would resolve things between them.  She knew Willow was hurt by Tara's deception, but she could understand why Tara had done so.  She walked in and looked at the bed.

Willow and Tara were cuddled together in the middle of the bed.  Tara was flat on her back, her head tilted to the left, pressing her cheek against Willow's forehead.  Willow had her head resting against Tara's bare shoulder.  The redhead had her left arm wrapped around Tara's waist and both women were snoozing.  Buffy smiled at the picture they presented.  It had been so long since she'd seen either woman happy and she was happy they were rebuilding their relationship.

Buffy walked to the head of the bed as she saw Willow's eyes fluttered open.  Buffy smiled as the redhead lifted her head from her spot against Tara's shoulder.  She smiled back at the Slayer as she eased off the bed and stretched her back out.  She looked down at her lover.  Tara hadn't moved and Willow let her eyes savor Tara's face for a few moments before she turned to her best friend.  "Buffy." she said, looking at her.

"Hey Will." Buffy said.  The Slayer walked over and sat down on one of the chairs that were placed in the room.  Looking over at Willow, she saw the redhead arranging her hair with her fingers.  "How's Tara?" she asked.

Willow gazed at her girlfriend for a moment.  "She's okay.  She's breathing again and everything.  She's okay, though." Willow paused a moment.  "She scared the hell outta me tonight." she said quietly.

Buffy stayed quiet, knowing that her friend needed to get this out.

Willow closed her eyes as she sat down next to Buffy.  "When she started clutching her heart, I thought.....I thought I was losing her all over again."

"But you didn't." Buffy said, looking into Willow's deep green eyes.

Willow looked at the bed again.  "But I could have.  And that thought.....it terrifies me.  Buffy, I can't go through that again.  I can't."

Buffy rested her left arm over her shoulders.  "Willow, Tara's going to get through this.  You're going to help her through this.  Everything's gonna be fine, you'll see."

"Not if she leaves." Willow said, her voice suddenly devoid of emotion.

Buffy frowned.  "What?"

"After you guys left, me and Tara talked.  She told me she didn't want me to watch her go through these attacks.  She even said it would be better if we stayed away from each other until she gets cured." Willow told Buffy.

Buffy looked down, not sure of what she could say.  She hadn't expected the blonde to confess that much to Willow.  "I...I don't know what to say, Will."

"I have to be there for her.  I am not going to let her go through this alone." Willow sounded determined.  "And if she tries to leave, I'll find her.  No matter how I do it, I will find her."

Buffy nodded, understanding Willow's fears better than the redhead might think.  "Hey listen Will." Buffy waited until Willow looked at her.  "Xander's going to be here probably at nine or ten in the morning to take us back to the house."

"Alright.  I'll make sure Tara's ready by then." Willow said as she continued to look at Tara.

Buffy nor Willow knew it, but Tara's may have been closed, but she was awake and she'd heard every word the two had spoken with a very heavy heart.  She was more determined now than ever to ensure that Willow didn't lose her and that she didn't lose Willow.  She was determined to do whatever it took to be cured of the chest pains.  And there was one way she knew to ensure that. She just had to be careful.

---**---

The morning came with no further surprises.  Xander and Dawn entered the hospital in silence.  They walked towards Tara's hospital room and they could clearly hear loud voices coming from within the room.  As they drew near, they saw who was the center of the loud voices.

Tara was sitting in a wheelchair and different pairs of hands were trying their best to keep her in it.  Tara was forcefully trying to get out of it.  She was glaring at the orderlies and she turned her eyes to her lover, who hid back a smile.  "I don't want to be wheeled out of here like some kind of invalid.  I'm perfectly capable of walking out of here, damn it!  Tell them Willow." she said to her lover.

Willow came up to rest behind Tara.  She rested her hands on her lover's tense shoulders and she leaned down to her ear.  "Tara, listen to me.  You are going to lean back and enjoy the ride.  I am going to wheel you out of this hospital.  And you are not going to argue with me."

Tara opened her mouth, but closed it after a moment.  She realized she wasn't going to get her way on this one and she slumped her shoulders, crossing her arms over her chest.  "Fine." she grumbled.

Buffy smiled at the exchange, her sensitive Slayer hearing picking up every word.  "Alright, let's go see Dr. Shaw before we leave."

Xander and Buffy headed out first, side by side.  Dawn stayed next to the wheelchair as Tara was pushed out by Willow.  They made their way out towards the front where Helen Shaw's office was located.  As they neared it, they saw her walk out, heading over to them.  "Eager to leave Tara." Dr. Shaw asked.

"Absolutely." the blonde replied.

The doc chuckled.  She produced a small white paper bag.  "Alright, here's the medication and the prescriptions I'm giving you.  The next appointment isn't until next Friday, so be careful, would you please."

"She will." Willow promised her.

Dr. Shaw nodded, believing that Willow would ensure just that.  "Alright, take care Tara and I will see you soon."

Tara nodded, not saying anything as the small Scooby group left the hospital.  Once next to Xander's car, Tara stood up off the wheelchair and arched her back to let her muscles stretch.  The movement made Willow's gaze turn lusty in a matter of moments because the shirt Tara wore didn't have a bra underneath and her nipples were clearly visible.

The others noticed it and looked away.  Buffy had seen Willow's expression and she'd looked away instantly.

After a few uncomfortable moments, they got into Xander's car and headed away from the hospital.  Xander drove while Buffy sat in the passenger's seat.  Willow sat behind Buffy and Tara sat behind Xander.  Dawn was sitting between the two witches.  The ride back to the house was silent, as no one knew what to say about the previous night's events.  They arrived back at the Summers House and helped Tara inside.

---**---

Saijhan stood in the center of his chamber, his face looking thoughtful.  He'd been watching everything that was happening at the hospital.  The last thing he'd seen was Tara walking back into the house with the others.  She was still alive and well, so Saijhan's plan was still ongoing.  And although Saijhan had said time was a virtue, he was tired of the wait.  He'd waited long enough and he considered it time to move forward with his reason for being in this town.  He turned as Amy walked up.

"You wanted to see me." she said.

Saijhan nodded.  "Yes.  I'm tired of waiting for things to move along.  You want enough power to destroy the Slayer and her friends, right?"

Amy's eyes gleamed.  "Yes.  That's the arrangement."

Saijhan nodded again as he walked over to the table.  He moved his hand over the center of the table and a small box materialized on it.  He picked the small case up and opened the top as he walked back over to Amy.  "Here, take this." he indicated to what was inside.

Inside the small case was a chain necklace.  On the necklace was a large gem, the color of Onyx..black.  The Onyx stone was encased by a gold trim and it gleamed as the witch picked it up.  "What is this?" she asked.

Saijhan looked at the stone.  "This is the Amulet of Zenubacon.  It's power is rooted in the very power of dark magick.  If the person who wears it is a user of dark magick, it will magnify their power by ten times.  This amulet will give you the power you desire to destroy the Slayer.  I want you to lure the Slayer and her friends out while I fetch my power."

Amy brought the necklace up and put it over her neck, fastening the necklace over her neck.  As the black stone touched the skin of her neck, it began to glow an ominous red with black.  Amy felt a powerful jolt of energy surge through her veins.  Her eyes turned completely black and spectrals of black energy crackled over her skin.  As she looked down, her clothing mystically changed into a darker form.  She no longer wore her normal clothing.  Now she wore black leather pants, black leather boots over her feet, a black long sleeved shirt, and a black leather trenchcoat.  She smiled a truly evil smile as she looked back up at Saijhan.  She suddenly felt the desire to betray their agreement and destroy him.  She stepped back a few feet.  Raising her arms, she unleashed a powerful blast of black and purple colored blasts right at him.

The power shots bounced on and right off Saijhan.  He laughed at her.  "I was expecting you to try something like that.  The fact is..child, you can't hurt me with dark magick.  The very essence of my soul is rooted in the darkest of magicks.  The more dark magick you shoot at me, the stronger I become.  So please....keep shooting me with power."

Amy lowered her hands and snarled.  "Fine.  I'll stick to our deal.  I'll get the Slayer away from Tara.  But stay out of my way.  The Slayer's about to find out how powerful I really am."

Saying that, Amy's body erupted in black energy and flames as she dissolved.  The effect was almost like Willow's when the redhead used the dark magick.  After she was gone, Saijhan smiled.  "Now it's just a matter of time before I have my power." he said, laughing.

---**---

Willow was in the kitchen, pouring two glasses of orange juice when Dawn and Buffy entered.  Xander was in the living room, sitting on the sofa.  They had ordered a couple pizzas when they got back to the house, but Willow and Tara just wanted to be alone for awhile.  She put the orange juice container back into the fridge.

"Is Tara not feeling alright or something?" Dawn asked.

Willow looked up.  "No she's fine.  Just doesn't feel like having much company right now." she said.  "I figure we'll probably just lounge in bed all day today.  She needs a little rest and I really don't feel like doing much anyway."

"That's good Will.  If you two need anything, don't hesitate to call." Buffy told her.

"I will." Willow said as she grabbed the cups and headed upstairs to her and Tara's bedroom.

The two sisters watched her go.  "How could Tara not tell us?" Dawn asked once Willow was out of earshot.  Ever since Dawn had heard the news, she was having a hard time understanding why Tara kept it secret.

"Dawn, I think.....I think Tara didn't tell us because she didn't want to worry us.  Plus....I don't really think she felt she could." Buffy said.

"What do you mean?" Dawn asked.

"I mean....with the exception of you, none of us has really been there for Tara.  After she and Willow broke up, none of us ever really took any time out to say hi to her or to talk to her.  The only time I even went out of my way to talk to her was when I wanted to know about that spell." Buffy explained.  "It was easier to talk to her after that, though."

"Still, she should have told us, Buffy!" the younger Summers sister said.

"I know.  Look Dawn, the one thing we really need to do right now is just be there for Tara.  The coming weeks are going to be really hard and her and Willow.  So, let's not dwell on the past, alright?" she looked intently at Dawn.

"Alright." Dawn said, sighing.  She hated the fact that Tara didn't trust them enough to confide in them.

Buffy rested a hand on her shoulder before she headed into the living room to have some pizza with Xander.  Dawn stayed in the kitchen after the Slayer left.  She had a magazine in front of her and she continued to scan through it.

Upstairs, Willow entered the bedroom and placed the cups of juice on the table.  Turning around, she closed the door and then moved around and handed her lover her glass of juice.  Tara smiled at Willow as she sipped from the liquid.  In Tara's hand was a catalog from UC Sunnydale.  Tara wanted to attend the July semester of summer classes and she was trying to decide what she wanted to take.  She had her back resting against the headboard and Willow sat down next to her, leaning against the headborad, but with her right side leaning back against it as she watched Tara go through the catalog.

"Find the classes you wanna take?" Willow asked.

Tara shook her head, looking up.  "Not really.  It's coming down to either Advanced Trigonometry or Junior level Biology."

"Ooh!  Those are tough classes.  How many are you wanting to take?" Willow asked."

Tara looked up.  "I only need to take one to keep my scholarship for the fall.  So, one's the number.  Which one do you think I should take?  Biology or Trig?"

Willow moved closer until she was almost touching her lover.  She smiled.  "I think no matter what the class, you're going to pass it with flying colors."

Tara leaned her body towards Willow's.  "What makes you so sure?" she asked.

Willow smiled, leaning her head forward.  "Two reasons." she said.  "One, you're really smart." that was in a whisper.  "And two," her head moved a fraction closer, "if you need help, you'll have the brainiac that I am to help you."

Tara let her book rest on her thighs as she closed the small gap between their faces.  She kissed Willow gently, taking her time to savor the taste of the other woman's lips.  Willow moaned into her mouth at the first touch of their lips.  Willow leaned forward more as she her hands clutched Tara's blue shirt that she was wearing.  She pulled the blonde closer to her, deepening their kiss.  Willow moved her body from it's leaning position and moved her body downward, so she was laying on her back, pulling Tara over her.  Tara did so, molding her body on top of Willow's.  Both witches moaned with the sensations that caused.

Willow opened her mouth slightly and she nearly had her orgasm right Tara's tongue entered her mouth.  Tara's hands were touching the cheeks of her face as they continued to kiss deeply.  Willow's hands were wrapped in Tara's hair as their tongues melded against one another.  After several more moments, Tara pulled back and gazed at Willow's face.  The redhead opened her eyes and gazed back lovingly.

The blonde witch ran her fingers over Willow's face before she sat up and pulled the blue shirt she wore up and over her shoulders, tossing the garment on the floor.  With no bra underneath, her breasts exposed themselves to Willow's hungry gaze.  Tara rose from the bed, knowing Willow watched her and she deliberately ran her fingers down her upper body, her fingers grasping the button at her jeans and slowly undoing it.  Smiling seductively, she unbuttoned the jeans and unzipped the zipper.  Her hands rose to her sides and she gripped the sides of her jeans and tugged them downward, not stopping until they were at her ankles.  A split second later, she kicked the jeans off her feet.  She reached for her light blue panties, but Willow sat up from the bed and grasped her fingers.  "No.  Let me." the redhead whispered.

Tara let her hands rest at her sides as Willow grabbed her hips and pulled her closer.  As Tara stood between Willow's spread legs, the redhead moved her face forward and breathed in that spot between Tara's breasts.  She snaked her tongue out and began to lick and nibble at the soft skin there.  Tara's mouth was open and she began taking deep breaths as Willow's mouth started doing wonderful things to her.

Willow's hands had moved up and now they gently caressed her breasts.  She squeezed the firm mounds in her hands as she brought her mouth to Tara's right breast.  Willow's lips surrounded the rosy bud of her lover's nipple and sucked gently at it.  She felt Tara's hands wrapping in her hair as she continued her assault on the sensitive nipple.  Willow's right hand gripped Tara's panties as she began to pull them down over her lover's thighs and lower legs.

Willow's mouth released Tara's nipple and she moved her lips to the neglected nipple and began to gently suckle on it as her teeth raked over the bud.  Willow had the panties off her lover now and she began caressing her legs.

"God....Willow.....don't stop." Tara panted, gripping the red tresses.

Willow released her lover's breast as she now had hunger for something else.  She moved her body off the edge of the bed and sat down on the floor.  She moved Tara's right leg up and over her shoulder, the foot resting on the bed.  Then, Willow's fingers began a pleasuring assault on her lover's center, gently rubbing the area back and forth as she enjoyed the sounds coming from Tara.  Leaning forward, Willow covered every centimeter of Tara's center with her mouth and she began sucking and nibbling the very sensitive area.

Her lips and tongue moved up and down, enjoying the tastes that touched her lips.  Her fingers held the labia apart as she delved her tongue deep into Tara's center, pushing her face deeper into Tara.  Tara was now moaning loud as she desperately gripped Willow's hair.  "God....yes.....right there baby.  Yes!" she moaned.

Several more moments passed by as Willow continued to feast on Tara's center.  She moved her left arm up and wrapped it around the leg that was over her shoulder.  Willow pushed her face as far as she could forward, continuing to move her tongue in and out of Tara's center.  She moved it up and down and in multiple circles as the blonde began reaching the peak of her arousal.  Willow's mouth sought out the sensitive bundle of nerves and she latched her lips around it, taking it into her mouth as she flicked her tongue over it.  Tara cried out Willow's name loudly as she felt the orgasm erupt through her body.  More of her arousal leaked from her body and Willow let it soak into her mouth, taking all of it she could find before she eased her face back and smiled widely up at her lover.  Tara's eyes were closed and she was taking deep breaths.  Willow gripped Tara's hips and tugged her downward.

A moment later, Willow was cradling Tara's body in her own as Tara came down from her powerful climax.  A few moments later, Tara's sweat soaked face leaned back and she kissed Willow, tasting herself on the redhead's lips.  "Mm." she moaned.  "That was nice."

Willow smirked.  "Yes it was."

Tara smiled back, stroking Willow's cheek.  "Guess what?" she whispered.

Willow locked eyes with her.  "What?"

Tara's lips moved up into a sensual smile.  "You just had me.  Now it's time for me to have you."

Willow's smile widened.  "Ooh boy!!" she squealed as Tara leaned forward and kissed her, her hands grasping Willow's red shirt and pulling upward.

---**---

Amy walked with absolute precision through the cemetery.  She was now only a few blocks from the Summers House.  She wasn't going to waste any time in conversation.  Once she got there, she was going to get the Slayer's attention first and foremost.  Then, she'd lead her out here, where they would have their fight.  Amy knew the power she now held was more than enough to have her revenge against the Slayer.

As she rounded the corner of one of the smaller crypts, two Lei Ach demons jumped out in front of her.  As she recognized the chance to use her powers, Amy smiled.  "Come on then," she sneered, "come and get some!"

One of the demons raced towards her, his arms outstretched.  Amy waited until it was almost at her before she sidestepped and let it move past her.  Then, she moved around and grabbed it's head and whipped it around, snapping it's neck.  She turned and outstretched her hand, sending bolts of dark energy at the remaining demon.  It fell back against the ground as Amy moved forward, laughing wickedly.  She sent out more and more energy pulses through the demon's body.  Moments later, the demon erupted in black flames, destroyed.

Amy snarled as she turned and headed closer to the Summers House.  Her black leather coat gleamed in the sun as she moved swiftly.  "Here I come Buffy.  Your time is up." she said as she closed in on the Slayer at her home.

Continue on to Part 2