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Chapter One

Life in the city of Sunnydale, California was not a happy one for certain citizens.  During the past year, the city of Sunnydale has seen a lot of tragedy, more tragedy than the city should have seen.  It started with the death of Sunnydale's personal superhero, Buffy Summers, the Vampire Slayer.  Buffy had sacrificed herself for the world in order to close the portal that would have ended all reality had it remained open.  The three months of summer that followed her death were hard on all of Sunnydale's citizens, but it was especially difficult on those that knew the Vampire Slayer the most.

Buffy's Watcher, Rupert Giles, had decided to leave America after her death and he spent the summer helping the others with patrol while also making the preparations for his leaving to return to England.  The vampire that helped Buffy and her friends for the better part of the half year before her death, Spike, helped with patrol as much as he could while he kept the promise he made to Buffy, to protect her little sister Dawn.

Dawn, Buffy's younger sister, mainly took to herself during that summer, gradually increasing in the items she stole from various places.  She wasn't allowed to patrol, so she mainly either stuck at the Summers home or spent home with her friend Janice.  She was heartbroken at her sister's death and wasn't sure how to take it.  Buffy's best friends, Xander and Willow, seemed to take the news harder than anyone else.  Thankfully though, they both had their respective partners to help them and offer them comfort during the coming summer.  Xander had his fiancée, Anya, a former ex-vengeance demon.  They had yet to announce their plans for marriage, but they were getting there.  Willow had her girlfriend, Tara MaClay.

Tara and Willow had known each other for about a year and a half and Tara helped Willow through her grief tremendously.  But, the one thing Tara didn't do was stop Willow from using more and more of the darker powers of magic.  Through the summer, Willow had convinced everyone that Buffy's soul, her spirit, was trapped in some hellish dimension and they had already begun plans to resurrect her.  As the time for the resurrection came closer, Willow's use of dark magic grew, but no one noticed.

Around the time when a bike gang of demons came to Sunnydale to take the city over, Willow, Tara, Anya, and Xander had everything they needed to perform the resurrection.  The spell was difficult and Willow had had to go through a horrifying test to resurrect Buffy.  The spell used called on the darkest sides of magic and there were certain things about the spell that Willow hadn't told anyone, including Tara.  Cuts appearing on her arms, a snake coming out of her mouth were two of them.

The spell worked and Buffy was pulled from the afterlife and brought back to Earth.  The demon gang were defeated and Sunnydale was safe again.  But, like Spike once told them, when it comes to magic, there were always consequences.  Buffy's friends thought she was pulled from hell when in fact, she was pulled from heaven and living was hell for her.  Months passed by as Buffy had to deal with living again.

During those months that passed by, Willow's descent into the darker magic continued and eventually, both Giles and Tara tried their hardest to show her what she was doing, but neither one of them could do it.  Willow's dependence on magic was too strong for even her lover to pull her from.  Things for the Scoobies eventually came to a head when a demon showed up that made people sing and dance.  The secrets that Willow, Buffy, and the others had been hiding from their loved ones came pouring out.

Everyone found out about Buffy's being in heaven and Tara discovered that Willow put a spell on her to make her forget about a fight they'd had.  Willow was convinced that doing the spell was for the good of their relationship, but she should've known better.  Eventually, when their relationship was being threatened by Tara, Willow tried a stronger forget spell for both Tara and Buffy.  The spell backfired and everyone forgot who they were.  They got their memories back, but Willow and Tara's relationship was in shambles.  Tara's heart, her soul, was crushed because she had to realize that Willow had chosen magic over her.  She moved out of the Summers house and the two were no longer involved.

Life for them continued to go downwards as Willow's use of magic worsened.  It led to Willow deratting Amy and the two going to a powerful warlock named Rack.  The rush from the power she felt made Willow take Dawn to the warlock's lair and it led to Willow accidentally crashing a car with Dawn still inside.  It was that moment that Willow Rosenberg realized the addiction to magic that she had.  With her friends help, Willow turned away from it and began the process of healing.

A few more months passed, with Anya and Xander's wedding vastly approaching.  Needless to say, the wedding didn't have a happy ending.  Xander walked out on Anya and in return, Anya accepted D'Hoffyron's offer of being a vengeance demon again.  Just weeks after the wedding, life started to improve for Willow and Tara.  Although they were still trying to mend their broken relationship, they got back together and for the first time in a long while, both women were feeling better than they had in a long while.

But, it wouldn't last.

Just two days after their reunion, they wore torn apart by death.  Buffy's current enemies, the nerd trio, Warren, Jonathon, and Andrew, had been doing different little plans to beat Buffy.  Warren even killed his ex-girlfriend Katrina.  But, the last plan they hatched gave Warren incredible super powers.  Buffy only defeated them with Jonathon's help.  He told her to destroy the orbs that contained the source of Warren's powers.  She did and the trio were beaten.  Warren got away but Jonathon and Andrew were taken by the police.  In retaliation from his plan being beat, Warren went to Buffy's help with plans to kill her.  He shot off a series of bullets from his gun.  He shot Buffy, but one of the stray bullets went through the window of the second floor and Tara was killed.

The rage that swelled in Willow's heart after her beloved's death was intense and explosively powerful.  Willow absorbed every last ounce of dark magic from all of the books at the Magic Box and went after Warren, Andrew, and Jonathon with only one thought controlling her, vengeance. Buffy and Xander tried to stop her, but they didn't arrive in time to stop her from killing Warren.  Buffy was forced into protecting the other two members of the trio from Willow.  The entire situation escalated when Willow tried to end the world using her power.

The power she had was so powerful that she could end the world to stop her pain.  It took Anyanka and Giles, who came back to Sunnydale to help, to stop her.  They used a powerful spell that took all of Willow's power from her.  By then, Willow had broken down into heartwrenching sobs on Xander's chest.  All the pain from losing Tara hit full force and she was left a broken mess.

So now, on this day, Sunnydale had seen a year of horrific happenings.  The group were now assembling at the Summers house for the funeral of Tara MaClay.  At the moment, Buffy was already dressed.  She wore a black turtleneck sweater over a pair of dark black leather pants.  She was sitting on the couch in the living room with one of her best friends, Xander Harris.  He wore the dress suit that he'd worn at Buffy and Dawn's mother's funeral, Joyce Summers.  Both faces were sad and very depressed as they knew the day was going to be horrible for Willow.  They were waiting for her and Dawn to come downstairs.  Dawn had decided to stay with Willow as she got ready.  Willow had needed someone to be with her at all times since her descent into the dark magic after her lover's death.  Giles was going to meet them at the cemetery.

Xander sighed as he leaned back against the couch and glanced at the ceiling.  "This....isn't going to be a good day."

Buffy glanced at him for a moment before she crossed her arms over her chest.  "No...it isn't."

Both were silent as they thought about things.  Xander broke the silence.  "I.......I just can't believe everything that's happened the past few months.  The wedding going to hell, Anya's a demon again......Will and Tara got back together, only to....." he stopped as he felt tears welling up from just thinking about what Willow must be going through right now.  "It shouldn't have ended this way.  Tara shouldn't have died like that."

Buffy nodded, agreeing with him.  "I know.  They were finally putting their relationship back together and this happens.  Now I know why I hate life.  It's just not fair sometimes." she said as she closed her eyes.  She and Tara had never been close, but Buffy did consider Tara to be a great friend.  "I'm kind of worried, Xander." she said after a few moments.

Xander raised his head and glanced at her.  "About Will?" he guessed.

Buffy nodded.  "Yeah, ever since we stopped her from killing Jonathon and Andrew, she's been quiet.  I mean, in the past three days since all that happened, she hasn't said ten words.  I'm beginning to wonder if she's going to get through this at all."

Xander stood up and walked to the window, glancing out as he put his hands in his pockets.  "I know.  I'm worried about her too Buffy." he said, "Can I tell you something?"

"Yeah." she answered him as she watched him face her.

"After you....died," he said, falling silent at the pain that remembering her death always brought, "both Will and me cried for hours and it took days, weeks, before we could even...leave the house.  I remember how Will was after you died.  She was in pain, yeah....but, it was nothing compared to the way she's acting now."

Buffy also rose and walked over to Xander.  "Well, I can tell you this with absolute surety.  Willow loved Tara more than she did any of us.  I faced that fact a long time ago.  I mean, I still remember her going after Glory when she brain-sucked Tara.  That proved to me the lengths she'd go to for Tara." Buffy stopped and looked down at the floor.  "I'm afraid that losing Tara is going to break Willow's spirit in the long run.  I really don't think she's going to get past this.  Even with our help."

Xander's throat tightened and he couldn't speak as the tears that were welled up in his eyes fell over.  He went back over to the couch and sat down.  He hoped Buffy was wrong, but, every instinct in him knew that she was right.  Without Tara, Willow wasn't going to survive much longer.

---**---

Upstairs, Dawn was standing in the doorway to Willow's room.  She was dressed in a light green sweater with a pair of dark green dress pants.  She had on her badge jacket on over her sweater.  Dawn had tears in her eyes as she watched Willow walk out of the bathroom.  Willow had on a dark blue shirt that matched the style shirt she wore the day after she and Tara had reunited.  The style matched the pink shirt she wore then.  She wore a dark blue pair of dress pants over her legs.  She had her hair combed all the way back, letting it remain untied and free.  Tara always liked it that way. Dawn thought with sadness.  She'd had a conversation with Tara once about things that Tara liked about Willow.

Dawn watched with emotion as Willow stopped by the bed, on the opposite side that Dawn was standing and picked something up off the table.  Dawn almost rushed forward as Willow abruptly sat down on the bed and lowered her head.  Dawn stayed back for a moment then she did rush forward when she saw Willow's shoulders shake as she cried.  Dawn walked around the bed and sat down next to Willow, laying an arm around her shoulders in silent comfort.  Dawn wanted to break down herself, but she wanted to be strong for her friend.

Willow continued to silently cry for a few moments before she sniffled her nose and stood up, removing Dawn's arm from her shoulders as she did so.  She put the item she'd been holding back on the table and walked out of the room without a further word.  Dawn also rose and looked at the table.  Dawn's tears fell across her makeup covered cheeks as she saw what Willow had seen.  It was a necklace that Dawn had recognized as one of Tara's.  Dawn took several deep breaths as she followed Willow downstairs.

Buffy and Xander rose as they heard the steps and faced them as Willow came down with Dawn behind her.  They saw the dried tear marks on both women's faces and they walked forward.  "Will?" Buffy said softly.

"You okay?" Xander inquired as he stood next to Buffy.

Willow looked at Xander, then Buffy.  She knew they were concerned about her.  Willow also knew that she had yet to talk to either of them about the actions she did while her rage controlled her.  But, at the moment, she couldn't find the reason to care.  "Fine." she said as she walked passed them and went to sit down on the couch.  She had her hands wrung together and she stared at them intently.

Buffy watched her sadly, shaking her head.  "Will, you need to eat something before we go.  We were going to stop by Stoney's.  You like that place right?"

"Yeah, we've eaten there plenty of times.  Right, Will?" Xander added, hoping to draw their friend out of her depression.

Willow remained silent as she stared at her hands.  She knew deep down that if she looked up, the walls she'd built up would come crumbling down and she'd start crying and wouldn't stop.  She had to be strong until the funeral was over.  Then, she'd let the emotions come out.  "What time is it?" she asked instead of answering.

Dawn looked at her watch as she stood with her sister.  "It's nine thirty."

Tara's funeral was set for eleven that morning, so they did have time for a meal.

Willow slowly allowed her eyes to look upward, first looking at Dawn, then at Xander, and finally meeting Buffy's eyes.  "Look," she said softly, "I know you all are trying to help, but....there are just some things you can't help me with.  You don't know what I'm going through.  It's.....everything is just so hard." Willow felt tears stinging her eyes as she continued.  "Every minute I look around, hoping to see her face there.  Everywhere I go, I see her standing there then I don't.  It's just so hard." she let the tears fall but she didn't break down.

Buffy pursed her lips as she moved forward and kneeled at Willow's feet.  "Will, you're right.  None of us can know what you're going through right now.  But, it'll get better Will.  It will." Buffy told her.

Willow's expression on her face hardened in an instance and she rose without warning.  "How the hell can you know that Buffy?  Do you have any idea how much I loved Tara?  Do you really because I don't think any of you do.  She was my whole life.  I was miserable all that time we were apart."

They looked compassionate back at her.  "Will, we know how much she meant to you.  I saw how miserable you were, all I'm saying is that through time, you'll be able to.." Buffy was interrupted by Willow.

"To what!  Forget her!  Is that what you were going to say?" Willow demanded.

Xander shook his head.  "Of course not, Will.  All Buffy's saying is that the pain will go away.  It will lessen.  You just need some time.  Come on, why don't we go to Stoney's and get something to eat.  This day is going to be difficult to get through as it is."

Willow slowly turned around and walked back to the couch.  Bending down, she grabbed her purse.  "Look, I....I need to be alone right now.  I'll see you all at the .......the place at eleven." she turned for the door.

"Willow wait!" Buffy said.  "Where are you going?" she asked.

"What!" Willow spun around and stared at her friend.  She was just barely holding her emotions in.

"Where will you be?" Buffy asked.

Willow sighed heavily.  "I.....I I don't know.  I just need to be alone."

The redheaded former witch turned and left the house without another word.  Her friends stood in awkward silence, not knowing what to say or do next.

---**---

Sitting in front of a laptop computer screen in a hotel room is a lone figure.  The figure is definitely a woman.  She had dark black hair and silver eyes.  Eyes unlike any other person on the planet.  On the screen of the laptop computer is an older gentleman in his late forties.  He also has dark hair and he has blue eyes.

"Sir." the woman said with a nod.

"Miss Baxter," the man on the screen intoned, "have you arrived yet?"

The woman nodded, knowing her boss could see her.  "Yes sir.  I just checked into the hotel.  I haven't had a chance to approach the slayer or her friends."

The man on the screen nodded.  "Alright, wait until the funeral has ended and approach them then.  Remember, the window of opportunity here is very limited.  Don't approach Miss Rosenberg until after you've spoken with the slayer.  I don't want there to be any trouble while you're there."

"Absolutely sir." the woman, her name was Sonya Baxter, said.  "I am wondering sir....is there any news on Jacob?"

The man on the screen took a deep breath.  "Yes, as a matter of fact, I'm glad you brought him up.  Our seers have told me that Jacob's heading to Sunnydale. That's one of the reasons our time is limited.  You have to convince them before he gets there.  I am almost positive that Jacob will go after the slayer and Rosenberg first.  That's why time is such an important factor right now."

Sonya nodded.  "I understand sir.  I will wait until the funeral is over and they are back at the house before I approach."

The man on the screen nodded before he ended the communication link.  The woman pressed a few buttons and a scene unfolded on the screen.  She was getting a feedback from a camera placed about one hundred feet from Tara MaClay's funeral.  Checking her watch, Sonya Baxter noticed that the time red 10:48.  She sighed as she leaned back in her chair to watch the scene unfold.

---**---

"Today, we put to rest a gentle soul.  Today, friends and family gather to celebrate the life of Tara MaClay: friend, partner, daughter." a deep toned voice spoke over the sounds of the birds calling.

The funeral had begun.  A shiny darker tint of blue coffin lay just above ground.  The casket had front part of it's top up, showing the face and shoulders of Tara MaClay.  The dress Willow had given the funeral home for her to wear was the wraparound dress that she'd wore when she and Willow had come downstairs to help Buffy and Dawn with going through the trio's stuff that Buffy had brought to the house.  The funeral home had done her hair where it was combed straight back, showing her face to those who mourned her death.

Gathered all around the location of the burial was Buffy, Dawn, Giles, Xander, Anya, Willow, and a few others.  One of the others that were there was the college student that Willow had seen with Tara at the university.  Others were those who had either met Tara at one point or had known Buffy for a while.  Nevertheless, the atmosphere of this gathering was sad and thick with emotion.

"I ask at this time that if there is anyone here who would like to say something about the deceased, you may do so right now." the priest said as he stepped back from the podium and waited to see who would step forward.

At first, there was nothing but silence, then someone stepped forward.  Buffy walked to where the podium was and stood there.  She didn't know why she'd stepped forward, but she felt she had to.  To give closure for herself and for Tara.  "I haven't known Tara that long..." she started.  "At first, my only association with her was through my best friend Willow.  But, through time....Tara became a good friend to me.  She was a trustworthy person and I......" Buffy had to pause as she felt a lump in her throat.  "I will miss her.  Very much."

Buffy stepped back and walked back over and stood next to Willow.  She glanced around at the others gathered.  Xander was standing on Willow's other side.  Dawn was standing next to Buffy and Anya was standing slightly off to one side.  Everyone else seemed to be behind them.  Giles stood at Dawn's other side.  Glancing back at Willow, Buffy's throat constricted at the sheer anguish she saw on her friend's face.  Tears were running down Willow's cheeks.  There were dried ones and new ones going over them.  Her mouth was slightly open and both lips were trembling and Buffy knew that her friend was trying incredibly hard to keep it together in front of everyone.

The priest who was doing the ceremony waited a few seconds after Buffy stepped down before he spoke from his point near the crowd.  "Is there anyone else who would like to say something?" he asked quietly, then walked away and waited.

A long moment of silence followed the priest's words before soft footsteps moved forward and everyone watched on with intense sadness as Willow moved, not to the podium, but to the casket.  Xander and Buffy glanced at each other in silence as they watched on.  Willow's back was to the small gathered crowd as she lowered her head and brushed her lips to the corner of Tara's and pressed them there for several seconds before pulling back.

Willow left her hands on the side of the coffin as her eyes watered from just seeing the body of her lover.  Her entire body shook as a sob went through her.  That was all the movement Buffy could hear before she and Xander rushed forward and helped Willow back.  Everyone in the crowd watched on with compassion as the priest walked back to the podium.

He looked sympathetically at the three friends as Xander and Buffy helped console the now sobbing Willow.  "Let us pray." he merely said as he closed his eyes and spoke.  "Dear heavenly father, we bring to your hands Tara MaClay.  She was a friend, a daughter, a gentle woman.  Please watch over her soul as you would.  In Jesus name we pray, Amen."

A few more minutes passed before the funeral drew to a close.  The people who were friends of Buffy's, or friends of Xander, began to walk away, offering their condolences to them as they passed.  People continued leaving until just Buffy, Willow, Xander, Anya, Dawn, and Giles remained.

"We should head back to the house." Giles said, his hands in his pockets.

Anya was slightly off to one side, but she started to move over.  She was only at the funeral for Tara.  Although they never truly connected, Anya did like Tara.  She was always nicer to Anya than most of the others were.  "I'm sorry, Willow.  I really am." she said sincerely.  Anya could still feel the power radiating off of Willow's aura.  It had less than a week since she and Giles had done the powerful spell that had stripped Willow of all the dark magic she had consumed to exact her vengeance.  But, Anya knew that Willow's true power, the power she was born with was still lingering there.  Anya waited a few seconds more, then she turned and began heading off, knowing Xander's eyes were watching her leave.

Xander sighed, knowing that the chances of having Anya back were rapidly decreasing.  He shook his head and helped Buffy walk Willow to the cars.  Giles stayed a step behind them, his mind heavy in thought of many things.  Since his return to Sunnydale, so much had happened in so little time that it was so much to take in.  Finally, the small group reached the cars and they stood silently.  Buffy and Xander were watching Willow.

"So?" Buffy spoke after a few moments of silence.

"Let's go." Giles said before he opened the door to his sports car.  He got in the driver's side as Xander helped Buffy put Willow on the passenger's side.  Ever since she'd started crying over Tara's body, she'd not said a word.  Xander and Buffy seated themselves in the back seats of the sports car as they slowly left the cemetery.  All were silent on the drive away from the cemetery as a lone figure walked towards Tara's grave.  Her coffin was in the ground and covered with the dirt as the figure stopped in front of it.

The man had black pants and he had a white button up shirt tucked into his pants.  A black leather vest was tied over his shirt.  On his right thigh, a dagger was belted to his side.  The sleeves on his shirt went down over his arms until they reached the forearms.  Steel gauntlets were merged into his skin all the way to his fingernails.  His hands were mostly skin, but the skin molded to steel at his fingertips, which were as pointy looking as a stake.  He had a black goatee over his face and he had dark slick black hair that cascaded over his shoulders, just at the shoulder blades.  His eyes were a haunting silver color.

He looked at the tombstone that read "Tara MaClay" and kneeled next to it.  His eyes closed as he reached out a hand over the pile of dirt and projected his power.  A few moments later, he opened his eyes and stood up.  He opened his mouth, revealing fangs on his upper and lower teeth.  "Tara MaClay.  Your family doesn't know it, yet....but your destiny on Earth isn't yet over." he put a pair of sunglasses over his eyes and began walking away, in the opposite direction of the parking lot.

---**---

About ten minutes later, they were all back at the Summers' House.  Dawn was in her room, telling the others that she just needed some time by herself.  Buffy knew how much Dawn had meant to Tara so she didn't try force anything.  Xander and Buffy were in the living room with Giles.  They had just been upstairs, where Willow had fallen asleep after an intense dose of crying.  Buffy let her sleep in her room instead of Willow's because Buffy knew there had to be intense memories that only the Willow and Tara had in that room and she understood Willow's need to not dwell on those memories.

Xander was seated on the couch with Buffy sitting next to him.  Giles was sitting on the chair across from them, all three of them were solemn and quiet, not really sure what to say during this very difficult time.

"So.." Giles started, "how is Willow doing?  Honestly.."

Xander and Buffy shared a look.  "Honestly.....Will is......she's in pieces Giles." Xander told the Watcher.  He had his jacket off as he leaned back.

"Yeah.  Ever since we brought her back from her vengeance quest, she hasn't been the same.  She broken Giles.  I'm not sure if anything can bring her out of this." Buffy said, shaking her head.

Xander leaned forward as he remembered something about a previous conversation the three of them had.  "Giles," he said in a low and hushed tone, "did you take care of.........Warren?" he asked, closing his eyes.  He still remembered what Willow had done to the geek that had almost killed Buffy.

Buffy closed her eyes as well.  She had gotten to that area of the forest as Willow had taken a life.  She had killed Warren in vengeance from his actions that led to Tara's death.  She still couldn't believe the lengths that Willow had gone after her lover's shooting.

Giles took his glasses off as he gazed at them impassively.  "Yes.  The authorities won't find Warren or any evidence that points to Willow.  But, I want to tell this to both of you.  The authorities will come asking about Tara's death.  When they do, don't say anything about past involvements with Warren.  Alright?"

"Absolutely Giles." Xander said.

"Not a word will pass my lips that could put Will in danger." Buffy told him.

A knock at the door interrupted any further words the three of them might've said to each other.  Buffy rose from the couch and walked over to answer it.  Grasping the handle, she opened the door and her eyes fell on a slightly older woman in at least her thirties.  She had jet black hair and a nice looking figure.  She had a sad look on her face as she looked at Buffy's face.  "Yes?  May I help you, ma'am?" she asked.

Sonya Baxter had her hands laced together in front of her.  "Yes, you're Miss Summers, correct?" she said, though she already knew the answer.  She just needed a way to kick off her reason for being here.

Buffy nodded.  "Yes."

"My name is Sonya Baxter and I am here on urgent business.  May I come in?" Sonya inquired.

Buffy opened her mouth to speak, but Giles stepped behind her.  "No." his voice was cold and harsh and it was a tone that Buffy had heard before.  Back when the Council was at the Magic Box.  "YOU are not welcome here, Sonya." Giles said vehemently.

"You know her, Giles?" Buffy asked.

No answer from the Watcher.  Buffy spoke after a moment.  "Look, Ms. Baxter....we just got back from a funeral of a friend of ours.  Now is really not the right time to talk to us."

Sonya's eyes were on Giles.  Even after all these years, Sonya still found him extremely arousing and handsome.  She shook her head as she began to talk.  "I am aware of Miss MaClay's funeral, Miss Summers.  That's actually why I'm here."

"Talk fast." Giles said as he gripped the door.  The anger was radiating off of him and Buffy figured something really horrible had gone on between them in the past.

Sonya sighed, wishing Giles wasn't here.  "Rupert, would you please calm yourself.  I am here to help Miss Rosenberg."

"How?" Buffy asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Let me inside and I will explain." Sonya's eyes met Giles's above Buffy's head.

Giles stared at her for one long moment before he motioned for Bufy to move aside.  "Explain yourself then." Giles said as he escorted Sonya inside.  Sonya sighed, this was going to be the difficult part of her job here in Sunnydale.

Chapter Two

Giles, Buffy, and Xander were in the kitchen, where they were all watching Sonya Baxter as she stood before them.  Sonya looked at first at Giles, then at Xander, and finally let her eyes remain focused on Buffy.  She kept her eyes locked on the slayer for a few more moments before she looked down.  Then, she began.

"You said you were here to help Willow?" Buffy interrupted her before she could talk.

Sonya nodded as she walked around the spacey kitchen.  "Yes.  Miss Rosenberg is....unless you haven't figured it out, broken."

"We are aware of Will's condition, Miss Baxter." Xander told her.

Sonya Baxter crossed her arms over her chest.  "Yes, I believe you are.  But, you don't know what I know."

"Get to the bloody point!" Giles roared, tired of her games.

"Fine." Sonya said, beginning her tale.  "I was sent here by two groups of people you should know about.  The first, the Watchers Council.  The other group is the Witches Committee.  I was sent here to help bring Miss MaClay back from the dead." she told them and now, she merely waited for the explosion.

"What?!?" Buffy steamed, walking towards Sonya.  "What are you talking about!  Tara can't be brought back."

Giles walked over and put his hands on Buffy's shoulders to stop her in mid motion.  He could tell she was close to slugging Sonya.  "Will you explain that please, Sonya?"

Sonya sighed, the difficult part of this job was next.  "Have any of you ever heard of the Powers That Be?" she asked.

Giles removed his glasses.  "I have only heard myths about the Powers That Be.  Supposedly, they are the spiritual beings responsible for life."

"I've heard of them." Buffy said.  "When I was dead, I didn't really meet them as much as I got the feeling that they were all around me."

"Yes.  The Powers That Be are judges of every single living being in the universe.  When a person is born, the Powers That Be have a design on their life already planned out.  Somewhere along the line, that design gets changed when major developments happens in a person's life." Sonya told them.

"And this business with the PTB has to do Willow or Tara how?" Xander asked bitterly.

"Because Miss MaClay died before she fated to." Sonya said.

They were quiet as they digested that.

"You see, what Miss Rosenberg didn't consider before her rage consumed her was there are more ways to resurrect someone than just asking Osiris." Sonya said as she continued.  "Osiris told her that Miss MaClay couldn't be brought back simply because her death was natural.  And under normal circumstances, that is true.  Normally, someone who died under natural circumstances can't be brought back."

"But you're telling us that Tara didn't die under natural circumstances, right?" Buffy said, a small shimmer of hope for Willow was beginning to develop.

Sonya shook her head.  "No, Miss MaClay died under natural circumstances.  The situation with her death is that because she died before the Powers That Be had already fated to, her soul can't go to heaven or hell."

Xander's face showed his confusion.  "Wait a minute.  If her soul's not in heaven or hell, where is it?" 

This was another hard thing for her to say.  It was obvious to her that they cared for Tara as well as Willow.  "Miss MaClay's soul is trapped in the realm between heaven and hell.  Most religions of the world call it limbo.  It does exist and she is forever trapped in limbo unless we can bring her out.  That's why I'm here.  To give you a chance to have her back.  To give Miss Rosenberg the chance to have her everything back."

"How do we know that this isn't some kind of ploy by the Council or the Committee?" Giles asked, still doubtful of Sonya's sincerity.

Sonya Baxter sighed.  "You'll just have to believe me.  Rupert, I know we've had our troubles in the past, but I'm not doing evil deeds any more.  You have to trust me.  I'm here because I want to help all of you."

Buffy took a few minutes to think about Sonya's words.  She knew there was a chance that she was lying to them and Buffy knew she'd kill the woman if she was.  But, Buffy glanced upstairs.  Willow's soul, her spirit, was broken since the shooting.  It had caused Willow to kill Warren and almost kill all of them.  Having Tara back would fill that hole that she knew was in Willow's heart.  Buffy really wasn't sure what to do.

"Alright, I can see that you are going to need something else to help you believe me.  I will tell you this.  The Witches Committee has a team of seers that works for them.  The seers helps the Committee find unregistered witches with great power.  But sometimes, at the request of the Committee's elders, the seers will look into the future and be able to project different futures for different people.  And the seers have already done that with each of you." Sonya said.

"Your seers knows how our lives are gonna turn out?" Xander asked incredulously.

Sonya nodded and waited to see if they wanted to know.

After a moment, Giles spoke.  "Alright, tell us."

Sonya began with Willow.  "If I leave Sunnydale without bringing Miss MaClay back, this is what will happen.  Miss Rosenberg will continue to worsen into a deep depression that no one will be able to pull her out of.  Even with all of your love and support, she will still lose more and more of herself in her depression.  It will lead to six months from now, Miss Rosenberg will once again turn to dark magic.  Only, it will be different than what you all just went through with her.  Her purpose for using the dark magic will be to kill herself.  She'll return to the warlock Rack and offer herself to him in return for power.  The woman you knew as your friend will slowly disappear and be replaced by a Willow consumed with hatred.  None of you will be able to reach her."

Giles, Buffy, and Xander swallowed audibly at knowing what would happen.  Although a small part of them knew the words could be lies, they truly felt that's what would happen.  Sonya continued with her telling.  "Eventually, Miss Rosenberg will begin a new attack on Sunnydale.  You, Buffy, will fight her.  The battle you two face will be brutal and in the end, you stand over her as the winner.  Miss Rosenberg will be given what she wanted, death.  It will lead to you hating yourself for what you did to your best friend.  One night on patrol, a team of vampires attacks you and you let them kill you.  The grief you feel from killing Willow will be too intense.  After your death, Giles will return to England, where he will stay and live by himself in his home.  You Mr. Harris become too grief stricken at losing your friends that you take your own life soon after.  The only one who survives all this is Dawn."

There was a tense moment of silence as the three of them digested the words.  They didn't want to believe what Sonya said was true, but they felt in their hearts that the words were true.  "And all of this goes on the idea that you leave Sunnydale without resurrecting Tara?" Buffy wanted to know.

Sonya nodded.  "Yes.  There is another possible future that the seers have seen.  And this future goes on the principle that you convince Miss Rosenberg to try this spell.  After Miss MaClay's resurrection, the two of them will face a difficult journey to get back to what they had.  It won't be an easy time for them, but together, they will survive.  You and Mr. Harris will also recover from your past inner demons and be stronger because of it.  Rupert, you end up staying in Sunnydale to help Buffy with Dawn and with patrolling.  All in all, it is better if Miss MaClay is given a second chance.  But, I leave the decision up to you."

Giles met Buffy's eyes for a long and very intense moment.  Then, Buffy spoke six words.  "I'm going to talk to her." Buffy said before she turned and headed out of the kitchen and upstairs.  Silence reigned in the kitchen after the slayer left.

---**---

Willow sat on her bed, her fingers gently grasping a small picture frame.  Inside the frame was a single picture of one of the happiest times of Willow's entire life.  It had been two weeks after Buffy's death.  She and Tara had gone on a small vacation for about two weeks.  There was a small cabin in the woods outside Sunnydale that they spent the time at.  The picture that they'd had taken was a picture that showed love throughout.  Both Willow and Tara were leaning against a very large and thick oak tree.  Tara had her arms wrapped around Willow's middle and Willow had her hands wrapped around Tara's hands.  Both women were smiling broadly at the picture.  Tara had her cheek pressed against Willow's and the expression on the blonde witch's face was of absolute bliss and happiness.

Willow's cheeks were soaked in her tears.  New tears fell over dried ones as she ran her fingers over Tara's face in the photo.  Sobs wracked her body as she gave in to the emotions that were overwhelming her heart.  The past two weeks since Tara's death were the hardest the redhead had ever faced in her life.  The anguish in her soul after the shooting happened was so powerful that it had driven her mad with rage....fury.  She didn't care about her life any more because her world was forever shattered.  She wanted vengeance against Warren and she got it through the darker magic.

She had hoped with all of her heart and soul that Osiris would grant her request and bring Tara back.  But, he had refused and her request and that was the last straw for her.  She couldn't deal with the pain of losing Tara and she let her rage control her.  After she consumed the black magic, she killed Warren after torturing him first.  She did so many things after that that she was now ashamed of.  Part of her was glad that her friends had saved her from the power.  She had no doubt she would have destroyed the world had they not brought her out of it.  But, the other part of her wished they hadn't saved her because now she had to deal with the pain, the searing emotional pain of living life without Tara.  Of growing old without the woman she wanted to grow old with.

A light tap at the door drew Willow's attention.  She didn't move from where she was, she just continued staring at Tara's face.  She did acknowledge the tap, however.  "What?" she said hoarsely, her voice low and filled with pain.

Buffy entered and closed the door behind her.  For the first few moments, she stood there watching Willow's back.  Buffy meant it when she told Willow that she couldn't understand what she had to be going through.  Losing the person you loved most to death was something Buffy was familiar with, but Buffy knew that she didn't love Angel as much as Willow loved Tara and she also knew that the separation had to be tearing her best friend apart.  She didn't like it one bit.

"Will, I'm glad you're awake.  There's kind of something I need to talk to you about." Buffy began.  She wasn't sure how to proceed with this conversation because she knew it was going to hurt Willow to hear it.

Willow looked up, wondering a tiny bit what her friend was talking about.  "What is it?" she asked in a quiet voice.

Buffy sat down on the bed to Willow's left and sat sideways so she was facing her friend.  She could still remember the cataclysmic fight against Willow the destroyed the Magic Box only days earlier.  Although they had stripped Willow of her power, Buffy could still detect tiny signs of the fury Willow had inside her.  "There's someone downstairs who was sent to Sunnydale by the Witches Committee." she said slowly.

Instead of saying anything, Willow looked back down at the picture, continuing to caress it with her fingertips.  "And." she said slowly.

Buffy took a deep breath, the hard part of this was coming up.  "Will, this woman, her name's Sonya Baxter.  Well, she seems to think that there is a way to......" she stopped.

Willow looked at her through puffy eyes.  "To what?" her eyes drilled into Buffy's.

Buffy wasn't sure what was about to happen to her when she said it, but she steeled herself for whatever came.  "This Sonya woman says that there's still a way to bring Tara back." Buffy told her.  Now, she just had to wait and see what Willow would say or do.

Willow stared at Buffy hard for several long moments before she looked back down at the picture, her finger touching Tara's face.  "It's not possible." Willow managed through heavy breaths.  "I already asked Osiris to bring her back.  He refused."

Buffy stared at Willow in shock.  She had no idea that Willow had already tried to bring her back, although she had expected as much.  But Buffy had to at least try to get Willow to listen to Sonya.  "Will, why don't you come downstairs and at least listen to what Miss Baxter has to say.  She seems to believe that Tara's soul is trapped."

That got an immediate reaction.  Willow's head snapped up and eyes as crisp as ice drilled into her.  It reminded Buffy as the Willow she'd fought days earlier.  "What did you say?" she demanded.  "How is Tara's soul trapped?"

Buffy swallowed, unable to hold her friend's gaze.  "Sonya told us that under normal circumstances, Tara wouldn't be able to be brought back, but she said that there are circumstances here.  She says that Tara wasn't supposed to die when she did.  The Witches Committee has these seers that can see the future.  Sonya told us that she saw the future and you and Tara were supposed to die at an old age, together." Buffy paused before she continued.  "Sonya said because Tara died before she was supposed to, her soul can't go to heaven nor can it go to hell.  Sonya's pretty sure that her soul is trapped in a realm between heaven and hell.  She called it limbo."

Willow was silent for several long moments.  The quiet in the room was so uncomfortable that Buffy was about to stand up off the bed when Willow spoke.  "I think I want to hear what this woman has to say." Willow said quietly.  Willow placed the picture frame back on the small bedside table and stood, letting Buffy in front of her as the two left Willow's room and headed downstairs.  Willow didn't say anything while they walked, she just had to know what this woman knew.  She knew that if she talked to this Sonya Baxter, Willow would be able to tell if she was lying or not.  She hoped the woman was lying simply because she hated the idea that Tara's spirit was trapped between realms.

---**---

At one of the smaller cemeteries in Sunnydale, a group of thirty or so vampires were holding up in a large stone crypt.  Ever since Willow had tried to end the world, the vamps had just decided to stay out of the way hold up wherever they could.  The lead vampire of these thirty was named Crate.  He didn't much like his human name and, after he rose from the ground, he changed it to Crate.  None of the other vamps really understood why Crate, but the vampire had already proven he was the strongest of them, so they didn't question his choice.

Right now, Crate was doing his best to try to enlist some confidence in the group.  He was looking to lead the large group of vampires in rampaging through Sunnydale.  He wanted them to start with destroying the slayer, but so far, they were arguing with him, repeatedly saying the slayer would dust them all.  Crate believed that if they attacked in numbers, they would overcome even her might.  They simply weren't believing him and Crate knew they weren't going to follow him.

"I'm telling all of you..." Crate was saying, standing just in front of the entrance, enough feet away that if it burst open, it wouldn't hit him,  "if we gang up on the slayer, we'll take her down.  Who's with me?!?"

A female vampire with dark hair and hazel eyes stepped forward.  She wore a black silk dress.  "Crate, it's not that we don't want to destroy the slayer.  We do!  It's just that vamps, demons, hell...even a god, have tried to beat down the slayer.  She overcomes all the odds.  None of us want to be dusted anytime soon." she argued.

"Aliana, listen to me.  The slayer can be destroyed.  We just have to plan it right.  It can be done.  I know it!" Crate swore.

Before any other vamp could say another word, the door to the stone crypt not only burst open, it shattered into dozens of pieces, scattering all over the interior of the crypt.  The vamps rose to alert as they faced the intruder to their base.  Crate stepped back and faced the entrance, waiting to see who or what dared to intrude on their meeting.

The stranger that filled the entrance to the crypt had eery silver eyes.  He smiled at the group of vampires, his protruding fangs glinting from the fire's lights.  The vamps noticed that his hands were not completely skin, but also steel.  His entire appearance unnerved some of them, but others were just wary of him, having no recollection of who or what he was.

Crate summed up his vampiric guts and stepped forward.  "I am Crate, leader of this group of vampires.  What is your business here?" he demanded of the intruder.

The stranger's silver eyes flicked to Crate and he pursed his lips, considering the vampire.  He judged just from his aura that the vampire hadn't been a vamp for very long, less than two years in fact.  The stranger raised his right hand out, palm facing Crate and in a matter of moments, a powerful red and black beam of energy shot from his palm and impacted Crate's body.  Crate immediately fell to his knees in shock before his body erupted in flames, ending his existence.  The stranger's eyes flicked back to the other vampires who were now showing fear and shock at the being's power.  They figured he was a vampire from the fangs.  But, no vampire that they knew of had mystical power.

The stranger walked into the crypt, stopping when he was in the center of the crypt.  "Now," he said calmly, "is there anyone else who wants to demand anything of me?"

The group of vampires slowly backed away from him, not wanting to meet the same fate as Crate.  The stranger smiled, showing his fangs once again.  "Good." he said as he slowly walked around the crypt.  "I have come to the hellmouth with a very special purpose in mind.  I am recruiting an army of vampires.  I am giving each and every one of you the chance to join me.  If you join my army, I promise you the slayer will not be of any importance.  I promise you riches and desires beyond your wildest imagination."

Aliana, the vampire nearest him, needed only a moment to make her decision.  She bowed to one knee and in that one position, she pledged herself to his army.  Moments later, the other vampires bowed as well, knowing that if Aliana pledged to him, then it was the decision they had to make as well.  The stranger smiled evilly, letting the pleasure of having more soldiers for his army show.

"What shall we call you master?" Aliana asked after the stranger gave them permission to rise.

The stranger walked back to the entrance before he turned around.  "You can call me Deacon." he said.  "When the time comes, I will send for you.  Be ready." he said before he turned and left, walking out into the bright sun.  The shocked group of vampires stared in shock at his body as they realized he was much stronger than they ever thought a vampire could be.

Chapter Three

Back at the Summers' House, Sonya Baxter, Giles, and Xander were in the living room.  Xander was sitting on the spacey couch while Sonya sat on one of the chairs.  Giles was standing near the window, his face set with an angry expression on it.  He knew that Sonya was here for something else besides Tara's apparant resurrection, which Giles was still doubting.  Giles knew Sonya well enough to know she always had an ulterior motive, but at the moment, he knew she wouldn't come clean until she talked with Willow and Giles wasn't about to let Sonya hurt the redhead anymore than she was already hurting.

They heard footsteps coming from the kitchen and they turned.  Buffy entered with Willow just a step behind her.  Willow's cheeks were puffy, the dried tears evident to anyone who looked at her.  Her eyes were bloodshot from crying and her hair was slightly disheveled.  Sonya rose from the couch to greet the young woman.

"Miss Rosenberg." Sonya said, extending her hand out.

Cautiously, Willow shook the woman's hand.  "Buffy told me you have some news concerning Tara." Willow said, releasing Sonya's hand.

Sonya nodded, a little thrown at the bluntness Willow was showing.  But then, given the information the Witches Committee had already supplied Sonya, she shouldn't have been that surprised.  "Perhaps you should sit down, Miss Rosenberg.  Some of this won't be pleasant." she said.

Willow paused to consider the woman.  The woman's demeanor seemed kind enough to Willow, but the redhead had met enough vamps and demons to know that looks could be deceiving.  Willow did, however, walking over to the couch and sat at the opposite side where Xander was sitting.  Sonya sighed, knowing this was going to be a difficult conversation, but then again, this entire mission that she was assigned was difficult.  "Fine, now talk." Willow said, crossing her arms across her chest.

Here we go. Sonya thought to herself.  "Alright.  As I was saying to your friends, your partner died before her time.  Let me start at the beginning.  The Witches Committee has been keeping their eyes on both you and Miss MaClay for the past two years.  Their attention was on you because one of their contacts here in Sunnydale could feel the power, the potential inside of you.  You tapped into your power this year, but it's always been there.  Miss MaClay, however, has been in the Committee's attention for many years."

Willow leaned forward.  "Why?"

"Because of Tara's mother, Denise Bianca MaClay.  Tara's mother had massive power.  Her power was so great that if she had chosen to, she could have crushed this entire city within a day.  Her power was based in light, not in dark like your abilities.  When the Committee learned that Denise had a child, a daughter, the Committee was planning on taking Tara away to be trained to use her inherited power for their purposes." Sonya told them.

"God....they sound worse than the Watcher's Council." Buffy stated.

Sonya nodded.  "Yes...well, there were those in the Committee that believed that Tara didn't possess any of her mother's abilities.  It was decided that they would wait and see if Tara possessed any of her mother's strengths.  They had planned to send a delegation to meet Tara on her eighteenth birthday.  But, by then, Tara had left her home and not even her family knew where she'd gone.  The Committee spent a long time tracking her down and it wasn't until after Quinten Travers and his delegation headed back to England before the Committee finally found her.  And by then, the Committee had given up on trying to mold her into the type of witch they could use.  So, they decided just to keep an eye on her and on you." she motioned to Willow.

"You're not explaining what any of this has to do with Tara's soul being trapped!" Willow snapped.

Sonya's gaze held Willow's.  "Let me speak and you'll understand."

"Fine." Willow leaned back again.

"Anyways," Sonya started, "the Witches Committee has special Oracles who has ties with the Powers That Be.  They had their Oracles converse with the Powers to determine a course of action as far as Miss MaClay was concerned.  The Oracles told the Committee that a chain of events had already begun that would ultimately lead to Miss MaClay's being shot in your room." she said to Willow.  "The announcement by the Oracles conflicted with the Committee because the Committee had used their seers to look into Miss MaClay's future and the future she saw involved you and Miss MaClay living well into your nineties.  The Committee decided not to step in and let things happen as the Powers had already decreed.  How this affects Miss MaClay is that her soul can't move forward to heaven or hell because her death happened before the predetermined date."

"Wait a minute.  Hold up!" Xander said, rising from the couch.  He'd been listening, but now he was confused about something.  "You just said the Powers told these Oracles that Tara was going to be shot and be killed in Will's room, but that she had a different date to die.  That doesn't make sense."

Sonya walked over to the window before turning around.  "Let me say this again, Mr. Harris.  The Powers That Be predetermine a person's destiny and existence before they are even born.  Sometimes, events happen that get in the way of that destiny.  But, their path remains the same.  If a person dies before they are destined to, their spirit or their soul can't move forward in the afterlife.  And let me tell you, there are thousands of souls who are trapped in different limbo realms because events happened that led to their deaths before they were supposed to.  What I am here to offer all of you is a chance to correct the events that led to Miss MaClay's death.  She can be brought out of the limbo and back to life.  The decision here is yours." Sonya said, her eyes locked with Willow's.

Willow swallowed hard, realizing to a small degree that this woman was here offering her the one thing she'd been praying for for the last few weeks.  Since Tara's death, Willow had prayed day and night for some way to bring her girlfriend back.  This woman was giving her her prayers.  But, there was still one problem with it.  "I can't do it." she whispered.

The whisper was so low that normal hearing perception couldn't hear it.  Buffy heard it thought. As did Sonya.  "Miss Rosenberg, do you not want to have Tara back?" she asked gently, watching Willow's face.

Fresh tears started to fall down Willow's cheeks as she rose.  "Don't." Willow said, her voice harsh with barely contained rage that was starting to boil to the surface.  "Don't stand there and ask me that.  Since that day happened, I have prayed and dreamt for nothing else but to have Tara back.  But I WON'T put Tara into the position that I put Buffy in.  I won't bring her back wishing she was dead like Buffy felt!" Willow nearly screamed the last words.

Xander rose and put his hand on his friend's shoulder for support.  What Willow did hurt Xander.  She turned around and shoved him down.  "Don't touch me Xander." she whispered, crossing her arms.  Buffy stayed back as well and Giles merely stared at Sonya.

Sonya's face was impassive.  She knew the anguish Willow was feeling.  Sonya had lost a lover a long time ago and she still felt the pain of that loss, even after all these years.  But, Sonya had to prove to Willow that Tara would be glad to be back.  "Miss Rosenberg," Sonya walked closer to Willow, "do you know anything about what limbo is?"

Willow looked at her.  "I know very little." she answered.

Sonya edged closer.  "Limbo is a realm that souls get trapped in when they cannot go forward or backward.  Being trapped in limbo is worse than any hell.  It's like swimming through an endless ocean.  You can tread the water for hours, but you'll never reach land.  It's like walking through a desert, hoping to find water.  You keep moving, but you never find it.  I promise you, Willow, Tara does not want to spend the rest of her existence trapped in that desert or in that ocean.  Her heart is with you as I know yours is with her.  I can feel the pain she's in.  It's like her soul is calling out to me.  She wants to be with you again.  She's waiting for you to help her.  I promise you, being returned to Earth is what she wants."

Buffy, Giles, and Xander glanced at Willow.  The three of them would allow this to be Willow's decision, as much as they hated it.  If Willow wanted to try it, they would support it.  If she didn't want to do it, Giles would personally throw the witch named Sonya out the door.

Willow had been looking down at the ground, thinking.  But, after a few minutes, she looked into Sonya's eyes.  "Let's do it." she said, her voice solid in conviction.  She had already made up her mind that if this resurrection attempt failed, she was going to lose herself in dark magic again.  And this time, she'd do it where none of her friends could save her.

The decision was made.  Sonya began telling them about the ritual they would do once the sun went down.  Either Tara came back tonight, or they knew they'd lose Willow for good.

---**---

The vampire named Deacon entered the penthouse apartment that the hellgod, Glorificus had once used with ease.  He had seized the apartment once he first arrived in Sunnydale.  The hellmouth was the place where his plan would begin and end.  He had been carefully planning this one event for decades and he was finally going to achieve his ultimate goal.  He would succeed and have all the power he could ever desire and he would crush all his enemies.

He kept the apartment pretty much the same.  He found that although there were some things in here he didn't like too much, Glory had good taste in where she stayed.  Deacon, however, wasn't too worried about where he stayed because he was only here until his plan was ready to be put into fruition.  He stopped at a large round table, where his three most trusted vampire servants were currently busy.  Each of them were busy trying to decipher the ancient text written on several pieces of parchment.

They were the prophecies of the most powerful vampire ever born.  The vampire was simply known as the First.  Deacon first learned of the prophecies of La Magra when he was in Egypt.  It was around three hundred years earlier when he was tracking a vampire hunter who had been taking out many of Deacon's best vampires.  He had found the hunter alright and done away with the pest after torturing him a bit.  But, hidden in the temple where Deacon had killed the hunter was the pages of the prophecies.  Deacon had been drawn to them at once.

What Deacon had already been able to decipher on his own was that the prophecy told of a great battle between the First and a vampire slayer.  The slayer had help from powerful warriors and together, they defeated the First and entombed him in a temple.  After they defeated him, they burned his flesh from his body and separated the bones to the far reaches of the world.  The same prophecy also foretold that the First was a vampire who had become so powerful, that he had become known as the Blood God.  The Blood God could control any living being that lived through blood.  So, in effect, the First was the Blood God.  The prophecy also described a ceremony that could give any demon or vampire the powers of the Blood God.  They first had to find each of the First's bones and place them in a certain order.  Other than that, they had to find the temple where the slayer and the warriors had entombed the First's flesh.  Deacon had been able to figure out that the temple was somewhere on the hellmouth, he just had to figure out where.

"Anything yet boys?" Deacon wanted to know.

Deacon's most trusted warrior, a vampire named Kolon, rose from the table.  "Sorry Deacon.  We're going as fast as we can, but the language on these parchments are so ancient that it's nearly impossible to decode."

"Keep working then, Kolon.  Time is running out.  I'm close to finding the temple and once we have the temple, we can proceed with the most important part of this process.  What have you figured out yet?"

Kolon picked up a notebook that he'd been using.  "There seems to be a part of the prophecy that tells of the weakness of the First.  The slayer and her allies were able to defeat the First because they used mystical forces plus the slayer's own powers.  There's also something else that should concern us."

"And that would be." Deacon said.

"There's a reference to a weakness that the First had, even after he became the Blood God.  The slayer and her warriors were able to defeat him because her power grew.  What the prophecy says is that if the slayer tastes the Blood God's blood, then she will become as strong as the Blood God, an equal to him.  Then, she will be strong enough to become a threat."

Deacon nodded.  "Well, that may have been his weakness, but it won't be mine.  The slayer will be dead long before the ceremony even starts." he swore, his mind already at work on a way to lure the slayer into a trap.

---**---

Nightfall had come.  Quicker than Buffy had hoped.  She was walking with Willow next to her.  Giles and Sonya were in front of them with Xander behind them.  No one was talking as they walked closer to where Sonya had told them they needed to be.  "You okay Will?" Buffy asked quietly, gazing at her friend.

Willow had been quiet for most of the afternoon, keeping her thoughts to herself.  She looked at Buffy.  "I'm just thinking about things." Willow told her.

"You're worried, right?" Buffy said.  "About this not working."

Willow looked at the grass.  "I'm more worried about it working than not working."

"Huh?"

"Buffy, as much as I want to believe what that Sonya woman is saying, I can't help but wonder if Tara's going to come back the same as she was or if she's gonna hate life like you started to." Willow admitted.

Buffy nodded, understanding more than she liked to admit.  "Will, I'm going to be honest with you.  I really don't think it's going to be the same with Tara.  If this works, I really think Tara's going to be glad to be back because she was never in heaven like I was.  She's trapped in some place worse than hell and coming back here is going to be better.  I believe that."

Willow was going to comment on that, but Sonya stopped.  They were in an open grassy field.  "We're here." she said.  Sonya set her bag of magical supplies down started going through what she was going to need.  She took out a bottle of blue powder and began pouring it out and moving around as she formed a large circle with the powder.  The circle was large enough for two people to lay down in the center of it.  Sonya then took out another bottle, this one with white powder.  She made for piles of the white powder at different points of the blue circle.  When she finished that, she took out a bottle of red powder and she poured out two lines that spread outward from one part of the blue circle and went out about ten feet.  At the end of the two red lines of powder, she made another circle.  This one was smaller, but a circle nonetheless.  That done, she looked to the others, who were watching.

She took a few deep breaths.  "Alright, this is what's going to happen.  Rupert, Buffy, and Xander will sit on their knees at one of the white powder points.  I will stand in the red circle and began the spell.  When I complete the spell, a portal to the limbo realm will open.  Now, I'm strong enough, magically, to keep the portal open for a while.  But, Willow, you need to find Tara and get her back out as soon as you can.  The portal will open directly above the blue circle.  Willow, you will stand in the blue circle.  When the portal opens, it will pull you and only you through it."

"Why just Willow?" Buffy asked.

"The spell that I will chant is calling upon the divine blessing of Aphrodite.  Only the soulmate of the soul trapped can enter the limbo realm that the trapped soul is at.  Which basically means that the limbo Tara's soul is trapped in can only be entered by Tara's soulmate.  And that's Miss Rosenberg.  Now, I have to tell you all this before we begin.  If this is successful, there are going to be some side effects." Sonya told them.

"What side effects?" Willow demanded.

"Miss MaClay has been trapped in limbo for a little while now.  Once she's back here, the second she lands back in the physical world, her body is going to go through powerful seizures.  That's why I am going to need to get to her once she lands back here.  I will be able to use my powers to vanquish the seizures.  Also, she will eventually have nightmares from her time in limbo and from her last memories of being alive before.  But, those nightmares will eventually go away.  Knowing what I've told you, are you still prepared to proceed?"

Willow nodded, more determined than ever.  "Yes."

Sonya smiled.  "Good." she said.  She went over and pulled out a burgundy blanket and draped it on the ground, in the center of the blue circle.  "This blanket comes from one of Aphrodite's sacred temples.  It's enchanted with her blessing."

"I still have a question, Sonya?" Giles spoke up.

"Yes?" Sonya turned to him.

"You said Tara will return in her body.  Her body is buried." Giles concluded.

Sonya nodded at him.  "That's true.  The spell I will chant will heal any and all wounds to Tara's body once her spirit exits the portal.  Her body will vanish from her casket and rejoin her her spirit with Miss Rosenberg.  We shouldn't waste anymore time."

Willow walked to the blue circle and stood in the center of it.  Sonya sat down on her knees in the center of the red circle.  Giles, Xander, and Buffy each sat on their knees at the designated points around the circle.  Willow closed her eyes and concentrated on only her love and devotion for Tara as Sonya began the chant.

"Aphrodite....strong and pure.  Aphrodite.....gentle and loving.  Aphrodite......divine and blessed.  Aphrodite.....Goddess of Love: we ask you on this night to grant permission to us.  We ask for the portal to realm between realms.  We ask permission to seek a soul who is lost, who is trapped.  Help two souls reunite and undo a great wrong.  Aphrodite, allow us entrance so that the soul of Tara MaClay can be returned to Earth, where her final destiny lies."

Strong winds picked up out of nowhere as flashes of light brightened the night.  Above where Willow was standing, a reddish colored portal opened, ready to pull Willow through.  The only thing that remained is for Willow to vocally make the request.  And she did.  "Goddess Aphrodite, I ask that you allow me to enter the limbo realm to free the spirit of my soulmate, my Tara..." Willow choked back tears as she looked into the portal.  "Please....let me free my Tara."

Willow raised her arms high into the air as she waited.  Moments passed and she began to wonder if her plea had been refused when suddenly, she felt herself being rose off the ground and then, her body was propelled into the portal, the vortex.  She saw red lights flashing before her eyes before everything went black.

Sonya sat her book down as Giles, Xander, and Buffy glanced at her.  "Do not speak.  The portal stays open as long as none of you speak.  We must now just wait.  It's all up to Willow now." Sonya said as she closed her eyes and kept all her concentration on keeping the portal open.  She knew she could keep it open for a while, she just hoped Willow was successful.

---**---

Slowly, two green eyes opened.  Willow was lying on her back.  Whereas it had been dark before, the place she now found herself was bright as day.  The sky above her was blue as the ocean without a speck of a clouds.  There was a brilliant breeze cooling the ground.  Willow sat up as she looked around.  She was in a grassy field full of flowers.  She saw small animals moving about as she got to her feet.

There was no trees as far as she could see, it was just a peaceful field that seemed to go on for miles in every single direction.  The pleasant aromas of the different kinds of flowers hit her nose and she breathed deeply in the scents.  As she looked around, she didn't see her beloved and she began to wonder if she was supposed to go looking for her.  Sonya had told her that Tara would look like she does in her physical form.  Only, she would be wearing whatever her heart's desire.  Willow wondered what that was.

"Tara." Willow called out, hoping by some stretch of the imagination that her voice would be heard by her lover.  But, as she feared, she got no response.

Willow sighed as she began to move through the peaceful grass, letting her fingers touch the grass that reached her fingertips.  She moved slowly, but surely, hoping against hope that she would find her lover and be able to bring her back.

"Willow."

The voice stopped the redhead cold.  She turned around and about fifty feet from her was standing a beautiful woman.  It wasn't Tara, but there was a likeness to her that made Willow want to cry.  The hair color was the same, as was the eyes, but the woman's skin was s shade darker.  She wore a simple glowing white dress that rippled with the breeze.  The woman's hair moved about her shoulders as the breeze picked up and Willow knew beyond a shadow of a doubt who the woman was.

"Mrs. MaClay." Willow whispered as the woman neared her.

"Hello Willow." Denise Bianca MaClay welcomed the redhead.  "I was wondering when you'd come."

Willow was frozen in her place for several long moments before she was able to find her voice again.  "Wh....where's Tara?"

Denise MaClay smiled at Willow.  "Tara is safe.  Before you can go to her, you and I must talk."

Willow's eyes widened.  "Tt...ttalk.  About what?"

Denise touched Willow's cheek with her finger.  "I have watched over my daughter from heaven.  I watched her when she left home.  I watched her when she went to college and I watched her when she met you.  The two of you have shared many things and I have been happy knowing my daughter was happy.  But, this last year has been a difficult one for her and for me because I have had to watch her in pain.  Before you can see her, I need an explanation from you.  Why did you betray my daughter?"

Tears cascaded down Willow's cheeks as she remembered the spells she did on Tara.  She had felt ashamed when Tara had confronted her with them and the feeling intensified now in the presence of her mother.  But, Willow knew she needed to have closure with this one element of her actions.  "I thought what I was doing was better for us." she whispered, "I felt us drifting apart when I started using more and more magic.  I was afraid....no...I was terrified of losing Tara.  That fight about magic we had......I was sure the only way to fix it was to make her forget about it.  I was convinced it was better for us."

Tara's mother nodded.  "And now?"

Willow swallowed.  "I know now what I should have learned then.  Every relationship will have bumps in their road.  Using magic to make them disappear was never the answer.  The only way for us to survive is to work together.  I know that now."

Tara's mother smiled down at her.  "You have learned from your mistakes as I'd hoped.  You and my Tara were forced apart by means you couldn't control.  The goddess Aphrodite is prepared to give your love a second chance.  But, and you must understand this Willow, if you take Tara's feelings for granted again, the Goddess will tear the two of you apart in such a way that neither of you will survive.  Do you understand that?"

Willow nodded, swallowing.  "Yes." she whispered.

"Good." Denise MaClay said.  "My daughter is waiting for you.  Turn around and begin walking.  You will find her and she will find you soon enough.  Return to Earth and take care of my daughter.  She needs you as much as you need her."

Willow turned around and began walking away from Tara's mother.  A quick glance back showed her that her lover's mother was no longer there.  Overcome with emotion, Willow began running faster and faster.  She was starting to feel a certain presence, a presence she knew all too well.  Every time she felt the tingles that ran up and down her spine, she knew Tara was near and the tingles were racing throughout her body.  They were getting stronger and stronger until she saw what her heart needed for her eyes to see.

Her Tara.  Her everything.

Tara was wearing the dress that they had buried her body in.  It was a dress that Willow loved on her lover.  As Willow began moving faster, Tara's eyes locked on hers and she saw Tara begin moving towards her.  They were now about seventy feet from each other and closing fast.  Tara's face broke into a happy smile as she saw Willow running towards her.

Ever since the shooting occurred, Tara had found herself in this grassy field.  She was never hungry, nor thirsty here and at first, she started running in all directions, trying to find a way out.  But, after a while, Tara came to understand that she had died and her spirit, her very essence was trapped here.  Then, her mother had come to her.  Tara was overjoyed at seeing her mother again.  But, her mother had explained to her that she was only there until Willow came to bring her back.

Tara began running as fast as her legs could carry her, tears streaming down her face as she came closer and closer to her beloved Willow, the keeper of her soul.  Then, before either of them knew it, they were there, embracing in a full body hug that seemed to last forever.  Willow had her arms wrapped around Tara's lower back while Tara's arms were lovingly wrapped around Willow's shoulders.  Both women had their heads pressed against each other and they were holding onto each other as if their very existence depended on it.

Several minutes of peaceful bliss passed before either woman was able to move.  Willow needed more contact from her lover.  She moved her head back a fraction and suddenly, she found her lips taken by Tara's lips.  The kiss was fiery and desperate, each woman afraid that if they let go, the other would vanish.  Willow's lips parted and she allowed, needed, Tara's tongue to enter her mouth.  The kiss continued as their tongues dueled with sensual delight as their mouths moved with one another.

Tara's hand moved from Willow's back to Willow's hair, grasping strands of the red hair and pulling Willow even closer, deepening their soulbound connection as well as their kiss.  Willow moved her hands her girlfriend's back to the sides of her face, gently caressing her cheeks as their kiss started to end.   A few moments later, the kiss ended and both women rested their foreheads against each other as they took dep breaths.

It was long moments later before either woman could speak.  But, it was Willow who did speak.  "Wanna get out of here, baby?" she whispered, her hands holding Tara's.

Tara's head moved into a nod.  "Yes."

Together, the two witches looked into each other's eyes as they spoke the chant...the blessing to Aphrodite that would allow them to leave the limbo realm.  "Blessed Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, allow us the passage from this realm and entrance to the physical realm of Earth.  Blessed be, Blessed be, Blessed be."

The two witches, still wrapped in each other, vanished in bright flashes of red energetic light.  The limbo realm no longer trapping Tara's soul.

Chapter Four

Giles, Buffy, and Xander were still on their knees around the blue circle.  It had now been only three minutes since Willow had been granted permission to enter the portal and they were beginning to wonder what was taking so long.  In the smaller red circle, Sonya Baxter still remained, her hands raised, using her powers to keep the portal open.  She had her senses attuned to the portal, knowing moments before they arrived, when they were coming.  So far, she hadn't felt anything, then, her senses triggered her.

"They're coming!" she said, her fingers flexing.

The three of them glanced at each other, knowing not to speak until it was done.  It was only moments later when two bodies fell from within the bright red portal.  The two bodies crashed into the ground, at the center of the blue circle.  The portal immediately closed right after their fall.  Willow and Tara fell heavily onto the enchanted blanket that was once a blanket in Aphrodite's temple.  Sonya rose from her position quickly and moved with speed to the blue circle.

"You three can move now.  I need to get to Tara before the seizures start." Sonya said as she dropped to her knees next to the soaked in sweat naked Tara.  Willow was unconscious, the fall from the portal temporarily taking her into deep slumber.  Giles and Xander helped pull Willow's body from Tara.  Buffy sat on the other side of Tara as Sonya moved the blonde onto her back.

"What are you doing?" the slayer said, watching as Sonya moved her palms over Tara's chest.

"I'm fixing to take away the seizures by absorbing them through my energy." Sonya replied as she said a quick Latin verse and blue energy expanded from her palms and infused into Tara's body.  The energy collected the seizures that Tara would have started having and re-entered Sonya's body.  Because Sonya was a high level witch, the seizures wouldn't have any effect on her, which was her plan all along.

"What now?" Xander asked.  He was holding Willow's fragile body in his arms.

"We need to get back to your house." Sonya said to Buffy.  "The journey from the afterlife realms to this one is very taxing on the human body.  They're not gonna wake up for quite some time.  We need to get them back."

"Alright, let's go." Buffy said.

Xander lifted Willow's body into his arms as Sonya and Buffy wrapped the Aphrodite enchanted blanket around Tara's drenched form.  Then, Giles lifted her up into his arms and the group began heading back to the house.  They were about fifteen minutes from the house as the moved through the woods.

---**---

Kolon and the other two vampires continued to work through deciphering the prophecies that were written on the parchment as Deacon was in the private room of the penthouse.  Deacon was deep in thought.  Things were starting to progress quicker than he'd hoped and he was both pleased and disheartened by it.  His team that he had dispatched to locate the temple had reported in just a little while ago that they'd found the temple.  It was just outside Sunnydale's city limits and had dispatched as many vamps as he could to begin digging and uncovering the underground temple.

Deacon hadn't been able to locate the slayer and that was bothering him some.  He knew that once he became the Blood God, the slayer would do whatever necessary to stop him.  If that meant tasting his blood, she would do it.  For years, Deacon had run into vamps who told him this slayer, Buffy Summers, was unstoppable.  Deacon personally knew that no slayer was unstoppable because Deacon, in his lifetime, had already killed more slayers than any vampire in existence.  He had tasted the blood, the very essence, of nine slayers.  But, Deacon was finding himself not really caring one way or another about this slayer.

Deacon was finding himself thinking about someone whose blood is powerful, but it's not the slayer.  Deacon figured that the slayer and her pals had probably already brought the witch named Tara MaClay back from beyond by now.  In recent months, Deacon had found himself being irrevocably drawn to the witch, he couldn't explain it.  There was something about her that was drawing him near.  And Deacon was feeling the sensation now so he knew they'd been successful at bringing her back.

But before Deacon could make any type of move towards the witch, he needed to confront the slayer.  The slayer was his top priority because she would eventually stand against him when his master plan began coming together.  Deacon figured that after she got her friends taken care of at the house, she'd probably head out for patrol.  And that's when he'd intercept her.  The first thing Deacon has always done when facing an enemy is learning their weaknesses and their strengths.  He knew Buffy Summers had strengths, but he knew she had weaknesses as well.  And, if he played his cards right, he might just be able use his attraction to Tara as a weakness for the slayer.

Deacon smiled, a plan forming in his mind.  He rose and headed out into the night, waiting for the slayer to go on patrol.

---**---

Giles gently and carefully placed Tara's body on the soft bed next to Willow in the upstairs bedroom that they had shared during the months of Buffy's death.  Then, Xander covered the two's bodies with the blankets.  Giles and Xander left the bedroom, shutting the door behind them as they headed back downstairs.  Sonya and Buffy were downstairs, standing in the living room as the two came down.

"So..." Xander said as he flopped down on the couch.  He was still having trouble accepting the fact of what they'd done tonight.  It was just earlier that day they'd had Tara's funeral and now, she was resting upstairs.  It was kind of unnerving.

"I can't believe we did it." Buffy said.  Like Xander, she was having trouble with the fact that Tara had been dead this morning and now, she was upstairs.

"It was not an easy task, but it was one that needed to be done in order for Miss Rosenberg to be allowed to live.  Otherwise, she would have forced you to kill her." Sonya said quietly.  "Now that that's done, I guess I can tell you about the other reason I've come to Sunnydale."

Xander and Buffy looked at her.  Giles' eyes narrowed.  "I knew it.  There was another reason you came."

"Rupert, Deacon has come to Sunnydale." Sonya told him.

Whatever anger Giles had been feeling dropped like a hat when he heard that name.  "Are you positive, Sonya?"

"Yes.  All of the signs of the prophecy are pointing to the fact.  Deacon's here and he's already built himself a respectable army of vampires." Sonya told him.

Buffy looked between her Watcher and Sonya.  "Um...the slayer has a question.  Who is this Deacon?"

Giles walked over towards the far window.  "Deacon is a vampire, Buffy.  But, he's not like any vampire you've ever faced or ever will face."

"How so?" Xander inquired as he sat down on the couch.

Giles turned around.  "Deacon is over a thousand years old.  I believe he's the oldest vampire in the world right now.  He's unlike the other vampires because he has found a way to become immune to all the weaknesses that vampires have.  He can walk in sunlight without burning.  You can stake him with a wooden stake and it won't harm him, you can use holy water and a cross and it won't harm him."

Buffy's eyes widened as she heard him.  "Wait a minute....are you saying he's like some kind of super vampire or something?"

"No," Sonya spoke up, "Over the last six hundred years, Deacon has found a way to overcome the weaknesses.  He's done it using the dark forces of magic.  Somehow, and the Witches Committee hasn't been able to figure this out, Deacon can absorb and consume a witches' or warlock's power by drinking their blood.  His magical and mystical powers increases with the more witches and warlocks he drains.  And so far, the Committee has determined that he's drained over three hundred warlocks and witches."

Xander closed his eyes.  "Oh god."

"It gets worse." Giles said.  "Through all of the mystical forces he's consumed, he's become immune to all vampire weaknesses.  The Watcher's Council does have some information on Deacon, though not a lot.  What I do know is that Deacon can be killed by a stake."

"Giles," Buffy said, "I really hate to correct you, but you said a wooden stake can't kill him."

Giles took his glasses off and cleaned them with his shirt.  "Not a wooden stake.  He can be killed by using a stake constructed by a very rare type of steel that's only found in different mountains across the world.  He can also be killed by decapitation, though taking his head off would not be wise."

"Why is that exactly?" Xander asked.

Sonya answered.  "Because if you took his head off with all that magical and mystical energy surging through his body, it would be released without something to channel it.  Deacon's acquired enough power that if it wasn't channeled by an outside source when he was decapitated, the power could destroy Sunnydale and cities surrounding it."

"Is that the worst of it?" Buffy asked, fearing that there might be more.

And she was right.  "Actually, there is a bit more.  Not necessarily about Deacon, but about his ultimate goal." Giles said.

Buffy and Xander looked to Sonya.  "Deacon has somehow gotten his hands on the Prophecies of La Magra."

"What is La Magra?" Buffy asked.

Giles answered this question, having an in depth knowledge of it.  "La Magra was known as the Blood God.  The prophecies of La Magra depict an ancient battle that took place between a vampire known as the First and a slayer.  Fighting with the slayer were powerful warriors.  The warriors and the slayer were able to defeat the First and entomb his flesh in a temple."

"Excuse me, his flesh." Buffy cringed.

"Yes.  After they defeated him, they couldn't destroy his bones, because if they did, all of the powers that the First had acquired to become the Blood God would have been released and it would have destroyed the world.  So, they burned his flesh off and entombed the flesh in the temple and they scattered his bones across the globe.  One of the Prophecies of La Magra describes, in detail, the ceremony in which a regular vampire could harness the powers of the Blood God." Giles explained.

Xander was intrigued.  "And how is that?"

Sonya picked up the conversation. "First, the vampire would have to find each and every one of the bones of the First.  Then, the vampire would have to locate the sacred temple where the First's flesh is entombed.  From there, all the vampire would have to do place the bones in a certain order and chant an ancient Egyptian spell that would resurrect the Blood God's powers, not the Blood God itself.  And if a vampire could harness those powers, he would become nearly invincible."

"Nearly?" Buffy said.

Giles nodded.  "Yes, if the vampire completes the ritual, the only way to destroy would be for a slayer to have the taste of the vampire.  Having the vampire's blood in her system would increase her powers to match his and it would make her his equal.  Then, the slayer could....well....slay him."

Buffy got up off the chair and faced the two.  "Are you saying that this vamp...Deacon......is planning on doing this ceremony and becoming this Blood God?"

Sonya merely nodded.

Buffy shook her head as she grabbed her leather jacket.  She had some things to think through.  Going on patrol and slaying some vamps always helped her think through her problems.

"Where are you going?" Giles asked her.

"I need to think." Buffy replied before she left the house.

Across the street from the Summers' home, Deacon smirked as he watched Buffy leave the house and head for the nearest cemetery.  Deacon decided to go ahead and meet her there.  Then, the slayer and he could have their first meeting.

---**---

Willow's eyes blinked open slowly.  Lifting her head off the pillow, Willow noticed that she was in her bedroom at the Summers' House.  Memories of her lover's death flooded her memory and her eyes started getting watery as she remembered the painful agony of seeing Tara's blood on her skin.  But, the pain of those memories left her when she turned her head to her right.  It was her.  Her Tara.

The tears that sprung to her eyes moments before were of sorrow and anguish.  These tears, however, were much different tears.  They were happy tears.  Willow's heart was thundering in her chest at just seeing her lover's face next to her.  The last couple of weeks had passed by and each day was like a ton of bricks crashing into her.  The more she tried to move on, the more she fell back.  Every part of her was hurting during that time and Willow had decided after her fall from using the dark magic that she couldn't live without her Tara and just as she was about to formulate a plan to kill herself, that Sonya woman had shown up.

But Willow didn't want to think about her, she didn't want to think about anyone else but the woman who was lying next to her.  Tara's features was relaxed as she slept in a very deep sleep.  Willow knew she'd probably be out for the better part of the night, so Willow leaned back down on the bed.  She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, hardly believing she had her lover back.  Willow also knew that she and Tara had a lot to talk about when they were both rested and better.  Willow knew she would have to tell Tara of the things she did after the shooting.  From killing Warren to trying to destroy the world, Willow wouldn't hold anything back from her.  She also knew she would have to get Tara to tell her about the realm she'd been trapped in.  It was the only way for the two of them to grow stronger in their relationship.  Willow would not fail her lover again.

Moving her legs, Willow realized she was still wearing the clothes she'd worn during the ritual in the forest.  Sighing, Willow rose from the bed and walked over to where the closet was.  She opened it and removed a pair of flannel pajama bottoms and a pink tank top.  She pulled off her clothes and slipped into the night sleepwear.  Looking back at the bed, she felt more tears stinging her eyes at seeing her everything sleeping on their bed.  Willow knew she needed to express her feelings someway before she went back to bed or she'd wake Tara and she wasn't prepared to wake her lover's much needed rest.  So, Willow sat down at the desk near the window and pulled out one of her diary journals.  She opened it to the next page and saw that the last time she'd updated it was just after their reconciliation in the very same room.  Taking a deep breath, Willow began to write in the journal.

---**---

Buffy stomped through the cemetery in frustrated steps.  Ever since learning about this vampire Deacon and his plans for Sunnydale, Buffy was finding herself in a very foul mood.  Just moments before that, she was finally feeling happy because they'd succeeded in bringing Tara back from whatever limbo realm her soul had been trapped in.  And, after the struggle Buffy went through just weeks earlier against her best friend, Buffy was starting to hope maybe they could start to enjoy and build a good future for her family.  But, once again, her hopes were crushed with the arrival of a new threat, or as Buffy called them, a new Big Bad.

She had a stake in her right hand as she moved through the cemetery.  Buffy was really getting fed up with all these vamps, demons, hellgod, etc. coming to her town and continually trying to ruin everything she cared for.  She and her friends had already lost so much more than any person should have to.  Dawn had watched her sister die before her, Xander and Anya had watched their relationship fall apart in one moment, Willow had watched her lover die in front of her and that had nearly destroyed her.  Buffy shook her head, she now knew that if the ritual hadn't succeeded, Willow would have eventually fallen apart in her grief and that was something that Buffy didn't want to see happen.

She puffed a breath out, knowing she should just find a nest of vampires and take her aggression out on them.  Buffy rounded the corner of a large crypt and her senses triggered as she realized something was watching her with intent eyes.

"Who's there!" Buffy demanded.

She heard a rustling of grass and, before she knew it, a form magically appeared in front of her.  The person was a man about the same height as Dracula was.  What drew Buffy's attention was the fact that his forearms and hands had steel over them.  It made him look like some kind of cyborg.  Buffy merely watched him as he walked closer to her.

"So," the stranger said, his voice cool and collected, "you're the slayer?"

Buffy raised her head and stared into his silver eyes.  "That would be me.  And who might you be?" Buffy asked, feeling a distinct feeling that she already knew the answer.

Deacon smiled, exposing his fangs to her eyes.  "Oh....I'm sure your Watcher already knows the answer to that question."

Buffy took a deep and calming breath.  "Let me guess....you're Deacon.  The vampire with all the mystical powers."

He nodded.  "I see Rupert ole boy has told you about me."

"You know Giles?" Buffy asked incredulously.  "How do you know Giles?"

Deacon walked to his right, looking around the mostly deserted cemetery.  "Oh...Rupert and I have a history.  He's responsible for my arms." he indicated the steel.  "I'm not going to go into the details, you can ask him.  I'm here because I wanted to meet the infamous Slayer of Vampires.  It's amazing.  Everywhere I've gone in the past four years, I've always heard from many of my kind and many demons.  Telling me to never come to Sunnydale or I'll end up like the Master."

"Maybe you should've listened." Buffy told him.

Deacon laughed.  "Oh...you're a feisty one.  I'm going to enjoy draining you of your blood.  I've tasted slayers before, but I've never actually taken pleasure in it.  Before it was just business.  They got in my way and I took care of them.  Taking you out will be a pleasure."

"Well I should warn you." Buffy said, "Many have tried, but none of them have done it.  Are you sure you can do what they couldn't?"

"You're confident, slayer.  Confidence can be a virtue, but it's also a weakness.  It's going to be yours.  When we meet again, I won't be wasting time talking." Deacon told her before silver flames consumed him where he stood and he was no longer standing in front of her.

Buffy stared ahead, knowing that she and her friends were going to have their hands full when the time came to face him.

Continue on to Part 2