COMING HOME

Author: Fire Pixie

Summary: During a fight Willow disappears only to be brought back 3 years later.

Pairing: Angel/Willow, Willow/Ryder (original Character)

Rating: PG-16

Spoilers: None

Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me; they belong to Fox Network and Mutant Enemy. The song belongs to Drowning Pool “Bodies”

Author’s Notes:  Alright in this story Willow is sucked into a different dimension in mid season 3 during a fight. Her role and everything she went through happened to Amy, which means she and Oz where involved (Tara, Glory, resurrecting Buffy, magic addiction and cold turkey rehab); she was turned back into a human by Giles and Willow. As for Angel everything in the show happened only Xander was the one to tell them about Buffy’s death. Up to 'Smashed' on Buffy and 'Waiting in the Wings' on Angel.

Feedback: Please, I thrive on it. Plus I don’t care if you’re brutal or not, feedback is so one can get better. So if you want more you have to feed me.

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~Prologue~

Sunnydale, California 1999

The mayor had upped his attacks and strategies, now the Scooby Gang was facing an extremely hostile and powerful, both physically and magically, race of demons summoned from another dimension. Angel and Faith had been patrolling the north side, while Buffy, Xander and Oz took the South. Cordelia, Willow and Giles where in the library doing more research on this particular brand of demons and how to get rid of them. As Giles and Amy worked on the protection spells, Cordelia looked in books and Willow checked the web for any useful information.

“God we are never going to find anything on these demons. You heard what Angel said after talking to Willy. These things rarely come to our world and therefore are no records on them.” Cordelia spoke for the first time in the three and a half hours they had been researching since the others had left to patrol.

“We still have to try. Mr. Giles are you sure that the council has never heard anything on them?”

“No Amy the council knows nothing about them except that they are very strong and ruthless creatures. They also have the ability to open portals to other worlds and dislike the human race. Other than that we know nothing about them.”

“What did you find Willow?” Giles moved from where he stood to look over her shoulder.

“Well I was thinking that maybe we could send them back home and not worry about them. I found this spell that will open a portal to their world pulling them through and then sealing after wards. It’s a one time deal; once this spell is performed it can’t be used again. Now we all know just how powerful they are, so I did some experiments on a sample of blood from one of the knives Buffy stabbed it with. It seems they are vulnerable to bronze, it weakens the blood at least.”

“Good work Willow.”

“So wait, are you suggesting we some how weaken these things using bronze and during their slight moment of incapacitation we perform the spell sending them back home, that is given they don’t kill us first?” asked Amy

“Um, yeah.”

“Cool I’m up for it.”

“Well we have to wait for the others to come back then we devise a plan of attack using your idea Willow.”

~~~*~~~

Twenty minutes later the ‘foot soldiers’ returned from their patrol. Buffy was limping slightly, Xander’s shirt was torn and dirty and Oz had grass stains on his attire and a bruise at his forehead. Faith was a bit dirty and some minor cuts, Angel though looked like he had been run over by a truck, but he would heal as soon as he fed.

Cordelia, Amy and Giles went about to clean and dress their wounds as Willow went to Giles’ office to warm some blood for the vampire. When she realized that his supply at the library was out, she glanced to the library. Picking up one of the knives in the office, she rolled up her sleeve and made a deep cut on her forearm. She let the blood drip into a large glass. After bandaging her arm she rolled her sleeve down again and walked out to the library. She handed Angel the blood and then went to pick up all her research material.

“What happened?” asked the watcher as he wrapped Buffy’s ankle. He moved then to check up on his other Slayer. As he applied antiseptic Xander answered.

“We were meeting up at the rendezvous when we where ambushed by a bunch of vamps and two of those purple demons we met up with a few weeks ago. We got into a fight and then disposed of the pointy ones first. Then Angel, Faith, and Buffy took on the other demons, they got their butts kicked. It took all of us to dispose just one of them. Then the other one got real pissed off and, I don’t know he did something to us. We got this blinding headache our limbs felt like jelly for a while then it took off.”

As soon as everyone had been patched up, Willow came to stand at the library table with a map she had retrieved from Giles’ office.

“Ok everyone here’s what I found. These demons are weakened by bronze and we found a spell that opens a portal to their home world. Now this spell is a one time deal so we can’t screw this up. Once the portal opens and closes, that’s it. Giles, Amy, Cordy and I have devised a plan of attack. Now we will set a trap to lure the demons to this spot here.” Willow pointed to a small clearing on a map of Sunnydale that Giles had produced from his office.

“Um, how exactly are we going to lure them?” asked Buffy

“Well, we will have to use a decoy. We though that maybe Xander and Cordelia could seem like they are simply talking a lover’s walk where the demons are, then they run for the clearing. Once there, we douse them with the melted bronze hoping that it will dry on their forms, weakening them sufficiently.”

“Then Mr. Giles and I will perform the spell as the rest of you keep them occupied. We have to be quick though because it will only be open for 210 seconds or 3 ½ minutes.” Commented Amy.

“Ok so when would we be doing this?” asked Oz

“At one am today we are meeting at one of the south west side cemeteries. These creatures seem to feed every three days and from what little information we were able to gather today they would need to feed. Now this spell must be done tonight because the energies are right for the spell and also the sooner we dispatch of them the better. We all know that Mayor Wilkins is the one that brought them here, mostly as a distraction. But what we should be considering is what does he want to distract us from?” said Giles

“Yeah well, we all know that Giles. But the more time these things are out there the more people that vanish or die. We need to take care of them first, and then we take on that sicko!” commented Buffy.

“Don’t worry Buffy. After tonight things will be different. I promise, we’ll get rid of those icky monsters and then we will kick some evil mayor butt.” Willow reassured the blonde slayer.

“Ok everyone, lets get as much bronze as possible to melt and then prep for tonight’s battle.” Ordered Cordelia. Soon everyone was looking around for the vital metal and ensuring they all were able to defend themselves.

1:12 AM SOUTHWEST SIDE CEMETRY

POW!

The demon was knocked to the floor by the tall, dark vampire. Angel and Oz were watching each others back. The vampire was using his bare hands as his weapon while the werewolf fought with one of the swords. He chanced a glance at the clearing to ensure the others were alright. Faith and Xander were doing very well, while Buffy, Cordelia and Willow were standing close to the watcher and other witch that were beginning the spell. He returned his attention back to the fight just as one of the bronze covered demons tried to punch its adversary.

Xander looked to his girlfriend and two best friends as the body of the weakened demon in front of him dropped. Buffy was pummeling on two of the things while his girlfriend and bestest bud beat up another one. All of a sudden a blinding flash made him look away. About four feet from the girls a portal had opened and one by one the demons were being sucked into the portal. Buffy stopped her attack and yelled to the other two as she grabbed an unconscious Amy and dazed Giles dragging them to a safe distance.

Cordelia heard as Buffy yelled to her and Willow to put some distance between them and the portal. The brunette took one look at the portal and ran towards the others. Willow was right behind her when she suddenly felt a claw like hand clamp down on her ankle, making her tumble down to the ground. She looked behind her to see one of the demons holding on to her, trying to use the petite girl as an anchor. Unfortunately for them, the vortex was much stronger and soon the red head found herself being dragged into the dark whole.

“NO! Willow, hold on!” screamed Xander. He broke into a dead run trying to get to the girl before it was too late. The others saw this and ran as well. Using his vampire speed Angel was ahead of the group. He could hear Giles reminding them that this was it, that the young girl could not be sucked in because they could not use the spell again. Then Amy’s voice rang out announcing they had 40 seconds before the portal closed. Angel doubled his efforts and reached her. As his hand grabbed for hers, the redhead was sucked into the portal, screaming for someone to help her. Then it was over. The vortex closed, sealing their friend in an unknown world.

“Willow.” The name was merely a whisper on the lips of the vampire that had tried to save her. He felt as though it was his fault. He should have run faster, lunged just a second sooner, then maybe, just maybe his first true friend would be safe.

“We have to do the spell again. We have to get her back.” Xander spoke desperately hoping that they still had a chance to get her back.

“W-we can’t. The spell was a one time deal. Once it was performed it could never be used again.” Amy spoke. Her voice was low and pained. Who knew what the red headed witch would encounter in the demon’s home world.

“Then we simply find another way to open the portal.” Faith talked for the first time since the battle began.

“I’m not sure there is another way to find. Willow had searched for days to find a way to get them to their home.” Giles informed them with great sadness.

“Then we research and find a way. We won’t let her suffer or be alone. This has to be our top priority.” The resolve in Buffy’s voice left no room for argument. Sadly, with all the other things the Hellmouth was going to throw them; little did the band of do gooders realize that that was one promise they would not be able to keep.

~Chapter 1~

The Forbidden Forrest
Dimension: Jruh’tda
Year: unknown

The red headed woman awoke to the feel of warm sunlight streaming on her face. She smiled softly as she felt the large warm body pressed to her back. She sighed softly, contentedly as she snuggled further into his arms. She felt as he tightened his hold on her and moved a hand to caress her throat. She turned in his arms to look into the soft grey eyes of the one she loved.

“Good morning husband.” She spoke softly before pressing her lips to his in greeting.

“Good morning wife. By the gods Kayla we did it. We finally married. After three years we were able to bind our hearts as one.” He buried his face in her long red hair, taking in the clean soft and sweet smell that was his love.

“I know Ryder. We have been through so much. I remember the first time I saw you. I was being brought in to the master for inspection. I was so frightened, I thought my heart would burst in my chest. You were with the other centiers, preparing to scout for the beasts that lived in the forests. That night you approached me, after I had been bathed and clothed.”

“Yes I remember. You wore a soft purple wrap and a short blouse that was see through. The master took a liking to you, but you never once complained of seeing to his needs. Your strength and resolve is what drew me to you. You defied Demetrious by helping Andrea and their daughter escape. That is when I knew I could trust you with my secret.”

“I couldn’t allow him to proceed with his plans for the baby. It was cruel beyond belief. And even though I had to pay such a high price for my actions, I do not regret it for one moment.” She sighed as she untangled from him and stood. She was no longer embarrassed by her nudity, she had learned so much during her time as Demetrious’ favored concubine.

“We must dress and meet at the Oak. The others desire to discuss our battle plan for tonight.”

“Yes it is time to finally put an end to this revolution. I promise though Kayla, when this is all over we will search for your family.”

“That isn’t necessary Ryder, really.” She turned her back on him as she bent to put on one of her soft leather boots. She was turned around and pulled into his arms. He placed a soft kiss to her head before answering.

“Yes it is Kayla. I made a promise to help find out about your past, your true identity and I intend to keep that promise.”

They separated to finish dressing and soon after left their hut, hand in hand, to join the other refugees for breakfast. Kayla sat down on the soft earth and felt its power seep into her body as she ate. She closed her eyes and thought back to the last three and a half years. She had woken up in the middle of the practice fields. She had been dressed in very strange clothing and didn’t bear the mark of her owner or classification; which only meant she must have been the daughter of one of the refugees, born outside of servitude.

She hadn’t had time to really take it all in when one of the guards had captured her. She had been interrogated and badgered, but when she tried to answer their questions she couldn’t, she couldn’t remember anything before waking up in the filed. When she had been stripped to her undergarments for inspection and they had found none of the markings, she had been taken to the city to Demetrious. She had been so frightened; there were so many creatures, humans and demons alike. She feared that one of them was going to kill her. That was when she had seen Ryder; he was one of the human centiers (high ranking imperial guard) that had been preparing for the search. He was so tall almost six feet tall, well muscled but not bulging, medium frame and tanned skin. He had his shoulder length black hair tied at the nape pf his neck, slicked back from his face revealing a wide forehead, large and kind grey eyes, a straight nose and soft, supple mouth. She had felt so at ease when she had seen him, that she thought he was some sort of hallucination. That was until he had looked away from her to answer his companion.

Once presented to Demetrious, who happened to be the emperor of where ever it was she was, he had declared that he would take her for himself. The demon guard that had brought her in, questioned his decision asking why not use her as a practice target, instead of a palace slave. He had been killed for his insolence. Demetrious had been intrigued by her, her read hair, wide, green, innocent eyes, and pale white skin making her very alluring. There were very, very few redheads and that alone had sparked his interest.

Demetrious was a man that enjoyed many beautiful and rare things. He was also a cruel, power hungry, sadistic, murdering son of a bitch bent on dominating the entire world. He scared the poor girl, yet he was kind and gentle with her. His intention had been to posses her fully, possibly make her his companion, his lover, his bride. He had named her Kayla a rare name for a rare beauty he said. But no matter what he did, how he treated her, she never gave him her heart. That she had given to the sweet centier that she’d befriended. She knew there was something different about him, some secret he was keeping. She had learned it the night she helped Andrea and her baby.

Ryder was the insider helping the revolution in fact he was one of the founders and leaders. He used his position and privileges to gain information and advantages in bringing down the cruel half demon that ruled over the people. After Kayla had been punished for betraying Demetrious with the Andrea incident two years ago, Ryder had confided his secret and helped her escape the palace. He had helped cover for her by helping ‘search’ for her. Instead he had brought her to this community at the outside of the city where so many revolutionists and refugees lived in. Now she had a home, a family and a purpose. She was a warrior, a healer and a witch, and all of her talents were used in freeing the people from a cruel tyrant. They were impartial to race, species, religious belief or gender, all that mattered was to help those that came to them.

Kayla was brought back when she felt the soft yet powerful hand of her husband cup her face. Husband… after so much time Kayla and Ryder had finally taken their vows the last full moon and were now joined as one for the rest of their lives. She could not imagine her world without him. She would surely die if anything were to happen to him.

“Hello. Where did that complex mind of yours wonder to this time?” Ryder asked her softly.

“I was just thinking about all I have been through since that day the guards found me. Everything Demetrious taught me, the pain and suffering I was forced to watch simply because that monster never wanted me far from him. I never once complained out loud of how much I despised him, but inside Ryder I wanted nothing more than to destroy him, make him hurt as badly as our people do.” He could see fire burn in her gaze and in part it pleased him. It meant she would channel it to use during this final battle, but also he hated seeing her be upset. She was so kind and beautiful, inside and out. She never turned any away if they required her healing abilities, she listened and counseled those in need and she always found the good in everyone and everything. She was his treasure and he would be damned if he let anything hurt her again. Demetrious was about to fall, and with him all the pain and suffering of thousands.

“I know love. But now is not the time to dwell on such things. Come we must prepare for battle.” Placing her hand in his, she rose from the ground and followed him. Tonight would require much strength and concentration. She would have to pray to the gods for as little blood shed as possible and for a successful outcome.

Los Angeles, California
Dimension: Earth
Year: 2002

Angel looked down on his sleeping son. A great part of his heart lit up with joy as another part began to ache. He remembered as Cordy ran into Groo’s arms, embracing and welcoming him. Lorne had been right, she was a champion and she deserved a champion. She also deserved someone to take her into the sun, give her children and grow old with. Groo could give her all that and more. Angel tucked the blanket more securely around the sleeping infant, he allowed one of his fingers to trace the soft cheek of the child.

“My first priority will be taking care of you and your future happiness son.” He vowed aloud making the promise more solid.

 Sighing he turned and left the room. He passed Lorne in the hallway on his way to care for his young charge. Angel was thankful for the pylean, he was so good with the baby and he would do anything to help protect him. When Angel reached the bottom of the stairs he saw Cordelia and Groo sharing a sweet loving kiss. The image tore at his chest but he continued knowing that there was nothing he could do. His friend and seer was happy, that was all that mattered. Wesley on the other hand was pouring over various texts still trying to decipher the prophecy concerning Conner and his other two co-workers were no where to be found. (Probably getting breakfast) thought the vampire.

The day had been spent in dealing with some of the other cases that were yet to be solved, while Angel tried to avoid Cordy. At one point he went upstairs to ‘spend some time with Conner’. He instead took out his sketch book to make a portrait of the boy; he flipped through the pages trying to find a blank one and sifting through the pictures already there. One portrait in particular caught his attention. It was one of the Scoobies, before that night when one of their most loyal and treasured member had been taken from them.

“Willow” he whispered. He trailed his index finger across her face, caressing the memory of his first real friend. He quickly flipped ahead now intent on finding a specific one. He stopped as he found it, it was a portrait of the redhead just before she was sucked into the portal. She was laughing and her eyes seemed to hold a mischievous glow to them. He missed her terribly.

“How did we let this go by so long? How could we allow so much time to have passed? Over three years now since you disappeared. So much has happened little pixie. I have a son now, you would adore him. He is so quiet and yet so energetic. He glows with goodness and purity. I love him so much.” He turned to a blank page and began his sketch.

“I know you won’t like this, but he’s Darla’s and my son. He is a true miracle though and 100% human. We don’t have to worry about him being evil, because he isn’t. What we do worry about is an old enemy of mine named Holtz. Angelus and Darla killed his wife and children, and it seems a demon named Sajun brought him forward in time to take his revenge on me. I’m scared that he will kill Connor in his quest to destroy me. Do you like his name? It’s a good solid, Irish name.” the vampire spoke aloud to his long lost friend as if she were still there with them. His hand never ceased it’s movement on the page, creating lines, circles and other figures. Manipulating them to take a specific shape.

“Can you believe that I also fell in love with Cordy? Yes you heard correctly, Cordelia Chase. But don’t judge her I mean she has changed so much, we all have. She’s my seer now she inherited the visions from our former friend and associate Doyle. He died a hero, sacrificing himself to save countless others from a bomb meant to kill anything with human blood in them, and since he was only half-demon he died.
Wesley showed up not so long after that. You would have laughed so hard if you would have seen him. He was strutting around dressed in head-to-toe leather. But despite it all he has grown to be a tremendous asset to the team, and an incredible fighter. Then there is Gunn. He’s a demon hunter, some street kid that learned about what goes bump in the night and put together a group of kids to protect the neighborhood. He’s a good kid and he has a good head on his shoulders with a kind heart. Fred, short for Winifred, she is so quirky and nervous. She reminds me a lot of you though. Smart, kind, funny, always sees the good in people, and she rambles.” He blew on the paper as he finished the portrait. It was Willow holding a smiling Connor.

“How I wish I could actually see this. I miss you. I swear though, I’ll find a way to get you back. I have let that slide for too long now.” He turned the page and continued to sketch all the while talking about all the changes that had gone by in the time Willow was gone.

Three hours later Angel finally left his suite to join the others downstairs. He descended in time to see Cordy get a vision. He was at her side in an instant.

“Delia what did you see?” he asked her as she took the aspirin from Fred.

“Demons attacking a couple of kids behind the new nightclub that opened a while back. There were about ten of them. I think we should all go for this one. They were huge, purple skinned with electric blue eyes. They were wearing some kind of armor…? I don’t know all I know is that there was a lot of rage and pain in this one.” Groo helped her get up from the floor as Angel and Gunn went to the weapons cabinet. Wesley and Fred gathered some bandages and ointments among other first aid kit stuff for the post-battle clean up.

“I guess we are going to engage in battle with the evils of this world Princess.” Groo spoke as they all climbed into Angel’s car. Gunn and Fred rode in his truck to use as a demolition weapon incase there really was too many demons to handle.

~Chapter 2~

Grunts and groans were heard from the combatants as flesh hit flesh, seeking to do damage. He ducked under the fist of the demon that was trying to bring him down. He straightened as his sword plunged through the middle of its chest, his electric blue eyes dimming as his life drained away. He stopped for a moment and allowed his eyes to scan the area. So much violence and death, but in the end it was worth it if it meant helping and protecting the innocents. His heart leapt to his throat as he was unable to find his love. He moved a little to the side and once again checked the area. He breathed a sigh of relief as he saw her fighting her own foe. She truly was magnificent in the heat of battle. He was glad he’d taught her to fight; she was a quick study too. A smile crept his features as the creature she fought was killed. She turned and smiled his way before returning to the task at hand.

Ryder was glad they had decided to attack the next day instead of last night as planned. They would have a few less warriors on their hands, but Demetrious would have even less with the night walkers unable to fight. They had stormed the fortress and quickly dispatched of the first wave of guards. Now they where within the main room of Demetrious’ fortress facing his strongest warriors, and the tyrant himself, this war would soon be over.

Ryder finally killed his opponent with his sword, the one his ancestors had been passing down from father to soon for hundreds of years, and the other was disintegrated with a bolt of magic. It was moments like these where he thanked the gods he had agreed to let Kayla teach him some of the craft. He saw as Demetrious killed another of the freedom fighters. Now he would face the monster himself, the time had come to end it, once and for all.

“Demetrious!” he roared to his enemy as he came within three feet of him.

“I should have known it was you. You have always envied me and have ‘conveniently’ been there to lend a hand in the parties concerning the failed attempts to stop these revolutionists. And let us not forget Kayla, how you stole her from me.” He pointedly looked at the binding bracelet on the warrior’s right hand; the one identical to Kayla’s meaning they had married.

“Well it ends here tyrant. One of is going to be victorious today, and it will NOT be you.” With the warning given the two engaged in battle. Every skill and weapon available to them was used in the battle, both loosing and gaining ground from time to time. Various cuts and bruises were marring their skin and sweat gathered on their brows. Ryder was beginning to lax from the blood loss and weariness. The wound to his shoulder was beginning to throb. As Demetrious fell to the ground, he made the fatal of turning to see where the scream had come from. That was when he felt the steel of his opponents sword slice through his chest and the agonized shout from his wife’s lips.

Kayla finally killed one of the demons she had been fighting with for far too long for her tastes. She thrust her sword into the green vein that wrapped around the purple skin of his throat, killing him instantly. She felt eyes on her and instantly knew Ryder was staring at her. She turned around and looked at her husband giving him a reassuring smile in the process. She walked a little further forward searching for another opponent. That was when she heard her love shout out Demetrious’ name. Her blood froze in her veins as she trained her eyes on the only two men that knew her body better than she herself did. Both men fought vigorously and with blood on their minds. She kept her gaze trained on them, her breath catching every time Demetrious’ sword made contact with her husband’s body. She stood frozen on the spot with fear. The wound on his shoulder was bleeding a river and his step was lagging. She heard a scream as a nearby revolutionist and then Ryder turned. That was all it took, one moment, one second to allow his goodness and nurturing side to take over for it to be his downfall.

“NOOOOOOOO!!” she screamed out her denial. No this could not be happening, not now when they where so close to victory against such an evil monster. They were going to help rebuild everything once Demetrious was defeated. They were going to grow old together and create a home filled with friends, family and love. She couldn’t loose him. No she wouldn’t. Kayla began to run to her husband’s side.

While Ryder’s back was turned Demetrious saw his chance to be rid of the traitor. He shoved the sword through his chest and was satisfied when he felt the warm blood running down his arm. He smiled as the piercing scream of Kayla was heard. Good, the bitch deserved it for her impudence, her disobedience and her betrayal. He withdrew the sword and stepped back as she came barreling towards them. He saw her fall to her knees and run her hands all over Ryder’s body. She spoke softly to him, begging he not die. They spoke a bit then to Demetrious’ amazement, Ryder removed his binding bracelet and placed it in his wife’s hand. She was shaking her head, saying ‘no’ and then the bastard was dead. What happened next made him fear for his very existence.

Ryder only felt an immense pain in his bare chest and Blood was pouring from him. Suddenly Kayla’s tearstained face was before him.

“Kayla” he whispered. He felt her take his hand as the other caressed his face.

“Shhh, love, it’ll be alright. Just be quiet now while I heal you.”

“No sweetheart. The wound is too severe. Not even you will be able to heal me.” His strength was waning and he needed to tell her something.

“No, you can’t leave me. You promised to never leave me.” She was crying harder now, despite her efforts to suppress them. The battle and death around them disappeared. All that mattered now was him.

“Listen to me love (gasps for breath) my time grows short. Promise me, that you will not let your heart and soul be blackened by hatred and vengeance. That you (coughs as blood begins to pour into his lungs) will find love again.” He reached with his left hand, the one she wasn’t holding, and undid the hold on his bracelet. He freed it and pressed it into her unoccupied hand.

“No, no, there is no need for you to remove it, because you are going to survive. Please don’t…” she was shaking her head back and forth. Accentuating her belief that he would survive.

“I love you.” And with those three words Ryder died in his wife’s arms.

“No.” she quietly spoke the word. That was when she felt the power in her begin to rise. The earth and all of its power were one within the small redhead. Her own natural mysticism adding to the force that was at her beck and call. And with a wail she released onto the unsuspecting enemies. Every demon and evil creature was soon consumed by fire or exploding with the amount of good being forced into them. One by one they vanished leaving only ten that had escaped through the portal along with Demetrious once she unleashed her wrath. Picking up Ryder’s sword she ran through the vortex, hoping to kill her love’s murderer.

Los Angeles, California
Dimension: Earth
Year: 2002

Then AI team excluding Lorne and including Groo, were all hiding in the alley way from Cordy’s vision. They had been there for over three hours and they had yet to see anything of the creatures that went bump in the night.

“Yo Cordy are you sure that this is where we’re supposed to be? I mean, I don’t see any big purple demons, with a green rope-y thing around their necks and electric blue eyes about seven feet tall.” He raised an eyebrow to accentuate his disbelief.

“Trust me Gunn, this is the alley from my vision. Unfortunately I did not get a specific time for this to be happening.” Huffed the seer.

“Well perhaps it is not tonight…” Wes interrupted giving his insight. No one heard Fred as she noticed a swirling whole begin to open.

“Uh, guys I think you should take a look at this.”

“… I mean we could have simply gotten the wrong day.” Wes continued.

“I really think we should be paring attention to the giant whole ten feet away.” Suggested the nervous Texan as the next song coming from the club began to play and drift to their ears.

Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor

And that was when they heard a loud boom, as the song picked up its tempo. They all turned to the vortex in time to see the ten demons from Cordy’s vision come barreling through, dressed in armor, along with a slightly bloodied and battered man. He had blonde hair and electric blue eyes. He was about an inch or two taller than Angel and Groo, placing him at 6’5”. He had a faint greenish shadow on his neck that looked very much like that on the demons. He was a heavy build and looked very imposing and demanding. His chest was almost fully bared as his shirt was mere strips hanging from his form. His skin pants were form fitting and molded to his every curve.

They began moving away from the vortex and just as it was closing a small figure jumped through. She sliced through the air and rolled forward on the floor. She stood tall and proud, her waist length, curly, red hair billowing around her making her appear like a goddess come to punish the wicked. She wore a light brown skin dress that fir her like a second skin. It was sleeveless and the collar dipped in the front showing her bountiful cleavage. It came to her mid thigh were it was slit on the right side up to her hip. On her right leg she wore a sword sheath, containing a rather large sword. Soft soled leather skin boots reaching her upper calves. Her clothes looked as if it was patched together, something out of the prehistoric age, a large blood stain coating her abdomen. Her pale white skin was flushed with fury and her emerald green eyes showed a fire even the Hell Goddess Glory should have feared. She was well toned and looked like she could handle her own. The magic rolled off her in waves.

“Demetrious, you murdering bastard, come and face justice for your crimes!” she screamed at the half demon that seemed to be the one in charge of the horde of demons.

“Kayla, my love, how touching. You followed me all the way to this dimension because you cared. Truly I am touched.” He mocked the grieving widow. As she growled savagely at him he gave out the order to attack.

“I never was nor ever will be yours.”

The entire team was looking at the scene before them unfold. They had yet to get a good look at the petite redhead that came barreling after the demons before the portal closed. They heard the words exchanged by them, entranced by the drama taking place. But their shock was replaced by a need to survive as the leader gave the order to kill them all and the little redhead unsheathed a blood soaked sword.

Beaten why for
Can't take much more
(here we go, here we go, here we go)

Kayla rushed forward to make the bastard suffer but was hindered as one of his personal guards engaged her in battle. She was in no mood to deal with them. She round house kicked his head and punched the base of his skull. As he tried to regain his footing she sliced of his head, severing the green vein. That was the only way to kill them. She looked around her and saw a group of humans and demon fight off the Jruht’daians.

One - Nothing wrong with me
Two - Nothing wrong with me
Three - Nothing wrong with me
Four - Nothing wrong with me

Kayla’s mind flashed with images of her first months in Jruht’da after waking up. The degradation and humiliation of being inspected, prodded and tested. She was first examined by a midwife to confirm her state as of virgin hood. Afterwards she was taken to the sorceress to verify if she had any powers. They had discovered she was very powerful and her powers could be used if she were under her master’s control. Demetrious’ thirst for power made his interest in the girl increase. Then came the claiming, so all would know she was taken by their emperor.

One - Something's got to give
Two - Something's got to give
Three - Something's got to give
Now

Kayla pounded on the beast she now faced. All her anger and fears while in Demetrious’ fortress fueled her fight. She was aware of the others fighting as well, but all that mattered was getting to her husband’s murderer.

Angel and Wesley fought back to back, covering the other as they fought these things. Groo was paired with Cordy while Gunn and Fred fought side by side. There was something oddly familiar about these creatures that made Cordy shiver.  They terrified her, and it wasn’t really their physical appearance, but some sort of past knowledge of them that made her react in such a way.

Fred had jumped onto the back of one of the demons as he knocked Charles to the ground, but as she tried to fend him off the creature threw her over his shoulder and she hit a wall. She looked up to see one of them standing before her with a feral grin on its face. His hand wrapped around her throat and began to draw her closer preparing to take a bit out of her. She slammed her eyes shut and screamed.

Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor

Kayla finished of her foe quickly and in time to see one of them about to feed of the pretty thin brunette. Fury surged through her at this; the girl looked very much like Andrea except that her hair was darker and she was thinner. She would not let these monsters harm anyone again. She ran to the girl and untangled his grip from her throat and shoved him away. She delivered a series of punches to his face and torso. She felt the power surge through her, knowing that she would soon need it.

Push me again
This is the end
(here we go, here we go, here we go)

“Be more careful. These guys drain you of your energy through skin to skin contact. The way to kill them is by doing damage to the green vein around their necks.” Kayla helped her to her feet and handed her a hand and a half sword.

“Fred you ok girl?” Gunn came up to the two and checked his girl for injuries. “Hey thanks for the help.” The red head smiled at them before returning to the battle. She saw as the other brunette woman fought against the demons and something in her mind flashed.

She saw a young blonde woman that was full of power and purpose, another blonde girl, shy and yet sweet with a boy about her age looking at her with love, he had blue hair. An older man with whit in his brownish hair and glasses, he seemed to have a fatherly and warm fell about him. A boy with dark eyes and hair, she felt incredible love for, he was kissing the brunette she now saw, although her hair was longer and she didn’t give off a signature of power she now had. There was compassion and trepidation where she was concerned. And last she saw a man in his mid-twenties. He had pale skin and dark eyes and hair. His face was that of a messenger of mercy (or angel) and his eyes were warm yet troubled. Kayla felt a connection to this man and something in her warmed.

One - Nothing wrong with me
Two - Nothing wrong with me
Three - Nothing wrong with me
Four - Nothing wrong with me

One - Something's got to give
Two - Something's got to give
Three - Something's got to give
Now

Angel finally killed his second opponent and faired a look to his team. Groo was helping Wes and Cordy had joined Fred and Gunn. He then spotted the half demon looking at the girl that had followed him out of the portal. The man held out his arm palm flat and began chanting something. Soon a ball of grey fire formed before him and he sent it flying to the unsuspecting girl.

“Look Out!” he called to her. She turned to see who had screamed and Angel felt his world slow to an agonizing pace. Before him stood his first friend, a girl they had all mourned for when she’d disappeared. Willow, sweet, innocent, kind Willow Rosenberg was the Amazon warrior that had come through the portal. He didn’t particularly care at the moment how she got there, all that mattered was that she was back and right now she was in danger.

Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor
One - Nothing wrong with me
Two - Nothing wrong with me
Three - Nothing wrong with me
Four - Nothing wrong with me
One - Something's got to give
Two - Something's got to give
Three - Something's got to give
Now

Kayla turned to see who had screamed and saw the very face that her vision had shown her, the messenger of mercy. He had called out to her, but right now she could not move. She felt the urge to run to him and fall into his arms, to allow him to soothe her fears away. She didn’t understand her feeling but they weren’t unwelcome. She saw him run towards her and for a moment her heart picked up its pace and her breath caught. He was close to her and that was when it happened. He was slammed by the grey fire from behind and collapsed at her feet. Her mind flashed to Ryder in her arms only moments ago as he died. Her heart hurt, but her soul screamed in agony at the thought of this celestial creature being injured. She looked up to find Demetrious’ triumphant smile and cold eyes starring at her. In his hand he had another ball of grey fire.

That was it! She was not going to let this bastard take two men from her. Her emotions fed her power as she raised her arms above her head and called on the gods to add to her power. She felt it surge through her and released it.

Skin against skin blood and bone
You're all by yourself but you're not alone
You wanted in now you're here
Driven by hate consumed by fear

Everyone stopped as the winds picked up and the atmosphere seemed to thicken with power. Both groups turned to stare at the origin of it. In the middle stood the petite redhead and Angel unconscious at her feet. They were surrounded by the swirling winds and speck of magic circling them, protecting them form harm. She cast a look to those that had been with the handsome man now lying beneath her and soon they too had blue specks of magic around them. Then she yelled and light poured out in all directions.

Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floooooooooooooooooooor

The demons screamed as pure goodness and power struck them. They felt as their blood boiled in their veins and soon their bodies began to dissolve. They called out to Demetrious to use his powers to stop her, but the coward had already fled. Then oblivion.

One - Nothing wrong with me
Two - Nothing wrong with me
Three - Nothing wrong with me
Four - Nothing wrong with me
One - Something's got to give
Two - Something's got to give
Three - Something's got to give
Now
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor

The AI team stood in shock as the girl released her power and  beams of pure white flowed from her, one catching each demon. Angel stirred from unconsciousness only to hear agonized screams. He opened his eyes and saw two small leather encased feet before him, he followed up to beautiful, long shapely legs, a small waist, flat stomach, young pert breast, and then Willow’s sweet face stained with tears. She was looking at something and he turned to see as he sat up. He then noticed they were surrounded by a protective barrier as were his teammates. The demos seemed to be in the process of a very painful death, caused by his long lost friend. Then it was all over and the barriers were dropped.

Kayla felt drained from the energy she had used up. She swayed and then dropped to the ground. She felt herself being lifted into a cool safe embrace. She looked up to the face of her celestial and smiled glad he was unharmed.

“Willow?” Angel was afraid to get his hopes up, but every instinct and sense in him confirmed it was her.

“You, I know you. Don’t I?” she whispered weakly as her vision began to blur.

“Yes Willow, you know me.” He whispered back

“Good.” Then she allowed herself to succumb to darkness.

“Angel, please tell me this is not another dream. Tell me that that is Willow.” Cordelia pleaded with her friend. She had been plagued with guilt and sadness when Willow had disappeared. The two where becoming fast friends before she had disappeared. Now it seemed as though her prayers had been answered, I mean sure with all the evil fighting and apocalypse aversions, both groups had seemed to have put their friends rescue on hold. But now, oh now she was back!

“Yes Cordy, it’s her.” Angel confirmed as he buried his face in her hair and breathed in her scent. It may have been three years but he would never forget it. This was his little pixie friend. He lifted her in his arms and began to walk towards the car.

“Let’s get her home and cleaned up. Then we have to call Sunnydale to let them know she’s back.” He informed, leaving no room for argument.

“I wonder where she’s been all this time. What happened to her? Was she hurt, happy, lonely, sad?” asked Wes

“I don’t know Wes, but she’ll get to tell us once she recovers. All that matters to me right now is that she’s home. For good.” Angel looked down at the redhead cradled in his lap as the ex-watcher drove his car home, Gunn and Fred following in his truck.

~Part: 3~

Angel had placed Willow in his bedroom after Fred and Cordy had bathed and dressed her. The rest of the team had also been cleaned up and where now in the hotel’s lobby. Wesley was on the phone trying to reach the Sunnydale crew while Angel paced around the room. Cordy sat on one of the sofa’s as she answered some questions the others had about the red head now asleep upstairs.

“So Barbie, who’s the amazon princess now sleeping in the boss’ bed?” Gunn asked his coworker.

“Her name is Willow Rosenberg and she’s an old friend form Sunnydale. She disappeared a little over three years ago.” Cordy answered wearily as the entire day’s events came crashing down on her.

“How’d she disappear?” Fred asked.

“We were fighting some demons that had been causing us trouble for weeks. No matter how hard we fought they were simply stronger than us. Willow finally found a way to debilitate them and send them home. When the portal opened, she and Cordy were close to it, so we screamed to them to run to safety. We turned our backs for one second, and the next thing I know Xander is screaming out to her to hold on. One of the demons had grabbed hold of her foot and was dragging her into the portal with him. I tried to get to her but by the time we reached her it was to late. She had been sucked in and the portal closed.” Angel answered the question. He had his eyes closed as that painful night was relived in his mind.

“So why didn’t you just reopen the portal and get her out?”

“Because the spell was a one time deal Fred. We searched afterwards, trying to find a way to get her back. We didn’t know where she was, what was happening to her. But things with the mayor got worse, then Angel and I moved out here, Buffy and the others had to protect the Hellmouth, we were and still are trying to fend off Wolfram and Hart and now we have Connor and Holtz to worry about. As bad as it sounds, we just seemed to put it off for when we had more time, but we never did.” Cordelia replied with tears slowly flowing down her face. She felt horrible for letting her friend’s safety and well being slip  by. She had seen the burns and other injuries to the witch’s body and it only made her feel worse.

“I can only imagine what she went through She seems stronger than she did when we last saw her, magically and physically speaking. She has great fighting skills and she knows how to use weapons. That means that wherever she was she had to have learned for a reason.” Wesley said from the door to the office. “ I tried calling the others but was unable to reach them. I left a message on the machine for Buffy to call me as soon as possible."

At that moment they heard a crash and then the raised voice of the girl in question.

~~~*~~~

Willow awoke in a strange room, one she had never seen before. The soft mattress draped in cool soft cotton sheets was something she had not felt in a long time, though she knew she had slept in one before. She again heard the sound that had roused her from her rest, the sound of a baby crying. And the baby was close. She also felt another presence in the area, one with power. She got up from the bed and had to close her eyes in order to allow the dizziness to pass. Once she regained her bearings, the red head walked to the glass doors and opened them. She saw the crib where the baby was lying in then a demon coming towards him with something in his hand. She feared for his safety and called upon her magic, even though she should wait to make certain she was ok to use it. She flung her arm in an arc and the demon flew against the wall.

“Stay away from him you filthy demon!” she shouted out her warning before running across the room to the child. She erected a barrier around the bed before picking up one of the weapons on the wall and assuming a defense stance. The demon looked at her and then attacked. The two fought furiously and he drew blood. The wound didn’t affect her or stop her, she lunged when she found an opening and stabbed him as the others entered the room.

“Oh God.” Breathed Fred as she saw the scene before her.  Angel rushed in to the crib wanting to make sure that his son was safe and encountered some magical resistance. He looked over at his friend and enquired his worry.

“Why can’t I get to my son?”

“I’m sorry I put a barrier up fearing this monster would get to him.” She waved her hand and dropped the resistance. Angel once more reached for his crying son and lifted the baby into his arms. Connor kept crying even though he knew his daddy was now with him, but he still felt uneasy. He wanted, no needed someone else.

“I’m sorry, but I heard him crying and I wanted to make sure he was alright so I came in here. When all of a sudden this monster was creeping towards him with something in his hand and I was afraid for the little one so I put up a barrier to keep him safe. I fought this thing and now he is dead so the baby is alright I never meant to scare him more.” Angel, Cordy and Wes smiled as they once more heard their cherished friend’s babbling. Just then another demon walked into the room and Willow went to attack only to be held back by Gunn.

“Whoa there warrior princess, this one is a friend. He won’t hurt us.” He explained. Willow looked on skeptically and Angel introduced them to one another.

“This is Lorne. He actually takes care of Connor. By the way what is wrong with him? He won’t stop crying.”

Angel kept rocking the infant but nothing seemed to work. As the pylean began to cross to the duo, Willow reached for the infant before anyone could. As she settled the scared baby in her arms, cooing softly and sweetly to him, Connor quieted. This was the one he wanted, needed, right now. He had felt a connection to the lady his father had brought in a few hours ago. It felt good and right for her to hold him. He reached his hand to her and wrapped his chubby fingers around her red hair, all the while smiling and laughing. Everyone was stunned at the display, usually it took them a good twenty minutes to quiet him, that was if you weren’t Angel.

“Wow Willow, it’s usually harder to quiet him!” exclaimed Cordy.

“Umm, I don’t mean to be rude but…”

“What is it Willow?” enquired the dark vampire.

“Why are you calling me Willow, and who are you all?” she didn’t know them but she felt she could trust them.To say that the ex-Sunnydale gang was stunned was a major understatement. Angel was scared for her, more than he was willing to let show at the moment, for Willow needed him. Quite in the dark about the dire situation, Connor began to drift off in the redhead’s arms.

“You don’t remember us?” asked a hurt Cordy.

“Should I? I’m sorry but I can’t remember anything before the centiers found me in the practice fields. I mean Ryder had promised we would search for my family once we won the revolution but I had begun to think I didn’t have any.” She was frustrated at the fact she couldn’t remember anything, especially since these people seemed to know her.

“Centiers? What are centiers?” asked Fred.

“They’re the Jruh’tda empirical guards. Why are you asking this?” Willow was confused.

“Is that where you’ve been all this time, Strawberry? In Jruh’tda?”

“Yes, wait are you telling me I’m not in Jruh’tda anymore? Oh gods, the portal, Ryder.” She spoke the last line herself. It was just now catching up to her, all that had transpired in the last 24 hours.

Lorne’s mind was also reeling, but for a completely different reason. He had heard of the dimension this small girl had said she’d been in for the past three years. It wasn’t a nice place to be, even for Angelus’ standards. It was a harsh world to live in, especially for a female human. Lorne had heard the stories of the tyrant half demon that had been in power for over two decades, and his fascination with human females.

“Who’s Ryder?” Angel asked softly, for he’d noticed how distraught she became after mentioning the name. Willow looked up at him when he spoke. There were tears streaming down her face now and she held the sleeping baby closer to herself.

“He was my husband.” Her voice was low with sorrow and Angel knew that something had happened to him.

“Husband?! Willow, you’re married? When, who is he? Where is he?” Cordelia was shocked. Willow was married! Boy a lot had definitely happened.

“He’s dead. Demetrious killed him before he opened the portal into this world. I wanted revenge for my husband’s murder so I followed him here. We would have been married six months in the next full moon.” She walked to the bed and arranged Connor in what appeared to be a cocoon of blankets. She sat next to him and rubbed his back when he began to fidget. She looked up at the people in the room with her.

“Do you really know me?” she was hopeful that maybe now she would know her true identity.

“Yes we do. Well Cordelia here has known you your whole life; you used to be classmates and then friends. Angel knew you for two and a half years before you had been sucked into the portal, I unfortunately only knew you for a few months. The others you had never met before. We are trying to get a hold of the rest of your friends to let them know you are alive, safe, and sound.” Willow seemed to deflate before their eyes, and they decided to leave her to rest. One by one they left until only Cordy and Angel remained. The brunette hesitated before launching herself at the redhead and hugging her fiercely.

“I’m glad you’re finally home Willow. We missed you so much.” With that she let go of the very confused and a bit scared woman. Angel looked at his friend and felt relief flood him. She was home, she was safe, and he was going to make sure she stayed that way. Angel turned but stopped when he heard her speak.

“Please don’t go. I don’t want to be alone.” She wasn’t really lying, she didn’t want him to leave her by herself, though she was the others had left. Angel turned, walked back to the other side of the bed and sat next to his son.

“What’s your name?”

“Angel.”

“This is your son?”

“Yes, his name is Connor.” She saw as he smiled down to the sleeping babe.

“Are night walkers different here?” her question confused Angel immensely. What were night walkers?

“Night walkers?"

“Oh, they’re probably called something else here. Um, we also call them vampires if that helps.”

“Why do you ask if vampires are different here?”

“Well you’re one and you have a son, and have yet to kill me or the others. Where I come from- um that is, where I was, they were ruthless and vicious monsters. Once they died a demon forced the soul out to use the body as it’s own, assimilating the memories of the person. They couldn’t come in contact with anything holy, or have children, and their faces were deformed.”

“You know I’m a vampire?” Angel was shocked she knew if she had no recollection of her life before she disappeared, unless…

“I felt it. Your energy signature is that of a nightwalker, but it’s different somehow.”

“Well, I am a vampire but I was cursed with my soul over eighty years ago, as revenge for killing the favored daughter of a gypsy clan.”

“Oh. So if nightwalkers are given their soul’s back, then that means they can have children?”

“What? No, vampires can’t have children, even if cursed with a soul. Connor here was a miracle in his own. He seems to have been prophesized, but whatever the reason for him being, I’m thankful to the powers every day for him.” Angel reached out and softly ran his hand over the infant’s head.

“He is powerful, I can feel it. You’re very lucky to be able to have him.” Angel notice severe pain and sorrow enter her eyes and wondered if she was wishing she had had a baby with her husband. Suddenly the thought of some strange man taking her to his bed made Angel tense and angry.

“Why don’t you get some rest. Wesley will keep trying to get in touch with the others.”

“Would you stay with me until I fall asleep?”

“Of course.” Angel got up and walked to her side of the bed. He settled her into the bed and tucked like he would Connor. Angel sat by the bed even long after she drifted off to sleep.

~Part: 4~

The next morning Wesley had finally been able to get a hold of Buffy after speaking with Giles. Both had promised to be there before the day was out. The ex-watcher now sat in his office pondering of how things would turn out. The slayer and her group would probably want to take the red head with them to Sunnydale to help stimulate her memories, but Wesley wasn’t sure that was a good idea. Given the fact that she had just arrived from what Lorne described as ‘a hell not even the devil would enjoy’ to be placed within the Hellmouth and her being so powerful then she was very sensitive to the energies of such evil.

It was late afternoon when he looked out into the lobby and saw Cordelia leading Willow down the stairs, talking to her softly. He noticed as Angel seemed to straighten and his eyes focus first on his seer, a look of bessotedness in them, then at Willow. His eyes held softness and worry when he looked at the redhead.

“Hi Willow. How did you sleep?”

“Hello Angel. I slept very well, it’s been so long since I slept in a bed. Well not counting the months that Demetrious had me in his.” She walked on ahead and poked her head down to coo at Connor. Angel on the other hand was shocked as well as the others at her comment. What did she mean by the months that Demetrious had her in his bed? That was when Willow moved all of her hair over her right shoulder and he noticed a mark on her left shoulder; thanks to the white strappy, knee length sundress she wore, with light blue flowers. He walked up behind her as she tickled the baby.

“Willow what’s this?” he asked as he touched the mark. He noticed it suddenly warmed immensely and pulsed a green light around the edges. He drew his hand back before he was burned.

“Don’t touch it!” she exclaimed as she felt her mark react to someone touching it. She had hoped she wouldn’t have to explain it, anything to do with Demetrious she preferred to keep in the past. She spun around to look at him.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t…” he didn’t what? Angel was at a loss for words.

“Did you get hurt?” she took his hands and inspected them. There didn’t seem to be any damage.

“No. Willow what is that? It looks like a burn mark, but it felt strange.”

“I had hoped to not have to tell you about it; any of it. It’s my tag.”

“Wait you were tagged?!” Lorne suddenly asked, his tone of voice slightly raised in surprise and alarm. Willow motioned for the others to take a seat as she sat on one of the chairs.

“Yes I was tagged. The first thing I remember is waking up in the middle of a field, where the centiers were practicing, when one of them lifted me up. He noticed I was dressed strangely and thought I was one of the daughters of a revolutionist, so he stripped me and checked for a mark or tag. When they found none, I was taken to Demetrious at his fortress within the city. Demetrious took one look at me and decided he wanted to keep me for himself. Since I was apparently free, then he claimed me as his. One of the centiers that brought me in protested, asking why I wasn’t used as a target slave instead of a palace slave. Demetrious killed him.”

“What’s the difference between a palace and a target slave?” asked Fred. She understood this girl better than anyone. She having been a former slave herself.

“Well a target slave is used for target practice for when the guards go on hunt. A palace slave is there to work within the palace in whichever way Demetrious chose. When he claimed me he then defined my role as his slave, which is why I was later tagged. You see once you are defined as what kind of slave you are, then your role is defined. Demetrious chose me as his personal slave. I was tested, prodded, and humiliated beyond belief. When the priests had deemed me a great asset, not only for my red hair and green eyes, but also for my magic, Demetrious didn’t wait another day. He took me that very night.”

“When you say took you, you mean…?” Gunn trailed off not sure if he was understanding her or not.

“He made me his concubine. Actually he had planned to some day make me his bride, but I wouldn’t submit to him. He had suspected that I was giving myself to someone else so he branded me with this tag. The tag has an enchantment on it that burns whoever touches it or me. It was a little bit difficult getting around it, but Ryder and I were able to in the end.”

“How did you meet him? Ryder, how did the two of you meet?” Wesley asked.

“He was there the day I was brought in to Demetrious. We first became friends but there was just something about him that called to me; his dark good looks, the kind soulful eyes, his cryptic behavior. I knew he had a secret and I was determined to find it out. I finally did though. When one of the other concubines gave birth, I found out that Demetrious had planned to sacrifice the baby’s soul for power and then consume her magic. Andrea, the baby’s mother, was very powerful which passed on to her daughter. She had told me what he had planned for their daughter and so I helped them escape. Demetrious wasn’t very happy with me and he had me punished in hopes I would give her away. I never did so Ryder finally approached me and revealed to me he was the insider helping with the revolution to destroy Demetrious and his tyranny. After that he smuggled me out of the city and into one of the secret villages in the forest.

Since that day I helped in whatever way I could. My magic grew and I was taught to be a healer. I also asked Ryder to teach me to fight, because whether he liked it or not I was going into battle with the rest of them. He was so mad but I used my resolve face and won in the end. With the time that passed we fell in love, but we could never be together because of this stupid tag. I was able to release the part where no other man could touch me, but we still couldn’t make love. That was until Ingrid found the binding ceremony. We then got married and, well you can guess the rest.” She smiled as she recalled their first night together. It had been so special and beautiful.

“Then two days ago we had decided that it was time for the final attack. We were supposed to attack that very night but postponed it for the morning after, right at dawn. That way the nightwalkers wouldn’t be able to fight, at least the ones that were fighting for Demetrious. It was a bloody and hard battle but we were winning, and then it happened. Ryder challenged Demetrious. He was in no condition to fight the bastard, but my husband was always too stubborn for his own good. At one point Ryder heard someone cry out as they were killed and turned to see who had died. It was all that it took for Demetrious to kill him. I tried to heal him, I truly did, but the wound and blood loss was too severe, even for my magic.” Tears were running down her cheeks as she recounted the events that led to her being here.

“I couldn’t think, all I could do was feel. My anger fed my magic and the next thing I knew I released all of those emotions into pure energy. I made sure every single one of those evil sons of jackals died, I then followed Demetrious here.” With her tale told Willow fully broke down. Wrapping her arms around her waist she bent as if in physical pain and sobbed. So much had happened to her and now it seemed that it was all over. Except for one quite important detail, Demetrious was still alive.

Willow felt arms encircle her. She looked up to see Angel, her celestial, sitting next to her. He had tears running down his face as well. She felt safe with him holding her so she turned fully and buried her face in the crook of his neck and continued to cry. Angel just held her tightly as she cried and he rubbed circles on her lower back. He lifted his head to see Fred was crying silently as she looked on, an equally sorrowful and angry Gunn trying to sooth her. Wesley was shocked, angry and sad for her as was Lorne and Groo. Cordelia was leaning against Groo as he held her in much the same manner Angel was holding the redhead, as if trying to shield her from all the suffering and pain. He felt a stab of jealousy and longing at the sight, wishing he was the one holding the seer, but quickly forgot it as Willow’s body shivered. He placed a kiss in her hair and made small shushing sounds, telling her it was alright, that she was safe now. And that is exactly as the Scoobies and Giles found them.

~Part: 5~

Xander was anxious to get to Deadboy’s place already. Buffy had called Wesley back around 3:00 am when they all came in from patrol. She had called back ASAP fearing it was some apocalyptic business do to the dire tone in Wesley’s voice. She had been on the phone less than a minute before she screamed. They all gathered in the kitchen to see what had happened to the slayer and found her crying and exclaiming into the telephone. She then hung up ran up to Xander and hugged him tightly, all the while babbling about Willow. He pushed her from him slightly and met her exuberant expression.

“She’s alive, and she’s in LA with Angel.” She had said

“Who, Buffy? Who are you talking about?” Xander responded.

“Willow! She came home.” She shouted before running to the stairs screaming orders that they were to pack and then pick Giles up at LAX before going to the Hyperion. It had been the first show of emotions Buffy had shown since Amy had brought her back.

So now here was Xander in a cramped car with his fiancé, his best friend who was the slayer, her now-real-once-a-key-and-imaginary-sister, Amy his other best friend, her lover and his friend Tara, the father figure Giles, and Spike, which for some reason Xander didn’t understand why he was there. He saw the giant building come into view and started to fidget. He told Spike to hurry it up, and received a glare from the bleached blonde. Anya squeezed his hand in silent support, though it had taken some time to convince her he had no romantic feelings for his little buddy.

When the car finally parked Xander jumped out and ran for the doors, the rest right behind him. He crashed through the glass doors and froze. He saw everyone in tears but what held him in place was the sight of Willow. She was crying in Angel’s arms but she looked absolutely stunning. Her flame red hair was all the way down her waist slightly curled her figure as trim as ever but with a warrior toning that made her seem more alluring than he had ever imagined her to be. She seemed to embody power and sensuality. And in spite of all this he could only see the girl that had been his best friend since they were six years old. He heard the gasps and intakes of breaths from the rest of the Scoobies, Giles’ softly uttered “Willow” and Buffy’s withheld sob. He ran into the room and straight for Willow only to have her jump up and suddenly collide with an invisible wall.

“Willow?” he inquired. His voice was urgent and perplexed.

Willow felt safe in Angel’s arms, even if he was a night walker. She heard someone come into the sanctuary and looked up at a group of people standing there looking at them all. She recognized some of them from her vision during the fight last night. But something was off, something about them made her skin crawl and her chest to tighten. It was as if she was picking up two different signals from them all. One was each one of their imprinted signal. The other was an energy that seemed to stick to them as if trying to invade them. And it had succeeded some in one of them. She saw as the young man came rushing towards her. She leapt off the couch and immediately but up a barrier. She felt her energy slip away some. She wasn’t fully recovered to do magic without it affecting her thus.

The man stopped when he bounced back from the shield and looked at her. He sounded confused and urgent when he called her name.

“Willow?”

“Stay away from me. All of you I mean it.” She began to shake as the petite blonde woman approached as well. She radiated power, mystical power but no that of a witch. There was something familiar about her energy signature but what?

“Willow, it’s ok. They’re your friends, the ones we were telling you about.” It was Angel that had spoken. They had all gotten up and were standing close to the red head, trying to reassure her that nothing bad would happen. Willow looked into his eyes and knew, that even though she could defend herself, as well they all knew, that this creature would let no harm come to her. She stepped closer to Angel and let the shield drop. She wasn’t prepared for the brunette man to crash into her and holding her tight. Her skin began to burn from her tag, she was weak magically but that didn’t mean it should react like that. Then she felt the energy that clung to him try to invade her as well and knew what it was.

“Let me go! Get away from me!” she dropped to the floor on her knees and gasped for air. Willow scampered back on the heel of her hands and put distance between her and the energies of the mouth. She began to pray to the gods to protect her.

“Willow what’s wrong?” Buffy tried to go to her only to have Giles stop her by putting his hand on the slayer’s arm. He watched in fascination and worry as Angel and Cordy dropped next to the red head to sooth her. Angel suddenly snatched his hand away from her shoulder revealing burn marks.

“Get them out of here now! It’s- it’s the energies from the mouth. It is reactivating the enchantment on my tag and trying to poison me.” She was gasping now clutching at her throat.

“Wesley, Gunn, keep them here.” Angel had lifted Willow into his arms and was carrying her away, ignoring the hurt her burning skin was causing.

Once the vampire and witch were out of the lobby and upstairs in safety Lorne tried to explain what he had been able to understand and pick up. He knew that there was no way Strawberries could go back to Sunnydale, she had proved that with the little struggle she just went through.

“Ok everyone let’s see if I can make you understand. Willow there was sucked into some weird dimension about three years ago during a fight you were all involved in right? Right, now Cordy there got a vision of some really bad nasties, about 11 of them so we all, without me of course, set out to save the day. Now from what I was told, Strawberries there followed the bad guys through some portal, and back here. She was the one that got rid of the bad guys really.”

“How was she capable of that?” interrupted Giles.

“She fought them. You should see that girl handle a sword. Whoo she is good. And the mojo, that was a big help.” Answered Gunn

“She fought them Giles, but mainly she used magic. She but up barriers around us and Angel and herself then, the only way to explain it is she released pure goodness into these things and they combusted.” Cordelia translated after the horrified look on the watcher and Xander.

“So any way, once she regained consciousness she stopped some demon from getting to Connor. When we got there she was already awake. Turns out the poor girl has amnesia. She can’t remember anything from before she was sucked into Jurh’tda.”

“She was in Jurh’tda?! Good lord, what she must have gone through?” Giles answered. He looked toward the stairs and thought of his once protégé. She had been so naïve and innocent, pure, good, and incredibly light. Now he could see the power and authority she carried. How sensitive she must be to magic and what kind it was. Suddenly Giles understood her reaction to Xander’s hug.

“She’s too powerful to go back isn’t she?” the ex-watcher asked the pylean.

“Yeah. She has reached such a high level that just the residue is enough to hurt her. You seem to have heard about the place she was in, you know how weak the Hell mouths are there compared to our dimension.”

“Hey! What the hell are you two talking about?” Buffy had been trying to keep up she really was, but it seemed Giles and Lorne were having some secret conversation. Wesley clarified.

“Willow was in a very hostile, violent and quite frankly, hellish dimension. She had to learn to fight, physically and magically. Her powers have grown to such proportions she cannot return to Sunnydale without it killing her. The hellmouths from where she was are very, very weak. What happened just now when Xander held her was the effects of the residue from the Hellmouth. It’ll poison her and slowly kill her, very painfully. Much has happened to her that you should hear before we cleanse you and are allowed anywhere near her.” He motioned for the Scoobies to sit down and began to recant what they had learned only minutes ago.

~~~*~~~

Angel set the now trembling girl on the bed. He rushed into the bathroom and wet a medium sized towel with the coldest water the faucet could give him. He ran back into the room and kneeled in front of Willow. Gently the vampire swiped at Willow’s face and could feel the heat of her skin. She was so hot, he was scared she would combust!

Angel moved the cold towel over her neck and chest noticing that with each sweep she seemed to cool more. Her breathing had began to normalize but kept her eyes downcast.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered. Angel stopped what he was doing to look at her face. The long red hair was like a sheet covering her from his sight. With soft fingers he brushed back her veil and lifted her chin. She had tears in her eyes and shame as well.

“Why would you be sorry? There is nothing to be sorry for.” his voice was soft and soothing. Not what she had expected. Willow thought Angel would hate her for how she had behaved.

“I didn’t, I didn’t mean to be so abrupt. I just reacted to the effects of the mouth’s energy, they’re so much stronger here than back home.” She didn’t notice her slip of tongue but Angel did. He felt anger rise in him that she thought of that retched place as her home. This was her home dammit!

“It’s understandable, your reaction. But you still have to see them. They are your friends Willow, maybe seeing them will trigger a memory.” He hoped she would agree. He missed the old Willow, though this woman before him seemed more alluring than the young teenage girl he knew years ago.

“Alright, but they can’t touch me until they’ve been cleansed. I’m still weak form using my powers too much and, well the energies might reactivate my tag.” A shiver ran through her at the thought of having the tag active once more and all the effects it brought. Angel took her hand in his and led her to the lobby, slowly. When they were at the last steps she stopped and pulled at Angel’s hand.

“What’s wrong?” he whispered.

“I’m scared. What if they don’t like me after the way I acted?” she sounded so scared and the thought of being rejected by any of the Scoobies made Angel smile softly at her.

“They love you Willow. They could never hate or dislike you. Now come on.”

Angel gently tugged at the redhead until they were standing with the others. She instantly knew that they had been cleansed and felt more at ease. But still she could feel a darkness that shouldn’t be there present. Willow looked at each one of them with the Sight, hoping to find what was wrong. She stopped when she saw one of the blonde girls that had come in. She recognized her from her vision and as a sister witch.

‘You must help her daughter. Before it is too late’ the voice of the Goddess rang in Willow’s head, as it had many times before in the past three years. Letting go of the vampire’s hand, the little redhead walked to Amy as if in a trance. Willow stopped in front of the now trembling girl as the power washed over the girl. Extending her right arm, Willow placed her hand in the valley between Amy’s breasts and began to chant. A small breeze began to blow in the lobby of the hotel and slowly increase in force. Just as in the alley the other night, magic began to swirl around the two women. This time a bubble of white light engulfed them and elevated the witches from the floor, five feet above the ground.

Amy couldn’t move, she felt paralyzed with the power she was experiencing. Her eyes bled to total black and soon her hair changed to the same color. She couldn’t breathe as she felt a strong pulling sensation deep within her chest. Willow on the other hand just chanted and concentrated on doing the task given to her. She felt what she had been searching for and increased the pressure on the other woman’s chest. The redhead’s head snapped back and her eyes glowed pure white. Soon black specks began to rise from Amy’s body and her hair and eyes were returning to their normal color. A dark black cloud hovered over her and Willow extended her left hand to it. In a commanding voice she spoke to the thing in a language none understood. Once it disappeared both girls were lowered once more and the bubble disappeared.

Amy stumbled back as she was released from the spell, looking wide eyes at her lost friend. Willow on the other hand blinked twice before her knees buckled from under her. She would have fallen if Angel hadn’t caught her. He and Wesley guided her to the couch and Cordelia brought her some water.

“What did you do?” Tara asked the redhead as she hugged her girlfriend. She could feel the change in Amy immediately.

“I released her. Something or someone had poisoned her with darkness. She opened herself up to it and whatever it was took the chance to try and corrupt her. The Goddess wasn’t about to allow someone to infect one of her devout daughters, so I expelled the darkness, returned her to her true form.” Willow’s voice was weak from loss of energy. She was really starting to push her limits, she hadn’t recuperated from the excessive power used two nights ago and now she was doing something very power draining. Definitely not good.

“That was a very powerful and dangerous thing to do young lady.” Giles instantly went into protective father mode. She may have been gone for three years but that did not mean he felt less love for her. On the contrary, Willow felt more like she was his own as she ever did.

“I had to do it. Are you my father?” everyone blinked at the question. Her subject change was so abrupt and the question so, so, innocent and touching none could speak at first.

“Unfortunately I am not your father. I am, well I would be more like a mentor and friend.” Giles wanted nothing more than to say yes, that he was the father of such a girl, just as he wanted to say about Buffy, Dawn, Amy and even Xander.

“Although he’s more a father to you Ira ever was, so I would say yes.” Xander had to say it. He could, no he would not stand by and watch as Willow’s heart broke all over again when she realized that her parents didn’t really care.

“Well, someone had to say it. I’m Xander we’ve been best friends since we were six years old. We met in first grade after your yellow crayon broke.” He hoped maybe that little bit of memorabilia would help jog her memory. He saw as her brow puckered up in concentration and then the frustration as nothing came. He looked to Buffy in hopes she might be able to stir something up.

“Well I’m Buffy. We were best gal pals for two and a half years. I’m, uh well, I’m a slayer. You and Xan decided to help me instead of judge me. We used to hang together all the time, going to the Bronze, having mocha chinos, talking about guys.” Just then they heard Willow’s sharp in take of air and saw her screw her eyes tightly shut.

Willow had been trying to dredge up some kind of memories but nothing. She replayed what these two had said and nothing. But when she thought about what Buffy had said something seemed wrong. ‘Slayer, slayer… What the hell is that? Wait they call night walker vampires here, maybe… Could she be a huntress?!’ that was when her mind opened and bombarded image after image. Her and the Xander guy, with another boy. It was night and they had been at a dance house, then a blonde nightwalker attacking them in the burial grounds. The other boy had been embraced and Xander had killed the demon. A powerful and very old Night walker, the Master, was taking her and some other for a sacrifice. Working at a computer (?), having a conversation with someone, feeling nice and attractive. The demon Moloch taking her; a bezora demon’s baby taking over her body, forcing her and others to help release the demon and her spawn. Then Buffy killing the mother host.

“Jesse.” She whimpered softly remembering how he had died. The others, except Anya, Tara, Groo, Fred and Gunn perked up at her response.

“What do you remember Wills?” Xander was now sitting next to her and tentatively reached out to place his hand on her shoulder.

"Jesse…. He was my friend, a night walker killed him and then you had to kill the demon. And Buffy, she's a huntress."

"A what?" Buffy interrupted.

"A huntress. You are chosen to fight the forces of evil, you hunt down the nightwalkers, demons, murderers, violators, all those that cause wrongs against humanity."

"By huntress you mean slayer right? Wait, does that mean I'm supposed to punish humans too?" Buffy kinda liked the idea of being able to hunt down all evil doers. There were some people that deserved a major ass whupping.

"Well not exactly. You hunt and capture the humans that do wrong and bring them before the counsel for judgment. Don't you do it like that here?" her forehead was crinkled in confusion. Some of the most simple of things were so confusing and different here.

"No not anymore. It is true that before the Romans developed the judicial system Slayers were used for those purposes also. But now the watchers allow them access to demons only." Giles answered her.

"Why? I mean, not all demons are evil, and there are few though rare nightwalkers that retain some of their humanity. Just because they are different or posses no soul does not mean they are evil. I mean take him for example" she pointed to Spike. He had sat back and watched everything unravel. He remembered this little witch from his first visit to the hellmouth in search of Dru's cure. Though this was a woman, not the little girl he had met. She was also very pretty and powerful. Maybe he should stay in LA for a while.

"What about me Red?" his voice was slightly sultry and both Slayer and Sire scowled at the bleached blonde.

"Well you’re a night walker but I can tell you still have humanity in you. Don't get me wrong, your signature radiates power and evil, but it's subdued some by your emotions. There is a part of you that is still human. And take Angel for example. He has a soul and from what I can deduce he is good now, but many humans with souls have done far worse things than demons themselves. Many demon species are peaceful creatures. Why then should the huntress take on demons no matter what they are like?" Willow's answer was met with silence. She had hit a sore spot for many people.  So many of them believed the same thing and yet never voiced it. Xander on the other hand was taken a back by the answer. He himself knew the differences, it was simply his anger of what Jesse had been through, Angel taking Buffy away, his history of being like demon catnip, that had warped his ideas on the matter.

She suddenly leaned heavily onto Xander and Cordy took that as a sign that maybe they should let their friend rest some more before continuing with their questions.

"Guys maybe we should continue this later. Willow I'll show you to your room. C'mon you're about to drop right were you stand." Everyone froze when Spike was the one to saunter over and picked up the little redhead. He enjoyed the brief look of jealousy on the slayer's face before she masked it. He also noticed Angel's low growl. 'Hmm, maybe the poof doesn't realize just how drawn in to the witch he really is. This could be fun'

"Alright Seer, lead the way."

"Spike I am so not telling you where Willow's room is!" Cordelia exclaimed.

"Look, Red is already asleep here so just tell me where I can put her. Or I could just hold her all night." He slightly nuzzled the sleeping girl's neck.

“Fine then take her to my rooms. That is where she is staying until we can fix one up for her.” Angel motioned for Spike to go ahead of him and kept his eyes fixed on the duo. He really hoped that the Sunnydale gang left soon, he wanted Spike out of there and fast. For some reason Angel didn’t like the way Spike kept looking at the redhead, even though he knew that his once favored childe couldn’t hurt humans, the look in Spike’s eyes made waves of possessive/protective feelings to wash through him.

~Part: 6~

She felt the warmth of the sun on her face before she really woke up. Willow slowly opened her eyes and discovered to once again be in the bed she had woken up in two nights ago. She looked around the room and saw the blinds in the room had been opened and the warm yellow sun cascaded on her delicate face. The redhead slowly rose to a sitting position and stretched her arms above her head. Quickly she got up and walked over to the now closed French doors that led to the main sitting area to the room. Cautiously she opened the door and peeked out. She was surprised to see Angel folded in a very uncomfortable looking position on a couch that was obviously to small for him to sleep in. She walked out into the sitting room the rest of the way and closed the French door as to make certain no sun leaked out. She was going to wake him and offer the bed but diverted her path to the crib when she heard Conner fidgeting.

“Hello little one.” She softly spoke to the baby as she peered down at him. The little bundle of joy looked up at the red head he felt so close to and raised his arms to her, silently asking she carry him again. She laughed softly before meeting his demand and settling him on her shoulder. The little boy was laughing up a storm as he pulled on her hair and suckled his fist.

“Hungry little fella? Well let’s see if I can find you some milk.” she walked into the kitchen and searched the cabinets looking for the bottle she had seen the others using to feed him.  Her search turning up nothing she then tried the refrigerator. There she found the bottles.

“Alright Connor lets get you fed.” She cradled the baby and gave him the bottle. At first he took the offered food eagerly but then he pushed it away and started crying.

“Oh no, no don’t cry. Shh, it’s ok. See it’s milk.” But the baby kept on wailing.

“Oh what am I doing wrong?” she asked her self slightly alarmed.

“You have to warm up the bottle first.” Willow turned around at the sound of a sleepy Angel answering her question.

“What?”

“The milk was in the refrigerator, you have to warm it up since it is cold.” He explained to her patiently. Her face screws up slightly as she understands her mistake. He found it an adorable picture. He walked over to them, took the bottle from her and proceeded to warm it on the stove as she rocked the baby and hummed low to him.

“What are you humming? It sounds very nice.”

“Oh it’s a lullaby that Andrea used to sing to Valerie, her baby.  I never could remember the words but the rhythm was so soothing.” Connor stopped fussing the moment he heard his daddy walk in. But he liked the lady’s voice too so whenever she stopped humming he would squirm and she would start again. He felt whole now, like the last piece missing to the puzzle fit. With the red heads arrival, Connor finally felt like this was home.

“Do you think you are ready to talk to them today?”

“Maybe. I just feel so nervous around them, especially Xander. It’s obvious he knew me the most and I just, I feel so bad that I can’t seem to remember him.”

“It’s going to take time Willow. You’ve had amnesia for three years now and the reason it hasn’t come back to you is because you had nothing familiar to trigger your memories.”

“How long are they staying here?

“For another week. They can’t afford to stay longer.”

“Why?” she was curious to know that if her friends had been looking for her for 3 years now why was it that when they found her they would spend so little time with her.

“Because they have to guard the hell mouth and they also have a new enemy that has been causing a lot of trouble for them.” Angel removes the bottle from the saucepan and tries out the temperature against his wrist. ‘Just right.’ He was about to take the baby to feed but Willow took the bottle from him instead. While feeding the baby she walks out to the sofa and gets comfy, Angel right behind her.

A knock on the door prevents Angel from beginning his questioning. Cordelia is standing there wearing a pair of tight white jeans and a blue heart cut top with long sleeves. ‘Gods she looks incredible’ Angel just stared at her for a little before letting her come in to the room. Cordy on the other hand felt a little jealous when she noticed that Willow was already feeding Connor. All this time she had been the mother to Angel’s son, but now it seemed like the infant preferred the red head above anyone else.

“Sorry to interrupt I was coming to feed Connor and check up on Wills. How do you feel sweetie?”

“Better now that I slept.” She smiled at the seer before returning her attention to the baby. Her attention was drawn to Cordy again as the seer gasped.

 “What’s wrong with her? What’s happening?”

“She’s having a vision.” Angel answered while never once lifting his eyes from the seer. Willow saw how Angel looked at the brunette and for some reason it hurt to know that Angel was in love with Cordy. Shaking her head she finally registered what he said.

“Cordy’s a seer for the Powers?! That is such an honor.” She was awed at the prospect. All this time she thought Cordy was human. Before she could ask anything more about the circumstances of Cordelia’s powers Angel began asking what his seer had been shown.

“There was a woman, she was blonde, a little taller than me and Wills, she was running from a demon. This thing was huge. About the same size the ones we encountered the night Willow came back, they were like a dark tan color and wrinkly. God were they disgusting, there were these strange suction cups at the end of the tail. There were horns on his biceps, and really bad teeth. That’s something I don’t get, if there are doctors for the demons, why not orthodontists. I mean just because you are an evil human eating baddie, doesn’t mean you can have bad oral hygiene.”

Willow giggled at her friend’s speech, one minute Cordy was being all serious and then she pops up with something so ridiculous. Angel sighed good naturedly at Cordy, enjoying her charms as well.

“Wait did you say they had suction cups on the tail, and horns on the biceps?” Willow asked as she put a now napping Connor back into his crib. She sounded worried and that was something Angel did not like.

“Yeah.” Answered Cordy

“What is it? What’s wrong Willow?”

“That sounds like an Arsheean demon. Cordy, could you tell from your vision if the victim was pregnant?” Willow’s voice was worried.

“Um yeah she was. Why do you ask?” Willow had gone back into the room, leaving the door slightly ajar so she could hear what was being said. The red head was looking though the laundry basket of clothes Cordelia had brought for her, finding a pair of dark gray yoga pants and a white t-shirt, she changed.

“Because, Arsheeans need to feed on stem cells which are in high abundance in the umbilical cord. The earlier the pregnancy the more you find.” Willow had come out of the room already wearing her change of clothes. Her long hair was thrown over the shoulder so she could better braid it. She stopped in mid step and a puzzled frown came over her features.

“Um, what the hell did I just say and how did I know that?” she looked to Angel for the answer. Well he did seem to have them all, at least concerning her past. Although it was Cordelia the one that answered.

“Well because you’re Willow, geek extraordinaire. You were the smart one of the group; you loved to study and read all these weird things that no one else seemed to have an interest in. Whenever we needed to know something, you either already knew about it or found it in a jiff. Science was one of your best subjects too.”

“Ok, if you say so.” ‘What in the world is science?’ she thought to herself. With her question answered she resumed walking and braiding her hair.

Angel noticed that she kept walking to the door. He wasn’t liking the feeling he was getting, if he knew anything about Willow, it was that she wanted to help the innocent, and from her recounting of the last three years that was one thing that hadn’t changed in her.

“Uh, Willow, where are you going?” she stopped at the door and turned to face the vampire and his seer, who was now standing.

“To find the Arsheean and destroy it.” Her voice had a slight ‘duh!’ tone to it. Without another sound she walked out the door. Angel and Cordelia turned to look at one another, then the door and dashed after their friend.

Giles was sipping his tea as he sat in Wesley’s office. The younger ex-watcher had asked him to take a look at the prophecy they had found concerning Connor. Wesley had been having some problems with the language, Fred had suggested that maybe a fresh mind could have a little more insight. So here he was at 8:30 am looking over some archaic prophecy.

“Willow wait!” Giles heard Angel call out to their newly required team member. In his fear over the possible danger she might have gotten herself in, Giles jumped out of his chair and ran into the lobby. He saw his former protégé standing at the foot of the stairs near the entrance to the lobby. She was looking up to the man that had called out to her while Cordelia continued down the steps to the red head’s side.

“Willow you can’t go out there to fight this thing.” Angel said from his spot. Without him noticing the rest of the people staying in the hotel emerged to see what the fuss was all about.

“And why exactly not?” she asked, her temper beginning to rise. She did not take kindly to being told what to do, her husband had learned that quickly.

“First of all you don’t know where it is, or when it will attack. Second, you’re still weak from all the energy you have been using these last few days you might get hurt.” ‘and I won’t be there to protect you’ he silently added.

“I can take care or myself! I don’t need anyone to protect me. Ryder taught me well in the art of battle, and I have my magick to help me.”

“We aren’t doubting your abilities, we saw what you were capable of the other night.” Cordelia threw a look at Angel that clearly read ‘ let me handle this’. “But Angel is right, you have been using a lot of energy and you won’t last long against this thing if you go alone.”

“Yes I can.” She growled through clenched teeth. She had seen and faced things they could not even imagine how dare they dictate to her what she could and could not do!

“Hey Red catch!” Willow turned to the British accented voice. She saw something hurdling towards her and automatically reached to catch it, when she did though she lost her balance and fell flat on her back with the heavy sword clasped to her chest.

“I think the poof has a point, and you just proved it little girl. If you can’t even stay on your feet from catching the sword how will you be able to go up against this nasty you are all arguin’ about?” Spike continued to walk toward the fallen warrior but stopped when he reached the edge of the patch of sunlight in the foyer.

Tears of frustration formed in her eyes as she struggled to remove the weapon. They were right, she was still too weak to take on an Arsheean. But she couldn’t let this thing take the life of two innocents.

“I know that, but the demon has to be stopped.” She whispered harshly looking up at Cordelia. “Angel can’t go because it’s day out, and neither can that one over there.” She signaled to Spike.

“Hey, what about the rest of us? You forget that the rest of us can take on one measly little demon.” Xander told her as he removed the rather heavy weapon and then lifted his best friend from the floor. Willow continued to cry a little, she hated feeling useless.

“But if I don’t fight, then what else am I god for? I won’t have a purpose here.” She was looking at the floor in her shame.

“Yes you do. You can research, and heal those of us injured during battle, you can be our friend. A part of the family, like before.” Angel answered for the rest of them. His voice was soft and full of emotion as he reassured Willow that she was needed, she was wanted.

She stood there with her face down, tears leaking from her eyes. She heard what he had said, she understood it, but a large part of her could not accept it. She was more than that, she was a warrior, a champion, and she needed to engage in battle. But she also had to exercise restraint and discipline, like any other warrior. She would wait until she regained her strength, then she would fight along side the others.

“Alright, I will wait until I’ve regained my strength. How else can I help?”

~~*~~

Four days later…

Angel sat in a dark corner of the lobby as he watched Willow interact with his son. Dawn sat on the floor making funny faces at the boy as the redhead changed his nappie, the old fashioned kind. He smiled as he remembered the first time she had offered to change Connor’s diapers. It reminded him a bit of his own reaction; she had flipped him gently from side to side, tugged them downward, but they wouldn’t budge. Her brow had furrowed and she was bitting her lip. Finally Fred had come to the woman’s rescue by showing her how to undo the fastenings and how he was cleaned. Willow looked to the brunette to the now clean baby to Angel and declared that from now on she would be changing the diapers.

“These new fangled things you are using are incomprehensible. I am not going to allow this little boy to be subjected to such unnatural materials.”

He sighed when Cordelia walked over the little group and joined the girls in playing with the boy, of course Groo had followed her. It was hard being the noble one. He had left his first love so she could have a normal life, and now he was going to let the second one slip from him. He had realized that she deserved a champion but she also needed someone that could give her days in the sun, a family, everything a human could, so he let her go. Still that did not mean he didn’t still hurt every time he saw the two lovebirds together.

Angel looked up as he felt eyes on him. His smile widened as his brown eyes locked with dazzling emerald. Willow was worried about her friend. She knew he was hurting about something he had become withdrawn and somber. It reminded her of her darling husband, how he would be whenever he became depressed. It amazed her how many likenesses there were between the two. Maybe that was why she felt so drawn to him, so connected.

“What’s bothering you?” she asked

“Nothing.” He answered quickly. Angel rose from his seat and joined her at the door, looking out at Cordy as she lifted Connor high in the air.

“You love her don’t you?” she felt the pain again. She didn’t understand why it would hurt so much to know he loved Cordelia. She loved Ryder, he had died only a few days past, and yet she could not help but feel for this creature next to her.

“So what if I do? Nothing can come of it, I can’t give her what she deserves.”

“Shouldn’t she be the one to decide that?”

“She already did. She loves Groo and I will not burden her with the knowledge of my feelings.” She sighed at him.

“You are the second most stubborn man I have met.”

“And who, pray tell is the first?” He turned to her with laughter in his eyes. This is what he needed to distract himself from the pain. Someone other than his son to help him forget.

“My husband. He was as stubborn as they come but I eventually learned how to work around it.” She giggled as she recalled some of their more interesting arguments. She turned her face down and missed the brief look of jealousy that showed in Angel’s chocolaty eyes.

As he was about to speak, through the doors burst the rest of the gang. They had all gone out to the movies and shopping, wanting to enjoy their last few days together. But as they went to the parking level they had been attacked by demons. They had been looking for Kayla, but none of them knew who that was. Willow rushed to their side wanting to check their injuries. Xander seemed to have been the most affected by them, so once she had tended to Gunn’s head injury and Giles’ broken wrist, she moved on to her oldest friend. Extending her hands over his body she scanned him to asses his body. Whatever had attacked them was strong and did serious damage but the worst was the poison.

“Help him. You have to help him.” Anya cried as she cradled Xander’s head in her lap.

Taking a deep breathe Willow centered herself and began to heal the boy. She worked on the smaller injuries, his cuts and bruises. Then she repaired the internal damage, by this time perspiration was gathering her forehead and running down her face and chest. She faintly heard Giles telling her to stop before she hurt herself but continued. With his physical injuries healed she worked on the poison. Her body trembled as she began pushing the limits of her energy and the tag. Her body was heating up like before and small patches of skin were blistering.

“Willow, Stop!!” Buffy screamed at her when she saw the injuries showing.

But the headstrong red head continued. Lorne became more worried as her tag glowed more brightly and he felt the magick it was broadcasting. He told Angel he had to stop her before it was too late. When he touched her he drew back with a hiss, his hand was burnt as if he had immersed it in holy water. Suddenly Willow gasped and was thrown back a few feet. She arched her back and ground her teeth. Her hands reached back to her left shoulder. She heard as Angel asked his team to soak large towels in the coldest water possible and asked Spike to bring the ice packs from the freezer.

“Damn it girl what have you done now?” Giles asked as he stroked her hair. He felt the heat radiating from her body as Gunn, Fred and Spike all came back with the things the vampire asked for. Instantly she was wrapped in the dripping cold and wet towels. One of the ice packs went to her forehead and the other to the shoulder she kept clutching. Giles’ face fell a little as he realized the towels were dry now and even though she was considerably cooler she was still very hot. Having anticipated this, Fred and Cordy came back with one of the largest cooking pots in the kitchen filled with ice and water. The girls rapidly worked on cooling her down. Dawn was looking for the first aid kit as Wesley, Lorne and Angel spoke aside. Giles never left Willow’s side, though she now seemed to be unconscious. Anya held Xander close to her body crying softly and the others stood there stunned and feeling useless.

“If she keeps this up, she’s going to end up killing herself.” Amy commented.

“Don’t worry sweetie, our little red haired goddess there is strong, and deadly powerful.” Lorne said once he broke off from the others. He was worried though and it showed in his face but he shrugged the others off when they asked what was wrong. He saw as Giles helped Dawn put ointment on her arms and neck where she had blisters. Willow moaned and her head lulled to the side. Once treated the older Englishman lifted her in his arms and carried her up the stairs to her room.

~Part: 7~

Willow sat at one of the desks with and old musty book open, researching the demon in the latest vision from Cordy. Gunn and Wesley for some reason were fighting over the merits of which weapon was best served to defeat the new threat while Fred was on the computer researching and Cordy and Groo were sparing with swords. Angel on the other hand was busy playing with his son in the sitting area right outside of Wesley’s office. Still with all this action and noise the atmosphere was a peaceful one.

Willow sighed as she looked around the room, missing the Scoobies. They had just left after their latest visit. It had been five months since Willow had returned from Jruh’tda and even though she still had amnesia, she was slowly regaining her memories. She had some of her childhood with Jessie and Xander, a few of slaying and some of researching on the computer. Since she couldn’t go to Sunnydale because of the effects of the Hell Mouth, the gang would bring any and everything they could to stir her memories. But she mostly enjoyed the time she spent with them and was able to help them with their threats to the Hellmouth.

Willow shut her book with a soft thud and stretched her arms over her head as she stood causing her strappy white tank top to ride up and expose her well toned tummy. She reached back and rubbed her neck to try and relieve the tension there. Willow had been having trouble sleeping her nights plagued with dreams and memories of her days with Demetrious in his fortress. Even worst was her loss of control as of late, but she had yet to tell the others, she didn’t want to worry them if she didn’t have to.

Looking to the watch on her desk, Willow noticed it was time for lunch soon. She arose while arching her back pushing out her chest, making Angel’s eyes become drawn to her shapely breasts. Oblivious to this she walked over to Angel and Connor and as soon as the baby saw her approach he dropped his toy to the floor and gave his full attention to the woman. He laughed and raised his arms to her,  begging she take him into her arms and completely ignoring his father. Angel chuckled at this; Connor had bonded to Willow to a level that would usually take years. In fact, whenever she wasn’t around the growing boy would become fussy and uncooperative, which was why he was downstairs with them and not with Lorne in his room.

Willow picked up her precious cargo and laughed as he played with a bit of her hair, his undivided attention on her. Angel admired her legs as the soft beige ankle length indian skirt moved with her, swishing around her toned legs. Her hair had been straightened and now reached to tops of her thighs. She was so different from Cordelia and Buffy. Just like them she was strong and determined, but she had a softness and motherly care to her, her kindness and light shinning through constantly for all to see, and her maturity was something he greatly needed. Angel pretended to read a file while in truth he was watching her and trying to understand these new feelings. He didn’t understand how he could fall so hard so fast for her. Yes he had believed his love for the Slayer had been at first sight, but in truth it was infatuation that slowly grew into love. With Cordelia though she slowly grew on him and h as able to see first hand how she had grown. He had to admit though that she still had to master the art of tact, or that she could think of the pettiest things instead of the big picture…. He shook his head at the  thoughts. What was wrong with him!? Wasn’t he supposed to love her, faults and all? Didn’t he find them charming a few months ago? Then why was he now finding them to be a nuisance?

He glanced up at her fully before returning his eyes to the file in his hands; still from the corner of his eye he watched the red head. Willow placed Connor in his infant’s seat atop the receptionist’s desk so she could walk over to a mini fridge set to the side. She pulled out a jar of home made baby food. Connor squealed happily as he saw that Willow had a jar of the yummy food he had been getting lately, instead of the yucky stuff Aunt Cordy had been giving him. He saw as the red head smiled at him for his cheeriness and opened the container, spooning out some of the food and giving it to him. She was almost done with his lunch when Willow felt a tingle spread through her and her shoulders twitch.

Angel looked up from his work as he heard Connor whimper. Willow stood frozen before the baby, the spoon hovering mid-way to his mouth. He became worried as he saw this, Willow had been spacing out much lately and she seemed so tired too.

“Willow?” Angel closed his file and tossed it on a chair. He moved toward her when she didn’t respond. He looked to his colleagues asking with his eyes for help. They returned the look until suddenly Willow resumed her movements. It was unnerving, the whole thing seemed like someone had pushed pause then play again on a remote control. She put down the spoon and container and looked around her as she noticed the lack of activity and noise in the lobby. She smiled confusedly as she saw everyone looking at her

“What?”

“Uh, you feelin’ alright Red?” Gunn asked as he took a step forward.

“Yes, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

“Well you kind of zoned out for a bit.” Cordy answered for them.

“How about some music?” Fred loaded up a play list on her pc hoping the music would dispel the tense silence of the room.

The first song to play was a lengthy ballet number since Fred was such a fan of the art. The rest of the group tried to return to the routine but Angel and Wesley kept a close discreet eye on Willow. The woman in question was running about picking up Connor’s things from the floor. She was bended at the waist picking up one of his blankets when she snapped up, lifted her leg in a straight arc and as that very leg was coming down she arched her chest out, pulling her arms out wide to her sides and then her whole upper body bended back slightly, her head thrown back. Connor was fascinated with her graceful moves and began clapping, encouraging his surrogate mother to continue. Willow smiled a smile full of light, laughter, and love as she folded the blanket and placed it next to him. She rubbed his tummy as she brushed some hair behind her ear.

“You liked that did you?” Wishing to entertain him Willow stepped out of her sandals and stepped back a few steps.

She desired to entertain the baby so closing her eyes she allowed the music to flow through her body. She twirled, twisted and stretched gracefully as the ballet piece continued. Everyone gathered around Fred and the baby to watch the show Willow had put on. The men clearly showed their admiration and slight lust at her movements. Angel growled under his breath as he noticed the others staring at her so openly. ‘How dare they think they have a right to oolge her! Gunn and Wes already have Fred and Groo took Cordy. Willow is mine! Wait a minute, since when is she mine?’ Fred gazed at Willow whimsically and Cordy looked on with hopeful sadness.

“God, I had almost forgotten Wills used to dance until her freshman year in High school.” The seer whispered.

“She looks so pretty. Like a swan turned human.” Fred’s Texan drawl sounded.

The piece had ended and so had Willow’s performance. Now she was down on one knee with her head bent sown and her arms stretched downward at her sides. Suddenly Loreena McKenitt’s ‘The Mystic’s Dream’ began playing and Willow resumed her dancing. Slowly she gathered her arms in front of her, crossing then together and touching her fingertips together. She raised her hands and as if by an unseen force her entire body followed her arms. Once standing she released her arms and positioned them at her sides, bending backwards she exposed her throat just as she pushed her chest out. Angel took in a sharp breath as he felt desire stir in him as she moved. Her hips swayed sensually along with the music, but the music began to fade and a new tone filled the air. This new song was more tribal, sexual, and more primitive and Willow’s body reacted to it. As she twisted and turned her figure shimmered and soon her clothing had been replaced with the sexiest and skimpiest outfit Angel had seen her in. Her white tank top was replaced by a halter type of bikini top, the laces tying at the back then crossing forward to tie together in the back once more, creating a large X on her front mid section. Her long Indian skirt was replaces by hip hugging ankle length loin cloth piece. It was a straight translucent skirt reaching her ankles with two strips cut out one at each side, and her feet were bare. On her head there was a circlet, the same silver as her outfit; her hair flowed down to the tops of her thighs and it swung around her as she moved. Her new wardrobe was sheer so all her assets were clearly seen.

Everyone was mesmerized by the change and her beauty, her grace and her dance was made to seduce even the coldest of men. Suddenly the entire surroundings were changed as well. They were no longer in the lobby of the Hyperion hotel now they stood in a spacious palace hall of black marble and gold pillars. A dais was placed on the other end of where the group was standing. The steps lead to a throne, large and imposing were a blurry figure sat in, all that was discernable was the ivory of his luxurious robes. All around them more figures appeared though these seemed to be translucent. In fact other than the AI team and Willow, the only solid figures where the ones close to the throne. Two other females joined Willow in the dancing along with their male counterparts, though the red head seemed to be the center of attention.

Abruptly Willow stopped and faced the left of the dais, where the centiers stood. Softly panting Willow held out her right hand, her hips now again softly moving from side to side. They all started laughing and patting the back of one in particular. He stepped forward with a secretive smile and a hunger in his eyes that had Angel revisiting some of his memories of Angelus on the most painful of tortures. This man was as tall as he was but his hair was ebony black and shoulder length tied at the nape with a ribbon. He was of a medium-heavy build and even though he was wearing tight black pants that showed perfectly male  and sculpted legs, his chest was bare, a light sprinkling of black hair on his pecks. His silver grey eyes were now smoldering with admiration, lust and love as he wrapped his arms around the tiny girl with red hair. His hands splayed on her back and applying his weight bent her backwards until her head almost touched the floor and in trying to keep her balance, Willow raised her right leg draping it over his left hip. This caused their lower bodies to cradle against one another and it elicited a groan from the man and a sigh from Willow. He brought her back up to him, pulling her close enough for their noses to brush and their breaths to mingle.

“Ryder” she breathed out.

“Annsachd” He responded. He was holding on to her leg curled around him he suddenly twirled her so her back was pressed against his chest, his hands slid down her arms and encased her waist in them. Angel growled a little more loudly than before as the dance became more sexually charged. His eyes sharpened on her hand as it moved back and touched the man’s face and once again he found himself wishing she touched him in the same loving manner.

“Is not Ryder the name of her husband? I thought he was dead.” Groo voiced his question

“He sure is Grooselaugh” Answered Lorne, with his eyes still on the show Wesley addressed Lorne.

“When did you show up?”

“I felt a lot of magic in the place, both white and black magic. Thought I should make sure everyone knew about it.”

The music stopped and only Ryder and Willow now stood, the others having bowed down for some reason. Ryder raised his hand and tucked some loose hair behind his beloved’s ear. His rich baritone voice was heard once more.

“It is time little one.”

“Time for what? Ryder what is going on?” her voice shook with uncertainty and as much as her friends wanted to step over to sooth her they couldn’t. Something was keeping them in place.

“I wish I could stop this from happening but I do not have the power to. Promise though that you will not fight this, that will only make it more painful.”

“Ryder you are frightening me.” She felt her arms being grabbed in steely grips as two centiers pulled her back from her love. Ryder stepped back as well placing more distance between them, sorrow and pain clearly visible in his eyes. Willow was pulled forward to the dais and pushed onto her knees. She struggled against them hurting her arms in the process. The three priests at the right had begun chanting over a large dish their hands extended over the contents as thewy poured magic over it. Walking behind her Ryder pulled her hair over her right shoulder to reveal flawless white skin.

“What happened to her tag?!” Fred cried out.

The blurry figure on the throne then stood and began to descend the steps. As he approached his form began to clear a bit more. He was almost in full focus when he stopped and then turned to the priests. While still chanting he extended his right hand and allowed one of them to cut his flesh, greenish blood gathering then falling with a hiss onto the object in the dish. Once the wound was wrapped, with his other hand the figure grabbed an iron pole and pulled it out of the burning coles. He turned to the frightened red head and walked towards her. As he stopped just in front of her the person was revealed to be Demetrious, garbed in his empirical robes and a gold circlet on his head.

“NO!!!! Please, don’t do this. There is no reason for you to do this! Please!” Willow cried out in alarm, silent tears rolling down her flushed face. The emperor walked behind Willow, standing off to the right so her left side was still visible. He bent down to her ear and just like with Ryder, even though the exchange was quiet the others heard it clearly.

“I but I do Kayla. I need to show all that you belong to me and me alone. There is no other way to ensure you shall remain untouched by any other.” He straightened and quickly brought the branding iron down on her left shoulder the flesh surrounding it glowing green. Willow screamed out in agony at the feel of the hot iron connecting with her shoulder. The scent of burning flesh filled the room She sobbed openly at the act.

“You are MINE Kayla, you will always be mine.” He said visciously as he pressed the branding iron harder into her.

Suddenly everything snapped back to the way it was and Willow slumped to the floor unconscious. Her body still twitching from the experience as whimpers escaped her lips. The only other sound to fill the room was Connor’s wails as he responded to the pain she was in. Now free of their magical confine Angel rushed to her side to asses her state. He noted she wasn’t burning to the touch merely warm. When he brushed the hair from over her shoulder he found her tag was glowing a fierce green. Not waiting anymore he picked her up in his arms and took her into the office since it was closer than her room. Cordelia picked up Connor and followed them as Wesley and Fred began taking out book to find a way to explain what just happened.

“Ok what the hell just happened back there? Lorne you said you felt major mojo beign worked, anything else you can tell us?” but the empathy never got to answer as Willow began to stir from her slumber.

“Willow? Come one little one, wake up.” Angel crooned to her as he brushed his fingers over her pale face.

“Ryder?” Willow asked groggily. She opened her eyes and focused only to find it wasn’t her husband but her messenger of mercy, Angel. The vampire gritted his teeth at the mention of the name, even his demon growled.

“Do you think you could explain the recent events that took place a moment ago, Healer?” Groo asked

“I don’t understand. What happened?” Cordy explained the events quickly to her wanting to know what it was that happened. Willow sat up on the couch and placed her head in her hands, and then answered the question.

“By the gods, no.” she said softly

“What is it Willow?” Angel asked as he ran his hand over her head. Lifting her head she revealed watery eyes.

“What you saw was a memory of mine. A memory of the day Demetrious tagged and claimed for all to see. I told you of how he thought I was sleeping with another. I was falling in love, with Ryder but we never did anything, out of fear. I was afraid of this. I should have headed all of your warnings but as always I was too stubborn. I thought I could control it!” she had opted for pacing now.

“What are you talking about little one?” Angel was worried about her.

“My tag; I- I used too much energy. The first visit from my friends, when I was healing Xander, I pushed the limits of my magic, I was weak from everything happening and then I healed every one from the ambush before him, but there was the poison to take car of, and I felt the warning signs yet I did not stop and now I am paying the consequences.”  She l