Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to this, but here is the conclusion!
*****
"Umm...where are we going?"
Willow was leading them into a part of town Tara was unfamiliar with, and she had no idea why.
"I told you, we need help. We have to find someone who knows more about ghosts. There's got to be some way to make you whole again. We just need to look in the right place."
Tara shook her head. She knew Willow was just fooling herself. The kind of beings who had the knowledge she was talking about would probably never talk to them. But if it made Willow feel better to try, she would go along with it for the time being.
"Here," said Willow. "This is the place."
Tara was surprised by the sign above the door. "Willy's? You brought us to a bar?"
"It's not just a bar. Willy is one of Buffy's sources. What he doesn't know about demons and the dark forces, he knows how to find out. We just have to persuade him to talk." Willow looked her up and down. "Which shouldn't be too hard. You are in Buffy's body. She's the Slayer, and he knows it."
"I-I don't know about this. I'm not big with the intimidation thing."
Willow smiled. It was weird to here those words coming out of Buffy's mouth. "Don't worry. You're not Buffy, but nobody in here knows that. Just try to act like her."
"Okay." Tara took the lead as they entered the bar, knowing that was what Buffy would do. She noticed the door didn't let in any direct sunlight, and all the windows were covered. Upon getting a better look at the occupants of the bar, she began to understand why.
There were humans present but they were woefully outnumbered by vampires and demons, a wider variety than she had ever seen in one place at one time. It was a surprisingly tranquil scene, mortals and monsters talking and drinking. Two vampires were playing pinball in the back, while a group green-skinned, reptilian demons had a big game of kitten poker going on.
Tara blinked. "Whoa."
"Sorry," Willow whispered. "I forgot to warn you that the clientele here are...eclectic. But, somehow, he seems to pull it off with very little trouble."
"Who?"
The redhead pointed to a mousy, dark-haired man behind the bar. He was serving a suspiciously thick red liquid to a vampire. "That's Willy."
"Oh."
Tara took stock of the man even as he noticed them. His eyes got really wide for a moment, then he sighed and motioned toward the other end of the bar, which was empty.
"Here we go," said Willow. "Just take it easy, and try to remain calm. Remember, Buffy is the strong one. She's used to pushing this guy around. He expects it."
"Right."
Willy kept his eyes moving the whole time, making sure none of his customers were watching him, and hoping none of them recognized the blonde or the redhead. Neither was really good for business. "What is it Slayer? I'm kinda busy as you can see. Don't want my customers getting antsy."
Tara tried to sound tough, like Buffy always did. "I need some information, Willy."
"So what else is new?" He picked up a glass and began absently cleaning it. "I'm listening."
"What do you know about ghosts? Specifically, about making them solid again."
The bartender was quick to respond. "Can't be done, far as I know."
Willow and Tara both frowned.
"Of course, I don't really know too much about that subject." Willy leaned a little closer. "What you oughtta do is to find a Scour demon. They're the spirit experts."
"Scour?" Tara shook her head. "I've never heard of them."
"Not surprising. They're a pretty rare breed, even by demon standards. Near as I can tell, they spend their entire lives hunting the souls of really important people. You know kings, world leaders, that sort of thing. They gather their essences into some kind of container, and draw power from it."
Tara shuddered in spite of herself. "Sounds horrible."
"Maybe so. But if anybody's know how to solidify a ghost, it'd be a Scour."
"Is there one in town?" Willow asked.
Willy shrugged his shoulders. "This I do not know. Like I said, they're pretty rare."
"Find out for us, okay?" said Tara. "And maybe next time, I'll pay you instead."
"Instead of what?" Willy asked.
In a blur the Slayer's arm reached across the bar, grabbed the front of Willy's shirt, and slammed his face down into the counter. He grunted and slumped backwards, unconscious.
Willow gasped. "Tara?" All eyes were starting to turn their way. "Um...I think we'd better get out of here. I don't want to wind up the main course on somebody's plate." She grabbed the blonde's hand, and dragged her out of the bar, silently praying no one would follow them. Luckily, no one and nothing did. "What are you doing? What was that all about, Tara?"
"I-I don't know." The blonde held up her hands, which were trembling. "I'm not sure what came over me. It's like I had this irresistible urge to hurt him. Goddess! Do you think he's all right?"
"Oh, Willy's tougher than he looks. I'm more worried about you. Sounds like Buffy's mind reasserted itself for a moment or two. That probably means you're running out of time."
Tara nodded. "Maybe we should go home. To Buffy's."
"Good idea," said Willow. "We'd better hurry though. The sun'll be down soon."
*****
Despite their best efforts, it was already dark by the time they got to Buffy's block.
"We're almost there," said the redhead. "How do you feel?"
"Better. The dizziness is gone."
"If it gets to be too much, just leave her. We can deal with it later."
Tara nodded. "Okay. I..." Her eyes narrowed. "What was that?"
"What?"
"I thought I heard something."
The redhead looked around. "I don't here anything, but then my ears aren't as senstive." She turned. "This sound, what did it sound like?"
"A growl." Tara blinked. "Uh oh."
Two figures came barreling out of the shadows. One of them struck Willow, driving her back into a tree, while the other lunged at Tara. Vampires.
"Get off me!" Willow screamed. If she had her powers she could have handled them both on her own. As it was it took all her strength to keep his fangs away from her throat.
Tara found it much easier. With one hand she was able to keep the creature at bay. Buffy really was strong. She held him in place despite his struggling.
"You bitch!" the vampire snarled. "I'm going to rip your heart out and eat it!"
Tara's face wrinkled in disgust. "Ewww." She heard a scream, and looked past the vampire to see Willow losing her battle against her attacker. "No, Will!" She pushed the vampire away with what she thought was a modicum of force, but nonetheless sent the creature flying. He struck a tree and turned to dust, with a shocked expression on his face, when his heart was impaled on an unseen branch. "I'm coming!"
The other vampire snarled, shoved Willow down and came at Tara. She met him halfway, their hands locking in an impromptu test of strength. It was immediately obvious to both of them that she was stronger, and this clearly didn't please the vampire.
"You're the Slayer, aren't you? He didn't say anything about you being the Slayer!"
Tara frowned. "What, somebody sent you after Bu...me? Who?"
"Demon. Never seen one like him. Said he'd pay us in cheerleaders if we took you down."
"Why?"
The vampire shook his head. "Don't know. Didn't ask." He sneered, baring his fangs. "I like cheerleaders!" Tara's grip lessened ever-so-slightly, and he let go of her hands completely and took a step back. Before she knew it he dropped and spun around, sweeping the Slayer's legs.
Tara landed badly and hit her head, momentarily stunnning herself. She was at the vampire's mercy, although he obviously wasn't planning to show any as he loomed over her.
Willow rose behind the vampire. She was holding a jagged tree branch. "Hey!" As he turned around to snarl she drove the makeshift stake into his chest. Tara had just enough time to close her eyes and mouth before the dusty remains showered down upon her. She coughed as Willow helped her up. "You okay?"
The blonde nodded. "Other than the fact I need a shower, I'm fine."
"Assuming our fanged friend wasn't lieing, someone new is after Buffy. We'd better warn the gang."
They were almost to Buffy's house when the Slayer's knees suddenly became weak and her body stumbled. But as Willow was helping her up, Tara lurched out of her back.
"Goddess, that was close!"
Willow put an arm around the blonde. "Tara, are you all right?"
"I'm fine." Buffy raised her head. "But I'm afraid Tara's not here anymore."
The redhead's face fell. "Oh." She looked around, though of course she couldn't see anything. "I was hoping she would stay inside you long enough to talk to the others. How are you feeling?"
"It was weird, Will. I could see and hear everything that was going on, but I felt do distant. It's almost like I was watching the whole thing on television."
Willow nodded. "Let's get inside. I have a really bad feeling about all this."
*****
As it turned out, her bad feeling was not without merit. They were being watched, by a figure standing upon the roof of the house across the street.
"Isn't this interesting?"
He stood seven feet tall if he was an inch. His skin was gray, and had the texture of old, worn leather, while his stringy black hair did not appear to have been washed in a very long time. He also wore a large green jewel in the center of his forehead. The demon was wearing lots of leather, chains and spikes, and he gazed at the two women before him with golden eyes floaring in bottomless black pools.
"I came to scout out the Slayer. Those two brain-dead bloodsuckers gave me a measure of her combat skill, but I never expected anything like this. Now why, I wonder, would the Slayer have a second soul inside of her?" He'd clearly seen not only Willow and Buffy but Tara as well. Her aura was bright, colorful, and it told him everything he needed to know about her. He sneered.
"And a witch as well. This must be my lucky day."
*****
The gang was all there, waiting, when Willow, Buffy and Tara got inside.
Dawn was laying on the floor, watching television with her head propped up on her hands.
Xander sat on the couch, comparing something on a clipboard with a stack of paper he had in his lap.
Anya was just coming out of the kitchen with a big bowl of popcorn.
"Hey!" said Xander. "It's my favorite redhead!" He lurched to his feet and swept Willow up in a hug. He actually lifted the redhead off her feet.
Dawn was right behind him. "Willow! When did you get home?"
"This afternoon. You guys were busy, and I had some...things to do."
Anya, meanwhile, stared at Buffy long enough to determine the Slayer's aura was normal. Then she appeared to lose interest and went back to her popcorn.
"How are you doing?" Xander asked. "Without, you know, the mojo cravings?"
Willow shrugged her shoulders. "Better. I'm getting stronger. Especially..." She stopped and took a deep breath before continuing. "...since I have Tara here to help me."
Dawn and Xander glanced at one another with the same dubious expression on their faces.
"I know what you're thinking," said Willow. "But I'm serious. Tara is here."
Buffy nodded. "It's true. She...well, took a ride in my body. Take my word for it. This is really real."
"Whoa." Dawn looked around, though of course she couldn't see anything. "Tara?"
"I'm here Dawnie." Tara had a tear in her eye. "I'm right here."
Xander crossed his arms. "So, uhm, what exactly are we talking about here, Will? Having a ghost around all the time is, no offense Tara, kinda creepy."
"No offense taken," Tara replied, even though he couldn't hear her.
"We've been trying to change all that," said Willow. "I want to find a way to bring Tara back. All the way back. It won't be like what happened with Buffy though. I wouldn't do that again, and Tara wouldn't let me anyway. But I'm not sure what else..." She turned to Anya. "What do you know about Scour demons?"
Anya sat her popcorn aside. "Scours? They're big, nasty, and really antisocial. As I understand it, they travel the world hunting the souls of important or powerful humans. I don't know what they do with them. I've only met one Scour, in Europe about six hundred years ago. He'd come to collect the soul of a king who had been unfaithful to his wife, which is why I was there. He got his prize, I brought vengeance for the wife, and everybody but the king himself was happy." She smiled. "Those were good times."
Willow shook her head. "Do you think a Scour demon would be able to help Tara?"
"I've never heard of one doing the kind of solidification you're talking about," Anya replied. "But I imagine they would probably be your best bet. Unless, of course, you want to go to a necromancer."
"No," said Tara. "Never."
"I thought about that," said Willow. "But I don't know any necromancers."
Anya shrugged her shoulders. "I do. He's here in town, in fact. Want me to make an appointment?"
"No!" Tara waved her arms, but no one could see or hear her. "Willow, stay away! Necromancers are...damn it. I can't let her! I have to talk to her" She didn't want to put too much stress on Buffy's body by entering her again so she stepped into the next nearest person...which happened to be Dawn.
The youngest Summers gasped as she felt a peculiar warmth flow into her. Somehow she knew it was Tara, and she willingly gave herself over to the darkness with a satisfied smile.
"Dawnie?" Buffy asked, worriedly touching her sister's shoulder. "Are you okay?"
The teenager's eyes opened. "No. I mean, yes, Dawn's fine."
"Tara?" Willow approached the girl. "What are you doing? What's wrong?"
"Listen to me Will." Dawn's voice sounded strange to the others. "You can't go to a necromancer. I'd rather you track down one of these Scour demons."
"But, why?"
"They're very dangerous. My mother told me about a necromancer once. He wanted to raise the dead, but didn't have enough power to do it on his own. In order to tap into the dark forces, he started sacrificing animals and...if the stories are true, people, for his own ends." Tara shook Dawn's head. "No, Willow. If you insist on doing this I insist you stay away from necromancers. Please. Promise me."
Willow sighed. "Okay. I promise."
"Good." Tara stepped out of Dawn's body, who collapsed into Buffy's waiting arms.
*****
Later that evening, Tara stood in the corner of Willow's bedroom and watched as the redhead got undressed, in preparation for bed. Unlike in England she didn't feel guilty for staring because this time she knew Willow knew she was there. In fact the exaggerated, almost lascivious, way the redhead was taking her clothes off one piece at a time seemed to imply it was for Tara's benefit as much as her own.
"Baby." The blonde stepped forward. "I wish..." She slowly ran her fingers down the length of Willow's exposed back. "...you knew I was here." She felt the redhead shudder as the tips of her fingers actually passed just beneath the surface of Willow's skin, and they both felt a tingling sensation.
Willow gasped. "Whoa." She turned. "Tara? Was that you? I-I felt that."
"So did I, baby." Tara shook her head as she stared at her hands. "Maybe if I concentrate." She brought a hand up and tried to cup one of Willow's breasts. Instead, her hand passed right through the soft, full mound, and again an exotic tingling sensation passed through the both of them.
Again, Willow gasped. "Tara!"
"You really can feel me, can't you?" The blonde wasn't sure what was going on. "But, I like it." She couldn't help but notice that Willow's breathing had increased, and her skin was flushed. "And so do you, apparently." Then she brought her hand up, and came as close as she could to caressing the redhead's cheek. She smiled, and so did the object of her attention. "I love you, Willow."
Willow sighed and lay down on the bed. She held her breath wondering if Tara was with her, until she felt warm fingers stroking the delicate flesh between her breasts.
"Mmm...Tara." She closed her eyes. "I love you."
*****
Down the hall, Buffy smiled as she heard the sounds coming from Willow's room.
She didn't know if the redhead was dreaming or if there was something else going on, but it really wasn't any of her business. It was late, and she was tired. She'd already taken off the rest of her clothes and put on a nightshirt, and was just starting to pull back the covers when she heard another noise.
This one wasn't coming from Willow's room, however. It was a loud, crashing noise, downstairs.
"Oh great. Now what?" Buffy picked up a stake from her bedside table and opened the bedroom door. Dawn had had the same idea, apparently, and they nearly ran into each other. "Go back to bed," said the Slayer. "Whatever it is, I'll take care of it."
For a second or two, it appeared the younger Summers was going to argue with her sister. Then she nodded and went back into her room, closing the door behind her.
Buffy took the stairs two at a time, landing in the foyer ready and willing. Only there was nothing and no one in the house, as far as she could tell. The front door was still closed and locked, and so were the front windows, but she was certain she had heard something. Whatever it was she wasn't about to take any chances. If her family was in danger, she would fight to the death to protect them. She turned and headed into the kitchen, knowing the back of the house was a much better target. At one point she fantasized about stumbling upon a couple of masked men trying to break into her house to steal things, rather than monsters.
Then she saw the back door. Or rather the big hole where it had been. Someone or, most likely, something, had torn it off the hinges and thrown it out into the yard. That obviously left out normal human burglars. Her life was always more complicated. The Slayer shook her head as she searched for the culprit.
"Look, it's late. Could we please just get to the part where you jump out and try to kill me?"
The air right behind Buffy shimmered as the demon who had been watching them earlier appeared. He punched the Slayer in the small of the back, causing her overwhelming pain as she was driven face-first into the wall. She groaned and started to slide to the ground, but the demon caught her and lifted her off her feet by the back of her nightshirt. He turned, and casually pitched her across the room. Buffy hit the wall above the kitchen window, and then landed like a broken puppet in the sink. Amazingly she was still conscious, but at the moment totally unable to defend herself as the demon stomped toward her.
"This is the legendary Slayer I've heard so much about? And Dracula spoke so highly of you." The demon shook his head. "He must be even more of a weakling than I thought."
Buffy could feel sensations of pain starting to shoot up and down her arms. She raised her throbbing head, with blood seeping from a gash in her forehead. "W-Who are you?"
"I doubt very seriously you could pronounce my true name. But you may call me Venator."
Buffy, with some effort, sat up. "So let me guess. You're one of those guys who want to make a rep for himself by killing the Slayer, right?"
The demon laughed. "Hardly. I am well-known throughout Europe, and several other continents. No, I came for only thing, Slayer." He sneered. "Your soul! Not to mention that of your spectral friend."
Buffy tried futiley to hide the shock on her face. She had no idea how he could know about Tara, but she wasn't about to lose her friend a second time. "I-I won't let you!"
"Stop me then," said the demon. "If you truly believe you can."
*****
Willow jerked her head up as she heard someone pounding on the bedroom door.
"Wake up!" It was Dawn. "Willow! Buffy's in trouble!"
The redhead slid off the bed and reached for her robe, while Tara sat up.
"Willow!"
It sounded like Dawn was going to break the door down. Willow opened it.
"Dawnie? What is it?"
"Buffy's went downstairs to check out a noise, and I heard fighting. Now it's gotten really quiet."
Willow shrugged her shoulders. "So? She probably won." She glanced over her shoulder, toward the bed, where she hoped Tara was still waiting for her. "Don't worry about it."
"Fine. I'll go see for myself." Dawn took about two steps toward the stairs, before the redhead grabbed her arm, and she frowned. "What?"
"Okay. I'll go make sure everything's okay. You wait here though, just in case."
The teenager crossed her arms. "You better hurry up. I'm telling you, something's wrong."
Willow grabbed a stake from her desk, just in case. "Wait here."
Tara was right behind her as they headed down the stairs. "Will, be careful. I think Dawnie's right. Something is going on, I can sense it."
They found nothing in the living or dining rooms, but as they got closer to the kitchen door they could hear the definite sound of a fight from inside.
*****
Buffy flung herself across the counter and dropkicked the demon in the chest.
"Excellent!" He staggered back but did not fall. "There is life in you yet!"
Buffy was getting frustrated. Nothing she did seemed to hurt the creature. "My family's been through too much crap already! Willow lost Tara once already. I will not let it happen again!"
"Your witch friend is a valuable prize indeed! She will be mine!"
In desperation, the Slayer picked up one of the kitchen chairs and threw it at the demon.
"Pitiful!" He casually swatted the chair aside, shattering it. "I'm beginning to doubt your soul is worth liberating at all. Perhaps, yes...I should sell it instead." He sneered. "I know several individuals who will pay a great deal for such a commodity. After I've taken the witch's life-force, of course!"
Buffy's eyes went wide. "No!" She charged the demon all at once, driving her shoulder into his stomach with so much force he was doubled over. He was driven back into the wall, grunting with each punch and kick. She struck at him so hard, so much, he was unable to get in a defensive move of his own.
That was when the kitchen door flung open. Willow and Tara were both startled by what they saw. "Buffy?" they said simultaneously.
Buffy turned. "Will! No, get out of here!"
Venator laughed, and backhanded the Slayer. She was knocked head over heels, and crashed down on the top of the stove. "You shouldn't allow yourelf to be distracted!" He smiled at the newcomers. "Perfect timing. I'd hoped to see you again, witch!"
"I'm not a witch anymore," said the redhead.
"I wasn't talking to you. It's the blonde one I'm interested in."
Tara's eyes widened. "Wha...y-you can see me?"
"Of course. I am Venator. Scour Master."
"Scour?" Willow paled. "The soul hunters? Oh Goddess, you're after Tara's soul, aren't you?"
"Yes. It should be a fine addition to my collection."
"I won't let you," said Willow.
"In particular, you can't stop me. You have abandoned the power that was your birthright." The demon shook his head. "What a shame. Witches spirits are, by far, the most highly prized. The kind of power you possessed would have made me even stronger than I already am." He turned to Tara. "Which is why I will have you. You power was not as great as this one's, but it will provide me with an excellent source."
Tara blinked. "Source?"
"I need not explain myself to you, ghost. Come to me now, and the flame-haired one will not be harmed. I can't make such a promise otherwise."
"I'm not exactly helpless here you know," said Willow.
Venator laughed. "The Slayer could not stop me. What makes you think you can?"
"Hey!" Buffy rolled off the stove. She felt like one big bruise. "I'm not dead yet, you know."
"Why do you humans always insist on making everything so difficult?" The demon shook his head. "Very well. I must finish this quickly though. I have places to be."
*****
Keeping a closer eye on the demon, Buffy moved closer to Willow. "You'd better get out of here. I'll keep this guy busy for as long as I can."
"Buffy, no! You're hurt!"
"No offense Will, but without your powers there's not much you can do against a monster like this. I don't want you to get hurt."
"But..."
"Will, please," said Tara. "Buffy's right. It's too dangerous."
The demon laughed. "It sounds as if your friends don't think too highly of you, child. What a shame."
"Shut up! I'm sick and tired of everyone treating me like some fragile little doll! I'm not helpless! You want me to prove it?" Willow turned and threw her stake as hard as she could.
It missed the demon by quite a large margin, but it did manage to hit something else--a small fire extinguisher, which was hanging on the wall nearby. It swung off a hook and struck the edge of the counter, cracking open, and shooting its contents all over the place. Much of it splattered across Venator's head and upper torse, blinding the demon and causing his eyes to sizzle from the cold. He thrashed about and bellowed in pain. "What is this? What have you done?!"
Buffy glanced at the redhead and smiled. "Way to go, Will!" She charged the demon, punching and kicking with a swiftness and strength than almost defied description. Finally, she did the splits and tried to sweep his legs out from under him, her preferred method for taking down a foe of superior size.
But even though Venator was still blinded, the demon somehow managed to jump just high enough to avoid her strike. As he landed he brought one huge fist down on the top of Buffy's head, the resulting momentum acting as a piston and driving the Slayer's face into the kitchen floor.
Willow felt her blood run cold. "Buffy!"
The demon turned as she and Tara started toward him. "I warned her! As for you..." He slapped Willow aside, as an afterthought almost. "...little witch, you're mine!" A pencil-thin beam of emerald light shot out of the jewel on his forehead and enveloped Tara. She screamed as it lifted her off the ground, and threatened to tear her essence apart from the inside out.
On the verge of unconsciousness, Willow lifted her throbbing head. Through tear-filled eyes she saw an image of Tara, floating in mid-air. She seemed to be surrounded by green light for some reason, and each pulse made it that much harder to see her. "No, Tara!" The redhead wasn't sure if she was imagining this or not, but she couldn't stand the thought of her lover being in pain. While every movement made her feel like she was going to pass out she still managed to get to her feet and stumble toward the demon.
Venator saw her coming but there was nothing he could do about it. Once the process was underway it couldn't be interrupted until the cycle was complete. He growled as Willow walked right into the path of the beam. Tara's
barely visible body seemed to reconstitute itself somewhat as she dropped unceremonsiously to the floor, while the redhead was lifted into the air and began screaming.
"No! Not her!"
A shimmering, vaguely human-shaped mass of golden energy was torn out of Willow's still shuddering body. It traveled the length of the beam and was swallowed up by the jewel on Venator's brow. The beam ceased, and with a groan Willow slumped to the floor, unconscious and barely breathing.
"What a tasty morsel," said the demon. "Though not quite the prize I was hoping for." He shook his head. "It is a pity the wraith-gem cannot contain more than one soul at a time. Still, I can release this one and..." He sneered at Buffy and Tara. "On second thought, this can work in my favor. With the red-haired one's spirit in my possession I can all but guarantee the cooperation of these two."
Laughing, the demon turned and walked out of the Summer's residence.
*****
"Tara."
The blonde stirred, but did not rise.
"Tara, please."
Now she raised her head. There was someone standing in front of her.
"Sweety, it's time."
"Mama?" Tara sat up. "Time for what?"
"For us to go." The elder Maclay sighed. "You were given a chance few ever receive; to see your beloved again, and to say farewell. But that time is over. We must return now. Eternity is waiting for us." She held out her hand, and helped her daughter to her feet. "I'm sorry."
Tara shook her head. "No, Mamma, I can't. I can't go back."
"Why?"
"This demon, it stripped Willow's spirit from her body. I have to rescue her."
"Goddess Tara please, listen to me closely." She rested her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "If you refuse to return with me now, you will not get a second chance. Your spirit is beginning to discorporate even as we speak, much longer and you may well cease to exist all together. I can't allow that."
Tara bit her lip. "I'm sorry Momma."
"Do you understand what I'm saying to you? There will be no afterlife for you, Tara. You will not move on. You will not find a higher place. Does this woman truly mean so much to you?"
"I love her, Momma. With all my heart, and my soul."
The elder Maclay nodded. "I might have known. You always were a stubborn child. Letting your heart guide you instead of your head." She smiled. "Go. I will wait for you if I can. Though I don't see how, it may yet be possible for you to move on, though time is running out."
"I'm sorry, Momma." Tara kissed her mother's cheek. "I love you."
"And I love you, dear-heart." The taller blonde closed her eyes, and her body faded away.
Wiping her eyes, Tara walked over to Willow and kneeled beside the redhead. "I'm sorry, sweety. This is all my fault. The demon was after me. I never meant for you to get hurt."
The blonde turned as she heard the kitchen door burst open. Dawn came in brandishing a sword that was almost too heavy for her to hold at all. She gasped when she saw her sister on the floor. "Buffy!" She dropped the sword and rushed to Buffy's side. "What happened?" Nearby, Willow was laying so still too. "Oh no. I never should have sent her down her. This is all my fault!"
"No," said Tara. "It's the demon who did this. Goddess, we have to find him. He has Willow!"
"I-I need to..." Dawn got up and went to the phone. "Xander! Yes, I know it's late. Yes, it is an emergency. Buffy and Willow are hurt. Can you...okay. I'll...what? You really think I should? If you're sure. Okay, bye." She hung up the phone and took a deep breath. "Anya? Anya, I need you!"
A rather unhappy-looking vengeance demon suddenly appeared in the middle of the room. She was soaking wet and wearing only a towel. "What? Can't you see I'm..." She looked around. "Whoa."
"As you can see, I need some help. Your powers...can you help them?" Dawn shrugged her shoulders. "I mean, I can make a wish, if that'd make any difference."
"Sorry. I'd really love to help, but it doesn't work that way." Energy crackled around Anya, and once it faded she was dry again, and clothed. "You'd be better off calling an ambulance."
Buffy stirred. "No." She rolled over and groaned. "Don't need ambulance. Been hurt worse." She moved, testing her limbs, and groaned again. "Not recently, but..."
"Here." Dawn helped her sister sit up. "What happened to you guys?"
"A demon," the Slayer replied. "Gray skin, jewel in the middle of his forehead. I heard him say something about taking our...souls?"
Anya nodded. "That's a Scour. I warned you they were bad news."
Seeing that Buffy was, for the most part, all right, Dawn crawled over to check on Willow. The redhead's pulse was weak. Her skin also felt clammy. "Buffy? Willow won't wake up."
"What?" The Slayer's eyes grew wide as she and Anya approached the redhead.
"Everybody, come on! The more time we waste the further away the demon gets. Goddess! You guys can't hear me at all, can you?" Tara was getting frustrated and angry. "It's not fair! I can explain everything. But we can't help each other if you can't hear me. I wish there was some way I..." Her eyes widened. "Of course! Why didn't I think of this before?" She turned around and lay herself down into Willow's body.
"Will?" Buffy asked. "Can you hear me?"
Just as she was about to touch the redhead, Willow's eyes snapped open. Anya's own eyes momentarily glowed as 'Willow' sat up and looked around.
"Are you okay?" Dawn asked.
The redhead nodded. "I'm fine, Dawnie."
Buffy sighed. "Thank God. I was afraid he'd killed you."
"That's easier said than done," said Anya.
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked, clearly confused.
The vengeance demon pointed. "Don't you get it? That's not Willow."
"Not..." Buffy and Dawn made the same gasping noise at the exact same time. "...oh!"
'Willow' nodded. "It's me. Tara."
*****
By the time a rather frantic Xander arrived a few minutes later, Buffy was on her feet and handing out weapons to the others. Once they got him calmed down, Tara--in Willow's body--explained what the demon had done, and what they were planning to do about it.
"Okay." He looked around. "But, where's Anya?"
Almost as if on cue, the vengeance demon appeared in the middle of the room. "I followed him to the docks. It looks like he's staked out a place for himself in an abandoned warehouse."
Buffy nodded. "Good." She turned to her sister. "Dawn..."
"No!" The younger Summers did her best to look determined as she crossed her arms. "Buffy, come on. I know what you're going to say. I'm not a little girl, and I'm not going to stay here. I helped you fight Willow's monsters so you know I'm not helpless."
The Slayer bit her lip to keep from smiling. "I was just going to say..." She held up her small crossbow. "...make sure you shoot the bad guys. I just bought these pants."
"Guys, come on!" Tara started toward the door, but Buffy grabbed her arm.
"Take it easy," said the Slayer. "We're all worried about Willow. But you can't go running off half-cocked. Tara, remember, we're all in this together. Okay?"
"I know." Tara lowered her voice. "I'm scared, Buffy. I'm no good with swords..." She held up the weapon. "...and Willow's body isn't able to do magick anymore. Which means I can't use any of the spells I know that might help us out. I'm not sure what good I'm going to be to you."
"Wait." Buffy frowned. "I don't pretend to understand how you guys do...what you do, and I do know Willow got stripped of her magick in England, but why does that effect you? I thought the power your guys have comes from within. It wasn't just taken from her body, was it? It was taken from Willow herself. If you can still do magick, as a ghost I mean, you should be able to do it from inside Will's body. Right?"
After a moment, the redhead shrugged her shoulders. "I honestly don't know, Buffy."
*****
Venator touched the jewel on his forehead, and unleashed a bolt of green light which coalesced into a familiar, spectral figure.
Willow gasped. "What's going on?" She was in a strange place, a warehouse from the looks of it, surrounded by rows of empty shelves, and lit by only a bare bulb in the ceiling. "Where am I?"
"My home." She turned. The demon who had broken into Buffy's house was behind her. "You're my guest, Miss Rosenberg."
"How do you...?" Willow glanced down at herself, and was surprised to find herself semi-transparent. "Oh no! I can't be...I...what did you do to me?"
Venator tapped his forehead. "You're a spirit. As a spirit, you were within the wraith-gem. It is a part of me, and now, so are you. I know all there is to know about you."
"Goddess, I wish I still have my powers."
"So do I," said the demon. "You would be much more valuable to me. As it is, I'm afraid you would only take up space in the spirit-vessel. Which means, once I have dealt with your friends, I can dispose of you. Oh, and just in case you are thinking of escape, don't bother. Seeing as I am a dealer of souls, I have made arrangements to keep this safe, within and without. No spirit may penetrate these walls."
*****
As Tara, Buffy, Xander, and Dawn approached the warehouse, the door opened from the other side. Anya stuck her head out and smiled.
"See? It helps to have at least one demon on your side."
Tara nodded. "Did you see anything? The other demon? W-Willow?"
"Sorry."
"Let's split up," said Buffy. "Xander, you and Tara check down her. Dawn and I will go up. Anya..."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Keep looking around and stay in touch." Anya shook her head. "It's almost enough to make me wish I was human again." She disappeared.
Without another word, Tara moved into the next room. Xander hesitated long enough to watch Buffy and Dawn go up the stairs, then rushed to catch up to the anxious redhead. "Hey Will...oh I mean...." He shook his head. "It's confusing. Tara. I meant Tara. Sorry. Slow down, would you?"
"I can't."
He grabbed her shoulder, and turned her around. She was almost in tears. "Tara? What is it?"
"It's my fault, Xander." She wiped her eyes. "If I hadn't come back, if I hadn't been here, the demon might never have attacked us. Willow would be better off without me."
"Please. Demons like this one are a dime a dozen. He probably just happened to be next on the list, and would have come after the Slayer whether you were here or not. As for Willow being better off without you..." Xander smiled. "I think we both know that's not true."
Tara sighed. "Maybe you're right. I can't help Willow by wallowing in self-doubt anyway." A bug darted past her face, and her eyes widened. "There may be another way though."
"What?"
"Find Buffy," said the redhead. "I've got an idea."
A few minutes later, after Tara had explained what she was planning to do, Buffy was less than convinced. "Are you sure about this?" The redhead sat cross-legged on the floor, arms outstretched and eyes closed, chanting in a language none of the others understood. The Slayer gripped her sword a little tighter. "Tara?"
"Buffy, stop it," said Dawn. "She's doing a spell. Don't interrupt her."
A bright, blue-white ball of light formed in front of Tara, who opened her eyes and smiled. "It worked!" She got to her feet. "Find Willow!"
The guiding light took off like a shot. Buffy was able to keep up with it easily enough, but the others could just barely keep up as it flitted down a half-hidden set of stairs, and into a long, dark corridor. Then it came to a solid metal door, which it passed right through it without even slowing down. They, however, had to stop. The door did not even even a handle or any visible locking mechanism.
Buffy frowned. "Damn!"
*****
Willow crouched behind a fallen stack of shelves, her head still ringing.
In spite of Venator's warning she had tried to pass through one of the walls in the room, and for her efforts she received an electrical shock that threatened to turn her inside out.
'Goddess,' she said to herself. 'I have to get away. But how? He's holding all the cards?'
From the corner of her eye, Willow noticed a bright light that seemed out of place. She turned her head, to see a blue-white ball of light about the size of a firefly. It flitted around for a moment and then came right at Willow with surprising speed. The redhead's eyes widened as she recognized it.
"Tara." Willow smiled. "I knew you'd come." Tara had found her, and Buffy was probably with her. She would be fine. At least that was what she had almost convinced herself until the guiding light circling overhead drew some unwanted attention. A shadow fell over her. "Damn."
Venator shoved the shelves aside and shook his head. "Nice try, little one. You might have succeeded if not for this spell of yours." His eyes narrowed. "Wait. Spirits can't do magick. You need a body for that. Which means if you didn't do this, then who..."
Something hit the door. Hard. The demon jerked his head around and snarled. "The Slayer! I should have known she wouldn't give up on you so easily!" Both sets of fangs gnashed together. "And with the witch no less! If she is casting, that means she's in a body. That could be trouble." The jewel on his brow started to glow. "Fortunately, it shouldn't be anything a Scour adept can not handle!"
Willow noticed other such jewels on the ceiling, on the walls around them, also glowing. She hadn't seen them before, but now they were filling the room with an eerie green light. It made her body, such as it was, tingle. The jewels emitted a low-frequency, barely audible humming sound.
"Send forth my protectors!" Venator demanded. "Defend me, and I shall grant that which I have denied you until now...oblivion!" Several shimmering masses of pure white light began to swirl and howl around him. "Bring form to the formless! Shape to the shapeless!" The jewel flashed again. "Arise!"
Willow's eyes widened. "No!"
*****
Anya shuddered. "Whoa."
Buffy noticed this, and stopped ramming her shoulder against the door. It wasn't doing anything but making her shoulder hurt anyway. "What?"
"You didn't feel that surge of magick?"
"Someone's doing spells?" Dawn asked. "Maybe it's Willow!"
Tara shook her head. "Spirits can't cast."
"Then it has to be the demon," said Buffy. "Which means he probably knows we're out here."
"I would imagine so," Anya grumbled. "You were making enough noise to wake the dead. Look at that door. Did you really think you'd be able to knock it down?"
Buffy frowned. "You wanna be helpful? Shut up! We need another way in. Anybody got any ideas?"
Tara stared at the door for a moment. "One. Everybody, get back." She began rubbing her hands together. "Look at this. There's no lock. No visible electronics, and no obvious way to open it. Given that it belongs to a demon, I would guess magick's involved." She smiled as she sat down cross-legged on the floor and closed her eyes. "And I know a lot about that kind of spell. My brother asked me to do this sort thing for him all the time. If Dad'd ever found out, we'd both have been in a lot of trouble."
"What are you planning to do?" Xander asked.
"Watch and learn," Dawn replied. "I love this stuff. Hey Buffy, can I..."
"No."
The younger Summers crossed her arms and frowned.
"Recludere et librum!" Tara's eyes went wide. "Recludere et librum! Recludere et librum!" With each chant, her voice got louder and louder. "Recludere et librum!" There was a loud clang from somewhere inside the door, and as they looked on it slowly swung open.
Buffy helped the witch up, nodding. "Nice. I've got to remember that one."
Inside, they discovered an intricate web of green lines of light, connecting green jewels of various sizes on the walls and ceiling. In the center of it all stood the demon, flanked by humanoid beings who appeared to have been formed out of pure white energy, but where flecked with green spots.
"Welcome," said Venator. "To your deaths!"
Buffy frowned. "You know, I wish you guys would get a new script. It's always the same old tired dialogue with you demons, isn't it?" Anya cleared her throat. "With certain exceptions, of course."
"Laugh while you still can Slayer. You're in over your head this time." Venator nodded. "Do as you like with the others, but the Slayer and the redhead are mine!"
The four spirit-warriors darted forward, their ethereal feet never touching the floor.
*****
This, at least, was something Buffy and the others were used to. A fight. Even if the circumstances themselves, and their surroundings, were unusual.
The Slayer pivoted on her heel and swung her axe, the added momentum practically doubling the force. It was a tactic which had served her well in the past. More than one demon had fallen, all but cut in half, while she moved on to the next one. She expected that to happen here.
It didn't.
Her blade passed right through the glowing thing, without it even slowing down. As she started to turn it lunged at her again, and her second swing had a similar effect. When it lashed out at her though, the Slayer felt a contact just as solid as the hundreds of such blows she'd received over the years. It knocked her head back and sent a jolt of energy across her face. It happened again, and she nearly lost her footing.
Xander wasn't faring much better. His swings, though forceful, were clumsy in comparison to the Slayer's. The sword he was wielding tended to miss more than it landed, and even when he did manage to hit the thing swirling around him it was like cutting through water. The thing shrugged off his blade and slashed back at him, each blow sending jolts of energy into his body. It was getting harder to think straight.
Dawn did her best. The entity didn't even bother to avoid the blade of her short sword. While she had talent she was still inexperienced, and not even as strong as Xander. The glowing entity allowed the blade to plunge deep in to its body, so it could paralyze her blade and get close to her. Its fist went into her chest and came out her back, without physically harming the teenager. Her eyes grew wide as she felt a shock to her heart, then the sword slid out of her hand and she crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Surprisingly, the other spirit wasn't laying a hand on Anya. The vengeance demon seemed bemused as it flew in tight circles around her, howling.
Venator, meanwhile, saw Willow's body walking toward him. He knew it wasn't her in charge though. The spirit within was most certainly that of the witch. He smiled. "Are you planning to use that sword on me? I should warn you, it would be a waste of your time."
"You think so?" Without getting too close Tara held the sword up so the demon could see something glistening on its blade. "In case you can't tell, that's karma oil. You know what it's for, don't you?"
"Consecration," the demon replied. "Why?"
Tara smiled. "Incendere!" The blade of her sword burst into flames, startling the demon. Like Buffy she twirled around and swung the blade to increase the strength of her strike.
Unlike Buffy, however, she missed.
Venator twisted easily out of the way. "An admirable effort!" Despite the agony it must have caused he grabbed the burning blade, and ripped it out of Tara's hands. "But futile!" He tossed the weapon aside. "You are mine little witch! And there is nothing you can do about it!"
Willow rose behind the demon, her spectral body filled with green light. "But I can!" She rammed her shoulder into the small of Venator's back, taking him by surprise and actually shoving him foreward. Tara rolled out of the way, and looked up to see Willow holding her hand out. "Honey? Are you okay?"
"I-I think so." Tara was confused but happy. She could see Willow, hear her, and touch her, even though she was a spirit as Tara would have been outside of her body. "But, how..."
Willow shook her head. "I don't really understand it either. I think it has something to do with however Venator controls these others spirits, but I'm not sure."
"They're able to make themselves solid," said Tara. "So you are too."
Venator growled. "A miscalculation on my part." He shook his head. "Not that it matters. You can do nothing to me, little one. And your friends are defenseless." Xander and Dawn were unconscious, and even Buffy was down on one knee. Anya appeared to be fine, but she wasn't moving either. "If it makes the two you feel any better, you will be reunited within the wraith-gem."
*****
Venator's pretentious declaration brought to the surface something that had been in the back of Willow's mind for some time. She thought about everything the demon had done, and what he was doing now, and with a flash of insight she knew the answer.
"Tara!" Willow started around the demon. "I know what to do! How to beat him! It's the emerald! It..."
"Silence!" Venator viciously backhanded the redhead, and sent her flying into Tara. The two of them went down in a crumpled heap, and he snorted. "That just leaves the Slayer!"
At that exact moment, Anya appeared right behind the other demon. "And me!" She was holding an ax which she clearly was not comfortable with. As she swung it at him Venator took a step forward and turned around, causing her to miss. "Damn it!"
"Now I understand! My spirit-warriors didn't attack you because you're a demon too! They are easily confused, unfortunately." He clamped his massive hand around Anya's throat, and effortlessly lifted her off her feet. "Sadly for you, I do not suffer from that problem!" He was squeezing just hard enough to keep Anya from concentrating so she could teleport away. Her face started to turn red.
Venator was surprised to feel a sudden upsurge of mystical energy. With his spirit web in place it was difficult to pinpoint the source, but the fact he could sense it at all meant it must have been a powerful being or spell. His demonic flesh crawled as he noticed a growing presence--what would likely be considered a comforting warmth by any mortal being. It washed over the rest of the room, and he turned.
Willow's body was once again on its feet, but something was very different. Her usually pure red hair had been streaked with blonde stripes, and her green eyes were flaked with blue. A pulsing white light surged across every exposed inch of her skin. "It's all over, Venator!" Her resonating voice was unmistakably that of Willow and Tara mixed together. To the demon, so was her intensely bright aura.
"You have acheived union? I'm impressed. Few humans ever reach such a plateau!"
"Our souls are as one! Moreso now than ever! You have no chance against us, demon!" With her powers utterly under control, the blonde-streaked redhead raised one glowing hand. "Abiungere ac liquefacere!" The energies in her palm surged, and Venator felt a tug on his brow.
The demon's eyes grew wide, and he bellowed as he felt the wraith-gem rending at his flesh. "Stop!You can't do this! You don't understand!" The stone burst outward along with a gush of yellow blood, and right before his eyes it seemed to dissolve into nothingness. "No! The wraith-gem...my power!"
"Is but a memory now," said Willow/Tara. "And your former subjects, have been liberated!"
One by one the green gems on the walls and ceiling began to burst, and out surged hundreds, perhaps thousands of lost souls. They screamed and howled as they swept through the air, wildly turning circles and leaving a bright trail of sparkling light behind them. Then collectively they all came blazing down at Venator, who swatted madly at them as they enveloped him in a blindingly bright column of seething energy. He shrieked as they flowed into whatever orifice they could find, and tore at him from the inside.
Willow/Tara backed away, only to bump into Buffy as the Slayer was coming to see what all the light and noise was about. She looked them up and down. "Will? What happened?"
A pale green figure stepped out of Willow's body, and the redhead slumped against the Slayer. Tara, once again spectral, glanced down at herself. "Thank the Goddess."
"Tara," said Buffy. She didn't understand any of this. "I can see you. What's going on?"
"I'm not sure. But I think it's over."
Willow's eyelids fluttered open. "Buffy?"
"You okay?"
The redhead nodded. "I think so. I..." She gasped. "Where's Tara?"
"Right here, sweety." Tara smiled as Willow saw her, and they both sighed. "I don't know for how long though. I feel so weak. Like, I'm tired...but I don't sleep."
Buffy shook her head. "Can anyone explain to me what the hell is going on?"
"As usual...no." Xander came forward, one arm around Dawn to support the teenager. "But it looks like we won, somehow." He nodded, and they all turned.
Venator lay flat on his back in the middle of the room. They could see massive chest rising and falling, so they knew he was still breathing. But he seemed otherwise lifeless.
Anya, who had just begun to stir herself, sat up and glared at the other demon. Her eyes glowed briefly, as they had done earlier when she was looking at Tara. "His essence is gone. He's an empty shell."
"The other spirits," said Willow. "They must have done to him what he did to them."
"But all of his wraith-gems have been destroyed," said Tara. "So where did they put him?"
Xander shrugged his shoulders. "Who cares? The demon's toast. The ghosts are free. I say we party."
*****
"No!" Dawn pushed herself away from Xander, and shook her head as she glared at each one of them. "How can you all be so happy? Aren't you forgetting something?" They didn't say anything. "Tara! We may have beat the bad guy here, but she's still a ghost. Don't that bother anybody?"
"Of course it does." Buffy tried to put an arm around her sister. "But Dawnie..."
Again, the teenager pushed away. "No! I'm not giving up on her that easily! I want...I know! I know what to do to help." She turned to Anya. "You! I want vengeance, Anya!"
The demon's eyes lit up at those words. "On who?"
"Him!" Dawn pointed at Venator. "He hurt my family. I want him to suffer!"
"Don't you think he's suffered enough already?" Xander asked. "I mean, look at him."
Dawn shook her head. "Anya, you can do this. I know you can. So listen." She paused, as if considering her next words bery carefully. "I wish..."
At that, Buffy started toward her sister. But Anya held up her hand, and to her surprise the Slayer found herself unable to move. "No one interferes in a wish. Go on, Dawn."
"Thanks." The teenager took a deep breath. "I wish this demon would suffer, for his crimes against humanity, by becoming a human himself. But not just any human. I wish you to permanently transform his body into an honest to God, flesh and blood, living, breathing duplicate of Tara Maclay."
Tara's spectral eyes widened. "Dawnie..."
"Whoa," said Xander.
"Willow shook her head. "I can't believe I didn't consider..."
Anya's normally pretty face turned hideously demonic, and she smiled. "Done!"
Venator's body seemed to collapse in on itself. Energy surged and crackled around him.
"Umm...Anya?" Buffy gritted her teeth.
"What?" The vengeance demon blinked as her face returned to normal. "Oh, sorry." She gestured, and Buffy was able to move again. The Slayer stretched her shoulders and tested her limbs. They felt fine now.
"Thanks."
Dawn pointed. "Look!"
Venator was gone. In his place lay a face they had not seen in quite some time, and a body Willow in particular had missed. The creamy skin, the firm breasts, the...it suddenly dawned on her, in a not at all unpleasant way, that the unconscious blonde was completely naked. She blinked.
Dawn's eyes were very much saucer-like, and her cheeks flushed. "I guess, um, I should have wished something about clothes too."
"It happens," said Anya. "This one time, in England..."
As the vengeance demon rambled on Buffy glanced up at Xander and saw he was staring, slack-jawed. Knowing things would probably get hot in a hurry if either Anya or Willow noticed, she nudged the boy enough to shut his mouth and jar him back to reality. She shook her head.
It was then Willow realized the spectral form of her lover had vanished. "Tara?" So to had the other spirits, who she had last seen swirling and howling around the ceiling. They had vanquished their captor and were most likely reveling in their newfound freedom, or else they had simply moved on. Tara would not just leave her though, she was sure of that. "Where is she?"
Gazing past the redhead, Buffy saw something Willow did not and smiled. "I think I know." She nodded towards Tara's new body, which showed signs of waking. "You'd better go to her."
"Here, Will." Xander took off his shirt, under which he had on a dark blue muscle shirt. "You know, not that I'm complaining or anything, but..."
Willow briefly stuck her tongue out at him as she took it. "Watch what you say about my girl. And, thanks." She rushed to the blonde and kneeled beside her. "Tara?"
After several long, agonizing moments, beautiful blue eyes opened, to gaze up into the most warm, loving face she had ever known. She smiled. "Hi."
"Hey there." Willow stroked the blonde's cheek. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Tara put her arms around the redhead's neck and pulled her down for a kiss. "Now."
"Goddess...mmm....Tara..." Willow said between kisses. "I...love...you."
Tara stopped kissing her beloved, momentarily, and smiled. "I love you too."
With that, they were all over each other again.
*****
Willow and Tara spent the next several days in their room, coming out every so often only to eat, and to assure their friends they were still alive. Much to their chagrin, Buffy told them Slayer hearing let her know that even if she went outside, and Dawn had apparently started wearing earphones while watching TV, in the basement. It was difficult to tell if either one of them was kidding or not.
"Promise me something." Tara lay with her head on Willow's chest, listening to her heart as it slowed, while an errant hand gently ran up and down the length of the redhead's side.
"Anything, love."
"Promise me we'll always be together. In this life, and the next."
Willow nodded. "Believe me, I would move heaven and earth to make sure of it."
"I'm serious, Will. We came close to being apart for all eternity this time. And not just because of my death. If Xander and Giles and Buffy hadn't stopped you, I'm afraid you would have been lost completely. I can't stand that thought, knowing it was because of me."
"But it wasn't." Willow reassuringly stroked her lover's face. "Tara, I lost control because I'm weak. The magick messed with my mind and it twisted my soul. I just wish I'd seen it sooner. Maybe if I had, you wouldn't have left me in the first place. With you by my side I could have worked through my problems, become a stronger person, and maybe even a better witch." She sighed. "Of course, we wouldn't have needed a reunion then, and we probably wouldn't have been in the bedroom when Warren showed up."
Tara shrugged her shoulders. "It doesn't really matter now. We've got a second...no, a third chance, Will. And I, for one, am not going to miss a minute of it." She grabbed the blankets and pulled them up and over them both as she lunged at the redhead, who shrieked with throaty laughter.
THE END
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But I trust you will take us eventually to some W/T happiness. 
You made me cry. That was so sad. Poor Willow and Tara. 
at: 7/9/02 3:08:34 pm
