The Witch and the Sorceress by Susan Carr

Summary: Willow crosses the line again.

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It was on Monday when my lover told me

Never pay the Reaper with love only

What could I say to you, except I love you

And I’d give my life for your’s

Bif Naked "Lucky"

Willow stepped out of the house, not bothering to glance back at the terrified man following her. She stopped in the clearing between the house and the barn and with a wave of her hand Tara’s brother continued into the darkened barn, his movements jerky like an automaton’s. Willow waited a moment as she watched him with her mind’s eye until he disappeared into the barn, and then made sure he was tied securely by conjured restraints. A reddish glow emanated from the doorway and through the cracks in the wood.

Willow threw back her head and looked at the stars shining above. The cool peaceful night suddenly shivered with the power she released from her.

"Come to me," she demanded in a dark voice, the sound transcending barriers as she summoned from beyond her dimension. Another burst of dark power rose from her, engulfing her in its red light as it shot into the sky. Willow’s red hair blew back from her face from the energy.

The light faded as the power was released and Willow sank to her knees to rest and wait. From inside the house, she could hear large objects being tossed around and she glanced back as a large dresser came flying through the upstairs window and crashed to the ground. A moment later cousin Beth came running out of the house. Willow watched in amusement as Beth ran over and dropped to the ground in front of her.

"You’ve got to help me!" Beth pleaded with Willow. "She’s gonna kill me!"

Willow looked at her. "Did she hurt you?"

"No, but…"

"Did she try to hurt you?" Willow asked.

"No, but there’s something wrong with her! That’s not Tara!"

Willow smiled sadly at the girl. "You’re right. You don’t remember, but Tara died months ago."

Beth looked at her in confusion, then her expression turned horrified as Willow’s words broke Tara’s spell. "I know," she whispered. "They…they told us she had been killed last May. Then…then…"

Willow waited.

"What is that thing?" Beth finished.

"That’s Tara," Willow answered.

"But…" Beth tried to reason.

"She’s a vampire," Willow said.

"Vampires aren’t real!" Beth insisted and Willow rolled her eyes in impatience.

"After all you saw in Sunnydale, do you really believe that?" Willow asked. "Vampires are very real, and your cousin is one."

 "No!" Beth insisted. "You’re a liar! Uncle told me. You’re a witch and a liar! Tara’s dead. That’s not Tara. She’d never hurt anyone. Donny! Where’s Donny? He’ll help me."

"He’s in the barn, but I’m afraid he can’t help you."

"He will!" Beth cried.

"He’s a bad man, Beth," Willow said. "You know that, don’t you? You know what he did to Tara."

"No!" Beth said. Willow watched as the girl pulled up chunks of grass from the ground. "It was Tara’s demon that forced him to do terrible things. He’d never…"

"He did," Willow said, the anger thickening her voice. "There was no demon in Tara, not then. It was just Donny’s sick, perverted self that caused him to rape his own sister. And now he’s going to pay for it."

"What? What do you mean?" Beth looked at Willow through the darkness.

Willow remained silent, not caring to answer the babbling woman. From behind her she could feel Tara exit the house and approach them. Beth jumped up from the ground when she saw the vampire’s approach and ran into the barn, crying out for help.

"Jumpy little thing, isn’t she?" Tara said walking around to face Willow. Willow looked up and saw Tara was carrying her father across her shoulder. The man was showing signs of returning to consciousness.

"Scared of you for some reason," Willow said with a small smile.

Tara laughed. "Fool. She’s got more to fear from you than she does from me. Isn’t that right, lover?"

"Only if she gets in my way," Willow replied and then looked out into the darkness. "It’s coming," she whispered.

Tara sniffed the air and nodded. "I’ll get things ready then while you make your deal," she said and turned towards the barn, still carrying her father.

Willow waited. She noticed that all sound had ceased except for something large and ungainly crashing through the trees just beyond the fence. For just a moment she contemplated ending this madness now, but then the memory of what Donny did to Tara came rushing back and again her anger strengthened her resolve. She would see this out to its bitter end.

The beast crashed through the fence and approached Willow where she rested on the ground, apparently calm on the outside, but inside she was shaking in fear. Willow thanked the goddess this creature was not of the Earth. It stood before her, nearly seven feet tall, it’s skin thick and scaly and black in the moonlight. Willow was grateful it wore a black robe that barely covered the ponderous bulge she knew was there.

"You summoned me, sorceress?" it hissed and Willow fought to keep herself from shivering at the sound.

"I did," she said, surprised her voice sounded so steady. "I need a boon, something only one of your kind can perform."

The creature tilted its head towards the barn. "In there?" it asked.

"Yes," Willow replied. "The younger man. He needs payback for something he did."

The creature nodded. "Payback is what we do best. And what do you offer in return?"

Willow looked the creature in the eye, "I send you back to your world, unharmed."

The demon laughed, "I don’t think so, sorceress. I’m here now. I’ll stay. I like this world."

Willow thought quickly. If she allowed the demon to remain, it would probably find its way to Sunnydale, where at least Buffy would have a chance to kill it, but not before it caused untold havoc.

"No," she said. "I’m only concerned with the one in there. I don’t want you bringing trouble down on innocents."

The demon laughed. "There are no innocents in this world, sorceress. You should know that." It paused. "Very well, I will not ravish any ‘innocents’ as you say. I’ll stick to those like your boy in there. I’m sure I can find plenty to keep me amused. Don’t you think?"

Willow knew it was true, the world was full of men, and women, like Tara’s brother. "Agreed, then. You take care of him inside, and I’ll allow you to remain here."

The creature bowed before Willow who finally stood up and led the way into the barn.

Inside, Willow took note of Tara’s father hanging from the rafters, his wrists shacked to chains, his legs dangling free and his mouth gagged. He was conscious and facing the stall where Donny had raped his sister, where Donny himself was now restrained, his arms and legs spread out and the front of his body pressed against the back of the stall. Cousin Beth was trying unsuccessfully to free him from the ensorcelled restraints. Tara was sitting on the fence of another stall, watching her cousin’s futile attempts with amusement. She looked up as Willow entered the barn and joined her on the fence.

"Hey," Tara said and kissed Willow tenderly. Willow kissed her back, again enjoying the sharp danger of Tara’s fangs.

"Hey, yourself," she said, taking Tara’s cold hand and interlacing their fingers together.

Tara looked up as the demon entered the barn. She gave an evil chuckle.

"Kroka demon, eh?" she said and squeezed Willow’s hand playfully. "You are so bad! What did you offer it?"

Willow was about to reply, but stopped at Cousin Beth’s scream of terror as she saw the demon. Beth began to run out of the barn, but Tara stopped her with a wave of her hand.

"Stay, Beth," the vampire said and Beth crumpled to floor near her uncle. "I want you to see what happens to rapists in the hands of an expert."

"What…what is it?" the girl cried, trying not to look at the demon who was sniffing at Donny.

Tara laughed, the glee evident in her voice. "That, my dear cousin, is a kroka demon. They’re not from this world, but they sometimes show up here when summoned for revenge, particularly against vermin like my sweet brother there."

Beth shrieked as the demon removed its robe and stood before its audience. Mr. Maclay jerked against his restraints, his eyes bulging in terror as he looked upon the demon. Donny, his face pressed against the wall, could not see the demon and could only whimper in fear.

Tara clapped her hands in appreciation. "Very nice, kroka! You are a fine specimen. Please, on with the show!"

The demon bowed and turned to Donny.

Willow again took Tara’s hand in her own and looked away from the scene in the stall as Donny’s whimpers turned to screams. She looked at Tara whose yellow eyes were glued to the demon’s actions. Tara felt Willow’s gaze and turned to look into her lover’s eyes.

"Thank you, my love," Tara said, reaching her other hand to caress Willow’s cheek. "This is the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me."

Willow returned the caress. "Only for you, baby," she said and Tara nodded.

"I know," she replied. "And I know how hard it is for you. What did you promise the demon?"

"It can stay," Willow admitted.

"Hmmm, I see," Tara said. "You know what it’ll do if it stays here, don’t you?"

Willow nodded and blushed her shame. Tara squeezed her hand in reassurance. "It’ll be alright, Willow. I promise."

Willow looked at Tara’s father, who had ceased his struggles. "Uh, Tara?" she said. "I think Donny’s deflowering was a bit much for your dad," Willow nodded toward the man.

"What?" Tara said, jumping off the fence and approaching her father, the anger flashing in her eyes. She released the restraints and grabbed him as his limp form fell to the ground. Tara held him up and shook him as she looked into his face. With a roar of anger she threw him to the side.

"Dead!" Tara cried.

Willow looked away as Tara took out her anger on her father’s corpse. The kroka demon also ignored the vampire’s rage as it continued its ministrations on Donny, who barely seemed conscious. Willow noted it was only the demon’s skill that ensured Donny was still alive at this point, but she knew he would not be much longer. Again she felt nothing but cold rage against the man who had brought such harm to Tara, just like she felt nothing for Tara’s father who had beaten and practically enslaved Tara, in addition to the mental abuse he had inflicted on her.

Instead, Willow wondered what she should do about the kroka demon that she had summoned into this world. Left alone, it would inflict the same horrors it was inflicting on Tara’s brother on others.

Willow heard a final curse from Tara and looked up just as the vampire issued a final kick to the battered corpse.

"Feel better?" she asked as Tara rejoined her on the fence, licking her hands clean of blood.

"Much," Tara said, her voice once again cheerful. "You?"

Willow glanced up as Donny let out a final scream that ended in a gurgle as the kroka demon tore him apart from the inside out.

"Not necessarily better, but satisfied," she said, turning again to her lover. Willow jumped off the fence and bent down in front of Beth. The blond girl’s eyes were staring sightlessly and a trickle of drool was running down one side of her chin. Willow waved a hand in front of Beth’s eyes and frowned at the lack of response.

"She gone?" Tara asked, unconcerned.

"Afraid so," Willow replied. She took the girl’s limp hand in her own and lifted her to her feet. Beth followed wordlessly as Willow led her to the barn’s entrance.

"Go on, girly," Willow said, letting go of Beth’s hand and giving her a light push in the direction of the road that ran past the house. "You don’t want to be here for the end. Go find a home in some nice psych ward somewhere. They won’t believe a word you say, but at least you’ll be well treated."

Willow watched as the girl was taken by the darkness.

Willow turned back to the demon and was grateful to see that it had donned its robe again.

"The task is done, sorceress," the demon said with a final bow to Willow.

"Thank you for your service," Willow said. "I would remind you of our bargain. No innocents."

The kroka’s laugh turned to a gasp of surprise as its face contorted in agony. It turned around and Willow could see a fire axe buried to the haft in its back. Standing behind the kroka, a cheery expression on her face was Tara.

"Oops! Did I do that? So sorry!" Tara ducked as the kroka swung one clawed hand at her face. Tara followed through with a kick to its abdomen. With a roar of rage, the demon caught Tara under the chin with a punch that sent the vampire crashing through the barn wall into the yard outside.

Willow followed the demon outside, chanting the words to a spell. To her dismay, there was no effect on the demon. Tara picked herself up from the ground as the demon approached her.

"Don’t bother, Willow," she said, jumping up and catching the demon in the face with both feet. As she fell back to the ground she said, "Your magic is useless against it. You made a deal remember? Let me handle this."

Willow watched helplessly as Tara and demon fought for what seemed a very long time. Every hit the demon landed on the vampire, Willow felt in her gut, but she was still amazed at Tara’s skill in handling herself, making her wonder again just where vampires learned to fight. Finally with a back flip, Tara jumped over the demon and grabbed the axe handle that was still sticking out of its back, wrenching it free. With a roar, Tara swung the axe and neatly beheaded the kroka. Tara fell to her knees in exhaustion and Willow rushed to her side.

"Are you alright?" Willow asked, cradling Tara’s battered face in her hands.

"Nothing a bit of time won’t cure, my love," Tara whispered.

"Tara, why?" Willow sad. "You didn’t have to do that."

"I know," the vampire replied. "But I couldn’t let it stay here and you couldn’t send it back to its world."

"I made the bargain," Willow protested. "The price was mine to pay."

Tara nodded, "But I couldn’t let you pay it. The cost was too high for you. You’re not ready for that yet, Willow. Warren, Rack, Donny, even my father, yes. But you’d never be able to handle the price of any innocent blood on your hands and despite whatever deal you made with it, you know that innocents would have gotten hurt in its path. I couldn’t let you do it, Willow. Not for me."

"Oh Tara," Willow said and gently let her forehead rest against Tara’s. After a moment, she sat back and said, "Wait here. I’ll clean up this mess and we’ll head back to the van. Do you have everything you want from the house?"

Tara nodded, "Just that chest over by the porch. I’ll get it."

"No, you rest," Willow said and levitated the chest over to them. She stood up and with another wave of her hand the body and head of the demon floated back into the barn.

"Ignis incede!" she said and the barn was suddenly ablaze.

Tara chuckled softly. "I hope we’re not in for a rainstorm this time."

Willow looked at her. "Oh please. I think I’ve learned a bit more control since then." With another incantation, the house was also on fire. Willow lifted the chest. "Do you need help? Can you walk?"

Tara stood up. "I can walk. Come on. Let’s get out of here. I’m suddenly tired of this place."

By the time they reached the van, Tara could barely walk, so Willow got behind the wheel and drove off, watching as the orange glow from the burning ranch faded from view.

Watching the clock, Willow drove as far as she could, then checked them into a highway motel just before sunrise. Inside the room, she got Tara’s wounds cleaned up and the vampire into bed before the sun rose over the horizon. Willow crawled into bed and snuggled against her sleeping lover, the warmth from the blankets unable to dispel the illusion that she was sleeping next to a corpse.

Tara left the motel room shortly after sunset, the hunger burning inside her. Willow spent the time her lover was gone in the shower, trying to drown out the lust and the excitement and the hot taste of blood in her mouth as Tara made her kill.

When Tara returned, the couple quickly packed the van, both eager to get back to Sunnydale.

As Tara pulled the black van off the freeway exit leading to Sunnydale in the early morning hour, she asked Willow, "By the way...what did you tell your roommates?"

Willow sighed, "Told them I had a job interview and was flying up to San Jose."

"Think they bought it?" Tara laughed.

"Probably not, but I think Buffy will respect me enough to keep quiet about it. I made a promise to her and I intend to keep it."

"What promise?"

"That I would not harm her or Dawn or Xander nor use magic against them again." Willow looked at Tara. "That promise binds you as well. You’re not to hurt them in any way."

"Ooooh. Sire gets big with the butch!" Tara taunted.

"I mean it, Tara!" Willow said.

"And when the Slayer comes for me with Mr. Pointy?" Tara asked. "What then?"

"You run," Willow said.

"We’ll see," Tara said. "But I’m sure Buffy won’t agree to that."

"Just stay away from her," Willow ordered.

Willow’s prediction proved correct; Buffy was more concerned with her zombie-vampire problem than Willow’s whereabouts. Willow merely explained the Silicon Valley company she interviewed with insisted Willow relocate, rather than telecommute from Sunnydale and Buffy dropped the matter.

"What’s the sitch with the vamps?" Willow asked Buffy the next day at the Espresso Pump where the two women were meeting.

"Getting worse every night," Buffy replied, sipping on her mocha. "Damn things keep coming out of the ground, no matter how long they’ve been dead. Had one Night of the Living Dead reject leave his legs behind as he pulled himself out of the ground. Xander got him as he was crawling away from his grave."

Willow shuddered, but had no reply.

Buffy continued, "Weird thing is they all seemed to be headed in the same direction. Same way those zombies at my coming home party were making a beeline for Mom’s mask."

"The same direction?" Willow asked. "Any idea what they’re heading for?"

"Nope," Buffy replied. "Didn’t pay much attention until last night. They all seemed to be heading to the northwest, though. Seemed to be more last night than the night before, too."

Willow remained silent, suspicion growing in her gut.

"This keeps up, the cemeteries will be fresh out of corpses soon," Buffy quipped and Willow gave her a ghost of a smile. Both knew the Sunnydale cemeteries were plenty stocked.

"So, want to do the Bronze thing before patrol tonight?" Buffy asked.

Willow shook her head. "Oh, you know Buff, I’d really like to, but I’m sorry. Got plans."

"Willow!" Buffy said with a tease in her voice. "Are we getting back to doing normal stuff?"

"Normal stuff?" Willow asked, confused for a moment, then remembering.  She gave her friend a smile. "Oh! You mean like shop? Go to school? Hang out? Save the world from unspeakable demons? All that girl stuff, you mean?"

Buffy laughed, "Yeah, girl stuff! And date, I hope?"

"No. Yes. Maybe. I don’t know," Willow said. "It’s…you know…complicated."

"Whenever are things not complicated with you, Willow Rosenberg?"

Willow laughed. "Okay, fine. Make all the fun you want. I deserve it."

Buffy chuckled a moment longer, but then grew serious. "Look, Will. I know it’s soon, hell ten years from now will still seem soon, but don’t shut the door to your heart on anything that might come knocking."

Willow looked deep into Buffy’s eyes. "Like you have, Buff? You’ve been afraid to let anyone in your heart since Angel. And that was such a long time ago."

Buffy looked down at her hands resting in her lap. "I know. It’s been hard finding anyone who…"

"Measures up to a centuries old vampire with a soul?" Willow said. "Time to move on, Buffy. He is. You need to."

Buffy smiled, "Okay, best friend pact time. You and me! Let’s promise each other that we’ll both move on. Deal?"

Willow nodded and shook Buffy’s hand. "Deal."

"Oh!" Buffy said, glancing at her watch. "Gotta run! The troubled youth of Sunnydale High are crying for attention. Catch ya later, Will!"

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Willow spent the rest of the day searching for Anya, but the vengeance demon was not to be found. Willow considered summoning her but, remembering what Anya had said about her travel restrictions, decided to wait. By the time the day’s shadows were lengthening, she was feeling hungry, so she stopped first at the butcher shop for blood and then the Chinese take-out and hurried to the crypt before Tara woke.

She had settled down to eat her dinner and watch the evening news on Spike’s TV when she heard a noise from the lower crypt. As Tara emerged from below, Willow’s throat grew dry. Tara took her time as she walked slowly up the steps leading to the upper level, knowing and loving the effect she was having on her sire. Tara was dressed in a black silk blouse, the material hugging her waist while at the same time accentuating her voluptuous breasts. Willow nearly groaned when she fastened her eyes on Tara’s exposed cleavage. As more of Tara was revealed, Willow’s eyes traveled down to where just a strip of pale white skin was peeking out from between the blouse and a pair of hip-hugging leather pants. Tara’s bountiful hips filled the sleek leather nicely, Willow noted. Finally, Tara’s feet clad in a pair of shiny black boots emerged, completing the outfit.

Willow’s eyes traveled back up Tara’s body as the vampire approached her, still following her slow and steady course. Tara’s blond hair cascaded over her shoulders and down her back. Willow couldn’t remember Tara’s hair ever being that rich or full before, but she liked it now. Tara’s face glowed pale in the dim light of the crypt, her lips full and red, devoid of makeup, but with that characteristic smirk that was so Tara. Willow’s own lips smiled in welcome.

Willow set aside the container of lo mein as Tara finally reached her. The vampire placed a hand on each of Willow’s shoulders as she climbed onto the armchair, straddling her lover. Willow’s own hands slipped comfortably around Tara’s waist and she pulled her closer as Tara leaned down to place a searing kiss on Willow’s lips.

"Mmm," Tara murmured breaking the kiss. "You taste good. Let me guess, Fong Lee’s Chinese Kitchen?"

Willow chuckled. "Our favorite. Want some?"

"Maybe later," Tara said, running her hands down Willow’s arms and back up her sides, finally cupping Willow’s breasts through her shirt. "Right now I’m hungry for something else."

"Oh yeah?" Willow said, her breath quickening. "What would that be?"

"Can’t you tell?" Tara said and then claimed Willow’s lips again. Willow moaned in pleasure as she felt Tara’s need for her through the connection they shared. Desire and passion and even love for Willow filled the vampire’s being.

"Willow?" Tara asked, nuzzling in Willow’s neck, her cool lips pressed to Willow’s beating pulse.

"Hmmm?" Willow replied.

"Come hunt with me tonight," Tara whispered.

Through the connection, Willow felt Tara’s desire turn to blood lust. "What?" she asked, pushing Tara back.

Tara met Willow’s look, her eyes darkening with passion. "Hunt with me, my love. I could feel you inside of me last night when I killed. You felt it, didn’t you? The excitement? The heady rush of life rushing through my veins? I want you with me when that happens. Please, Willow. Be there for me?"

"Tara…" Willow began, but was interrupted by the sound of the crypt door opening.

"Yoo hoo!" a familiar voice called. "Clem?"

"Oh gods," Willow whispered.

Tara sat up, but did not release Willow, who was struggling underneath her in an attempt to stand up. She looked at the figure at the entrance and said, "Hey Anya. Ever hear of knocking?"

The vengeance demon blinked. "Tara," she said, walking into the crypt and placing a basket on the tomb near the entrance.

"Tara, let me up," Willow said quietly and Tara finally stood up and helped Willow to her feet, but interlocked her hand with Willow’s as they both turned towards Anya.

"Well, congratulations Willow," Anya said looking at the couple. "I see you managed to bring her back. More impressive than that interdimensional spell you did last week that had such a great result on your anatomy. I trust this is more pleasurable for you than that was."

"Anya…" Willow stopped, not knowing how to begin to explain.

"I’m sorry to interrupt," Anya said, ignoring Willow as she stared at Tara. "I was looking for Clem. I’ve got the night off so I came for a bit of poker. I’m getting quite good at it, thank you for helping to teach me to play."

Willow glanced at Anya’s basket and saw it was moving slightly. She released Tara’s hand and went over the basket. Anya continued to stare at Tara.

"Clem doesn’t live here any more, Anya," Tara explained. "I think you can find him at the cemetery near the university."

"I see," she said, finally turning to Willow who had carried the basket to the door and was releasing the kittens outside. "Hey! Those are mine!"

Willow shooed the last tabby out the door and handed the basket back to Anya. "Find another hobby, Anya," she suggested.

Anya shrugged, "Yeah, sure. Who am I to argue with someone who can raise the dead and create vampires? You certainly proved you can kick my ass the last time you were evil."

Tara smirked and looked at Willow. "Did you really?"

Willow just shrugged and gave a small nod.

Anya sighed. "Well, I am glad you’re back, Tara. I’ve missed having you around and we were friends even after you were smart enough to leave Willow for the evil she did to you. I’m sorry you were killed."

"Thank you, Anya," Tara said, smiling at the brunette. "I’m glad to be back."

"Good," Anya said, nodding her head emphatically. "You should be glad. Life is always better than death, even if you are technically still dead. And I’m sure Willow is happy you’re back, but I doubt she’ll ever admit to it. She’ll just continue to feel all guilty about everything, although what she did to Warren was classic vengeance."

"I’d like to hear about it, sometime," Tara said with a gleam in her eye.

"I’ll be happy to tell you. Speaking of vengeance…" Anya turned to the redhead. "You reek of it, Willow. What have you been up to?"

"Uh…" Willow stammered.

"Willow helped me take care of a few things concerning my family," Tara answered for her lover.

"Oh, very good," Anya said with a smile on her face. "I knew that brother of yours was no good when they were here last time. I considered summoning my friend Halfrek on your behalf at the time, but Xander talked me out of it. He said what was past was past and I should let sleeping dogs lie, whatever that means."

"Well, the dog will never rise again, thanks to Willow," Tara said with a fond smile. Willow just shook her head in exasperation and sat on the arm of the chair, unable to find any way to positively contribute to the conversation.

"Really?" Anya said, intrigued. "What did she do?"

Tara began to explain in rich detail the events as Willow just sat there and listened. Willow felt as if the subject of the vampire’s narration was someone other than herself. As she listened, she could barely reconcile the idealistic and innocent girl she used to be with the person she was today. When did she lose that combination of idealism and innocence she knew she had when she pledged herself to helping her best friend fight evil? Was the price for fighting evil to eventually succumb to it? And after all the evil things she had done, was she even worthy enough to continue to fight at the Slayer’s side?

Willow looked at the two women talking before her. While it was true that Anya and her had never been that close, Willow knew they were so much alike which caused most of the tension between them. Most of Anya’s long life was spent committing evil acts, but Willow understood vengeance all too well, so she could not fault the demon for the service she provided. But Tara was another story altogether. When Tara’s family had unexpectedly arrived in Sunnydale, for the first and only time in her life Tara cast a spell that was against her Wiccan beliefs. And Willow knew that Tara’s action was done out of fear and not malice. Tara had given a lot of her time and effort into making up to each of the Scoobies in an attempt at redemption for that one simple act.

Willow flushed with shame again at her memory of the spells she had cast in an attempt to control Tara when things began to go bad for them. While in England, Willow had discussed what happened with the high priestess of the Devon coven and the woman made her realize just how evil her actions had been. Willow knew she had treated Tara worse than Tara’s family had treated her. At least when they attempted to beat her into submission, Tara had the choice to leave. Willow never even gave her that choice. Looking at the vampire, Willow knew that this was the Tara she deserved, not the one who had died in her arms.

Anya looked at Willow. "Well, you get points for creativity, but when it comes to vengeance you’re still an amateur, Willow. Kroka demons are more trouble than they’re worth. You’re lucky Tara was there to kill it."

"Thanks, Anya," Willow said, and Anya ignored the sarcasm in her voice.

"Thank you for the tale, Tara," Anya said. "I’ll be going now. Come see me if you get bored. It’ll be even more fun thumb wrestling with you now that we’re both stronger."

"Okay, Anya," Tara smiled. "Take care."

Willow was about to stop Anya before she left, remembering that she wanted to ask Anya a few questions, but before she had a chance the door of the crypt flew open and a horrible stench invaded the space. Willow jumped up in fear as three scaly vampires stumbled in with more following behind. As she pushed Anya and Tara out of the way of the approaching fiends, she had a brief moment to realize that Buffy had been right—they were straight out of a B-movie horror flick and she knew without a shadow of a doubt that they belonged to her.

Summary: Willow sorts out the truth about the zombie-vamps as Tara leads her further into darkness.

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Willow watched as the zombie-vampires ignored her and went for Tara and Anya. The vampire and the vengeance demon quickly assessed the situation and immediately covered each other’s backs as the first of the undead reached for them. Willow rummaged in her backpack and pulled out a stake.

"Tara!" she called and Tara caught the stake as Willow tossed it to her.

"Thanks sweetie!" Tara called and staked the vamp she was fighting off.

"Hey!" Anya protested as she threw a punch at a vampire who was trying to grab her neck. "What about me?"

Willow ran to a wooden chair propped next to the refrigerator and smashed it against the wall. Picking up two of the shattered legs, she used both to stake a pair of vampires who were trying to reach the fighting demons and then handed one to Anya.

Tara cursed as one of the vampires slashed at her with long, filthy claws. Willow saw dark blood well from Tara’s chest through the tear in her blouse.

"Oh gods!" Willow whispered to herself. She looked to the crypt door and saw that more of the creatures were pouring in and the small space was quickly filling up, hampering their efforts to fight.

Clouds of stinking dust began to pile up in the crypt as the three women fought the vampires and still the tide did not stop.

"Willow!" Tara cried. "Do something!"

"Yes, Willow!" Anya echoed. "Now, please!" Anya looked like she was in better shape than Tara, but both appeared to be weakening.

Willow thought quickly as she staked another vampire, but as soon as the dust cleared the space was filled with another. Finally, an idea formed in her head.

Looking towards the entrance, she saw that the stream was beginning to taper off and only a few more entered the crypt. She pulled a packet of powder from her pocket and muttered an incantation. "Tara!" she called. "Get below! Now!"

Tara nodded and staked another vamp. Pushing her way through the crowd, she ran for the opening in the ground and dove in headfirst. With a mental push Willow sealed the opening with the slab. "Anya, duck," she called and the vengeance demon dropped to the floor and covered her head with her arms. Before the vampires could reach for Anya, she tossed the powder into the air and cried, "lumière du soleil!"

The crypt was instantly filled with a bright white light. The vampires filling the crypt didn’t even make any expression as they were instantly turned to dust. Two more vampires entered the crypt and were instantly destroyed. Willow held a hand over her eyes and made her way to the opening. Peering out, she saw that the cemetery was peaceful.

"Éteignez," Willow intoned and the light in the crypt returned to normal.

Willow went over to help Anya to her feet. "You okay?" she asked.

"Nice trick," Anya said, dusting off her clothes. "Thanks for the warning."

"No problem," Willow said, looking around at the mess.

"Why weren’t they attacking you?" Anya said, looking at the redhead.

Willow sighed. "I’m not sure, exactly," she explained. "I think it’s because I created them."

"What? Are you crazy as well as evil now, Willow?" Anya said. "Ok, I can understand Tara, you’re probably missing the orgasms at the very least, but what use could you have for these things?"

Willow rolled her eyes. "I didn’t do it on purpose, Anya. I think the spell that made a vampire from Tara’s body somehow opened a portal that’s allowing other corpses to rise as vampires."

"Tara is not like these vampires," Anya said. "And she smells better!"

"I know," Willow replied. "But I think that since the spell was focused on Tara, she rose as a normal vampire, the only exception being that her sire is human."

Anya nodded. "And these other vampires were just caught up in the energy of your spell. Since you’re also their sire, they didn’t attack you, but they were seeking you out."

Willow nodded. "Buffy said the other night they were all headed towards the northwest. That’s the direction where Tara’s family lived."

"Well, it could be a portal or just excess energy." Anya thought a moment and then let her eyes look at Willow from head to toe. "I don’t think anyone’s realized just how powerful you’ve become, Willow, not even you."

"Believe me," Willow sighed. "I scare even myself. I never intended to bring her back, Anya."

"She’s back now, Willow," Anya pointed out. "And you have to take responsibility for her just like you have to take responsibility for your other children."

"Can you help me research this?" she asked. "It’s getting worse and I need to stop it before someone gets hurt."

"Not now," Anya said. "I have to head out on a vengeance call. Come by my apartment tomorrow, I’ve got a few books you managed not to destroy. We’ll find something."

"Thanks, Anya," Willow said, the sincerity evident in her voice.

"You are welcome, Willow," Anya said and vanished in a twinkle of light.

Downstairs, Willow found Tara sitting on the bed resting against the wall.

"Hey," Willow said, softly.

"Hey," Tara said back. "All clear?"

"All clear," Willow answered. She set down her pack and pulled out a bottle of water and her small first aid kit. Using a dampened end of her bandana, Willow began to clean up Tara’s wounds.

"That hurt, baby?" she asked in a small voice.

"Not really," Tara smiled. "Just stings a bit."

"I’m sorry," Willow said, feeling guilty. "Anya promised to help me find a way to stop them."

"Might be a portal funneling the demonic energy from another dimension," Tara said, thinking.

"That’s what I thought, smarty-pants." Willow spread ointment over the wicked scratch on Tara’s face. She winced as Tara pulled back from the pain. "Anya said it might be just excess energy left over from the spell that made you."

"Could be," Tara said and then smiled at Willow. "The kroka demon was right. You have graduated to sorceress, my love. Congratulations."

Willow gave her a wry smile. "I don’t think UC Sunnydale has a degree for that, do you?"

Tara laughed. "No, probably not, but maybe Giles can send you one from England. You and Anya meeting at the Magic Box?"

Willow shook her head. "The shop hasn’t quite recovered yet from my last visit. Her apartment."

"Okay," Tara said. "I’ll lend a hand."

Willow noticed that Tara’s blouse was torn in several places and pulled it up to look for more wounds. Tara stopped her by placing her hands on Willow’s.

"I’m not hurt, Willow," she said. "I’m hungry. Let’s go hunt."

"No," she said, a worm of fear crawling through her gut. "I can’t, Tara."

Tara smiled into Willow’s eyes and gently squeezed the redhead’s hands. "You can. I know you can."

"Tara…" Willow began, but stopped as Tara opened herself up to Willow’s senses through the connection they shared. Willow was filled with Tara’s hunger and her vision clouded red with desire.

"Oh gods, please Tara. Don’t do this to me," Willow begged.

"It’s okay, Willow," Tara said and stood up, guiding Willow to her feet. She moved to the armoire and quickly removed her torn blouse and replacing it with a fresh shirt. She led Willow up the stairs and grabbed both their jackets.

"Come on, sweetie," she said as Willow dumbly followed her, Tara’s hunger blinding her to all sensibility. "This is going to be fun!"

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

 Two figures made their way through the darkened streets of Sunnydale. Willow noted they were in what passed for the city’s red light district where vampires and demons blended easily with drug dealers, prostitutes and their pimps. Willow, giving in to the hunger filling her senses, was amused at Tara’s easy confidence as she sought out her prey—human Tara would have rushed to her destination, not even stopping to look around. Willow, of course, was intimately familiar with the area from her visits to Rack.

As if reading her mind, Tara asked, "That magic dealer still around, Willow? I’d like to talk to him about daring to touch what’s mine."

Willow smirked at the low growl in Tara’s voice. "Afraid not, baby. Rack couldn’t handle a little taste of his own medicine. Of course, I really didn’t give him a choice on how much he willing to give."

"Gods," Tara mused. "What I wouldn’t give to have been there. I’ll bet it was delicious. How about rat girl? You do her, too?"

Willow shook her head, her attention drawn to an arguing couple a half a block away. A skinny, greasy man dressed in black jeans, pointy-toed boots and a dirty black and white shirt unbuttoned to reveal a gone to gray wife-beater underneath was holding tight to the arm of an equally thin girl no more than seventeen years old. She was clad only in a thin cotton dress that barely reached the tops of her thighs and a pair of pink stilettos. Willow could see the outlines of her erect nipples through the thin cotton and guessed it was caused by the cold night and not from the attentions of the man.

Tara followed Willow’s gaze and gave a little smirk as the man pushed the girl into an alley off of the street. She slipped her hand into Willow’s and said, "Let’s go."

Tara took her time leading Willow into the alley. For Willow, the journey seemed to take forever, the narrow opening of the alley looming larger and larger in her sight as if it was a doorway into hell. Part of Willow’s mind screamed at her to stop this madness, stake Tara now and try to gather up the shreds of her former life, but Willow knew she was way beyond stopping now. Not after Warren, not after Tara’s family. With Tara’s hunger pulsating inside her and enflaming her desire, Willow knew she wanted this to happen. And it would.

The vampire and the sorceress moved into the alley and Willow heard the sound of flesh striking flesh, the noise muted as if it were being played underwater. She watched as the girl fell to the ground at the man’s feet, blood pouring down her chin from her split lip. Willow breathed a small sigh of relief. At least he had just made it a little bit easier for her.

"Get up, you lazy bitch!" he growled at the girl, and lifted her to her feet and slammed her against the wall. The girl cried out as the rough texture of the bricks of the building cut through her thin dress.

"Let her go," Willow said, her voice soft, yet commanding.

The man turned to Willow and Tara, a snarl on his face as he assessed the potential threat. Dismissing the newcomers, he replied, "Go away, little girls. This is none of your business."

Tara laughed. "Only partly right, scum. She’s not our business. You are."

The man roughly pushed the girl back to the ground as he turned towards Willow and Tara. "And what business can you two dykes possibly have with me?" he sneered.

As the vampire approached the man, Tara morphed into her demon face. "Oh, maybe dinner?" she growled and reached for the man before he could even scream.

Willow closed her eyes and leaned up against the brick wall as Tara’s fangs attached to the man’s jugular and began sucking with a greedy passion. Willow, her breathing erratic, pushed down the sensation of nausea that followed Tara’s first taste of blood and instead concentrated on the desire building within her lover with each luscious drop. After a moment, Willow was able to smile. Tara was right; it was similar to a five-course meal at a posh restaurant.

While Tara finished draining the man, Willow gained enough self-control to finally check on the girl still weeping on the ground. Willow laid a hand on the girl’s shoulder and shook her gently to get her attention.

"Hey," she said softly. "You okay?"

The girl finally turned her reddened eyes towards Willow. Willow scowled at the darkening bruise swelling up on the girl’s cheek.

"I don’t…" she began in a squeaky voice. "Where’s Bobby?"

Willow glanced over her shoulder and saw Tara roll the man’s body into a garbage dumpster and drop the lid down with a crash. The girl jumped at the sound.

"Don’t worry about Bobby," Willow assured the girl. "He won’t bother you again. Do you have anywhere to go?"

"No," the girl said. "Bobby said if I was good enough he’d let me stay with him, but I don’t know where he lives."

Willow dug into her pocket and pulled out some bills. "Here," she said, handing the girl the money. "This should be enough to get you out of town. Trust me when I tell you that if you stay here, you’ll end up dead or worse."

"But where would I go?" the girl asked, clutching the bills awkwardly in her hand as if she was unused to the feel of currency.

"Go to L.A.," Willow told her, helping the girl to her feet. "Head for a place called Angel Investigations and tell Angel that Red sent you. He’ll help you."

Willow walked over to Tara who was leaning up against the dumpster, one boot resting against the cold metal and both arms crossed over her chest. Together they watched as the girl hurried from the alley. "Think she’ll make it?" Willow asked Tara.

Tara shrugged, not caring one way or the other. "Are you done being the Good Samaritan? The night’s still young and I want to play."

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

Willow had only been to the Red Oyster, Sunnydale’s closest approximation to a gay bar a couple of times and then only after Tara had left her. The first time was not long after Tara left, but before she quit using the magic. The club was darker than the Bronze, the music loud and sultry. It was as if the entire atmosphere encouraged secret rendezvous’. Willow, trying to pretend Tara’s departure was only temporary, left after only a few minutes.

Tara pulled Willow through the unadorned entrance, through the darkened hallway and onto the dance floor. Wrapping herself around Willow, Tara pressed her lips against the pulse in Willow’s neck, gently sucking the spot until Willow moaned in desire. Willow pulled Tara close, their bodies moving in time to the provocative song playing from the sound system. Tara, warm and flushed with the fresh hot blood coursing through her veins, allowed her hands to travel down Willow’s back, until they reached the soft swell of Willow’s behind.

 "Why did we never come here before?" Tara asked, releasing Willow’s skin with a small nip. "It’s more private than the Bronze and the music’s better."

Willow quirked one eyebrow upwards as she smirked at her lover. "And how often did I ask you to go with me?"

Tara chuckled. "You’ve been here before, haven’t you? Without me?"

Willow nodded, a small blush appearing on her face that Tara’s senses noted even in the dim light.

"Meet anyone?" she asked Willow, a half smirk on her lips.

Willow nodded again, remembering the encounter. It was on her second visit that a beautiful black haired woman approached her as Willow was heading down the dim passageway after using the restroom. Willow, her heart aching for Tara, first danced with the woman and then allowed herself to be led to one of the private rooms in the back of the club. After that, Willow didn’t return while she was trying to kick her dark magic addiction.

Willow related the story and then awkwardly began to apologize before Tara interrupted her with a finger on the lips. "Don’t be sorry, Willow. Don’t ever be sorry for wanting that, from me or anyone else. Next to blood, sex is the most important ingredient of life. Without blood and without sex, there is no life. Enjoy it, Willow. Revel in it." Tara pulled Willow’s head close to her own and whispered in the redhead’s ear, "Experience it."

Tara released Willow and slowly walked off the dance floor, a predator stalking her prey. Willow stood there, not moving, as she watched Tara move up to a blonde standing by the wall. Willow realized through their connection that the woman had been watching them as they danced and Tara had been aware of it. Tara leaned in and after a brief exchange of words guided the woman to where Willow was standing.

Tara’s eyes were sparkling as she said, "Jen, this is Willow."

Willow tilted her head to one side and took a long look up and down the blonde’s petite body, the obvious resemblance to the Slayer quickening her pulse with desire. Willow’s sense of time seemed to slow as the music segued into another even more provocative and erotic rhythm. Moving behind the blonde, she placed a gentle hand on the other woman’s waist and lightly brushed her body against the other’s as she moved around again to her front. Jen’s eyes closed as Willow stepped closer, tightening her grip around the woman’s waist as her other arm encircled it.

"Jen," Willow whispered into her ear, her warm breath tickling the blonde hair. She could feel the woman shiver at the contact. "Are you ready for the most dangerous night of your life?"

Jen nodded as she rested her arms on Willow’s shoulders and they began moving to the music together. Willow, her eyes closed, could feel Tara moving around them both as they danced, touching and stroking each woman until Jen moaned in pleasure, pulling Willow’s head closer as Willow nibbled on her earlobe.

"I want you," Jen whispered and Willow laughed softly in her ear. Willow raised her head to look into Tara’s eyes. The vampire was standing behind Jen and smiled at the blonde’s statement.

"Come with us," Tara whispered in Jen’s other ear.

The vampire led the way through the club past the swaying couples on the dance floor to a dark room where couples swayed to music of a different tune. Tara’s sharp eyes picked out a spot in the corner and pressed her back to the wall as she turned around to the other two, her eyes peeking darkly through her loose hair and a wicked grin shining on her face in the dim light.

Willow took Jen by the shoulders and turned the woman around, pressing the blonde’s back against Tara as she moved in and claimed the woman by the lips, her weight pushing Jen into Tara’s hard softness, her body moving sensuously over the blonde’s. After a few minutes, Willow finally broke the kiss and leaned her torso back while pressing her hips forward, slowly grinding, firm and insistent. With quick fingers, Willow unbuttoned Jen’s blouse, revealing a dark silk bra that Willow pushed out of her way as she took a nipple in her mouth, one hand moving behind the blonde to caress Tara’s cheek.

When she felt Tara’s hands move past the woman’s hips to the opening of her pants Willow gave her lover more room as the vampire slowly pushed the jeans and undergarment down. Willow could feel the woman’s damp desire on her own thigh even through the thick fabric of her jeans as she moved in again, hardening the muscles in her leg and pushing inwards and upwards until the girl gasped in pleasure.

Willow moved one hand between their bodies, allowing her fingers to tease their way past damp curls. She let go of Jen’s nipple and looked up into Tara’s eyes, wanting to see the desire and need flaring at her through the darkness. She wanted to see how this made Tara feel and she let out a little moan as she felt the vampire’s hunger for blood building again. As she ran her fingers through the girl’s wetness that came out to meet her, Willow whispered in the woman’s ear, "She won’t hurt you. Don’t panic. Just relax."

Jen sighed her submission, unable to speak past the sensations riding through her body like a wave. As Willow plunged her fingers deep inside, Tara sank her fangs into the woman’s neck. Jen gasped at the dual shock of pleasure and pain and threw back her head against Tara’s shoulder and pulled Willow closer, her hips moving rhythmically to match Willow’s thrusts.

As Tara drank, Willow could feel the woman’s accelerated heartbeat pulse through her, quickening as she approached orgasm. Willow pressed her palm against Jen’s center as she continued to move, her fingers rubbing over ridged muscles that were beginning to tighten around her. Willow moved her other hand through Tara’s hair in a caress, prepared to pull the vampire away if she lost control, but trusting Tara to keep the promise she made to Jen. Then she lost herself in Tara as the vampire threw open the connection between them and Willow was drowning in the vampire’s own sea of emotions.

Willow felt the intimate contact Tara had with the woman pressed between them, a contact more intimate than her own as she rode Jen through her climax. Tara was drinking, not only the woman’s blood, but also she was consuming her life, her pleasure, her desire. Willow’s hips ground tightly against Jen as her own orgasm ripped through her body and Willow could feel Tara’s pleasure matching her own.

Willow waited until her breathing slowed, her head weakly resting against Jen’s shoulder. Willow could feel Jen’s pulse through her fingers still inside the woman and was reassured at the strong beat. After another moment, she looked up into Tara’s eyes. The vampire, a small drop of blood trickling down her chin, was grinning at her. Willow leaned forward and licked Tara clean before moving in for a searing kiss.

A moan from Jen interrupted the kiss and Willow slowly moved back, disengaging their bodies. Willow helped Jen straighten her clothing before giving the woman a deep kiss. Tara once again pressed in from behind and crossed both arms around the woman in an intimate hug as she whispered, "Go home now. Remember this night with pleasure as if it were only a dream."

Willow’s skin crackled pleasurably with the release of Tara’s magic as Jen moved away from the couple in a daze and disappeared into the club. Willow slid her arm around her lover and leaned against the vampire. "Let’s go, baby," she said. "I feel the need to have you all to myself right now."

Tara nodded her agreement and they left the club.

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

Anya spun the yellowing book towards Willow and pointed to the page. "Well, there’s your spell, Willow. Seems simple enough for someone of your skill level."

Willow pushed her own book aside and quickly read through the spell. Tara read over Willow’s shoulder. The three had spent the morning and most of the afternoon pouring over books with Willow occasionally making a foray onto the Internet to cross check a reference.

"I can’t do this spell." Willow dismissed, pushing the book away. "We’ll have to find something else."

Tara looked at her in confusion. "Why can’t you do it?"

Willow looked back at her. "It’s dark magic, Tara. I can’t do dark magic."

Anya looked stunned and Tara let out a short bark of laughter. "What the hell kind of magic caused this mess in the first place? Because I’m sure it wasn’t a simple Tinkerbell spell."

"It was dark magic," Willow agreed. "But it was an accident. If I do this spell, I’d be calling on the dark forces deliberately. I can’t risk it, Tara."

"You have to, Willow," Anya said. "We’ve been searching all day and this is the best we’ve come up with. You’re the only one experienced enough to cast this spell. Tara can’t do it…she might be a demon now, but I don’t think she has the power needed to close this portal." She turned to Tara. "No offense."

"None taken," Tara shrugged. "She’s right, Willow," Tara added. "Most of my spells were for protection and healing. You were the only one of us who dared to explore the dark arts. It’s going to take a while before I can cast a spell of this level. You have to do it."

"I can’t!" Willow said, her voice rising in anger as she stood up from the table and paced into the living room. "And I can’t believe you’re doing this to me, Tara. You were the one who faced down Anya and the others when they wanted me to do magic at that party."

Tara gave Anya a wry smile, "See how quickly she forgets?"

Willow rolled her eyes, "Ok, fine! You’re evil now, I’m evil now, Anya’s evil now, we’re all evil now, but that doesn’t mean that we have to give in to it. If I cast this spell, I’ll be tempted to do another spell and then another until we’ll have yet another apocalypse on our hands. Did you forget the last one we faced, Anya? You were there—was it that much fun watching the world end?"

"No, it wasn’t fun!" Anya shot back. "You ruined my livelihood in the process! But think for a moment Willow. Use that great brain of yours. The main reason you lost control before was because Tara died. She was your control, Willow. Before you met her, your spells only worked half the time, but afterwards you were able to finally gain control and your power grew. When Glory took her mind you lost that control and embraced the dark and after she was back you continued to grow in power until even she couldn’t control you anymore. How you managed to beat it, I’ll never know, but you did and that should prove to you that you could master it now and not bring on another apocalypse."

Willow looked at Tara who stood near the vengeance demon, a half-smirk on her face. "And now I’m back, Willow. As fun as it would be to watch, I don’t think you’ll lose control again. In fact, you’ve done a damn fine job of it since I’ve been back, no matter how much I’ve tempted you."

Willow walked over the window and peered through the blinds. She looked out at the peaceful street in front of Anya’s apartment and wondered when this nightmare would end.

"Look Willow," Anya said, waving a map she pulled from the table. Willow had retrieved the recent disturbed graves reports from the Sunnydale P.D.’s computer and marked the locations on the map. The reports originated from the cemetery Tara had been buried in and seemed to be moving outward to the cemeteries closest to it in an ever-widening circle. "Pretty soon all of the cemeteries in Sunnydale will be coughing up zombie vampires. Do you really think it’ll stop after Sunnydale is free of corpses?"

Willow sighed, "No."

"No," Anya emphasized. "I doubt it will, either. It’ll keep spreading outward until eventually you won’t need to lose yourself into the black magic to cause an apocalypse. It’ll happen just fine without you since you’ve already brought it on."

Tara walked over to Willow and laid a hand on the redhead’s shoulder. "You need to do this, Willow."

Willow turned form the window and looked into her lover’s eyes. "Tara…I’m afraid," she whispered.

Tara nodded, "I know you are. But I’ll be there and I’ll help you."

A knock on the door startled all three women. Tara quickly moved to the bedroom and gently closed the door. Anya opened the front door to reveal a haggard-looking Xander.

Xander stepped into the apartment and looked first at Anya and then at Willow.

"Willow," he said. "I’ve been looking for you all day."

Willow felt her stomach drop with fear. "What’s wrong?"

"Dawn got hurt last night. Buffy’s with her at the hospital."

"What happened?" Anya asked. "Is Dawn alright?"

Xander nodded, "She’ll be alright, thank goodness. Got kicked down by one of those creepy vamps and knocked her head on a tombstone. She was unconscious for a long while and has a pretty good concussion. They’re holding her for observation."

"Oh god," Willow whispered, her worst fear realized.

Anya looked at Willow, a stern expression on her face. "Well Willow, does this change your mind?"

Xander looked between the two women. "What? What’s going on?"

Willow filled her lungs with air and turned to her friend, "We’ve been working on this all day, Xander. We have a solution. It’s not easy, but I can do it."

"Well good," he said. "Buffy will be happy to hear that. Let’s go."

"Xander, wait for me downstairs, please," Willow said. "I just need to talk with Anya for a minute."

Xander looked confused and slightly hurt, but he nodded and left the apartment.

Tara came out of the bedroom, her heightened hearing picking up the conversation. She looked at Willow with concern. "Are you okay, sweetie?"

Willow nodded, "Dawn will be fine, we’ve all taken more than a few lumps in our day. I’m just sorry she got hurt again because of me. You two are right, I need to close the portal tonight. Anya, can you gather the supplies and meet us at Tara’s grave? I’ll need your help holding the circle."

"Sure, if I don’t get called away for vengeance, but if I do I’ll make sure to have the supplies there."

"Thank you," Willow said and turned to Tara. "Tara, I want you to go to the crypt and stay there. No hunting tonight. There’s plenty of blood for you in the fridge. Watch television, read a book, do your hair, anything, but stay in. Don’t come out until I get you."

"What?" Tara protested. "I will not! Willow, you need me."

"Maybe, but we can’t risk it. If you’re there, you could get pulled into the portal when it closes and goddess knows where or in what kind of dimension you’d end up in."

"She’s right, Tara," Anya said. "Besides, if Buffy’s there, she’ll stake you."

Tara ignored Anya and looked into Willow’s eyes, "Willow, I want…I need to be there for you. This is dangerous. If I’m not there to protect you…"

"Tara, no." Willow was firm. "Stay in the crypt. I’ll do this without you."

Tara was about to protest further, but stopped when she saw the look in Willow’s face. Her face darkened in anger and she stalked out of the apartment, slamming the door behind her.

Willow closed her eyes for a moment and then thanked Anya again.

"It’s okay, Willow," she said, laying a comforting hand on Willow’s arm. "Go help Buffy and Dawn."

Willow nodded and left the apartment, closing the door softly behind her.

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

By the time Xander and Willow reached the hospital, Buffy and Dawn were nearly ready to leave. Dawn, a stark white bandage covering part of her head, was eager to get home; like all of the Scoobies, she hated the hospital. Willow explained the spell in cryptic detail to the Slayer on the drive back to the Summers house.

"So I just need to keep the vamps away from you and Anya while you cast the spell? That’s it?" Buffy asked, trying to formulate the plan in her mind.

"In a nutshell," Willow replied, studying the spell from the book she had taken from Anya’s.

"What makes you think they’ll go for you and Anya?"

Willow tried to think quickly. "Uh…they’ll probably zoom in on the energy we’ll raise to close the portal and try to stop it."

Buffy looked skeptical, but nodded as Xander pulled into the driveway. "Alright. Xander I need you to stay with Dawn tonight, make sure she stays safe."

"Buffy, I can take care of myself!" Dawn protested, trying to look indignant, but wincing through the pain in her head.

The Slayer took a deep breath in an obvious attempt to control herself. "I know you can, Dawn, but the doctor said you need to sleep tonight and you can’t protect yourself while you’re sleeping."

The teenager frowned at her sister’s explanation, trying to find someway to protest, but couldn’t since Buffy had just complimented her. She nodded then watched in amusement as Xander jumped out of the car to open her door and give her a gallant hand to help her from the car.

"My lady," he said and Dawn giggled.

"Willow, I think you should get a couple of hours rest before we head out. You look tired. I’m going to try to find Spike and see if he’s lucid enough to lend a hand."

Willow nodded and turned to enter the house, feeling the exhaustion wash over her as she slowly made her way up the stairs to her room.

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

The cemetery was silent as Willow made her way alone past the empty graves to where the soft whisper of candlelight glowed in the darkness. Anya had already begun the preparations. A nine-foot diameter circle of woven cords surrounded Tara’s headstone and a small white altar cloth was laid out in front. Two candles, one silver and one gold, cast the engraved letters of Tara’s name in flickering light.

"You can come in," Anya said. "It’s not cast yet."

Willow stepped forward and knelt before the altar where she would close the portal. She traced the words on the stone with one hand and felt grief for her lost lover. She thought of what was waiting for her in a crypt, the vampire who had struggled into existence beneath this cold stone and Willow’s heart wept again for all that they had lost. It was time to let Tara go, time to bury her again and accept the existence of the demon that wore her face. Willow knew what she felt for the vampire was as diametrically different than what she had felt for Tara, but it was just as strong and could not be denied.

"Where’s Buffy?" Anya asked, interrupting Willow’s reverie.

"We ran into a group of vamps on the way here. Spike’s with her and Buffy told me to go on. The vamps will lead them here so we need to get started."

Anya agreed and began to cast the circle as Willow closed her eyes and began to meditate, reaching inside herself to draw upon her power. She could feel the Earth beneath her feet, clean and pure, but also tinged with darkness and danger, especially this close to the Hellmouth where the evil was stirring from below.

She expanded her senses even further and felt her mind shift into another place. Opening her eyes, she saw the world was tinged a vibrant red. Willow recognized the color from her dream. Willow looked around the circle and could see Anya kneeling in the quarter opposite from the headstone, chanting in concentration as she maintained the circle.

Willow looked beyond the headstone and saw the source of her problems. There, outlined with bright fire was the portal. As Willow watched, a black wisp of vapor sped out of the portal and into her world seeking a corpse to animate. It was time to close the door.

Willow began the incantation, feeling the power rise up in her. She knew without having to look that her eyes had turned black. The forces she needed to call on to close the portal were the same as those she had called on to open it. Only this time, she had to willingly allow the darkness inside her and as much as it sickened her, to Willow it also was a drug. She could feel it rushing through her veins, bulging them outward with a surge of power. Willow could feel the magic in every cell of her body, she could feel it moving through her, feeding her and consuming her.

Willow faced the portal and thrust both hands towards it, vermilion energy bursting forth and hitting it with a surge of power. Willow felt the heat on her skin as her hair blew in the backrush. As her power poured through the door, it began to tighten, to shrink in on itself. More wisps rushed through the opening, frantically seeking entrance. Willow grinned at their efforts.

Willow chanted the arcane words, pouring more into the spell, calling upon energies she hadn’t tapped into since she stood on Kingman’s Bluff. She realized that when she had opened the portal, she had tapped into the Slayer’s borrowed power and for the first time since beginning the spell, she was fearful she might not be strong enough to finish. Dimly through the scarlet haze she could hear the sounds of fighting and realized that her children had reached her.

Willow tapped the last of her inner strength and was dismayed to see the portal still open. Desperately, she reached to the Earth below her and felt for the darkness breeding there. Throwing back her head, feeling her throat contract from the force of the scream that burst from it, she felt her spirit dive into the blackness, felt the evil reaching for her, trying to claim her. With only the force of her will to support her, Willow claimed the blackness for herself, reached for it, turned it and made it her own.

With a final burst of power, Willow flung the tapped energy into the portal, sealing it shut with a blast that radiated outward. Only Willow remained standing and she looked around, realizing she was back completely within her reality. She saw that everything outside the circle was toppled over, tombstones and trees alike. Probing her senses outward, she could tell that the damage did not extend beyond the cemetery. She saw the Slayer and Spike picking themselves up off the ground and looking around in confusion. Willow realized that with the last of her power she had destroyed the remaining zombie vampires.

"Nice work, Willow," Anya said as she stood up and opened the circle. "Now if you don’t mind, I’ll be leaving." With a wave of her arms, the vengeance demon teleported away.

Willow slumped to the ground in exhaustion. Buffy kneeled in front of her friend, dismayed to see her friend’s black hair, something she had hoped never to have to see again.

"Willow?"

The sorceress’s head hung down, her hands lying limply in her lap, her breathing ragged. "Willow!" Buffy said more sharply.

"Buffy…" Willow began. "You should have..."

"What Willow?" Buffy asked, taking Willow’s damp, cold hands in her own "What should I have done?"

"Killed...me."

Buffy’s hands tightened in shock, but Willow didn’t even flinch as her bones ground together. Buffy realized what she was doing and let up the pressure, but didn’t release Willow’s hands.

"Why, Willow?" she asked.

Willow took a deep breath, her strength slowly returning. "Evil, Buffy. I’m evil."

Buffy released one hand to tilt Willow’s head up to face her. Buffy was relieved to see the familiar green eyes, the veins already fading from her face and her hair changing. "Willow, you’ve done evil things, but you’re not evil. You just need to control the black magic..."

"No! Not black, not white. It just is. It’s me. I am the magic, Buffy. And I’m evil. I did this."

Buffy looked at her in confusion. "What?"

"This," Willow waved her hand at the destruction surrounding them. "I caused this. The zombie-vamps. I did something...I didn’t mean to do it, but I did...and it opened the portal, it allowed them to be. I created them."

Buffy tried to think past the confusion in her brain. "That’s why they were moving towards you. You’re their..." She stopped as a cold ball of fear filled her gut.

Willow nodded and completed Buffy’s train of thought. "Sire. I’m their sire."

Buffy sat there, stunned, Willow’s revelation cutting through her soul. Even the world of the undead had its rules of order, and the siring of vampires was one of those fundamental rules. Only evil begets evil. And these zombie-vamps, however unusual, were clearly evil. And if Willow was so powerful that she was able to transcend the natural and supernatural laws...Buffy feared to complete the thought and grasped at a straw.

"Willow, you said you did something to open the portal. What did you do?"

Buffy saw the despair in Willow’s eyes replaced with fear.

"Buffy, I didn’t mean to. It just happened! Please! Please don’t hurt…" Willow stopped, her throat closing with terror.

"Willow, I’m not going to hurt you. Tell me what you did." Buffy demanded, but Willow just shook her head.

"Not me," Willow shook her head. "Don’t hurt…"

Buffy interrupted her friend by giving her a rough shake by the shoulders. "Willow! What did you do?"

The redhead slumped forward again, tears breaking through her fear as she sobbed against her friend. "I’m sorry," she cried. "I’m so sorry!"

Buffy hugged her tightly. "Just tell me, Willow," Buffy repeated, softly. "Just tell me what you did."

"She sired me," a familiar voice said from the darkness. Buffy looked up as a figure strolled toward the kneeling pair. Willow stiffened in her arms and Buffy could feel goosebumps crawl their way down her back as her Slayer senses kicked in.

"Oh god," Buffy whispered. "Tara?"

Summary: Willow’s secret is revealed and Buffy must decide what to do.

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

Willow heard the whispered horror in Buffy’s voice as her friend realized what Tara was. She had known from the beginning that this moment would come. As she pushed herself out of the Slayer’s arms she wiped both hands down her wet face, drying it and adding strength to her resolve; the time for tears was over. Now was the time to face the consequences of her actions.

"Tara?" Buffy whispered again as the vampire stepped into the light illuminating the area surrounding her grave.

Willow felt her throat tighten with a combination of love and desire as she focused on her vampire. Tara was dressed much as she had been since rising, clothing designed to accentuate the voluptuous body the old Tara usually tried to hide. This Tara had nothing to hide and even her posture spoke volumes—hands tucked playfully in her back pants pockets, elbows swinging freely as if she didn’t have a care in the world, but her torso was held with confidence and her long blond hair swung free.

But it was Tara’s face that told all, her lips blood red and rich and full of danger, tilted up in a smirk that only Tara could pull off and her eyes full of dark humor as she looked at the Slayer. Willow realized that Tara’s quirky sense of humor that no one seemed to understand had turned into a dark hilarity in the vampire. Glancing at Buffy, Willow could see that her friend understood it all too well.

"Willow," Buffy said, standing up and putting herself in a defensive posture. Tara stopped near Willow and faced the Slayer, looking at her with a curious expression on her face.

"Willow," Buffy repeated. "What did you do?"

Willow pushed at the ground and tried to stand up, but lacked the strength. Buffy frowned as Tara tenderly reached a hand towards her lover and helped Willow to her feet.

Willow took a fortifying breath and, leaning against Tara, faced her friend. "I haven’t worked out all the mechanics of it yet, but basically I transmogrified Tara’s body into a vampire and opened the portal to a demon dimension that allowed a demon essence to animate the body. It’s basically the same as when a normal vampire is sired, except that I created her body. She’s a vampire in every way. I even share the same connection with her as her sire."

Buffy blinked, trying to absorb Willow’s babble. "That night you were sick…when I sensed a vampire…it was Tara I felt?"

Willow nodded, a sad look in her eyes as she watched her friend.

"Tara made you sick?" Buffy asked and Willow nodded again, giving Buffy time to come to her own conclusions. When Buffy’s confusion changed to a grimace of disgust, Willow sighed.

"I feel it when she kills, Buffy," Willow said in a soft tone. "I can feel everything she feels as she hunts; the excitement, the bloodlust, the passion and I can taste it as well." Willow held nothing back.

"Oh god," Buffy prayed. "How could you do this, Willow?"

"I didn’t mean to," she sighed again. "I know that’s no excuse, but it’s the truth. It happened during a dream. That night after you juiced me with your Slayer power, I dreamed Tara was a vampire and during the dream I made her one. In the morning I was as exhausted as I am now. I knew something had happened, but didn’t know until after you told me about Tara’s grave."

Buffy gave a short bark of cynical laughter. "You couldn’t dream she was a guardian angel? You had to dream she was a vampire?"

Willow shrugged, "The magic came from me, Buffy. I’m a killer, and so is she."

"Willow, you were a killer," Buffy emphasized. "You’ve worked so hard…" Buffy stopped when she saw the look in Willow’s eye. "Oh," she said in a small voice. "Who?"

Willow stood taller, the rage evident in her voice. "The brother who raped her when she was only seventeen, the father who allowed it to happen." Willow paused, regret clear in her voice. "Her victims since she rose. I’m responsible for them, too."

Buffy looked ill. "Her family? Why, Willow? The human world has laws for dealing with that. It wasn’t your responsibility!"

"The human world?" Willow scoffed. "What does that have to do with reality, Buffy? Tara is my responsibility and I would do what I did to those bastards again if I had to."

Buffy brushed aside the tear running down her face and then slowly reached behind her and pulled a stake from its customary hiding place. "I guess you are a killer, Willow. But I need you right now. I need your magic and I need your power until I know exactly what we’re up against. But I don’t need another vampire. Stand aside. I’ll take care of this." The Slayer jerked her head towards Tara, who just smirked wider.

"No, Buffy," Willow said, stepping between Tara and the Slayer. "I won’t let you stake her. She’s mine."

"I’m not giving you a choice, Willow," Buffy growled. "Stand aside."

"No!" Willow cried. Buffy watched as Willow’s eyes began to turn black and she prepared to strike before Willow had a chance to lash out, but she stopped when Willow’s eyes faded to their normal green.

"Will?" Buffy asked.

"I can’t, Buffy," Willow said, defeated. "I swore not to use magic against you again. I could, but I won’t. Never again. But please, Buffy, don’t kill her. I need her. I love her."

"I’m sorry, Will," Buffy said, the regret in her voice. "I have to."

Tara stepped from behind Willow and faced the Slayer.

"I forgave you, you know," the vampire said to the Slayer.

"What?" Buffy said, confused.

"You asked me not to," Tara shrugged and Willow shivered at the humor in her voice. "You even begged me not to forgive you. But I did."

Recognition dawned in the Slayer’s eyes as she remembered falling to her knees in front of Tara after confessing her sordid affair with Spike. The anger she felt that this creature standing before her now had memories of that moment was nearly overwhelming. "I know," Buffy said softly. "You were the only one who did forgive me. That’s why I have to do this."

"I understand," Tara nodded and jumped aside as Buffy lunged at her.

The Slayer was surprised at the move, not expecting Tara to move so quickly. Tara was a fledgling, newly risen and Buffy expected to plant the stake firmly in her chest. Buffy quickly turned and launched a new attack against the vampire. Tara countered each punch, managing to deflect each thrust of the deadly stake. After a few more rounds, Buffy paused.

"What are you doing?" she asked, backing up and putting space between them.

Tara grinned and spat out a mouthful of blood caused from one of Buffy’s punches. "Defending myself."

"Why aren’t you fighting back?" Buffy said.

"Can’t," Tara said. "My sire ordered me not to hurt you, so I can’t. But that doesn’t mean I’ll just let you stake me. I may be evil, but I’m not crazy."

"You’re different than other vamps," Buffy said, wiping sweat from her brow. "Stronger. Faster. Is it magic?"

Tara shrugged, "Willow’s magic, maybe. She did a good job. I guess my experience as a Scooby paid off as well."

"I’m sorry, Tara," Buffy said. "I can’t let you exist. You know I loved you—as much as I love Willow. Tara would never have wanted this. You’re the opposite of everything she was."

"Yeah, well, nobody’s perfect, Buffy," Tara laughed. "Not even you. I forgave you for loving Spike, how about you return the favor and forgive Willow? And not only for making me, but for everything from before. The trouble with you Scoobies is that you’re all so painfully lacking in forgiveness. Give it a try and I think you’ll be able to face anything."

Buffy nodded, recognizing the wisdom of Tara’s words, knowing they came from the remnants of the personality of the body the demon now inhabited. "Alright," she said finally and then launched herself again towards the vampire.

This time Tara was not expecting the attack so she simply stood there as the Slayer leaped.

"No!" Willow yelled, both combatants having forgotten her presence. Before the Slayer could react, Willow had moved herself between her friend and her lover as the stake came down with deadly precision, penetrating her chest.

Willow felt the point of the stake pierce her skin as the force of Buffy’s blow pushed her against Tara’s hard body. As if in slow motion, Willow felt Tara’s arms catch her and the world tilted as the two of them fell backwards. Willow felt no pain, but she could hear the grating of the wood against her sternum as it moved deeper inside her. She looked up at the stars and as the darkness took her she hoped that the hell dimension she ended up in would at least have stars so she could on occasion see them.

Buffy looked on in horror at her best friend lying on top of the vampire. Ever since that night Faith accidentally killed the deputy mayor, Buffy had lived in fear that one day she too would stake a human, but in all of her nightmares, she’d never thought it would be her best friend.

"Buffy!" Tara said jerking the Slayer out of her shock. "Help me!"

"Tara? Is she…?" Buffy said, kneeling next to the vampire who was now holding Willow’s head in her lap.

"No, not yet," the vampire said, feeling the weak pulse in the redhead’s neck. "But she will be if we don’t do something."

"Ambulance…" Buffy said, trying to look anywhere except the blood welling around the stake in Willow’s chest.

"No time for that," Tara said. "She’s dying, Buffy. Help me."

Buffy looked at Tara. "How?"

"I can heal her," Tara said. "But I don’t have enough power to do it on my own. She told me how you gave her your Slayer strength to help her heal. I need that now."

Buffy hesitated, looking into the vampire’s eyes. All trace of mirth was gone and all Buffy could see was frantic desperation.

"What do I do?" she asked.

Tara placed one hand on Willow’s chest and the other on the stake. "When I pull this out, she’s going to gush. I can smell the arterial blood. We need to close the wound before she loses too much blood."

"How can we do that?" Buffy asked.

"With magic, but it takes time and she may not make it anyway," Tara said.

A thought popped into Buffy’s mind that drove her fear deeper into her gut. "You could stop that though, couldn’t you?" she accused Tara. "Turn her and save her that way."

Tara nodded, "I could Buffy, but I won’t. She hasn’t asked me and I wouldn’t do it unless she did."

"And if she never does?" Buffy asked. "She’ll grow old and die. What then?"

"On the day that Willow dies, so do I. And that day will be today unless you help me, Buffy."

Buffy heard the urgency in her former friend’s voice and nodded. "Do it. Save her. I need her, Tara."

"Me too," Tara whispered and pulled the stake from Willow’s chest.

As Tara had predicted dark blood spurted from the wound. Tara clamped one hand on the wound, slowing the flow. With her other she grabbed Buffy’s hand.

"Place your other hand on top of mine," she said. "And then give me your strength."

Buffy did as Tara told her, closing her eyes as she felt the vampire pulling on her offered power. It was different than when she’d lent her strength to Willow to help her heal the raw wounds from the demon’s attack. Then Willow had softly probed, feeling with her senses the power Buffy had inside her, gently reaching as Buffy allowed it to flow from her. Now, Tara urgently pulled and Buffy could feel her power being extracted from her as if it were flowing as quickly as Willow’s blood. Buffy wanted to protest, to stop the vampire, but she knew if she did Willow would die. A brief thought that she had placed herself in a vulnerable position crossed her mind. If Tara wanted to, she could easily kill the Slayer at this moment.

Buffy’s thoughts faded as she concentrated on helping her friend. She drifted. Only when she felt Tara’s hand slip from hers did she open her eyes.

"How is she," she asked as Tara once again felt Willow’s neck.

"Weak," Tara whispered. "But I think she’ll live."

"I’ll get an ambulance," Buffy said and tried to stand. Only then did she realize how weak she felt. Tara had pulled more out of her than Willow had before.

"Already on its way, luv."

Buffy looked up and saw Spike leaning down to peer at Willow. She had completely forgotten about him.

"Thank you, Spike," Buffy said and looked at Tara. The vampire witch was huddled over her sire, obviously more exhausted than Buffy.

"Are you alright, Tara?" Buffy asked.

"I’ll be fine. Just take care of Willow, please."

Spike looked at the blond vampire curiously and cautiously placed a hand on her chin and gently tilted her head up to face him.

"Well, well. Red’s bird," he said with a smile on his face. "Welcome back, little sister."

Tara smiled at Spike, too worn from her spell to banter with him. ‘Thanks," she finally whispered.

Buffy heard the sound of the ambulance pull up to the cemetery gates. "Spike," she said, finally finding the strength to stand up. "It’ll be dawn soon. You get Tara someplace safe. I’ll go to the hospital with Willow."

"Alright, pet," Spike said, his face momentarily furrowing in confusion. Then it cleared. "I’ll protect her. You take care of the tree."

"Buffy..." Tara began.

"I won’t hurt her."

Tara nodded. "Thank you," she said and finally let go of Willow, still lying unconscious on the cold ground. She allowed Spike to lift her to her feet and lead her away.

Buffy watched them leave and then looked down at Willow.

"Oh Willow," she whispered as the paramedics approached. "What am I going to do with you now?"

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

While Willow was in surgery to repair the damage not healed by Tara’s spell, Buffy called Xander. She tried to protest when he insisted on coming down, but Xander refused to listen. Looking at the clock on the wall, Buffy tried to figure out what time it was in England and then just decided to call anyway.

"Hello?" the familiar voice of her Watcher sounded through the electronic connection overseas.

"Giles," Buffy said, relief the relief evident in her voice. "Oh god, I wish you were here."

"What’s wrong, Buffy?"

"It’s Willow," she said and then stopped, not knowing how to begin.

"Willow?" Giles said, fear tingeing his tone. "Is she alright?"

"No," Buffy said, tears starting to fall, her voice small and scared. Buffy huddled against the pay phone in the hospital waiting room. "She’s in surgery."

"What happened, Buffy?" his tone gentle, yet commanding in his own familiar way.

"I staked her, Giles," Buffy said, a sob escaping her. "I staked Willow."

Giles said nothing as Buffy related the events of the night. Finally, her story exhausted, Giles whispered. "Dear lord!"

Buffy, her tears finally having dried, gave a short laugh. "Dear lord is right. What do I do now, Giles? Finish the job on Willow? Kill my best friend? Turn her in to the police? Not that they could prove anything on her, I’ll bet. I’m sure she didn’t leave any evidence again. Willow knows how to clean up after herself."

"I don’t know what to advise you, Buffy," he said finally. "I didn’t think Willow was able to harness the power required to create a vampire. You said that Willow did it in her sleep after you gave her your power to heal?"

"Yes," Buffy answered.

Giles sighed. "Then I’m afraid you are just as responsible for Tara’s existence as Willow is. Just as you’re responsible for Willow’s life now. I don’t think you can bring yourself to kill her Buffy. Do you?"

"No," Buffy said. "I couldn’t let her bleed to death. I need her, Giles."

"I know," he said. "And from what you’ve said, she needs Tara."

"And Tara is a vampire and she kills," the bitterness in Buffy’s voice was clear.

Giles sighed. "This is not easy for you, Buffy, I know. But the decision is yours and yours alone. You’re the vampire slayer. I can only tell you that all the signs indicate that what’s coming is going to take every resource you can muster. There are rumors among my Council friends that the Council itself is frightened. You can’t do it on your own. You need every ally you have. From the healing spell she cast tonight, it sounds like vampire Tara is just as powerful as human Tara. Probably more so with her supernatural strength."

"Sounds a lot like making deals with the devil," Buffy fumed.

Giles let out a soft chuckle. "And we all know that you’ve never done that before."

Buffy saw Xander and her sister enter the waiting room and hurry over to her. "I’ve got to go Giles, Xander and Dawn are here."

"Very well," Giles said. "Please keep me informed of Willow’s condition. And everything else, for that matter."

Buffy hung up the phone and turned to the waiting pair, dreading having to repeat her story again.

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

Soon after Xander and Dawn arrived at the hospital, the surgeon informed them that Willow was out of danger and resting in recovery. Buffy checked on her still-unconscious friend and then the three of them drove back to the house. Once there, Xander and Dawn listened in stunned silence as Buffy told them about the battle and its conclusion.

"Willow killed Tara’s father and brother?" Xander asked, unable to comprehend.

Buffy nodded.

"Why?" Dawn asked.

Buffy sighed. "She said Donny had raped Tara and Mr. Maclay let it happen."

"Her brother? He raped Tara?" Xander asked. "You mean...before?"

"Before she came to Sunnydale," Buffy nodded.

"Oh god...Tara," Xander whispered. "How could he? She was so sweet, she was the best one of us all."

Dawn, her face hard, said, "I’m glad Willow did it. I’d kill him, too."

"Dawn, please. Let’s not get into this discussion again. What Willow did was wrong," Buffy said.

"No it wasn’t," Dawn retorted. "It was justice. I wish she had let me help her."

"And Tara?" Buffy asked, trying not to be cruel, but failing. "You didn’t see her Dawn. She’s evil. She kills innocent humans to feed off of their blood. Is that the Tara you want back in your life? I don’t think she’s going to be making you any funny shaped pancakes for breakfast tomorrow morning."

"And I suppose you’re the only one who can have a relationship with vampires?" Xander asked. "You almost killed Willow tonight, Buffy. Why didn’t you let her die?"

Buffy felt her guilt returning. "I can’t Xander. I love her. Just like I love you and Dawn. You’re my family and I can’t turn my back on you no matter what you do."

"You said it yourself, Buffy," Dawn said. "Tara is our family, too. You can’t turn your back on her either."

"But she’s a vampire," Buffy protested. "She’s evil."

"If that’s the way you really feel Buffy, then you would have staked Spike a long time ago." Xander said.

Buffy looked at him, the anguish in her face. "Xander..."

Xander shook his head. "I can’t Buffy," he said heading for the door. "I’m going back to the hospital and sit with Willow."

Buffy looked at the closed door.

"I’m going to get some sleep." Dawn said. "I’ll want to see Willow later."

Buffy was left alone with her dark thoughts.

The next morning, Buffy called the hospital to check on Willow’s progress before heading to work at the high school. She was told her friend was resting comfortably and would be released in a few days.

Dawn came home soon after Buffy arrived from work.

"Hey," Dawn said.

"Hey," Buffy replied, pulling open the refrigerator and rummaging around for something to make for supper. "Did you see Willow?"

"Yeah," Dawn said, leaning past her sister to pull out the bag of baby carrots. "She was mostly out of it all day."

"She say anything?"

"Just asked about Tara." Dawn crunched on the vegetable. "I told her that she was okay. That’s true, isn’t it?"

Buffy’s face darkened. "For the moment."

"Yeah, well, the doctors said she’d be pretty doped up at least until tomorrow. Gonna go see her?"

"Maybe," Buffy said. "I have to patrol, though."

"Don’t do it, Buffy," Dawn warned. "It would kill Willow, you know that. I don’t think she could stand losing Tara again."

Buffy looked at her sister. "If she comes here, don’t you invite her in, Dawn."

"This is my house, too!" Dawn protested.

"I mean it, Dawn," Buffy said. "I don’t want her in the house."

Dawn threw down the carrot she was munching on to the floor and stormed from the kitchen.

Buffy, her appetite gone, headed out to patrol.

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

Willow came awake, confusion clouding her brain. She smelled antiseptic and recognized the scent of a hospital. She opened her eyes and looked into the eyes of her oldest friend.

"Xander," she said softly, a pleased tone in her voice. She vaguely remembered speaking with Dawn the day before and knew that all the Scoobies knew about Tara. The fact that Xander was here gave her hope they hadn’t all abandoned her.

"Hey, Will," he said, leaning forward and placing a gentle kiss on her cheek.

"Hi Willow!"

Willow looked into the face of the smiling teenager.

"Dawnie," she said, taking the young girl’s hand and giving it a squeeze. "Thanks for coming."

"Yeah, just Scooby duty, you know."

Willow smiled and looked out the window, seeing the darkness beyond. "Buffy off patrolling?"

Xander shrugged, "Just doing her part to keep the streets of Sunnydale safe from the denizens of the night."

Dawn saw the look of fear in Willow’s eyes. "I’m sure she’s okay, Willow."

Willow gave a ghost of a smile. "She is," she said, instinctively knowing that Dawn was not speaking about her sister.

Xander blinked at the conviction in Willow’s voice. "You can feel her, eh? Just like a sire?"

"I am her sire, Xander," Willow said. Suddenly Willow sat up in the bed, but a twinge of pain from her chest forced her back down.

"You okay, Will?" Xander asked, concerned.

"Thanks for coming, guys, but I think you should go now." Willow said frantically, a look of panic in her face. Dawn frowned at the heart monitor’s increase in tempo.

"We just got here, Willow. No school tomorrow and I already did my homework." Dawn said.

"No, please..." Willow begged.

"Willow? What is it?" Xander asked.

Willow whispered, "She’s here."

"What? Who?" Xander said.

Willow shot a look at her friends as the door flew open and Tara walked into the room. Xander’s face just mirrored shock, but Dawn’s held something else—hope. The teenager turned toward the vampire whose eyes were fixed on the young girl.

"Hi Dawnie," Tara said, moving slowly into the room.

Xander moved to step between Dawn and Tara, but Dawn pushed him aside and moved to hug Tara. Willow caught Tara’s eye as the vampire enveloped the young girl in her arms and gave a small sigh of relief at the expression on Tara’s face. She knew that Tara wouldn’t hurt the girl.

"Will?" Xander said nervously.

"It’s ok, Xander. Tara won’t hurt her. She won’t hurt any of you. You’re safe with her." Willow squeezed her friend’s hand in reassurance.

"Family," Xander whispered, remembering the conversation with Buffy and Dawn the other day.

"Family," Tara repeated and then said, "Isn’t that right, Slayer?"

The three humans in the room looked to the open doorway behind Tara and saw Buffy standing there, a dark expression on her face.

"How are you, Willow?" the Slayer asked looking at the redhead on the bed, ignoring the others in the room.

"I’ve been better," Willow said with a wry grin. "But I should be out of here in a couple of days."

"Good," Buffy said. "I’m sorry I staked you." The regret in her voice was painfully obvious.

"Yeah, well, I guess I deserved it," Willow said.

"Maybe so," Buffy retorted, "But it’s not my job to judge you."

"And Tara?" Willow asked. "That is your job."

"It is," Buffy began, walking into the room. "But as everyone from Giles to these two have pointed out, I can’t have you without her. And frankly Willow, that pisses me off."

Willow managed to look ashamed, but held her tongue, knowing that apologizing would do no good.

"So here’s the deal, Willow," Buffy said, the fire in her eyes. "No more killing. Got it? I don’t care what Tara’s family did to her, what you did to them is inexcusable."

Buffy began to pace the room. "As for Tara, if I catch her while on patrol, I’ll stake her just like any other vamp. If I find out she’s turned someone, I’ll stake her. If she hurts you or anyone else on purpose, I’ll stake her. Got it?"

"Yeah," Willow said, knowing the Slayer was not finished yet.

"If she can help us in a fight, then fine, I’ll fight beside her, but I don’t want her in the house," the Slayer concluded.

"But Buffy…" Dawn protested.

"No, Dawn," Buffy said, finally turning to her sister, still standing next to Tara with the vampire’s arm around her shoulders.

"It’s okay, Dawnie," Tara said, gently squeezing the young girl. "I understand. It’s going to take time before she can trust me."

Buffy nodded. "Very wise for one of the undead," the Slayer said, a small smile gracing her lips.

Tara returned the smile with a smirk and a shrug. "Hey, what can I say, I’m special."

"I’ll move out, Buffy," Willow said from the bed. "I’ll respect your wishes."

"I don’t want you to, Will," Buffy said. "But I did speak to Angel and he’s agreed to let Tara stay in the mansion if she wants. It’s a lot nicer than a crypt and more comfortable."

"Can I keep my room?" Willow asked.

"It’s your home, Willow. You’re always welcome," Buffy said, love and friendship in her tone.

"Thank you, Buffy," Willow replied, a tear slipping down one cheek.

The Slayer turned to her sister. "Dawn, not too late, okay."

"I’ll make sure she gets home, Buff," Xander said.

Buffy nodded. "I need to patrol. See you guys, later," she said and hurried out the door.

"Okay, what the hell was that?" Xander said looking at the door swinging shut.

Willow chuckled, "That was Buffy the forgiving friend rushing out to turn back into Buffy the vampire slayer."

Xander smiled, and then grew serious. "Willow, she’s right about one thing. What you did to Tara’s family was wrong, no matter what they did to her. Please, do me a favor and leave the vengeance stuff to Anya."

Willow nodded, "No more vengeance. And when she hunts, we’ll leave Sunnydale."

"Willow…" Tara protested.

"No Tara," Willow put on her resolve face. "No more killing in Sunnydale. You’ll subsist on bagged blood and we’ll make trips out of town on occasion."

Willow waited for Tara’s response. She knew that she could not stop the vampire from killing, trying to do so would be useless. There were limits to her control over Tara, but as her sire Willow knew that Tara would follow her commands, within reason. Tara was evil, but without evil there would be no good in the world and Willow understood that all things in nature balanced in the end. Tara needed to kill, but with Willow’s guidance perhaps good could come from evil. She’d be a fool to think that would be the case every time or even most of the time, but perhaps in the long run she could learn to live with it. The alternative was to deny Tara her true nature, and in turn, deny herself and that would end up destroying them both.

"You’re no fun," Tara pouted and Willow relaxed, knowing a small victory had been achieved.

"Well, I said no more killing. I didn’t say we couldn’t go to the Big O every now and then," Willow smirked, lightening the mood, but forgetting they had company.

"What?" Xander said, confused. "Where?"

"The Red Oyster," Dawn explained. "It’s a gay bar."

"Dawnie!" Willow said.

Tara gave a hearty laugh. "Wanna join us one night, sweetie?"

"Sure!"

"No!" Willow exclaimed.

"Why not?" Dawn frowned. "How else am I going to learn about life? Besides, I’ve been to the Bronze. Why not the Big O?"

"It’s a gay bar, Dawn," Willow tried to explain.

"So what? I’m strictly dickly, but then again, so were you at my age," Dawn smirked at Willow’s face.

Xander cleared his throat. "Okay, that’s it," he said, taking Dawn’s hand and pulling her towards the door. "Let’s go before I get staked due to guilt by association. I never heard this conversation. Night, Willow. Night, Tara." Dawn squeaked her goodbyes as Xander dragged her out the door.

Tara chuckled as she sat down on Willow’s bed. Gently lifting her sire up, she settled back on the bed, cradling Willow in her arms and softly stroking her red hair.

"Thank you for saving my life," Willow said, running a warm hand up and down the cooler arm holding her.

"Just returning the favor, my love," the vampire whispered.

"You’re a more powerful witch now, Tara," Willow observed. "You could not have done that spell before."

Tara nodded her head in agreement. "Buffy helped. But I am more powerful. I don’t think I’ll ever be as powerful as you though. Even with my demon, I don’t think dark magic will be as easy for me as it is for you."

"Probably not," Willow sighed. "But that’s okay, I think we can make a good team. Tara? Will you join the fight? Can you ally yourself with Buffy to battle evil, even if you are evil?"

"And if I couldn’t?" Tara asked. "What then?"

Willow took a deep breath. "Well, you could leave Sunnydale, there are other places you can go."

"You’d come with me?"

"No," Willow said after a pause. "I have to stay. Buffy believes in me and I won’t let her down. You could stay here, live in the mansion, but not help."

"I could," Tara said. "But I won’t. I can’t stand aside while you put yourself in danger. I’ll do it for you, Willow. I’ll fight by your side, not the Slayer’s. I’ll be there to protect you."

Willow smiled and hugged the arms holding her. "We’ll protect each other."

"Deal," Tara said. "Now, wanna help me find something to drink around here? Gotta be a few terminal patients on the ward."

"Tara!" Willow said, turning around and looking into Tara’s amused face.

"Just kidding, love," Tara laughed, leaning down to kiss Willow passionately on the lips.

Willow returned the kiss, and then lay back in Tara’s arm, exhaustion overcoming her. "You know," she began, but paused to yawn. "Maybe. Just maybe…if you’re really good and when I get better, I just might let you take a little sip of me every now and then."

"Vixen," Tara smiled down at her lover. "That a promise?"

"I said maybe," Willow replied, closing her eyes. "I hear it’s quite an aphrodisiac."

Tara chuckled as she watched Willow fall asleep. "Oh, you have no idea. But you will."

The End

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