_____________________-
Jeanie woke to find the scaly little demon sitting on her chest. She opened her mouth to scream but froze when the four fingered hand was placed against her mouth.
"You know what comes?" the little demon spoke softly. Dawn had yet to come and Anya lay sleeping feet away from them.
Jeanie nodded her head seriously.
"You know what must be done?" Orangi removed her hand.
"Yes" Jean spoke softly her throat dry "I don't like it though"
"I will help. Have friends. We come in many" Orangi sat lower allowing the girl to sit up "I watch over. You fight. We win"
"I hope" Jeanie lay back down.
Orangi climbed off her lap and searched for a place to sleep.
___________________________
"Anya?"
Anya woke slowly, shaking the sleep away and rubbing it from her eyes.
"Anya?"
She came fully away when she realized Jeanie was calling her name.
"Jean? Are you awake? Oh of course you are you're talking" Anya babbled moving to the girl. She touched her forehead and found no fever "Are you okay? You keep scaring us"
"Sorry" Jeanie smiled up at the ex-demon "I'm thirsty"
"Oh I can get you something. Water? Juice? That blue stuff that starts with a K?" Anya smoothed her hands through the tangled brown locks that were so like Xander's.
"The blue stuff" Jean giggled as Anya rushed into the kitchen.
Dawn bounded down the stairs and stopped short when she saw Jean sitting up straight "Jean!"
The little girl held out her arms and hugged the blur that was the slayer's sister.
"Oh my god. You have 'got' to stop doing this to us!" Dawn pulled back and mock glared at Jean "Next time you do one of those psychic things scream okay? This whole going peacefully thing has got to stop"
"Ya know actually this whole 'going' thing has to stop" Xander entered from the stairs. He crossed to the couch and lifted the child into his arms "I can't live like this. Stop scaring me or I'm gonna.."
"Your gonna what?" Jean held on lightly to the surprisingly well muscled arms.
"I'm gonna lock you in a padded room til your 30" Xander hugged her tightly, loosening the hold when he heard her squeak "Protect you from the world and treat you like a china doll"
"But I'm not a china doll" Jean allowed herself to be settled into Xander's arms.
"That's right your not" Xander began to follow Dawn towards the kitchen "Your my..."
"Blue stuff served!" Anya hopped out of the kitchen.
"Oh but you serve HER when she's sick" Xander mock scowled "I'm 'so' mistreated"
"Ya big baby"
_______________________
Tara rolled over and groaned burying her head deep in the pillow.
"The natives are stirring" Willow murmured with a sleepy chuckle.
"Not the two loud natives in the next room" Tara's muffled voice came "They were up late"
"So were we" Willow smoothed her hand down the smooth skin of Tara's back down across her buttocks to the sensitive backs of her thighs.
"Mmmm. Do we have to get up?" Tara spread her legs slightly, inviting Willow to have her way.
The witch was silent for a few moments. "I.." she began trailing her hand up Tara's thighs "..think we're about to have company"
"Hey love birds up and at 'em!" Faith voice rang out into their room. The dark slayer stepped into their doorway "Ok you loud sex fanatics. It's time to rise and shine"
Faith leapt back seconds before the door slammed shut inches from her nose.
"Tara!"
She heard Willow's surprised and laughing voice through the closed door.
"Geez, don't kill the messenger" Faith muttered turning to wake her sister slayer and her 'friend'. She got an idea when Star came bouncing out of Dawn's room.
"Hey sweetpea, feel like waking up the Mommy peoples for me?" Faith hunkered down to the little girls level.
"I'm 4 not stupid" Star rolled her eyes "But since your 'such' a chicken"
Faith placed a hand over her heart as if it pained her to be found out "Chicken is such a strong word"
"Your a wuss then" Star smirked.
"Chicken will do nicely" Faith stuck out her tongue and headed down stairs.
Star pushed open the door to Buffy's room and hurtled inside, bounding from the doorway to the bed in less than 5 steps 'MAMA, MAMA!! Faith wants me to wake you up"
Buffy jumped sitting up straight and catching the child before she could move on to Hyatt.
"I'm up!" Buffy kissed the tangled hair "Now you go tell Auntie Faith that I'm gonna kick her butt later"
"Ok!" Star vanished from the room as quickly as she appeared. Then knocked on the next door.
"Tara? Willow? Anyone alive in there?" Star's voice turned sweet as it tended to do when she wanted the two witches attention.
"Barely" Willow muttered "Come on in baby"
Star calmly pushed the door open and peeked in.
Willow had Tara's head in her lap, stroking the soft blonde hair of her lover.
Star walked to the bed pressing good morning kisses into both witches cheeks "I'm gonna go see what's for breakfast" she rushed from the room just as Xander came up the stairs.
Lifting a leg, which Star ducked beneath, they avoided colliding "Slow down Star, your gonna kill something"
Xander stood in the space between the two rooms "RISE AND..."
"We're up!" Buffy, Tara and Willow's voices cut him off in unison.
"Okay"
_________________________
Twenty minutes passed before the four women found themselves showered dressed and downstairs.
Giles had appeared minutes after Xanders aborted wake up call, a tad excited about information he'd gathered.
"Giles so good to see you so perky this....morning" Buffy grumbled sitting down to a hot cup of coffee.
"Well yes. I found out something new about the Vivione Kadesh" pushing the untouched toast from the before the slayer (which Faith promptly grabbed and ate herself) he set down a book.
Willow leaned closer to the slayer and the both peered down into the text.
"Giles we knew this already" Buffy pushed the book away and slumped in her chair sighing "What's so new about it?"
"We have an exact date" Willow pointed to the ancient fine print "What they're doing. Well trying to open the hellmouth like every other evil doofus has. It's gonna take 2 days to do it"
"But this is still two months away right?" Buffy shrugged "No biggie, we'll have it beat by then"
The phone range bringing all their attention off the text.
Dawn go to it first "Hello? Oh Hi Cordelia...where? Okay" she handed the phone to Buffy.
"Hey Cordy what's.... oh....now?" Buffy frowned and looked at the people surrounding her.
Willow felt a shadow pass over them all at the look on Buffy's face.
"Yeah. About 20 minutes. At the Magic Box... ok. I'll see you then" she hung up "The re-enforcements are here"
"Oh that's good right?" Mycah yawned and stretched bumping into Faith "More help for us right?"
"Yeah. Buffy said with false cheer "It's great"
______________________________________
The crew split up. Buffy, Willow, Giles, Xander, Mycah and Anya heading to the Magic Box, while Tara, Faith, Hyatt and Dawn took the kids shopping.
"Why do I have the distinct feeling that Buffy doesn't want us there right now?" Hyatt questioned no on in particular.
"Maybe because she flat out refused you staying and asked for Mycah?" Faith spoke as she idly tossed her pocket knife, catching it with a swift hand.
"I'd say that would about do it" Dawn nodded "Shouldn't we be Malling by now?" she was squirming anxiously as they climbed out of the car.
"Can we go to the Toy Store?" Star bounced around dragging Tara's arm with her.
"Yeah" Kole chimed in "Toy Store!"
Faith scooped the little bundle of energy into her arms "Yeah Hyatt. That would be wicked cool"
Hyatt rolled her eyes at the slayer and they filed into the Mall.
"We're supposed to be shopping for clothes for Jeanie" Tara reminded them.
Jean walked between Hyatt and Tara, both of them ready to support her should she trip or collapse. They were taking no chances, having become fond of the little girl, no one was in a hurry to lose her.
________________________________
Buffy paced the Magick Box. Unsure if she were glad to see Angel, or dreading it.
"Stop pacing your making 'me' nervous" Anya complained taking a seat next to Xander at the table "When your boy toy gets here he'll get here"
"He's not my boy toy" Buffy squealed nervously "Not anymore"
Everyone jumped when the first clap of thunder boomed, seemingly above their heads.
"It's not supposed to rain in Sunnydale" Willow hugged herself wishing that Tara were here in her arms not out shopping "It's supposed to be Sunny and Warm, not a Cloud in the sky"
"This could be a sign. Maybe they've achieved another part of opening the Hellmouth" Anya played absently with her fingers "Rain is always good in foreshadowing a coming doom"
"Gee Thanks Anya now I'm sure we 'all' feel much better" Mycah sent the ex-demon a look that could melt metal "I know it's true, but you don't have to bring it up at the most depressing times"
"Why not" Willow scowled "She's good at that"
"Well yes. Now ladies please stop bickering it's getting us nowhere. And Buffy, stop pacing your making 'me' dizzy 'and' nervous" Giles walked through the stacks of the store without looking up. He somehow managed not to run into anything, though his eyes never left the book.
Buffy stopped pacing but continued standing. Wrapping her arms around herself, she prayed she was ready to see Angel. And ready for Angel to see...her.
Cordelia walked through the door with a thin brunette in tow "Hey people. Backup has arrived. Funky weather today ain't it?"
The little brunette behind her glanced around the shop quickly before casting her eyes to the floor.
'She reminds me of Willow' Buffy smiled to herself.
Madison came in next followed by Wesley and an attractive black man.
"You guys know Wes. And this is Gunn" Cordelia introduced them as they all entered the door "Oh and this is Fred. She's kinda shy, but she grows on ya" Cordy patted the thin girls shoulder "She's also kinda smart"
"So.. She's like Angels Willow" Xander nodded glad to be the first Scooby to say 'something' to the newcomer's at all "I gotcha"
"Xander" the women at the table chorused.
"Yes Xander" Giles set the book down "Do shut up"
Fred chuckled.
"Does it usually rain here?"
All the Scoobies froze, except Anya, at the sound of Angel's voice.
"No just lately. I think it's a bad sign" Anya nodded to herself "We're all gonna die"
"Does she 'always' talk like that?" Gunn asked eying the strange woman.
"Unfortunately" Buffy said simply "Maybe you should go count the register Anya. I think customers will start showing up soon. You know the myriad of witches that come in on rainy days"
"Right" Anya shook her head "Witches. Money. Count" standing she crossed to her register.
"They shouldn't call this place Sunnydale" Lorn said entering behind Angel "It's raining cats and dogs"
"Demon!" Willow stood quickly.
"Friend" Madison sat down "I made the same mistake. Got me a brand new asshole for it too"
"He's a demon. Slayers kill demons" Buffy advanced slowly.
"He's a helpful demon" Angel said standing in front of Lorn, block him from Buffy's direct sight.
"Ok so he's a friend" Buffy relaxed back still eying Lorn.
"Yeah. I'm a friendly demon/ lounge singer. And I'm holding a baby" Lorn stepped around his would be protector.
"Where'd you get a baby?" Xander flipped through the text before him trying to act non-challant in the eyes of the pretty boy vamp.
"He's mine" Angel said slowly looking Buffy directly in the eye "This is Connor" he took the baby gently from Lorn's arms "My son"
________________________________
"Are there any prophecies that we don't know about?" Naida stretched her arms above her head.
Kalindi's eyes followed the rippling muscles of the girls abdomen "Uh I know about the Prophecy that could prove our failure" the Master was distracted by the display for long seconds "But I do not believe we have much to worry about"
"And why do you think that?"Naida considered the vampire next to her. The pale cold skin was in contrast with her warmth, and brown coloring.
"Well all the signs point that the four haven't joined. Without them, we are unstoppable" Kalindi spoke confidently "There isn't much time for them to come together anyway. We are weeks away from completion"
"Other's have attempted to open the Hellmouth" Naida rolled from the rumpled and twisted sheets and stood staring down at her reclining Mistress.
"But no they way 'I' am doing it" Kalindi crooked a commanding finger at Naida "Now come back here. I do believe I'm addicted to you"
Naida stepped back knowing what would happen if she disobeyed.
Kalindi sent her shadows forth. Tendril after tendril wrapped the girls form and tugged her forward.
Naida didn't bother to fight. She didn't really want to get away. Collapsing on the bed next to her Mistress, she rolled on top of the vampire "Addicted to me?"
Kalindi trailed her fingers down the girls back, tapering over her ribs and buttocks to the pink beneath "Yes. Hopelessly addicted"
________________________________
Buffy tried to pay attention to the plan. But her eyes kept straying to the pacing Angel and the child in his arms.
Willow noticed her distraction and grasped her friends hand beneath the table, hoping to calm Buffy and keep her from becoming hysterical again.
The slayer had gone off, without a word she'd stood and walked into her training room and proceeding the knock the punching bad from it's hanging.
Willow had followed her worried about her silent exit.
Buffy had turned on the witch and stalked to her menacingly before collapsing in her arms and weeping quietly. When asked she had no reason for her tears.
"..and cover the changes from there. While we will do what we can here, and remember information is of the utmost importance.
"Gotcha Giles" Buffy nodded "So lets get this show on the road. Evil waits for no one"
"Right" Xander nodded "It just kills everyone"
"Xander!" the original scoobies chorused.
"What?" ducking both Anya and Willow's swatting hands Xander couldn't dodge the hard kick the shin that Buffy treated him to "Ow. And okay but it doesn't"
The bell above the door tingled and Faith entered followed closely by Kolby who held onto her hand tightly and spoke to her softly.
"Yeah kid" Faith twirled the girl ballerina style and half lifted half swung her down to the main floor.
Kolby skipped down to her mother while Faith stood unsurely on the front landing. Many eyes in the room had turned on her at her entrance.
Dawn entered next walking penguin with Star balanced on her feet and wrapped around her small waist "Hey guys" Dawn said cheerily not stopping but heading directly into the back training room.
Hyatt and Tara entered last with Jeanie, who was all decked out in her new splendor.
Jaws hit the ground.
"You dressed her goth?" Anya calmly "Did you buy her anything with color in it?"
Jeanie looked down at her clothes "There's red and orange in this!"
Buffy eyed the shirt the little girl had on. It said "Magick Tricks" and sported a little vampire girl with a chainsaw and a kitten "It's kinda..."
"Scary?" Xander finished "Cute but scary. Come here Jean" he waved her over.
"So who are you guys?" Angel asked bouncing the baby gently.
"That's Tara and Hyatt. Girls this is Angel" Giles introduced them as her copied down the layout for their plan.
"I met you at Buffy's funer.." Tara looked at Hyatt and looked away "We've met briefly"
"I never got your name" Angel shrugged a bit "Sorry, things were kinda.."
"Screwy" Willow finished.
Hyatt made an intelligible noise and headed into the training room. Faith was on her heels.
Tara gave Willow a brief kiss and joined the two other girls in the back.
"Vampire's can't have babies. How'd you have a baby?" Anya said into the sudden silence "It's impossible there's nothing actually 'living' in you to make new life"
"Yeah how do you have a son? I mean who'd wanna..." Xander trailed off remember that Buffy 'had'... "You have a son?" Xander asked again needlessly.
"You have a daughter" Angel tilted his head towards Xanders little girl look alike.
Xander and Jean exchanged a nearly identical glance. Two sets of brown brows rose.
"So?" Xander shrugged "She's smart she's sweet and cute to boot"
"Damn skippy" Jean nodded at the surprised vamp.
"Don't say damn" Xander nudged her.
"Sorry" Jeanie pouted a bit.
"Did they get you anything with 'real' color in it though?" Anya interrupted.
"Yes" Jean pouted harder "They even got me a dress. It's blue and frilly, and I'm no wearing it"
"You'll wear it" Buffy corrected "If I have to wear dresses so do you"
Jean huffed but smiled "The slayer in a dress? Now that's worth it"
Buffy gave her a straight stare -which wasn't easy considering everyone was grinning at them both now- and pointed towards the back.
"Right. Let the grown folks talk" Jean walked mock stubborn from the room. She stopped inches from the door "But why does Anya get to stay out here?"
"Jean!" Buffy and Willow laughed.
The little brunette disappeared with a smile.
___________________________
Faith fiddled with the radio, nervous and needing to do something with her hands.
"They didn't greet you" Hyatt nudged the younger slayer "I just noticed that"
"I think most of them try to forget me" Faith tried to shrug it off non-challant. When she gave up on the radio and leaned back she brushed against Hyatt's skin.
"Don't let it bother you so much" Hyatt rubbed her suddenly cold skin "Just remember. Buffy hasn't forgotten you. She knows your here"
"And she's keeping a hawks eye on me" Faith shrugged "I don't really care"
"If you didn't care. It wouldn't kill you so much" Tara joined them leaning against the wall.
Dawn and the two little girls were wrestling on the mats, Jean was egging them on, circling them and calling out encouragement.
"I really don't think.." Faith trailed off when Kolby and Star pulled a move in unison pinning Dawn, who until that moment, had been getting the best of them "Holy fuck. Did you see that?"
"Yeah. They've been trained to defend themselves" Hyatt shrugged.
"In unison like that?" Faith was trying not to act surprised. She just hadn't expected the girls to be so physically strong. She'd noticed earlier when Kolby had nearly pulled her arm from the socket jerking her towards the Mall's indoor play place.
"Yep. Mycah and I can do it too" Hyatt said offhandedly playing with Tara's hair.
Buffy, Giles and Angel entered the room moments later.
"Hyatt do you think Fatima would allow us anymore text?" Giles said in greeting "I think we may need more to go on than that which we already have"
"I can see about it. Want me to go now?" Hyatt pushed herself up. Tara followed close behind brushing off her backside.
"Yes that would be most helpful. I don't want you to feel as if I'm only using you for your library" Giles suddenly thought.
"You 'are' using me for the library" Hyatt stuck out her tongue "But it's okay. Otherwise all those books would just sit there. I'm gonna have to introduce you to Fatima one day"
"Me? Meet an 700 yr old vampire?" Giles cleaned his glasses "My, that would be..."
"Interesting?" Buffy offered.
"Deadly?" Faith chimed.
"Fatima?" Angel questioned "Fatima...Al-Faqadi?"
"One in the same" Hyatt said brushing past him.
Buffy stood in the doorway. Their bodies brushed along each other as Hyatt brushed past her. Buffy didn't meet her eyes, Hyatt stopped and studied the slayer for a long moment.
"Are you okay Buffy?" she asked softly.
Buffy looked into Hyatt's eyes and nodded once slowly "Don't go alone"
"I won't" Hyatt turned back to the room "Faith you wanna come?"
"No. Don't take Faith" Buffy said quickly "Take Tara"
She received strange looks all around.
"Ok.." Hyatt backed away from her as Tara brushed past the slayer as well "We'll be back soon"
"We'll be here most of the night. Xander's coming back to take the kids soon" Buffy called as the two headed out the door "Be safe"
"Always" the two chorused and disappeared.
"Faith can I talk to you?" Buffy asked her fellow slayer.
_________________________
Willow sighed as she came from the over-lay to the main floor. As she ascended she noticed Buffy and Faith speaking privately to each other. Xander and Anya had gone to the hotel that Angel's friends were staying at, dropping them off.
From the incredulous look on Faith's face, Willow was guessing the conversation wasn't all that good.
"B your fucking crazy sometimes" Faith shook her dark head and walked away from the slayer.
"What was that about?" Willow grabbed Buffy's hand when the slayer turned away from her "No Buffy your acting strange. What's wrong?"
Buffy blushed and pulled away "Nothing I'm just...worried. New evil and all. Not a happy thing"
"Ok.." Willow wasn't buying it but she'd let Buffy's little lie slide this time.
Cordy and Madison sat at the table, nipping at each other's lips. Angel stood to the side considering the two with a thoughtful look.
Buffy began to pace and check her watch "Where are they? It shouldn't take this long to get a book"
"It's a 'very' big library" Madison assured the slayer between gentle nipping kisses "It covers most the estate, only underground"
"I'm still not sure how you got in good with Fatima Al-Faqadi" Angel rubbed his chin "Did you kill some vamp out for her blood?"
"No" Buffy said simply not meeting the vampire's eyes "I know someone in her family"
"Oh" Angel thought a moment "Who?"
"I'm a friend of her niece's" Buffy said softly.
"A friend?" Madison eyed the slayer dubiously "Your a 'friend' of her niece's?"
"Yes" Buffy said. Her tone signaling the end of the conversation.
"Whatever" Madison sat back shooting daggers at the slayer with her eyes.
"Shit" Willow froze when she realized the word had left her lips "I mean.."
The bell tingled as Tara and Hyatt returned. Both had arms laden with texts, much to Giles complete joy and everyone else's groaning admission.
"Trust me she went easy on us" Tara assured them.
"There's more in the car" Hyatt swung a stack of four large texts onto the table. The hard wood shook slightly under the weight.
"Ouch" Cordy muttered "This is 'so' like highschool"
Willow chuckled "Only this time your not making out with Xander in the stacks"
"No one's making out in the stacks" Tara chuckled.
"Yet" Willow sent the Wiccan a warm look.
Tara blushed.
"Your Fatima Al-Faqadi's niece?" Angel asked Hyatt as she headed out to her car for a second load of texts.
"Yep. So's Mycah" Hyatt backed out the Magic Box, Faith and Tara followed her.
"How'd you meet her?" Angel pointed at the doorway the girls had just left through.
"By chance at the college" Buffy said honestly "She overheard us talking about some vamps we didn't quite get the night before. It just kinda escalated from there"
"Escalated to what?" Madison asked with a mean smile.
Cordy nudged her. Madison nudged back.
"I..she...we're...friends" Buffy stumbled over her words. Willow's eyes widened, Madison shook her head.
Angel wondered what the hell was going on.
"..and could you believe that attack?" Tara was saying as they re-entered.
Hyatt shook her head in amazement "That's definitely weird"
"What attack? Did your father see you?" Madison stood angrily "If he touched you..."
"Are you okay?" Buffy brought shaking fingers to Hyatt's cheeks.
"No. I'm fine. It wasn't him. Some kind of magick attacked Lucita in her sleep. That's what took Fatima out of commission for a while" Hyatt explained calmly, she leaned a bit into Buffy's touch "I was wondering why she didn't know about our little...incident at the college"
Buffy quickly removed her hands and glanced at Angel.
He was studying Madison, who was glaring at...Buffy.
"Buffy?" Hyatt looked between the vampire and the slayer.
Buffy turned her attention back to Hyatt.
Hyatt leaned in to place a soft kiss on the slayers lips when Buffy suddenly jerked back with a whispered 'no'.
"Buffy what's..." Hyatt's attention was taken suddenly by Angel.
"So you're friends right?" Angel said slowly.
"YES!" Buffy squealed back pedaling from Hyatt "Just friends"
"Ok.." Hyatt looked at all the surprised faces around the room "I'm just gonna go"
"Hyatt" Tara began "Don't-"
"I'm just gonna go" Hyatt repeated backing away from Buffy "You know me I won't be far" Hyatt turned as she stepped up onto the front landing "Star. Sweetie come on"
Star appeared in the doorway before running to meet Hyatt.
"We're gonna go okay?" Hyatt stroked the little girls hair.
Tears immediately sprang to Star's eyes "No. I wanna stay. I wanna say with Ma-"
Hyatt covered the little girls mouth and lifted her up "I'm sorry but we gotta go"
"No!" Star squealed, muffled by her mother's hand. Reaching out blinded by tears she begged for Buffy.
"Hyatt leave her" Tara said quietly.
"Tara I.." Hyatt moved backwards towards the door "We're just going.."
"I'll bring her home with me" Tara cut her off.
Hyatt looked into Star's tear-filled eyes and let her go.
Star ran to Buffy wrapping her little arms around the slayers legs.
'That's not fair' Hyatt mouthed to Tara.
Buffy placed Star in Willow's arms and moved to Hyatt.
"Will you be home when I get there?" Buffy whispered unable to meet Hyatt's eyes.
"I..I'll be.." Hyatt looked towards the door and moved closer to it.
"Hyatt. Will you be there when I get home" Buffy said slightly louder and in a stronger voice.
"I'll...I don't...no" Hyatt moved to grab the door handle when Buffy tugged her close, placing a soft kiss on her lips.
"I'm sorry" Buffy whispered.
Hyatt leaned into the slayer and pressed her lips to Buffy's. Breathing out deeply, a blue mist traveled from her mouth to Buffy's.
"Hyatt!" Madison stood staring at them in amazement "No. You can't"
"I just did" Hyatt said quietly and slipped into the night.
"No!" Madison ran to the door "You'll die without her!" she called into the deep night. Nothing answered.
"What..what did she give me?" Buffy sighed and sniffed "I can feel..I...what did she do?"
"She gave herself to you. Part of her soul. Without that life in her or near her. She'll die" Madison turned angry eyes on the slayer "She didn't give 'that' much to me" giving Buffy one last look, she too fled into the darkness.
"Oh god" Buffy fell to her knee's. Star came to her side wrapping Buffy in a tight hug as the slayer wept into her shirt "What did I do?"
The Magic Box was silent, except for the soft cries and whimpers the slayer herself made.
_____________________________
Disclaimer: See Part 1.
For Susan and her wife, cuz they understand the oranges.
____________________________
Willow and Tara exchanged another secretive glance. They'd all gathered in the kitchen, some eating other's just standing.
Buffy stared out the window. Star pouted and stared fixedly at the table.
Willow ran a caressing hand through Tara's blonde hair, the witches exchanged a loving glance before they both noticed Buffy staring at them.
"She'll come back Buffy. She said she wouldn't be far" Willow assured the slayer. Feeling suddenly guilty about being affectionate in front of the slayer, she removed her hand from Tara's hair.
The other witch looked between them and sighed "Buffy.."
"No. She's coming back today. She won't stay away long right? She can't" Buffy looked back out the window "And she won't leave Star. She tried to take her in the first place" she glanced back at the little girl pouting at the table.
"I'm hungry Mama" Star mumbled pulling at her fingers.
"Then eat some cereal honey" Buffy sniffed and turned back to the window.
"I don't want cereal" Star whined.
"You didn't want toast. You don't want cereal. What do you want?" Anya groaned she'd been trying to get the child to eat most of the morning "Waffles? Pancakes? Fried Turkey?"
"Eww" Star gave the ex-demon a look that would freeze a stone.
"God. Fine eat fruit!" Anya threw up her hands and left the kitchen. Xander followed her hoping to calm her down.
Star pouted harder "We don't have any apple's"
"Eat a banana" Jean offered her one.
Star frowned and shook her head "I don't like banana's"
Buffy handed her an orange "Eat this then. And don't pout about it"
Star considered the fruit for long moments, trying to find something wrong with it "Is this thing even ripe?" she squeezed it gently hoping to find a squishy spot or two to complain about.
"They should be. Wait is ripe a good thing for an orange?" Buffy panicked, she reached for the fruit but Star snatched it back.
"I'll check" Willow offered taking the fruit from the little girl "You check to see if it's ripe by smelling it" Willow brought the orange to her nose sniffing delicately "Then you give it a little squeeze to see if you gives you that ' I'm ripe and ready eat me' scent that makes you..."
Tara cleared her throat at the look the redhead was sending her over the hapless fruit.
"Willow give Star her orange" Buffy smirked at the witch.
"I don't want it now. She done gone all sexual with it" Star chuckled, and slid from the table.
"Great now she'll never eat" Buffy turned back to the window.
Willow and Tara slipped from the kitchen to do a little 'eating' of their own.
_____________________________
They couldn't seem to get their clothes off fast enough.
Willow bunched Tara's skirt at her waist, before winging it, hem over fit, over the witches head.
Tara laughed as Willow immediately pulled her closer.
"I love you" Willow whispered between wet kisses that ran along Tara's jaw and neck "Oh I love you, I love you, I love you" Willow chanted as she continued to pull the clothing from the blonde.
"I love you too baby" Tara docilely allowed herself to be undressed. She waited patiently for Willow to finish and planned her attack of Willow's senses.
Finally nude Tara stood proudly before her lover, granting her the engaging half smile she's perfected over the years.
"Stop" Tara whispered pushing Willow back.
Taken by surprise the redhead gave a few steps, her eyes widened in surprise "Tara? Honey I thought you wanted this too..I...I" Willow's voice trailed off. Tara had never turned her down before. Well that and the lusty looks she'd been sending downstairs had been a plain giveaway.
"I do want too. I'm just making sure you appreciate it" Tara smirked.
_____________________________
"I'm gonna take a nap before I patrol" Buffy ran a hand over her face, and ruffled her hair "I'll be in my room if you need me"
Everyone nodded.
Faith watched the obviously upset slayer make her way upstairs.
"B's sick in love with her" she stated to no one inparticular.
"Yeah. It's cute..I think" Mycah agreed. She was snuggled into the couch with Star and Kole. They were situated across from Faith who lounged in a chair.
Xander and Anya were in the kitchen speaking quietly amongst themselves.
"Why do you think she freaked in the face of Angel?" Faith frowned "B's a strong person. It ain't like her to cower"
"It's the first time she's ever loved a girl. Probably one of those 'what will my ex-boyfriend say' moments" Mycah said calmly though she herself was a bit miffed at the slayers situation.
"So that piece's of me thing that Hyatt did...she don't do that often does she?" Faith stared out the window from her perch in the chair, just as Buffy had done from the kitchen.
"You can only do it once. And judging from the impact over night, she made a good choice" Mycah smoothed the drowsy children's hair.
They were watching t.v quietly and losing an un-needed battle of the 'nap'.
"Buffy's having Hyatt withdrawals" Mycah shook her head.
"So what's Hyatt going through? Wouldn't she be more sensitive to it than Buffy?" Faith hugged herself. The slayer looked rough. Hyatt must be miserable.
"Yeah" Mycah spoke quietly into the nearly silent house.
___________________________
Willow sat in the chair listening in rapt fascination. She had her back to Tara and her eyes closed. She could only smell and hear her girlfriend. And from the sound of it, Tara was enjoying her surprise solo session.
"Mmm"
Willow stiffened and fought within herself not the open her eyes and watch Tara pleasure herself.
"Having trouble love?" a breathless Tara asked from her laid back perch on the bed.
"Mmm no" Willow lied and squeezed her eyes shut "I'm just enjoying you enjoying yourself"
Tara stopped thrusting her fingers in and out of herself "Come here Willow"
Willow's eyes popped open "What?"
"Come're" Tara beckoned with her hand. The same hand she'd had in herself moments before. It glistened with her juices.
It only compelled the redhead to move faster.
In moments Willow stood before Tara. She watched the blonde witch slowly lick her own juices from her fingertips.
A move that never failed to get Willow wet. Well wetter in this case.
Tara stood and wrapped her arm around Willow's waist bringing her naked body up against Willow's bare chest and belly "Enjoying me from afar huh?"
Not trusting her voice Willow nodded. Her eyes were glazed over after watching Tara taste herself on her own fingers.
"How about doing it up close?" Tara kissed Willow deep and hard distracting the redhead to the point where she didn't know where she was or what was happening around her.
Turning them, Tara led Willow down into the chair she'd just vacated and straddled the distracted redheads lap.
"Now keep those talented little hands of yours to yourself" Tara whispered. Running her hands down her chest, over her hardened nipples and back between her legs she began to stroke herself in earnest.
Willow came back to herself, led by Tara's little moans and whimpers as she caressed herself in Willow's lap.
"My god Tara. Your so beautiful" Willow whispered watching the myriad of emotions cross the other Wicca's face.
Whimpering Tara leaned forward and rested her forehead on Willow's shoulder. The angel caused her breasts to sway forward brushing against Willows. Nipple to nipple they both gasped.
Tara's hand began to move faster, while the other snaked around Willows neck. Burying her face in nearly the same spot Tara began to nip and lick Willow's neck.
Willow was turned on to the point of pain. More than anything she wanted to reach down and touch herself. But she held off not wanting to miss a second of Tara's show.
Tara was so wet she began to drip down her own thighs. Slipping her fingers deeper inside herself she circled her g-spot, her body ever tensing.
Willow took a deep breath to steady herself. Shifting in the chair slightly she brushed up against Tara's clit.
The blonde wiccan gasped biting down on the redheads shoulder.
"Willow, my goddess" Tara moaned into her neck.
Grabbing Tara's hips Willow moved the girl against herself, rubbing Tara's clit over her own pelvis and mound.
Tara came screaming into Willows neck.
The waved continued to come, over and over, as the redhead refused to stop moving the blonde against herself.
Tara's moans turned to whimpers as several smaller orgasms rolled through her.
_______________________
Buffy was walking past Willow and Tara's bedroom when she heard the muffled screams.
"Atleast someone's getting some" she muttered before entering her won bedroom.
Flopping down on her bed she buried her face in the pillows. After a moment she realized why she was keeping her nose buried in them.
Hyatt's scent lingered on them.
The one where it was most noticeable Buffy hugged tightly to herself and cried silent tears.
____________________
Hyatt woke with tears streaming down her face.
She'd dreamed of Buffy. That the slayer was in pain and needing her.
But she knew she couldn't go back. Not now. It was too soon.
Angel was still there.
Buffy was still hiding.
Hyatt was still licking her wounds.
"You okay?"
Hyatt rolled over to face her bedmate "Yeah. I'm just missing her"
"The girl who denied she loves you?" the girl rolled her eyes "You sure know how to pick 'em. Then mourn 'em"
Hyatt turned her back on her old friend.
"What? It was the same with Madison. She cheated on you for so long. You knew and let her walk around thinking she had you fooled" the girl tugged Hyatt back to face her.
"Shut up" Hyatt grumbled. The tears started anew.
"You could do so much better than what you settle for" the girl brushed tangled locks out of Hyatt's tear stained face "I don't understand why you don't just forget them"
"I love them. When you love someone you never forget" Hyatt curled into a ball, holding herself tightly.
"Sometimes you need to forget" her friend curled around her, spooning her back.
"I can help you forget" she offered softly.
"If you'd like. I'll help you forget all about her"
Hyatt considered the offer.
______________________________
Disclaimer: See Part 1
__________________________
Tara sat staring out the window at the coming night.
Willow lay back on her bed surfing the net.
"Buffy should be slaying soon" Tara said to no one inparticular.
"Yeah" Willow closed one web page only to open three more.
"I don't think she should go alone" turning fully to face her girlfriend Tara looked at her steadily til the redhead acknowledged her.
"You want me to go with her?" Willows brows rose in surprise.
"You don't have to. I just think" Tara sighed and joined Willow on the bed. Placing her head in the wiccans lap she wrapped her arms around her waist "I just think she shouldn't go alone. You know, she distracted"
"Faith can go with her. They did good the other night" Willow moved her laptop and began to stroke Tara's hair gently.
"They came back... rowdy, the other night" Tara chuckled.
"Yes they did. I could hear them..." Willow paused thinking "Oh. Yeah. That might not be so good"
"Maybe Mycah will go" Tara sat up and began to dress.
Willow's lap felt cold after the loss of her lovers direct presence "Oh. Uh won't she remind her of her body double?"
"Does Mycah 'ever' remind you of Hyatt?" Tara glanced over her shoulder as she pulled on her favorite peasant blouse.
"Aside from the uncanny identical looks? No" Willow grabbed a t-shirt and shorts, foregoing undies. She didn't expect to stay dressed for long.
"Smart ass" Tara chuckled.
"And cute to boot" Willow blew her a kiss.
______________________-
"Hey B wake up slay time" Faith shook the smaller slayer.
Buffy came awake swinging.
Faith ducked the first blow but caught the second directly in the gut.
"Oh my god Faith" Buffy sat up quickly pushing her tangled hair from her eyes "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to"
"It's ok B" Faith ground out holding her belly "I just need to catch my breath" stumbling to the opposite side of the bed Faith sat down gingerly trying to breath as if her stomach didn't hurt like hell.
"I'm sorry I really didn't mean to" Buffy came around to stand infront of her fellow slayer.
"What did you do to her?" Mycah stood in the door of Buffy's room with a strange look in her eye.
"She startled me awake and I kinda... hit her" Buffy blushed backing away as Mycah entered the room.
Moving to the younger slayer Mycah pressed her hand over Faith's "Where does it hurt?"
"She's got these tiny ass little fists" Faith took deep breaths. Spreading her fingers she allowed Mycah to touch her tender belly "Kinda starts little and spreads ya know"
Slipping her hands under Faith's completely Mycah pressed down.
Faith hissed as the pressure increased, she began to move away until she realized the pain was lessening. Looking down her jaw dropped.
Mycah's hand on her belly were glowing blue and pulsing.
Faith's breaths came easier and her pain shortly became nothing more than a memory.
"Next time, use an alarm clock ok?" Mycah smirked down at Faith before shooting Buffy another odd look and walking out.
"Can Hyatt do that?" Faith watching the doorway even after Mycah had vanished from it.
"Not a clue" Buffy frowned "It's slay time. You game?"
"Always" Faith stood "Hey just like new"
_______________________
Willow and Tara made it downstairs just as the two slayers were walking out.
"Hey Buffy" Willow grabbed her friend quickly pulling her back into the house.
"Yeah Will? Can you make it short I gotta..." Buffy didn't get a chance to finish.
"I think you shouldn't go alone" Willow rushed to say.
Tara stood back and watched the reactions. She also noticed the looks Faith and Mycah exchanged.
"I'm not. Faith's coming with" Buffy thumbed towards the other slayer.
"Oh. Well... why don't you take Mycah too?" Willow tried not really knowing what to do.
"Are you trying to get rid of me?" Mycah crossed her arms and gave Willow a speculative look "Are you guys trying to have loud sex without anyone hearing you?"
Faith and Buffy bit there lips to keep from laughing aloud while the two Wiccan's blushed furiously.
"No. We want to spend some quality time with the kids. I mean Star does magic. Kolby can kick Dawn's butt, and well Dawn's uh she's Dawnie"
"And we want to spend some alone time with them" Tara cut in "You know. Getting to know you now that's your"
"Family!" Willow finished.
"Dawn's been family" Mycah pointed out re-crossing her arms.
"Well she's a whole new Dawnie now that there's smaller people here" Willow frowned and gave Mycah her resolve face.
Leaning to whisper Mycah eyed Willow "Is that the resolve face?" she whispered to Faith.
"Yep" the younger slayer laughed "There's no getting around the resolve face"
"I'll take your word for it" Mycah grabbed a stake "Later"
The three practically ran out the door.
Willow turned to Tara who was still blushing.
"Are we really 'that' loud?" Tara held her palms to her cheeks.
Willow laughed hysterically.
___________________________
"One little, two little, three little champions" Drusilla sang to herself.
"Ahh what are you mumbling about now?" Spike yelled as he was once again awakened by the insane vampires rhymes.
"Three little champions are slaying" Drusilla danced a merry waltz with a faceless doll "There should be four. Three legs will only hold for so long. One will always become week you know"
"What? You stupid bint, shut your trap" Spike placed another pillow over his face.
Suddenly angered Drusilla grabbed hold of his left hand. Squeezing as hard as she could, she awaited the reaction she knew was coming.
"Gah. Bloody hell woman!" leaping to his feet and pulling away Spike cradled his badly burned hand.
Drusilla took in the sight of his flame disfigured visage and began to laugh.
"Are you mad because your not pretty now?" she asked twirling around the vampire like a Maypole.
"Shut your bleeding mouth" Spike growled "If you had a real brain in your head you'd understand a man's pain"
"Pain?" Drusilla stopped and looked down at her doll "or Vanity? Did the fire burn his vanity?"
Screaming in anger Spike fled lower into the crypt.
"Tsk tsk tsk" Drusilla clicked her tongue "They should really keep up with their Prophecies"
"Which prophecy?"
Drusilla turned, her fear plain on her face.
Naida stood in the doorway to the crypt. In her hand a thin golden chain.
"Am I your pet?" Drusilla asked "The stars sing of being owned" stepping gracefully over the Seer, Drusilla held the doll in one hand and extended her wrist.
"Yes my dear. Your my wonderful little kitten" Kalindi came from behind her Seer as the manacle at the end of the chain was attached to the slender wrist.
"Oh. Does kitten get a pretty collar with a bell?" Drusilla caressed the manacle and gazed up at her 'mistress' with hope in her eyes.
"I hadn't thought of that" Kalindi said to herself "But since you asked so nicely"
_____________________
"Go fish"
Willow playfully slammed down her cards "Come on you gotta have a two!"
"I ain't got no two's!" Star's slammed down her cards as well. Standing on the chair she balled up her fists "You wanna take this outside?" she managed not to crack a smile.
"After you" Willow stood straightening her clothes.
Dawn chuckled and placed a dollar on the table "My money's on the kid. Any takers?"
"Dawnie!" Willow placed her hands on her hips and stared the younger girl down.
"Hey. If she can beat me. Your game, hands down" Dawn smirked at Willow.
"I plead the fifth" Tara closed an imaginary zipper over her lips and refused to look at her girlfriend.
"Well" Willow pouted at them all.
"You coming ya wimp!" Star called from outside the kitchen.
"Ok. Them's fightin' words" Willow stormed from the room with the girls hot on her heels.
"TICKLE FIGHT!" Star screamed tackling the redhead to the ground.
____________________
"Willow was right" Mycah ground out tossing the vampire off her back.
"Yeah" Faith flipped her vamp over her shoulder and staked him. Choking on the dust the caught a vamp that flew over Mycah's back when she ducked it.
Landing directly on her stake he dusted himself.
Something cold landed on her wrists. Switching the hand she held her stake in she held her wrist up and thrust her opposite hand back dusting the vamp that was coming up behind her.
"Fucking shit!"
Buffy and Mycah stared in astonishment as Faith took off running leaving them.
Not many vamps were left kicking, and the two girls made short work of them before meeting in what once was the 'mix' of it all.
"What's gotten into her?" Mycah dusted herself off.
"No clue" Buffy did the same.
"Vamp!" they both squealed at the same time. Linking arms they both swung to the opposite side, kicking the other's oncoming back back.
Releasing each other they staked them.
"Well.." Buffy looked around.
"That was.." Mycah did the same.
"Refreshing" they said in unison.
________________
Faith ran. She didn't look behind her, hardly looked in front of her. Just ran on instinct.
Before long she recognized where she was heading.
Coming off into the main street of Sunnydale, she took a sharp right and headed straight for the Magic Box.
Rushing in through the door she headed straight for the shelves.
"Hey?" Anya called to her. Following the slayer up into the book stacks her stopped when she saw Faith comparing the charm in her hand to something in the text.
"No" Faith whined dropping the book and stepping back from it.
"No. No, no, no, no, no" clutching the charm to her she ran from the Magic Box.
Anya licked up the book. It remained open to the page Faith had been looking at.
Realizing exactly what it was, and what it meant she rushed to the phone.
Dialing the number she'd memorized Anya tried to keep herself from crying.
"Tara? Is Buffy home?" Anya forced herself to calm down when Tara asked her if something was wrong "So she's out slaying?" placing the book down and ripping out a single page "I'll close the store and be there in 20 minutes"
"I think I just found out exactly what we're up against"
________________________
Disclaimer: See Part 1
________________________
Tara paced holding the text Anya had brought with her.
"I don't understand how we could have missed this" Giles continued to clean his glasses, upset he hadn't seen it sooner.
"It was right in front of our faces that's how we missed it" Buffy scowled at the room as a whole.
Everyone had answered when called and were now crowded into her livingroom.
Everyone but Hyatt. Faith was also a no show.
"Why did this scare Faith enough to run?" Tara read and reread the text "This prophecy began 2 maybe 3 years before she was born. She has nothing to do with it"
"It says a Champion, defeated" Giles quoted having memorized it.
"I defeated her" Buffy turned her eyes down "And she changed"
"No you saved her. Buffy you saved her" Angel cut in moving to stand near the slayer "But you've been defeated" frowning he sat on the floor at her feet.
"Defeated? I've never lost a..." Buffy's voice trailed off as she realized the truth.
"You lost to the master. You were dead. Which is why Kendra and now Faith was called" Giles sighed "This Champion Buffy. Is you"
"So I'm guessing Willow is this tree?" Tara slammed down the text "From the sound of this so far, you guys are in for some deep slayage" dropping herself into the chair next to Willow she wiped her face.
"But what about the other two?" Fred peered down at the text Tara had dropped before her "There's a heart and a moon needed" shrugging the shy woman sighed and shook her head "I'm guessing the moon has to be in a certain part of it's cycle. Which would mean a date"
"But the heart?" Gunn sat forward on the worn lounge chair, Wesley too was perched on the arm of it "Is it's something's heart we gotta have to beat this thing?"
"No" Fred continued reading "It makes it sound like this heart is an entity in itself"
"A heart without a body?" Buffy frowned "Now that's just bordering on gruesome"
"We're all gonna die aren't we?" Anya piped up.
______________________
Faith found herself out of breath and surprising tired. Stopping her breakneck fleeing she sat on a low brick wall to catch her breath.
"Inner or real demons"
Faith jumped slightly at the familiar voice.
"My god girl you scared the shit out of me" Faith held a hand to her furiously beating heart.
"Well you seemed pretty caught up and whatever it is your running from. Did you do something?" Hyatt sat on the wall beside Faith and nudged the young woman gently.
"No. I...there's this nightmare of mine. It's coming to pass" Faith answered honestly. Living on the HellMouth as they were, secrets were deadly.
"Nightmare?" Hyatt frowned and leaned back watching Faith closely.
"There's this Prophecy" Faith began "Of the four chosen, fighting to bring light back to a world of shadows. They succeed, but die in the process" Faith bit her lip "I'd say it's a win win situation. Well if it wasn't for the 'dead' part for the champions"
After long moments Hyatt didn't respond and Faith turned to find the girl frozen. Her eyes staring forward into the darkness. Her body shook, and her lips trembled as tears slipped silently from her eyes.
"Hyatt?" Faith began to fret worried when she shook the girl and received no response "Hyatt. Hey, girl talk to me"
"Fable: Tabierna" Hyatt choked on the title "The Fairytale Prophecy"
It was Faith's turn to be rendered speechless "You know about the prophecy"
"Yes! My goddess. The Vivione Kadesh" Hyatt leapt to her feet "The People of Shadows. How could I have missed it!" pacing before the raven slayer for long minutes she tried to come to terms with the knowledge of how serious this all really was.
"We've gotta tell Buffy" Faith stood grabbing Hyatt and dragging her away.
"I know. But I can't just leave" Hyatt pulled back "Give me one minute I gotta tell Kris I'm leaving" turning she ran into the house Faith had, in her disbelief and hell-bent running, stopped in front of to rest.
"This is too strange for T.V" Faith muttered as she ran aggravated hands through her tangled locks.
Hyatt rushed back out of the house and straight to her car "Come on"
Faith didn't argue. Hopping into the car she asked the question that had been knawing at her since Hyatt's easy acceptance of what she knew.
"How did you know about Fable: Tabierna?" Faith's tone brought no argument.
"I was born under it" Hyatt pressed the accelerator throwing them both back into the seats.
__________________________
The Scoobies and Co. sat quietly, thinking about the enormity of the situation.
"So it's not just the Hellmouth this time" Willow sighed and hugged herself tighter.
"It's this Hellmouth and every weak spot between any and every dimension we border" Giles once again removed his glasses and cleaned them.
Wesley too removed his and cleaned the lenses.
"H-how many dimensions do we border?" Fred raised her hand slightly.
"Over 3 million, border on this hellmouth alone. So let's not go into how many actually touch our plane" Hyatt and Faith came through the door breaking the silence.
"This really bites by the way" Hyatt patted Fred on her shoulder "Can you read Marbovian?"
"Yeah" Fred said shyly.
Dropping a book into the girls lap Hyatt followed Faith further into the house "Page 1178, I can't quite make out most of the second paragraph"
Buffy, who had come to her feet at the entrance of her lover, moved forward to take Hyatt into her arms.
Hyatt stepped back quickly when Buffy reached out for it.
"Mommy!" Star came flying down the stairs with Dawn close on her heels.
Both girls threw themselves at Hyatt.
Star landed in her arms and Dawn simply wrapped them both in her arms "I knew you'd come back"
"But I can't stay. Just bringing Faith back" brushing the hair from both of the girls eyes and smiled sweetly "but I do miss you guys already"
"Then stay" Buffy cut in hurt deeply that the girl wouldn't allow her touch.
"I can't" Hyatt set Star on her feet.
The little girl immediately grabbed Buffy's hand, standing next to her and staring up at Hyatt pleadingly.
"I'll be back soon" Hyatt blew each of them a kiss as she backed away and out the door.
Buffy slumped back into her chair pulling Star into her lap for a cuddle.
Drawing her legs up and around the slayer, Star effectively made herself a human blanket.
____________________
Tara could sense the tears Buffy was holding back.
"I'll only be a second" rushing from the house she stopped Hyatt before the girl could reach her car.
"That was pretty mean" she said without preamble.
"It's what she wants" Hyatt said not bothering to turn around.
Tara grabbed her arm swinging the girl around to face her.
Hyatt hissed shortly as pain shot up her arm from Tara's touch. The girl was seriously pissed off.
"She loves you. And you hurt her in there" Tara pointed back at the house.
Dawn stood gazing at them through the window.
"You think it didn't hurt when she avoided me because of her boy toy?" Hyatt snapped back bringing her arms around herself and holding on tightly.
"I'm sure it did. Either way it hurts" Tara pushed her hair back agitatedly "Your killing each other. It's only been a day and your both miserable. Come home"
"When I'm ready" Hyatt turned back around.
"When will you be ready?" Tara followed her as Hyatt stomped towards her car.
"When she's not afraid of 'us' or whatever it is she considers me and her" Hyatt opened her door, meaning to get in but Tara's hand stopped her.
"That might take a while. This is all new to her Hyatt" she tried to reason with the other girl.
"Then I'll be gone a while" Hyatt snapped.
Tara magically slammed her door causing the other girl to leap back to avoid being hit by it.
"This isn't just about you" Tara hissed under her breath "There's a family in there Hyatt. A family that both you and I are a part of"
"I know" Hyatt began only to have Tara cut her off.
"We want you back, and we need you" Tara began to advance on her friend. She needed her to understand "We have to stay together. You know what this prophecy means"
"Yeah I do" Hyatt nodded holding herself tightly "But that does not mean I'm gonna come running back"
Tara's jaw dropped "You're being selfish"
"Well maybe I should be for once. Instead of worrying about everyone else" Hyatt raised her voice "Maybe I need some 'me' time"
"No. Hyatt. I don't know how much she hurt you. Or how bad you feel right now" reaching out to touch Hyatt she was surprised when the girl stepped back avoiding her touch as well "But this is not you right now. Your not like this"
"You don't know who the fuck I am" Hyatt growled sending Tara a look that would have frightened a weaker person. Or in Tara's case, a person who didn't know most of it was a bluff to hide the pain.
It didn't mean she was gonna put up with it.
Tara slapped Hyatt quickly across her face.
Hyatt's head snapped back in surprise and she stared at Tara with astonishment.
"Don't pull that bullshit with me" she said simply. Her tone brook no argument.
"I'll be by with any information I find tomorrow" Hyatt stepped past Tara and got into her car.
"I'll be expecting you" Tara headed back into the house.
______________________
Dawn eyed the blonde wiccan when she came back.
She'd seen the entire exchange including the slap she'd given the darker girl.
"Why'd you hit her?" Dawn tilted her head in question.
"Don't worry about it" Tara answered retaking her seat in the otherwise silent room.
"Tara what happened?" Willow took her lovers hand looking into her eyes.
"Don't worry about it" Tara softly assured the redhead, touching her cheek gently.
Turning to the slayer she gave Buffy a hopeful nod.
Buffy relaxed slightly.
"Don't ever hit her again" she threatened softly. Star leaned back and watched Buffy in astonishment at the tone.
"Don't worry I won't" Tara turned her attention to the prophecy.
________________________
Disclaimer: See Part 1
______________________
Buffy stood stubbornly in her front door. She refused to say a word to Angel or any of his crew as they prepared to return to L.A.
The moody vamp was tucked safely in a blacked out backseat covered by a thick dark blanket.
Willow stood behind Buffy, watching her watch the L.A crew pack up.
"Your gonna miss him aren't you?" Willow nudged Buffy's knee with her own.
"No. Might miss Cordy. And that Fred girl, she reminds me of you. Only skinnier and accented" Buffy smirked.
Willow gave a low chuckle and force the slayer outside, pressing their bodies together and leaning on her hard.
Buffy stumbled onto the porch with Willow in her wake.
"Slick" Buffy muttered continuing down to the front lawn.
"That's my middle name" Willow followed her out.
Dawn and the kids played a game of 'torture Dawn' tag around the people packing.
Madison caught Kolby up allowing the teen to tag her before letting her loose and avoiding the flurry of hits aimed at her knee's.
"Geez Tonya calm down" Cordy spun the child and patted her on her way.
"Tonya?" Kole rubbed her bottom where the half demon had shooed her "I'm Kole. Your stupid" the little girl ran off trying to catch Dawn who was well into a tree.
"Before her time Cordy" Buffy reminded helping her fit a large suitcase into the back of a van.
"So we're sure about this whole splitting up and working thing?" Fred asked slamming the hatchback of her and Gunn's car closed.
"Yeah. You guys can get different kinds of info in L.A, we'll work from here" Willow crossed her arms and turned to Gunn "And you won't need guns to do it"
"Hey" Gunn shrugged "My name says it all"
Willow rolled her eyes. She'd come to like the man in their short visit "Learn to shoot a crossbow"
"I can shoot a crossbow" Gunn tilted his head "Maybe you should learn to use a gun"
"I know how to use a gun. It just doesn't help against vamps" Willow turned her attention to Madison firmly dismissing Gunn.
"So you're going to L.A?" Buffy asked reaching out for a tentative hug.
"Yeah, I've been before I'm going back. My parent's have a condo there" Madison hugged the slayer back squeezing her before whispering "She'll come back Buffy. She loves you too much to stay away for long" Madison snorted "Unless she wants to be stubborn"
Buffy chuckled and released the girl "I'll keep that in mind"
"Keep what in mind?" Cordy pulled Madison away from the slayer possessively.
"Madison here said she'd like to check the fit of my pants someday. I'm not fighting it" Buffy smirked at the brunette.
"Oh great do you 'all' plan on stealing my significant other at some time?" Cordy dragged Madison into the van.
"Hey!" Willow placed her hands on her hips "I don't even 'like' penis anymore!"
Her voice carried well into the neighborhood. It was unfortunately the time that most people were leaving for their morning commute.
Many of their neighbors stopped to stare at the revelation.
"My god people it's California! Like you don't know that gay people run rampant here!" Cordelia shouted.
All the once the people continued to their cars muttering at strange neighbors and the choices of young people these days.
_________________________
After saying a proper goodbye with minimal gay pride shouting, the L.A crew left leaving the Scoobies standing around.
The kids found ways to amuse themselves. All four were currently hanging upside down from the branches of a tree.
"It's safe for them to go back to school now" Willow reminded Buffy as Dawn taught the younger girls how to flipped off the branch and land on their feet.
All but Jeanie managed.
Buffy scooped the little girl up as she rubbed her sore bottom.
"Good point Wills" carrying her inside with a calmer Dawn, Kolby, and Star in tow.
"You guys are so starting school tomorrow" Willow shut the door just as the phone rang.
Buffy reached it first. Making short conversation she hung up and turned to face the room.
"That was Tara. Faith and Anya have an idea of how to find these weak spots into our plane. She's calling Cordy and Wes with the how to and stuff" Buffy walked purposely towards the stairs "They want us all at the Magic Box ASAP"
Nodding everyone but Jeanie moved to get ready.
Sighing the little girl remained on the couch. She had a bad feeling they couldn't beat this thing alone. She could only hope Orangi came through if they succeeded in getting that far at all.
Moving to stand the twinges of pain in her keister kept her on the couch.
"Buffy!" she called with a whine in her voice "I can't move my butt hurts!"
_____________________
Hyatt made her way through Fatima's library for the 7th time in as many hours.
"So it is all coming together?" Fatima asked from the reading table she'd situated in the midst of her stacks.
"Yes. The shadows, the champions. But that's what I don't understand" Hyatt slumped into the chair next to Fatima "There's two slayers"
"Two?" Fatima's eyes widened "How did this come to pass?"
"Buffy died. They brought her back" Hyatt shrugged "Actually she died twice"
"Twice? How does one die twice and still be human? Or slayer in this case" Fatima sipped at a shot glass of blood.
"Magic? CPR?" Hyatt forced a smile "You know the gift the keeps on giving"
"Funny child. Now what exactly are you keeping from me?" Fatima removed the book Hyatt clutched in her hands.
"Nothing" Hyatt said quickly.
Too quickly.
"Do not lie to me" the vampire hissed her voice becoming threatening and the accent she though long lost resurfaced giving her the voice and command of the queen she would have been.
"She knows my name" Hyatt said quickly sending her eyes to the ground.
"You little fool" Fatima threw the crystal glass, shattering it and it's contents.
"She also possesses my.." Hyatt stopped herself from speaking as Fatima rose to loom above her.
"I know. I can smell it. I can smell her" grasping Hyatt's upper arms she lifted her off the ground "I can smell her all over you" sniffing Hyatt closely and sensed something else "It is truly all together"
"What is?" Hyatt trembled.
"The Prophecy. It has begun. Even before you broke my rule" Fatima set the girl down "You could not stop this. The joining begun before yours" running her hands through her great-great-great nieces hair Fatima sat down in her chair.
Hyatt moved a few steps away.
"I am sorry child. But this, this Tabierna. May be the end of us all" Fatima sighed and rested her head against her cold hands.
Lucita, having sensed her lovers anger and now her worry, entered and moved directly to her.
She could see the nervous look on Hyatt's face.
'What happened?' she mouthed to the girl.
Shaking her head Hyatt pointed to the texts on the table.
Lucita looked them over. Taking in much more than one would think she turned angry eyes to Hyatt "This is not good"
"I've told her that love" Fatima spoke caressing Lucita's hand to keep the woman from ranting at the girl.
"It's a lose lose situation" Lucita screamed.
"It's a win lose" Fatima argued "We just don't know the conditions as of yet" turning to Hyatt she commanded "Take these to your friends. Everything, tell them exactly what your up against"
"But Fatima" Hyatt began to argue.
"In the Mouth of Hell, secrets are the shadows little one" Lucita cut her off "Be honest, be true. And fight this with your whole heart"
Hyatt gathered the text, nodding in affirmation she left the library.
"Or you shall lose everything" Lucita finished when she was out of earshot.
"And this world will die. One cruel breath at a time"
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