a/n Thank you to Tasha who once again did a fantastic job on this one. To everyone who reviewed and let me know there was still interest for this, I love you. Hope you enjoy



 

Sunnydale

 

Tara walked into the room, her steps slow and graceful.   All of those present, and awake, would have sworn she was floating.  She went to the bed and gently touched the barrier. She caressed it as she would a lover.  Her smile was full, and her eyes sparkled.

“It’s beautiful.”  Her voice was as soft as her eyes.  She turned and faced the three others.

 

“Tara ?  What’s happening?”  Giles’ voice echoed his bewilderment.

 

“They were needed somewhere.  There are some things they needed to know to stop bad things from happening.  They will be back when they’ve learned what they need to.”

 

“Baby?  Buffy’s dead, how can she come back?”   Willow asked.

 

The careless tone of Willow ’s voice shook Dawn.  She didn’t need any reminder that her sister was dead.   The fact that Willow could talk about it so easily angered her.  Before she could say anything, Tara raised a hand.

 

“Willow , you should know that things are rarely black and white with Buffy.  She’s dead, and she’s not.  There are some things that will always be, and some lines that should never be crossed.  I know what’s already on your mind Willow .   What you are planning  must not happen.”

 

Willow squirmed.   She understood what Tara was talking about.  The moment she saw Buffy’s death, the wheels had already begun turning in her head.  Before she could deny the accusation, Tara spoke up again.

 

“I know you have a lot of questions, but you’ll have to wait. I promise to tell you anything you want, as soon as I can.”  Her tone was implacable, leaving no doubt that she wouldn’t be swayed.  Her job was clear to her, and she intended to do it.

 

Tara had been downstairs when she was suddenly filled with knowledge.  She’d received visions of what could be and of what should be.  She had seen what her fate would be unless Buffy and Spike could change things.  She had understood that her lover’s addiction to magic, and her need for control, would destroy her. Also, Xander’s fears would cause pain to everyone.

 

The PTB had channelled powers through her, asking her to work as a conduit between them and the Warriors.  She hadn’t hesitated, even when she learned that she could forget everything she now knew.  Somehow, she knew that this had always been her purpose, the reason that had brought her to Sunnydale, and the reason she had found herself so drawn to the Scoobies.  This was her reason for being. The powers she had been born with were only a way to test her, a way for the Powers to find if she was worthy of her destiny.  It was the explanation for why she had always felt apart from other people.

 

For the moment Tara ’s most important task was to keep the Scoobies calm. She also needed to keep a close eye on Willow to make sure she didn’t try something rash.  She had a moment to think that it wouldn’t be easy to complete her tasks before Giles coughed, obviously trying to catch her attention.

 

“Tara , is there anything you can tell us?  Anything at all?”  He asked

 

Tara smiled inwardly.  She had been waiting for this.  She knew that Giles wouldn’t be able to resist asking.  She sifted through the information she had been given, trying to decide what she could tell him. “Why don’t we go downstairs?  There’s not much I can tell you right now, but we all had a rough night.  Xander and Anya should be here for this too.” 

 

Willow looked at Tara .  She suddenly remembered that for Tara it was much more than a night that had been rough.  “God baby, I’m sorry.  Are you feeling okay?  Is there anything I can get you?  Anything you want?”  She asked her lover.

 

Tara shook her head. “I’m alright.  A bit tired but a few hours of sleep, and I’ll be good as new.  Besides, there’s nothing we can do in here.  They’re going to be that way for a while so why stay here when there are chairs and a couch downstairs?”

 

“Of course, you are right Tara .  I must admit that sitting down would feel good.  Some food too.”  With those words, Giles motioned towards the hallway.  Silently all three Scoobies went out of the room. 

 

Once everyone was gone but her, Tara went back to the bed.  She once more laid her hand on the barrier.  “Don’t worry, everyone is safe here.  I’ll take care of them.  You don’t deserve this much pain, either of you.  I’m going to help you as much as I can.  May the Goddess protect you both.”

 

With a last murmured blessing, she walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.  She didn’t see as much as felt the surge of power in the barrier that protected Buffy and Spike.  She smiled, knowing that for now at least, they were safe.  A lot of people were protecting them at the moment, and they deserved some peace between apocalypses.

 

 

Waiting room.

 

 

“Shit.”  The muttered curse was lost on no one.  Buffy remembered the things she had seen as she fell through the portal.  She knew exactly what the First had planned.  She looked at Spike and saw the horror she was feeling reflected in his blue eyes.  The pain that had been gone came back for a minute before she saw his face harden.  It was his words that brought her back to reality.

 

“What can we do Joyce?  How can we stop it?”  Spike’s voice carried with it a century of bloodshed, violence and strength.

 

For the first time in a long time, Buffy was reminded of exactly who Spike was, and she was glad.  This wasn’t the softer version of Spike to which she had become accustomed to.   This was the Slayer of Slayers, and he would stop at nothing in his quest to help her.  Hazel eyes turned sharp as emeralds.

 

“Mom?”  The question implied was not lost by Joyce.

 

“There’s a few more things before we get to that.” She answered, knowing that in front of her stood the Slayer.  This wasn’t her little girl, this was the Warrior that had been prophesized a long time ago.