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Bound

© June 2001

By Lisa Countryman

CHAPTER FIVE

The Hilton in Sunnydale had amenities that most five star hotels did not. You could order fresh blood twenty-four hours a day or have a demonic masseuse give you a back rub with all four of her hands. You could also have extra security outside your suite without any questions. Kelly took advantage of the last luxury; she had two armed guards outside the penthouse door.

Tara flipped through the television channels and furrowed her brow. She had seen some odd things, but nothing was more shocking than the news. It had taken Kelly ten minutes to convince the blonde Wiccan that George Bush Jr. actually was the President. Tara tilted her head as she watched Entertainment Tonight. A pregnant actress smiled for the camera with her fiancée.

"I thought Anne Heche was a lesbian?" Tara said with a confused stare.

"So did Ellen," Kelly said as she handed Tara a soda. "Three years is a long time, sweetie." She leaned over and kissed Tara’s temple and then snuggled down beside her on the couch.

Tara nodded and watched as a parade of stars walked past the camera.

Kelly turned when there was a knock at the door. "That’s dinner." She trotted for the door.

"Tomb Raider?" Tara watched the commercial run. "I thought that was a video game?"

"Still is," Kelly said as she followed a bellhop into the room. "It’s just a movie now too."

The bellhop carried a huge tray of food over to the table and began setting up the meal, complete with fresh roses for the centerpiece. He finished up by lighting two white candles and then quickly left the two women alone.

Tara looked at the elaborate dinner. It was romantic and charming and everything she used to dream of sharing with Kelly, and yet looking at the flickering candles made her chest ache. She kept picturing the beautiful, broken-hearted woman at the college. She wondered if Willow and her lover had shared dinners like this one. Her lips curled into a smile as she pictured the redhead. ‘She’d like picnics,’ Tara thought. ‘Something simple and earthy.’ Her smile faded as reality slapped her in the face. ‘I killed her lover,’ Tara thought with a shudder.

"Hey, aren’t you hungry?" Kelly asked. She caressed Tara’s cheek and let her thumb linger near the blonde’s lip. "I ordered your favorite dessert, chocolate cake with whipped cream."

"Thanks," Tara said with forced cheer. She sat at the table and stared at the candles, mesmerized by the flickering flame. The flecks of light reminded her of the fire in Willow’s eyes. Her stomach clenched. ‘Was I attracted to her? Is that why I killed her lover?’ Tara covered her face with one hand and rubbed her eyes. No matter what she tried, the redhead’s face kept filling her mind.

"You look tired," Kelly said. She smiled and nodded toward the other room. "Why don’t we go to bed after dinner?"

"I’m fine," Tara stalled. The idea of sleeping next to Kelly made her uneasy, though she realized it was probably because she still only remembered her betrayal and not their reconciliation.

"You can use the sleep. I’ll keep you warm and safe." Kelly smiled charmingly. It was a look that used to set Tara’s blood on fire, but now it made the blonde’s body tense.

"I wanna’ catch up on current events." Tara pointed toward the television.

"There’s a TV in the bedroom." Kelly dug into her meal. She had made her decision. "We’ll watch it in there."

Tara looked around the expensive hotel room. It had every possible convenience imaginable, and yet Tara felt trapped. She pushed the feeling down and looked over at Kelly. The dark haired witch had risked her life to save Tara, and she had banished the demon inside Tara. Tara owed her everything. Kelly stood by her and was even willing to face the demon hunters. It would probably just take time to get back what they had shared.

"Okay," Tara said. "But I get the remote."

Kelly smiled and nodded happily.

Spike stood in the alley and studied the hotel. He shook his head and then looked over at the Slayer. She was running her hands over a climbing rope checking for any signs of fraying. She was nervous.

"We can’t repel into that place," Spike said as he leaned against the brick wall of the alley.

"Too advanced for your skill level?" Giles asked. He was checking a second rope and didn’t even look up from the task.

"No, you moron." Spike took a drag from his cigarette and used butt to point at the building. "Red’s little witchy-poo is in the bloody penthouse. There’s nowhere to repel down from."

Buffy looked up at the seven-story building and frowned.

"Oh, dear." Giles looked up from his rope and stood.

"Okay, as planning goes, this sucks." Buffy glared at her Watcher.

"Well, I had assumed that there would be some part of the building above the penthouse." Giles arched his back as he looked up at the top of the building. "Shouldn’t there be some tall turrets or something?"

"That’s fine if we’re storming a castle… in the middle-bloody-ages!" Spike tossed his cigarette onto the pavement. "Turrets?" He glared at Giles. "Turrets? Are you completely daft?"

"Enough." Buffy stepped between the vampire and the Watcher. "The old plan is out, so we need a new one."

"Are you off your head?" Spike spun and paced. "The old plan is bloody stupid."

"Not helping with the whole ‘new plan’ part of this new plan." Buffy smacked Spike on the back of the head.

"That witch is evil," Spike said as he turned. He rubbed his head where Buffy had hit him and he looked up at the building. "Willow’s sweetheart wouldn’t hurt a damn fly. Why’s that witch picking on her?" he mumbled as glared up at the penthouse. Of all of the Scoobies, Tara treated him with the most kindness. Dawn talked with him, but even the Slayer’s younger sister cut him with occasional barbs. Tara was shy and kind, and when she offered him pig’s blood, she always put it into a mug so it wasn’t as obvious that he was a demon drinking the thick red fluid. The others put his blood in a glass, making it perfectly clear that he was a blood-sucking demon despite the chip in his head.

"She’s well aware of Tara’s qualities," Giles said grimly. "That’s the problem."

"Exes," Spike said with a sigh. "Royal pain in the ass, they are."

"And you would certainly know," Buffy pointed out. "What did you ever see in Dru? I mean beyond the whole sharing of the evil, mayhem, killing, and murdering of innocents thing?"

Spike sighed and got a faraway look in his eyes. "Yeah, we did have some good times."

"You guys ready?" Xander asked as he jogged into the alley. "Willow’s got the pass keys coded and we’re ready to go."

"Slight problem with our part of the plan," Buffy said.

"And that would be?" Xander raised both eyebrows.

"There is no our part of the plan." Buffy pointed at the building. "Penthouse, kinda’ means…on the top of the building. Kinda’ makes repelling a big fat no go."

Willow came around the corner and cleared her throat. "Hurry up."

"Plan A is toast," Xander said as he gently took Willow’s hand.

"Then I guess we use plan B," Willow said without missing a beat.

"Willow, you can’t use the dark forces—" Giles began.

"I know, Giles." Willow glared at him. "This is Tara’s life we’re talking about. I have a backup plan." She looked over at Spike. "I hope you can act."

Spike smiled and straightened his back.

"Plan B?" Buffy rushed over to Willow. "What is plan B?"

Willow studied Buffy. The Slayer was wearing her black leather pants and a black leather jacket over a red silk tank top.

"Hello? Plan B? Are you sure it doesn’t involve dark magic?" Buffy leaned down and locked eyes with Willow. "No dark magic. It’s dangerous."

"Take off your jacket," Willow ordered the Slayer. She looked over at Giles. "Lose the tweed." She took Buffy’s jacket and then spun and hurried away. "And slick back you’re hair, Giles," she said as she headed for the car where Anya was waiting. "Plan B." Willow grabbed her laptop.

"Dark Magic?" Anya asked with a solemn frown.

"No," Willow said. She dialed up her satellite connection to the Internet. She looked over her shoulder toward the alley. "Dark magic is plan C."

*****

"This will never work," Giles said. He was wearing a tee shirt with the sleeves rolled up and his hair was slicked back.

"Bloody right," Spike agreed. "I should be the lead singer."

"Everyone just do as they’re told," Willow said. She pushed them toward the front of the hotel. "We’re a rock band." She frowned. "Okay, you’re a rock band." She pointed at Giles and Spike. "We are your… entourage. Xander, get the bags."

"I think that drama class went to your head," Buffy said. She gave Giles a skeptical look. "They are so not a rock band."

"We could be a rock band," Giles insisted. He slouched his shoulders and took off his glasses and tucked them into his pocket.

"Now you’re dangerous," Spike said with a snort.

"Who am I?" Anya asked as they got to the front door. She was moving around Willow excitedly. "Am I the groupie? Should I hang all over Giles? Should I swoon? I can swoon my ass off."

"Anya, this is very important." Willow grabbed the former demon. "I showed you the records that I changed in the computer system. Can you remember all that?"

"It was money, Willow," Anya said indignantly. "Of course I can remember it. You accessed the main Hilton system and established an unlimited credit line. Unlimited, as in no limits, and might I add…wow!"

"You have to talk to the guy at the desk," Willow told the former demon. "Kelly might have given them my name, so we have to use yours."

"Finally my fake ID comes in handy," Anya said. "Who am I? Am I the lead singer?" She frowned as she looked over at Giles. "Am I the new and much younger lead singer?"

"You’re the manager," Willow said as she pulled open the door.

"Oh! I’m in charge." Anya smiled. "I love this plan! Yea, Plan B!

"Who am I?" Buffy asked as they entered the hotel.

Willow bit her lip as she stared at Buffy’s low cut silk tank top and her leather pants.

"Willow?" Buffy asked.

"You’re the groupie," Willow said as she ran into the hotel.

"I love plan B," Xander said with a snicker. His smile evaporated when Buffy gave him a withering glare.

"You’re with me, sweet cheeks." Spike draped his arm over Buffy’s shoulder and yanked her up against him. His black leather jacket flapped in the breeze as he waltzed into the main lobby.

"As soon as Tara’s safe I am killing everyone else." Buffy smiled sweetly when the doorman tipped his hat at her.

"May I help you?" the woman behind the desk asked. She had a tag that read ‘Tiffany’ and she eyed the group suspiciously and moved her hand closer to the button used to call security.

"We need a room." Anya flopped her arms onto the high counter. "Make it the penthouse."

The desk clerk smirked and cleared her throat.

"Run a tab," Anya said with a flick of her wrist. "It’s in the system under the name William D. Blood." She leaned closer and whispered. "That’s the rock band, the Watchers, from the sixties." She nodded over at Spike and Giles. Both were doing their best to look conspicuous in their attempt to look inconspicuous.

"Someone lend me a fag," Giles yelled as he paced the lobby.

Spike flicked his lit cigarette at Giles. His eyes widened when the Watcher caught the burning projectile and gracefully took a drag.

"We haven’t got all bloody day," Spike said as he squeezed Buffy closer. "My bird can’t wait to get her hands all over me."

Buffy smiled sweetly and squeezed his chest until his ribs creaked.

"Easy, love," Spike wheezed. "Save some of that for later."

Xander milled around the lobby trying to look cool. He wasn’t sure what his role was so he stood next to the bags.

"Oh…my," the desk clerk looked at the computer and she smiled warmly at Anya. "Yes, right away." She looked over at the bellhop and motioned him over. "Do you have any bags?" She looked like she was about to leap over the counter to lick Anya’s boots. Willow had added a note to the fictitious computer file that mentioned the rock band’s tendency to break things, but she also added that they always tipped more than forty percent.

"The bags are by the door, and call me Miss Anya." The former demon slid her California ID across the counter and sighed as she looked around the ornate lobby. "What a dump."

"What can we get you, Miss Anya?" Tiffany stood and smiled even as she booked the second penthouse for an open-ended stay.

"My dad loves the penthouse," Anya said. She nodded at Giles. "Shh, it’s a secret. Rock stars aren’t supposed to have kids." She smiled. "I handle all the business stuff. Daddy fried his brains with acid in the sixties."

"I want a view," Willow whined. She was wearing Buffy’s leather jacket over her sweater. She kept it zipped tight, not wanting her fluffy kitten sweater to show. "Can we get to the penthouse already?"

"We’re sending up a welcoming basket right now," Tiffany said with a smile.

Anya rolled her eyes and pulled Willow closer. "She’s daddy’s groupie."

Willow bit the inside of her cheek. She looked at Anya and narrowed her eyes. "No ad-libbing," she whispered sweetly.

"Daddy, come get your groupie." Anya shoved Willow into Giles.

"Miss me, baby?" Giles leered at Willow and lifted her into the air.

Willow’s eyes opened like saucers. She looked over Giles’ shoulder and saw Buffy hiding her face against Spike to stop from laughing.

"Easy now, love." Giles lowered her to the floor. "Ol’ Ripper will take care of you soon."

The shocked witch looked up at the Watcher. He was entirely too convincing in Willow’s opinion.

"Your room’s ready, Miss Anya." The desk clerk smiled as she handed Anya back her ID and pointed at Xander. He was still standing at the back of the lobby watching. "Is he with you?" Tiffany asked.

"Oh, yeah, he’s our roadie," Anya said offhandedly. "Come on, there might be some heavy lifting for you in the penthouse." She waved Xander toward the elevator and then looked at the bellhop. "Take those bags to the penthouse and we’ll find our own way." She pointed at the duffel bags next to the door. The bags had Buffy’s weapons as well as her other Slayer supplies. Anya grabbed the key. "Daddy hates it when bellboys ask for his autograph." She hurried toward the elevator.

"Come on, pet." Spike picked Buffy into his arms and carried her. She smiled at him but he could hear her teeth grinding.

"You are so dead," Buffy whispered even as she smiled.

"Well, yeah, I’ve been dead for centuries, what’s your point?" He smiled at the desk clerk and carried Buffy into the elevator.

Giles pulled Willow along beside him. As he went into the elevator he looked over his shoulder and winked at the desk clerk and then squeezed Willow’s butt. The redhead choked off a squeak as the doors closed.

"Giles!" Willow jumped away from the Watcher. "You grabbed my butt!"

"Let me down!" Buffy jumped out of Spike’s grasp. She rubbed her arms as if trying to get the ‘Spike’ off of her skin.

"Okay, roadie?" Xander yelled. "Why didn’t you just tell them I was your spider-eating-man-bitch?"

"Hey, the point is we’re in," Anya said with a smile.

"No ad-libbing!" Willow waved her finger at Anya. "I specifically said no ad-libbing."

"You couldn’ta said I was the drummer?" Xander demanded.

"You’re much too young to be in a band with Giles," Anya said logically. "I coulda’ said you were his groupie."

Willow nodded and she covered her butt with both hands.

"And again, we are back to the spider-eating-man-bitch jokes." Xander glared at his girlfriend.

"Guys, we’re coming to the top floor." Buffy motioned toward the lights indicating they were almost at their destination.

"Buffy, Giles grabbed my butt," Willow said in mortified whisper.

"I assure you, I was in character." Giles cleared his throat. "That desk clerk was quite taken with me. She expected me to be a rogue."

"A rogue, not a skany-Willow-grabbing-band-candy-eating- pervert!" Willow scooted closer to Buffy.

"Remember the important thing," Anya said. "We are in the hotel." She gave them all a superior stare. "And I am in charge. That’s very important too. I handle the money."

"That part of the charade is over," Willow said. "So just stay out of the way, Miss Anya."

The elevator bell binged and the doors opened. Two bellhops were waiting in the hallway to show the small group to their room.

"Right this way," the younger bellhop said. "Tiffany told us to get you anything you need. Just ask."

"I’m in charge." Anya pushed her way out of the elevator.

"Yes, Miss Anya," the second bellhop said with a dazzling smile.

"Is there champagne in the room?" Anya asked as she followed the two bellhops.

"Yes, ma’am," the shorter bellhop said.

"Better be Dom." Spike pulled Buffy along at his side. "Only the best for you, my little cuddly toy."

Giles reached for Willow and she froze him in place with a look so cold he wondered if he had frostbite on his hand. "You run ahead get the hot tub sparked up, love," the Watcher said.

"Come on." Willow grabbed Xander and pushed him down the hall in front of her. "There might be heavy lifting."

"Spider-eating-man-bitch," Xander mumbled under his breath. He hurried into the penthouse as soon as the bellhop opened the door.

Willow noticed two guards standing in front of the door to the other penthouse. She stopped, smiled coyly and waved at them. She inhaled sharply when Giles draped his arm over her shoulder.

"Couldn’t make it without me?" He tucked one of Spike’s cigarettes behind his ear and winked at the guard. "She can’t get enough of me." He picked Willow up and tossed her over his shoulder and then patted her butt. "Can’t say as I blame her."

The guards smirked and discretely looked away.

Buffy and Spike went into the room and the vampire sat and pulled her onto his lap. He smirked at the bellhop. "Rock and roll gets you all the hot birds."

The bellhop nodded as he opened the champagne.

Willow glared at Giles as soon as he put her onto the ground. She watched the bellhops milling around and decided to take some action. She inhaled deeply and thought of her vampire persona and what she would do to get rid of the hotel personnel. She went over to the closest bellhop and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Bored now," she whined. "Run along like a good puppy so Ripper and I can play." She leered at the Watcher.

It was Giles’ turn to squirm.

"Run along," Willow repeated. "Maybe Ripper and I will play with you later." She licked her lips and then pushed the bellhop toward the door.

"Call if you need anything," the bellhop said as he blushed.

"We have all we need right here." Spike grabbed Buffy’s waist. She rested her hand over his and squeezed until his fingers made cracking sounds.

"Your generous tip will be added to our bill," Anya said. "And remember who handles all the money. If there’s sucking up to do, I’m your gal."

The bellhops went into the hall and sighed.

"Man, those old rock stars are weird."

"I thought Jagger was strange," the second bellhop added. He waved at the guards at the next door.

Inside the penthouse Willow was glaring at Giles.

"Enough of the grabbing my butt!" She waved her finger at the Watcher.

"You’re supposed to be my groupie, not some frightful vampire dominatrix!" Giles pointed back at Willow.

"This butt belongs to Tara and even if it didn’t, it would certainly not belong to you." Her anger faded as she thought of her lover. "Tara?" She looked over at Buffy. "We’re gonna’ get Tara now, right?" Her eyes shined as tears welled up. "Now, as in right now, before anything bad can happen."

"Yes," Buffy assured her best friend as she rushed over to her. "Right now."

"Can’t we enjoy the champagne first?" Anya poured a glass and smiled. "Oh, bubbles."

"Anya, we’re not here for the champagne." Xander moved next to her. "And don’t you ever volunteer me to be the roadie again."

"All right then, we should move ahead with the plan." Giles nodded toward the bags the bellhops left just inside the door. He pulled out a billy club and tested it on his palm.

"I deal with the guards, Willow runs witchy defense, the rest of you run interference and I grab Tara." Buffy cracked her knuckles. "Pretty straight forward plan."

"Okay, while rescuing Tara is a mostly good thing," Anya paused when everyone glared at her. "Yea rescue. Go rescue," she added quickly. "I just gave them my fake ID, and while it is fake, it is the name I use."

"As soon as we get Tara back to normal, there won’t be any problem for us," Giles explained. "Or you with your fake name."

"Come on." Willow went to the bags and pulled out a piece of ancient iron chain. It was an enchanted link from a shackle used in the middle ages, and Anya had assured Willow that it would bind any of Kelly’s basic attacks. Unless the black haired witch had time to actively cast, her basic spells would be deflected.

Tara wandered around the penthouse. She was restless, and nothing seemed to help. She had tried using the state of the art computer the hotel provided, but using the machine gave Tara a feeling of loneliness she couldn’t describe. That and the fact that she went through the Sunnydale News releases for the previous six months and found dozens of unsolved brutal killings. She wondered if she had committed any of the heinous crimes.

"Come to bed, sweetie." Kelly leaned out of the bedroom and smiled. "You have to forget about what happened at the campus." She walked over to Tara and took her hand. "Come on, I’ll take your mind off of things." She smiled seductively.

"Kelly, no." Tara pulled away. "I know we’ve been together the last three years, but I don’t remember that." She sighed and took Kelly’s hand. She didn’t want to hurt her. "All I can think about is you with Claire." She looked down at the floor. "And what I did to Willow’s lover."

"Tara, I swear you’ll feel better if you just come to bed." Kelly tugged Tara’s hand. "We’ll just cuddle. I swear. It’ll all come back to you, sweetie."

"Let me get a soda." Tara trotted back to the kitchenette.

Kelly watched the blonde as she crossed the penthouse. She remembered how Tara had hung all over Willow at Buffy’s house. Tara had went out of her way to make sure Willow had a cold soda, but the blonde hadn’t offered her a drink once. This was harder than Kelly had anticipated. She would have to pour on her considerable charm.

"Okay." Tara waved her soda at Kelly and then frowned. "Did you want something?"

"Just you, sweetie." She stepped out of the way and followed Tara into the bedroom.

They sat up and watched the movie station, and Tara was disappointed to find that most of the movies on the cable channel were just over three years old. She had seen them all.

"I lose three years of my life and I don’t even get to see a new movie?" Tara flicked off the television. "You’d think I could find one movie I hadn’t seen."

"Sorry." Kelly giggled and snuggled against Tara’s side. "That Survivor rerun was new to you."

"Who came up with that?" She rolled over and looked at Kelly. "They ate bugs. That is not entertainment."

"I thought it was cute when you squirmed." Kelly caressed the beautiful blonde’s cheek.

Tara blushed and dipped her head down. She was trying to relax with Kelly but it just didn’t feel right. She didn’t fit with her anymore.

"Very cute," Kelly whispered. She leaned over and slowly kissed Tara.

Tara pulled back but Kelly followed. Her kiss was slow and forceful. Tara whimpered and tried to back away, but Kelly wrapped her hand around the blonde’s neck. Tara tried to enjoy the kiss but every fiber of her body was telling her run. She yanked free.

"Kelly, no." Tara sat up and shivered. Willow’s face filled her thoughts. She wondered if this was her punishment, to see her victim’s broken-hearted lover every time she tried to kiss someone.

"Okay," Kelly said quietly. "I’m sorry. You’re just so beautiful."

Tara stood and ran her hands through her hair. "I should sleep in the other room."

"No, you should come back to bed." Kelly patted the mattress. "I’ll be good."

"I’m gonna’ go sit on the balcony." Tara pointed to the other room. "I need to think." She made a hasty exit.

Kelly stared at the opened door and fumed. Every time she started making some headway with Tara, the blonde pulled away. It wasn’t fair. She looked over at her dresser and decided she would move things along magically.

Tara walked through the living room and stopped. She went over to the computer and traced the monitor with one finger and smiled. She had never really enjoyed computers, but apparently that had changed in the last few years. She sat at the keyboard and flicked on the machine. The sound of the hard drive booting sent warm shivers down her spine. Apparently she really liked computers. A thump outside the door drew her out of her high tech fantasy and she went over to investigate.

The doorknob twisted and made a loud crunch. Tara tilted her head to one side. If she didn’t know better, she would have sworn the lock had been snapped. The door opened and the blonde woman from the college came slinking into the room like a graceful and dangerous cat.

Tara screamed and ran for the telephone.

CHAPTER SIX

"Oh, man!" Buffy saw Tara running away. "Tara, come back here!" She sprinted after the blonde and grabbed her around the waist just as she was reaching for the phone.

"No!" Tara screamed. She looked toward the doorway and realized that the demon hunters might also go after Kelly. "No, leave her alone," she yelled as she arched her back to slow down the surprisingly strong blonde gripping her waist. Tara was petrified, frozen with fear, she knew this woman had come to kill her, but she wouldn’t let them hurt Kelly.

"Let me go!" Willow yelled as she pushed past Spike. "I’m going to kill her." She burst into the room and saw Buffy dragging Tara across the room. "Buffy, bring her to me."

Tara’s eyes widened as she got her first good look at Willow. This beautiful, perfect woman wanted to kill her and yet Tara felt like a moth flying to the flame. She relaxed and let the demon hunter drag her away.

"Get away from her!" Kelly stood in the doorway. She held her hand up. Her jet athame was clenched in her fist and she pointed it at Buffy.

"We’re taking her." Buffy hefted Tara over her shoulder and backed toward the door.

"I won’t let them take you, Tara," Kelly said. A burst of energy shot out the end of her athame but Willow stepped into its path.

"Get Tara out of here," Willow said as she held up the link of enchanted chain. It absorbed the blast, but the impact knocked Willow back.

"No. Let me go." Tara struggled to get free. She could hear Kelly fighting with Willow and didn’t want anyone else to die because of her.

"Willow, little help here please," Buffy spun toward the redhead. She winced when Tara kicked her in the ribs.

"Thicken," Willow said as she waved her hand toward Kelly. The raven haired witch staggered as the air around her became as thick as tar.

"Kelly!" Tara screamed. "Oh, god, Kelly. No, don’t hurt her." She looked at Willow and pleaded for Kelly’s life. "Don’t, please."

Willow looked at Tara and her heart crumbled. The beautiful blonde didn’t recognize her. "No," she whispered as she ran toward Tara. When Glory had taken Tara’s mind, there had always been a glimmer of recognition, but now there was nothing. Seeing a stranger in Tara’s eyes ripped Willow’s heart to shreds and tears filled her eyes. She had to get Tara safely away so she did the only thing she could think of. "I’m sorry," Willow said as she held her palm out to Tara. "Sleep," she said as she sent out a spell to knock her lover out.

Tara’s body stiffened with fear as Willow came toward her. The lithe redhead held up her hand and then she apologized. Tara closed her eyes. ‘She’s in so much pain,’ Tara thought as she felt her world closing in around her. ‘Even after all I did, she apologized for taking revenge.’ Tara’s body went limp.

"Leaving would be good," Spike yelled as he leaned into the room. "Blondie’s screaming could wake the dead."

Buffy shifted Tara into her arms and ran for the door.

Willow turned and faced Kelly. The model was squirming against the thickening spell and her eyes were full of hate.

"Do it," Kelly taunted. "You know you want to."

Willow smiled and raised both hands toward the woman who had injured Tara. She remembered the spell she used on Glory and her eyes went black. The ‘pain’ spell had damaged Glory, and it would certainly kill a human.

Willow twisted her head to one side and then focused on Kelly.

"I…owe…you—"

"Willow, no!" Buffy yelled.

Willow paused and turned toward her friend. Tara was hanging limp, her beautiful blonde hair swinging as Buffy shifted the precious cargo in her grip.

"Don’t, Willow," Buffy whispered. "This isn’t who you are." She lifted Tara’s body toward the redhead. "This isn’t who she loves."

Willow closed her eyes and when she opened them again, they were back to their normal green. She glared at Kelly. "Don’t come after her. You bring out the worst in me." She ran toward the door.

Getting out of the hotel with an unconscious woman was surprisingly simple. Giles carried Tara out wrapped in a blanket. They marched out the front door and the bellhop even held the door for him. Apparently they were used to seeing their rock stars carting out drunken fans.

They took her back to Giles’ house since it was one of the few places that Kelly hadn’t been. Buffy put Tara on the couch and covered her with a blanket and then Willow did an awakening spell.

"Why isn’t she opening her eyes?" Anya asked. "Did you do the spell wrong?"

"I did it right." Willow knelt next to her lover and traced her jaw. "Tara?" Willow leaned back on her heels and stared.

"That sexbot probably fried her brain," Anya said sadly. "It’s a shame. We barely got it fixed after Glory sucked it and now it’s fried."

"She’s not fried." Willow stood and went over to Anya and pushed her aside. "It doesn’t matter what Kelly did to her. She’ll be fine."

"Giles, tell her." Anya pointed at Tara. "She shouldn’t…"

"Do shut up, Anya." Giles took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

Tara began waking up. She heard strange voices so she kept her eyes closed and listened.

"We don’t know for sure, right?" Willow asked.

"That dreadful woman has no conscience, Willow," Giles said. "The damage she did…there’s no way of knowing what she’s capable of or if we can fight it."

"I want her dead," Willow said as she spun and faced Giles.

"Willow, you can’t kill her. She’s human," the Watcher said as he moved closer to the redhead.

"I don’t care." Willow’s eyes narrowed and her voice trembled. "She deserves to die."

Tara had no doubt about her fate. Unless she escaped, she would die. She could hear the conviction in Willow’s voice and knew that the redhead must have loved her partner completely.

"We don’t kill people," Giles pointed out.

"But you saw what she did," Willow said as she broke into tears again.

"Hey, we don’t kill people," Buffy said as she came into the room. "No matter what they do. That isn’t our job." She turned Willow toward her. "I know you. You couldn’t kill a human, no matter how angry or hurt you are."

"Buffy, she took her from me." Willow’s lip trembled and she fell into her best friend’s arms and sobbed. "She has to pay."

"She will." Buffy pulled Willow away from the couch. "We’ll make sure she pays, but we can’t kill her."

"I can’t leave her." Willow turned back toward Tara.

"She isn’t going anywhere." Buffy took Willow’s hand. "You need some rest and you won’t get it standing guard over Tara."

"I can’t sleep anywhere else." Willow looked back at her lover and sniffled. "I have to be sure she’s here."

"Okay, honey." Buffy guided Willow into an overstuffed chair. "Just try to rest. Giles will keep an eye on Tara."

"Okay," Willow whispered. She leaned back in the chair and watched Tara until her own eyes drifted shut.

The room was quiet and Tara hadn’t heard any of the demon hunters moving around for some time. She decided it was time to escape. She sat up and saw Willow sleeping in a chair a few feet away. She was relaxed, yet her face was troubled even in sleep. Tara looked around the room. She was alone. She climbed to her feet and tried to tiptoe past the sleeping woman.

"You’re awake," Anya said as she came into the room.

Tara backed into the room and swallowed hard. She was trapped.

"Tara?" Willow’s eyes opened slowly.

The blonde witch spun when she heard her name. It was said with such reverence and caring that it made Tara’s breath catch.

"She’s awake, but I still think she’s fried." Anya smiled at Tara and leaned toward her. She spoke slowly and loudly. "Hello. I’m Anya."

"What are you going to do to me?" Tara spun and looked at Willow.

"Well… we…" Willow wasn’t quite sure what to say to her confused lover. "Tara, it’s me, Willow," she finally said. She smiled warmly and dipped her head.

The action was so endearing Tara almost forgot she was being held captive.

"I’m sorry," Tara said sincerely. "I never wanted to hurt anyone."

Willow’s brow furrowed and she looked over at Anya. "Get Giles and Buffy." She turned back toward Tara and edged closer. "What do you remember?"

"Fried," Anya whispered as she hurried from the room.

Tara wondered who in the group would decide her fate. She studied the beautiful woman and noticed that she had highlights of gold sprinkled throughout her striking red hair.

"What do you remember?" Willow asked gently. She pointed at the couch. "You wanna’ sit?"

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Tara sat on the edge of the couch and frowned. Pain covered Willow’s face and Tara almost jumped to her feet to go to the redhead.

"Why wouldn’t I be?" Willow asked as she backed up and sat in the overstuffed chair.

"You’re awake. Good." Giles walked into the room. "Tara, how are you feeling?"

Buffy hurried in behind him and smiled at Tara. She went to the couch and leaned down in front of the blonde witch. "You feeling groggy?"

Anya and Xander ran in, stumbling to a stop near the table where they had a good view of the situation.

"Are you going to kill me?" Tara blurted out. She couldn’t stand how nice these people were being to her.

Everyone stared at the blonde on the couch.

"I told you her brain’s fried," Anya finally said.

"Anya!" Xander covered his eyes with one hand. She slowly peaked his eyes out from behind his fingers and watched Willow’s face redden with anger.

"Tara, why would you think we want to hurt you?" Buffy moved forward. She could see that Willow was about to burst into tears again. The last thing she needed now was hysterical Willow.

"You’re gonna’ make me say it?" Tara swallowed hard and then looked at Willow. She had murdered the woman’s lover; at least she could look at her. "Because I killed your lover," Tara said shamefully.

"What?" Tears slid down Willow’s cheeks.

"Fried," Anya whispered. Xander cleared his throat to quiet her.

"You’ve been lied to," Giles said as he moved over to Willow and took her hand. "Horribly, heinously lied to."

"We love you, Tara," Willow said as she stood and slowly moved closer to the couch. She knelt in front of Tara and reached for the blonde’s hand but paused. She looked into her slate blue eyes, silently seeking permission.

Tara nodded, but her face was awash in confusion.

"You didn’t hurt my lover… you are my lover." Willow took Tara’s hand and a tiny sob escaped before she could stop it. "Tara, you’re my partner, my everything."

Tara looked down at her hand in Willow’s; it looked right. She felt lightheaded. She knew what Willow was saying couldn’t be true. That would mean that Kelly had lied and she wouldn’t do that.

"What is your last recollection?" Giles asked. "Before this afternoon when Kelly performed the spell?"

"What do you know about Kelly?" Tara pulled her hand away and looked up at Giles. "You people are doing this to punish me, aren’t you?" She stood up and moved away from Willow. "You can’t kill me because I’m human now so this is how you’re punishing me."

"Willow, talk to her," Giles said. "You must get through to her." He could see that Willow was about to fall apart, and she was their only chance to reach Tara.

Willow stood and slowly approached her lover. The blonde was ready to bolt. "Tara, baby, I have no idea what Kelly told you, but she obviously lied." She rested her hand on her chest and smiled at her lover. "You have my heart. I could never hurt you and I’d die before I’d let anyone hurt you."

"I heard you say you wanted to kill me," Tara said quietly. "When you thought I was sleeping."

"Oh, that." Willow frowned and bit her lip. "I was talking about that skank Kelly."

"Tell us what Kelly told you," Buffy suggested. She motioned toward the couch. "And there’ll be no killing."

Tara didn’t want to believe Kelly could ever lie to her, but every time she looked at Willow her heart pounded double time. She moved to the couch and sat. She almost smiled when she saw Willow hurry over to sit next to her. The redhead squirmed on the couch and kept crossing each ankle over the other as if she couldn’t decide which foot to put on top.

"Go ahead," Willow prompted. She smiled while biting the inside of her lip.

"I was a demon," Tara said with a sigh.

"You were not!" Willow’s eyes flashed.

"You were so not," Buffy chimed in.

Tara looked back and forth between the two agitated young women.

"Perhaps we should wait until she finishes her tale before we argue its merits." Giles moved over and sat on the arm of the sofa. He gave Tara an encouraging nod.

"I was part demon," Tara said slowly. She studied Willow, noticing how bothered the redhead was. "And I lost control of that demon." She watched Willow’s eyes narrow and the bridge of her nose crinkled. It was adorable. "Kelly helped me purge the demonic side of my nature," Tara continued.

"Typical." Willow rolled her eyes. "Why am I not surprised that Kelly made herself into the big hero?"

Giles cleared his throat.

"Sorry," Willow whispered.

"You mentioned killing?" Buffy pointed out.

"When I was in my demon form…" Tara pointed at Willow. "I… I killed your lover… didn’t I?"

Willow inhaled sharply and closed her eyes. Her body shook and when she opened her eyes, the green was dark and full of rage. "How could she do that to you?" Willow stood and walked over to the wall and balled her hands into fists. "How could anyone do that to you?"

Tara stood and followed the redhead across the room. She was drawn to her, unable to let her walk away without trying to comfort her in some small way.

"Your entire life you’ve been terrified of turning into a demon and she used that to hurt you?" Willow shuddered. "She said you killed someone?" Willow turned and looked into Tara’s eyes. "You couldn’t kill anyone, Tara. Never." She took Tara’s hand and squeezed it. "I’m so sorry. I know that was your worst fear growing up. It’s not true. You never hurt anyone. I swear."

"And you’re not a demon," Anya added. "Never were. That was a whole ‘nother pack of lies."

"Kelly wouldn’t…" Tara shook her head. "My family…"

"Baby, your father used that demon myth to control you," Willow said as she lifted Tara’s hand and pressed it to her own cheek.

"How do you know my father?" Tara pulled away. "If you really are my friends, then let me call Kelly."

"You really must have fried your brain if you want to call her," Anya said.

"Kelly did this to you!" Willow pointed at Tara’s forehead. "She stole the memories from you, memories of us, of me." Her hand shook and she yanked it away. "How could we know about your family if we aren’t who we say we are? If we wanted to kill you, do you think we’d waste our time playing games?"

"I don’t know," Tara admitted as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Oh, god, don’t cry." Willow burst into tears. "Tara, I’m so sorry." She pulled Tara’s hand to her chest and pressed it over her heart. "Can’t you feel that? I love you. That pitter-patter is for you, just you."

Tara closed her eyes. She could feel something when she touched the redheaded witch, but these people were all strangers.

"Tell her a secret," Buffy said as she rushed forward. "You have to know some big ol’ lover’s secret thing."

Willow looked at Buffy like she had gone insane.

"Oh, come on." Buffy put both hands on her hips. "You two are always talking in your cute little secret language. You have to know something."

Tara and Willow gave Buffy matching confused stares.

"Okay, so there’s no actual language, but you know what I mean." Buffy waved at Willow. "You have to know something that no one else knows about Tara."

"Buffy!" Willow blushed.

"Oh, geeze." Buffy rolled her eyes. "Something not X-rated."

"Ask me anything," Willow, said as she turned to Tara. She smiled, knowing that she was up to any challenge.

"Can I call Kelly?" Tara asked quietly.

Almost any challenge. Willow’s expression fell and her lip quivered. She looked over at Giles.

"I wouldn’t advise it," the Watcher said slowly.

"We can’t just keep her prisoner," Willow said plaintively. She looked back at Tara. "What if you call her to tell her you’re okay, but you don’t tell her where you are?" Willow offered. She was going into full babble mode. "That way you won’t have any guilt about Kelly worrying and we won’t have evil Kelly showing up here with police or nasty spells." Willow smiled triumphantly. "Then we can tell you all about your life with us, and me and, and Miss Kitty! We have a little kitten, a sneaky cat." She smiled slyly and nodded. "She’s the sneakiest cat ever. I have to show you Miss Kitty, and your classes! Oh, I got the homework from your classes emailed to me because you really don’t do the computer thing…" Willow furrowed her brow. "Well, you do it, you just don’t do it well…" Her eyes widened. "Not that you do it bad. It’s just, the computer is my thing, well, our thing… no really more my thing… but you help. You give moral support." Willow smiled brightly.

A lazy grin spread across Tara’s face as she watched the redhead babble. She looked over at the others and they all had amused expressions as if the nonstop talking was perfectly normal. Tara wondered how long the redhead could go without breaking for air.

"And moral support is very important," Willow continued. "They never mention moral support in the manual but let me tell you, there’ve been nights when we were hacking into city records when I couldn’ta done it without you sitting next to…" Willow’s face suddenly went pale. She looked up at Tara. "Not bad hacking, not evil hacking, hacking in the name of good. Good hacking."

Tara bit her lip and continued smiling. She looked over at Buffy and raised one eyebrow.

"Oh, Yeah," Buffy said wryly. "She always does this."

"That’s me. When I’m worried, I babble." Willow shrugged. "And having my wonderful, beautiful, soulmate completely forget who I am is definitely cause for worry." Willow took a deep breath and prepared to launch into round two of babble mode.

"Willow," Tara said as she stepped closer to the adorable witch. "Shh," she whispered as she rested one finger over Willow’s lips. The touch was innocent, and brief, but both witches felt a tingle where their skin made contact. Tara looked into green eyes so clear and crisp they might have been emeralds. She could see hope, and caring, and uncertainty, but mostly she could see love. "Willow, tell me a secret," Tara whispered. She didn’t want to believe that Kelly would lie to her, that her family would lie to her, but this small, powerful woman had a pull like a sun going nova. She was a force of nature.

"What kind of secret?" Willow could feel the heat from Tara’s body and she wanted to pull her lover to her and hold her until all the hurt was gone from both of their lives. "A secret secret, like I’d have to whisper in your ear ‘cause we don’t want anyone knowing…" She looked over at the others and then back to Tara. "Or a little secret that they already know?"

Despite all that was at stake, being near this woman made Tara smile. She couldn’t help it. The woman was certifiably adorable.

"Donnie’s a big jerk, and a bully!" Anya offered. "And Cousin Beth has a nasty mouth on her. Oh, sure, she’s all sweet and docile but make her mad and she’ll call you a bitch!"

"What?" Willow spun and looked at Tara. The redheaded witch was just as confused as Tara was.

"Oops," Anya said. "That was a secret that Tara and I had." She looked over at the blonde witch. "You and I do the girl bonding thing while the Scoobies talk shop. You didn’t want to tell Willow about Beth because you thought she’d call your potty-mouthed cousin on the phone and yell at her."

"Yeah, with good reason," Willow said angrily.

"I had a secret, see? We know you," Anya said as she pointed at Tara. She smiled and turned to Xander. "How was that?"

"You all met my family?" Tara stared at Anya.

"Your whole family came down on your birthday and tried to drag you home," Willow explained. "That’s when we figured out that you weren’t a demon." She cupped Tara’s chin in her hand and locked eyes with her. "You’re not a demon. You never were."

‘Oh, goddess, I could fall in love with her,’ Tara thought as she felt the warmth of Willow’s touch and she heard the soft timbre of her voice. ‘I don’t want the betrayal to be true, but this woman feels like a part of me.’

"Ask me," Willow whispered. The redhead noticed that she was still cupping Tara’s face in her hand and she backed away. "I’m sorry. You don’t even know me and I’m pawing you. I’m so sorry. I’m just so used to… well… Oh, goddess." Willow tucked her hands under her arms. It was the only way she was going to stop reaching out for her lover.

"How?" Tara asked quietly. "How did Kelly…I mean, if Kelly did this, how and why?"

"The why is rather complex I would assume," Giles said. "Though given the frightfully twisted version of reality that she told you, I would say her ultimate goal was to, well, to get you." Giles moved closer. "As to the how, she used dark forces to alter your memories."

"And demon beer," Buffy added helpfully.

"Huh?" Tara stared at the Slayer.

"The Brew of Oblivion," Giles said tolerantly. "Kelly utilized a potion that mimics the Brew of Oblivion."

"No," Tara said with absolute certainty. "Kelly would never do that. T-that’s dangerous… the Brew of Oblivion can be deadly."

"You betcha’ it can," Anya agreed. "You drink too much of that and you’ll forget how to breathe. Heck, you’ll forget how to keep your heart beating." She snorted and rolled her eyes. "Autonomic brain function, my ass. That stuff is soul memory. You forget that stuff and you’re pretty much dead."

Willow’s eyes narrowed and she clenched her jaw. She reached out and took Tara’s hand. "I won’t let her hurt you again. I swear it."

"She wouldn’t do that," Tara insisted. She looked down at her hand in Willow’s and felt a sense of dread. Willow’s touch felt so right, so perfect, and if the connection she felt with the beautiful witch was real… then Kelly had done all of the terrible things these strangers said. She looked up into Willow’s face, needing an anchor, needing strength, needing love. She found it all in Willow’s gentle eyes. "Tell me about the last three years," Tara asked.

"I only know about the last year and a half," Willow said. "Well, you told me about the rest, but I’ve only known you for a year and a half, nineteen months." A goofy grin covered her face. "Nineteen months two weeks and three days."

"Oh, god, Tara save us." Buffy shook her head. "Just ask Willow a secret. She’ll go through every single day if we let her."

"I have pictures!" Willow bounced up and down on her toes. "Well, not for all the time but for some."

"When did Kelly and I break up again?" Tara asked. "After she came back to me."

"Baby, she never came back," Willow said as her eyes filled with pain for her lover. "Not until last night."

"No." Tara shook her head. She backed away. "No. Kelly… she… no." Tara put both hands over her eyes and began to quietly sob. She couldn’t believe that everything had been untrue. She remembered cuddling in bed at the hotel, kissing Kelly, and worst of all, Tara remembered feeling guilty for not escalating their intimacy. Kelly had wanted to make love, Tara knew that from the way she had touched her, and now the Tara felt dirty and used. It was too much for her.

"Tara?" Willow asked gently.

"No," Tara said. "I don’t know any of you." She felt like she was going to hyperventilate as she backed into the wall. "Kelly told me you’d say things to hurt me."

"Fried," Anya said as she tossed her hands into the air.

"Buffy!" Dawn came running into the room. She looked terrified. "Kelly just pulled up in front of the house and she looks really pissed."

"Hey, language, young lady," Buffy chastised. She ran toward the door, pausing to gently move Dawn off to one side. "Stay here, out of the way. And no bad language."

Dawn rolled her eyes, but she stayed out of the way.

Just hearing Kelly’s name sent a wave of relief through Tara’s body. No matter how much she was drawn to Willow and her demon hunting friends, they were strangers. A part of Tara wanted the entire thing to be some awful nightmare, a nightmare she would wake up from and find that no one had lied to her, not her family and certainly not Kelly.

"Come on." Willow grabbed Tara’s hand and started to pull her toward the back of the house. She felt the tension in her lover’s hand and paused. "Tara?"

The blonde witch stood frozen. Her eyes darted back and forth from Willow to the front of the house.

"We should get her out of here," Anya said. She gave Xander a shove. "Take her out the back door before the sexbot gets her."

"I want to see Kelly," Tara said firmly.

"Willow, we can’t have her being taken." Giles raised his eyebrows meaningfully. The redheaded witch understood immediately. He wanted her to use her sleep spell on her lover.

"Guys. We’ve got trouble," Buffy said as she leaned into the room. "Big trouble with uniforms, badges, and guns."

Willow’s eyes narrowed. "It won’t matter." She moved forward with a determined, protective stance.

"Willow…" Buffy grabbed her best friend’s arm. "You going to jail won’t help."

"Let me talk to them," Tara whispered. "They think you kidnapped me."

"And technically, we did," Xander pointed out. "And I don’t think claiming that a famous supermodel witchy-mind-erased Tara is gonna’ fly."

"I don’t want you people going to jail," Tara said. "I’ll talk to them." She looked into Willow’s eyes. "If what you say is true, then you’re my friends and you’re helping me."

"And if what we’re saying isn’t true?" Giles asked. He was playing devil’s advocate since one word from Tara could put them all in the county jail.

"Then I’m a murderous demon and you shouldn’t go to jail for punishing me," Tara said honestly.

"Can I just point out that brain-fried Tara is liable to sell us out to the cops and run off with the sexbot?" Anya raised her hand in the air. "Did any of you think of that?"

"She won’t do that to us," Willow said with absolute certainty.

"Okay then," Buffy said. She nodded toward the front of the building. "Let’s go talk to the many nice policemen with the many, many shiny guns." She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "Because I’ve had such wonderful luck with Sunnydale police officers in the past…" She rolled her eyes and headed out to face her fate. Images of interrogations filled her mind.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Tara stepped onto the porch and took a deep breath. She had never been known for her acting skills and now she had to convince several menacing looking police officers that she was calm and happy. She smiled weakly as two uniformed officers climbed from their patrol car and walked purposefully up the path.

"Tara!" Kelly tried to run toward the blonde witch but one of the detectives grabbed the model and held her back.

Willow came out of the door and stepped in front of Tara. She wasn’t going to let Kelly anywhere near her lover. She looked over and gave Tara a half smile as the two officers approached.

"Miss Maclay?" the taller officer asked. "I’m Officer Williams. Miss Larson has some concerns for your well being." He eyed Willow and rested his hand on the handle of his service revolver. "Are you here of your own free will?"

"I’m fine," Tara insisted, though her voice was shaking. She looked over and saw Kelly struggling to get closer.

"They kidnapped her!" Kelly yelled. "Tara, sweetie, they can’t hurt you with the police here."

Willow surged forward, the hatred in her eyes flashing. The officers both gripped their weapons and Willow took a step back closer to Tara.

"It w-was a mistake," Tara bluffed. She smiled unconvincingly. "A p-prank." She bit her lip and shrugged at the officers.

"You know us crazy college kids." Willow smiled. "We’re crazy, zany even."

"This is very serious," Officer Williams said. He glared at Kelly. "We don’t like our time being wasted, even by celebrities."

"Tara, tell them the truth," Kelly said as she grabbed Williams and pulled him closer. "Get her away from this woman and ask her. They’re threatening her."

Williams glared at Kelly, staring at her hand on his arm. She moved her hand and he looked over at Tara and cleared his throat. "Miss Maclay, if you’ll come with me please?" He motioned toward his patrol car.

Willow panicked. She wanted to grab her lover and spirit her away but she couldn’t. She looked at Tara, her eyes pleading. She had to trust that the blonde Wiccan wouldn’t bolt.

Tara nodded and walked away with Officer Williams as the other officer stepped forward and watched Willow.

Kelly ran to Tara as soon as the blonde was out of Willow’s grasp. She pulled her into a hug and let out a sigh of relief. "Sweetie, I was so scared."

Tara closed her eyes and tried to listen to her body. Kelly’s embrace was familiar, but it was also slightly unsettling. She wondered if it was because of the things Willow had told her, or if she was still hurting over Kelly’s sleeping with Claire.

"Tell them," Kelly said as she pulled back and took both of Tara’s hands. "Tell them this psycho kidnapped you."

"Hey!" Willow glared at Kelly. She glanced back at the door and noticed that Buffy and the rest of the Scoobies were nowhere to be seen. Apparently she was supposed to charm the police, except that Willow Rosenberg was not known for her ability to lie. Willow always told the truth, always. "Tell them what happened, Tara," Willow said. "Tell them it was a dorm prank." Apparently, lying wasn’t as difficult as Willow had thought.

"Miss Maclay?" the officer asked.

"It was a p-prank," Tara said. "I’m r-really s-sorry you were scared." She looked over at Kelly and pulled her hands away. "Willow’s in my dorm, and it was j-just a joke."

"Not a very funny one," Williams said angrily. He gave Kelly a disgusted look and then nodded at his partner. "Come on, just some stupid college kids."

"You can’t just let them go!" Kelly pointed at Willow. "She’s dangerous. At least give Tara and I a ride back to our hotel."

Willow’s eyes widened as the officer nodded and motioned for Tara to come with them.

"No," Tara said. She pulled away from Kelly and moved back toward Willow. "I have business here," she said grimly. "One way or another."

Kelly shook her head.

"You coming?" Williams asked.

"Not without Tara." Kelly jogged back to the blonde witch and took her hand possessively.

"Sure, feel free to stay." Willow’s eyes narrowed and she rubbed her fingers together as she began drawing her mystical energy. "We have a lot to talk about." Her eyes were locked on Kelly’s hand holding Tara’s.

"I don’t want to get called back here," Williams warned. He noticed the possessive posturing between the two women. He figured the blonde was cheating on one with the other.

"N-no, sir," Tara promised. She bit her lip and tried to smile, but she was actually terrified. She didn’t like the idea of Kelly staying. If Tara was wrong about Willow and her demon hunting friends, she didn’t want Kelly in danger.

"I mean it," Williams said. He picked up his radio and called his dispatcher and reported that he was available for calls.

"Come inside," Willow said. She smiled, but there was nothing friendly in the gesture. She looked like an executioner inviting her victim to sit down at the electric chair.

"Please, Willow," Tara said quickly. She rushed over to the redhead and took her hand. Both women felt a surge of energy when their fingers met. "Don’t hurt her."

"Tara, she wants to kill you," Kelly said. "She’s tricking you." She looked toward the street and saw the officers pulling away from the curb. They turned around and disappeared down the street.

"She won’t hurt me," Tara turned toward Kelly. "She knows I’m human now. She won’t hurt me." She nodded toward the house. "I have to figure this out."

Kelly reached out her hand and Tara inhaled sharply as the raven hared witch pulled her across the walkway with her mind.

"Kelly?" Tara was shocked. She hadn’t remembered Kelly having telekinetic powers.

"What are you doing to her!" Willow leaped down from the stairs and wrapped her arms around Tara from behind.

"Easy there, Broomhilda," Xander said as he came running out of the building.

"Get away from her." Kelly raised her hand toward Willow.

"No!" Tara jumped in front of the redhead. "Stop it. Everyone."

"Now you help?" Willow glared at Xander. "Where were you when the police were grilling me?"

"That was so not grilling," Buffy said as she came out of the door. "I’ve been grilled, and that was not even sautéing."

"Tara, we should go," Kelly said. "They’re toying with you."

"We know about the Brew of Oblivion," Giles said. He stepped onto the porch and held up the relics from her spell.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Kelly looked shocked. She wrapped her arms around her chest and sobbed. "Sweetie, these are strangers and you believe them?" Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Kelly, honey…" Tara broke away from Willow and ran to the crying woman. "I… I don’t know what to think."

"I love you, Tara," Kelly said. "I’m here for you."

"You lying bitch." Willow rushed forward but Buffy grabbed her from behind and held her in place. "You don’t know what love is. How could you let Tara think she killed someone?"

"She wants to break us up," Kelly said as she cupped Tara’s cheeks in her hands. "She’s trying to get revenge."

Willow was struggling to get free but Buffy held her securely. The Slayer leaned forward and tried to calm her friend. "Willow, you have to know some secret," Buffy whispered. "Something she never told anyone else."

"I can’t think of anything, damn it!" Willow sobbed.

"Tara, let’s go," Kelly said. "I don’t know why they let you go, but they are dangerous."

"Come on," Buffy prompted. "All those nights you two stayed awake cuddling and talking. Think."

Willow closed her eyes. She couldn’t stand seeing Kelly put her hands all over Tara. She pictured her own nights with Tara, lying in the gentle blonde’s arms. She pictured the two of them on their backs looking up at the night sky from the roof of the dormitory. They would often sneak onto the roof by climbing up the fire escape and just be together looking up at the stars. A smile spread across Willow’s face and her body relaxed.

"You thought of it, didn’t you?" Buffy asked with a smirk. She relaxed her hold and watched as Willow straightened her back and cleared her throat.

"Tara?" Willow said quietly, her voice full of love. "Baby?"

"Don’t call her th—" Kelly began, but Tara turned toward the redhead before she could finish.

"Tara?" Willow asked again. She smiled and moved closer. She pointed at Kelly. "You never trusted her. You won’t ever tell her." She smiled and crossed her arms over her chest. "You never trusted anyone with it."

"She’s tricking you," Kelly said. She pulled Tara’s hand.

"What?" Tara asked. She looked into Willow’s green eyes and saw them sparkling with happiness, love and more than a little smugness.

"Ask Kelly where she would go to find the Big Pineapple?" Willow smirked.

Tara’s eyes shot open wide and her mouth went dry. She had never felt safe sharing her secret constellation names for the stars with anyone. She never found anyone she trusted enough to risk being teased.

Kelly’s eyes narrowed and she tried to grab Tara’s hand.

"Tell her," Willow challenged as she looked at Kelly and her smirk blossomed into a huge grin.

Tara spun and looked at Kelly. "I always knew when I was safe with someone, really safe, I’d tell her about the Big Pineapple." She looked over at Willow and smiled. "And where to find it." She looked back at Kelly. "Where would you go to find the Big Pineapple?"

"Maui," Kelly guessed.

"You lied to me," Tara said sadly. "You let me think I killed someone. How could you?"

"You’re going to believe her based on oversized fruit?" Kelly demanded.

"Oversized fruit?" Buffy nodded approvingly. "Impressive enough to kick your ass."

"I believe we should bring this conversation inside," Giles said. He removed his glasses and gave Kelly a challenging glance. "You can come in or you can leave." He nodded for Xander to go inside and then watched as Buffy marched inside.

"Come on," Willow said. She held out her hand to Tara.

Tara paused and furrowed her brow.

"You find the Big Pineapple by looking at the Stack of Crackers and tilting your head right over there." She lifted Tara’s chin and tilted her head back until she was looking up into the sky.

Tara smiled and took Willow’s hand and followed her into the house.

Kelly reached into her pocket and gripped her athame. She could still win if she waited from the right time to make her move. "Tara, wait for me." She ran after the blonde.

"Well, isn’t this a civil little gathering." Spike was sitting on the back of the couch with his feet resting in the middle of the cushions. He watched as the group wandered back in, shaking his head. "Everyone all nicey nice and no one killing or maiming." He looked over at Willow and sighed. "I’m disappointed, Red."

"Spike, do get your feet off of my couch." Giles walked over to the fireplace mantle and rested one elbow on the thin flat counter.

"What now?" Kelly challenged. "You’ve tricked Tara into believing who knows what…"

"Shut up." Willow pulled Tara behind her and faced the black haired witch. "You don’t get to talk about anyone tricking Tara."

"Give her back her memories," Buffy ordered. She walked over to Kelly and stood in front of her, glaring.

"Or what?" Kelly rolled her eyes, dismissing the petite blonde.

Buffy grabbed Kelly and threw her across the room into the wall. The witch hit the brick surface before she even had time to register Buffy’s movements.

"Or that." Buffy rushed toward the fallen model.

"Buffy, no." Giles intercepted the angry Slayer.

"How did she…" Tara stared at the small blonde wondering how she had managed to throw Kelly fifteen feet across the room.

"Your demon side infected her," Kelly said as she rubbed her shoulder. She had impacted hard and was still shaky.

"T-that’s not possible." Tara studied Kelly, realizing that she could lie while looking completely sincere. It was unnerving.

"Especially since… oh, I don’t know…since your NOT a demon." Willow faced Kelly. "Give her back her memories."

"Let me convince her," Buffy said. She smiled like a snake watching a sleeping bird.

"No," Giles said firmly. "You cannot harm humans." He looked over at the dark haired witch with disgust. "No matter how vile they are."

"We don’t even know if she can fix Tara," Anya pointed out.

"Kelly, put her back to the way she was," Dawn pleaded.

"I can fix things," Kelly said a bit too calmly. She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out her athame and pointed the tip of the black dagger at Tara. She smiled and twisted the sacred tool in her hand until she held the black stone blade in both hands and then snapped it in half. "Deu, serve me," she whispered and then looked down at the two pieces of the athame. They began to hum and the silver lotus markings began to glow.

"That doesn’t look like fixing," Willow whined. She pushed Tara behind her to keep her lover safe.

"What are you doing?" Tara held onto Willow’s wisp thin waist and watched as Kelly’s eyes turned coal black.

"Kishimojin, return my love and banish these infidels," Kelly chanted as her body shook and she smiled. Buffy rushed forward but she was tossed back by a green barrier that appeared as soon as the Slayer tried to grab the raven-haired witch.

"She’s summoning rakshas demons." Anya backed away as quickly as she could, almost tripping over the table in her haste to escape. "The major mother of all Raksha demons. Kishimojin protects her followers and believe me, she can kick our asses. The lotus on the blade, that’s Kishimojin’s symbol."

"Kishimonjin protects faithful disciples," Tara corrected. "And only as long as they are striving to spread the ways of love and mystic law." She moved alongside Willow and took her hand. "Kelly, don’t do this. You can’t control it. You can’t use this for your own selfish desires."

The broken blade continued glowing and Kelly’s eyes rolled back into her head. Her body stiffened and then she snapped her head forward and opened her eyes. They were no longer black; both of her eyes were completely red like a demonic rat.

"You are mine." Kelly reached her hand toward Tara and the blonde witch slid across the floor toward her.

"No!" Willow grabbed Tara with both hands and both of the witches were dragged toward Kelly. The model smiled, baring serpent fangs and a blue forked tongue.

"That doesn’t look human," Buffy said as she looked for a weapon. "Can I kill her now?"

"Technically she’s human," Anya pointed out. "Just possessed. But go right ahead and kill her. Slay away!"

"No," Giles said. "She is human."

"Human and dragging us toward her slimy snake tongue," Willow yelled. The redhead was holding one arm around Tara and the other was hooked over the arm side of the couch.

"Kelly, don’t do this," Tara pleaded. She watched as her former lover’s head bobbed from side to side like a cobra. "You upset the balance. Oh, Kelly, no," Tara whispered. "You had no right to summon Kishimojin."

"Well, that sucks!" Anya ran behind the counter top and waved her hand at Kelly. "Now the rashanas will dole out something nasty to her. Something nasty that we will have to clean up."

"Can you be a little more specific?" Buffy leaped through the air and tried to kick Kelly in the chest but the raven-haired witch swatted her away like a fly.

"She told Tara she was a murdering demon," Spike pointed out. "I’m betting the nasty witch might get a bit of her own medicine. Either that or a tornado will drop a house on her sister."

"She’s a demon," Tara said as she pointed at her former lover. "That would create karmic symmetry." She shook her head as she realized that Kelly would now face the fate she terrified Tara with.

"Oh! I can kill demons!" Buffy ran to the wall and pulled down a sword. She moved toward Kelly, but then paused to look at Giles and he frowned. "I can kill her, right?" she whined. "Well, what can I kill, damn it?"

"You cannot harm me." Kelly laughed and took a dangerous swipe at Buffy. The Slayer swung the sword and it hit Kelly in the stomach but it bounced off. The possessed witch turned to Tara and smiled. "Tara, you can join me. It feels so good. The power…" She ran her hands over her arms and laughed. "It’s incredible."

Tara shook her head and her lips trembled.

"I invoke all the power of the night," Kelly said as she circled the room trying to get a good angle to attack Buffy. "And darkness fills my soul with second sight. All that moves without the light shall guide me in this holy fight."

"And now she’s rhyming like a demon Jessie Jackson," Xander said. "That can’t be good."

"And the poetry’s bad," Spike said. "Really bad."

Kelly glared at Buffy and the Slayer went flying across the room and landed with a thump against the wall.

"Giles!" Buffy yelled angrily. "Can I please kill the evil demon witch? Pretty please?"

"I’m so sorry," Giles said to Kelly. "We didn’t want to harm you."

"Go, Buffy!" Anya yelled. "Go with the killing. Yea killing!"

Xander’s jaw dropped as he looked at his girlfriend.

"What? She’s evil," Anya said as she pointed at Kelly. "Killing evil is good. It’s not like I want Buffy to skin little babies alive and cover them with peppercorns and roast them over a hickory fire pit."

"And that image just jumped into your mind?" Willow asked disgustedly. "What the hell goes on in the head of yours?"

Anya bit her lip and decided she probably shouldn’t share that particular demonic recipe from the middle ages.

"Wind!" Kelly waved her hands in front of her body and a whirlwind appeared. She batted her hand at Willow and the whirlwind shot over and tossed the redhead around the room.

"No." Tara stepped forward and decided to level the playing field. "I call upon the five mystic laws of the Gonhonzon. Protect me." Tara lifted both palms toward the ceiling and closed her eyes. "All demons that roam the night, all beasts that serve darkness come forward and face your sister."

"No!" Willow yelled.

"Bad idea!" Buffy yelled. She ran toward Tara. "Are you insane?"

Spike jumped into Buffy’s path and kept her from Tara. He looked down at his hands. He hadn’t intended to move and yet he was now fending off the Slayer as she tried to grab Tara.

"Oh, this is just grand," Spike said as he backed away from Buffy. He glared at Tara. "What the bloody hell were you thinking."

"S-she has demon powers." Tara pointed at Kelly. "Now, any demons in the area w-will protect me…us."

"Oh, my god." Anya let out a frustrated growl. "And people say I’m dense?"

"W-well… h-how many demons could t-there be in the area?" Tara asked. She looked over at Spike and frowned. "And why did he protect me?"

"Hello? This is Sunny-freaking-dale?" Anya waved her hands in the air.

"He’s a demon." Willow pointed at Spike.

"What?" Tara looked at Spike and tilted her head to one side.

"Vampire, actually." Spike morphed and bared his fangs.

"It won’t matter." Kelly tossed Spike aside moved toward Tara. "You can’t stop me."

The front window shattered and a half dozen vampires charged into the house.

"Maybe I can’t, but it’s about to become vamp central in here," Spike said with a smirk. "This I gotta’ see."

Kelly spun and stared at the vampires. They were all coming toward Tara.

"Why are we here?" one of the vampires asked. He was confused and kept spinning to look around the room.

"Who summoned us?" a second vampire asked.

"Um…" Tara shrugged and backed over to Willow. She pointed at Kelly. "Get… her?" Tara said uncertainly.

The small mob of vampires growled and attacked Kelly. She fought them off, flinging them in every direction, but more began pouring through the broken window. A few demons wandered in as well. Most attacked Kelly, but some noticed the other humans and went after them.

"Gee thanks, Tara!" Xander said when a blue horned Keklor demon hit him with a chair.

"I didn’t invite any of them in." Giles stared as his house began to look like Willie’s bar on a Friday night, a bad Friday night.

"No invitation required," Anya said as she sighed and waved her hand at the growing crowd. "She invoked them as protectors so where she goes…they go."

"Well uninvoke them!" Buffy yelled.

Anya smacked a vampire with a bottle of wine and then ran over near Tara. "Tell them to sit or something."

"How can this be?" Kelly was weakening, and more demons were coming in every second.

"Welcome to the hellmouth." Willow put both hands on her hips and smirked at the possessed witch. "Give up yet?"

Anya hurried over to the front door, which was now in several pieces on the floor. A steady trail of assorted demons came in over the shattered oak door and Anya tried to take charge.

"Okay, you, demons… a little order here please?" She waved her hand at a large slime demon. "Okay, any oozing demons, please stay on the tile. Vampires…oh…" She looked over at the large picture window at the front of the house. It was shattered and vampires were crawling in over the tops of each other. "Vampires…you just keep on doing what you’re doing. Good vampires. Attack the sexbot witch."

"Um, Tara?" Buffy kicked a vampire and then staked him. "Point the goon squad at the evil witch…pretty please?"

"No! Bad slime demon!" Anya slapped the monster as it oozed onto the carpet. "That stuff does not come out."

"Stop her," Tara ordered. She pointed at Kelly and the mob stampeded toward the raven-haired witch. "But don’t kill her!" She looked at Willow. "Where are they all coming from?"

"What, you’re kidding, right?" Dawn said from behind the couch. "This is nothing. Wait ‘til the ones from the graveyard get here."

"And the burned out high school," Xander added. "Can’t forget that lovely little vacation get away."

"Undo the spell!" Buffy yelled. "Before the fire marshal shows up and tickets Giles for exceeding the demon limit in a private dwelling."

"What is the demon limit in a private dwelling?" Willow quirked her brow. "I mean, this is Sunnydale…they might actually have a law on the books."

"Willow! Just help Tara call these things off," Buffy yelled.

"Oh, yeah." Willow grabbed Tara’s hand. "Can you undo that invocation?"

Tara nodded mutely. She was in shock. She had expected maybe one, perhaps two demons to eventually show up to answer her call. The flood of demons had overwhelmed her.

"Um, can I point something out here?" Anya asked as she jumped out of the way of a vampire. Kelly was tossing the creatures in every direction. "That whole breaking the spell? Not such a good idea…"

"Gonhonzon, take back your children from the night…" Tara said as she held Willow’s hand.

"Good heavens!" Giles spun and looked at Tara and his face went pale. "No!"

Willow closed her eyes and sent out all of her energy to help Tara cast the spell. A ball of light shot out across the room and the vampires and demons stopped fighting with Kelly.

"Great," Anya said. "Now we have a house full of demons…who are not under any control."

"Uh oh," Willow said when she saw a group of vampires turn and snarl at her.

"B-but you said to un-invoke them!" Tara pointed at Buffy. The Slayer now had a mob of vampires attacking her.

"Un-invoke," Buffy yelled as several more vampires charged her. "I said un-invoke them! I never said sick them on me!"

CHAPTER EIGHT

Buffy was being pushed back by a huge mob of vampires. Tara and Willow were trying to avoid the undead mob as well as the variety of demons moving around the room looking for a meal.

"Geeze, Tara!" Buffy staked a vampire and then did a back-flip so she could get some room to fight. "Revoke them."

"What?" Tara looked at Buffy and the squealed when a green demon with red eyes jumped toward her.

"Hands off, mister!" Willow deflected him with a large club. She looked down at the beast and saw that he didn’t actually have hands. He had scaly limbs that resembled tentacles. "Well, not hands off… but well, whatever those are…keep them off of my girlfriend!" She hit the demon with the club and it shrieked and crawled away.

"Wow," Tara said as she watched Willow defending her. "You…y-you hit him." She stared at the tentacled beast. "Hard."

"He was gonna’ hurt you," Willow said as if that explained everything. She grabbed Tara and pulled her down as a vampire leaped past her. "Honey, can you fix this?"

"Yes, fixing this would be good," Buffy yelled. "Revoke them."

"Like… revoke their license to be here?" Tara asked.

"I believe Buffy means re-invoke them," Giles said as he staked a vampire. "And I strongly advise another course of action." She staked another vampire. "Any other course of action. We don’t want more demons showing up."

Kelly was taking more of a beating than Buffy. The model turned demon had no experience brawling with hordes of demonic forces and she looked a little worse for the wear. She had slashes and bruises and her designer clothes were torn to pieces. She turned toward Willow and focused her rage.

"This is all your fault!" Kelly yelled. She tossed two vampires out of her way and ran toward Willow. She lifted her hand and razor sharp claws shot out the ends of her fingers.

Tara saw Kelly swing at Willow and she pulled the redhead out of the way. Kelly’s razor sharp talons sliced through Tara’s forearm sending up a spray of blood. The blonde witch cringed but she didn’t move out of the way. She couldn’t let Kelly hurt Willow. She pushed the redhead ahead of her as she herded her across the room away from the angry model

"Willow, with all these vampires, now would be a good time for that Olaf-calling-ball-of-light-spell," Anya yelled. She ducked and then jumped over the counter into the kitchen. A slime demon followed her and she pulled open a drawer in search of a weapon. "Stay back!" she yelled and then ran a rounded pizza slicer up his oozing, mucus-covered arm. "Well, that did a big fat nothing." She frowned and poked him in the eye with the pizza slicer and then threw it at him.

"I need Tara for that spell," Willow said as she turned toward her lover. "Oh, my god." She grabbed Tara’s arm and tried to slow the pulsing spurts of blood. "Buffy, Tara’s hurt!"

"Little busy here," Buffy said hoarsely. A brakken demon had her by the neck and was pounding her against the wall. She kicked him and then broke his grip and squirmed loose.

"What spell?" Tara asked. She saw several vampires attacking Kelly, but some were fighting with other demons. Apparently the demons were having the equivalent of a barroom brawl.

"It’s a light spell, but you’re hurt." Willow frowned at the wound marring her lover’s arm. Blood was running out from between Willow’s fingers despite the fact that she was squeezing the injury as tightly as she could.

"What will that do?" Tara asked. Her eyes widened when she saw a vampire coming toward her. It disappeared in a cloud of dust and she saw Giles standing behind it with a freshly fired crossbow.

"If it works…and it doesn’t unleash trolls…it will flood the room with sunlight." Willow pulled Tara toward the kitchen so she could get some towels to slow the bleeding.

"And that will help because?" Tara cringed as Willow shifted her grip to control the bleeding.

"Vamps go poof in the sun," Willow said. "Hold on," she said as she grabbed Tara’s uninjured hand and pressed it over the wound. She grabbed a pot from the stove and slammed it over the head of a demon that was trying to choke Anya.

"Makes them go poof all-righty," Anya said. "And it might counteract the sexbot’s spell."

"How?" Willow asked. She yanked open a cupboard and tossed Anya a steel mace.

"So that’s where Giles put this." Anya caught the medieval weapon and began bludgeoning the demon. "It’s suppose to go under the sink with the cookie sheets."

"Here," Willow said as she handed Tara a wooden cross. "Hold this up at any vampires." She wrapped a thick towel around Tara’s arm and looked over at Anya.

Anya was standing over the demon and pummeling its thoroughly crushed skull. The former demon had a determined look as she happily continued pounding despite the fact that bits of demonic brain matter were being flung across the tiny kitchen with each swing.

"It’s dead already," Willow said as she tried not to vomit.

"I know that." Anya smashed its skull one more time. "He pissed me off." She held out her arm revealing a green viscous stain. "This blouse is ruined. I warned the slime demons to stay on the damn tile."

"We should do the spell." Tara inhaled sharply when a vampire tried to come into the kitchen. She held up the cross and cringed. "Willow!"

The redhead turned and saw the vampire hissing at the cross. She opened a cupboard and grabbed a crossbow and shot him. "Good job, honey." She smiled at Tara. "You’re doing great."

"The spell?" Tara asked again. She didn’t want any more creatures coming into the kitchen.

"Well, I have an emergency kit with the herbs and stuff right over there," Willow said as she pointed at a ‘Wallace and Gromit’ cookie jar. "But you aren’t in any shape to cast."

"Hello?" Anya swung the mace, flinging bits of demon as she spoke. "She was well enough to put out the demon call to beat all demon calls."

"Good point," Willow said. She picked a bit of flesh off of her arm and frowned. "Stop flinging demon on me."

"Let’s do it," Tara said.

Buffy had managed to kill a dozen or so demons, but there were still more vampires than she could count. She looked over and saw that Kelly was choking a large demon that was covered with fur. ‘Well, at least they’re keeping her busy,’ the Slayer thought as she staked another vampire. She sighed and ran toward another group of vampires. "Like my night didn’t already suck enough as it is?" she asked under her breath.

Giles and Xander had chased some of the demons back onto the lawn but things were not going well.

"Just what we need," Xander said as he poked at a vampire with a wooden curtain rod. He looked down the street and listened intently. "Sirens. Just great." He looked over at Giles. "You explain to the cops what all these underaged demons are doing here. No more demon keggers for you, Giles."

"Lovely," Giles said under his breath. "Just bloody lovely."

Back inside the kitchen, Willow and Tara finished setting up the sunshine spell.

"Okay, hold my hand and pray for no trolls," Willow said. She held a small bowl of herbs in one hand and nodded toward the living room. "No trolls, I am definitely gonna’ vote no on the trolls."

"Me too!" Anya smiled brightly. "Mark me down for no on trolls. A decisive no on trolls. No dimpled chads here."

"Dimpled chads?" Tara’s confusion was obvious.

"Oh, baby, I wish I never had to explain that one." Willow shivered. "Come on." She pushed through the door and narrowly avoided being trampled by two vampires brawling. She nodded to Anya and the former demon held up a piece of paper.

Tara a leaned over and read the incantation with Willow. The redhead had completely remixed the spell’s ingredients, since the first attempt had unleashed an angry troll. They spoke the words in perfect harmony. The spell was short and to the point.

"Spirits of light, I invoke thee. Let the gloom of darkness part before you," the two said in unison. A small orange orb appeared in the brass bowl.

"Let the moonlight be made pale by your presence," Tara read. She held Willow’s hand in hers and focused. She could feel Willow’s power, and it resonated with her own.

"Spirits of light, grant my wishes," Willow said. She smiled as the orb grew in size and flickered. She could feel the surge of power coming from her union with Tara. Her memory loss didn’t matter; their souls knew each other.

Anya screamed and ran across the room. She dove through the air and hit Spike in a full body tackle and drove him out the front door of the house just as a blinding light appeared.

Willow and Tara blinked as they saw the huge ball of light hovering in the middle of the room. Vampires burst into flames and howled as they turned to dust. A few stumbled outside and rolled on the lawn to extinguish the flames.

"Now that’s a ball of sunshine," Willow said proudly.

"And troll-free," Tara added.

"Way to kick vampire ass, Willow," Buffy said as she stared at the ball of light. It flickered out and then disappeared but it had served its purpose.

"The new and improved ball of sunshine," Willow said. "Now with one hundred percent fewer trolls."

The other demons stopped fighting and looked around. They realized they were in over their heads and ran for the door.

"Do you do this every night?" Tara asked.

"Well, not here in Giles’ house," Willow said, clearly horrified by that thought. She bit her lip and cringed. "But…well…yes…pretty much."

"Whoa." Buffy pointed at Kelly. She was unconscious on the floor next to the shattered door. "Not good."

"Oh, no." Tara ran to her exlover and fell onto the floor next to her. "Is she okay?"

On the front lawn, Spike was not amused.

"What the bloody hell was that for?" He tried to climb to his feet but Anya was on top of his back and his face was pressing into the lawn. "Get off," he said as he spit out a mouthful of grass.

"You’re welcome," Anya said. She pointed into the house.

"Did Red do that?" Spike asked. He watched as several flaming vampires came running out of the building. "Impressive."

"I’m not going to be impressed until I make sure there are no trolls." Anya climbed to her feet and waved at Xander. "Hi, honey. Way to stab that vampire." She cringed. "Sorry," she said when her boyfriend was hit in the side of the head. "My bad. I’ll stop distracting you now."

Two patrol cars slid to a stop in front of the house. Most of the demons had already scurried away and the sight of the police sent the rest into the shadows. Officer Williams climbed out of his car and he was not happy. He looked at the shattered window and then glared at Giles and Xander. Both were covered in bruises and had their shirts mostly torn off.

"Let me guess," Williams said. "More colleges pranks?"

"Oh, dear." Giles straightened his glasses, which was only for effect. The glass was cracked on one side and missing on the other.

The officer opened his ticket book and flicked his ballpoint pen into position. He was going to enjoy writing up this particular ‘disturbing the peace’ report.

"Get away from me!" Kelly screamed from inside the house. She came stumbling out the front door and burst into tears when she saw the police officers. "Thank god!" She ran to them and threw her arms around Officer Williams.

"Uh, ma’am?" He squirmed and looked over at his partner. The younger officer moved closer and pried Kelly off of Williams.

"This place is crawling with monsters!" Kelly said. Her eyes were wild and feral and she was pointing in every direction. "Monsters. Everywhere!"

"She’s quite mad," Giles said. "She attacked my party guests." He pointed at the front door. "Look what she did to my antique knocker."

"No! There were monsters everywhere," Kelly insisted. "Demons and vampires. Lot of vampires."

"Yes, of course there were," Williams said. He looked over at his partner. "5150," he said with a smirk. It was the radio code for an insane person.

"I saw them," Kelly said. She yanked away and held out her hands. "I was one. I was a demon. I had claws." She showed the officers her fingernails, which were perfectly manicured.

"I see them," Williams said.

"I don’t have them now," Kelly yelled.

"Drugs," Spike whispered to the officers. "Those Hollywood types are always doing drugs."

"And she tried to kill us all," Xander said. "She, ah… threw a chair through the front window. See?" He pointed at the broken window.

"I saw monsters," Kelly insisted. She grabbed Williams and tried to pull him toward the house.

"Easy there." Williams pulled away and held her firm in his grip as his partner moved closer.

"What’s next? I see dead people," Anya said sarcastically as she circled her finger near her temple. She smirked when the officers nodded in agreement.

Behind the officers, out of their view, Spike morhped into his vampire form and bared his teeth. Kelly let out a blood-curdling scream and pointed.

The officers turned toward Spike but he had returned to his human appearance. "Drugs," Spike said solemnly. "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."

"That’s a college slogan," Xander pointed out.

"So sue me," Spike said. He smiled at Kelly but she was shaking and trying to break free from the officers.

"Perhaps you could see to it that Miss Larson gets the help she so desperately needs?" Giles suggested.

"We will," Williams said. "I should’ve known she wasn’t right when she thought that prank earlier was real."

Giles nodded grimly and sighed. "Tragic, just tragic."

"You folks go on inside," Williams said. "We’ll send someone by to get a report later." He was trying to subdue Kelly but she was stronger than she looked.

"Let me go." Kelly kicked the younger officer in the shin. "You have to get Tara away from the demons." She pointed at Giles. "He’s a demon hunter."

Giles raised both eyebrows.

"Right, we’ll get right on that," Williams promised as he handcuffed Kelly.

"We should check on Tara," Giles said as soon as the officers began loading Kelly into the patrol car. The model was kicking and screaming and managed to bite Williams twice.

"Oh, she got sliced up pretty bad," Anya commented. "She was bleeding everywhere."

"Really?" Spike’s eyes widened. "You didn’t let it go to waste did you?" He ran toward the house.

"Ew," Xander said as he pulled Anya closer.

"I’m not cleaning up the mess in there." Anya sighed and squeezed Xander closer. "And Giles owes me a new blouse."

"How you feeling?" Buffy asked. She leaned down and looked into Tara’s eyes. "You doing okay after your first big demon battle?"

"It’s not actually your first," Willow said. "You’ve been in many demon fights. It’s just the first one you remember." She frowned as she realized her lover’s memory hadn’t returned. "It is the first one you remember, right? You getting any memories back?"

Tara shook her head sadly. "I can’t believe she just ran out and left me."

"How is she?" Giles asked.

"Fine," Buffy said. "Well, a few more holes than she began with, and she doesn’t have her memory back…so I guess I should say she is not fine." The Slayer frowned and bit her lip. "Well, at least she isn’t with that skank Kelly."

"What about her?" Willow asked. "She ran out of here but we were worried about Tara."

"Miss Larson is being dealt with." Giles cleared his throat. "What about her demonic powers?"

"Gone," Anya said. "The Rakshasa demons generally just give you a swift kick in the pants kinda’ punishment. That spell woulda’ lasted ‘til daylight…but with Willow’s sunshine spell, it’s over now."

"And my memory?" Tara asked. She looked up at the people around her. They had fought to protect her without any concern for their own safety, and yet, they were still strangers.

"I don’t know," Giles said. He looked over at Anya. "Any thoughts?"

"Could come back tomorrow…" Anya sighed and shook her head. "Might not ever come back."

"But… what about us?" Willow asked. "What… we…. She…I….?"

"We shall have to wait and see," Giles said grimly.

"Even if she never remembers, she’ll just fall in love with you all over again," Buffy promised.

Tara smiled but there was fear in her eyes. She knew that Willow was the kind of woman she could easily love, but she was terrified that whatever magic had made them fall in love the first time might not happen a second time. She knew enough about the world to know that lightning didn’t strike twice in the same place, and Willow Rosenberg’s love was more powerful than any bolt of lightning…that much Tara did know.

Willow smiled at her lover and rubbed her back. She leaned down and kissed Tara’s ear. "We’ll get through this together, love," she whispered, but there were tears in her eyes. "We have to."

Tara sighed and rested her forehead on Willow’s shoulder and decided to trust the redhead since she couldn’t even trust her own memories.

End part Two