Part 16
Anya opened her eyes, and looked at the circle of people staring at her. “Did you talk to them?” Xander asked, “Are they okay?”
“I talked to Giles. Willow was blocking me.” Anya said standing up and stepping out of the circle.
“Imagine that.” Dawn mumbled. “What did he say?”
“They're okay. I told him about the First. But I don't think he was happy to see me.”
“Really ‘cause the two of you get along so well.” Spike said from the corner.
“So you don't really know what's going on?” Buffy asked, “But you talked to him and he talked to you?”
“Yeah. But at least we know they know now.” Anya answered, maybe we'll find out something soon.
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Willow sat on the floor of her bedroom preparing the ingredients for the fake spell. She had to do this alone, Giles was gone with the coven getting the rest of the plan started. She couldn't tell Angel or Spike because what if… well technically they were dead so she couldn't be sure they were really themselves. This had to work.
Checking her watch Willow sat in the circle and began to chant, the spell from memory.
“Willow what are you doing?” Angel asked walking through the door. “Should you be doing magic without Giles or the coven?”
“It's fine Angel they know what I'm doing.” Willow said watching the vampire. Something wasn't right. All of her newfound powers last year had left her with some kind of extra sense, she could sense things about people and what she was sensing right now wasn't what she usually felt when Angel was around. “I've decided to speed up the plans to get rid of the First, and try the spell that worked before.”
“The same spell? I thought, I mean didn't that kill you last time?” Angel asked walking around the outside of her circle. “I don't want you to get hurt.”
“I'll be fine Angel?” Willow asked, “Wanna help?” She asked reaching her hand out to the vampire.
“Help?” Angel asked, “I don't think so. I don't think you should do it either.” He quickly backed away from her outstretched hand.
“Why not?” Willow asked, now sure this wasn't Angel. Now all she needed to do was get him to attack.
“It's dangerous, are you sure you're ready for this?”
“Positive. I'm stronger than this thing Angel, It can't do a damn thing to stop me.” Willow insisted, all it had to do was step into the circle.
“How dare you…” Angel said angrily stepping toward the witch.
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“They're coming.” The coven's seer said. “I can feel them.”
“Everyone ready?” Melanie asked, then waiting for everyone's acknowledgement she continued, “Now.”
Everyone gathered around the Hellmouth and began chanting the spell that they believed would open it. As the ground began to open in front of them Willow appeared followed quickly by the First now looking like Spike. “Red you need to think about…”
“Save it.” Willow said quietly the quickly read a spell she had pulled from her pockets. Willow and the First found themselves standing in the large hole created by the Hellmouth opening, as everyone else backed away quietly.
“What the hell do you think you're doing?” Spike asked.
“You'll see.” Willow said smiling as she began to float slightly above the ground, as it began to sink further in. She began to read from the paper again, stopping and laughing as Spike lunged for her. “Can't move. New magic has found a way to bind even non-corporeal forms to a single spot. And honestly did you think I'd be dumb enough to do the same spell again?”
“You were dumb enough to come here.”
“Not really, I wasn't given a choice. But now to continue.” Willow said as the whole continued to get bigger and deeper. She quickly read the remainder of the spell that the coven had written for her.
With a loud roaring sound and a bright light shooting up from the hole in the ground she watched as the First was pulled into the hole and it closed around her, sealing itself so completely that there wasn't so much as a crack in the ground.
Willow hit the ground falling flat on her back. Giles quickly approached her, kneeling next to her. “Willow are you okay? Can you hear me?”
“Is it gone?” Willow said quietly.
“Yes.”
“Lets go home.” Willow said before passing out.
Part 17
Are you sure you understand everything?” Melanie asked nervously. I'd hate to have something go wrong when you get back.”
“It should be fine. From what I understood from Anya, we have a member of a coven and an old friend of Willow's there to help with the spell.” Giles explained.
“I'm sure Amy and Althenea can perform the spell.” Willow assured Melanie hugging her, “I'm gonna miss you guys.”
“We'll miss you too.” Melanie assured her returning the hug.
“Lets do this then.” Willow said, “Ready?” she said looking to Giles.
“Yes.” Giles said taking her hand.
Melanie quickly gave them instructions and read the spell to send them back home. Lights flashed around the pair and they disappeared.
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Xander opened his eyes at the small sound in the quiet room. “Giles?” He asked staring at the man lying on the bed.
“Xander?” Giles asked trying to sit up. “Am I back?”
“Yeah. God are you okay?”
“Yes. I am. Help me sit, we need to help Willow.” Giles assured him.
Xander quickly helped Giles to a sitting position. “Is Willow back too?”
“Yes. She's still in the magical coma though.” Giles said turning to look at her.
“So she's going to…”
“No. I know how to help her. Get the others. Amy and Althenea too.” Giles said, “I don't think I can do this spell alone.”
“Okay.” Xander said heading out of the bedroom, calling to the others.
Xander re-entered the room a few minutes later followed by Buffy, Anya, Dawn, Kennedy, and Amy. “We called Althenea, she'll be here soon.” Buffy said immediately moving to hug the Watcher. “What the hell happened?”
“Willow was called to the future, to stop the First. She needed help, they brought me to join her.” Giles explained.
“But you said you know how to help her?” Dawn asked.
“Yes. We'll need Amy and Althenea to do it though.”
“Did you really kiss Willow?” Anya asked.
“Can this wait?” Giles asked, not wanting to discuss this without Willow.
“No.” Anya and Kennedy both said.
“Fine. Yes. I kissed Willow.” Giles answered rubbing his temples.
“Do you love her? Does she love you?” Kennedy asked quietly.
“Yes, no, I don't know.” Giles answered, “We were kind of caught up in other things.”
“So does that mean that the two of you are…” Dawn began.
“Going to see where this leads us.” Giles said, “At least if you all are okay with it.”
“What's it got to do with us?” Anya asked.
“Willow doesn't want to hurt anyone.” Giles said looking at Kennedy. “If all of you can't accept it, then there's no point.”
“I'll be going back home anyway.” Kennedy said quietly, “I mean I still have to finish school, and if Willow would be happier then…”
“Kennedy I'm sorry. This wasn't supposed to…” Giles said, “It's okay. I've had a few days to think about it. I'm not sure this thing with Willow would've even happened if we weren't so sure we were going to die. But I do want her to be happy.”
“Do we have time to deal with this?” Dawn asked, “I don't have to be ready to deal right this minute do I?”
“No. Just so that you're all willing to try.” Giles insisted.
“We will.” Buffy said, answering for everyone. “Just save her.”
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“Okay we're ready.” Amy said setting down the last of the ingredients. “Everyone move back.”
Amy and Althenea quickly read the spell Giles had brought back as everyone stood watching the sleeping girl on the bed. After a few minutes Willow's eyes opened slowly.
“Hey, Guys.” She said smiling slightly. “I'm alive.”
“Will.” Xander said moving forward and quickly hugging his friend then backing up to make room for Buffy and Dawn.
“Where's Kennedy?” Willow asked scanning the room.
“She's gone. Andrew's driving her to the airport.” Dawn offered. “She uh, wants you to be happy.”
“They know?” Willow said looking at Giles.
“Yes. They knew when I got back, they just needed confirmation.”
“So you're all okay with it?” Willow asked, “Nobody's freaking?”
“We will be. Just give us time okay?” Xander said sitting on the bed.
“So what happened? How was the future?” Amy asked stepping forward.
“God, you guys wouldn't believe how different it all was.”
“We want to know all about it. Right now.” Buffy said helping Willow pull herself up in the bed. “And we've got all night.”
The end.