Title: Tomorrow Chapter 17
Author: Madsdog
Rating: PG-13
Site: http://www.geocities.com/madsdog13 -will actually be updated tonight, with a major new look- go check it out later
Notes: Enjoy...

"Good morning, emergency services, Maria speaking, how may I help you?"

"My- my friends. I need an ambulance."

"What happened?"

"There was a man... he shot them."

"Are they okay Mr-"

"Harris, Xander Harris. They... I don't know, there's so much blood."

"Where are you Xander?"

"1630 Revello Drive. Please get them to hurry, Will's pregnant."

"The ambulance is on its way. How many people are injured Xander?"

"Three- two. Jonathan's dead."

"And the others?"

"I- I don't know, I haven't..."

"Okay, do you know how to check for a pulse Xander?"

"No... yes, just a minute, I have to put the phone down."

"Okay." Xander knelt next to the bodies of his friends, raising his hand to Willow's throat first. He placed his fingers over her pulse at the same moment she let out a moan.

"Will?"

"Xander, what..."

"Shh, stay still. The ambulance is on its way."

"Can't... move legs." Xander looked down.

"It's okay- Buffy's lying on them, just let me move her." His hope having been renewed by Willow, his heart almost broke when he took in the slayer's form. Face down on Willow's eight month pregnant stomach, blood poured from a hole in her upper back, and when he moved her, her body was impassive, her face pale and her eyes closed. He used his fingers to locate her pulse as Willow began to sit up using only one arm, blood running down the other.

"Buffy?"

"She's alive." Xander picked up the phone from beside him. "They're alive- but they need-" The sound of sirens could suddenly be heard and Xander said a hurried thanks to the operator before disconnecting. He looked at the piece of plastic in his hands.

"I'll have to buy a new phone." The receiver, along with most of the surroundings had been dyed scarlet. "She'll kick my ass otherwise." He turned to Willow. "Will you be okay if I go direct the paramedics round?" She nodded and he stood, praying to a lord he hadn't really believed in for six years.

***

"Ms Rosenberg, yes?" The doctor looked up from her clipboard to approach Willow.

"Yeah, that's me... can I go now?"

"Not yet, we just want to run-"

"You've been running tests all morning. Please, I just want to see Buffy and Xander and get home- surely that's the best thing for me right now... the whole rest and relaxation gig?"

"Well..." The doctor drew the word out and Willow thought she might stand a chance.

"Can I at least see Buffy?"

"I don't think it can do any harm. Just let me get you a wheelchair."

"A wheelchair?" But the woman had left before Willow could properly object. "Just because I'm pregnant I'm obviously an invalid... although, free ride... Xander'll be jealous." She muttered to herself.

Ten minutes later saw her at the bottom on Buffy's bed next to Xander.

"Is she okay? Did they tell you anything?"

"They told me it's a miracle she's alive and she should wake up in a couple of hours."

"A miracle how?"

"Apparently the bullet missed her heart by about half an inch and... I don't really know, they used a lot of long words."

"Like is, or and the?" Xander looked down at his best friend, she looked so tired, faded and yet she still tried joking, but her heart wasn't really in it. She hadn't done anything to her hair for at least six months and the ends of it licked her upper arms, her roots showing dark above the red ends. And suddenly he remembered last time she'd been in a wheelchair- after Buffy had gone AWOL, the summer, he'd now learnt, that she and Giles had first started their... he searched for the word... relationship.

"It's been so long- I sometimes forget."

"Forget what?"

"That you're the same Willow I knew before."

"What do you..."

"Look at you Will- look at us... you're about to become a mother, Buffy's touched death more times than a pathologist, Dawn's this far from a juvenile detention centre and I'm turning into Mr Heckle."

"I haven't watched Friends in forever."

"It's not worth it anymore. I liked the Mr Heckle and 'Chandler and Monica sneaking around' days. Tell me- is that hidden relationship thing as fun as they make out?"

"Parts of it... the horny, trying not to get found out, can't get enough of each other parts, others- less so." They waited in silence for about ten minutes before Xander spoke again.

"I miss her you know."

"It hurts?" He nodded. "It should." He swallowed before continuing.

"Is... is she okay?" She raised an eyebrow at him. "Not okay then... is she coping?"

"Better than I would be."

"I do love her-"

"I've heard this one before Xander- I love you but it's not enough... find a way to make it up to her- soon while you still have a chance- for God's sake Xand don't lose the best thing that ever happened to you."

"I won't- I'll try- I'll do something. There's this big hole in me where she should be." Willow made a face. "I don't even want to know what you just thought."

"It wasn't anything..." This time it was his turn to raise an eyebrow. "Okay, so it was a slightly disturbing image, but nothing I need to dwell on or share."

"Okay, so we're past that thought... anyhow, long story short, I think I might need her back."

"Then you're going to have to work."

***

Willow awoke in a cold sweat, eyes darting around the stark room, heart pounding so hard she could feel it along with the shrill beeps of... a monitor? With a start everything came back to her, the garden, Jonathan, Warren, the hospital. Sitting up she took in the room again, this time sighing as she took in a most welcome sight.

"Dawnie."

"Willow. You're awake."

"Dawn, where's Xander?"

"He's with Buffy. Are you okay?"

"I- I really don't think I am." Unbidden, Willow felt a sob shake her shoulders as she covered her mouth with her hands, trying to hold in the feelings overtaking her. She closed her eyes as the tears came and the soft caress of Dawn's arms as they enveloped her was her undoing. "How do I stop it? When does it end?"

"I don't know Willow." It was a couple of minutes before the redhead pulled away from Dawn slightly and gasped out through the sobs that all she really wanted right now was Xander. The brunette nodded and stood.

"I'll find you some tea too- tea helps right?" She smiled weakly.

"Yeah- tea helps."

Xander looked so sombre when he entered the room that Willow prepared herself for bad news, but the grin as he saw her alleviated all the worries.

"You had us scared for a bit Will."

"I did? I don't remember."

"That's what happens when you fall asleep in your wheelchair. We thought something bad had happened- guess you were just exhausted."

"Can I have a hug?"

"Anything for my Wills." He crossed the room and sat on the bed beside her. Leaning in she buried her face in his neck and took a deep breath, surprised that beneath his clothes and cologne there was a smell she'd forgotten years ago, a smell of childhood and innocence.

"Jonathan's dead, isn't he?"

"Yeah."

"He saved me- us."

"He did."

"I don't like it here Xander- it's too open, too exposed. Remember Angelus?"

"You're fine Willow. We're here."

"You gonna be my white knight- like you were Buffy's?"

"I'm always yours- always have been."

"Do you know where they are? Warren and Andrew?"

"The police are looking."

"So no?"

"Sorry."

"Is Buffy-"

"She's fine. Walking and talking. The doctors don't believe it." Willow's eyes flitted around suddenly, taking in the door and window.

"There's something... we're not safe here. I can feel it."

"Will, we're-"

"No! Listen to me, there's something watching us, wishing evil on us."

"'Us' as in..."

"Me and my baby."

"Are you about to go psycho-protective-mom on us?"

"Would you blame me if I was?"

"I guess not."

"I mean- everything's been used against us- even Buffy. I'm just waiting for someone else I know to attack us."

"You still don't trust her do you?"

"I know I should, but I don't- she still hasn't proven herself. There's still stuff she's hiding from us. I don't like that."

"Look Will-" Xander's speech was broken off as Dawn skipped into the room.

"Look who I brought." Buffy limped through the door, a tight smile on her face that refused to reach her eyes. "Found her wandering the corridors like a stray dog."

"Gee, thanks Dawn."

"A very pretty and strong, if slightly battered dog. Like, I dunno, Tramp."

"Tramp?"

"From the movie?" Dawn's smile faded as she realised the only way out of this hole was if she dug the last few yards to China. "Or you could be Lady." She ended contritely.

"So Will," the slayer asked, "how you holding up?"

"Well I'm half of the 'Scoobies who got shot' gang. How does that feel?"

"As the other half, I'll say we're darn lucky."

"Does it hurt?"

"Like a bitch."

"Come here." Willow gestured for the slayer to lean over, and once she had, put a hand on her chest and mumbled a few low words. Buffy gasped at the heat that pierced her body at Willow's hand and then let out a sigh as the witch pulled back and the burning pressure over her wound died down. Sometimes she hated being the slayer- especially when her fast metabolism absorbed the painkillers she was given before they'd had a chance to work. "Any better?"

"Much. Thank you. What about you?"

"I don't want to risk doing magic on myself- too much is at risk."

"I think I'm going to discharge myself, I'm pretty much healed and I still hate hospitals. There's better things I can-"

"Will you find Warren for me?"

"Warren- for you?"

"Yeah- he tried to kill us Buffy."

"Willow, I'm going to look, but if I find him I'm taking him to the police, not- Willow?" The girl had almost doubled over with a silent scream of pain.

"Willow?" Xander tried again. "Dawn- find a doctor."

"Son... of... a- bitch." The redhead ground out through gritted teeth as the brunette left the room.

"Willow, what's happening? Is something- whoa." Willow's head rose to look at the pair opposite her, eyes black.

"Magic."

"Magic?"

"They're trying to hurt my baby. They- ahh." Even as she clutched at her stomach though, she was struggling to get down from the hospital bed and reach her clothes from the nearby table.

"Willow, I don't think-"

"Just shut up and get me to the school if you're going to help." Buffy looked hesitant, but Xander took his friend's arm and supported her to the door.

"Are you coming Buffy?"

"I don't-" Another cry came from the red head and the slayer ran forward, taking the majority of her weight and almost carrying her to the elevator.

Once on ground level, Xander ran ahead to the parking lot, bringing the car around to the hospital entrance before helping the girls in and heading to the old high school.

He'd never understood why they hadn't pulled it down, made a new one, but as he pulled up on the grass in front of it, he was more pleased than ever that they hadn't- he didn't fancy trips to the hellmouth in the middle of a load of high school students- of course he had done that for three years, but that was so long ago- he didn't think he could do it again.

"Can you walk Will?"

"Xander, she's barely awake."

"Then I guess we're driving." He entered through the side door and navigated the corridors until he reached the doors to what had once been the library.

"There... there's two of them, one's doing the spell, the other's standing guard... stop them." Willow's voice was barely audible, but neither Buffy nor Xander missed a word. There was no way the Council was going to win now... they just would not allow it, they scrambled to get out of the car. The energy was so built up in the school that when the car door opened, even Xander could feel it lying heavily in the air, and the shock of the unfamiliar sensation forced him back into his seat and caused his elbow to accidentally hit the car horn.

For an instant the energy dissipated, the person doing the ritual obviously distracted for a moment, before it returned full force. But it was enough- enough to have Willow up and out of the car, ready to face the new threat to her baby. Ready to face...

"Oz?"

***

Dawn looked up innocently at the rather aggravated doctor.

"Miss Summers, I do not appreciate-"

"I'm sorry okay. I didn't know they'd leave as soon as I came to find you. Willow was really hurt."

"According to this," he gestured at the paper in front of him, "there isn't supposed to be anybody in this bed."

"No- that's right. Will was discharged yesterday evening, but then she fell asleep in her chair and as Xander and I were staying for Buffy, the nurse said she could stay the night in here- and you don't believe a word I'm saying."

"Which nurse?"

"A blonde one. With pretty eyes."

"You do realise that describes half of the staff here."

"I'd know her if I saw her."

"Miss Summers, I'm going to ask you to leave now and if I discover your friends wreaking havoc on the rest of the hospital, then suffice to say I have your sister's address and telephone number." Sighing, Dawn headed toward the elevator, muttering evil things upon her sister for leaving her to deal with the doctor from hell and deciding to visit Spike for the evening as payback.

***

"Oz?"

"Will? Buff? What's-"

"Ahh." Willow fell to the floor again, her adrenaline rush finished, her arms clasping her lower torso as if she could protect its contents that way. Oz bent over her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Will?" Her face lifted slightly until their eyes met and he was struck dumb by the desperation, pain and pure anger in their depths.

"Whatever you're doing, please, just... stop it. Please."

"I'm not..."

"No!" There was a smash from the other side of the room and Oz, Buffy and Willow turned to see Xander stood over Wesley baring an axe, the contents of a small pot in front of him scattered and the circle surrounding him broken.

"You shouldn't have done that, now-"

"Wesley, believe me, I don't care."

"But now-"

"Who's the one with the axe here?"

"Well..."

"What did you do to her?"

"I didn't-"

"Will, how you feeling?"

"Better, much. Thank you." She walked over to the edge of the circle. "What... Why... What has my baby done to you?" Sacrificing his manly pose for a moment, Xander reached over to Willow. She, like him, was so confused, struggling to understand... but she, unlike him, wasn't doing it for herself- this was all for child.

"It was the answer. A protection-"

"A protection spell?" She knelt, still holding the hand Xander had offered her, and traced a symbol on the floor with her left middle finger. "You tried to protect me... by invoking D'acktnar?"

"D'acktnar?" She stood again, clasping her best friend's hand like a lifeline.

"She's evil, blacker than black- think Glory times ten only she can't physically manifest herself- people invoke her, give her a ride- they get intense pleasure- she gets a body to create chaos in. Rack's one of her cronies. You were going to put her where- in me, in you... in my baby?"

"Willow, I've never heard of D'acktnar, and if she's that bad, how have you?"

"Experience."

"Oh."

"Who told you it was good? Or are you just lying through your teeth Wesley- you just did what they told you- what he told you- he says do this spell, you say when- is that it?" She brought both hands up to her head, fingers knotting in her hair. "Why can't you let me alone?" She looked up searching for answers, before screaming, "Why can't you just fucking let me be?" Tears streamed down her face and she turned to Xander, burying her face in his chest, trusting him to take her back while she muttered to herself. "I'm not a bad person, Xander, I'm not perfect, but none of us are, and I'm not so bad that my baby should..." She continued for a minute or so while everyone stood around her, until;

"I told you no magic." Xander and Willow both froze at Buffy's words, ceased to breathe, Willow's tears instantaneously stopped their flow. Eventually the carpenter managed to choke out.

"You what?"

"I told him magic would turn out badly for everyone."

"You... knew he was here? Knew what he was doing?" Willows voice was small, but the anger was so clearly there you could almost feel it.

"I called him here, asked him to help us."

"In the same way he helped Angel with Connor in LA?"

"How did you..."

"I spoke to Cordelia. We talked, she cried... it was eventful."

"Then you've got the wrong end of the stick. Willow, from the bottom of my heart, Buffy called in Oz and I to..."

"See, there's the part where Buffy asks you here and you try to kill me again, I'm not... I don't understand that part. I don't want to."

"Will, I told him no magic, I told both of them-"

"Because I can sense that?"

"Yes! No..."

"I- I have to go. I have to..." She backed toward what had once been the stacks, aiming for the exit there. "I have to hide... yes, hiding sounds good." Xander took a step towards her and she yelped. "No!" He stopped. "Don't follow me."

"Will, I want to help, let me come with you."

"Xand, I love you, but right now I don't trust you," she looked around, "any of you. If I should do then you'll understand- if not then, then..." she her gaze shot to all four of them in turn, her eyes shot through in the black that had appeared at the hospital previously, and a chill ran through each of them, "my baby comes first- before any friendship we either do or did have." With a parting glance, she turned and ran, leaving the others to watch as she seemingly disappeared into a blackened wall.

***

Xander turned, slowly, to face everyone left in the room.

"You three have some explaining to do."

"Xander it's not like that."

"Then what is it like?"

"Wesley was a watcher, he-"

"Buffy, this whole thing is because the watchers are trying to kill Willow- how is asking one for help even vaguely logical?"

"Would you have asked Giles for help if he were here?"

"That's different- and he's not here. That's the problem."

"You think the solution would be to have him here?"

"I think it would help Will- and that's what I'm still here to do."

"It's what we're all here to do."

"Sorry Buff- but I don't believe you."

"Oh good lord." Wesley's voice broke the face-off between the friends.

"What now Wes?"

"Here," he pointed to a part of the symbol on the floor and then looked down at his book, "it's upside-down. As it's central and the whole piece is circular it shouldn't matter, but the essence of this spell is that everything is connected, good and evil, in a cycle, which is why it's so powerful, but an error like that... I can't believe I didn't notice it." Oz crossed the room and took the book from Wesley, snapping it shut before slamming it to the floor.

"We screwed up, we already knew that. Can we just go and try to solve it now?"

"It's got my vote." Xander said. "Now come on, you're all my prisoners."

***

"Hey! You okay there?" Willow looked up into kindly eyes.

"Clem? How're you?"

"Well, I'd say probably better than you."

"Why's that?"

"Well I'm normally on my own for one thing, while as you're not- and I don't have tear tracks running down my cheeks."

"These?" She pointed at her face. "Nah, these are the latest in gothic makeup. You don't like?" He smiled at her.

"When're you due?"

"Saturday."

"Saturday! That's not long."

"So- is the little man okay- as far as you know?"

"I think so, thanks. It might not be a boy."

"No, I think it's safe to say your son is going to be a boy." Clem had gone a few metres before he realised he was alone- he turned back, seeing Willow stood speechless in the middle of the road he'd just crossed. "You okay?" She shook her head, seeming to come to her senses, before catching up to him.

"My son is a boy?"

"Well- yeah- otherwise he'd be a daughter."

"I'm having a boy?"

"Yeah, you... oh gods! Human! I'm so sorry... you didn't know- I'm really sorry, I forgot you were human, I didn't mean to..."

"I'm having a boy! A son."

"I'm sorry- my species all look the same- so we can smell what sex people are- I'm good at forgetting other people can't. I really didn't..."

"Clem, it's okay... I'm having a son."

"Carrying for nine months- that must be a pain. If I ever decided to be a father I only have to carry if for a fortnight."

"That's not long... must be nice."

"I wouldn't know, but it's not really... Dawn!" Willow looked in the direction Clem had shouted and saw the younger Summers change direction and head towards them. In a flash the events of the past few hours returned to her and she was about to turn and find somewhere safer- away from any Summers, when Clem took the top of her arm and guided her across the road to where Dawn was stood.

"And what are you doing out as night Little Lady?" Dawn raised an eyebrow at the demon

"Little Lady?"

"I thought it sounded affectionate."

"Did you." Dawn didn't look amused, and when she turned to Willow her eyes were pure ice. "I see you're okay then."

"Fine. Sorry about leaving you at the hospital, more people were trying to kill my baby."

"Oh Willow, I'm sorry. You're not hurt?"

"I can take care of myself."

"Then can you clear my name with the doctor later?"

"Why that-" Willow's attention had turned to the end of the street and her face had a look of pure unadulterated anger on it. Spinning around, Dawn saw the unmistakable form of Andrew retreating.

"Willow, don't do anything stupid." Doing a pregnant march is a lot less threatening than a regular one, but the look of pure horror that crossed Andrew's face as Willow approached outdid all others.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't shoot you. I don't have a gun. Warren left. Don't hurt me."

"Give me a reason not to."

"I'm loveable and cuddly?" Willow took another step forward and Andrew shrank back.

"If that's the case maybe I should turn you into a toy for my child."

"A- a toy?"

"Where did Warren go?"

"He skipped town. With you and the slayer not dead; well first, you'd kill him, and second, the Council people would want their money back. He left me- I mean- town, he left town."

"I could find him you know."

"I know."

"And if you've lied to me..." She let the sentence hang.

"I know." He squeaked. Willow's imposing stance collapsed in on itself, leaving a weak facade of a woman as she turned to Dawn.

"You never explained why you were out here."

"Well- you left me."

"And?"

"And I didn't want to go home- so I went to Spike's. But he wasn't in."

"Ah," Clem jumped in, "he left town earlier tonight. Left me to look after his crypt."

"So why are you out here? Why didn't you go home?"

"I figured you'd all be otherwise occupied..."

"So?"

"Please don't tell Buffy."

"Not an issue right now."

"I was patrolling."

"For vampires!" Clem exclaimed.

"No, for chickens."

"You have free-roaming chickens in Sunnydale?" The two girls turned to look witheringly at the demon. "Oh. Sarcasm. I got that."

"Are you mad?"

"I'm not going to preach- I was doing it when I was your age remember."

"Thank you, you don't know-"

"Are you working for The Council Dawnie?" The girl's face changed from relief to bewilderment, beside her, Willow could feel Clem and Andrew looking at her with equal confusion.

"What?"

"It's a simple question- are you working for The Council?"

"I... No, I would never-"

"Good... you're on my side then?"

"Of course I am."

"'Cause it's a funny thing- I discovered Buffy isn't. Will you help me then."

"Buffy isn't what? On your side? I think she is. H-help you how?"

"She isn't. Clem says I'm going to have a boy." Dawn and Clem were both confused by the way the conversation was flitting from one thing to the next, and neither had fully absorbed what Willow was telling them about Buffy working for The Council. Dawn latched onto the most important part of the conversation so far.

"A boy? Like... a mini Giles? Willow, that's so... you won't put him in tweed will you?"

"Dawn! What kind of person do you think I am? Anyway, I managed to get Rupert out of it didn't I? So you'll help me?"

"It depends on what you want me to do... probably."

"You're so suspicious Dawnie. It wouldn't hurt. You'd make a great protector."

"A protector?"

"You're so clean... so clear- I can't believe you can be used for such evil. You'd be doing so much good if you let me help you."

"Willow, I'm just human."

"But you weren't always." She took a step towards the girl, looking at the the same time eager and desperate. She knew she'd found a way to save her son- but Dawn was going to make it difficult- she would be too much like her sister not to.

"Yes. I was." Dawn's teeth were clenched- she didn't like where this was headed. Willow looked so on edge she wasn't sure she wouldn't do something rash.

"Don't you remember? You were a ball of energy for thousands of-" The witch's eyeballs rolled back in their sockets, before the lids shut and her knees began to give out from under her. Just as Dawn thought she was going to fall and hit her head, she stopped, Clem's arms appearing around her and his face above her.

"What are you doing?"

"Saving you."

"How?"

"These flaps," he shook a hand, "aren't just to look pretty- I can run an electric charge through them."

"You electrocuted her!"

"It's not enough to do her any harm, but it'll keep her knocked out for about twenty minutes. Now, d'you want to give me a hand, she's not as light as she look- hey!" Dawn followed Clem's look over to where Andrew was trying to sneak off, she grabbed his arm and he squealed.

"Get off me! I'm delicate."

"You're coming with us."

"But- but I can run a long way in twenty minutes. If she's going to try and kill you then she's not going to pause to think about me."

"Stay! Or I'll be the one not thinking about you." Andrew squeaked again, but stayed where he was as Dawn raced forward to help Clem keep Willow's motionless body off the floor.

"You got any bright ideas about where we can take her?" The demon asked.

"The Magic Box."

"That doesn't sound so good- remember, she thinks your sister's trying to kill her."

"One, Buffy isn't trying to hurt either her or her baby. Two, we're taking her to Anya not Buffy. Three, do you have any better ides?"

"Well, no. It's just," the three began to head up the road, as Clem continued "any mother is a dangerous animal- of any species- remember the saying never get between a bear and her cubs?"

"Actually no, but carry on- it makes sense."

"I'm just saying that even if Buffy isn't a threat, she may have done something- something trivial at that- to make Willow think she is."

"So, no Buffy. I can live with that plan."

***

"Xander, I don't think this even counts as a plan."

"Well I think it's a damn sight better than your 'let's almost get the baby killed and hope Willow forgives us' one."

"That wasn't my plan."

"But that's how it turned out."

"If I may just say-" Xander turned around and glared at the Englishman behind him.

"No you may not." Rounding the corner the four headed toward The Magic Box.

"Buff?" The slayer ignored her fellow 'prisoners', and Oz tried again. "Xander?"

"What Oz?"

"Who's the big flabby demon?"

"Which big flabby demon?"

"The one helping Dawn and that boy carry Will."

"Wha- Where?" Oz pointed up the street to where the odd quartet were struggling. He was about to start forward when Buffy stopped him.

"Wait. Let's just see where..." Clem and Dawn approached The Magic Box and tried to enter before hammering on the door. Eventually Anya came to the front, looking tired and worn, there was a hurried exchange of words before she helped the others bring Willow inside.

"Is he good?"

"Who, Clem?" Oz and Wesley both nodded. "Clem is one of the nicest people you could meet."

"So they're safe with him?" Oz tried to verify the situation

"Definitely."

"So why are we still stood here watching as if we're suspicious? And why is Will unconscious?" Xander looked from Slayer to werewolf, waiting for a response, when none was forthcoming, he sighed. He didn't understand why Buffy was being like this. Calling in Wesley was, if not logical, at least understandable, and Xander had no doubt she had told the two men 'no magic'- whatever her motives. It was even possible that the whole thing at the old high school was just a big misunderstanding. But now the blonde was being... mysterious, tentative, as Oz had said, suspicious, but it didn't seem it was actually at anything specific.

"Anya smells funny." His train of thought was broken off when she spoke.

"Pardon?"

"Nothing... come on, let's see what's happening." Before any of the men had a chance to respond, Buffy was halfway across the road, headed for Anya's shop.

***

"I can't carry her much further." Clem, also struggling, pointed up the road.

"We're almost there. Let the bad guy take your end for a while." Dawn grinned and got Andrew to take Willow's weight from her.

"Good thinking Batman."

"Hey! No insulting the flaps."

"Oh no, I didn't mean it like that, it just, y'know, is one of those things you say- or I say and you take badly which leads to redness of faces and me babbling out of breath."

"I'm sorry- it's okay. Just thought I'd keep you on your toes. Why do humans have toes?"

"You don't have any toes?"

"They're pointless-they were evolved out of the species."

"So natural selection left you with no toes and too much skin?"

"It's not perfect."

"What would I wiggle if I had no toes?" Andrew piped up.

"Your fingers."

"It's not the same, it-"

"Andrew," Dawn said, "shut up." A moan emerged from Willow, signalling she was close to waking up, "Come on, hurry." Reaching the shop, Dawn tried the door, only to find it locked, and so began banging on it.

"Come on Anya!" The sound of keys turning and locks sliding was accompanied by the constant, aggravated mumblings of a much put-upon woman.

"'Come on Anya,' 'do this Anya,' 'let me leave you during the wedding Anya,' God, can't you Scoobies do anything by yourselves? No. You have to come knocking on my door at unearthly- Oh God! Willow!" Opening the door to be greeted by the odd looking group, Anya immediately changed track. "What happened?"

"There was something to do with Buffy working for The Council, her trying to turn me back into a blob of energy and then Clem knocked her out."

"You electrocuted her! Damn demon with your charge folds." The woman took the witch in her arms as if she weighed nothing and carried her over to the table in the centre of the shop.

"Hey, he saved me, she was going to turn me back."

"Oh boohoo."

"Anya!"

"Look- you didn't get hurt, she did. She's pregnant, you're not- sorry if that makes me a little more concerned about her than you."

"Well, I guess..." Willow moaned again.

"Will? Willow honey?"

"Ahn... ya?" The girl's eyes slowly opened.

"Yeah honey, it's me, don't try to talk- or move, I'll be right back, Dawn's here."

"No, stay." A single hand of the wicca's attached itself to Anya's arm, obviously unwilling to let her even move, let alone go.

"Okay, I'm here, but if you carry on my arm won't be... Ow, ow, okay, I need you to let go Will... Thank you." She breathed a sigh of relief as Willow's grip went from unbearable to just mildly uncomfortable. "Whoa, I'm not going to be anywhere *near* you during labour." Panic-stricken eyes rolled upwards.

"But... promised." Anya sighed again.

"I know I did- I was joking- I'll be there, promise." She leant down and placed a kiss on Willow's forehead.

"Er- as touching as this is, we said no slayer." Anya turned round to face Clem, a scowl on her face.

"And?" She snapped.

"Well- she's outside and she's not alone."

"Anya, we can't let her near Willow." Dawn pleaded. The oldest member of the scooby gang seemed to go through an internal struggle, but as she turned to the door, it opened.

"No!" Having no other action left, Anya moved to stand between Willow and the door, where she was quickly joined by Dawn, Clem and Andrew, seemingly unsure of what they should do.

Willow herself was struggling to sit up, too weak and hindered by her unborn son to have any success, although she got closer with each attempt, her strength slowly returning. By the time Buffy, Oz, Xander and Wesley had all entered the shop, she was triumphantly raised on her elbows, ready to... well, glare at them really hard.

"Willow," Buffy said, "are you..." The witch made a noise that could only be interpreted as a snarl.

"I think what Willow means by-" Anya repeated the snarl "-is 'get the hell out of here'."

"Willow I was trying to help you."

"Slayer!" The retailer almost screamed.

"Anya, I like you, but I'm warning you..."

"Buffy," Xander's calm voice, cutting through that of the others, spelled reason and the slayer felt compelled to listen. "Just so as you all know, I'm on Willow's side in all this- she's my friend and I love her- and her kid. But I'm going to leave- if she wants Anya and Dawn to look after her, and she doesn't feel she can trust me, then fine, until this is over I'm going to stay out of it so I'm not a threat to her. Buffy, you should do the same. She's safe here."

"But it's my job- and I didn't..."

"I'm with Xander," Oz stepped to the side, "literally, I'll leave with him- see you all next week."

"And me!" Clem almost bounded towards the door, Andrew behind him, eager to be away from both Buffy and Willow. "Not the loving part so much as the not wanting to get involved part. Bye." Watching the room as they did so, the four males left the shop.

"Buffy please, you're my sister- I don't want to believe bad things about you- but you're not helping yourself."

"I just- I want you to know, Will... yes I called Wes in, but he's not bad, he's..."

"He kidnapped Connor," Anya exclaimed, "gave him to Angel's mortal enemy... actually, his immortal enemy, but never mind. He... he's Council."

"No, he-"

"He *can* speak for himself." Anya and Buffy both turned sharply to the man.

"Shut up." They shouted simultaneously, then glared at each other.

"You love this, don't you Anya... being the one that's trusted, while I'm the stupid one."

"This isn't about me."

"Right, it's *all* about Willow. Truth spell." Willow, now sat on the table with her hands around her knees, looked up at Buffy and shook her head. "You did it before- the other week. You made me see the truth of things when Warren put that spell on me and you saw what I'd seen- do it again- then you'll see."

Manicly, Willow began to shake her head, backing across the table and muttering,

"Too weak. No, no, no," over and over to herself.

"Or Wesley can do it- then you'll see everything, my side and his. Here." She grabbed the ex-watcher and began dragging him down the steps to the lower part of the store, pushing Dawn aside and attempting to do the same with Anya.

"No, no, no... Don't touch me!" Dawn rounded the table to stand behind Willow while Anya continued to try and head off the slayer- but there was something almost mad in her eyes and it struck the shop keeper like a ton of bricks- Buffy thought she'd failed- failed at protecting Jonathan from a bullet, failed at her attempt to help, and now, she wanted to know, wanted Willow to tell her that she hadn't brought a traitor into their midst, hadn't almost killed the mother-to-be by confiding in Wesley.

But she couldn't let either Buffy or Wesley touch Willow, who was almost desperate with the need to protect her unborn; right now Anya was all she had and if she was to let Buffy touch her, that trust too would be gone, such was the obvious suspicion in the woman's mind.

Suddenly a sort of solution hit her.

"Willow, listen to me. I can protect you from Buffy and Wesley- but you have to trust me. Wait there." Amazingly, the advancing pair did wait as Anya ran over to the till and returned with a box and key.

"What is that?"

"In here is some very white magic- a protection spell. If you'll let me, I'll open it, do it on you. Then they won't be able to hurt you. Understand?" Although she'd been listening at first, Willow's head began to shake again, indicating she either didn't understand or wouldn't accept the plan. She tried to move further backwards but ran into Dawn and gave a little yelp.

Suddenly, Willow realised she was surrounded. She wanted to trust Anya, she even wanted to trust Buffy, Dawn and Wesley, but nothing made sense anymore- nothing had made sense since since Warren had entered the garden- maybe when Buffy pushed her she'd hit her head and it was all just a dream.

But right now, dream or not, the danger seemed real enough and there was no where for her to go. Dawn blocked one entrance, Anya the other, she turned so as they were on either side of her. She could try forward, but Wesley loomed there so backwards was all that was left. She began that way, sliding awkwardly off the table, her legs weak, but holding her barely. It wasn't until she'd gone a further couple of steps that she realised what she'd done; shelves surrounded her on three sides, and the fourth was full of people.

Anya stepped towards her and she shook her head, realising her cheeks were damp.

"Please." Regardless of the plea, she took another step forward and extended a hand as Willow's panicked eyes kept watch.

"Willow, I think that-"

"I think you all need to step away from her." Four of the five residents of the room span to face the newcomer.

"Giles!"

Then Willow screamed.

NEXT