TITLE: We Are The Hollow Men
SERIES: The Defenders Trilogy (02)
AUTHOR: Monique
EMAIL: valjean131@aol.com
SUMMARY: The saga continues.
RATING: NC-17
DISCLAIMER: Joss is God, we are but humble servants NOTES: Second in the Defenders trilogy. Followed by Falls the Shadow. The title and bits of the story were inspired by T.S. Eliot's poem "The Hollow Men"

Eyes without faces.

Whispering voices dancing in the darkness.

In the flames there is no light, but a window to the night.

Form without substance, the shadow falls.

A distant chorus, solemn, urgent… moaning.

"Willow?"

Images and sounds fading into the beyond… eyes without faces.

"Willow?"

"Hmmm?"

"Wake up, darling," he said with a gentle shake of her shoulder.

Willow opened her eyes and the dream was gone.

"Another nightmare?" Giles asked, his eyes tinged with concern.

Willow nodded, but followed quickly with a smile. "I'm fine," she assured him.

He searched her face for the truths she wasn't speaking. "Are you sure?"

"Rupert," she sighed. "It's just a dream." She leaned over and kissed him sweetly.

He savored her taste and pushed down the fear he felt for her. "I know. It's just that… you haven't had one in a while and I thought…"

"I know," she said with another kiss. What she didn't say was that this nightmare *had* been different. It wasn't about the demon, those nightmares had faded months ago. This was something new. 'No reason to worry him,' she thought. Giles had a tendency to be overprotective and it wasn't until recently that he'd begun to treat her as something other than rare china. Until she had something concrete to tell him, it was best to keep her dreams to herself.

She brushed her fingers along his warm cheek and slipped out of bed, heading for the bathroom. "Better get a move on, Mr. Giles," she said playfully.

"Yes, Mrs. Giles." He smirked as he slid out of bed. He took a deep breath. It had been almost a year since she had fought Inneresser, but there were days when it was all too fresh in his mind. The sound of the shower brought him back to this reality. He grinned wickedly and waggled his eyebrows.

Giles caught her arm just as she opened the shower door and pulled her into a deep kiss.

"You'll be late," she admonished.

"Just doing my part for water conservation," he replied pulling her into the warm spray of the shower.

* * * *

"Toast?" Giles asked as he put slices in.

"No, I'm having breakfast with Buffy. Remember?"

"Oh, right. Sorry."

"You're distracted. Anything I should know about?" Willow said arching an eyebrow.

He chuckled. "Normally, you distract me... but in this case, I was mentally cataloguing a new shipment we're expecting at the museum today. Quite exciting really."

Willow smiled at her husband. It was so good to see him looking forward to something. The job as curator of the Sunnydale museum had been a godsend.

"Speaking of work. I've been thinking about getting job," she ventured tentatively.

He shook his head. "It's too soon. You've just barely recovered."

"But I *have* recovered and I think it would be good for me... just part time."

"You don't need to work…"

"But I want to. It's still a few months till school starts up again and..." She paused unsure how to broach this subject. "I was thinking about buying a car."

"We have a car."

"That's debatable," she said with a wink.

Giles made a sour face and pursed his lips. Willow giggled and kissed him. Giles' arms snaked around her waist and his lips gently brushed her forehead.

"I could always get a motorcycle," she suggested.

"No."

"They're cheap."

"Too dangerous."

"I'd be careful."

He shook his head unsure if she was toying with him or not. "*You* would be too dangerous."

"Too dangerous? Me?" she said coyly.

He pushed her away from him, holding her at arms' length. His eyes raked up and down her body. She fought back the blush that threatened to stain her cheeks.

"You on a motorcycle... I don't think any man in his right mind could resist you."

"Really?"

"Willow…"

"Leather pants?"

"Willow..." he warned. He was becoming far too aroused at the thought of her astride a motorcycle, wearing leather pants. "I've got to go to work."

She pressed her body against his and he bit back a groan. "I'm sorry," she whispered seductively. "I'll make it up to you later."

"I'll hold you to that," he rasped.

"Mmmm," she cooed. "Hold me to this." She ground her hips into him.

"Willow, I have to go..." he growled.

She looked up at him, eyes wide with innocence.

He laughed and kissed her once more. "We'll talk about this later."

"Don't wanna talk."

"You're a bad Willow. Bad."

"You should know," she said slyly giving his backside a pat as he turned to leave.

Shaking his head, Giles closed the door behind him and hurried his step. He glanced at his watch, he was going to be late. But, he sighed, well worth it.

Lost in his reverie, he didn't see the man in the shadows.

The man who kept in the darkness.

And watched.

And waited.

"More tea?" the waitress asked.

"No, thanks," Willow said with a smile. She looked across her breakfast and noticed that Buffy was staring at her, eyes narrowed. "What?"

"I was just thinking. You, Willow, are a married person."

"Yup," Willow said with a grin. "Freaky, isn't it?"

Buffy nodded solemnly. "Yes. Yes, it is. I mean, it's great. Don't get me wrong, but it's definitely high in the freak factor."

Willow's face fell.

"I'm happy for ya, but it just... I don't know. It makes me feel old."

Willow perked back up and giggled. "Oh, yeah. Buffy the crone."

"You know what I mean. You're my best friend and you're married. That's really adult. It's like we're... growing up," she said with a shiver.

Willow laughed. "It was bound to happen."

"I suppose... Oh, did I mention that I too am doing something of the adult nature?"

Willow giggled uncontrollably for a second. "I'm sorry. Years of Xander. I was thinking what he would have said to that."

Buffy grinned. "Please... I can be adulty too... I got a job."

"Wow! That's great. What is it?"

"I will be working in the field of Caffeine Dispensing."

Willow looked at her blankly.

"Pushing java at the Cup and Saucer. Which by the way, we on the inside call the Cup."

"That's great, Buffy."

"Yeah, the hours are long and the pay is ... minimal. But the hours are flexible - which is key. And everybody there is kinda strange, in an overly-caffinated sort of way - they'll never even notice my level of slayage weirdness. I start next week! -- I think." Buffy frowned, lost in
thoughts of job-dom.

"I've been thinking about getting a part time job too."

"I could put in a good word for ya at the Cup," Buffy offered.

"That's great, but..." Willow trailed off, looking slightly embarrassed.

"But?"

"Well, I've got a line on another job, not that it wouldn't be fun to help people further their caffeine addiction."

"So what's the gig?"

"Just a little computer consulting," Willow said nonchalantly.

"I bet they pay a little better than the Cup."

Willow just smiled.

"Wow. We are two working women!" Buffy said triumphantly, then her smile faded. "We *are* old."

"We are not," Willow said indignantly. "We can be really, really immature."

"We can?"

"I know we can."

"How?" Buffy asked a gleam in her eye.

"Well, we could leave the tip all in change and put it in the water glass, then flip it upside down."

"Starting up the outlaw train again, there Wills?"

"Right... sorry," she said with a giggle.

They both frowned in thought and simultaneously had the same idea. "Beach day!"

"Definitely," Buffy added, eyes shining. "We should get Xander."

"He's probably still asleep," Willow said with a mischievous gleam.

"Well, we'll just have to do something about that, won't we?"

* * * * *

"Xander," Buffy whispered.

"Mmmmm."

"Xander," Willow echoed.

"Mmmmm." Slowly Xander opened his eyes, a lazy smile on his lips. "Hello ladies," he said huskily.

"We're here to kidnap you," Buffy purred.

"Hmmm... Oh, that's good," Xander said sleepily as he reached out for both girls. "I love this dream."

"Xander!" Willow yelped slapping his hand away.

"Hmmm?" His eyes opened fully then went wide with shock. He jumped out of bed. "W-Willow! B-Buffy!"

Willow eeped and covered her eyes. Buffy stifled a laugh and looked down quickly.

"Uhm, Xander..." Buffy said with a mock frown, averting her eyes...almost.

"What?" he asked breathless. He looked down and beheld his complete male morning nakedness. "Oh, my God!" he screeched grabbing for the blanket.

"We'll just wait outside," Willow offered, her face as red as her hair.

* * * * * *

It was a beautiful sunny day in southern California. Three friends spending the day at the beach - the Hellmouth a lifetime away.

Xander came trudging up through the sand a scowl on his face. "That kid," he spat, "cheats!"

Buffy and Willow looked toward the water and the object of his scorn. A boy, no older than seven, had built a pretty darn good sand castle next to Xander's... well, it wasn't exactly a castle.

"What is that?" Buffy asked pointing at Xander's pile of sand.

"I'm sure it's an impressionistic rendering of what a castle might be like...if... if it were a pile of sand," Willow said.

Xander put on his best indignant face and then all three broke into laughter. God, did it feel good. Everything was perfect, Willow thought and immediately regretted it. 'Now, I've jinxed it.' She tried to put the thought out of her head and smiled, but there was something not right. She looked at Buffy who was frowning.

"What's wrong?" Willow asked anxiously.

"Spidey sense tingling," Buffy said as she craned her neck, trying to narrow in on the culprit.

"No more swim team, please?" Xander gulped.

"No... It's...I don't know. Like we're being watched."

"Oh, is that all?" Xander said relaxing. "I can guarantee you both are being watched."

"Who?" Willow said nervously. She felt Buffy tense, ready to slay.

"Oh, every guy on the beach," Xander said easily. "Look around."

They did and he was right. Most of the guys were scoping them out. Willow blushed and started to put her T-shirt on over her bikini top. Buffy sat up a little straighter and preened, but still couldn't fully shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

"And am I not the lucky one?" Xander said with a prideful grin. "The two most beautiful babes on the beach, and they're with me." He puffed out his chest. "Some men have
it, but I have so much of it."

Willow and Buffy laughed and pushed him down into the sand.

* * * * *

The day had gone well. The new shipment had, amazingly enough, arrived on time and undamaged. The cataloguing was ahead of schedule, and there were world-ending prophecies
on the horizon. All in all, a quality day.

But as much as Giles loved his new job, he loved coming home to his wife even more. His beautiful, sweet, gentle wife.

He opened the front door, fumbling with the keys. "Willow, are--" the rest of the question died in his throat.

Willow was wearing a towel as a wraparound skirt and skimpy bikini top. She was standing perched on the arm of the sofa, swaying her hips and waving her arms wildly. Meanwhile, Buffy played the nose harp and Xander, God help us, played the "air ukulele". The three froze in mid strum and sway.

"Hi, honey," Willow said with a smile.

"Hello," he said evenly and then turned his gaze on Buffy and Xander. "What...are you doing?" He was actually amused, but had fun playing the heavy. They blanched under his scrutiny.

"We were just..." Xander gulped.

"Leaving?" Buffy offered.

"Right!" Xander chimed in.

Giles offered Willow a hand as she climbed down off the sofa. She was looking concerned until she caught the gleam in his eye.

"You guys don't really have to go," she offered.

Giles unsuccessfully stifled a chuckle as he pulled Willow to him and kissed her briefly. He kept his arm around her waist, his fingers delicately brushing against her bare skin. Willow closed her eyes and shivered.

Buffy grinned. "Yes we do."

"We do?" Xander asked.

"We do," Buffy said significantly.

"Oh. Right." Xander stepped toward Willow and reached out to grab the towel she had around her waist. Giles stopped him with a very firm grip before he reached his target. The Watcher's eyes narrowed. "M-my towel," Xander sputtered.

Giles kept hold of Xander's arm. "You can get it later."

"Ow." Giles, only slightly penitent, released his arm. "Later is good," Xander gulped.

Buffy giggled and pulled Xander toward the door. "Bye you two."

"Bye!" Xander squeaked as Buffy slammed the door behind them.

"Rupert, "Willow admonished.

Giles raised an innocent eyebrow. "What?"

Willow giggled and shook her head. She turned to face him and ran her fingers up his chest. "Did you have a good day?"

"It's getting better," he said leaning down to capture her lips in a deep kiss. "Mmmm, salty."

He sighed and sat down of the sofa, pulling her into his lap. "This is quite becoming," he said with a leer, as he ran a long finger down her spaghetti strap. "Although, I'm not too thrilled with the notion that you wore it in public."

"Well, I'm definitely in private now." She leaned in and found a particularly sensitive spot on his neck. He moaned and she grinned in delight.

"I'm all sticky," she whispered.

He could only moan again as he felt his arousal grow.

"I think I need another shower," she purred. "Join me?"

"We certainly don't want to waste any water," he said gathering her into his arms. He stood and then paused. He set her down.

She looked up at him quizzically.

He pulled Xander's towel off her waist and frowned. "I wish you hadn't worn that suit," he said.

"No?" she said demurely. "Is this better?" She quickly undid the top and slipped out of the bottom.

He stood still for a moment, awed by her beauty.

"Rupert?"

He shook his head. "You are a bad, bad Willow." His grin was decidedly feral. He reached out and stroked her torso with a light touch, barely missing the soft flesh of her breast.

She gasped, then met his stare with equal passion. "No, I'm very good - I have it on the best authority," she said with a sultry look.

He swept her up easily into his arms and devoured her mouth with a searing kiss. When they broke apart, she looked up into his eyes with such love and fire, and his heart nearly burst.

Taking the stairs two at a time, he took his wife to their room, and more importantly, their bed.

Giles sighed contentedly and gently brushed his lips against the top of Willow's head. His wife snuggling in his arms -- he couldn't remember feeling more complete. He stroked her silky hair and closed his eyes, leaning his head against the back of the sofa.

Willow, resting on Giles' chest, reveled in the warmth and the constant glow of his love.

All of their troubles and the danger of the Hellmouth seemed so far away. For this moment, at least, they were just like any other newlywed couple - barely able to leave the other's touch.

"This is nice," she said softly.

His arms pulled her just a little closer. "That it is."

She pushed away slightly, just enough to inch her way up to his face. She kissed him tenderly and stroked his cheek. "I love you so much."

He shook his head, almost not believing that he could be so lucky. "You amaze me."

She blushed beautifully. He stilled the hand that was caressing his cheek and kissed her palm, eliciting a soft moan from her lips. He grinned in satisfaction and held her hand, studying the intricacies of her fingers.

"Did you think about what we talked about this morning?" Willow asked tentatively.

"And what was that?" Giles asked lost in thoughts of the softness of her skin.

"My getting a job."

He frowned and shifted her weight. He sighed deeply. "I think it's too soon."

"Rupert-"

He gently slid her off his lap and rose to pace. This conversation made in uncomfortable him a myriad of ways.

Willow knew this was a prickly issue for him, but wasn't sure exactly why. "It would just be part time and the money would be good."

He stopped pacing, his back tensing. "We're not doing that poorly," he bristled.

She shook her head and came up behind him, her arms going around his waist. "We do very well."

He sighed again, but didn't turn to face her. "If you think I'm not capable of providing -"

"Rupert." She forced him to turn and look her in the eye. Could that be what this is all about? Basic breadwinner issues? "You give me everything I need. Everything I could ever want."

He nodded, but his brow was still creased in a frown.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"You'll think it's---" He shook his head. When he spoke again his voice was soft and afraid. "What if you realize you don't need me any more?"

She took his face in her hands. "That will never happen," she assured him. "How can I live without my heart? Without my soul? You're stuck with me."

His green eyes filled with emotion. "I need you to... need me."

"Oh, Rupert" she pulled his face down and kissed him with all the love she had. "I will always need you."

She swept her lips along his chin and then up to his mouth again. He pulled her into a crushing embrace, his desire for her almost overwhelming.

When the frenzied passion had cooled into a warm glow, he pulled away and smiled gently.

"So" he cleared his throat. "What is this job?"

Willow took his hand and squeezed a silent thanks. "Well," she said as she went to the kitchen. "Want anything?"

His answer was a rather lascivious grin.

"To drink," she prompted with a giggle.

"In that case, no thank you," he said as he took his place on the sofa again.

Willow took a glass from the cupboard and as she opened the freezer to get some ice, she stopped.

She felt a strange tugging. Not on her body, but inside. It wasn't exactly painful, just odd. She closed her eyes, trying to pinpoint the sensation, but it was gone as quickly as it came.

Instinctively she looked out the window, searching for what she didn't know. But there was something. The uneasy feeling, the sense of being watched passed quickly too. She
pulled the curtains closed.

"Willow?" Giles called.

"Hmmm? Oh, coming." She put the ice in her glass, filled it with water and put the incident out of her mind. She had bigger fish to fry. She joined Rupert in the living room.

"So?" he prompted as she curled up next to him.

"Well, it would just be part time, and I could do some work off-site." He nodded and she forged ahead. "Duracom is a fairly new software company. So, on the one hand, they have a lot of catching up to do, but on the other hand, they're also willing to try new things in order to do it. It's really a good opportunity for me, and I could kind of take charge of my own destiny, so to speak."

Giles nodded again. "You seem to have made up your mind."

"No. I've given it a lot of thought, but I wanted to talk to you before I made any decisions."

"This is something you feel strongly about?"

"Its just that my recovery took so long." She sighed deeply and he reached for her hand. "I just want some measure of control back. I'm tired of being tired and helpless. I'm not helpless. I know it sounds silly, but I need to do this."

He pulled her into his lap, silently cursing himself for being so selfish. He kissed her softly. "They're damn lucky to get you."

"You're all right with this?"

"I can't say I'm thrilled, but I understand. And I'll support you, whatever you decide to do." He kissed her again, this time his mouth lingering on hers - his hands tangling in her hair. He finally pulled away and gazed deeply into her eyes. "It's just hard for me to let go, even part time."

She smiled up at him and his heart melted.

"Don't ever let go," she whispered.

"Never, love," he promised. "Never."

"That was fun," Willow said enthusiastically, skipping along the sidewalk. The night was warm, and she was feeling good.

Buffy smiled, but arched an eyebrow.

"I know, I'm a sick person, but... you've been slaying this whole time. I've had this forced sabbatical, and I don't know. It felt good to get back out in the action," she said making a few kung-fooey type moves.

Buffy laughed. "Well, I'll admit. It is more fun to slay with a friend. As long as it's just the basic stuff, Will. Routine patrols are fine, but the other... you should take it easy."

Willow's face fell. "You sound just like Rupert."

"Wise man, Ru-- I mean, Giles. Ick."

"What?"

"I just thought of him as Rupert," Buffy said making a face.

"Well, that is his name."

"I know, but to me he's Giles. Even when he's with you." Her voice trailed off and she stopped walking. "This is weird."

"I thought you were okay with-"

Buffy shook her head and looked around. "We're being watched." She scanned the dark streets.

Willow paled noticeably.

Buffy couldn't see anyone, but she could obviously sense another's presence. She briefly considered calling out to the stranger, but if there were more than one... Discretion being the better part of valor, she grabbed Willow's elbow and started to pull her gently down the street.

"Come on, let's get you home."

"Have you been feeling it too?" Willow asked, her voice small.

Buffy stopped abruptly. "What do you mean?" She gave the darkness another glance and decided they had best resume a quick pace.

"Have you been feeling like you’re being watched?" Willow asked anxiously.

"No, just now and that time at the beach a few days ago." Buffy looked at her friend as they scurried down the sidewalk. She was paler than normal and definitely frightened. "But I take it you have."

"I… yeah," Willow admitted.

"What does Giles think it is?" Buffy asked. Willow remained conspicuously silent. "You have told him, haven't you?"

"I wasn't really sure. I wanted to be sure."

Buffy caught some movement out of the corner of her eye and ushered Willow across the street, their pace ever increasing. "You can be sure now."

"Who is it?"

"I can't tell." Buffy scanned the area with a trained eye, but saw only shadows. She could tell Willow was starting to labor, but she didn't want to slow down. She tightened her grip on Willow's arm and helped her friend along.

A few more minutes and Willow was gasping for breath. "I...I can't... keep... this up."

Buffy nodded and they slowed to a quick walk. She cocked her head to the side. "I don't think they're still there. Whoever they are or were." She turned a concerned eye on her friend. "You okay?"

Willow swallowed hard and tried to get her breath. "Yeah, just out of shape."

"We're almost there." With another uneasy glance around, the two hurried the last few blocks to the apartment.

Buffy took the keys from Willow's trembling hands and opened the door. "Giles?" she called out.

"Buffy?" Giles said rising from the sofa. He saw Buffy's tight expression and then noticed Willow. Her face was flushed with exertion and her eyes were clouded. "Willow?" he asked in alarm. He strode quickly to her side, grabbing her arms and quickly scanning her for injuries.

"I'm fine, Rupert."

"Are you sure?" he breathed, his heart somewhere in his throat.

She nodded and tried to smile, but it wasn't very convincing. He pulled her to him and held her close. He took a deep breath and turned his attention to Buffy. "What happened?"

"We were followed," Buffy said.

Giles pulled out the hug, but kept a firm hold of Willow's arm. "Who?" Giles asked his voice taking on a hard edge.

Buffy stole a glance at Willow who was silently pleading to let her tell Giles in her own way. Buffy frowned. "I couldn't tell who it was, but I think we lost them."

"You're all right?" Giles asked her.

"Yeah," Buffy said with grim look. "I'm gonna have a look around. You want me to come back?"

"No, we'll be okay," Willow put in and then smiled at the Slayer. "Thanks, Buffy."

Buffy returned the smile. "I'll call you in the morning. Kay?"

Willow nodded and started to walk Buffy to the door, but Giles held her arm. "Thank you," he said gratefully.

Buffy just nodded in acceptance and cast meaningful look at Willow. Assured she was in good hands, Buffy left the couple alone.

Giles looked down at this wife, his eyes bright with fear. Her cheeks were still pink from the exertion. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"Rupert, I'm fine. Nothing happened." Willow sighed and walked over the couch and flopped down.

"Willow," he started sternly. He knelt down in front of her and took both of her hands in his. "Tell me what's going on?"

"I don't know."

"Please," he asked desperate for some sort of explanation.

She smiled wanly and nodded. "The last few days I've felt... just a few times... like someone was watching me."

Giles appeared much calmer than he felt. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I wasn't sure. It was just feeling. I thought I was being paranoid."

Giles shook his head and kissed her hands. "Promise me you'll not keep something like this from me again. No matter how trivial it may seem."

"Rupert-"

"Promise me."

"I promise."

His green eyes met hers, demanding she keep her word. He noticed that she was perspiring slightly. He gently stroked her cheek. "You're not hurt?"

"Nothing happened," she protested. "I know I should have told you, but I'm fine. Really. We got the wiggins, we ran, I got sweaty." She squished up her face in disgust. "Speaking of which, I'm gonna take a quick bath and change."

He nodded and helped her to her feet. "I have the feeling there's more to this."

"Bath first, then I'll tell you everything I can think of. I'll even make stuff up if you want," she added with a wink.

He chuckled in spite of his nagging fears.

"I won't be long," she said, kissing him on the cheek and disappearing up the stairs.

Giles watched her leave, then swiftly crossed to the front door and threw the deadbolt. He took a deep breath and a then proceeded to pour himself a stiff Scotch.

About twenty minutes later, Willow came back downstairs. She was wearing a simple green terrycloth bathrobe her hair piled high on her head. She looked incredibly sexy. Giles reminded himself that he had to concentrate on the matter at hand. There would be time for ravishing later, now was the time for answers.

She leaned across the back of the sofa and gently kissed his cheek. "Scotch? Really, Rupert. It's not that bad."

"I'll be the judge of that," he whispered unable to resist her charms. He pulled her over the back of the sofa and onto his lap. He ran a long finger along her chin, lost in the softness of her skin and the heady of scent of lavender. He leaned in to capture her mouth in a kiss when they were interrupted by a loud knocking on the front door.

"What the-" Giles mumbled. He felt Willow's body tense. He gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze and eased her off his lap. He grabbed a stake and carefully made his way to the door, gesturing for her to stay back.

"Who is it?" he demanded.

"An old friend," said a male voice.

"Bloody hell," Giles spat.

"Aren't you going to let me in? Dangerous out here you know."

Giles clenched his jaw and swore under his breath.

"Rupert?" Willow asked nervously.

"Shit," Giles hissed and unlocked the door. Standing back he pulled it open. "Ethan."

"Hello, Ripper."

"Aren't you going to invite me in? Oh, that's right," Ethan said with a smirk. He crossed the threshold and grinned at Giles. "You see, I'm very much alive."

"What the hell do you want, Ethan?"

"What? No hello? No Long time no see?"

"Ethan," Giles hissed.

"I know you've missed me Ripper. You always -- Hello..." His attention was pulled away from Giles and to the robe-clad Willow. He raised an appreciative eyebrow and took a few steps closer. "We meet again, my dear."

Giles growled, and Ethan stopped in his tracks.

"Why are you here?" Willow asked calmly meeting Ethan's wicked grin.

His eyes dropped to appreciate her slightly exposed cleavage."You are... bewitching," he drawled and then turned back to Giles. "Didn't think you had it in you, old boy. Good to know you haven't given up all the pleasures of life."

Giles clenched his jaw and shook his head in warning.

"Ah," Ethan declared. "I haven't kissed the bride." He started to cross the room, but never made it. Giles grabbed him roughly and pushed him hard against the wall.

"Never. Never touch her," Giles warned, his voice as steely as his eyes.

"Pity."

Giles loosened his grip, but didn't move away. He kept himself between Willow and Ethan, who raked his eyes across her body. Her robe was serving only to remind both men that she was nearly naked.

"Did I interrupt something?" Ethan asked, a sexual grin on his lips. "Don't stop on my account. Ripper, here, isn't the only one who likes to watch."

Ethan barely finished the sentence as Giles' fist connected squarely with his jaw.

Rupert was barely reining in Ripper, and Ethan could see the cold glint in his friend's eyes. He raised his hands in a placating gesture and then rubbed his jaw. "I'll behave... for now." He stole another glance at Willow. "But if you want me to keep my mind on the matter at hand, she'd better put some clothes on. After all, I'm only human."

Giles thought about hitting him again, but knew he was right. Willow's appearance was distracting, to say the least. "Willow, get dressed," he ordered.

She frowned and gave Giles a solid glare through her rising blush. Clothed would be better, but she didn't like his tone. Making sure she caught her husband's eyes, she let her expression speak her displeasure.

Giles knew the look and quickly amended, "Please darling?"

She nodded and with a last wary glance at Ethan, made her way upstairs. Both men watched her leave.

Ethan sighed. "So young, so..."

"I won't warn you again, "Giles spat.

Ethan shrugged dramatically. "Just an observation. I must admit, I didn't think you had the guts to do it."

"Do what?"

"Marry the little witch. Sleep with a girl half your age. Must have been hard for you, breaking form."

"Easiest thing I've ever done," Giles said quietly his eyes drifting to the stairs. Then he remembered himself and to whom he was speaking. "Why are you here, Ethan? The short version. Preferably the truth."

"You wound me," he answered wryly. "Of course, I suppose you have your reasons. I have been, on occasion, less than truthful in the past."

Giles snorted and narrowed his eyes and regarded his old friend and enemy. He knew whatever Ethan said it would be far from the whole story, but better to get some information than to let him run loose.

"Just get on with it," Giles sighed.

"You have no flare for the dramatic," Ethan said wistfully. "Very well. I've been in Europe for the last year or so...on business.

Giles knew that could mean any number of things, none of them good. "Go on."

Ethan paused before continuing. He looked intently at Giles, judging his reaction. "I heard about Inneresser."

Giles winced involuntarily at the mention of the demon who had caused Willow so much pain. "I'm surprised you didn't try to defeat him yourself."

Ethan shrugged. "Would have. But, at the time, America wasn't the safest place for me."

"And what makes you think it is now?" Giles said with menace.

"Really, Ripper," Ethan said impatiently. "I'm here to help you... well, Willow actually."

"Me?" Willow asked softly from the stairs. She had changed into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. "Why would *I* need *your* help?" She crossed to stand next to Giles, who put a protective arm around her waist.

Ethan looked at her with what, if it had been anyone but Ethan, would have been called sympathy. Whatever it was, it passed quickly and was replaced with his patented smirk.

Willow looked deeply into Ethan's eyes, trying to chase that flicker of true emotion. He seemed to find her scrutiny uncomfortable and finally averted his eyes.

"Was it you?" she asked quietly.

Giles breath caught and he took a threatening step toward Ethan. "Were you following my wife?"

Ethan laughed, but the smirk died in his throat when he saw the danger in the Watcher's eyes. "Sorry, that just struck me as funny." He calmed and cleared his throat. "No, I didn't follow you," he said addressing himself to Willow.

She narrowed her eyes. "That's not what I meant, Ethan, and you know it." She took a small step closer. "Is it you?"

Giles looked back at her with confusion. "What do you mean? What's going on?"

"So you've felt it, have you?" Ethan asked, his interest piqued.

"Yes."

Ethan shook his head. "I'm sorry."

Willow tried to look inside this enigmatic man. She could feel it hadn't been him. Being here in the same room with him, she could tell he wasn't he one who had contacted her. She could feel the remnants of magick on him, runes and protection spells. She had learned that each person who performed magick has a sort of fingerprint. And like fingerprints, no two were exactly the same. She could tell that Ethan was not the one responsible for what was happening to her.

"Would someone mind telling me what the hell is going on?" Giles bellowed.

Willow reached out and took his hand. "I've been feeling... I don't really know how to describe it. It's like a tugging deep inside me. Like... I don't know what it is." She turned her attention to Ethan. "But I have the feeling you do."

"Possibly," Ethan said noncommittally. He fell comfortably onto the sofa, putting his feet up on the coffee table, looking very much like the cat that ate the canary. "Possibly."

Giles ignored Ethan and turned to Willow. He couldn't believe she'd been keeping this a secret, and now to seek help from Ethan of all people.

"Damnit Willow!" Giles raged. "What else haven't you told me?"

"Ah, trouble in paradise. If you ever tire of him, I'm always available."

"Shut up!" Giles snarled. He was on the verge of tearing Ethan limb from limb when he turned back to Willow. She looked small and afraid, and Giles' anger immediately ebbed. She was turning slightly pale, her eyes unfocused. He took her gently by the shoulders. "What is it?"

She frowned and closed her eyes. It was happening again. The sensation was stronger this time. There was something, deep inside - pushing and pulling - wanting in and needing out. There was an urgency that hadn't been there before, and it terrified her. The world was falling away.

She reached out, needing to be touched, to ground herself in this reality. She felt a strong, warm hand. Rupert. Abruptly, the internal struggle stopped. Whether it was from Giles' touch or something else, she couldn't tell. The moment had passed. Her eyes snapped open - unaware if seconds or days had passed.

She quickly surmised from her surroundings that it there had been only a brief passage of time. She looked at her husband; the fear in his eyes frightened her more than anything else.

Ethan sat enraptured by the episode. He could feel the residual magicks and breathed them in like an addict near the remnants of a fix.

"Willow?" Giles asked breathlessly. "Are you all right?" She nodded. His breath was coming in short bursts; she could tell he was trying very hard to control his raging emotions. "What is going on?"

She shook her head and licked her lips. Her eyes searching out Ethan. She knew he held the key. For triumph or tragedy, he had the answers.

"Ethan," she said slowly calming herself. "What's happening to me?"

He smiled broadly, but there was little humor in it. "The fates are mercurial creatures," he said cryptically.

Giles whirled around and grabbed Ethan by collar. "If you know what's happening to her – you had better start talking!"

"Easy, Ripper. Why do you think I'm here?"

"Then talk," Giles said through gritted teeth.

Ethan looked down meaningfully at Giles' grip on his shirt. Reluctantly, Rupert let go, causing him to fall back onto the sofa. Ethan straightened his shirt and examined it for damage. He mumbled something about Italian silk before sighing dramatically.

He met Willow's eyes and spoke directly to her. His every mannerism exuding confidence and a strange magnetism. "Do you know what a dimensional fissure is?"

She frowned. "I've heard of it, but I'm..." She trailed off shaking her head.

"A dimensional fissure is a window. A series of windows really, openings to alternate realities, other planes of existence."

She nodded slowly and sat down in the armchair. Giles founds his place by her side. He held her hand and watched Ethan suspiciously. The man was as forked-tongued as any snake and the way Willow was looking at him with such trust... it was truly an exercise in patience.

"Magick exists in one such dimension. It takes this reality," Ethan said with a sweeping motion, "And mutates it - removes some things and adding others. Magick
fractures our reality and replaces it."

Willow nodded again and Ethan smiled knowingly. "You've become quite the little witch, my dear," he added seductively.

"Ethan," Giles warned. "What's this have to do with Willow?"

"Everything." He looked at Giles with something between scorn and pity. "She's changed. Can't you feel it?"

Giles shook his head in denial. He knew that Ethan was right, but admitting it was to accept some new terrible fate.

"Rumor has it," Ethan said, suddenly conversational. "You talk to the animals."

His abrupt change in demeanor from Svengali to casual acquaintance confused her. "I... well, not really."

He arched an eyebrow. "Willow," he scolded. "You have to be honest with me."

Giles bit back a wicked retort.

"I... sometimes," she conceded. "I can see what they see, but it's not like talking... We communicate, sometimes, but it's very basic."

Giles looked at his wife and was once again awed by her. Only Willow could say something like that with such humility and innocence. He had seen this new skill the day he proposed and a few times since. Each time its subtle beauty left him speechless.

"That's a window," Ethan said. "One of the windows." He leaned forward - pausing - wanting to be sure he had their full attention. "Inside you."

"I don't understand."

"When you fought Innersser," Ethan continued. Giles felt Willow tense at the mention of the demon's name. He held her had firmly, supporting her, giving her his strength. "You survived because you didn't take... didn't internalize his power. You channeled it. Channeled it through you to somewhere else. Very clever. But for every victory, there is a price to be paid, isn't there?"

"I paid with a year of my life," Willow said sadly.

Ethan laughed, but swallowed it quickly. "I'm sorry. I suppose to someone so young, a year seems like an eternity." He shook his head ruefully and narrowed his eyes. "You have no idea how long eternity really is."

Willow saw something flash across his eyes. Pain. Loss. Fear. All fleeting, his control regained.

"When you channeled those magicks, you, for lack of a better explanation, burned a hole in your soul."

Willow gasped.

"What the hell does that mean?" Giles demanded.

"It means," Ethan said, suddenly furious, "You stupid git, that she's got a fissure inside her! Her god damned soul has a window... a gateway to who knows how many different dimensions." He paused to let this little gem sink in. "And where there's a door, there's someone trying to get in... or out."

"Through me?" she asked in a small voice. Giles' grip on her hand was almost painful.

Ethan grinned broadly at her comprehension. "Yes." His smile faded and was replaced with a scowl and when he spoke it was barely a whisper. "They'll come for you."

"Who?" Giles said too loudly, startling the others. "Who will come?"

Ethan leaned back and shook his head. "I can't be sure."

Giles swiftly crossed the room and forced his forearm against Ethan's windpipe. "Who?"

"I..." he coughed. "I heard that there were men who need..." He looked at Willow. "Her."

Giles pushed hard on Ethan's throat and then quickly released him. "Why should I believe you?"

Ethan shrugged and cleared his throat. "Can you afford not to?"

Giles backhanded him with terrifying speed. His control was nearly gone.

"Rupert!" Willow called out.

He wanted nothing more than to beat Ethan to a bloody pulp, to release the anger and helplessness that were overwhelming him. He hadn't been able to protect Willow before, and it was all starting again.

Ethan dabbed at his split lip. "Don't be so thick. Think! Use your head!"

"You're lying!" Giles roared and cocked his fist.

Ethan raised his hands in submission. "Fine! Right! It's all a lie."

His sudden surrender left Giles without a release. His anger strangled, unsatisfied.

When he felt that the imminent danger from Ripper had passed, Ethan eased himself off the sofa.

"I'd like to say it's been fun..." he said with a sardonic smile.

"Wait," Willow pleaded.

"I think I've worn out my welcome," Ethan answered. His eyes ran up and down her body in a tawdry caress. "For now."

Giles grunted and stepped forward. "Get out."

"Shoot the messenger. Should have known," Ethan mumbled.

"Give me a reason," Giles fumed. "One reason why I should trust you."

Ethan's eyes softened for a moment. When he spoke it was without any of his usual affectation. "I have enough enemies... I don't want to count you among them any more." He blew out a long breath and looked down. "Forget it. Believe what you will." He turned and strode for the door.

"Ethan!" The other man stopped, his back straight. Giles struggled with what to say. He couldn't trust Ethan – and yet…

Ethan waited for a long moment. "You're welcome," he said with grin they couldn't see and then closed the door behind him.

"Wait," Willow called out as she went for the door.

Giles grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "What are you doing?"

"I have questions for him," she explained.

"He doesn't have the answers," he spat back. "He just wants you to think he does. -- Bastard."

"He was only trying to help."

Giles laughed, it sounded almost cruel. "You don't really believe him?"

"What reason would he have to lie?"

"Ethan always has a reason to lie. It's what he does. It's who he is."

"You're being unreasonable," she said with mounting anger.

"Unreasonable? *I'm* being unreasonable?!" he snapped. "What else have you kept from me?" He advanced on her again. "Where there's one lie there's always another."

Willow caught her breath. "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that."

"Oh, that fits, doesn't it? Pretend there's nothing wrong. Christ!"

"Why are you acting like this?"

"Because you should have told me!" he roared.

"I didn't tell you because I knew you'd act like this!" she countered.

Giles spun around and strode away from her. He clenched his jaw and tried, unsuccessfully, to calm himself. "Is there anything else you *don't* want to tell me?"

"Yes."

"What is it?" he yelled spinning to face her again.

"I don't want to tell you!" She took a deep breath. "Not when you're like this."

His nostrils flared and his lip turned up in a snarl. "Like what?"

"Like Ripper." She saw the anger flash in his eyes. "I need Rupert right now," she added so softly he almost didn't hear her.

"Well, Ripper's here, baby."

"That's helpful," she said sarcastically.

He crossed the room in a few quick strides and grabbed her arms. "Don't play with me."

She shook her head. "I'm not *playing* with you. I can't talk to you when you're like this. I'm going to bed... Alone."

"Oh, you are - are you?" he said with a grim smile as he pulled her closer.

"Yes," she said stonily. "Let go of me."

"And what if I don't?" he said with a crooked smile.

"You're hurting me, Rupert," she said softly.

He looked at his hands, wrapped tightly around her upper arms, and in a rush, the world came back to him. He let go. "I...I'm sorry."

"Being sorry doesn't change anything," she said turning away from him.

"Willow-"

"Please." she asked. "Just leave it." She took a few steps toward the stairs and stopped. She seemed about to say something and then ascended the stairs in silence.

Giles watched her leave. He collapsed heavily onto the sofa and covered his face with his hands. "Fuck."

He leaned back against the cushions and cursed Ethan Rayne to hell.

As the night wore on, Giles became more and more agitated. 'What other secrets is she keeping?' His mind raged. 'How dare she believe that little shit. I'm her husband for Christ's sake!'

By the time morning, came he was ready snap.

Willow came downstairs, dressed and ready to go.

"Sleep well?" he asked sharply.

"No."

"Where are you going?" he demanded.

She looked at him, her green eyes hard. She clamped her mouth shut and started for the door.

"I said, where are you going?" he spat, as he stood between her and the exit.

She shook her head. "I'm going to find Ethan."

"No. You're not."

"It wasn't a question," she said coldly.

"I forbid it."

"Excuse me?"

"I forbid it," he said leaning toward her meaningfully.

She took a deep breath and met his stare with one of equal fire. "I thought when we got married I gained a husband NOT a keeper. I'm leaving now."

"Are you? I don't think so. I won't let you go," he said leaning in even closer.

"How do you plan on stopping me, Ripper?" she said bitterly. "Gonna tie me up? Tie me down? Hit me?"

He closed his eyes as her words stung. He staggered back slightly.

She wanted to take the words back, but she couldn't. How had things spun so terribly out of control? Whether Giles believed it or not, she knew Ethan had the answers -- answers she had to have.

Without another word, she slammed the door behind her.

"Bloody hell," Giles said as he leaned against the wall.

He pushed himself forward and paced furiously for a few minutes. Finally, he grabbed the phone. He punched in the numbers and waited impatiently for the other party to answer.

"Buffy? I need your help. Willow's gone looking for Ethan. --- No, I don't know. Just find her and keep her clear of him. --- I said I don't know! Just do it.---" He sighed. "I'm sorry. Please? --- Thank you." He set the phone down and wondered when he'd gone completely insane. He was pretty sure it was about two minutes after Ethan started talking.

He blew out a long breath and grabbed a stack of books. Research. He started to read and tried not to think about the things he might find.

-------

Buffy found Willow at a bus stop just a few blocks from Giles' apartment. She was sitting on the bench, her arms wrapped protectively around her chest, softly crying.

"Willow?"

"Hi," she said in a small voice as she wiped away the tears. Her expression hardened. "Did he send you?"

"He's worried about you," Buffy said as she sat down next to her friend.

"He has a funny way of showing it. Why can't he trust me? I can take care of myself," Willow
said sadly.

"He knows that."

"I forbid you to go," Willow said in a bad imitation of Giles' accent. "What the hell is that? Forbid? He actually *forbade* me!"

"Ah," Buffy said. This was all making a little more sense.

"Who the hell does he think he is?" Willow roared.

"A man?"

Willow rolled her eyes. "He treats me like a child. If he thinks I'm such a baby, why'd he marry me?"

"Because he's crazy in love with you."

"Well, he's making me crazy!" Willow said, but some of the wind had left her sails. Willow let out a long sigh.

"Are you really looking for Ethan?"

Willow nodded, trying to regain some semblance of calm.

"That's not a good idea."

"I can't believe you're taking his side."

"I'm not taking anybody's side. Ethan's bad news."

"Maybe."

"No maybes Wills. Giles has good reason not to trust him."

"People change," Willow said hopefully. Buffy looked at her with a mix of concern and awe. After all she'd been through, Willow still believed in the better side of human nature. She still wanted to trust people. It was one of her greatest attributes, but it also made her vulnerable.

"Not Ethan," Buffy said sternly. "Was he the one who followed us last night?"

"No," Willow said firmly.

Buffy frowned. "What do you want with him anyway?"

"He has --- information."

"Can I beat it out of him?'

"Buffy!"

"Willow, you can't be serious about this."

Willow stood up defiantly. "If you're not gonna help me, Buffy. Just go away." She turned, but Buffy grabbed her arm.

"Wait. I want to help. You know I do. But I don't see how Ethan fits in."

Willow frowned. She didn't want to be in this alone. She needed her friends. She needed her husband - the big jerk. She sighed and looked at Buffy skeptically.

Buffy put her hand to her heart. "I promise not to go off half cocked -- or even quarter cocked. When have you known me to rush in before -" Buffy held up her hand to silence Willow's impending interruption. "Okay, so maybe I have over-reacted in the past. But, come on Wills. I just want to help."

Willow smiled and nodded.

She told Buffy about Ethan's revelations. The Slayer's face grew grim.

"You can't trust him," Buffy finally said. "I'm not saying he was lying, just that if he is telling the truth -- it isn't out of the goodness of his heart."

Willow frowned. "It's kind of a moot point anyway. I mean, how am I supposed to find anybody? Take the bus all over town, wander the streets. God, this is pathetic."

"Giles is worried sick. Why don't you go home? You two can research the hell out of this. I'm sure you'll figure it out."

Willow shook her head. "I can't go home yet. Not after the things he said. I need some time away."

Buffy smiled. "Okay. Time it is. Shall we mocha the morning away?"

Willow relaxed for the first time since last night and grinned at her best friend. She always knew how to make her feel better. The two friends headed down the street. Neither noticed the man in the black trench coat and dark sunglasses. The man who melted into the shadows. The man who watched and waited.

-------

Buffy called and reassured Giles that Willow was safe. He wished she'd just come home. He needed desperately to apologize, to hold her again. But after how he'd behaved, who could blame her for staying away?

He tried not to think about last night or this morning. He had to concentrate on tomorrow and making sure Willow was there to see it. That meant research. He tried to take comfort in the process, in the familiarity of the books.

There was an answer to every question. You just had to know where to look, and look he did. Unfortunately, what he found was no comfort. No comfort at all.

"You sure you don't want some?" Xander asked as he grabbed a bag off the top of his small fridge.

"No thanks. I've heard about your chips," Willow said with a little smile.

"Suit yourself," he said popping a handful into his mouth. They were incredibly stale, but he gamely chewed and forced them down.

Willow plopped down on the edge of Xander's bed and let out a big sigh.

"Wow," Xander said sitting down next to her. "Such a big sigh for such a little Willow." He made his best pouty face and puppy dog eyes.

She smiled and even managed a little chuckle.

"That's better," he said throwing an arm over her shoulder. "Now, tell Uncle Xander all about it."

"It's a long story."

"I've got nothin' but time --- Well, time and stale chips."

--------

There was a knock at the front door. Giles set down his drink and hurried to answer it. He threw the door open. "Willow?" he said hopefully.

"Sorry. Just me," Buffy said as his face fell.

"Oh."

"You know a lot of people would be happy to see me. Might even let me come in."

"Sorry." He smiled ruefully and stepped aside.

Buffy walked in and looked around. She immediately noticed the bottle of scotch. He followed her gaze.

"Don't start, Buffy."

"I didn't say anything. I didn't say how sometimes when you drink you get a little out of control. I didn't say that you can't run away and hide in a bottle. I didn't-"

"I really wish you'd stop not saying things," Giles retorted.

"Okay. I'm sorry. I just hate seeing you -- both of you like this."

Giles sat down heavily on the couch. "How is she?"

"Miserable."

Giles let out a deep sigh and shook his head. "I -- Buffy, I wish --" He stared into his glass. "Where is she?"

"At Xander's."

Giles grunted and worked his jaw. "I'm sure he's enjoying this."

"No. No, he's not," Buffy said pointedly. "I don't think he's enjoying this at all."

"I'm sorry. I can't seem to -- I'm sorry. I'm glad she has such good friends. It's just --"

"You're a little jealous maybe?"

Giles tried to look offended at the suggestion, but couldn't carry it off and slowly nodded.

Buffy sat down next to him. "You don't have anything to worry about," she assured him.

Giles smiled at her, but it was full of sadness and regret. "I'm such an ass."

"Yup."

Giles glared at her.

She shrugged. "Well, I've only heard her side of things, but that was pretty much the gist."

He frowned deeply and set his drink down. Buffy noticed the open books that covered the coffee table. "Any luck on the research front?"

Giles closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head. "Nothing good, I'm afraid."

"Something bad though?"

Giles crossed to the fireplace and tried to remain clinically detached as he told Buffy about his findings. "There have been a few recorded instances of dimensional fissures. It's--- I admit that I can't begin to fathom the complexities of the human soul, but---"

"But?"

"It seems that somehow when the soul fractures, the mind and the body can't function properly. Slowly, they shut down. It's a horrible---" Giles struggled with his composure before continuing. "It's a slow and torturous way to die, Buffy. The pain is --" He couldn't finish and turned away from her.

"We'll find a way to stop this," Buffy said.

Giles turned back and looked at her solemnly. "If anything happens to her--"

"Nothing will. We won't let it." She said it with such confidence he almost believed her. How he wanted to believe her.

She saw the fear in his eyes and the hope.

"I just want to bring her home," he said simply.

Buffy nodded. "Home is good."

--------

"It's just cause he loves you," Xander said as he lay back onto his bed.

Willow frowned and stretched out next to him, looking up at the ceiling. "But why is he acting so Paleolithic?"

"Cause he loves you," he said simply. "Love makes you do the wacky, right?"

"I guess," she sighed.

"Giles is Mister In Control. He's the Answer Guy, right?" Xander said, leaning on an elbow. "Then something comes along, and he doesn't know what to do. He doesn't have the answer, and it makes him a little crazy."

Willow smiled. "When did you get so smart?"

"It's the company I keep."

She smiled again.

"Buffy's a lot smarter than she looks," Xander quipped.

Willow hit him with a pillow, but it was a half-hearted swat, interrupted by a big yawn.

Xander smiled back and yawned himself. "I should take you home," he said sleepily.

"In a minute," Willow said through another yawn. The stress of the last twenty-four hours was finally catching up with her.

"In a minute," Xander echoed as he snuggled down next to her. Soon they were both fast asleep.

-------

"What about his parents?" Giles asked as they started up the walk to Xander's house.

"Outta town," Buffy said. She stopped walking and cocked her head to the side.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I don't know. You go check on them, I'm just gonna have look around."

"Buffy--"

She rolled her eyes and shooed him. Giles looked around nervously and headed for the front door. He tried ringing the bell, but it must have been broken. He knocked, but there was no answer. He tried the doorknob and found it unlocked. 'Does that boy have any sense?' he thought. With growing unease he hurried toward the basement.

Buffy's Slayer sense had told her someone was there, and it hadn't let her down. She circled around to the backyard and saw him. Standing in the bushes was a man, just over six feet tall, wearing a black trench coat. He was just standing there, stock still. 'Ethan,' she thought. 'I'm gonna have to teach you a little lesson in manners.'

"All right, Ethan. Game's over--" she said as she grabbed his arm and spun him around. She jerked back. It wasn't Ethan. She'd never seen this man before. He was deathly pale with jet-black hair and was incongruously wearing dark sunglasses in the middle of the night. "Who the hell are you?"

The man stared at her blankly for a long moment and then slowly turned away. Buffy grabbed his shoulder and spun him back around. The quick movement knocked his glasses off, and Buffy's breath caught.

He didn't have any eyes. The sockets were wide and empty -- black -- deep with nothing.

"Willow!" Giles bellowed from inside. Buffy turned to the house and by the time she looked back, the man was gone.

"Damn," she muttered and then dashed off toward Xander's room. She bounded down the stairs. "Giles? What's wrong?"

Giles stood at the foot of Xander's bed, his eyes wide and a little wild. Xander was backed up against the wall hands in the air, and Willow was sitting up in the bed.

"This is not what it looks like!" Xander sputtered.

Giles eyed the younger man harshly.

"We just fell asleep," Willow explained.

Giles looked at his wife, and his anger melted away. He'd wanted nothing more than to hold her. Here she was, within his grasp, and he was about to make another scene.

He took a deep cleansing breath and nodded. He crossed the room and helped her off the bed. She smiled up at him. He took her gently in his arms and kissed her forehead. "I am so sorry," he whispered.

She nodded against his chest and was about to say something when she noticed Buffy's expression. "Buffy, what is it?"

Giles turned to his Slayer. She looked unnerved. "What's wrong?"

"There was a guy outside watching the house."

Xander went to get his baseball bat. "He's gone," Buffy added.

Giles set his jaw. "Was it Ethan?"

"No. I wish it had been. This guy---" She shook her head and shivered. "He was seriously freaksome --- He didn't have any eyes."

"Ew," Xander said.

"He had these dark glasses on and when they got knocked off--- It was like he was -- hollow."

"Eyes without faces," Willow mumbled to herself.

"What?" Giles asked.

"In my dreams." She looked up at Giles sheepishly. His eyes went wide in realization. This was what she hadn't wanted to tell him before. He smiled tenderly, his eyes full of understanding and support. And love.

"I've been having these dreams and in them --- " she continued. "There are eyes, but no faces."

"And now we've got a face without eyes," Xander said with a frown.

"What else do you remember?" Giles prompted her.

Willow thought for a moment. "Not much. Just the eyes and the voices. I can't make out the words, but the voices -- they're strange."

"Strange how?"

"They sound--" She closed her eyes trying to recapture the sights and the sounds. "They sound like dry leaves scraping along the pavement. Like a cold wind is blowing them." She frowned. "Doesn't make much sense does it?"

Giles took her hand and smiled. "Not yet."

She smiled back at him. "Yet."

He nodded. "It's late. Let's go home."

"Home," she echoed and her smile grew wider.

She dropped his hand and crossed to Xander. She kissed his cheek and whispered, "Thank you."

Xander kept his hands at his sides and watched Giles warily. "You're welcome."

Willow crossed back to Giles and took his hand again. Giles expression softened and he gave Xander a quick nod of thanks. The younger man smiled in relief and nodded back.

Giles led his wife up the stairs.

Buffy watched them leave and Xander let out a long breath. "G-Man's wound pretty tight these days."

Buffy nodded and looked back at Xander. "I think we all will be before this is over."

The room was dark, the curtains drawn, with only a thin stream of light filtering through. He pushed down the tears, surprised he had any left to give.

She was dying. Slowly. Painfully. Dying.

The dementia was coming more often - the moments of lucidity, barren and cold. Her only companion, here or there, was the pain.

He hadn't been prepared for this. So many levels, so many depths. Her soul was breaking apart, and his heart was following.

To see someone you love in pain is torture. To see someone you love in agony is an unspeakable torment.

He sat on the edge of the bed and reached for her hand. Her eyes, dark and glazed, met his. Speech had failed her several days ago, her emerald eyes her only means of expression and they spoke volumes. They were as they had been this past week - begging. Pleading for help, help he wouldn't give.

She squeezed his hand, and his breath caught. With a strength she didn't have, she slowly pulled his hand to her neck and rested it there. His eyes met hers, questioning.

She swallowed with difficulty and placed her fingers over his, pressing down on her neck. Her eyes met his again. Begging.

"No," he whispered, shaking his head and trying to pull his hand away.

"Please," she mouthed soundlessly.

He shook his head again, but knew he could no longer deny her the respite she so desparately needed.

He let out a long shuddering breath and leaned down. He kissed her so very gently and whispered, "I love you."

For the briefest of moments, the life that had fled so long ago, danced across her face. Then it was gone, and the unmistakable specter of death hovered ever closer.

He extended his fingers and then closed them slowly around her throat. "Forgive me," he pleaded and closed his eyes. As she would find peace, his hell would begin anew.

He woke with start. Sitting up in bed, he quickly turned and found he was alone.

"Willow?" he called out. His heart was pounding. Sweat was pouring from his brow. His chest was heaving as he tried to catch his breath. A surge of a swelling panic pushed through him.

"Willow?" he called out again, louder, more insistent. Still, she didn't answer. Images from his nightmare came unbidden --- Willow's pain, his helplessness and finally his hand wrapped around her throat.

He had to find her. He had to see her. Now.

"Willow!" He ran from their bedroom, his blood turning cold with every passing second. He bounded down the stairs, nearly falling in his haste. He stumbled into the living room and stopped.

"Willow?"

She was standing silhouetted by the glowing embers of a fire nearly gone. Pulled from her reverie, she turned and looked at him anxiously. "Rupert, what's wrong?"

Giles swallowed hard and pushed out a few quick hard breaths. He couldn't speak. He'd only felt fear like this once before - the night he'd nearly lost her to Inneresser.

"What's wrong?" she asked again concern in her voice.

He shook his head and crossed the room swiftly. He reached out and grabbed her shoulders firmly. His eyes were penetrating and intense, his breathing still ragged.

Willow put her hands on his chest, feeling its rapid rise and fall and the pounding of his heart. His desperation was palpable. He was really so vulnernable. She reached out and ran a soothing hand down his cheek.

He clenched his jaw and frowned down at her. He needed her more than he'd thought possible. Just the fleeting sensation of losing her scared him to his very to the very depths of his soul.

He pulled her fiercely to him, his mouth diving down onto hers. His lips drowning, pulling, demanding.

He sucked her lower lip into his mouth, and then opened wider to take as much of her, taste as much of her as he could. He'd never known need like this before. It was a powerful blend of primal urges and spiritual destiny. He let the power control him and in turn control her.

His tongue delved into her mouth in furious haste. He sucked and pulled, trying to inhale her.

His hands held her body as close to his as possible. He needed to touch her, all of her, to be inside her. The desire was so overwhelming, tears coursed down his cheeks.

She felt his tears and wanted nothing more than to wipe them away, to ease his pain.

He kept their bodies pressed together and lowered her to the floor. He lay atop her, pressing down, never once letting his mouth leave hers.

The ache for her was blinding. Waves of anger, fear and desperation flowed through him. He held her head as his mouth continued its assault.

They had made mad passionate love before, but never like this.

Giles moaned as she reached down and ran her hand along his erection. Instinctively, he thrust his hips into her hand, trapping it between them.

He pushed away only far enough to pull her robe away, exposing her short nightgown. He rucked up the hem and cupped her mound. He rubbed her briefly before quickly thrusting a long finger deep inside her.

"Oh," she gasped and he quickly thrust another finger into her.

His mouth continued to ravish hers, his lips and teeth crushing down against hers.

He withdrew his hand and released his throbbing erection. In one swift movement he entered her.

He pressed her hard into the floor, his hips meeting hers in a frenzy. His breathing quickened. His hands grasped her hair, as he tried to *be* inside her. He needed so desperately to be inside her -- to somehow fill the hole that was killing her -- killing him.

With one final, powerful thrust he came as he cried out. Overwhelmed by his passion, Willow followed soon behind.

Giles collapsed on top of her, his tears caressing her cheek.

"Oh, Rupert," she whispered. "My love."

He lay on top of her, still needing to feel her. He couldn't bring himself to break their connection.

Willow found the feel of him, the weight of his body on hers, reassuring. She reached out and stroked his cheek.

He leaned into her hand. "Willow," he sobbed.

She kissed him gently and held her husband as he cried.

Willow stood in the kitchen and thoughtfully watched the steeping tea. She heard her husband's footfalls as he came down the stairs.

"Better?" she asked, greeting him with a warm smile.

He smiled back sheepishly and ran a hand through his still damp hair. He walked up to her and put one hand on her waist. He tenderly pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry about last night-"

"Darling, don't ever be sorry for making love to me."

He bent down and nuzzled her cheek. "Never that, love."

Her skin was so soft. He kissed her gently and straightened.

She reached out and ran her fingers down his freshly shaven cheek. "Mmmm. Smooth."

He chuckled and then arched an eyebrow as she looked up at him seductively.

"And you smell," she said as she nestled against his neck. "Mmmm--- sexy." She let out a long breath that danced along his throat.

Giles closed his eyes as her touch set his heart to beating faster. He lifted her chin with a long finger and kissed her deeply.

He pulled out of the kiss and held her to his chest. "I want to apologize again for the things I said yesterday. I-"

Willow touched his chest and looked up into his deep hazel eyes. She was, as always, lost in them.

"I--," he continued and then shook his head. The way she looked at him made his head spin. "What does a woman like you possibly see in a man like me?"

She was about to say something pithy, when she looked more closely at the man in her arms. He was serious and a little worried.

There were times when he was sure this had all been a dream. How could a woman like Willow love a man like him?

He looked so vulnerable sometimes, and she loved him all the more for it.

"Do you really want to know?" she asked.

He looked down for a moment and nodded shyly. "Yes," he said softly.

Willow looked thoughtful and pulled out of his embrace. She leaned back against the counter, considering her words. She let her eyes travel the length of him before speaking.

"I see the man I love. A man who has suffered. A man who has lost so many things but kept the most important. A man with the strength to save the world. A man who gives without expecting anything in return. A man with a brilliant mind. A man who could have been so many things and sacrificed them all to do what he knew was right."

He shook his head, but she ignored his silent protest.

"I see the person I admire most - my teacher, my best friend -- my lover."

She crossed the small kitchen and wrapped her arms around his waist. She tilted her head and looked into his eyes.

"I see the man I trust most in all the world." She smiled up at him, her face filled with emotion. "I see the man I love." She leaned up and brushed her lips across his. He eagerly met her, stunned by her words and swept away by her kiss.

"No more secrets," she whispered. "I promise."

He nodded, not quite trusting himself to speak. He kissed her forehead with great tenderness. They held each other in silence for a long moment.

"Do you think," she said quietly, her hands resting on his chest. "Will-- After everything that's happened. Do you-- Will I still be able to have children?"

His eyes went wide with surprise and then softened. "I don't know. Do - do you want to? Have children, I mean?" His heart was racing. He'd always wanted children, but had long ago given up hope. His life as a Watcher had precluded any possiblity of a family. Until now.

She saw the light in his eyes and couldn't help but grin. "Yes," she said. "When this is all over, I think. I'd very much like to have your children, Rupert."

He thought his heart would burst. He couldn't quite believe he could be so blessed. He shook his head. "I wasn't sure. I thought, even if you did, you'd want to wait."

"Not anymore," she said with a small frown. "If I've learned anything living here, it's that you should never wait. Time's too short." She saw his brow crease in concern. Images from his nightmare passed before him.

"You'll make a wonderful father," she assured him.

He smiled a little self-consciously. "Do you really think so?"

"I know so."

He leaned down and captured her lips in another kiss. His mind was spinning with the images of Willow pregnant with his child, of their baby asleep in his arms.

"Gods, I love you Willow."

She smiled up at him. "I love you too. So much."

He let out a long shuddering breath and looked at her tenderly. His expression slowly sharpened to one of marked intensity. Nothing would keep him from realizing that dream. Nothing -- no one.

Finally, a frown darkened his features. "Ethan," he said at length.

Willow sighed. "Ethan." She looked at her husband worriedly. What was he planning?

"I don't trust him, but you're right." Willow smiled accepting his veiled apology. "He does have more information. He wouldn't come here and risk my wrath if there weren't more going on."

Willow nodded.

"I think I can find him," Giles said.

"Then let's pay him a little unexpected visit," Willow said with a smirk.

Giles' frown deepened and he shook his head.

She looked at him sternly. "Together, Rupert. We're in this together."

Giles looked down at her in her full resolve face glory and smiled in capitulation. "Together," he
agreed.

"Good," she said. "Let's get this show on the road." She left the comfort of his embrace and started out of the kitchen. She grabbed the doorframe and turned back to him, a coy expression on her face.

"After all, the sooner we end this madness, the sooner we can get down to the business of making babies." She flashed him a wide grin and left him speechless.

They tried to look nonchalant. They tried to look like they fit in. They tried. They totally failed.

Buffy and Willow did their best to ignore the lurid glances and the disgusting, if not physically impossible, suggestions. Xander stood protectively next to them, wishing that woman, um, man, uh whatever wasn't giving him the eye.

"I think there are rats here," Xander said with a scrunched up face.

"Ethan likes to be near his own kind. King of the Rats," Buffy said.

The three huddled near the corner of a shabby alley. Finally, Giles appeared out of the front of the seedy motel.

"He's there," Giles assured them.

"Good," Buffy said with a hungry grin. "Let's go calling."

Willow frowned. "Wait. What if it's a trap? I mean, we don't know what to expect, right?"

"We'll know soon enough," Buffy said.

"I have an idea," Willow said quietly.

"Willow-" Giles started.

She quieted her husband with a hard look. He sighed and shrugged.

Willow reached out and took his hand for support. She had learned from experience it was important to maintain some kind of human contact. The link could be difficult to sever without it.

He watched as she closed her eyes and as before, he could feel the gentle magicks wash off her.

Willow didn't appear outwardly any different. To any casual passerby, she seemed a normal young woman. But to those close to her, the change, although subtle, was disturbing.

It was a strange sensation. Disembodied and yet having substance. The alliance was unspoken. Words, after all, were meaningless.

There was something uncontrollable, random about every animal she had bonded with. The city rat was no different.

Once she had established contact with the animal her presence - the energy every person gives off - vanished. Her body emitted a mild static charge, but everything that made her Willow seemed to be gone.

Giles held her hand firmly, knowing she needed the grounding, but also to reassure himself.

The images were blurry and the perspective disorienting. The ragged carpet and the stained walls seemed to stretch on forever. She could guide, suggest, but never control. The animal had to be a willing participant in the link.

There was no sound and as they passed a dark stain on the old rug, Willow was glad there was no sense of smell either.

She nudged her partner to hurry. They scurried down the hall, and then suddenly swerved - diving into a small dark crevice.

Willow was temporarily confused. She gripped Rupert's hand tightly for a moment. The darkness was short-lived; soon they emerged into a small dingy room.

Giles and the others watched in silence, awed by the spectacle of Willow dissolving natural barriers, crossing lines between realities.

The creature stayed along the walls and skittered toward the window.

She saw a pair of shoes.

Italian. Expensive.

Ethan.

"He's there," Willow whispered.

The rat turned.

Another pair of shoes. Black. Non-descript.

Willow frowned. "He's not alone." She bit her lower lip in concentration.

They scampered across the small room and turned back. Willow's breath caught.

"Oh God!" she exclaimed.

Abruptly, the connection was broken. Her eyes flew open, wide and wild. She gripped Giles' hand and blew out a short quick breath.

Her husband looked at her, his eyes bright with concern. "Are you all right?"

She didn't answer at first, but slowly nodded as she got her breathing and racing heart under control. The man -- that man.

"You're sure?" he asked again, his face tense.

"Yes," she said with a growing frown.

"Who was there?" Xander asked.

Willow turned to Buffy and then back to Giles. "I think it was the Hollow Man."

The tension in the group became a living thing.

"Of course," Giles spat. "I should have known he'd be in league with them."

"We don't know that for sure," Willow cautioned him.

Giles grunted.

"Let's go. I've got a few questions for both of 'em." Buffy cracked her knuckles.

"Wait," Willow said.

"Why?" Xander asked.

"To thank the rat," she said simply.

Xander shook his head. "That's silly."

"Good manners are never silly," Willow replied haughtily. She closed her eyes and a gentle smile came to her face.

After a long moment, she opened her eyes and looked at her companions. They watched her, their faces grave.

She knew they would take their cues from her. She smiled back at them with courage.

"Okay," she said. "Let's go kick some ass."

*****

Giles and Xander flattened themselves against the wall on either side of Ethan's motel room door.

Giles gave Willow's hand a quick reassuring squeeze. "Stay behind us. Please?"

Willow nodded. She was anxious for answers, but John Wayne-ing wasn't her strong suit.

Buffy looked to Giles for the signal. He nodded.

She knocked twice. They heard the shuffling of feet, and the door opened as far as the chain would allow.

Ethan peeked out. "Oh, it's you," he muttered.

"Hello, Ethan. Can I come in?"

"What do you want now?" he grumbled.

"Well, we can discuss it out here or I can kick the door in and discuss it in there," she said with a perky smile. "Unless you've got company," she added pointedly.

"Since you put it so nicely, how can I resist?" He shut the door to release the chain. The door reopened slowly. Buffy quickly scanned the room. He was alone now. Giles, unable to hold back, pushed past Buffy and grabbed Ethan by the collar, growling low in his throat.

Ethan grinned at his old friend. "Hello, Ripper."

Giles simply couldn't resist. As fast as lightening, his fist connected with Ethan's chin, knocking the smirk right off his face. He flew through the air, landing roughly on the small bed.

"Rupert!" Willow scolded.

"I owed him that -- at the very least," Giles ground out.

Ethan wiped the blood from his lip and looked at Willow. "You're looking well, my dear."

Giles closed in on Rayne, Buffy and Xander flanking him. Willow hovered behind them. "No games," Giles hissed.

"Oh, but I do so love to play."

Giles growled again.

"We used to play so well together," Ethan added with smirk.

Giles lunged forward, but Xander grabbed his arm. "Come on - Don't let him get you. Don't give him that satisfaction."

Giles straightened, but his chest was still heaving with barely controlled rage.

"Oh, yes. By all means, listen to the boy. He's the brains of the outfit. No, wait, that's not right. Let's see. Buffy's the brawn. Ripper's the brain. Willow's the magick and, you, you --. You know, I'm curious, exactly what *do* you do?"

Xander looked stricken. His started to protest, but settled for what he hoped was an indignant glare.

Ethan grinned again, pleased at his apparent control over the group. "To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"

"We have questions. You have answers," Buffy explained simply.

"And if I don't?"

"You bleed."

"Ah," he said and then sighed dramatically. His face transformed to one brimming with mock pity. "I'm afraid you'll just be disappointed."

"I don't know, I've always liked it when you bleed," Buffy quipped.

"I have no intention of bleeding, my dear. And it's my answers you may not like," Ethan said with mock sincerity. "You might be disappointed."

"Oh, I don't think you want that," Giles said thinly. "I can be very disagreeable when I'm disappointed."

"How I know it!" Ethan laughed. He leaned back against the wall and made himself comfortable.

Giles was not amused. "What the hell's going Ethan?"

"We're having a conversation?" Ethan said innocently.

"You never did play naive very well, Ethan," Giles said tiredly. "You left so abruptly the other day. Now, we want everything you know."

"I've already told everything," he said evenly.

"Who was that man you were talking to?" Buffy demanded.

A flicker of fear darted across Ethan's face. Having been in tight spots before, however, he easily controlled his expression. "What man?" Ethan said a little too blandly.

"Can't I just hit him once?" Buffy begged.

"Please," Willow said softly. "Ethan, who is he?"

"I'm sorry, my dear," Ethan said regretfully.

Giles sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm not sure you really understand, Ethan," Giles said evenly. He was calm and composed and at his most dangerous. "If anything happens to Willow, I'll rip out your entrails and strangle you with them."

"Vivid," he gulped. Ripper was near the edge, best to tread lightly.

Giles took a deep breath and leveled Rayne with a look that promised many things - and none of them pleasant.

Ethan considered his options. He looked at Xander – a boy, true, but willing to do anything for his friends. Buffy, the Slayer - he knew too well what she was capable of. Then there was the little witch – pity about her. And finally - Ripper.

"All right. I'll tell you what I know," he said too easily. "All that I know-but it isn't much more-"

Giles' eyes narrowed.

"No, really, Ripper. I only seem to have all the answers. I'm just a minor player in the grand scheme of things."

"Talk," Giles commanded.

Ethan opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He winced and closed his eyes. The others felt it too. It happened in an instant.

It was as though a giant hand was pushing down, crushing them. It lasted for only a brief moment and then it was gone.

Giles shook his head to clear it and glared at Ethan. "No God damned magicks!"

"It wasn't me," Ethan protested. "I swear!"

"Willow?" Giles asked. "What was that?"

There was no answer. He turned to his wife.

She was gone.

"Willow?" Giles called again. She was nowhere to be seen. He couldn't breathe, couldn't react. His nightmare was coming to pass, and he couldn't move.

"Where is she, Ethan?" Buffy snapped, hauling the man off the bed by his shirt collar.

"I don't know," he choked out. He was as suprised as they were at her sudden disappearance. This was *not* the plan.

Giles remained still, his mind numb and refusing to accept this new turn of events.

"Xander, check out the hotel," Buffy ordered. The younger man dashed out the door. Buffy held Ethan just off the ground, pressed hard against the wall. She looked at her Watcher. "Giles?"

Slowly, as if coming out of a deep sleep, Giles turned. Buffy's breath caught at the sight of his face. His expression was blank, and then like growing stain, his rage bloomed.

Without a word, he lunged for Ethan, yanking him out of Buffy's grasp. He flung him onto the bed, pinning one of Ethan's hands with his knee. The other clawed helplessly as Ripper squeezed his throat. Ethan sputtered and tried to get air into his lungs. Between Ripper's weight on his chest and his fingers tightening around his throat, it was was losing battle.

"Where is she?" Giles snarled.

Ethan tried to swallow, tried to breathe, but could do neither. He shook his head, trying to loosen Giles' grip.

Giles released the hand that was around his throat. Ethan barely had time to cough, before a hard fist connected with his face. He could feel his nose cartilage give way under the force of the blow, and could taste the blood beginning to drip down the back of his throat.

Another fist caught him in the neck and he gasped for air. Ripper's assault was relentless, brutal, savage.

Ethan tried to protest between the blows, but was gagging on his own blood. Ripper saw the flash of fear in his victim's eyes, and it urged his fury on.

Images of Willow, as she had been in his nightmare came to him. He let out a cry of rage, so deep, so horrible that Buffy knew she would never forget its sound.

Ethan began to lose consciousness, the pain fading into oblivion.

Ripper kept on, his knuckles bleeding, his heart aching. All the helplessness, all the suffering and misery were pouring out of him.

Buffy watched the scene in shocked horror. Finally, she managed to pull herself together. "Giles!" she shouted.

He didn't hear her, couldn't hear her over the rushing in his ears, the pounding of his heart, the cries from his soul.

"Giles!" Buffy cried again as she grabbed him from behind and tried to pull him off Rayne's nearly unconscious body. Ripper's strength suprised her. She struggled with him for a moment, before dragging him off the bed.

Giles growled and started for Ethan again, but Buffy pulled him back again. "Giles, that's enough!"

Giles didn't speak, but her words seem to permeate the glowing rage that surrounded him got in past the glowing rage surrounding him. He shook his head. "Not enough -- never enough," he ground out.

Buffy shoved him back against the wall. "He can't help us if you kill him, " she said harshly. His eyes were wild, smoldering with unfocused fury.

"Giles!" she screamed as she shook him hard. "We need him alive. Do you hear me?" She slapped him hard and grabbed his face, forcing him to look at her. "Do you want Willow back?"

The mention of his wife's name was like a bucket of ice water. Instantly, his eyes focused on her. Reality came rushing back with piercing clarity. His chest heaving and his throat tight with emotion, he could only nod.

Xander returned to the small hotel room and took in the scene. Ethan lay bloodied and unconscious on the bed and Buffy had firm grip on Giles.

"She's gone," he said tightly. "I couldn’t find her anywhere and no one saw her leave."

Buffy met his gaze and nodded toward Ethan. "Get him to the car. We need to go somewhere a little more private."

Xander followed her instructions without question. With some effort, he managed to get Ethan off the bed and sling him over his shoulders. He gave Buffy and Giles one last look before hurrying to the car.

Giles was still up against the wall, his face just beginning to settle back from its twisted visage. Buffy felt his body sag slightly. She gripped him by the shoulders.

"Come on, Giles," she said softly as she helped him out of the dingy room and into whatever hell lay ahead.

* * * * *

The voices strained against the tide of their own making. The thrum of a distant cadence echoed across the dry land.

The eyes - glowing - apart. Disembodied fragments. Windows to an abstract reality. A reasonable chaos.

Slowly the sounds, the images, drifted into the darkness beyond until nothing remained except the silence of their passing.

Willow began to rouse from her dream of haunting images and sounds. The bridge between realities trembled beneath her.

He mind began to clear and sensations began to form.

She blinked a few times, her vision still blurry. She started to wipe her eyes, but found she couldn't move her hands. She was bound. The fear sent a wave of adrenaline through her, and her mind cleared instantly.

She was tied to a small wooden chair that sat in the middle of a large, empty warehouse. She wasn't alone.

Standing before her were six men - all wore black overcoats and dark glasses.

The Hollow Men.

Ethan sat tied to a chair in Giles' living room. His unconscious body slumped forward, held in place only by the ropes around his chest. Xander had perched himself on the arm of the sofa, his brown eyes never leaving Rayne.

Giles stood by the fireplace, leaning forward on one arm, looking down into the cold ashes.

Buffy joined them from the kitchen. She stopped in front of Ethan and tossed the glass of water she was carrying into his face. He sputtered, and his head began to roll from side to side.

"Wake up," she ordered.

"Hmmm?" he groaned.

She grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled his head up. His eyes were glassy; one starting to swell shut. She slapped the side of his face.

"Wake up, Ethan," she said more loudly.

He groaned again, and she grabbed his shoulders and shook him awake.

"Christ!" he moaned as he blinked his way back into consciousness. A fresh trickle of blood made its way down his chin from a newly reopened cut on his lip.

"Oh, it's you again," he rasped. "Hoping that was all a dream." He tried to move and realized he was tied to the chair. "Apparently not."

"Shut up!" Xander snapped.

Ethan tried to smirk, but winced in pain as his lip split further and his broken nose shot a quick sharp pain into his brain.

"Start talking," Buffy growled.

"Which is it? Shut up? Start talking? You really should have rehearsed this first."

"Ethan," Giles said evenly, still facing the fireplace. Slowly he turned, his eyes dark and cold. He took one step closer and stopped. He clenched and unclenched his fists and straightened to his full height. "Who was that man you were talking to?"

"I don't really know," Ethan said carefully.

Giles tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. "Ethan - "

Rayne sighed dramatically. "He's one of the men I told you and Willow about the other night."

"And?" Giles prompted.

"And, he needs her to get home," he said simply. "They're not from around here, you know," he added.

"God, you're a bastard," Xander grunted.

Buffy grabbed his shoulder and squeezed. She wasn't supposed to hurt humans, but was beginning to doubt if Ethan qualified as one.

"You'd better be more specific," Giles suggested. "Quickly."

Ethan frowned and tried to wiggle out from the Slayer's grasp. Everyone could see the wheels turning. Giles didn't have time for this and took another menacing step forward.

"Talk!" he roared.

*****

"Talk?" Willow asked. "Don't you talk at all?" She looked at the Hollow Men with a mixture of interest and fear.

They ignored her and continued only to stare at her. Barely moving, only occasionally turning to glance at each other, but never speaking.

"Who are you?" she asked again. "What do you want with me?" Again silence answered her pleas.

Abruptly, five of the six men quietly walked out of the room, their footfalls barely making a sound. The Man who remained watched his companions leave and then turned to Willow.

"So," she said with forced congeniality. "This is -- uhm--- a pretty big warehouse you've got here." She continued babbling as she tried furiously to think of a spell. Any spell that might help her escape.

{Do not.}

Her head snapped up, her eyes darting to the Man. "What did you say?"

He continued to look at her impassively, his expression never changing.

She frowned and went back to trying to think of a spell.

{Do not waste your thoughts.}

She looked quickly back at the man. "What do you mean?" she asked cautiously.

The Man was still.

{This place - it is protected.}

She heard the words, but the Man wasn't speaking them-- he was thinking them.

She swallowed hard. "What are you going to do to me?" she asked quietly.

{We will do nothing.}

"Then let me go."

{We must return home.}

He sounded almost sad. She studied his face, but there wasn't even a trace of emotion in his pale features.

"Where's home?" she asked, research girl kicking in.

He didn't respond at first. He tilted his head ever so slightly as if considering her words carefully.

{It is another place.}

She thought for a moment, remembering what Ethan had said about the men needing to use her, to travel through the hole inside her soul.

"You need me to get there?" It was both a statement and a question.

{You are the Window.}

Willow nodded and frowned. She bit her lower lip in concentration. "Maybe there's another way?" she asked hopefully.

{No, there is not. Our time grows short.}

Again, Willow thought she sensed something in his words. Remorse? Loneliness? If he had feelings, maybe he could be reasoned with.

"Well, let's not jump to any conclusions," she said quickly. "Hey! Maybe you could just go back the way you came. How did you come here?"

*****

"It was an accident," Ethan explained. "Just a simple miscalculation. An honest mistake."

"Honest?" Giles snorted. "For you? There's no such thing."

Ethan shrugged and winced at the pain the small gesture caused.

"What spell were you casting?" Giles demanded. He didn't answer quickly enough. "Buffy," Giles said with a nod. She frowned but squeezed his shoulder again.

"Ow," he moaned. "An object transference."

"An object?" Giles smirked. "You mean you were trying to steal something."

"That's rather harsh," Ethan protested. "But relatively true."

Giles ignored his remarks and began pacing. Xander eyed the Watcher carefully, ready to jump in and stop him if he should snap again and attack Ethan. Buffy was right, as much as they hated him, they needed Ethan alive. For now.

Giles worked his jaw, his words spoken through clenched teeth. "Instead of getting this -- object -- you retrieved the Men instead?"

"Well, that is a little simplistic," he said playfully until Buffy exerted just a little more pressure. "But yes, ow, that about covers it."

Giles stopped and turned back to Rayne. "So this *is* your fault!"

"No," Ethan said quickly, shaking his head. "I made a mistake, yes. But I didn't take your wife. I didn't summon Inneresser. You can't put this off on me."

"You knew they were going to take her!" Giles roared. "You knew all along what that would mean!"

"I didn't have a choice!" Ethan objected. "They found me. Forced me to come here. What would you have me do?"

Giles snarled and moved toward Ethan. Xander rose to his feet, ready to step in, when Giles pulled up short. He closed his eyes for a moment and tried to control himself. "Where is she?" he asked quietly.

"I don't know. I really don't know."

Giles studied Ethan carefully. Letting out a long ragged breath, Giles stalked away. He strode into the kitchen and grabbed the Scotch sitting on the counter. He gripped the neck of the bottle and slammed it down in frustration. Gods, he needed a drink. But knew his mind was cloudy enough. He couldn't give into the despair. He wouldn't.

Giles leaned forward, his shoulders and head bowed, and gazed out the small window.

"Oh love," he sighed. "Where are you?"

"Giles?" Buffy asked carefully.

He continued to stare out the window.

She walked up and put a soothing hand on his back. He took a deep breath, trying futilely to dispel the anxiety that wracked his body. "You okay?"

He laughed, but it came out sounding strangled and bitter. "No, no, I think I can safely say, I'm not okay."

She touched his arm, urging him to look at her. "Hang in there." He turned and looked at his Slayer, so young and so strong. "We'll find her," she added with a tenuous smile. He took what strength he could from her and managed a nod.

He looked at the small kitchen and remembered the last time he'd seen Willow in this room. He'd held her, kissed her and talked about starting a family. All of the beautiful things in life. And now, he stood in the same spot with knuckles bloodied from nearly killing a man, a man who he'd once called a friend. 'What would Willow think of me?' he thought sadly. He smiled to himself, almost able to hear her voice, scolding him and trying, as always, to be the peacemaker.

"I can't beileve I'm saying this," said Buffy. "But I think in his own pathetic, selfish way, Ethan does want to help. But you're going to have to get it out of him. It's insane, but he trusts you."

Giles knew she was right. Ethan always knew more than he let on. He'd been fool, falling into Ethan's trap again. If he'd been thinking straight, he would have realized that you couldn’t beat something out of Ethan; the bastard liked it too much. But Giles hadn't been thinking. All he knew was that Willow was gone and in terrible danger, and Ethan was responsible, and he reacted. Ripper reacted. 'I need Rupert now,' Willow had said. It was as true then as it was now.

If there was anything left of the friend Giles knew so long ago, now was the time to find out.

He gave Buffy a small smile and took another deep breath and started toward the living room.

"Uh, Giles?" she said a bit nervously.

He turned back and she gestured to the bottle of Scotch he still gripped in his hand. He smiled somewhat sheepishly and handed it to her.

She took it from him and smiled encouragingly. She set the bottle on the counter and followed him into the other room.

Giles pulled a chair close to Ethan's and sat down.

Buffy sat near Xander, gesturing for him to stay out this. He frowned but nodded in compliance.

"Time for another round?" Ethan said tiredly.

Giles didn't speak at first, but rather fixed his old friend with a penetrating stare. He searched Ethan's face for any signs of the man he used to know.

"Why did you come here the other night?" Giles finally asked.

"Can't I visit an old mate?" Ethan asked too casually.

"You say these Men forced you to lead them to Willow. They threatened you."

"Yes," Ethan replied warily.

"And yet, you came to our home, warned us of the danger." Giles watched Ethan carefully. A flicker of something passed his face, but the bastard was truly inscrutable when he wanted to be.

"Why didn't you just tell them where they could find Willow and be done with it?"

"Good question," Ethan said with a frown.

"They must have needed something else from you," Giles said thinking out loud, putting the pieces together. "What is it? Magick? Do they need a spell to open the fissure? But that still doesn't explain what you're doing here and not there, with them? Why didn't they take you when they took Willow? Why wait at all? They followed her for days. Why?"

Ethan sighed. "They had to make sure she was the one. Why they waited? I don't know. They didn't say and I didn't ask."

"And the spell?" Giles prompted.

"I'd broken a few rules, trifles really. They must have found someone to take my place," he said bitterly.

"Coming here that night. A broken rule?" Giles asked trying to keep the hope out of his voice.

Ethan met Giles' eyes for a brief moment, a depth of regret passed between them, but Ethan was unable to maintain it and he shrugged casually.

"Where would they take her?" Giles asked. "Surely you must have some idea."

"Sorry, old man. They're not exactly what you'd call talkative."

Giles frowned. "What about a spell?"

*****

"You want me to cast this?" Willow said incredulous. "This spell that will tear my soul apart and kill me?

Are you serious?"

{Yes.}

She shook her head. "Why should I help you? You stalk me, kidnap me and want to use me like some portal that's gonna destroy my soul, and you think I'm going to help you do it?"

{Yes.}

"I won't do it," she said firmly. "You don't know me, but this is my resolve face, and I'm pretty stubborn."

{You will.}

She frowned. "Hello? No. Why on earth would I help you?"

{It is the right thing to do.}

That struck a cord with her. Again, was it the words or the way he thought them? With hope, sorrow and maybe even a little respect. There was something strangely compelling about this man. He said he was hollow and maybe in someways he was, but she sensed something in him, something about his soul. It was almost as though it was there, just out of sight. Bright and beautiful.

"Why is it right?" she asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

{Countless will suffer if you do not.}

"I was hoping you weren't going to say that," she mumbled.

When she'd decided to stay in Sunnydale instead of going away to college it wasn't just because of Buffy and Xander, or even Giles. It had been all the people who didn't know what happened every night, who didn't know the things that lurked in the shadows. She'd wanted to fight evil. And evil came in many forms. Sometimes you could kill it, that was the easy kind. And then there was the more elusive kind, that bred in apathy and selfishness.

As corny as it sounded, she'd sworn her life to fighting the good fight and doing whatever was needed. Buffy did it every day. If this was something she could do, something that would help people, even people she didn’t know, she knew she had to do it. But how could she be sure?

The Man's thoughts interrupted hers and she wondered if he'd been listening.

{We are the Ones. In our realm we are the Keepers. Without us, our world will fall into chaos. We must return before the end of the cycle. We are the Ones. We are the Hollow Men.}

"What if I refuse?" Willow asked boldly.

{You will not.}

"How can you be so sure?"

{You will do what must be done.}

Willow frowned deeply. "But it will kill me, won't it?"

{Your *soul* will be destroyed.}

"Destroyed?" she squeaked.

{Your body will continue, for a time.}

She eeped.

{Human's are delicate.}

Again, she sensed from him, regret, but also a burden that couldn't be ignored. She thought of Rupert and how well that described him when they first met. She smiled at the memory.

Willow swallowed hard and looked at this stranger who asked not only for her life, but her very soul. "Countless?" she asked quietly.

{Yes.}

"How can do I know you aren't lying to me? Trying to trick me?" she demanded, even though she instinctively knew the Man wasn't lying, couldn't lie.

{You do not know.}

"I need to think," Willow said softly.

{Our time grows short.}

She looked at the Hollow Man and nodded. Time was growing short for all of them.

*****

"What about a locator spell?" Xander suggested.

Ethan shook his head. "They'll be well protected." He paused, and his eyes narrowed in thought. "Until they cast the translocation spell, then they'll have to remove the protector. It won't work unless they do."

"So when they're ready, we can locate her and go get her right?" Buffy asked hopefully.

"Theoretically," Ethan mused.

"How will we know when they remove the protector?" Giles asked.

"I can cast an alarm spell of sorts, keeps the locator spell active until the subject is found and gives us some kind of alert."

Giles eyed him warily. "And I should trust you to do this because?"

"You haven't any other choice?" Ethan suggested with a gentle smirk.

"Do I need to remind you that-" Giles started.

"No!" he called out. He licked his lip. "Please, I have all the reminders I need, thank you."

"Untie him," Giles ordered as he gathered some supplies for the casting.

"Are you sure that's such a good idea?" Buffy asked.

"I need him to cast the spell," Giles said and turned to look at Ethan. "He'll be behave."

"Assuredly," Ethan quipped.

"Good," Xander said as he untied the rope. "Cause if you don't, I'm gonna rip out your tongue and stuff down your throat."

Ethan snorted. "You people watch far too much telly."

"Get on with it, Ethan," Giles ordered.

Ethan stood up shakily at first, wincing in pain. "Could I have some aspirin or better yet, some Scotch?"

"No," all three responded as one.

Ethan sighed and made his way to the table. "I'll need something to serve as the signal, so we'll know when the protectors have been removed."

Giles looked about the room for a minute and spied a candle. He retrieved it and placed it in the center of the table.

Ethan closed his eyes and began to chant. Giles listened carefully, ready to break his neck if anything sounded wrong. After a brief moment, Ethan opened his eyes. "There. When the candle lights itself, the subject can be found."

Giles nodded and took a seat at the table. Buffy and Xander followed suit. The four sat in silence, their eyes locked on the lone candle, waiting for the flame.

"So soon?" Willow asked anxiously. She stood in front of the six, but spoke only to the one.

{The time is near.}

"But - I need more time. I can't go now," she said desperately. "It won't take long. I'll come right back. I promise." She glanced from face to face. There were no expressions, no emotion, and she was having second thoughts until the voices chorused in her head.

{We are - sorry.}

She nodded slowly, accepting her fate.

"Willow!"

"Rupert?" she said turning quickly to face the voice. Her face filled with overwhelming joy and deep sorrow. A chance to say goodbye was a double-edged sword. There on the far side of the large warehouse stood Giles, Buffy, Xander and just to the rear, Ethan Rayne.

"Run Willow!" Giles called out as he and the others started to advance on the Hollow Men, weapons at the ready.

"No, wait!" Willow cried. "Buffy, stop! Don't hurt them. They aren't bad. Please!" She ran
toward her husband and friends.

Giles caught her in his arms and pulled her tightly to his chest. "Oh, love. Are you all right? Did they hurt you?"

"I thought I'd never see you again," she said, her eyes shining.

Buffy and Xander stood protectively between Willow and the Men, who remained silent and still.

"Darling, let's go," Giles urged Willow as he started to pull her toward the door.

"I-I can't." Willow pulled back, grasping Giles' arms. "There's something I have to tell you. I -- I -- There is something I have to do." She turned back to the Men.

"Please? Just a few minutes?" she asked them.

{Yes. Quickly.}

"Thank you." She turned back to look into the faces of the people she loved, worried and confused they stared back at her. There was so much she wanted to say, needed to say.

"Wills, what's going on? Did they do something to you?" Xander asked tensely.

She smiled weakly and shook her head. "No, it's -" She struggled to find the words. "There isn't much time. I-"

"Let's go home," Giles suggested. "We have all the time in the world." Even as he said the words, he somehow knew they weren't true.

Willow met her husband's panicked eyes and held them fast. "They need me."

Giles shook his head, confused. "What?"

"They're the leaders of their world and without them--- they have to get home and I'm the only way."

"Well, they can just stay here." Buffy said angrily.

"No, they can't. Their whole world, all of their people will die," she insisted, praying somehow they would understand.

"What are you saying?" Giles asked tightly.

"She's going to do the spell," Ethan said quietly from the back. "Willingly," he added, amazement making his voice soft and kind.

"You can't be serious," Giles protested. "Willow, darling, listen to me. If you do this, the hole in your soul - I-it will expand, fracture and-and break apart. You'll-"

"I know," she said sadly, but with acceptance.

"What are you saying? It's suicide," he said frantically.

"I'm doing what you do everyday. I'm saving people that need saving," she proudly.

"How do you know that? It could be a trick. How can you be sure?" Buffy said furiously.

"I know," Willow said firmly, meeting Buffy's anger with a calm equal in its intensity.

"No! You-you can't!" Giles said desperately.

"I have to," she sighed. "Oh, Rupert. I do love you so much."

"Then don't do this. Don't leave me," he begged.

"If there were any other way," she said with regret. "But there isn't. And you taught me to do the right thing. All of you," she added looking at each of them in turn. "Not the easy thing. Not what was best for me, but what was right." She looked toward the Hollow Men and smiled gently. "This is right."

{Time passes.}

She spun around toward the Man. "Please, just a few more minutes?--- I understand - I'll hurry." Turning back to Giles, her eyes plead with him. "Rupert, please understand."

Tears fill his eyes. "I always knew, living here, that the day would come when one of us would-" He shook his head. "I always thought it would be me."

"I'm glad it's not." She looked deeply into Giles' eyes, wanting, needing him to understand and know that she had no regrets. "You're needed here. It's where you belong." She could feel his anguish. "I love you," she said with all her heart.

"But *I* need you and I don't want to - CAN'T live without you," he protested.

"Please," she said, touching a finger to his lips. "You're so strong. I need you to be strong. I'm doing this because I choose to, because it's what you'd do. I know I'm asking you for something you don't want to give. But, please? Please, Rupert. Understand." Her eyes shined with confidence and pride and love.

"But don't you see?" he said desperately trying to make *her* understand. "No matter what happened, I knew, someday, somehow, we'd all find each other again in," his voice broke with emotion. "In Heaven or --- But if you do this-- You won't be there. Your soul won't be there. I can't go through eternity," his voice nearly broke, "without you."

"I will always be with you," she said through her own tears. She lay a small hand on his chest. "Here."

"Oh, love," he choked out.

{The time comes.}

"Rupert," she gasped, fighting down a fleeting wave of panic. She found her resolve again and smiled. This was the right thing to do. She pulled him to her and kissed him. A kiss filled with everything that was sad and beautiful and all that was in her to give. A final goodbye. Everything she was, was in that last kiss. Her strength, her compassion, her joy -- all she was. And greedily, he took all that she offered.

Finally, she pulled away and looked past the tears and into his eyes and smiled.

"No," he rasped. "No, Don't. Please. You can't leave me like this."

"Tell me you love me." She needed to hear him say it, one last time.

He shook his head. He couldn't let her go. How could he just have found her, only to have her taken so soon? "Please?" he begged.

{The time is now.}

Willow nodded as the Men took their positions around the white circle on the floor. She looked to Buffy and Xander, pleading with them one last time to understand, to forgive.

"I love you guys."

"I love you too, Wills," Buffy said sobbing and pulling her best friend into a hug. Buffy understood too well what it meant to sacrifice yourself for good of others. She tried to be strong for Willow, to give her the acceptance she needed.

"I love you, Willow," Xander said through his own tears. "Always," he added proudly. She hugged him fiercely. "I'm gonna miss you," he whispered.

"Me too." She kissed his cheek. "Look out for them, okay?" He nodded and wiped his cheek.

She met eyes with Ethan. No words were spoken, but in that fleeting moment, an understanding passed between them.

She turned back to Giles one last time. "I have to go," she said softly.

"No," he sobbed, shaking his head.

"I love you, Rupert Giles," she whispered to him, kissing him gently. She turned and started for her place in the circle.

Giles gasped and moved to stop her, but Buffy and Xander held him back. "No," he ground out. "No." They tried to hold back the tears as they gripped Giles' arms. The only thing harder than holding onto the Watcher was letting Willow go.

Ethan stepped forward and placed a hand on Giles' shoulder.

Willow stood in the center of the circle. "I'm ready." She looked at the Man she had come to trust and nodded.

{Thank you for your gift.} The thoughts were broadcast for all to hear.

Willow looked back at her husband and friends. Slowly, she began the chant. A cold wind blew through the warehouse, swirling around the walls. It coalesced into a white mist, spinning, increasing in speed, spiraling in toward the circle.

As one world began to fade, another appeared and with it the sounds from her dreams - the dry voices echoing, drifting across the sea of their own rhythms.

It was a strange sensation - open to two worlds at once, images overlaid - mixing one reality with another.

Willow stood calmly in the center of the storm, the Hollow Men like sentinels around her.

She could feel the change begin - subtle and yet absolute. She concentrated one last time to see the face of her husband, the man she had always loved and would love - soul or no soul.

Giles strained against the hands that gripped his arms, trying to run to her, to save her, one last time. The wind howled and a bright light came from the swirling mist, absorbing the Hollow Men in its wake.

"I love you, Willow!" he cried out.

She smiled just before it all went black.

The wind died and the light faded. Willow's body fell to the floor. The Men were gone.

They all ran to the circle; Giles falling to his knees at her side. He cradled her body to his. His hands were shaking, and his body convulsed with deep sobs. He held her face and kissed her cheek, whispering, "I love you."

Buffy and Xander held each other and watched helplessly.

His nightmare had come to pass.

The room was dark, the curtains drawn, with only a thin stream of light filtering through. He pushed down the tears, surprised he had any to give.

She was dying.

Three days had passed. Three, unbearably long, painful, lonely days. Giles had refused to leave her side. Buffy and Xander took care of him as best they could. They comforted each other when he would send them away.

Willow lay in a coma, mercifully so. For once the coma passed, the pain would begin.

As was his nightmare, so became his reality. Giles sat on the edge of their bed and watched and waited. He could do no more. Watching and waiting for her to die. A mockery of his calling - every moment a cut upon a cut.

With every moment that passed, he tried to think of what he could have done differently, how he could have stopped this and saved the woman he loved. The answer was always the same - a thousand things and nothing at all.

If they'd never gone to Los Angeles. If he'd been more insistent. If he'd been more careful.

If. If. If.

None of it would bring her back.

He'd always been a lonely man. And then there was Willow. She'd filled his life, his heart, his soul. How had he lived before her? He couldn't remember. How would he live without her? He couldn't imagine.

And to face a future, in this life and any that might come after - alone- wanting her everyday. And never to have her again. How could bear it?

He reached out and took her small delicate hand in his. As always, he marveled at her slender fingers and soft, beautiful skin.

He let out a long ragged sigh. He'd always loved to watch her sleep. She'd looked so peaceful, a smile to rival the angels'. He'd wonder if it was just a dream that such a woman could want a life with him. He gently took her hand and gazed at the token of their love.

Their wedding had been perfect. Simple, elegant, surrounded by friends and family. She'd never looked more beautiful. His heart raced, not with nervousness, but with anticipation. The promise of a lifetime with together. A lifetime together. Words simply full of nothing but promise, now promised simply nothing.

He leaned down and kissed her hand, even as fresh tears fell. How could she be taken so soon?

*****

The Realm was barren. The mist that had taken the Hollow Men continued to swirl around her feet, slowly dissipating. The soft white glow lit the eerie nothingness that surrounded her.

She had felt the Men pass and heard the voices of their world, no longer strained. The dry winds became gentle breezes, the rasp a caress.

She didn't really feel anything change, but her perceptions were slowly becoming skewed. Occasionally, what she could see would phase in and out. Straight lines would bend and things of body would flatten.

She tried not to be afraid. She'd known what she was doing. She had embraced it, and yet -- She didn't relish a slow and painful end and wondered when it would begin.

She tried to remember Rupert's face, not as it was at the end, but at the beginning.

The day at the Huntington Library as they walked in the gardens, and in the sun. Everything around them full of life and the future held nothing but possibilities.

Her world abruptly shifted again, the changes coming more often, perhaps a side effect of the damage to her soul.

She wasn't sure how much time passed before she noticed - she wasn't alone. The Hollow Man stood before her. Her Hollow Man.

"Hi," she said quietly, her small voice filling the void.

{Our world is safe.}

"I'm glad."

{There is something I must do.}

Willow tilted her head in curiosity. "Do you need my help?"

{No. I will help you.}

"How?" she asked, afraid to give life to the hope that suddenly sparked in her heart.

{As you gave. So shall I.}

"I don't understand."

{My soul will fill the hole in yours.}

"But - but you can't," she protested.

{It is the right thing to do}

"You'd do this for me? You'd stop -- being?"

{I will be part of you.} He leaned forward ever so slightly, his head inclined toward her waist. {Both of you.}

Willow's breath caught and instinctively her hand went to her stomach. She looked at him in wonder.

The Man straightened, the faintest hint of a smile on his face. {My gift to you.} He thought to her as he opened his long overcoat. A blinding light burst forth- swallowing them both - bathing them. It moved to surround Willow, caressing her, washing over her, through her. It was exquisite. She'd been right. His soul was beautiful, and she wept as it healed her. The Hollow Man filled her soul.

She closed her eyes and was whole again. "Thank you," she whispered.

"W-W-Willow?"

She opened her eyes and saw him. "Rupert?'

His mouth hung open for a moment and he shook his head to clear it. "W-what, w-what… H-how did you…," he gathered his wits about him. He took her hand back in his and asked, "H-h-how d-do you feel?" steeling himself for the worst.

And she smiled.

"Wonderful!" she cried. "I feel -- wonderful!" She sat up quickly.

Giles was in shock. She looked so beautiful. "I d-don't understand." He held her hand tightly.

She scrambled into his lap, tears brimming in her eyes. "I know," she said raining kisses on his face.

"But-" he started until her lips covered his.

Willow. His Willow was alive and well and in his arms. He crushed her to his chest and kissed her deeply.

He caressed her cheek and buried his face in her hair. "How?" he gasped.

"Later," she said. "We have plenty of time for talk. Later."

She raised his head and pulled him into another kiss. Their tears mingled with their lips. For once, tears of joy.

He pulled back and looked into her eyes and smiled for the first time in days. "Willow, " he whispered with a soft kiss. She nuzzled against him - her hands cupping his cheeks.

"Yes, Rupert?" she breathed.

"I love you," he said softly, but with strength and faith.

"Rupert," she sighed, kissing his chin.

He moaned softly. "Let's make a baby," he said, his voice hoarse with emotion.

Willow lifted her head and met her husband's dark eyes. A beautiful smile lit her face. She took his hand and placed it on the soft swell of her belly.

"We already have."

The End

FALLS THE SHADOW