The Golden Queen Series:
The Golden Queen
by Damia

Chapter Three

Earth

Willow and Oz weren’t having a party. Well, not with anyone else anyway. They were playing a game of Remember, just the two of them. When a funny memory would come up they would howl with laughter and roll around the floor of their sitting room by the fire, in fits of giggles. They had the night off, and Giles said there wasn’t any big evil coming their way, so they planed a simple, no-fuss night for themselves.

It was all about to change.

They were in the middle of talking about a exceptionally funny moment two years prior when Xander was in the middle of fighting a huge Kacren demon, that unbeknown to them had knifes all over it’s body in secret hiding places. Two seconds, and a few slashes later, Xander was laying on the ground in only his undies with his pants around his ankles looking up in bewilderment at the demon, who had barked out laughing, forgetting it’s post and giving Oz a perfect opportunity to stake it.

Willow was on her back, on the ground in front on the open fire, holding onto her stomach to try and stop the convulsions that were racking her body. It was just too funny not to laugh. She would never forget the priceless look on Xander’s face and he found himself pantless and on his butt.

Oz was sitting to her left, leaning up against the cream oriental sofa. His hands were behind his head and he was watching in amusement as his mate rolled around the ground giggling uncontrollably.

“And then his pants wouldn’t fit and he had to walk home wrapped in Giles’s tweed jacket! He looked like Sherlock Homes!”

This set Willow off again.

“Buffy would have loved that,” Oz said ironically. “She was always telling Giles to wear something else, then he goes and flogs it all off onto Xander.”

As soon as it was out of his mouth Oz regreted it.

The beautiful smile was wiped from Willow’s face and she looked like she was going to start crying at any moment. She sat up slowly - the moment gone - sighed deeply and said in a small voice,

“Yeah. Yeah she would’ve.”

When Oz saw the tears that had started to form in Willow’s eyes he said in a sad voice,

“Oh baby, im sorry. You know how my foot likes to live in my mouth.”

But Willow was already wiping the tears away from her eyes quickly, trying to be brave.

“No Hon, its okay. You were only being truthful.” She sighed, rubbing her shaking hands over her face,

“Its me. I just have to try and except that she dead.... “ She gave Oz a sad half smile,

“...I have to except that she’s not coming home.”

Oz just looked at her, not speaking. There was nothing to be said. He knew, as did everyone, how hard Buffy’s disappearance had been on his mate. She had been gone for over four years and there were still times when Willow would not speak for days. She would just sit on her bed, looking out into nothing, a sad look on her pixie face. Anniversaries were the worst. On the anniversary that Buffy had disappeared she would not even leave the house. Wouldn’t even leave the bed most of the time. On those days you weren’t even aloud to mention Buffy’s name. It you accidentally did, you would be greeted with Willow bursting into tears and running from the room. Most people would not put up with that kind of reaction four years after the subjects death, but this was different. They all knew that Willow blamed herself for Buffy’s death. She had sworn blindly that she had seen Buffy go to sleep the night before. They believed her of course, but the fact was that when morning had come:

She was gone.

Nobody could explain it, they just didn’t have a clue what happened. One minute she was there the next she wasn’t. Willow had the strangest dream the night before hand, she could have sworn that she felt someone kiss her forehead. But when she had woken up the next morning and leaned over to have a good laugh about it with her best friend she had found the bed empty and nicely made. Instantly she knew something was wrong.

Buffy *never* made her bed.

She had gotten up out of her bed slowly, without speaking. Silently she walked over to the bed, peering down at it, a blank expression on her sleep-filled face. Then she noticed something that she had not before. There was something in the centre of the quilt. Bending down she ran her shaking fingers over the beautiful object.

It was some kind of necklace.

Her brows had creased together in confusion. Never in her life had she seen anything quite like it. It was made out of a material that she could have sworn, that with all her science knowledge, she could not name. The delicate silver chain was tiny, beautifully thin, made out of thousands of little circles all joined together. But it was what was in the centre what surprised her the most. The small pendant was made of pure silver. Shaped in the Goddess symbol, she noted. A circle flanked by two crescent moons. In the centre was a small brilliant red stone, looking something like a ruby. There were foreign symbols circling the stone. Actually bordering the outline of the whole pendant. They look like some kind of runes, she guessed. But whatever they are, their old. Actually the whole thing looked old. Very. It had to be one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen. And she could tell, just by looking at it that it was powerful. The whole thing radiated of power.

When she had shown it to Giles that afternoon he had been as lost as she had been at what it was. Pondering over it’s origins for almost five hours didn’t make the slightest bit of difference. They were all at a loss. All they knew was that it held some significance to their beloved Buffy’s disappearance.

What confused them the most was Angel’s reaction to it. He had been walking, rather pacing, round Giles apartment, deep in thought, (after rushing down from LA with Cordelia and Doyle when Giles had told him the news), and had just picked up the necklace unconsciously, his fingers nervously walking over most of Giles in reach possessions. As soon as his pale fingers had touched it’s surface he had jumped back from his standing place like he had been shot. Dropping the piece of jewellery in shock, he had stared down at the thing from his position on the other side of the room. Everyone’s heads had snapped around, wondering in surprise what his problem was. But he had ignored them all. Only continued to stare down at the necklace, his face transforming into one of wonder, amazement, and funny enough, stunned pride. Very slowly he had walked forward, bent down and gently picked it up. Amazed, he had run his fingers over its surface, almost lovingly, taking in all the little details. When Giles had finally managed to get his attention by walking over and shaking his shoulders roughly, the vampire had locked eyes with Buffy’s ex-watcher and Giles was surprised to see that tears shined in his usually un-readable dark eyes.

“Its the necklace, Giles.” He had whispered, almost desperately. “Its this necklace. This is where she’s gone.”

None of the others knew what the hell he was talking about. They just stood there staring. Staring at the man that had held such a important role of their friend’s life. Who she had fallen in love with when she was only 16. And they all knew then. They all knew that all must be forgiven. For there was absolutely no chance in finding Buffy at all if they couldn’t forget the past, let in rest in peace, and get along together.

Then Angel had silently - without a word - walked over to where Willow had been sitting on the couch with Oz behind her, and stood in front of them, staring down at her. Slowly she had risen and looked up at the man that she had, unbeknown until then, shared a great deal: The special friendship of a wonderful girl - and later - the love of a beautiful woman that had touched all their hearts.

He had smiled sadly down at her and Willow could have sworn that he knew exactly what she had been thinking. She blushed. Very gently he had reached down and grasped both her small hands in his larger ones.

“Look after this for her, Will. She’d want you to have it, but don’t let it out of your sight. Its powerful, Willow, just like her. And we have to protect it like we protected her.” When she had burst into tears he had gently bent down and kissed her on her forehead. Pulling his hands away she looked down and felt the necklace laying face up in her palm.

And that was what she was doing now, staring down at the necklace that sat nestled in her small hands. With a sigh she let it fall back on the chain it was attached to that sat around her neck, just as it had for the past four years. It was the only clue they had to Buffy’s disappearance. Never again did they ever find any clues to where she had gone. After about a year they all started to except the fact that she was not coming home. They started to get on with their lives.

But not Willow and Angel.

Everyone thought, and it was probably true, that they would continue to search for their friend for the remained of their lives, and Angel for many years after that.

And so, as Willow sat crosslegged on the floor of her home, she remembered the great friendship she had with her best friend. And what a powerful person she had been.

Oz was watching her, concerned. But she put on a brave face and smiled in his direction. He smiled back at her, but she noticed that his was very forced.

Without speaking he held out his hand and she took it, clasping it tightly, loving him even more if possible for understanding her so well...better than anyone now.

The doorbell broke the silence. Brought them both out of their calm, deep thoughts.

Oz looked at his mate with a look of annoyance written all over his face.

“Who the hell would be calling at this time of the night?” He said after glancing down at his watch.

“Its probably just Giles or one of the others, “ Willow said as she sighed and got up of the warm floor.

“You can stay there if you like,” She called loudly over her shoulder, as she pattered down the light green carpeted hallway in bare feet. “If its anyone important I’ll bring them in.”

But she too was a little confused as to who it could be. All the rest of the gang had keys, since it was one of the main meeting places. Xander and Anya’s apartment was too small, and with all their “toys” they kept lying around the place, no one really wanted to got there anyway.

So, as the red door came into view down the hallway and she made her way towards it, she had no way of knowing that her next action would spin the life she had made for herself and Oz into a spiral, that over, she would had no control.

But what she didn’t expect, when she slowly opened the old, red, wooden door was to be confronted by the most beautiful pair of green eyes she had ever seen. They seemed to sparkle in the nights sky. The huge green emeralds seemed to pierce to her very soul as she watched her. Their owner was just as beautiful, long curly black hair falling past her waist. She looked about 15, and strangely enough, too delicate to be walking the streets at all hours of the night...especially in Sunnydale. The girl was wearing day clothes, Willow noted, and was shivering in the cold. But what made Willow most uncomfortable was the fact she was also looking at her in awe. Her large, dreamy, green eyes were opened wide and she was frozen on the spot. Like people meeting a movie star for the first time and not knowing exactly what to say in fear of embarrassing themselves.

“Can I help you, child?” Willow said, stumped at what the girl could possible want at this time of the night, but trying to make her more at ease. Willow just hoped she wasn’t selling anything.

There was a quick in take of a breath behind the door, and Willow realised that they was someone else with the dark haired girl.

“Oh, im sorry,” Willow said, terribly embarrassed, “I didn’t see.....”

But her words were cut off as she pulled the door open to its full length and saw the person standing next to her first guest. Even before she pulled the door open to it’s full reach she knew what she was about to see would change her life...again. So she was mildly surprised to find the first thing she saw of the newest arrival was a mass of blond hair. And a lot of it.

Her face drained of all natural colour as she went a deathly pale, and she moved her line of vision down to her girls face.

The same high forehead....

The same green eyes.....

The same button nose.....

Oh God....

She barely heard the sickening cry that was lodged in her throat as she quickly took a step back, her arms frailing to grab hold of something, anything that would make this vision go.

But oh, the vision took her breath away.

It couldn’t possibly be her...No. Not now, she told herself firmly, not when she had finally gotten her life back on track.

But yes, Buffy was standing there, her arms wrapped around her body, shivering. She was looking at Willow like she might burst into tears at any moment, but was trying to will herself not to. But she looked so scared. Like she feared Willow would slap her, or even worse, slam the door in her and her daughter’s faces when they needed her the most.

“Buffy....” It was barely a whisper but they both heard her. It was a desperate, strangled cry from the bottom of her soul. Something she had wanted to say for such a very long time.

And she really was standing there. Clad only in a purple sundress that if anything made her look even more delicate than before. She looked different. But not older. If anything, she looked younger than she had when she left. Her face had lost all of the hard set Slaying lines of before, and now was smooth and soft, all her wonderful curves rounded to perfection. Her eyes were larger and softer, dreamy like, and fit perfectly on her soft, beautifully tiny face.

And then she smiled slightly. Willow sucked in her breath at the shear beauty in the single movement. She was a vision....but not human....she couldn’t possibly be human....not looking like that....

“Hey, Will....” The rest went unspoken as Buffy noted that Willow was still staring at her, her mouth handing open, tears of relief flooding down her lightly tanned checks. She was making little choking sounds in the back of her throat, and when she brought her hands up to grip her neck, Buffy got a little scared. It would definitely be a bad start if the first thing she did was almost kill her.

So she took a tiny step forward, if only to place a delicate hand on her friends shoulder, to bring her comfort. But when her hand made contact with Willow’s skin, the Witch froze. Slowly she turned her head to look at Buffy’s hand resting on her arm. Then her face flew up to look in Buffy’s own, shock mirrored or every plain.

“Your real...” She managed to get out.

“Will, are you okay? What’s the matter? You’ve been out there for ages....”

Buffy snapped her head in the voice’s direction, ready to attack if necessary. And almost unconsciously she stepped in front of Nimisha, who had been riveted on the spot, unable to make a single sound, her large green eyes still locked on her mothers friend’s face.

But Buffy visibly relaxed when Oz came into view, worry written all over his face.

Willow turned and said to her boyfriend in a stunned, unbelieving voice,

“Oz look, It’s Buffy....”

But Oz had already noticed, if the immediate stiffness in his posture was proof enough. He stood there, staring, his eyes almost popping out of his head.

“Jesus Christ, kiddo.....” Where his first words.

If he was going to say anything else it was cut off when Willow started to sway. Even as Nimisha gave a cry of warning, both Oz and Buffy made last ditch efforts to grab her, but she slipped between both of their out stretched hands and fell silently to the floor.

And the last thing she saw before darkness surrounded her was the moon on Buffy and the dark girl’s foreheads, shining royally before her, seemingly for all to see.

Why hadn’t she noticed them before? She thought.

What was were they *doing* there?

And then she stopped thinking at all.

Meanwhile in LA.......

“Are you sure?”

Angel asked his distressed friend uncertainly. Not really knowing if he should believe her story or not.

He was sitting in his office, his elbows resting on the desk he was seated at. It was a bad habit, he knew, and after all these years he could still see his mother, sitting there looking across from him from their dining-room table, a disapproving look on her wonderful face. Almost unconsciously he removed his elbows off the table and placed them in his lap.

Oh, well, old habits die hard.

“Yes! Angel how many times to we have to go over this!? She was looking though the windows for Christ sake! Isn’t that proof enough for you!”

Cordelia was getting madder by the minute, and both Angel and Doyle could tell just by looking at her. The beautiful 22 year old brunette was pacing back and forth on his office floor, her hands flying wildly through the air as her two friends sat by the desk, watching her warily.

Angel held up his own hands in a gesture of peace. “Im not saying you wrong, Cordy.” He said quickly, “But dont you think your flying off the handle just a *little* bit fast?”

She scowled in his direction and he nodded in acceptance,

“Okay, I agree that it’s a bit weird that she was looking through the windows, but that doesn’t automatically mean she’s working for Wolfram & Hart or anything demonic now does it?”

He sheepishly scratched the top of his head before saying,

“I myself can’t really see her working for the lawyers. Didn’t you say she looked really young? Like 15 or 16 young?”

Cordelia nodded but said out loud, “Hello people? Are we forgetting little miss Faith? Or those Hansel and Gretel monster kiddies back home? It doesn’t matter how old they are, evil means evil.”

Angel reluctantly accepted this but sighing in annoyance said,

“Look, wasn’t there anything else she did that was strange? Cause if you two want me to do something about this your gonna have to give me some help here.”

At this his two employers were silent. Hesitantly they looked at each other out of the corner of their eyes. They seemed to be playing the possibilities over in their heads.

Angel noticed this and looked back and forward between the pair.

“What?” He said, hating to be kept in the dark on things.

Cordelia regretfully came over to where he was sitting. She grabbed another chair and sat down beside him. Angel - unused to this side of the girl - looked at Doyle bewildered. But the Irishman just shrugged and nodded to his girlfriend, telling him that he should listen to her.

Cordelia gathered her close friends hands in hers and held them tightly, as if keeping him from bolting for the seat.

“She was talking about Buffy.” She whispered.

Angel’s hands immediately went stiff in her own, along with the rest of his big body. He tried to pull out of her grasp but her grip was unbreakable.

Looking up into his dark face, Cordelia saw that he had transformed it into the unreadable, brooding one that had graced him when he first came to Los Angeles.

Cordelia got angry fast.

“Oh, no you dont, Angel! Come back to us *right* now! Your gonna sit here and listen to what we have to say even if it takes you all bloody night!”

“Delia...” Doyle said warningly, quickly raising from his seat.

“No Doyle! He does this every time we even *mention* her name, and I’m sick of it! We all have to deal and so can he!”

“Its a bit different Delia, and you know it.” Doyle said, sticking up for his boss.

Cordelia jumped up from her seat and turned on her boyfriend.

“She was my friend too Doyle! I’m hurting as well! But we have to deal, we cant bottle it in. Look what happened to Willow! I will *not* turn out like her! He doesn’t even let us say her name, and how the hell are we going get past this it we can’t even talk about her!?”

Throughout this exchange Angel had just sat there, saying nothing, looking into space.

She clouded his vision, just like she always did. He could still see her, standing there - on the pier - the sunlight glistering on her beautiful rosy face. Her blond hair flowing around her shoulders as she turned around and smiled at him, the special smile that she only gave to him. Memories flew through his mind, and he didn’t really notice Cordelia screaming at Doyle. His thoughts were only on her. His Golden Goddess who had been stolen from him just over four years ago.

She was on his mind every second of the day. Even in his dreams. She would always be laughing. And smiling at him. And kissing him....

But the one this morning had been a strange one though, it was so vivid. They had been floating.....And that thing on her forehead had amazed him......weird.

Angel shook him self out of the past. Cordelia was still yelling at Doyle, who was sitting there, grimacing. They had both noticed the tears that were now flowing down Cordelia’s face.

“Tell me what she said, Cordy.” He asked quietly.

Cordelia stopped in mid yell and spun around in surprise, her eyes open wide.

But taking advantage of this new situation she slowly made her way back to her seat, quickly wiping the tears on the arm of her light blue jersey.

“It wasn’t really anything big,” She said apologising.

“But she started by asking stuff about you.”

“Me?” Angel asked surprised.

“Yeah. Where you lived actually. Then she asked if your wife and kids minded living under the ground.”

Both Angel and Doyle leaned forward at this, there mouths open wide.

“You told her!?” They both said at the same time.

“Hey!” Cordelia said, coming to her own defence. “She didn’t exactly look the type to come massacre you in your bed!”

After both men apologised, Cordelia huffed.

Men could be so rude.

“Yes well, after I *told* her you weren’t married, she starting asking where Buffy was, how she died, that sort of stuff.”

Angel sat back in his chair, thinking. Yes it was true he didn’t like talking about Buffy with his friends any more than he had too, but this looked serious. Maybe talking about it would do him some good.

Cordelia was looking at the far wall, deep in thought.

“What was really strange though....”

The two guys leaned forward again.

“Yes??” The pressed.

“What really was strange though.” Cordelia continued. “Was how she was looking at me.”

They both looked at each other in confusion, then at her.

“Huh?” Doyle got out.

But Cordelia didn’t even notice. “When she first saw me, after she broke the pot plant. I swear she looked up and she knew me.”

“But you said you’d never seen the girl before.” Angel accused.

“I haven’t, Angel. I’m just saying that it was like she knew me....strange thats all.”

“But maybe she saw you round the movie sets.” Her boyfriend reminded her.

Cordelia just shrugged at that. “Maybe, but I dont think so. She was surprised thats for sure. But I think the surprise was more of actually seeing *me* than just anyone else. Like she knew I worked here but didn’t expect to see me at that time of the day.” She shrugged again, “I dont know.”

The guys were both at a loss at this, and the room fell into silence, everyone thinking.

Finally Angel got up from his seat and strode across the floor to picked up the phone. At their startled looks he put down the receiver.

“You both know I dont like talking about this...Buffy. But I’ll be damned if anyone is going to be coming around and stirring up memories that we are *all*..”

And he looked at Cordelia while saying this. She smiled sadly back at him.

“..trying to deal with. To many people will end up getting hurt again and I dont want to do that to them, especially Willow.” The other’s nodded gravely as this, knowing how delicate Willow had been in the past.

“So Im going to do the one thing I can think of at the moment. And just hope he can give us some guidance with where to go from here....and hope that we can stop this before it all gets to far out of our hands.”

And with that Angel picked up the receiver and dialled Giles number.

Back in Sunnydale.....

When Willow finally opened her eyes she found herself on the lounge floor looking up at two people who were standing on the other side of the room. Two people who obviously didn’t know she was awake for they were in the middle a very heated argument. She quickly closed her eyes again and listened to the fighting going on above her head.

“Of course she’s not okay! You obviously dont know how much she wanted to see you, do you have any idea what this is going to do to her!?”

She recognised this as her mate. But the other.......

“Okay, i’m sorry! I’ll make sure I ring and book before I come around for coffee! But you especially Oz, should know she’s not as delicate as she look.”

She chuckled,

“That body of her’s is full of energies, I think my head’s gonna explode.”

Then Willow noticed that there was a third person in the group.

A girl.....

She could feel her moving at her side.

Then as she spoke, Willow almost opened her eyes despite herself. The voice was so beautiful. It was soft, innocent, and felt like it was being sung by angels.

“Mama, stop yelling.” The girl said quietly in her lovely, soft voice. “You’ll hurt her ears.” There was a pause.

“Her aura’s okay though, even if did just get a little bit stressed in the last few minutes.”

It was then that Willow felt the girl place the back of her hand on her forehead. Willow suddenly felt incredibly light headed, like she was floating. And - even as she tried to struggle - she found herself opening her eyes.

The first thing she saw were a pair of green stars shining down at her, concerned. Willow actually did suck in her breath with she got a look at the rest of the girl’s exquisite face.

She was absolutely breathtaking.

She was truly the most beautiful person Willow had ever seen. Not the most voluptuous or seductive - just the most perfect. There was not a feature out of place on her brilliant face. She held herself with a regal air and looked only about 15 years old.

It was only then that Willow recognised her as the child on her porch.

Her wonderful long hair was as dark as a starless night. The line of her jaw smooth, soft, but firm, and Willow could tell that she was used to being obeyed. Her skin was pale, but not the sickly pale of a vampire, more like the pearl-ivory white skin of girl’s in the 18th centaury. Her face was tired, strangely sad, but her dark green eyes were alive and brilliant.

Willow just wished she could give this enchanting girl a name.

When she noticed that Willow was awake, the girl smiled in relief. And Willow’s wonder raised another few notches. She was beautiful just on her own, but when she smiled...Willow would bet she could command an entire army just with her beauty. But something deep inside her told Willow that this girl’s looks were inevitable, that they were there for a purpose.

Somehow those thoughts made Willow shudder deep in her bones. There was something in this girls eyes, she had seen it before....somewhere....but where?

“Aunty Willow?” The girl said in a soft voice. “Are you okay?”

Aunty Willow??

But thinking about it, the name strangely fit. Willow couldn’t imagine this lovely girl calling her anything else.

But all thoughts flew out of her mind as she tried to sit up. Her head started to spin, and she moaned softly, bringing her hands up to clutch her head in pain.

The girl was on her in a flash. Before she could speak, the girl had gently grabbed her shoulders and firmly pushed her back on her back.

“Hey, not so fast. You heads just received a big shock.” The girl said soothingly. “You need to take it easy. Here. See if this helps.”

She then raised her right hand and gently placed it on Willow’s check.

Almost instantly Willow felt the pain leave her body and be replaced with a toasty warm, tingly sensation, like stepping into a warm shower.

Willow rounded on the girl, startled. The question easily seen in her eyes. But the girl only chuckled sadly - almost guiltily - and spread her hands wide.

“Comes with the genes.” She said shrugging, and looked down into her lap.

But Willow wasn’t so sure.

“Who are you?” Willow whispered silently to the girl.

The child’s head snapped up instantly. Again she looked guiltily. But her gaze wavered, and she looked hesitantly towards the other side of the room. Or more to the point, at Buffy. Willow followed her gaze and almost fainted again when she saw who was standing on the other side of the living room, arguing with her boyfriend.

It was true.....the vision was true.

Instantly Willow’s eyes welled and she chocked on the sobs that were threatening to break. She slowly brought her hand up to cover her mouth.

“Oh, God.”

She was alive....

Hearing Willow speak, Buffy and Oz snapped their mouths shut instantly, spun around and looked at her. Seeing Buffy’s face, Willow opened her eyes in surprise, noticing the moon flashing on her forehead and how different she now looked from when she had left. As the silence filled the room, Oz moved first, hurrying over to where his mate lay on the ground seated next to Nimisha. But as Oz went the full way and bent down to help her up, Buffy stayed, uncertain of her place in their home, not really knowing what to do.

But even as she was help from the floor by both Oz and Nimisha, Willow couldn’t take her eyes of Buffy’s suddenly guilty face. She had noticed instantly the looked of uncertainty flit across her friend’s enchanting features.

But quite frankly, she didn’t know if she should comfort or yell at her.

When she was steady on her feet, she pushed her way out of Oz’s arms and slowly made her way to where Buffy stood in the middle of the floor.

Seeing her intention Buffy stiffened noticeably and looked down at her feet. Willow grimaced.

She thinks i’m going to yell at her. Willow thought to herself.

But as she slowly moved to her friend she whispered her name softly,

“Buffy?”

And it was then that Buffy started to cry.

She was crying for so many reasons even she couldn’t name. But to hear her voice. Willow’s voice saying her name in that special way of her’s, like she wasn’t even sure she was real, that even though she was stronger than her, would fall over like delicate flower if pushed to far.

Willow noticed was that Buffy’s shoulder were shaking. Shaking as huge sobs of guilt racked her tiny body. But when she slowly raised her beautiful head and looked at her best friend’s face, Willow felt suddenly sorry for her. She looked increadly venerable standing there, long blond hair cascading down her back, crying, like she was ready to bolt.

And it was then that Willow knew that something huge had happened in Buffy life. Something that she was not apart of. Something that had changed her friend for the rest of her life. But the fact that stunned Willow the most was that she was actually here, standing in her living room. A scene Willow thought would never come.

And even now, she couldn’t name the number of times she had woken up and found herself making her way to the kitchen, where she would just stand and look out of the window thinking, hoping that the stars would tell her where her friend was. And as she stood there, probably holding a cup of some hot liquid in her hands, the tears would come, the heartbreaking, sorrow filled tears that seemed to take over her life. Sometimes she would be so angry with her, so angry for leaving them, for giving up. And others, she would stand there, in the kitchen, and just wish she knew why the Powers would have taken such a well loved person as their Buffy.

And so, as she slowly made her way over to the best friend she had not seen in four years, Willow held her arms out. Knowing Buffy so well, knowing that the look of pain that flashed across her face was enough. Enough to tell her that she had done it for a reason, and reason that she herself could never hope to understand.

But Buffy took on look at her out stretched arms and seemed to cave in within herself. As a huge weight of guilt was lifted of her shoulders in the first time in years. To actually see Willow was mindblowing enough, but to have her to that, except her back in to her arms so instantly, it was just to much.

And if before wasn’t proof enough, that was. Willow saw the pain, the guilt on Buffy’s magickal features, and she knew what pain her friend had suffered. She hadn’t just left them and forgotten, she had probably done the same thing, stared out the windows at night and wish she was back home with them.

And she was more right that she could ever imagine.

And so, still sobbing, Buffy gave in. Gave in to the feeling of love that washed into her from her beloved friend. Let all the barriers that she had so carefully placed up, come crashing down, as she slowly walked the last distance she started to jog, and as her name came out a heartwenching sob, she fell into Willow’s arms.

Buffy stayed like that for a very long time. Just took the comfort of being with her, with the friend she thought she would never see again.

She faintly remembered the three of them taking her over to sit on the couch, and Oz and Nimisha taking seats around the room, waiting for her to get her bearings. But Willow wouldn’t leave her side. Wouldn’t let go of her actually, as if she feared that if she lost contact with her, she would wake up from the amazing dream and find that it all hadn’t actually happened at all.

She didn’t think she could have handled that.

But after Buffy had sat crying on Willow’s shoulder for about ten minutes she started to dry, and was content with just clinging on to the side of Willow’s jersey. The other two sat a respectable distance away, knowing that they had to leave the two friends to work this out between them.

But after a while Buffy finally calmed down and pushed herself up to a sitting position on the couch. Lifting her head she looked at three of the ten most important people in her life.

Oz, who was straddling one of the dining room chairs, hands resting on his arms, looking at her with mixed emotions. He was glad she was okay, that was plain to see, but there was a look of deep resentment in his eyes, as if he blamed her for Willow problems. She had just disappeared, and now here she was - along with some strange looking girl - sitting on his couch, far too beautiful, and looking insultingly healthly.

Nimisha..her beloved daughter..who was sitting crosslegged on the mat in front of the fire, her hands resting calmly in her lap. Her head was bend to the side like a puppy and she was looking around the warm, cosy room, smiling slightly. Ever so often she would catch Oz or Willow looking at her out of the corners of their eyes, but she didn’t mind. She was used to having people look at her. There was just something about her - biological - a magickal quality about her that made people stop and stare. People were always drawn to her, to some quality deep within her as well as her unnatural beauty. They felt that they could tell her anything. Maybe thats what would make her a good Queen one day.

And most importantly Willow, who was sitting right next to her on the sofa. Hands clasped with her’s. Buffy could feel her shaking, and she gave them a little squeeze in support. But Willow barely noticed, she was still in shock. She wondered where she had been all these years, why she had never even left a note. It must have been very serious for her to just pack up and leave all her friends and family like that, to go off by herself. On that thought Willow shock her head, no she hasn’t been alone. Turning her head she looked at the beautiful dark haired child sitting calmly by the fire. Knowing that somehow this girl had taken the place of the most important person in Buffy’s life. And she knew she would always feel incredibly grateful to this child, for looking after Buffy for all those years, for just being there for her.

But she did look like a gypsy sitting there - crosslegged - the flames dancing in her slightly slanted, dreamy, jade eyes. She was looking around the room, taking in every tiny detail, like she had never seen a room that looked like this before. Her wonderful black hair was falling down her back and a stray curl was brushing across her pale check. The moon shaped thing on her head was reflecting the flames as well, and it seemed to be glowing in the cracking light. It made the girl look even more delicate that before, made the clothes that were on her back look foreign, like she wasn’t used to having to wear that sort of clothing. She sat there almost still, apart from her head which moved from side to side, and Willow couldn’t get over her staggering beauty. Willow bet she was still totally unaware of how startlingly beautiful she was. Those looks could get her into a lot of trouble here in Sunnydale. Willow was surprised at the sudden burst of protectiveness she felt toward the girl, it was like she needed protecting. But when look deeper, more carefully, you notice just how strong her eyes were, who straight she held her back, how proudly she held her chin. And then you think that maybe you got it wrong, that it should be her that is protecting you. There was just something in the girls dreamy eyes, they made her look so very innocent, but at the same time, Willow had never seen such a regal looking child, one that radiated such raw power. Funny enough, she seemed to be getting the same of Buffy....

Willow just wondered where Buffy had picked up such a enchanting looked child on her travels. She bet there was a story behind that.

But what was it that the child had called her?

Aunty Willow?

Strange.

But as if the time of silence was passed and the time for talking sweep in the door, Buffy sighed nervously. Willow regretfully tore her eyes away from the child and looked her high school friend in the eyes. Buffy did the same.

The two of them sat there, hands clasped tightly between them, silent.

It was Willow who broke the calm.

“I never thought I’d see you again.”

Buffy smiled sadly back at her, not really knowing what to say to that.

Finally she just let it all go. She reached over and gently placed her hand on Willow’s check. And Willow smiled sadly back at her.

“Neither did I.”

Pulling her hand back it was Oz who spoke next.

“Where have you been, Buffy? Do you know how worried we were about you?”

Willow shot him a look, but he ignored her. Buffy just sighed and looked down at her lap.

“No Will, its a fair question.” She looked up again and stared Oz straight in the face.

“Ive been very far away. Further than you could ever imagine.”

“New Zealand?” Willow ask, uncertain.

Buffy chuckled and Nimisha joined her.

“No, Will, further than New Zealand.”

Buffy sighed again, she seemed to be doing that a lot lately.

“I guess you want it from the top, fair enough. But I warn you, your probably not gonna believe me.”

Oz just looked at her, eyebrows raised. Then he smiled slightly and said, “Try us.”

“It all started about two weeks before I left. You remember that night I was on protrol but I didn’t go to school the next day? And Giles was really mad at me for not checking in?”

When they nodded she continued.

“Yeah, well, the reason I didn’t go to school the next day was because I had a killer headache.”

“You said that.” Willow cut in. “That was the reason, you said you were sick.”

Buffy nodded at this but told her. “The reason I was sick was because my brain had received a massive shock the night before.”

When the looked confused she told them, “I was out protroling in Shady Hill Cemetery, you know, by the river? Its was about 12.30 and I really wanted to get home, I had like, four pages of psych homework to do and I was in a really craggy mood. Yeah, well, I had just finished dusting this vamp where I hear this clapping in the bushes. And who comes out, but this little blue man.”

Willow and Oz looked at her, startled, and Nimisha burst out laughing. Both of them turned and raised their eyebrows at her and she shut up, giggling quietly.

Buffy shot her daughter a look and she returned it with one of her own, smiling broadly.

“Okay, so maybe it wasn’t a little blue man, Afraya would kill me if he heard me say that.” She shrugged and Willow urged her to continue.

“Afraya is blue though, and a man, but he’s not little. So he comes out of the bushes, clapping, and i’m like, yelling at him for scaring the daylights out of me.”

“Was he a demon?” Oz asked, curious to why she obviously held this blue man in such high esteem.

Buffy just grinned. “No, he’s not a demon...he’s a alien actually.” She told them brightly.

The couple almost jumped out of their seats. They looked at Buffy in shock.

“Alien??” Willow managed to get out.

“Yeah, he comes from a planet about 12 light years away from here called Foltare.”

“Aliens are real?” Willow asked stunned. Oz was just looking at Buffy in silence, wondering what the hidden meaning on this all was.

Buffy nodded her head in Willow’s direction. Then after only a second of hesitation said,

“Yip, they exist alright...Your talking to one.”

Well, they had nothing to say to that one.

The room went silent, and Buffy could tell that her daughter had gone immediately on guard, ready to bolt, attack, do whatever was necessary. They weren’t used to explaining themselves. Every one that they were used to knew their situation. To say the least, this was a first.

Slowly Willow grabbed hold of Buffy shoulder and gently turned her around to face her.

“Your an Alien?” She said quietly, she sounded strangely sad. But there was not a trace of disbelief in her voice, she would believe anything she had to say.

Buffy nodded shortly, biting her bottom lip. Then she brought her head up and looked Willow in the eyes, cautious, if she expected her to be disgusted.

But Willow was clearly anything but disgusted, her Wiccan training had tought her to except any living creature for what it was. So her best friend was an Alien, so what?

Then she chocked out a stunned laugh.

“Wow.”

And Buffy let out a sigh of relief, knowing she should have known the Witch better, knowing that she would never turn her out know matter what she was. She loved her to much to be overcome by petty differences such as race....or species.

And then they found themselves smiling. All four of them. Even if this did effect them all differently, it was just to amazing to pass up. Knowing that a truly wonderful thing had happened and they were all privileged to be part of it.

But even if he did believed her and accepted it, Oz clearly wanted more answers. He wasn’t just going to forget the fact that she had left for four years without even telling anyone where she was going.

“So..what kind of Alien are you?” He asked.

Buffy looked at him oddly. As if she knew that he didn’t really forgive her but still wanted to know about the details.

“I’m from a race called the Tharran. Well I am on my mothers side, my father’s basically human, well a different sort of human, he comes from Debrain.” She spread her hands wide, trying to explain to whole story.

“We’re the rarest species in the galaxy. Presently there are only two members.”

They looked a bit surprised at that, wondering who the other person was. But Willow’s eyes went wide as she figured out who.

She spun around and looked at Nimisha, eyebrows raised.

Seeing that they had figured her out, Nimisha looked at them, a bit guilty, and gave a little wave.

And then Buffy got up from her place on the sofa and came over to were Nimisha was sitting on the mat. Extending her hand, which Nimisha took, she helped her up beside her. Knowing that this would be the hardest part of all to explain.

Seeing the two woman side by side Willow and Oz drew back in disbelief. Even if they were so completely different in complexion, there were so startlingly similar they could pass as sisters.

“Guys, I’d like you to meet one of the reasons for me leaving, but definitely the best.” Seeing that she had their full attention she said,

Willow, Oz, this is Nimisha..my daughter.” But the way she said it, with such love in her voice, stopped any disagreements the couple were going to make.

Willow couldn’t believe it.

She was so simply stunned that she couldn’t manage one word. But then she looked at them. The two most beautiful people she had ever seen, and she knew she was telling the truth. There was just no denying it. They simply didn’t look like sisters, or cousins, they could only pass as mother and daughter.

But thats impossible....

Willow shook herself out her mind. “But Buffy.” She said, desperately trying to understand.

“Thats impossible. How old is she?”

“Im 16 and a half, and i’m perfectly capable of answering for myself, thank you very much.” Nimisha answered. Buffy shot her a look, eyebrows raised, and her daughter winced.

Now Willow was even more confused. “But Buffy,” She said again. “That means you must have had her when you were five. And even if you are an Alien, I think we would have noticed at child running around your mothers house for three years.”

Picking up on the mention of Joyce, Buffy decided to leave it for now and concentrate on the matter at hand.

“No, Willow, I didn’t have her when I was five.” She massaged the bridge of her nose and sat down on the mat, pulling Nimisha down beside her.

“I was actually pregnant when I left.” Seeing how this just made them even more confused, Buffy sighed.

Explaining Space Travel to humans was so bloody frustrating.

“One of the main reasons Afraya confronted me then was because I was having the baby. He couldn’t have waited until after, cause that like, breaks tradition, or something. The future Queen has to be born on Allrelen, its like a rule of whatever.”

Seeing that she was going far to fast, Buffy slowed down and told them all about the Time difference between The Alliance and Earth.

“So your telling us that you have actually been away from Earth for 16 years, not four?” When Buffy nodded, Willow shook her head in surprise.

“That amazing! So all the planets in this Alliance thingy are usually on the same time, but not Earth?”

When Buffy nodded again she yelped in delight and Buffy and Oz laughed, knowing how much she would love this, ever searching for new science knowledge.

But then Willow stopped and looked at her friend, confused.

What did she say before....

“Did you just say you were pregnant when you left Earth?”

Buffy knew instantly that she had figured it out.

She grimaced and nodded.

Willow just looked at her for a moment, her mouth hanging open. Then...

“Well, who the hell is her father!?”

Nimisha sent Buffy an anxious look, wondering if she was going to open up fully and tell their friends the whole story. They had talked about it, and hadn’t really come to a decision whether or not they would tell Willow and Oz about Angel being Nimisha’s father.

And now Buffy seemed to be thinking. Finally - looking in her daughter’s eyes - she said quietly,

“Angel is Nimisha’s father.”

If anything this was what really stunned the couple the most that night. The fact that their friend was an Alien was something, but the fact that a vampire - not just any vampire mind you, Angel - was the father of her child, that was something else.

Willow just looked at Buffy for a very long time, without a word. Sensing this was not a time to speak, Oz too, remained silent.

They were absolutely stunned.

But then Willow looked at Buffy’s beautiful daughter...Nimisha....and yes, she could see Angel there, hidden deep within her. Thats who she had looked like, Willow thought. She looks like Angel. Thats amazing. She had never seen anyone resemble their parent so much. The same black silk hair, the pale skin. She bet she even broods.

Finally Willow sighed and walked over to where Buffy and her daughter were sitting by the fire, both rigid, and looked down at them, hands on her hips. Then, after a beat, she sat down in front of Buffy and clasped her hands in hers.

Buffy looked up at her, loving her even more if possible. Good old Willow, always the calm one, knowing the exact time that she was needed to listen. And then Buffy knew that she had to tell her everything. That she wouldn’t get this plan to work if she didn’t have Willow’s and Oz full support.

And so, hesitantly at first, Buffy told them everything.

From the tragic Day That Wasn’t, to Afraya’s arrival, her departure from Earth, ruling the thousand planets of the Alliance for the past 16 years, she told them everything of her life so far. Leaving out no single detail. Nimisha would put things in at times, when her mother would forget to mention something important. And together they told these two humans of a world that they never knew existed. A world that had more of a hold on their friend’s life than they could ever know. And they sat there, spellbound, as their heard things that they couldn’t even imagine in their widest dreams, of worlds with technology out shone theirs a thousand times, of planets that the entire civilisation was in underwater domes, of Cities that towered in the air thousands of metres. Of their palaces their homes, the people that made up their worlds. They sat their glued to the spot, knowing that they were very privileged to be hearing this, that they were the only two humans on the planet that knew of its existence.

And as their friend asked, they listened.

And together, the four of them formed a plan

Vignette 1

Finally! Sorry it took so long. Next part coming soon!

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