See Part 1 for Ratings and Disclaimers
Love Hurts
Annie reads the book searching for a way to kill the demon. "Okay-" she mutters. "Got it." she forces her fears away and tries to focus. She closes her eyes and concentrates- 'Mom can you hear me?'
In the restaurant Willow and Kennedy appear just behind the Garnok. The arrows fly and vamps turn to dust as the Slayer announces her arrival.
'Sever his head-that's it?' confirms Willow. She turns to the beast, "Garnok!" The creature faces the redhead, "Let her go-"
He smiles a wicked smile and with some unseen force pulls the teenager closer to him. "She's mine now-"
An arrow hits his shoulder and his attention turns to the smaller woman. "Don't think so." Another arrow races toward him but it disappears into thin air.
"What the hell-" Kennedy is furious. She looks at her daughter still struggling for breath. She charges the demon, axe drawn.
"Cut off his head," advises Willow as she too starts at him. Faith, Buffy, Xander and Robin fill the room. Vampires try to slow them and succeed the more that fall the more that seem to fill the room. Garnok fights off the attacks with magic of some sort; the witch tosses the scythe to Faith deciding that her magic may be the way to free her child. She begins to chant.
At the house Alex runs into the study. He looks at his sister and before she can speak he says, "They need us-"
"How do you know did Mom-"
"I just do-" she grabs an axe as he joins hands with her. He says some words and they are gone.
Willow is trying to put a barrier around the teenager but as she does she feels Garnok's power encircle her and she is drawn to him. She fights to resist him as she sees Aly gasping for breath. Sarah starts toward her and with the little strength she has left the witch knocks her across the room. "Stay down-" she warns the blonde.
As Garnok smiles at the redhead he speaks- "Fools-it was so easy."
"You didn't get her-" says the witch her words barely audible.
"We didn't want her-" his evil laugh fills the room. However the laughter ends as Alex and Annie appear behind him and the young Slayer takes off his head with her axe.
Willow slumps to the ground fighting to stand, unable to she crawls to her daughter. The others fight the vampires and are soon able to destroy them as ash fills the room. Willow tries to get the girl to open her eyes but isn't successful- "Kennedy-" tears streams down the redhead's cheeks.
The Slayer turns when she hears her name and rushes to the witch. She kneels down beside them and checks for a pulse, she lets out a slow deep breath when she finds one. "We need an ambulance," she shouts.
She hears a scared voice respond, "It's on the way."
Everyone gathers around them nervously waiting except Annie. She turns to go after Sarah who is still on the ground. As she nears her the blonde struggles to her feet. "I didn't know-it wasn't suppose to be like this- I swear."
Anger flows through the young Slayer's words, "I thought you loved her?"
"I do-"
"Right- if I ever see you again-" her words are cut off.
"You won't." Sarah disappears from the room.
Alex is standing beside Willow and Kennedy looking down at his sister, "Mom?" She raises her eyes to him. "That thing-was it after the magic?"
"I'm not sure-but we stopped it," assures the witch.
"Did I hear him call us fools? He should rethink that oh-can't cause he's dead-now who's the fool?" says Kennedy.
"Oh Goddess-" Willow's face pales. "He-he said they weren't after Aly. He said they didn't want her-"
"Then who?" asks Buffy.
"I-I gotta get home-" she stands and tries to focus but is still too weak- "Kennedy-" the Slayer is already gone. Faith follows her in a dead run.
At the house the four youngest Langdon kids are in the playroom unaware of the problems the rest of the family have faced. They hear the front doors burst open and are scared. They look at each other and Kara is the first to speak, "What was that?" asks the frightened child.
Erin, taking charge, puts her fingers to her lips and cautions them to stay quiet. She stands and goes slowly to the playroom door and peers out. She can see vampires in full game face walking up the stairs. She closes the crack in the door and goes back to her sisters. She looks at them and mouths the word vampires-then I think. The girls' eyes get big. She pulls them toward the closet and they hide inside.
In the restaurant the ambulance team has Aly on a stretcher and hooked up to oxygen. They are trying to get Willow checked out as well but she isn't cooperating. "I'm fine help my daughter."
"Will-" Xander's soft voice fills the room. "They need to make sure you're okay-"
"Xan-" she begins to cry.
"Come on-we'll put you in the ambulance and they can look you over while they drive okay?" She nods her agreement and they all walk toward the ambulance. They put the stretcher in and Xander helps Willow inside. "We'll meet you at the hospital." As he turns to gather everyone to leave he realizes Alex is not with them. "Where's Alex?"
Buffy turns to Annie, "Tell me he didn't-"
"He did-"
"Damn it-"
"What?" Xander is confused. "That thing-he's back at the house?" Annie nods.
The little boy is materializing in the playroom-he's senses telling him that is where he is needed. He opens his eyes and sees that it is deserted. He focuses his energy and smiles as he realizes they are there, hiding. He walks to the closet, but doesn't open it. 'Can you hear me?'
'Alex where are you?' asks Erin.
'In the playroom-' the door slowly opens and the girls step out. 'Can you put up a force field?' his eyes fall on Ellie.
'I think-' she takes a deep breath and focuses her energy. The barrier glows around them as the door opens and the uber vamps, the Turok-han enter the room. Alex's hands glow red as he sends a flaming ball through the barrier and into the middle of the vamps. three turn to flames and then ash but the barrier weakens- 'Sorry-' says Ellie.
'No it wasn't your fault- the flame did it. I can't fight them from inside, my power drains yours.' He takes a deep breath and walks out of the protection. Kara and Kristen look scared. 'Keep them safe.' His eyes meet Ellie's and she nods.
The little boy fights the remaining Turok-hans with his magic. Stakes fly through the air and embed into the creatures, then there is nothing but dust. With only five remaining Faith and Kennedy run into the room.
The Slayers eyes meet and memories of their battle with the First flood them. They forget about the boy fighting, but are returned to the here and now as they hear a crash. Kennedy watches amazed as the boy finishes them off one by one. She smiles at him and he smiles back. She hugs him tightly- "That's my boy," she presses a kiss to his temple. "You okay-that's a lot of magic in one day."
"I'm good-" he says as she continues to hug him.
Ellie drops the barrier and all the kids run to their mama. "I wasn't scared," boasts Erin.
"I was," admits Kara- "I don't like vampires."
"Me neither," agrees her twin. "Were those vampires?"
"Yep! Really bad vamps but now all gone-" Faith forces a smile as she picks up Kara and takes Kristen by the hand. "I'll take them to my place okay?" She looks at the younger woman.
Kennedy nods, a little rattled, "Yeah-everyone go with Faith."
"Why Mama," asks Erin.
Faith ad-libs, "Sleepover-lots of snacks and movies." The little girls cheer and follow the once dark Slayer but Alex doesn't move.
"I want to go with you," his eyes meet hers.
"I know you do-" she kneels in front of him and puts a hand on his chest, "but I need you to stay with the girls just in case."
"You think it's not over?"
"I'm not sure but Faith will need you if it's not."
"And Aly?"
"Mom's with Aly-so she's safe-okay?" The boy nods fighting to stay strong.
She hugs him and fights her own battle with tears as she hears his soft words, "I love you Mama."
"I love you-" she kisses her son again as she tightens her hold on him.
At the hospital Willow waits with the others for word on Aly. Annie is crying slightly as the redhead walks up behind her and wraps her arms around her. "She'll be okay-"
"How can she be okay?-Sarah was a part of this-"
Willow kisses the back of the young Slayer's head. She thinks and chooses her words carefully, "Sometimes life teaches hard lessons."
"Lessons-w-what don't trust people, don't- don't love people?" Annie pulls away from her mother. "Cause that's all she'll see-she'll be-" Annie's voice fades as she sees the doctor approach.
In Aly's room the young Slayer still has oxygen flowing to her, from small tubes in her nose. Red marks almost like hands are imprinted on her neck. The nurse checks her and then leaves quietly. Sarah appears and walks toward the frail form. She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, 'Can you hear me Aly?' The teenager's eyes flutter, 'I didn't know-they promised. I'm sorry-'
The girls eyes open and tears fall, 'How could you-I trusted you?'
'I'm sorry-' the blonde too cries.
'Leave just leave don't be here when they come in cause-' she cries harder and squeezes her eyes shut tightly. 'Go-'
The blonde nods and is gone as the door opens. Willow and Annie walk in and over to her. They she the tears- Annie looks at her mother, "She was here-"
"No," insists Willow. "She wouldn't-Aly?" The girl nods slightly and cries harder. Her mother holds her in her arms and tries to soothe her. A furious Annie leaves the room almost running in to Buffy in the hall-
"Hey-hey-slow down what happened is she okay?"
"She was here-Sarah in her room. If I find her I'll kil-" she stops and her tears fall as Buffy holds her.
"Shhhh-it's okay."
In a darkened room the voices speak:
"It is done-" says the male.
"Are you sure it will work?" asks the other.
"Yes-can't you feel it-the hate raging? She will be ours."
At Faith's the kids are still up for the most part watching television but Ellie is sleeping in her lap the barrier tiring the young girl. She starts to mumble- "No-no you can't have her-No!" she screams and sits up pushing her self out of Faith's arms she runs toward the door-
Faith cuts her off and picks her up, "Hey hey-squirt-it was just a bad dream."
"No-I want my mommy-I want my mommy." The little girl cries while the Slayer in her fights to regain control but fails.
"Shhhh-" soothes Faith, "It's okay-I got you." Robin comes in unsure hearing the commotion. She holds up a hand, then points to the others now staring at the child.
Robin nods, "Let's go-time for bed."
"But I'm not sleepy Dad," protests Luke. Robin gives him and stern look and the little boy, along with the others follow him from the room.
Faith walks with Ellie to the rocking chair and rocks her gently, "It'll all be okay-shhh" her voice is soft and calming.
"Promise?"
"Promise," says the Slayer and the little girl's eyes close.
Later Buffy and Kennedy stand at the door of the Gray's house. Without bothering to knock Kennedy kicks it down they find the room bare-dusty, unlived in. "How?"
Freefalling
Annie is sitting in a chair by Aly's hospital bed. The teen has her head resting on the bed, her hand holding her sister's. Across the room Willow is curled up in Kennedy's arms both trying to rest in an oversized chair. "How can it be empty?" asks the redhead softly her eyes searching those of her Slayer, as the light from the street light casts a glow on the room. Before Kennedy can answer the witch looks at her daughter still hooked to oxygen.
"I don't know Will-it's like they were never there."
Tears slide down her face as she speaks, "It'll only make it harder-she'll need closure."
The younger woman leans in and presses her lips to her love's forehead, "We'll just have to be there for her." The redhead nods as she tries to stop the tears. "Annie doing any better-Buffy told me about-"
"Not really, no-she's still very grrrr and all vengeancey-" trying to play it off a little she adds, "At one point I was thinking about looking for black roots." She looks at Kennedy.
"Not funny- Red," she looks toward both teenagers.
"I tried," she gives a half smile and then kisses the Slayer's soft lips. "We're gonna get through this like everything else right?" she asks as she pulls back from the kiss.
"Right-it's a given."
Annie begins to mumble in her sleep, "No-no," Willow stands and walks to her.
"Annie-sweetie, wake up." The young Slayer looks into her mother's eyes. Her arms wrap around the woman and Willow embraces her as well. "Shhhh-it's okay."
"Aly?" she says softly.
"She's sleeping," she looks at her daughter and for the first time in a long time she seems young, too young to be dealing with so much. "Wanna walk-maybe talk?"
"But not too far?"
"The waiting room?" Annie nods and the redhead waves to her Slayer as they go.
In the hallway Willow and Annie sit on a couch. "Why did she-Sarah-why? I don't understand." She begins to cry.
"Annie we may never know why or understand."
"But Aly-"
"It'll be bad for awhile but we'll help-that's what families do."
"I hate her for what she did-"
Willow can see the teenager's anger start to build again, "No-no hate," her hand rests on Annie clinched fist. "Just-just let it go."
"But she hurt Aly how can I just ignore-"
"We forget about Sarah and concentrate on helping Aly-and hate it doesn't help."
"I guess it doesn't-" Willow touches her cheek then presses a kiss to her temple. "Mom?"
"What sweetie?"
"How do we tell her that she's gone?"
"Mama and I will-"
"She'll be so sad-"
Willow hugs her tightly, "I know-"
Buffy is standing in the doorway to Joy's room just looking down at the little girl. The three-year-old is sleeping peacefully unaware of her mother's worries. Xander walks up behind his Slayer and slips his arms around her waist. She leans back into him and he kisses the top of her head, "You should be sleeping," he declares softly.
"Can't," is her whispered response.
"Aly's okay."
"This time, but the next time," she shrugs. "Or the time after; or maybe they come after Joy instead," tears roll down her cheeks.
"Don't borrow trouble Buff-"
"But we should be ready for it."
"She's in the program-she knows to be careful."
"I'm not sure it's enough."
"It has to be," he turns his wife to face him, "Buff-we can't put her inside a bubble and keep the world away."
"We could-well we-couldn't but Willow-" she stops and her eyes meet his. "No, I don't guess we can-it wouldn't be much of a life would it?" He shakes his head. "Sorry just a momentary freak out-all better." She kisses him.
"It'll be okay." He presses his lips to her forehead. "Now come to bed." She takes his hand and they leave the doorway.
At Faith's, Robin walks into the living room to find his wife still holding Ellie. The pint-sized Slayer is sleeping but is very restless. "She still having nightmares?"
"Yeah poor kid."
"Want me to hold her for awhile-you need some sleep."
"No, I'm good-too much slaying to sleep tonight." She smiles that little smirky smile and Robin leans in to kiss her lips. He sits down beside her and she leans into his body. "That was nice."
"You liked?" He raises an eyebrow.
"Oh- yeah," they kiss again.
The little girl starts to mumble, "No-please-you can't! No-stop it-no!" Her eyes fly open.
Faith holds her tighter, "Just dreams baby girl shhhh." The little Slayer closes her eyes as she tries to calm her breathing. "Wanna tell me about it?" The girl shakes her head-squeezing her eyes shut tighter. "Okay-it's okay you don't have to.
The next morning the doctor is talking to Kennedy and Willow in the hallway. "She's breathing much better. There will be some soreness and difficulty swallowing for awhile, but no long-term damage."
"Great," says her mama relieved.
"Just try to keep her quiet for a few days-rest the vocal cords."
"Teenage girl and quiet-" Willow looks at him unsure. "Are those three words even allowed in the same sentence?" Kennedy stifles a laugh as her redhead smiles.
"Normally no-just this once," he too smiles.
"When can we take her home?" asks Kennedy anxious to leave the hospital.
"Later today-I just want to run a couple of tests and check her vitals after she's been off the oxygen for a few hours."
"So-by evening?"
"Later afternoon, if you have any questions have them page me."
"Thanks," they relay in unison. he nods and leaves.
Willow leans into Kennedy's strong arms, "I hate hospitals-"
"I know and you were so brave," Kennedy smiles kissing her nose playfully.
"Do I get a present?" Willow raises a suggestive eyebrow.
"Maybe, maybe we both could have one." Kennedy raises her eyebrow to match the redhead. They both smile.
"In the room Annie is sitting on the bed beside her sister. Aly's eyes open, "Mom?" her voice is barely audible.
"She went to get chocolaty goodness and shhhh don't try to talk."
"But-"
"None- the doctor said." Aly looks as if she might cry, "Don't cry-you're gonna be fine. You just need to rest your voice for a couple of days."
'Is-is everyone okay?' her words fill her twin's head.
"Cool-the kids are with Faith and Robin."
'The demon-?'
"Headless." They are quiet tears threaten to spill from Aly's eyes. They begin to tumble down her cheeks in streams. "No-shhhh-she's not worth-"
'I loved her.'
The confession floors the teenager, "Yeah, but you have-try to forget."
'How?'
"Keep busy-I'm not sure but Mom knows-the two of you can talk about it-it'll get better." The door opens and rescues Annie from an impossible question.
'One of those mine?' her words fill the heads of her parents.
"Sorry, not on the list of things you can have-" informs her mama.
'That's so not fair-'
"Not much has been the last few hours," states Willow as she presses a kiss to her oldest head.
"But we'll fix it," assures Kennedy.
"Damn straight," says the redhead and all eyes turn to her.
'Mom?' Aly speaks, shocked.
"What?" the witch is confused.
"Language," adds Annie.
"Oh-right, darn- darn straight." She corrects as she blushes slightly and sits by her daughter.
"Better," smiles Kennedy.
That night the redhead sits on the balcony, her daughter wrapped in her arms as they look out at the stars. To the causal observer they would appear to be simply star gazing in the quietness of the night, but in reality Aly her mother talked about her lost loves.
'He just left?'
'Said he loved me but he needed to find answers to things.'
'But you handled it right?'
'Handled it-badly.' She pauses as she decides just how much the teenager should know. Finally, she speaks. 'I was in college-just getting into the Magicks. I felt so bad and hated it. I did a spell-' her words stop giving Aly time to process.
'A spell while you were upset and all unfocused?' Her voice is unsure, her mind confused. Her mom always said magic without focus was dangerous.
'Not the smartest thing I ever did-'
'Understate much.'
'It wasn't the dumbest either,' she admits. 'Anyway, things went kapoopy-almost got the others hurt. Buffy kissed Spike.'
'But Spike was cute right-Dawn said-'
'Cute yes-but she didn't see that then-something about the whole vampire issue.'
'What happened with Oz?'
'He came back-about six months later with answers to his questions.'
'But it was too late-cause of Tara?'
'Yeah but that's a whole different story. Let's save it for another night.'
They sit quietly until it is broken by the young Slayer, 'Why didn't I know she was bad?'
'She hid it well, from all of us-and I think there was a part of her who truly cared about you.'
'I miss her.' Her tears fall.
'I know.' She presses her lips to the top of Aly's head.
'Will it get easier?'
'The truth?' The girl nods. 'It'll take a lot of time.' She holds her tighter. 'Find the Big Pineapple-' Aly searches then points. 'The Big Dipper-' as she names and the teenager searches she succeeds in keeping her mind off Sarah.
Annie however is thinking about the blonde, she is trying with little luck to keep her out of her head. The door to her room opens and she sees Ellie standing in the doorway. "Ellie?"
"Can I sleep in here with you?"
"More bad dreams?" She asks as the young Slayer crawls into the bed and under the blankets. She snuggles into Annie-her horse in her hand.
"Where's Aly?" concern is rich in her voice.
"On the balcony with Mom."
"Can I tell you about my dream?"
"Absolutely," assure the older Slayer.
"Aly was crying-"
"She might do that sometimes."
"Cause Sarah's gone?"
"Yeah."
"Is she sad like I was when Richie moved away?" The younger girl is trying to find some comparison.
"Just like that," agrees the teenager. "What else happened in your dream?"
"That was all I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep so I came in here." They are quiet. "Can you tell me a story?"
"Let me think of one-" a smile covers her face. "Once upon a time Princess Ellie Mac-" Ellie giggles and Annie kisses the top of her head. She continues the story and the child listens contentedly her thoughts pulled away from bad dreams.
Time passes, days are filled with school and training. Willow insists on extra work on meditation and Wiccan philosophies, she spends hours with Annie and Aly-sometimes Alex joins as well. Her fears seem to lessen but you can still see the worry when she is tired. She can still sense the fear in Ellie, the hurt in Aly and occasionally the hate in Annie.
Weeks later on the way home from her last final Annie stops dead in her tracks-across the street she gets a quick glimpse of a blonde. Sure it is Sarah she turns and follows-she however loses her. Angry, she makes her way home. She joins Aly, Alex, and Willow in the garden for training. Tense she sits in the circle with the others she closes her eyes and tries to center herself. Like her brother and sister she sits silently listening to her mom's calm words. "Can you feel the energy?-" They flatten their hands to the ground and with eyes still closed they nod. "The energy flows through the earth, through us.-To channel it, to use it to its fullest you must be at peace." She pauses before choosing her words.
"Anger, hate-vengeance, they only give the impression of power; true power lies in the light."
Annie's eyes open and meet her mother's; black slowly covers light brown, her voice deeper- "You are so wrong!"
Willow stares in disbelief as her daughter's hair starts to turn to black as well, "Kennedy!" she screams.
The End
This story continues in Like Mother, Like Daughter
Or go back to Part 3(Chapters 11-15)
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