Title: Tara's Odyssey Book Two

Author: Tasha Miller

Email: tashamiller2k@angelfire.com

Fandom: Popular

Pairing: T/W

Disclaimers: I don't own them, all I own are my words.

Author's Notes: 100 years after the first book, an immortal Willow and Tara adopt a slayer who's Buffy's reincarnate :o


Chapter 1

Dear Diary

It's the First day of 2100 and today is a time to reflect on the past hundred years. For most people this would be looking over a hundred years of history, for me it's looking at over a hundred years I've been trapped in darkness. You see in 2000 a vampire named Spiked turned me and long ago my best friend Buffy slayed him for it. Now I'm immortal. I'm a warm vampire, because of a secret protection spell that's held within the alliance. It's harder to pick out warm vampires they appear allot more human and aren't cold also they, we, have souls from the beginnings of our vampire years. It's new years day and Tara's asleep, while I write this in the darkness of our room. We watched the sun rise, but retreated back to bed before it's rays reached us and sent me to ash. We've been together for so long now, we where together till Buffy passed away, old age. She was the first slayer to do so, to reach retirement and to die of old age. After that Tara and I ended up going our separate ways for awhile, it was only a few years before we where together again. It's been 50 years since then and I love her so much. We're back in Sunnydale now, It hasn't changed much, with the lack of people wanting to live here means little progress has been made in the last hundred years, not that a terrible amount has happened anywhere else 'the dumbing down of the human race has caused the slowest century' I believe where some words spoken. Though there has been progress, some medical break throughs and some ecological advancements.



Tara woke up and looked over to where Willow sat writing she climbed out of bed and walked over to her and hugged her "What are you doing?" Tara asked

"Reflecting" Willow replied

Tara kissed the base of Willows neck "On what?"

"The last hundred years"

"I'm sorry you had to - "

"It's not your fault, please don't feel sorry for me"

"I'm sorry"

Willow laughed "So how are things coming with finding Crystal?"

"Oh good, Angel found her in an orphanage, she's 15"

"You really reckon I'm gonna like this girl?"

"Of course, anyway I was thinking, since she's an orphan maybe we should-"

"Adopt her?"

"Yea"

"Wouldn't that just be weird for her"

"I think it may be easier than the approach I had with Glory"

"Mmmm, finding out your best friend is really a demon who's not 16 but about 100 and is watching over you is quite a shock"

"I just think it might work, she's already had a watcher, who also was her legal guardian, so this shouldn't be to hard"

"Did the watchers council find her first then?"

"Seems so, Angel wouldn't tell me much but he'll sort out some papers then send them to me"

"Ok" Tara moved away

"Well I have to go, duty calls"

"It's New Years" Willow pouted

Tara leaned in and kissed her "I know, but I want to catch this Vamp off guard"



Tara sat over Willow as she slept, she felt horrible that for the last hundred years Willow hadn't been able to set foot in the sunlight. Tara sighed, she still hadn't tracked down this vampire she'd heard rumours of a Vampire who can walk through sunlight who was in town waiting for the new slayer so he could kill her, this meant Tara had to kill him soon, to find out how he could walk in the sun and to protect her new charge. Willow stirred and opened her eyes "How'd it go?" She ask sleepily

"Not good"

"Still haven't found him?" Tara shook her head "What's the time?"

"About four"

"Damn, hours till we can go outside" Tara smiled softly at Willow "Oh there's some mail for you" Willow said indicating to the desk on the other side of the room "Really?" Tara asked curious as she walked over to the desk and picked up the large envelope as she opened it she smiled "It's from Angel, it's the adoption papers"

"Really? that was quick" Willow said standing next to Tara



Crystal looked up at the large house, it was an old house like many in Sunnydale, a huge place. It was obvious from the style that it was well over a century old, like many of the places in town, but much more cared for than others. A young blonde woman walked out onto the front porch and smiled and Crystal as she walked up the path followed by Mrs. Peterson who ran the orphanage in LA.

"You must be Crystal" Tara said extending a hand Crystal smiled slightly as she took Tara's hand and gave it a brief shake. Mrs Peterson smiled at Tara "I understand you're friends with Angel"

"Yes, we go way back"

"He's a very nice man, he visits us allot is became quite close with Crystal" Tara nodded as she continued "Is your partner joining us?"

"No, Willow works at night so generally sleeps most of the day"

Mrs Peterson smiled slightly "Shall we go in then?" She asked turning to Crystal who up until this point had been examining the outside of the house Tara smiled at them and led them inside.



Crystal watched as Mrs. Peterson left, she was staying here. There was no doubt about that, she turned and looked at Tara who smiled at her softly "Don't worry about it, things'll be fine"

Crystal shrugged and walked into the house "Why am I here Tara, seriously, if your a friend of Angels"

"I'm your watcher Crystal"

"I thought so"

"You'll start school on Monday at Sunnydale high"

"Yippee I get to be the new girl"

Willow walked out of a nearby doorway from the basement and looked at the two people standing in the dark hallway she smiled shyly and extended a hand to Crystal "Hey I'm Willow"

Crystal smiled and shook her hand "Hey" she said softly she turned to Tara "I'm gonna go out and hit the town"

"Ok, be back just before nightfall, we'll have dinner, make a quick patrol then you can do what you want"

"What no Train harder Crystal?" Crystal asked a little shocked

Tara smiled "Slayers are people too, dunno what your old watchers told you but you are allowed a life"

Crystal smiled, maybe this wasn't going to be so bad after all.



Tara sat watching the principal carefully, she didn't like this guy, and he didn't like her. "What did she do?" Tara asked

"She got into a fight with another pupil"

"What am I here for?"

"It's a bad sign when a pupil is getting into trouble on their first day of school Ms Kingsly and I thought it best to notify you so you can have a talk to Crystal"

"So you dragged me out of work to come sit in your office to be told? A phone call would have been fine"

"Yes but we're also sending Crystal home for the rest of the day and think it would be best to send her off with you.



Crystal sat in the passengers seat of the car shifting nervously at the uncomfortable silence that filled the air, why hadn't Tara said anything? Finally Tara let out a sigh "Why did you do it?" She asked

"I'm sorry Crystal replied"

"Please just tell me why you picked a fight today"

"I want you to un adopt me"

"Why?"

Tears welled up in Crystals eyes "I don't want you to die"

"Why would I be doing that"

"All my other watchers died because of me, demons and vampires target them to get at me, the only reason I'm with the alliance now is because the watchers council gave up on me"

Tara looked at Crystal as she stopped the car outside the house "I've been alive for over a hundred years now Crystal, I've been a practicing Wiccan for pretty much all those years. I've killed more demons and vampires in my years than you will ever see. I'm sure I can handle whatever is thrown my way" Crystal looked at her as she got out of the car. As they walked up the path Crystal spoke

"So what is the deal with you and Willow"

"I'm a demon, she a Vampire"

"She's alive though, her heart beats how can she be a Vampire?"

"It's a protection spell, it keeps the Vampire trapped in the human body basically. I'll have to place the spell on you"

"Why?"

"A slayer who is turned could be very dangerous, if she keeps her heart and soul she can keep fighting for good"

Crystal nodded "I'm sorry, I won't act up again"

"Good, just remember Crystal I can look after myself"



Crystal stared at the book in front of her the words dancing on the page, her head was swimming as she tried to concentrate. She shouldn't have stayed out so late last night, she knew that Tara trusted her but she was abusing her freedom, it was the first time she'd had any in the years since she knew she was a slayer. "Crystal" Her attention snapped to the person addressing her "Class is over Crys, come on" Crystal smiled and stood up gathering her books

"Sorry, hard night"

Maggie smiled at her friend "What did you get up to last night?"

Crystal laughed as they left class "Nothing much"

"Oh yea whatever" Maggie elbowed Crystal "Really now what did you do"

Crystal just smiled mystify and headed off to her next class.



Tara walked into the bar and looked around she noticed Jason sitting in the corner. She walked over and sat down opposite "Have my favourite snitch got any more info for me?" She asked

Jason looked at her angrily "Hey shut up, if they find out I'm helping you"

"Do you know anything useful or not"

"Depends do you have anything for me or not" Tara looked at him and he started to struggle for air "Ok, ok I'll tell you" he croaked he started rubbing his throat as the pressure was released. "Ok his name is Aquiden"

"Where can I find"

"I don't know" Tara nodded and left "Hey wait don't I get anything"

Tara turned around and threw a twenty on the table "Thanks"

"Twenty?" Jason scoffed

"Would you rather I killed you?"

He quickly shook his head.



Crystal followed Tara as they walked along the streets "So what are we looking for?"

"A vampire"

"But it's daylight"

"I know, somehow he can walk in the sunlight, I need you to use you slayer sense to find him" Crystal nodded and kept walking suddenly she turned her eyes following a man who seemed very normal but was setting of all kind of alarms in Crystal "Tara"

"Yea"

"Over there"

Tara turned and looked where Crystal was pointing, "lets take him down, don't kill him till I can talk to him" Crystal nodded then headed down the streets after Aquiden. He turned into a alley and Crystal took the chance and raced in after him she tackled him and smiled then suddenly she felt strong hands grip her and pick her up, she trashed wildly trying to escape the Vampires grip she felt the vampire move in to bite but there was a sudden blinding light and he was ash leaving only Aquidin, Crystal and Tara (who had just appeared) in the alley. Tara had Aquiden pinned to the wall and was prying a ring of his finger.

"Thanks" Crystal said as Tara just smiled and staked the vampire "You got the ring"

"Yea" Tara smiled "Finally Willow can walk in the light"



Willow woke up to the feel of warm sunlight on her face, she smiled slightly then shot up and tried to get of the sun but soon realised it wasn't burning her up. She looked quizzically at Tara who was standing beside the bed "Look at your hand" She said Willow did that and saw the ring

"Where'd you get it?"

"From a Vampire"

"Am I..?"

"It only protects you from the sun"

"Thank you so much" She said as she got up and wrapped her arms around Tara.

"Your welcome" Tara said as she leaned in then kissed Willow softly.



Tara looked out the window at the vast expanses of fighting, she then turned back and looked at Willow sitting on the bed "The war will be over soon"

Willow looked up at Tara "I know, but who will win?"

"No-one will win, good and evil will always be there, one cannot survive without the other"

Tara looked out the window, a hand on her shoulder brought her back to the present.

"What were you thinking about?" Willow asked

"The war" Tara replied

"Which one?" Willow said laughing softly

Ara smiled affectionately at Willow "The bloodening"

Willows smile fell "I'm sorry" She said softly

"Don't worry about it"

"You still feel bad about it don't you?"

Tara sighed "I can't help thinking I could have done something, I know it wasn't my fault but I just feel-" Willow placed a finger over her lips then kissed them softly

"It's not your fault"


Tasha Miller

Buffy

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