Children of the Earth Chapter 10 Part 3 -- **The Buffyverse Fanfic Board**

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Date Posted: 20:59:38 11/19/02 Tue
Author: WillowX
Author Host/IP: adsl-34-192-186.bct.bellsouth.net / 67.34.192.186
Subject: Children of the Earth Chapter 10 Part 3

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sunnydale High. Well...the ruins at least. It seems only fitting that I die here. Right where it all started. Right where we first met.

�Tie her securely to the altar.� Methos instructed Amy and Rack. Amy tightened the ropes that were holding my hands and Rack had a stiff expression on his face.

�What time is it Witherspoon?� Methos asked.

�It is 7:12 A.M.� He responded.

�We haven�t got much time left. Begin lighting the torches and bring forth the Orb.� Methos demanded. The torches that had been positioned in a circle around the altar were lighted all at once by Amy. She was more than pleased at the task. Giles stood quietly in the shadows. His expression was emotionless.

Sunrise was a few moments away and the darkness of the sky was being replaced by a bright red glow. I lay still on the alter facing the clouds. This was it. My time had come. My eyes glazed over as Methos began chanting softly around me. One by one each of them joined in the chant...even Giles. After a few minutes the sound of the chanting was like a river roaring through my ears. It was unbearable. I felt as my insides began to tear. Something terribly wrong was happening. I opened my eyes and the sky was blood red. It was crackling and thundering but there were no rain clouds. The Earth began to shake beneath me and I heard the familiar growls of the untold horrors that inhabited the Hellmouth.

Suddenly the sky darkened to a deeper shade of red ... the color of blood. Rain began falling on my face in violent droplets ... blinding me ... choking me. The louder the chanting became the harder the wind blew. I opened my eyes slowly and saw Methos standing over me holding the Orb high in the sky. Bolts of lightning were shooting out of the Orb and I felt has my heart twisted inside of me. Suddenly a ray of green light hit Methos in the chest and the Orb dropped to the floor chattering in a thousand pieces. Almost instantly I felt a wave of power overcome my body

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We arrived at the ruins of our old highschool just in time. They had Willow tied down to some sort of altar looking thing. She was moving around and the sight of that alone made me breathe a huge sigh of relief. Part of me was afraid she was dead...but I never allowed the thought to completely invade me. Suddenly the sky darkened and violent winds began blowing all around us. The Earth began to shake and several huge cracks appeared spreading out from beneath the altar. The cracks formed like a sort of spider web formation with Willow tied helplessly at the center. The first demon to crawl up from beneath the ground was a slimy green looking one. He had teeth all around the outside of his skull and once out, let out a loud terrifying growl. I turned and looked at Xander and Faith whom were crouched behind me in the bushes. We were in position. Across the stretch of the ruins Tara, Hope, and Anya prepared for their own attack.

�Buffy...am I seeing things or does that look like...?� Xander began to ask.

�Giles! Yes. I saw him too.� I responded. �Look Xander. When all this goes down I want you to go straight for Giles. I don�t know what he�s doing there so be careful. Don�t hurt him...just keep him away from us and out of harms way. Faith and I will do the rest.� I finished.

�Who�s the other guy?� Xander asked.

�Hey you.� Faith responded sourly.

�Huh?� Xander and I asked in unison.

�My watcher... real dickhead.� She explained. I turned to her and asked, �Are you ready?�

�As ever.� Faith confirmed. Turning again to watch the scene unfolding before us I saw Hope, Tara, and Anya mustering strength to strike down Methos. Although Tara and Anya had limited powers, what little strength they had would give Hope the edge she needed over her other half...her equal. Willow was screaming and twisting and turning under the shackles that held her down. Without warning it began to rain ... hard rain ... the type that felt like thousands of needles pricking your skin. The harder it rained the harder it was getting to see Willow. Methos was standing proud over her, holding the glowing red ball over his head.

Several other demons had already crawled out of the Earth and I was beginning to get nervous. Suddenly a charge of energy shot out from the combined efforts of Hope, Tara and Anya hitting Methos square in the chest. He was knocked off his feet and the Orb came crashing down. As it shattered into pieces a red mist made its way to Willow. Her body stiffened and she screamed with all her might. What came next was nothing short of chaos.

Almost instantly Amy charged in the direction of Hope and Tara. They began battling each other. Hope stepped in front of Tara to bare the front of the attack. She was protecting her just as Tara had protected me earlier.

�B... come-on, it�s time to move like we got a purpose.� Faith urged. We stepped out from behind the bushes, Faith and I both sporting large swords. I was carrying the one I had used so many years ago to kill Angel. We walked through the ruins slicing our swords through the air ... demon blood splattering all over us. I looked towards where Willow was. Xander had done just as I asked. He had effectively knocked out both Giles and Dickhead, as Faith had so eloquently referred to him. Then I saw something that caught my eye. The entire altar that Willow had been tied to was floating in the air, slowly moving higher and higher. A bright red glow engulfed it and Methos was covering his eyes on the floor beneath it. Out of nowhere the altar exploded in. The force of the explosion was so strong that we all fell over. I felt as my body crashed hard against the ground behind me. A few seconds later I opened my eyes to see Willow ... standing strong before Methos. Her entire body engulfed in a glow and her red hair flowing in the wind and rain.

�Get up Methos.� Her voice thundered.

Methos stood slowly with a smug expression on his face. His gaze was truly evil. �Do you remember when I said you had the power to strike me down twice over?� He asked with his own voice echoing power.

�I lied!� He finished and with that let out a scream that created a vortex of wind that shot straight out at Willow. Her body flew across the air and landed in a pile of rubble.

�I tried. I tried to save you. I tried to give you the world. Power beyond your wildest imagination. Strength! Riches! Fame! Instead....you spat in my face like the low grade little bitch that you are!� Methos growled evilly. He clapped his hands over his head and lightning thundered through the skies.

�Years!!! Centuries!!! I�ve been mastering my power for centuries you idiot!! You will never defeat me!!!� He screamed. Willow stood from within the rubble. Her mouth was bloody and her hair was disheveled but her eyes were red with rage.

�Did you just call me a bitch?� Willow asked. She waved her hands at a pile of rubble that was near Methos and in one fail swoop he was buried. She turned to me proudly dusting off her hands but before she had a chance to speak a grumbling sound was heard from beneath the rubble. Like popcorn exploding out of an uncovered pan, rocks and stones began flying all over the place. In a matter of seconds Methos was standing again with a mighty angry look on his face.

�Perhaps the gravity of the situation has not hit you yet.....but it soon will.� He growled and one by one rocks the size of basketballs began shooting towards Willow one after the other. She muttered something and was instantly protected within a glowing blow sphere... each rock effectively bouncing off. Her shield was losing force and she was kneeling weakly within it. I began to run towards Methos and with a wave of his hand he sent me flying. My body exploded in pain as I landed against a nearby tree.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

We stood about twenty feet away from the altar. Willow had just been returned her strength and was battling Methos, but we were running short of time.

�So it�s come to this! It�s really quite poetic.� Rack screamed over the sound of the wind blowing. He and Amy were standing a few feet away from Tara, Anya and I.

�It doesn�t have to � you know what we must do! You know that this is wrong.� I said. Both Tara and Amy seemed confused.

�Do you know this chic?� Amy asked Rack with a hint of disgust.

�Amy?� Tara screamed as she extended her arms out with palms up � magic crackling at her fingertips. �What was it we were discussing about underestimation?� She asked in an innocent voice.

Amy growled and a huge fireball flew out of her mouth in Tara�s direction.

�Reverso!� I muttered waving my hand in the air. The fire ball that had been hurdling in Tara�s direction stopped in mid-air and returned to Amy with force. Before she had a chance to move the fireball consumed her.

�Nooooo!� Rack�s voice thundered at the sight of what had happened. He looked at me with his eyes filled with rage. �Nooooooo!�

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

�Are we getting tired?� Methos asked Willow sarcastically. She could only grunt as she used all her strength to hold the shield. Methos increased the rate of boulders he was steering her way until finally one broke her shield and slammed against her stomach. Her body was crushed between the wall barely standing behind her and the boulder Methos threw her way.

�Now ... you will learn what pain is.� He hissed triumphantly. A barrier of green light appeared all around them as Methos raised his hand high and sliced his fingers nails through the air. Willow screamed in agony as bloody gashes appeared on her left cheek. I looked around for help. Faith and Xander were fighting demons. Hope and Tara were trying to save Amy. I got up and ran towards Willow again until I hit the invisible wall Methos had erected. I fell back from the sheer force of the collision and as I was struggling to get up again Hope appeared next to me.

�It�s time little one.� She said.

�Amy?� I asked.

�She�s dead. Rack escaped into the bushes. Tara and Anya are looking for him.� She explained.

�Help me. I have to save Willow.� I urged.

�There is only one way to save her now.� She explained. I looked at her confused and noticed that she had tears in her eyes. �You must kill me.� She finished.

�What? No! You have to help me. Help me stop him. Help me save her.� I pleaded.

�I can�t! I can�t hurt him. I can�t fight him. Why do you suppose I�ve been hiding for so many years?� She asked while helping me up. I looked over her shoulder and Methos was really beating Willow hard.

�Hope! Get out of the way. I don�t have time. I need to save Willow!� I screamed.

�STOP!� She said grabbing my shoulders harshly. �You�re not listening. The only way you�ll save her now is killing me. I�d hoped it wouldn�t come to this � but it did. Methos and I are one. It�s what you�re supposed to do. It�s your destiny.� She finished breathless.

�What? I ... I don�t understand.� I said confused.

�Methos foresaw his death at the hands of one of the Children of the Earth. When Willow appeared he figured it would be her. He figured only another Sorceress would ever stand a chance to overpower him. But I knew the truth ... I knew it would be you all along!� She explained. My world was spinning out of control and I was emotionally exhausted. The wind was blowing hard and the rain was blinding me. The only thing I could hear was Willow�s cries for help. She was in danger, I couldn�t get near her, and Hope was asking me to...

�What are you asking me to do?� I finally asked.

�Death is your gift. I need you to end this.� She said.

�I will. As soon as we stop Methos this will all be over.� I concluded.

�You cannot stop him. He will never allow you to get close to him. Willow doesn�t have much time left. You must do this. Once I die so will Methos. Why do you suppose he didn�t have me killed centuries ago? Because my death would mean his own. Just as Willow�s death would mean your own as well...and vice versa. It�s the price you pay once you are One.� I looked into her eyes and couldn�t believe what she was telling me. How could she expect me to do this?

�You must! The fate of the World depends on it. In a few minutes Methos will use Willow�s power to open the Hellmouth. Once he opens it Willow will be dead and so will you. There is no other way.�

�I can�t do it Hope. I can�t ...� I began to protest and Hope interrupted.

�Please,� she begged softly, �please ... I�m so tired. I�m so very tired. There is no hope for him. I can see it. I can�t live another day knowing that he is a part of me. Please.� She pleaded. I looked over her shoulder once again. Methos had placed his hand on Willow�s head. His head was flung back and he was laughing evilly. I looked back at Hope again and she nodded softly.

�Death is your gift little one ... please?� She pleaded once more. I took a deep breath and gripped the handle of my sword with both hands. With one swift jab I ran the sword through Hope�s stomach. Her eyes popped open in pain as she gasped and stumbled backwards onto some nearby rubble.

�Hope? Hope? I�m sorry. I�m sorry.� I repeated softly as I ran to her side. Her eyes shined a blinding light and I felt the energy coursing through her body as I held her. I looked up to see that the barrier Methos had created disappear suddenly. He had released Willow and was stumbling back slowly just as Hope had done a few seconds ago with a confused look on his face. The rain fell harder and the wind was hollering loudly as if the sky was grieving the inevitable loss of a great Sorceress.

�Don�t make the same mistakes I made little one. Don�t make the same mistakes.� Hope pleaded softly until her eyes finally closed. And then ... almost as if a switch had been flipped ... everything stopped. There was only quiet. The wind and rain ceased. The demons that Faith and Xander so valiantly had been fighting disappeared. The sky that had turned the color of blood quickly returned to its beautiful shade of light blue. I looked around confused...assessing everything that had changed and when I looked back down, Hope�s body had disappeared as well.

I made my way towards Willow. Running and jumping over piles of rubble and garbage. When I reached her, her eyes were closed and her clothes were bloody and torn. We had been through such an ordeal these last few days. I almost lost her. I almost lost her. Then out of the blue I remembered what Hope had said ... the price we pay ... the consequences of our actions. And it occurred to me that I will never lose her. Ever.

I laid my body over Willow�s and closed my eyes as fresh tears squeezed out. I held her tightly to me willing her to be well. Wishing her to wake up. To smile at me. I missed her smile so much. I missed the sound of her voice. I missed her eyes. I missed everything about her that made my heart sing... and just as I was having these thoughts a surge of energy coursed through me. I felt my body shake and become weak. When I opened my eyes again...there she was...my Willow. Her flawless face, glowing green eyes, and cascading red hair.

�You healed me.� She whispered softly as she smiled.

�You scared the shit out of me!� I said back.

�Sheesh... ok...I�m gonna close my eyes we can try this all over again.� She countered as she rolled her eyes in the cutest way. My heart skipped a beat as I laid my body back on top of her. I could feel her heart beating strong and I was never letting her go again.

�I love you so much.� I whispered sadly remembering Hope�s last words to me.

�I know.� She whispered back.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I heard as Willow made her way up the stairs of the house and down the hall. Every step bringing her closer to our bedroom where I�d been hibernating for the last three days. Willow was beginning to get really concerned already ... I could tell.

�Baby�you�ve been in bed all day again.� She said softly as she made her way into the room. I didn�t answer. I just lay still with the covers over my head. I didn�t feel like talking about it anymore.

�Buffy? Buffy? You have to get up to eat at least. Strong Slayers need their Wheaties.� I didn�t need to see her face to know that she was half smiling. She always half smiled when she was trying to be funny. But it wasn�t gonna to work this time. I didn�t feel like moving�.ever.

�Alright alright�.if you�re not getting out of bed that means I�m gonna have to get into bed. I don�t wanna, but you�re making me. If cuddling is what it�ll take then cuddling is what you�ll get.� I heard as her t-shirt sliced through the air and hit the floor, followed by the clunk of her left shoe, and then thump of her right. I stayed still as she made her way around the bed humming softly as she moved. She�d been humming since she got up this morning. I was listening to her around the house.

I followed the sound of her humming with my senses until she was on the other side of the bed and that�s when I heard her zipper�she was taking off her pants. I felt a soft breeze of cool air hug my back as she lifted the covers and climbed in next to me. Once in bed the warmth of her body was electrifying. She wrapped her arm around my waist and pulled me towards her spooning me softly. I felt as her nose found my right ear and caressed it. I loved her caresses.

�What�s wrong Baby? Why won�t you get out of bed?� She whispered into my ear.

�Don�t wanna.� I groaned under my breath.

�You�ve been in bed for three days straight�.doesn�t your butt hurt already?� She asked while she squeezed me softly.

�No. It doesn�t. Now leave me alone.� I said with a baby pout. It did hurt. But I wasn�t getting out of bed yet.

�Come on � Giles and Faith have been waiting to play with you all day.� She said softly and I grunted in response.

�Staying in bed is not going to change what happened. Nobody blames you Buffy. You did what you had to. Hope would have been proud. It�s what she wanted.� She turned my body slowly until we were facing each other. She looked worried. �It was your destiny. Hope said so herself � remember?� She finished as she ran her fingers through my hair.

I nodded softly as warm tears ran down my face. �Why is everything always so hard for us Willow?� I managed to say between whimpers.

�That�s where you�re wrong. It�s not just us. Everyone has it hard. It�s called life. Struggling is part of living. Granted, our struggle might be a little different than other people�s but I�m certain that as long as we are together it will all be worth it.� Willow finished with her eyes glossy with tears.

�I love you.� I whispered and laid my head on her chest. I felt as her chest expanded and contracted when she breathed. Her heart was beating softly and I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply, eagerly inhaling her scent. Everything about her was wonderful. Even her smell.

�What else is wrong?� She asked softly as she stroked my hair.

�Huh?� I couldn�t hide from her�she knew me too well.

�What are you thinking?� She persisted. I thought about the response for a few seconds. Trying to find the best way to word it.

�I�ve been laying here for days trying to remember a time when you weren�t part of my life. I can�t. I can�t remember my life before you. And now, knowing that I�ll never have too. That I�ll never have to face a day without you. That your last day will, thankfully, be mine as well. Well� I just find that comforting beyond words.� I finished softly.

Willow looked at me steady for a few seconds. Her eyes were overflowing with love. �You�re so beautiful Buffy.� I felt my body weaken and my heart flutter as the words graced my ears. She finally said it.

�You finally said it Will. No more sexy word games?� I asked with an embarrassed smile.

�Oh come on Buffy. By now you should know that�s the first I think of every single time I look at you.� She ran her hand over my left cheek caressing it softly and repeated her confession for emphasis �Every single time.� She guided my head with her hand and laid it on her chest once more. Our hearts were beating in unison�as if they were one. That�s when I heard her soft humming again. Curiosity was getting the best of me.

�What are you humming?� I asked.

�What?� She responded.

�You�ve been humming all morning�super hearing remember?� I said in a nasal tone. I couldn�t help it I�d been crying. I always get nasal when I cry.

�Oh. That. I heard the remix of an old song I like. The lyrics kind of remind me of you and I�ve been humming it all day.� She conceded.

�Oh really? Sing it to me.� I requested.

�What? Are you nuts? I can�t sing. I don�t sing�remember? Not even Sweets got me to sing a solo�� She was about to go into one of her nervous rants and I stopped her with a finger to her lips�just like she does to me.

�Please Willow? For me? It will make me feel better. Plus� I want to hear these lyrics you say remind you of me.� I pleaded softly while running my fingernails over her bare stomach.

�Errrggggggg�. I can�t!� She groaned and I felt as her heart beat quickened. Maybe I was being too pushy.

�Ok ok�don�t wig out on me. We can just continue laying here�in silence.� I finished pointedly as I rested my head next to hers this time� on her shoulder. I felt as her nervousness continued. Her heart was beating a mile a minute so I began stroking my fingernails over her stomach to soothe her. After a few minutes her breathing was almost back to normal and that�s when I heard her begin singing softly in my ear.

�Oh thinking about our younger years
There was only you and me
We were young and wild and free
Now nothing can take you away from me
We've been down that road before
But that's over now
You keep me coming back for more�

She paused for a moment and took a breath. Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper, and it was sweet and beautiful. I can�t understand why she�d never sing out loud. She should sing every word that comes out of her mouth.

�Baby you're all that I want
When you're lying here in my arms
I'm finding it hard to believe
We're in heaven
Love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven�

She paused again and I felt as if her heart was going to explode. I lifted my head slowly to face her. I needed to see her eyes, her skin, her face� I needed to see her. Her eyes were closed tightly. I lowered my head and kissed her chest right above her heart. When I looked up at caught her smiling at me. She took my face into her hands and continued singing to me softly.

�Oh once in your life you find someone
Who will turn your world around
Bring you up when you're feeling down
Now nothing could change what you mean to me
Oh there's alot that I could say
But just hold me now
Cause our love will light the way�

She pulled my face towards hers until we kissed. I felt her lips quiver against mine. I loved her so much it hurt. She was my everything�my world. We stopped kissing for a moment, she rested her forehead on mine, and continued singing softly into my mouth.

�Now our dreams are coming true
Through the good times and the bad
I�ll be standing there by you
Baby you're all that I want
When you're lying here in my arms
I'm finding it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven�

I melted. It was official. The sound of her voice was the most beautiful sound in the whole world. This moment was absolutely perfect. The warmth of her body. The feel of her skin. The smell of her hair. Everything. Everything was perfect.

�Willow?� I asked softly.

�Yes Buffy?� She responded.

�Anywhere but here?� It was a game we used to play back in highschool. I don�t know what possessed me to ask her now�I just know that I did. I needed to hear her answer.

Willow smiled broadly at the question. She wrapped her arms around and squeezed. Her grip was tight and I felt like she didn�t want to let go.

�Nowhere but here Buffy. Nowhere but here.�

The End�. Oh Come On�. Did you really think I�d end it?

EPILOGUE

The sewers were dark and musty. This was not what was supposed to be happening. I am not supposed to be here. I am Rack�son of the Children of the Moon. I was meant for bigger�better things. There were prophecies written about me. Yet � here I am � hiding in the caves and sewers underneath Sunnydale.

�Hostile 2� did you scope out the parameters?� I asked.

�Yes Sir. The parameters are clear.� Hostile 2 responded.

�Hostiles 12 and 15�you take the watch for the night. I want these sewers secure. We don�t want those Slayers meddling where they don�t belong.� I instructed.

�Yes Sir.� Hostiles 12 and 15 responded in unison.

�Ahh � Hostile 17�we meet again. That whole vengeance thing didn�t work out for you � did it?� I said as I turned to the Vampire in question. This one has been out of my control for a while. He is less docile.

�You�re the one that removed my chip.� Hostile 17 stated.

�No � sorry dude� I simply modified it � like I did to all of your friends here.� I said motioning towards the rest of the demon troops.

�What do you want from me mate?� Hostile 17 growled harshly.

�Take it easy there Sparky. You�ll do whatever I ask! If it wasn�t for me you�d be kissing daylight. Besides�I can always make you do it.� I threatened while extending my arm out to him. Hostile 17 doubled over in pain holding his head.

�Ahhhhh ahhhhhhh!� He bellowed and I smiled broadly. A few minutes after his pain had subsided he looked at me evilly.

�So�I take it you were responsible for the cardboard G. I. Joes that were prancing around here a few years ago.� He stated.

�My father had The Council ... I had The Initiative. Dad was right after all� my approach was too aggressive. It didn�t last very long but it sure as hell packed a punch.� I said with a chuckle.

�Yeah � they did.� He said sourly. �So�what are we going to do now?� He finished.

�We, my dear vicious friend, are going to turn to plan B. They don�t know who they messed with. I want what is rightfully mine. I want��the World! But first things first �� I said as I turned to him �You need to find me an Urn of Osiris � I need to bring my girl back. Then we can start this party.�

�Where do I get that?� Hostile 17 asked sarcastically.

�I don�t care if you have to go to Egypt yourself. Just get it! I�m going to be a lot stronger next time around.� I finished.

To be continued in book two�. �The Chosen Ones�

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