Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Buffy characters; besides, I'm too poor to sue.
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Part Three
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Willow’s apartment was stylish, large and airy, with huge windows and shining wood floors. The kitchen and living rooms were connected, giving the place a studio-apartment type of feel, but the two bedrooms were down a small hall, separating the place nicely. Buffy immediately noticed the flat bore a striking resemblance to Spike’s home, with all the wrought iron furniture and a grand piano.
"Were did you get the money for all this, Willow? It must have cost a fortune," Buffy said as Willow struggled with William, trying to get the boy’s coat off while he squirmed.
"What? Oh." She finally won the battle and he made a dash for his toys lying on the floor a few feet away. "When Mom and Dad died, they left me everything. I suppose they had just forgotten to change their will, because they disowned me when I had William. I didn’t expect anything from them. But, with that and the money I make from my job," she nodded in the direction of her computer, "we make ends meet."
"I heard about your parents. I’m sorry." Buffy offered a sympathetic smile.
"Buffy, what do you want? Why did you come here?" Willow was tired of beating around the bush. She walked to the kitchen table and plopped into a chair. Buffy sat down beside her.
Buffy gulped, regretting what she had to her friend. "I know you’ll hate me for this." Instantly Willow tensed up. "I have to take William back to California. Giles and I found a prophecy . . ."
Willow slammed her hands on the table and stood, furious. "I don’t care! You can’t have my son. Your prophecies, your life; they don’t matter to me anymore, Buffy! You’ll never take William from me." William looked up at his mother with frightened eyes. In all his life he had never heard her raise her voice. She glanced at him and nodded her head towards the boy’s room, indicating that he should go there. The child quickly complied, and they were left alone.
"Willow, please," the Slayer pleaded. "Sit down and I’ll explain."
Reluctantly Willow returned to her seat, but she was fuming. "Go on," she hissed through clenched teeth.
"Giles translated some more of the Codex. In it he found a prophecy about . . . you." Buffy pulled a slip of paper out of her stylish purse and handed it to Willow. It was a photocopied entry from the Codex, and it was in Latin. Willow looked at Buffy, confused, until Buffy said, "The translation is written on the back." Sure enough, Giles’ small, precise writing filled the page.
* An unholy bond shall be created
Between a demon and a timid youth.
From this alliance a child shall be borne
To a loved one of the Slayer.
Though the mother shall try to interfere
And do what is right,
This child will bring wrath upon the world
If not put down in time.
For its evil parentage will enable the Anointed
To return in the child’s form. *
Tears slipped down Willow’s face. "How do you know this is about me? There could be someone else . . ." she said, but realized it was useless. This prophecy was about her son. Her beautiful, demonic son.
"I’m so sorry, Willow. I wish it didn’t have to come to this, but there is no one else. You know that." Buffy reclaimed the paper and shoved it into her purse. "Giles thinks the Anointed will try to come back in William. Next week will be the fifth anniversary of the day Spike killed him."
"I didn’t know Spike killed the Anointed One," Willow whispered.
"He did. Soon after he got to Sunnydale."
"Why does William have to go to California?" Willow asked. "Wouldn’t it be better to keep him away from the Hellmouth? If I keep him here the Anointed one won’t be able to get him," she finished softly.
"The Anointed’s spirit could find William anywhere." Buffy’s voice was gentle. "Giles may find a way to stop the possession, but he can’t leave Sunnydale. That’s why I have to take William."
"I’m going, too," Willow said strongly. Buffy looked pained.
"Willow, I don’t think you want to come to Sunnydale. There are people there you might not want to meet up with."
"Angel," Willow hissed. "So that walking corpse is still alive? Are you going to take William to Angel, and let him finish the job he thought was done five years ago? Are you going to let him wipe out any trace Spike left on this earth?"
"Your boy will die if he doesn’t come with me! I never even have contact with Angel now. He’s evil, he lost his soul. But you don’t understand this, Willow. If the Annointed One’s spirit takes over William, he will die. He’ll be evil." Buffy’s voice lowered. "For God’s sake, let me take your child. I can make sure he lives."
"How? If the prophecy said my child will bring wrath upon the world, will bring the Anointed to life, how can you stop it? The Codex has a bad reputation of seeing things through. What did it mean when it said ‘if not put down in time’? Is that simply a subtle way of saying William will die?"
"Do you want me to answer truthfully?" Buffy asked. Willow nodded slowly. "I don’t know. I believe Giles can help. I believe with all my heart that William can be saved."
Willow was beat. It’s not every day one finds out her child may die. But if going to California was her son’s only hope, then so be it. "We’ll go," she said strongly. Buffy shot a surprised look in the redhead’s direction.
"Really?" She hadn’t expected an answer this quickly. "When can you leave?"
"Now, if you want." Buffy broke into a smile, but that expression was wiped from her face when Willow grabbed her hand viscously. "I swear to god, if my child dies, I will kill you. Remember that as you *pretend* to care about his well-being. I won’t have any problem taking your life. Not when my son is at stake." Buffy’s eyes widened in shock, but she nodded solemnly.
"He’ll be safe, Willow." The Slayer trembled under Willow’s piercing gaze. "I swear it."
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