THE WITCH RETURNS
PART ONE: THE BEGINNING
"Slayer, duck!" Spike shouted, his attention divided between her and the two vampires he was presently fighting. A furious growl followed his warning when he saw a pair of undead arms latch themselves around her waist, attempting to hold her steady, while another creature of the night prepared to pummel her.

Spike dodged a flying fist and kicked one of his legs out, bringing a foe to the ground. His arm arced downward, burying a stake into the monster's chest. An instant later, he was in hand-to-hand combat with the remaining demon. He easily avoided every attack and, after a blur of movements, captured his enemy's neck and twisted until there was a loud snap. He maintained hold of the lax body while thrusting a stake into its un-beating heart.

He wasted no time basking in victory, already rushing across the graveyard to Buffy. Spike barreled forward, throwing his entire body at one of her attackers. With the relief, she let her leg do a 180-degree kick, meeting the face of the monster that held her imprisoned. It stumbled in surprise and weakened under an array of blows to the mid-section.

Soon, only two remained - one breathing heavily and one not breathing at all. The slayer and her vampire. One-time enemies. Reluctant allies. Irascible lovers. And, at last, steadfast friends.

Buffy pouted. "I had everything under control."

Spike was skeptical. "Right. Under control if you wanted to be on tonight's menu."

"You mean I'm not on tonight's menu?" Her eyes twinkled with a seductive glint. "And here I thought you were starved for me."

Putting their wooden weapons away, the couple joined hands and walked. If anyone had seen them, it would have seemed they were doing nothing more than taking a midnight stroll albeit, oddly, in a cemetery. The danger that radiated from them had dissipated, leaving the duo of death with the simple guise of young people in love.

"Oh, believe you me, I'm famished. Ravenous in fact. Wait 'til we get home."

"Is that a threat or a promise?"

"That's reality, love. Plus, I wanna see if you like how I remodeled the crypt after your and fishboy's visit."

Buffy ignored the egg mishap reference and, instead, sighed wistfully. "In this reality, will I be getting a rubdown? I think we fought one too many baddies this evening. Every muscle in my body aches."

"I'll take care of all the muscles in your body, pet," Spike grinned, dragged her hand to his groin and suggestively added, "including mine."

"Pig," she teased.

A whoop of laughter came from Buffy when he abruptly grabbed, tossed her over his shoulder and sprinted through the night with his prize.

"Oink, oink."

* * *
The witch used the passionate cries emanating from the lower level of the crypt to her advantage. She assumed it meant Buffy and Spike were so wrapped up in their lovemaking that they would not notice she was there.

She sprinkled a combination of damiana herbs, dragon's blood and royal amber on the mausoleum floor. Standing amidst it, she quietly intoned, "Goddess Ishtar, grant my request; Goddess Aphrodite, hear my plea -- Open the floodgates of desire in the woman for whom his heart conspires; let her feel the heat, oh Goddess, of my body warm and sweet."

A snapshot of Spike, from the previous day, was set afire. It had been taken during a premature victory celebration, much to his irritation. Not that it was an enjoyable celebration since Xander was too busy moping because of Anya's re-demonization and disappearance, the slayer and vampire did not stop making mooneyes at one another, Dawn sat sullenly on the sofa when no one would listen to her inane chatter, and Tara was hospitalized due to her injuries.

When the polaroid was nothing but charred remains, she moved to the exit.

"That should keep them out of my hair," she chortled to herself. "Or, should I say, Willow's hair?" She liked this body and was planning on keeping it for a while.

Catherine's steps slowed when she caught sight of a small, strange rock laying amongst the tomb's clutter. She retrieved and inspected it. "Interesting."

When the activity below quieted, she dared not linger. Brushing a stray red lock from her face, she fled.

* * *
"Did you hear something?" Spike tilted his head to the side and tried to concentrate.

His efforts were to little avail because Buffy promptly dragged him back to her.

They re-entered a world of pleasure where only each other existed.

PART TWO: CURIOUS DAWN
The house was quiet. Too quiet.

"Not a creature was stirring..." Dawn mumbled to herself as she loped down the stairs. Was it just a year ago that she had been the center of everyone's world? Never having a moment's peace? Funny how things change from one extreme to the next.

She speculated on what to fix for breakfast as she headed to the kitchen. Definitely not tortillas and peanut butter - been there, done that. Entering the cheerily decorated room, her steps faltered when she caught sight of Willow leafing through a rather large volume.

"Hey," she greeted. The salutation was not returned. Big shock there, she thought with no small amount of sarcasm. Since the Witch-Finder/Catherine/Scooby confrontation a week earlier she had been acting downright eerie. The usually chipper redhead was on hiatus, leaving mondo-bitch-girl in her stead.

Clearing her throat, she sat and tried again, "Watcha' doin'?"

A muffled reply of "nothing" and negative shake of the head were received for her efforts.

Dawn watched her continue to read. In desperation for some type of social interaction, she picked up a glossy stone lying on the table and cradled it in her hand. "Pretty. Is it magical? Will it make me sprout two heads or anything?"

When Willow looked up, she had to bite back a Spike-like smirk. Aha, got her now.

The supposed ex-witch snatched the rock from her hand, unable to conceal the annoyance she felt. "Don't be silly. It merely makes you outspoken and horny."

The teenager lifted an inquiring brow. In all their years of knowing one another, this is the first time she had used a word like "horny" in her presence. The Dawn's-too-young rule applied for conversations such as that. She briefly wondered when they were going to figure out she was way past the puberty stage.

Feeling she was making progress, the younger ventured on, "You think this is why Buffy and Spike have been all bumpy and grindy in the pelvic region lately?"

"No. You have to have the stone on your person for its powers to take effect. Whatever is happening with them is perfectly natural."

Okay, something absolutely wiggy was going on here. No admonishment for talking about bumping and grinding? Dawn decided to pursue the topic by giving an unladylike snort. "There isn't anything natural about Buffy and Spike getting it on. She was threatening to stake him not two weeks ago. Remember?"

The book Willow had been reading was plopped in front of her. "Here it is, if you don't believe me. It's called Quirinus and is completely harmless. She's the one getting staked now and without any supernatural incentive."

Dawn's eyes widened in surprise at the crudity and she blurted out, "Hey, impressionable minor here! Plus, that's my sister! I do not want to hear about her and the big bad's sexual exploits. Especially stakage!"

Willow shrugged. "You started it."

"Be-because," she sputtered, "I thought you would stop me!"

"Why? You're old enough to know about the birds and the bees. What are you, 16... 17? I'm sure you've made out, maybe more."

"One time! I made out one time! And, if you recall, Buffy and Spike haven't let me live it down since! I can't even go to the Bronze without being tailed."

When no response was forthcoming, Dawn tried a different approach. "What do you think Xander is going to say about Buffy and Spike being together?"

Willow was confused. "Why would it matter what he thinks?"

That ridiculous statement received an eye-roll. "Because Xander will make all our lives H-E-double-hockey-sticks once he knows they're... er, dating."

"He never comes out of his apartment anyway. No biggie."

"You know that's only because of Anya," Dawn rejoined. What was up with Willow? Several different questions began to raffle their way through her mind: Since when doesn't she know my age? Since when doesn't she care that Xander has become a hermit? Since when doesn't she butt into Buffy's life? And, most of all, since when did she start playing around with magical rocks and reading magic books again?

Something was definitely amiss.

Testing her theory, the brunette quizzed, "How is Tara? You check in on her yet? I called when she was released from the hospital a few days ago and she said you hadn't visited."

"Ummm, I haven't talked to her. Should I?"

She was getting a major bad vibe now.

"Well, uh... yeah. She is, like, the woman you're totally in love with."

"Oh," Willow blinked. Dawn noted her sudden paleness.

"You're busy. I should leave you alone."

"Yeah, you probably should."

Forgetting breakfast, Dawn fled, unable to keep her suspicions in check.

PART THREE: THE LOVERS
Dawn stealthily entered the crypt. A grimace touched her lips as she heard the murmur of Spike's voice and how it, with whatever he had said, elicited a sensual moan from Buffy. Pivoting, she balled a fist and banged loudly on the door. It did not matter that she was already inside, she needed a ploy to get them to take a breather without getting an eyeful herself.

Her sister's protestations were loud and clear, "Spike, no. Come back to bed. I'm sure it's nothing."

"Let me check, pet. I'll be right back."

"No, no, no, no."

It was obvious that there was a clothing struggle going on in the lower level.

"Grrrrrr," Buffy growled in frustration, comparable to any vampire's. Wood groaned as Spike ascended the latter.

When he was visible, Dawn grinned widely. "Busy?"

"Bit, if I wasn't chipped, I'd tan your hide. Somebody had better be dead or damn close."

"Can't a girl miss her family? Sheesh, I haven't seen you two in days and, when I did, it was only because you ran out of food here."

A self-satisfied smile settled itself on his face. "I know how to keep a lady happy."

Buffy chose that moment to join them, wearing nothing but a well-used bed sheet. "He sure does," she concurred, going on tiptoes to lap at his ear with her tongue.

"Ugh. Hello? Doesn't anyone remember that there's a kid present anymore?"

"Go home then. We're doing... grownup things," Buffy countered, temporarily pausing her ministration.

Dawn saw that Spike was already lost due to Buffy's presence. His arms had circled her waist so that she was pressed more fully against him.

"What about work? Have you even called in?"

"Don't need no lousy job. I have Spikey," was the sulky retort.

"Yeah, baby," he said. "You do. I'll take real good care of you." He leered at her to reinforce the double entendre.

Seeing her labors were futile, Dawn moved to exit the mausoleum. At the threshold, she decided to give one last try, "Are you guys patrolling tonight?"

"Nuh-uh," her elder sibling replied. "We've got more important... things... to do here."

"More important than saving innocent lives?"

"Uh-huh."

Her mouth opened to appeal to Spike, then shut. Soulless demon - duh. Like he was going to make Buffy patrol considering the alternative.

"Whatever," Dawn snapped, leaving the new couple to their important things.

Yep, something was definitely amiss.

PART FOUR: SPY GAME
Dawn listened for the front door to shut, confirming her roommate's leaving. After much cajoling, the witch, supposedly former witch, had assented to checking in on Tara. Once this was agreed to, the plan was foolproof - while Willow was visiting her ex-girlfriend, she would execute a thorough search to see if there was any evidence of this past week's strange events.

When the departing click came, she darted from her hiding place to the bedroom that had, at one time, been her mother's. She looked around with a critical eye, noticing nothing out of the norm... except for all the magical supplies, of course. Frowning, she ventured further inside, letting her index finger run over various items of unknown origin. She picked up a small rag doll and studied it at a loss. Dare she guess... voodoo? Way weird.

Replacing it, she went to dresser, opening and shutting drawers. Clothes, clothes and more clothes.

Reaching for the jewelry box sitting atop the oak bureau, she flipped the lid and winced as a dancing ballerina bounced up and began rotating in a circle to "It's A Small World," disrupting the silence. She swiftly moved to close it but paused at the last second, catching sight of a familiar charm and chain. She retrieved her discovery from its holding, letting it dangle in front of her with a hypnotizing sway.

"Okay, what's she doing with this?"

It was the necklace that had been used to trap Amy.

She was not given an opportunity to contemplate any further. A slam of the front door, footsteps running up the staircase and muted cursing interrupted her perusal.

Dawn quickly replaced the piece of jewelry, attempting to mask her snooping. She suddenly understood the deer/headlight analogy all too well.

It was highly unlikely the approaching individual was Buffy considering their brief discussion yesterday. It was even more unlikely that it was Xander since she had not seen him in such a long time. Which only left one person - Willow.

She was back.

Desperately seeking a hiding place, she anxiously examined the bedchamber and only found one location large enough to hold her. Jerking the closet door open, she groaned at all the clutter but was able to force herself within. How clich�. She adjusted her awkward position in an attempt to increase the comfort level.

Not a moment too soon, she sealed herself inside and left the most minimal of cracks so she could observe the comings and goings. Immediately after finding refuge, Willow entered and strode to where the necklace was being kept. The object was removed and stuffed into her purse.

"Can't believe I forgot it," she said with self-directed reproach before exiting again.

Dawn waited several minutes, wanting to discern that she was absolutely alone once more. Finally positive that was the case, she left her safe haven only to stumble. Cramp!

Flumping down on the floor, she gave her leg a stretch and sighed. "Nancy Drew I am not."

It was time to call in one of the big guns.

PART FIVE: THE LOVELORN
"Xander, you have to believe me. Something's up with Willow. You ought to see how peculiar she's behaving."

"When the woman you love leaves you, that's what happens, Dawn," he glumly responded.

"She's doing magic again! And... and... she and Tara were making up! Then, whammo, Willow's not wanting to get together anymore. What's that all about? Huh?"

"Listen," he said, "she wouldn't even do a spell for me to get Anya back. I find it very unlikely that she would be doing it for no reason at all. Now, I don't know about the lesbian love action, okay? I've been a little busy with my own problems, if you can't tell."

"She used magic at the motel, gloomy-gus," Dawn reminded.

"That was necessary. She was saving our hides."

"You aren't going to help me? Is that what you're saying?" She demanded. She fleetingly debated mentioning the Buffy/Spike gropefest going on and opted not to. Nah, he would definitely freak out at hearing that one. She doubted the poor schmoe could take much more.

"The only threat we presently face is having a vengeance demon on the loose. I'm shocked my male parts haven't been infected with all kinds of nasty maladies. You should have been in the room when she wiped the Finder's memory of being a witch hunter. It was a ten on the freak-o-meter. Her skin condition alone was enough to cause me to have an apoplectic fit. The rest was extra."

"Apoplectic fit? Dramatic much?"

"Hey, I slept with the woman. Can you imagine the nightmares I've had since?"

Willow. Buffy. Spike. Now Xander. All the Scoobies had forgotten the Dawn's-too-young rule. She had talked about sex more in the last forty-eight hours than she had her entire adolescent life.

"Totally off the subject now. This isn't about Anya."

"Anyanka," he corrected. "Tormentor of men for a thousand years. Anya's gone."

"She's still Anya," Dawn tried for optimism. "Anya with spooky powers."

"Who in their right mind would give her powers anyway? Stupid amulet," he argued more with himself than her. "I mean, she's afraid of bunnies! It's ridiculous!"

Dawn's eyes widened as an idea hit her. "You're a genius," she screeched, hugged him and rushed out.

"Not smart enough to have saved Anya," he told an empty apartment.
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