Oh God Oh God We're All Gonna Die?

Trying to catch my breath I curled up next to Buffy in our bed. "Ok, what time is it anyway?" We'd gotten sort of sidetracked after she came home. Which was sort of typical for us, but we'd been extra into it tonight. Ever since Angel showed up at Solvei's party we've been screwing like rabbits according to Xander. I couldn't help but kick his shin for it, my way of remembering Anya.

"Wow." Sat up far enough to see the clock on the nightstand before collapsing back onto the mattress and the slayer. "Maybe the clock is running fast." Tugged on the sheet getting a grunt from her. If she was actually worn out then the clock wasn't fast. Felt a tickle in my nose and turned away sneezing. Sneezed twice again and reached for a tissue box.

Started to sneeze for a fourth time and was about to swear to Hecate when I felt a tingle race down my spine and the bedroom disappeared. "What the Goddess?" Looking around I found myself in Arashmahar. "D'Hoffryn?"

"Yes child, it is your master. I've called you. The time for you to fulfill your end of our contract is at hand." He appeared in front of me, a pair of his slaves standing behind him chanting. He always had loved his chanting according to Anya.

"My end? I thought you owed Cordelia a favor?"

"Yes, I did. However she sacrificed herself. And you relied upon my power to bring you and your friends to another plane. If you wish for them to remain here, I will require certain services from you."

"V-v-engence services?" My mouth was suddenly dry. I couldn't hurt people, I just wouldn't. Attempting to stand my ground I folded my arms across my chest. Right now I didn't care about being naked in a demon dimension. "Your blackmailing me."

"Am I? Did you not think there would be a cost for your friends lives? Do you wish your lover to be dead once more?" There it was. The one threat that made me want to retch. "Come child, you must answer the call of vengeance. It is your choice when and how wishes are to be granted. Embrace your power and you will see we are not evil beings, merely judges of humanity."

He snapped his fingers and I had clothes on, we were also in someone's apartment. "What?"

"Just watch child."

Standing in the middle of a cramped living room between the door and a stained couch I heard the fight in another room. Insults flung back and forth in the air. Then the sound of a crash and a door slamming.

"Get back here you bitch!" The woman ran for the door, toward us as though we were invisible. A chair followed after her, flying through the air and hitting her back, knocking her down. He caught her, and the beating began. As much as I wanted to look away I couldn't. Quietly I heard her whisper for help. She wished he would go to hell.

"Grant it." D'Hoffryn nudged me and I stared at him, shaking my head no. I couldn't move my lips, if I said anything...

"Does he not deserve it? You know he does Tara, how many times did you see this as a child? Deliver vengeance, it is your calling."

"I won't....its not the same..." Goddess, what have I become? It was the same. "Granted. Grantedgrantedgrantedgr-" A power surged through me and the man screamed, his body exploding into a mist that evaporated in a flash.

"An excellent beginning Tara." He smiled and clapped his hands together. Disappearing. A cold tingle went through me and I was back in the hotel, in my bedroom. But Buffy wasn't here anymore.

"Buffy!"

Never thought that sex would tire me out as much as it did. Tara and I had been going at it for hours. It was almost like we were a drug for one another and we needed each other kinda like we needed to breathe. We would sleep for a little while have something to eat and drink to sustain one another and then go back at it. We'd even talked about how we should go out and do something but neither one of us was willing to give up... until I fell asleep.

It was odd that I had fallen asleep before her. Then when I woke up, I discovered that she had already gotten up. Checking the clock it said that it was half past six... pm. Something just wasn't right. Getting out of bed I felt like someone had slipped me some roofies. I felt that completely groggy. If it was any worse I was sure I'd have a strange craving for beer and lighting fires again. That would not be good.

Walking into our living room area I didn't see Tara. Checked the bathroom and it was empty. She wasn't in the kitchen either. Went back into the bedroom and through on some clothes as quick as I could. Somehow, I just felt like something was wrong. Maybe she just got up to go talk to Xander or something? Or maybe she needed something from the big kitchen downstairs? We hadn't been grocery shopping in a while. Padded down the stairs, I looked everywhere. First the lobby, then the courtyard, went to the basement, then I backtracked and checked the ballroom even.

Officially panicking now I ran back upstairs. If she was going to go out she would've told me. Or she would have left a note. Before I knocked on Xander's room I decided to go back to our room to see if somehow I missed a note. Looked on the bedside table on my side by the alarm clock, not there. Looked on the kitchen counter and on the refrig, nope.

Ran out of our room and down a flight to Xander's room. I started knocking fractically, resisting the urge to break it down. The door opened, "Woah woah, Buff. Something dire? If there's another Terminator in the hotel I think I'll ignore it and turn on some porn." He left the door open for me to come in.

I wasn't in the mood for jokes right now. "Tara's missing."

He turned around and gave me a "what" look. "What do you mean... missing?"

"I fell asleep and when I woke up she wasn't there. I've checked everywhere."

Xander kind of sighed and rolled his eye at me. "She probably went out for a little bit. Y'know? Catch some air that isn't thick with the smell of sweet lesbian lovin'?"

If he wasn't trying to make me feel better I so would punch him right now.

"She didn't leave a note. She always leaves a note."

Then he looked worried for probably less than half of a second, and then gave me a look like 'what do you want me to do about it'? He decided not to voice what he was thinking obviously. "I'll help you look. Maybe she just got an urge for playing hide-and-go-seek?"

Shaking my head I said, "I don't think so."

He stood up from the chair that he was sitting on and we left the room. "Let's check your room."

I thought that was the stupidest idea ever since I had already checked it top to bottom twice but I didn't say anything. We went up the flight of stairs and to our room in silence.

Threw open the door and walked inside and said, "She's not here Xander! I've checked twice!" He walked inside and that was when I heard Tara scream my name.

Running into our bedroom, since that's where I heard her voice come from. Xander was on my heels obviously alarmed with her tone as much as I had been. Threw open the door and there she was, naked on the bed, like she had never left.

"Oh! Buffy!" Xander turned his back and was heading back out towards the door. "Y'know? If you wanted a third in your sexcapades all you had to do was ask. Not that I'd agree, but you didn't have to make up some story like Tara being missing."

I wasn't really listening to Xander at this point I ran to the bed and gathered Tara into my arms. "Where did you go? I was so worried."

Looked up seeing Ava reflected next to me. Well next to where I should be. Pretty thing she was, all the curves in the right places, legs just long enough to be about perfect. Wasn't too sure about myself at the moment though. Brought the girl out to Sin City, saw the lights and went to our hotel for a shag. Figured we'd spend some time in the 'cuzzi and get out with pruney fingers and even more shriveled up bits. Funny thing happened though, she sat on my cock and I went softer then ice cream on a sunny day.

Wasn't anything ever happened to me before.

Told her just as much, a few times. Told me it was okay and said all the right things. Still saw the disappointment in her eyes though. Thought maybe I needed a nip of blood but that didn't do a bit of good. She was tired from the drive and changed into a robe, she was merrily sleeping away like nothing had happened. Which, I wager nothing had actually happened.

Maybe it was the hot tub that did me in? Right, blame the water that's a winning idea there. Couldn't sleep, not in the middle of the night like her. Shoved off the bed, flipping my imaginary reflection off before getting dressed. Knew I'd be back before four when she woke up so I grabbed my room key and let myself out. Walked the strip, dodging the porn peddlers and the drunk tourists looking for something that'd get me in trouble.

Stepped off the main walk of the strip, ending up in a more seedy neighborhood. Prostitutes I wouldn't touch with Angel's pole yelled at me, prices were close enough to nothing they weren't worth stopping to ogle. Spotted a titty bar advertising cheap beer and the best poon in town. Ducked in and found the beer was cheap and the pussy wasn't anywhere near the best. Win some lose some I guess.

Figured the problem might not be the poon, since Ava's was the only one I could think about. Problem was me. Maybe I was getting old? "Vampire." Bloke sat down on a stool next to me, staring at the girl on the pole in front of us. Sniffed and did a double take.

"Demon."

"You have some of my property. I want it back."

"Direct ain't ya? At least get me a drink before you try and fuck me."

It laughed, taking its sunglasses off. Balls, it was one of those demons. "Avamalanna Estanada Bashlik is mine. You have taken her. Therefore I have taken something of yours halfbreed." Wanker leaned over and patted me on the balls to make his point.

Responded by taking my beer mug and smashing his nose into his face. Met a lot of demons in my day, wasn't a one I couldn't go toe to toe with. Heard a growl and got tackled, growled back and we took out a row of tables and chairs. Strippers were running around screaming and the whole place turned into a riot.

Somehow he slipped away and I got tossed by a pair of bouncers. Heard him laughing when I landed on the sidewalk but the bastard was gone. Knew he'd be back, still had what he wanted after all. Checked my watch and swore, turning back to the casino. Ava'd be up soon. Had to tell her we needed to go. Her demon was here and I knew he wanted her back.