Willow's POV

God that was... I can't believe that just happened. I've seen some horrible things but that... I can't believe Faith would just give up the way she did. I have to do what's right. I have to bring back the one person who can help Faith better than anyone else.

I walk into the kitchen where Tara and Joyce are drinking tea.

They're just as broken up about it as I am.

I walk over and hug Tara, finding momentary comfort in her arms.

"Is she okay?"

I pull away from Tara to face Joyce.

"I think so. I mean, she stopped apologizing about 20 minutes ago. She calmed down after that."

Joyce hands me a cup of tea and I cradle it in my hands as we all sit at the breakfast bar, calming our nerves. Tara is the first to speak.

"Is it? Is it safe to, to leave her up there a-alone?'

I take a sip of my tea before answering.

"I think she's through the worst of it."

"I'm suddenly glad we took all the weapons out of her room last week. She'd have to do something really extreme to hurt herself, and she's in no condition to do much of anything right now."

I take a deep breath.

Okay here goes.

"But there's no telling how long that will last. If Faith wants to bad enough, she could get herself killed, and none of us would be able to stop her."

I take another sip of my tea and look at Tara. She sighs, still shaken up and nods to me.

She knows we have to do this. Tara may not like this plan but she knows it's for the best.

"Joyce, there's something I wanted to talk to you about. I'm not sure if this is the right time with what just happened but..."

"You want to bring Buffy back."

What?

I look at Joyce, who's staring at her tea.

"I... how did...?"

I don't know what to say.

"Giles told me."

"G-Giles?"

She takes a deep breath.

"I called him once just over a month ago to ask what time your meeting ended and he told me there was no meeting that night."

I get it.

"So he investigated?"

"He did. He found out what you were doing... and then he told me."

He should've told us.

"Why didn't he tell us?"

Joyce looks at me for the first time since I brought up the subject.

"Why didn't you tell him?"

She's right.

"I... I don't know. I guess I didn't think he'd understand."

"He might not understand but he's not stupid, and by the way? He understands... for the most part."

"He understands?"

She sips her tea.

"He doesn't like it. You're messing with powerful forces. Forces you may not understand or be able to control. There's no telling what might happen if you don't do everything right, and even if you do there's still no way to know what might happen. I can't say I don't agree with him."

I take a sip of my own tea and stare down into my cup.

"I can control it... at least... I think I can. I know, I know it's not gonna be easy... but I think I can do this. I memorized the incantation. We have almost everything we need. But I won't do it... unless you say it's okay."

She lets out a deep sigh.

"I figured as much."

We fall into a deep uncomfortable silence as Joyce seems to consider everything I've just laid on her.

"Ever since Rupert told me what you were doing, I've thought a lot about it."

"And?"

"Most mothers would jump at a chance like this, a chance to have their daughter back. But my daughter wasn't just anyone, she was a slayer. It took me a long time but I learned to accept that one day I might lose her before she loses me. And I think I've gotten to a place where I can live with the fact that she's gone..."

I guess I have my answer.

"But then I think about Faith and what she's gone through and my heart just breaks for her. She's not getting better, if anything... tonight... proves that she's only gotten worse since losing Buffy."

She takes a sip of her tea and then looks at me.

"Faith has become like a second daughter to me. I see so much of Buffy in her. Maybe it's because they were both slayers, maybe because they were so much in love. All I know is, I care about Faith like she was my daughter, and I can't stand to see her suffer the way she is."

She takes a deep breath.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is... I want my daughters back Willow, both of them. Can you bring them back to me?"

I lean over and pull her into a hug.

"I will. I'll do whatever it takes to bring them back to you."

She whispers to me.

"Thank you."

She pulls back to look at me.

"We'll deal with whatever the consequences are when they happen."

I'm doing the right thing, I know I am.

She looks tired.

"We'll get it done. But you need some sleep, we'll take over watching Faith and I'll talk to the gang tomorrow."

"I don't know if I could sleep tonight."

She takes one last sip of her tea.

"You should at least try."

She gets up.

"Yeah, I guess I should. Watch her closely would you?"

"We will, get some sleep."

"I'll try."

She smiles at Tara and me before heading up to bed.