Ch.41

The next morning went in a blur, everyone got up and dressed in clean robes and gowns, then they headed to a clearing in the center of the grove. They found the mountain lion and cub fully healed and helping make a stone circle.

Ryan turned to Jenny and asked."Jenny Giles, would you be willing to officiate this wedding ceremony?"

She was shocked for a minute then nodded. "I guess it's only fair to do so, when it was you who did it for me."

When everyone arrived they got into position, the Wolfram and Hart duo stayed outside the circle while everyone else came inside. Willow took several long minutes to settle her inner turmoil after she saw Warren and when she did, she looked at peace. Giles led Tara and Xander, Willow. When everyone was in place, it resembled one big pentagram, the way they were lined up.

The alter had writings and carvings to the goddess Gaia and her domain. There was an inner circle around Ryan, Willow, and Tara, that usually didn't belong to a traditional Wiccan wedding but added for the current ceremonies. Jenny tied their hands in a triangle shape and from outside the inner circle, she began to say.

"Gaia, mother goddess to all and giver of life, we beseech you to bless this wedding and union of these three family lines. In your name, we ask that you bless them with great fertility and many babes, and see to it that they grow stronger as a family now joined. We ask that you bless and protect their coming generations unto your end and theirs. Let the fruit be bountiful and ripe, for they are the next generation and future hope of us all. Bind these three in your strongest ropes and tie them to each other so that they never have to survive without each other. In your name, we pray."

Everyone whispered."Gaia, Gaia, Gaia."

Three times, and on the third time, ripples of nature energy spread out through the very air. The clearing was soon filled with fertility and protection herbs growing everywhere.

Ryan, Willow, and Tara moaned as the power washed threw them. Jenny's eyes rolled back into her head and a voice of pure magic started speaking a ritual spell that hadn't been uttered since the fall of Ryan's people.

Faster she spoke until it came into a crescendo. Light enveloped the trio getting married and energy shot out of all three of them. It mixed and meshed until it was all one. When it was done it entered back into their bodies and ripples of power overflowed back into the earth.

It was so powerful that a seed of energy was formed between them. It pulsed and shook for a while, like Willow, Tara, and Ryan started shaking and changes happened to their bodies. Ryan changed in a more obvious way as his hair turned to Half read and half Auburn to match Willow and Tara's natural color, his eyes turned emerald green from the pure nature magic. The rest was more subtle as he looked a little feminine and elvish.

Tara and Willow experienced a more biological change. Their bodies became a blend of Ryan's people's genetic structure and a human. They felt their understanding of what they were and how they experienced the world change at a fundamental level.

When they were done, they all three put their hands in between them and the seed lowered into their palms. It entered their consciousness and made a sort of bridge between their minds that could never be broken. There it stayed connecting all three of them together for eternity.

When it was over, they looked at each other and knew what they felt was real. They were as many individuals as they were a single entity, they kept their personalities and mind independents but they would never again feel alone in anything they do.

When it was over they each stayed tied by the hand-fasting rope, but it separated itself and became bracelets for each of their wrists. Stepping out of the circle they were greeted by smiles and 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯's from everyone. Even Lilah and Warren stepped forward and congratulated them. "On behalf of Wolfram and Hart and the senior partners, I would like to congratulate you on a beautiful ceremony and your nuptials. As for me, I would like to say thanks for letting me witness this historic event. Everyone, in every dimension, has been warned to stay away from your wives on pain of eternal torture and agony, as our wedding present to you Wolfram and Hart are giving you a private island in the Bahamas, paid and furnished to fit a god. As my personal gift, I'm giving you a warning. An old enemy of yours is rising at the Hellmouth and it intends to tip the scales if it can."

Ryan smiled." I appreciate the gifts in the spirit it is given and I'd like to warn you as well. Willow and Tara, no longer need my protection, any being whether living or dead, that comes after them, does so at its own peril. I won't even lift a hand to stop them if they choose to destroy demonic worlds or slaughter hell dimensions, so I'd stay on their good sides if I were you."

With that, he turned to Warren who told them. "As a wedding gift to you, I've been instructed to submit myself to your judgment on my fate. I've been told that should you wish it I will receive the same punishment you delivered to Maloker for the rest of eternity."

Everyone hissed a breath and waited for his sentencing. Willow and Tara looked at him and said as one." You will never set foot in the same city as us, you are to be transferred to a different dimension and may serve your life elsewhere. You are forbidden from returning to earth on pain soul-shattering."

With that, a portal was made that sent him to Wolfram and Hart's main office. He would be leaving this dimension before daybreak to never return again. Lilah excused herself and followed him through the portal to there offices. With the problems out of the way, they returned to the celebrations. After a while, they retired to their very own personal tree home as is tradition they weren't heard from for the rest of everyone else's stay here.

Everyone left by portal at separate times, Angels group left the day after the wedding because it was the last day of their truce with the evil law firm. All except Lyndsey and Faith anyway. They stayed to send Buffy's group off, several days later. On the day Buffy's group was to leave, they were surprised by the trios emergence from the treehouse.

Both girls were looking rather vibrant and happy when Buffy and the rest saw them. Ryan, however, was sporting a very pronounced limp and a black eye.

When he noticed their stairs he shrugged it off until Willow and Tara explained. " We're pregnant! We came out to announce it and head back with you, Ryan is in time out right now anyway, because he neglected to tell us that our pregnancies would last for a full year. Don't pay him any attention, he's sulking because we insisted we come back with-"

They were cut off by hugs and smiles, congratulating them on their new condition. Everyone was smiling until Ryan coughed at Lyndsey shit-eating grin. Lyndsey finally said what was on his mind." I'm calling for it! It's my right as your only living disciple."

Ryan snorted." You graduated!"

Lyndsey laughed. " And you neglected to find a new disciple in time before you did this."

Everyone turned to watch them argue and finally Ryan spat out." Fine but you're telling them!"

Lyndsey looked almost happy until that last sentence, he paled considerably after that. He turned to Willow and Tara and asked." Which one of you is due first?"

They looked at him with narrowed eyes as if he was an insect. Then Tara spoke." Mine will be born an hour before Willows if all goes right. And if you are doing what I think you are then I demand the right to choose the other!"

Lyndsey smiles a little and a bead of cold sweat formed on his forehead." Fine, I claim as is my right as the last and only disciple of Ryn, the privilege to the name of the baby and the right to train it and guide it as it's teacher."

Tara smirked." And I'm claiming the right as it's mother to name its first name and your shared teaching with Giles."

Everyone looked at them as if they were insane, they caught on to what was happening and laughed it off. Willow looked at them and was relieved that she wasn't the first to get pregnant.

Ryan sighed shaking his head, he opened a portal to Buffy's house and they all left. He and the girls stayed in Willow's old room with a few changes. He enlarged the bed and set to building a nursery for two in their new room by hand.

He spent all of Willow and Tara's waking hours with them, then spent their sleeping hours building things for the baby's. He handcrafted two beautiful cribs that rocked slightly when pushed. They both had a tree design with different animals carved into everything from the feet of the cribs to the headboards.

Over several weeks he worked on the design while listening to stories of how Buffy and Xander destroyed a talisman that was summoning spirits at Dawn's new school that was built over their old high school.

He laughed when he found out Spike was living in the basement with the spirits. Then chuckled when he heard Anya was turning men into giant worm demons. "The guy sounds like a dick, but relax it's a big difference from looking and acting like a demon to actually being demonic. It sounds like she altered reality a little and put it back after she fixed the spell. There won't be any side effects that matter much, he may feel the occasional need to dig holes but that's it."

Everyone cheered up a little at that, a couple days later a dead body showed up flayed alive. He took one look at it and told Buffy. "If you think Willow I'll smack you! It was some kind of demon. The body was paralyzed with some kind of toxin and he was skinned and presumably eaten over a long period of time. Look up the possible suspects with the database Lyndsey and Giles compiled with Jenny's help."

Buffy looked a little offended at first then she told him." I'm aware it wasn't Willow! She was with me when this happened, we were having some quality friend time talking about baby clothes. Just FYI, she asked me and Xander to be its godparents!"

Ryan nodded." I know, she tells me the important things and we discussed it. I approved by the way. You really do remind me of my old friend and Xander has been her friend since kindergarten. We thought it was appropriate that you be the baby's godmother. Don't tell anyone yet but Tara has decided on Dawn and Lyndsey. She wants to ask them when Lyndsey shows up in a couple of days."

Buffy looked thoughtful." Are you sure it's ok? I mean Dawn is growing up into a responsible young woman but she isn't that responsible yet and do you really want her teaching the baby to pout and complain as she does?"

Ryan laughed." Tara is hoping that it will make her mature more. It is a big responsibility after all. Should one of us die we all three do, and the baby's will be in both of your care. You'll have to raise them and take care of them in our place."

Buffy gulped and thought on it for a while when they started walking again she gained a sort of steely resolve and nodded." She'll do just fine, I'm sure of it."

Dawn found the demon responsible and for her efforts, she was allowed to come along. Buffy had Spike lead them to a cliff. Buffy said the obvious."It's a rock cliff."

Xander smirked." Give him a break Buffy, maybe it's a vicious skin eating rock cliff?"

Spike looked at them and pulled back a tree branch, revealing a cave." There's a cave right there. I'm insane, what's his excuse?"

He stormed off back to where ever crazy took him. Ryan noted the change he had though. Buffy led the scoobies into the cave where a demon was hiding. "Poor little lambs, all alone."

Buffy told them." Its voice is echoing, I don't think it's close."

A disfigured demon leaped and scratched Dawn. Ryan told them." Don't worry, it only paralyzes the victim until the demon dies. After it's dead she'll be fine."

They all circled around Dawn protecting her. Ryan asked Willow." Do you want this or should I?"

Willow nodded." I'll take this one."

She turned to the shadowy cave."Aradia, Goddess of the lost, the path is murky, the woods are dense, darkness pervades, I beseech thee, bring the light."

The entire cave lit up as if it was directly in sunlight, revealing a skeletal goblin-like creature. "Gnarl likes magic, and magic likes Gnarl."

Willow waved her hand. "You may be immune to weak magic but what I can do, there is no one immune to."

With a wave of her hand Gnarl the demon caught fire and burned to a crisp. Dawn sat up a moment later saying." Oh, thank god! I can feel my toes again."

Ryan waved his hand and blasted a hole in the entrance so that they could walkthrough. Xander asked."If you could do that, then why did you make us crawl in here?"

Ryan smiled." I enjoyed the view while Willow and Tara crawled through. Now that Dawn's hurt, I saw no reason to make her suffer. Besides, Tara and Willow can do the same just as easy."

Both girls blushed and looked away. Xander saw this."Fair enough."

Ryan chuckled." You enjoyed your own view as well anyway."

Xander blushed and looked away at Buffy's annoyed stare." Your both perverts!"

Ryan shook his head." Hey, add two more to the list, I know for a fact that Tara took her time going through to give me and Willow the view. And besides, I didn't look at anything I'm not already married to. Excuse me for enjoying my wives' company."

Buffy shut up at that. She couldn't find a place to argue about it. She shook her head and led them home. When they got back to the house, Tara and Willow dragged him upstairs. Tara told him."Since you tattled you can only watch."

That night tested his patience more than all the eons alone ever did. By the end, he folded like a lawn chair and begged to participate. They had spent the entire time sending him feelings of tastes and touches until his restraint broke.

The moment they let him, he was on the in a microsecond, using his unique understanding of their bodies to ring out the most pleasure without letting them go overboard. Eventually, the girls created clones as well and joined him in a massive orgy of three multiplied.

When they dissipated the clones there screams of ecstasy broke the barrier he placed and drained him of a lot of power in the process, waking up half the town. The next morning, all three of them crawled downstairs, hating the sun. They were too sore for any arguments so they ignored the stares of everyone in the house while they made breakfast.

Dawn told them. "If you're going to be doing that, can you at least do it when there isn't a school night? Your moans and screaming are going to drive the town to pitchforks and torches one of these days."

Willow gave her the evil eye and turned away, too tired and sore to argue a word against it. Buffy looked envious for a bit but kept it to herself. Seeing that she was going to be a good sport about it he told her." You can have the pleasure rod, we don't exactly need it anymore. Maybe it'll help your man troubles for a bit, try it on, Angel and see if you can separate the man from the demon for a few days to get your own happiness. After we heal up, we can watch the Hellmouth until you get back."

Buffy smiled and ran upstairs to pack. Ryan waved a hand and a portal formed to Dawn's school." Get to school young lady and no talking about last night or I'll not be giving you the college course information when you go!"

Dawn humphed and walked through with her backpack. Buffy came back down and asked. "Willow, can you sub for me with the school? I'm supposed to start working there today."

Ryan snorted." Don't worry, Willows going back to college with Tara. I'll sub for you at the school. They won't know the difference. Now, the rods next to our bed, be sure to take Lyndsey to break the spell when you're done. Call when you're ready, and no more than a week."

With that, Buffy took off upstairs to get the rod and ran back down with a smile. Ryan opened a portal to LA and let her through. They suddenly found themselves alone in the kitchen. Seeing a smiling Willow and happy Tara, he made a mischievous smile of his own. An hour later he helped them upstairs to get cleaned up, then cleaned the kitchen and left for school glamoured as Buffy.

He met principal Wood and the rest of the faculty and sat down to begin his work. He listened to dozens of kids and suggested answers to their problems, ranging from teen angst to bullies.

He found a couple of kids that were going to do a sacrifice to a demonic soldier of fortune and reported their plans as a gang violence agenda. The police took their statements and they were caught in each other's lies until they inadvertently admitted to plans to kill a student. They were arrested and sent to juvie.

More kids opened up to him as they found out he stopped a murder. Eventually, a girl came in talking about her impending death. He scanned her with a spell and found heart problems. He notified the school nurse who sent her to the hospital for tests.

When they found it they ordered a heart transplant for that day. He used his money to find her a heart on the transplant list and with a major donation to the hospital, he was able to save her in time. She was so shocked that she actually thanked him for it even though he kept his involvement low profile.

After listening to the last student, a girl who thought a boy like her because he was mean to her. He suggested that she confront him when both alone and ask him. Telling her it's better to know than to always guess.

Turns out, he was just a dick, Ryan sent a curse on him to always tell the truth and left it at that. The girl was a little sad but she cheered up some when the kid was kicked in the nuts by a cheerleader for cheating on her.

Laughing lightly at a job well done he left the school with Dawn smiling at a bright day. Several days and hundreds of student problems later, Buffy had become a legend for the students. They felt all their problems were fixed and any supernatural ones solved easily that she was the go-to person for everything. The real Buffy came back the day her official legend status was spread.

Ryan was waiting for her to finish her goodbyes and step through the portal. When she finally did he congratulated her."Bravo on a vampire well done!"

She blushed and took her handy rod cross his head. He grunted and continued to laugh. She asked him."So how was being me for a few days? Hard right?"

Ryan chuckled and gave her the memories, emotions and all. After a bit, she slapped him. "How am I supposed to live up to that?"

Ryan sighed." You already do! I mimicked your every movement and reaction from what I see you do every day Buffy. I didn't earn a single thing that you yourself wouldn't have. Now go get changed, you have a job to get to! And I want to visit my wives on campus. Bye!"

With that, he was off to meet Willow and Tara at college. He found them in class and snuck in as a student auditing the class. After sitting through one particularly boring class on the Spanish Inquisition, they left only to run into a blood-covered Anya.

After she tried to play it off as her boyfriend likes it rough, she left in a hurry. They followed her path backwards to a massacre. There were dead bodies everywhere, Ryan's senses went off telling him that there was a demon in here. He ignored it and let the girls notice if they think to check.

He walked to a dresser and opened it up to find a scared and crying girl. Tara comforted her and Willow looked around for the culprit. When she noticed that he was watching her she realized he already knew and tried to read him. He shook his head and tapped the side of his head and sent her a message.

-I want to see if you can figure out how I sense them.-

With that he watched her go through her senses till she found something when she felt a small blood connection with whatever it was he told her. "Remember, all demons were born from our races death. They carry a small genetic marker from that connection. Now try sensing where it is."

She stood still then turned to the ceiling and held out a hand. She wrapped the spider demon in a bubble then crushed it."Next time you need to keep that feeling active. From now on always use it. It'll help. Now try a general sense of magic objects through altering your biosignatures frequency rapidly."

She did and felt all the magic objects within town respond to her. After focusing it, she can now search out specific magical foci. She asked him to show her more but all he said was."The knowledge is here, come and get it!"

She delved into his mind and found him thinking of how beautiful she was right this moment. She walked over and started kissing him. Tara came over with the scared girl and told them it was Anya's vengeance spell that summons the spider.

Ryan sighed." We tell Buffy then, she is the slayer and it's her responsibility to pass judgment on demons, even our old friends. We should never take it upon ourselves to judge others, that road leads to people worshipping us as gods and while you two are my goddesses and I'd worship at your alters, I'm a jealous being when it comes to the masses."

They agreed, they didn't want godhood. They had each other and that was enough.