Universe one: Present day.

Ethan pottered about his small garden. The Morning sun had brought him out there had been a storm the night before and everything looked so fresh and green. He picked up his coffee cup from the brick edge of the raised flower bed and gazed over at Jenny. She was sun-bathing in a very fetching two-piece. He would have to see how many pieces he could tear it into later. He spun round in his chair at a noise behind him Xander stumbled down the ramp of the deck supporting the Slayer.

"Willow!" He moaned. "What’s the matter? What happened Xander?" The young man battled with his emotions for a moment.

"She was fine last night. This morning she got up and has been bleeding ever since. We thought this was the safest place to be since it’s warded ’an all."

Jenny had come from her lounger and helped the sobbing girl upstairs to the bathroom. Ethan watched his wife and his Slayer go into the house his mind working through the possibilities. It had been a month since Mr.Giles death he had raped Rupert’s Willow. He paled suddenly.

"Xander get the candles set up. I need to send a message to a friend."

Universe two: one day later.

Ethan was packing for yet another quick getaway when the familiar tingle of magic in the air alerted him that somebody somewhere was up to no good and it wasn’t him. He had finished his mischief for the week. Something evil whipped quickly through his dingy hotel room.

"Bloody Hell. That was nasty glad I’m not on the receiving end of that!" He carried on packing and an envelope fell into his open suitcase. He stared at it and lifted his fingers in a gesture of banishment but thought better of it. At least it wasn’t floating this time. He opened the envelope and read the contents with growing unease. He closed his suitcase and grabbed his jacket stuffing the message inside his pocket.

"Shit! You just had to make them forget didn’t you? You stupid bastard!" Ethan continued to curse himself until he was in his car looking up the fastest route to Sunnydale.