I love this story!

Merry Christmas, and to all a good life. Prayers for a update are always included.

Wonderful. You should update this soon.

“People often wonder, “Why does the addict make that choice?” The answer is that by choosing an addictive interpretation of a feeling, the person gets an illusion of control. Addicts chase control — they believe they will find peace and happiness through total or perfect control. To be human is to be imperfect. It’s human to be powerless. To chase the illusion of control is to run from the reality of being human. Addicts try to be perfect instead of trying to be people.”
From The Addictive Personality: Understanding Compulsion in Our Lives, by Craig Nakken.

May the goddess forgive Willow for her sins.

Have to say, still rooting for Willow. :-)

Well, perhaps, a compromise can be reached. Willow agrees to fake Buffy's death (restoring Timeline A), and takes Buffy back...to the future!...with her, getting her best friend back. Willow and Dawn both get what they want, everyone has punch and cookies. It could work...

Oh, damn.

Oh Willow...;

You know, this kind of meeting between Gatekeepers and Keymasters? It's been spoken of before. Specifically, it's been discussed by Doctors Egon Spengler and Peter Venkman in regards to a different set...

Oh cool, back in time Dawn-Sue. Just after "Teachers Pet", sounds like Dr. Dawn will be the new science teacher...and since she doesn't exist yet no one will know her. Looking forward to more.

Yes as always, Willow knows best. She'll fix everything.....

Dawn has to face the Hobson's Choice one Doctor Leonard McCoy faced in his own disastrous encounter with the Guardian, I see.

There is, in all things, a fearful symmetry. It only figures that;

1) Dawn, in whatever life, must face the Key once more.

2) Someone else would have to let a loved one die, knowing it is literally for the best for all involved.

I hope the Powers are laughing. Because sooner or later, someone is going to kick them in the collective (or Continuum) cojones for this one.

Exciting! And somehow I'm thinking "Shadow's tree" might refer to Willow having more or less gone to the dark side in her single-minded determination to once again exert dominion over life and death.

This is great! Love how you've put Dawn and Willow in the future, and curious to know what happens next...

Apparently, Willow, no matter how old she is, she still doesn't get it. If Buffy is dead, let her rest in peace, she deserves it.
But Willow has to have the last word on everything it seems, she has to be right all the time, Lets see if Dawn and the Enterprise(a lucky ship indeed) can stop her.
Cool chapter, see ya!!.

It seems like you wanted Willow to be the antagonist here, but so far I'm rooting for her. Go, Willow, go - screw the Federation and all their "Directives" - save your best friend. It's what I would do.

Sounds a bit different from the standard Trek Universe, considering the Romulans are so friendly. Is what Willow is trying to do going to 'fix' that?