Inell's Fanfiction Archive

April 2003

Buffy Summers let herself into slayer's headquarters, as they affectionately called the large mansion. She put her bag down in the chair, calling up the stairs, "Giles! I'm here."

She heard him call down and smiled as she walked into the living room. After Angel had left four years before, they had taken up residence in his mansion. With Willow's death and Faith's running away, they had wanted a change of scenery. It had been necessary after she and the others had graduated high school anyway. She looked up as Xander came into the house, putting his owns books down. "Hey there. How was class?"

Xander sat down and groaned, "The test was a killer but I think I did ok."

"You should" Anya said, sitting down next to him. "We only stayed up all night studying."

"Thank you honey" he said, kissing her softly.

"God, I may puke" an amused voice said. Cordelia and Graham came in, smiling at their friends.

"Hey C. Have you seen Riley?" Buffy asked, stretching.

"He's on his way. He and Tara had some supplies to pick up" Graham said.

"Cool" Buffy said, looking up as Giles came into the room. "Hey there. Did we wake you?"

"Buffy! I'm not old enough to need to nap" Giles said, rolling his eyes.

"Tara can tell you that" Cordelia said, snorting.

"Did I hear my name?" a soft voice spoke from the doorway. Tara came into the room, a smile crossed her face as she stepped into Giles' arms. She kissed his cheek as she faced the others. "What were you saying, Cordelia?"

"Nothing, Tara" Cordelia said, delighting in the faint blush that touched the blonde girl's cheeks.

"Oh, hush" Tara said, looking at Buffy. "Riley is bringing the bags in."

"I'll help him" she said, standing. "Or maybe not" she said, seeing him step into the room. She kissed him as she sat back down. She listened as her friends began to talk. She had retired from slaying a year before but still helped out. All of them did. It was a part of their lives. They had all grown up a lot over the past years. Growing together. She smiled as she turned to face Riley. Her eyes fell on the pictures lining the mantle. The mantle documented their times together. The first pictures being her, Xander and Willow. She felt a sadness as she thought of Willow. She hadn't realized until after she had met Riley just how horrible she had been back then. She wished often that she could go back and do things differently, but she knew that that didn't change things. She had let her best friend down and had to live with that every day of her life. She moved to the more recent pictures, showing the new extended group. They all lived in the mansion, most of them in their senior years of college. The new slayer lived her also.

"Where is Kari?" Xander asked.

"Still at school" Buffy said, glancing at the clock. Kari was the latest slayer. The first new slayer had arrived two years before, signaling the death of Faith. Buffy had no idea where the brunette had gone or why. The council couldn't locate her though they had know she was alive because a new slayer wasn't called. At Ria's arrival, any thoughts that Faith was still alive had died. Ria had last more than six months, finally dying in an ambush by several vampires. Since her, there had been two more slayers. Kari had lasted more than seven months already and Buffy thought she might be strong enough to make it longer. "She'll be home soon."

"Anything planned tonight?" Anya asked.

"Just patrol. If we all take one, we should be done by nine. Time to party" Buffy said, smiling.

"Sounds like a plan." Xander remarked.

Cordelia leaned against Graham, saying, "Things have been so quiet lately we should be done by eight."

"Who's turn is it to cook?" Tara asked softly.

"Mine" Xander said, causing the others to groan.

"Great. Pizza" Riley said, laughing as Xander threw a cushion at him.

Buffy stood, motioning to Riley, "Come on, funny man. Let's spar."

"Yes honey" Riley said, smiling at her as he followed her to the exercise room.

The others drifted to finish their daily tasks, preparing for patrol and dinner.

*****

Buffy looked up from her homework when the door opened. Her eyes widened slightly as Kari came into the living room, collapsing against the door frame. "Oh my god...."

"What happened, Kari?" Riley asked, moving to help the girl sit down.

Kari looked up, her eyes glazed over, "Attacked. Strong vamps...."

"Let's get you tended to" Giles said, watching Tara collect the first aid kit.

"Won't help" Kari said, coughing. "I got a couple of them, but they were so strong. Buffy...I'm so sorry."

"Don't be sorry. We'll fix you right up" Buffy said, kneeling beside the girl.

Kari laughed lightly, her face cringing in pain. "I'm dying. Band aids won't fix it."

"Quit talking like that. I will not lose another slayer" Giles said.

"Not your choice. I feel it" Kari said. She looked at them and said softly, "Be careful. Sorry I wasn't good enough."

"Kari" Cordelia said, moving to the girl's side. "You're going to be fine. We'll get you to the hospital. They'll fix everything."

Kari smiled slightly as she felt Graham swing her into his arms. She let her head fall weakly against his shoulder as she looked at the others and caught Buffy's eyes, "Be careful. They're so strong. Thanks for everything."

Buffy watched Graham and Cordelia go, looking at Giles sadly. "She's dying."

"Yes, she is. Appears to have been some sort of poison along with the attack" Giles said, a nerve twitching in his cheek.

"This isn't good, is it?" Tara asked quietly, moving to his side and taking his hand. She had been friends with the slayer for four years, having seen three slayers fall now. It never got easier.

"I'm afraid not." Giles said.

"Kari was pretty new at this though" Xander said.

"She'd lasted longer than most of the others" Buffy pointed out.

"Yeah, but not against a strong opponent." Anya commented.

"They're right" Riley said. "She wouldn't have lasted against the Master or Angelus."

"Still has me worried" Buffy said, her expression sad and worried. "I can't believe Kari is gone."

"I wonder who we'll get next" Anya said.

"They keep getting younger and younger" Giles said quietly.

Buffy sighed, running a hand through her hair before she shut her books. "Guess we patrol tonight."

"I have to admit, it's times like these I really miss Faith" Xander said, making a face.

"She may have been obnoxious but she could fight" Giles remarked.

"Well, she's dead now. Guess she wasn't that good" Buffy said, still resenting being compared to the runaway slayer. "Sorry....I'll get ready and patrol."

"I'll come with you" Riley said, standing and taking her hand.

"Kari is dead" Tara said softly, hanging the phone up. She blinked away tears as she sat beside Giles. "Does it ever get any easier?"

Giles thought about it, remembering Jenny and Willow and Faith and the slayers that had come since. He slowly shook his head, "No, it doesn't."

****

May 2004

Willow smiled as she watched Spike sleeping. He always looked so peaceful in sleep. Like a child almost. Even after five years, she still loved him completely. Despite everything that had happened...all of the changes. She wouldn't have made it without him. She could look back now on those first few months together and smile. At the time she had been so innocent. It amazed her how naive she had been. She had honestly thought that leaving Sunnydale would change their lives. It hadn't. If anything, it seemed that had been a catalyst for events that had been beyond their control.

She leaned back against the tombstone, Spike's head still on her lap. She brushed a lock of his hair away, thinking back over the past years. They had all moved to Savannah, instantly falling in love with the laidback ambiance of the town. Angel had been contacted by Whistler soon upon their arrival. It had seemed that the powers that be had learned of his mating with the renegade slayer and his move to Georgia. He was given the chance for redemption by helping lost souls throughout the east coast. He had accepted the chance, happily accepting help from his friends and lover. Faith had begun patrolling even before Angel's deal with the PTB, never contacting the council to let them know of her whereabouts. She and Angel had patrolled nightly, Willow and Spike joining them quiet often. It was on one of these patrols that Willow had discovered the truth about her life.

She smiled wryly. Life? That wasn't really the right word. She had been stabbed by a demon they were hunting. To her surprise, she hadn't died. After much research, they had finally discovered that the night Spike had saved her, she had really died. The demon that had attacked her had somehow given her immortality. It seemed that since he had been holding onto her upon his death he had transferred something during his final moments. So, she was left immortal. Now, she wasn't going to complain about it, but it was such a shock in the beginning. It had taken them all several weeks to deal with her new status. Spike had been weary of the news, not trusting it and constantly scared she was going to die. Finally, he had accepted it happily.

After that, she had become the one to take the most chances. Since she had nothing to fear, she could do things none of the others could. It was rather nice to be able to be so strong. She had matured so much after dying. She glanced up as Angel walked towards them. He sat beside her, his eyes going to the name on the tombstone. Faith Rosenberg. They had given her Willow's last name, knowing that she didn't want anything to do with her past. Willow smiled softly, putting her head on his shoulder as she remembered the other most pivotal event in the past five years. Faith's death. It had happened so suddenly, they had all been caught unaware. They had never seen it coming.

They had been called by the powers that night. All they had known was that they were to face a demon and had to kill it, regardless of anything. Faith had fought bravely, killing several of the demon's minions. It was only after Angel had been threatened that Faith had gone after the demon. She had killed it but not before it had struck a mortal blow. After the three years they had been together, Willow had forgotten that Faith was still a mortal. The brash slayer had always kept up with them, taking so many unnecessary risks. She hadn't realized how much she loved Faith and depended on the girl's friendship until she had lost her. Angel had been inconsolable, holding Faith as she had died. He had growled when Willow had tried to get close to her friend, his grief touching her in a way she had never imagined. Of course, she had had no idea what would happen so soon after that.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Angel asked, wondering how Spike could sleep all day and then nap on patrols.

"Faith's death" she said, smiling slightly.

"Ah" Angel said, the simple word taking on several meanings.

Willow ran her fingers through Spike's hair, smiling as he opened his blue eyes, blinking at her. "Can you believe it's been five years we've lived here?"

"Thinking about the past?" Angel said, smiling softly. "I thought you had left the past behind, Red."

"How can you when it is always right behind your left shoulder?" Willow asked. She loved her new life but often wondered what had become of Buffy and the others. She had finally realized one day that it had not really been Buffy's fault she had died. The girl had been doing her chosen duty. She did blame them for their reactions to her death though. In the long run, she had lucked out. She had found Spike and made two fantastic friends in Angel and Faith. She wouldn't trade her life for anything at all.

"The past never leaves you" Angel said, his eyes serious. "You just learn what to remember and what can be forgotten."

"Why all the sad talk, pet?" Spike asked, sitting up and kissing her.

She shrugged, "It's Xander's birthday. Guess it made me remember and wonder."

"You aren't happy?" Spike asked.

"God no" Willow said. "I love our lives here. Just wondering who is still alive and what they're doing."

"You get to find out" a voice said, moving to sit.

"What?"

Faith brought a hand to her head, grimacing. "A message from the powers. Remind me to kick their asses next time we meet them again. These fucking headaches aren't work immortality, I swear."

"We have to go to Sunnydale?" Spike asked, groaning.

Faith nodded, moving onto Angel's lap as he began to massage her temples. "Yep. Bitchy is in trouble as are the others. We get to ride in and save their ungrateful asses. Doesn't that sound like a barrel of fun?"

"I can hardly wait" Spike said, rolling his eyes.

*****

Buffy wiped her eyes as Kari's body was lowered into the ground. She collapsed against Riley, thankful for his support as she lost yet another slayer. She listened to Giles' words, vaguely realizing that this was yet another funeral she had attended for a friend. She was growing so tired of seeing her friends die. It seemed that it had started with Jenny and just slowly continued. Only, in the past two years, it had sped up. She walked away from the cemetery, looking at her friend's sad faces. "Is anyone else getting tired of funerals?"

"Yep" Xander said, holding Anya close to him.

"I hate these" Cordelia said, holding Graham's hand as they made it to the cars.

"I almost wish the council would stop sending us new slayers" Giles said softly, having now buried three.

Tara sighed, "And they keep getting younger...."

"See you guys back at the house" Buffy said, glancing at the sun. "We'll pick up something to eat."

"I'm not that hungry" Cordelia said quietly, moving to the car. She had really liked Kari, thinking of the girl as a younger sister almost. She hated growing close to people that died. But, in Sunnydale, it happened constantly. The problem was that she couldn't leave. She had tried even before meeting Graham. Every time she had to stay, knowing that she was too knowledgeable to live somewhere else. She at least knew the dangers here and had a close group of friends to rely on.

"We'll get something light" Riley said, knowing that Cordelia had taken Kari's death harder than the rest. They were all growing immune to it all it seemed. Soon, he feared that they would begin accepting death without blinking. "We all need to eat."

They all left the cemetery, meeting back at the house within an hour. They ate lunch, all eating quietly and thinking of the slayer that they had lost. Xander volunteered to do the dishes, letting the others go into the living room. Silence was soon filled by soft musings and thoughts of patrol for the evening. Xander came in, sinking on the couch beside Anya as he turned the news on. They watched the events of the world, their conversations disturbed by the ringing of the doorbell. Buffy got up, opening the door.

"Hello?" she said, looking at the girl standing there. She appeared to be around sixteen. Her light brown hair fell to her shoulders as her hazel eyes looked Buffy over. A smile crossed her lips as she leaned against the doorway.

"You Buffy?" she asked, her accent southern.

"Yes. Who are you?" Buffy asked, liking the girl but fearing her answer.

"I'm the new slayer" the girl said, her almost gray eyes looking behind Buffy at the others that were watching curiously. "I'm Hope."

****

"We have to go back." Willow said, laying on her stomach. She kept her eyes on a dirt mound, watching the ants in the moonlight as they scurried to and fro. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. Sure, she'd been a bit nostalgic as she always was on Xander's birthday. That didn't mean she wanted to run back to save her old friends. They had let her die, though she had put that behind her years before. She had moved on though and knew that had too. They also believed her to be dead. She was sure that a slayer must have taken Faith's place when the girl had been killed. So, they believed Faith to be dead too. She just wasn't in a mood to deal with Buffy and the others and the questions she knew would accompany their return.

"We must" Angel said, frowning. He had no desire to return to save Buffy from whatever she was to face. He wasn't sure why the powers felt that a slayer dying deserved their protection. There must be a reason though so he knew they would go and defeat the threat. That was what they did, after all.

"Bitchy looks almost the same" Faith commented lazily, "She's getting wrinkles though....looking her age finally."

"You saw the others?" Willow asked, rolling over onto her back as Spike took her foot in his hands, removing her shoe and massaging it slowly.

"Yep. Bitchy was standing by some goofy looking blonde guy with this enormous head. I honestly don't know how he can stand" Faith smiled at Willow's giggle, succeeding in her mission to get the redhead's mind off what was to come, "Saw the rich bitch standing by this hottie. The moron was with some chick that I've never seen before. The watcher was there by some young" she got their attention, "YOUNG girl that looked to be our age. They weren't holding each other in a platonic way either, I must say." She smiled as Willow laughed softly, not very surprised the watcher had fallen for someone the age of the slayer, "And there was some girl with brown hair that looked young, probably sixteen. Must be the new slayer."

"Did you see who they were fighting?" Willow asked, curious what they were going to have to face.

"No idea" Faith said, making a face. "These damn things never get any easier to read. I saw the flashes of the faces and recognized Buffy. By that time, the faces had flashed, I saw a dark shape...a glimpse of blackish purplish something and then I saw Buffy start to fall.....the others weren't doing well either. That's when things cleared up and I got the damn headache. Have I mentioned lately how I detest those?"

"Yes" three voices said, laughing.

"Hey, got to make sure someone knows" Faith said, grinning.

"After our last conference with the powers, I'd say they know too" Willow said, smiling as she remembered the tear that Faith had gone at that particular meeting, cursing the powers for giving her the painful headaches and visions before apologizing for her lack of gratitude. Needless to say, she had accepted her gift a bit easier after that but still loved to bitch about the headaches.

"Don't remind me" Faith said, covering her face as Angel continued to massage her shoulders.

"That was a prime moment" Spike said, laughing. He moved his hands down Willow's leg, pulling her onto his lap. He heard her giggle as he crept under her skirt. "Never seen them speechless before."

"Fuck, those things hurt for hours afterwards sometimes" she said, laughing.

"More than death?" Angel asked, smiling.

"Shut up" she said, smacking him. "Always having to be the smart one. Why am I in love with someone so mature?"

"You know....I never have to ask myself that question" Willow said, laughing as Spike's fingers dug into her upper thigh.

"Hey pet, don't think now is the time for such brash statements" Spike said, smirking at her.

"Are you two doing naughty things in the cemetery again?" Faith asked, snickering.

"Sorry Mom" Spike said, his hands drifting higher on Willow's thigh.

"Don't call me that" Faith groaned, melting against Angel as he liquefied her tension.

"So, we leave for Sunnydale soon" Willow said, reminding them of their mission.

"The sooner we go, the sooner we get back" Spike said, hearing Willow gasp softly as he smiled at her in the moonlight.

"Let's not think about it until tomorrow" Willow said, her tone slightly breathless.

Angel could smell Willow's arousal and rolled his eyes. Spike couldn't keep his hands to himself around his mate, having taken Willow more places than Angel even knew. He had once caught them shagging passionately in the alley beside the restaurant where they had eaten Faith's birthday dinner, and that was one of the tamer places he had stumbled upon them. He rolled his eyes as he leaned beside Faith's ear, whispering that they might want to go for a walk. She laughed, standing and taking his hand. He could smell her own arousal and knew she was ready for him. He led her to the small brook, kissing her as they fell to the ground at one of their special places. One last time, he decided, before they had to leave Savannah and go back to hell.

*****

"Hope?" Buffy said, smiling. "Come inside."

Cordelia sighed softly, "Just keep getting younger and younger."

Hope heard the brunette's statement and frowned. She looked at the group assembled there and said, "Is this a bad time? I mean, the council told me to get here as soon as I could."

"No, of course not" Giles said, stepping forward. "I'm Rupert Giles. I'm going to be your watcher."

"Nice to meet ya" Hope said, shaking his hand. She nodded at the blonde, "and I know you're Buffy, the old slayer."

Buffy stiffened slightly as Hope spoke. "The former slayer. There are my friends, Xander, Anya, Graham, Cordelia, Riley and Tara. They assist with the slaying."

"A regular Brady bunch isn't it?" Hope said, feeling uncomfortable. They didn't want her there. She didn't know why, but she wasn't stupid.

"Nice isn't she?" Anya said snidely. This girl had an attitude problem.

"Never claimed to be" Hope said, shrugging. "I'm here to slay and then die. Didn't know being nice was required."

Cordelia stood and smiled softly, "Follow me. I'll show to your room."

"Cool" Hope said, smiling at the girl. "I get a room? I figured I'd be living on the streets or something."

"Not around here" Graham said, moving to take her bag as Cordelia's arm went around her shoulders. "You wouldn't survive a night."

"Why is everyone so sad?" Hope asked, her gray eyes curious.

"The last slayer was buried today" Cordelia said quietly. "She was a friend."

"Oh" Hope said, feeling suddenly awful for being such a bitch, "I'm sorry. I didn't realize that I had been called so soon."

"Not a problem. Buffy can be pretty bitchy" Graham said, watching the girl smile. "She isn't the slayer anymore since she retired, but she still feels threatened when a new one come into play. She's also seen like five die in her life so it doesn't get easier."

"Five?" Hope said, grimacing, "I'm following a good record."

Cordelia smiled, opening the door to the new slayer's room. "How long have you been training?"

Hope looked around the room and put her backpack on the bed. "They got me when I was seven. I went to England for a few years for this basic training sort of thing. After that, I was sent to Atlanta with a watcher. A real nice woman named Lisa. I got the call two days ago that said I was being activated so to speak and needed to be here to meet Giles and Buffy as soon as possible."

"How old are you?" Graham asked.

"Sixteen" Hope said, looking at the handsome man. She heard Cordelia's soft sigh and smiled, knowing what the girl was thinking, "Don't worry, Del. I don't plan on dying anytime soon. So, give me the 411 on Sunnydale. What should I know?"

"Don't go out alone at night" Graham said. "Other than that, it's your average typical little hellmouth."

"And I thought Atlanta was hell" Hope said, grinning as she began to bounce on the bed.

Downstairs, Buffy turned to face Giles. "She's dangerous."

"She's supposed to be good" Giles said, having reviewed her file from Lisa Davies.

"I hope so. I'm so tired of funerals." Buffy said, softly.

"Me too" Giles echoed. "Maybe she will last longer."

Xander smiled slightly, "We can only hope."

Anya groaned, "That was terrible. Come on, let's go shopping."

Buffy looked at Riley, Tara and Giles, "Do we have any idea yet who killed Kari?"

"No, but we're working on it" Riley said. "So far it seems pretty random. There hasn't been an increase in deaths or anything. Also haven't heard of a new master in town. She may just have been unlucky."

"I don't know....I'm getting a weird feeling about this one" Buffy said. She smiled, "Maybe I'm just getting paranoid in my old age. I'm sure it's nothing."

*****

"It hasn't changed a bit" Faith said, looking around the dark streets.

"There is something in the air" Angel said, frowning as he looked around.

"I sense it too" Willow confessed, "Evil."

"Great" Spike groaned, "We leave the quiet of Savannah for this."

"Quit grumbling, Junior" Faith said, smiling at him. "It's not like we had a choice."

"Still doesn't mean I have to like it" he said, sticking his tongue out at her.

"Children" Angel said, laughter in his tone. "Can we stop arguing and decide what we should do?"

Willow sighed, leaning against Spike. "Whatever we decide is not going to be fun. I mean, we either go to Giles and tell him why we are here, having to deal with all the questions and comments considering they believe that Faith and I are dead. Plus our relationships with you guys...or we hide out until we are needed, sweeping in and taking care of the problem before leaving again."

"I like the second choice except that we have no idea what the problem is and I don't fancy following them around until it makes itself known" Faith said, groaning.

"That leaves the first choice" Angel said, making a face. "Why do I regret agreeing to help for redemption? I mean, it might be highly overrated."

"Peaches, you'd just be brooding about turning them down if you'd said no" Spike said, sharing a smile with his sire. "Let's do this then. Do we find them tonight or give ourselves one more day of peace and quiet?"

"It's rather late" Willow said, wanting to put off the meeting as long as she could. She knew that it was not something she was going to look forward to, even if there were no questions. This was a part of her life she had tried to move past but never quite managed to forget. Maybe this was the closure she needed.

"Well, then. We get a room tonight and face the firing squad tomorrow" Spike said, happily swinging his arm around Willow's shoulders.

"Sounds like a good plan" Faith said, in no hurry to see Buffy or the others. She really hated having to come save the bitch, still blaming her for what she had done to Willow back then. But, it was out of her hands. The powers said they saved, they saved.

****

"What did you do?"

Tom looked up into violet eyes and froze, not liking the coldness he saw there. "I killed the slayer."

A slight quirk of lips was the only betrayal of emotions on the expressionless face. "And, pray tell, who told you to do such a thing?"

"I saw the opportunity and didn't want to miss it" he said, frowning. "I thought you'd be pleased."

There was a laugh, "Pleased? Please explain me to me why I would be pleased?"

"The slayer is out of the way. Well, at least one of them. You only have to worry about that other one." Tom said, watching the smile appear.

"Yes, she is out of the way" the vampire agreed, moving closer to Tom. With a sharp motion, Tom was knocked backwards. "And we will now have a pissed off slayer searching for her killer."

"She won't find you" Tom said, sitting up and holding his mouth where he was bleeding.

"But she will be looking now" the words were said slowly, anger in each word as the faint traces of Spanish became more pronounced. "You acted without asking."

"I'm sorry....I thought I was doing as you would wish" he said, watching with fear as violet eyes flashed yellow. He began to back away, crawling away until he felt the wall behind him. "Mistress, I was trying to help."

Isbell looked at him, her beautiful face becoming ridged as she moved towards him. "You failed."

"No...please don't....I'll make it better" Tom said, watching as her hand lifted and ran a fingernail down his cheek moving past his neck and lower.

"How? Bring her back?" Isbell asked, her lips quirking at the thought. "Sorry, Tommy. You fucked up."

"No!" he screamed as her hand went into his chest, grabbing his heart as her fangs dug deep into his neck.

Isbell pulled away, blood dripping from her fangs as her long black hair brushed against her stomach. She pushed it behind her head, dropping his heart near his body. She turned, her face changing back to that of what she knew was a beautiful woman that appeared to be only eighteen. She moved to the window, her violet eyes flashing as she thought of Tom's stupidity. She had hoped to avoid dealing with the damn slayer at all. He had ruined that. She glanced at him and smiled. He wouldn't be ruining anything else. She brought her hand to her mouth, sucking her blood soaked fingers into her mouth. The light outside caught the darkness of her hair as she moved, calling out to her men. "Dispose of him. His scent is annoying me. Let this be a lesson. Do not act without my consent."

Isbell turned and left the room, ready to feed. She was tired of staying indoors. It was time to have a bit of fun. Sunnydale was just waiting to be her playground. Oh, how she loved to play. She laughed softly, walking into the darkness as she went to search for food and something to play with. If the slayer wanted to fight, she would be ready.

****

"Do I have to?" Hope whined, glaring at Buffy.

"Research is as important to slaying as fighting is" Buffy said, smiling slightly. "It took me awhile to learn that, but it's true."

"You just don't want me to patrol" Hope said. She had been in Sunnydale for over a week and still had not gone out on a patrol. They wanted to keep her in this damn house.

"You're not ready to patrol on the Hellmouth yet" Giles said. "Too rash and impulsive. You'll get yourself killed instantly."

"You'll get yourself killed instantly" Hope mimicked, glaring at them all. She heard Xander laugh and even glared at him.

"Quit acting like such a child" Cordelia said, sighing.

"Quit treating me like one then" Hope argued. "I've patrolled before. I think I can handle one night on the Hellmouth. If I can't, I'll be the first to admit it and step back into my cell."

"Does she ever shut up?" Anya asked, rubbing her temples. "I'm getting a headache. Maybe we should just let her die. I mean, the next one might be more quiet."

"Way to be emotional, honey" Xander said, rolling his eyes.

"Why don't we all do a sweep?" Riley asked, knowing that it wasn't fair to Hope as a slayer to restrict her to the mansion, but also knowing they didn't want a repeat of Kari.

"That sounds like a splendid idea" Buffy said, smiling at her lover. She looked at Hope, "Is that good?"

"Sure, whatever" Hope said, wondering how long it would take her to lose them once they started to patrol. She wanted to experience the Hellmouth on her own, not with a gang of babysitters. She knew they were worried that she'd just get killed, but if she died, it meant it was her time. Hiding her away wouldn't protect her once it was time. They just wouldn't understand that. "I get to finally kick some vamp ass."

"She seems a bit too happy about that idea" Graham said dryly.

"I'll stay here and work on the research" Tara said, kissing Giles on the cheek. "You all be careful."

"We will" Hope said, walking out first.

"I'll bring back something for dinner" Giles said, kissing her before following the others out for patrol.

****

Hope kept slowly falling back until the rest of the group was soon far ahead of her. She smiled, waiting until she knew they were no longer paying attention to her. Then, she veered off in a different direction. She wandered through the dark streets of Sunnydale, not really seeing what the big fuss was about. People were out walking and laughing. She hadn't seen a single vampire and had already been on patrol for an hour and a half. She stopped walking, searching her pockets for a rubber band. She pulled her long hair up, fastening it in place so that it was off of her neck. She really needed to get it cut. She had found that it was a handicap in battle if it was allowed to be grabbed. Maybe that would be her next project.

She wandered along Main Street, watching everyone and really seeing the town for the first time since she had arrived. It was actually a rather nice little town. She saw several shops she'd like to visit. She stopped in for a latte, just watching everyone walk by. A few times she had the usual feeling she got when she was near a vampire, but she couldn't decide which one was which. She threw her cup in the trash and left the populated area. If she was going to fight, she had to get away from the people. She headed off in a different direction, figuring she'd run into a cemetery soon enough. According to the gang, there were dozens in the town.

She finally found one, walking into it and keep her eyes peeled. She felt like kicking some ass and hoped there would be some vampire around just waiting for her to kill it. She looked around stiffening as she felt the prickles. She turned, seeing a vampire. Smiling, she went towards it. She started fighting, surprised by how strong he was. She felt fear go through her as she saw another three vampires join the other. Gawd, they had been right. She was about to die. She began backing up, the stake in her hand shaking as she realized just how different this place was to everywhere else she had been. She sighed, knowing she was going to die.

Hope suddenly saw a flash of red beside her, watching as one of the vampires exploded into dust. Mischievous green eyes flashed at her as a redhead laughed, kicking at another of the vampires. Hope watched as another girl joined the redhead, this girl a beautiful brunette. They were easily defeating the two vampires, leaving the third to Hope. She straightened up, determination in her eyes as she lashed out at the vampire in front of her. The three girls fought, soon sending each vampire into dust.

"Damn Red" Faith said, dusting herself off. "Can't say I missed the hellmouth."

"Come on, babe. You know you thrive on the danger" Willow shot back, moving to the girl they had saved. "You ok?"

"Yeah" Hope said, looking at them both and smiling. "Thanks to you two."

"Wouldn't have thought Bitchy would have let you out alone" Faith remarked, eyeing the girl carefully. "Does she know?"

"Bitchy?" Hope said, suddenly smiling. "You mean Buffy. Nah, I sneaked away. Had no idea it was going to be this tough."

"Welcome to Sunnyhell" Faith said, smirking. She moved to Willow, slinging her arm around the girl. She smiled, "We'd better get back to the boys before they start searching for us."

"Yeah..." Willow said, nodding. "You'd better run along back before they think you're dead. Next time, be smarter with your acts of rebellion. Got it?"

"Yeah" Hope said, admiration in her eyes as she looked at the redhead. "Wait, who are you two?"

"Be careful going home" Willow shot back at the slayer, smiling as she and Faith ran off to find Spike and Angel. Tomorrow, the slayer would find out who they were anyway. They didn't need to get into it all right now. She took Faith's hand, sharing a smile with the girl. They both loved fighting, especially knowing they wouldn't be able to die.

Faith suddenly pulled Willow into a dark area and smiled, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Come here, Red" she said, pushing the redhead against a wall and claiming her lips. She felt Willow's hands on her back as her sometimes lover rubbed against her. She still got so horny after fighting and Willow was always more than happy to assist her with this. She pulled away, raising an eyebrow, "Here or home?"

Willow smiled, "If we go home, we have to share with the boys who have probably been in bed all night."
Faith laughed, a smile crossing her lips, "I like the way you think, Red. Have I ever mentioned that?"
Willow laughed, "All the time, babe. All the time." She pulled Faith's head back down, claiming her lips as they moved to the grass to release their tension.

****

Hope walked into the door, listening to the frantic voices. She sighed, knowing she was the reason they were worried. She walked into the living room, looking at the floor. "Uh, guys. I got separated."

"Hope!" Cordelia said, smiling in relief. She went to the girl, hugging her. "Damn it, you had us all scared."

"Sorry" Hope said, looking up and chewing her bottom lip. "I got distracted and lost you."

"You mean, you deliberately wandered off on your own, looking for some action?" Buffy said sweetly.

"Well, yeah, that too" Hope mumbled.

"Looks like you found some" Xander said, looking at her dirty clothes and torn shirt.

"You fought?" Giles asked.

"About four vampires" Hope said, sighing. "They're stronger here than anywhere I've been."

"You killed four vamps?" Graham asked, his eyes disbelieving. She looked like it had been a rough fight over all.

"No way" she said, laughing. "I'd have been dead."

"Then how?" Buffy asked, frowning.

Hope started to tell them but for some reason didn't think the two girls would want people to know about them. She couldn't explain it, but she had just gotten that feeling. "I got lucky. I was fighting one and the others got distracted. When I turned around, they were gone."

"Sounds remarkably amazing" Riley said, wondering why he got the feeling she was hiding something.

"Well, you're alive" Cordelia said. "That's all that matters."

"I don't intend to wander off alone again, if that means anything" Hope said grinning sheepishly. "I was damn lucky tonight."

"That you were" Giles said, knowing something had either driven the vampires away, that she was lying about how many there were, or that she was hiding something. "You should go clean up. We'll be eating dinner soon."

Tara watched her walk up the stairs, saying when she heard the door close upstairs, "She's hiding something."

"You noticed that too?" Buffy said, frowning.

"It was probably just one vampire" Anya said dryly, moving to sit beside Xander. "Dinner's ready."

"Cool. We'll talk with her more later" Buffy said, going into the dining room. She was always hungry after slaying. She paused, a memory flashing through her mind before she shook her head, trying to forget. "Let's eat."

****

"So, four vamps huh?" Buffy said, studying the younger slayer. It was the day after Hope's attack and she had decided it was time to ask some questions.

"Yep. There were four" Hope said, sighing softly. She had expected the questioning the night before. When they had seemingly accepted everything, she had been thrilled. She couldn't explain why, but she didn't really want to tell them about the two girls that had rescued her. She felt the others' eyes on her, knowing they were listening but not participating, yet.

"And you fought one and the others just disappeared?" Buffy said, her tone skeptical.

"I turned around and they were gone" Hope said, speaking the truth. They had gone poof when the girls had staked them.

"You say they were very strong?" Giles said, remembering Kari's words that the vampires that had killed her had been so strong. That worried him.

"Damn strong" Hope said, nodding. "I swear, I've fought vampires before but these guys were worse than any I've ever faced."

Buffy frowned, still not believing that they had simply disappeared. Somehow, she couldn't see them leaving especially if a slayer was involved. A slayer that was finding fighting them difficult. Nope, didn't sound truthful. She also didn't like the idea that some very strong vamps were roaming around the city. She sighed, "Why does that not give me warm fuzzies?"

"Because you don't want to die?" Xander volunteered, smiling at the dirty look Buffy shot at him.

"Don't mention dying" Cordelia said, shuddering. "I'm too young to die."

"Honey, I think we are all too young to die" Graham said, smiling at her.

"Again that dying word" Anya said, frowning.

"No one is going to die" Buffy said, rolling her eyes. "So, did you see any thing else suspicious?"

"Not really" Hope said, thinking about it. "Just the strong vamps."

"Just what we need. Superman vampires" Xander said, groaning.

"Why do we always have such good luck?" Riley asked, laughing dryly.

"Welcome to the Hellmouth" Tara said softly, making a face.

"Home sweet home" Giles said, smiling at his family.

"It isn't that bad" Hope said, feeling like she was finally settling in. She definitely knew she wasn't going to underestimate the town. Not after last night. "Once you get used to it."

"Well, I have to agree" Buffy said, smiling slightly. "This is home. And I don't like the idea of some vampires moving in and going after slayers. In fact, it almost scares me that they are so arrogant."

"Yes, that's what bothers me too" Giles admitted. "To just come into town and kill one slayer and then go after another."

"I'd say they were pretty stupid" Xander said, knowing without a doubt that Buffy would kick their asses. She had to. She was the Buffster.

"I don't know. This time I'm really worried" Buffy confessed, looking at them all with serious eyes.

"You are?" Riley asked quietly, knowing that she had been rather standoffish lately but assuming she was just upset about Kari and everything else. He squeezed her hand, watching the emotions in her eyes.

"Great. Why does that not reassure me?" Anya asked, her eyes worried.

"I hope I'm just overreacting" Buffy said, looking at Giles. "What do you think?"

"Honestly?" he said, "I'm more worried now that I have been in years."

"I think we really may have met our match this time" Buffy said, sighing. "And we don't even know who the enemy is. I really really don't want to die...."

"Damn B. Pessimistic attitude much?" an amused voice said from the doorway. "Don't you know that sometimes you just gotta have Faith!"

****

Buffy's face turned white as her mouth dropped open. She stared in shock at the girl standing there, trying to speak but not able to form any words.

"Faith?" Giles whispered, glancing at Hope and then back at the slayer he had believed dead. "How?"

Faith smiled, rather liking this reaction. Bitchy was struck silent, which in her opinion was the only way to tolerate the girl. Giles was clearly baffled and the others either looked confused or startled. "You didn't forget me!"

"You!" Hope said, smiling as she saw one of her saviors from the previous night.

Faith smiled, leaning against the wall by the doorway. She glanced around the mansion, "Like what you've done with the place."

"What the hell are you doing here?" Buffy finally demanded. She had found her voice at the familiar arrogant tone in Faith's voice.

"In Sunnydale or this house?" Faith asked, deliberately baiting the blonde.

"Alive?" Xander said, staring at the slayer they thought had died.

"Oh that" Faith said, winking. "Don't tell anyone, but I'm not."

"Not what?" Cordelia asked, a headache starting to come forward.

"Alive" Faith said, looking back at the young slayer. "Did you take care of that nasty scratch?"

"Yeah" Hope said, smiling. "Still hurts like hell, but hey, I could be dead."

"Excuse me!" Buffy said, glaring at them both. "I asked a question. And what do you mean you're not alive? Good God, are you one of the vampires?"

Faith rolled her eyes, looking at the obtuse bitch. "Do I look like a vampire?"

"This is the other slayer?" Tara asked Giles quietly, studying the brunette.

"The name is Faith" Faith said, "You the watcher's chick?"

"I'm Tara" she said almost smiling.

"If you aren't a vampire and you aren't alive, what the hell are you?" Buffy demanded, growing more irritated that she wasn't receiving an answer.

"Still nosy, aren't you Bitchy?" Faith said, smirking as she again failed to answer the blonde.

"Listen here you little"

"Buffy!" Giles said, scowling at his slayer. He looked at Faith, "Why are you here?"

"I got bored" Faith said, shrugging.

"Whatever" Cordelia said, rolling her eyes. She looked at Graham and said, "What?"

"Quit being so rude" Graham said, smiling at her.

"I wouldn't know Delia if she wasn't rude" Faith said simply, winking at the handsome man beside the cheerleader.

"Hey, where's Red?" Hope asked, able to follow enough to know that Faith must have been a slayer that had died. She didn't understand what the big fuss was about personally. But she was curious to know where the cute redhead was at.

Xander straightened, looking from one slayer to another before settling his gaze on Faith. "Red?"

"She's coming" Faith said, ignoring Xander's question. "Had some stuff to do first. I wanted to come over and see what was happening at slayer central."

"I repeat, why are you here and who the hell is Red?" Giles said, his tone sharp.

"Ah, I'm really hurt" a voice said. Again, eyes widened as Buffy stared in surprise and Xander squeaked. "Only gone for five years and already forgotten." Willow said, smiling at Hope as she walked into the room.

"Hey slayer girl."

"Hiya Red!" Hope said, grinning. She looked in interest at the two hunks of male flesh that followed Red into the room. "Hel-looo baby."

"This the new slayer?" Spike asked, putting his arm around Willow's shoulders. He heard the girl whistle at him and laughed, "I think I like her."

"Well, we can't account for her taste" Angel said dryly, moving behind Faith. He kissed the top of her head, his arms around her waist as he pulled her against him.

"Willow?" Buffy whispered, staring in surprise as Angel and Spike joined the two people she had believed dead. This had to be some sort of nightmare.

"Be nice, Daddy" Willow scolded, ignoring Buffy and winking at the dark haired vampire. "She's still young."

"Eh now luv" Spike said, laughing at his lover. "I could be insulted if I knew you didn't love me so much."

"Sure got him fooled, Red" Faith said, rolling her eyes. She looked at the gang gathered around them and smirked, "Well, isn't this just a deeeelightful reunion? Can we go home yet?"

****

"You're dead" Xander said, looking at Willow as if he had seen a ghost. She still looked the same as she had the night they had lost her.

"Oh, silly me" Willow said dryly. "I'd forgotten that. How could I forget? You all went to the Bronze after my funeral to celebrate."

"Huh?" Riley said, frowning as he saw Buffy's face turn white.

"We were dealing with it" Buffy said, ashamed of her behavior then.

Faith snorted, "Yeah right. You didn't care. At least be honest."

"We did care!" Xander said, still looking at Willow. "We saw you die."

"No, you saw empty air after Buffy refused to even think about saving me" Willow said. She held up a hand, "Hey, I'm not saying it wasn't the right decision. I've had years to think about it and realize you were just doing your duty and all that mumbo jumbo. Luckily, Spike was there and he didn't have any hesitation in saving me."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Cordelia asked, looking guilty as she remembered wanting to go to a party the night Willow had died. She had been so horrid back then, not used to death and having no idea how to deal with losing a friend.

"Like you cared" Spike said, glaring at them. "Faith and Peaches were the only ones that gave a damn. They found her or else they wouldn't have even known."

"Man, this is sort of like a soap opera" Hope said, her eyes moving back and forth as the arguing progressed.

Willow had to laugh, "Nah, not that cheesy."

"Does it not bother anyone else that we have to dead people standing in our living room that appear to be alive still?" Anya asked, rolling her eyes.

"Make it four, toots" Spike said, resting his head on Willow's shoulder as he moved behind her.

"We died but didn't die so don't worry about it" Willow said, not liking the rude girl very much. She looked at Giles and said, "We were sent here to save your asses and then we get to go back home. SO, can we set about with the saving so we can leave?"

"Who sent you here?" he asked, trying to restore some resemblance of order to the situation.

"The bosses" Faith said, smirking at him.

"Ooooh, he's turning red. Isn't that a neat trick?" Willow whispered loudly to Faith.

"I dunno. Seen it before" Faith answered back, her eyes shining as she winked at Willow. "I can always make you turn red, especially when I bite your..."

"Faith!" Willow squeaked, glaring at her lovers as both Faith and Spike chuckled. Angel just rolled his eyes, avoiding looking at any of the others. He still couldn't forget that they had been so uncaring when Willow had died. He loved her dearly and couldn't believe she could be so flippant about it all. He'd like nothing more than to leave and let them all die, but he knew it wasn't his choice to make. The powers that be wanted them saved for some stupid reason, so they would save them and then return to Savannah.

"You know" Hope said, smiling as she glanced at the others. "I really like them!"

****

Spike heard the new slayer's words and snorted, "She doesn't know you very well, do she?"

Willow smacked his arm, "She has excellent taste, I can already see."

"Yeah, she liked me," Spike said, cockily.

"I think I may puke," Faith groaned, making gagging faces.

"Let him live in his dream world, honey. It must be a nice place," Angel said, his expression serious. "I mean, after all, he is there all the time," he finished, winking at Willow.

"Children," Willow said, stopping the argument before it began. "We are here to work. Thus, we must put on our working attitudes."

"But, Ma!" Faith said, laughing. She sighed dramatically, "Fine. We work, then we play."

"Exactly," Willow said, winking at her sometimes lover. She turned to face a very angry Giles and smiled sweetly, "So, who do we get to kill?"

"I think we might should introduce everyone first," Riley said, having no idea who was standing in front of him really. Sure, he had heard the names mentioned, but Buffy usually changed the subject rather quickly when high school was mentioned.

"Why bother?" Willow asked, glancing at the man standing behind Buffy. "I certainly have no intention of being here long enough to have to know any of you. Tell us who to kill, we kill and then we go home."

"I'm with Red," Faith said, scowling at the others. "Don't want to know any of ya."

"Rude much?" Anya asked, trying to adjust her mental image of the Willow that Xander spoke of and this rude bitch.

"Thanks again for saving me last night," Hope said suddenly, snapping her fingers as she remembered. She looked at the two women, not caring one way or another if they were dead or not.

"Last night?" Spike asked, raising an eyebrow and looking at Willow who was suddenly very interested in the carpet.

"What's she talking about?" Angel asked Faith, his eyes narrowing as he saw both girls looking guiltily at each other and then the floor.

"Uh oh," Hope said, "Did I say something wrong?"

Willow sighed softly, "Not wrong, sweetie. Spike, I guess we forgot to tell you..."

"Yes?" he asked, watching her face.

"We kicked some ass last night," Faith said finally, looking up and facing him and Angel.

"I thought you both promised no dangerous situations without us?" Angel said, grumbling.

Willow laughed, "It's not like we're going to die or anything. It was just three vampires. It was a snap and I honestly had other things on my mind when we came home. I didn't think anything of it."

"Me either," Faith said, running her fingers along Angel's buttons. She looked at him from lowered lashes and added, "I was rather occupied by a certain vampire and showering."

"Oh, that's rich. Blame us because you two chits slayed some vampires, got horny and shagged in the cemetery and then came home and shagged us," Spike said, rolling his eyes as a reluctant smile crossed his lips.

"It won't happen again," Willow said, smiling softly. She frowned and then added, "well, not intentionally at least."

"Forgive us?" Faith asked, looking at Angel.

"As if we could say no," Angel said, pulling her chin up. "Next time, tell us."

"Yes, dear," Faith said, hugging him. Over his shoulder, she winked at Willow as she wriggled her eyebrows, her hand cupping his ass.

Willow giggled before facing Spike. She caught his blue eyes and smiled, "So?"

"Don't remember the question," Spike said, smirking at her.

Willow sighed, making a face, "You just love this don't you?"

"Don't push me, or I might make you get on your knees," Spike said, a wicked gleam entering his eyes. "To beg, of course."

"Oh, of course," she muttered. "Fine, it isn't my fault if you're getting too old to remember things people ask you." She turned to face Hope, adding, "Guess I'll have to start looking for someone young with an agile mind who doesn't make me repeat requests..." the remainder of her words were caught by his lips as he gave her a punishing kiss for even suggesting that she would find someone else.

Faith rolled her eyes as she leaned her head against Angel's chest. "We can continue. They won't be up for air for at least half an hour." She saw Willow's middle finger thrust at her from behind and laughed, "So, who do we get to kill?"

****

Isbell frowned as she listened to the man. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, mistress," John said, looking at the beautiful woman. "There are three slayers. I have heard rumors that one of them can not die."

"An immortal slayer?" Isbell said, a slight smile crossing her lips. "Whatever will they think of next?"

"Mistress?" John said, knowing his next news would not make her happy.

"Yes?"

"Angelus and Spike are in town. They and their mates are back, wanting to take over, I assume," John said.

"That does not make me happy," Isbell said slowly. Her eyes flashed as she remembered the one time she had met Angelus. He had been a sadistic bastard that had frightened her.

"I'm sorry Mistress. I wanted you to know what was happening," John said slowly, praying that she would not kill him for giving her the bad news.

Isbell moved to the window, her eyes looking out over Sunnydale. "I had such plans for this town. The streets were going to run red with the blood of innocents."

John did not say anything, letting her speak. He knew from past experiences that she would not hesitate to kill anyone that interrupted her.

Isbell faced him, deciding that owning this town was not worth facing Angelus and Spike. Add to that the three slayers, even if one was not immortal, and she didn't like the risk. She nodded, saying, "Gather our belongings. We shall leave this horrid town at dusk."

"As you wish mistress," John said, glad that they were not going to face Angelus. He had heard stories about the evil vampire and his favorite childe, and the reign of terror they had inflicted on Europe for several decades. "I shall alert the others."

"Thank you, John," Isbell said, turning to look back out the window. She smiled as she imagined the terror that Angelus and Spike would bring forward on the town. Let them face three slayers. She would find a new town, somewhere in South America maybe. It was so warm down there. The blood so sweet. Yes, South America would be adequate enough. By dusk, Sunnydale would be in her past.

****

Willow glanced up from her place at the table, frowning as she saw Buffy standing in the doorway. After the fiasco of the night before, it had been decided that it would be better if she and the others stayed in a couple of the spare rooms so they could talk logically in the morning. Willow had not wanted to stay, but knew it was pointless to argue. So, they had taken over some rooms. She had not been able to sleep, guilty at her rude behavior even if she knew it was justified. In the years she had been gone from Sunnydale, she had changed so much. She was no longer the same girl that had left town. She had to believe her old friends were no longer the same either. This knowledge did little to help the memories of how they had acted during her senior year though.

"Willow," Buffy said, her voice slightly nervous.

"Buffy," Willow said evenly.

"It's um...well, it's good to see you alive," Buffy said, wondering if she should even bother trying to talk to Willow. The night before the redhead had been downright rude, barely talking to anyone except Faith, Spike, Angel and Hope. She had spent hours talking to Riley the night before, telling him things she had never discussed with anyone before. It was on his urging that she was now down here, attempting to talk to her former best friend. He had defended the girl's attitude, telling Buffy that if it had been him, he wouldn't have come to help at all.

"Isn't it?" Willow said.

"Damn it, Willow. I'm trying," Buffy said, running a hand through her brownish blonde hair. "There is a lot of stuff that happened our senior year that I wish I could go back and erase. I can't though. I'm only human, and we fuck up."

"You've changed," Willow said, noticing the maturity in her old friend.

Buffy snorted, "And so have you. I mean, your little foursome with Spike, Angel and Faith? I know you all shared the same room last night."

Willow shrugged, "I love them. We like to sleep in the same room our first night in a new place. Safer that way."

"I'm not judging you, Willow. I'm no longer in a position to judge anyone, especially you," Buffy said. She looked at Willow, "I'm sorry Willow. For choosing duty over your life."

"Don't apologize," Willow said sharply. She softened her look, "Buffy, you're a slayer. That's what you do. You made the right choice. It took me awhile to realize that, but it's true. I can't blame you for doing what you were supposed to do. I *can* blame you for seemingly not caring at all that I was dead. All three of you were out at the Bronze that night! Do you have any idea how that feels? To have your supposed best friends partying the night you die. I can't just forget that, no matter how much you and the others have changed."

"I'm sorry," Buffy said again. "I just didn't know how to cope with it all. I mean, we lost Jenny and Kendra, but they weren't very close to me. You, you were my best friend. I had failed. I mean, do you know what it is like to know you let your friend die to kill some demon. I felt horrible for days. Couldn't sleep very well, it ruined my grades for that term."

"Always selfish," Willow said softly. "It's ok. I accept that about you. I will do my best not to be too rude while I'm here. I can't make any promises for the others. I figure they'll just ignore you all. I can accept your apology Buffy, if that makes you feel better."

"It doesn't make me feel better and it doesn't change anything," Buffy said quietly. "But, I'm glad you accept it. I know we'll probably never be close friends, too much has happened. I would like to think that you don't hate me though."

"I could never hate you," Willow said truthfully. "It's in the past. Just forget it. I have."

"Fine," Buffy said, moving to sit down. "So, you live in Savannah?"

Willow nodded, telling the slayer about her new life with Spike and her friends. The slayer did the same, explaining who everyone was in the mansion and what had been happening in Sunnydale since Willow had 'died'. Willow listened, actually interested to know what her former friends had been doing. She had been honest when she had told Buffy that everything was in the past. She had much rather concentrate on her future with Spike, Faith and Angel than dwell in events that couldn't be changed.

****

"I can't believe we didn't kill anyone," Faith whined.

Willow laughed as she glanced in the back seat. "You got to kill several dozen vampire, Faith."

"Yeah, but vamps are easy. I'm used to fighting demons now," Faith said, pouting.

"Poor baby," Angel said, laughing. "Actually, if it was actually Isbell that was the threat, well, she is just a vampire."

"It was her," Spike said. "She just got scared and ran. I don't mind. It got us out of that damn town faster."

"You think Hope is gonna make it?" Faith asked Willow.

"Well, I told her if she survived until August, she could come to Savannah to visit," Willow said.

"She'll live then," Spike said, laughing as he thought of the energetic slayer. "Just to be able to come to town and drive us nuts."

"She isn't that bad," Willow said, smiling at her lover. "She's young but I think she might last awhile."

"Well, with Bitchy and the others around, she has a better shot than most," Faith grudgingly admitted. She still couldn't stand any of the people from Sunnydale, but Willow seemed to have forgiven and forgotten. That was good enough for her.

"Still can't believe you wouldn't at least let me maim the damn slayer," Spike whined. "You were very good," Willow said, leaning over and kissing his cheek. "I'm very proud of all of you."

"Hope the damn powers give us a break now. I could use a vacation after going back to hell," Faith said, yawning.

"It wasn't that bad," Angel said. "Trust me. I've been there."

"Uh oh. Fang made a funny," Spike said dryly. "He must be real glad to be going home."

"Shut up, brat," Angel said, smacking the back of his childe's head.

"Watch it, Peaches. I could turn around and head back to Sunnyhell," Spike taunted.

"You wouldn't dare," Angel said, confident.

"Would you boys quit fighting and just get us home?" Willow asked, her obvious eagerness evident in her eyes.

"Sure thing honey," Spike said, winking at her. "Home it is."

She smiled, glancing in the back seat and seeing Faith and Angel kissing softly. She loved them both so much. They were the family she had always wanted. She scooted across the seat, kissing Spike again as she laid her head on his shoulder. He moved his arm to encircle her shoulders and she snuggled closer, glad to be going home.

THE END