Buffy and Connor woke up happy and content wrapped around each other. She looked at him closely as he asked, "No regrets?"
"No Stephen, none we don't know what's going to happen. Right here right now, I'm happy and safe with you. I know something's coming and I don't know what will happen, but no I don't regret last night or this morning?"
"This morning, huh, so does that mean?" He smiled to himself then gasped as her hand began to move over him under the covers.
Buffy moved over the top of him straddling his body as she smiled down. "That means my love that I'm going to give you a proper good morning." She slid her body down his and did exactly that.
Later when they walked down into the dining room Faith crowed. "Well, well, looks like big sis had a good night or was it a good morning?"
Wesley had given Faith and Spike his room so he was sleeping on a pull out in the den. "Leave them alone Faith." He looked at her sternly, he for one was glad the young couple who were so obviously in love were happy.
"It is okay Wesley and it was both." Buffy shot back at her sister slayer. Wesley almost spit his coffee across the table.
"Woo hoo, go B! So S, how is it hanging?" Faith punched him in the arm then began to shadow bow with him pretending to jab at him.
"Just fine Faith and you?" Connor liked Faith almost as much as he liked Anya. Both women were up front and honest they just said whatever they thought. He liked Tara too; she was just so quiet he didn't know her as well.
"No complaints, nope, none at all." The two just grinned at each other then turned when a toast hit them in the back. They turned to see Buffy with an angelic smile on her face; everyone started laughing.
Later that day Connor and Buffy decided to return to the Christmas tree lot. Buffy saw something and touched it with her boot. She was suddenly falling through the ground to a large cavern. Connor rushed over "Liz baby are you okay? Hold on I will climb down."
"No, Stephen, I'm fine. Go see if you can find some rope or something. I will be fine; I'm armed and I won't go far from the opening."
" I'll be right back so be careful." Connor ran off to find some rope as Buffy pulled the sword from the sheath she had on her back.
Her senses were quickly on high alert as she heard a growl. She spun around and there standing about twenty feet away was the Ubervamp. It was coming at her fast, but Buffy held her stance waiting for it. Her new senses were hoping, but this time there wasn't any pain. The Turok-Han couldn't say the same; the closer it got to Buffy the more intense its pain became. Roaring its nails slashed the air as it tried to pounce on her. Buffy spun smoothly on the loose soil crouching low she sliced across the vampires torso with her sword.
The ancient vampire screamed from the intense pain of being so close to her. It was as a wild animal caught in a trap. Buffy slashed, kicked and dodged its fists and claws. It caught her across the stomach when she didn't pull back fast enough. Buffy followed through as he again dodged at her. She ended in a back-to-back position with her sword raised spinning out she sliced across the back of its neck. The Turok-Han exploded into dust. "Man, I thought we were going to have to find another rocket launcher for you baldy. No wonder they bit humans there were just plain ugly," she giggled.
She turned quickly feeling something or someone else's presence. An old woman with long white hair wearing some type of robes approached her. The woman didn't cause Buffy's senses even to bleep. She relaxed some, but didn't sheath her sword.
"Thank you child I have been held here for a long time. I had hoped to go to my rest without ever completing this task. Please come with me."
"Who are you lady? I don't usually just follow stranger people around in the dark. Well I do, but oh whatever. Who are you and why should I follow you?"
"I'm the Guardian and you must follow me child to retrieve the key." The woman simply walked off down a tunnel opposite to the way the Turok-Han had exited.
"Where did that come from? I only remember seeing one tunnel. Of course, I was never a girl scout and grey, bald and ugly interrupted...," Buffy stopped to look down the tunnel the Guardian had went down.
"Child, come along."
"Talk about pushy," Buffy grumbled to herself. She walked down the tunnel into an opening filled with light. "Where does the light come from?"
"Inside," the Guardian answered. Great, just what I needed, some cryptic old lady. "Please come it is here." The Guardian waved her hand towards the other side of the room.
There embedded in a stone stood a gleaming silver scythe. Its handle was black and red, with the tip sharpened into a fine point that resembled a stake. Buffy felt drawn to the scythe like a pulling from inside her. Her feet moved automatically towards it until she stood before it. She put her hand out to touch it then pulled it back.
"Go ahead, child, pull it from the stone you were meant to. It was put there for you and has been waiting all this time."
Buffy grabbed the scythe to pull hard, but it smoothly slid from the stone with ease. She looked at the gleaming, beautifully made weapon. "What do you mean it was made for me?"
"It has always been feared the balance would be disturbed by man in their ignorance and arrogance. Knowing that if someone found a way to return an exceptional warrior that evil would gain a foothold, once again. This blade is to aide in the return of the balance. It has waited for the warrior to arrive and wield it."
"So, it could have been anyone not just a slayer?" Buffy looked at the white haired woman trying to absorb everything that she was telling her.
"It would have to be a Warrior of the Light of great worth to the Powers to tip the balance so greatly child. Do not think so little of your worth and accomplishments. Now I soon must go there is one other thing you should know about the scythe." The Guardian put a cool hand on Buffy's arm as she studied the young warrior before her.
"Wait first can I ask you about my friends. It seems as if the lives ones who brought me back their lives haven't been well good for them. They've all gone through hard times. Two are doing well. The other two not so much."
"Were your friends Warriors of Light as well?" the Guardian asked. She was pleased even though time was important this warrior still put others before herself. Yes, with her fighting for the Powers surely the light will continue to shine.
"Well yes, I guess you would call them that. Most of them had helped me fight since I was sixteen. So does that make a difference?"
"Yes child it does. The Powers are testing them; it will depend on how they survive the hardships given to them what their fate will become. Whenever a Warrior of the Light falls from the path the Powers provide a test to decide what their final fate will be."
Buffy paled at she thought of the things that were still happening or had happened in Willow and Xander's lives. "You mean they screwed up and now if they don't pull themselves together on their own and fly right they'll be punished even more?"
"Their fate will be determined by their transgressions. The Powers are shrewd in determining what fate is appropriate and best fits each crime. Now child please listen to me carefully for the balance will depend on you understanding my words. You will be able to use the scythe, but for its true purpose to unfold you must also feel it. When the time is right, you will know what to do. Keep my words close to your heart. Many ears are listening some trustworthy others are not by their faces they seem the same."
"Huh, oh, just don't tell anyone what you said, got it." Buffy looked down at the scythe in her hand. She looked up to thank the Guardian only to find her gone.
"Liz, where are you?" Connor shouted down into the cavern.
She could hear the panic in his voice. Buffy ran back to the opening and looked up. "I'm still here Stephen. I'm okay."
"Where were you?" He sighed with relief to see her face.
"I found Mr. Uberugly. And, am happy to report that he's history, and as a party favor, I won this shiny new toy. Cool huh?"
She gave him a blindingly beautiful smile; he couldn't stop the immediate smile that spread across his face.
Connor dropped the rope down to her. Buffy stuck the scythe through her sword sheath and climbed up the rope. Connor pulled her the rest of the way out then checked her over for injuries.
She laughed, "I'm fine baby just a scratch on my tummy. It's okay, and probably already has a scab already. Good news is Uberugly's gone. I think this is the key thingy everyone's looking for. Let's go show it to, Giles."
Buffy didn't wait for his reply as she pulled him along to the Magic Box.
That night everyone showed up at the Magic Box, except for Angel and Cordelia and of course Xander.
"Where are Angel and Cordelia?" Lorne asked.
"Cordy had a bad night, and Angel's staying with her," Fred explained.
Giles' eyebrows rose as he looked at Buffy. She just shrugged, wishing for the hundredth time Giles hadn't called Angel. Fred and Gunn were great part for the team, but the other two she could do without.
"Let's get started, shall we. Buffy killed the Turok-Han this morning."
"How, the hell, did you do that?" Kennedy exclaimed angrily.
Buffy looked at the girl closely, wondering at the anger in her voice.
"Seems Giles was right the only way to get rid of grey, wrinkled and ugly was by beheading it."
She watched Kennedy's reaction, knowing something was off about it. Buffy couldn't pinpoint what though, because her sense didn't go off around the youngest Slayer. It was almost as if she wasn't there or something. Tara had said something similar, when she had tried to read Kennedy's aura.
"What does it matter, she killed it. Now, we know what to do if we find ourselves having to fight against them again," Wesley answered her in his most Watcherly tone.
"I just think it's interesting that it's attacked everyone, except Buffy. Then, she shows up to tell us that she killed it. Maybe, we're wrong about the prophecy, about who the leader is and who'll follow who. I think she's the one deceiving everybody. Everyone was right about how much Faith's changed, and she's just as much the Slayer as Buffy. Plus, she doesn't run away every time something happens. How many times does this make Buffy, two, three?"
Buffy looked at Willow who blushed turning away. She knew her former friend had told some stories out of school. "I say we vote on who we think is the real leader and who no one trusts. That way we'll know who to worry about them sticking a knife in our backs," Kennedy said, sneering at the oldest slayer, while everyone looked on in shock.
"Are we too late to vote?" Cordelia asked from the doorway, with Angel and Xander flanking her..
"No, I think you have just as much say, and know Buffy as well as anyone," Kennedy said, inviting them to join the group.
The waves coming off the three had Buffy thankful she no longer felt the pain. No wonder Xander hadn't been around, and looking at Angel under her lashes, she noticed he was carrying himself like Angelus. Something was definitely up with him but his soul was bound, so what was going on? Buffy knew this wasn't going to be easy. She held tight to Connor's hand under the table.
"To make this fair no slayers will vote that will give us thirteen. I'll tally the votes."
Kennedy pulled out a piece of paper and a pen.
"Angel, who do you vote for as leader?"
He glared at Buffy, and answered, "Faith."
She went around the room, until Giles and Anya were left. Connor, Wesley, Lorne and Tara had voted for Buffy.
Everyone waited to hear what the couple would do. Giles looked at Buffy closely then said, "Faith."
Anya turned her head looking at him. "I vote with Rupert."
"That does it then; see Buffy nobody trusts you, not as the leader, not as anything. You should leave," Kennedy hissed.
"Enough Kennedy!" Giles exclaimed. "I'm sorry Buffy. It's just I have to support my slayers. You left for no apparent reason and..."
"That's okay. I understand. My not coming back hurt my relationship with everybody. None of you trust me anymore; so, I'll leave," Buffy cried, as she stood with everyone who had voted for her by her side.
"Connor, sit down. You're my son, and you will stay here with us," Angel demanded.
"Go to Hell, Angel."
Connor ignored the souled vampire as he led Buffy out of the shop.
Angel stood to go after him, but Cordy cooed in his ear. "Sweetie, we'll get him back, later. He'll listen better when she isn't around."
Pushing him into a chair, she crawled onto his lap and pulled his mouth to hers.
"I say good riddance," Xander shouted after them.
Giles ignored the comments; he hated what had just happened. Spike, who was sitting next to Angel, sniffed the air.
"What are doing, Billy Idol? Faith, come and call off your pet," Cordelia snapped at him.
Spike looked at the two closely, his eyes narrowed as he pushed his chair away from the table. He walked out the door, muttering under his breath about stupid foreheaded ponce.
Faith had ran after Buffy, and called out to her. "B, wait. I had hoped it wouldn't come to this. I didn't ask for it."
"I know Faith just watch out for them and yourself."
Connor hugged her close as he helped her into the car. Buffy curled into him as they headed home.
Later that night, everyone was sitting in the den. They were trying to help Buffy relax after the day's events. Giles and Anya appeared in a puff of blue smoke.
"Hello, Professor Dumbledore," Buffy laughed as she ran to his waiting arms.
Giles picked her up, holding her close. "Don't ever make me do that again." He closed his eyes as he held her then finally put her down.
"Rupert has been quite upset, Buffy. I tried to make him think of it like role-playing. Just like when I'm the naughty nurse and he's the doctor but he just wouldn't," Anya explained as Giles smiled at his lover.
Buffy laughed then hugged the ex-vengeance demon. "Anya, I have missed you so. Your view on things is always so interesting. So Doctor," Buffy wiggled her eyebrows as Giles blushed. "What's the verdict? Might I say, really cool entrance."
"Well, hum, yes about that; we were worried we could be followed so we went from home. I take it Tara warded the house?"
"Yes, our little Samantha has been twitching her nose like crazy. What a cute little nose it is," Lorne answered for the shy witch.
Tara blushed, "No one can overhear us here or enter without an invitation. The house will treat everything like a vampire."
"How did you come up with that one dear?" Giles asked intrigued.
"Well I kinda, um, asked the house for protection. I found it in some old Irish text about Brownies."
"Tara, that's amazing. I can't believe we never thought of it before."
Giles looked at the powerful witch as if he were seeing her for the first time.
You're Druidic! I thought the bloodlines dad died out, and their magic lost."
She became still then let out a sigh as she began to speak. "My mother's family has handed down their knowledge in the traditional way. Her line reaches back to the Isles. I used one of her books. Books are rare, most of what I learned was taught memory."
"What's that?" Buffy asked. She knew there was much more to her friend than what she showed the world.
"Druids had no written language; they handed down their knowledge by telling stories. Children would start from an early age, quoting lines in songs, until they knew it by heart." Tara's face held a look of remembrance as she thought back to the time when she sang the little songs.
"Do you have any other relatives to share your history with?" Wesley asked.
She looked away as her eyes turned sad. "My father didn't like my mother's family. After she died, I lost contact with them. My brother doesn't believe in any of it, and refused to learn."
"Maybe, when this is all over, I could help you find them. I've made some contacts that could help," Wesley offered, with a smile.
"I wouldn't want to be a bother."
She looked at Wesley and thought he had the kindest blue eyes she had ever seen.
"It's no trouble at all," Wesley insisted.
He thought she was one of the most remarkable women that he had ever met.
Buffy saw the looks between the two and smiled. They would be good for each other. Who knows stranger things have happened on the Hellmouth.
"What's up with Angel and Xander? I have to tell you I thought my hair was going to stand up when the three of them walked in together. We already knew about the Breast Queen, but the other two. I knew something was off after the other night with Angel..." Her voice trailed off when she realized what she had said.
"What happened the other night?" Giles demanded.
Buffy looked away, refusing to meet his eyes.
"He tried to force himself on her," Connor answered as he pulled her onto his lap.
"I'll kill him," Ripper roared.
"Giles, I already kicked his ass, and told him if he ever touched me again he was dust, soul or not." Buffy's voice left no room for further discussion on the matter.
"This place really is hell." Lorne swallowed a large gulp of his martini.
"Welcome to my old life. Everything should come to a head soon. Giles, do you or Wesley have any idea on the time? I think I already know the place; it's where I found the scythe. There were two tunnels; so, my guess is the one grey and ugly jumped out at me. The end of the tunnel should mark where the big throw down happens."
Buffy paced around the room then stopped and looked into space.
"Rupert, is she broken or something?"
"No, dearest, she's just thinking."
He kissed her head as she cuddled next to him. Buffy turned to look at her watcher; he could see the bright light shining in her eye. He knew that look. She had figured an important piece of the puzzle out, something no one else had seen or thought of.
"Now I know why it looked so familiar. Giles, can you look up or better yet have Willow look up the tunnels. I think it'll lead to where I killed those Raggedy Andy monks."
Giles had to process what she had said. He nodded, as he understood where she was taking this.
"Buffy, I do believe you're right, and that's very sound reasoning. It makes sense, the First must need the power from that particular coordinate. How should we handle this with Faith and Kennedy?"
"Well, since Faith's the leader and I'm the deceiver that leaves Kennedy as the one to who stayed true. My guess is she'll turn on us during the fight. Until then she won't play her hand, because it's in her best interest to get us there. My biggest problem is keeping her away, while I fight the First."
"I think it's time that I call in some favors and find out more about her past. Yours and Tara's instincts are right and she's somehow able to block herself from you."
"I'll call as well. There are still some old acquaintances that I'm still in good standing with," Wesley offered.
"That's good. The more we know about her the better. Any guesses about what to do about Angel and Xander? Are we going to have to fight them as well?"
"I don't believe it will go that far, hopefully. But, Buffy more is at stake here than them," Giles cautioned her.
"I can do whatever's needed, Giles. It's just difficult to on the three of them, plus the First."
Buffy's eye never waivered from his so he wouldn't doubt her commitment to this fight.
The doorbell rang, and Buffy went to answer while Giles and Anya hid. Spike and Faith stood there unsure of their welcome. Buffy let her smile start slowly then blossom into its full-blown glory, before she waved them through the door.
"Get in here, you guys."
They sighed and walked into the house.
"We said we had to come and get our stuff. B, I don't want it to be like this. We were finally becoming friends again," Faith said sadly.
Giles and Anya walked out from the kitchen. They smiled at the newly arrived couple. "It's alright, Faith. We expected Kennedy to pull something. We had prepared as best we could, but couldn't say anything. Your reaction had to be believable."
Buffy looked at Faith, with an apologetic expression .
"Can you forgive us for not telling you? It's okay to talk freely here. Tara sound proofed everything."
"Go Glinda. Yeah, B, I understand. You had to keep it real."
"Got some news for you gits. Oh, and don't go upsetting, my lady, or chip or no chip you'll regret it. Angel's feeding off the cheerleader."
Spike delivered the news with relish at the stupidity of his grandsire.
"What?" Wesley exclaimed then understanding dawned.
"But, isn't biting part of sex for vampires?" Connor asked.
Faith blushed, looking away as Buffy's eyebrow quirked at her.
"Yeah, Junior. Can be right pleasurable for both parties. But, any wanker knows vampires don't drink demon blood. Peaches' such a git. I think they took his bleeding brain, when they gave him a soul."
"Why don't they drink from demons? Plus, Cordy's only half."
Connor and everyone else were trying to understand the seriousness of what Spike was trying to tell them.
"It makes 'em off their noodle; the demon takes over and they lose control. Do stupid things even fledges wouldn't do." As Spike explained, everyone turned to look at Buffy. "What did Capt. Forehead do to you, Slayer?" his voice soft.
"He wouldn't believe me, when I said I didn't want him. So, he tried to convince me."
"That motherfucker!" Faith exploded. Her face had paled, while her eyes filled with hate and anger.
Spike pulled her into his arms. "Ssh pet, Peaches will get his, you'll see." Then in a voice, that was barely a whisper. "T'isn't you. You're here with me, safe. I won't ever let anyone hurt you again."
"He got one lesson already from me."
Buffy moved forward gently pulling her out of Spike's arms.
"We're both okay, little sis, and in this together. It's all 5x5."
Buffy rubbed Faith's back then kissed her forehead.
"How do you do that? What is it with the warm tingles when you kiss me? If we both weren't spoken for B, I think I'd change sides so you'd do that all the time."
"I don't know what you're talking about, F."
"Uh, Sugar Plum, when you kissed Faith's forehead what were you thinking?"
Lorne looked at Buffy a question clear in his eyes. He already knew the answer, but wanted her to better understand what he was about to explain to her.
"Just that I wanted her to feel better and I wished that she believed I loved her." Buffy turned her beautiful eyes up to her friend as she tried to understand what she saw in his.
"Well, there you go Twinkie; your wish or feelings were transferred to Faith with your kiss. Just think of them as angel kisses sweet potato."
He smiled down at her then pulled her into his arms for a big hug.
"So, every time I kiss someone they feel something? What does it feel like?" Buffy's voice was quiet as she looked out at everyone in the room.
"Not everyone honey bun just when your thoughts and feelings are behind it. So, if say Tara were upset and you hugged her then kissed her cheek. If you wished she felt better she would."
"You mean like a magic smooch all better?" Buffy's nose wrinkled.
"No, just a feeling of peace and warmth goes through your body, Buffy. The first time you kissed my cheek like that it was amazing," Wesley admitted.
"Oh!" Buffy looked at all the people in the room. She had kissed all of them that way.
"It's just your inner self peaking out, Sugar Plum, in the most scrumptious way.'" Lorne toasted her with his Martini glass causing Buffy to laugh.
"Enough with the show and tell." Buffy hugged Lorne then went to sit on Connor's lap.
"Not quite Slayer, seems Spike's ole sniffer was going into overtime tonight. Seems the new slayer's scent is on several people not just Red." Tara gasped. "Sorry Glinda. The whelp and the cheerleader have both taken rides on the Kennedy Express. Cheerleader's is recent, maybe a day or so, but the whelp's in pretty deep. I'd say just as long if not longer than Red. Got to give the chit points for shear stamina."
Faith slapped his arm. He grinned at her, waggling his brows at her.
"Tis true, followed them after the meeting broke up. The whelp's gone dark; seems he's into the slap and tickle, without the tickle. Right mean tosser he's becoming, but the chit ate it up, literally."
"But, he'd never even let me spank him when we were together." Anya pouted crossing her arms across her chest.
"Don't seem like he liked to receive so much as give. Very inventive too. Didn't know the boy had it in him. Ole Ken's into the giving back to Red everything the whelp gives her. Smelled blood on Red and noticed she moves a might slower than her usual bouncy self. I then smell the cheerleader's blood on Ken, but hers wasn't on the cheerleader. She has a right bleeding menagerie of peccadilloes happening."
Spike smiled as if he was remembering something then quickly straightened his face when he saw the look he was receiving from Faith.
"All right, so, she has Willow, Xander and Cordelia and by association if not in actuality Angel. What about Fred and Gunn?" Buffy looked at Wesley for an answer.
"They're back together and much too straight shooters for her to mess with. Her moving on them could bring down her house of cards. My guess is she will think they're sheep and will follow Angel and therefore her. She will most likely make a play for Angel and possibly you or Faith or both," Wesley said.
"Our best chance seems to be the sooner we go the better. Giles, we need to have Willow find those tunnels right away. We go in tomorrow night and will already be waiting for you. She'll make her move then. Faith, perhaps, you and Spike could move into an abandoned house to stay under her radar. Meet only at the Magic Box with others around and stay together. Kennedy could decide you would be more vulnerable if Spike were out of the picture."
"We'll call Willow and have her meet us at the shop. Let me use your phone and I'll learn what I can about Kennedy."
Buffy showed him into a small study then closed the door. Wesley went to call his friends as well. Then she went to help Faith and Spike pack their things and hugged them goodbye.