Buffy, Fred, and Dru were enjoying coffee several days later. "What do you think about Anita?" Buffy asked her friends, watching as they gathered their thoughts.
They glanced at each other, not sure who should go first. "She's an angry little girl, but she doesn't want to be bad," Dru said.
"Are you sure that she's ready, Buffy? She seems nice enough, but you can see the anger just under the surface, especially where you are concerned. Could she ever hurt you? If so, I say, screw her, we don't help her." Fred crossed her arms over her chest, her chin jutting out at a stubborn angle.
"Fred, since when did you get a potty mouth? I'm telling Wesley and he's going spank your little bottom, missy."
"Promise?" Fred asked with a wolfish grin.
"Ooh, Freddy's a naughty girl, makes her boy growl, she does," Dru purred.
The girls laughed, making Fred blush, before straightening up to state, "Darn tootin', I do."
Buffy's took the slender brunette's hand. "Fred, she could try to hurt me, sweety. She couldn't do any real damage, though. Anita never learned how to use her power and grew up thinking of herself as a freak because of it. She reminds me of Faith, and deserves a chance, if she is willing to work for it. Anita gets whatever she earns. Her powers will go away completely if she ever tries to use them for dark purposes again. They're childproofed. She'll never know it's there until it's too late, then she's locked down, literally never coming out. See, I wasn't supposed to take her powers; I was supposed to kill her. I told the Powers I don't work that way. This way, it will be her choice; she will in effect, sign her own death warrant and pull the pin."
"Poetic, I like it." Fred bobbed her head, picturing the Executioner throwing the switch on herself.
"She has a strong will for such an angry little girl. Maybe she will be okay, but the Moon is watching her very closely. She won't allow her little star to be harmed." Dru hugged Buffy before waltzing out of the room, humming a merry tune.
"You always seem to understand what she is saying. I can make out some of it, but that moon and stars stuff really loses me," Fred said, looking at Buffy with questions in her eyes.
"I'll explain it all one day, Fred, I promise."
Buffy entered the den later that day. "Fred, Dru, we are a go with Anita. Nathanial, would you call Marianne and get her out here, please? Tell her to bring as much back up as she can. Wesley, have you looked at the sights? Are the alignments correct?"
"I have them all, except the last one, Buffy. It is still off. I should have it pinned down by no later than tomorrow." Wesley responded, showing her the printouts he'd been working on.
"Good. Lorne, will you be able to anchor two portals, if I can anchor the other one?" Buffy twirled around to look at her green friend.
"Are you sure that's safe, sugar snaps? I thought we had to worry about over balancing the atmosphere, or time, or something," Lorne questioned, worry evident in his red eyes.
"We should be able to do it safely on this night within the window. That's why everybody has to be ready. While the girls are casting, they're vulnerable, so their team will have to protect them." Buffy continued pacing, biting her lip.
"Little moon, it will work, don't worry so. We can do this; you will make sure we know what to do. It's not the same as before, so don't make it that way," Damian told her, walking up behind her, stopping her pacing by wrapping his arms around her.
"I'm sorry, must have stirred some acid into my coffee. I was having flashbacks, my bad." Buffy looked embarrassed, her cheeks flushed bright red, while she looked down at her feet not meeting anyone's eyes.
"Buffy, we aren't like your old friends. We don't expect you to fix everything, we want to do our part, and if we mess up, or get hurt, then we did it, not you. Understand, Chiquita? Now, where's my Manhattan?" Lorne grinned at her.
"Lorne, it's only two o'clock in the afternoon," Buffy exclaimed, her eyebrows rose up comically.
"Yes, I know it's the perfect time for Manhattans."
"Lorne, please don't ever change." Buffy giggled, walking over to kiss his cheek.
"You keep doing that, sugar lips, and I sure won't."
"Okay, now, we need to have a team that will be able to guard Marianne. I was thinking about Jean-Claude, Anita, and Micah. What do you guys think?" Buffy watched everyone's faces.
Fred spoke up. "Are you sure that she's ready, or that she'll even want to help?"
"I think she's getting pretty edgy and is ready for some real action about this time," Warwick answered before Buffy could.
"Zane, you cannot corrupt Warwick, bad kitty. I think you're right though, Warwick. Nice play on words." Buffy smiled at the knightly vampire, sending a wink his way.
Warwick ducked his head, blushing from the compliment. "Little star, don't play with my knight. I'll tell your mommy on you." Dru scolded, wagging a finger at Buffy. She smiled at Warwick, patting his hand soothingly. The two seemed to get lost in each other's eyes, forgetting everyone else in the room.
"All right, Guinevere and Lancelot, come back from Camelot, there be dragons to slay," Jason snarked at the two lovebirds.
Dru growled at him, flashing her fangs, causing Jason to yelp and hide behind Lorne. "Don't use me as a shield, you scrawny pup. You played with the big dogs, and got bit."
"Ah, ma petite sorcière, it is always diverter(entertaining), at your home," Jean-Claude purred. He was leaning against the doorframe, dressed completely in black.
"JC, how are you? Long time no see." Buffy jumped up, rushing over to hug him tightly.
"My ribs, chère, you are a little Amazon, aren't you?" The dark haired vampire grinned at the small blonde with amusement, and genuine affection.
"You have no idea, mon ami, no idea," Asher murmured. His pale blue eyes never leaving his mate held in the arms of his former lover.
Jean-Claude heard him, his eyebrow went up, and he looked at his old friend closely. He had never seen Asher so sated. The love and lust in his eyes when he watched Buffy was there for anyone to see. Jean-Claude turned and saw the exact same feelings in Damian's face. He looked at Buffy, smiling and laughing with Asher. She glowed a soft gold; everything about her was golden from her hair to her skin. Buffy glanced up at him with her large green eyes that seemed to know so much. Jean-Claude sighed; his friends were lucky men. He wondered what it would be like to spend just one night in her bed.
"You wouldn't survive, JC, my sweet fang face. Poor Anita would mourn, and what would they put on your grave? Just think of the shocked faces. Nope, I couldn't see you go like that, sorry."
Jean-Claude's head snapped up when he realized that Buffy was talking to him in his head. Looking up, he saw her smiling at him, and he bowed his head to her, before taking a seat to join in on the conversation already in progress. "How may I help with this latest plan?"
"I just knew you were an old softy, JC." Buffy smiled at him. "We need you, and hopefully two others, to guard Marianne while she casts a spell at a pinnacle point. She will be vulnerable, and it can't be interrupted."
"Who are the two others, ma petite sorcière? I would be honored to help protect my friend," Jean-Pierre asked.
"I was hoping to convince Anita and Micah to round out your group," Buffy winced as she said this.
"Ma petite has agreed to this?" A dark brow raised in question.
"Not yet, but I'm hoping she will. She cares for Marianne and you. That ups the anti and brings out her protective instincts. I'm counting on those. What's your take on Micah?" Buffy asked him, hating to ask her friend this question.
"You ask very hard questions, little witch. He cares for her, will probably go wherever she leads. As for his fighting skills, I don't know. You would have to ask Anita or Micah." He gave a Gallic shrug, acting uninterested.
"She doesn't have to be involved, if there are others you would rather have help you." Buffy searched his face looking for his true feelings on the matter.
"Ma petite is fine. I do not know if I am ready to see her with Micah, though. I am sorry. Could we ask Jamil or Rafael?" Jean-Claude's dark blue eyes pleaded with her. He didn't want to spend days training with Anita and her other lover. The fact that he already had to share her was enough to contend with in his mind.
"That's fine with me. You choose your team. You have to be able to trust each other in a fight if it comes to that. I hope no one discovers the sights, but the power will be a big draw. The ones who won't give up their power to call are going to try to find a way to stop us. They will see the ones protecting the casters as easy targets. Unfortunately, they will be right." Buffy's eyes saddened as she looked about the room at her friend's and family's faces. The thought that any of them being hurt caused her actual pain, taking a deep breath, she continued. "Marianne will be here tomorrow, and Anita is coming with her. We will lay the entire plan out at one time." She made a quick get away, waving at everyone as she left the room.
Damian caught Asher's eye. "What do you think she is up to now?"
"I grow dizzy trying to keep up with the plans running in her beautiful head," the blonde vampire shrugged at his bond mate. They turned in the direction of their mate, nodding at each other before following the small blonde they knew was up to something.
(NC17)
Damian and Asher searched through the house for Buffy. They expected to find her in the den, but she wasn't there. They looked in every room in the house, finally walking outside to see her talking animatedly on the phone and walking around the pool. Every so often, she would dip her toe into the cool blue water as she continued to talk to the person on the other end of the phone. She glanced up to see her mates watching her with questions on their faces. Buffy smiled at them; putting a finger up, letting them know that she would only be a minute more.
"I'll see you tomorrow then. Okay, and yes it will be interesting to see. Stop it, I did not," Buffy answered, suppressing a giggle. She snapped shut the mobile phone, turning to see her mates watching her with twin expressions on their handsome faces. "I think I found the perfect person to round out JC and Anita's team, he'll be here tomorrow."
Buffy dipped her toe in the pool one last time before walking towards the waiting men. Her expression went from serious to sultry in the blink of an eye. Buffy stalked forward, her hips delicately swaying, her hands finding their way into her hair drawing it up and away from her face, then allowing it to fall in a golden waterfall. Her mates stood transfixed trapped in her green eyes that blazed with heat ready to burn them alive. Buffy reached her goal, causing a beautiful smile to bloom across her lips. Slender golden hands came up to caress the hearts that beat steadily in time with hers. They continued their journey up to the faces, that were each stunningly beautiful in their own way. Standing on her tiptoes, Buffy pulled the red and blonde heads down for the kisses she desired.
Damian got there first claiming the soft pink lips between his hard sculpted ones. He took her mouth demanding entrance, slipping his tongue inside the cool cavern to tease her tongue. Asher latched onto her tender neck, trailing a fang down the large vein, and then carefully sipping the nirvana that wept from the wound. Buffy hung between them, knowing they would never let her fall. She gave herself over to them, trusting them completely, as they did her. Once air became an issue, they pulled away searching Buffy's face to see how or if she wanted to continue their loveplay.
Buffy's smile turned mysterious. Turning away from the house, and pulling her mates along with her, she headed further into the backyard. In the far corner of the yard was a Japanese garden, it looked small, but wasn't. This was their destination. Walking across a bridge over a pond of beautiful koi, the three lovers melted into the shadows. They came out in a small opening bathed in moonlight, surrounded by lush tropical flowers blooming in every imaginable color. Buffy smiled up at her men, admiring the way the moonlight outlined them in silver. The pulled her top off, throwing it away, uncaring as to where it landed. Her hands quickly went to the snaps on her jeans, working them open, and they began sliding down her slender hips, which broke her mates' daze. They started pulling their clothes off at a ridiculously rapid pace, causing Buffy to clutch her sides laughing,
Throwing her arms up in the air, reaching for the moon, Buffy teased, "Come and get me, boys." She backed up, acting as if she would run if they pursued her, and the games began.
Damian went to the left while Asher took the right. They caught her in the middle, gathering her small frame between their large, pale bodies. Buffy's tinkling laughter rang out in the cool night air. Passion quickly took over, and they gently laid her down on the soft grass. The moonlight caressed her skin turning the natural golden color a delicate silver. They knew all the special places to touch, kiss, and caress to bring their lovers the most pleasure. Hands touched, fingers teased, lips trailed over smooth skin until three hearts beat rapidly.
Damian caught Buffy's powerful legs in his pale slender hands, positioning himself; he thrust forward, causing her to scream before dragging Asher into her waiting mouth. They created a never-ending circle when Asher leaned forward to draw Damian into a kiss. They moved in accord, racing towards the brass ring. Damian increased his pace, pushing Buffy's body further towards the edge. Buffy teased Asher balls, working to bring him along with her and the red headed Viking. Hearts jumped up another beat, catching in time with Buffy's, sweat glistened, catching the moonlight, sliding down the pale sculpted planes of tensed muscular backs that worked to reach the pinnacle of pleasure. Moans and groans joined love words as the lovers felt the euphoric explosions. They crumpled into a pile of tangled arms and legs. Folding their arms around each other, a peaceful feeling settled over them as their bodies calmed. Sleep started to overtake them. Knowing that the sun wouldn't hurt her mates, but that it would cause too many questions that they still couldn't answer, Buffy's eyes glowed royal blue as she glanced up at the moon. Her arm wiggled out to wave around them, a silver circle trailed out behind her hand. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared, only to reappear in their large bed; snuggling together the lovers fell fast asleep.
The next night, Nathaniel led Marianne, Anita, and Micah into the den. Everyone was there, except for Buffy. Anita smiled at Jean-Claude, walking over to say hello.
"Ma petite, you are looking lovely as usual." Jean-Claude kissed her cheek, happy to see her.
"I'm glad that you're here. I've missed you this week. You've been on my mind a lot lately," Anita answered.
"Really, ma petite, you know where I've been. You have only to call me and I will come to you," he purred.
Buffy entered the room, and everyone turned to see what she had to say. "Sorry, that I'm late, everyone. I was waiting for one more person to join us."
Edward walked in as she finished talking. "Hello, Anita, long time no see."
"What are you doing here, Edward?" She scowled at him. Her eyes darkened, going from the blonde haired bounty hunter to the small blonde across the room talking to Marianne.
"Was invited. Heard you were having a big shindig, thought I'd join. Buff said there was a chance for lots of fighting, sounded good to me," Edward said in his best Ted Forrester, farm boy, voice.
Anita turned around, searching for the small Guardian. "Buffy, do you know what you're doing inviting someone like Edward into this? You can't control him. He has his own agenda, and no one gets in his way." Anita looked at Buffy as if she had lost her mind.
"Don't worry, Anita. Forrest and I understand each other completely. He will be a valuable member of the team. You have my personal guarantee." Buffy caught Edward's eye, while she was talking.
Anita's voice became even more sarcastic. "That's what they all say before he slides the knife into their back." Her eyes narrowed, going dead as they watched Edward and Buffy stare at each other.
Buffy didn't feel like wasting any more time on the subject. "Okay. Gang, here is the plan. We will have Dru, Fred, and Marianne casting at three pinnacle points across the country. I will be casting at the center point, funneling the power out to them. When it hits them, they will send it out to meet the other two. When the power meets, it will cover everything inside the pinnacle. The next two steps are crucial. The power to call will be removed and the gift received to everyone we bind. The entire spell will take twenty minutes from start to finish without any interruptions. The other team members have to protect the casters, no matter what happens. If you don't think that you can do it, say so now."
"Who will we be protecting them from?" Anita asked, taking in everything Buffy had just said.
"The power being funneled is like a beacon to the bad guys, including the Masters who don't want to participate. There are always people who want to stop change, Anita," Buffy answered with sad eyes. "Wesley has the team assignments. He will give those out with the destinations."
"Dru, Warwick, Nathaniel, and Zane will cast from Anchorage, Alaska. Fred, myself, Jason, and Jamil will cast from Corpus Christi, Texas. Marianne, Jean-Claude, Anita, and Edward will cast from Boston, Massachusetts," Wesley announced to the room as large, suddenly very much a watcher.
"Wait a minute, why isn't Micah on a team? Why was Edward chosen over Micah?" Anita interrupted, jumping up from her seat. Anger evident on her face, her hands went to her hips, and her chin jutted out stubbornly.
"No one has fought with Micah, Anita. We don't know what he would do in this type of a situation," Damian answered calmly, trying to head off an argument.
"As I was saying," Wesley continued. "Buffy, Damian, and Asher will cast from Bear Creek, South Dakota." The former Watcher sat down after nodding his head at Buffy, ignoring Anita's grumbling. Fred curled up next to him on the couch.
"There will be a full moon, but I have amulets to help control your beasts. The Mother will be watching over you, so don't worry. Jamil, Rafael, are you sure this doesn't cause any internal problems?" Buffy asked in concern, searching the tall Ulfric's and muscular Rodere's faces.
"Chiquita, I am yours for the asking. If you need more people, you only need to ask," Rafael answered, bowing over her hand to kiss it elegantly.
"Buffy, my pack is honored that their Ulfric can help you and will call the munin in our honor at the Lupanar," Jamil said quietly, bowing his head, causing the decorative beads to clatter together.
She bowed her head accepting the honor before continuing with the meeting. "We need to make sure that everyone is comfortable defending their caster. For the next week, we need to practice. Marianne, were you able to find what we were looking for?" Buffy looked at the older woman expectantly.
The grey haired Wicca smiled. "Two should be here tomorrow, and the other sometime later tonight."
"Cool! Okay, guys, slight change of plans, which should make things a little bit easier. Marianne found three witches to hold up a protective spell around themselves, and the casters. The other team members only have to keep the bad guys from the field of play, and we are golden." Buffy beamed at her witchy friend.
"Who are these witches? Can we trust them?" Anita asked, butting into the conversation. Her resentment towards Buffy reared its ugly head again.
"Grrr, bad girl, sit be quiet, or no cookies for you," Dru growled, flashing her fangs at the dark haired woman, her eyes turning amber, showing her anger. Anita reached for her gun, but Dru was on her in a flash. "I said to sit, bad girl. You will have no cookies and no milk either. Be quiet, children should be seen, not heard, me mum always said." Dru smiled patting Anita's face before sitting back down in her chair.
Anita wasn't sure what to do. She looked around the room, stopping when she saw Marianne's sweet face. The grey haired Wicca that had patiently worked with her for weeks was gone, replaced with one pissed off witch. Marianne's blue eyes shot looked ready to shoot fire at Anita, giving her the urge to squirm in her chair.
"Have I given you any reason not to trust me, Anita?" Marianne's quiet voice boomed across the room.
"No, ma'am." Anita felt like a little girl being scolded by her mother.
"Do you think that I would turn my back on everything that I believe in, and chance this opportunity failing?" Marianne shot off another question.
"No," the quite response came back.
"Then, do you really believe that I would bring in, and vouch for people who I didn't trust with not just my life, but all of yours as well? I thought you had come further than that Anita, that you at least knew me better than that." Marianne turned around, walking out without another word, anger evident in every step she took.
Anita watched her go, slumping in her chair, feeling terrible for hurting someone as special as Marianne's feelings when she didn't mean to, she just wasn't good at this people stuff.
"Go and talk to her, ma petite. You have hurt her feelings. Friends forgive each other things like this," Jean-Claude whispered in her ear. Anita nodded at him gratefully before leaving the room.
"How about we take a break, and get something to drink?" Asher suggested.
"Martinis for everybody," Lorne shouted, jumping up, clapping his hands, then proceeded to do a crazy little dance, causing everyone to crack up laughing. It released the tension in the room, and everyone moved towards the bar requesting their favorite cocktails.
Later that night, everyone gathered in the gym. They grouped off into their assigned teams, each team taking turns attacking the others, while they protected their casters. Since only one new witch had arrived, they decided to wait until tomorrow and train with all the members at one time. The training went fairly well for the teams who had been working together. Jamil easily adjusted to being part of Fred and Wesley's team, complimenting Jason's fighting skills.
The big problem was Edward and Anita. They fought each other rather then their opponents. Clapping sounded from behind them, causing the two stubborn people to look up. Buffy stood calmly, watching them with a blade to Marianne's throat.
"Congratulations, you two, just got Marianne killed, along with about ten to twenty thousand other innocents," Buffy snarked, then her eyes blazed at them, showing her true feelings. "Since you have issues, let's work them out. Someone give me a coin." Asher threw her a silver coin, which she caught without ever taking her eyes away from Anita or Edward's faces. "Anita, call it - heads or tails." Buffy flipped the coin up in the air. It rolled end over end, catching the light. Everyone's head watched it shoot up towards the ceiling before it slowly started its descent.
"What? Heads," Anita blurted out, watching the coin land directly in front of her. Glancing down, she saw that she had won.
"Heads it is. Anita," Buffy turned to the petite dark haired woman, her eyes twin blazing flames of barely controlled anger. "Pick your poison. No guns, though. Swords, knives, hand-to-hand, whatever," Buffy shrugged, showing she didn't really care, "you are going to fight this out, right here, and right now!" She demanded, her eyes blazed brighter, and the air became thick with power.
"You're crazy. I'm not fighting him armed."
"Fine, hand-to-hand. First two out of three pins. Everybody, move back and give them some room," Buffy yelled, motioning the others back from the padded floor mats.
"Okay, you've made your point. We don't have time for this. Let's get back to the training." Anita scowled at the small blonde, giving her a hard look.
"No way, you pushed; well here it is, either you take care of it, right now, or I will. You fight each other and get it out of your system, or you fight me, and I kick both your asses," Buffy growled at Anita, getting in her face.
"Little witch, that won't be necessary," Jean-Claude said soothingly, trying to get in between the two small women.
"Stay out of this, Jean-Claude," Anita yelled, shoving him away. She turned back to Buffy. "So, you can take us both on, no fancy witchcraft?" A dark brow rose skeptically, daring the blonde to agree to the terms thrown down.
"Nope, just little ole me," Buffy answered, giving Anita an innocent smile.
Anita caught Edward's eye. "You in for this, Ted? As much as I want to kick your ass, I'd rather kick hers more."
Edward shrugged his shoulders. "Any fight sounds good to me."
Buffy moved to the center of the mat, taking up a defensive stance, then did a little Bruce Lee wave. "Come and get me."
Anita and Edward exchanged knowing looks, dropped their weapons, and started circling Buffy in an eerie synchronized motion. The small blonde closed her eyes, allowing her senses to take over. Her opponents rushed her at the same time; she jumped up, thrusting her legs out, clipping Anita in the head. Falling down into a roll, Buffy kicked straight up behind her, breaking Edward's nose. Anita recovered, and tried to sweep Buffy's feet out from under her at the same time Edward grabbed her, locking his arms around her. She pulled her legs straight up, hitting Anita in the chest, sending her back about ten feet. Bending her body forward, Buffy threw Edward over the top of her. He landed at her feet where she knocked him out with a single blow to the head. Anita was back up on her feet and coming at Buffy again, throwing blows and kicks while Buffy blocked everything she tried, until she saw her opening. Buffy smacked her palm into Anita's chest shooting her crashing into the wall. This time she doesn't get back up. A groan came from Edward. She walked over to him, nudging him with her foot.
"Are we through playing, Forrest?"
"What the hell is it like when you use magic to fight?" Edward asked, trying to get up off the floor.
"Do you really want to know, Forrest?" Buffy crossed her arms over her chest, a pale blonde eyebrow rose in question, waiting for the answer.
"No ma'am. This old boy has had enough." He got up slowly from the ground, hiding the grimace when his body protested from the movement.
"What about you, Anita? Do you want to be part of this team or not? We don't have time for your bullshit," Buffy asked, tapping her toe, waiting for the dark haired Executioner's answer.
"Okay, okay, I get it already," Anita complained.
"Fine. I'm done for the night." Buffy left the room not trusting herself not to hurt the other woman.
"Man, who died and crowned her queen of the world?" Anita bitched under her breath.
"You really are a stupid bitch aren't you?" Wesley snapped, his eyes burning deep amber.
"Who the hell are you to talk to me like that?" Anita yelled at him, reaching for her gun, but it wasn't there.
"Someone who could care less if you are given another chance or not. I frankly don't see that you are worth it." Wesley looked down his nose at Anita, his eyes wandered over her body, letting her know he found her wanting.
"What, like Buffy is the person who has the power to judge me. She is here to judge vamps and weres, not humans," Anita shot back.
"But, you're not quite human, are you, Ms. Blake," Wesley said. "Humans can't do what you do, can they? Buffy came here to help you, to give you another chance because she still sees your humanity. Though, I sure as hell don't. But, don't think she can't judge you, Anita, that it isn't her job."
" Sacrebleu, you don't mean it, non." Jean-Claude understood what Wesley was saying."
"What does that mean, Jean-Claude? What are you saying?" Anita looked at the dark haired vampire, wanting answer and wanting them now."
"She wasn't sent here to bind your powers, Anita. Buffy was sent here to kill you," Jean-Claude whispered, fear evident in his eyes as he glanced at Wesley, who nodded his head.
"What! But, why? Then, why didn't she, someone had better start talking." Anita glared at them demanding information.
"Buffy doesn't kill unless she has to. She felt like you deserved a chance to change. So, she tried to help you. When you wouldn't let her, she found me. Buffy took your powers rather than kill you, but it was close, Anita," Marianne answered her.
"You knew about this, everything?" She turned to look Marianne in the eye, searching her kind face.
"Buffy wanted me to understand how important it was before I agreed to help you. She didn't feel it would have been fair otherwise."
"So, what, I'm supposed to worship at the Buffy shrine now. My life has been turned upside down ever since that bitch came to my town," Anita ranted, starting to pace the room.
Dru leapt across the gym grabbed Anita by the neck and shook her. "You will not talk about little star that way." Anita clawed at Dru's hands. Jean-Claude went to help her, and Dru batted him away. "The Moon is very angry with you, and so is your kitty. If you are not careful, you will disappear." Dru dropped Anita, and went to find Buffy.
"Is she crazy?" Anita asked, rubbing her neck.
Warwick growled as a fireball appeared in his hand. "Warwick, no! Go help Dru find Buffy," Damian commanded. Warwick glared at Anita, the fireball bounced in his hand menacingly before winking from sight as he walked from the room.
"Anita, come with me. We are going to have a talk." Lorne told her, grabbing her arm.
"No offense, Lorne, but I barely know you." She tried to pull her arm away.
"I said move." Lorne's red eyes glowed, and he pointed at the door. She walked along beside him reluctantly. He pulled her towards the back deck. "Sit down and for once in your life really listen." Anita took a seat, crossing her arms. "I have a few questions for you, just answer them honestly. Are you happy?"
"What!" Her mouth flapped open and shut, before snapping closed.
"Answer the damn question, Anita," Lorne almost growled.
"Not really," she finally responded.
"Do you want to die?" The next question came out rapid fire.
"NO!" she yelled.
"Then quit trying to get yourself killed! You're about to use up all your free passes, honey. Buffy ain't no saint. She will try hard, but she can't spend all her time on you. She wanted to help you so badly, and feels like she failed when she had to have Marianne came in to take over for her. Marianne said you were really doing well. My little moonbeam was dancing around she was so happy. She thought you were ready to start working on getting it all back together. Your behavior tonight makes her doubt everything she's heard or thought about you," Lorne told her.
"Then she plans to kill me if I don't do what she wants? I'm her slave?"
"My, underneath those pretty curls is a really hard head. It's not what she wants, Anita. It's the choice between right and wrong. You are response with no strategy, never looking at the whole picture to make sure you are doing what it best. There are lots of people living outside of Anita's world. You don't give a child a loaded gun and not expect them not to hurt themselves, or others. That's you, Anita. Buffy hoped to teach you how to respect your powers, and use them properly so that no one got hurt, especially you. The Powers wanted her to try only until she took out the Council. If you weren't showing any signs of constraint, they wanted her to kill you. Buffy refused, saying that you didn't deserve it. She felt that you needed a chance. Yep, that's the bitch messing up your life." Lorne smiled at her before leaving her outside to think about what he told her.
Anita came back inside almost an hour later to collect Micah, and told Jean-Claude that she would return tomorrow ready to train. He kissed her goodbye, holding her close. "Please, be careful, ma petite."