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Slayer Forever

By Steven Williams

Disclaimer: I own nothing except for an exceptional amount of debt for a man my age.

Note: This was written as a response to a challenge I saw here a couple of day’s ago. I accidentally erased it so I’m not sure if this meets all the requirements, if not Mea Culpa.

Tell me what you think.

Back Story : I’m gonna mess with cannon for both stories here so pay attention. Firstly Highlander: Season 6 didn’t happen, and Duncan never killed Richie.

BtVS: Buffy died at the hands of the master, and became immortal, but no one thought anything of it cause Xander performed CPR. Then we follow canon until Becoming part 2 where Willow was killed by Angelus minions when they attacked the library. Buffy killed Angelus, and stopped Acathla, but never left town, planning to attend Willow’s funeral before leaving. Because Willow has now become immortal, Buffy never ends up leaving. The two notice the Buzz, but not being able to find a source just learn to ignore it. Again we follow canon until the point where the story starts which is about 2 months after The Body.

Since when do vampires use guns, Willow asked herself as she watched the barrel of the gun loom towards her like a tunnel, seeming from her perspective to be large enough for a canon ball to be fired out of. Then, just as the vamp was pulling the trigger she saw Tara jump in front of the vampire, her body jerking as the bullet hit.

“No!” she screamed, scrambling to take her girlfriend in her arms, not even looking up as the vampire disappeared in a cloud of dust when Buffy staked him. She held her girlfriend tightly, kissing her, telling her that she was going to be ok.

“Willow” Tara rasped, a smile on her face as the light went out of her eyes.

“Oh God, Tara?” Buffy whispered looking at the her best friend’s lover, dead in her arms.

*****

Three weeks later

“It’s not fair.” Willow wailed into Buffy’s shoulder, which was where she was crying. The two girls were sitting in Buffy’s living room, each helping the other through the dark times. “I loved her, and now she’s dead.”

“She may be gone, but part of her will live as long as someone loves and remembers her.” Buffy said, “I refuse to believe that my mother is gone. I feel her all the time, feel her love for me, her spirit watching over me. Same as I feel Angel, or Ms. Calender.”

“But I want her to be alive, I want to hold her in my arms, to kiss her lips, to see her smile” Willow began to sob again.

“I know Will, but you can’t. I’m sorry but there’s nothing I can do to bring her back. All I can do is be here, hold you, and tell you it’s going to be OK.” Buffy said gently stroking Willow’s red hair.

*****

Two months later

Willow gently pressed her lips to Buffy’s, hoping that her best friend wouldn’t freak. They we’re in the living room, watching Dogma, and laughing when the urge to kiss Buffy became unbearable to the redhead.

“Willow?” Buffy asked hesitantly when the kiss ended. “What are you doing?”

“Kissing you, silly” the witch replied a genuine smile on her face.

“Yeah I got that part, but maybe we should talk about this, cause I’m not sure that we’re on the same page here.” Buffy said. “Plus we’re in the living room and Dawn should be home any minute.”

“Fine let’s go to my room” Willow said. She’d been unable to face the dorm, with all it’s ghosts after Tara’s death, so she’d moved in with Buffy and Dawn, taking Buffy’s room after the blonde moved into the master bedroom.

After the girls closed themselves in Willow’s bedroom, the silence dragged on, until Willow again kissed the slayer.

“Stop that!” Buffy said with a laugh. “Willow I need to know that this isn’t some sort of transference thing.” Buffy said putting her psyche class to good use. “ I need to know that it’s me you’re kissing, and not just a replacement for Tara. Cause I love you, I always have, and recently these feelings have taken on a new dimension. I’m falling in love with you, and I want you to love me too. Love Buffy.”

“I do love you Buffy.” Willow said looking the blonde in the eyes, striving to convince her that she meant what she said.

The two women slowly drifted together in a long slow kiss, neither hurrying to take the next step. Finally the need for oxygen asserted itself and their lips parted. Then Buffy stood up, and took a step away from the redhead.

‘Oh Goddess, I’ve pushed too far’ Willow thought, a look of shame and sorrow on her face.

Seeing the look on her best friend’s face, Buffy hurried to explain “Willow, don’t worry. It’s nothing you’ve done. I just always promised myself that I’d never make love to someone I hadn’t been on a date with, that I’d never be that kind of girl.”

“Buffy, I know that you’re not that kind of girl.” Willow interjected.

“Yes, but if I stay in your bedroom, kissing you, I’m not sure if I can stop myself, so I’ll go get dressed, cause we’re going out for the evening.”

“We’re going out?” Willow asked her mind still lagging behind the conversation.

“Yes, Dinner, Dancing, does any of this ring a bell? We’re going on a date.” Buffy said as she spun and walked out of the room.

*****

Three months later

“Damn, this job didn’t seem to be so hard when mom was doing it.” Buffy muttered to herself sitting in the office of the gallery trying to figure out the paperwork. “Of course Mom didn’t have to go to school, slay, run the gallery.”

Buffy had made it her habit to come to the gallery during the night a couple times a week, to check that her employees were keeping the place running smoothly. Plus she secretly liked spending the time in her mother’s office, which was still exactly the same, it allowed her to forget some of her problems, and bask in her mother’s presence.

Suddenly she got that strange feeling she’d gotten around Willow since the day she sent Angelous to hell.

“Will?” She said walking out into the gallery proper. “Will?” this time a bit worried. She focused her slayer enhanced senses on the room seeking to find the source of the noises she was hearing.

Suddenly she saw a woman step out from behind a post, carrying a sword. She was about 5 foot 10, with what looked in the darkened gallery to be platinum blond hair.

“I’m Amanda, and I have no quarrel with you.” She said.

“You’re breaking in to my gallery, so I’d say that we do have a quarrel. I’m going to have to knock you out, then call the police.” Buffy said, not the least bit scared.

“You don’t know what you are do you?” the stranger asked. “Ok, I’m Amanda and as hard as this is to believe you’re immortal.”

“Sure lady, I’m immortal. Do I look like a vampire to you?” Buffy retorted, not knowing of another kind of immortal.

“I didn’t say vampire, I said immortal. As in unable to die, can’t be killed, eternal. Is any of this sinking in?” Amanda asked, forgetting to ask how this young looking girl knew of vampires.

“Let’s see if this is sinking in. I’m going to call the police so I suggest that you leave now.” Buffy said backing towards the office, never taking her eyes off the beautiful, sword carrying blonde.

“Don’t!” the thief said hurriedly. “We need to talk.”

“I don’t talk to thieves. I have them arrested.” Buffy said, her ire rising at being told what to do by a stranger.

“Do you remember that weird feeling in your head, the one that drew you out of the office?” Buffy nodded, suddenly thinking that maybe she should hear the woman out. “That’s how immortals recognize one another, how we prepare.”

“Prepare for what?” Buffy asked her mind focused on Willow, and the way that feeling had become just another thing in their lives that they couldn’t explain.

“Combat. We fight to the death.” The black clad stranger said.

“I thought you said we were immortal.” Buffy said her confusion evident. “If we’re immortals how do we fight to the death.”

“The only way to kill one of us is to remove the head from the neck.”  Amanda said, expecting some comment about how gross that idea was.

“So that’d explain the sword. So are you here to kill me?” Buffy asked, no fear evident in her voice.

“Actually I came here tonight cause I could use a new painting for my condo.” Amanda said smiling “But I suppose I could do my shopping somewhere else.”

“That’d be my suggestion, now leave.” Buffy said, having decided that the conversation was over.

“You’re going to need someone to teach you how to use a sword.” Amanda said.

Buffy had backed up until she was right beside the door to the office, where one of the first things she’d done after taking over for her mother was stash some weapons. Including a sword Giles had given to her. She reached around the wall, and found it’s hilt, swinging it to the en garde position.

“I know how to use a sword.” Buffy said swinging her sword smoothly through the air.

“I can see that my question is why?” Amanda asked, puzzled.

“Job requirement.” Came the terse reply.

“For a gallery owner?” Amanda asked a laugh in her voice. “We still need to talk. There are things you need to know.”

“Yeah and my girlfriend need to hear them too, cause she gives off the same vibes as you do.”

“You’re girlfriend gives off the same vibes as I do?” Buffy nodded. “Ok, I guess I need to talk to her too.”

“We can get together for lunch tomorrow, there’s a nice diner down the street. We’ll meet you there at 12:30. We have class in the morning.” With that Buffy indicated that Amanda should proceed her to the door, then she let them both out. “12:30! And when I come in, in the morning there’d better be nothing missing or I’ll know who to send the police to see.” With that parting statement Buffy ran off.

Amanda let her get ten seconds head start, then followed, but when she got to the turn Buffy’d taken there was no sign of the girl.

*****

Buffy usually tried not to wake Willow when she got into bed after being out late, but this time she needed to talk to the witch.

“Willow!” She said, while gently caressing her lover’s cheek. “Willow!”

The redhead’s eyes blinked open a couple of times. “Buffy?” She groaned still half asleep. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine but I need to talk to you.”

With these words from her beloved Willow finally decided to join the world of the waking. “About what, Honey?” the wiccan asked as she pulled the blonde down to sit beside her.

Comfortable in the loving embrace of her girlfriend Buffy took her time before answering. “Someone broke into the gallery tonight.”

“Oh Goddess, are you hurt?” Buffy shook her head “Was anything stolen?” again Buffy shook her head. “was anything damaged.” Again Buffy shook her head. “Ok, so what’s up?”

“Will you know that weird feeling that we get whenever we’re around each other? That sorta buzzing in our heads?” Now it was Willow’s turn for non verbal replies so she nodded. “I felt it tonight in the gallery, and when I want looking for the source thinking it was you, I found the thief. She was the source.” Buffy then told the tale of her encounter with Amanda. “So will you come with me to meet her for lunch tomorrow?”

“Of course I will.” Willow said kissing Buffy, and for the first time Buffy noticed the passion smouldering in her lover’s eyes.

As Buffy and Willow walked into the diner, their hands entwined, they were assaulted by the buzz. “See? I told you it was the same thing.” Buffy whispered in her lover’s ear, before scanning the diner looking for the blonde from the night before, and finally spotting her in the back corner of the eatery.

Amanda was shocked as she felt two presences, wondering in the girl was setting her up. “So you weren’t kidding when you said your lover was like us too.” She said as the two women approached the table. “Please, sit.”

“Amanda, this is Willow, Willow, Amanda.” Buffy said by way of introduction.

“So this is the woman who says we’re immortal?” Willow said keeping her voice even and low.

“I don’t say you’re immortal, fate does. I’m just being the messenger.” Amanda said in the same even tone.

“So explain what you mean by immortal.” Buffy said wanting more information.

“Ok, here goes. Immortal’s exist. I’m 1200 years old, and I’m nowhere near the oldest. Actually the oldest is a friend of mine named Methos, and he’s at least 5000. Anyway we’re all foundlings, no one knows where we come from. We age normally until the time of our first death, then an energy, called the quickening, heals us and brings us back to life. After that any injury heals right up, with one exception. If your head comes away from your neck, it’s all over. After their first death lucky immortals are found by others, taken in and taught the rules of the game and how to use a sword. That’s what I’m offering to do for you.”

“And the unlucky ones?” Willow asked her face a little pale.

“Are found by immortals who decide to take an easy quickening.” Amanda replied looking Willow dead in the eye.

“Take a quickening?” Buffy asked.

“When we kill another of our kind, the energy that makes them immortal in absorbed into our bodies, making us stronger. The legends say that one day when there are few of us remaining, we will be drawn to one place and fight until there is but one of us left. That immortal will have all the power of every immoral who ever lived. The power to rule humanity forever. Or the power to help humanity grow, advance, prosper. That’s why we fight, those of us who care about humanity, we fight to protect them. My friends the MacCleods are a good example, the two of them are probably among the best with the sword, but they don’t hunt for sport, they defend themselves, but if either of them wins the game, then humanities future will be safe.”

“So why don’t you just try to kill us.” Buffy asked angry that someone would presume to rule the world, it being part of her job description to stop that sort of thing, and taking it out on the only target at the table she was willing to attack.

Suddenly all three of the women felt a new presence, and looked to the door to see  a tall, dark haired man enter the diner, and stalk towards the three with fire in his eyes.

“Amanda!” exclaimed the man, baring his teeth, “It only took 300 years, but I’ve found you.”

“Anton, how nice to see you again.”  Amanda’s tone belied the statement, and so did the steel in her eyes.

“Maybe we should continue this conversation somewhere a little more private, don’t you think.” The man proposed.

“Why not, I was just explaining to the girls how our lives work, I guess a demonstration is in order.” Amanda said calmly, her voice full of confidence.

*****

Five minutes later the girls were in one of Sunnydale’s many dingy abandoned warehouses, watching as their new friend fought a duel to the death. To Buffy it was obvious from the start of the fight that Anton was hopelessly outclassed, and the fight only lasted two minutes before Amanda had him disarmed, and on his knees. Willow turned her head into Buffy’s shoulder as the sword began it’s deadly arc, while the slayer watched intently, using this opportunity to learn how her new friend fought. 

As Anton’s head hit the dust covered floor, a cloud of light floated out of his body and towards Amanda, then all of the sudden bolts of lightning lashed out form the walls of the building as well as the decapitated body laying on the floor and struck the platinum blonde.

Wondering what was causing the strobe light effect, Willow turned away from her beloved’s shoulder in time to watch the woman she’d just met float off the ground, her head thrown back and start to scream.

When the show seemed to be over, the women slowly, apprehensively made their way over to the woman who’d offered to teach them how to survive as immortals. She looked dead. Then all of the sudden she sat up with a gasp, and said “Pour toi, Jean-Pierre.” Then after a moment of silence, she switched back to english and said to the girls “That was a quickening, I absorbed his strength, and now we should gather up the swords and vamoose, cause the police will be here soon.”

“No they won’t” Buffy said, “The police here are to quote my high school principal ‘Deeply Stupid’. Still we should scram.” She grabbed Anton’s katana in one hand, gathered Willow in the other arm, and gestured for Amanda to follow them “We’ll go to my place.”

Buffy grabbed Anton’s sword in one hand and her lover with the other and hustled out of the warehouse. Amanda directed them to a little red convertible, and told them to get in.

“Uh, there’s only two seats.” Willow stammered.

“So sit on her lap” Amanda replied shortly, but with a smile.

“I like this plan already.” Buffy said, hopping into the car, and pulling Willow into her lap. “Oh, no. The seatbelt won’t fit. I guess I’ll just have to hold you the whole way home.” The blonde’s broad smile belied the sorrowful tone of her voice, as did the hand that was creeping up the redhead’s leg.

“Stop that!” Willow laughingly swatted at her lover’s hand.

“Aren’t you two cute?” Amanda asked sarcastically. “Now how do we get to your house?”

*****

When the three women arrived at Buffy’s house, they found Xander sitting on the porch.

When he spotted them he asked “Hey did you hear the one about the two blonds and a redhead sitting at a bar?” Then he noticed the sword in Buffy’s hand. “Trouble?” he asked all semblance of the joker having disappeared.

“Not anymore, but you may as well come in cause we have a lot to talk about.” Willow said. One look in eyes convinced her best friend to shut up and soldier.

“Um, guys, maybe we should talk about this in private.” Amanda began to object to the boy’s inclusion.

“Amanda” Buffy interrupted her “If we don’t tell him now, we’ll just waste time telling him later, so we may as well do it now.”

“Tell me what?” Xander looked perplexed, and slightly worried. “She’s not from the council is she? There a new big bad in town?”

“The council?” Amanda asked.

“Yeah, we have some things to tell you too.” Willow said as she opened the door and ushered everyone in.

*****

After an hour and a half of being the calm eye of the storm Buffy was about to snap. Xander didn’t believe in immortals, Amanda didn’t believe in vampires or demons, and Willow didn’t believe that she was going to have to learn to use a sword.

“STOP” the slayer growled, and everyone froze in mid-sentence. “Ok, now this is what is going to happen. Amanda and Xander are going to leave, Willow’s going to go to our room to gather her thoughts and I’m going to explain this to Dawn who should be home in five minutes. Tonight at eight Amanda will meet me here, and join me on patrol, that should sort out the vampire and demon question. After patrol, at around ten, Amanda and I will meet Xander and Willow at the Bronze. Tomorrow morning Amanda will come over and will work out a schedule to teach me and Will what we need to know to survive in this game.”

“What about Giles? When are we going to tell him.” Willow asked after several deep breaths to help her regain her calm.

“After I tell Dawn, you and I are going to Giles to find out what he knows about immortals. Does anybody have any questions?” Nobody moved. “The Go.”

Within seconds the room was empty except for Buffy, who sat down to await the arrival of her sister.

*****

Buffy had to use a knife to cut her hand open to convince her sister that she wasn’t going crazy. Amanda had done it to prove her healing ability, and so Buffy figured it would work for her. And it did, but damn if it didn’t hurt.

Anyway after convincing her little sister that she was incapable of dieing, the two sisters gathered up Willow and drove to the Magic Box.

“Giles?” Buffy called out as they walked into the shop.

“He just left. He said he’d be back in half an hour.” Anya replied, looking kind of bored, like she always did when she wasn’t taking money from people or carping Xander’s diem.

“Anya, you’ve been around for a while, have you ever heard of a race of immortals, that run around with swords, playing some game?” Willow asked.

“Yeah, they can be so fun. I remember once this woman wished that her husband would fall from his horse and break his neck. Was she surprised when he walked into the house later that evening, like nothing had happened. That’s when I realised that he was an Immortal. Those  immortals, man do they put on a show. Wait how do you know about Immortals?”

“A woman tried to rob the gallery last night, I felt this weird buzz from her and then she tells me that I’m immortal, and so is Willow.” Buffy replied a little tersely. She still didn’t like Xander’s girlfriend, but put up with her because she made Xander happy.

“You’re Immortal? An Immortal slayer? I’m glad I’m not a demon anymore, cause that’s one of the few things the higher orders of demons fear, a slayer who cannot die.” Anya said.

Just then the shop bell rang and Giles walked in.

“Giles we need to talk.” Buffy said.

Amanda walked out of the elevator in the Sunnydale Regency, towards her suite then stopped when she sensed an Immortal. “This just isn’t my day” she muttered pulling her sword, and slowly walking towards her door. Which she noticed was slightly ajar.

She gently kicked the door open, and seeing who her guest was lowered her sword.

“Nick!” she exclaimed, putting her sword on the table beside the door. After giving the man a hug, she asked “How did you find me?” 

“Joe told me.” Nick said softly, without letting Amanda go.

“You’re not still mad about my shooting you, are you?” the blonde immortal asked, hesitant to bring up bad memories.

“No, Duncan helped me see the good parts of being an immortal.” Nick said.

“So why aren’t you still with him?” Amanda asked, wondering why Duncan had let such a young immortal wander around unprotected.

“Some immortal came to town looking for Richie, found me, we had a dispute, he lost. Then Duncan told me I had to leave.” Nick said, his voice betraying his confusion at why that had happened.

“He didn’t explain, did he?” Amanda asked, seeing the perplexed look on the former cop’s face. “It’s a tradition that the teacher send the student out into the world, for him or her to learn to defend and take care of himself. This is most often done after the student takes his first head. It means that he thinks you can take care of yourself.”

“Oh! So he’s not angry with me?” Nick asked.

“No. He just wants you to stand on your own, for a while.” Then Amanda smiled mischievously.

“What?” Nick asked suddenly feeling apprehensive.

“I could really use your help, that’s all.” Amanda answered idly.

“I’m not going to help you steal anything.” Nick replied quickly.

“Nothing like that. I met two new immortal girls today, and I need help to teach them the rules. I was going to ask Richie to come help, but since you’re here, you’ll do. Want to go house shopping?”

“Two Immortal girls! Teach! House shopping!” Nick was having trouble making sense of the words that had come out of the older woman’s mouth. Suddenly he felt himself being pulled out of the room by the hand.

“Ok, if I were a realtor’s office, where would I be?” Amanda asked herself, as the elevator door closed.

*****

“Talk? About what?” Giles asked wondering what was making the slayer act so serious.

“She just found out she’s immortal! Now she’s panicking.” Anya interjected in a bored voice.

“Immortal?” Giles asked looking at the slayer.

“Yeah, and not just me, but Willow too.” Buffy said.

“What do you mean immortal?” Giles asked.

“What I mean is can’t die, can’t even stay hurt.” As Buffy said this she grabbed Willow’s hand, pulled a small knife she always kept with her, and drew the razor sharp blade across her lover’s palm.

“Buffy!” Giles said.

“Shit that hurt!” Willow said at the same time.

“Giles! Watch the cut” Buffy stopped her watcher from going off on a rant.

As Giles looked at the cut, little bolts of lightning danced across the wound and then it was gone leaving only a trace of blood oh the hacker’s hand.

“Good God!” Giles said before sitting down. Fortunately for him he was standing in front of one of the chairs that should have been surrounding the table, so he didn’t hit the floor.

  Buffy on the other hand did, being totally unprepared for Willow’s shove, she landed flat on her bottom.

“Ow” Buffy exclaimed, before jumping to her feet, and tackling the redhead, then tickling her without mercy.

“Stop it you two.” Giles finally regained his composure. The two girls stopped, and Buffy rolled off of her lover so that they could both see her watcher. “Now start at the beginning.”

Once again the girls recounted the story of the past few days, stopping frequently to answer Giles’ questions.

Just as they wrapped up the story, Buffy glanced at the clock and saw it was 7:30. “I have to go meet Amanda.” She said to everyone, then pulled Willow in for a long kiss “I’ll meet you at the Bronze at ten.” With that she swept out the door.

*****

“So why are we sitting on the porch of a nice house in a small town. Is there a Picasso original in the house or what?” Nick asked, bored with waiting. Suddenly he felt the approach of an immortal “Oh, you’re waiting for an old friend.”

“No, actually a new friend.” Amanda replied, a bit peeved that Nick didn’t believe what she’d told him.

Buffy stopped dead on her lawn when she saw the stranger talking to Amanda. “Who’s this?” She asked a bit defensively.

“This is Nick, he’s a friend, and he recently went through the same change you did. When he turned up this afternoon, I decided that he might be helpful in teaching you how immortals live.” Amanda explained.

“Can he take care of himself, cause where we’re going will not be a safe environment for non-combatants.” Buffy asked eyeing the tall man, noting the muscular build, and intense eyes.

“He’s immortal, he can handle himself.” Amanda assured the slayer.

“Ok, gimme a second to change then we’re out of here.” Buffy dashed into the house.

“Where are we going that won’t be safe?” Nick asked Amanda quietly.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. I don’t believe her, which is why we’re taking this field trip. If she’s crazy, I may have to kill her.” Amanda returned.

“Follow me” Buffy said coming out of the house in black leather pants, and a burgundy tank top. The two older looking people on the porch had no choice but to obey.

Five minutes later they found themselves in one of Sunnydale’s many cemeteries. They wandered up and down the rows of fresh graves until Buffy hopped up on a grave marker.

“So Nick, tell me about yourself.” Buffy asked.

“I used to be a cop, and why are we in a cemetery?” Nick asked perplexed.

“A cop, huh?” Buffy said. “You look far more intelligent then the local boys. And we’re in a cemetery waiting for vampires. This grave contains a fledgling, who should rise tonight, which means his master should be along soon to collect him.”

“Vampires?” Nick scoffed.

“Yes, Vampires. I know, I know, you don’t believe in vampires, right?” Nick nodded “I’ll tell you what stick around for the next hour, and we’ll test your conviction. When they arrive just stay out of the way, I’ll deal with them. Or if you want to help, you’ve got a sword, right?” Again Nick nodded “Well decapitation works very well.”

The three sat around making small talk for the next fifteen minutes until they heard what sounded like a board being broken. Then Buffy looked around and said “Showtime!”

Nick looked up to see 6 people walking out of the darkness towards them. Four males, and two females, one of whom looked to be in charge.

“Slayer” growled the leader “You brought us dessert, thank you. After I kill you, I’ll turn your friends into walking meals for the boys here. I’ll”

“Yeah, Yeah.” Buffy interrupted “I’ve heard it before. If you shut up now, I’ll kill you quick, instead of staking you out for sunrise.”

The female vampire was stunned by this thought, and never had a chance as Buffy threw a stake into her heart, before attacking the other vamps with a speed Nick and Amanda found amazing.

Suddenly something grabbed Nick from behind, with an arm around his neck. “Slayer” said the newly risen vampire “drop the stake or your friend quits breathing.” The vamp started to gloat, thinking that it had managed to kill the slayer. Until Nick threw an elbow into it’s ribs, and tossed the helpless vamp over his shoulder. Then he pulled his sword and with one swing, there was nothing left but a pile of dust.

With a scream the last of the vampire exploded into nothingness, and Buffy came over to check that her friends were ok.

“Those were vampires!” Amanda exclaimed, having difficulty processing what she’d just seen.

“Yep, and now I think you could use a drink. Let’s go meet the others at the Bronze.” Buffy said, leading the way.

From a block away Nick could feel the bass pumping hard and fast. “We’re going in there?” He asked looking kind of offended at the idea.

“Damn right, cause my baby’s in there.” Buffy tossed over her shoulder, as she walked past the doorman, who knew better then to try to stop a woman who’d saved his life more then once. He did however try to stop Amanda and Nick, looking for the cover charge. “They’re with me.” Buffy said turning around, and dragging the older couple past the doorman, and through the chaos to the scoobies regular table.

As they walked up behind the redhead seated at the table, Amanda noticed that she never even looked around for the source of the buzz. The redhead did relax back into the arms of the blonde that hugged her from behind.

“Whose your friend?” Xander asked from across the table, where Anya was sitting on his lap.

“Xander, this is Nick. Nick, Xander. That’s Anya, that’s Amanda and this is my beloved, Willow“ Buffy completed the introductions, making sure that everyone around the table had been named.

“And why do they look like they just saw a ghost?” Xander asked, wondering why everyone was so quiet.

“I just showed them the real world of Sunnydale.” Buffy said in between the kisses she was putting on her lover’s jaw.

“Ah, the fang gang.” Xander exclaimed, “So how’d you like the entertainment.”

“You call that entertainment?” Nick said, shocked at the casual attitude of Buffy’s friends to the vampires.

“If Buffy shows up with her clothes intact, and no major bleeding, yeah it’s entertainment. I mean I’ve been seeing it constantly for what three years? I’ve joined the fun on occasion, but usually I just sit back and watch the show.”

“I need a drink” Nick muttered standing up walking over to the bar, returning a few minutes later with a tray full of shots of tequila, which he and Amanda proceeded to down half of in three minutes. Then Nick looked up, his eyes still clear and steady.

“Whoa!” Xander said.

“I have to agree!” Willow said “Is this some immortal thing?” She asked wondering at Nick’s ability to hammer back the harsh Mexican liquor.

“Something like that” Nick replied, his words just a bit slower then they had been before.

“Our systems clean out toxins, including alcohol at an accelerated pace, so in order to get drunk, we have to drink a lot fast, and it only lasts a while. Actually it lasts longer the younger you are.” Amanda clarified obviously not even feeling the effects of the tequila she’d downed.

“I have to try that.” Buffy said reaching for the tray, only to have Amanda pull it out of her reach.

“Sorry, but I believe that you’re underage.”

“Physically I’m going to be 16 forever.” Buffy shot back quietly.

“What I mean is that you’re not an adult in the immortal world until you’ve got a sword, and are capable of defending yourself” Amanda retorted cattily. “You’re both basically children, and I’m your pseudo-parent. And I say no drinking.”

“Yes, mom” Buffy returned, giving sarcasm some severe abuse.

Nick decided that he’d better separate the women, before Amanda tried to kill the other girl who he knew to be unarmed. “We’re leaving, meet us tomorrow at this address at 7AM. Wear workout clothes” he dropped a card on the table and dragged Amanda out of the club.

“Xander, can we go have sex now” Anya said, obviously not caring about what had just happened.

“7 AM?” Willow whined aloud then turned her head to whisper in her lover’s ear “That leaves almost no time for snuggles tonight.”

“We’re out of here, see you guys tomorrow.” Buffy said practically running for the door, with Willow in tow.

*****

The next morning at 7 the two girls approached the house at the address Nick had given them. Sensing other immortals Buffy said “I guess this is the right place.”  

“Ladies, follow me” Nick said stepping out the front door, and leading them around to the back of the house, which was surrounded by a tall fence. “Now we’re going to start with some stretching, then a light workout, then we’ll start you with swords. OK?”

“Uh, We have class in two hours” Willow said hesitantly.

“What?” Nick asked perplexed.

“We’re students. We have to go to class at 9” Buffy said, her voice flat and even.

“Fine, when are you done classes for the day?” Nick asked calmly.

“I’m done at 3, Will’s done at 5. And I have to patrol after sunset.” Buffy answered.

“Fine” Nick said “We’ll do a quick workout at this time every morning, then we’ll work out separately every night.” He was a little exasperated by the girls attitude, but then again he’d not spent his youth facing the sort of danger they seemed to take for granted. Then again he realised that he took for granted that people were going to shoot at him, too.

He then started them on a half hour of Tai-Chi, to warm up the muscles, and teach them balance, plus it’d get him ready to spar with Amanda later. He was shocked however when he looked over at the girls and found that they weren’t following along with him but instead running through a different, somewhat older looking kata, which appeared to be placing little strain on either of the young women,  at first anyway. But after almost 20 minutes Willow started to show signs of fatigue, her arms and legs moved like they were weighted, and the sweat was trickling down her face.

“So you’re not as tough as you thought?” Nick asked amused that the redhead was faltering so soon.

“Well well.. lets see you you do two workout in in an hour and a a half.” Willow panted trying to talk and breathe at the same time.

“What do you mean?” Nick asked wondering what the girl was talking about.

“We always workout in the morning, the whole gang. So Will’s already run 3 miles, and done thirty minutes of Tai-Chi, today. Not to mention some light sparring.” Buffy answered for her lover.

“Why?” Nick asked perplexed.

“Because that’s my rule. If they want to come slaying with me at night they workout in the morning. If the skip one day they don’t patrol for three.” Buffy replied, steel in her voice. “I’m not going to lose them because they weren’t strong enough or fast enough. I’ve buried too many friends.” With those words the steel melted, and the vulnerable girl beneath the armour shone through. Willow saw the tears starting in her beloved’s eyes, and took her in her arms.

Nick stared in wonder as a woman he’d seen fight vampires the night before with a strength and courage the likes of which he’d never seen, sobbed in the arms of her lover.

“Shhh! It’s alright.” Willow whispered in the slayer’s ear, then aloud to Nick “We’re gonna go, I’ll remind her to be here at 3:30.” Then she led the slayer out of the yard, and towards home.

*****

Amanda was working hard just trying to keep Buffy’s wooden practice sword away from her body. She was amazed at the ease with which her blonde opponent had taken to the sword. Then a loud thwack sounded on the other side of the backyard, where Willow and Nick were also practicing. Amanda was proud of the skill the redhead had developed in the three weeks since the girls had begun their training, and hoped Nick hadn’t hurt the girl too badly. Then she heard the distinctly male grunt, and looked over in shock to see Nick fall to his knees, clutching his ribs in pain. Then Amanda felt a pain in her own ribs, and her knees give way.

“Buffy!” Willow admonished, but her heart wasn’t in it. After all both of the girls had felt Amanda’s sword in that fashion over the past few week, plus she’d just defeated Nick.

“What?” The slayer asked, as she reached down to help Amanda to her feet.

The elder of the blondes winced “I think you broke a rib.”

“Sorry” came the honest reply from the slayer. The two women had gotten over their differences the first day of training. Of course their solution hadn’t been pretty. Nick had refereed a bare knuckles fight between the two, and they’d held nothing back. By the time the fight was over both combatants we’re covered in blood, sweat, and bruises. Of course the latter had all faded by the time Willow arrived an hour later, and the shower had taken care of the blood and sweat.

“Nick, what happened? I mean I know she’s good, but you’ve got way more experience then her.” Amanda was a bit annoyed with Nick for distracting her.

“I don’t know.  I blocked a cut from her, and started a thrust of my own when my sword stopped in mid-strike. It was like it hit a wall.” Nick said sounding worried, cause he didn’t like things he didn’t understand.

“That doesn’t make any sense.” Amanda started, before she was interrupted by Buffy.

“Will! I thought I told you no witchcraft. You’re supposed to learn to fight fair, before using your unfair advantage.” The slayer admonished her lover.

“Witchcraft?” Nick exclaimed “There’s no such thing.”

“Fine, then you explain what happened.” Willow said a bit annoyed that her new friends didn’t believe her.

Nick then felt something tap him on the shoulder, and when he turned to look her found Buffy’s practise sword hovering in midair. As his mind tried to figure out what was happening, his body tried to twist to face the new threat and take a step back at the same time, which lead to Nick sitting on his butt.

“A witch.” Amanda said, realising that the redhead was telling the truth. “It’s been a while since I saw a real witch.” With those words Amanda seemed to fade into the past.

*****

(1657 Boston Massachusetts)

  Amanda casually picked the lock on the backdoor of the estate of Sir Ron Jeremy, the president of a large bank. She’d heard a story about the money he kept in his home, and since she was in need of financing for her trip back to Europe to meet MacCleod, she’d decided to take from the rich and give to herself.

The burglary was going perfectly until Amanda heard someone enter the room behind her just after she opened the safe. She started to turn, planning to make a run for it, when something lifted her off the ground, by the waist.

“Lets see what we have here.” By the voice it was a woman, a thought that was confirmed when she was twisted to face the woman. “So a thief, and a good one at that, to have gotten past our guards. Now what am I going to do with you.”

After about five minutes of thought, the witch made a decision. She stabbed Amanda in the heart, and had some of the guard take the body and dump it in the woods.

When Amanda came to, she decided that she’d have to gather what money she had and get out of Boston right away.

*****

“That was the last time I met a witch, at least that know about.” Amanda finished up her tale, sitting on the back deck of the house she had rented for her and Nick.

“Wow.” Whispered Willow.

Buffy looked at the sky, taking in the setting sun “I have to patrol soon, I’ll walk you home Dear. We can talk about your being a bad ass witch tomorrow.”

“What’s wrong with my ass?” Willow asked playfully as Buffy pulled her to her feet.

“Not a thing, the last time I checked.” Buffy said before grabbing her lover’s posterior, just to make sure that she was right. “Yep! Still perfect.”

Six Months Later

Buffy stood watching her lover fight for her life, unable to interfere. She raged at the world, the universe, the powers that be, anything and everything that conspired to force her to watch her lover risk her life, in a one on one fight to the death. Especially since the fight was for no reason whatsoever. The stranger had walked out of the Sunnydale night and challenged the redhead, and that was the first time either of the women had seen him.

The good news was the loser seemed to have overestimated his ability with a sword, cause Willow was seriously kicking this guy’s butt.

Then Buffy watched as Willow disarmed her opponent, and with a single strong swing separated the moron’s head from his body. The sight was getting less disgusting with each time she saw it, this being the 7^th since she’d known about immortals. Two had been Amanda, three for Nick, and now one each for her and Willow.

After the quickening was over Buffy walked over and gave her lover a passionate kiss, then just holding her while she sobbed.

“Why?” the witch wailed. “What did I do that he challenged me?”

“Nothing Love. He was a hunter, he wanted what he thought was an easy quickening. He was evil, and he wanted you dead, my dear. Don’t feel guilty for living.” Buffy whispered gently in her lover’s ear, repeating almost exactly the words Willow had said to her after she’d taken her first head.

“That’s what I said to you.” Willow half sobbed and half laughed.

“I know, but I make it my policy to always repeat advice from people smarter then me.” Buffy said before kissing Willow gently. “Now we’d better grab the sword, and vamoose.”

*****

As Buffy drove her SUV into her drive way she noticed the motorcycles parked out front of her house, just before she sensed an immortal. Maybe more then one.

She and Willow shared a look, and cautiously got out of the vehicle, simultaneously drawing their swords. Buffy carried a nice Katana, while Willow carried a rapier. Both of them put their swords up when the recognized Amanda and Nick sitting on their porch, along with a blond young looking stranger.

“Good to see you girls are being” then Nick noticed the cuts to Willow’s jacket. “What happened?”

“Some guy tried to kill my baby.” Buffy said for Willow, who looked really tired. “Speaking of some guy, who’s he?” She asked pointing her sword at Richie.

“Richie Ryan.” The stranger supplied. “I’m a friend of Amanda and Nick’s.” Then he flashed a smile that normally made young women swoon. He looked sort of shocked when it seemed to have no effect on either of the women facing him.

Buffy decided that he wasn’t much of a threat at the moment and walked over to take her lover in her arms. “Let’s get you to bed.” Then gave her a light kiss.

“Oh.” Richie said.

“You got a problem with me?” Buffy growled, a bit defensive because of the way the general public disapproved of her relationship.

“No, I just realised why my smile got no reaction.” He hastily replied then gave her a grin.

“Huh?” Willow asked.

“Oh, I gave you the grin that usually gets a reaction from women, and you both overlooked it, but now I know why. Anyway what you do with your lives is your business.” Richie explained.

Buffy then lead her beloved to the porch and sat her on the love seat. “So, what’d you guys want anyway?” She then inquired of the visitors.

“Mostly to introduce you two to Richie, just to prevent any unfortunate mistakes later. He’s staying with us for a while.” Amanda explained.

“Hmm, yeah. He probably looks better with his head attached.” Buffy said not even looking away from her lover’s face.

“Well she’s got confidence, can she back it up?” Richie asked of Amanda, his voice making evident the challenge directed at Buffy.

Buffy heard the challenge, and replied “Why don’t we find out during my training tomorrow afternoon.”

“What are the stakes.” Richie asked, wanting to up the ante a bit.

“Can you cook?” Richie nodded. “Good, if you lose you cook all my and Willow’s meals for a week.”

“And if I win?” Richie wanted to know.

“Call it.” Buffy snarled back, her ire raising.

“Can you cook.” She shook her head. “Fine then you can clean. You do all my laundry and housework for a week.” He honestly expected her to refuse.

“Done” She said a quiet confidence now in her voice. “Now Will and I are going to bed.”

*****

Amanda winced in sympathy as Buffy dismantled her friend. She fought flat out, no holding back, and the older immortal was having no success at holding her at bay. The were fighting with practice swords, and poor Richie was bleeding from several gashes that Buffy had made in his flesh. Not to mention the fact she’d broken his left wrist.

Her mind came rushing back to the fight in front of her when she heard the impact of boot against ribcage, along with the unmistakable pop of ribs cracking.

As Richie collapsed ho his knees in front of her, Buffy looked triumphant, as she rested the edge of her sword against his neck.

“You’re dead.” She said softly.

“How’d you do that?” Richie asked a couple minutes later, his breathe coming painfully.

“Oh, did I forget to tell you that I’m a vampire slayer?” Buffy laughed.

“A vampire slayer?” Richie said sceptically “There’s no such thing as vampires.”

“Wanna bet. We’ll go double or nothing.” She waggled her eyebrows challengingly.

“Nope, I’ll cook for a week like we agreed. So what do you mean about Vampires.” He started to laugh then moaned as his ribs still hurt.

“I’ll show you tonight, it’ll be fun.” Buffy said.

“What the hell happened here?” Willow said trying to sound  angry, as she walked into the backyard. 

“I won us a cook for the next couple days.” Buffy said sounding proud of herself.

“Buffy, you cheated. I mean I could beat him.” Her lover replied before rewarding Buffy with a kiss.

“Maybe right now I could, but give me half an hour.” Richie started, before noticing Nick shaking his head. “What? Is she a vampire slayer too?”

“No.” Willow said, smiling like the cat that just ate the canary. Then Richie saw his and Buffy’s swords float into the middle of the backyard and start slowly duelling. As his jaw hit the ground she said “I’m a witch.”

“A witch?” Richie asked incredulous.

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, then are dreamt of in your philosophy.” Buffy quoted at the still stunned immortal.

“See why I think they’ll be around for a while?” Nick asked of his silent friend.

“Yeah, I can see them surviving.” Richie finally said, still staring at the two women who were starting to make out.

“Ahem.” Amanda got their attention before they got carried away. “Buffy, it’s time for you to show Richie the real world of Sunnydale.”

“What do you mean, real world?” the youngster in question asked.

“Vampires!” Amanda and Nick said together.

*****

“So how did you convince my friends that vampires exist?” Richie asked for the hundredth time since they’d left the older couple at their house. “Did Willow cast some kind of spell?”

“No! For the last time vampires are real.” Buffy said exasperated with him.

“Yeah, and they hang around in cemeteries, right. Is that why we’re here.”

“Who’s the new blood, and when did you two break up” A sardonic British voice asked out of the dark.

“Spike, where’ve you been?” Willow asked ignoring the second question.

“Went to see the poof.” Spike replied.

“You went to see Angel? Why?” Buffy asked, knowing that the two vamps hated each other.

“It’s a vampire thing, every so often you get this yearning to see you sire. I’ve had it before and not seen Angel, but it takes a long time for the desire to go away, so since I knew where he was I went for a visit.” Spike explained simply.

“And?” Buffy urged.

“I helped his Scooby gang kill some demons, and now I’m home.” Spike replied defensively.

“Hey Spike, do me a favour. Put on your game face!” Buffy said.

“What do you mean gamef” Richie said before looking into Spike’s demonic visage. “Wha What are you?” He stammered.

“Richie Ryan, William The Bloody, AKA Spike the vampire. Uncle Sam did some work on him, and now he can’t hurt anything human, so he helps us kill demons.” Willow made her grand introductions, a smirk on her face.

“Hey Spike, want to see something cool?” Buffy asked, her voice teasing.

“Like what?” Spike said, knowing that the joke was going to be on him.

Spike’s eyes got great big as he watched Buffy and Willow simultaneously pull knives and cut their palms open. They got even wider when he saw the wounds heal in seconds on both the slayer and the witch.

“How the bloody hell?” Spike inquired in an angry tone of voice.

“We’re immortal!” the two girls said their tones even.

“Funny, cause I can hear your hearts beating.” Spike retorted.

“We didn’t say we were vamps. We said immortal.” Willow said in her best professorial tone of voice.

“Ok what’d I miss.” Spike asked, his curiosity piqued.

*****

Later that evening after both patrol and the explanation wrapped up, Spike was pondering what this was going to mean to the demon community.

He knew what it would mean to him, if he was still the big bad. It’d mean it was time to get the hell out of Dodge. But on the other hand, since at the moment he was fighting on the side of good, it meant that the slayer couldn’t be stopped, that the demons had better beware. Especially since the slayer and the witch now both carried razor sharp swords, and knew how to use them, as he’d seen them demonstrate on several vampires that evening.

Yep, Demons of the world beware, the slayer was coming.

*****

Meanwhile at the Summers residence things were progressing along a different line, as Willow had prepared a late dinner for the woman she loved. The two sat eating in a comfortable silence, each watching the other through the flames from the candles, which were nothing compared to the fires burning in the eyes of the young lovers.

After dinner Buffy was washing the dishes, when Willow wrapped her arms around her, and started gently rubbing her stomach, her fingers slowly reaching lower and lower on the slayers body.

“Will, We really shouldn’t do this in the kitchen.” Buffy moaned to her lover, before pulling the plug on the sink. “Let’s go to bed, the dishes will still be here in the morning.”

Two months later

“So Xander, what’s the what?” Buffy asked as she walked into the Magic Box with her arm around Willow, who wandered away to look at what Dawn had once describe as ‘all the magic junk’. Buffy examined the other occupants of the shop, taking in Giles behind the counter, Dawn sitting at the table doing her homework, Xander holding Anya from behind with his hands around her waist.

“Well, Buff. We got some news today.” Xander started before the love of his life cut him off with “I’m going to have a baby. We’re very excited.”

“An!” Xander half chastised and half whined. “We agreed I could tell them.”

“Right, Sorry.” Anya actually looked sorry, a look she’d been trying to perfect the last couple of months. “You could tell them now.” She then said her voice much more cheerful. “I bet they’d pretend I hadn’t told them.”

While this fascinating exchange was going on, everyone else in the shop had frozen as the former vengeance demon’s words sunk in. The first one to actually have a reaction was Xander’s life long best friend, who flew across the room to take the couple in a bear hug. She was just seconds ahead of Buffy, followed by Dawn. All three were behaving in a way only women in the presence of a newly pregnant woman can. The words flowed, occasionally even into sentences, but mostly just into a lake of incomprehensibility. After this had gone on for five minutes, Xander wormed his way out of the mob of women, and went to talk to Giles.

“Congratulations! You’ll make a fine father.” The older man said, extending his hand.

Xander grabbed his hand, and Giles could see the worry in his eyes. “I hope so. I’m just not sure if I’m ready.”

“Have faith in yourself. You’ll be a good parent. Actually knowing you, You’ll do a good job just to spite your parents.” Giles said a twinkle in his eyes.

“Oh, yeah that’s the other thing I have to do today.” Xander said a mysterious smile on his face. He walked over to where the girls were still gushing nonsensically. He loudly cleared his throat to gain their attention then gestured like he was parting the Red Sea. As the girls moved leaving only Anya in front of him Xander went to one knee, took Anya by the hand and asked “Anya, I love you, will you marry me”

Once again everyone in the shop froze, waiting the expectant mother’s answer with baited breath.

“Yes, Xander. Yes I’ll marry you.” Anya said tears forming in her eyes as she pulled Xander up and gave him a long passionate kiss.

The round of applause Giles started continued until the couple stopped kissing then everyone lined up to congratulate the couple.

*****

“You know  a couple of months ago, I didn’t believe in vampires.” Richie said as he swung his sword through the neck of one of Sunnydale’s vampires.

“Yeah, well things change.” Amanda said as she cut off a vamps arm, then it’s head. “After all, there was a time, when the horse was the fastest way to travel, and the maps of the earth had places marked ‘Here be dragons’.” She looked around for more vamps to fight, but the alley was empty except for the two of them. “I wonder how Buffy’s new sword is working out.”

“Yeah, that dowel along the back edge of her Katana was a cool idea. It lets her dust vamps with either the edge, or a thrust.” Richie commented as the two immortals headed towards the cemetery where Buffy had said she’d be.

As the walked in they saw the slayer run a vamp through with her swords, and smile as it turned to dust on her blade. Meanwhile Willow was a short distance away, trying out a new fireball spell, under combat conditions. So far, it looked to be a very successful trial, as she was throwing rapid fire fireballs at any vamp that came near her, as well as taking pot shots at Buffy’s attackers.

“They seem to be having fun.” Amanda commented dryly.

“Hey, watch where you throw that fire, witch!” Buffy shouted as fireballs went by her on either side, striking two vamps.

“That’s it no nookie for you tonight.” Willow said, just before she and Buffy sensed the approach of the other immortals, and scanned the area until the noticed the blond immortals approach.

“Where’s Nick?” Willow asked, wondering why the ex-cop wasn’t with the others.

“He got called to Paris for a job.” Amanda said clearly annoyed that Bert Myers offer had been more attractive then  spending time with her.

“Now Amanda, he did get offered 25 large for 3 days work.” Richie tried to reason with the slayer.

“Hmmph.”

“Oh, come on Amanda, we can have lots of fun without Nick.” Willow said.

“Was that an proposition?” Amanda returned, knowing that the witch would turn bright red.

Buffy glared at the older immortal, while rubbing her lover’s back and encouraging her to breath.

Just then Xander walked up to the group, startling them, so that they all turned in his direction swords at the ready. “Uhh, I come in peace?” He offered his hands in the air.

“Xander!” Willow gasped out of breath. “Shouldn’t you be at home with your pregnant fiancé?”

“I couldn’t sleep. Will I need to talk.” The lone mortal in the group said.

“Anya’s pregnant? And you’re engaged?” Richie asked. When he received a nod in response he said “Hey man, congrats.”

“Thanks. Will, could we please talk?” Xander seemed distracted.

“Of course. Buffy, I’ll be home in a while. Everyone else, see you later.” With that the redhead gathered her best male friend and the two walked out into the dark.

*****

“Will, I don’t know if I can be a father. I’m not ready. I know nothing about kids, and what kind of life can I offer a child.” Xander babbled, sitting on a bench in the park.

Willow pulled her childhood friend in to a hug, and said “Xander, think of the past couple years. Have you really failed at anything that you really wanted? You wanted to date Cordy, and you did. You wanted to succeed where your parents failed, and you did. You wanted to fall in love and you did. You can do anything you want, and you know I’ll be there to support you. So will the others. We love you, and believe in you, now you just have to believe in yourself. You’ve got plenty of time to learn about children, and you’re a hard working and honest person who’s found a career that you can both succeed at and enjoy.”

“I don’t know Will. I’ve also messed a lot of things up. I kissed you and cost us both our relationships. I slept with Faith and almost let her kill me. I” Xander just stopped talking allowing himself to remember the past.

“Xander, you’re going to be a great parent, and Buffy and I are going to be incredible aunts. Now go home to Anya, and let her comfort you in the one way I’m unable to.” Willow put on her dreaded resolve face, and Xander capitulated gracefully.

“Yes Ma’am.”

“Xander!”

“Riley? Is that you?” Xander asked as the soldier stepped out of the shadows about a block from his apartment. He extended his hand, which contained a cross, and Riley recoiled. “Great you’re a vampire. Man, I’d love to stay and fight, but if I kill you, Willow would be very upset. She was going to beat the shit out of you, human or not, but now that you’re a vampire, it’s going to be ugly.” Xander then threw a bottle of Holy water into Riley’s face, and bolted for home.

He was just inside when he heard the thud as Riley collided with the barrier baring him from entering.

“An?” he called out still keeping an eye on the vampire.

“Yeah!” his future wife replied coming towards the living room. “Oh Riley, Hi.”

“Don’t invite him in!” Xander said tersely “He’s a vampire.”

“Oh.” Anya said then turned to Riley and said “I’m sorry.”

“Be sorry for yourself, bitch.” Riley snapped back, his demonic visage coming to the fore.

“Watch your mouth about my fiancé, you little leech.” Xander snarled, grabbing a water pistol full of Holy water from the closet and pointing it at the vamp. “You should know what this is, you gave it to me. Now get lost, or I’ll decide that facing Willow’s anger is worth it.”

Riley decided that a tactical retreat was a good idea, and ran.

“I’ve got to call the others.” Xander said, picking up the phone.

*****

Buffy and Willow were in the middle of a session of unarmed sparing when the phone rang, so Buffy was breathing a little heavy when she answered the phone “Hello!” The voice on the other end made her blood run cold.

“Riley?” She asked a bit worried. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Willow answer her cell phone.

“Hi, Buffy.” Riley’s voice said into one ear, while the other heard Willow say “Riley’s a vampire?”

“So, how’s life without the sun?” she inquired into the phone.

“So Xander told you already, huh? I didn’t think he’d had time yet.” Riley said “Well, I guess that means you won’t be inviting me in.”

“Not a chance. Actually, I won’t even be the one to kill you, cause Willow called it.” Buffy said. “Something about keeping a promise.”

“I’m so afraid of a little girl with a shovel.” Riley’s tone was full of sarcasm.

“You should be.” Buffy replied.

“Well, I’m not. I’ll enjoy killing all your friends, then I’ll turn you, make you mine forever.” Riley said.

“Wow, I’ve never heard that before.” Buffy said, then covered the mouth piece and asked Will “Do you want to tell him, or should I?”

“I’ll do it.” Will said, an evil glint in her eye, as she took the phone. “Riley? Hi, I just wanted to thank you for being so inadequate as a lover that you drove Buffy into my bed.” Willow’s voice was full of laughter. “Buffy says my little finger is bigger then your equipment.”

“I’m going to rip your heart out. How dare you touch my” was all that Riley managed to say before Willow hung up the phone.

“Xander is calling Giles, and we’ll tell Dawn in the morning.” Willow said.

“And tomorrow we hunt him down, and make him dust.” Buffy said, her voice betraying her desire to kill Riley.

“He’s mine.” Willow said before passionately kissing her lover “I’m going to beat him to death with a shovel.”

“Why a shovel?” her curious lover inquired.

“When Riley was asking how to woo you, I told him that if he hurt you, I  would beat him to death with a shovel, and I always keep my word.”

“Speaking of your word, I believe you promised me I could ravish your body this evening.” Buffy said, cupping Willow’s buttocks and kissing her passionately.

“Like I said, I always keep my word.” Willow reached her hand between their bodies and gently tweaked a nipple. “So take me to bed, cause last time we made love in the kitchen, Dawn walked in.” Willow turned bright red, just at the thought, not that Buffy’s roaming hands weren’t contributing to the flushed state of her skin.

*****

Anya cringed at the crunch sound. She’d turned her back ten minutes previously, finding herself grossed out by what Willow was doing to poor Riley. Sure he was a vampire, but was it really necessary to keep hitting him with the shovel? All the bones in his body looked to be powder, and most of the blood that should have been in his body was spread on the walls of the alley.

The fight hadn’t ever been fair. Willow had trapped Riley with a binding spell, then proceeded to methodically crush every bone in his body.

“Hmm, what do you think?” Willow said, taking her lover in her arms and giving her a kiss.

“Well, I think he’s not going to be a threat for quite some time.” Buffy said, a bit worried by the feral look in her lover’s eyes.

“No, I mean what should we do to him now.” Willow asked, sounding lost in bloodlust.

“Stake him.” Xander said.

“What?”

“Stake him, Will.” Xander repeated. “We don’t torture vampires, we kill them. Look at him. What’s next, have him drawn and quartered? Maybe stuff him into an Iron Maiden? He was our friend at one time, and we owe it to him to kill him, but this is wrong. I’m leaving.” With that Xander gathered Anya to him, and walked brusquely out of the alley.

“He’s right.” Buffy said slowly. “Yes he hurt me, but he’s paid for that, now it’s time to put him out of his misery. Unless you want to keep him as a pet.” The sarcasm dripped for the slayer’s words.

“Fine!” Willow put down her shovel, drew her sword and with one quick turn, decapitated the pathetic vampire lying in front of her.

The gleam hadn’t left Willow’s eyes with Riley’s death, though.

“Let’s go kill some demons!” Willow almost shouted before tearing out of the alley, hunting for something to kill.

“Will!” Buffy called after her, before taking off after her lover at full slayer speed. She caught up with Will at the gate to Restfield cemetery, where the redhead had found her first demon.

The thing was seven feet tall, and weighed at least 450 pounds, and it was sort of funny watching this huge monster being overcome by a slight girl.

Buffy saw several opportunities for Willow to finish the fight, but instead she kept hacking at the demon, like she wanted to make it suffer. Finally Buffy walked up behind the demon, which was fighting from one knee, because Will had hamstrung the beast, and decapitated it with one swift blow.

“What did you do that for?” Willow shouted at her girlfriend, waving her sword around wildly.

Buffy dropped her sword, and walked slowly up to the woman she loved, whispering “I love you Will!” as she took her in her arms and gave her a light kiss.

“What are we doing here?” Willow said as if just waking up. “What did you do to that demon?” She then asked looking at the shredded demon carcass before them.

“I just killed it, you’re the one who made it into hamburger.” Buffy said smiling now that Willow seemed to be back to normal.

“I did that?” She pointed at the demon.

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. After you beat Riley to a pulp, you just went nuts.” Buffy tried to downplay the incident.

“I beat Riley to a to a pulp?” Willow gasped. “Really?”

“You broke every bone in his body. Even Anya couldn’t watch.” Buffy said.

“I can’t remember any of this. It’s like I wasn’t in control of my body.” Willow paled, freaked by her apparent loss of control, and started to cry.

“Shh!” Buffy said holding the woman she loved more then life itself. “Don’t cry, it’ll be alright. Let’s get you home, some sleep will do you good.”

*****

Buffy woke up when Willow screamed and sat up. The slayer gathered the wiccan in her arms and started to sooth her, gently rubbing her back.

Both girls were startled by the knock at the door. “Are you guys alright?” Dawn asked.

“Yeah we’re fine. Come in if you want.” Buffy said, after making sure that the two of them were decent.

“I heard someone scream.” Dawn said from the doorway, taking in the sobbing redhead cradled against her sister.

“I think Will had a nightmare. You can go back to bed if you want.” Buffy explained.

“Will?” Dawn asked hesitantly “Is there anything I can do or get for you.”

Willow wiped her eyes on Buffy’s yummy sushi pyjamas, then looked at Dawn and said “No, I’m fine now. Thank you though.”

“Ok, then I’m going back to bed.” With that Dawn closed the door.

“Share time, Will.” Buffy said, puling the hacker so that she was sitting against her. “Tell doctor Buffy what’s wrong.”

“I think I’m going insane.” Willow blurted, then silence began a long and uninterrupted reign in the room.

Finally Buffy decided that Willow really wasn’t going to elaborate. “What makes you think that?”

“I’m having really bad nightmares. I keep seeing images of violence, images of me killing my friends, dominating you, whipping you bloody, then fucking you. I keep seeing myself killing my parents, ripping them to shreds.”  Willow whispered softly.

“Will, they’re just dreams.” Buffy tried to soothe her.

“Are they?” the witch asked “tonight I freaked out. What if I’d attacked you, or Xander?”

“But you didn’t!” Buffy insisted.

“Buffy, I love you, but I think I need to be away from you for a while.” Willow said, her face determined.

“I don’t want you to go.” Buffy said, her own tears beginning to flow.

“I know, and I don’t want to but I have to.” Willow said.

“Where will you go?” Buffy asked.

“LA. I’ll stay with Angel in the hotel, maybe he can help me sort some stuff out, and I can help him.” Willow decided.

“For how long?”

“Two weeks, a month at the most.” Willow said.

“I love you more then anything, and if something happens to you, I’ll die.” Buffy said.

“I’ll be fine, except for the whole missing you thing, and the missing Dawn thing, and the spending time around Wesley and Cordelia thing.” Willow started to babble.

Buffy stopped her with a kiss. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

As they watched the bus roll away, Buffy and Dawn gave each other a hug. “She’ll be back soon” Dawn said to her big sister, then wiped a tear from her eye.

*****

“Angel?” Willow called out as she opened the door to the Hyperion, causing a flurry of activity.

“Angel’s not he” One of the two brunettes in the room started before recognition set in.

The other immediately started to look for an escape route. Trying to get some time to think she said “Red. Hold on.”

Willow took in the dishevelled look of Faith and Cordelia then said “Faith, don’t worry. I’m not looking for trouble. I assume that if Cordy is making out with you you’re not evil, right?”

“Right.” Faith said her eyes on the floor.

“Ok, then so when’s Angel due back?” The redheaded witch asked.

“He just left with Gunn to take out a nest. It could be a couple of hours.” Cordelia replied. “Is there something I can do to help?”

“I sorta need a place to stay for like two weeks a month tops.” Willow said embarrassed to be basically begging for shelter.

“Shouldn’t be a problem, Angel’s got lots of room” Faith said gesturing around the lobby.

“If for some reason, he won’t let you stay, Will, you can sleep on my couch, but you might need earplugs.” Cordy said, then blushed when Faith grinned at her, with lust in her eyes.

“Thanks.” Willow said hesitantly.

“So how’s Sunnydale?” Cordy asked to make conversation.

“Good and bad, as usual.” Willow said distractedly.

“So why are you here?” Faith asked, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. “When I heard you’d hooked up with B, I figured you’d never leave.”

“Well, a lot of stuff has happened lately, and I need some time to think, without Buffy’s constant reassurance that everything will be ok.” Willow tried to explain why she’d left her lover.

“Well, we could always use the help.” Cordy said.

Faith on the other hand wanted to know what had happened.

“There’s this thing that we found out about ourselves, and I’m not sure how” Willow stopped talking as she felt the presence of another immortal, and turned to face the door.

“Willow?” Angel asked before realising that the redhead was looking right past him at Gunn.

“I have no quarrel with you, nor do I want one.” The young looking black man addressed the witch.

“What are you talking about?” Faith asked Gunn, who ignored her. “And why are you talking like that?”

“I’m here to visit a friend, I don’t want a fight either.” Willow said, removing her hand from under her coat, as Gunn did the same thing.

“Excuse me?” Cordelia interjected “But what the hell are you two doing, how do you know each other?”

“We don’t” They both said at the same time.

“Then why the private conversation?” Faith backed her girlfriend up.

“They don’t know about you?” Willow asked Gunn.

“It never came up. They don’t know about you either.” He replied.

“Yes, but I just found out.”

“Oh.”

“If you two don’t stop that I’m going to become very angry.” Cordy threatened.

“You’ve known them longer, you tell them.” Gunn said.

“Ok, you two remember about the thing I was about to tell you before we were joined by the men?” They nodded “Well, it’s like this. I’m immortal. Buffy is too. We found out like seven months ago, and since then we’ve been learning more about how to fight, how to survive.”

“Immortal?” Faith laughed, thinking it was a joke.

“I’m serious.” Willow said her tone proving her words.

“Yeah!” Snorted Faith.

“Gunn, do you have a knife?” Gunn reached into his pocket and pulled out a jackknife, which he handed to the witch. She opened the blade, and before anyone could stop her made a deep cut in her palm. “Ow” she exclaimed.

Everyone in the room, except Gunn rushed towards her, screaming bloody murder.

“Relax!” She commanded, then wiped the blood away, and displayed her hand, which was absolutely fine, except for a rapidly fading, angry red line.

“What the fuck?” Faith said as she staggered backwards.

“She’s immortal like she told you, and so am I.” Gunn said once everyone had calmed down a bit.

“How old are you anyway?” Willow asked of Gunn.

“237 years old. I was born in Africa, then I was captured and brought to America as a slave. I was bought by an Immortal named Connor McCleod, who freed me and taught me about being immortal.” Gunn said.

“I’ve heard of him. Two of my teachers, were taught by Duncan McCleod, his clansman.”

“Duncan? I met him, a long time ago. He had a woman with him, one of us.” Gunn reminisced.

“Amanda?” Willow asked.

“That was her name. Why?”

“She’s my other teacher.”

“Whoa there. Teacher? What did you need to learn?” Cordelia asked.

“How to use this.” Willow said drawing her sword.

“A rapier. Elegant, easy to use, fast, and strong. Nice sword.” Gunn commented.

“Why, what do you use.” Faith asked, eyeing her friend trying to ascertain if her was carrying a sword.

“Well, Conner taught me with a Katana, but I usually carry a big axe too.” Gunn replied drawing his from beneath his coat.

“How do you hide a sword in your usual clothing.” Cordelia asked, knowing that the man facing her often wore very tight clothing.

“It’s an immortal thing, you can hide a sword, and as long as it’s concealed, no one notices it.” Gunn explained.

“No one notices a 3 and a half foot sword?” Faith asked sceptical.

“You didn’t!” Gunn replied.

Angel had stood quietly while all this was going on. In fact Willow was thinking that he looked like a mannequin, standing there in nice clothes, not breathing.

“So, Willow, why are you here?” He asked finally.

“I need some time and space between myself and the gang, mostly Buffy. I have to sort out who I am, and what I want with my life.”

“You can stay here as long as you need.” Angel said.

“Thank you.” Willow exclaimed.

“I’ll show you to your room.” Angel said picking up the one bag Willow had brought with her.

“Will?” Gunn asked as she started to follow Angel.

“Yes?”

“Would you like to spar with me tomorrow? It’s been forever since I had a good sparring partner.” He asked.

“That’d be great. I’ll see you in the morning?” He nodded. “Ok then night all.”

Angel watched as Willow and Gunn did some unarmed sparring, amazed at the changes in the young redhead. She no longer seemed intimidated by fighting, nor did she seem inept. She was holding her own against Gunn, staying loose, watching for weaknesses, and when they presented themselves, she capitalized.

Gunn was having a hard time with the slight girl, she moved like a cat, quick and sure, and when she struck, she struck hard. Not that he wasn’t doing the same, but she was shaking off some of his best moves, or evading them in way’s he’d never thought possible. Gunn suddenly was very worried that one day he might have to face this woman in a fight to the death.

Willow saw his distraction, and took advantage, sweeping his legs out form under him, and throwing a punch at his neck that would have collapsed his airway, had she not pulled the punch.

“You’re dead.” She said her voice unemotional.

“Wow.” Cordelia said from her position beside Angel, with Faith wrapped around her like a python.

“Sweets is right, Wow.” Faith said. “I can see you’ve been working with B.”

“How?” The witch asked, curious what the slayer had seen.

“I’ll show you.” Faith said disentangling herself from her girlfriend, and walking towards Willow. Suddenly she threw a punch, which Willow blocked. Which was why the witch was surprised to find herself looking at the roof, with her knee aching. Then she saw a grinning Faith holding out her hand. After both girls were once again vertical Faith explained “That block you use, Buffy taught you, right.” The other girl nodded. “Well it leaves you open for a fast low kick. I could have broken your shin, if I’d wanted to. Buffy uses her superhuman reflexes and the stupidity of vamps to avoid that, but you should be careful emulating B. She’s a slayer, you’re not.”

“Ok, can you show me a better block?” Willow asked, shocking Faith with the trust in her voice.

“Sure. We’ll do this slow first, ok? Now throw a punch at my head, slowly.” Faith instructed Willow in a more efficient way to block a punch, and over the next half an our the  friendship between the two grew, each gaining a new found respect for the other.

*****

Buffy was not having quite as much fun as her lover was. She’d gone for a morning jog, unarmed, and found herself challenged by some young punk, with what she recognized as a claymore. Obviously he’d expected her to just give up, because he was surprised when she attacked, at full slayer speed. She punched the pour immortal 6 times in 3 seconds, then took his head, with his own sword as he was laying unconscious.

When the quickening ended she looked around trying to make sure that there were no witnesses, then seeing no one, tried to decide what she was going to do with the body.

Suddenly a van pulled up beside the battle scene and an older man, but very fit looking, except for the weird way he was walking with a cane, got out.

“Ms. Summers!” he said jovially.

“Who are you?” She asked. “This isn’t what it looks like.” Then a question occurred to her “How do you know my name?”

“Be patient, we should clean this up, then I can tell you what I know about you.”

“I’m not doing anything with you, at least not until I know you’re name.” Buffy said, her casual stance shifting into a combat stance slowly, and almost imperceptibly.

“Sorry. My name is Joe Dawson, and I’m a watcher.” With those words Joe opened the side door of the van and gestured for Buffy to hurry up.

Buffy decided that being found on the side of the road with a headless corpse was not a good idea, so he quickly gathered the body, and it’s severed head and put them in the van. “Ok, now you owe me an explanation.” Buffy said, trying not to like the stranger.

“It’ll be easier if we go to Amanda’s. She knows me.”  Joe said as he circled around the van.

“Fine, but if she doesn’t, I’ll be upset.” Buffy growled, before getting into the van.

*****

“Good morni” Amanda’s greeting died on her lips as she caught sight of the person following her student. “Joe!” She exclaimed taking the older looking man in her arms.

Richie having heard the exclamation practically ran from the kitchen to the front door to see his old friend. “Joe, what’s up?” he said as he shook the old blues player’s hand.

“Just came to visit an old friend, and saw a quickening, so I pulled up to help.” Joe explained.

“Quickening?” Richie asked, noticing that Buffy looked a little more dishevelled then her morning run could explain.

“Some guy came out of the woods and challenged me. I didn’t have a sword, so I guess he thought it’d be easy. I knocked him out, then took his head.” Buffy explained.

“Did he at least tell you his name?” Richie asked, well aware that not knowing the name of an enemy could lead to trouble.

“Nope.” Buffy replied.

“Jesse Philips, born 1932, became immortal at the age of 23, likes to hunt the young ones.” Joe supplied, then amended “Liked.”

“Never heard of him.” Richie said.

“Well, Duncan killed his teacher in the early sixties, and this kid went nuts. Started hunting, looking for situations where he couldn’t lose. Today he was wrong. No big loss.” Joe continued.

“At least if you’re not him.” Richie joked.

“I just killed a man, I don’t think jokes are really appropriate.” Buffy replied, a bit testily.

“He was trying to kill you, what do you want me to feel bad that he lost. He was a cheat. He bet his life and lost. Vaya Con Dios!” Richie replied, trying to make sure his friend never felt guilt for being alive.

“He’s right.” Amanda said, as she stopped hugging Joe. “Never feel remorse for surviving.”

“So who’s your friend?” Buffy asked to change the subject.

“This is Joe Dawson, and he’s a watcher.” Amanda introduced him.

“A watcher?” Buffy asked? “Like Giles?”

“Nope. These guys keep tabs on immortals. They watch, and record., and theoretically never interfere.” Amanda summed up.

“Theoretically?” Buffy asked.

“Well they first came to my attention after they started killing some of us, including a good friend of mine, a monk named Darius. He was over two thousand years old, and they slaughtered him for no reason.” Amanda’s voice filled with anger as she remembered the feeling of loss, of shock that Darius wouldn’t ever be there to talk to her again.

“They hunted and killed immortals?” Buffy asked, incredulous.

“It was a rogue faction.” Joe stressed, “And we got rid of them.”

“Mostly!” Amanda put in. “They’re usually harmless, so we don’t hunt them down, especially those of them that are our friends.”

“Yeah, all two of them. And one’s an immortal.” Richie snorted.

Joe shot him a withering look, which failed to accomplish it’s goal, as Richie remained smooth of face.

“So why are you really here?” Amanda asked more directly this time.

“I’m sort of hoping that you know where I can find Mac, actually.” Joe admitted.

“Uh, isn’t it your job to know where he is?” Amanda asked, sarcasm dripping from her words into a pool on the floor.

“Adam came and saw him at the bar one night, they said they’d see me the next day, then they disappeared.” Joe said annoyed that he’d lost his assignment.

“I haven’t seen or heard form him in almost a month.” Amanda said finally. “Sorry.”

“Yeah, Yeah.” Joe grumbled “He’ll turn up. He always does.”

*****

A dark alley in LA.

Faith and Willow are patrolling, chatting idly. The subject is, as usual with Faith, centred on sex.

“So how’d you end up with Buffy?” Faith asked.

“Well, it was after Tara died.” Willow began, then stopped short sensing the approach of another immortal. “Damn.”

A tall man stepped out of the alley ahead of them, brandishing his sword. “Oh, you’ll be fun for quite some time. I think I’ll keep you instead of taking your head.” His smirk left no question what he meant.

“You can try.” Willow replied calmly, already hating the guy.

“What’s going on?” Faith asked.

“Well, he’s an immortal, and he wants to keep me as a pet instead of killing me.” Willow said never taking her eyes from the stranger.

“Really?” Faith asked, her voice betraying absolutely no fear. “So these are the kind of jerks you have to kill?” She asked.

“Yep!” Willow replied, just before the enraged stranger charged her.

Willow fought carefully, never giving her opponent an opening. She slowly dismantled his defence, then she hamstrung him, and took his head. The quickening was more powerful then she expected, since the corpse hadn’t been much of a fighter.

Just as the quickening was ending, she felt the approach of another of her kind. “Shit.” She said trying to regain her feet. She looked up at Faith, and the two men coming up behind her, then put her sword up.

“I don’t want to fight you.” She said.

“We don’t want to fight you either.” Said the lighter skinned of the two “I’m Adam Pierson and my friend is Duncan McCleod.”

“We were looking for him.” Duncan said pointing at the corpse.

“Sorry, too late.” Willow said.

“And you are?” Adam asked politely.

“Willow Rosenberg.” She answered him “and this is my friend Faith.”

“Is your teacher Amanda?” Duncan asked, suddenly recalling the last time he’d talked to his sometime lover.

“Yes. Wait you’re Duncan McCleod?” Willow asked, realising that she was meeting one of the most powerful of her kind in the world.

“That’s me.”

“Wow. Amanda told me about you, you’re like one of the best swordsmen in the world.”

“Just good enough.” Duncan replied, amused at the complement.

“So far, anyway.” Adam put in.

*****

When Buffy got home from a boring patrol, the phone was ringing. “Hello?” She answered.

“Hey Baby, what’re you wearing?” Came Willow’s voice over the phone line.

“Pants, shirt, jacket, shoes, socks” Buffy started listing off everything she was wearing.

“You’re supposed to say ‘Nothing’ you know.” Willow cut her off laughing.

“Yeah, well if you want me naked come home and strip me.” Buffy challenged.

“I’ll be home soon, I just wanted to hear you voice.” Willow said.

“Yeah, I want to hear your voice screaming my name in passion.” Buffy said huskily. “By the way, the day you come back, Dawn is staying with Xander and Anya, and we’re making love all day and night.”

“It’ll be soon I promise. I love you.” Willow said.

“I love you too.” Buffy returned “Goodnight.”

“Not without you to snuggle up to.” Willow pouted into the phone “Night.”

Faith watched in awe as the two men faced off with practice swords. The way they moved was so fluid, so confident, so controlled. The two old friends had been happy to meet, and now the four immortals were working out. Gunn and Duncan with swords, and Adam was teaching Willow some ancient martial arts.

Faith was having trouble deciding who to watch as she could learn so much by watching either. Finally she decided that she’d probably get more use out of the hand to hand stuff Adam Pierson was teaching her friend.

“May I join the class?” Faith asked a smile on her face.

“You may.” Adam said.

The man didn’t look like he could win any sort of fight that wasn’t intellectual, hell even his shirt bore an intellectual joke. Willow had cracked up when she saw the shirt, then explained it to Faith, who’d thought it was sorta funny. His shirt exclaimed in latin ‘If you can read this you’re over educated.’

Faith and Willow spent the next few hours in all sorts of combat training, armed and unarmed with the three older immortals. They were both tired, sweaty, and happy when the fun time ended.

*****

Buffy on the other hand was not in the best of moods, which was bad for the demons that resided on the hellmouth, cause the only thing that seemed to calm her down was ripping something to shreds. None of the other immortals in town would spar with her because she had broken far to many of their bones recently. So she was out all night, pounding demons into mush.

When she came home for the third straight night covered from head to toe in blood and gore, Dawn decided that something had to be done, so she did the only thing she could think of. She called Willow.

“Can I talk to Willow, please?” She asked of the voice that answered the phone at Angel Investigations.

“Is that you Dawn?” Cordy asked.

“Yes, it’s sort of urgent.” Dawn replied, trying to get the former cheerleader to hurry.

“Just a sec, kiddo.”

It was closer to thirty seconds later that Willow’s voice came on the line “Dawn? What’s up?”

Dawn hurriedly explained the way Buffy was behaving, and her fears, and when she was done all Willow said was she’d be on the next bus.

*****

Buffy was stalking the cemetery, hoping for something to kill. The demons and vamps were getting scarce, most of the smarter ones had already skipped town. She was about ready to move on to the next cemetery when she sensed the approach of an immortal.

“This is Holy Ground, but if you’ll care to step off, we can do this.” Buffy called out into the night.

“I was thinking of our bed, but if you want to make love in the middle of the street, I suppose we can try it just this once.” Came the teasing reply in Willow’s voice.

Buffy couldn’t believe her ears, her beloved was back, she hadn’t lost her. “Willow?” She asked afraid that she was hearing things.

Willow stepped out from behind a mausoleum, her face covered in a smile. “Hi Buffy.”

Willow never saw the slayer move, she just knew that one second she was standing on the ground, the next she was in her lover’s arms, being kissed within an inch of her life.

Finally air became more important then kissing to the two women, and they broke apart.

“When did you get back?” Buffy asked.

“Just now. And from what your sister tells me, just in the knick of time.” Willow replied, squirming a bit to get the slayer to put her down.

“What do you mean ‘just in the knick of time’?” Buffy asked as she set her girlfriend’s feet on the ground, but didn’t let her go.

“Dawn called me, saying that you were acting like a mad woman. I just walked here from the bus stop and didn’t even see a vamp. What have you been up to?” Willow calmly replied.

“So Dawn calls and you come running?” Buffy yelled, hurt that her little sister would go behind her back.

Willow was taken aback by the change in her lover’s mood, from happy to hurt in less then a second. “She said that you needed me!” She said softly. “I came back because I love you.” Willow waited to see how this would be taken. “Dawn’s worried about you, afraid to lose you. She’s lost so many people she loves in the last couple of years. Your mom, and Tara, plus her father’s rejection of her. She didn’t want to go live with him, but she wanted him to at least want her to.”

“Dawn’s worried that I’ll leave her?” Buffy asked feeling guilty that she’d caused her sister to fear for her safety. “Let’s go home, talk to her, then I’m gonna make love to you until the sun rises.”

******

Xander looked at his fiancé sleeping draped across his chest, and felt content. Then he remembered the way Buffy had been acting since Willow left and felt worried. He knew his friend missed her lover, but he also knew that other then being there for Buffy there wasn’t much he could do to help. As he dropped off to sleep he decided that he’d go over there, make breakfast and talk to Buffy.

******

Dawn woke up, slowly, because someone was shaking her. This, in her opinion, was the harshest way to wake up. She finally opened her eyes, and saw her sister was the cruel monster denying her sleep. “What?” She muttered trying to roll over and go back to sleep.

“Wake up. We have to talk!” Buffy said.

“About what?” Dawn asked, catching a glimpse of the clock on her nightstand, which declared the time to be 1 in the morning. “And why now?”

“Because Willow showed up during patrol, and told me that I’d been scaring you. I think we need to talk.”

“I have school in the morning.” Dawn said.

“I’ll let you stay home tomorrow, now get up and meet us in the living room.” Buffy ordered gruffly through the smile on her face. ‘She and Will are a lot alike’ she thought to herself as she walked down the stairs.

She had no sooner sat down in the easy chair when Willow plopped into her lap.

“Ok, if I can’t sleep, you two can’t make out!” Dawn rebuked the couple as she came down the stairs, and sat on the couch.

“Dawn, I’ve been thinking about the way I’ve behaved the last couple of days, and you were right to call Willow. I was acting like a mad woman, and I’m sorry that I scared you.” Buffy said, putting in a valiant effort to concentrate on speaking with a squirming Willow sitting in her lap.

“You woke me up for that?” Dawn asked, wanting nothing more then to go back to bed. “Whatever, if you promise to not do it again I’ll forgive you. Now I think you and Willow want to be alone.” Dawn rose from the couch and went to bed.

“Hmm, want to go to our room and keep her up all night?” Buffy asked before kissing Willow’s neck.

“Umm, Buffy, don’t forget she knows how to kill us.” Willow replied before moaning in lust.

“You know, you’re right plus we haven’t had sex on the couch in a long time.” Buff said, before moving to rectify that oversight.

*****

Xander approached the Summers house the next morning through the backyard to keep Buffy from waking up. He let himself in, and set about making a hearty breakfast, right after turning on the coffee pot.

The smell of coffee brewing wafted into the living room, and slowly roused the entangled women. “Coffee.” Buffy moaned in desire “Will, I love you. Thanks for setting the coffee maker up last night.” Buffy rose from the couch and walked towards the kitchen nude, intent on the first cup of the day.

Willow’s drowsy mind finally finished interpreting what her lover had said, just as Buffy walked through the door to the kitchen. “Buffy, I didn’t” she began only to be interrupted by the sound of her lover shrieking, and glass breaking. Buffy came flying through the door a half second later. “Clothes are good.” She said to herself before turning to the kitchen door and yelling “What are you doing in my house, Alexander Harris?”

Xander winced when he heard the slayer use his full name “I’m screwed.” He muttered to himself, then decided that he’d better explain himself. “I came to make breakfast for you and Dawn.” He called back.

“Xander?” Shrieked Willow, as she started scrambling into her clothes.

“Will? You’re back?” Xander asked, starting to come into the living room to see his friend, only to have the door blocked by a slightly irate slayer.

“Ow!” Exclaimed Xander “What’s that about?”

“Cause we’re trying to get dressed.” Buffy snapped back. “Now clean up that broken plate, and we’ll be in there in a minute.”

Buffy finished dressing first and went to wake her sister while Willow finished dressing.

“What now?” snapped Dawn, annoyed at being woken again.

“Xander’s downstairs making breakfast for us, so up and at em.” Buffy said before turning and walking out of the room.

“Xander?” Buffy heard squealed behind her, followed by her sister falling out of bed.

*****

When Buffy walked into the kitchen with her arm around Willow, Xander had the decency to blush.

“Hey Will, his face looks like your hair.” Buffy teased.

“Umm, Buff, Umm” Xander stammered trying to figure out what to say to his friend, now that he was face to face with her.

“Forget about it, Xander.” Buffy said. “I mean entirely. Forget what you saw.”

“And don’t tell Anya.”  Willow added.

“Done!” Xander said.

“Don’t tell Anya what?” Dawn asked from behind the two women.

“Umm.” Said the three older people in the room.

After Xander had left and Dawn had gone back to bed, Willow decided that she had to tell Buffy that Faith had been released.

She sat her lover down on the couch then crawled into her lap. “Buffy I have something I have to tell you, but you have to promise to hear me out.” She said worried about how her lover would react to the news.

“I give you my word, along with my heart, my love.” Buffy said, gently stroking the witch’s rib cage.

“When I was in LA, I saw Faith.” Willow began her confession.

“How’s she liking prison?” Buffy asked, enjoying the mental image of the other slayer behind bars.

“She’s not in prison.”

“She’s not in prison?” Buffy asked standing up, and almost dumping the redhead on her bottom in the process. Buffy looked at the girl clinging to her, with her arms around her neck and asked “She escaped?”

Willow lowered her feet to the floor before pushing the slayer back onto the couch and laying on top of her “No, she was released. She’s living in Angel’s hotel, and working with the group.”

“Angel knew she was out and didn’t tell me?” Buffy’s anger was threatening to boil over.

“She’s changed, Buffy.” Willow hurried to calm her lover. “She’s not the same as she was before.”

“You’re sure?” Buffy asked, calming down rapidly, trusting her lover, but not wanting to get fooled by Faith again.

“Yes, I’m sure.. And you’ll see. I invited her and Cordy down next weekend.” Willow said, hoping her beloved wouldn’t flip out.

“Her and Cordy?” Buffy asked, accepting that there was nothing she could do to change her love’s mind.

“Yeah, they’re dating, and in love.”

“Faith’s in love? This I gotta see.” Buffy replied incredulous.

“You will.” Willow promised, then looked at her watch “Dawn should be just about asleep, let’s go to bed and make some noise.”

“Have I mentioned that I love you?” Buffy asked as she swept Willow off her feet, and carried her up the stairs.

*****

Darla sat watching as Dru finished off the pizza delivery boy. He looked so tasty, yet all she wanted was the blood of the slayer. She sank deeper into her memories, feeding her desire to kill the slayer, until she was interrupted by Dru’s exclamation “The birds will not eat the marbles, and if the moon says different it’s a liar.”

Darla looked up to find that this was directed at the corpse laying on the floor of the crypt.

“Dru, my dear, he’s dead. He’s not talking to you.” Darla snapped, once again annoyed with Angelus for breaking the girl before turning her.

“Yes grandmum!” Drusilla replied, waling seductively towards her childe, and sitting on the floor in front of her. “Could you braid my hair, please?”

Darla decided to comply, it was something to do to pass the daylight hours.

*****

  Anya looked up as the door to the Magic Box opened, then decided that Dawn was unlikely to buy anything, she went back to the merchandise sheet she was studying.

“Hey Anya!” Dawn exclaimed sombrely.

“Hey Kiddo!” replied the former demon without looking up.

“You’re not going to believe what Buffy showed Xander this morning.” Dawn smiled like the cat that ate the proverbial canary. This would teach her sister to keep her from sleeping.

*****

“Alexander Harris!”

Xander looked around, trying to determine who’d bellowed his full name. He paled considerably when he saw his fiancé. Anya looked to be fuming, and he had an idea why. He hurried to her, and tried to give her a kiss. She pushed him away.

“What’s up?” he asked trying to look innocent.

“What were you doing seeing Buffy naked?” Anya asked, her voice full of anger.

“Umm” Xander tried to come up with a good defence, before resorting to his one chance to survive the encounter. “I went over to Buffy’s to make breakfast for her nad Dawn, and Buffy walked into the kitchen naked.”

“Really?” Anya asked, her fear of losing her future husband, however irrational, ebbing.

“Yes, really. I love you An. I’m going to marry you, and we’re going to raise our child together.” He took her in his arms and kissed her. “Ok?”

She nodded.

*****

To say Faith was scared as she followed Cordelia up the walk to the Summers’ house would be an understatement. Scared shitless would be a lot closer to the truth. She vividly remembered the last time she’d seen Buffy, just before she went to jail. She knew she had to apologize, even though it wouldn’t be good enough, she had to try.

Dawn answered the door with a smile. “Hey! Come in, Willow and Buffy should be home any minute.” She ushered them in. “I’m on the phone, so you two can take your stuff up to your room. It’s Buffy’s old room.” With that the teenager dashed back to the phone and the conversation about boys that was so urgent.

Faith looked after the younger girl, then said “That went well!” She led Cordy up the stairs to Buffy’s former bedroom.

The two were just finishing getting settled when they heard the front door open and Buffy’s voice cry out “I’m home.”

Cordelia saw the sudden look of panic that came to her lover’s eyes, and thought for a second faith was going to go through the window. She took faith’s hand and smiled at the girl reassuringly. Faith clung to Cordy like she was her lifeline, and said “Once more unto the breach” as she was led out of the room and downstairs.

As the couple reached the bottom of the stairs they heard Buffy tell Dawn “Get off the phone. Faith and Cordelia should be here soon.”

Cordelia cleared her throat, causing Buffy to whirl around to see who was behind her. For a moment the former cheerleader thought that maybe Faith ought to have gone out the window. Then the fire drained from the slayer’s eyes, and she said “Oh, you’re here. I haven’t even started dinner.” Before realising her manners were severely lacking and starting again “Cordelia, Faith, nice to see you. How was the drive?”

Faith was taken aback, she’d expected that Buffy would be angry about seeing her, maybe even attacking her. ‘B really has grown up’ “Buffy, hi.” Faith said, smiling at her sister slayer.

“Buffy, you look great.” Cordy said moving to give the other girl a hug, just as Willow walked in.

“Should I be jealous?” the red head asked jokingly before greeting the guests.

“Why not I am.” Faith replied, much more comfortable now that Willow had arrived. The friendship the two had formed in LA helped her feel that Buffy wouldn’t start a fight.

“You want to be jealous, I’ll give you a reason.” Buffy mock growled before giving the taller brunette a big kiss.

“Oh yeah.” Growled Faith, before turning and pulling Willow into a long deep passionate kiss.

“Gross. Knock it off.” Dawn cried. “Jeez, no making out in front of impressionable youths.” She continued pointing at herself.

Faith let go of Willow and grabbed the younger girl and tickling her fiercely. Only to be joined seconds later by Buffy. Moments later the chosen two were attacked by their significant others who decided that two on one was unfair.

******

“So, is patrol always this boring recently?” Faith asked as the two slayers were nearing the Bronze, where Willow and Cordelia were meeting them for some dancing. “I mean we saw what two vamps?”

“Yeah, well I sorta went on a tear when Willow was gone. I slaughtered demons and vamps. The smarter ones left town, the dumb ones are mostly dead.” Buffy confessed.

“Wow!” Faith exclaimed. She’d become familiar with the number of demons living in Sunnydale when she worked for the mayor, and for Buffy to have caused most of them to leave town was incredible.

“Yeah, but it’s made life a little boring recently.” Buffy complained a bit. “I mean nothing to do.”

“Except Will.” Faith interjected lewdly.

Buffy swatted Faith on the shoulder “You have a dirty mind.”

“Slayer!” a voice called out form the darkness.

Both Buffy and Faith looked at the suicidal vampire. “Yes?” Buffy inquired.

“I have a message.” The vamp declared walking closer to the slayers.

“And the message is?” Faith demanded.

“We have your friends. You must follow me, or they both die.” The vampire said, looking at the girls expectantly.

“Which friends?” Buffy asked, worried that she already knew the answer.

“Willow and Cordelia.” The vamp said “Now follow me.”

******

Fifteen minutes later the slayers found themselves outside of the mansion. Again.

“Well, it’s good to see that some things never change.” Faith muttered to Buffy, then aloud to the vamp “This the place?”

“Yes.” The vampire asked, just before Faith staked him.

“Ok, you go around on this side, I’ll go around on the other. Once we know how many vamps are in there we meet at the back, and plan.” Buffy took charge, then pulled out her cell. “Amanda? Hey want to have a little fun? Some vamps kidnapped Willow and my friend Cordelia, and We could use some help with the retrieval Good. Remember the mansion I showed you Yeah, that’s the place See you soon.” She hung up “Ok, let’s recon.”

When Amanda, Nick, and Richie showed up ten minutes later they found two slayers quietly arguing strategy.

“What’s up?” Nick asked as he crouched beside them. “And who’s your friend.”

“Nick, Faith. Faith Nick, Richie, and Amanda.” Buffy quickly introduced everyone. “She’s the other slayer. Anyway, inside we have ten vamps, two of whom we know, Willow and Cordy, both of whom have crossbow’s pointed at their chests. They don’t know about immortals so when we go in,  we only have to make sure that the bolt misses Cordy. I’d like to save Willow too, but if we can’t she’ll survive. Two of the vamps, are Drusilla and Darla, the rest are unknown. They all die.” Buffy quickly gave her orders, and laid out her plan. Once everyone understood, Buffy said “Ok, we go in five minutes.”

“Buffy, sunrise is only twenty minutes away, maybe we should wait.” Nick said.

Buffy looked at her watch and said “You’re right, we go with the sun.”

Everyone scattered to their places, to wait for the sun to rise above the horizon. Buffy saw the look of fear in Faith’s eyes and quickly set about reassuring the girl. “You can do this Faith. You will save her.” Faith’s eyes hardened, and she got ready.

As the sun rose above the horizon, the group moved. Faith and Buffy kicked in the door, spilling sunlight into the mansion. As Buffy slashed at a vamp with her sword, Faith threw the knives she held in each hand at the crossbows, trying to cut the bowstrings. The string on the crossbow pointed at Cordy she hit in time, but the bolt had already left the other crossbow by the time the other knife arrived. Faith looked at Willow’s eyes, amazed when the crossbow bolt stopped in mid air, then flew to stake the vampire sneaking up on Faith.

Darla and Dru fled into the sewers as soon as the doors burst open, and by the time the dust had settled so that anyone could notice the missing vamps, it was too late to go after them, so the slayer’s settled for passionately kissing the women they loved.

The girls arrived back home just as Dawn was coming down the stairs. “Long night?” She asked looking like she had a refreshing sleep.

“Yeah, we got kidnapped, then the slayers had to come rescue us.” Cordelia said gesturing at herself and Willow.

“Speaking of rescuing, thanks red.” Faith said giving Willow a hug.

“Keep your hands off my woman!” Buffy mock growled.

“Or what?” Faith snarled back while she gently stroked the redheads back.

“Or, I’ll take Cordelia away from you. She spends one night with me, and she’ll never want to leave.” Buffy boasted, watching everyone in the room’s eyes get wide.

Um, I’ve got to go.” Dawn said, grabbing her backpack and dashing out the door.

“Yeah, right. You do that and I’ll take Will here. We’ll have so much fun she’ll come back to LA to be our pet.” Faith returned.

Willow pushed Faith away from her and towards Buffy, then gestured for Cordelia to join her. “We are not bartering material, nor are we your property. I can’t speak for Cordy, but I know that Buffy’s spending the day on the couch. I’m going to bed.” With that the red headed witch stormed up the stairs.

“Ooops.” Buffy said.

“You’re damn right ooops. Faith I love you, but you’re sleeping on the floor, since Buffy gets the couch. Good day.” Cordelia followed in the witch’s footsteps.

“Shit!” hissed Faith, moving towards the living room to get some sleep.

“What the hell are you doing?” Buffy asked her.

“Trying to get some sleep, maybe things’ll be better when I wake up.”

“Nope. No sleep for us. We’re going to go shopping, then we’re going to make a romantic dinner for them, then we’re going to plead for forgiveness.” Buffy outlined her plan.

“You think it’ll work?” Faith inquired.

“Eventually. I’ve got all the time in the world.” Buffy smiled, sure that it wouldn’t take more then once or twice.

Willow and Cordelia awoke at almost the same time and found notes laying where their partners usually were.

The notes said ‘I love you. Put on the dress hanging on the back of the door and come downstairs’ followed by their partners name.

The two women took their time getting ready, after ooohing and ahhhing over the dresses. As Willow left her room she saw a velvet rope barring her from the stairs, with another note. This one said ‘Come downstairs together’, so she knocked on the door to Cordelia’s  room.

“Just a second.” Came the reply, then the former cheerleader opened the door, looking beautiful in her dress.

“Wow!” Willow exclaimed taking in the seer’s dress.

“You too.” Cordy replied as she did the same thing.

“They want us to go downstairs together, at least that’s what this note says.” Willow informed her former high school nemesis.

Cordelia held out her arm for the other girl and said “Shall we?”

Willow linked their arms, and together they descended the stairs,

When they reached the bottom they found the slayers standing beside the table, in the dining room which was illuminated by candles, each holding a dozen red roses. What amazed them even more was what the slayers were wearing. Matching tuxedos, in a rich black, with elegant white shirts.

“Buffy!” Whispered Willow.

“Faith!” Whispered Cordelia.

“Cordelia!” Whispered Faith.

“Willow!” whispered Buffy.

As what they’d all just said sunk in, they all burst into laughter, then the slayers moved to escort the women they loved to the table, pulling out chairs, and pouring the wine.

*****

After the two couples finished supper, the slayers told their significant others that they were going dancing, and helped them into their coats.