"We're going to stand here and watch," said Angel

"That's nuts. They're surrounded by 40, 50 vampires!"

Wesley adjusted his glasses. "46 by my count."

Giles chuckled. "And they're only fledglings. There's nothing to worry about, I assure you…unless you're one of the vampires, of course."

Giles, Gunn, Wesley, and Angel stood at the top of the hill overlooking Shady Rest Cemetery, perhaps Sunnydale's most rampant vampire hot-spot. Giles had returned the evening before. Gunn didn't know what to make of him. He was a bit more withdrawn that Wesley, and he sensed a bit more dangerous. Below them stood Spike, Faith, and the Buffybot, standing back to back, and surrounded by vampires.

"I don't get it. Why?" Gunn asked.

"A lot of reasons," said Angel.

"Such as…"

"Number one," said Wesley, "Faith needs the practice."

"Number two," said Angel, "you've never seen what a Slayer can do. You told me once that you wanted to be the best at what we do. Is that still true?"

"Yeah…you know it is…"

"Well you're about to see the best."

"And number three," said Giles. "Faith and Spike need to learn each other's styles. They've only recently met, and never fought. If they are to be as effective as Buffy and Faith were together…or to even approach how effective Buffy and Spike were together…they need to get to know each other's styles."

"So why the robot?"

"Because, she's a useful training tool," said Wesley. "Spike and Faith have both fought with and against Buffy, and the Buffybot is as close to the real Buffy's style as possible. We think if they fight with it as a third, then eventually they'll be able to fight together without the need of the Buffybot to mesh their styles."

Gunn cocked his head, and looked at Angel. "So why aren't you down there with them?"

"I'd just interfere. We need Spike to teach Faith."

"Spike?…why not you?"

"He's better than me."

"He's what?"

"What have they told you about Spike's history, Gunn?" asked Giles.

"Next to squat. I know he's like Angel's grandson or something but that's it."

Wesley motioned to them. "You're about to see what we mean, Gunn. It's starting."

The first wave of vampires rushed toward the three figures below them. Before Gunn had even seen Spike move, two vamps exploded in dust in front of him. It was only then that Gunn saw the stakes in Spike's hands. Then there was Faith. If he hadn't of seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed it. From a standing start, she did a triple somersault over two vamps and staked them on her way down.

"Jesus…"

"And that's just Faith. Watch the robot," said Wesley.

Gunn could barely see the Buffybot amidst the confusion and flying bodies. What he did see astounded him. She was a ball of activity, compact and quick. She moved like a dancer.

"Buffy fought like that?"

"No," said Giles. "Buffy was better. But she is as close to Buffy's style as is possible, I believe. Spike and Willow have seen to that."

"Spike programmed her?" said Angel.

"He was responsible for the combat skills and some of the more…colorful personal interaction scenarios."

"I bet," said Angel.

"I thought you were her…" Gunn looked to Wesley for the word…

"Watcher" said Wesley.

"Yeah, Watcher, so why would Spike know more about her combat skills?"

"Because," said Giles. "He was her greatest opponent."

"Huh?"

Giles took off her glasses and started to wipe them clean. He directed Gunn's vision to Spike, who was just completing a maneuver that resulted in the decapitation of two vampires, and the staking of another two…

"How'd he do that?"

"Weighted blades sewn into the hem of the duster. An addition that he and Buffy came up with together."

"He's good."

"He's more than good," said Angel.

"Yes," said Giles. "With Buffy dead, Spike is probably the greatest hand-to-hand combatant on the planet."

"I still don't get it," said Gunn. "If both of them are so good, how come one of them isn't dead?"

Angel and the two Watchers looked at him like he had just shot their mothers.

"Oh…yeah…sorry…I mean why didn't they kill each other…?"

Giles smiled and said quietly, "They enjoyed it too much. I heard Buffy refer to it as `dancing' when it came to Spike."

"What…?"

"Whenever Buffy and Spike fought…I think that's when they were both truly alive…or as alive as a vampire can be in Spike's case. I think early on, Spike actually could have killed her. But Buffy was lucky as she so often was. The more they fought, the better fighter she became. And the more he loved her."

"So he could have killed her?"

"Yes…he's done it before."

"I don't understand."

"Spike's fully capable of killing a Slayer. He's killed two, in fact," said Wesley. "He's the only vampire in recorded history with such a record."

"So a vamp never got the drop on a Slayer, before Spike, in all of history…oh geez, did you just see that?"

Faith had executed a maneuver standing on her hands that Gunn doubted he could do on his feet. She was definitely something. He'd never seen someone enjoying themselves more.

Angel crouched down. "Oh, vampires have killed Slayers before. But it was always with numbers. Send 100 vamps after one Slayer, the odds aren't with the Slayer no matter how good she is. Spike was the first to take on a Slayer one-on-one, and win. Before Buffy, anyone who got in a one-on-one with Spike should have their death certificate filled out before they started."

"So he and Buffy together…"

Giles sighed. "I don't think anyone could have beaten them had Spike been at his peak. That chip in his head impaired him against human opponents. Against demons, or even these fledglings…with the real Buffy, this would have been over minutes ago."

"The `bot that much different?" asked Gunn.

"She has all the maneuvers, even some of the originality," said Giles, "but none of the life. None of what made Buffy Buffy. That's why Spike won't even speak to it."

Gunn watched as Spike and the Buffybot took on three attackers together, Spike making a sweeping leg kick with the robot flipping overhead.

"Giles," said Angel, "they were that good together?"

Gunn could hear the distance in Angel's voice as he asked the question. It sounded like Angel knew the answer already, but didn't want to hear it.

As Faith executed a double somersault over a headstone to stake the last two vamps, Giles raised his eyes to meet Angel's.

"They were poetry."

Gunn hesitated before asking the question. "Okay, if Spike and Buffy were so good together…how'd it end up like it ended up? I mean I heard Spike got thrown off a tower or something…"

"Spike…wasn't used to what Buffy asked him to do…" said Giles.

"What do you mean?" asked Wesley.

"Spike's never been a defensive fighter before," said Angel. "Spike's never fought with the idea of staying alive. Only with the goal of the kill. He never really cared whether he lived or died. The fight itself was the goal. Buffy asked him to protect Dawn. That put him in a defensive position."

"And Spike don't play defense?" asked Gunn.

"Spike is more than capable of defending a fellow fighter. But Dawn was captive. Stationary. And there wasn't much room to maneuver," said Giles. "Truthfully…he was in a no-win situation."

"But he still blames himself," said Angel.

"Yes," said Giles.

Faith, Spike and the Buffybot made their way up the hill. Gunn caught Faith's eye, and she gave him a smile that made his heart almost stop. Gunn could almost feel the heat off her skin even from five feet away.

Angel looked at Spike. "I see you haven't lost your touch."

"Yeah, well, if slowpoke here," he said, referring to Faith, "had been able to keep up like a real Slayer, then it would've been a lot quicker."

"Oh, you mean like Buffy, right, Spike?" snapped Faith.

"For example…"…

Giles looked at the blond vampire…"Spike…"

Spike gazed at the Watcher's eyes. He knew he was right. Turning to Faith, Spike said, "Listen, pet. I'm sorry. You did real good, real good. Nobody alive could have done better."

Faith took a deep breath. "I understand. You just miss Buffy."

"Yeah…guess that's it. Sorry…"

"No…I understand, I do. I mean, besides, that's why we were doing this, right. To get used to each other…"

"And to kill some vamps," volunteered Gunn.

"Oh, yeah, that," said Faith.

As they walked back to the car, Gunn found himself walking between Spike and Faith, still amazed by what he had seen them do.

"So…what's the most you ever took on at once? By yourself."

"Fledlings like those wankers?" asked Spike. "Somewhere around eleven or twelve when it was just me. It's easier to take more when you're not fighting alone."

Gunn turned to Faith. "And you…"

"Six, I think."

Gunn hesitated asking his next question. He turned to Spike to find the vampire already staring at him.

"Well, go ahead, mate…ask it…I know you want to…"

"Buffy?"

Spike slapped Gunn on the back. "Charles, my friend, I know for a dead fact that Buffy took out fourteen by herself one time."

"Fourteen?!" said Faith. "How do you know it was fourteen?"

Spike just grinned. "I'm the one that sent them to kill her."

Gunn and Faith stopped walking and just stared as Spike went on walking. They looked at each other, dumbfounded.

~ Chapter 2 ~

Xander and Anya were just finishing up the inventory at the shop when the crew got back from the cemetery. Faith shot Xander a look as she walked in the door. He found himself staring as they walked past him into the training room where Willow, Tara, Cordelia, and Dawn were waiting.

Gunn sat between Faith and Dawn on the couch, while Angel and Spike took opposite corners of the room, Angel taking the corner where Cordelia was already standing. Wesley helped Giles pull chairs from the outer room.

The door opened, and Gunn saw Xander and Anya struggling in with a stack of pizzas. Willow ran to help them as Dawn and Tara got out some plates.

Faith smiled. "Xander…you remembered…I'm touched…"

Dawn handed a piece of pizza to Cordelia and looked quizzically at Xander. "Remembered what?"

Faith grinned and Gunn felt her lean a little closer to him. "Xander knows…"

Anya looked at Xander. "Knows what?"

"Faith's always a little hungry after slaying, aren't you, Faith?"

Her eyes danced. "Among other things…" she said, sliding a hand along Gunn's knee. Gunn's eyes widened.

Xander just stared at her. Who did Gunn think he was? Wait a second, Xander thought to himself, why should I care? Why do I care?…oh this wasn't good.

In the corner, Cordelia stood with Angel, watching on in amusement. Turning to the vampire, she asked, "Think we should warn Gunn?"

"About Faith or Xander?"

"Oh, who's worried about Xander? If it wasn't Gunn she was using to make her point, I'd think it was hilarious…"

Angel's smile turned into a look of concern. "I think Xander should worry about Xander. Or at least about Anya…"

Cordelia looked back over her shoulder at Anya, who stood silently in the doorway. Tears were starting to form at the edge of her eyes. Angel was right. Xander was hurting her, and he was, as usual, totally oblivious. Glancing around the room, Cordelia saw that Willow saw it, too.

Cordelia walked over to Willow, and said, "Does he know what he's doing?"

Willow shook her head. "I don't think so."

"Well, I'm going to talk to him about it because you know talking to Faith about it won't do any good. You think you can help Anya?"

Willow looked over at the ex-vengeance demon. "I'll try."

Cordelia walked up to Xander and took him by the arm. "You, loser boy, outside, now!"

He looked at her in surprise. It had been a few years since he had heard Cordy's forceful voice, and in those years it had become even more forceful than he remembered. He had Angel to thank for that, he guessed. "Hey, I want to be in here. They're making plans."

"And I'm sure Angel and Giles will tell us all we need to know. You got something else more important you need to know right, now, buster…"

Oh, God. Memories of high school just came rushing back. "Okay, just let go."

Faith watched Cordelia march Xander out of the room. Cordelia couldn't want Xander back, could she? Looking over to the corner where Angel stood, Faith saw him watching them walk out,too. Hmmm… possibilities, she thought.

Cordelia walked Xander out to the sales floor to the table where Dawn always did her homework.

"Sit!"

"What's this about, Cordy? I kind of want to be in there for this."

"This is important."

"What's more important that bringing Buffy back? You going to tell me my shoes don't match my outfit?"

"Your shoes never match your outfit. But this is important, believe me."

"What, Cordy, what?"

"You, buster," she said, poking him in the chest, "are going to break your fiancee's heart if you don't watch it."

Xander was shocked. He quickly sat down, and held his head in his hands. Looking up between his fingers, he said "What are you talking about?"

"What do you think I'm talking about? Faith, you dork."

"Faith?" he said, incredulous. "What do you mean, Faith?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe the way you salivate every time she steps in the room. The little eye-contact games you're playing, the little inside jokes that Anya's not a part of…whenever Faith is in the room, you act like Anya doesn't even exist."

"I do not."

"You do so. Willow noticed it. I noticed it. Dawn noticed it. Hell, even Angel noticed it. She's got you a string, a string I thought you cut a long time ago. What is it, Xander? Is it that she's dangerous? That she's the one person beside Anya you've slept with… that whole forbidden fruit of the loom nonsense?"

Xander got up and started to walk back to the training room. "I don't know what you're on, Cordelia."

"So I'm seeing things, is that it, Xander?"

"Yeah, Cordy, you are…"

"I think it's because she's a Slayer like Buffy…except you can have this one…"

"That is total BS and you know it…"

"Do I? Because I know that look that I saw in Anya's eyes when she was watching you ogle Faith. It was the same way I felt in high school every time Buffy walked in the room, and I ceased to exist to you."

Xander stood silent. She was right. Faith had been all he had thought about ever since she had come back to Sunnydale. He took a deep breath, and looked into Cordelia's stern eyes.

"When did you get so smart?"

"I don't know. Angel gives me a lot of practice."

"I bet." He sat down at the table again, and Cordelia took a seat next to him, reaching out her hands to his.

"What am I supposed to do, Cordy?"

"Do you love Anya?"

He turned, and looked at her. "More than I thought possible."

"And Faith? How do you feel about her?"

Xander hung his head. "Truthfully, Cordy…I don't know. Just seeing her again it was like…like a bomb just went off in my chest, I mean she's just so…"

"Slutty?"

"NO!…not like that at all…I just feel every time I see her that…part of me feels like I let her down, part of me is scared…part of me just feels alive…and part of me is yelling that I'm crazy."

"And the other part?"

"The other part just wants to hold her and make everything okay."

"She's not some project Xander. She doesn't want your pity."

"It's not pity, Cordy…I just know that she's not like you all think she is…she's…"

"What, Xander? She's what?"

"She's fragile."

"Yeah, like explosives."

"No..she's scared most of the time and all she really wants is someone…"

"To love her? You think that's what she wants?"

"I don't know. All I know is that she's more than you think she is."

"I think she's a killer, Xander."

"She is…I mean…I know she is…but I don't know if she can help that…I mean she's a Slayer, right?"

"Buffy was a Slayer and she wasn't a killer."

Xander looked up at her, and Cordelia couldn't tell quite what he was going to say. She definitely wasn't ready for what he did say.

"Angel's a killer, Cordy."

"Angel's a vampire. Besides, that was when he didn't have a soul."

"So? Look at Spike. He doesn't have a soul, and he's acting just as righteous as Angel these days. Annoying as hell, but he's standing up, Cordy. And I heard Wes talking about what Angel let Drusilla and Darla do to those lawyers, Cordy. That makes him as much of a killer as Faith ever was."

"What's Angel got to do with any of this?"

"You tell me, Cordy. I've seen you two. You're attached at the hip. If Angel's in a bad mood, so are you. And vice versa. Angel's Mr. Stoic most of the type. He could give Oz a run for his money in the stone face department. Until you come in the room, then Angel gets all nervous, or angry, or he even starts to laugh. I've never seen him act that way before you guys went to LA. Not even around Buffy."

"So?"

"So how can you tell me it's okay for you and Angel to care about each other, and it's not okay for me to care about Faith?"

"What are you talking about? Angel's my friend."

"Wrong, Cordy. I've got friends, I know how friends act around each other. Friends don't automatically huddle together in a corner every time the other enters a room like you and Angel do. Friends don't let each other's moods dictate how their day goes."

Cordelia didn't know what to think. Xander was right. Often her day was dictated by Angel's moods. When he was happy, she was happy. When he was broody, she was cranky. "Your point being, Dr. Freud?"

"You trust your gut with Angel, right?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, let me trust mine when it comes to Faith…"

"Alright…and Anya?"

"I love Anya."

"I know you do. That's not what I meant."

Xander sat there, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"What did you mean?"

"I meant while you go on trusting your gut, hoping Faith doesn't stick a knife in it, you're already sticking one in Anya's heart."

Xander let that sink in. It didn't feel well going down.

"Xander, you mentioned Spike. Angel doesn't like Spike much."

"So? What's that got to do with anything?"

"Angel may not like Spike, but he has to respect him. You know why?"

"No, but I'm sure you're going to enlighten me."

"Because like you said, Spike stood up. He told Buffy he loved her, when he knew she wouldn't take it well. Spike may have been a lot of things, Xander, but he was honest when it came to his feelings. That's why Angel respects him, and you know, I do, too. He didn't hide from his feelings. He faced them head on. You think you can say the same?"

Xander laughed. "Can you?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You know what I'm talking about."

"Guys?"

They looked up to see Willow standing in the doorway.

"Yeah, Will?" said Xander.

"Your pizza's getting cold, and I think we're ready to start."

"You waited on us?"

"Angel wanted to wait."

"Uhh-Huh" Xander snorted, looking at Cordelia. "Like I said. Denial's not just a river in Egypt."

"Shut up, Xander…and remember what I said."

"I will. Hey Will, you got a little magic to heat up my pizza?"

"Yeah, it's called the microwave."

Cordelia watched him walk back into the training room. She joined Willow in the doorway.

"How's Anya?"

"Fine, I guess. You get through to him?"

"Oh I told him. Thing is…I don't know if he can help himself."

"It's that bad."

"Willow…I hate to say this…but I feel sorry for Anya."

"Why's that?"

She looked over at Xander. He was staring holes through Gunn's forehead.

"I think Xander can't help himself."

"What do you mean?"

"You remember when Xander was dating me…and he ended up kissing you…"

"You don't think that he would…"

"Faith would. You know it. She'd nail him to the sheets in a heartbeat."

"Not the imagery I wanted. Well, I'll just have to have a little talk with Faith."

"No, don't."

"Why not?"

"Because, Willow. This is Xander's call to make. And you know what's sad?"

"What?"

"I actually think he loves both of them."

Willow looked away, back into the room where she could see Angel looking expectedly at them. She looked back at Cordelia.

"Okay. I just hope he doesn't screw this up."

"Me, too, for his sake."

"And Cordy?"

"Yeah, Willow?"

"Xander's right about one thing."

"What's that?"

"You and Angel aren't just friends."

~ Chapter 3 ~

Giles couldn't remember when so many of the "Scoobies" had been in one room. It was amazing to see the assemblage. Two watchers, a Slayer, two master vampires, a seer, a ex-vengeance demon, two witches, one of which with heretofore uncharted power, a girl who had until recently been composed of living energy, a street fighter, and a robot. Oh, and he mustn't forget the excellent bowler. The excellent bowler who at this moment, Giles noticed, was on the receiving end of stares from Willow and Cordelia. Xander seemed not to notice them, instead he appeared totally preoccupied with his seating position in between Faith and Anya on the couch.

Spike was getting impatient. "What are we waiting for? Let's get this bleedin' show on the road."

"I was told to expect two more…" said Giles.

"By who?.." asked Wesley.

"By me" said a voice from the doorway. They all looked up to see a short man in a shabby outfit and rumpled hat standing there.

"You…"said Angel…

"Long time, no see. How's tricks?" said the man.

"You know how they are."

"Angel," said Willow…"who is this?"

"His name is Whistler."

"Is he on our side?" asked Dawn.

Whistler smiled. "On this one, kiddo, I am. The Big Guys up stairs don't like this whole kit and kaboodle. That's why I'm here. I can't fight, and I can't plan. But I can steer you away from the potholes."

Spike looked at Giles. "You said two, Watcher. Who's the other?"

"He was parking the van. Gave me a ride. Nice guy. Moody though."

"Huh?"

"Just start. He'll be here in a second."

Giles cleared his throat. "Well, alright then." He and Wesley pulled a chalkboard from the corner of the room to where everyone could see it. A picture was taped to the board. "This is our objective. The Chalice of Osiris."

Cordelia coughed from her perch on the arm of Angel's chair. "Rehash much? We all know this already."

"Yes," said Wesley, "but Spike and Dawn have recently remembered where it can be found."

"Where?" asked Anya.

"Where you don't want to go," said Whistler.

Angel was already getting impatient.

"Where, already?"

"In the house of a demon who was there when Buffy died. A demon we thought we'd killed," said Giles.

"You don't mean the guy I killed with the sword? The one with the big tongue?"

"The very same, guv," Spike said. "He's also the bastard that stabbed me in the back and threw me off the bleedin' tower."

"What kind of demon was he?" asked Gunn.

Giles face grew grave. "An Al-Azon, I'm afraid."

Anya just about choked on her glass of tea. "You're kidding. Spike, you let Xander in the same room with an Al-Azon?"

"It's past, pet. He's still breathing, now, isn't he?"

Tara raised her hand. "What's an Al-Azon?"

Wesley stood. "Perhaps the oldest demons walking the earth. They are some of the most vicious, amoral creatures in history. They are also some of the deadliest. That Spike survived not one, but two encounters with the Al-Azon is simply amazing."

"Hey," Xander said. "Al-Azon survivor here, too!"

Faith smiled. "And you killed the bad demon, didn't you, boo-boo", she said, slapping Xander playfully on the chest.

Anya had had enough. She pinched Xander's ear and moved his face until he was staring her in the eyes. She whispered in his ear low enough that only the non-human ears in the room could hear. Cordelia didn't know what was said, but by the look on Angel, Spike, and Whistler's faces, it wasn't anything nice.

"Yes, in any case," said Giles. "Our objective is the Chalice."

"We're going to kill the bloody demon, too, mate."

"Is that really necessary?" said Wesley. "They are notoriously hard to kill. If we can obtain the Chalice without engaging the Al-Azon, I would think it would be in our intere---"

"I'M GOING TO KILL THAT BLOODY DEMON IF IT'S THE LAST THING I BLOODY DO!" yelled

Spike.

Everyone was silent. "Yes…well…" said Wesley

"He's right," said Whistler. "Part of the balance…if you want your girl back…is to kill the Al-Azon. His involvement was unforeseen. It was supposed to be Billy's big-day. The culmination of 120 years of planning on the part of The Powers."

"What are you saying," asked Angel. "What was Spike supposed to do?"

"You think it was an accident that Drusilla saw him that day? Or even that you sired Drusilla? He had to be of the same line as you."

Spike's brow furrowed. "What do you mean, it was a plan, mate?"

"You were always supposed to be there. At her side."

"Why?" asked Dawn.

"Because…Spike is the first of the new breed. Of the Reconciliation…the Intermingling…the Fusion. The Powers have been able to hide his true nature until now. But Buffy wasn't supposed to die. Without her to facilitate it, the transition won't ever be complete. Only Buffy had the power. There is another possibility, but without Buffy it's probably impossible. At least for Spike. Buffy was key."

"I thought Dawn was the key," said Anya.

"What kind of fusion?" asked Willow.

"What the bleedin' hell are you talk about?" snapped Spike.

"You'll see. If this is going to work, you'll see. In the meantime, that doesn't solve your immediate problem. There's only one way to kill an Al-Azon."

"And how's that, bore him to death?" asked Faith.

"Hi, guys."

Gunn looked up to see a rather short red-haired guy about Cordelia's age standing in the doorway next to Whistler. He seemed to be wearing no expression at all.

"Oz!" said an excited Willow. "What are you doing here? I mean it's great to see you and all, and oh, did you know Buffy died, and hey…what are you doing here?"

"Well, I gave this guy a ride, thank you, Whistler told me, and I want to help."

"Oh," said Willow.

"It's good to see you."

"Good to see you too. Like I said, I want to help. So keep going…"

"Yes…well, good to have you on board, Oz…", said Giles.

Gunn looked quizzically over at Cordelia, who mouthed "werewolf". Gunn shook his head. What's next, Frankenstein's Monster?

Giles continued, "As I was saying…"