Title: Step Forward

Author: Nebula

Chapter: 42 of ?

Rating: FRT overall, with an occasional FRM and FRAO (Fan Rated for Teens, Mature, and Adults Only)

Pairings: S/B, X/A, W/T, D/J, Ang/C, slight Am/And, slight F/R

Time Period: Set after 'Back Track', which is a time travel story started in Season 7 and jumping back to Season 6. The time is now mid-Season 7, between 'Showtime' and 'Potential'.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Joss is owner of all EXCEPT my three original characters, Jennifer and Jillian and slightly Megan. (She was one of the final girls shown in Chosen.)

Songs used are 3G's 'Crush' and Jump5's 'Beauty and the Beast'. I own neither except on CD. ~_^

< --- >

Everywhere she looked, Buffy could see teenagers in flowing dresses and suits, with streamers and little plastic snowflakes hanging all over the place. The gymnasium was now a winter wonderland, complete with fake snow, white and light blue balloons, and even a cotton snowman decked out with a hat, glued on smile, and twigged arms.

“Looks good, doesn't it?” Robin asked, coming over. His usual suit and tie attire had been traded in for a light blue silky shirt, the collar open for once, and black slacks.

“It does,” Buffy agreed. “The teens did a good job on the place.”

“Would hate to see it ruined,” Spike said, earning an elbow jab from Willow. He gave a tiny yelp, then turned to her with a glare. “What was that for?”

“Don't tempt fate!” she hissed. “I want a nice night with my girlfriend. I don't need the fiends of hell stepping in to ruin it.”

Spike rolled his eyes and pouted slightly. Buffy tried to hide her small smile. He was so adorable when he did that.

Robin and Spike shook hands, before Robin turned to survey the group. “You all look great,” he told them, beckoning them into the gym. The younger ones took off, heading for drinks, the dance floor, or snacks. Faith headed in after Buffy, then stopped at the look on Robin's face.

They stared at each other, before he said, “You look nice.”

Slowly Faith began to smile. “Just nice?” she teased.

“Very nice,” Robin amended, returning her smile.

Buffy blinked, then turned to her partner. “Are you seeing what I'm seeing?” she whispered.

Spike gave her a look, leading her off to the drinks table. “You haven't seen the most incredible pairin' yet. Wait 'till Andrew asks Amanda out to dance.”

“Andrew asks who out to what?!”

A few Christmas songs were played to put everyone into the holiday mood. Buffy was content to see Dawn and Jonathan out on the floor, laughing and smiling and having a very non-Hellmouthy night. They deserved it. They all did.

Molly had, of course, headed straight for the snack table. She'd met up with a few guys there, however, who seemed to be entranced by her accent. She was currently on the dance floor with them, her smile wide and bright.

Kennedy, for the most part, had sat out most of the dances, until a girl had taken a seat next to her, complaining to her parter that she was just tired and needed a break. He'd left, and Buffy had heard the girl mutter, “Guys seriously just don't get it.” Kennedy had asked her what she'd meant, and the girl had given her a grin. They'd been talking ever since.

Tara and Willow were on the floor, grooving and having a blast. Anya had declined a few offers for dances, saying she was already 'taken'. Buffy had glanced over at Spike, but he'd apparently already had the idea. He'd headed over and offered her his hand, and with a grateful smile she'd accepted.

Robin and Faith were off talking, and Faith hadn't stopped smiling since she'd entered the room. Buffy had never seen her that happy before. She wished her sister Slayer all the good luck in the world.

The cutest couple, however, was the most unlikely. After standing next to Amanda for twenty minutes, silently and awkwardly, Andrew had finally asked her to dance. Amanda had blushed but nodded, and they'd headed out on the floor. It had taken them two songs for them to get comfortable dancing with the other, but they were out there now with huge grins on their faces, doing wacky crazy things and laughing all the while.

Tara and Willow came off the dance floor, panting but smiling. “Wild out there, huh?” Buffy asked.

Tara grinned. “Fun though. Lots of fun.”

“Fun not to be missed! Why haven't you danced yet?” Willow said, giving her friend a look. “Go dance already!”

“I was about to ask why I hadn't had the chance to dance with my lady yet,” Spike said, cutting between the two women to reach Buffy. He raised his eyebrow, extending his hand to her. “May I have the honor?” he asked, continuing his William accent.

Buffy reached up and took his hand, allowing him to lead her to the floor. “About time,” she heard Willow mutter behind her.

A slow song started, and a female voice said something going back to when a love song was a love song, but Buffy had her eyes and ears on the person in front of her. Her right hand met his left, his right arm pulled her up against him, her remaining hand settled on his shoulder, and Buffy wondered why she hadn't danced with him earlier. She'd forgotten how good it felt. How right.

“Have I told you how beautiful you are yet?” Spike whispered in her ear, sending goosebumps down her arms.

“I'm not sure,” Buffy said, smiling. “Tell me anyways.”

She could feel him smile against her neck. “You are the light in my darkness, the thing that holds me up, keeps me on solid ground. Anywhere you go and my eyes are upon you, seeking your infinite grace and golden smile out. You're the most gorgeous woman I've ever had the pleasure of being with, and no matter what light you're in, you're always beautiful to me.”

Buffy could feel her blush starting from the tip of her head to the bottom of her toes. “I meant tonight,” she whispered.

“So did I,” he whispered back.

“I think someone went digging through my head.”

Spike frowned and glanced at her. “What?”

“This song; it's me to you. Everything you are to me, everything I've ever felt about you, it's just...you. How I feel.”

“What parts?” he asked.

Buffy shook her head. “You don't get it. ALL of it. I want to stay right here by your side for a thousand years, for more than that. Always and forever, you and me. Every time I'm down, physically or mentally, you're my healer. You bring me back.

“And...it's like...it's like I've never been with anyone else before. I'm not nervous about anything, I'm solid and sure and just in love. Like I've never been before. That's what a relationship's supposed to be, and I never had that. Not before you.”

His grip on her tightened, and it wasn't long before she realized he was shaking. “Spike?” she whispered, frowning. He only buried his head further into her shoulder. “Sweetheart, talk to me.”

“Can't,” he said hoarsely, as if his throat was clogged up. To further prove her thoughts right, she could feel something wet fall onto her shoulder. He's crying. Oh sweetie, I didn't mean...

“Spike, what's...”

He pulled away, and there were indeed tear-trails running down his face. He kissed her before she could ask him what was wrong, and didn't let up until the song had ended. They pulled away, both panting.

“I don't...” Buffy started, but he shushed her with a finger to her lips and a teary smile on his face.

“Know you don't understand luv. Just...” He pressed his forehead to hers, before continuing. “I love you so much. Don't know what I did to deserve you, but I've got you, and I'm not lettin' go. Ever. Love you so, so much.”

“Then why...”

“Just what you said,” Spike whispered, his smile widening. “Just your words, pet. That's all. Never had anyone really tell me that before.”

Her hand reached up to cup his cheek, and he instinctively leaned into the touch. “I meant it,” she said quietly. “Every word. I love you.”

“This is a request for a couple out there, she wouldn't say who. But she says this is their song, and to, and I quote, 'have a happy ever after tonight, dammit!', end quote,” the DJ called out, and laughter rang out through the gym.

“Sounds like a red-headed witch I know,” Buffy said, giggling.

Chimes started, before soft voices in the background began to sing “Beauty and the Beast” along with the slow music. Spike and Buffy laughed again, and the music picked up to a more pop-ish sounding rendition of the Disney classic.

“Definitely Red then,” Spike said, turning to glance over at where they'd last seen the witches. Buffy turned as well, and watched as Willow walked back towards Tara. She took her partner's hand, then turned and gave the blonde couple a grin. 'No more tears' she mouthed, and Buffy couldn't have agreed more.

“So...” Buffy said, grabbing Spike's hand and pulling him close. “Wanna dance? This is our song.”

Spike grinned and spun her out.

Buffy stole a glance around while briefly pressed against Spike. Robin was on the dance floor with Faith, and Faith's smile was even bigger than before. Not too far off, Dawn was still dancing with Jonathan, except Amanda and Andrew had joined the duo. And there was Cassie, dancing with an unknown boy, sure of her footwork as she moved on the floor. Her eyes met with Buffy's for a brief moment, and they shared a smile. Cassie had made it to her winter ball.

Kennedy was getting down and grooving with the girl she'd been talking to earlier, and Buffy was glad to see her doing something besides watching Willow. The red-head was happily dancing with Tara and Anya, who had apparently decided to join the witches in dancing.

The music slowed once more, before going back to the normal tempo.

The song changed to another key just as Buffy was twirled out again, then spun back in to bounce right into her own handsome 'Beast'. One that was suddenly not wearing black, black, and black anymore.

Spike blinked at the same time she did. “What happened to your blue dress?” he asked, before she could tell him about his clothes.

Buffy glanced down at her own attire and gasped.

A beautiful white gown now took the place of her original light blue dress. It was sleeveless, glistening with beads that were arranged on the skirt and corset top. The gown had a full swishy skirt, and all in all, she felt like a princess.

With her changed prince in front of her. “Uh, not the only one with a clothes change here,” she said, and Spike's head whipped down to view his attire, which had also turned to white. His collar was undone, and the sleeves sagged a little, completing the medieval look.

He glanced up at her, frowning. “Even my shoes are white. Who could've...” He stopped, and as one their heads turned to the witches.

Willow and Tara stood, trying for innocent faces. When Buffy and Spike kept staring, however, they caved and gave the couple huge grins. “I don't believe this,” Spike said, turning back to her.

Buffy glanced once more at her friends. Willow gave her a wink, and Buffy smiled. “I do,” she said, taking his hand.

The song picked up for the final time, and they slowly began to smile. “Dance?” he asked.

“Isn't that what we're best at?” she said, before laughing as he turned her around.

Chapter 43:

Molly crept forward towards the vampire. She glanced over her shoulder at Buffy standing on the hill, who nodded her forward even more. Molly swallowed and turned back towards the vampire, who apparently had still not noticed her presence. Being mindful of crackly things on the ground, she raised her stake as she moved forward, then struck.

The stake never reached him. She shrieked as he spun with incredible speed, grabbing her wrist and twisting it so she dropped the stake from pain. “Help!” she screamed, glancing up at Buffy. But Buffy still hadn't moved towards her to help. The vampire pulled her close and leaned in to her neck, and Molly scrunched her eyes shut.

“Need a bit of work, pet,” Spike told her, before letting her go. Buffy came down then, smiling as Spike began berating the young girl on how to properly sneak up on someone.

“You moved too fast!” Molly accused.

“Uh, hate to break it to you, but I doubt you can ask the vampire to kindly move slower so you can stake him,” Kennedy said dryly. Buffy swallowed back a snicker.

Spike's lips twitched up in an undeniable smirk, but he wisely pushed it down before any of the girls now crowded around could see it. “Both Kennedy and Spike have valid points,” Buffy said gently, as she watched Molly's face fall. “And I might not be here to call for help.” Spike's lips twitched again, but for another reason altogether. Buffy spared him a quick glance, wincing in sympathy. She knew what was on his mind now.

“But I will be, for as long as I can,” she said, keeping her eyes on his. His gaze finally met hers, and they exchanged a conversation only they could understand. One where he asked if she really would be there for as long as she could, and one where she answered that yes, she would be there. And not just for the girls, but for him too.

“You did good, for first time,” Buffy assured her. “This is why we're not sending you head-first into battle right now. Okay? And besides, if it hadn't been you to make the mistake, one of them would've made it. So they should all really be falling to their knees and kissing your feet, for the fact that you showed them how not to do it.”

A small giggle from Molly, along with protests from the Potentials, and Buffy knew they'd be okay.

“Think they'll be okay?”

“Wills, sweetie, we've had this conversation before.”

“I mean, it's their first night out. REALLY out. Shouldn't we be out there with them?”

“I'm tending to agree with Tara,” Giles said, entering the kitchen and cleaning his glasses. “Spike and Buffy can handle them just fine. Faith's with them, so that's two Slayers to defend, should anything happen. Dawn is with them as well. She's become quite an experienced fighter under Buffy's mindful eyes.”

Willow fidgeted with the glass she was scrubbing. She had this niggling feeling that something was wrong. Just that instinctive feeling, and she couldn't shake it. For some reason, she didn't like the idea of the group out by themselves. “Maybe we should head out after them. They couldn't have gone far. You know? We can help them.”

A hand on her arm made her stop scrubbing. She grasped the edge of the sink and hung her head, breathing heavily. “Willow, what's wrong?” Tara asked, sounding thoroughly worried. “It has to be something big. You're getting really upset, and I'm starting to worry now, too.”

“You are extremely distressed, Willow,” Giles said gently, pouring an extra cup of tea for her. “Something you'd care to share with the rest of us?”

“Share what with whom?” Anya asked, stepping into the kitchen. “Are they back yet?”

At the mention of 'they', the group that most certainly hadn't returned yet, Willow clenched her eyes shut. “Willow, baby, come sit down,” Tara pleaded quietly. “You're seriously scaring me now.”

“It's probably nothing,” Willow argued weakly, though she let Tara lead her to the table. Giles handed her the cup with obvious concern, and she gave him a tired smile. “Just...this feeling that something's gonna happen. Something bad. I don't know if it's because we haven't gotten hit with anything lately, or because of...I don't know, magical premonition? It's just...we're halfway through the year, and there's so much we don't know about the First and its plans yet.”

“Well, we'll figure it out. We're good at that,” Anya said.

Willow nodded absently and took a sip of the tea. “I know we are. It's just...creepy sometimes. Okay, creepy all the time. Because we're literally above evil incarnate. You know? And it gives me the wiggins.”

“But now, you're even more spooked, because there's been no activity for awhile?” Giles asked her. Willow nodded. Of anyone that would understand the danger of the enemy, but the greater danger of a hiding, silent enemy, it would be Giles. They'd certainly had enough of those through the years.

“Did you want to call them?” Anya asked. “They've got numerous cells on them.”

“Buffy doesn't have her new one yet. At least, I don't think she does,” Tara said, frowning as she thought.

Willow shook her head. “No, she doesn't. Not yet. We've been busy doing...non-Hellmouthy things. And thus my worry.”

“Something wicked this way comes,” Giles said quietly.

With a sinking feeling Willow said, “Something wicked this way has already come.”

“Something's coming,” Cassie said, hurrying over to Buffy.

Faith frowned. “Like what? A flood of water, or a flood of vamps?”

Cassie shook her head. “I don't know. Something bad. I don't like this. I think we should get back to the house.”

“Hey, hey, slow down a bit,” Spike said softly, coming over. “What's this 'bout returnin' to the house?”

“Cassie's spooked about something,” Buffy said. “You don't know what it is?”

Cassie shook her head again, looking more miserable than before. “No. And usually, I can see it. See something, at least. But this, it's...blank. Nothing. Nothing but this huge fear that something bad's going to happen. Like soon. Very soon.”

Buffy and Spike exchanged worried glances. Cassie not being able to get a handle on whatever was coming their way wasn't good. But she'd never let them down before. The best thing to do would be to follow her advice.

“Guys, we're heading back, change of plans,” Buffy called out, ignoring the exclamations and questions. Cassie had gone pale and rigid where she was standing. “Cassie?” she called, her frown deepening when she didn't get an answer. “Cassie?”

No response. Faith waved her hand in front of Cassie's face, then snapped her fingers. Nothing. “So not likin' this,” Faith said.

Buffy was starting to get a sinking feeling in her gut as well. “Get the others home,” she told the other Slayer. “Spike and I will take care of Cassie. But get them home now.”

“Is Cassie going to be okay?” Amanda asked nervously. Dawn bit her lip, and Buffy made a mental note to tell her sister to stop doing that. Of course, that meant SHE would have to stop doing that. Or could she just apply the 'do as I say, not as I do' rule?

She turned to answer, then stopped at the sight of a dozen vampires or more. The girls quickly backed up, and Molly gave a small cry of fear when she turned and faced the opposite way. Buffy's head whipped around to see another dozen vampires. Trapped.

Cassie still hadn't moved. “Stay with her,” Buffy ordered Molly, grabbing the small dagger from her belt and pushing it into her hands. “If anything besides us comes towards you, stab them.”

Molly nodded, terror in her eyes, and Buffy pulled out her stake. “Now,” Buffy said, loudly enough for the vampires to hear her, “who wants to meet the pointy end first?”

Anya came back from the phone, looking slightly worried herself. “It just keeps ringing. No answer.”

Willow's own worry had escalated beyond what it had been before. This is ridiculous. You know they can handle themselves! Don't worry about them! But the niggling in the back of her mind wouldn't go away.

“Dammit,” she muttered under her breath. Why hadn't she done the telepathy from the first time around? It would only have taken a few moments to set the whole configuration up, and then she'd have total access to what was going on.

“I-I'm sure they'll be fine,” Tara stammered. Oh goody, now Tara was really upset too.

Giles was on his feet and pacing at the news Anya had brought. “Perhaps we would be best to go and, well, find them, and quite possibly help them,” he said, chewing on the end of his glasses.

Willow bit her lip. “Let me try Spike's cell one more time, and if that doesn't work, then we'll go,” she said, sipping the last of her tea and standing.

Buffy slammed her stake home, watching the vampire dust with satisfaction. “We all here?” she asked, glancing around.

Faith dusted her final vampire, nodding. “We're good over here.”

“Cassie!” Amanda yelled, running to help her friend, who had suddenly decided to take a seat on the ground. The others hurried over, but Cassie shook them off.

“I'm okay, I'm okay,” she kept mumbling, pushing herself to standing. She staggered slightly, clutching her head. “That hurt. Ow.”

“You all right?” Spike asked, frowning.

Cassie nodded. “Yeah, just a doozy. I've only zoned out like that a couple of times. Before I saw you in your office when we met, I got the vision about...you and everything,” she said, quickly covering for her almost slip-up.

“It hurt like this?” Buffy asked. They'd tell the others about the time travel later. Not now.

As Cassie nodded again, Dawn asked, “What was it about?”

“It was about us earring though would tilling sand hurling (here and the world tilting and slowing),” she said, or that's what Buffy heard. She blinked, and the sky's color changed from midnight blue to purple to red and back to midnight blue.

Then everything exploded.

Willow was halfway to the phone when the searing pain shot through her skull. She screamed and tumbled to the ground, her knees hitting the tile with a sharp crack. Even though she could feel the rest of her hitting the tile, she was still falling, and the light from the kitchen was drifting further away. Tara's voice was yelling, but it was getting dimmer and dimmer.

And the pain just wouldn't stop.

“No,” Willow breathed, as the all too familiar darkness surrounded her. “NO!”

Willow?! Willow, sweetie, j-just...just hang on...don't...

“TARA!” Willow screamed. “Tara, don't leave me!! I'm here, I'm still here, I just...”

Is she all right?! Willow, answer me! Willow!

Willow tried to tell Giles that she was fine, would be fine, because this had happened before, and they'd beaten it back. Or had they? They'd thought that this was over, that the backlash from the time spell wouldn't pull them down anymore.

“This is what I felt, the niggling, the bad thing coming,” she breathed. The darkness, if possible, got darker, and the light faded away to nothing. She tried to pull herself up onto the surface she couldn't see but had always been there, and failed to grasp it. Her eyes widened as she felt nothing. “No,” she gasped, but it was too late.

< --- >

By the way, if you were curious as to what Cassie says, it's really “It was about us here and the world tilting and slowing.”

I:12 – Surrendering

With a yawn Jennifer snuggled down into her seat. She didn't know how Xander could keep driving like this. Without sleep. She certainly couldn't do it.

Not that he was planning on letting her drive ever again. After the encounter with Vi, she had a feeling she'd never be in the driver's seat if he had anything to say about it.

Blinking away sleep, she glanced back at the almost full vehicle. In the far far back, Chloe and Vi were sleeping on each other, and somehow including Megan, who was also sitting next to Vi, in the sleeping arrangement. Their necks were going to hurt in the morning.

In the middle seat sat Rona, whose head was leaning against the window, padded by her sweatshirt. Jillian was curled up in her seat, legs tucked up against her body, curls framing her angelic face.

“How is it that they always sleep, but you never do?” Xander asked her softly.

Jennifer glanced up. “Don't know. I've never been good at sleeping. Just...can't. Not when I know we're so close to the end, you know? One more girl, and then down to Sunnydill,” she yawned, then gave him a sheepish grin. “Sunnydale. Sorry.”

“You're so just like Buffy,” Xander murmured, fixing his gaze on the road again. They were coming up to a city now, Jennifer could tell by the sudden traffic on the highway. Even at almost one in the morning, people were still out and driving.

“How am I like Buffy?”

Xander sighed. “The other day, when you gave me that whap after my salute almost hit you? The look, raised eyebrows, little playful gesture, and you were Buffy. You've been the most level-headed of any of these girls, even when things start looking ugly. And now you're refusing sleep because you're worried about everyone. Another Buffy trait.”

Jennifer could feel a blush slowly working its way up her face. Most level-headed? And he was comparing her to the leader he'd been looking up to for seven years?

“Well, why don't you sleep?” Jennifer counter-questioned, unable to think of a good response to what he'd just said.

Xander noticed and gave her a small smile, but let her off the hook. “I've gone too many nights spent patrolling and, um, with my wife,” he added quickly, his face turning red. Jennifer giggled, covering her mouth to muffle the sounds so as not to wake the others.

“Music?” he asked, reaching for the radio.

“Just keep it quiet,” she said, yawning again. “Don't want to wake the others up.”

Xander nodded and flipped through the stations. “That one,” she said, when Sarah McLachlan's voice reached her ears. “It's a soft enough song.”

“I approve of your music taste,” Xander said, leaving the music on soft.

“Do you ever think songs mean something?” Jennifer asked, after listening for awhile.

Xander frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”

“The tone of the song. The words. The way the singer or musician gets the point across.”

Xander tore his eyes from the road to give her a gaze she couldn't describe. “Well?” she pushed.

“I do,” he finally said. “Their tone can definitely keep you in good spirits or put you in the bottom of a pit. But I have the feeling you already knew that.”

Jennifer shrugged, glancing out the window. The lights from the highway zoomed by, from the overhead lamps to the occasional car or truck. She could get hypnotized by watching them. Hypnotized into falling asleep...

“What about you?”

Jennifer sighed and glanced back at him. “I think the lyrics can keep you moving, or they can keep you at a standstill, make you think. Some are just better to dance to then others.”

Xander's eyes widened slightly, as if he was realizing something. “Dance to?”

Oh. Nice choice of words, dummy. He wouldn't figure it out. Then she wouldn't have to talk about it.

“That bag Jillian grabbed, the one you kept telling her not to bring, that wouldn't happen to be carrying dance shoes, would it?”

Okay, guess he would figure it out.

“Jenny?” he called softly when she didn't answer. Her eyes were everywhere, on the mirrors, on the people in the back, on the dashboard, anywhere but him.

She sensed he was about to ask again, and she began to sing softly with the music.

“If you don't want me to ask, tell me,” Xander said quietly.

He had to go and be nice. Why? It made it a lot harder for her to ignore him... “My mom taught me how,” she said in a voice so soft, she could barely hear herself. “When I was five, she got me my first ballet slippers. I wore those things out in six months, and I wasn't even taking real lessons. My mom was a great dancer,” she added, refusing to let her voice choke up.

Her mom had been a great dancer. She'd taken it professionally in college, and had been the first teacher Jennifer had had. And it hadn't just been ballet, either. Hip-hop, jazz, lyrical, she'd known them all. When Jennifer had finally joined a real dance class, she'd been eight, in a class of teenagers, because she'd been so well prepared. The teens had thought she was adorable, and had taken her in as if she was their little sister.

Then her mom had become pregnant with Jillian. The night of one of Jennifer's big dance performances, her mom and dad hadn't been able to come, due to her mother being in labor. Mrs. Hartwood had, however, and even she'd left part-way through. Jennifer had been so busy trying to keep dance steps in her mind that she'd forgotten all about her mother and soon-to-be sibling.

She'd barely walked off the stage when Mrs. Hartwood had come over, telling her that they had to leave for the hospital, now. Jennifer had followed, mentally picking out names for the newest addition.

But when she'd gotten to the hospital, she hadn't been allowed to help pick a name. Jillian had already been born and named, and her mother had been gone. Jennifer had never been able to show her mom her pretty costume and make-up from the show. Her face had twinkled with glitter and tears as she'd cried for her mom.

At the next performance, she'd told her dance instructor that she wasn't going to be wearing glitter. She couldn't; it reminded her of her tears, which in turn reminded her of her mom. Soon she couldn't even do a dance step without thinking of her mom in some way. So she'd stopped dancing all together.

Jennifer stopped, not even realizing that she'd been telling Xander all of this until just then. Xander sat silently in the driver's seat, going over what she'd just told him.

“The last time I put my shoes on was a year ago,” Jennifer whispered. The song had long ended, and the radio had been turned off. “I still stretch out, but I can't...I don't want to...you know. It doesn't seem right.”

“I don't think she'd want you to not dance, but I have a feeling you've been told that already,” Xander said. Jennifer nodded. “I think that's also why you won't sleep. You're worried that you'll lose Jillian if you're not there for her, like you weren't there for your mom.”

“There's nothing I could've done,” Jennifer protested, but he was right: that was one of the thoughts she'd had through the years. She'd dismissed it because it hadn't been logical, but some part of her had always wondered if she could've made a difference.

“No, there really wasn't. But you're still gonna feel like there was something you could do, if you were there. So this time, you intend to be there. A subconscious sort of thing.”

Jennifer gave him a look. “How do you know so much?”

Xander slowly began to smile. “Willow and Buffy took a psychology course in college. I got to listen to it for days on end. Also, my head?” He knocked on it, then cringed as he knocked too hard. “Able to figure things out on its own. It's very talented that way. And ow.”

Jennifer laughed softly. “Very talented,” she agreed. He was good with making her smile, even after all her dark thoughts. She would've loved to have had an older brother like him.

When he didn't let go of his head, however, her smile fell. “Xander? Did you seriously knock your brains around?” she joked weakly.

Xander froze, shuddered, then gripped his head with his hands, crying out and falling over to hit the window. Leaving the wheel unattended.

His cry woke the girls, pulling them from their deep sleep. “What...?” Rona started, only to suddenly wake up at the sight of Xander and the state of the vehicle. “Xander!”

The SUV drifted over into the next lane, the one with a vehicle actually in it. Jennifer's eyes widened. “Xander?!” she yelled, then stopped and stared.

Xander was jerking, with actual tears running down his face. His face was contorted into a grimace of pain, and his fingers dug into his scalp.

“The car!” Vi cried, pointing to the blue mini-van in the next lane. The one Xander wasn't steering them away from.

“No...can't...again,” he whimpered, before his eyes rolled back into his head. He was out cold.

Jennifer turned and watched the SUV slide towards the unsuspecting van.

Title: Step Forward

Author: Nebula

Chapter: 44 of ?

Rating: FRT overall, with an occasional FRM and FRAO (Fan Rated for Teens, Mature, and Adults Only)

Pairings: S/B, X/A, W/T, D/J, Ang/C, slight Am/And, slight F/R

Time Period: Set after 'Back Track', which is a time travel story started in Season 7 and jumping back to Season 6. The time is now mid-Season 7, during 'Potential'.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Joss is owner of all EXCEPT my three original characters, Jennifer and Jillian and slightly Megan. (She was one of the final girls shown in Chosen.)

Spike slowly drifted back to consciousness, his world still mostly black. There were a few bright spots he could make out, however, and they wouldn't stop moving over him.

Thought we were done with this, he mentally grumbled, then stopped. We. That meant more than one person. Such as...

“Buffy?” he coughed, causing the bright spots to shriek and back up. The girls, then.

“He's awake!” Molly called out, biting her lower lip.

“B's not yet,” Faith said, hurrying over. “Spike, you okay?”

Kennedy shook her head. “No, he's not! What the hell was that?!”

“I think she's less okay than he is,” Amanda muttered.

Spike ignored them all. The only person he was interested in was lying on the ground several feet away, out cold. Slowly pushing himself up onto his elbows, he crawled over to Buffy, trying to push the dizzying sensation of moving away. He'd forgotten how much it could hurt.

And there was the headache, right on schedule. Spike groaned but kept going until he was next to Buffy. Her features were contorted in pain, even passed out. “Buffy,” he whispered, shaking her shoulder. He had to get her out. The sooner he could pull her out, the better.

He shuddered at the thought of where he'd just been. Why did this happen? We finished this! We paid our debt for the damn spell! he yelled internally. They'd figure it out eventually.

Right now, he needed Buffy to be back with him. Absently he put his fingers on her neck, looking for a pulse. It was there, along with icy cold skin. As if she were dead.

“She's not dead,” Cassie said softly, causing everyone to stop talking and glance at her. “I know you're worried Spike, but she'll be okay.”

Spike nodded, wishing he had her confidence. “Buffy,” he called a little louder, then winced as his own voice made his head hurt. He shook her again, then watched her continue to move, even after he'd finished shaking her. Of course, the ground was moving as well, along with his hands. A wave of dizziness forced him onto the ground, and immediately two hands were on him.

“We'll get her,” Dawn told him, but Spike shrugged out of her grasp.

“Don't...don't understand, Nibblet. Gotta...gotta get her out...”

“Get her out? Of where?” Kennedy asked, puzzled.

Dawn began to try and cover for him, but Spike didn't care. Buffy's eyes were fluttering open, and he smiled, not even caring that it hurt to do so. “Hey cutie,” he whispered.

Buffy whimpered, reaching up to clutch her head. “Tell me this is just a bad nightmare,” she groaned. “Because this seriously hurts. Dammit, forgot how much it COULD hurt.”

“Home?” he asked quietly.

Buffy nodded, then cringed at the movement. “Yeah. Home. Where the aspirin hangs on trees and water to down it with is always handy.”

Spike would've chuckled if he hadn't been so afraid of making his head hurt worse. Oh wait, too late. He dug his fingernails into his forehead, as if hoping to rid himself of the pain.

“Can you stand?” Faith asked quietly.

His stomach and head both quickly told him NO, and they objected to moving very angrily. “Yeah,” Spike whispered. “Gimme a hand, and I'll be all right. Buffy won't, though. Help me up, and then...”

“I'll take her,” Faith cut in as Dawn and Cassie helped him up. Spike still watched anxiously as Faith gently picked Buffy up from the ground. As soon as the dark-haired Slayer had her 'sister' cradled in her arms, she nodded to Kennedy. “Lead on.”

“Is anyone going to explain what's going on?” Molly asked, managing to sound pissed off and fearful at the same time.

“At the house, pet,” Spike croaked, “We'll explain at the house.”

It was a long trek back to the house, with only a few muffled groans and whimpers. By the time they opened the door, Spike was more than ready for two bottles of aspirin, never mind two capsules. He was sure his brain was pulsing outside of his skull, but everyone was just being polite and not telling him.

When he saw Willow on the kitchen floor, however, he knew it was probably going to be awhile until the aspirin arrived. “Red all right?” he asked Giles. He would've asked Tara, but the blonde witch seemed to be busy holding Willow and crying hysterically.

“Willow?” Buffy whispered, turning in Faith's arms. “Is she...”

“At least wait 'till I put you down, B! Jeez,” Faith grumbled, setting the blonde Slayer carefully onto the sofa. Spike let himself be led to a chair that Anya had quickly pulled next to Buffy.

“They were hit as well?” Giles asked, hurrying over.

“Buffy? Spike?” Willow called out.

“What's going on?” Kennedy demanded.

“HOLD IT!” Dawn said, her voice slightly below yelling. Spike, Willow and Buffy groaned as one at the sound of her voice. “Sorry,” Dawn said, “but they weren't looking like they were going to shut up. First things first: get these three some aspirin.”

“These two; I've already had some,” Willow told her.

“And you're still on the ground?” Molly asked, horrified.

“Yes, but only because it's nicer down here, and the headache hasn't gone away, it's just lowered to a manageable level. They'll need water as well.”

Aspirin and water were handed to the blondes, who accepted them eagerly. “Now will someone explain what's going on?” Kennedy asked, making sure to keep her voice down.

Tara sniffled and wiped her eyes. When she glanced up at him, Spike managed to give her a smile, one that didn't hurt so much. Ah, the joy of aspirin. “Yeah, we will.”

Buffy said nothing, but she didn't look very happy with the situation. Spike didn't blame her; they'd wanted to keep this from the others as much as possible, but it seemed it was time to own up.

“This has to do with the spell, doesn't it?” Dawn said. “Cassie and I were talking about it while you guys were out.”

“I told them that my vision had been me standing there, and then the world had tilted and slowed down. When you guys started clutching at your heads, I realized the vision had been about you guys. Sorry I didn't figure it out before hand,” Cassie said regretfully.

Buffy shook her head. “Nothing you could've done, trust me. We've been through this before, we'll get through it again.”

“Why would this h-happen to you guys again?” Tara asked, hiccuping slightly from her tears. Willow reached up and tenderly ran her fingers through her lover's hair. “You guys s-should be done with this. Right?”

Kennedy looked ready to burst, but she didn't say anything. “I think Kennedy's going to blow something if you guys don't explain,” Amanda said for her.

Dawn gave a tiny grin that looked forced. “Relax, we'll tell you about the spell. It's just wigging us, because we thought the four of them were done with this headache deep-depths crap.”

“Four of them?” Molly asked. Spike's eyes widened and his stomach twisted. One that wasn't there with them...

“Xander,” he breathed, but Anya was already running to the phone, eyes wide with terror. Willow was pushing herself off of the floor, and all eyes were on the phone being dialed.

A hand brushed against Spike's, and he turned to see Buffy, her face as white as a sheet. Xander was going around the country collecting Potentials. In a vehicle. One he was driving.

“Maybe he was in a hotel,” Molly offered, though it sounded weak.

“He was...was going to push through tonight,” Dawn said, her face frozen in fear.

“Hello?” Anya practically yelled, and Buffy squeezed Spike's hand as tightly as he squeezed hers. Everyone waited with held breath, trying to figure out what had happened from Anya's face. But it was emotionless as she listened to whomever was on the other line.

A few moments were passed in tense silence, before Anya sighed, closing her eyes. “They were driving when it happened. Xander let go of the wheel, and they started drifting into a lane with a van.”

“You're not helping the tension here,” Willow mumbled.

“Jennifer grabbed the wheel and turned them off of the road. They're on the side now, parked. They're okay.”

Huge sighs of relief were heard around the room. “Thanks for the build-up,” Cassie muttered.

“Can I talk to Xander? Please?” Anya asked softly. Both hands were clutching the phone, and Spike's heart wrenched for her. If Buffy had been out of reach when this had happened, he would've lost it.

From the way Buffy was tightening her grip on him, he figured she felt the same way.

“Xander?” Anya whispered, almost in fear of the person on the other end not responding. Then she was smiling, beaming, and looking much more relieved. “Are you okay, sweetie?”

Spike could hear Xander's voice on the other end, and he couldn't help smiling. “He's okay, then?” Buffy asked him quietly.

Spike nodded and turned to her. “Will be. He's got a hell of a headache.” He paused, listening to the rest of the conversation. “He's worried 'bout us. Wants to know if we got hit.”

“Yeah, but they're all right,” Anya said, answering Xander's question.

“Explaining? Please?” Kennedy asked.

Anya glanced over at Spike and Buffy for approval. The blondes exchanged another silent conversation, before nodding in unison. “Tell him it's time to, well, tell,” Buffy said softly.

“Xander? Sweetie? Buffy said we have to...” Anya waited, before rolling her eyes.

“What?” Giles asked, cleaning his glasses once more.

“He said they're asking about what's going on over there as well,” Anya told them. “Jennifer already knows, but the others don't.”

Spike stole a glance at Kennedy and nearly laughed. Her face was going to turn purple at this rate. “Enough teasin', pet,” he told her, smiling. “Think Kennedy's had enough teasin', and she HAS been waitin' patiently enough.”

“Thank you,” Kennedy muttered.

Anya nodded. “Time to own up, Spike says. I personally wouldn't mind them not knowing, but Kennedy's face is changing colors, so I suppose they should know now. So you tell your girls, and we'll tell ours about the time spell.”

Kennedy blinked. “Time spell?”

I:13 – The Second Stop: Coming Clean Again

“...der? Xander?”

“I think he's coming to.”

“I-Is Xanner okay? Sissy, is Xanner...”

“Xander will be fine, Jillian. Don't worry.”

“Glad you could speak on my behalf,” Xander muttered, and instantly several girls were on top of him.

“Oof!” he exclaimed, realizing they were still in the car as he was crushed into seat buckles. “Okay, okay, let up!”

They pulled away, staring in surprise as he sat up. “You're just fine after all that?” Rona demanded. “You know what you put us through? We thought you were havin' a seizure or something!”

Xander shook his head. “No, I'm...oh damn,” because there was the headache, right on time. He grabbed at his now very sensitive head, and the girls whimpered.

“No, I'm fine, just...keep it down, please? Head's suddenly decided to launch a war campaign inside my skull. And I'm the battlefield.” Tense giggles from some of the girls; Jennifer and a few others remained silent and worried.

“I'll be fine,” Xander assured them, glancing over at Jennifer. Her face was pale and stricken. Gently he reached out to take her hand, giving it a tiny squeeze. “I will, I promise,” he said.

Then his arms were suddenly full of a tearful teenager, causing his head to threaten to detonate a bomb if he didn't stop moving. Xander ignored it, pulling Jennifer in for a much-needed hug. He didn't need to ask who had gotten them off the road.

“You did it,” he whispered. “You were there at the moment something happened, and you kept your sister safe. Like we were talking about. Remember?”

“Of course I remember,” Jennifer hissed through tears. “It's been rolling around in my head for the past fifteen minutes, you dope.” She sniffled and pulled away, wiping her eyes. “I was there for you too, and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to help you,” she added quietly.

“There wasn't anything you could've done about me, trust me. When it happens, no one can really bring you back. Well, Buffy and Spike could, but that was them, I think. And hearing someone encouraging you really helps.”

Jennifer stared at him like he'd gone mad. “WHAT are you talking about?” she asked incredulously. “Spike and Buffy did this too?”

Xander froze. Buffy. Spike. Willow. Oh shi... “Call them,” he ordered. “Call them now.” The headache rose, and he winced. “And find me some aspirin or something, because this is seriously not fun.”

Jennifer reached over for the phone, then gave a small 'eep' when it rang before she could touch it. She pulled the cell up to see who the caller was, then pressed the talk button.

“Hello?” was yelled through the phone, and Jennifer jumped away. Xander's eyes widened.

“Who was that?” Megan asked, reaching for the aspirin bottle.

“That's Anya,” Xander told the girls as Jennifer told Anya what had happened, that yes, Xander was fine, he was about to call to see what was going on with the others, and everyone was still alive.

Anya sighed and began speaking softly to the others, relating the news, before asking to speak with Xander. “Can you handle the phone?” Jennifer asked, frowning slightly.

Xander nodded. “Yeah, hand it over.” He swallowed down the aspirin first, however, then took the phone. Ah, a headache at an okay level. This he could handle and survive.

“Xander?” Anya whispered tentatively.

Xander smiled. He missed her so much... “Hey sweetheart,” he replied.

“Are you okay, sweetie?”

“Except for the headache trying to pound out of my skull, yeah, I'm A-OK. I'm more worried about the other three; did they get hit with this?”

“Yeah, but they're all right,” Anya told him.

“Other three?” Chloe asked. “What other three?”

Vi looked worried. “You mean they passed out like you did?”

Rona looked pissed. “What's going on?”

“Xander? Sweetie? Buffy said we have to...” Anya started, but Xander sighed.

“We have to tell them, right? That's fine. One already knows, and the others are starting the interrogation over here.”

“Who knows?” Jillian asked, frowning.

“Who knows what is the question here,” Megan said.

Xander rolled his eyes. “Jennifer knows about it. And soon, you guys will all know.”

“You knew about this?” Rona demanded.

Jennifer held up her hands. “Hey, didn't know the entire thing, especially about this. I just was told about what happened.”

“Time to own up, Spike says,” Anya told him, and the girls crowded around the phone to hear. “I personally wouldn't mind them not knowing, but Kennedy's face is changing colors, so I suppose they should know now. So you tell your girls, and we'll tell ours about the time spell.”

“Time spell?! Time spell?!” Vi shrieked.

Rona stared.

Xander sighed. “I'll call you back when I'm done, sweetie,” Xander told her, hanging up. With another sigh he looked at the gaping jaws.

“I'll give you guys an advance warning: ask for the short version,” Jennifer said with a smirk.

Xander threw her a glare, before taking a deep breath. “Okay, see, this actually never happened. A lot of bad things happened, or originally happened last year. So one night, THIS year, Willow my witchy friend came up with a time spell to take us back and redo things...”

Title: Step Forward

Author: Nebula

Chapter: 45 of ?

Rating: FRT overall, with an occasional FRM and FRAO (Fan Rated for Teens, Mature, and Adults Only)

Pairings: S/B, X/A, W/T, D/J, Ang/C, slight Am/And, slight F/R

Time Period: Set after 'Back Track', which is a time travel story started in Season 7 and jumping back to Season 6. The time is now mid-Season 7, between 'Showtime' and 'Potential'.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Joss is owner of all EXCEPT my three original characters, Jennifer and Jillian and slightly Megan. (She was one of the final girls shown in Chosen.)

< --- >

“Why?”

Buffy slowly turned her head towards her sister. No sudden moves tonight; she couldn't handle them. “Why what?”

“Why would this happen again?” Dawn fiddled with her hands, and just watching her do that was making Buffy sick. Buffy closed her eyes and let her head rest against the tabletop.

Jonathan and Andrew had come over because of training or whatnot, and now were heavily involved with the discussion. Well, Jonathan was: Andrew was in the kitchen with the girls, keeping them occupied with making snacks. From the occasional laughter, it seemed like they were fine.

“This should be over,” Dawn continued nervously. “I mean, you guys said it was, and it's not. But nothing else has happened all year long.”

“I don't like it,” Anya said.

Tara gave them a look. “I think it's a fair assessment to say that NO ONE is liking this.”

Xander had called them back not too long ago, telling them that the girls were properly stunned, and they'd be stopping at a hotel somewhere for the night, since he could no longer drive.

Buffy winced at the thought of the girls in the vehicle, terrified and helpless, not knowing what was happening to their driver. The only thing they knew was that it was headed straight into another vehicle. If Buffy had decided to tell them, then maybe they could've avoided this whole thing.

You didn't know it was going to happen. You thought it was over and done with. And they're okay, she protested to herself.

What if they'd announced it earlier, though? Told the gang when the gang included Annabelle? Would she still be here, confident that they would survive the night if they stuck together? Guilt tore through her, and all she could imagine was Annabelle laughing with the others, toasting their celebration over the First. Surviving.

That was, if they were to survive the fight at all.

“Don't you dare, Summers.”

Buffy blinked and turned her head up to see Spike glaring at her. “I know what that look means. It's a 'I'm guilty, whip me' look. If you insist on gettin' whipped, it'll be with a wet noodle, because there's nothin' you've done wrong.”

“They could've...”

“Died? And how was it your fault?” he asked quietly. “It's not. You can't blame yourself for everythin', luv. Because none of it's your fault.”

“None of it?” she argued, giving him a look.

Spike sighed. “Fine, some of it. But if you're guilty, then so are we.”

“Not from Annabelle's death,” she murmured.

There was a larger sigh from Spike, along with a muttered, “Not this again,” then his hands were gently tugging her from her chair into his lap. She shifted so her head was on his shoulder, and her forehead was pressed against his neck. His very cool neck. Her forehead gave its approval, since the cold helped against the headache.

“Sweetheart, Annabelle's death isn't your fault,” Spike said softly. “Don't know how I can hammer this into your skull, but Annabelle ran off on her own. Nothin' you could've done.”

“No hammering,” she moaned. “My head can't take it.”

“I'm serious,” he said, pulling away slightly to look her in the eye. “You can't do this anymore, Buffy. Just because you're the Slayer doesn't mean you're responsible for everyone at every moment everywhere.”

Buffy was already shaking her head. “That's what you don't get: I'm the Slayer. The Chosen One. That means that the world is on my shoulders. I'm responsible for these girls. One died, and it's...”

“If you say it was your fault, I swear to you Buffy, I'll wring your neck, headache or not,” he growled.

“One of those moments, huh?”

“Damn straight it is. And it shouldn't be, because it's not your fault. And you're not Atlas, pet. The world isn't on your shoulders alone. We'll help you hold it up, take care of the areas we can reach. All right?”

Logically he was making sense. Technically he was making sense. But she just couldn't accept that somehow, she couldn't have stopped Annabelle's death from occurring. “All right.”

Spike glared at her, obviously picking up on her non-acceptance. Giles beat him to it, however. “It really should be 'all right', Buffy. Annabelle was foolish to run off. If she'd even known about the time spell, I don't think it would've made much of a difference.” He lowered his voice and said gently, “I know you feel like you should have to take care of everyone, that their lives are dependent on you.”

“They are dependent on me,” Buffy told him.

“Yes, but they're also dependent on themselves. And the more people you pile on yourself, the heavier the burden. Let them handle themselves, and you take care of the rest, along with yourself. And Spike is right: there's absolutely no reason to feel guilty for any of this. None of it is your fault.”

“It feels like it is,” Buffy mumbled under her breath.

Spike looked like he was about to argue, but Dawn chose that moment to pipe up, “There's something different about what you guys did this time. It looked like you guys had less pain.”

“Less pain?” Molly said with a small 'eep', coming into the room. “You were in less pain?”

Buffy sighed and nodded. “Unfortunately. We weren't sick to our stomachs really, and we didn't feel the urge to fall back into the pit we'd just crawled out of.” She paused, realizing something. “Come to think of it, I never felt a falling sensation in the first place. Did you guys?” she asked Willow and Spike.

The two exchanged looks, before slowly shaking their heads. “No. There was no falling,” Willow said. “I remember trying to find that ledge to haul myself up with, and there was nothing there. Then everything went black.”

Tara clutched at Willow's hand, as if afraid she'd lose her again. It wasn't going to happen, Buffy wanted to tell her. Of course, she had no way of insuring that. That, and she'd have to let go of Spike first herself. She'd also have to tell him to let go of her, and she had no intention of letting that happen.

“Somethin's changin',” Spike said, his face darkening. “And I've got a good clue as to what.”

Jonathan got it off the bat. “The First.”

“But what good would it do?” Anya said. “It's not dragging you guys down like it did before. And that's what had you guys terrified last year, was losing yourself and never being able to get out. Right?”

Buffy nodded. “Right. I don't know why, and I highly doubt we're going to find out by researching this one. It's just not going to reveal anything.”

“Are you sure you're not saying that to avoid research?” Giles teased.

Buffy rolled her eyes but smiled anyways. “I've got other ways of avoiding research if I wanted to. But seriously, the only thing I can think we can do is be more cautious about things. And keep researching the First, because there has to be something on that.”

A knock on the door brought the conversation to a stop. Dawn answered the door and found Robin on the other side. “Hey, what's up?” she asked.

Robin glanced around the door at the other Scoobies, who looked exhausted. “I don't know. Why don't you tell me?” he asked, giving Buffy a pointed look.

Before Buffy could say anything, Molly piped up. “Time spells mostly. And the First, but we're just dealing with the spell right now.”

Spike winced, Giles rubbed the bridge of his nose, and Buffy slowly let her head go back to rest on the tabletop. “So much for discreet,” Willow muttered.

Robin frowned, bewildered. “Time...spell?”

“Oh for crying out loud,” Anya exclaimed, standing. “How many times am I going to have to explain this? Willow, Buffy, Spike and Xander went back in time to one year ago to fix things. They did, but there were physical repercussions to the spell, and now this is the second time around, and the repercussions we thought we were done with have popped back up.”

There was a pause as the others watched Robin digest this. “Time traveling?” he asked. The three guilty of the charge nodded. Robin stared at them for a few moments, before shrugging. “It was odd before, why not make it odder?”

Buffy sighed with relief, and noted that she wasn't the only one. “What did you say brought this up?” Robin asked.

Tara frowned. “You didn't hear about it?”

“No, I actually came over for something else,” Robin told her.

“That physical repercussion Anya mentioned? It's a minor side effect of the time spell,” Willow told him. Buffy slowly lifted her head to join the others in giving the redhead an incredulous look. “Okay, maybe it was a major side effect,” Willow added meekly.

“Then what did you come over for?” Faith asked Robin, shaking her head.

“You, actually,” Robin said. Faith blinked in surprise, and Buffy joined her. “Can I talk to you?”

Faith shrugged and followed him out to the front porch. The front door closed, and silence descended on the group.

“Anyone know what that's all about?” Anya asked. Shrugs were her answer.

Outside, Faith was blinking in surprise once more. “I'm sorry, did you...just...ask me out?” she asked, bewildered.

Robin nodded. “That is, if you're not adverse to the idea.”

Faith shook her head. “Nah, just a different concept to get used to, that's all. Can't remember a time I actually went on a date. Wait, this is a date, right?”

Robin smiled. “Yeah. Official date, restaurant and all. I'm thinking maybe The Red Bird? It's got choices in all categories, you name it.”

“Just tell me when, and I'll be ready.”

“Say...Wednesday at seven?”

Faith nodded. “Two days sounds great.”

Robin gave her one final grin and headed off into the night. Faith watched him go, wondering for the seventy-second time in her head just what she was getting herself into. Sure, he was cute, and he was a hell of a dancer, but...

With a sigh she headed back inside.

Buffy watched, amused, as Dawn pounced on an unsuspecting Faith. “Sooo...what'd he want?” Dawn asked, grinning.

Faith rolled her eyes. “Just asked me out, that's all.”

Dawn's eyes lit up. Ladies and gentlemen, my sister as Cupid. “Where are you guys going?”

“Dawn...” Willow started.

“Who said I even accepted?” Faith retorted. When Dawn continued to wait expectantly, she sighed. “Somewhere called The Red Bird. Never heard of it. But judging by the looks on your faces, you have.”

“It's a good place to eat,” Buffy agreed. “Very nice.”

“The most romantic restaurant in town!” Dawn squealed. “Jonathan and I are going over there for prom dinner.”

Buffy watched in surprise as Faith's face paled. “Faith?” she asked, concerned.

“It's a classy place?” she asked, slowly shaking her head. “No, sorry, nuh-uh, I don't do classy. I do ribs and potato skins, not French delicacies. See, I knew this was a bad idea,” she muttered to herself.

“What's wrong with it?” Willow asked. “They've got Italian too, if you'd prefer.”

Faith continued shaking her head, then headed upstairs, looking extremely agitated. Dawn started to follow, but Buffy rose and held her off. “Let me go deal with the mini-apocalypse, okay?” Buffy said. Dawn nodded, and with a sigh Buffy headed up after her sister Slayer.

She found Faith in her room, sitting on the bed and holding her head. “You okay?” Buffy asked softly.

“I don't do fancy, B,” Faith replied, glancing over her shoulder. “Do I look like the kind of girl that knows which fork to use? Or how to properly sit down without rippin' a dress? No! It just wasn't how I was raised. And now this guy asks me out to somewhere even normal people can do, and I...”

“Can't?” Buffy finished for her. Faith hung her head. “First of all, they only have one fork. And second of all, if this 'guy' actually does care, he'll pick somewhere else if you'd rather not eat there. But personally, I think you'd be fine.”

“I don't even have anything to wear,” Faith muttered.

Buffy grinned and headed over to her. “See, that's something Dawn and I can fix. Along with hair, jewelry, and make-up. Though I think, after the ball, I'll leave the hair to Tara and Willow. They seem like they know what they're doing.”

But Faith shook her head. “Thanks, but I just don't think I should, or really could. Just because Cinderella got to go to the ball all dressed up doesn't mean she wasn't thinking about the floors that needed washing and the fireplace that needed cleaning. You with me?”

“Yeah, a little too well,” Buffy muttered. She mentally sent Spike a thank you and apology, before squatting in front of Faith. “You know, it is okay for Slayers to have lives. Ones that don't involve slaying. Well, not all the time, anyways. But seriously, you should go do something wild and new. Be you, and don't feel guilty about being alive and being able to do these things. I think we've had the world on our shoulders long enough. I think it's time to take a break, if just for a little bit.”

Faith thought this over. “Take the fun where we can?” she said. Buffy nodded. “Yeah, it makes sense. Dammit, why do you always have to be right?” Faith whined, but a small smile crept onto her face.

Buffy smiled brightly. “Just comes with experience,” she said, thinking about what Spike had just told her not fifteen minutes ago. Experience her ass. Spike was never going to let her live this down.

I:14 – Give Me The Strength

“Watch the light, watch the light, watchthelightwatchtheLIGHT!”

“I did. Chill a little, will you?”

“I can drive. Why don't you let me drive?” Xander all but begged.

Jennifer rolled her eyes and concentrated on the road. Xander was currently sitting in the passenger seat, the girls all unanimously voting that he should take a break; he'd earned it. When he'd looked slightly hurt by their refusal to believe that he wasn't capable of keeping them safe, Rona told him quietly but sternly that he really HAD earned the rest, and to let Jennifer handle the driving for the next couple of days. They were worried about him.

Xander slouched back in the seat, all but pouting. Jennifer inwardly smirked. She was a decent driver, but he just didn't want to admit it. Well, he'd see soon enough; they were almost to their destination. This part of Oregon was well populated. After they'd grabbed the final Potential from here, Xander would be back in the driver's seat.

“You're going too fast.”

“No I'm not,” Jennifer immediately argued, before her jaw fell open. That sneaky little... “Don't you dare!”

“I'm sure that state trooper back there would disagree with you,” Xander said, grinning at her.

Jillian started giggling, having caught on to what he were doing. Chloe glanced out the back window. “What state trooper?” she asked.

This only made Jillian laugh harder. “Payback sucks, doesn't it?” Xander said.

Jennifer threw him a glare. She'd done the exact same thing to him when they'd gone to pick up Rona. “You're a brat, you know that?” she said.

“Takes one to know one,” Xander told her, settling back into his seat with a more satisfied look on his face. The satisfied look quickly disappeared as they approached a stop sign too fast. “Stop, Jenn. Stop, stop, stopstopstopstop!”

“I did!”

“Give me strength...” Xander muttered.

“That, um, looks like it,” Vi said, pointing to a school.

Jennifer slowly pulled up to the curb, then gave herself a mental pat on the back when she didn't bump the tires against the curb. “So who are we looking for now?” Megan asked.

“One Charlotte Madia,” Xander told her. “No clue on how to find her.”

Sounds of screaming made their heads whip over to the right. “What's going on?” Jillian asked, straining to see.

“Just a baseball game,” Jennifer said. The other passengers gave sighs of relief.

“I'm getting way too wound,” Chloe muttered.

“No, WE'RE getting way too wound,” Megan said, rolling her eyes.

Jennifer made sure she wasn't near any signs that said 'DO NOT PARK', then headed out of the SUV. “What are you doing?” Xander asked, stepping out after her.

Jennifer sighed. “Heading over to see if I can't find Charlotte. This is her school, right? There's a chance she's watching the game, then. Or maybe still in the school doing something. I don't know. But the sooner we find her, the sooner we can get us to Sunnydale. She's the final one, right?”

Xander nodded. “She's the final one, but you're not going by yourself. I'm going with you.”

“Wait!”

“Oh brother,” Jennifer muttered, watching the others pile out. She glared at Xander. “You had to get out.”

“I wanna go see the game, an' see the girls get home runs,” Jillian declared.

Jennifer frowned, exchanging glances. “Girls?”

Jillian pointed at the field, and Jennifer turned. Sure enough, the players were girls. “And I missed that how?” Xander asked himself.

With a sigh Jennifer locked up the vehicle, took Jillian's hand, then led the gang over towards the field.

The shouts and cheers from the bystanders and teammates alike were easy to hear even from their point a block away. “What do we do?” Vi hissed, looking incredibly nervous.

“Relax. Act like you fit in. Like one of those girls is your friend, and you're here to cheer her on. Ask around for the score, that sort of thing,” Jennifer said. Her gaze drifted over to Xander, and she was slightly surprised to see a look of pride on his face. She turned to hide her smile of satisfaction. Apparently she was having another Buffy-leadership moments.

They found places on the stands, then joined the cheering when one of the girls was walked. “Got any clue what she looks like?” Megan whispered.

“Charlotte, you're up next!”

“We will in a few seconds,” Xander whispered back.

A tiny girl headed out towards the plate, her dark ponytail hanging down her back. “She's in high school?” Chloe asked with disbelief. “How does she not get pummeled?”

Jennifer had to agree: she looked like she belonged in middle school. “C'mon Charlie, you can do it!” one of her teammates called out.

“Yeah, send it to the outfield!” another cried.

The first ball hit the strike zone, but Charlie didn't swing. Her coach sent encouraging words from his place near first base, and Charlie gave a curt nod before swinging the bat once, twice, then hefting it above her shoulder again.

The ball was pitched, and Charlie swung, almost hitting it. Almost.

“Strike!” the umpire called, and the other team started cheering and calling out to their pitcher with words of 'one more'.

“C'mon Charlie, you can do it!”

Jennifer blinked, then turned to her sister, who was standing on the stands, hands cupped around her mouth to amplify her words. “You can getted a home run, Charlie! Swing an' give it to 'em!”

The ball was thrown, and Jennifer found herself holding her breath for the connection.

It never came. “Third out!” the umpire yelled, and the inning was wrapped up. Charlie slowly turned and headed for the dugout, her bat trailing behind her in the dirt.

“Darn! I wanteded her to win!” Jillian said with a pout.

“Me too, Jilly,” Megan said.

The teams met and gave their customary high fives and 'good game's, before the opposite team ran off into the fields for the celebration hat toss. The others headed back, chatting about school and parties, the game pretty much forgotten.

Along with Charlie. Jennifer watched as Charlie tried to speak up and join the conversations, but the others drowned her out. Charlie finally stood and let the others pass her, head down towards the ground.

Jennifer found herself standing and heading down towards the field. “Uh, now wouldn't be the hottest time to hit the girl with the news,” Rona said, giving Jennifer a look. “She just lost a game. She doesn't need to know she might lose a life.”

“Thanks for the reminder,” Chloe said, grimacing.

Jennifer gave them both looks. “Chloe, don't worry about it. Rona, I know what I'm doing. Trust me here.” She glanced over at Xander, who nodded slightly. She had his approval, at least.

She waited for the others to leave, then headed into the dugout, where Charlie was moving around sluggishly, obviously depressed. “Good game,” Jennifer said, causing Charlie to look up at her.

Charlie snorted. “No it wasn't. You're being nice. I SUCKED, in case you didn't catch that last part. The entire game was on if I could hit the ball, and I couldn't. I'm not up to their level yet, I'm still a freshman.”

“Freshman year sucks,” Jennifer agreed. “I hated it.”

Charlie stopped putting her equipment away and turned her full attention to Jennifer. “What year are you?”

“Junior/Senior; I'm part of the honors program at my school,” Jennifer explained.

Charlie nodded. “Same here, unfortunately just in sports. Where I don't belong for my height.”

“How old are you? If you don't mind me asking.”

“Only fourteen,” Charlie said, looking pained. “I just want some height. And I know I could get some if I stopped slouching, but what's the point? I have no reason for anyone to notice me. Besides, I think my back would yell at me if I actually did what I was supposed to,” Charlie joked, grinning.

Jennifer laughed. “Jennifer,” she said, holding out her hand.

“Charlotte, but just call me Charlie; I'm not into the frilly girly stuff. Not that it's a bad thing, if that's your style, but it's just not mine,” she hastily added. “I'm more an athletic kind of girl.”

Will that make the news easier or harder for her to take? Jennifer wondered. No time like the present to find out. “Uh, I actually have an offer for you. It's sort of like a camp for the athletic,” she started.

Charlie was immediately interested. “Really? Like what?”

“Um...” She sighed. “Okay, don't think I'm crazy or anything, promise? Hear me out at least?”

Charlie nodded, looking slightly nervous now, but more interested then anything. “Shoot.”

Here goes... “Vampires are real. And don't laugh; I can see the grin starting on your face. But they're real. Along with werewolves, demons, the whole thing. It's all true, including the ultimate evil.

“But for the most ultimate evil, there's ultimate good. And that's a group of people led by a vampire Slayer. The Slayer is one girl in every generation, chosen and given special abilities to help her fight the vamps and other nasties in the night. Like extra strength and stuff.

“This ultimate evil, though? It's after the girls that have the potential to turn into Slayers, because each Slayer is magically called when the other falls in combat or whatever. I'm one of these girls, and I've already had my life threatened three times by these goons.”

Charlie was no longer smiling: her eyes were wide with shock. “Keep going,” she managed to say.

Jennifer blinked but didn't argue. If Charlie was willing to hear her out, then who was she to disagree? “Those girls over there?” Jennifer pointed to the others. Charlie turned, her eyes getting even bigger at the number of the gang. “They're all Potentials, just like me. Well, except for the tiny one. She's just my sister, along for the ride.

“As you've probably guessed, you're one of those girls. And we want to keep you safe before these goons come after you, too. We're heading down to Sunnydale, California, where they're going to train us in martial arts and defense. Basically, we're going to save the world, and we were wondering if you were interested.”

Charlie blinked, then turned to her. “Extra strength? Defense and stuff?” she said. “That's what I'd be getting if I went with you?”

“Well, you don't get the extra strength unless you're a Slayer,” Jennifer said. “But you'd gain SOME strength from the practice. Definitely.”

“Then I'm in,” Charlie said immediately.

It was Jennifer's turn to blink. “Did I just hear you correctly? Xander, by the way,” Xander said, coming over to them.

“You might not be comin' back. Did you mention that to her, Jenny?” Rona asked.

Charlie shrugged. “Don't care; I'm going with you guys.”

“Are you...”

“Look, my entire life I've been pushed around, because people think and rightly know that I'm not strong enough to push back. And I'm small enough that I make an easy enough target as it is. And I'm tired of it. People keep treating me like a kid, and it's starting to really bug me. I wanna prove that I can do this. I wanna help 'save the world', in a more then recycling sort of way. So let me just pack my stuff up, grab some stuff from home, and I'll go with you guys. Sound good?”

Everyone was blinking by the time she was through. “Uh, yeah, sounds fine,” Xander said, shaking himself. “Excuse me while I call the others and let them know that we're heading down.”

Charlie grinned and zipped her bag closed. “We can walk it to my house, it's not far,” she said, handing the bag to Jennifer. “You look strong. Help me carry.”