A/N: Just to alleviate any possible confusion The Initiative in this story is going to be written as it should have been, as an Army unit composed of Rangers, with ranks (i.e. Private, Sergeant, Captain, Colonel, General…et al). Riley will have the rank of Captain, which is what he appears to be in the show. None of the military members of the Initiative will EVER be referred to as "Agent" as it is not a military moniker.
Is It Tuesday?
When the four Scooby members arrived on the scene at Janice's house, they were surprised to see the situation under control. By a group of four, of what appeared to be, Initiative soldiers disguised as a SWAT team, which Sunnydale didn't have. Buffy, Faith, Giles, and Xander would have been okay with the situation aside from one detail, the supposed "good guys" had demons and humans alike cuffed up and ready to be moved somewhere. The four of them continued forward determinedly and one of the soldiers tried to stop them, "Excuse me, this is offici-" He was cut off by Faith throwing him against a tree.
Buffy, Xander, and Giles took Faith's cue and subdued the other four soldiers quickly. Xander and Giles unbound Dawn, Janice, and Janice's parents while Buffy and Faith watched the soldiers. Then when the soldiers were securely tied and their weapons removed. The two slayers quickly and systematically killed the gang of low class demons. By the time they were done with that Xander and Giles had relieved the soldiers of their masks, revealing one of them to be the TA from Buffy and Willow's psychology class, "Riley? Seriously, you're one of those commando guys?" Buffy asked slightly surprised.
"Miss Summers, you're interfering in official government business. I'd advise you…"
"Damn right we're interfering G.I. dumbass!" Faith interrupted.
Buffy gently put her hand on Faith's shoulder, "Yo, F. Why don't you let me deal with these grunts and you make sure Dawn and the others are Okay?"
Faith nodded and turned her to check on Dawn and her friends family. Buffy turned back to Riley. "She's right though…you see that brunette there?" She asked pointing out Dawn, "Well she's my sister and I tend," She continued picking up one of the taser blasters the soldiers were carrying. "To get very irritated when people, or demons mess with her." She ended holding the blaster between the thumb and forefinger of each hand then snapped it in half easily.
"But it's our job…" Started one of the other soldiers, Forrest was his name, or at least that is what Buffy thought.
"Yes, your job. You got orders from the government to…deal, with these demons. Well me and her," Buffy pointed to herself and Faith, "We don't get a choice in this war. When your term is up, or you get transferred you can stop interacting with these creatures. We are born into it. We hunt them true…but they hunt us as well. Something you soldiers don't have to deal with. And on top of that you use a fucking taser? Do you even research, or know anything about the demons you take in?" Riley looked at her questioningly.
Faith jumped back in at this point, with Dawn beside her, "God! You fuckers have no idea of the shit you are messing with! You think electricity and bullets will work with all demons? What about if you have to face a Fyarl? Electricity doesn't work on them, bullets would just piss them off. Silver in the heart is the ONLY way to kill them. They're big too, any you guys carrying an eight inch silver plated knife? Didn't think so."
The soldiers appeared soundly embarrassed by what Buffy and Faith had just said to them. Dawn looked questioningly at her sister, who shrugged. The younger girl knelt in front of Riley after checking the other soldiers for injuries, and cleaned the cut on his face from when Faith had thrown him, "I know you guys think I might be mad at you, and I'm not happy about being tied up, but you still did technically save us. I also can tell that you mean well in what you do, but there's something going on in your organization that just isn't right. Now before you say anything about that, lemme ask this how would your superiors like to work together with one of the most powerful organizations on the planet…and believe me, you most likely have members of this group in every level of The Initiative." She said, having been brought up to speed by Faith about the Scooby meeting, "As well as in every level of the government. On top of that you we could get you on friendly terms with several powerful Wicca covens. Don't worry though, if your unit is in as much trouble as we think, you can expect a severe overhaul soon, cause we'll be sending a report to our people too. So if I were you, I'd right up a, very, detailed report as soon as you get back to wherever your base is. The fit's gonna hit the shan."
Giles suppressed a laugh on hearing Dawn's words, she had been clearly spending too much time watching war movies with Xander. The Scoobies sorted things out with Janice and her family, who would be staying at hotel until their house was repaired. Faith had remained close to Dawn since they arrived and, Buffy noted, Xander and Giles either really did not notice or simply did not care. They took the soldiers somewhere they would be safe from vamps and other demons and left them tied up with one of their radios nearby, after trashing their weapons. Dawn walked home with the others, arm-in-arm with Faith.
When they got back to the house Joyce quickly hugged Dawn, happy her youngest was alright. She gave Buffy and Faith a quick once-over, making sure her girls were all okay. Giles and Xander told those that had stayed behind what they had found when they got to Janice's house. Joyce felt a flash of anger upon hearing that the soldiers had tried to take her daughter with them, Anya saw the emotion rising in Joyce's face a put her hand gently on the younger woman's shoulder. Joyce calmed quickly and Buffy smiled to herself, deciding she approved of a relationship between her mother and the ex-demon, whether they wanted her approval or not. Xander and Willow left soon after the group had returned and Giles soon followed suit.
Seeing how late it was getting Buffy asked Tara if she was ready to head back to campus. Anya offered to drive them and they graciously accepted. Joyce walked Anya out to the car where Buffy and Tara were already waiting, "S-so, your mom and A-a-anya?" Tara asked.
"Yeah, it kinda looks that way. At first I was…surprised I guess, I'm not homophobic or anything, it just never occurred to me that someone in my immediate family might be gay, or bi. Then in the space of a year my sister seems to have fallen for my sister-slayer, and it looks like my mom's started a relationship with a 1200 plus year old ex-vengeance demon. I think their good for each other too I was happy watching them interact this evening." Buffy answered, happy that Tara had said something. She had figured out what was going on, but it felt more real having said her thoughts out loud.
They turned their attention back to the two women who were talking quietly outside the racing red 1969 Dodge Charger R/T that somehow seemed to fit Anya surprisingly well. The car was loud, brash, and in your face, but at the same to beautiful and powerful, much like the woman who drove it. Anya and Joyce were talking quietly, though if Buffy wanted to she could easily listen in.
The older women said goodnight to each other and Anya turned to walk around to the driver's side of her car, but was suddenly stopped and spun around by Joyce who quickly brought her lips to meet those of surprised woman. Anya was surprised by the kiss, but quickly returned it with as much passion as she received. Just as quickly as she had initiated the kiss Joyce pulled back and spun around before quickly walking back into her house, "Good night Anya!" She called out sweetly as she closed the door behind her.
Anya got into the car slightly dazed, but recovered once Buffy and Tara started teasing her. She joked with the two college students as she drove them to the university campus. Tara got out of the car after thanking Anya for the ride and Buffy was about to follow her friend when Anya stopped her, "Um, Buffy?" She asked uncharacteristically nervous.
"Yes, Anya." Buffy replied.
"Um…I know that we aren't that good of friends, not that I'm blaming you for not being nice to me or whatever, it just is what it is. And I know that a big part of it is how I've adjusted to being human again. Anyway all that is kinda irrelevant right now, what I wanna say is I really like your mother, and I know this is gonna sound old fashioned, but I am kinda old fashioned, I wanna make sure it's OK with you before your mom and I go any further in this relationship." Anya said, staring at her hands tightly gripping the steering wheel.
Buffy smiled at seeing a new side of Anya, she set her hand over top of one of Anya's and said, "You're right that we aren't the best of friends, but that may just be due to a lack of trying on both our parts. I can tell you like my mom, and that she likes you too. Watching the two of you together tonight a person would have to be blind and completely dense to not notice. I think tradition states that I have to threaten you about hurting her, but I don't think you would if you could. If it's my permission or acceptance you're looking for to date my mom, then you have it. And by the way the whole old fashioned thing…I think it's sweet. And hey you are on a different level compared to the last guy she tried to date." The slayer added, referring to Ted, the psychotic, murderous robot.
Anya smiled and started tearing up at Buffy's words, the two of them shared a brief hug before Buffy climbed out of the car, thanking Anya for the ride to the dorms.
"Oh, one other thing," Buffy said, leaning back into the car, "You do NOT give me or Dawn the juicy details of your relationship with our mother. You can tell us how dates went and even come to us for advice on certain things, but, if a conversation goes beyond you kissed my mom, then I will either leave the room or put a gag in your mouth. Got it?"
Anya nodded understanding, then got a mischievous smile, "Kinda kinky there with the gag talk Buffy…a little BDSM isn't it? Wonder if that's hereditary?" She asked pressing hard on the gas pedal, peeling out and leaving a cloud of smoke as she launched the highly modified car before Buffy could respond.
