A/N: I know all my readers are probably tired of me and don't want to read another thing I write again. However, I've been doing some Spring Cleaning (AKA finding all my old/unwanted junk and throw it out) and I found my story again, so I can finish it finally!!! YAY! Get prepared for my edited Chapter 9!

Chapter 9

Buffy quietly slid out of the bedroom she and Angel took refuge in. She looked over the railing of the alcove to see the twenty slayers and ten watchers standing on the stair case. She quickly adjusted her shirt and her jacket, and then slid her hands across her hair to try to flatten the stray pieces down. She sucked in a quick breath and let it out slowly.

Walking down the staircase, Buffy noticed some of the girls' faces so full of fear and anticipation, while others had amusement etched in the corner of their smiles. Buffy wondered what was so funny. As she was taking each step down, everyone's eyes fell on her. She felt the laser-eyed glares hitting her from every angle, but she figured out why all the amused expressions were like so:

"Why on earth would anyone allow her to continue to lead?" she heard someone quietly mumble. "She's leading to Death's door, probably for her own amusement. I mean look what happened to Vi."

That was the final straw for Buffy. "Excuse me, Miss. Is there anything you'd like to say to my face, because I personally don't want any women in my army that have no guts to challenge or question their officers." Buffy paused. "Besides, I don't like my peers talking behind my back!" Buffy hadn't expected to shout the last part out, but who could blame her? Buffy had faced an extremely long day reaching the edge of death and what leader in their right mind wants to be questioned about their authority?

"No, Ma'am!" the girl shyly squeaked out. She was afraid to look at Buffy.

Buffy softened her expression. "Hey, what's your name?" Buffy requested.

"Celine. I'm from Paris," she said in her French accent.

Buffy took a moment to think. "You learned your English very well, but do you know what respect means?" The girl nodded sadly. "You know, Celine, a little respect goes a long way. No one appreciates being made fun of, especially when they are A) in a stressful situation, B) your mentor, and C) your sister." Celine's expression quickly turned into confusion.

"What do you mean by 'sister'?" Celine questioned.

Buffy smirked and turned back to talk to the rest of the group, most of who were girls. "Do any of you girls know what I mean when I suggest that I am your sister?" Buffy swore she could hear a pin drop in the room. Buffy was in shock that none of the girls thought about it, even though more than one slayer at a time was an unprecedented idea.

Buffy walked into the center of the room shaking her head. "You guys have no idea about the situation I had with Vi. The whole thing was a messed up trick played by the one and only Ethan Rayne." The group gasped in shock, but Buffy wasn't sure if the cause for it was because of Ethan being alive or if they caught on to the man's plan of action.

Buffy realized it was time for her to get a little speechy. "Look, if we are going to be a team, we need to trust one another. I can't possible function as a good leader if the people I am trying to lead don't trust me." Everyone was stunned to hear her speech. Buffy looked into each slayers face. "I know it's scary to become this," Buffy pulled Faith into the center, "or this," pulling Kennedy out, "or this," Buffy spoke quietly, walking in between Kennedy and Faith, "but being a slayer is an honor. Somebody, some ultimately divine power, thought you were going to be a responsible, outgoing, courageous person since before the time you were born. I'll tell you that when I was called, I thought this was a joke my friends made up to corner me and not a duty. Later, I wanted to back out of my responsibilities because I was afraid of losing myself, losing my friends, my family, but you know what? Slaying changed me for the good." Buffy had to take a momentary pause to sort through the memories. She took notice that Angel came out of the room and gave her the trademark and very often sought smile to urge her to continue. Damn that vampiric hearing. "I was no longer the self-centered, indecisive… well, the best word is bitch. That is who I use to be, but slaying made me consider other people first. I became closer with my mother and my sister, closer than I ever was with my family. I can make plans, strategies, and make quick decisions. Most of all, I got my self confidence I always needed. All of you women who are too shy to talk to me, I say, 'Hi, I'm Buffy and you are?' because I want to get you out of that shell. A good slayer needs confidence to keep you alive."

Buffy realized how side tracked she had gotten. "Anyway, back to how this speech originally started; we're sisters. We are all bound together by the same blood and the same magicks that created the first slayer. It's our job to make sure the person next to you is still alive at the end of each fight or battle and we need to make sure your neighbors are defending themselves correctly. Make sure she gains the confidence needed. Make sure that if one of these girls needs a hand, you help, because we're slayers." Everyone stared at her, confidence radiating from each girl and staring back at Buffy. "All for one, standing together or together we fall. We are slayers, it is our job to protect the future of this world, whether it's a demon or a person being picked on because confidence doesn't exist within them. The next question I ask is are you game?"

It was silent in the hall, when Celine pulled her sister slayer up in front of the group, "We're in," she said. Slowly, more girls moved up toward the center of the room to say they were in for this challenge.

Angel made his way down to Buffy's side. He put a hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Congrats, you won them over."

"Thanks," Buffy whispered back to him with a slight smile touching her face, but she quickly changed back into her leader stance. "Now that we're all in this together, it's time for the plan. I want you guys to divide yourselves in four even groups." All the girls listened and the watchers followed the same rules as Giles ordered them. When everyone was set, Buffy continued. "Now, if there is anyone in your group you haven't met, introduce yourselves. You have to know you can trust and know every face in your group can help you. You never know if the one person you don't know is the person who is going to save your ass out in the field of duty." The girls started talking together. Some people even started to laugh in conversation.

Willow walked over to join Buffy. "You're doing an awesome job. The new girls really seem to be responding."

"I know Will! I'm surprised the speech actually worked. Who would've thought? It doesn't matter though, we're all together in this and that's what counts." Willow nodded in agreement and Buffy turned back to her troops. "Alright everyone, good work! I need to split you guys up. Celine's group, you guys will be with Angel and me." The girls high fived one another and took their place beside Buffy. "Girl in the front of the next group, what's your name?"

"Abigail," she replied meekly.

"Okay, Abigail's group, you girls will be led by Kennedy and Willow." The group sauntered over beside Kennedy. Buffy walked up to a young African American girl. "What's your name, sweetie?"

The girl answered, "They call me Andrea (Ahn-dray-ia)."

Buffy smiled. "Andrea, your group will be with Spike and Dawn." Buffy turned to her last group of slayers and watchers, "And your name, Miss?"

The young blond girl reminded Buffy of a little version of herself. The girl wore a tough gaze, but she had her arms crossed in a way Buffy new was meant as an extra protective guard from insecurities. She looked to be no more than ten or eleven years old. "I'm- I'm," the girl stuttered.

She turned to her more experienced peer. "Go on, Sammy. Buffy just wants you to become the best you can be, but she needs to get to know you first. You can do it, I know how strong you are."

The younger girl turned back to Buffy. "My name is Samantha, but most people call me Sammy."

"Hi Sammy, I'm Buffy," Buffy replied giving the girl a bright smile."How old are you?"

"I'm eleven, going to be twelve in a few months."

Wow! She really is like me, Buffy thought. "Well, you're almost a teenager. Your group will be with Giles and Faith today, but if you need help, don't hesitate to ask me, okay?" The girl nodded and walked over to stand beside her group leaders. Buffy was beaming. Almost exactly like me. Buffy cleared her head and went back to leading her individual group where Angel had explained the plan. Buffy's mind kept wandering to how handsome Angel looked taking charge of her group.

"Okay, is everyone ready t attack, because it's up to our group to stop Ethan?" The girls and the watcher boys cheered and started pumping each other up.

Buffy giggled, "Man, this group is extremely enthusiastic. I wish I used to be like that." Buffy paused and turned to Angel. "Is everyone ready to go?" she asked.

Angel replied, "I believe so."

"Okay, everyone file out and move towards the area you are to cover. We want to surround the cave from all sides," Buffy called out.

Buffy and Angel led their group to the west end of the 'cave,' which was where the back of it pointed towards. Spike and Dawn led their group towards the east entrance in order to invade the cave. Giles with Faith and Kennedy with Willow went separate directions, although Buffy left it to the individual groups to choose their side.