Authors note: Wow, I wasn't expecting you guys to actually reach 10 in time, and you even went over one review! Well, here's the chapter I promised. Enjoy!

"Does anyone know where exactly Lowell house is?" Xander asked.

I shook off the surprise that he had actually asked a valid question and nodded.

"I do," I told everyone as we headed towards campus.

"Isn't that Riley's dorm?" Tara asked.

I looked over at her, ignoring my pain for a moment to see her own shining in her eyes. The worry and concern for Willow was clear as day, but she looked determined. I noticed something else then, in her intense stare. Pretty obvious actually, if you knew what to look for; Tara was in love with Willow. I vaguely wondered for a moment if Layla and Anne had seen that look in my eye when I thought about Spike. But I cast that from my mind and returned my focus to Tara. I didn't know what was happening between her and Will, why Oz was being so distant, why Tara was recently all Willow could talk about, but I knew one thing; Tara wanted to keep Willow safe. Her usually hunched frame was standing tall and her eyes were determined. I smiled at her, squeezing her arm.

"Yeah, it's Riley's dorm,"

"So the Initiative is under UC Sunnydale?" Oz looked at the ground under his feet.

"I guess so. God, why do I always choose the schools that were build over extreme evilness? Stupid Hellmouth," I grumbled, kicking the dirt.

"Uh, what's a dorm?" William whispered to Anya.

"Mating grounds for college students," Anya chirped in reply.

"An! Remember that talk about private conversation…?" Xander scolded, but pulled her to his side anyway.

I had learned during the drive that Xander and Anya had begun a sort of relationship while I was away. Weird, right?

Giles shushed the love birds and I continued to lead our little group through the forest towards Lowell house.

"She's very odd," William fell in step next to me and glanced back to where Anya and Xander were holding hands.

"You're not exactly normal either Mr. Victorian England soon-to-be Vamp guy," I pointed out.

"I suppose we're all a little strange," William replied, smiling down at me.

I laughed quietly.

"Yes, I suppose we are,"

"Damn. Forgot about the party tonight," I sighed, ducking under the window and crawling back to the dark safety of the trees where my friends were still hidden.

"Why is there no music playing? Do they still play music during your parties here?" William frowned at the house.

"I have no idea, parties always have music, especially college parties," I told him.

"My band was supposed to play. Guess they couldn't find another guitarist," Oz shrugged.

"Thank the Lord. No offence Oz, but I don't know how much more of this screaming racket noise you teenagers disguised as music I can take," Giles grimaced and gave William a look that said he was lucky Oz was out here with us and not inside playing.

"No offence taken," Oz replied.

"But how are we getting in?" I asked Giles before he could insult my generation any further or go off on another one of his "the problems with teenagers today" stories.

"Right. Well I suggest we go inside and try to blend into the crowd. Snoop out the house and try to find an entrance to this Initiative," Giles proposed.

I nodded.

"Alright guys, we're goin' in. Act normal, and er…well William, you just follow our lead. We should split up; it'll be faster that way. Anya, Xander and William follow me, and Oz and Tara go with Giles. Avoid Riley and his friends at all costs. We'll leave the big weapons out here until we can find a way to sneak 'em in unnoticed, stash any small stuff under clothing. Remember to blend in; we're just some college kids…and their adult friend, who want to party," I told everyone the plan and stuck Mr. Pointy in the sleeve of my jacket Mom had brought for me from home.

"Adult friend in a none creepy way," Xander joked.

Anya smiled and patted his arm as no one else felt in the mood to goof around. Xander fell silent and if I wasn't so focused on planning how to get in and out of the Initiative with all limbs attached to my body I would have felt bad. I'll just let him show me those new impressions he's been working on for a few hours when this is over and he'll be happy.

I slipped a dagger into my boot and waited as everyone else gathered and hide their weapons.

"Do I really have to come? I'm human; I can die now you know. Xander made me agree to this," Anya complained in her whiny voice.

God, I so don't have time for this.

"Stay out here and guard the weapons then. Just stay hidden and out of the way," I tried not to sound angry with her and to my relief she didn't make a rude comment back, just pushed our things deep into a bush and stood in front of Xander.

"Don't die please. You're nicely shaped and give me fantastic orgasms. I like you a lot. Please come out with all your parts attached," Anya looked up at Xander sweetly before throwing herself into his arms for a romantic hug.

I smiled slightly at their display. Anya could be annoying sometimes, but I kind of liked her in a way. She spoke what was on her mind, no matter how rude it was, and I sorta respected that. And she cared for Xander. In fact, from the look in her eyes you could even say she lov-

"Ok, let's head in troops," Xander pulled away from Anya and looked away.

We all grimaced at the military reference. But I could tell Anya was grimacing from hurt that Xander pushed her away. What was with that boy? I shook my head as we rounded the edge of Lowell house and headed for the front door. Couldn't he see the good thing that was right in front of his face for so long? How could someone be so blind…oh, wait.

I smirked bitterly at myself. Denial. Such a strong thing, really. Only works for so long though, I would know. See, that's the thing about destiny. No matter how much you run and hide, it'll always discover new ways of finding you.

Review! Another 10 maybe…?