When we return to the magic shop everyone rushes over

When we return to the magic shop everyone rushes over. "What did they say?" Willow asks.

Angel and I share a glance.

"Can we bring her back?" Dawn asks, and I see all this hope in her eyes. It's killing me. Slowly, I nod and watch her expression change from one of hope to one of joy. Tears start streaming down her face and Willow rushes to hug her.

"They told Faith that she and Dawn…and…they said, the Champion, the Chosen, the Key and the Apprentice…" Angel says.

"The who and the who?" Xander asks.

Giles clears his throat. "The Key…meaning Dawn," he says, his eyes questioning.

"I don't know," I say, moving to sit at the table. "I asked if you and I are supposed to bring her back and they point-blank said 'yes.' They even said that this isn't the way of things…B's not supposed to…she's supposed to be here."

"The Chosen…that's Faith then?" Xander asks.

"And Angel would be the Champion," Willow says, stroking Dawn's hair, her own tears reflecting in her eyes.

"Who's the Apprentice?" Tara asks. Everyone looks around, no answers.

"That's all they said?" Willow asks. "No instructions on how this is going to happen?"

I shake my head. "No."

Spike walks over to Angel. "What about your deal?"

Angel looks uncomfortable. "They say there wasn't a deal. They allowed that day to be swallowed, for my life to be returned, but they say there wasn't a deal."

Spike's eyes fly open. "The bloody powers are reneging? Now there's higher beings for you."

"There's no deal, but you're still going to be able to bring her back?" Anya asks me.

I shrug. "I guess so, they weren't real forthcoming."

Everyone thinks for a few minutes, then Willow asks, "What now?"

Sloan, who's been quiet up until this point, speaks up. "I'm calling the Council. I want to know what they know."

"You think the Council knows something they're not sharing?" Giles asks.

"It wouldn't be the first time," Xander says wryly.

"Rupert, may I use your phone?"

Giles nods and points behind the counter of the shop.

"So Buffy's not supposed to be…she's supposed to be alive," Willow says softly, sitting down at the table.

Angel nods. "Yes, she is."

Dawn looks miserable. "She's supposed to alive because I'm supposed to be dead," she says bitterly.

Xander looks alarmed. "Hey! That's not true, Dawnie."

Spike walks over and kneels in front of her. "Listen to me," he says gently, looking into her eyes, then wiping a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "No more of that talk, hear? Whether or not Buffy was supposed to jump, she did. It's not your fault. You would have done the same thing. And we're going to make it right. Understand?" Dawn nods slowly.

"So…Faith and Dawn and Angel…and the Apprentice…they're supposed to bring back Buffy…we've got a town of vampires and demons who know this…they're trying to stop us…and it's a usual summer in Sunnydale," Xander says, trying to lighten the mood, unsuccessfully.

"Looks that way," Giles says, cleaning his glasses.

"I don't mean to bust up the party, but I really should get out there, patrolling. And you all should go somewhere less vampire friendly," I say.

"I'm coming with you," Spike says.

"Me, too," Angel chimes in.

Turning to Willow I ask, "Can you do a spell to protect the rest of you? If everyone's so serious about us not doing this, they're going to target all of us, including you guys. Vamps can't get in your houses, but demons can."

Willow nods. "On it."

Sloan walks back to the table, looking a bit shaken.

"Did they know anything?" Giles asks.

Sloan nods. "You could say that. I assume you're familiar with the Kahimi?" he asks Giles.

Giles nods. "Of course, the highest power of the Watcher's Council." Turning to us he explains. "It's said that the founder of the Council was actually a vampire-god hybrid. Only the highest ranked Watcher's have been privy to her audience. Sadly, I am not one of those Watcher's."

Willow's fascinated. "A vampire-god? Wow."

"Yes, she's more powerful than anything we've come across…the Master…even Glory," he says, then turns back to Sloan. "What about her?"

"She's taken a personal interest in Ms. Summers," Sloan says.

"Well, that's cool," Xander says.

Giles and Sloan are staring at each other. Even Angel's affected. "Xander, you don't realize the seriousness of this. The Kahimi…she doesn't do this. She's above it all. We serve her; this is essentially her Council. Even to be a member in her court is considered an honor. For her to have taken an interest in Buffy…it's unprecedented."

"She called together the Drake," Sloan says, his voice grave.

Giles is, again, stunned. "Oh my."

"What's the Drake?" Anya asks impatiently.

"They're the high court of her warriors and wizards," Angel says. Giles and Sloan turn to him.

"You've heard of them?" Sloan asks.

Angel nods in that serious Angel-way.

"Very powerful, the strongest and fastest warriors, the most powerful wizards and witches. If you're called to her court it's a huge honor, the biggest thing that could ever happen to a person. No one has ever refused her, the privilege is so great. You serve 100 years in her court, should you not die in battle, then you are granted your release…and she ensures that your hearts desires are filled. Together, the Drake and the Kahimi have the power to bring back Ms. Summers," Sloan says.

"But, they said that it's me, Angel, Dawn and this Apprentice person," I say.

Sloan nods. "And it probably is. But it will be their powers that guide you, that help out."

Everyone's quiet while we take this all in. Then Sloan clears his throat. "There's one more thing," he says.

"What?" I ask.

"She wants Angel for her court."