The gang looked up from their research as Dawn burst through the door to the Magic Box and then slammed it behind her before Buffy could get in. She stomped over to the table and threw herself into the chair next to Xander. After re-opening the door, Buffy followed Dawn inside with a distinct expression on her face that the Scoobies knew signaled an oncoming rant. They resumed their researching and pretended not to hear the impending argument.

"How dare you slam that door in my face! You are being an immature little brat, you know that?" Buffy went over to her sister and, scowling, towered over her to give her the full intimidating effect of the Slayer's petite figure.

Dawn sat bolt upright and returned her sister's glare. "You had no right to do that to me! You totally embarrassed me in front of all my friends. You're not Mom, and you can't tell me what I can and cannot do. I'm fourteen years old, and if Melissa wants me to go over to her house, I can if I want to!"

"Well, that's where you're wrong, Missy." Buffy turned around and began to pace the floor in frustration. "You aren't going anywhere by yourself, especially after dark. Not when there's a psychotic Hell God out there looking for YOU, not to mention a town full of vampires and all sorts of evil demons just waiting to make a meal of some young, naïve little girl! God, how long have you watched me be the Slayer, Dawn? You know all of the horrible things out there that could hurt you, or worse. . . . Will you please just trust me this once?"

Dawn looked down at the table thoughtfully for a moment, then lifted her head to face Buffy again. "Nope."

"Ugh! That's it. You're grounded. No friends, no phone, no TV, and, and I'm telling Mom when she gets home!"

"You are such an asshole. . . . "

Xander stood up and placed himself between the feuding sisters. "Okaaaay, okay. Break it up you two. Not to interrupt this fun-filled family spat, but it's just trudging up way too many unhappy Xander memories for me to be comfortable. Plus, I think Giles had something important he wanted to tell us."

"Oh, sorry guys." Buffy turned to Dawn again. "We WILL talk about this later."

"Whatever," Dawn muttered under her breath.

"Don't think I didn't hear that. Slayer senses, remember?" Buffy made herself comfy in the cushioned chair near the table. " 'Kay, Giles, so what's the sitch?"

"Um, there's no 'sitch', really. I just wanted to inform you all that I'm going to be headed back to England for the next three weeks. The Council has contacted me once again and said that there is still more information on Glory that we will need to fight her."

Buffy sat up and sighed in disgust. "God, Giles, what's wrong with these people? I mean, I know they still dress like it's the 19th century, but you would think they'd pick up on the simple concept of telephones."

"It's not quite that simple, Buffy. Much of the information pertaining to Glorificus is found in extremely ancient texts. It would be impossible for us to retrieve the texts through the mail, due to their delicate nature and also the nature of the information they hold within. This is the only way, I'm afraid."

"Well, why couldn't THEY just deliver the books themselves instead of making you cross the Atlantic while we're left here to deal with Glory by ourselves?"

"Buffy, would you honestly want the Council of Watchers here again?"

Buffy stared blankly at him for a second. "Point taken."

Giles removed his glasses and nervously cleaned them before placing them back on his nose. "Yes, well, I have faith that you will all be able to handle yourselves while I'm away. Let's just hope no unexpected misfortunes occur while I'm gone."



* * * *



Spike anxiously paced his crypt, waiting for night to fall and the moon to be out in full. "This is gonna work, this HAS to work. Just gotta wait a little longer, and then it's time to do the spell. Damn, this better work."



* * * *



Buffy slumped back into the chair and looked over Willow's shoulders. "So, whatcha guys researching this time? Another big bad I'm gonna have to kill? 'Cause I'm kinda in the mood to kick some demon tail tonight, if any even show. Pent up anger and all that."

"Not so much, no. Sorry," Willow looked up and turned around. "Tara and I are just researching different spells that we might be able to do that would weaken Glory and let you dish out more damage."

"Well, that would definitely be helpful. Last time I went up against her, she was pretty much undamageable. Anything that might help is worth a try. Thanks, you guys."

"Well, I think the little lady and I will just be moseying off home now to cuddle and watch reruns of cheesy television shows. We'll see you guys tomorrow." Xander and Anya made their way to the door, and Anya turned around before leaving. "And don't even think of stealing any more ingredients for your spells, Willow. I learned about your tricks from a couple weeks ago, and I've instituted a new cataloging system. Not one herb leaves this store without me knowing about it!" She swiftly turned around and walked away, and Xander gave Willow an apologetic smile before leaving himself.

"Huh. I wonder what that was about. Oh, hey, I forgot. I found another book back in the library. It had bunches of advanced level magick spells. Maybe there's some good protection spells in it!" Willow rummaged through the bag that she stashed under the table and then, after searching for a few moments, turned to Tara. "Do you have it with you?"

"Let me look." Tara grabbed her bag and looked through, only to find the same results. "Nope, not in here, either. Don't worry, honey, it's no big. It probably doesn't have anything more in it than what we can find in these books."

"It is so a big. A very BIG big," Willow pouted. "Now I'll have to pay for it."



* * * *

"Moons out now, so I guess that means I can start, right? Right." Spike was starting to get used to talking to himself. It had been a long time since he had talked to anyone else, and it was the only way to keep himself sane. 'Bloody pathetic, is what I am.'

"Okay, so let's get on with this then." Spike stepped into the circle of protection he had cast and set the ingredients around him once again. He picked up Willow's pilfered magick book and began reading the directions to the spell.

"Alright, hold the crystal in one hand and visualize the one you desire while chanting such and such. Well, that's easy enough." He picked up the staurolite crystal and began to chant:

"Buffy Summers to me,

So mote it be.

Buffy Summers to me,

So mote it be. . . . "

Spike continued the chant until the crystal began to glow a soft pink and grew warm in his hands. He set the crystal on the altar pentacle behind him and then proceeded by collecting the portion of dirt that she had recently stepped on. 'Huh, I really DO worship the ground she walks on.' With a smirk, Spike held the dirt in his hand and began to charge it.

"Let Buffy's footsteps take her to me.

Our paths will cross, and only me will she see."

He placed the charged earth into the mortar. He then held the mugwort in his hand and chanted until it was charged.

"Buffy Summers to me,

So mote it be."

Once the mugwort became charged, he set it in the mortar and chanted.

"No one else will enter her sight,

When our paths cross during the next fortnight."

He charged the tonka bean:

"Buffy Summers to me,

So mote it be."

And then placed it too into the mortar, saying:

"Love will blossom in Buffy's heart,

Once met, our paths will never part."

With all of the ingredients in the mortar, Spike began to grind them into a fine powder, all the while chanting:

"Buffy Summers to me,

So mote it be."

When the powder was ground fine enough, he added the rosewater and made a clay-like paste of the ingredients. More chanting:

"Buffy Summers to me,

So mote it be."

'Damn, I'm gettin' tired of this. Okay, no thinkin', just picture Buffy.' When the clay was finally able to hold its shape, Spike covered the crystal in a thick layer of it and let it dry on the altar. After a few minutes, the mass was dry. He picked up the gunk-covered crystal and dropped it inside the small cloth satchel he wore around his neck.

"Now for the final ingredient." Spike grabbed a small vial of clear fluid and poured a few drops into the bag. "Ah, human pheromones. Always a nice little finishing touch to a love spell. Next time the Slayer sees me, she'll finally understand what I've been bloody feelin' this past year. She won't be able to resist me!" With a smile, Spike stepped into the night and began the search for his Slayer.



* * * *

Willow began to pack up her things. "Hey, Buffy, me and Tara are gonna be heading home now. Do you want us to take Dawnie with us for the night so you can patrol?"

The teenager perked up out of her drowsiness after hearing the possibility of a Buffy-less night. "Oh, yeah, that would be great! We could make popcorn and watch old black and white movies, maybe even the kind with subtitles!"

"No, I don't think that's such a good idea, Dawn. Mom's getting home tomorrow morning and she'll probably want to be there. Besides, I'm not even sure I'm gonna patrol tonight, no matter how much of a butt kicking mood I'm in right now. There hasn't been anything out there the past three nights. Why bother?"

"Oh, please Buffy? Pleeease? You know I'm just gonna be a pain in your ass anyway if I go home."

"Hey, watch the mouth, little sister!"

"Sorry. Anyway, you owe me. You made me miss Melissa's slumber party tonight just because some stupid Hell Goddess is after me. And you KNOW I'll be safe with Tara and Willow."

Buffy looked at her sister and knew the girl had a point. It wasn't her fault she was the Key. She shouldn't be punished for something she couldn't control by not being given the chance to live her life as a normal teenage girl. That just wouldn't be fair. 'Don't I know it.' Anyway, she would probably safer with them than she would be at home. Willow HAD been the only one to do ANYTHING to Glory, even if that was just sending her away for a while.

Buffy sighed in resignation. "Fine, fine. You can go with them. Just don't cause any trouble and be back by noon tomorrow so you can be there when Mom gets home. Okay?"

Dawn ran to her sister and wrapped her in a tight bear hug. "Thank you so much, Buffy! We'll be good, won't we, Willow?"

The Wicca smiled. "Yep. No problems will be caused by us."

"Alright, you guys be careful though. I guess I'll just do a quick rounds of a couple cemeteries then head . . . . " Buffy suddenly became very dizzy and slid to the floor.

Willow rushed to her side. "Oh, God. Buffy, are you okay?"

"Huh?" Buffy blinked and looked blearily up at her friend as she stood up. "Oh, I'm fine. I'm fine. I just got really woozy and nauseous all of a sudden. I'm okay, though. Must have just been something I ate."





TBC

PS. The love spell that Spike does in this chapter is called the "Crossing Path Spell". I found it at www.love-spells-pheromones.com. Just thought I'd give credit where credit's due.