Disclaimer: Once again, the Buffyverse belongs to Joss and Co.. The original characters are mine. So there.

Thank you for the lovely reviews, you make me blush.

For those who were wondering, DUMBO is a real neighborhood and it really does have a fabulous chocolate shop and some great pizza.

The Three didn't spare the new arrivals a glance, all their attention on the demons and the box. Morgan and Lindsey stretched out their arms, hands splayed. The box began to vibrate, then it started bucking across the floor. The demons tried to grab it but it jumped away. A moment later it exploded, the hinges ricocheting around the room. Two swords rose out of the wreckage and flew across the room to land in Morgan and Lindsey's hands.

There was a moment of stillness, of action and breath suspended. In the next second the demons crashed through the windows and scrambled away down the street.

Spike sheathed his sword. "Bloody hell, I was looking forward to a bit of violence."

"I know," replied Morgan. "Those guys have no consideration for the needs of others."

"They're not the only ones," said Rannilt. "And don't give me that confused look Morgan. You three left us behind dammit. And Spike, don't you know..." She broke off and took a deep breath.

Spike touched the side of her face, his thumb stroking her cheek. "I do know luv, but it was simpler this way. And safer for you. Safer for all of you."

"Maybe we don't want to be safer," said Rebecca

Lindsey took her hands in his. "We know, you don't want to sit around waiting but we need to know that you're all right. Then we can keep our minds on the job."

"The job," Rebecca cried and pulled her hands away. "That's all that counts right? What about what we need? Rannilt and I have some needs too."

Morgan sighed deeply. "Yes you do, everyone does. What you have to decide is... what can you live with? We have to be who and what we are."

"But what are you?" demanded Rannilt.

The Three looked at each other and then replied in unison, "We are The Three, we are the line against chaos, we speak for the voiceless."

"Did you guys rehearse that?" asked Lorne. "All it needed was a bit of reverb."

Spike raised an eyebrow "Do you give Angel a hard time too?"

"When I can."

"Good."

Wesley cleared his throat. "This is all fascinating but perhaps we could do it somewhere more comfortable."

Morgan grinned at him. "A man after my own heart. Okay kiddies, stand in a circle and hold hands. Remember to keep limbs and heads inside the vehicle at all times."

The Three stood around the circle and their eyes glowed gold. Everything blurred and the warehouse was replaced by a living room.

Rannilt and Rebecca wordlessly left the room and headed for the kitchen. Cordelia and Buffy looked at each other and then followed the other two out.

"Looks like the ladies have left us," said Lorne "Shall we break out the brandy and cigars?"

"Brandy sounds right," replied Angel. "Pass it around."

In the kitchen Rannilt banged pots and cups as she made tea.

"Damn them. Who do they think they're dealing with? Do they expect us to just accept being second in their lives?"

"That's exactly what they expect," said Rebecca. "They're men aren't they? No surprise there really."

"It's not that simple," said Buffy. "It's not like they can change careers."

Rannilt rounded on her. "Oh, yes, now you're going to talk about what it's like to be the Slayer right? I've heard that before too. You're not the first Slayer I've met. It's all sacred duty, blah, blah, blah."

"It is. I have a responsibility. I have to make sacrifices even if I don't want to. And I think that with them it's the same, maybe more so. You saw them, they're like one person. Can you ask them to turn their backs on each other?"

"That's not what we're asking," replied Rebecca. "But they don't have to go out and fight every time there's a problem. They can let it go, let someone else deal with it."

"No, they can't." Cordelia pushed herself up onto the counter. "I get these visions and when that happens we go out and fight, me included. I can't ignore them, I can't count on someone else to deal. I have to look myself in the eye every morning and I couldn't do that if I took chances with innocent lives. It's not fair and it's not easy, but I don't think I'd trade it in for a desk job."

"You really aren't the girl I went to high school with are you?" said Buffy.

"Well, maybe not quite but I still need to buy a new pair of shoes every now and then."

Rannilt was silent as she poured the tea.

She sat down and looked Rebecca in the eyes. "I think Morgan is right, we have to decide what we can live with."

Angel sprawled on the couch and swirled the brandy in his glass. "I bet I know what they're talking about in there."

"Not hard to figure," said Lindsey. "The question is...what will they decide? Are we worth the trouble?"

"It doesn't matter what they decide," said Morgan. "It won't change anything."

"Right, and that's what really burns them," answered Spike. "They believe they have no say in our lives."

Morgan shrugged his shoulders. "They don't."

"What about love?" demanded Lorne. "Isn't that the most important thing? Isn't that why you guys do what you do?"

Morgan shook his head. "We do it because we must, because of what we've become. Together we're more than the sum of our parts. We can't walk away, anymore than you could stop breathing. I can't really explain it. Poets and romantics talk of true love, the joining of lovers. But that's not the only kind of love, the only kind of relationship that lasts. In my experience it's friendship that endures the longest. Besides, if we stopped we would no longer be the men they love, right?"

Angel nodded. "I can see that. But you're going to have a tough time explaining it to them," he said gesturing toward the kitchen. "I don't think they're going to agree with you."

"Life's a bugger all right," said Spike. "Let's have a game of poker eh? I'm feeling lucky tonight. Ready to lose your shirt Peaches?"

"In your dreams bleach boy."

Spike smirked. "Well then, put your money where your mouth is."

Morgan was dealing the first hand when a shadow fell across the table. He looked up at Cordelia.

"Deal me in?"

"Shouldn't you be in the kitchen with the others?" asked Lindsey.

"Way too much estrogen in there."

Morgan grinned at her. "Have a seat. The game is five card stud, deuces wild."

Cordelia sat down between Wesley and Spike who gave her a pile of chips."

"Okay boys, prepare to lose big. Queen C is in the house."