Chapter 11

I got my first hate review! I know I'm not supposed to be pleased by that but in some weird way I was. I guess I believe that in order to try to write something that may please yourself and others, some people will hate it. So yea me. By my reasoning now that someone hates my story it may actually be worth reading to a few others. I know, my logic is strange.Anyway,thank you for those who wrote such kind reviews. I was beginning to think maybe my story was boring everybody. Suggestions are always appreciated to this author. I do try to use them whenever possible.

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Preview: Giles, Wesley, Faith, and Buffy discuss a new Council.

"So." Buffy said coldly "Anyone have a problem?"

The Scoobies and AI all shook their heads no. Wesley and Angel continued to glare at each other.

"Buffy what are you doing here?" Dawn asked worriedly "Did something happen with Rona and Vi?"

"No funny thing actually" Buffy started "There I was watching TV and all of a sudden I was in the past watching Spike, feeling what he felt." She raised an eyebrow,"Anyone want to explain that?"

"Oh no" Willow said horrified "Buffy I'm sorry. That was my fault. I thought Mr. Pointy would provide your energy. I didn't think the spell would tap the original source. or you" she corrected quickly. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Buffy. I didn't know."

Buffy's eyes softened when she saw the distress Willow was in for upsetting her. "It's OK Will. I see now you didn't mean to. I thought this was an idea to make me come to peace with the past." She shot an apologetic look around the room."I'm sorry for accusing all of you." She said humbly "I hope you will forgive me."

"Already done Sweets" Lorne said quickly.

Buffy looked at Angel and Wesley still glaring at each other.She walked over to Wesley and whispered something in his ear. He nodded and took a step back leaving Buffy and Angel staring at each other. "Angel I think we should talk." Buffy said." But not right now."

When Angel looked like he was going to argue she held her hand up to stop him.

"Angel please. I have some things I need to work out before I say anything." She said tiredly. "And so do you." she added.

Angel thought for a moment before nodding and going upstairs.

"Now." Buffy said to the group."Giles? I believe you and Wesley wanted to discuss something with me and Faith tonight?"

"Well.. er.. yes we did." Giles replied while polishing his glasses." It can always wait until tomorrow though."

"No. I think tonight is fine." Buffy said before looking at Faith, "If your game that is?"

"Yeah I'm good." Faith said "So are we Wesley's house bound?"

"Yes that sounds fine." Wesley said neutrally."Unless anyone needs us here."

"No. You guys go ahead." Fred said "After that spell I'm exhausted.I don't have the Slayer strength you know."

"No, you've got something better." Buffy said softly "A Slayer heart. I'd take that over a little extra strength anyday."

Fred wasn't sure how to respond to that. She thought about all she had witnessed tonight and conceded that Buffy really didn't know the size of her own heart and how much people really loved her for just being Buffy.

Faith got up and kissed Wood telling him she'd be back whenever they were done talking and linked arms with Buffy as they walked out to Wesley's car. The drive was silent while everyone sorted out their thoughts from the evening. Wesley looked at Buffy in the rearview mirror. He wanted to talk to her but didn't want to do it in front of others. She noticed him looking at her and nodded her desire to talk to him to.

"What about Rona and Vi?" Giles asked."Are they still at Wesley's?"

"Yeah. I guess I owe them an explanation of why I went running out of the apartment all of a sudden." Buffy said."Maybe I'll tell them that horrible Who Wants to be a Supermodel show made me go crazy. I'd believe it."

Giles chuckled and offered to drive them home if Wesley didn't mind him taking his car. Wesley said he didn't and said while he was out perhaps he could pick up something to eat. Faith said she wanted to go because she didn't trust Giles to pick out decent food. Wesley's eyes met Buffy's in the rearview mirror. She smiled triumphantly at him. When Giles and the girls pulled away Buffy and Wesley stood awkwardly looking at each other.

"So." Buffy said a little to loudly.

"Yes,.Well shall we go and sit down?" Wesley asked.

When they were settled comfortably on the couch Wesley faced Buffy and blurted out

"Buffy.I didn't mean to invade your memories of Spike tonight. I just wanted to see so I could perhaps help you."

"It's OK Wes." Buffy said reaching for his hand."I understand. But now I want to know something from you."

"Of course Buffy, anything." he agreed quickly.

"In the hotel when I first went ballistic on Angel, you looked at me." She stopped hesitating before continuing

"I felt like you knew exactly what it was like to regret wasting time until it was to late. Like you knew what it was like to love someone but not ever really get the chance to show them or really tell them before they were gone. Is that true?"

Wesley was quiet before saying "Yes Buffy.I believe I know what it's like more than I ever wanted to. Lets see. An enemy for a long time who always managed to pop up when you least expected it and surprised you now and then by showing humanity. Then something horrible happens and you find that that other person is the only one in the world who even knows the pain your in so you start a physical relationship but constantly not let each other get to close. Then that person is taken away and you finally realize to late that you loved them and wonder if they really knew or believed you. How am I doing?"

"Pretty darn close to what I've been going through." Buffy admitted "How did you deal?"

Wesley let out a bitter laugh."Still dealing with it a little everyday. It's easier now though. I just have to believe that she knew and leave it at that." He turned to fully face Buffy before saying "You do know why he said he didn't believe you now don't you?"

"Yeah.So I would go." Buffy said." I kinda talked to him in a dream last night.It's kind of irritating that he knew me so well."

Wesley laughed a real laugh this time."Don't you hate that?"

"Definitely" she answered joining in his laughter. After a few minutes she thought of something else to say to him

"Your not you know" At his confused look Buffy continued "My new Spike. Your you. And I'm way glad your here."

Wesley said formally "your quite welcome.And I'm also glad your here as well. You make me feel as if I want to be a part of something again. I've missed that."

About this time Giles and Faith came in carrying bags of food.

"We feeding a lost army wandering around LA?" Buffy asked looking at the sheer amount of food.

"Sorry. I couldn't remember what you and Wes liked so I picked out a little of everything." Faith said sheepishly.

"Hey it's food. I'm a happy Buffy." Buffy said reaching for a jelly doughnut.

"Yes, well Wes and I have a plan." Giles said suddenly.

When everyone looked over and blinked at his sudden statement he sighed in exasperation.

"Well, I'm bloody well sure no good opening for this idea was coming up so I made my own."

"OK Giles." Buffy said slowly "What kind of idea?"

"Yes, well as you know the Slayers everywhere now are tapped." The girls nodded before he continued "left unchecked and with no way of knowing what is happening to them this could be a dangerous situation."

The girls nodded again as Buffy asked "So how do we handle this?"

Wesley looked at Giles before continuing, "Yes well before, these girls would have been assigned a Watcher to train them and protect them until they were ready to face the demons and vampires that hunt them. But most of the Council is wiped out.What we propose is a new Council. A better Council" he added as he saw the doubt in both Slayers eyes.

"A better Council?" Faith asked skeptically.

"Yes, Faith." Giles answered "No fussy old men who make decisions without knowing who and what a Slayer is. None of those horrible trials that never should have been instituted in the first place. No longer will the Council be separate from the Slayers. I have some remaining Watcher friends who feel the same way I do about this. The Coven has agreed to help find the new Slayers and Watchers should be sent to train and teach the girls their power and legacy. I have some notes Wesley and I took and I'd like you two to read them over to see if you disagree with anything."

The girls didn't say anything but spent the next hour reading and every now and then asking what they meant by something. Finally they set the papers aside.

"This is big Giles. Way big." Buffy said carefully. "But why are you asking our opinion on this? Shouldn't the other Watchers be the ones asking questions?"

" Not anymore. As the two original Slayers, the Watchers would take most of their orders from the two of you." Giles said watching their reactions carefully.

Buffy felt her mouth drop open and Faith just stared at the two of them. "Care to repeat that?" Buffy asked.

"You and Faith would be cabinet members Buffy" Wes said slowly. "This council needs the input of Slayers. You understand what the girls go through. How it can affect their lives. We need this in order to fight efficiently against the forces of darkness."

"But all this takes money." Faith said "Where is that gonna come from?"

"The council set up trusts at every bank in London in case something like this happened." Giles said. "All of the Councils resources now belong to us. Or actually you two now."

"But Wes." Buffy asked him "Don't you work for Angel? How are you going to manage both a Council and working for Angel?"

Wesley smiled "I will try to help Angel on occasions when I am needed, but my first priority is to you and the new Council."

Faith was hit by another worry. "Will we have to move to England?"

"No not at all." Giles assured her."I thought our main headquarters could be right here in California if you all like."

" That would make it easier than going somewhere where we know nobody." Buffy said thoughtfully "And I wouldn't want to leave Xander and Willow."

"That's another thing Buffy." Wesley said to her." I think Xander and Willow and indeed all of your Scoobies should be a part of the Council. We'll have to ask them first, of course, but I think Xander could be a wonderful Watcher to the girls here in LA as well as your Principal Wood"

"I'm overwhelmed." Buffy said softly. Faith nodded her agreement with Buffy.They exchanged looks before Faith said

"OK. We're in. When do we get started?"

Giles and Wesley looked pleased before Giles said

"Tomorrow."

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So? Good? Bad? Next chapter Buffy goes to talk to Angel.