Chapter 15

No notes this time. Just as always a thank you for reviews and suggestions.

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Preview: It's decision making time for the group. In more ways than one. Also a first kiss.

Once again the group was assembled in the lobby of the Hyperion. Buffy was practically dancing around the room with a smiling Giles and Wesley looking on. Both Angel and Cordelia were conspicuously absent.

"Man guys." Buffy said gleefully "Wait till you see it. It's huge! And homey at the same time. And there's this portrait of the guy who built the place. It's almost like I could FEEL him smiling at me." She rattled on.

"Woah Buffy." Xander said, secretly ecstatic Buffy was so happy, "How many cappuccino's did you have today?"

"Are you kidding?" Buffy said "We didn't have time. Right afterwards I made Wesley bring us back and so, here we are!"

"This owner," Giles asked suddenly, "what was his name again?"

"A Samuel James Richardson." Wesley informed Giles. "Have you ever heard of him?"

Giles thought for a minute

"No, it doesn't stand out. Perhaps we can research him later. Anyone with the knowledge to design that box has to have some kind of information about him somewhere though."

"This is like a Rubixs cube for geniuses." Xander said looking at the box. "how did you figure it out Wes?"

"Actually it was something the agent said." Wesley answered him. "She was talking about how the modernization's in the house in no way ruin the look that the house was originally aiming for. Buffy said it also. A perfect blending of the old with the new."

"Well, in any case." Lorne said "You have a nifty little knickknack to put in the new house."

Willow looked up from the letter "He said he saw you in a dream. I wonder if the powers sent him that vision or he was a seer."

"Perhaps a little of both." Fred said. "I think it's nice that the powers would preserve something for the new Council."

"Speaking of the Council," Faith said suddenly "I think it may be decision time."

Everyone looked at her and then each other before Gunn sighed

"Is it that time already?"

Giles chuckled "Yes I'm afraid so. Robin? Have you made a decision about our offer to train the girls?"

Robin looked at Faith before responding "Yeah I thought about it. I'm in."

Buffy smiled "Good." Before turning to Xander "How about you?"

Xander hesitated before saying slowly "I was a bit thrown before, you know with the suddenness. I couldn't figure it out. Then I realized why I was holding back. It wasn't that I was unsure of myself. It was Anya. I miss her and I wish she could be here and make some inappropriate comment about how I should get a raise every 3 months."

At this the Scoobies chuckled before he continued.

"I felt guilty about all this good coming to me when she wasn't here to see it. Luckily I talked to Fred. She pointed out that even when I lived at home and worked minimum wage jobs Anya still loved me. She never worried I wouldn't turn out to be someone extraordinary. To her I always was. So to cut this short before I turn into Buffy with speeches I say yes. I'd love to work with my best friends and help new girls become better Slayers."

Everyone was quiet after that unusual speech from Xander.

"There are still a few things we didn't get the chance to cover in the last meeting." Giles said. "Willow, the Coven has agreed to help find the girls so you won't be needed for that."

Willow nodded trying to hide the hurt that she wasn't needed "of course Giles. I mean the coven did a great job finding the potentials so I'm not really needed for that.I understand."

Giles realized he hurt her feelings and quickly tried to repair them "What I meant Willow is that now we don't have to waste you looking for Slayers when there are so many other things we need you for."

Willow slowly smiled "Like what?"

"Well, for one thing, my contacts are rumbling about new areas of mystical convergence's that need to be closed." Giles said consulting his notes. A Slayer alone can't do it. The use of magic is needed and quite honestly a lot of it. Also I talked to Angel and he would like to borrow you for a few things at the new company. If that is fine with you of course."

"Yeah, I guess I can handle that." Willow said, pleased to be needed.

"Now, our new Slayers." Wesley said looking at the girls. Those of you who are still in school need to get back there. You will be starting your formal training as soon as the Watchers arrive. Some of you I'm sure, are eager to get home. This we understand. A Watcher, providing there are enough, will accompany you and introduce you to your lessons and training."

Buffy decided to jump in at that point. "Listen up guys, life will be a lot different for you now. Trust me. Having to go through school is hard enough but to do it as a Slayer makes it ten times harder. Especially when there is no one to help and understand you. If you want to go home I completely understand and I'm glad you have people to return to. But for those who want the security of a bunch of Slayers I'm making the offer to stay."

The girls all stared at her until Rona asked "But for those underage girls, how would they be able to?"

Buffy looked at Wesley before replying "Wes and I discussed that. We're not about to put a sign up that says Watchers Council here, demons please try to kill us. Several if not most of the Watchers have teaching degree's. The Council, from the outside, will look like a private school. I won't tell you how hard it was patrolling all night and trying to make my first class after a half an hour of sleep. For those that want to stay we have a place and you are all wanted. It's your decision."

Lorne piped up, "You know the sad thing is with the state of public schools the girls will probably get a better education."

"Yeah, how many schools can offer Sumerion as a second language." Dawn said dryly.

"What about Dawn?" Andrew asked. "What's her role going to be?"

"I'm the sister Andrew." Dawn said a little bitterly. "I don't have a job. Besides I'm still in school."

"Well, that's another thing." Giles said making Dawn and Buffy both look at him.

"What? What is?" Buffy said suspiciously.

"I'm sorry Buffy, I should have discussed it with you before but I would like Dawn to study with both myself and Willow, providing Willow is agreeable of course." Giles said.

"Of course I am." Willow said quickly "But what am I supposed to be teaching her?"

"Dawn was made up of pure energy. She was energy but not power. I think with both myself and Willow teaching her she could be a powerful force in our fight against darkness." Giles finished.

Dawn looked stunned. They were going to teach her? They were going to let her help? No way was Buffy going to agree with this!

"You may be right Giles." Buffy said slowly

"But?" Dawn asked.

"But nothing." Buffy said shocking her "I'll agree as long as you keep up with school and promise to continue spending some time away from all of this. I want you to have some non-evil time to do things that girls your age do."

"It's a deal." Dawn said delightedly " Thank you Giles! I won't disappoint you."

"That's one thing I know you won't do." Giles said affectionately to the now young woman.

Andrew was grinning from ear to ear for Dawn. She gave him a big hug and they started whispering excitedly before Giles got Andrews attention.

"Now we come to you Andrew." Giles said.

"Oh hey don't worry." Andrew said quickly "I put in some applications online and as soon as possible I'll find an apartment. I have some money saved, I just need some help telling me what neighborhoods are good or bad news."

"Actually Andrew I think you can stop looking for a job." Giles said. "I can hardly believe I'm saying this, but you proved yourself to us in the battle. You stood up to the First and protected the girls from it's plan for them. I would like to offer you a job on our research team."

Andrew looked stunned and for once had nothing to say. He made several attempts to speak and then gave up and simply nodded.

Giles nodded briskly before saying "Good. Now, since new revelations have been made I will of course not expect an answer until the Slayers have thought about what they want to do and talked to any family members."

Wesley cleared his throat. "Actually there is one more thing."

He looked at the members of AI before directing his attention to them.

"I just wanted to add that if you all have time to spare from the new company we would be appreciative of any help you could offer to the new Slayers. We have worked together and had our ups and downs but we remained a family. I don't want that to end even though we won't be working together every day. I'm sure Mr. Giles, Buffy, Faith and the rest of us here hope you have no problems come up that you cannot handle but I know that should that happen, we will all come running."

"Definitely." Faith said as the Scoobies nodded.

A group of men and women walked into the lobby at that moment. One woman said hesitantly

"So sorry to interrupt but we're looking for Rupert Giles."

Giles stood up "Thats me. Your Felice I assume?"

The woman nodded.

"It's very nice to finally meet you." He turned to the group "Everyone, these are some of the Watchers."

Introductions were made and the group started filling in the new arrivals on everything that had been happening since the First was defeated. The Watchers said they had rooms at a local hotel and plans were made to accompany them and the research materials to the new Council headquarters. Several members offered to show the Watchers around to familiarize them with LA which they gladly accepted. Gunn stared at one of the woman Watchers and quickly offered to accompany her and several others to dinner. The group broke apart, Wesley and Buffy to Wesleys apartment, and everyone else to go with various Watchers. Giles decided to go with Dobbs, a friend of his from the old Council, to go and start inventorying ancient texts that survived the Firsts attacks. After everyone had gone only Dawn and Andrew remained. They wandered out to the courtyard enjoying the nights breeze.

"Am I the only one overwhelmed?" Andrew asked her.

"I was about to ask you the same thing." Dawn said with a smile. "It's just so much to take in. Studying with Giles and Willow, being something more than Buffy's little sister, it's kind of scary." She admitted.

"But exciting right?" Andrew asked.

"Very. Umm Andrew?" Dawn said hesitantly "I just wanted to say how glad I am that your going to be with us."

"Yeah and this time not tied to a chair for most of it hopefully." Andrew joked.

"Consider it a learning experience." Dawn said "We've all been tied or chained to something at one point. It's like an initiation thing I guess."

Andrew laughed before getting serious and saying to Dawn "I'm glad I'll be working with you. Even though there was the whole apocalypse thing, being around you and Buffy and the group has been the happiest of my life so far. Especially getting to know you. That's been the best part."

Dawn was flattered "Yeah it's been nice these past couple of days. I feel like I'm not just Dawn around you, you know, not a Slayer, not anyone important. I feel special around you. Thank you Andrew."

Andrew looked at her before leaning in and gently kissing her. He pulled back and looked at Dawn as if he was waiting for her to hit him. She smiled and pulled him back into another kiss. As the sun went down they stayed in the courtyard, holding hands and laughing softly at nothing.

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I know this one got a bit boring but please stick with me.I promise the next chapter will get better. Expect a rumble between Cordelia and Buffy. (What you thought their fight was over?)