Chapter 23 (can anyone say epic?)

OK, I haven't said it in a while so here goes...

I own nothing. Joss owns everything. I'm bitter, but I'll carry on and continue to play with his creation. There I feel better now.

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"I wonder what Angel is talking to his crew about?" Willow said after they had been gone awhile.

"I couldn't even begin to wonder." Giles said tiredly.

"Poor Giles." Buffy said "Bet you thought after the First, all the inner group turmoil would be over."

"Yes, well I should have known better." Giles said "Though I must say Angels group is impressive to say the least."

"And we're pretty too." Gunn said entering the room with Fred and Lorne. "At least I am."

"Hey!" Fred said indignantly "I'm pretty."

"If those are doughnuts your carrying, I say your a goddess." Xander said smiling at her.

"Well, then call me the Goddess of sugar." Fred said proudly.

The Slayers all entered the room at that point.

"Did someone say doughnuts?" Kennedy asked.

"Wow impressive timing." Willow said walking over to kiss her girlfriend.

"Didn't you know?" Faith said "The Slayer powers not only include spider senses when a demon is near but the ability to sense a doughnut in a three block radius."

"Now that's a handy birthright." Principal Wood said.

"I'm impressed." Xander agreed.

"So" Buffy said to the new Slayers "Are you guys ready for your first day of training with the Watchers?"

"Yeah I guess so." Rona said uncertainly. "But you guys have been up all night. Are you sure you don't want to postpone and maybe, sleep?"

"Nonsense." Felice said getting nods from the other Watchers. "We are more than ready to start your training."

"Cool" Vi said eagerly "Are we gonna work with a crossbow?"

"Perhaps not today, but yes we will." Giles said wincing a bit at the thought of crossbow bolts flying from untrained hands.

"I just saw Wesley and that Angel guy leave the ballroom so why don't we go there." Rona said.

"Where did they go?" Andrew asked.

"I think it's fair to say they are still in the house." Giles said "It's rather a bit too sunny for Angel to go wandering about."

"Good point." Andrew said. "Wesley did say something about sewer access in case of emergency. Maybe they went to explore that."

"Well, he better hurry." Buffy said "We are supposed to get furniture today. There's much to be said for a bed instead of the floor."

"Amen to that." Emerald said "But who has time to do something as silly as sleep?"

Gunn laughed "Not us, that's for sure."

The Watchers all stood up and stretched before leading the girls towards the ballroom.

"Faith?" Felice asked "Would you like to come along?"

"Sure thing." Faith said taking Woods hand and following Felice. "I could use a little punching and kicking fix."

"As long as it's not on me, I say punch and kick all you want." Wood said before the library door closed.

"Hey Will?" Buffy asked "How's that spell going to protect the house?"

Willows face scrunched up for a second before she answered.

"I'm not sure actually." She said. At everyone's inquisitive look she continued,

"I did a spell, but it just faded into nothing."

"What do you mean, faded into nothing?" Buffy asked.

"I don't know." Willow said "It's almost like something more powerful absorbed it. I have also had this feeling sense I walked in. It's hard to explain."

"Well, trying might help us out Wil." Xander said nervously. "Is there something bad in the house?"

"No, I don't sense anything bad exactly." Willow said "It's almost like we are surrounded by something good."

"What like someone already put a barrier spell on this house for us?" Giles asked intrigued.

"Yeah exactly." Willow said

"But who? And more importantly why?" Dawn asked.

Willow shrugged her shoulders "I don't know. But whoever it was powerful. Like wicked powerful. My magic can't even touch it."

"So how do we find out what kind a spell is on the house?" Andrew asked.

"Well, to start, it might help to know who did the spell." Lorne said.

Buffy sat pensively for a minute and let her eyes wander around the room.

"Umm I think I can help with the who." Buffy said quietly.

Everyone turned to look at the Slayer. "Who?" They all said in unison.

"Him" Buffy said pointing at the portrait of Samuel James Richardson.

Willow walked over slowly to the picture while everyone looked at Buffy strangely.

"Him?" Xander said. "Uh Buff, he's been dead for how long? How could he have a spell affecting us now?"

"Yeah don't spells end once a witch dies?" Lorne asked.

"Well, normally yes." Giles said "Buffy are you sure?"

"Yes Giles I am." Buffy answered. "From the moment I saw this place I felt, I don't know, safe, protected. I felt like he was here keeping an eye on me, you know, like how I feel when your around Giles. Like a father."

Giles looked touched and took a minute to clear his throat before saying. "Then I believe you Buffy. But my question is why. Willow any thoughts?"

Willow had been staring up at the portrait of the smiling older man. She was joined by Dawn who reached out to touch the wood of the frame. When Dawns hand touched the frame she gasped and then smiled back at the man.

"You feel it too Willow?" She whispered.

"Feel what exactly Dawnie?" Willow asked "I feel something powerful surrounding me, yes, but what did you feel?"

"I can't explain it." Dawn said while the group gathered around the painting. "It was like something wonderful touched me. It was like when I was little and crying about something and Mom hugged me."

"Giles?" Andrew asked "Do you think Dawn feels something because of the whole key thing?"

"Excellent idea Andrew." Giles said astounded "Willow? Do you feel anything when you touch the portrait?"

Willow reached out and laid her hand on the wood for a minute.

"There is something but I almost feel like I'm not pure enough to get closer." She said hesitantly.

"That's silly Willow." Buffy said "You were pure enough to unlock all the Slayers."

"This is different." Willow said "I'm not meant for this. It's Dawns turn."

"Mine?" Dawn asked alarmed "No, I'm sure your wrong. I'm not the one who is the main girl, you know. It's you and Buffy and the Slayers who have the special bond thing."

Buffy smiled at Dawn "So maybe it's your turn."

Dawn took a deep breath and turned to Willow and Giles.

"So what do I do?"

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Ahh cliffhanger I know. I'm sorry about that. Anyway, coming up Dawn puts her mystical energy to work and sees Spike among others. Yes, that's right. More Spike. I expect much love for that.