Ch. 6

"What's going on here? I thought you were going to tell me something, Wil." Buffy crossed her arms and glared around the room. She noticed everyone's eyes darting to Dawn and Xander- the only two that were seated. "What.... Is going on here?"

"Um....." Willow did some quick thinking. "We found Dawn in Xander's room, uh, stealing.... His watch!" She said, a little loud.

Buffy's eyebrows went up. She looked around the room for any sign of confirmation. Locking her eyes on Dawn's, she tilted her head and said, "Is this true?"

Dawn set her jaw. "No way. I heard Xander's bed creaking, so I went up to check on him. When I got there, he told me he had a nightmare about- ow!" Xander had kicked her from under the table. The dream was obviously still fresh enough to worry him about Buffy. "About....vampires. Lots and lots of vampires. Attacking here. And, uh, you were asleep." Dawn nodded to emphasize her statement.

"Then what? Why would you be in trouble for this Dawn? Don't stop her Xander."

"Because me and Xander totally f-" she paused at a look from Willow. "French kissed. Total tonsil hockey. Yep, and all my fault. I initialized the kiss."

"Initiated," corrected Willow.

"Yeah, that."

"Well, I suppose you're both a little vulnerable right now," sighed Buffy. "And there's nothing wrong with a harmless kiss." Xander and Dawn squirmed in their seats when Buffy's back was turned. Buffy turned to Willow. "Hey, Wil?" she asked. "How long was I- you know?"

"Only about a week." Willow smiled meekly. She walked over to Buffy and the two friends shared an embrace that felt like it lasted for hours. While they were hugging, Dawn grinned slyly and began to run her hand up Xander's leg. He quickly rose and went to join the circle of friends. The three of them held on long and hard, not wanting to let go.

Xander smiled at Buffy as he held her head between his hands and kissed her forehead. "Okay, I hereby forbid you to die or have a coma, from this point forward."

"I wish I could accept," she said sadly. "But, hey, Slayer here. Born to die young."

Kennedy had reentered the room. "But now you're not the only one. I mean, the only one who's not in jail."

"She's got a point, Buffy." Faith shrugged her shoulders. "We have no idea how many new slayers there are, aged one to one hundred. Willow made it so that all potentials that there are, were, or were gonna be aren't potential anymore. They've all been chosen. For all we know, this could extend the lives of Slayers big time."

"But if they don't know what they're meant for- if they think vampires are myths- how are they ever supposed to help?" Buffy frowned as this new thought crossed her mind.

"Or," she continued, "In the tradition of Faith- sorry, but, it's true- they go all evil, or they use their power to further the evil they already have? What if we just created a greater enemy than ally?"

Xander breathed a laugh. "Huh. Bad us."