Author's note: I know. I tried to edit the font in the last chapters, but I just messed lotsa stuff up. so until i'm moved to change things, where it says 'i' before a word? yea, the stuff after it's supposed to be in italics. Sorry bout that kids.

AHW

After what felt like a year of research, they thought they had everything they needed. The two witches had some spells as back up, and the fighters and the strategists had, well...stragies. By now they were up to figuring out exactly who would do what, when.

"We'll leave in half an hour. First do a quick sweep of the cemetery-"

"Rewind, Glinda." Cordelia interrupted Willow. "In my vision, we were too late. Swinging by good 'ol Shady Hill looks good on paper, but it's not going to help."

Willow considered this for a minute. She'd sort of become the leader of the Scoobs after Buffy's death, and wasn't used to having her judgement questioned by anyone other than Giles.

"Ok, Cordelia. Then where do you suggest we go first?"

"The High School...its not like it's my favorite place in the whole wide world, but there won't be any world if we don't head there right away. So, lets go there."

Willow looked at Angel, who shrugged. Looks like they were going to listen to Cordy.

"Everyone, grab some weapons. Shoot to kill...Spike used to be one of us, but he's not anymore. If we could finally take care of Drusilla, that would be good. She's just going to keep trying to destroy the world if we don't destroy her first." Angel said, stepping up to the plate along with Willow and Cordelia...it seemed like their groups never had enough leaders.

They headed out together, in one big groups. Teams would have been ideal, but Cordelia was right...they just didn't have the time. Everyone; Willow, Dawn, Giles, Faith, Angel, Cordelia, Xander, Wesley, and Elena went to the high school, in the hopes of saving the world...

again.

And, already at the school....

Spike watched as Dru danced in circles among the debris in the old library. He couldn't believe he'd been talked into this. He knew he was whipped, but come on. this was crazy.

'but still, not as crazy as my girl.' Spike thought idly, watching her twirl happily.

Everything was going as planned, at least, as far as he knew. The handful of dark wizards they'd recuirted for the cause were busy chanting something in a language Spike really didn't care to learn. He'd slowly found out more about the ritual, as Drusilla had her clear moments. Apparently today was some big holy evil day, and there was an aligned something or other. (Ok, so he hadn't really been paying that close attention). Point was, they could get the hellmouth opened tonight, at it would be easy.

"Ok, now, lets get this show on the road." He proclaimed, as the wizards stopped with their muttering. They turned to look at him and nodded, one of them getting up to speak to him.

"Everything is in place."

Everyone walked together to the old, decrept building. Most of the large group got along, and were making nervous conversation as they marched. The only person who didn't seem bothered by the thought of what could happen soon was Faith, who looked happy as a clam, leading the pack.

Cordelia and Xander were lightheartedly bickering back and forth, making fun of each other's clothing, shoes, and chosen career paths. They had both grown up a lot in the last years, and seemed to be genuinely enjoying the other one's presence.

"Did you read the volumes of Charlton?" Willow asked Elena excitedly. It had been a while since she'd met another witch, and she was curious about what the woman knew.

Elena laughed and shook her head. "I'm not big on reading...can't sit still long enough to research." She explained. That was certainly true...while the others had been sifting through books, looking up spells and such, she was always pacing and trying to keep busy.

Willow looked over to Wesley, who was walking next to Elena on her other side. He nodded his affermation quickly, but Willow had caught him looking at the other woman.

She turned to Dawn to hide a grin. "Wesley has a crush." She whispered to her in a sing song voice. Dawn barely stifled a laugh too, and they got their composer back before joining in any conversations again.

Angel hung somewhere in between Faith and the rest of the group, doing what he usually does....brood. Being back here had brought back a flood of memories he wasn't prepared for. Just over there, on the left, was her favorite store. And past that was the street his old apartment used to be on, before the building was knocked down in favor of Sunnydale's first Starbucks.

And, as they rounded the corner, the former Sunnydale High School came into view. That finally broke him from his thoughts, and he turned around to face the group.

"Ok, this is it. Everyone has a job, everyone knows what their's is. Lets go in, get this over with, and stay alive."

And with that, the shortest pep talk ever, they advanced on the old main entrance. Faith pushed back a few boards, and they were inside.

Inside the High School

The place had many memories for most of them. Some happy, some not.

A smile passed Willow's lips as she saw her old Computer Science classroom, but the same smile was quickly gone when she thought of Jenny Calendar.

Giles thought briefly of the library, of course. Not one time or one thought, specifically. Just the room, which had been the safe haven for the small group of students he had come to regard as his family.

Angel thought of Jenny Calendar also. How he had chased her through the school, and finally killed her before she could even get out of the building.

Cordelia sighed as she remembered how she ruled the school, and how Xander had been her downfall. He was still walking beside her now, and she turned and smacked him upside the head, channeling old high-school-Cordy.

And they all thought of Buffy.

"Ok, this is it." Faith said quietly, pausing before the doors leading into the library.

Everyone stood there for a moment, not sure if something should be said. Finally, Angel walked past her and pushed the doors open, dropping down into the space directedly in front of Spike.

"You know, this is a new level of stupid. Even for you." He commented, swinging his favorite sword in front of him lazily.

The others filed in, raising weapons in preperation for the small army of vampires and baddies they expected to be assisting Spike and Dru.