Everyone sat with empty plates and bowls in front of them. They were all completely silent as they stared into space. With the looks on all their faces it was obvious Spike, Willow and Angel had told the story. Xander started shaking his head and stared up at Willow, "What now? She just wants us to let her do this?"
Willow slowly nodded, "Yeah. At least she has hope we'll get out of it alive."
Xander sighed, "she probably doesn't have hope that she'll get out of it alive."
Faith actually interrupted, "I don't want to sound selfish or anything but what about me?"
Xander smiled, "You're going to be evil too. What else to explain?"
Angel shook his head, "Buff was completely sure Faith would do what she does in good intention in spite of being told not to do it."
Spike smiled beside him at faith, "So you just do everything you're told and the world will be fine."
Faith nodded, "From now on I have no mind of my own."
Spike winked at her, "Really. So you do everything people tell you to do."
Faith shook her head and stared back to Willow, "What about Oz?"
Oz nodded, "Yeah. I don't really want to eat anyone, even if they are evil."
Willow half smiled before answering, "We don't know yet. Buffy said you're basically here to solve one of our problems. We just have to figure out which one."
Wesley finally spoke too, "So we just have to lay out all of our problems and pick which one he would serve best."
Oz looked around and smiled back at Willow, "It's been a while since I've helped save the world."
Willow smiled back, "It's something you never forget."
Oz shook his head, "I did, for a little while. I mean this is the first hero meeting I've been at for years. I don't even know who these Wolfram and Hart guys are."
Willow was about to retaliate but Xander stood up instantly causing everyone to give him attention. He started shaking his hands much like he did when he got the idea of how ot kill the judge. "Guys...guys... I think I've got it."
Everyone stared expectantly as Faith finally yelled, "What do you got Xander?"
Xander started pacing, "I know how Oz fits into this. Oz saves the world all by himself."
Willow and Oz stare at him like the world was ending in seconds. Willow actually stood up, "How Xander?"
The instant Xander was about to answer Buffy walked into the kitchen wearing a robe and drying her hair, "Hey guys."
Xander was about to continue but Spike stood up and smiled at buffy, "I know you're going to hate this but..."
Buffy sighed, "You guys already have a plan? I can't believe this. I'm going to be alone like all day."
Willow smiled and sat back down, "Don't worry buffy. I promise our plans will be made fast and then we can do the whole plan what we're going to do after the world doesn't end."
Buffy shook her head and grabbed an apple off the table, "Fine. I'll get dressed and go play in the training room."
Spike smiled, "I'll go with you if you don't get dressed."
Buffy shook her head and giggled when faith slugged him in the shoulder. "I'll be fine by myself. You guys can save the world."
Buffy walked out of the room causing everyone but Spike, Angel and Willow to look extremely confused. Gunn looked around, "Why can't she be here?"
Spike smiled, "Because then her evil self would know how we're going to save her."
Willow nodded and stared Xander int he eyes, "How are we going to save her?"
Xander sat down and explained his plan.
-Training Room-
Buffy was already changed and ready for her work out. After a few stretches she walked over to the punching bag. Suddenly the look on her face changed and it becames one that read emotionless. After taking a deep breath she began her workout. She must of been in complete concentration mode because a few minutes into her workout Kennedy walked into the room. It wasn't until Kennedy walked to the point she was behind the bag that Buffy noticed her.
With a last punch Buffy smiled and paused her workout, "Didn't think any of you girls would be up. It's still pretty early."
Kennedy shrugged, "We never stop surprising you, do we Buffy?"
Buffy smiled, "That's usually a good thing."
Kennedy nodded and started walking around the bag, "So what's going on? I heard the worlds ending."
"How'd you find out?"
Kennedy smiled, "Saw the 'has been' sleeping while tied to a chair in the lobby. The last time the world almost ended it was Andrew."
Buffy shrugged, "I think I'll talk to all the girls when you're all up."
Kennedy winked at buffy, "Come on Buffy. I was always a little more then the girls. I thought I was in the gang you know. I mean I dated Willow. Isn't that how you get in the gang? You date a member. Cordy with Xander, Oz with Willow and Angel with you. I think I should know valuable information."
Buffy started to look a little curious now, she knew this wasn't Kennedy. Buffy also started to wonder the room but slowly getting closer towards Kennedy, "I understand where you're coming from Kennedy, you felt like you were defined by Willow and now that you don't have her anymore you don't know your place."
Kennedy giggled a bit, "Oh right Buffy because you know what you're talking about. Ooooo your boyfriend left you, get over it. I already have. Willow didn't define me but it sure looks like you need people to define you. I mean you ruin people's happiness because secretly you do what you have to, to get what you want. Is that what you're going to do with Spike and Faith? Spike's yours so no one can have him. Maybe that's why you pinned all this on Cordy. I mean she was getting somewhere with Angel wasn't she?"
Buffy was fuming by now as both slayers stood face to face. Buffy started to shake her head, "You have no idea what the hell you're talking about. If I were you I'd shut your mouth before I go against my better judgement and shut it for you."
Kennedy laughed a little and took one small step closer to buffy making their bodies centimeteres apart. "If I were you Buffy, I'd screw your new boyfriend before he slits your neck."
Buffy had enough and finally lunged towards the younger slayer in front of her. The only problem was Buffy didn't connect, she went straight through her. Buffy was instantly on her feet staring in disbelief at the cackling Kennedy in front of her. Buffy started to shake her head, "I can't believe I thought you weren't going to show."
Kennedy stopped laughing and shrugged, "What can I say? I needed to taunt you one last time before I become a part of you."
Buffy put on a look of anger, "Where's Kennedy?"
Kennedy smiled, "You know the rules Buffy. Only the bodies of dead people."
Buffy cursed herself, "How?"
Kennedy started walking around, "A few bringers into her room last night. Girls die easy when a part of them wants to die."
Buffy continued to stare in disbelief as she shook her head and gritted her teeth. After staring at the evil grin on the first in Kennedy's body she ran to the lobby. She was about to run up the stairs to find Kennedy but the first followed her, "Come on Buffy. This has happened before. You just move on right."
By this time Cordelia had woken up due to the noise and watched in partial pain and pleasure. Buffy actually walked closer to Kennedy, "You don't get it do you. Your words mean nothing to me so why don't you get out."
Kennedy looked around and put a smirk on, "Because I want to be here. I want to be here to hear them scream, to watch them squirm and my all time fav, to see you in pain."
Buffy looked curious now, "What do you...?"
Her voice was cut off by her own scream. She fell to the floor in obvious pain. Suddenly all over the house you could hear girls scream or fall out of their beds. The only sound louder then the girls was the evil laugh coming from Kennedy.
-Wolfram And hart-
Amy sat in Lyndsey's office surrounded by candles. Her hair started to turn black as her chanting continued. The second her eyes blinked a black shade she smiled, "Let them all be weak again!"
-Hyperion - Kitchen-
It was oncemore in silence but this time all looks were placed on Oz. Oz stared down, "Well, the first time I try to save the world in a long time I die."
Willow shook her head, "You won't die. It's a simple in and out process. I'll be there as soon as you get out."
Oz actually almost smiled, "I'm not saying I won't do it. Buffy's done a lot for me, of course I'll do this for her."
Before anyone had time to rejoice Buffy's scream was heard from the lobby. Nobody wasted time in hopping out of their seats and running towards the horrible noise that was Buffy in pain.
-Hyperion - Lobby-
When everyone walked into the lobby sounds of pain could be heard all over but Buffy who was still on the ground stood out the most. Well her and Kennedy that stood laughing over her. Willow walked a little closer, "Kennedy, what..."
Buffy used the stairs and started to help her up, "That's not Kennedy, Willow. Old friend that should be leaving now."
Kennedy shook her head, "That's no way to treat a sister slayer. I mean I'd like to get to know everybody again." She turned around to face Spike, "Oh the vampire. I miss the painful nights we spent in the cave."
Spike put on his cocky grin, "Yeah me too. We should do it again sometime only this time you get to be the one tortured by a vampire."
Kennedy giggled a little bit and slowly started to turn into Buffy's form as she walked closer to Spike, "You know what I remember most? The reaction on your face everytime you came out of one of your small fantasies of the slayer saving you. You always saw me wearing her face afterwards and your smile turning into a look of fear will always be carved into my mind."
After seeing the small look of weakness in Spike, Buffy stood getting her strength back, "You know what? You came, you taunted, you pissed me off and now you get to leave."
The first in Buffy's form shook her head. She slowly started to walk towards Angel now but turned into Drusilla, "I haven't said hello to my oldest friend."
Angel actually smiled, "I'm a little too smart to kill myself this time."
Drusilla giggled, "If it wasn't for your slayer in shining armor the end of days would of happened 5 years ago. Oh and that horrible snowfall."
Angel nodded, "I feel sorry for you, I really do."
Drusilla started swaying, "It's almost like before Angel. I have eyes into your soul, into your head. The extent of your feelings for the woman tied to the chair and the woman you're going to kill. The pain is intoxicating."
Buffy finally stood straight up and walked to the point she was a few feet away, "This is about me, you're not going to talk to them anymore."
Drusilla turned around but when she faced buffy her body looked like Joyce Summers. Buffy was almost tearful on sight but kept her cool when she remembered who it really was. Joyce walked a little closer, "Don't be selfish Buffy, I didn't bring you up that way."
Buffy shook her head, "You didn't bring me up at all."
Joyce shook her head, "Did I really teach you to have these kinds of manners. When a guest comes to visit you make them feel welcome. Dawn was always the best one, she actually listened to me." Buffy looked down obviously in pain which Joyce decided to play off, "She's close you know? Dawn. I can feel her slipping into the world of death, slowly dying, bleeding to death. At least she has her own knight though, he's keeping her alive a lot longer then she should be."
Buffy closed her eyes hoping not to cry. She figured if she couldn't see it that it wasn't there, "I get it okay. She's dying, none of them are slayers anymore, I have to give up my soul, we're all in pain so now you can GO!" When Joyce only shook her head and waved her finger buffy finally lost it. She threw her hands up in the air, "What the hell do you guys want from me? I have given up everything I've ever had in the past 7 years at least once and now I'm finally giving you guys my soul. What else could you heartless pieces of crap want from me?"
Joyce giggled and stood directly in front of buffy. In a quick flash though Joyce turned into Buffy. The first smiled, "I want your power, I want to feed off every weakness you have and plus after last year I just love seeing you in pain."
Buffy shook her head, "When I lose my soul how much do you think I'm not going to like you?"
The first as Buffy only shook her head and giggled back, "It doesn't matter. Either way you can't touch me. Plus I'll become a part of you. When that soul is gone all that's left is pain, hatred, desire, passion and pure, pure evil. You think about that when you make your visit tonight."
Upon Buffy's silence the first turned towards everyone else, "I'll be seeing you all soon." She walked right in front of Buffy and whispered in her ear, "Very soon."
The first suddenly walked into buffy and never came back out. Since buffy couldn't feel anything no posession was involved. Before anyone had a chance to go to buffy the slayer made sure pity wouldn't be shared with her, "I want you to check on all the girls. Leave Kennedy until I can bury her. From now on everyone sleeps in the same room. I want them all down here for an explanation of what just happened to them. Then we'll start sending the ones that want to leave back to their homes. Once they are down here I'll deal with the slayers while you guys deal with everything else."
Cordy sighed and finally made herself known, "What about me? I mean I was evil but god. You can't just forget about me."
Buffy looked towards Angel, "Your call."
Angel looked at Buffy, then looked at Cordy for even longer before finally staring at the ground, "Lock her in a room. I want her watched at all times. We'll let her go when we go to get Conner and Dawn."
Spike smiled, "Drop her off at Wolfram and Hart. That's where she belongs."
Cordy being Cordelia and all looked surprised, "What? I don't get to defend myself?"
Angel turned to her in anger, "You put my son, Buffy's sister, the world and of course Buffy in danger. You have absolutely nothing to support your case Cordy and apologizing will only piss me off more."
Cordy shook her head, "But..."
Buffy shook her head, "We don't have time for this. I'll stay down here and watch her, everyone else bring the girls down to the lobby. When we're done the explanation we'll pick a room and if any of the girls decide to stay they'll stand guard. Got it?"
Illyria stared at Buffy, "You do not Kill her. Why?"
Buffy looked around avoiding Angel's gaze, "There's a lot of history in this room. I guess I'm not as heartless as you gods think I am."
Illyria stepped a little closer, "A slayer is meant to be heartless. Your emotions confuse you. If you let her go people could die. Their deaths would be on your hands."
Buffy stared into the blue god's eyes, "I live with that every single god damn day of my screwed up life. Now do as your told. Like I said, time is running short."
Everyone nodded but Illyria who just followed Wesley up the stairs. The only people left behind were Angel, Spike and faith. Buffy shook her head waiting for Spike to speak. She was right because a few seconds into the silence he opens his mouth, "So..."
Buffy stared at them all coldly, "Go for the girls. I'll keep watch."
Faith shook her head, "Buffy."
Buffy shook her head and put a stern look on her face as she spoke is in the coldest voice full of anger she could manage, "GO! I want to talk to Cordelia."
Faith and Spike slowly made their ways upstairs. When they were out of sight Angel stared at the ground while he spoke, "You going to be okay?"
Buffy shrugged, "I'll answer that when I finally process everything that just happened." Buffy cut Angel off though before he could respond, "Please Angel just go help them. I promise a long talk is in order."
Angel nodded and since he was too far away for a kiss he just walked up the stairs. This left Cordelia Chase and Buffy Summers glaring at each other with extreme hatred. You didn't need to have super powers to feel the tension and anger vibrating through the room. Neither spoke as their eyes shot swords towards the other, they knew exactly what the other was feeling.