ATTENTION! PLEASE READ!! If you haven't read chapter ten, please go back and do so, otherwise you'll be a bit confused. If you have read chapter ten at an earlier time, please go back and read again. I finished it and there is an important scene at the end!

I'm sorry it has taken me so long to update this. I honestly didn't think it would be this long. But work got crazy and my muse decided not to co-operate with this story, damn thing just loves Harry Potter. Once again, please remember that I have a life and I don't respond well to threats or demands to update this story, all it does is piss me off and start me on a rant, which isn't pretty. I've been going on for two months about the damn elves at Helm's Deep.

I'm starting an update list for this fic, just let me know if you want to be on it. I sent out an email for this chapter so if you received one, you're already on the list.

Sterling-Ag, thank you, as always, for your insightful review. I've read quite a few x-men fics that link Scott's power to the sun and I just thought it would be neat for dusting vampires. And Buffy told Logan that he was ok to fight which is why she didn't get upset with him for skewering the polgara demon. And you are right, they both have some thick emotional walls. No one breaks down for at least two more chapters.

Lisette, I'm absolutely horrible at writing fight scenes and had a couple planned for the searching of the hellmouth. I had written the line about Jean accepting the demons before I wrote the fight scene and didn't even think about it not making sense until you pointed it out to me. Sorry.

Belladonna4, my husband and I have been married for two and half years. We were together for like three years before that so I have a hard time remembering what my life was like without him. And tell your friends congratulations for me.

I just wanted to take this time to thank everyone for their reviews and their support. You guys are awesome!!! I just wish I could respond to each individual review, but there are just so many. (Not that I'm complaining, I love it really I do, it's just hard to respond to everyone and make sure you guys know how much I appreciate you!)

Chapter Eleven

Buffy had just finished getting dressed after taking a shower when there was a knock at her door. She opened it to reveal Lorne.

"What's up?" She asked as she ran a brush through her damp hair.

"Hey gorgeous. The kids are back from doing their mojo. They want to have a meeting in the professor's office pronto."

"Did they say what they found out?"

"No, just called the meeting."

"Ok, I'll be down in a minute."

Lorne turned to go, then stopped and turned back. "How are you doin'?"

"What do you mean?"

"I know that you and Angelkins had a fight."
"I just needed to get some things off my chest, I'm fine."
"And you and Angel?"

"I don't know. I honestly don't know."
"If you ever need a friendly ear..."

"I know where to find you," Buffy finished for him with a slight smile. "Tell them I'll be right there."

The demon understood that she had told him all that she was willing to say. He had learned when to push and when not to push her. The slayer never said anything until she was good and ready.

Buffy took a moment to center herself. She was torn between hoping there was a hellmouth here and that there wasn't. She didn't want to the people of this town to be in any more danger than necessary. She also didn't want to have to stay, because staying meant making ties and she wasn't sure if she was ready.

But there was an annoying voice inside her telling her it was time to settle down, to let other people in. As much as she hated to admit it, Angel had been right. She had never properly mourned the death of her friends so she had carried her grief with her. She was afraid that if she stopped and made new friends that she would forget her old ones. That she would somehow demean their memory and place in her heart. She didn't want to replace them, but she needed to fill the empty place in her heart and soul.

The slayer took a deep breath and pulled her thought and emotions in. She schooled her features to a calm mask and headed downstairs.

She was surprised to see that Angel hadn't arrived yet. She had hoped to be the last to arrive so she wouldn't have to explain what she and Angel had been fighting about. She warily looked at the A.I. members who were present. Luckily, Angel gingerly walked in before anyone could ask.

Buffy caught the way the dark vampire eased himself into a chair. "What's wrong with you? I know I didn't hurt you that bad."

Angel winced as he pressed his hand against his stomach. "Ah, no you didn't."

The blond studied him carefully. "Then how did you get hurt?"

"It's nothing," he said, waving his hand as if to dismiss the topic. He turned to Fred and Wesley, "So what did..."

"Don't ignore me," Buffy said as she got out of her seat and crossed the room. "What happened?"

He glared at her. "It's none of your business."

She gave him a look that clearly said that she didn't believe him. Instead of asking again, she pulled up his shirt and peeled back the bandage. Her eyes hardened as she looked at the three stab wounds.

"Buffy..."

The slayer roughly put the bandage back in place and pulled his shirt down. She stalked back to her seat, then turned to Fred and Wesley. "Well?"

The former watcher hesitated only slightly before replying, "Fred and I performed the spell flawlessly and the result was positive."
"Which means?"

"Your instincts were correct, there is a hellmouth."

Buffy sat there in silence as the decision was made. She began making mental notes of things she was going to have to take care of.

After several moments, Fred gently touched the slayer's knee. "Buffy," she said softly.

She shook herself out of her thoughts and turned to look at the Texan. "What?"

"What do you plan to do?"

"Obviously I have to stay. Someone has to keep an eye on it, and I am the chosen one," Buffy answered dryly.

"Do you want to call the x-men and tell them?" Wesley asked.

"No, not yet," Buffy said as she stood up. "I've got some things to take care of first." Then she quickly left the room.

"I think she took that well," Gunn said to no one in particular.

********

Logan could smell her coming before he heard her. He knew by the amount of power she was radiating that she wasn't happy. He looked up from the papers he was reading in time for her to kick open his door.

Without saying a word, she slammed her fist into his face. "How dare you?"

He jumped to his feet, "What?"

"How dare you interfere with my life?"

"I didn't."
"I saw what you did to Angel!"

"How did..."

"Who else can put three stab wounds equally spaced like that? You expect me to believe that he just ran into a random knife three times?"

"That had nothing to do with you!"

"That's a load of crap! I don't need you to protect me!"

"I wasn't!"
"I can take care of myself! I don't need someone to watch over me, or beat up my ex-boyfriends! She screamed as she stepped to him.

"Bullshit! You're wasting away! You may be able to defend yourself, but like hell can you take care of yourself!"
"Oh, and you decided to step into that role?"

"Someone had to!"
"I never asked you to!"
"You didn't have to! I did it willingly!"

"Well stop it!"
"No!"

Buffy dropped her voice to a low whisper, "Stay the hell out of my life. I don't need you."
"You may not need me, but you sure as hell need someone!" He yelled as she stormed out the door.

*********

The slayer tromped through the cemetery muttering darkly to herself. "Stupid boy..." even though she knew the boy she was referring to was a full-grown man. "What gave him the right...stupid boy." She kicked an offending tombstone.

"Just because you cry on his shoulder a couple of times he thinks he has to protect you! I'm the slayer!"

A scrawny vampire chose that moment to jump out at her. He growled menacingly at the unimpressed blond.

"Do you mind? I'm in the middle of a rant her!" The vampire's look of confusion was lost on her as she staked him.

"Where was I? Oh yeah, I'm the slayer. I'm the one who does the protecting. I even got an umbrella to prove it."

She walked in silence for several minutes. She paused to consider a new grave, but since she didn't sense any demon presence she continued on her way.

"Stupid Angel...just had to come and cause problems....all he ever does...stupid vampire.." A scream could be heard to her left. "Stupid destiny," she muttered as she ran towards it.

Buffy got there in time to see a large vampire going in for the kill. "She's not the one you want. I'm tastier."

The brutish vampire turned to look at her. "You're barely big enough for a snack."

"Hey! I'll have you know that I have plenty of blood and it's mighty tasty!" Buffy had no clue why she was arguing this with a strange vampire.

"A gentle breeze could blow you away. So why don't you run along and starve yourself some more you twig."

She was momentarily stunned and could only stand there with her mouth hanging open. Then, seeing red, she closed her mouth with an audible click and shoved her stake into his heart. "I may be small, but I still dusted your fat ass," she retorted as his dust settled to the ground.

His victim was still huddled against the wall of the alley. Buffy turned to her, "go home and walk in a group at night if you want to live." The girl just took off. "You're welcome!" Buffy yelled after her. "Ungrateful..."

Buffy continued on her way and started muttering again. "Stupid boy...always feeding me...I eat! A lot! ...am not a twig...stupid boy with his stupid good looks and stupid muscles and his stupid bad boy persona...am so over that...stupid boy..."

********

The next morning Logan stood outside Buffy's door. He could hear her inside muttering something about a stupid boy and that she wasn't a twig. He rapped sharply on the door and he could hear her stop talking.

They both stood there in silence for several long minutes, each one hoping for something different. Logan finally said, "I know you're in there Buffy. I heard ya talking and I can smell ya."
"Go away. I'm not hungry."

"You need to eat, now come on."

"I said go away."
"Buffy!"

"Logan! Just go away! I am more than capable of knowing whether or not I'm hungry!"

He could tell by her scent that she was rapidly getting angry so tried a different tract, "At least come down and sit with us. The blue elf will miss you."

"Kurt will be fine. Fred will be there."

He hesitated before asking, "What about me?"

Logan could smell her anger flare up as she said, "I don't want to talk to you!"

"You can't still be mad about yesterday!"

"Yes, I can. Now go away!"

He sighed and realized that he wasn't going to be able to change her mind. He sullenly headed down the hallway.

Logan inwardly cursed his instincts that had caused him to challenge Angel. He had unintentionally done the same thing she had yelled at the vampire for doing - not letting her take care of her problems.

Although he hadn't lied to Angel about it being about him, at least he didn't think he had. From the moment he had set his eyes on Angel, he wanted to pound his face. However, that could have been caused by his knowledge of the vampire's past with the tiny slayer. He knew he was going to have to do something to make her forgive him.

Buffy slowly relaxed as she felt Logan leave the immediate range of her senses. Since she had a chance to calm down a bit, she had to admit that Angel had somewhat deserved it. Although, it should have come from her and not Logan.

At the moment though, she had bigger worries. Whether she wanted to admit it to herself or not, what the vampire had said last night bothered her. She had always been petite because of her high metabolism, but she had never thought of herself as anorexic. After all, she did eat. But here was this random vampire telling her that she needed to eat, not to mention Logan was always shoving food in her mouth.

She crossed to the full-length mirror in her room and took a good look at herself. Her elbows were a little pointier than they had been before. She lifted up the hem of her shirt and discovered that she could count all of her ribs. She thought back and was startled to remember, that until recently she barely ate one meal a day.

The blond scrunched up her nose when she realized that Logan had been right. She was wasting away.

********

Before she knew it, she sensed Logan at her door again. He stood there for what seemed like forever before walking away. She looked at the clock and was surprised to see that it was lunchtime.

Buffy sighed and hoped she hadn't irreparably destroyed her friendship with the man. On some subconscious level she was drawn to the reticent man and she hated the thought of no longer being able to talk to him.

Her stomach growled, indicating its displeasure of skipping breakfast. She marveled at how eating three steady meals a day for nearly a week had changed her body's eating schedule.

She rose to her feet and headed to the dining room. The moment she entered the room she felt his eyes on her. She studiously ignored him and scanned the room for an empty seat. She saw one on the other side of the room next to Xavier.

The blond smiled cheerfully and walked over to the head of the school. "Can I sit with you?"

He looked up at her and smiled warmly. "Of course you may, my dear." After she sat down and began putting food on her plate, he leaned over and asked, "What aren't you sitting with Logan and Kurt?"

Buffy shrugged her shoulders. "Wolvie and I had an argument."

"Are you going to let him know that you've forgiven him?"

She looked at him in surprise. "Been reading my mind? Cause I gotta say, I don't like it."

"Not really. I can't read you, Angel, Lorne, or even your friend Clem. I think it has something to do with the demon."

"Then how did you know?"

"While I can't read your exact thoughts, I do know you're no longer upset with him."

She sighed lightly. "Yeah, but I'm going to make him suffer a little longer. If I forgive him immediately then he thinks it's ok to go and do it again."

"Very sound thinking."

"Thank you. We need to have a meeting tonight about the spell."

"That shouldn't be a problem."
Logan watched her from across the room. He felt strangely relieved to see her smiling and eating. He found it hard to pay attention to the conversation around him. He couldn't stop himself from looking her over to make sure she was ok. He noticed the dark circles under her eyes and the barely noticeable weary set to her shoulders.

"Logan," Fred said, drawing him out of his thoughts.

"Huh?"

She followed where his gaze was and gave him a soft smile. "She's not an easy person to understand."

"Or get close to," Wesley added. "She's rather stubborn."

"I've noticed," Logan said flatly.

"But if you're patient and stubborn yourself, you'll find the woman beneath the slayer. Only one other person has really been able to do that."

"Angel?" Logan asked with a slight sneer.

"No, Spike."

He could only nod in absent thought as he continued to watch the young woman who had so easily captured his attention.