They were about a minute away from the beach when Wesley finally spoke, "What do we plan to do if we see her?"
Buffy sgrugged, "That depends on what her answers are."
-On The Beach-
They all walked at a fairly normal pace towards the closest cave to the beach. Fred walked beside Buffy, "So you used to hang out here?"
Buffy nodded, "Mm hmm. This is where Tyler took me on our first date. He thought swimming was the best thing ever."
Fred smiled, "Awe. A beach date, that's cute."
Buffy smiled, "It was."
Gunn suddenly had a look of revelation cover his face. He smacked his head, "You're the fiesty blonde. I can't believe I didn't know this."
Buffy looked confused, "What? Fiesty? What?"
Gunn smiled, "I've seen you around before. You and this guy were walking down one of our alleys and one of my boys thought you were a vampire. I bet him you weren't but..."
Buffy smiled, "He attacked me anyway and it turned out the guy I was with was a vampire. I remember that. A girl came up to me and apologized or something."
Gunn nodded, "That was my sister."
Buffy smiled, "It was so much easier when it's just patrol. Now we got to save the world."
Gunn agreed, "Oh yea. In the long run it's better though."
Buffy shrugged, "I don't know. I mean sometimes you look around and really stare at the people in this world. We exist to hurt each other and cause pain. Sometimes when you really see it all you begin to wonder what the hell we're trying to save."
Gunn went into his thinking mood as Buffy walked faster. Fred walked with Gunn, Angel with Cordy and Wesley ran up to walk with buffy. He smiled at her, "You really mean what you just said?"
Buffy nodded, "Yeah I did."
Wesley shook his head, "You can't mean it."
Buffy shrugged, "When I died I felt hope, a peace within me right before I hit the ground. Why would I feel that if death was a bad thing. When I can back I thought this world was hell for the longest time. Everything's so painful and violent. Spike made it better...easier and for a while I knew why I was fighting but it hurt me. How does happiness hurt you?"
Wesley was in shock, "What brought this on Buffy?"
Buffy looked back at Angel and smiled before facing forward again and whispering, "I had a really quiet and comforting day with Angel today and for the first time I realized life was worth living because of that but the second... the second we entered that hotel we weren't one soul anymore. If hope can be torn away from someone in a matter of seconds then the world doesn't deserve to turn."
Wesley shook his head, "I've made a lot of mistakes Buffy and personally this world does suck but you don't fight for you. See I stopped fighting but you didn't. You fight for the clueless ones, the ones that spend everyday with their sweeties like you did with Angel, the ones who actually laugh in vampire movies and the ones who have the normal life you always wanted. Heroes like you buffy come once a lifetime. You're amazing because you belong to this world, because you can deal with sacrifice and because you're still not dead yet. You hide your pain because you know this world can be something more then a demon infested farm. It's that attitude that makes you the most powerful and wonderful slayer that ever lived."
Buffy stopped somewhere in the middle of his speech. When he was finished she hugged him with a few tears in her eyes. Everyone else caught up with them confused and kind of wierded out. Angel spoke first, "What's going on?"
Buffy pulled away, "Nothing. I'm being praised."
Wesley smiled, "We should hurry."
Buffy turned her head to the right, "No need. Caves right there."
Everyone walked to the enterence and stopped. Buffy looked at Angel who looked back, "Hey Angel, you can see in the dark. What do you see?"
Angel shrugged, "I got nothing past that little doll thing."
Buffy looked over towards the doll that lay on the rock a little ways in the cave. Without thinking Buffy walked up to it. Everyone hurried after her only to see Buffy pick up the doll. Everyone was confused but Angel who smiled, "Miss Edith."
Buffy nodded, "She's here alright."
Angel looked around, "Where?"
Buffy shrugged but then came up with a plan. Out of no where she started to sway with the doll, "Come on Dru, I know you're here. You left Miss Edith all alone. She's not going to last long if you don't come save her."
Angel whispered to Buffy, "What are you doing?"
Buffy ignored it and continued. She grabbed a piece of the dolls fake hair, "Oh no Dru. Her hair might start to fall out. You can hear her crying, can't you Dru? What does it sound like now?"
The second Buffy pulled out the fake hair from the doll a small shriek came from the corner. Drusilla swayed over to Buffy grabbing the doll and rubbing it's head, "You've been very bad this time Miss Edith. You let them find us."
Buffy smiled, "No she didn't Dru, you did. Your small little gifts showed up in the paper. They're all still in the ground."
Drusilla nodded, "It was a perfect plan. I get to see daddy again and the slayer... I don't like you but you're part of the family now. You're just like me. Daddy loved you like me."
Buffy glanced at an uncomfortable Angel and then back to Dru, "What are you trying to do Dru?"
Drusilla started to dance in one place. As she swayed buffy watched hyptmotized. Drusilla's words sunk into her, "See with your mind Buffy, see with my mind. We're really the same, you and I and I'm so alone."
Out of no where Buffy started to sway too. The smile though was replaced by fear as she stared into Drusilla's eyes, "They're all going to die. So many girls."
Drusilla giggled, "That's not even the best part."
Buffy continued to gaze in fear, "Are you doing this?"
Drusilla smiled, "Sadly no. The energy has changed and the slayer lives again. I'm just hear for the show because I'm so alone buffy, I'm so alone. You know what it's like to be alone and it's not fun."
Buffy nodded and finally smiled, "We don't have to be alone Dru. Not when we see with your mind."
Angel had enough and grabbed buffy. Buffy turned to look Angel in the eye and shook her head, "She's so sad Angel."
Angel glanced at the smiling Dru, "She doesn't look like it."
Buffy looked back at her, "We'll be back Drusilla. It's time for Miss Edith's punishment."
Dru giggled and grabbed her dollie, "You're right. I'll see you soon Buffy."
She walked towards the back of the cave into the darkness. Angel was going to go after her but Buffy stopped him, "Leave her Angel. She's not a threat right now."
Angel looked confused, "What just happened?"
Buffy shrugged, "Whatever it was I felt it. Every word she said seemed like regular english to me. Her voices were in my head and this world...There's so much pain. She just wants me to pay for you, Spike and Darla but she wants to do it in a way she won't be alone."
Angel was still a little confused, "Then how is she not a threat?"
Buffy sighed, "Just keep me away from her okay." He nodded and Buffy sighed, "Good, now get me out of this cave. We have to pick up Dawn and Xander."
Angel nodded and everybody walked out.
Bus Station-
Dawn and Xander had arrived about 10 minutes ago but they sat patiently on a bench knowing Buffy would show soon enough. Dawn looked up at Xander, "So, if buffy doesn't tell me why we're here, will you?"
It took Xander a while to respond but when he did he smiled, "Yeah I think I will."
Dawn nodded but jumped to her feet when she saw buffy and a bunch of people walking towards them. Xander was less enthusiastic as he stood but eventually he was standing beside Dawn. Buffy smiled when she reached her sister and her best friend but Dawn was less happy. "So, why am I here?"
Buffy looked at Xander, "You didn't tell her?"
Xander shrugged, "I thought you should tell her. I mean I don't even think we need to be here."
Buffy sighed and looked Dawn in the eyes, "I just don't think it's safe for you two to be alone in Sunnydale right now."
Dawn nodded, "Okay, why?"
Buffy took a deep breath, "Xander found Spike in the basement of your school today. I don't know if you know everything, I mean I hope you don't but trust me when I say, Spike is not safe right now."
Dawn sighed, "He's back? God I hope he fries himself in the sun."
Buffy glared at Xander btu spoke to Dawn, "I'm taking it you know about last year?"
Xander threw his hands up, "It was an accident. I was mad and Willow was evil."
Dawn looked at buffy, "I'm glad I know. At least you got your wish, I won't see him anymore."
Buffy nodded, "Good. So, we're in L.A. for a little while and then we'll deal with Spike later?"
Dawn nodded, "Good. So where's the vampire that actually cares about you?"
Buffy sighed and moved to the side. When she did she revealed Angel standing behind her with a smile. Dawn smiled and ran into his open arms. Angel actually picked her up as both were smiling. Xander and Cordelia looked at buffy, "When did those two ever meet?"
Cordelia continued though, "I mean I haven't even met your sister."
Buffy smiled, "You guys know those few weekends when I went up to L.A.?" Both of them nodded. "Well Angel came with a lot of times. Dawn had the biggest crush on him until I told her I was dating him."
Dawn slowly slid out of Angel's embrace, "I did not have a crush."
Angel smiled and buffy nodded, "Yes you did. Don't worry, so did Cordelia. I think even Willow adored the whole Tall, dark and beautiful look."
Dawn blushed and looked away from Angel. Angel actually felt praised and special until Xander spoke, "I can't believe it. Even Willow had a crush. I mean seriously, what is it with you two and demons."
Buffy stared at Xander, "This coming from bug lady, Anya, the mummy, and Cordelia."
Cordelia sighed, "Hey!"
Buffy smiled but Dawn turned toward Angel and whispered, "I didn't have a crush on you."
Angel nodded, "Of course you didn't."
Dawn smiled, "I missed you though. I haven't seen you in so long. I mean after buffy graduated high school she spent a lot of her summer at my dad's and she barely spoke, ate or even slept. When i asked why you didn't come she just kept saying that you were around. I mean I know what happened now but it was so sad and..."
Buffy finally cut in, "Dawn, I don't really think Angel needs to hear about that."
Angel looked down obviously in guilt. That's the first time anyone had told him about how sad Buffy was when he left. Xander cut in finally, "So uh, deadboy, how you've been?"
Angel sighed, "Fine. Took a long underwater vacation recently."
Xander smiled, "Awesome. You still a vampire who could go evil at any minute of happiness?"
Angel nodded, "Yeah. You still an immature boy who couldn't get a date if he tried."
Xander looked away and buffy interrupted the to be fight, "Xander, Dawn, this is Gunn, Fred, and obviously Wesley and Cordelia."
Dawn waved and Xander looked at Gunn and Fred. "You guys dating?"
Fed nodded, "Mm hmm."
Xander smiled and looked around stopping at Wesley, "Would you look at this. Woos watcher turned out to be a real boy."
Wesley smiled, "Right, Xander."
Cordelia looked directly at Xander, "You're still as sarcastic as ever."
Xander nodded, "You're still as wannabe as ever."
Cordelia shook her head and Xander looked at buffy, "So we staying with these people?"
Buffy nodded, "Shall we."
Everyone followed towards the hotel.
-Hyperion - Lobby-
The car ride there had been a wreck. Insults and yelling all around yet as they entered the room silence surrounded everyone. Dawn walked to the center and started turning, "It's a palace Buffy. It's almost like your dream house."
Buffy smiled, "Yeah. You should see the rooms. They're humongous."
Dawn stood in wow as Xander finally made his comments, "You do good for a vampire Angel."
Angel smiled, "Thanks."
Xander turned to Buffy and asked the million dollar question, "So what's going on in L.A. that kept us away from Sunnydale?"
Buffy sighed, "Drusilla was sending me dreams about Angel being in trouble. Now she's sending me dreams of girls dying. When we talked to her she did this thing to me where I saw these flashes, like the visions she always said she had."
Xander sighed, "She made you insane too."
Buffy smiled, "Pretty much. I just want to stick around to watch Dru."
Dawn walked back over to buffy and Xander, "So, what about Spike?"
Buffy sighed and walked to sit on the couch, "I don't think it matters right now."
Dawn still pushed though, "Buffy. We're going to have to deal with him sooner..."
Buffy shook her head and stood up in anger, "I do not have to deal with him at all. When we go back everything stays normal. Nobody goes looking for him unless I'm there or it's necessary."
Xander looked unsure, "Buffy. Aren't you the least bit curious why he's insane. I mean he is SPike and you two..."
Buffy shook her head, "No I'm not. I don't need to know. I don't care why he came back, I don't care that he did and I don't care to find out."
Xander shook his head and threw his bag on the couch, "Get over it buffy. We can't hide in L.A. forever. You mine as well start thinking about it now."
Buffy had enough, "You get over a vampire trying to rape you and then talk to me."
Silence echoed the room as even Xander stared at buffy in shock. Buffy shook her head and ran upstairs. Dawn was about to go after her but Xander stopped her and looked at Angel who was glaring at him with a look that could be fatal. "Looks like it's time for the serious talk."
Angel shook his head at him and turned to his gang, "Get them set up. I'm going to go talk to Buffy."
Cordelia sighed but Fred nodded, "Okay."
Angel gave one last deadly look to Xander before running up the stairs after Buffy. Cordelia sighed and plopped herself on the couch, "Every reason i ever left Sunnydale is now in L.A."
Xander flew himself onto the couch beside her, "Yeah well...all the drama on this side is a little more dramatic then here."
Cordelia looked at Xander int he eyes, "Did Spike reallly...? I mean Buffy..."
Xander nodded, "Yeah. She hasn't even said the world until right now."
Gunn, Fred and Wesley walked to sit on the other side of the table. Wesley shook his head, "I knew Buffy and Spike were sleeping together but she never..."
Dawn walked over, "You knew? She already told you guys?"
Wesley shook his head, "Just me. Now it looks like she's going to tell Angel."
Dawn stared up the stairs, "Yeah. Makes me wonder how well this will turn out."