Chapter 2

Willow is barely able to stand as Anya helps her into the Summers home. Xander quickly gets up and offers his hand, realizing he could now see Willow. "She did a cloaking spell in her mind as she feared you all wouldn't be ready to face her. It wasn't done purposefully and I think battling with the gnarl broke it." Anya says answering Xander's questioning eyes.

"Well it's a good thing she's ok," Buffy says lowering her head, as Willow's tired green eyes meet her own.

"I know you all blamed me," Willow says weekly and leans a little more on the vengeance demon then she had wanted to. "I understand."

"I-I-I," Xander offers. "I did a little but then I just knew you couldn't have done such a thing." His eyes stare down at the floor and shame is plastered all over his face.

"I did blame you fully," Buffy admits somberly. "I'm sorry though Willow. I was wrong and you don't know how happy I am that I was." She forms a tentative smile but only sees a sad faced, tired woman looking back at her.

"I think I should stay somewhere else tonight. I think we all have some talking to do." Willow says, trying to look away from her friends, noticing the tension that is permeating heavily in the room.

"Willow I never doubted you," Dawn speaks up finally hoping to give the redhead a reason to relax. She, of all people, had reason to doubt her with all that happened between them last year.

Giles bursting through the door with several young ladies interrupts the discussion. "I'm afraid we have a very big problem," he begins speaking to the assembled group. "This is Kennedy and Rona," he gestures to the two girls standing in front of a few others. "They are the designated leaders of these potential slayers. Watchers and potentials are being killed by robed figures with no eyes. They're known as harbingers. It seems as though something is trying to destroy the slayer line."

"My dreams," Buffy says going into deep thought of some robed figures killing a young girl. "This is just great, now we've got some creatures killing off the slayer line plus have to deal with Willow." Her words caught up in her throat but not before they were spat out. She looks over at Willow.

"You don't have to deal with me Buffy." Willow shuffles towards the door.

"I didn't mean it that way," Buffy says softly, mentally kicking herself for such a blunder.

"Willow," Anya puts her hand on the redhead's arm gently. "Maybe they all just need to have a good orgasm or two. Sexual tension can make one very stupid."

Willow smiles at Anya, as Dawn and Kennedy muffle their laughter. "Perhaps I could take Willow with myself and the potentials for the night. I got a room with hopes of speaking to you tomorrow about us all staying together due to the recent happenings." Giles looks at Buffy for confirmation and then Willow for acceptance of his invitation.

"I think a good rest might do us all some good," Buffy says, hoping that she can sort things out with her friend tomorrow.

"Especially for some of us who have been in the throws of evil for the better part of the evening while the slayer sat on her derriere!" Anya says in her usual sharp-tongued mannerism.

Xander shoots her one of his looks that tells Anya to be more tactful. "Why don't we just all crash here," he adds. "I've got a few sleeping bags from when we all used to hang out," he gets up to head out for the sleeping bags.

"You all do as you wish," Anya turns towards the door. "I'm going home where I can relax. Xander, you gave up the right to scold me on my way of speaking some time ago."

"Anya," Willow says in a tired voice. "Could I tag along?"

"Sure," she waves her hand at Willow as a gesture to follow.

"Willow is buddies with Anya since when?" Xander asks with a contorted look on his face.

"Since nobody understands her," Dawn speaks up in a flippant tone and then leaves the room.

"Kennedy, why don't you just bunk with Dawn tonight," Buffy says, as she gets up and turns towards the stairs. "We've got a lot of ground to cover tomorrow."

ANYA'S APARTMENT)

"It was strange in there huh." Anya says thoughtfully, as she gets herself a blanket from the closet.

"Yeah it was," Willow says thoughtfully. "I don't blame them at all for feeling Leery of me but it still hurts. I don't want to put you out Anya. Why don't you take your bed and I will be fine on the couch."

"It's not often I'm in such a nice mood Willow," Anya smiles. "My generosity isn't quite up to par with humans so you should take it when offered." She notices Willow is looking at a photo of Tara, which is sitting on her dresser with some other pictures. "You know she was the only one who tried to be my friend. I will always be grateful for that."

"Tara was one of a kind," Willow says sadly. "I don't know if I can ever get over her and move on but I do know that I will honor her wishes to not dabble in magic to heavily if it kills me." Willow speaks with her resolve face firmly planted.

"Get some rest Willow," Anya turns towards the door. "The Bringers, as they're better dubbed, are messengers of the first and I don't think we're going to have an easy road."

"Angel had dealings with the first and almost killed himself." Willow says, remembering Christmas time a few years ago. It was back when things seemed a lot easier.

SUMMERS HOME, NEXT EVENING)

Willow walks into the living room at Buffy's house. Dawn is sitting in front of a computer, "where is everyone?" She asks startling Dawn.

"Buffy has the girls out back for their evening training and so I was trying to find information on the first evil." Dawn says sardonically. "I've come up with nothing."

"That's what I've been doing at the magic box," Willow says shaking her head. "Nothing here either. I spoke with Giles and all we know is the first has these Bringers and is incorporeal."

"So what might we do now?" Dawn asks, as Kennedy comes in.

"Beats me," Willow says and flops down in a chair. "I'm so exhausted from the things that I've been through. I don't know if I can do much of anything."

"Can I get you something?" Kennedy flashes Willow a smile that garners a smug look from Dawn. She heads towards the kitchen to get a pitcher of lemonade for the girls.

"I think she's flirting with you," Dawn says with disgust in her voice. She couldn't imagine Willow with anyone other than Tara but if she had to be with someone, she didn't feel Kennedy was it.

"Is Buffy trying to train or kill that poor lot of girls," Spike says coming up from the basement.

"Kill I think," Kennedy says handing Willow a coke.

"Thanks," Willow says putting a small smile on her face.

"Oh my God!" Xander screams as he comes into the house. "Spike help me get the potentials inside!"

Everyone goes to the window to see what is going on. Spike races out the door just ahead of Xander at the site of, what looks like, a sea of Bringers coming towards the back yard. "What is that?" Dawn asks, as Giles and Kennedy race out to help.

Willow shivers, getting a doom-filled feeling as she watches the eyeless Bringers pummeling Buffy with Giles and Kennedy being of little help. "I'm going out to help," she says looking around for a weapon.

Dawn looks out the window again and sees a new arrival come in the yard to help the fight. She has three Bringers downed easily, thus enabling Buffy to get a break from the beating. She beheads several but the remaining Bringers then back off and run away, as if they are following orders.

Dawn walks outside behind Willow, as Buffy stands up. "Faith," Buffy says quietly as Willow just stands there looking.

"B," Faith says looking around at the crowd of young girls. "Some demon came to visit me in jail." They all look around to see Anya getting out of a car.

"You're going to need all the help you can get Buffy. I think we all better get used to it like it or not." Anya says looking at Kennedy, who is standing next to Willow smiling and asking her something or other.

"Fang phoned the magic something or other this morning from what I figured," Faith began. "I was attacked with a knife by some idiot in the big house and got word to him via a special favor from a guard. He phoned to ask and she answered the phone so came to get me."

"I think you should ask before you go picking who helps me," Buffy huffs at Anya angrily.

"Buffy, these Bringers are trying to destroy the slayer line. You are not the head of said slayer line like you think you are. Therefore, I made a safe bet the head of the slayer line should be here for help and protection just like the rest of us." Anya says in her own defense, surprising everyone, yet again, with her boldness.

"Yes I agree but I'm not so sure she can be trusted." Giles adds wearily.

"B, you're just jealous. Those creatures were beating your ass and I saved it!" Faith shouts growing more upset. She was truly sorry for the things that she had done to everyone but if what Anya had told her was true, there was no time for one of Buffy's little fits. Buffy lunges and punches Faith in the gut hard. "Nice B, trying to remind me what you did when you weren't such a hero?" Faith asks calmly with no retaliation.

"Buffy stop!" Willow yells, realizing that Faith was in as much danger as everyone else. "I should be in jail right along with her so either you stop acting like a baby and let her stay, or send me there too."

"That's the spirit Red," Faith says smiling at the wiccan, which causes a dagger stare to come her way from Kennedy.

"She's right Buffy," Xander says and shrugs his shoulders. "Besides if she turns out bad we can feed her to the Bringers."

Buffy backs off for the moment and goes down into the basement followed by Spike. "She have another vamp lover?" Faith asks curiously.

"Of course," Giles mutters under his breath, as everyone begins to go inside.

"I guess it's time for me to shove off," Anya says looking at Willow. "I think the young potential has a thing for you. Maybe you can have an orgasm or two if nothing else."

"Anya!" Willow says looking down at the ground. "Could I crash at your place again?"

"Sure and you can even have the couch this time," Anya smiles heading for the car.