"What in the hell is she doing here!" Willow demanded, getting up from the couch.

Everyone else got up as well, surprised to see Faith follow behind Buffy through the front door to Giles' apartment.

"Faith. G-glad to see you back in town." Giles said, hiding his surprise as well.

"Well I'm not!" Willow shot. "We're already all tied up trying to stop another apocalypse. The last thing we need right now is you going around messing everything up and, and, and killing people!"

"Whoa there, Will," Xander whispered in her ear. "Way to have an outburst."

"You think?" Willow whispered back, looking at Xander, smiling.

"Yeah, a lot of rage," he replied.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah!" Willow snarled, pointing a finger at Faith, daringly. "I have a lot of rage!"

"Chill out, Will, I'm playing on your team now." Faith replied.

"Now, lets n-not jump to hasty conclusions. I I'm sure there is a logical reason for all this." Giles said.

"No! I agree with Willow." Cordelia said. "Just because she decides to lock herself up doesn't mean we can just all forget how she tried to kill us all. Or did you forget about all the crap she caused even after you knocked her out. She even had the nerve to bring it over to my neck of the woods. I remember the last time I ran into you and I still have the painkillers to prove it!"

"Cordy, that was awhile ago. She's changed, remember? She's just here to help." Angel replied.

"Yeah, I'm sure she decided to take time off her incarceration to give us all an extra hand."

"Look, Cor, like I told Buffy earlier, I know what I did and right now I'm still trying to make up for that. I'm here to help you all whether you like it or not. Wesley said you guys would need help and I'm here to do that. I'm not saying we all have to hold hands and braid each other's hair or nothin', but for now just put up with it."

"Ok, whatever." Cordelia sighed. "But whatever plan we have coming up, I'm already voting not to be on her team." She said, sitting down.

"I'm good too." Willow said. "I'm just gonna go on now and regard you with a steely gaze." She frowned and squinted in a menacing, yet unconvincing way.

"Anyone else got a problem with this? Cause we can either save the world or continue arguing over why we have an extra person in the group." Buffy said.

Everyone remained quiet. Xander shifted uncomfortably. Giles began idly rubbing at his glasses. Everyone still appeared to be bothered by Faith's arrival, but for now it looked like no one was going to say anything else about it.

"And I was just about to have a seat and heat up a little popcorn. This was getting good." Spike said. "But I guess its all on to the boring part where we just sit here and pout all bleedin' night when Laibach is out running everything."

"Spike, you want to get back out there?" Buffy asked, turning to him. "Because you're more than welcome to let us find a way to put an end to all this while Laibach is out kicking your ass."

Spike glared back at her, then sighed.

"Fine."

"So, I see the gang's all here." Faith said. "How's it going, Xand?"

"Hey Faith." Xander waved nervously.

"What's wrong with you?" Buffy asked him.

"He's just nervous because he remembered when I rocked his world. I bet sex hasn't been the same since that night, huh Xand?"

"Faith, if you plan on staying here with all your parts intact, you should try to not mention that as much as possible." Willow said, this time sounding like she truly meant it.

"Damn, Red's got fire. Didn't mean to step on your toes."

"Faith." Buffy said, warning clear in her voice.

"Sorry, B. Just trying to lighten the mood."

"So, what have you guys found?" Buffy asked, attempting to change the subject.

"Well, um, the portal will quite possibly require a symbol and incantation of some kind." Giles said, putting his glasses back on. "It will take a great deal of magick due to the sheer magickal ability it took to open it in the first place, and we would need to find a way to destroy the shroud covering the sky and bring about daylight."

"So you haven't found anything?" Buffy asked.

"No." Giles said, sheepishly.

"All the books we've looked through don't have anything about the dimension Laibach came from." Willow added. "We don't even know the name of it, or even if it has a name."

"Batal." Spike said.

"What?" Angel asked.

"Batal. Laibach told me all about it back when he had me running errands for him to set The Master free to get the portal open, nasty place. That black shroud covering the sky blocking out the sun? That's used to protect the demons from sunlight. In their world, the sun doesn't exist. Once the portal closes, the shroud will go with it, but the nasties remain. But since they won't be used to the sun they would most likely perish like any plain vampire."

"And you're just now telling us this because?" Xander said.

"Slipped my mind, I guess. Got too wrapped up with the mess out in the street."

"Oh, I almost forgot, Wesley sent me this book to give to you guys. He figured you'd need it." Faith said. "I'll go grab it."

She ran out the door, to return shortly after, holding a dark brown leather-bound book. She handed it over to Giles.

"He said you might find what you're looking for in there."

"T-thank you, Faith." Giles said.

"Don't mention it."

"That's the same book we used to open the portal to Pylea." Angel said, studying it. "It contains a bunch of different rituals to open up gateways to various hell dimensions."

"Great. Do you think Batal would be mentioned in here somewhere?" Giles asked.

"We can hope."

"I'll check through it." Willow said, snatching the book out of Giles' hands.

"So what happened to you guys back at the Magic Box? When we got there, the place was a wreck." Buffy asked.

"We were attacked." Cordelia answered.

"Attacked?"

"Yeah, it was pretty scary." Fred added. "This group of vampires came after us. And after we dusted them these weird lizard-looking demons in robes snuck in and took us all down."

"That was until Willow went all Sissy Spacek on them. You should have seen it." Xander said.

"Will, I thought you lost your powers?" Buffy asked, amused.

"I thought so too. I guess I had it in me all along. Turns out, magick isn't just something you can take away. It's a part of me."

"Well that's a good thing cause it looks like you're gonna need it." Cordelia said, glancing at a page in the book. "Listen to this: 'In order to open and close the gateway to Batal, one would need to use the Symbol of Tedarke, unless the person performing the ritual is a native of the dimension, whom would only have to recite the incantation, as opposed to having to draw the symbol on a surface and sit upon it before reciting it.' Here, take a look."

She handed the book to Willow. The Tedarke symbol was drawn on the page, the words to the ritual underneath it.

"Well, at least the incantation isn't that long. I could probably memorize it."

"Turn to the next page." Cordelia replied.

Willow turned the page to see the next two pages covered in text.

"Oh…" she said, disheartened.

"Do you think you're up for it?" Xander asked.

"I don't know, I mean, it's a lot. It's gonna take me awhile to memorize it."

"I mean, magick-wise."

"Oh, I guess so. I mean, I have no other choice do I? I just need some time to prepare. I need a place to perform it."

"Why not right here?" Xander asked.

"On my carpet?" Giles asked.

"It's the safest place. The book says we can use anything to form the symbol, I just need it big enough for me to get in the center. We just sprinkle some salt down to make it." Willow said.

"And I ask again: on my carpet?"

"Don't worry, we'll clean it up." Xander said.

Giles sighed heavily.

"I suppose."

"We still haven't figured out a way to kill Laibach." Buffy said. "I mean, once this portal closes, the sun might kill him, but what if it doesn't? What if he's too powerful?"

"There's another way." Faith said, speaking up.

"What is it?" Angel asked.

"Well, I kinda forgot to mention this to you guys. But when I got here, I ran into Lilah, that bitch from that law firm in L.A. I rescued her from this crazy vampire. She looked pretty beat up too. But anyways, before she left, she mentioned something called the 'Tedarke Dagger'. She said that would kill him."

"Lilah." Angel said, anger in his voice. "I told her not to come out here."

"Who's Lilah?" Buffy asked.

"I'll explain later." Angel replied. "Did she say anything else about it?"

"No. She was just all like 'use the dagger to kill him. Screw you guys, I'm going home.'"

"Damn, Faith. You've just been glowing with info since you got here. Color me impressed." Buffy said.

"Hey, like I said, I'm here to help."

Buffy smiled.

"Well I'm glad. But I still don't like you, and, and, you fight like a little girl."

"Touché. But you gotta admit, I had you there for a second."

"You wish, if Angel wouldn't have pulled me off I would of…"

Giles cleared his throat loudly, interrupting the girls.

"Thank you, Faith. We will begin researching that. Until then..."

"Found it." Fred interrupted.

"Hmm? Already? How did you find it?" he asked, incredulously.

"I looked at the index." She replied.

"…Right. What do you have?"

"It says that the 'Tedarke Dagger, as well as the Tedarke Talisman, were forged in early 1600s by a small cult of warlocks known as the Tedarkes. These warlocks were linked to the realm of Batal and like all of the beings that existed in that realm, were greatly afraid of the beast known as Laibach. Laibach was the most powerful demon in that realm. The Tedarkes forged both the dagger and the talisman to keep Laibach from coming to Earth and creating a bridge that would merge Batal with this world. One of the sorcerers, known as Matereani, who was also a skilled necromancer, decided to turn against his cult as use the artifacts for more selfish purposes. He massacred his entire clan and took over the dagger and the talisman, gaining control over Laibach and thus becoming the most powerful being in Batal, gaining immortality. He still holds the Tedarke Talisman and the Tedarke Dagger to this day.'"

"So if the dagger and the talisman were created to stop him from taking over the world, why has he already came back twice to do it?" Xander asked.

"Do I have to tell you all everything?" Spike said. "When Laibach came to me a few years ago, he was here under the influence of Matereani. I took Drusilla to a warlock after she started acting weirder than usual, and he told me that Laibach had taken her over, and wanted me to get in contact with Matereani so we could raise The Master and bring about the end of the world. It's obvious that Matereani still wanted to go ahead with Laibach's plan. But now with the dagger and the talisman he would have control."

"This Matereani guy," Buffy started, "I remember Faith and I ran into him underneath the cemetery. He had the Tedarke talisman and that's what we used to get rid of Laibach. I don't think he had the dagger, I don't remember. But we killed him. How are we supposed to get the dagger?"

"Good question," Giles said. "I don't know how he could be back, although Laibach's return could hint at Matereani's interference."

"But if Matereani is really dead," Angel said, "that would mean Laibach has free roam so he's able to merge Batal without Matereani on his back. Also, he's much more powerful now so he wouldn't even need his help in the first place." Angel said.

"Plus, that would explain Drusilla's involvement in all this. Giles said. "It appears that she wasn't possessed in the first place, seeing as Tara ended up being the one with Laibach inside her. Its possible that Laibach was able to get in touch with her, and using magick, was able to fool everyone into believing she was Laibach so she could get close enough to the Tedarke Talisman and destroy it so that none of us would be able to use it against him again."

"Well, it sure as hell did work." Willow said, miserably. It was apparent to everyone how bad she was feeling.

"Willow, you couldn't have known. Neither one of us knew what was going on." Buffy said.

"You're right." She sighed. "I guess right now the best I can do is do what I can to get this portal closed and hope for the best."

"I have faith in you, Will." Buffy said smiling.

"So what now?" Faith asked. "How are we supposed to get this dagger if we already killed him?"

"That I'm afraid, we don't have an answer for. The best we can do is hang tight until we come up with a solid solution." Giles said.

"We should head out, and try to put a stop to more demons until we come up with something. Angel said. "Buffy?"

"Yeah, sure. But first I need to show Faith something." Buffy said, looking at her.

"What is it?" she asked, getting up.

"Over here." Buffy replied, walking over to the weapons chest.

Faith followed her over. Buffy opened the chest and reached towards the bottom, pulling out something wrapped in a red scarf. Buffy took the scarf off. In her hand, she held the dagger that was given to her by Mayor Wilkins, the same knife Buffy stabbed her with those years ago.

Faith jumped back as Buffy brought the knife towards her. Buffy froze and gave her a strange look.

"What's wrong with you?" Buffy asked.

"Sorry." Faith said sheepishly. "Just, bad memories, you know?"

"Do I ever." Buffy replied. "Here. I kept it after graduation. I want you to have it."

"Thanks, B." she said, taking the knife. "Not gonna be much to me afterwards though. I don't think the cops are gonna let this through when they send me back."

"Oh yeah, forgot about that. But I'm just giving it back so you can get some use out of it while you're here at least. And, also as a peace offering. I appreciate you're help. I mean, you did try to ruin my life and murder my friends, and I may never forgive you for that, but for now, I think I can stand the sight of you."

Faith gave a small laugh. Buffy laughed back. They both remained silent for a minute.

"So, are you hating this little moment as much as I am?" Faith asked.

"Oh yeah."

"Ready to just go do this?"

"Way ahead of you."

"Hey." Xander said, sitting next to Cordelia.

"Hey." She said, looking up from the book. "What's up?"

"Well, you know, typical Tuesday night. Sunnydale on the brink of another apocalypse."

"Huh, yeah. Don't I remember those." She replied. "Can't say it's any different in L.A though."

"Yeah. He said, his voice trailing off.

Cordelia could tell how uncomfortable he was feeling. She put the book down.

"Xander. Look at me." She said. Xander looked up at her. "Don't worry about me. Whatever the two of us had in high school, is over. I'm over you now and moving on with my life, and you should too. I'm not saying that you haven't seeing as how you're getting married to Anya soon, but don't let me being here change all that. You are a real sweet guy, Xander, and she sees that in you…I see that in you. And if things were different, I could still see myself being with you. But you're about to get married and start a family and you shouldn't be worried about me just because I decided to show up. I want you to be happy."

Xander gave a small grin.

"Yeah. I guess I've just been worried about it for a while, even before you came. Even though I'm still excited about the wedding, at the same time, I'm afraid. I don't know if I'm ready for a commitment. I don't know what kind of husband I would be…what kind of father I would be. It's just that now that you are here I look at what we had. I made a huge mistake as a boyfriend to you and I'm afraid what kind of mistake I would make with Anya."

"Well, you know, at least you guys can now find civil solutions to your problems," Cordelia said. "It's not like if she gets mad at you, she can just call up her old boss at Vengeance Inc., get her powers back, and go around waiting for someone to wish you dead. But anyway,you know what I think you should do? I think you should…get Giles, quick!"

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Cordelia moaned in pain and grabbed her head. Xander jumped up from the couch just as the rest of the group came rushing over. Giles and Angel rushed to her aid.

"Fred, go get something for her!" Angel yelled.

"I have Tylenol in the bathroom over there." Giles said, pointing.

Angel grabbed Cordelia's arms.

"Cordy, what is it?"

"In…in the cemetery."

"What's in the cemetery?" Angel asked.

Fred came over with aspirin and a glass of water. Cordelia took them and popped in the aspirin, taking a big gulp of water.

"This ugly, ugly demon. He had blue skin and metal arms and legs. He was floating above the ground."

"Matereani." Buffy said. "He's alive."

"How is that possible?" Willow asked.

"Doesn't the word 'immortality' mean anything to you people?" Spike said. "Apparently, you didn't kill the sod the last time. Once you killed him, he was sent to Batal. He earned the right to immortality after killing his people and getting a hold of the talisman, and the dagger. Those sods Malik and Scylla earned it too for helping him massacre the cult. I would have earned it myself, if the plan had worked in the first place, before Willow sent him away."

"So then he's still around." Giles said.

"So that means he has the dagger." Angel said. "Cordelia's vision was probably meant to warn us that we can get a hold of the dagger. We can still kill Laibach."

"Great. Then we go after him." Buffy said.

"I'm going with you." Angel said.

"Uh, that may not be such a good idea." Willow said. "I'm gonna go ahead with the spell. And if it works, and Spike is right, then the shroud will disappear and the sun will come back out since it's like 7am now. I don't want you to go all poof."

"He's already all poof," Spike said, scoffing.

Angel looked at him angrily, but before he could say anything back, Buffy interjected.

"She's right, Angel. You should stay here. Faith and I will go out and fight Matereani. We'll retrieve the dagger and go after Laibach."

"But what if you die?" he asked.

"And what if you die?" she replied. "If you come with me and Willow's spell works, the sun will kill you, Angel."

"But, Buffy…"

"Angel, we don't have time. We've already wasted lord knows how long trying to figure out what to do. Stay here. I'll be fine."

Buffy turned to leave, but stopped when she felt a pull on her arm. She turned around just as Angel pulled her back and gave her a long kiss. After a moment, they drew back slowly

"Be careful." He said.

"Always."

Buffy stepped back and went back over to the weapons chest. She pulled out a crossbow and tossed it to Faith. She reached back in and pulled out a long "F" shaped knife.

"Damn, where did you get that from?" Faith asked.

"I got this baby from another Hell dimension I visited in L.A a few years ago. I believe it was forged by a group of warriors in that realm who kept humans as slaves."

"Impressive." Faith said.

"Oh, that's a Hunga Munga." Giles said. "Also known as an 'African Throwing Knife'. They're mainly in Northern and Eastern Africa and are mainly used for clearing brushes and butchering animals."

"Oh." Buffy said, sheepishly. "But they're still cool."

"Good luck, Buffy." Willow said.

"Thanks, Will. Good luck with the spell. And don't worry about Tara. She'll be okay. Once this is all over. I'm positive."

Willow gave a small wave as Buffy turned and followed Faith out the door.