A few hours later Buffy woke up to a knock at the door. Rubbing her eyes, Buffy opened the door to find Faith holding a cup of coffee and a bagel, "Hey, girls are going to be coming down soon. I brought these up for you. I want to introduce you to the girls at training this morning. Spikie boy too if he wants. Don't want any of the girls thinking he's target practice."

"Humm, thanks, you didn't have to do that."

"One time only deal, B. Are you going to get pretty-boy up?"

"He'll join us later."

"Right, whole creature of the night thing."

"Give me a couple minutes to get dressed. Which training room are we in?"

"The one by the library, it's bigger. I want to get this done before Giles leaves with the older girls. They're going to be gone for a few days. This afternoon I was planning on taking the other girls out for a run then they'll continue training in here since it's supposed to rain."

"I didn't realize the girls were gonna be gone for a few days. What's he doing with them?"

"Taking them on one of those spirit journey things, it's supposed to be the beginning of the end for them as they wrap up their training with us before they go on to their placements. He's had this on the schedule for months. Gonna be gone most of the week."

"I should have known. Giles did tell me he had some girls that would be ready to leave soon. I guess I just lost track of time."

Spike grunted "You birds keep it down, you're waking the dead."

"Oh good, you're up. Faith wants us to address the masses."

"Bugger all," Spike huffed as he pulled himself up, "Can't it wait? Not like we've got a big bad on deck."

"Things have been a bit quiet," Faith agreed, "can't be good."

"Always something brewing," Spike added as he grabbed his clothes and started pulling them on.

"I saw a ghost last night."

"Seriously? In here?"

"Yup, right over there," Buffy pointed to the corner where she had seen the apparition.

"Explains a few things."

"Like what?"

"Never saw anything, just heard a few knocks and bangs, couple of things moved when I was in here alone. That kind of stuff barely registers on my weird-o-meter anymore."

"Tell me about it… "

Spike snorted, making a poor attempt to cover it up with a cough, "Humm, dusty in here…"

"Right… anyway… I'll just meet you two down there." With that Faith left.

Buffy crossed her arms and turned towards Spike, "Really?"

"Oh come on, Love. You have to admit. It's more than a little funny that you, one of the most experienced people fighting supernatural forces on the planet, got spooked by a wee little ghost."

"I'm really trying to be mad at you right now."

"How's that workin' for ya, Pet?"

"Don't push your luck," she grinned as she pulled workout clothes from her bag, "Ok, so first chance I get, I'm unpacking."

"Add it to the list."

"Good morning ladies!" Faith walked up and down as she addressed the girls in front of her. Giles, Buffy, and Spike stood behind her like members of a stage cast. "As you can see we have some special guests who will be staying with us for a while. Some of you might remember Buffy-" Whispers rippled through the girls, a few of the older girls hushed them, "That's right, the original slayer, is in the house. Buffy and I will be splitting training duties. With her is one of our closest friends and allies, Spike. Vampire with a soul, one of only two in the world—"

"Wait! That's William the Bloody! I thought you said he was dead. That he died in the Battle of Sunnydale," one of the girls blurred out.

"Got better; still dead," he answered.

Faith snorted, "He's one of the good guys, has been for a long while now. Buff, you want to say a few words?" She added as she turned to Buffy.

"Thanks Faith," Buffy switched her places, turning to the girls, "Slayers. That's what we are. We bring death to the darkness so that the world may shine. I know that's a bit poetic but it's also true. That is our purpose. You girls might not realize this but you're incredibly lucky. When Faith and I each got our powers, we only had our watchers. Fortunately, you have us, you have this castle. I know Giles and Faith have been doing some truly amazing work with you. How do I know? Because I've been receiving progress reports on each of you. Progress reports can only go so far. Spike and I are here because we agree it's well past time we take a more personal role in your training. You have these powers because we decided it was time to share them with you. In fact, Spike was the first to support my crazy idea. The slayers and our allies who were there that day made that choice. It is our job to not only teach you how to use your power, but also how to use it responsibly, something I'm sure you're not hearing for the first time," she paused as the girls tittered in agreement, "I'm not here to talk you to death. Anyone have any questions for me or for Spike?"

"Yeah, I got one," a tall girl with short brown hair spoke up, "So why now? You were here when we first came but then you disappeared and we've never seen this guy. If you have been getting progress reports, why haven't you been back here in the last year? Where have you been all this time?"

"Good questions. It's Wendy right?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Well the short answer is: Fighting evil elsewhere. I've mostly been in Rome where my sister is going to school. I work with a few other Slayers based there. Spike just got back from helping to stop an LA based apocalypse with some of our other allies."

"You mean that bomb or whatever it was? That was a over a month ago."

Spike stepped forward towards Buffy "I got this, Love," he said brushing her arm briefly, "No doubt you lot saw the news coverage on what happened in LA. That rubbish in the news was utter nonsense. What you didn't see was everything that got covered up. Like the massive battle that took place."

"You're kidding!" One of the girls spoke up indignantly.

"Can't always trust the media children. Most of the time they exist to cover this stuff up. But it happens all the time. Trust me. I was there. On the ground; part of a rag-tag team against a demon horde. Vampires can take a beating and we heal quick, but it still takes time. I was in pretty rough shape after that one. After I healed up a bit I went to track down a demon hunting your fearless leader here," he said, placing a hand on Buffy's back.

"I noticed you said 'your fearless leader', not 'our', I mean if you're with us, isn't she supposed to be your leader too? How do we know we can trust you?" A younger girl interjected with a glare.

"Now wait just a tick, you're twisting things, I only meant—"

Buffy cut him off, "No, Spike it's alright, you don't need to explain. I will. You can trust him because I trust him. Spike is my… partner." That earned a few low snickers, "I imagine it probably took most of you a matter of seconds to realize Spike and I have more than a working relationship, and it would probably only take a few more to realize we share a bedroom here in the castle. It's pretty obvious we're not hiding anything. You can trust him with your life, I do." She shrugged, and turned back towards Faith, "They're all yours, Faith. Giles, I believe your gord awaits."

"Yes, thank you for that Buffy," he gave her a hug, "We will see you in a few days." Giles turned to the group of girls, "Level 4 girls with me," he said heading towards the stairs.

"Giles, can I have a word?" Buffy asked, pulling him aside.

"Quickly, we really must be off," he gestured towards the older girls to go on without him, "I'll catch up."

Faith's voice cut through, "That means levels 1, 2, and 3 fighting stances. We're going to jump right in."

Buffy moved Giles to the corner of the room, "I saw a ghost last night. Know anything?"

"I don't, but generally they are innocuous. I can look into it when I return if you like."

"I'd appreciate it,"

"Right then, upon my return. See you soon!"

"See you!" She called after him.

Buffy turned around and started walking around the room correcting stances and provided assistance.

"What's with the level thing?" Spike asked as he sidled up to her.

"What? Oh that's just the system they came up with. Helps to break them up into smaller groups by age and level of training. Sort of our version of martial arts degrees meets high school. Also helps with bedroom assignments. The level 4 girls are almost done, their room is at the top. The other three groups are in the rooms right above us."

"Got it."

With that, the two of them got to work with Faith training and sparring with the girls.

After the first training session Faith and Buffy took the girls outside for a run. Allowing Spike some time to go back to their room. He had originally planned on going right back to sleep but decided to unpack. When he had finished he pulled aside one of the curtains in the general direction he knew they would be going for their run. Even from here he could see Buffy's golden ponytail swishing as they ran along the country road away from the castle.

Sleep seemed relatively pointless so he decided to give himself a tour. The first thing he did was head upstairs, to the other two floors they hadn't seen yet. As Faith had indicated there was nothing special about these. The one right above them consisted of three large bedrooms and one very big bathroom with multiple shower and toilet stalls and a bathtub. The final floor was nothing more than one large attic bedroom and an access way to the roof and the battlements. Spike didn't go to the roof. In fact he didn't spend much time up there at all. Instead, he went back down through to the floor below theirs and taking the other staircase in the large training room he made his way back up to Giles' private suite.

"Now that's more like it, Rupert," Spike said out loud as he looked around. It was a large room with a sitting area on one side that reminded him of Giles' living room back in Sunnydale.

"If I were a Watcher with a stick up my ass, in charge of fifteen underage girls and Faith, where would I keep the good stuff? Ah right then…" Spike opened the doors to the wardrobe and found a bottle of scotch and a set of glasses on the top shelf, "Predictable."

He helped himself to a drink, put Billy Squire's 'Don't Say No' album on the record player then sat back listening. As much as he agreed with Buffy about the importance of the work they were starting at the castle, it was nice to hide away with a drink in hand. A trip to the liquor store was definitely in his near future.

Spike made his way back downstairs into the training room where he heard voices, the girls were back. The rain had started. Spike peeked his head out from behind the screen blocking the staircase from view. Buffy was there with a smaller group of girls guiding them through some tai chi exercises as a cool down after their run. He stepped out from behind the screen watching them. Buffy didn't break form, but she did give him a quick smile when she saw him. A moment later she finished the sequence, "That was great guys, thank you! That's all for now, I'll see you later."

Buffy watched as the girls filed out through the library and down the stairs before turning to Spike, "What were you doing?"

"Havin' a nip with Squire."

Buffy raised an eyebrow, "Ah huh, what happened to punk rock?"

"You really got me pigeonholed don't you, Slayer? Remind me to tell you all about Woodstock sometime."

"I— Spike- ", she stammered a little before she realized he was teasing her, "Jerk."

"Not like Giles has The Ramones or The Buzzcocks up there anyway. Got a point though don't I?"

She sighed as she picked up the zip-up hoodie she had worn on her run and started towards the library stares, Spike followed. "Faith told me she put a bottle in the roll top desk in our room. You don't have to steal Giles' booze. And there's a portable stereo in the kitchen with a CD player. It even has a tape player in it, I know you have some in your duffel bag. What were you doing up there anyway?"

"Just nosin' about. That bit about the booze would have been useful information, but then I wouldn't have discovered Rupert's record collection. Bloke has some surprisingly good stuff in there. That's one thing about a mostly nomadic lifestyle, I've lost more records than Giles has seen in his life."

"Could always get you an MP3 player."

"Two sides to that; Mobile, but vinyl is better."

Buffy laughed, "Not really the point here."

"Oh come on, Love, just getting the lay of the land. Not like I trashed the place. He's got a nice set-up in there. Clearing my head before jumping into it, is all."

"Believe me I get that, but I just don't like the idea of you being in there when Giles isn't here. He'd be pissed."

"Noted. I wanted to sleep. I'm only up because you requested my presence and I couldn't get back to sleep."

By this time they had reached their bedroom. Buffy stripped out of her workout tank and turned towards him. Standing in front of him in a pair of jogging capris and a sports bra she grinned at him, "I've got some time to kill, I can think of something that might help you sleep. Can't have you cranky for the field training tonight."

"Damn, I like it when you tuck me in," he murmured in a gruff tone as he pulled her closer and kissed her passionately.

Buffy grinned as she watched Spike laying next to her on the floor. They'd made it to the bed this time but had fallen off of it at some point. When she made a move to get up, Spike grabbed for her wrist, "Leaving so soon?" He asked without opening his eyes.

"Yeah, Slayer training stuff I told Faith I'd come find her to train after a while. Met you in the entry hall at 9:00 alright?" She kissed him.

"Better get going then, don't want to start something and be late. Nothing like shagging in the middle of your first day at your new job."

"It's not like it's really my first day. I do the same thing in Rome, just on a much smaller scale, and not in a castle."

"I love seeing you shine,"

"Now who's trying to start something we don't have time for? Get some sleep."

Buffy made her way down to the second training room where Faith was working out alone using one of the punching bags. They often gave the girls the afternoon off now it was summer and they were dotted round the castle and the grounds. Faith looked up from the target she had been hitting, "Hey B, what's up?"

"Nothing really, just took care of a few things and thought I'd see what you were up to. Maybe practice my staff work. Figured you'd be in here since a couple of the girls were already in the other training room when I came down," Buffy picked up a quarterstaff and squared up against the dummy next to Faith's.

"Yeah, kind of a rare opportunity to have the place to ourselves. That rain didn't last long, a lot of the girls are out in the orchard, sort of nice."

"I haven't even been outside since our run."

"So what's Spikie-boy up to?"

"Getting some much-needed rest,"

Faith's eyes twinkled and she gave a barely there a grin, "Ah huhh, I hear that. Damn that man is fine."

"Yeah, well hands off," she said as she struck at the dummy.

"Already tested the waters there, he didn't bite, not even a nibble."

"Wait, what?"

"Flirted with him a bit in your basement back in Sunny-D. No big thing. Even if you hadn't come in, I doubt he would have gone for it, that guy has a one track-mind and you're it."

"I guess that sort of answers my question."

"What's that?"

"I was going to ask you why you are the only one I haven't had to explain everything to," Buffy said as she continued practicing with the staff.

"Because I totally get it. I mean the soul thing is a given, plus he's super hot," she punched the bag in front of her a few times and continued, "Must be nice having someone who can keep up with you and gets the whole Slayer thing. He's nearly as strong as us, definite bonus," she paused, hitting the bag again, "Also not surprised because he told me you two used to get freaky. Said it was in the past, but nah. He was just way too sweet on you. When I heard he was back… wasn't hard to figure out. I'm just stating the obvious, vamp's sex on legs and he only has eyes for you B."

"Yeah…" she said as she struck the floor with a particularly hard strike.

Faith stopped to look at her, "Do we need to talk?"

"No," she waved a hand dismissively, "It's good. I got my guy, I'm happy. What about you?" She continued twirling her staff, plunging it into the dummy's chest, "Opps…"

"Ehh, yeah, let's try pulling our punches on the equipment huh?"

"Sure."

"Anyway, you already know I kept in touch with Robin for a while. Actually made a go at a real relationship for a bit."

"Yeah, I remember."

"Yeah… he… we had fun. It was good…"

"Mind if I ask what happened?"

"Funny thing... After a while I thought maybe… ya know? I asked him to come live here, help out… all that, but then he just left. Said he wanted to go back to New York," she shrugged, "Hurt ya know… but, sort of made me realize maybe I'd been missing out too. Something I didn't know I actually needed before. Probably sounds stupid…"

"No it doesn't. So what now?"

"Oh I'm good… There's a hottie in town I got my eye on, just… Slayer stuff and work and… damn, when did I become responsible?"

"I think it's a Spider-Man thing."

"Yeah, and for the cool kids… what's that?"

"Xander… it's this whole 'With great power comes great responsibility' thing… it just sort of comes with the territory," she shrugged.

"I kinda like it, is that weird?"

"Ohh yeah… super weird…" They both laughed at that.

"Seriously though, I need to get laid, bad."

"Could always hook up with the Scottish hottie. What's he like anyway?"

"Tall, broad shoulders, great head of thick black hair, the most gorgeous baby blues, and a smile that could melt a chastity-belt."

"Hottie got a name?"

Faith didn't look up, "Callum, his name is Callum."

She eyed her, "He doesn't know you like him does he?"

"I'm… we talk. Every time I see him he's working."

Buffy raised an eyebrow, "Bartender?"

"No… he isn't. Alright fine, he works at the hardware store, and recently started a construction business with his cousin."

Buffy's eyes widened, "Oh my God, that's what all the remodeling stuff has been about!"

"I don't want to make things… you know… I actually think I like this guy… he's…"

"Wow, and here I was thinking you just jumped any guy you saw."

"God I want to… trying to turn over a new leaf…"

"Wow"

"Don't sound too surprised. This is hard… trying to be a nice girl for a nice guy."

"You have to be yourself."

"That came out wrong. I just mean I'm trying to do better. I'm trying to be better and if I'm going to have a guy at all, then I want one that will help me do that. Sort of thought Robin could have been that guy…"

Buffy frowned, "And now you think this is the guy?"

"I didn't say that. I just said he was a nice, really hot guy I like."

"The fact that we are even having this conversation is kind of a big deal. Maybe just try getting to know the guy. Go on a couple of actual dates before you jump in bed with him, and then maybe try sticking around. Let him see the real you, the good you. The person you want to be."

"Like dinner and a movie? I don't know if I could handle that, B."

"Who says it has to be? You could still go for drinks or a concert or something. Let him like you for you, whatever that is."

"God that's lame, you sound like a freaking shrink," she laughed, then looked at Buffy again, "But seriously, thanks. Guess I sort of needed that." Faith gave the bag a few kicks, "It's times like this that I really miss Angel. He always knows what to say with this stuff, but you're not half bad at it either."

"Eh thanks… you guys really got close huhh?"

"He's a good friend. Gave me a second chance and didn't give up on me."

Buffy puffed out her cheeks and blew out a breath, "Yeah… so anyway… What do you know about my ghost?"

"Nothing, I already told you. Had my suspicions but I never saw anything, not even a bad vibe, not like I spent much time in there before the redo."

"So why now?"

"That's a question for Giles."

"Great… anyway what's the game plan tonight?"

"Taking the new girls out for their first field trip."

"Are you sure that's a great idea? Leaving the rest of the girls alone?"

"I'm putting Ava in charge while we're gone, they'll be fine for a couple of hours."

"Humm, yeah, I can see that… as long as they don't start a mutiny while we're gone. We'll come back to find Ava tied to a chair."

"Oh come on, have a little faith,"

"Oh now that's lame."

A/N: To be continued... Please Read and Review!