Buffy and Cordeila

"Season 5"

Chapter 5: No Place like Home

Factory

It is three in the morning and Buffy Summers is at a factory doing something she doesn't want to do. Right now she would rather be at home in her bed sleeping with her girlfriend in her arms…but no she has to keep the world safe.

Cordeila had held Buffy all night and Buffy was grateful to have someone there for her. She didn't ask anyway question she just kept telling Buffy that she loved her and that everything was going to be okay. And Buffy hoped to god that she was right.

As Buffy was walking out of the factory she saw something shinny on the group. She bent down and picked up and glowing ball. She gave a weird look. She then she was tapped on the shoulder. She turned around and saw a security guard.

"Can I help you miss?" he asked and then he saw the ball. "Whats that?"

"I don't know," Buffy said as she quick put it in her packet. "I'll let you know when I find out," Buffy said under her breath.

"If you're looking for a party we chased them out about an hour ago," he said taking in the way Buffy was dressed.

Buffy looked down at herself a smiled. Something's never change. "Damn," Buffy said as she turned around and walked away. As she got further down the road she took the glowing ball out of her pocket. "Giles is going to love this," she said as she examined it. "But he is going to have to wait to see it till tomorrow because I have so serious sucking up to do." Buffy said as she remembered Cordeila specifically teller her not to go out tonight and that Giles would take care of everything.

But Buffy couldn't stay in the apartment anymore…she had to get out. So as soon as Cordeila drifted off to sleep Buffy climbed out of bed and climbed out the window so she didn't wake anyone. Cordeila was just worried about her condition…and Buffy couldn't blame her. Ever since her mom went to the hospital Buffy has been a nervous wreck.

What was she supposed to do? Pretend as if nothing was going on, that her mom wasn't in serious trouble. Thankfully though her mom comes who tomorrow night, so than Buffy can get back to doing normal things.

Buffy and Xander's apartment

Cordeila was just waking up to get a glass of water when she realized that Buffy wasn't in the bed with her. "She promised me," Cordeila mumbled as she got out of bed and walked into the living room, sat on the couch and waited for Buffy to come home. Buffy told her that as long as her mom was in the hospital that she would leave the slaying to the gang.

Why do I care so much for her? I mean I know for a fact that I love her, I have been in love before…what makes Buffy so different? Cordeila asked herself as she sat there thinking about it and then it came to her. Maybe the fact that on any given day she could die and there would be nothing I could do about it. Cordeila was just about to get up and go back to bed when the front door to the apartment opened and in walked Buffy. She couldn't help a smiled because Buffy was trying to be stealthy because she thought Cordeila was still in bed.

"Where have you been little lady?" Cordeila asked as she flipped on the lap. Buffy spun around and looked at her. "You told me that you wouldn't go out till your mom got home, Buffy." Cordeila said as she got up and walked over to her. "I know I sound like your mother, which is wrong on so many levels, but all I do is worry when you are out there by yourself."

Buffy hung her head in shame. "I know and I'm sorry it was just that I needed to get my mind of my mom and what better way than to kick some vampire ass?" Buffy said as she took Cordeila in her arms. "I am sorry," she said again.

"I know," Cordeila said as she leaned in for a kiss.

"So all is forgiven?" Buffy asked hopefully.

"I don't know…I think I may need some convincing," Cordeila said with a wink.

Buffy smiled as she lead Cordeila to their bedroom where all the "convincing" would take place.

Magic Box

Buffy arrived at the Magic Box around noon. It was a Saturday so she didn't have to work which was cool. Cordeila was still asleep when Buffy left so she left her a note that said she would be at the magic box all day.

She and Giles had to find out what the hell the glowie ball thingy is. So Buffy figured it would be an all day project, plus she still had to come up with a way to tell Cordeila that Riley was back in town and that he wanted to get back together.

Just as she was about to sit at the table Riley and Willow walked in. "Hey Buffy, look who I found walking the streets." Willow said as she walked over to her friend. "If isn't Mr. Riley Finn himself." She said as she took a sit next to Buffy.

"Hey Will, Riley," Buffy said as Riley took a seat next to her. "So how was school will?" Buffy asked trying to break the silence between them…it worked.

"School was great!" Willow said overjoyed. Buffy just thought she sounded like that tiger from the Keloges box that always say "there grrrrreat!" "You see Tara and I we practiced these new spells and all I can say is wow. Buffy there are really going to help you with the slaying. I am kinda bummed out about my Psych test though cuz I only got a 88…what a bummer." Willow babbled. She stopped when she noticed the ball in Buffy hand. "Whats that?"

"We…ah…don't know yet," Buffy said setting it in the middle of the table. "We have to research."

"Things never change around here do they," Riley said as he looked at everyone.

"That's what you think," Buffy said under her breath. Then she turned to Giles. "So where do we start this research party?" Buffy said in a tone that said she really didn't want to be here. Now why would that be? Oh yeah my ex-boyfriend is seating extremely close to me and my girlfriend could walk in at any moment, and she gets extremely jealous. Not to mention that if she gets mad at me I will not be able to through her that surprise anniversary dinner that was scheduled for the night that stupid Toth demon decided to show up. Buffy suddenly stood up. "I need to hit something," Buffy said walking toward the back room.

"Want some company?" Riley asked standing up.

Buffy looked toward Willow with a pleaded look but she only looked away. "Sure," Buffy said even though she wanted to work out alone.

"Cool," Riley said standing up and walking into the back with Buffy.

Giles walked over and sat in the chair next to Willow. Together they both started to research the glowing ball that Buffy found. Willow was on the computer and Giles had a pilled of books that he had to got through.

Buffy went into the little bathroom and got changed while Riley started to stretch. Buffy looked herself in the mirror. "What the hell are you doing?" Buffy asked herself. "You know she is going to get jealous when she see that you are alone with him." Buffy said and then she turned and looked at the door. "Why did he come back? Everything was going great until he came back and now I am all confused. I mean I know I love Cordeila but what I don't know is what the hell it is I feel for Riley."

"Buffy who are you talking to?" Riley asked.

"No one," Buffy said. What is wrong with you Summers? Buffy looked back into the mirror and did her hair up. Then she turned and walked out of the bathroom and saw Riley standing there without a shirt in. He still has his body. Buffy thought as she looked him up and down. What the hell is wrong with me? I feel like I am under a love spell or something…wait a second. Willow was all over Riley too and she hasn't looked at another guy since she got with Tara. I haven't looked at another guy since I got with Cordeila…it is a spell…it has to be.

"Ready?" Riley asked as he got in his fighting stance.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Buffy said walking over to him.

Buffy and Xander's apartment

Cordeila was sitting on the couch doing something for her boss and Dawn, who ended up staying with them while her mom was in the hospital, was watching TV. When she got up this morning she saw Buffy's note she wasn't too worried about her...after all Buffy could take care herself…sometimes.

Cordeila looked up from what she was doing and saw that Dawn staring at her. "What?" She asked. When Dawn didn't answer Cordeila looked pack down at her paper.

"Do you love her?" Dawn asked as she watched Cordeila work. Cordeila looked at her confused. "Buffy, do you love Buffy?" Dawn asked again.

Cordeila didn't know what to say. Yeah sure she had told Buffy how much she loves her, but this is Buffy sister, what is she supposed to say. "Um…"

"It's okay if you don't, I mean none of her other boyfriends loved her." Dawn said.

"Why do you say that?" Cordeila asked confused because she thought for sure that Angel loved her more than life itself.

"Because they all left her in the end." Dawn clarified.

Cordeila looked away. "I'm not going anywhere and yes I love your sister very much." Cordeila said. She looked down and then looked back up at Dawn. "I don't know what it is about her that makes me feel so…so in love. I have never felt this type of feeling for anyone and it scars me. I am Cordeila Chase, Queen C. I am bitch yet when it comes to Buffy I style get weak in the knees. She makes me feel like I am the only one she sees." Cordeila finished.

"Then why aren't you at the Magic Box with her, Willow, Giles, and Riley?" Dawn asked.

"I don't kn…wait Riley? Isn't he is some foreign country?"

"I don't know, all I know is that I saw him yesterday and he said he was here to stay." Dawn said. When she looked at Cordeila she looked as if she had seen a ghost. "Cordy…you okay?" She asked.

"How long has he been here?"

"About a week," Dawn answered. She looked at Cordeila while she just sat there. "Aren't you going to go to the Magic Box?" Dawn asked confused on why she was still sitting her when her girlfriends ex is with said girlfriend right now.

"No…I mean I trust Buffy one hundred percent." Cordeila said even trying to convince herself. Would Buffy go back to Riley just because he came back for her? No, she loves me.

"I don't think it is Buffy you have to worry about," Dawn said looking back at the TV.

Then it dawned on Cordeila. "You think Riley would go after her?" Cordeila didn't need Dawn to answer because she already knew the answer. Cordeila quick go up and ran into her room and grabbed her jacket, shoes and car keys. "Dawn I will be right back and remember don't invite anyone in." Cordeila said on her way out the door.

"I know, I know, now just go and get your girlfriend." Dawn said.

Cordeila smiled as she walked out of the apartment. She never ran so fast down a fleet of stairs as she did at that very moment. She was not going to let some farm boy steal her girlfriend away from her. Man I never felt this way when I found out that Willow took Xander away from me.

Magic Box

They had been training for little over an hour now. Buffy had to admit that he had gotten better yet she was still holding back. After all she didn't want to hurt him. Just then he got her in an arm lock from behind. She tried to free herself but she couldn't. He had a nice firm lock on her and she was stuck.

But then he tried to do something that Buffy wasn't suspecting, he tried to kiss her. And as much as her heart was telling her to pull away or doing something she just couldn't…it was the spell. But before their lips touched the training room door flew open and there in the door way stood a very pissed of girlfriend.

"Get your farm boy hand off my girlfriend!" Cordeila shouted as she walked into the room. She walked straight to Buffy and pulled her away. But before she said anything she saw a glazed look in Buffy's eyes that she only remember from on time before…when Xander cast that love spell.

She quick took Buffy out of the back room and in to the shop and when she returned she slapped Riley across the face. "You cast a spell on Buffy. Oh not just a spell but a love spell." Cordeila said low enough so Buffy's enhanced slayer hearing couldn't pick up on it.

"Yeah did, whats it to you?" Riley asked really not understanding where Cordeila was coming from.

What is he deaf? Didn't he hear me a couple of minutes ago? "She my girlfriend you dumb-ass." Cordeila said. "When got together shortly after you left her and we have been together ever since."

"How did you now it was a spell…I mean why didn't you think that Buffy wasn't just using you while she waited for me." Riley said bitterly.

"Oh please. First off get over yourself you are not that hot. Second Buffy isn't the type to cheat and third…okay I can't think of a…third right now but when I do I will tell you." Cordeila said as she stormed out into the Magic Box. Riley was close behind. "Giles we have a problem," Cordeila said.

"Yes we do," Giles said looking up from his books. "What are you talking about…what problem?" Giles asked once he realized that they weren't talking about the same thing.

"Riley cast a look spell on Buffy," Cordeila stated. "And a apparently she can't think straight…her thoughts are all jumbled up." Cordeila paused. "What are you talking about?"

"The end of the world," he said.

"Been there done that and now we can move on," Cordeila said. "Okay, okay, once we get the love spell off Buffy we can save the world…again." Cordeila said.

And that is what they did. Once Giles removed the spell from Buffy they went on the business of researching trying to figure out what the hell was coming and how to stop it.

"Buffy I think you should patrol tonight," Giles said. "Maybe go back to the factory and see whats up." Giles said as he looked up from his book. "While your there Willow and I can continue to research while Cordeila goes back home and takes care of Joyce and Dawn."

"What about me?" Riley asked.

"You can come with me," Buffy said and Cordeila gave her a look. "It's okay we have some things to talk about." Cordeila nodded. After that they all went on there separate ways. Cordeila went home, Willow and Giles stayed at the Magic Box and researched, while Buffy and Riley headed over to the factory.

Factory

They walked along the dark corridors of the factory in complete silence. The only thing making noise was the sound there shoes made when they came into contact with the floor.

Buffy had a lot of things to say yet she didn't know how to say them. I mean he loved her once and she thought she loved him once that had to count for something. Even thought she doesn't love him anymore doesn't mean that she doesn't want him to be a part of her life.

Buffy was just about to turn to Riley asked why the hell he had cast a spell on her when she heard a yell. She could tell it was a man's yell because it stopped and she knew for a fact that if a girl was screaming they wouldn't stop.

"This way," Buffy said grabbing his arm and taking with walking down the hallway they where walking in. Riley followed in silence. When they walking in to a huge room which Buffy guessed was where they held all the boxes, was a man sitting in the middle of the room tied to a chair. "Oh God," Buffy said walking over to him.

"Please help me," he mumbled.

"I'm trying," Buffy managed." Riley you want to help me here?" Buffy asked looking back at Riley but what she saw was Riley being thrown through the window like a rag doll. And there standing where Riley was standing was a women. Buffy stood up slowly. "You know that wasn't very nice." Buffy said as she eyed the girl, and came to the conclusion that she didn't look very strong, yet neither did she.

"Do you know how much I so don't care," The women said as she walked toward Buffy. "Now if you don't mind I would like you to…you know leave."

"Sorry I can't do that right," Buffy said before she through a right hook at the women. And when she came into contact with her fact it was like a rock. Buffy looked up in shock. Then the women took Buffy and throw her against the wall. Buffy felt the wall crack behind her as she hit the floor. As looked up as she slowly go to her feet.

Buffy rushed her and knocked her off her feet. The women got up laughing. "What is your problem…you can beat me!" The women said as she throw her over to where the man was. Buffy, thinking quick, grabbed the man and jumped out the window. "Hey!"

When Buffy hit the ground she quick got up and walked over to where Riley was while carrying the man. "Riley!" Buffy said but the wasn't an answer. "Great I am so gonna be sore in the morning." Buffy said as she picked Riley up. She walked over to the gate that lead out of the factory and set the man down. "I am going to go call an ambulance…you stay here."

"Wait," the man said weakly.

"No I have to go get help for you," Buffy said as she looked back at the factory just in time to see the floor crash in.

"My journey…it's down," he chocked out.

Buffy looked back at Riley to make sure he was out cold…and he was. "What journey?" Buffy asked confused. "Do you know about the glowing ball?"

He smiled slightly, "The Dagon Sphere, yes. But that is not why I'm here." He paused. "It's about the Key."

"Key…what Key?" Buffy asked.

"The Key…it is a portal and it will open the door if it isn't protected. For centuries it had no form at all. My brethren, its only keepers. Then the abomination found us. We had to hide the Key, gave it form, molded it flesh... made it human and sent it to you." He mumbled as blood began to drip from his mouth.

Buffy looks at him confused. Sent it to me? As a human…an in human form? Does he have any idea how maybe people I come into contact with I mean it coul…Buffy stops what she is thinking when it hits her. "Dawn?"

"She…is…the…key," he said.

"No this can't be true…I…I have memories. Mine, my mom's, and my friends…they all can't be fake." She paused. "I can't believe you put it in my house."

"We knew the slayer would protect it with her life," she reasoned. And as for the memories…we built them." He starts coughing heavily.

"Wait! Un-build my memories, you can't do this to people!" He didn't respond. "I don't even know what…who…what she is!"

"She is human and she needs your help." The monk said as he eyes began to close.

"She's not my sister?" Buffy asked.

"She doesn't know that," he said right before he passed out.

Buffy reached over and felt for a pulse, but there wasn't one. How can they do this to me? My memories of what we did together when she was little…they all can't be a lie. I remember the day she came home and all I wanted to do was hold her…that can't be fake. Buffy was lost in thought until she remembered Riley. She turned around and saw that he was trying to get up. She walked over to him and helped him to his feet. "Lets go home," Buffy said as they walked off. "You can crash at my place."

Buffy and Xander's apartment

When Buffy got the apartment all the lights where off. "Got sit on the couch and I'll get you some blankets," Buffy said as she walked into hers and Cordeila's bedroom. She couldn't help but notice that Cordeila wasn't there.

She walked back into the living room and saw Riley stretched out on the couch. "You okay?" she asked walking over to him. "I mean you got thrown through a window…that had to hurt." Buffy said trying to joke.

"Yeah, it did. I think I have a broken arm, some broken rids and I hurt in places I never even knew of." Riley said as he watched Buffy put the blankets over in body so he didn't have to move. Man he missed having Buffy do this…he missed having Buffy period. "So you and Cordeila?"

"Yeah."

"She scary."

"You have no idea," Buffy said as she stood up and looked down and Riley who was all wrapped in blankets. "I am going to bed, if you need anything the kitchen is right there." Buffy said as she walked into the bedroom. One her pillow she saw a note.

Dawn and I went to pick up your mom. If I am not home, which obviously I'm not since your reading the note, then that means I stayed at your house with your mom and Dawn just to help out. I love you, Queen C.

MUAH

Buffy smiled as she took off her close to jump in the shower. It was a night like this one that Buffy was happy that she and Cordeila picked the bedroom that was attached to the bathroom. She slowly got under the hot water and let all the dirt and blood run off her. As she washed she could help but wonder what the hell she fought tonight.

There was no way that she was human. Buffy thought as she started to wash her hair. She throw me around as if I where nothing…she is at least three times stronger that me…if not more. And then there Dawn…she is a Key. All my life I have never wanted a sister and now when I realize that she isn't real…I feel guilty for think all those things about her. Buffy stepped out of the shower and dried herself off.

She walked back into the bedroom and got under the covers. It had been a long day and all she wanted was some sleep…and Cordeila, but she wasn't here…so it was just gonna be sleep.

A/N: I hope you liked it. I was gonna make Dawn not a key but i have some good idea about the episodes that deal with her as the key...so i kept her at that.