A/N: I apologize in advance to any Kennedy lovers out there, she's not gonna have the best time when she shows up, but I plan to be nicer to her than some authors are. I had the story planned up to the previous chapter, so I basically writing as I think and hopefully it works out, future updates may be a bit more sporadic than usual.

Reinforcements?

A few weeks had gone by and things at the Sunnydale High had quickly gotten weirder and weirder. Strange occurrences from Buffy's combined three years were happening all at once. She, Dawn, and Willow were doing what they could, but they were having a hard time keeping up with all the badness. On the bright side the Scooby gang was holding their ground pretty well. The real big bad had yet to show itself to them so they were alert and ready, though not feeling strung too tight just yet.

For Dawn things were still a bit frustrating. Willow had told her that, though she could admit she felt something for the younger girl, she was not quite ready for a relationship just yet. However after their talk they had started hanging out together more, whether it was studying magic, helping Dawn with homework (which she rarely actually needed help with), or Willow's hand to hand fighting training (which both Dawn and Xander strongly insisted she learn). Dawn now found herself trying to convince a hesitant Willow to go with her to dinner with Tara and Buffy, "Please Willow, if you don't go I'll have no way to distract myself when they get all gooey eyed with each other. It doesn't have to be a date for us if you're still not ready…or if you just don't want to be with me I'll understand that too." Dawn said the last part in a whisper with her eyes become a bit glassy with unwanted tears.

"But…I…Of course I'll go with you Dawn." Willow replied softly cupping Dawn's chin, "I think I'd be willing for us to be couple even, if I weren't a teacher at your school. That's the biggest problem other people would have, the fact that I have an authoritative role over you with you still being a minor."

"I'm ok with keeping it quiet from some people. Honestly I just want to be with you."

"Alright, let Buffy know that I'm going with you and I'll go get ready."

Later at the restaurant Dawn, Willow, Buffy, and Tara were having fun giving their minds a rest from work and school, just enjoying each other's company and talking. "Is this a new place? Cause I don't remember ever coming here before my trip to England?" Willow asked.

"I think it's new." Dawn said and Buffy shrugged.

"No, it's been around for a couple years, but they recently moved to the good part of town. So it seems new…this was one of the first places I ate when I came to Sunnydale, even worked here for a couple months." Tara answered.

Their entrees arrived then and they ate, still enjoying some small talk throughout their meal. When they ordered dessert Dawn spoke up suddenly, "I have a surprise for you guys…and before anyone says anything, I had decided I wanted to do this even before Willow left for England. Anyway I've been talking to Principal Wood and, though I need Buffy's approval to make it count for anything, I've done a lot of the work required to let me graduate early." Dawn paused for a second to take a breath, but continued before Buffy or Willow could say anything, "I figured I've already been moved ahead a grade, I'm hardly even challenged in high school classes, I've passed the courses that Principal Wood gave me already, I just need to write a couple final papers, get letters of recommendation from three teachers, and of course I'll need your signature Buffy. If you decide not to sign the extra courses will count as college credit, so don't feel too guilty if you don't want to do this. I just thought that though we're doing good as far as finances are concerned, I know you're getting a little burnt out with running the dojo as well as being a councilor at the school, I could take over your class and let you focus on your Sunnydale High job."

"So this isn't solely a spur of the moment thing just so you and I could date without any moral issues of me being a teacher where you go to school?" Willow asked a bit concerned about Dawn's reasoning behind her decision.

"I promise you it's not Willow. It may free us up to date if that's what you decide you want, but there are also many other good reasons for me to do this. Wouldn't it be helpful if I could put that much more time into researching any upcoming apocalypses instead of being in a class that isn't even helping me?"

Buffy had been strangely silent through this, she looked from face to face of the women around her at the table trying to read what they felt. Dawn could see something in Buffy's expression, she took it as unease so she reached across the table placing her hand atop her sisters, "Like I said Buffy, you don't have to sign off on it. It's not an emancipation thing either, though I thought about that…even called Angel and talked to a lawyer friend of his, there's a lot of hassle that goes into that. I would just be graduating early."

Buffy smiled at her sister and gave her hand a gentle squeeze, "Well I'd want to talk to your principal first." She looked over at Tara, "And I kinda wanna talk a little more about this," She shifted her gaze to Willow, "All of us?"

Willow froze for a moment, Is she saying she wants me to be involved with this? How…is she giving me another sign that she's ok with me dating her sister? I guess the ball's in my court…"Yes, all of us." She smiled taking Dawn's hand in her own and giving the girl a smile, "That is if you're sure you want this Dawn."

"Yes Will, I'm sure…I would show you how sure I am, but you'd probly get embarrassed. Plus with my sister sitting right there…anyway, yes I'm sure."

"And on that note our desserts are here…and again I say a shake Dawn really? And of course the milkshakes here are going to be huge. I personally think it's an injustice that you can drink that with no repurcussions whereas I would have to eat nothing but salad for a week to counteract it. Don't you even laugh Buffy, you have some mystical mojo that gives you a super metabolism…and Willow, you're just naturally skinny aren't you…or did you discover a spell a few years ago?"

"No, no spell…guess I'm still running on my high schooler metabolism." Willow says as she and Buffy dig into their ice cream sundaes while Dawn slips down her shake, grinning at Tara.

"Don't give us that fake upset thing Tara, we all know you'd rather have fruit kabobs for dessert anyway." Buffy mock scolded her girlfriend.

"That's not the point." Tara replied indignantly, before leaning closer to her girlfriend and whispering, "Are you correcting me Slayer? I'll deal with you later."

Buffy had a look in her eyes that included fear, but was mostly excitement. Dawn saw their little exchange, "Eeewww…could you guys please keep whatever that was to the bedroom, or at least whenever I'm not around?"

"Admit it Dawnie, you're just jealous." Buffy smirked.

"I refuse to answer a question that may incriminate me."

The four girls joked and talked with each other for a couple more hours as they enjoyed their desserts. When the four got home they sat and talked for a while before training together. Then after training Buffy and Dawn told Willow and Tara that they wanted to talk alone for a while, "Are you sure this is what you want Dawn? And did you really give me all your reasons?" Buffy asked once Willow and Tara left the room.

"I have thought about this for a while Buffy, like I said, I had thought about this even before Willow came back. I'll admit that the fact that doing this will make it easier for me and Willow to be together is a strong factor, but the other things I said are true too. I know you'd rather have me not worry, but having worked with Anya on top of taking business math, I know how close things were money wise when it was just you and Tara working and now that school's started she's had to cut back her hours. Willow is helping, but I know money is still tight. I know how hard you guys work to keep us all together and I appreciate it so much, but if I were to graduate early I can help. I've thought about this a lot and I really want to do this. I think it will be good for me, but good for everyone else too."

"Alright Dawn, I can see you've thought this through and I can't think of a good argument against it. I guess I'll set up a meeting with Principal Wood for Monday." Buffy decided and Dawn gave one of her patented squeals and hugged Buffy before rushing off to tell Willow.

About a month and a half later on Saturday, a day when those who worked and went to school during the week were awarded some much needed rest, especially when you had thrown a party the night before for your sister who had just finished the requirements to graduate early. Apparently someone forgot to give that memo to the moron who was knocking loudly on the Summers' front door. Buffy was thinking of various forms of torture she could employ if this turned out to be unimportant. She opened the door to find Giles standing there with three teenage girls, two around Dawn's age and one a couple years older. "Giles, I love you and you're like a father to me, but this had better be good."

"The end of the world," Replied the Englishman.

"You consider that news Giles? Maybe you've been away from the hellmouth too long. That's not news, that's Wednesday."

"Ok then, an apocalypse that involves the end of the slayer line."

"Alright you have my attention. Who are they?" The blonde slayer asked as she stepped aside to let them in.

"Oh, right. This is Molly, Annabelle, and Kennedy. They are potentials…girls who may become the next slayer when Faith dies."

At this point Dawn, Tara, and Willow appeared at the bottom of the stairs as Buffy welcomes everyone. Dawn and Tara look at each other, "I guess Dawn and I will get started on breakfast…hope everyone likes bacon and eggs." Tara said, kissing Buffy on the way to the kitchen.

Kennedy sidled up next to Willow, immediately infatuated with the red headed witch. "Hi, I'm Kennedy. Do you live here with Buffy?"

"Yep, I live here, along with my best friend, that'd be Buffy, my ex-girlfriend who is Buffy's current girlfriend, that'd be Tara, and my girlfriend, that'd be Dawn."

"Ah, so you are spoken for…are you sure about that?" Kennedy asked with alluring smile and stepped closer to Willow.

"Yes, she's sure." Kennedy heard an irritated voice before a hand on her shoulder spun her around and pushed her against the wall, "It'd be in your best interest to understand that, quickly." Dawn advised with her forearm pressed across the other girls throat, pinning her to the wall, "Get what I mean Potential?" Kennedy nodded a little bit of fear and respect showing in her eyes.

"Damn B! The brats all woman sized now, and has the skills to go with it too I see," Said a familiar voice from the doorway.

Dawn's demeanor quickly changed, "Faith! It's good to see you!" She exclaimed before hugging the dark slayer, "What are you doing here? You aren't running from the cops again are you?"

"Dawn!" Buffy shouted.

"S'all good B, I can tell she's jokin with me. Anyway Queen C said you guys were gonna need my help, but that's all the info she was given. Do you have any answers G-man?" She asked turning to Giles.

"Yes…well…shall we call Xander and Anya to come over so I only have to tell this once?"

Once everyone was gathered around the Summers' family breakfast table Giles gave his explanation, "Buffy, do you recall that entity you met when we were dealing with the mayor, the one that tried to make Angel kill himself?"

"Yeah…called itself The First…or something like that."

"Yes, the First Evil. It is one of the Higher Beings. On the same level as Glorificus, but harder to kill because its form is non-corporeal, however it commands the Harbingers of Death, Bringers as Kennedy calls them, they have no sight, but their other senses are extremely heightened and they are ruled by a hive-mind. But aside from that they are appear to be rather easy to kill."

"So what books should we start with?" Asked Dawn and Willow at the same time before turning to smile at each other.

"Books? I think that's my cue to go find somewhere to train…and leave the researching to the brainy types."

Giles went on to explain that they should expect and prepare for more potentials to arrive. As well as attacks from Bringers and other servants of the First.

"Willow and I will be back later Buffy. We're gonna spend some time together before this house becomes too crowded." Dawn said as she stood from the table, taking Willow with her.

"Isn't your sister a bit young to be dating Willow?" Kennedy asked.

"Maybe so, but I trust them both. And Willow knows that anything she might do with Dawn is capable of having…shall we say severe consequences." Buffy answered the annoying potential slayer.

So, Willow thinks she's in love with Buffy's little sister does she? Well I guess I'll just have to show Willow that I'm really what she wants. Kennedy thought to herself as her mind began to race to makes plans to get Willow and Dawn separated.

Buffy gave the newcomers a quick tour of the house, while Tara worked out the sleeping arrangements. She put Molly and Annabelle in Willow's room. Tara smirked as she walked out of Dawns room where she had placed Kennedy's and Faith's belongings, Now this should be interesting. She thought as she headed back downstairs with a chuckle.

That evening after dinner Willow and Dawn sat on the couch watching TV with Faith, Molly, and Annabelle. Willow and Dawn were cuddling on the couch with Faith sitting next to them flipping through channels while Molly and Annabelle sat on the floor, talking in hushed tones. After a while Faith gave up on finding anything worth watching, "Well ladies, it's been fun, but it's late and I'm goin to bed. So later y'all." Said the dark slayer as she stood from the couch and stretched.

"I hate to say it Dawn, but I have to agree with Faith, I'm getting tired as well. I'm gonna have to say goodnight sweetie." Willow said, heading to her room after kissing Dawn goodnight.

Molly and Annabelle followed suit soon after, Dawn, however wasn't tired and stayed up for a while to try and do some research. She read through two books that only referenced the First Evil or the Harbingers of Death, but was unable to find anything new to help them. She decided after a couple hours of nothing to head for her bed. When she got to her room she saw Faith laid on the floor on a makeshift bed and heard light snoring coming from the body on her bed. If that stuck up bitch thinks I'm gonna give up my bed she's got another thing coming. Dawn thought before changing into a pair of shorts and tank top and climbing into her bed next to Kennedy after grabbing an extra blanket from her closet.