Xander and Cordelia were telling Amy a little more about how they'd found out about the changes to Xander and what those changes were.
"You can camouflage yourself?"
"According to the leader of the coven that helped me, yes. I haven't tried to do it yet and I'm not sure how it works. He said I'd have to trigger it consciously."
"The coach's formula turned the kids into sea creatures of some sort, right?"
"Yes, like the creature from the Blue Lagoon." Cordelia said.
"Black Lagoon. I told you, the creature from the Blue Lagoon, was Brook Shields."
"Whatever."
"I was thinking, the attack affected your skin. Octopuses are some of the best camouflagers in the world. They can adjust the color of their skin in several different shades, in order to blend in. Maybe you should practice. You shouldn't wait until we're trying to deal with a vampire or demon." Amy suggested.
"That is a good idea." Giles said.
"Yeah, it is. Let me see what I can do." Xander looked at the couch he was sitting on and then his skin started to change color. Soon he was nearly the same shade as the couch. The others watched, amazed. He put his hand on the pillow next to him but his color didn't change.
"Looks like the shades of color are based off of your skin tone. That makes sense. You're adding or subtracting what gives you your natural color. At night, it would be even more useful. You could blend into shadows." Giles said.
"It's a good thing we're not in High School anymore, it would be so tempting to see if I could get into the girls locker room." Xander joked. Cordelia doped slapped him.
A sudden pounding on the door, startled everyone. Giles got up to answer the door. Willow and Buffy were there.
"Giles, something happened to Willow! She can't do Magic anymore!" Buffy exclaimed.
"That's because I had her powers bound. I told you there would be consequences if you continued as you were Willow. Your attack on Xander was uncalled for."
"I didn't attack him! I was trying to help him!"
"It was explained to you that he did not need or want help and he explicitly told you, he did not want you doing Magic on him against his will. You did it anyway and caused him a great deal of pain and injured him."
"But that wasn't what I was trying to do! I wanted to help. This isn't natural, Giles!"
"Some say doing Magic isn't natural, but we're not burning you at the stake." Xander said.
"It's not the same thing! Magic is natural!"
"But not your use of it, Willow. You crossed the line into black magic. You were using helping Xander as an excuse to change him. You had no right to do that and you could have killed him in the process. He will recover. But until you can prove yourself trustworthy, you will not be allowed to do Magic."
"Then who's going to do our Magic support, Giles? You said you don't have alot of power." Buffy asked.
"We have invited Amy to join our group and she has agreed." Giles answered.
"Without asking me first?! I'm the Slayer, Giles. You should have asked me first!"
"You're not the only Slayer and this is a democracy, not a dictatorship. You're not a Queen or a General. Stop pretending you are." Xander told her. "Majority rules in a democracy. I vote for Amy. I trust her, I don't trust Willow."
"I vote for Amy too." Cordelia said.
"Same here." From Faith.
"As do I." Said Giles.
"Giles!" Buffy screeched, clearly shocked.
"Stop acting like he's betraying you by not agreeing with you, Buffy. He has more then you to consider and you've made some damn questionable choices, same as Willow. Giles is the head of our group, not you." Xander told her.
"Faith's a murderer!"
"And you're an attempted murderer." Xander answered calmly. "And so is Willow."
They both stared at him, shocked.
"How do you figure that?!" Buffy yelled.
"You tried to kill Faith to feed her to a vampire. Willow's so-called attempt to help me, nearly killed me."
"I was trying to help Angel. He would have died!"
"He was already dead, Buffy. Having a soul doesn't change that fact, no matter how much you want to ignore it. And it could be argued that killing a human to help a demon makes you a traitor to the human race as well."
"Angel isn't a demon!"
"Yes he is, Buffy. And the Watchers Council certainly considers you a traitor. The only reason they haven't killed you, is that the Slayer line now passes thru Faith. Killing you does no good. It won't call another Slayer and while you're alive, you can still do good."
Total silence meet this statement.
"They would kill me for trying to save the man I love?!"
"Angel is male, but not a man. There's a difference and your refusal to understand that, is disturbing, to say the least. Both of you have gone too far. It is partly my fault. I have been too indulgent with you both. That changes now. I will speak with your mother, Buffy. Restrictions will be placed on you as well."
Buffy and Willow just stood there with their mouths hanging open.