By mid-afternoon, Dawn is starting to fidget and look around the shop more than the book she's been reading. Everyone around her seems to be so busy, and she knows this is important, she really does, but…
Buffy looks up from the book she's currently double checking when she hears someone fidgeting around. When she spots Dawn looking around, her gaze lingering on different points around the store, Buffy slips a piece of paper into the book as a marker. Standing up, she makes her way around to Dawn.
"Dawn, are you ok?"
Dawn looks back at her book, "Oh, yeah, I'm fine."
Buffy hums sceptically, "Come on Dawn, we're going to the park for our morning session."
Dawn looks up, "But, Buffy, this is important."
Buffy nods, "It is, and so is your health. You're not used to the long hours of physical inactivity combined with maintaining mental focus. That's ok, neither is Xander, which is why he keeps getting up to flirt with Anya."
At the table, Xander objects, "Hey, I'm doing super serious research here." Holding up a book of illustrated fairy tales.
Buffy nods, "Yes you are. That's why you've put down the book on fairy tales and their variations, face down, and cracking the spine in the process. And picked up an illustrated guide to fairy tales instead."
"Oi! I needed to give my brain a rest."
Anya walks around from the counter and looks at the face down book, "Xander, fiancé or not, you are paying for that. I can't believe you treated my stock so badly."
"But, Anya, honey, I needed to keep my place."
As Xander and Anya get into a good natured argument about the book, Buffy just leans down to Dawns ear and softly says, "See." Standing up, she speaks loudly enough to be heard, "I'm just taking Dawn to the park to burn off some energy. Does anyone want to come?"
There's no answer for a moment as everyone else looks around the room. Tara, however, looks at Willow. Who at some point during the day, sat next to her. Just as Buffy and Dawn are leaving the store, she makes a painful decision, and marks her place in the book. She then hurries after Buffy and Dawn.
Nearly an hour later, Willow cheers, "I've found something. There's a story about a Demon teaching Nero to dance, and giving him an instrument.
Giles looks up, "Oh, very good. Does it give the name of the demon, or how it was summoned?"
Willow shakes her head, "No, it references another 'fanciful tale' that claims half of Nero's court danced themselves to death."
"Well, let Buffy know, she's been managing everything… Where is Buffy?"
Anya calls over from the counter, "Oh, she took Dawn to the park, and Tara went with them."
Willow looks absolutely devastated by the news, "I can't believe it. She can't be the same Buffy we knew before."
Giles looks up at her, "Willow, you can't expect her to be the same Buffy you knew. She spent a long time on the other side, and she experienced many things. Many of them bad. People grow and change, and Buffy has too."
"But it's not fair, I just made things better, and she's making it like this big thing."
Giles sighs, "Willow, you need to be careful about thoughts like that. As they are often the start of something bad. Why don't you ask yourself, 'Better for who', and that may help you discover why Buffy is having such a strong reaction."
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Dawn, Buffy, and Tara, are all walking through the park, looking for somewhere that isn't too crowded, and doesn't have 'keep off the grass' signs. Off to one side is the glittering of a lake, with people enjoying the sunshine, or doing their yoga by the water. Nearby is a group of children playing with a mix of traditional and electronic toys.
Finding a space between a few trees, Buffy and Dawn put their bags down before kneeling down facing each other. Tara looks around for a moment before hesitantly asking, "Um. Do you mind if; Would it be ok if I; I-I can go away if you'd prefer."
Buffy looks up at her, "Tara, you can join us if you want. We always meditate before we start our practice."
"Is it ok if I sit, only I don't think I could kneel like that for very long."
Buffy nods, "Go ahead. I'm teaching Dawn the Tenno way, the way of a protector. You don't feel like someone that could live that sort of life without losing who you are."
As Tara settles down into the familiar cross-legged position, she asks, "What about Dawn?"
Buffy looks wistfully at Dawn, "Some people don't get a choice about whether they live a life of peace or not. That has been my destiny twice. Dawn has already been targeted both because of who she is, and also because of who I am. So I'm teaching her to kill in the hope she will never need it. Founders know, I hope that she will live to grow old and innocent, but I can live with just old. She's already had some of that innocence knocked off during Halloween."
Dawn nods without opening her eyes, "That was bad, I couldn't sleep that night, and I had nightmares the night before last."
Tara shakes her head, "I'm sorry I didn't notice."
Dawn shrugs, "It's ok, Buffy let me sleep with her on Halloween, and we talk about stuff as sisters during this time, and Buffy leaves mom mode in the house."
A few minutes after the three of them have started meditating, the children they passed earlier come running past carrying planes. The first child is making 'Ewwww, foosh, dakka dakka' noises, but the second child's plane has a speaker in it. When they press the button on the side of their plane, the tinny sound of a turbine spinning up, followed by machine gun like sounds, plays out of the tiny speaker.
Buffy's eyes snap open and she dives into a roll, pulling Dawn with her. Coming up into a crouch, she starts to scan the skies with her left hand pointed at the horizon.
As she's crouching there, she starts to sing about always needing to be vigilant, as an attack can come from anywhere, and how the life of a Tenno is a solitary one. Meanwhile Tara provides a heart rending counterpart about everyone needing a place to rest without fear, and how she feels violated. Dawn does an admirable job of providing main backing vocals, and leading the dancers.
At the conclusion of the song, Buffy is surprised when Tara hesitantly pulls her into a hug. Even more so when Dawn joins in.
Tara looks up at Buffy, "Buffy, when was the last time you let your guard down completely?" When Buffy looks around, she adds, "Please don't dodge the question this time."
"On the orbiter while waiting for word on the Lotus' location."
Dawn translates, "She hasn't, not since she got here."
Tara shakes her head, "Buffy, you need to relax, to find somewhere or something where you feel safe and don't need to be on guard. You said you don't have your implants. That means that you're human, not what you were before. As a witch we teach that care for others first comes from care of the self. I-I know I have value my-myself, even if I-I am a demon."
Dawn nods, though a little confused, "Exactly, I think you would like the Vazarin Way as it's all about defence, and Buffy can make people heal really well."
Seeing an out, Buffy reaches up to ruffle Dawn's hair, "That's a fighting style, it's for people who are willing to kill in defence of others. By the way Tara just flinched at the word kill, I don't think she'd be able to focus on it. On the other hand Tara, you have a lot of experience with magic. Maybe you could use that experience to use void energy for things other than killing."
Tara confidently continues, "Buffy, I also know a lot about healing from trauma. How much do you remember about my past?"
Buffy shakes her head sadly, "Not a lot, Buffy Summers saw you more as Willow's friend, by the time that changed, anything to do with your past was already resolved in her mind."
Dawn disengages, and starts to go through the motions of the Vazarin Way, while Tara steps back to give Buffy a bit of space, "You do that a lot, don't you. Refer to Buffy Summers rather than yourself."
Buffy shakes her head, "Only for things that happened before my current life. I know we share the same Oro, otherwise I wouldn't be here. But I'm no more her than you are your six year old self. I choose to take the name Buffy, as it's the one Veldé gave me, the one that was stolen from me when I became a Tenno. But Buffy Summers, she was a life I lived, and died in. She was supposed to be a closed chapter of my life. Yet, to continue the metaphor, here I am, back in the same book again. Yet, it is a different author telling the story this time."
"You should join Dawn. But before you do, will you let me try to help you heal inside, and find a place you can relax?"
Buffy nods reluctantly, "I can't make any promises, but I'll try. You should also try to learn how to use void energy before it becomes a problem you can't avoid anymore." Buffy looks at her hands sadly, "A lot of what the Orokin did to us was in the name of controlling our powers. We were even seeing some results before they stole our memories. After that, the only thing that worked was transference, even after I got my memories back, I don't have complete control, and the void sometimes lashes out from me while I sleep."
Tara nods, "I will, when I can."
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When the three of them arrive with a stack of Pizza, to refrain of "They got the mustard out". Buffy takes note that Willow and Giles are still researching, even though Xander is kanoodling with Anya behind the counter.
Buffy strides over to them, "Willow, Giles, time to take a break. By take a break, I mean go outside and get some fresh air, maybe buy yourself a coffee, and relax."
Willow looks up from the book she's researching, "Buffy, we found something."
Buffy nods, "Well done, did you add it to the white board, and put the book to one side?"
Willow looks at the book in the centre of the table, "Um, isn't that your job?"
Buffy sighs, "I'll deal with it while you're both out on your break, and don't come back for at least an hour. Before you go Giles, what section of the books is for Roman history?"
Giles looks up, "Mmm, the books aren't organised like that. You should probably look at anything with a Latin or Greek title and check inside them."
Buffy nods, "Apart from you, who would be best at evaluating them quickly. Unless you can think of any particular books that stand out, of course."
Giles shakes his head, "There is very little that survives from that era, so anything you do find will be transcribed works, likely by Monks in the 7th to 10th centuries. Any original documents would be kept by the Watchers Council in England."
Buffy sighs, "And there's a point for moving back to England. Willow, sometime in the next few days, I want you to teach our technophobic mentor how to download and use ICQ."
Willow squeaks, "You know what ICQ is?"
"Well, yes. I even have an ICQ number. Well, off you both go, I'll mark your pages while you're gone. Tara, can you start looking for relevant books up there? I'll put these Pizzas on the weapons chest, and then set up a new pallet table."
It takes a bit more chivvying, but Willow and Giles eventually leave the shop. Once they have, Xander looks at Buffy, "Scary lady, can I talk now?" Buffy just gives him a look, so he quickly continues, "Why didn't you tell me to have a break?"
Buffy's shoulders sag and her head tilts to one side, "Really? Xander, you're already having a break. You didn't need me to tell you to do so."
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While Buffy's dealing with the pizzas, Tara notices Dawn looking longingly at a pendant necklace that's on the counter.
"Dawn, what are you looking at?"
Dawn jumps, "Nothing."
Tara smiles, "Was it that necklace?"
Dawn turns and stares at Tara, "How did you know, apart from Buffy, nobody's ever noticed before."
Tara smile turns sad, "I guess that when there's something more interesting to look at, I don't pay as much attention as I should."
Dawn turns back to it, "Well, I wasn't going to take it or anything, as I don't want to disappoint Buffy."
Tara pats her on the shoulder, "That's very mature of you. Why don't you show it to Anya and ask her about it. Maybe you can work it off an hour a day after school."
Dawn stands stock still for a moment, before turning back, "What? I can…" She trails off when she notices that Tara is already climbing the stairs to the library.
Shortly after the store closes, Dawn hesitantly grabs the necklace and returns to the table.
"Anya, erm, I spotted this on the counter last night. And it was, erm, still there today. Do you think I could have it? I'm-willing-to-pay."
Xander shuffles uncomfortably in his seat, and looks back down at his book.
Anya takes the necklace, "Hmm, I think this is one of our mystical items. Giles, do you recognise this?"
Giles looks up from his book, "Huh? Oh, yes. It was part of the stock when I bought the shop. It had some information with it, but I never put it on sale as it was something to do with demon summoning. I never did get around to doing more research on it."
Buffy looks at it in interest, "Would it be dangerous to Dawn as it stands?"
"I shouldn't think so, not without the incantation or instructions. It should be immediately obvious if wearing it will cause problems."
Buffy nods, "Give it here."
"Buffy, you shouldn't. It could kill you."
Buffy gently takes it from Giles, "Giles, I'm the slayer, it's my job to take those sorts of risks."
Buffy puts the necklace on, and then sits there for a while. When nothing happens, she turns back to Anya, "How much do you think this would cost?"
Anya looks at it critically, "If it wasn't mystical, then it would be around $80 retail. However, as it's a mystical item, add another… uniqueness… I'd be putting a $500 price tag on it, but I'll let you have it for half the markup, $400."
Buffy nods, "If Dawn still wants it, will you accept a $20 deposit, and you can work out with Dawn how she can pay for it?"
Anya looks around the store, thoughtfully, "Three weeks, Friday after school, and Saturday all day."
Dawn looks surprised when everyone looks at her, so Buffy says, "Dawnie, this is where you accept, make another offer, or decline. You're being treated like an adult here."
"Um, could I just do it after school for a week?"
Anya pounces, "Two Saturdays and everyday of that week after school."
Dawn tries to think about it in her head, but gives up, "Um, sure."
Buffy shakes her head, and decides to take pity on Dawn, "Anya, be fair, she's never done this before. How about two half Saturdays, the first afternoon, and the last in the morning."
Anya pouts, "But I was going to get an extra half days work out of it."
"And now Dawn knows, and won't feel cheated when she works it out later."
"Ok, fine."
Xander pipes up, "Um, don't you think it's a little irresponsible letting Dawn have an unknown mystical item?"
Five pairs of female eyes look at him, and he buries his head back in the book.
Buffy takes the necklace off, and hands it back to Anya with $20, "Do you think you could find the original packaging?"
Anya shakes her head, "I don't know, maybe. I've got bins of necklaces down there, and they come in all sorts of packages. I can have a look while I'm getting a presentation box. But it could take me a few days to find."
Xander's eyes dart around, and he grimaces silently.
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Sunday goes much like Saturday as the gang meet up at Magic Box for another day of looking for information on the Lord of the Dance. That is until lunchtime.
Dawn marks and closes her book, as her leg starts bouncing up and down for the third time. Standing up, she grabs her coat, and what's left of the $10 that Buffy gave her as pocket money.
As Buffy looks up, Dawn catches her eye and lifts up her phone, "I'm feeling a little fidgety, and, well, yesterday you took me to the park. But, um, the news was saying that some people have burned to death overnight. So, I was just going to grab a muffing from Expresso Pump, and go to the arcade for a bit."
Buffy nods, "If you're not back in an hour I'll give you a call."
Xander looks up, "Don't you think someone should go with her?"
Buffy looks Xander in the eye, "Xander, you're an adult. If you want to go to the arcade you can go. You don't need to suggest that Dawn can't look after herself on the other side of the court."
Xander shakes his head, "No, no, researching is important. See, doing important research here."
Buffy looks at him suspiciously, before turning back to her research.
An hour later, Buffy looks up again, "Anya, could I use your phone?" Anya waves her hand, so Buffy calls Dawn's mobile, twice. Each time it rings 5 times before going to voicemail.
"Guys, Dawn's not answering, I'm just heading to the arcade."
When she gets virtually no answer, even from Xander, Buffy frowns, and claps, loudly.
Everyone jumps, "Good, I've got your attention. I know it's been a long two days, but you can't let yourselves get so focused you don't notice the stuff around you. Now, Dawn didn't answer her phone, so I'm heading to the arcade to look for her. If she calls, let her know that I'm going there, and to stay put."
Muttering imprecations, she stalks out of the store and looks around the court. Seeing that the coffee shop has closed already, she makes her way over to the arcade. It takes her half an hour, but someone finally mentions that they saw three people with weird heads taking someone down an alleyway. Seething with anger, she stalks her way back to Magic Box with sparks of void energy jumping from her hair, and her eyes glowing like stars.
Pushing the door open a little harder than she intended, it bounces off the wall with a loud clatter.
Giles looks up, "Buffy, is everything…"
Buffy grinds out, "We're out of time. Dawn's been kidnapped. I'm going to track down some demons to see if they know where the demon is lairing, I need you guys to turn up something, anything."
Before anyone can say anything else, Buffy's stalked into the weapons room, and doesn't come out again. Tara looks around before quickly grabbing her bag and hurrying into the room, "Buffy!"
Buffy turns around from the back wall, a bow with arrows slung over her back, and a large sword in a harness facing the other way.
"Take my phone."
Buffy's eyes dim slightly, "I didn't know you had a cell phone."
Tara looks at the floor, "Until last week, I was the only one. So, I didn't want to show it off. I bought it when I started at UC."
"Thank you."
Buffy tucks the phone into a pocket, and void jumps through the wall.
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Dawn suddenly wakes up on a snooker table, and is immediately caught by the demons magic as ballet music starts playing in the background. Helplessly, Dawn goes through a choreographed routine where she pretends to try to escape, before been thrown at the feet of pair of red pants, and black and white shoes. As she looks up, as if it's another part of the act, the red skinned demon starts to dance. [An: 'Dawn's Ballet' followed by 'What you feel' from Season 6: Episode 7]
As she utters the words, "My sister's the slayer." Dawn feels the magic holding her break for a moment. Desperately, she reaches for her dagger, only to panic when she finds it isn't there. Desperately, she lunges for the demon using one of the moves Buffy's been teaching her, freezing in mid step as he contemptuously flicks his finger in her direction.
"Oh, a feisty one. They are always so much fun. You will make an excellent bride."
Dawn shakes her head minutely, "B…But I didn't summon you."
The demon looks at the ones that kidnapped her, "Find the Slayer, tell her. Tell her everything, and get her here. I want to see her burn."
As the three underlings leave, the demon turns back to Dawn, "Now, don't be shy. You're wearing my talisman, of course you summoned me."
Dawn shakes her head again, "No, Buffy wore it before me. Besides, you were already here when I saw it."
"How interesting. Well, either way, I will have my bride, as that's what I was promised."
Dawn despairs as her body walks to a chair on the stage and sits down gracefully. The demon sitting in another chair next to her.
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It's full dark and the scooby gang are frantically looking through the books, trying to find something to help. This buzz of activity is violently interrupted when Spike kicks the front door open.
Spike struggles through the front door, dragging what appears to be a human man with a big, red, wooden looking head. Once the five of them have got up to see what's going on, Spike grabs it by the back of the neck, "Lookie what I found crawling around outside. Go on, tell them what you told me."
With dawning horror everyone in the shop listens as it lists everything that's happened since it's master, Sweet, was summoned, before finally telling them that he has Dawn at the Bronze. As soon as she hears that, Tara freezes for a second, before she runs to the phone and hurriedly dials her own cell phone number.
Her heart breaks at Buffy's tone when she answers the phone, "Buffy, she's at the Bronze." Is all she's able to get out as the others start to sing, and she gets caught up in the song. [AN: Walk through the fire, without Buffy].
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As she hears those fatal words, Buffy snaps Tara's phone closed and void jumps out of Willy's. Leaving a very confused demon and the few clients that hadn't run as soon as Buffy walked through the door.
Buffy runs as fast as she can towards the Bronze, void jumping whenever her reserves have refilled enough to allow her to do so. The world around her seems to pass in a blur, as her determination to see Dawn safe pushes her onward. Reaching the door to the Bronze, she doesn't even slow down as it explodes inwards in a shower of shards and splinters. As soon as the demon comes into view, standing on the stage and singing, she raises her left hand and fires a void beam through it's head.
Abruptly the beam stops, and Buffy struts forward to the dance floor. As she does, the demons head seems to pull itself together, from the air around it, "I love a good entrance. However it is traditional to allow the previous act to finish first."
Buffy strains against the magic, and grinds out, "How are you with death scenes, as you made a big mistake when you kidnapped my sister."
The demon just chuckles, so Buffy asks, "You got a name?"
Sitting down in the chair beside Dawn, he smiles, "I've got 100."
"Well, I can't just keep calling you demon."
Dawn leans forward as much as she's allowed, "Buffy, he thinks he's going to marry one of us."
Buffy shakes her head, "Don't worry Dawn, that's not going to happen."
The demon leans forward, "And what exactly are you going to do about it, hmm?"
"Kill you if necessary. I only have three rules for living in this town, don't kill, eat, or hurt civilians, and you've already broken two of those rules."
The demon leans backwards, "Well, lets see how well you dance, shall we?"
The barely audible background music that was suggesting the pause before a performance begins flares to life with the sound of alien instruments, and Buffy's voice soars into the air as she sings in her native Orokin about life, loss, despair, and grim acceptance, along with a duty so deep it could outlast the stars themselves. Then she sings about being pulled away and discovering her sister. During her dance, Buffy shucks off her coat, and her weapons, to reveal a shimmery red top.
Throughout her song and dance, the demon looks confused, but impressed. He grows even more impressed once she passes the 5 minute mark. However, Buffy eventually runs out of things to sing about, and the final parts of the demons magic take effect as she begins to dance uncontrollably.
Giles is the first one through the door to the bronze, and he skids to a halt as Buffy turns towards him, flames already licking up her arms and legs. As the others pile in, Buffy smiles one last time before her body crumbles to less than ash.
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In the graveyard she was buried in, Buffy appears in the air as she void jumps out of her coffin. Landing on the ground, she runs for the Bronze.
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Back in the Bronze, the demon chuckles, "Now that was a show-stopping number. The fireworks at the end were fantastic."
Willows face travels from the pile of ash to the demon, and hardens, "Get out of here."
The demon looks up at her in interest, "Hmm, I spell power. I guess the little missus and I should be on our way."
Giles takes a firm stance, "Sweet, that's never going to happen."
Sweet chuckles, "I don't make the rules. She summoned me."
Dawn leans forward, "I so did not, I keep telling you that."
Sweet leans over Dawn, "You have my talisman on, sweet thing."
Dawn shakes her head, "I told you, I bought it last night, and you were already here then."
Sweet feathers his chin with his fingers, "Well now, that's a twis…" Whatever he was going to say is cut off as Buffy appears in front of him just long enough to grab his lapels and disappear with him.
With a sense of horror, Giles starts to turn around, "If that's his talisman, then one of us probably…"
As Giles looks around the assembled people, Xander slowly puts his hand up.
Anya exclaims, "Xander!"
Xander shakes his head, "Well, I didn't know what was gonna happen, I just thought there gonna be dances and songs. I just wanted to make sure we'd-we'd work out. Get a happy ending, ya know."
On the stage, Buffy reappears staring daggers at Xander. Absently she looks back at Sweet, who looks like he's taken a beating, "Sorry about that, looks like you're off the hook."
Sweet tugs his lapel with his remaining arm, "Yes, well, I think everything worked out just fine."
Xander raises a finger, "Does this mean that I have to…"
Buffy firmly says, "No Xander, it doesn't." As Sweet tries to disappear, Buffy holds a finger up and points at him, "You, don't go anyway unless you want to experience unreality and untime again."
Buffy stalks down the stairs towards Xander, "Xander, you are the worst sort of monster there is."
Giles steps in front of Xander, "Now Buffy, it was an honest mistake."
Buffy gently, but firmly pushes Giles out the way, "Originally, yes. A mistake that could have easily been forgiven. Xander became a murderer when he didn't own up to what he'd done yesterday. We told you what we were researching and why."
Xander backs up, until his back hits the wall, "But, Buffy, it wasn't hurting anyone."
"Xander, you are not that stupid. We don't research harmless demons, as they're all civilians. They some of the people we're here to protect. But that isn't the end of it, last night, Dawn showed Anya that necklace, and asked her about it. She then asked Giles, and I wore it for an hour." She pokes him in the chest, "At any point you could have fessed up, and you'd only have one or two deaths on your conscience. But no. You have to stay silent, and kidnap Dawn."
Willow calls out, "But that wasn't Xander."
Buffy briefly looks back towards the stage as a fully healed Sweet is starting to move, "I haven't forgotten about you. Don't go anywhere, we are coming back to you in a moment." Turning to Willow, Buffy looks disappointed, "Willow, you never blame the weapon, you always blame the person who fired it. Sweet was summoned, and followed his nature according to the agreement made in the summoning. That's right isn't it?"
Sweet nods as he finishes healing, now sure he could escape, "Singing and dancing in return for a bride."
"Willow, Xander had every opportunity to help, but it was only here that he owned up to it. When it was far, far too late to do anything."
Buffy's hand lashes out too fast to see, and she gathers Xander's coat in her fist before pulling him off balance. Then she drags him up onto the stage with Sweet.
"Sweet wasn't it? Your agreement included a bride. I would imagine that jello for brains here was thinking about his fiancé Anya when he summoned you. In light of his long friendship with Buffy Summers, and the fact that Anya used to be a Vengeance Demon, I think you should take him and turn him into a demon."
Giles calls up from the floor, "Buffy, you can't. He's a human, you're supposed to protect humans. What you're proposing is evil, utterly evil."
Buffy turns back to Giles sadly, "Giles, if you really think that, then you are far too innocent and bigoted. This is not evil, this is justice. Or do you believe that Anya is evil?"
"No, of course not, she's mortal."
Buffy shakes her head, "Giles, Anya is still evil. Look at her motivations. But it's a small evil, and it doesn't really hurt other people as she's still a nice person. Alad V is Evil, he takes the people who work for him, or those who owe him debts, or even just those who happen to cross his path, and use uses them in his experiments. Fusing them with machines, animals, the infestation, or even sentients. The Grineer Queens are Evil, they control an entire race of clones as slaves. I'm sure there are plenty of examples of humans on this world that are worse than most demons you'll ever meet. I have seen, and been used as a weapon in, atrocities that you couldn't possibly imagine. If I was holding Xander to the same standards I hold demons, he'd already be dead. Instead, he is being given Justice, and Anya is getting a partner who will live as long as she will. Assuming she still thinks he's worth marrying that is."
Buffy shoves Xander at Sweet, who takes the hint and disappears with him.
As Xander disappears, Willow steps forward, "Buffy, how could you."
Buffy looks down, "Willow, you need to look up the word hypocrite."
As the bodies of Sweet's minions start to disappear, Buffy spots Spike leaving through the back door as music starts to swell. Void jumping to the exit, she slips outside as everyone else starts to sing.
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Spike turns around when he hears the crunch of a boot on wood splinters, "Buffy, shouldn't you be inside having a Kumbaya-yah with your friends?"
Buffy shakes her head, "You know me better than that. I came out to thank you for coming with the others. I appreciate the support. I haven't rescinded your invitation for a reason you know."
"Yeah well, next time you need a monster, come find me."
Buffy turns around and starts to walk back in. Over her shoulder she calls, "Even monsters can be redeemed Spike, remember that. I should know, after all."
Spike turns away as Buffy's voice joins the others inside, "I don't need them, I've never needed any of them."