Chapter 11: Getting Started

2 Months Later

"It's about power."

Buffy ducked a punch and used her lower position to aim a kick at the legs. Angel jumped over it, and the two of them returned to circling one another as Buffy continued her lecture.

"Who has it, and how to use it."

Angel lurched forward for a tackle, but Buffy ducked under his arm as they switched sides.

"Especially you, Dawn." The Slayer glanced at where her sister and Connor were watching the spar with rapt expressions. "Since you don't have the strength-" she gave Angel a look, and he complied by rushing towards her again, to which she responded by moving over slightly and pushing him to the side so he fell onto the floor. "-use theirs against them."

She offered a hand to Angel, who responded with a smile, before he pulled her down onto his chest.

"And don't let your guard down," he added, amusement obvious in his eyes.

Buffy rolled her eyes, smiling. "And that."

†

"So…" Dawn said as they came back inside from the backyard, "How about next time you could let me try something?"

Buffy gave her a look, but was slightly smiling. "Maybe. I wasn't too happy about giving you these anyway," she added, muttering.

"But it's best that you do," Angel reminded her.

Dawn sighed. "I just can't believe it's back."

"And with Cordy's vague evil, there's no way something big isn't coming," Buffy added. "I just thought I was long past it."

"Sunnydale High School."

†

"Good morning!" Xander said as he entered the Summers' house.

"Morning," Buffy responded. "You're looking extra spiffy today."

"Client meeting," he replied as they entered the dining room. "Hey guys."

Dawn mumbled a greeting from behind a mouthful of pancakes, as Tara and Connor said their hellos.

"You want some pancakes?" Buffy asked, picking up one herself. "Angel made them."

Xander shook his head. "Already ate," he clarified, before looking around. "Where is Dead Boy anyway?"
"Right here," Angel said from the doorway of the kitchen. He walked over, avoiding the sunlight, and placed a plate of eggs on the table.

Dawn scoped on a large spoonful before Buffy grabbed the spoon away. "Not so much, you're going to be late."

The teenager rolled her eyes. "I could be late. Or you could just homeschool me like Connor."

"We've been over this, Dawn," Tara said, even as Buffy fought the urge to agree with her sister. "While Fred could probably teach you science and math fine, I couldn't teach you your standard of English very well."

"Besides," Connor added, looking glum. "I still have a lot to catch up on."

Dawn placed her hand on Connor's over the table. "The fact you're catching up so fast is super impressive. Plus, you don't have to spend seven hours a day at the evil high school."

"Speaking of which," Xander said, pulling out a large roll of paper.

"Oh, you got the rest!" Buffy said, placing down the pancake burrito she had made.

Xander nodded, and unrolled it on the one unoccupied spot on the table. Buffy and Angel leaned over to see it.

"I've got two crews on this diabolical yet lucrative new campus. One here finishing up the science building, and one re-enforcing the gym. No pentagrams, no secret passageways. Everything's up to code and safe as houses."

"Nothing creepy?" Buffy asked. "Strange? From beyond?"

"Maybe you're just paranoid," Dawn said, shoveling another bite of eggs into her mouth.

"Well, there is one interesting detail," he admitted. "I managed to scrape up the plans from the old high school. You remember the center of Sunnydale's very own mouth of hell?"

"Under the library," Angel answered.

"Right. So I lined up the plans," he turned around and held up the two blueprints up to the window, "And right exactly where the library was, we now have…"

"The principal's office," Buffy finished.

"So the principal's evil?" Dawn asked.

"Or in danger," Angel told her.

"Considering that the last two principals were eaten, I'm just wondering who would apply for the job," Xander said.

"Guess we'll see," Buffy said, before grabbing Xander's arm to check his watch. "Ooh, we're going to be late. You have everything? Books, lunch, stake?"

"I checked thrice," she replied, pushing her plate away to grab her bag.

"One more thing," Tara said, sharing a smile with Buffy.

"You haven't given it to her yet?" Xander asked.

"What?' Dawn asked.

"Just a little back to school gift," Buffy teased, walking over and grabbing a purple box from the display case in the room.

"It's a weapon, isn't it?" Dawn said with a giddy smile on her face.

"Yes," Buffy replied, slightly hesitant. "I guess it is."

Angel snorted, and Buffy lightly slapped his arm.

Dawn carefully opened up the box.

"A cell phone?" she looked up, her eyes wide with excitement.

"For emergencies only," Buffy told her. "And if you get caught with it, that's on you."

Dawn opened it up to see numbers already plugged in.

"You, Xander, Angel, Cordy, Tara, Fred, Oz and home. What about Gunn?"

"He doesn't have one," Angel told her. "And I wouldn't call mine unless it's a last resort.

Buffy snorted. "You still haven't figured it out?'

"I can do it," he responded, slightly indignant. "I just don't like to."

"Of course you can," Buffy said sarcastically as Angel huffed. "You're such an old man."

"Kids these days," he deadpanned, a sparkle in his eye.

"We'll see you after school," Tara told Dawn, giving her a hug as they made their way to the door.

"See you guys."

†

Xander pulled his car up to the front of the school before the Summers women unbuckled themselves and started to get out of the car.

"I'm going to take Dawn to class; take a look around."

"I'm gonna be on sight all day," he told Buffy, "So if you need me?"

Buffy nodded. "Thanks."

He drove off and the remaining two walked towards the main archway of the school.

"Now, remember," Buffy began again. "If you see anything strange, or, you know, dead, call me."

"Got it," Dawn responded.

"And stay away from hyena people. Or any lizard-type athletes."

"You know, I don't think it's fair of you to try and scare me on my first day of high school."

"This place is evil," Buffy responded.

"Tough to let them go, huh?"

The two of them whirled around at the sound of a new voice.

"Hi," Buffy said, a question in her voice.

"I'm Robin Wood," the man responded, extending his hand. "The new principal."

"Oh, uh, Buffy Summers," she shook his hand, being careful not to grip it too hard. "This is Dawn."

"Hi," Dawn said.

"So," Buffy said, scanning her eyes over Wood. "You're the new principal. I expected you to be more… aged."

"Huh," he responded. "You seem to be a bit young to have such a grown up daughter."

"Oh, uh," Buffy's eyes widened. "No. Sister."

"Oh! Um. Of course. Sister."

"You didn't really think she was my…"

"I actually have heard of you, Miss Summers," he quickly said, trying to changing the subject. "You graduated from the old high school, am I right?"

"Uh, yeah," she replied. "How did you–"

Wood ignored the question, checking his watch. "Well, I better get back to work. It was nice to meet you."

He turned and left, Buffy eyeing him carefully.

"Well that was suspicious."

"You betcha," Dawn said, mch too flippantly for having just met the possibly-evil principal. "Bye."

"Oh– Dawn!"

"I know!" the teenager said. "You never know what's coming, it's all about power, To Serve Man is a cookbook. I love you. Go away."

Buffy sighed as her sister walked away. Well, Dawn might have ditched her, but she still wanted to get a better look at the school.

†

"Hey," Angel said as Cordelia entered the kitchen. She gave a start.

"Angel. I thought you were at Buffy's today."

He shrugged. "There are trees between the side doors. And blankets. You got the demon?"

Cordy nodded. "Crisis averted." She sighed and sat down at the counter with her friend. "Looks like the summer lull is over."

Angel made a noise of agreement.

"Is Connor still over there with Tara?"

He nodded. "They were talking about metaphors when I left."

She nodded. "That's good."

They fell into a companionable silence, and Cordelia found herself looking over Angel.

Sunnydale was doing him good. He and his son were getting along better than ever, his brooding sessions were shorter now due to the sheer amount of people to talk to, and Buffy… Well, she hadn't missed the fact that both of them looked happier when they were together.

She internally sighed. It was stupid of her to think it'd be any different then when the two of them were together, even if they weren't actually dating or kissing or utterly failing to be 'just friends'. Sure, it had been years, and they had both changed, and she had thought, maybe, he was moving on, but they were still… soulmates. Practically.

It was just…

Okay, she could admit it. She may have grown… feelings for Angel. Of the non-platonic variety. And maybe, just maybe, she had thought he might have felt the same, even with the curse still in play. She had been able to sleep with Groo without losing her visions, after all. Or even that they needed to sleep together! There had to be some way to have been with Angel, especially when they were already so close.

She spared another glance towards Angel, who was sipping on a mug of blood.

She knew Fred had thought he reciprocated feelings, had known that even when she had been denying her own feelings. But Fred hadn't been with them for a year yet when she'd said that, and she hadn't seen him with Buffy. They certainly weren't talking about boys now, not when Fred was so happy with Gunn and thought Cordelia was still upset over Groo. Which she was. But she was more confused about Angel.

She shook off her thoughts.

It didn't matter. Seriously. First and foremost, Cordelia was Angel's friend, and she wasn't going to make that awkward, especially when Angel was not-quite-perfectly happy with… whatever he had with Buffy.

But she was still jealous.

†

"Hey Tara."

The witch in question smiled as Fred approached her after waiting for Connor to finish up his English lesson.

"Hey Fred. What do you need?"

"So I've had this idea," she started as she sat down, "Because back when Connor came back, I figured out how to track the energy that came from Quor'toth, so I was thinking there might possibly be a way to do that, but just with normal magic, so we could find out where something wacky might be going on, but I'd need help from a witch and," she motioned to the other girl, "Here you are!"

"...Sure?" she replied. "W-what would you need me to do?"

Fred shrugged. "Just a couple things here and there. And a place to test it."

Tara smiled. "Hopefully it's fun?"

Fred beamed back as she pulled her into a hug. "This is going to be great!"