Witness by The Rainbow Writers

Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Willow, Tara, Xander, Anya, Giles, Dawn, Spike and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, together with the names, titles and back story are the sole copyright property of Joss Whedon, Fox and Mutant Enemy. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the authors. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Please contact the authors for permission to reproduce this story on any other fan fiction site.
Distribution: The Rainbow Writer's Homepage: http://www.therainbowwriters.com/
Mystic Muse: http://mysticmuse.net
Spoilers: Season 6.
Feedback: All feedback is welcome.
Pairing: Willow/Other

Summary: Willow struggles with her rehabilitation in England.

"I know, but then it was theory." Buffy continued to pace. "Now you have keys and Xander is arranging furniture deliveries, and…" She paused and swallowed. "And I don't know if I like the idea of Ruth and Willow alone in a house together, the emphasis being on alone in that statement."

"I have already told you that Rose and I will be moving in with them." Giles leaned back in his chair.

"Yeah…" Buffy frowned even more. "And that's something else I don't want to have to discuss with Dawn." She glanced up at the ceiling. "I mean Giles we only landed twenty four hours ago, how could they possibly have got something so fast?"

"How does the Council do anything it does Buffy." Giles shook his head. "I thought you would be…" He was cut off from his sentence by the arrival of Dawn, who skipped through from the dining room where she had been busy with Rose.

"We're just finishing off the photos." Dawn explained. "We have four frames left, can you think of anyone we're missing?"

"Well we got Mom in the big one; Tara in the sun shaped one, though I think it's a star shape not a sun. You and I are in the double oval, and Giles is in the short square one. Xander, Anya and Willow are in the three one. The one of you and Mom at the beach is in one of the smaller ovals and the one of you and me on that ride that made me sick is in the other. The one of you guys graduating is in the long one. The nice one of you in that summer dress is in one of the gold ones and the one of me in my blue shirt is in the other. Mrs. Lauder said we should reframe the one of you in your cheerleading outfit, and the one of me and my friends leaving to go to high school, but those two aren't definite yet, but there you're twelve so far." Dawn listed them off.

"Sounds pretty much like everyone is covered." Buffy thought for a moment. "Though what about Dad?" She asked softly trying to filter her own emotion out of the question.

"I hadn't thought of dad." Dawn admitted looking down a little ashamed. "Do we have any nice ones?" She asked looking up sheepishly.

"You don't have to have one if you don't want one Dawn." Buffy added not wanting to force the issue. "There is that nice one of you and him on the teacups at that fair."

"Or that one of him dressed as a mummy for Halloween." Dawn offered thinking more. "I was wondering…" She seemed to hesitate for a moment. "About reframing that really nice one of Willow and Tara, you know the one taking in the back yard, but I didn't know…" She looked down again.

"You should definitely do that one." Buffy put in before Dawn could talk herself out of the idea. "It's a nice photo." She added thinking of it. "Maybe you could do one for Willow too; she doesn't have much stuff for her new house."

"What new house?" Dawn instantly looked up. "The Council got them a house already?" She glanced between Giles and the Slayer frowning softly.

"They have one rented." Buffy nodded realizing in her bid to be attentive to the choice of photos she's lapsed on the house issue. "Xander is over moving in furniture, we'll have to help them start decorating soon." She tried to focus on something fun and not foreboding.

"But… but I thought that wouldn't be happening yet." An edge of fear crept obviously into the teenager's voice. "I mean I thought we'd have more time…" She frowned.

"Dawn, it really is best if we get them both settled somewhere. So that they can be comfortable and not have to feel like the world is pressing in on them." Buffy tried not to admit any of her own worries. "I mean you know how run down the motel they're at is."

"I know but…" Dawn did indeed logically know all the facts but that didn't mean that she wasn't enjoying the comfort that having Mrs. Lauder had brought to her life, even in such a short space of time.

"What's the decisions m'dears." The older woman's voice reached the lounge before she bumbled in.

"I think we've voted for one of Dad and one of Willow and Tara." Buffy turned her face a firm scowl. "And I was just filling Dawn in on how we got a house."

"For Willow and Ruthie?" Mrs. Lauder looked impressed. "Well that is good news, I bet Mr Giles is looking forward to not sleeping in a basement." She said brightly.

"Not that I don't enjoy the basement." He looked at Dawn having watched her slow drop into despair as she spoke with the Slayer.

"And you won't have to be worried about doing our laundry." Buffy threw in thinking of the best way to gear her and Dawn's life back into its previous normal chaos.

"Why's that then dear?" Mrs. Lauder asked as she busied around the room, picking up and re-fluffing cushions, shooing Dawn's legs from the arm of the chair as she perched on it.

"You'll have the new house to look after, not to mention Willow and Ruth." Buffy paced over to the window checking how dark it was, with the winter months upon them her time out on patrol got longer and longer to match the darkness.

"Why on earth would they need Rupert and me to look after them?" Rose shook her head and reached out to pat Dawn's knee. "We have far too much to sort out here don't we Dawnie?" She said smiling at the teenager.

"We do." Dawn's forlorn face broke into a bright smile. "I should go dig up the photo of Dad so we can finish the great frame project." She ran over and hugged Mrs. Lauder momentarily interrupting her tidying before she ran off for the basement.

"Rose… you're plan was to come to take care of Willow and Ruth." Buffy pointed out not sure exactly what had just gone on; the look of confusion on her Watcher's face was somewhat comforting.

"Yes." She agreed. "But that was when I had assumed that Rupert's job had been to take care of you." She glanced at the Watcher. "No offence indeed Rupert, it's just I think we both know that you've achieved a pretty poor score so far." She puffed the final cushion and moved back towards the dining room. "Supper is at six, if you need to shower for patrol, please do it before then." She added before bustling out.

"I think it's called, the reason the Council were so eager to send Mrs. Lauder with us." Giles replied looking after the older woman. "Was I doing so horribly?" He added with a frown.

"No worse then I was doing." Buffy shrugged and moved towards the stairs. "I'm going to shower before dinner." She didn't hang around to answer anymore of his questions fearful of the answer she'd have to give him.

Willow clutched the small hand that was in her own as she stood in the middle of the large living room and gulped.

"It's big. Did they think you and I took up a lot of space?" She looked around at the sparse furniture, though in such a short timeframe that there was a couch, television, coffee table and a long desk with an empty bookcase was impressive.

"Hey come on Will, it's great." Xander poked his head around the door that led into the kitchen. "You get a microwave, a stove, a dishwasher, the works and just think if any of it goes wrong, it's just not your problem." He grinned and walked into the living room twirling a screwdriver in his hand. "I've fixed Giles' bed in there." He pointed to the area that was officially designated as a dining room, and put a book shelf and things in there too for all his watchery stuff. It's kinda neat being next to the little washroom and all." He grinned. "This gives you two the main bedroom and the spare bedroom for work out space. We're getting mats and stuff delivered as soon as we can." He went on trying to think of anything else he needed to tell them. "Oh the pipes bang a little." He remembered an important fact. "So don't get all wigged out, they just need to balance themselves out." With a smile he stood up straight and put his screwdriver down on the coffee table. "Welcome to Villa de Willow, mmmm that sounded kinda crappy didn't it?" He gave another boyish grin.

"Just a little." Willow tilted her head taking a look around. "What do you think Ru?" She turned her head to the other witch.

"I think it's big." Ruth agreed with the other witch's first statement as she glanced around. "And it smells of cleaning fluid and polish." She wrinkled her nose slightly. "Empty bookshelves make me depressed." She added glancing at the stark shelves.

"Yeah but think, retail therapy." Xander bounced in front of the bookshelf. "Think of all those crazy nick-knacks you and…" He stopped and winced. "There are pretty things you could by for them." He tried to make his sentence better.

"I'm not sure that…" Willow frowned as she began her objection but was cut off.

"Okay, I'm here so everyone can stop panicking." Anya pushed open the front door and came in with an armful of packages and a two large bunches of mixed flowers. "I know that beady eyes will have thought of the wood stuff but you know boys they never think of the pretty things. And hey it's not like you two are all with the social shopping." She handed each of them a bouquet. "It smells like someone threw liquid chloride on the Hellmouth in here. Open a window Xander, yuck." She put down the bags on the sofa and poked around. "I have sandalwood incense which is relaxing and wild orchid which we all know won't really smell like an orchid as orchids don't have a scent but hey it seems nice. Which would you two prefer?" She looked between them. "Oh I got the cutest little vases for you at Pier One and some table cloths and curtains. Because hello I know the ugly things that Giles or Xander would have bought."

"There is nothing ugly about navy with white trim Anya." Giles wandered down from upstairs carrying a duster and a bottle of spray polish. "It is functional and clean." He glanced at her as he went through into the kitchen. "I am putting the polish and the dusters in the cupboard beneath the sink girls." He called out to Ruth and Willow.

"Actually Giles, Ru gets blecky with the smell of polish. I don't really much like it either." Willow explained softly. "We always used orange wood wax at the manor so that it smelled nice and not chemically."

"See Giles, you're like a man in a hospital, navy and white curtains." Anya glared at the Watcher. "I'm going to put these upstairs. See nice dark ocean blue with Celtic protection symbols, I know this fabulous Warlock in Ireland who embroiders them by hand, unlike some people who went to Walmart and rifled through the bargain discount bin." She pulled out the drapes and walked towards the stairs. "Oh and you should put the flowers in water."

For a second no one spoke as the demon left to go up the stairs and then eventually Giles came out of the kitchen.

"If no one minds terribly I think I'll sort my room out now." He glanced around and back away into his room.

Xander stood somewhat awkwardly in the middle of the living room for a long moment before picking up his screwdriver again and pointing to the front door.

"I'll go check the guttering." He clicked and pointed again. "Everyone needs good drainage." He jogged quickly to the door.

"Did we just enter the new house twilight zone?" Willow asked a bit overwhelmed when the door closed behind Xander.

"I'm thinking yes." Ruth nodded. She glanced over her shoulder at the piles of bags on the couch. "You feel up to looking at what Anya bought us?" She asked with a slight smile.

"If Giles has had his way with the rest of the house then in a very odd way Anya might be our saving grace till we get out for some of Xander's retail therapy." Willow nodded that she was and moved over putting her flowers down on the table and sitting down on the plump dark chocolate corduroy couch.

Ruth carefully laid hers down too and then sat on the floor by Willow's feet. She picked up a Pier One bag.

"Okay, let's see." She peered into it and pulled out a box of glasses, they were stemmed with a blue spiral around the clear glass bowl. "Breakable with a capital B." She assessed, carefully opening the box. "What do you say Lo?" She handed one over to the redhead.

"Very pretty but yes very breakable." The redhead held the thin glass carefully. "I guess they'll be nice with dinner right?" She tried to be positive. "What else is in there?"

Ruth put the box with the other three glasses in down and put her hand back in the bag.

"Rainbow placemats." She unrolled the long multicolored rectangle and held it up. "There are four of them too." She passed one over.

"Wow, they're gorgeous." Willow studied the cascade of subtle colors. "You like them?" She questioned Ruth.

"Yeah." Ruth nodded, "There's a table cloth and napkins to match." She assessed sticking her head in the bag a little. "Oh these must be the vases." Carefully Ruth extracted a multicolored glass vase from the bag. She smiled as she turned it round. "It's lovely." She held it out.

"I think Anya had a rainbow theme going." Willow smiled as she put the napkin and the glass down on the growing pile beside her. "I wonder where else she went shopping?" She pulled up a smaller orange bag and pulled out a carved wooden incense burner. "I think this must be the smelly stuff bag." She smiled pulling out the long sticks of sandalwood and a tin which had a label stating it contained two dozen extra large wild orchid incense cones. "Oh and candles." She pulled out a pre-packaged group of small votives and then another of longer tapered candles. "Looks like Anya knew what we'd like."

"You keep unpacking; I'll put the flowers in water." Ruth pushed up and carefully picked up the matching vases carrying them delicately through to the kitchen, returning briefly for the flowers.

"We have a duck shaped soap dish." Willow dug into another bag. "And a matching toothbrush holder." She explained each new find to Ruth. "Looks like extra fluffy towels and facecloths too. I don't think Anya trusted Giles to buy anything nice." She put the pile of towels to the side and kept looking. "And the rainbow continues." She held up a thick square package. "Rainbow striped sheets for our new bed." She smiled towards the kitchen.

"I'm thinking it's a gay thing." She laughed. "Not that I am complaining, I like the rainbow thing." She pulled up her jean leg and showed off the top of a just visible rainbow sock. "Where do you want your flowers?" She asked holding up the vase that now contained the bunch of white carnations.

"On the desk would be nice don't you think? Break up the barrens." Willow frowned at the bookcase. "Should we put the incense stuff there just to fill up one shelf temporarily?"

"I was thinking that, and maybe the glasses." Ruth nodded putting one vase where Willow had suggested. "Should we have the other one in the bedroom?" She asked putting it down along side the first for now when Willow nodded her agreement.

"Any space for visitors?" Buffy's voice called from the front door as it swung open. "I come bearing fried chicken, gifts, and Dawn." She laughed, "Xander said we should just head on in."

"No, of course you should." Willow pushed up and turned to the door. "Anya did some shopping for presents too; we were just going through everything." She smiled at the two of them. "Though you two didn't have to bring anything." She added looking at Dawn a bit apprehensive of the teenager's reaction. The scheduled visit the day before had been cancelled when the house news had come and everyone had been left scrambling to make arrangements for furniture.

"Of course we did." Buffy moved a pile of things and perched on the edge of the couch. "There's a dining room table and four chairs waiting to come in out there." She pointed over her shoulder, "I said I'd give Xander a hand with them in a moment, though I think you might have to move the desk a bit to fit the table in over there."

"We said Rupert didn't have to make his base down here, but he seemed to think it was best." Ruth said from her place.

"Pre-agreed." Buffy nodded. "You guys needed a stress out room." She smiled and glanced back at her sister who so far hadn't said a word. She was just looking at Willow on the couch. "I'll help Xander with the table now." The Slayer got up and crossed quickly back to the door.

"I'll take the flowers upstairs and see how Anya is doing." Ruth picked up the second vase and moved off.

"Should we put the chicken in the oven?" Willow questioned moving over towards the teenager who was stood there holding a large brown bag from the take out restaurant. "Or if you're hungry I could get you some before the others hog all the good pieces?"

"I stole some already." Dawn admitted. "And Buffy spilled most of the fries." She looked up at Willow for a moment, her face serious but then the look broke and the teenager laughed. "She is such a klutz at times." She put the brown bag down on the table and moved to stand in front of Willow offering her a hug.

"I'm glad you came." Willow moved the small distance and hugged the teenager, probably she realized long after she had started, a little too firmly, as she closed her eyes.

"Of course I came." Dawn said. "But I need to breathe." She wiggled a little chuckling.

"Sorry." Willow pulled back and laughed nervously. "I guess I don't know my own strength sometimes." She tilted her head back and forth. "How are you doing?"

"I'm okay." Dawn gave a smile. "Rose… Mrs. Lauder is great." Her smile turned into a broad grin. "We baked cookies for you." She pointed to one of the bags that Buffy had carried in. "There's chocolate chip and peanut butter chip too. I wanted to make some with both kind of chips but she said that they would taste gross." Dawn laughed. "How's Ruth?" She glanced over her shoulder at the stairs.

"She's okay, a little overwhelmed by the new house." Willow admitted. "Though cookies will make her one hundred times happier, especially special home baked ones."

"I think I'm overwhelmed too." The redhead admitted not able to reward the soft inquiry with anything but the truth. "It's all been such a crazy few days, I think my head is still somewhere over the Atlantic."

"I'm sorry." Dawn sat down on the edge of the couch and put her hands in her lap, looking up at Willow through doe like brown eyes.

"No, no Dawnie it's not your fault." Willow shook her head and sat down next to the teenager. "I didn't mean it was… not in a million years. I meant it totally as a me thing, you know?"

"I didn't mean for that." Dawn admitted, "I meant for all the things I said in England, about you, about Ruth, about the two of you." She shifted in her place a little. "I just thought… you know that if you went out with Ruth that Tara…" She stopped again.

"I know Dawn but you have to believe me nothing in the universe could ever make me forget Tara." Willow's voice slid down to almost a whisper when she said the blonde's name. "Nothing could make me ever stop loving her."

"I know that now." Dawn nodded. "I've been talking to Mrs. Lauder a lot." She explained, "And well, she makes a lot of sense, I did something for you." The teenager picked up the bag she had motioned to before and dug her hand into it pulling out two small packages. Carefully she unwrapped the white tissue that she had wound around them to protect them, and pulled out two matching silver frames. One contained a picture of the redhead and Tara laughing brightly in the back garden of the Summers' house, the other contained a picture of Willow and Ruth at the Manor having Christmas Eve supper. "I thought they could go somewhere." She handed them over somewhat cautiously.

"Oh Dawn." Willow took them each in a shaking hand as she studied first the one of her and Tara, a picture she knew well in her memory and then she looked over to the one she had never seen a firm lump forming in her throat. "They are so perfect." She whispered not really trusting her voice as her eyes welled with tears. "Can you help me pick somewhere to put them? Somewhere so that everyone can see them?" She clutched them a little to her as she sniffled.

"Tara liked the sunshine." Dawn nodded over where the afternoon sun shone across the middle shelf of the bookshelf as a tear she hadn't even felt well up in her eye spilled over onto her cheek. "And maybe you and Ruth could go next to her?"

"Could you put us up there?" Willow held the frames back out, the release of her arms from her body showing more how she was shaking.

Dawn nodded and took the frames making a slight step towards the bookshelf. No sooner had she moved on foot than there came a distant call of Ruth's voice.

"LO!" from the floor above, followed by the drumming of small feet on the landing and down the stairs. Brief seconds later Ruth was stood in the lounge entrance looking between the pair of them. "Lo baby, what's wrong?" She asked breathless.

"Dawnie… she brought me frames." Willow tried to explain rather badly as she pointed to the two silver objects still in Dawn's hands. "You have to see." She got up and guided Ruth the short distance over. "See, aren't they beautiful?" She asked still crying.

Ruth looked down as Dawn almost guiltily turned them round to show the other witch. Ruth broke into a soft gentle smile.

"They're lovely Dawn." She reached out and tenderly closed her hand around Dawn's shoulder. "Really lovely." She met the younger woman's eyes. "Thank you." She whispered.

"Rose and I went frame hunting, we got lots for the house and I didn't want this place to be picture free. She says it's bad for our spirits if we don't have photos around." Dawn looked into navy eyes and felt her guilt ease as she realized that Ruth truly appreciated the gesture. "There were some other great ones from Christmas we could get frames for them too." She offered watching as Ruth hugged her other arm around Willow who was still rather overwhelmed by the present. Quickly she turned and placed them both into the ray of sunshine, smiling at the sparkles that came off the shiny frames.

"Well I know one Spirit who certainly appreciates them." She smiled more and looked at Dawn. "She thanks you too." She winked.

"She's with us, with you, whenever you need her to be. She once promised she'd never leave you Dawn, she meant it." Ruth squeezed Willow to her a little tighter as she felt the redhead dip a little more. "Both she and your Mom meant it Dawn."

"Do they like the other ones that we picked for the house?" Dawn asked tentatively her eyes still scanning around as if she expected to catch a glimpse of something or someone in the air around Ruth.

The dark haired witch closed her eyes momentarily and then opened them laughing.

"Tara says she has a bone to pick with you about one, I have no clue what she is talking about, but something about a chicken and…" Ruth stepped backwards and eased Willow back onto the couch. "And Joyce is also laughing, she appreciates the size of Hank apparently." Ruth shook her head as she guided Willow's head to rest against her side as she stood beside her. "And she called you pumpkin belly."

Dawn took a long moment to digest the information as she reached up and rubbed tears from her cheeks again.

"I love you Mommy." She whispered softly more to herself as she closed her eyes.

"She loves you too Dawn." Ruth reached out and closed her hand around the teenager's hand softly inviting her closer, and into a loose embrace.

"Do you think it was alright to leave them, they both looked kinda, you know, spooked." Xander hung around on the front walk of the small town house that they had spent the last two days settling Willow and Ruth into.

"Giles is with them, he can handle things, and anything he can't handle he can ring us to handle for him." Buffy said trying to be as upbeat as possible. In truth she agreed with her friend, both girls had looked weary when they had all made their excuses to leave, then again she couldn't begin to contemplate how it must feel for them both.

"So what happens next?" Xander clapped his hands out in front of him and glanced both ways down the street. "Since Anya had to zip off and Dawnie and Mrs. Lauder had frames to hang, why didn't they ask me to do that by the way?" He asked as an offshoot before going quickly back to the matter at hand. "Its 7:45 Bufster, what do you wanna do?"

"Well I have to patrol." Buffy clasped her hands together before looking at her friend.

"Oh come on," Xander frowned softly. "Don't flake out on me; you know what day it is right?"

"You know what I really don't." Buffy admitted shaking her head as she glanced again over her shoulder at the plain wood and glass front door just behind them up the front walk.

"It's New Years eve." Xander shook his head. "You know we should all be gathering together or something, toasting the future and all that, or at least eating party food until we feel sick." He gave a boyish grin and looked to Buffy for some, any kind of reaction to his joviality.

"It is?" Buffy frowned hard and glanced at her bare arm where she had taken her watch off that morning not wanting to scratch the Christmas present from her sister. "Wow, time sure flies when you're having…Well no we've not been doing a lot of fun stuff, but still wow with the passing time thing." She rubbed her forehead briefly. "Okay so, biggest party night of the year and we have you and me and…" She paused. "Absolutely nothing." She shook her head. "I'm beginning to think I skipped all my middle-ages and dove right into retired slayer status." She smiled at her friend brightly. "Though I do still have to patrol, even if we do party the night away with Dawn and Mrs. Lauder afterwards, well maybe just Dawn, something tells me that Rose is more the go to bed at ten whatever type."

"Want me to get nibbles and drinks and drop in?" Xander offered still attempting to keep the mood upbeat.

"Of course." She replied nodding, again she glanced back at the building behind them. "I would extend the invite but…" She shook her head. "Damn it Xander," She cursed. "Why did it all have to have gone to shit here? Why my house?" She glanced sadly up at him.

"I'll get drinks and nibbles." He didn't even try and offer and answer as he patted Buffy's shoulder softly. "See you at about ten?"

"Are you sure Buffy will like this?" Dawn asked as she trailed a third metallic streamer across the lounge, pinning it lightly up above the doorway. "You don't think that she might think that it's you know inappropriate?"

"It's New Years." Xander beamed, he'd been overjoyed when he had gotten to the Summers house to find that the real reason that Dawn and Mrs. Lauder had left early was to prepare party food and decorate the house up for the celebration. Rose had immediately accepted him and his offerings and informed him that she'd managed to speak to Anya before she had zipped off and that the demon was hoping to make an appearance sometime before midnight.

In truly Dawn style, the teenager had made a New Year Party Pack that she had included in the bags of things they had left with Willow and Ruth, and had given the redhead strict instructions that that bag had to be sorted before bedtime, it was her way of ensuring that the partying still included the pair of them, while accepting that neither were up to any kind of formal or even informal gathering. Giles had of course been invited over, but had opted to stay with the witches, a move that even Rose seemed to approve of. Dawn couldn't help admitting that she enjoyed the fact that even Giles usually looked to the older woman for a nod of approval before doing something in the short days that they had all been together in America.

"Xander is right dearie, Buffy needs to be reminded of the good and fun things in life." The older woman sat on the couch, looking rather pink cheeked as she tried to blow up some balloons.

"Now where's the fun in that." Rose repeated her line for the teenager and the young man, who both shared a grin.

"What do you think to the photographs Xander?" Dawn asked as she carefully climbed down off the small set of steps she was on to fix the New Years banner across the fireplace.

The dark haired young man stood back a little from the wall where the majority of them were hung. The large central one of Joyce being the feature of the wall, with the one of Tara also central just raised above the older woman. Either side of those were individual ones of Buffy and Dawn, and then in two groups of three were ones of Dawn with her friends and some Scoobies, and then on the other side, Buffy and her friends and Scoobies. Then came the three frame of Willow Xander and Anya and opposite to that was one of the Giles with one of Dawn and Buffy together just below that. Then came the one of Willow and Tara and opposite to that was the small one of the girl's father.

"They're great Dawn." He said, feeling a lump in his throat as he glanced at the smiling faces that looked back at him. He couldn't help but focus a little on the faces of Joyce, Tara and even Oz, who smiled at him from the photograph from their graduation day. It was so hard to think that at least two of those people he wasn't ever going to see again. "Really great." He added a little more distant lost in thoughts of the people and places the memory squares brought to mind.

"I think so to." Softly Dawn snuggled in beside him and leant her head to his shoulder. Comfortingly her looped his arm around Dawn's shoulder and squeezed it lightly.

"You know I don't care what those monks said, I still think you have your mother's eyes." Xander gave Dawn another squeeze and looked at Joyce's picture.

"I'm going to make the punch." Mrs. Lauder got up and walked towards the kitchen smiling.

"I'm going to get changed." Dawn glanced at the clock and then at her jeans and sweatshirt.

"Well no one told me it was a dressing up party." Xander grinned. "Have I still got any shirts here?" He asked with a lopsided grin.

"It's okay Xander we don't mind you looking normal." Dawn giggled as she headed up the stairs.

"That's it, I'm going home to change, let it not be said that Alexander Harris cannot start a New Year in a new outfit." The young man laughed as he crossed to the front door. "Need anything else Mrs. L?" He called brightly.

Willow plumped the second of their brand new pillows, easing out the crease in the rainbow pillowcase before she laid it on the bed. She looked over the gorgeous wrought iron bed frame not entirely sure that despite everyone's attempt to make the room as wonderful as they could in the short day that it was going to make trying to sleep in a brand new place any easier for her.

The day had been such a roller coaster for her emotions that she wasn't sure that sleep even in the most familiar and safest local would be possible. The one thing she was glad for was that all of the Scoobies had gracefully left at a relatively early hour and now all that she had to face was curling up to read a book with Ruth nearby.

Moving over to the low pine dresser she pulled open a few smaller empty drawers before she finally found one that held some pajamas.

The sight of the navy and yellow sleep short set which had little chicks dancing across the front made her realize it must have been Dawnie who'd gone out to do some shopping for them. Digging underneath that pair she found a dark gray strap top and long light pants with 'Joe Boxer' stamped into the elasticized waistband which she deduced had to be bought with Ruth in mind.

She carefully folded up her clothes as she took them off and slipped into the new pajamas. She was surprised that despite never being worn they felt relaxed and comfortable.

"I guess this will have to pass for bedtime reading." Willow grabbed the fashion magazine that Anya had left behind and crawled into the left side of the bed, slipping under the covers to that she barely disturbed them.

"Just checking in to say good night." Giles, still dressed in his smart day outfit, slipped around the door and smiled over to Willow in the bed. "Well together everyone certainly made this room look bright and cheery." He glanced around at the mainly rainbow themed room. "Should I draw the blinds for you?" He asked nodding towards the white drapes at the window covered with small rainbow hearts.

"Thank you, I forgot to do that before I lay down." Willow smiled at him as he moved over and pulled the sheer drapes closed. "Are you going out tonight?" She questioned.

"Well Mrs. Lauder and Dawn invited me over this evening, to, celebrate the day as it were, but quite honestly I think that stay here with you and Ruth for your first night here would be all round preferable." Giles replied as he moved back across the room, trailing his hand lightly on a swirl of iron on the end of the bed.

"You don't have too… if you want to go over to see them." Willow fretted for a moment until she saw that Giles had his tie slightly undone along with his top button, which was an easily seen symbol to say that the Watcher was content and happy just where he was. "Thanks."

"No thanks are necessary Willow." Giles shook his head. "You know I'm not much for party poppers and loud music." He chuckled softly.

"I'm not sure what she is doing actually." The Watcher admitted. "She was in the kitchen with one of the bags someone brought over when I last saw her." He continued as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "She seemed anxious to get rid of all the boxes and bags and things."

"She doesn't like things left packed when they can be unpacked." Willow explained to him. "She wants to make this place feel as much like home as she can, so that we're all comfortable."

"An admirable approach." Giles nodded. "Though she shouldn't be pushing herself, neither of you should." He underlined gently.

"We won't. Once we get everything unpacked then we can focus on routine and just settling into life. I was thinking maybe I could try taking a correspondence course from the University, Ru and I both could." Willow mused the idea that she had been vaguely throwing around in her head wanting to see what he would say. "I know some of them you can do on computer which wouldn't be any problem for me and I can show Ru anything that she isn't familiar with. Or I could get a job. I mean we're going to need money. I'm not sure what I can do but maybe something with computers or research, what do you think?"

"I think both are excellent ideas when you are settled, you don't have to worry about things like money Willow." He continued. "The Council will look after everyone. What you need to focus on is just maintaining a routine, get yourself settled." He patted her leg gently through the blankets. "Is there anything you need from me Willow, magically, practically?"

"Books." Willow answered immediately. "I read a lot at the Manor. To focus, to pass time, because I like too really." She explained. "I was doing a lot of research into the history of magicks to help me understand what I am, who I am."

"I have some books down stairs in my room if you would like them, nothing like the library at the manor I am sure, but I have a few volumes I would have thought would interest you until we can get you hooked up on line and then you can go wild with a bank card and Amazon." He smiled hoping that he'd got the internet bookshop right.

"Does the Council really want to let me loose at Amazon?" Willow's smile was bright.

"They told me to ensure that you comfortable, safe and happy, I think that means free roam through Amazon." He chuckled. "I am sure by the end of next week you and Ruth will have enjoyed the delights of the January sales on line." He paused for a moment. "Whilst on this subject would two laptops be preferable to two mainframes in the house?" He enquired.

"Oooo computers, now I'm excited." Willow grinned. "I think probably two laptops and one mainframe. We can create a hub so they all come off one main DSL line into the house."

"Yes, well as you know Willow I just heard computers… hubs…line….house and understood none of it. Would you rather I took you to the computer store personally to pick something up?" Giles offered.

"That would be best or I'm sure they'll scam you into buying something we don't need." Willow laughed. "If I'm there we'll get all the good stuff and none of the useless."

"You feel up to a trip out perhaps the day after next? Not many things are open on New Years unfortunately else we could have you fitted up tomorrow." Giles checked the details.

"I think the day after is soon enough." Willow nodded. "I can scope out options on the internet with my old laptop till then."

"Right then." Giles pushed up and moved off towards the door. "Shall I send Ruth up?" He asked pausing at the door.

"Whenever she's ready." Willow nodded holding up the glossy magazine. "I have something to read, well look at."

"I'll get a brew in a bit." Willow shook her head. "But I'm not quite ready for one."

"Well I do have intentions of staying awake until midnight, but in case I drift off before then, New Years blessings to you Willow, truly it is good to have you here." He said softly from the door.

"Happy New Years to you too Giles." Willow smiled at him. "It's good to be here with you too."

Still smiling Giles pulled back and softly walked down the stairs, meeting Ruth in the hallway.

"Willow's all tucked up." He passed on the information receiving a warm smile from the shorter witch.

"No, she said she was fine. She said she was likely going to have a brew in a small time." Giles informed her. "She was enjoying a magazine of some sort."

"Right." Ruth paused for a moment. "Well it's ten thirty, I suppose I should at least go and change into something more comfortable before tackling the next box."

"Are you sure that we couldn't tuck these few away for the morning?" Giles asked hopeful he could get her to change focus. "I have a tendency to get up early. I could promise they'd be done by the time you woke."

"But…" Ruth glanced over her shoulder at the remaining things and then thought of the redhead upstairs on her own. "Would you really mind?"

"No, of course not, would let me feel like I'm doing my share." Giles nodded enthusiastically.

"Then I guess I could," Ruth glanced up the stairs. "I'll go up then." She put her hand on the stair rail.

"Oh yes." She shook her head at her own forgetfulness. Nipping back into the kitchen the dark haired witch made quick work of preparing her drink and quickly backtracked up the stairs carrying her mug of hot chocolate. Pausing at the bedroom door she knocked lightly on it.

"Silly Ru, it's your room you don't have to knock." Willow smiled up at the slightly open door.

"How did you know it was me?" Ruth pushed the door open, and stepped into the room.

"Because Giles was just up here and I knew that he would try to convince you to come up to bed." Willow kept smiling. "That and I smelled the hot chocolate."

"Oh I spy new PJ's." Ruth carried the drink over and put it down on the bedside table.

"You do and there is some for you in the drawer." Willow enthused slipping out of bed to get them for her.

"Great. Giles offered to finish the unpacking for me before I get up tomorrow." She explained pulling off her sweater and folding it up. "Is there anything up here that I need to do before calling it a night?" She checked.

"The only thing left is the bag that Dawn brought up here and told us to unpack when we were going to bed." Willow pointed to the bag on the large chair near the bed. "So what do you think?" She held up the dark gray sleep set.

"Very cool, I take it Joe boxer are a big name?" She stepped forward running her fingers on the soft cotton.

"You're right in style." Willow assured her. "Did you get most of the kitchen unpacked?" She questioned carrying up Ruth's clothes to pile them up with hers.

"Mostly yes." Ruth nodded. "Sorry if I was being Little Miss Autistic down there." She apologized lightly as she pulled on the loose cotton sleep pants and vest top.

"I like Miss. Autistic Ru." Willow moved closer when she was done and kissed the dark haired witch's cheek. "Means she's getting happier with her environment."

"I have the essential ingredient." Ruth closed her eyes under the brief contact and picked up the bag from off the chair before easing herself on her knees onto the bed.

"I heard that Xander had bought you a horde of cookies." Willow giggled. "So you've got your essential ingredient."

"My essential ingredient is you." Ruth leaned in and kissed the redhead. "As if you didn't know."

"Really?" Willow grinned under the kiss and lifted her arms up around Ruth's neck.

"Really." Ruth slid her arms around Willow's waist and kissed her again. "How does the house feel?" She asked gently looking into green eyes.

"It feels okay. I think maybe I need to do some research. Perhaps I can get a semi- permanent block that would only require monthly upkeep instead of daily." Willow smiled at Ruth. "How does it feel to you? No residue getting through?"

"No it feels okay, you should talk to Rose about the block, and I think there are talismans or something that can help." Ruth offered.

"We'll sort it out." The redhead answered confidently. "So how tired are you?" She checked. "We could always go through the stuff Dawn left us in the morning."

"Are you that tired?" Ruth's voice dropped a little as she frowned, softly checking Willow's face for signs of tiredness that she had missed.

"No, no I'm not sure exactly that sleep is going to be part of my evening. I'm just worried about you, Giles said he had some books I could read so that's me semi amused till the wee hours of the morning." She smiled and kissed Ruth again lightly to reassure her.

"I could put sleep onto your agenda." The dark haired witch reminded Willow tenderly.

"You need to be resting and not overloading yourself." Willow shook her head. "Do you're bandages need changing?" She checked softly.

"Maybe." Ruth nodded. "Let's do the bag first." She slipped her arms free and sat back a little, dragging the bag in-between them. "Go on, dive in." She encouraged.

"I'm not sure what to expect." Willow pulled her legs up to cross them and put her hand in. "First up, streamers." She grinned as she pulled out the long silver and blue metallic garland.

"Very pretty." Ruth enthused. "I'm guessing that this is Dawn's way of including us in New Years celebrations." She laughed gently. "So we don't feel isolated or anything."

"She's such a cutie." Willow smiled as she pulled out some party hats and a couple of noisemakers. "You have to unpack some now."

"She is." Ruth nodded. "We have sparklers." She pulled out the miniature indoor sparklers. "Oh and a little bottle of champagne, bet that was Rose."

"She's so cute." Willow grinned and picked up the bottle before she started laughing. "Especially since…" She pulled open the top and revealed a short wand that she used to shower Ruth with miniature bubbles.

"Brilliant." Ruth agreed popping them playfully. "So what else is there in there?"

"There's a special card each that we can write our resolutions on." She held up the decorated small sheets. "I think that's it." She tipped out the bag to find nothing.

"You have the best friends." Ruth smiled and balled up the bag and dropped it off the side of the bed. "Do you usually make resolutions?" She asked scooting to slip under the duvet.

"To drink less coffee and exercise more." Willow laughed lightly. "Do you have any?"

"I don't think I have ever made any." Ruth admitted. "What do you suggest? What do I do too much?"

"Mmmmm…" Willow tried to think of something. "Eat less cookies?" She grinned mischievously.

"I thought it was something to enhance my life not push me to the edge." Ruth shook her head smirking.

"We could do the opposite, make resolutions of stuff we want to accomplish by the end of the year." Willow offered blowing more bubbles.

"Now there's an idea." Ruth watched the small spheres enchanted. "Or we could snuggle." She tried to catch one on her finger tip.

"Best idea." Willow moved some of the stuff to the bottom of the bed and leaned back with her arms open.

Ruth hurried into the embrace and wiggled around until her head was resting comfortably on Willow's shoulder.

"Happy New Year Lo, in case I can't stop myself from going to sleep in this super comfy position." She offered softly.

"Happy New Year Ru." Willow kissed the other witch's forehead. "And sweet dreams in case you do."

Buffy stopped at the end of the front walk and tried to dust herself off. She'd found a group of organized vampires in the last cemetery she'd checked out and despite killing them all they had given her a run for her money. Leaning over she spit out more of the blood she could feel dripping off the split in her lip into her mouth. The last thing she wanted to have to do was to go into the house looking like hell.

She glanced up at the house there were no lights on, it looked that even though she was nearly an hour late, Xander hadn't made it yet. For a moment her mind flashed with fear that maybe the carpenter had run into trouble or maybe something worse… But then her mind calmed down knowing Xander and the hard work he had put into the last two days with the house he'd probably fallen asleep on his couch and forgotten the time.

Wiping her lip again she pushed up to the door, unlocking it softly and easing herself inside.

"Surprise, Happy New Year!" The group that was gathered screamed as the lights came on surprising the Slayer.

"What the…." Buffy squinted in the sudden light and then managed to look around at the beaming faces of Dawn, Mrs. Lauder, Xander and Anya all stood posed with party poppers that they pulled filling the air with sharp cracks of gunpowder and then showers of brightly colored streamers.

"It's a party." Anya pointed out through the vague smoke. "To celebrate the next twelve months." She glanced at her companions. "We have food and noisemakers." She raised hers to her lips and gave it a short blow.

"I can see what it is." Buffy tried to smile. "Everything one looks great." She looked around at them all dressed in 'party' clothes. "Why don't I nip up and change." She tried desperately to get out of the situation.

"I laid out your silver dress." Dawn grinned and picked up one of the streamers throwing it again.

"Yes off you go Dear." Rose stepped forward and ushered Buffy upstairs. "Dawn we were in the middle of the pop quiz I believe."

"No way, I was winning, we have to finish this game." Dawn moved back towards the board.

Buffy adjusted the slim strap on her silver dress and looked at herself in the mirror, the cut in her lip had closed and was only slightly swollen though her shoulder was a little red, she'd have a bruise there for sure.

'Looks like this year isn't going to be any different than last year.' She sighed.

"You ready Buffy?" Mrs. Lauder's voice came from just behind the Slayer. "It's nearly midnight."

"We quite understand." Rose assured her. "I just came up to make sure you were alright."

"Fine, it's something I'm used to." Buffy shrugged her shoulders. "I guess we should get downstairs for the big ball dropping."

"We should." The older woman agreed waiting until Buffy stepped out of her room to then follow her downstairs.

Everyone in the lounge seemed active, With Dawn and Anya whispering something to each other and scribbling something down on a small note pad.

"I think we should play the clip again." Xander was sat on the chair nearest the stereo his finger hovering near the play button.

"Nope we've had three plays." Dawn looked up and shook her head. "Oh Buffy great, you can join Rose and Xander, they need the help." She giggled.

"I don't think it will help. Between my superior knowledge and Dawn's uncanny remembrance of songs used in commercials we are too far in the lead." Anya filled in proudly.

"Looks like we're going to be saved by the ball." Buffy reached out and quickly put on the TV.

"I think Dick Clark is a demon, there is no way he could stay looking the same all the time." Dawn put down the pad she was using to keep score.

"Oh he is." Anya nodded giving her attention to the TV and picking up a sausage roll. "He used to be called Dicolious before the revolution."

"I can't tell you it would put the state in danger." Anya shook her head. "Not to mention some evening chat shows, oh you do know about Oprha thought right?"

Buffy listened to the general banter glancing around the front room, almost smiling at the banners and sparkles. That was until she caught sight of what the silver streamers were draped between. Her mouth gaped open a little as she stared at the wall of familiar faces.

"We need champagne." Dawn squealed and looked at Xander. "There's less than two minutes."

"I got it." Xander jumped up and scrambled to the kitchen. Mrs. Lauder got glasses as Anya ate more sausage rolls and Dawn sidled up beside Buffy.

"Yes they're…" She paused. "They're great Dawn." Buffy turned to her sister and smiled. "Thanks for doing all this."

"I had a think about it in-between dusting vampires." Buffy admitted. "Having a tough time narrowing it down to just one thing." She laughed softly as Xander passed her a glass of champagne.

"Well you know there was giving up staking vampires, getting home earlier." She laughed.

"That wouldn't be wise considering you're the vampire slayer." Anya put in helpfully. "Mine is to rebuild the Magic Box."

"Shush, shush everyone." Mrs. Lauder called their attention to the TV as the count down began.

"I just love how they rebroadcast for all the time zones." Xander giggled as they all began counting down loudly and then the large lighted ball dropped again in Times Square to mark in the west coast new years.

"Happy New Year." Dawn turned and enthusiastically hugged her sister as Anya reluctantly hugged Xander before kissing him.

"Happy New Year Dawn." Buffy patted her sister's back lightly before moving to hug and kiss Xander as Dawn moved to hug Mrs. Lauder.

On the television the coverage flicked back to more local coverage as broadcasters celebrated and then introduced the musical guest for some late night show.

"Auld Lang Sine." Mrs. Lauder clarified. "I don't think we need to…" She was cut off by the sound of the phone ringing. Buffy picked it up.

"Hey Will." She said loudly enough for everyone to know that the caller was the redhead. "Happy New Year to you two too, oh and Giles."

The phone call was brief but appreciated by everyone there and with a gentle word of goodbye it was over.

Rose laughed and settled down on the couch. Buffy went to sit beside her deciding to play along for a while at least. She picked up the pencil as Xander took his place next to the stereo. The round was about to begin when the doorbell sounded. Buffy glanced around the room.

"Anyone expecting anyone?" Buffy looked around the sea of blank faces. "Alright then, I'm thinking drunk prankster or demon." She slipped up and pulled a stake from the weapons chest before moving to the front door just as the door bell sounded again. Taking a light brief Buffy straightened up and pulled the door open.

A tall figure in a short cropped leather jacket turned as she pulled off a sleek full head motorcycle helmet and shook out her long curly hair.

"What the hell…?" Buffy glared at the other Slayer angrily. "Perfect, you break out of prison and choose here as the place to run." She shook her head and literally walked away into the house leaving Faith on the doorstep.

"Actually B, I was released, seems they were a little overpopulated and I was deemed to be not that dangerous." Faith walked in after her slowly. "So I'm not running, you should feel lucky 'cause I chose to come here."

"Oh I am just bathing in the luck." Buffy stalked through into the front room and dropped down onto the couch crossing her legs.

"Hey Little D, wow girl you're growing up fast." Faith smiled at the teenager. "Better have the full safe sex talk with her B."

"I'll get another glass." Rose said looking at Faith for a long moment. "Would you like a plate?"

"Would be great, I've missed home cooking most of all." Faith patted her washboard stomach. "So come on, don't everyone hold it in. Let the shock and surprise begin."

"I'm not shocked or surprised." Anya sat down again and shrugged. "We live on a Hellmouth weird things are a given."

"Don't worry about the plate Rose, our guest won't be staying long enough to need one." She looked at the older woman. "Close the door when you leave." She added turning to Faith, her hazel eyes hard.

"B, actually we need to talk. Angel sent me." The dark Slayer put a lower edge to her voice.

"This day just keeps getting better." Buffy pushed up from her place and paced back towards the hall, closing her hand around the leather covering Faith's arm and pulling the other woman with her.

"I'll take the plate to go Rosie." Faith let herself be pulled backwards into the dining room.

"Her name is Mrs. Lauder, now what the hell is Angel doing sending you here? And don't give me the you 'chose' to come here crap." Buffy demanded the instant they were alone.

"I chose not to tell tall dark and broody to kiss my ass." Faith stated firmly. "And the reason he sent me here is because apparently he's heard through the big demon grapevine that something big has settled here in Sunnydale."

"Something big?" Buffy arched her eyebrows. "Big like demony? Big like vampire gang? Define big, I am sure Angel did."

"Big like magic witchy." Faith put forward. "Apparently some big power has moved this way and has been making sure everything knows it so that Sunnydale is its territory only."

For a moment Buffy said nothing but then slowly she felt her anger rise to the point that she could not contain it.

"Willow." She seethed shaking her head. "Damn it, how dare he." Buffy snarled turning to stare at Faith. "Angel sent you to watch Willow didn't he? God damn him!" She seethed. "She's under control, what she did was understandable and she's better. Shit how dare he suggest she was out of control, and how dare he hint that I can't deal." She frowned harder.

"Actually B, he didn't mention anything about Red." Faith shook her head. "Though he did mention what went on, and you're right the bastard got exactly what he deserved."

"No one deserves to be flayed alive." Buffy bit back quickly looking up into dark eyes. "Though I don't expect you to understand that."

"No one deserves to see their girlfriend shot and to feel them die in their arms Buffy, but that was the part of this job you never understood. Shit happens, and sometimes you got to fight back to make it right." Faith glared at her. "Look I didn't come here for you to treat me like dirt, I came because apparently something big is going on and even if you don't like it I'm a slayer."

"Sunnydale has a slayer, me, it doesn't need two." Buffy stated point blank. "Go back to Angel, tell him I got everything covered."

"B, you don't have anything covered because you don't have any clue what's going on right under your nose. Add to that the fact that you've brought Red the super witch back to the Hellmouth right when something bad is a coming." Faith pointed out.

"Not that it has anything to do with you but I brought Willow back home, because home is where she should be." Buffy bit back. "And as for your something big and bad that's coming, there's been no hint of it, just the usual vampires and minor demons."

"Look if nothing crops up then I'll disappear and you can forget you've even seen me but just for kicks I think I'll hang out for a while and make sure that your status quo theory is correct." The dark Slayer gave her a quick smile.

"Just stay out of my way." Buffy snarled. "And stay away from Dawn." She added the threat.

"This is a social call B, I'm not here to make threats. I'll leave that to you." Faith winked at the blonde.

"I didn't want to disturb you two catching up." Mrs. Lauder walked boldly into the room carrying with her a brightly colored paper plate with a selection of party foods on it, covered with surround wrap. "I thought I'd bring this through on my way up to bed." She held it out to Faith.

"Bonus." Faith took the plate. "Looks great Rosie, thanks." She looked over to Buffy. "And no worries I've got to jet, see you later B." She strode towards the door.

"Yep, but don't worry… I'll see you around." She glared at him for a moment and flinched her lip waiting until the color drained out of his face before she pulled the door open. "Bye Little D."

"Wanna carry on with the game Dawn?" Xander tried to recapture the party mood that had so obviously dissipated.

"No, I'm tired." Dawn hurried away upstairs. Rose watched and reached out and patted Buffy's hand.

"I… um… no, I'm sure she doesn't really mean like now around." Xander stood up trying not to look thrown.

"Then I can be here for breakfast." Xander grinned at the idea. "Here I'll even clean up the glasses." He grabbed as many as he could carry and moved towards the kitchen.

Buffy stood watching him until he went through into the kitchen, when he was out of sight she moved more into the front room, reaching up she pulled a streamer hard down from off the wall.

Faith tilted down the mirrored sunglasses she was wearing and appraised the slim teenage figure that was bustling down the street. She had been a bit surprised when she'd noticed Dawn moving through the excited crowds of post holiday shoppers that no one seemed to be accompanying her.

'Of course B's overprotective streak could just be where I am concerned.' Faith rationalized as she stood up, popping the last bite of the taco she was enjoying into her mouth as she picked up the oversized mountain dew she had ordered and hurdled the fence so that she wouldn't loose sight of the younger Summers backtracking through the restaurant.

It wasn't until Faith started to follow Dawn that she realized just how erratic the teenager's path was. Using her superior speed she managed to circle ahead, using one of the many side alleys in Sunnydale for cover so she could watch and maybe find out what was going on.

She felt the hair on the back of her neck rise when two very large teenage boys in red and white Sunnydale High letter jackets emerged out of different points in the crowd and stalled Dawn's journey.

She couldn't hear what the two of them were saying but she knew Dawn well enough to know that she wasn't happy or particularly comfortable with whatever they were proposing. Not giving it a second thought she moved back to where the three of them were in the crowd.

"Hey there you are Dawn. I thought we were going to meet by the Old Navy." She smiled brightly and took a sip of her soda as she came into the group beside Dawn.

"Old…" Dawn paused, her eyes flashing from the boys to the dark haired Slayer. "Yeah we were but you know me I got distracted by clothes." She scooted over and slipped her arm through Faith's.

"I'm sure the boys appreciate your rocking fashion sense." Faith smiled at Dawn's move as she looked at the two of them, it was easy to see the somewhat intense almost possessed look in their eyes.

"We don't have much time for fashion, it's off season training." The slightly taller of the two, a dark skinned young man with tightly knotted hair answered her pulling his eyes away from Dawn reluctantly.

"Off season training, well that sounds like a boring time." Faith laughed sipping her drink. "Trying to recruit Dawn here into some off season Cheerleading I bet? I'm always telling her how rah rah rah she could be, just like her big sis."

"I am so more agile than her." Dawn put her hands on her slender hips and pouted. "Is that what you guys wanted?" She glanced quickly back at the two boys.

"We wanted to invite Dawn to a party the coach is having Saturday night." The blonde football player who had 'Chad' embroidered on his jacket filled in the information.

"I don't know, letting little sis go to a big football keg party." Faith shook her head playfully.

"No ma'am, there won't be any impurities. Coach doesn't allow us to soil our bodies with something like beer." Chad answered again agitated. "Here is the address if you want to come." He held out a small half page of paper to Dawn.

"Thank you, but I don't know if I…" Dawn began glancing somewhat worriedly at Faith knowing that if anyone could judge the situation better than her it was the dark Slayer.

"Cross your fingers boys you might just get lucky." Faith reached out to take the paper and smiled at them both. "Now we have a date with Old Navy." She steered the teenager away. "What the hell are they smoking?" She hissed the question glancing back at the imposing pair.

"Smoking?" Dawn walked quickly along side trying to look over her shoulder at them as she stumbled forward. "I didn't notice anything." She frowned more.

"Dawn, what is up with the psycho football players? They were not normal. My slayer sense was going mental. What did they say to you before I got there?" Faith pulled them to a stop just inside the Old Navy.

"They just kept asking about whether or not I was interested in helping their team effort or something like that, they weren't being mean, but it was like you know kinda weird." Dawn admitted before she pulled her arm free from Faith. "Anyway, what are you doing here?"

"I was enjoying Taco Bell." The dark Slayer held up her drink. "Then I was rescuing you." She pointed out.

"I didn't need rescuing." Dawn pouted again. "I'm not a little girl anymore, I don't need looking after."

"D, it has nothing to do with being a little girl or needing looking after. It's about diffusing a situation that gives you the creeps, and as you said that was creepy." Faith explained looking her up and down.

"Did you really get let out?" Dawn's eyes narrowed a little as she looked at Faith.

"I have release papers at the hotel if you want to see." Faith laughed lightly. "I really got out Dawn, not that they could have held me in if I hadn't of wanted to stay anyway. I was a good girl inside, kept myself out of trouble, and didn't upset anyone so when they found they were a few prisoners too full the computer spit my name out for early release and since I'm young they figured take a chance."

"And you're not here to make trouble?" Dawn continued to check. "Because you know we've had enough trouble recently, really bad trouble and we need friends not you know bad stuff." The teenager shuffled her feet a little and looked across into the Slayer's dark eyes. "Did Angel tell you all that happened?" She asked quietly.

"He gave me the outline, you think you could give me a real version of it? Just so that I don't step on anyone's toes by accident." Faith asked hoping that Dawn would help her out. "And D if I was here to cause trouble I wouldn't have swung by last night for a social visit, that's not my way, you know that."

"Let's sit." Dawn shuffled over to a bench grateful that the dark Slayer followed instantly choosing to perch on the back of the slatted wood. "It started last year…"

The Watcher puttered around the kitchen, relieved now that they had most everything they needed to fully survive now that the few boxes of items Willow had ordered two days before had arrived and been unpacked efficiently by Ruth.

"Honey with lemon Lady Grey." He carried to two china cups out to the living room. "A very nice reward for a hard morning of work." He handed one to Ruth. "Willow is going to be very pleased when she and Anya return from electronics shopping."

"She was more excited than me at Christmas and that's saying something." Ruth agreed and blew across the surface of her tea. "Thank you for doing all this for us Rupert, sorry Giles, I find it really funny calling you by your last name." She admitted.

"Understandable, though I don't mind at all if you call me Rupert." He smiled at her. "Is there anything else that you require to make your more comfortable? I know that Willow will be quite happy with her computers and such but you may need some other suitable hobbies."

"I'm not that big a hobby girl, I read a lot, and I made embroideries that kind of thing." Ruth gave the Watcher a smile. "Though there was something I wanted to talk to you about." The dark haired witch's eyes dropped and her smile faded somewhat.

"We could order you some materials if you desire." Giles nodded for her to continue.

"Not about the hobbies." Ruth glanced up again and shook her head. She swallowed more than noticeably and then took a breath. "I want you to teach me." She stated clearly.

"To be of some use." Ruth admitted. "I don't want what happened in England to happen again. I can't be the weakest link, I can't be the reason everyone is worried, and I can't be the way to get to Lo, I need to be able to keep her safe."

"Ruth, I assure you that no one views you as a weak link. We are all more than aware that you have considerable power." Giles pointed out the facts.

"That's not what I am talking about Rupert." Ruth shook her head, she looked up slowly meeting the Watcher's eyes. "I know about you, about the past." Ruth said softly. "I'm not asking for training to hurt people, I'm asking you to teach me some of the things you know, some spells, some hexes." She tried to explain more.

With a large intake of air the Watcher stood up and then exhaled it slowly. He walked around the back of his chair seeming to contemplate her request for a moment before he turned back to her.

"Why do you think that you need to use hexes and spells to protect yourself and Willow?" He questioned her, his voice serious.

"Because I'm not a fighter." Ruth frowned. "I can't throw punches, I can't even read too long else I get headaches, I can't do anything that requires touching someone." She looked down at her still heavily bandaged arms. "I need something I can use when I have to."

"Did you know that a very long time ago Willow came to me with a very similar request and I made the very grave error of refusing her." He moved around the armchair to sit down again seeming to be burdened by the world. "I have agonized over that choice more than anyone other than yourself could ever possibly understand which is why despite the fact that a portion of my better judgment is screaming at me I will tell you the truth." He took a long breath. "You do not need hexes ever. I would never suggest them to anyone. Now formal spells, I don't think you properly realize the actual power in the gift you carry Ruth. Though spells will help you focus, like Willow they are a tool not a means."

"I'm in with the understanding the mo-jo Rupert." Ruth smiled. "I know the burden you carry on your heart, I've felt it and believe me I understand it, but I promise you, anything you teach me, I will use with discretion and prudence." The young witch took a breath. "Rupert everything you feel about Willow and the decisions you made, only underline to me that you are the person to come to for guidance and teaching. Your heart is good and though you feel that some of the choices you have made in the past are not to be repeated or proud of, you made them for the right reasons. Will you be my mentor, my teacher and my guide?" She looked at him with large navy eyes.

Buffy pushed her breakfast plate away as she poured over the front page of the Sunnydale Herald.

The headline was enough to make her skin crawl, after all missing in Sunnydale was just a region hazard but having six girls between the ages of 16 and 18 turn up decapitated was enough for even the usually blind newspaper to run a story.

"I'm starting to think this is slayer business." She announced throwing down the paper upset.

"It's demony for sure." Anya suddenly appeared in the Summers' kitchen and stole some of Dawn's toast.

"Hey I'd not finished with that." Dawn scowled attempting to gently smack the demon's hand away.

"If you have information Anya you better not be holding back." Buffy looked up over her orange juice glaring at her.

"Hello did everyone fail to notice that I have not been in Sunnydale since New Year?" Anya glared at the Slayer.

"Really…" This caught Anya short and she cast a glance in the old lady's direction.

After receiving a short nod of confirmation, the demon sat down on a breakfast stool and swung her legs happily.

"Anya please, okay I'm sorry I didn't notice the whole you not being here thing, but if you know something." Buffy urged.

"I don't know anything." Anya shook her head. "It's just that it's either the work of a serial killer or something supernatural, and I'm sorry, this is Sunnydale, so I'm not thinking along the Bundy line."

"We're going to have to start doing some research on demons who like to decapitate then, while I do an extra long patrol tonight." Buffy cracked her knuckles.

"If I could possibly say something?" Mrs. Lauder raised her hand from her place near the kitchen sink. All three women immediately looked towards her waiting for her to say something. "Well I mean I may not be well versed or experienced, but headless bodies? Sounds like something possibly regeneration based." She offered with a slightly humble shrug.

"You mean like some demon is taking heads to keep itself alive?" Buffy tried to figure out the meaning of the long word.

"Yes indeed." Mrs. Lauder perked up when they didn't immediately scoff at her idea. "Or something similar."

"She's got a point." Anya begrudgingly admitted. "Were they all virgins? It would narrow it down if they were." She added brightly.

"We'll take anything, even if we can't tell if they were we can at least figure out what would want them to be and it's a lot more likely girls that age are virgins then older women are." Buffy put in. "It's research time, I'll call Xander."

"I…" Buffy's movement stalled as she looked across the kitchen to where Rose was standing.

The older woman looked back at her when the door bell resounded; jumping up from her place Dawn scampered over to the front door.

"Hey D." Faith stood on the doorstep and flicked her copy of the paper up. "I read this over my morning coffee and figured I'd drop around to see what was up." She waved it a little.

"Come in, Buffy was just about to call a research meeting." Dawn beckoned her inside.

"You know I love the research… Not!" Faith laughed as she followed Dawn into the kitchen. "Hey Miss. Rosie, that smells fantastic. Am I too late for the breakfast rush?"

"I could fix you something with no bother." Rose glanced in the dark Slayer's direction.

"What…Who let you in?" Buffy turned round as she hung up the phone from talking to Xander.

"I rang the doorbell and Dawn did." Faith glanced at Buffy. "Thanks, you're the best." She paid more attention to Rose for a moment knowing that the older woman was actually going to work on getting her something. "We've got six headless girlies B, we've got work to do."

"I've already called Xander." Buffy picked up the phone again looking less than sure about her next move. "I'm going to do an extend patrol tonight if you want to come with." She extended the offer somewhat begrudgingly. To her side Mrs. Lauder worked on fixing Faith a full fried breakfast.

"See just an inch B, that's all you have to give at first." Faith smiled at her going to the fridge to steal some orange juice before she sat down. "So chuck us a book, you'd be surprised how much you get to like reading in a six by eight 23 hours a day."

"Who was it?" Ruth asked as she wandered past Giles in the hallway hanging up the phone, on her way to the kitchen.

"Buffy." Giles looked between the phone and the dark haired witch, who was followed only moments later by Willow.

"What did she want? Is everything okay? Did they read the morning paper? We have to do something. I think its Scooby business." Willow's words and her mind went a mile a minute.

"She's called for a research meeting. I was thinking I possibly should go." Giles replied turning round and resting against the wall.

"Research meeting? Everyone could come here and then we have all the new computers." Willow put in enthusiastically.

"I hadn't thought about that." Giles admitted. "Though all of the research books are with Buffy." He frowned again.

"Well… I… I could pack up the laptops and we could head over there." Willow tried not to sound overly reluctant when she made the offer, but she took a step closer to Ruth without thinking about it.

"As Ruth says Willow, are you quite sure that going over to the Summer's house is the right thing to do, you and Ruth could do the research here and e-mail the results to us, Dawn has become somewhat well versed with the infernal machine." Giles put in.

"Oh… email." The redhead squeezed the hand that was now in her own. "Makes sense, you should get going then and tell Dawn to meet me on Yahoo messenger we can correspond that way too."

"But perhaps I shouldn't leave you two." Giles hesitated, running his finger across his forehead.

"No, we'll be fine off you scoot. We know how you prefer to have an actual book rather than the electronic version." Willow made a wave motion at him to prompt him to move.

"No." Giles shook his head and headed back towards the front room. "No I was asked to stay here with you two for a reason, I am sure that I can learn this technological way of researching."

"Giles, its 9am on a sunny Sunday morning, there is no reason for you to worry if we're both here on our own. If we need you then I can tell Dawn over the messenger." Willow frowned at his overwhelming worry.

"Yes, of course, you're right." He headed back down the hall. "You're more than capable that coping on your own." He nodded and reached to pull his jacket of the coat rack.

"Right then, okay, I'll go." The Watcher moved to the door. "Take care both of you." He underlined before he slipped away.

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Witness

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