Fic: Guardians of the Vail Part 1

["David A. Knapton" <belgin_tei@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Guardians of the Veil. Part 1/?

Sequel to: A New Beginning.

Author: David A. Knapton.

E-mail: belgin_tei@xxxxxxxxx

Archive: Any and All, but drop me a line so I can see my name in 
lights?

Spoilers: Set after the end of S5. Then it follows along different 
lines.

Rating: Probably 18

Pairings: Buffy/Willow/Tara Dawn/Kevin Lisa/Rob Xander/Anya 
Louisa/John Sarah/James Olivia/Giles.

Disclaimer: I own none of the people in this story, but if I did the 
show would probably never be shown again?

Summery: Set a couple of weeks after Buffy and Willow rescued Tara 
from the huge cavern Doc was about to sacrifice her in. [] = 
Flashback. <> = Thought.

Special Note: I remember sometime ago on a listing someone 
challenging people to write a story based around there own part of 
the world well here it is. Incidentally for those who don't know 
Anthony Head (when in England) lives in a little village about 10 
miles from the town of Bath where I was born.

Dedicated to Shehulk for allowing me to use her 'There once was a 
demon' AU as a backdrop.

Special Note 2: As with all the stories I write they never seem to go 
the way I expect?

One last thing in this world Joyce bought the gallery as a going 
concern (this only has a very very miner part in the story but I just 
thought I'd point it out!!!)

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Guardians of the Veil

By

Belgin Tei

Dawn walked hand in hand with Kevin she looked over her shoulder at 
her best friend walking with her boyfriend Rob, "Now remember let me 
do all the talking?" She put her hand on the shop door.

"Don't you always?" smirked Lisa.

Dawn stuck her tongue out as she pushed the door open and led them 
inside. Tara and Willow were studying some books at the table; Anya 
was just handing a young woman her purchase. Giles and Buffy were 
nowhere to be seen? Dawn guessed that they were probably in the back 
training. She looked at her friends all three had nervous looks on 
their faces.

"Don't worry guys, trust me," Dawn whispered to them.

"And what exactly shouldn't they be worried about?" Said Buffy 
walking out of the back with Giles, she was wiping her face in a 
towel.

All four jumped. As Dawn turned and smiled nervously at her 
sister, "Oh Buffy hi, you know Lisa and Kevin right and this is Rob."

"Yes Dawn I've know Lisa, who has been your best friend since we came 
to Sunnydale and Kevin has been to our house for dinner quiet a bit 
over the last couple of months. Hi Lisa, Kevin, nice to met you Rob. 
So Dawn what shouldn't they be worried about?"

"Well after the other week when Tara was captured by those things 
that worship Glory or did... anyway you all explained about demons 
and vamps to them, well we were talking about it with Rob..."

"Dawnie the three of you haven't been telling people have you," asked 
Tara.

"Of course not, we only told Rob because he's our friend?" explained 
Dawn.

"Ok but you must understand that it is very important that you keep 
quiet, you have no idea the problems it would cause?" put in Willow.

"Yeah we know. But what we were thinking was that you could teach us 
to fight vampires!"

"No absolutely not!" Said Giles.

"But Giles."

"No Buts... I have enough children around here as it is..." He 
stopped as he realised what he had just said, "I mean young people."

"So Giles you still think of us as children?" Said Willow arching her 
eyebrow.

"Ah... Oh... Huh... No of course not... Look it would be to 
dangerous, if they were hurt or even killed..."

"Giles wouldn't it be safer if we were with you rather than did it 
without you?" Said Dawn in a quiet voice.

"Ok be here at 10 tomorrow morning and Buffy will teach you how to 
defend yourselves. If she thinks your up to it you can come on patrol 
with us on three conditions, one you do as your told, two you do not 
try going out alone and three you stay home when we tell you, you 
can't come?" Said Willow.

Buffy arched her eyebrow at Willow, "Are you sure Will?"

"Yes I'm sure sweety you heard what Dawn said about going anyway and 
you know how stubborn she can be," smiled Willow.

"Now just a minute Willow I will not have you inviting just anyone to 
join us? I'm Buffy's watcher. Patrol isn't a school outing it is far 
too dangerous?"

"Yes Giles and I'm one of Buffy's girlfriends who do you think she 
will listen too? We'll keep them safe? Or would you rather they go 
out on there own!"

Giles throw his arms up in the air, "Have it your own way Willow."

She walked over to him and patted him on the back, "Everything will 
be ok, you'll see."

Dawn smiled "Great we'll go now I'll see you at home later ok," she 
smiled as she led the others out, they heard her talking as she 
closed the door, "I told you, we'll be the Scooby Gang TNG."

"TNG?" Giles frowned.

"The Next Generation," smiled Willow, she turned to Buffy, "Make sure 
you give them a hard time tomorrow?"

"Of course, I was thinking of getting Spike to help, get him to 
frighten the crap out of them?"

"Good idea Buff!" smiled Tara.

"What are you all talking about?" Asked a confused Giles.

Willow looked at him "Giles you don't think we are really going to 
allow them to patrol if we can help it..." They could see him start 
to blush, "You did? I'm really disappointed that you would think 
that? But anyway as I said you know how stubborn Dawn is so we think 
if we can discouraged them all the better!"

"Well ah quite, but have you considered that they may not get 
discouraged?"

"Yes? Well maybe? Anyway if they don't they will deserve to join us?" 
said Willow.

"I think I'll go and do some paperwork in the office?" Giles said as 
he left the public area shaking his head.

As Willow sat back down Buffy plumps down on Tara's lap and wraps her 
arms around her neck planting a kiss on her lips, "So my witchies 
have you finished your homework cuz we could oh I donno go home and 
do something more interesting?"

Smirking Tara shook her head "Buffy you're incorrigible? Willow I 
think we've created a monster?"

"Yeah but she's our monster," smiled Willow, "Yes we've finished for 
now, but we have dinner to make!"

"We'll order pizza!" Smiled Buffy.

"Ok let's go," Willow said gathering her things.

--------------

Buffy slowly licked her way down from Tara's breast towards her 
centre; she stopped at her naval blowing into it.

"That tickles," giggled Tara.

Willow leaned over grabbing Tara's nipple between her teeth grazing 
gently on it. Just as Buffy started to lick at Tara centre there was 
a gentle knock on the door. Having discussed it with Dawn they had 
agreed that if the door to their room was closed she would not enter 
without getting their permission first?

"Ah Buffy are you there only I think you should come down... There's 
someone here to see you?" Came Dawn's voice from the otherside.

Tara giggled when all three of them moaned, "Who is it Dawnie?" She 
called out.

"It's Riley!"

All three looked at each other, "Ok Dawn tell him I'll be there in a 
minute," said Buffy.

"Ok... I haven't told him anything?"

"Ok," said Buffy as they started getting off the bed.

Buffy wrapped her robe around her naked body, "I'll go on down, come 
down when your ready?" she said heading for the door.

Buffy walked with some trepidation into the living room; Riley rose 
as he saw her enter.

"Buffy I'm glad to see the rumour I heard about your death wasn't 
true?"

"We'll actually the rumour wasn't exactly false?"

Confusion crossed his face, "What do you mean?"

"I died, but Willow, Tara and a demon called Kellem brought me back!"

At that moment Dawn walked in carrying a tray of coffee, putting it 
down she turned to Buffy, "I think I'll go over to Lisa's for a 
while."

"Alright we'll see you later," smiled Buffy.

Just as the front door closed Willow and Tara walked in, "Where's 
Dawn gone?"

"She's gone to see Lisa. Coffee Riley," said Buffy sitting in the 
middle of the settee.

"Ah yeah... Thanks," answered Riley, he watched as Willow and Tara 
sat either side of Buffy each taking a mug that she pored for them.

"How are you?" Asked Willow.

"Great, I just got back from Central America. I have to decide if I 
want my commission back? They've given me a week to decide?"

"So what are you doing here?" Asked Buffy.

"As I said I came to see if the rumour was true... So you two are 
staying here now?" Said Riley looking at the three identical robes 
they were wearing.

"Yeah we moved in about three months ago," said Willow.

"Two months three weeks and four days ago to be exact!" put in Buffy 
smiling at them.

"I didn't know you were keeping count?" Tara smiled back.

"I'm not but she told me you are?"

"Oh I forgot she would know?"

"She? What are you talking about?" Asked Riley.

"It's a little complicated? It has to do with the way Willow, Tara 
and Kellem brought me back! It involved them being bound to me only 
it didn't work out exactly how they thought? Because I ended up only 
being bound to Willow and Tara?" Buffy explained.

"Bound? What do you mean?"

"Riley there is no really easy way to say this so here goes...... Our 
souls, our life force if you will is joined forever, we are lovers, 
soulmates."

"Lovers? All three of you? Buffy do you know how weird that sounds? 
You're telling me you have become gay because of this bond? And have 
two girlfriends?"

"Yes... No... I'm not sure? I mean I think I always had a thing for 
Willow," she smiled at the redhead, turning back to Riley, "Anyway 
there is no going back now even if I wanted to? Which I don't not 
anymore."

Riley stood up, "Well at least this has made my decision for me?"

"What do you mean?" Asked Buffy.

"I had hoped we could try again? I guess that's out... Look I think I 
better go." He started to move towards the door.

Buffy got up moving towards him, "Riley please don't leave like this?"

"I'm sorry but you have no idea what it feels like to know your ex-
girlfriend is with another girl let alone two girls?"

"Please Riley I miss you? Can't you stay, be my friend?"

"Buffy it was bad enough when I thought you were going back to Angel? 
There is no way I could stay and see you with Willow and Tara," he 
opened the door and walked out before turning to look at her for what 
he was sure would be the last time, "Goodbye Buffy maybe I'll see you 
around sometime?" He walked to his car got in and drove down the 
street.

Buffy stayed on the porch until his car had disappeared into the 
distance; she turned and went back inside. Willow and Tara were still 
on the settee they could see the unshed tears in her eyes and feel 
the sadness coming from her, she sat back down and rested her head on 
Willow's shoulder as the redhead held her gently.

"I did love him? Why couldn't I tell him that?"

"We know you did but I think you know he was right, it would have 
been the worse type of torture for him to stay here... Maybe one 
day?" Said Tara gently stroking Buffy's hair.

"Yeah I know, but it doesn't make it any easier?"

"Do you wanna go back upstairs?" Willow asked.

"No the moods gone sour, can we just stay here I just want you to 
hold me!"

"Of course sweety," Buffy turned around so she was facing Tara before 
easing herself onto Willow's lap and putting her legs into Tara's lap.

That was how Dawn and Lisa found them when they walked in about an 
hour later, all three were asleep. Dawn motioned her friend to be 
quiet and to follow her up to her room.

Lisa plumped down on Dawn's bed looking around; "It still seems 
strange to think of this as your room and not your sister's?"

"Yeah I know but after Buffy finally sorted out her feelings for 
Willow and Tara I couldn't stay in my old room, I could hear way to 
much?"

"Doesn't it freak you out? I mean thinking of your sister with two 
other women?"

"Yeah sometimes but I know they love each other! And I can get away 
with a lot more stuff now than I could when it was just Buffy and me 
living here?"

"Is that right?" came a voice from the doorway.

Dawn jumped as she turned to see Willow stood there her arms 
crossed, "Oh hi Willow did you have a nice nap?"

"Yes thanks, I came to ask if Lisa was staying for dinner?"

"Yeah if that's ok?" Said Dawn.

"Fine," nodded Willow turning to go, but stopping and putting her 
head back around the door, "Oh and you can do the washing up for what 
is left of this week and all next week... After all Tara and I don't 
what you to think we'll let you get away with anything, do we."

Dawn groaned as she sat down on her bed, "I just had to open my big 
mouth?"

"Well it could have been worse she could have changed you into a frog 
for a week?" Laughed Lisa.

"Now that's one thing I know she wouldn't do cuz she has frog fear."

"Do you think she would teach me some spell's?"

"I donno we could ask her? But I think we should wait until after 
they let us join the gang?"

"Do you think they will?"

"Knowing Buffy and the others they probably plan to try and frighten 
you off tomorrow when you start training? I wouldn't put it past them 
to ask Spike to help them?"

"Spike that vampire that was here when those things broke in?"

"Yeah he's really cool, he used to be this really badass vamp when he 
came here, but this secret government agency did something to him so 
he can't hurt people? He still moans about it, but I think he's 
starting to realise that it's the only thing that stops Buffy from 
dusting him?"

--------------

The next day Dawn and her friends entered the training room the only 
one there was Buffy. Willow and Tara were in the shop helping Anya 
and Giles with the customers. Buffy had told them to dress in 
comfortable loose fitting clothes.

She started them off slow showing them how to block various attacks, 
Lisa seemed to pick it up quiet quickly, so after about half an hour 
she paired them off Dawn with Lisa and Kevin with Rob.

"Now I want you to practise, one of you attack while the other 
defends then when I tell you, you change places, Dawn and Kevin you 
attack first, and Dawn just remember you've had more experience so be 
careful! Begin."

As she watched them she would occasionally give them instructions on 
what they were doing wrong? Kevin and Rob were quiet good, Rob was 
doing a good job of stopping Kevin's attacks but some did connect. 
Lisa was stopping everyone of Dawn's attacks, after a few minutes 
Dawn realised that Lisa seemed to be a natural so she began to use 
all the training that Buffy had taught her over the last couple of 
months but still Lisa easily block them. When Buffy told them to 
change Dawn found herself on the mate in seconds. 

"Stop," called Buffy when they all turned to look at her she 
smiled, "I want to check on something I want you all the line up side 
by side about three feet apart facing away from the door. I want you 
all to try and sense your surroundings, try and sense where I am in 
the room."

<Please ask Willow and Tara to bring Giles in here he should see 
this, tell them to be quiet.>

Buffy walked quietly over to the weapons rack and picked up a knife, 
she saw the others coming in, she put her finger to her lips as she 
saw Giles about to ask her something. She walked back to the middle 
of the room balancing the knife in her hand, "Keep trying to feel 
where I am... Lisa catch," she throw the knife at Lisa's back.

Lisa spun around and instinctively caught the knife by the handle. 
The look on her face told them that she was as surprised as everyone 
else, with the exception of Buffy?

"How did you do that?" Asked Dawn.

"I don't know?"

"Lisa don't worry about it, I'll explain it to you later. I'll see 
you all here at 6 tonight before we all go on patrol," smiled Buffy 
trying to give them something else to think about, "Dawn we'll see 
you at home about 4 so we can have something to eat okay... And guys 
remember keep your mouths shut... Oh and if your parents want to know 
where your going you can tell them you're going to be at my house?" 
They all trooped out of the training area heading for the exit.

"Buffy what just happened?" Asked Tara.

"Let's go to the office we need to talk?" Buffy said by way of 
answering, at their nods Giles led the way.

They sat around just looking at each other before Tara broke the 
silence, "Is she a slayer!"

"Yes she must have become active when I died? How come the council 
didn't find her?" said Buffy.

"I... Ah didn't get around to informing them you had died? At first 
there was all the arrangements to be made, then when you came back 
there seemed no point?" Explained Giles.

"So now what?" Asked Willow.

"I better phone the council!" said Giles reaching for the phone.

"NO," said Buffy grabbing his arm.

"Buffy the council need to know they will want to send a watcher?" 
Giles explained.

"Yeah and ruin another girl's life? Giles she's the same age I was 
when I was called, it ruined my life... at least at first? I don't 
what the council to know, let her have a life? Between us we can 
train her, teach her everything she needs to know. After all it's not 
as if we're really in need of another slayer?"

"I wonder if this will happen everytime you die?" mused Tara, they 
all looked at her, "Well Willow and I will always be able to bring 
you back? But still it's something we should think about. I mean 
unless we eventually tell the council about us they are going to get 
suspicious when all these other slayers start popping up?"

"Well as much as it makes me happy to know you two can do that I 
think we have plenty of time to decide if we are going to tell the 
council, after all I don't plan on dying that often?"

"All right I'll not contact the council. You do realise if they find 
out they'll probably fire me again," smirked Giles.

"Well we'll just have to keep it quiet. After patrol tonight we'll 
all have a talk with her, try and explain everything and leave it up 
to her if she wants the council involved then we'll support her in 
whatever she decides?" Smiled Buffy.

Giles did not normally go on patrol these days but felt under the 
circumstances he needed to be there to observe Lisa? So as there were 
so many going they split into two groups Giles, Lisa, Dawn and their 
boyfriends went with Buffy, while Willow, Tara, Xander and Anya went 
with Spike.

The two groups split the cemeteries between them while Buffy's group 
swept Weatherly Park and Spikes took the area around the bronze. 
Between them they dusted 7 vamps and 2 demons, Dawn and Lisa made a 
surprisingly good team with a little help from Kevin and Rob they 
dusted two vampires!

As both Kevin and Rob lived near the park they saw them home before 
going back to Buffy's house where Lisa was staying as her parents had 
a family crisis in LA and wouldn't be back until tomorrow.

Willow and Tara were already home when they got there, Buffy turned 
to Dawn and Lisa, "Why don't you two go and wash up then come into 
the kitchen we need to talk to you?"

After they sat Lisa down they explained that she was a slayer and all 
that entailed?

"Now Buffy asked me not to contact the council, because she feels 
under the circumstances that the decision should be yours?" explained 
Giles.

"What would this council do?" Asked a slightly worried Lisa.

"Well for one thing they would assign you your own watcher, Buffy 
really forced them to reinstate me as her watcher. This watcher would 
be responsible for your training and telling you where you had to 
patrol. I don't wish to alarm you but if they decided you needed to 
be in another part of the country they have enough power to have your 
parents jobs moved to that area."

"Did that happen with me?" asked a suddenly angry Buffy.

Giles turned a level gaze at her, "I cannot be certain all I was told 
was that the slayer was coming to Sunnydale and that they had secured 
me a job as the school librarian?"

Buffy nodded musing over everything that had happened between her 
setting the gym on fire and their arrival in Sunnydale. Several 
things suddenly slotted into place like her expulsion from Hemry even 
though there was no proof she had started the fire, an acquaintance 
of her mum's telling her that the gallery here was up for sale?

"Ah Buffy what do you think I should do?" asked Lisa.

"Huh what... Oh sorry just thinking about something? Well as anyone 
here will tell you I don't like the council, I only tolerate them 
because they can help. But one thing I and Faith the other slayer 
learned the hard way is that they don't care about us? To them all we 
are is a weapon they can use against the dark? If we die so what 
another will be sent to replace us?"

"Lisa whatever you decide we will help you, your part of our little 
family know," smiled Willow the others nodded their agreement.

"Yeah Lis you're my best friend, beside we make a good team with my 
brains and your strength we can't lose?" smirked Dawn trying to make 
her friend laugh.

"Well as long as it's not my brains and your strength?" She laughed 
before turning a serious expression towards Giles, "Will you be my 
watcher Mr Giles if Buffy trusts you, I trust you."

Giles smiled as he got up, "Very well we will start your training 
tomorrow, Buffy can you bring her to the magic shop about 9.30?"

Buffy stage whispered to Lisa "See what you've done it took me years 
to get Giles to let me have Sundays off and now I have to start 
helping him train you?"

"Very funny Buffy? Goodnight I'll see you in the morning," with that 
he left them.

Buffy got up smiling, "Right girls slumber party."

--------------

To cover Lisa's training schedule Giles gave her a weekend job at the 
shop; she also started to hangout with Dawn more at the shop after 
school. Then luck was with them when Lisa's mum had to stay in LA 
during the week when her company temporally transferred her to their 
offices there, Buffy agreed to let Lisa stay at her home until the 
school year ended.

After a week or so Lisa started patrolling each night with Buffy and 
one or two others. After a couple of weeks with some trepidation 
Buffy and Giles allowed her to go out on her own, but only when she 
took a pager and stuck to a set route?

By the end of the school year Buffy and Giles regarded Lisa as a good 
slayer, only Willow and Tara knew how proud Buffy was of her pupil? 
Lisa's mum took her to LA to stay with her until she was transferred 
back at the end of August. Buffy contacted Angel and arranged for 
her 'to work in is office' helping Cordelia and Fred. Her mother was 
very pleased that Lisa was getting some experience of the real world?

A couple of days after they said goodbye to Lisa, Hank and Jennifer 
came to pick up Dawn for the summer, his company had finally 
transferred him to San Diego, she promised to phone them regularly 
and that she would see them the week before school started.

After a quick patrol that night Buffy made it clear to what was left 
of the gang that she and her girlfriends, who had stayed at home to 
get dinner for the three of them, were under no circumstances short 
of the end of the world to be called or visited for the next twenty 
four hours?

Buffy shut the front door behind her and turned the lock, she smiled 
it had been almost four days since she had made lover to her 
girlfriends? The anticipation had been building all day, her dad and 
Jennifer had arrived that morning to pick up Dawn and stayed most of 
the day. Which of course meant no kissing, no touching and defiantly 
no sex?

<We're waiting for us in the dinning room.>

<Thanks.> Buffy thought back. It was still a little strange to know 
that the bond was always there in hers as well as Will and Tara's 
heads? But at least they could tell each other stuff without the risk 
of being overheard? But they did find much to Buffy's disappointment 
that the bond wouldn't give away any secrets or surprises the others 
knew?

She walked into the dinning room, the room was bathed in soft 
candlelight stood side by side next to the table were two naked 
witches, what was it they called it skyclad? Yeah that was it 
skyclad, Buffy's mind informed her as her lust filled eyes slowly 
took in the sight.

She could see the mischief in their eyes as Willow smiled at her 
before announcing, "Your dinners ready?"

Buffy throw a quick glance at the empty table before returning to 
stare at her girlfriends, she slowly walked towards them, "Buffy very 
hungry," she said slipping into what they thought of as cave slayer 
speech! She grabbed hold of their hands and led them up to the 
bedroom.

As Buffy began to lead them to the bed they pulled her up short, she 
turned arching her eyebrow. They smiled at her; "You're way over 
dressed Buff?" pointed out Willow as she started to unbutton her 
blouse. Tara wrapped her arms around Buffy from behind planting 
kisses on her neck as her hands slowly began to undo her leather 
pants.

They worked in tandem to remove her clothes, as Willow was ready to 
remove her blouse Tara had finished unfastening her pants slowly 
pulling them down as she knelt behind her. Buffy lifted her legs 
automatically for her to fully remove them, as she slowly trailed her 
hands up towards Buffy's panties it caused a shiver go through each 
of them as they opened themselves fully to the things that they were 
each feeling.

Willow reached around and unclipped Buffy's bra; as she leaned in and 
started sucking on her pulse point, Buffy let out a moan. She brought 
her hands up to lightly caress Willow's breasts before moving one of 
her hands to her head and pulling on her hair gently until Willow 
pulled back far enough for her to capture her lips in a bruising kiss 
forcing Willow's lips apart she pushed her tongue into her mouth.

Meanwhile Tara had removed Buffy's panties and was planting kisses up 
the back of her thighs finally reaching her butt cheeks, a 
mischievous grin appeared on her face, leaning in she lightly kissed 
the right cheek before she bite the same spot.

Buffy let out a yelp and jumped about a foot into the air, she looked 
crossly at Tara who wore an apologetic expression, "I'm sorry but I 
couldn't help myself your dimples looked so cute I wanted to eat them 
up?" she smirked.

Buffy tried to look over her shoulder to see the damage, "Mmm your 
forgiven but I think you should kiss it better," she smirked.

"Of course I'll kiss your booboo better!" She moved back in as Buffy 
turned around to give her access she began placing kiss on the area 
then wrapping her arms around Buffy's hips she rested the side of her 
check on the spot, "Better."

"Better, ah guys now that I'm wearing exactly the same amount of 
clothes as you two can I have my dinner now?" she grinned.

"Oh yeah, we want a special!" smiled Willow. Special was the word 
they used when they wanted her to use her mental training as she did 
the first night she made love to them.

As they moved towards their bed she smirked, "Ok but it's been a 
couple of weeks? I'm a bit out of practise it may take me several 
try's to get it right?"

"That's alright Buffy we don't mind you practising on us?" Smiled 
Tara.

--------------

<Oh my head. What's that ringing?> thought Buffy.

<It's the phone dummy?>

<Hey watch who your calling a dummy.>

<Well we are? We cut ourselves off from the bond to increase our 
sexual gratification and then moan about the headache we get in the 
morning.>

"Will answer the phone its making my head hurt?" Groaned Buffy.

"You get it your closer," whispered Willow, "And please don't shout?"

Buffy rolled over and grabbed the phone struggling to get it the 
right way up, "Whoever this is your dead?" She growled down the phone.

"Ah... Is that you Buffy?" Asked Giles voice on the other end, "Are 
you alright?"

"Yeah," she looked over at the clock it said 8.30, "I only went to 
sleep about 3 hours ago?"

"Why is there a problem?"

"No Giles the three of us were renewing the bond, you know that thing 
we have to do to stay alive, would you like the details? Cuz we 
haven't been able to do it for four days?" Buffy continued to growl 
down the phone.

"Ah that's alright Buffy, do you mind if I come over I need to 
discuss something with the three of you?"

"What is it?"

"Oh nothing much? I just wondered if you three would help some 
friends of mine out in England?"

"England?"

"Yes England."

"You better come over? Give us about an hour okay?"

"Very well, see you in a while then, bye Buffy."

"Bye," said Buffy quietly almost to herself as she replaced the 
receiver.

She turned to the others, who were still tangled up in the bedclothes 
as well as each other, oblivious to the phone conversation. She shook 
them gently, "Guys that was Giles... He want's us to go to England?"

Two sets of eyes sprang open as they tried to untangle themselves 
from the bedclothes and sit up, Buffy laughed then continued, "Giles 
is coming over he'll be here in an hour. While you two shower I'll 
fix us breakfast then I'll take my shower," she said springing off 
their bed.

When Giles arrived he got straight to the point.

"Several powerful Witches near my former home have vanished over the 
last week? There have also been several deaths and for some unknown 
reason according to a friend the police have been told not to do 
anything other than go through the motions of finding who is 
responsible? Several covens fear this may be the start of a new 
burning time all be it covertly? They know I'm the watcher of the 
slayer so they asked Olivia to contact me?"

Willow turned to Buffy, "If they are right we must help them, I mean 
if it is a new burning time how long before it spreads to other 
countries including the US?"

"Okay we'll help if we can? But how are we going to afford the 
airfare?"

"That's alright Buffy I can pay for all of us to go? And if it turns 
out to be something supernatural the council will reimburse yours and 
my fare." Explained Giles.

"Ok great. Giles you go and order the tickets, Anya can run the shop, 
as its summer Hellmouth activity is minimal so with Kevin and Rob's 
help her and Xander should be able to hold down the fort. I'll phone 
Dawn let her know we'll be away for a while get her to tell dad you 
invited us to visit some friends of yours in England?" Buffy got up 
to phone her sister.

"Right Tara we better go pack some clothes. Ah Giles what should we 
pack? Will we need warm clothing and our raincoats?"

"Willow its summer there as well? It may not be as hot or sunny as 
California but contrary to what you may have heard it does not always 
rain in England... Although it is the middle of the cricket season... 
Maybe you should pack your raincoats?" Then to himself, "I wonder if 
I'll be able to watch the Ashes?" 

Tara and Willow turned confused looks at each other, then Willow 
shrugged, "Must be an English thing?" Tara nodded as they left to 
pack.

--------------

To be continued.