Buffy looked at Willow. "I was basking in the fact that you're back. But now--" she shook her head, and became business-like. "We need a plan."
"A plan? Like what? We didn't come back to try and die," Cordelia pointed out to her--and anyone else who didn't know that.
"If you don't have a plan, what you came back for won't be an option," Buffy told her. "A lot's gone on, since the four of you left." Xander shifted uncomfortably.
"What's happened?"
"They took.... The other me.... And killed her. They dumped her outside the house tonight," said Buffy, shaking a little. It had pretty much disgusted her--seeing her own body, burying her own body.... It wasn't something that normal kids had to do, she knew that.
"I'm sorry." Willow put an arm around her, comfortingly.
"It's okay. And last night--they got Faith. And they turned Angel. Nothing's gone right. Mom's out of town now, and Giles apparently proposed yesterday."
The five of them just sat for a long while. In the past year, so much had changed--Giles's one real love had died, but now he was engaged to Buffy's mom. Angel was good, bad, in hell, back, good, and now bad again. Willow's parents, though not the best in the world, were now dead. And they didn't know anything about anyone else. Faith, the new slayer, was gone....
"Is there any other good news?" asked Cordy.
"Not really. Oh, but school's been closed more often."
"That's a plus," said Xander.
"And there were two little kids that died a few weeks back--but it turned out that they were demons. Giles and I found out in time, and managed to kill them. They were only one demon, actually." She frowned, still confused by that one.
"But you guys have killed all the other demons?" Oz picked up on one of the other good things.
"Yeah.... For all the good that did," said Buffy. "Turns out, the mayor is evil."
"And what does this tell us about politicians?" Xander looked around, teacher-like.
"Angelus, the Master, Vamp you, and Vamp Willow are all working for him--along with that weird girl, the one that was a demon..... I think she's a demon again, but I could be wrong. And there was this weird demon called the first that tried to turn Angel evil, but that didn't work."
"'Course, he turned evil, anyway," pointed out Xander. "How'd that happen, anyway? I thought that you guys were definitely supposed to be happy-free."
"There was a shaman, or something like that.... Some magicky guy. He did it--took away the soul."
"Where is his soul?" They all turned to look at Willow. She took her arm off of Buffy, slightly uncomfortable.
"What do you mean, where is it? I didn't know it was going to go somewhere."
"Well, yeah.... I mean, I did some reading while we were in Los Angeles, and whenever shamans take away souls, they have to put them somewhere. So, Angel's soul should be somewhere."
"I.... I don't know. Maybe they let it loose."
"Well, then, it could be restored anytime. Hey, we could restore it again! And--and fix vampy me, and vampy Xander, and--ooh! The Master! We could give him a soul!"
"Did the Master ever have a soul?" asked Cordy.
"I think he had to--probably a very long time ago," answered Buffy. "He's pretty ugly, and I think Giles said something like he was turned five hundred years ago. Or maybe that was Darla..... Who he sired......"
"Well, either way, we could give them all souls. Then, they'd be with us!" Willow looked around optimistically.
"I don't know, Will. I mean, giving just one of them a soul took a lot out of you in the first place. And when Angel first got his soul back, he wandered around in depression for about a hundred years, trying to avoid humans."
"So?"
"We don't exactly have a hundred years. I don't know what the mayor's up to, but it's probably something big--and I'm betting it's almost ready. We don't have time to give them to get used to it." Buffy turned to look at Willow. She still looked fairly set on the idea, so Buffy went on.
"And also, it was a restoration spell that you had. It might not work for the rest of them, especially because they're from another reality--that, and the fact that it might not work if they weren't vampires with souls in the first place."
"Okay." She grudgingly acknowledged the point.
"But Angel--you could restore his soul."
"Until someone takes it again," pointed out Xander. "Look, Buffy. I'm not going to argue that he can't be useful. He rescued Willow, and he did help you guys rescue us from Spike...." He lowered his eyes, and both Oz and Willow also showed signs of being uncomfortable.
"Oh, come on." Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Get over it. It was a long time ago. There was stress.... And hormones..... And some other stuff that they probably discussed in science that I didn't notice. Xander's point is, Angel's helpful--and we get that. But he keeps going evil. So why don't you just kill him?"
"Because I can't," Buffy answered.
"Don't say that. I mean, bad Angel is bad--but you can get him!" Willow looked at her encouragingly.
"No, Will, I can't. I can beat him, but I can't kill him. I almost died last time--a lot." She paused.
"I can't kill him. And nobody else can. Besides, if we can keep them from finding out that he has his soul back, he could maybe kill some of the rest of them..... And get us info.... And rescue Faith."
"Okay, good plan. But, I know how to make it better!" Willow half raised her hand, then put it down.
"How?" Buffy sounded part amused, part hopeful that it was a good plan.
"Xander and I go in. You keep evil-us occupied, after I give Angel his soul, and then we all go in, and rescue Faith. And maybe Angel could even kill the Master! Or, you know, just hurt him, or something....."
"It's not actually a bad plan. If you guys have been to the leather outlet of our local stores, lately." Buffy pointed out the only flaw.
Willow looked a teensy bit embarrassed, and exchanged the same look with Xander. She walked to her suitcase on the kitchen counter, and opened it.
Lying on top was a leather outfit, one practically identical to the one her alter ego wore around town. Xander unzipped his suitcase, pulling out yet more leather.
"You guys have changed."
"More like, we had to change. We killed a few vamps in L.A.--and there was an evil law firm after us, and then we had to fool them to get out of the hotel. So, mucho leather-o."
Xander put down the leather clothes, and re-closed his suitcase.
"Okay, so, problem solved." Buffy looked at them all, then turned around. "Let's get to work."
"What--now?"
"No, I'm thinking tomorrow. You guys should probably rest. And I shouldn't patrol tonight. It's--too soon. Giles isn't back yet, either."
She looked outside, frowning. It was almost dark.
"If he's not back soon, though, I'll go anyway."
"Okay. Thanks, Buffy. And--we did miss you." She stared at Xander for a moment, then looked down, walking away.
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