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Written by Riley
"Yeah boss, I know, I've gotta keep my human appearance," Nikki said with a groan, "but I don't understand why, it's not like they haven't seen anything a little different here." "My point exactly, we don't want to make anyone think we are anything but ordinary people," Robyn was still trying to explain that she didn't want any of them mistaken for something less than friendly. "And Khystra remember, good girls don't bite," Robyn smiled at the look of annoyance that crossed the face of her most K9 of companions. "What about me, oh Interpid Leader, what do I not get to do?" Talon finally spoke from his position behind the driver's seat. "Just try not to blow anything up on this trip Tal, it is our first visit after all. Robyn parked the car outside a nightclub, "Anyone see a phone?" She scanned the parking lot looking for a booth with a phone book in it. No luck. "You mean you're gonna call her now? Why don't we just show up on her doorstep and completely scare her to death?" Khystra stuck her tongue out at her interpid leader as her clone tried to hide her laughter. "Not funny Nikki." "Sorry." "And that's the plan, we're going to surprise her. We came this far, we might as well do it right," Robyn sighed at her friends' lack of adventure, "Now would someone please tell me they see a phone booth?" "I see a phone booth," Talon said, right on cue. "I mean it Tal," Robyn said. "I do," he said defensively, "over there." Sure enough, in the farthest corner of the large, empty parking lot, was a phone booth. The group slowly walked across the lot, observing as they went. Didn't look much like the Hell Mouth to them. Little did they know what adventures this quiet little town held when the lights went out . . . Address in hand, Robyn and her friends wandered around for a while before deciding they might need a little bit of help finding the place. They stopped and looked for someone that might be able to help. "Excuse me," she said to a young lady, who happened by them just then, "I was wondering, could you tell me where we could find this address?" Robyn showed the young woman the piece of paper she had written the address on. The woman, not very old at all, was blonde and fairly pretty. She looked at Robyn and her friends suspiciously, "What would you like there?" She asked, still watching them carefully. "A friend of ours lives there," Robyn wasn't sure why this girl was being so defensive, it's not like she wanted to rob the place. "Maybe you know her, her name is Riley." The blonde studied the group of friends for some time, not sure what it was they wanted. Finally she said simply, "follow me." The blonde led the group to a university campus. It wasn't too big, but it wasn't too small. Robyn figured she would've been able to find her way to it eventually. She wasn't too sure she liked the way this blonde was treating her or her friends. She did, however, seem to know where they wanted to be. As they followed, the girl didn't even look at them. If she didn't know any better, Robyn would've thought she didn't know they were there. The blonde walked through the building, and was just about to head into the library when Nikki spoke up, "Umm, I'm sorry, but we weren't looking for reading material . . ." she was cut off mid sentence. "Do you want to see Riley or not?" She shot back at the poor unsuspecting Nikki. "Follow me." "Yes sir!" Khystra whispered as she silently saluted the girl. They were led through the library, down aisle after aisle of dust covered shelves. Robyn was beginning to wonder if they'd ever be able to find their way out again. Just as she was about to stop the girl, they were led through a door, and into a computer lab. In the lab, another young woman was sitting at a computer, apparently engrossed in her work. "Hey Will!" The blonde addressed the other girl as a friend. Will, as she was called, was an attractive redhead, with quiet features and a shy disposition. She looked up from her computer and smiled at the blonde. "Hi Buffy!" She seemed happy to see the girl. "Buffy??" Tal and Khystra tried to hide their laughter as Robyn and her clone looked at them in amusement. "These four say they're friends of Riley's, do you know anything about visitors?" Robyn was beginning to really dislike the one called Buffy. After all, she was just here to visit her friend. The girl that had been called Will spoke to the group a lot more gently than her friend, "Hi, I'm Willow, you say you're looking for Riley?" she offered a welcome smile to all four friends. Robyn smiled back, "Yes, I'm Robyn, these are my friends Nikki, Talon, and Khystra, we're all friends of hers." Robyn hoped this girl was as nice as she seemed and would finally show them where to find their friend, "do you know where she might be?" "As a matter of fact," Willow said with a smile, "I do, just have a seat; she'll be back in a few minutes." The foursome thanked Willow, found chairs and sat. All that is, except for Talon, who opted for a space on the floor. While they waited, Robyn looked at Willow. There was something vaguely familiar about her. She tried but couldn't put her finger on it. Finally she gave up and sat watching the door, hoping she would see her friend soon and wondering if she had changed. Riley walked through the lab door about a minute later, a rather large pile of books under her arm. Putting the books on the table, she looked up, right at Robyn. "Holy hockey sticks!!" She backed up, right into the librarian, who had just walked through the door. "Easy there Riley, you'd think you just saw a ghost," he said as he steered her back through the door. Riley stared at the four seated figures for a while. Finally she found her voice, and whispered just one word, "Robyn." Riley stood, glued to the spot, looking in disbelief at her friends, the friends she was beginning to think she was never going to see again. She searched for something to say to them, not finding anything. Nikki finally broke the silence; she was always good at that, "Riley! Do you have any idea how much we've missed you? Couldn't you have written or emailed or something? We weren't even sure you were still alive, what with being you and living in the Hell Mouth and such." "I'm sorry," was pretty much all Riley could manage. Then it was Khystra's turn to try and get the old Riley to come out, "Riley in a computer lab," she sneered, "big surprise." Riley stuck her tongue out, but still said nothing. What could she say? It'd been a year, over a year, and Nikki was right, she hadn't called, or written, or anything, except wished she could see them all again. She thought of all the great times they used to have at Lucky's, the bar and grill Robyn owned, operated, and lived over, and all the times she wished she could go back and do it again. Taking a step forward, Riley silently hoped Robyn would say something, or at least stand. Robyn did her one better, standing and giving Riley one of the hugs she always gave just when they were needed. "Hey you! That's my girlfriend!!" Willow smiled, now that the ice seemed to be breaking. She loved reunions, even if she didn't know most of the parties being reunited. Robyn backed up just enough to see Riley's face, which was now wet with tears that had been held way too long. "It's been a long time old friend," Robyn smiled through tears of her own, "did I hear correctly, do you have a better half to introduce us to?" Not even giving Riley a chance to open her mouth, she extended a hand to Willow, "Hi, I'm Robyn," she pointed to the other seated members of her group, introducing each as she went. "We've been trying to track down our friend for quite a while now." I'm sorry," Riley had never been very good at expressing her feelings, and this time was no different, "I needed time, not as much as I took, but still time." "Might I interrupt for just one moment?" The librarian, who had been silent up to that moment, spoke up, "Buffy, can I see you for a moment? Sorry for the interruption." He walked out, followed by the blonde. Riley walked over to Willow, who had been standing silently, watching. Willow took her hand, and squeezed it encouragingly. Riley found strength in this. Finally saying more than six words, "I didn't think you wanted me back. I didn't leave on the best of terms. Please, forgive me Robyn," the tears were starting again, she hated crying in front of people, especially the ones that were in this room right now. "There's nothing to forgive, we couldn't figure out why you left, we still can't," Robyn smiled at her friend, "I'm just glad we found you." Just as Robyn finished her sentence, a dark haired young man wandered into he lab, saw that Riley was crying, and jumped to her defense, "Hey! What're you doing to her? Why are you crying Rye? Do you want me to take care of these people for you?" He was getting ready to kick all of them out, physically if he had to. "It's okay Xander, it's okay," Riley had to smile at her friend's offer of protection, "I can take care of myself." "Well, if you need some help, just let me know, okay?" He backed out of the lab, still eyeing the four strangers. Riley stood by Willow, just watching her old friends for another long time. Things were getting awkward, she didn't know what to do. Again, lack of action brought rescue, this time in the form of Khystra. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm starved, it was a long drive, is there anywhere near here we could grab a bite to eat? My treat, well, for Riley and Willow anyway." "So generous," Nikki stuck her tongue out at him. "Umm, I don't mean to be rude, but I'm really not all that hungry. There's a restaurant just across campus, you can eat there if you like, the food is pretty good," Riley needed to get away and let the whole thing register. Robyn understood, and she asked if they could all get together later in the evening, to catch up on everything. Riley agreed, "We could meet at the Bronze, do you guys know where that is?" "Yeah, I think I saw it when we got into town," Talon spoke for the first time since Riley had last seen him. "Okay, perfect, see you all later then?" Riley was sorry to leave them, but she figured she should explain this whole thing to Willow. "We're looking forward to it!" Robyn smiled at her friend, hoping she wasn't being too eager to get things back to the insanity that was normal for her crew. She was just so happy that Riley was back, and she didn't want her to leave again. "See you all soon then." And they left. "Wow," Willow wasn't sure what to say, "So . . ." "Let's go home for a bit, I think I have some explaining to do," Riley hugged Willow tightly and walked with her out the door. 
Robyn didn't eat much at the restaurant, there was too much on her mind. She was so glad to have found her old friend, but she wasn't sure that coming to Sunnydale unannounced was such a good idea, Riley seemed uncomfortable with them being there.
"Robyn?" Buffy nervously walked up to the table, "I just wanted to apologize for my behaviour earlier, you just can't be too careful here." "I understand," Robyn said, still half lost in thought, "Have you known Riley long?" Buffy thought for a minute then shook her head, "Only a year or so, since she moved here. And you?" "Years," Robyn said simply. Again lost in thought, Robyn didn't notice when Buffy first tugged on her jacket. Pulling harder, Buffy whispered, "Get down." Robyn looked up just as a huge hairy creature crashed through the front window of the restaurant. "What the . . ." Riley and Willow walked slowly, hand in hand across campus, heading for their apartment. The past hour had forced Riley to think about where she was, and where she was going, which was not what she wanted to do. Sensing her girlfriend's uneasiness, Willow stopped and faced her, "You don't have to tell me, this bothers you, I can tell. You can tell me when you're ready." She was always so thoughtful. Riley smiled and put her arms around Willow's waist, "No, I should have told you a long time ago." "Oh, no, not here, not now," Buffy really didn't want to have to explain this to the four newcomers. She tried to make Robyn and her friends hide themselves under their table. No luck. There was another crash and two more beasts now joined the first in throwing patrons and destroying property. One of the unlucky patrons just happened to be sitting at the table with Robyn. Khystra, who was sitting nearest the window, found herself flying, upside down and backwards, through the window she had been sitting in front of not a minute before, "Waaaaaaaaaa . . ." she yelled as she disappeared from sight through the now empty window frame. "Please, just listen to me," she pleaded, "You have to hide," Buffy needed to take care of this, but she didn't want any of Riley's friends getting hurt. They were, after all, important to someone that was important to her. "Don't worry about us!" Nikki yelled, "just go!" And with that, all five flew into action. Buffy saw the four friends jump from the table, but she was too busy with the problem at hand to pay too much attention. There would be time for explanations later . . . Buffy caught her attacker square on the chin with a powerful kick, sending him flying. She looked back to see what was happening with the other two. The four friends seemed to have everything well in hand. Robyn had just thrown one of the creatures back out the window it had come in, and Talon was now jumping through the window after it. He returned momentarily with a huge grin on his face, "One down," he called. Buffy's attacker, meanwhile, was back up and running at her again. Just in time she turned around and threw a powerful punch, which hit the creature in the nose, "Eew," Buffy's hand went right through the beast's head. Defeated, the creature crumpled to the floor. "That's two!" Khystra jumped at the final beast and hit it hard enough to send it flying backwards into the kitchen. There was the sound of dishes breaking and pots crashing, and then silence. A full minute passed before Khystra emerged from the kitchen, "It's not Dairy Queen," she smiled, "but it'll do." "That's three!" Willow and Riley sat together on the couch in the apartment, not saying anything. Finally Riley turned to the love of her life and tried to find the words to explain what was going on. Before Riley could say anything, Willow gently put a finger to her lips, "Not yet," she said softly, "When you're ready." She smiled and kissed Riley softly. Then poked her in the ribs. "Hey!" Riley yelled, turning to face Willow, who again kissed her gently. "Maybe this is why I didn't go back," Riley thought to herself, "I love her so much, I can't leave her, I won't leave her, not for anything." We should probably get ready to go meet your friends," Willow looked at her lovingly, "they'll probably already get there before we do," she kissed Riley again. Riley turned to Jell-O, "Couldn't we just stay here a while longer . . . " and Willow kissed her again, "How does she do that?" Riley thought. Robyn and her friends walked out of the restaurant with Buffy, who was showing them to a hotel where they could check in, shower, and change. Nikki was amazed at how Buffy had taken care of the demon she had fought, "You were pretty good back there Buffy, I must say, I was impressed." Yeah, well," is all Buffy said in return. She wasn't sure she should tell these people, even though they were Riley's friends, and she liked Riley, she wasn't sure she could trust these four, there was just something about them. After all, Riley hadn't been very comfortable around them either. Willow looked at her girlfriend affectionately, "We should get going, they're going to be wondering where we are," she kissed Riley gently as they sat up on the bed. She'd only known Riley almost two years, but she knew that she loved her more than anyone she'd ever loved, and she would do anything to make her happy. She also knew she had to let Riley make her own decisions, including whether or not to go tonight. "We don't have to," she said, caressing Riley's cheek. Riley looked at Willow. She also knew that she loved her with all her heart, and that no one was ever going to take them away from each other. She hoped that her friends would not ask her to go back with them, she couldn't do that, but she didn't know how to say no. "Yes, we do," she said quietly, "I love you." "I love you too." Riley's behaviour was troubling Robyn. It had bothered her since the day Riley left, nearly two years ago. Why had she left? Why had she stayed gone? Why had she not called to let them know she was okay, or where she was? These and other questions were going to have to be asked eventually, and she knew it. She got out of he shower and dressed, "Who's next?" She asked as she opened the bathroom door. "Robyn, do you think she's angry?" Talon asked, "I mean, do you think we did something wrong?" "We didn't do anything wrong, and Riley knows it. If she can't handle who we are, who she is, maybe she's better off staying here and hiding," Khystra was still angry. Robyn sighed, she knew Khystra was probably right, but she felt she owed it to her friend to at least let her know all was forgiven on her end, "Khystra, Riley's confused. I think she needed time to figure out who she was and what she wanted. We all do at some point, and most of us have done it, but she's young, a lot younger than some of us, and I guess her time is now," Robyn hoped that's all it was. "She's kind of like twenty-two going on fifty. Mid life crisis before she's hit her mid twenties," Nikki was trying to make light of the situation, tension was building fast, "We've all had them." "You two haven't," Tal laughed, "it's not like you'll ever hit mid life." "Well, we still have our moments," Robyn finally figured she'd gotten her point across. Everyone talked for a little longer, all silently hoping they would get the friend they knew so well back. "Come on guys, let's get going here, they're going to be waiting for us," she paced impatiently, excited about getting to see Riley again, she really wanted to get to the Bronze. "Will?" Riley pulled a clean shirt on and looked at Willow, "Do you think they're still mad at me?" The only reason she hadn't called them after the first week is that she didn't think any of them would talk to her. "No, Hon, I don't," Willow smiled at her, "I don't really think they ever were, or at least that's the impression I'm getting now." She walked over and put her arms around Riley, "I think that they're thinking the same thing about you. And you were never angry with them, were you?" "No." "Well then?" "Okay, I get it." "Good, are you ready?" Willow tickled Riley, making her smile for the first time in a while. "Yeah, oh, did I mention I love you?" "Yeah, you did." "Good." Washed and dressed, Robyn, Khystra, Nikki, and Tal wandered slowly down to the Bronze, taking in the sites again, "It still doesn't look too bad, I mean we've been through worse, right?" Khystra was wondering still how this could be the Hell mouth, it was so quiet, so peaceful, so deceiving. As the group rounded a corner on the street they were confronted by two rather pale, strange looking people, a man and a woman. The man grinned at the friends, but he did not look friendly, "Well, well, well," he said, with a slight accent, "what have we here? Fresh faces," He motioned to his counterpart, "Would you do the honours?" He made a face, then grinned, "At least I can indulge in the finished product," he stepped back off the sidewalk. "Awww," Nikki sighed, "Only one?" She started walking toward the paler woman. "No fun, you're all just no fun." The woman smiled, "Well, if you want fun," she motioned towards the group of trees she and her partner had emerged, and nine other pasty creatures rushed up onto the sidewalk, not quite taking the group by surprise, "Now that's more like it!" Nikki grinned as she flipped one of them over her shoulder, knocking two more down with him, but not for long, "Ten to four, now I don't think that's exactly fair," she managed a glance towards the blond haired leader of the pack. "Well, you do what you gotta do," he smirked, leaning up against a tree, watching with anticipation. "Well, how bout we even up the odds a little bit?" Buffy walked swiftly down the sidewalk, followed by Xander, Willow, and Riley. "Spike, didn't your mommy ever teach you to play fair?" And then to Robyn and her crew, "I don't suppose you four brought stakes with you on this trip did you?" "Steak??? I wish!!" Talon laughed. "No! S-T-A-K-E!!" Buffy hollered over her shoulder as she began kicking and punching her way through the crowd. "Ahh, pointy stick for use in offing vampires and the like," Tal smiled. "Nope, but we can manage," he ripped a branch off the tree nearest him. He threw his arm back, catching one vamp in the rib cage, and then brought it forward straight into the heart of another. "Wow," Buffy whispered under her breath. Three of the thirsty looking undead headed Robyn's way. She smiled and grabbed one by the throat, "Tal, hold that stick of yours straight out, would you," she yelled to her buddy. Tal did as he was told, grinning from ear to ear, "Ready when you are oh interpid one." Robyn threw the vampire she held hard, and he flew backwards into the other two. Buffy stared in disbelief as two of the three vampires hit the stake and turned to dust. The other fell to the ground at Talon's feet, and was disposed of quickly and efficiently. Behind Talon, a larger vampire, wearing a football jersey, ran for him, "Tal!! Move!!" Riley yelled, and everybody turned. Just then, the football player tackled the tree Talon was standing right in front of. "Huh? Where'd he go?" Buffy and the vampire said in unison. "Thanks Rye!" Tal said from right beside her. "What the . . . ? How did . . . ?" neither question was finished, or answered, there wasn't time. The football vamp, now very angry, rushed at Riley, "Oh really? You think so do you?" Riley smiled, then grabbed Talon by the shoulders, putting him, and his makeshift stake, in front of her, just as the boy was about grab her. Talon's stake went right through him. "How come I'm having all the fun," Tal quipped, "Someone else take a couple." "Will do," Xander called, kicking a girl vampire and staking her. She was dust before she hit the ground. Buffy was still staring at Talon. His disappearing act had shocked her. Two smaller male vampires grabbed her from behind, and tried to pull her onto the ground, "No thanks, boys, I'm taken," she grabbed their heads, and brought them over her shoulder, dropping one on a stick that was stuck in the ground and staking the other. "Spike!" The first girl vampire called, "Let's get out of here!!" She took off, not waiting for a response. Those who were left followed suit. The blond, stood by his tree, looking stupid. Then turned and ran as Buffy started towards him, stake in hand. "Well, that was exhilarating, what's next??" Nikki walked up and stood beside Robyn. "Next is that boy telling us how he did that!" Buffy said. "Did what? I didn't see anything out of the ordinary, did you Nikki?" Robyn looked at her friend. "And you two, I've never seen two people look so much alike in my life, are you sisters?" Buffy's voice was rising. "Nope, not related," Nikki smiled. "What in the Hell mouth is going on here?" Buffy was yelling now, which amused the group immensely. "I'm thirsty," Talon complained, "and hot." "Well you're not going anywhere until you explain how you got from where you were to where you are!" "Okay, then we'll go get something for everyone," Willow smiled and took Riley by the hand, "We'll meet you guys at Giles' house." "Okay, in about an hour?" Buffy was already turning back to Tal, so Willow didn't bother answering. As she and Riley walked away, they could hear Buffy starting again, "What was that? How'd you do it? Where'd you learn it, would you teach me . . ." "Wait up guys!" Robyn called from behind them, "do you mind if I tag along?" "Not me," Riley smiled, "Will?" "Not at all." "Thanks," Robyn said as she caught up, "maybe he'll leave me alone for a while now." "Who?" Riley asked. She got her answer in the form of a yell from behind them. "Wait up Robyn!" Xander came running up to the three girls, slightly out of breath he continued, "I was just thinking, you three might need some male protection," he smiled at Robyn, "Since you're just three young girls, walking all alone, at night, without a man to protect you . . ." Robyn cut him off, "Some of us aren't as young as you think," she glanced at Riley, who smiled. "You know, Robyn, I like a woman who can take care of herself," Xander moved closer to her, "and maybe take care of me too??" "Jeez, Xander, I'm really sorry, but cradle robbing is against the law, last I checked anyway," Robyn smiled at him, but didn't elaborate. "Cradle robbing? You can't be any older than us, can you?" he looked at Riley, who only smiled at him. "Oh, how old are you then? How old is she?" he looked back and forth between Robyn and Riley. Both girls only smiled. Xander followed the girls the rest of the way to the 7-11, completely baffled by the new girl. "Why won't this boy tell me how he did that?" Buffy wondered as they walked silently towards the street that Giles lived on, "He's kinda cute too, I wonder if he's dating one of those twins?" Then, looking at Nikki, "There's no way they aren't related." She was so lost in thought she almost walked right by Giles' house. "Oops," she said, slamming on the brakes, "We're here." The group walked in, and Buffy called out for her friend, "Giles, I've brought visitors." Rupert Giles was a middle aged British man. He came into the room, regarding his visitors with a mixture of welcome and intrigue, "Welcome, had I known I was having guests I might have cleaned up a little," he looked around his front room with a noticeable level of distaste, "it seems to have gotten somewhat messy," then remembering himself, "do come in, won't you?" Riley and Willow walked hand in hand through a quiet park, on their way to seek out beverages for themselves and the others. "Wow," Willow remarked after a few minutes, "Things are stranger than usual tonight, aren't they?" she smiled at Riley. "Yeah, I didn't expect to see them here," Riley seemed somewhat lost in thought. "Yeah, but not just that," Willow said, "That boy, what's his name? Talon?" "Yeah," Riley said. "Well, him, didn't you think it was a little weird how he just sort of disappeared and then reappeared right beside you?" She asked. "No," Riley said matter of factly, "Should I have?" "What do you mean, "Should you have" ?" Willow stopped walking and looked at Riley, "There's no way you didn't find that even a little bit strange, confusing, weird, or even frightening!" Willow's voice rose a bit. "Yes, there is," Riley said simply. Willow looked at her with surprise, wondering for the first time just how much her girlfriend was hiding from her, "Oh really? And that would be?" "Because he's done it before," Riley said. Willow's jaw dropped, "Huh? Alright, that's it! Willow was angrier than Riley had ever seen her. "Who are these people? What are these people? ARE they people?" she sat down on a bench nearby. "Yeah, they're people, at least one of them anyway," Riley sat down next to Willow and took her hand, "Look," she said, "I don't think this is the place to be talking about this," Riley stood up to continue to the store. "I can't think of a better place," Willow snapped at her, "And while we're on the subject of what are they," she looked at Riley, are you one of them?" Xander and Robyn trailed behind the couple, waiting to see what would happen. Xander wasn't sure what to do, he didn't want to see his friends fighting, after all, as awkward as it was, they loved each other. Robyn on the other hand, seemed unconcerned. "Shouldn't we do something?" Xander was genuinely concerned, "I mean, this sounds serious." "Nah," Robyn said, as though it were an everyday occurrence that would clear itself up momentarily, "They can handle it," she said to him. They stopped and sat down on a bench not far from where the two girls now were. As Robyn sat and watched contently, Xander watched Robyn, "You know, you're a very attractive young woman, he smiled at her, "and I'm an attractive young man, why don't you and I go get to know each other better?" "Look kid," Robyn said, "I don't want to hurt your feelings, but you're way too young for me, I already told you, cradle robbing isn't my thing." Xander laughed, "Ahh, so you like older men, huh? Well, I'm much more mature than I look," he tried to look as old as he could, and succeeded only in making himself look silly. "Something like that," Robyn said, again watching the girls, "Watch," she said, pointing at them, "Just watch."  Riley was hoping she wouldn't have to answer that question, "I'm the same person I've always been," she said, hoping that would be enough, but it wasn't.
"And I just want to know who that is," Willow said, "now, are you one of them?" Riley stared at the ground, "Sort of," she whispered. Willow stood up and stared at her, "Look at me," she said, "what do you mean?" "I mean I came here because I like being a normal 22 year old, is what I mean, okay?" she finally looked up at her girlfriend, "which is why I didn't tell you about them, or about me." Willow sighed, she didn't want to push her girlfriend, but she needed to know what was going on, and why the woman she loved had changed so drastically in such a short time. She wondered how she was going to get the old Riley back. "So tell me, who isn't human?" Willow asked, half smiling, "umm, it's not you, right?" she looked worried. Riley laughed quietly, "No, it's not me." "So who?" Willow asked. "And what are they?" "I don't know," Khystra said, looking around the small house, "It looks pretty good to me." Giles looked at him, then around the house. Looking at Khystra again he shook his head, "It's not suitable for visitors," he said simply, and Khystra shrugged. "Can I offer any of you some tea?" Giles asked, then added, "after the introductions." "Oh, yeah," Buffy said, then started pointing and naming the newcomers. "Pleased to meet you all, now if you will excuse me for just a moment," he walked back in the direction from which he came. Not two minutes later, he returned with a pot of tea and five cups, "I wasn't expecting company, but I was planning on tea," he said as he put the tray down. He began asking each person if they would like some, and most did, until, "Ms. ummm, Khystra? Would you like a cup of tea?" Khystra looked at the proper English gentleman, and smiled, "No, but if you've got a bowl of water . . ." Giles didn't understand at first, "I beg your pardon?" "A bowl of water," Khystra repeated. Giles stared at him for a moment, then went back to the kitchen again, this time returning with a bowl of water. "Thank you," Khystra said and started drinking. Buffy and Giles just stared. "What?" Khystra looked at them, then at her bowl. Tal smiled, "Well, at least she's not drinking out of the toilet." Willow and Riley began walking back toward Xander and Robyn. They'd barely made it ten steps when someone behind them began speaking, "Well, well, well," Riley turned around as he continued, "if it isn't the love birds. Having a spat are we?" Riley took a step away from Willow, towards Spike, "Go away Spike, unless you want to get your butt kicked again," Riley took another step forward she turned to Willow, "you'd better back up," and she did. Willow backed up to where Xander and Robyn were standing watching. "Your girlfriend left," Spike smiled. "Good," Riley said. "Good," Spike asked, slightly confused, "what, trouble on the home front?" "Go away Spike," Riley warned again, "Unless you want your hair three shades lighter." "What?" Spike sneered, "You're a hairdresser now?" "Something like that," Riley said, "Now please leave." "Huh, who would've thought, perfect little couple would be having a . . ." Spike was cut off by Riley. "Leave now, Spike," she said. "Ooh, assertive, alright, leave or what?" Spike smiled evilly at Riley. Riley stepped back, closed her eyes, and raised her arms. The wind picked up a little, and Spike looked at her, "What the?" Just then Riley opened her eyes, smiled at him, and dropped her arms. Spike was thrown back by the force of the bolt that had hit him, landing on his back on the grass, about four feet from the sidewalk. After a couple of minutes, Spike stood up, still a little shaky, and walked closer to Riley, "Thank you Storm, I think you might have helped me out a lot just then," he took another step closer to her. Riley looked at him, the smug smile still on her face, "Oh, how so?" Spike smiled back, "Well, let's see, shall we?" He ran at Riley, getting to within three feet of her. Willow had been watching the whole thing, and now, still stunned, she realized what was about to happen, "Riley! Spike, no!" Riley, on the other hand, didn't even flinch, "Fly at 'er, bat boy," she stood where she had since the confrontation. Spike bared his fangs and then dropped to the ground in agony, "AHHH!" he screamed as he fell to the sidewalk. Riley walked over to him, and knelt down beside him, "Aww, poor thing, I guess I didn't help you that much after all," bending down, she looks Spike right in the eye and smiles again, "Oh, darn." Spike limped away, and yelled as he looked back over his shoulder, "I'll get you, all of you, just you wait!" Continuing their trek to the convenient store, Robyn looked at Riley. Riley smiled back, "What?" she asked innocently, "do I have something in my teeth?" "Nothing," Robyn smiled back, "it's just . . ." "Just what?" Riley asked. "Welcome back." Riley took Willow's hand, waiting for the inevitable questions, instead she got a smile. Willow squeezed Riley's hand, but asked a question of Robyn, "So, you guys fight bad guys, right?" "Yeah, sort of, I guess," Robyn said, looking at her, "when they're around." "Wow, you're like the Magnificent Seven or something," she said in awe. "Nah," Riley smiled, "Too old west, call us the Psycho Six." Willow smiled and hugged Riley, "This is what you didn't want to tell me?" she asked, then looked seriously at her girlfriend, "Please tell me this is what you didn't want to tell me." Riley smiled and nodded toward Robyn, "No, there are a couple other things." Robyn looked at Riley with mock confusion, "Huh? What duck?" Willow looked at Robyn with genuine confusion, "Duck?" she looked over to Riley, "What duck?" "She's learning," Robyn laughed. She opened the door as they reached the 7-11 and the four of them walked into the store without saying any more. The walk back to Giles' house was quiet and uneventful. Riley and Willow walked hand in hand, enjoying each other's company, while Xander tried to catch Robyn's eye. Robyn, who was carrying half of the snacks, stopped and looked at him, "Xander, would you do something for me?" "Anything!" he grinned. "Carry this," Robyn said, and without another word handed the slurpees off to the boy, who, not expecting what he got, nearly dropped the whole works on the sidewalk. "Rye?" Robyn whispered as she caught up to the couple, who had been a few paces ahead of her, "What's with that kid? Can't he take a hint?" Riley smiled and turned back to look at Xander, who was standing holding the slurpees, not quite sure what had just happened, "Xander, wasn't Anya expecting you tonight sometime?" Xander's jaw dropped, "Oh no!" he said, handing the cardboard tray to Willow, "I gotta go!" and he was gone, running back down the sidewalk in the direction they had just come from. "What was that all about?" Robyn asked as they started walking again, "He's weird." "You should talk," Riley smiled, poking her friend in the ribs. "Oh," Robyn said, laughing. "Yeah, I guess you're right." Willow walked up to Giles' front door, followed by the other two. Opening it, she smiled, "Snacks are here!" "OOOH, Slurpees!" Tal jumped so fast he nearly knocked the table over. "Please!!" he ran over and took the tray from Willow, setting it on the table. He grabbed one and started drinking faster than the slush would go up the straw. "Whoa, Tal, slow down buddy, we don't want to end up in the 12th century!" Riley took the slush and put it on the table, Tal still reaching for the straw, "I don't know about anyone else, but I like it in this century." "I don't mean to interrupt, again," Giles stepped up to Riley, and looked at Robyn, "what was it you said your name was?" "Robyn," she said, "Robyn Goodfellow." "Ahh, Shakespeare buff, are we?" Giles smiled, "And at such a young age, very impressive." "Wait a minute," Robyn looked at Giles, somewhat amused, "just who are you calling young, kiddo?" "Pardon me?" Giles' smile disappeared, replaced by a look of bewilderment, "Kiddo?" "Uh oh," Riley thought she ought to change the subject, "Hey Tal, do you still have my hockey stick?" "I do," he began, and then smiled, "but you can only have it if I can have my Slurpee back." Riley eyed him suspiciously, "Well, okay, but slow down, promise?" "Rye, you know me better than that," he grabbed his cup and began to drink again. "That's what I'm afraid of," Riley tapped him on the head, "Umm, hockey stick?" "Oh, yeah," Talon said between swallows, "it's in my pocket, hang on." "How the heck do you fit a hockey stick in your pocket?" Buffy asked, looking at Talon as if he had three heads, "You people are starting to scare me." "Just now we're starting?" Nikki smiled, "Wow, that took a while." "Ahem," Riley was getting impatient, "am I invisible here?" "Hardly," Tal laughed, "and you'll be even more visible when I find your hockey stick." he was fishing around in his pocket. "I still don't see how. . ." Buffy's own laughter cut her off, "Ha, that's just a piece of metal!" Tal handed Riley the foot long piece of iron, "There, now you're whole," he smiled. Riley took it and looked at it for a moment, as if reacquainting herself with another long lost friend. Willow reached out and took if from her, "What is it babe?" she turned it over and saw a small button, "and what's this?" Willow pushed it before Riley could object to the idea, "Holy!" Willow dropped the now four and a half foot long and glowing stick, jumping away with a yelp. "Uh oh, what'd you do?" Riley couldn't help smiling at the look of amazement that replaced the fear on Willow's face, "I was just about to tell you not to do that." "What is that thing?" Willow bent down to look at the rod, which was again only a foot long. She picked it up again, this time careful not to touch anything she shouldn't, not that she would have known if she had. "Alright, that's it!" Buffy stormed across the room and grabbed the stick from Willow, "you are all going to tell me who, or what you are, and you're going to do it now." Riley looked at Buffy, then at Willow, who was smiling, "It's okay, Buff, they're okay," she smiled at Riley, "I've had it explained to me." "Well Will, I'd like an explanation too," she looked at the new group, then at Riley, "Why didn't you tell me you were friends with a bunch of demons?" "Demons?" Willow gaped at her girlfriend. Riley laughed, "Not even close," she looked at Buffy, her face turning dead serious, "Pretty strong accusation there, Slayer." "Uh oh," Nikki whispered. "She's already done it once tonight," Robyn smiled back. Robyn looked at Riley, saw her tensing, and reluctantly stepped in, "Riley, not in the house," she looked at Buffy, "and why is it you're having so much trouble with us being different? It's not like you've never seen different beings before." "So you admit you're not human!" Buffy's glare moved from Robyn to each of the others. Robyn smiled, "Some of us are," she looked at Riley. 
Buffy looked at Robyn, "So who's what?" She scanned the faces in the room, her gaze resting on Riley, "And what are you?"
Riley looked at Willow, and smiled broadly, "A girlfriend." Willow laughed and hugged Riley, "Listen Buff, I believe them, and if you don't, just don't go killing them, alright?" Buffy wasn't convinced at all, "Well, what about him, what is she?" she pointed at Khystra, who had stopped drinking when the commotion started, "What kind of being drinks out of a bowl?" "A were one," Tal said matter of factly. Willow almost screamed, "Were?" she looked at Riley, "She's a werewolf?" "Were puppy," Riley smiled, squeezing Willow's hand, "not like HIM." "Hey, I cared about HIM, in case you've forgotten," Willow raised her voice just enough to set Riley off again, "and he wasn't bad!" Riley looked at her, "Fine," she said calmly, "why don't you go be with him then?" and left. *** Riley walked out of Giles' house slamming the door behind her, "I'll have to apologize to Giles for that later," she whispered to herself. Then her world went black. *** Willow stared after her girlfriend, her mouth still open from her last comment, which she knew she should have kept to herself, "Riley," she whispered, then called louder, "Riley!" running outside, she looked down the street in both directions, trying to find her girlfriend, but saw only a parked care half a block away, "Riley!" Willow ran around the back of the house, still no Riley, "guys, something's wrong! It has to be," Willow ran back to the front yard. "Willow, she has an attitude problem," Buffy put her hand on her friend's shoulder, "she probably just took off, she can run pretty fast." "No!" Willow threw Buffy's hand off and ran out to the sidewalk, "no, she wouldn't do that, she wouldn't leave without me . . . would she?" She looked from Buffy to Robyn. Robyn met Willow's gaze for a moment, then broke and stared at the lawn, "I would love to say she wouldn't, but she's done it before," Robyn looked at her friends, then back at Willow, "to us two years ago." *** Riley came too sitting on a chair, her arms and feet bound. She tried to call out but duct tape across her mouth cut her off, "Ah, she's back," A tall blond man walked over to the chair Riley was taped to, "I believe you have something that belongs to us child," the man had long blond hair, and eyes so dark Riley could not see his pupils. "Mmph!" Riley tried to say something, anything to try and figure out who this maniac was, but succeeded only in amusing the man. "Hehehe," he laughed, "aren't we a brave little girl," he turned serious, stooping to get right in Riley's face, "We will take it back child, very, very soon." Riley looked around the room, trying to figure out where she was. It looked like a basement, no windows, one door out of the room, but everything was too dark to tell really. She thought really hard about what to do, and then it came to her . . . Robyn! Riley closed her eyes again, and began concentrating, suddenly a sharp pain shot through her head, as if a spike had been driven through her frontal lobe. "Now child, you didn't think I was going to let you tell them where we are, did you?" the man laughed maniacally, "No, not until I've gotten what I brought you here for." *** Nikki looked up suddenly, Robyn walked over and put her hand on Nikki's shoulder, "What's wrong?" "Riley," Nikki whispered, trying not to let Willow hear, "She's in trouble." "Trouble?" Willow was behind Robyn, "what kind of trouble?" there were tears in the girls eyes, "please tell me she's okay!" Nikki spun around, "Willow!" The girl had come out of nowhere, "where'd you come from?' "Calm down, Willow, she'll be okay," Robyn looked hopefully at Nikki, who only shook her head. "What?" Willow was crying, "what does she mean?" she looked at Robyn, "What is she talking about?" Before Willow could say anymore, Nikki cut in, "Robyn, she's alive, but she's in trouble, and I don't know where," she looked at Willow, "There is a lot you don't know about her, about all of us," she looked at Robyn, "Storytime?" *** Riley could still feel the pain in her head. It was making it hard to see, "I'm sorry child, it is necessary to prevent you from ruining my plan," the blond man was beside her, "now, if I take this tape off of your mouth, are you going to behave yourself?" Riley nodded. "Good then," he took the tape off Riley's mouth, "now we can talk." Riley winced as the tape was removed from her face, "Ouch," she gave her captor a dirty look, "listen, I don't know what it is you want . . . " she was cut off. "Ah, but you do," the man smiled at her, "you have a very special power child, and we gave it to you." Riley looked at him, "You gave me something? What was it? Was there a card attached?" she gave him a look of utter disgust, "I would've remembered getting something from you," she was about to push further, but the rising pain in her head again prompted her to stop momentarily. "Silence!" his voice boomed, reaching the far wall, at least, "you do not know who you are dealing with brat! I am Dmitri!" All of a sudden Riley wanted to laugh, "Dmitri, Dmitri, umm, no, I still can't say as I've ever heard of you," she smirked at him. The man who called himself Dmitri, became enraged, "I am Dmitri Kriscinski, I have more power than a child like you could ever even dream of!" "I don't think so," Riley said simply. "Brat!" he yelled at Riley, who was directly underneath him, her chair still upraised by the Russians massive arms. Then he put her down and composed himself, "Well, no matter," he smiled, "I will get what I want, or you will die." "I don't do death," Riley looked at him seriously, "I have a few preventative measures in place." Riley closed her eyes, this time concentrating through the steadily increasing pain in her head. *** Nikki had just finished explaining Khystra to Willow, "So she's a werewolf?" she moved across the room from him. "Kinda werepuppy," Tal said, smiling at his friend, who stuck his tongue out, "guard dog." "And what are you?" Willow asked Talon, "are you some kind of otherworldly creature like Robyn and Nikki, or are you more like Khystra there," she tried not to look at him. "No, I'm a weapons expert, so to speak," he smiled. "But what about that here one minute, gone the next trick you pulled when we ran into Spike and his friends?" Willow looked at him sternly. "Okay, okay, I'm a dimensionally challenged weapons expert," he looked at her, "Better?" "Much," Willow said, "I guess." "Nikki?" Robyn said, concern growing on her face, "what is it? Is it. . . " "Yeah," Nikki looked at Willow, "Can we discuss this in the other room, oh Interpid One?" Robyn was just getting to her feet to follow Nikki when Willow stopped them, pleading, "No, please, I want to know if she's okay," tears were welling up in Willow's eyes again, "This is all my fault, I want to help." Nikki looked at Robyn, who shrugged, "Alright, fill us in Nikki." *** "So, Nikki talks to Riley through her mind?" Willow wasn't sure about all this at all, "and we know Riley is in trouble, but we don't know where she is, so how do we get her out of this?" "If we knew where she was, it'd be easy," Robyn looked at Willow. Willow thought a minute, then looked over at Giles, who had just re entered the room, "Giles," she said, "There is a spell, somewhere, isn't there?" Giles thought for a minute, "Theoretically, yes," he looked at Robyn, "it's a finding spell, but it's only legend, no one has ever actually seen it," Willow looked at Giles, "I can do that." "It's not your typical scrying spell, Will," Giles said. "What is it then," Willow asked. "Legend has it, it's a gating spell," Giles looked at Robyn, "a spell that would take us directly to Riley." Robyn looked at Nikki, Nikki looked at Robyn, "Umm," they said simultaneously, "we may have seen it around." "Impossible," Giles frowned at the girls, "this spell is said to have existed only on the lost continent of Atlantis, which in itself is only legend." The two women looked at each other again, "Umm," they said again, "we've seen that too." "This is no time for jokes ladies," Giles snapped, "someone very close to Willow and myself could be in terrible trouble, now we need to think." "Listen, boy," Robyn stood up, "if we say we've seen the spell, we've seen the spell, and if we say we've been to Atlantis, you can count on the fact that we have spent time there," Robyn looked at Willow, "Do you have anything of Riley's?" "Well, that's a silly question," then she reached over to the table, "this has been hers longer than I've known her," she said, handing Nikki Riley's light hockey stick, "Oh, and would you guys mind telling me what it is after this is all over?" Robyn smiled, "If we can get it to Riley you'll find out very soon." "We need Tal," Nikki had no sooner gotten the words out, than Tal, Khystra, and Buffy all came back into the room. "We couldn't find anything," Buffy said, looking at the four seated figures in the room, "but it looks like the four of you have figured something out," she frowned at Nikki and Robyn, but said nothing else. "Tal," Robyn walked up to her friend, "Remember the last time we were in Atlantis, you were given that scroll, just in case we ever needed it?" Robyn looked at him, "you know which one." Tal smiled, "Yep," he said, "it's in my pocket, gimme a second." Tal pulled out several large, apparently sharp knives, and a rubber ball, "Oh, I knew that was in there somewhere, Khystra, fetch!" Khystra stuck her tongue out at him. Robyn and Nikki smiled. "Ahh, here it is," Talon pulled what appeared to be an ancient scroll out of his pocket. "Is this what we're looking for?" he handed the scroll to Nikki. "May I see that?" Giles was already reaching for the paper. "Okay, but be careful, it's even older than I am," Robyn reluctantly handed the man the scroll. Giles stared wide eyed at the scroll, and then at Talon, "Where did you get this?" he looked at Robyn and Nikki, "I'm obviously missing something here." "You'll understand when you're older," Nikki smiled at Robyn, "won't he?" "We need to get down to business here people," Robyn took the scroll from Giles. "What business?" Buffy still looked confused, "what is on that paper there?" Robyn sighed, "it's a spell that we can use to track Riley," she said. "And how is it going to help us do that?" Again, Robyn sighed, but didn't answer, "We need someone who can make the spell work," Robyn looked around the room, "anyone have any ideas?" Willow looked up at Robyn, "Umm, that might be the only thing I can do to help, but I think I can do it," *** "Foolish child!" Dmitri stormed across the room, but could not break Riley from her trance, "you do not know how much trouble you are in," noticing he wasn't even fazing her, he grew more angry, "Who do you think you are? I am. . ." "I know, I know, I know, Dmitri Cream Cheezski," Riley looked at him defiantly, "you don't scare me." Dmitri was getting angry, "Cream Cheese. . ." but then regained some composure, "oh, you think you are amusing Dmitri, is that it?" he smiled, "well, you can amuse me further with one of those light shows of yours," he untaped Riley's legs, helping her to stand. Riley looked at him, "One other problem, buddy," she said, holding her hands up as far as she could behind her back, "can't give ya fireworks if I can't have my hands." "Fear not, young one, I will help you, I only hope you are as strong physically as you are strong willed," he smiled wickedly at her, "I would hate to have to dispose of your body when I take back what is mine." "My, oh," Riley looked at him trying only half effectively to hide her fear. Dmitri laughed, a horrible sound that reverberated through Riley's aching head, "Please Nikki, hurry," she thought as Dmitri led her through a small doorway, into brightly lit room with a stretcher and what looked like a small satellite dish. "We will begin when the sign is given," Dmitri tried lifting Riley onto the stretcher, but she kicked him, hard. As Dmitri fell to the ground, groaning, Riley was forced to her knees by the pain in her head, "I think it's time to send another sign of my own," she said quietly, and hoped Nikki was listening. *** "Okay, we've got the spell, now what?" Buffy was growing impatient with the friends, "I mean, if you guys are so powerful, shouldn't she already be back?" Robyn looked at the girl, "If you're so tough, why don't you just go get her?" "Because I don't know where she is," Buffy realized she had just put her foot in her mouth. "Ding ding ding!" Robyn glared at the slayer, "now if you don't mind, we have work to do." "So," Khystra spoke up, "what's it say Tal?" "You wouldn't believe parts of it," Tal read the ingredients for spell out loud, "Well, we're gonna need a few things," he took a breath and continued, "we need someone that can read this thing, oh, I guess I can, since I am," he smiled, "we need something of Riley's," "Got that too," Robyn held up the hockey stick. Talon nodded, "we need to be able to build a fire, but outside might not be a good idea," he looked at Giles. "We could use the fireplace," Giles said without hesitation. "That'll work," Tal continued, "we need candles, coloured ones." "Umm, what colours?" Willow reached for her bag, "I have a few." Nikki and Robyn looked at each other and then at Willow, but said nothing. "Red, yellow, white, green, and black," Tal said without looking up. Willow began searching through her bag, "Well," she said quietly, "I have red, I have black, umm," she unzipped another compartment of her bag, "I have yellow, and green, oh, here, and white," she dumped them onto the table in front of her. "We need to draw a pentagram on the floor," Tal said, the looked at Willow, "that's a . . ." he was cut off. "I know what a pentagram is," she said matter of factly, then noticed the group of four looking at her funny, "what, is it really that odd that I know what you're talking about?" she shrugged, "anyway, what's next?" Tal, who had been staring at the girl, shook his head violently, as if to return himself to the same plane as the rest of the group, and continued, "we need two gold coins," he dug in his pocket, "I know I have something in here somewhere," he rummaged for a few moments, then smiled, "Ah, here," he pulled out two small gold coins, and set them down next to the candles. Willow looked at everyone, expecting them to stare at the boy as they had at her, "Oh, sure," she said, "it's weird that a witch has candles in her backpack, but not that this boy has everything anyone could ever need in his left jeans pocket?" she sighed and leaned back on the couch. "Witch?" Khystra looked at her, "you're a witch?" "We haven't time for this, but I have one question for you, uh, Khystra . . . how in the world did you think Willow was going to make this spell work if she wasn't a witch?" Giles stared at the girl. Khystra looked at Giles and stuck her tongue out. "Anyway," Tal said, continuing, "does anyone know where we can find Holy Water?" "You mean there isn't any in your pocket?" Buffy remarked, "Well, I think we found what to get the boy who has everything on his next birthday." "Enough!" Robyn's voice boomed across the room, "is that all we're going to need, Tal?" "Yeah," he said, then, "but where are we going to find the Holy Water?" "You can get some faster than any of us, just make it a quick trip," Robyn smiled at Tal, who smiled back, and disappeared. "Is someone going to tell me where he goes when he does that?" Buffy huffed and strode across the room to where Talon was standing. "No," Nikki and Robyn said in unison. Just then, Buffy crumpled to a heap on the floor, Tal crumpling on top of her, "Jeez, I hate when people do that," he said, standing. "Okay guys," Tal said, "we should do this," he looked at Willow, "if I told you what this said, could you make it happen?" "Well," she said, "I could try." "I guess that's better than nothing," Tal looked at Willow, "we need that pentagram." "Oh yeah," Willow pulled a piece of chalk out of her bag, and drew in the middle of Giles' floor, "Now what?" "I don't know how well this is going to work if we have to use the fireplace." Tal looked at Giles, who refused, "No," he said, "not in the middle of my house," then seeing the look of despair on Willow's face, he relented, "Alright, but can we put something down so it doesn't burn a whole in my front room floor?" After putting a large pot in the center of the pentagram, and arranging the candles on the five points of the design on the floor, Tal began to read the spell slowly, "To help recover what has been lost, Mighty Hermes guide my steps," he nodded at Willow. "To help recover what has been lost, Mighty Hermes guide my steps," the girl repeated, looking at Tal. "Oh, now you have to throw these on the fire," he handed Willow a small package containing herbs of some sort. He then continued to translate, "Take from me this offering," he paused, and then added, "now throw the coins in the fire." Willow did as she was told. "to pay the price that you demand," Tal continued, "Let this be my talisman. Now hold the hockey stick in the smoke from the fire, Willow," Tal was getting annoyed at how disjointed everything was, but continued, "And lead me to what I seek." Willow completed her repetition, and waited. A full minute passed, then two, and nothing happened, "What happened? I mean, what went wrong?" fear grew on Willow's features once again. "Relax," Talon was thinking, "do you remember the spell word for word, and what to do?" he looked hopefully at Willow. "Yes," Willow said simply. "Try again, but this time, do it all at once," he paused momentarily, "maybe we just didn't say it fast enough. I'll say it with you. Oh, and you guys, hold hands would you?" Tal took Willow's left hand, and Khystra reached for her right. Willow shrank away from her. Robyn took her hand, leaving Khystra on her other side. After all had joined hands around the pentagram, Tal spoke again, "One, two, three," he said, and they began. As Willow and Talon completed the spell, a sudden wind swept through the room, though no windows or doors were open. The floor beneath them began to swirl as if it were some sort of vortex, but didn't open, "Oh!" Tal smacked his forehead, "the Holy Water, throw it in the pot," he yelled to Willow over the wind. Willow did as she was told, and suddenly the vortex opened and swallowed the group. The entire group landed in a lump on a hard floor. "Where are we?" Buffy asked, "can't you guys do anything right?" Talon looked at Buffy and said simply, "Nah, we're more prone to left." "Umm," Willow said quietly, "shouldn't Riley be here somewhere?" she looked around, but only saw a small wooden chair and a pile of duct tape in front of it. "I'm guessing she WAS over there," Nikki nodded toward the chair. The group followed her gaze, and Robyn whooped loudly, "Oooh, they have duct tape, this is gonna be fun!" Just then they heard a crash behind them. Looking over their shoulders they saw three large men break through the door, "You boys could've just opened the door," Robyn smirked at the men, who were looking at them all in confusion. Regaining a bit of composure, one of the men came at Willow, who was just a bit closer to the door than the rest of the group. Willow looked over at Nikki, who smiled, "Now, now, boys, can't we just talk about this like adults?" Nikki got her answer when one of the men threw Willow into her simply by raising his hand. Buffy rushed at the man, "You think you can just use my friend as a bowling ball?" she got within two feet of him, when he smiled evilly at her and threw her backwards into a wall. She sat there stunned for a couple of minutes. Tal looked at Buffy, "Well, if that's how you deal with evil villain types I don't think I'd want to be an old, frail, helpless woman around you when trouble finds you," he disappeared unexpectedly and reappeared a second later in the middle of the group of oversized men, "Boo!" he said with a smile, and pulled a knife out of his pocket. "He does have everything in that pocket," Willow said in awe. "Pretty close," Nikki smiled, then ran at one of the goons, who now had his back to her. She jumped and let a kick go, catching the man in the base of the neck. He fell to the ground, not moving. "What do you say we find out what these jerks are made of?" Robyn called to Talon. "Your command is my wish, Interpid One," he said, and slashed his opponent across the abdomen. Sparks flew as Talon's blade cut through metal and wire. "Robots?" Buffy stood, "but robots can't do what that one did," she pointed at the man who had thrown her and Willow. "Well, there's only one way to find out what he is," Tal disappeared again, only to reappear a second later, flying into the wall that was behind him when he left. "What the. . ." Robyn threw one of the robots into the one Tal had decommissioned. Both machines exploded into sparks. "Okay, what are you, buddy?" Robyn circled him looking for an opening, or a clue to how to get close to him. "I am Dmitri Kriscinski," he laughed, "and I have business to attend to, perhaps you will have more fun with my other little friends," he left. "Kriscinski, Kriscinski," Nikki was thinking, "Oh, oh, oh, Cream Cheezki!" Everybody looked at her, "Nikki, did Willow land on your head?" Robyn gave her friend a nudge. "That guy has Riley!" Nikki ran toward the door. Just as she got in front of it, six large, hairy creatures blocked her exit. Nikki looked at the creatures in amusement, "So he thinks a bunch of big ugly teddy bears are going to stop us does he?" she looked at Robyn, "shall we?" Robyn nodded, and walked straight into the middle of the group of creatures, "I'm sorry, but my friend there is allergic to cats," she poked one of the creatures. The creature roared and swiped an immense clawed forepaw at her, which she avoided easily. "They appear to be more like tigers than pussy cats," Tal observed, coming up behind one of them and cracking it over the head with the chair that had been near the wall. The chair splintered apart, but the creature seemed unscathed. "Hyper Active Super Pussycats!" Willow ducked to avoid one as it swung it's arm in her general direction, "mean Hyper Active Super Pussycats!" Khystra dropped to the floor and rolled to avoid one of the creatures that was now trying to kick her, "Pussycats," she growled, "I hate pussycats," she kicked her leg out and caught the beast as she was rolling by, knocking it into one of its compatriots. Both creatures grunted as they hit the floor. "Okay," Robyn kicked the legs out from another of the beasts, "I think weaknesses would be a good thing to find right now," she jumped to avoid the upswinging arm of the demon she'd just tripped, "brute force doesn't work." "Well, maybe Talon there has something in his pocket that'll help," Buffy looked at the boy, "I don't have my bag here, or I could take care of this whole thing myself." Talon crossed his arms and stared at the Slayer, "alright then, go ahead," he backed up a step and looked at her, "I'm waiting." The furry giants all ran at Buffy, who had turned her back to them. She turned around just as one of them reached out to grab her by the neck, "Oh no!" she tried to duck, and the creature grabbed her hair. Nikki saw what was about to happen and sprang into action, "Hey, Furball!" she strode up and poked it in the side, "I may not like the Slayer too much, but I like the way you're acting even less," and with that, she pulled the animal's arm behind it's back, wrenching it up till it's enormous paw was on top of it's head, "say uncle," Nikki said, pulling on the furry arm even harder, "aww, come on, you can do it, say uncle," she pulled hard, and the creature screamed as it's arm popped. "Nikki, pull its arm right up, I think I've figured it out!" Robyn watched as her clone did as she was told, pulling the arm until the elbow was level with the creature's ear. Suddenly, the creature howled, and its arm came right off of its body, "that's what I thought," she ran over to the creature and kicked its leg, just above the knee. The animal crumpled to the ground its leg lay on the floor a foot from its head. "Okay, if that works, then," Tal spun around and grabbed one of the beasts by the ears, pulling hard. POP, the beasts head separated from its body, "No blood, no explosion, this is dull," Tal said, dropping the creatures head onto the rest of it's crumpled form. "Well that makes things a whole lot easier," Nikki smiled, spinning around with her arm out stretched. She caught one of the creatures just above its shoulder, sending its neck and head in one direction as its body fell in another. One of the remaining creatures made its way towards Willow, who grabbed the chair that had been against the wall, and swung it in the direction of the beast. The swing was low, but effective, cutting her attacker in half, "Stupid pussycat," she muttered, picking the chair up and looking for another beast to cut down. Robyn looked down at the creature that lay whining at her feet and smiled, "See ya," she said, and stomped on its nose. The animal's head flattened like a cardboard box, "two left," she looked at Talon, who smiled. "Never fear chief, I got 'em!" he pulled a large blade out of his pocket, closed his eyes and threw it. It struck the first of the two remaining creatures between the eyes, leaving a hole straight through its head. As it traveled, it caught the other beast in the throat, pinning it to the wall. "Much better," Robyn smiled as she pulled the knife out of the pinned creature and proceeded to decapitate it. She then tossed the knife back to Tal, who sliced through the last beast's head easily. Willow surveyed the carnage in the small, dark room, and then looked at Robyn, and in a quiet voice asked, "Now what?" Just then Robyn felt a tingle just under her skin. She smiled, "I think we're about to find out," she said. Riley had become aware of something happening in the other room. She tried to sit up, but couldn't, "Listen CreamCheezki," she said, annoyed, "I don't know what you want, but . . ." "Silence!" Dmitri slammed his fist onto the table Riley was lying on, leaning close to her head and whispering, "your end is near child, and Dmitri's new beginning," he smiled and stood. As he walked over to what looked like a control panel, he paused and turned, "you have character," he smiled, "Dmitri wishes he didn't have to terminate our friendship so soon. He turned again and walked to the wall where the control panel was. "You know," Riley said, "you don't have to terminate anything, I don't even think you have the nerve to end a sentence," Riley stopped as pain shot through her head again. "Child, you are trying my patience," the man looked back at her, "Dmitri Kriscinski is a master mind, he created creatures that are now destroying your little comrades, and he created the power you now possess, and he is going to take it back, right now!" "Well," Buffy said, "that was easy," she stepped over one of the fallen creatures towards the door. "Not that you did anything to help," Khystra spoke up, "but then, neither did I, so. . ." she smiled. "Seemed a little too easy," Robyn looked down at the heaps on the floor, kicking one in the leg. As her foot hit it, its leg swung over, knocking her to the ground, "knew it," she said as she fell. Robyn rolled as she hit the ground, barely avoiding the animal's fist as it swung toward her. "Had to open your mouth, didn't you, oh Interpid One," Tal stuck his tongue out at his leader. He jumped to avoid another one of the headless beings as it tried to trip him, "now what?" Robyn grabbed the ankle of the beast that had tripped her, "Well, we could just rip them limb from limb," she pulled the beast's leg and it popped off. "Do we really have time for that?" Khystra looked out of the room into the hallway beyond, "we wouldn't be here if Riley wasn't in serious trouble." The words had no sooner left Khystra's mouth when the whole group was silenced by a sound. From behind the door Khystra was heading towards, a sound, half yell, half moan, full of pain could be heard, "What the heck was that?" Tal looked towards a door just across the hallway, "it sounded like someone was in a whole lot of pain." "Oh no!" Willow and Robyn gasped in unison, "Riley!" and the room went black. Riley squeezed her eyes shut as Dmitri pulled down on a large lever on the control panel, "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" she cried as pain shot through her head yet again. Dmitri laughed evilly as he pushed a button and pulled the lever again. This time Riley felt a burning sensation all the way to her feet. Clenching her fists, Riley pulled her arms up, snapping the restraints on her wrists. Standing, she glared at Dmitri, "That hurt, freak! I don't know what you want, but I know I don't have it, and I don't have time for this game anymore," she turned and reached for the door. "Where do you think you are going?" Dmitri began walking across the room, "Dmitri isn't finished with you," he reached out and grabbed her shoulder. "Hey!" Riley spun around, connecting her fist with Dmitri's nose, "hands off!" Dmitri fell backwards, holding his face and whimpering. Riley reached for the door handle again. Dmitri lay on the floor, disoriented for a moment, then returned to his feet, grabbing Riley by the arm, "Dmitri is very upset with you, child," he started to pull her away from the door, "and now you will pay." Riley yanked her arm free from the man's grasp, "Let me go, freak!" she yelled, and then, "you know what, forget it," she took a step forward, "I don't want to play this game anymore," she closed her eyes. Dmitri felt the hair on his arms stand up, "What are you doing child?" he looked at her, his eyes growing wide, "you cannot do this to Dmitri, I gave you this gift, it will not let you hurt me." Riley opened her eyes and smiled, "Wanna bet?" "Door's locked," Buffy looked back at the group standing behind her, "what do we do now?" Robyn gave her a dirty look, "Some all powerful Slayer," she muttered, pushing the blonde out of the way, "we do this," she said, and kicked the door in. Just as the door flew off its hinges, a brilliant flash of light filled the room, temporarily blinding most of the group that had just entered the room. "Arrrrgh!" when the group's eyes had readjusted to the light in the room, the looked over and saw Riley smiling over the motionless body of a man. "Tpacxhume Bac," she muttered vehemently, and turned to her friends, "well hello," she smiled. Robyn smiled at her, "Hello yourself, what did you just say?" "She just swore in Russian," Willow was staring at her, "and it wasn't a pretty swear either." "Sorry hun," Riley looked sheepishly at her girlfriend. "I didn't know you spoke Russian," Nikki looked at Riley and smiled. Then the smile disappeared from her face, "Rye, look out!" Dmitri was on his feet, looking stunned but angry, "You cannot stop Dmitri that easily, child," he grabbed at Riley's arm. She jumped, sending him crashing back to the floor. "Dang, what I wouldn't give for my hockey stick right now," Riley backed up towards her friends. "Ohh," Willow jump beside her girlfriend, "here, I have it!" she handed it to Riley. Riley took her stick, pushing the button on its shank, "Ρμ. ya," she whispered, and brought the orange blade down on Dmitri's shoulders, cutting cleanly all the way through the man's chest and back, and the floor beneath. The group rushed up to Riley, who was now sitting on the floor a short distance from her captor's body, "Jeez," she said quietly, "why can't I just live a quiet, normal, happy life?" Robyn smiled and sat down beside her friend, "Because you don't want to," she said. Riley looked over at Robyn, and stuck her tongue out at her, "Why are you always right?" "Because I'm the Interpid Leader," she said simply, and stood. One the way back to Giles' house to report, someone called from behind the group, "Hey, guys, wait up!!" Xander and Anya joined the group, "so, what'd we miss?" Xander asked innocently. 
"Oh, nothing," Riley smiled and squeezed Willow's shoulders, "you probably had a much more interesting evening."
"We had a very interesting evening," Xander said, looking at Anya, "didn't we?" "Oh be quiet Xander," Buffy huffed, "all you two did is exactly what you always do. At least we figured out how inferior I am to Riley's friends," Buffy walked off without another word. "What got into her?" Xander stared after his friend, "and what really happened while we were gone?" "Well," Willow thought, "Riley got kidnapped, we all got sucked into the floor at Giles', we were attacked by psycho kittens, and Riley saved herself, so we didn't really even have to be there, and that's probably why Buffy is upset," she thought for a moment, "oh, and maybe the fact that Robyn, Nikki and the guys took care of the majority of the bad guys could have something to do with it too." "Ahh," Xander smiled, "the Buffster has developed a complex," he said. "Another one," Riley muttered. She stopped for a moment, "I need to sit guys," and she sat down on a patch of grass beside the sidewalk. "Are you okay sweetie?" Willow knelt down beside her girlfriend, "what's wrong?" Riley smiled at Willow, "Nothing Will, being rescued just takes a lot out of a girl," she smiled again and got up, "I'm okay, let's go." "Maybe we should go out and get into trouble and let her save us," Willow said tentatively. The group had returned to Giles' house, hoping Buffy would be there, "Giles, was she here at all?" Willow was worried about her friend. "Yes, she was here," the older man said, "she said she was going to patrol," he looked at the group questioningly, "she said something about not having to now that Robyn and the rest of you were here," he shrugged. "Maybe Will's right," Riley stood and started for the door, "I mean, maybe Buffy needs an ego booster." Nikki made a face at Riley and laughed, "Personally I think that it was time for her to fall off that high horse of hers," Nikki saw the look on Willow and Riley's faces and sighed, "oh, alright, I'm all for mischief if everyone else is," she stood beside Riley, "but only if Rye's feeling up to it. You still look kind of weak. Riley smiled, "I'm okay, and besides, if I'm weaker, Buffy'll have to try just that much harder, right?" she opened the door, "anyone else coming?" "I'm not leaving you alone out there again!" Willow bolted to the door and grabbed Riley's hand. "Anyone else?" Riley looked at her friends. Nikki walked over to the door, "I'll go, but what'll we do?" "Well, this is the Hellmouth, all we really need to do is walk out the door," Talon stood and walked over to the others, "as we found out this evening already," he winked at Riley, who stuck her tongue out at him. "Okay," Riley said, "let's get into trouble." The group left Giles' house together, and began walking down the sidewalk, "Maybe we should split up," Nikki suggested, looking at her leader, as if for approval, "me and Khystra and Willow, and you and Tal and Riley?" "Good idea, Nikki," Robyn began to cross the street, "I wanted to see the sights anyway," she turned to Riley, "are you coming?" "Ooooh, Will, we get to be Tour Guide Barbies," Riley said sarcastically, sticking her tongue out at Robyn, "okay then, shall we?" she began to cross the street then stopped, "Will," she said, turning to her girlfriend. "Rye?" Willow smiled slyly at her girlfriend. "Can I apologize for my earlier behaviour now?" "No," Willow said, and walked off to join the others in her group, leaving Riley in the middle of the street, staring after her. "Huh," Riley said, turning, "what was that?" she looked at Robyn. Robyn looked at Riley and smiled, "I have a feeling you'll find out later, old friend, come on," she turned and started walking, Talon following close behind. "Oh for . . . " Riley shrugged and followed her friends across the street. Riley, Robyn, and Tal walked silently for a few blocks. As they rounded a corner, Robyn stopped and looked at Riley, "So, are you going to tell me why you left?" "Fight with Willow," Riley said. Robyn laughed, "No, I mean, why did you leave us and come here." "To meet Willow," Riley said and began walking again. She rounded another corner, followed closely by Robyn and Talon, who were trying to figure out her last comment, when Riley ran into Spike, literally, "Ouch!" Riley muttered as she hit the sidewalk, "watch where you're going freak," she spat when she realized who she had hit. "I was watching," Spike smiled, "I've been waiting for you," he said. "Sorry buddy, you're not my type," Riley got to her feet and turned to her friends, "shall we?" "You're not going anywhere," Spike stood blocking Riley's way, "not until we've finished with you." "Multiple personalities, Spike? Or do you have an imaginary friend?" Riley looked at him, amused. "Rye, if he's stupid enough to want to play again, why don't you just do your thing?" Robyn smiled at her friend. "You want to dance again, Spike?" Riley asked. "Dance?" Tal looked at Robyn. "Just watch," Robyn answered. "I'd love to," Spike said, "but I think my friend would enjoy it a lot more," he looked back towards a building that was about 10 feet from where the group of four stood. From around one corner of the building, a tall man wearing a trench coat emerged and walked over to the group. "What the. . . "Riley took a step backwards, "But, I just sawed you in half!" she stared at the man. "No, child, you saw Dmitri," the man said, "for which I am unhappy. I am Fyodor, brother of Dmitri," he smiled. "Huh? More Cream Cheezki?" Riley backed up another step, "I think I need a vacation." "Ask and ye shall receive," the Russian spoke, suddenly without an accent. He stepped forward and reached out to grab Riley by the arm, "you have something of ours, we want it, and I'm not leaving until I get it back." "Listen," Riley sighed, "everything I have is mine and pretty much always has been," she looked at Robyn, "isn't it?" Robyn looked at the new man, "She has nothing of yours," she said simply, and then, "but she could give you something you don't want." Fyodor laughed, "You think you scare me child?" he walked over to Robyn, "I fear no child." "Child?" Robyn looked at the man, "boy I was a child before your kind walked this earth, and I don't just mean you and your brother." Fyodor looked inquisitively at Robyn, who stared contentedly back at him. Suddenly, the villain's eyes got wide and he stumbled back a step, "What are you?" he backed into Spike, and both men fell to the ground. Riley looked at Tal, and then at Robyn. Realizing what the man had been so shocked by, Riley smiled at her friend, "Robyn, Robyn, Robyn," she said, "control yourself my friend." "What?" Robyn said innocently, "what'd I do?" Riley smiled and crossed her eyes, "Your eyes, my dear friend, I was under the impression you were playing human here." "Oh," Robyn smiled, "well, sometimes extreme circumstances call for extreme measures, you know?" "Enough!" the Russian was beginning to get annoyed at the girls as they continued to mock him and make light of what he wanted to be a very serious situation, "Dmitri may have let you mock him, but I will not!" he strode up to Riley, pulling her towards him, "now we go, and this will be done," the wind began picking up, swirling around the group of friends and the Russian and Spike. In the midst of the newly forming dust storm, a light began to glow, faintly at first, then brighter, until what looked like a gate had formed before the group. As the Russian began laughing, he began to change, his ears growing and coming to a point, his nose growing longer, and his pupils narrowing into slits. Robyn laughed, "I'll bet you think you're special now, don't you?" The demon laughed evilly, "No," he said, "I feel powerful," he pulled Riley toward the gate, "and when I'm finished with this child, I will be all powerful," he laughed again and pulled Riley closer to the gate. Riley made a sound that resembled a dying mouse, and said, "now would be a good time for intervention," she looked at Robyn. Robyn only smiled at her, "But if I stepped in, who would Buffy save?" Riley looked around quickly, and saw Spike. As the demon dragged her past the vampire, Riley kicked him in the shin, "She can save the dead guy." "Ouch!" Spike fell to the ground, clutching his injured leg, "damn it, why am I always the one that gets picked on?" "Law of the jungle, Spike," Buffy came out from behind the building. As she passed him, she kicked him, "pick on the weaker of a species," she turned towards Riley and her attacker, "and you, what're you doing with my friend?" Fyodor looked at the slayer and smiled, "Nothing you can stop me from doing, girl," he pulled Riley in front of the gate and paused. He turned towards the group of two that had accompanied his captor, "I saw how you and your friends handled Dmitri and his minions, now see how you handle me and mine!" Buffy lunged at the demon, but it moved as she flew at it, and she succeeded only in attaching herself to its ankle, "Stupid man, err, thing," she muttered. "Foolish child," Fyodor laughed, "you think you can stop me? Well, you can't, and you're beginning to annoy me, I'm much too powerful and important to waste my time with children like you," he began waving his arms and yelling in Russian, and a group of massive dead looking football players charged through the gate behind the man. "Oh, for crying out loud," Robyn sighed, "you honestly think those are going to stop us?" Fyodor smiled, "Yes, child, I do." "I wish you people would stop calling me that," Robyn charged at one of the zombies and flattened it on the ground. As Robyn and the dead athlete hit the ground, two more of the beasts grabbed the woman by the shoulders and pulled her off their compatriot. Robyn strained against the strength of the creatures, "Well, they're definitely stronger than the other ones," she said, trying to pull herself free of their grasps. "Oh no," the Russian smiled, "it seems as though you're leader is a little, umm, tied up, as they say," he let out a loud evil laugh, but Riley cut him off. "How d'you mean, other Cheezki?" she smiled as Fyodor cringed at his new nickname. "I mean," he said, composing himself, "my friends have a pretty firm hold on her." "I don't know, Other Cheezki," Riley smiled again, "Robyn's cute, but she doesn't look too good in pink," she pointed with the arm Fyodor wasn't pulling her by. The Russian turned, "What the?" he regarded his warriors with horror, "where'd she go?" The entire group, minus Buffy and Fyodor, laughed out loud. In the arms of the zombie jocks was not the woman they had captured. Instead, they now held a four foot tall over-stuffed pink rabbit. One of the zombies held it up by its large cotton tail for its leader to see. Fyodor let out a frustrated yell, "Where'd she go? How did she get away from my warriors?" he looked at his demons and sighed, "Put it down, you idiot." The beast dropped the stuffed rabbit onto the asphalt of the parking lot, and it disappeared. The demon looked at its feet and grunted. The football zombies began looking at their feet, trying to locate the pink ball of fluff. As they were lifting their feet to peer under them, the pavement began to move, slowly at first, and then churning like lava beneath them, "Uh!" one of the zombie monsters fell with a grunt as the asphalt turned to liquid beneath it. Buffy looked at the monsters, "What the?" she walked closer to them, careful not to fall into the trap they had encountered, "Okay, this is weird," she said. "Yeah," Tal smiled, "isn't it great?" Buffy stood for a moment, not sure what to do. She didn't understand what was going on, and she wasn't sure she wanted to. Shaking her head, she dove into the center of the sea of pavement. She stood for a moment, the pavement steadying under her feet, "What the?" she stood on what seemed to be an island in the ocean of parking lot. Sensing her hero needed a little help, Riley hollered, "Buffy, are you gonna help me, or what?" Buffy knew she had to help, but wasn't sure how she could. She began scanning the area for something to fight with. As if by magic, a long metal pole, perhaps from a stop sign, shot up from the asphalt. Grabbing the pole, Buffy began swinging it at the creatures that were half stumbling, half swimming through the parking lot. "Silly child," Fyodor laughed, "you think that stick is going to stop my army?" he had fear in his eyes, but his voice remained steady. "Yeah," Buffy smiled, jabbing the pole into one of the midsection of one of the creatures, "I do," and she swung the beast over her head and it was swallowed by the churning pavement. Buffy took a swing at one of the remaining creatures, aiming for its head. The creature seemed to anticipate the move, however, and grabbed the pole. "Uh oh," Buffy felt herself being lifted from the pavement. She flew over the creature, mimicking the earlier movement of the creature she had destroyed, but, instead of being swallowed as she hit the pavement, it began to rise beneath her. "What the . . . " Buffy grabbed the edge of the slab of parking lot and looked down at the beings beneath her, "don't ask, just save Riley," she stood and took a deep breath, "here goes," she leapt from the pavement and landed on her feet on the shoulders of one of the beasts. As she landed, the beast's knees buckled and it fell to the ground with a painful cry. "No one . . . or nothing . . . tries to hurt a friend of mine and gets away with it," and with that she kicked the creatures head so hard it came right off its shoulders. "Alright, who's next?" Buffy looked around, but the last four creatures were busy battling the group members. Buffy looked over just in time to see Fyodor dragging Riley across the parking lot to a waiting car, "Oh, no you don't," she said, running at the man. "Oh save me, someone," Riley said, feigning distress and trying not to smile. Fyodor turned just in time to catch the force of the young woman's hands on his shoulders. Riley flew a couple of feet and landed sprawling on the pavement as the two combatants rolled across the parking lot in the other direction. Riley sat up and watched contently as her friend battled to save her. Buffy punched and kicked at her opponent, but he didn't seem to weaken at all, "How am I going to beat this guy?" she thought as they stopped rolling abruptly. Buffy spotted what would probably be her only chance to beat the Russian before he could do any more damage, to Riley or herself, "Okay, umm, Creamcheezki," she giggled. "Other Cheezki," Riley shouted, also giggling. "Enough!" Fyodor shouted. "You're right," Buffy smiled, "I'm bored of this whole thing," she stood and began walking away. "No one walks away from me!" Fyodor reached for the girl. "What's she doing?" Khystra looked at Robyn then at Nikki, both women shrugged. Without warning, Buffy dropped to her knees, catching Fyodor off balance and throwing him onto the roof of the car that he had been trying to force Riley into just moments before. "What . . ." Fyodor's ability to speak was lost as he hit the car, and fell through the roof. The group watched the car for a moment for signs of movement, "Do you think he's dead?" Willow asked Tal. "Well," Tal said, "there's only one way to find out." "Yeah," Riley smiled, "or we could just make sure." "Huh?" Buffy looked at Riley, who smiled. Pointing to the sky, Riley whistled, "Boy, the weather's turning bad, isn't it?" Everyone looked up, Robyn, Nikki, Khystra, and Tal all smiled but Buffy looked back at Riley, "It looks clear to me." Just as Buffy had finished her sentence, a bright bolt of white lightning hit the car, causing the entire vehicle to explode. Buffy and Willow hit the ground in anticipation of the wall of debris that should have come flying at them at the moment of the explosion. The group of friends just stood and watched as the car, exploded upward and fell back to earth. The whole motion resembled a geyser. Buffy and Willow looked up when the shower of metal failed to hit them, "Okay, you four," she said, standing, "you have a lot of explaining to do." "I think we all do," Robyn said, looking at Riley, "why are you here?" she asked. "Already told you," she said, looking at Robyn, "to meet Willow." 
"This is all rather touching," Spike emerged from behind the car, "but I think you should all explain what happened here, I just lost a heap of money because of you kids."
"Spike," Buffy sighed. "Yes, love?" he smiled at her. "I don't want to hear another word." "But . . ." Spike spoke the word and Buffy wheeled around. "I said shut up," she said and firmly planted a stake in his chest. "Bollocks," he managed to mutter before disappearing in a cloud of dust. The group sat in a circle on Giles' floor. The day's events were being thrown around the room, and Giles was trying to understand what happened, "So the car just exploded straight up?" he looked at Buffy. "Well, I didn't do it," she said. "Someone had to have, lightning doesn't just happen out of the blue," Giles thought for a moment, "not that conveniently anyway." Riley smiled. She looked at Robyn, who winked. "Is there something you ladies would like to share with the rest of us?" Giles looked from one girl to the next, "Riley?" Riley smiled and said simply, "Giles, never look a gift horse in the mouth." When the man frowned she sighed, "I did it," she said, and scanned the room for any reaction. "Right!" Xander laughed, "and Buffy finally staked Spike," sarcasm dripped from the comment. "Umm, actually," Willow began. "Oh, you didn't!" Giles looked at the Slayer, who did not meet his gaze. "Well, what would you have done, he's the reason this all happened," she looked to Riley for support. "She's sort of right," Riley said, "I believe he did tell whoever those guys were where to find me." "See!" Buffy said triumphantly, "It was justified." Giles frowned, "Do you know what they wanted with you?" he asked Riley. "Yes," she said, but did not offer to share any more than that. "Well?" Anya spoke up for the first time, "aren't you going to share?" Riley sighed, "You all really want to know?" "Yes!" Xander, Buffy, Giles and Anya said in unison. "Look out the window," Riley said, and the four did as they were instructed. After a minute, they began to see lightning in the distance. "Ooh, lightning," Anya said, "so what are we looking at?" Riley rolled her eyes, "The lightning," she said. "But I thought you were going to tell us what those men wanted with you," Xander looked back at Riley. "That's what they wanted from me." "What . . . the lightning?" Xander stared, "what do you have to do with weather patterns?" "Nothing, but I can make lightning," Riley was beginning to get annoyed. "Yeah, right!" Xander laughed, "prove it then, make lightning strike the front lawn." A moment later, a bright white bolt hit the grass, close enough to the house to make the lights flicker. Xander's jaw dropped. "Get it now?" Riley smiled as she leaned back against the chair Robyn was sitting on, "now, if it's okay, I've had a hell of a day, I think maybe I'd like to go to sleep." "Of course," Giles got up and saw Willow and Riley to the door, "you two rest up, and we'll talk again tomorrow." "Goodnight, Rye," Robyn said, "and could we talk tomorrow too?" "Of course," Riley smiled, and pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket, "meet us at this address tomorrow around noon?" Robyn agreed and the two women left the rest of the group alone. "Well, that was weird," Anya said. "You ain't seen nothin' yet," Tal rubbed his hands together and grinned. "So," Willow walked slowly beside her girlfriend, "I guess you were going to tell me eventually, right?" "Yeah," Riley stared at her shoes, "I just didn't think you'd understand." "Rye," Willow smiled, "Honey, we live in the Hellmouth." "Well," Riley started. "And I'm all about witchness, remember?" Willow paused, thinking, "Well, I'm all about usness, but then I'm all about witchness," she smiled. "So you do understand?" Riley looked at her girlfriend. "I do," "Good," Riley put her arm around her girlfriend, "You know, I've been thinking." "Oh, yeah?" Willow looked at her with interest, "about what?" "Business, stability, that sort of thing," The turned to enter their apartment building. "Tell me about it, please," Will said, as Riley opened the door. *** "So, did you talk to her?" Nikki sprawled on the bed next to Robyn. "Sort of," Robyn said, "She said she came to meet Willow." "And she couldn't tell us that . . . WHY?" Tal asked from his position on the floor. "I don't know yet, "Robyn replied. Riley propped herself up on her elbow and looked at Willow's sleeping form. She wasn't sure what she was going to do next, but she knew she had to do it soon, "Will?" she shook her girlfriend gently. Willow groaned and opened her eyes. She smiled at Riley and sat up, "Morning, babe," she kissed Riley gently, "what's the matter?" she saw a look cross Riley's face for just one moment, and it scared her. "Nothing, honey, I was just thinking," and now she knew what she had to do, "Will, we need to talk." "Okay, let me get this straight," Buffy stood, pacing in Giles' living room, "you can make . . . lightning?" she laughed nervously, "Lightning?" "No," Riley sighed, "I don't make anything," she smiled at the look on Willow's face, "Well, almost nothing." "Okay, okay, none of that," Xander plugged his ears and squeezed his eyes shut. "Well, then what is it exactly?" Buffy asked. Riley rolled her eyes, "There's a storm coming," she said, "and when there's a storm coming, if it's a thunder storm, I can make the lightning from the storm go where I want it." "Oh, okay," Buffy said, and then, "What?" "Look, I don't know how to explain it, okay, I just know I can do it," Riley looked at Willow, "I need to go for a walk." "Oh, no you don't!" Xander stepped in front of the door, "you're not leaving this house alone." "Who said anything about going alone? Robyn, can we talk?" "I thought you'd never ask," Robyn said, standing. *** Willow opened her eyes and squinted as the sun hit them. She rolled over and smiled at Riley, "You were out late," she sat up, "if I didn't know you as well as I do, I'd be suspicious." "You don't know everything just yet," Riley said. She smiled at Willow, "Don't worry, no more weird surprises." "D'you want some breakfast?" Willow asked her girlfriend, "I can make it." Riley smiled, "No, let's go out, I have a surprise. Riley took Willow's hand and walked with her in silence until they came to a restaurant, "I don't remember this place, is it new?" Riley smiled, "Yeah, it is, want to go inside?" she pulled playfully at Willow's sleeve. Willow looked at Riley suspiciously, but followed her into the new restaurant. Inside there was a bar, a kitchen, and several tables and booths. There was no one else in the restaurant, "It's not a very busy place, is it?" Willow looked around. Riley, still smiling, looked around, "Well, it's not quite open yet," she looked over at Willow, "we're our first customers." "Our first customers? What do you mean?" The Demon pulled up next to the curb and everyone looked out the window, "Okay, so why are we here?" Nikki tried to look into the restaurant window, but the glare from the sun prevented her from seeing anything. "Riley said we should meet her here for breakfast," Robyn opened her door and stepped out of the car. Her jaw dropped as she looked up at the sign over the restaurant, "Hey! Look at this!" She pointed at the sign which read, "Lucky's Sunnydale". "So, what, you ran away to meet Willow?" Nikki sounded a little angry, "and you didn't tell anyone, and you didn't call anyone, and how exactly did you know how to find her or even that she was looking for you?" now she sounded really angry. "The same way you knew how to find me when it was time" Riley said quietly. "I heard a voice." "Oh, pu-lease!" Nikki said, "I never heard a . . ." Nikki stopped and cocked her head to the side, "no, way!" she smiled, "Hey, can you do that to everyone?" "What, what, do what?" Willow asked, poking her girlfriend in the arm, "Oh, you mean talk in her head! Aww, that's too easy." "I can't, not to everyone," Riley said, glancing at Robyn, "sometimes I have to wait and say things in person, "anyway, have we cleared it all up now, or do I have to try and do it again?" "No, we get it," Khystra scrunched up her nose and thought out loud, counting off the points on her fingers, "love, travel, can't get into Robyn's head, hey . . . did you tell Willow about the lightning?" "Yeah, no more secrets, anywhere," Riley smiled at Willow, and then at Robyn, "are there?" "Don't think so. No more questions right now either," she smiled. "Do you guys want to see the apartment?" Willow invited her new friends upstairs to show them where she and Riley would now be living, "The only thing I don't get is this closet thing here . . . no shelves, just closet." Riley smacked herself on the forehead, "Tal, I was wondering, could you make a portal happen, just for me," Riley smiled sheepishly, "I haven't figured that out yet." "Sure," Talon smiled, "when would you like it?" "Yesterday." Tal smiled and disappeared for a second. On reappearing, he asked, "Care to check it out?" Riley smiled and grabbed Willow's hand, "Watch, watch, watch, this is sooooooo cool!" she lead her girlfriend through the closet, and into a bar that looked exactly like the one she now co-owned and lived over. "What, are we back downstairs?" Riley smiled, "Willow, my love, welcome to Lucky's, Seacouver, owned and operated by our very own Robyn P. Goodfellow," seeing her girlfriend's confusion, Riley smiled, "we're border jumpers." "So, we're in . . . Canada?" Willow looked at Riley, shaking her head, "How? What? When?" Riley smiled, "it's just a portal. Not to any other dimension, just to my best friend's bar." "Okay, I guess it'll all get clearer eventually, right?" Willow smiled and put her arms around Riley. "Right," Riley gave Willow a kiss. Together they walked back through the portal. "So," Robyn walked out to the sidewalk with Riley, the others all following, "are you coming home now?" Riley smiled and hugged her friend tightly, "Rob," she said, "I am home." Robyn smiled and nodded, "Well, I suppose it's not like we're never going to see each other again, right?" "We're only a closet away," Riley smiled. "Right," Robyn smiled, "okay, are you guys coming? I have a bar to run," she looked back at her three travel companions. "All set," they all said. "Ooooh, watch, watch, watch, this is soooooo cool!" Riley laughed, "I say that way too much! There's more than enough room to get the Demon through the portal." "Okay, huh?" Willow looked at the car, "it won't even fit through the door! A horse maybe, a car, not so much!" Riley smiled, "Like I said, watch!" As the group looked on, the car underwent an amazing transformation, becoming a beautiful horse. "Now, it'll fit," Riley smiled at Willow's incredulous expression, "don't worry, I'll explain later." "Uh huh," was all Willow could say. "Okay," Robyn hugged Riley, "so, when are you going to visit?" "Well, if it's okay with Willow, we could do breakfast tomorrow," Riley looked hopefully at her girlfriend. "That would be great," Willow smiled. "Okay then, we'll see you in the morning," and Robyn began through the portal. As she began through, she could hear Riley talking to Willow, "and I'll introduce you to Smarties, and KitKats, and . . ." yeah, she was home. Riley looked out the window of her new apartment just as a strangely painted VW van pulled up in front of the bar, "Hey, Will, I think we have customers!" she ran down to the bar. The group from the van, two men, two women, and a huge Great Dane entered. One of the men, he was dressed quite plainly, and had a goatee, asked eagerly, "Hey, does this place have a kitchen?" "I'm sorry, sir," Riley smiled, "we don't allow dogs in our establishment, it's against health regulations." "Dog?" The man looked around, "where?" "Ra, rut rog?" The dog said. "Talking . . .dog?" Riley looked at the animal quizzically, and then, "Umm, Will, honey, I think you'd better stay up there." The End ~Fin~ |