==={*A Weird Welcome*}===

Buffy was just making her way back from the Movie Rental place when a thought came to her. {Maybe Willow likes Riley!} It made sense! Willow would have kept an eye on him at the party, and so she would have seen her talking to him, not to mention she would have seen that he didn't dance at all. Also, the fact that he was going after Buffy might explain why the Witch left without even telling the Slayer. {I didn't know!} she thought to her self {If I'd have known I would have hooked them up!}

Buffy thought about the idea of the two of them together and (although it made her skin crawl) it made sense. Both were very smart, good at psychology, they seemed to have a lot in common. {But for some reason I don't like the idea of them being together. Makes me want to punch the jerk . . .} she thought. She'd always been very aggressive when it came to Willow. When Angel had attacked her in 11th grade she had lost it. She flew off the handle when she got home.

Then, last year, when they had gotten the box of Gavrock from the Mayor there was no question of weather or not to trade. {There was no choice} Buffy though then as she did now, {The world isn't worth saving without Willow in it!} she remembered the nasty comment that Wesley had made after they'd rescued her. About how if the pages the witch had stolen were meaningless then they were back at square one. Buffy didn't think so. She was glad that Willow knew how much she meant to Buffy. THE WORLD. She had risked the world and gambled hell-on-earth in exchange for her.

{Plus,} The blond thought, {Even if we did keep the Gavrock and give up Willow I don't think we'd have one. Willow's the brains of this Family, and the Mayor wouldn't have stopped even if he'd lost the box. We needed her. I needed her.}

Buffy was shaken out of her thought as she saw that all the lights had gone out in her dorm. She saw a bunch of guys in Army garb running inside and standing out front. Using her Slayer Speed she ran all the way up to her dorm, only to find that it was a battlefield!

The Commandoes were everywhere, and they were even in her dorm. They seemed to be trying to drag people out of it. Smoke was filling the hall along with a few screams from her neighbors. Then she heard Willow's shouts and her Powers kicked in. Now she could see in the dark, and what she saw she didn't like! Three guys were trying to drag Willow and some guy from her room!

She jumped into action, kicking the men off her best friend, they came after her but she threw them like rag-dolls. Two of them ran back down the hall, while one stayed behind, he looked ready to face off with her, but suddenly changed his mind. Then the man they had been trying to drag out of the room got up.

"SPIKE?!" She yelled, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" she grabbed him by the front of his duster and smashed him against the wall. He coughed and spluttered a little, unable to fight the slayer off.

"Buffy?" came the feeble whisper for Willow, who was on the ground trying to get the wind knocked back into her. Buffy ran over to her and took her hand helping her up. Spike took this moment to run for his UnLife. Buffy carefully brought Willow to her feet, and walking her into their room.

"Are you sure that you're okay?" the Slayer asked cautiously.

"Buffy, I'm bruised. That all, I swear. Are you okay?" She quickly gave her friend the once over, looking for injuries (but finding none).

"Yeah, I'm fine. I got more for my trouble from the vamp I stakes on my way out-"

"Vamp?!" Willow asked, nervous for her friend, "There was one besides Spike you mean?"

"Yeah, don't worry. He's blowin' in the wind now." She gave Willow a quick hug, and placed her on the bed, carrying her like a small child. Willow was taken aback by this protective nature, she hadn't expected it. She looked up at her best friend worriedly.

"I'm sorry Buff." She said in her little girl voice, sounding more like the Willow from 10th grade.

"For what?" the Slayer asked, pushing some of the copper strands behind the Witch's ears. "I shouldn't be so mopey. If I wasn't then this never would have happened. We would still be at that party and there'd be no commando guy breaking down our door, not to mention the fact that you wouldn't be attacked on your way to get movies so I can wallow in self-shame."

"Willow!" Buffy said quietly, stopping the ramble before someone got hurt, "It's my job to get attacked by Vampires. Don't sweat it, okay?" Willow bowed her head sadly. "Besides, that counts as a patrol. No cemetery hopping for me tonight! Get to spend an evening with my favorite Woman in the world."

"Who? You're mom?" Willow tried to sound serious, but she couldn't keep in the laugh.