Disclaimer:All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Many thanks to my beta Leon Stryfe who stepped up when I was stuck and helped write more than a few chapters with me. For all your help you have earned the title of Co-Author for this story and my sincere gratitude. Thanks to my wonderful friend Sweetprincipale who listens to me and encourages me. And the wonderful ending was all her idea!
I have played with the time-line a bit in this story. The Angel episode “The Trial” actually aired a week after the Buffy episode “Shadow”. For the purposes of this story “The Trial” happened first. I have taken quite a bit of dialog from a few episodes of season 5. Shadow written by David Fury, The Trial written by David Greenwalt, No Place Like Home by Doug Petrie, Checkpoint by Jane Espenson and Doug Petrie, Blood Ties by Steven DeKnight, Spiral by Steven DeKnight and Intervention by Jane Espenson.

I hope you enjoy the story. This is the longest piece I have ever done and hopefully I did it justice.

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As they pulled up in front of Buffy’s house, they saw Graham, one of Riley’s military buddies, waiting outside. Knowing him the best, Buffy was the first to get out of the car and speak.
 
“Graham? What are you doing here?”
 
“I came to town to tell Riley that he could come back to the military. We have an open position for a demon hunter in South America.” His face took on a drawn, harrowed look before he continued. “But now I’m here to tell you in person that Riley’s body was found this morning. It was near Shady Rest Cemetery, next to a house that was being used as a bite house.”  The mourning tone was replaced by an accusatory stare. “He’s dead, Buffy. Where were you when he was getting attacked by vamps?”
 
“He was still going to those places? I told him to stop, that they were dangerous!” Joyce’s words shocked the group.
 
“Mom, what are you talking about?” To Buffy's surprise, it was Giles who answered her.
 
“Buffy, apparently Spike saw Riley entering one of those establishments last week. He informed Joyce and she, in turn, told me. Spike and I followed Riley one night and witnessed him engaging the services of a vampire.”  Buffy looked at Spike, whose nod confirmed Giles' tale. “Joyce and I both spoke with Riley and told him how dangerous his actions were and that he needed to stop immediately and inform you of his actions.”
 
“Why didn't you tell me?” Buffy's look of hurt almost broke Giles' heart.
 
“I.., we were under the impression that he was going to stop his behavior immediately. I am so sorry, my dear.” With tears on her face, Buffy turned to Graham.
 
“Graham, I’m sorry about Riley. I didn’t know. I asked him to watch over my mom and sister last night and when I got back he was gone. I didn’t know where he was going, I never had a clue.”
 
“Yeah, whatever, I just thought I would let you know just in case you actually cared. I have to go; I have to take his body back to his family.” Without waiting for a response Graham turned abruptly and left.
 
Everyone had climbed out of the vehicles to see what the commando wanted with Buffy. Once Graham left they began making their way to their own homes.  Xander and Anya left, bickering the whole time while Willow and Tara said their goodbyes and returned to the dorms.  Spike said goodnight to Joyce and Dawn before leaving quietly as Buffy and Giles entered the Summers house. 
 
“Buffy, are you alright,” Giles inquired carefully. Buffy nodded slightly.
 
“I mean, I’m sad that Riley is dead. But Giles, I don’t understand why he was going there? Was I doing something wrong? I know things weren’t good between us but I didn’t think he would cheat on me.”
 
“Buffy, Riley’s actions had nothing to do with you. He hasn’t been himself since he left the military. I don’t think he handled it well, realizing that you would always be stronger than him. He was trying to prove himself all the time on patrol, taking dangerous risks for someone who doesn’t have slayer strength. I firmly believe that he would have eventually gotten himself into a situation that he would have been unable to handle in the near future. You bear no responsibility for his untimely end nor should you carry any guilt for it, either. It was Riley’s insecurities and his own actions that caused this to happen.”
 
After consoling Buffy for a little while over Riley's death, Giles spent the next few hours grilling Buffy on everything that happened when Spike was taking the trials. Joyce and Dawn went to bed, unable to stay up any longer. Just before they went up the stairs Buffy called Dawn over to her.
 
“Giles, in the morning can you take a look at Dawn's necklace? That guy in there gave it to her and told her not to take it off. I just want to know what it is and if it does anything.”
 
Waiting until the two females went upstairs Giles turned to Buffy.
 
“Do you believe it might be dangerous?”
 
“I don't think so. I mean, why would he give her something bad? He healed mom and did something to Dawn. He said she wasn't the key anymore, but not to take the necklace off.”
 
“Make sure Dawn comes with you and we can research it immediately, my dear. You and your family have had a trying day, go get some rest and we will figure it out tomorrow.”
 
The next morning Joyce, Dawn, and Buffy sat at the kitchen island talking about everything that had happened. They were happy that Joyce was now healthy. Dawn wanted an explanation of what had happened to her and Buffy told her that she and Giles would explain everything to her later. Joyce consoled Buffy over Riley’s death.
 
“Buffy I am so sorry about Riley. I just don’t know what he was thinking.” The three women moved into the living room, sitting down on the couch.
 
Just then the front door explodes inward and the figure of Glory stormed into the living room.
 
“Where is my Key!” All three women jumped up and moved away from the living room door.
 
“You're too late, the powers took the key back,” Buffy replied, blocking Glory from going further into the house.
 
“They took my key?! You’re lying! I know you have it and I’ll find it and then I’ll make you pay for lying to me.” Glory upended the couch in her rage, barely missing the three women in the room and shattering the coffee table as it landed. Buffy pushed her mother and sister behind her, trying to steer them towards the kitchen and the back-door as Glory stalked towards them.
 
Buffy took a risk and flicked her eyes off the hell goddess for a moment to make sure her mother and sister were safely in the kitchen. She heard a scream and when she looked back into the living room Glory had disappeared. Running to the front door Buffy looked up and down the street trying to spot her. All she saw were the pair of high heels Glory had been wearing when she first arrived laying on the sidewalk in front of her house. She never noticed the young man barefoot in a red silk dress dashing down the street.
                                               
After making certain that her mother and sister were unhurt, Buffy called Giles. Taking the phone into the backyard so she wouldn't be overheard, she asked him to have the gang come to her house later that night for a meeting.
 
“Buffy, from what you told me, Dawn is no longer the key. I fail to see why we should inform her of her past.”
 
“Giles, Glory just showed up. She isn't going to quietly go away just because the powers took the key back. I really don't think she is just going to give up, actually I know she isn't. She made that perfectly clear when she kicked in my front door.”
 
“Is everyone unharmed?”
 
“No one got hurt, unless you count the couch and table. Glory made it a point to say that she didn't believe me and that she would be back. Everyone needs to know. Dawn and my mom can't go anywhere by themselves, they can't fight her. We need to come up with a plan to get rid of her. Just have everyone over here after sunset okay?”
 
“I understand, Buffy. You are correct; your mother and sister would be no match for Glory. I don't think any of us would be able to best her on our own. But I must ask why are we waiting for sunset?”
 
“Simple. Spike is supposed to fight by my side from now on so he needs to be here for the planning. About time that peroxide pain in my butt was useful.” Buffy's tone brooked no argument.
 
“Ah, yes. I must say I forgot about that.” Buffy barely caught the mumbled 'I was trying to repress it' from Giles.
 
After hanging up the phone, Buffy faced a dilemma; she needed to let Spike know about the meeting but was reluctant to leave her mother and sister alone in the house. Making a decision, she asked her mother to drive the three of them to Restfield. Joyce parked the jeep just outside the gate and followed her daughter through the cemetery. With a swift kick, the door to Spike's crypt banged open.
 
“Buffy Anne Summers,” Joyce began angrily, shocked at her daughter's behavior.  “You can't just kick someone's door open! I raised you better than that.”
 
“This is how I always do it mom,” was the slightly embarrassed reply.
 
“Doesn't mean it's polite, slayer.” Spike's sarcastic voice rang out from within the dark recesses of the crypt. “You should listen to your mum. Is that anyway to come into the home of the Powers' new Champion?” The smirk on Spike's face was evident as he came towards them, skirting the beams of sunlight to shut the busted door. “So, what's with the family outing?”