Chapter 1
AN* This story is the sequel to ‘The Last Encounter’ which is also archived at this site. Please read and review, all comments welcome.
A prophecy concerning Dawn brings Spike back to Sunnydale. Will he still love Buffy, and will she still have feelings for him – read on to find out.
There has been no Glory and Joyce is still alive – mainly because I like her. Tall dark and forehead might make an appearance, but I will see where the story takes me first.
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It had been three years since he had last set foot in Sunnydale. Three years in which he had found his peace and acceptance of his fate. Too long to carry a torch for a woman, no matter how wonderful she happened to be.
Fate had not brought him back; it had been something as simple as an e-mail from Dawn. She had kept in contact with him through the power of the internet, and now that she was in danger he had come back to help her. He had only come back for Dawn.
What Buffy thought of his return was no longer his concern.
He had taken his time in settling in to the crypt. Clem had offered to find new digs, but Spike had insisted he stayed. Once Dawn was out of danger he would be on his way home. The crypt now belonged to Clem; he had no need for it now.
Two days had passed since his return. It was more than enough time to catch up with the events of the past three years, and the lives of the Scoobies. Clem had spent hours telling him of all apocalypses averted, and the various ups and downs of the Scoobies lives.
He never mentioned Buffy.
Satisfied that he was safe, he sent a text to Dawn asking her to meet him at the crypt. He wanted to hear first hand about the prophecy that mentioned her death. His nibblet was not going to die, not on his watch. Dawn had always treated him as a man, and that was something he treasured.
He would willingly die for her.
Handing a pile of cash to Clem, he asked him to make himself scarce for a few hours. He wanted to speak to Dawn alone and listen to what she had to say. If he was in a position to help her, he would. If he could not, he would find someone who could. As a last resort, he would take her home with him to Iceland. He could protect her there much better than he could on the Hellmouth.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, he realised she would be here in ten minutes. Clem had disappeared an hour ago, promising not to be back till very late. He had given Clem enough cash to play poker for days, and Spike hoped he would manage to win some hands.
Clem had made big changes to the inside of the crypt. Leather sofas were artfully placed in the upper level. Small tables had been carefully placed at each end displaying the artefacts Spike had sent him from his travels in the last few years. The walls, now free from damp, were covered in prints depicting mountains and lakes. A small kitchen had been built in the corner of the room, where his refrigerator had once stood, the latest appliances installed for Clem’s comfort. After all, Clem did like to eat.
The best addition to the crypt was the huge flat screen TV proudly sitting against one of the pillars. Clem had managed to snag cable from somewhere, and there was even a phone. The latest home cinema equipment had been discretely wired into the room, and a DVD recorder had replaced his old VCR.
Changed days from local dump cast-offs and stolen rugs.
The biggest transformation had been the lower level. The old coffins had been removed and the floor levelled with concrete. A large four-poster bed now stood proudly against one wall covered in pillows and quilts.
Clem liked his comforts, and he did not grudge him. All the transformations had been paid for by the money he had sent Clem on a monthly basis. Spike was glad to see his money had not all been spent in the back room of Willy’s.
Glancing at the clock again, he realised that Dawn would be here at any moment. A small frisson of excitement grew inside him.
Soon he would see his girl.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Bedlam raged at 1630 Revello Drive. Buffy, anxious not to let Dawn out of her sight, was arguing loudly with her sister.
“We have had this discussion over and over again Dawn, you are not going out on your own.” Buffy’s voice had grown loud in the room, desperate to make her point.
Dawn, arms folded and foot tapping, stared back at her sister in disgust. “And didn’t you hear me say that I’ll be safe where I’m going. Are you deaf these days, Buffy?”
Calm, calm, calm. The words were like a mantra in Buffy’s head. If she lost it she would end up hurting Dawn, and she would not allow that to happen. If her sister was determined to go out, then she would go with her. It was as simple as that.
“Okay, if you won’t tell where you’re going, then I’ll come with.” Buffy announced proudly, pleased at her plan.
Shaking her head wildly, Dawn refused her offer. “No way, Buffy. I’m seventeen years old, not three. If I want to go out, I don’t see the problem.”
“You know what the problem is, Dawn,” Buffy screamed at her sister. “The prophecy said you were going to die. We don’t know how, all we know is that it’ll happen at the next Blood Red Moon, whatever the hell that is. I can’t let you go out on your own. It’s just not safe.”
Dawn knew she had to win this argument. Spike was waiting at the crypt, and he had come half way round the world to help her. Buffy could not be allowed to stand in her way.
“Buffy,” she calmly said. “I won’t be far. You can keep in contact by cell if you want; but I am going out alone.”
Joyce stood silently in the kitchen drying the dishes from dinner. She had heard this argument so many times since they had found the prophecy, and she wished Dawn would see the sense of Buffy’s argument. For once, she agreed that Buffy should accompany Dawn wherever she wanted to go. Until they knew more about the danger her daughter was in, she did not want her to be alone.
As the last cup was placed into the cabinets, Joyce decided to intervene. Walking into the living room she was assailed by the sight of her two girls standing in the middle of the room arguing calmly. Their voices had lessened in volume as each tried to make their point. It was Dawn’s turn to keep the argument going.
“Buffy, I can’t take you with me and that’s that.” Cross-armed and shaking with suppressed rage, Dawn railed at her sister.
Buffy, not to be outdone, calmly asked, “Give me one good reason why I should let you out on your own, and I’ll let you go, Dawn. Just one reason and I’ll happily open the door and watch you leave.”
Dawn was almost vibrating in temper. She had to leave soon to meet Spike, but could not think of a reason to be out on her own. What could she say to convince Buffy she would be safe? Noticing for the first time that her mother had entered the room and was silently watching both of them, she knew her reason had to be good. Since Buffy had told her about the prophecy, her mother had been as protective as her sister. Deciding to say nothing and make a dash for freedom, she started to sprint for the door.
As Buffy tackled her to the floor, she remembered that her sister was the slayer and was too quick for her. Held securely by Buffy’s weight on her back, she resorted to the little sister ploy of bursting into tears.
Immediately Joyce went down on her knees beside her daughters. “Dawn, please stop crying and listen.” Turning to Buffy, she gestured for her to let her sister go. As Buffy started to rise, Joyce held on to Dawn’s arm to stop her jumping up and running for the door. “Honey, I have to agree with Buffy on this one. Until we know what’s out there the only protection you have is your sister.”
Dawn turned tear-wet eyes on her mother. She knew she could not fight both of them, but she still had to get away. Spike had been insistent that she come on her own, and she was determined to meet him at the crypt.
“Mom, please” she hiccupped, trying to stop the tears. “I have to go alone. Please trust me, mom, I have to be there in a few minutes.”
Joyce continued to hold on to her daughter’s arm. She was as suspicious as Buffy as to where Dawn needed to go, and she was determined that Dawn would not leave the house without the protection of her sister.
“It’s starting to get dark, Dawn. Please try to understand that neither of us will let you go out alone.”
Crying in earnest, Dawn knew she was defeated. She should have just snuck out after dinner instead of dressing up to meet Spike, but she had wanted to look her best for her friend. Stupid, stupid mistake. Now she was stuck in the house with no way of escape and little chance of one. If she told Buffy the truth, she would never be allowed to leave the house again.
“Please, I have to go.” Dawn pleaded. “He won’t be here for long, and I need to see him.”
Brows pleating together in a frown, Buffy stood over her sister. “Who won’t be here for long, Dawn? Tell us who you want to meet tonight. Do you have a boyfriend we don’t know about, ‘cos I think we would have noticed a guy hanging round.”
Dawn knew she had made a mistake. Now her mother and sister would never let her go. She had to think of something fast.
“I’m just going to see Clem.” She quickly said, hoping the lie would be believed.
Buffy held out her hand to help her sister rise from the floor. As Dawn placed her hand in hers, Buffy held on tightly. As Dawn rose from the floor to stand between her mother and sister, Buffy never let go of her grip on her hand. Joyce took hold of her free hand between both of hers, and asked her gently.
“If you’re going to visit Clem, honey, why are you so against Buffy going with you?”
This was going to be tricky. She and Buffy usually visited Clem every few weeks, and had even helped decorate the crypt. Buffy had come to like the loose-skinned demon very much, and even Joyce had invited him to dinner now and then. In fact it was not unknown for Buffy to drop in to see Clem at the end of patrol for a chat and to watch a movie.
“Clem wants me to sit with him for a while ‘cos he trying to stop playing poker.” Poor excuse, she knew, but she hoped it would sound credible.
Staring at her in disbelief, Buffy put in her tuppence worth. “Really,” she said; voice incredulous at such a poor excuse. “Since when did Clem need your company to stop him playing poker? He knows about the prophecy Dawn, and there is no way he would ask you to go see him on your own just now.” Buffy moved until she stood directly in front of Dawn, her face close to her sister. “Tell me the truth Dawn. Who are you going to meet?”
There was no way out, she would have to tell them the truth. If they did not let her go, she would text Spike to come to her. Her mother would welcome him, even if Buffy said he could not come in. Looking down at her sister’s boots, she mumbled towards the floor.
“I’m going to Clem’s crypt to meet someone.”
Before she could continue, Buffy felt her anger rise again. “Who, Dawn?” she asked. “Who is so important that you have to meet them on your own when you KNOW how dangerous it is for you right now?”
Dawn continued to look at the floor. This was so difficult to say, and the words were sticking in her throat. Only the truth would help her now.
“Spike,” she whispered at the floor. “I’m going to meet Spike.”
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AN* - Well that’s the first chapter. Will Buffy let her go alone, or will she go with her? Will Joyce go too, or will Spike come to meet them.
The next chapter will be up soon, my friends. Please review – it makes the fingers go tap, tap, tap. The more I write, the quicker we get to Spuffy – hint hint.
Gillypod