The Witch, the Warrior, & the Vampire
 Part 3


Written by: Brandi
 Author's Website





Summary: A prophecy, an upcoming gigantic battle, mayhem, and lots of vampire lore. Contains het and m/m, f/f slash. Contains cast of both BtVS,AtS, and oc. Main pairings: S/B, X/A, W/T
Disclaimer: The show Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all of it's characters belong to Joss, Mutant Enemy, & Fox Prod.
Feedback: http://www.livejournal.com/users/brandil




Chapter 3:Morgaine


Buffy went to the Magic Box bright and early Saturday morning with a grumbling Spike in tow. It was still too early for the store to be open, so she used her key to the training room and let herself in through the back door. Spike immediately flung himself down on a training mat and tried to go to sleep. Buffy could hear the sounds of Anya prepping the store for opening so she went to help.

"Oh!" Anya exclaimed when Buffy walked in. "I did not realize you were here. Did you forget something last night?"

"No, but Spike and I ran into a wacky demon on patrol. I wanted to report to Giles bright and early so we could get some heads up on what it was."

Anya's lips formed into a perfect pout and she retorted, "Well, that's fine then. You can just ignore MY gift and wait on your Watcher."

Buffy sighed. Sometimes Anya was the most difficult person she'd ever known. "Anya, I came here to tell you both at the same time because I don't feel like telling the story twice. I didn't forget about your gift."

"Well, that's different then. I can certainly understand your desire to not repeat the same thing over and over again." After a quick glance at her watch, Anya promptly turned on her heel and walked to the door. She unlocked it and flipped the sign over so that "OPEN" faced outward, then turned back towards Buffy.

"I brought some doughnuts from home. Would you like one while we wait for Giles?"

"Thanks Anya. Oh, and before I forget, Spike's with me. He's asleep in the training room." Buffy gestured half-heartedly in the direction of the back room.

Anya nodded and went to make coffee to go with the doughnuts. By the time the girls had finished their first cup and two doughnuts each, Spike came in from the training room to join them in the office.

"Got a cuppa for me?" He looked hopefully at Anya.

"Sure, but you have to make it yourself. I am not in the food service industry, I am in the retail industry." Anya smiled brightly at the couple.

Spike didn't bother to reply to the ex-demon as he poured his coffee, leaving it black. He selected a doughnut and dipped it in the coffee before eating it.

Anya wrinkled her nose at the vampire. "Eww, Spike is that really necessary?"

Buffy laughed out loud. "He usually dips his breakfast in blood, Anya. Be glad it's coffee."

The bell over the shop door rang and Anya jumped up, smiled brightly and said "Looks like I have my first customer of the day." She left Buffy and Spike sitting in silence over their coffee, both lost in their own worries, courtesy of The Messenger.

Anya returned to the office with a grumpy _expression. "It's Giles. I hate it when the first person that walks through the door doesn't wish to exchange commerce."

Giles poured himself a cup of coffee, ignoring Anya's statement. "Patrol must have been interesting if the two of you arrived this early to report."

Buffy and Spike exchanged a look. Spike tilted his head down and sipped his coffee, signaling Buffy to start. Giles had his diary ready to write when Buffy began.

"We did a sweep of all the cemeteries, got two fledglings. Spike decapitated a really tall green demon with white eyes."

"Could you fully describe the demon Spike, or do you know what kind it was?" Giles paused in his writing, looking at Spike over the top of his glasses.

"He was about 7 1/2 feet tall, broad-shouldered, white eyes, dull green skin, no horns or scales or anything like that, he fought with a sword, and he was alone."

"Sounds like a Ptarfick demon to me," Anya stated matter-of-factly. "They usually stay in warm climates, generally near the equator because they're cold blooded. And they're always loners."

Giles again glanced up from his journal and turned to Buffy, "Anything else interesting happen last night?"

Buffy nodded, and glanced at Spike. He was still signaling her to do all the talking. Spike really wasn't a morning person; after all he was a vampire, and right now was when he usually went to sleep. Plus he'd been up all night painting his room and getting settled in; Buffy'd eventually given up trying to help and crashed on his new bed while Spike continued decorating.

"After we finished the cemeteries and alleys, we decided to hit the park and leave the woods for a full scale patrol. We both sensed something, and we tracked it to the merry-go-round." As the words left Buffy's mouth, she realized how silly they sounded.

"This demon was riding the merry-go-round at the park?" Giles asked incredulously.

"Yeah, standing up in the middle of the merry-go-round and spinning like crazy and then all at once it stopped spinning and this guy just stood there with his eyes closed."

"Full physical description please," Giles requested, once again all business.

"Could you let me finish?" Buffy asked, getting huffy about the interruptions.

"Sorry, go ahead then."

"So then he started speaking--" Buffy tried to remember The Messenger's exact words.

"Bugger insulted us first thing." Spike added, thinking back. `Wanker said I was short'.

"Really, how did he insult you?" Anya interrupted. "Usually demons wait for Buffy to start with her puns before they insult back"

Spike continued, oblivious to Buffy's look of mounting frustration. "The first words out of the bugger's mouth were, `The Vampire and The Warrior. Not quite what I expected. You're both so small'. `e said it like he was a bleeding giant, he wasn't any bigger than Angel really." Insult and indignation shone in the vampires eyes; Giles smiled and shook his head, "Please continue."

Buffy looked at Spike with a look that `said, tell it all or shut up.' Spike decided to go with the latter. "He was all gloom and doom, made my skin crawl to tell you the truth. But as my memory is better than the Slayer's, here goes."

Spike closed his eyes for a moment and concentrated. Then, in a voice whichvoice, which was an exact mimic of The Messenger's, he recited, trance-like, "I am here to tell you it has begun. The stars have aligned, agreements have been made. Are you prepared? Do you know what you face? Warrior, you shall face an old enemy. Vampire, you shall face your own demon, and the Witch must face herself. When those battles are finished, if you win, the Power of Three shall be your gift, and if you fail...the balance will be lost forever and this world you've fought so valiantly to save time and time again will return to its demonic beginnings" Spike continued in a bad imitation of Buffy, "We know that already, Mr. Smarty Pants. Who are you and why are you here?"

Spike's voice changed back to the deeper tone; "I am The Messenger, here to give you a glimpse of what you shall face. My name is unimportant. I am here only to guide, and prepare you." He suddenly snapped out of his trance and continued in his normal voice, "That's all the bloke said, and then he smiled at us. He was a Vampire."

"He was not a vampire!" Buffy snapped, irritated by the interruptions, and by Spike's imitation of her.

"Was too!" Spike insisted.

"Was not!" Buffy's eyes flashed as she glared at the vampire, but he wasn't backing down.

"Who's the Vampire around here? The Messenger was a bloody vampire."

"Who's the Slayer around here? The Messenger was NOT a bloody vampire." Buffy looked like she was ready to stamp her foot in irritation.

"Before the two of you argue about this further, why don't you describe the demon to the Watcher and th-the demonologist and we'll determine what kind of demon it was." Giles was worried the two of them would come to blows any second.

"I'm a demonologist?" Anya asked surprised.

"Yes, Anya." Giles was thankful for the distraction. " That's what the Council would call you anyway."

Before Spike could say anything, Buffy said, "He was about Angel's size, his hair was so blonde it was almost white, but it wasn't bleached like Spike's." She chewed on her bottom lip, deep in thought. "The irises of his eyes were black and the whites of his eyes were normal. But his teeth were fangs. Vampire fangs, but…" she interrupted and coolly looked at Spike, "…when his fangs were out, his face didn't get all bumpy and his eyes stayed normal."

Giles half-expected a "so there" to follow her last statement. He rolled his eyes as he continued to take notes. Really, the two of them were worse than squabbling toddlers.

Spike sighed. "It didn't have a pulse, and it didn't breathe. It was a vampire. But not like any I've ever seen before, it was a bloody Anne Rice vampire. It even threw images at us like her vampires do."

Before Buffy and Spike could get into another shouting match, Giles looked directly at Buffy. "Buffy, please describe the images for me."

Buffy nodded, closed her eyes, and started breathing deeply. Within seconds she was in a trancelike state, not at all different from the one Spike had put himself in earlier. `She's been training with Spike while I've been gone,' Giles made a note of that in his diary. `He must be better at getting her to concentrate then I am. I wonder what he uses...no I don't want to know what kind of reward system they use.' Suddenly Buffy began to speak.

"I see Willow; her eyes, all of her eyes are black, and so's her hair. She's drawing power from something; I don't know what, but it's magick, black magick. Spike; there's two of him. He's fighting himself. Spike the man and Spike the demon, they're trying to kill each other. Ms. Calendar's there, just like she was when I fought The First--Oh, there's the Master, Riley...but he's different, he's like The Messenger and he's got a whole army with him"

Giles looked over at Spike. "Anything else you can add?"

"I didn't understand that bit with the bird and the First, but yeah, that's everything I saw too." Spike shrugged casually.

Buffy was slowly rousing herself out of the trance. Giles was still making notes and Anya was frowning in thought. Finally she spoke.

"I have never heard of a vampire that didn't get the bumpy face and golden eyes." She looked at Spike and Buffy, "I have to agree with you Buffy, that wasn't a vampire." The bell to the shop door rang again and Anya went to help her customers spend their money.

"Spike, do you really believe that this Messenger was a vampire?"

Spike looked Giles right in the eyes. "Abso-bloody-lutely."

Giles turned to Buffy. "And you, are you positive it was not a vampire?"

Buffy looked back and forth between the two men and thought back to when she had picked up the demon with her spidey-sense. "It didn't feel like a vampire from far away, but when we got up close to him and he opened his eyes, I was pretty sure he was a vamp of some kind," she acquiesced.

"I see," Giles began drumming his fingers on the diary. "Very well then, we'll begin researching this creature immediately. I need to send a report to the Council that "it" has begun. I'll contact James and Bridget as well. It looks like we're going to need some help researching, perhaps they can come over from England sooner rather than later. Anything else to report from last night?"

Spike shot a challenging look to Buffy. She met his look, arched her eyebrow and offered a challenge of her own. Spike smirked at her and Buffy bowed her head defeated for a second before she looked Giles squarely in the eyes.

"I was so freaked out last night after that thing put images in my head that I asked Spike to move into the basement. We didn't get all the stuff out of his crypt, so we're headed over there next to pick up the rest of what he needs."

Giles didn't react in any way at all, which made Buffy squirm and Spike distinctly uncomfortable.

"Actually, Watcher, when the images had finished, the thing was long gone. I tried to pick him up, but I couldn't feel him. It could have attacked while we were enthralled or whatever, and it scared me right good and proper. When the Slayer asked, I just agreed, didn't think about the consequences, the Nibblet, you, or anything really. As her Watcher if you prefer me not to, I won't."

"Buffy, in what capacity did you ask Spike to move in with you?" Giles looked at neither of them when he asked the question.

"In the capacity that we're putting him in the basement. We aren't..." she was struggling for the words to make Giles understand and at the same time not hurt Spike's feelings. She stopped trying to explain and took a moment to just breathe. "I asked Spike to move in because I'm scared. We don't know what we have to face. I have to work the closing shift a lot and I want Dawn to have protection when I'm not there. Not just for her, but for Tara and Willow as well. Until Willow can use magick to protect herself and everyone else, it isn't safe for the three of them to be alone. Actually Tara hasn't moved back in yet, but I'm going to ask her to today" She took another deep breath slowly, let it out, and continued.

"With Spike there, I don't have to worry about what to do with Dawn in the afternoons. They're crazy about each other and he helps her with her schoolwork. As for me, I personally feel safer with Spike around. He really will be sleeping in the basement. The rules for us didn't change last night. He laid down the law, Giles. I think we need to make some arrangements for Xander, Anya, and you too. You're all too exposed and vulnerable, without any special powers." Buffy was on a roll now. "Maybe when Morgaine and everyone gets here, you can all move into the mansion. A super witch, two watchers, a slayer in training, Xander and Anya," Buffy beamed. "Yep, that's exactly what I want to happen. And no less than three people on patrol at night..."

Before Buffy could finish planning living arrangements and patrol schedules for everyone, Giles interrupted. "Buffy, if you feel it's safer for everyone with Spike living there, I have no objections. However," he gave her a very pointed look, "I'm not the one you should be asking, Dawn and Willow are."

"I already did. Dawn's ecstatic and Willow actually looked relieved."

"Even with Spike's chip out?" Buffy nodded. "Then that's settled, why don't the two of you get Spike moved in and I'll begin researching this Messenger." It really was useless to argue with Buffy once she'd made up her mind.

As they left Giles picked up the phone and called England to discuss the situation with James Lawe, the new Slayer's Watcher.

"Lawe residence, Maggie speaking," a breathless teenager answered.

"Yes, is James in please?"

"Just a moment," the phone clattered, obviously dropped on a table or perhaps the floor, and Giles distinctly heard the sounds of teenage shrieking, "Jaaaammmess, it's for yoouu"

Listening to Maggie made Giles distinctly aware of how much Buffy had grown and matured since she came to Sunnydale. He felt for James and what he and Bridget must be going through with an unruly teenager in their beautifully appointed Manor House.

"Lawe speaking, may I help you?"

"James, how are you, old chap?"

"Giles! I'm quite well and you?" Lawe sounded pleased to hear from Giles. "Personally I couldn't be better, professionally things are getting a bit out of hand." Instantly regretting he wasn't making a social call.

"I see, anything that I can help you with?"

"Well yes. I was wondering if it would be possible for you all to leave England sooner than you had planned."

"Actually, we've gotten everything taken care of here. Bridge and I were discussing leaving early today over tea. Why, what's happened?" James' words were calm, but his tone had taken on a concerned lilt.

"We made some progress here in Sunnydale on the prophecy. However, last night a creature that called himself The Messenger appeared to Buffy and Spike to tell them it has started. I was hoping you could check any references on this Messenger in the Council library and head over."

"Interesting. What kind of demon was it?" Curiosity overrode the concern in the other Watcher's voice.

"At the moment, we're not really sure. It may or may not have been a vampire, of-of some kind." Giles was still a little befuddled by Spike and Buffy's description of what the creature was (or was not).

"How could a Slayer not tell if it was a vampire or not?" James' question echoed Giles' thoughts.

"Well, that's another thing I'd like you to research before you arrive. It seems as though this creature was exactly like a vampire in all ways but two: no demonic face, no golden eyes. It had no pulse, did not breathe, `felt' like a vampire to both Buffy and Spike, but..." Giles trailed off.

"That certainly is interesting. Bridge, Maggie and I will do a thorough sweep of the Council's library, and head over day after tomorrow. Have you living arrangements for us?"

"That would put you here Monday, and yes, I've made arrangements for you all and Morgaine to stay at a mansion here in town." Giles stated, reminding himself of another call he needed to make.

"Wonderful, we'll see you Monday, hopefully we'll find something in our research. Goodbye"

"Yes, goodbye James, do have a safe trip"

As soon as he rang off Giles dialed another number in England. The phone rang several times before it was picked up. No one said anything, however. Listening to the silence on the other end, Giles sighed. Why were women, particularly this woman, so difficult all the time? "Morgaine? I know you're there, I can hear you breathing."

"Well then, why didn't you speak earlier?" The Adept asked.

"Because it's customary for the one answering the phone to speak first."

"That's ridiculous, when the phone stops ringing, someone has answered. The caller should obviously speak first." Morgaine's logic frequently reminded Giles of Anya.

A muffled groan escaped Giles. "Morgaine, please this is serious. The prophecy has begun, a creature calling himself The Messenger…"

"Yes, yes, Rupert I'm aware of all that. I've been keeping close tabs on your little family through the scrying bowl since you left. My bags are packed and my plane leaves in a couple hours." There was a slight pause and the sound of shuffling papers. "I'm not sure what time I will arrive in Sunnydale, but if you could call the airline and find out and pick me up?"

"Of course, Morgaine. Would you like me to bring the witches with me? Or would you prefer to meet them later tonight when we have the Scooby meeting?"

"Scooby meeting?"

Giles smiled to himself; occasionally he himself slipped into the manner of speaking of the younger ones without realizing it.

"Yes, well, my "family" as you call it like to refer to themselves as the Scooby Gang for some reason."

"Come alone." Morgaine replied and hung up on Giles without another word.

"That bloody woman is going to drive me insane," Giles sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes trying to relax a bit before he delved into research. A loud banging noise from the training room interrupted him and he went to investigate. There was Xander working on his prototype crossbow and several other weapons from what Giles could see. He softly closed the door so he wouldn't have to speak to Xander, and went to begin researching vampire sub-species.

Xander, totally oblivious to Giles' visit, was engrossed in creating the crossbow. He knew if he could get the first one right, he could make several copies at one time. Now he had to get sights aligned. He really needed Buffy to check that, though. She had better aim than anyone. Stepping away from his project, Xander went to find a phone.

He called her and left a message that he needed her help, and then after checking that everything else on the crossbow worked properly, he started cutting out parts for a dozen more.

The trip to gather the rest of Spike's belongings didn't take too long. Everything worth having had been destroyed when Buffy and Riley bombed the eggs Spike had been keeping. As they both wandered through the crypt looking at the vampire's accumulation of charred belongings, Buffy said, "You know, we already have most of this stuff at my house. You don't really need your TV, bed, refrigerator or any of that so we can leave it here."

"Is that your subtle way of saying I won't be living with you forever." His voice was teasing but his face was implacable.

Buffy had the decency to blush. "Well, maybe, but I don't want to lug everything you own to my house. I'm sure there're going to be times when all the women in the house will drive you crazy and you'll want to escape."

"Good point, Slayer. I hadn't really thought about it like that." Keeping those thoughts in mind, Spike picked out some cds, books, candles, a mysterious metal box from under his bed, and his pillows and surprisingly clean linens. "Have you got an extra stereo so I can leave mine here?"

"Yeah, I've got one in my closet leftover from my psycho-demon-dorm-mate." Buffy shivered involuntarily at the fleeting memory of a Celine Dion poster and Cher on repeat at top volume.

"Let's go then. This is everything I need." Spike gave one last glance around, then tucked the metal box tightly under his arm.

"What's in the box?" Buffy asked as she tried to grab it away from Spike.

"None of your bloody business." He held the box above his head and continued walking.

"Spike, if you're bringing trophies from kills or anything disgusting like that to my house, I'll kill you." Buffy was jumping up and down, still trying to get the box away from Spike.

"Get over yourself, Slayer. These are my personal belongings and as long as you want me in your house to protect Nibblet, and the wiccas, I'll have my stuff around me. Now sod off!" A slight grin broke out on his face as he watched Buffy strain on her tiptoes, trying to reach the box.

The banter between Spike and Buffy continued all the way to the Slayer's house. By the time they got inside with Spike's belongings, they were in perfect rhythm, matching insult for insult as only they could.

"What's in the damn box?"

"Nothing as sweet as what's in your box." He leered at her.

"You're a pig, Spike."

"Oink, Oink. I'll never tell you what's in that box, Slayer. It's none of your damn business." His infuriating smile only added to Buffy's resolve to see the contents of the box.

Tara, Willow, and Dawn were all sitting in the living room floor studying for Morgaine's arrival, and were all privy to the exchange between the two blondes. Willow looked upset to hear Buffy and Spike yelling at each other. She looked over at Dawn. "Do you really think it's a good idea for him to live here? He hasn't even settled in yet and they're already going at each other."

Dawn laughed. "Willow, if Buffy and Spike weren't bickering at each other, they wouldn't be getting along. When you can hear them arguing, things are good. When all you hear is slamming doors and stomping feet, things are bad. I think Anya's right, when they fight like this, they're flirting."

Tara solemnly nodded her head. "It's true, they act like they're 14. But as long as they're speaking, things are good."

Buffy popped back into the living room and flung herself on the couch as Spike headed for the basement. "Dawn, I wish you'd study this hard for school."

"School isn't this cool," Dawn said dismissively, not looking up from her text.

Buffy pulled herself up to a sitting position. "Guys, I'd like to talk to you about something important that concerns all of us."

Willow closed the book they were reading, Tara settled into Indian position and Dawn flung herself stomach down to the floor. "What's up?" Willow prompted.

"Well, you know I've asked Spike to move in `cause I was so weirded out about that Messenger thing last night." She looked at her sister, her best friend and her confidante. "There's someone else I'd like to move in until all this is over, or at least until we know what we're fighting, but I don't want to overstep my bounds."

"Who?" Dawn cheerfully asked, as much as she hated having "babysitters" roommates were different. They were there because they wanted to be, not because they had to be.

"Tara." Buffy watched the pretty witch's face closely for any signs of discomfort.

Dawn squealed and flung herself at Tara, "Please, please, please, please say yes, then all my favorite people will be here all the time"

Tara was busy patting Dawn on the back, but she looked at Willow. Willow tried very hard to keep the eagerness and excitement from her face and was looking at Buffy.

"I know that you two aren't ready to live together again," Buffy started explaining herself hoping to make the situation easier for everyone. "Just like Spike and I are SOOOO not ready to be living together."

"You're right," Willow began, "We're not ready to be living or sleeping together, but with everything that's going on, we'll all be safest together and I'd like for Tara to be here."

"It's ok guys. I've been thinking the same thing. I'd like to move back in." Tara smiled shyly, and Buffy let out a relieved sigh.

Dawn squealed again and flung herself at Buffy. "Thank you! If Tara's here, there won't be any more mystery meals!"

"Dawn, Tara is not going to be your cook." Buffy said sternly. "We'll have a schedule like always. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is going to have to cook"

"Can Spike cook?" Willow asked Buffy.

Buffy started to shrug, when Dawn answered for her. "Who do you think made nutritious meals for me when Tara was busy last summer?"

"Spike cooks?" was Willow's incredulous response.

"Better than anyone but Mom and Tara," Dawn confirmed.

"Tara, when Spike gets finished with his room, he's going to clean out the spare room upstairs. I know it's not that big, but there's a twin bed, a chest of drawers, and a closet, and that way..."

"Thanks Buffy, I really appreciate it." Tara said and hugged Buffy.

The phone rang, and Dawn raced to get it, leaving Willow, Tara, and Buffy alone. "So, how's the witchy studying going?"

"BUFFY," Dawn yelled. "Come talk to Xander!"

"Hold that thought guys," and Buffy left the room, leaving Willow and Tara looking uncomfortable sitting on the floor.

"Tara."

"Willow."

The two witches started at the same time. "You first," Tara suggested.

"I want you to know that I'm really glad you're moving back in and that I'm not going to try to rush things." Willow looked nervous and excited at the same time.

"Oh sweetie, I know this isn't going to change anything between us. I just don't want you to be uncomfortable with me here." Tara gave Willow's hand a tentative touch.

Willow smiled her sweetest smile and leaned over and hugged Tara, who gladly hugged her back. Then she whispered in her ear, "Tara, I could never be uncomfortable with you around."

Buffy walked back into the living room. "Guys, I've got to go to the Magic Box. Do you need anything from anywhere? It shouldn't take long. I've got to help Xander set the sights on the new crossbows he made, and then I've got to go to work."

"We'll be fine. Go ahead," Tara said. "Willow, you want to come help me get some stuff from the dorm?"

"Yeah, I think that sound's like a great idea. Let me go see if Dawn wants to come." Willow looked all over the house for Dawn and was about to get worried when she remembered the basement. She walked in the kitchen opened the basement door and went downstairs, the sounds of punk rock getting louder and louder with every step. What she saw would have horrified her if it had been anyone but Dawn and Spike decorating the basement.

What had once been the Summers' basement and laundry room was now the den of a Master Vampire, Spike-style. The small windows had been painted over with black paint; the walls had been painted black as well, except for the shape of a man with "Bloody" written over it, both the word and the outline in red. An angel had been painted at the very top of the wall, and the words "Joyce" and "Mom" were written in a neat Victorian hand in silver. Dawn was standing against the wall and Spike was outlining her body in a rich green; above the outline, the word "Key" shimmered in the same green, both "decorators" were covered in paint.

There were candles everywhere. A bed had been set up in a corner, covered in black sheets with red pillows, and a red comforter. Spike had apparently found an old bookcase and set it up next to the bed. It was filled with his books, cds, and a lamp. A picture of Dawn, Buffy and Joyce in a silver frame also rested on one of the shelves. The stereo was sitting on the mysterious box across from the bed. They had hung tapestries to separate the laundry area from the rest of the basement, but they were currently pulled back and Spike had actually managed to fashion a door, suspended from the ceiling no less, which would open or close as well.

"Spike's Den of Evil" was written in blood-red paint on the door and Willow started giggling to herself. She didn't know if it had been the vampire or Dawn, but one of them was trying like hell to piss Buffy off. She hurried back up the steps to get Tara to see the monstrosity the two were making in the basement.

"Tara, come see Spike's room; Buffy's going to kill him," Willow said, grinning. She grabbed Tara's arm and lead her to the basement. "You've got to see it to believe it, come on, but be quiet; we'll try to sneak up on them."

When they reached the bottom of the steps, Spike had finished outlining Dawn on the wall and she was filling herself in with the green paint. "Now Nibblet, all we need is your sis to let us draw her on the wall, in yellow I think, and we'll have the picture perfect dysfunctional family."

"What about the rest of the Scoobies? Don't you think they belong on the wall with us?" Dawn looked at Spike questioningly, green paint dripping from her brush to the floor unnoticed.

Spike lit up a cigarette and considered that for a moment. Neither realized there were two very powerful witches watching their every move, relishing the fit Buffy would throw when she saw this mess in her basement.

"Well, Nibblet, I wasn't really thinking about the gang when I wanted the family on the wall, they're more like...." Spike took a deep drag off his cigarette and continued "…extended family. At least for me, that is. The Wiccas and the demon are all right. Well, Glinda is more than all right. I've always identified with her, being an outsider an' all, but I don't particularly fancy having the whelp and the Watcher on my bedroom wall."

Tara and Willow could contain themselves no longer, and they burst out laughing. Spike spun around and grinned at the intruders. "Well, do you ladies fancy my Den of Evil?"

Tara was laughing so hard she was crying, and finally managed to choke out, "Buffy's going to kill you when she sees this."

"Nah, she saw everything but the family portrait this morning. And besides, who did you think painted Spike's Den of Evil on the door?" Spike smirked as he stubbed out his cigarette in the empty Folger's can Dawn had provided.

That set Tara and Willow off on another giggle-fest. Spike rolled his eyes. "Well, what did you Wiccas want? I'm finished down here. Got to wash up a bit, then I'm going to clean the room out for Glinda. After that, I'm going to get some sleep before we patrol the woods tonight. Haven't been to bloody sleep since early yesterday morning."

"We're going to go to Tara's and get some of her stuff and wanted to see if Dawn wanted to come." Willlow looked at the teenager in askance.

"Nah, I'm going to stay here and help Spike." Dawn gestured with the paintbrush, accidentally getting the paint on her jeans.

"Alright, we'll see you later," Tara said as they left Dawn and Spike to their mess.

***

At the mansion, Cordelia and Angel were seated on the floor of the living room. Connor, now the size of a three-year old, was walking back and forth between them, practicing words in English. It was disconcerting for Cordelia; Connor and Angel were having complete conversations in vampiric, while she was only able to communicate with him on a basic level. They had been working with him all day, trying to get him to go to the bathroom, practicing walking, and teaching him words in English. Angel had decided early on that the quickest way to teach the child to speak would be to repeat everything he spoke in English into vampiric.

Their efforts had paid off. Connor could walk on his own, make his basic needs known to Cordelia, (Ryvr could understand but not speak vampiric), and he knew when he needed to go to the bathroom, if someone would go with him. But they were all getting tired and grumpy, Connor most of all. Every time he ate, which had been every two hours, he grew, and after he grew, he needed to sleep. His belly rumbled and he looked up at Cordelia, "Mommy, I'm hungry!"

Cordelia's eyes teared up; she couldn't help it. Every time he called her mommy she cried. "I know, baby. What are you hungry for?"

Connor seemed to think about this seriously. His face crumpled up pensively and he looked back and forth between Angel and Cordelia. "Tatoes and blood! Tatoes and blood, tatoes and blood."

Ryvr, who had been napping on the couch, woke up at her charge's demands. She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. After one look at Angel, she instructed Cordelia to find Spike and get him to draw at least a quart for Connor. Surprisingly, Cordelia always did whatever Ryvr asked her to without comment; this time was no exception.

Ryvr studied Connor seriously. She checked his fingernails, gums, his teeth, eye color, and the smell of his breath. She then picked him up and appeared to be weighing him in her mind.

"Absolutely not." She shook her head. "You will eat something green, maybe broccoli or beans, some fruit, some milk, and then blood. Absolutely no potatoes for dinner tonight. Too many starches and not enough vegetables and you won't grow properly."

Connor looked like he was about to throw a tantrum. His favorite person, next to his parents was denying him his favorite food. But before he could protest, Ryvr started singing an Elven song in her tinkling voice and he was enchanted.

She finished the song and held her hand out to Connor. "Come with me to the kitchen, my little Daywalker, and I'll make your fruit and vegetables for you. If you're a good boy and eat all that and drink your milk before Cordelia comes back, and then finish your blood, you can have some potatoes."

That seemed to appease Connor. Angel, relieved that the tantrum had been averted, decided to give Connor his bath while Ryvr fixed his dinner. After an uneventful bath and dinner of human food, Cordelia arrived with a quart of Spike Blood for Connor and several packets of human blood for Angel. Angel quickly downed three packets and prepared a sippy cup of blood for Connor. As soon as they had finished their meals, both vampire and child groggily agreed to take naps, Connor having decided he was too full for potatoes.

Ryvr and Cordelia, relieved of the men for the time being, decided their evening would be best spent doing facials and manicures.

****

Buffy had to work a short shift at the Doublemeat Palace. Fortunately, after she had finished with Xander, she had time to rush to work for a monotonous four hours, and she wasn't even late. Five to nine. `Why would anyone schedule me to work from five to nine?' It ruined the whole evening. Now she wouldn't even have time for a nap before the Scoobies patrolled the woods. On the bright side, she knew her friends and sister were safe. After all, Spike was there.

***

Xander had stayed at the Magic Box to help Giles with research, and to be close to Anya. The wedding plans had spiraled out of control and with this new prophecy, he wanted to ask Anya to elope. He knew that if the day's sales were good, right after she finished counting out the register tonight would be the best time to ask. What he didn't know was that Anya was planning to ask him the same thing before he found out Spike had moved into Buffy's house. Right after closing and before patrol seemed like the best time for her to bring the subject up.

* * *

After bleeding out a quart of blood, fixing the spare room for Tara, and keeping Dawn amused all day, Spike was drained. He looked at the clock. 5:00. He should be waking up right now, not going to sleep. `I'll wait a few more minutes for the Wiccas to come back,' he thought as he lay down on the couch. He was asleep as soon as his head hit the couch cushion.

* * *

Anya had finished counting out the register. Xander was back in the training room, and no one else was there. She quickly locked the store up and went to ask Xander to marry her on Monday.

Xander was so busy pacing back and forth, practicing what he wanted to say, that he didn't notice Anya come in. She stood in his pacing path, and when he bumped into her, she placed a hand on each of his cheeks. Looking deep in his eyes, Anya started, "Xander, I know we've made many plans for the wedding, and made many security deposits we can't get back, but with everything that's going on, I want to pick up my dress and your tux Monday morning and get married that afternoon."

"Now, Anya-- What?" Xander's jaw dropped

"Elope with me Xander?" Anya was wringing her hands waiting for his answer.

"Monday afternoon it is." Then they went home to work off all that extra tension.

*****

By 9:30, everyone was at the Magic Box ready for the evening's plans. Giles was going to pick up Morgaine. Tara, Willow, Dawn, Cordelia, Ryvr, Anya, and Connor were going to stay at the Magic Box and continue research. Angel, Spike, Xander, and Buffy were going to patrol. Each was armed with stakes, swords and one of Xander's new crossbows. The testosterone building in the air was driving Buffy crazy. She had originally planned for the four of them to patrol together, but now knew it was going to be impossible. The three men fought worse than little old ladies. Looking around at the all the girls left in the Magic Box, she had an idea. "Ryvr, would you like to patrol with us tonight?"

"Absolutely not, she's staying to watch Connor." Angel was adamant, but Ryvr looked very interested at the prospect.

"Actually, I was thinking you could stay and guard the lady folk, and Ryvr could patrol with us." Spike didn't bother to hide his smirk at Buffy's words.

Before Angel could put up a fight, Ryvr scooped up her bow and arrow, checked to make sure she had her dagger, and walked out the door with Buffy. Spike and Xander both took that as their cue to leave as well. A very frustrated Angel was left behind to guard his child, his woman, Buffy's little sister, an ex-demon, and two witches.

Once they were a few blocks away from the Magic Box, Buffy felt herself relaxing. Spike had automatically assumed the rear guard position melting into the shadows, making it impossible for Xander to provoke him. The four of them quickly swept the town's alleys, cemeteries, and parks, staked six fledglings without difficulty, and then headed for the woods. Where they found absolutely nothing.

***

Giles was waiting at the airport terminal. Morgaine's plane had landed and it seemed to him that every person on the plane including the pilots had already disembarked, but still no Morgaine. He was cleaning his glasses for the eighth time when Morgaine finally appeared. As always, he was transfixed by her appearance. She was small, no bigger than Buffy. Her hair was long, reaching halfway down her back and loose as always. The color of it was most striking; it was completely silver, not gray and not white. It was pure metallic silver, and it had been the entire time he'd known her. Her eyes were gray. She was dressed, as always, in a long flowing skirt, sandals, and a sleeveless tunic that matched her skirt. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever known. She always had been.

Their relationship, as it were, had always been difficult. Giles never knew the exact moment he had fallen in love with her. It may have been at Eton when he first glimpsed her across the courtyard. It may have been at the Watcher's Training Facility, where they were both taking weapons and combat training. It may have been the first time (and certainly not the last time) she had kicked his arse from here to next Sunday in hand to hand. Or perhaps it was the night she led him to the fairy hill and they had celebrated Beltane in the ancient fashion. But most likely, it was the moment he was conceived in his mother's womb. Giles had always known he was born to love this woman.

Just as Morgaine had always known that as much as they loved each other, it was never meant to be.

Morgaine had accepted it first. Her mother was a fairy and her father a Druid. She was destined for something greater than marriage and children with a common human. She had tried to explain that to Giles when their affair had begun. They had both been in their mid-twenties. And being more Ripper than Giles, he had laughed it off. When Morgaine had accepted her calling and disappeared for five years to complete her training, Giles had still believed they would eventually be together.

When she returned, she wasn't just Morgaine. She was a priestess, a high priestess. Truthfully, she was Queen of the Fairies, her birthright through her mother; and she was High Priestess of the Druids, her birthright through her father. She belonged to the goddess and the horned one, and would never blight her destiny for anyone.

Their relationship would resume whenever she went to London to work for the Council. Usually they would fight and bicker, and then wind up in bed for hours.

When she had finally despaired of ever making him understand they could never "be", his grandmother died and Giles finally accepted his calling as a Watcher. Not a watcher-in-training, but a full-fledged Watcher. He was off to whatever demon hotspot the Council sent him to. He knew that one day he would have the distinct honor of having his own Slayer, so he dedicated himself to being as prepared as he could be for when that day came.

Occasionally they ran across each other on Council business. Sometimes they would wind up in bed, sometimes they would wind up screaming at each other, but more and more as they got older, they merely got along.

It was sad really, Morgaine thought as she looked at the only man she had ever loved. If destiny had been kinder, perhaps they could have had a family. `He got children anyway, if the Council's reports to her had been accurate. He had daughters in his Slayer and her little sister and similar relationships with those children that called themselves Scoobies. Whatever that means. I got my children too, though.' She fondly thought of all the girls she had trained in the ancient ways, `most of them thought of me as a mother and a bitch.' She smiled at that thought, after all what child didn't think their mother a bitch from time to time.

"Morgaine." They stood facing each other several feet apart.

"Rupert." She acknowledged him in the same even tone.

"Shall we?" He gestured towards the exit.

"Don't you think we should retrieve my luggage first?"

"Oh, yes, yes, of course." Giles seemed momentarily flustered, but quickly regained his composure.

Without speaking another word, they retrieved her luggage and went to the Magic Box. They arrived shortly after Buffy, Spike, Ryvr, and Xander. Before proper introductions could be, made Xander spoke up. "Everyone, Anya and I have an announcement to make. We're eloping Monday, the wedding is cancelled."

"But that does not excuse any of you from buying us proper wedding presents." Anya finished.

"Giles, something's up, it's too quiet. We only got fledglings and we swept the whole town, the woods included. I think the forces of darkness are gathering." Buffy chimed in before anyone could react to Xander and Anya's news.

"Buffy, I'm quite sure you're right, everyone this is Morgaine. Anya, Xander, congratulations on your elopement. Now Morgaine let me introduce you"

She stopped him with a motion of her hand. "No need, let's see, obviously you're the Slayer," she gracefully walked to Buffy and kissed her on the forehead, between the eyes in blessing. "I could feel your presence before we left the airport. Be prepared, my child, before you face your old enemy. You will face a battle similar to that which the Bloody will soon face."

Her gaze scanned the room. She walked to Dawn and greeted her with the same blessing she gave Buffy. "And you little one, are the Key forged from the Slayer and very powerful magic." Turning to face the group from LA she continued. "Ryvr, I did not expect to see you here. Greetings. The Seer, the Recovered Light, and the Daywalker, you will need to leave this town soon. Your destinies and those of the people here have diverged. I am pleased Ryvr is here to guide and protect you, although different, your destinies are not any less important." She nodded at each person present in turn.

"Anyanka, I had heard you were human now. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage to the Loyal." She approached Xander then, instead of kissing him in blessing, she blew on the same spot she had kissed Buffy and Dawn.

Xander's eyes widened as a glimpse of his purpose slowly came to him. "I'm what we're fighting for?"

"Yes, my child. You are the sole human in the room with no power from the Powers That Be. You have been given an opportunity most people can't conceive of, or would have accepted. You have chosen to fight for the Light because it is what you should do. Soon though, you shall have power of your own, but you will not like it. And you, Anyanka, will have the power to reverse it. Think carefully before you do though; he will be given the power for a reason. If taken away…." She trailed off and didn't complete her thought.

Morgaine's steely gray eyes settled on Spike. "Ah, the Bloody, yes, I can see why you were chosen. Your love for the Slayer and her sister will not be enough to protect you from the battle you will face. But I see strength in you. Remember when the time comes that your gift, the gift of love, is all you will ever need, but you must love with your entire being to succeed."

Everyone seemed to be struck dumb by the prophetic messages they had received, with one noticeable exception.

When Morgaine arrived, Willow had silently crept into a darkened corner. The woman frightened her. She could feel the power flowing through and around the Adept, but it wasn't so much the power that frightened Willow, it was what she was saying about everyone in the room. `Will she see? Will she know the laws I've broken? Will she tell everyone? Oh, Goddess, that is what I could have been and now I'm just a broken witch!'

Morgaine had not failed to notice Willow hiding in the shadows; though she wanted to save her for last, so she approached Tara next. "And you my child, you set your feet upon the path the moment you were conceived, and you have never faltered." She kissed Tara in blessing and continued. "Do not be frightened, child. You have more power inside you than you realize, and an angel watches over you and guides you. Nothing will be put in your path that you cannot face, I promise."

Morgaine then turned to face Willow and, catching her eye, she drew Willow to her by sheer will alone. When Willow was standing before her, Morgaine placed her right palm on Willow's forehead. "Your actions have been flawed, my child, and you have paid a high price for disobeying the laws that control magick. The power inside you is as great as my own, but it is shadowed from the spells you performed but were not properly prepared for. I will teach you to draw the power from within and not from the magick that tries to consume you. That was your mistake, you didn't realize the power was within you; you believed it came from the spells. Your path will be especially hard, and you will have to face similar tests to the Slayer and the Bloody. Remember, the power comes from within and you shall prevail."

"And now I need everyone but Giles, Tara, Willow, Dawn, and Anyanka to leave. I will perform the calling spell, and we will determine if the Key shall truly complete the circle."

Surprisingly everyone did exactly as Morgaine said, all lleavingleaving without question.

"Giles, do we have a space where we can all sit in a circle?" Morgaine turned to the Watcher.

"Of course. We'll use Buffy's training room."

The group made their way to the training room and Morgaine directed them to sit Indian style knees touching and holding hands. Then she placed them in order. Tara, Giles, Willow, Dawn, Anya. She wanted Willow as far from Tara as possible. Their auras overlapped too much for her to read the calling accurately with them too near each other.

Morgaine stepped into the center of the circle and called the corners and the elements. She really didn't need to cast the circle; she'd done that in England and knew Dawn was supposed to be the fourth. But Morgaine needed to know who would take her place, when her work here was finished. She was not at all surprised it was Tara. But that still left the circle incomplete. She frowned, and started speaking in a language no one understood; a soft breeze crossed the faces of those seated on the floor, and again the answer was Tara.

Morgaine's frowned deepened and disinvoked the elements to see which element was missing, and then she understood. Tara was earth, Willow embodied both air and water, and Dawn was fire. They could complete the circle themselves without her. Dawn would provide any power boost they needed, Willow would conduct the power from Dawn, and Tara would direct it. Now all she had to do was teach the child, instill a sense of ethics in Willow, and give Tara the confidence to use her power. Not too hard of a task at all.

"It is done. Tara, you are earth and when I leave you shall lead the circle. Your power is untainted, and your heart pure, but we have much work to do in preparing you to lead the others. Dawn, you are fire. You were created from the Slayer with magick and are completely infused with it. However, you are also the Key, housing pure energy within your form. When the circle needs additional power for spells, your energy will be used. You can sustain potent magick without ever tiring because of your origins. Willow, I believe part of your problem is that you embody both air and water. Channeling more than one element is difficult. I suspect many of your spells go awry somehow, or they did before you consumed black magick"

Willow barely nodded; she was truly terrified of this woman.

"I will teach you to balance the two elements within yourself. You will conduct power from Dawn when it is necessary and, believe me, it will be before this entire prophecy comes to pass. Tara will direct the energy. That is her role as leader of the group. Anyanka, you and Giles both have rudimentary magickal skills and I will be working with you as well. There will be times the priestesses will need your presence when casting. As you know 3 is a magickal number, but 5 is magickal as well, always use both Giles and Anyanka, or use no one else at all. I am finished with you all now, but I need to speak with Willow before we retire for the evening."

"Morgaine?" Anya asked.

"Yes, Anyanka"

"Please don't call me Anyanka. I'm a human now and although I don't mind, it disturbs Xander to hear me called that. Disturbs him enough that he may not give me orgasms, and then I would be angry as well." Xander blushed a deep crimson. Suprisingly, he still wasn't used to those comments.

"I will respect your wish, Anya. You and I need to have a discussion soon, however. I have the answer to your dilemma. I have spoken with D'Hoffryn and we have almost finished working out the terms of your power. Do not ask me now, for I will not tell. We will meet on Monday." Anya nodded and called Xander to come pick her up.

"Sweetie, we'll wait for you in the other room ok?" Tara said and squeezed both of Willow's hands for support.

"OK, Tara, I'll see you in a few minutes," she chanced a glimpse of Morgaine's steely face, "or not…"

"I know you have been concentrating your reading on the Ethics of Magick. Very wise. Your power is tremendous as I said earlier, but it is not as great as your intelligence. Willow, you are one of the most intelligent people I've ever met." Morgaine's _expression grew serene, "I've only met one other in your generation to rival your intelligence. Interesting chap, he came to me for help in controlling his lycanthropy."

"Oh my God! You know Oz? You helped him control wolfie?" Willow's excitement outweighed her fear momentarily.

"Yes, I did. Ah, now I see the connection. You are the Willow he told me about, yes?" Morgaine looked at Willow, already knowing it to be true.

Willow nodded. "I haven't seen him in a couple of years. Is he ok?"

"Search your heart, child. You know the answer. The two of you have something very special, but no more special than what you have with Tara. Just different. When the time came for you to part paths, you did, but you will meet again. Now I have a lesson for you, and I want you to understand. If you do not, you must let me know and I will explain to you as best I can."

"Okay." Willow's nervousness returned with a vengeance.

"There is no black or white magick, the only good or bad is in the witch. Do not ask yet, think for a minute. The white magick you have performed, what was the difference between that and the black magick you have also performed?"

Willow was thinking as hard as she could, but the answer wasn't coming to her. Morgaine placed her hands upon Willow's shoulders and blew on her forehead just as she had with Xander. Willow was immediately assailed with distinct images of every spell she had ever performed, the ones that worked, theat ones that backfired, the ones that had done nothing, and the ones she almost lost her friends for. "Wh-when I did spells to help people, or protect people it was ok, even if they didn't work out the way I wanted…when I did spells for fun, or to make what I wanted to happen occur it was bad, even if the spells did work out right."

"And what does that tell you?" Morgaine tone was gentle as she walked the young witch through the thought.

"Spike was right. Magick has its consequences. Everything you send out comes back times three, e-es-especially when you're doing it to further your own means."

"It was Spike that told you that, not Tara?" Morgaine cocked an eyebrow.

Willow nodded. "Tara kept trying to make me understand that magick wasn't for fun, but Spike was the one that taught me it has consequences, even though I didn't believe him at the time. Well, I believed him, but I refused to listen."

"Interesting. I believe the Vampire's role in all of this will be bigger than even I thought. I pray he can win his personal battle first." Morgaine shook her head quickly to dispell the images that kept playing in her mind. "Now Willow, if you have truly learned the lesson I set before you, you will know you were never addicted to magick. There is no such thing. Magick exists in everything on this planet, and your problem was misuse of your power. If you no longer misuse it, the "addiction" is gone."

"Can it really be that simple?" Hope colored Willow's words.

"Yes, no more frivolous magick, no more forgetting spells, no more magickal decorations, and ABSOLUTELY no more resurrecting the dead. You are aware that with or without your interference, the Powers That Be were going to bring her back?"

"No, I didn't. How could I?" For a moment, Willow was dumbfounded.

"Child, no one can resurrect the dead without aid from the Powers That Be. Well, that's not true. They can, but the soul is never restored, only zombie-like creatures come back." The Adept nodded, as if something had occurred to her. "That was when your problem started, wasn't it? I understand completely now. We are finished for tonight. I will not see any of you again until Monday. I need to recover from jet lag on my own. I am also not staying in the mansion until Ryvr and her charges leave. Are there any bed and breakfasts in the area?"

"Why don't you stay with Giles?" Willow offered, curious as to the Watcher's relationship with Morgaine.

"No. I need to be alone."

"Well, Tara and Spike have moved into the house with Buffy, Dawn, and me. You could probably use Tara's dorm room, or Spike's crypt." Morgaine nodded in affirmation at Willow's last suggestion.

"I'll go to Buffy's with you and get Spike to escort me to his crypt. I need to learn as much about the vampire as I can…"

"Let's go then." Willow led Morgaine out of the Magic Box and into the night.
 


Continued...

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