Part 5

      "Well," Willow started sheepishly, "there are a few other tiny surprises."
Duncan rolled his eyes toward the ceiling.
      "Why is it I suddenly have this feeling that I am about to regret my
question."  Ritchie slapped his mentor on the back.
      "Because you know that things are never as simple as you would like them to
be," the younger Immortal told him.
      "So what other lovely little surprises do you have for us, Red?"  Methos
inquired, hoping to shift the attention from himself to the situation
everyone has found themselves in.  He knew that there were going to be
questions asked about his past, especially from the vampire that had thought
he had seen him die all those centuries ago.
      "We have a few other friends joining us, courtesy of Anya and Angel.  They
should be here any minute," Willow informed them.
      "Actually, they're here now," LaCroix said as two men made their way into
the center of the warehouse, joining the group that was already there.  "And
to whom do we have the honor of?"
      "Everyone," Angel began, "I would like to introduce you to a few friends of
mine and Spike's.  This is Lestat and his childe Louis."  The two new
arrivals nodded their heads in acknowledgment of their names.  Everyone said
hello to them as Angel made the introductions.
      "Louis and Lestat," Jeannette commented, rolling the names around on her
tongue.  "Why do those names sound so familiar to me?"
      "You may have read a book that many considered to be fiction called
Interview With A Vampire," Lestat mentioned.
      "Ah yes, now I remember," the female vampire said as she recalled hearing
about the book that had caused an uproar in the vampire community.  While
many had considered the book a remarkably accurate story of fiction,
Jeannette and a few others had heard rumors prior to its publication of the
vampires the book described.  In fact, Jeannette was aware of two vampires
that were currently residing in London that had narrowly escaped the fire
that Louis had set in the Paris theatre to avenge the death of Claudia, the
only reason they were alive being that they had arrived back at the theatre
late due to some excessive dinner companions that day.  They had been hiding
in an alley and had seen Louis leave in a carriage.  They spent many years
looking for the vampire that had killed their family, finally giving up and
deciding to continue with their unlives.
      "You realize there is a price on your head for you allowing your story to
be published," LaCroix told Louis.
      "I know," the dark vampire replied.  "I have had to live with it for twenty
years.  It has grown easier with time though."  The oldest vampire nodded
his head in understanding, turning his attention to Lestat.
      "And how do you feel about your childe telling the world the story of the
great Lestat?"
      "I was angry at first and showed him how much his disobedience to me would
cost him," the French vampire explained.  "Made him remember just who was
Sire and who was childe.  Then we worked through it, just like we have
worked through all of our disagreements in the past.  It is why I did not
want Armand and the other vampires to kill him."  LaCroix nodded his
understanding, knowing that, despite the differences in opinions that he and
Nick often had about the nature of a vampire, the blonde would always be
there to protect his childe against harm from the outside world.
      "I have a question," Amanda broke in.  "I can see that the whole Interview
book was real, but what about the ones that followed it?"  I mean, did that
stuff actually happen because I don't remember that rock band and I like to
think that I keep up with the popular music trends, even if it is filled
with boy bands and bottled blondes."
      "No, those stories were completely made up," Lestat assured the female
Immortal.  "Like everyone else, we need money so we just decided to make a
series of books based on the original.  It has given us a nice little nest
egg."  Amanda nodded her head, showing her understanding.
      "Man, go to sleep for a few hours and the place just starts crawling with
vampires," a female voice observed from the far end of the room that had
been designated as the sleeping quarters.
      "Anyanka," Jeannette cried, recognizing the former demon who she had called
upon a few times.
      "Jeannette, I didn't know you would be coming," Anya stated as she went to
give the vampiress a hug.  "I mean, I knew there would be a vamp named
Jeannette, but I didn't put two and two together."
      "That's quite all right, ma petite," Jeannette assured her.  "I understand.
  What's this I hear about you being human?"
      "Long story," Anya answered.  "Let's just say that I know remember why I
hated being a teenager."  Jeannette and Anya laughed, as did a few of the
others in the room.  Jeannette looked past Anya and noticed Spike staring at
the pair, suspicion in his eyes.
      "I see that you have decided to give love another chance," she said,
releasing Anya from her hug.  Anya looked in the direction that Jeannette
was focused on and smiled when she saw Spike.
      "Let's just say that it wasn't expected, but definitely wanted," the former
demon replied, going over and taking Spike's hand, bringing him towards the
group.  Introductions were once again made.
      "So what exactly is the plan anyway?" Nick asked.  "Just go in with guns
blazing or what?"
      "Not exactly," Angel answered.  "I would rather wait until the rest of our
group arrived before going into complete detail, though, that way we only
have to explain it once and then everyone can ask questions and give
suggestions."
      "In that case, you don't have to wait any longer," Giles announced from the
front doorway, where he, Joe and Doyle stood with the last arrival.  "Anya,
we found this gentleman wandering around looking for you.  Thought we should
bring him to join our little group."
      "Barnabus," Anya greeted the other man.  The man merely acknowledge her
greeting with a stiff bow, making it obvious to all that whatever connection
was between the man and Anya, it was not completely a pleasant one.  "I'm
glad that your journey was safe.  I hope all is well with the Collins."
      "Things have been better," Barnabus commented, coming and joining the
group.  Doyle went over to greet his friends from Toronto.  "Victoria sends
her regards."
      "And how is Miss Winters?"
      "She is doing much better now that Angelique is gone for good," the vampire
explained.  "The curse she had placed on her has been lifted.  My family is
looking after her while I am here."
      "I'm sorry about Angelique," Anya said, her voice full of sorrow.  "I had
no idea of what she was truly capable of when I granted her wish.  Even if I
was, there would have been nothing that I could have done to have prevented
it.  I was only doing my duty."
      "I understand and you have since righted the wrong that she has caused,"
the man explained.  "Things are returning to normal."
      "Or as normal as they can every get."  Anya turned to Angel and Willow, who
were the unelected leaders of the rag tag groups of demons and Immortals.
"So now that the gangs all here, what say we make some plans to take us out
a group of commandos."
 

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