Following is the outline for the remainder of Bouncing Back. All the usual disclaimers apply. Thanks to everyone who requested a copy of it.
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Bouncing Back - Outline
Before the Big Meeting
1. Willow takes Spike's mind off Dawn's departure. [Uh, with sex, of course!]
2. Xander makes Buffy's night - vamps make her hot, remember?
3. Willow wakes before the others the next afternoon and makes sure all the furniture deliveries have been made, the refurbishment completed, and the house is ready for them to move in.
4. Once Spike and Xander wake, the three of them drain Buffy and have 'Slayer blood' induced sex. [Natch!]
5. They wrap Buffy's body in a tarp and load her into the SUV with the rest of the items they're taking with them, and head over to their new home.
The Meeting
6. At midnight, they hold a meeting with all the vamps currently residing in Sunnydale. Spike proclaims that he is taking over as Master of Sunnydale, and that all vamps will be answerable to him from here on out.
7. Several vamps grumble and complain, wondering who Spike is to take over. Xander steps up and announces that Spike is not only a Master Vampire in his own right, but also the childe of Angelus and member of the Order of Aurelius, that he is older and smarter than any of those present, and he is also the vamp who took out three Slayers. He unrolls the tarp covering Buffy's body and offers her for display.
8. Spike lays down some rules regarding the killing in Sunnydale - he doesn't want to deplete their resources, after all.
9. A few vamps continue to dispute Spike's new status. Willow immediately uses magic to kill them with no warning. Vamps standing near the now-piles of dust step back nervously. No one else openly contests Spike's proclamation.
10. Spike announces that the recently remodeled house is his new lair, and that any vamp loyal to him and his family, and needing a place to stay, may move in with them. Several vamps take him up on his offer.
11. Spike, Willow, and Xander move into their new home. And, as expected, have sex!
The Showdown in Sunnydale
12. The next night there is a battle royale between Spike and those loyal to him, and the vamps that are challenging his rule. Spike is not surprised. He knew his announcement would not be received well by all of the vamps, most of whom had small groups of their own and didn't want to answer to anyone else. Spike and his band of vamps win. [What? You expected a different outcome?!!]
13. Several nights later, after Spike is the undisputed Master of Sunnydale, he has a meeting with the heads of the other demon groups, who agree to work with him...he is very compelling, after all! Spike, Willow, and Xander have sex to celebrate. [Duh!]
Confrontation in LA
14. Spike decides to announce his new position to his sire, so he, Willow, and Xander head to LA. Their first stop is...the jail where Faith is being held. Xander has a hankerin' to show a certain dark-haired Slayer that he can give as good as he gets now.
15. Visiting hours are over, so they break into the jail, killing a few guards on their way to Faith's cell. I wrote a bit of the first meeting between Spike and Faith in two years:
"Slayer," Spike drawled, as he leaned his shoulder casually against the bars of her cell and shook a cigarette out of the pack.
"Spike." Faith gave a half-smile, half-smirk. "William the Bloody. Still got that chip in your head?" she asked, gripping the bars of her cell.
"Funny thing 'bout that..." He placed the cigarette in his mouth, flicked the lighter, and held the flame to the tip. "Chip don't work anymore," he said, cigarette bobbing between his lips, and smiled as he dropped the lighter back into his pocket. He took a deep drag on the cigarette, and then took it between his fingers.
"So, what, you here to kill me now?" she asked, as if it made no difference to her.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, blowing the smoke out of his lungs.
"You're a vampire, I'm a Slayer..."
"The," Spike corrected, placing the cigarette between his lips.
"Excuse me?" She tilted her head.
"You're *the* Slayer, not *a* Slayer. Only one left, now." He curled his lips.
"What happened to Buffy?" she asked.
"Buffy..." Spike blew rings in the air. "...got herself killed. And she ain't coming back this time. Made sure of that," he said around the cigarette.
"You killed Buffy?" Faith asked.
"What, surprised?" he retorted.
"That it took so long." She shrugged. "Figured you'd hire someone to do it long ago."
"Yeah, well, wanted to do it myself," he repeated the lie he'd told so many times he almost believed it himself.
"Whatever," Faith brushed it off. "So, are you here for your fourth Slayer?"
"You got a yen for dying?" he asked.
"Just wondering why you're here," she replied.
"Can't a bloke come to visit?" he asked with raised eyebrows as he took another drag.
Faith just looked at him.
"What, don't get many visitors?" he said, faking shock, and then blew smoke into her face.
"Not many." She shook her head as she waved the smoke away, and smiled. As weird as this was, it was more stimulating than anything she'd done in almost two years.
"What, no Angel?" Spike mocked.
"Not in a while, no," she admitted sadly.
"Well, don't take it personal," Spike said. "Heard rumors that Angel fell off the wagon himself."
"Angel?" Faith asked in worried surprise. When Spike just nodded, she asked, "Did he lose his soul?"
"No, funny thing, that." Spike gave a little laugh. "He fell off the wagon with his soul still firmly in control. That's the thing about souls," he continued. "They're not all good."
"I know," Faith said softly.
"Oh, hey, now, don't go all blue on me, wasn't talking 'bout you." He tapped the fingers she had wrapped around one of the bars. "You and the poof..." He shook his head in disbelief. "Striving for redemption, atonement..."
For a moment they just stared at each other. "So, how's that gig working for you?" he asked sarcastically.
"Hard," she said after a moments consideration. "Very hard. And lonely."
16. Xander and Willow make their presence known to Faith. Xander, while licking blood off his lips, takes the opportunity to tease/taunt her. Faith, unsurprisingly, isn't adverse to Xander's overtures. Spike lays out her options; she agrees to being broken out of prison and returning to Sunnydale as Xander's mate.
17. Spike, Willow, Xander, and Faith stop by the hotel on their way out of LA. With a maximum amount of bluster, Spike informs Angel that Buffy is dead and he is now the Master of Sunnydale, that Willow and Xander are his childer, that Willow is his mate, and that Faith is joining them as Xander's mate, then states that he'll leave the AI gang alone so long as they leave him alone, but if Angel comes to Sunnydale, all bets are off. [And he might have let it slip in that he and Buffy slept together!]
18. Angel is stunned, but fights with Spike when the news of Buffy's death penetrates. Willow uses magic to keep the rest of his gang from assisting him, while Xander taunts Angel by feeling Faith up in front of the others. Angel tries to convince Faith to stay and return to jail. She mockingly wonders why he hasn't been to visit in a while, then says she's leaving with the others. Spike smirks and reminds Angel to stay out of Sunnydale.
19. Spike returns to Sunnydale with his new family. Xander and Faith take the opportunity of the long drive to get to know each other better. Xander shows Faith the cuffs he stole off one of the guards.
20. Back in Sunnydale, they show Faith their lair and formally introduce her to the vamps present, then take her upstairs and induct her into the family. [Uh, with sex. Did you really need me to tell you that?!!] Turns out vampires make Faith hot, too. Good thing she's got Slayer-healing, 'cause Xander's a very horny vamp...and kinda addicted to Slayers now.
The End
~Mel~