Part 6
Willow, Spike, Drusilla, Angel, Faith and The Morrigan were all sitting around the research table in the back room of The Magic Box. They had been discussing Dru's change and Angels' lack of redemption.
"Angel, I just thought of something. How many childer do you have?" Willow asked Angel, a thoughtful look on her face.
"Well, Spike and Dru, obviously. I never made that many childer, being too much of a control freak to bother. As far as I know, there is only one left other than these two. Why?" Angel enquired of Willow, wondering what her ingenious mind had come up with this time.
"Just a thought. If that childe is the last of your evil that has gone un-atoned, would you be able to forgive yourself if he were dusted?" Willow theorised for Angel.
Angel looked thoughtful for a moment, "Yes, I believe I could start to forgive myself if he were to be destroyed. But I have no idea where he is."
Willow obviously had a plan, "Leave that to me. In the meantime, there is some blood in the fridge. Why don't you have some and rest until sundown." Willow then looked at Moire, "I just had a thought. Who is the older sister? Me or Dru? I was chosen as your champion first, but Dru is older than me by a couple of centuries."
The Morrigan looked at Willow, then at Dru, "Does it matter? You are both equal in my heart. When a third champion is chosen, for the Crone, she will be just as equal."
"No, it's not important. I just wanted to know if I got to be the overbearing older sister or the bitchy younger one." Willow said with a smile in her voice. "Besides, either way we get to steal each others clothes." As Willow said this she was grinning at Dru.
Dru answered Willow, "I don't mind you borrowing my clothes. However, my ideas of fashion are a little out of date. Can you help me update my wardrobe?"
Faith's eyes shone at this, "Why don't we make a trip to the mall. I can show you what really gets the guys hearts racing." Looking over at Angel she said, "Not that I care about anyone's heart racing except yours, of course."
Willow lent over to whisper in Faith's ear. "Good save."
Faith whispered back, "Thanks." She then looked over at Dru, an eyebrow raised in question, "Well?"
"But how will I afford it? I didn't keep any money when I was loopy and a vampire." Dru wondered aloud.
The Morrigan held out her hand, two credit cards in her palm. "Allow me. As my champions, there are some bonuses they never talked about in the tales. This is one. Enjoy yourselves."
Willow looked shocked, "But we can't just take money for nothing."
Moire looked at Willow, sorrow on her face, "Willow, my darling child, you are not taking money for nothing. As my champion, and a champion of Light, you and yours are in great danger. The pay is commensurate with that danger. Enjoy it, for you have earned it, and will continue to earn it."
"Oh! OK then." Willow said cheerily. "I can understand that. I guess living in SunnyHell, I have learnt to not trust gifts. They have a way of costing more than they seem. But if this is just pay for our work, then I say carpe diem." And with that Willow reached across and took one of the cards. She looked at the card, noticing that the name on it was Willow Ravenschild. Looking at the other card she saw the name was Drusilla Ravenschild. She looked at Dru and Moire, with a smile for her Mother and Sister.
Dru reached over and took the other card, noticing the name on it as well. She stood up and took Willow and Moire in to a hug. "Thank you Mother."
Spike chuckled suddenly. Everyone looked at him, wondering what he was laughing at. He looked back at them and explained, "I just realised what a fucked up family we have. Dru has two mothers." he said pointing to Faith and The Morrigan. "And one Father..." pointing to Angel. "I have a Father but no Mother. Willow has two birth parents - who hardly even know she is alive, let alone what she gets up to - and now she has a Mother. I just find the whole mess to be worth a giggle."
When it was explained like that, everyone agreed it was an unusual family, but none of them would change it. They were closer than most traditional families, and that was all they cared about.
Faith looked at Angel and Spike, "You boys stay here. We women are going shopping."
The four women - one Slayer, one Goddess, one immortal champion of light and one ex-vampire walked out of the shop, heading for the mall.
******
That evening, the extended group met for their weekly planning session. The group consisted of some of the most powerful champions of Light ever to have existed. Around the table were Buffy, sitting in Khalil's lap. Next to Khalil Willow sat on Spike's knee, chatting to Faith, who sat on Angel's knee. Angel was talking to Giles with Miranda listening in. Dru sat on a backwards chair, so she did not sit on her wings. Anya handed a cup of tea to Dru, which Dru accepted with a thank you. Anya then handed Xander his goofy-looking dragon mug, the one she had bought him after drinking his sugary coffee once too often. How he could stand the four teaspoons of sugar was anyone's guess.
Willow, Faith and Dru were all wearing new outfits from their shopping trip that afternoon. Dru was in a pair of figure hugging black jeans that she had let Faith talk her in to buying and a dark blue halter top. Dru was starting to realise that the wings were going to take a bit of getting used to, as she had to buy tops that left her back uncovered.
Faith was wearing a tight red t-shirt and black jeans, the same brand as Dru's. Willow was also wearing jeans, although hers were white and not nearly as figure hugging as Faith's and Dru's, along with a light green t-shirt.
Buffy spoke up, "We ready to patrol?" she asked the group.
Angel, Faith, Dru, Spike, Willow and Khalil all called out their readiness. Giles, Miranda, Anya and Xander moved to let the patrollers out and wished them well.
Giles caught Buffy's attention before she left, "Do I need to tell you to be careful?" he quizzed her.
"No Dad, you don't." Buffy replied with a smile. She then hugged Giles to let him know she would be fine. Not that she had anything to worry about, given the company she was going patrolling in. The vampires were not in for a fair fight tonight, nor indeed had they been for some time.
The group then walked out of the Magic Box to start the patrol. They split up, the vampires of Sunnydale having learnt to run if they saw more than three of them together. Buffy and Khalil headed North, Willow and Spike headed South, Faith going West and Angel heading to the East. Dru gave a wave and with a mighty whoosh of her wings, took off to fly overhead and keep an eye from above.
As Dru flew over one of the many cemeteries in Sunnydale, she saw a group of vampires stalking a young couple. Setting her wings in place, Dru glided in silently, hitting the lead vampire from behind, knocking him to the ground. Turning to the couple Dru ordered, "Run. And don't stop running until you get home."
Comfortable now that the victims would be safe, Dru turned to face the six vampires that she had robbed of a meal. "Leave now and I will let you live. Stay and die." Dru offered them generously.
The leader, then one Dru had knocked down, spoke for the group, "Why should we leave?" he asked confidently.
"Because I have you outnumbered one to six." Dru replied, confusing them.
"I think you have that ass-about, don't you? There are six of us and only one of you." The leader argued back as he signalled his men to surround her.
Dru decided to show the leader the error in his assumption. She let the vampires circle around her, until she was blocked from running on all sides. She then straightened her wings and spun in place, cutting each of the vampires with the razor sharp pinion feather that The Morrigan had shown her how to summon. Then, while the blood was still airborne, Dru sliced her palm on the feather as well. Raising her hand in front of her, she chanted, "Blood calls to blood. By my blood, do I summon yours. Return demon, from whence you came. By blood, fire and flame." As Dru finished the chant, a bright red light started to emanate from her cut palm. A beam struck out from the light to each of the vampires, the blood from their wounds gushing out and forming a circle in the air around them. As Dru repeated the chant a second and then a third time, the light grew brighter and fuller, until the circle was nothing but a bright red light.
While this was going on, Willow felt the strong magic being cast. Angel felt something happening that rattled the demon within him. Someone was casting very powerful blood magic. Khalil sensed it in much the same way as Willow, noticing the strength of the magic and that it was of the Light, not of the Dark. They all started moving at speed towards the cemetery where Dru was.
Dru, meanwhile was completing the spell. The red light grew brighter and the circle shrunk as it did so, until the light was bright as the sun, but held in Dru's hand. With a final spin and a flourish Dru completed the spell. The six vampires, transfixed by the magic, burst into flames and expired, their demons returning to the Hell they came from. Dru held her palm up and in it rested a deep red ruby.
"My word. That looks like a blood stone" Khalil commented in awe. "I always wondered how they were created."
Buffy looked at Khalil quizzically, "And what, exactly, is a blood stone when it's at home?"
Dru answered, "It is the pure, crystalised power of the vampires it was formed from. This one is special though. It is mine. It can only be used by me, or by someone I give it to. It can not be taken, it must be given, like all power worth having." Snapping out of her daze, Dru then looked at Willow and smiled. "Sorry, zoned out for a minute there. Remind me to ask Mother for something to hold this in, will you?"
Willow nodded, still in shock over what Dru had done. Snapping out of her own daze, Willow spoke to Dru, "Sister mine, will you help me with a spell?" she asked formally.
Dru answered just as formally, "It would be my honour. What dost thy require?"
Dropping the formality, Willow replied, "Just create a circle and make sure that nothing enters or leaves until I say so. That cool?"
With a smile Dru said, "OK. I thought you wanted something difficult."
Willow giggled, "Just wait until you see what's in the circle." Looking over at Angel, Willow commanded, "Angel. Come here."
Not too sure of what Willow had in mind, but surprised at the voice of command that Willow used, Angel obeyed. As he came up next to Willow, she nodded to Dru to raise the circle. Dru did as Willow indicated, walking around Willow and Angel three times widdershins summoning a circle as she did so. On the completion of the third pass, Dru nodded to Willow to indicate the circle was complete.
Willow took Angels hand in hers and asked, "Angel, what is the name of your last surviving Childe?"
"Nimrod. The Hunter."
Willow drew power from deep with in herself and called out at the top of her voice, in a voice of power, "I call you here, now, Nimrod. By your creator I call you. By my Mother I call you. HERE. NOW!"
There was a loud clap of thunder and suddenly there was a vampire standing in front of Willow and Angel. He spoke with a low, rough voice, "What is this? Do you know the trouble you are in little girl?"
Willow looked at him cheerily, "Oh, I'm not in any trouble. But you are. Angel, he's all yours."
Looking at Angel, Nimrod sneered, "You think this pathetic thing will save you? You are naive aren't you?"
Angel looked at Nimrod, sadness in his eye, but also hope. "Things have changed since we last met Nimrod. It is time to erase my oldest mistake."
"You think I am a mistake? I am the greatest of our kind. My name is synonymous with fear amongst our kind. I have hunted the most powerful of our kind to their death. I may not be the oldest, you still hold that honour, but I am more powerful than any other demon-kin vampire has ever become. I bet they don't even know who you really are, do they?"
Angel broke in, "If you mean do they know I was the Scourge of Europe, then yes, they know who I was. They have seen Angelus at his worst. and still they trust me. Now are you going to talk or are you going to fight?"
Nimrod leapt at Angel, hoping for surprise, but Angel was ready for him. Angel blocked the lunge and punched Nimrod in the face then in the chest. Nimrod staggered back, but rallied to try a leg sweep. Angel lept over the leg with ease, kicking out as he did, knocking Nimrod's head back. Landing smoothly, Angel taunted Nimrod, "This is the most powerful of our kind? My how standards have slipped. If I am the oldest, then it's a good thing our race is nearly extinct then, for the line is obviously flawed."
Nimrod lept up and punched at Angel's face. Angel blocked the punch with ease, sweeping the arm under his and catching it in a lock. He then hit Nimrod in the throat repeatedly. As Nimrod tried to retreat, Angel broke the arm with a savage twist and then released it. Dropping to his knees, Nimrod swore, "Fuck. That hurts. I didn't think you had it in you. Let's see what you do about this then." Nimrod the reached in to his jacket and pulled out a pistol. Spinning in place, he shot Willow in the chest three times.
Willow dropped to the floor, playing the part of a dead body. Nimrod turned back at Angel, expecting to see a man in shock. He did not expect to see a man leaning forward laughing deeply. Straightening his arm and letting his vampiric healing fix the break, Nimrod stood up, "What's so funny old man?"
Stopping laughing, Angel replied, "Two things. Number one, that's Spike's girlfriend you just shot."
Going even whiter than he already was, Nimrod looked outside the circle and saw Spike waving back at him. Spike's anger was legendary in Vampire circles, particularly given how Spike had arrived at his name. Looking back at Angel, Nimrod asked, "And two?"
"Two? Willow's not dead." Angel said as he pointed behind Nimrod to where Willow was standing. Willow smiled and waved her fingers at Nimrod.
"Now, I think it's time you left us." Angel said sadly as he thrust a stake in to Nimrod's heart. Nimrod looked at Angel in shock as he turned to dust.
Willow nodded to Dru to drop the circle, which she did with joy. Faith ran up to Angel and lept in to his arms, making sure he was all right. Angel enfolded her in his arms, letting Faith reassure herself that he was fine.
Part 7
Three months have passed since Willow had helped Angel destroy the last of his evil childer.
Spike walked in to the back room of The Magic Box, to see a distraught Willow putting the phone back on the cradle. "What is it Red? Bad news?" Spike asked her, worried about the look on Willow's face.
"The worst. My parents are coming to town and want to get together." Willow explained sadly.
"That's not too bad is it?" questioned Spike.
"Depends on how you look at it. I think it's time I tell them about us. I know Dad is going to freak, but I don't know how Mum will react. I do know she WILL freak when I tell her I'm dropping out of school, though." answered Willow with a hint of sorrow in her voice.
"Then you've decided you are definitely going to give up school then?" inquired Spike. He knew Willow was bored with College, which was not surprising, given all the things she knew to be real.
"Yeah. It's just not fun any more. And the things I have learnt since becoming immortal have opened my eyes to a whole other world. College pales compared to that. I mean, come on, how interesting can a small provincial college be when I can go to the other side of the planet with a word and a gesture. Besides, I would have to get a new roomie, now that Buffy and Khalil have finally found a place to live." Willow snorted. "Though why it took them so long is a mystery to me. It's not like Khalil has to worry about what he can afford." Willow told Spike.
"Why are you so worried about telling your Father about us then?" Spike wanted to know.
"Ira Rosenberg? The most devout Jew in California? When I tell him I am not only dating, but living in sin, with a Goy, he's going to have a heart attack and die on the spot. This is the man that would not even let me watch the Charlie Brown Christmas Special when I was a kid. If he knew you were an ex-vampire I am sure this would be less of a sin than the fact that you were brought up Protestant. It could be worse, I suppose." Willow philosiphised, "You could be Catholic. I just hope we don't have any supernatural attacks during the dinner. Geraldus has been very quiet over the last couple of months, and we still don't know where that sniper came from either."
Spike moved over and put his arms around Willow before she could start reeling off everything that could possibly go wrong with the get together. "When do we meet the parents then?"
Willow looked into Spikes eyes, seeing the love there, "Tomorrow for lunch. They are just passing through for the day, to check their mail and stuff. I'm just a side track to them." Willow said with out any recrimination, having long accepted that her parents were poster-children for neglectful parenting.
"It's a good thing I'm not still a vampire then, isn't it. Could be a bit hard to explain why your honey is a pile of ash in the restaurant chair." Spike joked.
Willow smiled and leant in to Spikes arms, feeling comforted by his presence.
********
The Next Day
Spike and Willow had arrived at the restaurant early, wanting to be there before Willow's parents. They nodded at the maitre'd who sat them at their table. As they were being seated, Willow saw her parents enter and walk into the foyer. The maitre'd showed them to their table and sat them down, taking their coats.
"Willow, you look lovely" Sheila commented, taking in Willow's $300 cocktail dress and matching shoes. Sheila then noticed Spike, looking very dashing in the finely tailored suit he was wearing. "And who is this?"
Willow took Spike's hand in hers and looked at Sheila and Ira, "This is William. My boyfriend."
Spike looked at them and said "It's a pleasure to meet you. Willow has told me all about you."
Ira looked at Willow admonishingly, "That's funny, she hasn't mentioned you to us at all."
Fortunately, before an argument could break out, the waitress walked up to the table, "Would you like some thing to drink before ordering?" She asked Willow's parents. Looking at Willow and Spike, the waitress asked, "The usual?"
Willow nodded, answering for both her and Spike, "Could you also bring us a bottle of the Evans & Tate Chardonnay with the meal as well. Thanks Mary."
Ira looked at Mary, the waitress, "I will have a martini and my wife would like a Gin and Tonic, thank you."
Mary smiled as she took the order and retreated smoothly.
"You must come here often, if they know your drinks." Ira commented to Willow.
Willow nodded her head, "We come here fairly regularly for dinner. It's lovely and Marcel, the chef, makes the best desserts I've every tasted."
Sheila looked at Spike and asked, "William, where did you meet Willow?" the interrogation beginning.
"We met while she was in High School." Spike answered truthfully, if incompletely.
"And how long have you been seeing her?" Ira asked.
"About six months now. That right, Red?" Spike checked with Willow.
"Closer to seven, but near enough." She answered him.
Mary returned from the bar with their drinks, "Here we go. Martini for the gentleman, Gin and Tonic for the lady, Midori and Lemonade for Willow and Scotch, neat, for Spike." She placed the drinks down with a smile and once again retreated from the table, seeing the look on Ira's face.
"WILLOW! You are far to young too be drinking alcohol. Is this the type of things this 'Spike' person has been teaching you?" Ira exclaimed, standing up and pushing his chair back.
"Dad, sit down, you're making a scene. I like this restaurant and I want to be able to show my face here again." Willow stated firmly. Ira sat down. Willow explained, "As a matter of fact, it was Xander's fiance, Anya, that introduced me to it. The drinking age laws in this state are a joke. I am an adult in all things at 18, but I am not legally allowed to drink until 21? That's crazy. Anyway, the owner is aware I am underage. He turns a blind eye, as we are amongst his best customers."
Sheila looked at Willow, beaming with pride, "Ira, it appears our daughter has grown up. Bravo Willow. For what it's worth, I agree with you. In most of the world, at 18 you are an adult in ALL things. Unfortunately here in America we are always a bit slow to catch up. Ira, Willow is an adult. If she chooses to drink, there is nothing we can do to stop her. And don't even start on the fact that William is not Jewish. We were not around to raise Willow in the Faith, so we can't complain if she is not orthodox."
Willow looked at her Mother as if seeing her for the first time.
Seeing the look on Willow's face, Sheila explained, "I've been thinking a bit lately, about the poor way we raised you. Or perhaps, to be more accurate, the way we didn't raise you. We were never around, always off on some conference or talking tour. Can you forgive me for being a bad mother?"
Willow took her mother's hand in hers, "You weren't a bad mother, you just weren't a good one either. I think any chance of a mother-daughter relationship is long gone, but I would like to know you as a friend."
"I would like that." Sheila accepted the unstated, but obvious, forgiveness Willow was offering.
"So would I. Just don't expect me to agree with you on everything.We may be mother and daughter, but I am my own person, with my own ideas." Willow told her mother.
"I would expect nothing less from a daughter of mine." Changing the topic, Sheila asked, "Now tell us, how is school?"
"Ah, school." Willow prevaricated. "I've been considering withdrawing from college. It doesn't seem to be as relevant to my life as I once thought it would be." Willow said, deciding on honesty.
Ira spoke up, "I can't say I am happy with that decision. How will you get a good job without a good education? How will you afford to eat?"
Spike butted in, "I have that covered. Money is not a worry, so Willow does not need to work if she doesn't want to."
Sheila asked Spike snidely, "So you believe it is the mans responsibility to provide for the woman?"
"Gods above and below, no. If Willow wants to work, then I will support her, whatever choice she makes. It's just that I have quite a lot of money, so if Willow wants to get a job, it will be because she wants to, not because she needs the money. Ours is an equal partnership." Spike stated firmly, smiling at Willow as he spoke.
"That's fine then. It's refreshing to hear that type of attitude from one of your youth." Sheila affirmed happily.
Spike kept his mouth shut and Willow bit her cheek to avoid laughing out loud. If only she knew how old Spike really was.
Mary, the waitress returned and took their orders during a break in the conversation, when Willow and Sheila got up to go to the ladies room. Ira ordered for Sheila and Spike ordered for Willow, each man knowing what the lady in his life would order, had she been there. Ira then looked at Spike and asked quietly, but pointedly, "Does Willow know what you are?"
Spike looked at Ira perplexedly, "What do you mean?"
"I see that you are much older than you appear. You read very much like a vampire, yet I saw you walk in the sun, so I know this is not the case. Willow also reads as different as well. I would know what has become of my daughter?"
Spike was now even more confused. "I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about. Vampires aren't real. 'Everybody' knows that."
Ira looked at Spike sagely, "What 'everybody knows' and what is real are far apart. Still, I see you are trying to protect Willow, which is good. I will just ask her." Ira commented as Sheila and Willow returned, chatting good naturedly.
Willow smiled at Spike, "Miss me?" Then she noticed Spike seemed on edge. Muttering a spell under her breath, Willow took herself and Spike outside of time. "What's up?"
"Your father asked me what I am? He said I 'read very much like a vampire' but that, as I walked in the sun I obviously wasn't. Is there something about 'dear old Dad' you want to tell me?" Spike enquired teasingly.
"I'm as stumped as you are. This is my Dad, the most mundane man alive."
"I'm afraid that is a fiction I wove, for your protection Willow." Ira interjected.
"Fuck!" Willow swore, "Don't do that. Um...why aren't you frozen?" Willow asked her father.
"Didn't you ever wonder where your magickal talent came from? I must apologise for the lies I have let you believe over the years. I truly did it to protect you." Ira explained. "I am not Ira Rosenberg, psychologist. I am Ira Rosenberg, mage of the Qaballah. Your mother does not know of my "other life" and I'd rather it kept that way. I love her dearly, but she is too much a product of her time and Magick is something that does not exist to her. But we know differently, do we. Now, I ask you formally, what are you called?"
Willow looked at her father in shock. Of all the things her father could have done, this was the farthest from her expectations. Answering her father she drew her power to her and answered, "I am Willow Ravenschild, Undying, maiden champion of The Morrigan, and champion of the Light."
"Maiden Champion of The Morrigan?" Ira enquired, not knowing what Willow meant, but understanding that it was a Title of Power.
"She means, Mage, that she is MY chosen champion, defender of the weak, Warrior of the Light, Protector of the Helpless and whatever other over-the-top titles I feel like making up on the spot." Spoke The Morrigan with the voice of absolute authority, appearing next to the table.
Ira bowed from the waist, the deep bow of total respect, "Forgive me, your divinity. I was not aware. I must admit to a certain amount of pride that my daughter has been chosen for such an honour. Although, perhaps you could explain the 'undying' part. I know Willow is not a Quickened Immortal, so what do you mean by Undying?" Ira address the question to Willow.
"Um..well..you see, I can't die. Listen, I'm getting hungry, could we put off the explanations until later? Come to The Magic Box this evening and I'll explain everything. OK?" Willow pleaded with her eyes.
"All right." Ira conceded, "Now don't forget, your mother doesn't know about any of this, so I have to go back to being Ira Rosenberg, psychologist and non-believer."
Willow nodded. As she, Spike and Ira sat down, The Morrigan disappeared and Willow dropped the spell, allowing them to re-enter time.
Sheila looked at Ira, took his hand and cleared her throat, "Willow, the real reason we passed through town was to tell you something." Sheila looked apprehensive. Taking a deep breath she said, "There's no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to say it. You're going to be a sister."
Willow jumped up and hugged her mother, "That's wonderful." Looking at her parents she asked, "But aren't you a little old to be having another baby? Oh, Gods, that sounded awful. I meant will you be..."
Sheila smiled lovingly at her daughter, "Willow, I'll be fine. I'm only 42. Lots of women are having their first child at my age. My doctor tells me I'm in the prime of my life and the child will be in no danger whatsoever."
Ira, playing the part of the dour psychologist to the hilt, said, "Yes, the figures we have seen show that with the advances in modern medicine, your mother will be able to carry to term safely. We hope to learn from the mistakes we made raising you and raise your brother or sister in love, not letting him-or-her raise them self, like you did, quite admirably, I might add."
The rest of the lunch passed with out incident, just a family enjoying time together, and a group of adults getting to know each other.
Part 8
Willow was sitting in The Magic Box, deep in thought. The shock of learning her father was not who she thought he was a lot to deal with. Spike did not say anything, just held her, letting her know he loved her.
Willow had not told the scoobies why she wanted them to meet her at the Magic Box that night, just that she needed them to be there.
Anya and Giles were, of course, at the shop already. Xander was the first of the missing scoobies to arrive, closely followed by Buffy and Khalil. Miranda arrived shortly after, making the group complete.
Buffy looked over at Willow asking inquisitively, "What's up Wills? Why the meeting?"
Holding Spikes hand Willow replied, "I met my parents for lunch today..."
Xander walked over and hugged Willow, "I didn't know they were back in town. You OK?"
Willow smiled up at Xander, pushing him back lightly, at the look Anya was giving her. Willow could just not get Anya to accept the fact that Spike was the man for her and she didn't think of Xander in that way. "Yeah, I'm fine. Though a little shocked. Turns out I'm going to be a sister."
"Sister!? But that would mean your parents still...ewww. That's gross just thinking about it." Xander verbalised what most in the room were thinking.
"Please Alexander. We are old, not dead." said a voice from behind them, indignant, but smiling.
The group looked at Ira, shocked that they had not heard him come in.
Looking at the group, Ira raised an eyebrow in enquiry, "I see names for each of you that do not make sense. My daughter I know, but Spike, why do I see the name Evil-Lover? And the others? The Slayer and The Great One? The Heart and the Ex-Demon? How does one become an EX-demon? The Father- Watcher and The Hidden One? These are all names from Prophecy. Willow who are these people?"
The group had now passed through shock and were well on the way to sheer terror. Khalil was the first to recover, "And may I enquire who might you be sir?" he asked the newcomer.
"Forgive me. I am Ira Rosenberg, Mage of the Qaballah. May I have the honour of knowing what you are called?" Ira asked the assembled group.
"Dad, I think you're freaking them out. How about you answer a few questions first, so we know we can trust you?" Willow asked her father.
"I don't see why not. Please, ask away." Ira gave his permission with a small nod.
Giles asked his question first, "Mage of the Qaballah? The Jewish tradition of High Magick?"
Ira nodded again, "That is correct. I follow the tradition of my forefathers".
Willow smirked at Spike, "See! Told you. Most devout Jew in all California."
Ira smiled at the description, "I don't know if I would go quite that far, but I am devout, yes."
Khalil looked at Ira and asked his question, "Might I enquire as to your age?"
Ira turned to Khalil to reply, "A mere babe of 53. I see you are much older. Are you Undying as well?"
Khalil glanced at Willow, who nodded her assent. Answering Ira, Khalil replied, "Yes. Willow and I are both numbered amongst the Undying."
Xander piped in with his question, "Sir, if I may, why didn't you ever let Willow watch the Charlie Brown Christmas Special?"
Ira glared at Xander, "I hardly think that is relevant now, do you?"
Willow admonished her Father, "Dad, you did say you would answer our questions," glaring at Xander she added, "However inane."
"True." Ira admitted. Looking at Xander, Ira answered, "While Christmas is not a Jewish holiday, I dislike the rampant commercialism that has taken the place of the proper observances. While the show of which you speak might seem harmless in and of itself, it is a symptom of the larger problem. If enough people take a stand and say 'Enough' then the holiday may take back it's original meaning."
Xander agreed with Ira, "Fair enough. As long as there was a good reason, then."
Willow addressed Ira formally, "I thank you, Ira, Mage of the Qaballah, for answering our questions. You may ask questions of your own now. But we reserve the right to not answer, as we have secrets of people not present and we will not betray confidences."
"Nor would I expect you too." Ira replied. Sitting himself at the table, he made himself comfortable before asking his first question. "Now then, daughter, how did you become Undying?"
Willow sat opposite Ira, Spike sitting next to her. Looking at her Father, she replied, "I don't know. According to Khalil, none of the Undying know why we are like we are. All they do know is that one person a century is born who will not die. Ever. I am truly immortal, undying. Nothing can kill me."
Xander piped in, "Bummer, hey?"
Ira smiled, "Indeed." Looking at Khalil, who was the resident expert on the Undying, Ira addressed him, "You say that nothing can kill an Undying? What about dispersion?"
Khalil sat down at the table as well, replying as he did. "In our experience, only complete, total, molecular dispersion will kill an Undying. If even one cell remains then they will regenerate. Eventually. Undying have survived being cast into a live Volcano. It is not pleasant, but we will survive it."
Willow suddenly appeared to remember something, "Dad, I just had a thought. Shut up Xander. If you're a Mage, which you certainly appear to be, why did you stay living on a Hellmouth? Surely you could sense the energies?"
Ira looked at Willow wistfully, "An acquaintance of mine, a Master of Time, told me it was necessary for you to grow up here. He did not go in to details, but looking around, I can see now he must have been talking about Prophecy. Which brings me back to my original question. Who are you people?"
Willow sat straighter, still proud to be a child of Destiny. "I am the Morrigans Daughter, Champion of Her maiden aspect, Undying, Witch, Lover of Spike and one of the Champions of Light." Smiling at Spike, Willow formally introduced her love, "This is William the Bloody, also known as Spike. Formally a Vampire, now unique. He is the Evil I love." Gesturing towards Buffy, Willow said, "This is Buffy Anne Summers, the Slayer, greatest of her kind. Next to Buffy is Khalil al-Raschid ibn Mustapha bin Jamila, Wizard, Warrior and Undying. The rest are Rupert Giles, the Father to Buffy in all but name, member of the Council of Watchers; Miranda, The-One-In-Hiding, lover of Giles; Xander, the heart of our group and finally his love Anya, formally Anyanka Vengeance Demon, now just Anya." Turning back to her Father, Willow smiled and said cheekily, "Now you know more than any outsider about our merry band."
Ira inclined his head in thanks, "I thank you for the introductions. You are part of an august band of warriors. It does a Father proud to see his Daughter in such company. May I see the Prophecy the names come from?" He asked.
Willow nodded, "Sure." and holding her hand out, she muttered a spell under her breath. A piece of parchment appearing in Willows hand, containing the full Prophecy. Handing the parchment to her Father she said "Here you go. Oh, by the way, that parchment will destroy itself in 12 hours. We can't afford a copy getting in to the hands of our enemies."
"Enemies? Might I ask who would be foolish enough to go up against such a strong band as yourselves?" Ira enquired, a little worried about the safety of his daughter.
"Gerald Smythe, a Kindred vampire based in Los Angeles and a Champion of the Dark. He doesn't know I'm Undying, and I'd kind of like to keep it that way." Willow half-joked.
"I have not heard of this Smythe, but his kind's interests do not intersect with mine very often. Maybe one of the Euthanatos might know of him. I will ask a friend of mine, the next time I see her." Looking at his watch, Ira noticed the time, "I think it is time I return to your Mother and go back to being plain old boring Ira the psychologist." Taking his leave, Ira left the shop, nodding to the group as he left.
Willow watched her Father leave, muttering to herself, "Well that was different."
Part 9
Willow and Spike were walking through one of the many graveyards in Sunnydale. It was their turn to patrol, although patrolling had become more of a routine than anything, as the abundance of powerful Champions and warriors of the Light in Sunnydale had made it safer than it had ever been. If the deceased Mayor Wilkins had known what would have become of his town after his death, he probably would have set up the town somewhere else. Of course he hadn't planned on dying in the first place.
Spike looked at Willow, who was obviously deep in thought, "What's up Red?"
Willow smiled back at Spike, "Just thinking. And no smart remarks. I was trying to work out what the deal is with that sniper that keeps ruining my tops by shooting my heart. We're fairly sure it's not Smythe, so who is it? Any ideas"
"None, I'm afraid. We'll just have to wait until the next time and 'ask' him a few questions." Spike consoled her.
"Shit. I guess so." Willow swore. Since she had hooked up with Spike, Willow had caught his impatience.
A voice called out of the darkness, "Perhaps I can answer the question for you." >From out of the shadows stepped Jen, the ex-lover of Spikes Willow had met at the Soiree Gerald Smythe had thrown as an excuse to meet Willow and her friends.
Spiked sighed as he realized who it was, "What the fuck do you want?" he asked her.
"Simple, I want you. And if it means I have to kill the child here, then so be it."
Of all the responses she could have received from Spike, the one she got was the least expected. Spike started laughing, laughing so hard he had to sit down, as he couldn't stand up. Once he had himself back under control, and looking it an exasperated Willow with a look of apology, Spike turned to Jen and said, "Go on then. Give it your best shot."
Jen just looked at Spike in shock. She expected him to scream, or curse, or something, not just to give up his supposed love with out a fight. Jen turned to Willow and said, snidely "He doesn't seem to care what happens to you, does he?"
Willow smirked at Spike and turning to Jen remarked, "Oh he cares. He just knows I'd slap him in to the middle of next week if he tried to fight my battles for me. Now are can we get on to the fighting? I want to get home at a reasonable hour for a change."
Jen was starting to think she may have bitten off more than she could chew. Neither Spike nor Willow seemed to be worried about Willow fighting her. Deciding to put on a brave face, Jen said, "All right then, young one. If you are in such a hurry to die, then I'm sure I can accommodate you." With a click of her fingers she dropped the magic hiding the group of vampires she had brought with her.
Willow nodded to Spike. They had been fighting together long enough that words were no longer necessary between them in combat. Summoning her staff, Willow lept in to the midst of the vampires, staking a very surprised looking vampire as she did. Thinking to her self that these were obviously not from Sunnydale, Willow turned to the closest vampire and smiled the smile of a predator, and spoke "Well. Come on."
Seeing Willow leap in to the fight, Jen reached in to her coat and pulled out a pistol. Placing the barrel in Willow's back, Jen fired at point blank range. The shock she received when, not only did Willow not fall over, but she turned around with a look of fury.
"You bitch. I bet you're the one whose been sniping at me. Do you have any idea how many tops of mine you've ruined? I was only mildly annoyed before. Now I'm fucking pissed!" Willow spat out at Jen.
The vampires attacking Willow all stepped back at the waves of anger coming off Willow with almost a physical force.
Calling to her God, Willow chanted, "I call to you, The Morrigan. By my bond as your Champion, I ask this. Bind this one in stone, that she may learn what folly she has attempted."
As Willow completed the chant, The Morrigan appeared. With a wave of her hand, The Morrigan froze time, with the exception of Spike and Willow. Looking at Willow, Moire asked, "What's up, my dear?"
Looking at her Goddess with love, Willow replied, "This stupid cow is the one who's been shooting me over the last couple of months. I think killing's too good for her. I want her to suffer for a while. I'm not being to bitchy am I? I mean, it's not like she really hurt me, just ruined a couple of my favorite tops."
"Well, historically, I've always been one to make the punishment fit the crime, so I don't think you're being to harsh." The Morrigan answered Willow's fear.
"I say just kill the dozy cow and be done with it." Spike put in his two cents worth.
Looking at Jen, Moire returned herself, Spike and Willow to the normal flow of time. Pointing a finger at Jen, The Morrigan froze her in place. Speaking to Willow and Spike, she said, with a smile "I'll keep her frozen while you deal with the flunkies."
Willow replied, "Gotcha. OK boys. Shall we get back to it?"
One of the vampires, braver, and perhaps stupider, than the others, stepped up to Willow and took a swipe at her with his claws. Blocking the swing, Willow stepped up close to the Vampires' body and grabbed his arm. Getting a good grip, Willow executed a perfect shoulder throw, putting in a twist at the end and dislocating the vampires arm as she threw him in to the ground.
Meanwhile, Spike had dodged the punch his opponent threw and gave three quick rabbit punches in to the vampires kidneys. The vampire grunted and elbowed Spike in the face. Spitting blood from the broken nose, Spike grinned and leapt on the vampire, gripping him in a bear hug and crushing his chest. The vampires ribs broke with an audible cracking, one of the broken ribs piercing his heart and dusting him.
Willow staked the vampire on the ground, writhing in pain from the dislocated shoulder. She then turned to the three remaining vampires and said, "Sorry boys. I don't have time to fight you properly." with that, Willow spoke a Word of Power and threw a fireball at the three, engulfing them in flame and dusting them quickly.
Walking back to Jen and The Morrigan, Willow was trying to think of a suitable punishment for Jen. Having the beginning of an idea, walked up to Spike and kissed him, making sure, mostly by touch, that he was OK after the fight, as he did the same with her. Noticing Spikes broken nose, Willow muttered a spell of healing and touched him on the tip of the nose.
As the healing spell took effect, the bones of Spikes nose realigned with a sickening crunch and pop.
"Shit, Luv. I think it hurt more when it was broken." Spike swore.
"Well I didn't like the look of it. I like your nose as it is, not looking like someone had smeared your nose across your face. Now shut up and let me kiss it better." Willow said as she put her arms around him again and kissed him deeply.
Looking at Jen, Moire commented, "Isn't young love sweet?"
"I didn't realise how well they complimented each other. I can't win Spike back, can I?" Jen asked The Morrigan.
"No, you can't. Willow is his soul mate. They complete each other in a way even one who has lived as long as I have sees very rarely." Moire explained.
"What do you mean? You don't feel that old." Jen questioned.
"That's because if I showed my true power, you would end up a pile of ashes. Now, I have a question for you." Looking at Jen, almost as if she was looking through her, The Morrigan said "I see you have not done that much real evil in your time. If I gave you the chance, would you take the chance to make a real difference in the world?"
Jen was shocked. She had been expecting death, or a fate worse than death. She hadn't, even in her wildest dreams, imagined that she would be offered a chance at redemption. When she had been human, she had been a very devout witch, but when she was turned into a vampire, she thought she was damned for all eternity. Looking at The Morrigan, a tear in her eye, she replied, "I would do anything to have a chance at heaven. What do I have to do?"
Willow had satisfied herself that Spike was fine, having given him a thorough examination. mostly by braille. Taking his hand, she walked over Jen and Moire. Seeing Jen had been crying, Willow asked, "What'd I miss?"
"I am going to overrule you on this one, my child. I sense great potential from this one. Leave her with me and I can guarantee you will never see her again."
Obviously not happy, but accepting that, as a God, Moire had access to information that she didn't, Willow nodded.
Taking Willow into her arms, Moire smiled, "I'm sorry. It's one of those things that comes with being a God. Sometimes you get feelings that you have to act on, even when they don't seem to make sense until later. And that's what is happening here, I get the feeling that this one has something to do. I will take her with me, now. Don't forget, I love you and your sister." The Morrigan said with a smile and then disappeared with Jen.
"Well, that was strange. Let's go home. I think this patrol is done." Willow said to Spike as they headed back to the Magic Shop to tell the others what they had seen on patrol.
Part 10
Angel was lying on one of the sofa's in the foyer of the Hyperion Hotel relaxing after a hard night of fighting evil in the form of a particularly nasty demon, that for some ungodly reason had taken the form of Ronald MacDonald and was preying on children. It had not been very hard to kill the demon, although Faith had seemed to take a perverse kind of delight in chopping him up. Angel suspected there were some issues Faith had laid to rest that night. She was now sleeping peacefully, with her head in his lap, stretched out on the sofa next to Angel.
As Angel was musing on what repressed issues Faith may have had with the defacto symbol of Corporate America, a man walked in to the hotel. He was the type of man that you would not look at twice if you had walked past him in the street, which was just the way he liked it. He was wearing very non descript clothes that told nothing of who he might be.
Looking at the man, Angel asked, "Can I help you?"
"No. But it appears I may be able to help you, Liam Seamus O'Riordan, aka Angel, aka Angelus, the Scourge of Europe." The man replied to Angel's question.
"You seem to have the advantage over me. You know who I am. Who might you be?" Angel asked, starting to get worried. This man had obviously amassed a fair amount of information about Angel, yet this was the first time Angel had laid eyes on him.
"I might be many people. In fact I am. But you may call me Adam Pierson. I received a message from an old friend, that you needed some guidance that I am uniquely able to provide."
Faith had woken up as soon as they two men started to speak. "Who's the hottie, Angel?"
"He says to call him Adam," Angel explained, hinting to Faith that although he asked to be called Adam, it was not his name. This told Angel and Faith more than Adam realised, saying to call him Adam, rather than his name was Adam.
"Well, man called Adam, what do you want?" Faith asked, as direct as ever.
"Mostly what I want is to be left alone, but old friends keep calling in markers that I had hoped had been forgotten. But in this instance, all I want is to talk to Angel for a while. Can we go somewhere private?" Adam asked smoothly, still giving away nothing as to why he was there.
"I have no secrets from Faith. But we can go in to my office if you want. It's this way," Angel answered Adam, indicating the way to his office.
As Angel led Adam to his office, Faith followed them, noting the way Adam walked. The confident walk of a warrior who had seen many battles and survived them all. Once in the office, Angel sat behind the desk and indicated a chair in front of the desk for Adam. Adam took the seat offered as Faith sat on the corner of the cupboard just inside the door. Adam noted that Angel's chair was in front of the window, and Faith was sitting between him and the door. Had he been an enemy, he would have been trapped. He nodded at Angel, to indicate that he was aware of the situation.
"I was sent here by a friend. Who, I would rather not say, but know that they bare you no ill will. I am here to talk to you about you forgiving yourself. Something about a small spree of evil you undertook during the 19th century. In fact pretty much the entire 19th century, according to my friend," Adam started the discussion.
"How did your friend explain how, if I was around during the 19th century, how I could be alive and walking around at the beginning of the 21st century?" Angel enquired of Adam.
"Ahh, but you're not alive are you. Vampires might not be dead, but you're not alive either. And you are a vampire, albeit one with a soul," Adam surprised Angel and Faith.
Faith swore, "How the fuck do you know so much about us?"
Looking at Faith, Adam said "The directness of the young. To answer your question, I help a Champion of the Light and we have similar resources to your little band, although we are, mercifully, untroubled by prophecies. You have my sympathies on that. Prophecy can be a right pain in the arse when it sticks it's head in to your world, particularly as often as it does yours."
"What do you mean young? You don't look that much older than me." Faith spat, not liking being patronised.
"And how old would you think I am then?" Adam enquired. He had been warned that he would have to reveal his true age and some circumstances of his past to get his point across to Angel.
Faith looked at Adam, again. "I would say 30 to 35. maybe a well preserved 40"
Angel looked Adam in the eye, "Look at his eyes, Faith. He is much older than that. He has seen too much to only be 35. How old are you Mr Pierson?"
"To be completely honest, I don't know exactly. When I was born, we didn't care much about calendars. In fact I am not even sure exactly where I was born. My earliest memories are a bit vague. All I can say fro certain is that I am more than 5000 years old." Adam explained.
"What the fuck?" Faith exclaimed. She was used to people not being all they seemed, as in deed she was, but a 5000 year old man. That was a bit hard for her to accept.
"What are you?" Angel asked, simply.
"A man. My kind are sometimes known as The Quickened. We age normally until our first death, then we stop aging. We can die, but we always come back." Adam stated, mostly truthfully.
"Unless someone lops off your head, of course," Faith smirked, showing she was aware of his kind.
"You know of that? Someone has been careless. I'm sure you realise why we prefer that wasn't common knowledge. Now, then, if we have established my credentials, maybe we can get on with the reason I'm here in the first place. Angel, apparently you still feel guilty about being the Scourge of Europe for over a hundred years?" Adam directed the question at Angel.
"I am starting to accept the evil that I did has been done, and nothing I do can change that. But the good I have done since I was cursed has started to balance that out. But I still have a ways to go yet." Angel started to explain.
Adam snorted, "How much evil could you have done in only a hundred years. Let me tell you a story that very few know to be true. About 3000 years ago a band of 4 immortals, as close as brothers, rode across the lands we now know as Europe and Asia Minor. These brothers were so feared they were taken to be a sign of the apocalypse. You may have heard of them. They get mentioned in the bible:
And I saw, and behold a white horse, and he that sat on him had a white bow and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer. And There went out another horse, that was red, and power was given to him that sat theron to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill each other and there was given unto him a great sword. And I beheld, and lo a black horse, and he that sat on him held a pair of balances in his hand. And I looked and beheld a pale horse, and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death and with the beasts of the earth.
You probably know them by their more common names. War, Famine, Pestilence and Death. For over a thousand years, we rode from one end of the known world to the other."
"Hang on a minute, WE?" Faith asked, catching Adam apparent slip.
"Yes, WE. I was Death," Adam explained. "So you see, your little spree was barely a drop in the ocean. You barely even register on the scale. Completely ignoring the fact that it was the demon that was the evildoer, not you. I have no such easy excuse. I was the epitome of fear and death for over a thousand years. I was so terrifying that the bible counts me as one of the signs of the end of all times. And I liked it. The fear, the screams, the death."
Adam took a breath, and continued, "The point I am trying to make, is, if I can forgive myself, and I have, then you can forgive yourself. And if you can't, if you think your sins are so great that they can never be forgiven, then maybe it's time you kill yourself and go back to hell, where you belong." Adam was not being needlessly cruel, but he could see that Angel was going to argue with him and claim that his evil was to great.
Adam spoke again, after he gave Angel enough time to think about what he had said, "You were raised a Catholic, weren't you?"
Angel nodded, not knowing where Adam was going.
"Then you are in danger of committing the sin of Hubris. By saying that YOUR sins are too great to be forgiven. Even though, by your beliefs, Christ died to forgive all sins. Isn't this true?" Adam asked.
Angel nodded, now understanding what Adam was saying. "Thank you, Adam. I understand now. If God can forgive me, then I must be able to forgive myself. But you will allow me to continue to work for redemption. Or perhaps penance might be a better description."
Adam smiled, seeing that his trip wasn't wasted. Angel had forgiven himself.
Angel stood up and took Faith in his arms, "I forgive myself. I forgive myself." He repeated over and over, spinning Faith around in his arms.
Faith just smiled and kissed him hard. When she had shown Angel her love, she turned to Adam, "Thanks man. I've been trying to get him to accept that the past is the past and get on with his life. I think he can now. So, thanks."
"It's nothing. Gave me a chance to get rid of a marker that had been kicking around since that time i was on stage with Caesar. Julius, that is." Adam said with a smile. "Now, do you have anything to drink in this place? I'm parched after all that talking."
"I feel like celebrating. Lets go out. I know just the place." Angel grinned.
Leading them downstairs to his car, Angel drove them to Caritas.
As they pulled up, Adam commented, "Caritas? Old Latin. An expression of Love. Strange name for a bar."
"Is that what it means? I wondered," Faith stated.
"You should have asked. I'm suer Wesley would have given you a long, detailed history of the word," Angel said with a smile. Wesley was well known for his love of the most obscure trivia. He and Giles had a competition going to find a word the other couldn't identify. Giles was ahead 3:2.
"It's alright. I didn't want to know that badly," Faith said with a smile.
As the trio entered, the Host was there to great them.
Adam, started, "A Pylean Demon? What is one of them doing here? And a hunter at that."
"Sorry, old man. I'm not a hunter. Never liked the lifestyle. Much prefer the LA lifestyle. Lights, song and dance. Now I'm going to have to take your coat, and what it contains. No violence allowed in Caritas. Except the butchering tall dark and broodful here does to songs." The Host lived for singing and what Angel did to songs was a crime.
"How about you, old man. Will you grace us with a song? It's the price of admission" The Host told Adam.
Adam was certain the Host had an ulterior motive, but not knowing what it was, could only say "I guess I have to then, don't I?"
The Host directed Adam up to the stage, where he started to flip through the song list. Finding just the one, Adam started to sing a mournful rendition of Amazing Grace, "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound. That saved a wretch like me."
By the end of the song, there wasn't a dry eye in the bar as Adam sang of redemption, with the voice of one who has been there.
When Adam sat down with Angel and Faith, the Host came up to them with a drink for Adam. Putting it down in front of him, the Host said, "Here you go my dear man. I think you've deserved this. It's the last I have. I've been saving it for someone who could truly appreciate it."
Taking a sip of the drink, Adam grinned, "Sumerian hard liquor? Where did you get some of this? I didn't think anyone remembered how to make it any more."
"I have an 'arrangement' with Dionysus. I misdirect people looking for him, and he gives me exotic drinks when he feels I need them. He gave me this bottle last week and told me that someone would be coming in that could tell him if he had the mix right. He wasn't certain the modern versions of the plants would give the proper taste."
"Well, when you see him, tell him, that as far as I can tell, it tastes just like it did in Ur." Adam told the Host.
For the rest of the night, Angel, Faith, Adam and the Host swapped stories of things they had seen.
Angel went home that night and slept the best he had in a very long time. The sleep of the just and redeemed.