-The Evil Within Series-
Story 2

"Opening the Gates
the sequel to "The First Evil"

Chapter 1: Old Enemies

Four figures stood in the darkened room, standing over a crack in the floor. It was dark out, midnight in fact. The full moon was out, casting eerie shadows across the floor, sending chills up three of the group’s spines. The fourth, however, felt right at home.

“Dude, this place is even creepier than it was before.” Jonathan said nervously.

“Yeah. High school sucked. I swear this place was evil.” Andrew chimed in.

“That’s because it *is* evil. It’s the hell-mouth you idiot.” Warren said impatiently, gesturing to the giant crack.

“What? That crack in the floor? Whatever.” Andrew scoffed.

“The boy is correct. We are standing over the Mouth of Hell. In the old days the Mouth of Hell released unto the world some of the most vicious Hell-beasts and Demons this earth has ever witnessed.” Doc smiled, reminiscing of greater times.

The Trio glanced around at each other nervously as if waiting for something suspenseful to happen like in the movies. But when nothing evil popped out of the hell-mouth, they all sighed in an anticlimactic way.

“Yeah, so why isn’t it releasing anything?” Warren asked.

“Two years ago the Slayer and her friends sealed the mouth of hell so tight, no magic could ever open it again.” Doc said.

“So what are we doing here if it can’t be opened?” Warren asked, feeling rather put out.

“Because. There is another way of opening the hell mouth.” Doc said.

“Well? What is it?” Warren asked impatiently.

“We need a Key.” Doc smiled maliciously.

* * *

“DAWN SUMMERS!” Buffy shouted from the Magic Box’s training room.

Willow, Tara, Xander, Anya and Spike looked up from the research table as Dawn came crashing out of the training room with Buffy hot on her tail.

“Buffy calm down! It isn’t as bad as it sounds!” Dawn said as she got on the opposite side of the table from Buffy, putting her directly behind Spike.

“Not bad?? NOT BAD?? Haven’t you learned anything from Willow?!” Buffy shouted. Willow sunk down in her chair and raised the newspaper she was reading in an attempt to look inconspicuous.

“Luv, calm down. Now what’s this all about?” Spike asked, once again being the mediator between the two sisters. That seemed to be his job nowadays. Well, that and his job at the Magic Box that Anya had reluctantly hired him back at. He had to work a lot of extra hours for what Anya claimed as ‘lost revenue’, because of his unannounced departure.

“She’s been practicing magic!” Buffy said.

“Nibblet? Is that true?”

At that moment Dawn found the floor very intriguing to look at. “Maybe.”

“Oh Dawnie.” Tara exclaimed, looking worried.

“It’s just little stuff! Nothing big or anything.” Dawn defended.

“Nibblet, you should know better.”

“You’re supposed to be on my side!” Dawn glared at Spike.

“That’s it! You are so grounded!” Buffy said.

“Uh, love, she’s still grounded from her trip to Willy’s.” Spike pointed out.

“Oh…well, you’re grounded until you’re twenty!”

“That’s not fair!” Dawn whined.

“Isn’t that a little excessive Buffy?” Xander asked.

“Hey guys…. I think I found something.” Willow said, looking at the front page of the Sunnydale newspaper. “There were some ’vandals’ spotted at the old Sunnydale High School. The library, to be specific.”

“The library? What would ‘vandals’ want with the library? That place is one big pile of ash.” Xander asked.

“Duh, the Hell-mouth.” Dawn said, relieved at the change of subject.

“The Hell-mouth? But we sealed that off. What would anyone want with it?” Buffy asked.

“Maybe lookin’ for a way to open it again.” Spike shrugged.

“Oh. Well that can’t be good.” Buffy said.

“Well… that’s impossible, we sealed the Hell-mouth. There’s no way to open it.” Willow furrowed her brows.

“Well, maybe it was just a group of kids playing pranks.” Xander shrugged.

“My money’s on the Hell-mouth.” Spike mumbled.

“I’ll take you up on that bet.” Xander raised his eyebrows and pointed a finger at Spike challengingly.

“Yeah?” Spike perked up. “Aright, I’m in.”

“Xander, You can’t bet your money! You have to buy me that new vibrator at Lover’s Package.” Anya reminded him.

“An!” Xander turned red.

While the rest of the group looked generally disgusted, especially Dawn, Spike could hardly keep himself from laughing.

“Don’t even think it bleach boy!” Xander shot a warning glare at Spike.

“What? I didn’t say a bloody word.” Spike said, still fighting back a laugh.

“I just know you’re thinking of a way to insult my manhood.” Xander mumbled. Spike finally let loose his laughter.

“Shut up.” Xander buried his face in his hands and rubbed his eyes wearily.

“Don’t worry honey, I like your man-hood. It’s firm in all the right places.” Anya tried to re-assure him.

Xander just groaned and leaned forward, hitting his head on the table repetitively.

Spike was laughing so hard, when he tipped his chair back to put his hands behind his head, he got off balance and fell over, crashing onto the floor.

* * *

In L.A., Angel Investigations

“No, you see Connor, you spray, then FLUFF! Spray...then FLUFF! That's it. It's all in the wrist. Keep your palm cupped and fingers spread....good!" Angel instructed.

Cordy was standing at his side with a teasing comb in hand, trying to tell Connor about the finer points of teasing hair. After of course, they introduced him to the shower and the bottle of shampoo.

“I can’t believe you’re teaching the kid how to do his hair.” Lorne said, leaning from the bathroom doorway. Fred and Gunn were standing beside him with ‘you’ve got to be kidding’ looks on their faces.

“Well, it's good that they're bonding...” Fred suggested.

“I don’t think this is the GOOD kind of Bonding, Chicky.” Lorne said.

Gunn’s eyes widened when he saw Angel take out a can of Aqua Net Spray.

“Someone's gotta go in there and stop this....”

Gunn and Fred looked at Lorne.

“What? Why are you looking at me? Just because I know how to DRESS myself...Why not Fred, she's a girl!” Lorne gestured to Fred desperately.

“And when was the last time you saw ME do my hair?” Fred asked. At the same time Lorne and Fred looked at Gunn with a ‘you do it’ look.

“Don’t look at me! I'm useless in the hair department.”

“Well, I wasn’t gunna *say* anything....” Lorne said off-handedly.

“Yah, why do you think I cut it off? I did the whole Afro thing in the late 80's....talk about TRUE horror, man. Even the Vamps laughed at me...”

Fred patted his shoulder sympathetically.

“Cordy, can you hand me the gel? Cordy?…Cordy?” Angel asked, seeing the spaced-out look on her face.

“Looks like she’s having a vision.” Fred said.

“Is she going to be okay?” Connor watched her curiously.

“Yeah, she does this all the time. She’ll snap out of it in a minute.” Angel said.

“Wow…okay… that was weird…” Cordy said, blinking rapidly to clear her head.

“What did you see?” Angel asked.

“I was in the old Sunnydale library. There were four people talking about opening the Hell-mouth. Three of them looked really familiar….I think I went to High School with them… but the fourth… that guy was *strange*. He was old. As soon as I saw his face, I got this flash back of just before Buffy died. He was walking toward Dawn with a knife in his hand. Then I switched back to the library, and the old guy said something about needing a key to open the Hell-mouth.”

“It’s Dawn. She’s in danger!” Angel said, walking swiftly out of the bathroom with the gang tailing behind him.

“Angel… Angel! Calm down!” Cordelia followed him into his room, while the rest of the group watched from the doorway.

“I have to…”

“…Go back to Sunnydale?” Cordelia finished for him with a raised eyebrow and hand on her hip.

“Yeah.” Angel said, pulling out a duffle back and tossing it on his bed.

“What about Connor?” Cordy reminded him. That stopped Angel in his tracks. He turned to the doorway to see Connor standing there, looking at a loss for what to do, but trying to pretend like he didn’t care.

“Oh, right. Hey, you want to come to Sunnydale with me?” Angel asked him.

“What’s in Sunnydale?”

“The Hell-mouth. And Buffy.” Cordelia supplied.

“And Dawn.” Angel amended.

“Who’s Buffy? Who’s Dawn?”

“She was…” Cordelia started to say, but Angel cut her off.

“…IS the Slayer. Dawn is her younger sister.”

“…His ex-girlfriend.” Cordelia finished.

“The younger sister is your ex-girlfriend?” Connor gave Angel a funny look.

“No, Buffy.” Angel sighed and continued packing his clothes.

A light went off in Lorne’s head, but he didn’t have a chance to say anything.

“Angel, I know this is a new concept for you, but there is a little invention called the Telephone. It’s amazing how you can talk to someone just by picking one up and dialing their phone number.” Cordelia said.

“I have to go back. That guy opened a portal that killed Buffy last time. He’s fully capable of opening the Hell-mouth.” Angel said.

“Yeah, okay, but don’t you think you should call first?” Cordelia said.

“Don’t have time. Why don’t you call while we’re on the road?” Angel said as he zipped up his duffel bag and hefted it onto his shoulder.

“You’re just trying to get out of calling.” Cordelia narrowed her eyes at him.

“You’re right, I am. Come on Connor, let’s go.” Angel said and walked out of the room, Connor tailing behind him.

“I’m coming with!” Lorne ran after them. “Lord knows, their gonna need my help.” He muttered under his breath.

“Arrrgghh!!” Cordelia huffed and walked over to the phone, picking up the receiver to dial the Magic Box.

* * *

Back in Sunnydale

Buffy hung up the phone with a strange look on her face.

“What is it Luv?”

“That was the strangest phone call I’ve ever had.” She said in a dazed-like voice, sitting down next to Spike at the table.

“You okay Buffy?” Willow asked.

“I think so… That was Cordelia…”

“Cordelia??” Xander exclaimed.

“Yeah…. Apparently she had a vision…. And Angel is coming for a visit.”

“Bloody hell, Batman descends from LA to save the bloody day.” Spike rolled his eyes.

“That’s not all…. Angel…. Has a son.”

“WHAT?” Everyone but Anya exclaimed. Anya was too busy counting the money to care.

“Yeah. Long story short: Some evil lawyers work some kind of magic to bring Darla back human, she gets vamped again, some strange Prophecy, Darla and Angel together, Darla gets pregnant, Darla stakes herself to save the baby, Some guy named Holtz out to get Angel, Wesley discovers a prophecy saying that Angel would kill his son, Wesley kidnaps the baby, Holtz gets a hold of the baby and takes him to a hell dimension, Wesley gets his throat cut but survives, Angel tries to get the baby back but can’t, A week later the baby comes back all grown up, tries to kill them but Cordelia has some kind of demon mojo now and took all of the hell-vibes out of him… now they are coming here….did I forget anything?” Buffy said. Everyone was shocked for a moment, but Willow spoke up.

“What’s his name?”

“Connor.”

“What was the vision?” Spike asked. At that Buffy looked up into Spike’s eyes, and then glanced at Dawn, tears threatening to spill.

“Doc.”

* * *

Angel glanced over at Connor in the passenger seat, watching the road signs speed by. Connor hadn’t said a word since they got in the car, and Angel didn’t quite know what to say, so an uncomfortable silence had settled upon them for the past hour. Lorne was in the back seat humming to him self.

“So… uh….wait until you meet Buffy. I think you’ll like her.” Angel tried to start a conversation. Connor just nodded.

“Dawn is about you’re age… so maybe you two can be friends.” Angel said. Lorne held back a chuckle from the back seat.

“What?” Angel asked.

“Oh, nothing.” Lorne said quickly.

“Remind me again why you’re coming along?” Angel asked Lorne.

“Uh, I have some friends in Sunnydale I need to see.” Lorne said.

“Okay…” Angel said, still puzzled, but decided not to ask.

Silence fell over the passengers for another five minutes.

“You’ll get to kill stuff.” Angel told Connor. The boy perked up at this.

“Yeah??” Connor said his first word since getting in the car.

A small, proud smile crept up Angel’s face.

“Yeah.”

* * *

“Uh, love?” Spike walked into the training room where Buffy was currently beating the crap out of the punching bag.

“Love?” Spike called again to get her attention. She took one last kick, sending the bag almost parallel with the ceiling.

“Yeah?”

“Nice kick, pet.” Spike said, genuinely impressed. “You okay?”

“Peachy.” She said, doing combo punch on the bag.

“Right.” He said disbelievingly. “Want to kick my ass?”

“What?”

“You always feel better when you kick my ass. Want to have a go at it?” Spike asked, taking his duster off and tossing it on the couch.

“Sure. Why not.” Buffy shrugged. “It can’t make me feel worse.”

Spike took off his black tee-shirt and shoes, leaving him only in black jeans.

“In fact, it can only make me feel better.” She said, raising her eyebrows.

“Naughty slayer.” Spike waggled his eyebrows. They stood toe to toe for a few seconds, waiting to see who would make the first move: A kick or a kiss.

Buffy chose a kick. Spike easily blocked and came back with a kick of his own, catching her in the side. She went with the momentum and fell to the floor, kicking his legs out from underneath him. He stood back up just as fast as he went down and did a three punch combo, two of which she blocked, but the second one caught her in the ribs.

She flew backward and did a backward summersault, rising to her feet again.

“What do you say we step this up a notch?” Spike asked.

“I’ll go all out if you will.” Buffy replied. Spike grinned and swung at her, using all of his strength.

* * *

“They’ve been in there for almost two hours. I hope Spike is okay.” Dawn said, glancing at the training room doors.

“Yeah, I have to give him points. Going in there after Buffy gets a Glory-sized-bomb-shell-news delivery like Cordy dumped on her…that takes guts.” Xander commented.

“Do you think she’ll stake him?” Dawn asked, worried.

“Who, Angel?” Xander asked hopefully.

“No, Spike.” Dawn rolled her eyes at him.

“Nah. Their’ pretty equally matched. If she tries, he has a 50/50 chance of coming out non-dusty.” Willow answered.

“I think she just needs to work out her anger on the punching bag.” Xander replied.

“Or on each other.” Anya commented. On everyone’s strange look, she continued. “You know what I mean Xander. When one of us gets upset, we always have sex. It always makes me feel better. She just needs to have many orgasms, and then she’ll be okay.”

“Dear God tell me that’s not what they’re doing in there.” Xander muttered.

“Of course that’s what they’re doing in there. Don’t you hear all the grunting? That’s not from taking swings at each other, I’ll tell you what.” Anya said.

“An…” Xander warned.

“What? We all know that hey have sex in there. Their’ probably using the mats….”

“Oh gross… I’m never falling asleep on those again.” Dawn curled up her nose.

“…Like we use the mats Xander.” Anya said. Xander turned beat red when the three girls looked at him with disgusted looks.

“Could my life get any worse??” Xander said and rubbed his eyes wearily.

Just then the bell on the door jingled, announcing a customer. Willow, Tara, Dawn, Anya and Xander looked up to see Angel and the young boy they figured was Connor.

“That was a rhetorical question!!” Xander shouted to the ceiling desperately.

“Uh, hi guys.” Angel said, shooting a confused glance at Xander.

* * *

Back in the training room, Buffy was putting her bra and shirt back on when Spike suddenly looked towards the door and tensed up.

“What?”

“Grandpa is here.” Spike sighed and zipped up his pants

“Don’t call him that… it sounds way too creepy.” She said as she straightened her hair.

“Buffy….do you…. Do you want me to come with?” Spike asked hesitantly. Buffy stopped fidgeting.

“I don’t know… I really don’t know. Oh god, I can’t do this. I don’t want to see him. Tell him to go away.” Buffy said, the panic finally hitting her.

“Luv, you have to talk to him. For the Nibblet’s sake.”

Buffy nodded and swallowed her terror.

“You’re right… I hate it when you do that.”

“No, you love me when I do that.” Spike said and pushed her towards the training room doors.

* * *

“So…. Uh, this is my son Connor. Connor, this is Willow, Tara, Xander, Anya and Dawn.” Angel said, gesturing to each one in turn.

They all made various greetings, and Connor just nodded, looking around the Magic Shop curiously. He walked around looking at all of the objects, and Anya started following him around saying, “Don’t touch that.” Whenever he went to go pick up something.

“So, uh, is Buffy here?” Angel asked the group. Tara looked down at the table, Willow fidgeted nervously, Xander got an evil grin on his face and Dawn suddenly found a book she was reading very interesting.

“Yeah, she’s in the training room with OW!!” Xander yelped as Willow kicked him in the shin.

“…The punching bag.” Xander amended, wincing. Angel looked at him strangely.

Buffy walked out of the training room with Spike not far behind.

“Hi Angel.” Buffy smiled at him

“Spike??” Angel said, surprised.

“Peaches.” Spike said in greeting. Xander started sputtering trying to keep from laughing.

“What?” Angel glared at him.

“Oh nothing. I just know why he really calls you that.” Xander laughed, and Spike chuckled conspiratorially.

“Guys, cut it out.” Buffy said, making a mental note to ask Spike about that later.

“Why is he here?” Angel asked Buffy.

“He is standing right here.” Spike said with a raised hand.

“He’s part of the team.” Buffy told him, taking an empty seat at the round table.

“He is?? Since when?”

“Since Glory.”

“Buffy…”

“It’s not up for discussion Angel.”

Just then Lorne walked into the shop, the doorbell announcing his presence.

“Angel, I booked us into the Sunnydale Inn down the street.” Lorne said, tossing Angel his car keys.

“Thanks. Guys, this is-“ Angel started to introduce Lorne.

“Hey Lorne!” Buffy smiled.

“Hey there honey.” Lorne smiled, and then saw Spike standing behind her. “Billy.” Lorne nodded in greeting.

“Hey Kermit.”

“You guys know each other?” Angel asked confused.

“Yep, I know the whole gang. They came up to Caritas before it burned down.” Lorne said.

“Oh, it’s gone?” Willow asked and Lorne nodded sadly.

“That’s too bad. It was a nice bar.” Willow said sympathetically.

“Thanks sugar.”

“Woah, woah, hold it. Why didn’t you tell me they came to your bar?” Angel asked.

“Well it wasn’t exactly my business to tell you. Besides sweet-cheeks, we have more important issues to deal with.” Lorne reminded him. Angel nodded.

“You’re right. Sorry Buffy…. so…did Cordelia tell you bout the vision?”

“Yeah…she did.” Buffy glanced over at Dawn.

“I think we might need the Watcher on this one pet.” Spike told her. Buffy looked up at Spike.

“I-I don’t want to bother him.” She said, the hurt of his leaving still reverberating in her voice.

“As much as I hate to say it Buffy, I think Spike is right. We need to call Giles.” Angel told her. Buffy glanced around the room and saw the Scooby gang giving nods of agreement. She took a deep breath and walked to the phone, looking at it as if it was going to jump off the wall and bite her. She picked up the phone and Dialed the numbers.

After a few minutes she was connected.

“Hello, Giles?”

* * *

Later that night…

Spike and Buffy were walking through the Graveyard on patrol. They had gone as a group with Angel and Connor, but earlier they had decided to split up so that they would finish quicker. They agreed on meeting back at Buffy’s when they were finished.

“So…. Are you gonna tell him about us?” Spike asked her as they walked through the cemetery.

“I don’t know… He’ll want to stake you, you know.”

“Yeah, but it’ll be funny.”

“It will not!”

“I’m just kidding luv. Besides, it’s not like he can talk. He has a kid.”

“Yeah… that’s just… weird. I still don’t get that.” Buffy said, and Spike nodded in agreement. For a few moments they walked in silence.

“I’ll tell him… I just… you know…. It’s difficult… and weird.”

“Luv, if the Scoobies except us, than Angelus can’t be too hard to convince.” Spike said.

Buffy didn’t say anything after that as they walked through the graveyard.

A little while later they were on their last cemetery and Spike was weaving in and out between the gravestones singing “Beheaded” by Offspring to himself.

“Night brings bad dreams, bad dreams and Guillotines…”

“My god, don’t you know any HAPPY songs?” Buffy asked. Spike stopped and gave her a funny look.

“I’m a *Vampire* luv, haven’t you noticed yet?” He asked patronizingly. “What am I bloody well supposed to sing? “I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts”? ‘Cause, you know…I do.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.

“Anything would be better than that gory song. I mean, really, cutting off your mother’s head? Eww!”

Spike rolled his eyes, then smirked maliciously.

“I’ve got a LOOOOVVEELLY bunch of coconuts! Dedeladeedee! There they are all standing in a row!! Bum, Bum, Bum!!!” Spike sung loudly and wildly off key, adding a bounce in his step for good measure.

Just then Buffy spotted a group of vampires ahead, but they heard Spike singing, and started running.

“Aarrgh!! You did that on purpose!” She shouted at him.

“What? It was *your* request! I know plenty of others….” Spike said and then sang even louder “The suuuuunn’llll come out TO MORROW!! BET’CHER BOTTOM DOLLAAARR THAAT TO MORROOOOWW, THER’LL BE SUUUN!!”

“AAAAARRGGGHH!!” Buffy shouted and stomped off towards her house. Spike grinned wickedly and chased after her, still singing, this time in a fake high-pitched girly voice.

“MY BOYFRIEND’S BACK AND YER GONNA BE IN TROUBLE! HAY NAA, HAY NAAA, MY BOY-FRIEEEENNNND’S BACK!!!”

* * *

Xander, Anya, Willow, Tara, Dawn and Lorne were sitting on Buffy’s living room couch, munching on popcorn and watching TV. Xander tilted his head to the side and looked toward the door.

“What IS that?”

Willow, still munching on popcorn looked up and listened.

“It sounds like singing… really BAD singing.”

“And it’s headed this way.” Xander said, standing up and walking towards the door. Just then Buffy flung open the door, ran in and slammed it behind her.

“QUICK! Get something to block the door! Close all the windows too! Keep him out!!” She shouted as she braced herself against the door.

“What is it? *Another* singing demon?” Xander asked. Willow, Anya and Dawn looked at him pointedly. Lorne just looked amused.

“HEY! This one isn’t *my* fault!” Xander defended.

“FEEEEELIINNGGSSS!!! BLOODY SODDIN’ FEEELLIIIINNNGS!!” Spike was singing loudly outside the door.

“Make it stop!!” Buffy moaned and collapsed against the door. Willow went over to the window, took off her shoe, opened the window and threw it at Spike, bouncing it off his head.

“JOHN JACOB JINGLE HIMER- OOW! What the bloody hell’d you do that for!?”

Willow blushed and shrugged, looking sheepish. “It works with cats on fences.”

Buffy reluctantly let Spike in and he tossed Willow her missing shoe. A silence descended upon the group as they all glanced at each other, then finally they dissolved into a fit of laughter.

Angel and Connor walked up onto the porch and saw everyone practically rolling on the floor laughing….even Spike.

“Uh, did I miss something?” Angel asked as they walked in.

* * *

Next Chapter: God Save the Queen

Chapter 2: God Save the Queen

“Is he here yet?” Dawn asked excitedly as she bounded down the stairs two at a time.

“Calm down Nibblet, I’m sure his flight just got delayed. He’ll be here.” Spike ruffled her hair playfully and led her to sit on the living room couch.

Buffy was running around the house, straightening things up nervously, while Spike tailed after her, trying to convince her that the house was already spot-less.

“Love, come on, it’s just Giles, not the bloody Queen of England.” Spike said.

“I know, I know, I’m just nervous.” Buffy fidgeted as Spike sat her down on the couch next to Dawn.

“Welcome to the couch of over-excitement. Population: us.” Dawn said pouting.

The front door opened, and Willow and Tara came in, their arms loaded with grocery bags.

“Hey, we come bringing party favors!” Willow announced as they brought the bags into the living room.

“Thank God you’re here Red.” Spike said. “They’re driving me up a bloody wall.” Spike leaned in and whispered so the Summer’s girls wouldn’t hear.

“I heard that.” The two girls chimed in at the same time.

“You have any alcohol in those bags?” Spike asked, rolling his eyes at the Summers’ women.

“Nope, sorry.” Willow shrugged apologetically.

“But I do.” Xander exclaimed cheerfully as he entered the house carrying another paper bag, Anya trailing behind him.

“Harris! I think this is the first time I’m actually glad to see you.” Spike commented wryly as Xander passed off the bag to him. Spike immediately inspected the contents of the bag.

“Yeah, other then when you’re stealing my money at pool.” Xander scowled as Spike tossed him a beer.

“So, when is Sir Poof-a lot going to get here?” Xander asked as he popped the tab on his beer. Spike chuckled.

“In a couple of hours. Peaches wanted to make his grand entrance at high noon like the prancing nancy-boy that he is.”

“Xander are you gonna complain about Angel, or are you gonna help us set up?” Willow asked, raising the “welcome home” banner out of the bag.

“Banner duty calls.” Xander sighed and went to help her.

“Arrg!” Buffy suddenly jumped off the couch and started straightening up things again in an attempt to calm her nerves.

“Bloody hell, here we go again.” Spike sighed and chased after her. He cornered her in the Dinning room as she started cleaning the window with Windex for the second time.

“Love, what are you so stressed about?”

“I’m not stressed! I may have to take care of Dawn, find a job, pay my bills, face Giles again, deal with Angel and the fact that he has a *son*, face the inquisition about our relationship and be….God all-mighty!”

“Well no wonder you’re stressed, you have a whole universe to run.” Spike deadpanned.

“Hide Dawn, NOW!” Buffy commanded in full Slayer mode.

Spike glanced out the Dinning room window at where Buffy was looking and saw Doc standing out on the front yard in the afternoon sun, gazing in at them with a strange smile on his face while waving at them.

“Bloody fucking Hell!!” Spike shouted. “It’s Doc!”

* * *

Giles arrived in a taxi in front of Buffy’s house and could hardly believe his eyes.

“Dear Lord!”

“Jesus. Hey buddy, you want me to call the cops?” The taxi driver asked Giles.

“Wha-? Oh, no, no, I’ll take care of it, thank you.” Giles said as he paid the driver and quickly got out of the cab. He left his suitcases on the sidewalk as he ran up to the battle playing out on the front lawn.

“Spike?!?” Giles exclaimed in shock, seeing the vampire fighting in broad daylight.

“Giles!” Buffy turned, dropping her guard for a second, but quickly had to block another sword thrust. That is when Giles noticed whom they were fighting.

“Doc!!”

“Watcher!” Spike grunted, throwing him an extra sword while he blocked a parry from Doc. The demon stood calm as could be with one sword, blocking both Buffy and Spike’s blows.

“He’s after Dawn!” Buffy shouted to Giles as he entered the fight.

Doc realized that he wasn’t going to retrieve the Key this time. He was out numbered. The sun glinted off of Spike’s amulet and Doc smiled maliciously, recognizing its purpose. He feigned to the left with his sword and punched Spike in the nose with his right, grabbed the amulet and yanked it from Spike’s neck.

“NOW!” Doc shouted, turned and ran.

Hidden behind a hedge, Warren pulled the trigger on the freeze ray, aiming it at Buffy, Spike and Giles, but just then Jonathan fell and bumped into him, sending the beam up a tree and onto half of the house before it shut off.

“Ow! You idiot! Look what you did!” Warren yelled at Jonathan, pointing at the frozen trees and house.

“Sorry.” Jonathan said lamely.

“Just get in the van.” Warren snapped and the three nerds jumped into the van where Doc was already waiting, and sped off.

“Bloody hell!!” Spike shouted as he started to sizzle in the sun.

“SPIKE!” Buffy shouted and grabbed his arm, dragging him to the safety of the shade on the front porch where they collapsed. He started to catch on fire and Buffy immediately started patting out the smoldering clothing.

Giles was still outside looking down the street as the black van disappeared around the corner, with a perplexed look on his face. He walked up to the house where Buffy was still patting out the smoldering spots on Spike. Giles looked on curiously at Buffy’s apparent show of tenderness, something she never showed Spike before.

“Hi Giles.” Buffy smiled up at him.

“Giles!!” Dawn squealed from inside the house and next thing Giles knew, he was bowled over by an over-enthusiastic Dawn.

“Oh bloody hell.” Giles gasped. “What have you been eating?” He asked Dawn.

“Hey.” Dawn said, offended.

“Same bloody thing I said.” Spike mumbled.

“Buffy, what has been going on here?” Giles asked, stunned.

“You want the long version, or the longer version, mate?” Spike sighed as he stood up and helped Buffy to her feet.

“Lets get inside.” Buffy said as she dusted herself off. They went inside and Giles glanced around the living room where the “Welcome home” banner and streamers were half hung up.

“Uh, Surprise.” Willow shrugged and blew on her party horn, then threw it over her shoulder.

* * *

“So, you’re telling me that The First Evil came back…to torture Spike.” Giles said with raised eyebrows as he cleaned his glasses. When no one said anything he continued.

“Then she removed Spike’s chip, and according to Buffy, went ‘poof’.”

“After she bored me to death with her “I’m all important” speech, then she said my *favorite* line.” Buffy grumbled.

“Favorite line?” Giles furrowed his brows.

“I haven’t even begun, blah, blah, blah.”

“Oh. Right then.” Giles said as he put his glasses back on. “Then… correct me if I’m wrong, Willow and Tara gave Spike the amulet of Bytanor…”

“He is a part of the gang now.” Willow said.

“Yeah, I got a member card an’ everything.” Spike said and Willow chuckled.

“…Then Buffy gets a call from Cordelia,” Giles continued, “to tell you that Angel has a son, and is now back in Sunnydale to help because Cordelia had a vision about Doc and …those three I saw outside, whom were from Sunnydale High school. I’m sure one of them was Jonathan, and I think the other was Warren… I’m not sure who the third was.”

“Jonathan? Warren? Are you kidding?” Buffy raised her eyebrows.

“Wasn’t Jonathan the one from ‘the Matrix’?” Xander asked, but then shook his head. “Sorry, must be left over from the spell.”

“Oh! Hey, do you think they had something to do with the diamond theft and the frozen guard?” Willow asked.

“Three nerds making a freeze-ray gun sounds more plausible than a frost monster.” Xander shrugged.

“Frost monster?” Giles furrowed his brows.

“Ugh, don’t ask. One of our more lamer theories.” Buffy groaned.

Just then there was an urgent knock on the door. Buffy got up and opened the door, only to be greeted by a figure covered in a black blanket rushing inside, followed by Connor and Lorne.

“Hey Angel. Guys.” Buffy ushered the two of them in and then her jaw dropped in shock. “Cordelia??”

“Hi Buffy.” Cordy walked in like she owned the place.

“Hi… Angel, you didn’t tell me Cordelia was here.”

“She wasn’t until last night….” Angel started to say, but Cordelia cut him off.

“I wanted to help, so I came. Besides, home sweet hell-mouth right? It’s not like this place holds some of my worst nightma-Aaaahh!!” Cordelia yelped when she saw Spike sitting in the living room. “That’s Spike!!”

“Yeah, all six feet and four inches of me.” Spike smirked and gestured to himself, stretched out in his favorite chair.

“Oh you are so not six foot four! More like six foot two, shorty!” Buffy challenged him.

“Oh like you can talk midget girl.”

“I am not a midget!!”

“You’re the smallest slayer I’ve ever seen. Face it love, you’re a midget. Even the Nibblet’s taller than you.”

“Uh guys?” Willow said.

“She is not! She’s just…stretchy.” Buffy said lamely.

“Oh please!” Spike scoffed.

“GUYS!” Willow raised her voice.

“WHAT??” Buffy and Spike yelled in unison.

“Uh, does the word “guests” ring a bell?” Willow gestured around the full living room of amused spectators.

“So you two are an item?” Cordelia asked out of the blue.

“Hu?” Buffy said.

“Oh come on. Banter like that only happens between boyfriend and girlfriend.” Cordelia said with her hands on her hips.

“Oh no, they always fight. It’s been like this for years.” Giles said, oblivious to the inner core of the Scooby group shifting uncomfortably.

“Uh, right. Yeah. We’ve hated each other since we first met, right Spike?”

“Uh, yeah. Right.” Spike said, a little disappointed she didn’t admit their’ relationship.

“So cats and kitties, aren’t we at this wonderful reunion for a reason?” Lorne asked to change the subject.

“Ah yes, getting to the matter at hand…” Giles said, taking the lead.

* * *

“You’re such an idiot!!” Warren shouted.

“I said I was sorry!” Jonathan said.

“And now because of you we have to go to plan B!” Warren ignored him.

“Good idea. Let’s do plan B…..do we have a plan B?” Andrew asked. The three nerds looked at each other expectantly, and when no one said anything Warren sighed.

“I have *got* to be cursed with the worst side-kicks in the world!” He said, grabbing his hair in fistfuls.

“Nu-uh! What about the villain’s sidekicks from the old Batman? Like the Penguin and the Joker...talk about lame.” Andrew said. Warren smacked the back of his head.

“Those weren’t sidekicks, those were minions you moron!”

“Gentlemen….if you don’t mind, I have another plan to get the key.” Doc smiled.

* * *

“So is everyone caught up then?” Giles took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

“Looks like we’re dealing with Doc again. Joy.” Buffy sighed and glanced at Spike. He had a grave look on his face, but said nothing. “Well we should probably get to the Magic Box to do some research.” Buffy said and everyone stood up to leave.

Xander was going to take Giles, Dawn, Willow and Tara in his car, while Cordelia, Connor and Lorne were going to ride in the Angel-mobile, and Buffy planned on her and Spike going on Spike’s motorcycle.

When Spike tossed her the keys she gave him a strange look.

“Lizard man took my amulet Love. No more walks in the sun for me. Looks like Angel and I are sewer buddies.” Spike grimaced.

“We’ll get it back,” Buffy said, but then pouted. “I was just starting to get used to you with a tan.”

Spike chuckled and brushed a piece of hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear.

“Don’t fret my pet. I’ll kill him good and proper this time.” Spike said with as much bravado as he could muster, but his voice cracked on ‘this time’. Buffy smiled.

“*Ahem*” Cordelia cleared her voice from the doorway. “Not a couple hu? Right.” She rolled her eyes and then walked out the door. Buffy and Spike shared a nervous glance.

Everyone was outside in their’ designated cars waiting. Angel stood on the front porch in the shade with SPF blanket draped over his head. Spike grimaced.

“Bloody hell I hate those things.”

* * *

A little while later the entire group was researching every book the shop owned that was relevant, while the two youngest of the group, Dawn and Connor looked bored.

Spike walked over to Dawn and sat next to her on the stairs.

“Hey nibblet. How’s it going?”

“I’ve had more fun watching glaciers form. Or paint dry…or-“

“I get the idea, Bit.” Spike chuckled. “Why don’t you talk to the kid over there? He looks kinda lonely.”

“I donno..”

“What’s wrong? Don’t think he’s cute? I admit, he’s got Peaches’ hair, but that’s no reason to-“

“Spike! It’s not that! Geez!” She pushed him playfully.

“What? Oh. I get it. You *do* think he’s cute.”

“I do not!”

“Ah! Denial. The first sign.”

“Oh hell, fine. I’ll go talk to him!” Dawn sighed.

“That'a girl.” Spike said and pushed her in Connor’s general direction.

Connor was sitting in the pillowed corner of the bookshelf, flipping through a magic book for beginners.

“Uh, hi.” Dawn said awkwardly and sat next to him. “What are you reading?”

“I’m not really reading it… I’m just looking at the pictures. I don’t read so good.” He said, putting the book down.

“I just started learning this stuff, you know. I can float a pencil and light something on fire. I’ve been practicing other stuff, but with not so good results.”

“I don’t use magic…I’m good at hunting though.”

“Hunting?”

“Yeah. I’m good at tracking and killing things. My fath-…I mean.. Holtz told me it was because I have the senses of a vampire. I have heightened hearing, eyesight, speed and sense of smell. I’m a freak of nature.”

“So am I. I’m not even a real girl. I’m an inter-dimensional key thingy. It’s not so bad, you know.” Dawn said. She noticed that Connor didn’t look that convinced. “You know, Spike told me something once that really helped. He said that it doesn’t matter where you start out in life. It matters where you end up.”

Connor looked up at her. “I get that.” He said, a genuine smile crossing his face.

The two sat there in silence for a few minutes.

“Come on. I’m hungry. I’ll show you the all the merits of going on a donut run.” She said as she stood.

* * *

The over-extended group was still sitting around the round table in the Magic Box researching when Dawn and Connor entered the store, back from the donut run.

“Wow, twelve’s a crowd.” Dawn said as she walked up to the group and placed the donut box on the table. When no one laughed and just gave her a funny look she sighed. “You know, instead of three’s a crowd? Oh never mind. It’s not funny if I have to explain it.” She mumbled and leaned against the wall since there were no chairs available. Spike noticed that Connor stood next to her but not close enough to be considered anything special.

The donut box was practically emptied the moment it hit the table. Giles smiled appreciatively when Dawn remembered to get him a jelly.

“So what’s up guys?” Dawn asked, nibbling on her maple bar. She passed Connor a chocolate covered one, and the kid looked at it apprehensively, but followed Dawn’s example. The donut was gone in seconds.

“Oh you know, the apocalypse, as usual. OW!!!” Xander yelped as he got three kicks in the shin, from Buffy, Willow and Anya. “What is it with you girls and my poor defenseless shins?” He said, rubbing his leg.

“Oh. Doc, right?” Dawn said, looking crestfallen.

“Yeah Nibblet. Looks like.” Spike sighed. The two shared a look of empathy.

Buffy got up from her chair to pace nervously, leaving it open for Dawn to steal.

“We need a plan. Doc’s going to strike again, and he seems to have no problem with doing it in daylight. That takes Angel and Spike out of the fight, since Doc got Spike’s amulet.”

“Bastard!” Dawn said.

“Dawn! Language!”

“Nibblet! Language!” Buffy and Spike both said at the same time. They both ignored it, but the rest of the group did double takes. Buffy stopped pacing, and when she saw that Dawn stole her chair, without thinking she sat on Spike’s lap. Then she realized what she did and jumped off him like he was a hot potato.

“I was right!” Cordelia said. “They *are* dating!”

Giles nearly choked on his donut.

“I beg you’re pardon?”

“Uh oh.” Dawn said. All was quiet in the room for a few very uncomfortable seconds.

“Uh…Giles… I’m dating Spike.”

“WHAT?”

“WHAT?” Both Giles and Angel said at the same time.

“Not good…” Dawn said under her breath.

“Tell me this is a spell. Willow!” Giles pointed a finger accusingly at her.

“No, of course not.” Willow shook her head.

“You knew about this? You all knew and you didn’t tell me?” Giles said.

“When were we supposed to tell you? During the sword fight, or after when we were discussing the coming apocalypse? I think apocalypse rates higher on the importance scale than telling you who I’m dating!” Buffy said.

“It’s SPIKE!” Giles shouted.

“Giles, a lot has happened since you left. Things are different.” Willow said.

“I can bloody well see that! Things have gone to hell here! I left so that you would take responsibility Buffy, not get involved with another demon.” Giles said.

“Hey! Watch what you say Watcher. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Spike said standing, raising a finger at him.

“I know that you are an evil, soul-less thing that is not a good influence on Buffy or Dawn.” Giles said.

“I’m the best thing that has ever happened to them, you pillock. You have no idea what I’ve gone through for them, and you have no right to come prancing in here like the Bloody Queen of England! You left Rupert. You left her when she needed you the most. You wanted her to grow up and make her own decisions? Well she has.” Spike said, seething with anger.

“And she chose you?! You’re a demon Spike. A vampire! What’s to stop you from turning on us? On them?” Giles said, pointing at the Summers’ girls.

“Love!” Dawn shouted at him.

“What?” Giles turned to her.

“He loves us! You have no right to come back here and judge them! Spike went through hell when The First Evil tortured him! She tried to make him kill us, but he wouldn’t do it!” Dawn shouted.

“The First Evil?” Angel asked surprised. Everyone ignored him.

“Dawn…”Giles started to say, but she cut him off. She was getting good at that.

“No! Don’t you dare say he’s an evil, soul-less demon again! He’s not! How many Evil vampires do you know that read poetry?”

“Nibblet!” Spike said, embarrassed.

“Poetry?” Giles furrowed his brows. Spike covered his face with his hands in desperation, knowing she wouldn’t stop there.

“Yeah, and you know what else? When Spike found out the chip didn’t work anymore, he left to go find the Initiative so they’d put another chip in his head! He thought that was the only way we’d trust him! And now you come back here and act all high and mighty passing down judgment? If that’s the way you’re going to act, why don’t you go back to England? I don’t want you here!” Dawn said, glaring at Giles as she stomped off into the training room. An uncomfortable silence filled the room for what seemed like minutes.

“Well…that went well.” Buffy said to Spike.

Giles stood there for a moment, fiddling with his glasses in his hands.

“It seems…I owe you both an apology.” He said, putting his glasses back on. “I was rash, and I over-reacted…and I’m sorry.” He said with his head down.

“Giles…” Buffy started to say, but Dawn’s shrill scream from the back room cut her off.

“BUFFYYYYY!!!”

“Dawn!”

“Nibblet!!” Buffy and Spike both sprang into action, racing through the training room doors, the rest of the gang right behind them. Buffy and Spike arrived in the training room just in time to see Warren and Andrew pulling Dawn out the back door into the alleyway.

“SPIIIIKEE!!” Dawn yelled as the nerd duo dragged her to the end of the alleyway where Jonathan sat in the driver’s seat of the black van, looking nervous.

“DAWN!” Spike ran after them, into the sunlight. Warren and Andrew pulled Dawn into the van, slamming the door practically in Spike’s face, shouting for Jonathan to step on it. As the van sped off, Spike continued to chase it down the street yelling “NIBBLET!!”

He didn’t even notice when his skin started to sizzle.

“SPIKE! Get out of the sun!!” Buffy yelled as she pulled him toward the shade, but he wasn’t going easily.

“SPIKE!!” Buffy shouted again, but he didn’t respond. “Guys! Help me!” She shouted to the group that had stood back in they alleyway. Willow, Tara, Xander, Anya and Giles stepped forward and started pulling on Spike.

“Bloody hell man! Get it together!” Giles yelled at him and punched him in the nose. That shocked Spike enough to realize he was starting to burn.

“Bloody hell!!” He yelled as he stumbled into the shadows. It took them a few minutes to pat out his smoldering clothes. But as soon as the danger was over he was on his feet again ready to go. “We have to find Nibblet.”

“You won’t do us any good if you’re a big pile of dust! Snap out of it Spike! Dawn needs you. You almost burned yourself to a crisp, and you didn’t even notice! I know you want her back, but bloody hell man, you need to keep a level head about this.” Giles said.

Spike looked down the alleyway again where the bright sunlight prevented him from setting foot outside the shadows. He nodded reluctantly and looked directly into Buffy’s worried eyes.

“I’ll get her back. I swear I will.” He said, his mind already reeling with plans on how to kill Doc and the bot-guy in the most painful way.

* * *

“Ow! You’re hurting me! Let go!” Dawn said as she struggled against Warren and Andrew as they started to tie her hands and feet with rope.

“That’s the idea princess.” Warren said as he tied the ropes tighter.

“Ow! Stop it!” Dawn said and kicked out at him with her tied feet, catching him in the ribs. Warren went flying back into one of the built in shelves, holding various odds and ends of equipment.

“You’re going to pay for that little girl.” Warren glared at her.

“Guys, I don’t know about this…” Jonathan said from the driver’s seat.

“Shut up and drive you moron.” Warren snapped.

“I mean, this is kidnapping. We could go to jail for this.” Jonathan continued, ignoring him.

“We could also go to jail for stealing the diamond you idiot.” Warren said.

“So that was you guys!” Dawn said.

“Shut up.” Warren glared at her.

“The slayer’s going to find us. Dude, that’s her little sister. We just opened up a big-ol' can of Slayer whoop-ass.” Jonathan said.

“Will you shut up?! Stop being such a sissy and drive! You said you wanted to be villains and take over Sunnydale, so stop whining!” Warren said, taking the bucket seat.

“Buffy and Spike are so gonna kick you’re asses!” Dawn said.

“Spike?!” Jonathan practically swerved off the road.

“Dude that’s so cool.” Andrew said.

“Oh shut up Andrew! Spike’s going to tear our heads off and Buffy’s not gonna stop him.” Jonathan panicked.

“Will you two girls stop it? Spike’s a vampire, Buffy’s the vampire Slayer. There’s no way Buffy would let Spike kill us.” Warren rolled his eyes.

“Want to bet?” Dawn glared at Warren.

“I’ve had enough of you.” Warren pointed at her, then grabbed a rag from behind a shelf and gagged Dawn with it.

“Mmphhm!”

“What? I’m sorry, I can’t hear you’re annoying voice through the gag. Oh wait, that was the point.” Warren smiled sarcastically. Dawn growled at him and glared.

“We’re here.” Jonathan sighed and put the van into ‘park’.

“Alright ladies, everybody out.” Warren said as he opened the sliding side door, then grabbed Dawn and pulled her out. Dawn struggled against her bonds as Andrew and Warren dragged her inside the abandoned warehouse.

“Mmmphmmhp!!”

“Ah there she is. What pretty, little green energy girl.” Doc said, stepping out of the shadows. Dawn froze, paralyzed with fear.

“Oh don’t worry little girl. I don’t have a knife on me this time,” Doc smiled and walked closer to her so he could whisper into her ear.

“Yet.”

* * *

Next Chapter: Out for Blood

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