-The Evil Within Series-
Story 4

Summary: Final instalment of the "Evil Within Series". Takes place five years after "Ashes to Ashes." Hope Summers is a remarkably gifted child-so gifted that the Council of Watchers is dying to get their hands on her. The Scooby gang has been able to thwart the Council thus far…but they can’t hold Quentin off forever.

Rating: R for strong language

Rating: Not yet Determined.

Summary: Takes place five years later. Hope Summers is a remarkably gifted child-so gifted that the Council of Watchers is dying to get their hands on her. The Scooby gang has been able to thwart the Council thus far…but they can’t hold Quentin off forever.

Disclaimer: I have taken over Mutant Enemy and I have kidnapped Joss! (Mwahahaha!!) No more disgusting Cordelia/Connor relationship! Spike is now my sex slave!! Joss is tied up to my chair like Andrew and must bark like a dog if he wants to be fed!! MWAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAAA!!! What? Okay, fine. I lied. One out of the five of those is true. Heh, you have to figure out which one! I don't own any of this. Just borrowing from Joss. Speaking of borrowing Joss took my idea for the First Evil! That ponce! I came up with the idea for the FE to come back before he did!! (I wrote "The First Evil" <file:///D|/TheFirstC1.html> Before Season 7 aired) Now I have to come up with a different plot line to my story!! I was going to have TFE come back and be the Ultimate Big Bad for this fic, but oooooh no, Joss has to be a little bitch and steal my idea! Now I have to go with plan two. >Pouts< That's why I haven't updated in so long-- I've been trying to figure out how to make the alternate story line work! Well that and Real Life has been dumping the Mutha load of CRAP on me lately. Sometimes I really hate that I believe in Karma. >Broods<

Hm, there was a disclaimer in there somewhere. Good luck finding it.

Chapter 1: Surprise

The morning light streamed in through the blinds, illuminating the rumpled bed that held two very asleep occupants. It was early morning, close to five-thirty; an un-Godly hour by the bed’s occupant’s standards. Nonetheless….

“Mommy!!! Daddy!! Wake up!!” A streak of blonde hair flung open the door and jumped upon the bed with unnatural speed…and began bouncing to jar its occupants awake. “Wake up, wake up, WAKE UP!! I’m five years old today!!” The child shrieked happily.

With twin groans, both parents sat up and squinted at the young girl that was still bouncing on their bed. Apparently the little girl had no respect for the late hours her parents kept; Slaying the Demons and Vampires of Sunnydale.

“Happy Birthday sweetie.” Buffy croaked tiredly, but to her credit, as cheerfully as she could muster.

“You couldn’t possibly be five.” Spike muttered, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. “You were just running around in nappies yesterday.”

“Daaaddy!!” Hope gave him her most charming pout while placing her hands firmly on her hips. “I haven’t been in diapers since I was a baby!”

“I know that love.” Spike melted and grabbed his daughter for a hug, tickling her in the process.

“That tickles!!” Hope squirmed and laughed.

“Really? Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.” Spike grinned maliciously, tickling her harder.

“Daddy!! I’m too old to be tickled!!” Hope laughed, squirming out of his reach.

“Are you sure you’re five?” Spike gave her a mock skeptical look while scratching his head speculatively. “You sure did grow up quick.”

“And she managed to wrap her father around her little finger just as quickly.” Buffy smirked.

“Well now, love, what’d ya say we go and rustle up some breakfast?” Spike said to Hope, while casting Buffy a light glare for the jibe.

“Can we have pancakes? I love pancakes!” Hope’s face lit up with delight.

“Yes, I know love. You have pancakes just about every bloody day.” Spike groaned as he got out of bed.

“Will you cook the pancakes for me today Daddy?” Hope asked.

“Errr… I donno love, I think Mommy should cook.” Spike grimaced at the idea of attempting to cook. The last time he had tried to cook…even Nigel had made fun of him…and *he* was a damned book!

“Pleeeeeeeaaaaase??” Hope gave him her doe eyes, a look that surpassed Dawn’s puppy eyes any day. Spike groaned in defeat while Buffy’s face turned red from trying not to laugh.

“Oh alright.” Spike caved with a sigh and a grimace.

“Yaaaaaaayyyyy!!!!” Hope squealed and jumped up and down in excitement before grabbing her father’s hand and practically dragging him out of the room. When Spike glanced over his shoulder giving Buffy a desperate look as he was drug from the room, Buffy smirked and stuck her index finger in the air, while twirling the other around it, miming Hope twisting Spike around her finger. Spike gave her a suffering look as he was dragged out of sight.

Buffy grinned as she heard Spike and Hope down in the kitchen, and moments later she heard pots and pans banging around-with Spike’s colorful curses when a few pots crashed to the floor. Buffy waited, and predictably she heard Hope scolding Spike for his language. Buffy had always warned Spike against swearing in front of their daughter, but one day Spike had swore on instinct when he slammed his hand in a drawer, and quite to her surprise, Hope scolded her father all by herself, at the age of two.

“Daddy, will you make funny shapes like Auntie Tara?” Buffy heard Hope ask her father from downstairs.

“I think that’s what you’re getting any way luv.” Spike said.

Buffy smiled to herself as she got out of bed and headed for the shower.

As Buffy turned on the tap, she couldn’t help but wish their life was a simple as it seemed on the surface…but it was far from peaceful.

Buffy turned off the tap and stepped out of the shower. She grabbed the towel from the towel rack and dried herself off, rubbing a little too hard as if trying to rub off the bad memories.

Buffy left the bathroom, got dressed and headed downstairs to assess the breakfast damage. She had to suppress a cringe when she smelled burning pancake batter, but pushed her way into the kitchen nonetheless…and started laughing hysterically.

“We’re making pancakes Mommy!” Hope exclaimed cheerfully, holding up her spatula caked in pancake batter as proof.

“I see that.” Buffy said between laughter.

The two of them were a mess. They both had bisquick powder all over themselves, with streaks of batter in odd places, mostly on their faces. The counter behind them was just as messy, the evidence of sloppy batter stirring, cracked eggshells, spilled milk and dirty measuring cups were strewn everywhere.

“Okay love, time to flip it.” Spike told Hope, and she leaned forward on her little stool and unsteadily flipped the pancake. It ended up halfway in the pan and halfway out.

“Ooops.” Hope said.

“That’s okay love, this one’s burnt on the bottom anyway.” Spike grimaced and scraped the pancake into a stack of burnt pancakes off to the side. The plate holding burnt pancakes had a pile higher than the edible ones. “How the bloody hell do know when to flip them? They always get burnt!” Spike said to Buffy as he poured more batter into the pan.

“After the batter gets little air bubbles. See?” Buffy demonstrated, waiting until the bubbles surfaced, and then expertly flipped it, while both Hope and Spike ‘Oh-ed’ in amazed understanding. From then on, the edible pile of pancakes grew bigger than the burnt pile, and soon they were setting the dining room table for breakfast. Buffy ordered both of them to wash their hands and faces before eating, so she sat down first, waiting as she listened to the two of them wash up, while thinking how alike father and Daughter were.

At times, it seemed that Hope had intelligence beyond her years…and then the next moment she was a regular five year old again.

Like now… Buffy thought as she heard her daughter running down the hall towards her.

“We’re done!!” Hope gleefully announced as she ran into the dinning room with Spike tailing behind her at a more subdued pace. Hope presented her freshly washed hands to Buffy, and at Buffy’s nod of approval, they sat down and began to dig into their pancakes.

“When will Papa Giles get here?” Hope asked around a mouthful of pancake.

“We got a call from him last night honey. He’ll be here in time for your party.” Buffy reassured her.

“And Auntie Dawni?” Hope asked, shoveling more pancakes in her mouth.

“She’ll be here too, don’t worry. And please don’t talk with your mouth full.” Buffy gave her a look that said she should know better.

Everyone looked up from their plates as they heard the doorbell ringing. Hope suddenly shot from her chair and ran to the door, yelling over her shoulder, “I’ll get it!!”

Buffy and Spike exchanged curious glances since they weren’t expecting any party guests to arrive until 3pm, and quickly followed after Hope. They arrived just as Hope pulled open the door.

A middle-aged woman stood on the front porch, her slightly frizzy red-blonde curly hair had gray streaks through it and was twisted up and pinned haphazardly; her eyes were blue and rimmed with very bookish glasses. She wore a gray-violet blazer suit and looked very Watcher-like. She looked very tidy…and very disorganized at the same time. Her Watcher-like appearance caused Buffy to tense and push Hope behind her protectively.

“Um, hello…” The woman started a bit shyly, “I was wondering if you could help me find Rupert Giles.”

“…I know you.” Spike furrowed his brow in confusion and surprise. “You…you’re the woman that helped me. Celia.”

“Yes, Celia Brown.” Celia smiled warmly, albeit tiredly, at Spike and Buffy.

“You aren’t like them….like the others.” Hope stated, peaking her head out from behind her mother, giving Celia a look as if she were looking at something in her no one else could see.

“Well hello there, you must be Hope. Rupert told me all about you.” Celia smiled warmly at Hope, and glanced back up at Buffy and Spike. “She’s beautiful. She looks just like the both of you.”

“Um, thanks…” Buffy said hesitantly, unsure of what to say. Unsure of the entire situation, really.

“I know you weren’t expecting me, but I need to see Rupert. It’s rather urgent.” Celia said, adjusting her glasses self-consciously.

“Giles has an apartment on 4th street. I have his number if you want to call him.” Buffy said a bit hesitantly, moving aside so that Celia could enter.

“Oh yes, thank you. It won’t take but a minute.” Celia said in relief, walking over the threshold. It was then that Buffy and Spike noticed she was carrying suitcases in both hands.

Spike hurriedly took both suitcases from her and set them aside, and she thanked him. Hope sat quietly near the TV and played with her toys.

“Is something wrong?” Buffy asked, eyeing the suitcases as she directed Celia to the phone in the living room.

“Well, yes, I was quite recently fired from the Council…or rather, I was attacked in my home by several of Quentin’s goonies. I took the murder attempts as Quentin’s version of a pink slip.” Celia said a bit irritably (but surprisingly with an air of humor) as she picked up the receiver. Buffy dialed Giles’ number for her.

“My God, are you okay?” Buffy asked.

“Oh, yes, thank you. I certainly gave them a run for their money. After that I figured it was time to get out of Dodge if you catch my drift.” Celia said as she listened to the line ring. Giles answered the line and Celia turned her attention to the conversation. “Rupert, it’s Celia. Well, I’m fine, apart from the murder attempts…how have you been?”

Spike tapped Buffy discreetly to get her attention, and they moved to the other side of the room where Hope was playing quietly with her toys. Buffy gave him an inquisitive look.

“Nigel didn’t warn us that there was a Watcher here, pet. Don’t you think that’s a bit odd?”

::Well she’s certainly not an active Watcher anymore, is she? And she was never really on Quentin’s side. I saw no cause for alarm.:: Nigel answered for himself.

“How did you know who she was?” Buffy asked Nigel.

::Rupert, of course.:: Was Nigel’s curt reply, and then he vanished from their thoughts, leaving Buffy and Spike to puzzle over that simple statement.

Just then Celia had finished her phone call and joined them again. “Rupert insisted that he’d be right over. Is that alright dear?” Celia asked.

“Of course. Well then, would you like to join us for breakfast? There’s plenty of pancakes for everyone if you don’t mind Spike and Hope’s cooking.” Buffy said.

“Oh that would be lovely, dear. I don’t mean to impose, but I’ve been on a plane all night and it’s tragic what they consider food on those airlines.”

“I’ll get her a plate mommy!” Hope dropped her toys and ran into the kitchen at breakneck speed.

“Oh my, you certainly are fast! Thank you dear.” Celia said in awe to Hope when she returned seconds later with the plate. Celia turned back to Buffy and Spike and said a bit dazedly, “Well! …I see she didn’t inherit just your looks.”

Giles came in through the door without knocking and followed the voices into the dining room. “Celia, how are you?”

“Rupert.” Celia stood quickly from her chair and embraced Giles in a hug. “I’m fine now. How have you been holding up?”

“Oh quite alright. I-I take it Quentin has…ah, stepped up his tactics?” Giles said, adjusting his glasses and motioned for Celia to sit again, while taking the chair next to her. Buffy poured Giles a cup of tea and he gave her a great full grin.

“I’m afraid so. Fortunately, I ah-left him a bit of a parting present.” Celia said with a hint of a malicious grin.

“Oh? Do tell.” Giles raised his eyebrows in curiosity.

“Well I had to leave quite quickly so I couldn’t do all that I wanted, but I managed to send a message to him.”

“Why do I get the feeling this “message” was nothing of the sort? What did you send?” Giles asked, sipping on his tea.

“Oh nothing much,” Celia replied modestly. “ I just infested his home and office with Faeries.”

Giles choked on his tea and Hope giggled.

“Faeries?” Spike raised his eyebrow sardonically.

“Oh don’t think they’re the cute little Victorian cherubs everyone thinks them to be…in fact, they’re quite malicious if you anger them…and it just so happens I stirred them up a great deal. Quentin’s Home and Office should be in right shambles by now. The fun thing about Faeries is that they are malicious subtly. Things turn up missing and you find them in odd places weeks later, sharp objects underfoot far too often, books and texts ruined by ‘accident’, sour milk, rotten eggs, that sort of thing. And you never see them.”

“Bloody irritating they are-Quentin set the lot of them in my apartment when I Graduated. Well done Celia…quite fitting revenge, if you ask me.” Giles attempted not to snigger as he sipped his tea, but everyone could tell he had a grin ear to ear.

::Yes well, malicious Faeries aside,:: Nigel interrupted, sending Celia about a foot in the air in surprise at the detached voice, ::What are your plans, Ms. Brown, if you don’t mind me asking?::

“Who said that?” Celia asked looking around for the owner of the voice, for it had sounded like it was spoken into her ear.

“Nigel.” Came the flat, unanimous reply from the group.

“Oh, right…the book.” Celia said, a bit of her color returning.

::I wasn’t always a book, I’ll have you know. I’m still quite human!:: Nigel said, a bit defensively.

“Yes, well, Nigel’s distasteful idea of humor aside, he brings up a good question. What do you plan to do now?” Giles asked Celia.

Everyone heard Nigel’s ::Hrmph!:: in their minds, but ignored it.

“Well naturally I plan to stay here in Sunnydale and help you defeat Quentin however possible.” Celia said, quite mater-of-factly.

“Ah…well, good, good. Erm…do you h-have an idea of where you’re…ah, going to…ah, stay?” Giles asked while nervously fumbling around with his glasses, which caused Buffy and Spike to raise their eyebrows.

“Well I plan to stay at an Inn as soon as I can straighten out my money situation. Until then, is it all right if I bunk with you, Rupert? It won’t take but a few days.”

“Y-yes, of course. Naturally.”

“Lovely! Well, how about we take my things over to your flat then? I only brought two suitcases.” Celia rose from her chair.

“Right …I suppose we should be off then.” Giles stood also and turned to leave with Celia, but turned back to Buffy, Spike and Hope. “We’ll be back for Hope’s birthday party, of course. Three you said?”

“Yup, that’s when the cake gets served up.” Buffy confirmed.

“My cake has strawberries on it!” Hope announced excitedly. To which Buffy automatically pierced Spike with an icy glare.

“Spike…” Buffy said warningly.

“I didn’t say anything, I swear!” Spike said quickly…too quickly. Buffy narrowed her eyes further.

“Honest!” Spike said, edging out of his chair ever so slightly, preparing to bolt.

“Daddy didn’t tell me anything, mommy.” Hope said mater-of-factly. Buffy relaxed her stance and Spike let out a sigh of relief. “He showed me!” Hope finished with a smile that could have been classified as evil, if not for her completely angelic features.

“SPIKE!!” Buffy gave Spike such a heated look, he didn’t even bother in defending himself, he instantly shot out of his chair and made a run for it, Buffy racing after him.

Giles and Celia both looked at each other imploringly as they heard the duo crashing around in their chase-first into the kitchen (around the center island a few times), which lead into the living room, through the foyer, back to the Dinning room where Buffy chased Spike around the table a few times (nearly knocking Giles over when Spike dashed past him), and then back out into the foyer and up the stairs.

“That was supposed to be a surprise!! You are SOOOOO dusted!!” Buffy threatened as she dashed up the stairs after him.

“She made me do it, love! Honest!” Spike called back. There was lots more banging around up stairs; at one point Spike yelled “OW! Bloody hell!”, to which Buffy let out a triumphant “Ha!”, and then more stomping around, some more crashing, what sounded like a lamp breaking and then a door slamming shut, and a loud thud as if someone had slammed into it at a dead run.

“SPIKE!! Open the door!” Buffy demanded as she pounded on it with her fist.

“No.” Came the muffled reply from inside a room.

“SPIKE!” Buffy said warningly.

“No, you’ll stake me.” Spike replied. Buffy let out an aggravated sigh, and there was a loud clanking noise, as if she had thrown a stake out of reach.

“There, it’s gone.” She said impatiently.

“Now the other one.” Spike said. Another suffering sigh from Buffy as a second stake went flying out of reach.

“And the third one behind your back.” Spike continued. Buffy groaned in annoyance as another stake went flying.

A few seconds later the door slowly opened with a creak, and then suddenly Spike yelped, followed by the sound of Spike being bodily slammed into the wall of the hallway. A moment later Buffy “Oooph!”-ed and there was a second crash, and then loud banging as the two of them tumbled down the stairway, Buffy landing on top of Spike in an awkward position at the bottom of the stairs.

“Good lord, are they always like this?” Celia asked both Giles and Hope, a bit aghast.

"You should have seen them when they first met." Giles muttered.

Hope had sat through the entire thing, just listening calmly as if it were an every day occurrence. When Celia had asked her about it, Hope gave her a serene smile, hopped out of her chair and calmly walked to where her parents had entangled themselves at the bottom of the stairs. Giles and Celia followed, curious.

Buffy and Spike were still trying to untangle themselves while insulting each other when they finally looked up and saw Hope standing next to them.

“Aah…” Buffy flushed, completely embarrassed. “Honey, I uh…” Buffy started to make an excuse to her daughter, but she trailed off unexpectedly, her face going a bit blank as she looked into her daughter’s eyes. Celia and Giles gave each other a quizzical look and then stepped closer to see what was going on. When they looked closer they saw that Spike had the exact same look in his eyes that Buffy did, and they were both staring at Hope.

Giles and Celia exchanged a more pointed glance and moved closer.

“Rupert…!” Celia exclaimed, realizing something. Giles nodded in agreement, showing he had come to the same discovery.

“My word…she’s…” Giles started to say, but then both Buffy and Spike blinked and came out of the trance. Hope then fixed her eyes on Giles and Celia. They fell into those deep blue eyes...

::This didn’t happen…you didn’t see anything…:: A faint, child-like voice whispered in Giles’ head. The world fell away, and all he could see and hear was this Place he was in. There was a surrounding noise that he couldn’t quite place, maybe like a light breeze, but with omnipresent voices on the wind, that said everything and nothing all at once. ::You didn’t see anything…nothing happened here.:: The voice whispered again…

And the next thing Giles knew, he and Celia were in his car, and he was driving to his flat.

“Did you just feel that?” Giles asked, feeling disoriented…it had felt as if the ground had lurched beneath him, but then set itself right again.

“Feel what?” Celia asked from the passenger side as she gazed out the window. Giles blinked a few times, and his head cleared.

“Oh…never mind. It was nothing.” Giles shook his head. Must have been an earthquake. Bloody State.

* * *

Chapter 2: One of a kind kid

“Wheeeeerrrrees the Birthday girl?!” Xander called out as he walked in the Summer’s door. Anya followed, carrying an armful of presents. Hope squealed from somewhere within the house and the next thing Xander knew he was lying flat on his back, looking up at a somewhat amused Anya.

“Ow. So that’s why you volunteered to hold the presents.” He said to Anya in retrospect.

“Of course. What child in their right mind would tackle a person holding their presents? The valuable merchandise might get damaged.” Anya reasoned as she stepped over her flattened husband and placed Hope’s presents on the table. Xander sat up, but Hope was still attached to him.

“You came for my birthday party!” Hope exclaimed as she hugged him tight, choking all the air out of him.

“Urgk!! Air!! Air!!” Xander rasped and she finally let go. “You’re getting stronger and stronger every day.” Xander gasped out, in no way exaggerating.

“That’s my Mini-Slayer. Hey love, why don’t you let the poor whelp up so he can breathe, eh?” Spike picked up his giggling daughter off of Xander and shooed her away.

“Thanks man. Nice decorations you’ve got here.” Xander commented as he got off the floor.

The house was bedecked in colorful streamers, balloons, “Happy Birthday Hope!” signs and anything else frilly and pink a little girl would want at her birthday party.

Spike groaned and shook his head. “Enough poncy colors here to make a decent vamp throw up.”

“So that leaves you out of the running,” Xander slapped him on the back, “But hey, we can fix the throwing up part! I brought beer.” Xander grinned.

Spike started to grin, but then his face fell, and he scratched his head nervously. “Eh, I can only have one.”

“One? Man, you are so whipped!” Xander laughed.

“Xander! Help me with the punch!” Anya called out from the kitchen.

“Yes dear!” Xander replied automatically and Spike raised his eyebrow at him. “Well I never said I wasn’t whipped too.” Xander admitted sheepishly and then hurried into the kitchen.

“Presents!! Presents!!” Hope squealed excitedly every time the door opened and the members of the Scooby gang arrived, their arms loaded with gifts. First Willow and Tara, Jonathan, Dawn and then Giles and Celia arriving last.

At Buffy’s nod of consent, Hope tore open all the presents as fast as she could, barely looking at the newly acquired gift before moving on to the next one.

Yep, one minute she’s a regular kid… Buffy thought wryly as she laughed and shook her head at her daughter’s antics.

Quentin Travers sat hunched over his mahogany desk, working furiously.

Damn that Brown woman, Quentin thought angrily, I should have known it was her... I believe you’ve lost your touch, old man. Quentin told himself as he flipped the page of the dusty old Tome he was reading out of….or rather, translating out of.

She was right underneath my nose the whole time. How could I have forgotten she was Rupert’s friend? You’re getting forgetful in your old age, Travers. Quentin shook his head at himself as he picked up his pen and continued translating the archaic language.

No matter. What’s done is done. Now, if only I could get my hands on that child… Quentin clenched his jaw in frustration, and flipped through the latest reports on the Summers household, taken earlier this afternoon. We’ve been underestimating the Slayer and the Vampire…they have some sort of protections on the child…and they have Wards on the house. Very strong Wards that my best Mages can’t get through. But Wards that strong shouldn’t be possible…not for Ms. Rosenburg. What possible ally could the Slayer have that is *that* strong of a Mage? And how could I possibly get past them?

Suddenly a solution came to Quentin, and he sat back in his padded leather chair, staggered by the revelation. I think it’s time to pay good old Sunnydale another visit. But first, I must do a bit of research…

Quentin got up from his chair and walked over to his bookshelf. Imbedded into the paneling beside the bookcase was an invisible safe. He placed his hand on the center of the “door” to the safe, and spoke the password. There was a metallic “chink”, and a section of the paneling slid open, revealing a 3x6 cubbyhole filled with dusty old tomes. Quentin dug out the one he was looking for, closed up the “safe” and returned to his desk with the book. He touched the cover of the book with a satisfied grin on his face.

“Nigel, you did what?” Buffy asked, confusion etched on her face. She was standing in the living room, facing the old and worn journal propped up on the fireplace mantle, where Nigel had chosen to reside. Hope was playing with her new toys on the stairs, and the party guests were milling about the house, eating cake, drinking and talking.

::I put up Wards upon the grounds. It’s been years since I’ve done it-quite frankly, I forgot how until young Ms. Summers-::

“AHEM!!” Dawn cut him off rather hastily, and for good reason.

“Dawn.” Buffy glared at her sister.

“Just research, I swear! I haven’t been casting.” Dawn assured her, so Buffy fixed her with a wary glance and then turned her attention back to the conversation with Nigel. “Much.” Dawn added under her breath, and turned to walk away from the situation, but ran right into Spike.

“Aaah, Spike! Um…been standing there long?” Dawn asked innocently, but didn’t wait for his reply as she tried to dodge him. Unfortunately a human girl wasn’t any match for a Vampire’s speed.

“A word with you nibblet. In the kitchen.” Spike demanded as he captured her wrist and pulled her into the kitchen. They both heard Nigel speaking with Buffy, but as they got out of “range” his mental voice disappeared.

Fortunately for Spike, and unfortunately for Dawn, the kitchen was devoid of party guests. No witnesses.

“Now what’s all this about hocus pocus?” Spike asked her.

“Spike, you know I’m not getting into the bad stuff, I swear! I was just-“

“I know Dawn.” Spike interrupted her with a wave of his hand.

“What?” She asked, rather taken aback.

“Look, I don’t much care for you messing around with that stuff, but I won’t get in your way. I trust you. Just as long as you never hit me with one of those bolt thingies again.”

“It’s called a Levin Bolt.” Dawn blushed. She was still quite embarrassed about the prank Wars that she had initiated five years ago. She had done a lot of growing since then… a lot more than Buffy and Spike knew.

“I just wanted to know what Nigel was prattling on about without the bugger yammering in my head. I still can’t get used to that.” Spike explained as he fished a beer out of the refrigerator.

“Oh.” Dawn let out a sigh of relief. “Right. Ah, well, until recently he’s had what Witches and Mages call “shields” on the house…” Dawn explained.

“Right, keeps out the nasties. Got it.” Spike nodded. “Red explained it to me.”

“Well there are different kinds of shields. The shields that he had before he called “tell-tales”-where if anything Watcher related touched it, it would warn him, so he could warn us. A Ward is a lot like that, except that it can sense the baddies that aren’t Watchers too. The Wards won’t stop the baddie, but it will make it very uncomfortable inside the shields… a lot like something itching under your skin all the time. It drives you nuts, especially if you’re into magic. All you want to do is leave the area-post haste.”

“Why doesn’t it drive you and Red batty then? You two being Witches an’ all.”

“Nigel said he “keyed” it so that it recognizes us. I’m still a little confused on that one.” Dawn admitted.

“So what about that thing that Red can put up? Remember when we got holed up in the desert when Glory was chasing us?”

“Not to sound all Trek-y, but that was a force-field.” Dawn supplied.

“So why can’t Nigel put up one of those things?” Spike frowned.

“Because it’s visible. Putting up one of those is like putting up a flashing neon sign saying: “Hello, magic is being cast HERE” with one of those big flashing arrow signs pointing to us. I know that the people of Sunnydale are oblivious, but I don’t think they’re that oblivious.”

“And these Ward thingies… aren’t visible?”

“Right, not to anyone that’s not a Mage, or doesn’t have the Sight.”

“Bloody hell, all this Mojo talk is confusing.” Spike shook his head and took a swig off of his beer, setting it on the counter.

“Not to Witches and Mages.” Dawn grinned insolently.

“Yes, well not all of us can be so gifted.” Spike pat her head mockingly just as Hope burst into the kitchen.

“Daddy, daddy! Come and see! Come and see!!” Hope said as she captured her father’s wrist and drug him out into the living room.

“Alright then love, careful with that arm, it’s attached.” Spike reminded her, not exactly playfully. She really is a Mini-Slayer. Spike thought fondly, although wryly. His wrist was going to be a bit sore for at least an hour where she was gripping him painfully tight. She didn’t do it on purpose of course-usually she was very mindful of her strength. Only when she was upset or extremely happy did she forget. She wasn’t in tears, so Spike was betting on the later.

“Your friend Clem is here, and he brought me a present!” Hope finally filled him in just as he spotted his long-time demon buddy, standing next to the couch.

“I found him!” Hope announced to Clem, even though the floppy eared demon had already spotted Hope dragging Spike over to him.

“Hey Spike! Good to see you.” Clem grinned, genuinely happy to see him.

“Yeah, it’s been awhile.” Spike grinned back at him, “What have you been up to?”

“Oh not much…Willy had to ban the back room tables. Cops were starting to get suspicious of the-“

“Daddy! Uncle Clem!” Hope whined impatiently, supremely bored with the adult conversation.

“What love?” Spike looked down at his daughter.

“Uncle Clem said that he’d give me a Birthday present.” Hope pouted while fidgeting in barely contained excitement.

“Oh! Right, sorry.” Clem’s grin increased as he turned and picked up a wicker picnic basket that he had placed next to the couch when he arrived. “Here, happy birthday.” Clem said proudly as he gave it to her.

Hope gave the basket a curious glance, but sat cross-legged on the floor, set it down before her and opened the lid. “Oooooooh!!” Hope squealed in delight as she reached into the basket.

“I hope it’s okay…” Clem was saying uncertainly just as Hope pulled out a baby kitten and hugged it to her chest.

“Oh I love her!!” Hope gushed as the kitten mewed at her. Spike had to give Clem credit-it wasn’t some mangy ally kitten. It actually looked like a pure bred of some kind. And it wasn’t exactly a kitten-it was about eight months old. But Hope didn’t seem to care.

“They call them “Bengals”, after Bengal Tigers. From what I hear, they’re quite feisty sometimes…” Clem leaned closer to Spike so Hope wouldn’t hear, “Too feisty to eat.”

“It won’t hurt her will it?” Spike asked Clem.

“Well….uh…” Clem actually grimaced in uncertainty.

“Athena won’t hurt me.” Hope said as she pet the kitten lovingly.

“Athena?” Spike raised his eyebrows.

“That’s her name. Isn’t that right Athena?” Hope said to the kitten, and the kitten actually mewed in response. Spike shook his head, figuring it was just a coincidence. “Can I keep her daddy? Please?” Hope gave him her doe eyes.

“Sure love…”

“Oh, look who just volunteered for cat-box duty!” Buffy exclaimed in mock cheeriness, making her presence known to the group. Hope was blissfully petting her new kitten, Clem was looking apologetic and Spike was at a loss for words.

Colin Weasley “probed” the shields surrounding the Summer’s home again. As he expected, he met extreme resistance, and dutifully copied it down in his report as he pulled back his Energies and sighed.

It has been five years since he was assigned to translate the Ahmse’ir Prophecy… Three years since his Superior, Professor Broody had died of heart failure (small wonder, the way Quentin had been hounding him), Two years since Quentin gave up on translating the Prophecy, and Two months since he had been re-assigned to Sunnydale to try and find “cracks” in the Shielding upon the Summer’s home, or any other weaknesses.

All because I’m the Adept Mage on the Council. For once, that fact brings me no joy. Colin thought wryly as he looked out the van window into the Summer’s home. I know what Mr. Travers says about this child…but how can such an innocent looking child be evil?

Colin watched through the van’s window, into the Living room window of the Summer’s home as the Child lifted a kitten out of a basket and pet it lovingly. Apparently it was a Birthday Gift from William the Bloody’s Demon friend “Clem” (according to previous Watcher reports). The whole situation was rather strange, even by a Watcher’s standards. The Slayer is socializing with the Demons she is supposed to Slay? How odd. I guess that accounts for her relationship with the Vampire…yet she --or a team from her little group-- performs her Duty every night. Is there something special about these particular Demons? Colin made a note of his thoughts in his reports as well, while he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

The “undercover” van was parked a block from the Summer’s driveway. Of course, it wasn’t very undercover if the subject you’re spying on knows that you are spying… and the Slayer knew he was here all right. Like vultures, Watchers would always be spying on her…so no use in hiding it if she already knew they were there.

Colin glanced at his watch and shook his head as he watched the child’s Birthday Party. I honestly don’t know which team I’m cheering for anymore.

“So… Celia is staying with Giles?” Dawn asked Giles with raised eyebrows.

“Of course. What are friends for?” Giles said offhandedly as he watched Jonathan pick cheetos out of his teeth. Giles grimaced, shook his head and returned his attention to the conversation.

“Orgasms.” Anya offered.

“Thank you Anya.” Giles sighed, not at all surprised at her comment, but turning slightly red all the same.

“Any time!” Anya replied cheerfully.

Giles sighed in slight annoyance. “Yes, well, orgasms aside, she’ll be helping us with the attacks and such. It certainly won’t hurt to have another pair of hands to help out around here.”

“And as a free bonus, you get the rest of me attached to those hands.” Celia walked in to their 'circle' and joined the conversation. Giles flushed. “Speaking of hands, Hi, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Celia Brown.” Celia held out her hand to Dawn.

“Dawn Summers.” Dawn shook her hand politely.

“Ah, Buffy’s sister. Giles told me all about you.” Celia smiled warmly.

“Oh…did he?” Dawn fixed Giles with a pointed glance.

“Oh, no, no, of course not. Not….ah…everything.” Giles said hastily while fidgeting with his glasses. Celia gave him a questioning look. “P-personal…business, not included…of course.”

Celia was left wondering what that comment meant.

“Buffy, can I talk to you for a minute?” Tara asked and led Buffy to an unoccupied corner.

“Yeah?”

“I…Well, I wanted to talk to you about Hope…” Tara fidgeted.

“Okay.” Buffy said, unsure of where this was going.

“Well…she’s different Buffy. There’s something there. I can’t quite place my finger on it, but she’s powerful.”

“Well yeah, she’s got the whole Slayer and Vampire strength going for her-“

“Not just that…I don’t know how to explain it. Her aura is the brightest I’ve ever seen, and it has so many complicated aspects to it I can’t even begin to learn what she is. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with her…it’s just that she’s different. One of a kind. The only Aura I ever saw that was close to hers is Cordelia’s.”

“Cordelia?!” Buffy said disbelievingly.

“Not like that. Cordelia is aligned with the Powers that Be. She’s a Seer… and has that whole glowy thing going on. Hope’s aura is something like that, but even more complicated.” Tara said seriously, “Buffy, I can’t even begin to guess what she can do. But she has power…and lots of it. I can see it.”

“I-I don’t understand…” Buffy admitted.

::RED ALERT! WATCHERS ON THE MOVE!:: Nigel’s warning snapped everyone to attention.

“Crap, earlier than we expected.” Buffy swore.

“Well it’s just not Hope’s Birthday party without an attack from our favorite tweed goonies.” Xander sighed as everyone hit the weapon’s chest at the same time.

“Don’t let the bad men get me Mommy!!!!” Hope said fearfully as she tucked herself underneath the tablecloth-covered coffee table to hide, taking her new kitten Athena with her.

“Everyone, you know your positions-we take the fight outside.” Buffy ordered, and everyone took up his or her pre-assigned duties.

“Um…what shall I do dear?” Celia asked Buffy a bit uncertainly.

Buffy picked up a weapon from the weapons chest-a crossbow-and handed it to Celia. “Defend my daughter. If any of them get too close…” Buffy left the sentence unfinished.

“I will.” Celia nodded in understanding.

“Don’t worry Buffy, we’re protecting her.” Dawn said, referring to herself, Tara and now the newly added Celia. Buffy nodded.

“Nigel, ETA?” Buffy called out as she turned and headed for the front door that had been left open by the other’s abrupt departure.

::Thirty seconds. I suggest you get outside with the others. Things are about to get…ah, dicey.:: Nigel replied dutifully.

Beneath the coffee table, Hope sat with her arms wrapped around her knees, resting her chin there while rocking back and forth. She had Athena cradled in the tiny space between her body and her knees.

“I don’t want to go with the bad men, Athena…But Mommy can’t save me this time …” Hope whispered fearfully to the little kitten. Athena made a little mewing noise. “No, I can’t do that! Not in front of them…it’s a secret, Nigel said so.” Hope replied as if the kitten had spoken to her.

Hope jumped in reflex when she heard a loud banging against the outside of the house and the sound of someone getting hurt.

“Hope, you okay down there?” Dawn asked.

Hope looked through the gap between the floor and the hem of the tablecloth and saw three pairs of feet-small black leather boots that she knew belonged to Dawn, a plain pair of heeled tan boots that belonged to Tara, and a pair that Hope didn’t recognize.

“Fine.” Hope whispered loud enough for Dawn to hear.

More fighting noises could be heard outside-from the sounds of the carnage going on outside, not many Watchers would be leaving the grounds of the house alive.

Hope peered cautiously out from beneath the tablecloth and looked up at the women surrounding her hiding place.

Celia. That was the owner of the other pair of shoes that she didn’t recogize.

There was more banging from outside, this time from the direction of the back door. Hope saw the women tense and face that direction.

There was shouting from the far end of the house-then the sound of the glass on the back door breaking. More banging around. Then finally with a loud CRACK! the back door was opened.

Hope saw the three women clutch their weapons with white knuckles, so she ducked back beneath the tablecloth into her hiding space.

“Be very quiet Athena.” Hope whispered to the kitten. There were sounds of footsteps coming from the kitchen, heading towards the living room. Then suddenly they were there in the living room.

The crossbow was fired and a bolt apparently hit its mark from the sounds of someone’s grunt of pain and then collapse on the floor. But there were more footsteps coming in from the kitchen, heading their way.

Hope clutched Athena tighter, but still mindful of the kitten’s threshold for pain. She closed her eyes tight and made her mind blank so that she wouldn’t have to listen to the sounds of fighting: flesh hitting flesh, furniture being kicked around and fallen over, crossbow bolts either hitting or missing their mark, Axes being swung.

I wish it would all just stop, Athena. Hope thought, looking at her new kitten. Why does this always have to happen? I never did anything to the Bad Men.

A Watcher was suddenly thrown against her hiding spot and the table jarred enough for Hope to squeak in surprise. There was a pause in fighting for a moment-and then the fighting resumed.

“Rothson!! Kill the abomination!” A Watcher’s voice ordered. “It’s under the table!”

“Stay away from her!!” Dawn shouted vehemently, and Hope heard her redouble her efforts in fighting.

But suddenly the Coffee table was kicked over-and Hope’s hiding place was revealed. Fear clutched her heart when she saw how many Watchers were in the room.

There had to be at least seven…seven to three. Not good odds at all.

But suddenly that didn’t matter. Before she could blink a hand grabbed her and pushed her harshly against the wall. A gleam of metal warned her that the Watcher had a dagger in his hand. She stood, paralyzed in fear as she watched it descend towards her chest.

* * *

Chapter 3: Opening the Gate

From across the room Dawn watched in horror, as the Watcher’s blade arced towards Hope’s heart.

“NO!!” Dawn screamed as she formed a raw Levin bolt and threw it recklessly at the Watcher standing in her way. She could already feel the power backlash, a deep burning pain in the center of her back, her punishment for not taming and shaping the raw magic before throwing it. She ignored the pain and dashed for Hope’s attacker, praying that she would be in time, but her heart already knowing she wouldn’t.

But suddenly the ground felt as if it lurched beneath her feet, and she felt the magic energies within herself and all around her being sucked away from their sources. The room got brighter, and then suddenly it was awash in light. Distantly Dawn heard Hope’s high-pitched scream as all else faded away.

Buffy, Spike, Giles, Xander, Anya, Willow and Jonathan were all fighting off as many Watchers as they could. At least thirty had descended upon the house, and each Scooby had their hands full with several attacking them all at once. They were just starting to even the odds when they all felt the ground lurch beneath them.

“My word…that was just like-“ Giles started to say, but then a blinding flash of light from inside the house and Hope’s scream blocked out all thoughts and actions.

Hope was terrified.

The world didn’t look or feel right anymore. Time had slowed down. Everyone gave off wave like colors above their heads, and lots of things radiated power that she could feel-so much so that she could feel it humming inside her skin. The thing in front of her that her mind identified as “Watcher” radiated a muddy brown sort of power. In fact, there were several muddy brown “Watchers” in the room. There was another form moving towards her that radiated a brilliant green. She identified it as Dawn. A misty blue was Tara, and pale lavender identified Celia. But there was another glowing source in the room, above the fireplace. It wasn’t “human shaped” like the rest, but a rectangle. It glowed pale yellow.

Nigel. Hope realized.

::You can see the power child. Now use it.:: Nigel’s voice cut into her reverie.

Hope didn’t understand what he meant, but apparently she didn’t need to. She felt a great pulling, like how Auntie Willow had once shown her how magnets attract each other. Except it felt like she was the magnet, pulling everything into herself. She watched as all of the colors bled into each other and reached towards her, creating wisps of energy from everything that produced the glowing colors. They all touched her, and a void Hope had not realized was within her self was suddenly filled at maximum level. A great rush of energy and power buzzed through her body.

::Now give it direction.:: Nigel’s voice whispered to her. ::What do you want it to do?::

Hope focused on the Watcher holding the dagger in front of her. Time was moving incredibly sluggish, so the Watcher’s arm moved ridiculously slow-about a centimeter every ten seconds.

Go away. Hope thought angrily at the Watcher.

::Who do you want to go away child?:: Nigel prompted.

The Bad Men. TheWatchers.

Hope felt white-hot anger coursing through her. She focused intently upon the Watcher moving sluggishly in front of her.

Leave me ALONE!! Hope thought angrily, no longer able to hold back the wild, surging power inside. An anger so ferocious she felt her skin prickle as power akin to static electricity coursed through her body. Her eyes burned with rage as she focused on the Watchers in the room.

“GO AWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!” Hope shrieked.

There was a great release of energy, her vision went white, and time lurched back to normal again. When Hope opened her eyes again, the Watchers had disappeared……and nothing would ever be the same for Hope again.

Spike was the first to regain consciousness. He picked himself up off the front lawn and looked around. Everyone was unconscious.

“Buffy?” Spike said as he spotted her lying on her back, close to the edge of the street. He heard Xander groan and Willow whimper “ow” as he walked passed them.

“Buffy? Love?” Spike shook her and she groaned.

“What the hell happened?” She asked, wincing as she put a hand to her head.

“I don’t know.” Spike shook his head.

“Hope! Where’s Hope?!” Buffy sat up immediately, although her headache retaliated. They shared a terrified glance, ran inside the house and saw the same devastation inside as was outside. Dawn, Tara and Celia were all unconscious, and there were no Watchers to be seen.

“Guys wake up! Where’s Hope?!” Buffy asked frantically. Dawn was the first to be jarred awake.

“Didja get the license plate number on that building that slammed into my head?” Dawn groaned dazedly as she sat up, a hand pressed to her forehead.

“Dawn! Where is Hope!?” Buffy asked more forcefully, shaking her sisters shoulders in panic. Dawn’s eyes widened.

“Oh God, Hope!” Dawn blanched, stumbled to her feet and ran over to where she saw Hope last. She was nowhere to be seen.

“Hope?!” Dawn called out desperately. The rest of the gang had regained consciousness, made their way into the house, and were now searching for Hope.

“Hope? Where are you?” Spike called out. The others were scouring the rest of the house while Buffy and Spike frantically looked under kicked-over furniture in the living room.

“Meew!”

Buffy and Spike spun on their heels and looked at the little kitten. Athena was in the far corner of the room, standing beside the couch. They both walked closer, and Athena disappeared behind the couch. They peered over the backside and saw Hope hugging her knees, making herself as small as possible. She had wedged herself into the farthest corner, in between the couch and the wall. Athena stood Guard in front of her.

“Oh my God! Honey, are you okay?” Buffy immediately shoved the couch out of the way. Hope winced, but didn’t move when her mother crouched down next to her.

“We found her!” Spike shouted to the Scoobies, and they all stopped their searching and came into the living room.

“Hope?” Buffy carefully touched her daughter’s arm when she didn’t get a response. Hope flinched again, but didn’t move.

::She’s in shock.:: Nigel supplied.

“Nigel, what happened? Will she be all right? Where did all the Watchers go?” Buffy asked.

::Hope will be fine, the Watchers are… gone.:: Nigel replied.

“Yes, thank you cryptic boy. Now, where did they go?” Spike asked impatiently.

::I’m really not sure. “Away”, that is all I know.::

“Nigel, you better get with the answers or I’ll rip your spine out!” Spike snarled.

There was a beat of silence.

“Oh! I get it.” Xander snickered. “’Cause, you know, books have spines.” Everyone turned and gave Xander a look. “What? He was the one that made the bad pun, not me!”

::Look, I can’t tell you what I don’t know.:: Nigel said, ignoring the exchange.

“Then why don’t you start by tell us what the hell just happened?” Buffy snapped.

::The white light you all experienced is called a Gate.::

“But that would take a massive amount of power! No one human holds that much power.” Dawn blurted out. Willow opened her mouth to say something, but Nigel continued.

::You’re right, ms. Summers, no ONE human possesses that much power. That is why you felt that tugging on everything magic around you. That energy was “tapped” into, creating enough energy for the Gate.::

“Good heavens, is that what made the ground lurch?” Celia asked.

::Yes, and actually, the ground only feels like it is lurching. You see, several Magical events happened all at once. First was the Energy pull, then the Gate was opened, and the force of all of those Watchers being sent “away” created the white flash. The Gate exploded from the sheer energy. It was rather unstable in the first place.::

“But why? Who did this?” Willow asked.

“I wanted to make the bad men go away.” Hope’s tear filled voice made them all turn and look at her.

“What? Oh honey, I know you were scared but-“

“No Mommy! I made them go away! He had a knife…and h-he wanted to hurt me. Then everything was slow…an-and I could see all these funny colors. Nigel told me to use them…a-and some how I did. I don’t know what happened mommy!! I just wanted them to go away!!” Hope started crying and hid her face in her knees again.

“Oh honey.” Buffy pulled Hope into her arms and cradled her, letting her cry.

“Leatherhead, is this true?” Spike asked Nigel.

::Quite true. Hope has uncharted powers, and this was but a scratch upon the surface of her true potential.::

“My God, are you saying-“ Buffy trailed off.

::Your child is more than she appears to be.:: Nigel answered. Buffy glanced at Tara, and she nodded, confirming what Tara had been trying to tell Buffy earlier.

“Wait….this morning…” Giles was obviously struggling with trying to remember something.

“Yes, that same lurching feeling happened!” Celia was on the same track.

“Precisely!” Giles said, snapping his fingers. “Now that I think of it, I simply don’t recall leaving your house this morning, Buffy. The last thing I remember was you saying…that the cake would be served at three-“

“And the next minute, poof! We’re in Rupert’s car, driving to his flat!” Celia finished for him, gesturing wildly to emphasize her point.

“Exactly! I just figured it was another bloody earthquake. This state has enough of the bloody things-“ Giles started muttering to himself.

“Woah, woah, woah. Wait, your saying she made one of these Gate thingies this morning?” Xander asked.

“Well….yes.” Giles said, furrowing his brows, “But why?”

“Perhaps something happened.” Celia volunteered.

“I know what happened.” Buffy said, suddenly remembering. “She, she spoke to us…in our heads. That’s funny…why didn’t I remember it until just now?”

::Because she wanted you to forget.:: Nigel said. ::Just recently Hope’s powers have been developing. Normally Gifts aren’t supposed to develop until puberty, but Hope is hardly normal. She barely knows what she’s doing when she does it. If she very much wishes for someone to forget about something--::

“She can make them forget.” Spike finished the sentence.

::Yes. This morning, you and Buffy had a bit of a tiff…::

“Yeah, the Slayer wanted to sweep me up with a dust devil over some flour and eggs.” Spike said a bit grudgingly.

::No child likes to see their parents fight…she didn’t know she was doing anything wrong. Afterward, I had a discussion with her on the matter.::

“Nigel, why didn’t you tell us any of this before?” Buffy asked angrily.

“I didn’t want him to.” Hope said quietly.

“Why not honey?” Buffy asked.

“Because I don’t wanna be different. I just want to be me. I don’t want to be a freak!” Hope started crying again.

“Oh honey. It doesn’t make you a freak…it just makes you…special.” Buffy said.

“I don’t wanna be special! I’m a freak! I wish I wasn’t born!” Hope shoved herself out of Buffy’s arms, ran up the stairs into her room and slammed the door behind her before anyone could move.

They all heard her bed squeak from her throwing herself upon it, and her loud sobs.

Buffy looked stricken, and everyone else looked on in concern, but really didn’t know what to do.

“I’ll go talk to her.” Spike told Buffy, giving her a comforting look before heading up the stairs.

“Well…Buff, I’d have to say your Daughter competing for the “worst birthday ever” award. Maybe it’s hereditary.” Xander tried to joke. Unfortunately, it fell flat.

“I don’t believe there will be anymore danger for now. I think we’d all better call it a night. It’s our turn to patrol tonight, so I suggest we get on with it.” Giles announced. No one really knew what to say, so the Goodbyes were a series of sympathetic looks and the occasional hug as Giles, Celia, Xander, Anya, Tara, Willow and Jonathan all left.

“Love? Can I come in?” Spike knocked on Hope’s door.

“Go away!” Came the muffled, half-sobbing reply.

Spike opened the door and had to instantly duck a pillow flying at his head. “Hey now, none of that.”

“I said go away!” Hope rolled over on her bed so that her back was facing him.

“Sorry, thought you said: “come in”.” Spike said sarcastically, and sat next to her on the bed.

“Go away daddy.” Hope repeated tersely.

“You’re not a freak.” Spike said, ignoring her request. Hope sat up and faced him revealing her angry tear streaked face.

“I can make you go away you know.” Hope said in a low, almost shameful voice.

“Yeah, I know. I’m willing to risk it.” Spike shrugged.

“Do you know what I can do just by thinking about it? Do you know what I am?!” Hope cried fitfully, her face screwing up on the edge of a tantrum.

“Do you?” Spike asked calmly.

Hope’s face fell, from the shock at his logic. “No.” She admitted in a whisper.

“Well I’ll tell you who you are.” Spike said, brushing her tangled blonde hair from her tear streaked face, looking directly into her eyes. “You’re my daughter. That’s all I care about. So what if you can do things that no one else can do? That just makes me love you even more.”

“But what if I’m making you love me? What if it’s not real?” Hope asked with haunted eyes.

“No one can fake love, pet. I’ll tell you a funny story. When your mommy and I thought were enemies, and your Aunty Willow accidentally cast a spell on us, making us think we were getting married. We were actin’ all lovey-dovey the whole time. The spell was only supposed to make us think we were getting married. It didn’t say anything about us being in love.”

“Then why did you love each other?” Hope asked.

“Because we already had feelings for each other. They were hidden…very, very deep. The spell just let them come out.”

Hope giggled. “You and Mommy thought you were gonna be married?”

“Yeah, pet.” Spike smiled at her. Hope was silent for a moment, thinking.

“Daddy…why aren’t you and momma married?” She finally asked. Spike made a slight choking noise.

“Er, well love, you know how Daddy’s a vampire?”

“Yeah.”

“And that means…” He prompted.

“That your not alive.” Hope replied matter-of-factly.

“Right. A man that’s not alive can’t get married.”

“But you’d marry Mommy if you were?” Hope asked, her eyes flickering to the closed door for a moment.

Spike gave her a weary look. “Don’t you start getting ideas, love. If I was human, I wouldn’t have super strength and I couldn’t protect you.” Spike paused and slightly glanced toward the doorway. He smirked and said loudly: “I also wouldn’t be able to kick your mommy’s butt in training.”

Hope giggled.

Buffy opened the door with an exasperated sigh of a person getting caught. “It is so no easy to eavesdrop on you two.”

“Eh, it’s in the genes.” Spike scratched his head and shrugged. Buffy came in the room and sat on the bed, opposite to Spike.

“Are you okay honey?” Buffy asked.

“Yeah, I think so.” Hope said. “Mommy? Can I talk to you alone for a minute?” Hope asked.

“Sure honey.” Buffy said.

“Oh, I see, girl talk, eh? Alright, I can see when I’m not wanted.” Spike said teasingly as he stood up. He bent down and kissed Hope on the forehead. “I’ll be downstairs love.” Spike told both of them as he left the room, closing the door behind him.

Spike paused at the top landing of the stairs, hearing a familiar voice coming from downstairs. He furrowed his bows and walked hurriedly down the steps. He came down just as the new Guest was commenting on the Summer’s new decorating.

“…I just love what you’ve done with the place…it just screams “massacre-was-here”. In fact, I think your decorator does our place in L.A. every Wednesday…”

“Lorne? What the hell are you doing here?” Spike asked incredulously as he descended the stairs. Dawn stood by the opened the door, evidence that the Green-skinned demon had arrived just moments before.

“What, no Hug? No kiss?” Lorne said, holding his arms out. When he saw Spike’s stoic look he continued. “Or maybe not. I got an express message from the PTB, sugar cakes. Cordelia sent me down here right after she did the whole human flashlight thing. Not that I don’t enjoy the good ol’ Sunny of D, but she wouldn’t even let me call ahead.” Lorne explained. “She said, and I quote: “Get your green ass down there now, before I kick it there.” She was a bit cranky when I left. That whole “green ass” thing was totally uncalled for.”

“What? Why?” Spike asked.

“Hormones I think. No Midol in the hotel.” Lorne said with a shiver. When Lorne saw everyone’s gloomy expressions he continued. “Oh, you mean why Cordelia sent me here.”

::Yes, please do get on with it.:: Nigel put in impatiently.

“Yaaahh!!” Lorne jumped and spun around, looking for the source of the detached voice. “Who said that?”

“Nigel.” Came the flat, unanimous reply from Dawn and Spike.

“The actor?” Lorne asked, straightening his fuchsia colored tie and dusting off his lime green jacket.

“The book.” Dawn said.

::Ex-Watcher, Adept Mage, Prophet and protector of this household.:: Nigel said with great dignity.

“He’s a book.” Dawn repeated to Lorne. Lorne gave her a puzzled look and she pointed to the leather bound journal on the mantle.

::I am a human Transmogrified into a Watcher’s diary, thank you very much! I am NOT just a book!::

“Why in the world would you make yourself into a diary? You weren’t stiff enough just being a Watcher?” Lorne asked.

::The Council was very different back then, Mr…Lorne. And current circumstances made it necessary. I did what I had to do.::

“Hm, I would have just put in my two week notice, buuut that’s just me.” Lorne shrugged. “You Watchers always have to go to dramatics. Oh gosh, this one time, Wesley did the craziest thi- uh, never mind. I should probably get to the part that explains why I’m here.” Lorne said with a nervous smile.

Colin Weasley groaned as he opened his eyes. This is the last bloody time I drink. I swear it. Colin thought as he lifted his head. He immediately frowned.

The floor? What? What am I doing on the floor? Colin sat up and looked around. He was lying on the floor of the “spy van”, his chair had been tipped over, and the headset he had been wearing previously was digging painfully into his neck.

Wait a moment, I didn’t drink anything stronger than tea last night! Colin stood up, more alert. He righted his chair and sat down in it, looking at the notes he had been taking before he woke up on the floor.

Ah yes, at precisely 6pm the Strike team moved in. Fighting took place immediately. And then at 6:11pm…that’s funny. I started to take notes, but I never finished them. What in blazes happened?!

Colin thought long and hard, but his memory was completely blank. But he did know one thing…

Mr. Travers isn’t going to like this.

“I need for you to sing for me Princess. Anything you can think of.” Lorne told Hope.

Hope looked uncertain for a moment, glancing at her parents. They both nodded to encourage her. She took a deep breath and started to sing a little shakily. “Ring around the rosy, pocket full of-“

Lorne instantly grabbed his head and shouted, his face screwing up in pain. Hope shrieked in terror.

“I did it again! I didn’t mean to!” Hope cried hysterically, and dashed up the stairs, slamming her door shut behind her.

“Hope!” Buffy ran after her daughter.

“Lorne? Are you okay?” Dawn rushed to his side and helped him sit up.

“Wow, that girl has some kick to her.” Lorne said, shaking his head.

“What happened? What did you see?” Spike asked while glancing worriedly up the stairs.

Lorne got up off the floor and looked up at Spike with regret. “You're not gonna like it blue-eyes. Not one bit.”

Chapter 4: Allies

“She’s WHAT?!” Spike growled angrily as he slammed Lorne against the wall by the lapels, one hand around his throat.

“Spike, stop it!” Dawn pulled at his arms, but he was too strong for her.

“I swear Kermit, you better tell me the PTB’s line was busy and you got a scrambled message or I’ll rip your soddin’ head off!” Spike said, vamping out. Lorne was turning teal from lack of oxygen.

“Spike, get OFF him!” Dawn bellowed and threw a lesser Levin Bolt at him. It shocked Spike enough to send him flying back five feet. Lorne gasped for his breath.

“Goddamnit Dawn! I told you to never get near me with one of those fucking things!” Spike growled, still in game face, looking positively feral.

“Spike, shut up and listen!” Dawn pointed at him angrily, her hand still glowing, warning him that she had another Levin Bolt in reserve.

Buffy came storming down the stairs. “What the hell is going on here?” She demanded. Spike switched out of game face, and the glow from Dawn’s hands died out.

“Why don’t you tell her Kermit? I’m sure it will go over real well.” Spike said angrily.

“Uh…well, I uh…” Lorne stammered rubbing his throat, glancing back and forth between Buffy and Spike. “Aw man, Cordy could have at least warned me about this.” Lorne said to himself, slowly taking steps away from the two blondes.

“Lorne, my daughter is upstairs crying right now because she thought she killed you. Now because the three of you were screaming at each other, she probably thinks it’s all her fault. Now SOMEONE better start talking, or by the Gods, I will eviscerate all of you and ask questions later!” Buffy said angrily.

If it was possible, Lorne turned a little greener.

Colin watched the Summer’s home drowsily from the front seat of the van. The front seat was mildly more comfortable than the chair in the back. He was at least 48 hours on the job by now, and someone should have taken over his post after the attack several hours ago.

But everyone had just disappeared. There were no traces of Watchers in front of the Summer’s home, and he got back no replies on the Transmitter. Wherever his collogues were, they weren’t in the area anymore. That fact disturbed him a great deal, but he figured that they were just off regrouping. He’d hear something from them any minute now. Really.

Yeah, right.

Colin was just making his notes on the non-activity of the Summer’s house when he saw movement by the child’s window. Except for the movement wasn’t inside, it was outside. Colin sat up a little straighter in his seat and watched. He saw the child climbing out of her window, down the lattice, and onto the ground.

What in the world is the child doing sneaking out after dark? Colin thought as he watched her glance around warily. She wiped her face with her hand and sniffled as if wiping away tears, and started sneaking away from the house.

Oh my, what is she thinking? She could get hurt. Colin thought immediately, but then shook his head. Moron! That is the objective, isn’t it? To destroy the child? Those were Mr. Traver’s orders: “Kill the child by any means”…and I suppose this is the part where I call the “dogs” on her. Colin thought as he picked up his Transmitter hesitantly. But his face fell, and he put it down, realizing *he* was apparently the only “dog” left on duty.

He sat back for a moment, still watching the child attempt to run away. She tripped over a tree root and fell face down. She quickly scrambled on her feet, wiped her face for tears and dusted her knees off before continuing on her way.

I did *not* sign on for this. Colin thought sadly as opened the car door and got out.

Hope jumped down off of the trellis and wiped tears from her eyes. She could still hear her Mommy and Daddy fighting about what she did.

I’ll just go away so I’ll never hurt anyone again. It’s better this way. Hope thought morosely. She moved away from the windows and crept along the fence towards the street. I don’t know where I’m going, but anywhere has to be safer than here! Maybe the bad men are right. Maybe I *am* evil. Maybe I should let them catch me. I’ll have to be quick and silent, just like dadd-y! Hope nearly squealed in surprise as her foot caught on something and she fell face down in the dirt. She scrambled to her feet, wiped away fresh tears, dusted off her knees and continued on. I can do this. I just have to be more careful.

She finally reached the sidewalk and rounded it to walk towards town, but there was a man standing in her way. A tall man dressed like a Watcher. Hope immediately let out a squeal and turned to run, but the man grabbed her to stop her from running.

Hope started crying again as she realized she had wished this fate upon herself, and it was going to happen, just like how she made the Bad Men go away.

“No, no, no, no! Don’t scream. I’m not going to hurt you.” Colin said trying to reassure the little girl. She completely surprised him by kicking him in the shin and punching him in the nose, forcing him to let go of her. “Oww! Why’d you do that? I’m just trying to help you.”

“No you’re not! You’re one of the bad men!” Hope said, backing up from him.

“Bad men?” Colin asked, puzzled.

“Watchers! I made the others go away and I can make YOU go away, so just stay away from me!” Hope said, on the verge of more tears.

Colin sighed. “I *am* a Watcher, yes. But I assure you, I mean you no harm.”

“I don’t trust you!” Hope said angrily.

“I’m not asking you to.” Colin said simply, “All I want you to do is walk back inside that door.” Colin gestured to the Summer’s front door. Hope didn’t take her eyes off of him, as most people would glance at the object he was pointing to by compulsion.

“Why?” She narrowed her eyes at him skeptically.

Colin was taken aback by her intelligence, for one so young. “Because you are safe there. I guarantee that if you run away, within a day a Watcher-A Bad Man-will come for you. They will find you, no matter where you go.”

“Because you will tell them where I am? So they can kill me?” Hope asked, with a peculiar look on her face. Almost like she was judging him-weighing his worth by his next answer.

“No. That is not what I wish to happen.” Colin answered immediately.

“What *do* you want?” The child asked. But suddenly Colin realized that she didn’t sound like a child anymore. She sounded wise beyond her years. For some reason he wasn’t alarmed at the change in her character.

“I…I want to do the right thing.” Colin said, his mouth answering for him before he could even contemplate the question.

The child smiled at him, and the odd feeling disappeared, leaving only an ordinary child looking up at him.

“Then do it.” She said simply, but her tone held a strange quality to it, like something ethereal echoing behind the childish voice.

“Oh my god.” Buffy said in shock as she sat down. “I…you...we…how??” Buffy struggled to get her mind to catch up to her mouth, but it just wasn’t working.

“That was Spike’s reaction, but more violent.” Dawn muttered.

“I’m thinking this is an opportune time to remind you *not* to slay the messenger.” Lorne said as he watched the two blondes warily.

“I-I don’t understand…how? Why?” Buffy said in shock.

“And I’d like to volunteer what the Hell?!” Dawn said.

Lorne gulped and chuckled nervously again. “Well…”

But he was cut off by Nigel. ::I er, have some very odd news.::

“Can’t this wait?” Buffy snapped at him while still glaring at Lorne.

::Not unless you want to leave your Daughter in the hands of a Watcher on the front steps.::

“WHAT?!” Spike growled, ran to the front door and tore it open, Buffy and Dawn not far behind him.

“Boy the fun never stops around here, does it?” Lorne said to the empty room, throwing his hands in the air in defeat. “And I thought L.A. was bad.”

“GET AWAY FROM HER!!” Spike snarled as he literally grabbed Colin by the lapels and threw him a good ten feet away from his daughter.

“No daddy, don’t!” Hope said belatedly, wincing when Colin hit the ground.

“Oh my god honey, are you okay?” Buffy quickly knelt in front of her daughter and scanned her for any cuts, scrapes, bruises or any other signs of harm.

“Mommy I’m fine! Don’t hurt Colin, he wants to help!” Hope said quickly before either of them decided to play more “toss-the-Watcher”.

“Colin?” Dawn asked.

“Him.” Hope pointed at Colin, ten feet away, struggling to picking himself up off the ground and muttering under his breath about being “too old for this”.

“Hope, honey, go inside and we’ll take care of this.” Buffy said, taking up fighting posture.

“No mommy.” Hope said firmly. Which shocked the hell out of everyone. Hope had *never* talked back to her mother up until now.

“What?” Buffy said, taken aback.

“He can help us. He wants to do the right thing.” Hope said.

“I hate to interrupt…but could I get some ice?” Colin called out, hunched over with his hand on his back. He was grimacing in pain.

“Nigel?” Buffy asked in a tone that was inquiring his opinion.

::He poses no threat. Hope has already tested him, and found him to be trust worthy.:: Nigel said simply.

“But she’s just a five year old kid!“ Buffy said.

“I think we’ve already covered the fact that she isn’t just a five year old.” Lorne commented wryly from the safe haven of the front door. “My throat remembers it well.”

“Er, yeah, sorry ‘bout that mate. When it comes to my little girl I just-“

“React?” Lorne supplied, rubbing his throat. “I got that message, unfortunately.”

“Excuse me…?” Colin called out again, still hunched over in pain. He was too far away to have heard their conversation.

“Oh, right. Sorry. Look, we need to sort all this out. Inside.” Buffy said as she and Dawn moved to help Colin inside the house. Colin was ushered inside the Summers’ home, muttering “Ow” after each step.

“Aaaa-aah. Thank you miss Summers.” Colin sighed in relief as he slowly settled down on the couch, an ice pack resting on his lower back. Dawn nodded in acknowledgement and took a seat on the opposite arm of the couch.

“I just put Hope to bed, so we need to keep it quiet.” Buffy warned as she came down the stairs and sat across from Colin in the living room. “So you were a spy for the Council?” She prompted him.

“Er…well, yes, I imagine that would be the correct term.” Colin grimaced as he settled himself better on the icepack.

::He’s also an adept Mage.::

“Aaaah!!!! Owww!!” Colin shrieked in surprise, and then yelped in pain as he jarred his injured back. “What the bloody hell was that?!”

“Nigel.” Dawn sighed. “You know, this has been a really good day for him. He loves scarring the wits out of people the first time he talks to them.” Dawn said.

::Well I’ve got to entertain myself some how, don’t I?::

“Who in the nine hells is Nigel?!?” Colin asked, flabbergasted.

::Nigel Hawthorne, former Watcher, Adept Mage, Prophet and protector of this household.:: Nigel said with great dignity. But then added with chagrined reluctance: ::Whom just so *happens* to be ensorcelled into a Watcher’s diary.::

Colin blanched.

“Today has been entirely too weird.” Buffy put her head in her hands and let out a sigh of exhaustion. “Even for the Hellmouth.”

“I’ll readily agree with you, Ms. Summers.” Colin said, looking a tad bit like a fish tossed on shore: completely out of his element. “What on *earth* is going on in this household?” He blurted, “You slay demons, yet you associate with them?” He said, eyeing Lorne and Spike, “You forsake the Council, yet you continue to carry out your sacred duty? You have the *legendary* Watcher-Mage Nigel Hawthorne trapped in a book-“

::NOT a book!::

“We didn’t trap him.” Buffy and Nigel exclaimed at the same time, but Colin wasn’t listening.

“Somehow an entire regiment of Watchers vanished under *your* household-“

“Wait..!” Buffy glared at Colin. “You know about that?”

“Figuratively speaking, yes. When I woke up with a splitting headache and all my comrades had vanished without a trace-“

“YOU tried to kill my daughter!” Buffy rose out of her seat, anger burning in her eyes.

“Now miss Summers I-“ Colin put up his hands in defense.

“I’ll KILL YOU!!” Buffy lunged at him with outstretched hands, and Colin jumped back in reflex, causing him to cry out in pain again. Dawn and Lorne grabbed for her to restrain her, and Spike just sat there, not caring if Buffy killed the man.

“Buffy don’t!” Dawn protested as she restrained her sister.

“How DARE you touch my daughter!” Buffy wrestled herself out of Dawn and Lorne’s grasps and lunged for Colin again. Being fettered by Lorne and Dawn, Colin actually managed to wriggle (painfully) out of the way, but landed ungracefully on the floor.

“Please! Miss Summers, if you’d only give me a chance to explain!” Colin cried out desperately, crab walking as best he could out of her reach.

“You have five seconds!” Buffy growled, lessening her attempts to kill him, but Dawn and Lorne still had to hold her back.

“I’m no child killer Miss Summers! I swear to you, that was never my intention!”

“Then why the hell do you work for a monumental prick like Quentin?” Spike glared at Colin menacingly.

“Quentin sent me here because I’m the best Mage on the council! He wanted me to find a way past your shields-“

“And now you have.” Buffy said coldly.

“No, no! Truly, I-I wish you no harm! I’ve been against Quentin’s plight from the beginning, I’ve just been too much of a coward to do anything.” He pleaded. “I’d like to do something now. I’d like to help you all.” Colin said earnestly.

“Why should I believe you?” Buffy glared at him.

“Because your daughter is no more an abomination than that kitten.” He answered, pointing to Athena.

The kitten lifted her sleepy head off the couch cushion and meowed at Colin in agreement. There was a lull in the conversation that no one knew quite what to say at the moment.

“Look, it’s been a very long night.” Buffy said quietly. “I think we should continue this in the morning.”

::Might I suggest that Mr. Weasely spend the night here on the couch? I’ll keep an eye on him if you have any doubts.:: Nigel suggested.

“Fine. I’m too tired to care at the moment.” Buffy said offhandedly. “Looks like we’re starting to collect Watchers at this rate.”

“Uh, if it’s all the same, I think I’ll be heading out.” Lorne said quickly as he moved towards the door. “I’ll catch you cats later, okay? Good luck, chow, auf wiedersehenand, Bon Voya-“

“Hold on there Kermit.” Spike cut him off, two feet from his freedom. “We’re not finished with you. You bunk here tonight.”

Lorne made a sound similar to a squeak of dismay.

To be continued...