Previous Chapter Summary: Xander ran from Willow and headed towards home. Angel came upon the crypt where Buffy died. Angelus came out to have a little chat with Angel while he was there. Giles contacted the Council about Faith being brought to Sunnydale. Spike and Buffy shared a sweet kiss at the end of the night.

Chapter Summary: Xander confronts his fears, and he will have faith and trust in Anya's knowledge. Buffy confronts some of her emotional and physical fears towards Spike and intimacy. Angel attempts to confront Cordelia back at the Summers' house. Willow and Amy drown farther into the abyss of dark magic with each other, and they talk about what happened with Xander.

Disclaimer: All characters originally created by Joss Wheadon and Mutant Enemy belong to them by all rights. I just sneak them out of the vaults to play with them whenever I can. I do not make any money off of this. I have only the satisfaction that others enjoy the creativity and storylines that I come up with for our heroes, heroines, and villains.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story. "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

Xander arrived at his apartment out of breath and scared. After Willow's little lust speech, he ran as fast as he could to get across town to his home. Once inside he slammed the door shut, locked it, and his body crumbled to the floor. With his face in his hands he wept for the anguish that was in his heart concerning his two best friends.

Anya walked out into the main living room when she heard the door open and close. She was about to ask about his patrol when she heard his shuddering sobs. She stopped advancing on him, and she tried to figure out what to do. She wasn't too good about dealing with all of the human emotions she felt or saw in others. "Xander?" She queried softly.

Xander's tear stained face looked up at his fiancé. "Ahn ..." He held out his arms towards Anya. "Come join me down here. I think we're having an unscheduled apocalypse."

"That must have been one heck of a patrol, Xander." Anya sank down next Xander on the floor. She snuggled against him. "You don't seem injured. What did you fight?"

"The injuries are internal, Ahn." Xander ran his fingers through Anya's hair. He rubbed her back with his other hand.

Anya rested her head on Xander's shoulder. She knew him well enough to realize that he was still in shock about whatever he'd seen. She waited for him to be able to continue.

"Willow ... She ... She taunted me with what her vampire doppelganger told her a couple years ago." Xander shivered again. "It was like she went all dark and sexy in an evil way. She even grabbed me." He shivered in disgust.

Anya knew what Xander referred to. Anya had been a part of the original spell to try and get her amulet back. She was glad that the spell hadn't worked because she wouldn't have Xander in her life if it had. "I wouldn't take everything that the vamped Willow said seriously. She wasn't exactly telling the truth about everything."

"What do you mean? Are you saying she lied?" Xander hoped that even as a vampire he hadn't done some of the things his Willow told him about earlier. 'Not that it matters. Willow was still all freaky to even say it.' He remembered how dark and cold Willow felt to him.

Anya tried to console Xander. "She was a bit upset that she was here." She rubbed the top of Xander's thigh. "Plus that whole bit about vampires not being anything like they are before they are turned was a bunch of hooey."

Xander remained silent. He contemplated telling Anya about Buffy. He needed to hear more from Anya before he did. He didn't want to believe that the Buffy he knew and loved was gone. It would be even worse than her death after Glory because he would see her but it wouldn't be her.

"Vamped Willow was just upset to be reminded of her humanity," Anya explained. "She chose to be how she was. The vampire demon helped her to let go of herself to the darker side, but she could have fought it."

"Fought it how? Vampires don't have their souls."

"That is a bunch of garbage, Xander Harris." Anya sat up and rolled her eyes at Xander. "I really wish that you'd stop reading those Council books. They are not worth the paper they are written on."

"They've researched vampires and demons for centuries." Xander defended Giles and his knowledge base. "After dealing with them for all that time, they should know everything there is to know."

"They might know everything if each Council group would stop hiding information that they didn't want known by the next group." Anya stood up and paced in front of Xander. "I've been around for over a thousand years, and I know what they don't want their Slayer's to know."

"I'm not biased against facts that don't fit a certain mold like they are." Anya continued her tirade, "For example, why would the Council want the Slayers to know that not all demons are bad? The Council wants their Slayers to just kill any demon or vampire without any regard to the truth because they order it."

"I haven't seen all that many "friendly" demons. Most are trying to kill us, one way or another."

"You live on a Hellmouth," Anya stated matter-of-factly. "You are going to get the more violent and Hell bound demons here, doubly so because of the presence of a Slayer. There are many places, and even some right here, where demons just want to live in peace alongside the humans."

"Wow, that seems unreal to me." Xander contemplated Anya's words. "It's hard for me to get a handle on that one."

Anya dropped to her knees in front of Xander. "There are good and bad demons, just like there are good and bad humans. Surely you don't think all humans are good because of a "soul"."

Xander thought about how Willow acted earlier. He realized even more how his lines of black and white were growing ever more blurred. "Tell me more about vampires. You said that they could follow the ways of their humanity or the demon?"

"Yes," Anya folded her hands in her lap and continued, "The demon and human essence, or soul as you like to call it, battle it out when the body is transforming itself into the hybrid creature we call a vampire."

Xander nodded. "So Angelus, Drusilla, and Spike are all like their human counterparts before they were turned?" He feared for Buffy to be under Spike's care if he was that vicious even as a human.

"Not always. The ways of the demon are an easier path to follow. Often, the human essence gives up and just lets the demon take control." Anya thought back on the many vampires she'd encountered in her centuries of vengeance. "Being more human is chastised amongst the mainstream of vampires. Sires will try to beat and torture that essence to eradicate it."

"We were told that Drusilla was made insane by Angelus before she was even turned. She still remains insane now."

"Yes, but the unstable human element is what helped her vampire demon to take control of her." Anya had met the crazy Vampiress many decades earlier after Angelus left the fold with his soul. She'd granted a wish for Drusilla then too. "Her love for Angelus, and blind devotion to her Sire, also shaped who she became over the years."

Anya wasn't sure how much she should tell Xander about what she knew from her friendship with Halfrek about Spike. "I have a feeling that a lot of what Spike became had to do with Angelus tormenting him and his love at the time for Drusilla."

"How do you know that? Did you know Spike before he was turned?" Xander wondered if Anya had a connection to Spike before he was turned. 'Is that why she always seems to be more on his side?'

"No, but a friend of mine did. In fact, she feels that she was the reason he was turned in the first place." Halfrek never said much about her human days, but, after a run in with Drusilla one day, she'd confided in Anya about some of her past. "Spike has changed some since the chip was put in. He couldn't do many of the things that his vampiric family ties forced on him for decades."

"That isn't to say he doesn't still have the bad boy in him, but the chip let the demon justify in his mind how much of the human was showing again. For decades the demon was in the driver's seat. Now, it seems like they switch depending on what is needed."

"He did take care of Dawn all summer, even when Buffy was gone." Xander thought about how devastated Spike looked that morning after the tower incident. His own heart felt torn in two just by watching the grief on the vampire's face. "He could have left, but he stayed to help us. No one expected him to stay. At least I didn't."

"Exactly. Now you are starting to see, Xander." Anya beamed proudly at her fiancé. "He could have left, or he could have even had someone else kill us all. He is still a Master Vampire in one of the oldest clans in existence. He chose to stay with us and fight for us."

"So, if say Buffy was turned into a vampire, she might not go all evil on us?" Xander questioned.

"No, Slayers are different," Anya started to understand why Xander was so curious about her knowledge of demons. She figured something must have happened to Buffy. "They already have a vampire like demon in them from the time they are Chosen."

"Buffy has always been a demon?" Somehow the thought of Buffy always having a demon actually comforted him. 'If I liked Buffy before, and she fought with the good side, she should still be the same.'

"Hybrid, Xander. You need to stop thinking in absolute black and white." Anya was willing to spend whatever time it took to help Xander understand. Their wedding date was getting closer, and she longed for him to accept her demon friends.

"Okay, she was a hybrid; one of the good demons." Xander nodded in acceptance.

"Yes. The human change into a Slayer hybrid starts when they are Chosen." Anya stood up. She extended her hand out to Xander to help him up. The two of them walked to the couch and sat down while Anya continued her explanations. "The demon presence makes itself known through dreams when they are first Chosen. It is how the Slayer is able to share in the memories of past Slayers. Normally they will feel the pull of both the darkness and the light."

Xander wrapped his arms around Anya. He felt like he should be taking notes in true Giles like fashion.

"Most Slayers end up leaning towards one side or the other. Some bounce back and forth over the line depending on the situation. That is one reason why we have rogue Slayers, like what happened with Faith. They get a taste of the dark side, or something snaps, and they lose it."

"But Buffy could still be a good vampire or at least not a fully evil one?"

"Xander, are you trying to tell me that you think Buffy is a vampire?" Anya was tired of dancing around the subject. If Buffy was a vampire, they needed to deal with it head on and not run about the mulberry bush with it.

Xander nodded and sighed. "Let me tell you what happened tonight after Giles and I finished patrol."

Anya and Xander talked until well after sunrise about what Xander heard, what he saw in the cemetery, and what happened with Willow. They talked about different ways to handle their knowledge, and they finally decided that they wouldn't tell Giles about it yet. Both of them realized that Giles was acting very out of sorts, and they wanted to get all the facts before they went to Buffy's Watcher.

Anya knew of a few books that she could order that weren't tainted by the Council's teachings. It would take a day or two for them to get in, even by express. So, they needed to wait until they could get them for Xander to continue his research.

A part of Xander rebelled at the thought that anything vampire could be good, but he couldn't deny what his eyes told him. He tried to will himself to keep an open mind until he knew more. He wanted to talk to Buffy, but first he needed to know a little bit more about Slayers and vampires ... things he wouldn't find out from the Council of Watchers.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Cordelia snuck into the Summers' household before Angel, Willow, and Amy returned to it. She frowned when she found the shower off because she knew that Angel must have realized she left the house now. She quickly slipped into bed just as Angel returned from his outing.

A furious Angel slammed open the door of the Summers' house. All the lights at the Magic Box were off when he arrived, and he didn't have the patience to head to the Watcher's house to find him there. Instead he headed back to Buffy's house. He hoped that Cordelia would be back for him to talk to. He stomped up the steps with Connor in his arms.

Cordelia's heart skipped a couple beats. She could tell Angel was ticked. He wasn't being quiet about his entrance at all. She knew she wouldn't be able to hide her speeding heartbeat from him, but that didn't mean she was going to acknowledge him either. She wasn't ready to face his questions yet. She still had too many of her own.

The door to the bedroom slammed open, and Angel stepped into the room. "Delia?" He'd heard her heart race, and the scent of her trepidation was in the air. "Delia?" He repeated again.

Cordy tried her best to remain calm and stay still. The whimpers of an unhappy Connor nearly had her turning over in the bed to take care of the child.

Angel huffed. "I find it strange that the water was running without you being in the shower. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?" He questioned.

After a couple more minutes without a response from Cordelia, Angel turned around and left the room with a parting statement. "I saw the crypt, and I know you're hiding something. I will find out what it is."

When the door closed, and she was sure that Angel was gone, Cordy sat up in bed. 'How did he find it? What was he doing in the cemetery anyways with Connor?' She'd have to avoid Angel as much as possible over the next couple days.

Cordy had to find out more about Willow's magic and talk to Tara and Dawn before she met with Spike and Buffy again. The trick was that she had to do all of this without Angel's knowledge. Her best option was to stay out of the house during the day.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow and Amy stumbled into the door, giggling and holding onto each other.

Willow flashed a sly grin at Amy, "Did you see the look on Xander's face? Such a scared little boy; he is always wanting what he can't have. Do you remember the love spell you cast for him?"

Willow and Amy chuckled before Willow sneered and continued, "I just wish you could have seen his reactions to my vampire double. He was so scared of her, of me." A part of her delighted in the feelings of fear she felt from Xander. "You could tell he was jealous of his doppelganger, but he went on for days how *he* was a big shot in the alternative universe."

Willow paused a moment in contemplation then continued, "I know I was the truly powerful one. He was there what he has always been here; a scared little kid riding on my coattails. Poor Xander, can't get a passing grade, can't get a date, and can't help Buffy 'cept get in the way."

Willow's eyes maintained their inky blackness during the entire rant. The air was practically electrified from the borrowed magic coursing through the red head's veins. Right and wrong were no longer distinct choices. Everything was blending together, and the only thing that mattered was the magic and the delicious rush of power that accompanied each spell that was woven.

Reaching out to Amy, Willow pulled her closer and embraced her with a passionate kiss. This time Amy didn't pull back or flinch. She craved the power and energy of her former friend, now lover. It didn't matter to her that she had never considered herself to be gay, or even bisexual. The power was addicting, and she would do anything to keep Willow close. As long as they were together, they would be unstoppable.

With a wave of Willow's hand they were both naked. Their bodies started to move in slow rhythmic motions, and they were lost in the ecstasy of each other's bodies. Neither bothered to remember that they were in the living room or that their guests were secluded in various rooms and could come out at any time.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In their separate rooms Buffy and Spike both reflected on the day. Each of them were lost in their own thoughts, yet their thoughts both lingered on the same thing ... each other.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy slipped beneath the cool satin sheets on her bed. The silkiness of the fabric felt like a tender caress over her exposed flesh. She sighed happily and buried her head in her pillow.

The longer Buffy lay alone in her bedroom the more unsettled she became. She felt cold and distant, alone and detached. She kept reaching out for something or someone else in the bed, but her reach came up empty every time.

Buffy hugged her arms around herself and clutched tightly. She figured out what was missing, but she was afraid to call out to him. She knew Spike would come to her aid, but she didn't want to hurt him or lead him on in any way. She needed him and wanted him, but she wasn't sure how far she was able to go.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In his own room, Spike sighed happily. He and Buffy sat on the porch until the sun started to rise. They alternated between kissing and just holding each other while they talked and snuggled. He felt closer to her than ever before, and he felt the bond they shared be strengthened.

Spike's blissful thoughts slowly drooped into bouts of loneliness and longing. He knew that he was content with how the day went. So, he assumed that what he was feeling came from Buffy. He inhaled and exhaled deeply, and he concentrated on the link he had with his Childe. It wasn't as strong as a mating link, but it still told him a lot about Buffy's moods.

Spike frowned at the pain he sensed in Buffy's heart and mind. Earlier she'd seemed so happy about having Dawn, him, Tara and Valerie around. He clutched his chest as the emptiness Buffy felt gnawed into his consciousness. Why was she feeling lonely when there were so many people here with her and on her side?

'But no one is in there with her now, vampire,' Spike's inner poet chided. 'Shouldn't a Sire be there with his Childe?'

'Most Sires would have let the Childe rise from a grave and find them,' The vampire retorted.

'You aren't a normal Sire to this Childe, Spike.' William knocked on the inside of Spike's brain. 'You love her, and you know you want to be in there with her.'

'She isn't ready yet,' Spike gripped the sheets more tightly. He had no desire to ruin the progress he'd already made with Buffy. 'If we push her, she might reject us. Rejection was hard enough before, I can't handle it again.'

Although it was unusual for William to be pushing Spike into moving into action sooner, it wasn't unheard of. William's heart broke over the pain he felt from Buffy's mind. He hated to admit that only his "Spike" side could calm her as her Sire, but he would do anything to ease her loneliness. 'Did earlier tonight feel like a rejection to you? Take the chance! Go in there!'

Spike gulped. He felt the mental nudges from William, and he was shocked to find William being so forceful with him. 'Fine!' Spike stood up, 'But if she rejects us this time, mate, I'm going to kill you.'

'Too late bleached boy. Already dead, remember?' William chuckled.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buffy looked up at the door before she heard the soft knock on it. "Spike?"

Spike opened the door to Buffy's bedroom a tiny bit. He peeked his head around the corner. "Mind if I come in pet?"

Buffy shook her head back and forth quickly. "I don't mind at all. Please do." She sat up in her bed.

Spike walked slowly over to Buffy's bed. "I couldn't help but feel that something was wrong, luv." He leaned against the side of the bed. "Is there something I can get you?"

Buffy nibbled on her lower lip nervously. She gazed down at the hands twisted in her electric comforter. Spike had been so loving and caring to make sure that she had everything she needed to stay warm and survive. She felt wrong in asking him for more, but there was something she needed more than anything else he could give her. She answered, "You?"

"Excuse me?" Spike blinked in utter shock at Buffy's statement.

Buffy ducked her head shyly, but she pulled back the comforter of the bed. "You, Spike." She timidly raised her head to look into his eyes. "I need you."

"Buffy, you can't mean ..." Spike's words fell off into the silent night even as his body sank down to the bed to sit on the side of it.

"Hold me," Buffy spoke tenderly while her hands reached up to remove Spike's shirt. She dropped it over the side of the bed and scooted closer to him. "Show me the depth of your love."

Spike grabbed Buffy's hands when her fingers attempted to pop open the top button of his jeans. "I love you with all that I am, Buffy," His voice was barely audible except to Buffy's vampiric hearing. "I don't want to hurt you."

Buffy smiled warmly in return. She moved his hands away from his jeans with her free hand and continued to first pop the button open and then lower the zipper. "You won't hurt me." Her gaze never left his. "I need to feel your touch and your body completely against mine."

Spike kicked his jeans off onto the floor. He took Buffy in his arms and laid her back against his arm and the pillows in the middle of the bed. He pressed his naked body alongside hers, cupped her cheek with his free hand, and then ran that same hand through her golden tresses.

Buffy closed her eyes and purred softly in contentment. All of the pain from earlier vanished just by being in his presence. She turned her head to kiss the palm of Spike's hand. "Sire ..."

Spike kissed Buffy with the growing passion he felt for her. He nipped and nibbled along her jaw line until he claimed her lips again. "You don't have to do this, Childe. We have eternity to wait for you to be ready."

Buffy cupped Spike's cheek. "I'm doing this because I want to, not because I have to," She reassured him. "Is it too much to ask for you to touch and hold me without, you know what?"

Spike softly chuckled, "If you can't say it, you can't do it, pet." He loved to tease her. He trailed his fingertips down the side of her breast. He pinched one nipple between two fingers. "But I think I can accommodate you."

"Oooo," Buffy moaned. "And very well it would seem." She ran one of her hands down between them until she was able to wrap her fingers around his cock. "Although I can't give it the happiest place in the world, I won't let him be lonely." She stroked his hardening shaft up and down in time with the caresses and kisses he placed upon her body.

Spike kissed down Buffy's throat. He nipped and worried where her beating pulse would be, teasing the borrowed blood to the surface of her neck with blunt teeth. He growled into her neck.

Buffy knew instinctively why Spike was growling. She ran her fingers through his gelled hair, loosening it, and cooed, "Soon my beloved. Soon."

Spike's eyes flashed amber, and he pulled back to look into Buffy's now silver eyes. He grunted then growled again.

Buffy released her grip on his cock, nodded and placed both of her hands on his shoulders.

Spike grinned in all his fangy splendor then began his trek down Buffy's body.

Tiny trails and droplets of Buffy's blood dotted her chest, breasts and abdomen, but this time there was no pain involved that she didn't want. When each nip beaded another droplet of blood on her body to add to the trail he'd created, she reveled in each flicker of Spike's tongue that took her blood off her body.

Spike snarled in pleasure with each taste of the Slayer's sweet elixir. She was the best thing he'd ever tasted. Being both his Childe and the Slayer did something to her blood that no one else could mimic. She tasted like Heaven, a pure nirvana for him to sample.

Spike buried his tongue in Buffy's belly button. He swirled the tip around the tiny hole, and he delighted in her squirms to try and get away from the questing appendage.

"Oh gosh ..." Buffy gasped the moment Spike's mouth met with her moistened core. She nearly shot off the bed, but Spike's hands on her hips held her down. "No one ..."

Spike grinned like a Cheshire cat. 'How could she never have had this done for her?' He silently cursed Buffy's previous lovers for not showing her this particular pleasure. In the next thought he grinned devilishly for being able to introduce her to this side of oral pleasure.

"Don't stop. Please don't stop," Buffy begged and twisted underneath Spike's grasp. She wrapped her legs on either side of his head and squeezed her thighs together around his head.

Spike was thankful he had no need to breathe, or he would be dead. The tighter Buffy gripped him, the further his tongue delved into her pink folds. He nibbled on the edges of her lips while he plunged two fingers into her depths.

Buffy squealed out in delight and bucked her pussy up into Spike's mouth. She writhed and cried out her mounting pleasure.

Spike's arm shot up to cover Buffy's mouth with his hand. Although he loved the growing volume and sounds of her pleasure, he as pretty sure that Tara and Dawn wouldn't appreciate being awakened by Buffy's orgasm.

Buffy beat her fists into the bed as wave after wave of pleasure coursed through her body. She never felt this alive even when her heart beat. She careened over the edge into orgasmic ecstasy.

Spike continued to lick and suckle Buffy's clit into his mouth, alternating with full-length licks of his tongue into her core, to prolong her orgasm. He ground his own erection against the bed to seek any kind of relief that he could for the ache in his groin. When Buffy's orgasm started to abate, Spike sunk the tips of his fangs into the tender flesh around Buffy's clit and drank the sweet nectar of her blood along with her release.

Buffy's mouth opened to scream, but Spike's wrist and palm stopped most of the noise from coming out. Without thought Buffy sank her fangs into Spike's wrist and drank deeply of her Sire's essence. With each pull of his blood she felt more complete than the last.

Spike was unable to stop himself from cumming hard and fast when Buffy drank from him. He nearly passed out immediately from how much she was taking, but he wasn't able to stop her. He was mesmerized by the allure of her feeding. Just before he passed out from the strength of his orgasm and blood loss, he swore he heard Buffy say "Mine" and his own response of "Yours" echoing through the room.

Buffy pulled Spike up next to her. Instinctively she cut her tongue on one of her fangs. Then she sealed the wound on his wrist. She felt a change in her bond with Spike. She felt him more clearly, but something was still missing. She'd ask him about it later. Right now her body called out to her to sleep. Sunrise was approaching fast.

Spike dreamt of being claimed by Buffy. He wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't, but he didn't care. He was in Buffy's arms, and that was all that mattered. He was fairly certain that it was all just a dream because Buffy wouldn't know about claims yet.

Buffy caressed his face in his sleep. At first she worried that she took too much of his blood. A mental check revealed that he was only sleeping. She felt his dreams. She pulled the covers up over both their bodies, nestled tighter into Spike's embrace, and drifted off to a peaceful and contented sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Previous Chapter Summary: Xander and Anya talked all night and into the morning about vampires, demons, and what Xander knew about Buffy and Willow. Cordelia snuck back into the house before Angel, but Angel tried to confront her without success. Buffy and Spike shared the night together in more tender but passionate embraces, moving forward in their relationship.

Chapter Summary: A couple days of time have passed since the last chapter. Spike believes that he only dreamed the last part of his night with Buffy. He thinks that their connection is stronger only because of their growing relationship. Several people will be faced with different confrontations, both good and bad. Buffy will be tested both physically and emotionally over the time that passes in this chapter. Our little family will grow closer, possibly bring in new additions, and old friends will find out that what they do will affect their friendships.

Disclaimer: All characters originally created by Joss Wheadon and Mutant Enemy belong to them by all rights. I just sneak them out of the vaults to play with them whenever I can. I do not make any money off of this. I have only the satisfaction that others enjoy the creativity and storylines that I come up with for our heroes, heroines, and villains.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story. "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

The next couple days passed in relative peacefulness. Angel paced and scoured
Sunnydale with no further luck in finding Dawn or Buffy. Every time he tried to corner Giles on the issue, he was brushed off. Giles even went so far as to kick Angel out of the Magic Box on one of the days.

Angel followed Willow's directions to the Sunnydale branch of Wolfram and Hart, but he never saw any sign of Buffy or Dawn. When he went back to examine the crypt it was completely clean. No traces of blood remained, and there were no other signs of a struggle present.

Cordy still wasn't talking to Angel, but he knew that she had some idea what was going on. He had picked up traces of her scent the first time he visited the crypt.

On the third day Angel was fed up with Cordy's avoidance of him, Willow's nonchalant attitude, and Giles' pompous posturing. He dashed out the door of Buffy's house with a quilt over his head, and he darted down the manhole in the middle of the street. He was going to get some answers.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Cordelia called the cell phone number she had for Spike, grateful that he picked up on the second ring. "Spike?"

"Depends on who wants to know," Spike answered.

"It's Cordelia. Angel just left here like a bat out of hell." Cordy walked into Buffy's old bedroom where Angel was sleeping. Schematics and architectural designs of the sewer systems as well as the Wolfram and Hart building were strewn across the vanity.

"Any idea where he's headed, luv?"

"I think he's headed to Wolfram and Hart. It looks like he figured out the sewer access to it."

"Bugger! Of all the days to ..." Scraping noises and cursing echoed over the phone line. "Buffy headed there to take care of some legalities about bank accounts and the house."

Cordelia heard the sounds of doors opening and closing amidst more cursing. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Stay with his kid and try to get a hold of Valerie. She needs to be warned that the poof is on his way."

"I'll do what I can." Cordy heard the line go dead before she finished speaking. She dialed up Valerie's number, but it was busy. She set her phone to automatically redial until it went through. While she waited, she thought about the meeting she had with Dawn, Tara and Valerie the day before.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The day before ...

Tara twisted her hands nervously in her lap. "Dawnie, please."

"I can't help it." Dawn paced back and forth in front of the bus stop bench Tara sat on. "I feel like a caged rat."

Tara cringed. Spike and Buffy shared all the knowledge they gleaned from their conversation with Cordelia. Tara knew Amy was a witch before she was turned into a rat. She couldn't help but wonder what Amy and Willow might be doing.

"Oh my gosh," Dawn gasped. "I didn't mean to ... I'm sorry." She covered her mouth with her hands.

"I know Dawnie ..." Tara sighed and then patted the bench next to her. "Miss Chase will be here soon enough."

"What if she doesn't believe us," Dawn fretted. "What if she and Angel try to take us away from Buffy and Spike?"

"Valerie promised to follow us in her car." Tara reminded Dawn of the plan they talked about. "We also have the signatures of our bracelets that they can track." She wrapped an arm around Dawn's shoulder.

"Everything we do is a risk until Angel is gone and Willow's under control." Dawn sighed. "I wish we could say to heck with everyone else and their judgments."

"We could always leave Sunnydale, but the problems would follow us." Tara looked up in time to see a convertible car stop at the corner.

Cordelia spotted Dawn and who she assumed to be Tara at the bus stop. She parked the car on the curb and stepped out of the car. She walked over to the pair slowly, keeping her eyes open for anyone else that might try to attack.

"Hello, Cordy," Dawn greeted. Although she knew the monks faked her memories, she remembered Cordelia Chase.

"Hello, Miss Chase," Tara cordially greeted the old Scooby. She stood up. "I'm Tara McClay. I'm sure you remember Dawn Summers."

"Yes, though sometimes my recollections are foggy." Cordelia turned to look at Dawn again. "No offense, Dawn."

"None, taken. Most people are like that." Dawn giggled. "Maybe we can explain that to you some time."

Cordelia raised a brow in curiosity. She looked around the bus stop area. "Let's get out of here." She started back to her car.

Dawn looked up at Tara for her approval. Tara nodded. The two of them walked hand in hand to Cordy's car. Before Tara shut the door she glanced at the opposite corner where she knew Valerie was waiting in her tinted windowed car. Knowing Valerie was there put her at ease and made her feel more confident. Perhaps everything would work out after all.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Present Day

Cordelia shook her head back and forth. Connor felt the nervousness of the woman who held him. Cordy cooed and soothed Connor. "Sorry, Connor." She bounced Connor in her arms.

Everything Cordy heard from Tara and Dawn went along with what Spike and Buffy told her. It seemed like both of the girls were happy to be living with Spike and Buffy. Both of them seemed nervous about Angel and Willow, but other than that they just wanted to move forward with their lives without the interference of others.

Cordy wandered down the stairs into the living room. Willow and Amy were out of the house for the moment. She warmed up a bottle for Connor. She looked down at her phone. "Why is Valerie's phone still busy?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

At the law offices of Wolfram and Hart, Valerie switched between several calls simultaneously. She had Buffy's bank on hold on one line while she spoke to several creditors and real estate agents on other lines.

Several pages were occupied in her notebook with notations and confirmation numbers for all of the transactions Buffy and Spike wanted her to take care of today. She picked up a stack of file folders, stuffed them into her briefcase, and left her office.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dawn paced back and forth in the main lobby. She was starting to wear a path in the carpet. She wrung her hands together. She had stayed home the last two days from school in case Willow or Angel tried to nab her from school.

Nothing happened between Dawn and Buffy to cause anyone concern. In fact both of them had gotten along better than they ever had before. Their relationship was becoming closer than just sisters. They were becoming close friends.

The only problem Dawn had with her living arrangements was that she felt Spike and Buffy were hiding something from her. Every now and then she'd catch them staring at her and talking about something. She never got close enough to hear what they were talking about. She was going to ask them about it soon if they didn't tell her something.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy arrived at the lower level garage for the Wolfram and Hart building. She parked the Taurus, after dropping Tara off at the college, and headed into the building from underground. She followed the directions Valerie gave her the night before to find the main conference lounge.

Buffy looked down at her watch. She was about ten minutes early. So, she figured Val would arrive soon. They had given her a lot to take care of: Buffy's bank accounts, the Summers' house, schooling, and trust funds to name a few.

'It's not like I have to worry about running out of time in the near future,' Buffy chuckled at the thought. The last two days with Spike, Tara, Dawn and Valerie had been some of the best in her life. Though she spent most of that time being tested for tolerances and endurances, she felt refreshed and reenergized.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Valerie made it into the main lobby about the same time that the doors burst open to a smoking vampire. Dawn screamed and ran to Valerie. Valerie placed herself between Dawn and the intruder desperately hoping that the protective magic around her would prevent bloodshed.

Valerie felt the wards crackle but not before Angel's hand lashed out. She attempted to avoid the blow, but she ended up dazed as her cheek was sliced open. Her head snapped back from the force of the blow.

The blanket fell away and revealed a very ticked off vampire. "Get away from the lawyer, Dawn." A furious Angel growled at Dawn. "She's evil. I'm here to protect you from her."

"I don't need protection from her. Valerie saved me from the only person I needed protection from ... Willow." Dawn moved and firmly stood her ground in front of the bleeding woman. Angel would have to go through her to get to Valerie.

Buffy, who moved from the conference room to the main room when she heard the commotion, vamped and growled threateningly at the danger to her family and friends. She launched herself at Angel's back, kicking him to the floor with a blow to the middle of his back. She flipped Angel over while she punched and beat on him.

All at once the vampire surged off the floor. He bound Buffy's wrists in his hand. He growled dominantly, demanding her to submit.

Buffy snorted at the command. There was only one person she gave that control to, and that vampire was blonde, sexy, and her Sire. She counter-growled in refusal.

The dark haired vampire let go of one of Buffy's wrists long enough to open-handed slap Buffy across the face. The ring he wore on his hand cut into her cheek.

Pain radiated from the blow. She blinked at the stars swimming around her vision. Out of the corner of her eye, Buffy saw Dawn sneak Valerie down a hallway to another room. Happy that her sister was safe for the moment, she fought back again. Her boot connected with the vampire's groin, and he dropped her.

"Now Buff. Was that a nice thing to do?" Angelus cupped his aching family jewels. Seeing Buffy as a vampire called out to his demon. She was magnificent to behold. His demon forced its way to the surface in a lunge of desire, dominance, and a need to posses the woman, shoving the soul back into the background.

'Buff?' Buffy thought to herself. Her eyes widened in recognition. "Angelus?" She whimpered, 'Please no, not my dream!'

"Oh aren't we a smart little fledge." Angelus sneered. He straightened his back and walked closer to Buffy. He leaned down and sniffed at her neck. She felt like family. How was that possible? "SPIKE!!" He snarled in disgust and anger. He recognized his Childe's mark on Buffy's neck. Spike's scent was all around the woman.

Buffy couldn't help the step back she took away from Angelus' rage. She doubted that she'd seen him this mad the last time he was free.

"How dare he?" Angelus grabbed Buffy's arms. He pushed her up against a wall. "You were mine."

Now Buffy was peeved. There was no way she'd let Angelus get away with a remark like that. "I belong to Spike."

Angelus dropped Buffy to the floor, and he laughed. He laughed so hard that Buffy thought he was going insane. When Angelus stared at Buffy's eyes again, he glared at her in hatred. "If he touches you again, I will dust him. I brought him into this world, and I will take him from it."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike raced through the sewers across town from his house to Wolfram and Hart. He felt the panic and fear in his Childe, and he forced himself to push his body past it's limits to reach her more quickly.

The cover over the tunnel entrance in the underground garage of the office building flew up and into a car with the force of Spike's punch. He was in full game face, and he stalked towards the entryway.

"William, she needs to face him alone." A feminine voice called from in front of him, a shadow blocked the door.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angelus held Buffy up by the throat against the wall. "Poor little Buffy. Where is your Sire now?" He taunted her.

Buffy scratched at the hand at her throat. She tried to pry Angelus' fingers apart, but she only succeeded in upsetting him more. She felt Spike's presence getting closer and closer. 'Sire ... Please help me.'

Angelus sneered, "He will never come for you. You aren't worth enough to him for him to face me. He isn't willing to die for you."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"William you can't go in there," A familiar feminine voice repeated to Spike from the shadows. "She needs to face him by herself."

Spike's enhanced sight made out the form of what appeared to be a vengeance demon. "Who are you, and why did you call me that?"

The female demon stepped further into the garage area. "I am called Halfrek now, servant of D'Hoffryn and a vengeance demon."

"What would you know of what Buffy needs to face or not face. She is calling for me." Spike was angered that someone stood between him and Buffy. He felt the anger and pain that his Childe was feeling, and it tore at him not to be by her side. "She is my Childe. I have to protect her."

"There is a time to protect, and there is a time to let your Childe fight her own battles." Halfrek kept her place in front of the door leading into the building. "I know what is on her mind. I heard her cry for vengeance from her rest, and I helped you both to be able to achieve her wishes."

Spike's eyes widened. "The chip. You are the one that took the chip out!" He exclaimed.

"Yes, I am." Halfrek stepped closer to Spike.

"Why would you take out my chip when it was Buffy's vengeance?" Spike felt something towards the demon, but he wasn't able to place where he knew her. He had no recollection of meeting a Halfrek before.

"It would have hindered you from bringing her rapist and murderer to our form of justice," Halfrek explained. "You could also call it a down payment on an old debt." Her face shifted back to her human form.

"Cecily?" Spike gasped. "No! This is some sick trick of Angelus'."

Cecily reached out to touch Spike's arm. "No trick, William." She smiled softly. "I was recruited by D'Hoffryn shortly after the night I said those awful words to you."

Spike stepped away from Cecily. "You have no right to expect any kindness from me now. I should rip your throat out."

"I know, and I only ask that you let me apologize to you. Just hear what I have to say, please."

Cecily's voice was filled with honesty, and Spike's demon knew that. He nodded for her to continue. He forced himself to hold back the rage that built within him at seeing her again.

"Although I did not love you, William, I would not have said those awful words to you if it weren't for my parents." Cecily kept her gaze even with Spike's. "They wanted to arrange a marriage between myself and Roger. They found your attention on me embarrassing to them."

Spike snorted. "They would, pillocks."

"I quite agree." Cecily continued, "They told me that if I didn't find a way to keep you from coming around again, they would publicly embarrass you and your family. It seems that my father had some blackmail against your family from several generations past. It shouldn't have mattered, but you know how our society was. Your whole family would have been disgraced. Although I did not love you, I did not want to see your family destroyed."

"So you destroyed me instead. Is that right, pet?" Spike seethed.

"I'm sorry, William. If I had known ..." Cecily let her sentence trail off, "I don't know what I would have done."

"I suppose I should thank you." Spike stood up taller. Somehow hearing Cecily's original reasons for what she said made him feel a little better about his old poncy side. "If I hadn't been turned then I never would have met the true woman I was meant to be with."

Cecily nodded. "She is a very special woman, William, and I am happy for you."

Spike started to step around Cecily to go inside, but a hand on his arm stopped him. "You've faced your past, and now she needs to face her own. If you go in there now, she'll never know if she can do what needs to be done against Angelus."

"But ..."

"Have faith in her, William."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy felt the rage surging through her Sire, and it heightened her adrenaline enough for her to kick Angelus away from her. "Stay away from me, Angelus. I will never be yours."

Angelus laughed menacingly. "You will always be mine, Buff." He stood back up. His height towered over Buffy's, but she was stronger.

"I swear if you come near me and mine again, I will stake you." Buffy stared at Angelus with a flinty glare of determination in her eyes.

"You are just a fledgling. You're no real threat to me." Angelus laughed.

"Oh yeah?" Buffy grinned. She dropped low, swung her leg out, and knocked Angelus off his feet. When he bounced back up off the ground, she sent a flurry of punches and kicks to his head, face, and chest that had the elder vampire stumbling back in retreat.

"I've had a good teacher, and you have no idea the power that runs through my veins now, Angelus." Buffy taunted the tormentor that wore her ex-lover's face. The more time she spent around Spike the more she realized just how cohesive the demon was with the humanity. If Spike could love her demon and all, then all of Angel's excuses about Angelus were mere dust in the wind.

"I taught that boy most of what he knows. That won't stop me." Angelus slapped Buffy hard across the cheek, sending her through a panel of glass. He stomped over to her, and raised his foot to kick her in the stomach, but two hands on his foot pushed him back across the room and stopped his blow.

"He's killed two Slayers, three if you want to count the one he turned." Buffy advanced on Angelus. "You've taken down none. I'd say that he has an advantage over you." She countered Angelus' thrusts and punches.

Buffy knocked Angelus to the floor. She jumped on his chest and continually beat his face and chest until his skin bled and every inch was bruised.

Buffy grabbed a stake from her pants and drew her hand back for the final blow. Mid-swing the body beneath Buffy choked and spluttered, "Buffy ... Buffy stop ... It's me ..." The words were garbled, but the meaning was clear.

"Angel?" Buffy slid off Angel's chest.

Angel slowly nodded. "Yes. Oh Buffy what has he done to you." He looked up at Buffy's vampiric visage. He was just as upset with his demon side as he was Spike.

"Angelus did nothing I couldn't handle, but you aren't going to get off on the excuse that you are all that separate anymore, Angelus." Buffy's eyes narrowed.

"He pushed me back, and I couldn't get out." Angel shook his head. "I tried, but I couldn't stop him. You have your soul. I can see it. Surely you understand what it's like."

"You'd better learn to control Angelus because I'm not going anywhere but straight into the arms of the man I love, and that man isn't you. My soul and demon are quite content with each other." Buffy glared at Angel. "Maybe it is because I wasn't such a bastard before I was turned, like you."

"I don't know what lies Spike has been telling you, but you can't believe him. He's only going to exploit his hold over you as Sire."

"He's done nothing but give me time to adjust." Buffy sighed. "Do you have any idea what happened to me?" She looked down at the broken and bruised form of her first love. "A human hired a hit man to kill me. Said hit man decided to get his jollies by having his way with me before he shot me."

"Oh my God." Angel gasped in horror. "That would explain all the blood in the crypt I found."

"Yes, and your evil Spike turned me, but he fully expected me to stake him when I awoke." Buffy got close to Angel's face. "He figured that I'd keep my soul, and he was willing to face the stake to make sure that I lived. Do you know why?"

Angel shook his head back and forth. Buffy got close enough to Angel's ear to whisper into it. "Because he loves me in a way that you never did and never will." She sat back on her heels. "Get out of Sunnydale, Angel, and don't come back."

Buffy pushed herself up off the floor and stood up. She turned around to see Dawn, Valerie and Spike all staring at her.

Dawn ran into Buffy's arms. She wept as the two of them walked until they reached Spike.

Spike opened his arms for both of his girls, and he hugged them tightly. He watched over Buffy's head while the guards loaded the broken vampire onto a cart and escorted him down through the tunnels. "Let's go home."

Valerie limped forward. "Before you go, we really should take care of that paperwork. I know we're all tired, but it won't take too long."

Buffy nodded. Wrapped in Spike's embrace, she followed Valerie into the conference room to take care of business.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Anya slammed her hand down on the counter. "Are you quite through with your tantrum because you are starting to scare the customers away, Giles."

Giles looked up over the edge of his tumbler from where he sat at the research table. After a couple hours of slamming through files in his office, he'd moved into the main room with his drink. "This is not the time for your blunt observations, Anya."

"Now is a better time than last night when you kicked Angel out of the Magic Box for asking questions." Anya set the receipt pad down on the counter. "You didn't even ask him why he was here."

"Frankly I don't give a damn what Angel wants or wants to know," Giles retorted angrily.

"Did it ever dawn on you that maybe Angel was here for a purpose?" Anya was tired of seeing a side of Giles that she only recently knew existed. Where was the stuffy Watcher that always had an eye out for danger? "He doesn't usually come off his perch in L.A. to visit us. Maybe it had something do with Buffy?"

Giles perked up at the mention of Buffy's name. "Dawn said that Buffy wanted to get away for a few days. She wouldn't even tell me where she went."

"Have you seen Dawn lately either?" Anya looked over Giles' shoulder to lock gazes with Xander. She wasn't trying to give away Buffy's secret, but she had to get Giles out of this stupor. The only thing that might still affect him would be if he thought Buffy was in trouble.

Xander kept the place in the book he was reading with his finger. He closed the book on his finger and watched the two interact.

"I assumed that Willow and Tara were taking care of Dawn's care while Buffy was away." Giles set his drink down on the research table.

"From what I heard, Tara moved out of Buffy's house." Of course Anya hadn't heard about it necessarily. It was more an observation she'd made after visiting Willow the other day. There was no way Tara would let Willow hang all over Amy like she was if she was still living there.

"And Dawn was taken by social services." Xander stepped into the conversation. He and Anya went to Buffy's house together the day before to see if they could find any information on Buffy. "Willow said she's been gone for several days already."

"Good Lord!" Giles stood up too quickly for his semi-inebriated mind to allow. He promptly collapsed to the floor.

Xander and Anya rushed to Giles' side to help him up to the chair again. "You okay there, G-man?"

Giles was too shocked to correct Xander use of the horrid nickname, "Why didn't Willow tell anyone about this?"

"Something tells me that she's occupied with other things, like her new girlfriend Amy," Xander offered in explanation. He recognized Amy the night Willow grabbed him. She was still at the house when he and Anya visited as well. "They seemed awful chummy."

"That can not be good." Giles rubbed his head. "Amy was starting to become dangerous with her bumbling magic. Willow does not need that kind of influence right now."

"What Willow needs is to be sent away to be trained or restrained," Anya stated bluntly. "The house reeked of continual magic usage. It was unnerving."

"Did Angel leave a number where we could contact him at?" Giles rested his elbows on the research table and leaned forward in his seat.

"I'll go check." Anya headed back over to the register. She searched through a tiny box of business cards.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A knock at the front door caught Willow's attention from the movie she was watching with Amy. She headed to the door and opened it. She was surprised to see an older bald man on the Summers' front porch. "Hello. May I help you?"

The banker cleared his throat before he spoke, "My name is Mr. Saunders. I'm here on behalf of the First Bank of Sunnydale about this house."

"Oh, you must need the mortgage payment. I have that right here." Willow ran to get the recently located checkbook out of the desk. She ran back to the door with the checkbook in hand. "If you just tell me the current payment owed, I can write you a check to take care of it."

The banker leaned over to look at the checkbook. "That account belongs to a Miss Buffy Summers, correct?"

"Yes, it does. Buffy filled out papers for me to have authorization to write checks though. I'm Willow Rosenberg."

"I'm sure you are, but there isn't any money in that account for you to draw upon. I'm afraid that account has been closed."

"What are you saying?" Willow stared at the tiny bald man.

"I'm sorry Miss Rosenberg, but that account has been closed," The older banker repeated. "All funds have been transferred from the account, and the account has been terminated."

Willow collapsed against the doorframe. Her body shook with the anger. "You can't do that. I was a co-signer on the account. You had to have my permission as well."

"No, we did not," The older man crisply informed Willow. "You merely had access to the funds, but you were not the primary or joint holder of the account. Miss Summers' attorneys arranged for everything, and that was all that we required." He shoved a sealed envelope into Willow's hands.

"What's this?" Willow turned the envelope around in her hands a few times.

"It is notice from the new owner of this house. It is their wish for you to vacate the premises in the next 10 days." The banker was ready to bolt. He had the assurances of his bosses that he would be protected from any harm, but this woman made him nervous. He really hated this town.

Willow stuttered and cursed. "No one can make me leave my home!"

"The home belonged to Joyce Summers and then to her daughter Miss Buffy Summers. You were merely a guest. Therefore you have no legal rights of ownership."

Willow's eyes darkened for a moment before they returned to her natural color. 'So someone wants the Slayer's house? Fine, but they won't get much out of it by the time I'm through with it.'

The banker watched the wheels turn in Willow's head. He decided to put in one last comment before he left. "The new owner has taken over carte blanche, and she wishes everything intact. So, I would suggest you only remove your personal belongings. She will know what has been removed as she was a friend of the previous owner."

Willow slammed the door of the house and threw the checkbook across the living room. 'We'll just see about that.'

Amy walked up behind Willow. She wrapped her arms around Willow's waist. "What's wrong, honey?"

"Nothing that I can't take care of." Willow leaned back into Amy's embrace.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued)

Previous Chapter Summary: Big time confrontations happened in Chapter 12 between Buffy and Angelus. Spike also came face to face with a woman from his past, Cecily. Now Halfrek, a vengeance demon, he found out that she was the one who removed the chip. Willow was given notice that she and Amy were to vacate the house to "new" owners.

Current Chapter Summary: Giles, in his overprotective and misguided fashion, tries to make things "easier" on Buffy. He's really trying to do it make his own life easier because he's frustrated with everything. Spike and Buffy come to separate realizations about their lives and each other. Angel is unaccounted for, probably licking his wounds somewhere.

Disclaimer: All characters originally created by Joss Wheadon and Mutant Enemy belong to them by all rights. I just sneak them out of the vaults to play with them whenever I can. I do not make any money off of this. I have only the satisfaction that others enjoy the creativity and storylines that I come up with for our heroes, heroines, and villains.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story. "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

 

Giles ran his hand through his hair. He couldn't believe that he allowed the Council to manipulate him like this. Only one day remained until he was supposed to be out of this god-forsaken country, and the Council pulled enough strings to rearrange his travel. He was quietly informed that he must remain long enough to get Faith settled in Sunnydale. Then he would be allowed to return to Council headquarters. They offered him a new position doing research in the Council libraries and a first class ticket to England that left in another eight days.

To be fair, it was an excellent deal. Faith would be released tomorrow, and he was expected to pick her up and bring her back to Sunnydale. The remaining time would allow him to investigate Anya's anxiety about Willow's magic usage. Willow's lack of control, or care for the consequences, was clearly escalating if the former vengeance demon was concerned.

There was also the whole issue of Dawn being taken into protective services by the state. Clearly that wasn't acceptable. Dawn was still a magical key, and the state could hardly be expected to protect her adequately. Either Dawn had to be retuned to Buffy ... or perhaps the Council could take custody.

Giles wouldn't tell the Council that Dawn was the key. Perhaps if he mentioned that the Slayer would be more effective without a younger sibling to look after, they would agree to his terms.

Dawn could be quite useful in the Council. She was already becoming proficient in a variety of demon and foreign languages. She seemed to be a natural linguist. If they encouraged her to undergo Watcher training it would be advantageous to both Dawn and the Council's future. Who knew what powers the key might have?

Giles picked up the phone, after he crossed the room, to start some preliminary research. He needed to find out where Dawn was located. Then he needed to know if child services would be willing to release her to "family", as long as it was not Buffy.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike awoke as the sun began its downward turn for the evening. This was quickly becoming his favorite part of the day. As the sun was setting he would linger in bed. The treated glass allowed him to enjoy the fleeting remnants of the sun as they played on Buffy's face.

Spike never thought he would experience the feel of the sun on his face, and it was one of his worries about Buffy transition into her new life as a vampire. Yet, it seemed that every fear he held about Buffy's turning was disappearing as time passed. Even his dismay at taking the sun away from her seemed to be inconsequential. While they could never sunbathe on the beach, they could on the porch.

As time passed, and Buffy ingested more Sire and human blood, she would grow stronger. Her abilities to withstand the sun, the desire for night hours, and raging hunger would pass. Already she had a sense of control that surpassed a level that many fledges took years to accomplish. She made a beautiful demon and a magnificent Childe. It was only right that once she was past the fledgling stages, she would adjust her hours to suit her own personal desires.

Buffy's ability to become a Master Vampire was rapidly becoming apparent, and he was proud. Her successful battle against Angelus, and her iron-clad control around Dawn and Tara contributed to this theory.

All of the issues he worried about: the sun, her soul, her demon, and most importantly her happiness, seemed to be disappearing. Buffy had adjusted to her life as a vampire, and she seemed to have mostly recovered from the horrible events that surrounded her death. The only true worries that remained all revolved around her friend's reactions to her death and the trauma of her death. 'I wonder if Val knows of any demon counselors?'

As Spike drifted back to sleep, he pondered what the next few days would bring. Now that Angelus had discovered Buffy's vampiric nature, the remaining Scoobies would know quickly. He needed to check with Valerie about strengthening the general protective wards around the family. He wouldn't surprised if the Scoobies were already sharpening their stakes and preparing for battle.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles slammed down the phone. "How dare that haughty woman use that tone with me?" He ground out bitterly. Invoking confidentiality laws and privacy concerns she refused to give out any information regarding Dawn Summers. He hadn't even made it passed his introduction when she had so rudely interrupted him.

Giles wanted to obtain the necessary information from social services. He knew of one way that he could get it. Reluctantly he picked up the phone and made another call to London, England.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy awoke and stretched out. She enjoyed the last few rays of sunshine that danced across her body. She never would have believed that she would feel this content or happy again, especially as a vampire. Being pulled out of heaven had broken her. It left her feeling lost, and she felt as if her soul had been battered and torn.

Death had caught up with her in the form of a vile human who never deserved the consideration of humanity. She still remembered the feeling of helplessness that had overtaken her. She shivered at the moment of realization that her only survival would be to submit and then escape when the man, no when the creature, who held her lowered his guard.

Buffy never thought that her only true escape would come from death. She never imagined that her salvation would come from a blond vampire who refused to let her leave this world again. Spike was such an enigma, a puzzle to solve that would take her an unlifetime to completely figure out.

Buffy laid in bed, and she mused how the trauma from the previous night had helped her heal in some ways. Angelus had always been her biggest fear. The former love of her life losing his soul and turning against her was a reoccurring nightmare for the young Slayer. Always in her dreams he came, they fought, and she was helpless as her life was drained away from her.

Facing Angelus, and winning, liberated her. Buffy was a powerful Slayer and a vampire as well. More than that she was a strong woman. She had faced one of her biggest fears alone, with no back up, and emerged gloriously triumphant. She finally defeated the bastard who first took her innocence. It was almost as satisfying as draining the person who ended her life. 'Almost, but not quite.'

For the first time since her return from heaven, Buffy felt like she was in control of her destiny. She felt complete, and knew she would survive the harsh world she had been thrust back into. She was reborn as a vampire, but she was also a Slayer. Although she originally had no choice in her death, Fate would no longer bend her to its will. She chose to walk back to Spike from the ether.

Yes, Buffy had been reborn a fighter for the cause of good, but nothing was as important to her as the realizations that occurred to her with perfect clarity. 'I am no longer just a weapon, a warrior or a friend.' She smiled. 'I am Buffy, a strong woman who has overcome all of the obstacles through my way, and now I have a chance at a new life. I am going to live it how I want to this time around.'

Buffy knew she had not been turned because she still had some mystical powers or an unfulfilled destiny. Spike simply loved who she was. He didn't turn the Slayer, as some would do, in order to gloat to other demons. He turned her because he loved her, all of her.

'No one will control me ever again,' Buffy thought to herself. As her Sire, Spike was able to control her in ways that no one else could before, but she knew that he wouldn't do that. Already, he'd proven that fact to their little family. He wanted her just as she was. There would be times they'd disagree on the right direction to go or what to do, but he wouldn't try to make all her decisions for her because he "knew best for her own good".

'My destiny is my own.' Buffy wept openly. She was her own person now. She had responsibilities, but she would fulfill them out of love not necessity. She was finally free. She hoped her old friends accepted that because if they didn't, she would leave them behind. All she needed was Spike and Dawn. They were everything to her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles hummed happily as he picked up his bag and headed out the door. He would head up to L.A. tonight and get a motel. Faith was to be released at 8 am, and he wanted plenty of time to get organized. His first stop would be to Hank Summer's residence.

Quentin happily arranged a "meeting" with Mr. Hank Summers to discuss hid daughter's care. His goal was to have Hank sign over guardianship to his old "family friend" Rupert Giles. With his power of attorney he could then expedite the process of obtaining a visa for Dawn. At least that is what Quentin told Giles.

The Watcher thought that he would be taking Dawn with him when he left America in 8 days. Quentin Travers knew better. He'd waited years for a time when he could pull the Slayer and her Watcher apart, and Rupert Giles just handed him the means on a platter.

While Giles felt proud of being an instrument to greatly relieve Buffy of any stress she had concerning the former key, Quentin gloated in England. While Giles was pleased that he was removing Dawn from the social services system, Quentin grinned to himself smugly about the rude awakening Rupert Giles was about to receive.

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Buffy gazed at her Sire. She watched him in his peaceful rest - unaware of the breakthroughs that Buffy had experienced. Her emotions were in turmoil, but over all there was a sense of happiness that she had cast aside the expectations of her former life. The realization that she didn't have to be the perfect Slayer, the perfect sister, or the perfect friend was liberating. She only had to be Buffy. She had fought her demons and won. Perhaps now she could heal from the trauma of everything she experienced right before her "death".

Buffy pondered a few other thoughts and conclusions. She wasn't positive that she was completely in love with Spike yet. She knew she cared deeply for him, and she thought she was falling the rest of the way in love with him. She told Angelus that she loved her Sire, but was she completely in love with Spike yet? She wanted to be.

Buffy swore to herself that she wouldn't tell Spike she loved him until she was absolutely positive of her feelings. She had no right to toy with his emotions, and she honestly loved him too much already to do that to him. Rubbing her head she decided that the semantics of the question were too much for her this early in the night. She knew that she was his, and he was hers. That would do for now.

Giving into her urges, Buffy reached across the bed. She slowly stroked the face of her now slumbering Sire. He was beautiful to behold. She leaned over gently, and her soft lips caressed his lips. She loved the feeling of him next to her, of his soft touches and reassuring smiles. She had never felt as safe as she did in her Sire's arms.

Unable to resist the temptation, Buffy bit Spike's lower lip. She sucked it into her mouth as she alternated between suckling and soft bites. She laughed quietly when Spike's arms automatically surrounded her, pulling her even closer as he groaned her name. She had no doubts who and what he was dreaming about.

With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, Buffy pulled back and decorated his chest with a series of soft kisses and gentle nips. She ran her tongue lazily around his nipples, and gently bit one then sucked on the other.

Buffy lost track of time as she explored her Sire's body. Hands and lips caressed Spike. With every touch she discovered how powerful she was. She took control of her life, her body, and her destiny with every slight movement.

A soft rumble stilled her hand, and Buffy looked up and met her Sire's gaze. His eyes communicated everything she needed to know. She felt his passion for her, his love, and his fear that he would push her too far. She laid one finger against his lips. "Shhhh, please Sire. Let me do this?"

Spike nodded his consent, and he struggled to keep his demon in control. The sensations Buffy created with her gentle touch were almost too much. He watched as she traced her tongue across his frame: licking him, tasting him, and devouring him with her tongue. This was only the second time they'd touched like this, but this time she was the one in control.

As Buffy's mouth engulfed Spike's cock, all thoughts fled their minds but one, "This is glorious".

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(To Be Continued)
 

Previous Chapter Summary: Giles, in his overprotective and misguided fashion, took steps to make things "easier" on Buffy. He's really trying to do it make his own life easier because he's frustrated with everything. Spike and Buffy come to separate realizations about their lives and each other. Angel was unaccounted for, probably licking his wounds somewhere.

Author's Note/Summary: The story flowed better to break it into two parts. In part one, Giles goes to LA to talk with Hank and pick up Faith. In part two (Chapter 15), you will find out what has transpired in Sunnydale while Giles was away including some delicious Spuffy.

Disclaimer: All characters originally created by Joss Wheadon and Mutant Enemy belong to them by all rights. I just sneak them out of the vaults to play with them whenever I can. I do not make any money off of this. I have only the satisfaction that others enjoy the creativity and storylines that I come up with for our heroes, heroines, and villains.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story. "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

 

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Giles double checked the address as he pulled up in front of the stately home. Although not as grand as a British manor house, Mr. Summers home was, nonetheless, an impressive structure. Its two stories held an impressive girth even for the Bel-Air address, and Giles felt a twinge of anger at the concept that this man couldn't bother to take care of his children. He obviously was not lacking in wealth.

Even considering the frequent trips with his mistress to their Spanish residence, Hank should have been able to clear his schedule long enough to come home for Joyce's funeral. The sheer callousness of the man's actions made Giles blood boil, regardless of the fact that Mr. Summers blamed the absence to lack of communication between his Californian and Spanish homes. Giles doubted that the man was even sorry about the incident. What kind of father would be out of contact for that long of a time period? Joyce's ordeal had taken months. Hank had not called, emailed or wrote to his children until a week after the funeral. It seemed too convenient of an excuse.

Then, there was the obvious issue of a lack of financial support. If the man would help with any of the expenses occurred during Joyce's hospital stay, or any of the funeral expenses, then Buffy would not be in such dire straights. Even if the man would just pay the child support that he owed, it would have greatly helped the girls keep it together.

In fact, Giles reflected, the majority of Buffy's problems could probably be laid at Hank Summers' feet. If Hank had shown more support to his daughters then Giles wouldn't have to leave for Buffy's own good. Dawn wouldn't have been taken away by social services either. Hell, Buffy herself probably would have been stronger and more content to follow Giles direction. His slayer would have been better prepared for everyday life. It was Hank's fault that she was so selfish that she continuously ran away from her problems and that the only way to make her responsibility for her actions would be for Giles to leave the country. It would be for her own good, and she would finally have to be responsible for her life.

As Giles continued to work up a righteous anger towards Hank, he began to fantasize about the reaction he would get by exerting the Council's influence. Hank would try to bluff his way out signing the papers because it wouldn't look good to his law firm. Giles would insist, and then he'd mention the power and influence that the Council welded. It would be a glorious battle of wit and will, but like all intellectual challenges, Giles would emerge triumphant. Before this night was over, Hank Summers would sign away custody of his youngest daughter.

The meeting initially seemed to be going well. Hank welcomed Giles into his home and led him past a beautiful solarium complete with a baby grand piano, and up a winding staircase designed to impress. The staircase naturally flowed into Hank's home office, giving Giles a momentary twinge of envy. It was completely unfair that Hank had a home office that was this beautiful. The man represented some of the worst scum found in California. It was almost as bad, if not worse, then working for Wolfram and Hart. The man was an intellectual properties attorney at a big-name firm. Demons would be almost preferable to the likes of Spielberg or Lucas. Seriously - how many lawsuits could one man file?

When the subject had turned from polite pleasantries to the subject of Joyce and her daughters, the man's eyes had grown cold and calculating. Barely constrained fury flashed across his face, and Giles began to doubt that this meeting would continue to go as smoothly as it had been. He was not, however, afraid of the upcoming battle. He would be taking Dawn back to England, and nothing Hank Summers could say would be changing that fact.

Giles began his carefully worded speech, "I will be honest with you Mr. Summers. I want you to relinquish all custody of Dawn Summers to myself and terminate your parental rights. I am prepared to take over all financial burdens, including educational and housing concerns. She would receive one of the finest educations in the world at a private institution in England. I am also prepared to overlook any outstanding debts you may owe to your daughter Buffy for the care of Dawn."

Giles eyes hardened as he stared down at the man, "However, should you try to fight this, I will see you in court for every penny that you failed to pay. Not only am I prepared to sue you for back child support and lawyers' fees, but also for the pain and suffering that your negligence caused. You would also be ordered take care of very expensive educations that both Buffy and Dawn will need to complete their studies up to any and all postgraduate degrees. There are legal precedents for this, and I am quite sure you are aware of them."

"I am also quite sure that your fellow partners at the firm will be very unhappy at the negative attention that I will draw to you. There is a one time offer that I will extend to you. Should you sign this document granting me custody and terminating your rights, then I will not pursue your lack of support in court. I'll also overlook the compensation that you should be obligated to pay Buffy."

Giles tirade was interrupted when Hank Summers proceeded to laugh in his face. The gall of the man! Did he not think that Giles was capable of carrying out his threats? "I say sir, your humor is highly inappropriate. I assure you I am fully prepared to back all my threats."

Hank stood up and walked over to a looming filing cabinet. Removing one slim file from the middle drawer, he threw it at Giles.

"As I told Mr. Travers on the phone" Hank sneered at Giles, "it would be my pleasure to give you all the documents that I was sent at Joyce's death.

Giles looked confused and began to leaf through the contents of the file. The top form was a medical test on Dawn and Joyce. As he flipped through more legal documents, none which made any sense, he finally came to a penned note.

Dear Hank,

I am resorting to an old cliché; if you have received this letter then I have passed away. I was afraid of this; the doctors said that only one in three patients recovered from this type of surgery - and since I have never been the lucky sort, I knew that I might not survive.

I have some information to share with you that I know you won't take well. Whatever you do, please don't tell the girls.

Dawn is not your biological daughter. I have enclosed the blood tests that prove this. Dawn's blood type is type A, where as I am type O. In case you are not sure what this means, check your own medical records. You are type B. This means that it is physically impossible that you are her father.

I promise you that I did not cheat on you. I was always faithful during our marriage. I do not know how, or why, this has occurred. I'd blame mystical forces, but you probably wouldn't believe that. Comfort yourself that perhaps she was switched at birth. The important thing is that both Buffy and Dawn believe that you are Dawn's father.

I would not have told you, but I know how your mind works. I know that you sent an investigator here and that you have been looking at ways to obtain custody of Dawn. I wouldn't have minded so much, if you had wanted her for herself, but I know how your firm views its lawyers.

You want Dawn for the illusion she would give you, respectability as a family man. However, Dawn deserves so much more than that. Despite what you may think it is not as you say, that it's, 'the intention that matters.' It is what you do, and you don't want Dawn. You want a mantle piece to show off at parties.

Dawn belongs with Buffy. If you commit any act that would remove Dawn from her sister's custody, my lawyer will contact Buffy and give her all the documentation she would need to fight you. I have never lied to you. I only found out this information after I went into the hospital.

Please don't cause problems, despite the arguments and fights that we were prone to; they have always loved you and believed in you. Buffy is your daughter and Dawn knows no differently. Please take care of them for me, both of them. They will need your support, now more then ever. At the very least do it for Buffy. She has always worshiped the ground you walked on and loves you like no other.

I am placing my faith in you to do the right thing.

Farewell,
Joyce

Giles looked up from the letter, his mouth agape with shock. He couldn't believe what he just read. Gathering up the files he nodded to Hank, "You said I could take this file?"

Hank smirked, "I told Mr. Travers that you could have all the information that I have received. The blood tests are all compiled in there - including mine. While Buffy might be my daughter, and over 18 I might add, Dawn is not. I will not take responsibility for that child. I just wish I knew that Joyce had cheated on me and that Dawn was not my daughter. I paid twice the child support for years for no reason. How selfish of her! Like anyone would believe either story - switched at birth or strange mystical forces? How stupid does she think I am?"

Hank stood up and stormed out of the room. Clutching the thin folder, Giles followed. His head was spinning. If the Key was not a genetic copy of Buffy, then what would this indicate? And why hadn't Quentin Travers told him this from them beginning instead of allowing Giles to make himself look like an ass?

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Later That Night

Giles cleaned his glasses while he contemplated everything that had been revealed to him. He still couldn't believe that Dawn was not the genetic daughter of Joyce and Hank. With all the fine detail that went into planning the key's insertion into their lives and memories, you would think that such an important detail would not be overlooked. He had to notify Buffy immediately and begin the research. He doubted that she would allow Dawn to go to England with him, but perhaps he could persuade her. After all, if she wasn't really her sister, then who said that Dawn should have to stay in Sunnydale. Surely his custody would be better then the State of California's.

Cheered up, he settled down for the night. The hotel room was lacking the spacious accommodations he was use to when traveling. However, the mini-bar would more then make up for it. Tomorrow would be soon enough to ponder these new revelations.


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The Next Morning

Faith shielded her eyes from the bright glare of sunshine. It seemed strange to her that she was walking out of the prison a free woman. She had been prepared to serve her time, even though she knew she could have easily escaped at any time.

Catching sight of Giles, she wondered what could possible be going on in Sunnydale that they felt the need to spring her from prison. Not that she was complaining, but it just felt strange, "Hey there, what's up?"

Faith turned her face upwards to catch the sun while she listened. She knew that she hadn't been deprived of the sun. All inmates had access to the yard where they could work out and have some recreational time. However, it felt different. She felt different.

An exasperated voice broke into her musings; "Faith are you even listening to me?"

"Sorry G. How about we go get some breakfast, your treat, and you fill me in on the sitch?"

Giles shook his head at the Council's solution. He couldn't wait to get home. One Slayer who didn't listen was bad enough. Now there were two.

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Faith froze with the fork halfway to her mouth, "You're kidding me G?" "She was in heaven? And you're leaving?"

Giles gave a small sigh, and he explained once more how it was for Buffy's own good that he leave. He told Faith how he felt this was the best way to assist Buffy into becoming the strong adult that he always knew that she could be. However, his explanation was cut short by Faith's mocking laugh.

"Okay once more from the top. Buffy died to fulfill her duty to the world. She committed the ultimate sacrifice that a Slayer can make. Then her friends," Faith spat out the word, "yanked her straight out of heaven. Meanwhile, you ran off to merry old England to rebuild your life, and you LEFT the hell mouth unguarded except for a robot, a fledgling witch, a neutered vampire and Xander? After years of making Buffy guard it, and then insisting that I stay so she could go to college, everyone thought 'oh well let the civilians do it'. When Buffy and I wanted to leave it wasn't okay, but you get to run away and leave it to the demons?"

Giles began to interrupt, when Faith cut him off again, "No I want to make sure I have this right. So Slayer's have this short life span right? They hardly EVER make it past their 18th birthday. Yet, Buffy and I are the oldest Slayers in history. That is mainly because Buffy died twice, and I have been locked away in prison. So because we are ancient in comparison to the other Slayers - we don't get a traditional support unit?"

Giles stared at Faith in bewilderment. What should he say to such an accusation? He wasn't given a chance to say much while Faith continued with her tirade.

"Don't bullshit me here, G. Wes explained to me that Slayers were traditionally raised by the Watchers Council and not their families. So, if you are so used to yanking the Slayers away from their families and taking care of them, why do Buffy and I have to struggle?"

"Why will you raise Kendra and other slayers, but Buffy and I aren't good enough? Hell I understand not taking Buffy away from her family, but as soon as you discovered me on my own no one ever offered to help. Oh no, Buffy and Faith can take care of themselves. So you have Buffy ready to crack, with no money and no support, and you are just going to hightail it back to England. You'll just forget that she will have to get a job, take care of her sister, slay demons and do research in her spare time?"

Faith slammed her fist onto the top of the table. "Gee how long are you expecting her to live like that? Oh I am sure you will come back for her funeral, or one of her friends, but what about day to day support. She needs her Watcher. Hell she needs you, but you are too selfish to see it."

Faith was livid. "What the fuck am I suppose to do? Get a job? Oh that will work great. Sorry I can't come in tonight. I have a vampire's nest to take care of. Are you really an idiot? I suppose you think I should move into Buffy's house and let her take care of me too or stay in a hotel, which by the way I have no money for. What the hell are you thinking?"

Faith stood up and continued her rant at Giles. "The only people who had bothered to come see her in jail were Wesley and Angel, but she still had plenty of fuel. "Obviously your stupid Council needs me in Sunnydale, but I can guarantee you this. Either get off your pompous asses and make provisions for Buffy and I so we can actually do our jobs, or I am not going. I am damn sick of being a toy. So you want me back in Sunnydale? Then make arrangements. I need a stipend and a place to live, and then I will be the best damn Slayer that there ever was. Otherwise I am staying in LA and seeing if Wes needs some help. If you don't want to stay in Sunnydale that is fine, but we need to have research support there. So, send another stogy Watcher. I WILL NOT take orders from them, but I will let them assist me and advise me. Funny thing I learned in prison, to stay alive you need to watch your back. I don't want to die because no one bothered to tell me the details about a demon.

Faith stormed out of the restaurant leaving Giles sitting at the booth. Slowly he lowered his head onto his hands. His head was pounding from too much drinking the night before, but even through that Faith's words echoed loudly. Was she right? Was he being selfish? He loved his Slayer. He just wanted her to be strong. As his English reserve began to crumble his shoulders shook. He would not cry. Couldn't anyone understand that he couldn't stay? He couldn't bear to see his beautiful Slayer die again, and with that last thought his reserve crumbled. Silent tears coursed down his cheek. He knew he had a problem. He was finally willing to admit he needed help.

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