What You Wanted

What You Wanted by TheBear

1. A perfect life

Years had passed. How many? 10, no not nearly that long, maybe 4, no, if she was 27 now and she had been, how old then? Older it felt. Yes she was definitely older then. She'd had responsibilities then, people relied on her followed her even. Yes she must have been older then.

"Hi Sis!" Dawn’s cheerful voice sounded on the peripherals of Buffy's awareness, pulling her slowly from her musings.

"Hi Dawnie, good day?"

Dawn sighed inwardly as she saw her sister retreat behind her patented too bright smile. It had been this way since, well since they drove away from the remains of Sunnydale. Buffy had smiled that smile so often Dawn was sure her face must hurt by now.
So that was Buffy at 28, bright smiles, friendly banter, reasonable job, she had finally graduated from college and got a job as what she called a 'proper' guidance councilor, it seemed her time at Sunnydale High had given her a taste for it. Nice boyfriend too, no, Dawn corrected herself, nice fiancée. Putting her baby sister through college, keeping up with her friends, doing the shopping and cleaning the house. To sum it up, Buffy was living a normal life, and doing it all with a huge smile plastered over her face. Over her face not on it Dawn thought ruefully, just a facade like the expensive make up her sister used when she accompanied Richard to one of his law firms many social events.

"Buffy to Dawn, come in Dawn" Buffy's cheesy joke snapped Dawn out of her revere.

"Sorry Buff, yeah college was ok, got through a whole day without being given anymore assignments, can't be bad"

"No" her sister agreed with just a hint of something indefinable in her voice "can't be bad"

....

"Willow?" Dawn asked when she met the redhead later that evening for coffee

"Yes"

"How do you think Buffy is doing?" Dawns question seemed to surprise the witch

"Um, well okay I guess, you know she has everything she ever wanted, with not being the slayer anymore and all. And Richard is perfect and her job is great, so um, she must be doing great!" Dawn had to smile, so rarely now did this assured and successful woman babble. The smile fell from Dawns face as she considered this, Willow only babbled if she was either, nervous, lying or trying to convince herself of something she knew to be false

"I agree" she replied wryly "Buffy is far from great, I don't know why but something is really wrong with her"

"Dawn I said" Willow trailed off at and the younger girl 's knowing look "You're right, but I don't understand it, she has everything now, everything she always wanted"

"Maybe it turns out what she always wanted, wasn't what she wanted at all, or maybe just didn't match up to the dream"

The redhead bit her lip, and Dawn was again reminded of a younger less confident Willow, a Sunnydale willow

"Do you think we should talk to her?"

"Maybe, I don't know, she's got the whole 'so happy with my life' act down so well, she may even be fooling herself.

....

"Willow. Hi, what are you doing here?" Buffy looked up from the mindless reality show she had been attempting to watch

"Hey can your oldest friend not drop by unannounced for a coffee, without it being some big worried intervention deal" Willow cursed inwardly 'smooth Willow, well done!'

"Now your scaring me" Buffy looked suspiciously at her friend "what's up?"

"Sorry Buffy, its just Dawn and I we're worried about you" The confession came unbidden to her lips "and I just wanted to talk a bit you know, so we can stop. Worrying that is"

"What makes you think anything is wrong with me?" Buffy questioned, but she didn't seem too surprised "I'm fine, have you not seen my life lately, I have everything I ever wanted"

"Well you just seem a bit, I don't know, over happy, Like maybe your not as happy as you look, 'cos no one is ever that happy all the time?"

"Well I am" Buffy stated, bright smile in place like a shield "hey do you want a coffee, I want to hear all about your new girlfriend anyway, when do we get to meet her?" Willow sighed, conversation over.

2. A rising force

England

"Bad news I'm afraid" John Weston looked down at his files as he spoke as if afraid to meet the older watchers eyes.

"Both girls are dead?" It wasn't really a question Adrian had turned away with a tired sigh before Weston’s nod had confirmed his statement

"Rupert" he addressed the third person in his office "You see now how desperate the situation is becoming 30 girls dead in the field in half as many weeks, another 40 lost in the attack on our Surry training facility"

"Yes Adrian, I see that, but what you are asking me is impossible, Buffy Summers is retired, this is no longer her battle"

"No Mr. Giles, this is her battle. She is after all still a slayer, the slayer, the source of these girls power, who else can we call upon if not her?" Adrian was suddenly animated, energy flowing in his aging body as he spoke "Something terrible is coming Rupert, and while our slayers have been able to keep the forces of darkness in check thus far, not a one of them is capable of facing what is to come, for that we will need the power of a true slayer"

"Faith is still alive,” Giles argued, trying desperately to keep this responsibility from once again falling on his surrogate daughter’s small shoulders.

"As you well know Rupert, while Faith is doing an excellent job leading the slayers in Cleveland she has not been tested at this level. Miss Summers has experience, strength and has proved her resourcefulness on countless occasions. The fate of the world hangs in the balance Rupert, there is no other way"

Giles removed his glasses and sighed deeply "Very well, when do I leave"

...

"Hello Ang…" Angel’s greeting was cut of by an urgent British voice

"Angel, its me Giles. I need to speak with you, I fear we may need you"

...

"Just 61 days to go" Richard smiled at his fiancée as they walked together toward her home.

"Huh" Buffy tried to catch up mentally with what he'd been talking about

"Till the wedding" He raised his eyebrows, 'where do you go to Buffy?' he thought ruefully 'where do you go?'

"Ah the wedding, 60 days actually it's just gone midnight" she gave him a saccharine smile and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him.

'Why are my boyfriends all so tall?' she asked herself 'you think a midget like me would try and find someone a little shorter'. Suddenly she was overcome with memories of just such a lover. One who she didn't have to strain to kiss one who's slight frame had complemented her own diminutive size during their lovemaking, yes she could call it that now, finally. One who like herself had held deceptive power in his lean body who's strength had almost matched her own, one who had challenged her and...

'God pull yourself together Buffy' she mentally chided herself 'You are living a normal life now like you always wanted, he died so you could have this'
She let her lips linger over Richards for a few moments, trying hard not to remember cooler lips, rougher kisses, that time was past now, she had to get on with her life, like he had told her to.

"Night night" she whispered moving away from him. She never let the kisses they shared become to heated, they had decided to wait until they where married, and it was easier on him if they didn't go to far, 'easier on both of us' she corrected herself halfheartedly, knowing she felt none of the urgency that she felt in him during those times when they had pushed the boundaries of their self imposed celibacy.

"Night, I'll see you tomorrow, we need to choose the flowers"

"Right, I'll see you there, don't be late" with that she disappeared

"I wont,” he told the empty street "I never am"

...

Dawn woke with a strange sense of dread hanging over her she frowned and slipped out of her bed. Leaving her room she turned down the hall, suddenly feeling compelled to check on her sister.

Buffy opened the closet quietly, an almost guilty feeling settling in the pit of her stomach. There, there right at the back, in a groceries bag, just behind an old pair of boots she hadn't worn in months, or was it years, time seemed to move strangely since, since Sunnydale. She reached in for the pulling the object from its brown paper prison; she felt the familiar coolness of the worn leather beneath her fingers and a frown settled on her delicate features. Rocking back to sit on her heels she held the old coat in her lap and let the memories come

He had given it to her the night before the final battle with the First, saying it had belonged to a Slayer once, and should belong to a slayer again, had he known he would be dust within 48 hours? They had lain awake for hours that night, just holding one another, she remembered that she had been scared but couldn't recreate the feeling in her mind now, now all she remembered was the feeling of his arms around her offering her so many things, support, friendship, strength and most of all love, he had had a way of pouring love into everything he did, into every caress, and comforting word, into every verbal battle, every punch and kick, every look. It was those looks she remembered most often, blue eyes filled with emotion, passion or anger, love or hate, he had been an open book to her and she to him long before they where lovers. Mindlessly she brought the garment to her face and inhaled deeply.

"Earth and cigarettes" Buffy started violently at the sound of her sister’s mournful voice. Looking up she saw the affectionate sadness in her sisters eyes, and recognised it as the look of those who had finished grieving, those for whom the memories and loss was no longer raw and painful, just a little sad.
Buffy swallowed hard and tried to emulate her sisters look, it shouldn't be that hard, after all she was sure she wore exactly that expression on those achingly bitter-sweet moments when she and her sister would laugh at memories of happy times spent with their mother.

Dawn watched her sisters struggling to find a suitable facial expression 'Haven't got this one down as well as the smile hey sis' she thought sadly

"Buffy" Dawns voice was soft and her eyes tried to convey everything she wanted to say to her sister. That it was ok, ok to be sad, ok to be less than perfect. It was ok to miss him, to talk about him to wish he where still here.

"Yeah" the slayers voice was barely audible, "the whiskey is hardly noticeable anymore"

Dawn felt her chest constrict at the sound of her sisters tiny heartbroken voice, hoping to change the mood to a more lighthearted reminiscence she forced a smile to her lips

"Yeah well, even Spike couldn't drink enough for the smell to last this long. Although I think he may have tried, you know I think he was drunk more than he was sober"

Buffy didn't return her smile "he was lonely" she offered, pulling the long coat closer to her body, on hand absently stroking the soft leather.

"Huh" Dawn failed to follow her sister down that particular path

"He drank because he was lonely, or sad" the older girl clarified "he was lonely and sad a lot of the time" she paused taking a shaky breath "always because of me"

"No" Dawn shook her head violently at her sister "Not because of you, never because of you. He loved you Buffy, just a moment with you would give him enough happy to last him a week. Anytime you smiled at him or if you where nice to him, he'd be high for days"

"And anytime I was cruel to him, or disregarded him? Do you think those feelings lasted as long?" Buffy's eyes burned with a mixture of regret and self loathing "And believe me those times out numbered the good times a hundred to one"

"Buffy" Dawn voice conveyed sympathy, but she knew Buffy was right she had hurt him, she had caused him pain and loneliness, but what her sister would never see is that given the choice Spike would do everything again just the same for that one night the two of them had shared before the final battle. That he would take all that pain and more just to be the one to hold her when she had needed it the most.

"He didn't believe me Dawn" Just from her voice Dawn knew her sister was crying even though her head was bent forward and her long golden hair obscured her face.

"Didn't believe what?" Dawn kept her voice low, as if afraid that Buffy would close up again if she spoke to loudly. But Buffy was on a roll now, the floodgates had opened and she was finally ready to tell her sister everything.

"The day he" she trailed off unable to say the words, steeling herself she tried again "just before he did it" looking up at Dawns understanding face she saw there was no need to clarify what she meant so she moved on slowly "I told him, finally. Dawn I told him" She looked up at her sister with tear filled eyes

"I told him I loved him" she continued, "told him what he'd be waiting all those years to hear and he didn't believe me"

They were silent then for long minutes before the slayer spoke again "he said it was 'nice of me to say it', he thought I just said it to be kind because he was gonna die, I finally managed to stop being such a coward and tell him before I lost him, and he didn't believe me"

There was another long silence then, while Buffy struggled to find the right words

"I hurt him so much, told him so often that he was nothing, that he was not worthy of my love, 'beneath me' that’s what I called him. I beat him down so hard and so often that when I finally admitted how I felt he didn't believe me, how could he after everything I did to him?"

"Buffy he knew you cared, after he got his soul, he knew you cared that you where at least his friend, It meant the world to him"

"His soul" A bitter laugh escaped the blonds lips "He got that soul for me and I offered him friendship" another cold laugh "I should've just staked the poor bastard, it would have been kinder"

3. A call to arms

-------------

“Angel!” Even in her own ears her voice sounded like that of a guilty child caught with its hand in the cookie jar. “What are you doing here?”

“Buffy” despite all the years apart, all the many gallons of dirty water that had flown under the bridge, still his voice held a note of adoring, reverence even, when he said her name. “You have to come back to the house with me, Giles is there, he can explain everything”

“What, Giles? Here? And you, here too! What is this Angel? Because this sounds like trouble to me. Trouble, you know, of the supernatural kind” Buffy eyed him suspiciously, had it always been this way? Had the arrival of Angel always signalled impending danger ‘Angel comes with bad new’ God she had been young then, so yes she thought, it had always been this way.

“Trouble doesn’t begin to cover it Buffy, but Giles needs to explain it to you. We should go back now” he turned as he spoke expecting her to follow.

“What! No way, I am retired!” Anger and just a trace of panic in her voice “Do you understand what that means? It means you call someone else. I don’t work there anymore”

“Buffy I’m sorry, I know you have a normal life now, but this is important, and there is no one else to call” he was calm as always, the voice of understanding and reason.

“Not my problem Angel” God she wished he would get angry with her once in a while, the calm was unnerving “I’m not the Slayer anymore”

“Then what are you doing in the cemetery at two am?” Again so calm, not a trace of sarcasm or annoyance in his soft voice, just that ever-present gentleness. She had loved it once she remembered that, it had made her feel safe. But she had been a child then, scared and desperate for a protector. Once more her annoyance gave way to that familiar guilty feeling

“Umm I was out walking, just walking” He looked down at the stake in her hand and she through it aside “don’t know why I had that old thing. Some habits dye hard I guess, but just walking that’s me, walking girl”

“Buffy?” Oh the worry in his voice, the suffocating pressure of his concern, she had to get away from it now

“Okay back to the house then, come on times a wasting” and with that she was off at a brisk pace, leaving her erstwhile lover scurrying after her

................

Marcus stepped out onto the stage, the cheers of his followers loud in his ears, signalling for silence he stood before them fang and feral golden eyes flashing, arms outstretched in a terrifying parody of a southern style evangelist

“My Brothers” he began his voice deep and powerful, rich and intoxicating “rejoice for our time is coming. You who have seen the future through my eyes, you who have heard the call of this fellowship rejoice for a brave new world is at hand

“Demon kind has hidden in the shadows for too many millennia, and why? For fear of her, fear of that chosen girl. And yes you do well to fear her, them now, for they are death to all our kind, meet a slayer alone in the night and know your time has come. But we no longer walk alone, for in this fellowship our power is multiplied a thousand fold.

"Before the moon has swelled and shrank again, the war will have begun and the children of darkness will cut a blood red swathe across the land of men.” Marcus paused a cruel smile on his face while he basked in the sound of his own name chanted in a hundred different demon tongues, oh yes the time was coming.

Sometime later in his quarters he was approached by his second in command, a Viath demon named Solomon

“Sire, I have news” the demons gravelled voice filled the room “They are going to her, just as you said they would”

“Of course they are Solomon my friend, where else would they go? She is the power, the source, and it is she that we must conquer to make our plans reality, we know this and so do they”

“Yes sire, but it will not be easy, many great powers have fallen before this girl”

“This I know Solomon, but they had not our strength of unity, we are many bound as one through me, no mere girl, even one as powerful as Buffy Summers stand against us?” He looked thoughtful for moment before giving his horned companion an arrogant smile “Still it would do no harm to weaken her before the battle commences, shake her up a little, hey? What do you say?”

“An excellent idea my lord”

“Very well, send for the Shaman I know just the place to start”

......................

“Giles?” she questioned as she pulled out of his welcoming embrace looking around the room she caught sight of her sister standing quietly with Willow, it was the later who broke the silence.

“I didn’t know you still patrolled Buffy” It was a statement, but somehow the witches enquiring eyes demanded explanation

“Not patrolling” God she felt like a kid again trying to hide her obvious guilt “Walking, out enjoying the night air”

“In Spike’s duster? With a stake in your pocket?” And thank you Dawn for bringing everyone’s attention to the coat

“It’s a great walking coat” she gave a forced laugh and slipped the long coat from her small frame, folding it haphazardly and drawing it into her arms, a leather shield between her and their enquiring, oh so concerned faces.

“Buffy, the fact that you are patrolling again is a good thing” Giles began, Buffy frowned okay so not very convincing then, “there is not much time, and I was honestly worried about what shape you would be in. Battle wise” he amended at her offended look

“Battle!” that same note of panicked anger “Do I have to explain this again? I am retired!”

“Buffy, I am sorry” Giles move toward his slayer as he spoke “But the fate of the world hangs in the balance and every other avenue has already been explored, with not inconsiderable failure. There is only you, now let me explain the situation”

“No! Damn it! I am retired!” She didn’t want to hear this, she had her picture book life now, she was doing what he had told her, living in this world and she was making a damn fine job of it, they couldn’t take it from her now, he could not have died for nothing.

“Buffy, please” Giles’ voice implored the slayer to hear him out, and she relented sullenly glaring at him in invitation for him to get the hell on with it.

.....................

“Am I missing something? ‘cos I’m really not seeing the big here” Buffy was confused to say the least “This Marcus guy is just a vampire, right? Get one of the mini slayers to slay him, that is there job you know”

“Buffy” Angel cut in patience ringing in his voice “Marcus may only be a vampire, and yes a single vampire is no great threat but what Marcus is achieving is a terrible threat, you have to see that”

“What so he’s managed to rally his demon chums, some rousing speeches and now they’re all gonna work together, its heart warming really, you know people putting aside their differences, commendable in a way” Buffy laughed at her own joke but it quickly died on her lips as she took in the stony looks of her companions.

“When you patrol how many vampire do you face at one time?” She frowned at her watchers question

“I don’t know, no more than ten I guess, fifteen if I have Spi…” she trailed off her head falling forward to hide the pain she knew would be written large on her face

“Ten Buffy, and that is a hard fight. Now imagine fighting twenty, thirty, a hundred. No mystical talisman to aid you, just a stake in your hand. And if you kill those hundred, another hundred would come. Imagine an organised army of vampires and demons, united under a single leader” Giles paused while he let that sink in “Marcus can do it, he is doing it already and he must be stopped. The balance of the battle between good and evil is reliant on the fact that the demons hate each other as much as, if not more than, they hate us. How else could a single girl be expected to control them, think about it Buffy!”

The slayer looked up with a contemplative look on her pretty face

“Buffy he has already killed over seventy of the girls, we must stop him Buffy, before his army grows too large, and we must move quickly, word of him is spreading fast in the demon world and they are coming to him in their hundreds”

4. A return of friends

“Are you ok?” Dawn’s question drew Buffy from her thoughts

“Honestly I don’t know, everything’s so upside down now” sighing the slayer drew a shaky hand through her ever perfect hair "I mean it's been ten years since I battled the good old forces of darkness, I thought it was finished, you know?"

Dawn frowned, ten years? Not even close to that. But Buffy seemed always confused by the passage of time, as if since the demise of Sunnydale the inexorable ticking of the clock would speed and slow without reason.

Not wanting to upset her sister any more Dawn let the slip pass "You know you won't have to do it alone don't you? Willows ready for the fight, so are Angel and Giles, and Willow talked to Xander, he's already on his way"

Oh that was better, a real smile breaking through her sister's cheerful façade "He's really coming? God, Dawn we've all missed him so much. He's really coming?"

"Yeah he's really coming" Dawn gave her sister an indulgent smile, sometimes Buffy seemed so very young, that Dawn almost felt as if she where the elder. Certainly Buffy appeared as responsible and mature as the next person, working hard, engaged, keeping a good house. But at times the younger girl would wonder if Buffy had actually grown at all since Sunnydale, that she was somehow frozen unable or maybe unwilling to change.

"Guys!" Willows voice sounded from the bottom of the stairs "We're gonna go, try and at least get some sleep. See you tomorrow after work, hopefully Xander'll be here by then too"

"Hang on a sec!" Buffy was up and off to say pleasant goodbyes and smile prettily for her departing audience, having no desire to watch the performance Dawn wandered to her room to get some rest, figures they where all going to need it.

…….

Marcus was growing impatient. He was not by nature an impatient man, he had after all been working for decades to reach this point. But somehow, now that his endeavours neared fruition he found himself always with a growing sense of urgency.

"Solomon!" He bellowed suddenly, startling the group of female vampires that where almost always in his attendance. "Where is the Shaman?"

"Here my lord, one moment."

The Shaman was of inconsequential appearance, a small pale man with sandy hair and grey eyes. He wore an ill fitting suit that had clearly seen better days and carried himself with the air of someone with little hope of ever achieving anything. A clever act thought Marcus, ever appreciative of cunning. He had seen this man wield the devastating force of his magic before, seen with his own eyes how a few muttered words had reduced a charging Fyarl to nothing more than bones and ash.

Marcus smiled a cold satisfied smile. That had been a mere conjuring trick to this man. He could do more, oh so much more, and he would do it now at Marcus' command, because like the others he believed in Marcus, in what he said, in what he would surely achieve.

"You have work for me lord?" a question asked only out of curtsey, no thought or knowledge was hidden to the Shaman's power.

"Yes. You can do it?" not really a question. Understanding flowed palpably between the two of them.

The Shaman smiled a soft appreciative smile, God but Marcus was clever, a gift it was, how he could seek out an exploit his enemy's most secret weakness. And this weakness, of this girl… it would be beautiful to see, the destruction of such a creature, a slayer made weak by the weakness of her own heart, oh yes it would be beautiful to see.
…

Finally the light and noise receded around them, the palpable power of the magic draining away, leaving the air around them dead and devoid of energy. It was done, just as the Shaman said it could be done.

Marcus regarded the occupant of the previously empty cage with something akin to disappointment, he had expected more. Really he had. Someone taller perhaps or broader in the shoulder, perhaps strikingly dark or fair not this lithe, sandy haired, man lying unconscious before them.

"Can you wake him?" Marcus' eyes never strayed for a moment from the prone form.

"Awake" A quite command laced with power

…

"Drinks" Buffy in hostess mode, Dawn almost groaned aloud. "We have tea, coffee, soda, ooh even bear. It's Dawns"

"Tea, I think would be fine." Murmured Giles, cleaning his glasses pensively. 'Do you see it too Giles?' Dawn wondered, 'do you see how she acts?'

"Tea, coming up" she smiled perkily before disappearing into the kitchen.

Giles looked ready to comment on Buffy's behaviour when the group was interrupted by a welcome arrival.

"Xander" twin exclamations from Willow and Dawn as they rushed to embrace their friend. A whirl of blonde hair and pink cotton and the embracing trio were almost taken to the ground by the force of the slayer's enthusiasm.

"Oh Xander, it is so good to see you." She gushed as she held him in an almost painful embrace. "We all missed you so much"

"Good to see you too, been away from my three best girls far too long"

They all smiled in response charming, affectionate Xander, it was true, he had been away far too long.

Dawn tuned out the bubble of excited conversation as she observed her one time crush. It seemed where loss had frozen Buffy in time, it had aged Xander beyond his years. Grey flecks in his deep brown hair and shallow lines on his tanned skin gave him the look of one of Steinbeck's travelling farm hands, especially when coupled with his faded jeans and logger jacket. Not a bad look on him Dawn conceded, he was slimmer than Sunnydale, a little harder, not only in his body, but also in those warm brown eyes, still welcoming and gentle, but tinged with a resigned sadness that spoke of deep loss.

"Wow, I can't believe the gangs all here" Willows excited voice died away abruptly. Her mind automatically bring forth Tara's gentle face, a glance at Xander and Giles told her that they two where remembering lost lovers, surprisingly Angels expression mirrored theirs. Who's loss had brought that look of love, grief and acceptance to his face, she wondered Cordelia perhaps? The four of them shared a moment of silent, affectionate remembrance.

Glancing at Dawn, Willow found her eyes following the younger woman's worried gaze to the Slayers determined expression. Determined, it suddenly struck Willow that, that was the word she could have use to describe Buffy a thousand times since Sunnydale. Determined to do well, at college, to get a good job and a husband. Determined to retire from slaying and life a happy normal life. And now amongst her closest friends determined not to show any sign of grief or pain. Willow wondered if Buffy had grieved at all, had she missed the painful healing of grief, in her determination to live as he had wanted her too.

"Right then" It was the voice of a slayer calling the meeting to order "We all know what's going down. Question is what are we gonna do about it? Time to plan guys times a wasting"

Dawn wanted to hug Buffy at that moment, wanted to yell for joy at the sight of Buffy's hard gaze, at the steel in her voice. There was the slayer, chipping away at the normal girl veneer, forcing herself to the forefront to take command.
........

'Ah' thought Marcus, with a pleased grin as he observed the now fully awake creature before him 'this is more like it'. The man stood naked and unashamed, his expression, a mixture between annoyance and boredom, showed a creature undaunted by waking a captive. His flinty eyes held a power and arrogance that Marcus approved of and his confident demeanour spoke of a resourceful survivor

"Solomon, send for Beatrice" He commanded without sparing the Vaith a glance. "Beatrice has a gift" he explained to the caged creature "she'll know whether or not we can let you out"

"Piss off" a clipped accented voice

"Now, now William. We're all friends here no need for unpleasantness"

"Friends don't call me William" the man stated his voice eerily calm "nor do they lock me in a bloody cage"

"No of course not, Spike. The measure is only temporary I assure you, for security, you understand?" Marcus amicable tone grated on the others nerves

"Right, great. So where's this bird, I don't fancy spendin' too much time cooped up like a bloody budgie. Got places to be, you know, people to kill"

5. A version of the past

"Solomon, send for Beatrice" He commanded without sparing the Vaith a glance. "Beatrice has a gift" he explained to the caged creature "she'll know whether or not we can let you out"

"Piss off" a clipped accented voice

"Now, now William. We're all friends here no need for unpleasantness"

"Friends don't call me William" the man stated his voice eerily calm "nor do they lock me in a bloody cage"

"No of course not, Spike. The measure is only temporary I assure you, for security, you understand?" Marcus amicable tone grated on the others nerves

"Right, great. So where's this bird, I don't fancy spendin' too much time cooped up like a bloody budgie. Got places to be, you know, people to kill"

……….

“So what we got?” Dawn smiled Buffy was back in command, the slayer at the helm. Finally she was seeing something real from her sister, and nothing could spoil that now.

“Umm, hey baby, what’s going on?” Richard’s confident voice caused every set of eye’s to turn on him.

Buffy’s eyes widened almost comically in surprise “Oh not much, just a big old get together, reunion, ya know?” She smiled a pretty plastic smile “Me and the old gang”

“Wow, baby that’s great, why didn’t you tell me? I waited for you, we where supposed to be picking out flowers today.” He asked without a hint of irritation.

“Oh my God, Richard I am so sorry, I completely forgot” she replied slapping her forehead “This was all very impromptu, Xander just got back today. Are you terribly cross with me” she pouted a little then batting her eyes at him winningly.

Dawn felt a sudden need to gag, the old Buffy had never used such cheap tricks, well maybe she had but still it was nauseating. “Hi Rich” she greeted perkily and enjoyed watching him prickle at the abbreviation of his name. “Guys this is Rich, Rich this is Angel, Giles and Xander”

Visibly swallowing his irritation with the youngest Summers he smiled his most charming smile “A pleasure. I’ve heard an awful lot about both Xander and Mr Giles, I’m afraid your name isn’t familiar Mr Angel”

“Just Angel” He replied curtly, obviously not taking to the sharp suited lawyer.

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet all of you, I hope you’ll all be able to make it to the wedding” His smile became genuine and adoring as he wrapped an arm around Buffy’s shoulder.

“Of course they will honey” Buffy tilted her head to smile up at him “Did you go ahead and choose without me?”

“No sweetheart, I rescheduled for tomorrow at two, you’ll be able to make it right?”

Giles looked sharply at Buffy, clearly trying to convey that she had no time for this, but she ignored his look “Of course, we could get lunch at that little Italian, before we go”

“Great, I’ll pick you up here at twelve” he gave her a kiss and made to leave

“Ok, bye baby” her smile fell away as he exited the house

“Buffy” it was Giles who began to voice the groups concerns “We have a great deal to do if we are going to be ready to take on Marcus and his army, there won’t be any time for…”

“No Giles” Buffy’s voice was harsh and loud in the tense atmosphere of the Summers living room “I’ve agreed to do this but I will not let it ruin my life. I’ve worked hard to get here Giles, sacrificed…” she paused visibly collecting herself “this is not going to spoil anything, everything is going to be perfect.”

With that she was gone storming out of the house.

……..

“And Dru?” Spikes asked carefully

“I’m sorry” Sincere regret and sympathy filled Marcus’ honeyed voice “She… after knocking you out the Slayer burned the church to the ground. Neither of you made it.”

Spike took a slow calming breath, he remembered that day well he had Angel, he had the Dulac cross, he had the translation of the ritual that would heal his dark princess, he was so close, and then the Slayer. Damn her to hell! She would pay for this, for killing him, for taking his queen away from him, God, but how she would pay.

“So why’d you bring me back?” the inevitable question

“I have plans, Spike, plans that I would rather not have Buffy Summers meddling in” he leaned forward conspiratorially “I rather assumed that you could deal with that, keep here out of my way, and if you do then maybe my Shaman could… well you understand” sitting back he observed as the vampire swallowed the bait

“Oh I’ll keep her out of the way, in the ground! You just make sure your man has enough
Juice to get me my girl back, deal?”

“One moment” Marcus smiled coolly before drawing the raven-haired vampire that had been observing their conversation aside. “Beatrice, my love. What do you see?”

She smiled coyly at him looking up through her lashes “His hatred is like a fine wine, I feel quite drunk.”

“We can trust him then?”

“Not at all. But he’ll find her out. She’ll cry then, pretty Slayer tears.” Beatrice tilted her head slightly her eyes glazing over “End this life of hers he will, shatter it all to little pieces”

“Perfect. Solomon open the cage, and find our friend something to wear” He cocked and eyebrow in amusement at his own thoughts “He has a lady to impress”
……

“This is nice.” Remarked Buffy smiling and adjusting her sunglasses

“Hmmm… Yes I love eating al fresco” Richard agreed contentedly “reminds me of travelling round Europe”

“I know what you mean, Dawn and I spent some time in France and Italy after the earthquake, everything seemed so relaxed out there. Like you had all the time in the world”

“Yeah, but we Americans unfortunately do not. Come on, we better move or we’ll be late” he threw a generous payment on the table and offered her his arm.

“Alrighty, show me the flowers”

….

“It really is quite remiss of Buffy you know” Giles griped, “She doesn’t seem to have grasped the gravity of the situation at all.”

“She’s just trying to deal, you know she didn’t think she’d have to do this again” As usual Willow was there to defend her best friend. “She just needs a bit of time to readjust that’s all”

“Time we may not have Willow” Giles sighed loudly and removed his spectacles

“She seems a bit, I don’t know, did anyone she was acting a bit odd?” Dawn smile slightly, trust Xander, perceptive ineloquent Xander to be the one to ask.

“She’s been like this for years” she answered aware of the bitterness in her voice “She’s a big faker, living her pretend normal life, pretending to like it. With her fake job and her stupid fake fiancée”

“Dawn, that’s not…” Willow began

“Ok” Dawn relented “maybe the job isn’t a fake but everything else. She’s a Slayer and she goes around pretending like she’s Mrs Joe Normal. Willow could you give up magic?”

“Well, err, no Dawnie I couldn’t. It’s part of who I am. I couldn’t just turn it off, it would be like asking me to stop being Jewish or being gay.”

Dawn smiled at that explanation. “Right” she ploughed on “witchcraft is who you are not what you do. It’s the same with Buffy, I think, she can’t just stop slaying without the whole thing being a lie. And she’s been lying now for so long, I don’t think she knows how to stop”

“I’m not sure about that Dawn” it was Angel who questioned Dawns notion “All Buffy ever wanted was a normal life. And why would she pretend, she had the opportunity to carry on being part of the Slayer life with Giles and the new council”

“Because she think she owes it to him”

“To who?” Giles asked genuinely confused

“Oh don’t be obtuse Giles!” Dawn’s exclamation startled the entire room “Who has everything Buffy’s done since she came back from the dead been about?”

“Spike” Angel said the name softly, his voice a mixture of so many emotions it was impossible to pick one out. His mind reeled, was Dawn right, had Spike been the driving force in Buffy’s life all this time ‘he’s in my heart’ he remembered her confession before the final battle in Sunnydale. Was her picture perfect life really an epitaph to Spike’s sacrifice?

“That’s ridiculous Dawn.” Willow rejected the idea “She cared about him and she’s grateful that he saved the world and all but…”

“He didn’t” All eyes turned to Xander

“Yeah he did Xan! Remember, amulet, big fiery death, Sunnydale just a big ole hole in the ground. God you people still won’t give him the tiniest bit of credit will you even after everything he did for all of us” Dawn knew that she was directing her own guilt at not having made here peace with Spike into anger at Xander, but it made her so mad, at least she could admit she’d been wrong.

“No Dawn. I mean he didn’t die to save the world. Not really his style. He died to save Buffy, and you, and Willow, and though I hate to admit it probably even to save me. But not the world.” He paused then and a fond smile graced his lips “He and Anya where pretty similar in the end, they weren’t hero’s going out to keep the world save for all those faceless innocents, they where just good people trying to protect the people they cared about.”

The room fell silent then and Dawn felt tears pricking her eyes, to think she'd called Xander ineloquent, she move toward him and Xander opened his arms wordlessly to welcome her small frame into his strong comforting embrace.

……

Spike left Marcus’ lair with only the clothes he stood in and the name of a town, he needed nothing else.

He stole the first decent looking car he found, forcing the terrified driver out with a snarling glimpse of his demon face. He hadn’t killed the driver, no particular reason for that, just that she’d been a bit old for his tastes and he’d drunk several bags of A positive while in the comfort of Marcus’ cage.

He hadn’t liked Marcus, hadn’t liked his pretentious lair or his fake sincerity, but it didn’t matter, he was back from the great beyond, eleven years after the Slayer had sent him there. He was back and he was out for blood, Slayer blood to be precise, and he was only hours away.

6. A little closer

A/N Hope all you people who are reading and NOT reviewing are enjoying it. There consider yourselves reprimanded! Seriously comments would be nice, it's my first attempt at creative writting ever and I could use some pointer.
Hey did anyone spot my deliberate (yeah right) mistake in chapter 4, describing Xander's eyes, how could I forget about the patch, Bad Bear!
On with the yarn then;

Buffy rubbed her eyes and yawned “Please tell me someone has something” she begged, allowing her head to fall forward onto the dusty tome Giles had her reading.

“’Fraid not” Willow replied despondently “All we know is what we knew four hours ago. Marcus, very old, made a name for himself during the Napoleonic wars killing French troops in Spain. Disappeared in the early twenties, not seen again till he reappeared three months ago in Sudan with a Pick ‘n’ Mix army of Demons.”

“But now you think he’s here?” Buffy asked Giles.

“Demon informants claim he has come to America yes, but not before his followers made those attacks on the Slayers” Giles sighed, suddenly feeling very old and rather helpless.

“And what are the Slayers doing now?”

“They have formed four tactical groups, Europe, Africa, Australasia and Americas” Giles explained “As many as can be tracked down and as are willing have gathered together into these camps, each camp has between two and three hundred slayers”

“Wow” Buffy looked startled “that’s a lot of Slayers, I didn’t know you had found so many”

“Yeah we got more Slayers than we know what to do with” Xander commented.

“We?” Buffy frowned at her friend

“Ah yes, Xander has been involved in fieldwork for the council for several years now” It was Giles who came forward with an explanation. “He’s very talented at putting new and frightened girls at ease, he’s helped more than one that I fear we would otherwise have lost”

“Oh” was all Buffy could think to say, was she really so out of touch with the people and things that had once meant the world to her?

“Ah ha!” Willow exclaimed, her attention riveted on her laptop

There was a long pause while the group waited for an explanation from the red head

“Er, Willow?” Angel prompted

“Oh sorry, I’ve found something on what Marcus has been up to for the last century” she looked up “He’s been canvassing”

“Eh? Like a politician?” Buffy asked giving her friend a doubtful look
“I think so, it’s not definite, but I’ve found a number of reports of delegations from various demon clans meeting a mystery someone. Same MO every time eww…” Willow broke off with a disgusted expression on her face.

“What?”

“Oh sorry, there’s a ritual, blood sacrifice. There are pictures”

“Ugh! Won’t be looking at those. So we got that he’s recruiting” Buffy surmised “But we still have no handle on where any of this is going down.

“Again our information is sketchy at best” Giles informed them “But some of our people have been plotting some interesting trends in demon sightings and kill reports. The pattern does suggest a general movement of several demon groups towards north eastern America”

“Cleveland?” Angel asked

“Faith and the others report no extra demon activity in the area. We have considered moving the Americas slayer group to that area to offer support” Giles supplied

“Seems logical” Xander responded, “If bad shits going down, then I’ll take any odds it’s going down at the USA premier Halloween theme park”

“Gotta agreed with Xan on this one. It’s always the hellmouth” Buffy said nodding

“Very well I’ll give the order, perhaps it would be best if we based the entire operation there” Giles suggested with faux casualness.

“What!” Buffy was on her feet defiance rippling through her body “You want me to go to Cleveland? Ah ah, no way!”

“It would only be for a short time Buffy” Giles spoke calmly holding up a placating hand “there is no way you can lead the fight from here”

“Again I say, no way!” Buffy’s resolve was obvious in the tone of her voice and set of her jaw “I will not leave my job, I will not leave my home and I will not leave my fiancée this close to the wedding. I told you Giles I’m not giving up my life”

…….

Spike cruised into the typical Californian town a little before dawn, he considered trying to fine someone to eat before holding up for the day, the motel clerk had been a tasty looking thing, dark haired and voluptuous, but he decided against it, not wanting to draw the Slayers attention to his presence before he was ready.

He lay back on the cheap motel blankets and puffed thoughtfully on his second to last Marlboro. He thought of his dark princess and her intoxicating madness, letting his mind conjure images of her, feeding, dancing beneath the stars, lying naked and breathless beneath him. He sighed his heart constricting painfully as he pictured her the last time he’d seen her, hanging limply alongside her sire, her glossy black hair falling back to reveal her beautiful face.

Stumping out his cigarette he let himself relive that fateful night. He seemed to remember there being two slayers, but that couldn’t be right. There had been Buffy all smart mouthed and feisty, but there had also been another, grim faced and clinical, he’d have to find out what that was all about. Maybe he’d ask Buffy before he killed her.

He stopped himself abruptly, he had just thought of the Slayer as Buffy, twice. Odd. Maybe the trip back from the dead was messing with his head. He stood and stripped gracefully before wandering toward the bathroom. Looking around the brightly lit tiled room he felt a strange sense of unease, almost akin to regret. Something tugged unnervingly at his consciousness as he regarded the pale shower curtain.

Physically shaking himself he turned on the water “Get a grip mate” he muttered before stepping into the scalding spray.
…….

“So your friends are still in town?” Richard asked her the next evening as they ate dinner together at the very expensive La Maison “You’ve been very busy with them these last few days”

“Yeah well you know it’s good to catch up, haven’t seen Angel and Xander in years.” She looked wistful then her hazel eyes unfocused.

Richard drew a deep breath, as good a time as any to try and learn something, anything about Buffy, beyond her taste in food and music. “You never really mentioned them much, I take it you’re all friends from back in Sunnydale?” please Buffy, please just share something with me.

He could see her closing up, steel walls slamming up around her, his fortress Buffy. “Not much to tell, the usual you know”

“No sweetie I don’t you never told me. Did you all go to high school together you’re all about the same age, right?”

“Yeah, right. Ooh shall we get another bottle of Merlot or do you fancy a change?” Bright smile. Conversation over.

Richard sighed, no point pushing, Buffy was as difficult to pin down as an eel when she chose to be. “Whichever you want, have you decided on the menu for the reception yet?”

……

Spike watched her eating out at a fancy restaurant with her obviously wealthy fella. She looked good, she had lost the puppy fat while he’d been dead, but her hair was still long and impossibly shiny cascading over her slim shoulders. He’d never seen a Slayer this old before, wondered if there had ever been one. She must have been even more extraordinary than he gave her credit for to break the twenty-five year barrier.

Again he stopped himself, no it was okay to admire her. She was a Slayer after all and they deserved respect. Comforted he contemplated his next move, he should formulate a plan really, she was obviously not going to be easily beaten. Maybe kidnap the poofy fancy man or stake out her house. All sounded a bit slow though, he wanted his revenge now, wanted her broken and bleeding at his feat. He thought of Drusilla again, he needed to do this right if that prat Marcus was going to bring her back to him.

He waited patiently for them to finished, he’d follow them home see where to go from there.

……

“Wow, what a night” Richard commented softly as he dropped her off at home

“Yeah” she responded in kind, as if anything more than hushed whispers would shatter the perfect tranquillity of the night.

“Night then, will I see you tomorrow?”

“Sorry, I have to work late, going over student files, I’ll see you Wednesday ok?”

Richard’s brow furrowed, Buffy never had to work late, and the exaggerated casualness with which she said it made an unwelcome current of suspicion run through his mind. Refocusing he saw her already halfway up her path, he sighed dejectedly and pulled away.

Buffy heard the car pull away just as she reached her front porch, she sighed, relieved that she had been able to escape any difficult questions about tomorrow. God it was hard she thought, trying to be a normal girl, it’d been hard enough before and now Giles had re-recruited her into the good fight it was exhausting.

Slumping down on the top step she took a deep calming breath and let her head fall into her hands. It would be fine she reassured herself, once Marcus was despatched she would marry Richard move into his perfect suburban house, cut her working hours to part time and have a son she would name William and a daughter named Joyce.

Another shaky sigh, she couldn’t do it, suddenly she felt panicked. She would get it wrong, her son would flunk out and wind up a junky, Richard would leave her for some bimbo secretary, or she’d loose her job, or her house and it would all be for nothing, all this work, all this sacrifice, it would be for nothing. Reaching into her pocket with a trembling hand she found it, smooth and cool between her fingers, slowly she felt her anxiety slipping away replaced by a new wave of resolve. She could do it and she would do it, because it was his gift to her. Smiling wistfully she brought the Zippo up and watched the porch light reflecting off its shiny surface as she turned it over in her hand.

“What ya doin’?”

Startled she guiltily shoved the lighter back in her pocket and turned to her sister “Oh nothing. Just enjoying the night”

Mercifully Dawn didn’t call her on the fib, just took a seat next to her and gazed out into the night. Buffy did the same letting Dawns quiet presence sooth her jangling nerves.

………

He wondered who the girl was. She was younger than Bu… the Slayer, with sleek brown hair, and big soulful eyes somehow his mind called her niblet and he frowned, she was hardly bitesized, much taller than the slayer with long slender legs crossed elegantly and a almost modelesque poise.

He shook his head it didn’t matter, he wasn’t here for the Slayer’s new best friend or her poncy boyfriend. He was here for her, to taste her blood and save his beloved Drusilla.

Suddenly the Slayer looked straight at him, he withdrew deeper into the shadow senses focused for any sign that she had seen him. Of course she hadn’t it was far too dark, he remained motionless for several moments until her attention turned to her companion, then he slipped away into the night.

………

“Buffy what is it?” Dawn asked curiously having been startled by the sudden movement of the Slayers head. She waited a beat, but her sister’s attention remained focused on a patch of shadow across the street. “Buffy?”

“What? Oh God sorry Dawn, I just thought I saw someone?”

“Buffy it’s pitch black what could you possibly see?”

“Well not see exactly” She paused deciding how best to explain. “Do you ever think you see someone, out of the corner of your eye, someone you couldn’t possibly have seen like mom or Anya? But somehow you’re so sure you saw them and it leave you feeling all funny?”

“Um Yeah. I guess, everyone does that sometimes” the brunette answered confused.

Buffy smiled at her gently “Well I just had the supernatural equivalent, thought I saw someone out off the corner of my slayer sense”

Dawn nodded her understanding and slipped an arm around her sister’s shoulder, offering comfort, there was no need to ask whom Buffy thought she had “seen”.

7. A chance encounter

Spike wandered the quite suburban streets, aimlessly a strange disquiet settling over him. He couldn’t shake the image of the other girl, so different from Buffy tall and slender, dark and elegant. His type.

They where obviously close, maybe he’d take the girl, break her in the way only a man can break a woman, leave just enough blood in her for her to gasp out her fate to the Slayer. He waited for the rise of lust and blood lust at the notion. Unease settled instead in the pit of his stomach along with a strange undercurrent of revulsion he refused to examine.

He growled. He needed to kill something, get back into the flow of things before going after the Slayer. He had meant to drive to town, find the bitch, kill the bitch, leave. Why was this taking so long? What the hell was wrong with him?

He was pulled suddenly from the musing by a shrill, famine scream, grinning wolfishly he took of after the sound. Rounding an ally corner at full speed he was met by a very familiar scene. The girl, typically Californian and garishly blond was backing away from a group of three burly fledglings, her brightly painted lips moving in a continuous babble of pleas that would undoubtedly fall on deaf ears.

“Well isn’t this nice? Got yourselves a tasty enough little morsel, bit plastic for my tastes but she’ll do.” Spike swaggered towards the group, thumbs shoved in his belt loops, with an unmistakable air of casual authority.

“Yeah and she’s ours so you can just walk right away mister” the smallest of the three warned, his natural nervousness of Spike obvious authority overridden by vampiric territoriality.

“Oh, ok, if she’s yours.” He responded, his tone friendly, hands upraised as if in apology “I’ll just toddle off, leave you and Barbie here to, eh, get acquainted.” Spikes faux politeness made the spokesman gulp nervously.

“Or” he drew the word out, his voice dropping to a threatening growl “I could rip off your disrespectful heads and have myself a silicon snack.” Pausing he shrugged, and continued in his original upbeat tone “You know I can’t decide”

With that he was on them. Fledglings generally weren’t much fun to kill, but it had been a while, and there were three of them. Laughing manically he dispatched the spokesman just as he had promised ripping his head clean from his shoulders, number two fell to a swift splitter of shattered crate.

“And then there was one” Spike sing-songed as he circled the final vampire “Alright mate, how shall I kill you then?”

The fledgling moved first, knocking the makeshift stake from the smaller vampire’s hand as he used his considerable bulk to take both of them to the ground. Pinning Spike beneath him and sneering unpleasantly “How shall I kill you then? Mate” it mocked.
Spike grinned up at his opponent and laughed, loud and genuine.

Denise watched the scene play out around her with terrified fascination, she held her breath, afraid to even breathe as her rescuer simultaneously kneed and head butted the last of her attacker, sending him rolling away in pain, before driving a splinter of wood through the monsters heart.

She watched from where she remained huddled in the against the filthy ally wall as the slight man turned toward her brushing unruly brown curls out of his eyes. Gasping in relief she threw herself into his arms “Thank you, oh my god thank you so much” she pulled away full lips forming a self conscious smile at his lack of response. “I, er, thank you, I really thought I was going to die”

The man, who had a moment ago looked like pure salvation, with his handsome face and soft brown hair, suddenly looked like a wolf eyeing a lamb, the bright blue eyes that had been full of mirth and excitement as he had turned to her where now flinty and cold as ice. He grinned an unpleasant, predatory grin “You are” he said simply as his face shifted and changed before her eyes.

……….

Willow sensed danger, the protective shroud of magic around her, hissing and sizzling with warning. Cautiously she followed the feeling to it’s source, a filthy ally, what a surprise she thought wryly as she edged slowly towards the figure slumped against the wall obscured by shadow.

“Are you ok?” she asked softly as she approach, although experience told her she would get no answer. “Hello? Are you ok?”

To the witch’s surprise a strangled gasp the figure emitted a strangled gasp. Abandoning caution she rushed to the aid of the person she could now see was a young blonde. “Are you hurt? What happened to you?” she asked as she knelt down next to the frightened girl.

Denise didn’t answer, she was too afraid to speak, too afraid to move. Her neck burned with pain where that monster had bitten her, and her she felt dizzy and light headed from blood loss. It didn’t matter, Willow had seen the lacerations on her delicate throat and was already whispering soft word of gentle healing, letting the white magic that had become part of her since the activation of the Slayers flow to her fingertips and over the girls skin.

“Can you get up?” she questioned gently, bringing the girl to her feet “You need to go home, do you live near here?”

The girl nodded mutely, her eyes wide and wild. Willow smiled reassuringly “Go home” she commanded. “You won’t be bothered again tonight”

Despite her fear Denise felt compelled to obey the redhead without question, turning toward home she heard the woman whispering in some strange language, and she felt safe, if only for the walk home she knew she was protected.

……..

Spike watched the redhead from the shadows. He had felt her approaching long before she had entered the ally; his demon had squirmed and cowered, urging him to run. Her power radiated off her like white-hot fire, her goodness burned almost as brightly.

He almost gave himself away when he saw her. She had hardly changed in all these years, same bright red hair, and porcelain skin, same slight frame. Red, his mind supplied, well of course she was, with that hair what else could he call her. The Slayers best friend, turned all witch and wielding a power that could not be ignored. And there he had just thought she was a bookworm.

“You should run vampire” her voice was eerily calm in the still night, power pouring through each word like sunlight.

Spike considered it, running, but only for a moment. Not really his style, plus witchy mojo or not, it was still jut the Slayers little pal. He stepped out into the pale streetlight keeping his head bowed.

“Not really the running type, luv” as he spoke he raised his head so that there eyes met, so that there would be no mistake. He knew he looked different without his trademark bleach job and he wanted the witch to know exactly who she was dealing with.

“Spike?” Willows head spun, was it him, no it couldn’t be. But it looked like him, soft brown curls aside. But he was dead, Buffy said he had burned up in the hellmouth.

He gave her a rakish grin and spread his arms. “The one an’ only”

She gawked at him mouth moving soundlessly a couple of time before she finally managed to speak “Spike. How? What? How? I mean you died, Buffy said you died. She said you burned up. Oh Buffy I need to tell her.”

He grinned at her babbling, he hadn’t smelled fear on her and was starting to worry. “Is that right? Your little Slayer told you I died, burned to a crisp in that god forsaken place” he shifted his weight and tilted his head to one side. “Well that I did, burned up right where she left me, so you can tell Bitchy the Vampire slayer that her old pal Spike is back and this time she’ll be the one coming out of this all dead.”

“What?” The redhead looked genuinely perplexed by the threat “Spike what are you talking about?”

“So long Red” He gave another cruel smile “Be seeing ya” and with that he was gone, leaping up onto a fire escape and disappearing into the rooftops.

………..

Willow ran, she ran faster than she had run for years, feet pounding on the pavement, breath coming in harsh gasps. Turning the corner of Buffy’s street she came to an abrupt halt. What the hell was she going to do, burst in and yell, “he’s alive, Buffy, he’s alive”.

He had bitten that girl, if Willow hadn’t of shown up he probably would’ve killed her. He had threatened Buffy. Okay that all add up to only one possible conclusion, she thought sadly, Spike has just pulled and Angelus on us.

Maybe it would be best not to tell Buffy right away, maybe tell… who? She wondered, they would try and protect her, take the decision out of the Slayers hand to save her pain. No she would have to tell Buffy, she had a right to know. But then again she had a lot on her plate with Marcus, not to mention the wedding.

As she moved slowly towards the house her brain buzzed with indecision, scenarios of action and consequence running over and over. Looking in she could see Buffy watching television in the lounge with Richard. She was snuggled against eyes riveted to the screen while he watched her profile adoringly.

Willow stepped back, the scene was so normal, so domestic. Buffy’s dream life. What if Dawn was wrong, what if it wasn’t all an act, she couldn’t take this from her friend, not knowing what a normal life had always meant to her.

Decision not made, but deferred she turned on her heel. Only to be stopped by a curious voice. “Willow? What you doin’?”

“Hey Dawnie, nothing, I’m not doing nothing. Just leaving” God would she ever be able to lie like an adult.

“Uh huh. Leaving without coming in?” No one in the world could do scepticism quite as well as Dawn Summers, eyebrows raised, tone condescending. No one that is except the master from whom she had learned the skill, not that that particular someone should be in the world at all.

“Er yeah, was gonna come and say hi, but Buffy and Richard where looking all snugly, so I, er, you know, I was leaving” Dawn didn’t need to speak to let Willow know that she was entirely transparent, the tilt of her head spoke volumes for her incredulity.

Looking at the younger Summers Willow was struck by a sudden realisation, dawn was no longer a little girl, she was an intelligent and shrewd young woman. Of all the Scoobies Dawn was the one who knew Buffy’s state of mind best of all. She would also put her sisters feelings before all else, while still having enough faith to let Buffy be her own master.

“Dawn, I need to talk to you, we have a problem, and I don’t know whether to tell Buffy, she has so much on her mind, and this is so awful for her, I mean last time she had to, and, oh that was bad, and now she’s got Richard, and Marcus is…”

“And thank you Willow, queen of the run on sentence” Dawns amusement died as she took in the Wicca’s worried frown.

“Okay Willow, from the beginning. Spill!”

8. A transfer of power

Buffy frowned as she heard the front door close, where could Dawn be going at this time of night? She made to get up but was stopped by the gentle resistance of Richard’s arm around her shoulder.

“Where you going?” he mumbled affectionately pulling her into her chest and nuzzling her silky hair

“I just thought I heard dawn go outside, I better go check on her.” She pulled out of his embrace and stood, straightening her skirt.

“Buffy” His voice was louder than he had intended, calming himself with a deep breath he continued gently. “Baby, she’s not a child anymore. Pretty soon you’re not even going to be living in the same house, you can’t watch her every move.”

Even as he spoke he knew he’d made a mistake, Buffy bristled visibly. “What, I can’t be concerned about my sister now? About my only family?”

“That’s not what I’m saying sweetie” he tried to placate her with his gentle tone. 99% of the time she was so easy to live with, so easy going and eager to please, but disagree with her when it came to the safety of her closest friends and family and she was impossible. “I’m just saying she’s a big girl, she wants some fresh air at 11 o’clock at night, well then that’s her prerogative”

“Well she could just let me know, she knows how much I worry” Buffy grumbled, but slipped back into his arms, her body tense and rigid against his.

He took a deep breath, before venturing, “Why does it bother you so much? I mean it’s not just Dawn it’s everyone. It’s like you need to know where everyone is all the time. Why do you feel like you have to protect everyone all the time”

She was out of his arms faster then a scalded cat, hackles raised, eyes blazing. Richard could’ve kicked himself, why did he keep doing this recently, keep pushing her to open up, knowing that she would either get angry or block him out. He looked at her flushed face and despite the sense of trepidation he felt, decided he liked angry much better, at least she was beautiful this way.

Inside Buffy was screaming at him, yelling that she did have to protect, literally everyone all the time. She wanted to tell him to open his eyes and stop pretending that the world was warm and safe, that nothing really goes bump in the night, wanted to let him know that she was the force that stood between the world and the powers of darkness and chaos. It was on the tip of her tongue to say it ‘Because I am the Slayer’.

She took a deep breath, if she told him now, came clean about her true nature he would believe she was delusional. Sensible, pragmatic Richard would never believe such a tale, he you think she was a lunatic and he would leave her.

And if he did believe her, then he would leave her anyway. Richard was a good man, and in no way a chauvinist, but inside Buffy knew his ego would not be able to handle a wife who wielded that kind of power.

Swallowing her retort, she fixed a half smile on her face and titled her head to the side, wondering idly if she had always been this good an actor. She moved to the couch and slid in beside him, “I know, I guess I’m just a natural worrier. Sorry.” She kissed him gently and snuggled down again, turning her attention to the screen.

She felt him sigh his acceptance of her answer and felt a strange dissatisfaction, a sense of having been cheated. Had he really been fooled? If so he couldn’t read her well at all. The right amount of poking, combined with a generous helping of sarcasm, would have had her riled up enough to spill all her secrets. She was almost ready to, to come clean, off load all this pretence, she was almost ready, but Richard didn’t push and she didn’t tell.

Only one person had ever been able to read her that easily, play her that well. She couldn’t suppress a sigh at the thought and she knew her whole body shook with it. Mercifully Richard didn’t call her on it, just answered with a soft sigh of his own.

………..

“Are you sure it was him?” Dawn asked. She had let Willow tell her tail uninterrupted, now she had questions.

“Yeah, I mean his hair was way different, all brown and curly, but it was definitely him” She nodded for emphasis “He even said it himself”

“Anyone could say that, an look a like or a shape shifter. Maybe the plan is to make us think he’s Spike to gain an advantage” Dawn grimaced. she hadn’t come up with anything quite that lame in long time.

Willow gave her suggestion the sceptical look it deserved. “Then you think they’d have got the hair right. Plus he knew about the whole burning to death thing, and you know Buffy only told us about that”

“I know, I’m just finding this kinda hard to get my head round ya know?” She gave the redhead a self-depreciating smile.

Willows answering smile was tender “I know sweetie. I’m struggling with it too, and I was there.”

Both girls fell silent while they considered the situation. It was Dawn who finally broke “So, what are we going to do? Buffy is so going to wig”

“Do you think we should tell her?” Willow held up her hand before the younger woman’s objection could be heard “I know, she has a right to know and everything. And she’d be majorly pissed if we lie. But he’s all evil and killing again, and remember what it did to her before, with Angel”

Dawn studied the redhead’s concerned face. Worry was carved in deep lines on her forehead and her sea green eyes bled with compassion for her friend. Was she right? Should they keep this from Buffy? She remembered well, despite not having really been there, how spectacularly Buffy had failed to cope with killing her first love. Was it fair to put her through that again, would she even do it?

Then she thought of Spike, soulless and snarky, real memories this time, of friendship and protection, of unconditional affection, maybe even love. The Angelus affair had been hard on Buffy, but at least it had been simple, Angel good, Angelus very, very bad. Spike redefined the saying ‘shades of grey’.

Willow was talking again, Dawn tried to catch what she was saying, something about dealing with it themselves.

“Dealing with it?!” she questioned angrily. “You want to kill him? After everything he’s done, you want to ‘deal with it’? Like he’s some kind of rabid animal”

“Dawn.” Willows voice was gentle but firm. “He doesn’t have a soul, I could tell that much. And he’s killing. He is a rabid animal”

Dawn felt the anger surge through her like a tsunami “An animal” she hissed, rage resonating through the quite words “The same animal that gave himself a headache proving Tara was human, the animal that let a hell god torture him to keep me safe, that animal?”

Willow felt the brunettes pain, felt her aura darken with anger, anger at Willow, for threatening her erstwhile friend, anger at the world for doing this to them, but most of all anger at herself, for all she had failed to do for Spike in that last year in Sunnydale. For the forgiveness she had refused to grant him even as his soulful eyes begged her for it. For the understanding she had withheld even as she understood more than she had wanted to.

“Dawnie” she spoke softly, letting gentle calming magic, flow like camomile through her words. “I don’t want to, but he’s chosen this. Maybe the chip was affecting him more than we knew back then, making him do good things. I saw him tonight, really saw him and he’s…” She sighed trying to explain. “You remember how he was when he came to Sunnydale the first time?”

Dawn nodded, implanted memories of cowering in a cramped storage closest with Cordelia on parent teacher night, of Buffy sneaking out stone faced and armed to the hilt, forming in her mind. Then unbidden and image came to her, a memory she had all but forgotten, the view was from above, through an upstairs window. Her mother worried and angry demanding an explanation from a flustered Buffy and uncomfortable Spike. Her lips quirked as she recalled their bumbling attempt at a cover story, she could almost hear his north London baritone, ‘Well I sing’. Their first joint slay, the dusted vampire that would never be able to ‘tattle’ on their alliance.

“We have to tell Buffy” Her voice brooked no argument, but Willow felt compelled to question

“Are you sure?” Funny now, how she deferred to the younger girl, how this was now most certainly Dawns call.

“Yes. We’ll do it tomorrow, before everyone arrives”

…………….

Marcus smiled, not his usual cold, sardonic smile, but a real genuine, perhaps even happy smile. In as much as a demon can feel, happiness, perhaps it was more satisfaction. It didn’t matter, what mattered was the reason behind the smile.

“You’re sure?” he asked Solomon “The Apeathans are on their way?”

“Certain master.” Solomon gave a slow deliberate nod of his horned head. “They make there way here as we speak. It seems the King’s son staged a coup. Renon leads them now, and he brings his army under your banner”

“Excellent, excellent, the old fools resistance had troubled me” he gave a dismissive wave of his hand, turning away from the Vaith “See that all is prepared for their arrival”

“Sire, there is another issue” Solomon ventured hesitantly

Marcus turned slowly back to face his lieutenant “What?”

“There is unrest among those already gathered here. Tension grows between the vampire families and the Vahrall. I fear other’s will be drawn in, many Fryal clans are loyal to the Vahrall.”

Marcus gave and irritated huff “Very well, give word that I will be addressing the entire force. Go now, and see that I am not disturbed, I must prepare.” With that he turned his back on the Vaith and headed towards his private chambers.

“Out! All of you out now” he commanded his vampire harem as he entered. He waited for the room to clear, his handsome latin features set in an expression of grim determination. “Leave that.” He barked, pointing to the terrified human girl bound and shivering against the far wall.

He moved quickly across the now empty room, removing his shirt as he did so, he pulled the girl to her feet and ran his eyes over her shaking body. She was young enough, perhaps 13, maybe 14, her body beginning to take on womanhood, but her soul still very much a child’s. He looked into her terrified innocent eyes, she would do.

Sweeping the bound girl up into his arms he crossed the room, and punched a sting of numbers into the electronic lock of a heavy metal door. Taking a deep unneeded breath he entered the sealed room.

Where his quarters where modern and comfortable, this room embodied the texture of the old ways, a torch lit shrine to an ancient power. Before him was a low stone alter, and beyond that an ebony statue, a grotesque effigy of a demon deity. He placed the girl gently on the alter, and retrieved a sharp ceremonial knife from it’s hanging on the wall to his left.

She tried to scream as he approached her, blade flashing in the flickering torchlight, but gagged and bound as she was, her cries came out as muffled whimpers. She tried to move, to flea but the ropes cut her flesh. Hot tears poured over the soft skin of her rounded cheeks as he used the razor sharp blade to strip her clothes.

Marcus looked at his offering, naked and weeping before him. She was exactly as he like them; untouched and innocent, her breasts small and pert, not yet those of a woman and the hair between her legs soft and fair. He would have liked to have his fun with this one. He would remove the bonds of course so that she would scream and struggle as he took her. He shivered in perverted delight at the thought of tasting lost innocence in her sweet blood, but he would have to wait, find another for his personal amusement, this one had a far higher purpose.
……….

She no longer cried. She no longer flinched at the touch of the knife. Her body was numb, and cold, so very cold. Shallow cuts adorned every inch of her flesh, in the intricate patterns of ancient symbols. The monster kneeling beside her still chanted, strange rhythmic words in a foreign tongue, but she no longer heard him. Her body no longer stung in the chilled air of the temple, but she was cold, so very cold. She wondered if her mother was worried about her, if her annoying elder brother would miss her at all. But she was too cold to worry about anything for long. Her thoughts slowed in time with her heartbeat until both ground to an irrevocable halt.

Marcus ceased chanting as he felt the girl’s life slip away, and stood, arms outstretched. Around his neck a jewelled pendent glowed and resonated with power, the matching pendant adorning the statue’s neck glowed in response. He smiled and then all there was, was pain, searing hot agony as light poured between the two jewels, power filled him but it gave him no joy, all there was, was pain.

Finally it was over, Marcus struggled to his feet, his chest still burning, but now he felt it, the thrill of power coursing through him. He glanced at the dead girl indifferently, time to clean up after, now he must address his troops.

Reaching the stage he was delayed by Solomon, relaying fears of further unrest and of irreparable damage to the alliance. Marcus brushed him aside and bounded onto the stage, nothing was irreparable, not when Marcus could feel the power rushing through him like a drug.

The crowds hushed as he appeared and he felt them, already, bending to his will. “Brothers” he began raising his arms and calling them to order. He spoke but the words where of little consequence, window dressing for the control he exercised over each of them.