The Show Must Go On

Author: Elizabeth5

Summary: A sort of sequel to Orpheus. The point of view from those fighting the big battle down on Earth. More closure for those things left unsaid in the finales of Buffy and Angel. Not your typical post-Angel fic (hopefully).

Rating: PG mostly, PG-13 at the most

Disclaimer: My plot, Joss's characters.

Pairings: Mostly Buffy/Spike, but there are lots of surprises.

Author's Note: Reading Orpheus is not a must for reading this story. But since I love to shamelessly plug my own stories– go read Orpheus. You know you want to. :) And before I get a lot of complaints for the pairings I put in my story (we Buffyverse fans are so opinionated), I'd just like to state that even if I favor a particular pairing, I will not slam any other pairing. My story will be predominantly Buffy/Spike, but I will not slam Buffy/Angel or Buffy/Xander or Buffy/Clem or anything else (Well, I might slam Buffy/Riley a little, but only 'cuz I can). So please be kind to my choices in pairings. Oh, and just a fair warning, I'm not at all afraid to kill off characters ('cuz they're in Heaven! Go read Orpheus!).

Chapter One: Sex, Lies, and Videotape

"Hey, maybe we could go to Madrid next."

"Or Paris– I've always wanted to go to Paris..."

Buffy Summers listened half-heartedly to the conversation behind her as she sorted through the various boxes around the room. It seemed that each time they moved, she was taking inventory, deciding what could be left behind. It would be nice to have a home again, a genuine home with picture frames and leaky faucets and the works. But for now, they were vagabonds.

"What do you think, Buffster?"

Buffy turned at the sound of her name and smiled wanly at Xander. "I dunno. You guys decide."

She turned away again, but not before noticing "the look" between Xander and Dawn. It was something she'd been noticing a lot of lately, but she did her best to just ignore it. It was easier to pretend she didn't see it than to try and explain things to them, or herself.

"I think we should go to Finland," Andrew spoke up, "I hear they're very good at badminton there..."

Buffy merely stared at him for a moment, resisting the urge to smile. This was her family now. Since the closing of the Hellmouth, everyone had pretty much gone their separate ways: Faith was in New York with Principal Wood, Giles was busy reforming the Watcher's council, Willow was currently in a different plane, and the slayers formerly known as potentials were who knows where. Only Xander and Dawn remained her constant companions now. And for some odd reason, Andrew. For the most part, she was happy with her little family. But there was always that lingeirng memory of those she'd left behind.

Suddenly, Dawn was at her side, gently tapping her elbow. "Hey, Buff, you okay?"

Buffy blinked at her in surprise, forcing a smile. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be, Dawnie?"

Dawn exchanged another none-too-secret glance with Xander. They really needed to work on that whole stealth thing. "Well, it's just...you've seemed a little down. Ever since the Immortal left."

"You weren't in love with that guy, were you?" Xander blurted. "'Cuz if he broke your heart, I'll track him down and...give him a severe talking to."

Buffy's smile was genuine now. "No, I wasn't in love with the Immortal. So you can save your intense scolding for some other time."

Xander looked visibly relieved. "Well, it's probably for the best. I don't swing that way, but that Immortal guy was really something. He made me feel all flustered."

Buffy understood all too well. There was no denying the Immortal was handsome and charming and–wow!– was he a good kisser. But he was just a fling, a mere replacement for...things Buffy wouldn't let herself think about.

"Hey, my videotape!"

Dawn, Buffy, and Xander turned in surprise to see Andrew crouched beside one of the boxes, his face filled with glee. Xander frowned at him. "Is this one of those creepy things we should pretend not to know about?"

"Ooh, can I watch?" Dawn piped up.

"No!" Buffy and Xander chorused at once.

"It's not dirty," Andrew insisted indignantly, "you big pervs. Remember that home video I made right before the big battle? This is it."

Xander grinned in remembrance. "Oh, right. That was so annoying." A beat, and then, "Let's watch it. Popcorn anyone?"

As everyone obligingly moved toward the couch, Buffy groaned. "Come on– remember all the packing fun we were having? Who needs a movie when we have styrofoam and packing tape?"

"Sorry, Buffy," Dawn said, pulling her down onto the couch, "the tribe has spoken."

Andrew popped in the tape and it began. The first part was pretty boring, as it was mostly Andrew explaining demons and the Hellmouth and what-not, but then the action moved into the kitchen. Dawn squealed as she came into view. "Oh my gosh– look at my hair! I was such a nerd."

Dawn's hair was now chin-length and sprinkled with blonde and red highlights. Buffy disliked it; it made her look too old.

The camera panned to Buffy, who was complaining about being filmed. "Someone back me up on this," said videotape Buffy, "Spike?"

And there was Spike's face, filling the screen. Buffy felt the familiar ache in her chest, though she kept her face impassive, well aware that Dawn and Xander were watching her. Andrew shot her an oddly furtive look but remained silent.

Camera-Buffy squared her shoulders back. "There's something I need to tell you. I had a vision last night..."

The camera swiveled around to Andrew's face. "These morale speeches of Buffy's tend to get a little long-winded, so we'll come back in a minute..."

"Hey!" Buffy cried, glaring over at Andrew.

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Artistic integrity. I had to tell the truth and nothing but the truth."

"Like the part where you called yourself an evil mastermind?" Xander countered.

Andrew scrunched down lower in his seat. "Just shut up, all right? You're making me miss the movie."

The shot had changed to the living room, where Anya and Xander sat discussing their feelings for one another. Buffy felt Xander stiffen next to her. She reached out and took his hand; Dawn put her head on his shoulder.

"She was quite the girl, wasn't she?" Xander asked after a moment.

"Yeah," Dawn ventured quietly, "she was."

The shot changed once again. Now they were in the basement, and Spike was smoking a cigarette, glaring into the camera. "I thought I told you to sod off. Keep sticking your nose around here and I'll– "

Behind the camera, Andrew cleared his throat. "Um, Spike? The light is kind of behind you..."

Spike obediently stepped back. "Better?" He adopted the old glare. "I thought I told you to sod off..."

And suddenly, it was too much. Buffy rose to her feet, blindly making her way toward the door. Dawn started up after her. "Buffy, wait!"

Buffy shook her head. "I can't...I can't watch this, I can't deal with this right now– "

She was interruptd by the shrill ring of her cell phone. Sighing resignedly, she stopped in her tracks and answered it. "Hello? Giles, hi. I was kind of...what? When did this happen?"

The others were listening closely now.

Buffy gripped the phone intently. "All right...yeah, I understand." She turned it off, turning to face the others, her face grim.

"What's happening, Buffy?" Xander inquired, the usual humor missing from his voice.

"Get ahold of any allies you can think of," Buffy instructed briskly, heading for the apartment phone. "We have a potential apocalypse on our hands– a bad one."

"As opposed to the good apocalypses," Dawn returned drolly.

Buffy ignored her. "Tell them it's absolutely vital that we get their help. This could be the big one, guys. Giles says the demon activity is off the charts– he's never seen anything like it. We're gonna need all the manpower we can get."

"We're on it," Xander said, heading for their contact list. He stopped as a sudden thought seemed to strike him. "Where should we tell them to go?"

Buffy met his gaze evenly. "L.A."

Next time on the Show Must Go On...

 Demons, soldiers, and reunions, oh my!