I do not Own Buffy the vampire Slayer, that right belongs to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy
Two nights before parent teacher night, Buffy burst into the crypt to find the vampires had added a large brown leather couch and loveseat to the d cor. It made the space much more homey even if it was a little bit cramped in the upper level now. Jenna,
an even smaller woman than Buffy with long, straight, black hair and rich mahogany-colored skin, was curled up on Tony's lap on the smaller love seat. Dalton was sitting at the center table with several books open and spread out in front of him. Buffy
threw the door open causing all three vampires to look up to see the Slayer who seemed to be bursting to say something. Buffy took a deep breath and slowly closed the door taking a second to pull herself together. When she finally turned around to face
the three curious vamps she had a nervous smile on her face.
"So, new furniture? Looks nice. Did that come from the dump like the table? Is this a pull out sofa?" Buffy asks as she moves to sit on the unoccupied couch. Tony sat up straighter, pulling Jenna more into his lap and looked over to Buffy.
"It was sitting out on someone's curb after they moved. Its got a few tears on the sides, smells like they had a dog... but yeah, it's a sleeper sofa. Are you okay, girly? You seem a little bit... off. Did something happen?" Tony answered slowly waiting
for an answer to his questions as he watched an increasingly fidgety slayer try to act casual and fail horribly. Jenna took notice of Buffy's failure to answer.
"Come on, hun. You can tell us. We're as good as family now. Is it something we can help with?" Jenna spoke up from her comfy seat on her lover's lap. She may have been a soulless vampire just a few weeks ago, but she had never been the worst of the worst.
She was kind for a vampire even if she did enjoy the smell of fear on her prey and the thrill of the kill. She had noticed that about the other two vampires that made up her new nest also. They were very human even without a soul. The soul just gave
her back her guilt and regret for people she'd considered food hadn't brought that up to the Slayer yet, but she planned to soon. Buffy laughed nervously for a second before slumping back into the cool leather of the sofa.
"I think I'll be fine. It's everyone else that is freaking out. There is this new vamp in town, and he showed up at the Bronze last night. He didn't attack me or anything but got all with the 'ill see you on Saturday', and then I was all like 'what happens
on Saturday', and then he was like 'I kill you'. Then he just left." She started to whine as if it upset her that she didn't get to fight him, but continued with her rant while the three vampires looked on in worry at her apparent nonchalance. "When
I told Giles about it and described what the guy looked like Angel overheard from where he was being all creepy eavesdropper again. He came in and told us his name is Spike, or William the Bloody or something. He said he's all dangerous and never
gives up and..." Buffy didn't get the chance to finish because as soon as she said Spike's name all three vamps eyes went wide. Suddenly they were all on their feet and standing in front of her with worried looks.
"WILLIAM THE BLOODY! Are you sure that's what Angel called him because that's not a joke. He's a member of the Arulians, a direct descendent from the Master!" Tony began to freak out from his spot in front off Buffy on the sofa where all three of them
were towering over her, surrounding her with worried looks.
"I've read about him Buffy. He's called the Slayer of Slayers! He's gone up against several, and they couldn't kill him. He killed two of them!" Dalton added in as he wrung his hands.
"He got the nickname Spike from driving railroad spikes through his victims heads after he was first sired like 120 some years ago. He's a damn celebrity, hunny. Dangerous as they come!" Jenna squeaked out afraid for her new family member. Buffy, during
this whole conversation, had been slowly wrapping her arms around herself. At Tony's mention of the Master, Buffy lost most of the color in her face.
"Well, I guess I better spend the next two days training then, huh?" She offered with a nervous laugh. Tony knelt down in front of her and placed his hand on her knee, while Jenna and Dalton stood on eitherside of Buffy each placing an arm around her.
Tony was the first to speak.
"We have your back. Like Jenna said, you're family now. You gave us back something we lost. It may have been bad for us for a while, but we've all come to understand that it was a good thing we got our souls back. It's hard. I won't lie, but I don't regret
it. I wouldn't go back to being that person that murdered with no remorse even if some days the demon part of me is screaming for it. We're grateful for what you did for us, Slayer," Tony informed her.
"It was a gift, a chance to do some right and make up for all the pain we caused. Honestly, even if something happened, and I lost my soul again, I know that I wouldn't go back to what I was even if it was only to not hurt you. We've been changed. You've
made us something new." Dalton put in his hand on his part.
"We will head out tonight and find out what we can about him. See if we can feel out his plans, okay? We'll get back to you as soon as we find out anything." Jenna leaned her head on Buffy's shoulder as soon as she noticed a tear track down Buffy's face.
Buffy was the Slayer, and as such she had always been expected to be the hero, placed on a pedestal of perfection that she tried her hardest to live up to. She was the one who everyone expected to save the day. Yes, her friends offered her help and encouragement,
but it was all while pushing her in the direction of danger. They stood with her, but behind her. These people who she had only known for a short time gave her something that she didn't even know she was lacking. They were standing with her while
standing beside her, willing to jump out front if need be. They were right. Somehow in this small space of time that she had become acquainted with this mismatched, little troupe of vampires they HAD become like a family. Buffy suddenly felt the safest
she had been able to feel since before the Master left her to drown in that puddle.
"Thank you," Buffy quietly said as she sniffled. Her sniffles, however, eventually broke out into relieved sobs as she realized she was surrounded by her new family.
The next night Buffy patrolled her watcher approved route with Willow and Xander as tag alongs. There were no unusual deaths in the paper, and so far it was a quiet night. Buffy was still nervous about Saturday, but she was choosing to focus on the nearer
problem of parent teacher night. Willow was being supporto girl and Xander was doing his best to make her laugh.
"So Buffy, I think Snyder will definitely be forced to expel Sheila instead of you tomorrow night. She didn't even show up for school today. I mean, really shows how important education is to her right," Willow offered as they made their way through the
newest section of Shady Rest. Buffy wore a smile for her best friend's sake. Willow really was trying her best to put forward the optimism. Xander nodded in agreement.
"And if you do get expelled, just think, you never have to deal with his angry, little face or his shrill voice again. I mean, home school is so much better anyway," Xander added, propmting Willow to backhand him in the gut forcing a huff of air out of
his lungs. Xander had the good sense to look contrite.
"Really guys, I'll be fine. I have you to help with the preparations AND herding my mom away from Snyder all night, so I'm really not worried." The blond teen fibbed, while the threesome began to head for the front of the cemetery. It seemed time to head
home for the night.
As they turned left out of the main gates towards Willow's, Buffy noticed Jenna leaning up against a lamppost on the street corner. Buffy was curious as to the reason she didn't wait to see her until after patrol. She kept up the conversation with her
friends, as they got closer to the corner. Buffy took care not to make more than a glance at the vampiress who was obviously waiting for her. Xander and Willow were busy talking about going to the Bronze later that weekend as they finally approached
the light. Jenna shot Xander a sweet smile as he paused to take notice of her. They crossed the street quickly, though, leaving her behind. Buffy kept talking to Willow so that she wouldn't seem like she was paying special attention to the apparent
stranger.
"Hey!" They were halfway across the street when they heard Jenna's call. The three teens stopped in the middle of the street to turn and look at the small woman running up to them. When she got to them she held out a folded piece of paper to Buffy.
"This fell out of your back pocket," Jenna told Buffy with a wink before turning around and heading back to lean on the street light, appearing as if she was waiting for someone. "Thank you!" Buffy called to her sliding the note in her back pocket and
turned to finish crossing the street with her friends in tow.
"That was nice of her," Willow observed. "We need some more nice people like that in the world. "
"Well, that's what the Buffster is for. She stops all the nice people from getting snacked on. So good job Buffy! That means you're making a difference," Xander joked, never realizing that Jenna had been a vamp snack just three years prior. Buffy let
out a sudden and loud laugh about the whole situation.'Xander doesn't even realize what how wrong he is about Jenna' she mused. Willow looked at Buffy, a worried expression on her face at her friends' unexpected bout of laughter.
"Do you not think you make a difference? Because Xander is right even if he was joking. It's much safer with you around. I mean people still shouldn't go out after dark too much or hang out in cemeteries...hey, do you think that lady will be all right
by herself back there?" Willow looked over her shoulder as they made the last turn onto her street.
"I'm sure she'll be fine, Will. We just ran a patrol, and it's been really quiet recently. I think maybe the local baddies are gearing up for something this Saturday like Spike said last night." Buffy reached over giving her friend's shoulder a pat.
"And that's a good thing how?" Xander questioned with a raised brow waiting for Buffy to explain her reasoning behind her statement. "I mean, yeah, tonight is safe, but we could be dealing with some major issues come Saturday. We still don't know a lot
about it." Buffy just rolled her eyes at her best guy friend.
"Its not that I'm not worried. It's just that I realized stressing about it wouldn't help. We are going to get through tomorrow night and spend every free minute Friday researching. We'll find out about Spike and anything and everything that could happen.
Trust me Xander. I am taking this way seriously," Buffy answered as they got to Willow's front door.
"Wow Buffy, when did you get all with the grown-upness and maturity?" Willow joked. Buffy released a soft laugh.
"Yeah Buff, you almost sound like the school councilor there," Xander added in.
"Yeah, I could totally see that. I could go to school and get my degree in that so I can stay parked right on top of the hell mouth as a career choice. It could work," the Slayer admitted with a suddenly thoughtful expression on her face. Thinking about
her future, always brought her early expiration date to the forefront of her mind. She decided to keep this to herself.
"Well, when that job fair comes around later you can skip it then. I think that sounds like a great idea. If only we knew if Snyder still planned on being the principal when your ready to start then it could be called perfect," Willow encouraged with
a few nods of her head. "But lets not talk about his royal poopheadness anymore. You going to crash on my couch tonight, Xander? Its already past midnight," The red head finished as she opened the front door holding it open for her friends.
"Yeah, I think I will. I know I have clothes over here still, and its probably already past my parents' pass out time. Don't want to wake 'em," Xander said making light of his not so perfect home situation. Both him and Willow turn to Buffy as if to see
if she'd follow them inside.
"Well guys, I'll see you tomorrow at school. I gotta get in bed before my mom notices I'm out past curfew again. BYE!" Buffy said giving her friends one last smile and bolting back towards her house. The note in her back pocket still on her mind. Willow
and Xander just shrugged to each other and headed inside to safety for the rest of the night.
When Buffy rounded the corner she stopped under a street lamp where the light is bright enough to read by. She reached into her jean pocket producing the note. It wasn't very long but she instantly understands.
Our bookworm wiggled his way into the apple. He's gonna share the juicy bits with us tomorrow morning for breakfast. We really want to share all the yummy goodness with you before you head off to the library.
'So Dalton got into the nest and has information, huh? Good for him. I'm guessing this means that they want me to stop by the crypt before I head to school tomorrow,' Buffy thinks as she slips the note back into her pocket.
That night when she climbs under the safety of her covers she makes sure to set her alarm for an hour earlier than usual.
