Part Two

"Who are you two?" Buffy demanded as she glared at the two strangers sitting on her couch. The woman sitting comfortably, one leg crossed over the other, the man sprawled back, throwing her suspicious looks.
"And why would you call Spike 'your son'?"

"I'm Rose. This is--" She paused, "Adam."
She rubbed her chest.
"And I am William's mother."

"The name's Spike now"

Both Rose and the young blond girl ignored the young affronted vampire.
Buffy paced. "If you two are Spike's parents, then why are you still alive? He's like way old."

"Well, we're even older."

"But you're not vampires?"

"Not all demons are vampires luv."

"Spike shut up!"

"We're not demons!" Rose cried indignantly. "We're immortals."

"Immortals?"

Adam took Rose's hand. "Rose, you don't have to tell them anyth--"

"SHUT UP METHOS!"

Rose got up. "We're of a race of people that don't age past their first death. It's a big mystery, no one really knows what we are, where we came from ... I was already 800 plus when I adopted William-- I mean, Spike."

The vampire seemed a bit shocked at those words. Dawn just held his hand, not saying a word.
Spike seemed to ignore the important part of the explanation, focusing on the insignificant. "I'm ADOPTED?"

"Well of course you are my boy. Immortals can't have children of our own. It's one of the great regrets of immortality."

"Well, at least that means I'm not actually related to this git," He gestured to Adam.

"William Marlowe, don't say things like that about your father!" Rose said.

Dawn, who had been quiet this whole time, finally exploded.
"EVERYONE SHUT UP!"
They all turned to her.
"Come on Spike, you're the one who's always telling me that it doesn't matter if I really am my mom's daughter, cause she chose to have me as hers. So what makes this any different?"

Dawn cringed as Buffy reacted in shock. She'd done her best to make sure that Buffy hadn't known about her doubts. It's why she told them to Spike, so Buffy didn't have even more to worry about. Buffy reached out to her, her sisters hand felt warm and comforting, Dawn smiled back at her, desperate to reassure her.

Rose approached Spike hesitantly, cradling his cheek.
"I took you in when you were only a week old William. You are my son. No matter the question of blood."

"See. Family."
Rose couldn't help but smile at the girl who seemed so fearless in dealing with a vampire.

Spike wrapped his arm around Rose, hugging her. "Mum..... Mum....."
He hugged her fiercely.
"I thought you were dead."
And as shocking as it was, Methos and Buffy couldn't help but share a look of apprehension.

Rose turned to Methos, taking his hand.
"Listen, love.... Maybe you should go back to the hotel. I think William and I have a lot of things to talk about."
Methos glared at her. He didn't say a word, but just from the look in his eyes, Rose could see there was no way in hell, that she'd get him to leave without her.
"That worried about me, huh?" She pressed a gentle kiss on his lips, her hand touching out to his.
"You know, I didn't last a thousand years by being stupid. I've got my sword, besides ..."

Spike gave a loud snort. "Still being stupid, eh Mum?"

"What do you mean?" She turned back to Spike.

"You and him," Spike pointed at Methos, "He must have left us dozens of times. And you're still with him."

"What can I say? He's a bad habit I'm not very likely to break."
She smiled at Methos before turning to the others "Speaking of bad habits... Does anyone smoke? I need one bad."
Spike just offered her a cigarette, then at her look.

"Oh come on mum, I don't even need to breathe? What's it gonna do, kill me?"

"Outside," Buffy said simply. "Outside NOW.
It might not make you any deader. But I'm damn well not going to allow smoking in 'my' house."

Rose and Spike shared a knowing glance and moved outside. Rose stayed standing for a second, not sure how to proceed. Spike sat down and she finally sat down next to him. Both on their own side of the porch. He hesitated for a second before lighting a cigarette. She took one of her own and came a bit closer to him as he lighted hers as well.

Dawn could see the silence grow between them. Two people, neither of them wanting to say the first words, words that could bring them together, or break them apart forever.

"So.... What's the girl's deal? Your girlfriend."

"I wish..." Was she only imagining the sadness in Spike's voice.
"We have ... had something ... but ... I don't know. She's the Slayer, I'm a vampire... It's just complicated."

"What's the Slayer?"

Spike looked at her, glared at her for a second.
"You're serious? You're a 1000 years old and you don't know?"

"I tend to stay out of the way." She took a long drag.

Spike practically giggled as he pretended to set a pair of glasses straight on his nose before he sat up, looking every bit the image of a schoolteacher, about to teach a class.
"In every generation there is a chosen one, one girl in the world chosen to fight the forces of darkness, the demons, the vampires.
She alone stands against the forces of evil. She is the Slayer."
He smirked as he ended and took another suck at the cigarette, slumping down on the steps as he did so..
"Buffy's the Slayer, she kills vampires, protects the world ... all that crap."

"So why doesn't she kill you?"

"Because of this," he tapped his head, "A little government chip placed in my head. I can't harm a living thing."

"Seriously?"

"All too."
She pulled back her collar, exposing her neck. "Prove it."

"Don't feel like it."

She looked at him. "Then how do I know you won't go for my neck when my back is turned?"

"Don't be silly. I didn't come after you when I'd just died. Why would I want to kill you now?"
His hand touched to her face for a second, one hesitant brush with the tip of his fingers before moving back, pulled back in his pockets.
"I didn't try and kill Buffy when the chip didn't work on her. It stopped ... after she came back from the grave. Things had changed, but I didn't want to kill her.
I doubt it would be a problem to restrain myself around you."
He let out a breath, filling a fog betweent hem..
"And you're not half as annoying as she is. Now dad ... that's a whole other thing."

"Wil-- Spike-- don't hurt him."

Spike just smirked, so similar of his father's look.
"I won't. Not as long as you're around. Even if I could. But I wouldn't."

"He's a good man William. He always has been. Sort of..." Rose tucked a strand of hair over her ear. "He didn't realize how attached you got to him."

"Of course I got attached to him mum. He was my dad? How was I supposed to 'not' get attached to him?"
Spike seemed shocked that he even had to ask.

"Methos doesn't think that way...."

"Why do you keep calling him Methos?"

"That's his name," She said, "Don't tell him I told you. He'll kill me."

"You know mum. He wasn't completely wrong about me though. I am evil, soulless... I..."

"You're still my son," She whispered, "I was angry when I attacked you. You're my son!." She brushed through his hair, giving him a weak smile.
"To tell you the truth, I'm glad at least one of my sons is still alive."

"Well technically..."

Dawn decided to pick that moment to come out with the two cups she was holding. Sometimes it was best to just shut Spike up before he blabbed himself in trouble. She offered the one with blood to Spike and gave Rose a cup of coffee before sitting down next to them.

"So you're really old," Dawn said, "Like, a thousand? Spike, are there any vampires that old?"

"Some. Oldest I've heard of is the Master."

"I'm actually pretty young by immortal standards."

"Really? Wow."
The young girl seemed almost exited at the thought.

"The oldest is 5,000... ish."

"Wow. The oldest person I ever met was Glory. But I think she was just smoking, ...

"Dawn!"

"Let me guess? You like this kid?"

Methos came out, leaning against the doorframe.
"It's late, Rosalyn. I'm tired. You have an early meeting tomorrow."

Rose rubbed her eyes.
"You're right. I have to be at the gallery at eight."
She threw Spike a quick apologetic glance.
"I'm sorry."

"Yeah ... Mum I ... I'm sorry for not coming straight home that night mum. I just ... I tried, but then I met Dru and ... I'm sorry mum."

She kissed him on the forehead. "We never know where life will take us William. I'll be by again."

"I ...." He took a piece of paper. "Dawn ...", the girl gave him a stift. Then he started writing, hoping the cigarette paper wouldn't tear under his hand.
"That's the address of my crypt. It's the big mausoleum. You're always welcome."

Rose took it, smiling.
"The Old Man and I are going to be in town for a week. I'll be sure to come by..... It's... It's really good to see you again."
Then they left.

******

Dawn went up to bed short after Rose and Methos left. Spike crossed his arms, looking at Buffy.
"Let me have it, Slayer."

"Your parents huh"
She crossed her arms as well.
"Your dad is kind of cute," she commented.
Spike just scowled.
"Don't be so shocked. What..." he glared at her.
"You didn't ... What you wouldn't think that I..."

"He's happy with my mum." Spike growled. "I think..."

"You didn't try and kill them."

"They're my parents. I'm not Angelus. I wouldn't sink that low."

"But I thought..."

"Not every vamp feels the need to make a feast out of their parents Slayer. Dad had already run out on us and I couldn't-- I didn't want to hurt me Mum."
He grabbed her shoulders.
"I am not soddin Angelus. That was Angelus' hang up, not mine. Definitely not mine."
His eyes went over her.
"And I won't go evil on you just cause the chip comes out. I won't go after you, or your friends. I'm not Angelus Buffy. I wouldn't ..."

"How can I--" Buffy looked at him, a look of longing in her eyes. He almost reached out to her.
She backed of.
"That's not why *this* won't work. I don't love you!"

"Sing me another tune Buffy. I love you. I know ..."

"I know you love me." She pulled away from him. "And I'm a very sorry that I can't feel the same."

"Buffy..."

She went into the house, leaving him at the porch, facing the door as it fell closed.

******

Rose was pacing in the hotel room, staring at the piece of paper Spike had given her. Methos was already in bed, an amorous look in his eyes.

"I can't believe it...." She murmured. "He's ALIVE. Well, not alive but close enough!"

"He's still a vampire Rose."
He looked over at her from the bed.
"That's not something you get over with some hugs and kisses

"He's got a chip in his head." She walked to the side of the bed.
"He can't even hit you. Besides, he's in love with the Slayer."

"Yeah, what's up with that one? Protecting a vampire? It's just weird."

She cradled his face. "Do you know what I just realized?"

"That I'm naked and you're not?"

"We skipped dinner. We left those Doublemeat Medleys in the parking lot at the convenience store."

"Thank God for that."
Then he pulled her down under him.

"This coming from the man who eats food that looks like road tar?"

"This was worse."

Rose wriggled out from beneath him. "If you're going to insult my choice of food, then I'm not going to sleep with you. I'll get
myself another room."

"Rose..." He was almost pouting.

"Ugh, if there's one thing I hate, it's seeing a 5,000 year old man pout." She got back into bed, virtuously pulling the blanket over her and incidentally taking up all the sheets..

"Come on Rosie. It's just a hamburger."

"Well, I happen to have stocks in the Doublemeat Corporation."

Methos shook his head. "It's all about money for you, isn't it?"

"This coming from the man who tried to get me to pay back a 700 year loan, with interest?"

"But Rosa, I needed the money."
He smirked at her.
"I'm a new professor fresh off for paying my study loans."

"Oh, come off it. You're the reason they INVENTED Swiss Bank
Accounts." She gave him a smack in the arm.
"You've got more money than Bill Gates."

"Aw!"

"And don't be such a baby."

"Well, then I think we should play grown-up." Methos kissed her, pulling her into his arms.

****

"DAWN! You're going to be late for school!" Buffy shouted up the stairs.

"I'm going, I'm going!" Dawn ran down the stairs, grabbing her bag from Buffy. She threw the door open, giving a shout when she saw Methos was standing on the stoop. "Oh! Umm--- Mr-- Ummm-- Adam.
Spike's not here."

"I'm not here for ... Spike." He tilted his head, as if hearing something. "I'm here to see the Slayer."

Buffy came forward. "It's Buffy, not 'the Slayer'."

"Forgive me miss Summers. I'm just not ... accustomed to talking with Slayers. Especially ones with a life."

"How many have you known?"

He started counting of on his fingers, as if unsure ...

"Somewhat over .... 58. Could have been more. I've been avoiding them for the past thousand years."

"How old are you?!?!"

"You don't want to know," Methos said. "I need to talk to you."

"What about."She already moved inside, signaling for him to follow.

He went inside. "I want to know why you're in love with a vampire."

"A ..." She started stuttering. "I'm not in love with a vampire ... unless you mean Angel, but we broke up years ago."

"Angelus?" Methos snarled

"He's good now."

*** 1762, London ***

"Elizabeth?" Methos walked into his home. The place seemed folded in darkness, there was just one small lamp flickering just in front of the staircase.
"Honey, I'm home."

He couldn't see her, and moved up the stairs, wondering if this was another one of the little games they tended to share.
"Elizabeth?"

He opened the door, careful for the soft shriek as it hit the third floorboard and noticed a lump on the bed, covered by a sheet. He couldn't see her face, just her golden hair, resembling nothing as much as a halo surrounding her head. He smiled, wondering if she was sick for getting to bed so early and touched her face. It was cold, ... so cold. He whispered her name, lifted her face and noticed the bitemarks on her neck. He stood there, silent and cold as his mind was screaming.

It was because of this that he didn't respond when he was grabbed by the neck. Harsh arms held him close, forcing him to keep staring at his wife as she lay in the bed. She seemed so peaceful. So quiet.
Then her head moved, her eyes opened and she woke up, her face in a demonic grimace. The man holding him laughed as Methos heart beat through his chest.

Elizabeth's naked body crawled out from under the sheets, her lips frozen in lust. The stranger threw him on the bed in front of his wife and Methos couldn't even fight as she grabbed him and placed her fangs in his throat.

He was barely able to look up into the strangers face; Angelus' face branded in his memory.

But it didn't end there, now did it?
Killing him wasn't enough for Angelus, not once he found out that Methos came back again and again ... no matter how often the immortal died, it never satisfied the vampire. Angelus shared him with Elizabeth, she took the most of him and then as he too fell down, filled to the brim with the strength of the immortal blood inside of him, grabbing Elizabeth under him and taking her, making her scream his name in front of her former husband. It was only then as life was already slowly abandoning him that Angelus would throw over the scraps to Darla. A jealous Darla who held her own brand of torture for the source of her jealousy.

He'd given up hope eventually, when Angelus grew tired of the game, leaving him with his wife. Leaving him for her to play with. He no longer cried for his lost love or the freedom that seemed an eternity in the past, he just waited for the pain to end and the release of death, as temporary as it had been.

It was then when hope been at it's lowest that the door had been kicked open and Holtz had entered the room.
Methos still didn't remember ever thanking the man, he'd just ran as soon as he could. He'd watched as Elizabeth had been turned to dust and he hadn't cried for her. There had been no more tears left to shed.