Sacred Slayer
Disclaimer: Unfortunately I own nothing that can be traced to Buffy, Joss Whedon, ME, or any of those other things. The only thing I own is my imagination and writing. Oh! And all the new characters in the stories. Those are all mine. But seriously, I don't own anything of Joss'. I don't have that kind of money. Hahaha
Chapter 1- Quiet Time Broken
May 2005--1 Year After the battle in LA
Chloe bounded down the stairs making sure she took a leap past the last four. When she entered the kitchen she got herself some breakfast and settled in to read, like most mornings. It was quiet and she was the only one in the household that really enjoyed the morning. However, to spite her good mood, this day decided to be different and instead of the still quietness of the daybreak she was used to, there was a loud clomping of feet. The kind of clomping that hits the stairs in exactly the right spot, making her ears want to shrivel up.
Just great. Her head fell into her arm on the counter. Her much "extended" family crowded into the kitchen.
"Hey, Chlo!" Xander said in a slightly cheery voice. Chloe could tell that he had gotten very little sleep that night, which made her question the early wake-age even more.
Chloe's hand rose into the air, gave a quick wave, and fell back to meet her head. "Hello usually-dead-in-the-morning people! Can't imagine why you all would be up this early…"She finally raised her head and look around at the people now occupying the kitchen. One would never know by just looking at the group, but the mix was actually quite funny. There were two slayers, a mystical key, and a one eyed, patch covered, ordinary man standing all next to each other. Despite her earlier irritancy at being interrupted, Chloe laughed.
The somewhat cheery mood was hit messily against the wall and fell into tiny pieces when two seemingly annoyed and extremely annoying voices echoed from the living room. Gee. I wonder who that could be; she thought to herself and sighed.
"Okay, just because I got some action last night doesn't mean you get to mope around like some depressed teenager." Buffy exclaimed.
"But I called him! Do you know how badly I needed to give a good pounding?"
"I will disregard that creepy sounding undertone because of the sense it doesn't make." They entered the room, one after the other. Buffy was of course in the lead shaking her head. "Maybe you can explain it when you are snogging him."
The conversation came to halt, "Wait," Spike said when he finally entered. "Now, that didn't make sense."
Buffy was quiet for a moment, thinking over what she had just said, then she smiled stupidly at herself. "I know. Wow!"
Spike closed in on Buffy and pushed up against the doorway. "Plus, no matter how bad I "wanted" him, the satisfaction of killing him could never replace the eternal joy I feel when I snog YOU, luv." She barely even had a chance to retort with a scoff before he attacked her with his lips and Xander let his eye roll, covering it with his hands. Chloe could tell the situation was going to get heated way too fast and to save herself from seeing anything that would destroy her teenage days, she tried to get their attention.
She clapped loudly, "Okay parentals!" She shouted over the occasional moan. "Your only daughter is in the room and would like very much if she could wait to see this stuff between other people…."
Unwillingly, Spike and Buffy tore themselves from each other. "Right" Spike said, getting over the uncomfortable tone that had taken over the room. He scratched his head, not knowing what to say but carrying his trademark smirk just below his nose.
Chloe rolled her eyes in attempt to show them her annoyance. "Why is everyone in this house up early today?" Her attempt to change the subject worked.
"Hey!" Xander said defensively. "I would much rather be bundled up in a comfy bed, but Buffster here decided it would be funny to have Spike throw his glass of water on me!" He huffed and sat down next to Chloe at the island, eyeing Spike skeptically.
Buffy, who, up to this point had been leaning quietly against the doorway with her arms crossed, sprung forward.
"Excuse me!" She exclaimed instantly. "First of all, I had a good reason for that. Well, not the whole dumping water on you thing, but the waking you up thing. Secondly. Spike would not have been so inclined to dump said water on you, which I had nothing to do with thank you very much, if you hadn't of done the whole shaving cream on the hand thing." She looked at both of them accusingly. "Ever since you guys started getting along, you've been acting like frat brothers. None of it is my fault." Everybody was staring at her now, surprised by her ranting that early. She looked around and went back to her prior concern. "Actually, I woke you all up because Giles called about half an hour ago and said he had something to show us or tell us or something along those lines. I think one of those two. So he should be here any minute. You can all blame him when he does."
As they waited for Giles to arrive everyone decided to get started on breakfast, ruining any chance Chloe had at peace and quiet. The kitchen got louder as the minutes stretched on and she had just decided to wait for Giles up in her room. Naturally, she never got the chance to step out the room.
A knock at the kitchen door interrupted the fevered talking. Without waiting for an answer, the kitchen door swung open and Andrew walked in.
"Hello fellow enlightened ones," he greeted with his usual perkiness. It always made Chloe smile, reminding her of the first time she ever saw him. He had been running up the walkway with extreme excitement. When he hit the top step he tumbled face forward to the ground. Chloe realized then that Andrew in no way could ever be embarrassed. His personality refused to let it happen.
The rest of group stared blankly at him. "Enlightened to darkness? Creepy crawlies…the dead?" he tried to explain his train of thought, which for him was a complicated process. He gave up and shook his head. "Forget it. My jokes are passed you."
Spikes eyebrows peaked and dropped and he turned away. His arm was lying comfortably over Buffy's back and his fingers combed through the locks of hair covering her neck. He joined in on Buffy's conversation with Dawn, referencing to some past experience she would never understand. A sigh broke loose. Spike's head whipped around in her direction. She knew he had sensed it and tried to act nonchalant as he walked up. His hand trailed over Buffy's shoulder somehow letting her know he was going somewhere.
Her hair was now the target for his hand as is arm came around; though it was a very different connection. He tousled her hair. "What's on your mind, lightning?" Chloe looked up at him, seeing the one thing in his eyes that was always constant. They were always full of love. They varied through dozens of different kinds. It amazed her that his eyes changed with his mood and were unique for each person. The affection in his eyes for Xander was totally unlike the look he gave her mom.
Chloe shrugged her shoulders in response. "Mostly nothing."
He made a sort of humph sound. "I don't believe that." A smile played on his lips.
She mockingly pointed at him, "You always know when I'm lying to you. It's getting kind of scary."
"Well one thing I have come to learn about slayers is that there is always something on their minds. It doesn't matter whether they say so or not." He smiled and squeezed her shoulders. "And I decided that i's my duty to get it out of them." He pointed to her mom. "That one is still a little tough sometimes."
Chloe smiled at his attempt to lighten up her mood. Buffy looked up only a second after Spike's comment and looked at him. He raised his signature eyebrow.
"And what do you think is on her mind at the moment?" She asked him even though she knew exactly what it was. He turned his attention back to her.
"Only one way to find out, yah?" He replied. Then he excused himself and made his way around the kitchen island and grabbed Buffy's hand. They disappeared into the living room. A surprised yelp from Xander confirmed what they were up to. He came back into the kitchen where everyone was waiting after hearing his interjection.
"I swear they do it to annoy me." He frowned and made his way to the refrigerator.
As they stepped outside onto the porch, the wind rushed passed them. Spike took in a big breath. His eyes closed when his skin took in the light sun creeping over the hills. The heat still made his limbs ache but when the light was faint and illuminating the shadows, it was one of the bets feelings he could ever experience. He was lifted from his trance. Buffy's hand slid into his, which also happened to be one of his favorite feelings. His eyes opened to see her other hand tracing the sunlight on his arm.
"It's still incredible to see. Even after all this time." she said softly with an amazed look in her eyes.
"Barely been a year, luv. You'll get used to it." he told her mesmerized still by her gentleness toward him.
"I don't think I ever will. I don't mean I won't ever get used to it, but it will always amaze me." She led him over to the bench on the porch. When they were comfortable, he asked her, "So, why is Giles coming over? Bringing bad news as usual?"
"He really didn't tell me. He just asked if I would be home. But knowing Giles, I'm guessing it's trouble." She smiled and shook her head groaning. "God I hope not."
Spike was opening his mouth when a jeep pulled into their driveway and stopped. The door threw open and Giles stepped out. Buffy jumped off of the bench and walked over to give Giles a hug. They exchanged their hellos. Spike stalked up to them after a moment.
"'lo Rupe." Spike nodded.
"Good to see you Spike." Giles replied with a grin.
The door to the house opened and Chloe paraded through. "Giles!" She exclaimed, and launched herself into his arms. When she let go, he had to catch his breath.
"Slayers should never attack a watcher." He complained." Especially when they are the daughter of both a slayer and a vampire. It's bloody deadly." He sent a knowing look over to the two. Then he looked at Dawn, who was walking out of the house. "Didn't hurt that much when you used to do it."
She pointed at herself. "Hey. No super powers here. I'm super strength free. Shopping however? I'm all over that one."
Giles laughed and kissed her on the top of her head. The group headed inside. Chloe closed the door but before it shut she saw a face peeking out of a half open window of Giles's car. She shrugged it off and joined the antics in the kitchen. Xander had just said something that got an eye roll from both Spike and Giles. Again she guessed it was something that related back to the Sunnydale time. The noise quieted when she sat down at the table. That's when she knew they were mentioning it. They wanted to include her but couldn't. They thought it was more probable to stop talking when she entered. She couldn't stand it. To break the silence, she asked a question.
"So Giles, what's the news?" This directed the attention away from her, which was good. She hated the spotlight.
"Right, well. I'll just jump into it then." Giles replied. He took his glasses off for their ritual cleaning.
"Well, you don't usually leave a lot of leisure time." Spike joked.
"Well, yes, I suppose not." Giles replied. "Regardless, the council, as you know, has been working on developing a way to locate all the potentials."
"Slayers!" Buffy corrected. "I thought Willz was already doing that though."
"I've tried to reason with them, but just because their headquarters got blown up, it doesn't mean that those who are left are any more trustworthy. They don't think it's efficient enough apparently." Giles explained while he sat down on the couch. A chuckle emitted from Spike and Xander. "We recently located a girl from Montana. Her parents were killed in an accident, but she and her brother both survived, much to the surprise of the medics."
"Touching and great story," Buffy commented, "but why are you telling us?" She sounded intrigued but like she already knew what he was going to say. "And is there any reason it had to be this early?
"I'd like you to take them in with you." Giles explained.