12/30: ah, minor edit. For some reason, I originally remembered it as Dawn's birthday during Older & Far away and not Buffy's...oops. It's been a while since I've watched season 6. I've made the appropriate changes in order to stick to canon.

Chapter Two

As luck would have it, Emma did not need to aim for the heart.

Their blonde vampire, even outnumbered six-to-one, made quick work of the enemy. Each burst into a cloud of dust, like exploding fireworks, their demise momentarily frozen, a glittering imprint, before vanishing into the evening air.

It was almost pretty.

Once everything settled, it was undeniable that this vampire was no ordinary vampire. But, most importantly, Emma believed they were not about to end up on his dinner menu, which made him an ally worth having.

"Emma Swan." She stepped forward, wooden stake held out as a peace offering. "And this is Killian Jones."

Spike, face melting back into its original countenance, studied the peculiar pair before him. They did not seem shocked at all by the existence of vampires. On the contrary, almost sagaciously, he sensed Emma's magic. Her aura was alive with it, that unnameable electric current, however bottled by some invisible cork. Her stance was tall, assertive even, with a face framed by waves of wheat. A strong woman. Spike instantly liked her. Now, her companion, no matter how ridiculously dressed, was a different story. His demeanor more deserving of suspicion. For there was an unquestionable darkness visible in the depths of his eyes—an old soul—and Spike, even without a soul of his own, knew time could only hold the most sinister of secrets.

"Spike." He introduced himself at last, lips smug, choosing not to take the peace offering. "You best keep that, love. In case of a rainy day."

Emma shrugged and slid the stake into her jacket, feeling incredibly awkward. It was only fifteen minutes ago that she had this Spike pinned to the ground, assuming domestic abuse, rather than a vampire scuffle.

"Is this…Sunnydale…filled with things other than vampires?"

"This and that." Spike conceded, gesturing them to follow his lead. "I assume you're not familiar with this part of California?"

"Oh, California! No. You're right. We're not that familiar." Emma's relief was palpable. Perhaps they simply were just transported across country. She traded a hooded glance with Hook, who, up to this point, had opted to remain eerily silent. "We seem to have gotten a bit lost and…"

"That's an understatement." Killian grumbled. He was tired of her failed attempts at gathering any useful information. This was not some minor mishap at Granny's. Nor were they dealing with some ignoramus. If this so-called Sunnydale had vampires, it also had to have magic. Good thing he was here to get to the point, because Swan bloody well wasn't.

"What my lady actually wants to say is she got herself, mind you, despite my warning—" He clarified charmingly, raising a conspiring brow Spike's way, all the while prepared for Emma's retaliation which he blocked with the curve of his hook. "—sucked into some witch's portal. Dashingly, I followed after her. And poof. Here we are. And, as interesting as this Sunnydale seems, you must understand our need to return, aye? Can you be of service, mate?"

"I've always said, 'Never trust a witch'." The vampire agreed, all for a little camaraderie, as it was confirmed what was suspect all along—they did not belong here. "Flattered an' all, but you don't want my help."

"Why not?" Emma demanded, her long legs easily able to keep the pace Spike had set. By now, the unlikely trio had made their way toward the far end of the cemetery and, newly visible, started onto a road which wound its way into the center of town. "Then where are you taking us?"

"To the Slayer." Spike said, reading her look of alarm, hazel eyes like an open book. "No need to worry, love. My guess is you 'n her will be two bloody righteous peas-in-a-pod."

(888)

As they came upon Revello Drive, it was clear that this was not where either had envisioned the Slayer to be found. Suburbia. Wasn't that what they called it? The street was empty, all but for the occasional parked car, dividing an endless stretch of lawns with identically manicured grass and shrubbery. The night air, a cacophony of television sets and sprinklers, hummed beneath the heat, an entity of its own.

Their guide led them down a walkway, where two palm trees stood sentry over a white sided two-story house, its windows luminous in the darkness. While fairly grand, the house did not seem particularly special. The mailbox read: Summers; and Hook, thinking back to the cemetery, wondered if that was a common name in these parts.

Spike slipped into the shadows, clearly a path he knew well, and sidled around the back of the house. The yard, dimensions reasonable, was marked only by a lone set of patio furniture. Ascending a quaint deck, he advised them to hang back, before knocking twice with an assertive fist.

"Spike!" A voice hissed, the door opening a crack. "I thought I told you not—"

"I know, I know. Sodding 'ell, I didn't plan on crashing your big day. But you best come out here. It's important."

There was a pause, a lengthy feminine sigh, and then the tiniest of women, flaxen hair swaying hypnotically above a delicate collarbone, stepped out and shut the door quickly behind her.

"All right, Spike. You have two minutes." She warned, placing a hand on his chest, touch lingering.

She studied his face. Relieved to see only a shadow of the damage she caused the previous week. But, because it was Spike, she suppressed those pesky feelings of regret.

"Glad to know your vampire healing's up to speed. You better be here with news of some impending apocalypse and not in hopes of a quick—"

"Buffy." Spike chided, pleasantly surprised when she allowed him to close the space between them. "I think you've missed me."

It was true. She had missed him. More specifically, she had missed his mouth and all the dirty things it could talk her into as of late.

In fact, she was contemplating if she was daring enough to allow him a kiss in the open before pulling him into the safety of the shadowed yard, when she caught sight of their additional company. Nearly jumping out of her skin, she was quick to establish a more acceptable circle of personal space as a telltale blush blossomed across her cheeks.

"Oh! Didn't know you brought company. Uh, hi?" Buffy looked beseechingly from Spike to Emma to Hook and back again. Clearly uncertain, Spidey-sense un-tingling, what to make of these two humans.

Were they friends of Spike?! Did Spike even have any friends for that matter? Oh, yes! Clem. But, hello! Clem was a demon, albeit a friendly demon, but still a demon. No, they could not be friends of Spike. There was a far greater chance they were part of some twisted scheme rather than just simple friends of Spike.

"Now, now, love. No need to feel embarrassed. " He motioned for them to come closer, clearly reveling in her discomfort as he made the proper introductions. "Emma. Killian. Meet the Slayer."

"Ah, yes. The Slayer! That's me. The one and only. But you can call me Buffy. All my friends do. Unless I'm wrong to assume our interactions will be friend-ly-ish?"

"Definitely friendly." Emma assured, all business. "Spike said you could help us. We somehow were transported-"

"By magic." Killian inserted, then frowned, wheels spinning. "Buffy Summers? We landed near a grave that said-"

"Yep. Totally my grave. Funny, I've actually died before, no grave though. How'd it look? Maybe I should spruce it up with some flowers?" She deadpanned, tilting her head thoughtfully, before realizing she just completely wigged them out. "Ah, sorry, long story. One you probably don't want to-"

"Buffy? Are you out here?" The back door swung open dramatically, revealing one equally dramatic teenager. "Everyone's looking for you-Oh, Spike! You came! With friends!"

"Course I did, Nibblet. Wouldn't dare miss Big Sis's twenty-first." Spike grinned and changing course, wrapped a protective arm around Dawn. He ushered her back inside, throwing a not too apologetic look over his shoulder.

Buffy sighed and welcomed Hook and Emma with a defeated shrug.

"Hope you like birthday cake."