I was asked to include a bathroom scene as a nod to Bones season three finale. If you haven't seen it watch it. I have a general idea where this story is going but am willing to listen to suggestions, reviews are always welcome especially as first posted story.
Chapter four : A question of souls and answers
Buffy plonked down on the chair exhausted, Wes looked seeing the exhaustion, "When was the last time you rested ?" This earned a small smile, "When I was dead," almost as if to prove it her cell went off .
Buffy stood and listened as Willow told her all about what was going on in Sunnydale. Buffy listened wondering when her house became a boarding house for potentials what she did catch from the conversation though was the judgement in her friends voice. Events catching up with her, her tone was a little sharp, "Listen Will at the moment its training and research not my gig, it's yours and Giles," she sighed trying a different tack. "Look LA has no sun, a rampant stone beast, his master is loose plus the potential damage of Angelus it's not like this is a booty call," she broke the connection before she could loose her temper.
Wes caught the conversation and was surprised he could here the building conflict, he'd thought he'd never seen as strong a bond as the one that existed between the scoobies.
"Is everything okay?" he asked his former charge.
"No I have two apocalypses to deal with and Angelus is enjoying screwing with me through the bond. On top of that my so called friends are listening to a group of scared teenagers that are boarding at my house because they are potentials and the first evils minions are hunting them,"
Wesley listened and could her the bitterness and now knew that there had been a fundamental shift in the dynamics of the group "So what will happen?"
Buffy thought, then deciding gloominess wasn't the solution so she stood up, "Well Con will find Angels soul, we'll deal with LA then I'm hoping you'll help us in Sunnydale,"
Wesley knew she was trying to deflect "I meant with the scoobies,"
He saw the sadness in her eyes "People will die and I'll be the scapegoat the one to blame despite the fact that I have fought and died for this world several times over. I'll learn that my family is Connor and Angel and I suspect my friends are you guys, the others I'm tempted to say screw them but I'm Buffy so I'll forgive,"
He was overwhelmed by the maturity being shown by the former slayer "Personally I'd be honoured to come and help you," Buffy grinned knowing that he was cheering her up, the Texan girl added"I won't mind I like research and Charles likes a fight," .
Connor ran down the stairs in his hand carrying the vessel, it was the first bit of good news Buffy had had and smiled knowing she'd be able to gain some balance. "Lets get your dads soul back," . The timid Texan girl spoke "If the master is in Cordy then I suggest Angels soul is returned quickly,"
Buffy thought she was right, she took the necklace off Connor and placed it around her neck taking some small comfort from the fact that it would be safe. "Phone the shaman I suggest he gets here post haste,"
The group broke up leaving Connor and Buffy watching a now tied up Lilah.
As the woman woke up she saw the pair grinning, Connor in his mothers presence was most certainly coming out of his shell. "Mom this is Lilah, Lilah my mother,"
The lawyer was still a little rattled she didn't understand how the slayer had been resurrected but her nature was to try and rattle her opponents.
"How can you the great vampire slayer be mated to the scourge of Europe,"
Buffy recognised the game of baiting an opposition she'd used it herself, and having dealt with Angelus this was a walk in the park grinning widely and giving a simple answer," Love,"
This earned a vicious smirk "Well your precious love took up with his resurrected sire and Connor is the result,"
Buffy ignored the dishevelled lawyer and spoke to Connor "She's not the sharpest cookie,", he shrugged "Nope but still least the beast did us a favour destroying the office I know it was on Dads to-do list,"
Lilah was confused she was missing something the slayer was calm and a grin crossed the petite slayers face that actually reminded her of the caged demon, "Your precious resurrected bitch was used to carry my child. I'm a slayer and as such can't have them,"
Lilah was outraged "We were used by good,"
Connor couldn't't help but laugh "She makes it sound so dirty,"
The conversations continuance was stopped though with the arrival of the Shaman. The group as a whole descended the Shaman was ready and Buffy asked hoping "I don't suppose you can make his soul permanent?"
The shaman smiled at the comment "Yes you and your mate have been apart too long but you will enjoy an eternity together,". He started the spell and Connor squeezed her hand in comfort knowing how much this must be killing his mom. The spell completed and Buffy gave a sigh of relief, for the first time since arriving she felt her equilibrium return. His soulful eyes turned on her "Buffy," she stepped over the line in to the cage and he stroked her cheek.. To her it was sinful how much emotion he could evoke with just her name. They stepped closer to each other and like of old the world disappeared just before they could kiss Connor cleared his throat, "What was that rule about making out in front of the kids?". The couple broke apart a little embarrassed but Buffy gave Angel a cheeky grin, "Later, I'll settle for a hug,", which they did. The hug gathered different reactions from the group Lorne and Shaman seeing auras smiled and were amazed by the strength of the bond between the warriors. Connor was a little embarrassed after all it was his parents, Fred was amazed it was the most emotion ever shown by her boss.
He turned to the group "Right catch me up," Lorne delivered the news in his straight laced way, "Well the slayerkins came helped keep your Jekyll under control, realised she's a mom and identified the fact that the master is in fact in everyone's favourite seer,"
It took him several moments for him to digest all the info, "In that case we need to see if we can find a way to split the master from Cordy, and …." Connor not wanting the chance of having to do research and seeing a way out, "Yeah in that case Dad me and mom can go beast hunting," Buffy couldn't't help but smile at both the smile and the exasperation that crossed her lovers face.. She just smiled "It's the axe I gave him, the potential of axe v book, axe will win every time,"
Angel seeing a loosing battle and not a little elated by the fact that Connor was finally accepting him. "Be careful Son, and you missy don't show off," The others looked as if the world had ended hearing Angel tease, Buffy more than equal to the occasion, she gave a three fingered salute, "I do solemnly swear not to use up any of my immortal life," taking advantage of the distraction pulled him down for a kiss. She then turned to stock herself up with weapons, "Oh and sweetheart call me missy again and you won't get any for a decade,"
With that the pair left, Angel asked "How did they bond so quick?" . Fred spoke up "Well he was impressed by how she dealt with Angelus, then you have the maternal bond but honestly I think it was the battle axe she gave him,"
Angel knew that they had to find out if there was a way to save Cordy, Wes spoke up "first something's up with the group in Sunnydale," Angel listened with growing anger at how they had treated Buffy Wesley seeing this distracted him, "Lilah is chained upstairs Buffy knocked her out earlier,"
They went upstairs Lilah frowned when she realised Angel was back . He spoke menacingly "How do I separate the Demon and Cordy,"
Lilah knew that she had nothing to gain "The girl is suppose to ascend the master just hijacked the body the women you knew is dead,"
All the AI gang reeled knowing they had no choice Angel went over to the weapons cabinet "Then I have no choice,". Lilah asked "How did you know?"
None of the group could answer because only Buffy could truly answer. "Know what?" . Cordy asked from the doorway still trying to play innocent, "That you're a really ugly demon that choose to seduce my son,"
She knew the game was up, "How did you know?" the voice resonating no longer human.. Angel trying to get closer "Buffy sensed you,"
"How rich like your precious slayer is normal," the point was meant to rattle him, but having seen the sun return he just gave her a charming smile and he couldn't't help but enjoy the thought of eternity with his mate.
The sun filtered through Angel his grin changing from charming to cheeky, "Buffy felt that she was too young to be a mother let alone a grandmother."
The façade dropped the demon smirked "Take a look outside you can't stop me,"
They did but they couldn't help but smile seeing that the sun had returned the beast was dead. Angel smiled starting to relax a little"You gotta love mother son bonding," Wes relieved that part of the apocalypse was over, "Never have I loved it more," was Wes's well timed comment.
The distraction was all that Gunn needed to knife her, they watched in awe as the body morphed into pure energy and left through the opening that Buffy and Connor had created by coming back. Angel took in the goo ridden appearance of his well 'wife' and son. Connor grinned "Good news the beast is dead," Buffy added though ,"Bad news demon goo has wrecked yet another coat,".
Angel realised "You must be exhausted let me show you where you can clean up," the group watched as they left. Connor just huffed "I'll find my own way then,"
Gunn just grinned realising that Buffy made Angel happy, "Connor judging from their looks I'd avoid their room for the next few hours,"
Wes nodded "Yes I believe they need to catch up, Buffy did ask if we could help her with a brewing apocalypse,"
Gunn just grinned "New apocalypse, more fighting I'm in, besides the way I see it Blondie saved our asses,"
Lilah spoke up "Since I'm indebted I can help you, get your repentant slayer out, two's got to be better than one in any apocalypse,"
Wesley released her "Gunn if you feel up to it can you go with :Lilah,"
Angel's room Angel helped Buffy out of her clothes as she was stiff and into the bath. There was no awkwardness or embarrassment they knew each other intimately after all, Buffy looked up at him admiring him and letting all the tension flow away, "I Love you now and forever," The smile he gave in return "As I love you beloved, Care to explain why I can stay with you forever,". He tried to make the question light but in his heart he was curious.
Buffy knew they needed to have this chat but god she'd missed him "Join me, and give me my ring back and I'll tell you everything," As he shrugged off his clothing to join her, Buffy breath caught she remembered every line of his body but still in front of him.
He understood taking the ring around his neck "So you know what this means?". She smiled "The fact that according to the customs of your time we've been married since 17, oh yeah, I want my ring back mister,". Buffy watched as the emotion's played across his face as he slid the ring back on her finger the overwhelming one was passion, she slid her hand round the back of his head for a kiss, only reluctantly breaking it with her need to have oxygen.
Sighing she started to explain " I was in heaven but Willow did a spell and I was ripped from heaven, What they don't know is that the fates decreed that since my deaths wouldn't stick I'd loose the chance," she could see he was sad for her she gently put a hand up to his lips. "It was okay at the time I was told it was a gift for me and my champion, I now understand what they mean, you and Connor are my everything," Angel was awed at the love and vowed he would spend the rest of eternity vowing to show her that it was returned. Angel continued then "Your stronger though a vampire can always sense a slayer but the strength coming from you almost makes my demon half cringe if it wasn't for the fact it senses you're my mate,"
She giggled the idea of Angelus cringing was just too funny but coming back to herself she explained "Remember my crack about bionic vampire slayer. Well what it actually is I have the first slayers essence I was given it by the shadow men to fight the First Evil. It's strange you know it actually works almost like a vampire I can sense and help all of my line," . Then a smile came on her face "Faiths here,"
Angel was speechless, but could see the advantages and the reasons for Buffy to be given the gifts that she had. Angel pouted "Guess that means we should go and greet our guest," Buffy stood already healed "Don't worry sweetheart I intend to finish what we started tonight," Then standing don't suppose I can borrow a shirt till my clothes are cleaned.
Angel definitely liked the idea of her wearing his shirt "What yours is mine mo grhea,". They each dressed not watching the other not from modesty but rather so they would actually leave the room.
Chapter 5 Sister slayers
Faith entered the Hyperion sensing her sister slayer, she could also sense a power increase she hadn't understood what had happened but she was glad that she could fight again she was becoming restless. She saw Wesley who greeted her warmly "We are glad you're here we'll bring you up to speed," Faith grinned looking around the table noticing the noticeable absences "Please tell me B has finally got her man, and some action it works well for both maybe she and Angie won't mope,"
The youngest boy wrinkled his nose in disgust, the action reminded her of B but he looked like Angel it seems broodiness was in fact genetic. "Please I'm still getting used to having a mother those are images I don't need,"
Faith reeled the boy was B and Angels she couldn't wait to see as she explained this to watcher man Giles and see his head explode.
Her musing were broken though "You know Connor your safe for now, Faith looking good,"
Faith grinned and was relieved it seems the blonde slayer was harbouring no ill feelings. Then again it could be the Angel cloud she was inhabiting, she'd never seen Buffy so happy or the vampire and it seemed neither was willing to let go of the others hand.
Faith spoke up so "You have a brewing apocalypse a group of potentials stuck at your house. Who need training. Wow no wonder you wanted to find another apocalypse," Buffy laughed it was so Faith "Yep still I got a son and husband in the bargain, listen when I get back I fully expect a mutiny lead them the best you can I have bone to pick with someone before I'll deal with supposed friends,"
Faith eyebrows shot up she had never known a tighter group but its seems Buffy could sense something a foot. "When we get there I'll drop you at mine you can have my room, There will be a bunch of accusations from tired and scared and I will leave.," taking a breath she carried on "I need to find my weapon that the bastard preacher is hiding but I now know where it is. Hopefully I can get it with out casualties,". Faith though was horrified she loved B like a sister and the fact that she could see a becoming betrayal angered her "B your like a sister I refuse to betray you after the chances you've given me,"
Buffy was pleased that Faith was still on her side, "I know but they need someone to protect them I won't leave them despite the shit they put me through I'll be fighting just from a different angle with Angel and the gang. Hopefully they'll get there heads out there asses before anyone gets really hurt," Angel gave her hand a gentle squeeze as reassurance.
Faith nodded in understanding "They need to understand that it is war and despite the best that we do we can't save every soul,". Angel knew then that the faith that he'd put in the brunette slayer was being repaid.
Wesley spoke up "We can be packed up and ready to leave within an hour," Connor grinned "If Mom lets us use the SUV then we can stock up leaving you and Dad to chat.
Angel loved watching the machinations of his team working, the weapons and important. Charles grabbing so many weapons that he could be an extra in a terminator movie "Roll on Sunnydale apocalypse.
