Disclaimer: I own nothing yadda yadda yadda, just playing with Joss' creations and all that.

A/N: 18 days? Oh my word. I am so sorry! I started a new job on the 6th and between the money issues and fitting family time, I've had zero time for my stories! I have been able to squeeze in five minutes for chapter outline, but I told myself off today and ordered myself to sit down and write. So I'm writing. And I hope you all enjoy. As always, reviews are very appreciated, even if you start it with scolding me for my tardiness!


Not Your Shoe Size Part Seven


Zant smiled cruelly as the tiny red headed witch beamed at him and then skipped off ahead up to the front door of 1680 Revello Drive. His smile was twisted and full of sharp teeth, but all she would have seen if she'd looked back, was her elfin like friend, who greatly resembled a childhood hero, smiling warmly with neat human teeth and soft eyes. He marvelled at the innocence that made his appearance so askew to the children he hunted. A perfect predators weapon.

She stood by the door, and he watched as the air shifted, the sense of magic mildly filling his senses. He could hear her whispering the words he had taught her, pronouncing them perfectly. Willow was a marvellous student; that he could not deny. His species had a unique ability, beyond the manipulation of perception; he was able to sense a child's potential. He could not pinpoint exact events, but he knew whether a child was to become greatness and could sense their strengths. Little Willow had many paths laid out before her. If Zant were not planning on devouring her soul and all of her potential.

As he watched, the house lights flickered and then stabilised, and the front door creaked open. Little Willow disappeared inside and Zant licked his lips in anticipation. Not long now, and he would have the power to return his family to this plane.

The cruel smile fixed on his face, he disappeared into the darkness to prepare.


Spike looked down at Angel, worry creasing his forehead as he nudged the older vampire yet again. Connor screamed from upstairs, and he heard the other children yelling. But Angel wasn't waking up.

The front door opened and shut above him and he decided quickly that maybe it would take the other grown ups to wake Angel up. So he turned and pelted up the stairs as fast as his legs would carry him. He'd only been downstairs with Angel because Xander was mean to him and everyone had been on edge with Willow still missing and unknown demons running around. Giles had made him very uncomfortable, so he'd retreated to the basement to talk to Angel. They'd been talking about Angel's adventures in a submarine when the elder vamp had suddenly fallen asleep.

Entering the kitchen revealed Xander with his finger in a peanut butter jar. The dark haired boy scowled at him and then replaced the jar on the island as he watched the other little boy head out of the room, shaking his head as he went. He ground to a halt as he saw the red headed witch in the front room, her eyes wide and worried. Buffy was standing with her arms folded, and a frown on her face.

'Willow came back.' Buffy stated, not removing her eyes from the little redhead. Spike nodded slowly.

'Where were you?' Tara asked quietly, standing slightly behind Buffy. Anya remained slouched on the sofa, watching Connor squirm and giggle on the floor on a blanket, his toys scattered around him. Cordelia was in the armchair by the tv, asleep. Spike frowned at that, and moved over to the lady, tugging on her sleeve. She simply snored and rolled her head to the other side. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a pair of feet sticking out from the dining room, and he quickly ran to the room, finding Dawn asleep on the floor, a small amount of drool pooling in the corner of her mouth. Giles, Wesley and Fred were all face down on the books, apparently also in a deep sleep.

'Where's Gunn?' Buffy asked, having come up behind Spike. 'All the grown ups must be really tired.'

'I think it's a spell.' Spike murmured.

'No it's not.' Willow said, folding her arms. The little vampire turned to her.

'How would you know?' Spike replied, ignoring Xander as he walked in from the kitchen.

'Why are all the growed up asleep?' The brunette boy asked, looking around the room. He spied Willow and smiled brightly. 'Willow! You came back!'

'Yeah. Of course I came back.' She smiled at her oldest friend. The smile disappeared as Buffy stepped in front of her.

'Where were you?' She demanded again. Willow shrank a little, then remembered her job and the adventure, and her posture became bold again.

'A man came to see me. He said we're all going on an adventure.'

'Uh, anyone remember "stranger danger"?' Anya piped up. 'Plus, it's dark out.'

'No, we'll be safe.' Willow clarified, raising her palms. 'I promise. Zant is like Peter Pan. And we're going to be the Lost Boys. We'll be home before anyone realises, just like in the story. It'll be fun.'

'I remember the story.' Spike said. 'The Lost Boys never went home.' Buffy looked between him and the redhead, concern flooding her features.

'Yes they did. They all got homes and were happy forever.' Willow said, frowning at Spike's dispute of her story. She had to get them to leave soon, otherwise Zant might not be in the playground waiting for them. She looked over at Xander. 'Xander, you know how much we like adventures. No one will know. Zant promised that we would fight pirates and swim with mermaids. Just like in the stories I read to you.'

'Really?' Xander seemed excited by the prospect. Until he saw that the other children were not experiencing the same excitement. He quietened and cleared his throat.

'I mean it guys. It's an adventure. Like the ones in the Disney films. We'll all have fun!' Willow smiled brightly as she described the plan, and Buffy narrowed her eyes again.

'I don't think it's a good idea.' Buffy said, looking over at her sisters feet. 'All of the grown ups have fallen asleep. They'd be worried when they wake up.'

'They won't wake up.' Willow scoffed, and then backtracked at her mistake. 'I mean, they will, when we get back.'

'But we can't just leave the baby.' Tara said, moving backwards a little. Willow shook her head.

'We don't have to. Connor can come with us.' Willow knew she had Xander convinced. Anya would follow anyway so she wasn't left out and Tara probably would too. The hard ones were Buffy and Spike, and Zant had made it clear that if one stayed behind, none of them would get to go on the adventure. 'Come on Buffy! Don't you want an adventure? Don't you want to see fairies and mermaids?' She jumped a little as she spoke to the tiny blonde, knowing if she could sway Buffy, Spike would follow her.

Buffy chewed her lip, looking around at all of them. 'I guess...maybe we could go for a little? If we're back soon, then the grown ups won't know?'

'They won't!' Willow promised. 'It'll be fun!'

'And we have to take Connor's formula.' Tara said, picking the baby up off the floor and holding him tight. He gurgled and dribbled onto her top, pulling at her hair as she smiled at him.

'Maybe we should take the pram?' Willow thought. 'He's going to get heavy and we're only little. But we can push him along. Cordy let Tara do it at the park.' Tara agreed, and Xander quickly retrieved the stroller from it's resting place against the dining room wall. On his way back over, he tripped on Dawn's foot and she stirred, grunting and rolling over.

Five minutes later, Connor had his coat on and was strapped into the buggy, and the six children were heading out the door, Willow and Xander giggling excitedly, Tara following and pushing Connor along, barely able to see over the top of the buggy, Anya behind her, following the crowd and at the back of the small group, Buffy and Spike followed, their faces serious and concerned.

In the dining room of the Summers' house, Dawn groaned and rolled over, throwing her arm over her eyes as she snored softly in her sleep.


'Hey, Tara.' Spike overtook Anya suddenly, making Buffy jump as he spoke. 'Let me push that.' He motioned towards the buggy that the small blonde was struggling with. She smiled gratefully as he took over pushing. 'Way I understand it, Connor's like my brother. So I should be the one pushing him.'

'That's cool, S-spike.' She stuttered a little, and carried on walking beside him. Connor gurgled happily and pulled at the toy dangling from the hood of the pram.

'He seems happy.' Buffy noted as she caught up to them. 'Being a baby is so easy. Not like being five. You have to learn stuff when you're five.'

'Angel taught me how to punch properly earlier.' Spike announced proudly.

'He asked if I wanted to do that. But girls don't fight.' Buffy turned her nose up. 'I'm going to be an ice skater.'

'But you're the Slayer.' Spike said, wrinkling his nose at her. 'You can't be both.'

'Yes I can too!' Buffy said, stopping and putting her hands on her hips. Her voice got louder and caught the attention of Willow and Xander. 'I can be whatever I want to be. My mommy said so!'

'Guys!' Willow interrupted, waving them to be quiet. 'We're nearly there but we have to be quiet. Other grown ups are still awake!' Spike narrowed his eyes at the witch but didn't say anything.

'Where exactly are we going?' Anya asked, sounding very bored with the whole situation. Willow turned fiery eyes on her as she spoke.

'The playground.'

'The playground?' Anya scoffed. 'We went there the other day. It was boring! I thought you said this would be an adventure.'

'The adventure isn't in the playground, stupid.' Willow ignored the anger on Anya's face at being called stupid. 'It's just where we are meeting Zant.' Spike looked to Buffy, worry clouding his gaze and she nodded in acknowledgement. Neither of them were entirely comfortable with the situation, or this mysterious "Zant". Willow sighed. 'Come on guys. I promise you it's safe. But we need to get there soon.' She turned and started walking again. Tara followed, concern also evident on her little face. The other children followed behind, their innate fear of everything around them beginning to cloud their minds.

Five minutes later, they arrived at the playground. It was cold and deserted as they entered the gates, and Connor began to fuss quietly as they stopped by the sandpit. Tara pulled out his bottle from the travel bag and gave it to him, smiling as he began to drink greedily. Spike and Buffy stood close together near the pram containing the baby, as the dark seemed to close in around them. Willow turned around, worry setting into her expression as she didn't see Zant anywhere.

'I thought you said he'd be here, Wills?' Xander whimpered quietly, reaching out for his best friend's hand. Willow waved him off.

'He may be late.' What if we missed him? We won't get to go on an adventure afterall. She felt like crying at the thought. She'd been so excited. Everything she'd read about was true, and she was special. He'd said so.

'Or maybe he lied to you.' Anya stated, earning a glare from the little witch. 'What? Grown ups lie.'

'I did not lie.' Zant suddenly materialised from the darkness, earning a shriek from Anya and Tara, and unsurprisingly, Xander. He smiled at Willow, who smiled back, and his gaze then roved over the other children, settling briefly on the baby, and then Buffy, but coming to linger on the tiny vampire, stood protectively beside Buffy and in front of his "brother". He inhaled deeply. The little vampire...such an innocent demon...such power...such...potential. He would suffice alone...but to be sure... 'Welcome, children. Willow you have done very well.'

The demon smiled, and the others smiled back. Except Spike. Buffy's smiled was hesitant, Spike's was non-existent. Fear and terror curled in the bottom of his stomach, icy tendrils reaching out to encase his body in the same feelings. The demon's visage flickered and contorted, one second he looked friendly and warm like Peter Pan, just as Willow had described; the next, his teeth were sharp, his skin like snow and his eyes feline and terrifying. Spike shuddered, knowing he had to get them out of here. He didn't care about any adventures, and definitely none including this demon.

He took a breath, ready to voice his displeasure and escape from whatever awaited him, when the demon spoke again.

'Time for an adventure.' His voice was low and gravelly, and not warm in the slightest. But the other children were in his spell. Spike looked to Buffy, seeing that even she was being drawn in. He grasped her arm, ready to bolt with Connor in tow, when the demon's smiled stretched wider and he clapped his hands.

A flash of white, and the playground was empty, the only sound remaining was the squeaky of the swings as they moved in the wind.


The wind was getting up outside, and it was beginning to rain as Dawn stretched and stirred. She frowned as she opened her eyes and found herself on the dining room floor. The shock of finding herself where she was spurred her to sit up quickly, and scramble to her feet. She noticed first that Wesley, Giles and Fred were asleep on books on the table. She immediately moved to Giles and poked his arm hard, and rather viciously, several times, eliciting no response from the Watcher.

Dawn frowned, and repeated the process, bringing her fists down onto the table near his head and yelling his ear, without success. Neither of the others woke up. She stopped her attempts and wandered into the living, spying Connor's abandoned blanket and toys. She paused, listening for any sign of the children and then frowned, glancing at the clock on the mantle, just above a snoring Cordelia's head. It was nearly 3am. She shivered, hearing the wind and rain outside. Then she noticed that the front door was open a crack and she immediately panicked, moving out to the porch, pulled her cardigan closer as she stood on the doorstep. The rain was coming down very heavily and she ran straight out into it, looking left and right for any sign of her sister, and the other children.

Upon seeing no trace, and now soaked to the bone, she felt the tears welling up in her eyes. She screamed her sister's name, hoping upon hope that she would answer but her prayers were not answered.

Alone in the street, standing in the pouring rain, Dawn Summers wept in despair.


I apologise that this is a shorter chapter than I have been putting out lately, but if I'd gone on, it would have ended up being too long! Hope you enjoy.