Chapter 9
"We have got to stop meeting like this, Mr. Harris," Spike said three months later, rolling out from under Xander's arm.
"I'm in the mood for breakfast. You want me to fix you something?" Spike let out big stretch as he stood up.
"What are you having?" Xander propped up on one elbow.
"Blood heated up in the microwave."
"Mmm. As tempting as that sounds, I think I'll have the pancakes."
"Coming right up." Spike pulled on a robe and went out down the hall.
Xander followed a few minutes later, rubbing his protruding belly. It was much more noticeable than the girls', well, moreso than Anya. The pancakes were already starting to smell fabulous.
"mmm I could smell them down the hall," Xander said giving the vampire a lingering kiss. Spike put his hand on Xanders head and pushed him down below counter level, so Xander was eye to…eye with Spike's crotch. "My my, so early in the morning…"
"Shh! You aren't the only one who can smell them. Someone's coming." Xander gave him a weird look. "Vamp hearing."
No sooner did he get the words out did Willow come through the door. She was already huge. She began showing very early in her pregnancy and had since ballooned.
"Spike?" She was confused at the sight. "What are you doing?" Xander finally registered what was going on and quickly tucked back against the cabinets in order not to be seen, making a loud thud. "What was that?"
"Ow!" Spike yelped dramatically, "hit me knee."
Willow eyed him. "Were you talking to someone?"
"No. Well, myself. I do that sometimes… when I cook."
"Which is never."
"That would be why you didn't know that." He let out a sheepish smile.
"Why are you cooking?"
"Well—uh, I thought it would be a nice treat for you pregnant ladies." Xander punched his foot. "ow! … and Xander."
Willow raised her eyebrow and went to the fridge. Spike indicated for Xander to move so he wouldn't be spotted. He crawled around to the other side of the island, just out of her line of vision. Willow got the milk and moved over behind Spike to get a glass, just as Xander made his escape. Spike gave a quiet sigh of a relief.
Xander made a reentry, stretching. "Mmm. Something smells good. Oh pancakes."
Willow's brow was still furrowed. "Yeah, Spike's making them… Hey, you weren't in your bed when I got up."
"No, I was in the bathroom…morning sickness." He patted his stomach.
"Not ours."
"Well I made it down the stairs before it hit me." He mimicked Spike's sheepish grin
"Aww, poor Xander still having morning sickness?" Faith quipped, catching the tail end of the conversation. "You know, you people are really loud for 7 am?" She looked at Spike with the spatula in his hand. "What is he doing?"
"Pancakes," the other 3 said in unison.
"Oh, cool. I'll have four."
"Coming right up." Spike rolled his eyes. Xander laughed.
Anya woke up because of the light pressure on her stomach. She opened her eyes to see Buffy pressing her ear to her bared tummy.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Listening for that sharp tongue of hers," she answered wistfully.
"Oh well, I don't think that's developed yet. Her skill on the other hand.."
"Skill, what skill?" Buffy perked up.
"Kicking," Anya groaned.
"Was that a hint of sarcasm I detected in your voice, there Ahn…" she caught herself. "ya."
Anya smiled and gave Buffy's hair a light pat.
They were right, Buffy thought, mothers-to-be do glow. "You want some breakfast? My slayer senses are tingling. I'm saying someone is making pancakes."
They were the last ones downstairs. By they time they got there, Spike was serving out pancakes.
"Well, look at Betty Crocker. Where's your apron?" Buffy joked as she moved to get her and Anya's coffee. Not really knowing what to put in it, she added both creamer and sugar.
Anya let out an appreciative smile as she took a sip of the over sweet, over milked coffee. When Buffy turned around she spit it back into her mug.
"How'd you sleep last night, Dawn?" Buffy asked, noticing her little sister moving a little slow.
"I had that dream again. About the house."
"Again?"
"Yeah. This time was the strongest. I felt drawn to it. The funny thing is, this was the seventh time I've had it. And its always the last dream I have in the morning. The one I wake up to. On a Saturday. The seventh day of the week." This caught their attention.
"Maybe it does mean something." Buffy said. "Did the dream give you anything else?"
"No. not really. I mean the inside is much more detailed. And I get a great view of the grounds. But for some reason… I think I could get us there."
"That's likely. No map or anything? This coming from a kid who doesn't even drive." Anya pointed out.
"Well I would if some one would let me get my liscense." She scowled at Buffy.
"Nice try. You don't need a liscense. I don't have one. I'm fine."
"But you're the slayer."
"What does that mean? I'm chosen to not drive?"
"Maybe."
"I can drive," Faith chimed. The two argueing girls gave her a raised eyebrow look. "What? I can."
"Whatever. The task at hand. What makes you think you could get us to this house. And what are we supposed to do when we get there?"
"I don't know. I just have this feeling. The Being said I have the Knowledge, and I'll know when the time is right. Maybe this is one of those times."
"That's a good point." Buffy said after thinking for a moment. "You guys want to take a road trip?"
"Now?" Willow asked through a bite of pancakes.
"Why not? None of us are working this weekend. It could be fun."
"That's what you said to get us into this mess in the first place." Xander said bitterly.
"Hey, you can't fight destiny, bud. So what do you say? We can leave after breakfast."
"Um.. okay, why not?" they all agreed one by one. It all happened a little quickly for a lot of them, but they found themselves not being able to say no.
There was no way all seven of them were going to fit into Xander's call so a few calls later, Xander was able to borrow a mini-van from one of his colleague's wife. Soccer balls and barbies littered the floorboards. Getting into the car, the bossy Dawn made them sit beside their respective partners.
"Dawnie, this is sweet and all, but don't you need to sit in the front?" Willow asked, getting into the front seat next to Faith.
"Nope, I'm okay in the back." She took her seat to the left of Xander and Spike.
The van roared to a start. Faith started to put the car in gear before she realized she didn't know where she was going. "Um… Gaurdian… where am I going exactly."
Dawn thought for a moment. "Dunno, go north." Faith gave her a wary look before heading towards the interstate north. Good thing the van had a compass.
It was a long time before Faith was given anymore directions. She just kept heading north, assuming Dawn knew what she was doing. More accurately, she trusted that Buffy trusted Dawn. The steady movement of the car sent all three of the pregnant scoobies into a heavy nap. Willow let out a little snore, making Faith smile inwardly.
Dawn leaned on her elbow and looked out the window. She had no clue what she was doing, but she wasn't going to tell them that. She let her gaze fall for a second unintentionally. She noticed something. The sleeping Xander's hand was casually touching Spike's. Not only was Spike not moving it but he seemed to be making a conscious effort not to move it. She smiled proudly to herself.
"Hey! Faith. Get off here!" she said suddenly. She woke up Anya. Buffy gave her a sympathetic look.
"What? Why? This is nothing but a little Podunk town."
"Just do it," Dawn ordered, not really knowing why.
"Yes, ma'am." Faith jerked the car over a few lanes, barely making the exit.
It was not long before the bumpy asphault turned to even bumpier dirt. Whoever was asleep was no longer that way.
"Are you sure this is right?" Willow asked, grumpily.
"Yeah… hey stop, pull over." Faith obeyed.
Dawn unbuckled and moved up through the middle of the car so she could get a better look at what was in front of her. They were facing a huge fifteen foot boulder sitting along a forest line. Dawn squinched up here face as she studied it. She bit her thumb nail.
"Drive," she commanded flatly. The whole car turned to look at her.
"In case you haven't noticed, there is a very large rock in our way," Faith pointed out.
"Yes, I know. Drive."
Faith looked back through her rear view mirror at Buffy. Buffy furrowed her brow and then reluctantly nodded.
"I sure hope we have insurance." Faith reluctantly tapped the gas. They started approaching the rock face.
"Faster," barked Dawn. Faith obeyed. Closer. Closer. And closer. The entire band closed their eyes and held their arms in front of their faces just before the van hit the rock.
Only, the van didn't hit. It kept going. The gang opened their eyes. There was no rock in front of them anymore. It was behind them. They were on another dirt road. Faith stopped the car and they all looked out the windows in disbelief.
"Was that supposed to happen?" Faith asked indicating backwards with her thumb.
"I don't know…" Buffy said, wheels turning in her head. She crawled over Dawn and Anya and got out of the van. Dawn followed her out. They cautiously walked over to the rock. Buffy stuck her arm out slowly to touch it, half expecting to go through it again. She didn't. It was solid. "This doesn't make any sense."
"No, but I think we should keep going: Dawn said examining the rock before turning back to the car. Buffy followed shaking her head.
They had nowhere else to go but down the road. They drove down about 2 miles before coming up to a large gate made out of large stones. It wasn't locked, it was wide open. Passing through the gates was a castle made from stone. It had to be three or four stories high with four towers at the corners. Elaborate marbling framed the doors and windows. The van crept up the vast forking driveway.
"Shall we?" asked Faith, who was starting to feel like a chauffeur.
"Why not, we've come this far, haven't we?" Anya mentioned impatiently. Buffy put her hand on the pregnant woman's shoulder. So Faith continued onward. Something pulled her all the way to the front door.
"I don't see any Chanzkus." Dawn jumped out and ran to the door. The others followed behind her. Dawn rang the bell.
"Dawn wait, we don't—" Buffy called, not leaving Anya's side. The door opened.
A man who was presumably butler answered the door. He looked down his nose at the young girl standing on the doorstep. "You better have a good excuse for being in the front of the house."
The others were coming up the stone steps behind Dawn. Dawn got nervous all of a sudden. She hadn't really thought that she may have to say anything to anybody. She nervously tucked a loose pieve of hair behind her ear with her tattoed arm. "Well..."
The butlers expression changed immediately. His eyes widened "The tattoo of the Gaurdian!" He looked at the others. "The seven." He whispered and fell to one knee. "You are finally here. I am here to serve you."
"This is new." Spike said covered in a thick blanket.
