Chapter 10
The group stood momentarily, slack jawed. Xander had been observing Spike for a moment. "Spike, you aren't burning!"
"Huh?"
"He's right, it's daylight, and your blankets not smoking." Willow agreed.
"Well of course," the butler interjected, "the Sanctuary would never harm one of the Seven. You can walk freely here, without being harmed."
Spike reluctantly took the blanket from over his head and when he saw that the butler was right he removed it completely. "I like this place."
"It looks like we're going to get some answers after all." Faith said.
"Hey, I've been getting answers!" Dawn scowled.
"Of course you have, you are the Gaurdian. Please come in. I am Donald. Please, sir, let me take your…blanket."
"Well, I'm Buffy, and you've met my sister Dawn, and this is my—this is Anya, Willow, Faith, Spike's the vampire and Xander."
"It's an honor to meet and serve you all," he bowed again, discreetly taking note of the protruding stomachs.
The scoobies followed Donald into the house as he hung up Spike's blanket on the coat rack. The inside was even more grand than the outside. Donald lead them from a magnificent foyer and into the front sitting room. With a snap of his fingers, Donald lit a fire in the fire place.
"It's not cold," Dawn whispered to Buffy. Buffy gave an I-don't-know shrug.
"I am so delighted to be the one to greet you all. It has been years. A lot of people have waited for your arrival. But now you are here," Donald gushed. He was a middle-aged man with a receding hairline. He wore tiny circular glasses that rested lightly on his nose. He wore the Butler's outfit that one saw in all the movies.
"Not to ruin the welcome speech, but where is 'here'?" Buffy asked.
"You mean you don't know?" Donald was shocked.
"Looks like the Gaurdian has been falling down on her duties," Xander teased.
"Hey, I got you here didn't I?"
"This is the Sanctuary built especially for you. It was built almost 500 years ago when it was divulged where you would be from."
"A little off weren't we?" Anya rolled her eyes. Buffy elbowed her lightly. "I mean, who was it 'divulged' to?"
"An ancient sect of monks who were devoted to seeking out the Seven."
"Monks, how bloody typical," Spike grunted.
"So they built this place?" Willow asked looking at the grand room.
"Yes, my Lady, by hand."
"First, my Lady? Second, by hand?" Willow asked in awe.
"Yeah, what's with the my Lady stuff, Jeevs?" Faith asked.
"It is a sign of respect for ones as high as the Seven."
"Cool! Wait, we aren't going to be called my lady are we?" Xander exclaimed.
"No, my Lord, of course not."
"You here that? My Lord. I'm a my Lord." Xander grinned a token Xander grin.
"But you'll always by my lady to me, pet" Spike smirked. Xander sneered at him.
"So you're like a running expert on us then?" asked Buffy.
"Of course, all the workers on the ground are fully educated on who they are working for. Not to mention there is a full library that includes all the texts about the prophecy and more."
"Could we ask a few questions? We need answers, and the books we have tend to be a little…" Dawn searched for the right word.
"…vague." Willow finished.
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Of course, Gaurdian. How can I help you?"
"What are we?" Dawn started.
Why are we so important?" Buffy contined.
"How am I pregnant?" Xander jumped in.
"How are any of us pregnant?" Willow asked.
"Why do I keep being called a human?" asked Spike.
"Can we make that fire a little less hot?" Anya fanned herself.
Faith searched herself for her own question. "Can I have a beer?
Donald felt a little flooded. Then he snapped his fingers, lowering the fire to a simmer. And as if out of nowhere another worker appeared with a beer and frosted glass on a tray. He set it down in front of Faith.
Faith picked up the bottle and took a swig. "Now that's service." She took another sip.
"As you may have already guessed, you all are very very important people. Your children, the Triad will be leaders in an upcoming fight against ultimate good and evil. It could be the end of the world if evil prevails."
"Tell us something we haven't heard," Buffy quipped.
"This is no laughing matter. I know what you have faced. We know more than you can imagine. When, precisely, is still unknown. We have researchers working around the clocks to find something more definite. I know now that you are here it is sooner than we thought. All of you have contributed and passed on particular traits to your children. Necessary traits needed in order to win. They are combinations that no others could ever make. Each one of you have been brought here specifically. There are no coincidences." He turned and faced Anya and Spike. Spike had zoned out and was staring into the dim fire. "Why do you think you two were preserved in time for hundreds of years until now?" Then specifically to Spike he asked "Why do you think you weren't allowed to have your soul back until now?" He faced Buffy and continued, "and why you have been brought back to life on more than one occasion, and you," he turned to Dawn, "why do you think you were created? This is no accident. This is destiny. If it wasn't, a vampire would not be able to father a child, especially one of another man."
"If you people know so much about us, why didn't you just come find us and bring us here?" inquired Willow.
"Oh, my lady, we're not allowed to interfere. That would be messing with Destiny. We could only hope that your destinies' paths would cross the sanctuary." He paused. "Come with me."
They followed Donald through the long hall and the huge library that he had mentioned, with shelves filled with books twenty feet high, into a back study. Donald walked across the room and pulled a small curtain on the wall. Behind it was a large placard. It had the symbols of all four tattoos on it. Under the Gaurdian's tattoo there was one glowing orb and under the others there were two glowing side by side under each.
He pointed to each "Tattoo of the Gaurdian, Dextoro Bon Motto, Dynam Fidel," pointing to Willow and Faith's seal, "and Brawnin Charitous," pointing to Spike and Xander's. "The monks made this as well. Its a magickal time line, if you will. These orbs lit when each of you were born. These two have been lit for quite some time. Master William's went dim for a long while. We worried when Lady Buffy's went out completely. We got concerned when all six of them were lit except for the Gaurdian's. Every thing has been documented. Up to the minute." They were interrupted by a hiss from underneath Donald's coat. He reached in and pulled out a walkie-talkie. "Go ahead."
"This is Lurtz," growled the voice over the walkie. "There has been an infiltration on the grounds. We have the vehicle but there is no one in sight."
"It's okay, captain. It has been handled. But do come to the study behind the library. There are some people you may want to meet."
"Roger that."
"Sorry about that. We don't get visitors. It's a shock if someone is able to get in the gates unnoticed. Mostly because its impossible."
"Then how did we just drive on through, a rock no less?" Buffy asked.
"With all do respect, my lady, why wouldn't you be able to enter? This is the Seven's sanctuary. You enter and exit as you please without any problems. The Rock is just a disguise. But it serves as a gate too. You are the only ones who can enter freely," explained Donald.
Just then a Chanzku demon barged through a secret panel in the wall. This one was different than the ones the scoobies had previously encountered, though. He wore a sash with gun holster, and a beret and he was carrying a machine gun. The whole group stiffened. Buffy and Faith got in battle stance.
"Captain Lurtz. Here are your intruders." Donald bowed at them.
The large demon looked down at them. He saw the tattoos on their wrists and immediately fell to one knee.
Speaking to Donald: "Why didn't you tell me?" Then to the bewildered friends: "I apologize for such accusations."
"I present to you Captain Lurtz. He's been head of security on the grounds for over 150 years now."
"You have no idea how pleased I am that you have finally come to stay with us," Lurtz said, head still bowed.
"Stay with you? What do you mean stay with you?" Buffy asked.
"At the Sanctuary, of course," Lurtz said innocently.
"Hey, we never signed up for that. We just followed pipsqueak because she was having dreams," Faith blurted.
"That will be all, Captain. I shall discuss this with our Masters in further detail." Lurtz took one last bow and left the way he came in. "I understand this is a shock for you all. But this is what the Sanctuary was built for. It's a safe place for the Seven to live. I understand its short notice-- How about I give you the grand tour?"
Donald lead them through some doors and hallways into the front of the house. Apparently, the gang had entered from one of the side doors. The entrance way was huge and gorgeous. It led to a grand marble staircase leading to the next floor.
"The house has four main residential wings, one for each seal. And on each floor there is a smaller guest wing. Each wing is complete with two bedrooms, a study, a living room and 2 bathrooms." Donald started to explain.
"Wings? We get our own wings?" Dawn gushed, mouth half open. "Oh Buffy can we please stay?" Buffy shushed her.
"Would you like to see one of them?"
"Yes!" Dawn clapped her hands giddily.
"Very well, follow me." He led them up the stairs to one of the wings and stopped at the entrance. The door had a seal engraved into it. "This is the Dynam Fidel's wing. We call it the north wing." He open the door and led them in.
He walked them through both of the fully furnished bedrooms. The future child's room was already furnished for an infant. The master bedroom had a antique fourposter bed with sitting area. It had an old world feel but it was also decked out with the newest technology. There was a wide screen TV. There were large speakers hanging from the walls. Donald pulled out a remote and pushed a button. A wall panel slid back and a state of the art sound system appeared from behind it.
"Mad!" Faith exclaimed.
He then led them into the wing's study. Again, it was furnished with gorgeous antique furniture and desk. A new computer sat on the desk. There was a bookshelf as high as the ceiling filled with books. You could physically see Willow's eyes light up.
"Is all of this ours?"
"Of course. Specifically yours my lady. We all know how you love to learn. Your study is the most equipped with books. We tried to taylor all of your wings to your specific needs. For example, in Master Xander's study there is a copy of every classic comic book issue in print." Donald explained. This pleased Willow and Xander.
They moved on to the bathroom. It was complete with marble countertops and whirlpool tub. Anya stared at the tub with a huge smile. Then they moved to the living room. It had a hand carved fireplace and smaller bookcases. In there was another TV and stereo system. Also, various gaming consoles were set up in the TV dresser.
Spike rushed over to the cabinet. "Spyro! Tony Hawk! These are great."
"Yes sir, and you have even more in your own wing." Donald smiled to see all of his new masters pleased.
Donald took them back downstairs and into the dining room. There was a long banquet table with about a dozen chairs around it. "This is where all the meals are served. A meal is cooked and served three times a day, everyday for the masters and servants/staff, servants eating in the kitchen of course."
"Servants?" Faith smirked at the thought. "It looks like we have made it B." Buffy however wasn't so sure about the whole idea.
"You have seen the main living room, study and library. There's more out back of course." Donald led them out the back doors that went off the living room. The porch overlooked a magnificent garden with a variety of different colorful flowers. Donald pointed as he spoke. "There is the stable. We have over 200 horses on the grounds. They are used for security, farming and, of course, pleasure riding for our new masters. To it's left is where we grow all of the food for the Sanctuary. Behind it, I don't know if you can see it or not, is our own personal barn, stocked with pigs, chickens and cows. Across the lake there is our training gym. It is a complete gym with machines, an indoor track, Olympic sized swimming pool, and of course fighting rooms. Behind it, tucked in those trees are the Barricks and servants quarters. All staff and security are on call all the time. That's also where our research facility is. Moving towards us there are two other guest houses. And finally, there is the hospital building. Hopefully, that is where the births will happen. Especially, the less conventional ones," He said this last one bowing at the blooming Xander. "I hope you have a chance to walk around and at least look at all of the facilities. I assure you it is completely safe here. Every building is under constant surveillance. Nothing but professionals are employed here."
"Uhm, Donald, not to be rude, but how is all of this paid for," Buffy asked tactfully.
"Yeah this place must cost a pretty fortune!" Anya blurted a little less tactfully.
"It is strictly volunteered. All the staff, human and demon alike, have devoted their lives to serving the cause of the Seven. Most have been here since their births, following in their parent's footsteps. We also have outside sources, that too are devoted followers, donate money and resources. Some are known some are not so known. The Seven are known around the world. One of our biggest patrons used to be a Mr. Donald Trump, that is, until he sold his soul to the devil for bad hair transplants."
"I knew it!" Xander whispered to Willow. Willow rolled her eyes and pulled out five bucks and stuck it into his hand.
A light bell sounded across the property. "Now before you all decide to leave, you must sit down to one of our fabulous meals." Without waiting for them to answer he walked back to the door and opened it for them.
He led them back to the dining room where seven places had been set. There were crystal wine glasses and fancy sliver silverware. They all sat down with Buffy and Spike at the two ends of the table.
As they got situated, four workers came out with soup bowls. Then on of them filled their wine glasses. "Of course, Lord Spike, yours is warmed otter blood, seasoned with a little nutmeg and rosemary," Donald informed.
Spike tasted it. "This is bloody brilliant!" He took another spoonful. "I've never thought to eat this with a spoon! It's like I'm really eating."
"I must say, it is very good," Buffy concurred. They all nodded in agreement. It had been the first meal they had eaten all day.
"Well save room for the main course," said Donald, smiling.
"Main course?" Dawn inquired slurping down the last few bites of her own soup.
"Of course." Again the workers came out with plates of food. They lifted the covers from the food and steam and smells poured out into the room. "On the menu tonight is Chicken Parmesan, greens and sweet potato."
"Uh, mate, I seemed to have gotten the wrong plate," Spike pointed to his plate. "or someone forgot that I don't eat solids."
"Oh, no sir, no one forgot. You have a special meal for you. It's blood," Spike poked the potato with a fork. "but there is a glamour on it. It tastes and chews like real food, but once swallowed, it is nothing but plain, nutrient inhanced, blood. We have a whole separate pantry for you."
"How considerate of you, Donald," Spike said with a nod as he shoveled a bite into his mouth. "Mmm mhmm mm. Red, how come you never rigged me up something like this?" He took another bite.
"Uhh.."
"Because, she doesn't like you," quipped Faith with a smirk and an elbow to Willow's arm.
"Not exactly," Willow covered, rubbing her arm. "And that hurt."
"Slayer strength, what can I say?"
"You're sorry?"
"Yeah, you have a better chance of me sleepin' with ya," Faith winked.
"Lucky me."
"Well this dinner has been wonderful, but we really must be going." Buffy pushed her plate away and began to rise.
"Before dessert?" Donald asked.
"Thanks for the offer, but its getting late."
"Buffy!" Dawn whined.
"Dawn. Not now. Come on guys." The others didn't move. "Guys?"
"Irrm frayin." Spike swallowed. "I'm staying. I'm not passing up food and Spyro."
"Fine. You stay. Keep Donald company. The rest of us are leaving." The others said nothing but looked at their plates. "Man, you can't be serious. You guys too?"
"Buffy, come on, I mean, this offers so much more than we got going for us back home. More resources than we could ever imagine..." chimed Willow.
"Yeah Buffy, we don't even own anything. Nothing of any value." Xander agreed.
"We don't even own that furniture. And I'm tired of wearing the same outfits more than once a week. And we don't have cable," agreed Anya.
"Yeah, B, what they said."
"What about your jobs?"
"Hmm... bust our butts on jobs that pay little to nothing OR live like kings...and queens."
"The wife's got a point." Spike patted Xander on the shoulder.
"Come on Buffy," Dawn begged.
"You have school. And what about your friends."
"I can be taught here. And we aren't that far away from where my 'friends' live."
"Donald, may I have a moment to speak with my friends please?"
"Of course, my lady." He gave a small bow and exited the room.
"Guys, does this place not give you the wiggins?" Asked Buffy in a loud whisper.
"No. Why would it?" asked Xander.
"Yeah, B, it's perfect."
Buffy frowned. "A little too perfect. This could be a trap. They want you to think its all safe for us and then WHAM kill us in our sleep."
"I don't think that's likely." Willow said.
"Come on, Buffy, one night." Dawn pleaded.
Buffy glared at her friends. She didn't trust this place. It made her uneasy. But she knew that these guys could fend for themselves, but she was going to get Dawn out of harm's way. "The answer is no. These guys are adults. They can make a decision on their own, but we are going home." Buffy stormed out, then stopped and turned back around. "Uh... could someone drive us?" She blushed.
Donald met her in the hallway. "We'll have the car brought around, the driver will take you," said Donald as he snapped his fingers to one of the servants.
"I can't believe this! It so isn't fair!" Dawn stomped out after her sister.
"SO! What's for desert?" Faith said breaking the silence.
"Poor Buffy," said Anya as a server put a large slice of chocolate cake in front of her. "Mmm. Chocolate."
"Poor Dawnie," echoed Willow.
Dawn didn't say a word to Buffy until they had gotten through the large rock again and then it was only to tell Buffy that she was sitting on her skirt. Dawn was so ed at her sister's decision. She spent the drive scowling out the window.
The driver let them off in their driveway. Dawn stormed out of the car without a word before the drive could open her door. Buffy thanked the driver. He told her there would be someone there tomorrow to pick up what little possessions the others wanted and he drove away. Buffy followed Dawn into the house and shut the door that her little sister had flung open. Then she picked up the coat rack that her little sister had knocked over whilst flinging the door open.
She first went into the kitchen to get a something to drink. Pulling some juice out of the refrigerator she noticed the bagel that Anya hadn't finished that morning because she felt a little queasy. She pulled it out an threw it in the trashcan. She caught Willow's laptop glowing out the corner of her eye. It was her work computer, she had been catching up on something before they had left. She put the bagel plate in the sink where she saw all their mornings dishes. She ran water over them before putting them in the dishwasher. Remembering her first task at hand she got a glass out of the cabinet. She poured her drink and drank it in the quiet. The kitchen was still dark, she hadn't bothered to turn on the light. She listened to a rattle in the refrigerator for a moment.
"Xander really needs to fix that," she said out loud casually before she remembered.
She put her glass in the dishwasher with the other stuff before going to check on Dawn. Walking past the den she noticed Faith's futon still unmade.
She tapped her knuckle against Dawn's door. "Dawn?"
"I don't really want to talk to you right now."
Buffy turned and headed upstairs to her own room and crawled in her empty bed.
Back at their new home the others were settling in:
The new residents found that their dressers and closets were fully stocked with clothes. Anya examined the various garments hanging in her and Buffy's massive walk-in closet.
"Someone's been keeping up with the Klein." She pulled a skirt off a hanger. "And its my size... if I wasn't the size of a small library," She told herself, not acknowledging she had only just begun to show. She noticed some maternity things hanging in the back. "Oh." She settled on a nighty from a drawer in crawled into the welcoming bed. Her back was aching. Buffy wasn't there to rub to kinks out. She pouted. Buffy should be here, she thought.
"Do you mind?" WIllow screamed over the music Faith was blaring in their bedroom.
"What?"
"Do you MIND? THE MUSIC?" Faith cut off the music just as she started to yell.
"Jesus, Red, no need to shout. Just testing it out."
"Well I think it works."
Faith bounced onto their bed, jostling the book Willow was reading out of her hand. Willow scowled at her new roommate as she retrieved the book from the far side of the bed.
"Lighten up. Just having a bit of fun. Tell me, did you wake up one morning middle aged and bitter?" Faith jumped off the bed and walked over to her dresser. She pulled the tight tanktop she was wearing and exchanged it for another tight tanktop to sleep in.
"I am not middle aged! Or bitter!" Willow said as she watched Faith peel off the leather pants she was wearin.
"Oh right, you're just uptight. What's wrong with a little fun sometimes?" Faith smirked as she pulled the drawstrings on her new pajama bottoms.
"I have plenty of fun...Not uptight. Just mature. It's a good thing one of us is, otherwise this baby would never make it." She patted her belly. She paused and thought a minute as Faith crawled in bed beside her. "Do you.. wanna feel?"
"Whooaa now. Feel what? I don't know what you're in--"
"The baby, you idiot. This entire time you haven't once wanted to know what it was like to touch the baby. I just thought--"
"No, that's quite alright. I'll have to do plenty of touching once the baby is born, I'm sure. Hey, do you think Jeevs does diapers?"
Spike had decided that there was more to the house than the two cents tour had given him so he went exploring silently down the dark hallways. He found a lounge in the back of the house. There was a bar and a pool table, amoung other things such as a TV, couches, mini fridge, card table. He poured himself a drink and racked up the pool balls.
"Chalk, chalk... theres gotta be ... some .. chalk.." he searched around the table for the cue chalk. He didn't hear Xander come in behind him.
"What are you doing?" Xander was wearing a tshirt and boxers. The shirt was a little tight and his bulbous stomach stuck out underneath.
"My, my, look at mummy." Spike smirked.
"Spike, must you call me that?" He waddled a little closer.
Spike met him halfway. "That would be Master Spike to you." He bit Xander's chin lightly.
"Spike..."
"What?"
"Out in the open?"
"Have you ever ed on a pool table before?" Spike edged them closer to the table.
"Spike, no way. Not out in the open. What if someone comes down and finds us?"
"They won't. They are all tucked away in their little beddies. Snug. As. Bugs." Spike spun them around and pushed Xander onto the table. He began to kiss Xanders neck.
"But..." Xander trailed before Spike cut him off.