Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer belongs to Joss Whedon. Harry Potter and company to JK Rowling. I'm just flattering through poor, poor imitation. All fun, no profit.

AN: Warning: extreme sap ahead.

A Bicycle in the Family Tree

Part 9

Buffy was packing. Despite the fact that she had arrived at Malfoy Manor with nothing but the clothes on her back, she had already filled an entire trunk with clothes that Narcissa had bought for her, both robes, at Narcissa's insistence, and regular clothing at her own. The trunk was over-filled, in fact, and Buffy doubted that she'd be able to shut it, even with enhanced strength.

With a small sigh, Buffy began removing the robes. Although they were pretty, and she was attached to them in the sense that they were given to her by her mother, there was simply not enough room. Besides, she hadn't really worn them much anyway, and could certainly not get away with wearing them around Sunnydale High. Talk about a fashion faux pas. Of course, she might not be allowed back into the high school at all, having been expelled before she ran away.

Buffy paused in her packing and stared at the pile of robes on her bed without seeing them. Was she going to be allowed back in school? Was she going to be allowed back in her house? For awhile it had seemed like the only decision to be made was her own, but this simply wasn't true. She had no way of knowing whether or not she'd be accepted back in Sunnydale by anyone.

Buffy sank down onto the bed next to the robes. She wondered if she was doing the right thing by going back to Sunnydale. After all, she had been gone all summer, and the world was still around. If any apocalypses had been averted, it was without her help.

Am I making a huge mistake? wondered Buffy, picking up a soft, velvet robe and holding it up to her cheek.

"What are you doing?" asked Draco amusedly, leaning against the doorframe.

Buffy looked up at him and smiled.

"Thinking about the things I can't take with me," she said.

He looked from the pile of robes on her bed to the mostly full trunk.

"They don't fit? I could shrink them for you."

Buffy laughed. Trust a boy to completely miss the point.

"That's okay," she replied. "I wouldn't be able to unshrink them again, and then I'd just have a very large collection of doll's clothes and no dolls."

Draco shrugged, and stood up.

"I, uh…" he shifted his feet. "I have something for you."

"Ooh, presents!" exclaimed Buffy, her earlier melancholy forgotten.

Draco reached into his pocket and pulled out a necklace that was nearly identical to the one they had first shown her in the park.

"Oh, goody," said Buffy dryly. "Another vial of blood."

"It's called the—"

"Geminus Cruor," interrupted Buffy, picking up a box from her dresser and tossing it to Draco. "It was the first thing I looked up in the library. I wanted to be sure that the magic show in the park wasn't some trick."

Draco opened up the box and pulled out yet another necklace. Buffy grinned at his surprised expression.

"Narcissa let me borrow the Dagger of Death."

Draco dropped the necklace around his neck, then handed its match to Buffy. As she put hers on, both vials flared, then dimmed. Inside the vial the blood had turned into what looked like some sort of crystal.

"Hmm… this one's nicer than the last one you gave me," observed Buffy. "Less ooky and painful."

Draco frowned slightly.

"Do you feel that…"

"Tingle? Yeah. It's weird, but not bad."

"I guess you read about what it's supposed to do," said Draco.

"I browsed the chapter. Designed to deepen the bond between twins… blah, blah, blah. Especially useful in finding long-lost sisters."

Draco smiled.

"Something like that. Although the book wasn't clear on exactly what that entails."

"As long as we don't do any kind of creepy mind-meld, I think it'll be okay," said Buffy. "The inside of your head seems like a scary, scary place."

Draco looked mildly offended.

"I'm sure my head is a wonderful place to be. You'd be lucky to get in there."

"And learn all your secrets?"

"And learn all my… oh. Well, when you put it that way, please stay out of my head."

Buffy chuckled and began putting the robes back in the wardrobe.

"Speaking of methods of communication, I'm going to need a way to stay in touch with you."

Narcissa walked in.

"Both of you," said Buffy, smiling at her.

Narcissa smiled back.

"You two aren't the only ones who have been busy making things."

She showed Buffy a simple wooden jewelry box with a lock and the letters N and D engraved on top.

"You put the missive inside," she demonstrated, "then turn the key in the direction of one of the letters. I'm sure you can figure out which will send to who."

"That's pretty complicated magic," said Draco, impressed.

Buffy took the box and looked it over carefully.

"You must have started working on this a long time ago," she said softly.

Narcissa smiled sadly.

"Yes."

Buffy nodded. Her summer at Malfoy Manor had been wonderful, but was exactly that. A summer. She might have been confused about what she was going to do, but Narcissa at least had realized that Buffy would eventually go back to Sunnydale, to tie up loose ends if nothing else.

"How do I get back?" she asked. "Fireplace again?"

Narcissa laughed.

"No, I decided against making you go through that again. I had a portkey made for you."

Narcissa brought forth another box, smaller this time, and handed it to Buffy.

"There's a ring inside," she said. "When you put it on, it'll take you to LA. I tried to have one made that would go directly to Sunnydale, but the designer told me that it wasn't possible."

Buffy tried to sound casual.

"Well, Sunnydale's a wacky place," she said. She had no desire to explain about the Hellmouth as it would probably lead to an argument with Draco about why she shouldn't go home.

"Anyway," continued Narcissa, "as soon as you're ready to go, put it on and you'll be transported to the same building in LA we flooed out of. After that the ring will simply be a piece of jewelry."

"It's pretty," Buffy said.

She looked up at them.

"I think I'm ready now."

"So soon?" asked Narcissa, trying to hold back tears.

"Are you sure you have everything?" demanded Draco. "Maybe you should check the rest of the house again."

Buffy shook her head.

"Everything I need is in this room," she said, walking over to the trunk and shutting it.

She turned back to them.

"I'll keep in touch," she promised. "You'll be hearing so much from me, you'll wish you never gave me this mail box."

Narcissa stepped up and hugged her.

"You can come back any time," she whispered.

Buffy nodded and turned to Draco.

"Do I get a hug from you, Queen D?"

He nodded.

"Bye, Draco," she said, hugging him tightly.

"Bye, Buffy," he replied softly.

As they pulled away, both had a suspicious shimmer in their eyes.

Buffy got out the ring and picked up her trunk. She took a deep breath.

"Wish me luck," she said, slipping the ring on her finger and disappearing before either of them could say anything.

The room suddenly seemed much too big and empty to Draco and Narcissa, and they walked out together, closing the door softly behind them.

AN again: Ick. But it had to be done. Oh, and the Latin thing means "Twinned Blood." I hope.

Q&A: Just a couple of answers and responses I feel like giving.

As far as chapter length goes, yes, I realize that mine are not particularly long. However, I update just about every two or three days. Do the math.

Would the house elves serve Draco? (In reference, I believe, to the setting out clothes comment from way back when.) Yes. Even if my version of Draco was the cruelest person alive, house elves are bound to obey their masters. (Until someone stashes a sock in a book, of course).

Do I realize that Faith and Angel should be coming? Well, I realize that happens on the show. I'm not writing the show. You want to watch the show, I won't stop you.

And last but not least, another disclaimer: I do not own Buffy or Draco, and therefore do not have dibs on the Buffy/Draco sibling story. You want it? Take it and run off laughing into the night.

Now on to the fun stuff! Many thanks to everyone who reviewed, especially to the hopelessly devoted few: A Watcher, Becks89, Botticelli's Venus, Darklight, Dreamer22, jezowen, manticore-gurl071134, Rosie W., ScruffyWes, ShawThang, Tiger Tiger 2, Turn Off the Lights, and Village-Mystic. Words cannot describe how happy you make me :)

As always, a plethora of thanks to my dear old chum ScruffyWes, who may or may not one day show up at my door unannounced. (And I just might let her in!)

~Eris~