Chapter 11
Buffy sat next to Xander, the pair of them silently staring at one another. A waitress came by but didn't say anything, just ducked her head slightly when Xander glanced her way, "I'll have my usual. And-..."
"Jack Daniels, straight, please." Xander raised a surprised eyebrow but nodded and the werewolf hurried on her way. Buffy smiled just a little, "It was his favorite." Then she just shrugged as if it explained everything and it actually did.
They both waited until the drinks arrived before diving into the conversation, although Xander just sipped his while Buffy quaffed her's in one go, "Another?"
Slapping the table a few times while grimacing, voice hoarse, "A world of no. Drunk Buffy is no fun."
The two shared a grin, remembering cave Buffy after some spelled beer in college, "I guess the question I have is...are you doing this just to be with him?"
Buffy took a moment to sigh and sort out her thoughts before slowly shaking her head, "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hoping he'd give me another chance...but this is for Joy and Billy and Dawn."
"What about us, Buffy? Where do a clan of werewolves fit in?"
She frowned before blinking in surprise, "I'm here to support you."
Shrugging, "Why? No offense but you haven't been interested in anything not dealing with those kids in years. I get it, but it's not very reassuring to us on this side."
Pursing her lips a little before exhaling slowly, staring down at the table and shredding one of the napkins, "Giles thought he found the perfect solution to all of my problems. His problems too, I bet. Take away my memories. Not all of them. Just certain ones. He was planning a little bait and switch with Angel so mister-suddenly-human could step in and pick up where he left off." Her voice sarcastically cheerful, "Then I could be all happy Buffy again, ready to train the girls and be the perfect little Slayer."
Xander nodded, "I heard."
Glancing up, "Willow?" The brunette nodded quietly and Buffy sighed through her nose, "So I found a coven kind enough to put me under a cloaking spell and we disappeared."
"So I'll ask again. Why are you here?"
Her brow creased together before she relaxed, "I'm here to support the father of my children. I know a bit about werewolves, other than what Giles spewed out. You're sort of like a gang, once you're in you're never out-..."
Xander shook his head, "You're not even close, Buffy. This is a family. Every single member is part of this family. This isn't a club. It's not a gang. We're fighting for our home, for survival, and it also means we're fighting slayers."
Buffy shook her head, "I don't understand...you kill slayers?"
"Only if we have to. We don't want to, God knows we've tried everything but they're relentless. The Watchers have a terminate on sight order and...they're automatons, Buff. They only follow orders. Linda's the only slayer I've met recently who uses her brain. Even Faith, only she follows Woods around like a lost puppy." He shook his head sadly, staring at the table, "I've fought demons and vampires and...I watched them slaughter two cubs, Buffy, they couldn't have been more than ten. It was a full moon but you can tell they were young, just from the size of them. They weren't part of a pack and I guess they'd gotten lost and..." He shook his head, disgust crossing his face, "That's when I walked out on the Council for good."
Buffy rubbed her forehead tiredly, "So, everyone in this...den you just protect each other. You're not after ruling the world or bringing the slayers down?"
Smiling weakly, not entirely confident of her current opinion, "Would I or Spike be here if we were?"
Returning the smile without hesitation, "No." She knew Xander and she knew Spike. Thick or thin, world conquest just wasn't on either of their agendas. She nodded to herself, "I'm not gonna lie, I need to think but as long as it's not killing just to kill I'm in. One way or another I'm here, if only because Spike is."
Squeezing her shoulder, "Be sure, Buff. Be really sure. Doing this for just one person isn't enough." She slowly nodded, knowing he was telling her the truth, "Speaking of, what's up with your kids, Buff? Gotta say that was a bigger surprise for me than Spike's resurrection-back-from-the-dead, part three."
Buffy giggled a little to herself at Xander's turn of phrase but she didn't pause, "It was Dawnie's idea. We thought about all those demons out there and wouldn't they all love to get their hands on a pregnant slayer. Then later it was if they tried to kidnap them or something. She wanted to protect them and I agreed with her..." She put a hand over her mouth in horror and gasped, "He didn't know, did he? He thought I moved on or-..."
Xander held up a hand, "Way before the twins made their public debut, Buffy. He saw you dating the Immortal and-..."
"What??!" She jumped to her feet, chair falling behind her as activity in the room ceased. Her voice was filled with horror and confusion, mingled with a heavy dose of outrage, "The what??"
The brunette made a sweeping gesture and they were promptly ignored once more. Grasping her hands trembling with ire, "The immortal. He's a vamp or something, I didn't really get the full scoop but when the Brooding Wonder and Spike went looking for you...they thought they'd found you."
She suddenly had a vice grip on him, "What do you mean when they went looking for me? They were like coming from opposite corners or something cause...cause Angel wouldn't keep..." She let him go and took a step back, closing her eyes as a tear slipped down the corner of her right eye. No, she wasn't surprised Angel would keep them apart. And apparently somebody had used a decoy to fool both of them. Giles, had to be. She'd been on maternity leave for months, storming back to watcher central when she'd caught wind of the near apocalypse in California. Rubbing at her face, she pulled in a shaky breath before opening her eyes, green irises sparkling of rage. Righting the chair, she sat down stiffly and raised a hand, "I need another shot and then I need to know what the bloody hell I missed out on."
***
By the time Willow wandered her way into the foyer, all the kids were tucked up in bed for the night. He had two of the guest rooms put together, Dawn curled up in one room while the twins were sharing a double in the other. Spike was leaning back against the wall, watching silently as the redhead cautiously entered the family room, "Spike?"
Sighing through his nose, startling her into a squeak when he started speaking, "Learn it, Red, it's William now." She spun around, clutching at her chest and panting while he chuckled softly and moved out of the shadows. He moved with his usual silent grace and took a seat, gesturing to the couch, "Have a sit." She nodded and slowly sat down, eyeing the vampire with curiosity and trepidation. He'd returned his gaze to that undefined point before sighing softly, "Can't put it off any longer, Red. Three weeks. Month at most." His blue eyes pinned her in place, "Then you gotta fight for a position."
She stiffened and wiggled her fingers, denial in her voice, "I'm a witch, Spike."
"William."
"Magic. Uh, computers...I don't fight."
He nodded, "Then you're gonna be an Omega." Her eyes flashed angrily and his narrowed, "You don't get around the rules, Red. There's gonna be a dominance fight and you don't get a choice less you don't want to join up."
Crossing her arms in a huff, "Evil doesn't have a rank."
He chuckled and nodded, "That she doesn't." He shrugged, "Fine. You can be pack without being a rank but you'll never get what you want."
She looked pleased for a few seconds before frowning, "What? What do I want?"
Giving her a knowing look, "Oz." She blanched and found herself unable to fire off a retort. "He's Beta four..." Grumbling to himself, "...less if I have something to say about it..." Speaking louder, "Wolves can't mate outside of having rank, you know that. Law's older than Evil herself and nothing can change it."
Raising an eyebrow, trying to appeal, "Even the Alpha?"
Nodding grimly, "Yup. You want a mate here, you gotta fight."
Slouching, voice immediately shifting to a whining tone, "But Sp-William. I can't fight. I suck. I oober suck. Like, chick fighting hair pulling suck." Perking up, "If I could use magic-..."
He stood up, voice thundering, "No!" Lightening flashed through the sky outside, the crack of thunder a moment later. She jumped back, looking frightened while he growled at her, his eyes holding barely veiled fury at her presumption, "Don't you ever even think it, witch. Never again. 'Xactly that kind of selfish thinking led to you losing it the first time." She opened her mouth to retort and his eyes narrowed, turning golden, "I'll yank those powers of yours outta ya so fast your head'll spin if you even suggest it." She gulped and promptly forgot how to speak, "Unlike Rupes I can control ya if you can't do it yourself. Should'a done it in Sunnydale but I let it go." His voice was as soft as silk but she wasn't fooled in the slightest. He still held Sunnydale against her and probably always would, "I won't make that mistake again."
She eyed the ground and slowly nodded. She'd seen him in action. Seen what he could do with a few words and a flare for the dramatic. It had surprised her in all honesty, just how much he really did know about magic. He'd just kept it hidden, like so many other things. But it also forced her to realize he could have selfishly attempted to ressurrect Buffy at any time in Sunnydale and probably succeeded but he hadn't out of respect. He'd respected Buffy's wishes and had probably felt she was finally at peace.
Swallowing her pride, tears in her eyes, "I'm no good at fighting..."
Spike sat back down with a sigh of exasperation, eyes shifting back to blue, "Didn't say ya had to win, did I?"
Wrinkling her nose, "I don't wanna be Delta."
He narrowed his eyes at her, "Everyone gets told what to do around here. Only way out of it is making Alpha and just get it out of your head, Red, that position's not for you."
Pouting, "Why not?"
Rolling his eyes and pointing to her childish display, "That's why not." She flinched a little and he sighed, "Look, Red, you get in to any rank and I can train ya. Don't care where. You make last position Delta and I can still do it. Only way I can't help ya is if you don't fight or make Omega. Just do what you can, luv. Pull hair, punch and duck. Just fight and mean it and you'll get in. Promise you." He suddenly smirked to himself, "If the whelp can get in...you can."
