Sometime Around Midnight

By: Tropicwhale

Disclaimer: You know this drill. Say it with me...I make no money off playing with other people's mental property. Besides54i99i9 Joss Whedon would probably have a heart attack if he knew what I got up to with Spike and Xander...especially in that last chapter

Author Talk: Also, if this epilogue confuses you? Go and reread the entire series. :P

Epilogue

Tara and Cordelia dropped backwards onto their beds at the exact same time. "What the hell was that?" Cordelia wanted to know. Tara just shook her head.

"We need to inform the others about Alexander's return. Aneirin is playing with forces beyond her understanding."

"Yeah, about that..."

"Three part spell. She finds the corpse, reanimates it with a huge amount of blood sacrifice, then ages the person to mirror his twin's image. Reanimation, Aging Spell, and then a Thrall? Who knows. Maybe she sweet talked him. She duped Dominius to change Alexander into a vampire..."

"So…..?"

"S-so, Spike's twin brother is now a vampire...and we will have to deal with that mess at some point."

"How come you know this and I don't?"

"You aren't a mage...and we weren't expecting Aneirin to pull a stunt like this? Goddess, I am sore."

"I need a shower." Cordelia got up and headed for the bathroom. There was a knock on the door. "Get that." Tara stood, shaking her head and opened the door. Technically she was in charge but her partner was, well, Cordelia. Anya stood on the threshold, her Vengeance demon guise to the fore and stepped into the room without an invitation. She left bloody footprints in her wake that Tara magicked away with a soured face.

"I call the shower." Cordelia froze with the door to the bathroom open.

"What happened to you?"

"Dracula's people tried to murder Andrew and the slayers after Xander and Spike took off. I took offense."

"You didn't reveal yourself, did you?" That was Tara, cautious of the rules that they were bounded by.

"No. Give me twenty minutes. I have gore in places I shouldn't" Anya said and shut the door behind her.

"So Rome next?" Cordelia said after a beat of silence following the sound of the shower starting.

"Yes. I don't understand this pathway that they need to take and I am getting stonewalled for explanations."

"Allies?"

"The Immortal will never work with Spike, even if he knew we were involved."

"Technically...you are the only G.A. that is working this case."

"Primary. Lead" Tara shook her head "I-I-I can't tell if…But...I'm glad I have you as a back-up" Tara turned away. "I don't know if we could have made it this far without you and Xander. I need to be careful about how I deal with Spike from here on out."

"How long?"

"I don't know." Tara closed her eyes, focusing on her charge. "This...experience in Romania has ripped into Spike's soul. He is broken and I can't tell how much until his shock wears off. I don't know what else Aneirin has planned for Alexander but-"

"Tara?" Cordelia hugged her partner from behind, offering comfort. "Xander knows. He feels Spike's pain just as acutely as he feels his own. He won't let Spike drown."

"No, it's deeper than-" Tara gasps and collapses in Cordelia's arms. "OH goddess, protect m-uhhh." Tara coughs up blood onto the motel carpet then loses consciousness.

"SHIT!" Cordelia goes down with her and gets her on her side. "Tara! Breathe through it. Come on, girl! Inhale! ANYA!" Anya bursts out of the bathroom naked and kneels by the fallen girl. "Help!" Anya's face is back to looking human.

"Give me your hand." Cordelia grabs Anya's wrist and Anya places her hand over Tara's heart. White light flickers then glows. Tara gasps back to life. She is drowsy and the two others glance over her head at each other.

"What did you see?" Anya asked.

"Nothing. I...it...it was just a feeling. Of death. Spike….and death"

Author After Notes: I swear I remember where I was going with this storyline! I do! And I will not answer any questions about Cordy, Tara, or Anya...other than...nope not even that.

Love from the Dorkside:

Tropic