Chapter 25 - Prophecies for Dummies

(Melinda POV)

Well, the medical supplies are as organized as I can get them. Guess there's nothing to do now but wait. Hope I brought enough. Also hope I don't have to use any of it. Dammit, I wish there was someplace to stand where I could see all their arms at once. Gonna get dizzy walking around the circle. I said I'd watch for the return mark, after Giles told me what to look for, because I can't just sit there with a huge book on my lap and act like nothing's going on.

Stupid prophecies. If it isn't a curse, it's a prophecy. I know Angel and Spike are special because they've got souls, and Buffy is THE Slayer, and they've all saved the world, a lot, but why can't the idiot Powers just let them be? I mean, haven't they done enough? But nooo. It's one prophecy or apocalypse after another. Must be that with great power comes great responsibility crap. Blah…. blah…. blah. Who knew the Powers That Be were Spiderman fanboys?

But now they've got my kids wrapped up in this nonsense. Child sired of a demon, my ass. Who makes this crap up? Lots of demons have kids, why are mine the ones going to some weird dimension to hunt rabbits? Who are they, Elmer Fudd? Anything happens to my kids or Angel and I'll hunt down the damn Powers. Don't know what I'll do when I find them, but it damn sure won't be pleasant.

What is Fred doing with that sword? She's gonna hurt herself with that thing. Good, she put it down. She's a smart cookie, but not so much with the coordination. Wow, Liam needs a haircut. Didn't really notice how long it's getting. He usually keeps it pretty mashed down because his hair grows straight up, just like his dad's. Wonder if that's a vampire thing or if it did that when he was human? Angelus had long hair in all the pictures I've ever seen of him. Hmm, have to ask him when he gets back. It's funny how vampires grow hair even though they're dead.

Will really needs a haircut. I know he's trying to grow the curls out of it, but it's always in his eyes. That would drive me absolutely bugshit. At least cut the top, he could leave the back longish... no wait, that would be a mullet. Billy Ray Cyrus, anyone? Um… no.

I think Lillian really likes Will. I catch her staring at him sometimes, it's so cute. And the way he takes her arm or puts his arm around her shoulders, I think he likes her back. Cute. Yeah, but cute grows up. Wonder if Spike's had the talk with him yet. Might have to mention it to him. I'll have to sit Lillian down when this is over and Angel needs to talk to Liam. So not ready to be a Grandma anytime soon.

God, it's kinda creepy with all of them just sitting there with their eyes open and not moving. Never really noticed how green Willow's eyes are. Buffy tells me they get silver when she's deep into her magic and her hair turns white. Wonder if Lillian will do that when she gets more powerful? Hmmm, Spike and Will have the exact same shade of blue eyes, Angel and Liam have the same deep brown, but Lillian's are a little lighter, like mine. Buffy's are kinda green, kinda hazelish, might be the light, I can't really tell. Gunn, Wes and Xander all have brown eyes. Giles… green. Fred, c'mon look up just a little, ok brown. So, brown eyes win. Eight brown, two blue, two green and one hazel-green.

Ok, how bored am I? Tallying up eye color. How long has it been? Wow, forty five minutes. Great. This is going to be a long night, well longer night. Nothing like getting drug out of bed to find out your kids are part of some sodding prophecy. Wheee! Party all the time. Not.

Wait, did I just say sodding? Spike must be wearing off on me. Next thing you know I'll be calling Angel 'Peaches'. Wonder why Spike calls him that? I mean, Captain Forehead I kinda get. Another thing to ask him, I guess.

I wish he'd tell me more about his past. I think he's scared that I'd leave him if I found out. I know he killed a lot of people and did a lot of horrible things as Angelus. I've read about some of it, and Buffy and Spike have told me a little, but that's not him anymore. There isn't anything I could find out about his past that would make me leave him. Might kick his sexy little behind, but I would never leave him. Love him too damn much and God, he's yummy. Glad he finally got us the industrial strength headboard. Don't know how many we've had to replace. Hopefully he won't break this one. Vampires are kind of hard on the furniture, especially when they're handcuffed to it. Damn, wish I could touch him, but I don't want to get sucked into the portal or whatever.

Wonder what Giles is scribbling down now? Probably more prophecy crap. Be a ton easier if the Powers just handed out Prophecies for Dummies. Save all the research and obscure translations and just tell us exactly what needs to be done. You - Go here - Kill this - Save world. Boom. Done.

I just don't get all this mystical stuff. Probably should since I'm mated to a vampire, and have children by him using a magical talisman, and one of said children is a witch, and my very first patient was a vampire that was injured in another dimension by a mystical demon from an ancient prophecy. Ok, maybe I do get it.

Never thought when I graduated nursing school that I'd be treating vampires and demons. I've learned more working here as a nurse than I would have if I had gone to medical school. I actually DO more here as a nurse than anybody that has graduated medical school. I've performed surgery on a huge number of demon species, and I know the physiology of so many different kinds of creatures I could write a doctorate thesis, that is if any accredited school would give me a degree for that. Not bloody likely. God, I'm channeling Spike again.

No marks on anyone's arms yet. How long are we going to wait? No injuries yet, either. Good. Guess they haven't found the rabbits yet or if they have, they are royally kicking their asses. Wait, what's that on Spike's arm? Better grab a gauze pad from the cart.

"Giles, it's the mark." I point to Spike's arm where a fresh X is seeping blood. "Let's get them back."

Giles stands and grabs a long pole then walks to the circle. "You and Fred stand back." We move to a safe position behind him, and he pokes the pole into the light bubble and gently pushes the weapon out of the circle. When it touches the edge of the bubble, the light explodes and the scythe flies across the room and embeds itself deep into the wall. Everyone blinks and starts rubbing their eyes. I kneel down and press the gauze pad to Spike's arm.

"So, how'd it go?"