35

DAMAGE

Spike was dreaming.

He was laying in bed his eyes watching the dark figure that had just crept into his room. As the figure stepped closer and into the light he realized that he was staring at Kate.

She smiled at him, playing with the tie of her black robe. He was unable to say anything or move as the fog of sleep wrapped him in its warmth. He was afraid that movement or talking of any kind would wake him and he highly doubted this was a dream he wanted to wake from.

The smile remained on her face and she put her knee on the end of the bed, a full glimpse of thigh visible to his eye. She put her palms on the bed and began to crawl towards him until she was hovering right above him.

Still he remained unmoving as she dipped her head and caught his bottom lips between her teeth. Spike sucked in unnecessary breath as she tugged playfully but with a little more force than he was expecting. That sharp pain, made him realize that he wasn't dreaming after all. He was wide-awake.

And Kate was in his bed.

"You left the party early," he said quietly. Now that he was sure he was awake he figured he might say something.

"I wanted my New Years kiss," she answered simply.

"What about that prancing Nancy?" Spike asked bitterly. " He didn't give you a proper snog."

"He's a nice guy," Kate said, dipping her head again to press her lips against his. She let out her breath softly tickling his lips as her warm, strawberry scented, breath filled his senses. "But he's never given me a proper anything. I like a little danger in my man."

Spike closed his eyes, feeling himself grow hard at her words and the sensations she was creating as she ran her fingertips over his shoulders and up his neck.

"What changed your mind luv?" He silently kicked himself for questioning her. Part of him wanted answers and the other part just wanted to have his way with her right here, no questions asked.

"A girl is allowed isn't she?" Kate asked again, planting several soft kisses along the line of his jaw.

Spike let his head fall to the side as she kissed her way along his jaw line and down his neck. She sat back and took the tie of the robe between her hands and pulled it free. She had Spike's full attention as she took his hand and held it up against her chest.

Spike took over and pushed his hands inside her robe, and then slid it down the sides of her arms revealing a very naked Kate underneath. Spike took his time taking in the sight of her. She looked barely unchanged from the last time he saw her. Her hips looked a little curvier and her once flat stomach was slightly rounder now only adding to her curves. Spike rested his hands on her hips as he pulled himself up.

Their lips met in a kiss.

His lips hardened under hers, using his tongue to part her lips as he delved inside, tasting every part of her. Kate sighed as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pressing against him and whispered. "Now give me some of that vampire stamina I remember."

Spike smiled and then flipped her onto her back causing her to giggle as she fell back into the pillows. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him against her. She was going to take what she wanted; it would be such a waste to kill him beforehand.

Jess pulled his jacket tighter around him as he dug his hands into his pocket, trying to shield himself from the cold. He had woken up about fifteen minutes ago, unsure of how long he had been out. He remembered that Dawn had hit him and at the time he had been so angry he wouldn't have been surprised if he hit her back, but the longer he walked the more her actions caused a thrill.

She was crazy and angry and she was his. He had said some harsh things, but so had she. The make up sex would be the best ever—if they actually had sex.

The street was pretty much cleared by now, except for the pair making out in the corner of the buildings. Just looking at the pair made Jess walk a little faster. He wanted to find Dawn and make up.

As he drew closer, the light from the lamppost allowed him to see the pair a little better, and with a surprise he realized that the girl was Dawn.

"Hey!" He shouted, as he grabbed the guy by the collar and pulled him off. The guy cried out in surprise as he fell backwards onto the pavement.

"Brian Gallagher?" Jess shouted at Dawn. " The guy is an ape."

Dawn smiled. " But a surprisingly good kisser."

"What the hell are you doing?" Jess asked.

"Ah, I was making out with Brian," Dawn said. " Was that not clear?"

"Why?"

"Cause I felt like it," Dawn said with a shrug of her shoulders. "Why are you jealous, it's not like we're together anymore."

"What? Why? Cause you hit me?" Jess said. " Cause I should be the one breaking up with you."

Dawn shrugged again. " Fine. Break up with me then."

"What so you can go around kissing any guy that walks your way?"

"Hey I'm having fun. Being a teenager and all that! I'm sick and tired of being the good girl. This is what I feel like, so that's what I am going to do, and you can't tell me to stop!"

"You're not being a teenager you're being a whore."

Dawn moved to slap him, but Jess was guessing that was where she was going and grabbed her arm mid slap. He stared at her for a moment and then holding onto her arm he pulled her forward and wrapped his free arm around her waist.

"What the hell are you doing?" she demanded.

"Being a teenager," he said. And then he kissed her.

Dawn struggled against him, trying to push him off her, but her struggles got weaker and weaker until she wrapped her arms around him and held onto him tightly.

Jess smiled as she became complacent against him and held her tighter.

"Dawn!"

Dawn broke away from Jess breathless and turned towards the voice that had rudely interrupted her.

Dawn couldn't have been more surprised to find Brooke standing a few feet away, a look of apprehension on her face.

"Brooke? What do you want?" Dawn asked.

"I need to tell you something," Brooke answered.

Jess put his arm around Dawn's shoulder. "Could this possibly wait?"

Brooke waved her arm and Jess went flying into the opposite wall, hitting it with a loud thump as he slid down onto the pavement. Dawn's mouth dropped open in surprise. " You just knocked out my boyfriend! We just made up, now he's going to be all pissed again," Dawn complained, rushing over to Jess' side.

Brooke signed impatiently as she walked over to Dawn and pulled her to her feet, leading her to a bench a few feet away. Dawn struggled in protest, but Brooke had an iron grip on her and it felt like she could pull Dawn's arm out of the socket if she resisted.

"Sit." Brooke commanded, pushing Dawn into a sitting position before Dawn could oblige.

"Fine, I'm sitting!" Dawn said. " What is your problem?"

"I need to talk to you, and it's not easy and I don't have a lot of time. So just shut up and listen. Please."

Dawn remained silent but just nodded her head, staring at Brooke with wide eyes.

"Ok, there's something you should know and it's going to be really confusing at first, but you just have to trust me. I know you barely know me...I," Brooke paused. She wasn't supposed to tell Dawn that she was her mother. It was against the plan, it would only hurt, but this spell was taking away her inhibitions and all she wanted was to call her daughter, her daughter.

Why should she have to live the lie herself? It wasn't fair. All she wanted to do was just share this with someone.

"What is it?" Dawn asked, now curious.

"You're—"

"Brooke no!" came a voice.

Brooke and Dawn looked to the right and saw Ashley, Faith and Xander hurrying towards them.

"OH great," Brooke sighed. She waved her hand again and all three of them went flying in separate directions. She turned back to Dawn. "We should go somewhere and then I can tell you."

Dawn looked over at Xander laying a few feet from her and then at Jess. " I don't think that's a good idea." She got up and began to walk towards Jess, but Brooke put up a wall and Dawn was trapped.

Faith groaned as she slowly got to her feet, helping Xander to his. "So that's the ex huh? Nice girl," she said sarcastically as she brushed the snow off her pants.

"She's a keeper," Xander grunted.

"Brooke, stop! You know this isn't right," Ashley said, moving towards her.

Brooke raised her arm again. Ashley cursed under her breath but raised her arms and sent Brooke flying through the air and straight into the lamppost that dented under the weight.

Brooke fell to a heap on the ground, unconscious. "Oopsie," Ashley grinned sheepishly.

Ashley rushed over to her side and checked her pulse. She hadn't meant to hit her that hard. Her pulse was steady.

Xander came up behind Ashley and looked down at the unconscious form of his ex and then bent down to scoop her into his arms. " We have to get her somewhere safe and then head for the Inn."

Faith put her hands on her hips as she surveyed the two unconscious people. " As much as I've seen—this town is going to pot. I don't know if the damage can even be undone at this point."

"We have to try," Xander said. " People are in serious danger here."

Faith rolled her eyes as she took in Dawn's appearance. "Hey chicky. You look all grown up."

"And you look less psychotic this time around," Dawn answered back calmly.

"You have a bad year and you don't hear the end of it," Faith shot back.

Dawn had a retort for that but decided to leave it alone. "What are you going to the Inn for?"

Xander went to tell her, but Ashley put a hand on his arm, warning him to stop. Telling someone under the spell that they were going to reverse it hadn't worked out well, and even though Dawn had no powers to speak of, it still wasn't a good idea.

"I want to say hi to Buffy," Faith said.

Dawn looked at her, suspicion in her eyes. "You? Want to say hi to Buffy?"

Faith shrugged. " Sure. Wouldn't mind seeing how B is doing."

Dawn frowned. " I don't believe you—"

Dawn turned to question Xander, but Faith had brought her hand up and with a karate chop style hit Dawn with enough force on a pressure point to make her knees buckle under. Faith caught her before she hit the ground and gently laid her down.

"Faith!?!?!" Xander shouted.

"Hey! Little sis was about to start figuring things out. Now we don't have to worry about it. All she will have is a little headache tomorrow no big deal."

"No, except that we now have three unconscious people to somehow get home."

Faith frowned. " Thinking ahead isn't exactly one of my virtues." She looked around the street and found something that would be sufficient enough. " No problem!" she called out.

She walked over to the entrance of Dosey's market and returned with a wheelbarrow.

"You have got to be kidding me?" Xander said, as Faith began to load Dawn into it and not too gently.

"You have a better idea?" Faith asked.

Buffy wrapped the sheets around her as she lay back against the pillows. Lorelai ran the tip of her finger down Buffy's arm, her mind lost in thought.

"What are you thinking of?" Buffy asked.

"I just keep going over it again and again in my head. I just can't believe this happened. I mean I thought about it many times, but I just figured it was a fantasy. Something taboo to keep myself distracted. Keep myself distracted from the dreams I've been having."

"What kind of dreams?" Buffy asked.

"Nightmares actually," Lorelai admitted. " It's been happening for a month now. I'm lost in the forest and I'm running away from something. I never see what it is, but I know I'm terrified. And then I stumble and fall and it comes for me."

"But you never see who it is?" Buffy asked.

"That's the thing, it's not a person. It's nothing. It's shapeless but terrifying and when it comes over me there's a feeling of nothingness. No hope, no faith—nothing. Just nothing."

"I understand nightmares," Buffy said, chewing on her lower lip as she began to think over some of the nightmares she'd been having. The memory spell seemed to be seeping into other parts of her life and it was scaring her. Would she wake up one day and remember anything? And if she didn't remember, who would she be?

Lorelai sighed and she hugged Buffy close to her. " This is the first night I haven't had the nightmares."

"In all fairness we haven't slept that much tonight," Buffy chuckled.

Lorelai smiled. " True. I still can't believe it."

"Neither can I," Buffy agreed. " No matter how much my mind dwelled on it, I knew I would never go through with it. But the spell, it just makes you forget all that, or at least not make it so important. I—"

Lorelai raised herself up on one elbow and looked into Buffy's face. "Did you just say spell?"

Buffy paused. Had she? Surely she wouldn't have done something so careless. " The spell of...alcohol," Buffy improvised.

Lorelai frowned. " No, You said spell. You meant spell. I know you did."

Buffy sighed. " Fine, it's a spell. We have been put under a spell—everyone in the Inn I would think. Something to free our inhibitions."

"Are you looking for excuses to what happened?" Lorelai asked. " Are you ashamed?"

"What? No!" Buffy said defensively. " I...you don't believe me. There is magic Lorelai, and demons and evil. All over the place and I'm not supposed to be telling you this, but again, the—"

"The spell is making you say them," Lorelai said. She rolled over, pulling her sheets around herself as she got to her feet. " I think maybe you should just go."

"What? Why?" Buffy asked. How had this gone so wrong? " I can't believe you think I'm lying."

"What happened here was shocking Buffy, but there's no need to lie to me," Lorelai said. " It was a mistake. And I think you should go."

Buffy got to her feet and began to try and retrieve her clothes. Buffy wasn't surprised. She had to live with these secrets everyday and it only reminded her that no matter how close she would get to someone it would end up like this. With the person looking at her the way Lorelai was looking at her now.

Like she was crazy.

Spike held Kate close as he stroked the hair away from her temples. He couldn't help the smile that had remained on his face, but hid it from her. He wasn't exactly sure what had just happened to make her change his mind about him, but he wasn't about to start acting like a lovesick git. A couple of hours ago she had been very clear on her choice. The dancing nancy lumberjack.

Kate ran her hand over his bare chest as a wicked smile curled her lips at the thought of what was going to happen next. She was going to kill him. She was going to see his face twist with shock and pain before he died. It was turning out to be the best night ever, he thought as he find himself being pulled into the warmth of sleep.

She reached beneath her pillow to the knife she had concealed before and wrapped her fingers around the engraved ivory. She slowly began to pull the knife out as she rose herself up on her elbow.

Spike's eyes were closed in sleep.

She licked her lips and she pulled the knife clear from the pillow and raised it above his chest.

Spike's eyes snapped open just as the knife came down. At the last possible second, Kate hesitated. A look of fear passed over her face as she jumped backwards—practically falling off the bed. She threw the knife, wanting it as far away from her as possible as she backed away from it.

The knife hit the floor and slid under the bed as she grabbed her robe. "Bloody Hell!" Spike yelled, as he sat up looking at Kate in confusion.

"I'm…" Kate sputtered. " I have to go. I have to….stop your whining….I can't….do it…"

Spike watched in disbelief at what was happening in front of him. It was as thought she was having a conversation with herself. Her voice had changed between her own and a deeper, huskier voice.

Finally with a last bit of desperation, Kate turned and threw herself out the window, the sound of glass breaking all around her. Spike was on his feet and standing at the window within a matter of seconds. There was broken glass all over the pavement but no trace of Kate anywhere.

Spike leaned against the window frame as he pulled a cigarette from the pack he kept on the windowsill. " Well," he said, as he drew in the nicotine, " I'll be buggered."

Buffy walked through the dark streets of Stars Hollow with her jacket wrapped tightly around her. She had managed to salvage most of her dress, though the corset had been slightly torn and was threatening to reveal her cleavage to the world. She had managed to secure a jacket from downstairs before fleeing the Inn.

It had taken her several minutes to actually leave. She kept hesitating, turning and heading for the stairs and then just sitting there waiting for Lorelai. But Lorelai never made an appearance. Buffy went through all the emotions in those minutes, anger, sadness, disbelief, frustration and acceptance.

As she walked she figured it had happened for the best. It was clear that she and Lorelai were never meant to be a long time thing—but she hadn't figured on this short. She had tried to share something and had been shot down. Considering what she had been trying to share, she couldn't blame Lorelai for thinking she was nuts. Demons and monsters weren't things you easily accepted the moment you heard it. If she had, Buffy might be the one thinking Lorelai was crazy.

Yet, it still hurt.

And so here she was, walking through snow covered streets in a pair of stilettos that were just about to cripple her for life. Yet, the appearance of her house was like an answer to a prayer. This no inhibition thing had seemed to worn her out and all she wanted was to fall into a peaceful sleep.

Buffy called out, but no one answered. She shrugged out of her jacket and tossed it over the railing as she sat down to remove her killer shoes. She heard a noise upstairs and paused. Waiting. Listening. She heard another sound and began to run up the stairs, her feet pounding as the stilettos still remained on her feet.

In her haste she hadn't managed to grab her jacket, and ran half dressed towards the noise. As she passed Willow's room she paused, noticing the disarray the room was in. Someone had broken into the house.

Buffy turned into Spike's room and realized with a little bit of embarrassment that it was most likely spike that had made the noise. Just to be safe she kept her guard up as she moved towards the bathroom. The door was slightly ajar and there was light coming from inside.

Buffy used the toe of her shoe to gently push the door open. The bathroom was hot and foggy as she stepped inside. The water was still running but she couldn't see anyone inside.

The door slammed shut behind her, and before she could react, she felt someone grab her and hurl her against the wall. Something hard pressed against her larynx cutting off her breath. She blinked her eyes in rapid succession trying to clear the stars out of her eyes.

"Bloody hell," came a deep voice. The pressure on her throat lessened as he stepped back. " Sorry Buffy. You shouldn't come sneaking in on a guy."

Buffy rubbed her throat, realizing with a shock that Spike was still completely naked, having interrupted his shower. "I thought someone had broken in," she replied, her voice weak.

Spike ran his fingers through his hair as he paced in front of her. He realized his nakedness then and grabbed a towel from the rack and quickly wrapped it around his lower half.

"What are you doing back from the party?" he asked.

"Didn't enjoy it as much as I'd thought," Buffy answered, giving him a simple answer. "You left too, why?"

"Not much of a crowd guy," Spike said. He placed his hand on the wall a couple of inches above her head. " But then again, you should know that about me."

"Right," Buffy said. " I was just wondering if it was one specific thing in general that—you know—made you leave."

"You've always been a bad liar Buffy," Spike said.

"If you have a point, I'd wish you'd reach it. You're dripping on me." Buffy said, trying to keep her tone cool under the intensity of his eyes.

Spike looked down and sure enough there were now drops of water all over her very exposed chest. Buffy shifted uncomfortably under his stare. He knew. He knows that I don't remember him, she thought.

"You didn't leave because it wasn't fun," he said.

Buffy mentally gave a sigh of relief. He didn't know. But the way he was smiling at her definitely meant he knew something and she wasn't in the mood.

"You know—besides the fact that you have no idea who I am," he whispered with a cocky half grin on his face.

"You're Spike," Buffy muttered lamely.

"You know the name, I'll give you that," Spike continued. " Just not the man."

"You aren't a man," Buffy muttered, meeting his eyes in a silent dare to press her on the issue.

"Fair enough," Spike answered simply. "That's not the reason you left. I think you had too much fun," Spike said, his voice taking on a tone that was becoming intrusive and seductive at the same time.

Buffy couldn't believe it, but under the husky tone of his voice she found herself, moving towards him even though she had no idea why. Whatever he had to say wasn't going to be good and yet she found herself thinking that if he kept talking to her and looking at her the way he was, she wanted to hear anything he had to say.

"What do you mean?" Buffy asked again, only speaking cause she felt like it was her turn in their flirty banter.

She had to tip her head to look up at him, bringing her face only closer to his. He smiled, his eyes flicking over her parted lips. " You had sex."

"What!?" Buffy said being shocked out of the fog she was in.

"I can smell it on you, remember?" He said. " Didn't realize you were playing for Red's team now."

"It…it was the spell," she said quickly. Then wondered why she was explaining herself.

"Spell?" Spike asked.

"It's a spell that lowers inhibitions, at least I think," Buffy explained. " I don't know if us realizing it is part of the spell but there it is. And I'm slipping. It's getting stronger and stronger all the time."

Spike's eyes widened as he thought back to the encounter with Kate. This was explaining the weird thing that had happened—and why she was brandishing a seriously wicked knife only moments after their tryst. However, none of this seemed to surprise him as much as the way Buffy was looking at him now.

"And I have all these urges," Buffy further explained, feeling herself moving even closer. " And I don't seem to care about right or wrong. I don't seem to care about anything…but the urge."

Spike began to move backwards a little. " Buffy…I believe you ok? You're under a spell. We should find the rest of the scoobies and try to fix this. Get you neutered or something."

Buffy smiled. This new idea was suddenly making so much sense as the urge began to pull her in again. " Why?"

She pushed him backwards at the same time he grabbed onto her and they tumbled into the shower, falling against the wall as the hot spray cascaded over them. " Are you saying you don't want to? Cause," she peered down. " It doesn't seem like you're not interested."

Faith, Ashley and Xander stood in the foyer of the Inn and looked around at the guests that remained. The Inn looked like a tornado had gone through it and things were going on that you wouldn't expect to see outside of a brothel.

Faith smiled. " Looks like my idea of a party. Remind me why we are stopping this again?"

"Cause it's wrong," Xander answered.

"Right," Faith said. "I know I should remember that, but damn it if I don't forget that every time." She added a snap of her fingers to her sarcastic retort.

Ashley looked around unable to see Willow or anyone else from the rest of the gang. " Ok, so let's spread out and look for the Urn."

"And then we…?" Faith began.

"Smashing it to smithereens should do it," Ashley answered. " It's not as mystical but there's no need to pretty things up."

"I think the guests are taking care of the not prettying it up," Faith said with a wince.

The three of them separated and began to search the Inn. Ashley headed upstairs and Xander and Faith went into the main room. As though an invisible button had been flipped, the guests turned at the same time and fixed their looks on the intruders.

Faith and Xander paused. Xander looked around at all the faces staring at him and smiled. " Hey guys! Fun party. Just here to make out!"

With that he grabbed onto Faith's arm, dipped her backwards and planted a kiss on her lips. He righted her and then turned back to the crowd. "See!"

Faith tugged at her shirt leaning in close to whisper to him. " That was about 50 saving your ass and 50 copping a feel, wasn't it?"

"More 30/70," Xander replied, never taking his gaze off the crowd.

"Which is which?" Faith asked.

"I'll tell you later, you know—when we're not walking into a murderous crowd."

Faith, never one to wait, walked forward. She knocked three people to the ground without even slowing as she looked around the room. The crowd was on their feet and attacking with only one thing on their minds—to remain the way they were—doing what they wanted.

Xander and Faith fought as hard as they could without actually hurting beyond repair, which was difficult when the crowd didn't have that same consideration.

As Xander was thrown to the ground, he rolled behind the couch and out of the corner of his eye he saw the ugliest urn he had ever seen in his life. It had to be the one. It was hidden behind a plant and had he not been given this vantage point, he would never have seen it.

Just then a middle aged blonde women who smelled of an overdose of floral perfume and alcohol had thrown herself over Xander's legs and was now trying to punch him in the face. Xander grabbed her arms and gritted his teeth as he tried to keep her meaty arms from pummeling his face.

"Faith!" He yelled out.

Seconds later she appeared from behind the women, looking like she'd taken quite a beating. She went to pull the women from Xander but he stopped her. " I've got this," he grunted. " Fireplace!"

She looked over, catching sight of the Urn and gave him a nod before she took off for the fireplace.

"I'm really sorry about this," Xander said to the women, as he brought his head up and head butted her as hard as he could.

Pain shot through his head and stars danced in front of his eyes as the women fell to a heap beside him. He clutched his head, groaning loudly. They had always made it look so easy in movies. It was a move he was never going to try again.

He rolled to his stomach and got to his feet slowly, using the couch as a crutch to help him remain standing. Faith had got stopped on her way to the fireplace and was now trying to fight off three men who were obviously enjoying themselves a little too much.

Xander hurried over to them, yanking one guy off before starting on the second. Faith had enough fighting room now to take care of herself as she inched her way closer and closer towards the Urn.

Faith fell onto the ground as someone grabbed her legs out from underneath her. With a grunt she kicked her legs as hard as she could and he went flying back into the crowd. Faith and Xander stumbled to their feet only a couple of feet from the Urn behind them. Slowly they began to back up while keeping their eyes on the crowd in front of them.

"How you wanna play this?" Faith said.

"How about we just smash the Urn," Xander said. " It's right there I mean how much damage could they do in a couple of seconds."

"Oh, I really wish you hadn't said that," Faith said, as she touched her hand to Xander's arm, motioning for him to look.

Xander turned and sure enough "damage" came in the form of a guy with a gun.

"Feeling faster than a speeding bullet Harris?" Faith whispered.

"Feeling like a shield, Lahane?" he whispered back.

The guy with the gun stepped forward holding the guy out in front of him. "I'm going for it," Xander whispered.

"Are you nuts?" Faith asked.

Before Faith could stop him Xander turned for the Urn. Everything seemed to move in slow motion; Xander diving for the urn, Faith rooted to the spot and the guy with the gun moving forward, his gun pointed at Xander.

Faith moved quickly, wrapping her arms around Xander's waist and using all her weight to push him to the floor. The gun went off and the sound echoed through the room.

Faith was lying on top of him, as Xander struggled to see what was going on. The urn was right at his feet and as the gunman came towards him again, Xander lifted his leg and kicked as hard as he could. His foot came into contact with the Urn and it went flying across the room, smashed into the wall and fell to pieces on the floor.

Everyone seemed to pause and then crumple to the ground, as white flashes seemed to float out of their bodies and disappear into the night. Xander put his hands on Faith's shoulders. " I wasn't serious about the shield remark Faith," Xander laughed. His laughter stopped when he realized that Faith wasn't answering back with her usual snappy wit. In fact she wasn't moving at all.

Xander rolled her over onto her back and watched in horror as her head lolled to the side. He looked down, pulling her jacket back and watched the red blossoming over her side and pooling onto the carpet beneath her.

"Faith? Faith!" Xander shouted, shaking her. " Oh god. Ashley!"

Xander laid his head over Faith's chest and checked her pulse. It was growing weaker with each second as her blood flowed out of her. She'd taken a bullet for him. And if he didn't get help she would have given her life for it. Where the hell was Ashley?

With a loud curse, the demon master pushed his cauldron to the ground and watched as the liquid spilled onto the ground. Steam rose from the hot liquid and Talon moved back quickly as to not be burned.

"I'm so sorry master," Talon muttered; as he bent his head low. His head snapped back up, his face showed confusement at what he heard next. The demon master wasn't yelling, he was laughing. And every moment that passed his laugh got louder and louder.

"Master?" Talon questioned. " The spell, it was ruined."

The demon master nodded. " Yes, they broke it. But it doesn't matter Talon. It would have happened eventually. All those inhibitions, all those secrets are out there now. There will be no forgetting what they have done or said. The journey was the spell Talon. The damage has already been done."

Once Talon was dismissed he headed towards the entrance of the underground cave in which he'd spent weeks of his life. He walked up the tunnel towards the park where the cave opened.

He was on an errand for his master, and he hurried along the dark and stale tunnel towards the fresh air he had craved for weeks. As he reached the entrance he pulled the shabby blue robe off and tossed it into the bushes. And as he walked he transformed.

His body stretched from 4 feet to 6 feet; his long dark hair shortened turning to it's normal dirty blonde; his shoulders widened and muscles rippled down his arms; his clothes fell from his body as he literally outgrew them. He went over to a rock nearby and pulled out a pair of jeans and a white tee that he threw on quickly. It felt good to be in his own skin again and not trapped in that prison he'd created.

"Now that's a much better look to that pimply leprosy candidate look you had going. This is much more winter than spring," came an amused voice.

Talon turned around, a smile on his face. "Hey Pur. What's it been? 5 years?"

She smiled, folding her arms over her chest. "More like ten, but who's counting? And it's Jenn now, or at least for right now."

"Jenn," he said with a nod. " How very normal of you."

"Right. Talon," she mocked.

"So no hug?" he asked, holding out his arms for the hug he knew he'd never receive.

"It's never a hug with you Talon," Jenn said, arching her eyebrow upward. " I should have figured you'd be behind this."

Talon smiled. " Who knew no inhibitions would lead to so much sex," he laughed. " Does seem like my work, but alas I was merely the assistant."

"Why?" Jenn asked.

"Why not? Cause there's chaos, danger, temptation all those things that make life interesting."

His voice had taken a suggestive undertone as he walked towards her. Jenn wasn't amused and she definitely wasn't taking the bait. " Don't try that bad boy stuff with me," she said. " Only Ace ever fell for that."

"You got me there," he said with a grin as he clasped his hand over his heart with a chuckle and shake of his head.

"So where's Lynx?" Jenn asked casually.

"Who?" Talon said feigning innocence. Something he was never very good at, Jenn thought.

"Come on. Tall, dark, handsome and completely out to annoy me anyway possible. Wherever you are, he's not far behind."

Talon grinned. " He's around." He walked closer to her. He pressed his hand just over her heart, any lower and she would have hit him. "Why? Have you been itching for him?"

Jenn rolled her eyes. "Right cause I love complicated."

"That's funny," Talon said, leaning in to whisper into her ear. " Cause from what Lynx says, that's exactly what you craved."

Jenn felt her entire body tense and she knew that Talon had felt it too and he chuckled low under his breath. He pulled back, a cocky half smile on his face. The same smile Ace used to complain about all the time, the smile that would make you do almost anything. Damn him, damn both of them.

Talon grabbed a jacket and began to walk away. Jenn spun around refusing that he has the last word. "You do know the spell didn't work. It's over! You failed."

Talon turned around mid step, backing away with that same smile on his face, as he shrugged in his innocent boy act. " I told you it wasn't my spell. Besides, the damage is done."

The damage had been done.

The residents of Stars Hollow were all aware that something strange had taken place. The moment the Urn was broken the memories of what had happened over a couple of hours were going to stay with them for a long time.

For Buffy, she came to and found herself tangled with Spike in a make out session that would have made her ears burn red. She had jumped backwards as if caught by a parent and fled as quickly as possible.

Dawn and Jess found themselves standing in a mess of glass and broken furniture of a house that they had broken into. They had been moments away from sex, and Dawn realized in horror, what she had just been about to do. Dawn pulled her shirt back into place, her eyes tearing up with the look of disappointment in Jess' face as he walked away from her.

Brooke walked the streets of the town, tears streaming down her face. Even with no inhibitions she hadn't been able to tell Dawn her secret. A secret that she thought she might never get to share.

And Willow.

Willow was sitting on the edge of the bed and staring at her hands. Her whole body was trembling and the bile rose in her throat. The blood covered vase fell from her hands and smashed onto the floor at her feet.

All the blood. There was so much blood.

"Willow? Willow what did you do?"

Xander stared at her bloodstained hands in shock.

"I didn't mean to," Willow sobbed.

Xander's eyes skimmed the room. Lorelai was lying unconscious on the bed, her chest rising and falling softly. But lying at Willow's feet on the floor was Ashley. There was blood over her face and pooling on the carpet beside her. That wasn't what was going to haunt Xander. It was her eyes.

Her light blue eyes were frozen in horror, wide and staring at the ceiling.

Lifeless.

To be Continued….