Note: This turned out to be more of a filler chapter than I originally planned but I figured the gangs (Scoobies, Potentials, and AI team) needed a bit of a break before jumping back in with the drama.

Chapter 29

May 5 2001

The lobby became a flurry of activity as former Sunnydale residents flooded the hotel.

Injured Potentials, Liz couldn't think of anything else to call them even though they all had Slayer powers now, were being tended to. While they were less injured then they were after the battle because of their new faster healing, they still needed some fixing up.

The less injured parties were hustling back and forth getting Band-Aid's, bandages, and clean cloths. Lorne and Fred brought out some food, mostly small individual bags of chips and crackers but they also found some relatively fresh apples and bananas on the counter, cut those up and gave them to those who wanted them.

While Fred and Lorne dealt with the food, Liz and Spike brought a bag full of bottled water from the kitchen and handed them out to their new guests. While walking around giving out the water Liz got a few glares from the Potentials, less than she expected, but still some. It was safe to assume that some of the Potentials weren't happy she remained out of the Sunnydale battle. Spike whenever he saw a glare, growled in warning.

Once she handed the water out to everyone she spotted Buffy near the foot of the stairs. Buffy stood there, watching everyone, taking in the scene, and the new Slayers, all the while probably wondering what the heck was she going to do now?

While Liz certainly didn't have the answer, there was something she wanted to say to Buffy. Now seemed as good of a time as any.

"Buffy?" Liz spoke quietly so as not to completely startle the young woman.

Buffy slowly shifted her fixed gaze from the room to Liz. "Yea?"

"I didn't know Faith at all, except for the brief moments she was here. But I know you and Angel really cared about her. I'm sorry she didn't make it out." Liz said sincerely.

Buffy's chin quivered a little holding back the tears. "Thanks Liz. That means a lot, even though Faith and I didn't see eye to eye on many things and we had our issues with each other, I'm going to miss her." She relaxed a little on the railing behind her and cleared the lump forming in her throat. "How are you dealing with the Slayer powers?"

Liz shrugged. "Probably not as well as some of the others. The others, from what I gathered, wanted to be Slayers. They wanted the power that comes with it. I don't. I hope when this spell wears off or the spell is broken that one of the other girls gets it."

"Why?" Buffy wondered.

"Being a Slayer, whether you're the only one or one in a thousand, means death is guaranteed sooner rather than later. My child shouldn't have to be scared that his Mom isn't coming home." Liz explained.

Buffy nodded, understanding her sentiment. "What if you weren't pregnant? Would you want to be the Slayer then?"

Liz shook her head negatively. "Honestly, no. I've got other worldly problems and powers galore, powers I don't understand yet and the last thing I'd want are more. I admire what you and all the other previous Slayers have done, protecting innocents, stopping the world from ending, and giving up all semblance of a normal life but that's not what I want."

"Well, I hope for your sake that one of the others is chosen." Buffy smiled, gave Liz's shoulder a light squeeze of comfort and went to help Angel unpack the rest of the bus. Before they went into the big battle everyone who lived at the Summers's home had each packed a bag and put it on the school bus, no one knowing if they'd be able to go back to the house or not after the Hellmouth was closed.

RosBTVSRosBTVSRosBTVSRosBTVS

An hour later almost everyone was up and moving around. Having eaten a little something and attended to their injuries it was unanimous that the one thing everyone wanted was sleep.

"We've cleaned up ten rooms here, so they'll have to be some bunking together." Fred addressed the room full of people.

"Well who's bunking with whom?" One of the Potentials questioned.

Wesley spoke up then, with clear coolness in his tone. "All of you can decide how to split those ten rooms up."

Fred swung a surprised expression toward her boyfriend at his somewhat curt answer. Making her wonder what had happened while he was in Sunnydale?

"Liz why don't you and I show them the rooms." Fred suggested.

"Sure." Liz agreed. She bent down and picked up her bottle of water and went up a couple stairs. "Follow us." The group of Xander, Giles, Dawn, Willow, Andrew, and fifteen newly appointed Slayers fell in step behind Liz and Fred.

As the two, with the group following, climbed the stairs one of the Potentials asked a question. "Why can't we have our own rooms? This is a pretty big hotel, there's got to be at least three hundred rooms."

Once they reached the top Liz turned and sighed. And so complaining started. Although to be fair they probably didn't know how old the hotel was or even how long it had been vacant. "Yes, there are a lot of rooms here, about four hundred and fifty actually. However most of the rooms in this hotel haven't been lived in since the fifties. We didn't know everyone would be coming here after the battle in Sunnydale. We only had time to clean ten rooms." She explained.

"Can we clean a room out while we're staying here?" Another asked from the back.

Liz turned to Fred. She had more of a say in that then she did. "If you're staying here I don't see why not. But this is Angel's hotel. This is where Angel Investigations conduct business and where we live. If you want an absolute answer then I recommend asking Angel." Fred told them.

Liz hoped most of the Potentials headed on home when they figured out who the real next Slayer was. At the very least she wanted Kennedy to head back to wherever she came from. It was unlikely the two of them would ever like each other and they certainly didn't see eye to eye on anything. However seeing the way Kennedy and Willow were holding hands it didn't look like she would be packing up anytime soon. Not unless Willow left, something else she didn't see happening.

The relatively short walk from the lobby to the bedrooms that were made available continued. "Ok, this hallway and a couple of the rooms down that hallway," Liz pointed in the other direction, "Are where Fred, Wesley, Gunn, Cordy, Buffy, Angel, Spike, and I reside. Lorne sometimes stays here as well, he's the green guy that was singing those soothing melodies downstairs, but mostly, at least normally, he's at his club Caritas."

"There are a couple of empty rooms between a lot of our living areas. We hope to eventually knock out some of the walls and make some larger suites. Wesley has been talking about making one of the rooms near ours a mini-library slash laboratory area. Liz is going to make the room next to hers a nursery and possibly a play room in the future." Fred smiled at Liz at the end of her nervous rambling and tenderly patted her slightly protruding belly.

Liz grinned back, staring lovingly at the room that would become her son's room. There hadn't been time to talk to Angel about getting someone in to knock down the wall with round the clock darkness, Angelus being needed and the Sunnydale crisis, but she hoped after day returned they'd be able to set that up.

Turning back to the group she motioned them to follow her around another corner. "And these are the rooms that you'll all have while staying here." Liz opened the door to the first room on the left and talked about the room. "Three of the rooms are like this, a bathroom at the back right, plus one room at the back left with a twin bed, and the living room area has a pull out couch. The other seven bedrooms are just one bedroom area and a bathroom. There are sleeping bags, blankets, and extra pillows in all the rooms, if you need more just let someone here know and one or two of us will go down to one of the two stores that have remained open during this all night all the time issue."

"Which room is Spike staying in?" A nervous and somber boy asked from the other side of Kennedy. Liz hadn't paid him much attention, he had been quiet since arriving at the hotel, and she wondered if he was always like that or if something huge happened in front of him that scarred him.

"Don't even think about it Andrew." Spike's voice dashed his hopes.

"Just what our tour needs, Captain Peroxide." Xander quipped from the safety of the group. He was, of course, still hurting over Anya's death but that didn't stop him from giving Spike a hard time.

Spike snarled lowly at Xander. "Stuff it Harris." He pushed his way through the group toward the front of this impromptu tour of the hotel. He was up here for one reason only…well two reasons. The first, check on Liz and keep her as at ease as possible and two to bug annoying Potentials and the remaining Scoobies.

Hoping to defuse the situation Liz greeted Spike with a smile. "Hey Spike. Have you fed yet?"

Smirking Spike raised a mug full of blood. "Taking care of that now pet." He took a deep gulp of the red thick liquid, enjoying the many grimaces of disgust from the gathered people. His face transformed mid gulp and several Potentials backed away.

Liz rolled her eyes. Maybe she was being unfair to them but she couldn't help but be disappointed in the group of girls. Yes, Spike was a vampire but didn't they know that he, and all other vampires for that matter, changed their face when they fed? It didn't matter if it came from the tap or a coffee mug. It didn't mean that he was going to freak out and tear all their throats out.

So instead of following suit and tensing for a fight, she got closer to Spike placing a small hand on his back letting him know without words that she wasn't frightened of him.

Feeling the soft pressure of her warm hand against his hard muscled back filled him with pride. She was upset that the girls showed fear toward him. He didn't mind it, to be brutally honest he liked it, dare he say, loved it when people backed away with fear in their eyes. It whets his appetite for a hunt, didn't matter that he wouldn't kill them, maybe, but it got the juices flowing.

"So how much longer is this tour going to be luv?" Spike gazed sweetly at the short brunette.

"Not too much longer." Liz promised while stroking his back.

Kennedy watched their interaction, had ever since they arrived. Spike had rarely left Liz's side and when he did it was only for a few minutes or less. Spike and Liz kept an eye out for one another, always taking note of where the other was in the crowded room. "Oh my God." Kennedy whispered. Willow and Spike were the only ones who heard her quiet words.

"What's wrong?" Willow asked concerned for her girlfriend.

Seeing Spike's curious glare in combination with her weariness kept her mouth shut for now. "Nothing, I thought I saw something small and furry out of the corner of my eye, but I think it was a trick of light. I hope it was a trick of light." Kennedy quickly covered.

Continuing Liz and Fred pointed out the other rooms. There was one room at the end of the hall that had to be pointed out for the safety of everyone. "Ok this room is off limits. Nobody go in unless Angel, Buffy, Liz, Spike, Gunn, Wesley, Lorne, or I say you can." Fred spoke firmly to make sure everyone knew she was serious.

"Why?" Xander questioned.

"Because she told you to One-Eye." Spike said.

Hoping to keep the bickering to a minimum Liz interjected with enough of a reason to hopefully keep people out. "This room is rather dangerous to go into without proper warning. Fred, Wesley and I do the more dangerous experiments in there, Fred a couple weeks ago was working on something that if touched without the proper precautions would have disabled your senses by melting them away."

"What would be the point of that?" Willow asked suddenly worried about staying so close to that room.

Fred shrugged shyly, "It wasn't supposed to do that. I was working on a way to reduce or eliminate pain when someone is injured but it didn't quite work out that way."

"As Siegfried can attest to." Liz gently rubbed Fred's shoulder in comfort. Siegfried was Fred's rabbit which she, at times, let roam around the room, he sniffed and touched the liquid and that was the last thing he ever did. Fred found a gooey mess where Siegfried had been hopping around.

"Eww." A few Potentials shivered in disgust.

The room wasn't only used for experiments but that's all anyone, besides the ones who already lived there, needed to know. That room was also used for Liz's alien power tests and holding out of control demons and vampires, before the cage had been put into the basement anyway.

Room 392 had actually been altered before Angel bought the hotel, during the time when people, and creatures, were in and out every day. Wesley found some records dating back to the forties that told the story of the room. It was quite a fascinating read. Many a demon had been held there till they were calm enough to be let go, some however were experimented on. It depended on who ran the hotel. Those reports were less fascinating and more disturbing.

"Ok, before everyone picks their rooms and who they're going to bunk with, there are some rules and basic things that you'll need to know." Fred started. "First you already know, Room 392 is off limits without permission. Second, the kitchen is down the stairs and to your left, a lot of food is in there, help yourselves. Third, everyone pitches in, whether it's financially or by doing chores; if you stay here you will be doing something to maintain the upkeep of the hotel."

"We have to clean? Can't we just patrol?" Kennedy put a hand on her hip. They didn't have to clean or pay for anything when they were in Sunnydale, the only things they did was patrol, learn how to fight, and roll up their sleeping bags.

"You can patrol however you'll also be doing something else here. Like Fred said, whether you pay or do a chore, it can be the dishes or laundry or washing a window you can stay. If you don't want to do either of those that is your choice, however it's our choice if we want to keep you or anyone else here. If you don't chip in you're out, and there might be an abandoned cardboard box on Third Avenue that's available." Liz glared at her, she hoped Kennedy didn't get the Slayer powers permanently either, it would only make the girl that much more difficult to deal with.

Willow put her hand on Kennedy's arm begging her to keep quiet. She loved the girl but sometimes her attitude of superiority did grate on her nerves. "It's ok. We'll pitch in. It's the least we can do after you all got the rooms ready and are letting us crash here."

Fred quickly finished up the last of the rules, "Don't go into Angel's or Wesley's offices unless told to or invited. Until permanent darkness is eliminated it's the buddy system when going out of the hotel, and the last rule, don't scare away customers."

"Now that that's all taken care of, it's time for pretty pregnant possible Slayers to go take a nap." Spike commanded. Without a word to the rest of the group he guided Liz through the standing bodies and took her to her room.

Spike didn't even wait to see if Liz would want him to stay with her while she napped. He invited himself in and closed the door behind him, shutting out the rest of the world.

"I'm not that tired Spike." Liz told him, even though she was fighting off a yawn.

"It's important for you to rest especially after the eventful day you've had today." He argued.

Liz chuckled. "I'm not a cat Spike. It's not the end of the world if I don't nap for twenty out of the twenty four hours in a day." Even as she pointed that out she made her way to the unmade bed.

The end table light was on, it was the only form of illumination in the room, the curtains were closed, despite the darkness outside, and her overhead light needed a new light bulb. Although it was dark Liz didn't know when or if day would return to L.A. and since Spike and Angel were frequent visitors she kept the curtains shut, tightly.

Liz sat on the edge of the bed, lifted her foot up to the end table and started to remove her tennis shoes. Spike was at her feet within moments taking her foot down from the table. He carefully untied the blue and red laces that Fred gave her and slipped the shoes off her feet.

Once removed he lifted the blanket and motioned for her to get under the covers. "No use arguing, you're going to nap for at least an hour."

She rolled her eyes but smiled sweetly at him. "Fine." Liz sighed and curled under the covers.

Spike draped the blanket over her and shut the end table light. He brushed her hair away from her face. "Sleep well pet."

He was about to leave the room when Liz asked in a soft voice. "Spike? Will you lay down with me?"

Spike felt a pleased smile form on his lips. Never had someone asked him to lay down with them. In fact not many people asked him to do much of anything. Drusilla had always demanded things and being his sire and his former dark princess he never complained or disobeyed. Harmony would also demand, however he wouldn't give her what she wanted immediately, she'd then whine until he gave in. Buffy was someone who was use to getting her way and would order and glare until he agreed to do it. And Angelus would tell him to do something then walk away, knowing that he would obey his grand-sire. But no one had ever asked if he would do something for them. It made his response to her request easy. "I would love to."

He slid off his long leather coat and hung it over the rocking chair in the corner, then he took off his boots tossing them without a care somewhere to the right of the chair. Quietly he went to the bed, slid under the covers with Liz and brought her into his protective embrace, pressing the length of his body against hers.

"Thank you Spike." She placed her hand on top of his, intertwining their fingers. Within moments the two were dozing peacefully.

TBC