familyties10

As they were leaving the Summers' driveway, Buffy jumped out of the car and ran back into the house. With a curse, Giles slammed on the brakes, threw the car into park, and he and Dawn ran into the house after her. As they entered the living room Buffy was already coming down the stairs, wearing Spike's duster again, and acting as if the battered piece of leather were a long lost friend.

As Dawn giggled at her sister's actions, Giles herded the two sisters back outside, and they piled into the car. Good God Giles muttered as he started the car again, gesturing for Dawn to lock the doors without Buffy noticing.

By the time Giles led Buffy and Dawn into the Magic Shop, the store had been open for several hours. Anya was alternating between hovering over the few customers that had come in and reminding Willow that should she discover a spell to help Buffy, she would need to keep a detailed list of any ingredients or spell components they took from the shop's inventory.

For record-keeping purposes, the ex-demon explained earnestly. Giles said to stop asking you to buy stuff and just keep track of what you take and figure out a way to write it all off come tax season.

Giles rolled his eyes as he placed the journals he was carrying onto the counter.

Anya greeted Dawn and Buffy with a hearty Good morning, friends!, then began asking Giles where he would like the latest shipment of decorative statuary to be displayed.

Willow, who was seated with Tara at the table in the back and surrounded by books and her laptop, jumped up to approach Buffy. She regarded the Slayer with interest, noting that her friend seemed to emanate a kind of contented bliss.

Hey, Buffy.

Buffy uttered Willow's name like it was a quiet revelation, and Willow's eyes misted over as she gathered her friend into a hug. As she pulled back, she noticed the fresh marks on Buffy's neck.

Um, Giles? She gestured to the wound and Giles cleared his throat as he adjusted his glasses.

Yes, well. Buffy was adamant that Spike claim her in the same fashion as she had claimed him. We tried to avoid the topic, but she...well, she really was quite upset when he refused. Suddenly the Watcher seemed alternately interested in both the floor and the ceiling, so Dawn jumped in with enthusiasm.

So, we were like, God, Spike, just bite her already! I mean, she bit him, right? So I was like, just do it with your regular teeth like she did, but he was all like, no it's not that easy'...well, finally when he goes to bite her to get her to stop crying-- Dawn's eyes shone as her story took on more exciting proportions, Buffy is all rubbing up against him, right? I mean, what's a poor vamp to do?

Anya leaned forward with interest. So the poor vamp vamped and bit her as only a poor vamp can?

Giles groaned but Dawn nodded, eyes wide. Buffy rubbed the new marks with a pleased smile.

Spike mine she reminded them as she absently picked up a very old book, flipped through it roughly, then tossed it to the floor. Giles winced as he gingerly retrieved the book and set it back in its place; it was the only copy of The Larval Stages of the Sravlakgorath Demon' in existence.

Tara left her place at the table and came up behind Willow. So, w-where's Spike? The blonde witch asked hesitantly, knowing that the sun was not much of a deterrent when Spike wanted to go out.

Dawn sighed. He ran off covered in SPF Blanket.

Willow frowned slightly.

Well, here's more news. I called Angel this morning. She said this as if it were an admission she expected to elicit a negative reaction; none came. Although Angel had not been part of their group for a few years now, his presence seemed to loom beyond the periphery of their lives, as if ready to reappear at any moment without warning.

When nobody replied, Willow shrugged. I just thought he should know. I told him that we didn't know anything yet, and that he didn't need to come, but...

Giles removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He's coming as soon as the sun sets, I presume.

Willow turned to the others. I didn't tell him about...the whole Spike Mine' thing. They could cross that bridge when they came to it, even if Angel deserved some kind of warning. Willow idly wondered what kind of warning' could possibly prepare Angel for the whole Spike and Buffy have claimed each other as mates' scenario. Maybe Xander could tell him; he'd be the only one who would get actual pleasure from imparting the information. Willow knew Xander and she also knew that no matter how much he pretended to dislike Spike, he genuinely hated Angel.

* * * * * * * * *

Later, as Willow was reshelving some of the books she'd gotten from the back bookshelves, Dawn slipped over to speak with her.

Dawn said quietly, not wanting to draw the others' attention--which was a moot point because Tara, Anya and Giles were otherwise occupied with the Herculean attempt to rein in Buffy's curiosity--the expression of which mainly consisted of picking something up, sniffing it, turning it around, then tossing it aside or slamming it back into its original position.

Willow placed the last book on the shelf and smiled at the younger girl.

What's up, Dawnie?

Dawn shrugged, as if she didn't have a reason to approach the witch, then gave up all pretense as her expression betrayed her apprehension.

Spike was really freaked when he left.

Willow nodded her understanding and waited for Dawn to continue.

Well, you know, he ran off...I just want to be sure he's okay.

Willow smiled. Dawnie, Spike's a big boy. He might not be the Big Bad Boy anymore, but he can still take care of himself.

Willow, could you just take a peek? Just to make sure he's okay-

Dawnie, I know you mean well, but... She bit her lip as Dawn's eyes got big and round and began to water.

No fair using puppy dog eyes, Willow muttered as she gave in and stretched out a tendril of consciousness, searching for Spike's mind. She connected easily and saw that Spike was in a bar, happily, or unhappily, on his way to becoming drunk. As she saw him yell, Willow hastily pulled away.

He's fine. He's at Willy's.

Willow left out the getting smashed' part, but Dawn shook her head in annoyance. She knew her best friend too well, and knew exactly what he was doing.

I should have known. Think there's a twelve-step program for vampires?

Willow grinned as they moved to join the others. Somehow I don't think there's much call for that kind of thing.

* * * * * * * * *

Xander came by on his lunch break, and lost no time freaking about Buffy's new wound, which she showed him proudly as she once again proclaimed her ownership of the absent vampire and his duster.

After he'd calmed down somewhat and had regained discernible speech patterns, Xander admitted that although he found the entire subject distasteful, he understood the circumstances and didn't blame Spike for his accidental fanginess'.

Willow mentioned the other news. Angel will be here tonight.

Xander groaned but for once kept his comments to himself. He would have been more surprised if Angel wasn't coming, but he sure as hell wasn't going to pretend to be happy to see Dead Boy Senior, regardless of the happy circumstances.

Well, I gotta get back to work, hon, he said as he kissed Anya goodbye. I'll be here right after I go home and take a shower. He waved to everyone else as he left, and Giles turned to Dawn.

Dawn, we really need to be researching the phenomena behind Buffy's return. It is exceedingly obvious that we cannot do that with her wandering about destroying saleable goods', as Anya so kindly pointed out earlier. Could you bring her into the training room and entertain her?

Dawn nodded and looked over at her sister, who was about to heft the Troll Hammer from its resting place.

Buffy turned and smiled at Dawn.



Dawn turned to back to Giles. You know, she said that before. What's up with calling me daughter'? And she called Willow

Before Giles could attempt to explain the dynamics of Buffy's new family' concept, he noticed Buffy's renewed interest in Olaf's hammer and rushed over to intercept her.

He led her by the arm over to the training room door and gestured to Dawn. Dawn, please, for the sake of my sanity and my business, think of something to keep her occupied. He shot her a look, and added, something preferably non-violent.

Sidetracked for the time being, Dawn pulled Buffy into the training room. She remembered that Giles had some chalk around for impromptu ritual markings and handed a few of the brightly colored sticks to her sister, who managed to become thoroughly engrossed in coloring abstract patterns on the walls and floor.

An hour later, when Giles came to check on them, he found them taking turns skipping from square to square on a large, incredibly elaborate hopscotch grid that covered the floor from wall to wall. Dawn giggled as Buffy skipped with gusto over the square with the piece of quartz in it, managed to scoop up the crystal while still poised on one foot, then continued across the room with concentrated determination.

Smothering a grin, Giles closed the door on the sisters and continued searching for answers to his Slayer's miraculous return.