The Summers' house gave off a distinct feeling of warmth and calmness if it were to be looked upon from the outside. Lights shown in nearly every room of the house. The music was blasting so loudly that it could be heard outside through the closed doors and windows. One could actually suspect a party inside, but the house hadn't been known for it, so no one much of it. Xander and Anya made their way up the sidewalk towards the music.
" I hope there's pizza, " Anya anxiously remarked. " Especially the kind that has all the various toppings on it."
"Yeah An', pizza. Just what I need to get my mind of Buffy. "
Xander was still down about her death. Not to say that the others weren't, but Xander seemed to express it most of all. Except for Spike. But Spike hadn't been seen for weeks, and wasn't expected anytime soon. Anya tried not to think about it too much for whenever she did she'd start crying. Not as much due to the loss, but because it seemed to be the right thing to do. But tonight was different. Tonight was party night. They would all be together, eating doughnuts, laughing, talking, and just letting go. Everyone would be there, even Giles. Giles, at first, disagreed, stating that he wasn't in the mood and didn't elaborate. Finally, through her cutest voice ever, Dawn convinced him to stop by.
" It will be a blast," she had told him.
Giles had a soft spot for Dawn, not to mention doughnuts, and told her that he'd be by around eight. After hanging up the phone, Giles walked up to his window and looked outside.
" This will be interesting."
**************
" Thank you very much, pet. I'm much obliged."
" Ah, it was nothin'. For a polite young gentleman like yourself, anytime."
Young. Well he had that going for him. Spike was over a hundred and twenty and still looked like he was twenty.
" Good ol' Spike, still charmin' the ladies," Spike said to himself as he shut the enormous door on the 18-wheeler. " Ah, beautiful Sunnyhell. What bloody surprises are in store for the Big Bad now?"
Spike looked around and saw that the night was relatively peaceful. He had a small black bag in his hand, which he gripped a bit tighter as he got off the truck. It contained some blood and a small ax. ** Home it is. I bet the gang is just dying to see ol' Spike. Well, at least my little niblit will be happy to see me.** With that thought in mind, he crossed the street and headed towards home. Not his.
******
" So I was like, ' A "F"!! A freakin' "F"!!! Do you know how long I spent writing this? Two damn weeks!!', and he was like, ' Young lady I will not accept that kind of language or disrespect in my classroom! You're going straight to the principal!'. I was about him the creep, but I thought better of it and just went."
" Wow. Dawn I didn't know you had it in you!"
" Xander!!" Willow eyed him down from across the room.
" I mean, bad Dawn, bad bad Dawn. You shouldn't do that anymore." Xander giggled to himself and took another bite from his doughnut.
" Seriously Dawn, you can't just go around doing what you want just because Buffy's dead." Willow, who was being brutally truthful, regretted her last comment. " I mean you ha-"
" Hey, it's okay. You're right Will'. I don't know what's come over me. It's like I'm not Dawn anymore.
" Yeah, I got that same feeling, kiddo. Willow walked over and embraced Dawn tightly. Dawn returned the hug and smiled.
" I'll try to behave better."
" Hey, maybe later we can help you make-up that paper?" Tara, who had quietly submersed herself in the doughnuts, spoke up in between bites.
" I'd like that."
" Hey guys, I need to tell all of you something. Something very important. You all might want to take a seat for this." Giles spoke in a quiet voice. His set-up was perfect. Now where was he going to go from here?
" I got a call from the Council this morning. It seems that with Buffy's death I was left without a Slayer to watch over. And who needs a slayerless watcher. Apparently the Council doesn't.
" Giles, what are you trying to say?" Xander, who could tell by Giles' tone and facial expressions, knew that something was not right.
" What I'm trying to say is that I've officially been terminated as a watcher."
"But why? How can they do that to you, Giles?" Young Dawn had not yet learned of the true cruelty of life.
" Well, since Buffy has now died twice under my watch, they believe that I would be better suited as an advisor or researcher for the Council."
" But it wasn't your fault?" Dawn had still not fully grasped it.
" They are aware of that Dawn, but for my own health, they insist that I no longer be a watcher. Faith has Wesley and the Council has more watchers lined up just in case."
" Say you take the job as a researcher, can you still stay here?" Willow inquired, already knowing the answer to come.
" I'm afraid not. I'd have to go back to England for who knows how long. It could be a couple weeks to a couple months, pending the upcoming events."
" And those would be?"
Xander was now standing across from Giles.
" Well, with Buffy gone, they need someone to watch over the hellmouth."
" I'm guessing you're referring to Faith."
"Yes, I am."
"Last I heard, Faith was locked up in some jail in L.A."
" Well, she still is. That's the problem. They want me over there to help them figure out what to do."
" Honestly, can't they do anything without you?" Willow had spoken up from her sofa position.
" Heh heh... I guess not."
" So are you going?" Dawn asked impatiently.
" They gave me till Monday to decide. If I don't go, I'm fully terminated from the Council, meaning I'm forced back to England since I'm not officially an American citizen."
" Those sons of bitches!" Xander was in a full tirade.
" I know, but there's nothing I can do."
" What if Buffy came back?"
Silence. Pure silence. The music had been turned off earlier, so the house was dead silent. All eyes were on the only demon, or former-demon, in the room. Anya's smile quickly faded. In one voice, the whole group spoke.
" What?"
" What if she came back?" Anya had been fully serious when making this farfetched comment and firmly stood behind it.
" Anya, honestly, this is not a time for jokes. Especially of that nature." Giles said this in a harsh tone, nearly bringing Anya to tears.
" There are ways, you know? Ways to bring people back."
" Yeah Anya, we know. We, or should I say Dawn, tried it with Joyce," Xander replied using a much lighter tone than Giles had.
" No, silly, not that way. There are other ways. There are peop-, check that, demons that can bring people back."
" How? Tell us how, Anya!" Dawn was now fully turned towards Anya and was more attentive than she had been in a long time.
" Well, back in my 'darker' days I dated, I mean, met some interesting demons. Not all of them are bad. Some, for the right price, negotiate with the PTB to gain back the lives of others."
" The right price?" Dawn didn't like the sound of that.
" Yeah, it's not always money though. In fact, most of the time they demand that you fight some other demon for them."
" You lost me, An', " Xander stated, looking for a clearer picture.
" These demons, we'll call them 'The Negotiators', aren't very big. Actually, they're rather small and defenseless. The only thing they have going for them is the ability to bargain for life. So say, some other demon comes looking for a negotiator, the negotiator is going to need some protection. See what I mean?"
" I liked the money part better," Xander was a bit more relaxed at the new information.
" So let me get this straight," Giles was also brightened by this new revelation," we go to this negotiator, fight a fight for it, and it negotiates with the PTB for the life of Buffy."
" That's about it."
"Wait a sec," Tara spoke up, " if we do whatever this negotiator asks, then it'll only negotiate for Buffy's life. It won't can't just bring her back?"
" That's where this demon gets most of its enemies from." Anya said sadly." It doesn't always succeed. And when it fails, the families come a callin'."
" Wait, but this is Buffy! They have to grant her life, don't they?" Dawn was in tears. Her sister had a chance of being alive, and now there were complications. Dawn's emotions were running high, as she ran over and jumped on Willow. She embraced her tightly and wept into Willow's gray sweater.
" Don't worry, Dawn, " Willow tried to comfort her, " now that there's a chance, we won't let it go." Willow stroked her hand through Dawn's hair, as the little one continued weeping.
" Anya, " Giles inquired firmly, " why the bloody hell didn't you say anything earlier? Like a month ago!!"
" I was in the hospital for about two weeks recovering from the wreck, " Anya defended herself, " and one more reason. To my knowledge, in the entire history of this demon, millions have attempted to bring someone back. Only seven have ever succeeded. Nearly everyone who tries ends up dying while fighting in the battle. I'm sorry."
" No Anya, I'm sorry." Giles was wrong and he knew it. " I shouldn't have yelled at you. This new information is the best news we've heard so far. Thank you."
Suddenly the whole room fell silent.
* Knock. Knock. Knock.* Someone or something was at the door, waiting to be greeted.
" Is anyone expecting company?" Xander asked with a nervous feeling in his stomach.
" Not really. Except for Spike, and he hasn't been around for weeks," Giles answered as he approached the weapons chest behind the sofa.
* Knock. Knock. Knock.*
" Xander, you and Giles go check it out, " Willow commanded from her spot on the sofa.
" Yeah, I'll go get killed off by some demon from hell who has decided to extract revenge on us for some reason, while you and the rest of the girls just sit back and watch, " Xander replied in his most sarcastic and annoying voice.
" Oh just come on, " Giles insisted as he went towards the door.
* Knock. Knock. Knock.* The knocking was now getting fiercer as the person or thing behind the door was getting quite impatient.
Xander, who had gotten an axe out from among the various weapons, threw the door open, as Giles took aim at whatever was behind the door.
" Bloody hell!! Have you all lost your bloody minds?!?!" Spike had quickly made note of the weapons being pointed at him, and in an act of surprise, more than fear, jumped back.
" Oh God, Spike it's you!" Giles and Xander quickly dropped down their weapons, with Xander taking an extra second, just to make sure. " We're so sorry. We didn't know who it could've been this late at night. We thought you were some kind of demon creature from hell."
" Oh gee guys, thanks!" Spike was now more relaxed as he casually followed Giles and Xander into the house.
"Hey guys, you'll never believe who's here!" Giles announced to the awaiting girls.
The blond vamp slowly made his way into the room and into the arms of his lil' bit.
" Spike!" Dawn cried. " You're back! You're finally back!" She hugged him dearly and he returned it just as eagerly. " Oh Spike, there's so much to tell you about."
" Hey, don't worry pet. There's plenty of time for talk tonight. So where's the beer?"
" Eh, sorry Spike, we weren't exactly expecting you," Willow said in a pleasant and apologetic tone.
" Yeah, as a matter of fact, where have you been all this time, Spike? " Xander inquired from his newly arrived friend.
Just as Spike was about to shoot back with an answer, Giles stopped him.
" There'll be time for stories later, Spike. As Dawn told you, there is big news to tell and it can't wait any longer."
" So what's this very important news flash that you're all just dying to tell me?"
" We can bring her back, " Dawn eagerly told him.
" You can't possibly be talking about-" Spike was stunned. In the past month it had never occurred to him to try and bring her back.
" Yes, I am. I'm talking about Buffy. We can bring Buffy back to life, Spike."
" Buffy...back." Spike processed the thought through his mind, as he plumped down onto the couch.
TBC...