Dear Willow.
Please tell Buffy to get a computer! If I can cope with one, so can she!
This is an update for Buffy about Mera and Path. For all of you really, but mostly for her.
Yesterday Mera told me how Path came to be. I taped it all and a report is in the attatchment. I think you'll find it interesting to say the least.
I'll say again, I believe I have no reason to fear for my safety. Mera allowed me to test her last night and there is not a trace of evil in her.
I'm sure she has her reasons for telling me but she hasn't disclosed them yet.
I must go now, it's very late and I am exhausted. It's been a trying few days.
Very much love to all of you.
Giles.
*
A series of phone-calls from an excited Willow brought the Scooby Gang together in Buffy's lounge.
"Wow." Xander stared at Rupert's long report.
"I second that," said Willow. "Path is as old as the first vampire! I mean, do we even know how old that is?"
Buffy shrugged. "I have no idea. I think it's a research party, folks."
"Research?" asked Tara. "But - do you think there's even a chance these people are mentioned in the books? There's only the two of them."
"Right," said Dawn. "And I bet this Path has kept a low profile."
"Well, we have to look," said Buffy firmly. "We have to be able to say we've looked. If Giles gets into trouble the smallest thing could help."
"What trouble?" asked Xander. "What's to worry? They've got their souls, they're not evil -"
Buffy cut him off. "Okay. Then we worry about the fact that they're almost perfectly normal humans who have incredible strength."
"Telepathy," put in Tara.
"Control," said Willow. "Mera made Giles sit down just by using words. That's powerful."
"They probably have great wealth," said Anya. "Vampires don't usually have money, but these two aren't really vampires, are they?"
"That's a point." Buffy frowned. "And they've had thousands of years to build up a fortune. The biggest fortune. They could probably buy anyone."
"Except the Council," said Tara.
"I don't put the Council in the non-bribable category," said Buffy flatly.
"Oookay," said Xander. "Research it is, then."
Anya was looking thoughtful.
"Anya?" asked Buffy. "Have you heard of this?"
Anya shook her head and shrugged. "It sounds familiar. Vaguely. Something about The Three,"
"Three?" Buffy looked at her, puzzled. "What three? There's only two - Path and the first vampire."
"I just keep thinking of three. It's very vague. I can't..." Anya looked at Buffy apologetically. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Buffy picked up the report. "I'll go show this to Spike, see if it rings his bell."
"Why?" asked Xander. "He's already said he doesn't know anything. And don't think you're getting out of the book party."
"This is new info. I have to ask him. I'll meet you at the Magic Box for the - book party."
*
The gang were deep into the books when, an hour later, Spike burst into the Magic Box with Buffy at his heels.
"What is it?" Buffy sounded exasperated. "Why won't you talk to me? For god's sake - "
"Willow." Spike's voice was a little shaky. "I need to send a message to Giles. Can I use your computer?"
Willow rose uncertainly from her seat. "Well - yes, if you need to. What's up?" Her eyes grew wide. "Is it Giles? He's in danger - "
"No!" said Spike. "No danger. I just - I just need to talk to him, that's all."
"But -" began Buffy.
"Buffy." Spike's voice was sharp. "Just leave this one will you, love? No offence, but the only person I want to talk to right now is Giles." He looked at Willow.
Willow glanced around at the others, shrugged, and picked up her coat. "Okay. Let's go."
The door of the Magic Box closed behind them.
"All right, Buffy." Xander shut his book with a snap. "What was that?"
Buffy seemed unable to look away from the door. "I don't know. It's like he exploded. He read the report. Then he read it again. Then he sat in a trance. Then - pow - he left the crypt and came here." She frowned. "I had to run to keep up."
*
"Mera."
"Oh. Rupert. Hello. And thank you for ruining my wonderful dream."
"Yes, sorry it's so late. Look, have you any idea why a vampire would read about Path and instantly become very agitated?"
"Who are we talking about?"
"Spike. Ah...he's read a report about you and Path that I sent to Buffy, and now he's asking if I can arrange a way to get him over here quickly. He wants to speak to you."
"Does he, now? Are you going to do it?"
"I don't know. Quite frankly, I'm rather surprised. All I know is the cheeky sod is expecting me to pay for it. What do you think?"
"I think William may be one of the most fascinating creatures on this planet. I'd like the chance to talk to him."
"Fascinating? Well, there speaks someone who's never met him."
"Perhaps."
"Well? Again, what do you think?"
"It's entirely up to you, Rupert. But I will say this: according to you he's been unable to tear himself away from the Slayer virtually since he first met her. If he wants to put several thousand miles between them when he's only just got her back from the dead, well - he must feel it's important."
"Important to whom?"
"Himself, obviously. He is a vampire, after all. Anyway, it'll be good to see inside a vamp who isn't governed by his demon. See what's really there." Mera paused. "Did you tell Buffy all of it?"
"Good god, no! She's had a hard enough time coming back to life! How on earth can I tell her she's related to the things she's spent her life killing? Spike's the only vampire who's ever shown anything resembling humanity. Apart from Angel, that is, and I don't really put him in the same category - his apparent humanity isn't a natural thing. I don't know if any others vampies were chipped - "
"She's going to find out, you know. Most Slayers don't live long enough to learn how to be human, never mind anything else. The longer Buffy lives..."
"I know. And I want to be the one she hears it from. I just don't know how to tell her."
*
Hello Willow.
Can you tell Spike that against all the good judgement in existence in the entire universe I've decided to arrange for him to come over. God help us, Mera thinks he's fascinating.
You're going to have to conjure some kind of false ID for him, or make him invisible or something. Give him someone's passport, perhaps, and put a spell on him. It's that or have him go as freight, which would make *me* laugh if nothing else.
Let me know what you decide and I'll set it up. I may not be able to pick him up from Heathrow, so I'll arrange a taxi. What a performance this is!
I won't be mentioning this to the Council. Quentin probably wouldn't have a problem with it, but best not to say anything.
And now that my disbelief at what I'm doing has reached unmanagable proportions, I'll say goodbye.
Love to you all
Giles.
*
"I'm not giving him my freakin' passport!."
"Do as Willow asks, Harris, and be a good boy. If I'm going to let her do the mojo to make people think I'm you - which is bleedin' tragic if you ask me - it's the least you can do."
"No, the least I can do is not give you my passport and set fire to it instead."
"What do you need it for? You're not going anywhere. Think of it as a favour to a friend."
"The day I think of you as a friend I'll kill myself."
"Oh, Harris. Now, you know you don't mean that."
"Why can't he go as freight? Why does it have to be my passport? Willow, this is your idea - give him yours."
"I've already told you I can't make people think Spike's female. It has to be yours, Xander. I'm sorry."
"I ain't going in a crate, mate. Anyway, Buffy agrees - don't you, pet?"
"Xander, give Spike your passport."
"There, see? That's the Slayer talking. Hear that little edge in her voice? You don't want to mess with her - she hits hard when she's cranky."
"Agh. I hate everything."
"Good Xander."
*
"He's coming over."
"Have you told anyone else?"
"You mean the Council? Good lord, no. Some of them want to kill him just for having the presumption to love the Slayer. If they knew he was here Quentin wouldn't be able to stop them."
"Why would Quentin stop them?"
"Well, I'm not sure. He's told me that nothing is black and white any more, not to him. Apparently he had a 'wake-up' call. No idea what he meant."
"A wake-up call. Ha!"
"What's so funny?"
"I'll tell you later. So when does the Wonderful William arrive?"
"He'll be here on the sixteenth."
"Oh, good. Can't wait."
"You are very strange."
*
February 14th.
Giles! Buffy here, hello hello hellooo!
Spike got his flight to New York tonight.
You *have* to tell me everything! Once you know it, that is. He wouldn't say a word before he left so we have no idea what's going on.
Let us know how everything is with you - we worry, you know. How's Olivia? Have you seen her lately? Are you still working on your house? Are you planning your garden? I want all the little details, Giles.
The Hellmouth has heated up a bit. We put down a group of scraggy-looking demons the night before last but it wasn't much of a fight. I'm still amazed at my new strength, takes some getting used to. Willow is getting better and better at the witchy stuff. Tara's improving too, but she'll never catch up with Will, not now. Xander and Anya are still okay and still together. Dawn can be a pain in the ass as usual, but it's improving. She's well into boys now.
Anyway, better go.
I still miss you.
Love always,
Buffy.XXXXXXXX
*
"Hello Mera."
"Hello, my dear. I hope life remains quiet for you?"
"It does, thank you. Are you going to tell me about our candidate?"
"I am. He is a complex man - very intelligent, as we supposed. The last six years have mellowed and strengthened him. He took my disclosure well. He thinks that he is finshed with fighting but our story has fired him - I feel his fascination. He loves a woman but has learnt that he cannot be with her. This gives him great pain."
"Why can he not be with her?"
"She will die soon."
"All mortals die soon."
"She will die sooner."
"Ah."
"She is worthy, Path."
"You have met her?"
"I have. They have been separate for a long time - his work made it necessary - but the spark has remained true. She has a feisty centre and there is no badness in her. Theirs would be a fiery union if it came to be."
"Very well. I agree."
"Good. Of course, he may not accept."
"He knows vampires. He knows you. Do not push him. Is he an empath?"
"No, but he has powerful insight."
"That is also a talent."
"Yes."
