Title: Of Demons and Souls, Chapter Eight: A new hope, a new home
Author: AriellaGiselle
Spoilers: none

*****
Two weeks later...

The Official twisted and craned his neck, trying to relax his aching muscles. He'd been up for the past two weeks and was growing weary of this town and its damned code of silence.

Two weeks of researching, snarling at Eberts, and throwing his impressive weight around was wearing him down.

He emerged from the yellow brick police station and sighed deeply as the cool air slid over his skin. The walk to his car was a bit of a trek, but the night breeze made it bearable.

A strong hand grabbed his arm, dragging him into the nearby alley, darkened by the lack of a streetlight. He struggled to maintain his balance and pull away from his attacker at the same time. His back hit the wall of the station with a meaty thump, and he groaned in protest.

He could feel the sweat run down his face as the creature grabbed his shoulder and wrenched his head to one side. His attacker, a creature with a distorted face that looked like Darien and Bobby's at that magick shop, began lowering those deadly fangs towards his neck. He braced himself for his death, knowing that this was the end.

Suddenly, the hiss of a match flaring to life cut through the night and the creature tensed, forgetting about the large man long enough for Charlie to escape the deadly embrace.

Turning, he spotted a young man with bleached blonde hair and in a black coat lighting a cigarette, appearing totally indifferent to the scene in the alley.

"Y'know, mate," drawled the new arrival, his English accent and punk looks reminding Charlie of Billy Idol, "with as much weight as he's carrying around, he'd just clog your arteries." The blonde stalked casually towards the creature, his coat flaring out around him, making him appear even more deadly than the creature who was slowly backing off.

"Master Spike," whispered the creature, fear visible on its ridged face. Spike smiled and stopped before him. In a movement far too quick for The Official to comprehend, Spike ripped the throat out of the vampire and shoved a freshly sharpened stake into its dead heart.

"Cheers, luv," he said before the creature crumbled into dust. Cool blue eyes turned to regard Charlie, and he sighed. "C'mon, let's get you back before some other vampire decides to eat you, and I don't want to save your hide twice in one night. Not after all the trouble you've already caused."

As they stepped out of the alley, a glimmer of red caught Charlie's eye, and he looked down to find blood covering Spike's hand.

"What was that?" he asked shakily.

"Vampire, mate."

The Official scoffed, "Vampires aren't real."

"Yeah?" Spike took the man's statement as a challenge and called his demonic visage to the fore. "Not real, you say?"

"Wha... So, if he wanted to kill me, why don't you?"

"I don't kill humans anymore. Willow wouldn't allow it."

"Willow?"

"My pet."

*****

"Slayer? Guess what I brought home? Can I keep him?" Spike asked menacingly.

"You again?" she snarled at The Official.

"Sir?" a timid voice came from behind the bookcase to Charlie's left.

"Eberts? What are you doing here?"

"I quit, sir. It's time for Solution Omega," Eberts replied.

"No. Not an option," he bellowed.

"Sir, you have no more Invisible Man, no Keeper, and your top two agents are vampires."

"Sir, he's right," Claire said, coming up behind Eberts, placing her hand on the back of his arm. "Solution Omega is the right thing to do."

"Um, excuse me, mates. Solution Omega? What are you talkin' about?" Spike asked, suddenly worried for his friends' lives.

"A contingency scenario for this type of situation. It involved the immediate disbanding of The Agency and the reassignment of its remaining agents," Eberts offered.

"Shut up, Eberts!" The Official snapped. "I will not implement Solution Omega!"

Spike watched in morbid fascination as the three Governmentals yelled and fought. He sensed Buffy moving closer to him and turned to her. "You think this'll end in violence?" she asked quietly.

"If we're lucky," the master vampire smirked.

*****

To: Senator Mirwin
RE: Solution Omega

Omega is active. QS9300 unsalvageable. Please advise.

CBorden

*****

From the desk of Sheila Rosenberg, Ph.D.

Dear Willow,

How are you doing? Is school everything you hoped it would be? I can't see how, considering that you chose UCSunnydale over Harvard and Oxford.

Your father and I have chosen to stay here in Paris for a while longer. Possibly even moving here indefinitely. We have a nice little apartment, and your father loves the countryside more than I do.

The house is yours to do with as you will. Sell it, if you wish. If you do choose to sell it, you should use the revenue for your studies, but I shan't tell you what to do with it.

Take care of yourself, darling. Keep in touch.

Love,
Mother

*****

"Spike!" Willow shouted gleefully.

"Luv, what is it?"

"Mom and Dad are moving to Paris, and they're leaving me the house!" She ran to him and jumped into his arms.

"That's great, pet. But what are you going to do with it? Do you really want to move back in?"

"No, but I have an idea," she said, her emerald eyes sparkling, smiling.

*****

One week later...

Willow clutched at the thick stack of legal documents weighing down her shoulder bag. Claire and Eberts sat across from her, the rounded table of the Magic Box seeming to elongate with every passing second. She sat and smiled broadly at them. Their hands were entwined, their faces were bright and happy.

"I've got a surprise, you two," Willow began, pulling the papers out of her bag. She laid the documents on the table gently, never taking her eyes off the two she was with.

"What is it, Willow?" Albert said softly.

"My parents are moving to Paris. They've decided to give me the house. I have no use for it, and I was wondering if you guys would like to move in," Willow blurted.

Two sets of blue eyes stared at her, unbelieving. Claire spoke first, "Oh, Willow, how can we thank you?"

"Move in. Be happy. That's how you can thank me." Willow smiled and jumped up to hug Claire. She pulled the keys out of her pocket and placed them in the ex-Keeper's petite hand.

"Thank you, Willow," they said, pulling her into a huge hug.

"It's the least I can do, guys."

*****

end part eight