PART 5
It was 3 or 4 in the morning before Buffy dared approach that dreaded subject again. "Baby, what did she tell you? What's going to happen?"
Spike barely shook his head and then pulled back just enough to look at her. His love. He studied her, re-memorizing everything about her. "Spike, tell me."
"Love, Anne is the daughter of a slayer. That's why she's so strong. According to what she told me, she should be born sometime this year."
Buffy frowned as his words sunk in. She now understood Spike's desperation in holding her. "You think she's mine."
"She has to be, pet. The other Slayer is in no position to be conceiving."
"Well, neither am I, Spike. The only person I've been sleeping with recently, or ever want to sleep with ever again is right here in my arms. I love you. It has to be Faith. It can't be me."
****
"Wesley, it's Angel. I need you to go through the scrolls and look for anything that makes reference to something called The Balance. I'll be staying here for awhile. Keep me updated on what you find."
****
–Next Evening–
Anne walked into the master bedroom with a mug of blood. "Wake up sleepyhead and get dressed. Sun's almost down and we need to be heading over to the Magic Box."
Angel opened his eyes and gathered his thoughts. He smelled blood. Warm blood. Then he saw the mug in Anne's hand. She handed it to him and turned to walk out of the room. "Thanks" Anne turned in the doorway. "Thank you" with that, she left.
Angel sat up and started to drink his blood. He stopped, frozen in shock. It was seasoned. Anne had seasoned his blood for him. Cordy was the only other one who even knew about his secret "herbal cravings". With that realization he knew that everything Anne had told him was true. Every last bit of it.
****
"Hello?.......Giles!.........What? How did you know about that?..........Oh.........Yeah, she's......what?..........you're kidding..........no, I understand. Talk to you later......bye."
"Will, what was that all about?" Xander was sitting on the counter watching Willow. "Huh? Oh, Giles had to hang up to catch his cab. He's on his way here with some stuff."
"Giles is coming?" Buffy walked into the shop and just had to ask to make sure she wasn't hearing things.
"Yeah, he said that he's coming from the airport and should be here soon. Did we call him about Anne being here?"
"No, I didn't. Did you Xander?"
"Me? No. Anya, did you?"
She just shook her head and resumed counting the money in the till.
Willow looked just as baffled as everyone else as to how Giles had known. "I wonder how he found out."
Buffy was still thinking about everything that had happened to her during the past two days. After talking to Spike last night she was seriously unsettled as to how to handle life right now. How was Faith going to become pregnant? Or perhaps....Was Faith going to be killed and another Slayer called who was going to have a baby? Her mind was trying desperately to think of something, some answer that did not involve her hurting Spike. Leaving him, being with someone else? It would destroy him. Hell, it would destroy her. She loved him so much that it hurt to even think about ever being without him.
****
– Just After Sunset –
Anne and Angel were in his car and heading to the Magic Box. "Wait, we should stop and get Spike." Angel watched her out of the corner of his eye. "You sure?" "Yeah"
A few minutes later they pulled up to the cemetery and Anne climbed out of the car. "Wait here. I shouldn't be too long."
When she reached the crypt she slowly pushed open the door without knocking.
Spike was pulling on his boots and just getting ready to head out to meet everyone at the shop when he heard the soft sound of the crypt door being pushed open. He craned his head in an attempt to determine who it was. Friend or Foe. He grabbed a stake and a knife and melted into the shadows behind the ladder.
It was a game of cat and mouse. Both were acutely aware of the others movements and both were making cautious movements. She descended the ladder, knowing full well where he was but not wanting him to know that she knew, at least not yet. So she walked forward and pretended to be looking for him. Spike observed her from his darkened corner. She really wasn't that stupid was she? He was about to step out when he saw her abruptly turn around and huff as she plopped down to sit on the bed. She was looking straight at him. Bugger, she had known all along.
"Came to see if you wanted a ride to the shop." He stepped out and put the stake in his pocket and slid the knife back under the bed where he always kept it. "So, Buffy stayed here last night huh?" He looked at her sharply. "You spying on us?" Those blue eyes who dripping of suspicion and accusation. "No, I can smell her."
"Right, then. What other super powers do you have?"
"Question and answer time doesn't start until we get to the shop. Let's go."
They both left the crypt. Two black leather dusters flapping in the breeze as they walked. Both with determined strides. Angel watched in fascination as he saw the two figures approach. He saw Spike hesitate when he noticed Angel waiting for them.
"What's the poof doing here?"
She stopped and turned to look at him. "You didn't actually think that I had a car did you? Come on."
No one said anything during the ride to the shop. It was going to be a long and uncomfortable night for everyone.
****
The bell over the shop door tinkled and everyone inside turned to see Anne stroll in with Spike behind. Then everyone's jaws hit the floor when Angel walked in, uncertain as to whether or not he was even welcome. Spike kept walking until he had found a seat next to Buffy. Anne stopped about half way to the table and Angel stayed near the door.
The next few moments were rather confusing to say the least. Buffy managed a small sound of disbelief and confusion followed by accusation and anger. "An-Angel? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?"
While this was happening Anne had spotted Giles (which is why she stopped). "Giles!?!" Without even thinking she just launched herself into his arms and hugged him. She had missed him terribly and had not expected to see him here. It was a very pleasant surprise for her. Giles had his eyes on Angel when he was nearly knocked over by the small brunette in black leather.
Willow, Xander, Dawn and Spike watched everything happen. Each of them were thinking that they would get whiplash from trying to watch everything at once. Dawn's head was going to start hurting if she didn't do something fast. "STOP!!!!!! Everyone just sit down right now!" Her commanding presence caused everyone, Giles, Anne, Angel, Buffy, Spike, Willow, Anya, and Xander to all stare at her, frozen in time. At once they all started to move and sit down in various positions around the room. Each with their own expressions of uncomfortability. Well, I got their attention, I might as well just take the bull by the horns and act as mediator. "No talking out of turn just yet. Let's try not to confuse things any more than they already are. First, Angel, what are you doing here?"
Angel had been studying the carpet but looked up when she spoke to him. "Cordy had a vision and so I came up to see if I could help." Buffy started to speak when Dawn glared at her, stopping her dead in her tongues tracks. She had never seen her little sister like this before. It was a little un-nerving. "Next question, why did you come in with Anne and Spike?"
"I ran into Anne at the mansion last night. We talked and we picked up Spike at his crypt on the way here."
"Ok, now, Anne, why did you hug Giles like that?"
"I missed him." Anne's answer was matter of fact and accompanied by a shrug of her shoulders and a sheepish if not slightly embarrassed grin. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."
Giles reached for his glasses and started to clean them. "Yes, well, um, that's quite alright. It's nice to meet you."
"Ok, now. Giles is here because he found some stuff regarding Anne. Giles? Your turn." Dawn sat down and waited.
"Oh, well, I was researching something, unimportant now, when I ran across reference to a prophecy and a vague piece of the translation. It wasn't very descriptive I'm afraid. More speculation really, that The Chosen One was somehow involved. I was worried about Buffy, and had heard from a shaman friend that there was a new and powerful presence on the hellmouth. I of course assumed that it was a dark presence but was told that it was neither light nor dark but not to be disregarded. I knew that Wesley had some old prophecy scrolls so I called him and he told me that Angel had already had him start looking at them. Something about The Balance. Willow informed me that, Anne, is it? That she claims to be this balance. Needless to say that Wesley is on his way here now with the original text."
Angel nodded in conformation. "Cordelia is driving up with him. She thought that, whatever is going on, she would be able to help."
Xander grinned slightly with a knowing air. "Wouldn't take 'No' for an answer huh?"
"No"
"Thought not"
During the ride to the shop, Anne had pulled out her silver cross and fastened it around her neck. Someone would recognize it. But then, they were supposed to. Now she stood and shrugged out of her coat and placed it on the counter. Spike was watching her, noting the gentle caress she subconsciously gave the leather of *his?* coat. Then he saw the tatoo on her shoulder, couldn't quite make it out from here but it did perk his interest. When she turned back around to face the rest of the room, the light glinted off her cross and caught Buffy's attention. Angel had already seen it and had just accepted that it was the one that he had given Buffy but that it now belonged to Anne. Of course he knew that Buffy still had hers.
The Slayer stood and purposefully walked to stand in front of the other girl. Her eyes never left the cross around the girl's neck. Buffy reached out a tentative finger and touched it very lightly. She then looked up into Anne's eyes. "Where did you............where did you get this?"
The look in Anne's eyes was soft and full of compassion. "From you." Now Buffy just had to ask the next question. "And the coat?" "From Spike." "Gifts?" "Yeah"
Simple questions and simple answers. They just stood there, eyes locked, searching out the other and trying to connect. Everyone else just sat in silence.
The spell was broken by what Anne said next. "Everyone here needs to be aware of the fact that Drusilla will quite possibly be making an appearance sometime soon."
Spike's forehead wrinkled. Giles asked the question. "And why would that be?"
Angel answered for her. "Because Dru will be able to sense her and with Dru's abilities, well, she'll be more than curious about who Anne is. She's coming. You can count on it. Which reminds me, Spike, hasn't that concerned you yet or are you a little too pre-occupied to notice?"
Childe glared at Sire. Moments of silence passed until a light seemed to visually go off in Spike's head. He closed his eyes and concentrated. A full minute passed before he opened his eyes and looked right at Anne. She returned his look. Buffy was concerned, especially after how her lover had been acting the previous night. "Spike? What is it?" "I can feel her, just like Peaches said. Only, only it's stronger than when I feel Peaches, and he's my grande sire." He had not yet stopped looking at the subject of his attention.
Anne wanted desperately to change the subject.
"So, do we know approximately when Wesley is going to get here?"
"Any time within the hour." Angel remained where he was in the room and rolled his eyes when he heard Xander raise an obvious Xander point.
"So, what? Now we're just supposed to sit here and watch and do nothing while all the answers we need are standing in front of us? Am I the only one here not seeing the obvious solution?"
Willow looked at her friend and answered before anyone could actually hit the boy. "Xander, Anne is in a rather unique situation here. Anything she tells us could blow up the universe." She had said this with such open sincerity that everyone in the room focused on these two. Xander's "Really?" was out of his mouth before he noticed the mischievous twinkle in Willow's eyes. He immediately smacked her shoulder and tried to cover for his gullibility. The atmosphere in the room was rather heavy but it had been lightened somewhat.
Giles pulled off his glasses and started to clean them. "I'm afraid she's only partially joking Xander. Any knowledge we have of the future could be disastrous. I'm still not totally sure what the Powers would risk so much for."
Giles proceeded to, with Willow's help, try to explain to Xander what they thought could happen while Anne, unfazed by their conversation had started to pace.
She couldn't keep still and couldn't look at any of them for more than a few seconds. A few minutes passed and eventually Anne stopped, facing the training room. Buried deeply in her own thoughts she failed to notice the presence behind her until she felt the cool touch on her skin. It was a calming affect for her frazzled nerves. A similar calm to that which she felt when she had locked eyes with Spike the previous day.
Those at the table who had been discussing the ramifications on the time- space continuum fell silent as their attention was diverted. The room became cloaked in a shroud of silence as they waited for this scene before them to play out.
He didn't know why he did it. Why he stood. Why he moved toward her. Why he felt that he needed to help her. He was connected to her. Why was he connected to her? He placed his hands on her shoulders. The tatoo caught his attention again and he slid his left hand down slightly. His eyes glazed over as he brushed his thumb over the design. Set on Anne's left shoulder blade, a permanent fixture on her body, was another piece of the puzzle. The fog in his head was just starting to dissipate. Small goose bumps emerged under his touch.
She watched as her lover moved forward. She watched as his hands rested on small shoulders. She watched as his left hand slid down a few inches. She watched his thumb caress the tatoo. It had captivated him and this captivated her as she stepped forward and put her hands gently on his waste and her eyes looked around his shoulder and took in the item of his attention.
She remained still and unmoving. She felt when the goose bumps rippled through her. She felt the cool thumb skim across her skin. She felt the cool hand disappear from her left side while the one on her right remained. She felt warm soft fingers run gently across her tatoo. Her mark. Her physical proclamation as to who she was, where she had come from. Her eyes were closed and she pictured it in her mind. Two items crossing each other in the shape of an 'X'. They were of approximately the same shape and size. One was a wood stake, the other was a railroad spike. This was who she was. Her history, her present, and her future. Her decision made, she stepped forward out of the gentle hands, warm and cold, that had been touching her. She turned and looked at them. Her blue eyes glinted, hinting, begging, searching. She wanted them to see, to understand.
Spike and Buffy watched her and then looked at each other and Spike put his arm around his love and pulled her to his side as they looked into each other's eyes. Silently conversing. Spike turned his gaze back to Anne's. Without releasing Buffy, he simply extended his right hand toward the young woman in front of him in invitation.
Anne watched as he extended his hand out to her. She knew it was a sign of welcome and acceptance. Tears threatened to spill from her blue eyes. Her left raised and she placed it in his right. Anne felt herself pulled in as his right arm snaked around her waist. They looked at each other. Blue eyes met blue eyes. The Slayer looked at both sets of eyes and marveled how much they were the same. She understood why Spike had felt drawn to this girl. In fact she understand so much that had taken place since Anne had arrived. Buffy gently wiped away a tear that was trickling down Anne's cheek. Spike's arms were around two of his girls and he watched as these two women clasped hands. He pulled them both close and they hugged in their little triangle. Spike kissed both girls on the top of the head and whispered words of love to both of them. He didn't understand how or why but both of these beautiful women were his.
Giles, Xander, Anya, Willow, Dawn, and Angel were silent. No one spoke or moved. Each was consumed with their own thoughts. Angel wondered if Anne would tell them the rest. She hadn't told him but it had been part of Cordy's vision. He knew that there was no precedent or classification for what Anne was. She was unique, just like her mother. It pained him to know that Buffy had moved on to Spike, but from what Anne had said the previous night, Angel had not been excluded from their lives. They were all friends and had been happy. When she was little she would spend time with him in L.A. He had even helped train her. He was special to her and that pleased him.
Giles glasses were still in his hand as he watched with wide eyes. Xander's mouth was hanging open. Willow's eyes were now big enough to start their own planetary orbit. Anya looked fascinated and intrigued. Dawn was captivated. Xander was the first to find his tongue. "Does this mean the universe is going to explode?"
****(tbc)
A/Ns
~~ok, I just noticed that I haven't used Tara at all so far in this story. I'm really sorry but since it's already so far in, let's just pretend she doesn't live in this universe. Nothing against Tara cause I do like her and everything it's just that my train of thought de-railed and in the mass confusion I misplaced one of the passengers.~~
~~Oh, yes, and I haven't done a disclaimer yet. Basically, if you think I own these guys (except for Anne), then you are in worse shape than Buffy in Normal Again.~~
It was 3 or 4 in the morning before Buffy dared approach that dreaded subject again. "Baby, what did she tell you? What's going to happen?"
Spike barely shook his head and then pulled back just enough to look at her. His love. He studied her, re-memorizing everything about her. "Spike, tell me."
"Love, Anne is the daughter of a slayer. That's why she's so strong. According to what she told me, she should be born sometime this year."
Buffy frowned as his words sunk in. She now understood Spike's desperation in holding her. "You think she's mine."
"She has to be, pet. The other Slayer is in no position to be conceiving."
"Well, neither am I, Spike. The only person I've been sleeping with recently, or ever want to sleep with ever again is right here in my arms. I love you. It has to be Faith. It can't be me."
****
"Wesley, it's Angel. I need you to go through the scrolls and look for anything that makes reference to something called The Balance. I'll be staying here for awhile. Keep me updated on what you find."
****
–Next Evening–
Anne walked into the master bedroom with a mug of blood. "Wake up sleepyhead and get dressed. Sun's almost down and we need to be heading over to the Magic Box."
Angel opened his eyes and gathered his thoughts. He smelled blood. Warm blood. Then he saw the mug in Anne's hand. She handed it to him and turned to walk out of the room. "Thanks" Anne turned in the doorway. "Thank you" with that, she left.
Angel sat up and started to drink his blood. He stopped, frozen in shock. It was seasoned. Anne had seasoned his blood for him. Cordy was the only other one who even knew about his secret "herbal cravings". With that realization he knew that everything Anne had told him was true. Every last bit of it.
****
"Hello?.......Giles!.........What? How did you know about that?..........Oh.........Yeah, she's......what?..........you're kidding..........no, I understand. Talk to you later......bye."
"Will, what was that all about?" Xander was sitting on the counter watching Willow. "Huh? Oh, Giles had to hang up to catch his cab. He's on his way here with some stuff."
"Giles is coming?" Buffy walked into the shop and just had to ask to make sure she wasn't hearing things.
"Yeah, he said that he's coming from the airport and should be here soon. Did we call him about Anne being here?"
"No, I didn't. Did you Xander?"
"Me? No. Anya, did you?"
She just shook her head and resumed counting the money in the till.
Willow looked just as baffled as everyone else as to how Giles had known. "I wonder how he found out."
Buffy was still thinking about everything that had happened to her during the past two days. After talking to Spike last night she was seriously unsettled as to how to handle life right now. How was Faith going to become pregnant? Or perhaps....Was Faith going to be killed and another Slayer called who was going to have a baby? Her mind was trying desperately to think of something, some answer that did not involve her hurting Spike. Leaving him, being with someone else? It would destroy him. Hell, it would destroy her. She loved him so much that it hurt to even think about ever being without him.
****
– Just After Sunset –
Anne and Angel were in his car and heading to the Magic Box. "Wait, we should stop and get Spike." Angel watched her out of the corner of his eye. "You sure?" "Yeah"
A few minutes later they pulled up to the cemetery and Anne climbed out of the car. "Wait here. I shouldn't be too long."
When she reached the crypt she slowly pushed open the door without knocking.
Spike was pulling on his boots and just getting ready to head out to meet everyone at the shop when he heard the soft sound of the crypt door being pushed open. He craned his head in an attempt to determine who it was. Friend or Foe. He grabbed a stake and a knife and melted into the shadows behind the ladder.
It was a game of cat and mouse. Both were acutely aware of the others movements and both were making cautious movements. She descended the ladder, knowing full well where he was but not wanting him to know that she knew, at least not yet. So she walked forward and pretended to be looking for him. Spike observed her from his darkened corner. She really wasn't that stupid was she? He was about to step out when he saw her abruptly turn around and huff as she plopped down to sit on the bed. She was looking straight at him. Bugger, she had known all along.
"Came to see if you wanted a ride to the shop." He stepped out and put the stake in his pocket and slid the knife back under the bed where he always kept it. "So, Buffy stayed here last night huh?" He looked at her sharply. "You spying on us?" Those blue eyes who dripping of suspicion and accusation. "No, I can smell her."
"Right, then. What other super powers do you have?"
"Question and answer time doesn't start until we get to the shop. Let's go."
They both left the crypt. Two black leather dusters flapping in the breeze as they walked. Both with determined strides. Angel watched in fascination as he saw the two figures approach. He saw Spike hesitate when he noticed Angel waiting for them.
"What's the poof doing here?"
She stopped and turned to look at him. "You didn't actually think that I had a car did you? Come on."
No one said anything during the ride to the shop. It was going to be a long and uncomfortable night for everyone.
****
The bell over the shop door tinkled and everyone inside turned to see Anne stroll in with Spike behind. Then everyone's jaws hit the floor when Angel walked in, uncertain as to whether or not he was even welcome. Spike kept walking until he had found a seat next to Buffy. Anne stopped about half way to the table and Angel stayed near the door.
The next few moments were rather confusing to say the least. Buffy managed a small sound of disbelief and confusion followed by accusation and anger. "An-Angel? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?"
While this was happening Anne had spotted Giles (which is why she stopped). "Giles!?!" Without even thinking she just launched herself into his arms and hugged him. She had missed him terribly and had not expected to see him here. It was a very pleasant surprise for her. Giles had his eyes on Angel when he was nearly knocked over by the small brunette in black leather.
Willow, Xander, Dawn and Spike watched everything happen. Each of them were thinking that they would get whiplash from trying to watch everything at once. Dawn's head was going to start hurting if she didn't do something fast. "STOP!!!!!! Everyone just sit down right now!" Her commanding presence caused everyone, Giles, Anne, Angel, Buffy, Spike, Willow, Anya, and Xander to all stare at her, frozen in time. At once they all started to move and sit down in various positions around the room. Each with their own expressions of uncomfortability. Well, I got their attention, I might as well just take the bull by the horns and act as mediator. "No talking out of turn just yet. Let's try not to confuse things any more than they already are. First, Angel, what are you doing here?"
Angel had been studying the carpet but looked up when she spoke to him. "Cordy had a vision and so I came up to see if I could help." Buffy started to speak when Dawn glared at her, stopping her dead in her tongues tracks. She had never seen her little sister like this before. It was a little un-nerving. "Next question, why did you come in with Anne and Spike?"
"I ran into Anne at the mansion last night. We talked and we picked up Spike at his crypt on the way here."
"Ok, now, Anne, why did you hug Giles like that?"
"I missed him." Anne's answer was matter of fact and accompanied by a shrug of her shoulders and a sheepish if not slightly embarrassed grin. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."
Giles reached for his glasses and started to clean them. "Yes, well, um, that's quite alright. It's nice to meet you."
"Ok, now. Giles is here because he found some stuff regarding Anne. Giles? Your turn." Dawn sat down and waited.
"Oh, well, I was researching something, unimportant now, when I ran across reference to a prophecy and a vague piece of the translation. It wasn't very descriptive I'm afraid. More speculation really, that The Chosen One was somehow involved. I was worried about Buffy, and had heard from a shaman friend that there was a new and powerful presence on the hellmouth. I of course assumed that it was a dark presence but was told that it was neither light nor dark but not to be disregarded. I knew that Wesley had some old prophecy scrolls so I called him and he told me that Angel had already had him start looking at them. Something about The Balance. Willow informed me that, Anne, is it? That she claims to be this balance. Needless to say that Wesley is on his way here now with the original text."
Angel nodded in conformation. "Cordelia is driving up with him. She thought that, whatever is going on, she would be able to help."
Xander grinned slightly with a knowing air. "Wouldn't take 'No' for an answer huh?"
"No"
"Thought not"
During the ride to the shop, Anne had pulled out her silver cross and fastened it around her neck. Someone would recognize it. But then, they were supposed to. Now she stood and shrugged out of her coat and placed it on the counter. Spike was watching her, noting the gentle caress she subconsciously gave the leather of *his?* coat. Then he saw the tatoo on her shoulder, couldn't quite make it out from here but it did perk his interest. When she turned back around to face the rest of the room, the light glinted off her cross and caught Buffy's attention. Angel had already seen it and had just accepted that it was the one that he had given Buffy but that it now belonged to Anne. Of course he knew that Buffy still had hers.
The Slayer stood and purposefully walked to stand in front of the other girl. Her eyes never left the cross around the girl's neck. Buffy reached out a tentative finger and touched it very lightly. She then looked up into Anne's eyes. "Where did you............where did you get this?"
The look in Anne's eyes was soft and full of compassion. "From you." Now Buffy just had to ask the next question. "And the coat?" "From Spike." "Gifts?" "Yeah"
Simple questions and simple answers. They just stood there, eyes locked, searching out the other and trying to connect. Everyone else just sat in silence.
The spell was broken by what Anne said next. "Everyone here needs to be aware of the fact that Drusilla will quite possibly be making an appearance sometime soon."
Spike's forehead wrinkled. Giles asked the question. "And why would that be?"
Angel answered for her. "Because Dru will be able to sense her and with Dru's abilities, well, she'll be more than curious about who Anne is. She's coming. You can count on it. Which reminds me, Spike, hasn't that concerned you yet or are you a little too pre-occupied to notice?"
Childe glared at Sire. Moments of silence passed until a light seemed to visually go off in Spike's head. He closed his eyes and concentrated. A full minute passed before he opened his eyes and looked right at Anne. She returned his look. Buffy was concerned, especially after how her lover had been acting the previous night. "Spike? What is it?" "I can feel her, just like Peaches said. Only, only it's stronger than when I feel Peaches, and he's my grande sire." He had not yet stopped looking at the subject of his attention.
Anne wanted desperately to change the subject.
"So, do we know approximately when Wesley is going to get here?"
"Any time within the hour." Angel remained where he was in the room and rolled his eyes when he heard Xander raise an obvious Xander point.
"So, what? Now we're just supposed to sit here and watch and do nothing while all the answers we need are standing in front of us? Am I the only one here not seeing the obvious solution?"
Willow looked at her friend and answered before anyone could actually hit the boy. "Xander, Anne is in a rather unique situation here. Anything she tells us could blow up the universe." She had said this with such open sincerity that everyone in the room focused on these two. Xander's "Really?" was out of his mouth before he noticed the mischievous twinkle in Willow's eyes. He immediately smacked her shoulder and tried to cover for his gullibility. The atmosphere in the room was rather heavy but it had been lightened somewhat.
Giles pulled off his glasses and started to clean them. "I'm afraid she's only partially joking Xander. Any knowledge we have of the future could be disastrous. I'm still not totally sure what the Powers would risk so much for."
Giles proceeded to, with Willow's help, try to explain to Xander what they thought could happen while Anne, unfazed by their conversation had started to pace.
She couldn't keep still and couldn't look at any of them for more than a few seconds. A few minutes passed and eventually Anne stopped, facing the training room. Buried deeply in her own thoughts she failed to notice the presence behind her until she felt the cool touch on her skin. It was a calming affect for her frazzled nerves. A similar calm to that which she felt when she had locked eyes with Spike the previous day.
Those at the table who had been discussing the ramifications on the time- space continuum fell silent as their attention was diverted. The room became cloaked in a shroud of silence as they waited for this scene before them to play out.
He didn't know why he did it. Why he stood. Why he moved toward her. Why he felt that he needed to help her. He was connected to her. Why was he connected to her? He placed his hands on her shoulders. The tatoo caught his attention again and he slid his left hand down slightly. His eyes glazed over as he brushed his thumb over the design. Set on Anne's left shoulder blade, a permanent fixture on her body, was another piece of the puzzle. The fog in his head was just starting to dissipate. Small goose bumps emerged under his touch.
She watched as her lover moved forward. She watched as his hands rested on small shoulders. She watched as his left hand slid down a few inches. She watched his thumb caress the tatoo. It had captivated him and this captivated her as she stepped forward and put her hands gently on his waste and her eyes looked around his shoulder and took in the item of his attention.
She remained still and unmoving. She felt when the goose bumps rippled through her. She felt the cool thumb skim across her skin. She felt the cool hand disappear from her left side while the one on her right remained. She felt warm soft fingers run gently across her tatoo. Her mark. Her physical proclamation as to who she was, where she had come from. Her eyes were closed and she pictured it in her mind. Two items crossing each other in the shape of an 'X'. They were of approximately the same shape and size. One was a wood stake, the other was a railroad spike. This was who she was. Her history, her present, and her future. Her decision made, she stepped forward out of the gentle hands, warm and cold, that had been touching her. She turned and looked at them. Her blue eyes glinted, hinting, begging, searching. She wanted them to see, to understand.
Spike and Buffy watched her and then looked at each other and Spike put his arm around his love and pulled her to his side as they looked into each other's eyes. Silently conversing. Spike turned his gaze back to Anne's. Without releasing Buffy, he simply extended his right hand toward the young woman in front of him in invitation.
Anne watched as he extended his hand out to her. She knew it was a sign of welcome and acceptance. Tears threatened to spill from her blue eyes. Her left raised and she placed it in his right. Anne felt herself pulled in as his right arm snaked around her waist. They looked at each other. Blue eyes met blue eyes. The Slayer looked at both sets of eyes and marveled how much they were the same. She understood why Spike had felt drawn to this girl. In fact she understand so much that had taken place since Anne had arrived. Buffy gently wiped away a tear that was trickling down Anne's cheek. Spike's arms were around two of his girls and he watched as these two women clasped hands. He pulled them both close and they hugged in their little triangle. Spike kissed both girls on the top of the head and whispered words of love to both of them. He didn't understand how or why but both of these beautiful women were his.
Giles, Xander, Anya, Willow, Dawn, and Angel were silent. No one spoke or moved. Each was consumed with their own thoughts. Angel wondered if Anne would tell them the rest. She hadn't told him but it had been part of Cordy's vision. He knew that there was no precedent or classification for what Anne was. She was unique, just like her mother. It pained him to know that Buffy had moved on to Spike, but from what Anne had said the previous night, Angel had not been excluded from their lives. They were all friends and had been happy. When she was little she would spend time with him in L.A. He had even helped train her. He was special to her and that pleased him.
Giles glasses were still in his hand as he watched with wide eyes. Xander's mouth was hanging open. Willow's eyes were now big enough to start their own planetary orbit. Anya looked fascinated and intrigued. Dawn was captivated. Xander was the first to find his tongue. "Does this mean the universe is going to explode?"
****(tbc)
A/Ns
~~ok, I just noticed that I haven't used Tara at all so far in this story. I'm really sorry but since it's already so far in, let's just pretend she doesn't live in this universe. Nothing against Tara cause I do like her and everything it's just that my train of thought de-railed and in the mass confusion I misplaced one of the passengers.~~
~~Oh, yes, and I haven't done a disclaimer yet. Basically, if you think I own these guys (except for Anne), then you are in worse shape than Buffy in Normal Again.~~