E-mail: Cajun_chick411@yahoo.com or Cajun_chick411@netscape.com or Spikesluv666@netscape.net
Title: Twins of Peace Book Three: Time Hopping (working title)
Spoilers: all four HP books, Buffy up to the end of season six, and my two fanfics Twins of Peace books one and two
Category: General, Supernatural, and Action/Adventure
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer:
They belong to Whedon and Rowling,
It's shocking but it's true;
All I do is borrow them
And hope that they won't sue!
And on another note the dialogue between William and Dru towards the end is not mine. It came from the BtVS episode Fool For Love in season five (one of the best Buffy episodes in my opinion, t'was then that I truly loved Spike).
Authors Note: So you're not completely confused I'd suggest reading Twins of Peace books one and two. Unless I get really inspired while writing this, this will be the last book because I really intended to make this a trilogy anyway. If anyone insists I might throw in a little one shot when it's through. Erm, I think that's it except please if you read it, review it! I'm a review slut and damned proud of it!
Summary: After jumping through a portal created by some weird form of Time-Turner Piper wakes up to find the Spike of old (as in William) watching over her (though it's still in different POV's). She has no idea where the other Scoobies are, or if the friends and family she left back in London are ok. Peter Pettigrew is also on the loose messing up time as he goes along, starting with one night fateful night in 1880…
Chapter One: Piper- William the Bloody or Fool For Love Revisited
Dear Remus,
With what's been going on we haven't been able to talk like we should. The children and Sirius are missing along with Buffy, Spike, Xander, and Angel; I know this, but I feel that it's been dominating our entire lives and it's only been a week. Somehow I just know they're fine and they will come back to us, so we must stop thinking about that for at least a moment and talk about what's going on between us.
You know what happened to me when I went to Hogwarts and why I rejected you. I couldn't be with you after Lieselotte died and you have to understand that. You're a werewolf, and that's what killed her. I thought I'd never get over it. I did though, and after Lily and James' wedding…I remember the way you came up to me and asked me to dance! You were so shy. I wanted to dive headlong into a relationship, but with Voldemort growing stronger by the day we couldn't. I had my healing and you had your Watchers Council. Then ironically when we thought we were ready Pettigrew spoiled it and I ran.
I want to allow myself to love you now. Death Eaters, Voldemort, Pettigrew, they mean nothing. We let them stop us once and I don't plan for that to happen again. I hope the feelings you used to harbor haven't faded, but if they have I understand. It's been fourteen years. To this letter you don't have to respond. I'll know by the way you look and act. I just hope you understand that I still love you.
Hopeful,
Leandra Black
Lucius,
I am displeased with the spectacle presented in Diagon Alley. You have lost the trust of much of the ministry and Peter Pettigrew has been seen by the public. Already I have seen reports in the Daily Prophet proclaiming Sirius Black innocent of at least one murder; there is speculation on whether he committed any crime at all. If he is released Harry Potter will have a home safer than he is with the Dursley's or the Winthrop's. Punishment for this would have to be grave.
There is also another matter that disturbs me. Is it not true that your son Draco ran into the Time-Turner Portal after Piper Black as if trying to save her? I hope, for your sake and his that his loyalties have not wavered. When we injected him with vampiric blood it was not so he could help that idiot Dumbledore. It was for him to help us. Make sure you make this clear for him if Dumbledore's side ever manages to get that portal back open. I truly believe that all inside have perished. Dumbledore will never find a way to open it.
It upsets me that the Winthrop's seem so connected to Dumbledore and Sirius Black. There is something about the woman that bothers me…but that's not important. I shall figure that out in my own time. The man seems normal enough as do the daughter and the two babies. I would still like more information concerning them though.
I am letting you off easily this time, but any more mistakes will result in Crucio.
-Voldemort
Dear Willow,
In answer to your private query earlier today I will explain to you what Freya's Strand is. I'll admit I was amazed to hear that Adhara had it. It had last been seen during World War Two when Spike and Drusilla were looking for it. The strand is a golden chain that looks like nothing special except for the gold is woven so closely together it looks like a solid gold rope. Despite it's appearance I've been told it hangs lightly in the hands.
When one wears it you are able to shift your form to what ever creature you want. I suppose this is why Adhara gave it to Spike. It could've proved useful in the crowds last week, it is probably being even more useful wherever the portal took them. The chain is also rumored to give vampires their reflection, another reason Drusilla wanted it all those years ago.
The time turner Adhara gave Adrian was special only because of the protection it gives when traveling through time. It also creates very powerful vortexes when smashed as demonstrated in Diagon Alley. When entered you are thrown to a point of time important to your survival, or life. Because of this clause we at least know that our friends are relatively safe wherever they are.
Adhara and I are working on recreating the portal to pull them out as quickly as possible. We must not forget that Peter Pettigrew also managed to jump in. I fear to think of what he might decide to do to time. But Willow you must rest easy, our friends are resourceful and will fins ways to survive. Meanwhile continue to distract yourself with your classes and the twins. Another time spender would be to make sure that Remus Lupin and Leandra Black develop a relationship. I would, but I'm afraid I am becoming too old to play matchmaker anymore.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
*~*
"What's America like Miss?"
I sighed internally at the question, while racking my brain trying to remember anything from my grade school history lessons. What was America doing in 1880? Had the Civil War ended yet? I decided it had as something about the 14th amendment flashed through my head. Why had I never paid attention in history? It was Remus' fault of course. We'd covered the 19th century the last year I'd been in New Jersey when I'd had Remus for history. He'd been the bane of my life back then, always watching over me. At least now I knew why. I shook my head slightly. Letting my mind wander wasn't a good thing. I had to remember what was going on, not that anything came to mind.
"It's much different than here." I said lamely. "It seems busier."
Beth's face became excited. "Did you live in a city? I heard in your city Chicago they've built a building with sixteen floors! I would never go in there."
'That's nothing' I thought of the Empire State Building and the Sears Towers. I sucked in a breath as she pulled the stays of the corset tighter. "I live in New York City, by Central Park." Shit, had that even been built?
"Oh you live in the Dakota, you must be very wealthy!" She gushed. Oh well, at least I hadn't been wrong. And now I remembered that Central Park had been built by someone Olmstead. This was improvement.
"Yes I was supposed to be visiting my aunt, but she never arrived at the port, so Adrian and I attempted to find her home ourselves. We weren't very successful." I told the story perfectly without any stuttering over the lies. Adrian was in the next room over. We had both been found lying on the ground in an alley about a black away from the Winthrop House. We'd been wearing clothes that signified we were well off, as did the luggage in the suitcases lying next to us. The day I awoke Mrs. Winthrop allowed me to see Adrian, and he told me the story he'd made up. I stuck to it faithfully. According to Beth, William had found us and bought us here to be treated three days ago.
I was still completely freaked about what was happening. If you woke up over a hundred year in the past you'd be freaked too. There were so many variables in this whole thing that I was worried about. Mostly I thought about everything that I said in did. I was trying to be careful when answering questions. I was afraid I'd accidentally start talking about airplanes, Amtrak, and TV. I'd watched way too much Star Trek as a kid and Captain Picard had drilled the consequences telling the future or trying to change that past into my head. Bad things always happened, even when your intentions were well meant. The Pettigrew element worried me too. He was out in time somewhere probably fixing it so that the south won the Civil War; Napoleon took over the world, or something equally as bad. Then we'd get back to our time and find out that we hadn't even been born.
Beth slipped a dress over my head that definitely wouldn't have fit if not for the corset. I would've rather been able to breath than to fit into a dress two sizes to small. As she tied the small bows in the back she continued talking. "Mr. William is supposed to take you 'round to where he works today, at the library. He has to do some filling before he goes to the gathering tonight."
"Oh, what's tonight?" I asked.
"Miss. Cicely's family is having a small party. Mr. William quite fancies her; he aims to marry her, but he won't get anywhere with what he's writing her." She said in a gossipy tone.
"Oh, William's a poet?" I knew damn well he was a poet, but I wanted to know if tonight was the night, so I had to keep her talking.
Beth smiled. "Yes, that he is. He's a treat to look at, but as poet…well many call him William The Bloody Awful Poet. Not to his face of course, but it follows him around like a fire."
I grimaced, feeling bad for him. "This Cicely, does she return his love?"
"That's what's so horrible about it, she doesn't. I suspect she would if he stopped writing, but if she sends him away tonight it will be the second time he's been rejected by her." Now I knew. It was the night.
Tonight William would run out and meet Drusilla. I could save him. I could go to the alley and stealthily sneak up on Dru and stake her. Better yet, I could delay William from making it to Cicely's on time. But as I thought about all of this I thought of the things I'd be affecting as well. With out William becoming Spike Buffy would've never been able to get rid of Angelus, many of us would be dead a few time over, the twins wouldn't have been born, and I'd miss him when if I ever reached home and everything was different. I couldn't imagine my world without Spike and the Scoobies. Hell, even Angel was starting to grow on me.
"William's very nice to me." I said, remembering the two times we'd talked. "He's shy though."
"Yes," Beth agreed. "But he's always nice, Miss. Harriet isn't all the time. Miss. Gillian's lovely though. Those are his sisters." The grandfather clock down stairs started to chime. When it'd finished it had rang eleven times. Beth's mouth formed an O when she heard the time. "Come, Mr. William is waiting for you and your brother. I'll escort you down."
We went down into the ornate parlor of the house. William and Adrian were there, but I was pained when I looked at William. He was so much different from Spike, I'll bet William couldn't have even stood the sight of blood. I wanted him to wear a black leather duster and have white blond hair. He needed to smoke and curse. But William would never do that, he was to refined, a gentlemen; nice all the time and would never curse in a ladies presence.
"Miss. Rayner." William said, politely inclining his head. Rayner was the name we'd lived with for fourteen years in New Jersey. Adrian had given it to Mrs. Winthrop as our real last name. "Are you well enough to venture out today?"
"Yes thank you." I answered honestly. I did fell surprisingly well. Something vampiric had probably aided a speedy recovery for both Adrian and I. Of course I wasn't aware of how badly we'd been hurt in the first place but that seemed unimportant.
William opened the door to the townhouse and I fell in step with Adrian as we walked the London cobble stoned streets. I had a lot to say to him, to ask him, but I couldn't then. We looked each other straight in the eyes though, communicating silently. We'd talk as soon as we found a private niche somewhere. I wondered if he'd discovered what I had about this evening and what was to take place.
I looked around for landmarks, trying to discover where I was without asking. Seeing something like The Leaky Caldron would've been a dead giveaway but there were no such clues. Instead everything was completely unfamiliar and the only thing I was defiantly sure of was that I was somewhere in the city of London.
We weren't given any extra attention as we walked though the streets. There were many like us. Then there were the people that seemed to be important who rode around in coaches, and of course the peasants. I assumed the Winthrop's were part of the middleclass. Not nobility, but not needing to get their hands dirty with hard labor either. I paid attention only because I was looking for recognizable faces. Faces of my friends and family who'd jumped through before and after me. It was wishful thinking to believe that we'd all ended up here. But with my luck Pettigrew was lurking around somewhere.
"Please, in here." We'd stopped in front of a plain looking, white washed door surrounded with green trim. William pushed the door open was awkwardly pushing up his glasses at the same time. I almost let out a girlish giggle. Awkward and Spike didn't normally connect. If he ever were awkward he'd usually try to cover it with some sort of manly act of machoism or a sarcastic remark. William just stumbled through the door and ushered us down a dank corridor. I shivered a bit, surprising for all the layers of clothes and underclothes I wore.
William pulled open another door that led into a well lit room lined wall to wall with shelves filled with books. It reminded me very much of Hayden's old shop across from Apropos, I decided when I coughed slightly on the dust sweeping the room. The room was large and few people mingled, walking in and out of the shelves. To my despair I saw no one I knew.
"I fear I won't be much company today, but feel free to use any of the books here." William told us, moving to a solitary desk at the side of the room. " 'Tis almost time for midday break anyhow."
Adrian and I nodded to each other after William had retreated to his desk. I walked in one direction and he took the other. We'd soon meet up, but wouldn't look suspicious like we were plotting something. So I walked slowly through the many aisles of books. At times curiosity got the better of me and I pulled one or two down. Especially when I saw what I had to assume were first edition Dickens novels, and a leather bound copy of Little Women that I almost felt compelled to steal.
"You like fine works of literature?" As I slid the Alcott book back onto the shelf a smooth Irish lilted voice spoke from behind me. I congratulated myself on not becoming too startled as I turned to face the person behind me. Truthfully I had wanted to make as little contact with anyone as possible, but it was obvious that it could not be avoided.
"I do like Little Women…" I trailed off as I looked up to the man who'd spoken. "You, how…"
The man scowled as I stuttered the half question. "I do not believe we've been introduced Miss,"
"Rayner." I filled in reluctantly. I could hear Adrian's heart beat not that far away. Maybe a stack over. That was good. Adrian would help if he tried to hurt me. "And you?"
"Liam, that's all." I gulped deeply as he spoke, completely confirming my suspicions. Angel stood before me, well Angelus at least. He was unsouled, and very dangerous with a penchant for torture. I wanted to know how he'd gotten to the shop. It was broad daylight out. Had Peter screwed up time already? I doubted it, but I kept the possibility in thought.
"It's been a pleasure meeting you Liam, but my brother is around here somewhere, so if you'll excuse me." I backed slowly away, forgetting the books I'd previously held in reverence.
He grabbed my right arm, pulling me back towards him. I didn't struggle, because I didn't want to break anything. I didn't trust 19th century medicine all that much, even with my advanced healing. "You're like us, no don't shake your head, I can feel it. Tell me, what are you doing here among the high class?"
"I could ask you the same thing, and I don't know what on earth you're talking about." I lied. "Please let me go."
"Why deny it my little Lamia." Liam asked. "When were you changed?"
"Was I like you, I'd have shifted and staked you already." I said haughtily, dropping my pretense. "I'm merciful though, so I won't. You're too important Angelus." With that I jerked my arm out of his grip. He let me go, and I was smart enough to realize that fact. If he'd wanted to keep me I wouldn't have had a chance of getting away. I smoothed the sleeves of my dress and gave him a cool glance. "It's been a pleasure."
"Yes it has lass. And make no mistake that I will be seeing you again. Maybe tonight at The Lady Cicely's."
Angel and Spike, they were part of the garrison that would protect each of us kids to the death. I loved them for it, but their past selves had been so…well words wouldn't describe it for me. But the Angel I talked to now was anything but the broody, yet compassionate man I knew. This Angel would more likely make me into some sort of sex slave. Yet even now he was years older than me, and could best me at anything. I felt it best not to anger him too much so my response was only, "Perhaps."
*~*
"Piper, how can you watch this? It's downright awful."
"It's better than being out there with that womanizer you call your boss." I said with a shiver. "Besides it's not like we can hear anything, all we can see is the look of revulsion on her face. At least now we know why he was called William the Bloody."
"Yeah, well I could've done without knowing. And you do realize that the man out there is Angelus and not Angel. There's a difference, as Angel will tell you in a heartbeat." Adrian replied grumpily. "Oh god, look at him, Piper can we leave now, my respect for Spike is slowly plummeting. He's getting up anyway."
I nodded. "We should follow him. Dru has to find him, and we've gotta make sure Pettigrew doesn't."
"I know that we have to hand him over to Dru, but there's just something so wrong about it." His fingers slowly traced his neck where Dru had bitten him.
"If you like being alive we have to. If William doesn't disappear tonight then Harriet won't run off and marry and have kids, those kids won't have kids, and those kids won't have kids, and those kids won't have dad, and dad and mom won't have us."
"I know, I know," My brother said sighing. "But you don't feel in the least bit guilty?"
I waited before answering as we slowly came out of the corner we'd been spying from, and emerged back into the parlor of the house where twenty or so people mingled. Among them was Angelus, who winked luridly at me. When my eyes widened in slight fear he just smiled and turned back to the maid he was currently engaging. I clutched Adrian's arm and propelled us towards the front door.
"Of course I feel guilty! I have a conscience you know." I huffed as we stepped out into the night. "But think of Buffy and the twins, and oh, there's so much other stuff that depends on tonight. Over there! You go, I'll catch up." I pointed suddenly. I saw William walking quickly away from us. Adrian ran ahead, staying in the shadows. I was a little ways behind, my clothes were confining and certainly not made for running.
William stopped and turned into an alley. He vanished from our view but the ripped up pieces of white paper he'd left dashed on the street behind him left a trial. I knelt to examine one. The words were smudged dreadfully and I couldn't read it at all, but I could only assume it was the poem that William had labored on during the beginning of the party. I held the paper in my hand tightly and continued on as fast as the dress would let me.
I heard a thud and turned to the right. It was an alley right across from the one William turned into. In fact, when I went in farther I found it was possible to see William through the space where brick, mortar, and wall did not touch. There were sounds of struggle so I peered through the dark behind me. Adrian sat on the ground with Peter Pettigrew in a headlock. I started to call out to him but stopped when I saw a woman step from the shadows and approach William.
"And I wonder…what possible catastrophe came crashing down from heaven and brought this dashing stranger to tears?" Drusilla inquired to William in a soft, seductive voice.
"Nothing. I wish to be alone." He said, still ripping his poem to shreds.
"You don't want to let this happen!" Peter hissed from under Adrian's arm. "He deserves to live life. Don't you think?"
Adrian glared and hugged him tighter. "He has one, back home in our time."
"Oh I see you. A man surrounded by fools who cannot see his strength., his vision, his glory." Dru stopped, touching a finger to his cheek.
William backed away against the wall. He shook nervously. "That's quite close enough. I've heard tales of London pickpockets. You'll not be getting my purse, I'll tell you."
She gave a slow smile that had me shaking from where I stood. I kept my breathing steady, trying not to alert them of our presence. "Don't need a purse." She pointed to his heart with one finger and his head with another. "Your wealth lies here…and here. In the spirit and…imagination. You walk in worlds others can't begin to imagine." There was sense to that. Spike was still a horrible poet (though he was able to laugh at his results now) but he told wonderful stories to his sons. Dru was right in saying what she had.
"Oh yes! I mean, no. I mean…mother's expecting me." He stammered. Behind me Adrian gave a small snort of laughter, barely detectable.
Dru grabbed his shirt harshly, but then gently opened the collar. "I see what you want. Something glowing and glistening. Something…effulgent."
"Effulgent." William gave the tiniest smile.
"Do you want it?" Dru asked, coyly looking up at him from lowered lashes.
"Oh, yes! God yes."
Drusilla looked down for a moment as her face changed and fangs appeared. William gasped, not afraid really, but more intrigued. I bit my lip until it bled, keeping myself hidden. Had I not been in control I would've run out and pushed her away, and told William that this wasn't what he wanted or needed. What he needed was to stop trying to write poetry for Cicely and court her for real. He needed the last hour over again. That was all. He didn't need to become Spike.
Dru pulled back his shirt collar and buried her fangs into his neck. William cried out in pain, but slowly they turned into moans of pleasure that sent a blush slowly creeping up my neck. It was bad enough seeing him and Buffy making out and necking all over the house, this was something I really didn't need to be hearing. But as the moans died down and Dru raised her wrist to his mouth I knew that we'd succeeded and William was on the path to becoming Spike.
Finally I turned back to look at Adrian. There stood a swirling, misty, blue portal. Adrian and the rat were gone. In mere seconds, so was I.
*~*
Dear Hayden, and Leandra,
'Tis good news that bids me to write these letters, one to every member of the Hogwarts Staff. Lucius Malfoy and Ian McNair have been removed from their respective positions at the ministry. For once I applaud Cornelius's judgment in Ministry affairs. The Unspeakables declared that there had been a hysteria spell used on the 13th and that it came from McNair's wand. When questioned he revealed Malfoy as the master of the whole operation.
When half the crowd in Diagon Alley claimed to see Peter Pettigrew the ministry could ignore it, especially when many of it's members saw him too. The case has been reopened! When we manage to retrieve everyone from the portal there will be a retrial, and I suspect that this time the odds will weigh heavily on our side.
Yours,
Albus Dumbledore
Dear Mr. And Mrs. Winthrop,
We scheduled a student/teacher conference for two days ago for Dawn and her teachers and Dawn declined to arrive, though she was in school that day. Please write or phone the school with in the next few days so we can discuss Dawn's discipline issues.
-Miss. Stamp
Dear Miss Stamp.,
I'm sorry but Dawn's older sister and her husband are away on vacation for the next two weeks. They've traveled back to the states to set some of their affairs in order. They've left myself, Anya Johnson, and Cordelia Chase in charge of Dawn and her nephews. If you'd like to speak with one of us feel free to write back with a time and place, preferably a Wednesday or a weekend.
Thank you,
Willow Rosenberg