Joyce watched as Angel leapt onto the roof and ran out into the night.
"Wait!" she shouted. He looked back down, and put one finger over his
mouth. "Sh." His coat swirled in the night air, as he turned back into the
dark, and out of her sight.
A crash of wood falling in the hall attracted her attention, and she turned to see Buffy climbing into the room. "Mum?"
Buffy stopped as she heard the muffled whisper, her eyes widening as she saw her daughter. "Joyce!" she choked. "Thank God!" The two ran to each other crying with joy.
"Mum, I missed you so much!"
"I shouldn't have left you here."
Spike crouched down beside the two and stared in awe. She fell into his embrace eagerly, and smiled as he brushed her hair back lovingly. "Joyce."
"Daddy. I thought you were gone." She whimpered. Spike laughed happily through the tears. "You haven't called me Daddy once in your entire life."
"Maybe I've had enough of being grown up." She chuckled.
Buffy wiped her eyes, with a sniffle, as Joyce turned back to them. Spike patted her back softly. "Where's Drusilla, love?"
Joyce frowned. "I killed her. I saw you do it with Darla and I figured it would work."
Both of her parents tried to hide their shock, but Buffy just couldn't hold in a small squeak of surprise.
"How'd you KNOW it would work?"
Joyce rolled her eyes. "Oh come on Mum. How many times have I seen Dracula now? Kind of easy to figure out, I'm not bloody stupid."
Spike smirked. "Told you all those horror movies wouldn't warp her mind."
"Oh yes. Tell that to the twelve year old that's been attacked how many times now? Five?" Buffy quipped with a glare.
Joyce paled and looked away from her parents. Both parents noticed it at once.
"Joyce? What are you hiding?"
"Uh. I might not have done it all by myself." She answered.
Buffy gripped Joyce's shoulders and turned her to face them. "Joyce. Who helped?"
Joyce paled again and looked down at the floor. "He told me not to tell you his name. All he said was 'he was an old friend of my parents'"
Buffy's hand slipped from Joyce and she ran out of the room without a word. Spike watched and almost followed but a whimper from the center of the room caught his senses. With a turn, he saw a small girl and Willow pushing their way from under sheetrock and two by fours.
Willow stopped as she saw Spike over her, offering a hand. "You're back." She whispered. The vampire nodded and the Wicca pressed her hands against her eyes. "How'd you."
Spike pulled her up, before she could finish, and then lifted the little girl. "We'll talk later. Joyce! Come take Nibblet here."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~~**~~*~*~*~*~**~~**~~**~~**~*~~**~*~* ~*~
Buffy raced out to the sidewalk and scanned the street. No sign that anyone had been there. But then a screech of tires came from the next road down.
A car swerved onto the slayers path. She recognized it immediately. Angel.
Buffy stepped forward. She was going to need a good grip and quick footing to pull this off. The vehicle sped past. As it went by, she caught the open window and was snapped upward.
Brakes squealed and the car slid to a stop. Buffy let go of the window, walked to the passenger side door and climbed in. Angel watched nervously. She stared out the front window quietly, not saying a word. The radio seemed deafening in the silence. Finally she turned to him. "Thank you."
You and me,
we used to be together
everyday together, always.
I really feel,
that I'm losing my best friend.
I can't believe this could be,
the end
it looks as though
you're letting go.
And if that's real
Well I don't want to know,
Don't speak
I know what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me cause it hurts
don't speak
I know what you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me cause it hurts
Angel smiled. "I owed you."
Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Now I owe you."
The vampire shook his head. "Spike will never forgive you. He's that kind of person."
Smiling, the slayer touched his hand. "He's already forgiven me. He loves me Angel. Somewhere over his span of life, he got a soul. Maybe not a real one like yours but it's there. I saw it a week ago when he picked up Joyce and I saw it just now, when she was in his arms. He looks at her, like she is the most beautiful, important thing in the world. He looks at me the same way. He cares for my friends and." She looked into his eyes, painfully honest. "And I love him. Everything about him."
Angel nodded. "Yeah. I know."
" And you love Cordeilia. I know you do. Don't mess that up. She loves you more then you ever could imagine."
Sadly, he looked back at her. "I love her yes."
It's all ending
I got to stop pretending
who we are!
You and me
I can see us dieing,
Aren't we.
Don't speak
I know just what you're saying
so please stop explaining
Don't tell me cause it hurts
No, no don't speak
I know what your thinking
and I don't need you're reasons
don't tell me cause it hurts
don't tell me cause it hurts!
I know what you're saying
so please stop explaining
don't speak
don't speak
don't speak Oh
A long pause filled the car.
"So this is Goodbye." He finally sighed. Buffy smiled again, softly this time, opened the car door, and swung her legs out. "Who said that? This is just a short farewell."
I know what you're thinking
and I don't need your reasons
I know you good
I know you good
I know you real good oh
The slayer climbed out and shut the door. "Drive careful. No sunburn okay?"
Spike stopped when he saw the car. "Angel" Striding angrily forward, he saw Buffy step out. After a few unheard words, she noticed him. "Uh oh."
Sneering, he stepped out onto the curb. Angel climbed out of the car much to Buffy's dismay and moved towards his childe.
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Don't, Don't
OoOoOoOoOo
The vampires stared at each other as the slayer prepared to pull them apart. But then Spike thrust his hand forward. "Much as I hate to admit it, peaches. Thank you"
buffy stared in shock. Spike? Her Spike was apologizing? And not only apologizing but also to his sire and most hated companion.
Angel shook hands with a smirk. "She's got a lot of your attitude, sad to say. She put in quite a few good quips." Spike glanced toward Buffy. "I think she got that from her mum's side."
Both men laughed and Angel held his ribs. "Did she ever tell you about that time, she was fighting a vampire, and he*"
" A-hem!" Buffy choked. "Enough chatting then!" Pulling Spike back by the arm, she smiled. "Come back and visit sometime." Angel waved and climbed back into the car.
The engine roared, and as he sped off into the night, Buffy laid her head on Spike's shoulder. "It's over." She sighed happily. The vampire grinned. "It's about bloody time."
Hush, hush darling
Hush, hush Darling
Hush, hush, don't tell me cause it hurts
Hush, hush
Hush, hush
The slayer looked back towards the torn house. "Spike.." She whispered. "Yes love?
"Ya know what? Willow's going to kill us when she sees her house."
Hush, hush don't tell me cause it hurts.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~~**~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*
~*~*~*~*~*~2 days later**~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Willow sighed sadly as Tara rubbed her back. "Our home. Our lives. Our friends. It's all gone."
Tara nodded. "We have Buffy and Spike though, honey."
Willow choked as tears threatened to overcome her. "It's just. so much life, wasted."
Joyce crouched down into the grass and picked up another amulet. Handing it to Amber, she looked back to her mother and father standing on the porch with her aunts. "This is what it's like to be special huh?"
Amber nodded. "Yeah."
Joyce smiled at her stepsister and hugged her close. "You talked normal! Not all me Jane."
Both girls laughed, and started to pick up the amulets again.
Spike leaned out onto the railing, and smiled softly. "This is it eh?" Buffy turned. "What's it?" The vampire pointed to Joyce. "This is what it's like to have all you could want."
Buffy smirked, took his hand, and turned him to face her. "You're so cute when you're being Mr. Dad."
"I'm happy to be anything close to a dad, love."
"I can't wait to see you when she's all grown up. You're going to be all protective."
"And that's bad why?"
She grinned again. "Because I have a feeling she's going to be pretty independent and that she wont enjoy having you worry about her all the time."
"You're one to-" he started.
But he couldn't finish the sentence. The slayer kissed him first. He smiled against her lips as she connected her arms, behind his shoulders and pulled herself off the ground to get closer.
Willow rolled her eyes. "Get a room!" she groaned with disgust. It was then that Anya appeared. "I was hoping you two would be here." She whined as she looked at the Slayer and her husband.
Buffy pulled back with a sigh. "Anya? You were here just this morning." The demon smiled with no shame. "I just wanted to tell you. I wont be coming back for a while. Career change. I wanted to let you know."
The group would have said more but Anya dissolved into thin air as fast as she had come.
Joyce and Amber came up onto the step carrying a basket of the pendants.
Willow took the baskets, and dumped them onto the table. "Tiffany, Ambrosia, Bethany, Auria, Charlotte, Ryana, and 'sigh' Eve."
Buffy picked up last amulet "Eve was leading all of them ya know?"
Willow laid her head on Tara's shoulder. "Yeah. I know."
Joyce looked over the stacks of names sadly before looking up to her mother.
"Mum? Seeing as how I've gotten in trouble over this last week or so. I was wondering if you could maybe teach me some of your moves. You and dad that is."
Buffy looked wide eyed to Spike. "She has a point, pet." He sighed. The slayer looked up at the ceiling. "Here we go."
Joyce bit her lip, waiting for an answer until Buffy finally looked her daughter in the eyes. "I am so going to regret this but, okay."
Joyce leapt up and down. "Really?! You mean it?"
Buffy nodded, as Spike hugged her with one arm. "Yes. We'll teach you how to fight."
She hugged her parents, and then looked back at Amber. "Hey. You're part of the family too."
The small girl ran into their arms, and Willow couldn't help but cry from the tenderness of the scene.
Tara smiled. Everything was going to be okay. Joyce would be safe once she harnessed her powers. Buffy was finally happy. Amber had a home. Spike was with the love of his unlife. But the Wicca's. They would make it. Somehow. they always did.
Night soon set and the Montague family went home. The Wicca's started to make some 'magical' repairs and cope over the death of their friends. But they never knew, miles and miles away, their whole lives and future were being plotted.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~***~*~***~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~**~*~*~~**~*~
The small monk listened to the endless droning of the Powers that be. Prophecies day in and day out, got very old you see.
"Coven upon Coven will fall. The Wicca's of pure heart and soul will fight and they will win."
Scribbling down the last of this particular group of prophecies, the monk shut the volume and pulled out a blank page for the next book.
But instead of a plot of the future, the man heard a booming voice shout out in a thousand tones and languages all at once.
"In four years time, the present will fail and the future will rise. Now in training, the slayer has been chosen."
Anya awoke with a gasp and held the bed sheets to her chest. "Wha. huh?" she whimpered. A headache throbbed between her eyes and she groaned. "Joyce. She's next."
A light clicked on in the hall and Hallie appeared in the doorway, clutching her robe. "What is it Anyanka?"
"A dream."
"Another? Really, Anyanka, I'm starting to get worried about you.."
Anya tried to catch her breath as Halfrek sat on the edge of the bed and put her hand against her friend's forehead. "What was it about this time?" Hallie sighed.
Anya pushed Hafrek's hand away. "I'm not sick Hallie! It was real this time. You know the slayer's kid, Joyce? The one I was telling you about? She's moving on up."
Hallie stared confused. "Well so, what does that mean? She's fighting better or something?"
The blonde haired demon shook her head as she stared at her knees. "They don't even know, their creating a heroine for the world. It's all coming down to Buffy and Spike"
Halfrek's jaw dropped. "You mean?"
" Yes." Anya breathed. "Joyce is the next slayer."
Both demons sat in silence. "We can't warn them Anyanka. It's against our laws. We both know that."
" But we could maybe."
"No! We cant."
Anya sighed in disappoint. "I hate our stupid laws."
Hallie nodded and patted Anya's shoulder. "I know Dear. I know."
Spike slowly pushed open the bedroom door. Buffy stared blankly out of the window, holding a faded picture. Kissing her shoulder, he slowly moved his hands to her waist.
"What's wrong love?"
She leaned her head back against his neck, smiling softly. "Mm. Spike."
He bit her shoulder with blunt teeth, receiving a gasp in return. She turned to face him, and wrapped her arms around his chest. Spike looked down to the picture, and frowned as he saw a six-year-old Buffy and her mother, staring back.
"Love?"
"I'm not going to end up like her am I?"
Spike rested his chin in her hair, hugging her closer. "No. I promise."
Buffy looked up at him slowly. "Thank you."
"Not that I know what for, but, your welcome."
She smiled again, taking his hand and placing it on her stomach. "Remember last time we did this?" He nodded slowly. "How can I bloody well forget?"
Both were quiet, as they looked from each other to the large room around them. "I can't believe I'm standing here." She whispered.
"We're standing here."
She smiled again. "That's kind of hard to believe too."
Spike leaned down, placing a soft kiss on her lips. Her breath caught as he moved away again. A crash was heard from the steps and Joyce ran up to the doorway.
"What was that?" Buffy asked.
Joyce blushed trying to look innocent. "Uh, squirrels?"
Buffy moved to argue but Spike covered her mouth. "Go clean up whatever they did. We'll be down in a few."
Joyce closed the door, and her footsteps could be heard running down the steps.
Spike pulled his hand away from her lips. "She needs to learn, we're not against her."
Buffy shook her head. "You are way too easy going on her."
"And you mind?"
"Not a bit."
Silence fell as they hugged again. The slayer was the first to speak. "You do know, I don't love him. Angel that is."
"We kind of cleared that up didn't we? Remember? Bar, Paula Abdul, way too much iced vodka?"
She laughed against his shoulder. "Just wanted to make sure."
Spike stared lovingly down at her. "Anything else you want to point out?"
She nodded. "I'm not going to leave you. I like being here with you, and Joyce."
He smirked, lifting her chin to look at him. "Glad to hear, I'm finally on your list of likable."
Tears threatened to overcome her, as she looked into his eyes. For once in her life, she did not see pain or torture. All she could see was happiness, and in the blue depths, she could see her reflection. a joyful reflection.
"I love you." She whispered.
He smiled. "I know. I love you too."
~Later that night~
Joyce gripped her father's hand, spinning and then knocking him to the ground. Buffy smiled softly.
"DAD!" Joyce screeched as he ruffled her hair. "You're going to pay for that."
Spike leapt off of the deck, landing crouched on the grass. "Give me your best." he quipped dangerously. Joyce smirked and a glint shone in her eyes, as she plunged into the cold night air.
For some reason this felt right. Landing, she sneered evilly at her father, with her hands raised in a defensive stance. Buffy leaned over the rails to watch the two.
A kick to the chest, and Spike was down, but as usual he quickly recovered and began to use Joyce's speed against her.
The slayer smiled again. Her husband and her daughter, and last but not least her. They were happy. Buffy was happy. Something was finally going right.
Joyce leapt into the air and tried to catch her father's jaw, but he was too quick, diving out of the way. She landed again, crouching, one hand in front, steadying her quaking body. Hard as this fighting turned out to be, it was still fun. Exhilarating in fact.
Spike stood and smiled. "Come on Tiger. Do your worst."
Joyce stared confidently and evilly at her father, as if she knew he was toast. For a moment, she looked almost animalistic. But then, she pinned him down with a giggle and tickled his ribs.
"Oi! Stop that!"
"Make me!"
Buffy laughed softly. *Everything's going to be normal.* She thought to herself. And I'll be here to see it. To see her grow up.*
Buffy smiled again, an old memory burning into her mind. 'Life isn't bliss, Life is just this, It's living.'
*and to live, for him, for her, and for me, even if it's not bliss.*
the end?
Email me what you think. I had a wonderful time writing this story. And I want to thank anyone and everyone who read, reviewed, and emailed, or all three. This story has been quite an experience.
Thank you readers. You made this really enjoyable
thank you JESSICA, Ashley, and Michelle. The beta reading team, you put up with my mistakes, my errors and any little retorts, I threw at you. You three were magnificent.
Thank you to fanfiction.net for housing this story.
And last but not least, Thank you to my mother, father, and sister, for putting up with my grumpy moods and not grounding me when I stayed up till 2 am writing.
Another thank you goes out to my sister Morgan, for not smacking me too many times when I would try to read you my chapters.
A last note: thank you to my mother, for help with the Laritas scene. You sure do know who drinks what! If it hadn't been for you, Buffy would've been drinking just a Bud light. But now, she's an iced vodka girl! Lol
I love you guys! Thank you for the great fun. You've brought my writing to another level.
Faith
A crash of wood falling in the hall attracted her attention, and she turned to see Buffy climbing into the room. "Mum?"
Buffy stopped as she heard the muffled whisper, her eyes widening as she saw her daughter. "Joyce!" she choked. "Thank God!" The two ran to each other crying with joy.
"Mum, I missed you so much!"
"I shouldn't have left you here."
Spike crouched down beside the two and stared in awe. She fell into his embrace eagerly, and smiled as he brushed her hair back lovingly. "Joyce."
"Daddy. I thought you were gone." She whimpered. Spike laughed happily through the tears. "You haven't called me Daddy once in your entire life."
"Maybe I've had enough of being grown up." She chuckled.
Buffy wiped her eyes, with a sniffle, as Joyce turned back to them. Spike patted her back softly. "Where's Drusilla, love?"
Joyce frowned. "I killed her. I saw you do it with Darla and I figured it would work."
Both of her parents tried to hide their shock, but Buffy just couldn't hold in a small squeak of surprise.
"How'd you KNOW it would work?"
Joyce rolled her eyes. "Oh come on Mum. How many times have I seen Dracula now? Kind of easy to figure out, I'm not bloody stupid."
Spike smirked. "Told you all those horror movies wouldn't warp her mind."
"Oh yes. Tell that to the twelve year old that's been attacked how many times now? Five?" Buffy quipped with a glare.
Joyce paled and looked away from her parents. Both parents noticed it at once.
"Joyce? What are you hiding?"
"Uh. I might not have done it all by myself." She answered.
Buffy gripped Joyce's shoulders and turned her to face them. "Joyce. Who helped?"
Joyce paled again and looked down at the floor. "He told me not to tell you his name. All he said was 'he was an old friend of my parents'"
Buffy's hand slipped from Joyce and she ran out of the room without a word. Spike watched and almost followed but a whimper from the center of the room caught his senses. With a turn, he saw a small girl and Willow pushing their way from under sheetrock and two by fours.
Willow stopped as she saw Spike over her, offering a hand. "You're back." She whispered. The vampire nodded and the Wicca pressed her hands against her eyes. "How'd you."
Spike pulled her up, before she could finish, and then lifted the little girl. "We'll talk later. Joyce! Come take Nibblet here."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~~**~~*~*~*~*~**~~**~~**~~**~*~~**~*~* ~*~
Buffy raced out to the sidewalk and scanned the street. No sign that anyone had been there. But then a screech of tires came from the next road down.
A car swerved onto the slayers path. She recognized it immediately. Angel.
Buffy stepped forward. She was going to need a good grip and quick footing to pull this off. The vehicle sped past. As it went by, she caught the open window and was snapped upward.
Brakes squealed and the car slid to a stop. Buffy let go of the window, walked to the passenger side door and climbed in. Angel watched nervously. She stared out the front window quietly, not saying a word. The radio seemed deafening in the silence. Finally she turned to him. "Thank you."
You and me,
we used to be together
everyday together, always.
I really feel,
that I'm losing my best friend.
I can't believe this could be,
the end
it looks as though
you're letting go.
And if that's real
Well I don't want to know,
Don't speak
I know what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me cause it hurts
don't speak
I know what you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me cause it hurts
Angel smiled. "I owed you."
Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Now I owe you."
The vampire shook his head. "Spike will never forgive you. He's that kind of person."
Smiling, the slayer touched his hand. "He's already forgiven me. He loves me Angel. Somewhere over his span of life, he got a soul. Maybe not a real one like yours but it's there. I saw it a week ago when he picked up Joyce and I saw it just now, when she was in his arms. He looks at her, like she is the most beautiful, important thing in the world. He looks at me the same way. He cares for my friends and." She looked into his eyes, painfully honest. "And I love him. Everything about him."
Angel nodded. "Yeah. I know."
" And you love Cordeilia. I know you do. Don't mess that up. She loves you more then you ever could imagine."
Sadly, he looked back at her. "I love her yes."
It's all ending
I got to stop pretending
who we are!
You and me
I can see us dieing,
Aren't we.
Don't speak
I know just what you're saying
so please stop explaining
Don't tell me cause it hurts
No, no don't speak
I know what your thinking
and I don't need you're reasons
don't tell me cause it hurts
don't tell me cause it hurts!
I know what you're saying
so please stop explaining
don't speak
don't speak
don't speak Oh
A long pause filled the car.
"So this is Goodbye." He finally sighed. Buffy smiled again, softly this time, opened the car door, and swung her legs out. "Who said that? This is just a short farewell."
I know what you're thinking
and I don't need your reasons
I know you good
I know you good
I know you real good oh
The slayer climbed out and shut the door. "Drive careful. No sunburn okay?"
Spike stopped when he saw the car. "Angel" Striding angrily forward, he saw Buffy step out. After a few unheard words, she noticed him. "Uh oh."
Sneering, he stepped out onto the curb. Angel climbed out of the car much to Buffy's dismay and moved towards his childe.
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Don't, Don't
OoOoOoOoOo
The vampires stared at each other as the slayer prepared to pull them apart. But then Spike thrust his hand forward. "Much as I hate to admit it, peaches. Thank you"
buffy stared in shock. Spike? Her Spike was apologizing? And not only apologizing but also to his sire and most hated companion.
Angel shook hands with a smirk. "She's got a lot of your attitude, sad to say. She put in quite a few good quips." Spike glanced toward Buffy. "I think she got that from her mum's side."
Both men laughed and Angel held his ribs. "Did she ever tell you about that time, she was fighting a vampire, and he*"
" A-hem!" Buffy choked. "Enough chatting then!" Pulling Spike back by the arm, she smiled. "Come back and visit sometime." Angel waved and climbed back into the car.
The engine roared, and as he sped off into the night, Buffy laid her head on Spike's shoulder. "It's over." She sighed happily. The vampire grinned. "It's about bloody time."
Hush, hush darling
Hush, hush Darling
Hush, hush, don't tell me cause it hurts
Hush, hush
Hush, hush
The slayer looked back towards the torn house. "Spike.." She whispered. "Yes love?
"Ya know what? Willow's going to kill us when she sees her house."
Hush, hush don't tell me cause it hurts.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~~**~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*
~*~*~*~*~*~2 days later**~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Willow sighed sadly as Tara rubbed her back. "Our home. Our lives. Our friends. It's all gone."
Tara nodded. "We have Buffy and Spike though, honey."
Willow choked as tears threatened to overcome her. "It's just. so much life, wasted."
Joyce crouched down into the grass and picked up another amulet. Handing it to Amber, she looked back to her mother and father standing on the porch with her aunts. "This is what it's like to be special huh?"
Amber nodded. "Yeah."
Joyce smiled at her stepsister and hugged her close. "You talked normal! Not all me Jane."
Both girls laughed, and started to pick up the amulets again.
Spike leaned out onto the railing, and smiled softly. "This is it eh?" Buffy turned. "What's it?" The vampire pointed to Joyce. "This is what it's like to have all you could want."
Buffy smirked, took his hand, and turned him to face her. "You're so cute when you're being Mr. Dad."
"I'm happy to be anything close to a dad, love."
"I can't wait to see you when she's all grown up. You're going to be all protective."
"And that's bad why?"
She grinned again. "Because I have a feeling she's going to be pretty independent and that she wont enjoy having you worry about her all the time."
"You're one to-" he started.
But he couldn't finish the sentence. The slayer kissed him first. He smiled against her lips as she connected her arms, behind his shoulders and pulled herself off the ground to get closer.
Willow rolled her eyes. "Get a room!" she groaned with disgust. It was then that Anya appeared. "I was hoping you two would be here." She whined as she looked at the Slayer and her husband.
Buffy pulled back with a sigh. "Anya? You were here just this morning." The demon smiled with no shame. "I just wanted to tell you. I wont be coming back for a while. Career change. I wanted to let you know."
The group would have said more but Anya dissolved into thin air as fast as she had come.
Joyce and Amber came up onto the step carrying a basket of the pendants.
Willow took the baskets, and dumped them onto the table. "Tiffany, Ambrosia, Bethany, Auria, Charlotte, Ryana, and 'sigh' Eve."
Buffy picked up last amulet "Eve was leading all of them ya know?"
Willow laid her head on Tara's shoulder. "Yeah. I know."
Joyce looked over the stacks of names sadly before looking up to her mother.
"Mum? Seeing as how I've gotten in trouble over this last week or so. I was wondering if you could maybe teach me some of your moves. You and dad that is."
Buffy looked wide eyed to Spike. "She has a point, pet." He sighed. The slayer looked up at the ceiling. "Here we go."
Joyce bit her lip, waiting for an answer until Buffy finally looked her daughter in the eyes. "I am so going to regret this but, okay."
Joyce leapt up and down. "Really?! You mean it?"
Buffy nodded, as Spike hugged her with one arm. "Yes. We'll teach you how to fight."
She hugged her parents, and then looked back at Amber. "Hey. You're part of the family too."
The small girl ran into their arms, and Willow couldn't help but cry from the tenderness of the scene.
Tara smiled. Everything was going to be okay. Joyce would be safe once she harnessed her powers. Buffy was finally happy. Amber had a home. Spike was with the love of his unlife. But the Wicca's. They would make it. Somehow. they always did.
Night soon set and the Montague family went home. The Wicca's started to make some 'magical' repairs and cope over the death of their friends. But they never knew, miles and miles away, their whole lives and future were being plotted.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~***~*~***~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~**~*~*~~**~*~
The small monk listened to the endless droning of the Powers that be. Prophecies day in and day out, got very old you see.
"Coven upon Coven will fall. The Wicca's of pure heart and soul will fight and they will win."
Scribbling down the last of this particular group of prophecies, the monk shut the volume and pulled out a blank page for the next book.
But instead of a plot of the future, the man heard a booming voice shout out in a thousand tones and languages all at once.
"In four years time, the present will fail and the future will rise. Now in training, the slayer has been chosen."
Anya awoke with a gasp and held the bed sheets to her chest. "Wha. huh?" she whimpered. A headache throbbed between her eyes and she groaned. "Joyce. She's next."
A light clicked on in the hall and Hallie appeared in the doorway, clutching her robe. "What is it Anyanka?"
"A dream."
"Another? Really, Anyanka, I'm starting to get worried about you.."
Anya tried to catch her breath as Halfrek sat on the edge of the bed and put her hand against her friend's forehead. "What was it about this time?" Hallie sighed.
Anya pushed Hafrek's hand away. "I'm not sick Hallie! It was real this time. You know the slayer's kid, Joyce? The one I was telling you about? She's moving on up."
Hallie stared confused. "Well so, what does that mean? She's fighting better or something?"
The blonde haired demon shook her head as she stared at her knees. "They don't even know, their creating a heroine for the world. It's all coming down to Buffy and Spike"
Halfrek's jaw dropped. "You mean?"
" Yes." Anya breathed. "Joyce is the next slayer."
Both demons sat in silence. "We can't warn them Anyanka. It's against our laws. We both know that."
" But we could maybe."
"No! We cant."
Anya sighed in disappoint. "I hate our stupid laws."
Hallie nodded and patted Anya's shoulder. "I know Dear. I know."
Spike slowly pushed open the bedroom door. Buffy stared blankly out of the window, holding a faded picture. Kissing her shoulder, he slowly moved his hands to her waist.
"What's wrong love?"
She leaned her head back against his neck, smiling softly. "Mm. Spike."
He bit her shoulder with blunt teeth, receiving a gasp in return. She turned to face him, and wrapped her arms around his chest. Spike looked down to the picture, and frowned as he saw a six-year-old Buffy and her mother, staring back.
"Love?"
"I'm not going to end up like her am I?"
Spike rested his chin in her hair, hugging her closer. "No. I promise."
Buffy looked up at him slowly. "Thank you."
"Not that I know what for, but, your welcome."
She smiled again, taking his hand and placing it on her stomach. "Remember last time we did this?" He nodded slowly. "How can I bloody well forget?"
Both were quiet, as they looked from each other to the large room around them. "I can't believe I'm standing here." She whispered.
"We're standing here."
She smiled again. "That's kind of hard to believe too."
Spike leaned down, placing a soft kiss on her lips. Her breath caught as he moved away again. A crash was heard from the steps and Joyce ran up to the doorway.
"What was that?" Buffy asked.
Joyce blushed trying to look innocent. "Uh, squirrels?"
Buffy moved to argue but Spike covered her mouth. "Go clean up whatever they did. We'll be down in a few."
Joyce closed the door, and her footsteps could be heard running down the steps.
Spike pulled his hand away from her lips. "She needs to learn, we're not against her."
Buffy shook her head. "You are way too easy going on her."
"And you mind?"
"Not a bit."
Silence fell as they hugged again. The slayer was the first to speak. "You do know, I don't love him. Angel that is."
"We kind of cleared that up didn't we? Remember? Bar, Paula Abdul, way too much iced vodka?"
She laughed against his shoulder. "Just wanted to make sure."
Spike stared lovingly down at her. "Anything else you want to point out?"
She nodded. "I'm not going to leave you. I like being here with you, and Joyce."
He smirked, lifting her chin to look at him. "Glad to hear, I'm finally on your list of likable."
Tears threatened to overcome her, as she looked into his eyes. For once in her life, she did not see pain or torture. All she could see was happiness, and in the blue depths, she could see her reflection. a joyful reflection.
"I love you." She whispered.
He smiled. "I know. I love you too."
~Later that night~
Joyce gripped her father's hand, spinning and then knocking him to the ground. Buffy smiled softly.
"DAD!" Joyce screeched as he ruffled her hair. "You're going to pay for that."
Spike leapt off of the deck, landing crouched on the grass. "Give me your best." he quipped dangerously. Joyce smirked and a glint shone in her eyes, as she plunged into the cold night air.
For some reason this felt right. Landing, she sneered evilly at her father, with her hands raised in a defensive stance. Buffy leaned over the rails to watch the two.
A kick to the chest, and Spike was down, but as usual he quickly recovered and began to use Joyce's speed against her.
The slayer smiled again. Her husband and her daughter, and last but not least her. They were happy. Buffy was happy. Something was finally going right.
Joyce leapt into the air and tried to catch her father's jaw, but he was too quick, diving out of the way. She landed again, crouching, one hand in front, steadying her quaking body. Hard as this fighting turned out to be, it was still fun. Exhilarating in fact.
Spike stood and smiled. "Come on Tiger. Do your worst."
Joyce stared confidently and evilly at her father, as if she knew he was toast. For a moment, she looked almost animalistic. But then, she pinned him down with a giggle and tickled his ribs.
"Oi! Stop that!"
"Make me!"
Buffy laughed softly. *Everything's going to be normal.* She thought to herself. And I'll be here to see it. To see her grow up.*
Buffy smiled again, an old memory burning into her mind. 'Life isn't bliss, Life is just this, It's living.'
*and to live, for him, for her, and for me, even if it's not bliss.*
the end?
Email me what you think. I had a wonderful time writing this story. And I want to thank anyone and everyone who read, reviewed, and emailed, or all three. This story has been quite an experience.
Thank you readers. You made this really enjoyable
thank you JESSICA, Ashley, and Michelle. The beta reading team, you put up with my mistakes, my errors and any little retorts, I threw at you. You three were magnificent.
Thank you to fanfiction.net for housing this story.
And last but not least, Thank you to my mother, father, and sister, for putting up with my grumpy moods and not grounding me when I stayed up till 2 am writing.
Another thank you goes out to my sister Morgan, for not smacking me too many times when I would try to read you my chapters.
A last note: thank you to my mother, for help with the Laritas scene. You sure do know who drinks what! If it hadn't been for you, Buffy would've been drinking just a Bud light. But now, she's an iced vodka girl! Lol
I love you guys! Thank you for the great fun. You've brought my writing to another level.
Faith