Title: I Will Always Be With You
Chapter: She's Back!
Author: Niki (Sunnygurlie)
Rating: PG13 If you watch Buffy, you can read this. It's got some sexual innuendo, implied sex, and a little swearing(Bloody Hell mostly) I love Spike's swearing. He wouldn't be Spike without the swearing. Plus a lot of smoochies! Can't forget the smoochies!
Spoilers: Takes place ten years after the end of season six, so anything up to season six is fair game. Season 7 didn't happen. I don't watch Angel, so Cordy & Angel's timeline thing is kind of warped. Here, Angel and Cordy had started Angel Investigations, and Cordy had become half demon. Connor never existed, and none of the other characters are mentioned. And, because I felt like it, Cordy had a baby with Doyle before he died, but he did confer the whole demony thing onto her. Takes place after my story "I Won't Leave Again."
Summary: The sequel to "I Won't Leave Again" (read that first), Spike and Dawn are living happily ever after. Or not. What do you get when you mix the Watcher's Council, the Initiative, the Scoobies, and the next generation of scoobies? And a cameo from our favorite deceased slayer? A scoobyrific adventure!
Disclaimer: I own Nothing! Jos owns everything. Although I wish I owned Spike (insert evil laugh here) I'm just borrowing, and I promise I won't break anything. I might dust a few, though! (another evil laugh) Any brand names mentioned here belong to their respective owners, I'm just borrowing.
Ships: Mainly Spike/Dawn, there may be some references to Angel/Dawn. Secondary characters who are together in the story- Oz/Cordy, maybe Anya will get a guy later.
Author's Warning. This story will make no sense unless you have read "I Won't Leave Again." Since I know you are all busy people with lots of fan fiction to read, I will include a quick summary of previous events at the beginning of each chapter. I hope ya like it! Review please!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Wow! Lots of reviews right away! Sorry about the cliffhanger. I like those a lot. This chap has one too, but don't worry, another chapter will be out soon. I won't be able to right as often as I did with "I Won't Leave Again," but I'll try to get atleast 1, maybe two chapters out a week. Hey, if anyone wants to beta-read for me, email me at NicolaAngelica@poetic.com.
Writer's block is a terrible thing. My muse must have been really pissed at me. I think I rewrote this chapter about four times before I was satisfied with it. I'm not too great at writing fight scenes, so make sure to review and tell me what you think of the one in this chap. Next one out soon, luv u guys
Niki
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Spike's back in town, and he and Dawn are in love. They are raising Dawn's twins with Angelus; Spike and Buffy's daughter; and Spike's niece. Maggie, Spike's daughter killed Angelus because he staked her father (not fatally of course) If a slayer and a vampire have sex during a full moon, then they can have a baby. When we last left our heroes, Spike and Dawn had just 'shagged,' then realized, under the light of a beautiful, silver, full moon, that they would be expecting Spike or Spikette Jr. in nine months. It's a few months later, the Initiative is after Spike, the watcher's council is after Dawn and Maggie, and the last chapter ended with the dead- for-eight-years-Buffy suddenly appearing in Maggie's room.
___________________________
"Oh my God!"
"What Dawn, not happy to see me?"
"Um Buffy? You're kinda.. well..."
"Dead. Yeah, I know. The Powers That Be decided to let me come back for one week. And you're kinda, okay really pregnant"
"You're serious? and yeah, I'm 8 months pregnant, what of it?"
"Yup. In 5 days, something big is going to go down. I'm here to help. Well, that and visit my family and find out who impregnated my little sister so I can shoot him, since you don't appear to be wearing a ring.."
"Mommy?"
"Yes sweetie?"
"Can you and Daddy and me be a family now? Even for just a couple days?"
"Daddy? Sorry sweetie, I don't know where Daddy is."
"But he's right behind you?"
"What?" she turned around.
"'Ey Pet."
"Spike?"
"Yeah."
"You're here."
"Ya noticed."
"I... I tried to find you, after Maggie, but I couldn't."
"Not your fault Pet. I'm sorry that I left. If I'd had known.."
"Would you have?"
"What Luv?"
"Would you have stayed if you knew? Even after everything that happened?"
"Yeah. I've always wanted a child. I always thought that Angelus and Dru had taken that chance from me forever. Even if it could have never worked out between us, I would have stayed for Maggie."
"I believe you would have."
"Umm... Should I call Giles and the scoobies?" asked Dawn.
"Yeah!" said Buffy enthusiastically. "Is everyone still around? What has changed since I died? How is everyone? and don't think you're getting off that easy, I want to know who the father is."
"Why don't I call everyone Luv, while you explain to your sister about *everything*"
"*Everything* being Angelus, right?"
"Angelus?" Buffy queried.
Spike walked out of the room smiling, Maggie trailing behind him.
**
"Well, a couple years after you... died, Angel and I kinda fell in love."
"You what?"
"Sorry."
"Nah, its okay. Is that it, did you think I would be mad just about that?"
"Well... no, there's more."
"More?"
"More. We discovered that we could.. you know, because he'd always be worrying about his soul, so he would never be completely happy. We just forgot one thing."
Buffy sighed. "Full moon?"
"Full moon. The twins will be six next month."
"Oh God Dawnie, I'm sorry I wasn't here."
"Not your fault. But wait, there's more."
"So is he the father?" Buffy pointed at Dawn's stomach.
"No. When the twins were born and he saw them for the first time, he kinda got a happy."
"Oh god."
"Yeah."
"Is he still.."
"No. A couple months ago he staked Spike. Not fatally of course, but Maggie reacted before she knew that it was below his heart."
"Maggie killed Angelus?"
"Yeah"
"My daughter killed the Scourge of Europe?"
"Yeah. Did I mention she's a slayer?"
"No, you forgot that part. Now when are you gonna tell me who the father of your child is?"
"Promise you won't flip out and kill me for stealing all your ex's?"
"Riley?"
"Hell no!"
"Who?"
"Here's a clue. Mom once hit him upside the head with an ax"
"Huh?"
"Wow you're dense. It's Spike."
"You're kidding."
"Nope."
"Oh my god!" she changed the subject, not wanting to think about her little sister being with her ex. "So there are what, three kids, going on four?"
"Four going on five. Spike's niece, who he has raised since she was born, who is also half vamp, half slayer, lives with us too."
"Wow. Fricken big family. This isn't our house."
"No. The Initiative and the Council are looking for us, so we moved into this mansion. Spike had been remodeling it for when the baby was born, since we're outgrowing the house on Revello."
"Wow, so much has changed. Did Xander and Anya ever get back together?"
"Nah. Xander and Willow got together though, they have a baby, named Elizabeth."
"Wow. I knew sophomore year that they would get together someday. How are Cordy and her baby?"
"Kim's not so baby-like anymore, being ten and all. Cordy and Oz hooked up a couple months ago, they're all living together now."
"Is anyone still single ?"
"Anya. Giles and Olivia still live an ocean away from each other, but they visit each other all the time."
"Ack! It's become couple-dom."
Dawn laughed, then proceeded to explain everything that had happened to the Scooby Gang and Co. in the past eight years
~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~
Spike, Dawn, and Buffy were sitting on the couch in the living room, having put Maggie back to bed, when the Scooby Gang arrived.
"Dear Lord! Buffy! You're actually here!"
"Hey Giles! Great to see you too."
"Buffy! Except for your clothes being 9 years out of date, you look great!"
Buffy smiled sardonically. "Thanks Cordy. Where's Xander and Willow, and their baby?"
"They're living up in the mountains now, at Wills' family ranch. I called them and told them they need to come to Sunnydale, that it was an emergency, but that they should bring Beth. They'll be here in about five or six hours."
"Wow. Everything's so different, I'm almost glad I'm only here for a week."
"Why a week? why couldn't the PTB give us more time with you?"
"Dunno, I just do what I'm told."
"That's a first."
"Funny Giles, very funny."
"I thought so."
"So what do you know about the reason you're back?"
"Some big bad you guys have to face and won't be able to do alone. They didn't give me many details, the only thing I'm supposed to tell you is that just because something has a soul, doesn't mean it isn't evil."
"Yeah, that's real useful."
~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~
"So Dawnie, why are we here?" Xander asked. He and Willow and the baby had met her at the Magic Box, after Dawn had explained why she was no longer living on Revello. They had followed her to the mansion, and were now sitting in the living room.
"I've got a surprise for you."
"So you call us up in the middle of the night, tell us we need to get to Sunnydale fast because there's an emergency, but make sure to bring Beth, just because you have a surprise for us?"
"Yeah, that about covers it." Buffy said, walking into the room.
"Oh my God! Buffy!" Willow screamed, running over and hugging her best friend.
Xander hung back a little, unsure of what to do. "Umm.. Well, not to ruin the moment, but Buff? Aren't you kinda dead?"
"Yeah Xander, I'm dead. I'm back for a week, long story, Dawn will explain later, now get over here and hug me." Xander complied, handing the baby to Dawn.
~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~
"Agent Finn what do you have to report?"
"The slayer's friends know where Hostile 17 and the girl are. I could tell by the way they denied knowing anything. They are suspicious of me, so there is little chance of me being able to jump right back into the little group. We checked out Dawn Summers' house and it is deserted. They seem to have been alerted that we are looking for them."
Quentin Travers shook his head and sighed. "So you know absolutely nothing."
"Not quite Sir."
"Go on."
"Hostile 17 has to be getting blood from somewhere, since that chip we put in around twelve years ago keeps him from drinking humans. I think I know where he's getting it."
"Follow that lead. You had better have more to report next time we meet, Finn."
"Yes Sir."
~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~
Riley Finn was in a great mood. He had found out from Willie the snitch that an increasingly pregnant Dawn Summers had been picking up blood once a week for the past six months or so. After a little pummeling, Willie had added that Cordy had picked up the blood last week and was expected that day to pick up the week's supply. He had hid in the back booth until the former cheerleader showed up, then followed her in his car, from a respectable distance. She drove through the rich part of Sunnydale, into a very ritzy neighborhood. When she drove her car up a half hidden driveway, he kept driving and parked his car far down the street, then sneaked through the woods into the mansion's backyard. He was hiding behind the pool-house, looking into the kitchen, where Dawn, Maggie, and Oz were sitting. He couldn't see Willow, Xander, and Beth because of the angle.
~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~
"Hey Guys!" Cordy said brightly as she walked into the kitchen, going straight to the refrigerator and unloading her bag of blood.
"What's up Cordy?"
"Well, I picked up the blood from Willie's and someone followed me here."
"What!"
"Calm down and act normal, I'm pretty sure that he or she or it is in the backyard, and may be able to hear us."
"There's someone in the back yard." Spike said, walking into the kitchen, carefully avoiding the windows.
"Yeah, we got that already. How could you tell?"
"Was up in our room, heard rustling outside, looked and saw a figure creeping across the lawn. It's human, I could hear the heartbeat. Super hearing is very useful"
"So what do we do?"
Buffy walked in. "There's someone in the backyard."
"We know."
She looked at them quizzically. "Do you know that it's Riley?"
"What!"
"Yep."
"What do we do?"
"Get Spike and Anna hidden, as I'll probably have to be polite and invite him in for coffee. We don't want him knowing our strength, so Xander and Willow and the baby need to be out of sight. Dawn, you are engaged to a wonderful *human* guy, who is out of town for a few weeks. He's the father of your baby. Cordy and Oz, put the kids to bed, then stay upstairs. I've been alive the entire time, I was in a coma until last year, and have been resting in retirement since then. Maggie's father's name was James, he died when she was 2. Everybody got it?"
They all nodded, and as Buffy grabbed Maggie's hand and walked to the door, they all went for their places.
Buffy pushed Maggie on the swing set for a couple minutes, then she went and sat on the bench that face the woods, very close to where her ex- boyfriend was hiding.
"Riley, I know you're there, you can come out."
"Buffy?" his voice was incredulous. It had gotten dark enough that all he had been able to see was a female form and a little girl. He walked out of the woods.
"Hey."
"Well...Um.. not to state the obvious or anything, but... aren't you supposed to be.... ?
"dead?"
"Well, yeah."
"Coma. Just wolk up 8 months ago."
"How come the council didn't hear?"
"How would you know what the council hears?"
"The In- I mean... I work for them now."
"Ah. I've been enjoying my retirement. Don't want them to try to put me back to work. Besides, Dawn was doing fine."
"How could Dawnie.."
"Become a slayer? I was clinically dead, so she got called."
"Oh."
"Mommy!" Maggie shrieked.
Buffy and Riley came running towards the little girl, who was surrounded by vamps.
They plunged into the fray.
Maggie was a whirlwind of movement, a blur of blonde hair never in one place for more than a few seconds. She kicked one vamp in the groin, and jumped onto him, staking him when he fell over. The second tried to grab her, but she suddenly wasn't where she was supposed to be. She taunted him for a few moments, then finally staked him in the back as he turned yet again to look where she had gone. She was fighting her third while Buffy and Riley moved through a flurry of dust. Buffy moved with her old grace, almost stalking them, as a lioness would stalk a gazelle. She roundhoused one, staking him as she moved onto the second, staking her in less than ten seconds. The third had no chance. Neither did the fourth or fifth. Riley was much more graceful than he had been 10 years ago. He couldn't do the acrobatics that the females were so good at, but he was steady on his feet, using his bulk to stake first one, then another vamp. Maggie staked her last vampire just as the two came over to help. After only five minutes, the only evidence that there had been a fight was Riley's split lip, Maggie's ripped clothes, a small gash on the child's forehead, and Buffy's few bruises.
"Why don't we go inside and get cleaned up?" Buffy suggested.
They walked into the house, coming upon Dawn in the kitchen.
"Oh my God! What happened?" she practically screeched as she ran towards the bedraggled trio.
"Vamps." With the one word, Dawn was all action. She pulled the first aid kit out from under the sink, sat Maggie on the counter, and ordering Riley and Buffy to sit at the table. She handed her sister an ice pack, and tossed the commando a wet washcloth to clean his lip with. She then set to work on her niece. She washed the minor cuts and scrapes, applied neosporin, then bandaged the gash on the small child's forehead, then picked Maggie up.
"I'm taking her up to bed." she said. Buffy nodded, knowing that the child was really headed to her father.
After tossing Riley some ice for his lip, Buffy lead him into the living room.
"This your house?" he asked.
She was saved from answering as Dawn came down the stairs.
"No," she said, "It's mine. Well, my fiancé's, but what's mine is his and all that."
Riley couldn't believe it had been this easy. Dawn was about to tell him that this was Spike's house, and then he'd be able to lead a team the next night to capture the hostile and the child.
"Your fiancé?" he asked, trying not to sound triumphant.
"Yeah." she smiled. "His name is Aaron. We met a couple years back, and have been dating for a little over a year."
His face fell. Dawn had to keep back a giggle.
"So when do I get to meet him?" he tried to sound all brotherly, but came out kind of jealous.
Dawn giggled. "If you're still here next month when he gets back from his business trip, I'm sure he'll love to meet you."
"Business trip?"
"He's in Paris."
"Oh." he looked at her stomach, as if noticing it for the first time. "Dawnie! You're pregnant!"
"Yep. 8 months."
"It is his?"
"Yeah. Now if you'll excuse me, I really need to go check on the children." With that, she walked out of the room.
"Children?" Riley asked Buffy as the former key walked up the stairs.
"My daughter, her twins."
"Ah."
They made idle chit-chat for a little while longer before Riley said that he had to go. Buffy showed him to the door, then called upstairs. Dawn came downstairs, and after closing all the window shades made a gesture upstairs and the entire group, minus the kids, having been already put to bed, came downstairs.
"Now that was truly hell."
"Oh come on Buffy, you never got sent to hell, how would you know?"
"Angelus!"
"Oh come on! Why does everyone always think I'm evil when I come back?"
______________________________ ______________________________
Hehe, I love cliff-hangers. Please review! Thanks!
Chapter: She's Back!
Author: Niki (Sunnygurlie)
Rating: PG13 If you watch Buffy, you can read this. It's got some sexual innuendo, implied sex, and a little swearing(Bloody Hell mostly) I love Spike's swearing. He wouldn't be Spike without the swearing. Plus a lot of smoochies! Can't forget the smoochies!
Spoilers: Takes place ten years after the end of season six, so anything up to season six is fair game. Season 7 didn't happen. I don't watch Angel, so Cordy & Angel's timeline thing is kind of warped. Here, Angel and Cordy had started Angel Investigations, and Cordy had become half demon. Connor never existed, and none of the other characters are mentioned. And, because I felt like it, Cordy had a baby with Doyle before he died, but he did confer the whole demony thing onto her. Takes place after my story "I Won't Leave Again."
Summary: The sequel to "I Won't Leave Again" (read that first), Spike and Dawn are living happily ever after. Or not. What do you get when you mix the Watcher's Council, the Initiative, the Scoobies, and the next generation of scoobies? And a cameo from our favorite deceased slayer? A scoobyrific adventure!
Disclaimer: I own Nothing! Jos owns everything. Although I wish I owned Spike (insert evil laugh here) I'm just borrowing, and I promise I won't break anything. I might dust a few, though! (another evil laugh) Any brand names mentioned here belong to their respective owners, I'm just borrowing.
Ships: Mainly Spike/Dawn, there may be some references to Angel/Dawn. Secondary characters who are together in the story- Oz/Cordy, maybe Anya will get a guy later.
Author's Warning. This story will make no sense unless you have read "I Won't Leave Again." Since I know you are all busy people with lots of fan fiction to read, I will include a quick summary of previous events at the beginning of each chapter. I hope ya like it! Review please!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Wow! Lots of reviews right away! Sorry about the cliffhanger. I like those a lot. This chap has one too, but don't worry, another chapter will be out soon. I won't be able to right as often as I did with "I Won't Leave Again," but I'll try to get atleast 1, maybe two chapters out a week. Hey, if anyone wants to beta-read for me, email me at NicolaAngelica@poetic.com.
Writer's block is a terrible thing. My muse must have been really pissed at me. I think I rewrote this chapter about four times before I was satisfied with it. I'm not too great at writing fight scenes, so make sure to review and tell me what you think of the one in this chap. Next one out soon, luv u guys
Niki
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Spike's back in town, and he and Dawn are in love. They are raising Dawn's twins with Angelus; Spike and Buffy's daughter; and Spike's niece. Maggie, Spike's daughter killed Angelus because he staked her father (not fatally of course) If a slayer and a vampire have sex during a full moon, then they can have a baby. When we last left our heroes, Spike and Dawn had just 'shagged,' then realized, under the light of a beautiful, silver, full moon, that they would be expecting Spike or Spikette Jr. in nine months. It's a few months later, the Initiative is after Spike, the watcher's council is after Dawn and Maggie, and the last chapter ended with the dead- for-eight-years-Buffy suddenly appearing in Maggie's room.
___________________________
"Oh my God!"
"What Dawn, not happy to see me?"
"Um Buffy? You're kinda.. well..."
"Dead. Yeah, I know. The Powers That Be decided to let me come back for one week. And you're kinda, okay really pregnant"
"You're serious? and yeah, I'm 8 months pregnant, what of it?"
"Yup. In 5 days, something big is going to go down. I'm here to help. Well, that and visit my family and find out who impregnated my little sister so I can shoot him, since you don't appear to be wearing a ring.."
"Mommy?"
"Yes sweetie?"
"Can you and Daddy and me be a family now? Even for just a couple days?"
"Daddy? Sorry sweetie, I don't know where Daddy is."
"But he's right behind you?"
"What?" she turned around.
"'Ey Pet."
"Spike?"
"Yeah."
"You're here."
"Ya noticed."
"I... I tried to find you, after Maggie, but I couldn't."
"Not your fault Pet. I'm sorry that I left. If I'd had known.."
"Would you have?"
"What Luv?"
"Would you have stayed if you knew? Even after everything that happened?"
"Yeah. I've always wanted a child. I always thought that Angelus and Dru had taken that chance from me forever. Even if it could have never worked out between us, I would have stayed for Maggie."
"I believe you would have."
"Umm... Should I call Giles and the scoobies?" asked Dawn.
"Yeah!" said Buffy enthusiastically. "Is everyone still around? What has changed since I died? How is everyone? and don't think you're getting off that easy, I want to know who the father is."
"Why don't I call everyone Luv, while you explain to your sister about *everything*"
"*Everything* being Angelus, right?"
"Angelus?" Buffy queried.
Spike walked out of the room smiling, Maggie trailing behind him.
**
"Well, a couple years after you... died, Angel and I kinda fell in love."
"You what?"
"Sorry."
"Nah, its okay. Is that it, did you think I would be mad just about that?"
"Well... no, there's more."
"More?"
"More. We discovered that we could.. you know, because he'd always be worrying about his soul, so he would never be completely happy. We just forgot one thing."
Buffy sighed. "Full moon?"
"Full moon. The twins will be six next month."
"Oh God Dawnie, I'm sorry I wasn't here."
"Not your fault. But wait, there's more."
"So is he the father?" Buffy pointed at Dawn's stomach.
"No. When the twins were born and he saw them for the first time, he kinda got a happy."
"Oh god."
"Yeah."
"Is he still.."
"No. A couple months ago he staked Spike. Not fatally of course, but Maggie reacted before she knew that it was below his heart."
"Maggie killed Angelus?"
"Yeah"
"My daughter killed the Scourge of Europe?"
"Yeah. Did I mention she's a slayer?"
"No, you forgot that part. Now when are you gonna tell me who the father of your child is?"
"Promise you won't flip out and kill me for stealing all your ex's?"
"Riley?"
"Hell no!"
"Who?"
"Here's a clue. Mom once hit him upside the head with an ax"
"Huh?"
"Wow you're dense. It's Spike."
"You're kidding."
"Nope."
"Oh my god!" she changed the subject, not wanting to think about her little sister being with her ex. "So there are what, three kids, going on four?"
"Four going on five. Spike's niece, who he has raised since she was born, who is also half vamp, half slayer, lives with us too."
"Wow. Fricken big family. This isn't our house."
"No. The Initiative and the Council are looking for us, so we moved into this mansion. Spike had been remodeling it for when the baby was born, since we're outgrowing the house on Revello."
"Wow, so much has changed. Did Xander and Anya ever get back together?"
"Nah. Xander and Willow got together though, they have a baby, named Elizabeth."
"Wow. I knew sophomore year that they would get together someday. How are Cordy and her baby?"
"Kim's not so baby-like anymore, being ten and all. Cordy and Oz hooked up a couple months ago, they're all living together now."
"Is anyone still single ?"
"Anya. Giles and Olivia still live an ocean away from each other, but they visit each other all the time."
"Ack! It's become couple-dom."
Dawn laughed, then proceeded to explain everything that had happened to the Scooby Gang and Co. in the past eight years
~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~
Spike, Dawn, and Buffy were sitting on the couch in the living room, having put Maggie back to bed, when the Scooby Gang arrived.
"Dear Lord! Buffy! You're actually here!"
"Hey Giles! Great to see you too."
"Buffy! Except for your clothes being 9 years out of date, you look great!"
Buffy smiled sardonically. "Thanks Cordy. Where's Xander and Willow, and their baby?"
"They're living up in the mountains now, at Wills' family ranch. I called them and told them they need to come to Sunnydale, that it was an emergency, but that they should bring Beth. They'll be here in about five or six hours."
"Wow. Everything's so different, I'm almost glad I'm only here for a week."
"Why a week? why couldn't the PTB give us more time with you?"
"Dunno, I just do what I'm told."
"That's a first."
"Funny Giles, very funny."
"I thought so."
"So what do you know about the reason you're back?"
"Some big bad you guys have to face and won't be able to do alone. They didn't give me many details, the only thing I'm supposed to tell you is that just because something has a soul, doesn't mean it isn't evil."
"Yeah, that's real useful."
~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~
"So Dawnie, why are we here?" Xander asked. He and Willow and the baby had met her at the Magic Box, after Dawn had explained why she was no longer living on Revello. They had followed her to the mansion, and were now sitting in the living room.
"I've got a surprise for you."
"So you call us up in the middle of the night, tell us we need to get to Sunnydale fast because there's an emergency, but make sure to bring Beth, just because you have a surprise for us?"
"Yeah, that about covers it." Buffy said, walking into the room.
"Oh my God! Buffy!" Willow screamed, running over and hugging her best friend.
Xander hung back a little, unsure of what to do. "Umm.. Well, not to ruin the moment, but Buff? Aren't you kinda dead?"
"Yeah Xander, I'm dead. I'm back for a week, long story, Dawn will explain later, now get over here and hug me." Xander complied, handing the baby to Dawn.
~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~
"Agent Finn what do you have to report?"
"The slayer's friends know where Hostile 17 and the girl are. I could tell by the way they denied knowing anything. They are suspicious of me, so there is little chance of me being able to jump right back into the little group. We checked out Dawn Summers' house and it is deserted. They seem to have been alerted that we are looking for them."
Quentin Travers shook his head and sighed. "So you know absolutely nothing."
"Not quite Sir."
"Go on."
"Hostile 17 has to be getting blood from somewhere, since that chip we put in around twelve years ago keeps him from drinking humans. I think I know where he's getting it."
"Follow that lead. You had better have more to report next time we meet, Finn."
"Yes Sir."
~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~
Riley Finn was in a great mood. He had found out from Willie the snitch that an increasingly pregnant Dawn Summers had been picking up blood once a week for the past six months or so. After a little pummeling, Willie had added that Cordy had picked up the blood last week and was expected that day to pick up the week's supply. He had hid in the back booth until the former cheerleader showed up, then followed her in his car, from a respectable distance. She drove through the rich part of Sunnydale, into a very ritzy neighborhood. When she drove her car up a half hidden driveway, he kept driving and parked his car far down the street, then sneaked through the woods into the mansion's backyard. He was hiding behind the pool-house, looking into the kitchen, where Dawn, Maggie, and Oz were sitting. He couldn't see Willow, Xander, and Beth because of the angle.
~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~ ~*~^~*~
"Hey Guys!" Cordy said brightly as she walked into the kitchen, going straight to the refrigerator and unloading her bag of blood.
"What's up Cordy?"
"Well, I picked up the blood from Willie's and someone followed me here."
"What!"
"Calm down and act normal, I'm pretty sure that he or she or it is in the backyard, and may be able to hear us."
"There's someone in the back yard." Spike said, walking into the kitchen, carefully avoiding the windows.
"Yeah, we got that already. How could you tell?"
"Was up in our room, heard rustling outside, looked and saw a figure creeping across the lawn. It's human, I could hear the heartbeat. Super hearing is very useful"
"So what do we do?"
Buffy walked in. "There's someone in the backyard."
"We know."
She looked at them quizzically. "Do you know that it's Riley?"
"What!"
"Yep."
"What do we do?"
"Get Spike and Anna hidden, as I'll probably have to be polite and invite him in for coffee. We don't want him knowing our strength, so Xander and Willow and the baby need to be out of sight. Dawn, you are engaged to a wonderful *human* guy, who is out of town for a few weeks. He's the father of your baby. Cordy and Oz, put the kids to bed, then stay upstairs. I've been alive the entire time, I was in a coma until last year, and have been resting in retirement since then. Maggie's father's name was James, he died when she was 2. Everybody got it?"
They all nodded, and as Buffy grabbed Maggie's hand and walked to the door, they all went for their places.
Buffy pushed Maggie on the swing set for a couple minutes, then she went and sat on the bench that face the woods, very close to where her ex- boyfriend was hiding.
"Riley, I know you're there, you can come out."
"Buffy?" his voice was incredulous. It had gotten dark enough that all he had been able to see was a female form and a little girl. He walked out of the woods.
"Hey."
"Well...Um.. not to state the obvious or anything, but... aren't you supposed to be.... ?
"dead?"
"Well, yeah."
"Coma. Just wolk up 8 months ago."
"How come the council didn't hear?"
"How would you know what the council hears?"
"The In- I mean... I work for them now."
"Ah. I've been enjoying my retirement. Don't want them to try to put me back to work. Besides, Dawn was doing fine."
"How could Dawnie.."
"Become a slayer? I was clinically dead, so she got called."
"Oh."
"Mommy!" Maggie shrieked.
Buffy and Riley came running towards the little girl, who was surrounded by vamps.
They plunged into the fray.
Maggie was a whirlwind of movement, a blur of blonde hair never in one place for more than a few seconds. She kicked one vamp in the groin, and jumped onto him, staking him when he fell over. The second tried to grab her, but she suddenly wasn't where she was supposed to be. She taunted him for a few moments, then finally staked him in the back as he turned yet again to look where she had gone. She was fighting her third while Buffy and Riley moved through a flurry of dust. Buffy moved with her old grace, almost stalking them, as a lioness would stalk a gazelle. She roundhoused one, staking him as she moved onto the second, staking her in less than ten seconds. The third had no chance. Neither did the fourth or fifth. Riley was much more graceful than he had been 10 years ago. He couldn't do the acrobatics that the females were so good at, but he was steady on his feet, using his bulk to stake first one, then another vamp. Maggie staked her last vampire just as the two came over to help. After only five minutes, the only evidence that there had been a fight was Riley's split lip, Maggie's ripped clothes, a small gash on the child's forehead, and Buffy's few bruises.
"Why don't we go inside and get cleaned up?" Buffy suggested.
They walked into the house, coming upon Dawn in the kitchen.
"Oh my God! What happened?" she practically screeched as she ran towards the bedraggled trio.
"Vamps." With the one word, Dawn was all action. She pulled the first aid kit out from under the sink, sat Maggie on the counter, and ordering Riley and Buffy to sit at the table. She handed her sister an ice pack, and tossed the commando a wet washcloth to clean his lip with. She then set to work on her niece. She washed the minor cuts and scrapes, applied neosporin, then bandaged the gash on the small child's forehead, then picked Maggie up.
"I'm taking her up to bed." she said. Buffy nodded, knowing that the child was really headed to her father.
After tossing Riley some ice for his lip, Buffy lead him into the living room.
"This your house?" he asked.
She was saved from answering as Dawn came down the stairs.
"No," she said, "It's mine. Well, my fiancé's, but what's mine is his and all that."
Riley couldn't believe it had been this easy. Dawn was about to tell him that this was Spike's house, and then he'd be able to lead a team the next night to capture the hostile and the child.
"Your fiancé?" he asked, trying not to sound triumphant.
"Yeah." she smiled. "His name is Aaron. We met a couple years back, and have been dating for a little over a year."
His face fell. Dawn had to keep back a giggle.
"So when do I get to meet him?" he tried to sound all brotherly, but came out kind of jealous.
Dawn giggled. "If you're still here next month when he gets back from his business trip, I'm sure he'll love to meet you."
"Business trip?"
"He's in Paris."
"Oh." he looked at her stomach, as if noticing it for the first time. "Dawnie! You're pregnant!"
"Yep. 8 months."
"It is his?"
"Yeah. Now if you'll excuse me, I really need to go check on the children." With that, she walked out of the room.
"Children?" Riley asked Buffy as the former key walked up the stairs.
"My daughter, her twins."
"Ah."
They made idle chit-chat for a little while longer before Riley said that he had to go. Buffy showed him to the door, then called upstairs. Dawn came downstairs, and after closing all the window shades made a gesture upstairs and the entire group, minus the kids, having been already put to bed, came downstairs.
"Now that was truly hell."
"Oh come on Buffy, you never got sent to hell, how would you know?"
"Angelus!"
"Oh come on! Why does everyone always think I'm evil when I come back?"
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Hehe, I love cliff-hangers. Please review! Thanks!