Chapter 25

"It just seems so easy. Like we're deux ex machina-ing our way out of this problem," Buffy said, as she hunched over the diagram Giles, Willow and Tara had put together of what all the Scoobies' parts were in the ritual. Xander and Cordelia were getting the ingredients required to do the spell, and Tara, Willow and Oz were setting up candles and herbs throughout the library. Giles had been going over the ritual with Buffy and Spike, while Angel watched Drusilla, making sure she didn't awaken. If the vampiress did awake, who knew what havoc she could wreak. Especially since her strength may have returned

"Deux ex machina-ing?" Giles asked, his voice slightly amused, slightly confused.

"Deux ex machina. You know, when in the ancient Greek plays some god would come down and solve all the ancient warriors problem's," Buffy's chipper red head friend answered Giles. The watcher smiled slightly as soon as Buffy turned to talk to Spike. She may not be the most studious pupil, but every so often his slayer surprised him with her knowledge and insight.

"Is it almost time?" Angel asked, coming in from the office where he and Drusilla were.

"We just have to wait for Xander and Cordelia to come back with the last ingredients were missing," Willow said. A second after the red head spoke the sound of screaming, and then of Xander's high pitched 'yelp' echoed throughout the abandoned hall of Sunnydale High.

"I'd say that's them. You know, by the yelling and the screaming," Oz supplied helpfully.

Oz was correct, as Xander and Cordelia burst through the doors of the library. Cordelia's hair was slightly mussed, and Xander was holding his arm protectively, trying to shield both it, and the ingredients he was holding, from the extremely angry cheerleader.

"What happened?" Spike asked to Cordelia.

"That idiot tried to kiss me," Cordelia replied.

"Xander!" Buffy exclaimed, not sure whether to be angry, or to laugh out loud, as she knew that Cordelia and Xander liked each other, yet also knew that Xander had probably been confusing Cordelia by insulting her one minute, and putting the moves on her the next. Yes, the slayer knew her friend pretty well.

"I did not try and kiss Cordy!" Xander protested, "she tried to kiss me-and when I didn't slap her, she hit me like it was MY fault."

"I did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Stop this childish behaviour this instant!" A calm, yet clearly annoyed British voice commanded. Everyone turned to Giles who took his glasses off his face and began thoroughly cleaning them with a handkerchief he took from his tweed jacket, "Now we have work to do. The spell can be performed in twenty minutes, or we'll have to wait until tomorrow. I don't think we want that. So Angel, go back and watch Drusilla. Willow and Tara, come with me so I can give you each the part of the spell you're supposed to read. Oz, you and Xander, and Cordelia should finish putting out the ingredients needed for the spell. And for heaven's sake, Buffy, either kiss Spike or stop looking over at him like your going to rip his clothes off the second I leave the room!" Giles commanded. Then he marched into his office, trailed by Willow and Tara.

A silence settled over the room as Cordelia and Oz and Xander attempted to work together quietly. However, everyone doing their job left Spike and Buffy standing next to one another, alone, in the center of the library. Spike looked down at the table that they were standing next to and immediately one hundred things of what he could do the slayer using the table came to mind. However, the bleached blonde vampire pushed then out of his head as the Slayer touched a tentative hand to his chest. Grabbing her roughly, Spike captured Buffy's lips within his own, biting down gently as she ran her hands over his duster. They moaned in unison and separated only when Spike's supernatural hearing picked up the voices of Willow, Giles, Angel, and Tara coming closer. Buffy smiled and gave Spike a soft peck on the mouth after they broke away from one another, timed perfectly, as at the moment after everyone came into the main library.

Angel was carrying Drusilla, and Willow, Tara, and Giles were all holding pieces of parchment that Buffy assumed contained the part of the spell they needed to read. Oz, Cordelia and Xander had set up all the things needed for the spell throughout the library, and had also turned off all the lights, and once Angel placed Drusilla in the center of a ring of candles, the Scoobies (Scoobies is a name so, once again, it's capitalizedJ) formed a circle, held hands, and stood in silence as Willow prepared to chant.

"Bless us oh mother Gaea. Protect us from the forces of all worlds. Allow us to perform this ritual. Let this unworthy being cross over." Willow chanted. Tara picked up the chant, her voice strong and sure as she spoke the incantation.

"Bring the world to order. Allow things to be put right once more. Place Drusilla in her world. Keep all other beings in theirs."

"Close the portals oh blessed Gaea. Accept out offering to you, as well as our thanks," Giles chanted, finishing the incantation. Tara lifted a single olive branch, the offering, above her head, and Willow lifted a candle to it and set it on fire. Buffy was about to rush over to Tara, afraid the girl's hands would burn. However, instead of burning, the olive branch merely dissolved into thin air. And, at that exact moment, Drusilla awoke, stood shakily, and then dissolved without a word.

The library lights turned back on automatically, and the Scoobies stood in silence, all amazed at the intensity of the spell. However, it was Angel that first noticed the tears that ran down Spike's face. When Spike realized that everyone was staring at him with interest he bit back a remark about not being a freak show, and instead, wiped the tears out of his eyes. However, Buffy placed her hand on his, causing him to stop. Her touch feather light, the slayer grasped Spike's hand and held it tightly. Then, using her other hand she reached over and gently brushed the tears from under his eyes.

"I'm so sorry," The slayer whispered.

"Don't be," Spike assured Buffy softly.

"I love you," Buffy whispered.

"I love you too Slayer…always," Spike assured Buffy.

Behind the bookshelf, Snyder was on the phone. "Tell the mayor," Snyder whispered, "we have a problem"

A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature
To stop speech when words become superfluous.
~ by Ingrid Bergman ~