Part 35:

The Scoobies reactions to Buffy's announcements were basically the same, shocked faces that after a moment, registered hurt. However, by the end of the day Buffy had explained the entire situation and her friends had already begun researching the history of Sunnydale, the mayor, and the Initiative.

The rest of the day went well too, Buffy and Spike went to the Initiative and performed all their tasks. Their job for the day was to collect a package. It was simple enough. Spike and Buffy waited by the school entrance long after school had been left out and were approached by a man wearing light beige pants and a navy blue polo shirt. To anyone besides Spike and Buffy it looked as if the man was ordinary, perhaps a parent or teacher. However, Spike and Buffy recognized him instantly as the man who had a stack of papers that the mayor needed.

He stopped about a foot from Spike and Buffy and produced a folder. Buffy grabbed it from him, her facial expression giving away nothing. The slayer flipped through the folder, making sure that it was what the mayor wanted. When she realized that it was she pulled a thick wad of bills out of her back pocket and handed them to the man. She then nodded at him before turning on her heel and walking back towards the initiative with Spike.

As soon as she was sure that they were out of hearing range of the man the slayer exploded into laughter, skipping ahead of Spike and then circling back.

"Did you see me?" She asked with delight, "I was all strait faced and scary looking. Look at Buffy, making trades on the black market."

"You were wonderful love," Spike said, just a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Are you messing with me?" Buffy asked in mock anger.

"Maybe," Spike conceded, "But how can I not when your skipping like a school girl after you just made a trade for something that's probably illegal."

"It was just…I was so cool," The Slayer squealed in excitement.

"That you were love, that you were."

Back at the Initiative Buffy and Spike had visited Giles and were currently attempting to sign out. However, the machine wasn't cooperating, probably due to the fact that as soon as Spike had put his card through Buffy had started laughing hysterically. She had placed a hand on the machine to steady her, and had heard a loud 'crack' before seeing a piece of the machine fall from the balcony. Spike was muttering under his breath about how she was going to be the death of him, while Buffy continued to laugh.

"What is so funny?" Spike asked angrily. Giving the slayer a stern look. Buffy gained control of her laughter for a moment and answered Spike.

"I just keep remembering," the slayer began, before breaking out into a new set of giggles, "the mayor using the word swipe."

Spike gave the slayer a stern look for a moment. However, as soon as he replayed yesterday's conversation with the mayor he couldn't help but allow his lips to form a smile. Spike's smile turned to a frown after a moment though, and he placed a hand over the slayer's mouth in a desperate attempt to silence her. Buffy's giggles subsided and the slayer watched Spike inconspicuously press his ear against the wooden door of the mayor's office. Buffy did the same, hearing through the thick wooden door the conversation that Spike was listening too.

"Tomorrow Night?" Professor Walsh asked in surprise.

"Yes, exactly at midnight. It seems my calculations were incorrect. I assumed that the ritual could be performed in a year. However, it seems that tomorrow night is the night," Mayor Wilkins said.

"Are you nervous?" Professor Walsh asked.

"Not in the least."

"But what about the Slayer and the Vampire. They're not going to let us take over Sunnydale just because we ask nicely. Even if we hang the Slayer's Watcher over them, they're going to find a way to stop us," Professor Walsh reminded the mayor.

"Yes, I suppose you're right professor. I believe that our story's heroes might object to us opening the hellmouth and taking control of the world. Not to worry though, tomorrow when they report for work, twenty armed guards will be at the Initiative entrance with orders to exterminate them. They may be superheroes, but I don't think either will be in any condition to fight once their six feet under," Mayor Wilkins assured Professor Walsh, his tone light and easy. If you hadn't known that he was talking about killing two innocent people, you would have thought he had just invited a friend to go to a baseball game.

The rest of the conversation seemed to be small talk so Buffy and Spike removed their ears from the wooden door.

"You get all of that?" Spike asked the slayer.
"Yeah. I missed a few words here and there, but I got everything important."

"So, what do you think we should do?" The vampire asked.

"I'd say it's back to the library, the Scoobies should have something helpful for us now."

"And then what?" Spike asked nervously.

"Then we save the world."

People always ask me what I believe in It's kind of ironic. I believe in love. Love is the only thing worth dying for. But here's the ironic part. It's also the only thing worth living for."

-TuesdayGirl (August 6, 2002)