Chapter 2 - Early Warnings

Grianne had to entertain herself for much of the next day, as there was no sign of Emily and Alasdair. It was fortunate she found some films in the video collection in the croft she really wanted to see. Of course, she had to keep the volume a little louder than she normally liked it, but it was raining outside, and she didn't feel like getting soaked to the skin.

Despite everything, she was happy for the couple in the other room. Emily deserved some happiness. Grianne would have been happy to take Emily to live with her after the whole Sinistra business, but Emily had been drawn to Alasdair from the beginning. And Alasdair deserved happiness too. He was a good man, and Grianne thought there were too few of them in the world these days.

She was thinking about her own future. She had to go back to London next day, and almost immediately after that, she had to go back to Ireland. The Council had something urgent that needed investigating. She was surprised, as only something major and urgent would result in her having to travel away from work in London that she knew was important. She didn't have any details yet, but had been told that it would all become apparent when she arrived.

Other things at the Council were worrying her though. She had been around long enough to see several changes in the power structure. For the past few years, those in senior positions seemed to be have been men of integrity and she had been comfortable. Some recent appointments had changed that. There was nothing so far to actually worry about, but she had a nagging feeling that things were moving in the wrong direction.

At last, Grianne heard movement and knew the shower was running. She was enjoying 'Local Hero', and the scenery looked so familiar to the area she found herself in. At last Alasdair appeared, looking rather sheepish.

"Sorry, seem to have overslept," he apologised.

"No need," Grianne replied. "I've been catching up on some films."

Emily appeared ten minutes later. She didn't look sheepish, she looked triumphant. Grianne smiled at her happiness, but didn't comment. She suspected there would be comments enough when Buffy and Spike arrived later. They were known for a remarkably relaxed attitude to conversations about sex. She just hoped that Spike particularly would tone down his comments a bit. Alasdair looked like he might run if things got too explicit.

When the others arrived, it was obvious that Spike had either learned tact from somewhere or had been thoroughly warned. One look at Buffy's determined expression suggested the latter.

Without the excitement of a party to keep her awake, Lizzie fell asleep early, and had been left on Grianne's bed, sleeping soundly. Conversation moved to the Council.

"I'm off to Ireland in a couple of days. The reason's so hush hush, I don't even know. Just that there's something big coming up." Grianne's expression made it clear she thought something strange was going on.

"Did you know I've been asked to do some research too? Freelance." Giles asked. When the others indicated they hadn't, he continued. "Sounds like something big too. They want me to go to Malta. Some artefacts found in a church there need translating, and they've asked me to go."

Alasdair pulled a letter out of his pocket. "Funny. This arrived yesterday. I'm being recalled to London." He turned to Emily, his face an apology. "I didn't want it to spoil your birthday, that's why I didn't say anything before. We'll talk about it later. If you want me to, I'll resign from the Council. I know you want to stay here."

Emily looked at him and the earnest expression on his face. "It's ok, Alasdair. I think I might like London. I've been thinking. I never finished High School. I know, you've kept me working on things at home, but it might be good to do something, official, you know? Wouldn't that be easier somewhere big, like London?"

Alasdair looked at her in surprise. She had never mentioned wanting to be anywhere else. He made up his mind to talk to her later, when they were alone. Then he remembered how little talking they had done the previous night. Still, he would have to try.

"Yes," he answered. "You could go to night school. If you were under sixteen, you would have to go to school, and that would be difficult. Lots of sixteen year olds leave school and go to college to do their exams, just like lots stay in school and do them. It'd be different from what you've been doing. The exam system in Scotland is different from in England, but I'm sure you'd cope with it. You're a bright girl. You could do some GCSEs and then maybe A levels. If you want, maybe you could even do a degree after that. The Open University, they allow you to work from home, so you could probably avoid being out in the daytime. And then, London has the Underground, so you'd be able to travel around a bit even during the day. You're right, you'd have much more freedom. Why didn't you say anything before?" He looked mystified.

"I am happy here," she started. "I mean it, I love it here. It's just, recently, I've been thinking, I'd like to do something with my life. I'm not sure what. But, more than anything else, I want to be with you, so, I kept quiet."

Alasdair looked rather stunned at that.

"So," Buffy tried to move the conversation on. "There's something big happening, and no one knows what it is."

"Well," Grianne replied. "Someone knows what's happening, but they're not telling us. Thing is, things're changing. You remember Michael?"

"Michael Barrat?" Spike's ears pricked up. "What's that bastard doing? Counting paperclips? S'about all he's good for."

"Well," Grianne took a deep breath. "Michael's been named number 2 in Research."

Giles went red. "You have got to be kidding. He's useless. How has he managed to worm his way into a promotion?"

"Well," Grianne explained, "he's been changing history a bit. I submitted my report on what happened in Sunnydale, but his report covered an earlier time. He claims that Emily got too involved with Spike and Buffy. That we were all under some kind of thrall, and that we were responsible for Emily's death. I don't think his report was taken seriously until Lucien Spencer took over at the top. I thought he was a worrying appointment at the time. He was always close to Quentin Travers. I think Travers was actually grooming him to take over from him. He has no field experience, and a very 'old school' attitude."

"Who's number one in Research now?" Giles asked. "Is it still Josh Prendegast?"

"Yes," Grianne replied. "But, Josh is retiring in a couple of weeks. The word is that Michael's going to take over."

The result of that was a stunned silence. Giles was stony-faced. "You remember the experiments I told you about, the ones that involved draining vampires? When they were done, Spencer's father was number one in Research. When the Council's attitude to that type of research changed, he was retired. All very quiet, full pension and everything. I have to say, that I'm very concerned about these developments. I never did trust Lucien Spencer. I heard from friends that he was always known as 'Snakey' at school. They meant that he was always in the middle of trouble, but always managed to slither away before he was caught."

The conversation was interrupted at that point by Stephen's demands for food. Jenny started to move towards the carry cot, but was beaten there by Grianne who picked up the little boy. The resulting fracturing of the company led to a several smaller groups. The first clustered around Stephen and his mother, and included Giles and Grianne. The second included Buffy and Emily, and they went to the kitchen to organise some snacks. The third included Spike and Alasdair.

"So?" Spike asked.

Alasdair looked embarrassed, but tried to pretend he didn't know what Spike meant. "What?" he replied.

"Don't play the innocent with me. Last night, would it be fair to say that things between you and Emily took a step forward?"

"Well," Alasdair's feet shuffled as he tried and failed to meet Spike's gaze. "I suppose you could say that."

Spike's response was to clap his friend on the back, almost sending the drink he was holding crashing to the floor. "'Bout time, mate. Judging by the way she was hanging on to you when we arrived, she's not regretting it, is she?"

"No, she seems …. Happy. It's really very surprising. I mean, I'm not what you'd call much of a catch. I'm older than she is, and …"

"And she doesn't care. Look, I know more about this than you give me credit for. Me and Buffy …"

"Don't give me that. You and Buffy are meant to be together. Never mind the prophecy and all that. You're great together."

"Doesn't mean I don't still wake up beside her and wonder how I got so lucky. Doesn't mean I deserve her. I don't. I never did. The things I've done, killing and the like. And she, well, she's special. Like Emily, Chosen and all that. You don't have the past I have to live down. Look, mate, whatever you do, don't question it. Enjoy it. If there's one thing I've learned recently, it's that you need to make the most of things while you can. I still can't believe the way Buffy looked after me when I was, well, the way I was. I was bloody helpless, and she could have just dumped me, or even staked me. Instead she fed me, dressed me, held me. I know you think you're a lucky bloke right now, but, truth is, I've got you beat."

There was silence as both contemplated their situation. Spike eventually broke the silence. "So, you and Emily're going south?"

"Looks like it. I need to make sure she's happy with things, but she's right. She'll have much more freedom in a large city. And she can finish her education."

"Don't you think it's funny that you, Grianne and Giles are all on the move at the same time?"

"Well, Grianne and Giles are going away, I'm going to London."

"Yes, but I'm betting you'll find yourself with a top secret reason to head off somewhere yourself. I don't trust Michael Barrat, and it seems like a coincidence that the only people who can refute his version of things are being carefully put out of the way."

Alasdair looked thoughtful. "You may be right. So, should I resign?"

"What, and never find out what he's up to? I've got a better idea. Go to London, sort yourself out somewhere to live, but make sure there's plenty of room. I can help cash-wise if you need it. When you're ready, Buffy and I'll come down and bring Emily with us. I hope they won't expect that. And, if you're called off somewhere, we can keep an eye on the Bit."

Alasdair grinned in relief. "I'd feel a lot happier with that," he admitted. "But, what'll Buffy think of this? I mean, this is home."

"Buffy's the Slayer. I mean, I know there's another one now, but she still thinks that way. If there's something that needs doing, she's going to want to be involved. And, if she's involved, I am too."

The two women were working together, preparing a salad. Buffy hadn't said anything, but kept giving her companion sideways glances. In the end, Emily made a sound which could only be called a growl.

"Fine friend you are," she complained.

"What do you mean?" Buffy laughed.

"First time I've got some news, you're not asking."

"News, you've got news?"

"You know I have. I mean, even if you couldn't tell otherwise, you must smell the difference."

"Smell, oh, you mean the fact that you smell of Alasdair?"

"Duh, of course I mean that."

"Well, if you know I can smell it, why would you think I'd want to ask?"

"Buffy, you're being deliberately obtuse. Don't you want to know anything about it?"

Buffy's grin disappeared. "Only what you want to tell me," she said seriously.

"I know," Emily agreed. "It's just, I love Alasdair, and I wanted him to love me. And he does, and for the first time, we were together, like I've wanted for a long time. Thing is, I was scared. When it came to it, I was scared. I mean, with David, everything was good at the time, but afterwards I knew it was all a sham. And, with Angelus, well, I'd rather forget that. I suppose I was scared that Alasdair would be different after. I mean, I knew he wouldn't, but I was still scared he would, does that make sense?"

"Oddly, it does. You know he loves you, really loves you, but you were still scared he'd change his mind after you slept with him. I'd call that perfectly normal paranoia. So, everything was ok?"

"Well, at first, I was a bit tense. Mainly, I was trying so hard not to let Alasdair know I was scared. Because he'd never understand why I was scared. He'd think it was his fault, or that I had changed my mind, or something. But, then, I realised he was scared too. I could smell it, and I knew I had the advantage. And I realised that if he was scared, he was vulnerable too. He was afraid just like I was, and with both of us it's just that it's so important. He loves me like I love him. Once I got over that, it was, well, amazing. For all I thought David knew what he was doing, last night with Alasdair was better. I think it's because he was genuinely trying to find out what I wanted, not going through his records of previous times, and trying out what worked with someone else. You know?"

"Yeah, I understand. So, no regrets?"

"The only regret I have is that I didn't just force his hand a year ago. It would've been so easy. I mean, I could just have slipped into bed with him."

"You'd have given him a heart attack doing that. Better the way it happened."

"Better than better. It was perfect," Emily concluded.