Lost-II

Portalkeeper87

A/N: Lots of spoilers. Might even call it spoiler-central. Reviews welcome!

1-Back to Sunnyhell

It was 4 in the morning. Luckily, my parents were out of town. Because I had been watching and reading all the Buffy stuff I could find.

I had just about finished. Unfortunately, there were about 10 episodes Missa had not taped. But I had skimmed over all of the transcripts and summaries I could find, as well as fast-forwarded through most of the scenes in the show.

Now I was beyond tired, even after the four frappuccinos I had drunk. Not quite as ready as I wanted to be, with all the fast-forwarding and skimming, but it would have to do. I suppressed a yawn and grabbed hold of Miss Edith. I didn't know when I'd be appearing in the show, what season or what episode. But I was pretty sure crosses were always useful in Sunnyhell. So I put one on and stuffed a couple more in my pocket.

Finally I made my way to my nice, comfy, and unmade bed, reminding myself that I had no proof that I was even going back. Just a premonition. And the creepy message that somehow wasn't in the taped version Missa had lent me.

Falling face-first onto the covers, exhaustion took over and I was asleep before my eyes closed.

***

I stretched, yawning sleepily. Happy. I was warm from the sun's rays. The light was quite bright, even behind my closed eyelids.

I wished I could stay asleep longer, but was dismayed to find that I was already awake. Now, was this a school day? Was I late? No, Mom would have woken me up. So it was definitely the weekend. But my windows faced the west and they had heavy curtains…

I cracked open an eye. What I saw woke up my fuzzy brain. I sat up, raking away my bed hair.

I was in a living room of some sort, sleeping on the carpet. On the nearby sofa was a girl, probably in her late teens. My fuzzy memory came up with a name and some fuzzy information.

Just then the girl woke up. She stared at me, eyes growing ever wider. Then she began to scream.

"Ahhhh!"

"Uh…Molly? Molly! Stop yelling! You'll wake everyone up!" I yelled back.

The girl stopped when I spoke her name. "How…how do you know my name?" she asked in a sort-of cockney accent.

"Umm…that might take some explaining," I said sheepishly.

Then the Slayerettes camped upstairs thundered down. Of course the first one to come down was Buffy

"Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my house?" she said in a threatening tone. In her hand was a long, pointy sword.

"Hi, Buffy," I said meekly, hoping she'd forgotten me. And from the look on her face I guess she had.

The next thing I knew, I was pushed against the wall, the sword at my neck.

"Do you know who I am?" she asked, her voice as sharp and cold as the blade scraping my jugular. By that time, the rest of her little friends were downstairs.

"Yeah, I do," I managed to say, trying not to accidentally dislodge my head from my neck, which was quite a comfortable and familiar position. "Please take away your nice shiny sword so that my head doesn't fall off."

Buffy didn't back off. I didn't know whether my…abilities from my previous visit were still intact. I didn't particularly want to risk it, really. But seeing the totally unsympathetic faces of the Scoobies behind her, I guess I really had no choice.

"Okay then…" I warned. I shoved at the lunatic slayer with as much strength as I possessed.

Not my fault she went through the already-shattered window. I mean, I asked nicely, right?

"Hi, people," I said, trying to be amiable. "I'm really kind of lost…judging from the appearance of some new faces, I'd have to say we're in Season 7. "Bring on the Night" or possibly later. I don't see Anne or Anna or whatever her name was so I guess that episode's over. Too bad, cause that was the last one I saw."

"It's Annabelle," Giles said, breaking the silence following my rampant babbling. Man, why can't my mouth stay shut?

The front door banged open and Buffy strode in again, looking majorly pissed. "What, what's going on? Does anyone know this girl?"

"Hey, calm down!" I said. "I'm getting there. My name is Alexis, if you've all forgotten." A look of recognition flitted across Willow's face.

"I'm from another dimension, I guess you'd call it. Remember, junior year of high school? I popped up, sort of bled poofy Angel to get home?" I cringed, dreading their reactions.

"Oh! I remember now," Xander said with a big grin. Then he sobered. "Unfortunately Buffy untied him and stopped the bleeding," he said glumly. "Deadboy's in LA." Then he frowned. "Hey, wait a minute. You turned on us and joined Spike and Drusilla."

"Well, yeah. You guys were…how do I put it? Boring."

Buffy gave me a death glare. "So what are you doing back here?"

"It's not like I asked for it," I argued. "I got home just in time to catch the last couple minutes of the all-new Buffy. And this evil version of Drusilla was torturing Spike in some kind of cave and she basically told me I was coming and—"

"Hold it. You know where Spike is?" Buffy asked, suddenly all concern, the edge of malice gone.

"Not really," I conceded. "But that's why I'm here to help. Not because I particularly like any of you. We didn't really part on good terms. But Spike's my friend…sort of. And since you," I stared at Buffy, "love him and are too bitchy to admit it, I have to get you guys back together, get everyone safe and sound, so that the lovebirds can go at it like bunnies, be all happy. And who knows? Maybe the soul was cursed on. Maybe a couple of happys will send it back to hell. Sure hope so," I concluded.

Buffy just stared at me. "I do not—"

"Whatever, Slayer. Just keep wallowing in denial. That's unimportant. We have to find Spike! The First is trying to get him all evil and manipulate him. Since that hasn't worked yet she's torturing him and stuff like that. Angel excluded, that's just mean."

Buffy sent me an evil death-glare. "Do you know how to beat this thing?"

I rolled my eyes. "You can't beat it, duh. That's the whole message. Remember "Amends"? You jumped down the hole in the Christmas tree lot and knocked down those Bringers. They were the ones who summoned the First. Get rid of them, for a start."

For once the Slayer agreed with a terse nod. "Fine."

"And while you're at it, you guys did realize that the First can only show up as dead people, right? So if you see any dead people, don't listen to what they're saying. Unless, of course, they happen to come in dreams and what they're saying makes complete sense and yet some idiots still just don't listen," I added not so subtly.

"Wait a minute," Buffy interrupted, ignoring my little jibe. All right, maybe she wasn't such a self-centered b**** as a couple of years ago. "Wait a minute. Spike said he saw me. And Drusilla. And himself. All living."

"Well, Buffy, you might not have noticed it, but you were resurrected. Remember? As in, already dead? And surely vampires are dead. No heartbeats or pulses, right? Dead corpses walking." I thought for a moment. "Hey! That must be why you're so much nicer. Being brought back from the dead must have been an enlightening experience."

Or maybe not. The girl had a total "bite me" look on her face. Hey, maybe I should take her up on her offer…

"How do we get to the cave?" Xander asked. "The super-vamp is probably close by. No chance we're getting there unnoticed."

"Guys. You have a witch, hello? Ball of sunshine, protection spells, just about all you need. I'm sure you guys can think of something."

"Not today," Buffy said, glancing outside at the waning light. "Sunset. The uber-vamp is probably prowling already. We have to stay inside, where it's safe." She glanced at the dilapidated house. "Or at least there's strength in numbers." She turned to Willow. "Will, do you think you can conjure up a ball of sunshine? And you guys can hang up a few crucifixes and strands of garlic. Stay together. Meanwhile," she said, eyeing me warily, "we're going to look for Spike."