History Always Repeats Itself

By Kimbyann

Author's Notes: I got so excited by my reviews that I had to post something else.  Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed!  Enjoy chapter two!

It was the loud pounding that woke her.  With a loud groan, Buffy pulled her pillow over her head with a mumbled, "Go away."

"Buffy!"  The pounding grew louder.  "Buffy!" 

Buffy's eye cracked opened, "Dawn?"

"It's 3:00!  You have to be at work soon!  Remember?"

A quick glance at the clock on her nightstand revealed that it was indeed 3:00 in the afternoon.  'Why did I sleep so long?' Buffy wondered to herself before the events of the previous night came rushing to the forefront.  'Right, that's why.'  Struggling to get her limbs out of bed, Buffy dragged herself to her bedroom door, revealing the petulant form of her sister standing there. 

"Took you long enough."

"Dawn-"

"I mean, you're the Slayer, right?  Aren't you supposed to be all, ready for action girl?  I've been knocking for at least ten minutes.  What if there was a demon or something?  We could all be dead by now, you know."

"Then I'd still be sleeping, actually not a bad idea."

Dawn shot her a look, "Whatever.  I just thought you'd like to know that you've slept the day away, and have to be at work soon.  Not like you should thank me or anything." 

With an over-dramatized sigh, Buffy said, "Thank you Dawn." 

A silent moment passed between the two.  Buffy quirked her eyebrow at Dawn, "Was there something else?"

"Willow said she left the list of stuff to get on the counter."

Buffy stifled a yawn, "Oh yeah, I have to stop at the Magic Box before work."  Dawn remained in front of her door, showing no signs that she was leaving.  "And once more the question is asked, is there something else?"

"I looked at the list."

'Great,' Buffy thought, leaning against the doorframe.  Not wanting to let her sister reawaken any guilt, she stood her ground.  "Nice to know that you're taking the job of little sister seriously and still nosing into everyone's personal lives."

Dawn was not deterred.  "They're ingredients.  For a spell."

Widening her eyes innocently, Buffy responded. "Oh, and I asked her for a casserole recipe."

Dawn's frown deepened, "They're for a de-invite spell."

"Yes they are."

"So you're de-inviting Spike from the house.  Does it even matter to you that we're friends?  Just because you screw up with him, doesn't mean the rest of us have to cut him from our lives."

Buffy ran a hand through her hair, "First of all, Dawn, it's a little more complicated than that.  Secondly, I am not de-inviting him, but with the way he's been acting, I thought it would be a good idea to at least be prepared."  Seeing that her sister was still upset, Buffy continued, " Dawn, please understand how difficult everything has been.  And Spike is only making it harder."

"Whatever," Dawn turned and started stalking towards her room, but stopped at the door.  Turning back towards Buffy she said, "Maybe if you'd stop being such a bitch and thought about someone other than you, things would be easier!"  Not allowing Buffy time to respond, she quickly entered her room and slammed her door. 

Groaning loudly, Buffy dropped her head against the doorframe.  "Where's Dr. Spock when you need him?" she muttered, before moving towards the bathroom, and closing the door.

***

Freshly showered and dressed in the Doublemeat's finest, Buffy quickly walked down the sidewalk, trying to gage how much time she had before she would officially be late.  The Magic Box loomed in front of her, foreboding, and ominous.  'Get a grip, just go in, get what you need, and get out.'  Of course going in meant dealing with Anya.  Newly demonic Anya.  Newly demonic Anya who also slept with Spike.  Buffy wasn't sure which one bothered her more.  Squaring her shoulders, and trying to forget the fact that she was currently dressed in the most horrible fashion faux pas since the eighties, Buffy opened the door to the Magic Box. 

            Anya stood stocking a nearby shelf, back turned to the door.  As the bell rang, she turned and said, "Welcome to the Magic Box, how may I—oh, it's you."

            Buffy plastered a smile on her face, "Anya."

            "What do you want?"

            "Nice to see you too."

            "Do you need help?  I know it's not to visit or to see how I'm doing.  Maybe you want to yell at me for sleeping with your boyfriend."

            "Spike is not my-"

            "I don't care why you're here!  Because I don't have to listen to it."

            "Anya!  I need some supplies.  That's the only reason why I'm here.  I promise, I wouldn't subject myself to this for any other reason."

            Anya eyed her speculatively, "Do you have money?"

            Buffy rolled her eyes heavenward, "Yes Anya."

            "Oh.  Then how can I be of service to you?" 

            Buffy reached into her purse and pulled out her list.  "Willow wrote it all down."

            Anya frowned, "Willow?"

            Raising her hand up, Buffy said, "She's not doing any magic, just reference.  Here," she handed her the list.

            Anya accepted it and gave it a quick scan.  "Oh yes, we have all of this, don't worry."  She began bustling around, gathering the necessary ingredients and placing them on the counter.  "So, you're not mad at me for having sex with Spike?"

            "Um, I guess…I mean it's not like we're dating."

            Anya paused in her work, "Xander's mad at me."

            "Well…" Buffy sighed, unsure of what to say.  "I mean, I think he was…shocked…surprised, is all.  You hurt him."

            "I hurt him?  I hurt him?  I never left him at the alter!  I mean, doesn't that count as hurt?  Look at all the men that have left you, didn't that hurt?" 

                Buffy swallowed hard, looking down, "Yes.  That hurt."  Suddenly wanting to be anywhere else in the world other than here, Buffy said, "Are you done?"

            Placing the last ingredient on the counter, Anya nodded.  "I just need to ring you up.  You have to pay for this."

            "I know Anya.  I told you already I would pay.  I'm sorry to rush you, I just have to get to work."

            Anya began punching numbers on the cash register, muttering to herself.  She stopped suddenly, "Wait.  I know what these ingredients are for." 

            Buffy rubbed her temples, "Anya, if you'd just ring this up-"

            Ignoring her, Anya continued, "These are for an un-invite spell!  You're un-inviting Spike!"

            "Not that it's any of your business, yes, the ingredients are for a de-invite spell.  Not that I need to explain myself to you."

            "I don't believe it!  After everything he's done, for you-"

            "Look, I already got it from Dawn, I certainly don't need to hear it from you."

            Looking utterly perplexed Anya burst out, "But he's great in bed!  Why deprive yourself of the orgasms?"

            "All right, that's it."  Buffy threw money down on the counter and quickly scooped the ingredients into her arms.  "I am sick of explaining myself to people.  Spike is a Vampire.  Yes, we had some sort of twisted thing, that in some minds could be construed as a relationship, but now it's over, done, finished!  I am the Slayer, and Spike is a vampire.  We're mortal enemies!  At least with Angel, he had a soul…Spike…It's like I'm betraying my calling!"  Incensed, Buffy spun around and stormed towards the door, almost missing Anya's response."

"It's not like you're the first."

Buffy stopped but did not turn around.  "What?"

Anya spoke slower, "It's not like you're the first."

Exasperated, Buffy turned around, "Now what are you talking about?"

"You're not the first Slayer to be involved with a vampire." 

A long moment of silence stretched between the two.  "Huh?"

***

            Many hours, and too many hamburgers to count later, Buffy got off work.  Walking her way down the darkened sidewalks, she slowly got out her cell-phone, and dialed the house.  "Willow?  It's me.  You still have a key to Giles, right?"