ENJOY!
Disclaimer: I COULD have been Joss... but then again- I COULD have been anyone... or I could just be insane...
Part Three
Buffy, Xander, Anya, Spike, and Dawn rushed down the hallway to Buffy and Willow's dorm room.
"Why does he have to come?" Xander said, eyeing Spike.
Dawn sighed. "Xander, Spike is my boyfriend. Plus, he's handy on the fighting field."
"I think I agree with Xander here," Spike said, to Dawn's disbelief. "Seems like a lot of work for people who aren't us."
"Spike, these are my friends. And it's my responsibility as a friend to help them."
"For now," Spike said under his breath.
"We're here!" Buffy said.
Buffy entered the room first and turned on the light. Immediately, she crouched and examined a black circle on the floor. "This was burned."
Anya, however, went stiff. She looked at the spot in disbelief, he couldn't have… not after he-! OH!
"D'Hoffryn- the bastard- he opened a portal here," Anya spat.
"Who?" Buffy asked.
Spike started laughing. They all looked at him, he had been searching through Buffy's closet. He held up a very ugly, ruffled dress.
"Oooh. Fluffy. Wear this when you're slaying and you'll scare the vamps to death."
Dawn bit back a laugh.
"Shut up, Mr. Soon-to-be-big-pile-of-dust!" Buffy retorted.
Dawn glared at Buffy. "I don't think so…"
Buffy sighed, tired of this shenanigan. "Back to Willow."
"D'Hoffryn is one of the lower beings. He made me a demon eleven hundred and twenty years ago."
Buffy was concerned now. "But why would he attack Willow?"
Anya looked at Buffy, knowing that the truth was worse. "I don't believe he did."
^*^*^*^*^*
Willow looked around. There was black everywhere. Where was she anyway? She looked at the demon in front of her. Though it is dark, Willow seemed to glow.
D'Hoffryn spoke first. "You have much anger and pain. Your magic is strong, but your pain… it's like a scream that pierces dimensional walls." He paused. "We heard your call."
Willow was scared. There was a demon in front of her and Buffy wasn't around. She didn't even know where she was. What was she going to do?
"I'm sorry. I'll try for a quiet rage. Bye," She said nervously, turning to leave. But unfortunately for Willow, there was nowhere to go… there was only blackness.
"Our intention is not to squash your potential," he paused. "Quite the contrary."
Willow turned, incomprehension swirling in her eyes.
^*^*^*^*^*
In the Graveyard, the scoobies trailed after Anya.
"I'd been dumped, I was miserable. Doing a few vengeance spells, boils of the penis- nothing fancy."
Both Spike and Xander gulped. "Please skip ahead," they said.
"The lower beings got wind of me, they offered to elevate me," Anya said.
"Meaning?" Buffy asked.
"They made me a demon," Anya explained.
"Oh god, Willow…" Buffy uttered.
"So, can you summon the demon from this crypt place? Get him to stop doing what he's doing?" Dawn questioned.
Anya was about to reply but Xander spoke first. "Hey! Demon!"
They all turned to where Xander was pointing. A demon was advancing toward the group. Buffy stepped up to meet it.
"Let's finish this quickly!" Buffy said as she attacked the demon. They fight, but eventually the demon bolts.
However, the fight is far from over. In the distance, two more demons advance. Dawn spotted them and called out, "Let's go!"
The group followed Anya to the crypt, the demons on their heels. Xander yanked open the door and shut it after everyone was inside. Spike grabbed a tomb lid and placed it in front of the door to help keep it shut.
The second Anya was inside she kneeled on the border of a hastily drawn circle on the dirty floor.
She started to chant, "Blessed be the name of D'Hoffryn. Let this space be now a gateway to the world of Arashmaharr where demons are spawned."
^*^*^*^*^*
D'Hoffryn stood before Willow, cool and confident. Willow stood before him, shaking in her fear.
"The pain and suffering you brought upon those you love has been inspired. You are ready to join us, here in Arashmaharr."
Willow looked confused. "Pain? What pain?"
^*^*^*^*^*
Back in the Crypt, Xander, Spike, and Buffy struggled to keep the doors shut, but they were rapidly losing the battle. A demon's arm comes through the window and grabbed Dawn's neck. She screamed in pain.
Spike turned. "Dawn!"
Dawn managed to wrench herself free and joins the trio at the door.
"We're not doing well here!" Xander called.
Anya was still chanting, "We come in supplication, we bend as the reed in the flow of…" Anya paused. Oh no- she forgot the next part. "No wait, we come in the flow of the…" she gritted her teeth and started again. "Blessed be the name of D'Hoffryn…"
Spike looked at Dawn, "They're strong and I can't fight. If they get in, I don't know if I can protect you."
Dawn stiffened, "You think you have to protect me?"
Spike rolled his eyes, "Oh, not with the girl power bit-."
The door smashed open, sending the group flying. Three demons manage to get in before Spike held the door shut again. While Buffy started to fight with one, Xander and Dawn fought against the two others. The demon got past Xander and toward Anya. The two attempted to fight against the demon.
^*^*^*^*^*
Willow watched this, horrified, through a window D'Hoffryn had opened.
"Oh God. But I didn't mean to-!"
D'Hoffryn smiled, "But you did. This is the result of your power. You will make a fine vengeance demon."
Willow felt tears starting to rise in her eyes. How could she have done such a thing? She looked at the demon, shocked and horrified.
"No, please. You- you have to help them!" she begged.
With a wave of his hand, D'Hoffryn shut the window. He looked at Willow and said, "It is not my concern. You are my interest in the matter."
Willow started to cry as she looked at him. "Really, no offense intended, I mean, you've been super nice and everything… But I don't want to be a demon. I want to go back and help my friends."
His expression blackened and became intense. "That is your answer?"
Willow gulped. She wanted to say no just to avoid being hurt. But she had to do this for her friends. Gathering her strength, she spoke.
"It is."
Silence.
Then, D'Hoffryn shrugged and pulled out a talisman
"I'm sorry to hear that. Oh, well. Here's my talisman," he said reluctantly. His expression brightened, "You change your mind, you give us a chant."
With a flick of his wrist, Willow disappeared.
^*^*^*^*^*
Back in the Crypt, Xander was trying to fend off his demon with a candelabrum but it is not working out very well. Anya was on the ground, a dazed expression on her face. Buffy was struggled with her demon, it was big, strong, and fast.
The demon that had been banging on the door finally broke in, sending the tomb lid on top of Spike.
Dawn cried out, "Honey!"
With a brutal twist of her hands, the demon she had been fighting fell limp to the floor. She ran to Spike and pulled the lid up, hitting the incoming demon in the face.
Buffy still struggled with her demon.
"Little help here!" she called out.
Dawn knelled beside the vampire. "Spike, are you okay?"
She took Spike into her embrace, stroking his cheek.
"Nibblet…"
They kiss passionately, in a way that would make Wesley and Buttercup cringe in jealousy.
With a flash of lighting, Willow appeared. She looks around, shaken by what she saw.
Speaking quickly, Willow chanted. "Let the healing power begin. Let my will be safe again. As these words of peace are spoken, let this harmful spell be broken."
The entire crypt lights up before it fades again. The demons have disappeared. Xander and Anya are fine, only shaken from the fight. Buffy looked at the sheepish Willow.
Dawn and Spike, however, froze. The pulled away from each other and stared into the opposites eyes. Two things registered to them: a) Dawn was back to being thirteen and b) they still felt it. A look filled with understanding passed between them, as they knew what they had to do.
"EW! Oh bloody hell!" Spike cried out, wiping his mouth.
Dawn started to spit, "Spike lips, lips of Spike!"
Willow looked at everyone remorsefully, "Hi guys."
^*^*^*^*^*
Anya watched as Willow moved hot homemade cookies from a tray onto a plate.
"How long are you going to keep making these?" Anya asked.
"Until I don't feel so horribly guilty," Willow answered. "I figure about a million from now. Also, I have to detail Giles' car."
Willow took the cookies into the living room.
Xander looked at Giles, "Time?"
Giles looked happily at the clock on the wall. "Five past two- clear as day!"
Willow held out the plate of cookies to Xander and Giles. "Look, cookies! A very non-evil thing I did. Oatmeal!"
Giles shook his head, "Tricky girl! They're chocolate chip. I can see them. Still need glasses though. Guess you couldn't be more specific and given me twenty-twenty."
Anya, Xander, and Giles each take a cookie and munch on them. Willow took her cookies to where Dawn and Buffy were sitting. Spike was near by, sulking. He was back to being tied to a chair, only this time his hands were untied.
Willow spoke. "Eat a cookie, ease my pain?"
Buffy and Dawn both take one and take a bite out of it.
Buffy looked at her, "Better?"
Willow shrugged. "Well, baking lifts at least thirty percent of my guilt. But only seven percent of my inner turmoil… that'll take a while I guess."
Dawn smiled, forgiving, "It'll happen."
Spike frowned, "Don't I get a cookie?"
Buffy didn't even look at him. "No."
Spike looked at Willow. "I gotta have something. I still got thirteen-year-old taste in my mouth, ya know!"
Buffy looked at Spike, glaring. "You're a pig."
Dawn rolled her eyes. "Buffy, please- you've done worse. I mean, how much older was Angel again?"
Buffy smirked. "At least I wasn't the one shoving my tongue down the throat of the bleached-blonde wonder."
Dawn blushed and looked at Spike. A glance between them confirmed that they weren't the least bit sorry.
"That was the spell," Dawn said.
Buffy rolled her eyes and goes into the kitchen. Willow followed, pausing only to shove a cookie into Spike's mouth.
"Did I mention about the sorry part?" Willow offered.
Buffy looked at Willow. "We may be into a forgetting spell later. My baby sister and SPIKE were in love. And did I mention the fact that they were making out in front of me?"
Willow shrugged. "Could be worse…"
"I don't think so," Buffy disagreed. "I'm so over the whole bad boy thing and Dawn should be too. I think I'm getting it now. I'd be really happy to be in a nice relationship with a decent reliable- oh my GOD, Riley must think I'm insane!"
Willow turned, "What?"
Buffy practically hyperventilated. "Riley… he saw me and… What the hell am I going to say to him?"
^*^*^*^*^*
Riley and Buffy strolled through the campus.
"You actually believed me?" Buffy asked.
"Well… no. I mean- you weren't serious?" Riley asked.
"Oh god. Right. My sister is in love with an older man named Spike."
Riley shrugged. "Maybe. We haven't known each other that long."
Buffy attempted to smile. "No, no… it's just- I saw that fear in your eyes when you caught me looking at wedding dresses, and I had to give you a hard time."
Riley pulled the masculine thing. "What? I didn't have fear in my eyes!"
Buffy chuckles. "Yes, you did. You were looking at me like I was a cartoon ball and chain."
Riley joined her. "So, you decided to tell me your sister was in love?"
Buffy paused. Was he believing her? "Well, I wanted to test you. To see if you would be with me no matter what…"
Riley nodded. "So… you're insane."
Buffy nodded. "Uh huh."
Riley paused. "But you're still single."
She smiled at him and he smiled back.
"Yes."
Riley shook his head. "Okay then. Just another piece of the Buffy puzzle."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "You've got a lot to learn about women."
Riley runs his hands through her hair and pulled her close to him. She looked at him before closing her eyes, waiting for him to kiss her.
"You're gonna teach me," he said, before disengaging himself.
He turned and walked away. Buffy watched, overwhelmed with emotion.
^*^*^*^*^*
Spike and Dawn were alone. Or as alone as they could get. Giles was upstairs taking a shower and Dawn sat doing her homework.
"Dawn?" Spike called quietly.
Dawn looked up right away. He never called her Dawn.
"Yes, Spike?"
Spike took an unneeded breath. "What I said yesterday… about being disgusted-."
Dawn interrupted him, "Spike, I know."
She smiled.
He smiled back.
She stood and kissed him on the cheek.
"I'll remember, Spike," she said, looking into his eyes. "You remember too."
"You can count on it, luv," Spike whispered.
"Good. Because when I'm ready… I want to pick up where we left off," she smiled at him, a shadow of the dark goddess she was going to become.
Spike smirked. "Don't you forget it."
Disclaimer: I COULD have been Joss... but then again- I COULD have been anyone... or I could just be insane...
Part Three
Buffy, Xander, Anya, Spike, and Dawn rushed down the hallway to Buffy and Willow's dorm room.
"Why does he have to come?" Xander said, eyeing Spike.
Dawn sighed. "Xander, Spike is my boyfriend. Plus, he's handy on the fighting field."
"I think I agree with Xander here," Spike said, to Dawn's disbelief. "Seems like a lot of work for people who aren't us."
"Spike, these are my friends. And it's my responsibility as a friend to help them."
"For now," Spike said under his breath.
"We're here!" Buffy said.
Buffy entered the room first and turned on the light. Immediately, she crouched and examined a black circle on the floor. "This was burned."
Anya, however, went stiff. She looked at the spot in disbelief, he couldn't have… not after he-! OH!
"D'Hoffryn- the bastard- he opened a portal here," Anya spat.
"Who?" Buffy asked.
Spike started laughing. They all looked at him, he had been searching through Buffy's closet. He held up a very ugly, ruffled dress.
"Oooh. Fluffy. Wear this when you're slaying and you'll scare the vamps to death."
Dawn bit back a laugh.
"Shut up, Mr. Soon-to-be-big-pile-of-dust!" Buffy retorted.
Dawn glared at Buffy. "I don't think so…"
Buffy sighed, tired of this shenanigan. "Back to Willow."
"D'Hoffryn is one of the lower beings. He made me a demon eleven hundred and twenty years ago."
Buffy was concerned now. "But why would he attack Willow?"
Anya looked at Buffy, knowing that the truth was worse. "I don't believe he did."
^*^*^*^*^*
Willow looked around. There was black everywhere. Where was she anyway? She looked at the demon in front of her. Though it is dark, Willow seemed to glow.
D'Hoffryn spoke first. "You have much anger and pain. Your magic is strong, but your pain… it's like a scream that pierces dimensional walls." He paused. "We heard your call."
Willow was scared. There was a demon in front of her and Buffy wasn't around. She didn't even know where she was. What was she going to do?
"I'm sorry. I'll try for a quiet rage. Bye," She said nervously, turning to leave. But unfortunately for Willow, there was nowhere to go… there was only blackness.
"Our intention is not to squash your potential," he paused. "Quite the contrary."
Willow turned, incomprehension swirling in her eyes.
^*^*^*^*^*
In the Graveyard, the scoobies trailed after Anya.
"I'd been dumped, I was miserable. Doing a few vengeance spells, boils of the penis- nothing fancy."
Both Spike and Xander gulped. "Please skip ahead," they said.
"The lower beings got wind of me, they offered to elevate me," Anya said.
"Meaning?" Buffy asked.
"They made me a demon," Anya explained.
"Oh god, Willow…" Buffy uttered.
"So, can you summon the demon from this crypt place? Get him to stop doing what he's doing?" Dawn questioned.
Anya was about to reply but Xander spoke first. "Hey! Demon!"
They all turned to where Xander was pointing. A demon was advancing toward the group. Buffy stepped up to meet it.
"Let's finish this quickly!" Buffy said as she attacked the demon. They fight, but eventually the demon bolts.
However, the fight is far from over. In the distance, two more demons advance. Dawn spotted them and called out, "Let's go!"
The group followed Anya to the crypt, the demons on their heels. Xander yanked open the door and shut it after everyone was inside. Spike grabbed a tomb lid and placed it in front of the door to help keep it shut.
The second Anya was inside she kneeled on the border of a hastily drawn circle on the dirty floor.
She started to chant, "Blessed be the name of D'Hoffryn. Let this space be now a gateway to the world of Arashmaharr where demons are spawned."
^*^*^*^*^*
D'Hoffryn stood before Willow, cool and confident. Willow stood before him, shaking in her fear.
"The pain and suffering you brought upon those you love has been inspired. You are ready to join us, here in Arashmaharr."
Willow looked confused. "Pain? What pain?"
^*^*^*^*^*
Back in the Crypt, Xander, Spike, and Buffy struggled to keep the doors shut, but they were rapidly losing the battle. A demon's arm comes through the window and grabbed Dawn's neck. She screamed in pain.
Spike turned. "Dawn!"
Dawn managed to wrench herself free and joins the trio at the door.
"We're not doing well here!" Xander called.
Anya was still chanting, "We come in supplication, we bend as the reed in the flow of…" Anya paused. Oh no- she forgot the next part. "No wait, we come in the flow of the…" she gritted her teeth and started again. "Blessed be the name of D'Hoffryn…"
Spike looked at Dawn, "They're strong and I can't fight. If they get in, I don't know if I can protect you."
Dawn stiffened, "You think you have to protect me?"
Spike rolled his eyes, "Oh, not with the girl power bit-."
The door smashed open, sending the group flying. Three demons manage to get in before Spike held the door shut again. While Buffy started to fight with one, Xander and Dawn fought against the two others. The demon got past Xander and toward Anya. The two attempted to fight against the demon.
^*^*^*^*^*
Willow watched this, horrified, through a window D'Hoffryn had opened.
"Oh God. But I didn't mean to-!"
D'Hoffryn smiled, "But you did. This is the result of your power. You will make a fine vengeance demon."
Willow felt tears starting to rise in her eyes. How could she have done such a thing? She looked at the demon, shocked and horrified.
"No, please. You- you have to help them!" she begged.
With a wave of his hand, D'Hoffryn shut the window. He looked at Willow and said, "It is not my concern. You are my interest in the matter."
Willow started to cry as she looked at him. "Really, no offense intended, I mean, you've been super nice and everything… But I don't want to be a demon. I want to go back and help my friends."
His expression blackened and became intense. "That is your answer?"
Willow gulped. She wanted to say no just to avoid being hurt. But she had to do this for her friends. Gathering her strength, she spoke.
"It is."
Silence.
Then, D'Hoffryn shrugged and pulled out a talisman
"I'm sorry to hear that. Oh, well. Here's my talisman," he said reluctantly. His expression brightened, "You change your mind, you give us a chant."
With a flick of his wrist, Willow disappeared.
^*^*^*^*^*
Back in the Crypt, Xander was trying to fend off his demon with a candelabrum but it is not working out very well. Anya was on the ground, a dazed expression on her face. Buffy was struggled with her demon, it was big, strong, and fast.
The demon that had been banging on the door finally broke in, sending the tomb lid on top of Spike.
Dawn cried out, "Honey!"
With a brutal twist of her hands, the demon she had been fighting fell limp to the floor. She ran to Spike and pulled the lid up, hitting the incoming demon in the face.
Buffy still struggled with her demon.
"Little help here!" she called out.
Dawn knelled beside the vampire. "Spike, are you okay?"
She took Spike into her embrace, stroking his cheek.
"Nibblet…"
They kiss passionately, in a way that would make Wesley and Buttercup cringe in jealousy.
With a flash of lighting, Willow appeared. She looks around, shaken by what she saw.
Speaking quickly, Willow chanted. "Let the healing power begin. Let my will be safe again. As these words of peace are spoken, let this harmful spell be broken."
The entire crypt lights up before it fades again. The demons have disappeared. Xander and Anya are fine, only shaken from the fight. Buffy looked at the sheepish Willow.
Dawn and Spike, however, froze. The pulled away from each other and stared into the opposites eyes. Two things registered to them: a) Dawn was back to being thirteen and b) they still felt it. A look filled with understanding passed between them, as they knew what they had to do.
"EW! Oh bloody hell!" Spike cried out, wiping his mouth.
Dawn started to spit, "Spike lips, lips of Spike!"
Willow looked at everyone remorsefully, "Hi guys."
^*^*^*^*^*
Anya watched as Willow moved hot homemade cookies from a tray onto a plate.
"How long are you going to keep making these?" Anya asked.
"Until I don't feel so horribly guilty," Willow answered. "I figure about a million from now. Also, I have to detail Giles' car."
Willow took the cookies into the living room.
Xander looked at Giles, "Time?"
Giles looked happily at the clock on the wall. "Five past two- clear as day!"
Willow held out the plate of cookies to Xander and Giles. "Look, cookies! A very non-evil thing I did. Oatmeal!"
Giles shook his head, "Tricky girl! They're chocolate chip. I can see them. Still need glasses though. Guess you couldn't be more specific and given me twenty-twenty."
Anya, Xander, and Giles each take a cookie and munch on them. Willow took her cookies to where Dawn and Buffy were sitting. Spike was near by, sulking. He was back to being tied to a chair, only this time his hands were untied.
Willow spoke. "Eat a cookie, ease my pain?"
Buffy and Dawn both take one and take a bite out of it.
Buffy looked at her, "Better?"
Willow shrugged. "Well, baking lifts at least thirty percent of my guilt. But only seven percent of my inner turmoil… that'll take a while I guess."
Dawn smiled, forgiving, "It'll happen."
Spike frowned, "Don't I get a cookie?"
Buffy didn't even look at him. "No."
Spike looked at Willow. "I gotta have something. I still got thirteen-year-old taste in my mouth, ya know!"
Buffy looked at Spike, glaring. "You're a pig."
Dawn rolled her eyes. "Buffy, please- you've done worse. I mean, how much older was Angel again?"
Buffy smirked. "At least I wasn't the one shoving my tongue down the throat of the bleached-blonde wonder."
Dawn blushed and looked at Spike. A glance between them confirmed that they weren't the least bit sorry.
"That was the spell," Dawn said.
Buffy rolled her eyes and goes into the kitchen. Willow followed, pausing only to shove a cookie into Spike's mouth.
"Did I mention about the sorry part?" Willow offered.
Buffy looked at Willow. "We may be into a forgetting spell later. My baby sister and SPIKE were in love. And did I mention the fact that they were making out in front of me?"
Willow shrugged. "Could be worse…"
"I don't think so," Buffy disagreed. "I'm so over the whole bad boy thing and Dawn should be too. I think I'm getting it now. I'd be really happy to be in a nice relationship with a decent reliable- oh my GOD, Riley must think I'm insane!"
Willow turned, "What?"
Buffy practically hyperventilated. "Riley… he saw me and… What the hell am I going to say to him?"
^*^*^*^*^*
Riley and Buffy strolled through the campus.
"You actually believed me?" Buffy asked.
"Well… no. I mean- you weren't serious?" Riley asked.
"Oh god. Right. My sister is in love with an older man named Spike."
Riley shrugged. "Maybe. We haven't known each other that long."
Buffy attempted to smile. "No, no… it's just- I saw that fear in your eyes when you caught me looking at wedding dresses, and I had to give you a hard time."
Riley pulled the masculine thing. "What? I didn't have fear in my eyes!"
Buffy chuckles. "Yes, you did. You were looking at me like I was a cartoon ball and chain."
Riley joined her. "So, you decided to tell me your sister was in love?"
Buffy paused. Was he believing her? "Well, I wanted to test you. To see if you would be with me no matter what…"
Riley nodded. "So… you're insane."
Buffy nodded. "Uh huh."
Riley paused. "But you're still single."
She smiled at him and he smiled back.
"Yes."
Riley shook his head. "Okay then. Just another piece of the Buffy puzzle."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "You've got a lot to learn about women."
Riley runs his hands through her hair and pulled her close to him. She looked at him before closing her eyes, waiting for him to kiss her.
"You're gonna teach me," he said, before disengaging himself.
He turned and walked away. Buffy watched, overwhelmed with emotion.
^*^*^*^*^*
Spike and Dawn were alone. Or as alone as they could get. Giles was upstairs taking a shower and Dawn sat doing her homework.
"Dawn?" Spike called quietly.
Dawn looked up right away. He never called her Dawn.
"Yes, Spike?"
Spike took an unneeded breath. "What I said yesterday… about being disgusted-."
Dawn interrupted him, "Spike, I know."
She smiled.
He smiled back.
She stood and kissed him on the cheek.
"I'll remember, Spike," she said, looking into his eyes. "You remember too."
"You can count on it, luv," Spike whispered.
"Good. Because when I'm ready… I want to pick up where we left off," she smiled at him, a shadow of the dark goddess she was going to become.
Spike smirked. "Don't you forget it."
