Description: Buffy's not feeling well, Spike won't go away, and Dawn knows more that she should. The Scoobies lives are about to be changed forever.

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Buffy/Spike (did you think otherwise?)

As soon as the sun set over southern California the Scooby Gang was on the move. The sign in the Magic Box window now read Closed and every light was turned off. Weapons in hand and game faces on, Giles, Xander, Anya, Willow, Tara, Spike, Dawn, and Buffy took to the streets.

The warehouses were merely four blocks to the west of the magic shop. It wasn't long before the towering buildings rose before them.

"Alright," Buffy paused and addressed the group, "Everyone stays together. Get in and get out, don't be trying anything stupid. Ready?" Everyone nodded. "Let's do this."

Brother Gerard had been waiting for this moment his entire life. Soon his leader would walk to Earth and he would be at his right hand side. He watched as the lower brothers brought forth the candles and set them near the Alter. Finally the time had come. As Gerard watched his fellow leaders, Brother Thomas and Brother Angelo followed the younger members, each carrying a tiny bundle in his arms.

"The children," Brother Gerard whispered. He could sense the power that the two infants held despite their tender age. The creatures had yet to live a full day, but already their time had come. "Bring them to me."

Heeding his order, Brother Angelo and Brother Thomas brought the crying children forward and laid them into separate baskets. Both bowed before stepping on and off of the Alter as a sign of respect.

Gerard dipped his hand into a vat of oils and proceeded to draw similar markings on each of the child's foreheads. These were the signs of Zaranah, and would ensure that when the dark Lord arose he would know the sacrifice. Grabbing a fairly large, ancient looking volume, Gerard began to recite the sacred passages to Zaranah's summoning.

But before he could finish the first word, windows shattered and doors busted open. The Slayer and her band of friends were in the building.

"Slayer," Gerard hissed.

"And-you," Buffy's eyes scanned the room. There must have been thirty or more figures, each clothed in long, dark robes with hoods covering most of their faces. A small platform had been erected in the center of the warehouse, surrounded with candles and torches. In the middle of the platform, on either side of the creepy robed guy, were two baskets.

"I must admit, Slayer, I didn't think it would take this long for you to come," he taunted her. Gerard knew that this would anger the Slayer.

"What can I say?" Buffy asked offhandedly. "I needed to take a quick nap."

Before another word was spoken the fight broke out.

Giles, Xander, and Dawn were keeping busy with a group of cloaked occultists. They seemed to be holding their own as well as taking most of them down. Both men made an effort to keep one eye on Dawn and make sure she wasn't being slaughtered.

Spike and Anya were doing well fighting off their opponents, though it was mostly Spike doing the fighting. Anya stood a few feet back yelling helpful comments to the vampire and occasionally swinging a battle-ax at anyone who came near her.

Willow and Tara had decided that a protection spell on the twins would be the best use of their abilities. They stood just out of the fight, chanting something; the words were lost in the sound of the battle.

Buffy made a straight line for the babies, knocking out people left and right. She was at the Alter in seconds flat, crossbow in hand.

"I've been waiting for this," Brother Gerard smiled wickedly.

"You've been waiting for me to kick your ass?" Buffy asked. "Okay, have it your way." She leapt into the air and landed a swift kick to Gerard's chest, sending the man stumbling backwards. Landing in a defensive stance, Buffy attacked again landing punches to his face and stomach.

Gerard stumbled backwards, clutching his abdomen. "You are a formidable opponent, Slayer, but you are no match for Zaranah. For he will come to this plain, ridding it of every form a humanity."

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard this all before." Buffy whined. "Why don't you guys think up some new ploy? This is really getting old." She moved to attack again when Spike was suddenly at her side. Buffy risked a glance towards the vampire. He smiled in return.

"He is the other," Brother Gerard shouted, "He is the other."

"What the bloody hell are you yappin about?" Spike shot, glaring at the man. His monstrous features had faded, bringing his human mask to the forefront.

"The two of you," he pointed to Buffy and Spike, "complete the prophecy. Everything is in line." Abruptly, the ground began to shake, racked with tremors from an unknown source. Pillars topped with candles wobbled, spilling to the ground. Windows shattered, glass spraying everywhere.

Buffy reached for Spike who grasped her hand tightly, steadying themselves against the quaking ground. Looking around, Buffy noticed that everyone seemed to be all right. Willow and Tara were still working their spell; Anya had joined Xander; and Giles was holding Dawn, keeping her from falling.

"It is time!" Brother Gerard shouted, tossing his hands into the air. The other cloaked figures echoed his cry with great triumph. "Zaranah will rise!"

A great burst of fire erupted from the ground, splitting the cement and melting it. An otherworldly scream sounded from within the flame and a horrifying face came into view. Blue, scaly skin surrounded two, huge, colorless eyes, a long, pointed nose and a large mouth. Hoofed claws struck at something unseen and a bulky, spiked tail swiped at invisible opponents.

"Oh man," Buffy breathed, her gaze never leaving the flame; she was mesmerized.

"This should be fun," Spike hissed sarcastically. Instinctively both he and Buffy dropped back into battle stances, ready to face whatever this demon dished out.

"Buffy!" Giles bellowed from the sidelines.

"A little busy here Watcher," Spike chided.

Giles ignored Spike's comment, "Buffy, destroy the book! It holds his power!"

Without having time to fully digest the information, she moved. Spike leapt at Brother Gerard, knocking him to the ground and out of the way. Buffy dodged candles and small fires, finally getting close enough to lay her hands on the musty, old volume. Without a second thought she heaved the book into the wall of flame that housed the creature. A loud cry rose from the fire's depths, the sound of someone, or something, dying. The ground shook violently, dropping a large candle onto the wooden Alter. It ignited immediately.

"Spike, grab her!" Buffy ordered pointing to the basket closest to him. She rushed over to the other and gently pulled her son free of the blankets inside. Making sure that Spike and Audra were with them, Buffy and her entire family fled from the burning building.

"You have ruined everything!" Brother Gerard called out to them.

Buffy paused in the doorway. "Sorry," she smirked before turning and leaving for good.

Once outside Buffy and Spike were met with a plethora of questions and hugs.

"Are you guys okay? Are the babies okay?" Dawn asked hurriedly.

"We're fine," Spike responded.

"I think they're okay too," Buffy added nodding to the crying infant in her arms. Dawn quickly took William out of her arms and began bouncing and talking to him.

"Are you sure you're all right, Buffy?" Giles asked. He brushed a strand of hair out of her face. Without a word the Slayer threw her arms around him in a tight embrace.

"Thank you so much," she whispered.

"For what?"

"For being there," Buffy unlocked her arms and took a step back, "You've been like a father to me, and I have no idea what I would have done without you here. Thank you so much for never giving up, for always believing in me. It's what kept me alive all these years."

Giles blinked rapidly, several times to keep the tears from flowing. This girl, a person whom he was supposed to train and tutor had developed into such a strong, determined woman. She'd been like a daughter to him, and now he had something he'd always wanted: grandchildren.

"You're quite welcome, Elizabeth." He smiled warmly at her. "Now, shall we head home?"

"Amen to that!" Xander cheered.

"Home, sleep." Willow added.

"Yes," Buffy sighed, "home sounds very good right about now."