Title: Witch Switch 4-6
Author: Doc WitchSwitch@eternal.ws
Disclaimers: I don't
own Buffy or Angel or any of
the Scooby Gang nor do I own the Charmed Ones. I do own the Realm of the Nether,
and the plot of course.
Distribution: Want...Take...Have. Give credit where
credit it due.
Synopsis: The Charmed Ones come to Sunnydale after Pheobe has a vision. Wackiness ensues!!
Rating: you watch the shows, you can read this.
Spoilers: Anything S1-S3
Dedication: To my friend, Meredith. You Rock My Boat!
PS: Go easy on me, this is the first fic I ever wrote!!! I think its quite good for an amateur...well, @ the time I was an amateur...Now I'm QUEEN OF THE FIC WRITERS....*laughs nervously* Did I just say that out loud?
Angel was home within minutes of leaving Buffy's.
Like Willow had told him many times, he now realized that he really was stealth
guy. He knew it would be hard living with Buffy and Joyce for this little
while, but Buffy had insisted. With everything that had happened with him and
Buffy, he didn't know why he had let her coerce him into staying there. He
thought now of when he had helped Buffy fight " The Three" when she
was attacked on her way home from the Bronze. She had been holding her own
against the three members of the Fang Gang, but she had looked like she needed
an assist, so he had jumped in. He had gotten slashed in the ribs and they
had run to Buffy's house to get him bandaged up, with the three vamps in hot pursuit.
They had gotten there safely and she had patched him up. He had slept in
her room that night, even at his protest, because, as Buffy had said, " I
don't want to get you dead." That was before she knew what he was.
He had not slept any that night, but had laid next to her bed, listening to the
sound of her breath and her heart beating. the next night, she had brought
him diner. He told her that he couldn't see her anymore, but in the end
they had kissed. Her cross had burned him, and he had accidentally slipped
into his game face. She had hunted him, but he had finally told her his
saga of a life story. Everything had worked out in the end though.
It was hard to believe that it had been 3 years ago since that night. They
had been through hell and back since then. Literally! For him
anyways. He looked down and noticed that he was all packed. He
hadn't noticed that while he was thinking about that night, he had been packing
a bag. He had everything he needed: 3 changes of clothes, cross bow,
a bundle of stakes, just the essentials. Now came the hard part. He
kept his " plasma supply," as Buffy called it, hung in his refrigerator.
He really didn't want Buffy or Joyce to be subject to his unearthly habits.
He had a friend at the butcher's shop, who he figured most likely would keep it
in one of his many refrigerators. He could slip out at night and go get
it. What else did he have to do on his long nights. He kept out of
the sun and slept during the day. Only traveling the tunnels if it was an
emergency. At sunset, he got dressed and went patrolling. He
followed Buffy, always in the shadows. After she went home to bed, he had
really nothing left to do. He usually stayed out and patrolled for any
lingering vamps that had eluded the vigilant Slayer. Now that he was going
to be staying with Buffy and Joyce, he couldn't exactly come and go as he
pleased. He would probably end up getting mistaken for a burglar or some
other thing and get a stake through the heart. He would just have to
figure it out later. Having everything he needed, and just enough time to
get back to Buffy's before sunrise, he left the mansion.
" We have to get marshmallows and peanut butter," said Phoebe.
" We are trying to think healthy, not clog your arteries. I refuse to
cook anything that contains marshmallows and peanut butter," said Piper.
" Let's just agree on something and get out of here. Buffy is still
waiting up front."
The sisters finally got a basket, at least half full and went to check out.
Angel had given them $100. The four girls went back out to Piper's
Explorer and climbed in. Buffy felt like a stranger in the midst of the
sisters. She began to wonder, for a moment, if her life would be any
different if she had had siblings. She figured, in the end, that it would
just be one more person she had to worry about. She had so many these
days.
Buffy had left her window unlocked, as she always did when she was going to be
patrolling, which she had been earlier. Angel climbed in and set his bag
down without making a sound. He took a close look at the room and decided
that not much had changed since the last time he had been there. Mr.
Guordo was still sitting on the pillows at the head of Buffy's bed. He
pulled off his sweater, leaving him in his black jeans and undershirt. He
heard a door slam downstairs and figured that Buffy must be home. He hid
in the shadows, incase it wasn't.
" Buffy walked slowly up the stairs leading to her bedroom. She had
hoped Angel would have been back when she got home. She hated it when he
made her worry. As she came to her bedroom, she slowly opened the door.
The hairs on the back of her neck immediately stood up and she got a funny
feeling in her stomach. Even thought he wasn't visible in her dark room,
she knew he was there. " Hey Angel. Why are you up here?
I figured you'd wait for me downstairs."
" I didn't want to wake your mom. She doesn't know I am staying here
yet, and I didn't want her to get scared and go stake happy on me."
He chuckled a little at the picture he had in his mind of Joyce trying to stake
a vampire.
" Where are they?"
" Well, they stocked up on food, and I gave them directions to your place.
I gave them the do's and the don'ts on vampires, like don't invite anyone they
don't know in. They dropped me off here and went on their way. They
were really tired. By the way, you did remove the " plasma-y goodness" from your fridge, didn't you?" A slight giggle escaped
her throat as she pictured the three sisters opening Angel's refrigerator and
finding blood hanging from the top. They would be more disgusted than
terrified.
" Uh, yeah. Where do you come up with these names? I think you
have been hanging out with Xander too long. Did you call Giles? We
need as much information on this thing as possible. I have never even
heard of it before."
" Yeah, I alerted his watcher-ness. He got really excited. He
said he has never really heard very much on this thing. He said he will
start researching tomorrow. I didn't call Will though because I think the
only people in Sunnydale who are awake right now are me, you, the three sisters,
and those people at the grocery store. This town really shuts down.
So, sleeping arrangements. Hang on just a second."
Buffy left the room and went down the hall to her mother's room.
" Mom," Buffy shook her gently. " Mom, wake up."
" What, what's the matter, is something trying to take over the
world?"
" Mom, I just needed to tell you something. Angel is going to be
staying with us for a while. Just while Phoebe and her sisters are in
town. They are going to be staying at his place and I insisted that he
stay with us. I am going to set him up on the couch. I jus wanted
you to know so that you didn't wake up and find him snoozing on the couch and
like start screaming or something. Ok? Go back to be. I will
see you in the morning. Oh, and make sure you don't open the curtains in
the living room. Good night."
" Buffy! What are you talking about. Are you sure about this.
You and him have had problems before. I don't want anything to happen to
you."
" Mom, he will be a perfect gentlemen. Don't worry. He just
needs a place to stay. I am going to go get ready for be now. Don't
worry Mom, Angel is his old self again. He would never hurt me or anyone I
love. Just go back to bed. I just wanted you to know. I love
you."
Buffy left the room and closed the door. She walked back down the hallway
towards her room. Angel had overheard her mother's protest and had a kind
of hurt look on his face when she returned.
" Buffy, maybe this isn't such a good idea. Are you sure you wan me
to stay here?"
" Angel! Just shut up. I know what I am doing. Gosh, you
and my mom. Soooo overprotective. Come on. You can leave your
bag over by my closet."
They walked downstairs, but made a quick stop by the linen closet to grab some
sheets and a blanket for the couch. Angel thought it was sweet the way
that Buffy wanted to take care of him.
" Do you mind if I just stay up and read. Sleeping really isn't my
thing at night. It is almost sun up, and I will got to sleep then. I
promise to be quiet. You need your rest."
" I am probably going to miss school. Staying up all night isn't
really a good thing when you have to go to school and actually try to learn.
It is fine if you stay up. I will probably sleep for about the rest of my
life. I am going to go patrolling at sun down, and you had better come
with me. Don't leave until I wake up and give the ok. OK!"
She knew that he would probably come and watch her sleep. She like the
thought of it. They say down on the couch together and she just sat there
in his arms. The sat in each others arms for an hour, and then watched,
out of the light, as the sun rose. Buffy didn't see it though because she
had fallen asleep in Angel's arms. He kissed her lightly on the lips and
picked her up in his arms. He walked quietly up the stairs, not wanting to
disturb Joyce, or wake his sleeping Buffy who laid in his arms. She
snuggled close to his chest as he walked. When he came to her bed, he
pulled back the covers and laid her down softly. He sat up against her
desk and watched her sleep. Her peacefulness finally put him to sleep.
As Joyce went downstairs, she was quiet so that she wouldn't wake Angel.
When he wasn't on the couch, her heart skipped a beat. She ran up the
stairs and burst into Buffy's room. There was Buffy, lying peacefully in
her bed, asleep, and Angel sitting up against the desk, asleep also. She
woke Angel with a nudge.
" Angel, are you sure you don't want to go downstairs. You don't look
very comfortable."
" Oh, hi Joyce. Are you ok, you look kinda wigged. I fell
asleep watching Buffy. We were downstairs sitting on the couch and when
sunrise came , she fell asleep. I carried her up here and she has been
sleeping ever since. I guess I was sleepy too. I have a crick in my
neck now though. I think I will go downstairs."
He leaned over and lightly brushed Buffy's forehead with his lips.
" Would you like some coffee Angel? I was just about to make some.
I know you aren't exactly the food kinda guy, but Buffy has told me that you can
eat food. I make a pretty good cup of coffee."
" That sounds good. I haven't had coffee in over 100 years. It
will be good to taste it again. Come on, we can talk."
Angel and Joyce walked downstairs. He wanted Buffy to get as much sleep as
she could. There was a fight coming, he could feel it.
" So, Angel, why exactly are those girls in town? What evil is going
to be taking place soon. And don't lie to me and tell me nothing, because
three witches don't just show up in Sunnydale for vacation. Plus, I can
see it in Buffy's eyes."
" Joyce, why would you think I would lie to you. I know you want to
help Buffy as much as me, Giles, or any of Buffy's friends do. I mean you are
her mother. There is this thing called the Realm of the Nether that is
supposedly going to open up in Sunnydale. Giles is researching it as we speak.
We don't really know what it is yet."
Joyce handed Angel a cup of coffee and he took a sip.
"This is good. You don't lie when you say you make good coffee."
"Thanks."
Angel and Joyce went on talking about the new evil, what was going on in both of
their lives, and about Buffy. They found out that when it came to Buffy they
both had the same intention. To protect and love her. As Joyce was telling Angel
about some of Buffy's childhood antics, they heard a creak on the stairs.
"Hey sleepyhead. Did you sleep well? Want some coffee?"
"Morning Buff. You fell asleep on the couch. When I took you up to your
room I fell asleep too. Your mom came and woke me up. We were just having coffee
together."
Angel looked at his watch. It was 9 o'clock.
"Joyce we have been talking for 3 hours." Angel got up and walked
towards the living room.
"Sorry if we woke you." He kissed Buffy on the head
"What do you want for breakfast? I will fix it for you before I go upstairs
and get ready for work."
"I think I want a glass of juice and some toast. Do we have OJ? I had to
drink apple juice the other morning, and I didn't like it very much."
"Picky, picky, aren't we Buffy?" Angel walked back into the room and
gave her a sweet smile.
"Mom loves me. You like to please me, don't you Mom."
"Let's just put it this way. When your daughter is the Slayer, you don't
want to test her temper, Slayer strength and all."
Joyce and Angel both laughed. Buffy just stood idly in the doorway.
"Oh, so I guess my life is just a laugh riot, huh."
"The story about the beauty contest was pretty funny." Angel smirked
at her.
"MOM!!!"
"What? I just thought since you two are so close he should know a little
more about your childhood quirkiness."
"Whatever! Feed me!"
Angel and Buffy sat at the breakfast bar, while Joyce went about making some
toast. Angel just looked at Buffy. He couldn't believe how beautiful she was,
even when she thought she looked her worse, she was like sunshine in his dark
world. Suddenly, Angel leaned over and kissed her.
"What was that for? Not that I didn't like it."
"Just for being you. So, when are we going to hook up with the three
sisters? I am sure they are still sleeping, but later on, when we are done
sleeping, we should give them a call to come over. We can go to the Library
tonight to see what Giles has found out. We probably need to patrol for a couple
of hours. We really need to know when the big show is going to happen though. To
prepare and get everything we need."
"I agree. I think I am going to go patrolling tonight for a while. You are
going to go and get the newbies. Meet me back at the Library after patrol. I am
going to sleep for a while longer, but then I am heading to the Library. You
need to rest up for tonight. You haven't gotten very much sleep and I want you
rested. I need all the help I can get, " Joyce slipped a plate in front of
Buffy. "Thanks Mom. I am heading to the couch. Wanna come?"
Angel got up and followed her toward the couch. They sat together while Buffy
ate her breakfast. When she was done, she looked up and noticed that Angel had
drifted off. She covered him with a blanket. Just as she was walking off, she
felt something grab her wrist. It was Angel. He had been playing possum for the
last few minutes. He pulled her back down on the couch.
"Going so soon? You know, you are prettier when you first wake up. So
radiant and refreshed. Do you know how much I love you?"
"Well, first of all, yeah right I look good right now. Secondly, I think I
do, but I'm not sure. Why don't you show me." She smiled coyly. He grabbed
her into a great bear hug and kissed her passionately. He pulled away so she
could get some air. He liked it when he took her breath away so to speak.
"So, what are the plans for today again?"
"Ok, old man, I am only going to explain one more time so turn up your
hearing aide..." Angel cut her off.
"Hey!"
"Joking, joking! Geez lighten up Mr. Serious. Ok! Me patrol...you and the
newbies...we meet at the Library. Got it? But first we sleep."
"Got it!" Angel yawned.
Angel and Buffy fell asleep in each others arms. When Joyce came downstairs she
covered them up with a blanket. She smiled at the happy look on her daughter's
face.
"Hey G-man! Heard anything from Buffy and the twisted
sisters?" Giles would never get use to the way Xander talked.
"Yes, actually. They three sisters have taken residence at Angel's place.
Buffy, Angel, and the three sisters will be meeting us after sunset. They are
resting today."
"The the sisters are staying with Angel? Buff must be bummed."
"No actually. He is staying with Buffy and Joyce. Buffy insisted he stay
with them after he turned his apartment over to the three."
"What?!?! Angel is staying, SLEEPING, at Buffy's? How can you allow this?
You are her Watcher for God's sake! Do something!"
Giles smirked at him and went back to shelving books.
"Giles!!!"
"Xander, calm down. Buffy and Angel know what they are doing. They know
their limits. They are both very responsible. Calm down. Good Lord. Well, I was
just about to call you all into the Library to begin researching. We have to
figure out what the Realm of the Nether is. I have already contacted the other
members of the Watcher's Council. They should be faxing us any time now. Have
you seen Willow and the others?"
"Cor has cheerleading practice, Oz has band practice, and if I know my
Willow, she's in the lounge studying."
"Well, if you and Willow could begin researching it would be a great deal
of help to Buffy and the others. Maybe Willow can find something on that
contraption."
Giles pointed to the computer. He had always hated them. He felt that all the
information he needed was in his books. When he had been with Jenny...no, he
couldn't think of her now. He had to find out what this thing was, for Buffy.
"Ok! I am going to grab Will and we'll be back in a few. Although, I don't
know why I am hurrying. I don't really WANT to be research guy today." He
continued grumbling as he left the Library.
"I will never understand any of them."
Giles quit shelving books when his eyes landed on a book called The Realm. He
knew just about every book he had, and he didn't ever remember seeing this one.
He began to thumb through it and found that it explained the Realm of the
Nether.
"I can't believe that I found this. I wonder where it came from?" Giles's
absent minded talk to himself was interrupted by Xander and Willow's entrance.
"Talking to yourself again Giles?"
"Xander. Found what Giles?" Willow was always reasonable and quiet.
That's why, after Buffy, she was his favorite among the group.
"I was finishing up shelving these book, and... and I found this book. It's
called, The Realm and it explains the Realm of the Nether to a great extent. And
I have to say from what I have glanced over in the last few minutes, we better
be quite happy that Pru and her sisters came to Sunnydale. Willow, I would much
appreciate it if you could try to get some information out of that contraption
of yours. Xander, it is almost sunset, so why don't you head over to Buffy's. We
need her and Angel for research. Bring along the sisters also. I am going to
continue reading and going over the information the Watcher's Council has sent
me." Giles turned and walked back into his office, still thumbing through
the book making little, "hmms" and "uh huhs" as he went.
"Sometimes he is just weird. Well, I better get going so I can round up
Buff and Dead Boy. You know, I don't see why he has to be SO INVOLVED with
EVERYTHING we do. See ya Will!"
"Bye Xand."
She was so involved in the information she had found that she only caught the
last half of what he said. Something about Buffy and a dead boy? She pushed it
out of her mind.
"Oh my gosh! Giles! Come here, NOW! I have some bad news."
Xander arrived at Buffy's about 45 minutes before sunset. He found the
key that Joyce left under the mat and quietly let himself in. He took a look
around and noticed Buffy sleeping peacefully on the couch. He walked into the
kitchen to get something to eat. He was starting to wonder where Angel was.
"Hey Xander."
"AHHHHH!" Xander turned around prepared to hit whoever it was with the
loaf of bread.
"Don't Do That! Gosh, you scared me half to death. You know sneaking up on
people in going to get you staked."
"Yeah, I am really scared of the bread. What are you doing here and how did
you get in?"
"Giles found some book that was 'mysteriously' placed in the Library about
the Realm. He sent me over to get you guys so we could research. He told me to
pick up the twisted sisters on the way back too. As for me getting in, there's a
key under the doormat." Xander whispered about the key as if every demon
in Sunnydale was looking for a way to get into the Slayer's house.
"Buffy and I have been asleep in about 9:00. I guess I should..." he
was interrupted by Buffy's scream.
"...wake her up," he finished shooting out of his chair at the table
and running into the living room, Xander a foot behind him.
"Hey Buffy...Buffy...Buffy, wake-up, its ok, wake up." Angel was
shaking her shoulders slightly.
Finally she quit thrashing and kicking and slumped into Angel's arms. She was
shaking uncontrollably and a few tears began to run down her cheek.
"Buffy, what's the matter? When I came in, you were sleeping with a smile
on your face. Let me guess. Prophetic dream, again?"
She looked up, eyes red from crying and gave a pathetic smile. Then she looked
to Angel.
"We have to get Phoebe and the others and go see Giles...NOW!"
"Buffy, what's that matter? I thought someone was attacking you, you were
screaming so loud. What was your dream about?"
Angel was looking at her with a look on concern she had seen so many times
before.
"To tell you the truth, someone was attacking me, just in the dream way.
Xander, hurry, go get me a pad and pencil. There's one on the desk, in the
kitchen."
Both men gave her a strange look.
"Go!"
"Geez! Ok, Going!"
Xander ran to the kitchen and came back with the requested items. Buffy turned
away from them and didn't speak for the next 30 minutes. When she was done, she
turned and handed her drawing to Angel.
"Do you recognize this? It's the.....the thing that was 'attacking' me.
Though not really, but, ok never mind, I am confusing myself. So do you know
what it is?"
"Well, It looks kinda familiar, but I don't know the name or anything. I
think its a Giles job. Come on, go get dressed. He needs us at the Library
anyways.
"Ok, Back in 15. Be nice." She shot Xander a look
"Hey, its Dead Boy. Aren't I always?" He gave them both an innocent
smile.
"Sure, Whatever."
Buffy ran out of the room and up the stairs.
"I am gonna go change. There's still some coffee in the kitchen if you want
some." Angel turned to go upstairs.
"Oh, and grab some stake. There are some in the utility drawer in the
kitchen."
"Yes, Master!"
Xander started toward the kitchen to grab the stakes. He was rummaging through
the utility drawer when the phone rang.
"Hello? Summer's house."
"Xander? Where's Buffy? We need her here right away. Willow found
something about the Realm. Get her and the sisters over here immediately. We are
in quite a bit of trouble. Good-bye."
"Giles..." but he had already hung up. Xander grabbed the four stakes
he found and headed upstairs. Buffy was in the bathroom pulling her hair into a
ponytail.
"Buffy! Giles just called an rambled on about something that Will found on
the net about the Realm. He sounded urgent and said that you and the sisters
needed to get to the Library pronto!"
"Let's hit it. Where's Angel?"
"He was going to change, but I don't know..."
"I'm here. What's up? Has the big danger begun?"
"Giles called and said I needed to get over there with Phoebe and them. We
better go now. Let me grab my patrol bag. Xander, go downstairs and get the
extra..."
"Way ahead of ya little lady. Angel told me to go look for them. You sure
do have a lot of weapons hidden around here."
"Ok, let's go...Wait, we need to call Phoebe...Back in a sec."
She ran out of the room and came back 3 minutes later.
"Ok, we are gonna meet up at the Library. Now we can go."
They headed out of the house and toward the Library.
