A/N Thanks for the reviews as always, I finally got to see my story listed
on Sinister Attraction, thanks so much for that, Rachel9! And I really want
to say thanks to everyone who has supported me during the writing of this
story so far.
Chapter 22
Willow had the floor as well as every one's attention. Andrew had made himself up a bowl of microwave popcorn, which he was noisily munching from. Dawn seated herself next to him and grabbed a handful from the bowl; Andrew moved it out of her reach.
"Get your own," he complained.
"Fine, you're a pig Andrew," said Dawn disgustedly.
Willow sighed, trying to ignore them.
"As I was saying earlier, I have been in contact with the coven, what is needed, is the opening of a portal on some kind of hallowed ground, obviously there are not many churches or graveyards around here since Sunnydale took a one way ticket, so I need input, any suggestions, guys?" asked Willow.
"Why does it always have to be a portal? They never go well," said Xander.
She searched the faces of the group; most of them seemed to be drawing a blank. Buffy looked up remembering something a hopeful look on her face as she turned toward Giles.
"What about that place in the desert, not far from here Giles, the one where we contacted the first slayer, isn't that some kind of hallowed ground?" asked Buffy.
Giles thought about it for a minute.
"Well it's definitely considered sacred, that's true," answered Giles.
"Well we have to give it a try, Spike may only have a few hours left to say the least, and I am sure it won't be long before Wolfram and Hart come a knocking for their trinket," said Buffy.
"Buffy's right, I know a little of what these lawyer guys are capable of, and I don't think we should be hanging around here," said Faith.
"Are we going to be involved in the opening of this portal?" asked Robin.
Willow gave him a direct look; she knew what he was thinking of, the time when Willow had sent Buffy to another dimension to talk to the guys who had empowered the first slayer.
"I won't lie, I may need to draw on the energies of the strong ones among you for it to work," she admitted.
"Where do I sign up? I have more than enough to go round," said Faith.
"Count me in," said Wood
Faith smiled at him, Buffy looked at both of them, tears shimmered in her eyes. Most of this group really didn't have to help Spike if they didn't want to; they were finally treating him as if he was one of them. Something she hadn't always done herself she admitted guiltily. The next few hours would either restore Spike to her on a permanent basis or, she didn't want to think about the other alternative. She thought she'd already lost him once; her heart really couldn't take a second time.
"I think together you will both be enough, Faith's energy will more than make up for it," said Willow.
Spike had fallen asleep as if he didn't have a care in the world; Buffy was still perched atop his lap.
"So are we going to move anytime soon or just wait for the bad guys to show?" asked Andrew sarcastically.
Giles got up, and sat in the drivers seat.
"Makes sense for me to drive as I am the only one who knows the way," said Giles.
"Robin and I will be right behind ya," said Faith
The couple exited the RV to get in their own vehicle.
The RV started up, the jolt of the vehicle had Spike waking with a start.
"What, how, where am I?" he asked, disoriented for a moment.
"We're on the move, we're going to the place where I communicated with the first slayer," said Buffy.
"Met her in slayer heaven, didn't like her very much at all," said Spike.
"You met her?" asked Buffy in surprise.
"Yeah wild chick, a bit fashion challenged unless you like wearing head to toe bandages," said Spike.
"That was her," smiled Buffy.
She was glad of the lighthearted chitchat; it took their minds off the task ahead, even if only for a little while.
"Shall we sing a song?" suggested Andrew.
"Ughhh," Dawn groaned and rolled her eyes.
"Give him a break Dawn, he's just trying to pass time like the rest of us," said Spike.
"Since when did you become Andrew's champion," Dawn snapped at Spike, embarrassed at being publicly scolded.
"He is a champion, so give Spike the respect he deserves," said Buffy angry at her sister's bratty behaviour.
Dawn flushed guiltily.
"Sorry Spike, Andrew," she said quietly.
"No offence taken little one," grinned Andrew good-naturedly.
"How about I make amends and make everyone an anchovy and black olives pizza, we have some bases right, Andrew?" asked Dawn enthusiastically.
"No, I used them all up," lied Andrew.
"Thank you," mouthed Buffy to Andrew, behind her sister's back.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Nearly there now," said Giles.
Almost everyone had fallen asleep, exhausted by the days events, just Willow and Xander remained awake, and of course Giles.
"I think we'd better wait until tomorrow to perform the ritual, everyone is so whacked out," said Willow.
"Yeah, awww look at those two," said Xander.
Willows eyes instinctively flew to Spike and Buffy.
"No, not those two, those two," said Xander
He was pointing at Dawn and Andrew, they had been sitting together, playing snap with Andrew's trading cards, at some point they had nodded off, Dawn was resting her head against Andrew's shoulder and he had put an arm around her in his sleep.
"Wait for the fireworks when they both wake up," said Willow.
"Which hopefully won't be for a few more hours," said Xander.
"We're here," Giles announced a few minutes later.
The school bus pulled up behind them. Faith got out and knocked on the van, the noise woke Buffy and Spike. Willow opened the door and let her in.
"So this is the sacred slayer place, a little dusty, I was hoping for more, at least a bar or something," said Faith.
Giles raised his eyebrows in despair.
"Slayers are supposed to avoid alcohol, it ruins their performance," said Giles
"Don't get any performance complaints from my guy," grinned Faith.
"Buffy won't get any from me," leered Spike.
"I was talking about battle performance," said Giles frustrated.
"We know what you meant old guy, just kidding with ya, so what the plan for this evening then?" said Faith.
"We get some rest, big day for all of us tomorrow," Willow.
"What a cute couple they make," said Faith.
"Thanks love," said Spike.
"Not you blondie, those two, I thought they were sweet on each other," said Faith looking over at Andrew and Dawn.
"Anyone up for stretching their legs before we turn in for the night?" asked Xander.
"Great idea," said Willow.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Most of them got out of the van, except for Andrew and Dawn. The van door slid shut; they were alone at last. Dawn lifted her head from Andrew's shoulder like a scolded cat.
"I thought they'd never go, no way was I letting them know I'd been awake for the last ten minutes, so they could tease me," said Dawn.
"Well I had to listen the awww, aren't they cute crap too," said Andrew.
Dawn looked at Andrew, considering him for a moment.
"Have you ever even kissed a girl Andrew?" she asked.
"Loads of times," he lied.
"Prove it," said Dawn.
"How am I supposed to do that?" asked Andrew
"Duh! Not very bright are you science boy, and you thought you were brainy enough to take over Sunnydale?" groaned Dawn.
"Are you offering?" asked Andrew uncertainly.
"This is a one time never speak of it again offer on the pain of violent death," said Dawn.
Andrew smiled, he was finally gonna get to kiss a girl, even if it was more a favour thing, but he would take what ever he could get. He closed his eyes waiting for it to happen, a few moments went by and nothing, he opened his eyes to see Dawn drumming her fingers on her arm.
" Thought you'd fallen asleep again there for a minute, I am so not kissing you, you have to kiss me," said Dawn.
Andrew leaned in to kiss her, Dawn let out a little giggle. Andrew frowned,
"If you don't wanna do this?" said Andrew
"Hurry up and get it over with before the others get back, if I get caught in another compromising situation with you again, I will scream," said Dawn
Andrew kissed her, nervously at first, then he deepened the kiss, Dawn was surprised, she thought that by the looks of him, he would kiss like a little girl, but his lips were surprisingly strong, Dawn pulled back quickly as she heard the RV doors slide open,
"Say a word and you die," warned Dawn.
"My lips are sealed," said Andrew, with a slightly dreamy expression on his face.
"And don't expect seconds, ever," she hissed at him.
"Hi guys, have a nice nap?" asked Willow innocently.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"See you guys in the morning, I am about ready for bed," Faith, kissing Robin.
The newly weds went inside the bus and closed the curtains.
"Sleeps not on their minds I'd wager," said Spike.
Buffy giggled.
"What's so funny?" asked Spike.
"Oh it's just when you used that word 'wager' it reminded me of the time Willow did the mind wipe on us and you were Randy Giles, all British and kinda proper," said Buffy.
"And you acted like you had a stake up your ass JOAN," he emphasised.
"It was wrong of Willow to do that spell, but for a while everything was so much more simpler, no bad memories," sighed Buffy.
"And I got to play at being all noble and good for a little at the same time," he grinned.
"Yeah, but you could be noble and good back then, I just refused to see it, you had the capacity to be good without the soul, I was just too messed up at the time to notice," she said sadly.
"Let's not think about the past, besides not all the old times were bad ones," Spike replied.
She went into his arms at that moment and wrapped her own tightly about his waist, clinging to him as if she would never let him go and she never would. Buffy had no idea what would be asked of her tomorrow when they entered the portal, but she knew in her heart no matter what happened, she would not be parted from him again, not ever, even if it meant dying by his side. He would not send her away again like last time.
TBC
Chapter 22
Willow had the floor as well as every one's attention. Andrew had made himself up a bowl of microwave popcorn, which he was noisily munching from. Dawn seated herself next to him and grabbed a handful from the bowl; Andrew moved it out of her reach.
"Get your own," he complained.
"Fine, you're a pig Andrew," said Dawn disgustedly.
Willow sighed, trying to ignore them.
"As I was saying earlier, I have been in contact with the coven, what is needed, is the opening of a portal on some kind of hallowed ground, obviously there are not many churches or graveyards around here since Sunnydale took a one way ticket, so I need input, any suggestions, guys?" asked Willow.
"Why does it always have to be a portal? They never go well," said Xander.
She searched the faces of the group; most of them seemed to be drawing a blank. Buffy looked up remembering something a hopeful look on her face as she turned toward Giles.
"What about that place in the desert, not far from here Giles, the one where we contacted the first slayer, isn't that some kind of hallowed ground?" asked Buffy.
Giles thought about it for a minute.
"Well it's definitely considered sacred, that's true," answered Giles.
"Well we have to give it a try, Spike may only have a few hours left to say the least, and I am sure it won't be long before Wolfram and Hart come a knocking for their trinket," said Buffy.
"Buffy's right, I know a little of what these lawyer guys are capable of, and I don't think we should be hanging around here," said Faith.
"Are we going to be involved in the opening of this portal?" asked Robin.
Willow gave him a direct look; she knew what he was thinking of, the time when Willow had sent Buffy to another dimension to talk to the guys who had empowered the first slayer.
"I won't lie, I may need to draw on the energies of the strong ones among you for it to work," she admitted.
"Where do I sign up? I have more than enough to go round," said Faith.
"Count me in," said Wood
Faith smiled at him, Buffy looked at both of them, tears shimmered in her eyes. Most of this group really didn't have to help Spike if they didn't want to; they were finally treating him as if he was one of them. Something she hadn't always done herself she admitted guiltily. The next few hours would either restore Spike to her on a permanent basis or, she didn't want to think about the other alternative. She thought she'd already lost him once; her heart really couldn't take a second time.
"I think together you will both be enough, Faith's energy will more than make up for it," said Willow.
Spike had fallen asleep as if he didn't have a care in the world; Buffy was still perched atop his lap.
"So are we going to move anytime soon or just wait for the bad guys to show?" asked Andrew sarcastically.
Giles got up, and sat in the drivers seat.
"Makes sense for me to drive as I am the only one who knows the way," said Giles.
"Robin and I will be right behind ya," said Faith
The couple exited the RV to get in their own vehicle.
The RV started up, the jolt of the vehicle had Spike waking with a start.
"What, how, where am I?" he asked, disoriented for a moment.
"We're on the move, we're going to the place where I communicated with the first slayer," said Buffy.
"Met her in slayer heaven, didn't like her very much at all," said Spike.
"You met her?" asked Buffy in surprise.
"Yeah wild chick, a bit fashion challenged unless you like wearing head to toe bandages," said Spike.
"That was her," smiled Buffy.
She was glad of the lighthearted chitchat; it took their minds off the task ahead, even if only for a little while.
"Shall we sing a song?" suggested Andrew.
"Ughhh," Dawn groaned and rolled her eyes.
"Give him a break Dawn, he's just trying to pass time like the rest of us," said Spike.
"Since when did you become Andrew's champion," Dawn snapped at Spike, embarrassed at being publicly scolded.
"He is a champion, so give Spike the respect he deserves," said Buffy angry at her sister's bratty behaviour.
Dawn flushed guiltily.
"Sorry Spike, Andrew," she said quietly.
"No offence taken little one," grinned Andrew good-naturedly.
"How about I make amends and make everyone an anchovy and black olives pizza, we have some bases right, Andrew?" asked Dawn enthusiastically.
"No, I used them all up," lied Andrew.
"Thank you," mouthed Buffy to Andrew, behind her sister's back.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Nearly there now," said Giles.
Almost everyone had fallen asleep, exhausted by the days events, just Willow and Xander remained awake, and of course Giles.
"I think we'd better wait until tomorrow to perform the ritual, everyone is so whacked out," said Willow.
"Yeah, awww look at those two," said Xander.
Willows eyes instinctively flew to Spike and Buffy.
"No, not those two, those two," said Xander
He was pointing at Dawn and Andrew, they had been sitting together, playing snap with Andrew's trading cards, at some point they had nodded off, Dawn was resting her head against Andrew's shoulder and he had put an arm around her in his sleep.
"Wait for the fireworks when they both wake up," said Willow.
"Which hopefully won't be for a few more hours," said Xander.
"We're here," Giles announced a few minutes later.
The school bus pulled up behind them. Faith got out and knocked on the van, the noise woke Buffy and Spike. Willow opened the door and let her in.
"So this is the sacred slayer place, a little dusty, I was hoping for more, at least a bar or something," said Faith.
Giles raised his eyebrows in despair.
"Slayers are supposed to avoid alcohol, it ruins their performance," said Giles
"Don't get any performance complaints from my guy," grinned Faith.
"Buffy won't get any from me," leered Spike.
"I was talking about battle performance," said Giles frustrated.
"We know what you meant old guy, just kidding with ya, so what the plan for this evening then?" said Faith.
"We get some rest, big day for all of us tomorrow," Willow.
"What a cute couple they make," said Faith.
"Thanks love," said Spike.
"Not you blondie, those two, I thought they were sweet on each other," said Faith looking over at Andrew and Dawn.
"Anyone up for stretching their legs before we turn in for the night?" asked Xander.
"Great idea," said Willow.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Most of them got out of the van, except for Andrew and Dawn. The van door slid shut; they were alone at last. Dawn lifted her head from Andrew's shoulder like a scolded cat.
"I thought they'd never go, no way was I letting them know I'd been awake for the last ten minutes, so they could tease me," said Dawn.
"Well I had to listen the awww, aren't they cute crap too," said Andrew.
Dawn looked at Andrew, considering him for a moment.
"Have you ever even kissed a girl Andrew?" she asked.
"Loads of times," he lied.
"Prove it," said Dawn.
"How am I supposed to do that?" asked Andrew
"Duh! Not very bright are you science boy, and you thought you were brainy enough to take over Sunnydale?" groaned Dawn.
"Are you offering?" asked Andrew uncertainly.
"This is a one time never speak of it again offer on the pain of violent death," said Dawn.
Andrew smiled, he was finally gonna get to kiss a girl, even if it was more a favour thing, but he would take what ever he could get. He closed his eyes waiting for it to happen, a few moments went by and nothing, he opened his eyes to see Dawn drumming her fingers on her arm.
" Thought you'd fallen asleep again there for a minute, I am so not kissing you, you have to kiss me," said Dawn.
Andrew leaned in to kiss her, Dawn let out a little giggle. Andrew frowned,
"If you don't wanna do this?" said Andrew
"Hurry up and get it over with before the others get back, if I get caught in another compromising situation with you again, I will scream," said Dawn
Andrew kissed her, nervously at first, then he deepened the kiss, Dawn was surprised, she thought that by the looks of him, he would kiss like a little girl, but his lips were surprisingly strong, Dawn pulled back quickly as she heard the RV doors slide open,
"Say a word and you die," warned Dawn.
"My lips are sealed," said Andrew, with a slightly dreamy expression on his face.
"And don't expect seconds, ever," she hissed at him.
"Hi guys, have a nice nap?" asked Willow innocently.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"See you guys in the morning, I am about ready for bed," Faith, kissing Robin.
The newly weds went inside the bus and closed the curtains.
"Sleeps not on their minds I'd wager," said Spike.
Buffy giggled.
"What's so funny?" asked Spike.
"Oh it's just when you used that word 'wager' it reminded me of the time Willow did the mind wipe on us and you were Randy Giles, all British and kinda proper," said Buffy.
"And you acted like you had a stake up your ass JOAN," he emphasised.
"It was wrong of Willow to do that spell, but for a while everything was so much more simpler, no bad memories," sighed Buffy.
"And I got to play at being all noble and good for a little at the same time," he grinned.
"Yeah, but you could be noble and good back then, I just refused to see it, you had the capacity to be good without the soul, I was just too messed up at the time to notice," she said sadly.
"Let's not think about the past, besides not all the old times were bad ones," Spike replied.
She went into his arms at that moment and wrapped her own tightly about his waist, clinging to him as if she would never let him go and she never would. Buffy had no idea what would be asked of her tomorrow when they entered the portal, but she knew in her heart no matter what happened, she would not be parted from him again, not ever, even if it meant dying by his side. He would not send her away again like last time.
TBC