Chapter 11

            The Scooby crew decided among them that the sooner, they go take a look at the scroll that Buffy had said Angel had, the better.

            Besides, they could tell him about Buffy being able to come back to the land of the living that would surely brighten his day.

            Dawn interrupted the discussion," I want to come."
            "I don't know, sweet bit."

            "Please?"

            "Well, we're still trying to decide who should come and who should stay here."

            "I want to come."

            "I think you should stay here, " Tara told her.

            "Me too," Willow agreed.  "What if something bad happens while we're there?   And besides Spike and Giles, we're not sure who else should come, anyway"

            "Buffy said I could go!"

            The group, minus Spike and Giles looked confused.

            "Dawny, what are you talking about?" Tara asked, confused.

            Spike gave the ex-Watcher an I-guess-the-jig-is-up looks.

            Giles nodded in agreement.

            "Okay kiddies, listen up."

            All eyes turned to Spike.

            "Okay, here's the thing.  Even though Buffy's dead...she's still around.  She's been a ghostly presence around here for the past day or so, ever since she died.  Now, so far, only the Nibblet and me can see and hear her.  But Giles know she's around, cause I told him."

            "Why didn't you tell us too?" Willow asked, looking hurt.

            Spike's looks softened, and he took a few strides towards her to hunch down before her.

            "She said she didn't want you to freak out.  But she didn't do it to hurt you, she knows your her best friends and she loves you all.  I think we only see her because she visited us in our dreams, and we're needed to bring her back."

            Willow gave Spike a half-smile.

            "Thanks Spike...for cheering me up."

            "Your welcome Red."

            Tara smiled up at him as she hugged Willow.        

            Spike turned, at Buffy's request, to look at Xander.

            Xander smiled at him, before saying, with a wicked smile on his face,

            "You see dead people?"

            Spike closed his eyes and groaned, as everyone else laughed, except for Dawn who stepped up smiling.

            "No Xander...WE see dead people!!"

            That caused the entire group to crack up, while Spike hugged her to him.

            Giles, still chuckling, decided to get the group back to the matter at hand.

            "Okay now...who's coming with me and Spike...that seems so wrong to say, somehow."

            Spike laughed.  "Believe me Rupe...I'm wigging too."

            Xander looked at him, mouth hanging wide open, and a big smile starting to form as he took up to teasing the vamp..."He said 'wigging'."

            "Bite me."

            "Not my job."

            "Very funny, mate."

            "Don't call me mate!"

            Spike gave him a wicked grin.

            "Children," Giles said, using his best authority voice, "can we please get back to the task at hand."

            "Hey! Who you calling a child, mate?  I happen to be your senior."

            "Yeah..."Xander said, and then realized he was defending Spike. 

            He looked at Spike, who had the same odd look on his face that he did.

            "Hold on a sec...Did I just defend you?"

            "I believe you did... Whelp.'

            "Oh...we so cannot have that...Fang Boy."

            Spike laughed, instead of growling at him.

            "I think...you like me."

            "In your dreams, Blood Breath."

            "Actually...thank all that's unholy, my dreams don't even have you in them."

            "Which...I'm saying, is SUCH a good thing."

            "You're telling me."

            Dawn rolled her eyes, but didn't interrupt, as they continued insulting each other.  It was fascinating to watch them go on and on.  She just knew they could be best friends if they tried.  They already liked each other, they just weren't willing to admit it.

            Giles was holding the bridge of his nose, as if he could somehow wish them apart so he could continue.

            "Boys!!" He shouted.

            Both Xander and Spike looked up at him, mouths dropped open in twin expression of shock and surprise.

            "Can we please get on?" Giles asked them in his normal voice.

            "Well...yeah," Spike said, sitting down next to Dawn.

            "Preach on G-man," Xander sat down next to Anya.

            Giles shook his head and gave Xander a glare, at which Xander gave him an angelic look, while Spike snorted, before continuing.

            "Now...as I was questioning...who else should go?"

            "Well...I should go," Dawn spoke up," because what if the ritual has to be done in LA.  We're not sure, we just assume it's here.  And since I'm still Key, I ought to go."

            Spike nodded.  "Okay Nibblet, pack a bag, your going to LA."

            Dawn jumped up, squealed happily, hugged him, and then ran upstairs to pack some clothes.

            "Are you sure that was wise?" Giles asked him.

            "No...but it's valid.  We did just assume the ritual would be here.  It might be anywhere...and for some reason, I don't feel we have much more than a week or two to get this done.  I wouldn't want to have to waste extra time coming back here to get her for it."

            "Point taken," Giles answered with a nod.

            "Okay...that makes Giles, Dawn and me," Spike said.  "Who else is coming?"

            "We're going," Willow and Tara said together.

            Spike nodded.

            "You coming demon girl?"

            "Ex demon girl," Anya corrected him.

            "My bad, ex demon girl..."

            "That's better.  And no.  I think I'll stay and keep Giles's store open.  I don't think the spell will need me, but you better ask Buffy to be sure."

            Spike turned to look at Buffy.

            She shook her head and smiled.

            He turned back to look at Anya.

            "She said you're free to fondle the money."

            Anya gave him a huge smile.

            "I love the way it feels."

            Spike laughed.  Then he turned to Xander.

            "What about you, Happy Meal?"

            "Happy Meal?"
            Buffy was laughing so hard now, she had sunk against the wall, clutching her stomach.

            "I once told Buffy, a long time back, that I considered humans as Happy Meals with legs.  And by the way she's rolling on the floor over there, I'm guessing she thought that funny."

            "Whatever Chip Boy," Xander said with a smile.

            "And you know you don't have to ask, if Anya'll be fine, here, watching the store, then you know I'm coming.  When Buffy returns...I'm getting my hug."

            "I know the feeling," Spike said quietly.

            "Okay," Giles said, "now we know who's going.  Everyone pack enough for a couple of days, since we're not sure how long we're going to be out of town."

            "Sure thing Pops."

            "Don't call me Pops!" Giles glared at Spike.

            "But...DAD?!" Spike teased.

            Giles walked away, muttering about evil bratty vampires and evil bratty brunettes and took himself back to his place, to get some things he felt were needed.

            Xander and Spike burst out laughing.

            "Oh man...that was great."

            "It was...wasn't I?"
            They looked at each other, smiling...then realized that they were bonding...and Xander jumped up and dragged Anya off, shouting his goodbye, and telling them he'd be back in a couple of hours.

            Spike chuckled and after seeing Red and Tara off, went up to pack his own few things for the trip ahead.

TBC…