*A/N* Sorry for the delay all!! It's been crazy in RL. :-D But, never fear, I'm still writing, I just have less time to do it in the daytime. I decided to break this chapter up into three parts, cause otherwise it would take forever to get it out and you'd all kill me, so I'll just do it in three parts…besides, this parts real long. Longer than I had planned, but…hey, that's how it goes sometimes. Okay…enough of me talking…I know you just want to read, so off you go now. Besides…gives me time to dream of Spike…:-D Thanks for reading. :-D I love you all!
The three R's - Restoration, Ritual, & Resurrection
Restoration
The gang trooped out of the mansion towards the car.
Most of them were laughing. Even Giles, who tried hard to fight the impulse, just couldn't seem to help himself.
And while they were thrilled that they had gotten their task done and they almost had Buffy back, it wasn't that that was making them laugh.
Spike was.
Well, mostly Spike and Xander, that was.
It had been almost ongoing, since right after Ashta had defeated Riley.
On the way through the halls, Spike had kept giving Xander, who was in the back walking with him and the girls, looks.
After a little while, Xander noticed and had to ask,
"Why are you looking at me like that Spike?"
"Why do you think Spike's broken?"
Spike had answered quietly, but, although his phrasing was childlike, his voice was at its normal level/tone.
"Well…ya see…" Xander was kind of at a lost on how to answer that. Normally, he'd insult Spike and Spike would retaliate in kind. But now, while Spike's voice was pretty much normal, he reacted for the most part, like a five-year-old child.
"Gunn doesn't think Spike's broken," Spike stated simply, giving Xander suspicious looks.
"Yeah, well…he doesn't know you as well as I know you."
"You know me…really well?"
"Sure do."
"We're best pals…are we?"
"Well…I wouldn't go that far."
"Not best pals?" Spike asked, a small frown beginning to mar his face.
Xander leaned closer to him to say, in a low whisper he knew Spike could hear with his vampiric hearing,
"We're secret friends, Spikey. No one but you and me know that we're friends. You can't tell anyone that I like you or that you like me. It's a secret!"
Spike gave Xander a smile, a mischievous one, which Xander would later swear was testimony that Spike was sane for just that moment in time.
After grinning at him, Spike leaned over and kissed Xander on the cheek and then hugging him tight, if quickly, before releasing him and moving back closer to Dru.
The whole exchange was so quick; that only two of the crew noticed it at all. One of the two who witnessed it was Dru, who was giggling to herself over the both of them.
Spike then, once he was where he had started at, if anyone was so inclined to look back, leaned over towards Xander, who was still in total shock.
"Spike won't tell…Xander's my special friend," Spike spoke in a five-year-olds loud whisper, one that seemed to echo off the walls.
Xander came to life at his words and jumped about five feet away from the grinning neutered vampire.
"Spike…cut that out!!!"
Spike and Dru laughed, hard.
Willow and Tara giggled.
Gunn chuckled.
Angel and Giles both smirked, but didn't laugh out loud.
Ashta laughed as hard as Dru and Spike, for she had not just heard it all, but she had seen the whole exchange as well.
"We are not Special Friends, in any way, Spike. You take that back."
Spike faked like he was pouting and turned to Dru, scrunching up his face like he was going to cry.
"He doesn't want to be my Special Friend."
"I'll be your special friend."
"You can't…silly bint…you're my princess."
Willow spoke up,
"I'll be your Special Friend Spike."
Spike smiled at her, glad someone else was going to join in.
"You can't either…you're Red, Super Wicca…can't be anything else today."
"Oh…"
"W...what about me?" Tara asked shyly.
Spike smiled.
"Your Glenda."
Tara smiled back at him.
"How about Giles," Willow asked, trying to help.
"He can't do it, " Spike protested," he's the Slayer's Watcher and sometimes we call him Ripper."
Spike looked around and motioned for everyone except for Giles and Angel, who weren't looking, just listening, to come closer and whispered soft enough not to be overheard by Giles, if not Angel.
"Sometimes…I call him Rupert…he's got a silly name. Ru-pert."
Xander had to catch Willow; she almost dropped to her knees laughing at that one.
They all chuckled.
Spike started before anyone can ask him,
"It can't be Angelus…he's
Angelus…and sometimes I call him Poofter.
Dru, what's a poofter?"
Tara quickly stopped Dru, she didn't place a hand over her mouth, 'cause even families can bite one another, but she did jump in,
"Not right now I think…how about Dru answers that one for you later? Okay Spikey? Okay Dru?"
Spike shrugged okay and Dru smiled, but nodded.
Gunn spoke up, not wanting to be left out, "What about me?"
"Silly Gunn," Spike said," Your Gunn, Top PI."
"I like the way you think man?"
Spike laughed.
Then he stopped laughing, and looked at Gunn.
"I'm not a man, am I?"
"Nope…your Spike, Champion
Vampire, without the poncy soul."
Spike chuckled…
"I like that."
"That's why I'm your best friend," Gunn said simply. "I've all the coolest ideas, and we get along great."
Spike nodded.
"We're getting along…I get that."
Xander was about to say something when Willow interrupted him,
"What about Anya?"
"I don't think so, I think I should just keep calling her Ex-Demon Girl or Money Loving Girl. She might not like it if I don't and I don't want her mad at me. She'll get all demon-y again, and eviscerate me good and proper."
"Oh we can't have that," Dru and Ashta said together.
"Bloody well right."
Tara and Willow giggled.
Spike winked at them.
"A…And Dawn?"
"She's my Sweet Bit…I thought you knew."
"I knew, I knew."
"What about Buffy?"
Spike's face showed the expression of someone awed in the presence of something truly wonderful,
"She's my everything," he said softly.
"Awww…that's so sweet," Tara and Willow said together.
"I'm not sweet," Spike said, shaking his head to clear his head of Buffy, and to keep up his Big Bad Image. "I'm the Big Bad, grr."
Gunn laughed.
"Okay man, you're the Big Bad, but you're on our side, your not supposed to try scaring us."
"Oh…that's right. I forgot. Forgive me?" Spike asked, dropping his head and looking at them all through his lowered lashes.
Isn't he just the Cutest Thing, Willow and Tara asked each other telepathically.
They knew better then to say it aloud, poor Xander would never stop teasing Spike about it if they did. And Spike, once he returned to normal, would probably push through the pain to kill them if they harassed him enough.
"We forgive you," they said out loud.
Spike just grinned at them.
"What about me?" Ashta asked quietly.
Spike looked at her.
"Looks like an enemy, but isn't.
Not quite an ally. I like her. What shall we call her?"
"A Special Friend?"
"Don't be silly Dru…that's Xander's name. Even if he doesn't want it, doesn't mean he can get rid of it."
"Can I weigh in here about being Spike's 'Special Friend'?"
The chorus of 'No' he got in response surprised Xander.
The rest of the crew went back to talking, as if they hadn't even been interrupted.
They all looked at Ashta, each trying their hardest to come up with a good nickname for their newest member.
"How about Pretty Beastie?" Dru volunteered.
"No Dru."
"Precious Beastie?"
Willow, Spike, Tara and Gunn all giggled like schoolchildren, but they all shook their heads no. Ashta just watched them with an amused expression, she was used to Dru's particular terms of endearment for her.
Dru pouted. "No one ever likes my ideas."
"Oh no Dru…we like them," Willow was quick to tell her.
Dru gave her a look, similar to Spike's 'Yeah-right' look.
"Only…you can't go around calling her a beastie. It's not really nice."
Dru leaned towards Willow & said slowly, as if talking to a small child,
"I'm…a…vam…pire, Lil Red Witch. I'm not very nice."
Ashta & Spike laughed at Willow's expression.
"I'm sorry Red," Spike said when Willow glared at him, eyes turning to black.
"No need to go all Super Wicca on me. It was funny. And you know she can't hurt you cause of the bond, but…you were still kinda scared."
"A…Are you okay Spike?"
"For the moment Glenda."
"What's it like?"
"It's kinda like…"
Spike stopped talking as the toxin spread through his eyes once more, reverting back to his child-like state.
He blinked his eyes real fast and then grabbed his head.
"It hurts," he said in a pained whisper.
Willow's eyes returned to normal as she powered back down. She then joined hands with Tara.
Willow and Tara placed their hands over his.
"It's alright, you'll be fine soon Champion."
The voice coming out of them was not theirs.
Spike looked up at them and squinted his eyes, as if he was looking up at the sun.
Their joined hands slid down his face and caressed his cheeks.
Spike closed his eyes in a sort of rapture.
The girls stepped back.
Spike smiled at them.
The pain in his head was now gone.
He said softly,
"Do you see the light Dru?"
"I always see the light, Spike."
Did you see what the light did?"
"Yes I saw my William."
"What did you see Dru?"
"I saw the light touch and
heal you?"
"Can't it heal you too?"
"No my sweet prince, but it's okay…I'll be fine."
"I won't go without you Dru."
"But you have to…it's your destiny. I didn't see it before…but I know the truth now…don't you hear it calling to you? Pretty music. Besides, she's there…I can hear her."
"She won't mind you being there."
"Yes she will."
"Okay…maybe she will, but you're my princess."
Dru caressed his cheek.
"But monsters live in the dark, singing songs of blood. I thought you knew. Have you heard the blood cry? You used to dance with me at the song of the blood. Do you remember the sweet music it made. It still sings to you. But now, it means light not dark."
"Don't worry sweet Dru...I'll still dance with you."
"You will want to try, but you can't.
Dru stepped away from him and began to sing:
"Into the light, you went
Into the light, you go
Into the dark, stop quick
You cannot enter anymore"
Spike arched his eyes at her...as sanity hit him once again.
He turned to Angel and said,
"Angel."
"Yes Spike, " Angel said, finally taking part in the conversation.
"It's Dru."
"What's Dru?" the others asked, but Spike had already slipped back again, and was no longer able to help
"Angel, do you know what he's talking about?"
"I might. I'm not really sure. Do you know what he's been trying to puzzle out?"
"Not really. Spike's not all that talkative, especially with his plans, if you see what I mean. He's more a kind of action first, think later or think about it from every angle, by himself, and then act on it. But, upon reflection, it might have something to do with Buffy's return."
"I know what you mean…Let's just hope he has another sanity spell…and we can ask him."
"Hear hear," Xander and Giles said at once, and then cringed because of the way it made each seem like each other.
The group chuckled.
Dru then began to sway side-to-side as they reached the main hallway.
"The stars, the stars."
"They're outside O' Loony One."
"Not all of them Monkey Boy…and those in the sky shine as brightly as a dove."
"Okay…I for one am amused, but who knew a dove shined likes a star?"
"Not I," the group answered.
"Giles, is this a translation or is she just saying anything."
"Well, it's complicated Willow. Druscilla seems to have a unique pattern…"
"G-man…either you know, or you don't. Please not with the long-winded phrases. Too many words hurts Xand's brain."
Spike bounced up and walked over to Xander, he stopped before reaching him and peered into his eyes, he then looked above his head and then went back to peering in his eyes. He stopped and walked around Xander, looking him over very carefully, before coming back to peer in his eyes again. After a few minutes, he moved back and gave Xander a sad look.
"I'm sorry Xander, I don't see how those words could have hurt Xander's brain. I'm not seeing a way in."
Willow, Giles, Gunn, and Tara burst into laughter.
Even Angel cracked a smile.
Xander couldn't hold it in.
He laughed.
"Your insane Spike…you know that right."
"I'm insane…but you're still my Special Friend, right?"
"I'm tired of arguing it…yes…I'm your Special Friend."
Spike jumped up and down and then said,
"I'm happy, but I'm not gonna hug you, cause…I'm the Big Bad…and I'm all manly… and I'm not a Nancy Boy, got that?"
"Works for me Spike."
"Does this mean the King of Cups will no longer taunt the Page?"
"I'm sure it doesn't," Giles told Dru, to stop her from pouting.
She grinned at him.
"Well, that's okay then."
Spike and Xander laughed and both winked at Dru.
As they reached the main doors, Dru stopped and started dancing.
"I want to dance."
"You are dancing Dru."
"No…I don't want to dance alone. Will you be my partner?"
"That depends, are you feeling a little hungry?"
"Now that you mention it…"
"In that case, I'm leaning firmly against the side of 'No'."
Dru laughed.
"Didn't really want to dance with you anyway, I was just teasing is all."
"Why not?" Xander couldn't seem to stop feeling just a little hurt by her statement.
"I've seen you dance before…it's not a pretty sight."
The group, minus Xander, burst into laughter.
"Is he really that bad?" Gunn asked.
Everyone else in the group, avoiding looking at Xander, nodded yes.
"The only dance he does really well is the Snoopy dance," Willow said, trying to stick up for her best friend.
"What's that?"
"Come on Xander…show them."
"No."
"And why not…if it's your best dance, shouldn't you WANT to show it off.
Xander merely glared at them.
"Please Xander?"
"Don't give me the puppy eyes, I'm not looking, so you can stop giving me the puppy eyes."
Dru looked confused, she leaned over and said to Spike, in a child's loud whisper,
"Did you see any puppy eyes?"
"No…I know…maybe they're invisible Dru."
"Hmm…maybe. Think I could touch them even if they were invisible?"
"Won't know until you try."
Dru nodded and with that, she leaned forward to touch Willow's hands.
"Wait Dru, It's just an expression," Willow told her.
"Oh," Dru said, lips beginning to form a pout.
"Don't pout 'Pretty Dru'...remember...stars in the sky."
"That's right...Will you dance
with me My William?"
"But of course My
Lady."
They joined hands and twirled round and round, dancing to some unheard tune.
As they walked, or in Dru and Spike's case, danced, into the night, which had cleared up, and was no longer raining, Spike stopped suddenly, letting Dru dance without him.
The gang started towards the cars, trying to decide on who was going to ride with who, now that they had two extra people, when they saw Dru dancing in front of them alone, and realized that Spike hadn't moved from the front steps.
"What is it Spike?" Willow asked him.
"It's beautiful," Spike's voice was an awed whisper.
"What do you see?" Tara asked, looking around, but seeing nothing.
"Her."
Xander was confused.
"What do you mean...her? Are you seeing dead people again?"
Spike simply nodded yes,
without breaking his gaze.
"What's that mean?"
"It means he's seeing
Buffy," Willow said, smiling.
"Isn't that right, Spike?"
Spike nodded again.
Dru stopped swaying and dancing, looked at Buffy, who she could see as well, and began chanting:
"Key of Worlds"
Spike chanted, his words keeping up the rhythm,
"Shall be your Guide"
Dru picked up
"Blood of Souled"
Spike:
"Will help Revive"
Dru:
"Ashes of"
Spike:
"A Returned Foe"
Dru and Spike together:
"And This Chant Which Came from a Lonely Lost Soul"
Dru:
"All Bound Together"
Spike:
"On Blood Moon Night"
Dru:
"Raise Our Warrior"
Spike and Dru together
:
"And Restore Her to Human Sight"
Spike:
"Let Love,"
Dru:
"Blood, Death,"
Spike:
"Life & Spirit"
Together:
"Combined
Be Your Guide to Return You to Us One More Time"
Dru began to twirl around as Spike shook his head, as if to clear it, and turned to the group,
"Remember it all," he said, before once more slipping under the toxin's influence.
Spike then slid down to the floor in a crouching position, not seeming to notice anything or anyone.
It was as if he had been turned to stone.
"Is...is he gonna be okay?"
"He looks fine, but I can't tell, he's not answering," Gunn said, who had spent a few moments trying to coax Spike up.
"He's fine, I can tell," Ashta said. She wanted them to focus their attention where it was needed. In order for it to be finished, they had to move on.
"Did you hear what they said," she asked?
"Did you get that?" Angel asked Giles.
"I got it, but I didn't get it
all...Willow?"
"I'll remember it, I
hope."
"I'll remember it," Ashta said, in her quiet voice.
Gunn looked at her,
"You can remember all that?"
"Yes."
"Then I'm oh so glad you're now on our side."
Ashta smiled, then said,
"It's almost time to go...and, she's not finished yet."
They looked confused and then noticed that Dru was still twirling round and round.
Dru sang:
Chant the phrase
Three times round
To bring your precious
From the ground
She grows, she rumbles & earth gives her prize
And within a few moments, she'll materialize.
"I got that one," Willow and Giles shouted as one.
The group smiled.
Ashta smiled more than all, for it had been done and the words had been uttered.
Ashta stepped forward and tapped Spike lightly on the forehead.
She looked at Dru and Dru turned and walked over to them, bending down next to where Spike was crouched on the floor. Dru put her head down and Ashta touched her forehead just as she did Spike's.
Ashta said softly,
"You did a good job Dru
You will be rewarded."
She turned to look at Spike
"Thank you for your work Champion
We could not have done it without you."
"Now, both of you need to rest,
There is still much work to be done."
With her whispered words, both Dru and Spike's eyes blanked out and closed and they slid to the ground, unconscious.
She then turned to the group,
"It's time to go now, the rest will be waiting, you might want to give them a call, so they know we're on the way."
"Right...okay," Giles said as he pulled out his cell phone and dialed Wesley.
Ashta appeared at Giles side,
"May I speak to him
please?"
"Umm...sure. Uh, Wesley, our newest...um...Ashta wishes
to speak to you. Here she is."
He passed the cell to her and she thanked him nicely.
"Wesley?"
"Mr. Wyndam-Price the third...yes...I'm speaking. Did Rupert say your name was Ashta?"
"Ashta Milani...look me up when we have time. I know I'm being kinda rude but I need you to do as I say."
"Well...I...okay...What will
you have me do?"
Ashta rolled her eyes and Gunn
smiled, Wesley must be being pompous again.
Ashta nodded as if Gunn had said that out loud.
To Wesley she said,
"Astin o sangin. Mi wesh do sighn queshtin. Homi do sati. We mo qo la bi ta...mah hissitah. Sas si ma lo ma...han ti qu. Quen ti shi go la. Mis sen da. Hi bi sho han ci lo...Ta ti kan shi...shan si mo. Bi di ro guen giamm."
"I'll do it," Wesley said, before hanging up.
"What was that?"
"It was a way of bending
the rules to get it done faster. By the
time we reach the hotel, everything will be ready and we can begin
restoration."
"Does Wesley even know what you told him?" Angel asked.
"No, but he will do as he was told."
"Girl, you pack some serious power."
"I'll take that as a compliment," she told Gunn.
He merely smiled.
"Will you ever tell us what it is you said?"
"You'll see for yourselves when we get there, but later, yes...I will translate for you Rupert."
"Well, I guess we'd better get home," Angel said, "who rides with who?"
Ashta said, "We'll ride together,"
"How can we..."
Xander stopped protesting as Ashta waved her hand and all three cars merged into one black caravan.
"My car!" Angel shouted.
"Will be as it was before once we reach the hotel," Ashta informed him.
"I think his head almost exploded," Willow whispered to Giles.
"I saw another expression...hey guys...Angel has more than two expressions."
"We saw Xander," Willow and Tara said laughing.
Angel rolled his eyes, but ignored Xander as he bent over and picked up Spike,
"Let's go."'
"Aww...no fair. How can I taunt him if he's not gonna react?"
"Poor Xander."
"You feel my pain, don't you Ashta?"
"I do...I do."
The group laughed and Gunn picked up Dru as they headed towards the van.
Once putting their unconscious vampires inside, the group chose their seats and got inside.
Angel, settling behind the wheel muttered,
"My precious car..."
"You heard Ashta, you Big Demon Baby, you'll get it back when we get back to the hotel, so stop whining."
"Xander?"
"Yes?"
"Stop trying to make me gut you, or did you forget your taunting the vampire who could hurt you?"
Xander stopped in mid eye roll...
He had forgotten.
He was so used to tormenting Spike, he forgot that Angel could hurt him.
Angel, seeing Xander's wide-eyed look, was satisfied for the moment.
He smiled and started the car.
"How long will they be like that?" Giles asked Ashta.
"Probably the whole trip...they expanded a lot of energy. As did we all. We should all rest, there's more work to do. If you need to rest Angel, the car can drive itself?"
"I can drive."
"Okay."
Everyone agreed and settled down to rest for the trip.
********
Reaching the hotel, hours later, the group headed inside.
Dawn, Fred, Cordelia, and Wesley ran to the group.
"Are you guys okay? You won right? You got the ashes? Are any of you hurt? What is she doing here? Who's this? What's wrong with Spike?"
"We're fine. We won. We got them. We're all a bit sore; I don't think any of us are too hurt, though. She helped. This is Ashta. And that's a long story, but he's pretty much okay." Giles countered all their questions.
"But, before you begin again, we really do all need more rest. How about we sleep and tonight you can ask as much as you want?"
"Okay," everyone agreed.
Ashta was shown a room, and agreed to share hers with a still unconscious Dru.
"Will they sleep all day?"
"I'll make sure they
do."
"Okay. Sleep well."
"You too Souled One."
Angel gave her a brief smile, before walking out, leaving her to her own devices.
*******
Hours later, the group reconvened in the lobby. Angel had barred the doors, so they wouldn't be disturbed. And since he was the first of the group to come down, he fixed food for his guests, blood for the vampires and real breakfast foods for the rest.
Ashta and Druscilla came downstairs second.
Dru leapt down the stairs and flung herself at Angel,
"Angelus...I'm hungry."
"I know, here. Drink up."
Dru took the mug of blood wryly, knowing Angel preferred Pig's Blood.
She sniffed at the glass and was shocked by the smile.
"You got me good blood? Your such a thoughtful father."
"I try my best sweetheart."
Ashta merely laughed as she got herself a glass of human blood.
Xander, Giles, Gunn and Fred came down next.
"Morning all."
"Morning."
Gunn and Fred lead the other two to the table and got out the dishes for them to eat on.
Xander looked at the food suspiciously.
"Oh for God's sake Xander," Angel said.
Xander grinned at him.
"Ignore him Angel, we find it easier to live with him when we do."
"Very funny British man."
Giles gave him a rare smile.
They were eating when Cordelia, Wesley and Dawn came downstairs.
Cordy and Wesley gave the group a Hello and then headed towards the table to eat.
Dawn, however, after saying 'Good Morning' looked around.
"Where's Spike?"
"Maybe he's still sleeping, he battled a lot last night."
"But so did you, and your alright. Where is he? He is alright, isn't he?"
Angel was spared from saying anything when Spike came down the stairs.
He was dressed in a clean shirt, blue this time that brought out his eyes. His hair wasn't slicked back, but kind of tossed all over his head, giving him a rakish, boyish look.
He smiled at Dawn.
"Miss me Sweet Bit?"
Dawn launched herself at him.
"Are you okay? You look okay? Did you kill them all? You got them right? What happened? Why'd you take so long? Why were you asleep last night?"
Spike blinked slowly.
"What's wrong?"
"I just forgot how fast
you talk Dawnie. Okay...I'm okay,
Xander doesn't think so, but Gunn said he doesn't count. We killed a lot...I'll
tell you about them later. Yep, got
them good. Lot's of things happened; we'll tell you in a few minutes. Lots of different demons to kill, so it took
a long time. And I don't know why I was
asleep when I got here. Last thing I
remember from last night was Buffy and the stars."
Spike sounded pretty much like normal, but Dawn looked at him anyway.
"You're not telling me something."
Spike turned and looked at the crew,
"Can't hide it...better tell her."
"What's going on?"
"Come sit down Dawn, eat while we tell you what's going on."
Spike stood still as a statue, once Dawn had sat down next to Giles, he spun around and sat down on the couch next to Ashta and Dru.
The group realized that Ashta was probably controlling them both, keeping them from doing anything, much, and trying to keep them as normal as possible for those of the non-battle crew who might get upset to see them act different.
"Okay Dawn, see...it's like this..."
"Spike got bit," Xander jumped in.
"Xander!"
"Well he was just going to prolong telling her.
"Spike was battling Riley when..."
"Wait, Riley was there?"
"Yeah...but he wasn't
really Riley..."
"Okay, now I'm confused."
"Xander, will you let me tell it?"
"Fine, sure G-man."
Giles rolled his eyes.
He looked at Dawn's confused face.
"Xander's right, Spike got
bit...Riley, he...well, he and his crew in South America got attacked and were
killed or changed. Would you like the
long version or the shorter one?"
"For now, the short one
please...you can tell me the longer one later."
"Okay. Riley was changed into some sort of demon, he bit Dru and Darla, turning them both crazy. After Spike dusted Darla, we realized it was Riley chained to the wall. When we were about to free him, he broke through his chains and began to attack us."
Xander jumped in, unable to let Giles tell all of it, "Spike tried to kill him, and that's when he got bit. Riley infected him with the same thing that drove Dru and Darla insane. Spike then tried to kill Riley by snapping his neck, but that didn't do it and Ashta here, being very, very powerful, took care of Riley, in a very cool way, which we'll tell of later. You with me so far, Dawnie?"
"Yes Xander, I got it...thanks."
Dawn kneeled in front of Spike.
"Spike?"
Spike didn't even blink.
Dawn looked at Ashta.
"Are you holding him?"
"He's kind of in stasis...I didn't want him or Dru to freak you out."
"You can let them go, we can take it...they won't hurt us will they?"
"No, they won't."
"Then let them free...we can deal."
Ashta smiled at her,
"Keys are strong, never thought I'd meet a real one, not one made out of Slayer Blood and Bond. It's good to meet you."
Dawn was about to answer her when Spike touched her arm.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine Spike...how are you?"
Spike looked around.
"Spike's fine. Where are we?"
He sounds like a little kid, Dawn thought.
"We're at Angel's hotel. Don't you remember?"
She encountered his blank stare.
"You know, the Ponce?"
"Hey…" Angel
started.
Spike laughed.
He winked at Dawn, "I remember now."
He leaned forward.
"Guess what I did last night."
"What?"
He looked at the others in the room and leaned forward, then spoke in a loud whisper,
"I kicked a lot of demon ass."
Dawn burst into laughter.
Spike smiled at her.
"So I hear...I can't wait until the stories. You did good."
"I'm a Champion," he said, puffing out his chest, looking like he just won first prize in a school contest.
"I always knew you were," Dawn told him, smilingly. She didn't care if he was child-like, he'll be healed eventually, she knew. Besides, he was kind of fun like this…like a little brother instead of a big one.
"Now they know too."
"They sure do."
Ashta turned and looked at Wesley.
She then said aloud,
"Mi ke ton sa lon bi do. Has ii to ka ro. Mi wa ne sha."
Wesley got up and walked into his study without a word.
After a few minutes he brought back a covered jar.
He handed it to Ashta saying,
"Hin tink a sha. Has ee wa troy."
"Thank you," Ashta replied taking the jar.
"Your Welcome," Wesley replied, sitting back down in his original seat.
"Wow, that is so cool. You have to teach me that one," Dawn said, looking at Ashta.
Ashta laughed.
"We'll see...but first, I need your help."
"Mine?"
"Yes."
"Sure...what are we doing?"
"Restoring."
"We're going to heal
Spike?"
"And Dru."
"Won't that make her kill us?"
"She can't, there's a blood bond between her and you all now, and she'll honor it. She likes family, so she'll honor it. Besides, she's done her part. Which reminds me, we need to get their chant down on paper. I need you to write down their chant, run and go get a pen and paper."
Dawn ran upstairs, returning in moments with pen and paper.
"Okay, I got it."
"I'll let them chant, let me know if you need it repeated."
Dru and Spike repeated their chant and then Dru gave her additional instructions.
Dawn had Ashta, have both of them, repeat it twice more, before she was satisfied, and Giles was as well, that they had gotten every word and detail out of them.
Ashta released them from the chanting phase and Dru and Spike twirled around the room, dancing still to more unheard music.
"That looks like so much fun," Dawn said.
"Would you like to dance, Milady?" Spike said, stopping in front of Dawn, seating Dru next to Ashta.
"I believe I would," Dawn said laughing.
They twirled around and around the room, grinning and laughing.
Ashta was sorry when she had to stop their fun.
"I'm sorry to stop your fun," she told them both, " but it's time."
Spike and Dawn stopped twirling, came over and stood next to her.
"What do we need to do?"
"The rest of you stay way
back, it shouldn't bother or hurt you, but just in case, we need you out of
harm's way."
"No problem, no need to tell us twice," Xander and Cordy said, as they ushered the rest of the crew to the other side of the room.
"Okay, we need to sit in a circle."
As Dawn, Spike, and Dru sat down, Ashta placed white candles between and just behind them, creating a second circle behind them.
Once she sat down in her spot, she waved her hand and the candles lit up on their own.
"Okay, join hands...one hand at a time, the link will be completed when Dru gives me her hand."
They slowly linked hands, Ashta, Dawn, Spike, and Dru.
When the last link had been made, a shimmering blue wall arose behind them.
"Close your eyes."
They all closed their eyes.
The jar Ashta had left in the middle, opened up, releasing a light purple mist that spread around each of them.
Ashta's mist swirled around her and blasted through all three of her companions.
The mist around Dru swirled around her and changing yellow then did the same as Ashta's blasting through her other three companions.
The mist around Spike swirled around him and changing blue then did the same as Dru and Ashta's before him.
The mist around Dawn swirled around her, changed green, was absorbed into her and then blasted out through her and her companions.
Ashta shivered, shaken by the amount of power surging through Dawn.
She was glad she was on their side, if they ever stopped thinking of Dawn as a child, they would realize they had a very powerful ally on their side.
Ashta pulled these thoughts to the side as she got down to the task at hand.
Out loud she chanted:
"Ta ti lan qui
Koy ya ko sho layuHa shin sin da kay
La su la hashampio qua
Patimi sal wo
Habe kwe cee Yosimesho jamivoAmayo mar a shi"
When Ashta had finished her chant, Dawn began to speak. Dawn translated, in a voice that was not her own:
"I stand before you
I use the Key of Worlds to show that I am of the light
Restore the champion to himself
Allow the lost soul peace
I come in supplication
Bend to my will
Remove the poisonAnd restore to former selves"
Dawn and Ashta's heads snapped up, Ashta's eyes glowing purple, Dawn's glowing emerald green. Both uttered one word,
"Restore"
Spike and Dru's heads shot up, eyes snapping open revealing Spike's eyes glowing sapphire blue and Dru's shining a golden yellow.
All the colors shot out of each of them, combining in the middle, where a small ball of lightning grew in the middle, it then separated and shot into both Spike and Dru.
They both screamed, but it was more out of the suddenness then out of any real pain.
The lightning steamed through them both, pulling the toxin out of them as it went. The lighted ball shot out of both Dru and Spike and then disappeared.
The blue wall shimmered and dispersed
The candles extinguished themselves.
And the four participants slumped over, collapsing, exhausted.
The rest of the crew, who had watched the whole exchange, now started forward.
They shook Ashta lightly.
"Is it done?" Angel asked her, as she opened her eyes.
"It's done...we're fine, just tired. It took more energy than I thought it would."
"Thank you for your help."
"I was glad to serve."
"We'll let you rest now," Angel told her, "Come on guys, let's take them up to their rooms to rest."
"Aye eye 'Captain Fang'," Xander said, picking up Dawn.
Angel rolled his eyes as he handed Ashta to Giles and bent to pick up Spike.
Gunn picked up Dru, seeing as the rest had the others.
"How come I always have to pick
up Spike?"
"Cause you're the big
strong vampire and he's your childe," Xander and Gunn said together,
smiling over their charges.
Angel merely huffed at them, taking Spike back up to his room.
*********
Hours later, Dawn was the first to emerge from her room.
She found Xander and Gunn watching television, Angel sitting in his chair, reading some old book, Cordelia and Fred were missing, she guessed they might have gone out, for Cordy had said yesterday that,
"If we all live through this, I'm going shopping tomorrow."
And Fred had said that she'd come with her.
So she would stake money on that's where they were.
Wesley and Giles were in the study, pouring over some ancient texts, Dawn rolled her eyes,
'I'm so going to have to get Giles to liven up, she thought.
She came down the rest of the stairs,
Angel was the first to notice her, and as he stood up, Giles then noticed her.
"Dawn, how are you? Do you feel okay?"
"What, do I look weird or something? I'm fine. Really."
"That was some pretty intense stuff last night."
"So I figured they way you all are wigging out. It was SO cool, there I was hearing Ashta, and I just knew what she was saying, so I translated it, but …I don't think I could do it now if I tried."
"You couldn't…we aren't connected like that anymore dearest," Ashta said as she came down the stairs.
Dawn smiled at her and grasped her hand, saying, "Come on, let's move the guys out of the way and veg out."
"Veg out?"
"Chill."
"Ashta looked at her, confused."
Giles chuckled. He was about to explain when he was interrupted.
"She means she wants you to watch TV with her and just rest."
Dawn looked up at the speaker, squealed and launched herself back upstairs, crashing into the vampire above.
"Your okay right? Tell me your okay now."
"I'm okay now," Spike said laughing. "And if you don't believe the Big Bad, ask Buffy."
"I know a better way," Dawn said softly.
"Aww come on, Lil Bit, haven't I been through enough torture for now. The fact of Riley getting that close and touching me, never mind biting me, is enough for a century of redemption."
Dawn laughed.
She whispered and was echoed by Buffy.
"Fine…you're off the hook for now, but don't think I won't get my licks in latter."
"What did I do?"
"You made me worry," Dawn said and flounced back downstairs.
"Okay…I get that one," Spike muttered as he watched
"And what about you, missy?"
Buffy laughed and told him,
I'll kick your shiny bum later, Mister. Same reason as Dawn, but I don't have to tell you anything, so you didn't hear that.
Spike laughed and walked downstairs.
Dru emerged seconds later.
She looked around and sighed,
"All the lovely snacks & none to snack on. This is what my poor William must have felt like years ago. Oh my poor dear. Ms. Edith would have had such a wonderful tea party, but she can't. We've been too bad…and we're doomed to be punished…forever and ever."
Willow walked over to Dru, grabbed her hand and pulled her over to the table.
She then handed her some of the human blood Angel had went out and gotten when he saw that Dru & Ashta would be staying for more than a night.
Dru looked at Willow.
Willow just crossed her arms and stared at her.
Dru sighed.
"Yes Lil Red Witch?"
"Family means we work together, you know?"
Dru rolled her eyes.
"I'm serious, If we're gonna work together…I'm gonna have to get over the fact that you've tried to kill us…lots of times. And you're gonna have to get over wanting to kill us, lots of times. We're not all gonna get along…all the time. Mostly, cause we all have issues with each other. But…I'm willing to work it out if you are."
Dru stared at her.
Willow stared back, not letting the Loony Vampire intimidate her.
"If your not gonna get scared, then alright," Dru sighed.
Willow gave a geeky giggle.
"Doesn't mean I want you all over me, though?"
"Oh…you so do not have to worry about that."
Everyone smiled, even Dru.
"So, now that we're all healed,"
Xander said, ignoring the temptation to bug Spike, for he was sure he
remembered what had gone on while he was crazy," What's the next step?"
Everyone looked at Ashta.
She laughed,
"I believe you need to set up, there are things you have to do before you can bring Buffy back to the land of the living…and somewhat living."
"Well I guess it's 'Ritual' time," Spike said.
"Well, as your fond of saying, " Xander told him, unable to avoid messing with him for even a little while," Let's rock and roll."
Spike rolled his eyes, but said nothing.
Xander was a bit disappointed.
I thought he'd say something, he thought.
Only Dawn knew what had happened.
Buffy had reprimanded Spike seconds before Spike had been about to answer.
A threat to tickle was all it took, and they had a nice docile vampire at their disposal. Dawn thought it a pity that no one else knew.
Spike threw her a look that told her that Buffy had let him in on her thought, and she just grinned and winked at him.
Everyone joined the three of them, well, four if you count invisible Buffy, as they walked into the study to look over the scrolls again, in preparation for the Ritual.