Untitled

by Spunkles

Set Directly after the Gift, Season 5 finale, AU Season 6..This is a BS of course :D Chapter 35 is finally up :D

32. The second R: Ritual

The three R's - Restoration, Ritual, & Resurrection

Ritual

            As they walked into the study, Xander decided that Spike ignoring him this way was so not right.  Not after he had to put up with him and his mischievous child-like behavior.

            "So, 'Peroxided Fang', you're much better now, right?  There won't be repeats of the hugging and kissing of me, will there."

            Spike raised his eyes at him.

            "I wouldn't kiss you if someone paid me millions."

            "Well, no one paid you anything & you were all over me.  Called me your 'Special Friend' and…"

            "Oh please…like I'd be all over you.  I'm not falling for that just 'cause I can't remember it."

            "Sure…say anything.  It's not like we'd know if you really remembered anything or not.  But I'm telling the truth…you were so all over me.  Ask Dru if you don't believe me."

            "Stop saying that or I swear I'll push thru the pain & beat you to death."

            "Enough with the death threats, you're not going to hurt me & you know it…your just covering.  Unless you're scared?"

            "Shut your mouth!"

            "Oh…is Big-Bad-Willie-Wanna-Bite-But-Can't scared to find out if it happened as I said.  Scared it might be true?"

            "Like I'm scared of you."

            Xander gave him a Go-Ahead-And-Prove-It look.

            Spike rolled his eyes & sighed, looking over at Dru, who had been following the conversation with delight.

            Spike didn't bother asking, just arched his eyebrow at her, asking her Xander's question with a glance.

            Dru giggled & then said,

            "I'm sorry my poor William, but Monkey Boy speaks the truth."

            Dru began to hum & sway chanting,

            "Hugging, hugging

            Peck on cheek

            How sweet William is

            Special Friend

            Xander is

            To our special William"

            Spike grabbed his stomach,

            "I think I'm going to be sick."

            Spike looked genuinely ill.

            The rest of the crew hollered with laughter, including Angel who had a smile wider than he had shown ever, except for the last couple of days in their presence.

            Xander and Spike continued, as if they hadn't heard the others.

            "How do you think I felt, Fang Breath?  Here I am walking, trying to help by thinking up a good way to bring you back to the 'Land of the Sane', and you kiss & hug me & call me your 'Special Friend."

            "Ugh…stop!  I think I'm going to heave.  That was definitely an over-share.  Couldn't you have left a poor blighter like myself in the blissful state of ignorance?"

            "No way!  If I have to suffer, so do you."

            "Humph."

            "What's that for?"

            "You didn't tell me so you wouldn't have to suffer.  You told me cause you want me and you wanted to remind me how I was over you when I was insane.  Which, I have to say, cause I'm evil & I like being cruel, especially to you, is the only time you would ever have me…ugh…I can't even say it again.  I feel so sick."

            The rest of the crew was laughing so hard a few of them were literally on their hands & knees.

            "Stop…please," Dawn managed to choke out.

            Spike & Xander continued to bicker for a few more minutes neither registering Dawn's words.

            Eventually, Dawn finally burst through Xander & Spike's insult-fest to say,

            "Hey guys…I know you both have issues…and, if we hadn't better things to do, like preparing to bring back my sister, your true love," she said pointing to Spike," and your best friend," she said pointing to Xander," from the dead, I'd let you go on…cause you have the best insults ever.  But, as I said before…we have something to do…and I'm in way too much pain now from laughing so hard."

            Xander looked somewhat sheepish after her speech and muttered, "Sorry."
            Spike, well, he just rolled his eyes, but he agreed that getting Buffy back was top priority.

            "So Watcher…how do we prepare?  Something in those scrolls tell us anything specific?  We got the special Granny Darla Dust, A Key to the Universe, locked inside my precious Sweet Bit, some souled blood, pity we've had to keep the 'Poufy Souled' Vampire with it.  Not forgotten, mind you, my black Princess's chant.  What else do we need?"

            Buffy was too busy laughing to give him a reprimand.

            Xander & Gunn were chuckling on the side.

            Willow, Tara, Ashta & Dru were giggling over everything.

            Giles & Wesley were smiling over the scrolls they had found, their backs to everyone else to appear unaffected by the two boys' insults.

            Dawn giggled & then tried to give Spike one of her sister's expressions, but failed horrible when she collapsed in a fit of giggles.

            Angel said nothing, nor did his expression change.  He merely stepped up & cuffed the back of Spike's head.

            Spike just laughed.

            "Getting soft in your old age Pops?  That didn't hardly hurt…unless that was supposed to be a love tap.   And if it was, gotta say, same thing I told Monkey Boy stands true to you as well…I don't swing that way."

            Giles cut in before anyone else could get a word in,

            "Spike! That's enough.  Please stop goading them.  We still have a bit of work to do."

            Spike sighed as if it was a great hardship for him to do as Giles said & stop teasing Angel & Xander.  But then he said,

            "Fine…alright.  What have you found?"

            "Well thanks to Ashta's involvement and tremendous help we have, by combining all three books and the scroll together, which was a brilliant method that we never would have thought about hadn't it been for Ashta's cunning…
            "Watcher…enough…shorter version please, while the rest of the gang is still young.  We'd like to bring Buffy back sometime this millennia."

            Giles merely glared at him.

            Spike, obviously was unaffected, but started chuckling at something the others didn't hear.  Well, Dawn was laughing too, so Buffy must have said something, the gang figured.

            Dawn, however, beat Spike to it as she pulled out a napkin, and wiped at Giles's cheek, as if wiping up after a small messy child, saying as she did so…"Sorry…you were starting to drool."

            Giles blinked.  And then, lips trembling, he began to laugh. 

            He then said,

            "Very funny Buffy."

            "She says 'She thought so'," Dawn told him with a smile.

            "Can we get to work please?" Wesley asked, trying to assert his authority.

            Spike turned and looked at him with an old and predatory smirk on his face, causing Wesley to take a few steps back, even though he really knew he wasn't in any danger.

            "Who's a puffed up manly man?"

            "Spike..."

            "Aww come on Red."

            "Just cause your new to the side of the good...well...not really new...but you know what I mean...anyway...just cause your new-ish...doesn't mean you get to tease Wesley, Spike."

            That's my fun and mine only, well...mine and Faith's that is.  It's a Slayer privilege.

            "Still not fair pet.  He's so ripe with paranoia...can't I just play a little longer?"  Spike asked with his gameface on, his voice sounding with childish glee.

            "Spike...you see my face...you know what it means."

            "Oh balls...not the resolve face." 

            His face quickly melted back to its human visage.

            Xander laughed.

            "You got the resolve face...you got the resolve face."

            Spike growled at him.

            "Children!" Angel growled loudly enough to shake the house.

            Everyone stood still and turned to look at the older vampire.

            "We still have work to do...Wesley…what have you found?"

            Even Wesley had to shake himself out of his daze.

            "W...We need to go to Sunnydale...and locate an article called the ...hold on," he said, looking through the papers on his desk.  "Oh yes...here it is...we need the book on the Order of the Sasketl Lustoria."

            "And what is that?"

            "It's a book that we need to have...according to Ashta...and the scrolls we've found...once Buffy returns...changes will in fact happen to most of us.  This book… on the Order will tell us more about such changes."

            "Do you know where in Sunnyhell the bloody book is?"

            "Well…no…but I'm sure it's not going to be very hard to find it."

            Xander sighed, "And since you say that…it means it's going to be impossible to find."

            The rest of the Sunnydale crew nodded.

            "Xander, why don't you call Anya and see if she has any contacts who may be able to get a location of this book."

            "Alright, but you're gonna have to come with me G-man…you know I'm not sure of the name of the special book."

            "Sure," Giles didn't even bother to correct him; he and Xander left the room.

            Spike was giving Willow puppy eyes.

            "You can turn off those 'I'm-a-good-boy' eyes mister…I know you're not as innocent as you'd like me to believe…and the resolve face stands.  You and Dawn can start packing your stuff up…and just cause I can't talk to Buffy…well…I can talk and she can hear me, but I can't answer her back…which really sucks and…"at Spike's exaggerated look she said," anyway…I'll be up in a minute to check if your goofing off or not."

            "Jeez Red…I'm not a bloody teenager," Spike said, stomping off up the stairs towards his room, muttering, loudly, to himself.

            Dawn followed him, stopping on the top of the steps and looking back down at the remaining members of their group as Spike continued down the hall.

            "He might not be…but he sure acts like one," She said before leaving the railing and continuing down towards her room.

            "I heard that!" Spike yelled back to the rest of them.

            'I know," came Dawn's laughing reply.

            They heard Spikes growl and Dawn's laughter come down the hall

            After they heard the last of Dawn's laughter, Willow looked at Dru and Dru looked at Willow.

            "Well…I was gonna say you should go pack as well…for your coming back to Sunnydale with us, whether you want to or not, so don't bother protesting."

            Dru, who had been about to do just that, closed her mouth and pouted silently.

            "As I was saying, " Willow continued, "I just realized you didn't have any clothes…to pack…well, no clothing here, that is.  Hmm…Oh…I know.  You can borrow something of mine."

            Dru gave her a rare lucid look that would rival Cordelia's, had the situation been switched around and Cordy had been asked to wear Willow's clothing.

            Dru then said, slowly, but emphatically, "I…think…not."
           

            Fred & Cordy laughed outright, before they could get their giggles under control.

            Gunn, Wes, & Angel just smiled.

            Tara tried to hide her smile, but you could see she was amused if you looked into her eyes, at the same time, she tried to show her support for Willow.

            Willow, however, was looking slightly offended.

            "And what's wrong with my clothing?" she asked.

            "Oh no Sweetie, I'm sure she didn't mean it like that," Tara said, trying to calm her love down.

            At the same moment, Cordelia snickered,

            "Jeez Wil, please don't go there. Not that you haven't improved, tremendously, from high school, but…well…you're no fashion model.  An don't start getting weepy about it, it's just the way things are."

            Dru nodded in total agreement.

            Willow growled…so low that only those nearby her could hear it, her eyes, however, turned black as her fury rose.

            "Whoa…Willow…no need for that.  I'm sure Cordy was going somewhere, hopefully not too offensive, with her line."

            Cordelia shrugged.

            She hadn't been at the battle, so she really wasn't to know what Willow was capable of.  Nor was she looking Willow's way.  She had bent over to pick up some fallen papers & had missed seeing Willow's telltale power up signs.

            She answered Gunn, with her back still to them,

            "Well of course I was.  Fred & I'll take Dru shopping with us…there were some lovely boutiques on the strip that we missed earlier this morning.  We should be able to find something that'll work for Dru."

            Wesley looked at Dru, "Is that good enough for you?"

            Dru sneered at him, flashing a bit of her fangs.

            "Pity it's not a dinner date…my tummy's starting to make all gurgle-y noises…wriggling like a worm caught on a lovely hook."

            Wesley gave her a blank stare, Dru sighed & then said, "I'm feeling a mite peckish."

            Angel moved to Dru's side, handing her a mug of warm pig's blood.

            Dru sniffed at the blood & made an "Eww" face.

            "Drink it down Dru.  No killing allowed while you're visiting.  And I know you need to feed, but I'll not tolerate any murders.

            "I must dine off rats & animals…must you be so cruel to me father?"
            Angel rolled his eyes and then said,

            "Enough with the dramatics Dru.  Two of the four vampires currently in the hotel right now survive well enough on animal blood…you can as well."

            "But you let me have human blood before…only earlier today…why can't I have that now as well?"
            "Cause we're out…and this is what we have in stock. So drink up."

Dru made another thoroughly disgusted face, but drank down the mug, for she was hungry.

            Gunn couldn't believe it, but he was starting to feel sorry for Dru.

            He didn't comment on it however.

            "W…w…well…m…maybe if she doesn't kill anyone…s…she could still feed from them, right?" Tara asked.

            Dru threw her a grateful look; obviously the drinking of animal blood was to be tolerated only in dire emergencies.

            "Yeah…I guess that would be fine…but...how do you get them…hmm…what's the word…oh yeah…willing?  How many folks do you know that would willingly let her bite their necks & trust that she wouldn't get carried away and drain them dry?"

            "Oh…well…see Gunn…besides having accurate visions, our little Druscilla here, has a great thrall thing going on.  Used to come in handy I can tell you."

            Angel had a far away pleasant look on his face, which had Cordelia, Fred, Gunn, & Wesley giving him odd looks while Dru giggled happily.  Willow & Tara merely raised their eyebrows & Willow was reminded by Angel's expression of Angelus's trademark smirk

            "Of course, " Angel continued as if he hadn't paused, "that was back in the day…decades ago & will you all stop staring at me as if I've grown another head."

            "Sorry…man…it's just…"

            "It kinda looked like…"

            "We got the impression that…"

            "Guys…spit it out."

            "My darling Daddy was peeking thru."

            "That's what I was thinking…yeah."

            "Me too."

            "Same here."

            Angel rolled his eyes.

            "Think of it as if I had mentioned chocolate."

            The crew merely gave him more looks of the same.  Dru laughed and started twirling around…laughing cause she was amused and the fear from one or two of the gang felt wonderful to her.

            Willow blinked & then shook her head, whatever, if anything, she was going to say discarded as she decided against mentioning it.

            "I think…I'm going to go pack…enjoy your shopping trip," Willow said, heading for the stairs.

            Tara smiled & waved to all.

            "I…I'm gonna go and help her…and pack for myself too, of course."

            As she started up the stairs, Dru called after her.

            "I'll show you what I get."

            Tara looked back at her & smiled.

            "I…I can't wait.  Have fun shopping."

            Dru nodded.

The rest of the remaining group members watched the exchange with wonder…except for Ashta, for she understood what was going on.

When Tara had cleared the top step & disappeared towards her & Willow's room, Dru turned back around to the rest of the group.

"And six remain with wonder on their faces & worry in their hearts."

"Well…I'd say that's an understatement."

Dru laughed, but didn't bother to explain.

"When the stars come out to play, come get me for our…trip.  It's still too bright out & I need a nap."

With this said, Dru turned and swept majestically back towards her room.

She walked without looking back once.

Gunn just shook his head.

Wesley said, " I wonder what that was all about?"

"During the battle, did either one of you, Angel or Gunn, hear what Dru called Tara?" Ashta asked them.

Angel shook his head, "I didn't hear any names or words…only time I saw Dru was right before we all joined together and when we were done and leaving."

"Um…I remember.  It was when Willow & Tara were shielding us on the second floor from those demons and Dru came up behind us and stared into Tara's eyes.  Right before we joined you and Spike on the top floor.  She called her…I think it had to do with…something about kindred.

Ashta nodded & then explained,

"Lost souls sometimes recognize one another, Dru in that state & with her visions feels like Tara is like a…umm...kindred spirit."

The rest of the group nodded, now looking as if they understood.

Ashta nodded & then said,

"I'll be in my room."

She then disappeared.  Most the remaining group looked around, trying to figure out what had happened to her.

Only Wesley was unshocked, having witnessed it before.  He told the rest of them,

"She teleported…that's all."

"Okay…"Gunn said.  "I'm gonna go pack my stuff up as well.  We're leaving tomorrow night, right?"

Angel nodded.

"Okay, let me go visit my boys first then.  I'll be back later."

He waved bye to the still assembled & then left the hotel.

Angel turned and headed towards his room…"I'm going to go take a nap."

Cordy looked around at the mostly empty lobby, for very few members of the two groups remained.

"Well, talk about a place clearing out.  Well, since everyone else leaving, I'm going to go home and take nice long bubble bath & pamper myself like I deserve to be pampered.  I'll be back after sunset to take the girls shopping.  Tah-tah."

 Wesley & Fred looked at each other.

"So…are you going up to your room?" Wesley asked her.

"No…my room…although nice…cause it's not a big cave in a demon dimension…still…there's really nothing to do in my room…so I'd rather stay down here.  Maybe I could help you out with something…I know lots of stuff, theories, relativities, continuums, etc.  I could be useful…and don't mind if I'm a little weird, cause…well…talking among cows…I mean humans…on Pylea wasn't really encouraged and then I escaped and spent a good time in my own cave, so there wasn't any other cows, I mean humans, around."

Wesley listened to her speech with a smile on his face.

"I'm sure you'll be of much help.  I'm merely waiting on Giles & Xander to return and tell me what Anya said."

Fred nodded & went to sit down

A few minutes later, Xander & Giles came back in the room.

"Did Anya know where the book is located?" Wesley asked Giles.

"No…but she still has some demon contacts who haven't turned their backs on her.  She's gonna check with them and she'll tell us more later."

"If that's all…then what took you so long," Wesley asked.

"I had to endure their quotes of undying love."

The look on Giles face showed just how unpleasant that was for him.

Fred giggled & Wesley smiled.

Xander shrugged.

"Girls dig the Xand-man…so deal."

Giles rolled his eyes.

"Xander…"

"Yes…"

"Go pack…or go…be somewhere else."

Xander laughed.

Looking around he said, "Hey…where did everyone go?"

"Angel & Ashta went to their own rooms, Spike, Willow, Tara, & Dawn went to pack, Gunn will probably return tomorrow…he went to see his friends, Cordelia went home to pamper herself, & me and Wesley were waiting for you."

Xander smiled at Fred before waving.

"Okay…I'm off to pack then…maybe stop by Spike & Dawn's room to bug Spike."

As he said it, Xander rubbed his hands together at the thought of bothering Spike.

"Yeah…that's a good plan.  See y'all." He bounded the steps two at a time and ran towards Spike & Dawn's room.

Giles shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"God help us all if Spike decides to kill the boy."

"Are you sure you wouldn't be rooting for Spike?"

"That's almost what I meant, Wesley?"

Wesley smiled.

"That wouldn't happen," Fred said.

Giles looked towards the girl he hadn't even noticed was still in the room.

"It's probably true, but how would you know…you don't really know them.  Are they that transparent?"
"No…it's just that they seem like they're friends…well…the kind where they don't want each other, or anyone else, to know that they like each other, but they'd look out for one another.  And…I was also thinking about the fact that your slayer, Buffy, since she's communicating with Spike, wouldn't let Spike do anything to hurt Xander.  I mean, he's her best friend, right?  And since Spike loves her, he wouldn't want to upset her by killing her best friend.  I don't think she'd ever forgive that.  Do you?  And last, but not least, You mentioned before about Spike's chip…or Spike mentioned something about his chip…the one you said the government put in there to stop him from killing humans.  Well, wouldn't that fire if he tried to harm Xander?"

Giles blinked.

Having never really spoken to, or been around to hear, Fred speak to anyone, he was kind of taken back at both her speed and her manner.

He then shook his head thinking, 'It's like talking to a super-hyper Willow from 10th grade.'

Wesley, also still getting used to Fred, but much more experienced in dealing with her, smiled.

Giles finally answered her,

"I think you're probably correct…it's Winifred, isn't it?"

"Yeah, but everyone usually calls me Fred.  I don't mind, really?  Feel free to call me that too."

"Okay Fred."

Fred smiled at him.

"Okay…well, it looks like you too want to talk, so I'll …I'll go find something to do until my shopping trip.  I'll probably be right out in the small garden.  I'm really handy when it comes to books and theories and such, so if you need me, give me a holler and I'll come running.  Specially if you really do holler…cause that usually means something bad is coming or has come and is attacking or about to attack and …okay…I'm going now."

With a small smile and a wave, she left the hotel lobby.

Wesley & Giles shared a smile.

Then Wesley asked him," So…what did you find out?"
"Same thing I told you when we walked in a few minutes ago."

"That was it…I thought maybe you just didn't want to tell us anything because Xander was standing right there."

"Xander's old enough to take everything they need to hear…they've been taking much more than that for years.  Anyway, Anya promised to attempt to get as much information as she possibly could before we get there tomorrow night."

"So what should we do now?" Wesley asked him.

"Well…I'm going to pack up my things…make sure Xander isn't torturing Spike too much…help you pack up the books we need & any other books and articles we've found on Buffy's resurrection & then get some much needed rest before we start our journey back to Sunnydale tomorrow night."

Wesley smiled at him.

"Sounds like a sound plan.  I'll go pack up a few things I may need if I'm going to stay for a few days in Sunnydale.  You could probably use some extra help."

Giles laughed.

When Wesley gave him an odd look, he said,

"You mentioned something about help."

"Yes," Wesley said, clearly not understanding.

"Help…in Sunnydale," Giles was really laughing now.

Wesley, still clueless was just about to ask him another question when Spike came flying down the stairs, dragging Xander with him.

He shoved him towards Giles, with a slight wince as the chip zapped him a little for his roughness.

"Keep this bloody blighter away from me for I decide to lighten our load home, Watcher."

"Xander…"

"I wasn't doing anything Giles.  You know I wasn't…I was only…talking to Dawn.

Yeah that's it."

Spike growled, Dawn who had followed them; reached them just in time, throwing herself into Spike's arms…holding him away from Xander, barely.

Spike growled down at Dawn as well, but Dawn just put her hands against his chest.

"We were packing Spike…let's go back upstairs."

"In a minute luv…me and Monkey Boy here have a 'lil business first."

"Oh I can so take you."

"Is that a fact," Spike sidestepped Dawn, catching her and pushing her towards Wesley before she could fall to the ground.  He was in Xander's face within seconds.

Before Giles, Dawn, once she recovered her balance, or Wesley could say or do anything, a huge magical force picked up both Spike & Xander and flung them to opposite sides of the room. 

Everyone looked up towards the top of the stairs.

Willow came downstairs, eyes black.

"I've warned you boys before."

Both Xander & Spike sighed…both knowing a lecture about getting along was coming.

"He started it," Spike said sullenly.

"I'm sure he did," Willow said, eyes going back to normal. "But you're supposed to be the bigger man, you know.  I love him, but he's immature, I know…but sometimes, you're not that much better.  I swear…you two are like five year olds sometimes."

Twin shouts of, "Hey!" were heard.

Dawn giggled.

Giles smiled.

Wesley just looked shocked.  He had never seen Willow like that before…and was awed & fearful at the same time over the power he had seen her emanating only a few seconds before.

Willow looked over at Xander.

"Leave him alone for a bit, Xander.  One of these days your gonna push him too far."

Xander sighed & then began to protest.

"Uh huh…you see my face, you know what it means."

Spike laughed and then, just as Xander had done earlier started chanting,

"You got the resolve face, you got the resolve face."

"Spike!"

Spike looked at Willow.

"Oh come on Red…he did it to me and none of you said balls about it.  I can't bite the wanker…you'd think you'd give me something to un-live for."

"Spike…you both need to get along.  We're all fighting on the same side and you see each other all the time…and are going to for years."

Spike and Xander both rolled their eyes.

"Enough with the Alpha male complex, the both of you.  Now…shake hands and make up."

Spike gave Willow a look.

Xander sputtered silently.

Dawn rubbed her hands together with delight.  She was truly enjoying this.

Spike glanced warily at Xander, while Xander glanced warily at Spike.

"Come on you two…no one's leaving this lobby until you make up."

Spike gave a defeated & exaggerated sigh before getting up and walking towards Xander.

Xander pulled himself up and walked towards Spike.

Giles was reminded of watching an old American Western show.  He was kinda amazed that a classic tune wasn't playing as the two came face-to-face with one another.

Spike spoke first.

"Red says we need to make up.  I, personally, couldn't care less if you were ripped limb-to-limb by the worst demon there ever was. But, for the happiness of my slayer, I'm willing to give it a go.  If you don't annoy me, I'll try to keep out of your way.  Mind you, if you insult me…you'll get as good as you give.  Keep annoying me…and if I can't bloody well kill you myself, I'll find a way.  Got it?"
Xander answered,

"Yeah…I get it.  And if you ever hurt any of the people I love and care about, first I'll torture you…with fire, holy water & crosses in a manner fitting the worst of your kind, and then I'll stake you…as you say…good and proper.  As for insulting you…do I really need to answer that?"

Spike rolled his eyes and Xander nodded.

Wesley whispered to Giles.

"Is that making up?"

"For those two…I'd say that it was."

"Then how come they're not moving?"

"We're trying Wesley…we can't.  Willow?"
"I believe I said 'Shake hands and make up'.  I heard your pitiful version of the make up…but we're still waiting to witness the shaking of hands."

Xander and Spike groaned.

"Red…"

"Willow..."

"No whining…just shake hands."

"I'm not shaking his hands…I might get cooties."

"Like I know where you're hands have been."

"Mine are clean."

"So are mine."

"Still don't want to touch you..."

"The feeling's mutual, Nancy."

Xander ignored him and continued.

"…But since I have to."

He then put out his hand towards Spike.

Spike gripped Xander's hand with his own.

Both pulled their hands away and looked at Willow.

"We shook…now release us Red."

"I'm so proud of you both," Willow said with an old geeky squeak.

As soon as they could move away, Xander & Spike moved as far away from each other as they could.

Willow called to Spike.

"Are you done packing yet Spike?"
"No mother…I'm not.  I was interrupted by the Twit."

Willow chose to ignore Spike's wording…she knew he was pissed cause she reprimanded him.

Willow looked towards Xander.

"Is this true?"
"Wills…you see…this is what happened. I was walking down the hall when I heard what I though was Dawn screaming…"

"Oh no you don't…don't pull me into your lie Xander."

"No…that's not…I'm saying I thought it was you…so I ran into your room and then I knew it wasn't.  But then Spike insulted me…and well…you know how we get."

Spike just gave Xander an incredulous look.

"You expect her to believe that?"

"It's the truth."

"In what dimension?"

"In this one."

"Dawn?"
"I'm sorry Xander…but that's not what happened and you know it."
"I thought we were close Dawn."

"We are…but I'm not going to let you bully Spike…or get away with telling a horribly lame lie to cover yourself."

"Alright , alright…I bugged him…and I'll do it again."

They all laughed…even Xander and Spike cracked a smile.

Dawn pushed Spike towards the stairs.

"Look Bitty Buffy…I can walk on my own you know."

"Go finish packing Spike…I'm done…so I'm gonna go visit Ashta…she's probably in her room."

Spike growled at her, for pushing him towards the stairs, and Dawn blew him a kiss, to show him she knew he was only fronting. 

Spike shook his head and headed back up the stairs towards their room, without another word.

"Be careful Dawn," Wesley told her.  "Dru's in there as well."

"Oh Dru won't hurt me," Dawn said as she headed down towards their room. "I'm family now."

Wesley just shook his head.

Everyone else sort of looked at each other and then separated…each heading towards their own rooms to do their bit of preparing for their upcoming trip.

******

Minutes later, Dawn knocked on Dru & Ashta's door.

Dru opened it.

"Hey, Is Ashta in?"
Dru pointed towards the Ashta's bedroom. 

"She's in there."

"Thanks."

"Aren't you even a little scared of me?"

"Not anymore.  Your family…you're not allowed to hurt me."

"Pity."

"Yeah…well lament all you like…still can't hurt me and can you do my hair?  I love that style but I don't know how to do it."

"My mummy did my style all the time…a new doll to play with.  Okay."

"Thanks."

Knocking on Ashta's door, she entered when bidden.

She found Ashta sitting in the middle of the room, what appeared to be a glowing orb floating directly in front of her.

"Hey Ashta…what's that?"
"A surprise."

"For who?"
"For you."

"Me…why would you have a surprise for me?"
"It's to help. You'll understand later."

Dawn reached towards it…but found she couldn't grasp it.

"Umm…Ashta. I can't touch it."

Ashta laughed.

"Well of course not silly, it's not ready yet."

"Oh…well you could have told me."

"But I wanted to see if you'd be brave enough to reach for it."

"Oh…so I passed?"

"That you did."

"Yay me."

Ashta laughed and the two girls began to talk like long standing friends about any and everything, Dawn forgetting about the glowing ball and Ashta just not saying anything about it.

After some time…Dru came into Ashta's room and styled first Ashta's & then Dawn's hair into her favorite style.

The girls giggled over how gorgeous their hair was…and then praised Dru.

Dru merely rolled her eyes as she left the room, but they could tell she enjoyed their praises.

Minutes later, Dru came back into the room.  She looked at Ashta and said,

"I'm leaving now."
Ashta nodded.

Dawn looked at her.

"Where are you going?"
"Shopping."
"Can I come?"
"I'm going with Cordelia."

"Never mind."

Dru and Ashta laughed.

"Don't you like Cordelia?" Ashta asked her.

"Well yeah…it's just. I'd rather not shop with Cordy. She gets kinda…hmm…how should I put this nicely…obsessive is close to the word."

Dru grimaced.

"Don't worry Dru…she seems much less…drill sergeant-y lately. I'm sure she won't be so bad.  And…someone else will probably be going too, right?"

Dru nodded.

"The strange one…Fred…said she'd go."

"Oh…well Fred's nice…kinda like a hyper Willow…but sweet and very nice."

"Yes…lovely," Dru said, her face showing just what she thought of being with someone sweet and nice.

"I'm sure Cordy will make all sorts of funny comments about other people…and who knows…your bound to find something you'd like to wear."

Dru just shrugged and headed out of the room.

Ashta and Dawn looked at each other and then with a wicked smile between them, launched out of the room, running at top speed, well, Dawn's top speed, to catch up to them.

They skidded to the top of the entryway just as Dru had reached the lobby.

They then crouched down on the stairs, to listen and giggle.

Angel came upstairs and walked over to Dru.

"Be good."

"Do I have too?"

"Yes."

"Pity that. Such a lovely night for playing with guts and garters."

"Not tonight Dru.  You're only going out to get some clothes. Otherwise you'd be on lock down."

At Dru's happy look Angel sighed.

"I didn't mean that…I just meant that you'd be stuck inside the hotel."

Dru's downcast look caused the two above to burst into laughter.

***

Seconds later, a much happily pampered Cordelia walked thru the hotel lobby doors.

"Alright…who's ready to shop?" She said.

Dru groaned.

Fred came down the stairs a moment later.

"I'm ready. Shall we go?"
"We shall," Cordelia answered.  She walked over to Angel and held out her hands.

"What? I already paid for this week Cordelia."

"Yeah…if you really call that payment.  But alas, I'm not holding out my hands for money…I want your keys."

"My keys to what?"

Cordelia rolled her eyes. She wasn't buying his look of innocence.  He knew what she was asking for.

"If I'm taking them out…I want your car to do it to."

"Last time you took out my car, you got it stolen."

"And I got it back for you."

"You did?"

"Well…me and Gunn. "

"That was it?"
"And you helped…and so did Wes I believe…but you can't possibly use this as a reason why I can't use your car."

"Why not?"

"It was YEARS ago, for one.  And, unless you want to be shepherding us around to every store we set our sights on all night…hold up…that could work.  Never mind. You're coming…and your driving. Thanks for volunteering Angel.  We'll be waiting in the car."

Cordelia strolled out the door before Angel had a chance to say anything.

Fred giggled and taking her by the arm, pulled Dru out to the waiting car.

Angel, still amazed at how everything had turned into one horrible waking nightmare for him, stood stock still for a moment.

Cordelia pressing on the car's horn jarred him into action though.

He walked to the closest beam and banged his head against it. 

The two girls on the top landing heard one word repeated again and again, "Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid."

They giggled again.

Angel threw them a glare, having known they were up there since he came upstairs.

The car's second loud honk caused him to groan, giving up in defeat, and head out to the car to be the driver.

After he had left, the girls laughed out loud.

Spike, making his presence known said loudly,

"Well that was bloody worth it.  Know he knows what I've known all the time."

The two startled girls jumped…and then asked,

"W…what does he know?"

"That he's stupid of course.  The smart thing to do would have been to let the cheerleader have the keys and if she wrecks the bloody car, consider himself lucky."

The girls laughed.

"Now…who's up for watching Passions with me?"

"No way," Dawn said.

"What's Passions?" Ashta asked.

Spike just gave her a grin as he pulled them both into his and Dawn's shared room to watch the taped show.

After the show, Dawn shook her head.

"I can't believe you watch this all the time."

"What? It's a great show. Bloody brilliant."

"It so is not."

"I thought it wasn't bad," Ashta said.

Spike grinned & Dawn groaned.

Spike laughed harder.

"When we get to Sunnydale…I'll let you see some of the other's I have on tape if you want."

Ashta nodded.

"I'd like that.  But it has to be before the resurrection."

"Oh…cause we'll all be so busy afterwards, huh?  Well…that's fine. It'll probably take a day or two to track down that bloody book anyway…and if Anya can't find it from her contacts, I'll use mine."

"I thought the demons in Sunnydale hated you, Spike?"

"They do, Nibblet…but that doesn't mean I can't make them tell me.  Just cause I can't hurt humans, doesn't mean that demons get off without a lick."

Ashta and Dawn laughed together.

Angel came into the room a few minutes later and asked them what they were watching.

"We just finished watching Passions Peaches…"

"You were supposed to come and get me for that, Spike."

"Right…I forgot…I got… sidetracked."

"Yeah right."

Spike just smirked…but didn't deny it.

Angel decided that Spike had had enough fun with him.  He avoided playing Spike's game and asked him.

"So…what are you doing here anyway?  I thought you were out shepherding Dru, the cheerleader & the Taco-Lover.  I know there's no way that they would be done already."

"They're not…I just happen to know Cordy well.  And believe me…she doesn't want me hanging around all night.  She was just playing with me for her own amusement.  I dropped them off on the strip…I'll go back and get them when she calls."

" Hmm…" was Spike's only answer.

Both Vamps looked at each other…and then looked away.  Neither knowing how they should past the time before they left.  Neither was the 'Watcher' type…so looking at the scrolls would be pointless and frustrating for both.  Both were also the  ' Action Type' guys…so the sitting and waiting thing was driving them to distraction. 

Finally Angel looked over at Spike…who had this 'What-the-hell-do-I-do-now' look on his face.

"So…you wanna train?"
"Oh yeah."

Spike leapt up and followed Angel down towards the training room Angel had set up in one of his basement rooms.

The girls, since they had nothing planned, followed them.

Neither man minded the girls tagging along.  It would keep them out of trouble…and they could keep watch on them without worrying.

As soon as they walked through the basement doors, Angel started stripping down…he took off his outer shirt and shoes and socks. Spike scoffed…but did take off his shoes and socks and handed his duster to Dawn.

Dawn smiled as she slipped it on.

Spike gave her a look.

"Don't get to comfortable Nibblet…I'm not giving you that for good."

Dawn just gave him a wicked smile.

Spike shook his head and decided to ignore it.

He turned his attention back to Angel, who had his back to him as he was pacing.

Angel stated," Okay…we should set some rules up.  Rule number one…"

Angel was interrupted as he went flying across the room and crumpled to the floor.

Spike laughed.

"Rule number one…pops…is don't give me the advantage of turning your back on me."

Angel got up and growled.

"I was setting some guidelines, you know."

"Only one guideline needed Peaches," Spike said as the two of them circled one another.

"We don't get to kill each other."

"Pity," was all Angel said before he struck out and tripped Spike.

Spike laughed and rolled out of the way before Angel could get close enough to do any damage to him.

"Moving slow in your old age, Pops.  There once was I time I couldn't get up quick enough for you."

Angel did a quick move, causing Spike to jump to his left, Angel, who had been waiting for just that, launched a roundhouse kick, catching Spike in the head and knocking him across the floor.

"Bloody hell!"

Angel just laughed.

"How quick am I now…boy."

"I'll show you a boy," Spike said as he advanced on Angel, murder in his eyes.

"Temper, temper William," Angel mocked him.

Spike stopped inches from Angel…vampiric gameface at the forefront.

He cocked his head to the left, as if listening to something and his vampiric face melted back into his handsome human one.

Angel simply said,

"No help from the ghostly group, please."

Ashta and Dawn giggled and said, together, "She's not even in here."

Angel's head had turned their way when they had spoke…he turned back towards Spike.

"Then what…Hey!!"

Spike was nowhere to be seen.

Angel looked around, turning in a circle.

Still, there was no trace of Spike.

'There's no way he could have moved away that fast,' He thought to himself. 'Wouldn't I have heard him?' Angel wasn't sure…but he was looking around…and wasn't sure where

Spike had went…. but he knew he was still in the room.  He could still smell him.

He decided taunting him would work just as well.

"Jeez Spikey…I didn't know you wanted to play hide-and-go-seek.  What's wrong…got scared of playing a Man's game?"

What usually worked to piss Spike off had absolutely no effect this time.

Spike had obviously learned to control his quick temper a bit.

'Damn', he said under his breath.

He tried again.

"I didn't come to play games Spike…we're supposed to be fighting…honing our skills.  You know…of which mine are way better than yours are.  We were doing great…me kicking your butt. I was having a blast…don't tell me you weren't."

Still no Spike anywhere.

Angel had looked everywhere in the room…but he still didn't know where the boy had disappeared to.

Angel was about to turn and walk towards the girls when he noticed a slight whizzing sound.

Just as he turned towards the origin of the sound, he was bowled over and knocked backwards by the force of Spike flying through the air & tackling him to the ground.

Spike sprang up and sauntered off…giving the girls a wicked smile.

Spike then looked at the groaning Angel, who was still too stunned to get to his feet.

Spike gave a chuckle and said, "How was that for a man's game, Pops?"

Angel shook his head and looked up at him.

"Where the hell did you go?"

Spike just shook his head.

"I'm not telling you Peaches…what if I had to fight you again…I'm just gonna do it again…and why would I tell you anything anyway. Take all the fun out of my knocking you for four why don't ya."

Ashta and Dawn were just laughing.

Angel turned to look at them.

"You know where he was hiding, don't you?"

"Oh yeah."

Angel rolled his eyes.

Spike smirked.

Angel picked himself up slowly…he was still a little shaken from the tumble.

"Say Pops," Spike said, vampiric face in place and an old smirk on his lips, "I thought we were gonna fight. Did ya change your mind?  You know…if yours still works, that is.  Senility could be runnin' rampant in that poncy 'ead of yours."

The girls' squeals of laughter and Angel's roar floated up the stairs and to the front hall where Willow and Tara were looking for them. The two smiled at each other and followed the sounds of cheers until they came upon Dawn and Ashta.

By the time Willow & Tara had reached them, the two had stopped watching the two vampires fight and were talking softly instead.

Willow noticed that Dawn was wearing Spike's duster.

She leaned over and said softly, although she knew the vampire could hear her,

"Hey Dawn…can I try it on?"
"Doesn't this coat suit me, Willow? I should have it, shouldn't I?"

"You keep your kleptomaniac hands away from my duster, Missy," Spike yelled at her from below, without breaking in his fighting stride," Get it through your head…you are borrowing it."

"Oh yeah…I'm borrowing it.  And I'll borrow it more often than not," Dawn said, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

"I'll lock you in the closet," Spike promised her.

"And I'll tell Xander all about how t----"

"That's bloody not fair Bit…you promised!"

Spike was so distracted, about his duster; he turned away from Angel and was felled by Angel's spinning kick as a result.       

"Better pay better attention Spikey, my boy.  You should have been able to side step that move easily."

Spike glared at him.

Then he turned back to Dawn, who was giggling silently.

"I mean it Bit."

"I know you do…but you love me Spike…so you'll let me wear your duster…won't you?"
Spike growled at her…but Dawn noticed he didn't say no.

She blew him a kiss.

Spike rolled his eyes and turned back to Angel.

"Kicking a man when he's distracted 'Soul Boy'…now…how could your happy-shiny-holier-than-thou-soul let you get away with that?"

"Guess you better teach me some manners then, Spike."

The two started towards each other, gamefaces in place. 

Before either one could get a good kick or punch in however, they were interrupted by Xander's loud entrance.

"Guys…are you down here? Oh good," Xander said as he looked down and saw them," You are…Anya found the book.  She's keeping it at the Magic Box for us."

"Is that all she said, Xander?" Angel asked him.

Xander's face turned red, but he replied, " That's all she had to say."

Spike snorted as he put his shoes and shirt back on.

"Probably mentioned how much she was missing you and that you needed to get home so that we could bring Buffy back and so she …and of course you… could have lots and lots of sex when you got home.  Not to mention, she mentioned something about fondling the money."

Willow didn't think it was possible, but Xander actually turned a deeper shade of red.

The girls started giving shouts of laughter, while Angel chuckled.  Spike smirked and pausing only briefly to twirl Dawn around, removing his duster from her shoulders in a smooth and quick fashion before settling it around himself, headed up to where Xander was waiting.

"I take it Watcher and Wanna-be-Watcher sent you to find us for a Scooby meeting?"

Xander nodded, he said nothing…mostly cause he wasn't sure if he should be embarrassed or pissed off at Spike.

Spike nodded.

"Well then…lead on. We're following."

Xander just turned around and Spike followed him.

Angel, who had dressed as well, followed the girls out and into the lobby level.

Wesley and Giles were waiting for them in the main part of the lobby. 

Tara was watching TV with Gunn.

Willow, Ashta, & Dawn sat down next to Tara & Gunn.

Wesley spoke to the others.

"Anya has located the book."

"Yeah…Xander told us."

"Okay…well..."

"So we found the book…or rather Anya found a way to get the book.  Anyway…so what does this mean?"

"It means we're headin' back to Sunnyhell…cause it's almost resurrection time."

"What did Anya say the book said?"

"She said she couldn't read it," Giles told them.

"How could she not read it?"
"She can't open it."

"Is there a lock on it? If so…why doesn't she just break it? Or shouldn't there be a key with it?"

"It's not that kind of lock Xander. The lock is mystical. Only a few of the chosen can open it.  And I don't know much about what kind of power this book has.  Perhaps it's a good thing that Anya wasn't able to pry it open."

The rest of the crew nodded their heads and then Wesley turned and called over to the group watching TV.

"Ashta?"

Ashta trotted over to them.

"You called?"
'Yes. Anya says that she can't open the book. Should we prepare ourselves against it?  Is the book powerful, harmful?

"Yes."

"Oh my…"

"Yes the book is powerful…no, it's not harmful…well, not harmful to you. As for why Anya can't open it…while she is on the side to which the book shall not defend itself on, she is not one of the chosen…she can't open it."

"Oh…well…that's better than what we were thinking," Xander said.

"What this ritual we need to prepare?" Spike asked.

"The book is the ritual, Adversary."

"Am I your enemy then?" Spike said, walking towards her in his predatory way.

Ashta laughed, obviously not bothered by it.

"Of course not silly.  I didn't mean it like that.  I call you by what you once where…merely cause you don't wish me to call you by what you are."

"And what's that."

Ashta smiled.

"Why champion of course."

Xander laughed…thinking she was messing with him.

When no one else laughed and all turned and looked at him, he said,

"Oh you've got to be kidding me. He's a champion?"

Spike's smirk was all the taunting he needed to do.

"Well that's just great. Five years as a side man and now a evil-soulless demon is more of a champion than I am."

"You've heard me call him that before," Ashta said simply.

"Yeah…I know…but I was repressing the memory," Xander replied.

The rest of the group shook their heads, then turned back to Ashta.

"I don't think I quite follow you," Giles said, taking off his glasses to clean them and then replacing them, " Did you just say that the book is the ritual?"

"Yes, the book, the blood, the dust, the key to the worlds, and you all."

"How is that a ritual?"
"What you did not understand was that you had to follow your tasks in specific order."

"But we didn't know that. What if we hadn't?"

"You have…or it would not have been done.  You would have not been able to collect each item, unless they were in the proper order."

"Well…that's just strange."

Ashta smiled.

"Each one of the chosen was given specific tasks…and they completed them.  Otherwise…the book would not have allowed itself to been found. Your ritual started long before your two groups came together…and has continued until just now. "

"Wow."

"Yes, wow."

Before anyone else could have made a sound, they were interupted by a loud ringing noise. Angel sighed and reached inside his jacket and pulled out his cell phone.

"Angel.  Okay.  You ran out of money, didn't you? All right already.  Are you done?  Okay…I'm coming to get you then."

He hung up his cell phone and then said to all," I'm going to get the girls now.  We'll be back in about thirty-to-forty minutes.  Is that enough time?"

"I'm all packed."

"Me too."

"Me as well."

"Done."

Most of the others just nodded.

"Okay…I'm done too…so when we come back…we'll help the girls and then we'll head out."

As Angel headed out…Xander said," Once again…'Bossy the Cow' has spoken."

As Spike laughed, Angel turned around strode over to Xander, who wasn't looking his way, cuffed the back of his head and then turned and walked out the door without breaking his stride.

Xander cradled the back of his head and muttered about how all creatures of the night out to have chips shoved up their brains.

Spike shook his head and headed off.

I'm gonna go prowl…Nibblet…you comin' or what?"

"Are you gonna fight?"
"Probably."

"Than I want to come."

"On second thought…you should stay here."

"No fair."

"I know. But I gotta get my rocks off somehow. Don't I?"
"Just for that…Hey Xander…guess what?"

"What Dawn?"
"Did you know that Spike is very…."

Dawn didn't get another word out as Spike's hand covered her mouth and dragged her out saying,
"Come on already."

Dawn's eyes were laughing, even as she tugged his hand away from her mouth.

Spike picked her up and bodily carried her, like a wheat sack, over his shoulder and out the door.

Xander, catching on that something interesting was going on, followed, yelling at them to wait up cause he was coming as well.

Spike's angry growl followed them and then it was silent as they moved out of hearing range.

The rest of the gang dispersed to do their own thing as they waited until it was time to depart

About a half-n-hour later, Spike & Xander trudged back in and collapsed on the couch. Both were loaded, Spike with three bags and Xander with two.    

Giles, coming downstairs and dropping his bag at the front door, where the others had left their luggage, noticed the two slumped together.

"Spike, Xander…where's Dawn?"

"She's coming," Xander said listlessly. "And please…either of you, remind me of tonight, if I ever decide to trail after Dawn again."

Spike promised.

Giles looked at both of them.

"What happened?"

As Giles asked his question, Dawn walked through the door, trailing two bags of her own.

He looked at her and turned back to the other two.

"Never mind."

Spike & Xander nodded.

"I hope that all this will fit in the car."

"Maybe Ashta will do that thing again."

"What thing?" Dawn asked.

Giles and Xander continued as if they hadn't heard Dawn.

"I don't know If Angel will survive the shock again."
"What shock?" Spike asked.

Xander and Giles smiled.

"Oh come on now.  If the 'Mighty Poufter' got shocked…I wanna know about it."

Xander turned to look at Spike.

"On the way back from the battle, Ashta did this great magic thingy making all the cars merge together and Angel wigged out…worrying about his precious Angelmobile."

Spike laughed.

"I know," Xander laughed.  "It was pretty funny."

"Yeah…sounds like. But that wasn't all I was laughing at."

"What else were you laughing at?"
"You called Angel's car the same thing I do."

"Oh," Xander looked wary for a second and then shrugged.

Dawn smiled but said nothing.

Angel came in, loaded with at least 12 bags.

"Good googa mooga," Xander said.

He then turned to Spike," And we thought WE had the bad deal."

Spike nodded. "Have to agree with ya there, 'Whelp'. I'd pick Dawn over the Cheerleader any day."

Dawn leaned over Spike's shoulder,

"You know you love me."

"True…but I don't love your bleedin' shopping habits."

"I'm with Spike there."

Giles turned around to smile, not wanting to start those two off again.

Angel said nothing, just sat the bags down with the others.

When Cordelia, Fred, & Dru came in he told them,

"Separate what you need and what you can leave here.  We don't have room for all of this."

Cordelia muttered under her breath, but went to look in the bags.

After moving come things around, she discarded four bags. 

"These can stay here…if Dru is going to return here after we help resurrect Buffy."

"Fine…they can stay."

"The rest we have to take."

"No way…it's still too much. Unless your gonna carry all of it by yourself, I'd suggest you repack & make sure there are less bags."

"Jeez, you'd think it was so much," Cordelia muttered as she went through the bags again.  This time she discarded two more bags.  "Okay…that's it.  The way you carry on, you'd think you weren't endowed with supernatural strength."

Angel rolled his eyes.

"Can we mount up already?" Gunn asked.

"I bloody well hope so," Spike replied.

"Double check your rooms to make sure you all have everything needed.  We're about to leave.  We only have three days before Blood Moon night & who knows what surprises may be waiting for us back in Sunnydale."

Everyone nodded & then the crew dispersed.

*****

Minutes later, they began to reappear in the lobby.

Spike & Xander came in together.

Spike was telling Xander all about his 'Left' Theory & Xander wasn't baiting him into anger.  In other words, they were getting along.

Giles, watching them from a quiet corner of the huge room, agreed with Fred.  They were good friends…even if they didn't know it or want to show it, if they were aware of it.

Dru came down with Tara & Willow.  Tara was holding hands with Willow, while telling Dru how much she liked the clothes she had gotten on her shopping trip.

Fred & Gunn came down the steps together.  They had already checked & double-checked the areas they had been in, just recently, as well as checking Fred's room.  And they were now, just conversing…or actually, Fred was babbling, as she does, and Gunn was listening, mostly with a smile on his face.

As Gunn sat down next to Spike & Xander, Fred disappeared around the corner.  When she returned a few minutes later, she had a mug in each hand.  She placed one on the counter, next to the office…and the n walked over to Spike, Xander, & Gunn.  She then handed the mug of warm pig's blood to Spike.

Spike winked at her as he thanked her & drunk it down.

Fred walked over to Dru, Willow, & Tara.  She asked Dru if she wanted some pigs blood and Dru's look of disgust made her hasten to explain that that was all they had in stock at the moment, unless Angel had made an extra stop last night when he had gone out to get some blood to travel with them.  Fred stopped babbling then, cause Dru leaned forward and took the mug off the counter with a muttered thanks.  She then drunk it down quickly, as if by doing so, the taste, she apparently didn't like, would not be so bad.  From the look of her face, the gang figured it hadn't worked.

Spike, after handing his mug back to Fred, who had come to collect it, was about to go see what was keeping Dawn when he noticed that Fred hadn't moved & seemed to be waiting to talk to him.

"Is there something you want or need, Fred is it?"

Fred nodded her head.

"Yes, that's me and, yes…I have a question to ask you.  I noticed that you like to dip food into your blood.  And, I find it fascinating…but I was wondering if you've ever dipped tacos into your blood.  They're really good."

Spike smiled.

"I have to say, I haven't thought or tried dipping taco's into my blood for texture…but I'll give it a try one day and let you know how it tastes."

Fred gave him a smile.

Angel, Cordelia, & Wesley came down the stairs together.

"We're done."

"Us too."

Fred waved Angel over to the counter, where she presented him with a mug of warm pig's blood. He thanked her and drank it down.

When he had finished, Fred took his mug away, as she had done for Dru & Spike…not cause she was supposed to, but cause she wanted to do something.

Angel walked back over to Wesley, who was talking to Giles.

"You remembered to pack the scrolls, right?"

"Yes. They're in this black carryall bag," Wesley said, opening the case to show Angel.

Angel nodded and then asked,

"And the books?"
"I have those," Giles said," opening up his black carryall bag to show Angel he had all the important books.

Angel smiled at Giles and then walked to the center of the lobby as Dawn walked in.

"Okay…is everyone here?"
Dawn looked around and then answered, before anyone else could,

"We're missing Ashta."
"Do you want me to go get her?" Fred asked.

"No need," Dawn told her," I'll call for her…. ASHTA!"

Ashta appeared seconds later, a mischievous grin on her face.

"You bellowed," she asked Dawn.

Dawn laughed," I prefer the term called."

"You need your hearing checked then," Spike said, rubbing his ears.

"Oh yeah," Xander agreed with him.

Both boys stopped and looked at each other and then quickly looked away.

Neither felt like going through another battle.  They were used to being peaceful right then and wanted to keep it that way. 

Didn't mean they weren't gonna do it later, just meant they weren't in the mood at the moment.

Dawn smiled.  She knew what they were thinking, but she wasn't going to press the issue.  Besides, Ashta was talking to her.

"What did you say?"

"I said I wanted to give you something."

"What?"
"Your present."

"What present?"
"The one that wasn't ready before."

"Oh…do you mean that glow-y orb thingy from your room, yesterday?"
"Yeah," Ashta said with a smile.

"It's done now?"
"It will be."

"Huh?"
"You'll see."

A few seconds went by, but nothing happened.

"So…where is it?"

"Here," Ashta said, as she leaned over and touched Dawn's bare chest with the tip of her finger very lightly, just barely touching the skin.

When Ashta pulled her finger away, the glow remained.

The glow increased & began turning & tumbling while growing in size.

When it was the size of a tennis ball it sent a wave of energy outward & then collapsed in on itself, with another pulse of energy, this time emerald green in color, until it was the size of a quarter.

It gave a series of shimmers before solidifying and turning into an opaque multi colored crystal.  A string of gold and silver intertwined appeared and fastened itself to the stone, which then wrapped itself around Dawn's neck.

Dawn picked it up to look at it. The stone was heart-shaped and had a D, a B, and an S on it.

"Okay…I think I get the D and the S…but my middle name doesn't start with a B."

"It's not for that."

"Then what's it for?"

"You'll see in time," Ashta replied. She then turned to Angel & Giles.  "Isn't it time we were off?"

"Yes it is." 

"Wait…we have to decide who's riding with whom."

They were all trying to decide as they gathered their bags and walked outside, Angel locking up the hotel after they had all stepped out of the doors.

Buffy laughed for she knew what was going to come next.

Spike and Dawn questioned her silently, but only told them both to wait and see.

"Well…we have what? Three cars here…why don't we all just take them and…"

"We'll all ride together," Ashta said simply.

She waved her hand and all three cars once again merged into a giant van that seemed bigger this time, probably so it could accommodate all of them much more easily.

"Aww come on…not this again. Wasn't once enough…haven't I suffered enough?"

"Oh quit complaining Mighty Fang," Xander said," It's just like last time…and you got your precious Angelmobile back in perfect condition once we reached our destination. Didn't you?"

"Yeah but…"

"Yeah but nothing.  Stop being a big demon baby."

"You tell 'im Wanker," Spike said.

Angel turned and saw that Dru, Spike, & Dawn were standing there with huge smiles on their face and wicked looks in their eyes.

He muttered one word, "Damn," before turning around and hopping up into the van before they could say a word.

They said nothing.

They were laughing, but the only thing Spike said to him was,
"You've gotta come and help us load all this mess into the van."

Angel nodded and got out the car.

Spike winked at Xander & Dawn, but left the matter alone.  Mostly cause Buffy promised to let Dawn loose at that moment…and with Xander sitting right there…the thought alone was enough to cause Spike to shiver. He picked up his packing pace and once finished, sat down as quickly as possible to avoid temptation.

Dawn smiled up at him, letting him know she knew exactly what was going through his mind.

He laughed and pulled her closer.

"You promised," he whispered low into her ears.

"I'll be good…as long as you be good," Dawn smirked as Ashta squeezed herself in next to them.

"Well then, let's hope I last," Spike said to her.

He then winked at her and then settled back next to Xander.

Minutes later, Angel called back to everyone.

"Everything we need on board?"

He received a chorus of 'Yes'.

"Is everyone on board?"

He received another round of 'Yes's".

"Well alright then. Time to go folks."

"Alright people…next stop Sunnydale. Home of the Scooby Crew, place where the food is decent, and lots not forget…the Hellmouth, where we risk our lives on a daily basis and demons run rampant."

"You know what rampant means?"
"Shut up Spike."

Spike chuckled, but stopped messing with him as Angel started up the van.

"Well then people…what time is it?"
"It's time to Rock n Roll," they shouted, laughing as they started their journey to Sunnydale.

Hang on Buffy; they all thought…we're coming to bring you back.

TBC

(A/N: whew…that sure took some time didn't it? Sorry for the delay. Next stop: Resurrection.  And it's been started…so hopefully RL won't interfere so much this time and I can get it to you much sooner. Thanks for reading…and hold on…Next Chapter: Buffy Returns!  ~ Spunkles)