Smashed and Wrecked.
Later that evening. Back at the Summer's house. Buffy is asleep upstairs. Things have settled down. They start to feel safe like things are back to normal, now that the Troika is once again temporarily out of the way. But Spike thinks there's one more score to settle.
Spike: I need you to say here with your Sis. She's sleeping. Giles says she's doing just fine. But I got to do something and I don't want her worrying.
Dawn: (Sees him getting his stuff.) Where are you going?
Spike: Got a score to settle with someone.
Dawn: You're going after him, aren't you?
Spike: Threatened you. Keeps getting in the way of things. Buffy and I tossed coin. I won I get to stake him.
Dawn: But you don't even have a plan!
Spike: Gonna find him, gonna stake him, gonna kill him. See I got a plan.
Dawn: No! You can't.
Spike: (Turns to face her) What?
Dawn: (Not sure what she means) I mean. I'm coming with you.
Spike: No you're not!
Dawn: Yeah I am. This is my fight., Not yours. I can't let you fight all my battles for me.
Spike: You bloody well can. We're family now.
Dawn: (Warmed by his sentiment.) Fine. But I'm still coming with you.
Spike: Your sister'd kill me.
Dawn: She doesn't have to know. Sides you can't stop me. I know how to find him, just as well as you do.
Spike: Great! I've got bitty Buffy on my hands again. Come on then bit. But no heroics ok. I want him dusted and out of our lives.
Dawn: Out of our lives, no problem. (She gets a couple of items for the trip.)
Arriving at the caves, they pause outside.
Spike: So. Do you member the way from here?
Dawn: No. It was dark at first. But I know the way out. He walked me back.
Spike: Odd bloke. Surprised your not six feet under or all fangy right now. (He considers this for a moment.)
Dawn: Me too! (Thinking about the stuff they discussed.) I was so weak, I could have been toast.
Spike: Buy you weren't? (Gives her an odd look.)
Dawn: I wasn't. (Pauses.) I just want to take care of this on my own. (Pauses again.) By myself, please.
Spike: Are you crazy? Bit I can't let ya do what you're suggesting. Going there by yourself. Up against a nasty beastie like him. You're like to be turned all fangy for real this time.
Dawn: I have to please. (With a pleading look on her face. ) I have to learn to take care of myself. (She remembers she gave her word.) I can do this. I'm full strength now. I just want to do this myself.
Spike: I miss something? (Gives her another inquiring look, with a bit more insight.) Maybe you're right. But I'm not staying too far. You need me you yell. Ok. I mean it bit. I'll be within range.
Dawn: Ok. I don't plan to give him a chance. He's as good as dusted.
Spike: Gonna bank on that bit. You have 10 minutes. Less now, then I'm coming after you. Got that?
Dawn: I won't need that much time.
Dawn makes her way further into the caves. She remembers the way from here. His nest is not too much further in. She makes her way over to the spot where he sleeps. She looks into her bag of tools and finds just what she needs. She takes out a stake and puts it in her back pocket. Then she goes over to him.. Drags the quilt he's sleeping on and he goes flying with it.
Dawn: So you wanna dance? I'm feeling jazzy. Let's start. (She kicks him in the ribs while he's on the floor.) How about a swing dance? You like that. (Kicks him again.)
Syica: I like a slow step every once in awhile. (Grabs her leg, and throws her off balance.)
Dawn: (Kicking him away, she readjusts and gets back to her feet.) How about a ballet number. (She gives him a spin kick.) Something that has a lot of kicks.
Syica: (Counter attacking.) Don't know always found it a little too fluffy for my taste. Though call me a softy I've always liked a waltz. (Grabs her spins her waltz style and throw her against a wall.) Oops looks like I'm out of practice. MY apologies. (He smirks.)
Dawn: Is that the best you have. You've been dancing for way longer than I have and that's the best you've got. (Tisks) How very disappoint. (She connects with his face. Spins him around, throw him into the wall.) Hope I got that move right. I'm a real fast learner.
Syica: I've been saving up my best. Didn't want to tire you out too easily, but if you insist. (Pushes himself off the wall, he spins and does a low sweep knocking her to the ground again. Then he lunges at her while she is still on the ground. They wrestle.) If I'd known you liked the twist, I would have brought the music.
Dawn: (Still struggling with him. She gets him off, and gets back to a standing position.) No need I brought something better.
Syica: Really surprise me. (In one sweeping move he gets off the ground. He has grace and flow with all his movements.)
Dawn: Never know. I just might. (She leaps into the air. Kicks him flat against the chest with a powerful kick that sends him back into another wall. This time she follows it up with a one two punch move. But for her second punch she reaches into her back pocket and gets out a stake. She drives it into his chest. Hard and powerfully.)
Syica: (Looks at her in shock as he cry's out in pain. He's never been staked before. The shock of it leaves him motionless, and he closes his eyes waiting to turn to dust.)
Dawn: (Seeing the shock and pain on his face, she's satisfied with her work.) Told you, I might just surprise you.
Syica: (He opens his eyes. Still in pain, not yet dust, more surprise. He looks into her eyes, sees her fire, and the triumphant look on her face.) You did. I'm not dust. (Still surprised.) How?
Dawn: Plastic wood grain. Hurts just like the real thing. But no pile of dust to clean up afterwards.
Syica: Why? (Still sounding, shocked, surprised and still in physical pain.)
Dawn: Because I could! My sister's ex-boy friend Riley, did this to Spike once. That's how I know. (She smiles.)
Syica: Oh.
Dawn: (Still with the stake in him, and him at her momentary mercy. She is feeling powerful and triumphant and does something that surprises both of them. She puts her lips to his, and kisses him. Nothing gentle. Full hunger, dark craving, till she has to pull away for air.) That is a kiss.
Syica: (He's more shocked than she is. But he didn't resist, he was there in the moment with her, against his better judgment.)
Dawn: (Goes back to his lips again, as if to kiss him, she bites down on his lip instead and draws blood.) And that is a bite.
Syica: Ow. (Surprised by her savagery.)
Dawn: (She tastes the blood, on his lip.) Now I get to see what you taste like. (Then she kisses him and nibbles on his lip a little.) That's what you did to me the first time. It gets a girl all confused. (She sounds upset. Then she moves back and knees him, he doubles over onto the ground. She bends down and speaks into his ear.) If you ever come near me, or my family again. I will stake you next time. If I don't Spike will. Take it as a warning. (She walks away, then turns back to look over her shoulder.) Hope you liked the surprise. (Tosses her hair and walks off.)
Syica: (He is lying on the ground in shock, pain, and amazement. He watches her leave, and hears her words as she looks back over her shoulder. He watches her every step and gesture as she walks away. He manages to get out one word as he lies there in pain slowly removing the stake from his heart.) Moxie! (He grins, and laughs as he gets the stake out. He lies on the floor, realizing that a new day just dawned.)
Somewhere in another dimension. After making their way thru the portal and breathing sighs of relief that it closed behind them without any one following. Warren decides to check out his new surroundings. He gets Jonathan and Andrew to stay put while he goes to scout our their new surroundings.
Jonathan: Why do you get to walk around. While we stay put?
Warren: Cause I told you. We don't know what to expect. Something happens. I am not back in 20 you come looking for me. All three of us together and it's just too easy to get into trouble all at once. I have the remote with me. You two have your ear pieces. Then you can hear what I say. Just be ready. Case I get in trouble. We have to find out where we are.
Andrew: Man wouldn't it be cool if this alternate universe had real super-villains. I mean other than us. Cause that's we are not. Real super-villain. Then we could meet Joker and...
Jonathan: Would you really want to meet the Joker? That smile creeps me out. Reminds me of clowns. Man do I hate clowns.
Warren: You two just stay put I'm out of here. Sides Lex is the man. He's the only super-villain besides us that I would want to meet.
He leave the other two. He looks around trying to get a handle on where he is and what kind of inhabitants are in this dimension. He walks around for a bit, and soon finds himself at the local store. He looks around and does see anything. A little shop keeper dusting some selves, people going here and there shopping, then he sees someone who looks familiar. Walking over he can hardly believe his eyes. Outside the store in broad daylight is a group of guys playing dominoes around a makeshift table that was set up for just that. What Warren can't believe is the one guy, he moves towards the table cautiously for a closer look.
Will: (Looks up at the stranger approaching.) Hey friend what ya drinking, we got some root beer and soda pop. Fresh out of brew-skies but Sam will be back in a few with a fresh batch.
Warren: (He's in shock. He has gotten a closer look and it is him.. It's Spike, but he has brown hair, no accent, and he's sitting around with a bunch of other average looking guys, playing dominoes? In daylight?) What did I just fall into some freaky backward dimension?
Will: What's that fella?
Warren: You don't know me do you?
Will: Can't say as we've ever met. (Puts out his hand to shake with the stranger.) Names Will, and yours?
Warren: (Extending his hand back in greeting, unable to believe who he's about to shake hands with. Good to meet you Spike, I mean Will. (Still not able to believe who he's looking at.)
Will: Spike, what kind of a weird name's that? A fella have to be pretty drunk to pick a name like that. (He laughs and shifts his attention back to the dominoes table, it's his move.) Hey that's a few more chips for me. With winnings like this I can pick up that cute little tabby, my girl wants from the pet shop. (Going back to Warren.) Well friend, you seem to be new in town and a little lost. Why don't you pull up a seat, have a cold one and relax.
Warren: (Still unable to believe his luck.) I think I will do just that. I'm starting to like this place already. (He's about to take a seat and pull up a chair, when suddenly he is tapped on the shoulder. He turns around smiling, and is punched onto the ground.) All he can hear is a voice, saying... "Didn't think I'd let you get away from me that easily did you?"
Settling In.
The next day. Spike Buffy and Dawn visit Joyce's grave. The three pay their respects to her memory.
Buffy: What time is it?
Spike: Almost seven.
Buffy: Sometimes I can't believe she won't be coming back.
Spike: She was a real good lady.
Dawn: (Goes to place some fresh flowers on her grave.) She was great. I miss her, but I am not so sad now. Last year I was sad. I didn't know what was going to happen. But it's ok now. I'm always going to miss her. But I have you both now. (She walks back over to them.) We have each other. (She stands in the center of them.)
Spike: (Puts his hand on Dawn's shoulder. He puts his arm around Buffy.) We're family now bit.
Buffy: (Leans into him.) Guess so.
Dawn: (Smiles as she takes on final look at the grave.) Yeah family.
The three leave with a sense of peace and closure. They know that Joyce would have taken comfort in the picture they make. Not perfect, but there for each other. Taking care of each other. Family.
Going back to the house. They enter it's now dark. Suddenly noises can be heard. All three go into alert mode. Then suddenly they are flooded with light and streamers and their friends yell surprise.
Buffy: (Looking surprised and curious.) Ah. What is all this? (Putting her stake away.)
Giles: We thought we might surprise you.
Buffy: Wow ...success.
Dawn: (She is delighted by the food and gifts she sees.) Hey what is all this?
Xander: Well Dawnster. This gives me another chance to show you some more of my swinging dance steps.
Dawn: Ah. Think I've done enough dancing for some time. (Thinks about her recent encounter with the vampire.) But thanks for the offer.
Anya: We wanted to do something nice. To say we're sorry ...that we thought you would go all crazy and deranged and kill us in our sleeps. (She smiles.)
Tara: What Anya really means to say is...
Spike: Sounds like the bird got it right the first time.
Tara: Guess we're sorry.
Anya: To alleviate our guilt we brought food and presents. To make up for all the wedding presents we skipped out on when you did get married.
Willow: Yeah and we decorated. The hard-way. But it was fun. And yeah we're sorry about everything. Didn't mean to jump all over this. I know how difficult second chances are without everyone doubting you. (She holds Tara's hand.)
Giles: Well let's not stand around talking. Let's ply ourselves with libatious refreshments, and alleviate our guilt with merriment.
Spike: So speaks the Nancy tribe.
Giles: So indeed. (He smiles.)
Buffy: (She pulls Xander aside for a moment.) Can I trust you from now on, to not go behind our backs?
Xander: You can trust me to do what I think is best for you and Dawn.
Buffy: What about Spike?
Xander: Reserved judgment there Buffy. But I'm very impressed that he didn't use you as a juicy pop, didn't try to destroy the world or stalk anybody lately.
Buffy: Hope you can remember that for next time. Not that there will be a next time.. Not that there would be. Come on Xander I want to see the guilt gifts you got us.
They all sit and socialize and open the gifts. The one from Giles is extremely posh.
Spike: Oh a DVD player. Very posh. Watchers council treating you very well?
Giles: Well I can't complain. Sides DVD's are very trendy right now. Just bought season 1 DVD's of my favorite show.
Willow: Before you know it he'll be surfing the net to research demons. No more old dusty texts books. Pager and cell phones will be strapped to his hips.
Giles: Don't be silly. The pages is kept on the inside of my coat pocket. (Takes off his glasses to clean them for a moment.)
Buffy: Good to see something's won't change. (Smiles over at Giles.)
They proceed to open the rest of the gifts. Then it is finally time for the group to get going.
Giles: Well I have to get going. I have a plan to catch back to England. I hope next time we all meet. It will be under less auspicious circumstances.
Buffy: It's always good seeing you no matter what the circumstance are.
Giles: Good-bye again. (He embraces Buffy.) Spike don't seize to amaze me the way you have been. I think I was right in walking her down that isle. Sides the Nancy tribe needs more solid members.
Spike: Try not to disappoint. (They shake hands and exchange looks. They are two people who love Buffy extremely well, and would do anything in the world for her.)
Xander: Yeah Buffy we have to get going too. Dawnster it was great seeing ya again. Maybe next time you'll have a dance for ol Xan-man.
Dawn: Sure long as it doesn't have a pointy ending. (Hugs Xander good-bye.)
Anya: Yeah we have to go. We have a much over due spanking session to get to. But we're not dressing up this time or anything.
Dawn: (Steps back. Does and awkward smile while shaking her head and mumbles.) Yeah-hun.
Spike: (To Xander) Look's like the that dry spells over with. (They exchange knowing looks.)
Xander: The Xan-man's back in effect. Again sorry bout what I said before.
Spike: No big. Sides we've all missed Anya's stories of your sex-capades. You will stop by once in awhile (To Anya.)
Anya: Yeah we can swap more stories about my demon days. Did I ever tell you what I did to these two brothers, who broke the heart of this one maiden. Lets just say they now share more than feeble minds. That was a fun one to do. Give ya the details another time.
Xander: Come on sweetie. Think we've had enough male carnage, and vengeance for one night.
Tara: (Goes over and gives Spike and Buffy a hug. Whispers in Spike's ear.) Looks like dry spells over all around.
Spike: So that's how it? (Smiles at Tara.) Night Red.
Willow: Night Spike Buffy. Dawnie. (She hugs Buffy and Dawn.) Spike again I'm sorry bout what I said.
Spike: Me too. No hard feeling then? (Looks over at Tara.) Just lots of frisky ones. (They exchange amused looks.)
Tara: Night Dawnie. Remember what I said. Anytime. I'm always there for you.
The group leaves. Spike goes to store to rent some movies.
While he is at the store and Dawn and Buffy are inside. A small little man with gray hair comes to the door. Leave a colorfully wrapped small box on the front porch. He has eyes that turn black at an instants notice and a tail.
Doc: (He smiles as he leave the gift for the happy couple, and walks away from the door.
Spike: (Comes home some time later with the movies and sees the box on the front porch. He goes inside.) Hey got the movies. And looks like your friends forgot a gift. Think they'd knock and just drop it off.
Buffy: Probably didn't want to stay for anymore festive chat. Put it upstairs we'll open it later. I'm all gifted out. Me and Dawn are tired from cleaning up all the party stuff. So what did you get at the video store?
Spike: Couple of movies. (He sounds defensive.)
Buffy: Oh no not terminator again?
Spike: Ah. No.
Dawn: Terminator 2?
Spike: No.
Buffy: Then what did you get?
Spike: Got T2 DVD directors cut. Has all the parts haven't seen before. Like seeing it all for the first time again.
Dawn: (Her and Buffy roll their eyes, and a couple of couch cushions go flying at Spikes head.)
Spike: What?
The three settle down on the coach. They watch the movie together.
Spike: This is my favorite line. "If a terminator can learn to care about human life, maybe a vamp can too."
Buffy: (Her and Dawn exchange their special look that they have for Spike in these moments.)
Buffy and Spike go upstairs for some cyborg's wresting.
Dawn: (She just shakes her head and smiles as she puts in the next movie.) Family.
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