AN: Sorry this has been a long time coming, but it's long, so I think
that's fair! Enjoy, and remember reviews don't grow on trees so I can't
just pick them up anywhere. ;)
It was still dark when they hit Vegas. Well as dark as it can be with that much neon. Spike woke Buffy up when they hit the strip. Her face lit up as they passed the casinos.
"Oo That one wasn't here when I was here last! The names are so exciting, the Venetian, the Bellagio, Paris, New York, New York, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, it's like I can travel all over the world, without even leaving the desert!" Buffy exclaimed as she looked out the window. Spike had rarely seen her this excited about anything, except maybe that Thanksgiving at Giles house, when she was insistent everything were perfect. But even then it was more of nervous excitement; this was unadulterated joy.
"Hate to break it to you, but for one, Egypt's got about the same amount of sand, but far less of the blinking lights and ringing bells. Paris, well it's a lot larger, and the damn Eiffel Tower isn't that short. This is more like a microcosm of the world.
"Don't ruin my fun, this is as close to seeing the world as I'll ever get you party poop."
"Pet, when's the last time you went on holiday?"
"One summer I went to my dad's for like 2 weeks, but I had to hang with his tarty new girlfriend and she was like 6 years older than me, plus I had to drag Dawn around. And after I killed Angel I moved to L.A. for a while and was a waitress, but I guess that was less like a vacation and more like an escape. Heaven, can't forget heaven, that was a vacation, I mean I was dead, but still no worries." Spike glared at her, "Fine, I don't think I've been on a real vacation since I was called."
"Well, it's about time you did, and I've got a pocket full of cash willing to agree."
"That money is for food and stuff. Plus it's evil money."
"Evil or not love, Rupert gave it to us to spend, no reason to not enjoy it."
"Yeah but it's from that law firm, and they are way evil. You know my position on evil, it's a birthright not a choice."
"But you could make it non-evil money by spending it on things for a good person like yourself."
"That's twisted Spike-logic."
"Spike-logic involves you at the Venetian shopping through all those little designer places spending oodles of cash on fancy kicks and knickers."
"Spike-logic is not seeming as bad as previously presumed. Oh, don't miss the turn, it's right here." Buffy pointed at a road leading off of the strip, to the seedier and less pleasant parts of Vegas.
"So Pike likes to live the high life does he?"
"Your sarcasm is not welcome here. Pike is like a valet or a janitor or something at one of the hotels. Well, I predict he is, I mean he used to fix cars, but after L.A. he moved into the unskilled labor market so he could have his nights free."
"Most mechanics don't work at night, love."
"I know, it was more of a grease issue, it got every where and no one likes to smell like Valvoline."
"Right." Spike sighed, and lit up a cigarette.
"Hey Mr. Coffin Nail, put that out, you have lungs now, and there's no need to make them black. I predict they are like pearly white, or pearly pink lungs, all clean, so you shouldn't smoke and make them icky and death filled."
"It's cute when you're concerned about my health."
"Cute? I could get violent about it and make it not cute at all. Plus, babies."
"Babies?"
"You aren't planning on slowly killing our children with your stinky habit?"
Spike rolled his eyes, it almost made Buffy laugh out loud. "Jesus, it's like marriage but without all the tax deductions. Bloody hell, do I have to pay taxes now?"
"I think we can work around the taxes if you toss the sticks of death."
"Fine." Spike threw the pack out the window.
"Hey litter-bug much?"
"Can't fix everything 'bout me. If you did you wouldn't be attracted to my sparkling personality."
"This battle is done, but the war is far from over Mister." Buffy smiled, "Plus think of it this way, you need those lungs for other things now, I mean how do you expect to keep up with me?" Her smile turned wicked.
"Remember, God here, pretty sure I could give you a run for your money. Remember Glory? All that power? Now imagine it redirected in more creative ways."
"You're a pig, Spike."
"The more things change, the more things stay the same."
"Okay, so I think we are gonna need something other than, this is the prophetic father of my ex-boyfriend story, to tell Pike. I don't think he needs to know everything."
"Don't you trust him pet?"
"It's been seven years, I need to feel him out a bit."
"You will be doing no such feeling at all."
"The only person I plan on feeling up is you." Buffy said with a wink.
"So what're you going to tell him?"
"That you're my boyfriend, and that you used to be a vampire, but are now a way powerful god who shouldn't be fucked with. If that doesn't scare him into behaving I don't know what will."
"Language, language, what would the bit say about that?"
"I am still living with the denial that Dawn has ever heard such words, and I would prefer to live in my blissful ignorance. Stop, it's right here."
The building they stopped in front of was one of the nicer ones in the neighborhood. Actually it looked like the only one anyone had bothered to keep up. It was a small bungalow, probably a throw back to when the city was first built, and the mobsters needed a place to house their labor. A youngish man walked out onto the porch. He was a bit older than Buffy, and scruffy, even a bit on the rough side. Spike didn't like him, but he didn't hate him either, the Harley parked in front of their car was reason enough for him to like Pike. Buffy jumped out of the car without hesitation.
"PIKE!!! Oh my God!!" She screamed as she threw herself into his arms.
"Hey Buff, nice to see you too." Pike hugged her back tightly; a tinge of jealousy was aching in Spike's gut. He automatically went for a cigarette, forgetting he had thrown them out.
Buffy let go quickly and led Pike down the stairs leading him by the hand. "Pike, this is Spike."
"Who let Billy Idol loose?"
"Actually, Billy idol modeled his look after Spike," Buffy looked up at Spike, "and I've already said too much."
"Hey man, nice to meet you. I'd like to say I've heard nothing but rave reviews about you, but I'd be lying." Pike extended his hand to Spike. Buffy elbowed Spike to accept the greeting.
"Likewise." Spike was putting up his best Big Bad impersonation.
"We better grab your stuff and head inside, this neighborhood isn't the best after dark."
"Of course why would you live anywhere else?" Buffy joked.
"The danger here is more of the human variety, not demonic sadly."
"Bummer, just when I was thinking how much I'd like to kill something." Spike muttered under his breath.
"Oh, you're in the trade too?"
"The trade, mate?"
"Demon hunting, vampire slaying, evil destroying, you know, like Buffy, but without the destiny or super powers"
"In a sense."
Pike helped them with their bags into the house. Spike already knew this was going to be interesting, he only hoped they wouldn't have to stay here the entire time.
* * * *
Giles paced the lobby of the Hyperion. He wasn't sure what to do, he wasn't even sure he should have sent them away. Wasn't it only weeks ago they closed a Hellmouth? Wasn't that enough world saving for one year?
"Giles, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were in some sort of trance, a pacey, nose bridge rubbing trance."
"What?"
"Giles, what's wrong?" It was Willow; Giles knew he would have to tell her eventually, but now? He just wasn't sure.
"Nothing."
"Why are Buffy and Spike going on a vacation? I mean, I know they need some alone time, but I think their timing officially sucks."
"I sent them away."
"Have you fallen off your rocker!?"
"I resent that accusation!"
"I just mean, are you crazy? We have evil elves, and babies and prophecies, and all sorts of stuff, we need them here!"
"Actually Willow, we need them far, far away."
"Why?"
Giles was trying to contain his inner Ripper, it was getting harder the more he thought about the current situation. He was mad, angry, and still a bit unsure about what they had to do.
"I might as well tell you now. You will have to be involved soon anyways."
"I have to be involved? This can't be good." Willow sat down on one of the lobby's round couches.
"I will need you to remove Angel's soul before the battle begins."
"I put the soul in him remember? I remember Angelus, I don't think it's smart to let him loose on a hotel of his alter-ego's friends."
"It's a part of the prophecy. Andrew discovered it earlier today. We have to release Angel's soul so the guide can pull it from the ether and tether it to herself."
"Herself? The guide's a she?"
"Well from what Andrew can tell, and I can't believe it, but he is very good at working with the prophecy, the guide is referenced in the feminine sense."
"Hmm. Okay. But what are we going to do with Angelus? I mean we can't keep him on a leash like a puppy. Well, I suppose we could, but I doubt it would work as well as planned. Last time he was so out of control that they had to call me in to resoul him, and even then Faith had to drug him to get him back here. What are we going to do? I mean we can't resoul him, and the only one who's had success killing him was Buffy, and that was probably because of the soul. I mean Giles, this is bad, and what if he doesn't cooperate?"
"I can take him." Faith walked out of the office area.
"How long have you been there?" Giles demanded. "Long enough to know that the big bad is coming to town, and I'm pretty sure that much like Santa, he's got a list of who's been naughty and nice. Those on the nice list aren't going to fare as well as they would if it were jolly old Saint Nick."
"Giles, Faith took him down last time, I was here I know."
"Yes with the use of some high dose mystical psychotropic drugs. We can't risk him having a chance at getting that close, of biting Faith."
"So what, we tell him that the evil elves, are really the good guys, so he decides to kill them for us. Us being the 'evil' law firm that was handed to Angel on a platter. If we put the thoughts in Angel's head before any of this starts Angelus will believe it. Afterwards, her benevolence over here, works the mojo makes him unable to move, I run a nice fat splinter through his chest, and ta-da! No more Angelus. You act like this is complex." Faith scoffed.
"Well, when you put it like that. no it isn't!" Giles was upset.
"Is this cos B and her love bunny left? Are you mad that they skipped town?"
"He made them leave town." Willow told Faith.
"Oh, well I say we get this show on the road. The sooner the better."
"Faith it isn't that simple, there is ritual and time frames, and just too much information to process in just a few days!"
"Well freakin' over it ain't helpin' no one G. So why doesn't Willow work on her powers of persuasion to plant a few seeds in dear Angel's brain, and why don't I prepare the cage? Then when the time comes at least something will be set up." Faith walked out of the room without another word.
"Giles is it a sign of the apocalypse that I think Faith's idea sounds like a good starting point?"
"No Willow, it's a sign of the apocalypse because I think that. Maybe we should start there, and see what else we can do."
"Wow, it just feels so weird to think that Faith had a logical thought."
"Yes, now let us never think of this moment again." Giles smiled at Willow, and she smiled back. Both concerned about what was about to happen, but both knowing there wasn't much that could prevent it, and relenting to the fact that they had too few days to prepare.
It was still dark when they hit Vegas. Well as dark as it can be with that much neon. Spike woke Buffy up when they hit the strip. Her face lit up as they passed the casinos.
"Oo That one wasn't here when I was here last! The names are so exciting, the Venetian, the Bellagio, Paris, New York, New York, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, it's like I can travel all over the world, without even leaving the desert!" Buffy exclaimed as she looked out the window. Spike had rarely seen her this excited about anything, except maybe that Thanksgiving at Giles house, when she was insistent everything were perfect. But even then it was more of nervous excitement; this was unadulterated joy.
"Hate to break it to you, but for one, Egypt's got about the same amount of sand, but far less of the blinking lights and ringing bells. Paris, well it's a lot larger, and the damn Eiffel Tower isn't that short. This is more like a microcosm of the world.
"Don't ruin my fun, this is as close to seeing the world as I'll ever get you party poop."
"Pet, when's the last time you went on holiday?"
"One summer I went to my dad's for like 2 weeks, but I had to hang with his tarty new girlfriend and she was like 6 years older than me, plus I had to drag Dawn around. And after I killed Angel I moved to L.A. for a while and was a waitress, but I guess that was less like a vacation and more like an escape. Heaven, can't forget heaven, that was a vacation, I mean I was dead, but still no worries." Spike glared at her, "Fine, I don't think I've been on a real vacation since I was called."
"Well, it's about time you did, and I've got a pocket full of cash willing to agree."
"That money is for food and stuff. Plus it's evil money."
"Evil or not love, Rupert gave it to us to spend, no reason to not enjoy it."
"Yeah but it's from that law firm, and they are way evil. You know my position on evil, it's a birthright not a choice."
"But you could make it non-evil money by spending it on things for a good person like yourself."
"That's twisted Spike-logic."
"Spike-logic involves you at the Venetian shopping through all those little designer places spending oodles of cash on fancy kicks and knickers."
"Spike-logic is not seeming as bad as previously presumed. Oh, don't miss the turn, it's right here." Buffy pointed at a road leading off of the strip, to the seedier and less pleasant parts of Vegas.
"So Pike likes to live the high life does he?"
"Your sarcasm is not welcome here. Pike is like a valet or a janitor or something at one of the hotels. Well, I predict he is, I mean he used to fix cars, but after L.A. he moved into the unskilled labor market so he could have his nights free."
"Most mechanics don't work at night, love."
"I know, it was more of a grease issue, it got every where and no one likes to smell like Valvoline."
"Right." Spike sighed, and lit up a cigarette.
"Hey Mr. Coffin Nail, put that out, you have lungs now, and there's no need to make them black. I predict they are like pearly white, or pearly pink lungs, all clean, so you shouldn't smoke and make them icky and death filled."
"It's cute when you're concerned about my health."
"Cute? I could get violent about it and make it not cute at all. Plus, babies."
"Babies?"
"You aren't planning on slowly killing our children with your stinky habit?"
Spike rolled his eyes, it almost made Buffy laugh out loud. "Jesus, it's like marriage but without all the tax deductions. Bloody hell, do I have to pay taxes now?"
"I think we can work around the taxes if you toss the sticks of death."
"Fine." Spike threw the pack out the window.
"Hey litter-bug much?"
"Can't fix everything 'bout me. If you did you wouldn't be attracted to my sparkling personality."
"This battle is done, but the war is far from over Mister." Buffy smiled, "Plus think of it this way, you need those lungs for other things now, I mean how do you expect to keep up with me?" Her smile turned wicked.
"Remember, God here, pretty sure I could give you a run for your money. Remember Glory? All that power? Now imagine it redirected in more creative ways."
"You're a pig, Spike."
"The more things change, the more things stay the same."
"Okay, so I think we are gonna need something other than, this is the prophetic father of my ex-boyfriend story, to tell Pike. I don't think he needs to know everything."
"Don't you trust him pet?"
"It's been seven years, I need to feel him out a bit."
"You will be doing no such feeling at all."
"The only person I plan on feeling up is you." Buffy said with a wink.
"So what're you going to tell him?"
"That you're my boyfriend, and that you used to be a vampire, but are now a way powerful god who shouldn't be fucked with. If that doesn't scare him into behaving I don't know what will."
"Language, language, what would the bit say about that?"
"I am still living with the denial that Dawn has ever heard such words, and I would prefer to live in my blissful ignorance. Stop, it's right here."
The building they stopped in front of was one of the nicer ones in the neighborhood. Actually it looked like the only one anyone had bothered to keep up. It was a small bungalow, probably a throw back to when the city was first built, and the mobsters needed a place to house their labor. A youngish man walked out onto the porch. He was a bit older than Buffy, and scruffy, even a bit on the rough side. Spike didn't like him, but he didn't hate him either, the Harley parked in front of their car was reason enough for him to like Pike. Buffy jumped out of the car without hesitation.
"PIKE!!! Oh my God!!" She screamed as she threw herself into his arms.
"Hey Buff, nice to see you too." Pike hugged her back tightly; a tinge of jealousy was aching in Spike's gut. He automatically went for a cigarette, forgetting he had thrown them out.
Buffy let go quickly and led Pike down the stairs leading him by the hand. "Pike, this is Spike."
"Who let Billy Idol loose?"
"Actually, Billy idol modeled his look after Spike," Buffy looked up at Spike, "and I've already said too much."
"Hey man, nice to meet you. I'd like to say I've heard nothing but rave reviews about you, but I'd be lying." Pike extended his hand to Spike. Buffy elbowed Spike to accept the greeting.
"Likewise." Spike was putting up his best Big Bad impersonation.
"We better grab your stuff and head inside, this neighborhood isn't the best after dark."
"Of course why would you live anywhere else?" Buffy joked.
"The danger here is more of the human variety, not demonic sadly."
"Bummer, just when I was thinking how much I'd like to kill something." Spike muttered under his breath.
"Oh, you're in the trade too?"
"The trade, mate?"
"Demon hunting, vampire slaying, evil destroying, you know, like Buffy, but without the destiny or super powers"
"In a sense."
Pike helped them with their bags into the house. Spike already knew this was going to be interesting, he only hoped they wouldn't have to stay here the entire time.
* * * *
Giles paced the lobby of the Hyperion. He wasn't sure what to do, he wasn't even sure he should have sent them away. Wasn't it only weeks ago they closed a Hellmouth? Wasn't that enough world saving for one year?
"Giles, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were in some sort of trance, a pacey, nose bridge rubbing trance."
"What?"
"Giles, what's wrong?" It was Willow; Giles knew he would have to tell her eventually, but now? He just wasn't sure.
"Nothing."
"Why are Buffy and Spike going on a vacation? I mean, I know they need some alone time, but I think their timing officially sucks."
"I sent them away."
"Have you fallen off your rocker!?"
"I resent that accusation!"
"I just mean, are you crazy? We have evil elves, and babies and prophecies, and all sorts of stuff, we need them here!"
"Actually Willow, we need them far, far away."
"Why?"
Giles was trying to contain his inner Ripper, it was getting harder the more he thought about the current situation. He was mad, angry, and still a bit unsure about what they had to do.
"I might as well tell you now. You will have to be involved soon anyways."
"I have to be involved? This can't be good." Willow sat down on one of the lobby's round couches.
"I will need you to remove Angel's soul before the battle begins."
"I put the soul in him remember? I remember Angelus, I don't think it's smart to let him loose on a hotel of his alter-ego's friends."
"It's a part of the prophecy. Andrew discovered it earlier today. We have to release Angel's soul so the guide can pull it from the ether and tether it to herself."
"Herself? The guide's a she?"
"Well from what Andrew can tell, and I can't believe it, but he is very good at working with the prophecy, the guide is referenced in the feminine sense."
"Hmm. Okay. But what are we going to do with Angelus? I mean we can't keep him on a leash like a puppy. Well, I suppose we could, but I doubt it would work as well as planned. Last time he was so out of control that they had to call me in to resoul him, and even then Faith had to drug him to get him back here. What are we going to do? I mean we can't resoul him, and the only one who's had success killing him was Buffy, and that was probably because of the soul. I mean Giles, this is bad, and what if he doesn't cooperate?"
"I can take him." Faith walked out of the office area.
"How long have you been there?" Giles demanded. "Long enough to know that the big bad is coming to town, and I'm pretty sure that much like Santa, he's got a list of who's been naughty and nice. Those on the nice list aren't going to fare as well as they would if it were jolly old Saint Nick."
"Giles, Faith took him down last time, I was here I know."
"Yes with the use of some high dose mystical psychotropic drugs. We can't risk him having a chance at getting that close, of biting Faith."
"So what, we tell him that the evil elves, are really the good guys, so he decides to kill them for us. Us being the 'evil' law firm that was handed to Angel on a platter. If we put the thoughts in Angel's head before any of this starts Angelus will believe it. Afterwards, her benevolence over here, works the mojo makes him unable to move, I run a nice fat splinter through his chest, and ta-da! No more Angelus. You act like this is complex." Faith scoffed.
"Well, when you put it like that. no it isn't!" Giles was upset.
"Is this cos B and her love bunny left? Are you mad that they skipped town?"
"He made them leave town." Willow told Faith.
"Oh, well I say we get this show on the road. The sooner the better."
"Faith it isn't that simple, there is ritual and time frames, and just too much information to process in just a few days!"
"Well freakin' over it ain't helpin' no one G. So why doesn't Willow work on her powers of persuasion to plant a few seeds in dear Angel's brain, and why don't I prepare the cage? Then when the time comes at least something will be set up." Faith walked out of the room without another word.
"Giles is it a sign of the apocalypse that I think Faith's idea sounds like a good starting point?"
"No Willow, it's a sign of the apocalypse because I think that. Maybe we should start there, and see what else we can do."
"Wow, it just feels so weird to think that Faith had a logical thought."
"Yes, now let us never think of this moment again." Giles smiled at Willow, and she smiled back. Both concerned about what was about to happen, but both knowing there wasn't much that could prevent it, and relenting to the fact that they had too few days to prepare.