Divine Interference
Part Seven
Posted: April 16, 2004
Author's notes: There was an extra part in here, somewhere, but I had to take it out, because it just didn't fit. It wasn't all that good, and didn't add to the story at all, so I guess it's good. But this also leaves me with a chapter that has very little of what I can only call me in it. It starts out original, but then it gets not so, and sorta evens out in the end. Its mostly info you would all know if you've seen Season Five, which I think you all have. Oh, and if you haven't, then this whole story has spoilers!!!
SPOILER ALERT!!!
Lol. But anyway, tell me what you think, if I need to do something to it to make it more original, or if it's ok the way it is. Thanks!
Reader Responses:
Ok, I've been going through my "archives." Yes, I keep every single review that I get. So I'm a sad looser, who cares? I don't remember if I've answered these, so I'm going to answer them here! Lol. Sorry!
Kate (review from Chapter 3): well, I think you know what's going on now, lol!
*removes flag from message...*
WW: hey, this is an actual new review, lol! Well, sorta. Whatever. I'm crazy at the moment.... And yeah, I feel bad for Buffy, her life tends to suck, doesn't it? And yeah, your on the right track, but SHH!! We haven't gotten to that part of the story yet! That's probably going to be next chapter, though if someone else has figured it out, then I must not be that obscure, right? And that's good!
Bluie: Yep, still too lazy to write out your whole name, but you know who you are, at least I hope you do, lol. I'm glad you liked the ending. I really wanted to get some problems in there, before this thing goes on for too long. And you know me, have to be original. It's like my....huh, can't remember the word, oh well.
Riley does know about what happened with Angel, if I remember correctly because she told him about it while he was hiding in what I think was the old high school, and then she went to LA, which would have been the whole thing with Faith, and then Angel went to Sunnydale, to clear things up, so they've fought once, and he knows all about Angel, thanks to Xander. Which is just going to add fuel to the fire, lol! I think someone reviewed about Riley's graceful exit, but he's not gone yet, just going. There's still one more scene with Riley, and I might just use your idea, Bluie, since I really like it! But that will be in a couple chapters, I have yet to finish writing the scene, and I like to have some story 'on tap' in case you guys flood me with reviews, and I have to reward you. And yes I said 'on tap' Friends in Low Places, by Garth Brooks is on...."Oh I've got friends in low places. Where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases. My blues away. Yeah, I'll be ok ok. Oh I'm not big on social graces, think I'll slip on down to the oasis. Oh I've got friends. In lo-ow places!
Lol....hehehehe...
Oh, lol! Here's the review about Riley's graceful exit...lol....
Kimiaji3: well, you may be in the minority, but you're not alone. I don't hate Riley, or even Spike. I hate when they're with Buffy. There's a difference. By themselves, they're not doing too much harm, but when they're with Buffy, they're keeping her from Angel, and that's what pisses me off! And yeah, I hated Parker, but I didn't mind Owen or Scott, too bland and human for my taste, but oh well...
And I'm glad you like my Angel. And now that you bring it up...I'm glad that he reminds you so much of him in Angel-tS season one, since this is supposed to take place that summer, and season two. I haven't totally seen all of season one, which is why I'm still sorta in the dark about the whole prophecy thing, but oh well, I'll manage somehow.
Melluvben: I can't answer all your questions, but like WW, you are on the right track. Once again, SHH! We're not there yet! You'll find out soon, probably in the next chapter, but not this one. The questions/comments I can comment on, though are these: yeah, the whole living with him, I think you probably thought as I wanted Buffy to, but as the story goes on, that might change, just a bit....*cough*hint*cough*
I'm glad you like the story, though. I love writing it!
And that's the last of the reviews this time around! I want to thank you all for reading, and thank you even more for reviewing. It makes me smile with your comments, like you weren't suspecting something, because that's what I was originally going for, and if it happened to you, then others might have the same reaction! Lol.
And I just want to say, for those of you who aren't reviewing, for one reason or another, your comments don't have to be about ways to fix the story. If any of you were unlucky enough to have me review your stories, then you'd know that my reviews are generally my thoughts while reading the story, and barely ever make sense! Lol. But if you're reading, though not reviewing, I still luv ya! Just drop me a note every once in a while, ok? So I know you're there?
Well, here's the not so long awaited update! Hope you like!
(Wow, two pages of author's notes...poor you guys!)
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Buffy was dreaming; she knew that much. What she didn't know what where the hell she was. She saw fleeting images, guys running, in robes, and they were more than scared, and then more robed guys, in a circle, chanting over a doll. Then a shadowy figure killing them all, but not before they finished the spell. She hoped it wasn't a protection spell; they should get their money back.
The shadow thing howled in anger. And then what she saw next made her heart stop. The thing was holding a screaming Dawn.
She woke with a start, panting. Dawn was crying. She picked up the child and soothed her, before realizing Angel was gone. She smoothed down her hair the best she could with one hand, and then headed upstairs.
Angel was in the middle of an interview, with a hot chick, but once he sensed her presence, he turned to her. "Buffy." He said, and the others looked at her.
"Oh, sorry to interrupt." Something in her voice caught him.
"What's wrong? What is it?"
"Nothing-A bad dream. Nothing to worry about." He stared at her a moment, then went back to the client.
"Oh, Glory, this is Buffy; Buffy, Glory." He introduced them Buffy nodded.
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise, I'm sure." And as the others turned back to the conversation, she took Dawn downstairs.
Angel came down in a little bit, to find her staring off into space, while sitting at the table. Dawn's carrier was on the tabletop. He sat down opposite her, even though he could barely see her over the carrier.
"What was your dream about?" He asked quietly.
"Monk guys. Running. From . . . . . . . something. Then some were chanting, doing one hell of a spell, it looked like. And then they were all dead. And I saw the figure that did it; that killed them all. I-I didn't get a good look, though. And then . . . . .then she was holding Dawn."
"She? I thought you said you didn't get a good look?"
"Her nails. Manicured. Red polish. Either a girl, or a VERY effeminate guy."
"So someone's after Dawn."
"That's what it looks like. She's not even a week old! Already someone's after her!" she put her head down on the table. "I was just sitting here, looking at her. If something- If I lost her-" he could hear the unshed tears that burned her throat.
He slid from his chair and crouched beside her. "I will not let anything happen to her, I promise."
"But you can't! You can't always be there for her! And neither can I! I can try, but even the slayer needs her time off!" She was close to tears now. Dangerously close.
"What can I tell you, Buffy? I want to make it better!"
"Lie to me." She murmured.
"I already did." He murmured back. He let her slid off the chair and into his lap.
"I'm sorry." She wiped her eyes and nose a bit later.
"Why?"
"Because now you're wet." And I look like a wet dog, she thought.
"I'll dry." He smoothed her cheek, and couldn't help but smiling.
"What?"
"Your mascara ran." She looked at him in horror. "Here." He smiled, wiping it gently away with his already wet shirt. He tried to hide his laughter.
"What?"
"You just surprise me, is all. You're up night and day with Dawn, and no offence, but it looks like you dressed in under two minutes, but you still manage to look stunning."
"Is it that obvious, that it only took me two minutes to dress?" she asked, pouting, but then she cracked a smile; one that for just a moment, reached her eyes. But then she remembered the problems, and the danger ahead. "I have to call Giles. He may have some insight. Hopefully." She said, with a hint of worry in her voice, before going off to find the phone.
Angel watched her go, and then picked up Dawn. He settled her into his arms. He didn't know what it was, but having her there, in his arms, against his chest, felt so right. He breathed an unnecessary breath. She smelled so soft and sweet. Just like her mother, he seemed to have fallen deeply in love with the child, as a father should love his daughter.
~ * ~
July turned to August, and soon September, with little information on Buffy's dream, or the ever-illusive Key. But Angel, like promised, had found an apartment he liked, and Buffy liked it too, so the three girls moved in. It was only half a mile from the campus, and two miles from Giles' place.
They settled into a fairly routine routine; Buffy would drop Dawn off with Giles before class in the morning. Giles would watch her until Buffy came and got her around four. She'd take her back to the apartment, where Willow could meet her around nightfall, so she could go patrolling. Occasionally, Willow would take the baby to Tara's, or Tara would come to the apartment. And then there were those rare occasions when Xander would watch her, while Willow went out, and Buffy was patrolling.
At almost two months of age, Buffy was still breast-feeding her, but she had gotten comfortable using a breast pump, which gave her a lot more freedom. They always kept a lot of extra breast milk in the fridge, though Buffy didn't want to speak the reason for doing so out loud, in case it made it all the more real.
Every Friday night, Angel would come to the apartment, unless he had a huge case on the line. He would either take Dawn while Buffy went out with Willow and Xander, or Joyce would take her granddaughter, and Angel would accompany them. He would stay the weekend, and then head back to LA Sunday night/Monday morning, before dawn.
Buffy would occasionally see Riley around campus, but he avoided her. It hurt; to know that he did it on purpose, but every day the pain went away a little more, and it wasn't the pain she had felt when Angel had left, or even her father. He was just a guy she had liked, and couldn't be with. Story of her life.
She knew that she spent very little time with her child during the week, and that was why she dedicated her weekends almost exclusively to Dawn. Sure, nights, she went out, she didn't want to be a shut-in mom, but she didn't want to be one of those neglective moms either.
So that's how things were, two weeks before school had started, when in the middle of the night, a new player was moving into Sunnydale.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Author's Note: This is where we get . . . . . well, it gets difficult! Hang with me!
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
The next night, Buffy went patrolling in one of the many cemeteries. As usual, cemetery plus dark, equaled vampires.
Buffy punched one such creature, almost enjoying her forced occupation. She punched him several times and then grabbed his shoulders and kneed him. He got up and she was on his back. He threw her down. She got up and charged, ducked a punch, punched and then kicked him. She tried to kick again but he grabbed her and lifted her over his head, then threw her down. She got up again, jumped on him with her legs around his neck. He threw her down; she flipped him over and then staked him. Buffy stood up, looking satisfied, and began to stride away purposefully. She walked between the gravestones and suddenly stopped, whirls around.
"Very impressive hunt." A man walking out of the darkness said. He was very thin and pale, had long hair, and spoke with an accent. "Such power."
"That was no hunt. That was just another day on the job." Buffy said, being her usual self, ready for attack, incase this got ugly. She saw that the man was wearing a long flowing cloak and had long flowing hair. He walked toward Buffy. "Care to step up for some overtime?"
"We're not going to fight."
"Do you *know* what a slayer is?"
"Do you?" The guy smirked at her. Buffy looked at him with intrigued.
"Who are you?"
"I apologize. I assumed you knew. I am Dracula." Buffy's eyes widen and she looks delighted.
"Get out! So lemme get this straight. You're ... 'Dracula.' The guy, the Count."
"I am."
"And you're sure this isn't just some fan boy thing? Cause ... I've fought more than a couple of pimply overweight vamps that called themselves Lestate."
Dracula is getting annoyed. "You know who I am. As I would now without question that you are Buffy Summers."
"You're heard of me?"
"Naturally. You're known throughout the world."
"Naw. Really?"
"Why else would I come here? For the sun? I came to meet the renowned ... killer."
"Yeah, I prefer the term slayer. You know, killer just sounds so..."
"Naked?" "Like I ... paint clowns or something. I'm the good guy, remember?"
"Perhaps, but your power is rooted in darkness. You must feel it." Buffy frowned and pondered this for a moment.
"No. You know what I feel? Bored. And I'm expected home soon, so..." She lunged at him with her stake. He dissolved into smoke. As she straightened up looking confused, he reappeared behind her. She turned, lunges again. He dissolved into smoke once more. Buffy looked around. "Okay, that's cheating."
Xander and Willow walked up. "Hey Buff, what's up?" Xander asked.
"You look like you just-" Willow started.
"Get out of here. Now."
"Fine, but I was gonna give you a sip of my double-mint mocha, but..." Dracula reappeared behind Xander.
"Behind you." Buffy warned. Willow and Xander turn and see Dracula.
"Hi." Willow says.
"Nice. Look who's got a bad case of dark prince envy." Xander says. Behind him Buffy's holding her stake, looking concerned.
"I have no interest in you. Leave us."
"No, we're not going to," he stopped, and started again, in Dracula's accent, "'leave you.' And where'd you get that accent, Sesame Street?" Now he spoke as the Count on Sesame Street, "Vun, two, three -- three victims. Mwa ha ha!" Dracula just looks annoyed.
"Xander, I'm pretty sure that's Dracula." Buffy whispered to him.
"Wow, really?" He hurried to stand behind Buffy. "Hey, sorry, man, I was ... just jokin' around."
"This is not the time." He locks eyes with Buffy. "I will see you soon." He spread his cape out and moved toward them, turning into a bat and flying over their heads as they all duck and yell. The bat flies away, squeaking. They straightened up and look around. The bat comes back and flies around Buffy's head. She covers her head with her hands.
"Bat! Ooh, bat!" Buffy cries. The bat squeaks and flies away again. "What are you guys doing here? Where's Dawn?"
"Giles has her. We came to bring you some icy goodness." Willow held up her iced coffee.
"Come on, we have to let Giles know about this. Maybe he'll have some insight. He always does." Buffy said, and with that, she stalked off.
Once at Giles, Buffy filled him in as quick as possible, with Willow and Xander, mostly Xander, adding bits and pieces. Tara and Anya showed up. After deciding on their best course of action, research now, hunt later, they all left for their own homes, to rest up. As Buffy told them, The Count encounter had wiped her out.
The next morning, when Willow came into Buffy's room for advice, Buffy quickly turned her back, as she was feeding Dawn. "Buffy, it's not like I haven't seen you do that before. What's wrong?"
"Nothin-" Willow spun her around, and saw the puncture in her neck "Dracula was here last night. I don't know what came over me. He said he had been searching the world over for me, for a creature's whose darkness rivaled his own. And then he said Angel wasn't worthy of me...I don't know why I let him bite me..."
"Well, I did get some research done last night. He likes long slow bites that last for days. Seduction. Likes to have a connection with his victim. Likes to form a relationship with his prey, before turning them. It's not your fault, Buffy."
"Yes it is. How'd he get in anyway?"
"Probably because we haven't lived here long enough, it takes time for the taking up residence thing to work. And the whole Angel living here probably doesn't help."
"Will- could you call Angel for me? I don't really want him around, but Dawn would be safer, if he was." Willow nodded and left, as Buffy finished feeding her child. As she got ready for the day, she put a scarf around her neck.
~ * ~
"Dracula's there?!" Angel fumed.
"Yeah, he took a chunk out of Buffy-"
"How'd he get in?" He asked, confused.
"How'd you know he got in?"
"Dracula's like that."
"You know him?"
"Yeah, he owes Spike and I some money. Did either of you invite him in?"
"No, we thought it was the whole we just moving in thing that let him in."
"No, the barrier gets put up 48 hours after you moved in. Someone let him in."
"Don't know who it was, Angel. Buffy wants you here, though, to help protect Dawn."
"He went after Dawn?" now he was really concerned.
"No, it's just...he was in her room, Angel. She won't admit it, but she doesn't feel safe."
"I'll be there as soon as I wrap things up here."
"Ok." Willow said goodbye, and hung up. She went back to Buffy's room, "Buffy, he's on his way."
"Good. Will you take Dawn for a while? I'm gonna go try to find him."
"Maybe that's not such a good idea, Buffy. He's bitten you; he puts his victims under a thrall, a seduction. You should stay away from him-"
"No, I'm not under his thrall. And it's personal. What other info do you have on him?"
"He likes rich places."
"So, mansions got it. Thanks, Will."
~ * ~
Just after sunset, Buffy entered the last of the mansions, almost a castle. She walked through and entered a dinning like room. "I knew you'd come." He said in that accent of his.
"Why? Because I'm under your thrall?" She whips out Mister Pointy and drops the dazed expression. "Well, guess again, pal."
"Put the stake down."
"Okay." She agrees, putting it down, then looks at her hand in surprise, "Right. That ... was not ... you." Even to herself, she sounded unconvinced. "I did that. I did that because ... I wanted to." Dracula just watches her. "Maybe I should rethink that thrall thing." She looks around nervously and gives a little whimper.
He started to come near her. "Stay away from me."
"Are you afraid I will bite you?" he walks slowly toward her. "Slayer, that's why you came."
"No. Last night ... it's not gonna happen again. I won't let it."
"Stop me. Stake me." He says, knowing she won't.
"I..." she backs up from him, glancing at stake on the table. "Any minute now. Just waiting to pick up the stake!"
"Do you know why you cannot resist?"
"Cause you're famous?"
"Because you do not want to."
She shakes her head, "No. My friends-"
"They're not here. They will not find us. We are alone." Buffy looks anxious. She didn't want to die, and leave Dawn without a mother. Waiting for Angel seemed to be a better plan right about now. "Always alone." Buffy shakes her head, unbelieving. She's not alone, no. Dracula begins circling her, "There is so much I have to teach you. Your history, your power ... what your body is capable of..."
She shakes her head again. "I don't need to know."
"You long to. And you will have eternity to discover yourself." He comes back around in front to face her. "But first ... a little taste."
"I won't let you." She says, venomously.
"I didn't mean for me." He holds up his arm and rolls up the sleeve.
"What are you-"She's confused. The thought of dying keeps flashing through her mind.
"All those years fighting us. Your power so near to our own..." he cuts his arm with a fingernail till blood wells up, "...and you've never once wanted to know what it is that we fight for?" He holds his arm out to Buffy. "Never even a taste?"
"If I drink that-" her mind is going in so many different directions. When was the last time she saw mom? Did she tell Dawn that she loved her as she left? Would she ever be able to tell Angel the same? If she drank that-
"I have not drunk enough for you to change. You must be near death to become one of us. And that comes only when you plead for it."
"I'm not hungry." She stares at his wrist, going for disdain, but it really wasn't working well.
"No. Your craving goes deeper than that." Buffy stares at him. "You think you know ... what you are ... what's to come. You haven't even begun." He whispers. Buffy looks at his arm, at his face. She took his hand in both of hers and put her mouth on the bloody wrist. "Find it. The darkness. Find your true nature." Buffy's eyes are wide.
She saw visions. Herself fighting, the First Slayer. A vein with blood corpuscles rushing through it. Dawn...
Buffy slowly lifts her head. "Wow." She said, softly, almost a whisper. Going for surprise, she suddenly shoves out her hand and pushes Dracula away. He lands on the table and slides across it on his back. "That was gross." She walks forward as Dracula gets to his feet.
"You are resisting." Now he was the one that sounded insecure.
"Looks like I am."
"Come here. Come to me." He uses his hand to beckon to her.
"You know, I really think the thrall has gone out of our relationship. But I want to thank you for opening up my eyes a little."
"What is this?" He's dumbfounded, to why his powers are no longer working on her.
"My true nature. You want a taste?" she taunts, in her true style. Dracula growls and lunges at her. She jumped over his head, whirled, kicked him, punched him twice, kicks him into a wall. He spins back, grabbed her arm, punches her and flung her across the room. She lands on the table on her back.
Buffy runs across the room. She barrels into Dracula and they fall to the floor, rolling. He's on top. He punches her, she punches him, and then she grabs his shirt and flips him over. Now she's on top. She punches him a few times. Then he catches her fist and flings her off him. He's grinning. They both get up, grab each other and fall down again. Buffy's on top. She brings both her hands down but he blocks and flings her away again. She flies backward and hits the wall. She grabs him, he flips her across the table and then jumps onto it. She hits him with a chair and then sweeps his feet out from under him. He punches her. She grabs a torch and he rolls away just as she hits the table with it. They face each other across the table.
"A guy like you should think about going electric. Seriously." Dracula growls and turns to smoke. Buffy looks around, sees where the smoke is converging, drops the torch and runs toward the smoke. She grabs Mister Pointy off the table as she runs, leaps to the top of the stairs, and is there to stake Dracula just as he appears from the smoke. He looks shocked. "How do you like my darkness now?" She taunted, as he exploded into dust. Dracula growls, falls down the stairs and explodes into dust. She dusted off her hands and stands there a moment, and the fog appears and begins to converge. As soon as Dracula has fully appeared, she staked him again. He gasps.
"You think I don't watch your movies? You always come back." She rolled her eyes at him, as if he'd never learn. Dracula explodes into dust again. Buffy folds her arms and watches. The fog begins to collect again. "I'm standing right here! For God's sake!" She said. The fog dissipated.
~ * ~
She marched into Giles' house. "All gone."
"Dracula?"
"Yup. And Giles...I wanted to talk to you."
"I, uh, actually wanted to talk to you."
"You go first."
"No, Buffy, I insist that you go first."
She sighed. "You haven't been my watcher since my 18th birthday. And I miss you. I...I want you to be my watcher again. My mentor. I can't do this without you, Giles. Please?"
He didn't even have to think on it as his plans to go back to England fled his mind. "Of course." She ran to him and hugged him.
"Thank you!"
Part Seven
Posted: April 16, 2004
Author's notes: There was an extra part in here, somewhere, but I had to take it out, because it just didn't fit. It wasn't all that good, and didn't add to the story at all, so I guess it's good. But this also leaves me with a chapter that has very little of what I can only call me in it. It starts out original, but then it gets not so, and sorta evens out in the end. Its mostly info you would all know if you've seen Season Five, which I think you all have. Oh, and if you haven't, then this whole story has spoilers!!!
SPOILER ALERT!!!
Lol. But anyway, tell me what you think, if I need to do something to it to make it more original, or if it's ok the way it is. Thanks!
Reader Responses:
Ok, I've been going through my "archives." Yes, I keep every single review that I get. So I'm a sad looser, who cares? I don't remember if I've answered these, so I'm going to answer them here! Lol. Sorry!
Kate (review from Chapter 3): well, I think you know what's going on now, lol!
*removes flag from message...*
WW: hey, this is an actual new review, lol! Well, sorta. Whatever. I'm crazy at the moment.... And yeah, I feel bad for Buffy, her life tends to suck, doesn't it? And yeah, your on the right track, but SHH!! We haven't gotten to that part of the story yet! That's probably going to be next chapter, though if someone else has figured it out, then I must not be that obscure, right? And that's good!
Bluie: Yep, still too lazy to write out your whole name, but you know who you are, at least I hope you do, lol. I'm glad you liked the ending. I really wanted to get some problems in there, before this thing goes on for too long. And you know me, have to be original. It's like my....huh, can't remember the word, oh well.
Riley does know about what happened with Angel, if I remember correctly because she told him about it while he was hiding in what I think was the old high school, and then she went to LA, which would have been the whole thing with Faith, and then Angel went to Sunnydale, to clear things up, so they've fought once, and he knows all about Angel, thanks to Xander. Which is just going to add fuel to the fire, lol! I think someone reviewed about Riley's graceful exit, but he's not gone yet, just going. There's still one more scene with Riley, and I might just use your idea, Bluie, since I really like it! But that will be in a couple chapters, I have yet to finish writing the scene, and I like to have some story 'on tap' in case you guys flood me with reviews, and I have to reward you. And yes I said 'on tap' Friends in Low Places, by Garth Brooks is on...."Oh I've got friends in low places. Where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases. My blues away. Yeah, I'll be ok ok. Oh I'm not big on social graces, think I'll slip on down to the oasis. Oh I've got friends. In lo-ow places!
Lol....hehehehe...
Oh, lol! Here's the review about Riley's graceful exit...lol....
Kimiaji3: well, you may be in the minority, but you're not alone. I don't hate Riley, or even Spike. I hate when they're with Buffy. There's a difference. By themselves, they're not doing too much harm, but when they're with Buffy, they're keeping her from Angel, and that's what pisses me off! And yeah, I hated Parker, but I didn't mind Owen or Scott, too bland and human for my taste, but oh well...
And I'm glad you like my Angel. And now that you bring it up...I'm glad that he reminds you so much of him in Angel-tS season one, since this is supposed to take place that summer, and season two. I haven't totally seen all of season one, which is why I'm still sorta in the dark about the whole prophecy thing, but oh well, I'll manage somehow.
Melluvben: I can't answer all your questions, but like WW, you are on the right track. Once again, SHH! We're not there yet! You'll find out soon, probably in the next chapter, but not this one. The questions/comments I can comment on, though are these: yeah, the whole living with him, I think you probably thought as I wanted Buffy to, but as the story goes on, that might change, just a bit....*cough*hint*cough*
I'm glad you like the story, though. I love writing it!
And that's the last of the reviews this time around! I want to thank you all for reading, and thank you even more for reviewing. It makes me smile with your comments, like you weren't suspecting something, because that's what I was originally going for, and if it happened to you, then others might have the same reaction! Lol.
And I just want to say, for those of you who aren't reviewing, for one reason or another, your comments don't have to be about ways to fix the story. If any of you were unlucky enough to have me review your stories, then you'd know that my reviews are generally my thoughts while reading the story, and barely ever make sense! Lol. But if you're reading, though not reviewing, I still luv ya! Just drop me a note every once in a while, ok? So I know you're there?
Well, here's the not so long awaited update! Hope you like!
(Wow, two pages of author's notes...poor you guys!)
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Buffy was dreaming; she knew that much. What she didn't know what where the hell she was. She saw fleeting images, guys running, in robes, and they were more than scared, and then more robed guys, in a circle, chanting over a doll. Then a shadowy figure killing them all, but not before they finished the spell. She hoped it wasn't a protection spell; they should get their money back.
The shadow thing howled in anger. And then what she saw next made her heart stop. The thing was holding a screaming Dawn.
She woke with a start, panting. Dawn was crying. She picked up the child and soothed her, before realizing Angel was gone. She smoothed down her hair the best she could with one hand, and then headed upstairs.
Angel was in the middle of an interview, with a hot chick, but once he sensed her presence, he turned to her. "Buffy." He said, and the others looked at her.
"Oh, sorry to interrupt." Something in her voice caught him.
"What's wrong? What is it?"
"Nothing-A bad dream. Nothing to worry about." He stared at her a moment, then went back to the client.
"Oh, Glory, this is Buffy; Buffy, Glory." He introduced them Buffy nodded.
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise, I'm sure." And as the others turned back to the conversation, she took Dawn downstairs.
Angel came down in a little bit, to find her staring off into space, while sitting at the table. Dawn's carrier was on the tabletop. He sat down opposite her, even though he could barely see her over the carrier.
"What was your dream about?" He asked quietly.
"Monk guys. Running. From . . . . . . . something. Then some were chanting, doing one hell of a spell, it looked like. And then they were all dead. And I saw the figure that did it; that killed them all. I-I didn't get a good look, though. And then . . . . .then she was holding Dawn."
"She? I thought you said you didn't get a good look?"
"Her nails. Manicured. Red polish. Either a girl, or a VERY effeminate guy."
"So someone's after Dawn."
"That's what it looks like. She's not even a week old! Already someone's after her!" she put her head down on the table. "I was just sitting here, looking at her. If something- If I lost her-" he could hear the unshed tears that burned her throat.
He slid from his chair and crouched beside her. "I will not let anything happen to her, I promise."
"But you can't! You can't always be there for her! And neither can I! I can try, but even the slayer needs her time off!" She was close to tears now. Dangerously close.
"What can I tell you, Buffy? I want to make it better!"
"Lie to me." She murmured.
"I already did." He murmured back. He let her slid off the chair and into his lap.
"I'm sorry." She wiped her eyes and nose a bit later.
"Why?"
"Because now you're wet." And I look like a wet dog, she thought.
"I'll dry." He smoothed her cheek, and couldn't help but smiling.
"What?"
"Your mascara ran." She looked at him in horror. "Here." He smiled, wiping it gently away with his already wet shirt. He tried to hide his laughter.
"What?"
"You just surprise me, is all. You're up night and day with Dawn, and no offence, but it looks like you dressed in under two minutes, but you still manage to look stunning."
"Is it that obvious, that it only took me two minutes to dress?" she asked, pouting, but then she cracked a smile; one that for just a moment, reached her eyes. But then she remembered the problems, and the danger ahead. "I have to call Giles. He may have some insight. Hopefully." She said, with a hint of worry in her voice, before going off to find the phone.
Angel watched her go, and then picked up Dawn. He settled her into his arms. He didn't know what it was, but having her there, in his arms, against his chest, felt so right. He breathed an unnecessary breath. She smelled so soft and sweet. Just like her mother, he seemed to have fallen deeply in love with the child, as a father should love his daughter.
~ * ~
July turned to August, and soon September, with little information on Buffy's dream, or the ever-illusive Key. But Angel, like promised, had found an apartment he liked, and Buffy liked it too, so the three girls moved in. It was only half a mile from the campus, and two miles from Giles' place.
They settled into a fairly routine routine; Buffy would drop Dawn off with Giles before class in the morning. Giles would watch her until Buffy came and got her around four. She'd take her back to the apartment, where Willow could meet her around nightfall, so she could go patrolling. Occasionally, Willow would take the baby to Tara's, or Tara would come to the apartment. And then there were those rare occasions when Xander would watch her, while Willow went out, and Buffy was patrolling.
At almost two months of age, Buffy was still breast-feeding her, but she had gotten comfortable using a breast pump, which gave her a lot more freedom. They always kept a lot of extra breast milk in the fridge, though Buffy didn't want to speak the reason for doing so out loud, in case it made it all the more real.
Every Friday night, Angel would come to the apartment, unless he had a huge case on the line. He would either take Dawn while Buffy went out with Willow and Xander, or Joyce would take her granddaughter, and Angel would accompany them. He would stay the weekend, and then head back to LA Sunday night/Monday morning, before dawn.
Buffy would occasionally see Riley around campus, but he avoided her. It hurt; to know that he did it on purpose, but every day the pain went away a little more, and it wasn't the pain she had felt when Angel had left, or even her father. He was just a guy she had liked, and couldn't be with. Story of her life.
She knew that she spent very little time with her child during the week, and that was why she dedicated her weekends almost exclusively to Dawn. Sure, nights, she went out, she didn't want to be a shut-in mom, but she didn't want to be one of those neglective moms either.
So that's how things were, two weeks before school had started, when in the middle of the night, a new player was moving into Sunnydale.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Author's Note: This is where we get . . . . . well, it gets difficult! Hang with me!
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
The next night, Buffy went patrolling in one of the many cemeteries. As usual, cemetery plus dark, equaled vampires.
Buffy punched one such creature, almost enjoying her forced occupation. She punched him several times and then grabbed his shoulders and kneed him. He got up and she was on his back. He threw her down. She got up and charged, ducked a punch, punched and then kicked him. She tried to kick again but he grabbed her and lifted her over his head, then threw her down. She got up again, jumped on him with her legs around his neck. He threw her down; she flipped him over and then staked him. Buffy stood up, looking satisfied, and began to stride away purposefully. She walked between the gravestones and suddenly stopped, whirls around.
"Very impressive hunt." A man walking out of the darkness said. He was very thin and pale, had long hair, and spoke with an accent. "Such power."
"That was no hunt. That was just another day on the job." Buffy said, being her usual self, ready for attack, incase this got ugly. She saw that the man was wearing a long flowing cloak and had long flowing hair. He walked toward Buffy. "Care to step up for some overtime?"
"We're not going to fight."
"Do you *know* what a slayer is?"
"Do you?" The guy smirked at her. Buffy looked at him with intrigued.
"Who are you?"
"I apologize. I assumed you knew. I am Dracula." Buffy's eyes widen and she looks delighted.
"Get out! So lemme get this straight. You're ... 'Dracula.' The guy, the Count."
"I am."
"And you're sure this isn't just some fan boy thing? Cause ... I've fought more than a couple of pimply overweight vamps that called themselves Lestate."
Dracula is getting annoyed. "You know who I am. As I would now without question that you are Buffy Summers."
"You're heard of me?"
"Naturally. You're known throughout the world."
"Naw. Really?"
"Why else would I come here? For the sun? I came to meet the renowned ... killer."
"Yeah, I prefer the term slayer. You know, killer just sounds so..."
"Naked?" "Like I ... paint clowns or something. I'm the good guy, remember?"
"Perhaps, but your power is rooted in darkness. You must feel it." Buffy frowned and pondered this for a moment.
"No. You know what I feel? Bored. And I'm expected home soon, so..." She lunged at him with her stake. He dissolved into smoke. As she straightened up looking confused, he reappeared behind her. She turned, lunges again. He dissolved into smoke once more. Buffy looked around. "Okay, that's cheating."
Xander and Willow walked up. "Hey Buff, what's up?" Xander asked.
"You look like you just-" Willow started.
"Get out of here. Now."
"Fine, but I was gonna give you a sip of my double-mint mocha, but..." Dracula reappeared behind Xander.
"Behind you." Buffy warned. Willow and Xander turn and see Dracula.
"Hi." Willow says.
"Nice. Look who's got a bad case of dark prince envy." Xander says. Behind him Buffy's holding her stake, looking concerned.
"I have no interest in you. Leave us."
"No, we're not going to," he stopped, and started again, in Dracula's accent, "'leave you.' And where'd you get that accent, Sesame Street?" Now he spoke as the Count on Sesame Street, "Vun, two, three -- three victims. Mwa ha ha!" Dracula just looks annoyed.
"Xander, I'm pretty sure that's Dracula." Buffy whispered to him.
"Wow, really?" He hurried to stand behind Buffy. "Hey, sorry, man, I was ... just jokin' around."
"This is not the time." He locks eyes with Buffy. "I will see you soon." He spread his cape out and moved toward them, turning into a bat and flying over their heads as they all duck and yell. The bat flies away, squeaking. They straightened up and look around. The bat comes back and flies around Buffy's head. She covers her head with her hands.
"Bat! Ooh, bat!" Buffy cries. The bat squeaks and flies away again. "What are you guys doing here? Where's Dawn?"
"Giles has her. We came to bring you some icy goodness." Willow held up her iced coffee.
"Come on, we have to let Giles know about this. Maybe he'll have some insight. He always does." Buffy said, and with that, she stalked off.
Once at Giles, Buffy filled him in as quick as possible, with Willow and Xander, mostly Xander, adding bits and pieces. Tara and Anya showed up. After deciding on their best course of action, research now, hunt later, they all left for their own homes, to rest up. As Buffy told them, The Count encounter had wiped her out.
The next morning, when Willow came into Buffy's room for advice, Buffy quickly turned her back, as she was feeding Dawn. "Buffy, it's not like I haven't seen you do that before. What's wrong?"
"Nothin-" Willow spun her around, and saw the puncture in her neck "Dracula was here last night. I don't know what came over me. He said he had been searching the world over for me, for a creature's whose darkness rivaled his own. And then he said Angel wasn't worthy of me...I don't know why I let him bite me..."
"Well, I did get some research done last night. He likes long slow bites that last for days. Seduction. Likes to have a connection with his victim. Likes to form a relationship with his prey, before turning them. It's not your fault, Buffy."
"Yes it is. How'd he get in anyway?"
"Probably because we haven't lived here long enough, it takes time for the taking up residence thing to work. And the whole Angel living here probably doesn't help."
"Will- could you call Angel for me? I don't really want him around, but Dawn would be safer, if he was." Willow nodded and left, as Buffy finished feeding her child. As she got ready for the day, she put a scarf around her neck.
~ * ~
"Dracula's there?!" Angel fumed.
"Yeah, he took a chunk out of Buffy-"
"How'd he get in?" He asked, confused.
"How'd you know he got in?"
"Dracula's like that."
"You know him?"
"Yeah, he owes Spike and I some money. Did either of you invite him in?"
"No, we thought it was the whole we just moving in thing that let him in."
"No, the barrier gets put up 48 hours after you moved in. Someone let him in."
"Don't know who it was, Angel. Buffy wants you here, though, to help protect Dawn."
"He went after Dawn?" now he was really concerned.
"No, it's just...he was in her room, Angel. She won't admit it, but she doesn't feel safe."
"I'll be there as soon as I wrap things up here."
"Ok." Willow said goodbye, and hung up. She went back to Buffy's room, "Buffy, he's on his way."
"Good. Will you take Dawn for a while? I'm gonna go try to find him."
"Maybe that's not such a good idea, Buffy. He's bitten you; he puts his victims under a thrall, a seduction. You should stay away from him-"
"No, I'm not under his thrall. And it's personal. What other info do you have on him?"
"He likes rich places."
"So, mansions got it. Thanks, Will."
~ * ~
Just after sunset, Buffy entered the last of the mansions, almost a castle. She walked through and entered a dinning like room. "I knew you'd come." He said in that accent of his.
"Why? Because I'm under your thrall?" She whips out Mister Pointy and drops the dazed expression. "Well, guess again, pal."
"Put the stake down."
"Okay." She agrees, putting it down, then looks at her hand in surprise, "Right. That ... was not ... you." Even to herself, she sounded unconvinced. "I did that. I did that because ... I wanted to." Dracula just watches her. "Maybe I should rethink that thrall thing." She looks around nervously and gives a little whimper.
He started to come near her. "Stay away from me."
"Are you afraid I will bite you?" he walks slowly toward her. "Slayer, that's why you came."
"No. Last night ... it's not gonna happen again. I won't let it."
"Stop me. Stake me." He says, knowing she won't.
"I..." she backs up from him, glancing at stake on the table. "Any minute now. Just waiting to pick up the stake!"
"Do you know why you cannot resist?"
"Cause you're famous?"
"Because you do not want to."
She shakes her head, "No. My friends-"
"They're not here. They will not find us. We are alone." Buffy looks anxious. She didn't want to die, and leave Dawn without a mother. Waiting for Angel seemed to be a better plan right about now. "Always alone." Buffy shakes her head, unbelieving. She's not alone, no. Dracula begins circling her, "There is so much I have to teach you. Your history, your power ... what your body is capable of..."
She shakes her head again. "I don't need to know."
"You long to. And you will have eternity to discover yourself." He comes back around in front to face her. "But first ... a little taste."
"I won't let you." She says, venomously.
"I didn't mean for me." He holds up his arm and rolls up the sleeve.
"What are you-"She's confused. The thought of dying keeps flashing through her mind.
"All those years fighting us. Your power so near to our own..." he cuts his arm with a fingernail till blood wells up, "...and you've never once wanted to know what it is that we fight for?" He holds his arm out to Buffy. "Never even a taste?"
"If I drink that-" her mind is going in so many different directions. When was the last time she saw mom? Did she tell Dawn that she loved her as she left? Would she ever be able to tell Angel the same? If she drank that-
"I have not drunk enough for you to change. You must be near death to become one of us. And that comes only when you plead for it."
"I'm not hungry." She stares at his wrist, going for disdain, but it really wasn't working well.
"No. Your craving goes deeper than that." Buffy stares at him. "You think you know ... what you are ... what's to come. You haven't even begun." He whispers. Buffy looks at his arm, at his face. She took his hand in both of hers and put her mouth on the bloody wrist. "Find it. The darkness. Find your true nature." Buffy's eyes are wide.
She saw visions. Herself fighting, the First Slayer. A vein with blood corpuscles rushing through it. Dawn...
Buffy slowly lifts her head. "Wow." She said, softly, almost a whisper. Going for surprise, she suddenly shoves out her hand and pushes Dracula away. He lands on the table and slides across it on his back. "That was gross." She walks forward as Dracula gets to his feet.
"You are resisting." Now he was the one that sounded insecure.
"Looks like I am."
"Come here. Come to me." He uses his hand to beckon to her.
"You know, I really think the thrall has gone out of our relationship. But I want to thank you for opening up my eyes a little."
"What is this?" He's dumbfounded, to why his powers are no longer working on her.
"My true nature. You want a taste?" she taunts, in her true style. Dracula growls and lunges at her. She jumped over his head, whirled, kicked him, punched him twice, kicks him into a wall. He spins back, grabbed her arm, punches her and flung her across the room. She lands on the table on her back.
Buffy runs across the room. She barrels into Dracula and they fall to the floor, rolling. He's on top. He punches her, she punches him, and then she grabs his shirt and flips him over. Now she's on top. She punches him a few times. Then he catches her fist and flings her off him. He's grinning. They both get up, grab each other and fall down again. Buffy's on top. She brings both her hands down but he blocks and flings her away again. She flies backward and hits the wall. She grabs him, he flips her across the table and then jumps onto it. She hits him with a chair and then sweeps his feet out from under him. He punches her. She grabs a torch and he rolls away just as she hits the table with it. They face each other across the table.
"A guy like you should think about going electric. Seriously." Dracula growls and turns to smoke. Buffy looks around, sees where the smoke is converging, drops the torch and runs toward the smoke. She grabs Mister Pointy off the table as she runs, leaps to the top of the stairs, and is there to stake Dracula just as he appears from the smoke. He looks shocked. "How do you like my darkness now?" She taunted, as he exploded into dust. Dracula growls, falls down the stairs and explodes into dust. She dusted off her hands and stands there a moment, and the fog appears and begins to converge. As soon as Dracula has fully appeared, she staked him again. He gasps.
"You think I don't watch your movies? You always come back." She rolled her eyes at him, as if he'd never learn. Dracula explodes into dust again. Buffy folds her arms and watches. The fog begins to collect again. "I'm standing right here! For God's sake!" She said. The fog dissipated.
~ * ~
She marched into Giles' house. "All gone."
"Dracula?"
"Yup. And Giles...I wanted to talk to you."
"I, uh, actually wanted to talk to you."
"You go first."
"No, Buffy, I insist that you go first."
She sighed. "You haven't been my watcher since my 18th birthday. And I miss you. I...I want you to be my watcher again. My mentor. I can't do this without you, Giles. Please?"
He didn't even have to think on it as his plans to go back to England fled his mind. "Of course." She ran to him and hugged him.
"Thank you!"