Title: The First Seconded

Author: Falcon-Rider falcon_rider@hotmail.com

Rating: PG-13 for Angst and ect. And CD

Disclaimer: I own nothing 'cept the plot and Nich.

Authors note: Yes I know that I am late on getting this up but I forgot about a science project and had to do some last minute stuff on it, and then my English teacher told us to write a modern day episode to The Epic Poem the Odessy, in poem form. Oh the torture. Anyway, I updated my site yesterday for anyone who checks it out… and there will be another art up for this fic on Wends. Due to Late Start. I love my school.

 Drum roll The STORY!

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Part Twenty

Relatively Alright

42 days

"Wow, this place is big," Nich, whistled as She opened the door to the Hyperion Hotel. "Are you sure a Vampire owns it? Cause you know I'm betting someone could make a lot of money off this place."

The teenager rolled her violet hued eyes as Spike glared at her. The two of them had just stopped by the optometrist an hour before to get contacts that would hide, at least somewhat, her golden-cat eyes.

 "What I was just pointing out the facts." She grumbled in response to his look and walked over toward the weapons cabinet as Spike walked towards the counter.

"'Ello?" The slayer called out. His voice rang through the empty seeming hotel. "Anybody home?"

"Maybe there out saving the world or something we could alwa-" Nich was cut off as a young woman with mousy-brown hair that fell down her back entered the room an uncomfortable smile on her face and glasses perched on her nose. Following her was a young African-American man who had an air of danger around him.

"Sorry, we weren't expectin' anybody," The young woman glanced between the two of them.

Nich exchanged a look with Spike before she headed toward where the ex-vampire was standing. The young black man followed her movements with his eyes trying to se if she was any danger.

"Is this Angel Investigations?" Spike asked clearing his throat.

"Yes it is, though Angel isn't-" The young woman began but her companion cur her off.

"Angel isn't here, he's on a case."

"Yes, sure," Nich rolled her eyes. "And that case involves swimming with the fishies."

"What are you talking abou-"

Spike cut him off quickly, "We got a message that the poof… Angel was in trouble and were sent her to help sort everything out."

"And how are we supposed to believe that?"

"Would you believe Cordelia told us?" Nich spoke up gathering looks from both of the remaining members of Angel Investigations.

*

"Buffy, I'm going to meet Echo at the Espresso place down town!" Dawn called from downstairs.

Buffy glanced toward the door to her room as she called back, "Do you have money?"

"Yes! I still have my allowance money from this month!"

"Alright! See you tonight, at eleven sharp! Don't be late!" Buffy was answered with a quick 'okay' and the slamming of the front door. The female slayer smiled and shook her head laughing slightly. She was glad dawn had finally made friends with someone her own age, other than Janice, and that the teen was having actual non-criminal fun with them, hopefully.

Buffy stood up and walked over to her dresser, looking through it she grabbed a hair tie and pulled her hair back into a pony tail making a mental note to get a touch up dye job done on her roots. Glancing in the mirror she took enough to time to apply a bit of pink tinted lip-gloss and some tan eye shadow before she headed down the stairs.

As she reached the last step the phone rang causing the slayer to jump slightly in surprise. As she grabbed the phone off the hook she glanced at the caller ID that stated the call was from England.

 "Hello?"

~

"Buffy I'm glad I managed to catch you," Giles smiled as he spoke into the phone. Across the room Tara was helping Willow pack some of her clothes into one of the leather bags that he had brought with him to the coven.

"What's up Giles?" Buffy asked, suddenly the smile on her face faded and she grasped the phone tighter. "Is Willow… is she alright?"

"What? Oh yes we're all quite fine." Giles glanced at the two witches who were currently making fun of a few of Willows 'kiddier' shirts.

Tara squealed suddenly as Willow decided to seek revenge on her lover through tickling her.

"Giles are you sure?" Buffy frowned confused from hearing the noise from Giles side of the line. What was going on?

"Yes, just uh, hold on for a second."

~

"Uh, alright." Buffy frowned and glanced around the living room. Her eyes fell on the closet and she walked over to it and opened the door quietly. Once it was open she surveyed the contents her eyes settled on Spikes duster and she reached out her hand to caress the black leather.

~

Giles covered the mouthpiece and turned toward the young women in the room with him, "If you would please refrain from making to much noise, I am trying to have a conversation here."

"Oh with Olivia?" Willow stretched out Giles' woman friends name smiling devilishly.

'Haven't thought about her in that way for a long time. Not since Anya…' Giles thought. Aloud he shook his head, "No, with Buffy."

"Oh!" Willow bit her lip as her fingers traced the loosening metal band that hung on her wrist.

"We'll be quiet then," Tara assured him sincerely before a large smile crossed her face and she leaned in to whisper in Willows ear, "Mostly."

Willow giggled and covered her mouth with a hand before returning to the pile of clothes and the suitcase.

Giles shook his head and uncovered the mouthpiece returning it to his face, "Buffy?"

~

Buffy sighed as several good memories of her times with Spike crossed her mind. The time he had comforted her on the porch after her mother first went to the hospital and the time in this very living room after she had just returned from her heavenly resting place.

"Buffy!" Giles voice from the phone recalled her attention and she lifted it back to her ear.

"Hmm?"

"Good your still there," Giles sighed causing Buffy to laugh slightly.

"Yep still here, and still Buffy the Vampire Slayer… the chosen one and all that stuff. What's up?"

Giles couldn't help but laugh for a second and managed to gather the two witches glances before they began to giggle quietly once more as well. "Well I wanted to let you know that Willow will be on a plain back to Sunnydale tomorrow afternoon."

"So soon?" Buffy asked a bit to quickly. Though the female slayer was glad her friend would be back she wasn't to keen on having her around her little sister… not after all that had happened.

"She's doing quite well considering," Giles answered. "In fact she's doing amazingly well." He turned his gaze back toward the couple and smiled. "Is there anyway that Xander or you could pick her up at the airport and take her to her apartment?"

"Uh, yah." Buffy replied thinking; "I don't think Xander has work tomorrow. I'll call him later and ask, if not I can take a cab down to the airport and keep her company on the way home."

"That sounds good. Now about times…"

*

She smiled softly as she stared up at the plain stone ceiling humming her song softly. The notes reverberated through the room causing a nice echo effect that seemed to add a cold chill to the song. Her pale hands reached to the ceiling that blocked the daylight from shining through.

A whimper escaped from her throat and she leaned her head to the side till her cheek-touched red silk and mingled against her dark hair creating an eerie effect of death.

"Its not fair." She whispered hoarsely.

"Their name was changed… the confusion... it hurts my head. What are they going to do now? We can't have the chaos… it's not right," Se opened her eyes and slowly moved u into a kneeling position as she stared at the sky.

Lifting a finger she shook it at the doll above her. "Tsk Tsk, you've been a naughty girl. Even the gnats won't have anything to do with you."

Her dark laugh rang out as her mind was filled with a dark melody that sang of blood, death and power.

"We're not going to have to wait much longer, order and chaos… no difference really. Everything sorts itself out in the end… doesn't matter how…" She turned a smile widening on her lips. "Granddaddy would be proud of me… Miss Edith told me so before her… accident."

"That he would." Came the reply from the doorway. Drusilla glanced in the direction of the voice before retuning it to the blind folded doll with the noose around its neck.

"Just like… roses… so pretty."

****

Author Note: Buffy's going to tell Spike Something eventually! Yippie! Hmm I hope its those three little words… I thought Help was Funny more than anything, but it was an okay epy… hey I realized like 5 minutes ago that Fox switched its showing of BtVS to Saturday, boy am I smart!

To be continued in: Always a Next Time

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