Unseen III
Reunion
Buffy advanced towards them, Willow stepping out from the corner to advance with her.
Spike tilted his head, enjoying the sight.
Buffy, however, avoided looking at him.
Spike's smile widened.
Willow, however, was not as restrained.
In what could be best described as a red-streaked blur, she flew into Spike's arms, hugging him tight.
For such a little package she packed a hell of a wallop.
Spike almost was bowled over, but vampire strength was nice to have, he thought to himself.
She gripped him so tight that he eventually had to tell her,
"Red…"
"Yeah?"
"I can't breathe."
"You don't have to breathe…or…do you?"
She slowly pulled back and gave him an intense look.
"Settle down, I'm still un-dead."
"Well…see there…in that case,"
Spike found himself once more engulfed in a Willow bear hug.
Willow pulled back a few minutes later.
And promptly hit Spike as hard as she could in the chest.
"Ow! What the bloody hell was that for Red?"
"Don't you ever die on us again!"
Spike gave her a look.
"Like you really cared."
"I cared."
"Will…"
"I did…still do. Besides…if I hadn't, would I have hugged you like I did just then or hit you…cause I was mad at you for dying on us, of course."
Spike just shook his head; it really wasn't worth it to fight with Willow. Willow-logic was like nothing he had ever seen before in his one hundred plus years of un-life.
"I guess not."
"See…besides…I've done a lot of searching since you did that last number thing…and…"
"And?"
"I'm not ready to share that yet…let's just suffice it to say we were getting closer and I was starting to see you not as a scary vampire who was always trying to kill us, but as a somewhat trusted friend…and I want to keep it there."
"You got a thing for me, don't ya Red?"
Willow hit him again.
"You've been taking lessons from my girls I see."
"What lessons?"
"Violence 101 it looks like…that or Avoidance of Affection…means the same thing to my Summers' women, ya know. Well, except for Joyce, she was one hell of a woman who had her act together, but that's another story for another day."
Willow shoved him lightly while rolling her eyes at him to show him just what she thought of his reasoning.
Spike just laughed.
"I always knew you thought I was hot."
"Spike!"
"You know you were thinking it."
"I was so not…hello…gay now."
"Yeah I remember, but unless some other bird is playing with the magic's again…not blind."
Willow smiled softly as did Spike as they remembered Tara.
After a few seconds went by, Willow said,
"I still miss her Spike."
"We all do. Glenda was a one in a kind…and a sweet thing…she liked me, ya know."
"Yeah, she did! Never understood why, though?"
"I'm a good vamp?"
"That you are…even if you do hide it…a lot!"
"Got a rep to protect," Spike shrugged before going on,
"Anyway, Glenda will always be around for you…watching over you. Like she could ever leave you for good."
"Aww…sometimes I could kiss you…"
"See…I told you… you want me."
"Argh," Willow mock-growled as she pushed him.
Spike chuckled before going on,
"I'm just kidding Red."
"You better be…you bleached moron."
"Hey now, be nice Red…'member…poor Spike burning to death in the pillar of fire, crushing Hellmouth, and all..."
"You're trying to make me cry now, aren't you?"
"Now would I do that?"
Willow's look told him that she thought anything was possible when it concerned him.
"Actually, I'd rather you smile at me."
"I can do that."
Willow smiled.
Spike nodded and then said,
"So…when'd you learn the new trick?"
"While I was in Brazil…and then I kinda learned to master and move it in Tibet."
"Been to Brazil…its nice there."
"Yes it was."
They were both silent for a moment.
"I didn't see her if that's what you were wondering."
"Didn't see who?"
"Dru…Druscilla."
"Wasn't really thinking about her Pet. I was thinking that I've changed a good deal since I was last there."
"Yes, yes you have…and I have to say, minus the clothes, you're a lot better than the jerk you used to be."
"I wasn't a jerk…just a little colder…harder…it was all I knew, ya know…besides… vampire here…not to mention, look at my company…is there any reason to wonder… and hey…I know you're not giving advice with clothes, Missy. I have seen what you used to wear you know."
"Shut up," Willow said swatting at him.
Spike just winked at her.
A few seconds later, he said,
"So Red…"
"Hmm?"
"For how much longer are you supposed to be keeping me from interrupting their conversation?" he asked as he gestured towards Buffy & Angel.
Willow didn't even try to bother to persuade him that that wasn't what she was doing.
"You know sometimes you're too smart for your own good."
"And oddly enough, your one of the few that has ever mentioned that."
Willow just laughed.
While Spike and Willow had their reunion, Buffy made her way over to Angel.
She was just about to say something when she found herself wrapped tightly in his arms, the life being squeezed out.
After a few seconds,
"Angel…"
"Yes?"
"I can't breathe!"
"Oh…sorry."
Angel stepped back and said,
"Sorry…it's just really good to see you."
"Likewise."
"Now go."
"What!"
"I'm glad that your fine…I'm glad you're alive…but I can't have you be here."
Buffy opened her mouth to retort and then stopped and stared at him like he had grown two heads instead.
"Buffy…"
Buffy shook her head side-to-side and laughed.
Angel gave her an odd look.
"What is so funny?"
"The fact that you think you can control me."
"Well I know I can't do that…it's just that I think it would be better…"
"Angel…I'm not going to get in this with you…. I came for a couple of reasons…and none of them have to do with needing to be by your side because I'd be so devastated without you that I'd want to die too."
Angel's jaw dropped.
"Doesn't mean I don't love you or that I don't care for you…I'm just no longer in love with you…and I just recently learned that there was a serious difference. But it also doesn't mean I'm no longer your friend, as long as you stay on the side of good…I'm there for ya, 'cause from the looks around…looks like you can use a bit more friends."
"Speaking of which – what's with sending, what's his name, the goofy one…oh yeah, Andrew, to collect that loony slayer, from under me with 12 slayers, who…and I quote, 'None of which has ever dated you'."
Buffy cracked a smile.
"It wasn't personal."
"The hell it wasn't! I couldn't get any help from you or Giles when I talked to him."
"We weren't sure Angel…and you know if you had a glimmer of a doubt about me, you'd have done the same in our position."
"But you know me."
"Angel…you hired a person to watch me. Did you really think I wouldn't know? I'm not a fool…. nor am I naive…not anymore. People sometimes change…some for the good, some for the bad. You were in a building that's been working on the other side for centuries… I had to cover myself…and I refuse to feel bad about it. "
Angel sighed.
"Your right…you didn't know…heck…ask the rest…they weren't even sure about me until last night."
Buffy nodded.
"Glad we cleared that up."
"You still have to go."
"And miss an apocalypse…your kidding right?"
"It's not safe."
"They never are."
"You're starting to sound a lot like Spike."
"I'm not sure if that's a compliment or a complaint."
"What do you think?"
Buffy merely smiled before shouting,
"Kathleen!"
Angel looked confused.
A girl of at least 17 came around the corner of the building.
"Yeah, yeah I'm coming…no need to shout so."
Carrying a small black case she approached them and after a brief look at Angel, and an even briefer one of Illyria, she hunched down next to Gunn.
"Lift your shirt."
Gunn's wary expression let her know that was the last thing he was thinking of doing just then.
"I'm a healer. Willow here placed a spell to slow down your body's processing of your death…hopefully I'm as good as I think I am, and we can have you slamming death's doors shut for at least a bit longer."
"Well in that case…" Gunn said, lifting his shirt so she could patch him up.
Kathleen laughed, and then started taking out jars of ointments and healing tools she needed.
"Tell me the truth," Gunn said a few minutes later while in the middle of one of her healing and cleansing properties, "this is how you pick up guys, isn't it?"
"Oh yeah…the blood spattered and full of lacerations group…those are the men to die for."
Gunn laughed.
While this was going on, Buffy started over towards them to check their progress, and get a closer inspection of Illyria, when Spike intercepted her.
"Avoiding me luv?"
"I'm not," she mumbled, but she still didn't look at him.
"Funny…looks like you are. Thought you weren't a coward Summers."
That brought her eyes to him and a glare shinning through their hazel depths.
"There she is."
Buffy rolled her eyes, damn the man…vamp…and his ability to get to her when she was trying her best not to react.
"Come on…it's been some time. Where's my smile?"
"What makes you think you deserve one?"
"Hmmm…pillar of fire…landing with Angel, not trying to kill the bloody ponce off, hell…screw the smile, I deserve a bloody medal."
Buffy burst out laughing.
"Why can you always make me smile?"
"I'm good?"
"No, you're bent."
Spike's wicked smile was all she got.
"If you even think about answering as you did once before, I'll personally kick you there and then stake you."
Spike hid his smile quickly, but couldn't stop his eyes from dancing with laughter, before saying,
"Wasn't even on my mind luv?"
Buffy leaned closer.
"Bull."
Spike laughed.
"God, it's good to be around you again Summers."
"You say that now, but I guarantee you'll be kicking yourself later."
"And why is that?"
"Cause you and I have some unfinished business Spike."
"You been watching Kill Bill luv?"
Buffy looked a little sheepish,
"We had some downtime…"
Spike laughed.
"So did we. I had tons."
They fell silent…
Spike didn't want to talk about all the time he spent as a ghost…just then.
And Buffy didn't want to talk about how much she had missed him.
Finally she said,
"Just so you know…I'm kicking your ass later…as soon as we reach a safe location.'
"What the bloody hell for?"
"For making me think you were dead."
"I was dead!"
"Don't you yell at me, you know what I mean!"
Spike gave her a wry smile, before continuing in a softer voice, and with a much softer expression.
"Yes luv…I know."
"Don't give me that look…I'm still gonna hurt you."
Spike merely smiled.
"If I promise to behave can I get a hug first?"
"You behave?"
"Well…at first…I can't promise anything later…it's been too long since I've been around you, not to mention…once your in the presence of me, you might just throw yourself at me…and I'm letting you know here and now, I'll not be stopping you."
"Stupid bleached moron," Buffy muttered, hitting him in the chest.
Spike wasn't even fazed,
"Your words wound me luv…but I'm still waiting for my hug."
Spike opened his arms.
Buffy stared at him.
For a moment, Spike was sure she wasn't going to come to him. The way she hesitated made him think; maybe I've always read more into her than there ever was.
That was seconds before she slammed into him, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
She held on to him like she never wanted to let him go.
Spike smiled.
Now this is what heaven must feel like, he thought.
Of course that was merely seconds before Buffy pulled back and hit him hard.
"Ow! Bloody hell, what is wrong with you women…. can't ya just hug someone like a normal human being? Why must you hit me afterwards?"
"You left us."
"I had to."
"You didn't."
"We both know I did…now, for once, hug and no beating…come on I know you have it in you…never saw a single bruise on Joyce."
Buffy laughed but hugged him again.
"I'm still gonna kick you."
"You wouldn't be you if you didn't."
They pulled back eventually, but didn't move far from the other's side.
"Of course, I have some questions for you too luv?"
"Like what?"
"Like you shacking up with the Immortal."
Buffy smiled quickly and then wiped it off her face, presenting him with a blank look.
His glare told her she hadn't quite pulled it off,
'Stupid eyes', she thought…'giving away my laughter…now he's gonna be all sore heady. I so missed all of this.'
"We've plenty of time to go over all that, Spike. However, first…. I'd like to know what that is."
Spike followed her gaze and encountered Illyria's mildly curious perusal of Kathleen, Willow, and Buffy.
"That's Illyria."
"Ill-or-ee-what?"
"Illyria."
"What is she?"
"Now that's a long and twisted story…got time?"
"Sure...it's not like we're in the middle of an apocalypse or anything."
Spike laughed… and started to tell her of recent events as they walked over towards Illyria.
Illyria was watching Kathleen's administration to Gunn and watching Willow, who was giving her weird looks.
Finally Willow could hold it back no longer,
"Fred…wow…you've really changed your looks. I mean before it was all with the …good…wholesome look and …now… you've got this 'Hi-I'm-a-Techno-Babe'…thing…going on. Which is cool if your into that kind of thing, I just wouldn't have thought that it was your type of…hey…your not Fred are you?"
"I am and I'm not."
Willow raised her eyebrows at her.
"I don't think I understand."
"I am Illyria, God King of the Primordium. However, I am encased in this… shell…of Winifred Burkle, whom you call Fred. So, I am, and I am not."
"Is Fred in there with you?"
"No…and yes."
"Okay…now I'm all sorts of confused…"
"No…Fred does not share her shell of flesh with me. When I was resurrected, I took over her body, and forced her out…she is dead. But…her memories remain…imbedded within me. I can morph my body to match what hers once was…I can adapt her form and talk with her accent if I must, it's all a part of me, but separate. Do you understand?"
"Yeah…Illyria…. hmmm…. I'm gonna have to look that up…I remember you're supposed to be something powerful in your raw form."
"You've read about me?
"Yeah…I had a lot of downtime during my high school years, and since then. I think your volume used to be in Giles's special section…. yes…ancient warrior lord, am I right?"
"Yes. Hmm…my Qwa'ha Xahn said that there were books, but I was just trying to adjust to this wretched human-filled world as well as my new one's height and obviously breakability."
"Your Qwa ha who?"
"My Qwa'ha Xahn…my priest."
"Wow…"
"What?"
"Demon churches…go figure."
"Not really what you'd call a church," Gunn & Angel chipped in.
"I figured so much, "Willow said with a smile to them and then turned back to Illyria, "…but see, I read about you," Willow grinned at her, and then her smile dimmed, "wait, did you say that Fred is dead because of you."
"Yes."
"You killed Fred?"
"Yes, but not deliberately as you assume."
"I'm not sure I understand."
"When I was resurrected, my essence was released and reanimated in this shell, inside Winifred, Fred, Burkle. According to Wesley, I hollowed out this shell with no more intent of malice than a virus. I had no idea of who this shell was before I became her, nor do I really care, since she is now apart of me. I do not understand many of the ways of this world. The only thing I know for sure is that this shell cannot contain my true greatness, the absolute essence of all that I am."
"You mean you aren't you?"
"Not completely…"
"How did that happen?"
"This… shell… could not completely contain my true greatness…it could not fully embody all that I am; it had me warping through time destroying myself and everything around it time and time again. It was …annoying."
"You were stuck in a closed time loop."
"Yes."
"How did you escape?"
"Wesley used a machine that sucked out my energy and sent my essence deep into the far reaches of the galaxy."
"There was no other way?"
"Apparently not…it was destroying me."
"I kinda know how it is to do without power…and what happens when you let too much of it corrupt you."
Illyria gave her a thoroughly disgusted look, similar to what one might give if they found something gross stuck to the bottom of their shoe.
"Power…? What power can you have? What power are you even capable of? Aren't you merely a primitive as well…or are you a half-breed warrior like Angel & Spike? Minute warriors in which in my true form and with my army, would have been swept away with a mere thought."
"Well if you include witches to be primitive…"
"I do…when I call you primitive; I mean you to be lower beings…human is the name you gave yourselves I believe."
"Okay…well, that's kind of condescending."
"Kind of," Gunn snorted.
"You'll get used to that Red, "Spike said upon approach, "Blue Thunder here believes herself to be way above us lowly species."
"Yeah…I'm getting that," Willow said to him.
Spike grinned.
"Grandma here talks rough, but she plays nice…well, now she does. She's a team player she is."
Illyria gave Spike a look, but said nothing,
"Grandma?"
"That's what I call 'm to piss 'm off."
"Only you Spike, "Willow muttered, shaking her head.
Buffy agreed silently, but had to ask,
"And why would you do that?"
"What, you expected me to be exceptionally good…may I remind you that I was stuck with Angel…had to find something worthwhile to do…. that or go mad."
"Whoops… too late."
"I wouldn't throw stones if I was you, pet…exposure to Xander Harris can't be good for the sanity…and you've known him for how long now?"
Buffy rolled her eyes, and turned to Willow.
"What was the spiel she was giving you, Will?"
"She's actually a he luv."
Buffy gave Spike a look.
"Okay, well technically she's an it, but we just call her Illyria. I figure she was a God-King, hence forth, she 'as to be male, right? No one ever said anything about Goddess-Queen, ya know."
"Spike?"
"Hmm?"
"Sometimes you think too much."
"Spike thinks?"
"Shut your hole, ya right bastard!" he roared over to Angel, who shrugged and smiled to himself.
Buffy rolled her eyes at both of them before saying,
"Honestly, getting you two together is like being surrounded by children, how you ever managed to work together for damn near a year is beyond me."
"I tried to stay drunk," Spike put in.
"I'll bet you did," Buffy replied softly.
"You missed me, ya know."
"Your right, I did…but we both know you drink way too much."
"Do I need to mention a time after a certain slayer was resurrected from the dead…?"
"No you don't…but I learned my lesson, I've been way-too-much-liquor free for a year and a half, no two years now… you on the other hand…"
"Have had way too much stress happening to me not to escape into the wonderful world of the no coherent."
"Land of the drunks?"
"It's a nice place."
"You so need help."
"No…just you."
Buffy pushed him to the side with her hips and then, resuming a more serious expression, gave another once over to Illyria.
"She doesn't look so tough," she muttered.
"Don't let her looks fool ya, luv…she can explode a demon's head with a single punch."
"Sad to say, I'm impressed," Faith said, as she came sauntering up.
"Sad to say, that goes for me as well," Buffy muttered softly.
Spike chuckled before greeting Faith.
"Doe-eyes."
"Blondie."
Buffy caught the glances between the two of them & stepped between them.
"I refuse to do this more than once, so listen up the both of you."
"For you," she said, looking at Spike, "The only slayer you really get to fight is me."
"That's not fair love."
"Tough."
"It's not like she's a rookie...'sides, we've fought a couple of times before."
"And I so kicked your ass," Faith interjected.
"Please…don't make me laugh kitten…just cause you got the moves doesn't mean you can put them on me. First time we threw down, I was under strict instructions not to beat you to death. Second time, I was more interested in finding Buffy than dealin' with any of you. But I do recall a certain doe-eyed slayer being tossed toward a wall & landing hard. Wait…wasn't that you?"
"And I remember a certain bleached vampire catching a hook & flying across a table…hold up, wait, wasn't that you?"
They were face-to-face now, having both side stepped past Buffy, neither moving & neither backing down.
Buffy looked somewhat bored with the display.
Kathleen hadn't even looked up from her administrations and Gunn was busy watching what she was doing and listening to her instructions, so he hadn't bothered to watch, although he had glanced up once or twice.
Angel just watched, curious.
Willow; however had a different expression on her face.
Illyria advanced & stopped beside Willow, who was practically laughing.
"This display amuses you?"
"It really does."
"I do not understand these ways. If a follower had laughed at us back then we'd have eviscerated them without question. But here you laugh and are not troubled by what you see and none have punished you. Are they not on the same side?"
"They are…this amuses me because this is their way of saying that they missed each other. It's all for show."
"Oh…I understand now…my pet is showing off again?"
"You call Spike your pet?"
"He would have made a great pet in my day…he could have been one of my favorites."
Willow glanced at Illyria, but she couldn't see if she was making a joke or not. Did Illyria even have a sense of humor, she wondered?
"Has Spike heard you call him a pet?"
"He has heard."
"And not pleased I'm sure."
"He could adjust," was all Illyria was willing to give.
Willow laughed, thinking of Spike as a pet did her no good…she kept imagining seeing him crawling on all fours with a spiked collar around his neck and sporting a long leash.
'It's going to take me some time until I get this image out of my head,' she thought as they turned back to see how things were progressing.
Buffy finally stepped up,
"Look…we have other things to be doing…just tell each other you missed each other and let's please move on."
Spike and Faith, at first, looked as if they hadn't heard her, but then they both flashed Buffy twin grins, before stepping up & hugging each other tight.
"Welcome back to the land of the living, Blondie."
"Glad to be back…specially knowing a fine looking thing like you missed me so very much."
Faith only laughed.
"You know Angel's not going to be as much fun as I am when you push his buttons," Spike drawled, seeing her glance toward his sire's way.
"Yeah I know…does take a bit of the fun out of it…still gonna do it though…just would like to know why."
"I figure that when your over two centuries, senility and extreme broodiness can be an extreme bite in da ass."
Faith laughed & then walked towards Angel to greet him herself.
Spike turned to look at Buffy.
Buffy rolled her eyes at him.
"What?"
"You're both ridiculous."
"But it was fun."
"You know I'd have been rooting for her, right?"
"No you wouldn't. You know you love to watch me fight. Which reminds me..."
Spike stepped up closer to her.
"Wanna dance Slayer?"
Buffy grinned.
"Later."
Spike pouted.
"Why not now?"
"It's not safe now."
"And it'll be safe somewhere else?"
"Well…right away maybe…later…not so much…we could get a little dance in."
"Or we could do a different kind of dance?"
Buffy laughed & shook her head before saying,
"You know you ought to watch what you say,"
"Why's that…'cause Angelus's vampiric radar ears could be listening…watch as I not care."
"No," Buffy said, giving Angel a glance, quick enough to see his pout, before turning her attention back to Spike.
"Then why?"
"Cause walls have ears."
Before Spike could question such a bizarre statement, Dawn stepped out from behind a building,
"Aww sis, just when it was getting good. I swear you have hearing like a vampire's, how'd you hear me anyway?"
Buffy ignored the question and asked, "You're not done checking the perimeter already are you?"
"Yes…okay…no…but it was a boring job…and I happen to be a mere human, let the super-types handle all that."
"You wanted to be here, Dawn."
"I did…I still do…but checking the perimeter and gross dead demon gut reports wasn't all I wanted to do…besides… I wanted to see if you were really back," she said, looking at Spike.
"And now you know I am," Spike said softly.
Dawn just stared at him.
Spike just watched her stare at him.
He was wondering if she was thinking about what she told him she'd do to him a year or so ago if she found out he had hurt her sister again.
He couldn't tell from her expression, apparently Buffy had been giving her sister mask-your-emotion lessons.
Bloody things were working well too.
He decided he'd rather meet it head on, sitting around and waiting to meet the ax had never been his style anyway.
"Bit, if your thinking of setting me on fire, gotta tell ya, I've been through that once, really would like NOT to have to go through that thing again. Bloody painful it was."
Dawn's lip trembled.
"Hey now, what's this?"
It took her all of five seconds before she leapt across the room and cannoned into him, crying softly.
Spike couldn't have been happier.
His girl was his again.
"Hush now," he said softly, before saying, "and here I thought my bit was all grown up now…dressed all in black and wearing high heeled boots?"
"Everyone loves a slender ankle," she said watery.
"Yes, but only monsters love a tender young scrap that's fallen 'cause they can't walk in those bleeding things."
"I can walk in them, I've had a whole year, 'cause you know it took like six months for Buffy to even think about letting me wear them, and that was last year, and then about a two months after you…. you know…. well, she told me to go for it, just don't break my neck…. and if I did, she'd tell, you know how she gets."
Spike laughed,
"Yeah, I do."
"I can hear you both, you know."
Spike and Dawn gave her matching looks, "and?"
"Why do I even put up with any of you?" she asked herself out loud, turning to look past the buildings, scanning to see if any more reinforcement demons had been sent to kill them.
"You love us?" the both chirped.
"Ain't love a bitch?" Buffy simply replied, walking towards Willow.
Willow laughed and nodded.
"There's nothing to report right now," Vi said, coming around the corner…
"Now we all know that'll change soon enough," Rona said, joining her.
A group of slayers were coming one by one from around the corner.
"Pulled out the Calvary, huh?"
"Every slayer ought to experience the wonder of an apocalypse."
"I thought that was a first date, luv?"
"Dates are for ordinary girls," Buffy shrugged.
Spike laughed and then stopped laughing at the figure he saw coming toward him.
Internally, he groaned.
Xander stopped a few feet from him, and stared at him.
"What, your depth perceptions giving you problems… why are you staring at me like that?"
"Well…I was thinking about what I'd do to you if I ever saw you again, but then you spoke…and now I'm not sure I want to."
"You aren't going to hug me are you?"
"God no!"
"Please tell me you aren't going to kiss me."
"Eww Spike."
Spike laughed.
"Get it said Harris, so both of us can move on."
Xander sighed,
"You are such a jerk sometimes…and other times…okay…I don't like you…I've never liked you…I'm not sure I ever will…but we have this…this thing…this…look, I consider you one of the Scoobies, okay, a non-living, vampiric, pain in the ass, sometimes I would love to beat with a stick, but always there for you member. Sorry I didn't get a chance to tell you for you went all Joan of Arc on us. And…I'm slightly glad your back…even if you did bring an apocalypse with you."
Spike stared at him for a moment before saying,
"You know…" he opened his mouth a couple of times, before Xander interrupted,
"Can you translate that into English, I can't read Fish."
Spike's eyes narrowed and he growled out,
"Do you mind, I'm trying to get this phrase out without choking."
"Don't suffer on my account."
"Fine…then I won't tell you how much your little speech meant."
"And I won't tell you how proud of what you did for us meant."
"And I won't tell you that I was sorry to hear about Anya not making it."
"And I won't tell you that I'm really glad that you came back from the dead."
Both stopped talking and stared at each other, until eventually, Spike said,
"Well…as long as we're not saying it…wanna get a beer later?"
"Yeah…that'd be cool."
They shared a half smile, but Angel couldn't take it.
"What on earth."
Xander looked up and saw Angel,
"Hey Dead Man…how's it hanging?"
Angel ignored his comment, "You never wanted to hang out and get a beer with me."
"I don't like you."
"You don't like him either."
"True…but Spike and I…we have a history."
"We have way more history than you and Spike."
"What's wrong Pops, you jealous?"
"Shut up Spike."
Spike & Xander chuckled together.
"Why do I even bother," Angel said, turning abruptly and going back to talk to Faith.
Spike & Xander grinned at each other, before Spike said,
"So, where's the Watcher?"
"Buffy made him stay behind, but he sent you this,"
Xander said pulling out a note.
"I wonder why I didn't even try to read it?" he muttered to himself aloud.
"Probably the stern glance accompanied by a glare that Giles gave you when he gave you the note."
Xander thought for a moment and said,
"Yeah…you have been away from me for sometime, haven't you? You've forgotten my ways. Let me remind you…that's usually what would make me have a look…I got distracted…what with the apocalypse and all."
"Silly me…I was giving you the benefit of a doubt."
Xander rolled his eyes and handed off the note.
Spike opened it, with Xander peering over his shoulder to read every word.
The note stated:
Spike,
We have had our issues between us and it's safe to say we probably
always will. Take care of my slayer and send her back to me in one piece.
Otherwise you'll have me to deal with. Yes, I am rightly aware that you
probably still love her, and it's beyond all of my reason why she chooses
to associate with you. Your codependency on each other is a reason for
her not staking you years ago…no matter how much I have always wanted
her to…however…I digress. I am … pleased that you are no longer truly dead.
For it hurt her more than I thought you could ever do alive. Well…un-alive
actually, you get the gist…I hope. What I mean to say is…for God sakes man…
don't do anything like that again!
Hope to hear from all of you soon.
Giles
"Sounds like G-man missed you too."
"Fella dies and everyone gives him respect…the thing it takes for you folks."
"Well some of us are slow learners."
"And we've finally caught up to the fact, huh?"
"Shut up Spike."
"It's just not a conversation until someone tells ya to shut up."
"I think you missed me too."
"Precious little," Spike muttered before looking around.
"Looks like the Scoobie gang…. and a bunch of newbie slayers are all here."
"Please…this is a small group…you should see the base in Rome…there are tons of slayers everywhere…it's like an convention of some sort."
"Hmm…convention hall full of slayers, huh? Not really somewhere a vamp would want to be."
"Not like we'd hurt you anyway…you did help train us," Kennedy said, coming around the corner last.
To Buffy she shouted, "It's clear…but Lana feels we've got less than a half n hour to get somewhere else."
Buffy nodded.
"Thanks Ken."
"Welcome."
To Spike, she said, "Even though I'm glad to see you, I'm not going to hug you though."
"Not really a problem."
She wrinkled her nose at him.
Spike winked at her.
"I should have known where there was Red there'd be her Amazon."
"Actually we're no longer together."
Spike nodded.
"We realized we were going in different directions."
"It happens sometime. Sides, your young…you can come back and lecture me on the merits of your own love life when you pass your first century."
Kennedy smiled at him before walking over to Vi & Rona.
As he walked back over toward Buffy, Willow, Dawn & Xander he asked,
"So what is this, a bloody Sunnydale reunion?"
"A brilliant deduction, my dynamic and oh so gorgeous, perfect blonde specimen of a Vampire."
The voice alone gave him the shivers.
"Ya couldn't have left the ponce in Rome?" he asked Buffy.
"Well…"
"You just wanted to see the look on my face when he said something like that, didn't you?"
"Well…yeah," Buffy muttered.
"I know I did," Xander stated.
"I know it would be worth it," Dawn said with a giggle.
Spike stared at Willow, who looked anywhere but at him.
"Red!"
"I…uh…I was too busy thinking and focusing on the good fight to uh think about Andrew's…uh…enthusiasm…for seeing you once more."
"Oh come on…please Wills…you were just vying with me on how Andrew would react back at the base in Rome..of course none of us could have gotten close to the real thing...which I have to say was oh so worth it...but still."
Spike rolled his eyes, while Buffy laughed and when she could, continued.
"Besides, he wouldn't take no for an answer…and ever since he came before, he's been trying to get us to send him back. If it wasn't for the girls in Rome, I'd say he wanted to come back to be with you…you know he loves you, right?"
"Please, stop."
Buffy laughed again.
"I so missed tormenting you."
"You'll get yours Summers."
"Promises, promises…"
"I got your promises right here."
They shared a smile.
"So…we've got two original slayers, a human key, newbie slayers galore, an ex-God King, the LA fang crew, which I 'appen to be a new shining member of, a powerful witch, a whelp, and an Andrew…I'd say we're ready to do some damage."
"You said it brother!"
"Little man…"
"Yeah?"
"Don't help me."
"Sorry…I was just so caught up in the moment."
Spike dropped his head
Buffy & Xander laughed, but Buffy at least pet him on the back in a somewhat comforting gesture.
Willow looked around.
"Where is Wesley anyway? Is he off checking something, or …?"
She glanced at Angel, Spike, Gunn's and lastly Illyria's face and encountered an expression of real sadness.
"What happened?"
"Wesley's dead."
"Dead? As in the not coming back kind of dead?"
Illyria simply nodded.
"When…what…how?"
"He lost a reason to fight…but he was up against a powerful warlock who delivered a mortal wound before I could get there to help."
Willow's eyes whitened.
"Red…"
Illyria's head sprung up and both Spike & Angel jumped up.
Gunn began picking up and tossing weapons to the others.
Slayers began stretching and snatching up weapons, moving until they surrounded the three non-fighting members of their group.
"Um…guys…what's going on?"
"Yeah…what's up with the suddenness of the weapons brigade?"
Xander sighed,
"It's that time again kiddies."
"To cower and run for cover?"
"You are such a wimp sometimes Andrew."
"Am not."
"You so are…but you're a working on being a good one…so you still get some props."
"Still a peach."
Dawn grinned.
"Willow…a teleportation spell for the three of them would be nice."
"Aww…do we have to? That last one was boring…and you stuck me with these two…for however long that was."
"Minutes?"
"Felt more like hours…a girl can only take so much."
"Yeah…and I can fight…and hey…Dawn…"
"Sorry Xander…but you guys were fighting over the intricacies of Babylon 5 and Star Trek…can you describe a bigger pair of nerds?"
"I by definition am not a nerd."
"I second that."
"Thanks Spike."
"Welcome…gotta have brains if you're a nerd…Xand here is a spaz."
"Hey!"
Spike ignored him, but had a wicked grin on his face as he picked up an axe, looking at Buffy he asked,
"So what do you think, is this me?"
Buffy laughed and replied,
"Oh yeah...let me guess…makes you feel all manly?"
"You know it luv."
Willow waved her hand at Dawn, Xander, and Andrew and they disappeared with a flourish, time and space distorting and then reestablishing itself in front of them.
"Neat trick."
"I think so…" Red said with a smile.
Spike hopped up onto the hood of some poor devil's car that had been smashed to pieces in the earlier fray,
"All the slayers in the house…are you ready to rumble!" Spike shouted.
He got cheers and jeers and one girl in the crowd shouted,
"Do we have to kill them if they're as fine as you?"
Spike laughed.
"No…but I'm pretty sure they won't be…so not really a problem factor."
The girls laughed…and readied themselves for battle once again.
Spike hopped down and winked at Buffy.
"You're such a showoff."
"You're only mad I beat you too it."
"True."
As the first demon came running down, Illyria kicked it in the chest, sending it flying backwards at least 10 feet hitting the corner of a building with such a force that it broke the creature's back and crumpled dead onto the pavement.
"Whoa…. now that was so tight," Rona shouted.
"I'm very glad you're on our side," Vi told Illyria who merely nodded at her.
"Are ya ready luv?"
"I was born ready."
"Then let's get this the Sunnydale way, shall we?"
"Let's," Buffy replied and they advanced on the oncoming horde.
TBC