A/N : Thanx to the reveiwers of the previous chapter; Spuffyfan4eva, Demonica Mills, Freezyboncoolipants, Moluvsnumber17, sheilamarie, Moonjava, spuffy4eva, SpikeAngel-Lover, spikespet2002. Glad the Willow/Tara-ness went down so well, but now it's back to the Spuffy-ish part of the story and of course the storyline with the demon that's coming. Enough rambling now, here's the new chapter...
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
Chapter 13
Becky watched in amazement as her mother and aunt fought back to back against the others partner. They were so perfectly in tune with each other, and despite the fact she too was a Slayer, the young girl could not imagine ever being this good at what she did.
"Roll!" Faith yelled as both she and Buffy kicked their opponents away. The blonde bent over so the brunette could roll over her back just as Spike and Angel got back on their feet.
"Rather be fightin' you anyway" Spike grinned, repeating words he'd said years ago.
"Mutual" came Buffy's response as her foot connected with his chest. The fighting continued on like a dance for a while longer, ending with both Slayers pinning their guys to the floor.
"Dunno about you Angel" Spike grinned, "but I can live with losing everytime if it's gonna end this way" he said in a most suggestive tone. Angel couldn't help but chuckle until Faith's tongue in his mouth silenced him. Spike wasn't so lucky as his girl climbed off and walked away.
"Well, that's not bloody fair" he complained, also getting up and following her.
"You really want to permenantly damage our daughter by doing...that, in front of her" she gestured vaguely towards Angel and Faith still in a heated embrace on the mats.
"Hey, you don't need to see that either" Spike told Becky firmly, stepping round her and blocking her view of the pair.
"Really wasn't looking" she assured him as Buffy stared off into space. Faith moaned in the background.
"Can you two please just knock it off" the blonde Slayer suddenly snapped. Immediately the kissing couple were up from the ground, both frowning as they joined the other three.
"Geez, B, take a chill-pill" Faith told her, "Just havin' a little fun while we can"
Buffy sighed and shook her head.
"I'm sorry" she apologised to all of them, "I didn't mean to...Becky could you go back through to the shop, see if Wills and Tara have any more information yet"
The younger girl glanced at her father who nodded in agreement with what her mother had said. Though Becky didn't like it, she left the room, just knowing everyone thought she was too young and fragile to hear what was about to be said. Did they not remember she'd be sixteen in just a few days?
"Buffy, luv, what's up?" Spike asked as soon as their daughter was gone.
"What isn't?" she laughed humourlessly as she sat down on the bench with a thump, "I was fighting you just then, we used that move that me and Kendra pulled once..."
"We used that move a million times, B" Faith frowned as she sat down beside her, "I don't get what the deal is here?"
"You should" she told the brunette, "You, all of you, more than anyone else should understand. What we go through, being champions, the others help but they're not us. No matter what we do we can't stop fighting, we just can't. We'll fight until one day it kills us for good. I think I just realised what I've dragged my daughter into" she said, voice cracking and tears coming to her eyes, "Because of me, she's a Slayer. It's her sixteenth birthday in three days and...and she might not live to see it"
"Buffy, we're going to do everything we can" Angel assured her, "We'll keep Becky and everyone else safe..."
"What if it's not enough? What if everything we can do isn't enough to keep her safe?" she wanted to know, "You were there Angel, when I was sixteen. You were there when I died" she said voice rising a coupe of decibels, "So don't stand there and tell me my daughter is safe, because you can't promise me that"
"Maybe he can't" Spike cut in, "but I bloody can" he told her firmly, "Slayer, we've come through so soddin' much, you and me. Our little girl is built of tough stuff, half you and half me. There's no way in hell that kid is going down without a fight, and she is going to live way past sixteen, you hear me?"
"You don't know..." she told him, pulling away when he tried to hold her.
"Yes, I damn well do!" he almost yelled as Faith took Angel's hand and they slipped out the door to leave the other couple alone, "Buffy, look at me" Spike told her, taking her chin in his hand and making her turn her head, "Sweetheart, I know it's rough, having your daughter right there in the thick of the same horrible situation you faced too many times" he said more calmly now, "but you have to believe we're all going to come through this, we're going to win"
"I want to believe it" Buffy told him emotionally, "but I'm tired, Spike, so tired of fighting and watching everybody suffer"
"S'alright, pet" he said gently pulling her into a hug, "Gotta keep on fighting though, it's just the way it is. Gotta keep the world turning for the rest, those that don't even know they're in trouble"
"I know" Buffy said, taking a deep breath as she pulled away from him slightly, not quite ready to leave his embrace yet, "but y'know the books and the prophecy's got one thing wrong"
"What's that then?" Spike asked with a bemused look.
"Not all Slayer's fight alone" she reminded him, "Everybody's watching my back, especially you"
He smirked at that, before kissing her lips.
"Well, luv" he said softly, "That's cos I happen to think you've got a 'back' worth watching" he smiled, hands sliding down to her ass.
"Uh-uh" she grinned, moving away, "We'll go be heroes first" she told him heading for the door, "The rest'll have to wait for later"
As Becky walked out into the main shop she found Willow, Tara and Giles gathered round the computer, Faith and Angel taking Mandy back from Joyce, and the Harris' gone. She was about to ask what the next move was when the phone rang on the wall beside her.
"Magic Box" she said as she turned and answered it.
"Er, hi" said the voice of the man on the other end of the line "I was hoping to talk to Xander Harris, or maybe his wife, Cordelia" he said uncertainly.
"They're not here right now" Becky told him, "But I can pass on a message for you"
"Oh, okay...It's Michael Morris" the voice told her "I teach their son guitar"
"Michael, hi" she grinned suddenly "It's Becky, Rebecca Blackwell. We went to school together for a while" she reminded him. When he didn't answer she added "and also I almost got hit by your car yesterday"
"Becky Blackwell, of course I remember you" he said, smiling although she couldn't see it, "I knew you were familiar before but...wow, you've certainly grown-up"
She coloured at that, glad he couldn't see.
"More than you know" she said as she looked around the room, reminded of the horror she was facing, the possible deadly situation "So yeah, I don't think Josh will be seeing you today. We're kind of having a family crisis" she explained the only way she could.
"Oh, I'm sorry" Michael said, sympathetically, "I hope things work out okay for you"
"Thanks" she nodded pointlessly "We'll be okay" she said with more confidence than she felt right now as her mother emerged from the training room with tear tracks on her face.
"Well, that was all so...Have Xander call me when Josh is ready for more lessons" Michael said in her ear, regaining her attention. If only she knew she was going to live long enough to see this guy again. He was still so gorgeous and he'd just complimented her, what was to stop her...
"Sure thing" she answered his previous request, before closing her eyes and turning her back on the rest of the shop, "and Michael...are you busy Saturday night?" she asked, praying for a positive answer and that the Powers That be would allow her to make it to her party anyway.
"I, well..." came the awkward reply "actually, I'm seeing my girlfriend" Michael mumbled. Clearly he was embarrassed and feeling very awkward right now. Becky could relate to that.
"Oh, never mind" she said quickly "Bye" she added, hanging up the phone with a thump and feeling so stupid about what she'd just done.
Of course Michael had a girlfriend. He was always centre of attention when they were kids, and there was absolutely no reason why he shouldn't have hundreds of girls all wanting to date him. Besides, he'd never paid her much attention before, why should he start now?
"Earth to Becky" Spike smiled as he waved a hand in front of her eyes to get her attention, "Honestly, Bit, where's your head at?" he asked her.
"Sorry Dad" she smiled, "My head should be in the game, right?"
"Wish it were a game, Little Bit" he told her, pushing her hair off her face affectionately, "But we could have ourselves a bloody war here. Never know if this Joh'ran might bring some mates along for the party"
"Or what might crawl out of the Hellmouth if they manage to open it" she added with a sigh, "But we have to be positive about this" she said firmly, "Doesn't matter how bad it gets, what matters is we have each other" she said, sounding so much like her mother Spike felt quite odd hearing her, "This is our town and we're going to fight for it. Demons, monsters, and attractive guys with girlfriends be damned!" she said strongly as she walked away, leaving her confused father behind her.
"Oh Becky" Willow smiled as the young Slayer approached, "I was just telling your Mom about the ritual. It seems pretty do-able"
"That's great" she smiled, "but I meant to ask, where are Xander and Cordy and Josh?" she checked.
"They didn't get an awful lot of sleep last night" Giles explained, "I told them to get some more rest and suggested they return later this evening with some food perhaps"
"Sounds like a plan" Buffy nodded, "In the meantime, I need you to go through this ritual again Will, so everybody hears" the original Slayer told the witch, "Then we'll go over the battle plan one more time, those that need it can catch some sleep and then..." she paused, turning to her daughter.
"Then we fight" Becky said for her, "We save the world like we were born to do"
Buffy could only nod in response, she really was so proud of her little girl.
It was late in the evening. The Harris' had returned an hour or so earlier, complete with Chinese take-out for everybody and some blood for Spike. Mandy was asleep in the training room, having tired herself out running around the Magic Box. Willow and Tara were putting the finishing touches to the ritual they'd be using against the Joh'ran Katama, whilst the others sharpened weapons and tidied books.
Everyone was getting nervous and twitchy about the upcoming battle, and though most knew now would be a good time to catch some last minute sleep before tomorrows battle, they were fairly certain it'd be impossible.
Spike was up on the balcony, fetching down the more dangerous weapons for the Slayers when he suddenly stopped.
"Hey" he leant on the rail and looked down on the rest of the gang, "Somethin's not right" he said, clearly sensing something in the air.
"Something like what?" Angel called up to the vampire, part of him wishing he still had those heightened senses.
"Dunno" Spike frowned "Something shaking, shattering...oh bloody hell" he cursed when he suddenly realised what he was feeling, but it was too late to warn anyone.
The ground shook violently with the force of an earthquake and the Scoobies ran to doorways and dived under tables to escape falling debris. The rail Spike had been leaning on gave way and it was only his sharp reactions that kept him from falling to the ground along with it. He backed up against the book shelves, before realising he was in more danger if they fell.
"Dad!" Becky screamed as she realised that wasn't his biggest problem. The wooden planks he stood on were cracking with the force of the quake, and it took all Buffy's strength to hold Becky back and not let her run into danger. She knew Spike could take care of himself, and yet her heart was still in her throat as she watched planks from beneath him fall down one by one.
Mandy screamed from the back room and both Faith and Angel ran to be with her, narrowly avoiding being hit by various falling objects. Buffy was watching them get to safety too intently and Becky slipped from her grasp, bolting over to the ladder up to the balcony and climbing up, unsure what she would do when she got there but refusing to let her father get hurt or worse.
She was half way up when the central bookshelf finally gave in and began to fall. She screamed and Buffy watched in horror, stuck to the spot with fear as the shelving unit seemed to fall in slow motion. Spike saw in coming and flipped himself over the edge of the balcony, turning head over heels and landing on his feet on the ground. He reached to grab Becky from half way up the ladder, pushing her back towards her mother. All this in seconds before the bookshelf hit the balcony, taking it down also. Shards of wood flew out in all directions as Spike threw himself to the floor praying for a miracle, that none of the splinters would pierced his heart. In this instance he was lucky, and everyone felt even more relieved when the quake ended and they carefully came out from their safe places.
"Spike" Buffy called as she ran to him, Becky right beside her as they reached the bleached blond.
"What the hell happened?" Faith wanted to know as she emerged from the training room with Angel hugging a distressed Mandy to him.
"Bloody book-case tried to murder me" Spike joked as he pulled himself up from the ground, Buffy and Becky fussing around him all the time.
"Oh God I thought that was it, I really thought..." the older Slayer rambled a little as he hugged her.
"Don't fret, Slayer" he told her, "No harm done...Though I want a word here with your daughter" he said, not looking at all amused as he turned to her, "You, young lady, might've got yourself killed" he said, pointing his finger at Becky, "Then how would this bleedin' demon got beaten"
"I had to save you" she told him tearfully, but none the less angry at being told off for trying to help him.
"Lesson you should have already learnt, luv" Spike told her firmly, "Your old Dad can take care of himself" he snapped, a feeling a little bad for it when tears fell down Becky's cheeks, "Now, none of that" he sighed, hugging her to him, "I get that you were scared for me, but I'd rather have the world take out it's wrath on me than let anything happen to you" he said softly, rubbing her back a she cried from the shock of all that had happened.
"Not to take away from the family moment" Xander interrupted, "and obviously glad we're all a-okay but...was that earth-quake just California-land-mass-related or seriously demon-related?" he wanted to know.
Giles looked guiltily at his shoes, keeping an arm firmly around a shaking Joyce.
"I may have might a slight error in my calculations" he admitted. The others looked naturally panicked by that.
"What are you saying Watcher?" Spike asked, narrowing his eyes at Giles "This thing gonna be here in an hour, two?"
"Possibly less than that even" Rupert told him, remembering the passages he'd read about the great power of the Joh'ran Katama "I think, it could arrive at any moment"
Before anyone else could speak, the ground began to shake again, though much less violently than it had before. Buffy held onto Spike and Becky, knowing what it meant.
"I think it's already here"
To Be Continued...
A/N : I know, kinda cliffhanger-ish, but it just seemed like the perfect place to end a chapter! You know what to do, please press the button and review!